Database Users

Getting a tab soon, looking for info.

So i jumped on the deal on sellout.woot today, and i'll be getting a verizon galaxy tab, hopefully next week, and wanted to get a few things together and start reading up.
I'll probably look at just updating it out of the box and playing around with the stock firmware, but i know i'll probably want to stick some kind of custom firmware on it. So are there any recommendations on a good custom firmware? I'd like one that enable the ability to connect to ad-hoc networks (which the few in the development section i saw did not seem to mention). Should any rom for the VZW tab work? or are there different versions of this tab that i need to be aware of?
As far as flashing goes, what is hiemdal and odin? do they do basically the same thing? what about the clockwork mod, what exactly does that do? I've done a bit of rooting of devices before, but nothing major, so are there good tutorials or guides that explain a bit more about flashing custom roms? I'd like to not have a paperweight when all is said and done.
Any info you can provide or link me to is greatly appreciated.

dav3yb said:
So i jumped on the deal on sellout.woot today, and i'll be getting a verizon galaxy tab, hopefully next week, and wanted to get a few things together and start reading up.
I'll probably look at just updating it out of the box and playing around with the stock firmware, but i know i'll probably want to stick some kind of custom firmware on it. So are there any recommendations on a good custom firmware? I'd like one that enable the ability to connect to ad-hoc networks (which the few in the development section i saw did not seem to mention). Should any rom for the VZW tab work? or are there different versions of this tab that i need to be aware of?
As far as flashing goes, what is hiemdal and odin? do they do basically the same thing? what about the clockwork mod, what exactly does that do? I've done a bit of rooting of devices before, but nothing major, so are there good tutorials or guides that explain a bit more about flashing custom roms? I'd like to not have a paperweight when all is said and done.
Any info you can provide or link me to is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are not very many custom ROMs that have been developed for the Verizon Tab. Galaxy Cubed seems to be a good one. The same Dev created a stock rooted gingerbread ROM so you may want to start with that one. Some of the Sprint ROMs also work. The Sprint and Verizon are both CDMA and very similar. NEVER flash a GSM ROM to this device!
Odin and Heimdall both have the capability to flash ROMs to Samsung devices. Odin is leaked Samsung software and Heimdall is newly written software based on Odin code. I recommend you use Heimdall version 1.1.1, it is free and easy to use. Just do a google search and you will find their website.
Clockworkmod is a custom recovery that does what the stock recovery does only more. It adds the ability to flash various mods to the ROM from recovery and to do backups. But once it's installed you can only get to it by software on your system. If you try to get to it by booting, you get into the stock recovery.
Just be careful when flashing things to your Tab, it is easy to bork it up. There are a lot of tutorials here on XDA, so read them carefully.

I jumped on the same deal! Got a question too, if you don't mind the piggyback...
I chose the Verizon model and I'm interested in using a bluetooth keyboard... I understand that upon release not all keyboards would work but that Verizon put out an update and now all do work.
How do I know other than trial and error if this unit has been upgraded?
My plan is to root and go with a basic gingerbread upgrade and then pretty much leave it be. But if this is a Verizon specific update I'm wondering if I don't need to do a one month data deal in order to get the upgrade.
Any help is appreciated!

rouxdy said:
I jumped on the same deal! Got a question too, if you don't mind the piggyback...
I chose the Verizon model and I'm interested in using a bluetooth keyboard... I understand that upon release not all keyboards would work but that Verizon put out an update and now all do work.
How do I know other than trial and error if this unit has been upgraded?
My plan is to root and go with a basic gingerbread upgrade and then pretty much leave it be. But if this is a Verizon specific update I'm wondering if I don't need to do a one month data deal in order to get the upgrade.
Any help is appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install the stock vanilla rooted ROM by dsb9938 you will have the latest Verizon upgrade, only rooted. Look on settings, about device, and the latest says EI04. Even if your unit comes with the latest ROM, you may want to flash the rooted vanilla since that is the easiest way to get rooted. Most of the other methods fail or are very difficult to implement on EI04.
No need to subscribe to data unless you want to. I personally like having data everywhere.

Lagfix ASAP
Sent from my HTC Desire S using xda premium

leapinlar said:
If you install the stock vanilla rooted ROM by dsb9938 you will have the latest Verizon upgrade, only rooted. Look on settings, about device, and the latest says EI04. Even if your unit comes with the latest ROM, you may want to flash the rooted vanilla since that is the easiest way to get rooted. Most of the other methods fail or are very difficult to implement on EI04.
No need to subscribe to data unless you want to. I personally like having data everywhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! That was very helpful!
I have a droid 3 with data and it looks like there are ways to tether the Tab to the droid... I'd only need to send a few files via email a few times a month and even then it's not a necessity so much as it is a convenience.

Source Code for Straight Talk Galaxy S II Released/Found

I'm honestly not sure where to post this, I found it on another forum (and that post was made about three hours ago). In any case, Samsung appears to have open sourced the stock firmware and kernel for Straight Talk's version of the Galaxy S II.
If you go to http://opensource.samsung.com/ and search of the model number - SGH-S959G - it's the only thing that comes up. The download appears to be just what it says, the uncompiled source code.
I've been looking for stock ever since I bought this phone and since I'm not exactly green when it comes to Linux and using a terminal, I'm tempted to give a crack at compiling this myself. Anybody have any experience with this? It can't be too hard...right? :silly:
(source: http://androidarea51.com/modifications/straight-talk-s2-sgh-s959g-source-code/msg8830/)

IndigoAK said:
I'm honestly not sure where to post this, I found it on another forum (and that post was made about three hours ago). In any case, Samsung appears to have open sourced the stock firmware and kernel for Straight Talk's version of the Galaxy S II.
If you go to http://opensource.samsung.com/ and search of the model number - SGH-S959G - it's the only thing that comes up. The download appears to be just what it says, the uncompiled source code.
I've been looking for stock ever since I bought this phone and since I'm not exactly green when it comes to Linux and using a terminal, I'm tempted to give a crack at compiling this myself. Anybody have any experience with this? It can't be too hard...right? :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't get the stock firmware by compiling the kernel, mate. Why do you want stock when you already have stock (original) firmware? If you're looking for unbranded, you're unlikely to find it as you have a carrier specific phone.

Force Close said:
You won't get the stock firmware by compiling the kernel, mate. Why do you want stock when you already have stock (original) firmware? If you're looking for unbranded, you're unlikely to find it as you have a carrier specific phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm aware of how this source code works!

IndigoAK I am the one that posted the link on AA51. The file appears to be in tar.gz format like what is used for install through odin. I have not tested it, as I am not a developer, or in need of flashing to factory firmware at this time. I posted it as I seen many people looking for it. I believe it is needed to be able to safely start making modifications for this phone, CWM, Root, custom ROMs, ect., and being able to flash back to stock if something goes wrong. Hopefully with the information out there now it will jump start development.
Edit: After further research the source code files are used to create the firmware, and these cannot be installed through Odin. Feel free to correct me if I'm still wrong.

mr-cook said:
IndigoAK I am the one that posted the link on AA51. The file appears to be in tar.gz format like what is used for install through odin. I have not tested it, as I am not a developer, or in need of flashing to factory firmware at this time. I posted it as I seen many people looking for it. I believe it is needed to be able to safely start making modifications for this phone, CWM, Root, custom ROMs, ect., and being able to flash back to stock if something goes wrong. Hopefully with the information out there now it will jump start development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I probably should have linked to your post. I apologize.
I just thought that posting it here on XDA might get it seen by more people who might know how to put this to use.
Hopefully somebody does put it to use. Due to the way that Straight Talked has gimped this phone, it's going to take the community to really make it worth the price they're charging for it.

I tried to link to the original post on android area 51, but as a new member I am not allowed, yet. I am just trying to get information out there, so thank you for posting it here (as I just now joined). The phone is fairly new and under advertised, but hopefully these posts will stir interest.

I was looking under the battery cover and noticed the FCC id for this phone (SGH-S959G) is A3L SGH I777. Now for everyone smarter than I. Does this mean that the phone is an i777, and would all the mods and ROMs ect. be directly compatible. Also its android 2.3.6. Version s959g UDLG1. Kernel 2.6.35.7. Any thoughts, educated opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my Galaxy Precedent using Tapatalk 2

mr-cook said:
I was looking under the battery cover and noticed the FCC id for this phone (SGH-S959G) is A3L SGH I777. Now for everyone smarter than I. Does this mean that the phone is an i777, and would all the mods and ROMs ect. be directly compatible. Also its android 2.3.6. Version s959g UDLG1. Kernel 2.6.35.7. Any thoughts, educated opinions would be appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my Galaxy Precedent using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
Everything needs to be modified. The I777 rooting method works for this device, but nobody has been able to get past that as far as I'm aware. I've lost count of the number of times I've had to double reboot my phone trying to install every custom recovery image (and searching around suggests this is the case for a lot of other people) I can get my hands on and I've kept a pretty close eye on custom firmware sites - none of them have added support for this device (probably because you can't install a custom recovery image yet).

Guys I have the same problem, I tried to root my Straight Talk Galaxy SII using the AT&T root but CWM doesn't install and the root breaks the Wifi, Contacts save option, several apps like YouTube. I cannot revert back to the stock ROM due to this issue and I really could use the help.. I'm surprised that DEV teams haven't done much on the phone considering for 45 dollars a month you get really fast 7mb/s speed.
I'm willing to do whatever I can to contribute to a way of finally getting this awesome phone off of a sucky stock rom.
Thanks everyone!

I was just curious if it could be fully flashed to stock i777 GB. As it appears to be the exact same hardware. Completely start over making it the at&t i777.
Sent from my SGH-S959G using Tapatalk 2

mr-cook said:
I was just curious if it could be fully flashed to stock i777 GB. As it appears to be the exact same hardware. Completely start over making it the at&t i777.
Sent from my SGH-S959G using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. I tried this.
Also, if your WiFi doesn't work, you probably used the Zedomax kernal. Search XDA for Entropy's kernel and use that instead.

LOOKIN. For Fully Rooted .. Samsung Galaxy s2. Sgh-s959g From Straight Talk. FLASHED a kernel dat when loading. Tells me its a sgh-i9100 ... has a ... ! ...triangle under it...and when I check the info on bout phone. It says sgh-i777.. any links for the best FULLY ROOTED kernels GB?.. PS. Willing to do testing with this phone from straight talk. But has. Att kernel.. one from. Entropy! !! Thanks 

Flash ROM & some crazy nintendo graphics

Hi guys, I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on a few things for me.
I have an ATT SGH i-337 MK2 with SafeStrap 3.71
Today I tried to flash PAC ROM and Dirty Unicorn into ROM Slot-1, and upon reboot when the ROM's logo should appear the whole screen just looked like when a nintendo cartridge isn't working. It was just a few crazy colors with some blocks and lines here and there.
Then I tried AOKP with it's Loki'd Kernel being part of the ROM. The nintendo screen came back again, but then the AOKP logo popped up clear as day for a second. Then went back to the lines and colors.
So could this be a problem with Safestrap compatibility? If so, how can I uninstall it? (I did read the dev's thread, and it just says use .APK and IDK what that means)
Or could it be that I also need to use Loki Doki with the other two? (Didn't see anything about that in PAC or DU threads)
Thanks!

Same issues apon using The Samsung Galaxy S4 for Verizon (jfltevzw) Build MK2 rooted using vRoot (English) and using safestrap. if needed I can upload the safestrap apk or version. If I install any type of AOSP ROM the boot logo is either missng or baby blue with wierd static lines. AOKP is the only AOSP ROM that eventually boots (with static boot logo) but no wireless works, and this is the same wether MK2 and/or MJ7 modules are installed or not. the only rom I can successfuly install and use daily that has no bootloader based issues is Hyperdrive ROM For jfltevzw & jflteatt. Any info would be much apreciated!
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app

^ Interesting. I didn't expect anyone else to have this issue. I never read about it before. I really feel like it has something to do with SafeStrap.

Heath Cliff said:
Hi guys, I'm wondering if anyone can shed some light on a few things for me.
I have an ATT SGH i-337 MK2 with SafeStrap 3.71
Today I tried to flash PAC ROM and Dirty Unicorn into ROM Slot-1, and upon reboot when the ROM's logo should appear the whole screen just looked like when a nintendo cartridge isn't working. It was just a few crazy colors with some blocks and lines here and there.
Then I tried AOKP with it's Loki'd Kernel being part of the ROM. The nintendo screen came back again, but then the AOKP logo popped up clear as day for a second. Then went back to the lines and colors.
So could this be a problem with Safestrap compatibility? If so, how can I uninstall it? (I did read the dev's thread, and it just says use .APK and IDK what that means)
Or could it be that I also need to use Loki Doki with the other two? (Didn't see anything about that in PAC or DU threads)
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you would have read 1st, then you would know that you can NOT flash any non TW rom on MK2. This is stated over & over on XDA. Safestrap is NOT the problem it is a Godsend from Hashcode for us to be able to flash custom roms onto our locked boot loader devices. Please read before flashing, bricking & then bashing the developers. Follow the directions posted on how to restore your phone, or better yet make a trip to Best Buy & they'll do it for you. Good Luck.

REEEEEEAAAAADDDD!!!!
It's been very well documented that AOSP does not work with safestrap. Neither does loki. There currently is no way/fix to flash AOSP.
So
1. No AOSP or GPE
2. No loki
3. No flashing custom kernels
Sent from my GT-I9505 using Tapatalk

John The Rhino said:
If you would have read 1st, then you would know that you can NOT flash any non TW rom on MK2. This is stated over & over on XDA. Safestrap is NOT the problem it is a Godsend from Hashcode for us to be able to flash custom roms onto our locked boot loader devices. Please read before flashing, bricking & then bashing the developers. Follow the directions posted on how to restore your phone, or better yet make a trip to Best Buy & they'll do it for you. Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did read first. I've been reading this forum for quite a while actually. But there is so much information it's hard to keep it all straight. This ATT stuff is a lot different then my VZW Razr was. That phone was just flash and forget. There are so many different ROM's for this phone now that are 4.3 or KitKat I guess I just didn't realize that, that Android version came with the ROM and was originally something more mod-able stock.
Any way I wasn't bashing SS or Hashcode. I clearly said "compatibility issue" i.e. some programs just don't play well together hence the existence of compatibility mode, virtual machines, and x86 processors. So maybe you should read before bashing novice community members and making yourself look like a big asshole.
And I don't need best buy to fix anything I have a NANDroid, backup on Kies3, and Google+. Besides, I did all of this flashing I on a separate partition so the stock ROM was never altered. Thanks for absolutely nothing at all.
For anyone else that feels like they can move on with me, I would really like to try to install TWRP in place of SS. I'd appreciate any help with how to go about doing that. TIA

Heath Cliff said:
I did read first. I've been reading this forum for quite a while actually. But there is so much information it's hard to keep it all straight. This ATT stuff is a lot different then my VZW Razr was. That phone was just flash and forget. There are so many different ROM's for this phone now that are 4.3 or KitKat I guess I just didn't realize that, that Android version came with the ROM and was originally something more mod-able stock.
Any way I wasn't bashing SS or Hashcode. I clearly said "compatibility issue" i.e. some programs just don't play well together hence the existence of compatibility mode, virtual machines, and x86 processors. So maybe you should read before bashing novice community members and making yourself look like a big asshole.
And I don't need best buy to fix anything I have a NANDroid, backup on Kies3, and Google+. Besides, I did all of this flashing I on a separate partition so the stock ROM was never altered. Thanks for absolutely nothing at all.
For anyone else that feels like they can move on with me, I would really like to try to install TWRP in place of SS. I'd appreciate any help with how to go about doing that. TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well stating Safestrap may have a compatibility issue is offensive to the developer, especially since you did not read the instructions or posts from other members who did as you. If you would follow the directions it's perfect. I have 4 different roms on my phone + stock to choose from! How cool is that? I understand the overwhelming urge to flash a rom, as I too have been flashing on my Skyrocket since the factory warranty expired last year, and flashing roms is a breeze on that device. However, this S4 is more complicated since the introduction of the KNOX & the LOCKED boot loader. These phones are expensive so unless you really want a $700.00 brick, read, read some more, then read it all again. Safestrap uses TWRP to flash the roms, but TWRP alone is not compatible with MK2 nor is CWM. If you want to flash roms on your ATT MK2 S4 Safestrap is the only way to do that at this writing.

John The Rhino said:
Well stating Safestrap may have a compatibility issue is offensive to the developer, especially since you did not read the instructions or posts from other members who did as you. If you would follow the directions it's perfect. I have 4 different roms on my phone + stock to choose from! How cool is that? I understand the overwhelming urge to flash a rom, as I too have been flashing on my Skyrocket since the factory warranty expired last year, and flashing roms is a breeze on that device. However, this S4 is more complicated since the introduction of the KNOX & the LOCKED boot loader. These phones are expensive so unless you really want a $700.00 brick, read, read some more, then read it all again. Safestrap uses TWRP to flash the roms, but TWRP alone is not compatible with MK2 nor is CWM. If you want to flash roms on your ATT MK2 S4 Safestrap is the only way to do that at this writing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, well thank you for that. I just see so many ATT S4's in here with other ROMs and Recoverys I thought I could get something to happen. Anyway, sorry for the poor thread and response. I appreciate the plain blunt fact that SS and the ROMs that work with it are my choices for now. And don't worry about me. The worst that I'd probably get is a soft brick and I've recovered from that before Thanks again

Heath Cliff said:
Okay, well thank you for that. I just see so many ATT S4's in here with other ROMs and Recoverys I thought I could get something to happen. Anyway, sorry for the poor thread and response. I appreciate the plain blunt fact that SS and the ROMs that work with it are my choices for now. And don't worry about me. The worst that I'd probably get is a soft brick and I've recovered from that before Thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man I totally understand. It's hard to watch all these other roms pop up for the original S4 & we can't flash them. But we no longer have to suffer with only the stock rom option since Hashcode's brilliant Safestrap was released. Once you get use to it, the ability of being able to multi-boot roms really kind of makes up for the locked boot loader. Soon though, we will have 4.4 Kit Kat & then we can start this process of getting off the stock rom all over again. Right? It could be worse, we could have I-phones. We do have a ever growing number of great custom TW based roms available to us here for our device. So try them, you'll be surprised how much better your phone performs. Glad I made sense & forgive my bluntness that's just how us Rhinos roll.

Note 3 flashing and updating

I just got myself a Verizon Note 3. This is one power house of a phone. I noticed the kid I got it from does have it rooted. The only annoyance I see is allot of stuff is showing in the status bar with Chinese writing. is this normal or did he use some dumb way to root it? Also it still has 4.3 on it. I tried to update it but I get the message that "software update is currently unavailable". Is this because the Note is rooted?
I have done some searching and I did get the files for flashing it back to stock. Odin, .mkz, and the Samsung drivers. So if this update message is because it's rooted, I do have the stuff to flash it back to stock. I do also know how to use Odin as it's the same program for flashing the Note 1, which I did have. But any insight you guys can give me would be great. Thanks

cougar214 said:
I just got myself a Verizon Note 3. This is one power house of a phone. I noticed the kid I got it from does have it rooted. The only annoyance I see is allot of stuff is showing in the status bar with Chinese writing. is this normal or did he use some dumb way to root it? Also it still has 4.3 on it. I tried to update it but I get the message that "software update is currently unavailable". Is this because the Note is rooted?
I have done some searching and I did get the files for flashing it back to stock. Odin, .mkz, and the Samsung drivers. So if this update message is because it's rooted, I do have the stuff to flash it back to stock. I do also know how to use Odin as it's the same program for flashing the Note 1, which I did have. But any insight you guys can give me would be great. Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check out this post of mine. It will point you in all the right directions : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55003142&postcount=3
Since you're on MJE 4.3 see this thread and go to post 2 NC2/MJE instructions...http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2787627

Thanks for the info gamer but I'm not looking to root or flash roms. with this phone. At least not yet anyway. It's new to me so I really need to be as familiar with it as possible before I go flashing roms and tweaks and such. I'm not familiar with the names MJE, NC2, NC4 etc. so trying to explain that to me is just like speaking German to me right now. All I want to do for the here and now is get it back to stock un rooted 4.3, take the update to 4.4.2, and then check on the need for root then.
I also will need to look into what's safe to flash, what needs to be run, app wise, in order to flash some things. Take for instance my last phone, lg optimus g pro, you needed an app called freegee to get past the bootloader. If you screwed that up, you bricked yer phone. I'm sure some of the processes for this phone are similar in that respect. So no fiddling for me just yet. So in short, could you just tell me in simple terms if I have the correct stuff to flash it back to stock?
I currently have the latest Samsung drivers, Odin 3 V3.0.9, and the tar file named "ALL_N900VVRUBMJE_N900VVZWMJE_2106277_REV03_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5.7z"
Is this what is needed to flash it to stock 4.3? Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me if there is ANY way, a modem flash perhaps, to get my LTE working with this AT&T Straight Talk sim card? Currently I am getting H+ which isn't bad but it's no LTE. Thanks a bunch.
EDIT: Well, that was easy. My computer ran the Verizon software and it failed to update it so it did the repair and repaired it with kitkat. So one issue solved. Now If I can just get LTE working on here it would be great....lol

cougar214 said:
Thanks for the info gamer but I'm not looking to root or flash roms. with this phone. At least not yet anyway. It's new to me so I really need to be as familiar with it as possible before I go flashing roms and tweaks and such. I'm not familiar with the names MJE, NC2, NC4 etc. so trying to explain that to me is just like speaking German to me right now. All I want to do for the here and now is get it back to stock un rooted 4.3, take the update to 4.4.2, and then check on the need for root then.
I also will need to look into what's safe to flash, what needs to be run, app wise, in order to flash some things. Take for instance my last phone, lg optimus g pro, you needed an app called freegee to get past the bootloader. If you screwed that up, you bricked yer phone. I'm sure some of the processes for this phone are similar in that respect. So no fiddling for me just yet. So in short, could you just tell me in simple terms if I have the correct stuff to flash it back to stock?
I currently have the latest Samsung drivers, Odin 3 V3.0.9, and the tar file named "ALL_N900VVRUBMJE_N900VVZWMJE_2106277_REV03_user_low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5.7z"
Is this what is needed to flash it to stock 4.3? Also, if you don't mind, could you tell me if there is ANY way, a modem flash perhaps, to get my LTE working with this AT&T Straight Talk sim card? Currently I am getting H+ which isn't bad but it's no LTE. Thanks a bunch.
EDIT: Well, that was easy. My computer ran the Verizon software and it failed to update it so it did the repair and repaired it with kitkat. So one issue solved. Now If I can just get LTE working on here it would be great....lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash different modems in Odin but I don't know if they'll get you running on AT&T Straight Talk, someone else will have to chime in on that.

Att straight talk might work if you have the correct apn settings but you will not get 4g
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Yeah I am finding this out Roger. I want to root and enable the hidden menu. I am seeing posts about doing this and getting the 4g LTE working. The problem is most of these posts pertain to the T-Mobile branded note 3.

I've had it...

Help...please.
Rooting this phone is a convoluted bunch of bull****.
I am on OC4. I need to downgrade. Yet every tutorial I go to is full of broken links for the files I need and over a year old.
So far I have these as steps.
1. Downgrade via Odin somehow, not sure what file to use for that, as most links are broken af due to their age. I have Odin 3.10.
2. Towelroot.
3. Recovery
4. Custom rom, going Cyanogen.
5. I have seen threads mentioning having to downgrade my Kernel? Where does that fit in?
Before you ask I have searched google and this forum first, as per protocol. I probably didn't look hard enough.
I am not asking for a step by step, just updated links or tutorials, and maybe some info on what I have right and wrong.
I am NOT NEW to rooting android phones. Rooted the last 5 I've owned starting with the G1.
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the noobness. This S5 isn't like my 4G LTE or Droid Incrdible, but it is still pissing me off.

Honestly77 said:
Help...please.
Rooting this phone is a convoluted bunch of bull****.
I am on OC4. I need to downgrade. Yet every tutorial I go to is full of broken links for the files I need and over a year old.
So far I have these as steps.
1. Downgrade via Odin somehow, not sure what file to use for that, as most links are broken af due to their age. I have Odin 3.10.
2. Towelroot.
3. Recovery
4. Custom rom, going Cyanogen.
5. I have seen threads mentioning having to downgrade my Kernel? Where does that fit in?
Before you ask I have searched google and this forum first, as per protocol. I probably didn't look hard enough.
I am not asking for a step by step, just updated links or tutorials, and maybe some info on what I have right and wrong.
I am NOT NEW to rooting android phones. Rooted the last 5 I've owned starting with the G1.
Thanks in advance. Sorry for the noobness. This S5 isn't like my 4G LTE or Droid Incrdible, but it is still pissing me off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no Cyanogen ROMs for our phones, since that requires a different kernel than our locked bootloader can accept. Which ROM do you want to use? I'll see if I can put together a quick guide for you. I personally use Freedom ROM, which currently uses an OC4 base.

Right here buddy 3rd post. Most of this stuff is pretty easy you just have to read threw the threads.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/help/samsung-user-lollipop-to-root-t3092863

Thanks and that thread never appeared in my searches. That and I don't have time to go through thousands of results. It'd take me longer than this did. Also. Cyanogen for galaxy s5
.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ent/rom-cyanogenmod-12-1-android-5-1-t3066252
freedom rom and alliance rom look good. So one of those if cyanogen doesn't work.

Honestly77 said:
Thanks and that thread never appeared in my searches. That and I don't have time to go through thousands of results. It'd take me longer than this did. Also. Cyanogen for galaxy s5
.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ent/rom-cyanogenmod-12-1-android-5-1-t3066252
freedom rom and alliance rom look good. So one of those if cyanogen doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah you can only use t-wiz base roms because of the bootloader.

Honestly77 said:
Thanks and that thread never appeared in my searches. That and I don't have time to go through thousands of results. It'd take me longer than this did. Also. Cyanogen for galaxy s5
.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...ent/rom-cyanogenmod-12-1-android-5-1-t3066252
freedom rom and alliance rom look good. So one of those if cyanogen doesn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless you bought a Developer edition with an unlocked bootloader, it's best to stay away from the Unified Development section. You'll just end up with your heartbroken, since they all require kernels that we can't get on our phone. Your best bet is to stick within the Verizon-specific development thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development
And make sure you end up with the right firmware (bootloader, kernel, modem) that matches the ROM you choose! Otherwise, you won't boot up. It took me a few failed boots and attempts before I learned that the hard way.