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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??
Deleted by user
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.
Requesting guidance before I brick my phone.
I currently have bootloader unlocked, twrp installed, and my nexus 6p rooted. I'm running 7.1.2. I've also changed a line in the (build.prop) provisions in order to tether free (since I am on at&t)
Basically, I'm wanting to install pure nexus. I have the custom rom file and the vendor image file.
Before I install from, I'm wondering if I need to unroot first? Also curious if how "shamu" will affect things since I'm on Angler.
Thanks!
Okay you need to stop everything you're doing and read this topic until you know what is what.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/guides-how-to-guides-beginners-t3206928/page577
First of all, you obviously wouldn't flash a Shamu package on Angler. That's a great way to brick your phone, permanently.
Read every single step in that guide above, even if you don't think it's pertinent to what you're trying to do. Read it a second, third, fourth, fifth time until you know the steps by heart. Until you know what's next.
Also, download the correct Angler zip file and DO NOT FLASH A SHAMU ZIP ON YOUR PHONE.
help
RoyJ said:
Okay you need to stop everything you're doing and read this topic until you know what is what.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-6p/general/guides-how-to-guides-beginners-t3206928/page577
First of all, you obviously wouldn't flash a Shamu package on Angler. That's a great way to brick your phone, permanently.
Read every single step in that guide above, even if you don't think it's pertinent to what you're trying to do. Read it a second, third, fourth, fifth time until you know the steps by heart. Until you know what's next.
Also, download the correct Angler zip file and DO NOT FLASH A SHAMU ZIP ON YOUR PHONE.
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Any help on flashing back to stock using TWRP? I unlocked the bootloader and rooted my device (never made a backup till after but still proved to be of no help as it wont work when trying to restore) lesson learned for sure. but i cant boot the device up however i still have access to twrp recovery how can i go back to stock so i can start from scratch?? :crying:
Filly2 said:
Any help on flashing back to stock using TWRP? I unlocked the bootloader and rooted my device (never made a backup till after but still proved to be of no help as it wont work when trying to restore) lesson learned for sure. but i cant boot the device up however i still have access to twrp recovery how can i go back to stock so i can start from scratch?? :crying:
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You can follow the original advice I posted above. Read that thread I linked. It's ALL covered there. No sense in me writing everything up here when all you need to do is click the link I posted and follow the return to stock sections. There's even one for maintaining your data. Read the thread. It covers literally everything.
..
RoyJ said:
You can follow the original advice I posted above. Read that thread I linked. It's ALL covered there. No sense in me writing everything up here when all you need to do is click the link I posted and follow the return to stock sections. There's even one for maintaining your data. Read the thread. It covers literally everything.
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Sorry I don't mean to bug man but I'm so lost. I'm trying to find what you are referring me to but I'm not finding the info I need I haven't been on here too often so this is like a pain in my rear so far. Plus I'm a very hands on kinda learner so I need some like handicapped help lol If you don't mind I don't want to pester anyone...
I was able to load pure Nexus. I didn't realize there was a pure nexus rom with Angler on it.
My main question was if I had to reverse the root. But I'm good to good now.
Rom loaded, vendor image loaded, and Google Apps loaded.
Tracfone version
I'm having no luck with Kingroot. It says no root available for device.
According to 'one-click-root' website, the device has no way of rooting it.
Is there any updated information?
.
device specifics:
model: SM-S920LZAATFN
android: 5.0.2
build: LRX22G.S920LUDU1APK2
hardware version: S920L.03
.
[edit: was hoping to change the title to reflect that this post is about the tracfone version]
TWRP recovery method?
TWRP recovery method?
I've read that a phone may possibly be able to be rooted by using odin to download a TWRP recovery, then booting into that new recovery using hardware keys, instead of rebooting normally. And this results in a rooted phone?
I think I have seen a TWRP that may work with this phone. Any help is appreciated. I'd like to be able to update this thread to include a step by step approach to this and other versions of the same model 920.
I'll continue to post updates as I discover more information.
DIY time : crash course in brain surgery
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)
friimynd said:
Ok, so I've read a bit of stuff in the forums on the SM-S920L, mostly about the StraightTalk variant, which apparently uses the same system rom, though I'm not so sure.
At any rate, rather than just throw carp at the phone and hope it sticks, I'm going to teach myself how to do it all myself, a-z, 1,2,3... etc., starting with making stock images of the various components, for recovery purposes. Perhaps the phone can be used as a TracFone again someday, though I have no desire to do so, having already bought another for cheaper that even works better, though not as fancy, just newer.
So, I'll leave it here for now and just update the primary with new information as I discover it, starting with the extraction of the stock images, hopefully without goofing up the phone, lol.
This is an unpopular phone, at least for hackers. But it will be a good tool for expanding my knowledge.
Any help appreciated, such as, 'Is this even necessary? There are files here here and here that will do it all'.
(lol, nope... so far I've discovered there is no root option, kingroot no work, etc. There seems to be no posts with information specifically regarding the TracFone 'variant' of this model. It suggests that i can use the StraightTalk files for it, which may work, but there are many questionable unanswered problems.)
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Click to collapse
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.
c3p0u812 said:
Definitely don't use kingroot.
Do you have a laptop or pc? If so I can help you out. I have the same phone. Mine is straight talk, but it's sm-s920l a tracefone just through straight talk.
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Click to collapse
Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.
Inuyashian said:
Ya I got the straight talk, I have been using king root but I totally bricked and wiped my phone on purpose because I wanted to start fresh and let it update. Having a problem though I used twrp and nuked all my ****, or so I thought. I'm trying to OTA update I'm currently on 5.0.2 and it's saying I have a system update and even after I checked everything to be deleted it still says error and one of my files is modified or some**** like that. I think it's like admin.prop so **** it. I do however want to go systemless root. What do you suggest is the best root and rom for our device?
To answer op question yes your phone is the same as ours. Mine even shows tracphone on boot.
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Click to collapse
Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:
c3p0u812 said:
Well for our phone there is only one custom ROM and it's LineageOS 13.0 https://forum.xda-developers.com/grand-prime/development/unofficial-cyanogenmod-13-0-galaxy-t3491494 It's android 6.0 and it can be rooted too. It's not being updated anymore for our device as far as I know. There is Lineage 14.* but not for our variant.
For systemless root you'll want to go with Magisk. https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 I had Lineage, and don't get me wrong it's worth checking out, but I downgraded back to stock and went with Magisk. You can even get Xposed throughMagisk.
If I was you, I would flash back to stock. You can go to this thread https://forum.xda-developers.com/apps/magisk/official-magisk-v7-universal-systemless-t3473445 and download the first two, Stock Boot and Stock Recovery. Make sure to unzip them because you need the md5 files they extract. I'd wipe everything again and then get into download mode. On your PC fire up Odin, I'm using version 3.10 http://odindownload.com/download/clean/Odin_3.10.0.zip Click BL use the stick boot md5 and then under ap use the stock recovery md5. When it reboots and you set it up do not turn reactivation lock on.
If you don't already have Magisk on your sd card get it on there and install through twrp. It will ask if you want to root. Might make a back up after. I always make backups and then transfer from sd to my pc. I can restore to like 6 different versions of my phone right now lol I'm no expert, I haven't been messing around with all this for long so I hope that all makes sense. :fingers-crossed:
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Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.
Inuyashian said:
Haha ya it does I just wish they didn't treat our phone like it has Ebola or some****. All kinds of **** for the other ones. I agree on the magisk because I really want to try that out. Alright thanks for all the helpful links I come to this site to find **** for ours and I end up looking at a bunch of cool stuff I can't have.
I'm waiting on the pixel 2 XL before I upgrade. We just missing out on too much stuff. I think magisk will keep me busy in the meantime though. Thanks again man I'm Soo add once I get here on all the stuff then I wonder well will this work or this work and by then just like awwww **** it.
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Click to collapse
Hey, I thought I'd let you know LineageOS 14.1 is available to us now. I can't find a specific thread on it, but you can download it from http://grandprime.ddns.net/jenkins/job/LOS_Builds/# Flash it with twrp. You will want to flash that and then flash open gapps [ARM - 7.1] and then whichever from here http://opengapps.org/ I did all that first, set it up rebooted and then installed Magisk.
It has Substratum pre-installed and it let's you theme it nicely. There is only an unofficial xposed version so far.
Anywho, thought I'd throw that out there.
thanks for the replies, gives me inspiration to keep on trying; the phone is pretty ho-hum with default stuff and the general blah blah of social media, etc.;
thanks for the tips, feel free to post more details as they come in
My Turn
I'm about to try and put 14.1 and Magisk on mine. Wish me luck!
downloading twrp recovery and rooting
in google search up twrp click on the first link then click on devices on the top right corner then search up your phone download the twrp.img.tar file
power off your phone and press volume down + home button + power button to boot into download mode
in odin select AP then select the twrp.img.tar you downloaded then press start
your phone will reboot then download the SuperSU zip file
then go to settings then go to find my mobile you have to get a samsung account then you will see reactivation lock option turn that off
then power off your phone then press volume up + home button + power button to reboot into twrp recovery
once booted tap the install option then select where you downloaded the supersu zip file swipe to flash it once done flashing you will see the reboot system option to reboot your phone
then your phone should be rooted!
Unfortunately all the TWRP flashable roms from GetOffMyLawn&!+¢#{$ are dead and I need the stock rom for the MetroPCS variant. Anyone know where I can find it?
I think I mostly got to where I needed to go with the stock factory roms without using TWRP. After attempting and failing to make a flashable rip with Android Kitchen, I read about and saw a video on RSD Lite here youtube.com/watch?v=njXQYn53SPc (sorry can't hyperlink since my post count) It basically just quickly shows what it should look like and how it should work IF it works once setup. But it was good enough. The images I had were giving me failing to flash gpt and bootloader errors. So I manually took those complete lines out of both the flashfile.xml and the Servicefile.xml. After that it flashed everything and rebooted. To my surprise I'm not bricked and back on stock. I had to go back to enable Device Carrier Unlocking through the metropcs app (oops). Now I have to probly unlock the bootloader and root again but this time I'll make that backup
But if anyone has the flashable zips, a new upload would be nice for others.
unrooty said:
I think I mostly got to where I needed to go with the stock factory roms without using TWRP. After attempting and failing to make a flashable rip with Android Kitchen, I read about and saw a video on RSD Lite here youtube.com/watch?v=njXQYn53SPc (sorry can't hyperlink since my post count) It basically just quickly shows what it should look like and how it should work IF it works once setup. But it was good enough. The images I had were giving me failing to flash gpt and bootloader errors. So I manually took those complete lines out of both the flashfile.xml and the Servicefile.xml. After that it flashed everything and rebooted. To my surprise I'm not bricked and back on stock. I had to go back to enable Device Carrier Unlocking through the metropcs app (oops). Now I have to probly unlock the bootloader and root again but this time I'll make that backup
But if anyone has the flashable zips, a new upload would be nice for others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Send me an untouched stock system.img, boot.img, and oem.img and I'll compile you a TWRP flashable ROM. If you're not sure how to dump partition images, the best way is to download an app called Partition Backup & Restore. It's a free app and was created by an XDA dev @wanam.
Hey, thanks for the offer. I'll do it. I have the img files that you need ripped and rared. Just been having some connection issues today while attempting to upload the file. I don't know how I should upload it so I'm going to use my google drive and share the link with you either here or by PM if I can't link it here due to the spam protection. Hopefully I'll have it to you within the next day if my connection becomes stable enough to upload.
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x65mPUAWWm1heQsDRpgm6QYnyyOIp8P5
Here you are MotoJunkie01, I decided to keep the extended name on the file to show exactly what Partition Backup and Restore spit out should there be something different that's needed.
unrooty said:
https://drive.google.com/open?id=1x65mPUAWWm1heQsDRpgm6QYnyyOIp8P5
Here you are MotoJunkie01, I decided to keep the extended name on the file to show exactly what Partition Backup and Restore spit out should there be something different that's needed.
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Click to collapse
I made one yesterday. Read my guide carefully. Have fun. https://forum.xda-developers.com/mo...-stock-rom-t3777830/post76234878#post76234878
Quite the write up there, thank you for it it's very informative. But to be fair flashing through RSDLite it working for me so I suppose I'll stick with it. It seems more straightforward afaik.
unrooty said:
Quite the write up there, thank you for it it's very informative. But to be fair flashing through RSDLite it working for me so I suppose I'll stick with it. It seems more straightforward afaik.
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Good choice. I, personally, don't see how that's a better option than just rsdlite. But to each his, or her, own. If you need no verity, magisk, and all the basics anyway, why not just flash the stock firmware. No risk involved.
unrooty said:
Quite the write up there, thank you for it it's very informative. But to be fair flashing through RSDLite it working for me so I suppose I'll stick with it. It seems more straightforward afaik.
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Click to collapse
Yep - seems a better choice. RSD Lite isn't the friendliness beast but it's not a bad ride once you understand the idiosyncrasies.
N00b w/ "new SGH-I337 that is running original kernel & 4.2.2 & needs to be updated
I am going to apologize from the start. I've read through a lot of threads here and have ended up more confused (and somewhat scared lol). I am a tad more skilled than average when it comes to PCs but I'm a complete mess when it comes to phones!
For various reasons, I like my old ATT Samsung S4 SGH-I337 but am hard on them and need to replace them about every 2 years (I usually wear out the power port among other things). I buy a replacement, copy over my apps, etc, maybe run a minor update and I'm good to go. This time, I bought a "new" open box S4 on Ebay for a great price but when I went to install all my apps, discovered that it was STILL (since it was "brand new") running Android 4.2.2 and the original kernel from the release in 2013! Ok, no big I thought, I will just run the ATT update and I will be good. Nope. Too far out of date and no one at ATT or Samsung is willing to help. I did learn that if I can get 4.4.4 on the phone, then I should be able to update it via ATT to 5.0.1 but I can't even find those files (or at the least any links to them that are still any good!)
Due to life issues, it is critical that I get this phone updated ASAP. Please, can someone spell out step by step in N00b-speak where I can get the needed files and how I update this phone to 5.0.1 or better? I'd really rather not root it if I can avoid it but will do what is needed. I'll buy you a beer (or reasonable beverage of your choice! )
Samsung Galaxy S4 (ATT) SGH_I337
Android 4.2.2
Baseband ver: I337UCUAMDL
Kernel ver: 3.4.0-453947
[email protected]#1
Sat April 27 17:06:05 KST 2013
SilkRoadDog said:
I am going to apologize from the start. I've read through a lot of threads here and have ended up more confused (and somewhat scared lol). I am a tad more skilled than average when it comes to PCs but I'm a complete mess when it comes to phones!
For various reasons, I like my old ATT Samsung S4 SGH-I337 but am hard on them and need to replace them about every 2 years (I usually wear out the power port among other things). I buy a replacement, copy over my apps, etc, maybe run a minor update and I'm good to go. This time, I bought a "new" open box S4 on Ebay for a great price but when I went to install all my apps, discovered that it was STILL (since it was "brand new") running Android 4.2.2 and the original kernel from the release in 2013! Ok, no big I thought, I will just run the ATT update and I will be good. Nope. Too far out of date and no one at ATT or Samsung is willing to help. I did learn that if I can get 4.4.4 on the phone, then I should be able to update it via ATT to 5.0.1 but I can't even find those files (or at the least any links to them that are still any good!)
Due to life issues, it is critical that I get this phone updated ASAP. Please, can someone spell out step by step in N00b-speak where I can get the needed files and how I update this phone to 5.0.1 or better? I'd really rather not root it if I can avoid it but will do what is needed. I'll buy you a beer (or reasonable beverage of your choice! )
Samsung Galaxy S4 (ATT) SGH_I337
Android 4.2.2
Baseband ver: I337UCUAMDL
Kernel ver: 3.4.0-453947
[email protected]#1
Sat April 27 17:06:05 KST 2013
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Click to collapse
I too was lucky enough to snag a S4 off ebay with the original kernel still on it. So with that said....do NOT update your phone! You're on the very special Android 4.2.2 jelly bean MDL bootloader! If you update, you will lose the ability to boot AOSP ROMs and install a custom recovery like TWRP.
AOSP ROMs can take you past Android 5.0.x lollipop and give you Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat. You can also boot custom touchwiz ROMs that will take you to Android 5.0.x lollipop. Use the towel root app to root the phone and then freeze any OTA with the titanium backup app. You can also benefit from my guide here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122
StoneyJSG said:
I too was lucky enough to snag a S4 off ebay with the original kernel still on it. So with that said....do NOT update your phone! You're on the very special Android 4.2.2 jelly bean MDL bootloader! If you update, you will lose the ability to boot AOSP ROMs and install a custom recovery like TWRP.
AOSP ROMs can take you past Android 5.0.x lollipop and give you Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat. You can also boot custom touchwiz ROMs that will take you to Android 5.0.x lollipop. Use the towel root app to root the phone and then freeze any OTA with the titanium backup app. You can also benefit from my guide here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122
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Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. So I root it, then where do I go from there? How do I know what ROM is what and which one will give me at the least what I had on the old phone (less bloatware would be nice but right now I am so up a creek that I would be ok with stock)? Also, do you have good links to the tools you recommend? One issue I have been having searching here is that the 3-4-year-old posts here have sketchy or dead links.
SilkRoadDog said:
Thank you for your reply. So I root it, then where do I go from there? How do I know what ROM is what and which one will give me at the least what I had on the old phone (less bloatware would be nice but right now I am so up a creek that I would be ok with stock)? Also, do you have good links to the tools you recommend? One issue I have been having searching here is that the 3-4-year-old posts here have sketchy or dead links.
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Click to collapse
No problem, I always try to help when possible. After rooting you can follow my guide to get Loki doki installed. Then you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod. My guide gets you clock work mod recovery installed but it's an old version. I use it though and it works fine for me. If you want TWRP recovery, you will have to search the web on how to install it with loki doki.
After a custom recovery is installed you can choose to boot touchwiz based ROMs or AOSP based ROMs like cyanogen mod. Custom touchwiz ROMs will look just like stock only modified (deodex, debloated, etc.) and AOSP ROMs will look like bone stock Android only with added features.
You can find AOSP ROMs in the original Android development forum here in the s4 forums. You can find touchwiz ROMs in Android development which is right under original Android development forum. Sorry, but I don't have any links to tools handy except for the link to my guide which I posted above in my last post. I use golden eye ROM on my s4 which is a stock based touchwiz ROM on Android 5.0 lollipop.
When booting ROMs, be sure that they do not have a bootloader update or else it'll override everything and will patch the loki doki exploit and lock down everything for good.
StoneyJSG said:
No problem, I always try to help when possible. After rooting you can follow my guide to get Loki doki installed. Then you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod. My guide gets you clock work mod recovery installed but it's an old version. I use it though and it works fine for me. If you want TWRP recovery, you will have to search the web on how to install it with loki doki.
After a custom recovery is installed you can choose to boot touchwiz based ROMs or AOSP based ROMs like cyanogen mod. Custom touchwiz ROMs will look just like stock only modified (deodex, debloated, etc.) and AOSP ROMs will look like bone stock Android only with added features.
You can find AOSP ROMs in the original Android development forum here in the s4 forums. You can find touchwiz ROMs in Android development which is right under original Android development forum. Sorry, but I don't have any links to tools handy except for the link to my guide which I posted above in my last post. I use golden eye ROM on my s4 which is a stock based touchwiz ROM on Android 5.0 lollipop.
When booting ROMs, be sure that they do not have a bootloader update or else it'll override everything and will patch the loki doki exploit and lock down everything for good.
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Click to collapse
Thank you so much for the reply. While I am very grateful, with all due respect, I understood only about half of it. Here is the deal. I'm an older guy N00b with chronic pain issues under an extreme amount of stress, and my cognitive abilities are not what they should be. There was a step by step guide posted back in 2015 that is what I need but most of the links are bad or sketchy. Like I said above, I really need something along the lines of "go here and here to get this software and put it in "X" place. Then press these keys and do "Y", then press those keys and do "Z". I'm really sorry to be so difficult but I am trying my best to get it.
SilkRoadDog said:
Thank you so much for the reply. While I am very grateful, with all due respect, I understood only about half of it. Here is the deal. I'm an older guy N00b with chronic pain issues under an extreme amount of stress, and my cognitive abilities are not what they should be. There was a step by step guide posted back in 2015 that is what I need but most of the links are bad or sketchy. Like I said above, I really need something along the lines of "go here and here to get this software and put it in "X" place. Then press these keys and do "Y", then press those keys and do "Z". I'm really sorry to be so difficult but I am trying my best to get it.
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Click to collapse
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
StoneyJSG said:
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your instructions say " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you." Do I do that before "loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery."? If so, where is a good source for them? If not, when do I do I install them?
".
StoneyJSG said:
I gotcha, no problem. Okay so what's the status of your phone now? Rooted? Not rooted? To root, goto https://towelroot.com on your phone and click the big red thing in the middle of the page. Make sure you have a Wi-Fi or data connection to the internet, as this will root your phone. Then goto https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...tt-or-verizon-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337sch-i545/amp/ to get loki doki installed and clockwork mod recovery. You can also install TWRP recovery instead of clockwork mod recovery, I THINK this is the link: https://galaxys4root.com/galaxy-s4-...rp-on-rooted-galaxy-s4-using-goo-manager/amp/
Galaxys4root.com is a reputable site ran by Mr. HIGH ON ANDROID himself, Xedomax aka Max Lee. The tools you need should be on his site for download and the links shouldn't be dead. He also has a YouTube channel with videos on how to do different things with your phone. My guide I wrote that I linked before, has step by step instructions on how to root and install a custom recovery and how to boot custom ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, forget anything I typed here in the last hour lol. Somehow there were two locals and I was in the wrong one. So far so good. So back to the other question above. " " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you."" I still need to do that, right? if so, where do I find those apps?
Thank you so much.
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, It's not rooted yet so I will start down the path laid out. What do you recommend as a source for Touchwiz (wth is that anyway? lol) ROMs? I don't know enough about Android 6.0.x marshmallow or 7.0.x nougat to make the call there but I do want to be able to access the Google apps and play store as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Touchwiz is the "skin" user interface that Samsung puts on top of Android. It is the stock SAMSUNG rom. Just Google touchwiz then Google stock Android, you'll see a difference. I like touchwiz so I am running a custom ROM called "Golden eye". You can download it from the Android development forum here in the S4 section. Other people like stock Android. The magic of being on the MDL bootloader is that you can boot touchwiz and bone stock Android ROMs. Most custom ROMs both stock Android and touchwiz based will let you access Google apps and the play store.
---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------
SilkRoadDog said:
Ok, forget anything I typed here in the last hour lol. Somehow there were two locals and I was in the wrong one. So far so good. So back to the other question above. " " Next, you're going to want to freeze the OTA update so the phone won't update off the MDL bootloader (after installing SuperSU of course). You can do this via the Titanium Backup app or the MyBackup Root app (now called just MyBackup I think).
Let's recap...you will need a copy of the towel root app, then SuperSU, then TB or MyBackup Root app. SuperSU will kill the evil KNOX for you."" I still need to do that, right? if so, where do I find those apps?
Thank you so much.
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Click to collapse
You can get all those app except towel root on the play store. Once installed you can use ES file explorer to back them up to apk files then use the my files app that's on ya phone to move them to your SD card for use with your new ROM or keep them where they are since my guide tells you how to keep your data in tact...well for touch wiz ROMs anyway.
StoneyJSG said:
Touchwiz is the "skin" user interface that Samsung puts on top of Android. It is the stock SAMSUNG rom. Just Google touchwiz then Google stock Android, you'll see a difference. I like touchwiz so I am running a custom ROM called "Golden eye". You can download it from the Android development forum here in the S4 section. Other people like stock Android. The magic of being on the MDL bootloader is that you can boot touchwiz and bone stock Android ROMs. Most custom ROMs both stock Android and touchwiz based will let you access Google apps and the play store.
---------- Post added at 10:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 PM ----------
You can get all those app except towel root on the play store. Once installed you can use ES file explorer to back them up to apk files then use the my files app that's on ya phone to move them to your SD card for use with your new ROM or keep them where they are since my guide tells you how to keep your data in tact...well for touch wiz ROMs anyway.
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Click to collapse
Since this is a "new" phone and I have nothing to back up yet, do I need to run a backup or can I follow your guide from that point, clean things up and install the ROM of choice?
SilkRoadDog said:
Since this is a "new" phone and I have nothing to back up yet, do I need to run a backup or can I follow your guide from that point, clean things up and install the ROM of choice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's always good to make a backup in case anything goes wrong with your phone down the road you can get back to where you started without having to flash the MDL stock Rom in ODIN by connecting your phone to your computer. You should though keep a copy of ODIN and the MDL bootloader .tar ODIN file. However, it's entirely optional to make a back up so you could just follow the guide from that point and clean up for a ROM install if you don't want to make a backup.
You can also boot a ROM and then make a backup after you have everything set up. You can back up the stock Rom or any ROM you boot/install. That's the magic of having a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod.
StoneyJSG said:
It's always good to make a backup in case anything goes wrong with your phone down the road you can get back to where you started without having to flash the MDL stock Rom in ODIN by connecting your phone to your computer. You should though keep a copy of ODIN and the MDL bootloader .tar ODIN file. However, it's entirely optional to make a back up so you could just follow the guide from that point and clean up for a ROM install if you don't want to make a backup.
You can also boot a ROM and then make a backup after you have everything set up. You can back up the stock Rom or any ROM you boot/install. That's the magic of having a custom recovery like TWRP or clock work mod.
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Click to collapse
Unfortunately, since I already started the install before seeing this, I have no idea what I backed up or where it is. :crying:
First off, I want to thank you so much for the help. I owe you and would like to buy you a beer or the like. I have my phone back now! There were issues with the Golden Eye install (it froze at the Samsung logo for over an hour) and I had to wipe everything and start over then I was able to get it up and running. Is this the right one? https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
Quick question: Do you know if that ROM supports an external SD card larger than 32gig?
I am having some issues and so far am not thrilled with this ROM and am wondering if it's the right one or if I screwed up. It hasn't been worked on since 2015 and the dev is hasn't been responsive in years. On my phone, it's really buggy. It boots slow, apps hang when loading, a few don't work right, the screen can flash or freeze and TouchWiz keeps crashing like it was doing at the end on my old phone's life. Any ideas as to why?
SilkRoadDog said:
Unfortunately, since I already started the install before seeing this, I have no idea what I backed up or where it is. :crying:
First off, I want to thank you so much for the help. I owe you and would like to buy you a beer or the like. I have my phone back now! There were issues with the Golden Eye install (it froze at the Samsung logo for over an hour) and I had to wipe everything and start over then I was able to get it up and running. Is this the right one? https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2313469
Quick question: Do you know if that ROM supports an external SD card larger than 32gig?
I am having some issues and so far am not thrilled with this ROM and am wondering if it's the right one or if I screwed up. It hasn't been worked on since 2015 and the dev is hasn't been responsive in years. On my phone, it's really buggy. It boots slow, apps hang when loading, a few don't work right, the screen can flash or freeze and TouchWiz keeps crashing like it was doing at the end on my old phone's life. Any ideas as to why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you made a nandroid backup with TWRP recovery or clockwork mod recovery, then the backup file will be on your phone SD card or internal memory. Use the my files app to find it. It should be under a folder called TWRP or clockwork mod.
Hey no problem man, I know how it is to goto a forum and have 87,000 people view your post yet nothing is said. Yes that link is the correct link to golden eye ROM. When booting a ROM for the first time it will get stuck at the Samsung logo for awhile, this is normal but it shouldn't be more than 20 minutes. I think the S4 can handle SD cards up to 128GB, it might only be 64GB though.
Very odd golden eye ROM is giving you issues, I have only had one problem with it and that was the text message app acting up every so often. When you booted golden eye did you use the Aroma installer so it just asks you questions and you pick what you want? If not wipe and start over using aroma, it's built into the ROM. Also be sure to tell Aroma you want to use the "imperium kernel". That's the kernel I am using. Golden eye ROM doesn't have a bootloader update in it, so you'll stay on MDL and not have to worry about your phone patching the loki exploit.
I think you can also use the hybrid max kernel, but I don't think it's in the Aroma installer so if you want it you will have to download it from the forums here and flash it separately.
Another thing you can try is just "nuking your phone" as explained in my guide that wipes everything and gives you a nice clean install. The only reason I included the "keep your data" method in my guide is because I just stumbled upon it by doing it on my phone.
If all else fails and as a last ditch effort, you could send the phone to me and I will see if I can get it up and running with golden eye ROM, then send it back. No guarantees though as I'm no developer or anything, just a guy that knows the basics of Android ROMs and root.
Final report. It turns out the problems I've been having were related to the SU Super App. There have been complaints about the recent version. I thought that it was a corrupt install of Golden Eye so got a clean DL from another mirror and was getting ready to start all over. This time I was going to follow the dev's install instructions step by step instead of yours and his. However, I couldn't install TWRP as he instructed. It hung at 100% and never completed. I thought that maybe Super SU was the issue there so I uninstalled it and all of my other problems went away! So happy. Thank you for everything. I do owe you a drink!
SilkRoadDog said:
Final report. It turns out the problems I've been having were related to the SU Super App. There have been complaints about the recent version. I thought that it was a corrupt install of Golden Eye so got a clean DL from another mirror and was getting ready to start all over. This time I was going to follow the dev's install instructions step by step instead of yours and his. However, I couldn't install TWRP as he instructed. It hung at 100% and never completed. I thought that maybe Super SU was the issue there so I uninstalled it and all of my other problems went away! So happy. Thank you for everything. I do owe you a drink!
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Click to collapse
Hey glad it finally worked out for you. You will need superSU though, try a different version of it and that might fix the issue you're having with the latest version. That is unless you have the kingroot super user app, then you can use that but it's not as good as superSU. I had problems with it authorizing my root apps so I got rid of it and installed superSU. No problem glad to help and no thanks needed but if you really wanna buy me a beer go for it lol.