[ERROR] "Could not do normal boot" (AKA - Recovery Broken?)

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crobs808

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Dec 21, 2007
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I am about at my wits end...Rewind to two days ago...

Order of events:
1. Received my new S4 in the mail a few days ago to replace my old S3. I received the S4 fully updated with the NC5 OTA (yeah, I know, bad juju).
2. So I followed Surge's downgrade thread HERE and am now downgraded to the MK2 build, but with no sound and the telephone/calls app does not work.
3. I then downloaded GooManager and installed the OpenRecovery from TWRP, and it said it installed correctly. However, now I CANNOT GET INTO RECOVERY no matter how I try (via VolUp+Home+Power or via "Reboot into recovery" from the GooManager app). It just goes into Download mode with an error at the top in re that says "Could not do normal boot"
4. At this point the phone just boot loops into Download mode. Cannot go into recovery or the MK2 Rom. I then have to reflash the MK2 downgrade files in order (downgrade, system, cache) in order to get a working phone again :( and I have now probably done this at least 8 times. It is getting old.

So, I am curious what I need to do now. I have gone through the MK2 downgrade process multiple times and tried again to no avail. I also tried flashing the TWRP .Tar file (directly via Odin) but no luck also --- Is there like a super/clean ODIN file I can use that will also reset the recovery image on the phone? I feel that is my main problem, then I can fix the sound/phone problems after that.

This thing is 10x harder to get on CM than the S3 which I had running CM within 2 hours of ownership. I'd appreciate any help to get me back on path. :eek:
 
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crobs808

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Dec 21, 2007
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FYI - I can install Safestrap 3.71/3.72 and get into those fine, but if I want a chance of running CM I will need a Loki recovery right? If so, I just do not see how I am going to get there.

My ultimate goal is a clean rom, and I was so used to CM on my S3 that I'd hate to part with that, but if there is a Safestrap-friendly ROM that is very clean/similar, then I will take that any day. Ready to be done with this - easiest way out.

--edit--
Found this...can I just follow these steps or is that only for people still on MDK?? http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_jfltevzw
 
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joshm.1219

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May 7, 2013
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Yeah, pretty sure I am convinced of that now. :crying:

So, should I upgrade to the rooted-NC5 (Surge's method), and THEN put a Safestrap-custom-ROM on, or just do it now running rooted-MK2?

Well it depends. If you stay on mk2 you can only run 4.3 roms but there's a lot of them. If you upgrade then you can run 4.4 roms but there's only a couple right now.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
 
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crobs808

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Dec 21, 2007
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Well it depends. If you stay on mk2 you can only run 4.3 roms but there's a lot of them. If you upgrade then you can run 4.4 roms but there's only a couple right now.

Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk

I definitely want 4.4.x. I found THIS one called PurifieD (port by gogolie) which is supposed to be clean-ish. We'll see: http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23487008491966540
-edit-
^ hmm, no mirrors :( may try Fox and Hound instead:
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23487008491966537
^ and again...no mirrors.

Is there a consolidated link list of SS-compatible ROMs for the S4, or do I have to hunt and peck through the forum?
n/m - found a list of 4.3 roms, but it looks like I will have to hunt for 4.4 roms individually.

Conclusion: Going to try this rom: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2596654
I think I will sleep well tonight (crosses fingers)
 
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decaturbob

Senior Member
Mar 30, 2011
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I definitely want 4.4.x. I found THIS one called PurifieD (port by gogolie) which is supposed to be clean-ish. We'll see: http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23487008491966540
-edit-
^ hmm, no mirrors :( may try Fox and Hound instead:
http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23487008491966537
^ and again...no mirrors.

Is there a consolidated link list of SS-compatible ROMs for the S4, or do I have to hunt and peck through the forum?
n/m - found a list of 4.3 roms, but it looks like I will have to hunt for 4.4 roms individually.

Conclusion: Going to try this rom: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2596654
I think I will sleep well tonight (crosses fingers)

only a handful, so not that hard to locate in dev forum. Until hashcode comes out with a safestrap for verizon that enables rom slot creation for custom rom installs on 4.4 base phones I know many of us are staying clear of kitkat.
good luck
 

crobs808

Senior Member
Dec 21, 2007
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So I have not used Safestrap since my Moto X days a few years back, and I am having problems installing a new ROM. Here are my steps, please tell me if things have changed because I got unexpected results.

1. While running stock NC5 (rooted+SS installed), copied custom ROM (SS-friendly FoxHound port by gigili) and SU over to my internal sdcard (do not have an external as I never needed one for the S3)
2. Booted into SS and created a ROM slot in rom-slot1
3. Gave it the nickname FoxHound
4. Selected that rom-slot to be active, then went into advanced Wipe, and did Data, Cache, System, Dalvik
5. Went back to the Install menu so I could install the new ROM but there were no files. Actually, I found out it wiped my StockRom slot even though I have made the rom-slot1 active. Why?

Anyway, now I am back to a wiped stock NC5 and have to do this all over again. Am I supposed to not do step 4 (wipe) after I create the ROM slot? and Am I supposed to just install the custom rom in the Stock slot?
 
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crobs808

Senior Member
Dec 21, 2007
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Ugg forget it. I now tried flashing the custom ROM on the safe side without doing the WIPE step and just got a rom that looked identical to the stock except that DATA was broken. Forget this - I guess I just have to live with stock rooted, and modify/freeze apps. :(
 

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    There's absolutely no way to get cm, aosp, or twrp on your device .

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk
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    Yeah, pretty sure I am convinced of that now. :crying:

    So, should I upgrade to the rooted-NC5 (Surge's method), and THEN put a Safestrap-custom-ROM on, or just do it now running rooted-MK2?

    Well it depends. If you stay on mk2 you can only run 4.3 roms but there's a lot of them. If you upgrade then you can run 4.4 roms but there's only a couple right now.

    Sent from my SCH-I545 using Tapatalk