Related
So I have my stock S4 on MJ7 rooted already, now I want to flash custom recovery or boot strap recovery, but when I run the safestrap .apk on my phone it just makes Titanium Backup and KNOX both crash, and then I try booting into recovery but my phone just boots like normal, with no recovery option. How can I get this custom recovery on my MJ7 phone so I can start flashing custom ROMs? I absolutely can not stand this stock touchwiz crap. Sorry if this has been explained before, but the verizon section is so full of threads its impossible to find anything.
All we have is root on 4.3 right now. No Safestrap or Loki, so no custom recovery. Sorry.
We should presumably be able to get Safestrap soon since hashcode has it working on the Note 3 with 4.3 but at this point yes there is currently nothing other than a root. A totally unlocked bootloader isn't anywhere in sight either.
thcaddict said:
So I have my stock S4 on MJ7 rooted already, now I want to flash custom recovery or boot strap recovery, but when I run the safestrap .apk on my phone it just makes Titanium Backup and KNOX both crash, and then I try booting into recovery but my phone just boots like normal, with no recovery option. How can I get this custom recovery on my MJ7 phone so I can start flashing custom ROMs? I absolutely can not stand this stock touchwiz crap. Sorry if this has been explained before, but the verizon section is so full of threads its impossible to find anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
LemonSlice said:
We should presumably be able to get Safestrap soon since hashcode has it working on the Note 3 with 4.3 but at this point yes there is currently nothing other than a root. A totally unlocked bootloader isn't anywhere in sight either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply. I was unaware there is no custom recovery, or anything else besides root. I can't wait until I can put a new ROM on this phone. I really wish I would not have ran the update as soon as I bought it. Coming from an s3 with custom roms for the last year its a real bummer having to run TouchWiz.
may I ask what is loki? I just moved to Verizon from another carrier... didn't have to put up with locked bootloaders or anything ridiculous like that with my old carrier
Loki is an exploitation method to bypass bootloader checks, which allows you to run full custom recoveries, kernels, etc.
Unfortunately, only the first firmware that this phone came out with, MDK, can use Loki.
I was in your situation, if you want to run AOSP on a VZW S4, buy an MDK version on Swappa, that's what I did.
Sent from the 215
Crawshayi said:
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So true, someone needs to make a sticky so we don't get 5+ new threads a week with the same question.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
richii0207 said:
So true, someone needs to make a sticky so we don't get 5+ new threads a week with the same question
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That won't help. Sadly, most people won't read the sticky threads.
mateopase said:
All we have is root on 4.3 right now. No Safestrap or Loki, so no custom recovery. Sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Crawshayi said:
That's sort of an understatement. You could have used search and found your answer in about 5 seconds.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure if the OP tried to use the search - but I've tried to use it several times over the past week and have gotten error messages from the site each & every time.
As a matter of fact - prior to submitting this reply - I received two different error messages when trying to search the word "root" in the "Search This Forum" box - just to test it out before I reply.
The "usual" error I get is: Search is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The other one lists actual trouble codes & has a link to notify an admin.
Believe me - I'm all for searching out info on forums - but when there are 7 sub-forums for the Verizon Galaxy S4 - and the search function isn't working - it's pretty easy to not find the info you're looking for.
Also - to the person asking about root on MJ7 - see the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4 General forum - and find the post titled "How to Root Build MJ7 and get SuperSU installed"
skny said:
Not sure if the OP tried to use the search - but I've tried to use it several times over the past week and have gotten error messages from the site each & every time.
As a matter of fact - prior to submitting this reply - I received two different error messages when trying to search the word "root" in the "Search This Forum" box - just to test it out before I reply.
The "usual" error I get is: Search is temporarily unavailable. We apologize for the inconvenience.
The other one lists actual trouble codes & has a link to notify an admin.
Believe me - I'm all for searching out info on forums - but when there are 7 sub-forums for the Verizon Galaxy S4 - and the search function isn't working - it's pretty easy to not find the info you're looking for.
Also - to the person asking about root on MJ7 - see the Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4 General forum - and find the post titled "How to Root Build MJ7 and get SuperSU installed"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no working safestrap version or custom recovery for MJ7. Custom recovery can only be installed on MDK. Safestrap works on ME7 and MI1, but flaky on MI1 from what I have read. You are SOL.
dincodee said:
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2511815&page=1
If we are all SOL for now, do we know if anyone is working on this? I would love to flash a custom ROM and rid myself of this garbage....
MJ7 Root
dincodee said:
Where is the directions for root on MJ7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is also this video by Tomsgt123 which lays it out nicely and tells you how to delete the chinese superuser app (if you are worried about that). I have not tried this method myself, just found the video while searching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mCsDyW-TI&feature=youtu.be
Good luck.
CoMtnMan said:
There is also this video by Tomsgt123 which lays it out nicely and tells you how to delete the chinese superuser app (if you are worried about that). I have not tried this method myself, just found the video while searching.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K5mCsDyW-TI&feature=youtu.be
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works well, rooted my dad's S4 this way and it put the american/english supersu app in there in place of the chinese one at the end
No unlocked boot loader/custom recovery yet but I check back every week
Can you achieve more on loki than safestrap?
Specifically, can you flash custom kernels?
If so I may jump ship for the g2 since it has loki support
I thought they had the same limitations.
crazysoccerman said:
Can you achieve more on loki than safestrap?
Specifically, can you flash custom kernels?
If so I may jump ship for the g2 since it has loki support
I thought they had the same limitations.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not speaking about the G2, but loki allows you to bypass the locked bootloader, which then permits you to flash whatever recovery, kernels, and ROMs that you want. On the I545, once you're past MDK, Loki won't work.
k1mu said:
Not speaking about the G2, but loki allows you to bypass the locked bootloader, which then permits you to flash whatever recovery, kernels, and ROMs that you want. On the I545, once you're past MDK, Loki won't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought safestrap did the same thing?
You can't flash kernels on safestrap, right?
crazysoccerman said:
I thought safestrap did the same thing?
You can't flash kernels on safestrap, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, which is why it's not the same thing as Loki'd MDK. On anything later than MDK, you can't replace the stock recovery (but can boot into a Safestrap recovery), can't flash custom kernels, etc. On MDK, you can flash any ROM that's compatible with the phone's hardware. Using Safestrap, you can only use ROMs that are compatible with the stock kernel.
Safestrap gets you most of what you get from an unlocked bootloader, just not everything.
Thanks for your help. I made sure to hit the thanks button.
I'm going to return my s4 for a g2.
I don't think samsung and verizon considered the cost of returned phones because of lack of mod ability. Hopefully users on verizon and at&t aren't witnessing the end of a modding era.
It's sad to see what two years since I purchased my gnex has brought to the modding community. Rather than making awesome new features, developers are fighting for the ability to mod at all.
I also find it hypocritical that newer versions of android and proprietary interfaces have copied features that were originally on custom mods.
A while back when I first got my Verizon Note 2, I used Adam Outler's Casual method to root my phone to Stock. I don't mind stock and root mostly for the Tethering.
About a week back the OTA notice hit my phone. I have declined the notice/update twice giving myself time to look for the root update. I found this thread by Beans: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518704 ........ It seems right but this thread by AdamOutler says not to use ODIN: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2045563
So I am a little confused. I just want the update but don't want to mess up and not have my tethering ever again.... or brick the phone.
As a newbie, it's a scary task. Someone please help point me in the right direction. I just want the 4.3 Stock. If there is a thread for my situation I couldn't find it. I search "casual TWRP 4.3 OTA" and other similar variations.
I can still get to the TWRP 2.5.0.0. I have also downloaded the ODIN and started it... looks simple, but there are no instructions.
Someone please help me...
Thanks
MrNewbie said:
A while back when I first got my Verizon Note 2, I used Adam Outler's Casual method to root my phone to Stock. I don't mind stock and root mostly for the Tethering.
About a week back the OTA notice hit my phone. I have declined the notice/update twice giving myself time to look for the root update. I found this thread by Beans: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518704 ........ It seems right but this thread by AdamOutler says not to use ODIN: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2045563
So I am a little confused. I just want the update but don't want to mess up and not have my tethering ever again.... or brick the phone.
As a newbie, it's a scary task. Someone please help point me in the right direction. I just want the 4.3 Stock. If there is a thread for my situation I couldn't find it. I search "casual TWRP 4.3 OTA" and other similar variations.
I can still get to the TWRP 2.5.0.0. I have also downloaded the ODIN and started it... looks simple, but there are no instructions.
Someone please help me...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Welp, couple things...
#1 - The link you posted above is the from the Note 3. You want this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578458
#2, The ROM gets flashed via CWM or TRWP like normal, it's only the radio update that gets flashed via ODIN. That shouldn't affect your current unlock/root status.
#3 - If it is only ROOT you are after, the 4.3 OTA is Rootable, just not unlockable. So if by chance you accidentally take the OTA you should still be able to ROOT and install your Tethering app. You just won't be able to unlock the bootloader and install a custom recovery/rom.
Jiggabitties said:
Welp, couple things...
#3 - If it is only ROOT you are after, the 4.3 OTA is Rootable, just not unlockable. So if by chance you accidentally take the OTA you should still be able to ROOT and install your Tethering app. You just won't be able to unlock the bootloader and install a custom recovery/rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if you are OTA'd to MJ9, how do you unlock?
SteveHebe said:
So if you are OTA'd to MJ9, how do you unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot. Best bet is to not take the other and unlock your bootloader. If you take it you will probably be locked for a very long time.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
michigan66 said:
You cannot. Best bet is to not take the other and unlock your bootloader. If you take it you will probably be locked for a very long time.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SteveHebe said:
So if you are OTA'd to MJ9, how do you unlock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, you cannot currently UNLOCK the OTA MJ9 boot loader. But you can ROOT. Which will allow you to tether.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
MrNewbie said:
A while back when I first got my Verizon Note 2, I used Adam Outler's Casual method to root my phone to Stock. I don't mind stock and root mostly for the Tethering.
About a week back the OTA notice hit my phone. I have declined the notice/update twice giving myself time to look for the root update. I found this thread by Beans: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2518704 ........ It seems right but this thread by AdamOutler says not to use ODIN: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2045563
So I am a little confused. I just want the update but don't want to mess up and not have my tethering ever again.... or brick the phone.
As a newbie, it's a scary task. Someone please help point me in the right direction. I just want the 4.3 Stock. If there is a thread for my situation I couldn't find it. I search "casual TWRP 4.3 OTA" and other similar variations.
I can still get to the TWRP 2.5.0.0. I have also downloaded the ODIN and started it... looks simple, but there are no instructions.
Someone please help me...
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would think long and hard about taking the OTA...although root is available, you may want an unlocked bootloader at some point, and there is no guarantee that is coming to the official 4.3. My guess is that it will not simply because this phone is 18 months old and the skilled developers that put in the time to do things like unlock bootloaders move on to newer devices.
If you managed to use Casual in the past, Odin won't be a problem for you. Below are the steps:
Odin takes about 5 minutes total...its really easy.
Download Odin (it's just a simple windows program). - http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...3&d=1304094576
Make sure you have the latest samsung drivers - http://www.mediafire.com/?hzlnda0l5t8qyes
Download and extract the firmware from the first post in this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578458
Save whatever 4.3 ROM you choose to your external SD card.
Power down the phone and boot back into download mode (volume down, power and home at the same time).
Open Odin, plug in phone...Odin should recognize the phone and you will see the com port noted in yellow.
Check the PDA box and put the firmware file (unzipped) in the PDA slot. Click start and 30 seconds later you are done. Phone will reboot into recovery at this point.
Then you can flash any of the 4.3 ROMs (including stock) in TWRP (I use 2.5.0.0 too). I have tried them all and Sophisticated 3.0 has worked the best for me...I will be trying beans 23 as soon as it is done.
tfly212 said:
I would think long and hard about taking the OTA...although root is available, you may want an unlocked bootloader at some point, and there is no guarantee that is coming to the official 4.3. My guess is that it will not simply because this phone is 18 months old and the skilled developers that put in the time to do things like unlock bootloaders move on to newer devices.
If you managed to use Casual in the past, Odin won't be a problem for you. Below are the steps:
Odin takes about 5 minutes total...its really easy.
Download Odin (it's just a simple windows program). - http://forum.xda-developers.com/atta...3&d=1304094576
Make sure you have the latest samsung drivers - http://www.mediafire.com/?hzlnda0l5t8qyes
Download and extract the firmware from the first post in this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578458
Save whatever 4.3 ROM you choose to your external SD card.
Power down the phone and boot back into download mode (volume down, power and home at the same time).
Open Odin, plug in phone...Odin should recognize the phone and you will see the com port noted in yellow.
Check the PDA box and put the firmware file (unzipped) in the PDA slot. Click start and 30 seconds later you are done. Phone will reboot into recovery at this point.
Then you can flash any of the 4.3 ROMs (including stock) in TWRP (I use 2.5.0.0 too). I have tried them all and Sophisticated 3.0 has worked the best for me...I will be trying beans 23 as soon as it is done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much. Updated and everything seem to work just fine, but after some use it started rebooting. I am going to put on Sophisticated as you suggested. Hopefully, it will be more stable then the stock ROM.
And I can't get the WIFI Tethering to work. Which Tethering app are you using? I have unlimited data... and need to make sure Verizon isn't charging me for no reason.
MrNewbie said:
Thank you so much. Updated and everything seem to work just fine, but after some use it started rebooting. I am going to put on Sophisticated as you suggested. Hopefully, it will be more stable then the stock ROM.
And I can't get the WIFI Tethering to work. Which Tethering app are you using? I have unlimited data... and need to make sure Verizon isn't charging me for no reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had some reboots on the stock rom too...but once I went to the other roms (I tried Nephilium, Sophisticated and N3bula, but had the best results with Sophisticated) and I haven't had one reboot.
As for the wifi tethering, on stock you need to flash the file below (some of the newer roms, including Sophisticated have it baked in).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48315091&postcount=245
IS anybody getting close to an unlock/root post VRUEMJ9 VZWi605 Note 2.
the reason I ask is I unrooted back to stock 4.1.1 and then picked up the VZW OTA 4.3 and now can't use Casual or any other method, I can root but not unlock bootloader. well anybody have any Ideas? thank you.
david515 said:
the reason I ask is I unrooted back to stock 4.1.1 and then picked up the VZW OTA 4.3 and now can't use Casual or any other method, I can root but not unlock bootloader. well anybody have any Ideas? thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason you ask what? You didn't ask anything. And as it's been stated a million times, no unlock method avaliable and unlikely there will be one.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
akellar said:
The reason you ask what? You didn't ask anything. And as it's been stated a million times, no unlock method avaliable and unlikely there will be one.
Sent from my SCH-I605 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eh, he is one of those that puts the question in his title instead of the body of the reply. But as @akellar said, there is nothing available.
Thanks so much for all the help. I got everything working right based on the instructions from this thread. I initially had an issue with the "Wifi Tether" because I was using a 3rd party app. Instead the correct app is the "Mobile Hotspot" app. It might be named differently for other carriers, but for Verizon it is "Mobile Hotspot".
Again thank you for all the replies.
Thank you for Sophisticated v3.
Thank you Adam Outler for the original Casual root.
And Thank you runandhide05 for the "Mobile Hotspot" hack!
:good::fingers-crossed: LOL
Hey, first post here but I've been reading some threads since 2011.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (I have experience with custom roms and such with the Droid Charge, also Samsung. See a pattern?).
I rooted it a while back, but recently have been experiencing quite a bit of instability so I wanted to try a custom rom (Hyperdrive is the one that I'm looking at but that's kinda irrelevant to this post).
The problem for me is that every guide expects me to be rooted with the custom recovery. I am rooted, and I did have CWM installed to perform the root, but now for some reason recovery boots into stock and I haven't been able to load any custom recoveries. I tried the CWM Rom Manager app to get CWM back, but it didn't seem to work (touch or normal). I have also tried Goo Manager to get TWRP and that was a complete bust.
I noticed one or two other methods involving safe-strap but I cannot for the life of me get safe-strap working on my phone and I've followed a couple guides several times without success.
I need someone to point me in the right direction to get a custom recovery back on my phone. I'm assuming something got screwed up somewhere along the line, so I'm not confident in these other methods but I'm trying to find a guide using Odin. Part of the problem seems to be that the Verizon phones aren't too common so all the guides and downloads are for a different model.
Please help, I'd prefer an Odin method but I'm open to suggestions.
cdroid93 said:
Hey, first post here but I've been reading some threads since 2011.
I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 (I have experience with custom roms and such with the Droid Charge, also Samsung. See a pattern?).
I rooted it a while back, but recently have been experiencing quite a bit of instability so I wanted to try a custom rom (Hyperdrive is the one that I'm looking at but that's kinda irrelevant to this post).
The problem for me is that every guide expects me to be rooted with the custom recovery. I am rooted, and I did have CWM installed to perform the root, but now for some reason recovery boots into stock and I haven't been able to load any custom recoveries. I tried the CWM Rom Manager app to get CWM back, but it didn't seem to work (touch or normal). I have also tried Goo Manager to get TWRP and that was a complete bust.
I noticed one or two other methods involving safe-strap but I cannot for the life of me get safe-strap working on my phone and I've followed a couple guides several times without success.
I need someone to point me in the right direction to get a custom recovery back on my phone. I'm assuming something got screwed up somewhere along the line, so I'm not confident in these other methods but I'm trying to find a guide using Odin. Part of the problem seems to be that the Verizon phones aren't too common so all the guides and downloads are for a different model.
Please help, I'd prefer an Odin method but I'm open to suggestions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on NC5 then Safestrap is your only option. You are going to brick your phone if you just keep throwing recoveries at your phone until one sticks. If you are on MDK then your bootloader is unlocked and you can do what you want. Read the threads, that's what they're there for.
Jesus loves you!
Phone version
liljoe727 said:
If you are on NC5 then Safestrap is your only option. You are going to brick your phone if you just keep throwing recoveries at your phone until one sticks. If you are on MDK then your bootloader is unlocked and you can do what you want. Read the threads, that's what they're there for.
Jesus loves you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm actually on ME7. I haven't updated in a very long while because I wanted to root and then stop tinkering. That's not an option for me anymore for the stability reasons. I had over a year of rock solid performance though so it was a good run.
I was searching threads on this forum and others. This one seems to be more reliable than others (and a whole lot friendlier), but I still can't find what I'm looking for.
Maybe you can help me out by pointing out one of the threads that has what I need?
Thanks much.
cdroid93 said:
I'm actually on ME7. I haven't updated in a very long while because I wanted to root and then stop tinkering. That's not an option for me anymore for the stability reasons. I had over a year of rock solid performance though so it was a good run.
I was searching threads on this forum and others. This one seems to be more reliable than others (and a whole lot friendlier), but I still can't find what I'm looking for.
Maybe you can help me out by pointing out one of the threads that has what I need?
Thanks much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MDK, as I understand it, is the only bootloader that has been unlocked thus far. If you are still on ME7 and it's locked anyway, you may be better off just taking the update.
Jesus loves you!
liljoe727 said:
MDK, as I understand it, is the only bootloader that has been unlocked thus far. If you are still on ME7 and it's locked anyway, you may be better off just taking the update.
Jesus loves you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well obviously I've messed up my phone somehow, I don't think it's possible for me to just go to system settings and update. How do I go about this if that doesn't work?
cdroid93 said:
Okay, well obviously I've messed up my phone somehow, I don't think it's possible for me to just go to system settings and update. How do I go about this if that doesn't work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you can update via Samsung Keis, or if you know how to use ODIN you can flash the latest NC5 through ODIN. You'll find everything you'll need from here.
Forgot to say that after you upgrade you can root through towelroot which you can by searching this forum or Google it.
After you install busybox you should be able to install Safestrap, but if you can't, you need to download and install an app calle SElinuxmodechanger and set SElinux to permissive. Then you will be able to install Safestrap. Once you have SS you can only install ROMs on the Stock slot. non of the other slots work.
skeezer308 said:
Well you can update via Samsung Keis, or if you know how to use ODIN you can flash the latest NC5 through ODIN. You'll find everything you'll need from here.
Forgot to say that after you upgrade you can root through towelroot which you can by searching this forum or Google it.
After you install busybox you should be able to install Safestrap, but if you can't, you need to download and install an app calle SElinuxmodechanger and set SElinux to permissive. Then you will be able to install Safestrap. Once you have SS you can only install ROMs on the Stock slot. non of the other slots work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, for starters thank you. This is almost exactly what I needed. I've just got one more issue;
I cannot discern from what I've found on the forums or elsewhere what safestrap is safe for my phone now that I'm on NC5?
Thanks again for this, was a big help.
cdroid93 said:
Okay, for starters thank you. This is almost exactly what I needed. I've just got one more issue;
I cannot discern from what I've found on the forums or elsewhere what safestrap is safe for my phone now that I'm on NC5?
Thanks again for this, was a big help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
3.72
Jesus loves you!
Also keep in mind that you can only install TW ROMs or GPE ROMs that are SS friendly. If you try to install Cyanogen or other AOSP ROMs that require custom kernels you run the chance of bricking your phone
So frustrated!
#1 was regular attempt w/device as is
#2 w/factory reset
#3 unrooted
#4 rooted and changed some system files (that I remember that had been modified....a camera mod, volume mod etc)..i thought Factory reset would have done that.
All 4 Failed
At a loss at this point.
Any help appreciated!
I have had a problem with FOTA twice as well. I also unrooted, and did a factory reset. Changed BBS back to a user app before unroot. Both times I got the FOTA it begins to install, gets to maybe 10% (guessing here) and then the Andy with the red triangle pops up with "ERROR!" beneath it. After that I have to boot into recovery and manually reboot.
Hopefully this doesn't hijack your thread, but when I tried to install the update with ADB, it tries to load the update, then ADB cannot see the device anymore.
rockky said:
So frustrated!
#1 was regular attempt w/device as is
#2 w/factory reset
#3 unrooted
#4 rooted and changed some system files (that I remember that had been modified....a camera mod, volume mod etc)..i thought Factory reset would have done that.
All 4 Failed
At a loss at this point.
Any help appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also am having the same issue. I tried once with root, once without, reset device and even tried removing my sd card. And it still fails. I have never done anything but root my device so im also very confused.
str33tprintz said:
I also am having the same issue. I tried once with root, once without, reset device and even tried removing my sd card. And it still fails. I have never done anything but root my device so im also very confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way may be to revert all the way back to 4.4.2 and start a fresh (watch out for all your data - back it up as this will wipe it probably)
blueether said:
The only way may be to revert all the way back to 4.4.2 and start a fresh (watch out for all your data - back it up as this will wipe it probably)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started to install 4.4.2 with adb in recovery following Doomlord's guide but as soon as I give the install command adb suddenly cannot see my device ?
Adb commands work fine up until that point, I'm throughly confused now. Do I need to unlock my bootloader to do that? I was under the impression that root and unlocked BL were not necessary for that.
I used towelroot to root my phone about a month ago. I read somewhere that the OTA update to Lolipop won't take unless it is absolutely stock. I am nopt the most knowledgeable about these things, so what exactly did using towelroot do that made it impossible to update to Lolipo OTA? How to I fix it so that Lolipop can be flashed to my phone? Thanks!
There's a 4.4.2 flashable zip I saw.
Can that not be flashed from the sdcard?
rockky said:
There's a 4.4.2 flashable zip I saw.
Can that not be flashed from the sdcard?
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I did read about going back to 4.4.2, but was unable to cohesively follow it. I think that people were having trouble downgrading. Also, would that make my phone totally, absolutely stock? Kind of hijacking the thread, but it is still relevant to the OP's issue. I don't mind spending time on something if I know the outcome will get me to where I want to be. Thanks!
jeraldjunkmail said:
I did read about going back to 4.4.2, but was unable to cohesively follow it. I think that people were having trouble downgrading. Also, would that make my phone totally, absolutely stock? Kind of hijacking the thread, but it is still relevant to the OP's issue. I don't mind spending time on something if I know the outcome will get me to where I want to be. Thanks!
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Try http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=57338156&postcount=97
I was simply messing around with my old Verizon GN2, because I need a phone to use in the absence of my htc one M9. I went to flash the "stock" version of the bootloader (the bootloaderbaseline2.tar) before I went in to do any real damage and the phone rejected it. The phone screen read the error message "wrong magic string" and the odin display reported that it dropped out after sboot.bin. Just curious whether you guys and your wisdom would have any insight in the matter? I would really prefer not to have to go out and buy another phone.
Also, woohoo for a first post on the forums.
Cordially,
Nixon
logannixon.la said:
I was simply messing around with my old Verizon GN2, because I need a phone to use in the absence of my htc one M9. I went to flash the "stock" version of the bootloader (the bootloaderbaseline2.tar) before I went in to do any real damage and the phone rejected it. The phone screen read the error message "wrong magic string" and the odin display reported that it dropped out after sboot.bin. Just curious whether you guys and your wisdom would have any insight in the matter? I would really prefer not to have to go out and buy another phone.
Also, woohoo for a first post on the forums.
Cordially,
Nixon
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Are you flashing the full firmware or just bootloader? What options did you have checked and where (in what slot, PDA?) did you put the file to run it? What version are you on, 4.4.2; 4.3? Have you unlocked it before?
bigmike35 said:
Are you flashing the full firmware or just bootloader? What options did you have checked and where (in what slot, PDA?) did you put the file to run it? What version are you on, 4.4.2; 4.3? Have you unlocked it before?
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I had this phone rooted before, but it wasn't playing well with what my sister wanted it for. So, I flashed a stock image and it rebooted into its stock form. That was two ish years ago. The bootloader was never unlocked. When I brought it back out to begin tinkering, a lot of guides said to flash the stock bootloader (the bootloaderbaseline2 file) and to repartition it before going ahead with something like CASUAL. Considering my sister used it as a daily driver for quite a while, it was probably on 4.3 or whatever the last update Verizon handed out was. I do remember checking to see whether or not it had any available updates and it said it was completely up to date. When I set it up to repartition and flash the BB2 file, it was in the bootloader slot. The Odin flash then failed at the sboot.bin output and the phone proceeded to slide into the good old "connect to Kies" screen. I tried several attempts to get the BB2 file to stick (putting it in all the slots and trying it without partition and auto reboot), but all were to no avail. I have since flashed multiple firmwares in the PDA slot with only the root66_vzw_stock_system.tar.md5 version completing. However, it now displays the "Device firmware is not from verizon. Please bring it into a Verizon store for help." I know the verizon reps will be useless, so I asked you beautiful people.
The only odin boxes that I played with were the top three.
Also, thanks for responding. I appreciate it.
Nixon
logannixon.la said:
I had this phone rooted before, but it wasn't playing well with what my sister wanted it for. So, I flashed a stock image and it rebooted into its stock form. That was two ish years ago. The bootloader was never unlocked. When I brought it back out to begin tinkering, a lot of guides said to flash the stock bootloader (the bootloaderbaseline2 file) and to repartition it before going ahead with something like CASUAL. Considering my sister used it as a daily driver for quite a while, it was probably on 4.3 or whatever the last update Verizon handed out was. I do remember checking to see whether or not it had any available updates and it said it was completely up to date. When I set it up to repartition and flash the BB2 file, it was in the bootloader slot. The Odin flash then failed at the sboot.bin output and the phone proceeded to slide into the good old "connect to Kies" screen. I tried several attempts to get the BB2 file to stick (putting it in all the slots and trying it without partition and auto reboot), but all were to no avail. I have since flashed multiple firmwares in the PDA slot with only the root66_vzw_stock_system.tar.md5 version completing. However, it now displays the "Device firmware is not from verizon. Please bring it into a Verizon store for help." I know the verizon reps will be useless, so I asked you beautiful people.
The only odin boxes that I played with were the top three.
Also, thanks for responding. I appreciate it.
Nixon
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Click to collapse
So it it on 4.4.2 then since all updates are up to date? If that is the case, you can only root using towel root. You can downgrade to 4.3 or 4.2.1 but you would need to send it in ($75) i believe or try the method here that is posted. If it is still on 4.3 i believe you can flash the 4.2.1 firmware and then run root running casual (disable firewall and antim virus else wont complete). Then find Beanstown thread and download the zip for the updated wifi/bootloader for 4.3 with ND7 radio (zip somewhere as well) to upgrade completely to newest radio/images (so it would be a 4.2.1 or 4.3 stock with complete root and unlocked). Then install TWRP and roms
bigmike35 said:
So it it on 4.4.2 then since all updates are up to date? If that is the case, you can only root using towel root. You can downgrade to 4.3 or 4.2.1 but you would need to send it in ($75) i believe or try the method here that is posted. If it is still on 4.3 i believe you can flash the 4.2.1 firmware and then run root running casual (disable firewall and antim virus else wont complete). Then find Beanstown thread and download the zip for the updated wifi/bootloader for 4.3 with ND7 radio (zip somewhere as well) to upgrade completely to newest radio/images (so it would be a 4.2.1 or 4.3 stock with complete root and unlocked). Then install TWRP and roms
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So, for the moment, is there any way to get it back to stock? I was trying to go the custom recovery route in the beginning, but I now just need a phone that works. I'm pretty sure it's the bootloader firmware that is preventing the device from booting completely. Thanks for all your help.
Nixon
logannixon.la said:
So, for the moment, is there any way to get it back to stock? I was trying to go the custom recovery route in the beginning, but I now just need a phone that works. I'm pretty sure it's the bootloader firmware that is preventing the device from booting completely. Thanks for all your help.
Nixon
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You can see if you can flash the full Verizon firmware. Should be able to find it here or on Samsungs website.
bigmike35 said:
You can see if you can flash the full Verizon firmware. Should be able to find it here or on Samsungs website.
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So the stock Verizon firmware will repair the broken bootloader? I'll give it a go. Thanks for the info.
Just a quick update. I flashed the stock firmware for 4.4.2 and everything went over swimmingly. The phone now boots all the way into the Verizon boot splash screen. It then sits there and will not progress. I've tried wiping cache and factory resetting, but it still hangs on the Verizon splash screen. Any pointers?
Thanks again,
Nixon
Another side update. It's still held up on the Verizon boot splash screen, but the led is now pulsing. *Shrugs in confusion
Nixon
logannixon.la said:
Another side update. It's still held up on the Verizon boot splash screen, but the led is now pulsing. *Shrugs in confusion
Nixon
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Ya i have had that issue before, but I did what you did is to wipe cache, data, factory and that normal let me get a full boot in.
bigmike35 said:
Ya i have had that issue before, but I did what you did is to wipe cache, data, factory and that normal let me get a full boot in.
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Yeah, I've tried the factory reset and wipe cache, it still gets caught in the Verizon boot loop. I'm not particularly sure what that else to do. The 4.4.2 stock md5 is the only one that will stick in Odin.
logannixon.la said:
Yeah, I've tried the factory reset and wipe cache, it still gets caught in the Verizon boot loop. I'm not particularly sure what that else to do. The 4.4.2 stock md5 is the only one that will stick in Odin.
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are you flashing it with the PIT file as well?
bigmike35 said:
are you flashing it with the PIT file as well?
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I think I tried with and without, but I'll give it a shot.
logannixon.la said:
I think I tried with and without, but I'll give it a shot.
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Ya put that in the PIT tab and firmware in PDA. When it finished, does it say complete or done (box turns green, near top left?)
Also, maybe try another firmware/version?
bigmike35 said:
Ya put that in the PIT tab and firmware in PDA. When it finished, does it say complete or done (box turns green, near top left?)
Also, maybe try another firmware/version?
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I tried the pit to no avail. Currently wiping again just for fun. Not sure if it helps, but the system recovery screen reads this