Related
Backstory:
So last night my phone turned off by itself and wouldn't turn back on. My first thought it something with the ROM. So I boot to recovery and start a backup before I try to wipe/format etc. Long story short, it ended up being the battery just ate sh*t. So I got a new battery from Verizon, after I tried to ODIN back to stock though...
Problem:
I was on Hyperdrive RLS15, and I tried to Odin open1your1eyes MDK NoWipe. But my phone is just hanging on the Verizon screen. (it has been over half hr) My phone is MDK base (no safestrap), is that the right thing to flash? Is there anything else I have to do?
Thanks in advance, and forgive my naiveness. :silly:
fadac said:
Backstory:
So last night my phone turned off by itself and wouldn't turn back on. My first thought it something with the ROM. So I boot to recovery and start a backup before I try to wipe/format etc. Long story short, it ended up being the battery just ate sh*t. So I got a new battery from Verizon, after I tried to ODIN back to stock though...
Problem:
I was on Hyperdrive RLS15, and I tried to Odin open1your1eyes MDK NoWipe. But my phone is just hanging on the Verizon screen. (it has been over half hr) My phone is MDK base (no safestrap), is that the right thing to flash? Is there anything else I have to do?
Thanks in advance, and forgive my naiveness. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try the tar from here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2289325
Some have had better luck with this one
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Thanks, yes that worked. :good::good:
The name scared me (MKD) until I realized it was just a typo.
EDIT: A mod should really fix that. It's been like that since September even though a MKD never existed.
fadac said:
Thanks, yes that worked. :good::good:
The name scared me (MKD) until I realized it was just a typo.
EDIT: A mod should really fix that. It's been like that since September even though a MKD never existed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also I include a link to versions of MDK (full-wipe) and MJ7 (full-wipe) I uploaded (that is I didn't mirror them) in the MK2 Odin tar thread.
I see you were successful but ill include my link anyway. Maybe this will help others who read this.
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407573182
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Surge1223 said:
Also I include a link to versions of MDK (full-wipe) and MJ7 (full-wipe) I uploaded (that is I didn't mirror them) in the MK2 Odin tar thread.
I see you were successful but ill include my link anyway. Maybe this will help others who read this.
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407573182
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I'm on MDK now with HD RLS15, is there any benefit flashing up to MJ7 or MK2? Do they all require Odin or is there recovery flashables?
Thanks
fadac said:
So I'm on MDK now with HD RLS15, is there any benefit flashing up to MJ7 or MK2? Do they all require Odin or is there recovery flashables?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO!
Don't do it. A part of me dies everytime i hear someone intentionally upgraded their S4 from MDK to a newer locked down version.
I
fadac said:
So I'm on MDK now with HD RLS15, is there any benefit flashing up to MJ7 or MK2? Do they all require Odin or is there recovery flashables?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're going to want to keep your bootloader MDK. With MDK you an flash any ROM you want, AOSP , AOKP , CM , TW..... 4.3...4.4 you name it.
If you updated to MK2 base you'd take away your options. You'd only be able to flash TW ROMs that are based on whatever build your phone is ...MK2 is 4.3 . And your only recovery would be SafeStrap. Not TWRP or CWM
How did end up with HD15 ? Flashed in recovery right? You can find any number of ROMs on these forums that are based off of MK2 or MJ7 and just flash them in recovery.
Follow me?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Mistertac said:
I
You're going to want to keep your bootloader MDK. With MDK you an flash any ROM you want, AOSP , AOKP , CM , TW..... 4.3...4.4 you name it.
If you updated to MK2 base you'd take away your options. You'd only be able to flash TW ROMs that are based on whatever build your phone is ...MK2 is 4.3 . And your only recovery would be SafeStrap. Not TWRP or CWM
How did end up with HD15 ? Flashed in recovery right? You can find any number of ROMs on these forums that are based off of MK2 or MJ7 and just flash them in recovery.
Follow me?
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha. Yes recovery. HD says it's MK2 based, but my phone build still says MDK in the About screen. That's why I was wondering. Come to think of it though, doesn't that just display the Modem version (which is recovery flashable), correct?
fadac said:
Gotcha. Yes recovery. HD says it's MK2 based, but my phone build still says MDK in the About screen. That's why I was wondering. Come to think of it though, doesn't that just display the Modem version (which is recovery flashable), correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. MDK is your bootloader/Build and MK2 would be your baseband/modem.
Grab this app and it will show you everything https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo
And Surge has a thread on here of all our modems which are flashable through recovery although your probably good to stick with MK2 for now.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Had a note 3 but just switched back to my note 2. I am a super noob, but read for a little bit and had originally rooted and unlocked my note 2.
Now that I am using this phone again should I update the software to stock 4.3?
...and if yes how should I do it? can I keep root? can I just odin MJ9 or ND3?
Here are the current phone specs:
4.1.2
baseband version: I605VRAMC3
Kernel version: 3.0.31
rooted and bootloader unlocked (i think I used casual)
crm recovery 6.0.3.0
OTA updates fail because of the custom recovery, but I still have to defer verizon asking to update software once a day...which is way annoying.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
theomms said:
Had a note 3 but just switched back to my note 2. I am a super noob, but read for a little bit and had originally rooted and unlocked my note 2.
Now that I am using this phone again should I update the software to stock 4.3?
...and if yes how should I do it? can I keep root? can I just odin MJ9 or ND3?
Here are the current phone specs:
4.1.2
baseband version: I605VRAMC3
Kernel version: 3.0.31
rooted and bootloader unlocked (i think I used casual)
crm recovery 6.0.3.0
OTA updates fail because of the custom recovery, but I still have to defer verizon asking to update software once a day...which is way annoying.
Any advice is appreciated. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578458
Please don't take any OTA updates. You could lock your phone for life.
@theomms
It’s good that you didn’t successfully take the 4.3 stock OTA from Verizon, because it would have locked your bootloader and there's currently no method to unlock it. If you just want to stay on rooted stock 4.1.2, there are ways to stop the OTA notification. A Google search for sdm+stop+OTA+schi605 should give you some help to stop the OTA prompts. I am still on 4.1.2 running Beanstown106's JellyBeans ROM build 22 and I am really happy with it. You can still grab build 22 for 4.1.2 from the link to older downloads on the Alliance ROM's post #1 (Beanstown106 provides a link to his Android File Host where he has all of the older JellyBeans ROM builds. Build 22 was the last one he did for 4.1.2).
If you think you’d prefer to update to rooted 4.3 stock, then that link that Deeked gave you will let you do that and keep an unlocked bootloader. You’ll probably want to update your recovery to a newer version first. The install instructions tell you to ODIN flash the MJ9 firmware, then use your recovery to install the rooted MJ9 stock ROM. I’ve read where people recommend that before installing the ROM, you should go into recovery and wipe data, the dalvik cache, cache, format the system… and then finally install the stock rooted 4.3 ROM from your external SD card. Also, there’s a build prop edit that you’ll need to do to avoid problems with random reboots on stock rooted 4.3 MJ9 — see this post from Beanstown106 where he talks about it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49737536&highlight=ro+tima=0#post49737536
Good luck
Deeked said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578458
Please don't take any OTA updates. You could lock your phone for life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mattnmag said:
@theomms
It’s good that you didn’t successfully take the 4.3 stock OTA from Verizon, because it would have locked your bootloader and there's currently no method to unlock it. If you just want to stay on rooted stock 4.1.2, there are ways to stop the OTA notification. A Google search for sdm+stop+OTA+schi605 should give you some help to stop the OTA prompts. I am still on 4.1.2 running Beanstown106's JellyBeans ROM build 22 and I am really happy with it. You can still grab build 22 for 4.1.2 from the link to older downloads on the Alliance ROM's post #1 (Beanstown106 provides a link to his Android File Host where he has all of the older JellyBeans ROM builds. Build 22 was the last one he did for 4.1.2).
If you think you’d prefer to update to rooted 4.3 stock, then that link that Deeked gave you will let you do that and keep an unlocked bootloader. You’ll probably want to update your recovery to a newer version first. The install instructions tell you to ODIN flash the MJ9 firmware, then use your recovery to install the rooted MJ9 stock ROM. I’ve read where people recommend that before installing the ROM, you should go into recovery and wipe data, the dalvik cache, cache, format the system… and then finally install the stock rooted 4.3 ROM from your external SD card. Also, there’s a build prop edit that you’ll need to do to avoid problems with random reboots on stock rooted 4.3 MJ9 — see this post from Beanstown106 where he talks about it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49737536&highlight=ro+tima=0#post49737536
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you both! This worked like a charm! fully updated :highfive:
theomms said:
Thank you both! This worked like a charm! fully updated :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:thumbup:
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Hello all,
I've rooted several phones in the past, but have been having more trouble with my verizon galaxy s4 than I have with the rest. Not so much with the processes themselves, those were easy, but with feeling comfortable with the guides I am using since there are so many different builds and versions.
I had stock NG6, I felt comfortable and succeeded in rooting using the kernel flash and downgrade method (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/general/how-to-root-i545vrufng6-t2905848).
Now I'm looking to get a ROM backup of my current config (reflashed to NG6) or a stock ROM i can flash. I downloaded the ROM Manager CWM offers in the playstore, but when I ran it after install it requires a custom recovery, as per usual. I say "OK" and I end up with the following:
SAMSUNG
Samsung Galaxy S4 (Verizon)
jfltevzw
UNSUPPORTED DEVICE
Device not Listed Above
Click here if your device is not shown in the list above.
I was a little worried about the jfltevzw under the first option, since I was unable to find anything in the various information my phone tells me (build, kernel, etc) that matches that string.
Normally I never post unless I truly can't find anything... but I've spent about 2 hours looking through stickies and instructions here and on other sites for creating a recovery and installing SS/CyanogenMod, and I haven't had any luck. I've rooted quite a few devices and I use this forum as my go-to, so I was wondering if anyone could point me in the right direction?
dev info:
Carrier: verizon
model: I545
droid ver: 4.4.2
kernel: 3.4.0
baseband: I545VRUFNG6
status: rooted (from NG6 via flash to NC5 -> root w/ towelroot -> flash NG6)
any help is appreciated!
Thanks!
As of right now you can't install AOSP roms
Safestrap is the Only recovery you can use. No CWM, TWRP Or cyanogen or any other AOSP Roms. Look for the threads about safestrap with your ng6 . And Roms that work with safestrap. Hyper drive is a good one, along with several others.
Oh. And extremely limited for kernels.
wtherrell said:
Safestrap is the Only recovery you can use. No CWM, TWRP Or cyanogen or any other AOSP Roms. Look for the threads about safestrap with your ng6 . And Roms that work with safestrap. Hyper drive is a good one, along with several others.
Oh. And extremely limited for kernels.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK. Will do, thanks!
Do you think it might be good to flash NC5 and stay there even though my phone was stock NG6? Not like I'm really concerned with the new stock features.
edit: the only thing bothering me so far rooting with the method i used is I haven't had any random reboots... some people were reporting upwards of 30/day and I haven't had a problem in ~4 hours. Seems inconsistent ><
I've been trying to install SS via flashing the NC5 first then installing, but I'm having a lot of crash/reboots attempting to get anything going on my phone.
there a version of SS that can be installed on NG6?
No different kernel, it won't install
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
kongmingtwo said:
there a version of SS that can be installed on NG6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will need to Odin back to NC5 using the full wipe .tar then use the rooting method at the bottom of this OP in order for the safestrap app to work correctly: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/general/how-to-root-i545vrufng6-t2905848
muniz_ri said:
You will need to Odin back to NC5 using the full wipe .tar then use the rooting method at the bottom of this OP in order for the safestrap app to work correctly: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/general/how-to-root-i545vrufng6-t2905848
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't actually have SS installed yet, working on that.
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95784891001611119
Safestrap 3.75v sch-I545 kitkat A03 for NG6
Hello everyone,
I'm looking to flash my Verizon S4 i545 for the first time. I have the NK1 Build on it. So far, I've rooted it with towel root and have safestrap 3.75 installed.
From doing my research it seems that having the NK1 build prevents me from flashing some roms such as CM11. All I really want from my s4 (had it since launch) is to have the best performance and battery life possible. I'm not looking to do anything fancy beyond that. From some online reading, it seems Hyperdrive might be the best rom for my needs.
How can I go about installing the Hyperdrive rom? (which version should I look out for considering I have NK1)
What precautions should I take before attempting to install?
What other custom roms can I install onto my S4 NK1 build?
Thank you in advance!
I hace the same thing, and muy SE is enforcing. I dont know if that is important.
fma0204 said:
Hello everyone,
I'm looking to flash my Verizon S4 i545 for the first time. I have the NK1 Build on it. So far, I've rooted it with towel root and have safestrap 3.75 installed.
From doing my research it seems that having the NK1 build prevents me from flashing some roms such as CM11. All I really want from my s4 (had it since launch) is to have the best performance and battery life possible. I'm not looking to do anything fancy beyond that. From some online reading, it seems Hyperdrive might be the best rom for my needs.
How can I go about installing the Hyperdrive rom? (which version should I look out for considering I have NK1)
What precautions should I take before attempting to install?
What other custom roms can I install onto my S4 NK1 build?
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Honestly, you should downgrade back to nc5 from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172 You won't be able to install any CM or AOSP rom since you're not on mdk. Hyperdrive is a good rom. Echoerom and Eclipse are solid as well. They're also based on nc5 and you'll likely not have too many problems if you downgrade back.
Hi i try ti downgrade to nc5 and did not Work the phone freeze. I try hyperrom i like it but WiFi never Work and have to do a restore and lost root and safestrap, i think i cant go back to nc5
Nevermind i did it but stay on nk1
---------- Post added at 07:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------
Hightower24 said:
Honestly, you should downgrade back to nc5 from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172 You won't be able to install any CM or AOSP rom since you're not on mdk. Hyperdrive is a good rom. Echoerom and Eclipse are solid as well. They're also based on nc5 and you'll likely not have too many problems if you downgrade back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i downgrade should be stable?, nc5 has better compatibility?, please help i am now nk1 rooted SS installed and ready yo flash, i try hyperdrive but WiFi was broken another good ROM ?? I like vainilla android por nexus experience thx
I was on nk1 and I was able to flash Echoe Rom v29 using safestrap. I tried downgrading to nc5 but it was too buggy to flash a rom the phone just kept restarting.
This is the rom that I used just scroll down to the one for i545:
http://galaxys4root.com/t-mobile-galaxy-s4-roms/how-to-convert-galaxy-s4-into-galaxy-s5/
After flashing the wifi did not work but there is a fix here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...29-s5-port-t3043750/post59177154#post59177154
luisdroid5000 said:
Nevermind i did it but stay on nk1
---------- Post added at 07:55 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:50 PM ----------
If i downgrade should be stable?, nc5 has better compatibility?, please help i am now nk1 rooted SS installed and ready yo flash, i try hyperdrive but WiFi was broken another good ROM ?? I like vainilla android por nexus experience thx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use the full wipe nc5, it shouldn't be buggy. It's like having a clean slate. For myself, I've always had better success from nc5 than nk1.
ckarras11 said:
I was on nk1 and I was able to flash Echoe Rom v29 using safestrap. I tried downgrading to nc5 but it was too buggy to flash a rom the phone just kept restarting.
This is the rom that I used just scroll down to the one for i545:
http://galaxys4root.com/t-mobile-galaxy-s4-roms/how-to-convert-galaxy-s4-into-galaxy-s5/
After flashing the wifi did not work but there is a fix here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...29-s5-port-t3043750/post59177154#post59177154
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You'll need wifi modules for echoe. There's a lot you need for echoe but it is the better rom imo. I'm using 39.1
Hightower24 said:
Honestly, you should downgrade back to nc5 from this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172 You won't be able to install any CM or AOSP rom since you're not on mdk. Hyperdrive is a good rom. Echoerom and Eclipse are solid as well. They're also based on nc5 and you'll likely not have too many problems if you downgrade back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will downgrading to NC5 No Wipe remove root?
Thanks
technique00 said:
Will downgrading to NC5 No Wipe remove root?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe either one will. But from nc5, you just need towelroot
Hightower24 said:
I believe either one will. But from nc5, you just need towelroot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. So would it be an accurate statement that at this point in time, unless someone just wants a stock rooted nk1, there's really no point in rooting an nk1 because you just need to downgrade to nc5 anyway, and then re-root again, in order to flash any custom roms; And you do not need root to downgrade via Odin, correct?
technique00 said:
thanks. So would it be an accurate statement that at this point in time, unless someone just wants a stock rooted nk1, there's really no point in rooting an nk1 because you just need to downgrade to nc5 anyway, and then re-root again, in order to flash any custom roms; And you do not need root to downgrade via Odin, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For me it's just preference. Most roms are nc5 based. There are modules and fixes out for those on nk1, but for me, I have always had issues with it. Downgrading to nc5 eliminated the problems. You still need to flash modules and wifi fixes, but I find it to be far more stable. No, you don't need to be rooted to use Odin. If you do plan on downgrading, I would suggest the full wipe. Some have experienced issues with the non wipe. Hope all this helps.
luisdroid5000 said:
Hi i try ti downgrade to nc5 and did not Work the phone freeze. I try hyperrom i like it but WiFi never Work and have to do a restore and lost root and safestrap, i think i cant go back to nc5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also had NC5 originally and upgraded to NK1 by accident and now that i have tried to downgrade to NC5 my phone freezes i get a notification that the android.process.acore, process.acore.media and that Gmail has stopped and i can't do anything, any fix or recommendations ? I did the no wipe factory with odin 3.09 from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
Thanks for the help.
FedeHolyGhost said:
I also had NC5 originally and upgraded to NK1 by accident and now that i have tried to downgrade to NC5 my phone freezes i get a notification that the android.process.acore, process.acore.media and that Gmail has stopped and i can't do anything, any fix or recommendations ? I did the no wipe factory with odin 3.09 from this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2735172
Thanks for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do the full wipe nc5, it should take care of it. The non wipe is hit or miss when it comes to problems.
luisdroid5000 said:
Hi i try ti downgrade to nc5 and did not Work the phone freeze. I try hyperrom i like it but WiFi never Work and have to do a restore and lost root and safestrap, i think i cant go back to nc5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hightower24 said:
Do the full wipe nc5, it should take care of it. The non wipe is hit or miss when it comes to problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks just did it and it worked, i could finally install safestrap now and did the full wipe and install of the JFLTE-GPE rom ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031 ) and after succesfully installation and reboot it just boots into android recovery. Any fix ? Thanks
FedeHolyGhost said:
Thanks just did it and it worked, i could finally install safestrap now and did the full wipe and install of the JFLTE-GPE rom ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031 ) and after succesfully installation and reboot it just boots into android recovery. Any fix ? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also tried flashing the cm12 with safestrap and happened the same, what am i doing wrong ?
FedeHolyGhost said:
Also tried flashing the cm12 with safestrap and happened the same, what am i doing wrong ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We can't flash cm or any aosp roms. Our phones are locked down. There might be 1 or 2 GPE roms that will work with some tweaking. Other than that, we are stuck with TW based roms
Hightower24 said:
We can't flash cm or any aosp roms. Our phones are locked down. There might be 1 or 2 GPE roms that will work with some tweaking. Other than that, we are stuck with TW based roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah i noticed that lol, at least i've been learning a lot of things about how to flash, odin, the bootloaer, the roms, firmware etc. I managed to install hyperrom's last version and it's pretty decent. Fcuk Verizon btw
You can use SuperNexus ROM. It works with safestrap. You can also use Kitpop ROM.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
I got a used Note 2 that was already updated to the mj9 version with the locked bootloader. I rooted it using saferoot and installed safestrap.. Been trying out the mj9 roms and I like the ones I've used, but I want to know if there's a way to update this still awesome beast of a phone to nd7 or higher. I've downloaded the I605VRUFND7_I605VZWFND7_VZW.zip file from samroms, but it's still sitting untouched because I haven't seen anything definite.. I'm currently running Alliance build 26 mj9 version, but I also have build 30 nd7 version and Nephilim.STABLE.EMJ9.ROM.v8.0-FINAL-R3Ds.zip
downloaded and sitting on my sdcard with the official nd7 update from samroms..
Basically I wonder if I can just Odin the official samroms nd7? If there is a bootimg I need to delete first? Can I wipe and install the alliance build 30 for nd7?
I suppose mainly I want to get a newer Android version going and want to know the best way to go about it.. The phone isn't activated with Verizon, and I only use it on Wi-Fi, not as an actual phone..
Any tips, suggestions, or ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance to the best community out there..
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
The:Dude said:
I got a used Note 2 that was already updated to the mj9 version with the locked bootloader. I rooted it using saferoot and installed safestrap.. Been trying out the mj9 roms and I like the ones I've used, but I want to know if there's a way to update this still awesome beast of a phone to nd7 or higher. I've downloaded the I605VRUFND7_I605VZWFND7_VZW.zip file from samroms, but it's still sitting untouched because I haven't seen anything definite.. I'm currently running Alliance build 26 mj9 version, but I also have build 30 nd7 version and Nephilim.STABLE.EMJ9.ROM.v8.0-FINAL-R3Ds.zip
downloaded and sitting on my sdcard with the official nd7 update from samroms..
Basically I wonder if I can just Odin the official samroms nd7? If there is a bootimg I need to delete first? Can I wipe and install the alliance build 30 for nd7?
I suppose mainly I want to get a newer Android version going and want to know the best way to go about it.. The phone isn't activated with Verizon, and I only use it on Wi-Fi, not as an actual phone..
Any tips, suggestions, or ideas are appreciated. Thanks in advance to the best community out there..
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since your bootloader is locked (and the bootloader is unlockable on 4.3+), the only options I can think of for you would be to.... 1). either stay on 4.3 MJ9 with Safestrap and use 4.3 stock based roms - OR - 2). upgrade the phone to stock 4.4.2 and then root it with Ghettoroot and use Safestrap to run 4.4.2 stock based ROM's. (Due to having a locked bootloader-- you are forced to use stock based ROM's that use the stock kernel when using Safestrap). So, if your phone is on a 4.3 based bootloader - you have to stay with 4.3 based stock ROM's. Once you go to 4.4.2, you have to stay with 4.4.2 stock based ROM's.
My Note 2 is still on the 4.1.2 bootloader, so I haven't personally had to use Safestrap on the Note 2.... but I've read where others say that they've successfully used Safestrap on 4.4.2 after getting the phone rooted.
Personally, I prefer 4.3 to 4.4.2 on my Note 2. I could never find a 4.4.2 based ROM that didn't have some sort of bug that drove me crazy(ier). Either the bluetooth audio would stutter, I would get a lot of lagging with the UI, or would get poor battery life. However, many others report having good success with 4.4.2, so you might be happy with upgrading. I actually decided to come back to the 4.3/MJ9 based Jett ROM v. 3.0, as it does everything that I want in a ROM, works well with my Sony SW3 smartwatch, and runs very stable with great battery life. If you haven't tried out Jett ROM yet, you might want to give it a try (you can find it in the development forum).
Since your phone isn't activated - you obviously won't be getting OTA's, so you'll have to use ODIN if you want to upgrade. If you do decide to upgrade the phone to 4.4.2, you won't be able to return to 4.3 again due to the locked bootloader issue. Also.... if you upgrade 4.4.2, you may want to restore back to total stock 4.3 first and make sure it's wiped clean with a factory reset-- just to make sure nothing is leftover that could mess up the upgrade to 4.4.2.
Good luck!
Hey mattnmag, thanks for the info! It was a good read, and I didn't realize that if I upgraded to kit kat I wouldn't be able to downgrade back to jellybean if I didn't like it.. I've still got all the files I need except for the mj9 stock firmware, so I'll have to dl that before I get too crazy with this thing..
But I did dl the Jett ROM, and I'm gonna give that a run later tonight probably.. Just gotta get my backups onto the PC first just in case.. I hate doing full wipes though.. Because I'm lazy and don't like reinstalling everything lol..
What I'd really like it's too have my cyanogenmod back.. I had that on my old Droid RAZR and loved it..
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