Flash S4 Custom ROM ML2 - Galaxy S 4 Active Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Alright, so I've enjoyed modding my Android devices since I got my first Android running on 2.2, especially because of the options to tweak CPU usage, and just (from what I have noticed) better general usage with all of my devices. I purchased this phone because of it's similar power usage to the S4 and it being water & dust resistant. However, most of the development that I have seen for this forum has been for the i9525, which is the international version. I have the i537, and have been going crazy with battery drainage issues, and I think only a custom kernel/new ROM can fix this. Could somebody point me in the right direction of where to go? I've heard talk that after MF2, installing Safestrap right now is essentially not possible, due to bootloader issues.
I'm running the Stock ROM v 4.2.2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Free mobile app

QuentinX5 said:
Alright, so I've enjoyed modding my Android devices since I got my first Android running on 2.2, especially because of the options to tweak CPU usage, and just (from what I have noticed) better general usage with all of my devices. I purchased this phone because of it's similar power usage to the S4 and it being water & dust resistant. However, most of the development that I have seen for this forum has been for the i9525, which is the international version. I have the i537, and have been going crazy with battery drainage issues, and I think only a custom kernel/new ROM can fix this. Could somebody point me in the right direction of where to go? I've heard talk that after MF2, installing Safestrap right now is essentially not possible, due to bootloader issues.
I'm running the Stock ROM v 4.2.2
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SafeStrap works for every version of firmware for the i537, you just need to use the proper version. If you're on ML2 I think you need 3.71, but please check to make sure because I could be wrong. As for a custom kernel or tweaking the CPU, it's not going to be possible on the i537 because the bootloader is locked and you are forced to use the stock kernel. You can try a custom ROM through SafeStrap, but I don't think it's going to help much. You might be better off upgrading the NE3 or NH3 and trying a custom ROM through SafeStrap there.

Devo7v said:
SafeStrap works for every version of firmware for the i537, you just need to use the proper version. If you're on ML2 I think you need 3.71, but please check to make sure because I could be wrong. As for a custom kernel or tweaking the CPU, it's not going to be possible on the i537 because the bootloader is locked and you are forced to use the stock kernel. You can try a custom ROM through SafeStrap, but I don't think it's going to help much. You might be better off upgrading the NE3 or NH3 and trying a custom ROM through SafeStrap there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So essentially until we get the bootloader unlocked and can install a custom recovery (Like CWM or TWRP, instead of using SafeStrap), no "real" custom ROMs? More just ROMs based off of the stock kernel/modem/etc.?

QuentinX5 said:
So essentially until we get the bootloader unlocked and can install a custom recovery (Like CWM or TWRP, instead of using SafeStrap), no "real" custom ROMs? More just ROMs based off of the stock kernel/modem/etc.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, and most of the people who were leading the development and research of unlocking the bootloader have decided to move on to other things within the last week. At this point it looks like the bootloader will never be unlocked. There's always a slim chance but it's not looking good.

Related

Just got a "new" Galaxy Note 3 running stock 4.3

So what are my options? I'd like to root it and run the latest build if possible. I checked for software updates, but it says non is available?
kitkit201 said:
So what are my options? I'd like to root it and run the latest build if possible. I checked for software updates, but it says non is available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If its 4.3 you can root with kingo, run safe strap, and run my ROM. That's an option.
Kingo root, safestrap, and pick a 4.4.2 rom. Read everything you can three times so that you are ready.
Read as much as possible. Over and over. If you're on the latest official build you will lose root, so I stick with 4.3 rooted.
You can flash a 4.4 rom though, and revert to 4.3 if anything goes wrong.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using Tapatalk
Use Kingo to root
2. choose a ROM that is supported by the ATT locked bootloader (i.e. Dynamic Kat or Alliance at stated above)
3. use xposed installer to get some great mods for your phone
4. use greenify
unlock sim it first before updating to any 4.4.3 roms
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-N900A using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Haitian said:
Kingo root, safestrap, and pick a 4.4.2 rom. Read everything you can three times so that you are ready.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EXACTLY! Best rom by FAR, that finally made me move from the BEAUTIFUL 4.3 INCURSOR rom, and STAY...was [NC2][4.4.2] Dynamic Kat 2.0 [Google Play Edition Theme 2.1]. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2709701 Best battery, speed, and good looks, in my humble opinion. Now if only INCURSOR's theme were available for 4.4.2, I'd be completely in ROM heaven! But DO NOT take any official update, and make SURE you download and BUY Titanium Backup to backup your downloaded apps, and to freeze those resource hogging apps/bloatware you'll never use and definitely freeze Software Update or whatever it's called, so you don't end up with a forced update.
MAKE SURE TO READ THIS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2710972 , by Tropazr.....it'll walk you PERFECTLY through any step you need, then read THIS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2712039 to get to KitKat (4.4.2) and to start flashing KitKat roms!
You DON'T want to wake up with an official build, or like the others said, you're stuck. ENJOY!!!! :good:
kitkit201 said:
So what are my options? I'd like to root it and run the latest build if possible. I checked for software updates, but it says non is available?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey there.:cyclops: Welcome to the (imho) best community in xda!
To get root, Google Search "kingo android root" and install it and follow the instructions
To get the latest firmware after installing root, refer to this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2712039

ROM Request: Barebones Stock 4.4.4

Is there a bare bones ROM available for 4.4.4? I recall some being available for previous devices and those seem to have to have the best performance and most popular. Basically just the stock ROM debloated and flashable via TWRP. And if so, would this have working touchless control/active display?
thanks!
The reason it probably isn't there is that most people just root and delete the 10-20 apks manually. Takes pretty much the same amount of time for the same end result.
Sent from my Moto X
Here you go. http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/development/rom-krypton-v1-2-v1-3b1-6-9-2014-t2716657 You can always remove more.
I'm using Epsilon Project ROM on my XT1060 Verizon Dev edition running AT&T Sim card. It's very minimalist, has working active display and touchless control, and reduces battery consumption considerably compared to stock (DU Battery Saver estimated battery time jumped from 18 hours to 28 hours from full).
Here's the link to the ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/development/rom-epsilon-project-v1-0-09-03-clean-t2866450
thanks for the feedback y'all, looks like I've got some reading/research to do.
IMNUTS - agreed, but from my experience, I think it's best to start with a clean slate rather than trying to debloat various apps - as those could have left other files on the system that could hinder performance.
Make sure to look into Krypton(blur/stock based), Eclipse(same):good:. Honestly I've only ran Krypton but I went back to stock rooted... + xposed etc... had some lag here and there in Krypton, stock is noticiably snappier for me:/ *shrugs
bothgoodandbad said:
Make sure to look into Krypton(blur/stock based), Eclipse(same):good:. Honestly I've only ran Krypton but I went back to stock rooted... + xposed etc... had some lag here and there in Krypton, stock is noticiably snappier for me:/ *shrugs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Went with krypton. Will report later this week.
Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Free mobile app
Do you guys (or anyone) know if I would be able to downgrade to a stock 4.4.2 after upgrading to 4.4.4 on Krypton (or any custom ROM, for that matter)? I know there's been a lot of talk about how you shouldn't downgrade... I've always been a little unclear as to whether that applies to stock ROMs only or both stock and custom.
Also, what happens if the install doesn't work? Can I flash a downgraded ROM? I tried installing the latest CM11 for my phone, but it failed, and I reinstalled a stock 4.2.2, and just reading through the forums... I feel like that was a big freakin' no-no.
Travisdroidx2 said:
Here you go. http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/development/rom-krypton-v1-2-v1-3b1-6-9-2014-t2716657 You can always remove more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TheBoiledDogs said:
I'm using Epsilon Project ROM on my XT1060 Verizon Dev edition running AT&T Sim card. It's very minimalist, has working active display and touchless control, and reduces battery consumption considerably compared to stock (DU Battery Saver estimated battery time jumped from 18 hours to 28 hours from full).
Here's the link to the ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/development/rom-epsilon-project-v1-0-09-03-clean-t2866450
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cxwong1 said:
Do you guys (or anyone) know if I would be able to downgrade to a stock 4.4.2 after upgrading to 4.4.4 on Krypton (or any custom ROM, for that matter)? I know there's been a lot of talk about how you shouldn't downgrade... I've always been a little unclear as to whether that applies to stock ROMs only or both stock and custom.
Also, what happens if the install doesn't work? Can I flash a downgraded ROM? I tried installing the latest CM11 for my phone, but it failed, and I reinstalled a stock 4.2.2, and just reading through the forums... I feel like that was a big freakin' no-no.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roms don't flash bootloader and other certain things, so... The rule is really, don't downgrade official firmware, ever. Once you flash 4.4.2 or higher, you cannot downgrade. Roms are not included, as they don't touch the bootloader. So yes, if you were on official 4.4.2 firmware, flashed a 4.4.4 custom rom, and want to flash 4.4.2 official firmware again.... That's fine.
But if you flash 4.4.4 firmware with fastboot or RSDLite, that's it.... No going back to 4.4.2.
Now, my disclaimer.... You SHOULD be OK. There's no guarantees in life, especially on phone flashing.... Anything can go horribly wrong anytime and doing anything. So do all this at your own peril. ?
Thanks!
Darth said:
Roms don't flash bootloader and other certain things, so... The rule is really, don't downgrade official firmware, ever. Once you flash 4.4.2 or higher, you cannot downgrade. Roms are not included, as they don't touch the bootloader. So yes, if you were on official 4.4.2 firmware, flashed a 4.4.4 custom rom, and want to flash 4.4.2 official firmware again.... That's fine. But if you flash 4.4.4 firmware with fastboot or RSDLite, that's it.... No going back to 4.4.2. Now, my disclaimer.... You SHOULD be OK. There's no guarantees in life, especially on phone flashing.... Anything can go horribly wrong anytime and doing anything. So do all this at your own peril. ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

custom recovery on the active

Ok I have been reading a couple of forums and some people say you can out a custom recovery on the active and some say you would only brick your phone trying. I have it rooted, I would like to try a custom ROM but I am used to the galaxy s3 and the htc one m8 in the way of custom Roms which are easy to do.
brianisawesome1 said:
Ok I have been reading a couple of forums and some people say you can out a custom recovery on the active and some say you would only brick your phone trying. I have it rooted, I would like to try a custom ROM but I am used to the galaxy s3 and the htc one m8 in the way of custom Roms which are easy to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
depending on which active you have if you have the international version with the unlocked bootloader your good with custom roms but if you have the at&t model I537 that had a locked bootloader you can not run custom roms on it.
brianisawesome1 said:
Ok I have been reading a couple of forums and some people say you can out a custom recovery on the active and some say you would only brick your phone trying. I have it rooted, I would like to try a custom ROM but I am used to the galaxy s3 and the htc one m8 in the way of custom Roms which are easy to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but if you have the at&t model I537 that had a locked bootloader you can not run custom roms on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to clarify a bit. Yes the AT&T model has a locked bootloader and yes this restricts what you can do on the phone, but that doesn't mean you can't have custom roms on this phone. You can't have a true custom recovery BUT there is something you can install called Safestrap that gives you virtually all the functionality of a custom recovery (plus it's based directly off TWRP so it looks and feels like a recovery). As far as roms, well, you can't install cyanogenmod or anything AOSP. Any rom you flash needs to have a stock kernel and be stock-based. There are very few roms written specifically for the i537, BUT you can install certain S4 roms using this patch to make them compatible.
thisisapoorusernamechoice said:
I'd like to clarify a bit. Yes the AT&T model has a locked bootloader and yes this restricts what you can do on the phone, but that doesn't mean you can't have custom roms on this phone. You can't have a true custom recovery BUT there is something you can install called Safestrap that gives you virtually all the functionality of a custom recovery (plus it's based directly off TWRP so it looks and feels like a recovery). As far as roms, well, you can't install cyanogenmod or anything AOSP. Any rom you flash needs to have a stock kernel and be stock-based. There are very few roms written specifically for the i537, BUT you can install certain S4 roms using this patch to make them compatible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are the risks of using said safestrap?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Free mobile app
brianisawesome1 said:
What are the risks of using said safestrap?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not much really. You can make nandroid backups so if you do mess up you can always restore. There haven't been any bugs with the last build and as long as you're using it to flash software meant for the i537 (or S4 roms with the masterpatch) it's perfectly safe. Honestly the only danger I can really envisage-and this would apply to any custom recovery-sometimes things take a long time to flash, you just have to make sure to have at least 70% battery when doing anything in recovery, having your battery die mid-flash would probably be bad. Sorry for my rambling answer, the main point is it is just as safe as a custom recovery on another device.
thisisapoorusernamechoice said:
Not much really. You can make nandroid backups so if you do mess up you can always restore. There haven't been any bugs with the last build and as long as you're using it to flash software meant for the i537 (or S4 roms with the masterpatch) it's perfectly safe. Honestly the only danger I can really envisage-and this would apply to any custom recovery-sometimes things take a long time to flash, you just have to make sure to have at least 70% battery when doing anything in recovery, having your battery die mid-flash would probably be bad. Sorry for my rambling answer, the main point is it is just as safe as a custom recovery on another device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so I have safestrap. What the updated list of Roms? What do I have to do after or before flashing a rom? I wanna make sure I don't brick my device lol and also why is my backup going to be 8gb????
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I537 using XDA Free mobile app

Which custom ROMs are usable with Flashfire for i537?

Hello,
it seems that Flashfire is able to flash ROMs on locked bootloader devices. However, all my attempts with Touchwiz-based ROMs on my i537 failed miserably.
So is there actually some ROMs usable with Flashfire?
Or Safestrap will remain the only way?
Bump.
It seems the device is getting slowly deprecated… The only relevant ROM I found was the Golden Eye, but I didn't succed to flash it and it looks like the camera is not working anyway.
Is there even a fully functional custom lollipop ROM for i537?
Néocray said:
Bump.
It seems the device is getting slowly deprecated… The only relevant ROM I found was the Golden Eye, but I didn't succed to flash it and it looks like the camera is not working anyway.
Is there even a fully functional custom lollipop ROM for i537?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are only 2 ROMs that I know of that are being actively developed for the i537 and unfortunately other than CM 12, they're the only ROMs being actively developed for the i9295 as well.
Super WizCyan
SiCK As HELL ROM
Both ROMs have specific versions for the i537 and the i9295 so make sure you're using the right one. If you can't get them to install I suggesting posting in the ROM threads. Good luck.
Thanks a lot! Somehow I completely missed these 2 ROMs in my search.
Which one would you advise to use?
As to let you know, I choose Super WizCyan. It's so good that I'm sad it hasn't appeared earlier so I would have use it when the i537 was my main device!
Now the device is going into hands of a member of my family, and I'm happy it's with this ROM.
Thanks again!

5.0.1 vs 5.1.1 rooting. Is one "better" than the other?

My Note 4 is the older 910T variant. It is still running 5.0.1. I have not taken the 5.1.1 update yet which I blocked using the Debloater. I have not rooted yet because I have a pending warranty issue (GPS) I need to take care of.
Here is my question. Is the root method for 5.0.1 inherently better than that of 5.1.1? If I understand correctly, the 5.1.1 method is systemless and does not use/require a custom kernel and some apps may not play well with this, such as Viper for Android.
I am concerned about this because I suspect Samsung may replace my 910T with a 910T3. This should solve my GPS problems but it seems that it may put me in a less advantageous rooting situation.
Am I correct on this? Can anyone shed light on this for me?
Thanks.
Rootabaga said:
My Note 4 is the older 910T variant. It is still running 5.0.1. I have not taken the 5.1.1 update yet which I blocked using the Debloater. I have not rooted yet because I have a pending warranty issue (GPS) I need to take care of.
Here is my question. Is the root method for 5.0.1 inherently better than that of 5.1.1? If I understand correctly, the 5.1.1 method is systemless and does not use/require a custom kernel and some apps may not play well with this, such as Viper for Android.
I am concerned about this because I suspect Samsung may replace my 910T with a 910T3. This should solve my GPS problems but it seems that it may put me in a less advantageous rooting situation.
Am I correct on this? Can anyone shed light on this for me?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct in that 5.1.1 stock kernel requires systemless root. There is at least one kernel out there that is very close to stock that will accept system root, the name of which I can't remember.
I found systemless root to be almost completely functional, but did hit a roadblock or two (like V4a). Stock kernel is so much better than any other I've tried on touchwiz that its the only one I care to use, though I've given up on touchwiz completely as of late.
There are plenty of touchwiz variant custom ROMs to choose from, varying in different aspects of performance that you may or may not preferable to stock.
Thanks, that was a helpful reply.
If I understand you correctly, it sounds like you actually prefer the stock 5.1.1. kernel. Were you also rooted prior to the 5.1.1. update, using a custom kernel?
Rootabaga said:
Thanks, that was a helpful reply.
If I understand you correctly, it sounds like you actually prefer the stock 5.1.1. kernel. Were you also rooted prior to the 5.1.1. update, using a custom kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my 910T3 a few months ago and it already has 5.1.1 on it. I would not revert to 5.0.1 because of issues it had, like memory leaks.
And yes, I prefer stock kernel. None of the alternatives seem to match the performance or battery life of stock.

Categories

Resources