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
Related
Hey guys,
I have never felt more new than in this moment. I have lurked here long as I dig for my answers rather than imposing on the community for repeating themselves.
That being the case, I am embarassed to ask but, I cannot seem to find a thread listing the Baseband and linking them to the best behavior for the user if they have them.
I BELIEVE I have MDK because I have teamwin installed, I seem to remember installing the MJ7 radio via Kernel whicj may explain the VM7 in the Baseband while only running android 4.2.2.
The problem is that now most ROMs (I just want a Stock 4.3/4.4 with vzw tethering) tell me that I need to be on MDK safestrapped, is there a way to know for sure that my baseband is, in fact, MDK? Besides Baseband?
Thanks.
mastridonicus said:
Hey guys,
I have never felt more new than in this moment. I have lurked here long as I dig for my answers rather than imposing on the community for repeating themselves.
That being the case, I am embarassed to ask but, I cannot seem to find a thread listing the Baseband and linking them to the best behavior for the user if they have them.
I BELIEVE I have MDK because I have teamwin installed, I seem to remember installing the MJ7 radio via Kernel whicj may explain the VM7 in the Baseband while only running android 4.2.2.
The problem is that now most ROMs (I just want a Stock 4.3/4.4 with vzw tethering) tell me that I need to be on MDK safestrapped, is there a way to know for sure that my baseband is, in fact, MDK? Besides Baseband?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say that if you have TWRP you're on mdk. Safestrap is based off TWRP but you'd see a safestrap splash screen when rebooting.
Verizon Galaxy S4
SafeStrap 3.71
Hyperdrive 12
It's simple. If you have any custom recovery installed (twrp or cwm) you are on the original mdk firmware. No other firmware will allow custom recovery. And safestrap really only should be used if you can't get a custom recovery installed. Flashing a radio (baseband only changes) will not alter your firmware kernel or bootloader.
So I just got handed an S4 from a co-worker, I just spent an hour looking up info on root and stuff to load custom roms (looking mainly for CM11). My main problem seems to be all the shortened terms and everything associated with this phone, root vs unlocked bootloader vs etc, MK2?? NC5??. I can't seem to find any "newb" friendly breakdown of all of this. This isn't my first hacked device by far (I got an old DiNC and a ReZound for my last 2), but definitely the most confusing one. So here's the info I got on my phone: Galaxy S4, Verizon, SCH-I545, Android 4.4.2, VRUFNC5, hardware version: I545.06.
Can anyone point me in the right directions to understand better, and get me to my final destination of Custom rom? Or at least get me to understand this better?
I did search the first 5 pages of every section to see if there was a "newb-friendly" sticky but didn't seem to go anywhere fast, just made me more confused.
tong6998 said:
So I just got handed an S4 from a co-worker, I just spent an hour looking up info on root and stuff to load custom roms (looking mainly for CM11). My main problem seems to be all the shortened terms and everything associated with this phone, root vs unlocked bootloader vs etc, MK2?? NC5??. I can't seem to find any "newb" friendly breakdown of all of this. This isn't my first hacked device by far (I got an old DiNC and a ReZound for my last 2), but definitely the most confusing one. So here's the info I got on my phone: Galaxy S4, Verizon, SCH-I545, Android 4.4.2, VRUFNC5, hardware version: I545.06.
Can anyone point me in the right directions to understand better, and get me to my final destination of Custom rom? Or at least get me to understand this better?
I did search the first 5 pages of every section to see if there was a "newb-friendly" sticky but didn't seem to go anywhere fast, just made me more confused.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with a simple "newb friendly" page is that every update to the phone changes what you need to do to root and what you can run.
For your NC5 phone, you need to use Towelroot to root it. That gets you root, but you're stuck with the stock bootloader. That means that you can't directly run a custom ROM. You can use Safestrap to allocate space for an alternative ROM, which is almost the same as a fully unlocked phone. The big thing you lose is that you can't run arbitrary ROMs, just what's compatible with the stock kernel. No CM, no AOSP.
So, read up on Towelroot and Safestrap. Once you have those down, you should be n the way.
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
tong6998 said:
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usually, roms that are compatible with safestrap are labeled as such. Since nc5 doesn't allow custom kernels, you will stuck with touchwiz kernels, so usually the roms will look like the stock samsung experience or a themed version. If you want an aosp themed safestrap rom, get eclipse rom. If you want a 99% gpe s4 rom download the gpe edition safestrap rom( it has some bugs though).
Usually roms are located at the "Android development" section of the forum. The gpe rom thread is in the general section.
tong6998 said:
Yeah, I got towel root already installed, supersu running and added to system and Knox disabled. Where should I be looking at roms that I can run under safestrap? Or should I say which section of the forums? Thank you for your response btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The thing to keep in mind, is that safestrap loads too late to be able to replace the kernel. This is the limiting factor, your stuck on the stock kernel... Different versions of android and different versions of kernels may have slightly different functions/parameters coded into the kernel, so calling a newer function or calling a function with parameters that no longer match the new style will fail.... so if the rom wasn't directly designed for the stock kernel of the same version your using it likely won't work.
In practice that means you need a rom based on TW, that is the same version (NC5) as you are currently using. Not sure but there are likely a few changes the Rom make needs to add for safe strap compatibility... Basically when you look at the Rom's thread it will list a baseband (NC5) and say its safestrap compatible.
Thanks to all of you, that clears up a lot of confusion I had. Now where do I find out (or how do I decifer) if I'm MJ7/MK2/ME7/MI1? Or am I correct in assuming I'm NOT (all the builds I see for safestrap mention those only no NC5.
So I grabbed an S4 which did not have the Lollipop update right now I am on 4.4.2 NK1.
I've had an S3 for a while and hated that if i wanted to flash AOSP I had to use a ROM slot etc - is that the same for this phone? Can someone please advise what my best option is from here? Should I take the 5.0 update? Since I am on the older version can I root / ROM easier from here?
I've looked through the Q&A and android development. I don't see anything current about the base-band I am on. My phone keeps trying to push this update so I am posting in the main section to try to get comments before it "Auto pushes" and i'm SOL (This is what happened to me on my S3 and then I couldn't use any custom kernels or AOSP ROMS(Unless I used a ROM slot and I always felt this was laggy)
Any opinions are greatly appreciated - or even links that can get me to the right place, I don't mind reading or learning, I just need to know what thread I should go to so I don't waste my time reading threads that do not matter to my situation.
I'm not asking how to ROM/Root please don't get that confused - I know how to follow the below thread. I just want to know more info about my bootloader and steps taken to how I can flash the AOSP Dirty Unicorn ROM and if it can be done w/ a custom kernel or if I have to go through ROM slots / safestrap
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-root-i545vrufnk1-4-4-2-12-1-2014-t2959613
Thank you,
Stefan.
You cannot unlock the bootloader, flash Dirty Unicorns, AOSP, Cynanogenmod, etc.
Best you can do is use safestrap and either Kitpop(AOSP UI) Or Eclipse(AOSP UI).
You have to downgrade to nc5, find that in Android Development.
XxD34THxX said:
You cannot unlock the bootloader, flash Dirty Unicorns, AOSP, Cynanogenmod, etc.
Best you can do is use safestrap and either Kitpop(AOSP UI) Or Eclipse(AOSP UI).
You have to downgrade to nc5, find that in Android Development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I downgrade to nc5 can I then flash dirty unicorns? Or can I not at all? I would have to use safestrap / ROM slot in order to flash that?
So really if the upgrade pushes it makes no difference? (That is if I have root)
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
It makes no difference. Only way to flash dirty unicorns is mdk, and you cannot go back do to a qfuse being blown. Those two ROMs are the only AOSP ish options for you.
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.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Firs off I'm new here so a lot of this stuff is still foreign to me. I was able to get a brand new Verizon S4 with NC5. I have not even opened the box yet.
I want to upgrade to the best OTA which also has a stable, reliable, debloated custom ROM available similar to say CleanRom. Which OTA should I upgrade to? If it's not the newest VZW has put out, will I get notifications every day asking me to upgrade?
Which custom ROMs are similar to CleanRom? I was stability, reliability, speed and tethering.
Thanks!
Empty Galaxy is a killer kitkat rom
Stang5litre edition is a great lollipop rom. He and klabit87 are working on some fun stuff right now too.
There are a few ways to update. Safestrap or flash fire.
Flash fire flashes once in the rom. You have to be careful with it. It can flash the kernel and bugger things up.
Safestrap is a recovery before the rom boots but is only compatible with kitkat. You have to flash a kitkat kernel to use when flashing when using lollipop roms. Then flash the lollipop kernel and boot the rom.
Muniz_ri makes some stock rooted roms with older bootloaders so you can always go back.
Always uninstall SDM with titanium backup when using a stock prerooted rom so it doesn't try to update the phone and ruin the fun.
Brian
Thanks for the reply Brian! Since posting, I taught myself a few things but your tips certainly will help!
I installed Eclipse ROM and so far so good. The one exception is I lost my Verizon voicemail. How can I add that? I have my old S4 laying around, also on NC5. Can it be copied from there?
I'm not sure. if the old one is rooted, you may be able to copy the apk to the directory of the new phone and change the permissions and reboot and have it work but I'm not sure.