[T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S 4] Creeper36:
Official CM12.1 (Android 5.1.1)

using TWRP RECOVERY

I will not be held responsible for you messing up your phone. It worked for me.. It SHOULD work for you.

This does trip your Knox Warranty Bit. This does void your warranty.
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= Windows 7 ONLY: Download to your PC: Samsung KIES3 - found [HERE].

= Download to your PC: ODIN 3 v3.10.7 - found [HERE]

= Download to your PC: TWRP Recovery 2.8.4.0 - found [HERE].

= Download to your Phones External MicroSD Card: TWRP Recovery 3.0.*-jfltetmo.img - found [HERE].

= Download to your Phones External MicroSD Card: Official CM 12.1 ROM - found [HERE].

= Download to your Phones External MicroSD Card: Open GApps 5.1.1 Nano - found [HERE]. (Look for "Arm-5.1-Nano-[DATE].zip")

= Power ON your phone and boot into the normal system.

= CHARGE YOUR PHONE TO AT LEAST 80%.. if your battery runs out while your flashing or loading you will be in trouble!!

= Windows 7 ONLY: Install KIES3 on your PC -- You must install KIES3 in order to install the Samsung phone drivers -- You do not actually need to use it. (Windows 8/8.1/10 does this automatically on the next step).

= Win 7/8/8.1/10: Plug your phone into your PC via USB cable.. WAIT for your PC to finish installing drivers.

= TRANSFER all the needed files to your phone now.. put the files in a 'ROM' folder on your External MicroSD Card.

= Unplug your phone from your PC.

= Power OFF your phone.

= Bookmark this page on your PC.. then REBOOT your PC to ensure you exited out of KIES3 install and/or fully installed the drivers.

= Boot your phone into DOWNLOAD MODE (While Powered OFF - HOLD Power, Home, and Volume DOWN buttons for 6 secs, let go as soon as the screen changes).. then press the Vol UP button.

= Run ODIN3-v3.10.7 on your PC -- use "Run as Administrator".

= Plug in your phone (phone is still in Download Mode) via USB cable to your PC.

= In ODIN3: Make sure you see "COM #" and "ADDED!!" -- SEE HELP IMAGE HERE

* If you Do NOT see the 'COM#' and 'ADDED!!' then Samsung Drivers is Installed INCORRECTLY!

* If you DO see the 'COM#' and 'ADDED!!' then you Can Continue Below to the Next Step.

= Insert the 'TWRP-2.8.4.0-jfltetmo.tar' file in "AP" - Click START -- SEE HELP IMAGE HERE

= Wait for your phone to reboot into system.

= You can unplug your USB cable now.

= Power OFF your phone.

= Boot into TWRP Recovery (While Powered OFF - HOLD Power, Home, and Volume UP buttons for 6 secs).. Let go of the buttons after the vibrate but just before you see the small blue writing appear at the top.. I was holding mine down for too long and it would just boot like normal and not recovery mode.

= Install TWRP 3.0.*-jfltetmo.img by Clicking 'INSTALL' > 'Select Storage' (near the top) > 'Micro SDCard' > 'OK'

= Select "IMAGES..." (near the bottom)

= Find your TWRP-3.0.*-jfltetmo.img you downloaded > Select RECOVERY > 'Swipe to Install'.

= Go back to Main Menu > Reboot > Recovery

* This will reboot you back into TWRP and your Recovery version should be changed to the 3.0.*.

* Your custom recovery is now successfully installed!

= MAKE A CURRENT BACKUP: Tap 'Select Storage' near the bottom > Select "Micro SDCard" > then "OK"

= Backup: Tick (enable): EFS Only > Swipe to Backup -- Hint: Change the filename from 'Auto-Generate' to 'EFS-ONLY-<date>'

* Note: You should only backup EFS by itself.. You only need to backup EFS one (1) time ever.

= Backup: Tick (enable): Boot, System, Data > Swipe to Backup -- Hint: Change the filename from 'Auto-Generate'.

= Go back to Main Menu

= 'WIPE' > 'ADVANCED WIPE' > Tick (enable): Dalvik/ART Cache, Cache, Data, Internal Storage, Preload, and System.

= 'SWIPE TO WIPE'

= Go back one menu then 'FORMAT DATA' - type 'YES' and press blue checkmark.

= Go back to Main Menu

= Install Official CM 12.1 ROM by Clicking 'INSTALL' > Find your CM 12.1 ROM you downloaded. --> 'Select Storage' (near the bottom) > 'Micro SDCard' > 'OK'.

= Install Open GApps by Clicking 'ADD MORE ZIPS' > Find your Open GApps you downloaded.

= 'SWIPE to Confirm Flash'.

= Wait for completion.

= 'Wipe Cache and Dalvik'.

= 'REBOOT' into system.

* Your System is now successfully Installed!

* You should setup SuperSU then Busybox first thing.

= Go to Settings > Developer Options > Root Access > Turn ON (enable) 'APPS and ADB'.

= Install SuperSU by Chainfire from the Play Store. (See SuperSU notes below)

= Install Busybox by Stephen (Stericson) from the Play Store.

= Enjoy!

* SuperSU Notes: A basic Superuser is pre-installed with this Rom. It does Not give you control. You will be able to use the traditional SuperSU from the Play Store (updating the SuperSU binaries will be Successful). After you have updated the binaries it will work great with our phones. SuperSU Pro Key can be installed from the Play Store. Busybox must be installed.

Privacy Guard is the basic Superuser thats included. When prompted in SuperSU click 'Remember my choice' and hit 'ALLOW'.

You will never be prompted like this again. SuperSU will now take over control.

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