New Samsung User - Lollipop to Root

[newskate9]

Good day, all.

My son has recently got a Verizon s5 and took the lollipop update. He now decided he wants root and all the fun that comes with it - and doesn't need to be lollipop; kitkat was fine.

Here's the problem. I am a Moto guy. I've always been moto and recently have turbo. I have NO clue what the build numbers mean, exactly how to start to get to where he wants to be. I've read these threads a dozen times and I think I'm ready to try. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

1. I believe I need Odin. And the drivers. No problem.
2. I believe I need to get back to kitkat, then root. with towel root.
3. He wants native tether capability to go along with his UDP, adaware, etc. Not sure I've found the kitkat app to do that.
4. I believe I can stop the lollipop update by freezing apps with TIbu, and I found the thread which says which apps to freeze.
5. He is not interested in custom ROMS yet so I don't think I'll be using safestrap ( I used that during my Droid Razr Maxx days so I am familiar with that).

So, if you can direct me to THE exact thread, that would be helpful. And the build / version of what I need to install. This is all like a foreign language at this point as the naming appears to me to be very different than my moto experience.

Thank you!

 

[Tulsadiver]

Good day, all.

My son has recently got a Verizon s5 and took the lollipop update. He now decided he wants root and all the fun that comes with it - and doesn't need to be lollipop; kitkat was fine.

Here's the problem. I am a Moto guy. I've always been moto and recently have turbo. I have NO clue what the build numbers mean, exactly how to start to get to where he wants to be. I've read these threads a dozen times and I think I'm ready to try. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

1. I believe I need Odin. And the drivers. No problem.
2. I believe I need to get back to kitkat, then root. with towel root.
3. He wants native tether capability to go along with his UDP, adaware, etc. Not sure I've found the kitkat app to do that.
4. I believe I can stop the lollipop update by freezing apps with TIbu, and I found the thread which says which apps to freeze.
5. He is not interested in custom ROMS yet so I don't think I'll be using safestrap ( I used that during my Droid Razr Maxx days so I am familiar with that).

So, if you can direct me to THE exact thread, that would be helpful. And the build / version of what I need to install. This is all like a foreign language at this point as the naming appears to me to be very different than my moto experience.

Thank you!

There is only one firmware that can be rooted. That is NGC. Odin the full stock tar file that is in the notes #4 of this post. Root with towelroot, download SuperSU from play store, update the binaries, reboot phone. You will be rooted on 4.4.2

There are several firmwares that are 4.4.4. NI2 or NK2 would probably be best but that is up to you. Get rooted first. Then decide where you want to be.

 

[Lightn1ng]

Good day, all.

My son has recently got a Verizon s5 and took the lollipop update. He now decided he wants root and all the fun that comes with it - and doesn't need to be lollipop; kitkat was fine.

Here's the problem. I am a Moto guy. I've always been moto and recently have turbo. I have NO clue what the build numbers mean, exactly how to start to get to where he wants to be. I've read these threads a dozen times and I think I'm ready to try. Any guidance would be greatly appreciated.

1. I believe I need Odin. And the drivers. No problem.
2. I believe I need to get back to kitkat, then root. with towel root.
3. He wants native tether capability to go along with his UDP, adaware, etc. Not sure I've found the kitkat app to do that.
4. I believe I can stop the lollipop update by freezing apps with TIbu, and I found the thread which says which apps to freeze.
5. He is not interested in custom ROMS yet so I don't think I'll be using safestrap ( I used that during my Droid Razr Maxx days so I am familiar with that).

So, if you can direct me to THE exact thread, that would be helpful. And the build / version of what I need to install. This is all like a foreign language at this point as the naming appears to me to be very different than my moto experience.

Thank you!

I will help you out with a full guide. I have nothing better to do right now. This will wipe the device.

Step 1: Download Odin, the Samsung USB Drivers, and the NCG Firmware. I have packaged them into a ZIP file for you here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/82986368/Revert_And_Root_4-4-2-G900V.zip
Step 2: Extact the ZIP file.
Step 3: Install the Samsung USB Driver. Do not plug in the phone while the drivers are installing.
Step 4: Turn off the device. Now, hold down Home + Power + Volume Down. Once the Download mode screen comes up, press the Volume Up key.
Step 5: Open the Odin EXE file, in the Odin-3.09 folder.
Step 6: Click the "AP" button, and select the NCG Firmware (the .tar.md5 file with the very long name).
Step 7: Click "Start." This will flash the full stock KitKat firmware.
Step 8: Once rebooted, skip through the setup process.
Step 9: On the device, go to towelroot.com and click the weird symbol. This will download Towelroot. Install the APK now.
Step 10: Open TR, and click Make it Rain. You are now rooted on KitKat.
Step 11: Install SuperSU from the play store, open it up, and install the binaries.

Freezing the app "SDM" in Titanium Backup will indeed disable the Lollipop update notification.
FoxFi is the tethering app you're looking for.

You can stop here, but if you want to get a custom recovery, follow these steps: (UPDATE: You said you don't need one. I'm just pointing you there in case).
Install "Busybox Free" from the Play Store.
Open it and click "Install."
Download this APK and install it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=7144&task=get
Open it, click "Agree," and then click Install Recovery.
You now have a custom recovery! Rebooting will ask you to boot into recovery or into normal mode.
That's it! Let me know of any problems. I will be active here today

 

[Tulsadiver]

I will help you out with a full guide. I have nothing better to do right now. This will wipe the device.

Step 1: Download Odin, the Samsung USB Drivers, and the NCG Firmware. I have packaged them into a ZIP file for you here:
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/82986368/Revert_And_Root_4-4-2-G900V.zip
Step 2: Extact the ZIP file.
Step 3: Install the Samsung USB Driver. Do not plug in the phone while the drivers are installing.
Step 4: Turn off the device. Now, hold down Home + Power + Volume Down. Once the Download mode screen comes up, press the Volume Up key.
Step 5: Open the Odin EXE file, in the Odin-3.09 folder.
Step 6: Click the "AP" button, and select the NCG Firmware (the .tar.md5 file with the very long name).
Step 7: Click "Start." This will flash the full stock KitKat firmware.
Step 8: Once rebooted, skip through the setup process.
Step 9: On the device, go to towelroot.com and click the weird symbol. This will download Towelroot. Install the APK now.
Step 10: Open TR, and click Make it Rain. You are now rooted on KitKat.

Freezing the app "SDM" in Titanium Backup will indeed disable the Lollipop update notification.
FoxFi is the tethering app you're looking for.

You can stop here, but if you want to get a custom recovery, follow these steps: (UPDATE: You said you don't need one. I'm just pointing you there in case).
Install "Busybox Free" from the Play Store.
Open it and click "Install."
Download this APK and install it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/devdb/project/dl/?id=7144&task=get
Open it, click "Agree," and then click Install Recovery.
You now have a custom recovery! Rebooting will ask you to boot into recovery or into normal mode.
That's it! Let me know of any problems. I will be active here today

y

You forgot one step. After making it rain, you download SuperSU from the play store, update the binaries, and reboot.

 

[Lightn1ng]

y

You forgot one step. After making it rain, you download SuperSU from the play store, update the binaries, and reboot.

Woops! Just added it back in.

 

[newskate9]

Gentlemen - success!

Wow. I was telling my son this would be "hard" and he laughed at how easy it was. Thank you, guys. Sitting at 4.4.2 for now, and we'll let him play with this a bit then go from there.

Sincerely, thank you for your help and guidance.