Database Users

[Q] I think I broke my phone... Gt-I9505

Hi everyone.
For years I've been coming here finding answers to problems that I've had. It seems I'm finally special enough to have to make a new thread.
Phone: S4 Gt-I9505
Carrier: Vodafone New Zealand
I rooted my phone with cf-autoroot and CWM on the stock 4.2.2 version of android. I then went looking for ROMs and found the leaked (didn't know it was at the time) 4.3 version from google. I installed that and whoopee! We got along well for the first two days, but I restarted my phone on day three and that's where the problem started.
Upon reboot, my phone powered onto the Samsung splash screen, but went no further. Confused, I did a factory recovery in CWM and it still didn't go. I reinstalled the rom and it went again fine, until reboot when it hung on the splash screen again. I tried various roms and fixes and just made a mess of my phone.
Long story short, I now have TWRP on my phone with the abyss 1.3.1F kernel installed and no ROM. Is there any step by step process that someone could give me on how to proceed with TWRP and which ROM/kernel to install to get me up and running again? Not fussy on which rom but one with no bloatware would be excellent. I would be eternally grateful! :fingers-crossed:
Thanks!

Download the latest version which is I9505XXUBMGA either Odin or CWM from here, if you flash via Recovery you need to wipe data & factory reset, cache partition and dalvik cache before flashing but you can flash via Odin
I prefer to use Philz Touch recovery than TWRP

Crauze said:
Download the latest version which is I9505XXUBMGA either Odin or CWM from here, if you flash via Recovery you need to wipe data & factory reset, cache partition and dalvik cache before flashing but you can flash via Odin
I prefer to use Philz Touch recovery than TWRP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you Crauze, Will try now.
EDIT: That rom is going to take ages to download. I'll update when it's done in a few hours.

Crauze said:
Download the latest version which is I9505XXUBMGA either Odin or CWM from here, if you flash via Recovery you need to wipe data & factory reset, cache partition and dalvik cache before flashing but you can flash via Odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, you have touched on an issue I am trying to understand.
Do you only need to wipe you data and caches when you used custom recovery to flash a ROM but not when you use Odin on a PC?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app

The above answer worked perfectly. Thank you!

jcodde said:
Hi, you have touched on an issue I am trying to understand.
Do you only need to wipe you data and caches when you used custom recovery to flash a ROM but not when you use Odin on a PC?
Sent from my GT-I9505 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't flashed a custom ROM via Odin before but boot into Recovery and wipe data & factory reset, cache partition and dalvik cache and power off device and boot into Download Mode and flash via Odin

[HELP] Every time I reboot, can't get past Samsung Unlocked Custom Screen.

Ok, so I've tried to replicate this with different ROM's and I still get the same result. I have an AT&T i337 Galaxy S4 rooted with Motochopper and installed TWRP 2.6.0 via Goomanager, and tried different google edition roms and stock touchwiz roms. I'll install a rom, get it up and running [install my apps,theme,etc]. Then I'll do a random reboot, and the phone just stays at the Samsung Unlocked Custom screen, for about 5 minutes, then it'll act as if I just installed the ROM i just previously set up as if it was a new setup...I don't understand any of this, am I missing something (are you not allowed to reboot the phone). Any help would be greatly appreciated!
Any questions as to how I install my roms. 1.Boot Into Recovery, 2.Wipe Data format data wipe cache 3.Select Install on TWRP, 4.Choose Rom, 5.Choose Loki-Doki, 6.Let it all install 7. wipe cache and dalvik again 8.boot system 9.Setup android, install apps, themes, 10.Reboot...then it goes back into the Samsung Unlocked Custom Screen, wait 5 mins and I will have to run through the android setup again, as if it forgot that I just installed it. All my apps, themes, customizations are gone.
Happens with ANY custom ROM i choose, google edition OR stock touchwiz roms.
do I need to flash loki doki everytime I reboot? So for example...reboot, go into recovery, flash loki-doki, boot? I've never encountered so much problems with rebooting my phone with any custom roms...
Thanks guys!

i dont use twrp but i've heard things about formatting /data causing problems. maybe someone with more twrp expertise can chime in with a fix.
you could consider some other possible options and if you dont have any success, you may want to consider starting over via stock firmware/odin. when you go through the root process again and twrp is installed in casual (i think 2.5.0.0), stay on it. dont update to a newer release. either that or change custom recoveries. after you've made a backup:
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache & dalvik
format /system (not /data)
then flash the rom and loki-doki or an at&t loki'd kernel (like ktoosez).
wipe your caches again if you'd like and reboot.
let the phone sit for 5 or more minutes, reboot and just setup your gmail account stuff. not everything. give it another reboot to see if it stuck.

I have been having this same issue as of late, and I am using TWRP 2.5.0.2 and 2.6.0.0. It seems that the only thing I can use is a CM type ROM, I can't get TW to reboot at all after the initial boot. I am factory restoring now and going to use CWM and then try SHOshock 2.1
---------- Post added at 07:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:42 AM ----------
Okay factory restoring through odin and using CWM or OUDHS works just fine. That's what you need to do.

i ran into this problem as well a few weeks back , the problem is twrp , if you do a full wipe where you type in "yes" and it resets to factory defaults , your phone will reboot 1 time only , after that it will get stuck on that screen , only way i found to fix it was to flash back to stock thyen reroot and install twrp again., then never do a full wipe where you have to type "yes"
hope it helps....

No Ax, not more of the SAME questions over and over, please, do not get...But...NO Ax, get outta here....
TRY A DIFFERENT LOKI KERNEL for your device.
WHY LOKI-DOKI?

Not sure if this is entirely the same problem (sorry Ax if this is a duplicate from something else) but for non AOSP ROM's I've tried using loki doki and for every subsequent reboot I get the screen where it says AT&T recognizes an unsupported software on my device.
This has happened on two different ROM's which just caused me to be gun-shy and go back to CM, which allows me to reboot whenever I want with no worries.
For non-AOSP ROM's do I need to loki doki after every single reboot?

the_liv80 said:
Not sure if this is entirely the same problem (sorry Ax if this is a duplicate from something else) but for non AOSP ROM's I've tried using loki doki and for every subsequent reboot I get the screen where it says AT&T recognizes an unsupported software on my device.
This has happened on two different ROM's which just caused me to be gun-shy and go back to CM, which allows me to reboot whenever I want with no worries.
For non-AOSP ROM's do I need to loki doki after every single reboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob, we cool, this is exactly why I stress a loki kernel, why? because you know that kernel works EVERY TIME. I have never used loki doki yet, nor am I about to start, I listed what, some 50 roms in my guide and I flashed every one of them with 1 kernel and 1 only. The wrong kernel does numerous things like, the unsupported screen, hangs at samsung logo, throw you into a bootloop, and in some instances will throw you into the recovery loop. I have seen many when I flashed the roms, but I worked my way out of 3/4 of them with out having to odin back to anything. Now no one get confused, loki kernels for att/verizon, your carriers kernel for all others.

Thanks @TheAxman - tried using the Loki kernel from your guide on both Omega ROM and Mint Jelly. Got a boot loop again on MJ and couldn't get passed the stupid acore process failure on Omega...plus, I had the added benefit of Omega wiping Data after I chose not to.
So.....ended up having to format and reflashed CM.

I got into this issue just now I was trying to wipe it clean cause I'm about to sell it now it's stuck on the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen. I'm running on the Canadian variant I337M. I too was using TWRP. What do I do?

xBeerdroiDx said:
i dont use twrp but i've heard things about formatting /data causing problems. maybe someone with more twrp expertise can chime in with a fix.
you could consider some other possible options and if you dont have any success, you may want to consider starting over via stock firmware/odin. when you go through the root process again and twrp is installed in casual (i think 2.5.0.0), stay on it. dont update to a newer release. either that or change custom recoveries. after you've made a backup:
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache & dalvik
format /system (not /data)
then flash the rom and loki-doki or an at&t loki'd kernel (like ktoosez).
wipe your caches again if you'd like and reboot.
let the phone sit for 5 or more minutes, reboot and just setup your gmail account stuff. not everything. give it another reboot to see if it stuck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats most likely his issue.

Slade8525 said:
thats most likely his issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seems like it.
---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------
th3xeroeagle said:
I got into this issue just now I was trying to wipe it clean cause I'm about to sell it now it's stuck on the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen. I'm running on the Canadian variant I337M. I too was using TWRP. What do I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What device do you have? I337m?

TheAxman said:
Seems like it.
---------- Post added at 11:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:44 PM ----------
What device do you have? I337m?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup can I use ODIN too?

th3xeroeagle said:
Yup can I use ODIN too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, was on my phone lastnight, did not see that.
Odin stock, after it finishes do a factory reset. You should be ok after that.
samsung-updates.com

Having Problems in flashing roms

On flashing a Custom Rom, my phone gets stucked with continous FC ("Unfortunately Phone Crashed","Press OK") just after the phone boots.
I had faced the same problem earlier so someone on XDA suggested to use twrp recovery. Then i flashed the purity rom and it worked fine, but then as you may know now, as PA is out, so flashed it and again i'm getting continuous fc error....
currently i'm using purity rom, stock kernel and twrp recovery (2.6.3.3)

I would flash back to a stock 4.2.2 and start over. I find that this is the only way I can install certain roms.

audit13 said:
I would flash back to a stock 4.2.2 and start over. I find that this is the only way I can install certain roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already did this and again i'm facing the same problem

htrapy said:
I already did this and again i'm facing the same problem
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strange. Are you updating the bootloader and radio before flashing a 4.4 rom?

Are you doing a factory reset???? And flashing a proper gapps after ROM? You should always do this when going from one ROM to another. Sometimes a manual format of /system is necessary also.

no i am not updating my bootloader and radio before flashing (rather didn't know if i had to update them,fyi i bought my nexus 4 this september)....and yes i'm doing a factory reset (using the wipe option in twrp recovery which warns clearing of data, cache and dalvik memory)

Cant figure out how to install custom rom, without loosing root acces

Dear XDA
I have been an android user for many years and rooting has been one of the things I always did to my devices. I am an owner of a Note 3, which I have rooted succesfully and used X-NOTE 13 rom for long time. Last week I wanted to try something new and after that everything seems to be impossible. Before I install any roms I always perfom full wipe of, system, data, cache, dalvik cache etc. (I do it inside the recovery). Afterwards I tried to install CRASH ROM V9 and the progress went fine. When the phone rebooted the strange things started to happened I couldn't find the rom's extra menu and couldnt find any of the functions that the rom contained. I just thought that it was problem with the rom itself therefore I tried to went back to X-NOTE, but without any luck. The X-NOTE installed probably but I couldnt boot into it, it was stucked at the "Samsung Note 3" logo. I tried to wipe cache and dalvik but without any luck and every time I rebooted from the recovery the recovery says "it seems your device doesnt have root access" and the recovery tries to gain root access.
Then I couldnt understand anything of what was happening so I went to stock using ODIN. After installing stock rom I used CF-ROOT and everythings went smooth and I could use SuperSU inside the stock rom. Then I installed a recovery and it didn't mentioned anything about root access, so I was ready to install my custom rom...at least I thought so....I installed X-NOTE again (because I knew that this rom worked before without any problems) and after the progress was done I couldnt boot into the rom again, it was stucked. I wiped the cache and dalvik and as soon I clicked reboot in recovery it tells me that I am not rooted.
Then I did the same thing again, went back to stock, installed CF-ROOT and recovery. This time I installed CRASH ROM instead and I could boot into the system, but the rom still misses the "rooted features" etc.
In other words, what have I done wrong? I cant seem to find the problem and I think that I have tried every possible solution?
Informations:
Model: ​SM-N9005
STOCK ROM: Tried both N9005XXUENB4 (German) and N9005XXUENC2 (Nordic firmware)
Custom Rom: Tried both X-NOTE and CRASH ROM
Recoveries used: TWRP, CWM and Philz CWM
Kernels: Tried with stock one and X-NOTE kernel 1.5
I hope you can help me I cant live with stock roms
Thanks in advance
Regards,
Nepoznati

Nepoznati said:
Dear XDA
I have been an android user for many years and rooting has been one of the things I always did to my devices. I am an owner of a Note 3, which I have rooted succesfully and used X-NOTE 13 rom for long time. Last week I wanted to try something new and after that everything seems to be impossible. Before I install any roms I always perfom full wipe of, system, data, cache, dalvik cache etc. (I do it inside the recovery). Afterwards I tried to install CRASH ROM V9 and the progress went fine. When the phone rebooted the strange things started to happened I couldn't find the rom's extra menu and couldnt find any of the functions that the rom contained. I just thought that it was problem with the rom itself therefore I tried to went back to X-NOTE, but without any luck. The X-NOTE installed probably but I couldnt boot into it, it was stucked at the "Samsung Note 3" logo. I tried to wipe cache and dalvik but without any luck and every time I rebooted from the recovery the recovery says "it seems your device doesnt have root access" and the recovery tries to gain root access.
Then I couldnt understand anything of what was happening so I went to stock using ODIN. After installing stock rom I used CF-ROOT and everythings went smooth and I could use SuperSU inside the stock rom. Then I installed a recovery and it didn't mentioned anything about root access, so I was ready to install my custom rom...at least I thought so....I installed X-NOTE again (because I knew that this rom worked before without any problems) and after the progress was done I couldnt boot into the rom again, it was stucked. I wiped the cache and dalvik and as soon I clicked reboot in recovery it tells me that I am not rooted.
Then I did the same thing again, went back to stock, installed CF-ROOT and recovery. This time I installed CRASH ROM instead and I could boot into the system, but the rom still misses the "rooted features" etc.
In other words, what have I done wrong? I cant seem to find the problem and I think that I have tried every possible solution?
Informations:
Model: ​SM-N9005
STOCK ROM: Tried both N9005XXUENB4 (German) and N9005XXUENC2 (Nordic firmware)
Custom Rom: Tried both X-NOTE and CRASH ROM
Recoveries used: TWRP, CWM and Philz CWM
Kernels: Tried with stock one and X-NOTE kernel 1.5
I hope you can help me I cant live with stock roms
Thanks in advance
Regards,
Nepoznati
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
weird.
all the rom you mentioned xnote & crash come with root access inside.
When you said you used all those 3 recoveries, did you try each rom with each recovery ?
and when you flash those rom, did you follow to do a clean full wipe as mentioned on each OP thread ?
clean full wipe is not only wipe cache and dalvik, but also the data (factory reset).

antique_sonic said:
weird.
all the rom you mentioned xnote & crash come with root access inside.
When you said you used all those 3 recoveries, did you try each rom with each recovery ?
and when you flash those rom, did you follow to do a clean full wipe as mentioned on each OP thread ?
clean full wipe is not only wipe cache and dalvik, but also the data (factory reset).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I have and tried several other combinations too. First time I installed X-NOTE I wiped everything and installed X-NOTE without problems.
I cant seem to break the code, I am getting frustrated hour by hour. I have double checked everything, I am on the NC2 bootloader with the NC2 kernel, when trying to install X-NOTE I get stuck at "Samsung Glaxy Note 3" - I cant understand what the problem may be and it is beginning to be personal :/ heheh
But seriously what could I have done wrong?

Nepoznati said:
Yes I have and tried several other combinations too. First time I installed X-NOTE I wiped everything and installed X-NOTE without problems.
I cant seem to break the code, I am getting frustrated hour by hour. I have double checked everything, I am on the NC2 bootloader with the NC2 kernel, when trying to install X-NOTE I get stuck at "Samsung Glaxy Note 3" - I cant understand what the problem may be and it is beginning to be personal :/ heheh
But seriously what could I have done wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be frank... I have no idea. U flash before earlier, means u know how to flash it.
What I could think of, is just the recovery.
I ve been using cwm chenglu all this time (the one reported with less bugs, and most recommended at any rom thread). And jump from rom to rom every 1 week at least with no issue.
I will try tonite use twrp to flash rom. I will let u know if I face any problem.

SOLVED
antique_sonic said:
To be frank... I have no idea. U flash before earlier, means u know how to flash it.
What I could think of, is just the recovery.
I ve been using cwm chenglu all this time (the one reported with less bugs, and most recommended at any rom thread). And jump from rom to rom every 1 week at least with no issue.
I will try tonite use twrp to flash rom. I will let u know if I face any problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Finally, finally and finally solved!
Well it seems strange but the problem was the official kernel inside the stock roms that made it almost impossible to run any custom rom.
What I did to solve the problem:
1. Went back to stock rom using a rom with the newest baseband NC2, ex. N9005XXUENC2
1a. I did have som problems getting the bootloader updated, which means I was force to install it over ODIN 3.09 - use this bootloader NC2 BOOTLOADER (Thanks soloilmeglio for the bootloader)
2. I used CF-ROOT to gain root access
3. Then I installed CWM 6.0.4.8 recovery as recommended from antique_sonic (Updated few hours ago!)
4. Install the CivZ-SnapKat-Rev3.1-sm_n9005-4.4.2.zip kernel
5. Lets the phone reboot and check that everything works!
7: Boot into recovery and wipe system, data, cache, dalvik cache
8. Install the custom rom
Dont ask me why the kernel wasn't working from beginning and why it was "corrupted" after installing another custom rom - but now everything works as it should!
Thank you very much antique_sonic for helping me!

Nepoznati said:
Finally, finally and finally solved!
Well it seems strange but the problem was the official kernel inside the stock roms that made it almost impossible to run any custom rom.
What I did to solve the problem:
1. Went back to stock rom using a rom with the newest baseband NC2, ex. N9005XXUENC2
1a. I did have som problems getting the bootloader updated, which means I was force to install it over ODIN 3.09 - use this bootloader NC2 BOOTLOADER (Thanks soloilmeglio for the bootloader)
2. I used CF-ROOT to gain root access
3. Then I installed CWM 6.0.4.8 recovery as recommended from antique_sonic (Updated few hours ago!)
4. Install the CivZ-SnapKat-Rev3.1-sm_n9005-4.4.2.zip kernel
5. Lets the phone reboot and check that everything works!
7: Boot into recovery and wipe system, data, cache, dalvik cache
8. Install the custom rom
Dont ask me why the kernel wasn't working from beginning and why it was "corrupted" after installing another custom rom - but now everything works as it should!
Thank you very much antique_sonic for helping me!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good then to know ur phone is okay.
I fully wipe with twrp last nite. And flash xnote. Hang at boot after done.
Fully wipe again, and flash assassins. A lot fc here and there.
I flash back cwm chenglu, full wipe, and flash back xnote. Now it runs nicely.
My phone not suit with twrp.

antique_sonic said:
Good then to know ur phone is okay.
I fully wipe with twrp last nite. And flash xnote. Hang at boot after done.
Fully wipe again, and flash assassins. A lot fc here and there.
I flash back cwm chenglu, full wipe, and flash back xnote. Now it runs nicely.
My phone not suit with twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could probably be a problem with TWRP as you mentioned earlier. After using CWM everything went smooth after updating my kernel. Last night I couldnt hold me back to try one more time, and I flashed X-NOTE with TWRP and I got the same problem as described in #1 post. Then I installed CWM and flashed X-NOTE again and everything got messed up. Then I restored everything, force installed the kernel and bootlaoder. After that installed CWM and then I was able to run X-NOTE without any problem.
I am not a professional developer but I may think that the problem is TWRP when it tries to flash the kernel under the process with may results in some problems. When using CWM from the beginning I do not get any problems but when using TWRP I need to restore everything back.

Now what?

Hi guys, new to the Android rooting community and just wanted some help figuring out what's what.
Today I bought a Samsung Galaxy S4, unlocked, I9505. It's on Android 5.0.1 (I believe that's lollipop?). Now I just wondered now that I have rooted it, what do I do now? I've rooted and done nothing else other than check my root permission which I have. I wanted to install a clean, stock Google Play Edition rom and then remove the bloatware from it and use that as my phone. How am I doing that? Do I need to have rooted a specific Android version to install roms? I was reading around about a custom recovery, do I already have that installed from root or is that another thing that I need? :crying:
Any help would be appreciated as I am super new to this having come from iPhone jailbreaking.
Thanks!

You need a custom recovery to install just about any custom rom. Custom recoveries don't from rooting, you have to flash it manually. I recommend TWRP. Just google twrp s4. They also have an installation guide. After you flashed TWRP you can flash one of the GPE roms from the forum. There are 2. One is untouched and the other has slight modifications.

GDReaper said:
You need a custom recovery to install just about any custom rom. Custom recoveries don't from rooting, you have to flash it manually. I recommend TWRP. Just google twrp s4. They also have an installation guide. After you flashed TWRP you can flash one of the GPE roms from the forum. There are 2. One is untouched and the other has slight modifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, at this moment I just need all the info I can get before I do anything! Is TWRP the best? I'm sure "which is the best recovery" is asked a lot, so I'll have a look around. Do they do different things or are the premise of them generally the same? And that's fantastic about GPE, so I won't need to upgrade any higher than 5.0.1?

Dannilad said:
Thanks for the reply, at this moment I just need all the info I can get before I do anything! Is TWRP the best? I'm sure "which is the best recovery" is asked a lot, so I'll have a look around. Do they do different things or are the premise of them generally the same? And that's fantastic about GPE, so I won't need to upgrade any higher than 5.0.1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just tried installing the JFLTE-GPE latest version using TWRP and it's not worked, I'm stuck in TWRP :/ Any help?

Did you perform a full wipe of the system, data, and cache before flashing gpe?

audit13 said:
Did you perform a full wipe of the system, data, and cache before flashing gpe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I just looked around and one video I watched did not specify that I needed to wipe System. Just tried wiping System, darvik cache, cache and data so I'll see what happens and let you know if it's worked fingers crossed
EDIT: No, it hasn't worked, I've been kicked straight back into TWRP screen again Any ideas?

Dannilad said:
Hey, I just looked around and one video I watched did not specify that I needed to wipe System. Just tried wiping System, darvik cache, cache and data so I'll see what happens and let you know if it's worked fingers crossed
EDIT: No, it hasn't worked, I've been kicked straight back into TWRP screen again Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bump

Normally you have to wipe data, cache, dalvik cache and system before flashing a rom. This can either be done manually or as a factory reset from within the recovery. I don't see any reason why it wouldn't boot. Try another kernel. Or you might want to try the AOSP rom by JDC team. It's basically the same as GPE, but without any of the google apps. But those can be flashed. You need to download a gapps package. The most popular seems to be from open gapps. Choose ARM, the android version of the rom and then the type of package. Pico is the smallest and will give you only the google play store.
---------- Post added at 08:56 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:54 PM ----------
And don't change recoveries. The others are outdated. TWRP is the only one up-to-date. You might also try another version of TWRP. The newest is 2.8.7.2 I think.