Database Users

[GUIDE] A Complete Noob's Guide to Rooting and Flashing Custom ROM's on the SGS3

A guy I know asked if I could let him know how to Root and Flash ROM's, so I did him a guide. It turned out to be a pretty comprehensive guide and I guessed others might find this useful too?
DISCLAIMER!!!!! This WILL void your warranty, so take that on-board, although you can de-root the phones and put them back to their shipped state theoretically. If your phone ends up a pretty brick, and Samsung aren't interested, that ISN'T my fault. THIS IS ENTIRELY AT YOUR OWN RISK! THIS GUIDE SHOULD BE ACCURATE, I HAVE READ IT OVER AND OVER, BUT READ THE COMMENTS BELOW TO CHECK FIRST. IT'S YOUR PHONE!!!!
First Some Handy App's:
ROM Manager has Custom ROM's that are popular and it can advise when new versions become available. It's a more automated way of flashing ROMs and good for new flashers! : https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.koushikdutta.rommanager&hl=en
Nova Launcher is an improved version of the Stock Jellybean launcher and allows you to backup your home screens, therefore you don't have to start from scratch everytime you flash a new ROM: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.teslacoilsw.launcher&hl=en
Titanium Backup is a pretty (not entirely) essential app that backs up all your apps, and the data associated with them, i.e passwords, game save files, username. Basically the app will be frozen as it is when you leave it. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup&hl=en
ES File Explorer is a File Manager which also has the options in settings to allow it root access to the system files on your phone. This is handy as you will no doubt understand the more you use it. It can also display the MD5 of a ZIP file that you download. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.estrongs.android.pop&hl=en
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore&hl=en This will backup your text and picture messages to your SD Card. Handy!
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.riteshsahu.CallLogBackupRestore&hl=en This will backup your Call Logs....if you are bothered.
Now down to the Nuts and Bolts! Let's Get Rooting and Flashing!
1) Root and Recovery Install:
You root your device following the instructions in this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1703488 post. This gives you Superuser access to your phone and allows you to change the boot options of your phone. This will install Clockworkmod Recovery. Clockworkmod Recovery replaces the in-built recovery that the OEM installs and allows you more flexibility to alter your phone. If you struggle to get into Recovery, then there is a key-press combination that does it when you switch on your phone and there is also an app in the Play Market called "Reboot to Recovery" that will allow you to do it, but you need to understand how to get into Recovery from a cold start just in case you have issues. Most custom ROM's will have it on the shutdown menu of the phone anyway, and once you install a custom ROM and install ROM Manager, then you can access it there anyway. It sounds a bit daunting, but its really simple once you understand how Clockworkmod, or any other custom Recovery works. READ CHAINFIRE'S THREAD PROPERLY BEFORE YOU START - THEN READ IT AGAIN!
2) Titanium Backup & Nandroid:
You will hear people refer to Titanium Back-up's and Nandroids. This is basically a full back-up of your ROM. A Nandroid backs up the exact state of your ROM so you can restore it back if you ever have problems or just don't like the ROM you have flashed. The first thing you have to do when you have rooted your phone is do a Nandroid. In Clockworkmod you will see in the menu's "Backup and Restore". Back it up, this will place it either on your internal SD or the external Micro SD Card (you can choose, it's faster on your internal SD but the file will be large. Over 1GB+ isn't unusual as this will back up all your apps and everything associated with them.) Nandroid, nandroid, nandroid. Do it all the time. You can always delete them in Clockoworkmod or through a file manager - if you don't need them later. Nandroid, DO A NANDROID! Then, reboot into your stock ROM and DO A TITANIUM BACKUP! You can also backup your SMS and Call Logs, too. Don't get over excited and forget. DO A NANDROID and DO A TITANIUM BACKUP! You get the picture!?
3) Custom ROM files and other flashable files:
ROM's, RIL's and Radio's are generally mostly .ZIP files (Google them all and work out what they do! - YES DO THIS - IT IS ESSENTIAL) and are flashed in Clockworkmod Recovery by using the menu item "Install Zip from..." Don't try to uncompress them yourself or it won't work and most files come with a MD5 checksum code. This will verify the .ZIP file is perfect and not corrupted. ALWAYS check your MD5 before you flash. ROM Manager will do this automatically, but if you download a ROM from XDA the author will usually supply the MD5. If you download the ROM ZIP to your phone, ES File Explorer has a function to display the MD5. USE IT!
4) ROM Manager and Titanium Backup:
The two best apps for Android (in my opinion anyway), and you do NEED to buy them really, not essential, but they make your life much easier. ROM Manager has the most popular ROM's and will notify you about updates. The most popular and probably the best custom (or usually the most stable) ROMs are by Cyanogenmod (Google it) and CM9 is their Google Android AOSP (Android Open Source Project - Again Google it and understand it) based on Ice Cream Sandwich and CM10 is still in development, but is their new ROM based on Jellybean. Keep your titanium back ups up to date BEFORE you flash a new ROM then you can put the apps back on in the exact state you left them on the old ROM.
5) Kernels, Radios and RILs (Radio Interface Layer) and Firmware:
These can be flashed in Clockworkmod generally, are sometimes essential, and can improve the performance of you device, but be careful, flashing these can brick your device if it goes wrong or the download is corrupt in some way. Check the MD5 religiously and make sure your battery is full so your phone doesn't switch off mid way through. Kernels are usually OK, but firmware still scares me now. ALWAYS check that what ever you are flashing is for the INTERNATIONAL or UK SGS3 if that is the phone you are using. Do NOT flash another version, their hardware is different and it will brick your phone.....not sure....ask on XDA Developers, nobody will flame you for checking!
6) Gapps:
With most ROM's, you will need to flash the GAPPS.ZIP package to have it automatically restore your photos, contacts and wireless details. So don't forget to do this whenever you flash most custom ROMs. The Gapps ZIP contains important apps like the Google Maps, Play Store, Calendar, Contacts, Camera, Gallery (where you find the Picasa Pics from your PC), and will log your phone into Google, so it's pretty essential.
7) Some other tips.
A) Titanium! (I KNOW, BUT YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T)
B) Nandroid! (I KNOW, BUT YOU WILL KICK YOURSELF IF YOU DON'T)
C) READ THE THREAD AND THE OP BEFORE YOU DOWNLOAD A ROM AND FLASH IT.
D) READ ABOUT THE BUGS IN THE ROM AND DECIDE IF YOU WANT IT.
E) DON'T ASK DEV'S FOR ETA'S - YOU WILL BE GROWLED AT. THEY DO ALL THIS FOR FREE!
F) PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE DON'T MOAN AT ME IF THIS BRICKS YOUR PHONE. THIS IS A GUIDE, IF ANYTHING IS INACCURATE THEN NO DOUBT SOMEONE WILL COMMENT BELOW, SO THIS IS A GOOD OPPORTUNITY TO REVIEW TIP C! ABOVE!!!!
F) Always wipe your Cache and Dalvik Cache first, when you flash a new ROM.
G) Read the OP - Some phones need a full factory reset before you flash them. READ THE OP!!!!!
Good Luck. :good:

If you have time you should make it more detailed...i get what you say but some may want more info about what they're doing with their phone..
Any by the way!
It's called KERNEL!
Not KERNAL!
KERNAL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KERNAL
KERNEL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(computing)

Moved to general, make sure you read the section rules for more information on where to place threads!

nfsmw_gr said:
If you have time you should make it more detailed...i get what you say but some may want more info about what they're doing with their phone..
Any by the way!
It's called KERNEL!
Not KERNAL!
KERNAL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/KERNAL
KERNEL:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kernel_(computing)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ha Ha, I'll correct it. I always get them mixed up.
If one of the mods make it a sticky then I'll spend a lot of time making it more detailed, but if it's just going to get lost in the ether, then there's probably little point. I would personally have killed for a guide like this 4 years ago when I started rooting and flashing, but I agree, it could be even more comprehensive and I certainly don't mind putting in the leg-work if it's helping people?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Comment .
One Rom Manager is known to give problems with some root if you read Chainfires thread .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1695238
Nandroid does not backup everything No Modem No EFS
With most ROM's, you will need to flash the GAPPS.ZIP >>> Not true for stock based roms .
jje

JJEgan said:
Comment .
One Rom Manager is known to give problems with some root if you read Chainfires thread .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1695238
Nandroid does not backup everything No Modem No EFS
With most ROM's, you will need to flash the GAPPS.ZIP >>> Not true for stock based roms .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll let some of these corrections mount up then do a big edit.
You are of course correct, stock ROMs and ones like MIUI don't need Gapps.
Didn't realise ROM Manager was an issue after the recent stability fixes recently, but I'll amend that.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

ManCityFC said:
Thanks, I'll let some of these corrections mount up then do a big edit.
You are of course correct, stock ROMs and ones like MIUI don't need Gapps.
Didn't realise ROM Manager was an issue after the recent stability fixes recently, but I'll amend that.
And yes, good point about Nandroids.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

ManCityFC said:
Didn't realise ROM Manager was an issue after the recent stability fixes recently, but I'll amend that.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be out of date with my comments . Its just long time SGS and Rom Manager problem posts .
jje

Can anyone else think of things that I could add to this guide?
I'm thinking of updating it with:
Terms that people ask about, (like the dreaded SOD)
Creating a section that explains about helping devs with positive feedback and how to generate a logcat.
General troubleshooting like clearing an app cache.
Need some inspiration though, what questions do we get asked over and over?
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2

Some questions about Galaxy Tab 2 7.0 and root/ROMs, etc.

Just got a GTab 2 7.0 a few days ago. A P3113, so only 8GB of storage, about half of which is the ROM and crap apps. I've rooted before (had a KF 1st gen when it came out), and just wondering about a few things with the GTab:
Right now, I don't mind the stock ROM so much. There are problem things that would be "nice to have", but right now, would like to generally stay as "stock" as possible. That being said, I'd still like to "de-crap" the ROM to free up some storage space, and I assume that might lead to it running a bit better, since so much seems to just pop-in while running other apps. So:
I know I need to root first, so my first question - how reliable is that? I'm on a Mac, but have access to a netbook running Win7, so could run Odin to "get things done". I'd hate to brick the thing, still having 51 weeks of warranty left. (I also understand that I might want to install something else to keep the flash count from showing it's been flashed).
Once root'ed, is it better to use one of the "de-crapped" ROMs floating around? And if so, which seems "best" (yeah, I know the moderators hate the "which is best" - I'm looking for stock - and STABLE)
Or, is it better to eliminate the apps myself? (Not sure if this is a wholesale "rm" to remove certain apps from a terminal app, using adb, or if they have some uninstallers embedded somewhere, or...) - so better to use one of the ROMs floating around?
Is the GTab 2 "stable", so even if you trash a ROM, you can still get into the ROM manager to restore a previously working, or stock, ROM?
I'll probably come up with a couple more questions, especially depending on the replies... TIA

Hi..
I can answer some of your questions. I hope that helps!
1- Rooting is easy and reliable. you may use "CF-Auto-Root" tool (search for it in XDA forum).
But you need to remember that rooting and custom ROMs void your warranty.
2- If you just need to free some storage space, you may use an app such as "Clean Master" to uninstall system apps and get rid of temp and junk files.
3- If you opt to use a custom ROM make sure it is very well supported and maintained.

aisais said:
Hi..
I can answer some of your questions. I hope that helps!
1- Rooting is easy and reliable. you may use "CF-Auto-Root" tool (search for it in XDA forum).
But you need to remember that rooting and custom ROMs void your warranty.
2- If you just need to free some storage space, you may use an app such as "Clean Master" to uninstall system apps and get rid of temp and junk files.
3- If you opt to use a custom ROM make sure it is very well supported and maintained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - but prior to using Clean Master I assume I better either get a stock image to reload, or use CWM so I can make a backup of the ROM before messing something up?

tundrwd said:
Thanks - but prior to using Clean Master I assume I better either get a stock image to reload, or use CWM so I can make a backup of the ROM before messing something up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taking a backup is always good thing to do. I suggest you try clean master to know how it works and what does it do.

aisais said:
Taking a backup is always good thing to do. I suggest you try clean master to know how it works and what does it do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - I plan to use Clean Master. Allows me to be selective about what I remove/move, instead of getting a ROM from someone and they removed the ONE THING I really wanted.

Ok, got it rooted and CWM installed.
HOWEVER, when I boot into CWM, I DON'T see an option to backup my ROM (I've used TWRP before on my KF, so the menu is different).
What I've got on my screen in CWM:
Android system recover <3e>
Volume up/down to move highlight;
power button to select.
reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
apply update from cache​
That's it. Where's the option to do a ROM backup? Oh, used file P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip Had CWM and Root all in one. I do have GT-P3113_ClockworkMod-Recovery_6.0.1.0.tar as well. Should I just go through procedure again to flash this CWM? Will it still retain SU?

nandroid backup ok to use? Seems it's just a wrapper for a backup script...

Ok - I'll reply to myself.
I don't know what was wrong with the CWM I installed via the aforementioned file (P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip), but I went to the CWM site, D/L'ed the latest touch enabled CWM for the P3113 (6.0.2.3, I believe), and installed it over the existing recovery image on the device (I had to create my own .tar.md5 - easy with *nix).
Anyway, I now have access to the backup options by scrolling down. The image from P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip, simply wouldn't scroll beyond what I listed earlier. Now can scroll down, make backups, etc.
Haven't tried yet to re-install the image I made with nandroid - I'm a bit leery of that - so I'll just get the stock 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile, and keep it around....

tundrwd said:
Ok - I'll reply to myself.
I don't know what was wrong with the CWM I installed via the aforementioned file (P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip), but I went to the CWM site, D/L'ed the latest touch enabled CWM for the P3113 (6.0.2.3, I believe), and installed it over the existing recovery image on the device (I had to create my own .tar.md5 - easy with *nix).
Anyway, I now have access to the backup options by scrolling down. The image from P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip, simply wouldn't scroll beyond what I listed earlier. Now can scroll down, make backups, etc.
Haven't tried yet to re-install the image I made with nandroid - I'm a bit leery of that - so I'll just get the stock 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile, and keep it around....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I did today, grabbed the stock image for a backup, rooted with Odin and CWM then flashed a CM based 4.3 ROM. Piece of cake.

[Q] Help walk-through post root/unlocked bootloader process

My apologies if this has been covered. I've successfully rooted and unlocked the bootloader. I've tried my best to do a lot of reading including going through item by item in the xda wiki glossary but I'm still a little confused/want clarification before I actually do anything with my phone.
My goals are:
1) To create a full .img backup of my current system so I can always go back to it if needed/worst case scenario
2) Create a list of all my installed apps. Backup a few select apps that contain data within them that does not get backed up in the cloud or appear in a copyable source anywhere when i browse the phone directories (an app called Pattrn specifically that stores favorited background images..)
3) wipe/clear the my current incarnation of kitkat and re-install it 'fresh' (possibly without the bloat?), then reload desired apps.
4) create a backup .img of this new instance.
-----------------
I'm generally pretty quick to learn technical content but I've honestly tried to fully grok the steps for the last two weeks and haven't gotten there/understand enough to be confident to do what I think I need to do.
can take this to PM if anyone has some patience to work with me. Gladly donate to any app you make or paypal a few bucks if you can help walk me through this..
My understanding is that I need to get TWRP or CWM installed in order to get a custom recovery (as opposed to a stock recovery process)---which will allow me to do step 3. But even getting TWRP going I'm confused..
Thanks

water- said:
My apologies if this has been covered. I've successfully rooted and unlocked the bootloader. I've tried my best to do a lot of reading including going through item by item in the xda wiki glossary but I'm still a little confused/want clarification before I actually do anything with my phone.
My understanding is that I need to get TWRP or CWM installed in order to get a custom recovery (as opposed to a stock recovery process)---which will allow me to do step 3. But even getting TWRP going I'm confused..
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't help with everything..but with custom recovery..the easiest way is download flashify from play store and flash recovery image with itfrom here http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/ you have a Razr M on kitkat use this one http://androidhosting.org/Devs/Dhacker29/msm8960/TWRP2710-RAZR_M-KITKAT.img
copy it to sdcard or internal storage...open flashify and select recovery image then choose the downloaded file..flash it and restart

water- said:
My apologies if this has been covered. I've successfully rooted and unlocked the bootloader. I've tried my best to do a lot of reading including going through item by item in the xda wiki glossary but I'm still a little confused/want clarification before I actually do anything with my phone.
My goals are:
1) To create a full .img backup of my current system so I can always go back to it if needed/worst case scenario
2) Create a list of all my installed apps. Backup a few select apps that contain data within them that does not get backed up in the cloud or appear in a copyable source anywhere when i browse the phone directories (an app called Pattrn specifically that stores favorited background images..)
3) wipe/clear the my current incarnation of kitkat and re-install it 'fresh' (possibly without the bloat?), then reload desired apps.
4) create a backup .img of this new instance.
-----------------
I'm generally pretty quick to learn technical content but I've honestly tried to fully grok the steps for the last two weeks and haven't gotten there/understand enough to be confident to do what I think I need to do.
can take this to PM if anyone has some patience to work with me. Gladly donate to any app you make or paypal a few bucks if you can help walk me through this..
My understanding is that I need to get TWRP or CWM installed in order to get a custom recovery (as opposed to a stock recovery process)---which will allow me to do step 3. But even getting TWRP going I'm confused..
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, with TWRP, there is an option to back up your current system, data, and boot image.
So, let's say you make a backup your stock kitkat rom, you can wipe that, install a compatible rom. And if that fails or you do not like it, you can boot back into TWRP and restore the backup you made with the restore option.
I'm not too sure what you are asking about your apps, but with titanium backup, you can backup any app + their current data. For example, lets say you backup your favorite browser and it has everything just the way you want it, you can back it up with titanium backup, flash your rom, and restore it with titanium backup.
Not sure if that was what you were asking with #2, but if you have another question, ask away. I'm on a road trip so I have plenty of time.
Sent from my DROID RAZR M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

crazy4android said:
can't help with everything..but with custom recovery..the easiest way is download flashify from play store and flash recovery image with itfrom here [link] you have a Razr M on kitkat use this one.. [link]
copy it to sdcard or internal storage...open flashify and select recovery image then choose the downloaded file..flash it and restart
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your fast response, I appreciate it. I can do this--can you just clarify for me to define specifically what 'custom recovery' means?
I might be over-thinking it but I'm still trying to actually understand what custom recovery means-I assume it is in contrast to the current recovery which is still whatever shipped with the phone from verizon/motorola? So the above .img is a kitkat-base recovery (possibly without verizon bloat?)
Thanks

poppers162 said:
Well, with TWRP, there is an option to back up your current system, data, and boot image.
So, let's say you make a backup your stock kitkat rom, you can wipe that, install a compatible rom. And if that fails or you do not like it, you can boot back into TWRP and restore the backup you made with the restore option.
I'm not too sure what you are asking about your apps, but with titanium backup, you can backup any app + their current data. For example, lets say you backup your favorite browser and it has everything just the way you want it, you can back it up with titanium backup, flash your rom, and restore it with titanium backup.
Not sure if that was what you were asking with #2, but if you have another question, ask away. I'm on a road trip so I have plenty of time.
Sent from my DROID RAZR M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you too for your response!
So yes, I would like to use TWRP for that--make a backup of my current stock rom in all aspects, then start with a fresh instance. Does doing the step the above poster linked basically get TWRP installed as a custom recovery---which then gives me the options to create those backups in the bootloader menu? again sorry for my confusion, I've read the guides and how-to but I'm getting tripped up on some of the lingo/definitions.
On #2 Yes, that is basically what I wanted--I've got titanium backup installed and have backed up a few of these programs to my SD card already. Only have a handful of programs that have any customization that I care to retain.

water- said:
thank you for your fast response, I appreciate it. I can do this--can you just clarify for me to define specifically what 'custom recovery' means?
I might be over-thinking it but I'm still trying to actually understand what custom recovery means-I assume it is in contrast to the current recovery which is still whatever shipped with the phone from verizon/motorola? So the above .img is a kitkat-base recovery (possibly without verizon bloat?)
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can do diff things like poppers162 mentioned you can backup ur entire rom with it...its very easy to flash nd very user friendly to navigate..no the above is a recovery img...you can boot ur phone into it once you flash it..then from there you can backup ur stock rom..and install/flash custom roms with bloat removed..
or another option is just freeze the apps you don't want with titanium backup..its almost as effective as uninstalling

Okay.. I've got TWRP going and creating a backup of my current system onto an external SD card. .. progress.
I've already backed up everything I desired in titanium.
Next up doing a 'clean' start in kitkat--or a slightly improved version. I realize at this point maybe things become more subjective to people's preferences.. I'm not looking to go to CM. I found some stock or a very-nearly-stock version of kitkat I can now 'start' fresh with--the google play edition? or do I need to download "Android 4.4.2 Blur_Version.183.46.10.XT907.Verizon.en.US"? I guess I need some more help at this point. Verizon is my carrier..
Thanks--do appreciate the help! :good:

water- said:
Okay.. I've got TWRP going and creating a backup of my current system onto an external SD card. .. progress.
I've already backed up everything I desired in titanium.
Next up doing a 'clean' start in kitkat--or a slightly improved version. I realize at this point maybe things become more subjective to people's preferences.. I'm not looking to go to CM. I found some stock or a very-nearly-stock version of kitkat I can now 'start' fresh with--the google play edition? or do I need to download "Android 4.4.2 Blur_Version.183.46.10.XT907.Verizon.en.US"? I guess I need some more help at this point. Verizon is my carrier..
Thanks--do appreciate the help! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Android 4.4.2 Blur_Version.183.46.10.XT907.Verizon.en.US is complete stock with all the verison bloatware...as for the google play edition..i don't know if theres a flashable rom..the one in the Droid RAZR M Android Development is for fastboot i think..not sure and i myself havent looked into how to fastboot a fxz

water- said:
Okay.. I've got TWRP going and creating a backup of my current system onto an external SD card. .. progress.
I've already backed up everything I desired in titanium.
Next up doing a 'clean' start in kitkat--or a slightly improved version. I realize at this point maybe things become more subjective to people's preferences.. I'm not looking to go to CM. I found some stock or a very-nearly-stock version of kitkat I can now 'start' fresh with--the google play edition? or do I need to download "Android 4.4.2 Blur_Version.183.46.10.XT907.Verizon.en.US"? I guess I need some more help at this point. Verizon is my carrier..
Thanks--do appreciate the help! :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's only a handful of roms compatible with the kitkat 3.4 kernel. I, personally, love cm11 test build. It's been going great. I would give it a try. If you don't like it, you have your backup!
Sent from my DROID RAZR M using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Kitstalk ran pretty smoothly minus the speaker phone issues I like it but I've always been a fan of beanstalk... that was a few days ago when I flashed it so it may be fixed now I haven't checked on it...
Sent from my XT907 using xda app-developers app

success..95% or so
wanted to follow up here.. some of the terms finally clicked in my mind to understand the functions of recovery/fastboot/bootloader/flashing..etc. I wonder if there is a flow-chart type diagram available out there--that type of thing would have really helped to understand--being able to visualize where these different aspects interact and where files etc line up with them.
Short version: successfully running GPE rom smoothly and enjoyably on a 'clean' system.
needless to say I used TWRP to backup my system. And Titanium for specific apps. Used rsdlite to flash the GPE rom from the forum here. Then I factor reset the rom, then I think I formatted internal storage space?? --at that juncture I was a little less clear what the specific sequence should have been to 'start fresh'. Should I have factory reset my device before flashing the rom? Or maybe it really doesn't matter.
Thanks for everyone's help. One thing that didn't migrate over through gcloud backups--embedded images in text msging program. relatively small loss though
cheers

[Q] Simplified Root Instructions?

This is the first time I've ever rooted an Android device. The process has been fraught with uncertainty and misinformation from around the internet. I'd like to describe what I have come to understand is the current preferred method, and ask a few questions to hopefully get my S5 where I want it to be.
I don't want to do anything to crazy (yet, anyway). I just want to remove some bloat and get the notification panel as close to vanilla Android as possible.
So far, I have ran towelroot, which was incredibly simple.
I installed SuperSU from the Play Store. During installation, it got stuck at "Disabling KNOX...". I have since learned that this is common and a reboot usually fixes it. However, I have also learned that I probably don't want to disable KNOX yet anyway, since I am not going to flash a custom ROM until there is one that is known to be stable and is able to create the vanilla Android experience that I want. Some people said that I should have installed SuperSU from chainfire's page instead of the Play Store, but I think that was old information.
Edit: I'm editing these steps as I go along:
1. Install busybox and the Safestrap APK
2. Use Safestrap to set up a new ROM slot and use that slot from now on (consider the italics a strikethrough)
^Even though the instruction video on the Safestrap page said this, apparently that's not what most people do. They use Safestrap to make a nandroid backup, and then use only one slot, the stock ROM slot, to experiment or flash a new ROM.
3. Install Titanium Backup
Edit: I also had to install SD KitKat Fixer and then reboot afterward to allow TB to write to the SD card...
4. Use Titanium Backup to backup all apps and data to SD card
5. Use Titanium to freeze processes that I carefully choose
Edit: I froze everything from the list here.
6. Install Xposed framework
7. Find the modules to customize Android how I want
Does that sound right? Any tips/advice?

ergalthema said:
So far, I have ran towelroot, which was incredibly simple.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By doing this, you are rooted.
Even if you are not going to flash a custom rom, you can and probably should disable KNOX. Doing so will not trip the counter.
Install busybox and the Safestrap APK - This is indeed necessary if you want to install another ROM to customize. The whole point of safestrap is to flash ROMs and is not related to rooting itself. The other use of Safestrap is to create a complete backup of your current system so that if you mess something up, you can restore to a known, working state.
Use Safestrap to set up a new ROM slot and use that slot from now on - This is fine if you want to switch between ROMs. I know some people like to do this, but I am not one of them.
Install Titanium Backup - absolutely
Use Titanium to freeze processes that I carefully choose - correct and there are threads with lists of APKs to freeze. You will also want to make sure you freeze SDM so that it doesn't prompt for security updates.
Use Titanium as a backup? (not sure about this) - this is to backup your apps, texts, things like that but NOT your ROM
Install Xposed framework
Find the modules to customize Android how I want

jcollier said:
Install busybox and the Safestrap APK - This is indeed necessary if you want to install another ROM to customize. The whole point of safestrap is to flash ROMs and is not related to rooting itself. The other use of Safestrap is to create a complete backup of your current system so that if you mess something up, you can restore to a known, working state.
Use Safestrap to set up a new ROM slot and use that slot from now on - This is fine if you want to switch between ROMs. I know some people like to do this, but I am not one of them.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first step in installing Xposed in this thread is to do a nandroid backup. I'm not totally sure what that is, but someone in another thread said implied that Safestrap essentially does the same thing. That is why I was planning to use Safestrap.

ergalthema said:
The first step in installing Xposed in this thread is to do a nandroid backup. I'm not totally sure what that is, but someone in another thread said implied that Safestrap essentially does the same thing. That is why I was planning to use Safestrap.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is what I meant by this: "The other use of Safestrap is to create a complete backup of your current system so that if you mess something up, you can restore to a known, working state."
A nandroid is a backup image of your system so that you can restore it if you screw something up. Safestrap isn't "essentially" doing the same thing, it is doing exactly that thing. Safestrap is a way to make a custom recovery work on our phone without an unlocked bootloader.

Good advice up to here, but you might want to hold off on using Exposed. As I understand it, Exposed lets you tinker with the existing stock ROM. I don't think I would want to do that, and I have rooted and ROM flashed several Android devices over the years. But its up to you.
With your being new to rooting, I'll offer this advice:
Titanium Backup (a.k.a. "TIBU") is a good way to back up all your apps. Here are some suggestions in using it:
--Buy the PRO version. It has more features, is not very expensive, and helps support a really cool app that is very handy.
--Set the Preferences/Backup folder to your REAL external SD Card. It will default to internal storage (also called "sd card"....don't get me started lol) which is IMO totally useless. If you lose internal storage due to corruption or whatever, you would lose all your backups. Having them on the REAL SD card you can also archive them to your PC.
--Set your Max Backup History to some number larger than the default "1". I use 7. Why? Well, have you ever seen the developer of one of your favorite apps suddenly screw it completely up in some update? Or, worse yet, sell out to some other vendor who now made it a PAY SUBSCRIPTION app?? I have. By keeping multiple backups you can roll back in time to previous versions that you know WORKED when those things happen. I have several apps I will never update, especially on the Store, for various reasons. (TIBU used to be able to disconnect the link to the Store so apps didn't try to update, but Google broke their ability to do that).
--When you do make TIBU backups, select "app and system data" which is IMO incorrectly worded and causes confusion. It should read "app and APP data". Because that is what it really does. Backs up the data IN your system that is associated ONLY with the APP. NOT any "system files". When you restore a backup, restore "app and system data" and you not only get the app installed, you get all your data it created, as well as all your customized settings restored! It is a real time saver. And you can "usually" even do this with a new device, using the TIBU backup folder on an SD card you had in some previous Android device. I've done it many times.
Safestrap installs a custom version of TWRP recovery. From that you can make the aforementioned "nandroid" backups of your complete system. (You won't see the word "nandroid" in TWRP while you are doing this. It just calls them backups). Couple of caveats with TWRP (and the Safestrap version):
--The date/time stamp used in both TWRP and its alternative, Clockworkmod Recovery (CW) will always be wrong. I've read (in short) there is no way for them to fix it. BUT........you most certainly CAN edit the backup file name to be whatever you like while setting it up to make the backup. So I recommend deleting the portion of the name that is the screwed up date it will generate, and putting in a date you can read, like my preferred format of 2014-07-10-1727 which is today at 5:27 PM, or whatever format you like.
--By default, TWRP recovery uses (in the Advanced settings) an inane "power saving" feature of the display, which will maddeningly keep turning it off and making you think the phone died while it is in the middle of making your backup. A - ALWAYS keep your phone on the charger when working in Recovery!! Don't even start unless it has at least 40% charge. B- Turn OFF the inane "power saving feature" and get some peace of mind. The screen will stay lit forever, until you reboot system when you are done.
--By default, TWRP will be set to use INTERNAL STORAGE as the place to keep your nandroids. Again, I consider that a very bad idea. Use a REAL External SD card and keep them there. And make regular backups to your PC of the SD card. I've seen a great many SD cards suddenly fail without warning. Your device will pop up and tell you the SD card is corrupt, and you need to format it. Usually, there is no way to recover the lost data on the card when that happens.
--On my Galaxy S5, making a nandroid of the stock OS via Safestrap took up over 4GB! That is almost 4 x what I normally see making a nandroid of a custom ROM on some previous device. So make sure you have plenty of room on whatever SD card you choose to use.

jcollier said:
Even if you are not going to flash a custom rom, you can and probably should disable KNOX. Doing so will not trip the counter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know it wouldn't trip the counter. I'm curious why I should disable it though.

I followed the video exactly and when I get to the point of the first Restore (around 9:00), it says "Restore Complete - Failed". There is a button to Reboot System. When I tap that, the phone won't turn on. I have to pull the batter to get it back on. I guess I'll be uninstalling Safestrap. If I "Uninstall Recovery" from the stock ROM slot, will the space be freed up again and the phone be returned to the same state as before I tried using Safestrap?

ergalthema said:
I followed the video exactly and when I get to the point of the first Restore (around 9:00), it says "Restore Complete - Failed". There is a button to Reboot System. When I tap that, the phone won't turn on. I have to pull the batter to get it back on. I guess I'll be uninstalling Safestrap. If I "Uninstall Recovery" from the stock ROM slot, will the space be freed up again and the phone be returned to the same state as before I tried using Safestrap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May I ask what it is that you are restoring? Have you already made a (nandroid) backup? That's what the restore function is made to restore. If you tried to use Restore on some other kind of file, then it would try to overwrite your ROM (OS) with it, and make the phone unusable. If that happens, I think your only fix would be to Odin back to stock and start over from scratch. I believe there is a link to do that in the thread telling how to root the S5.

Zoandroid said:
May I ask what it is that you are restoring? Have you already made a (nandroid) backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The video at 9:00 explains it. I think it is basically flashing the backup I made of the stock ROM to the newly created ROM slot in order to begin running from the new ROM slot.

ergalthema said:
The video at 9:00 explains it. I think it is basically flashing the backup I made of the stock ROM to the newly created ROM slot in order to begin running from the new ROM slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, OK. Since there aren't any ROMs available yet, I did not pursue that aspect of Safestrap. So you have stepped outside my range of experience with it. Hopefully someone else can help you.
If you get to a point in your endeavors where you find a solution to apply ad-blocking to the S5, please let me know in a PM. I've had no luck so far. It appears this will be yet another issue that will only be solved with some creative developer work. Google has done something in KitKat to block not only apps like Ad-Aware and Adblock Plus from working, they also seem to have some kind of snooper utility that, if you try to search online with the S5 for ad blocking, will pop up a browser page saying Google "cannot access" the page! Pages which my PCs can see easily. Crafty little PITAs for sure! I thought it might just be Chrome doing this, so when I tried to get Firefox from the Store, I was stuck in an endless downloading loop. I had to kill that and restore a copy from TIBU. They are doing everything they can think of to lock down a smartphone and spoon feed us only what THEY want us to see. Including copious advertisements.
There was a time when Android meant "freedom". I guess that time has passed. Now it is time for someone else with very deep pockets to re-kindle a hassle-free smartphone OS. It is a shame. Android has so much potential.

ergalthema said:
The video at 9:00 explains it. I think it is basically flashing the backup I made of the stock ROM to the newly created ROM slot in order to begin running from the new ROM slot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why flash the stock ROM in a newly created ROM slot? You should only create a ROM slot if you decide to run a custom ROM. If not, you can use safestrap to create the backup (nandroid) and save it to your SD card so you always have a "safe" restore point essentially. I run a custom ROM in my stock slot. And for the record... There are several ROMs in the development section which are quite stable. Also, you can check out the Safestrap thread there as well. If you read through the thread you'll have a better understanding of how it works and what bugs there are right now.
The thing that I find great about XDA is that folks will always try to help each other out. Good luck!
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Do we have a thread where folks are reporting having tried various versions of the available ROMs for the Verizon S5, and can make a simple statement about what works and what doesn't? I think that would be a really good idea. Without something like that, the only way to really know which ones are trouble free is to slog through and read each and every post on every ROM thread, most of which will usually be outdated information anyway.
Maybe it could be done as a Poll so it doesn't grow into something just as long to read as the above.

Zoandroid said:
Do we have a thread where folks are reporting having tried various versions of the available ROMs for the Verizon S5, and can make a simple statement about what works and what doesn't? I think that would be a really good idea. Without something like that, the only way to really know which ones are trouble free is to slog through and read each and every post on every ROM thread, most of which will usually be outdated information anyway.
Maybe it could be done as a Poll so it doesn't grow into something just as long to read as the above.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That would be great - especially for the people who aren't on this site all day and don't know what is good and current.
shoresteve626 said:
Why flash the stock ROM in a newly created ROM slot? You should only create a ROM slot if you decide to run a custom ROM. If not, you can use safestrap to create the backup (nandroid) and save it to your SD card so you always have a "safe" restore point essentially. I run a custom ROM in my stock slot. And for the record... There are several ROMs in the development section which are quite stable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm realizing that's probably what most people do. In the instructional video posted on the main Safestrap OP, it instructed to keep the original stock slot intact, and use a new slot for experimenting with another ROM. I would love to know a stable ROM that gives the most vanilla Android.

AllianceRom Issues Verizon GS5 4.4.2

After searching for a fair while i've come to the conclusion that there aren't any threads that pose my set of issues. I've tried installing AllianceRom several times, i follow their instructions to the letter, and everytime i end up with a failed extraction, i've re-downloaded the ROM twice now and am simply unsure of how to continue, i would LOVE to see their rom in action and how it functions i'm just at a loss for how to continue, steps i take with safestrap as such.
1. Reboot into recovery
2. switch to rom-slot 1 (also tried the other numbers.. just in case)
3. create the slot, wipe it
4. install zip file ( tried from different folders, on both internal and sd storage)
5. facepalm i'm not sure what to do now i'm slightly sad because it's the seemingly coolest looking rom, there's so much customization options to it.. i just want it hopefully someone out there has an answer, and if not i'll let the subject die for now, thanks for your time to anyone whom reads this.
-brando

brando5055 said:
After searching for a fair while i've come to the conclusion that there aren't any threads that pose my set of issues. I've tried installing AllianceRom several times, i follow their instructions to the letter, and everytime i end up with a failed extraction, i've re-downloaded the ROM twice now and am simply unsure of how to continue, i would LOVE to see their rom in action and how it functions i'm just at a loss for how to continue, steps i take with safestrap as such.
1. Reboot into recovery
2. switch to rom-slot 1 (also tried the other numbers.. just in case)
3. create the slot, wipe it
4. install zip file ( tried from different folders, on both internal and sd storage)
5. facepalm i'm not sure what to do now i'm slightly sad because it's the seemingly coolest looking rom, there's so much customization options to it.. i just want it hopefully someone out there has an answer, and if not i'll let the subject die for now, thanks for your time to anyone whom reads this.
-brando
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried flashing to stock slot yet? rom slots have many known bugs as of now and most ROM devs recommend flashing to stock slot and avoiding rom slots.

MrHyde03 said:
Have you tried flashing to stock slot yet? rom slots have many known bugs as of now and most ROM devs recommend flashing to stock slot and avoiding rom slots.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not, all honesty i'm super new to the entire process and thus far I haven't done that because i still use my stock rom on occasion flipping back and forth between the two and I'm primarily terrified of bricking my phone. What process would i go through to get my stock rom backed up and assuredly not going to be screwed out of it not existing before i tried flashing to the stock slot? I know i sound paranoid because i really am especially after it not working =/

Possibly figured it out
If i'm correct, i now know the issue. the file site dropped some people's network connections, and i'm guessing since my file size was only ~650 mb that was my issue, if not i'll inform you otherwise i'll be deleting the thread, thank you mr. hyde

brando5055 said:
I have not, all honesty i'm super new to the entire process and thus far I haven't done that because i still use my stock rom on occasion flipping back and forth between the two and I'm primarily terrified of bricking my phone. What process would i go through to get my stock rom backed up and assuredly not going to be screwed out of it not existing before i tried flashing to the stock slot? I know i sound paranoid because i really am especially after it not working =/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Reboot to safestrap
2. Activate stock slot
3. backup -> data and system should be checked only
4. Wipe data/factory reset option
5. Install -> romfile.zip
6. Reboot.
If you want to be safer, after step 3 backup, reboot back to your system and copy the backup folder from external sd/ TWRP/######/backup folder. This way you'll have a backup on your computer in case something breaks. The nice thing is, safestrap is safe and won't (shouldn't..) brick your phone.
EDIT: just saw your recent post. yes, the alliance rom zip file should be 1gb or greater.

MrHyde03 said:
1. Reboot to safestrap
2. Activate stock slot
3. backup -> data and system should be checked only
4. Wipe data/factory reset option
5. Install -> romfile.zip
6. Reboot.
If you want to be safer, after step 3 backup, reboot back to your system and copy the backup folder from external sd/ TWRP/######/backup folder. This way you'll have a backup on your computer in case something breaks. The nice thing is, safestrap is safe and won't (shouldn't..) brick your phone.
EDIT: just saw your recent post. yes, the alliance rom zip file should be 1gb or greater.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, it worked (go figure i feel like a dumbass), however after all of it i realized looking at oyur name that you seemed familiar for some reason. The first ROM i flashed, was yours. Thanks for that, it's very well made.