Newbie here, questions about "slots", flashing, and builds. - Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello all,
My first post and my first galaxy s5! I just got my s5 (unlocked, used) and am already tired of all the verizon stuff that I can't or don't want to use. I looked into rooting it and it seems like I will be able to. But now I started looking into adding a new rom and am very confused. (So confused I don't know where to start) In the forums here I have read some cool stuff but also they use a lot of abbreviations for programs and such that I am not familiar with. Anyway, I have read references to "Slots", what are those and how do I make them? It seems like it would be useful and maybe help me not brick my phone.
How can I tell which roms I can flash (correct term?) to my phone? If I have an older build, can I add a newer build and do I want to? (I've read that the latest builds make the phone non rootable)
I know, a lot of questions. Please point me in the right direction.
Below is my phone info:
Samsung SM-G900V
Android 5.0
Baseband version G900VVRU1B0C4
Kernal 3.4.0
Build # LRX21T.G900VVRU1B0C4
Hardware version G900V.05
Anything else?
All your help is greatly appreciated.

Don't update the phone! As long as you are below oe1 (you are) you can still downgrade and root. Then install safestrap (where the slots come in) but most people use the stock slot. You can flash roms on that slot. Check the catchall thread for specifics.

Ok,
I will try to root it. then get back to you guys.
Thanks

Ok,
So after an interesting and sometimes frustrating night of downloading and flashing, my phone is rooted and now is android 4.4.2 with a build of KOT49H.G900VVRU1ANCG. I guess the next step is finding and installing safestrap? (Final goal would be to flash a non verizon rom with no bloatware and all the desired functions of my phone available.)
Thanks.

There's a safestrap thread in android development section. There was a revised build that was uploaded that you should use

Thank you, I will look it up.
I have since uploaded rooted 5.0 using this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...w-to-update-to-g900voe1-5-0-keeproot-t3149784 .
Now, safestrap and custom rom. Thanks all!

Hi all,
I am now on 15-4 and moving to 15-5. I was wondering, is there a "visual voicemail" type app that would work for a non verizon account?

Related

[Q] Some questions about rooting

Hello guys, I have some questions I am hoping you experienced people can answer for me.
After doing a bunch of research, I am left a bit confused since a lot of the posts are older, and things have changed over the last few months, especially with locked bootloaders and such.
My current phone is:
-Samsung S4 (Fido based) SGH-i337M
-Android Version 4.3
-Baseband Version i337MVLUEMK6
I only want to ROOT the phone, so I can remove a bunch of excess Samsung bloatware that I never use, I am not really interested in custom ROM's at this time.
1. What is a Custom Recovery exactly?
I keep reading about Custom Recoveries but I don't really know what they are exactly... . Is this just a Firmware mirror that I can go back to at any time AFTER I root the device? Do I need to root the device to CREATE the Custom Recovery?
2. CAN I go back to "Stock" easily? Can I just find the original 4.3 Samsung FW and load it up?
3. I know that moving to 4.4 will require another Root when it becomes available later this month from Samsung, however can I go to the Default Android 4.4 ROM at this time, skipping all the Samsung Stuff?
4. I see a programmed called KINGO offering to root my phone for me, but then somebody said something about there not being a Custom Recovery available for it, which goes up to my original question. Can I not just revert back to unrooted status after?
Thanks to anybody who can help me with these noobish questions, I appreciate it.
I don't have your model so don't want to guess at rooting.
But:
Do not remove Bloatware after rooted. Get Titanium BackuP from the Market. The paid version (support devs) and just freeze the apps until you know they have no negative impact after freezing.
Do a Nandroid ASAP and put a copy on PC also.
Read this on your Recovery question:
http://freedupthoughts.com/2013/04/what-is-custom-recovery-why-should-i.html
You have an unlocked bootloader with the i337m
Someone else can address correct rooting for your specific device and get the correct recovery for it. I prefer TWRP.

[Q] Some Questions...

Let me start out by saying that I do try and search for my answer. I don't like to start anything before I am 100% confident. I have rooted for a while, but always followed detailed tutorials. I have model number SM-N900T, android version 4.3, Build number ends in MI7.
I keep seeing something about a reactivation lock that is supposed to be under the security part of settings. I do not see one? Am I missing something?
I do not care about KNOX tripping and warranty issues and am going to install TWRP so I can install a ROM. Do I need to root first, or just install the recovery, as the ROM I am looking at says it is pre-rooted?
If the ROM is 4.4.2 do I need to do some update before installing the ROM or will installing the ROM automatically upgrade my android version?
Most of the ROMS I see say 9005? Will these work on my phone?
Thanks for any replies everyone, I'm just paranoid about messing something up.
Hondrongo said:
Let me start out by saying that I do try and search for my answer. I don't like to start anything before I am 100% confident. I have rooted for a while, but always followed detailed tutorials. I have model number SM-N900T, android version 4.3, Build number ends in MI7.
I keep seeing something about a reactivation lock that is supposed to be under the security part of settings. I do not see one? Am I missing something?
I do not care about KNOX tripping and warranty issues and am going to install TWRP so I can install a ROM. Do I need to root first, or just install the recovery, as the ROM I am looking at says it is pre-rooted?
If the ROM is 4.4.2 do I need to do some update before installing the ROM or will installing the ROM automatically upgrade my android version?
Most of the ROMS I see say 9005? Will these work on my phone?
Thanks for any replies everyone, I'm just paranoid about messing something up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are in the wrong forum!
You probably want to look at:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-3-tmobile
(but MI7 might probably be a good thing since with a little care you can keep your knox warranty, however please read in that forum for specifics since there might be certain important differences).

[Q] Updating a Custom Rom

Hello Everyone,
I'm in need of a little help, please point me in the right direction. I purchased a used Verizon Galaxy S4 with a custom ROM installed. I tried updating the phone from settings, but when installing the update i get a picture of a dead android character with an error. So I guess doing it that way on a custom ROM is a no go. My goal is just to update the phone to the newest stock rom. Do I need to flash? I'm not customed to dealing with flashing android roms, but I'm no slouch in the tech issues, I just need to know where to start.
I know I can google the issue, but theres a million guides, which is why the start process seems difficult.
I've attached a screenshot of the device information.
Thank you very kindly for your time.
First you need to go to the proper forum
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon
Just find a stock rom and flash it using Odin.
Thanks man!:good::good:

New to I337 somewhat confused

New to the I337. AT&T with NC1. Android 4.4.2. Stock ROM with the 3.4.0-1125940 kernel. Rooted, SE Linux permissive, Safestrap installed. Compared to other phones I have owned, rooted and installed custom ROMS for this one is way more complex.
Today I tried to Safestrap flash a couple of different ROM's- the Goole Play edition (jflte GPE) and the Lollipop 5.1 ROM 2015061jflte both times using Safestrap. Neither worked. In the case of the Google Play edition, it wanted to install a new kernel as well, I tried with the recommended kernel on the install GUI (wow an install GUI on Android). Both times stuck in a boot loop. I ended up using for the second time, the excellent information here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/guide-odin-to-stock-updating-rooting-t2926642
to get back to stock NC1 (thanks again guut13 for the excellent guide and links to resources) and restored via Safestrap the present stock configuration.
My questions are as follows (I am posting this after a LOT of reading here)
1)Can I use LokiDoki ? I understand it resolves problems with the locked boot loader where one can flash pretty much any S4 ROM on the I337.Is this true?
2) I wanted to give the two ROMS I mentioned today a try. Neither worked although I followed the instructions carefully (wipe, install and reboot). I also would like to try the Phoenix ROM. Is it compatible with Safestrap? Are the two I tried today compatible with Safestrap?
3) I am on 4.4.2. I understand that 4.4.4 is out there as well as 5 but when I check either via Kies or OTA I am told this is the latest firmware for my phone. Any way to update this?
As I said earlier this phone is a lot more complex from a modding standpoint than any other I have experience with. I am unclear on which ROM's will work with the NC1. Before I knew about Safestrap and the boot loader problem I tried installing TWERP and ended up having to rebuild things with guut13's excellent thread.
With NC1 am I stuck on the stock ROM ? Can kernels be updated on NC1 using LokiDoki?
Any light or advice to be shed on my confusion wold be very much appreciated.
Expat
Look at this other excellent thread started I by guut13,î answers all.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221
Loki doki is not an option for you, and you can only install tw based roms.
Cats_PJ's
Thanks for the link. Have seen this thread. So I am on 4.4.2. So can I flash a 5.x ROM on the phone provided its TW --or does the phone have to be updated via OTH or another method to 5.x first? Or am I stuck on the ROMS specifically available on 4.4.2?
Thanks again very much for your interest and the link. Wish I had shopped more carefully and bought a non AT&T phone, one of the 5xxx models but I couldn't find anything other than the AT&T ones here in Ecuador.
Expat
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i337oc3-5-0-1-keeproot-t3075814
That will get you to 5.0.1. You can flash the lollipop roms after that.
I wish I had known more before I bought my phone too. Live and learn, I'm about do for an upgrade though. Good luck.
Cats_PJs said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...-to-update-to-i337oc3-5-0-1-keeproot-t3075814
That will get you to 5.0.1. You can flash the lollipop roms after that.
I wish I had known more before I bought my phone too. Live and learn, I'm about do for an upgrade though. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again many kind thanks for the help. This is the most complicated chain of BS to go through just to update a ROM thanks to the locked boot loader I have ever seen..... however you and others here deserve a lot of credit for finding workarounds...... the phone has been made needlessly complex with the BL and efforts by Google and AT&T to "protect" their turf and monetise the user. I would upgrade today were I not in Ecuador where everything costs double what it does in the US. The phone thief crop here is thick- this is the fourth phone in 2 years although the Galaxy Grand Prime I bought after the last robbery I still have. Broke the screen on that one and it was repaired improperly, I get a blank white screen on startup so can't get into recovery so its worthless to me for what I want it for..... so I have the S4 AT&T. Ah well.
Many thanks and enough of my *****ing.
Expat

Update to MM from rooted 4.4? Cant find a guide anywhere =/

Here is what I am currently running
The phone is currently rooted.
GM-G900V
Android Version: 4.4.4
Baseband version: G900VVRU1ANI2
Kernal Version: 3.4.0
Build Number: OptimalROM R12-6
I want to upgrade to MM and install this ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/unified-development/rom-ressurrection-remix-mm-t3275340
I also want to upgrade my kernal.
When everything is said and done, I of course want to be rooted.
Now I cant seem to find answers anywhere. I love this site, but finding a helpful guide is painful. So many different version of threads. I found several threads where people were asking the same thing but there were no good answers. So I imagine this could help others too.
If someone could tell me exactly what I need to do to upgrade to MM and get this new ROM installed, I would be insanely grateful.
skoad said:
Here is what I am currently running
The phone is currently rooted.
GM-G900V
Android Version: 4.4.4
Baseband version: G900VVRU1ANI2
Kernal Version: 3.4.0
Build Number: OptimalROM R12-6
I want to upgrade to MM and install this ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/unified-development/rom-ressurrection-remix-mm-t3275340
I also want to upgrade my kernal.
When everything is said and done, I of course want to be rooted.
Now I cant seem to find answers anywhere. I love this site, but finding a helpful guide is painful. So many different version of threads. I found several threads where people were asking the same thing but there were no good answers. So I imagine this could help others too.
If someone could tell me exactly what I need to do to upgrade to MM and get this new ROM installed, I would be insanely grateful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi skoad
You have a Verizon and, as so, you may first start by reading the below:
[GUIDE] Unlocking the Galaxys S5 Bootloader using DEV Bootloader [KK-MM]
As soon as you find yourself comfortable, you will need first update your Bootloader (mentioned above) and Modem partitions. To do so you should flash a Sammobile firmware using Odin.
These are the firmwares available for you but only the first one is Marshmallow and your aim.
You may follow these general instructions obviously regarding your device data.
The Kernel update will be done by the ROM you are focusing to install and it will be rooted already.
Let us know how it performed with Stock.
Cheers.
.
Thanks a ton. I am pretty busy this weekend but will be giving this a shot Monday and will report back. What youve provided seems very helpful and straightforward, just what I was hoping for!

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