Database Users

Ok.. So i am ready to do root.. Just one question

I have done some reading and finally decided I will be using the Casual method to root my S 4, but I am stock with not wanting to end up with the custom lock pad permanently, and I have seen many people have not been able to get rid of it.
So here is my question... After using Casual, what would be the way to get back to stock? This method installs custom recovery, so I am not sure how to go back if indeed to....
Can some one point me in the right direction?
Appreciated!

Before we move forward here, have you updated? As it stands the update released yesterday effectively blocks root and more then likely also blocks Loki. O and it blocks Odin so you can't downgrade. This is like first and foremost if you even wanna run casual now.

no update on my phone yet...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2314494
post #1 is about rooting/flashing. post #2 addresses returning to stock, which literally is about as simple as flashing stock firmware via odin and factory resetting. cheers

Awesome.. I read that post but forgot completely about it.. most appreciated!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

genesiss said:
Awesome.. I read that post but forgot completely about it.. most appreciated!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as Thermalwolf stated, your firmware version is important. make sure you dont have the latest MF3

No.. MDL still
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

If you're still on MDL I recommend rooting now before your phone tries to force MF3 on you as it blocks root and possibly loki.

Thermalwolf said:
If you're still on MDL I recommend rooting now before your phone tries to force MF3 on you as it blocks root and possibly loki.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, talk about making it just under the wire, your lucky you decided to root today and that your phone hadn't already updated.
I feel for those poor souls that updated, personally I think loki is patched and I remember sitting around for months and months while people tried and failed to unlock the rezound bootloader, locked bootloaders can be a b***h
Take care of your non MF3 Galaxy S4's everyone, they just became more valueable ...

movielover76 said:
Yea, talk about making it just under the wire, your lucky you decided to root today and that your phone hadn't already updated.
I feel for those poor souls that updated, personally I think loki is patched and I remember sitting around for months and months while people tried and failed to unlock the rezound bootloader, locked bootloaders can be a b***h
Take care of your non MF3 Galaxy S4's everyone, they just became more valueable ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right?! This guy could not have picked a better day too root. Also I'm damn sure Loki is patched, we can't Odin back to MDL so that should speak for itself.
OP, Root and block the OTA APKs immediately! If your phone starts downloading just rip the battery out lol

Thermalwolf said:
Right?! This guy could not have picked a better day too root. Also I'm damn sure Loki is patched, we can't Odin back to MDL so that should speak for itself.
OP, Root and block the OTA APKs immediately! If your phone starts downloading just rip the battery out lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just rooted last night. I keep postponing the update. I did some searching and found that I should rename wssyncmldm.apk and reboot to block the OTA update. Is this correct? Is there another file that should be renamed?
Thanks!

ok just did it.. had some issues with Windows drivers but it turns out MAC worked just fine.. i am currently doing nandroid back up..
thanks to all for replies..

ok everything works just fine.. now.. what would be my next step
. how can I avoid update? so far I am interested in staying stock. maybe remove some apps and add some.. but how can I assure I will not update?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337

genesiss said:
ok everything works just fine.. now.. what would be my next step
. how can I avoid update? so far I am interested in staying stock. maybe remove some apps and add some.. but how can I assure I will not update?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to read the existing threads. Go to the 'General" section read the stickies and then read the threads about the new OTA. ALL of your questions are answered in detail in those threads. Good luck.

Hopefully this works for me
I Bought my S4 yesterday and the sales rep at AT&T pressed the update button before handing it to me. I didn't think anything of it because as far as I knew android was designed to be open and easily rooted. Man was I mad when I got home. So today I went back and complained that the "phone was glitchy" and was handed another one. This time I told them not to touch it. Hand over the box and nobody gets hurt (keep in mind I paid full price for it too so i was extra mad). This one is on MDL. Now to root and block update. Hooray!

Unlocking Bootloader Verizon

Unlocking Bootloader Verizon how does one do this on the G2.
Also is there a way to reset the unit back to stock i.e. (like odin for samsung or RSD for moto)
(Before anyone says search the forum, I've checked google and XDA and I found nothing, maybe i'm to excited to see clearly...)

ericerk said:
Unlocking Bootloader Verizon how does one do this on the G2.
Also is there a way to reset the unit back to stock i.e. (like odin for samsung or RSD for moto)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No way yet to unlock bootloader, just going to have to stick to loki's exploit for now.
To reset to stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2432476
Just remember to do a bit of searching before asking a question, as chances are it's already been answered!
Sent from my LG-D802 using xda app-developers app

aliaksei said:
No way yet to unlock bootloader, just going to have to stick to loki's exploit for now.
To reset to stock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2432476
Just remember to do a bit of searching before asking a question, as chances are it's already been answered!
Sent from my LG-D802 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I couldn't find the answers xD.
Any Link for LOKI?

ericerk said:
I couldn't find the answers xD.
Any Link for LOKI?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the search feature sometimes doesn't give the results, but scanning the appropriate forum will usually have the threads you need stickied. In this case, you have two options: 1. root (using IORoot or another posted method) and then flash TWRP which has the Loki exploit to boot into the custom recovery, or... 2. there are threads that instruct TWRP can be flashed without root.
I used the first option less than an hour after getting my G2, made a backup, and flashed a stock, debloated ROM. Total time was under 15 minutes. Many ways to skin this cat. Look for threads in Android Development section or the specific carrier if yours is listed.

Atf did i do wrong? !!

I rooted the phone, I installed safe strap and tried to flash slim bean and it brick my phone to the point that it wouldn't turn on and won't even charge. Lucky I only had one week with the phone and got another one back. I have rooted many galaxy s phones this is the most difficult one ...so ridiculous. I'm done with Samsung! !

cal4877 said:
I rooted the phone, I installed safe strap and tried to flash slim bean and it brick my phone to the point that it wouldn't turn on and won't even charge. Lucky I only had one week with the phone and got another one back. I have rooted many galaxy s phones this is the most difficult one ...so ridiculous. I'm done with Samsung! !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what is your question?

Didn't think you could flash slim bean using safe strap?
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

OK so I can't flash with safestrap ? I tried rom manager that didn't work either I'm on latest stock 4.3 mk2

Should have read the front page of safestrap and also the the thread in Q/A section. You can only flash 4.3 Touchwiz roms. Safestrap is the only recovery that works for MK2 currently.

Got it, so is useless. Thanks man. And I assume that we can't use Odin either to downgrade right? ? Man I missed those days!!

cal4877 said:
Got it, so is useless. Thanks man. And I assume that we can't use Odin either to downgrade right? ? Man I missed those days!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you do some reading and learning about your device before you brick a 2nd phone for not reading? Everything you have asked in this thread has been thoroughly covered already. It's not Samsung's fault that you are doing things wrong.

scott14719 said:
Why don't you do some reading and learning about your device before you brick a 2nd phone for not reading? Everything you have asked in this thread has been thoroughly covered already. It's not Samsung's fault that you are doing things wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it said a "any" rom .maybe someone needs to change the wording a little don't you think? How about "some roms"?

That thread is for MDL, not safestrap
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using xda app-developers app

How to preserve root from 4.1.2 to kit kat 4.4

Hello, I was wondering for those who kept root going from 4.1.2 to kitkat 4.4, how did you do it? My phone is currently locked but rooted and I just downloaded the OTA kit kat update but haven't installed it yet. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

No current method so don't upgrade if root is essential. Only unlocked bootloaders can get root back.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

We haven't seen anybody maintain root on a locked device across the OTA yet.

RikRong said:
We haven't seen anybody maintain root on a locked device across the OTA yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what about on a device that is unlocked?
voodoo?

On an unlocked device you can just flash SuperSU in recovery...
And Voodoo won't work with a KitKat OTA.

how do you flash if root was lost when updated..im unlocked and had twrp but heard that is no longer working..and what is stranger is that developers option in settings s not there
Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk

davekaz said:
how do you flash if root was lost when updated..im unlocked and had twrp but heard that is no longer working..and what is stranger is that developers option in settings s not there
Sent from my KFTHWI using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off, in regards to TWRP, there is a newer version of CWM recovery that works with KK. Use that.
Second, the developer options have been hidden, but you have to pay me to get the info.
JUST KIDDING!
Here is what you do:
Go to settings.
Click on "About Phone"
Scroll down and then start mashing on "Build Number". It will inform you that you have so many presses before going to developer mode.
After that, it will give you a toast saying developer mode has been activated. You're done!

If someone could kindly put together a walk thru on
How to go from stock, rooted, and unlocked to kit Kat w/root
That would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks!

I am in the same boat, rooted on stock ROM. I don't want to lose root, but my phone keep popping up the update installer request. My phone has kept me so happy for so long that I have not kept up with the forums. I just haven't had any problems, and I'd like to keep it that way. So, is there no root for 4.2.2 yet? Or there just isn't a way to preserve it across the OTA? Should I go back to stock unrooted, update and re-root? I've been reading around the forums and I am just not seeing a whole lot of info about this yet.

gadsden said:
I am in the same boat, rooted on stock ROM. I don't want to lose root, but my phone keep popping up the update installer request. My phone has kept me so happy for so long that I have not kept up with the forums. I just haven't had any problems, and I'd like to keep it that way. So, is there no root for 4.2.2 yet? Or there just isn't a way to preserve it across the OTA? Should I go back to stock unrooted, update and re-root? I've been reading around the forums and I am just not seeing a whole lot of info about this yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this has been discussed many times.
if you have a LOCKED phone, there is NO way to have or preserve root going to KK
if you have a UNLOCKED phone, update to KK, flash the KK cwm, flash su zip in cwm, profit!
those are the only 2 options PERIOD.

bweN diorD said:
this has been discussed many times.
if you have a LOCKED phone, there is NO way to have or preserve root going to KK
if you have a UNLOCKED phone, update to KK, flash the KK cwm, flash su zip in cwm, profit!
those are the only 2 options PERIOD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well, I am not unlocked. So is there a way to stop the OTA?

gadsden said:
Ok, well, I am not unlocked. So is there a way to stop the OTA?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can freeze the updater. i dont recall the exact file name(s).
someone else can jump in, or you could google it.

bweN diorD said:
you can freeze the updater. i dont recall the exact file name(s).
someone else can jump in, or you could google it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, just freeze the updater.apk. Well, it's worked for me anyway.

RikRong said:
You are correct, just freeze the updater.apk. Well, it's worked for me anyway.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people say it's better to rename System > etc>security > otacerts.zip. Equal amount of people say to freeze updater. I'll follow you and freeze updater for now.
I'm itching to update to KK, and I can almost part with a rooted phone since I am running stock ROM anyway. But life without Titanium Backup just doesn't seem like a life at all.
Thanks again for the tips.

Speaking of freezing the update app, I have been doing that since before the last update so I'm currently running 4.1.2 9.16.6.XT926 does anyone know if it will cause me any trouble skipping an OTA?
Thanks.

sheep348 said:
Speaking of freezing the update app, I have been doing that since before the last update so I'm currently running 4.1.2 9.16.6.XT926 does anyone know if it will cause me any trouble skipping an OTA?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you should unlock the bootloader first if you havent already. after you update you will no longer be able to ever.
as for the update, if you flash it with rsd there shouldnt be any issue that im aware of. if you unfreeze the updater and take the actual ota(s), it will not skip any, it will pull the next in line each time until you get to the most current.
however, you will still need to use rsd before taking or sideloading the KK ota or root will cause it to fail.

bweN diorD said:
you should unlock the bootloader first if you havent already. after you update you will no longer be able to ever.
as for the update, if you flash it with rsd there shouldnt be any issue that im aware of. if you unfreeze the updater and take the actual ota(s), it will not skip any, it will pull the next in line each time until you get to the most current.
however, you will still need to use rsd before taking or sideloading the KK ota or root will cause it to fail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the help but I don't have a lot of knowledge about rooting. If I don't care about keeping root can I just take the OTAs or are you saying they will they fail if I don't first unlock the boot loader?
"after you update you will no longer be able to ever" What will I not be able to update again? The bootloader?
Thanks.

sheep348 said:
Thanks for the help but I don't have a lot of knowledge about rooting. If I don't care about keeping root can I just take the OTAs or are you saying they will they fail if I don't first unlock the boot loader?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's saying you could probably find someone who would be willing to pay you handsomely to trade phones.
Once you update your phone, the bootloader can't be unlocked....as far as we know, ever again. If you don't care, which it sounds like you don't, go ahead and update your phone.

sheep348 said:
Thanks for the help but I don't have a lot of knowledge about rooting. If I don't care about keeping root can I just take the OTAs or are you saying they will they fail if I don't first unlock the boot loader?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
most people who dont unlock the bootloader when they had the chance regret not doing it. its not a problem if you dont want to, i was just giving you a heads up more or less.
as for the updates,(this has nothing to do with the bootloader) im pretty sure the first 2 will install fine but im positive the 3rd, KK, will fail because you had root before.
so if you want to go to KK, you really have no other option but to use rsd first to return your phone to stock.

gadsden said:
He's saying you could probably find someone who would be willing to pay you handsomely to trade phones.
Once you update your phone, the bootloader can't be unlocked....as far as we know, ever again. If you don't care, which it sounds like you don't, go ahead and update your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks bweN diorD and gadsden,
I appreciate the help. I only use my root access for killing music apps and I have some bloatware frozen. So personally I think I'll go ahead and update to KK since the benefits should outweigh the loss of root access for me. Should I do a factory reset first or should I be good to go taking the OTA?
Thanks again I'm always hesitant to do things to my phone because I don't have the knowledge to fix it or the money to replace it.
---------- Post added at 06:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 PM ----------
bweN diorD said:
most people who dont unlock the bootloader when they had the chance regret not doing it. its not a problem if you dont want to, i was just giving you a heads up more or less.
as for the updates,(this has nothing to do with the bootloader) im pretty sure the first 2 will install fine but im positive the 3rd, KK, will fail because you had root before.
so if you want to go to KK, you really have no other option but to use rsd first to return your phone to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again thanks, I guess I'll have to look into finding out how to use rsd and go back to stock.

Possible to flash od5 bootloader on oe1?

Hi Just A quick ltitle qeustion, is it possible to flash a different bootloader on oe1? I want to flash the od5 bootloader on my oe1 updated s5 so I can downgrade back to kitkat and install a miui rom, but someone told me it would just brick my phone.

chaos10299 said:
Hi Just A quick ltitle qeustion, is it possible to flash a different bootloader on oe1? I want to flash the od5 bootloader on my oe1 updated s5 so I can downgrade back to kitkat and install a miui rom, but someone told me it would just brick my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search before you post. And repost, and repost, and repost.

ldeveraux said:
Search before you post. And repost, and repost, and repost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did nothing about flashing a different bootloader comes up

chaos10299 said:
I did nothing about flashing a different bootloader comes up
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're essentially asking if you can downgrade from oe1. If you searched for what you're actually trying to do, you'd know...

ldeveraux said:
You're essentially asking if you can downgrade from oe1. If you searched for what you're actually trying to do, you'd know...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look all I found was that oe1 will not let you downgrade with the mega locked bootloader verizon added so I was wondering if I can flash the od5 bootloader by instelf which would allow me to downgrade to kitkat to root. I do not have root so I can't use the how to update to oe1 and keep root me think but in the method it says to flash the od5 bootloader but I don't know if I have to already be rooted or not.

No, because if you could do what you're suggesting, then you would be able to downgrade from oe1, which you can't.

chaos10299 said:
Look all I found was that oe1 will not let you downgrade with the mega locked bootloader verizon added so I was wondering if I can flash the od5 bootloader by instelf which would allow me to downgrade to kitkat to root. I do not have root so I can't use the how to update to oe1 and keep root me think but in the method it says to flash the od5 bootloader but I don't know if I have to already be rooted or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may be onto something with your approach here. Here's a novel idea I think you should try. Start yet ANOTHER thread asking the exact same question. Maybe this time you will get a different answer.
Oh and by the way, your idea in the OP of this thread is completely flawed to begin with. From the day of release, this phone had been unable to run miui or any AOSP based ROM.

landshark68 said:
You may be onto something with your approach here. Here's a novel idea I think you should try. Start yet ANOTHER thread asking the exact same question. Maybe this time you will get a different answer.
Oh and by the way, your idea in the OP of this thread is completely flawed to begin with. From the day of release, this phone had been unable to run miui or any AOSP based ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can run this rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/development/rom-miui-v5-g900f-ry09iu-4-8-11-t2946540 verizon with a kitkat kernel I've already had it once.

chaos10299 said:
You can run this rom http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/development/rom-miui-v5-g900f-ry09iu-4-8-11-t2946540 verizon with a kitkat kernel I've already had it once.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahaha, no you can't. I read the last 10 pages or so of the thread you linked, and your phone froze up after install. Running a ROM on a phone means after install and set up the phone actually works, functions like it should, and you can use it. The bootloader on our phone is locked down which means no miui or any other AOSP ROMs because we can't flash a traditional recovery. The dev himself in that thread said he didn't think his miui ROM worked on Verizon phones. Keep trying to flash not only an AOSP ROM, but one meant for the international version, and I look forward to reading your post where you write that you now have a $600 paper weight.

landshark68 said:
Hahaha, no you can't. I read the last 10 pages or so of the thread you linked, and your phone froze up after install. Running a ROM on a phone means after install and set up the phone actually works, functions like it should, and you can use it. The bootloader on our phone is locked down which means no miui or any other AOSP ROMs because we can't flash a traditional recovery. The dev himself in that thread said he didn't think his miui ROM worked on Verizon phones. Keep trying to flash not only an AOSP ROM, but one meant for the international version, and I look forward to reading your post where you write that you now have a $600 paper weight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok and I have the money for it. And it didnt work because i was on lollipop dummy the rom is based off of kitkat and the dev told me i could try it on lollipop, he said he doesn't know if it'll work on lollipop. I don't know why you have to be rude about it. It was a simple question that I asked for a simple answer. But thanks goodbye.