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I was attempting to work through applying the .218 update to my droid 4. It was giving me a system validation error while when it was running in recovery. I found a thread that stated I needed to replace the apks and odex's as well as the build.prop. I didn't read it carefully enough as it said to replace *THE* problem ones. My validation error was on the build.prop file, I think.
In any case, I was using root explorer to copy *ALL* the files from a base zip file's app folder into the /system/app folder. Things were going along fine, until the phone app forced closed, then the phone rebooted.
Now I'm boot looping.
What can I do? I don't have any safe straps.
Can't access safestrap? Stock recovery? Adb services?
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
The Magician Type 0 said:
Can't access safestrap? Stock recovery? Adb services?
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the reply...
I don't have safestrap installed on the device, and I've never used it. I don't think that's an option, unless you have something up your sleeve there
As for Stock recovery, I'd love to give it a try, but I don't know how that would work. I can't get to ADB because I can't boot the phone.
I *CAN* get into the bootloader. From there, I can get into recovery, AP Fastboot, BP SBF Flash BP boot... and others.
So, I'm hoping there's some kind of way to push to the device from one of the boot loader options. I've had a Droid 1, and a number of other android devices, but I've never gotten this far into a hole before.
again... thanks for whatever you got
It doesn't look good my friend, not without a SBF to flash. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to try flashing the update again and cross your fingers that you got things in place before the bootloop. However I'm 99.9% sure that won't work. If I find anything else I'll let you now, but at this point you might be a sitting duck.
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
The Magician Type 0 said:
It doesn't look good my friend, not without a SBF to flash. The only thing I can think of off the top of my head would be to try flashing the update again and cross your fingers that you got things in place before the bootloop. However I'm 99.9% sure that won't work. If I find anything else I'll let you now, but at this point you might be a sitting duck.
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the update on the SD Card, and nope, flashing it results in the same system validation error, and a bootloop.
thanks. Do you think that flashing the RAZR sbf's would get me a booting device? I only got the thing 14 days ago. Maybe I can exchange it
jbeazell said:
I have the update on the SD Card, and nope, flashing it results in the same system validation error, and a bootloop.
thanks. Do you think that flashing the RAZR sbf's would get me a booting device? I only got the thing 14 days ago. Maybe I can exchange it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're still in the 14 day return window I would try to return it. If it can't get past the bootloader than they won't know you rooted it. Just tell them you tried to do the update and it bootlooped. That's probably you're safest bet.
kwyrt said:
If you're still in the 14 day return window I would try to return it. If it can't get past the bootloader than they won't know you rooted it. Just tell them you tried to do the update and it bootlooped. That's probably you're safest bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm heading down there in a few minutes. Thanks for the help all ! I think I'm getting the razr maxx. My wife has one and the screen on that thing is incredible. I think it's worth losing the keyboard to get that screen... and the battery life. That part is also incredible.
again.. thanks.
BTW, you guys absolutely rock. You've helped me out of some serious holes with my OG Droid and other devices more often than I can count.
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
You can use bp tools to push over a clean system. I believe theres a tutorial somewhere that written for bionic. Just replace that with the droid 4 system. I would extract it from one of the stock roms available and push it thru bp tools.
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
Can you link that tutorial? I'm also trying to figure out how to use adb via stock recovery. Thanks!
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1236465
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
Thanks!
Sent from my DROID4 using Carrier Pigeons
Let me know
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2
It sounds like OP is going to exchange their phone, but could you really just replace the entire /system folder and have it work? (Nothing special with permissions, etc?)
If so, that is definitely something worth knowing...
Yes i believe so.
Sent from my DROID4 using Tapatalk 2
keep in mind before anyone updates to the official jb. i suspect the official release will be patched to not allow us to return to ics. if you keep root after the update good but if you some how break root there might no be a way to get it back as of now! so be cautious before you accept update. we should at least wait for an official jb fxz if you plan on keepng root this way if you mess something up at least you will have a working phone back without root of course. again i dont know they will patch the official release to prevent downgrade but lets find out for sure to be on the safe side. i dont think were gonna get dan to make us a jb root method right away soon.....
It could be considering its small size. Those who have updated to JB OTA should install safestrap and make a backup.
cmvienneau said:
keep in mind before anyone updates to the official jb. i suspect the official release will be patched to not allow us to return to ics. if you keep root after the update good but if you some how break root there might no be a way to get it back as of now! so be cautious before you accept update. we should at least wait for an official jb fxz if you plan on keepng root this way if you mess something up at least you will have a working phone back without root of course. again i dont know they will patch the official release to prevent downgrade but lets find out for sure to be on the safe side. i dont think were gonna get dan to make us a jb root method right away soon.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This exactly what that was, I am no longer able to downgrade to 4.0.4 using the Atrix Utility. No biggie for me though, I'm rooted with SS3, and I have backups!
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
I tried to apply update on jb leak no go... Just a heads up. Still have root. On leak.
Sent from my MB886
I'll try Flashing through Motorola online hope it works
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
huatz84 said:
It could be considering its small size. Those who have updated to JB OTA should install safestrap and make a backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the official one... A leak update for a leak update is not the official OTA. The official package (if for some reason it is 98.4.20) will be the size of at least the 2 leak update.zips together. It is not a 10 MB change from ICS to JB. It's a 10 MB change from JB leak to JB leak.
mattlgroff said:
That's not the official one... A leak update for a leak update is not the official OTA. The official package (if for some reason it is 98.4.20) will be the size of at least the 2 leak update.zips together. It is not a 10 MB change from ICS to JB. It's a 10 MB change from JB leak to JB leak.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah..this ota is just a minor update over the leak. I think I should change my siggy after all..
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
Hello friends!
I've got AT&T Atrix HD with JB leak installed, with uncomplete root (root is present but any app cannot access root!), and yesterday I've received software update (98.4.20.en.US).
Tell me please - can I flash back to ICS, or somehow in another way gain root access??
Ramonsterator said:
Hello friends!
I've got AT&T Atrix HD with JB leak installed, with uncomplete root (root is present but any app cannot access root!), and yesterday I've received software update (98.4.20.en.US).
Tell me please - can I flash back to ICS, or somehow in another way gain root access??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried going back to ics. But,I believe this ota block us going back. I think someone at Moto seeing what we've done here.
Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk 2
huatz84 said:
I haven't tried going back to ics. But,I believe this ota block us going back. I think someone at Moto seeing what we've done here.
Sent from my MB886 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that this OTA does block you from going back too ICS. Lucky for me, I have backups, and i kept root, so I can go back by restoring one of my backups. But I think this leak OTA is pretty good, so I'm not to upset.
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
PeteSeiler2010 said:
I can confirm that this OTA does block you from going back too ICS. Lucky for me, I have backups, and i kept root, so I can go back by restoring one of my backups. But I think this leak OTA is pretty good, so I'm not to upset.
Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just sent you a PM
I second PeteSeiler2010's confirmation. I installed this update and tried going back to ICS with both RSD Lite and the Atrix utility.Neither worked. Luckily though, I too had made a backup with SS3 and was able to revert back and get root again.
Nate3D said:
I second PeteSeiler2010's confirmation. I installed this update and tried going back to ICS with both RSD Lite and the Atrix utility.Neither worked. Luckily though, I too had made a backup with SS3 and was able to revert back and get root again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately, I do not have any ICS backups for my phone, I must have named a JB backup as and ICS thats all I can think of...anyway, I too and hoping someone can upload an ICS backup somewhere so I too have the ability to go back to ICS if need be. Sorry for the false hope!
If any one has a backup off ICS, I would be happy to upload it my dropbox site so we all would have that to fall back on.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
PeteSeiler2010 said:
If any one has a backup off ICS, I would be happy to upload it my dropbox site so we all would have that to fall back on.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to clarify for Pete.
We don't want your information stored on your phone.
1) Restore back to ICS using the "restore function" in SS3/TWRP
2) Do a Factory Data Reset in settings.... privacy..... Factory Data Reset (this will wipe all personal info from the phone).
3) After you've done a Factory Data Reset, do a backup in SS3/TWRP.
4) Zip up the folder that has the backup you just performed, and upload it to a file server somewhere.
5) Post the link in this thread.
6) Be a Hero!
ATGAdmin said:
Just to clarify for Pete.
We don't want your information stored on your phone.
1) Restore back to ICS using the "restore function" in SS3/TWRP
2) Do a Factory Data Reset in settings.... privacy..... Factory Data Reset (this will wipe all personal info from the phone).
3) After you've done a Factory Data Reset, do a backup in SS3/TWRP.
4) Zip up the folder that has the backup you just performed, and upload it to a file server somewhere.
5) Post the link in this thread.
6) Be a Hero!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, thanks ATGAdmin for clarifying...we don't want your information, just the clean, wiped ICS backup. If anyone has one they would like to share to help bail a few of us out, it would be most excellent!
Has anyone JUST flashed the ICS system.img.ext4 and boot.img manually, wiped data, and attempted to boot?
mattlgroff said:
Has anyone JUST flashed the ICS system.img.ext4 and boot.img manually, wiped data, and attempted to boot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You mean flash them through Fastboot?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
PeteSeiler2010 said:
You mean flash them through Fastboot?
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
Code:
fastboot flash system system.img.ext4
fastboot flash boot boot.img
mattlgroff said:
Yes.
Code:
fastboot flash system system.img.ext4
fastboot flash boot boot.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm at work for 3 more hours, so maybe someone else can try it. If not, I will when I get home.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using xda app-developers app
Ok soooo ive uninstalled safestrap and back on stock recovery and stock ics rooted. What else do i need to do to recieve ota when its pushed out?
Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app
rruleford said:
Ok soooo ive uninstalled safestrap and back on stock recovery and stock ics rooted. What else do i need to do to recieve ota when its pushed out?
Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it's like the last OTA to ICS, you're probably going to have to flash the ICS fastboot files before the new OTA will take. The problem before was safestrap changed something, somewhere (logwrapper maybe?), that did not get changed back after uninstalling the safestrap recovery and app. MAYBE this has been changed/fixed in the new versions of safestrap? Pretty sure we were on version 2.x at the time. You can always try without fastbooting and see what happens. Won't hurt anything. If you do need to fastboot, use jsnweitzel's utility. It has an option to fastboot without wiping data. That's what I'm planning on doing. It should still fix whatever safestrap changed.
Sent from my Droid 4 - LiquidSmooth
kwyrt said:
If it's like the last OTA to ICS, you're probably going to have to flash the ICS fastboot files before the new OTA will take. The problem before was safestrap changed something, somewhere (logwrapper maybe?), that did not get changed back after uninstalling the safestrap recovery and app. MAYBE this has been changed/fixed in the new versions of safestrap? Pretty sure we were on version 2.x at the time. You can always try without fastbooting and see what happens. Won't hurt anything. If you do need to fastboot, use jsnweitzel's utility. It has an option to fastboot without wiping data. That's what I'm planning on doing. It should still fix whatever safestrap changed.
Sent from my Droid 4 - LiquidSmooth
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In doing that it froze on step 3 of 17 mbmloader. Over night. When disconnected and tried again the battery was to dead. Plugged into wall charger now. Should i try again when its fully charged??
Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app
rruleford said:
In doing that it froze on step 3 of 17 mbmloader. Over night. When disconnected and tried again the battery was to dead. Plugged into wall charger now. Should i try again when its fully charged??
Sent from my DROID4 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. Never try to flash a fastboot or sbf file without making sure you have PLENTY of charge. Same goes for backing up and ROM flashing. You never want your phone to die in the middle of a flash.
Sent from my Droid 4 - LiquidSmooth
I think the most important thing to do is grab the update file and post it on Mediafire or similar so that the rest of us can have it
Failed flashing process 6/21 flash "cdt.bin" phone returned fail ; phone connected
Ok I updated to JB, but lost root - so I've tried to flash back to ICS and now get this ****:
Failed flashing process 6/21 flash "cdt.bin" phone returned fail ; phone connected
Any solution? I gather that others are stuck like this too.
TechnoHippie said:
Ok I updated to JB, but lost root - so I've tried to flash back to GB and now get this ****:
Failed flashing process 6/21 flash "cdt.bin" phone returned fail ; phone connected
Any solution? I gather that others are stuck like this too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
already try to flash stock ICS .246 FXZ?
renonakal said:
already try to flash stock ICS .246 FXZ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My mistake - that is what I'm really trying to do - FXZ to ICS.
I don't think it's possible to fxz and downgrade the Android version. I got a similar error when I tried to fxz and accidentally chose the old 5.9.905 zip file.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
It's been discussed at length that you can't flash back to ICS because of securities. Likely brick risk.
metaljr81 said:
It's been discussed at length that you can't flash back to ICS because of securities. Likely brick risk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well this sucks - there is no way around this problem? I guess perhaps a JB FXZ might do it when it becomes avail.
If it makes you feel better I blew it too. Didn't even think twice as I was doing it. I'm better than that too. I'll be patiently waiting for the FXZ...
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
I did the same thing did the update lost root so I tried to go back I got the same error but now im booting into fastboot flash mode every time I turn my phone on. do you guys have any idea why?
TechnoHippie said:
Well this sucks - there is no way around this problem? I guess perhaps a JB FXZ might do it when it becomes avail.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
siggers said:
If it makes you feel better I blew it too. Didn't even think twice as I was doing it. I'm better than that too. I'll be patiently waiting for the FXZ...
Sent from my SCH-I510 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't have to wait much longer. It's just been posted in development
Sent from my skz_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD
obsidianfirefly said:
Won't have to wait much longer. It's just been posted in development
Sent from my skz_tenderloin using Tapatalk HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Link?
chicagows said:
Link?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2240725
Back up and running. Thanks for the heads up on the FXZ. I expected at least a week.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
what if i flash ICS without cdt.bin? Mabye it help back to ICS?
You will brick. The security doesn't allow any of the secure partitions to be downgraded. Not just cdt.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk HD
siggers said:
Back up and running. Thanks for the heads up on the FXZ. I expected at least a week.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what version of RSDlite did you use?
stupeds said:
what version of RSDlite did you use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RSD Lite v6.1.5
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk HD
Maksim_ka said:
what if i flash ICS without cdt.bin? Mabye it help back to ICS?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no... it won't boot,
but, it will let the bionic boot into recovery mode (manually), then you can install the OTA update
tada...
siggers said:
Back up and running. Thanks for the heads up on the FXZ. I expected at least a week.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you solve this?
What firmware should i use? i dont what is FXZ
can you please help
i am using razr xt912 and fails on flash 1/24 cdt.bin
what should i do?
You are in a bionic thread instead of xt912 one. If you look through the threads for your device, you should be able to find what you need. Good luck!
Hey guys, I do no not own this phone (just picked up a Nexus 5) but, my dad does. He has been waiting for MONTHS to get his hands on this. It is his first Android device and he was able to ditch his work iPhone for it. However, he has been having an absolutely horrible experience:
I was remotely walking him through setup (moto transfer with iCloud to gmail account, etc etc).
- He turned on his phone, set up wifi, entered account credentials, played around for a minute or two.
- After this, he was prompted for an update, I told him to accept it
- After he accepted it, the phone WILL NOT TURN on. It boots to the homescreen, says it is "activating" the device, then it needs to restart.
- When it restarts, he sees the following attached screenshot.
I am assuming this was the Kit Kat update. I know tons of people have had problems with this (yes, I read the forums before posting, even though it is not my device). However, everyone with problems seemed to be rooted/not on stock. He is COMPLETELY stock.
If he chooses to reboot normally, he gets the homescreen, activation, then, it turns off and goes back to the attached screen.
If he chooses recovery, it goes back to this screen.
I'm not sure how an OTA could jack a phone up that was completely stock.. But it has happened.
Is there anything I can do remotely to help him start using his new phone? As I said, he has been excited for months for this phone and now just wants to throw it against the wall.
Is this screenshot the fastboot screen? If so, can I use the "fastboot erase cache" command?
Any *detailed* answers would be greatly appreciated... I'd love to get this working for him ASAP.
Thanks everyone!
View attachment 2415287
This is a pretty horrible out of box experience for something he was so excited about. I'm hoping this is something I can just do while remotely controlling his PC... I feel bad for the guy
fastboot erase cache
and then flash a stock recovery
Enviado desde mi XT1052 usando Tapatalk
waiflih said:
fastboot erase cache
and then flash a stock recovery
Enviado desde mi XT1052 usando Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not having this phone myself, how do I flash a recovery if I can't access current recovery or boot? Can I flash with a locked bootloader? Is the screen my dad is seeing the fastboot screen?
Any ideas how a stock out of the box phone would encounter this?
Thanks!
Sorry it's just hard to not have a device and jump into this when there are a million threads and it is completely different than any device I've owned (also I have no hands on time with it).
Thanks again. The more details the better so that I can do this remotely.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
yes that screen is fastboot mode, so u can download the files for ur rom here
http://sbf.droid-developers.org/ghost/list.php
and use fastboot to flash only recovery
Enviado desde mi XT1052 usando Tapatalk
Ok. I will have to figure out how to flash sbfs via fastboot then. I'm assuming it is a simple set of commands. I will try and find a tutorial when I am not driving. Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
EmperorX said:
Ok. I will have to figure out how to flash sbfs via fastboot then. I'm assuming it is a simple set of commands. I will try and find a tutorial when I am not driving. Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which model/carrier of phone does your dad have?
Xatt said:
Which model/carrier of phone does your dad have?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He's on Verizon, 16gb.
So confused as to how this happens fresh out of the box. Don't know how it's possible. I'm determined to fix it for him today though so he doesn't have to wait even longer
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
If he just bought it, why are you messing around with this? Take it back to the retailer you bought it from and tell then what happened... Get a new phone...
AT&T Moto X rocking rooted 4.4
theraffman said:
If he just bought it, why are you messing around with this? Take it back to the retailer you bought it from and tell then what happened... Get a new phone...
AT&T Moto X rocking rooted 4.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He got it customized from MotoMaker... If it's a relatively simple fix (and it's not a hardware issue) I'd rather do it myself so he doesn't have to wait yet again for who knows how long.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
waiflih said:
yes that screen is fastboot mode, so u can download the files for ur rom here
http://sbf.droid-developers.org/ghost/list.php
and use fastboot to flash only recovery
Enviado desde mi XT1052 usando Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming I can use any of the builds from verizon there? I'd like to get him to update OTA and see if it works this time or not... Was thinking about flashing one of the three 4.2.2 ones
EmperorX said:
He got it customized from MotoMaker... If it's a relatively simple fix (and it's not a hardware issue) I'd rather do it myself so he doesn't have to wait yet again for who knows how long.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EmperorX I work for Moto. If you wouldn't mind providing the IMEI I'll get our engineers to take a look. You can PM me. Thanks!
I found this toolkit:
However, i'm assuming the fastboot menu will not work to just flash stock as you need to be in "Android or hboot"
The fastboot screen I took the picture of is not the same thing as hboot correct?
They are interchangeable terms. Hboot refers typically to an HTC bootloader
gunnyman said:
They are interchangeable terms. Hboot refers typically to an HTC bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, looks like I may be able to fix this for him after all. Just need to remotely get androidsdk and adb setup on his computer with RSDlite as backup if this toolkit doesn't work and I *should* be able to make this happen. I think i've got enough info to do this now. Thanks guys!
EmperorX said:
He got it customized from MotoMaker... If it's a relatively simple fix (and it's not a hardware issue) I'd rather do it myself so he doesn't have to wait yet again for who knows how long.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gotcha, makes sense not to want to go through all that. Sorry this happened to your dad. First I've heard of an issue this big on the moto x.
AT&T Moto X rocking rooted 4.4
theraffman said:
Gotcha, makes sense not to want to go through all that. Sorry this happened to your dad. First I've heard of an issue this big on the moto x.
AT&T Moto X rocking rooted 4.4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was on the phone with Motorola "tier 2" support this morning for 3 hours. Their solution was to order a new phone and expedite shipping and return the old one when it gets here. I'm going to try this way first. They said this happens to "1 in 10,000" people. Lol, he's a lucky guy!
Well, now it's stuck on the fastboot screen with the following error:
No valid PIV block in SP for system
piv validation failed (system)
boot up failed
-__-
EmperorX said:
Well, now it's stuck on the fastboot screen with the following error:
No valid PIV block in SP for system
piv validation failed (system)
boot up failed
-__-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like the phone's partitions are all jacked up. Get a new phone is the solution.
EmperorX said:
Well, now it's stuck on the fastboot screen with the following error:
No valid PIV block in SP for system
piv validation failed (system)
boot up failed
-__-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what probably happened was your dad never activated the phone then tried to take an ota or something like that and it got all jacked up. Alternatively, he could have (for some reason) gotten the 4.4 OTA even though the phone was on original stock FW. This could have f'd the phone up if it skipped the 4.2.2 OTA. If you need to help you dad out, download teamviewer or logmein (remote computer access programs) and just guide him through when to plug the phone in etc.
Not sure about the error you are getting but it could be because you are flashing the wrong FW for the phone, possibly an older FW or an updated FW and the order you are flashing it could be causing the error. You can fix this relatively easily if you were more familiar with fastboot. I can try and walk you through some stuff as well on gchat if you need some help. I could also remote into your dads computer and do everything that needs to be done (he could then remove my ability to remote in clearly). All that being said Im fairly busy so just answering some questions for you would be easier but more time consuming for your dad. For starters, you probably should be flashing the 4.2.2 FW found on sbf. it is the middle fw for verizon on the list. You also can probably just use rsdlite since he hasn't set the phone up. It is super easy. Just go to the thread for rsd lite back to 100% stock and you will be good to go. Then make sure he activates and sets the phone up and everything before he takes the OTA this time.