[Sprint Galaxy S 5 General] shadowman280x:
Please post here ALL of what you learned/thoughts/ideas. My goal is to get the Sprint based phone "G900P.04" Virgin Mobile users up and going.

I am not responsible for ANYTHING!!! Try doodling with your phone at your own risk!

THIS IS WHAT I GOT SO FAR:

APN SETTINGS:

Virgin Mobile Samsung Galaxy s5 as all the capabilities of flashing any Sprint based G900P.04 ROM/Tweak. However, once flashed, you will have Sprint based network APN settings/not virgin mobile network APN settings. APN settings is what allows you to call/text/LTE/send receive text/pictures. Currently the Virgin Mobile stock ROM doesn't have the option to manually set APN settings though settings/network connections/more networks. However, once flashed to a Sprint ROM, this option "should" now be available to edit. If ballzy enough to try flashing a Sprint ROM and obtain data capability PLEASE POST YOUR FINDINGS. Virgin Moible APN settings can be found at this address:

Virgin Mobile USA APN Settings

I called Virgin Mobile and told them that my send recieve text doesn't work and ask if i can access APN settings manually to check if there correct. He gave no option to view them manually. He advised to dial ##72786# which he said redoes the hands free activation process and "?may?" fix the APN issue.

Apps like the APN backup & restore is another option "if exhausting all other available options" a thread I found HERE It appears that if you know what your doing, the app will work but nevertheless, people has reported it not restoring APN settings.

ROOTING Virgin Mobile Galaxy s5 Obtain warranty without tripping knox counter:

The CF autoroot though odin I seen threads that it trips the knox counter but the "towelroot" method doesnt trip the knox counter and was easy for me.

How to:

1. Go to settings/system/security/allow 3rd party apps. As long as you know what you download I disabled "verify apps" while I'm their.

2. With your phone, Download towelroot HERE and click the red logo to start download

3. Download a file explore application from Google Play "my favorite is FX File Explorer/has secondary Playstore download for accessing root files" and install the tr-1 .apk you downloaded.

4. Read and click the option to root phone.

5. When it says remove knox I clicked "yes."

6. As mine did also, a lot of users report that the phone didn't complete/auto reset device but hung on the "removing knox process." Personally I waited 5min---pressed the home button---manually reset phone.

7. Go to Play store and download/install SuperSU---update binary's---reset phone

8.Your phone is rooted/complete.

Return to Factory Stock

Reflash the phone with the factory stock ROM with Odin can see instructions HERE

Note: Virgin Mobile users only has the option of the Sprint ROM so im curious if this will bork up APN settings...putting them on Sprint/not Virgin Mobile settings. The hand free activation by dialing ##72786# may/may not work.

Custom Recovery:

All Sprint based recoveries I'm positive will work. Custom Recovery opens up any theme/tweak/ROM capability. However, im reluctant to do so because you will not have the ability to update the OS when it arrives because it requires the stock recovery....where you have to do the Return to Factory Stock option just posted.

I've always used Philz Touch Recovery and was always happy with it. Insturctions HERE

There is a TWRP recovery but even people on the TWRP thread say that they hear good things about Philz Recovery.

Installing a ROM:

As mentioned, only Sprint Based ROMs work because it's a Sprint phone. However, if flashing a Sprint ROM through your custom recovery it should error. This is because the developer Puts a script in the ROM that only allows Sprint not Virgin mobile phones to flash the ROM. To fix this, it requires editing the ROM with NotePad++ and deleting the first few lines of code. Good thread to read how to do this is HERE

Apps/Tweaks:

Im still using stock ROM up until somebody with experience can guarantee I can start flashing ROMs without any mishapps.

.

.Adaway is working great.

Link HERE Couldn't beileve the amount of ad's is on the Internet...even on XDA. Just open/install with a file explorer like FX File Explorer...make sure under settings/security you check "Unknown sources" so you can install apps outside of play store

Wanam Xposed is amazing

Verified working on my Virgin Mobile Stock ROM. Install Wanam from Playstore and install frame work from HERE Now got my phone all theme'd blacked-out like how I like it. 4-way boot menu working too. NOTE: Wanam website states S-Health conflicts with it...so recommend uninstalling it.

Native Hotspot Enabled:

Install this App HERE GalaxyTools.apk. Click Enable Native Hotspot and reboot phone. "Mine rebooted automatically once enabled." Now I access my Hotspot using a playstore hotspot widget "my perfered is called Elixir 2 from the playstore. " on my home screen.

Debloat Stock ROM:

App Master is small and can go to system files and debloat all dumb apps Samsung/Virgin Mobile put on there. A thread HERE shows what Apps are safe to remove.

PLEASE POST ALL YOUR FINDINGS/THOUGHTS/IDEAS