I think I have this figured out from reading through the XDA thread, but I'd appreciate it if some of the smarter than me folks would check my assumptions.

I've downloaded the Dec 6th zip. I believe you can install that and it will work, bt that you need to separately flash the new radio and bootloader. I *think* but I am not sure that This link below is to the new bootloader and radio.

4.4.1 Bootloader & Radio (Flashable) - xda-developers

I'm not sure on the order of doing things here. Do I flash the new bootloader and radio first and then update the ROM? Does it matter?

Does flashing the new bootloader lock the bootloader? If so, will I be unrooted? Will my custom recovery still be there? What do I need to do here.

Is there an easier way to approach tis that I'm overlooking?

Thanks for helping and tolerating the questions. It's mostly the bootloader and radio stuff that confuses me and seems to have the most potential problems if I get it wrong.

 

Try these mirrors. I can mirror them if needed, but I won't be able to until much later.

xda-developers - View Single Post - 4.4.1 Bootloader & Radio (Flashable)

 

I think I like that approach. I was toying with reflashing stock to get everything and then flashing Cataclysm Dec 6th. The complaints about the new radio are giving me pause.

 

Reading the last few pages of the XDA thread is making me braver again. After all, that's what Nandord backups are for, right?

Question, does restoring a Nandroid after flashing new radio and bootloader restore the old radio and bootloader?

 

Thanks, that's what I figured (and, yes, I long ago saved a Nandroid backup of my EFS partition). Well, I think I'm going to go ahead and do the who shebang after a couple of chores here at home. Flash bootloader and radio, wipe C&DC and flash Cataclysm.

I have My Nexus One with the broken power button for backup. Life is short...

 

They talk about that he changed that color scheme. Since my menus aren't blue now I'll have to find out what that means. All my menus are black with white letters. They do gave blue on switches and check marks, so I expect those elements are what people are talking about.

Some people seem to like the change, others don't. I'll see.

 

Wow! After all that dancing around, was that ever a smooth experience. Took me 20 minutes and most of it involved working up the nerve to hit the slider to flash.

I did exactly as I said. After making sure all Nandroids had been backed up to my PC including the current snapshot, I flashed the bootloader, flashed the radio, wiped C&DC, Flashed Cataclysm 4.4.1 update. Rebooted. Checked everything out. Then flashed Franco r19.

This baby is humming. I actually love the new gray for blue change. So far I'm not noticing any radio differences, though Monday's commute will make a better test.

Thanks to everyone for all the hand holding. I feel sort of silly about my anxiety now, but I'm not yet at a place where I'm super confident with this stuff and I need to make sure I have my head around it before I move. I'm willing to take risks, just not blind ones.

I really love this place. The folks here are both knowledgeable, tolerant and helpful, a sometimes rare combination on the internet.

 

As you would guess, Atl4antis is already working on adding 4.4.2. Apparently will be a new ROM, not just a patch update. I'm sure won't be long to wait.

 

Cataclysm 4.4.2 has been released.

[ROM] [KitKat 4.4.2] [HAMMERHEAD] Cataclysm for Nexus 5 [Dec 12, 2013 Stable] - xda-developers

Downloaded, but will have to flash later. Headed out.

 

Did a dirty flash (only wiped Dalvik cache and cache) and everything booted up great and worked perfectly. Reflashed Franco r20, works great. Even got the Nova update. Mmmm-Mmmmm! Sweet!