Root [Virgin Mobile] [GUIDE][MK5][WIP]Rooting MK5 4.3 for Newbies!

kimberlyinmn · Feb 22, 2014

Thanks for a simple guide that pulls it all together!! I would have had this done in about 15 minutes but I was having a dickens of a time getting into recovery mode after I flashed the Philz Recovery. So, after it would boot to the Welcome screen, I'd have to start over with ODIN and Philz. I bet I had to do this 7 or 8 times. I was just going to ask if there was a trick to this when I decided to try it just ONE MORE time. Whew!! I got in!! I love that the Virgin Mobile boot sound has been silenced. The only reason I root is to get rid of that and to run Adaway to remove ads. (I would seriously pay for a no-ad version of My Fitness Pal.) Oh, and I freeze the VM stuff too. Well, and make backups with Titanium Pro. Anyhow... rambling. Yay!

grimx · Feb 23, 2014

I accepted the 4.3 update.
I'm having problems getting Oden to work.
The guide says to download the PhilZ Touch tar file.
The only files I found where .tar.md5 and .zip.
Oden does not recognize .zip files so I downloaded the .tar.md5
file, clicked Pda, add the .tar.md5 file, set my phone into Download Mode
, pluged it in, and hit start. And I get(0 failed, 0 succeeded).

vsanch24 · Feb 23, 2014

grimx, I would rename the .tar.md5 file just to .tar (so remove the .md5 at the end of the file)

In some of the troubleshooting posts that has fixed things.

Member730413 · Feb 23, 2014

We will now install the MK5 rom and SuperSU with the custom recovery. In most cases it will be necessary for you to format "system", "data", and "cache" in the mounts menu and wiping Dalvik Cache" in the advanced menu before installing the two zips to allow for a clean install with no issues. Click on Install in your custom recovery (Philz) and navigate to where you placed the two files listed earlier which will be the MK5 Rom Zip and SuperSU zip. You will want to install both of those. Assuming the installation is successful, you will then want to select Reboot System from your Philz Recovery menu.

When I apply the MK5_STOCK_ROOTED rom or SuperSU, I get the following errors:

E: failed to verify whole-file signature
E: failed to verify whole-file signature
E: signature verification failed

Any pointers on what could be wrong?

Member730413 · Feb 23, 2014

Nevermind. I think I was booted into the phone's built-in recovery app, instead of PhilZ. If you end up where I did, go back to step 1 and start over again

It seems to be installing now.

kimberlyinmn · Feb 23, 2014

I got those error messages as well. My reason was because when I tried to boot into the new Philz recovery, I missed and my phone booted up and I lost Philz. I was trying to install those two files with the stock recovery. I had to do the ODIN steps again to get the Philz recovery on my phone again.

Edited: Whoops! I see we posted at the same time.

Member730413 · Feb 24, 2014

Has anyone been able to get 3g/4g to work with Cyanogenmod on Virgin Mobile?

I see discussions about APNs, but Cyanogenmod 11 has that area greyed out in the Mobile Network settings. I've seen some talk about flashing APN fixes as well.

Any success out there?

EDIT: Found my answer here.

http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...ms-fix-wip-cm-aosp-tw-update-2014-1-18-a.html

1) Installed CM11
2) Installed Gapps
3) Installed the APN fix from the link above
4) Works!

PS4AndroidHacker · Feb 27, 2014

Hey everybody, I rooted my Virgin Mobile MK5 S3 successfully this way and it tripped my Knox bootloader to 1. I have gotten rid of the knox apps with the de-knox script but after rooting i found another thread or website that says it has a saferoot method which does not trip your knox bootloader counter. Here are some of the links i have found:
http://androidforums.com/boost-mobi...s-root/805245-gs3-ota-4-3-knox-safe-root.html

http://www.w0lfdroid.com/2013/12/Safe-Root-Android-4.3-Galaxy-S3-S4-Note-No-Warranty-Void.html?m=1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GiZ7D2zjJdA

Just some info that i thought may help!

Tokens210 · Mar 6, 2014

PS4AndroidHacker said:
Hey everybody, I rooted my Virgin Mobile MK5 S3 successfully this way and it tripped my Knox bootloader to 1. I have gotten rid of the knox apps with the de-knox script but after rooting i found another thread or website that says it has a saferoot method which does not trip your knox bootloader counter. Here are some of the links i have found:
http://androidforums.com/boost-mobi...s-root/805245-gs3-ota-4-3-knox-safe-root.html

[No Warranty Void] Safe Root Android 4.3 for Galaxy S3/S4 Note 2/3 - W0lfDroid

[No Warranty Void] Safe Root Android 4.3 for Samsung Galaxy S3/S4 - YouTube

Just some info that i thought may help!

Yes tripping the counter is a given, doesn't really mess with anything but possible warranty, but still rooting and custom Roms don't over use the device so any actual hardware failure IMO should still be covered

As for our links, I supposed it be nice to root without tripping but I also believe flashing a custom ROM and such trips it as well so if I'm remembering correctly, even if able to root without tripping if u then install a custom ROM it would trip anyway

upconvert · Mar 6, 2014

Tokens210 said:
Yes tripping the counter is a given, doesn't really mess with anything but possible warranty, but still rooting and custom Roms don't over use the device so any actual hardware failure IMO should still be covered

As for our links, I supposed it be nice to root without tripping but I also believe flashing a custom ROM and such trips it as well so if I'm remembering correctly, even if able to root without tripping if u then install a custom ROM it would trip anyway

Even if you managed to root without tripping the flag, flashing anything though odin will trip it. You would need a way to flash a custom recovery without tripping it, and afaik, that's not possible.

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

I need help guys, i tried flashing the philz recovery through odin (also ran in admin mode) just like it said in the instructions but it gets stuck at "get PIT for mapping" and after a while it says FAIL! in red at the top and i tried a few times and i get the same result the phone boots up normally and download works but when going into recovery i get an error. Im on version 4.3 on Virgin Mobile in the USA, Thank you.

Tokens210 · Mar 10, 2014

j21098 said:
I need help guys, i tried flashing the philz recovery through odin (also ran in admin mode) just like it said in the instructions but it gets stuck at "get PIT for mapping" and after a while it says FAIL! in red at the top and i tried a few times and i get the same result the phone boots up normally and download works but when going into recovery i get an error. Im on version 4.3 on Virgin Mobile in the USA, Thank you.

Are you using the correct file, philz comes in zips or tars, zips are for flashing as in once you already have Phil's and need to update

For the original push with Odin you need the tar file which I believe is actually named tar.md5, you need to remove the md5 first, making just say .tar

Not sure if they updated since I last did but as an example the last I was was Phil's-6.19.3or7 whatever so it would be philz-6.19.7.tar or something similar

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

Tokens210 said:
Are you using the correct file, philz comes in zips or tars, zips are for flashing as in once you already have Phil's and need to update

For the original push with Odin you need the tar file which I believe is actually named tar.md5, you need to remove the md5 first, making just say .tar

Not sure if they updated since I last did but as an example the last I was was Phil's-6.19.3or7 whatever so it would be philz-6.19.7.tar or something similar

Yeah, I'm using the Philz version used in here. I've also removed the .md5 and left the .tar there and it still doesn't work it gets stuck at get pit for mapping, the icon looks like a zipped file when I changed to .tar (is it supposed to do that?) The box in Odin is light blue on mine, not sure if it matters or not because I've seen in videos that people have it yellow. When I plugged in my phone it downloaded drivers so I didn't install the ones here. Should I install the drivers on here?

Tokens210 · Mar 10, 2014

j21098 said:
Yeah, I'm using the Philz version used in here. I've also removed the .md5 and left the .tar there and it still doesn't work it gets stuck at get pit for mapping, the icon looks like a zipped file when I changed to .tar (is it supposed to do that?) The box in Odin is light blue on mine, not sure if it matters or not because I've seen in videos that people have it yellow. When I plugged in my phone it downloaded drivers so I didn't install the ones here. Should I install the drivers on here?

OK, sounds like u have the tar file in order, and yes it should look like a zip just has .tar at the end, I was simply making sure, cause I do believe it would not work if you had downloaded the zip and just named it tar, had to be the tar from the gate

Next the color, maybe different if you have a different version but if its a newer version it shouldn't matter, as in it shouldn't be the issue that I know of

As for the drivers its been so long since I used it I can't exactly remember that part so hopefully someone else jumps in with info for ya on that, I'm about to leave for work and can't search for it for ya at this time

But until someone jumps in I'd suggest maybe searching YouTube, check out any guides made by user here in these sections, as mist videos you'll find will most likely be for sprint variant I'dsay only use them as a guideline till someone jumps in on here

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

Tokens210 said:
OK, sounds like u have the tar file in order, and yes it should look like a zip just has .tar at the end, I was simply making sure, cause I do believe it would not work if you had downloaded the zip and just named it tar, had to be the tar from the gate

Next the color, maybe different if you have a different version but if its a newer version it shouldn't matter, as in it shouldn't be the issue that I know of

As for the drivers its been so long since I used it I can't exactly remember that part so hopefully someone else jumps in with info for ya on that, I'm about to leave for work and can't search for it for ya at this time

But until someone jumps in I'd suggest maybe searching YouTube, check out any guides made by user here in these sections, as mist videos you'll find will most likely be for sprint variant I'dsay only use them as a guideline till someone jumps in on here

Alright, I've checked YouTube and other places but they go through the .tar in Odin easily and I've tried their methods but it still gets stuck on get pit mapping for me. Thanks for the help though

Tokens210 · Mar 10, 2014

j21098 said:
Alright, I've checked YouTube and other places but they go through the .tar in Odin easily and I've tried their methods but it still gets stuck on get pit mapping for me. Thanks for the help though

It may very well be the drivers but being as I can't exactly remember that I can't really safely tell ya to install or not install them

And I don't wanna be like oh yes go ahead if installing them causes issues

One final thing to be sure, your going into download mode correct, and not the stock recovery

I can at least make sure you got everything else in order for when someone else jumps in on the drivers or any info on our error lol

PS4AndroidHacker · Mar 10, 2014

I would go ahead and install the diagnostic Samsung drivers first. Then also if you hook your phone up to the comp and switch it to mtp mode, let it install the drivers automatically. Then switch it to the other mode and let the drivers install. I used the latest Philz touch recovery for the sprint variant as virgin mobile runs through Sprints network. It took some searching through threads but I found the latest touch recovery. Possibly...also delete the .tar and re-download the .tar file. The file could have gotten corrupted. Everything worked perfect for me when I rooted. Just follow those instructions to the t man. Try all those things and you should be golden, maybe try rebooting your phone first so the computer can notice it and install the drivers properly, sometimes I have to reboot my windows 7 comp in order for the computer to recognize the device correctly. Just my .002 cents. Hope I could help out.

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

Tokens210 said:
It may very well be the drivers but being as I can't exactly remember that I can't really safely tell ya to install or not install them

And I don't wanna be like oh yes go ahead if installing them causes issues

One final thing to be sure, your going into download mode correct, and not the stock recovery

I can at least make sure you got everything else in order for when someone else jumps in on the drivers or any info on our error lol

Hmm I might just try it with drivers here then. I'm not sure though. Download is power and down volume with home right? The recovery doesn't work anyways lol it just gives an error when rebooting through recovery

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

PS4AndroidHacker said:
I would go ahead and install the diagnostic Samsung drivers first. Then also if you hook your phone up to the comp and switch it to mtp mode, let it install the drivers automatically. Then switch it to the other mode and let the drivers install. I used the latest Philz touch recovery for the sprint variant as virgin mobile runs through Sprints network. It took some searching through threads but I found the latest touch recovery. Possibly...also delete the .tar and re-download the .tar file. The file could have gotten corrupted. Everything worked perfect for me when I rooted. Just follow those instructions to the t man. Try all those things and you should be golden, maybe try rebooting your phone first so the computer can notice it and install the drivers properly, sometimes I have to reboot my windows 7 comp in order for the computer to recognize the device correctly. Just my .002 cents. Hope I could help out.

So I should use the latest philz touch for sprint then? Wouldn't it mess it up since I've heard that things like this is carrier specific or something like that?

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

j21098 said:
So I should use the latest philz touch for sprint then? Wouldn't it mess it up since I've heard that things like this is carrier specific or something like that?

Forgot to add that the ohilz would be d2lte right? There's a bunch if different versions I'm guessing that's what it is

PS4AndroidHacker · Mar 10, 2014

I found the latest Philz touch for sprint galaxy s3. The virgin mobile s3 is based off the Sprint model and it should work. Thats what im using. Just try all things like I said. Reboot your phone, reboot your comp, install all the Samsung diagnostic drivers, install all the drivers after hooking the phone to the comp, then re-download the .tar, and try everything all over again. When somethings goes wrong for me, I start over at step one and try all those things. Do you have the android-sdk installed? That could possibly help out also.

Tokens210 · Mar 10, 2014

j21098 said:
Forgot to add that the ohilz would be d2lte right? There's a bunch if different versions I'm guessing that's what it is

Either d2spr or d2lte should work, if d2lte is available use that cause it most likely has VM somewhere in its coding

And yes download should be volume down + home button + power button, I believe text appears on the screen

And I forgot as ps4 mentioned the phone itself can load different driver as he said, u can switch the connection b ack and forth as he suggested while the phones on, not while download mode, then even try powering it off and on while connected to see if any more load

If you wanna give it a whirl then u can do all that, then install the Odin drivers, the latest pphilz I saw was 6.19.3 or 7 can't remember the last number so have the tar of that as u said u had, after all that try the push again

As I recall when I first did it I needed to do nothing coming from stock, using the tutorial I downloaded Odin, the Phil's tar, it push with no issue and I went on my way

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

PS4AndroidHacker said:
I found the latest Philz touch for sprint galaxy s3. The virgin mobile s3 is based off the Sprint model and it should work. Thats what im using. Just try all things like I said. Reboot your phone, reboot your comp, install all the Samsung diagnostic drivers, install all the drivers after hooking the phone to the comp, then re-download the .tar, and try everything all over again. When somethings goes wrong for me, I start over at step one and try all those things. Do you have the android-sdk installed? That could possibly help out also.

I'm sure I don't have Android SDK installed since I have no idea what it is, I'll try it in a bit with the sprint version. I've rooted my galaxy tab 3 7.0 not too long ago on the computer and I had no problems with it everything went fast. It's just with this s3 where I'm getting stuck.

PS4AndroidHacker · Mar 10, 2014

Most people that are modding phones have the android sdk installed as it provides android adb (android debug bridge). Adb can be run through the command prompt on windows. It helps most of the time to have the android sdk installed before you do anything. Not saying you have to install it but it helps out with a lot of things. Not sure about drivers for odin as I just ran it from the folder I downloaded it in. Once all the drivers are installed, everything should run much smoother. Remember to re-download the .tar file as the first one could be corrupt.

j21098 · Mar 10, 2014

I found the latest philz version 6.19.3 and im still getting stuck at get pit for mapping after a few minutes it goes to fail.

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