Root [Verizon] I'm going from a rooted Droid 3 to a new S4

[beowulf7]

I've been using a Motorola Droid 3 since it came out in June 2011. About 6 months ago, I finally rooted my phone and have been enjoying it like that. The hardware itself was getting really old and my contract was up last month. After waiting and giving up for a modern keyboard-enabled Android phone, I pulled the trigger on a SGS4.

I planned on rooting my S4 once I got my hands on it. But I came across this, which obviously concerns me. What do you suggest I should do? I bought my S4 (still staying with Verizon Wireless service) from Amazon and have no idea what version it'll have.

I'm not looking to do any hardcore modding on the S4; stock'ish ROM would be OK. But I want/need root on it if I want to transfer my apps and data via Titanium Backup, use Ad-Free to block apps' ads, and use a couple other root-required apps I have to overclock (or underclock) the phone. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. TIA.

 

[g60madman]

You should be fine. I received mine from Verizon I think a week ago now and it was still on the old firmware but bugged me about upgrading just cancel and don't reschedule it. Once you flash a new ROM it will go away. If you want stock ROM there is a few good ones on XDA along with aosp type ROMs.

 

[beowulf7]

Thanks, g60. While I'm waiting for my phone to arrive, a relative already got his S4 (but from a different source) and his firmware is JDQ39.I545VRUAME7, which is apparently too new to be rooted.

 

[Frisco]

"I'm not looking to do any hardcore modding on the S4; stock'ish ROM would be OK."
^^^Words of wisdom. ^^^


[Way off topic]:

Incredible avatar, g60madman.

 

[Podivin]

[Way off topic]:

Incredible avatar, g60madman.

I thought the same thing a few days ago, but I didn't say anything because it was way off topic...

 

[Frisco]

I thought the same thing a few days ago, but I didn't say anything because it was way off topic...

Yeah but I first was careful to include some on-topic fluff prior to the off-topic stuff.

Hey, that rhymes.

 

[g60madman]

Thanks, g60. While I'm waiting for my phone to arrive, a relative already got his S4 (but from a different source) and his firmware is JDQ39.I545VRUAME7, which is apparently too new to be rooted.

It looks like they have a new root for the VRUAME7 that killajoe posted.

http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s4-all-things-root/744428-there-root-vruame7.html

 

[beowulf7]

It looks like they have a new root for the VRUAME7 that killajoe posted.

http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-s4-all-things-root/744428-there-root-vruame7.html

Great - thanks! I should get my S4 tomorrow and if it has the firmware ending in VRUAME7, then I'll try the method you linked to. I hope others try it in the next couple days so we get more real-world test results.

This part seems strange that the author on xda-developers.com posted:
***You must have a microSD card installed into your phone and formatted as exFAT (not FAT32) for this method to work***

 

[g60madman]

Hard to say depends on what the root method does and what it needs to run root with. I'm sure the phone will still ship with the old firmware though.

 

[beowulf7]

Hard to say depends on what the root method does and what it needs to run root with. I'm sure the phone will still ship with the old firmware though.

I hope so. I know Staples is shipping with the new VRUAME7 software b/c that's what my family got. I was the only one who bought via Amazon. I'll find out tomorrow what OS it has.

 

[beowulf7]

The UPS Tracking # says I should get my SGS4 today. I'm looking forward to my new toy! This will be my 2nd Android phone, so it'll be the first time I'll be transferring my Android "stuff" from one phone to another. Can someone give me a quick summary of how to make this as painless as possible?

On my old phone, I have all my apps on the phone's internal storage. I have all of my multimedia files on a microSDHC card. Since my old phone is rooted, I can literally copy any file that's on my phone over to my computer.

When I get my SGS4, should I activate it right away, or just turn it on and connect it to my PC and transfer files over? Again, I'm trying to make the transition as seamless and easy as possible and hoping to get the feedback and experience from others who've done this multiple times. TIA!

 

[beowulf7]

I got my phone today (Monday) and fully charged it. g60madman, you're right, my firmware version isn't VRUAME7 that my family members who got their S4 from Staples got. Rather, my Amazon S4 is JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK. I assume I should prevent the phone from updating itself since it seems like VRUAMDK is a little more rooting-friendly than VRUAME7?

 

[Podivin]

I got my phone today (Monday) and fully charged it. g60madman, you're right, my firmware version isn't VRUAME7 that my family members who got their S4 from Staples got. Rather, my Amazon S4 is JDQ39.I545VRUAMDK. I assume I should prevent the phone from updating itself since it seems like VRUAMDK is a little more rooting-friendly than VRUAME7?

Right, if you want to root and flash ROMs don't take the update. It sounds like they are getting closer to getting it so that you can install a custom ROM on the update, but they are not quite there yet.

 

[beowulf7]

Right, if you want to root and flash ROMs don't take the update. It sounds like they are getting closer to getting it so that you can install a custom ROM on the update, but they are not quite there yet.

Thanks, then I won't go for the update. Technically I haven't activated my S4 yet. I turned it on but it had a problem with the SIM card and told me to call some 877 #, which I haven't done yet. So I'm still using my D3. : \

So it's established that the older VRUAMDK is more ROM flashing-friendly than VRUAME7. But what bug fixes and updates does ME7 have vs. MDK?

 

[Podivin]

All I've heard that's 'interesting' about ME7 is the ability to move apps to the SD card.
That's not a feature that I will use, so it doesn't do anything for me. Others have a different opinion. In any case I strongly suspect that ROMs will start incorporating any new features from ME7 soon enough.

 

[beowulf7]

All I've heard that's 'interesting' about ME7 is the ability to move apps to the SD card.
That's not a feature that I will use, so it doesn't do anything for me. Others have a different opinion. In any case I strongly suspect that ROMs will start incorporating any new features from ME7 soon enough.

Thanks. There are apps like AppMgr Pro III that also do that, right? True about future ROMs.