Related
Anyone else a tad nervous about flashing a recovery.
I really want titanium backup.
But
My main problem is I want to have a play with different sound mods, but the device is sooo new im scared about voiding the warranty.
Any thoughts
???
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
You'll be able to go back to stock and reset the flash counter with triangle away should you need to send your phone back for service. That is, unless you do something very wrong so just make sure you read and understand everything before flashing.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
fstorm said:
You'll be able to go back to stock and reset the flash counter with triangle away should you need to send your phone back for service. That is, unless you do something very wrong so just make sure you read and understand everything before flashing.
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Duuuuudddddeeeee
Your a legend
All I have wondered this whole time
Custom recovery here I come. Any suggestions
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
jcurran.jc said:
Duuuuudddddeeeee
Your a legend
All I have wondered this whole time
Custom recovery here I come. Any suggestions
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP
Please press thanks if I helped you!
TWRP is buggy and pretty awkward to use. The UI is horrible.
I'd recommend Philz Cwm recovery, it's awesome!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium HD app
jcurran.jc said:
Anyone else a tad nervous about flashing a recovery.
I really want titanium backup.
But
My main problem is I want to have a play with different sound mods, but the device is sooo new im scared about voiding the warranty.
Any thoughts
???
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't b scared.
Don't be scared, and read the forums here
Make sure you understand what you are doing, and there are some awesome guides here for beginners, read them. DO NOT forget to create a backup before you proceed. Download the official firmware for your model too, just in case something goes wrong. And be confident, hopefully nothing will go wrong if you follow the steps word by word.
Sent using GT-I9505!
Obagleyfreer said:
TWRP is buggy and pretty awkward to use. The UI is horrible.
I'd recommend Philz Cwm recovery, it's awesome!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, like Jccurran.jc, I am a new comer to the Android world and delighted to have a S4. Having rooted my phone, I am starting to explore what custom ROMs have to offer. In this staged process, I am now keen to get Recovery on my phone but despite my readings still have a number queries that I would be grateful for someone to help me understand. All of these are based on the premise that you must have custom recovery on your phone before moving to installing a custom ROM on it. The specific questions I have are:
Am I correct in understanding that "custom recovery" is merely the means of installing a ROM to return to should the installation of a custom ROM go wrong?
If this is the case, why can't your Stock ROM achieve this fall-back role?
There seem to be several ways of installing a custom Recovery whether it be via TWRP, ClockWorkMod and Philz CWM. These all seem to achieve the same objective but use different custom recovery file formats whether they be zip, taz or image files. However, is the method of choice largely a personal one and once the custom recovery file is in place, it doesn't make any difference when you move on to installing a custom ROM or are you now locked into a set way of installing a Custom ROM?
All guides to undertaking installation of a custom recovery stress the importance of backing up your phone (which is a little confusing to a new comer as I have Titanium Backup Pro but can't backup my ROM until I have Recovery in place?). I have done what I can but note that some sites recommend using EFS Prossional to backup my phone's EFS settings folder that contains very critical phone specific information that include IMEI (encrypted in the nv_data.bin), wireless MAC addresses and product code. While I can't be certain that this doesn't happen with Apps like My Backup Pro or Helium, it seems very sensible to help avoid bricking my phone but the program itself requires BusyBox v1.20.2, not the current version in Google Play Store which is more recent but as the developer states is less stable than the older version (and with which EFS Professional wont work). Despite my best attempts to locate the older version as a APK file I haven't been able to as most links point to crap or seem to be for inclusion in custom ROMs (but this may reflect my lack of understanding of the Android system). Can anyone help me understand this and point me to a site where I can obtain the necessary version of BusyBox to enable me to run EFS Professional?
Some sites, including one of the responders to this thread, point out the importance of staying with your phone's offical firmware so that the modem and other hardware components of your phone continue working properly. I have purchased an unlocked international GT-I9595 phone via an internet store that has the baseband version I9505ZHUAME1. Should I my custom recovery file be the same (or its more recent release) or can I use an international LTE variant file such as "CF-Auto-Root-jflte-jfltexx-gti9505.zip"? Obviously, living in Australia, I am not wedded to the Hong Kong based ROM that is native to my phone.
If the answer to the previous question is to stay with the phone's native ROM, then this may force me away from TWRP as it doesn't believe there is any Recovery files available for my phone. Does this fit with other people's experience?
Many thanks in advance for any responses as I totally agree with another responders to this thread (FlOYD') advice: "Make sure you understand what you are doing!".
Basically the first step to customising your Android device is rooting, second step is backing up EFS and third is installing a custom recovery.
The stock recovery doesn't give you an option to install anything or make backups this is why you need custom.
The first thing I do after flashing a custom recovery (usually a .tar.md5 file in PDA section of Odin) is back up my current state.
You can choose any recovery you like, like firmware, some are built better than others. CWM is the original and probably the most used, followed by TWRP. They both have advantages and disadvantages.
I prefer Philz version of CWM personally as I don't flash CM based ROMs and tend to stick with Touchwiz ROMs.
You can also flash custom kernels using a custom recovery this is basically the 'bridge' between your phone's hardware and software. You can change LOTS of things with a custom kernel, I won't go into that.
Once you've backed up your EFS and current state you can flash a new Rom, try it out, if you don't like it then just restore back to your old back up
Before making any changes to themes, or installing zips you should make a backup, that why if anything goes wrong you can just restore it again. And believe me it happens often!
Read through threads, read again and when using Odin double check everything is in the right place and DO NOT TICK REPARTITION!
I'm sure you'll be fine, you seem like a responsible guy lol
Have fun with your new toy!
Sent from my GT-I9505 using XDA Premium HD app
Does having a custom recovery mean your bootloader is unlocked? I have TRWP installed, in download mode it says samsung offical yada yada.
The boot loader is not unlocked. Do some more reading about your phone before you start doing something with your custom recovery. Many people have bricked their phones because they did not understand what they were doing. There is a lot of good advice here. Look for threads by axman, adamoutler,beerdriod, to name a few. They'll keep you out of trouble. Just some friendly advice
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
jd1639 said:
The boot loader is not unlocked. Do some more reading about your phone before you start doing something with your custom recovery. Many people have bricked their phones because they did not understand what they were doing. There is a lot of good advice here. Look for threads by axman, adamoutler,beerdriod, to name a few. They'll keep you out of trouble. Just some friendly advice
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that the boot loader is not unlocked but rather is a patch. What I'm asking is is having a custom recovery make it safe to flash a rom.
AdePower said:
I know that the boot loader is not unlocked but rather is a patch. What I'm asking is is having a custom recovery make it safe to flash a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292157
AdePower said:
I know that the boot loader is not unlocked but rather is a patch. What I'm asking is is having a custom recovery make it safe to flash a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The post above has a great link for you to research.
Basically, having a custom recovery means that you can flash roms that have had the loki patch applied to them or you can flash roms from similar hardware then flash a kernel that has been loki patched, or you can flash a rom from similar hardware using a recovery that has auto loki, or you can flash a rom from similar hardware and follow that by flashing loki-doki.zip.
Plenty of options, but if you have to ask, you shouldn't be flashing, Read the link above and everything else you can about loki and the att i337. Making a mistake with a brand new cellphone can be costly so research is imperative.
Not trying to discourage you from trying a custom rom, just trying to let you know that there's a lot of information you should have first.
acruxksa said:
The post above has a great link for you to research.
Basically, having a custom recovery means that you can flash roms that have had the loki patch applied to them or you can flash roms from similar hardware then flash a kernel that has been loki patched, or you can flash a rom from similar hardware using a recovery that has auto loki, or you can flash a rom from similar hardware and follow that by flashing loki-doki.zip.
Plenty of options, but if you have to ask, you shouldn't be flashing, Read the link above and everything else you can about loki and the att i337. Making a mistake with a brand new cellphone can be costly so research is imperative.
Not trying to discourage you from trying a custom rom, just trying to let you know that there's a lot of information you should have first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its just confusing. I've been flashing roms since my HTC HD2 days, yet im still confused about this phone. I guess, ill just have to read some more. Seems to complicated.
AdePower said:
Its just confusing. I've been flashing roms since my HTC HD2 days, yet im still confused about this phone. I guess, ill just have to read some more. Seems to complicated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult. It's just slightly different than flashing with an unlocked boot loader. The main difference it that whatever you flash has to have a kernel with the loki patch applied before rebooting out of recovery. The patch can be applied to the roms kernel before you flash, it can be applied to the roms kernel by the recovery you use to flash, it can be applied by flashing a loki patched kernel after flashing the rom, or it can be applied by flashing loki-doki after flashing the rom.
The roms come from identical snapdragon 600 equipped S4's, not the octa-core models and you apply the loki patch as needed with one of the methods above.
essentially it's an extra step in the process with several different places you can put it.
If you've flashed other roms, it won't take too much reading before you get the hang of it, but it's still best to put a little time into research before pulling the trigger.
acruxksa said:
Once you get the hang of it, it's not that difficult. It's just slightly different than flashing with an unlocked boot loader. The main difference it that whatever you flash has to have a kernel with the loki patch applied before rebooting out of recovery. The patch can be applied to the roms kernel before you flash, it can be applied to the roms kernel by the recovery you use to flash, it can be applied by flashing a loki patched kernel after flashing the rom, or it can be applied by flashing loki-doki after flashing the rom.
The roms come from identical snapdragon 600 equipped S4's, not the octa-core models and you apply the loki patch as needed with one of the methods above.
essentially it's an extra step in the process with several different places you can put it.
If you've flashed other roms, it won't take too much reading before you get the hang of it, but it's still best to put a little time into research before pulling the trigger.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the best option would be the recovery that applies the patch automatically correct?
AdePower said:
So the best option would be the recovery that applies the patch automatically correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is the easiest way yes.
AdePower said:
Its just confusing. I've been flashing roms since my HTC HD2 days, yet im still confused about this phone. I guess, ill just have to read some more. Seems to complicated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is easier than the HD2, I had that phone, and it was a nightmare to flash, it is not confusing, I give a STEP BY STEP in my guide, how easy is it...
5 step flash process...I don't get it, HOW HARD CAN IT BE?
here is an example...
1 - get a bowl
2 - open the box of cereal
3 - pour cereal in bowl
4 - add milk to cereal
5 - eat cereal and enjoy
it is NO DIFFERENT than that. If you can do that, you can flash roms.
go here, if you can't do this, then you need to keep your phone stock forever.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2295557
I will help you, although, I can't flash it for you, you must pay attention.
good luck sir.
TheAxman said:
It is easier than the HD2, I had that phone, and it was a nightmare to flash, it is not confusing, I give a STEP BY STEP in my guide, how easy is it...
5 step flash process...I don't get it, HOW HARD CAN IT BE?
here is an example...
1 - get a bowl
2 - open the box of cereal
3 - pour cereal in bowl
4 - add milk to cereal
5 - eat cereal and enjoy
it is NO DIFFERENT than that. If you can do that, you can flash roms.
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried this, but all I get is cereal. I've repeated it exactly as written like 15 times and I think I going to be sick.
I am confused to why everyone has this problem, it is crazy. I am like you, it is embedded into my brain, my wife had to wake me up one time, because she said I kept saying flash it, flash it, over and over. Oh well.
I have seen some people, they don't like going through all the posts to find an answer, back in my early days they included a new feature called BOOKMARKS...I ask myself, what does that do...hmm it takes me to places that I have been before, that dare I say...dare dare.. explain what to do so I could reference back.
Ok so I got my AT&T S4 successfully rooted using the guide I found on here that uses the Motochopper tool. Root Checker verified I am indeed rooted. But that's it. I'm only rooted to the stock ROM. Nothing custom. Now how to I go about getting a CWM recovery thing on my phone, while still maintaining the stock ROM?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4 Beta
On the play store, download goo manager (for twrp) or rom manager (for cwm) to install a custom recovery. Don't use either app to do anything but just install the recovery. Once it's installed, boot into recovery and make a backup, even if you're planning on staying stock. Cheers
Step 1. Go to the development forum and read about how to do it.
Step 2. Know how to do it.
Step 3. Do it.
I need more basic. I mean I know CWM means ClockWorkMod, but I don't know what that means. I also know that CWM is more popular than TWRP (I don't know what TWRP stands for) because the rom manager app has tons more downloads in the play store than the goo one does. What is a recovery mode and why do you need one? I mean if I screw up I can just use Odin to flash the AT&T stock ROM back. I wish someone would post a link to a ROMS for Dummies page.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4 Beta
If I were you I'd be happy that your rooted and now find out what that means to you and what you want to do with a rooted phone. You don't need a custom recovery if all you're interested in is being rooted. And if you mess up, Odin back to stock may not be an option. You may permanently hard brick your phone. So really decide what you want to do with the phone before you proceed any further.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
feetr2c said:
I need more basic. I mean I know CWM means ClockWorkMod, but I don't know what that means. I also know that CWM is more popular than TWRP (I don't know what TWRP stands for) because the rom manager app has tons more downloads in the play store than the goo one does. What is a recovery mode and why do you need one? I mean if I screw up I can just use Odin to flash the AT&T stock ROM back. I wish someone would post a link to a ROMS for Dummies page.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you really should have read and understood this first: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2301762
These guys are correct and trying to help you avoid a brick. If you are not aware of the basics start reading. Even if you are experienced at flashing on another device.
I had extensive experience on HTC phones and feel like a noob here, but getting better. But I have read over a thousand posts, at least, and dozens of how to videos since early may. And only feel comfortable now to flash a custom rom. Not ready yet as phone stock is pretty good for me atm. And would prefer an unlocked bootloader first. I only rooted and flashed a recovery about a week ago. May be a little slower than some, but never got into a problem I couldn't get out of on my HTC phones using the same learning process.
If you come back with specific questions where they know you have researched things they will gladly help. Googling some of the terminology is a good idea too. Had to do that when I first started flashing roms. A different language for sure.
Good luck and enjoy the phone and the rooted world.
In my experience with the S4 CWM does not work as well as TWRP. I had many issues installing a few custom ROMS with CWM, but as soon as i loaded TWRP those ROMS which wouldn't install would install properly. TWRP also was able to read my ext SD when it was formatted in exFat.
I honestly don't know where to start, I bought the Samsung galaxy s4 i337m from virgin mobile, and use it with my Bell carrier. I was browsing the internet when I come to a video that states that you can flash i9505 roms on my i337/i337m phone! So silly of me to try that, it actually worked. When I was tired of that ROM, I go on this forum thread and look for another ROM, a ROM that is i337m cooked, and it soft bricked my phone, 3 times for 3 different i337m ROMS, at this point I have absolutely no clue what is going on with my phone, is the bootloader unlocked? WTF IS LOKI?? WHY does a i9505 ROM work on my phone, and a i337m cooked ROM does not, I just need some answers!! I have been flashing my phone with ROMs since my s1 and now the s4 comes along and completely wipes any knowledge I had before I got the phone, if anyone can help me on which ROMS I can and/or can't flash, that would be great, sorry for english not my first language!
Read and do some research. Just because you flashed a number of other phones doesn't mean you know how to flash this one. Every phone is different. It would also help to know what roms you flashed that didn't work.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
We are in trouble.
Loki is for locked bootloaders..which you do not have..you need to do some serious reading.
TheAxman said:
We are in trouble.
Loki is for locked bootloaders..which you do not have..you need to do some serious reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I still don't understand, I have the north american version of the i337m from Canada....
Dragosmp said:
I still don't understand, I have the north american version of the i337m from Canada....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What roms did you try to flash? Where did you get them? The boot loader is not locked and they should flash. Did you check the md5sum? They could be bad downloads.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Loki is needed for phones purchased through at&t. The Canadian version is the same phone, but without a locked boot loader, so the Loki hack is not needed.
What I have found is that some of the custom recoveries don't wipe out the phone properly. Try using Odin and go back to stock, wipe, then restart fresh
Also make sure you do a full wipe after flashing a Rom
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Matridom said:
Also make sure you do a full wipe after flashing a Rom
Sent from my SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd do the full wipe before flashing. If you wipe after DON'T wipe system or you'll be in trouble.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Actually, I totally found that the Loki fix was needed for my Canadian i337m device (Bell). Many ROMs wouldn't work without it; they'd just get stuck in the boot logo (including SlimRom and CyanogenMod).
Just flash the ROM, then flash the Loki-Fix and you should be good to go.
If you're seriously stuck and you can't get back into your custom recovery, let me know and I'll help you out.
Now I am confused. Why would the I337m need a loki anything?
It is not needed. I surprised it even flashed.
TheAxman said:
Now I am confused. Why would the I337m need a loki anything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I honestly have no idea; I just found that it worked for me. I was also very frustrated at first when I started flashing ROMs, until I tried the Loki Fix.
Te3k said:
I honestly have no idea; I just found that it worked for me. I was also very frustrated at first when I started flashing ROMs, until I tried the Loki Fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you know what your stock firmware was before you started flashing custom roms?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Te3k said:
I honestly have no idea; I just found that it worked for me. I was also very frustrated at first when I started flashing ROMs, until I tried the Loki Fix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U sure it is the canadian version? J/k. That is strange. What happens if you flash a rom and not the loki fix?
jd1639 said:
Do you know what your stock firmware was before you started flashing custom roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't check the first time, but ever since I had to reflash to stock I started using this firmware: I337MVLUAMDJ_I337MOYAAMDJ_I337MVLUAMDJ_HOME and this kernel:
Samsung-Updates.com-KERNEL-SGH-I337M-BMC-I337MVLUAMDJ-1366643831. It was necessary for me to Odin back to stock completely a couple of times.
TheAxman said:
U sure it is the canadian version? J/k. That is strange. What happens if you flash a rom and not the loki fix?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I flash a ROM but not the Loki Fix, one of the following scenarios happens: 1. the ROM gets stuck in a boot-loop (continually restarts), or 2. gets to the boot logo and stays there forever (10+ minutes). But if I reboot into recovery, wipe everything again, reflash the ROM and then the Loki Fix, the phone boots up in less than a minute. Is this very weird? The phone is i337m from Bell, Canada.
Te3k said:
I didn't check the first time, but ever since I had to reflash to stock I started using this firmware: I337MVLUAMDJ_I337MOYAAMDJ_I337MVLUAMDJ_HOME and this kernel:
Samsung-Updates.com-KERNEL-SGH-I337M-BMC-I337MVLUAMDJ-1366643831. It was necessary for me to Odin back to stock completely a couple of times.
If I flash a ROM but not the Loki Fix, one of the following scenarios happens: 1. the ROM gets stuck in a boot-loop (continually restarts), or 2. gets to the boot logo and stays there forever (10+ minutes). But if I reboot into recovery, wipe everything again, reflash the ROM and then the Loki Fix, the phone boots up in less than a minute. Is this very weird? The phone is i337m from Bell, Canada.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It behaves just like the locked boot loader on the US version.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
jd1639 said:
It behaves just like the locked boot loader on the US version.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange. If it's relevant, I did encounter a lot of trouble sim-unlocking this phone for use on other networks. Using the Debug Menu on the phone's keypad didn't work as a method for me, although it had been reported to work for many others, including those with i337m's. I had to use a USB tether hack (FastGSM) to finally unlock the darn thing. Perhaps some models have locked bootloaders and others don't.
Te3k said:
Strange. If it's relevant, I did encounter a lot of trouble sim-unlocking this phone for use on other networks. Using the Debug Menu on the phone's keypad didn't work as a method for me, although it had been reported to work for many others, including those with i337m's. I had to use a USB tether hack (FastGSM) to finally unlock the darn thing. Perhaps some models have locked bootloaders and others don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which custom recovery are you using to flash with and how did you get it on your phone?
Te3k said:
Strange. If it's relevant, I did encounter a lot of trouble sim-unlocking this phone for use on other networks. Using the Debug Menu on the phone's keypad didn't work as a method for me, although it had been reported to work for many others, including those with i337m's. I had to use a USB tether hack (FastGSM) to finally unlock the darn thing. Perhaps some models have locked bootloaders and others don't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is just not true. No way. Friggin way weird.
scott14719 said:
Which custom recovery are you using to flash with and how did you get it on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using Open Recovery, and put it on the phone via an ADB interface (over USB debugging) using the Canadian i337m "3way" .BAT tool (root/CWM/OpenRecov).
And Axman, I just don't know what to say, lol!
Te3k said:
Using Open Recovery, and put it on the phone via an ADB interface (over USB debugging) using the Canadian i337m "3way" .BAT tool (root/CWM/OpenRecov).
And Axman, I just don't know what to say, lol!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are the first. When you were on stock, what did it identify the phone as?
What does the model # say under the battery?
---------- Post added at 07:33 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:30 PM ----------
Te3k said:
Using Open Recovery, and put it on the phone via an ADB interface (over USB debugging) using the Canadian i337m "3way" .BAT tool (root/CWM/OpenRecov).
And Axman, I just don't know what to say, lol!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And this procedure worked for you? You said you had to loki, where did that come in?
TheAxman said:
You are the first. When you were on stock, what did it identify the phone as?
What does the model # say under the battery?
And this procedure worked for you? You said you had to loki, where did that come in?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phone identified as i337m from settings menu prior to any flashing. Model number under battery matches: Model: SGH-I337M / IC: 649E-I337M.
Using Loki came in where I found that flashing ROMs wasn't working. I had already rooted and tried to unlock the phone through the debug menu. Unlocking didn't work, but rooting did and I could load custom recoveries without problem. I thought that I should try flashing other ROMs to see if I could unlock the device through their debug menus, but no luck. The first ROM I tried to flash was a SlimRom nightly. That one appeared to flash properly (recovery said "success"), but upon reboot I got stuck in a boot loop. I then went back to recovery and messed around trying to flash other ROMs and ran into the same issue persistently. I eventually panicked and Odined back to stock ROM and kernel (numbers previously mentioned). Everything was fine after I figured out how to make Odin work. (I even learned how to make signed-MD5 tarballs with Cygwin to try to make flashing recoveries and roots simpler by using Odin.) After wondering why I couldn't flash any custom ROMs, I dug around a bit and found out that some ROMs' first-posts mentioned that certain fixes had to be applied—some of which were labelled ROM-specific (e.g. GOLDENEYE-i337m-FiX-XXUBMF8) and others that just said that they required a Loki fix, and sometimes provided a link to download it. At the time I didn't know what Loki was, and I wasn't understanding why certain ROMs would come pre-"Lokified" (brain was full after hacking around for >6h). So in the moment it made no sense not to try flashing that to see if it would help. Lo and behold, it worked! I started flashing Loki after every ROM install from then on out. Previously not-working ROMs that I had already tried suddenly worked just fine (I didn't redownload them; I kept the same zip files and just started flashing the Loki Fix after each of them to make them work).
It's still the case that when I want to flash a new ROM, I wipe everything from recovery and flash the ROM. If it doesn't boot, I flash the Loki Fix and then it does boot properly.
Hey guys... Before I get into this, I would like to say that i'm very new to this whole rooting thing, so please forgive me for my lack of knowledge on various terms and such, and I'm a first time user here at xda.
What's written below might get a little bit complicated so i will try to make it as detailed as possible. Please bare with me here.
So I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 sgh-i337 (AT&T) running on android 4.4.4 (with touchwiz, you guys know the deal). I really wanted stock android lollipop, because I really like the look and feel to it. When I decided to root the phone, I went through many tutorials and I tried many different methods, and none of them worked. The phone still worked fine, but SuperSU was not installed and Root Checker said the phone was not rooted. After scouring the internet, I found one tutorial that had my S4 type and the same version. At that point I realized that my android version was hindering my rooting process. The tutorial used Odin to flash a kernel (NC1), root the phone using towelroot, install SuperSU, (Root Checker too to check if it worked), and then flashing the original kernel again (my original kernel was NJ4). After following this process, my phone was rooted, and everything worked fine.
As I said before, I wanted a GPE ROM, and so I needed a custom recovery. I decided to install CWM, since most GPE ROMs used this specific recovery. Again, I followed many different tutorials, and after each and every one, I would try to go into Recovery mode, and it would just launch the stock recovery. I found another tutorial on another website that involved flashing the recovery from an app in the google play store, so I decided to try it out. I now regret this as it led to more problems. I followed these instructions, and when launching into recovery mode from that point on, I get the yellow triangle with the error message "System software is not authorized by AT&T"
Sure, I could get around it by going into download mode from there, canceling, and it would reboot like normal, and the phone still worked, but I needed to get ride of that error message.
Once again doing my research, I figured out that if I flash a stock firmware specific to my phone, it will reset the phone (the only stock firmware available has android version 4.2.2, which is a really popular version, and is compatible with most custom recoveries and ROMs, so I decided to flash the firmware, as it would also change the version back, right?) When I flashed it using Odin like the directions said, it failed. i then figured out that it failed because my binary counter is not 0. I looked into resetting the binary counter for the AT&T S4, and I found Triangle Away. However, in order to reset your binary counter, you need an unlocked bootloader, and the AT&T S4 (sgh-i337) has a locked bootloader (I don't want to use Triangle Away if it's going to brick my phone, i'd rather unroot and keep touchwiz than brick). In the process of finding this out, I also figured out that the only custom recovery that you could use on a locked bootloader S4 sgh-i337 is SafeStrap. But i heard when using SafeStrap you are limited as far as ROMs go? Would I be able to get a GPE 5.0 Lollipop ROM with SafeStrap? Cause if not I might just unroot using SuperSU and software update my phone (will that fix the error when trying to get to Recovery mode?) Also, if I install Safestrap, will it fix the error message?
Again, sorry for my inexperience in all of this, and thanks for staying with me here. Any help and additional information on what I should do (or any GPE Lollipop ROMs I should use that are compatible with my phone and version and such), as well as any links to tutorials are greatly appreciated (also, keep in mind that all of the vocab I know when rooting is used in this post, I am not aware of most other terms - again, forgive me).
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
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Oh, thanks for the help! The phone currently works fine, and it is rooted, but when I go into Recovery Mode it gives me the yellow triangle with the error... Will installing SafeStrap fix that? Regardless, thanks for the help, really do appreciate it!
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
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Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
EvilLemon said:
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
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I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
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Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
EvilLemon said:
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
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No problem. I'm glad you got it working again
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app