yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] AlphaTJH:
Well........

I followed this guide to the letter.

I didn't like this right away, because I had to use the HEIMDALL method, Odin wouldn't work correctly, however using the Heimdall method, the phone booted up with the red screen, but got stuck in a boot loop. Restarted, did factory reset and tried again, still boot looped.

I then tried to use ODIN to back to MK7 to see if that would work, and of course not. I then used Odin to try and flash NC2 without root (it had been 5 hours or so at this point and I was getting frustrated) and that did not work either. At this point, my phone says to plug it into Kies. I figured I would try that and Kies says the IMEI I got off my sticker was incorrect (not sure why, but whatever)

Eventually I just gave up. I looked for a copy of the OTA rom (NC5), and I had to flash that. The phone has failed this flash multiple times, trying different cables, USB ports, Etc. I'm about to try flashing it on my Wife's Laptop (after she finishes her game) and see if that works. This is a cautionary tale to everyone out there, this will not work for everyone. I started this knowing it could cause me issues, but I knew what I was doing and what I could try if I ran into them. PLEASE keep this in mind before starting down this road!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ct_tec313:
Here's what I don't understand, and no offense to anyone that reads this but I think it needs to be said...There's something going on here with people claiming that they followed the instructions, yet time and time again I see people saying that this didn't work or I'm stuck at a boot loop, clearly someone is not following instructions, it's not that hard. I have been flashing my phone over and over with the nc2 leak now since he posted it with no problems, and I'm not the sharpest knife in the drawer but I do know how to follow instructions to a tee, and I suggest to you all before you attempt this simple flash you read, read and read again again. ...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] loonie01:
For people having ODIN I issues, see if there is a program in the computer that is causing errors. I had found or a long time ago that HTC drivers were interfering with Samsung drivers and ODIN.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] beez1717:
Since I was on a mac I had to use the Heimdall method. I tried using jOdin3 but since I couldn't figure out where to put any of the CP or BL or AP because there were NO areas labeled like that. Now I'm stuck at the VZW logo with the phone buzzing like crazy on and off. I'm going to have to retry the whole thing again. Sigh. It sucks being on a mac when you want to update and keep root. Why can't we just get Odin or a guide for a workaround?

edit: the phone is still stuck at the VZW logo after I got an error saying "failed to mount /preload (Invalid argument) can't mount '/preload' (Invalid argument)" as many others have been talking about.

Edit 2: I was brave and I decided to use Jodin3 and I took a guess that PDA was AP, Bootloader was BL and CSC was CP. It seems to be working for me at the moment which is very good news. Perhaps you could put this in the guide for all us Mac users so we can confirm if I was just lucky or if I did the right thing and this is the go to method for the mac. I had my computer find the pit instead of adding it myself.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] apeman81:
Follow instructions? You DO know most of us are guys, don't you?;)

Good advice. Doing this got 'er right the first time with no worries.

Great Job, Surge!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] sm.cbert:
I must have messed up somewhere. I thought I was the instructions to the letter, but now my phone is stuck with the "kies firmware update failed" screen. Kies won't recognize my phone, and I can't seem to boot into recovery mode. Fried flashing a stock 4.3 and odin just keeps failing. Any ideas?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Do you have anything else USB phone related installed on your PC such as Wondershare, another phone's drivers, ect... :confused:

Edit: Try another USB port yet on PC?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] dtomlin:
I would try the full wipe nc5 odin file that Surge posted in the development section. You won't have root, but at least you'll have a usable devise. Or do the NC2 leak odin and do the downgrade and root per the instructions. You went wrong somewhere cause the directions never had you in kies.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] obxftbll1:
No sound during calls

Hey Surge, great work.

Everything works fine for me, flashed everything no problem, however, I just have one problem. When I make or receive phone calls, I can't hear the person on the other end and they can't hear me. Is this the same thing that people were posting about not having sound before? Like I said, everything else works great, I just can't make phone calls. I connect to the network and the phone acts like it's in a phone call, I just can't hear anything.

Thanks, everyone.

EDIT: Figured it out.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] sm.cbert:
Thanks, I spent hours looking for a stock nc5 odin file. I have life. No root, but at least like I have a working phone again.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] jDr0id1007:
HELP!

Hi, So I successfully installed kitkat and then I tried installing safestrap 3.72 and when I rebooted i got a black screen. I was reading about the downgrade method and I could not find a download link avaliable. When will you be uploading this?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] sm.cbert:
Nope. I have windows running on my mac specifically for my phone. tried both USB ports too. I must have skipped a step somewhere. At least I have a working phone again. It sucks that I lost root, but oh well. I am sure someone will figure it out eventually.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] instarichisdope:
Setting errors (software update stops working etc)

Ok Surge I love your work but is there a way to make everything work in settings and apps etc. Eventually the .phone unexpectedly stopped working went away over time but when I sync my Google account it shows sync error and when I try to go to certain settings in my phone I get more errors as I go can you let me know how to fix this . I'm rooted and I'm on NC2 just simple errors in system settings
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Also instead of doing this you could just try the downgrade method from here

http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407590450

To everyone: aside from the normal download/Odin mode, the Kies emergency repair screen = DOWNLOAD MODE
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] con100:
So I must of somehow messed up. I followed everything and now I'm stuck at the Verizon logo. My phone keeps vibrating everyone once in awhile.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] dtomlin:
Don't panic. Pull your battery for a few seconds. Go into factory recovery and do a factory data reset. Then reboot. Worked for me and a few others.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Frustratez:
I had to downgrade then re rooot and ss and then repeat steps on kit Kat after that it was golden
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] con100:
Ok I did that. I got SafeStrap installed again but I can't get that screen where you can reboot into it.

Just noticed I also have no sound at all. I did when I first reset my phone. Looks like I'll have to again. I really regret trying to update my phone lol.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Scottchy014:
[MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] Can I use the new NC5 method to upgrade from MK2 or do I need to do NC2 first? Thanks.

Edit: Nevermind, The OP is pretty clear. Time to get busy.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Install Safestrap 3.72 first but yeah should work. Its essentially the same method as before with the MK2 upgrade method.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] loonie01:
Sweeeeeeet!!!!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
[MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] I'm currently doing a Nandroid via SS 3.72 of your prior NC2 pre-rooted which I've had all set up. Even renamed that CSC or whatever file it's called (I'll have to find this again in the posts, lol) to prevent the com.phone closes on boot up.

? Would it be ill advised to do a Data Restore only once on NC5 pre-rooted from my NC2 Nandroid OR likely, better to leave that alone and just use TIBU to restore my non-system apps back?

Thanks for all your hard work on this! :victory:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] tangbohu:
Downloading now...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] loonie01:
Coming from NC2 Rooted, do we use the NC2 modules or the NC5 modules in the aroma installer?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
That com.phone.android issue is drving me nuts...I cant seem to get down to the root of the problem..but none the less the priority was finding an easy way to upgrade. Ill find a fix for it soon though since I'm going to be basing Baja on it. About restoring data...I would highly advise against it. The reasoning behind this is simply because I can see there being Google server and Google play issues. But its up to you :)

Hmm im glad you mentioned this. The rom has NC5 built in and I upgraded from NC2 and chose the NC5 modem option at that point in the Aroma installer...the CP and AP Odin tars will put you on NC5 HLOS and kernel so everything should work fine.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ustewjt:
Finally! After countless attempts, my phone is updated. I am still getting the initial "phone stopped working" after a reboot but otherwise it seems to be working great! Thanks [MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] !!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Thanks Surge, I will not restore the data from my Nandroid just to be safe.

Here's the bit another user posted about the .phone process or whatever closes on boot that resolved it for both he and I: (as posted some pages back in this thread) Not sure if that is of any help for you.

Good find! Phone force closes gone now at boot. I don't know if this effects anything else but so far so good!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Stealthpope:
I'm really sorry for being so thick, but are you saying that us that have not even updated from 4.3 (MK2). I'm currently on MK2, using HD 15 with SS. We can use Odin to simple flash your rooted NC5 zip on our base MK2 image? I just want to be able to get to NC5 and have root. Again, I'm sorry for being so thick.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] V0latyle:
This doesn't include the NC5 bootloader? Might I ask why that is?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ustewjt:
Phone force closes / CSC.apk

:good:

:confused: So are you just renaming the CSC.apk in system 》private app (maybe to CSC.apk.OLD) or does this need to be replaced with a different version? What is this used for and what is the danger of doing that?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Because in the MK2 upgrade method I included them as optional for people to flash..but some flashed them thinking it was required. On the upgrade from NC2 to NC5 they are not required, if people upgrading from MK2 have issues then ill upload it for them.

Yes but its important that you have the Safestrap from the AT&T S4 installes (Safestrap 3.72) otherwise you wont be able to mount /system in SS.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Ok I think something is amuck.

I came from prerooted NC2 and followed the OP directions to a T.

I even included this step "*If it still doesnt boot up then try flashing the CSC_VZW_I545VRUFNC5_I545VZWFNC5_1151670_REV06_user _low_ship_MULTI_CERT.tar.md5 in Odin under the "CSC" slot, I incuded this file in the zip just incase. "

Because I only boot to a "Samsung Galaxy S4" and black screen and it just sits there.

Am I bricked or soft-bricked?

Any suggestions?

:crying:

---------- Post added at 10:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:33 AM ----------

Also, I can access STOCK recovery and I've tried Factory reset, to no help.

---------- Post added at 10:45 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:38 AM ----------

Tried repeating the ODIN steps, this time including all 3 files.

I get 1 failed and when I force a reboot, I'm now at a screen that says:

Firmware upgrade encountered an issue. Please select recovery mode in Kies & try again.

HELP!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Yeah you cant flash all 3 at the same time. Instead do this, boot into stock recovery wipe cache/data. Next Flash the AP tar first, then second flash the cp tar. If it doesnt boot at this point flash the CSC tar. As long as all the tars succeed then it should work. I did it 3 times to test before uploading from my prerooted NC2 to NC5
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Ok, I got past the Kies request screen and back to square one with just the "Samsung GALAXY S4" displayed on a blank screen by reflashing just the first two files in DL mode via Odin and eliminating the CSC flash.

Still stuck!
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] unident:
Running Lookout picked up a risky app. That app is the new browser for 4.4.2. Disabling it caused the android com phone crashes to go away. Can someone explain this? Worried about security.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Just did those exact steps. All 3 separate with Odin. I was still stuck at the Samsung screen after the first two so I did the last CSC file at the end. I'm still back to square one problem - stuck at Samsung GALAXY S4 on a black screen, it will not proceed to boot into the NC5 ROM I flashed at the beginning. I did do the custom install and selected the NC5 module for SS since that option was presented, it seemed to be what I needed to do.

Any further suggestions to get un-bricked at this point?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Hmm the Samsung one? or Aosp I can certainly look into this

Im downgrading to my preroot now and re-upgrading to NC5 to see if I can reproduce. To be clear, you wiped all slots in SS, installed NC5 preroot rom, rebooted into download mode and flashed the two tars mentioned correct?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Exactly. The only thing different with your NC5 rom this time was the custom option where like I said, I chose the NC5 module option for SS.

Now the phone won't even boot with the power button OR a battery pull to the Samsung Logo, it just produces the battery icon as I'm still plugged in via USB to the computer. :confused:

---------- Post added at 11:15 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:11 AM ----------

Ok, was able to do the 3 finger salute and enter STOCK recovery again where I once again performed the factory reset/data wipe and then even did the cache wipe. Now I'm booted back to the same "Samsung GALAXY S4" startup and it won't do anything further from there as usual. :crying:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ffchampmt:
OK I did my due diligence and searched but I can't find if I can go at this from mj7 or if I have to upgrade to mk2.

So if that is so, I need to go from mj7 to mk2 to nc2 to nc5?

Sent from my HyperDrive 14 Driven MJ7 Verizon Galaxy S4
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
For now this is the route you will have to go, you'll have to download the downgrade zip, follow the updated directions in the OP, then reinstall Safestrap 3.72 after rooting. I successfully downgraded from NC5 to NC2 just now and im retesting the upgrade method...though it worked 3 times prior to this, It could very well have been the modules (i might have put the wrong ones there) but ill reply in a few minutes and let you know.

We're about to find out, I just downgraded back to MK2 and ill try to go straight to NC5 first
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
[MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] I know I will lose root forever but I desperately need my phone back.

Is my only recourse to proceed with your Emergency complete wipe NC5 file in the Dev section?

---------- Post added at 11:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:26 AM ----------

Oops I posted before reading this. Ok, I will try.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] unident:
It's Browser 4.4-892118
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Downloading the Downgrade zip now.

In the instructions:

What Slot BL or AP or CP or CSC in Odin do I proceed with these steps?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Well you wouldnt lose root forever, you can still downgrade to MK2, but in the testing of this that ive done I've got myself stuck at steps like you're at numerous times focring me to downgrade to MK2 again in order to get back up and running to test upgrading to NC2/NC5 again. Downgrading to MK2 for a few is prob the best bet right now. I hope I didnt upload the wrong files or something silly like that..im doing the process as if i was not the OP (that is im re-downloading the files from the links that I posted...even though I have them on my PC)

All AP
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Marshmellow92:
Ok so I did this method a couple days ago and im on nc2. Do I just flash the rom in SS or do the whole process again?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mike.s:
Just did an upgrade from rooted, basically stock MK2 to NC5 following the OP. I selected NC5 modem at that step of install. No real issues so far. I didn't install the Samsung keyboard, so it kept complaining until I changed it to use Swype. There was a strange message about not being able to read the SIM and then it rebooted - but that only happened on the very first boot, after canceling out of the guided config. I don't get an FC when using the phone.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ericmtnbkr:
Don't want to mess this up. The instructions in Hash's AT&T safestrap post can be followed normally for our VZW phones? There's nothing we need to do differently to install SS?

Thanks.

Eric
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
I think this is where I went wrong then. I assumed I needed to select the NC5 MODULE regarding SafeStrap since we're obviously safestrapped, doh. I feel like an idiot now. In the middle of the downgrade now and then I will try all over with your method.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Just install the 3.72 SS from the AT&T thread..trust me lol.

Hmm you didnt select a keyboard in the aroma installer did you? Im using the aroma installer i made for 4.3 Baja, im not sure if I updated all of the options for 4.3.

Well all you're really doing is flashing a rom in SS followed by two Odin tars (both are flashed at the same time though)

Just re-tested the steps as I wrote them in the OP from both MK2 and NC2 and I was able to successfully boot into the prerooted NC5 rom I made. It must be the modules that I messed up...sorry about that. I'll make a note not to install the NC5 modules in the OP.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
[MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] Ok, I successfully did the downgrade to MK2 and finished with the cache file flash also. It's booting back into MK2 again as expected.

So I have this clear, I install SS 3.72 now, correct? Then install it's recovery via SS.

Then can I proceed to the: Upgrade to VRUFNC5 and keep root from NC2

OR

Do I have to first get to NC2 pre-rooted again since that's what the title says?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mike.s:
I think there was an option for Swype in there, and that's the only one I picked (I use Swiftkey, and knew I'd be installing that). I'd guess that the Samsung keyboard is hardcoded as the default (instead of, e.g., setting the default to the first available), so you get lots of pop ups complaining if it's not there until you select a default keyboard which is actually installed.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JeeperDon:
I read the 1st post and am still bit confused. The title says the method does MK2->NC5, but the first line in green says NC2->NC5 with root. The method also apparently assumes you have Safestrap. I'm on MK2 rooted, but do not have Safestrap installed, have no interest in it. I really only use root to let TiBu freeze things and to let Root Explorer give me access to the whole phone.

I'd just like to end up with a rooted NC5 starting from a rooted MK2. Is this possible today?

[EDIT: Just re-read 1st post again, am unfamiliar with Safgestrap other than multi-OS slots. Apparently it has wipe tools similar to TWRP/CWM that are needed in the procedure, correct? If true, can Safestrap be deleted after the successful upgrade process?]
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Well, yea, I did the downgrade, now just figured out I'm on MDK yes, but no longer rooted as I tried to install SS. blah...
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
There isnt a swype option but the keyboard is failing beacause it installed a 4.3 one.

Nope literally do the Upgrade to VRUFNC5 and keep root from NC2 method. I just did this from MK2 a couple minutes ago. Went through smoothly

Safestrap is basically TWRP with restrictions. You can use it like any other recovery (minus flashing kernels and custom roms) but yes you can install it, use it to upgrade with root, and then uninstall it. The Safestrap Apk gives you these options. You should be able to use this method from MK2 to get to a rooted NC2 if not, then you will have to try it incrementally.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] shindiggity:
Once I upgrade from nc2 to nc5 with this method I can then flash international Roms with the modules and jkruse patch right. Our just flash any Rom.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] lazer9:
Successfully on NC5. Whew :victory:
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Thank goodness! lol :D
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] con100:
My phone is completely ****ed now. Tried to do another factory reset to fix my no sound issue and that didn't work. Then I tried to go back to stock using this http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2578209 guide which I used before without issue. But in Odin it keeps failing so now I'm stuck on the screen with the phone icon and the computer icon with the exclamation point in between.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
Did you read the OP? Specifically the downgrading to MK2 part?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] BigFUZZYk:
Stock Rooted MK2 to 4.4.2

The first line of the OP says Upgrade to VRUFNC5 and keep root from NC2/MK2

Then step 1 says to Upgrade_I545VRUFNC5_fromNC2_with_Root.zip (but i'm not on NC2)

Do I need to go down and follow the other post and do the steps to go from my rooted MK2 to NC2 b4 upgrading to the NC5?

Little gunshy seems to be a lots of post with confused people. I do already have ss3.72 installed and SuperSU but don't think I've got it as an apk on my sd card.

David
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] JeeperDon:
Per 1st post instructions, it looks like you should be able to stop after step 4 (loading the NC5 stock rooted) and reboot to that and be done. True?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] con100:
I did. But I did that last night so I thought I wouldn't have to do that again. I just refollowed it and I got back into my phone. But still no sound and I also can't make calls. I guess I'll just go into Best Buy and play dumb and get a warranty exchange.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Surge1223:
No you still have to go through the rest of the steps because if you reboot there you will hang on the custom Samsung screen since your kernel wouldnt have been updated at that point

Well it should work, I dont know if anyone has tried and unfortunately I cant. Worse case scenario, it fails, you have to downgrade to MK2 per the instructions in the OP, then upgrade incrementally, starting with upgrading to the preroot NC2, then finally the prerooted NC5.

This is because your not using bypasslkm correctly. Sound will return when you flash the NC2 apnhlos.

What do you mean you dont know if you can use Odin or not? I dont know if I can help or not then. Are you using heimdall? If yes rename the tar.md5 to tar and extract the system.img.ext4 from the tar. If you dont know how to use heimdall from here then I suggest reading some guides online
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ct_tec313:
need help with hemidal

downloaded the downgrade zip exteacted all of the contents but everytime i load try to load the mk2 syatem tar it does not it dosent show up to select it i dont know if i cant use odin or not please help.....
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] Marshmellow92:
Sorry meant to say that I'm on nc2 and I want to do the nice. So flash ROM and flash the 2 Odin files? No modules?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] mike.s:
I upgraded rooted MK2 -> NC5 following the instructions, it worked fine.

Choose "NC5 Modem" on the page with that choice.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] ct_tec313:
can someone please help me with hemiall I extracted everthing but it I cant load any tar files please HELP!!!!!!!