Please bear with a former HTC owner (Hero, OG Evo, 3d Evo). I'm used to rooting, flashing custom ROMs and recoveries. But, I am new to the Samsung way of doing things. I'm still on MDC, totally stock. I'd like to be on MDL, rooted, with custom recovery and ready to flash custom ROMs. I'd also like to nandroid my current installation, before doing the above. Is it better to root and install a custom recovery first, then nandroid, then have to flash back to stofck recovery before installing the OTA? Or, do I flash the OTA, then root and custom recovery, then nandroid? Thanks for helping a lady flasher!
The second one. But it doesn't really matter. You have to accept the ota if you want to change the baseband version otherwise it will stay on Mdc though.
Sent from my Sprint Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 2
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Hey All!
I get the feeling I'm probably just doing something wrong, not flashing something, etc etc.
Managed to root my MF3, install SafeStrap, and create a new rom slot.
All that was pretty easy, but I'm stuck trying to install a rom to the new slot.
I'm trying to install Vision X:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391142
I've ROM'ed phones in the past, flashed modems and GAPS, things like that. What I've been doing:
1) Flash Vision X Rom
2) Flash SafeStrap MF3 Kernal
3) Flash LokiDoki (Found here from Vision X: http://www.androidrootz.com/2013/10/vision-x-rom-for-galaxy-s4-gt-i9505t.html)
After this process, I reboot to System, but the phone just begins to boot loop =/
Obviously I can just jump back to stock, which is fully functional. If someone could be so kind as to point out my (presumably) really silly mistake, I would be grateful!
Problem is that Vision X is a 4.3 rom. Since you are on MF3, the only roms that you can install is 4.2.2 Touchwiz roms.
U need to update to MK2 4.3 firmware first. .... follow my thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49797738.... Before u install custom rom. ....
Swyped from MK2 Dark Venom SS Edition
Thanks for the answers guys!
I'm going to try writing in MF2!
Okay, so I'm almost positive there is probably a thread for this, but I'm having trouble finding exactly what I'm looking for and very new to doing all of this on my own. I usually have a buddy help me out (aka he does it all).
I am running 4.4.2 Kit Kat on NC1 and I was finally able to root my device using TowelRoot. I've been trying for days now to install ClockworkMod custom recovery, but to no avail. Odin has failed, the command prompt method has failed, and Rom Manager app has failed. Is there just no compatible builds for any of this? I'm not entirely sure how this all works or why any of it is failing. What can I do to install CWM or TWRP and get CM11 back on? I need all kinds of explanation, so don't skimp on the details! Thanks guys!
You can't install clockwork. You have to use safestrap. Read the all things mk2, nc1 thread. It will tell you just about everything you need to know. Is an awesome thread and how I learned everything about this phone.
bweekzzzz said:
You can't install clockwork. You have to use safestrap. Read the all things mk2, nc1 thread. It will tell you just about everything you need to know. Is an awesome thread and how I learned everything about this phone.
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Awesome! That's exactly the direction I'm looking for! Thank you so much.
No problem at all. We've all needed help on here from time to time. Good luck.
Great advice above. To add to it you will NOT be able to use CM11 on your device at this time or probably ever. Also you will NOT be able to ever flash CWM or TWRP recoveries.
You can ONLY use safestrap recovery which ONLY allows flashing Touchwiz based Roms.
You can ONLY flash Touchwiz based Roms because with Safestrap it will NOT flash any custom kernels. A custom Kernel is need to flash CM11, AOKP, and other AOSP Based roms.
You also CANNOT downgrade your bootloader as it is locked down hard. The locked down boot loader is why all above cannot work for your device. ONLY the original phones that came with MDB or MDL firmwares were able to use the Loki Bootloader Bypass, which allowed for flashing CWM or TWRP recoveries and then allow ANYTHING like any custom Roms (also based or Touchwiz based), flash custom kernels, flash anything. But any phone updated to the MF3 firmware or newer the boot loader was locked down too much to do much.
Sent fron I337 Red BadAss Themed ShoStock 7.0
Been trying to read and figure out as much as I can, but I'm lost. I rooted my phone right when I got it a few months after release. I have the MDL firmware and I'm running stock that I've modified to my liking. I rooted using motochopper, I have TB and SU and I have TWRP installed. I'm ready to take the jump and try to get an updated firmware, but don't know where to look. It seems a lot of the info in now for the newer firmwares.
I would like to run either Google edition or a modified TouchWiz I think. I like keeping things pretty clean and fast. I am currently running Aviate on top of TouchWiz and I like the clean organized feel of it, although a bit laggy.
Please help me XDA, sorry I know this is a newb post. I've been blocking the OTAs for over a year and I'm ready to move on.
First I would suggest NOT to use any STOCK firmware to update to 4.4.2
There are some newer Google Edition Roms I believe in the ATT original ANDROID SECTION. You can use them since you have twrp recovery. Those with newer firmware cannot use the latest google edition Roms unless they are made for safestrap.
Or if you want a modified stock Touchwiz with all the extra benefits you can flash directly to ShoStock-i 8.1 which is 4.4.2 based.
Keeping you MDL bootloader and the Loki bootloader bypass you have now let's you flash ANYTHING you want, including kernels.
If you update firmwares the bootloader becomes MORE LOCKED DOWN and you cannot flash any Roms that need a modified kernel like aosp based Roms, or any kernel other than stock.
Thank you ill check those roms out. I am aware that I DO NOT want to update my firmware, that's part of the reason I asked for advice, to see which roms work well with MDL. Most of what I found was all for newer FW versions.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app
Would I be better off upgrading to OUDHS Touch CWM-based Recovery 1.0.3.5 instead of TWRP so everything is auto Loki'd?
matchstick13 said:
Would I be better off upgrading to OUDHS Touch CWM-based Recovery 1.0.3.5 instead of TWRP so everything is auto Loki'd?
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Click to collapse
Sorry I haven't tried OUDHS so I cannot comment. But TWRP still works perfectly. For ShoStock you would NOT need to flash Loki-Doki patch or anything. The kernel in ShoStock-i is already Loki patched. If you plan on trying other Roms it is always best to keep the Loki-Doki flashable zip on your sdcard and flash it after flashing a ROM. Just extra insurance that won't hurt anything if the ROM is already lokified.
Ok going to try flashing this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2537495
Followed by Loki Doki
Hope I'm doing this right.
matchstick13 said:
Ok going to try flashing this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2537495
Followed by Loki Doki
Hope I'm doing this right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should work
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
I have an S4 that is rooted with safestrap recovery (3.72). Still the stock ROM. What is the easiest way to return to full stock and be able to receive OTA upgrades? The first thing I always do with my android devices is root and flash custom recovery. Now that I did all of that, I realize I will probably not flash that many roms as I don't want to take up that much internal storage and such.
I know how to remove Safestrap recovery, but don't quite know what the best way to return to full stock would be.
Thanks for any help!
John
crash447 said:
I have an S4 that is rooted with safestrap recovery (3.72). Still the stock ROM. What is the easiest way to return to full stock and be able to receive OTA upgrades? The first thing I always do with my android devices is root and flash custom recovery. Now that I did all of that, I realize I will probably not flash that many roms as I don't want to take up that much internal storage and such.
I know how to remove Safestrap recovery, but don't quite know what the best way to return to full stock would be.
Thanks for any help!
John
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. Then ota to nj4. See the general forum
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Thank you. That was the direction I was going to go, but wanted to make sure there wasn't an easier route.
After rooting my Note 3 (not branded or simlocked) many moons ago with Towelroot, I've come to the point of wanting to update things a tad. I never installed a custom recovery so it's just a root.
However, looking through the multiple threads here and not wishing to make a bad mistake I'm a little confused and could do with some clear pointers.
I am currently on 4.3 Jellybean BL: N900XXUBMJ3 so most threads deal with later versions and I really want to know what the best path is to now being able to start trying out custom roms such as the DarkWolf ROM or just get this to Lollipop. Obviously now Knox 1x0 is no longer a problem as it's out of warranty.
I assume that the step should really be to install a custom recovery and for that there is a confusion of whether I can do that directly on my current bootloader or do I have install 4.4.2 as some threads suggest?
Probably due to my misunderstanding I am not sure if a 4.4 bootloader is separate from the firmware. If it comes to having to update the bootloader do I have to completely upgrade to Kitkat or can I just update the bootloader only?
louiscar said:
After rooting my Note 3 (not branded or simlocked) many moons ago with Towelroot, I've come to the point of wanting to update things a tad. I never installed a custom recovery so it's just a root.
However, looking through the multiple threads here and not wishing to make a bad mistake I'm a little confused and could do with some clear pointers.
I am currently on 4.3 Jellybean BL: N900XXUBMJ3 so most threads deal with later versions and I really want to know what the best path is to now being able to start trying out custom roms such as the DarkWolf ROM or just get this to Lollipop. Obviously now Knox 1x0 is no longer a problem as it's out of warranty.
I assume that the step should really be to install a custom recovery and for that there is a confusion of whether I can do that directly on my current bootloader or do I have install 4.4.2 as some threads suggest?
Probably due to my misunderstanding I am not sure if a 4.4 bootloader is separate from the firmware. If it comes to having to update the bootloader do I have to completely upgrade to Kitkat or can I just update the bootloader only?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash custom recovery for 4.3 but all 5.1.1 and 6.0 roms require 5.0 bootloader to make the camera to work correctly.
Flash 4.3 custom recovery. Then flash the rom of your choice. Then flash 5.0 bootloader. After that flash 4.4.2/5.0 recovery.
Or flash 5.0 firmware. Flash 4.4.2/5.0 custom recovery. Flash the rom of your choice.
Sent from my SM-G925F using XDA Free mobile app
Rosli59564 said:
You can flash custom recovery for 4.3 but all 5.1.1 and 6.0 roms require 5.0 bootloader to make the camera to work correctly.
Flash 4.3 custom recovery. Then flash the rom of your choice. Then flash 5.0 bootloader. After that flash 4.4.2/5.0 recovery.
Or flash 5.0 firmware. Flash 4.4.2/5.0 custom recovery. Flash the rom of your choice.
Sent from my SM-G925F using XDA Free mobile app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for that Rosli,
I actually found that OTA was working still so I let it update. This went through a lot of updates one by one till it got to the latest 4.3. All this left root intact. Then it downloaded the kitkat but that failed. I had figured that if I let it update to Lollipop I could then root it with CF Autoroot but as it's not going any further (probably due to the fact that I'm rooted .. maybe), I will have to manually update via Odin.
I would probably in that case prefer your advice of flashing 5.0 directly then custom recovery, however, do I have to CF autoroot or can I flash recovery without root and then root after that?
louiscar said:
Thanks for that Rosli,
I actually found that OTA was working still so I let it update. This went through a lot of updates one by one till it got to the latest 4.3. All this left root intact. Then it downloaded the kitkat but that failed. I had figured that if I let it update to Lollipop I could then root it with CF Autoroot but as it's not going any further (probably due to the fact that I'm rooted .. maybe), I will have to manually update via Odin.
I would probably in that case prefer your advice of flashing 5.0 directly then custom recovery, however, do I have to CF autoroot or can I flash recovery without root and then root after that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can flash custom recovery then root. But if you're going to flash custom rom no need to root after custom recovery.
Sent from my SM-G925F