yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
Hello all! I am newly signed up but i have been lurking in here for quite a while now. I am like that I usually try not to post and just figure out what I need to do by research and trial and error! But lately I think i may have too much research. I have spent the last week looking up and trying to figure out what I need to do to get what I want lol.

I have a Verizon SM-G900V which has been rooted with towel root, using the flash back to NCG method. I have installed SuperSU, Flashfire, and, BusyBox.

I want to upgrade my OS to the newest version,(5.1 Lollipop I believe?) while retaining root and allowing me to wi-fi tether. What I am not sure about is how to go about this properly. I was about to install Safestrap but I am not sure it is compatible with my build which somehow magically changed to NE when I looked at my About Phone in Settings. I am actually not even sure I need Safestrap either because I have read many conflicting tutorials and info in the past week of research. I am totally new to Safestrap and have never used a custom rom before. I have however rooted my S5 and gotten it to tether fine but then I made sure never to OTA update. Recently was forced to factory restore because if what I assume where Touchwiz problems(The problems have been gone since I reset) and now I would like to see if I can upgrade my OS .

Any help would be awesome and some points in the right direction much appreciated.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
SafeStrap is a little inconvenient to use in Lollipop, but it's a great safety net to keep in place. It allows you to take a snapshot of your system and restore it later. If you lack this safety net and something goes wrong with your OS, you have no choice but to start from scratch.

All you have to do to use SafeStrap with Lollipop: flash a KitKat kernel (you can do this with the NL1 flasher app) from the phone while it's running Lollipop, reboot into SafeStrap, and do what you have to do. You then must re-flash a "safestrap-flashable" Lollipop kernel from within SafeStrap before you leave it, or your operating system won't be able to boot.

As for upgrading, see this thread and links within it: http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/help/help-upgrading-rooted-nk7-verizon-s5-t3302438

Your firmware version is different but it's still KitKat, so all of the same advice applies.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
So I would definitely have to flash back to NCG in order to install safestrap right? because I am NE right now
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] buhohitr:
Have you try this? you will have root on the latest factory firmware and able to install Safestrap.

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/root-method-og5-ok3-t3290370
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
I just want to be clear. I should go through all the steps listed in that thread to achieve what I want? Even tho I am on a 4.4.2 build and not a 5.0?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
That would work, as it involves flashing a BOK3 factory image and then rooting it.

You could do that, or you could just do the "keep root" method, which I had linked to in the thread I sent you to for explanation. http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/how-to-update-to-g900voe1-5-0-keeproot-t3149784
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
So the method you are linking above would be the better route to go, correct? Because the other method would update my bootloader to BOK3 which wont let me downgrade to NCG if I want to easy root again, right?

Sorry for all the questions here I just wanna make sure I get it right.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
Both root methods will work for you. The advantage of the "Keep Root" method I linked to is that you would still be able to downgrade later. As long as you don't flash anything with a BOE or newer bootloader, you can downgrade. So BOD is safe, BOE1, BOG5, and BOK3 can not be downgraded.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
OK so I am gonna go with your linked method. I dont wanna get stuck with one of those bootloaders. I should still be able to use safestrap with your method right? And tho I have never done it before I was entertaining the idea of flashing a custom ROM. That should still be possible with your method, correct?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
You can use SafeStrap with either method. But when you're on Lollipop, you must flash a kitkat kernel to boot into safestrap, then you must re-flash your lollipop kernel BEFORE leaving SafeStrap or you won't be able to boot into Lollipop. It's not as complicated as it sounds.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
Yea I know, all of this sounds complicated but I understand it lol. But would I still be able to use a custom ROM using your method, I dont see why I couldnt, I just want to make sure I am ok?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
Yes. You can use any TouchWiz-based ROM, all of which can be found in the "Verizon Galaxy S 5 Android Development" section of the forum, and no other section.

ROMs can be flashed using SafeStrap or with Flashfire.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
Im just barely familiar with SafeStrap, and have never ever used FlashFire. Which of the 2 would you say is better to use?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
I also wanted to thank you for all this help and answering my constant questions. Thank you very much!
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
I have a slight preference for SafeStrap because I am accustomed to using custom recovery environments on previous phones (ClockworkMod Recovery, and later TWRP). SafeStrap is a modified TWRP environment, customized to work within the limitations imposed by the Verizon S5's locked bootloader.

FlashFire can do nearly everything that SafeStrap can do, the difference being is that it functions like an app. It's also more convenient to flash zips if you're on lollipop, because you don't have to **** around with flashing different kernels to boot into it, you just open the app, select the zip, and flash it. The downside to this is that if your OS is completely screwed up and won't boot, you can't access FlashFire.

But if that happens and you have SafeStrap recovery environment installed, you can flash a kitkat kernel with Odin and boot into SafeStrap to restore your nandroid backup, then flash a lollipop kernel and boot into your now-working phone.

For those reasons, I find it advantageous to use both.

---------- Post added at 08:18 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 AM ----------

You're quite welcome
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
OK so both it is lol. I see in the link to the thread which has the keep root tutorial it has 2 extra files a tether file and a batch de-bloater. I understand what the tether is but what exactly is the de-bloater? Also how do I install them, cause I definitely want the tether? Also, I noticed that my phone has some gone to a NE9 kitkat build, I would have to reflash to NCG, reroot and then install safestrap correct?
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
The de-bloater is just a script that deletes unnecessary apps that came pre-installed on the phone. You use it by flashing the debloater zip in either SafeStrap or FlashFire. Personally, I prefer to use Titanium Backup to "freeze" the unwanted apps, because they can be easily reactivated if necessary. Once those apps are deleted by the debloater, you can't retrieve them. Probably everything in the script needs to die anyway, but if you actually like any of the extra stuff that came on your phone you'll want to avoid using that method.

The tether patch is installed the same way, by flashing it, but you only need it if you're staying with the stock OS. If you're installing a custom ROM, don't bother because they will have already implemented it.

If your phone says NE9 but it is rooted, don't worry about it. You'd only need to flash the NCG kernel if you have to use towelroot to regain root access. So just install SafeStrap and/or FlashFire.

Then do a nandroid backup in SafeStrap of your current setup. That way, if something goes catastrophically wrong with your Lollipop upgrade adventure you can, with a little work, get back to where you are now with all of your apps and settings intact.

Then flash the rooted Lollipop image in the "Keep Root" method thread.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
Cool, awesome thank you. So if I am running lollipop, I would have to use Odin to flash a kitkat kernel if I wanted to access to safestrap, right? It would need to be a rooted kernel too, right? Also was wondering if you could point me in the direction of the proper kernels I need. I have seen so many different NCG and other build kernels I am not sure which I should DL.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] painiac:
Yes, flash a KitKat kernel to get into SafeStrap from Lollipop. I don't think it matters which version.

NCG, NE9, NHA, NI2, and NK2 are all KitKat.

OA8, OC4, OD5, OE1, OG5, and OK3 are all Lollipop.

You can use the NI2flasher.apk (but I've seen reports that it doesn't always work), or you can flash it with Odin (which is a little less convenient, but does work well). You should keep an NCG kernel around for re-rooting in case you have to start over, and that one should work for booting into SafeStrap.

Flashing any "kernel only" file won't change your root status. Basically, the kernel is the layer that allows the hardware and the operating system (firmware and such) to communicate with each other. Root access lies entirely within the configuration of the operating system: flashing a kernel will not affect it, but flashing a different firmware will overwrite it.

KERNELS themselves are always safe to flash, but if the operating system can't use it that kernel it will simply get stuck early in the boot sequence. This is always reversible by flashing the proper kernel.

However, be very cautious about FIRMWARE zips, unless they specifically say they're safe for newer bootloaders. Firmware files also contain bootloaders, and flashing the wrong newer (BOE and up) bootloader will burn your bridge back to BOD5 and below, and if you're already on BOE or newer then flashing an older bootloader over it will brick your phone. Stick with jrkruse's "firmware only no bootloaders" files. Currently, his "BOK3 firmware with BOD5 bootloader" is the latest safe version: http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/g900vvru2bog5-factoryodintarimage-t3179527. So, to be clear: Flashing an OE1 or newer bootloader trips a qfuse that makes it impossible to downgrade the bootloader.

For the KitKat kernels, the ones posted here work fine: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2784880

For the Lollipop kernels, stick with jrkruse's updated ones that he has in the second post of this thread: http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/root-method-og5-ok3-t3290370

I've found with previous phones that it is advantageous to download and keep such files as soon as I find them, because experience has taught me that they're typically only posted in one place and they tend to disappear as the posters later lose interest in that model.
[Verizon Galaxy S 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Mrephunk:
OK rooted phone all went well. Installed Tether patch and now when I connect to wifi it doesnt work. I get a DNS error message in my browser and play store wont work, basically nothing will work when I am connected to wifi. Any thoughts on what to do? Was thinking maybe of going to jkruse's custom rom but not sure if that will help. If I do go to that rom will I need to go back to Kitkat or can I just use a flashfire and flash as is?

Update: The DNS error I seem to have fixed, but my question still stands for the jkruse's ROM. Also is it better to use a custom ROM? I have never really used one, so I am curious.

Ohh and you have been so much help painiac I really appreciate you answering all my questions. I was really at a standstill for a while there. You are truly a helpful person and I thank you.
[Shield Android TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] lordlad:
Can anyone help upload the Crackle Android TV apk? My google play store is in US so i can't download it and all the apk downloading site i've been to can't download android tv apps for some weird reason..

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.crackle.androidtv&hl=en

Thanks alot in advance!
[Shield Android TV Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] IAmLucky:
Crackle - Free Movies & TV
[Galaxy Note 4 Accessories] jedisurfer:
Is there a good bluetooth keyboard with phone holder that firmly holds the phone I can use in portrait or landscape mode?
[Galaxy Note 4 Accessories] sushant1thakran:
http://www.logitech.com/en-us/product/multi-device-keyboard-k480

its the best product which can be used with many devices.
[ZenFone 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vkjain366:
Guys, please help I cannot post anything on ZenTalk forum!!!! It says "you are not allowed to post in this forum"
[ZenFone 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] NiTesh:
You need to have some valid posts before posting in some sections... Increase your post by posting replies in general section. ;)
[ZenFone 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vkjain366:
Thanks for reply nitesh,

The matter is I can't even reply or make comments
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] nfkod:
Do I need to downgrade? I flashed a custom kernel but can't get into recovery. Kernel is... 3.4.0 DPI@SWDD5011 #1
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy S 4] EdgardoSchiffer:
You can't downgrade, neither flash a custom kernel dude, I have the same bootloader and it's locked, the best you can do is install SafeStrap (or if you want install FlashFire) and flash a custom rom based on Touchwiz
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] greyhoshi:
About a week ago, I updated my CyanodgenMod 12.1 rom and, suddenly, my note began acting nuts!

It started to freeze and randomly shut down with no warning. I wouldn't be able to power it back on immediately either. I'd have to remove the battery and wait at least 30 seconds before putting it back in and starting it.

I tried downgrading to back to the previous version but, it continued to do same thing even on the previous one.

I used Odin to go back to latest Touchwiz stock firmware and the firmware did it too. I've tried almost everything and now whenever I try use Odin to go back to the previous firmware before 5.1.1 December, Odin fails and gives me this message:

<OSM> Please wait..

<OSM> Checking MD5 finished Sucessfully..

<OSM> Leave CS..

<ID:0/004> Added!!

<ID:0/004> Odin engine v(ID:3.1100)..

<ID:0/004> File analysis..

<ID:0/004> SetupConnection..

<ID:0/004> Initialzation..

<ID:0/004> Get PIT for mapping..

<ID:0/004> Firmware update start..

<ID:0/004> SingleDownload.

<ID:0/004> aboot.mbn

<ID:0/004> NAND Write Start!!

<ID:0/004> sbl1.mbn

<ID:0/004> rpm.mbn

<ID:0/004> FAIL! (Auth)

<ID:0/004>

<ID:0/004> Complete(Write) operation failed.

<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1)

My bootloader says this:

UDC Start

sw REV Check Fail: [aboot] Fused 4 > Binary 3

[1] eMMc write fail: aboot

Any suggestions on what to do or what's wrong?
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] arielovin:
You're trying to go back to a firmware your phone dosen't support anymore. Try OG5 or the latest OK1
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] greyhoshi:
My phone is still acting ridiculous. It keeps shutting down randomly and I can't restart it without removing the battery first and waiting at least 30 seconds before I put it back in.

I have no idea what to do.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mlongue1:
" My phone is still acting ridiculous. It keeps shutting down randomly and I can't restart it without removing the battery first and waiting at least 30 seconds before I put it back in. " hey, greyhoshi, is your phone still doing this?... and if not, what did you do to fix it?...
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] greyhoshi:
It's still doing it but, not as frequently. I think it's something with the kernal.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] eazyduzit:
Was anyone able to help you out? My Note 4 has been doing this for a few month and I haven't been able to find a fix for it.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] greyhoshi:
I'm still in the same boat. Sorry.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cerrico:
My note 4 started doing this a couple weeks ago too... after everything was working fine with my emotion kernal for 6+ months. Issues started with no apparent change to my phone. What kernal were you guys using?
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] theboz1419:
I'm pretty sure this is a hardware issue. My phone is also doing this, and its getting worse. I have to pull the battery, sometimes multiple times and wait anywhere from 30 seconds to 30 minutes to get to start. Then once it starts, it will sometime hang on the first screen and or sometimes on the sprint screen with a blue light flashing.

I had been on a rooted rom and I went back to Stock and still have the problems.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
Same exact issue. Wtf?

Battery fails at 9-12 months. Now hardware failures at 12-18?

The Anker 2x + wall charger fixes the battery problem but I'd be very curious to know if anybody can find a solution for the ridiculous freezes and random reboots. I even got stuck in a boot loop earlier between "Samsung Note 4 + Sprint Spark"
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] dtrinh4000:
I have the exact same problem with my T-Mobile version. Been running stock non rooted since November with no issues now it's doing the exact same thing as described. Even a factory reset doesn't make it go away. I'm selling this phone as is for parts on eBay and am done with Samsung. Wish i had a warranty on mine.

http://xdaforums.com/note-4-tmobile/help/whats-wrong-note-4-slowdowns-galore-t3317254
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] LMMT:
The exact same thing happened to my wife's N4, Friday. I finally gave up trying to fix it, and took it to a Sprint store. The technician knew less than I did, and couldn't fix it either. They ordered me a new N4.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cushgrunt:
Same problem here. While im listening to music the phone runs fine. As soon is i turn off the music the screen turns off it freezes sometimes reboots in to download mode.

Sent from my SM-N910P using JellyBombed Tapatalk 2
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] LMMT:
I think "mmc_read failed" is probably the main evidence of the start of hardware failure.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cushgrunt:
If it is that sucks because my phone is out of warranty. Has anyone tried to pull and Odin the PIT file to see if the partition is corruppted. I cant find it for my phone

Sent from my SM-N910P using JellyBombed Tapatalk 2
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
Brand new? Is it still under warranty? Insurance? I think the usually give a refurbished unit.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] LMMT:
Do you have insurance on it, from sprint?
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cushgrunt:
I have never carried any insurance on my phones ive been lucky untill this week ive had it for 1y and 3 months

Sent from my SM-N910P using JellyBombed Tapatalk 2
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
I do. The question is whether you get a brand new unit or refurb
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] LMMT:
I'm getting a brand new, not refurbished N4
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
Based on what? Do you have insurance? Under warranty? Did you buy it recently?

Other people are having this issue. If you were able to get a new one. Tell us how it went down and how you did it because usually they give refurb models.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] LMMT:
I bought two when they were first released in 2014. Yes, I do have insurance. There weren't any refurbished ones available. I could have gotten a N5, but didn't want the downgrade, so I'm lucky enough to get a brand new one.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mlongue1:
... well, 3 weeks later, after my phone has just kept getting worse, i have made a discovery and adjustment that may help others with this problem... my version of Greenify had been updated, and new settings have appeared, and at least one of those was definitely causing at least some of my problems... under Settings/Working Mode (root), uncheck ` alternative screen off mode `...I have used Greenify for years, and i guess i just automatically checked that setting... anyway, unchecking that has made a world of difference... still not perfect, but definitely MUCH MUCH BETTER... the current version is 2.8.1... i unchecked the other setting also, the one about the notifications, also... so you may want to check this out, and maybe try it, my phone is much better right now... more too com...
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
Mine is getting worse or worse. I'm about to offload all data, then do a hard reset/wipe and see.

I've gotten 3x mmc_failure requiring a battery pull for 30 seconds (soft reset).

More and more frequent samsung note 4 screen hangs before the spark screen comes up.

It's looking more and more like hardware failure. I've got TEP so I'm going to see what they'll do for me. Deductible free new note 4 or maybe may satisfy but honestly the Note 4 has been a badass little device. My note 2 still works but I pushed the N4 800% harder. Especially 0-100-0% use and change marathons.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mlongue1:
i have made a few other adjustments that seem to have helped, even if it is just a little bit... i turned off "force gpu rendering" in dev options... turned off all extra settings in greenify... turned off "cpu voltage adjustments" in synapse... and this is all i can remember at the moment... and now it works pretty much as it should, except for shutdowns and restarts... any shutdown and/or normal restart results in having to remove battery and wait for a while, possibly a long while... since i am on noterized, i can do a "hot reboot" , and that works great... so, for the time being, i am trying very very hard not to have to shudown... so, i will keep working on this and waiting on a note 6... and i will of course provide updates to this problem as i have time, maybe it will help someone...
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] cuteman:
What steps did you go thru with the sprint store or did you contact TEP directly? Did you do a hard reset before hand? Trying to see what steps you took so I can get the same results. I'm getting more reboot loops and mmc_read failures.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] angel85lxnote2:
Is there away to format the internal storage recovery and all. I see a pattern of issues happening after 5.0.1 update. I also have the wake up issue and it started on 5.0.1 that's what made me try cm13 ,note 5 ROM all having wake up issues to resetting. I seen here people say hardware but to me seems software. I have done twrp wipe and advanced wipes but I notice the internal will not be erased. Is that correct?? Does it skip files that are erase protected. If so all those files or just one file is corrupted won't that affect any ROM we flash over it?? I am thinking it as a computer hard drive where I want to do a complete format and really start fresh.
[Sprint  Galaxy Note 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hitdog44:
I am also having the same random reboot issues and screen doesn't wake up so i have to pull the battery. Has anyone tried uberwipe? I believe that should wipe everything. Do you think its worth reformatting the sd card after it has been backed up to your laptop?