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Help Verizon downgrade to KitKat - Dummies Guide

eerie…my 1st 'X also had a screen problem Photo_090511_001.jpg when the air temperature was cool enough (otherwise it was fine).
 
RA_BH said:
tough question; as long as you are ultra-clear that you do not want *ANY* sort of upgrade I'd activate / SIM card / airplane mode, simply because bringing in an already rooted device to Verizon might end poorly for you -- they might have some fine-print policy somewhere that disallows activating a rooted phone - this is speculation on my part, but just because you're paranoid doesn't mean someone isn't out to get you. Someone else here may have first-hand experience, which I don't -- I've rooted after the device was activated. btw, that DroidX was a little tank, wasn't it? ;)
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That is just SIMPLY NOT TRUE!

I talked with VZW customer support, and their higher echelon Tech Support, and conferenced in with Samsung's tech support.
All of them told me that IF my wish is to avoid anything higher than 4.4.4, that I will have to revert to 4.4.2 and ROOT THE PHONE.

that is their words, not mine.
They simply do NOT care if the phone is rooted.
All they care about is the $$$ you pay them for the data that you use.

So, if you wish to root the phone, use Odin and back it up to 4.4.2 and then root it.

after that, apply what ever version you want but personally, I would stick with 4.4.4
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, Lollipop
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns WiFi ON
PureVPN when using a public WiFi
 
AZgl1500 said:
That is just SIMPLY NOT TRUE!

I talked with VZW customer support, and their higher echelon Tech Support, and conferenced in with Samsung's tech support.
All of them told me that IF my wish is to avoid anything higher than 4.4.4, that I will have to revert to 4.4.2 and ROOT THE PHONE.

that is their words, not mine.
They simply do NOT care if the phone is rooted.
All they care about is the $$$ you pay them for the data that you use.

So, if you wish to root the phone, use Odin and back it up to 4.4.2 and then root it.

after that, apply what ever version you want but personally, I would stick with 4.4.4
____________________________________
2 ea. Verizon Galaxy S5, Lollipop
MyPhoneExplorer lets you access a broken phone while locked
Nova Prime, Textra, Blue Mail, Qi wireless equipped
MacroDroid can help extend battery life
MacroDroid senses Screen off, turns Wifi OFF
MacroDroid senses Screen UnLock, turns WiFi ON
PureVPN when using a public WiFi
Click to expand...

thanks for clarifying that; as I'd said, it was speculation and paranoia on my part.
 
Thanks for clarifying that as well, @AZgl1500. So, 4.4.2, then ROOT, then 4.4.4. I'm going to wait until Monday. I'm going to see what version my pastor has on his phone. He's Mr. Techno-geek. It's kind of ironic, I'm the technical person and he's not , but he sure knows how to use technology.

@RA_BH, here's a picture of my old Droid X. You can see in the lower left the black spot and mid-way right a smaller one.
olddroid


EDIT: well maybe I don't have enough posts to post a picture.

Here it is: http://www.filedropper.com/olddroid
 
Rickerrr said:
Thanks for clarifying that as well, @AZgl1500. So, 4.4.2, then ROOT, then 4.4.4. I'm going to wait until Monday. I'm going to see what version my pastor has on his phone. He's Mr. Techno-geek. It's kind of ironic, I'm the technical person and he's not , but he sure knows how to use technology.

@RA_BH, here's a picture of my old Droid X. You can see in the lower left the black spot and mid-way right a smaller one.
olddroid


EDIT: well maybe I don't have enough posts to post a picture.

Here it is: http://www.filedropper.com/olddroid
Click to expand...

Rickerr were you able to root your S5 since I have the same phone and software G900VVRU1BOC4 and from what I'm reading it can't be reverted back and rooted?
 
deputylynch said:
Rickerr were you able to root your S5 since I have the same phone and software G900VVRU1BOC4 and from what I'm reading it can't be reverted back and rooted?
Click to expand...

I actually decided not to do it. As a developer, I thought it would be good to have 5.0 device around. I actually don't mind it. Of course going from a Gingerbread 2.3.3 Droid X to an S5 with 5.0, it wasn't too hard to be happy. :-)
 
Be advised, that by not upgrading you will not be covered for the latest security patches and fixes for such things as StageFright which are included in OG5.
 
Just visited local Verizon store & rep had nothing new to offer re my ongoing S4 (schi545) lollipop debacle. S4 signal remains unreliable, phone is still intermittently heating up & tripping the cool down procedure & none of my 4 batteries last a whole day :mad: VRZ rep actually suggested downgrading back to kitkat but to be careful since bricking was a high possibility. If anyone runs across any good S4 i545 lollipop to kitkat downgrade links... please (please) let me know.
 
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xxwildbillxx said:
Just visited local Verizon store & rep had nothing new to offer re my ongoing S4 (schi545) lollipop debacle. S4 signal remains unreliable, phone is still intermittently heating up & tripping the cool down procedure & none of my 4 batteries last a whole day :mad: VRZ rep actually suggested downgrading back to kitkat but to be careful since bricking was a high possibility. If anyone runs across any good S4 i545 lollipop to kitkat downgrade links... please (please) let me know.
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Hello and welcome to Android Forums xxwildbillxx :)

Try... How to downgrade Samsung Galaxy S4 from Android lollipop to KitKat

However, since Samsung do not release the Verizon firmware, your problem will be locating the stock Android 4.4.2 firmware for your phone model, i545. Try posting in the forum for your model of phone, Samsung Galaxy S4, as they may be able to help on that point.

EDIT: Found it...

Model SCH-I545
Model name GALAXY S4
Country USA (Verizon)
Version Android 4.4.2
Changelist 2415818
Build date Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:08:46 +0000
Product code VZW
PDA I545VRUFNK1
CSC I545VZWFNK1
 
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ironass said:
Hello and welcome to Android Forums xxwildbillxx :)

Try... How to downgrade Samsung Galaxy S4 from Android lollipop to KitKat

However, since Samsung do not release the Verizon firmware, your problem will be locating the stock Android 4.4.2 firmware for your phone model, i545. Try posting in the forum for your model of phone, Samsung Galaxy S4, as they may be able to help on that point.

EDIT: Found it...

Model SCH-I545
Model name GALAXY S4
Country USA (Verizon)
Version Android 4.4.2
Changelist 2415818
Build date Tue, 04 Nov 2014 14:08:46 +0000
Product code VZW
PDA I545VRUFNK1
CSC I545VZWFNK1
Click to expand...


Wow ^nice find^ thanks and appreciate the welcome!! And here's where I should apologize early for looking a gift horse in the mouth... I'm now pondering the thought of tracking down a used ebay S4 kitkat logic board (since I have yet to run across any i545 downgrade tutorials) it might make more sense to forgo the hassle/risk of downgrading by installing a used kitkat board and shelve the lollipop board until the next update(?) Problem is, I'm good with hardware (been fixing iPhones & Galaxys as a side biz for yrs) but I'm lost w/out a tutorial when it comes to things like rooting and/or downgrades. I rooted an old iPod touch about 5yrs ago which is actually still working well, but without that tutorial, I would've been lost...
 
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Hello!
I have G900V, android 5.0
Baseband G900VVRU2BOG5

Can I hope, that in the future will be possible downgrade and rooting this firmware ? Or there is no chance ?
 
Ironass, unfortunately, is totally correct here.

AT&T has also locked the phone down just as tight as Verizon.

No more rooting unless someone, figures out how to get it done.
 
Both AT&T and Verizon have been un-rootable for over a year now, since the release of 4.4.4, hence the downgrading to 4.4.2, and still no-one has figured a way around it.
 
xxwildbillxx said:
Been almost a month...

If anyone runs across a kitkat downgrade guide for a Verizon i545 don't forget to post the link ;)

Thanks!
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We won't be posting, "a kitkat downgrade guide for a Verizon i545", here I'm afraid. This is the Galaxy S5 forum! :rolleyes:
 
ironass said:
We won't be posting, "a kitkat downgrade guide for a Verizon i545", here I'm afraid. This is the Galaxy S5 forum! :rolleyes:
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Ugh...my bad...took me long enough to get the hint but "the roll-of-the-eyes" finally did it - lol Was so thrilled to see that GS5 kitkat downgrade guide posted earlier, I lost sight of looking elsewhere for a dedicated GS4 kitkat downgrade thread... appreciate the hint.
 
This is unbelievable. I just switched from iPhone to Galaxy s5 and I'm not even an American, I was just in America for a while and bought a Verizon unlocked phone. It's unlocked and works in my home country. I found it with Kitkat, rooted it but then decided to upgrade to Lollipop. I would have never expected that such an issue could possibly arise. I'm not even a Verizon customer, what the hell do you want from me??? Just please tell me that someday somebody will find a way around it.
 
Now I have a shitload of Verizon bloatware that I can't even use and I'm stuck on Lollipop until the end of the days. I know, I should have searched some information on this before upgrading, but come on, how was I supposed to expect such a low blow
 
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