[Galaxy S 5 General] DeepPurple72:
WARNING: BE CAREFUL WITH PLAYSTORE UPDATES! YOU MAY LOSE ROOT!!!

maybe the security policies package can be disabled/removed to prevent this. idk.

hmmm.... After Some playstore updates, it appears I lost root.....

I think it was a security policy update that screwed me......

On top off that, messing around with system files for the fingerprint scanner, I got stuck on

a boot screen, with CUSTOM and a lock on it. I could adb shell, but root is gone!

Reflashed Factory Test. Still stuck CUSTOM boot logo with a "LOCK" icon on it. Recovery doesnt work in test version.

Reflashed the 6.01, wiped data ( factory reset ).... Get Normal BOOT logo now, Boots into 6.01.... Re-enabled USB DEBUGGING & ALLOW UNKNOWN SW INSTALL options.

Reflashed Factory test.... ..... Trying to root again, but King Root keeps failing.... Worst case Im stuck with unroot 6.01 ( #%$$#@ !!!!!)

( I have unreliable wifi, and KR needs internet connection.... I'll keep trying to root again.... hope thats the issue! )

YEP.... Turned out to be stupid Wifi.... Just Sucessfully got ROOT again on Factory Test.....

===================================================================

The Steps I used to go from SM-903VL MM 6.01 to ROOTED SM-S902L KK 4.4.2

===================================================================

download the official stable version of ODIN 3.12.3 here: http://samsungodin.com/

download the SM-903vl 6.01 stock image ( in case you need to recover / de-brick ) from page 1

Download & downgrade to the factory test 4.4.2 SM-903vl Firmware from page 1 ( Using ODIN , use "AP" button for the .MD5 file )

root using KINGROOT PC version (windows) - INTERNET REQUIRED for KR to work! here: https://kingroot.net/thank-you-for-downloading-android-root-for-windows/

*** NOTE: May take a couple or few attempts to root phone. Exit & run KR again if no root.

(Also, try restoring 6.01 firmware, then try to downgrade again & root)

after ROOT successful, manually install stericson version of busybox: here: https://www.apk4fun.com/apk/6139/

( copy apk to internal SD via PC mtp & install it from MY FILES )

download the s902L 4.4.2 TFN firmware here: https://samsung-firmware.org/model/SM-S902L/ ( FREE, but have to register to DL )

(Windows use simg2img https://github.com/KinglyWayne/simg2img_win)

(Linux use a package manager to install simg2img)

Unzip the S902L KitKat Files to a folder, and then

use simg2img on cache.img.ext4 also ( *** temporarily rename it to system.ext4.img)

put the ext4 files in the same folder as simg2img.exe

open terminal or CMD prompt, then type:

simg2img system.img.ext4 system.img

simg2img cache.img.ext4 cache.img

then copy the system.img & cache.img to your INTERNAL SD card

next run these commands from linux terminal ( or Windows CMD prompt ):

adb shell

su

stop

dd if=/sdcard/cache.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/cache bs=10485760

dd if=/sdcard/system.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system bs=10485760

**** Then exit the adb shell by typing exit (enter) 2 times to get back to command prompt, then

adb reboot recovery

let recovery do its thing, then when it reboots and is on the samsung boot screen

quickly do another

adb reboot recovery

then do a wipe data (Factory reset), then reboot

( I downloaded these APKS manually on PC, & copied to SD. WIFI will work on phone, but not DATA until you fix APN! )

install TR.APK ( Towelroot 3.0 ) and ROOT your phone https://towelroot.com/tr.apk

install stericson busybox-free ( found it here: https://www.apk4fun.com/apk/6139/ )

install the PhoneInfo.apk and FIX the APN for LTE data to work (Link on this page FIX APN SETTINGS post)

install XPOSED INSTALLER 2.6.1 ( KITKAT ) if you want xposed - google it

install SElinuxToggle.apk from XDA to be able to change SElinux to Permissive - google it

install SuperSu from playstore, upgrade binary & disable knox - Normal Mode ( as theres no custom recovery )

install ViperFX & ViperXHifi ( The BEST AUDIO MOD by far! Nothing can touch this! ) - google it

install a file manager with root capabilites: Rename the ContextProvider.apk in /system/priv-app/ folder to ContextProvider.apk.old

you should have ROOTED s902L normal KK 4.4.2 rom with XPOSED & Viper4Android Audio

Everything should work, EXCEPT for the WIFI TETHER & FINGERPRINT SCANNER

*** I DO NOT TAKE CREDIT FOR THIS... I PUT ALL THE PIECES TOGETHER FROM DIFFERENT SOURCES ***

But, did want to share the steps used in more detail to do this! Thanks XDA Members!!!!