[Q] Need help with unlocking Bootloader

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

I am running Android 4.4.2 KitKat on my At&t Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. I have looked at so many forums and threads but none of them have been about an At&t S4 running 4.4.2. Can someone please help me with unlocking the bootloader of this thing since I want to get CM11 on it and I can't just switch phones since I am a student and didn't pay for the device. I would really appreciate a solid process instead of various vague ones since I had soft-bricked my phone and was fortunately able to recover it.

Thr33-F0ur · Aug 10, 2014

pulkitanand said:
I am running Android 4.4.2 KitKat on my At&t Samsung Galaxy S4 SGH-I337. I have looked at so many forums and threads but none of them have been about an At&t S4 running 4.4.2. Can someone please help me with unlocking the bootloader of this thing since I want to get CM11 on it and I can't just switch phones since I am a student and didn't pay for the device. I would really appreciate a solid process instead of various vague ones since I had soft-bricked my phone and was fortunately able to recover it.

Bootloader is locked down tight. Cm11 won't work, but there is a working Google play edition with safestrap

Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Free mobile app

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Can you give me more information on how I can get this GPE ROM on my S4? Also, is it the legit GPE ROM you are talking about? Will I be able to get updates from it?

Thr33-F0ur said:
Bootloader is locked down tight. Cm11 won't work, but there is a working Google play edition with safestrap

Sent from my GT-I9505G using XDA Free mobile app

Soulflame22 · Aug 10, 2014

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

there are two GPE roms that are currently working right now.

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Thanks Soulflame22 for that link. One last thing I need to clarify - are these legit GPE ROMS and will I be able to get future updates?

Soulflame22 said:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

there are two GPE roms that are currently working right now.

GuestX0019 · Aug 10, 2014

Soulflame22 said:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

there are two GPE roms that are currently working right now.

I would also read up on Hashcodes SafeStrap thread in Dev section.

It doesn't sound like you are close to flashing roms with your current build--

A few days or couple weeks of research can be very beneficial and prevent a bricked phone

Also this will get moved to Q&A

Good luck on the flashing--backup before doing anything new--:good:

Soulflame22 · Aug 10, 2014

Soulflame22 said:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

there are two GPE roms that are currently working right now.

pulkitanand said:
Thanks Soulflame22 for that link. One last thing I need to clarify - are these legit GPE ROMS and will I be able to get future updates?

As far as i know, you can't take OTA updates from google. and yeah you should also read about Safestrap as well. Since that is the only recovery we can use.

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Alright, I will read-up on those. But I have seen a few methods in which you use a Loki'd TWRP Recovery? Isn't that possible for my android version as well? Nobody specified in the methods that I saw, that's why I am asking.

rugmankc said:
I would also read up on Hashcodes SafeStrap thread in Dev section.

It doesn't sound like you are close to flashing roms with your current build--

A few days or couple weeks of research can be very beneficial and prevent a bricked phone

Also this will get moved to Q&A

Good luck on the flashing--backup before doing anything new--:good:

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Oh, okay thanks. Also, can't I use a Loki'd TWRP Recovery? Or is that not an option anymore since I'm running 4.4.2?

Soulflame22 said:
As far as i know, you can't take OTA updates from google. and yeah you should also read about Safestrap as well. Since that is the only recovery we can use.

Bweekzzz · Aug 10, 2014

What's up man? You can't use loki, TWRP, or anything else except safestrap. Read the link above for everything mk2, nb1, nc1. I know it's a lot, but read it. You should be on NC1, so first read root section for NC1. Then read recovery section and get safestrap 3.73. Then read the installation instructions for NC1 base. The GEE roms are ok, but not without bugs. I tried both of them and they weren't for me because of the bugs. I know it's a lot but those sections should get you there. Good luck k man. Oh yeah. You can't take OTA updates with the GPE rooms either. They are taken from GPE but modified to work with safestrap. The official updates won't work.

---------- Post added at 12:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 AM ----------

I meant safestrap 3.72. Not 3.73. Sorry. Typo.

Soulflame22 · Aug 10, 2014

pulkitanand said:
Oh, okay thanks. Also, can't I use a Loki'd TWRP Recovery? Or is that not an option anymore since I'm running 4.4.2?

Loki from what i understand is for 4.3 or earlier, since you are on 4.4.x, Loki won't work and you can't downgrade it either, sucks i know

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Thank you very much for clarifying the whole thing for me. I have read everything in that link given and now I understand how to do it. Have to say, it's quite a bit more to do for us At&t users. I don't know why Samsung chose to lock the bootloader -.-

Bweekzzz said:
What's up man? You can't use loki, TWRP, or anything else except safestrap. Read the link above for everything mk2, nb1, nc1. I know it's a lot, but read it. You should be on NC1, so first read root section for NC1. Then read recovery section and get safestrap 3.73. Then read the installation instructions for NC1 base. The GEE roms are ok, but not without bugs. I tried both of them and they weren't for me because of the bugs. I know it's a lot but those sections should get you there. Good luck k man. Oh yeah. You can't take OTA updates with the GPE rooms either. They are taken from GPE but modified to work with safestrap. The official updates won't work.

---------- Post added at 12:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 AM ----------

I meant safestrap 3.72. Not 3.73. Sorry. Typo.

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Oh, okay thanks for clarifying that. Yeah, it's unfortunate that I can't downgrade :/

Soulflame22 said:
Loki from what i understand is for 4.3 or earlier, since you are on 4.4.x, Loki won't work and you can't downgrade it either, sucks i know

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Which ROM do you recommend from the list of ROMs given in that link?

Bweekzzz said:
What's up man? You can't use loki, TWRP, or anything else except safestrap. Read the link above for everything mk2, nb1, nc1. I know it's a lot, but read it. You should be on NC1, so first read root section for NC1. Then read recovery section and get safestrap 3.73. Then read the installation instructions for NC1 base. The GEE roms are ok, but not without bugs. I tried both of them and they weren't for me because of the bugs. I know it's a lot but those sections should get you there. Good luck k man. Oh yeah. You can't take OTA updates with the GPE rooms either. They are taken from GPE but modified to work with safestrap. The official updates won't work.

---------- Post added at 12:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:01 AM ----------

I meant safestrap 3.72. Not 3.73. Sorry. Typo.

cxzzcx · Aug 10, 2014

pulkitanand said:
Which ROM do you recommend from the list of ROMs given in that link?

Please read the links and resources on the forums before asking questions. If you bothered to read the GPE pages, they indicate that both roms are pretty much the same as they are based on the same rom. Also, AT&T decided to ship with a locked bootloader. Samsung gives that option to carriers and it's their decision on that.

Bweekzzz · Aug 10, 2014

It really wouldn't matter if I suggested some roms because once you get started you'll be flashing them all sooner or later like most of us. LOL. Honestly the best thing to do is flash one, use it for about a week. If you don't like it, try another one. Once you get the hang of flashing them is not a big deal when you want to try another one. Titanium backup your user apps and restore them after you flash roms. Just the user apps, not system stuff. Easy peasy. What I usually do is do a search on you tube for a review of the rom I wanna try and see if I might like it. The guy from androidrootz usually does good ones. Have fun man. It's quite an addiction at times. LOL.

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Haha I know what you mean. I had a Sony Xperia Ion before and I used to mod some little thing on it all the time. It is quite an addiction lol. Yeah I will probably end up doing that although I am hoping that the GPE will be good enough for me. Thanks.

Bweekzzz said:
It really wouldn't matter if I suggested some roms because once you get started you'll be flashing them all sooner or later like most of us. LOL. Honestly the best thing to do is flash one, use it for about a week. If you don't like it, try another one. Once you get the hang of flashing them is not a big deal when you want to try another one. Titanium backup your user apps and restore them after you flash roms. Just the user apps, not system stuff. Easy peasy. What I usually do is do a search on you tube for a review of the rom I wanna try and see if I might like it. The guy from androidrootz usually does good ones. Have fun man. It's quite an addiction at times. LOL.

Bweekzzz · Aug 10, 2014

Oh yeah. And don't even pay attention to some people telling you to do this and that before asking questions, because you didn't bother to read something. How do they know what you read and MAYBE MISSED. They're all geniuses and never need to ask questions.

pulkitanand · Aug 10, 2014

Okay thanks for the tip.

Bweekzzz said:
Oh yeah. And don't even pay attention to some people telling you to do this and that before asking questions, because you didn't bother to read something. How do they know what you read and MAYBE MISSED. They're all geniuses and never need to ask questions.

[Q] Need help with unlocking Bootloader

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