Database Users

Coming back to custom ROMs after a few years break

Hi,
I've been on Stock ROMs for some time. Last time I've tried a Custom ROM was a few years back on my new (back then) HTC Sensation.
Now I've changed my Galaxy S4 16GB to Galaxy S4 32GB, and (as it was a phone with different CSC than I wanted) changed CSC code to XEO. After that I've noticed that the KNOX flag has changed to 0x1, so I've read about it (a bit too late) and got to know what it means.
So after about 30min of having the new phone I was without warranty.
Now I'm looking at the Custom ROM possibilities.
Last time I've tried those, then every time that there was an update to those ROMs, one had to flash it manually and then do a wipe (this was very annoying, and because of that I've returned to Stock ROMs with OTA updates after which I didn't have to wipe the phone).
It would be if someone could tell me if that has changed ? (eg. Custom ROMs with something like OTA updates, that use a small update file and update only what is needed, or any other updates that don't involve phone wipes).
I'd like to get a Custom ROM that is practically the same as the Stock ROM, but has the bloatware removed (or an option to do so). The ROM should be rooted (thou I haven't used any apps that require root in a long time, so that is not a must have). But it must have a way of updating without phone wipe (I realize that I'll have to wipe when going from Stock to Custom ROM).
And is there a straight forward how to for going from official Stock I9505XXUDMH6 to a Custom ROM ?
Thank you in advance for any help.

Check the stickies, the development forum, the original development forum, and anywhere on XDA just do a search, far quicker than posting a new thread.

Samsung S5 - Lollipop - can i downgrade back to KitKat

Hi Guys,
I stupidly got excited and installed the official Lollipop (S5 on THREE UK network) update when i was notified.
BUT...
I want to go back to KitKat as i preferred it (i wont go into reasons why)
Is there a downgrade path for me, either officially or unofficially?> I dont think there is at the moment.
Thanks guys!

Yep, this forum is literally packed with instructions on how to do it, a simple search will bring up what you need

hi thanks, i thought with the new protected bootloader i didnt think it possible.
this is what i read:
Note: The G900FXXU1BNL9 Android 5.0 Lollipop update comes with a protected bootloader it is clearly emphasize that the “SE for Android Status – Enforcing” that might cause issues when you try to downgrade to the old software updates. This also applies if you are planning into rooting and installs any custom recovery and any unsigned firmware once you are on Android 5.0 Lollipop , so please be aware with that.

manikm303 said:
hi thanks, i thought with the new protected bootloader i didnt think it possible.
this is what i read:
Note: The G900FXXU1BNL9 Android 5.0 Lollipop update comes with a protected bootloader it is clearly emphasize that the “SE for Android Status – Enforcing” that might cause issues when you try to downgrade to the old software updates. This also applies if you are planning into rooting and installs any custom recovery and any unsigned firmware once you are on Android 5.0 Lollipop , so please be aware with that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yesterday I tried out AllianceROM 6.0 and a few hours ago I went back to 4.4.2 'cause I liked it better than Lollipop. Here's what I did :
1. Enter Download Mode and flash STOCK 4.4.2 KitKat firmware in Odin (I used 3.10.6) and let it start booting.
2. It won't boot, this is normal (I panicked when this happened though ).
3. Go to recovery and factory reset/wipe data your phone.
4. Now hit reboot in recovery and your phone will boot up again (YAY :sun.
5. OPTIONAL : If you've made a nandroid backup before going to 5.0 you can now flash TWRP and restore it over your STOCK 4.4.2 KitKat firmware.
Hope I helped Let me know if it works out for you!

SUCCESS!!!
All sorted.
The hardest part was finding a link to the rom. sammobile kept giving me a gateway 502 error.
im now back to kitkat, AND no THREE UK rubbish.

manikm303 said:
SUCCESS!!!
All sorted.
The hardest part was finding a link to the rom. sammobile kept giving me a gateway 502 error.
im now back to kitkat, AND no THREE UK rubbish.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol.....so which firmware did you flash? I'm with 3 as well......though for me, all the 3 c**p was frozen with TiBu as soon as I rooted (along with 100+ other 'system' apps too)......I don't want/need all that knox/Samsung/Google rubbish either.......lol
Sent from my rooted kn0x0 SM-G900F S5

I used a stock Samsung 4.4.2 btu mate...took me forever to find a good link though
Still got the Samsung rubbish on it though but I prefer an official rom to a 3rd party one.

Guide me Please
manikm303 said:
I used a stock Samsung 4.4.2 btu mate...took me forever to find a good link though
Still got the Samsung rubbish on it though but I prefer an official rom to a 3rd party one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okey so i want to downgrade mine s5 from Lolipop to Kitkat 4.4.2. But i wonder if i breaks my varanty and can you make like an min guide and add the links you used also please
Would be really helpful since i'm not sure on where to download the things required. And can i get the Stock samsung 4.4.2, whitout messing up anything, incase i turn my phone in for repairs some time and what not. (cause they can complain that you have touched up stuff in the programs ect )
i appriciate any help peace

answer
hey guys i just followed this tutorial to downgrade it was so easy took several minutes now im running kitkat again yaaay
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=glNRCuH4Yyw

Which first?

Its been a few years so i was needing a refreshing (& though simple question, i cant seem to find exact answer).
I have the sm-t337a tab 4. If i plan on rooting it but i also was looking at installing a ROM, which order do i need to (or which do you recommend) do them in???
Thank you for your assistance

gdownloads said:
Its been a few years so i was needing a refreshing (& though simple question, i cant seem to find exact answer).
I have the sm-t337a tab 4. If i plan on rooting it but i also was looking at installing a ROM, which order do i need to (or which do you recommend) do them in???
Thank you for your assistance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You always have to root first before you are able to install a custom rom. That said, to the best of my knowledge, there aren't any custom roms available for the SM-T337A. Unfortunately, AT&T and Verizon lock the bootloader on their devices now. This means that you can't have a custom kernel or a custom recovery. Since Cyanogenmod and similar roms based off of it require a custom kernel, you can't have any cyanogen-type roms. That said, a stock based rom (anything capable of running on the stock kernel) should work fine, but as I've said, to the best of my knowledge nobody has made any roms like that for this device yet. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.

thisisapoorusernamechoice said:
You always have to root first before you are able to install a custom rom. That said, to the best of my knowledge, there aren't any custom roms available for the SM-T337A. Unfortunately, AT&T and Verizon lock the bootloader on their devices now. This means that you can't have a custom kernel or a custom recovery. Since Cyanogenmod and similar roms based off of it require a custom kernel, you can't have any cyanogen-type roms. That said, a stock based rom (anything capable of running on the stock kernel) should work fine, but as I've said, to the best of my knowledge nobody has made any roms like that for this device yet. Sorry to be the bearer of bad news.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sucks. Guess I'll have to be satisfied with just rooting it and maybe a different stock rom, if any available.
I was just searching on here & I'm not sure what instructions are the ones I need for this tab. I saw where someone says they tried towelroot & 1 other but did not work, & other similar posts, then find several posts mentioning that they have rooted it, so I'm not sure what way DOES work to root it. (I also found on another site, which I don't know if Im allowed to post the external link, "Working Tutorial How To Update/Upgrade Samsung SM-T337A To Android 5.1 Lollipop!) Needless to say Im a little unsure of what method I need to root it. ANDROID VERSION: 4.4.2 BUILD: kot49h.t337aucu1ank2
Also Is there a alternative stock based rom (with tutorial) you might recommend ?

gdownloads said:
That sucks. Guess I'll have to be satisfied with just rooting it and maybe a different stock rom, if any available.
I was just searching on here & I'm not sure what instructions are the ones I need for this tab. I saw where someone says they tried towelroot & 1 other but did not work, & other similar posts, then find several posts mentioning that they have rooted it, so I'm not sure what way DOES work to root it. (I also found on another site, which I don't know if Im allowed to post the external link, "Working Tutorial How To Update/Upgrade Samsung SM-T337A To Android 5.1 Lollipop!) Needless to say Im a little unsure of what method I need to root it. ANDROID VERSION: 4.4.2 BUILD: kot49h.t337aucu1ank2
Also Is there a alternative stock based rom (with tutorial) you might recommend ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you can do is try towelroot. If it comes back as failed, then oh well, it doesn't mess anything up. Towelroot will only work for kernel dates before July 2014 I believe. There are NO custom ROMs, no recovery, no alternatives for this tablet. No developer interest, no carrier support, so no android version beyond 4.4.2. We have been abandoned by AT&T with no way of getting any updates ever again because they locked us out. So we are stuck with a worthless pile of crap tablet that gets more laggy by the day. No more carrier variants of any device for me ever again. International only.

rootng that works
pre4speed said:
All you can do is try towelroot. If it comes back as failed, then oh well, it doesn't mess anything up. Towelroot will only work for kernel dates before July 2014 I believe. There are NO custom ROMs, no recovery, no alternatives for this tablet. No developer interest, no carrier support, so no android version beyond 4.4.2. We have been abandoned by AT&T with no way of getting any updates ever again because they locked us out. So we are stuck with a worthless pile of crap tablet that gets more laggy by the day. No more carrier variants of any device for me ever again. International only.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kingroot works perfectly on the T337A tab4

Questions about installing custom rom and need rom suggestions.

Hey guys i want to install a custom rom for my t00j-d. I searched about unlocking bootloader and things like that but i couldnt find something useful. First off all i have latest stock rom (lolipop) and its not rooted so do i have to root my device first then unlock bootloader then flash rom? And which rom is good at the moment? My priorities are battery life > performance > visual.
thanks for reading and answers

Lambritsche said:
Hey guys i want to install a custom rom for my t00j-d. I searched about unlocking bootloader and things like that but i couldnt find something useful. First off all i have latest stock rom (lolipop) and its not rooted so do i have to root my device first then unlock bootloader then flash rom? And which rom is good at the moment? My priorities are battery life > performance > visual.
thanks for reading and answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can root zenfone without unlocking bootloader and if you wont flash rom backup your imei using terminal and then system using twrp or another recovery

Lambritsche said:
Hey guys i want to install a custom rom for my t00j-d. I searched about unlocking bootloader and things like that but i couldnt find something useful. First off all i have latest stock rom (lolipop) and its not rooted so do i have to root my device first then unlock bootloader then flash rom? And which rom is good at the moment? My priorities are battery life > performance > visual.
thanks for reading and answers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here, http://forum.xda-developers.com/zenfone-5/general/zenfone-6-custom-t3341140

rom and phone swap
zerodeus94 said:
here, http://forum.xda-developers.com/zenfone-5/general/zenfone-6-custom-t3341140
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Click to collapse
i have been looking around and can not find any info on what i want to do. so i am just going to ask and see if anyone can help. hope ive come to the right place.
about a year ago i purchased a blu studio 6.0 hd(d651u). it came stock with kk(4.2.2 i believe. can confirm if needed.) i pulled the stock firmware using droid tool. so i do have the original rom and scatter file. the lollipop update was available so i updated. afterwards i ran the updated rom through SuperRs rom kitchen, rooted, de-odexed, debloated... afterwards when i was theming the apks and was almost satisfied, i dropped the phone and it broke.. so i purchased another one. same make same model(d651u). only thing i see any different is that this new one came stock with the same lollipop rom that my old phone had updated to. so my question is this. can i use the stock rom and scatter file that i got from my original device to restore the device i have now in case anything goes wrong. im trying to find out if i can safely skip the whole rom pull step and jump right into getting my custom rom onto my NEW phone. i know i can use my old rom, i just wonder if i would be able to restore a brick with my original rom pull because they are the same device, just manufactured at different times. any feed back would be GREATLY appreciated. thank you

ANDjROID said:
i have been looking around and can not find any info on what i want to do. so i am just going to ask and see if anyone can help. hope ive come to the right place.
about a year ago i purchased a blu studio 6.0 hd(d651u). it came stock with kk(4.2.2 i believe. can confirm if needed.) i pulled the stock firmware using droid tool. so i do have the original rom and scatter file. the lollipop update was available so i updated. afterwards i ran the updated rom through SuperRs rom kitchen, rooted, de-odexed, debloated... afterwards when i was theming the apks and was almost satisfied, i dropped the phone and it broke.. so i purchased another one. same make same model(d651u). only thing i see any different is that this new one came stock with the same lollipop rom that my old phone had updated to. so my question is this. can i use the stock rom and scatter file that i got from my original device to restore the device i have now in case anything goes wrong. im trying to find out if i can safely skip the whole rom pull step and jump right into getting my custom rom onto my NEW phone. i know i can use my old rom, i just wonder if i would be able to restore a brick with my original rom pull because they are the same device, just manufactured at different times. any feed back would be GREATLY appreciated. thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, you should not use the backup from another phone to restore your new one. and you should post in the section for blu studioinstead of here, the info you get here might be inaccurate

HELP REQUIRED to choose a ROM for Galaxy S4 i9505 android 4.3 version~~

Hi guys, Newbie to forum and rooting here! I own a Galaxy S4 i9505 android version 4.3 and want it to upgrade to a higher, better and stable version. I've been doing a lot of research and found that the latest 6.0.1 gives issues with wifi on s4! I always wanted to root my phone but never did but since pokemon go doesn't run on 4.3 I'm glad that I'm forced to root it ! So, which is the best ROM and android version that I should upgrade my phone to that'll not show any bugs or issues! I don't care if the android version's not latest..I own only one phone! Just want to run pokemon go and exploit some features that rooting will provide! Thanks for help~

There aren't any ROMs that are 100% bug free. Even Samsung ROMs have bugs.
Also, the matter of "which ROM is better" is subjective.

GDReaper said:
There aren't any ROMs that are 100% bug free. Even Samsung ROMs have bugs.
Also, the matter of "which ROM is better" is subjective.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the reply! I'm aware that no ROM maybe 100% bug free but maybe there are some which have insignificant bugs?? and also perhaps the older ROMs..say the ones with android 5.0.x maybe so because of more updates? In that regard, I would really like if you would recommend one such ROM to your knowledge! Thanks!

phoenixs4 said:
Hey thanks for the reply! I'm aware that no ROM maybe 100% bug free but maybe there are some which have insignificant bugs?? and also perhaps the older ROMs..say the ones with android 5.0.x maybe so because of more updates? In that regard, I would really like if you would recommend one such ROM to your knowledge! Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Google Play Edition ROM has always been working well for me.

Roll ultra
Enviado desde mi GT-I9505 mediante Tapatalk

Me, ive come from many years of custom ROMs on my S2, and due to all the issues with CM13 which was the last ROM i ran on it, i retired the S2 the other day and got a cheap second hand S4, and i have to say after all the drama of custom CM13 on the S2, i am actually enjoying the stock 5.01 LP ROM on the S4. All ive done is run CF Auto Root and then run this debloat app on it Until i do enough research on what a good custom ROM to install, im just going to stick with the stock 5.0.1...
Stock 5.01 is available here at sammobile
It should be enough of an upgrade over 4.3, plus you should probably flash this at least once before going to a custom ROM anyways...for reasons i wont bore you with
You can try this first up as an alternate to sammobile.com (because they limit your speed):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-tab-s/general/tool-samfirm-samsung-firmware-t2988647
This backdoors a fast download from Sammobile...much faster
I just got it to finally work to download my ROM!
Or if you try the main sammobile.com website
If you choose to go this route, pick your country, and if you want an unbranded, no carrier bloat version, pick the one form your country with no carrier name after it in brackets, i.e. pick the one with just the 3 letter region code in brackets after it. Note: its about 1.4Gb to download, and unlike the old days sammobile will make it fricking painful to get without paying them...they throttle the download. Im on my 8th go trying to get my ROM, every time it fails you have to restart, so they soak up your data allowance the bastards, but theres nowhere else i know of to get my ROM
Or another alternate:
http://fw.updato.com/

Ok so I've decided to flash this ROM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...om-untouched-google-play-edition-5-1-t3198177
But I'm getting confused between the meanings of rooting and flashing ROM. Do I need to "root" my phone (I would use Super SU) before flashing it? Because I'm following this tutorial https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDlV3plfnVA
and his recovery screen looks different than mine. Apparently, he's using clockworkMod CWM but how do I do that? So, if I root my phone first then will my recover screen look similar to his? It's confusing! Please help!

Like i said id flash a stock ROM first before going custom....GPE still counts as a custom ROM
Be sure to read this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=67514801&postcount=1380 and more than just the front page of any ROM, this one has a few issues, i assume fixed.....
As for recovery, you should forget about Phliz (it can have issues with newer ROM's) and use TWRP instead (i used to hate TWRP, but CWM based recoveries seemingly arent being updated to fix issues lately)
I did a quick post about installing it (and fixing a potential niggle) here earlier: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=67769031&postcount=6