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[Q] Help a noob make a safe upgrade...

Hello Everyone,
New member, longtime lurker here. I have a I535 Verizon GS3, and am rooted. It has been quite a while since I did that, and I just wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into before I tried to upgrade to a newer rom. The reason I want to upgrade is I currently have a Sony Smartwatch 2, that I love but I shattered the screen. In preparation to buy one of the new Android wearables, I need to be on a newer version of android as far as I can see.
Right now I am on: 4.1.2/ Baseband version, I535VRBMB1/ Kernel Version 3.031-86103/Build number JZO54K.I535VRBMB1
I am not sure what of that info is important so I posted it all. I don't remember the exact name of the rom I flashed before, but I think it was created by member Dalep, and it was something like "Stock Rooted". It was basically just a rooted version of the stock rom. My only reason for rooting was to use a wifi tethering app which has been working well for me. I was nervous with the initial rooting and flash process, so once I got what I needed I stopped working on it and used my phone as is until now. Now I would like some guidance on how to get my phone safely up to date.
1. I am running Clockwork Mod Recovery v6.0.2.3. Is this still usable or do I need to update it?
2. What rom would you all recommend for someone who wants a fairly stable phone and does not care so much about tinkering/customizing?
3. What does a nandroid backup do and what can I do with the backup (I did one before I installed this current rom)
4. What is the best way to get my phone back with the apps I have installed? (i.e. reinstall from Playstore, etc) I don't have many apps.
I am sure there will be more questions, but thank you for reading my long first post, I just want to make sure I am clear about my current state, skill level and intentions.
Thanks,
Victor

Update recovery to latest version of whichever recovery you prefer. I use TWRP. Flash the MF1 firmware and ML1 modem in that order. This will bring you as far up to date as possible without locking down the phone. Then you can flash any rom currently available. I run stock deodexed ML1 4.3 base and then mod it the way I want it. Scott has one in the rom threads. As far as nandroid it will make an image of your current setup in case you need to return due to problems or trying some other rom. There are several options for backing up apps such as TIBU, My Backup or even Google can restore your apps. Here is firmware and modem. Flash MF1 first and ML1 second. ML1 will replace the MF1 modem but leave rest of firmware (bootchain) at MF1 level and will retain root and unlock status.
Flash in recovery in order posted:
#1- MF1 Firmware -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591785
#2- ML1 Modem -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591786

Thanks for the response, I will flash those and check out that rom

Lollipop OTA

So i eventually received my lollipop OTA this morning (UK, EE).............
But what exactly do i do with it
I'm rooted (Locked BL). I obviously can't install the OTA the normal way, can i ?
I was waiting for some custom ROMS to be made available but don't seem to see any. Will these follow soon since the Lollipop update has went global?
I'm kinda torn tbh.... i have my phone set up perfectly on KitKat and it looks amazing and some of my favourite xposed tweaks aren't available on Lollipop e.g. Blurred System UI.
Anyway...If i should decide to install Lollipop (i probably will) what would be the best method?
(Are we talking going back to stock, installing OTA, then re-rooting, or is there a more simple method?)

I believe u only lose root. Install and re-root is my fiddy cent...

Download your respective firmware and make a pre-rooted rom based on it.
And flash it via recovery.

Stick with KitKat.

Sorry to hijack the thread but if I root without unlocking bootloader, will I get to update normally via ota or companion app? I don't mind losing root access if only to reboot later. And does it affect drm keys etc?

I'm rooted with kitkat and received the prompt for lollipop OTA. The point is it downloads but won't install, so to upgrade you'd need to use flashtool, PC companion or boot into recovery and flash an appropriate zip. None of those should have any effect on your DRM, but you'll lose root unless you're flashing a pre-rooted version of lollipop. If you do opt for a rooted version of lollipop it's still a bit unclear whether recovery is fully available to you, and xposed installer has a rack of issues either way...... you might want to hold for now?

Thanks for that I'll wait it out for now. The only real reason I was really updating was for the move to sd feature. Do anyone know of any alternatives?

The point is, I just wanted root until the ota. So it will update normally via sony PC companion?

OTA Can't Verify on Rooted Device
I noticed the update this morning. Phone rebooted like it was going to work but didn't. Now it allows me to download it over and over and each time it says "could not verify". Is there any good reason to want this update? I'm rooted on the 77fw and my phone works fine as is. I do not want to update and find out I lost root. Unless there is a very good reason to, I'll just wait and see if a rooted zip becomes available.
Stickin with kitkat. I will not run without root.

Galaxy S5- Upgrade From NCB to OG1?

I want to upgrade from NCB to OG1
Yes you read that correctly. Back when the S5 came out I rooted and haven't upgraded since. Its equal parts that I`m lazy and that when the first few updates came out most people were unimpressed or tried to downgrade. Why now? Because I've upgraded on my tablet, I like the latest software (that i plan to have for another year) and I would like it on my phone. I fully understand that i'll have to wipe all user data and that by the time I'm done my phone will think it's a virgin.
So I've been doing research on the matter and from what I can tell I have to upgrade to at least OD3 in order to successfully flash the OG1 update. My main questions are:
Can i just wipe all user data/dalvik and straight odin OG1 or should I do other versions first?
If I need to do steps what versions do i need to flash in order to successfully get to OG1 so I don't have to do all 7 individually?
Anything important i should do when going through this process? Yes I will do a full backup of my phone just in case.
Is it worth the headache?

Start first with OA6, if you don't like it you can be back to NCB. If you go for OG1 you will be stuck on Lollipop. And you can go straight to OG1

What he means is flash oa6 firmware but don't go past that build otherwise you won't be able to go back to Kitkat if you ever wanted to any build newer than oa6 blocks going back.
You can flash direct but you should format internal storage first so backup everything off of there first.

csmasn said:
Start first with OA6, if you don't like it you can be back to NCB. If you go for OG1 you will be stuck on Lollipop. And you can go straight to OG1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright I'll try that then, my main concern was updating the version. I had read elsewhere on the s5 forums that you had to be on a minimum version for it to work. Thanks for clearing that up.

Migrating from one M8 to another - sanity check

Sup guys,
I've rooted every phone I've had, but I do it so infrequently that I always have to refresh my memory with it. Current situation is that I have a rooted M8 running mostly stock 4.4.4 ROM, but with a bunch of Xposed mods and a few system tweaks - it's dialed in just the way I want it, but the screen is separating so I've got my hands on another M8 running 4.4.2. I basically want to get the 4.4.2 M8 to the state of my 4.4.4 device. I've already made a complete backup ROM from the 4.4.4 phone and I want to restore that ROM to the 4.4.2 device. With the 4.4.2 device, I plan to:
S-Off (Try Firewater. May or may not work. If doesn't work, try Sunshine)
Install recovery - CWM or TWRP
Flash Super SU
Update firmware from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52017763&postcount=2
Flash my complete backup ROM from my current device
Sanity check? Am I missing anything here? When I rooted my current M8 (4.4.2), weaksauce actually worked, and I flashed CWM recovery and Super SU by placing them on the SD card. That is what I plan to do again since that was so easy. Recommendations?
Cheers guys!

j006 said:
Sup guys,
I've rooted every phone I've had, but I do it so infrequently that I always have to refresh my memory with it. Current situation is that I have a rooted M8 running mostly stock 4.4.4 ROM, but with a bunch of Xposed mods and a few system tweaks - it's dialed in just the way I want it, but the screen is separating so I've got my hands on another M8 running 4.4.2. I basically want to get the 4.4.2 M8 to the state of my 4.4.4 device. I've already made a complete backup ROM from the 4.4.4 phone and I want to restore that ROM to the 4.4.2 device. With the 4.4.2 device, I plan to:
S-Off (Try Firewater. May or may not work. If doesn't work, try Sunshine)
Install recovery - CWM or TWRP
Flash Super SU
Update firmware from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52017763&postcount=2
Flash my complete backup ROM from my current device
Sanity check? Am I missing anything here? When I rooted my current M8 (4.4.2), weaksauce actually worked, and I flashed CWM recovery and Super SU by placing them on the SD card. That is what I plan to do again since that was so easy. Recommendations?
Cheers guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
firewater sever is taken down, even if you have an old version of it laying around it is useless.. you must pay for sunshine.
but other than that everything looks good.
you have your nandroid backup, on the new m8, s-off using sunshine, then update the firmware from 442 to 444, then flash custom recovery (TWRP is recommended), and then wipe and restore the nandroid and you should be good to go. :good:
(no need to flash supersu as the ROM you have backed up using nandroid is already rooted)

Many thanks! A couple of years ago when I did this I remember it being fairly straightforward. Do you personally find any real benefit in upgrading to one of the Lollipop ROMs this go 'round? Seems like it's more trouble than what you gain, though I may be uninformed of course..
Cheers!

j006 said:
Many thanks! A couple of years ago when I did this I remember it being fairly straightforward. Do you personally find any real benefit in upgrading to one of the Lollipop ROMs this go 'round? Seems like it's more trouble than what you gain, though I may be uninformed of course..
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find many benefits to LP over KK personally.
If you like a stock ROM we have stock based LP ROMs, and firmware.zip you can flash and you are up an running a stock LP ROM within 10 minutes. Sure you need to set things up, but most can be backed up and if you take some screen shots of everything it's pretty easy to get everything set up to your liking.
If you want some customization there are ROMs like mine, that come mostly stock with some benefits like root, busybox, etc, and then offer you a MOD Pack.
See ROM thread here
If you want to customize pretty much every aspect of the ROM you have Venom at your fingertips.
Venom ROM thread
There is the benefit of having all the security updates with the newest firmware.
We also have Marshmallow 6.0 ROMs out already that are rock solid.
A Google Play Edition ROM found here
And a Sense based ROM found here
You can also run some Sense 7 ROMs that are very stable, you can find one in my linked thread posted above, and in the Development area.
I personally would try things out, that's the great benefit of root/s-off/custom recovery/ROMs
You can always make a nandroid backup of your current ROM, and flash the older firmware to get right back where you left off.
Best of luck, enjoy your flashings

Samsung SM-J37V (Help needed)

ok so here is my situation. currently im on stock latest update for this model. i am trying to find the correct stock firmware to download just incase anything goes wrong in the future. What i wanted to do was root the phone even though i wanted the current rom and everything backed up. i dont want to root or modify anything without taking a backup beforehand first. i havent rooted or done phone mods in a while and i have a contract with Verizon for this phone and dont want to brick it or atleast be able to return it to stock before my next phone upgrade incase i have to send it back. im kind of unsure where to start even though i would like to know where i can find the first stock firmware and how to flash it later just incase anything goes wrong. currently i was annoyed by the inability to change the apn settings even to disable ipv6 for the mobile data connection. im not sure it is possible if verizon has it locked and i stay away from ipv6 as much as possible because of privacy concerns so i guess if i cant disable it on the mobile network i will turn mobile data off until it is needed for something i really need while on the go.
here is what i wanted to do:
find a stock firmware file for this model just incase i have to flash to restore all default settings. it doesnt really matter if its updated i would even prefer the original or first one before all the update unless it would be recommended to download the updated one as well.
i was going to root with dr.fone until i heard about magisk because it doesnt modify system boot files or something along the lines of that. the only thing is i would like to know after i root with magisk can it be un rooted without messing up any of the stock files, or interfere with future updates if unrooted?
also i would like TWRP installed as i might want to install custom firmware if possible however if i can i would like to backup the stock recovery before i flash TWRP just incase, unless the custom recovery and everything will be restore with the stock firmware zip that can be flashed above. other than that if i can get this far and get some insight to backup and have things prepared before i dive in to modifying again in hopes i have a backup plan incase anything goes bad.
all help is appreciated and its been a while since i modifying android phones especially for this phone model i been on stock since i had it so im kind of lost in a way since i havent had recent experience for a few years in android modding and rooting in a while. hopefully i can get some feedback as im kind of lost on where to start and dont want to mess up my phone incase i need to get back to everything stock.
waiting for your replies i will get back tomorrow to see if there are any responses. i know this is going to eat up a lot of my time as well and honestly it has been stressing me out even though after i get working on it i should feel better.
Thank You!