SCH-I545 Unable to Boot - Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4

Hello Everyone,
I've dug myself into a pretty big hole and am hoping to get some direction to dig myself out of it.
I recently moved to a new apartment, and internet service won't be set up until Tuesday evening. In my infinite wisdom, i decided to "take a crack" at installing a custom ROM on my Verizon Galaxy S4 in order to use the tethering option for free.
I used the instructions at this thread to install Safestrap. So far so good.
I then downloaded CM12.1 from this website. (Please note that this is an external link). This is mistake #1, though I did not know that CM12.1 was not compatible with Safestrap.
When I booted into SafeStrap recovery, I was also unaware that the default ROM slot is the stock slot, and I installed CM12.1 in the stock slot. This is mistake #3. What was mistake #2, you ask? Well, I didn't make any backups.
When I tried to boot into the system in the stock ROM slot, I got an error that SafeStrap was disabled. I then installed CM12.1 in a new slot, and I no longer get that error, but after SafeStrap's boot screen, I get an error that says "Secure Fail: Kernel" and "System software not authorized by Verizon Wireless has been found on your system."
So, I can still boot into SafeStrap recovery, I can still boot into Odin mode, and that's about it. I have heimdall installed on my Mac OS X, and I have a Linux computer as well that I can use to fix this problem.
I also wrote down this information before trying to get tethering for free:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SCH-I545
CURRENT BINARY: SAMSUNG OFFICIAL
SYSTEM STATUS: OFFICIAL
KNOX KERNEL LOCK: 0X0
KNOX WARRANTY VOID: 0X0
CSB-CONFIG-LSB: 0X30
WRITE PROTECTION: ENABLED
eMC BURST MODE enabled
ANDROID VERSION: 4.4.2
BASEBAND VERSION: 1545VRUFNC5
KERNLE VERSION: 3.4.0 [email protected] #1 FRI MAR 29 13
BUILD NUMBER: KOT49H.1545VRUFNC5
SE FOR ANDROID STATUS: ENFORCING
SECURE BOOT STATUS: TYPE SAMSUNG
SECURITY SOFTWARE VERSION MDF V1.0 RELEASE 2
So again, this has been a series of errors on my part. At this point, I'd like to "Unbrick" the phone.
Thank you!

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I think the best course of action is to odin NC5 from this forum if you want a chance to have your data back if not just download the nc5 tar (just search for it) and find a guide on how to use odin.
Edit: Nvm forgot you used heimdall find a guide to use heimdall but the same files work.

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I'd have to agree with whowatchlist. Hands-down, a bootloader-mode (as in Odin) flash will absolutely be your best bet. If you give no ****s about data, or you happen to keep the important stuff on an ext. SD, then just flash your appropiate stock TAR file (NC5 if I recall the OP) via Odin or Heimdall.
Data recovery may or may not be possible, I really couldn't say without more information. Whowatchlist's link/method should be first and foremost. If that's a no-go just come on back and we'll go from there and get you all sorted.
Or since you are already on a locked bootloader, why not consider upgrading to Lollipop? And if you're still set on safestrap, you can try out stang50liter. Just something to ponder. The phone is by no means 'bricked', at least not in the traditional sense, just comes down to where you wanna go from here.
The rest of this post is probably going to be largely irrelevent and/or not needed, but seeing as I'm still new to posting on XDA rather than just lurking around, I'm attempting to be extra super duper helpful to build my rep/credibility and show i'm not just another window-licker with my helmet on backwards...so I wouldn't blame you for skipping the rest.
As I'm not all that knowledgable when it comes to Safestrap due to my faith in the BL being unlocked/exploited someday, take this as more of a general reference if you would.
Judging by your terminology and that ever-so-fun phrase "i'm gonna take a crack at it", I'm going to assume that this (android modding) is a relatively new field in which you've wandered? If so allow me to touch on a few key points. If not, disregard etc. etc.
Every bootloader EXCEPT for the original one the device released with, MDK, are all locked. This includes ME7, MI1, MJ7, MK2, NC5, NG6, NK1, OC1, and OF1. In general, if you attempt to flash over it, even with a stock kernel that's been tampered, tweaked or altered in any way, your phone/ODIN will give you the finger. But kernels boot the system (e.g. the "ROM"). TouchWiz (courtesy of Samsung) roms are very different from AOSP-based roms. Of course Cyanogenmod is AOSP-based. Because a Kernel that will boot CM cannot be flashed, trying to flash and boot a CM rom will only end in gnashed teeth, swearing and possibly holes in walls.
Safestrap is a middle man. Because it lies on the /system partition, it avoids poking the Kernel-bear, but it boots before the 'ROM', allowing you to select whatever ROM you want to boot.
So if you ended up replacing your stock rom slot with CM12, I can only imagine you essentially ended up attempting to flash your actual partitions instead of a safestrap container, and following that, the locked BL NOPE'd at the Kernel in the zip, and made you quite the unhappy camper. That's my current theory anyway.
If so, there are options. There's always options!
Anyway if you need help or clarification on anything, or have any other questions just hollar back! Thread or PM works (so I don't clutter the forums with walls-of-text like this.) Hell, I'm in a good mood today, I'd even do a Skype step-by-step walkthrough or something lol.

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@whowatchlist / @Atomicmuffin, thank you both for the helping hand.
First, I'm glad to hear that the phone is not bricked in the traditional sense.
Secondly, I don't care about the data. I would just like the phone back to a working state and, if possible, I'd still like to flash something on it.
Thirdly, @Atomicmuffin, that "wall of text" was incredibly helpful.
I'm going to try some of the links that you guys pointed me to, and see what transpires.
My apologies for not getting back on this thread sooner. Unfortunately, there were a lot of changes at the startup I work for this week so it's been a rough ride.
Thank you both - I'll be back with updates.

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It's alive! Hey everyone. I just wanted to let you know that the phone is back in operation.
And, the thread that you linked me to (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2776189) also helped me understand that I need to use Safestrap, and then only with certain ROMs. Thank you both! I'm going to give this another try, now that I know better. Hopefully all goes well, but if not, I know how to press the reset button.

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Stvnx7 said:
It's alive! Hey everyone. I just wanted to let you know that the phone is back in operation.
And, the thread that you linked me to (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2776189) also helped me understand that I need to use Safestrap, and then only with certain ROMs. Thank you both! I'm going to give this another try, now that I know better. Hopefully all goes well, but if not, I know how to press the reset button.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey that's awesome man, glad to hear it and i'm glad my ramblings helped you out! Haha, sometimes I tend to over-ramble and don't know where the line is between helpful and annoying, but what I do know however, is the feeling of being stuck in a spot like that. Weren't no wall-o-texts in my early days. Would have saved me a lot of stress (like when I got cocky and accidentally flashed the wrong firmware, leaving me hard bricked.) All I ask is to just pay it forward!
And Read! Read! Read! Thankfully most people who release stuff on XDA care enough to post massive textwalls that dwarf mine with instructions to keep you on track. So even if you've read enough to recite whatever it is in your sleep....keep reading til you can do it backwards. In a foreign language. And in sign language. Simultaneously. Then you should be good to go!
As a general rule of thumb, I'd suggest sticking with reputable websites like XDA and AndroidFileHost at least until you get familiar, to help avoid blunders like this. There's a lot of misinformation out there in the world beyond, and even more window-lickers who do a one-click root and think they're hot stuff enough to take take their helmet off and start teaching other window-lickers, haha. But I digress...
Safe travels man! And If you got questions just let us know! Oh I almost forgot, so what'd you decide? Gonna stay NC5 and SafeStrap it again?
Edit: A GREAT starting resource is http://xda-university.com

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Atomicmuffin said:
Hey that's awesome man, glad to hear it and i'm glad my ramblings helped you out! Haha, sometimes I tend to over-ramble and don't know where the line is between helpful and annoying, but what I do know however, is the feeling of being stuck in a spot like that. Weren't no wall-o-texts in my early days. Would have saved me a lot of stress (like when I got cocky and accidentally flashed the wrong firmware, leaving me hard bricked.) All I ask is to just pay it forward!
And Read! Read! Read! Thankfully most people who release stuff on XDA care enough to post massive textwalls that dwarf mine with instructions to keep you on track. So even if you've read enough to recite whatever it is in your sleep....keep reading til you can do it backwards. In a foreign language. And in sign language. Simultaneously. Then you should be good to go!
As a general rule of thumb, I'd suggest sticking with reputable websites like XDA and AndroidFileHost at least until you get familiar, to help avoid blunders like this. There's a lot of misinformation out there in the world beyond, and even more window-lickers who do a one-click root and think they're hot stuff enough to take take their helmet off and start teaching other window-lickers, haha. But I digress...
Safe travels man! And If you got questions just let us know! Oh I almost forgot, so what'd you decide? Gonna stay NC5 and SafeStrap it again?
Edit: A GREAT starting resource is http://xda-university.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for that awesome resource @Atomicmuffin. I haven't decided what route to take now that I've got the phone working. My baseband now reads NG6, so and all I really want is the ability to use the phone's hot-spot feature. I'll look into that a bit more.

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xxxxxx

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link5505 said:
I've been trying to put the stock nc5 file on my s4 with odin but it keeps failing, what gives?
<ID:0/003> Added!!
<OSM> Enter CS for MD5..
<OSM> Binary Check MD5.. Do not unplug the cable..
<OSM> Please wait..
<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..
<OSM> Leave CS..
<ID:0/003> Odin engine v(ID:3.1100)..
<ID:0/003> File analysis..
<ID:0/003> SetupConnection..
<ID:0/003> Initialzation..
<ID:0/003> Get PIT for mapping..
<ID:0/003> Firmware update start..
<ID:0/003> SingleDownload.
<ID:0/003> aboot.mbn
<ID:0/003> NAND Write Start!!
<ID:0/003> sbl1.mbn
<ID:0/003> sbl2.mbn
<ID:0/003> sbl3.mbn
<ID:0/003> rpm.mbn
<ID:0/003> tz.mbn
<ID:0/003> boot.img
<ID:0/003> recovery.img
<ID:0/003> system.img.ext4
<ID:0/003> __XmitData_Write
<ID:0/003> Complete(Write) operation failed.
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)
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Click to collapse
What does the phone display when this happens?