I have a Verizon S4 that is currently running Lollipop OF1.
I have heard that root and custom recoveries aren't installable with this update, and this update is not downgradeable. Is this true?
Yes, all of that is true.
From what I've seen, some users have achieved root but you are right on not being able to have custom recovery, only users with the MDK bootloader can install recoveries. Downgrading is not available either. I recommended taking some time and reading through the forums and educate yourself on what you can and can't do.
Edit: Looks like root is not available yet, I have MDK so I don't really look into it much.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using XDA Free mobile app
We are stuck, up goes this thread
Related
I've got a question. What's the difference between a cracked bootloader and safestrap? I know this is a noob question, but I can't find anything on the Web about this.
Swimboy46163 said:
I've got a question. What's the difference between a cracked bootloader and safestrap? I know this is a noob question, but I can't find anything on the Web about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safestrap allows those with a locked boot loader such as me7 or mi1 to flash custom touchwiz Roms based on that firmware. There is at this time no way to flash a custom kernel which means they cannot run aosp roms. This phone doesn't have a cracked boot loader but mdk users have the Loki exploit which allows a custom recovery to be loaded, only those users can flash any custom ROM for the phone, because you can flash a custom kernel. But its not truly unlocked. Safestrap does allow yto have ROM slots so you can have a couple of Roms ready to go at all times.you just decide which you will boot to when the phone comes on.
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Swimboy46163 said:
I've got a question. What's the difference between a cracked bootloader and safestrap? I know this is a noob question, but I can't find anything on the Web about this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hmmmm, much discussion here in XDA forums concerning bootloaders and safestrap...
I have an HTC One that I converted to a GPE. My fiance has a VZW Galaxy S4 and is jealous. I found a Google Play ROM on here that I'd like to flash (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031), but I am not sure it will work with her phone. She has a SCH-I545 running the latest 4.3 release from VZW. I rooted the device last week and besides that haven't done anything to the phone ever.
There was a post in that thread that seemed to indicate that I would not be able to load the ROM I'd like due to it requiring Loki and something about the bootloader being locked on her version. This is where I kind of lose it. I am not familiar with Loki, but TWRP for the VZW Galaxy S4 states that it has been modified with Loki (http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/181). In my head it makes sense that since I have root, I can load TWRP recovery and use that to flash the ROM to the device, and that it would work because TWRP has been modified with Loki.
Can someone advise me on this? I have held off on anything beyond root since I haven't been able to find a definite answer.
ocieb said:
I have an HTC One that I converted to a GPE. My fiance has a VZW Galaxy S4 and is jealous. I found a Google Play ROM on here that I'd like to flash (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2643031), but I am not sure it will work with her phone. She has a SCH-I545 running the latest 4.3 release from VZW. I rooted the device last week and besides that haven't done anything to the phone ever.
There was a post in that thread that seemed to indicate that I would not be able to load the ROM I'd like due to it requiring Loki and something about the bootloader being locked on her version. This is where I kind of lose it. I am not familiar with Loki, but TWRP for the VZW Galaxy S4 states that it has been modified with Loki (http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/181). In my head it makes sense that since I have root, I can load TWRP recovery and use that to flash the ROM to the device, and that it would work because TWRP has been modified with Loki.
Can someone advise me on this? I have held off on anything beyond root since I haven't been able to find a definite answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect you have the MK2 build and bootloader if you're on 4.3. I recommend you read this thread, it will answer your questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578569
jpcalhoun said:
I suspect you have the MK2 build and bootloader if you're on 4.3. I recommend you read this thread, it will answer your questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2578569
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, sorry I left that detail out. Definitely on MK2.
Thanks for the resource, I will read that.
I have been reading about surge method but not sure what it is. Does this enable boot loader unlock? I am on mk2.
Also if no boot loader unlock exusts. Is there a good touch wiz or fully stable aosp rom based off of kit kat? I could not find a tw one and not sure about aosp . None of the tw roms are being updated it serms
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thrgk said:
I have been reading about surge method but not sure what it is. Does this enable boot loader unlock? I am on mk2.
Also if no boot loader unlock exusts. Is there a good touch wiz or fully stable aosp rom based off of kit kat? I could not find a tw one and not sure about aosp . None of the tw roms are being updated it serms
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A method by Surge1223 to upgrade to NC5, 4.4.2, from MK2.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726868
No bootloader unlock exists, you can't run AOSP roms. There's multiple 4.4.2 TW roms in the android development section
Is the 4.4 ota update worth it or not really ? Says there is better battery and faster. But is it worth no root ?
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thrgk said:
Is the 4.4 ota update worth it or not really ? Says there is better battery and faster. But is it worth no root ?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surge's method referenced in the previous post retains root.
thrgk said:
I have been reading about surge method but not sure what it is. Does this enable boot loader unlock? I am on mk2.
Also if no boot loader unlock exusts. Is there a good touch wiz or fully stable aosp rom based off of kit kat? I could not find a tw one and not sure about aosp . None of the tw roms are being updated it serms
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no boot loader unlock exist, for the locked bootloader safestrap must be used
you need to read the following thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2606501
If I upgrade using OTA even though I'm on stock rooted will it just upgrade me and break root right ? Won't screw anything up ?
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thrgk said:
If I upgrade using OTA even though I'm on stock rooted will it just upgrade me and break root right ? Won't screw anything up ?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
my understanding that unless u are 100% stock and that means NO root, the OTA will mess up.
joshm.1219 said:
A method by Surge1223 to upgrade to NC5, 4.4.2, from MK2.http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2726868
No bootloader unlock exists, you can't run AOSP roms. There's multiple 4.4.2 TW roms in the android development section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is currently 2 aosp 4.3 roms for safestrap. Although they are very buggy.
jake.99x3 said:
There is currently 2 aosp 4.3 roms for safestrap. Although they are very buggy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I don't think they'll ever be truly usable. Kexec support is needed
Sent from my HTC6600LVW using Xparent Skyblue Tapatalk 2
decaturbob said:
my understanding that unless u are 100% stock and that means NO root, the OTA will mess up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not precisely. You can be rooted but otherwise stock and manage to take the OTA successfully. That will leave you unrooted.
My phone was rooted factory stock and would have taken the OTA successfully if not for a single modified file left behind by an older version of SuperSU and a file modified by Safestrap. If Safestrap wasn't active and without that old SuperSU thing it would have taken the OTA.
From a practical standpoint, you're right. Unless you're stock, there's a good chance the OTA will fail to start. And keep nagging you each time it fails.
thrgk said:
I have been reading about surge method but not sure what it is. Does this enable boot loader unlock? I am on mk2.
Also if no boot loader unlock exusts. Is there a good touch wiz or fully stable aosp rom based off of kit kat? I could not find a tw one and not sure about aosp . None of the tw roms are being updated it serms
Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on MK2, than you have a locked bootloader, which as of today is STILL UNLOCKABLE!!!!
Therefore, there is no AOSP ROMS avaiable for us, SafeSTrap users, which means that we can only flash TW based ROMS!
there are tons of ROMs for us, SS users, and the first 3 ROMs that pop into my mind which are the best of the best for us i337 AT&T users with MK2 locked bootloaders is these:
SHOstock-i v7.0 ==> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2468860
Deadly Venom v3.0.2 ==> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2447482
HyperDrive ==> Android 4.3 RLS15 : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2520418
HyperDrive ==> KitKat 4.4.2 RLS17 : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301724
And here is an INDEX for ALL ROMS for the Galaxy S4, 4.3 and 4.4.2 ...this here is the best forum there is for our S4: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
If I helped you, please hit THANKS, it's not that hard...
I have spoke of surge's upgrade/downgrade methods before. He is a senior member here on xda. The other method I know of, as far as upgrade/downgrade, is giglies. Giglies method came out after. It's fewer steps but the documentation could use an overhaul. If you see a post around the s4 forums with surge's name on it, I bet a lot of people are going to see what he has to say about it
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with towel root now available for use on NC5 phones, the need to upgrade/downgrade really is no longer a driving force.
I have a Verizon S4, rooted with safe root, Safestrap installed, running MK2 Hyperdrive ROM. I was wondering if there is anyway to get back to complete stock MDK where I can root and install a custom recovery like I would on any other Android phone? I really want to install the GPE ROM and other AOSP/Vanilla android ROMS. I have a lot of rooting and customizing experience from previous Android phones, but this is the first one on Verizon, instead of Sprint, that I've had and its more locked down than anything I've had also.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks!
HipHopIsLyfe37 said:
I have a Verizon S4, rooted with safe root, Safestrap installed, running MK2 Hyperdrive ROM. I was wondering if there is anyway to get back to complete stock MDK where I can root and install a custom recovery like I would on any other Android phone? I really want to install the GPE ROM and other AOSP/Vanilla android ROMS. I have a lot of rooting and customizing experience from previous Android phones, but this is the first one on Verizon, instead of Sprint, that I've had and its more locked down than anything I've had also.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no way to downgrade to mdk at all.
If that were a possibility I'm pretty sure there wouldn't be so many people on safestrap recovery.
HipHopIsLyfe37 said:
I have a Verizon S4, rooted with safe root, Safestrap installed, running MK2 Hyperdrive ROM. I was wondering if there is anyway to get back to complete stock MDK where I can root and install a custom recovery like I would on any other Android phone? I really want to install the GPE ROM and other AOSP/Vanilla android ROMS. I have a lot of rooting and customizing experience from previous Android phones, but this is the first one on Verizon, instead of Sprint, that I've had and its more locked down than anything I've had also.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having a Sprint and Verizon phone I know what your going through right now.... Total opposite on Verizon than what you've been used to. Here's a good place to start with info for our phones http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49334432
It'd be great if we could just use Chainfire to root these phones and then Odin a recovery on but no dice. Big red and ATT are bootloader Nazis
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HipHopIsLyfe37 said:
I have a Verizon S4, rooted with safe root, Safestrap installed, running MK2 Hyperdrive ROM. I was wondering if there is anyway to get back to complete stock MDK where I can root and install a custom recovery like I would on any other Android phone? I really want to install the GPE ROM and other AOSP/Vanilla android ROMS. I have a lot of rooting and customizing experience from previous Android phones, but this is the first one on Verizon, instead of Sprint, that I've had and its more locked down than anything I've had also.
Any help would be appreciated
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
never jump into the water without checking first...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2606501
Thanks for the info guys. I've got more time to mess around with this stuff now that school and finals are done so I will definitely be taking a closer look
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Probably a noob question, but if you want root for titanium, wifi tether, xposed mods, etc...
Why is it so important to stay on MK2.
There's a few threads on downgrading from NC5 to MK2, and back up to keep the MK2 bootloader.
MK2 is not MDK, you can't run a custom recovery.
So what's so bad about taking the NC5 OTA and then just rooting? You can still run SS? Can yoi not flash a SS compatible ROM on NC5s bootloader?
Just trying to understand the difference. I know the benefit to MDK, just not anything else.
ymDroid said:
Probably a noob question, but if you want root for titanium, wifi tether, xposed mods, etc...
Why is it so important to stay on MK2.
There's a few threads on downgrading from NC5 to MK2, and back up to keep the MK2 bootloader.
MK2 is not MDK, you can't run a custom recovery.
So what's so bad about taking the NC5 OTA and then just rooting? You can still run SS? Can yoi not flash a SS compatible ROM on NC5s bootloader?
Just trying to understand the difference. I know the benefit to MDK, just not anything else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People hold out hope that someone may unlock the mk2 bootloader. To me it doesn't matter I'm on the NC2/NC5 bootloader myself.
Surge1223 said:
People hold out hope that someone may unlock the mk2 bootloader. To me it doesn't matter I'm on the NC2/NC5 bootloader myself.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are we pretty close to unlocking MK2? Should I hold out?
I used your method to upgrade to NC5, but the audio over wifi glitch has me on the verge of taking the OTA.
Im not really seeing any other way of fixing this issue except going stock?
Also alot of those threads were made before a native NC5 exploit was released. Before towelroot, the MK2 bootloader downgrade was the method for root.
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Batttie said:
Also alot of those threads were made before a native NC5 exploit was released. Before towelroot, the MK2 bootloader downgrade was the method for root.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really sucked having to do that. It was my first root ever and I soft bricked my phone three times because I knew less than nothing about rooting and whatnot. Three weeks later: Towelroot. Now its a party lol.
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Batttie said:
Also alot of those threads were made before a native NC5 exploit was released. Before towelroot, the MK2 bootloader downgrade was the method for root.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there are more devs working for a bootloader exploit for the S5, than the S4.
And the S5, so if there is an exploit on the S5, it will probably transfer over to the S4 at the NC5 level since that firmware is on par with the S4s NC5.
So isn't it better to go to full NC5?