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Thinking of rooting, questions

Hey guys! New and proud TF300T owner. I got it last Friday and am absolutely LOVING it so far. This will be my 8th android device of all time and I am starting to get that itch to root it. First and foremost, i'm on the .30 firmware. This is the newest version and it updated as soon as i turned it on. I'm hoping that won't be a problem.
My first question, should i root? I'm loving ICS and i haven't seen a LOT of different ROMs available in the thread. Since this is my first android Tablet i'm sort of asking myself, why should i root? The Pad is very, very fast. The OS is nearly perfect. So i'm wondering, besides the obvious "Because we can" answer, why did you root yours?
I saw this guide :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1706588
Do you guys think its the best way to go? Should i unlock w/Asus tool before i start this guide? Can anyone recommend a rom? I heard CM10 is coming to the 300 and i have always loved Cyan since my days with the G1.
So, in conclusion.
1. What do you, personally, feel are the advantages?
2. Is the guide above the SAFEST way to root? (DEFINITELY don't want a brick)
3. Unlock bootloader?
4. Roms?
5. If it ain't broke, don't fix it? Or - If it ain't root, lets break it? hehehe
Thanks in advance for your responses!!!

It all depends on you. I rooted mine and am using CM10 (Jellybean 4.1.1) and love it. Stock is actually pretty good though on this device, usually stock Android blows. I would think you would have to be dumb to brick your device at this stage, everything is pretty simple, and you have ways to getting back to stock with ease anyway.
This is what I did. I unlocked my boot loader using the tool from asus, I then flashed CMW from here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1668173 , after booting into fast boot (power on, hold down vol, on the next screen you have three icons, select the middle one), and then flashed the root file. You have to put your ROMs you want to flash on the tablet memory, CMW doesn't support external memory yet.
Have fun!

Turbojugend said:
It all depends on you. I rooted mine and am using CM10 (Jellybean 4.1.1) and love it. Stock is actually pretty good though on this device, usually stock Android blows. I would think you would have to be dumb to brick your device at this stage, everything is pretty simple, and you have ways to getting back to stock with ease anyway.
This is what I did. I unlocked my boot loader using the tool from asus, I then flashed CMW from here - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1668173 , after booting into fast boot (power on, hold down vol, on the next screen you have three icons, select the middle one), and then flashed the root file. You have to put your ROMs you want to flash on the tablet memory, CMW doesn't support external memory yet.
Have fun!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I question for you? Now that you are running CM10 Jellybean, do you see any improvement with the I/O problem (very slow R/W) and what about flash player? Thanks
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using Tapatalk 2

1. What do you, personally, feel are the advantages?
adjust settings, and run cmd's or scripts from cmd line
which can not be done without root
lots apps require root as well
2. Is the guide above the SAFEST way to root? (DEFINITELY don't want a brick)
yes the debugfs link you posted is the safest way to root, and it is drop dead easy
3. Unlock bootloader?
I did, and I don't regret
4. Roms?
hydro is based on stock and is smokin fast
night and day difference
5. If it ain't broke, don't fix it? Or - If it ain't root, lets break it? hehehe
if it aint root, let's break it!
I could not handle not having root
there's too many things I do that require it

Thanks for the great responses guys! Think i'll go ahead and get started...So,
1.Asus Unlock Tool
2. Root
3. TWRP flash, back up current rom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D2ATyGP5JAk#!) using this guide
4. Flash rom!
5. Success!
Sound right?

thatisandwas said:
Thanks for the great responses guys! Think i'll go ahead and get started...So,
1.Asus Unlock Tool
2. Root
3. TWRP flash, back up current rom (http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=D2ATyGP5JAk#!) using this guide
4. Flash rom!
5. Success!
Sound right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sounds right, I do have 1 suggestion or maybe just a simplification
if you plan to use TWRP
download gooManager from the play store, it has an option that will install TWRP for you automatically
and also don't forget
step 3.5 go into TWRP and make a nandroid backup, and copy the backup to somewhere same
I doubt you'll have any issues, but better to have a backup
and not need it
than need a backup and not have it

Just my personal opinion ... unless you just have to have a custom ROM, forget unlocking and just root it. You won't violate your warranty and we're going to be getting jelly bean in a few months from Asus. This is exactly what I did running v30 and I'm loving it this way. Stock ROM isn't too bloated.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

Yeah...I haven't taken the plunge yet. Its my day off and i love tinkering with stuff like this but i'm just having a hard time justifying unlocking/flashing on a device that already performs so well. Torn!

thatisandwas said:
Hey guys! New and proud TF300T owner. I got it last Friday and am absolutely LOVING it so far. This will be my 8th android device of all time and I am starting to get that itch to root it. First and foremost, i'm on the .30 firmware. This is the newest version and it updated as soon as i turned it on. I'm hoping that won't be a problem.
My first question, should i root? I'm loving ICS and i haven't seen a LOT of different ROMs available in the thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First answer, rooting isn't the same as unlocking and flashing! You can root without unlocking, like others have said there aren't that many ROMs out there and the stock is pretty good IMO.

tf300..
KAD79 said:
sounds right, I do have 1 suggestion or maybe just a simplification
if you plan to use TWRP
download gooManager from the play store, it has an option that will install TWRP for you automatically
and also don't forget
step 3.5 go into TWRP and make a nandroid backup, and copy the backup to somewhere same
I doubt you'll have any issues, but better to have a backup
and not need it
than need a backup and not have it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, I just unlocked my tf300-will I not be able to get jellybean at all when it comes out?!

You will have to flash the stock update through cwm or twrp, whichever recovery you used.
Sent from my Transformer Pad TF300T using xda premium

I havent unlocked yet but its my day off now and im thinking about doing it now. The only thing im worried about is i keep seeing people having issues like "soft brick after restore"...i mean whats that about? I have backed up/restored and flashed a million roms on all my other unlocked android devices over the years and have NEVER had a soft brick just doing a restart? I mean i suppose ive gotten a bad rom before that wouldnt boot but when that happens i just usually go back to recovery and restore what i had before. Also, it seems like TWRP has more issues then CWM at this point. Is that just me, or is that true ? What the advantage of TWRP then if that is the case? Sigh...I wanna unlock and flash it so bad! But i just can't bring myself to do it for some reason!

How to update to Jelly Bean?

Before anybody says to use the search function, I've been looking through the general topics non-stop for one that applies to my situation, and either it slipped through the cracks (likely) or it doesn't exist (not likely).
Basically, my tablet is rooted and unlocked, and I'm on ICS; the first one that had face unlock in it. I'd really like to update my tab to JB, but I need to be pointed toward directions for updating a rooted and unlocked tab. But on top of that, I also need recent instructions, because I know that earlier attempts at getting this thing updated have resulted in lots of bricked tabs.
If anybody could tell me if it's possible to update my tablet to JB right now, I'd appreciate it, and if someone has figured out how to do it, can you please point me toward that thread? I'd really appreciate it.
-Tim

I'm in the same configuration, custom-ics-rom with twrp recovery on unlocked device.
I believe the first thing to do is enabling NVFLASH, that will make things safer also in the worst cases.
I did that and now hopefully I have an unbrickable device.
I'm a bit confused on how to go forward, I know that there are two versions of twrp, maybe I should install the JB version, booting inside it and then flash the downloaded JB update from ASUS site, or use the twrp for ICS for flashing and after that install the JB version ?
Anyone knows what is the correct option ?
Giuseppe
Tim 13 said:
Before anybody says to use the search function, I've been looking through the general topics non-stop for one that applies to my situation, and either it slipped through the cracks (likely) or it doesn't exist (not likely).
Basically, my tablet is rooted and unlocked, and I'm on ICS; the first one that had face unlock in it. I'd really like to update my tab to JB, but I need to be pointed toward directions for updating a rooted and unlocked tab. But on top of that, I also need recent instructions, because I know that earlier attempts at getting this thing updated have resulted in lots of bricked tabs.
If anybody could tell me if it's possible to update my tablet to JB right now, I'd appreciate it, and if someone has figured out how to do it, can you please point me toward that thread? I'd really appreciate it.
-Tim
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Keep ICS, as JB will cause much trouble especially if you are rooted, trying to OC and is generally slowein my opinion

I prefer to try it anyway, tomorrow I will try flashing, after all if something will go wrong I should be able to recover with nvflash.
[
QUOTE=grimsonfart;32974661]Keep ICS, as JB will cause much trouble especially if you are rooted, trying to OC and is generally slowein my opinion[/QUOTE]

Thank you, Grim. That's disappointing to hear about JB, but if you think that my current build is better than that (which makes sense considering I've seen at least one thread about downgrading from JB to ICS), then I will keep my tab on ICS for now, and thank you for your input, I appreciate it.
-Tim

If you have twrp recovery, can't you download the jb ROM from the Asus site for your region and flash it in? I'm unlocked and that's how I upgraded one version of jb to another, but my ICS to jb was ota, so in your case I can't speak from experience. There is a full upgrade, and root guide in the general section.
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

I just managed to do what you re looking to achieve.
I m pretty noob so it tok me a whole day to figure it out.
So first download jb update on asus website (pick the right one for ur type of tf300)
Flash it through adb
At that point i got jb installation working but bootloop
So i flashed jb version of twrp (adb)
I then went in recovery and flashed clean rom 2.5 which worked flawlessly
Just for the fun i did factory reset afetrwards and stock jb eventually launched right
Sent from my ASUS Transformer Pad TF300T using xda app-developers app

gst0098 said:
I'm in the same configuration, custom-ics-rom with twrp recovery on unlocked device.
I believe the first thing to do is enabling NVFLASH, that will make things safer also in the worst cases.
I did that and now hopefully I have an unbrickable device.
I'm a bit confused on how to go forward, I know that there are two versions of twrp, maybe I should install the JB version, booting inside it and then flash the downloaded JB update from ASUS site, or use the twrp for ICS for flashing and after that install the JB version ?
Anyone knows what is the correct option ?
Giuseppe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I successfully installed jb following the guide on this site, the only thing that was not working was the flashing of the stock rom, neither given options worked (fastboot flash recovery or fastboot flash system) , I discovered that our eepad has a partition nmed staging used for firmware installs. I then flashed with
fastboot flash staging blolb
and all went good.
Btw I find the JB better than ics, more responsive and smoother, and also if it is not yet overcooked.

[Q] A700 rooting question

Hi guys,
I've searched everywhere and can't get a definitive answer on this so here goes -
I'm a noob when it comes to Android, having recently defected from being an Apple Disciple (I got hacked off with iTunes and bored in general with the Daycare Centre which is iOS) and have recently acquired an Acer A700 tablet.
I have installed the JB update OTA and everything is working fine and am chomping at the bit to get it booted, but most of the posts I have read regarding unlocking the bootloader and rooting it relate to ICS.
My questions are -
Does the bootloader process apply regardless of Firmware? (Are there different versions for different Firmwares)
Can anyone point me in the direction of a decent tutorial on how to do this?
What happens regarding a future update? Do I have to revert back to stock and update from there or can i jump from one ROM to another? (I'm assuming that I can't use the OTA updates any more)
Sorry for the long OP and thanks in advance for your answers.

ianrobbie said:
Hi guys,
I've searched everywhere and can't get a definitive answer on this so here goes -
I'm a noob when it comes to Android, having recently defected from being an Apple Disciple (I got hacked off with iTunes and bored in general with the Daycare Centre which is iOS) and have recently acquired an Acer A700 tablet.
I have installed the JB update OTA and everything is working fine and am chomping at the bit to get it booted, but most of the posts I have read regarding unlocking the bootloader and rooting it relate to ICS.
My questions are -
Does the bootloader process apply regardless of Firmware? (Are there different versions for different Firmwares)
Can anyone point me in the direction of a decent tutorial on how to do this?
What happens regarding a future update? Do I have to revert back to stock and update from there or can i jump from one ROM to another? (I'm assuming that I can't use the OTA updates any more)
Sorry for the long OP and thanks in advance for your answers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Seeing you are on JB, then you have a JB bootloader.
You need to go here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1953917
And download Vorbeths easyroot2.0. It's for the 700.
You have to unlock your bootloader first, which shouldn't be an issue for you. Easy instructions for that.
Then download his package to a folder on your PC. (not sure, but you may have to download each file individually) Open a command window (shift & right mouse click) and type in whatever his instructions say. Should be painless.
Make sure USB Debugging is turned on first in your tablet (Settings/Developer Options/USB Debugging), and make sure you have the Acer Drivers installed on your PC.
Then connect, wait 30 seconds, and run his batch file.
You should be ok.
MD
Oh yes, one more thing, once you unlock your bootloader, chances are you will not be able to get OTA. And the only way to re-lock the bootloader is to install a stock rom.

Thanks!
Thanks for the reply. I am now the owner of a fully rooted A700!
Had a few issues during unlocking the bootloader. That thing timeouts quick! Also, didn't realise you had to run the .bat file while the tablet was on the Bootloader USB protocol screen. I thought you had to wait until it booted fully into JB.
Anyway, took the plunge and thanks again for your help.

ianrobbie said:
Thanks for the reply. I am now the owner of a fully rooted A700!
Had a few issues during unlocking the bootloader. That thing timeouts quick! Also, didn't realise you had to run the .bat file while the tablet was on the Bootloader USB protocol screen. I thought you had to wait until it booted fully into JB.
Anyway, took the plunge and thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I thought I mentioned it timed out in about 5 seconds These days I don't remember much
Yeah, I haven't looked at Vorbeth's script, so I don't know which screen he launches it from. With mine for the 701, you can be when the tab is running normal. No difference in the end result though
Happy Hunting!
MD

One last question - do I have to install Clockwork Recovery for re-flashing the stock images or is it just a case of renaming it update. zip and putting it on an SD Card? Any chance you can point me in the right direction of the most recent/stable build? Is it easy to install?
Thanks again.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda app-developers app

ianrobbie said:
One last question - do I have to install Clockwork Recovery for re-flashing the stock images or is it just a case of renaming it update. zip and putting it on an SD Card? Any chance you can point me in the right direction of the most recent/stable build? Is it easy to install?
Thanks again.
Sent from my GT-I9305 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, this is a trouble spot.
If you wish to install a custom rom, then you will need to install CWM. The most recent version.
If you want to try your luck at installing a stock rom, my opinion, is to leave the stock recovery inplace. I haven't had luck in installing stock update.zips, as Acer has made them very specific. So I can't be much help to you in that.
However, you can always flash back to CWM or a stock JB recovery pretty easy. Personally, unless you plan on flashing a custom, I would just leave the stock recovery.
MD
Sometimes "leaked" update appear here in the forums. They are unofficial. And you never know if they improve things, or make things worse. So be careful.

Moscow Desire said:
Well, this is a trouble spot.
If you wish to install a custom rom, then you will need to install CWM. The most recent version.
If you want to try your luck at installing a stock rom, my opinion, is to leave the stock recovery inplace. I haven't had luck in installing stock update.zips, as Acer has made them very specific. So I can't be much help to you in that.
However, you can always flash back to CWM or a stock JB recovery pretty easy. Personally, unless you plan on flashing a custom, I would just leave the stock recovery.
MD
Sometimes "leaked" update appear here in the forums. They are unofficial. And you never know if they improve things, or make things worse. So be careful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, just for future reference, how would I go about re-flashing the stock image? I'm assuming it's saved on the tablet in a separate partition?
I've decided to stick with the stock rooted ROM but would like to know how to re-flash for when Key Lime Pie and future updates are released.
And, seeing as how you haven't steered me wrong so far, I though I'd pick your brains one last time.
Hope you don't mind!

[Q] About to unlock RAZR HD questions

I need to some help with making sure I am going the right way.
I've got a Razr HD - XT925 on the ROGERS/FIDO network.
The phone is rooted and I wanted to install Cyanogenmod on it. I used to have it on a Motorola Milestone and loved it. I would love to install Cyanogenmod on this phone as I liked the way you could tweak the phone more.
Android version is 4.1.2
Baseband - VANQUISH_U_BP_100700.220.65.33P
BUILD NUMBER - 9.8.2Q-8-XT925_VQL-12.2
SYSTEM VERSION - 98.21.12202.XT925.RCI.en.CA
Now I've had root for awhile now and ready to take the plunge. Here are the steps I think I should take.
1. Unlock with Motopocalyspe.
2. Install TWRP
3. Add Cyanogenmod img to SD Card.
4. Boot into recovery and install img file?
Given the type of phone I have will these steps be fine? I'd appreciate the help to know at least I am in the right direction. Thanks in advance!

i cant confirm your system version will let you unlock, but your steps are correct.

I've been to the Motorola site and it seems like I should be able to unlock. I would rather unlock using motopocalyspe though. Can anyone confirm?
Also regarding cyanogenmod, is it relatively stable? Camera works? Wireless? Which version is recommended?
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

dbbreaker said:
I need to some help with making sure I am going the right way.
I've got a Razr HD - XT925 on the ROGERS/FIDO network.
The phone is rooted and I wanted to install Cyanogenmod on it. I used to have it on a Motorola Milestone and loved it. I would love to install Cyanogenmod on this phone as I liked the way you could tweak the phone more.
Android version is 4.1.2
Baseband - VANQUISH_U_BP_100700.220.65.33P
BUILD NUMBER - 9.8.2Q-8-XT925_VQL-12.2
SYSTEM VERSION - 98.21.12202.XT925.RCI.en.CA
Now I've had root for awhile now and ready to take the plunge. Here are the steps I think I should take.
1. Unlock with Motopocalyspe.
2. Install TWRP
3. Add Cyanogenmod img to SD Card.
4. Boot into recovery and install img file?
Given the type of phone I have will these steps be fine? I'd appreciate the help to know at least I am in the right direction. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can anyone confirm my system version will be able to be unlocked? That motocopolypse is the way to unlock this phone? 93 views and no one can bother with an answer? Cmon people a little help here

dbbreaker said:
Can anyone confirm my system version will be able to be unlocked? That motocopolypse is the way to unlock this phone? 93 views and no one can bother with an answer? Cmon people a little help here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im here a lot, and i dont know, keep your panties on.
why dont you just try it and see if it works? there is no risk that im aware of, its either going to work or do nothing.

bweN diorD said:
im here a lot, and i dont know, keep your panties on.
why dont you just try it and see if it works? there is no risk that im aware of, its either going to work or do nothing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well since this was a question and answer forum on Razr HD I thought it would be helpful if anyone else had any experience with this phone version and if any hiccups occured. So I would know what to expect. Obviously I could just try and see what happens as you say but given that I would be voiding my warrenty when I do unlock, I just wanted to hear from others with this phone. Also from reading some posts on these forums I wouldn't say unlocking is without some risks as you say. But thanks for your insightful and helpful comment.

dbbreaker said:
Well since this was a question and answer forum on Razr HD I thought it would be helpful if anyone else had any experience with this phone version and if any hiccups occured. So I would know what to expect. Obviously I could just try and see what happens as you say but given that I would be voiding my warrenty when I do unlock, I just wanted to hear from others with this phone. Also from reading some posts on these forums I wouldn't say unlocking is without some risks as you say. But thanks for your insightful and helpful comment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i do what i can to help this dying forum
my sarcasm is just a bonus

i have the same phone...did u motochopper for root? just got the phone and am trying to get my head around this...i'm still not sure if i'll return it so wondering as u are about unlocking the bootloader. the moto site disclaimer sounds like if u unlock, nothing will work again and i guess you'll be registered with big brother lol
dbbreaker said:
I need to some help with making sure I am going the right way.
I've got a Razr HD - XT925 on the ROGERS/FIDO network.
The phone is rooted and I wanted to install Cyanogenmod on it. I used to have it on a Motorola Milestone and loved it. I would love to install Cyanogenmod on this phone as I liked the way you could tweak the phone more.
Android version is 4.1.2
Baseband - VANQUISH_U_BP_100700.220.65.33P
BUILD NUMBER - 9.8.2Q-8-XT925_VQL-12.2
SYSTEM VERSION - 98.21.12202.XT925.RCI.en.CA
Now I've had root for awhile now and ready to take the plunge. Here are the steps I think I should take.
1. Unlock with Motopocalyspe.
2. Install TWRP
3. Add Cyanogenmod img to SD Card.
4. Boot into recovery and install img file?
Given the type of phone I have will these steps be fine? I'd appreciate the help to know at least I am in the right direction. Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

peladoro said:
i have the same phone...did u motochopper for root? just got the phone and am trying to get my head around this...i'm still not sure if i'll return it so wondering as u are about unlocking the bootloader. the moto site disclaimer sounds like if u unlock, nothing will work again and i guess you'll be registered with big brother lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey
Yeah I used motochopper to root my phone. Didn't have any problems with that. I then tried motocopolyspe to unlock the phone and it went without a hitch. Motopocolypse does exactly what the official website would do. I was relieved that it was so painless. And the phone is working like a charm. No problems! I then installed TWRP. Didn't really have any problems with that other then getting a message that the image file was invalid. When I investigated the problem more I found for some reason the image file was not complete so I redownloaded it and it worked after that. I now have Cyanogenmod running on the phone since Saturday and so far things are running great and no crashes or resets! Going to play around it it more and let you know. Let me know if you need any help with the steps I took. So you have exactly same phone? On the Fido network?

hey!!!
yes sir...i have the exact phone as you and am on the rogers network. was relieved to see your post cuz i just received the phone last friday and am unfamiliar with motorola...have/had a samsung infuse and am much more familiar with the those rooting methods. i had asked on other threads about the process and have read up on rosenberg's tool that i have to root first then unlock but having read the ominous warnings on the moto site about unlocking i was hesitant to use that...i love the battery life on this thing but was concerned about the ease of customizing but if u say it worked for u i think i'll keep it and take the plunge lol. yeah that would be great if u could help out on the steps as well...
thx again!:good:
dbbreaker said:
Hey
Yeah I used motochopper to root my phone. Didn't have any problems with that. I then tried motocopolyspe to unlock the phone and it went without a hitch. Motopocolypse does exactly what the official website would do. I was relieved that it was so painless. And the phone is working like a charm. No problems! I then installed TWRP. Didn't really have any problems with that other then getting a message that the image file was invalid. When I investigated the problem more I found for some reason the image file was not complete so I redownloaded it and it worked after that. I now have Cyanogenmod running on the phone since Saturday and so far things are running great and no crashes or resets! Going to play around it it more and let you know. Let me know if you need any help with the steps I took. So you have exactly same phone? On the Fido network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

So how are things with the flashing? I saw on YouTube the procedures for rooting unlocking and placing the recovery IMG file to make it stick...with fastboot...is that pretty much how u did it? I mean for twrp...
Sent from my XT925 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Any way to downgrade bootloader after going to 4.4.2?

I just got given a Verizon Galaxy S3 by my friend, since he just got a new iPhone and my phone's battery only lasts a couple hours at this point.
He's not a techie and was running the stock ROM. I've always been one to run CM.
He's done the OTA update and the system is 4.4.2, NE1 build. I've read all over that you can't downgrade to a ROM of a lower version because of the bootloader. I don't like the idea of having a locked bootloader, nor having to use safestrap over CWM. And definitely not being limited to TouchWiz based ROMs.
I found this, which is a bootloader downgrade on the same phone, but it's before the pew pew pew mega lockdown got put on these phones, I think.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/how-to-flash-to-bootloader-updated-t2083860
I also found several videos on Youtube of people claiming they downgraded from 4.3 (not sure if it's ok to post external links, so I won't, but it's an easy search).
But, I don't necessarily trust this. XDA is usually the source I trust. Thanks, and sorry if this gets asked all the time! I did search!

DrSteveBrule1 said:
I just got given a Verizon Galaxy S3 by my friend, since he just got a new iPhone and my phone's battery only lasts a couple hours at this point.
He's not a techie and was running the stock ROM. I've always been one to run CM.
He's done the OTA update and the system is 4.4.2, NE1 build. I've read all over that you can't downgrade to a ROM of a lower version because of the bootloader. I don't like the idea of having a locked bootloader, nor having to use safestrap over CWM. And definitely not being limited to TouchWiz based ROMs.
I found this, which is a bootloader downgrade on the same phone, but it's before the pew pew pew mega lockdown got put on these phones, I think.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s3/general/how-to-flash-to-bootloader-updated-t2083860
I also found several videos on Youtube of people claiming they downgraded from 4.3 (not sure if it's ok to post external links, so I won't, but it's an easy search).
But, I don't necessarily trust this. XDA is usually the source I trust. Thanks, and sorry if this gets asked all the time! I did search!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That Guide mentions 4.1 which had the ability to be unlocked, do not even attempt to try to unlock the bootloader as you will brick your device.
Once the device has taken the OTA to either 4.3 ML1 or 4.4.2 NE1 it's no longer unlock able and your stuck with it
Sent from my Nexus 5

ShapesBlue said:
That Guide mentions 4.1 which had the ability to be unlocked, do not even attempt to try to unlock the bootloader as you will brick your device.
Once the device has taken the OTA to either 4.3 ML1 or 4.4.2 NE1 it's no longer unlock able and your stuck with it
Sent from my Nexus 5
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Welp, thanks for confirming the worst.
I'll be heading over here now...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...st-7-10-14-t2812189/post54062704#post54062704

I just picked up an i535 with NE1 today for cheap. It looks like I am in the same boat you are.
It will not be my daily driver, I have an i747 for that - so still an SGS3. It looks like I have a lot of reading to do regarding the i535. I had seen the term locked bootloader and was thinking it meant similar as to on my i747. That is, you can not downgrade the bootloader to an older version. For my other device I can still flash custom ROMs even if I am on a 4.4.x bootloader, whether TW or AOSP based. I guess that may be difficult with the i535.

bootloader downgrade with JTAG ?
I'm also in the same boat. After one day of trying to install cyanogenmod on this device, brick the phone, reinstall the stock rom 44.2, trying again, brick again, etc., I get that we can only install custom recovery with a lower version of bootloader.
Now, as DrSteveBrule1, I think there is a way to install the older bootloader with JTAG. Does anyone on XDA have experience that he can share regarding this ? I have several JTAG devices at work but I'd like to have confirmation that it can work and some instruction if possible.
Thanks again to XDA forums (this is my first post )

Tomo59 said:
I'm also in the same boat. After one day of trying to install cyanogenmod on this device, brick the phone, reinstall the stock rom 44.2, trying again, brick again, etc., I get that we can only install custom recovery with a lower version of bootloader.
Now, as DrSteveBrule1, I think there is a way to install the older bootloader with JTAG. Does anyone on XDA have experience that he can share regarding this ? I have several JTAG devices at work but I'd like to have confirmation that it can work and some instruction if possible.
Thanks again to XDA forums (this is my first post )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jtag should work (don't quote me on that however) Jtag is pretty much the only option you have to downgrade the bootloader once it's locked. People have confirmed it working but not everyone has had the same results
Sent from my Nexus 5