[Q] bootloader rooting and I don't know what I'm doing - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I want to root my phone which I found towel route which I I downloaded but its not really working, which I found out is due to bootloader being locked. so I decided what I needed to do was unlock the bootloader but I'm reading all these forums which are talking about roms and I have no idea what that is. I was wondering if someone could kind of walk me through this a little bit like talk about it n smaller not so technical terms because I don't really understand it. I know some coding and a lot of the technical know-how but I've never really worked with phones and really deep programming I guess. I'm sure I could figure it out if someone explained it.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NlK3r81kQPw&list=FLRvqjdmBGEGRU4qfddJMuDQ&index=33
Here's a video that might help a little. It's sort of old, but depending on which version of android you're on it'll probably help you get root access at the very least

What firmware version are you on? If you're on newer firmware the vid the other guy linked to is not going to work for you. There are tutorials in the general forum that can help you.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Galaxy s4
I was able to root my phone using towel root, then I disabled Knox with supersu. I wanted to remove all the bloat wear so I thought getting a new rom would do it (I've been researching) and I tried that three times but it keeps resetting my phone to factory settings. What am I doing wrong? I tried CM and that pacman one. I really like the aok(whatever letter) one but it's not compatible with my phone. I have a galaxy s4 unlocked, it's at&t but I actually have tmobile. I have all the at&t software AND tmobile crud on here. I really want it gone. I was trying to install the roms through my sd card with my phone on odis mode.

plethoralaura said:
I was able to root my phone using towel root, then I disabled Knox with supersu. I wanted to remove all the bloat wear so I thought getting a new rom would do it (I've been researching) and I tried that three times but it keeps resetting my phone to factory settings. What am I doing wrong? I tried CM and that pacman one. I really like the aok(whatever letter) one but it's not compatible with my phone. I have a galaxy s4 unlocked, it's at&t but I actually have tmobile. I have all the at&t software AND tmobile crud on here. I really want it gone. I was trying to install the roms through my sd card with my phone on odis mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using safestrap and flashing touch wiz based roms? Cm and Pac will not work on your device if you're using safestrap.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Inever got around to downloading safestrap. I thought that was something you did after you downloaded the rom. And I've never heard of the other one. It shows up with something about verification problems. I should have written it down. It took so long for my phone to turn back on.

plethoralaura said:
Inever got around to downloading safestrap. I thought that was something you did after you downloaded the rom. And I've never heard of the other one. It shows up with something about verification problems. I should have written it down. It took so long for my phone to turn back on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what firmware version your phone is on but I'm guessing it's on a newer version where cwm or twrp recoveries are not going to work. You'll need to install safestrap and install roms with it.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Okay. I will try that. I did post a picture of my device information in my second post in case it had what you were asking get for.

plethoralaura said:
Okay. I will try that. I did post a picture of my device information in my second post in case it had what you were asking get for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry,I didn't see that. I'm on my mobile. You're on nc1 firmware. You definitely need safestrap.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app

Related

[Q] KIT KAT on contracted Samsung S4 AT&T i337?

I have had my S4 since switching to ATT in late November and have been following the XDA forums very closely since then. It was thanks to the XDA forums that I was able to root my S4.
However, no matter how far, wide, and meticulously I look on the site, there is no mention of the existence of running KIT-KAT on the i337 S4 for AT&T, save for the Google Play Edition and the version with the octacore etc.
I know these forums are strict (and should be) about questions being asked more than once, but I am not asking when KITKAT will be released through AT&T or even Samsung because I honestly don't care. I simply want to get KitKat on my device running with relative stability. I know there are custom roms out there, but most of them were released...a month ago or so? MAYBE I'm missing something, but if anyone here is in similar shoes, I would appreciate it if you'd echo my sentiments/request to find out if it can be done and how.
Anyone who knows how I can learn more about loading ASOP onto my i337 S4, I would greatly appreciate it. If the limitation is a locked boot loader that you CANNOT get around (excluding safestrap), do let me know! I'm sure a lot of people would benefit from the answer to this question.
Otherwise I'm going to go buy the Google Play Edition of one of the Android devices that has an unlocked boot loader.
Cheers,
Justin
justintime001 said:
I have had my S4 since switching to ATT in late November and have been following the XDA forums very closely since then. It was thanks to the XDA forums that I was able to root my S4.
However, no matter how far, wide, and meticulously I look on the site, there is no mention of the existence of running KIT-KAT on the i337 S4 for AT&T, save for the Google Play Edition and the version with the octacore etc.
I know these forums are strict (and should be) about questions being asked more than once, but I am not asking when KITKAT will be released through AT&T or even Samsung because I honestly don't care. I simply want to get KitKat on my device running with relative stability. I know there are custom roms out there, but most of them were released...a month ago or so? MAYBE I'm missing something, but if anyone here is in similar shoes, I would appreciate it if you'd echo my sentiments/request to find out if it can be done and how.
Anyone who knows how I can learn more about loading ASOP onto my i337 S4, I would greatly appreciate it. If the limitation is a locked boot loader that you CANNOT get around (excluding safestrap), do let me know! I'm sure a lot of people would benefit from the answer to this question.
Otherwise I'm going to go buy the Google Play Edition of one of the Android devices that has an unlocked boot loader.
Cheers,
Justin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version are you currently running. Go to about phone and post your baseband version. If the 2nd to last digit is f or higher you can't get kit kat yet. If it is before f then you are free to do whatever you want., If you are rooted you can just download rom manager from the play store and flash a recovery the easy way. Then get cyanogenmod or something for your device.
failedjedi said:
What version are you currently running. Go to about phone and post your baseband version. If the 2nd to last digit is f or higher you can't get kit kat yet. If it is before f then you are free to do whatever you want., If you are rooted you can just download rom manager from the play store and flash a recovery the easy way. Then get cyanogenmod or something for your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply!!!
That is most unfortunate, since it is i337UCUEMK2 - even if I did some crazy stuff to go back to MF3, I'd be right at f anyway. ROM Manager and flashing a recovery the easy way seemed simple enough and I was going to do that but it ended up not working, then I tried using Goo Manager and that soft-bricked my phone and I spent hours getting it back to MK2 again. It's back to the way it was, but I still want to update to Kit-Kat.
Btw, could you tell me why it isn't possible because of my baseband? Thanks failedjedi, and anyone else that can offer useful information.
Cheers,
J
justintime001 said:
Thank you for your reply!!!
That is most unfortunate, since it is i337UCUEMK2 - even if I did some crazy stuff to go back to MF3, I'd be right at f anyway. ROM Manager and flashing a recovery the easy way seemed simple enough and I was going to do that but it ended up not working, then I tried using Goo Manager and that soft-bricked my phone and I spent hours getting it back to MK2 again. It's back to the way it was, but I still want to update to Kit-Kat.
Btw, could you tell me why it isn't possible because of my baseband? Thanks failedjedi, and anyone else that can offer useful information.
Cheers,
J
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With mf3 they locked down the bootloader. So before mf3 you were able to put a custom recovery and custom roms. Since MF3 no one has figured out how to bypass it yet. With mf3 you can use safestrap to sort of get some custom roms, but it still needs to boot the stock kernel as you can't yet use a custom kernel. As a result you are limited to only 4.2.2 Touchwiz based roms working. Now safestrap has a beta for newer versions, not 100% sure what it does and does not support yet as I'm sticking with my mf3 and a 4.2.2 jellybean rom. But the beta is new and probably still buggy.
But basically since you need the stock kernel, you are limited to only the android version your current stock version is.
Yeah as an android developer, I accept that, but am not going to permit it to remain true. This might take awhile...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
If you are a developer there are bounties out for someone to get this working on mf3>
I don't have that issue but good luck if you try--:good:
Thanks! Didn't really know there were bounties for that - worthwhile ones anyway given that im dev apps and messing with AOSP and mainly my att s4 every chance I get.
Actually id be doing it for mk2, and if it becomes apparent that mf3 is easier to do it with ill do with that since I'd just DANGEROUSLY use Odin to go back, root, sideload titpro and block the sht out of the autoupdate. From what ive seen, the intermediary version between mf3 and mk2 might be most likely. This is all conjecture anyway. Sooner or later I will allow people to be free even with contracted or used phones.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I337 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Help a noob get PAC on his phone

I've hard bricked this thing once trying to flash a rom once. Tried to gain custom recovery via AUTOREC. Should be called Autowreck.
Sometimes it is best just to ask to be pointed in the right direction.
I just learned about LOKI and SAFESTRAP. BUT are these just for TW based ROMS? I want a CM based ROM. PACROM, specifically. I see others with this AT&T phone running it.
Will someone please help a noob with a tutorial or advice and stop me from running in circles? W/ rooted 4.4.2, NC1 build.
Start with reading well the SafeStrap thread by Hashcode in Q&A
and the All Thinks ATT, MK2 in General
You can only use SafeStrap and can not flash non TW roms or custom recoveries/kernels, so CM AOSP etc
Sorry
rugmankc said:
Start with reading well the SafeStrap thread by Hashcode in Q&A
and the All Thinks ATT, MK2 in General
You can only use SafeStrap and can not flash non TW roms or custom recoveries/kernels, so CM AOSP etc
Sorry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Been reading the safe strap thread. 89 pages! Stumped on the first one. ENCRYPTED? Not sure. How do I tell? Nb1, Mk2, Mf3 software? No idea. Did not see it in settings> about device. How do I tell is the next step I guess.
On to check the All Thinks Mk2 thread. Sorry for my noobness.
New Song said:
Been reading the safe strap thread. 89 pages! Stumped on the first one. ENCRYPTED? Not sure. How do I tell? Nb1, Mk2, Mf3 software? No idea. Did not see it in settings> about device. How do I tell is the next step I guess.
On to check the All Thinks Mk2 thread. Sorry for my noobness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Get a terminal emulator on your phone. In it type:
su
getprop ro.bootloader
What does it say? Look at the last three characters
Edit, in about devices what is your baseband, last three characters?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Sorry, I thought you NC1 now?
jd will get you sorted, he is more hands on with safestrap than i am
but, the gist of it is going to All Thinks ATT, MK2 and to post 5
but read all you can in both threads--:good:
Nc1. So this is the SafeStrap file: JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk. How a bow the encryption determination? Sound like a bootloader if it is encrypted.
New Song said:
Nc1. So this is the SafeStrap file: JFLTE-3.72-kk-B01.apk. How a bow the encryption determination? Sound like a bootloader if it is encrypted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get nb1 from your baseband? Is your device encrypted? That's different than than the bootloader. Your bootloader is definitely locked. But you can root by updating to nc1 and using towelroot and then safestrap.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
Did you get nb1 from your baseband? Is your device encrypted? That's different than than the bootloader. Your bootloader is definitely locked. But you can root by updating to nc1 and using towelroot and then safestrap.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NC 1
I am rooted. SS installed. ROM DL'ed ready to go. Creating ROM slot. Or trying t seems stuck. I know it takes about 5 minutes. But it's been about 15-20
sorry for the pic quality. No zoom on this tab 4. It's next.
New Song said:
NC 1
I am rooted. SS installed. ROM DL'ed ready to go. Creating ROM slot. Or trying t seems stuck. I know it takes about 5 minutes. But it's been about 15-20
sorry for the pic quality. No zoom on this tab 4. It's next.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to use the stock slot, not a secondary slot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You have to use the stock slot, not a secondary slot
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaaaand. S'S stopped working. Uninstalled, reinstalled and the same. Technology fails me.
New Song said:
Aaaaand. S'S stopped working. Uninstalled, reinstalled and the same. Technology fails me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you trying to flash? PAC isn't going to work, it's cm based. You can only flash touch wiz based roms
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Anything else. I have Gravitron zip ready to go. But I cannot even get S'S to open now. "SafeStrap has stopped working". Even after attempted reinstalls. If there was someone here local I could just delegate this to, I would.
New Song said:
Anything else. I have Gravitron zip ready to go. But I cannot even get S'S to open now. "SafeStrap has stopped working". Even after attempted reinstalls. If there was someone here local I could just delegate this to, I would.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably have to use Odin to re-flash nb1 and start over
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You probably have to use Odin to re-flash nb1 and start over
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That may be. Got safestrap to start working by using se linu mode changer. Still stuck at updating partition details. Gonna start a thread on that I think. Maybe one on the search functions too.
New Song said:
That may be. Got safestrap to start working by using se linu mode changer. Still stuck at updating partition details. Gonna start a thread on that I think. Maybe one on the search functions too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just as an FYI, I've had very good results with Golden Eye installed via SafeStrap. No problems with it, whatsoever, in my experience. That being said, I'm tired of being restricted to touchwiz ROMs so I've bought a T-Mobile S4 (unlocked SIM/Bootloader) and will be selling my ATT one soon.
Marc
Frankenscript said:
Just as an FYI, I've had very good results with Golden Eye installed via SafeStrap. No problems with it, whatsoever, in my experience. That being said, I'm tired of being restricted to touchwiz ROMs so I've bought a T-Mobile S4 (unlocked SIM/Bootloader) and will be selling my ATT one soon.
Marc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Starting to feel the same way. Flashing this sgh-i337 is turning out to be quite an infuriating ordeal. So much conflicting info. Allllll these ROMs available for S4, it seems. But they don't work because this version isn't compatible. And the Tw ones I've tried ALL DAY are not working either. Granted, I was not using SS correctly initially, but now that they are successfully loading in the stock slot are not working. Graviton never boots, stays on the ouroboros snake screen. Imperium has no data or wifi etc (i9505 rom? I tried it as it said it was verified working 9th i337. Nope. Figured it was a problem when it said i9505 on my model). Goldeneye, actually can connect, wifi etc. But when I change settings in Wanam, it does not take them (after reboot). Had all the other connectivity issues until I flashed a patch. Also, I was pretty happy to see than I could activate hotspot. But my device was nowhere to be found by other devices. Modules, kernals, patches, oh my... out of all the tutorials for S4's on the wide wide world of internets, nothing seems to fly. This must be the red headed bastard child of Android.
I know it is all user error, but can nothing be simple?
Just want a simple rom and hotspot. That looks awesome. Hrm.
About to try this GE download. GE-XXUGNG4-37.zip. I tried the later NG-8-38 version last time. And yes, I did the ST update at&t module update previously.
Great googley moogley! I think he's finally got it, folks! Ooooh. Niiice. So smooth. Roomy!
This hacking biz ain't for the faint of heart. Thanks guys!!! MUCH APPRECIAT3D! :good:
Paraphrasing, I think, Tom Hanks
"It's suppose to hard, the hard is what makes it great. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it."
:good:
rugmankc said:
Paraphrasing, I think, Tom Hanks
"It's suppose to hard, the hard is what makes it great. If it wasn't hard, everyone would do it."
:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Avoid the clap.... Jimmy Dugan.
Hey that's good advice kid....

[Q] How to install CWM or TWRP?

I have tried many methods to bypass boot loader and install CWM or TWRP on i337 phones, all for which they failed, I am not sure whether because I have NC1 device
My phone is Rooted, NC1, My ultimate objective is to install T mobile Rom, so I can get Wifi-calling on my at&t, what do I need to do in order to that??? I am willing to downgrade or anything to reach my objective.
Here are some guides that I saw at
galaxys4root dot com
"How to Install GT-i9505/T-Mobile Custom ROMs on AT&T Galaxy S4!"
But i couldn't Install cwm or TWRP to proceed. Please Help.
you are post mdl build and can not run cwm or custom twrp only safestrap recovery. surprised you didn't run across that when you rooted and installed safestrap--
as far as wifi calling--don't know, but believe i have read not on an att phone
rugmankc said:
you are post mdl build and can not run cwm or custom twrp only safestrap recovery. surprised you didn't run across that when you rooted and installed safestrap--
as far as wifi calling--don't know, but believe i have read not on an att phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OH right (I did this long time ago so forgot most of it), So if I wanted to install a tmobile s4 custom rom (DARTHSTALKER) on my i337 I could use safestrap, and then flash my kernel using odin for it to work? or that would break the phone?
not sure, i don't use SafeStrap and not familiar with rom
i would make sure it is safestrap compatible and see if any other att folks have flashed it
i do that by skimming last 30 pages and in-forum search for safestrap and att
or you can ask, but have found most times you get no answer on those type of questions. it has to be TW based--
You can get full root access on NC1
devil_2 said:
I have tried many methods to bypass boot loader and install CWM or TWRP on i337 phones, all for which they failed, I am not sure whether because I have NC1 device
My phone is Rooted, NC1, My ultimate objective is to install T mobile Rom, so I can get Wifi-calling on my at&t, what do I need to do in order to that??? I am willing to downgrade or anything to reach my objective.
Here are some guides that I saw at
galaxys4root dot com
"How to Install GT-i9505/T-Mobile Custom ROMs on AT&T Galaxy S4!"
But i couldn't Install cwm or TWRP to proceed. Please Help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's very hard to achieve what I did in these screen shots... sorta lol I just got the phone delivered yesterday at 2pm and hit Red Bull for 15 hours hacking it... I have full root access in system... knox is frozen by TiBu as you can see SELiniux is permissive, SuperSU Pro in control without a popup warning... I do have a new boot screen though with the unlocked lock lol. Bye bye warranty! I bought the 2 year replacement one and they don't care if it's rooted lol.
Check out the screen captures... I had to slug it out getting one app at a time til I finally figured out how to get TiBu su access... that was the key! I'd have to write a small novel explaining it, and I'm tired as heck lol. Some shots were too big. Point is... its stable I don't think you get this with safe strap do ya? Maybe ya do... but I hacked it lol. Still stock OS with a lot of freezes. If this is something different and ya wanna know reply to the message, but it takes a while and you need to really know your adb commands and be good with terminal emulator because it' s literally all you'll have for most of the 'fight' with Knox... and it really is. Lucky it didn't boot loop lol but I wanted full root access. I'll just deodex it and get rid of the bloatware later. I still wish I could flash CWM though lol. I like AOSP roms
Lt1streconbn said:
It's very hard to achieve what I did in these screen shots... sorta lol I just got the phone delivered yesterday at 2pm and hit Red Bull for 15 hours hacking it... I have full root access in system... knox is frozen by TiBu as you can see SELiniux is permissive, SuperSU Pro in control without a popup warning... I do have a new boot screen though with the unlocked lock lol. Bye bye warranty! I bought the 2 year replacement one and they don't care if it's rooted lol.
Check out the screen captures... I had to slug it out getting one app at a time til I finally figured out how to get TiBu su access... that was the key! I'd have to write a small novel explaining it, and I'm tired as heck lol. Some shots were too big. Point is... its stable I don't think you get this with safe strap do ya? Maybe ya do... but I hacked it lol. Still stock OS with a lot of freezes. If this is something different and ya wanna know reply to the message, but it takes a while and you need to really know your adb commands and be good with terminal emulator because it' s literally all you'll have for most of the 'fight' with Knox... and it really is. Lucky it didn't boot loop lol but I wanted full root access. I'll just deodex it and get rid of the bloatware later. I still wish I could flash CWM though lol. I like AOSP roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would have been easier on you to use TowelRoot which would give full root access and then use safestrap for its recovery. Could of avoided the 15 hours in about 1 minute with the TowelRoot app
I did try it. Several times. Didn't work at all... It was a lot of fun doing this honestly I haven't had a good challenge in a while lol. I managed to hack knox out of my device using nothing but the device itself and knowledge I have. I really don't want multiple Roms in my device. I just want one ROM like I have in all the others, and that's what I have now and I got CWM installed last night finally... A bit glitchy and not 100% stable yet... It has issues backing up to external SD for some reason. It'll backup to internal though. I used it to flash a small and meaningless update.zip I assembled to test it and it worked with it I'm not sure it would be successful using a backup yet either to restore the device... If I just used towel root I wouldn't have ever figured any of this out, and if I can get it a bit more simplified and figure out which particular steps or combinationof steps allowed me to exploit the system and get it in tthere and I can get it stable... I can tell everyone else how to do it. A friend on XDA is working on a tool now to simple install SuperSU into system... He done it on another device and got cwm installed on a device with a locked boot loader also. I used some of the code to get an idea how to do it on the sgh-i337. Its not impossible... Just hard to figure out I think that's one of the things XDA exist for... To learn and progress and help others... Right?
Lt1streconbn said:
I think that's one of the things XDA exist for... To learn and progress and help others... Right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app
Right, absolutely. Good job. We'll be curious how you do it once you get it figured out.
devil_2 said:
OH right (I did this long time ago so forgot most of it), So if I wanted to install a tmobile s4 custom rom (DARTHSTALKER) on my i337 I could use safestrap, and then flash my kernel using odin for it to work? or that would break the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why a T-Mobile rom on an AT&T phone. Why not use one for an AT&T phone?
tailgunner9 said:
Why a T-Mobile rom on an AT&T phone. Why not use one for an AT&T phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For t-mobile wifi-calling
Well Great Job then, I do applaud you for your work you done. Hopefully for those that are stuck using safestrap you can get it to the point they could use cwm. That would be awesome.
tailgunner9 said:
Why a T-Mobile rom on an AT&T phone. Why not use one for an AT&T phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I seriously would not try that using safe strap in i337 @ this point. The ROM would need to be ported as a multicarrier , which is pretty simple in and of itself... A lot of debugging I'd imagine though. You'll only get 2g speed using ATT device on TMO ya know. They have different 3g and 4g LTE bands. It just won't work. If you flash that ROM.. IIt's very likely you'll soft brick or hard brick the device. I have the ATT kernel decomped now working with it... I haven't downloaded any existing ROMS used with i337 yet, but I'll get one and check it out and see what has been done with Knox in it. Just very risky flashing a ROM not specific to your device...

[Q]Want GPE, but can't get custom recovery - Help please! :(

Hey guys... Before I get into this, I would like to say that i'm very new to this whole rooting thing, so please forgive me for my lack of knowledge on various terms and such, and I'm a first time user here at xda.
What's written below might get a little bit complicated so i will try to make it as detailed as possible. Please bare with me here.
So I have a Samsung Galaxy S4 sgh-i337 (AT&T) running on android 4.4.4 (with touchwiz, you guys know the deal). I really wanted stock android lollipop, because I really like the look and feel to it. When I decided to root the phone, I went through many tutorials and I tried many different methods, and none of them worked. The phone still worked fine, but SuperSU was not installed and Root Checker said the phone was not rooted. After scouring the internet, I found one tutorial that had my S4 type and the same version. At that point I realized that my android version was hindering my rooting process. The tutorial used Odin to flash a kernel (NC1), root the phone using towelroot, install SuperSU, (Root Checker too to check if it worked), and then flashing the original kernel again (my original kernel was NJ4). After following this process, my phone was rooted, and everything worked fine.
As I said before, I wanted a GPE ROM, and so I needed a custom recovery. I decided to install CWM, since most GPE ROMs used this specific recovery. Again, I followed many different tutorials, and after each and every one, I would try to go into Recovery mode, and it would just launch the stock recovery. I found another tutorial on another website that involved flashing the recovery from an app in the google play store, so I decided to try it out. I now regret this as it led to more problems. I followed these instructions, and when launching into recovery mode from that point on, I get the yellow triangle with the error message "System software is not authorized by AT&T"
Sure, I could get around it by going into download mode from there, canceling, and it would reboot like normal, and the phone still worked, but I needed to get ride of that error message.
Once again doing my research, I figured out that if I flash a stock firmware specific to my phone, it will reset the phone (the only stock firmware available has android version 4.2.2, which is a really popular version, and is compatible with most custom recoveries and ROMs, so I decided to flash the firmware, as it would also change the version back, right?) When I flashed it using Odin like the directions said, it failed. i then figured out that it failed because my binary counter is not 0. I looked into resetting the binary counter for the AT&T S4, and I found Triangle Away. However, in order to reset your binary counter, you need an unlocked bootloader, and the AT&T S4 (sgh-i337) has a locked bootloader (I don't want to use Triangle Away if it's going to brick my phone, i'd rather unroot and keep touchwiz than brick). In the process of finding this out, I also figured out that the only custom recovery that you could use on a locked bootloader S4 sgh-i337 is SafeStrap. But i heard when using SafeStrap you are limited as far as ROMs go? Would I be able to get a GPE 5.0 Lollipop ROM with SafeStrap? Cause if not I might just unroot using SuperSU and software update my phone (will that fix the error when trying to get to Recovery mode?) Also, if I install Safestrap, will it fix the error message?
Again, sorry for my inexperience in all of this, and thanks for staying with me here. Any help and additional information on what I should do (or any GPE Lollipop ROMs I should use that are compatible with my phone and version and such), as well as any links to tutorials are greatly appreciated (also, keep in mind that all of the vocab I know when rooting is used in this post, I am not aware of most other terms - again, forgive me).
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, thanks for the help! The phone currently works fine, and it is rooted, but when I go into Recovery Mode it gives me the yellow triangle with the error... Will installing SafeStrap fix that? Regardless, thanks for the help, really do appreciate it!
jd1639 said:
You wrote a lot but I'm not sure what state your device is in right now and what you want to do. But as you've found out, safestrap is the only custom recovery you can use. And touch wiz based roms are the only ones you can use. Afaik there are no 5.0 custom roms you can use at this time.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
EvilLemon said:
Also, if i were to update the phone to the next version (i heard there is a way to bump the S4 up in android version) would that reset the error in Recovery Mode? And I also heard that with SafeStrap, you are limited to ROMs on the same android version as the one on your phone? I really like 5.0, but if it's not possible to get it as the moment (and I haven't found any 5.0 ROMs for the sgh-i337 yet - you were right) i might just unroot using SuperSU and just update my version, unrooted and all. I'd rather have my phone be nice and clean than to have root on it with a corrupted recovery mode, and not make use of the root at all (I've seen other ROMs and I prefer 5.0). I might just try to make the phone feel as close to stock as possible by using more google apps and such (keyboard, messages, etc.). Regardless, thanks for the help and additional input, really do appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
I would recommend you flash the nb1 tar file in Odin. That'll bring your device to like new. Then you can let it ota nj4. There are root methods for nc1 and nj4. See this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=56453100
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
EvilLemon said:
Thanks so much! I followed the instructions and now my phone is back to normal, Recovery mode and all! Really do appreciate it, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'm glad you got it working again
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

Trying to root, stuck at the first hurdle

Hi guys
I have a spare phone now my son upgraded, the S5 SM-G901F. I thought it wound be fun to install another software, possibly more up to date. So I first set out to root it but I haven't played around much with this sort of thing for long while.
I googled and found it seemed to be Odin to use so I downloaded 3.10. Also downloaded cf root. I went into download mode and when I plugged it in, the light in Odin lit up showing successfully connected. When I added the cf file and clicked start it went through some steps but stuck at Recovery. Img and wouldn't progress further.
I tried multiple times, tried a different cable and USB port and also Odin 3.07 and a different cf file even though I think it was the same one but from a different site. All no better.
Originally I bought it a few years back, used from a colleague. I think it was a carrier phone, EE iirc, and I had to get a code to unlock the SIM to use with mine. Maybe that also means it's software is locked?
Any help much appreciated
Thanks, marc
No one guys?
Please help
Marc
Please help
marc.knuckle said:
Please help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well to be honest, i would need to spend some time, "Googling" your model .... . I believe , your S5 is a Dev phone, meaning, it was not set up for any carrier, just for running demo's and such. IF this is true, I have no true answer for you.
Odin yes, you need that, that is true! (Believe 3.07, 3.09 and 3.10 work the best for these phones. Had tried a very newer version, several month back, and it did not do the job.. something like 3.14 or 16)
I recommend going to Sam Mobile, and run your model # through them. They will give you all the info about your model and possibly the latest firmware for it.
Sorry that I can not give you all that you are needing. I just don't know a ton about those S5 Plus models. (( I had to even look 'em up too) the plus has a slight better chip was well as graphics, but again, I dont know of any that actually work on a modern carrier like sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile , etc.)
Thanks for the reply mate.
It definitely isn't a Dev phone, my colleague definitely had it on contact from a carrier initially.
I hadn't actually realised or noticed it being a Plus model as some sites mention the Plus and some don't.
Any other help from anyone appreciated
marc.knuckle said:
Thanks for the reply mate.
It definitely isn't a Dev phone, my colleague definitely had it on contact from a carrier initially.
I hadn't actually realised or noticed it being a Plus model as some sites mention the Plus and some don't.
Any other help from anyone appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, Was only going off your model # you had given.
Did check... Odin and a good copy of CF auto root... That should be that.
Then of course, get away from a really old non sucure os (6.01 MM was their last made) .
Other than those 2 pieces, you should be good to root
Not pushing, or anything but LineageOS is rather good and does run well on these!
Plus, get a monthly security injection!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
godofsalt said:
OK, Was only going off your model # you had given.
Did check... Odin and a good copy of CF auto root... That should be that.
Then of course, get away from a really old non sucure os (6.01 MM was their last made) .
Other than those 2 pieces, you should be good to root
Not pushing, or anything but LineageOS is rather good and does run well on these!
Plus, get a monthly security injection!
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the problem as i mentioned in the first post, I've tried with odin and cf root and it doesn't work. That's why i posted on here. I wondered whether the phone was locked to the carrier.
marc.knuckle said:
That's the problem as i mentioned in the first post, I've tried with odin and cf root and it doesn't work. That's why i posted on here. I wondered whether the phone was locked to the carrier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I would have to say NOPE!
Well only trying to keep your Q, on the top, so folks that might know, could help!
BTW, when I looked your model up, totally different CPU and GPU, which might need a different CF auto root zip, or a different one to actually work... Since hardware is different.
Just guessing on that, but, could be wrong. Rather busy at the moment, but will look up your specs again, and see if I find something for ya.
Mean time, Hopefully someone could chime in and point you towards the correct path to take...
OH
Q- What sort Recovery do you currently have? (Stock or custom (e.g. TWRP))
Might want to check for one for your phone.
I would actually start with TWRP, see what they have for ya.
( Will need Odin for this! BUT, once you have a Recovery in/on the phone, then you could use Magisk to root ot try CF and see 8f that works for you (I use Majisk) Plus add in the fact that you should make a Back up, of your current system! In case of issues, you can always jump back to Stock. )
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
godofsalt said:
Well, I would have to say NOPE!
Well only trying to keep your Q, on the top, so folks that might know, could help!
BTW, when I looked your model up, totally different CPU and GPU, which might need a different CF auto root zip, or a different one to actually work... Since hardware is different.
Just guessing on that, but, could be wrong. Rather busy at the moment, but will look up your specs again, and see if I find something for ya.
Mean time, Hopefully someone could chime in and point you towards the correct path to take...
OH
Q- What sort Recovery do you currently have? (Stock or custom (e.g. TWRP))
Might want to check for one for your phone.
I would actually start with TWRP, see what they have for ya.
( Will need Odin for this! BUT, once you have a Recovery in/on the phone, then you could use Magisk to root ot try CF and see 8f that works for you (I use Majisk) Plus add in the fact that you should make a Back up, of your current system! In case of issues, you can always jump back to Stock. )
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate
It's stock recovery at the minute
marc.knuckle said:
Cheers mate
It's stock recovery at the minute
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, that I have not gotten back sooner. Issues to deal with.... Just like many others these days...
That said, I take it, that you have a custom Recovery, and also Root?
Hope so, if not, I'm still here for ya
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
godofsalt said:
Sorry, that I have not gotten back sooner. Issues to deal with.... Just like many others these days...
That said, I take it, that you have a custom Recovery, and also Root?
Hope so, if not, I'm still here for ya
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers mate. So, some progression.
Firstly i didn't have a custom recovery or root. I was getting stopped at the first hurdle.
So, i figured it had something to do with it using a carrier firmware, EE, in the UK. So i found a stock European firmware and successfully used odin to flash it. Then i flashed CF root and TWRP. All good.
So with new confidence i flashed Resurrection Remix Android 9. Although it seemed to have worked, each time i tried to complete set up, straight after imputting my gmail address, the screen was black. Not BSOD type though, if i pressed home it went back to the home screen to i just couldn't complete set up.
So i tried Lineage and that was a boot loop.
Not sure if part of the issue was Gapps but i was definitely using the correct version. ARM, Android 9, stock.
I gave up, reinstalled the stock Android marshmallow and rooted again and installed TWRP. that's where i am now.
Shame really as i fancied a more up to date OS.
Thanks, Marc
marc.knuckle said:
Cheers mate. So, some progression.
Firstly i didn't have a custom recovery or root. I was getting stopped at the first hurdle.
So, i figured it had something to do with it using a carrier firmware, EE, in the UK. So i found a stock European firmware and successfully used odin to flash it. Then i flashed CF root and TWRP. All good.
So with new confidence i flashed Resurrection Remix Android 9. Although it seemed to have worked, each time i tried to complete set up, straight after imputting my gmail address, the screen was black. Not BSOD type though, if i pressed home it went back to the home screen to i just couldn't complete set up.
So i tried Lineage and that was a boot loop.
Not sure if part of the issue was Gapps but i was definitely using the correct version. ARM, Android 9, stock.
I gave up, reinstalled the stock Android marshmallow and rooted again and installed TWRP. that's where i am now.
Shame really as i fancied a more up to date OS.
Thanks, Marc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, isn't what you were wanting?
Well at least you now have a Recovery installed! Now, with that of course you can now make a back up of your stock!!!
( other words,.. MAKE A BACK UP! That way, you only have to wipe the system, data, cache and BAM, in the Flash of zip, your back at square one...)
OK, not sure if you picked up a new info about LineageOS, across the pond....
But
They ran into some issues, (soon and hopefully sooner, it will be fixed). Now, after that, they will be dropping LineageOS 17.1 Official!! Yes, for Galaxy S5 too
So, keep an eye out for that, cause am in same Boat, waiting for the Official release.
( personal, I run LineageOS, Magisk (Root and some goodies.. Unfortunately I do tend to add Ggogle, but like Pico, nothing larger. Do flash a kernel also. That said, rather stable, and most everything works) at least for me.... Just waiting for Official 17.1 to roll out! (like just about anyone left that has these phones...)
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
godofsalt said:
Wait, isn't what you were wanting?
Well at least you now have a Recovery installed! Now, with that of course you can now make a back up of your stock!!!
( other words,.. MAKE A BACK UP! That way, you only have to wipe the system, data, cache and BAM, in the Flash of zip, your back at square one...)
OK, not sure if you picked up a new info about LineageOS, across the pond....
But
They ran into some issues, (soon and hopefully sooner, it will be fixed). Now, after that, they will be dropping LineageOS 17.1 Official!! Yes, for Galaxy S5 too
So, keep an eye out for that, cause am in same Boat, waiting for the Official release.
( personal, I run LineageOS, Magisk (Root and some goodies.. Unfortunately I do tend to add Ggogle, but like Pico, nothing larger. Do flash a kernel also. That said, rather stable, and most everything works) at least for me.... Just waiting for Official 17.1 to roll out! (like just about anyone left that has these phones...)
Sent from my Galaxy S5 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate

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