NG6 - EZ Upgrade - SAFEST WAY POSSIBLE!! - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4

If you want to upgrade to NG6 without losing Root, Safestrap, triggering KNOX, or installing KNOX via an OTA come check out my thread. If you plan on using a custom ROM at all you'll need the modules / modems / kernels / tools & information found in my thread!
So do yourself a favor before accepting that OTA or using any other upgrade method and please refer to the original VZW SAFE UPgrade/DOWNgrade thread all is discussed/answered/defined there:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2720163
Makes everything a lot easier.

Related

[Q] If I root MJ4, can I still flash future updates?

In about a week, I'll be gifting a Note 3 to my wifey and mom and I'm planning on rooting their phones. Based on what I've read so far, it seems like there is no way to root MJ4 without setting off the Knox flag, am I right?
Second question is, once I've rooted MJ4, can I still flash future tar updates even with Knox set at 0x1? I know I cant revert/downgrade but I should be able to flash newer updates, right?
Edit: One more question. . Is there a Knox-safe bootloader version people are using when upgrading to just the newest ROM's, kernels, and modems? On the S4, we're using the MF9 bootloader stripped of Knox when upgrading to MJA and MK2.
Quick update. The latest Kingo root app worked just fine on MJ4. Root without setting off Knox.

[Q] Advice for 4.3 upgrade

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

EXPERIMENTAL [How to] Root without triggering KNOX? 2nd Method

I WAS READING THIS THREAD EARLIER TODAY AND I FOUND IT INTERESTING AND USEFUL. HERE IS THE LINK http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/general/how-to-root-triggering-knox-2nd-method-t2843044 IF THIS WORKS FOR OUR T- MOBILE S5 IT CAN ALLOW FOR UPGRADING WITHOUT USING MOBILE ODIN PRO, RETAINING ROOT AND NOT TRIPPING KNOX. IT SEEMS TO WORK FOR OTHER VARIANTS.
DISCLAIMER : I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS AND BEAR NO RESPONSIBILITY IF YOU BRICK YOUR DEVICE .......
BASICALLY WHAT THE INSTRUCTIONS SAY IS TO
1 FIRST INSTALL TOWELROOT
2 THEN INSTALL JUST A KERNEL FROM AN OLDER BUILD I GUESS NE6
3 ROOT WITH TOWELROOT UPDATE THE BINARY INSTALL BUSYBOX.
4 FINALLY INSTALL THE CORRECT KERNEL FOR THE FIRMWARE YOU ARE USING
ALL KERNELS CAN BE FOUND HERE http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2761412
THIS WOULD BE USEFUL TO THOSE WHO ARE ON NF6 OR NG3 NOT ROOTED AND WANT TO ROOT AND NOT TRIGGER KNOX

Root NK1 question

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

Strange Build #. Want to root, backup and revert.

I need a bit of help with this one.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 on Verizon, Android 4.4.2 Build VRUFNK4 (I believe this is an intermediate build between the stock VRUFNK1 and Lollipop).
What I'd like to do is root, backup the current build and then revert back if possible to VRUFNK1.
I'm new to rooting a phone so I could use a bit of help and links. I've read many of the posts and tips, but most specifically don't mention my build, which makes me a bit nervous.
Will towelroot work with this ?
Should I use TWRP or Titanium for backup ?
And.........can I find and revert back to the official build VRUFNK1 (4.4.2)
I simply want to get out of this strange build, remove bloatware........ and have some control over not being pestered over OTA updates from Verizon/Samsung.
Possibly, in the future, I'll play around with some custom ROM's.
Any help and opinions would be appreciated.
For what it's worth...................
After digging around on the net for a few days, I found the following. Now, I can't be sure if this works, so consider the implications. If someone else here on XDA can verify it then it might work.
If you have a Verizon Galaxy S4 with the 4.4.2 build of VRUFNK4 this was part one of two updates to Lollipop. Many people like me had been deferring the update and then somehow pushed the wrong button and "wham" got stuck with VRUFNK4., but they were able to stop further installation to Lollipop.
So for people stuck on VRUFNK4 it's pretty much the same as the previous VRUFNK1 except mine seems to eat battery power. AND, from what I know VRUFNK4 is not directly rootable( list below).
i545vrugOC1 5.0.1 Lollipop
i545vrufnk4 4.4.2 (intermediate update to prepare for Lollipop, part one)
i545vrufnk1 4.4.2 Kitkat
i545vrufng6 4.4.2 Kitkat
i545vrufnc5 4.4.2 Kitkat
So, you basically have three choices:
-- Leave it on VRUFNK4 (which is part one of a two part update to Lollipop) and live with the issues.
-- Allow the update all the way to Lollipop and live with Lollipop (and possibly root there)
-- Use the following procedure (yet to be confirmed by someone here at XDA and hopefully help with details)
1. Use Odin 3.09 to flash back to VRUFNC5 (KitKat 4.4.2)
2. If the flash is successful, root with TowelRoot
3. Once rooted on NC5 you should be able to flash whatever build you want, backup and recovery using
Titanium Backup, etc.
Anyone that wants to chime in here, it would be appreciated.
Just thinking.........
Could someone with experience in flashing explain to me why a person can't flash directly to a certain build, in this case,
Android 4.4.2 VRUFNK1 from a newer one (reverting to an earlier build) ??
from what i understand, you should be able to flash anything from NC5 and above via odin with NK4. the Bootloader was changed in lollipop builds OC1 and OF1 so that you can no longer downgrade to older builds from those.
Thanks bangdosa for the info. You seem to be familiar with all this stuff.
So, just to clarify, would it be true that if you're on NK4, you could flash using Odin to NC5 ? And hopefully root.
bangdosa said:
from what i understand, you should be able to flash anything from NC5 and above via odin with NK4. the Bootloader was changed in lollipop builds OC1 and OF1 so that you can no longer downgrade to older builds from those.
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