[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] gigilie:
SAFE UP/DOWN GRADING THE EZ WAY

this is a continuation of my SAFE UP/DOWN GRADING TO 4.4.2 thread where I developed a few safe ways to upgrade/update/downgrade to various versions of 4.4. This thread will be aimed at Lollipop. I apologize for the wait I had this ready on the 29th but muniz beat me to the punch while I was still uploading by releasing his odex'd stock OC1 which apparently had broken wifi but is now fixed. however our methods are different and my method will allow you to very quickly upgrade to a Custom ROM 5.0 or fully downgrade back to 4.4.2 NK1-NC2.

Please Note for now I recommend not using Flashfire but if all else fails when attempting this method keep in mind you can use it as an alternative until you can get Safestrap installed again. Flashfire will let you use only your Android to upgrade nothing more is required which can be nice/necessary for those without PC available or a broken USB port.

Pre-Installation Requirements:

You'll need a PC with Windows, OSX or Linux unless opting to upgrade using Flashfire in which case just a phone and the app is required.

Download my UP/DOWN Grading Packa .rar which you unpack includes 4 tars for flashing in Odin

Download Odin 3.10.6 for Windows or dl JOdin if your using OSX or Linux

A Custom ROM or a Prerooted Stock ROM (I'm uploading a Deodex'd debloated stock ROM shortly otherwise you can use muniz's stock release too)

Newest Safestrap 3.75 A03, Towelroot v3+, SuperSU and Busybox apk files are handy to have available on SD CARD I've uploaded a zip containing these here.

If downgrading you'll need a custom ROM (like Echoe v49 VZW for 5.0) for that firmware or an Odin Stock image.

We'll basically be using the same workaround for safestrap that I had used pre 4.4.2 safestrap only in 5.0 and this time were going down to 4.4.2 instead of 4.3. That is in condensed form: were downgrading to 4.4.2 boot.img in order to use Safestrap then modifying ROM or installing a new ROM on Stock Slot then reupgrading boot.img to 5.0!

Steps to Upgrade from 4.4.2 Rooted with Safestrap:

1. Connect phone to PC. Open Odin on PC and boot phone into Safestrap.

2. Load CustomROM_Upgrade_Lollipop_VZW_wNK4-NoSys-gogolie.tar into Odin AP slot on PC. On your Phone in Safestrap install 5.01 TW ROM.

3. Restart Phone to Download Mode when installation of ROM is finished.

4. Now On PC press flash and flash the tar to phone.

5. Your Done. Odin will restart the phone and you'll have to skip through 3-4 Boot Screens for Safestrap before ROM will load. To avoid having to skip these screens after 1st boot install Safestrap and Busybox on phone. Open SS and Uninstall Recovery. Then the phone will boot into ROM without hesitation. However I wouldn't recommend this personally as you'll need SS installed and ready in order to modify the ROM in Safestrap.

From 5.0: Modify ROM / Install different ROM / Downgrading back to 4.4.2

1. Connect phone to PC. Open Odin on PC and in Safestrap's App press Reboot to Recovery only hold down Vol Down. This will bring phone into Download Mode 1st.

2. Load Custom_ROM_Downgrade_Lollipop_VZW_wNK4_Boot-only-gogolie.tar into Odin AP slot on PC and Press Flash.

3. Phone will restart to Safestrap if it doesn't it will display boot option for Safestrap which you should enter the recovery.

4. Now in Safestrap you're able to modify the currently installed 5.01 ROM or install a new ROM for either 5.0 or 4.4.2.

5. After install / modification you'll need to reupgrade if intending on running a 5.0 ROM or finish downgrading if youre reverting to a 4.4.2 ROM. Which means restart phone to Download Mode!

6. Back on your PC load Custom_ROM_Re-Upgrade_Lollipop_VZW_wNK4_Boot-only-gogolie.tar into AP Slot to reupgrade to 5.0 or load Custom_ROM_Re-Upgrade_Lollipop_VZW_wNK4_no-BL-gogolie.tar if you think you possibly need to rewrite the recovery-kernel-modem-etc to 5.0 otherwise VZW-I545VRUFNC2_FULL4.42-ODIN_UPGRADE-NO-PARTITIONS_989434_REV06_user_low_noship_MULTI_CERT.tar.tar.md5 or I545VRUFNK1_ALL_UPGRADES_W_NO_SYSTEM-CACHE-USER-PARTITIONS.taror similar modified Odin package can be flashed in Odin to finish Downgrading to any 4.4.2 Firmware.

7. There is no step 7, you were done at 6!

Good day!

- gogolie

v1-4-29-15

Please thank the OP if you're inclined.

Ask questions in thread those not answered can be assumed have been before and your just too lazy to search before asking which mean's I'll be to lazy to answer / search for you!

special thanks: dgutierrez04 for capture OTAs