[root] i545vrufnc5 verizon galaxy s4

[feefeeboomboom]

Your comprehensive guide to rooting the NC5 and fixing it if/when something goes wrong

To start out I found it very time consuming to find the 'right' information on rooting the NC5 or that it wasn't possible. So I went on the mission to see if i get what was out in the wild to work.
Well I figured it out and I hope this helps!​

Step One: Charge your phone! In the event we need to use Odin to fix a boot-loop/soft-brick.

Step Two: Check your version number. As the title suggests this method is only for Verizon Galaxy S4 NC5!​

(ENABLE USB DEBUGGING AND UNKNOWN SOURCES IN SETTINGS BEFORE PROCEEDING)

Step Three: Time to download the tools we will need to get this done. Place these files on your SD card. This is the only time you will need your computer. CLICK IT> ONE STOP SHOP
Towel Root: Okay, this is version 1 of the app. I know there are newer versions but they don't work and this does so use it. Select and install. Open the app and select 'make it rain', your phone will reboot and base root has been achieved!

Super User: Select and install. Open the app and install the SU binary at the prompt. The app will also ask to disable KNOX, if you do the app might hang. Home button out and try again after a reboot. Eventually it will work though a bit funky at times.

Safe Strap: Select and install. Open the app and select 'install recovery'. After it installs reboot to the recovery by selecting 'reboot to recovery'. When the recovery loads select the backup option and make a backup!
This is our recovery and allows nandroid backups(you should have done this) and flashing of safestrap ROMs. The bootloader is locked on this phone so no flashing of CM11 or any custom kernels. Do some research before you start flashing things!

Well that was easy! Now you have a rooted and safestrapped NC5 S4!

FAQ\INFO
This recovery is BETA and does not support ROM slots. Everything must be done on the STOCK slot. MAKE A BACKUP!

Nandroid backup and restore is working completely with this recovery!

If you remove Samsung Hub auto rotation will break. Attached is the library file that fixes this. Extract libgnustl_shared.so from the attached zip. Copy and paste to System\Lib and change permission to rw-r--r--. I use Root Explorer, though not free is a very good file manager. There are free alternatives on Google Play.

CREDITS DUE!
HASHCODES< Safe Strap!
CHAINFIRE< Super SU!
GEOHOT< Towel Root!​

 

[npjohnson]

Thank you for your work. But I have a few major points to address with this:

1. There is a newer, stable SAFESTRAP out (3.75), this one also supports ROM slots, and doesn't corrupt the Non-HLOS Partition.

2. Version 3 of TowelRoot is out, and alot more stable/clean than Version 1.

3. SAFESTRAP really should be installed after busybox is installed, which you did not recommend.

The Samsung Hub Auto Rotation bug is a very nice find though! Thank you for that.

 

[feefeeboomboom]

Hey thank you! I will update accordingly.
However TowelRootv3 would not root my phone. I tried changing the strings, the app just states the phone isn't supported.