Im coming over to the photon from E4GT, tired of Samsung.
Anyway, Im confused about the most optimal route for flashing. I see bootstrap, unlocked bootloader stuff. I see a couple kernals, a couple roms....but then there is the OTA thing that will probably occur when I power on the phone. How will affect my rom set up? Why does flashing an ext 4 kernal break the wifi functionality? Why would anyone use bootstrapped method when the bootloader is now unlocked?
Idk, Im just a little photon newb, and I will probably told to go do more reading. But honestly I have such a headache from researching these phones (new sprint customer), dealing with my E4GT probalems....so if anyone feels like typing and introducing me to photon best practices, I will "thank" them.
Thanks guys
Root, Unlock with Pudding, Flash CWM, flash away.
What about that latest OTA? Will my phone alrdy have it?
Root, unlock, flash cwm 5, flash homebase 2.1 with 4.2 update. My phone has been flawless.
Unlock = loose 4g
Even if you get the latest ota the pudding flash takes you back, then whatever the ROM you flash its based on
Sent from one focused MoPho
And welcome to the photon btw!
Sent from one focused MoPho
Why use pudding instead of bootstrap?
boolboo said:
Why use pudding instead of bootstrap?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootstrap is a waste of time.
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
Just wondering, what problems did you have with your epic touch?
Sent from my MB855 using XDA Premium App
Flashing issues with bootstrap, possible bricking, only really good for backups... My path for flashing was pudding unlock, root with one click root from shabby, fastboot clockwork onto your phone, then place the ROM of your choice on your phone via cwm... I'm running homebase 2.1 Deblur with update 4.2, and so far not a single problem. Just make sure you know what you are doing and read read read before doing anything. Any questions feel free to pm me or one of the other members and we can help you through everything!
Sent from one focused MoPho
Related
Ok now I've been asking all over this forum and can't seem to get a straight answer I was intrested. In unlocking my bl but was scared didn't wanna brick my good phone so I used my spare atrix with a slightly cracked screen now im unlocked and running on 4.1.26 the problem im having is not sure how to safley update to gb without losing my unlock Wat im trying to do is flash to alien but not sure if I can on 1.26 im confused really confused please help
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
jimmerz0823 said:
Ok now I've been asking all over this forum and can't seem to get a straight answer I was intrested. In unlocking my bl but was scared didn't wanna brick my good phone so I used my spare atrix with a slightly cracked screen now im unlocked and running on 4.1.26 the problem im having is not sure how to safley update to gb without losing my unlock Wat im trying to do is flash to alien but not sure if I can on 1.26 im confused really confused please help
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically below are the two threads will help you understand what you need to do.
Basic requirements to load/upgrade your phone to any ROM are Unlocked Bootloader and CMW installed on your phone.
Good Luck.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154600
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1202883
jimmerz0823 said:
Ok now I've been asking all over this forum and can't seem to get a straight answer I was intrested. In unlocking my bl but was scared didn't wanna brick my good phone so I used my spare atrix with a slightly cracked screen now im unlocked and running on 4.1.26 the problem im having is not sure how to safley update to gb without losing my unlock Wat im trying to do is flash to alien but not sure if I can on 1.26 im confused really confused please help
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The main thing to stay away from is the OTA update as this will create the potential for a hard brick. Now since you're unlocked, just load a custom recovery for the dev forum and install a ROM of your choice!
Thanku I wasn't sure if I could use these roms on this 1.26 build so I can go straight to gb from 1.26 ?
Sent from my MB860 using XDA Premium App
Downgrading is usually the problem. Especially from 4,5.91. You should be good.
Sent from the coolest voided warranty phone ever.
You cannot re lock your boot loader once it has been unlocked.
If I were you, I would just OTA and unlock yer bootloader / root again if needed. Cause in all honesty you won't wanna go back to froyo from gingerbread. And if you want to you can just use a fruitcake. I did the OTA cause I knew I'd love it and there are always alternate ways back, unless you are a flashaholic and can't stand being on more than one ROM for more than 2 days. Then maaaaybe wanna stay away from OTA haha.
I don't think you should go OTA, just flash recovery then install whatever you want. Do everything through recovery / moto-fastboot and there's almost 0 chance of bricking
Remember to update your radio too
please delete
(reverved)
Why the hell didn't I try to restore my Nandroid backup done in Bootstrap ? I thought, "nah, I'm wasting my time, it's 2 different recoveries". Glad to see I was wrong. It's a long winded process but since nobody offers further P-Roms or any 2nd-init one, our only option for a while.
Cool beans.
Step 4 is what I missed, good thinking there Loki!
e-motion said:
Why the hell didn't I try to restore my Nandroid backup done in Bootstrap ? I thought, "nah, I'm wasting my time, it's 2 different recoveries". Glad to see I was wrong. It's a long winded process but since nobody offers further P-Roms or any 2nd-init one, our only option for a while.
Cool beans.
Step 4 is what I missed, good thinking there Loki!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason I put bootstrap in step 4 was so you didn't have to install it later and to also provide a fall back on a fresh restore.
So how you liking the MoPho? I know I made a few people mad in the Evo community when I switched but consider what the MoPho can do out of the box was there any doubt where I'd end up?
Awesome! Thanks for the instructions.
kennethpenn said:
Awesome! Thanks for the instructions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I based it off of the unroot/root testing method I used when I was testing and providing analysis for teamwin and orrbemas on the Evo. I was hoping the original exploit I used for the Evo would work for Juggs' unlock but it didn't. I know it's not pretty and will most likely require that you repeat it for every custom ROM install but it will do for now.
Awesome,now I can get my 4g back to tether the iPad.
I registered just to say thanks! You guys do amazing work around here, been reading for a long time. This worked perfectly!
is this with an unlocked bootloader? and can i still use caulkins other recovery after?
rhyme187 said:
is this with an unlocked bootloader? and can i still use caulkins other recovery after?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The short version is:
root
unlock bootloader
install recovery
install custom ROM
backup custom ROM
lock bootloader
root
restore custom ROM
enjoy 4G
Until there is a fix for unlocked 4g this is the only way to use run custom ROMs and still retain 4G. Every time you want to flash a ROM via recovery you need to repeat the steps.
Nice! I'll test this myself after work and add to the guide! Good job man!!
Sent from my Alien MoPho using XDA Premium App
Thanks I can confirm it does work. Nice find
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
Thanks in will definitely do it as soon as I can. Losing 4g isn't an option since I'm lucky to live in a 4g city (Kansas City)
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
Im currently updated to the newest software update for the mopho and it's rooted. Is there anyway I can do all of this without the use of a computer. I know its alot to ask for.
Sent from my MB855 using XDA App
I don't get Motorola devices. Why do we have to run bootstrap instead of just going into the custom recovery and backing up the rom there?
gpgorbosjr said:
I don't get Motorola devices. Why do we have to run bootstrap instead of just going into the custom recovery and backing up the rom there?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bootstrap isn't needed til after the relock and root so you have a rooted stock backup and the ability to restore the custom ROM.
Lokifish Marz said:
Bootstrap isn't needed til after the relock and root so you have a rooted stock backup and the ability to restore the custom ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But why couldn't I do the same thing only getting through CWM without having to use bootstrap? I must be missing something lol.
gpgorbosjr said:
But why couldn't I do the same thing only getting through CWM without having to use bootstrap? I must be missing something lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After step 5 CWM is no longer on the phone so you can't backup/restore using CWM only bootstrap. Also, restoring the custom ROM through bootstrap on a rooted but LOCKED phone is the only way to retain 4G at this moment.
Lokifish Marz said:
After step 5 CWM is no longer on the phone so you can't backup/restore using CWM only bootstrap. Also, restoring the custom ROM through bootstrap on a rooted but LOCKED phone is the only way to retain 4G at this moment.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I see. Some of these things were going through my head (Mostly what happens to the recovery when re-installing the Moto rom) but I was trying to not give myself a headache lol.
Lockfish...I added to MoPho Guide...thanks again!
I've recently moved from an Evo 3D to a MoPho. I couldn't stand the overly bloated sense and there was a serious lack of stable aosp roms on it. Im not concerned about how to root the photon because there's plenty of guides to do it on here.
I've previously never owned a Motorola phone, always htc or samsung. So im not use to the methods of rooting.
My point is I currently have a MoPho with 45.2.1.MB855.Sprint.en.US. I get prompted for an ota update. I want the most current radios and to able to have root. It was a pain to flash kernels and roms on the 3D with the latest bootloader. If I ota to the lastest will I still be able to have root, or is it better to do it now while I have a downgraded version, and if I do root on the downgraded version could someone lead me to the links where to find the latest radios. I have no luck.
Thanks in advance.
You can ota to latest version and still root. I'm on 45.3.6 and used a well known method currently in use on the forum: aio
Sent from my MB855 using xda premium
benman715 said:
I've recently moved from an Evo 3D to a MoPho. I couldn't stand the overly bloated sense and there was a serious lack of stable aosp roms on it. Im not concerned about how to root the photon because there's plenty of guides to do it on here.
I've previously never owned a Motorola phone, always htc or samsung. So im not use to the methods of rooting.
My point is I currently have a MoPho with 45.2.1.MB855.Sprint.en.US. I get prompted for an ota update. I want the most current radios and to able to have root. It was a pain to flash kernels and roms on the 3D with the latest bootloader. If I ota to the lastest will I still be able to have root, or is it better to do it now while I have a downgraded version, and if I do root on the downgraded version could someone lead me to the links where to find the latest radios. I have no luck.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got my MoPho also. I'm on 45.3.6 and had no problem rooting with the AIO method.
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the tip guys, my phone is now rooted
benman715 said:
Thanks for the tip guys, my phone is now rooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congrats!
You now have a decision to make: stay where you are or proceed with unlocking to be able to flash a custom ROM. I too came from an EVO and had only had HTC phones prior. It's way different here. You should be able to figure out out, there are some good threads around. Just know that you'll lose 4G if you unlock. That's not an issue for a lot of folks, though.
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk
Yea I've noticed. I want to unlock the bootloader. Not so much into the roms as I am into the kernels.
Do you lose 4g just for rooting or is this if you flash a new ROM?
Unlocking the bootloader kills 4g. Unlocking is the first step to installing a custom rom.
Sent from my MoPho. All typos are the phones fault.
So I finally rooted my Electrify(photon), I have insurance and **** and i've taken my phone scuba diving so I really dont care if I brick it at this point(just a reason for me to get a new phone).
Basically my question is, How can i go about getting an aftermarket ICS on it? I can use cynagon right? Someone link me please...? Can I use this? If so, What exactly is unlocking the bootloader?
Im still new at all the terminology, it's been forever since i've been in the Android dev scene....
Thanks a ton XDA!
-Chris
To flash CM9, or any unlocked ROM you need to install a custom recovery, usually clockworkmod. Idr about the electrify, but for the photon you need to flash the pudding unlocked file and run a few CMD lines in order to unlock the bootloader(kills 4g btw) and then you can install a custom recovery and be ready to flash unlocked ROMS. (same general process for electrifiy but iirc different files)IF you are on Android 2.3.5 your SOL.. For the time being atleast as you can't unlock its bootloader. QBKing has a few videos about the Photon on how to unlock, install CWM, and flash ROMS. There REALLY useful for beginners and people who need to be refreshed on what exactly to do. Don't quote me on the exact steps as I have a Photon and never looked too in depth about the electrify, wait for someone else to chime in to verify or search around.
You were a lot of help so far, and yes I am running stock 2.3.5...I installed cwm, but I have yet to unlock the boot loader, and as you stated, I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon. But what exactly does unlocking the bootloader do...?
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using XDA
My understanding is this...
Photon and Electrify 2.3.4 can unlock the bootloader.
Photon 2.3.5 can run something called bootstrap. (There is no legit Photon 2.3.5 from Sprint, but some bleeding-edge MoPho's have flashed 2.3.5 anyway and found themselves in a world of pain.)
Electrify 2.3.5 can do neither. I asked about it here and as of now 143 people have looked at it but haven't replied... Then again, it's the weekend, but I also asked in a topic about the bootstrap a week ago, and nobody there knew either.
So I think with Electrify 2.3.5 rooting is all you can do.
And that's fine, Electrify is beast anyway.
We're supposed to get official ICS in Q2 2012 (or was it Q3?). I don't know fiscal quarters, but Q1 starts in Spring, I think, so I guess summer or late summer?
I don't care about ICS and I don't see why I should. I change launchers weekly and I'm always rotating software on my phone. I'm more interested in getting the bootloader unlocked, but I don't think Motorola has any plans for that.
While it's true you can't unlock the bootloader on 2.3.5 yet, that means that you can't flash kernels and some roms. There are some that work with a locked bootloader. Loki has an Imperium version. Rocko has some versions for locked phones. And there is this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1575259 from loki. It will strip the bloat and blur from your phone, and give it some tweaks. This with the launcher of your choice makes for a great phone.
Exactly what post above said. I'll just add on saying that without an unlocked bootloader there is no way to get ICS. Use locked roms and try different launchers and you can still have a sweet phone until official ics or we unlock 2.3.5
Sent from my MB855 using XDA
What is blur and bloat?? And what ROM is best..? As far as locked boot loaders go...
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using XDA
Crispy, Blur is Motorola's enhancement suite for Android. It contains Motorola Home, and all the Motorola apps like the gallery, music player, and widgets. And the stupid lock screen. (I hate Motorola's lock screen. A lot.) HTC's is called Sense and Samsung's is called TouchWiz. They all have one. Very few Android phones are straight-up Android.
Bloat is anything on top of AOSP (Android Open Source Project) and the Google apps. This includes Blur/Sense/TouchWiz, technically, though most don't consider those bloat. If you have US Cellular, City ID is the epitome of bloat. It doesn't work as advertised, it's always there, and it will nag you to pay for it sometimes. Bloat on US Cellular phones also includes Tone Room Deluxe, Your Navigator Deluxe, My Contacts Backup, and the QuickOffice demo. Sprint has a whole other set of bloat apps.
Bricky -- So I don't need bootstrap? Or I do?
Crispy again: On your home screen, hit Menu, Settings, and then About Phone. Near the bottom look for "Android version". If it says 2.3.4 below, you can unlock your bootloader. If it says 2.3.5, you cannot.
I know ha, and I'm on 2.3.5 just like youuu:/ but it appears that there are like someee rom's that can be used without unlocking the bootloader...
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using XDA
Yes you need bootstrap. Root your phone, install bootstrap, make nandroid backup in bootstrap , install rom = profit
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
bricky23 said:
Yes you need bootstrap. Root your phone, install bootstrap, make nandroid backup in bootstrap , install rom = profit
Sent from my MB855 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need an UNLOCKED BOOTLOADER to install a ROM my friend....There are a few decent ROM's that dont require an UL loader, but to get a really nice ROM an unlocked bootloader appears to be greatly needed. I really wish Moto wasn't such a giant douche.
TheCrispytoast said:
You were a lot of help so far, and yes I am running stock 2.3.5...I installed cwm, but I have yet to unlock the boot loader, and as you stated, I don't think I'll be doing that anytime soon. But what exactly does unlocking the bootloader do...?
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have cwm installed on a 2.3.5 Electrify with a locked bl??
phince1 said:
You have cwm installed on a 2.3.5 Electrify with a locked bl??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sure he's meaning bootstrap in that post.. you can't install custom recovery while locked..
w0lf215 said:
Im sure he's meaning bootstrap in that post.. you can't install custom recovery while locked..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I ment bootstrap.
Also, how does nandroid backups work? Does it backup EVERYTHING? whats the difference in outcome with Titanium backup VS recovery nandroid backups...?
i really want ics on my electrify.. but i ve a electgrify 2.3.5 with locked bootloader..
is it possible to do it?
I run AOKP build 38 on my mopho, it's a little buggy. My advice is to run one of the slimmed down stock ROMS mentioned previously. Wait for the official build, then there will be a bunch of devs making perfectly tuned apps.
Universal DeBlur-DeBloat Live ROM Conversion is the only ROM that requires root ONLY. It was written to help those that can't even run bootstrap. Think of it as Imperium Initiative without the theme change and custom kernel.
moneymakes said:
I run AOKP build 38 on my mopho, it's a little buggy. My advice is to run one of the slimmed down stock ROMS mentioned previously. Wait for the official build, then there will be a bunch of devs making perfectly tuned apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ICS is official announcied from motorola to moto electrify?
No, only Photon.
Swyped from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk
Dark Reality said:
No, only Photon.
Swyped from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it s a bad notice :S
developers are working to unlock the BL of lectrify
Okay. I have a Motorola Photon on the sprint service. luckily l was able to successfully root it, but since my version is 2.3.5 (I'm guessing that's the problem) is there NO way to downgrade /unlock bootloader/ install a custom rom? I've googled and read all the guides and I don't really understand if I'm screwed or what.... some clarification would be helpful!
P'S: I've included a screen shot of my phone info
Yes at 2.3.5, u cannot unlock the bootloader. It is tightly shut by motorola. U either can flash safestrap or wait for kexec development to finish. Apparently this phone is collecting dust as i am following the kexec thread. I have japanese photon though. Isw11m
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Well, I downloaded and installed a bootstrap program on this phone. (Called System Recovery ) and it gives me access to a CWM recovery screen.
does that mean I can finally install roms or will it brick my phone if I attempt?
Be carefull, only flash rooms for locked bootloader.
Sent from my Motorola Electrify using Tapatalk 2
Alright. thank you for the help. =]