[Verizon Galaxy S 5 General] mms2020:
I wanted to update PB1 Lollipop to PF4-6.0 and unlock the boatloader. All that information is available on this forum in different posts, but requires some degree of back ground knowledge and is not always easy to follow for newbie’s like me. BY trial and error, and reading lot of thread postings, I was able to accomplish the goal. I am posting this guide as it may be helpful for other newbies.

BIG thank you to jrkruse, GeTex, muniz_ri, and other developers who put up lot of work. All credits go to them and I don’t claim any credit for anything.

My phone had Samsung eMMC and that is why I was able to unlock the bootloader. If your phone has Toshiba eMMC, you can’t unlock the bootloader and have to stop after rooting installing the PB1 ROM.

You can check eMMC by opening this file “/sys/block/mmcblk0/device/cid” in a root explorer app (e.g. root explorer). If the first two number start with 15, then you have Samsung eMMC. If first two numbers are 11, then you have Toshiba EMMC and your boot loader is unlockable at this time.

Another way to check eMMC is by installing eMMC Brickbug Check from the

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=net.vinagre.android.emmc_check&hl=en

or from

https://apkpure.com/emmc-brickbug-check/net.vinagre.android.emmc_check/download?from=details

and then running the app.

Install PB1 ROM and then root following instructions from here

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/root-method-og5-ok3-t3290370

Before Doing Anything Please Install The Latest Samsung Drivers SAMSUNG_USB_Driver_for_Mobile_Phones_v1.5.45.0.exe

Installing PB1

You will lose all of your app data and apps installed, your internal storage will be fine, backup is recommended anyways

1. Download G900VVRU2BPB1_G900VVZW2BPB1_VZW.zip and unzip it

2. Reboot to recovery (Power+Volume Up+Home Button) and wipe data from recovery, reboot to bootloader

3. Plug In your phone and open Odin

3a. Make sure your phone is recognized (In the Odin Screen Under ID:COM the box under will be blue with your com port id #)

4. Click the AP button in the Odin Screen and locate and click on the G900VVRU2BPB1_G900VVZW2BPB1_G900VVRU2BPB1_HOME.tar .md5 this is the file that was unziped from the G900VVRU2BPB1_G900VVZW2BPB1_VZW.zip (Everything you do will be flashed via AP!!!!)

4a. This will take a few minutes for odin to load and verify MD5. When done in the odin message box it will say

5. Under options DO NOT CHANGE ANYTHING

6. Now click on Start

7. When finished you will get a green box that says PASS!

8. Phone will reboot automatically to recovery and finish updating then it will restart. It may be stuck on red Verizon screen for 10-15 minutes, so just be patient.

9. When Phone has finished loading and has booted up go through setup and do not add any google accounts or Samsung accounts or anything

OPEN DEVELOPER OPTION

Go to the settings menu on your GS5.

Scroll down to the "System section and tap "About Device."

Now scroll down to "Build number."

Tap the "Build number" section seven times. ...

Now back out to the main settings menu, and you'll see "Developer options" listed

Enable USB debugging

Uncheck “Verify apps via USB”

Go to Security

Check the box next to Unknown sources

Uncheck reactivation lock if it is checked (if you have a Samsung account click on reactivation lock enter your Samsung account and the tick should be off )

Go to Settings/Display and set your screen timeout to 5 min

Rooting Instructions

1. Download this zip GS5_LOLLIROOT_BLACKCAT.7z

2. Unzip folder.(You need a unzip application like 7z or Winrar).

ALSO COPY THIS FOLDER INTO SD CARD AND PUT IT IN THE PHONE

3. Open The Folder and click Bat file #1, “Install APKs” plug in your phone

On Allow USB debug message, check always allow this computer and click OK

Then follow directions

It will install APKs and then boot into bootloader “Downloading” and odin will open

Flash NK2_kernel.tar I AP slot

The phone will reboot get stuck on Samsung screen

Wait for the phone to reconnect

Press Enter flashing is complete to the root process can start

All the Steps for the main rooting process are done ON THE BAT FILES, READ THEM!!!!

If the root process hangs Close the bat, unplug phone pull battery and reboot phone to recovery (VolUp+Pwr+Home). In recovery wipe cache only and reboot. If phone reboots back to recovery instead, pull battery and manually reboot. Now Launch Bat #3 and then plug phone back in and

IF you get into android and cannot get root, Open bat file #2 and start from there again

If your phone wont reboot, use Bat #4 and try and enter download mode manually(VolDown+Pwr+Home)

When root is finished, pull your battery on your phone. Replace battery and reboot to download mode Power+Volume Down+Home

Use odin and Flash the VZW_BPB1_KERNEL_ONLY.tar.md5 Kernel through AP

IF STILL HAVING ISSUES RUNNING THE BAT FILES, REINSTALL PB1 THRU ODIN AND RESTART FROM SCRACTH

When phone reboots, go to the GS5_LOLLIROOT_BLACKCAT folder you placed on your phone

Open KRoot.apk and install it. Once installed open Kroot. Click The Up Arrows a couple of time until you get to Try It and click Try It and that's it. Don’t click nothing else just close Kingroot. You should now have root. If It says Root not available and the bat said your were rooted Reboot Phone and open KingRoot You should now be rooted (otherwise reboot phone and check again)

Now go to google play and install SuperSU-Me pro app (I purchased this app). Run it to remove kinguser and replace it with SuperSu. After this process open SuperSu and will ask to update binary click update normal

Copy this G900V_Fix Safestrap.zip (It may come in handy later on) to your SD Card and Internal Storage Copy Safestrap_Flashable_Kernels and Safestrap_Flashable_Firmware and anything else you want to install like the below rom

Now go to the folder on your SD card and open Busybox.apk Installer Allow SuperSu permission click on install.

After you get message about successful install, Click on Safstrap Allow SuperSu permission then click Install Safestrap after it installs, click open Safestrap and click on install/update recovery. After it is installed, click on “Reboot To Recovery”.

Make a backup of existing Rom In safestrap

Unlocking Boot Loader

Unlock the Galaxys S5 Bootloader using DEV Bootloader by Method 2

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909

Remove the phone’s SD card. Either back up all the files on the card to your computer or use another empty sd card as unlocker will wipe everything on the SD card during the process.

Copy Samsung_Bootloader_Unlocker.zip on to the card

Power off the phone and insert the sd card. Reboot the phone. Then Reboot into Safstrap by opening LP Safestrap Installer and clicking on “Reboot to Recovery”

Once into the Safestarp, install the Unlocker.

Reboot system when you get the Successful message

You will see a brief “Android is upgrading” screen

click on SamsungUnlocker app

Wait and make sure to grant SuperSu access. This may take a few seconds to come up

type yes in the terminal screen when it ask you (Yes/No) Hit enter on the keyboard

wait for phone to power off

reboot to bootloader (Power off phone, then press VolDwn+Pwr+Home and keep pressing till you see the bootloader, press then volume up) and verify it says MODE: Developer

While phone is still on the Bootloader" or "download mode, connect phone to computer thru USB and start Odin and flash Twrp recovery using Odin AP. Use TWRP 3.0.0. as newer versions have difficulty accessing the sd card. You can down load TWRP 3.0.0 for ODIN from https://dl.twrp.me/klte/twrp-3.0.0-0...e.img.tar.html

Reboot

Note: To re-use the sd card used for unlocking, format your SDcard in android OS, otherwise, use a Linux box and a card reader and use FDISK to wipe all the partitions, then it can be formatted correctly

Now copy following files on to the sdcard

-G900V_PF4_Stock_Deodexed_Debloated_Rooted_ROM.zip (For "Unlocked" Bootloaders Only!)

-TWRP_Prepare.zip

-PB1_Firmware_Only_NK2_Kernel.tar.md5

-S5_KLTE_USA_VZW.pit

-SafeStrap_PF4_Bootloader_Unlock_AIO.zip

MARSHMALLOW PF4-6.0.1 INSTALLATION

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/general/how-to-update-to-g900voe1-5-0-keeproot-t3149784

From the above thread, flash G900V_PF4_Stock_Deodexed_Debloated_Rooted_ROM.zip (For "Unlocked" Bootloaders Only!)

Reboot into TWRP by pressing the volUp+home+power button and release all the buttons as soon as you seen the initial few lines on top left of screen

Click Wipe then Click Advanced Wipe Then select System, Data, Cache. Then swipe to start wipe

Press Back button

Now flash the above ROM thru TWRP's Install button and then reboot

Phone will hang at the Verizon red screen

NOW FOLLOW INSTRUCTIONS FROM “If You Already Have Bootloader Unlocked And On A Samsung TW Rom” section of this thread

http://xdaforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development/rd-unlocking-galaxys-s5-bootloader-t3337909

Reboot into TWRP by pressing the volUp+home+power button and release all the buttons as soon as you seen the initial few lines on top of screen (If you reboot into android recovery, choose Reboot to bootloader and then reinstall TRWP thru Odin AP)

In TWRP Flash TWRP_Prepare.zip

Reboot system

It will reboot in to safstrap recovery (watch carefully as Safestrap Splash Screen is visible only for few seconds and then disappears – Choose recovery on the left side of the splash screen)

From safestrap, choose Reboot > Download

In Odin Under AP slot load PB1_Firmware_Only_NK2_Kernel.tar.md5

In Odin Under PIT load S5_KLTE_USA_VZW.pit

When finished on reboot watch for Safestrap Splash Screen and enter Safestrap (watch carefully as Safestrap Splash Screen is visible only for few seconds and then disappears)

Now go to Reboot Menu and click on Download Mode

Make sure in download mode the current binary is Samsung Official. If it says custom, repeat the above step till it shows Current Binary: Samsung official.

If Binary Status is Official Pull battery, restart and enter SafeStrap by choosing Recovery on the left side of the splash screen (DON’T press any buttons till you see safstrap screen and then enter)

Install: SafeStrap_PF4_Bootloader_Unlock_AIO.zip

Phone will Power Off.

Pull remove battery and then place it back

This process installs TWRP 3.2 which doesn't see the SD card. Hence, now we need to install TWRP 3.0.0

Reboot into TWRP by pressing the volUp+home+power button and release all the buttons as soon as you seen the initial few lines on top of screen. Click on Reboot and then Download button. When phone boots into Download mode, reflash TWRP 3.0.0 via ODIN AP

When phone reboots, It may be stuck on Verizon red screen for 10-15 minutes, just be patient.

That's it, you will now have on a rooted/unlocked PF4

2017-01-10: Edited the guide to make it simpler.

Sorry for not being able to answer questions in this thread as I have a very limited knowledge of this whole process.