I am currently running a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 SCH-i545 NC5. I've been wanting CyanogenMod for a while now, but from what it seems the bootloader is completely locked for the S4. I have read that it is possible to downgrade to an older version to get the unlocked bootloader, is this possible? If it is possible I don't know which version to downgrade to... ME7, MDK, MJ7?
Thanks
not possible. if you're running MDK you can do the loki exploit but anything other than MDK is not able to be patched, worked around, etc.
skepticmisfit said:
not possible. if you're running MDK you can do the loki exploit but anything other than MDK is not able to be patched, worked around, etc.
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Ok thanks, but I have seen downgrade videos on YouTube, I haven't tried it but I'm guessing that if you do this you keep your baseband version?
KazanNinja said:
Ok thanks, but I have seen downgrade videos on YouTube, I haven't tried it but I'm guessing that if you do this you keep your baseband version?
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Follow the video if you want. If you manager to downgrade to MDK you can TOTALLY use the loki exploit to work around the locked bootloader and use a custom recover.
However, you can't downgrade a Verizon S4 to MDK. If you manage to get the software on your phone, it wont boot (or your really smart). There is a 148 page thread at the very top of this forum called "If we are serious about unlocking the bootloader". You think that would still be going if you could just downgrade?
scryan said:
Follow the video if you want. If you manager to downgrade to MDK you can TOTALLY use the loki exploit to work around the locked bootloader and use a custom recover.
However, you can't downgrade a Verizon S4 to MDK. If you manage to get the software on your phone, it wont boot (or your really smart). There is a 148 page thread at the very top of this forum called "If we are serious about unlocking the bootloader". You think that would still be going if you could just downgrade?
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Haha Ok thanks for the help, I'll probably just wait until I get the Nexus 5 and stick with the Eclipse ROM
Don't try unless you want a brick.
tech_head said:
Don't try unless you want a brick.
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Dont think it would even work. It verifies something (Think it was the MD5 or something?) in the file and if its a lower version it will just block you from proceeding.
freakyguy88 said:
Dont think it would even work. It verifies something (Think it was the MD5 or something?) in the file and if its a lower version it will just block you from proceeding.
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There's a bootloader value number and firmware won't flash if it has a lower number. Firmwares such as nc5 and nc2, as well as mk2 and mj7, can be downgraded because they have the same bootloader value.
Related
I have an HTC One that I converted to a GPE. My fiance has a VZW Galaxy S4 and is jealous. I found a Google Play ROM on here that I'd like to flash (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031), but I am not sure it will work with her phone. She has a SCH-I545 running the latest 4.3 release from VZW. I rooted the device last week and besides that haven't done anything to the phone ever.
There was a post in that thread that seemed to indicate that I would not be able to load the ROM I'd like due to it requiring Loki and something about the bootloader being locked on her version. This is where I kind of lose it. I am not familiar with Loki, but TWRP for the VZW Galaxy S4 states that it has been modified with Loki (http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/181). In my head it makes sense that since I have root, I can load TWRP recovery and use that to flash the ROM to the device, and that it would work because TWRP has been modified with Loki.
Can someone advise me on this? I have held off on anything beyond root since I haven't been able to find a definite answer.
ocieb said:
I have an HTC One that I converted to a GPE. My fiance has a VZW Galaxy S4 and is jealous. I found a Google Play ROM on here that I'd like to flash (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031), but I am not sure it will work with her phone. She has a SCH-I545 running the latest 4.3 release from VZW. I rooted the device last week and besides that haven't done anything to the phone ever.
There was a post in that thread that seemed to indicate that I would not be able to load the ROM I'd like due to it requiring Loki and something about the bootloader being locked on her version. This is where I kind of lose it. I am not familiar with Loki, but TWRP for the VZW Galaxy S4 states that it has been modified with Loki (http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/181). In my head it makes sense that since I have root, I can load TWRP recovery and use that to flash the ROM to the device, and that it would work because TWRP has been modified with Loki.
Can someone advise me on this? I have held off on anything beyond root since I haven't been able to find a definite answer.
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I suspect you have the MK2 build and bootloader if you're on 4.3. I recommend you read this thread, it will answer your questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578569
jpcalhoun said:
I suspect you have the MK2 build and bootloader if you're on 4.3. I recommend you read this thread, it will answer your questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578569
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Yes, sorry I left that detail out. Definitely on MK2.
Thanks for the resource, I will read that.
Is there anything I can do to roll back to MDK BASEBAND so I can actually unlock the bootloader? I am currently on MK2 stock ROM.
Is it even possible to unlock the bootloader on MDK? I have spend over 6 hours researching and trying to figure this thing out. I really want to stay away from safestrap...
Can someone point me to a thread or explain this to me? I can't seem to find anything relevant to this question.
Rmhoward24 said:
Is there anything I can do to roll back to MDK BASEBAND so I can actually unlock the bootloader? I am currently on MK2 stock ROM.
Is it even possible to unlock the bootloader on MDK? I have spend over 6 hours researching and trying to figure this thing out. I really want to stay away from safestrap...
Can someone point me to a thread or explain this to me? I can't seem to find anything relevant to this question.
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No way to rollback to MDK my friend - the only ones on MDK are us lucky sods that got it that way and kept it. The bootloader is not unlocked on MDK - workaround is available using Loki exploit. Verizon quickly closed that hole with subsequent "upgrades". At this point safestrap is your only option.
tkacer said:
No way to rollback to MDK my friend - the only ones on MDK are us lucky sods that got it that way and kept it. The bootloader is not unlocked on MDK - workaround is available using Loki exploit. Verizon quickly closed that hole with subsequent "upgrades". At this point safestrap is your only option.
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So there is no way to NUKE the phone and push the original MDK Baseband to the phone like it was done at the factory? : (
Rmhoward24 said:
So there is no way to NUKE the phone and push the original MDK Baseband to the phone like it was done at the factory? : (
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nope. maybe if you were a top samsung executive you could do something.
So if I downgraded my NC5 i545 to MK2 could I then install CyanogenMod?
Thanks!
Matthew2D said:
So if I downgraded my NC5 i545 to MK2 could I then install CyanogenMod?
Thanks!
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In a word - NO. Even going back to the MDK bootloader is not possible once you have taken the OTAs. And even then, MDK is still locked. The likelihood of the bootloader getting unlocked is slim and none. Kexec is the next choice and even its development has slowed as it is very hard to crack the bootloader issue.
As is often repeated, read the FAQs and search topics before posting.
To install anything other than a TW based rom, you need to be on the MDK bootloader. Once you have a newer bootloader than MDK, you are stuck with TW based roms and Safe Strap.
I have a Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 on build lrx22c.i545vrugoc1 and would like to flash a Play Edition ROM.
Everything I have read so far suggests that it can not be done because Verizon locked the bootloader somehow with the latest update.
Can anyone point me in the right direction?
Thanks
You're correct, though the BL has always been locked. I don't believe there is any way to root the LL build as of now.
rrrrrrredbelly said:
You're correct, though the BL has always been locked. I don't believe there is any way to root the LL build as of now.
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Actually, if you go into the different sections, root has been gained for updates after the initial MDK bootloader. MDK is still the only version of the bootloader that is capable of running custom roms without having to use safestrap.
Having root and the capability or ability of running custom roms are two horses of a different color.
I didn't say you couldn't root different builds, i said the bootloader has never been unlocked.
If you are on oc1 boot loader there is no way to root and you can't downgrade from oc1 so you can't gain root
legonate said:
If you are on oc1 boot loader there is no way to root and you can't downgrade from oc1 so you can't gain root
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I have OC1 update and a rooted i545
OC1 CAN be rooted with KingRoot. Many people reported that the chinese app works.
As far as ROMs for OC1, there is nothing like AOSP. Only Touchwiz ones. Only Play edition SIMILAR ROMs are eclipse and Kitpop, which you cannot do because you are on OC1. You can Root, and get a stockdeodex ROM, that is about it.
The bootloader has been locked for ages. Only unlocked bootloader is for MDK, which was about 2-3 years back. No hack for the bootloader has been found as of yet.
Hi , I recently bought a Verizon S4 that came with a Baseband Version of I545VRUFNG6. Although I know that only Baseband Version VRUAMDK has an exploit which allows for unocking the system and placing a custom bootloader on it, I must ask: are there any options for this phone on this specific baseband? Are there any ROMS or a way to use FlashFire to get an Android version higher than 4.4.2? Or is there any way of downgrading the bootloader to VRUAMDK. I've read that downgrading to 4.3 is not possible. Just curious. Thanks!
pzr3z said:
Hi , I recently bought a Verizon S4 that came with a Baseband Version of I545VRUFNG6. Although I know that only Baseband Version VRUAMDK has an exploit which allows for unocking the system and placing a custom bootloader on it, I must ask: are there any options for this phone on this specific baseband? Are there any ROMS or a way to use FlashFire to get an Android version higher than 4.4.2? Or is there any way of downgrading the bootloader to VRUAMDK. I've read that downgrading to 4.3 is not possible. Just curious. Thanks!
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Downgrading to MDK is not possible. You can root the system easily, there are multiple guides for doing so. You'll have to use safe strap to flash anything, or you can upgrade to lollipop and root and flash with v0.53 Flashfire.
Thank you.
bilgerryan said:
Downgrading to MDK is not possible. You can root the system easily, there are multiple guides for doing so. You'll have to use safe strap to flash anything, or you can upgrade to lollipop and root and flash with v0.53 Flashfire.
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I appreciate you confirming any previous thoughts I had. Thank you very much.
A very common mistake is that people think Loki unlocks the bootloader. It does not. Loki doki was a bypass exploit, meaning the bootloader is still locked, just you're by passing the lock with it. Think of it as using a credit card to open a locked door. The lock is still locked yet the door is opened.