So I decided to take the jump and flash the Gingerbread Bootloader. Now after reading through the pages I didn't notice a question I am curious about.
Now that I have this do I still have to ODIN back to stock for certain ROMs after Cyanogenmod or can I just wipe and flash?
Yes
CM7 / MIUI uses a different file system (partition table) so you must odin (with partition checked). The standard JFD pit+pda files normally found here dont have a sbl.bin so your bootloader wont be replaced.
Related
My phone is Vibrant, i want to upgrade to Hydrid SGS 2 JVP 2.3.4 but it has rainbow when it is booting. Then i flashed the bootloader with GB bootloader and it is no more rainbow.
If i want to back stock rom 2.1, do i need to flash Froyo boorloader ? or GB bootloader will be fine if i flash back stock rom 2.1 ?
So i'm confused about that.
You probably need to odin back to stock
Sent from SGH-T959 (CM7)
treyvaporizer said:
You probably need to odin back to stock
Sent from SGH-T959 (CM7)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what stock stock ROm or stock bootloader ?
tomy1986.nt said:
My phone is Vibrant, i want to upgrade to Hydrid SGS 2 JVP 2.3.4 but it has rainbow when it is booting. Then i flashed the bootloader with GB bootloader and it is no more rainbow.
If i want to back stock rom 2.1, do i need to flash Froyo boorloader ? or GB bootloader will be fine if i flash back stock rom 2.1 ?
So i'm confused about that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the bootloader thread you are referring to there is the following to be found in the second post....
FAQs:
1. Is it unsafe?
Flashing a bootloader incorrectly technically bricks your phone. So its like having a single shot at what you're doing, you either keep doing it right and shuffle between the bootloaders, or you do it wrong just once, and you might have a dead phone.
2. What ROMs can I use with the GB Bootloader?
You can use any ROM - 2.1, 2.2 or 2.3 without needing to alter affect your bootloaders as they are backward compatible. However, DO NOT FLASH OR ODIN the following packages
- ODIN Packages containing only an Sbl.bin
- ODIN Packages containing only a boot.bin
If the package contains both, it would technically upgrade/downgrade your bootloader, hence being safe if they are the correct files.
To further clarify, the standard JFD Odin tar we all use to flash back to stock DOES NOT contain the aforementioned sbl.bin or boot.bin files.
alright , thanks all
OK, I admit it. I'm a coward. I am a complete scaredy cat when it comes to changing my bootloader, or to even using Odin. I like the safety and simplicity of recovery, and as such a spineless person, I have a few questions about some general workarounds that may or may not work.
While each ROM has its own instructions on how to install or uninstall from this or that, or how to move from Froyo to Gingerbread to CM7/MIUI to Eclair to Gingerbread to Froyo and back again with or without Froyo or Gingerbread bootloaders, with or without Voodoo enabled, with or without a complete wipe, with or without your IMEI intact, with or without an Odin to stock, and back and forth and back and forth.
I have a question which, hopefully, will apply to the majority of those transitions. I am currently using a 2.2.1 Froyo ROM with a Froyo bootloader and Froyo kernel. I would like to ask, nay, CONFIRM a scenario where I move safely to a Gingerbread or CM7/MIUI ROM built for the Samsung Vibrant without changing my bootloader, and without having to use Odin, either to switch to OR switch back from Gingerbread or CM7/MIUI.
Now, I've read a LOT about this subject. The problem with reading as much as I have is that you end up with conflicting data. Even if it's only 1 post that says you can do it an easy way and 100 others that say it's wrong, if the 1 post is saying what you want to hear, it's hard to dismiss, and so I will ask the question.
Is it possible to move to and from the many various ROMs and Kernels using only an intelligent use of Titanium Backup, ROM Manager, and a Kernel Flasher?
For instance, I make a full backup of my Froyo rom, and over to Gingerbread. I change my mind, and to return to Froyo without using Odin or Gingerbread bootloaders, I use a kernel flasher to flash a Froyo kernel (probably Bali), which supposedly puts me in soft boot but allows me access to recovery where I can go back to my Froyo backup. I'm also assuming this would work with a change from Froyo to CM7, or from Gingerbread to CM7.
Is this possible? Assuming I do a complete Data/Cache wipe and Fix Permissions as well as a Titanium Backup of 3rd party apps and a ROM Manager recovery backup of the ROM in-between every step.
This would work on any touchwiz based gingerbread rom. If you flash CM7 or anything CM7 based (trigger redux or miui) you have to use Odin to get back. If you flash any of the touchwiz gingerbread roms you will not be able to see the recovery without flashing the bootloaders with odin.
Does CM7 modify the bootloader? Is that why you have to use Odin to return to Froyo?
I appreciate the help, but I'm also just curious
I *could* be wrong but I think its because that CM7 uses a newer version of clockwork that our foryo roms don't support. It doesn't modify the bootloader.
Update: this is what I'm talking about
ok well for any of the gingerbread roms you really "need" to flash a gingerbread bootloader using odin, now while it isn't mandatory, for daily use clockwork access etc you will want to do it. I don't recommend it,
Now i'm comfortable with Odin and confident in myself and my phones hardware to not brick my device. I still won't flash a bootloader, cause if i forget to odin froyo bootloader before flashing a froyo rom, hardbrick.
now CM7/Trigger/Miui is different yes you need to use Odin to go back to stock/froyo should you decide you don't like them, there is less possibility of screwing up because all you do in odin is
Pit = 512.pit
PDA = T959UVJFD.tar
uncheck Auto Reboot (If odin fails just reflash again no need to reload etc.)
Check the following boxes.
Repartition
reset time
thats it.
installation of CM7 based roms is equally easy.
use the attached update.zip to flash Clockwork Recovery 3x (orange)
power off (pull battery) 3 button enter recovery
Factory Reset/Wipe Data
goto mounts menu and format system
Flash CM7 based rom (cm7, trigger, or miui)
Fix permissions
now while you do have to use odin to revert atleast your not messing with bootloaders, which gives you a certain degree of security in knowing that theres very little chance you will hurt your phone in any way.
hope i've simplified some things for you
bfranklin1986 said:
I *could* be wrong but I think its because that CM7 uses a newer version of clockwork that our foryo roms don't support. It doesn't modify the bootloader.
Update: this is what I'm talking about
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, and to add on it, CM7 is AOSP. You can compare it more to the Nexus S atleast in filesystem structure
CM7 CWR (Orange/Blue 3X/4X respectively)
Vibrant 2.1/2.2 CWR (Green/Red)
as far as i know you can't flash a previous version of clockwork recovery, then again i honestly have never tried. It may be possible?
kaintfm said:
Does CM7 modify the bootloader? Is that why you have to use Odin to return to Froyo?
I appreciate the help, but I'm also just curious
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No CM7 actually runs on 2.2 Bootloader, though as of 4 days ago'ish they added official support for those who want to use a GB bootloader for the easy 2 button CWR/Download mode entry
Flashed ICS using odin. During this process we tick repartion checkbox and select a .pit file (along with PDA,PHONE,CSC). No other rom i have flashed requires this.
I wish to return to gingerbread rom at some point. the stock rom i have only requires me to select PDA as other packages-phone+csc are contained within it. However the .PIT file is not.
So my question is if i simply flash stock rom back, won't that leave the .pit in the same state it was running ics ??
PIT included in XXKP8 is the same PIT as before. So IMHO You do not need to repartition while flashing. There were people that flashed ICS sucessfully without repartition. It also means that no repartition is needed when returning to GB.
As far as I know there is only one official PIT for SGS2 - u1_02_20110310_emmc_EXT4.pit (md5: 1c7c7cf5a1955f7908a59181a52091ab), so flashing it does completly nothing (apart from increasing risk of bad flash) as Your device already contains it.
Regards
Slig
I did try flashing without .pit or repartition but didnt work.
the problems i foresaw =
Originally running 2.3.4, after flashing ICS, I now can not run any version before 2.3.6 only this and ICS.
If .pit is same maybe i should just tick repartition when flashing 2.3.4 ??
Try reading this thread, ultramag69 managed to fix the same issue you are having, and they list the steps they went though.
Solved. If i want to swap between gingerbread and ics i have to repartition and add .pit. Phone will not mount anything unless i do this. Others have had no trouble without but for me i simply have to repartition and add .pit.
Hi there
I thought I was an old hand at flashing, but it struck my while I was recovering my Galaxy wifi 5.0 from an unintended brick that I need to up my knowledge on Android flashing (odin)
I understand how to flash the ROM and kernel, my question is a little bit more basic
Here are the instructions to the ROM I am after
How to flash?
Full wipe
Flash using Odin (if you are not sure how to use Odin, do some research about this first)
Restart and you are good to go..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Q1 - How does one do a full wipe? I thought this meant doing a factory reset - obviously not?
Q2 - When I flash a new PDA file does it wipe and then flash, or does it merely leave what is there currently and then overwrite with the new added components?
Q3 - If I tick "flash bootloader" in Odin - Does this mean I need a file in the bootloader selection box, or does it know there might be bootloaders in the tar file?
Many thanks for your help
dingoo12
Many thanks for your help
Q1 - Boot into CWM and do wipe/factory reset. This formats data/dbdata/cache.
Q2 - Odin flashes come in a few varieties. It depends on what is contained in the odin flash. For example, my rom only contains a kernel and the factoryfs.rfs (/system) so flashing it only overwrites these partitions none of the others are touched. Soon my roms are only going to contain factoryfs.rfs because I'm dropping the kernel. I'm going to direct users to the appropriate kernel and also test to see if my rom works on the stock kernel.
Q3. I have never had a reason to use the bootloader field. With ROM's that contain a bootloader, I have always just used the PDA box. I would not check this field unless directions specifically say to do so...
Hope that answers your questions and that other people put there input on this as well.
Thanks for taking the time to answer me Meticulus - Appreciated! Ill have to have a peep at your rom!
Admittedly - it's been a while since I have bothered with an ICS/JB ROM due to broken GPS, but it seems that more people are having luck with their GPS, and since I have done the hardware fix and get amazing locks in Froyo, thought I might update to JB.
I can't seem to figure this out.
Phone rooted.
I'm running fishman's axura froyo 2.2 ROM.
I put phone into download mode and start odin.
Choose the standard 512 pit file and the GB bootloader tar.
Flash completes successfully and phone reboots.
Then just sits on the Vibrant start screen.
I then have to get my phone out of soft brick by using fishman's bionix odin flashable tar file ROM.
I've tried checking the "Phone Bootloader Update" box in Odin, but this makes no difference - still get's stuck on the Vibrant start screen.
Any ideas?
Thinking of giving one of the new JB ROM's a try (Hellybean), but need the GB bootloaders installed successfully before I do this.
Thanks.
Hi,
I assumed that you fulfill complete ODIN steps for stock, but perhaps you missed something, check this out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=849028
Also i suggest, after you in stock and get proper CWM for rooting, flash one 2.3.x GB rom first, and then you could flash GB bootloader.
Or you may not need GB bootloader i guess if you want to go JB ROM, just flash GB rom first or ICS then you go to JB rom.
You may try also Heimdall steps.
Hope it helps
Yo bro, reason why you have issues is because you also odined the 512 pit file. You're not supposed to use the pit file. Just the .tar bootloader. Place that in PDA.
"1. Enter Download mode on your phone.
2. Open ODIN on your computer.
3. Plug in USB and check if ODIN recognizes the phone.
4. Remove all ticks from ODIN, except PDA.
5. Select PDA and browse to the bootloader TAR package file you wish to flash.
6. Click on Flash.
7. If ODIN says PASS, long press power for 10 seconds and it'll reboot, else, repeat 2-6 again... "
^Thats from the thread about bootloaders, not mine.
Heres the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1117990
Hobbesfed is correct but most ics and jb ROMS don't require gb bootloaders anymore. Just be careful flashing bootloaders, if something goes wrong you will hard brick your phone. I do recommend gb bootloaders but it is somewhat of a risk to your phone. Good luck
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
help helly bean
iTz KeeFy said:
Hobbesfed is correct but most ics and jb ROMS don't require gb bootloaders anymore. Just be careful flashing bootloaders, if something goes wrong you will hard brick your phone. I do recommend gb bootloaders but it is somewhat of a risk to your phone. Good luck
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can i flash the latest helly bean without GB bootloader. Currently i am on paranoid android.
Hobbesfed said:
Yo bro, reason why you have issues is because you also odined the 512 pit file. You're not supposed to use the pit file. Just the .tar bootloader. Place that in PDA.
"1. Enter Download mode on your phone.
2. Open ODIN on your computer.
3. Plug in USB and check if ODIN recognizes the phone.
4. Remove all ticks from ODIN, except PDA.
5. Select PDA and browse to the bootloader TAR package file you wish to flash.
6. Click on Flash.
7. If ODIN says PASS, long press power for 10 seconds and it'll reboot, else, repeat 2-6 again... "
^Thats from the thread about bootloaders, not mine.
Heres the thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1117990
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is the thread I used.
I think the problem was that I used the 512 pit file, which I'm thinking re-partitioned stuff and caused the issue.
I noticed that after the flash was showing "PASS" that the phone automatically booted itself, again probably because of using the 512 pit file.
I noticed another poster said that you don't need GB bootloaders anymore? So does that mean I can flash say "Hellybean" straight from a rooted Froyo 2.2 phone? Seems (at least by the massive size (almost 400MB) that Hellybean 'All-in-one' includes kernel/gapps etc. Although the Hellybean OP still says that Gapps need to be flashed, I'm assuming this is in error perhaps from previous builds? Almost 400MB for a ROM is gargantuan so I'd expect gapps and the kitchen sink to be in there!
Not using GB bootloaders sounds sketchy to me, event he Hellybean thread seems to indicate that you need them, or at least be on CM9 to flash, but would love to know if it's possible as I've had historical issues flashing GB bootloaders.....thanks.
Globespy said:
Yes, this is the thread I used.
I think the problem was that I used the 512 pit file, which I'm thinking re-partitioned stuff and caused the issue.
I noticed that after the flash was showing "PASS" that the phone automatically booted itself, again probably because of using the 512 pit file.
I noticed another poster said that you don't need GB bootloaders anymore? So does that mean I can flash say "Hellybean" straight from a rooted Froyo 2.2 phone? Seems (at least by the massive size (almost 400MB) that Hellybean 'All-in-one' includes kernel/gapps etc. Although the Hellybean OP still says that Gapps need to be flashed, I'm assuming this is in error perhaps from previous builds? Almost 400MB for a ROM is gargantuan so I'd expect gapps and the kitchen sink to be in there!
Not using GB bootloaders sounds sketchy to me, event he Hellybean thread seems to indicate that you need them, or at least be on CM9 to flash, but would love to know if it's possible as I've had historical issues flashing GB bootloaders.....thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For Hellybean, Im pretty sure you still need to flash Gapps. You might not need to anymore, but before when I flashed Hellybean without flashing Gapps, I was missing Gapps. If I were you, I would flash Gapps anyway. Also, the ROM is 400 mb in size because it includes the ROM for Captivate, SGS1, Vibrant, etc. Anyway, according to Toast6977 : "I guess from what I've been reading, GB bootloaders are optional. If you decide to go ahead and flash it then follow the guide and you'll be fine. It takes around 10 seconds to flash." I myself have GB bootloaders and its really not a big deal to flash them. Just dont use the PIT file. Anyway, just follow the instructions from the ROM and you should be okay. I would probably go to ICS before JB but ICS has the EU bug. Which is why I go to GB first, but then you'll need GB bootloaders.
---------- Post added at 07:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:39 PM ----------
nitin kumar said:
can i flash the latest helly bean without GB bootloader. Currently i am on paranoid android.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude..... FACEPALM. You already are past GB. If you arent trying to get on GB, you dont need any GB Bootloaders. Besides, thats why they call them "GB Bootloaders." Also, you're on JB or ICS already. Why would you flash a GB bootloader?... PA is either ICS or JB.... So to answer your question, yes you can flash Hellybean without the bootloader....