Database Users

How do I flash ROMs on the s4?

I've been reading about the boot loader hack that's out. I'm unrooted and really want to root this thing. Just kind of confused about the Loki process. I was going to root then use goomanager to get twrp since I heard its loki'd. Does that mean after I do that I just pick a ROM and flash it? If so is it only certain types of ROMs? Kinda confused
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

yungskeeme said:
I've been reading about the boot loader hack that's out. I'm unrooted and really want to root this thing. Just kind of confused about the Loki process. I was going to root then use goomanager to get twrp since I heard its loki'd. Does that mean after I do that I just pick a ROM and flash it? If so is it only certain types of ROMs? Kinda confused
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best thing you can do is more reading. Read about the Loki exploit, read the TWRP thread, read the CWM thread.
After you read, you should have a better idea of what you want to do.
In my opinion, the simplest thing to do is download GooManager and use it to install TWRP. TWRP is a fine custom recovery. However, I would then go to the (OUDHS) CWM thread and flash the CWM zip (using TWRP) to get CWM for your custom recovery. CWM is also a very fine custom recovery, plus, shabbypenguin has cooked in the ability for it to Loki ROMs for you. Again read about it yourself and if you have any questions use the forums "search" function to answer them or look in the threads I listed. Good luck.

scott14719 said:
Best thing you can do is more reading. Read about the Loki exploit, read the TWRP thread, read the CWM thread.
After you read, you should have a better idea of what you want to do.
In my opinion, the simplest thing to do is download GooManager and use it to install TWRP. TWRP is a fine custom recovery. However, I would then go to the (OUDHS) CWM thread and flash the CWM zip (using TWRP) to get CWM for your custom recovery. CWM is also a very fine custom recovery, plus, shabbypenguin has cooked in the ability for it to Loki ROMs for you. Again read about it yourself and if you have any questions use the forums "search" function to answer them or look in the threads I listed. Good luck.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the breakdown. Just confused about which ROMs I can flash.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

yungskeeme said:
Thanks for the breakdown. Just confused about which ROMs I can flash.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
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Click to collapse
If you go the OUDHS (CWM) route you can flash any that would otherwise be safe to flash if the bootloader were unlocked. Like I said, the CWM thread has a lot of information about which ROMs are flashable already in that thread.

scott14719 said:
If you go the OUDHS (CWM) route you can flash any that would otherwise be safe to flash if the bootloader were unlocked. Like I said, the CWM thread has a lot of information about which ROMs are flashable already in that thread.
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ill read through it again...thanks!!

Help Rooting and Installing roms

Ive been using roms since 2009, this galaxy s 4 has caused me more grief than I can believe, Ive never had a problem. Do i need to do this loki method? Im used to simply rooting, installing CWM from market, then booting into recovery and flashing the rom I want. This time I motochoppered and it worked, installed CWM from market, then installed a rom for the i9505 cuz googled EFFED me when searching. Now says system software not recognized by AT&T and wont boot or boot into recovery. Only download. So im waiting on stock firmware to try and odin the stock firm ware. Once i do and if it works, can i just motochopper again, install CWM from market, then flash a rom for the actualy AT&T galaxy S4 or do i need this loki business? Some help explain the new ways of the S4 to me please.

If its att your working with your kernel needs loki. Im pretty sure that oudhs recovery does autoloki but as I'm on a Canadian variant with unlocked boot loader this is a subject that doesn't affect me. If you are very uncertain you can look in your roms zip folder. It should have boot.lok instead of boot.img for a loki'd kernel.

Bigbabyjesus said:
If its att your working with your kernel needs loki. Im pretty sure that oudhs recovery does autoloki but as I'm on a Canadian variant with unlocked boot loader this is a subject that doesn't affect me. If you are very uncertain you can look in your roms zip folder. It should have boot.lok instead of boot.img for a loki'd kernel.
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so if its a boot.img i dont need to use loki? i can just install zip from sdcard from CWM?

Pixelcreativ said:
so if its a boot.img i dont need to use loki? i can just install zip from sdcard from CWM?
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Click to collapse
You either need an auto Loki recovery, a loki'd ROM or a loki'd kernel or if you have none of those you have to flash Loki doki after you flash the rom
Sent from my Omega AT&T S4

rcklss1 said:
You either need an auto Loki recovery, a loki'd ROM or a loki'd kernel or if you have none of those you have to flash Loki doki after you flash the rom
Sent from my Omega AT&T S4
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well i guess im still at a loss, as this loki crap is new to me, and seems pointless. im about to try and flash the stock firmware through odin. what should i do after that?

Pixelcreativ said:
well i guess im still at a loss, as this loki crap is new to me, and seems pointless. im about to try and flash the stock firmware through odin. what should i do after that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
motochopper and then install loki CWM from recovery.lok or what? then i can install any rom on the AT&T S4 original android forum?

yes, you are confused, you just quoted yourself.
seriously start here...read this...you have to.
This will help you understand everything you asked.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
lets get a little more familiar with what you are trying to do, shall we!

Pixelcreativ said:
motochopper and then install loki CWM from recovery.lok or what? then i can install any rom on the AT&T S4 original android forum?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends which recovery you go with.. OUDHS CWM recovery by shabby penguin will auto Loki for you so you won't have to worry about it anymore... Instructions on how to install are in the OP of his thread.. Once you have an auto Loki recovery you can flash at&t T-Mobile and i9505 Roms with ease.. Usually only having to add the LTE APN if that.. Sprint and Verizon Roms can be flashed too but they take more work to get going.. DO NOT FLASH ANY i9500 Roms!
Unfortunately for us Loki is needed to bypass the boot loader security checks preventing us from running custom Roms and such
The thread Axman pointed you to contains more info about Loki.. Definitely check it out..
Sent from my Omega AT&T S4

TheAxman said:
yes, you are confused, you just quoted yourself.
seriously start here...read this...you have to.
This will help you understand everything you asked.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
lets get a little more familiar with what you are trying to do, shall we!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LMFAO

All good suggestions--
Read this also, only 14 pages.
Until I read this--more than once
I did not understand loki, as when reading other threads there were only brief statements on loki and I could not tie things together
It just takes some time, and with your backround should come together quickly

These are not the droids your looking for.

"That old Jedi mind trick won't work on me, boy!"

Can't Install CWM?

I have a rooted MK2 device. I tried installing CWM through ROM Manager but my phone will not boot the CWM and when I try it comes up with an error.
It seems to be installing a Loki'd version of CWM recovery will solve the problem, but I don't how to flash loki recoveries and I've looked all over the forums for one specific to loki'd recoveries. Can someone help me out please? I'm relatively new at this so I'm totally unsure about how to proceed. Many thanks!

Sadly, no custom recoveries are currently available for MK2.

Kaze105 said:
Sadly, no custom recoveries are currently available for MK2.
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Click to collapse
Oh no Well I have a few questions then.
1. I would like to install a 4.4 Google Edition rom. Is there any way for me to accomplish this? Also, is it a bad idea to go ahead and flash it without a recovery?
2. Should I revert the recovery back to original? How would I go about doing that?

hsu0216 said:
Oh no Well I have a few questions then.
1. I would like to install a 4.4 Google Edition rom. Is there any way for me to accomplish this? Also, is it a bad idea to go ahead and flash it without a recovery?
2. Should I revert the recovery back to original? How would I go about doing that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't anything you can do so far. The only thing you could do is use an app I can't remember the name of to flash mods to your current system, but you can not flash ROMs and definitely not anything that may need a different kernel. If you want to get a working recovery then find the MJ6-MJ9 thread but only use the recovery tar file, not the rest of it.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

you sir have a locked bootloader (i think)
hsu0216 said:
I have a rooted MK2 device. I tried installing CWM through ROM Manager but my phone will not boot the CWM and when I try it comes up with an error.
It seems to be installing a Loki'd version of CWM recovery will solve the problem, but I don't how to flash loki recoveries and I've looked all over the forums for one specific to loki'd recoveries. Can someone help me out please? I'm relatively new at this so I'm totally unsure about how to proceed. Many thanks!
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Click to collapse
well.....if you were on MF3 then you could load safestrap and then get the google edition but it wont support the 4.4 only the 4.2.2 version of the GE
thats what i did. i highly doubt there will be an unlocked bootloader for MK2 im on mf3 and cant even update to 4.3 MK2.....ill ask the developer of safestrap and ask him because he was getting a MK2 galaxy s4 on att last week and he was doing some testing....or you can do some research your self but im happy to help even though my account says im a junior member i know quite a lot....
if safestrap works here is a link http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2448726
IF SAFESTRAP WORKS LOOK UP A GUIDE ON HOW TO USE IT I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE IF YOU BRICK YOUR PHONE BECAUSE I TOLD YOU ABOUT IT also dont use the stock rom slot if all this works

Dude.
Search. Read. Repeat.

Anx XDA says ni question too stupid..Well some reaponses are..Oh GOD!!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk

r1tesh said:
Anx XDA says ni question too stupid..Well some reaponses are..Oh GOD!!!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No question too stupid. But asking a question that has been answered hundreds of times and refusing to use the search button...

[Q] How can I upgrade my stock rooted rom

I have searched the forum and have been overwhelmed with threads that I can't seem to make fit my situation so I apologize if I've overlooked something obvious.
I have an AT&T S4 That came running UCUAMDL. I rooted when I first got it and have not done anything sense. I would like to update the stock rom but I don't want to lose root. At this time I'm not interested in custom roms although I've done it before on my S2. What would be the best option to achieve this aim.
Thank you in advance and again sorry if I missed this somewhere.

podunk said:
I have searched the forum and have been overwhelmed with threads that I can't seem to make fit my situation so I apologize if I've overlooked something obvious.
I have an AT&T S4 That came running UCUAMDL. I rooted when I first got it and have not done anything sense. I would like to update the stock rom but I don't want to lose root. At this time I'm not interested in custom roms although I've done it before on my S2. What would be the best option to achieve this aim.
Thank you in advance and again sorry if I missed this somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your best option would to be to flash a 4.4.2 custom rom. There is no root for the latest, nb1, firmware.
Sent from my Nexus 5

odin to mk2 then, venom to a kit kat rom.

jd1639 said:
Your best option would to be to flash a 4.4.2 custom rom. There is no root for the latest, nb1, firmware.
Sent from my Nexus 5
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick response. Makes since. So as long as I flash a custom rom I don't have to worry about bootlock or anything, right? What's the closest rom to stock as far as stability & compatibility?
Again, much appreciation.

podunk said:
Thanks for the quick response. Makes since. So as long as I flash a custom rom I don't have to worry about bootlock or anything, right? What's the closest rom to stock as far as stability & compatibility?
Again, much appreciation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have a custom recovery and are you familiar with Loki?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727

jd1639 said:
Do you have a custom recovery and are you familiar with Loki?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727
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Click to collapse
I don't have my phone right here but I'm fairly certain I'm running TWRP.

podunk said:
I don't have my phone right here but I'm fairly certain I'm running TWRP.
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Click to collapse
Just double checked and yes I've got TWRP installed.

podunk said:
I don't have my phone right here but I'm fairly certain I'm running TWRP.
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Click to collapse
Then I would try kangakat which I believe is loki'd. Make a backup in twrp of your current rom before you do anything. If you don't have titanium backup, get it and backup your apps. And make sure you have Google's backup and restore checked, settings, backup& restore.
Sent from my Nexus 5

iateshaggy said:
odin to mk2 then, venom to a kit kat rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Worst advice possible. He's on amdl and can flash custom recovery and use loki.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

jd1639 said:
Then I would try kangakat which I believe is loki'd. Make a backup in twrp of your current rom before you do anything. If you don't have titanium backup, get it and backup your apps. And make sure you have Google's backup and restore checked, settings, backup& restore.
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have titanium backup and I will be sure to back up everything.
I was not familiar with loki so I did a little reading. Correct me if I'm wrong here but loki is something the rom developer uses to make it so my rom installation will go around the boot loader. I don't need to install anything related to loki I just need to make sure any rom that I chose is "loki'd". Correct? Therefore if my understanding is correct, once i've taken backup precautions, I would copy the loki'd rom to my sd card and flash via TWRP?
Again, I want to thank you for your help.

podunk said:
Yes I have titanium backup and I will be sure to back up everything.
I was not familiar with loki so I did a little reading. Correct me if I'm wrong here but loki is something the rom developer uses to make it so my rom installation will go around the boot loader. I don't need to install anything related to loki I just need to make sure any rom that I chose is "loki'd". Correct? Therefore if my understanding is correct, once i've taken backup precautions, I would copy the loki'd rom to my sd card and flash via TWRP?
Again, I want to thank you for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Loki is something the ROM developer can use. You either need to make sure the ROM is loki'd, or if you ever want to try something like an I9505 ROM, flash the loki-doki zip file after flashing the ROM (i'm not sure where the link is). Most ROMs in our dev section will have loki included, but i'd keep the loki-doki zip on your SD card just in case.

DeadlySin9 said:
Loki is something the ROM developer can use. You either need to make sure the ROM is loki'd, or if you ever want to try something like an I9505 ROM, flash the loki-doki zip file after flashing the ROM (i'm not sure where the link is). Most ROMs in our dev section will have loki included, but i'd keep the loki-doki zip on your SD card just in case.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Just make sure you wipe in twrp and flash your rom.
Sent from my Nexus 5

Updating from MDL

I tried to figure this out and I'm lost. I've not been keeping up with development on this phone for a while. I'm currently on stock rooted MDL, stock recovery. I'm looking to move to rooted current stock rom. How do I go about this. As simple as just putting a new recovery on and flashing the new one? Or do I need to be careful of anything?
Feels weird to be out of touch with how everything works now.

cegna09 said:
I tried to figure this out and I'm lost. I've not been keeping up with development on this phone for a while. I'm currently on stock rooted MDL, stock recovery. I'm looking to move to rooted current stock rom. How do I go about this. As simple as just putting a new recovery on and flashing the new one? Or do I need to be careful of anything?
Feels weird to be out of touch with how everything works now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to put a custom recovery on. Then flash the ROM in the recovery. Since you're rooted you could use goo manager to put twrp on
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
You need to put a custom recovery on. Then flash the ROM in the recovery. Since you're rooted you could use goo manager to put twrp on
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
If that's it awesome. Reading about the latest stock roms I was just confusing myself and thinking there was some new BS to deal with.

cegna09 said:
If that's it awesome. Reading about the latest stock roms I was just confusing myself and thinking there was some new BS to deal with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just FYI, if on i337, get familiar with loki-doki and when you need to flash it--:good:

I am in the same boat. Have tried goomanager and rom manager but both failed to load recoveries. It seems they have moved on to 4.4.2 kitkat and no longer work with 4.2.2 MDL. Have also tried to find .tar files for older recoveries and flash with ODIN but no luck. Afraid to OTA update from AT&T and get MK2. Any help would GREATLY be appreciated.

capti2 said:
I am in the same boat. Have tried goomanager and rom manager but both failed to load recoveries. It seems they have moved on to 4.4.2 kitkat and no longer work with 4.2.2 MDL. Have also tried to find .tar files for older recoveries and flash with ODIN but no luck. Afraid to OTA update from AT&T and get MK2. Any help would GREATLY be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure but can you unroot and reroot with Adam's Motochopper. It installs twrp. Maybe JD can confirm that.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk

rugmankc said:
Not sure but can you unroot and reroot with Adam's Motochopper. It installs twrp. Maybe JD can confirm that.
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm from the short time i was on MDL that CASUAL does install TWRP.

DeadlySin9 said:
I can confirm from the short time i was on MDL that CASUAL does install TWRP.
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Click to collapse
Thank you for the advice . It worked like a charm.

capti2 said:
Thank you for the advice . It worked like a charm.
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Click to collapse
Glad you got it--you can now flash custom recoveries from recovery. I like twrp 2.5.0.2
Don't try goomanager anymore--not needed
There are a couple files to delete so you don't get auto updated. Some have Update in name and one has FOTA. I don't have them in front of me atm
Get a nandroid asap and put copy on pc too
Plus backup efs

Just one last check before I try and mess with things tonight. Since I'm on MDL still, to install a new current ROM (like this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280556), all I need to do is:
- install a custom recovery (TWRP 2.5.0.2 looks like the most recent)
- backup
- full wipe
- flash new ROM
I shouldn't have to mess with any of the safestrap stuff correct?
Just trying to be cautious.

cegna09 said:
Just one last check before I try and mess with things tonight. Since I'm on MDL still, to install a new current ROM (like this one http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2280556), all I need to do is:
- install a custom recovery (TWRP 2.5.0.2 looks like the most recent)
- backup
- full wipe
- flash new ROM
I shouldn't have to mess with any of the safestrap stuff correct?
Just trying to be cautious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No SafeStrap. Backup should include System. Make sure to read OP and last few pages of thread for any new info. Make sure ROM doesn't need loki-doki. Most in att forum don't. What recovery are you on now?
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk

rugmankc said:
No SafeStrap. Backup should include System. Make sure to read OP and last few pages of thread for any new info. Make sure ROM doesn't need loki-doki. Most in att forum don't. What recovery are you on now?
Sent from my GT-I9505G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I thought I was on stock recovery, but checking just now apparently I put OUDhs CWM Touch Recovery v1.0.3.4 on sometime in the past year. I'll either go to the latest version of CWM or TWRP before doing anything.

cegna09 said:
Thank you.
I thought I was on stock recovery, but checking just now apparently I put OUDhs CWM Touch Recovery v1.0.3.4 on sometime in the past year. I'll either go to the latest version of CWM or TWRP before doing anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are on a custom recovery, you "should" be able to flash this thru recovery--if you want it--:good:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhrq0tia8512rj9/AAB_scBnDHWPcg_w2UXw3V5ha/TWRP_Flashable-2.5.0.2.zip

rugmankc said:
If you are on a custom recovery, you "should" be able to flash this thru recovery--if you want it--:good:
https://www.dropbox.com/sh/yhrq0tia8512rj9/AAB_scBnDHWPcg_w2UXw3V5ha/TWRP_Flashable-2.5.0.2.zip
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Click to collapse
awesome. Again thank you.
I'll play with things tonight and see how it goes.

cegna09 said:
awesome. Again thank you.
I'll play with things tonight and see how it goes.
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Click to collapse
How did everything go? Im on MDL rooted custom rom and really want to get back to stock rooted. I know I dont need to do the same process as you but I was curious how things went.