Develop Bugs

E975: Backuping original LG's Software before going CM?

Hello there,
I googled a lot, I searched a lot here, but I did not find what I searched for.
I am thinking about testing the new Version of Cyanogenmod, the problem is that I in fact never did anything like this.
I want to set back the device to manufactures setting and then backup the original LG Software, so that I can go back to the standard before selling, or if CM isnt quite mine.
Anyone tips or links how to manage that?
Thank a lot before, sorry if this was asked before (I'm pretty shure), I couldn't find.
5MinutesAloneLG

After rooting and unlocking,make sure you place the efs backup somewhere safe. You can also make a nandroid backup and restore it if you don't like cm. or you can use kdz updater to flash stock firmware.
I'm sure you looked all the places,except the FAQ

Okay, this sounds good to me.
Does any of the 3 Methods give me the same way of a full backup from the original software, or is there something else that has to be done?
I searched for the Faqs, but I couldn't find any?
Thanks a lot!

5MinutesAloneLG said:
Does any of the 3 Methods give me the same way of a full backup from the original software, or is there something else that has to be done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, these are different things. EFS backup is to save your butt in case something happens with your IMEI. This is one of the most important things, don't overlook it! Nandroid backup is a "snapshot" of your existing ROM, including all your installed apps and their settings. This is the easiest way to get back to your previous ROM after experimenting with others. And KDZ is not a backup - it's a factory image that will return your phone to the exact same state as it was when brand new.
I searched for the Faqs, but I couldn't find any?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look in @kimitza signature. It's his baby. :good:

the nandroid backup is like a restore image for windows. you will have all apps/settings from that time saved. here is a scenario:
1. On clean stock rom,root and unlock(unlock will also flash cwm recovery). Place FREEGEE folder somewhere safe.
2. Enter recovery mode and make a backup.
3. Flash any other rom ...and if you don't like it, restore the backup you made earlier.
4. Restore EFS with freegee.
5. Use Unroot from supersu.
6. Backup all your files(photo and other media to pc) then do a hard reset.
7. You will have a clean stock/official rom,like it came from factory.
All of this can be simplified by backing up your files and use kdz updater,followed by a hard reset. .It takes less time and it's safer.

I rooted it, but I dont have an hint of an idea how to do these efs backup?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=38886073&postcount=1&nocache=1&z=7530246020855317
what is to do with that zip? I'm from germany and I have no clue what run in recovery mode should tell me. On the Phone or on the PC?
If unzipped, what is there to do?
As I want to use the cm installer with 10.2 stable, I just want to backup everything important..

Sorry, wrong link, i meant this of course, its allready rooted
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=38438579&postcount=1

Sorry for posting again, but honestly, I'm not allowed to post in the efs thread, so I cant do anything right now.
Im still waiting to flash it.
Anyone should do efs backup, so basicly people should be able to tell me how to do that or?
Please anyone!

When you unlock the bootloader with freegee, it automagically makes a backup of the EFS,amongst other things(like bootloader state,imei,partitions etc). It's enough to place that FREEGEE folder somewhere safe. If you ever run into troubles(like no IMEI shown or you just want to go back to stock without using KDZ updater),just restore with freegee. It will relock you bootloader and restore EFS(with imei).

[Q] Help! Rooted 4.3, Backed up, and now cant restore backup

Hello, I recently rooted my wifes Note 2 that was on the latest OTA 4.3. Was not easy BTW. I did a back up in recovery of boot, system, and data. I figured I was good to go and start trying out other roms.
The first one I flashed was Macks Allstar 5.0 rom. Everything was great. Then my wife informed me that she did not have all of her contacts backed up to google and some were only saved to her phone. So then I figure I could just restore the original backup and extract the contacts and be able to install them to any rom.
Thats when everything went wrong. Everytime I tried restoring the back up,it would crash and recovery would do like a reboot. After many attempts I figured id try another version of recovery. After flashing many earlier versions of twrp and trying to restore, I finally was able to complete a restore from version 2.6. I was ecstatic. But then my heart sank again when boot always hangs on samsung logo. And that is where I'm stuck. I am able to flash other roms no problem but cant restore my original backup.
Needless to say my wife is ready to kill me.
Please if anyone could help me I would really appreciate it. I have searched throughout this forum and internet for hours and can not seem to find any help with this issue.
I am thankful to have been able to get this far with the help from the XDA community posts I never needed direct help even with prior phone rootings but this one has got me stumped. Thanks in advance

You need to flash Phil's recovery version 6.0.7.9. If you cant restore your backup with Phil's then I'm thinking you might be sol. Make sure you know where you saved the backup to. It's either on the phone's internal sd or external sd card. Choose the correct location in Phil's recovery and if it isn't corrupt it should work. You may also want to copy your backup onto your pc just in case because that's your only backup and doing a full wipe or odin restore could permanently delete it. Good luck.

tx_dbs_tx said:
You need to flash Phil's recovery version 6.0.7.9. If you cant restore your backup with Phil's then I'm thinking you might be sol. Make sure you know where you saved the backup to. It's either on the phone's internal sd or external sd card. Choose the correct location in Phil's recovery and if it isn't corrupt it should work. You may also want to copy your backup onto your pc just in case because that's your only backup and doing a full wipe or odin restore could permanently delete it. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. I am at work right now and left the phone with my wife with a working rom. I will try phils recovery when I get home. As far as backups, I have two copies. One on my SD card and the other on PC but if they're both fried I guess that negates my efforts in redundancy. It's hard to believe the backup got corrupt so quickly. I have another backup of the 2nd rom I flashed and that one wont install as well.
Is there something I am doing wrong? If the backup file is corrupt, is there a way to extract contacts seperately out of backup?

Method b.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2648855
My wife does that too. Sorry

ColeTrain! said:
Method b.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2648855
My wife does that too. Sorry
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Life of a married man. Haha!
Well, as my backup file was done with TWRP, I tried method B with TWRP recovery and it wont work so now I'm in the process of trying method A. Will update once I tried it.
I think my problem has to do with TWRP not playing friendly with 4.3 ROMS. If that is the case method A looks like it will work.:fingers-crossed:

alexandnen said:
Life of a married man. Haha!
Well, as my backup file was done with TWRP, I tried method B with TWRP recovery and it wont work so now I'm in the process of trying method A. Will update once I tried it.
I think my problem has to do with TWRP not playing friendly with 4.3 ROMS. If that is the case method A looks like it will work.:fingers-crossed:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly right. Bootloader isn't playing well with TWRP recovery. Phil"s 6.0.7.9 seems to be compatible in most ROM vs bootloader situations. Don't use latest version of Phil's recovery as it doesn't work as well and most people recommend this as well.
If Phil's recovery won't flash your restore then Odin all the way back to stock unrooted LK8 ROM then root it with the Toolkit and flash TWRP from the toolkit at the same time. Then see if you can restore at that point.

Looks like this project has come to an end. My wife likes her new rom and doesn't want to let me work on her phone anymore. She was able to get most of her contacts back I will make sure she backs her contacts to google and I will try to convince her to install Titanium backup to backup all her app data.
Unfortunately all I have is a work issued iphone that I have no interest in jailbreaking. I really don't see the point.
I am still confident that I could have eventually restored her backup successfully with the help here.
Thank you tx_dbx_tx and coletrain for your help.

SM-P605 EFS backup

Hello! I have successfully rooted my sm-p605 Note 10.1 with CF autoroot and also flashed TWRP. So far so good!
I´m looking forward to flashing Android Revolution HD on it but I have not yet been able to backup EFS.
I have tried to do it with EFS Professional 2.0. There is no actual filter for this device so I tried using the Galaxy Note 3 filter as i think they have equivalent hardware, that gives me the error that I cannot create tar archive. I also tried to choose "all partitions" but that gives me checksum error.
I am not really sure that I wan't to risk bricking my 750 € tablet by flashing a custom ROM before getting a proper EFS backup.
Are there by the way a risk of corrupting EFS in case I only restore the stock rom backup made in TWRP?
That would be my second option, to only make some root enabled customization and debloating in stock TW and not touch any custom roms and in case of messing up, restoring stock backup.
So, is there anyone that have been able to backup EFS on their sm-p605/Samsung galaxy note 10.1 2014 LTE Qualcomm?
I do apologize for my crappy English, I ain't a native speaker.

After some research I came across some comments on various websites mentioning that it is possible to restore EFS by flashing stock firmware.
Can someone please verify this? That even if I will not be able to backup EFS i still can restore it by flashing Samsung stock firmware?

CarolusChristo said:
After some research I came across some comments on various websites mentioning that it is possible to restore EFS by flashing stock firmware.
Can someone please verify this? That even if I will not be able to backup EFS i still can restore it by flashing Samsung stock firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got no idea but you can use a file explorer to grab a copy of your EFS folder with a file explorer like ES and copy to your sd card then transfer to your PC...
Don't know how much of a help this will be but at least you have a copy if you think you can follow some of the recovery instructions and need the original files....

I flashed the same ROM and I remember during the installation it asked me if I want to backup the EFS. I pressed yes and it just did and install the ROM.

Any success on backup EFS folder? I've the same device and i'm planning to try custom rom too

N4 DE, TWRP & root, stuck on VZW red screen. How to go back to stock?

Hi,
I have Note 4 DE that I've installed custom recovery (TWRP) and then flashed a SU.zip. Everything went smooth so I started installed my apps.
I also created a backup from TWRP (pre- and after root) and also full partitions backup using EFS Professional as described in this post so I should also have a phone-specific aboot partition backed up.
Today I booted up into recovery to show friend of myne how it looks like, then rebooted the phone and now it is stuck on Verizon red logo screen with slow blinking blue light. My attempt to hook up the cable and fire up EFS Pro ended up with error message saying that I do not have permanent root.
What should I do now? If there is no way to fix this and keep all installed apps, Is there a way to restore the phone to factory (while still keepping unlocked bootloader)?
Thank you in advance.

inseek said:
Hi,
I have Note 4 DE that I've installed custom recovery (TWRP) and then flashed a SU.zip. Everything went smooth so I started installed my apps.
I also created a backup from TWRP (pre- and after root) and also full partitions backup using EFS Professional as described in this post so I should also have a phone-specific aboot partition backed up.
Today I booted up into recovery to show friend of myne how it looks like, then rebooted the phone and now it is stuck on Verizon red logo screen with slow blinking blue light. My attempt to hook up the cable and fire up EFS Pro ended up with error message saying that I do not have permanent root.
What should I do now? If there is no way to fix this and keep all installed apps, Is there a way to restore the phone to factory (while still keepping unlocked bootloader)?
Thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Power your phone off. Pull the battery. Put the battery back in and boot into recovery (volume up, home and power). Wipe cache and delvek. While in TWRP recovery select boot system.

jpcalhoun said:
Power your phone off. Pull the battery. Put the battery back in and boot into recovery (volume up, home and power). Wipe cache and delvek. While in TWRP recovery select boot system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still on VZW red screen after booting up into recovery, selecting "Wipe", then "Advanced Wipe", checkmarking Dalvik Cache & Cache, wiping them out; and then going to "Reboot" -> System. ..

inseek said:
Still on VZW red screen after booting up into recovery, selecting "Wipe", then "Advanced Wipe", checkmarking Dalvik Cache & Cache, wiping them out; and then going to "Reboot" -> System. ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm, Ok. Don't worry about your bootloader it is alright, not locked. I recommend you restore your backup, either a rooted backup or a stock backup that you made right after you installed TWRP. This time wipe cache, system and delvek. I'm trying to keep you have having to wipe data, but if this doesn't work then you'll need to do a complete wipe and factory reset and then restore your backup. You may loose root, if so then after restoring your backup flash the SuperSU.zip again to regain root.

jpcalhoun said:
Hmmm, Ok. Don't worry about your bootloader it is alright, not locked. I recommend you restore your backup, either a rooted backup or a stock backup that you made right after you installed TWRP. This time wipe cache, system and delvek. I'm trying to keep you have having to wipe data, but if this doesn't work then you'll need to do a complete wipe and factory reset and then restore your backup. You may loose root, if so then after restoring your backup flash the SuperSU.zip again to regain root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, once I wipe Delvik, Chache & System, then I have to do restore from a TWRP backup I did after flashing custom recovery, right?
I have these in the list:
Boot
Recovery
System
Data
Cache
EFS
Modem​
TWRP gives me a list of partitions above, which ones should I restore? "System" is probably the one since I've wiped it up already, do I need anything else?
Thanks

inseek said:
OK, once I wipe Delvik, Chache & System, then I have to do restore from a TWRP backup I did after flashing custom recovery, right?
I have these in the list:
Boot
Recovery
System
Data
Cache
EFS
Modem​
TWRP gives me a list of partitions above, which ones should I restore? "System" is probably the one since I've wiped it up already, do I need anything else?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, select restore and then select the backup you made. The backup will contain whatever partitions you selected when you made the backup (the partitions you've mentioned above). You won't be given a chance to select the partitions once you enter restore, only the backup file name.

jpcalhoun said:
Yes, select restore and then select the backup you made. The backup will contain whatever partitions you selected when you made the backup (the partitions you've mentioned above). You won't be given a chance to select the partitions once you enter restore, only the backup file name.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It actually gives me an option to deselect any of partitions in the list. Which one(s) should I leave selected for restore?

inseek said:
It actually gives me an option to deselect any of partitions in the list. Which one(s) should I leave selected for restore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, well it's been awhile since I restored anything and maybe that is a new option in the latest TWRP. Anyway, do not deselect anything unless you are worried about your apps then in that case deselect data, then restore.

jpcalhoun said:
Ok, well it's been awhile since I restored anything and maybe that is a new option in the latest TWRP. Anyway, do not deselect anything unless you are worried about your apps then in that case deselect data, then restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I was able to restore backup to pre-root state (without any apps installed) and then from other backup that has some apps installed. So far, so good, thank you for helping me out.
I still have a question: how do I restore to factory? I guess I need a factory image that was replaced by TWRP, and then I will use Odin to flash it? Did flashing TWRP change the KNOX bit? Is there a way to completely restore N4 DE to factory the way it came from Samsung or once custom recovery is flashed and phone rooted, there is no way back (it is showing me "Custom" every time I turn it on)? I am still in doubt if I want to keep the phone as it is very similar to my rooted N3...

inseek said:
OK, I was able to restore backup to pre-root state (without any apps installed) and then from other backup that has some apps installed. So far, so good, thank you for helping me out.
I still have a question: how do I restore to factory? I guess I need a factory image that was replaced by TWRP, and then I will use Odin to flash it? Did flashing TWRP change the KNOX bit? Is there a way to completely restore N4 DE to factory the way it came from Samsung or once custom recovery is flashed and phone rooted, there is no way back (it is showing me "Custom" every time I turn it on)? I am still in doubt if I want to keep the phone as it is very similar to my rooted N3...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first backup you did after you installed TWRP through ODIN is a factory image with the exception of course of the factory recovery that was replaced by TWRP. Knox will always be part of any backup unless you uninstall Knox using something like Titanium Backup. So installing a custom recovery will not replace or uninstall Knox. I caution you not to flash any factory firmware. There is no factory firmware available for the Developer Edition. If you flash a factory firmware for the Note 4 you will lock your bootloader and what you have left is a very expensive Retail version of the Note 4...locked bootloader and all. The advantage of a Developer Edition is the unlocked bootloader...don't screw that up. As far as "Custom", I don't know how to get rid of that...there is a way I just don't remember how to do it.

I just ordered my Verizon Samsung galaxy note 4.. is there a root method available for the retail version ( non developer edition ) if so can someone point me in the direction .. I'm coming from unlocked rooted note 2.. I've been searching XDA and googling the topic today and all I'm finding is just developer edition is root able .. even searched you tube.. thank you
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app

athack said:
I just ordered my Verizon Samsung galaxy note 4.. is there a root method available for the retail version ( non developer edition ) if so can someone point me in the direction .. I'm coming from unlocked rooted note 2.. I've been searching XDA and googling the topic today and all I'm finding is just developer edition is root able .. even searched you tube.. thank you
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently no root for Retail/Consumer Edition Verizon Note 4.....
Sent from my SM-N910V / VZW Note 4 DE / Factory Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted / StarKissed / TWRP 2.8.1.1 trltevzw

Thank you...
manbat said:
Currently no root for Retail/Consumer Edition Verizon Note 4.....
Sent from my SM-N910V / VZW Note 4 DE / Factory Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted / StarKissed / TWRP 2.8.1.1 trltevzw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SCH-I605 using XDA Free mobile app

inseek said:
OK, I was able to restore backup to pre-root state (without any apps installed) and then from other backup that has some apps installed. So far, so good, thank you for helping me out.
I still have a question: how do I restore to factory? I guess I need a factory image that was replaced by TWRP, and then I will use Odin to flash it? Did flashing TWRP change the KNOX bit? Is there a way to completely restore N4 DE to factory the way it came from Samsung or once custom recovery is flashed and phone rooted, there is no way back (it is showing me "Custom" every time I turn it on)? I am still in doubt if I want to keep the phone as it is very similar to my rooted N3...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
inseek, let me correct a comment I made in a previous post "there is no firmware available for the Note 4". That's not entirely true. It is true that there is not a stock firmware .tar that you can ODIN that returns your phone to stock DE just like it came from Samsung. This thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...mware-firmware-kernel-modem-recovery-t2942937 does provide a few stock .tar files that can safely be ODIN on the DE. These files do not provide the "safety net" that we would like in terms of a complete flashing of the DE back to stock, it only provides stock .tar files for several "pieces" of a complete stock ROM and bootloader. Read the OP and post 2 and 3 very carefully before you use any of those .tar files. There is no .tar for the DE aboot/bootloader. The only way you can have a backup of aboot/bootloader is to follow the instructions here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-verizon/general/guide-vzw-note-4-backup-developer-t2962911

jpcalhoun said:
inseek, let me correct a comment I made in a previous post "there is no firmware available for the Note 4". That's not entirely true. It is true that there is not a stock firmware .tar that you can ODIN that returns your phone to stock DE just like it came from Samsung. This thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/not...mware-firmware-kernel-modem-recovery-t2942937 does provide a few stock .tar files that can safely be ODIN on the DE. These files do not provide the "safety net" that we would like in terms of a complete flashing of the DE back to stock, it only provides stock .tar files for several "pieces" of a complete stock ROM and bootloader. Read the OP and post 2 and 3 very carefully before you use any of those .tar files. There is no .tar for the DE aboot/bootloader. The only way you can have a backup of aboot/bootloader is to follow the instructions here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/note-4-verizon/general/guide-vzw-note-4-backup-developer-t2962911
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for this update, jpcalhoun.
I've followed these threads when I first flashed TWRP so I do have a backup made via TWRP (which doesn't include aboot) plus the one created via EFS Professional. I was just wondering if there is a dump of all partitions as they are coming from the factory. I am not a specialist but I was thinking that if I have aboot (which from what I read is unique for my phone), original boot partition + the remaining partitions in my backup then I should be able to restore the phone to factory state.
Is there a way to dump all partitions from a brand new N4 DE that just came from a factory? Obviously, for EFS Professional we need custom recovery + BusyBix + root to work. TWRP is capable of backing up most partitions but not aboot/boot. The way it is now, once we flash custom recovery, there is no way back as if there is something wrong with the phone, Samsung will see that "Custom" sign on the screen and from what I've read, will just re-flash a locked bootloader prior to sending the device back to the owner. I wish I knew all this prior to ordering my N4 DE

inseek said:
Thank you for this update, jpcalhoun.
I've followed these threads when I first flashed TWRP so I do have a backup made via TWRP (which doesn't include aboot) plus the one created via EFS Professional. I was just wondering if there is a dump of all partitions as they are coming from the factory. I am not a specialist but I was thinking that if I have aboot (which from what I read is unique for my phone), original boot partition + the remaining partitions in my backup then I should be able to restore the phone to factory state.
Is there a way to dump all partitions from a brand new N4 DE that just came from a factory? Obviously, for EFS Professional we need custom recovery + BusyBix + root to work. TWRP is capable of backing up most partitions but not aboot/boot. The way it is now, once we flash custom recovery, there is no way back as if there is something wrong with the phone, Samsung will see that "Custom" sign on the screen and from what I've read, will just re-flash a locked bootloader prior to sending the device back to the owner. I wish I knew all this prior to ordering my N4 DE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a Linux guru or a ADB guru, but I think you can do that using command line scripts, but I can't swear to it.

[Q] Questions on after rooting

Ok so I decided to root my VS985 G3. Mainly for better battery as of right now and to run some root apps. Running Lollipop 5.0.1. So far I have userSU and TitaniumBackup installed. I know the greatest thing with root is custom ROMs, but I'm not at that point yet. With just root here are some question I have as far as a noob with this goes.
1. Do I just do back ups with TI or do I still use the stock LG backup app?
2. In the event that I need to do a system restore. Do I need to uninstall root with userSU first then do a regular system restore with the power/vol down button or can I do it with the root still enabled?
3. Until I get comfortable being rooted and how things work I'm not going to do a custom ROM. However being a 25 yr exp computer tech tinkering is in my blood so I know at some point I will do it. With just root do I need to do a TWRP nandroid backup now or wait till I get ready for a custom ROM?
Thanks for helping guys! I am a IOS convert and am loving the Droid life.

jandb19 said:
Ok so I decided to root my VS985 G3. Mainly for better battery as of right now and to run some root apps. Running Lollipop 5.0.1. So far I have userSU and TitaniumBackup installed. I know the greatest thing with root is custom ROMs, but I'm not at that point yet. With just root here are some question I have as far as a noob with this goes.
1. Do I just do back ups with TI or do I still use the stock LG backup app?
2. In the event that I need to do a system restore. Do I need to uninstall root with userSU first then do a regular system restore with the power/vol down button or can I do it with the root still enabled?
3. Until I get comfortable being rooted and how things work I'm not going to do a custom ROM. However being a 25 yr exp computer tech tinkering is in my blood so I know at some point I will do it. With just root do I need to do a TWRP nandroid backup now or wait till I get ready for a custom ROM?
Thanks for helping guys! I am a IOS convert and am loving the Droid life.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Backup with Titanium Backup. It does a more thorough job
2. I dont get your question. Under what circumstance do you want to do a system restore? If you make a system backup while rooted when you restore the backup you will still be rooted?
3. You only make a backup of your system using TWRP or Nandroid Backup if you are going to be playing around with the system folder or if you are install custom rom
Oh yeah and by the way once you root they will know that you rooted your phone regardless of whether supersu is present on the phone. They do this by looking at the LG RCT menu in service settings

So annoying that warranty is void when rooting. Oh well, if I have an issue down the road, hopefully my carrier doesn't look at that menu.
(though, aside from an issue with the internal storage on a Galaxy S i9000m, I've never had to send in a phone for warranty)

Devhux said:
So annoying that warranty is void when rooting. Oh well, if I have an issue down the road, hopefully my carrier doesn't look at that menu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, removing root and bringing the device to original state is as easy as flashing an official rom. No traces of root left.

itsbighead said:
1. Backup with Titanium Backup. It does a more thorough job
2. I dont get your question. Under what circumstance do you want to do a system restore? If you make a system backup while rooted when you restore the backup you will still be rooted?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My question there was looking at "IF" I wanted to do a system restore would I need to unroot first or restore as normal then re root. Thinking I loose root when I do a factory restore. Just didn't know if I needed to unroot or not before doing the restore. With my VS985 it will have a few kninks every now and then that doing a restore seems to help fix. Maybe a hardware defect, but nothing that I would send back for a replacement for. Some of those kinks maybe verizon problems too, but restore seems to fix them for a time for me.

jandb19 said:
My question there was looking at "IF" I wanted to do a system restore would I need to unroot first or restore as normal then re root. Thinking I loose root when I do a factory restore. Just didn't know if I needed to unroot or not before doing the restore. With my VS985 it will have a few kninks every now and then that doing a restore seems to help fix. Maybe a hardware defect, but nothing that I would send back for a replacement for. Some of those kinks maybe verizon problems too, but restore seems to fix them for a time for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If what you mean "restore" is to wipe Data/Cache/Dalvik, then you don't need to unroot. After the wipe, you will lose all your installed app, but you start with a clean slate. The root is still there, and you can install SuperSU to get access to it.
To install a custom ROM, you need to install TWRP first. However, you cannot do it from L. You need to first downgrade it back to 10b using the TOT flash. Stomp root it and install TWRP manager from Play store. From TWRP manager you can install TWRP to your VS985. After that, you can flash custom ROM from TWRP.