Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
goodmedic said:
Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see its been a few days and no one has replied so I will do my best to share what knowledge I have. I've been heavily flashing custom ROMs on my ASUS tablet now for the better part of a year and just got my Verizon GS4, so I have alot of the same questions as you.
1) I'm going to answer this in two parts.
Nandroid, in my experience, refers to the type of backup, not necessarily the process by which to backup. Most common recoveries, including ClockworkMod and TWRP have a feature to create a 'nandroid backup'. This can take some time and files can be quite large, as they copy pretty much every single file on your device; almost like creating a snapshot of your device in that moment in time.
To answer the later part of this question, (typically speaking) once you unlock a bootloader you cannot re-lock it, but that could be different for phones (my knowledge in phones is limited). And yes, using a nandroid backup will back up your device with root access, but using a tool such as Rom Toolbox, you can easily un-root (the program features a 'permanent unroot option'). For one, I would imagine that flashing the stock kernel would overwrite the root, as like you said earlier in the post the current root exploit works by flashing a pre-release kernel, applying root to the device, then re-flashing the current stock kernel. Another way to lose root is to get an over-the-air (OTA) update. You will see programs like OTA Rootkeeper that work to circumvent this, but in your case that may be a valid way to cover your arse in case you need to return it under VZW warranty (it is for this reason that I always buy Best Buy protection plans, because they could care less about the software state about your device [Disclaimer: I worked for Geek Squad so I have /somewhat/ intimate knowledge in this matter])
2) I just rooted my GS4 a few days ago, and nothing I read indicated that the all-in-one tool would unlock the bootloader. If you read the documentation about Loki, he explains this fact. I just found a good video (although it uses TWRP and GooManager instead of ROMManager and CWM) explaining that there isn't a bootloader "unlock" just yet; rather its a workaround to the bootloader that allows us to get custom ROMs on our devices (video is here)
3) "Bricking" a device means rendering the device useless; it won't operate to any fashion that it is useful to you, so its no better than a brick or a paper weight, etc. I would imagine you can re-flash a stock verizon ROM/kernel to restore any screw-ups, but keep in mind this device was released less than three months ago and any development is relatively new. Yes, we have had other Galaxy S series phones, but the S4 has this whole KNOX nonsense that is specifically designed to prevent the kinds of activities we do here on this forum
I really hope that helps. If I said anything that is incorrect, please please feel free to correct it so that at least we can all learn the proper information.
Thanks,
Opethfan89
goodmedic said:
Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S4 link in my signature has a few stock images to pick from. It will restore it to the original stock Verizon software that came with your phone.
DarkMenace said:
The S4 link in my signature has a few stock images to pick from. It will restore it to the original stock Verizon software that came with your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the 'Ad-Free' APK I see available on that website work better than jRummy's AdBlocker? I installed it and it detects ads (like in ASTRO, Zedge, and a few others) but doesn't block them even though I have all the settings turned ON and have rebooted when requested.
That said, thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it for future reference and its good to know there are backups available in case anything goes bad.
Are you able to elaborate on how these are flashed? Via ODIN, or can you flash it via CWM/TWRP?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
opethfan89 said:
Does the 'Ad-Free' APK I see available on that website work better than jRummy's AdBlocker? I installed it and it detects ads (like in ASTRO, Zedge, and a few others) but doesn't block them even though I have all the settings turned ON and have rebooted when requested.
That said, thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it for future reference and its good to know there are backups available in case anything goes bad.
Are you able to elaborate on how these are flashed? Via ODIN, or can you flash it via CWM/TWRP?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not n sure. It's the only one I ever used for banner blocking. You use the files with Odin as well after they are extracted.
Sent from my Rooted Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 using xda premium
Hi everyone, i am on android 4.1.2/ 1.26.502.12. i got the phone when it came out. Back then i followed a guide similar or maybe same
[Tutorial] Root, Unlock, Recovery and flashing a Custom ROM. Now i have stock 4.1.2 rooted and bootloader unlocked with s-off
I wanted to update my firmware but because i have a custom recovery t.w.r.p i cant get updates straight from ATT.
i want to update without losing any settings or having my files deleted. How do i do that?
I have been away from modding my phone so iam not exactly fresh on everything.
RaXxaa said:
Hi everyone, i am on android 4.1.2/ 1.26.502.12. i got the phone when it came out. Back then i followed a guide similar or maybe same
[Tutorial] Root, Unlock, Recovery and flashing a Custom ROM. Now i have stock 4.1.2 rooted and bootloader unlocked with s-off
I wanted to update my firmware but because i have a custom recovery t.w.r.p i cant get updates straight from ATT.
i want to update without losing any settings or having my files deleted. How do i do that?
I have been away from modding my phone so iam not exactly fresh on everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regardless of the method to do a complete update to the KitKat will require the phone and all data on it to be wiped. There is no way to avoid this. I would suggest backing all your stuff up to a PC if you wish to do this.
Solarenemy68 said:
Regardless of the method to do a complete update to the KitKat will require the phone and all data on it to be wiped. There is no way to avoid this. I would suggest backing all your stuff up to a PC if you wish to do this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if i were to backup then what would i do next? just apply the any available 4.4.2 update through the recovery? and what about the radio and hboot etc
Hello Guys! Hope you have a nice day.
I rooted my Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE (that means the phone model is i9305). with a KingRoot One-Click Rooting App (kingroot.net) , it worked fine so far so I installed BusyBox (it was needed for lucky patcher I think) and few root access required apps. Now , I'd like to install a recovery and a custom rom. However RootKing SuperSU library does not work on all new roms. Thats why I want to unroot it and root again but now with ChainFire Method (I regret I havent done that before). My question is: Before unrooting should I uninstall BusyBox (Ive seen it has some library and strange things and its not only app) and other root required apps? Is there any other solution than unrooting it? Im also a newbie (u can probably see) and Im a little bit scared about what happens if flashing with odin goes wrong , but to actually make a backup Id need a recovery (correct me if im wrong) and If something goes wrong (by my fault of course) and I lose all data and I wont have backup because I couldnt make one because I need recovery to backup and it seems like a loop! Please give me any other solutions if you can! Can't wait to get your pro response!
Hi,
If you wanna unroot you don't have to uninstall busybox, but it's a good idea to uninstall other root only apps.
Root doesn't matter if you want a custom ROM, the su binary is stored within /system, if you flash a custom ROM you'll end up overwriting /system with the new ones anyway
Edit: install twrp manager from the play store if you want a custom recovery, I mean you can use cwm or philz touch, but you might not able to install newer ROMs with the latter 2.
Sent from my HTC 10 using Tapatalk
Hi Guys, I just got my phone back from LG (bootloop). When it came back to me it had VS99029A installed with B15.LGE.VS990.0 configuration. I am wondering if it is possible to root it still or am I screwed now? I really don't want too brick it attempting to root it.
Thanks,
Erik
29A can't be root.
Thanks. I was afraid of that.
Just got mine back too, also 29A-- no way to downgrade, I assume, and no plans to work on a root for it?
Or if not root, at least twrp/something so I can flash apps rather than having to install them one-by-one?
Hi there!
I would consider my skills of modding as an advanced user, but no more than that. Therefore I need some help. I have a Nord 2, Stock A11 (I believe still version 16), never updated since), TWRP 3.5 installed, rooted with Magisk. Now, the phone became obsolete so it needs to be sold. Therefore I'd need to unroot, re-flash stock recovery, factory reset and re-lock (after that update to A12).
Honestly, I have no idea where to start or what to do. Rooting was such a pain (stock) with several bricks al leading to drive to an OnePlus-servicepoint to re-flash stock firmware - THEN wipe all in recovery and THEN re-re-flash stock again. Only thing that worked. Thing is, it is a 2 hour-drive, 2 hours back. I would like to not make the trip. Is there anyone who could help me? Here or via PN?
exis_tenz
Bump. Need this info also so I can safely try a custom rom and revert back to stock rom. I am on DN2103_11_C.11
Really? No one who can tell me how to do this?