[Guide]Odin Flash Guide - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

2nd Note from the rootsu -
I am moving on to the N5 now and ditching my S3. I will continue to maintain this thread, however - please do PM me if you think that something needs to be changed or updated in this thread as I doubt I will be answering questions within the thread as much. Please don't PM support questions to me. Only PM updates that need to be made in the thread.
It's been a blast!
Regards
Dan
Note from rootsu:
XDA staff have transferred ownership of this thread to me so that I can update the rooting methods. The reason for this is because the rooting method contained within is outdated and since identified as unsafe.
I have PM'd the original OP @Intratech to update the thread but unfortunately have received no response.
I aim to keep the structure of the thread in tact. I am only here to edit out / replace outdated and unsafe methods contained within this thread. The work below is not my own.
Please read the guides below before asking questions​
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Here we go guys with the Odin flash guide for the Galaxy SIII and official firmware thread. Oldest firmware are listed first and newest will will be the last/bottom of the list. These can be found in the second and third posts of the thread.
This thread will also double as the TECH SUPPORT thread. Please post issues in here and WE will try to solve your problem.
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PDA refers to the build version of the software/firmware
Phone refers to the baseband/modem version
CSC is the consumer software customisation and is specific to geographical region and carriers. It contains the software packages specific to that region, carrier branding and also APN settings for data connection, MMS etc for your service provider.
CSC has nothing to do with what languages the firmware supports and it will not add keyboard language support either.
.PIT refers to the partition information table you only need it if you screw up your partition table or if the firmware specifically requires it because of a change in the partition table layout. It's very likely you may never have to use this.
If the package only contains one .tar archive then it will have everything, pda+phone+csc, in the one file.
If it has multiple .tar archive then:
The .tar with modem in the name is the phone/baseband bit of the package
.tar with csc/multi-csc in the name is the csc bit of the package
.tar with code/PDA in the name is the PDA part of the firmware package
If this is the case you will need to put these .tar archives in the specific areas of Odin to flash the update. Refer to the images below.
You do not need to root or unroot the device to update the firmware.
Please ensure that KIES is closed and not running in the system tray! Kies doesn't like Odin, it's like the big brother who's always jealous that his little brother is getting to flash all the phones so he starts to flash block.
Regarding change logs. Samsung thinks firmware should be like a box of chocolates, you never know what you’re gonna get and that all a big part of the surprise user experience program so they don't publish any change logs.
Get Odin v3.04 from here: Download
Just extract the Odin folder.
You will also need to install the Samsung USB drivers for the device if you haven't installed KIES. Get them from here: Download
Just install like any Windows program
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Flashing Firmware with Odin​
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1. Just download the firmware version you want from the second or third posts and extract the .tar or .tar.md5 file in the archive and save it somewhere
2. Reboot your phone to download mode.
To get download mode shut down the device. After it shuts off completely simultaneously press the Down volume key+ Home button + press the power button .
{
"lightbox_close": "Close",
"lightbox_next": "Next",
"lightbox_previous": "Previous",
"lightbox_error": "The requested content cannot be loaded. Please try again later.",
"lightbox_start_slideshow": "Start slideshow",
"lightbox_stop_slideshow": "Stop slideshow",
"lightbox_full_screen": "Full screen",
"lightbox_thumbnails": "Thumbnails",
"lightbox_download": "Download",
"lightbox_share": "Share",
"lightbox_zoom": "Zoom",
"lightbox_new_window": "New window",
"lightbox_toggle_sidebar": "Toggle sidebar"
}
You should see a warning asking you to press volume up if you want to continue or volume down to cancel, press volume up. You are now in download mode!
3. Start Odin
4. If your ROM is a single .tar.md5 package click on the PDA button and browse to the .tar or .tar.md5 file that you extracted in step 1 and select it. This should like like the image below
If the package has more than one .tar archive then they will be labelled with PDA/Code, Phone/Modem and CSC. Just put them in the corresponding section of Odin like below
5. DO NOT PUT .PIT FILE AND DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT TICK REPARTITION.
Regardless of firmware version it's still the same methodology
6. Connect the USB cable and wait for any required drivers to install and the ID:COM section to turn blue like below
7. Click start to flash. If Odin hangs at setting up connection just unplug the USB cable and re-attach it, Odin should now resume
8. Do not disconnect the cable or turn off the device once the flash has started, it will reboot when it finishes.
If the firmware is from this thread it will not wipe your phone if you flash as recommended UNLESS I state that the firmware is a "WIPE" version.
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Flashing Firmware with Mobile Odin​
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To be added
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Quick Root​
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<rootsu insert>
Recommended methods to "root" depending on your requirements...
1) You want root only. No custom ROMs, kernels etc. Just root, just to use root apps.
CF Auto Root Via Odin
Why? Tried and tested method, simple to use. No need to choose what exploit you want to use as it's tailored for your device.
What does it do? It gives you a stock recovery (so can't flash things) and roots the Android OS
The Steps:
1) Download the Latest Odin
2) Download CF-Auto-Root for your model
3) Follow These steps to root
2) You want to flash custom ROMs / Kernels
If you want root on your existing Android ROM, you can do 1) first. Then flash a recovery of your choice (CWM, Philz, TWRP) via Odin
However, if you immediately plan on flashing a ROM, there's no need to root your existing ROM. Simply skip straight to installing a recovery. Backup then flash what you like.
The Steps:
1) Download the Latest Odin
2) Download recovery of your choice CWM, Philz, TWRP
3) Follow The steps to Flash Philz recovery (But for the recovery of your choice)
These steps can also be followed to update recovery to newer versions
</rootsu insert>
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Video Guides go here when ready
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Samsung Letter Code​
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CE---> Belgium, Luxembourg, Netherlands
DC---> Thailand
DD---> India
DX---> Indonesia, Malaysia, Philippines, Singapore, Vietnam
DZ---> Malaysia, Singapore
JA---> South Africa
JC---> Algeria, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa, Tunisia
JP---> Arabic, Algeria, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Kuwait, Morocco, Nigeria, Oman, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria
JV---> Tunisia, Turkey
UG---> North America
UH---> Latin America, The Caribbean
XE---> Bulgaria, Estonia, Kazakhstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Russia, Ukraine
XX---> Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, United Kingdom
XW---> Austria, Belgium, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Nordic, Spain, United Kingdom
ZC---> China, Hong Kong
ZH---> Hong Kong
ZS---> China, Hong Kong
ZT---> Taiwan
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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
Carrier Branded Firmwares​
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3 Network
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Ireland
XXALE8: Download
Firmware info: PDA: XXALE8 | Phone: NELE4 | CSC: 3IEALE3
XXALE8 Stock Kernel: Download
XXALE8 Insecure Kernel: Download
Sweden
XXALE8: Download
Firmware info: PDA: XXALE8 | Phone: NELE4 | CSC: HTSALE2
XXALE8 Stock Kernel: Download
XXALE8 Insecure Kernel: Download
UK
XXALE8: Download
Firmware info: PDA: XXALE8 | Phone: NELE4 | CSC: H3GALE4
XXALE8 Stock Kernel: Download
XXALE8 Insecure Kernel: Download

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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
O2​
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UK
XXALE8: Download
Firmware info: PDA: XXALE8| Phone: BWLE5 | CSC: O2UALE5
XXALE8 Stock Kernel: Download
XXALE8 Insecure Kernel: Download
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Click to collapse
Omnitel​
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Italy
BUALE6: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALE6| Phone: BULE6 | CSC: VFGALE6
BUALE6 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALE6 Insecure Kernel: Download
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Click to collapse
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
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Orange​
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Austria
BVALE4: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BVALE4| Phone: BVLE4 | CSC: ONEALE4
BVALE4 Stock Kernel: Download
BVALE4 Insecure Kernel: Download
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France
BVALE4: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BVALE4| Phone: BVLE4 | CSC: FTMALE4
BVALE4 Stock Kernel: Download
BVALE4 Insecure Kernel: Download
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Poland
BVALE4: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BVALE4| Phone: BVLE4 | CSC: IDEALE4
BVALE4 Stock Kernel: Download
BVALE4 Insecure Kernel: Download
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Spain
BVALE4: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BVALE4| Phone: BVLE4 | CSC: AMNALE4
BVALE4 Stock Kernel: Download
BVALE4 Insecure Kernel: Download
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UK
BVALE4: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BVALE4| Phone: BVLE4 | CSC: ORAALE4
BVALE4 Stock Kernel: Download
BVALE4 Insecure Kernel: Download
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SFR​
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France
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
VIVO​
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Brazil
UBALE6: Download
Firmware info: PDA: UBALE6| Phone: UBLE6 | CSC: ZVVALE6
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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
CSC Packages​
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Individual CSC packages
OVJALE9 (Algeria): Download
Contains CSC: ABS AFG AFR ARB BTC ECT EGY FWD JED KEN KSA MAT MED MID MMC MRT MWD PAK THR TMC TUN TUR WAN XFA XFC XFE XFM XFV XSG
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ZTOALE7 (Brazil): Download
Contains CSC: ZTO
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EURALE1 (Greece): Download
Contains CSC: EUR
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ODDALE8 (India): Download
Contains CSC: INU
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ITVALE7 (Italy): Download
Contains CSC: ITV
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ZSALED (Hong Kong): Download
Contains CSC: TGY BRI
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NEEALE3 (Nordic region): Download
Contains CSC: NEE
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PHNALE4 (Netherlands): Download
Contains CSC: PHN
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OLBALE5 (Singapore and Thailand): Download
Contains CSC: GLB MM1 SIN SMA STH THL XEV XME XSE XSP XTC XTE XXV
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ODDAALE7 (Sub Continent): Download
Contains CSC: ETR INS INU NPL SLK TML
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OXAALE8 (UK Multi-CSC): Download
Contains CSC: BTU CPW DBT ITV KOR XEF XEO
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OXAALF2 (UK Multi-CSC): Download
Contains CSC: BTU CPW DBT ITV KOR XEF XEO
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VFGALE6 (Vodafone Italy): Download
Contains CSC: ATL CNX CYV MOB MTL OMN PRO QAT SFR SIM TCL TOP VDC VDH VDF VDI VDP VDR VGR VIP VOD VOP VD2
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FTMALE4 (Orange France): Download
Contains CSC: FTM
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IDEALE4 (Orange Poland): Download
Contains CSC: IDE
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ONEALE4 (Orange Austria): Download
Contains CSC: ONE
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AMNALE4 (Orange Spain): Download
Contains CSC: AMN
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ORAALE4 (Orange UK): Download
Contains CSC: ORA
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H3GALE4 (3 Network UK): Download
Contains CSC: H3G
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O2UALE5 (O2 UK): Download
Contains CSC: O2U
Click to expand...
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ZTMALE6 (TIM Brazil): Download
Contains CSC: ZTM
Click to expand...
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ZVVALE6 (VIVO Brazil): Download
Contains CSC: ZVV
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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
Modems​
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BVLE4: Download
NELE4: Download
BWLE5: Download
BULE6: Download
UBLE6: Download
XXLE8: Download
DDLE8: Download
DXLE8: Download
DDLE9: Download
XXLEF: Download
BULF1: Download
XXLF2: Download

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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
Stock Firmwares
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UBALE6
Firmware Info
PDA: UBALE6
Phone: UBLE6
Date: 13/05/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
ZTO (Brazil): Download
UBALE6 Kernel: Download
UBALE6 Insecure Kernel: Download
XXALE8
Firmware Info
PDA: XXALE8
Phone: XXLE8
Date: 13/05/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
BTU (UK) Also contains (CPW DBT ITV KOR XEF XEO): Download
DBT (Germany): Download
EUR (Greece): Download
INU (India): Download
ITV (Italy): Download
LUX (Luxembourg): Download
NEE (Nordic): Download
PHN (Netherlands): Download
THL (Thailand) Also for (GLB MM1 SIN SMA STH XEV XME XSE XSP XTC XTE XXV): Download
XXALE8 Kernel: Download
XXALE8 Insecure Kernel: Download
XXALE9
Firmware Info
PDA: XXALE9
Phone: XXLE8
Date: 15/05/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
TMC (Algeria): Download
XXALE9 Stock Kernel: Download
XXALE9 Insecure Kernel: Download
XXALEF
Firmware Info
PDA: XXALEF
Phone: DDLE9
Date: 22/05/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
NPL (Nepal) SLK (Sri Lanka) TML (Bangladesh) also contains CSC (ETR INS INU): Download
XXALEF Stock Kernel: Download
XXALEF Insecure Kernel: Download
ZSALED
Firmware Info
PDA: ZSALED
Phone: XXLEF
Date: 23/05/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
TGY (Hong Kong) Also contains CSC (BRI): Download
ZSALED Kernel: Download
ZSALED Insecure Kernel: Download
XXALF2
Firmware Info
PDA: XXALF2
Phone: XXLF2
Date: 05/06/2012
Android Version: 4.0.4
BTU (UK) Also contains CSC (CPW DBT ITV KOR XEF XEO): Download
XXALF2 Kernel: Download
XXALF2 Insecure Kernel:Download

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[Guide+ROMS]Odin Flash+Root Guide & Stock Firmwares LE4/6/8/9/F/D, LF1/2
Si.mobil​
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Slovenia
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TIM​
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Click to collapse
Brazil
UBALE6: Download
Firmware info: PDA: UBALE6| Phone: UBLE6 | CSC: ZTMALE6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vodafone​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Czech Republic
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Germany
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greece
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ireland
BUALE6: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALE6| Phone: BULE6 | CSC: VFGALE6
BUALE6 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALE6 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Netherlands
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Portugal
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Romania
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Spain
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UK
BUALF1: Download
Firmware info: PDA: BUALF1| Phone: BULF1 | CSC: VFGALF1
BUALF1 Stock Kernel: Download
BUALF1 Insecure Kernel: Download
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lol.. already ran out of "thanks" .. but thank you for this as it'll be useful to a lot of users ... good stuff, glad to have you on board!

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great start!! waiting for this thread to get filled with roms

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Having never owned a Samsung phone previous to this I don't know my way around Odin. Thanks for this! I'll thank u tomorrow when i get more!!
I'll link this in the compendium
Keep it Classy, Cali.

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CoNsPiRiSiZe said:
Having never owned a Samsung phone previous to this I don't know my way around Odin. Thanks for this! I'll thank u tomorrow when i get more!!
I'll link this in the compendium
Keep it Classy, Cali.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I found more 'thanks' in my tapa app
Sent from my SGH-I777 using Tapatalk 2

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I'm quite familiar with Odin and flashing Samsung phones but thanked you anyway. Nice guide, I'm sure it will be quite useful to newcomers to the Galaxy S and a good refresh for those of us who haven't used Odin in a while.
I'll be sure to skim it before flashing my GS3 when it arrives, hopefully next week.
Happy flashing everybody!
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium

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Nice Intratech is here ... You were contributing so much in sgs2 forums, glad to see you here
Sent from my HTC One X using Tapatalk 2

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Cheers bro. Thanked u as well. Is it the same way we flash kernel? The insecure one in order to root SIII?
edit: yes used it and then installed Android SDK to have adb in the system. Then run install.bat from the other post to have SU installed.

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could you explain what partition information table means?

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kyan~ said:
could you explain what partition information table means?
Click to expand...
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It's information about the partition layout of the storage, i.e. size of the partitions and their location on the storage medium.

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Going from my HTC Desire (and even writing a troubleshooting guide on how to fix the phone etc.) I had NO clue as to how Samsung phones work when it comes to rooting/ flashing. You sir, have helped a lot (for the future), thanks!

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Which stock firmware is usually the best (in regards to country)?

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Ha, there really isn't one. Samsung releases firmware at different times for different regions and there is no real pattern. At one point it was the UK then it was Poland then it was ....