Database Users

Anyone Willing to Help? Stock To FroYo

I guess I missed this over the weekend and I am looking for the original install that I dont need to have root for. I have been reading over the threads here and in the Dev forum and I am not seeing any links to the download for Non-Root users.
I am to much of a ***** to root my phone. i spent way to much cash on it and i am too worried something will go wrong.
So here is want I am asing for
A. The original non root install with instructions on how to do it
or
B. Someone to help walk me through the process of rooting and getting FroYo 2.2 set up on my phone.
Please shoot me a PM if your willing to help out. I am just way to worried if I do this without someone who knows what they are doing I am going to screw up my phone, and my wife would never let me buy another one ...lol
Can somsone help out a fellow Dev, thanks

Sorry I can't post links but here you go
androidandme.com/2010/05/news/how-to-manually-install-android-2-2-on-your-nexus-one/

Ya just found it buried in a thread
Thanks
See if I would have spent another 10 minutes searching I would have found it without having to ask ...lol
Got to remember to scan threads for 30 minutes not 20 before asking ...lol

Or use this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6043779#post6043779
(Or the Root/2.2 links in my sig.)

Okay, I'll give you the general idea, as I understand it:
The FRF50 ROM that was leaked from Google is exclusively for ERE27 Builds only. Unless that is the native build on your phone, you will not be able to apply that as is.
Paul O'Brien, over at Modaco, repacked it so that it can be flashed with any current ROMs. Though he's said that there are no conditions, there in fact are a few stipulations to be aware of.
-If you have never unlocked your bootloader, you won't be able to flash anything at all. Something to think about. There's a few threads here dedicated to this topic alone. It voids your warranty so that is why some people are holding off and waiting for the official OTA update to be released.
-Though it's true that you don't have to be rooted to flash Paul's repack, unless you have ERE27 stock, you need to flash using one of the custom recovery images. And in order to flash your recovery.img, you need to be rooted. So you need to have had rooted before.
So the steps, from stock, would be:
(1) Unlock your bootloader, via flashboot.
(2) Flash superuser to your boot.img (aka rooting)
(3) Flash a custom recovery to recovery.img (I use RA)
(4) Flash Paul's FRF50 repack using said recovery image.
I'm sorry I can't post the links to the relavant posts, but my status as a member doesn't allow me to. Hope this helped clear some things up for you.

Paul22000 said:
Or use this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=6043779#post6043779
(Or the Root/2.2 links in my sig.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Paul, is that Avatar a picture of YOU?

OMG theres a search feature!!!
Really OMG I didnt know this!
I guess me saying I searched threads and the site for 20 minutes was something you missed.
But thanks to all who actually decided to help and not be another one of these "USE SEARCH" people.
I respect the work you do for us here Paul, but come on man. Read before making a post like that ....lol

attn1 said:
Paul, is that Avatar a picture of YOU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All I wil say is:
λ

LOL ...........

you don't need to root to install froyo and you don't need to hook up your nexus to a pc. my method is pretty simple and it works.
edit: I shouldn't say it's my method. Its actully a backdoor to installing froyo.

theletterj said:
Okay, I'll give you the general idea, as I understand it:
The FRF50 ROM that was leaked from Google is exclusively for ERE27 Builds only. Unless that is the native build on your phone, you will not be able to apply that as is.
Paul O'Brien, over at Modaco, repacked it so that it can be flashed with any current ROMs. Though he's said that there are no conditions, there in fact are a few stipulations to be aware of.
-If you have never unlocked your bootloader, you won't be able to flash anything at all. Something to think about. There's a few threads here dedicated to this topic alone. It voids your warranty so that is why some people are holding off and waiting for the official OTA update to be released.
-Though it's true that you don't have to be rooted to flash Paul's repack, unless you have ERE27 stock, you need to flash using one of the custom recovery images. And in order to flash your recovery.img, you need to be rooted. So you need to have had rooted before.
So the steps, from stock, would be:
(1) Unlock your bootloader, via flashboot.
(2) Flash superuser to your boot.img (aka rooting)
(3) Flash a custom recovery to recovery.img (I use RA)
(4) Flash Paul's FRF50 repack using said recovery image.
I'm sorry I can't post the links to the relavant posts, but my status as a member doesn't allow me to. Hope this helped clear some things up for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, there's a lot of good info out there mixed in with a lot of mis-information.
Your steps will work BUT:
I prefer to do it this way:
Unlock the boot loader via fastboot
Flash Amon_RA 170 recovery for Nexus One
Do a nandroid Backup
Flash your ROM of choice (Modaco's FROYO in this case)
If you are running stock recovery, you CAN flash, but only Google's updates. If you have a T-mobile N1 this may work for you without unlocking the bootloader by flashing the Google Froyo Release with the stock recovery:
Google Froyo Release
You must be on release ERE27 for this to work.
Here's a link to some instructions on how to use the stock recovery program:
jp_macaroni's thread
I suspect that since most people have already rooted or cannot get to ERE27, Paul's guide is the best way to go for them.
If you are running a custom recovery, you can flash custom updates, but NOT Google's updates intended for any stock phone/firmware level.
You don't need to root (root access) to the current ROM before flashing a custom ROM. You only need to unlock the bootloader and install a custom recovery image.

jcohenlv said:
OMG theres a search feature!!!
Really OMG I didnt know this!
I guess me saying I searched threads and the site for 20 minutes was something you missed.
But thanks to all who actually decided to help and not be another one of these "USE SEARCH" people.
I respect the work you do for us here Paul, but come on man. Read before making a post like that ....lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah you know, everyone is new once. It's easy to sort out the tripe from the real deal when you've been around the block once or twice. Paul is doing his best to be helpful and not cause more confusion.
The problem isn't that people can't search so much as it is that searches yield too much conflicting information, so lets not jump down people's throats when they ask for a point of clarification. Instead, lets start asking moderators to sticky good info and pulling redundant/bad info so that searches are more meaningful. The number of new threads in here because of the Froyo release is mind numbingly high. Let's all try to exercise some patience.

attn1 said:
Okay, there's a lot of good info out there mixed in with a lot of mis-information.
Your steps will work BUT:
I prefer to do it this way:
Unlock the boot loader via fastboot
Flash Amon_RA 170 recovery for Nexus One
Do a Nadroid Backup
Flash your ROM of choice (Modaco's FROYO in this case)
If you are running stock recovery, you CAN flash, but only Google's updates. If you have a T-mobile N1 this may work for you without unlocking the bootloader:
If you are running a custom recovery, you can flash custom updates, but NOT Google's updates intended for any stock phone/firmware level.
You don't need to root (root access) to the current ROM before flashing a custom ROM. You only need to unlock the bootloader and install a custom recovery image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not disagreeing with you, but as far as I know, yes, you do have to root in order to flash Amon_RA Recovery to your phone. If that's not correct, I apologize for spreading misinformation.

theletterj said:
I'm not disagreeing with you, but as far as I know, yes, you do have to root in order to flash Amon_RA Recovery to your phone. If that's not correct, I apologize for spreading misinformation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You only need to unlock the bootloader. You do not need root.
Unlocking the boot loader allows installation of an alternate recovery, which allows you to install custom software to the existing ROM or to install a custom ROM. It's updating the ROM that allows you to gain root access, not unlocking the boot loader. It goes in this order:
> Unlock boot loader (void warranty - still not rooted)
> Install custom recovery
> nandroid backup (recommended/optional)
> Update ROM (for root access - or not)

The original instructions worked perfect
All that was needed was to change the name to update.zip load it on the root of the SD card then but the phone in bootloader and load recovery from SD.
Took about 5 minutes.
Once the phone came up it did a few things and took about another 5 minutes to chill on the processes then I was able to use the phone without any problems.
So for those interested here are the exact steps:
This is for NON Rooted T-Mobile Version!!!!
To manually install Android 2.2 on the Nexus One, perform the following steps:
1. Download the official Android 2.2 firmware for the Nexus One.
2. Copy the file to your microSD card and name it update.zip (newb warning: not update.zip.zip)
3. Power off your phone.
4. Hold down the VOLUME DOWN button and power it back on.
5. The phone will now search for files like PB00IMG.zip, etc. This is normal. Scroll down to recovery (using Volume Down Key) and press the POWER button.
6. When you see the “/!\” symbol, press the POWER button and the Volume Up button at the same time. You should be presented with a menu and one of the options should be “Apply sdcard:update.zip”.
7. Use the trackball to navigate to “apply sdcard:update.zip” and select it.
8. When you see “Install from sdcard complete”, select “reboot system now”.
Wait 5 minutes, phone will reboot once rebooted let the phone sit for about 5 minutes then you are good to go. It couldn't be any easier

I bought a used A500 that was already rooted.

I bought it and it appears to have ICS because the Android version is 4.0.3 but that is all I really know right now. I expect that it was never updated OTA though because the guy I bought it off had it for 2 months and he was not the one who rooted it. I was going to leave it as is because I bought it for my 10 year old daughter...but the camera takes very blurry, kind of grainy looking pictures.
I am not afraid to root because I had a Samsung Fascinate and I loved the custom roms I downloaded to it. It had been over a year since i had the Fascinate so i am a little rusty when it comes to all if this. My problem is not knowing where to start with this A500 because I am unsure what has already been done to it.
The guy who sold it to me said he did a factory restore, but when I ran the check root app it does state that it's rooted and I figured it was because there is a app called superuser on the device. I don't know what kernal it has. I don't know if it has a bootloader and/or the version number. I don't know if it has CWM and/or the version. number.
What is the best way to proceed? By the way, the tablet is very clean with absolutely no scratches anywhere. Not a bad buy for $175 with a leather case...

Setting > About tablet. That should tell you quite a bit of info about it no?

download the acer recovery app , it will tell you what Bootloader you have and what recovery

Thanks for the replies! When I get home I will check. I don't want to brick the thing. I ordered a micro SD today and I will get it in 2 days so there is no hurry for me to proceed. Is it worth it to keep it rooted? Is the OTA ICS good enough? I don't think my daughter cares if the tablet is overclocked but if the roms are much better than stock than I would keep it rooted and then download a preferred rom.

Vintage144, in another post you specified that there is a Acer recovery beta...will I need that or would I just get the one from google play? Also when I find out which version of recovery and bootloader I have...I am not sure what to do with the information. Could AfterOta help me accomplish what I want if my goal is to try and fix her camera issue...either by going back to stock or updating the kernal and rom.
I don't want to seem like a noob but my only rooting experience was with my Fascinate which I did everything from stock. Now that I am not coming from stock, I am unsure where to go with what I have. It's like trying to get to a goal but not sure what step to start at. If I was starting from stock I could follow some of the threads here but it's not stock.
What info will I need to post here to let you guys know what is in my A500? I know that the Android version is 4.0.3 , what else will I need to post?

well the beta copy I believe is at thors tegra forum , but its by euclids brother (thats his name on xda) anyway if you've upgraded your BL it will tell you version you have and might give you accurate Recovery as well, if the device is only for your daughter and she's too young to really do anything I would stick with a stock rom and realistically I would upgrade the boot loader , why be left behind?
Theres no reason to root if you dont plan on doing anything major with it,that being said you wont be able to get a newer Boot Loader or custom recovery without it, and custom recovery is well worth the effort!

You guys are the pros so I will take your advise. I don't mind it being rooted and if there are some really nice roms I expect my daughter would like the different looks...it would seperate hers from others.
Android
4.0.3
Kernel version
2.6.39.4+
Image version
Acer_AV041_A500_RV16RB02_WW_GEN1
Build number
KJY2010lcylicious
Anything else I will get when I get home.
I would like to know how to get through all this in case I decide to get myself a A500 it's a really nice tablet.

Okay
Recovery Version: Revamped for Iconia 3.16
Bootloader Version: 3.01
With all the above information what would be my next step?

Sorry
Recovery Version: RA Revamed for Iconia 3.16
Damn auto correct!!!

You're already running an older custom rom...
You have root - your words not mine...
You can download another custom rom, put it on the sd card/ internal memory and reboot into recovery. You need to wipe cache, dalvik cache and do a data wipe(factory reset) after which you can install zip from sd card. Go to the rom zip file you put there and install...
Wait until it boots...
I don't know if you're running the new ICS bootloaders or not.
BEFORE FLASHING - make a nandroid backup. If things go bad then you can go back and restore the tab to before the flash...
It's worth getting your CPUID and keeping it safe somewhere and you might think about installing the ICS bootloaders (I'd do it just to be sure I have them) but thats you're choice...
Good luck...

ultramag69 said:
You're already running an older custom rom...
You have root - your words not mine...
You can download another custom rom, put it on the sd card/ internal memory and reboot into recovery. You need to wipe cache, dalvik cache and do a data wipe(factory reset) after which you can install zip from sd card. Go to the rom zip file you put there and install...
Wait until it boots...
I don't know if you're running the new ICS bootloaders or not.
BEFORE FLASHING - make a nandroid backup. If things go bad then you can go back and restore the tab to before the flash...
It's worth getting your CPUID and keeping it safe somewhere and you might think about installing the ICS bootloaders (I'd do it just to be sure I have them) but thats you're choice...
Good luck...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably want to hold off on flashing roms a second.
He's running an HC Bootloader. I'm 99% sure of this. Reason, RA Revamped 3.16 doesn't work with ICS Bootloaders. So you can install an ICS Rom, but, it has to be an ICS Rom for the HC Bootloader. And the performance under HC BL is not near as good as ICS BL.
I would do like UltraMag mentioned as far as install steps and such. It's how we install roms.
Check this thread;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622425 (steps 1-6)
, and install an unlocked ICS Bootloader and a CWM 7 or 7.2 recovery. Then install one of the Roms made for the ICS Bootloader.
I know AfterOTA will do some of this for you. But this thread gives a good idea of what's going on.

Thanks for your help. I will be getting my micro sd card on Friday. In the mean time I will do a bunch of reading about the things you guys told me to do...again thanks a lot. I really appreciate the help.
I am the kind of person that really wants to know what I am doing...I don't expect all the answers, I just don't want to brick this device.

Forstir9,
Moscow Desire is a great dev on this board, his information about updating the bootloader is dead on. I recommend reading the entire OP in that thread, and then re-read section listed as Automated Flashing Tools, it really helps tremendously if you are a person familiar with root, but not extremely dynamic with making these changes.
I've rooted several BN Nooks and my A500 many many times and love it. I had the Honeylicious ROM that you listed prior to what I'm currently running. KYJ had a great HC ROM with that one! Personal preference currently for me on the ICS ROM is FLEXREAPER from Civato, poster of the referenced article from MD above, you can find that ROM info here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22964651&postcount=1 Lots of cool features and step by step directions, which are what UltraMag69 listed in their post. There are many many different options though and I recommend reviewing several and then settling in on one when you find the one that fits your (or your daughter's) preferences best.
If you enjoy doing this and playing with the tablet your daughter may not keep it and may end up getting something different, because you may have too much fun with it...good luck, have fun, don't be scared to try things and ask questions (after you read first), and most importantly BACKUP BACKUP BACKUP...
Good luck,
-DB

Let me get this straight then.
1) boot into recovery and make a nandroid backup.
2) within that backup I should be able to find the CPUID on my sdcard...I will want to write this down and the write it down again somewhere else...out this number on my phone and computer...pretty much don't lose this number.
3) follow steps 1-6 from the link that Moscow Desire posted.
I am going to go with the Flexreaper rom...should I go with the extreme one or is there another Flexreaper rom that isn't extreme?
4) I think the 6 steps above will install a ICS bootloader
5) find and install the newest recovery
I only have 2 questions
How many of these steps does the Afterota app get Rid of?
Should I use the Acer recovery app to install the bootloader and/or the recovery?

forstir9 said:
Let me get this straight then.
1) boot into recovery and make a nandroid backup.
2) within that backup I should be able to find the CPUID on my sdcard...I will want to write this down and the write it down again somewhere else...out this number on my phone and computer...pretty much don't lose this number.
3) follow steps 1-6 from the link that Moscow Desire posted.
I am going to go with the Flexreaper rom...should I go with the extreme one or is there another Flexreaper rom that isn't extreme?
4) I think the 6 steps above will install a ICS bootloader
5) find and install the newest recovery
I only have 2 questions
How many of these steps does the Afterota app get Rid of?
Should I use the Acer recovery app to install the bootloader and/or the recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off. Thanks for thinking I am the "God" of the 501". Yeah, I know it pretty well.
Second, Ultramag, is is one of my right hand men. So I suggest you heed his advice well. I always trust his judgement. Am sure he has puled my arse out of the wringer a few times. Well, maybe not, but you get the picture. Some of us on XDA, support each other. That's how it is. I just noticed the bootloader version, And being one who likes flashing experimental code, well, I noticed.
So;
1. ALWAYS make a recovery backup. Then, restore it to make sure it works. (lots of people don't do this and they get fubar'd later).
2. UID. Seriously. Ok, the link on the many ways to get it. You don't want to get it, well... your;e pretty much fubar'd
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1624645
3. He has the normal, and one with a kernel you can overclock. Your choice. Really, if you don't OC, then you run the same as the original. Please don't ask me the names of Civatos roms. The extreme will be fine for you. Just don't overclock it if you don't want to. Only difference is the kernel. Not the OS.
4. Yes.
5. For recovery, I would say CWM 1.7.2. Should work for you. 1.7.0 is also ok. Publick recovery is ok too.
6. Never ran After OTA. But hear it is good when you already have ICS.
Forget AcerRecovery. You will already have bootloaders and recovery installed.
MD

Know I'll probably get a bashing out of this but there's a V1.7.3 recovery on the site that must not be named (cough, tegraowners, cough) that supports the Aroma installer - on Thor's ICS rom anyway...
Just thought I'd throw that in too...

I am ready to do a backup...it's asking me what I want to backup...it has a (X) next to the following...
Boot
System
Data
Cache
Flexrom
Is this correct the way it is?

EDIT: ignore this post I didn't see page 2 -_-

Sorry that I didn't post this in Friday...but I really want to thank everyone for their help. It went very easy and it want too much different than my fascinate.
The camera still takes grainy pictures and a few apps has sounds issues but she really likes the rom a lot.
Thanks again for the help.

noob, note 8.0 lte, getting back to stock from cwm

Just running this by, to see if i have everything correct.
if i have cwm installed, regardless of model,
to install a stock firmware from samsung, thus basicaly resetting my device back to stock,
i can go into cwm and install this,
http://samsung-updates.com/details/12916/Galaxy_Note_8.0_LTE_Canada/SGH-I467M/RWC/I467MVLAMG2.html
since thats my model,
and it will restore the device to factory settings, correct?
will this wipe out cwm or will cwm stay?
also, can i do this from odin?
if so,
as long as one can get there device into download mode, they can restore the device correct?
and if thats the case, what are the ways that one may wipe out that portion of the device?
is that part of the bootloader?
or is it part of the kernal,
sorry for such noob questions...
i am really new to rom flashing, but really want to get good at it.
thanks everyone in advance,
ths forum is amazing, and all you people are amazing.

Samsung devices are pretty easy to restore and hard to brick, as long as you have some firmware you can flash through Odin. Download mode should remain intact even if you mess up the bootloader/system.
I haven't looked at the link you provided, but assuming the downloads there are in Odin format, flashing back to stock should be easy as pie.
If however, you don't have Odin flashable firmware, and you ahve soemthign that needs to be flashed via fastboot/recovery, then I'm hoping your recovery is still intact and you can boot to it via Volume Up + Home + Power. If you can get into it, you should be able to load firmware onto a MicroSD card and flash from there.
GhostCyber said:
Just running this by, to see if i have everything correct.
if i have cwm installed, regardless of model,
to install a stock firmware from samsung, thus basicaly resetting my device back to stock,
i can go into cwm and install this,
http://samsung-updates.com/details/12916/Galaxy_Note_8.0_LTE_Canada/SGH-I467M/RWC/I467MVLAMG2.html
since thats my model,
and it will restore the device to factory settings, correct?
will this wipe out cwm or will cwm stay?
also, can i do this from odin?
if so,
as long as one can get there device into download mode, they can restore the device correct?
and if thats the case, what are the ways that one may wipe out that portion of the device?
is that part of the bootloader?
or is it part of the kernal,
sorry for such noob questions...
i am really new to rom flashing, but really want to get good at it.
thanks everyone in advance,
ths forum is amazing, and all you people are amazing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

sorted!
Got it sorted, thanks very much..:good::laugh:

[Q] clarification on multiple topics for a beginner.

Hey guys. I want to start off by saying that I've researched answers to my following questions but the answers have raised more questions.
I will first explain my current setup and the process in which I took to get here.
When I first got my phone it was mj7
From fully stock (no root) I installed the OTA mje update.
I then rooted using Kongo
Installed SS
Installed the JellyBeans rom
Now wwhee I need clarification. ..
If I'm upgrading a new version in the future of this same rom it states to do a factory reset. To me this means use ss and perform a wipe on the rom slot the current rom is installed on. Is this correct? I ask because I've seen posts saying you should reroot before doing so. This leads me to my next question....
If I'm going to unroot and put back to stock as if I was going to do a warranty swap can I use the kingo unroot option and be all set? I've read that this works perfectly fine but then I see others saying you should flash the tar file. And that brings me to my last question. ..
If needing to fflash the tar file should I flash the current mj version my phone is on (I believe this is called the kernel version? ) or whatever is the latest one released ?
I totally understand these are basic questions that I should already know and have been talked about a million times but for a beginner like me and the HUGE amount of info out there I feel I'm getting some contradicting information. Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I'm just now stepping into this world. Thank you in advance... any and all input would be hugely appreciated.

JiMiHenDriX420 said:
If I'm upgrading a new version in the future of this same rom it states to do a factory reset. To me this means use ss and perform a wipe on the rom slot the current rom is installed on. Is this correct? I ask because I've seen posts saying you should reroot before doing so. This leads me to my next question....
If I'm going to unroot and put back to stock as if I was going to do a warranty swap can I use the kingo unroot option and be all set? I've read that this works perfectly fine but then I see others saying you should flash the tar file. And that brings me to my last question. ..
If needing to fflash the tar file should I flash the current mj version my phone is on (I believe this is called the kernel version? ) or whatever is the latest one released ?
I totally understand these are basic questions that I should already know and have been talked about a million times but for a beginner like me and the HUGE amount of info out there I feel I'm getting some contradicting information. Please forgive my lack of knowledge, I'm just now stepping into this world. Thank you in advance... any and all input would be hugely appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One you have updated to MJE and achieved root and installed SS, you're good, until the next OTA rolls out from verizon. Currently I have my stock slot with root and nothing else. My first custom Rom slot has Beans' Rom on it. when people say to do a factory reset, they are talking about a factory reset on the specific rom slot you wish you flash. When you wipe a Rom slot, only that slot is affected, nothing else. So the phone will not lose root, or MJE, or SS.
So, in your case, back up your apps with TB or whatever you use, save your media on your MicroSD if you have one, and wipe the slot that youre going to flash. Dont wipe the stock slot, unless that's the one youre re-flashing. after you wipe, flash the new Beans 5, then either have google sync up your apps, or install titanium backup and go restore everything. Personally i had problems doing a full batch restore, so I only restored a few things, (i left out a bunch of system app data restores such as settings and dictionaries), but that should do the trick.

[Q] ANNOYING S4!! Help needed

Ok guys, here's the deal. i bought a secondhand s4 which was advertised as a google edition. it has a couple of annoying issues, first i noticed it switching itself off and on. the worst problem with it is that when my battery goes reeeally dead it just bootloops when i have recharged. the only way i can get it back on is to start it in recovery mode (which is clockworkmod v6.0.4.4) then do a factory wipe. so yeah thats a major pain. the s4 itself is a red model and behind the battery it says its a gt-19505, however in the settings on the phone it says its a gt-19505g.
my goal is to install an official firmware if possible that i may be able to update easily, the worry that i have is that i dont know if it would then accept my network as although it appears to run google edition custom firmware it may not once i install something official on it. this may be a nooby statement i know but a noob i am lol.
if its at all possible could i keep the cwm recovery?
and if its any help when i load the other boot loader thingy (with the green android on it) in the top left it says gt-19505, im just sayin cus im sure its vital which ever this phone actually is.
here are as many details as i can give but please ask if im missing anything
ANDROID VERSION 4.4.2
KERNEL VERSION 3.4.0-faux123-KK44-GE-Custom
[email protected]omain #20
Sun Dec 1 02:30:28 CST 2013
BASEBAND VERSION 19505XXUFNA1
BUILD NUMBER KOT49H.S001.131204
also upon booting in the top left it says "kernel is not seandroid enforcing
set warranty bit:kernel"
THANKS FOR YOUR TIME And please tell me where to start as i tried updating it via kies to fix it but it just wont connect, i assume due to custom firmware.

The Google Play Edition S4 devices didn't come in any color but white. Therefore, this is an I9505 with a custom ROM on it. The download mode screen reading GT-I9505 confirmed it.
Since this is an I9505 and not an I9505G, the main question is whether this device will work with your SIM card. For that, simply insert your SIM card and boot the device. If you get signal, you're good. Otherwise you'll have to unlock the device, either by purchasing an unlock code from one of the sites that sells them, or by trying the unlock methods available on the forums.
This will also help answer the question of which stock ROM you can install on the device. If the S4 doesn't prompt you to unlock the device, then you can install one of the unbranded S4 ROMs available on sammobile.com. After that, you can put the recovery of your choice on the S4, though I recommend TWRP over the other options.

Thanks for your help. I'm a little confused though, at the moment with this custom google edition ROM it does take my sim, in fact I bet it takes any sim, I heard that was a feature of google play devices. What I meant was after I install the stock ROM will it then not take my sim. So if it has already been unlocked How would I know which ROM to install? As I now know its not a google edition, is it possible to install an official google edition ROM? Do i use this download mode, Odin, or cwm to install a firmware. I'm just not sure what my starting point is. I don't wanna follow someone's guide yet to installing something just in case I'm jumping the gun and need to uninstall this custom ROM somehow.
Sorry for asking questions that I'm sure seem dumb I'm really just trying to learn at the moment I'm green as they come with android. BTW thanks for your suggestions so far, you def seem like you know what you're talking about, cheers

Google Play devices are carrier unlocked, but this is not a Google Play Edition S4. Therefore the device was carrier unlocked at some point in its past. The unknown here is how the original owner unlocked the device. If he or she used the unlocking methods found on XDA there is a chance the lock will be lost when installing a stock ROM.
If the S4 is unlocked, you aren't restricted to a particular region and can install any I9505 ROM using Odin, though I recommend the carrier unbranded ROMs. You cannot install a stock Google Play Edition ROM on the device as the model number of a GPE device is not the same as the device you have. However, you're already rooted and have a custom recovery installed. In I9505 Development here on XDA there is a Google Play Edition ROM that can be installed on your device. Download it to your S4, wipe everything in recovery, then flash the ROM's flashable zip in recovery. I've used said ROM and it works quite well.

OK I have found the 5.0.1 ge ROM , but in there it says I must use latest recovery or whatever plus it recommended one different to mine, is it safe to install using my version of cwm or do I need to learn how to change it??

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TWRP is recommended as there are people who are still maintaining it, unlike Clockworkmod and Philz. While you probably can get the ROM installed using the version of Clockworkmod you have, learning how to change recoveries is useful.

OK thank you for all your help my friend, I will now find out how to do this, I'm sure there is a section on this somewhere, BTW I think you are right about my device being rooted, but I wanted to check and I followed a guide and used super su but apparently its not rooted so I guess something must've gone wrong. Bit scary if I try to change my recovery or my firmware and this causes a brick hmmmmm

It's virtually impossible to brick the S4, especially as the recovery is flashed through Odin.

Phew that's a relief. Thanks man.... Well I'm gonna just risk using cwm for now as I'm new to this........ Thanks a whole lot for your time I really mean that.

KlLLFRENZY said:
Phew that's a relief. Thanks man.... Well I'm gonna just risk using cwm for now as I'm new to this........ Thanks a whole lot for your time I really mean that.
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Use TWRP. CMW is outdated.

Lennyz1988 said:
Use TWRP. CMW is outdated.
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I want to, I really do but I'm struggling here. Before I wrote that last comment I tried to find a guide on this forum for swapping to twrp, but couldn't and didn't wanna bug this guy as he had helped enough. Anyway I went to the place he told me and have hit another wall anyway because I don't know how to use the firmware the relevant kernel or the git. My life is so busy and I'm getting about an hour on this subject a day and its gonna take forever lol
If you can help me on my way even a little its much appreciated, I would like to use twrp and the 5.0.1 ge plus the right kernel of course

KlLLFRENZY said:
I want to, I really do but I'm struggling here. Before I wrote that last comment I tried to find a guide on this forum for swapping to twrp, but couldn't and didn't wanna bug this guy as he had helped enough. Anyway I went to the place he told me and have hit another wall anyway because I don't know how to use the firmware the relevant kernel or the git. My life is so busy and I'm getting about an hour on this subject a day and its gonna take forever lol
If you can help me on my way even a little its much appreciated, I would like to use twrp and the 5.0.1 ge plus the right kernel of course
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Click to collapse
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxys4internationalqualcomm.html
Follow the Odin guide. It's excactly the same when you flashed CWM.

@Lennyz1988: The S4 was bought secondhand and already had CWM on it from the original owner.
@killfrenzy: Follow the guide Lenny mentioned, but don't worry about the second paragraph. Our device isn't one of those that restores the original recovery on boot.

ok will do, i just tried the app install method but as i suspected, it said root is required for this app and promptly exited so i shall do the odin method, i heard that some people remove root or it could be that it was done wrong. also after reading a few posts here and there i found out that someone had similar issues with their phone random re-booting and they had custom ge with the wrong kernel so it seems once im done my issues should be history if i learn how to install fw + kernel, after this twrp thing i will be one step closer for sure. i also know ppl slate lollipop but once im all done with this im sure i will have picked up enough terminology to install cfw's to my hearts content. hooray for forums and people like you, sounds like im kissin ass but its just gratitude

so using the twrp install guide i gotta install using the odin method i have now got 3.07 odin but this is the next step.........
Odin Install Method (No Root Required):
You will need to download and install Odin on your PC. Once you have Odin installed, download the proper .tar file for your device from the download link above. Power off your device. Turn on your device using the proper key combo to get into download mode and attach the device to your computer via a USB cable. Use the PDA tab or button to browse to and select the tar file that you downloaded and flash the device.
lololol nothins ever simple i see the list of tar files in the link above but no mention at all as to which is the proper .tar for my device, i guess they assume the guide is for people who have done it before. more research tomorrow maybe i gotta be up early ugh

Lennyz1988 said:
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxys4internationalqualcomm.html
Follow the Odin guide. It's excactly the same when you flashed CWM.
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Think you misunderstood, I have flashed nothing yet I got it like this. I'm completely green

Don't suppose anybody knows which is the tar file for my device?? S4gt-19505

OK now I get it, the list of tars in that section are all the same just newer builds of the same version. Seems obvious if you have done this before, but I wasn't to know that and cannot assume things. I'm also gonna guess and say Lenny thinks my s4 needs this particular version for an international, am I right?? Anyway it would've made a lot of sense but how does he know. I have no idea what this phone was I have never owned it new.

Different devices have different codes. For example, jfltexx is the I9505. A T-Mobile S4 would be jfltetmo, and so on.The link Lenny provided is for the I9505. Download the 2.8.6.0 version as its the latest.
As to how you were supposed to know, having never owned one, you weren't. There are tutorials in the General forum though that can help.