Ok...so I've been reading almost every post in here all day long...and I wanted to upgrade my Stock Android 4.1.2 phone to one of the cool roms on here. One rom (I can't remember which one)...said I needed MJ9 firmware...so I flashed it. Then I successfully rooted. I then tried to install a new recovery so I could flash the new shiny rom. As soon as I rebooted...got the Verizon Brick Message from hell. Ok...then I searched how to get rid of that. I found a post saying to flash back to stock MJ9 which gave me Android 4.3. Now that means I can't unlock my bootloader so I could root and install the roms...correct?
I guess my question is. Can I use ODIN to flash back to 4.1.2 and have a chance at an unlocked bootloader...or am I skrewed? I should just accept the OTA kitkat and be done with it?
I
Well if you flashed stock 4.3 you most likely locked up your boot loader and there is no known exploit to unlock that boot loader atm. I think there's still a way to root 4.3 but I'm not 100% sure how. Hopefully someone else can chime in on that.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk
@gallogj
Unfortunately, your bootloader is locked now, so trying to ODIN to 4.1.2 won't unlock it. There's not an easy way to unlock it now (search the threads and you'll see that Mobile Tech videos can downgrade for a price... and someone else reported that they used an "unbricker" method to downgrade... but others don't appear to have had as much success).
If you stay on 4.3 MJ9, you can still get root, run root apps/ Xposed, etc... And with 4.3 MJ9, you can also use Safestrap to run custom Touchwiz ROM's.
If you take the OTA to kit kat, there's not a root method currently for our Note 2's, so you'll be running pure stock.
It's totally up to you, but if you want root (at least for now), you'll want to stay with 4.3 MJ9.
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Edit: You can check out Safestrap at this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2704992
Here's a link to the saferoot method for 4.3 MJ9: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758
Related
Hi,
I have a Verizon Galaxy Note II I605 running Android 4.1.1 that I had originally rooted via Odin and followed instructions on the galaxynote2root website last Jan/Feb in 2012
I would like to upgrade to a stock ROM of 4.3 and keep root and was hoping someone could point me in the right direction in regards to which ROM to use and the steps to do so. I really only use root for the wifi tether and would like to keep the phone as close to stock as possible. I've gone through a number of different forums and posts but can't seem to find some good instructions with a corresponding recommendation on an Official OTA 4.3 ROM to use. I've found a lot variations on 4.3 ROMs, but most of them have gutted a lot of things or discussing having to flash firmware which makes me nervous.
Also, is it true I may be forced to take the OTA in the near future and potentially soft brick my phone if I don't either revert back to stock or install a 4.3 ROM which disables the update app. I'm not sure if the ROM i'm currently running has this disabled or not.
Thanks in advance for any help,
eugenikz
Beanstown or sophisticated rom will be the official stock 4.3, however your gonna have to flash the Official MJ9 firmware via Odin. You could take the OTA but the bootloader will be locked afterwards. There is root available with the OTA stock but you won't be able to load a custom recovery therefore no more custom roms.
+1. I did this with my note2. Was the same as yours. I'm now on sophisticated 2.0 highly recommended. I also updated recovery to Phils, which seems to be the conventional wisdom for flashing 4.3.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Hoping someone could answer a few questions I have for my Saferooted Samsung S4 MK2 4.3
I plan to take a business trip to Europe later this month. Does anyone know if I will run into issues not having the latest 4.4.2 update on my phone? I hate to guess that it'll be fine just to get over there and my phone not work but I also do not care for the idea of losing root because of having to update.
Being it's been over a year since I rooted the phone and I haven't been following this scene. I'm not sure what my options are as far as rooting the S4 with 4.4.2. still gotta search that one. I appreciate any advice. Thanks.
Can anyone help?
I see that rooting 4.4.2 is still not an option. Will I need to unroot and update?
If I were you, just to be safe I would upgrade to 4.4.2 and stay on stock rooted software while on the trip.
You can upgrade by flashing a no wipe or (recommended) full wipe nc5 tar file with Odin. You can't use an OTA update when you're rooted, it will fail.
You can root 4.4.2 using www.towelroot.com , one click and you're rooted basically
Thank you for replying joshm.
I will look at it now to figure out what to do. Hoping it's not too difficult.
Thanks again for the help.
Hello, as my thread title suggests I have a question about custom kernels. I made the mistake of updating to 4.3 on my device [I did it for the TRIM feature but wasnt aware of the cons Verizon put in place with 4.3], before 4.3 I was rooted and was using the stock OS and kernel. I do know that its possible to get Root access with 4.3 and Ive already done that - My question is if it is possible to install a custom kernel that will allow me to overclock this device ? I know there are a ton of kernels out there, but I dont want to risk bricking this device or having to download the ODIN 1GB+ 4.3 android file to bring it back to life..Thanks in advance!
Unfortunately, you cannot install a custom kernel. You would need to have an unlocked bootloader to install custom kernels.... and there's no current do it yourself method to unlock the 4.3 MJ9 bootloader.
4.1.2 was the last Android build for our phones where you could have unlocked the bootloader.... and so far, it doesn't look like there's going to be a method developed for 4.3.
mattnmag said:
Unfortunately, you cannot install a custom kernel. You would need to have an unlocked bootloader to install custom kernels.... and there's no current do it yourself method to unlock the 4.3 MJ9 bootloader.
4.1.2 was the last Android build for our phones where you could have unlocked the bootloader.... and so far, it doesn't look like there's going to be a method developed for 4.3.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sucks...I dont think there is a way to go back to 4.1.2 either. Thanks for answer anyways.
Hi,
Just got an i545. It is currently on NK1 with 4.4.2. I understand to root it I can follow this (thread closed so can't post there). My confusion is: once I root, can I install safestrap or TWRP and flash custom roms? I read somewhere else on the forum that NK1 is limited to certain AOSP roms. I really like Carbon but am open to trying others and I don't want to screw things up. Sorry if this is noob-ish but I think I gave myself information over-load trying to find the correct steps.
Also, I will be using this with AT&T so would I want to stick to the unified builds?
Thanks,
SS only, no twrp/cwm.
Only TW roms aside from this aosp:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=3019132
I used it before LP, a few bugs but overall ran well
Thanks for the info. If safestrap must be used, would these roms work? From what I gather so far, it's also not possible to downgrade from NK1 to NC5 or other, is it? I don't see the point of flashing another TW rom...but that's just me. I guess I can just root and customize for now, and experiment with TW roms if I get bored.
EDIT - I am wrong, it appears that I can odin back to earlier images (MDK, NC5, etc...) Is this feasible? Would it allow me to root, install custom recovery, and any rom I wish?
That list should be good. You can go back to nc5, can't downgrade past KK.
Also, there are threads on how to upgrade to 5.0.1, however if you take the official ota you'll lose root and can't downgrade back
I appreciate your help. Just to confirm, if I downgrade to NC5, will I be able to use ANY custom recovery and flash ANY rom? Or will I still be limited to safestrap and TW roms?
EDIT - Found my answer here. Anything over MDK can only use safestrap and TW roms. Bummer. No point in down-grading then.
Edit 2 - It seems that if I want to run any kind of rom I do need to down grade to NC5 as most seem to be based on it. I assume I would use the full wipe from this guide.
This S4 is my 7th android and it's, by far, got the most hoops to jump through and/or limitations. All my other phones were easy-peasy! Or is it just because it's Verizon branded? All other phones were T-Mo or ATT.
It's this phone & Verizon, they both suck
if you can help add my skype maoursenpeluche ill be on there alot i need to get this fixed as fast as possible
what bootloader are you on?
Idk anything about it or how to find my boot loader
Have you gotten any help from others?
And could you describe what you were doing when you soft bricked it?
no help and i was trying to downgrade it to 4.4.2 it was on lollipop 5.0.1 i wanted to root it
If it was on stock lollipop, either it was at build OC1 or OF1, neither of which have the ability to downgrade to older OS. You should have read the forums first to check if you can downgrade before attempting to do so. If you had gotten an upgrade notification within the last month or so, or you got it secondhand, it most likely was on OF1. follow directions here after downloading firmware from here , making sure you get the OF1 software for SCH-i545. That's the limit of my knowledge. if that doesn't work, hopefully someone who knows better will come by to help.
Also, OF1 does not currently have a way to root.
The guy above me is correct. Basically you have to flash the stock image of OF1 and then your phone should be good. Lesson learned? Lol. Always follow exact instructions to avoid soft bricking
Sent from my stang5litre Edition 5.0 using XDA Free mobile app
have you managed to unbrick?