G900V: Top / most popular CURRENT TouchWiz ROM

[bmilcsx]

Hey folks,

New to the rooting game. Downgraded my G900V from 5.0 -> 4.4.2 NCG, towelroot, SuperSu, Safestrap 3.75, Titanium backup. Backed up via SafeStrap custom recovery for stock and pasted it to my desktop as well as a full Titanium backup.

I am ready to enter the custom rom game! I am sad that I cannot try Cyanogenmod because that seems to be the top dog.

I am hoping to retain these earlier KitKat OS versions because they seem to run infinitely raster than stock 5.0 pre-root. However, I've never had one rooted and debloated so who knows.

I am looking for max customizability. I was all about customizing my UI like crazy prior to rooting on 5.0 using apps. So highly customizable UI, battery life +, and stability if at all possible.

1) What do you guys suggest? Thanks!
2) Do all TouchWiz-based ROMS require that you flash another firmware version prior to installation?

As of right now, I am looking at the Alliance ROM but it was released like a year ago and wondering if there's a better or more updated version.

I found a link via galaxys5root dot c0m

Is this a safe download?

 

[ldeveraux]

Aren't "what's the best ROM?" Posts not allowed?

 

[bmilcsx]

Aren't "what's the best ROM?" Posts not allowed?

Sorry I wasn't aware. How do I ask for a suggestion based on popular belief?

 

[bmilcsx]

Aren't "what's the best ROM?" Posts not allowed?

I revised my original post and apologize again. I am just interested in what my options are.

I haven't heard back on a working download link for Build 2 of Alliance ROM so I am venturing into the MOAR ROM territory. Just to be safe, I purchased Titanium PRO and it's being synced to Drive as we speak.

After it completes, I'm going to attempt my first ROM flash and nervous. From what I've gathered, I need to boot into SafeStrap, full wipe, install the zip from ex/int SD-card, and then boot into download mode. From there, I flash VZW_BOA8_RETAIL_FIRMWARE_ONLY.tar.md5.

Now, once I do this, the post says that SafeStrap won't work anymore. If I follow these instructions:

"7. Safestrap will no longer work unless you use odin and flash NI2_STOCK_KERNEL_FOR_SAFESTRAP.tar.md5 or any VZW KITKAT kernel. Then you can enter Safestrap. Once you flash file or whatever you need to do in safestrap remember to boot to download mode from safestrap and then use odin to flash VZW_BOA8_RETAIL_KERNEL_ONLY.tar.md5 or the VZW_BOA8_RETAIL_FIRMWARE_ONLY.tar.md5. Then you will be good to go. This process must be done every time you need to use SafeStrap!"

... will I still be able to run safestrap and retain the ROM? Or is that just in case I want to access my backed up recovery and revert back to my custom recovery pre-ROM?

 

[landshark68]

Aren't "what's the best ROM?" Posts not allowed?

XDA changed their stance on these kinds of threads and are allowing them to to stay open as long as they don't turn into a flame fest.

 

[Risingsunn]

I am curious too, as to what is out there that runs well. I am coming from an AT&T LG G2 with lots of options to a this phone that seems to be much more restricted than anything I have seen in the past. This looks like its going to be far more work to get few results. Also it seems like it's easier to brick than the G2 was. Obviously I have a lot of reading to do, and probably a downgrade from OE1 if I want root. I just want to know if there is a ROM worth doing all this work for. Thank you!

 

[fukenbiker]

It's complicated but worth it.

I'm not going to pick a favorite, but anyone worth their search engine can see what I'm using.

The battery life was horrible straight out of the box, and 'something' had to be done. I have flashed different phones from Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc. from at least 4 different carriers. Nothing compares with how much harder it is just to get root on our Samsung-SM-G900V variant with it's locked bootloader. CyanogenMod is not even an option, so I'm using a custom 5.0 TouchWiz ROM.

The debloating zip via ADB is what really fixed the poor battery life.

It is worth it.

My battery life is now 'amazing'.

The only other phone I had that even came close to battery life and screen on time like this, was my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, running CM10.2

Is it worth the effort? Even after trying a short cut and getting stuck in a loop with no recovery? Having to use Odin just to start over? Not having any success until I found a YouTube tutorial?

It's up to you. Perhaps you don't mind bloatware. Maybe you can always find a way to plug it in for a charge.

Good luck.

 

[Pivo187]

I have an s5 on Verizon and would like to root what is fastest and safest way?

 

[ldeveraux]

I have an s5 on Verizon and would like to root what is fastest and safest way?

To find the thread on that topic. Hint, it's not here. Hint 2, try searching...

 

[bmilcsx]

I'm not going to pick a favorite, but anyone worth their search engine can see what I'm using.

The battery life was horrible straight out of the box, and 'something' had to be done. I have flashed different phones from Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc. from at least 4 different carriers. Nothing compares with how much harder it is just to get root on our Samsung-SM-G900V variant with it's locked bootloader. CyanogenMod is not even an option, so I'm using a custom 5.0 TouchWiz ROM.

The debloating zip via ADB is what really fixed the poor battery life.

It is worth it.

My battery life is now 'amazing'.

The only other phone I had that even came close to battery life and screen on time like this, was my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, running CM10.2

Is it worth the effort? Even after trying a short cut and getting stuck in a loop with no recovery? Having to use Odin just to start over? Not having any success until I found a YouTube tutorial?

It's up to you. Perhaps you don't mind bloatware. Maybe you can always find a way to plug it in for a charge.

Good luck.

Thank you.

Are you talking about THE PURGE? The debloater recommends a stock ROM; does this mean I cannot use this option and use OptimalROM or MOAR? I'd like to apply it to my current setup (Optimal)

http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-s5/development/zip-t2979275

 

[bmilcsx]

I'm not going to pick a favorite, but anyone worth their search engine can see what I'm using.

The battery life was horrible straight out of the box, and 'something' had to be done. I have flashed different phones from Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc. from at least 4 different carriers. Nothing compares with how much harder it is just to get root on our Samsung-SM-G900V variant with it's locked bootloader. CyanogenMod is not even an option, so I'm using a custom 5.0 TouchWiz ROM.

The debloating zip via ADB is what really fixed the poor battery life.

It is worth it.

My battery life is now 'amazing'.

The only other phone I had that even came close to battery life and screen on time like this, was my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, running CM10.2

Is it worth the effort? Even after trying a short cut and getting stuck in a loop with no recovery? Having to use Odin just to start over? Not having any success until I found a YouTube tutorial?

It's up to you. Perhaps you don't mind bloatware. Maybe you can always find a way to plug it in for a charge.

Good luck.

I forgot to mention that I am currently calibrating my battery using a Play Store app. I wonder if this will help

Also, I did it the manual way as well. What a serious pain in the rear lol. Afterwards, with my newfound confidence of rooting, I went to work on my wife's LG G2. What a joke!

Her battery life is unreal. At the end of the day, she sits at 60% battery life after hefty use. I am getting a bit jealous.

 

[bmilcsx]

I'm not going to pick a favorite, but anyone worth their search engine can see what I'm using.

The battery life was horrible straight out of the box, and 'something' had to be done. I have flashed different phones from Motorola, Sony Ericsson, Samsung, etc. from at least 4 different carriers. Nothing compares with how much harder it is just to get root on our Samsung-SM-G900V variant with it's locked bootloader. CyanogenMod is not even an option, so I'm using a custom 5.0 TouchWiz ROM.

The debloating zip via ADB is what really fixed the poor battery life.

It is worth it.

My battery life is now 'amazing'.

The only other phone I had that even came close to battery life and screen on time like this, was my AT&T Samsung Galaxy S2, running CM10.2

Is it worth the effort? Even after trying a short cut and getting stuck in a loop with no recovery? Having to use Odin just to start over? Not having any success until I found a YouTube tutorial?

It's up to you. Perhaps you don't mind bloatware. Maybe you can always find a way to plug it in for a charge.

Good luck.

Update: I apologize for not searching before posting. I stalked all your activity here and found your exact process for debloating. Thank you! I look forward to seeing the difference.

Now if only my damn phone would charge to 100% to finish calibration!

 

[bmilcsx]

ahhhhh. why am I still draining the battery so much?

wiped my rom, installed optimalrom for oc4 lollipop, ran debloat script for lollipop and rocking minimal data wifi, screen brightness, keeping ram free, etc. greenifying everything except streams.

what is going on here?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

 

[ldeveraux]

ahhhhh. why am I still draining the battery so much?

wiped my rom, installed optimalrom for oc4 lollipop, ran debloat script for lollipop and rocking minimal data wifi, screen brightness, keeping ram free, etc. greenifying everything except streams.

what is going on here?

Sent from my SM-G900V using Tapatalk

wrong thread!