My Experience

Root Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on Android 4 1 1 Stock Firmware

The Verizon variant of Galaxy Note 2 has received its own rooting guide and now you can use this post to learn how to successfully get access to the phablet’s sub-system. Read all the instructions that I have listed in this post and you should be able to root your device.
Droidstyle, an XDA community member, managed to create a pre-rooted stock firmware that can be flashed directly on your device using Odin application. This is an easy to follow guide and you shouldn’t have any problems with completing it. If you want to finish the root without any problems, then you will also need to read the preparation guidelines below. These extra steps will tell you what to take into consideration and what you have to do so that you will manage to root the Android 4.1.1 stock firmware at your first attempt.
Here’s what you need to know:

• Use this tutorial only with the Verizon variant of Samsung Galaxy Note 2 with the model number SGH-I605. Don’t root any other smartphone if your device is of a different model number, as that will brick it.
• This is a guide for advanced Android users and you should try to root your phone if you’re a novice.
• Create a full backup of the current ROM. Also, backup any important data files so that you’ll be able to restore them after the root. NOTE: these files might be deleted in the process and only if you have a backup, you will be able to restore them back to your phablet device.
• Sync the SMS contacts with your Gmail account.
• Install the phone’s USB drivers. You can get them from HERE. These are drivers for the SGS3 but it will surely work for your device also.
• Enable the USB debugging option from the Developer Options menu. This step along with the installation of the USB drivers will make sure that your device will get recognized by your computer. Do not continue to the tutorial if your phone doesn’t have the USB Debugging option enabled.
• The files stored on your device’s internal / external sd cards will not be deleted by the root process.
• Disable all antivirus programs from your PC so that no other app will interfere while you’re rooting the Android 4.1.1 stock firmware.
• Don’t attempt to use this guide if you’re a novice. Read the entire post and only when you’re sure that you can complete the root, move to the next part of this post.

If you’re still unsure about the guidelines above or you cannot understand some of the steps that I’ve listed, then you should ask for more help in comments. Don’t skip any steps in the tutorial as that will result in a failed root attempt of your Note 2 device.

How to root the Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 on Android 4.1.1 Stock Firmware:

1. Download the VRALJB ROM from HERE or HERE. Place the file on your PC desktop.
2. Extract the file within the zip and place it in a folder on your desktop. You should get a file with a ‘.tar’ or ‘.tar.md5′ extension. Don’t extract the file any further.
3. Download Odin3 v3.04 from HERE. After the download is complete you should extract the Odin zip files to the same folder as the ROM files.
4. Power off your smartphone and then boot it into Download Mode. This can be done by pressing ‘volume down’, ‘home’ and ‘power’ buttons. When the display powers on you should see a warning message with a yellow triangle. Press the Volume Up button and boot download mode.
5. Go to ODIN folder and launch the Odin executable. After the Odin window loads you should connect your Note 2 Verizon to computer. NOTE: Odin will now say ‘added!!’ and you can get to the next step.
6. Go back to ODIN window and click the ‘PDA’ button. Now browse the computer for the ‘.tar.md5′ ROM file and load it into Odin; that’s the file that you extracted at step 2.
7. Next, disable the ‘Auto Reboot’ option that is shown in ODIN. Do not edit any other default options and after that you can press the START button. This will start the root process of your Note 2.
8. Your Note 2 Verizon will be rooted in ten minutes. Odin will display a PASS alert when the root is complete and your device will be restarted. Unplug the smartphone from your computer when the Samsung boot logo animation appears.
9. Wait for your Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note 2 to load all files and then you should be taken to the new Android 4.1.1 VRABLJ rooted firmware home Lcd.
10. Test the ROM and tell us in comments if you found any errors while using it.

NOTE: If ODIN doesn’t complete the root installation or it displays the ‘Fail’ alert, then you should disconnect the phone from PC. Then, remove its battery, re-insert it after 5 seconds and then repeat the entire tutorial starting with step 4. Now the root should be completed.
NOTE2: If ODIN completes the install and it shows the ‘PASS’ alert, but the phone doesn’t boot, then you will have to wipe the data from your /system partition. All apps, sms, Call logs, Contacts and all other data from your phone will be deleted, buy you will be able to force your device to boot with this new Rooted Android 4.1.1 VRALJB stock firmware. Here’s what you need to do:

• Disconnect the Verizon Galaxy Note 2 from computer.
• Remove its battery and re-insert it back into its place after 5 seconds.
• Press ‘volume up’, ‘home’ and ‘power’ buttons at the same time until the Lcd powers ON. This will boot the smartphone into stock recovery mode.
• Select ‘wipe cache’ option and confirm. Restart the phone and it should work. If it doesn’t boot after this step, then you will have to boot again into stock recovery mode and this time you have to select ‘wipe data/ factory reset’ and confirm.
• Now select ‘reboot system now’ and wait for the phone to restart completely.

The Galaxy Note 2 Verizon variant should now be rooted and you should begin to test this new firmware. In case you cannot complete the tutorial, then you should ask for more help in comments.