Database Users

NEW OTA UPDATE- MF9.. Questions thread.

Who knew a MONDAY would be such an awesome day! New OTA Update MF9 as 1st reported HERE by @jonathanhtc . Any questions can go here guys....
I'll start off with a question I have: Does this mean that all of our mods will have to be re-done to be able to be flashed on the new update? ie: Hotspot mod, 4 in 1 reboot mod, etc. all have to be re-done to be able to work on the new software update?!

Question that's on everyones mind is:
Are the bootloaders locked? That "Secure boot status: Samsung" thing was not there before if I remember correctly.

xonone said:
Question that's on everyones mind is:
Are the bootloaders locked? That "Secure boot status: Samsung" thing was not there before if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's why I'm definitely waiting till the devs take a look at it before I download it. It definitely wasn't there with MDC and MDL.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

Yes same here. BUT some new things that were reported are: Transparent notification bar with any wallpaper, new smart pause toggle, smoother UI (less lag), move apps to SD card, and KNOX is finally deployed along with Briefing and SPDclient.

First things first. Let's see what partitions got an update.
And someone should put a bug in Agat's ear to patch his kernel with the latest updates.

garwynn said:
First things first. Let's see what partitions got an update.
And someone should put a bug in Agat's ear to patch his kernel with the latest updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already posted in his thread about an hour ago that source is up
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

I wonder if this is basically the same update that the international version got. Hopefully it is, and it fixes the "smearing issue" and also we get the HDR video recording!

I heard people were unable to unlock to use internationally. Some said sprint unlocked but software restrictions remained. Do you think this update might fix that? And im not talking for use withing the U.S. mainly outside (Europe)
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 2

Okay, new bootloader, modem, kernel.
2 secondary bootloaders updated as well as rpm and tz.
Interesting that everything backs up to mmcblk0p22 before writing the new one.
Don't recall seeing that in updates for other devices.
New Fingerprint is just swap out MDL with MF9.
As mentioned, Knox is there. Makes me wonder what else was locked down with it.
Updated OCR among many updated binaries.
A lot of the binaries - in particular, vendor blobs - have an update.
I'll need someone to dump the system partition once it's patched for the new vendor files.
Hopefully good news for AOSP builds.
I'm asking to see if the previous sources have any info - but they've already stated not to expect anything.
There are a few questions that need to be figured out:
1) What is in the new bootloader? Are we locked like most of the others?
2) Can we revert bootloaders after flashing - and if so, what does it take to do so?
3) Root on new build?
All of this is going to require a test device, which sadly at the moment I am now without.
All the problems with the N2 left me with a Spare N2 and now without an S4.

xonone said:
Question that's on everyones mind is:
Are the bootloaders locked? That "Secure boot status: Samsung" thing was not there before if I remember correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bootloader isnt locked, mine is already back to rooted with twrp. that secured by samsung is the new knox stuff, so you can assign your own bootloader chain etc. i dont know all the details nor do i pretend to, but what i do know is its for companies to lock their phones down and not a concern to us

shabbypenguin said:
bootloader isnt locked, mine is already back to rooted with twrp. that secured by samsung is the new knox stuff, so you can assign your own bootloader chain etc. i dont know all the details nor do i pretend to, but what i do know is its for companies to lock their phones down and not a concern to us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post the steps you used to update & restore root please?

illdini said:
Could you post the steps you used to update & restore root please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you apply the ota, flash recovery via odin and then flash supersu. if youd rather skip a step im pretty sure you can use ota root keeper

shabbypenguin said:
you apply the ota, flash recovery via odin and then flash supersu. if youd rather skip a step im pretty sure you can use ota root keeper
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When applying the OTA, were you rooted and flashed with a Custom Recovery (i.e.-CWM or TWRP)? Or were you completely stock?

chenry944 said:
When applying the OTA, were you rooted and flashed with a Custom Recovery (i.e.-CWM or TWRP)? Or were you completely stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Judging by his earlier post I'm guessing custom recovery is probably not the best way to flash.
I have the same question BTW I'm rooted, with TWRP recovery, but stock ROM. Have installed a few mods (hotspot, camera shutter sound disabled. Had XPosed framework installed with a couple of mods, but removed those later).
What would be the safe way for me to install the new update? I actually like some of the features that Samsung added, so not looking to switch away from stock ROM for now.
I'm hoping that knowledgeable developers will provide guidance in the next few days

jj14 said:
Judging by his earlier post I'm guessing custom recovery is probably not the best way to flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I read that post I am just trying to get clarification for myself and everyone else in which way he did flash it.

shabbypenguin said:
bootloader isnt locked, mine is already back to rooted with twrp. that secured by samsung is the new knox stuff, so you can assign your own bootloader chain etc. i dont know all the details nor do i pretend to, but what i do know is its for companies to lock their phones down and not a concern to us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best news of this thread! Thanks for taking the chance!
Sent from my SPH-L720 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

yea i was stock odex from crawj and i hit errors while flashing it twrp, i flashed stock kernel and stock recovery and tried and it still failed so i modded teh zip to forcibly install, i now have no mobile data and my modem isnt updated. so my suggestion, dont follow my lead
im currently flashing MDC stock tar to fully update all the way.

Got the Modem Updated to MF9 using Odin without going back to Stock, uploading the odin package now, and will be updating the thread here -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2338919

Does this include the security update Google announced would be coming to OEMs?

Now if i update to mf9, will it affect custom roms that are built around MDL, or AOSP?

If the phone is rooted and VZW puts out an important update, what do we do?

I'm still on the stock ROM. I've heard rumors of VZW putting out updates to help with battery etc. I have the SDM file frozen so it won't auto OTA and lock the phone up. But I also don't want to miss out on solid improvements.
Suggestions?

deputydog95 said:
I'm still on the stock ROM. I've heard rumors of VZW putting out updates to help with battery etc. I have the SDM file frozen so it won't auto OTA and lock the phone up. But I also don't want to miss out on solid improvements.
Suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whole threads covering people who were rooted already downloading the most current firmware updates (two of them for Verizon landed via Kies in last couple of days) and then going back in after the updates and re-rooting their N3's. The current firmware updates keep SELinux at Permissive.

Runamuck0870 said:
Whole threads covering people who were rooted already downloading the most current firmware updates (two of them for Verizon landed via Kies in last couple of days) and then going back in after the updates and re-rooting their N3's. The current firmware updates keep SELinux at Permissive.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So are they "unrooting" to do this? Sorry, I'm a bit of a newb. I'm used to running custom ROM's and not dealing with VZW whatsoever when it comes to updates.

Any idea on how to unroot the N3 and prompt for an update?

deputydog95 said:
Any idea on how to unroot the N3 and prompt for an update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use superuser to unroot
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

neopolotin75 said:
You can use superuser to unroot
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't know that. I'll check it out.
Any idea on how to prompt for a verizon firmware update once I have it unrooted?

Once it's unrooted, is there anything else I need to do?
I haven't installed a custom ROM or custom recovery software.

deputydog95 said:
Once it's unrooted, is there anything else I need to do?
I haven't installed a custom ROM or custom recovery software.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Kies to get the update
Sent from my SM-N900V using Tapatalk

4.4.4 OTA update with root

Heya. I have a rooted verizon note 3. I see i can get the 4.4.4 ota update. So i uninstalled root via SuperSU. I get an error trying to do the ota update. Is there a way to install this update without having to use odin and flashing stock? I dont want to lose all my appz settings etc. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

Probably not a good idea to take the update. I'd wait until our trusty devs get ahold of the OTA and do their magic.

Yah, but i get pretty poor 4g for some reason and this update might (is suppose to) fix it. I read a lot of people have unrooted with superSU and installed the OTA update fine but for me it isnt working. Even though i dont have root.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

lackdog said:
Yah, but i get pretty poor 4g for some reason and this update might (is suppose to) fix it. I read a lot of people have unrooted with superSU and installed the OTA update fine but for me it isnt working. Even though i dont have root.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just install the nk1 modem. That is all you need if you are trying to get better reception.
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95897840722641747
Flash with Odin 3.09.

lackdog said:
Heya. I have a rooted verizon note 3. I see i can get the 4.4.4 ota update. So i uninstalled root via SuperSU. I get an error trying to do the ota update. Is there a way to install this update without having to use odin and flashing stock? I dont want to lose all my appz settings etc. Any help appreciated. Thanks.
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That might just of been the best error ever, especially if you use root a lot. No way to go back and no known, released root at the moment for that version. Like above me has said, try flashing the NK1 modem using Odin and see if that improves your signal any.

Well, i just have been using the stock rom, rooted with safestrap. Id like to update to 4.4.4 just to have the latest OTA with whatever various fixes it might have. Before i did the update i uninstalled anything from wanam exposed framework wise. Then i did the "remove root" from superSU. I still have the unlocked lock on the note 3 splash screen after reboot and the OTA fails....says error at install screen. I have read other people have done what i have done and the update worked. What im asking is am i overlooking something? Is it really even possible without using odin and reverting to stock even though i have read people have had sucess????
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app

lackdog said:
Well, i just have been using the stock rom, rooted with safestrap. Id like to update to 4.4.4 just to have the latest OTA with whatever various fixes it might have. Before i did the update i uninstalled anything from wanam exposed framework wise. Then i did the "remove root" from superSU. I still have the unlocked lock on the note 3 splash screen after reboot and the OTA fails....says error at install screen. I have read other people have done what i have done and the update worked. What im asking is am i overlooking something? Is it really even possible without using odin and reverting to stock even though i have read people have had sucess????
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want the benefits "fixes" of the latest, would be be smart to Odin stock so you are clean when you take the OTA.

lackdog said:
Well, i just have been using the stock rom, rooted with safestrap. Id like to update to 4.4.4 just to have the latest OTA with whatever various fixes it might have. Before i did the update i uninstalled anything from wanam exposed framework wise. Then i did the "remove root" from superSU. I still have the unlocked lock on the note 3 splash screen after reboot and the OTA fails....says error at install screen. I have read other people have done what i have done and the update worked. What im asking is am i overlooking something? Is it really even possible without using odin and reverting to stock even though i have read people have had sucess????
Sent from my SM-N900V using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do realize...that if you take the OTA...you WILL lose root. At this point in time...there is no known way to root 4.4.4 and the latest OTA.
Sent from my Note 3 via Tapatalk

how to track 4.4.4 rooting progress?
donc113 said:
You do realize...that if you take the OTA...you WILL lose root. At this point in time...there is no known way to root 4.4.4 and the latest OTA.
Sent from my Note 3 via Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I too have read ambiguous posts of people who have used the 4.4.4 OTA on a towelroot'ed Verizon Note 3s. I've been skeptical that this would work and keep root so thanks for clarifying.
I have a question though. Where should I look to keep track of the latest news about a root technique for a Verizon Note 3? Also, is there a place to contribute to a bounty for someone who can figure this out?
I ask because If you google "samsung note 3 Verizon 4.4.4 towelroot" there are tons of hits, but most of them are from eons ago and while I root my phone, I am not a developer, and so don't know the lay of the land. In the past I've just searched for "root verizon samsung note 3" and crawled through the resulting mound of irrelevant material until eventually I found the answer. Or is the answer simply that every few days I search again to see if anything new pops up?
I realize this is a totally newbie question, but I'm a long-time newbie: I've been rooting my phones for years but I don't have a lot of phones and updates only come out every so often so I never really move up the learning curve of how to do this quickly and easily. I suspect others have the same problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!

lackdog said:
Yah, but i get pretty poor 4g for some reason and this update might (is suppose to) fix it. I read a lot of people have unrooted with superSU and installed the OTA update fine but for me it isnt working. Even though i dont have root.
My phone messed up earlier this week and I had to use repair assistant and when I did it updated me to NK1 KitKat 4.4.4 and I lost root and can not get it back plus the reception issue is still terrible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Marlon1691 said:
I too have read ambiguous posts of people who have used the 4.4.4 OTA on a towelroot'ed Verizon Note 3s. I've been skeptical that this would work and keep root so thanks for clarifying.
I have a question though. Where should I look to keep track of the latest news about a root technique for a Verizon Note 3? Also, is there a place to contribute to a bounty for someone who can figure this out?
I ask because If you google "samsung note 3 Verizon 4.4.4 towelroot" there are tons of hits, but most of them are from eons ago and while I root my phone, I am not a developer, and so don't know the lay of the land. In the past I've just searched for "root verizon samsung note 3" and crawled through the resulting mound of irrelevant material until eventually I found the answer. Or is the answer simply that every few days I search again to see if anything new pops up?
I realize this is a totally newbie question, but I'm a long-time newbie: I've been rooting my phones for years but I don't have a lot of phones and updates only come out every so often so I never really move up the learning curve of how to do this quickly and easily. I suspect others have the same problem. Any advice would be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It likely is possible to update and keep root. But if after updating you screw up a mod, etc. and need to get back to stock you will lose root permanently.

flashing modem
leroybrute said:
Just install the nk1 modem. That is all you need if you are trying to get better reception.
https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95897840722641747
Flash with Odin 3.09.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello I see flashing with odin 3.09, I think I have 3.29- does it matter and I am on biggins rom as well. You dont have to unroot or anything?
Thanls,
TJ

tjmethod said:
Hello I see flashing with odin 3.09, I think I have 3.29- does it matter and I am on biggins rom as well. You dont have to unroot or anything?
Thanls,
TJ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no Odin 3.29 out. Just Google Odin 3.09 and download to your desktop if you don't
already have it. Then flash the modem to your phone. Don't unroot.

Odin 3.09
leroybrute said:
There is no Odin 3.29 out. Just Google Odin 3.09 and download to your desktop if you don't
already have it. Then flash the modem to your phone. Don't unroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi I did have the 3.09, plugged in as media & media 3.0 but it didnt work- any ideas?... I think I have plenty of space. Attached is is the screen I get on Odin.
Thanks,
TJ

tjmethod said:
Hi I did have the 3.09, plugged in as media & media 3.0 but it didnt work- any ideas?... I think I have plenty of space. Attached is is the screen I get on Odin.
Thanks,
TJ
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to put your phone in download mode before plugging into pc. Make sure debugging is checked in developer settings.

Thanks…
I forgot the download mode and to check the debug- always in a rush…
Ill check it when I get in- thanks again

tjmethod said:
I forgot the download mode and to check the debug- always in a rush…
Ill check it when I get in- thanks again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I thank you... Ha

GoNavyMike said:
lackdog said:
Yah, but i get pretty poor 4g for some reason and this update might (is suppose to) fix it. I read a lot of people have unrooted with superSU and installed the OTA update fine but for me it isnt working. Even though i dont have root.
My phone messed up earlier this week and I had to use repair assistant and when I did it updated me to NK1 KitKat 4.4.4 and I lost root and can not get it back plus the reception issue is still terrible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Verizon forced me to upgrade before they would troubleshoot my phone.
I was not able to do it OTA, but using the Verizon upgrade tool works.
Now I lost root, & I gained a whole bunch of bloatware. Very frustrating
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Brainfire2 said:
GoNavyMike said:
Verizon forced me to upgrade before they would troubleshoot my phone.
I was not able to do it OTA, but using the Verizon upgrade tool works.
Now I lost root, & I gained a whole bunch of bloatware. Very frustrating
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is why you should always tell them you are on the latest firmware
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I read about 4.4.4 and didn't like what they took away from 4.4.2. I won't go to it. If I were you I'd 'towelroot'- (get the simple steps on xda), and 'beanstown 106' has all the firmwares for these phones, put the nc4 on w/ 4.4.2, then install biggins rom v7, then upgrade via dirty flash with 8.0 then immediately w/ 8.3- fast touch response and after about 3-4 days, you'lI be getting twice the battery life… I jumped up to the new v9 but they dont have the theme for it yet. I miss the Kromex blue on black…

Tipped your KNOX? Rooted? Custom Recovery On? And want Stock 5.0.1?

ITS OKAY!
if you want to try out stock and not wait for a stock rooted, update via KIES software, took 30 mins But im all golden, phone was flashed rooted and everything and KIES Still updated phone!

How would i do it?

Joee21 said:
ITS OKAY!
if you want to try out stock and not wait for a stock rooted, update via KIES software, took 30 mins But im all golden, phone was flashed rooted and everything and KIES Still updated phone!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you still rooted?

I have done this many times in the past when I did not care about waiting for root. For those interested, you will lose root, so you will have to root again following the update. Also, if you don't already, use Kies to back up all your data beforehand just in case, everything should carry over though if you don't wish to back it up.

Here's your answer

Lmax579 said:
How would i do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You gotta install kies on your computer and connect your phone you should be prompt about an update Soon!

Does a flashable zip exist yet? I've searched to no avail.
Sent from my SM-N910T using xda premium

C-4Nati said:
Does a flashable zip exist yet? I've searched to no avail.
Sent from my SM-N910T using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60392963&postcount=974

Ok I'll try it

Or simply flash the stock md5 file via odin? Tadaa?

lazer9 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=60392963&postcount=974
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, but that's just the kernel, not the whole ROM.

Im on CM12.1 will Kies update it it or no? Probably not have to odin back to 4.4 huh?

Zoide_ said:
Thanks, but that's just the kernel, not the whole ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I must have misread the post.

PhilUSAF21 said:
Im on CM12.1 will Kies update it it or no? Probably not have to odin back to 4.4 huh?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kies will update it. But you will lose root, custom recovery and your ROM. Make a nandroid.
I just made a nandroid while shopping at Wal-Mart. I'm going to apply the stock OS via kies when I get home and check it out. Kind of excited. Kind of worried about tmobile knowing that I tripped Knox.
Sent from my SM-N910T using XDA Premium HD app

Temetka said:
Kind of worried about tmobile knowing that I tripped Knox.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think they care. I'm on jump and have turned in like 4+ samsung phones all with tripped knox never once have they looked or said anything. Also never heard of anyone being called out on it with tmo either.

I flashed a random KK NK4 ROM, booted, plugged into kies for the LP COD6 update. Lost root of course. Probably going to use the unrooted stock for a little bit.

jietzer said:
I don't think they care. I'm on jump and have turned in like 4+ samsung phones all with tripped knox never once have they looked or said anything. Also never heard of anyone being called out on it with tmo either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, i've heard other peple's stories on that as well. No issues for them either. So I'm not totally paranoid about it, but still a small concern will be there. To be honest though I plan on paying the phone off and keeping it instead of using Jump. I really like this phone and even if I do upgrade to the Note 5 or whatever, having a backup phone is a great idea.
whitev004 said:
I flashed a random KK NK4 ROM, booted, plugged into kies for the LP COD6 update. Lost root of course. Probably going to use the unrooted stock for a little bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ODIN'd back to stock and then ran the OTA (not Kies) to upgrade to 5.0.1. I am very happy with the performance. Actually I am blown away. It's far more responsive than it ever was on FireKat 11 and I didn't think it could get any better than that as it was running great. Color me 3 different shades of surprised and happy. I am going to stay stock w/ no-root for a bit and see what the dev's bring us.

Any interest in an unrooted insanely debloated ROM?

The ENG kernel used for root is great in a sense that it has aided in giving us root access, but it is nowhere near as refined as the factory kernel. @psouza4 has done a TON to make this kernel awesome, but there are a lot of people who have reverted back to stock because of the limitations.
I'm considering making an insanely debloated ROM that will hopefully run on the factory PE1 kernel. Root access would be needed to do the initial install with FlashFire, but afterwards there would be no root access. This might be what a few of you guys are looking for, a blazing fast ROM that runs forever on a charge, without getting hot. Once the ROM is flashed, there will be NO ability to modify unless the ENG kernel is flashed and rooted again. This ROM would NOT be for anyone interested in running Xposed framework in anyway.
If there is enough interest, I'll start working on something FAST!

Definitely interested in this

Extremely interested.

Could you throw in a modified hosts file for ad blocking? Or, should I mod it first then unroot? Also, would bypassing the checks for tethering be an option before going back to original kernel?

Illogi.xbone said:
Could you throw in a modified hosts file for ad blocking? Or, should I mod it first then unroot? Also, would bypassing the checks for tethering be an option before going back to original kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hoping to include some mods like this. I believe I'll be able to modify the host file, but you would not be able to update the hosts once the ROM is installed.

CVertigo1 said:
I'm hoping to include some mods like this. I believe I'll be able to modify the host file, but you would not be able to update the hosts once the ROM is installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! I was thinking of trying something along this route. I will make a flashfire backup of internal first then could give it a go.

I'll keep you posted when I have something worthy of flashing.

Wont future updates just re-bloat the rom?

CVertigo1 said:
I'll keep you posted when I have something worthy of flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! Mostly root for adaway anyways lol

freak69ize said:
Wont future updates just re-bloat the rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The ROM would prevent future updates, so all updates would be done via re-root and flash.

CVertigo1 said:
The ROM would prevent future updates, so all updates would be done via re-root and flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah.. very interested then... as long as you keep theme store in it

Awesome
This is exactly what I was looking for! I'd be eternally grateful if you did it.

I would love to see something like this!

My question is, since I can always at least disable bloat, can I make some changes (provisioning for tethering, modified hosts file) then unroot and reflash stock kernel?

The only reason I wanted root is for viper4android/audio mods. Would an unrooted rom be able to include that?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk

fronc01 said:
The only reason I wanted root is for viper4android/audio mods. Would an unrooted rom be able to include that?
Sent from my SM-G930V using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's an interesting question. Some optimizations like that could be added. But that app wouldn't work since it requires root privileges.
Sent from my SM-G930V using XDA-Developers mobile app

This will be great. An insanely debloated stock VZR 935U ROM with non-provisioned tethering, HD calling, and VVM is all that that's needed to make this the ultimate phone. Everything else that's need for full VZW functionality can be installed from the Play Store.
However, how would you go back to the stock kernel after installing this ROM? Just by flashing the stock AP in Odin?

I'd be stoked if this phone had stock mm status bar icons that's the only thing I've honestly really used root for and it still doesn't say LTE but instead the ugly 4G icon.. I'd even be alright with Verizons icon if it wasn't persistent on WiFi but then they're still ics looking signal bars. My s7 runs rather warm and battery drain rather sucks with the eng. Kernel starting to think it's not quite worth being able to themeish my status bar. I'd be interested in a debloated stock rom with HD calling if you can throw in the status bar that's icing on the cake.

Sorry for not checking the thread lately. I'm still trying to figure out how to make this work. I have some ideas, but nothing concrete yet.

This isn't going to work. DM-Verity checks will cause the phone not to boot once the original kernel is flashed back. If there is even a byte changed in the system partition it will make the hash invalid and cause the DM-Verity check to fail. The only debloating you can possibly do is simply disabling packages. (In the event of not wanting the Engineering kernel/root.)