Confused over installing recoveries - AT&T Samsung Galaxy S 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshootin

I can't seem to find a straight answer to my question since most of the info for the S4 is 2 or 3 years old now.
So I have a completely stock ATT i337 running Android 5.0.1. I would like to install a custom ROM, so I understand I need to install CWM or TWRP first. So my question is this... Do I need to root my phone first before I can install either recovery? If so, what method do I need to follow for my version of Android?
I understand that with time there are improvements. Some stuff I've read makes it sound like there is a lot of automation in installing custom recoveries, and maybe I don't need to root first because they root for me.
Thanks.

lekmedm said:
I can't seem to find a straight answer to my question since most of the info for the S4 is 2 or 3 years old now.
So I have a completely stock ATT i337 running Android 5.0.1. I would like to install a custom ROM, so I understand I need to install CWM or TWRP first. So my question is this... Do I need to root my phone first before I can install either recovery? If so, what method do I need to follow for my version of Android?
I understand that with time there are improvements. Some stuff I've read makes it sound like there is a lot of automation in installing custom recoveries, and maybe I don't need to root first because they root for me.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you posted in the wrong forum.
Anyway, if your phone is SGH-i337 and you do not have an older bootloader (MDL/MDB) then you can not install CWM or TWRP since your bootloader is locked.
For the AT&T S4 you have very limited options.
You can find how to root, how to update information here.
You can find how to install custom rom on AT&T S4 here.

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] [QA] Been googling/searching... confusion on rooting AT&T i337 UCUFNI1

I'm not trying to be lazy. I've spent time searching for how to root my S4 i337, but for a newb like myself the process is extremely confusing since there seems to be so much different information out there, and not a lot about i337. From what I've discovered Towelroot no longer works as an option after I upgraded to 4.4.2 and I've tried other approaches which have failed as well. So without further ado
Is it possible to root a galaxy AT&T galaxy s4 i337 running 4.4.2 baseband I337UCUFNI1 ? If so, could someone share the links I should look at to accomplish this task?
Maybe I need to revert back to an earlier android release ? which I'm fine doing assuming something like this link should work: http://www.teamandroid.com/2014/03/30/update-att-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-android-442-kitkat-goldeneye-rom/2/
After I revert (assuming it's needed) could someone recommend the next steps(links/threads) to get me to either a custom rom or latest 4.4.2 stock build (I'd prefer a custom rom for fun, but i'm fine with whatever is easiest.)
I have Odin installed and understanding getting to download mode, but deciding which "link" to follow out there for instructions is not easy for a beginner so any recommended 'easiest' approaches for my device would be appreciated.
TIA
rickcr said:
I'm not trying to be lazy. I've spent time searching for how to root my S4 i337, but for a newb like myself the process is extremely confusing since there seems to be so much different information out there, and not a lot about i337. From what I've discovered Towelroot no longer works as an option after I upgraded to 4.4.2 and I've tried other approaches which have failed as well. So without further ado
Is it possible to root a galaxy AT&T galaxy s4 i337 running 4.4.2 baseband I337UCUFNI1 ? If so, could someone share the links I should look at to accomplish this task?
Maybe I need to revert back to an earlier android release ? which I'm fine doing assuming something like this link should work: http://www.teamandroid.com/2014/03/30/update-att-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-android-442-kitkat-goldeneye-rom/2/
After I revert (assuming it's needed) could someone recommend the next steps(links/threads) to get me to either a custom rom or latest 4.4.2 stock build (I'd prefer a custom rom for fun, but i'm fine with whatever is easiest.)
I have Odin installed and understanding getting to download mode, but deciding which "link" to follow out there for instructions is not easy for a beginner so any recommended 'easiest' approaches for my device would be appreciated.
TIA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Subscribe to All Thing AT&T. It has all the information needed, including how to root NI1.
root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...php?p=55537351
look there for instructions. it works . Flash the older kernal using odin, if it fails to flash the first time. Repeat. After u get it to flash. Then run towelroot. After u install towelroot. Flash the ni1 kernal. You will keep root. Thats how I did mine.

[Q] Question about ROM installation and Recovery methods

Hi so I recently got a SM-N900v and I want to install a ROM, Ive been reading from multiple places and they said that the Verizon Note 3 has a locked bootloader (Idk what that means) and that in order to flash roms you need SafeStrap instead of (CWM or TWRP). I also see other tutorials where they tell you to directly flash TWRP/CWM via Odin so I'm really skeptical since there seems to be contradictions and that's why i'm asking here for confirmation.
Also the roms that i have in mind are Eclipse Note 3 TW 2.2(http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2620723) or Cyanogen Mod 11 (https://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=hltevzw&type=nightly) .
In the Eclipse post it said the device required to be running NC4 unified firmware in order for installing the ROM.
These are the specs of my Verizon Note 3
http://i.imgur.com/23zKmWs.png
http://i.imgur.com/wscSV4o.png​
My device is rooted but I'm just confused whether SafeStrap is obligatory or not for flashing custom Roms. Also in some tutorials they mentioned that safe strap might brick your device or something like that. Sorry i'm not very knowledgeable and require assistance which would be extremely appreciated. Is CM 11 for Verizon Note 3 stable, I know its Nightly but does it have all the features like S-PEN etc.. Can my device flash these roms and if it can, which recovery firmware should I use safestrap or Cwm/TWRP?
Thanks

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

Help Root G900W8 Lollipop

Hello,
I really want to root my G900W8 Galaxy S5 which currently has Lollipop, all I really need is root I would like to keep the original Rom. I've been reading a lot on this forum but most options need you too install a new rom as I understand it. I really don't care about nox either as I'm out of the warranty any how. Can you please provide a quick guide or direct me to one that would be best.
Flash this with ODIN 3.10.6
http://download.chainfire.eu/406/CF-Root1/CF-Auto-Root-kltecan-kltevl-smg900w8.zip
So flashing that will I still be at Lollipop 5.0 or does this downgrade me to 4.4.2 I would prefer to stay with 5.0 if possible. Also do I still need to install Super SU and gaps?
Yes it will stay on LP
No it doesn't downgrade you to KK
No you don't need SuperSU, CF Auto Root installs that for you
Why would you need Gapps? You're not flashing a custom ROM
There are no more steps needed or I would have included them in the instructions on how to root your phone - wouldn't be much good if I missed steps out or flashed your phone to a completely different version of Android when you asked specifically how to root Lollipop...
But you know, if you took some time to read some of the thousands of threads with all this info in them, you'd know all this
Shouldn't be messing about with things before you've done some self-educating, or your next thread will be asking how to unbrick your S5
I was already well experienced with Android (Different device) when I got my S5, but I didn't start rooting or messing until I'd spent a few weeks reading a shed load of threads in the S5 forums, until I was 100% sure I knew what I was doing
Word of Advice: Go find the EFS partition backup thread before doing anything else
Thanks so much for the help

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