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[Q] i337 - ATT - bootloader

Hi trying to understand whether i can install custom ROM or not. I have i337ucufni1 baseband and according to terminal emulator i have the same bootloader (NI1)? How do I know if this is a locked bootloader or not so I can Root/Install custom ROM?/
Please advise,

Locked Bootloader
hol64 said:
Hi trying to understand whether i can install custom ROM or not. I have i337ucufni1 baseband and according to terminal emulator i have the same bootloader (NI1)? How do I know if this is a locked bootloader or not so I can Root/Install custom ROM?/
Please advise,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is locked. But with safestrap it can be unlocked and rooted with Towelroot. A custom rom can be tricky as it must you Touchwiz same as stock firmware. Maybe someone else can give you more details.

Just to add on to TailGunner. They are all locked but the early bootloaders, of which you are not, can use an exploit called loki-doki to bypass Sammy's security checks.
Start here--
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/summary-rooting-roming-i337-t2872013
You will need SafeStrap, no custom recoveries, kernels etc.
Read carefully so as not to brick anything.
Oh, BTW MODS will move this to Q&A--
Good Luck--:good:

All you need to know http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

*HELP* Towelroot Method: Rooting AT&T Galaxy S5

Hi, I need some help with the towelroot method for rooting a AT&T Galaxy S5. I'm currently on Android Version 5.0. When I ran the v3 Towelroot I clicked on "make it rain" and then it said "Device not supported". I tried using the modstrings but they didn't work either and kept saying the same thing. I'm new to the whole rooting thing, I just need some help from experienced on how to fix this. Thanks for the help.

Towelroot does not work on 5.0 Lollipop, only 4.4.2
The ATT version of the GS5 has a locked & encrypted bootloader, so rooting is not possible with lollipop at this time. I'm not even sure if you can install safestrap on the ATT GS5 running 5.0.
visit the ATT GS5 development forum to get the latest info on your option.

G900V from 4.4.4 to most current version with root?

Looked thru the other threads, and didnt see anything that pertained directly perhaps someone can point me in the right direction.
Have my stock S5 from verizon, on 4.4.4 NK2 firmware. Looking to update to whatever is the most current stock firmware with root. I'm coming to this from years of rooting Sprint devices, this is my first Verizon and I've been putting it off forever. Been getting the nag screen everyday now for a software update and I figured it was the time to update this and get myself root.
Thanks in advance for any help in where to look. Please forgive me in advance if this is a duplicate, I searched...I really did, but since its all new to me I wanted to ask.

Looks like the process is to flash 4.4.2, root, check if bootloader can be unlocked, and then proceed 2 different ways if it can be dev bootloader unlocked. If it can, unlock bootloader, flash twrp, and then flash whatever rom you want. If you can't unlock the bootloader, folow the guides to upgrade keeping root with safestrap and use roms that are TW for locked bootloaders. Someone correct me if I'm wrong. I just got a 4.4.4 g900v myself in a trade and I'm figuring out how to proceed as well.
Ok, slight difference. You can root & check the bootloader from 4.4.4...
Root here (Using NCG stock kernel...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver.../safely-upgrade-root-4-4-4-nha-volte-t2879348
If you're having trouble finding the NI2 kernel like I did it's here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2784880
Then use the method bootloader unlock from method 3 here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/ver...t/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909
If you can unlock your bootloader (I could), then flash the bootloader of choice from that link above to correspond to the rom you want. I'll be trying out Phoenix with pd4 (installed from above link) from here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development/port-phoenix-rom-v12-0-t3400292

Updating to Marshmallow on OF1

Been off this thread for awhile (you know how life gets in the way) and was wondering if there are any meaningful upgrades to an S4 with 1545VRUGOF1 rooted via Flashfire. with stock.
C

If you want marshmallow, then custom ROMs are the only way to get it.

Which s4 do you have? Isn't flash fire for the i337?

audit13 said:
Which s4 do you have? Isn't flash fire for the i337?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SCH-1545
Android 5.0.1
I545VRUGOF1
At the time, Flashfire was the only path to root

Look here for a possible answer: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon

Any guidance? I have the VRUGOF1 Bootloader and consequently was only able to root with Flashfire. Not sure if there has been any development to allow Marshmallow to be put on this device

wedmiston said:
Any guidance? I have the VRUGOF1 Bootloader and consequently was only able to root with Flashfire. Not sure if there has been any development to allow Marshmallow to be put on this device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, there are ROMs for that device. But you can only flash with a custom recovery so you'll have to find one.

Look in the Verizon forum. This forum is for the international version of the s4.

Pwnycorn said:
Yes, there are ROMs for that device. But you can only flash with a custom recovery so you'll have to find one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I'm not being clear, but I was uder the impression if you have the OF1 Build you can only root with Flashfire, and, you cannot install CWM or TWRP as it will brick your device. I am not looking to add another ROM, I am fine with stock. My goal is to see if there is a way to go from Lollipop to Marshmallow safely given my specific device parameters

wedmiston said:
Maybe I'm not being clear, but I was uder the impression if you have the OF1 Build you can only root with Flashfire, and, you cannot install CWM or TWRP as it will brick your device. I am not looking to add another ROM, I am fine with stock. My goal is to see if there is a way to go from Lollipop to Marshmallow safely given my specific device parameters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can't install any custom recovery, then there isn't any way you can.
There is no official TouchWiz Marshmallow ROM for the S4, as such, the only way to get marshmallow is through a custom ROM.
A custom ROM can only be flashed via custom recovery.
Ergo, if you can't flash a custom recovery, there is no way to get marshmallow.

The Verizon OF1 bootloader is locked and not exploitable. Only the MDK bootloader had that luxury. You also cannot downgrade to it. If you want to flash a ROM other that stock head to the Verizon Galaxy S4 development forum and read up on SafeStrap and ROMs that can be installed with it. A custom recovery such as TWRP is not able to be installed on your device. Because of that ROMs such as CM, JDC custom ROMs, etc. are out of reach for you.

Pwnycorn said:
If you can't install any custom recovery, then there isn't any way you can.
There is no official TouchWiz Marshmallow ROM for the S4, as such, the only way to get marshmallow is through a custom ROM.
A custom ROM can only be flashed via custom recovery.
Ergo, if you can't flash a custom recovery, there is no way to get marshmallow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
So to summarize, since I am on the OF1 build and could only root via Flashfire, the bootloader remains locked...consequently I still cannot flash TWRP or CWM, and as you put it, out of luck to get Marshmallow.
However, has anyone successfully used Flashfire and Xposed? I saw it on another thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/406o9w/verizon_galaxy_s4_unlocked_bootlaoder/
but there was no definitive conclusion that it was successful. Anyone have any direct experience with this? Since Safestrap and Flashfire are both custom recoveries installed alongside of your locked bootloader, do either work to get to Marshmallow?

wedmiston said:
Thanks
So to summarize, since I am on the OF1 build and could only root via Flashfire, the bootloader remains locked...consequently I still cannot flash TWRP or CWM, and as you put it, out of luck to get Marshmallow.
However, has anyone successfully used Flashfire and Xposed? I saw it on another thread: https://www.reddit.com/r/AndroidQuestions/comments/406o9w/verizon_galaxy_s4_unlocked_bootlaoder/
but there was no definitive conclusion that it was successful. Anyone have any direct experience with this? Since Safestrap and Flashfire are both custom recoveries installed alongside of your locked bootloader, do either work to get to Marshmallow?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are a little confused. SafeStrap is not a custom recovery so to speak, TWRP is. SafeStrap allows the installation of some mods, etc. on devices with a locked BL. A quick look in the Verizon S4 Android Development forum does not show a MM build that can be installed via SS, only LP builds.
The issue with a locked BL and SS is you cannot install a different kernel which limited what could be installed.

I saw a set of OF1 instructions out on Stang5litre's OP for his ROM. Has this been validated as a stable rom for those of us on OF1?

Using an S4 as emergency phone, and I need slight guidance for rooting & recovery

Hello
My LG V10 came across the famous bootloop issue, and I shipped it to LG. In the meantime, I am using an old S4 that was saved for emergencies like this one. It is running 4.4.4, I337UCUFNJ4, and I rooted it with Kingoroot.
I understand that it should OTA to 5.1 in pronably a day or 2 if I check for a software update; it sat turned off since 2014, so it did not receive anything.
1. Do I OTA and reroot?
2. Can I manually jump to 5.1?
Ultimately, I would like to install TWRP and the Blissrom or some other ROM, but I don't want to take an OTA that may screw me up for later. I read that there's a loki thing that will prevent future installations of recovery or something like that. I realize that I will be using a short time (2-3 weeks), but I would like to leave it rooted and with a good ROM.
Thank you

The bootloader is locked so that means TWRP cannot be flashed to the phone and the phone will only run custom ROMs based off a stock Samsung ROM.
OTA updates will not work if the phone is rooted.

audit13 said:
The bootloader is locked so that means TWRP cannot be flashed to the phone and the phone will only run custom ROMs based off a stock Samsung ROM.
OTA updates will not work if the phone is rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm confused or perhaps you are misinformed. I have seen a lot of ROMs for this device including Blissrom and many others. All od them get flashed through twrp or Safeway or aome name like that.

You mean safestrap?
Maybe you are thinking of the non-AT&T models of the s4 that work with custom ROMs such as Lineage and Validus. Only the AT&T version of the s4 has a locked bootloader, starting with Android 4.3 and up.
There has never been an sgh-i337 s4 with a locked bootloader than can run TWRP. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a note 3 with a locked bootloader.

audit13 said:
You mean safestrap?
Maybe you are thinking of the non-AT&T models of the s4 that work with custom ROMs such as Lineage and Validus. Only the AT&T version of the s4 has a locked bootloader, starting with Android 4.3 and up.
There has never been an sgh-i337 s4 with a locked bootloader than can run TWRP. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a note 3 with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But there's a forum dedicated to AT&T development full of roms here on xda.

Yes, there is a full section but you need to look at the ROM requirements. Some of these ROMs were developed before AT&T pushed out an OTA update that locked the bootloader. Other ROMs are made for the non-AT&T s4 such as the sgh-i337m and gt-i9505.
You will not see any ROM that is not based off a stock Samsung ROM that can be installed onto an AT&T s4 that has a locked bootloader. Also, you will not see any version of TWRP/CWM/Philz that can be installed onto an AT&T s4 that has a locked bootloader. Same goes for the AT&T sm-n900a.
I understand your skepticism and appreciate your posts as we are all here to learn from each other.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785166
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/ez-unlock-bricked-phone-galaxy-att-s4-t3703235
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/help-installed-chainfire3d-phone-doesnt-t3700830
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/help/samsung-galaxy-s4-sgh-i337-ok2-locked-t3458353

Thanks for the clarification. So how do I know if my bootloader is locked? If I took that ota update that messed things up?

The bootloader becomes locked when the phone is updated to Android 4.3 or newer. I think it needs to be on the MDL bootloader to be unlocked. Anything beginning with an "N" or "O" means that the bootloader is locked.

Thanks audit. And I assume that there's no way to go backwards to a pre-4.3 rom and unlock that bootloader.
So. I'm on 4.44 rooted. Do i remove root and take any ota and reroot? I guess that I'll settle for going as high as possible with the stock rom but rooted with the ability to disable some of the bloatware.
How can I proceed?
In those links that you mentioned, it states that we can flash debloated TouchWiz roms that might be better than stock. Is that right? So can I do that?

You will need to install safestrap to flash a custom ROM. The debloated ROMs must be based off a ROM that is designed for the AT&T s4.
I recommend reading through this thread: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

Audit... I odined back to nb1, rooted, and used flashify to get to rooted stock oc3.
How can I get to ok3? And should I leave ota services frozen so as to not ruin and loose root?

OTA will not work with a rooted phone.
Maybe this will help: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=56453108&postcount=2
I don't have an sgh-i337 so I can't tell you how to get back to a completely stock ROM to get OTA updates. I have the sgh-i337m which is the Canadian version of the s4 without a locked bootloader.

I wrote a guide and FAQ revolving around the MDL bootloader here (if anyone cares to read it):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-att/general/how-to-one-guide-to-mdl-bootloader-t3584122