What is the least destructive way to root the Galaxy S5?

[AC Question]

I have Galaxy S5 and one of my friend deleted all my pictures and my last backup was couple months old.

I'd like to recover original photos and videos but it's not possible without rooting. I managed to get thumbnails back with free software but every software that could return original photos demands rooting. If I understood correctly, this problem occurred after Lollipop. I see my phone on PC but recovery software can't access it like mass storage.

I'm trying to find least destructive way to root my phone so rooting wouldn't write over photos I need to recover.

 

[belodion]

Re: What is the least destructive way to root Samsyng Galaxy S5?

Take the friend to court and let them worry about the difficulty and expense of doing that.

 

[D13H4RD2L1V3]

Mod Note: Moved to the Galaxy S5 Rooting, ROMs and hacks subthread for relevance.

 

[ironass]

Rooting, (or not), depends on which of the 42 models of Galaxy S5 that you have.

 

[Reiz]

I have SM-G900F with Android 5.0

AP: G900FXXU1POK5
CP: G900FXXU1POJ1
CSC: G900FNEE1POK1

 

[ironass]

I have SM-G900F with Android 5.0

AP: G900FXXU1POK5
CP: G900FXXU1POJ1
CSC: G900FNEE1POK1

You are still on the old Nordic Countries, NEE, firmware for Lollipop, Android 5.0, (Marshmallow for NEE was released 2 months ago), so it would be better to upgrade your firmware first, before rooting, and then use the guide mentioned in post #1 of Root for Galaxy S5 on Marshmallow. If, for whatever reason, you do not wish to upgrade to Marshmallow, Android 6.0.1, with its new security features and bugfixes, then you can use the same guide to root Lollipop, using the earlier, Android 5.0, kernel.

 

[Reiz]

Thanks for the reply. I will delve into these guides.

Does upgrading firmware and rooting affects only Android OS partition or also other partition where photos are stored? In other words, how much these operations overwrite memory what I need to recover after root?

If there is slim chance to get these photos back I'm up for it because my warranty is already gone because phone is 2 years old but if these operations mess internal memory completely I guess I should settle for thumbnails I already recovered.

 

[ironass]

Just using your phone will overwrite any deleted data as per the warning in post #13 of Backup! Backup! Backup! NOW!. That post also offers some non rooting methods of recovery that, "may", help you.

 

[Reiz]

My phone has been in flight mode after the accident and I haven't used it since. That is the reason why firmware is also 2 months old. I'll go through these guides. Thank you.