how to fully wipe s3 clean - AT&T, Rogers, Bell, Telus Samsung Galaxy S III

I jus recentlt rooted my phone and flashed recovery mod and then flashed cm10 and it was working fine and still works fine...
the problem is that in recovery I wiped data and cache and dlvick or whatever its called.I followed the instructions to a t and it all worked fine..but when I went into my sd card info and it says I have 11.95gb and only 2.30gb available. ..I have 7.94gb in miscellaneous files...so I tried wiping again in recovery and flashed my original backup rom and everything works fine except for my big gb games like gta3 etc..so its like it wiped it all or moved it over somehow..how can I fix this? please and thanks!
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Get disk usage from the market. It will show you the files using all your storage. It's probably your old CWM backups. You can delete your unused backups through CWM.
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d3athsd00r said:
Get disk usage from the market. It will show you the files using all your storage. It's probably your old CWM backups. You can delete your unused backups through CWM.
Sent from my SGH-I747 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well i dont want to delete my backup from my phone and i only have 1 backup, im just looking to use the new flash i did lastnite and be able to start with a fresh internal SD i want to wipe it all off, well just the apps and such, not the essential stuff the phone needs to run. so how can i safly do this? im rooted, i flashed to cm10 and then i cleaned and went back to my original rom and looking to clean up whats on the phone to go back and flash my cm10
thanks again!!! dont be too harsh i am a noob to all this :

dorian345 said:
Well i dont want to delete my backup from my phone and i only have 1 backup, im just looking to use the new flash i did lastnite and be able to start with a fresh internal SD i want to wipe it all off, well just the apps and such, not the essential stuff the phone needs to run. so how can i safly do this? im rooted, i flashed to cm10 and then i cleaned and went back to my original rom and looking to clean up whats on the phone to go back and flash my cm10
thanks again!!! dont be too harsh i am a noob to all this :
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Best bet would to just plug your phone into your pc and see what is taking up so much space. if is misc data, i could see it being zip files and what not.
Or it could be if you flashed 4.2. 4.2 has this profile thing that is only for tablets but they just disabled the function for mobile phones. look through your directories to see if there is anything under sdcard/0/. if there is, make sure you take all the data you want/need out of the /0 directory and put it back under your sdcard and then just delete the /0 directory. Hope it helps.

Or just use the disk usage app I suggested and you completely ignored. It will list your biggest culprits.
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Related

is it possible, that being a flash-aholic is messing up my phone?

I'm noticing errors on roms i never used to notice.. like a day after flashing, random apps like messages and keyboard are FC'ing, when they never used to do that.
Is there a guide somewhere how to completely wipe every trace of use on my phone and start fresh? I'm afraid of wiping away some critical file and bricking my phone by just wiping everything I can find though.
theraker007 said:
I'm noticing errors on roms i never used to notice.. like a day after flashing, random apps like messages and keyboard are FC'ing, when they never used to do that.
Is there a guide somewhere how to completely wipe every trace of use on my phone and start fresh? I'm afraid of wiping away some critical file and bricking my phone by just wiping everything I can find though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go into CWM and Factory Reset -> Wipe Cache -> Wipe Dalvik Cache. Then go to mounts and storage and Format /data, Format /system. I normally format /sdcard as well, but MAKE SURE YOU HAVE BACKED UP TO AN EXTERNAL SD CARD.
i always due all except format SD card.. maybe thats why things are in conflict.. ive never done that one...
With the new method of using the internal SD as the phone data storage this is entirely possible. If there are files/databases for apps stored on the SD that is incompatible with the apps in questions problems can arise. I would suggest you make a full copy of your internal SD to a safe location and format, then after the ROM install if you find you are missing app data for something that cant be easily rebuilt you can copy that app's data back specifically to avoid resurrecting the problem.
Sounds like a wise move. Thank you sir.
I imagine I need to put the recovery image back in the sd card immediately, or is cwm smart enough to save that one?
theraker007 said:
Sounds like a wise move. Thank you sir.
I imagine I need to put the recovery image back in the sd card immediately, or is cwm smart enough to save that one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cwm shouldn't blow away itself. 99.9% sure it won't.
saj222 said:
Cwm shouldn't blow away itself. 99.9% sure it won't.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, the recovery is stored in its own partition and up until the last version of CWM i used (6.0 something) there is no option to modify the recovery partition at all. I switched to TWRP for multiple reasons, one of which is the ability to include a backup of the recovery partition in backups.
Is it perfectly safe to format the internal sd card? I've made a backup of the sd card a little while ago contemplating this but couldn't find any good info on this. I'm more or less in the same boat and would like to start 100% fresh
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thatsupnow said:
Is it perfectly safe to format the internal sd card? I've made a backup of the sd card a little while ago contemplating this but couldn't find any good info on this. I'm more or less in the same boat and would like to start 100% fresh
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap :good:, the only risk of formatting the internal stoarge is losing the data on it, big shocker huh , unless of course you were to format to an unsupported file system. I dont think this is even possible without trying real hard to do so.
Cool cool thanks man yea I'm not worried about any of the data on the internal
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Does the recovery get wiped too if the internal sd card is wiped?
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thatsupnow said:
Is it perfectly safe to format the internal sd card? I've made a backup of the sd card a little while ago contemplating this but couldn't find any good info on this. I'm more or less in the same boat and would like to start 100% fresh
Sent from my SGH-I747M using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is just applications data for the most part I just get rid of it and let the app use its new fresh installed data, even just delete the folder when I have no idea what it's for or who put it there. Because, if the app or system needs it, it will just put it back. Personal data is all I worry about, but I back that up in Google contacts and such so they just show up when it sync.
And I just save zips, and movies, and apk and such.
Then wipe the rest, no worries mate, I don't bother with backup restore anymore.
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Deoxlar said:
Does the recovery get wiped too if the internal sd card is wiped?
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No

How do I restore my phone with recovery?

I did a backup before and flashed a rom. Then i flashed another rom. I cant seem to restore through recovery. Says it cant find anything.
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gyggyty said:
I did a backup before and flashed a rom. Then i flashed another rom. I cant seem to restore through recovery. Says it cant find anything.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you wiped the data then it was erased... formatted the partition, same thing. It's gone.
Lesson learned....
Next time, if you make a backup CWM or otherwise, before doing any ROM installs, copy the backup to the external SD Card and/or your computer. That way, if you have to, you can copy the files back to the phone and recover the previous state. I am not really sure that the CWM backup does the modem partition, cause I thought my modem was a different version and restoring did not change the version to what I thought it would be. Don't hold me to the fire on that, like I said, I may be wrong on that....
Good Luck, & Aloha!
Thanks for the lesson. Dont know why CWM didnt save the backup to external in the first place. But there is still about 1gb data missing for some reason.

[Q] looking to switch roms? currently running jellybomb

Im new all this rooting and rom stuff and yesterday morning i successfully rooted and inststalled the jellybomb 14.0.0 jelly bean rom thanks to qbking77's on point videos. so the question is... how can i switch which rom im running? i like the jellybeen roms and im looking to explore more to see which better suits my needs. ive heard of doing clean/dirtry instals or something of the sort but i want the best and safest way possible so i dont run into any bricking trouble. please help?
Ok, read up on how to flash a recovery
Download the rom of your choice and place it.on your sdcard. Once you do that you can install roms by booting into recovery and finding the zip for the rom you want to flash and selecting it through the "install zip from sdcard" option
Now a clean install is whenyou wipe all partitions, aka blocks of your phones memory, (details farther down) and then install the rom zip. This method minimizes the chances for problems to occur after installing
A clean flash involves:
Formatting system
Formatting / Clearing data (also known as a factory reset)
Wiping cache
Wiping / Clearing dalvik cache
Now a dirty flash is when you just flash the new rom zip over whatever you're currently rumning, without clearing anything. This method is only recommended when flashing an updated version of the same rom, and even then, the nature of some updates can require you to do a clean flash.
One more thing, DO NOT flash any roms, mods, or zips for the international version. That usa surefire way to brick your debice because the partitions are completely different.
To learn more about how android and this.stuff works, I would suggest heading over to xda,university.com
Thanks for the info. What is the best way to back everything up? I backed everything up wen I installed th jb. Rom and went to restore and couldnt find anythingband had to start from scratch.
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Roni P. said:
Thanks for the info. What is the best way to back everything up? I backed everything up wen I installed th jb. Rom and went to restore and couldnt find anythingband had to start from scratch.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup via CWM (RECOVERY) is mainly for restoring the same rom or going back to the rom you were running if experimenting, Now, can use apps such as Titanium backup to save all the other settings, apps and things. Once you flash your new rom, download it, open program and can restore your stuff that way. Personally, I'll wipe, start from scratch, sometimes i'll download an app i never use, and it just allows me to clear out the useless ones.. Happy flashing!
Roni P. said:
Thanks for the info. What is the best way to back everything up? I backed everything up wen I installed th jb. Rom and went to restore and couldnt find anythingband had to start from scratch.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as said above, a backup through recovery (also called a "nandroid" ) stores an EXACT image of the current state of your device. Meaning all data, all system files, all apps, radios, etc. Backing up through an app, like Titanium Backup, only backs up certain things like apps and app data
Basically, if you're trying any experimental stuff that may break your system (for example, flashing a new modem or testing to see if a certain kernel works), then a nandroid is the way to go because you can restore to an exact image of a state when everything was working
Yea I did that the 1st time and couldnt recover anything. Is there a certain way I should recover or maybe I did something wrong? Im not sure. Sorry if im sounding stupid but I cant return my phone if I screw it up so im tryin to be as safe as possible. Hopefully thats understandable
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Press volume up home button and then power button don't let go till Samsung screen comes up bought 10 ish sec. Once let go phone should go into cwm, clock work mod recovery. See if you have that first
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Roni P. said:
Yea I did that the 1st time and couldnt recover anything. Is there a certain way I should recover or maybe I did something wrong? Im not sure. Sorry if im sounding stupid but I cant return my phone if I screw it up so im tryin to be as safe as possible. Hopefully thats understandable
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No no, its recovery
The recovery is basically something that allows you to install zips, it doesnt actually have much to do with recovering anything lol
But first do what was suggested right above me to check to see if you have a recovery installed
To get a more detailed description of what a recovery is and what it does, you can get over to xda-university and read through the "as user" section on recoveries
Think cwm has saved a few phones on here. Me I don't use a pc. Easy just with phone. If he's deleted his folder should he recoveR then it would bring that folder bk?
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Well yea I kno I have a recovery I use cwm... I jus need to kno how I can actually save my phones content... I dont wanna start fresh everytime I decide to flash a new rom
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app
OK titanium bkup. But don't restore all things if your backing up at lot as will save 4.1.2 4.2.1 and 4.2 2 and so on. Don't want to mix as fc will happen
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Storage issue...

Hey guys! Its been a while since I've rooted a phone (HTC Inspire 4G) but last night I rooted my S3. Today I was checking storage and it says I have 2.62GB left on my internal SD card. I run the numbers on apps, downloads, etc. and it just doesn't add up to using 9GBs of space. I'm running LiquidSmooth with gapps (which downloaded my previous apps from stock via my account). Can someone help me out with this? Even if I have to completely wipe the storage space to get the room back, I'm fine with that. I just don't like not having space especially when there should be way more since there are no pictures or music on the phone. Thanks everyone and its good to be back flashing!
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I'm also running into an issue finding flashable .zips that are in my /download folder in Astro but not found when using CWM. Weird...
*Edit*
Disregard not being to find them... Apparently I have a separate folder labeled /sdcard/0 that I have no idea how it was made... Is there a .exe to full wipe/format my sdcard so I can start with a clean slate and then simply restore my current ROM/Kernel? Factory reset, format system, wiping cache and dalvik cache then restoring backup isn't working.
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You know if you posted this in the right forum you might get some help.
It's not hard to realize that if you're asking a question it should probably be in the forum labeled questions and answers. Think before you post.
TeknoGodz said:
You know if you posted this in the right forum you might get some help.
It's not hard to realize that if you're asking a question it should probably be in the forum labeled questions and answers. Think before you post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
His question is in the Q&A
Read before posting
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jayRokk said:
His question is in the Q&A
Read before posting
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is now that I reported it for being in the wrong section and a mod moved it.
Think before you post.
Anyways, the internal SD card is always going to have much less space then as advertised on the phone. My phone is a 16GB and out of the box I think it had like 13 or so.
You can install TWRP from Goo Manager and use that recovery to make a backup, format your internal storage, then restore data from a backup if you really think you're missing space, but honestly you probably arent.
Thank you for noticing that it was in the wrong forum Tekno.... And for getting that fixed. I understand I have less than advertised but before I rooted it, I backed up all the pictures onto my computer. My phone has no pictures or music on it so I'm trying to figure out where 10GBs have gone.
I will look up TWRP and hopefully that will help...
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Well if you've already backed up that you may as well just backup your contacts and anything else you may need and start clean. And by that I mean do a full wipe before flashing a ROM and don't restore data after.
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TeknoGodz said:
Well if you've already backed up that you may as well just backup your contacts and anything else you may need and start clean. And by that I mean do a full wipe before flashing a ROM and don't restore data after.
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I'm a little too late for all of that now. I soft bricked the phone. Using CWM, I managed to erase everything from the sdcard. All files, all folders, everything. Now when the phone boots it hangs at the "Samsung Galaxy S III" screen. I can, however, get into Download Mode and Recovery Mode. Unfortunately for me though, I do not have the stock ROM .tar and cannot download it due to workstation restrictions. I can also get to Recovery Mode but I have absolutely no files on the sdcard at all and I can't figure out a way to force push LiquidSmooth onto the phone. I receive recognition of connection via ODIN but that program only uses .tar/.gz/.img/etc. and I can't put the LiquidSmooth .zip on that way. Hopefully someone can bring me a copy of the Stock ROM in to work tomorrow as I'm on duty and won't be able to leave work for a while (days).
Oh, it's been a while since I've bricked a phone also. Those days I don't miss...
Are there any other options that I may not have exhausted?
dmeans2 said:
Well, I'm a little too late for all of that now. I soft bricked the phone. Using CWM, I managed to erase everything from the sdcard. All files, all folders, everything. Now when the phone boots it hangs at the "Samsung Galaxy S III" screen. I can, however, get into Download Mode and Recovery Mode. Unfortunately for me though, I do not have the stock ROM .tar and cannot download it due to workstation restrictions. I can also get to Recovery Mode but I have absolutely no files on the sdcard at all and I can't figure out a way to force push LiquidSmooth onto the phone. I receive recognition of connection via ODIN but that program only uses .tar/.gz/.img/etc. and I can't put the LiquidSmooth .zip on that way. Hopefully someone can bring me a copy of the Stock ROM in to work tomorrow as I'm on duty and won't be able to leave work for a while (days).
Oh, it's been a while since I've bricked a phone also. Those days I don't miss...
Are there any other options that I may not have exhausted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well heres a few things you can try:
1) ADB to push the rom to the phone
2) Use a proxy service to download original firmware (not sure if your workplace would like that though), Heres a link to the stock ATT firmware, not rooted, pure stock from sammobile http://www.hotfile.com/dl/182319352/b8d55a6/I747UCDLK3_I747ATTDLK3_ATT.zip.html
3) Ask to borrow a co-workers phone to download the file
Thanks Tekno. Finally back online...
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

factory reset phone?

whats the best way to factory reset my stock Galaxy S4 sgh-m919 mdl t-mobile phone with it being rooted and having custom cwm?
i want to cuz the internal storage is full after trying to flash a couple of zips like stochbootenabler.zip and such cuz i was trying to change my boot animation and take out the carrier logo which i did succeed in doing but restored back cuz of the full internal storage but after restoring its still full even after uninstalling every app i can think of, so im thinking a factory reset should do the trick?? any help, Big TY'S!! :fingers-crossed:
whatever i need to do to get back my internal storage ill do it, deleting everything from app manager and and stock app manager does not help
mrdreamers said:
whats the best way to factory reset my stock Galaxy S4 sgh-m919 mdl t-mobile phone with it being rooted and having custom cwm?
i want to cuz the internal storage is full after trying to flash a couple of zips like stochbootenabler.zip and such cuz i was trying to change my boot animation and take out the carrier logo which i did succeed in doing but restored back cuz of the full internal storage but after restoring its still full even after uninstalling every app i can think of, so im thinking a factory reset should do the trick?? any help, Big TY'S!! :fingers-crossed:
whatever i need to do to get back my internal storage ill do it, deleting everything from app manager and and stock app manager does not help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you made any backups? backups by default are stored internally and each one takes around 3gb... check your cwm folder on your internal storage with a file manager... honestly Ive never had to do anything extreme to free up space.. all ive done is browse the internal and find what exactly is taking up space.
Debloat and remove any system apps you dont use or wont need. and while minimal you can also delete ringtones, alarms and notifications youll never use.
you can also use foldermount to move game and app data n such to the external sd card.
as far as the bootanimation its easy enough to replace by moving the bootanimation zips over manually with a file manager, set permissions, and reboot. no flashing necessary.
ty 4 your response
The Illest 619 said:
Have you made any backups? backups by default are stored internally and each one takes around 3gb... check your cwm folder on your internal storage with a file manager... honestly Ive never had to do anything extreme to free up space.. all ive done is browse the internal and find what exactly is taking up space.
Debloat and remove any system apps you dont use or wont need. and while minimal you can also delete ringtones, alarms and notifications youll never use.
you can also use foldermount to move game and app data n such to the external sd card.
as far as the bootanimation its easy enough to replace by moving the bootanimation zips over manually with a file manager, set permissions, and reboot. no flashing necessary.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ty 4 the response but i have tried all this, removing most of bloat and apps and searched extensively for evey thing i can remove and it still shows that my internal storage is full with only 147mb left out of 9.62 gb, is it safe tho to do a factory reset? if it is should i do it through cwm or through stock? i just want my internal storage back at any cost. ty again any more help would be much appreciated
mrdreamers said:
ty 4 the response but i have tried all this, removing most of bloat and apps and searched extensively for evey thing i can remove and it still shows that my internal storage is full with only 147mb left out of 9.62 gb, is it safe tho to do a factory reset? if it is should i do it through cwm or through stock? i just want my internal storage back at any cost. ty again any more help would be much appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The CWM backup folder is pretty well hidden unless you know where to look for it... system root-> /data/media/clockworkmod. That is more than likely what's eating your space; in fact, I would be almost positive that is where your space has gone. Either way, factory resets are safe, just realize that you lose ALL your apps + data. Anything saved on your EXTERNAL sd card are safe and won't be deleted though.
ty 4 That
lordcheeto03 said:
The CWM backup folder is pretty well hidden unless you know where to look for it... system root-> /data/media/clockworkmod. That is more than likely what's eating your space; in fact, I would be almost positive that is where your space has gone. Either way, factory resets are safe, just realize that you lose ALL your apps + data. Anything saved on your EXTERNAL sd card are safe and won't be deleted though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ill take a look and ill come back and let you know ty!
Help!
lordcheeto03 said:
The CWM backup folder is pretty well hidden unless you know where to look for it... system root-> /data/media/clockworkmod. That is more than likely what's eating your space; in fact, I would be almost positive that is where your space has gone. Either way, factory resets are safe, just realize that you lose ALL your apps + data. Anything saved on your EXTERNAL sd card are safe and won't be deleted though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did a factory reset and my internal storage is still full i cant even install root explorer to check where you said it might be full at, what can i do plz help ty!
mrdreamers said:
i did a factory reset and my internal storage is still full i cant even install root explorer to check where you said it might be full at, what can i do plz help ty!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Format emmc in recovery will wipe it clean
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
ty!!
Miami8906 said:
Format emmc in recovery will wipe it clean
Sent from my SGH-M919 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good:
TY! ill try that, tho i have never done it before do i need to put GS4 sgh-m919 t-mobile stock rom or a custom rom in the external sd card and flash it after i format emmc in cwm? or is it like doing a factory reset but wipes out more??
Boot into recovery and clear data, cache, and dalvik cache
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Android_Monsters said:
Boot into recovery and clear data, cache, and dalvik cache
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do i need a rom?
or just go into cwm and do that?
btw is that what he means when he says "format emmc and wipe it clean"??
i heard doing this will brick your phone, so what r the safest steps on doing this?
mrdreamers said:
do i need a rom?
or just go into cwm and do that?
btw is that what he means when he says "format emmc and wipe it clean"??
i heard doing this will brick your phone, so what r the safest steps on doing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will help some.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349052
This is easy and safe.
The Ax says, be careful.
mrdreamers said:
do i need a rom?
or just go into cwm and do that?
btw is that what he means when he says "format emmc and wipe it clean"??
i heard doing this will brick your phone, so what r the safest steps on doing this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need clockwork. You'll see the choices in the menus.
It is not what he meant by telling you to erase your emmc. He was teasing you cause doing a wipe is pretty basic.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app
TY
TheAxman said:
This will help some.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349052
This is easy and safe.
The Ax says, be careful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is this the kernel i want to flash after the custom rom or stock rom?
|KERNEL||STOCK|| Boot.img & Modules M919 UVUAMDB & UVUAMDL || Updated 5|08
or is there more then one?
ive flashed custom roms before i just never flashed a kernel with them.
MY phone again is a ROOTED Stocked SG4 SGH-M919 MDL T-Mobile with touch CWM.
BTW i cant install anything else on my phone is it ok to put the apps on external sd card without using TiBu?
Also would i need a kernel to flash the Death Star Rom?
i tried flashing the Wicked Rom but it stuck on the samsung s4 logo so i replace it at t-mobile with another which i have now

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