Mac User Needs Help! - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

So I just used motochopper to root my GS4, and now I need to install a custom recovery so I can flash roms. Every tutorial I folow mentions ODIN but that is a Windows only application and I do not have access to a Windows machine, so, can someone please help me put a custom recovery on my GS4!?
EDIT: I used this method to get a recovery. Is this a reliable recovery?

yes, both twrp and cwm are good recoveries. you use goo manager to install twrp (as you did) and Rom Manager to install cwm. be sure to make a backup (nandroid) and also to backup your efs, both backups made in twrp recovery.
be sure to read up before you begin wiping/flashing. check out this guide. cheers

I have an iMac and have had no need for Odin. If you are careful and read up a lot before doing anything--Odin won't be needed--:good:

Related

[Q] cant install recovery

how do i install clockwork recovery?? i can't install it using rom manager and havent been able to update my phone
does it give you an error in rom manager? what is your current recovery? does rom manager have superuser privilege in superuser?
Are you trying to restore a backup using ROM Manager? If you rooted your phone using unrEVOked it automatically installs Clockwork Mod recovery version 2.6.0.1. This is the recovery program you may have used to make your first backup. If you've recently updated ROM Manager beyond 2.6.0.1 and flashed a recovery you will not be able to restore a backup initially made with CWM recovery 2.6.0.1. The article below explains it all. You may need to re-flash CWM recovery 2.6.0.1 again and try and restore the backup manually booting up through recovery and not through ROM Manager. ROM Manager has been causing problems for some people. This version is found at the bottom of Koush's article. I hope this helps.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=897026

Post your n00b S4 i9500 rooting and ROMing tips here

There's a ton of info in the development forums, but for every answer you get you'll have two more questions. This will be the thread where I try to pool together the various tidbits of info I found. And hopefully I'll rack up 10 posts here or successfully install the WanamLite rom on my 9500 before I brick it somehow.
The step by step guides so far:
There's the ibtimes guide
http://www.ibtimes.co.uk/articles/4...00-root-install-clockworkmod-cwm-recovery.htm
The most solid CWM installation guide I've found is here (but apparently no rooting included)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2274526
But here's a n00b feature that tripped me up for an hour: how to get the I9500 recognized by Odin. The CWM installation guide didn't cover it, and the ibtimes guide leads you to a driver download, but as far as I can determine, those drivers are actually for legacy non-android devices. The only way I've found the actually install drivers for the phone's Odin mode is to download and install Samsung KIES:
http://www.samsung.com/us/kies/
Now my phone apparently has CWM 6.0.3.2 installed but I've got nothing to show for it except that pressing volume up+home+power boots me into recovery. There's no rooting option in the recovery console of this version of CWM. Heck I'm not even sure it IS CWM since I never booted up the stock recovery mode to compare (maybe there isn't one?)
The rom of my choice, WanamLite, is taking hours to download. When it finishes I'll see if it directly flashes a new rom without going through rooting as promised.
I did it!
Correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems that current S4 stock roms can't be rooted or have CWM installed over them?
I couldn't get CWM recovery running until I flashed a custom kernel over the stock rom.
So the order of business for rooting then re-ROMing your i9500 is as follows:
1. Install Samsung KIES to get USB drivers for your phone on the computer
http://www.samsung.com/us/kies/
2. Flash a custom kernel via Odin, such as this one
(a) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2264454
Detailed guide on how to flash stuff via Odin is here
(b) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2274526
but instead of flashing the CWM recovery update, flash the custom kernel linked to in (a) or other custom kernel you desire
Remember to check the md5 checksum of the custom kernel file before flashing!
This will root your phone, with the "side effect" of giving you a custom kernel.
3. If you want to have a clean slate with a full custom ROM, you still need to flash CWM recovery
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2274526
(yes, this is the same link as in 2(b). This time just follow the instructions to the letter)
Remember to check the md5 checksum of the CWM recovery file before flashing!
4. Download your choice of custom ROM, load it on your external sdcard,
Remember to check the md5 checksum of the ROM file before flashing!
do the following:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=41191141&postcount=130 (give him your thanks!)
Restart phone in recovery (press volume up+home+power buttons)
wipe data/factory reset.
wipe cache partition
advanced options->wipe dalvik cache
Go to Mounts and storage submenu:
format /cache
format /system
format /preload
Choose install zip from sdcard->choose zip from external sdcard
Find and choose the rom you downloaded
Install
Restart
Well, it worked for me... first time I managed to root and ROM a phone the first try without soft bricking it, so I must have done something right this time :laugh:

[Q] Flashing clarification

After having just recently rooted my phone using CF-Auto root (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlsO5o_-CI8), I am looking to flash a new ROM and hoping to get some clarification or confirmation on the flashing method I am planning to use. I want to try and flash either a Google edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341794) or Omega ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2253528).
When attempting to flash I will be following these steps:
Perform a nandroid backup,
1. Downloading the .zip file and put it onto my external memory card.
2. Booting into PhilZ CWM recovery and wiping data/cache.
3. Perform a factory reset using CWM recovery. (does this delete all my apps?)
4. Flash the .zip file using CWM.
5. Reboot phone.
Are these the correct steps to take?
I keep reading something about bootloaders and how it can brick your phone if you do not unlock it, is this true? I am unsure as to whether or not I have unlocked it.
Furthermore, can i use titanium backup or another program to not lose my apps? I really would not like to reinstall every single app after flashing a new ROM.
I am currently using the GT-I9505 locked to Virgin in Australia.
warriorya1 said:
After having just recently rooted my phone using CF-Auto root (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlsO5o_-CI8), I am looking to flash a new ROM and hoping to get some clarification or confirmation on the flashing method I am planning to use. I want to try and flash either a Google edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341794) or Omega ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2253528).
When attempting to flash I will be following these steps:
Perform a nandroid backup,
1. Downloading the .zip file and put it onto my external memory card.
2. Booting into PhilZ CWM recovery and wiping data/cache.
3. Perform a factory reset using CWM recovery. (does this delete all my apps?)
4. Flash the .zip file using CWM.
5. Reboot phone.
Are these the correct steps to take?
I keep reading something about bootloaders and how it can brick your phone if you do not unlock it, is this true? I am unsure as to whether or not I have unlocked it.
Furthermore, can i use titanium backup or another program to not lose my apps? I really would not like to reinstall every single app after flashing a new ROM.
I am currently using the GT-I9505 locked to Virgin in Australia.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If You have Just Rooted it using CF Root then u need to Install Recovery First. You Can Head to the Philz Recovery Forum and download the Tar file and flash Via ODIn.
And then You Can follow the Steps mentioned.
manu44 said:
1. If You have Just Rooted it using CF Root then u need to Install Recovery First. You Can Head to the Philz Recovery Forum and download the Tar file and flash Via ODIn.
And then You Can follow the Steps mentioned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I have downloaded CWM recovery, or which ever custom recovery this is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2281367
I am still quite unsure on the bootloader, should I just not worry about this? Also, is there anyway to recover apps afterwards because I do not feel like downloading all my apps again.

[Q] [Newbie Question] In what order do I update recovery/rom/kernel/root

Heya,
After some months using stock rom decided I wanna juice it up.
I used to flash roms on my S2 a lot, but its been a while.
I see all kind of install instructions in threads saying I need to have root before I can install that or that, but currently my phone is not rooted.
I wiped it clean using factory reset, so I guess I am good to do.
What do I do first and how (download mode / just open up a zip from my phone)
The end goal is have a rooted phone with some neat rom (Currently downloaded Pardus HD Rom, but didn't install anything yet).
Thanks
1. Root using towelroot (run the downloaded *.apk, then install SuperSU)...
https://towelroot.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
2. Install TWRP recovery using AutoRec...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2715496
3. Download ROM to your phones internal storage (this step can be done prior to rooting)
4. Install and use Quick Boot to boot to recovery...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.siriusapplications.quickboot
5. Install ROM from recovery
Note: If you'd rather use CWM recovery, then flash PhilZ Touch from TWRP...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2554053
redduc900 said:
1. Root using towelroot (run the downloaded *.apk, then install SuperSU)...
https://towelroot.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
2. Install TWRP recovery using AutoRec...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2715496
3. Download ROM to your phones internal storage (this step can be done prior to rooting)
4. Install and use Quick Boot to boot to recovery...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.siriusapplications.quickboot
5. Install ROM from recovery
Note: If you'd rather use CWM recovery, then flash PhilZ Touch from TWRP...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2554053
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't express how helpful this post was, thanks a lot!
redduc900 said:
1. Root using towelroot (run the downloaded *.apk, then install SuperSU)...
https://towelroot.com/
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.supersu
2. Install TWRP recovery using AutoRec...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2715496
3. Download ROM to your phones internal storage (this step can be done prior to rooting)
4. Install and use Quick Boot to boot to recovery...
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.siriusapplications.quickboot
5. Install ROM from recovery
Note: If you'd rather use CWM recovery, then flash PhilZ Touch from TWRP...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2554053
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for this, but I still have some doubts!
Should I do a nandroid backup if I ever want to go back to stock? or LG has another way of backing up?
My real question is, if I flash TWRP then If I have to go back to stock would it help to have a backup of my phone and just restore from TWRP? and when restoring the backup how I get the stock recovery?
thank you again
Creating a nandroid from recovery (TWRP, CWM, etc.), then restoring the backup, will not revert the phone back to "stock" condition. If you need to unroot and / or revert to stock recovery, then you'll need to use either the *.kdz or *.tot method to do so. A nandroid backup saves the following...
The operating system itself (so you can make a copy of your stock or custom ROM and return to it if desired)
All apps (including those you installed yourself or that came with the device)
All games and your progress in them
All pictures
All music
All videos
All text and picture messages
All wallpapers
All widgets
All ringtones
All login and account settings
All system settings
All stored passwords, including WiFi passwords
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What Is A Nandroid Backup and How Exactly Does It Work?
http://www.makeuseof.com/tag/what-is-a-nandroid-backup-and-how-exactly-does-it-work/

CWM not restoring backup.

Hy,
I have two i9505, I read a lot and installed CWM using Heimdall, I flashed SuperSU to gain root, and made a backup. It labeled the backup with an outdated 1970 name...
I took the SD card out to copy the SD backup, but could find it even when searching for hidden folder.
I put back the SD card in my device, and booted to CWM, the backup was available for a restore process. So before trying any flash I tried out a restore process, but ended up with a stuck in boot. Boot to CWM and bootloader being still available, I managed to flash a workable ROM, but I can't restore to my initial ROM.
Now, I'd like to be able to restore my device to it's initial ROM.
I believe that somehow, the backup I made is corrupted.
As I have another identical i9505 I haven't tempered with yet, I guess I could install CWM (or other custom recovery) to make a backup of the ROM, extract the backup of the ROM from the SD and use it to 'clone' my second device ROM to this one.
But I don't wan't to make any mistake here, so I'd apreciate some help, first to understand where CWM put the backup .tar.
Another solution is to get some stock ROM I can flash. As anyway I don't have any warranty on the device I don't care to restore to exact initial state, I just want to be able to get back to some stock ROM.
sammobile.com/firmwares is the place to go if you want a stock ROM. Download whichever ROM you want, then use Heimdall to flash it, and you should then be returned to stock. For best results, the ROM you download should have no carrier branding, but any of them should work.
I though I would have to do something like that from reading the unroot guide. Also, as I use Heimdall to flash (I have a linuxBox), I will use this guide in french as a guideline.
I noticed that the command line they recommend don't flash sbl1. I don't know if it is required.
Thank you anyway for confirming that.

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