Related
While there are many how to threads on pretty much everything, theres not much going into deeper details. While ofc any of us wishing to learn has google and can find many answers, its just from here the the answers mean a little more. My fear is, my self included, is that there are many of us with misconceptions on some of the inner workings or just bad knowledge. Just to be clear this is to clear up exactly what some of the terms we hear and use actually mean as well as some of the practices.
For example
Regarding Odin
How many partitions exist on the internal memory, and what are there functions.
What exactly does the PIT file do.
What all does the TAR file contain (full package) and how does it write to the partitions.
What is the csc option?
What else should we know about odin?
Why has nobody removed the phone option for our purposes here?
Voodoo, exactly what partition is it changing and how is it actually converting.
Which cache is used for what and where is it stored?
Just some things off the top of my head that i don't have a complete understanding of and wish to learn more. Again for this thread at least i am looking for some details from people that actually do understand. There are many of us that can spew out answers to these and more that are just close to right without a full comprehension.
This is for learning and not just getting enough to get you through a problem as im sure many of us are guilty of
I found the same problem when I first got into Android but this is more a forum for developers who know what they are doing.
MattRussNC said:
How many partitions exist on the internal memory, and what are there functions.
What exactly does the PIT file do.
What all does the TAR file contain (full package) and how does it write to the partitions.
What is the csc option?
What else should we know about odin?
Why has nobody removed the phone option for our purposes here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are I think about 10-11 partitions on the internal storage. You have /system, /data, /cache, /dbdata, modem, bootloader, secondary bootloader, kernel, recovery, there is a partition dedicated for OTA updates, and another one as well, though I'm not sure what it is for. There may be more as well.
The PIT file is the partition information table, which tells Odin where each partition starts/ends.
The TAR file can contain any of a number of items for flashing, and they'll get flashed to the appropriate partitions based on their name.
factoryfs.rfs=/system
dbdata.rfs=/dbdata
cache.rfs=/cache
movinand.bin=/data
param.lfs=the .lfs partition, not sure exactly what it does
boot.bin=bootloader
sbl.bin=secondary bootloader
modem.bin=modem/radio/baseband
zImage=kernel
recovery.bin=recovery kernel
Adding a md5 sum to the tar file and renaming it to .tar.md5 allows for built in error correction.
Not sure what csc mode is, but I've never seen it used, so I'd avoid it.
Odin is a tool created by Samsung as far as I'm aware for flashing their phones. No one has the source, or knows exactly where the tool came from, so that is also likely why no one has removed the phone button, because you'd have to HEX edit the executable to remove it, and there is no telling what effects it may have, so it's better to just leave it alone.
MattRussNC said:
Voodoo, exactly what partition is it changing and how is it actually converting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Voodoo converts the primary partitions of the phone, /system, /data, /cache, /dbdata. It converts by backing up the data to a file, reformatting the partition, then restoring the data from the file. If it didn't backup the data, it'd just be formatting the system.
MattRussNC said:
Which cache is used for what and where is it stored?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cache is similar to a temporary storage area for files that are created and used frequently/semi-frequently. The files there aren't fully needed, but help speed up the system.
phonefiend said:
I found the same problem when I first got into Android but this is more a forum for developers who know what they are doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I do believe I would have to argue that most people that visit this forum knows what they are doing. While a great many here including myself that knows enough to get by, we would all be better off knowing more. Also since this is q&a forum I thought it would be a good place to ask and learn more then "how do root"
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
Had no idea there was that many partitions. What was the reason that radios couldn't be flashed to the proper partition along with everything else? (as in why we always have to flash the modems on thee own)
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
MattRussNC said:
Had no idea there was that many partitions. What was the reason that radios couldn't be flashed to the proper partition along with everything else? (as in why we always have to flash the modems on thee own)
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No one is completely sure how to flash a full modem file via recovery, and it may not be possible without using stock recovery. The only tried and true method that is know for flashing full modem.bin files is Odin (and Heimdall), so that's why it's always a separate step.
MattRussNC said:
Well I do believe I would have to argue that most people that visit this forum knows what they are doing. While a great many here including myself that knows enough to get by, we would all be better off knowing more. Also since this is q&a forum I thought it would be a good place to ask and learn more then "how do root"
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you misinterpreted my post. I'm just saying I also was looking for the same information you want but it didn't seem that the people in the know wanted to explain all the details you're looking for. It seems in your case someone at least tried to answer some of you questions, which is great.
phonefiend said:
I think you misinterpreted my post. I'm just saying I also was looking for the same information you want but it didn't seem that the people in the know wanted to explain all the details you're looking for. It seems in your case someone at least tried to answer some of you questions, which is great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
People are much more likely to answer questions when they're posted in the correct section. You also tend to get questions answered if you join IRC and ask things, but don't expect to get everything handed to you, there is likely to be some work/searching on your own part as well.
imnuts said:
People are much more likely to answer questions when they're posted in the correct section. You also tend to get questions answered if you join IRC and ask things, but don't expect to get everything handed to you, there is likely to be some work/searching on your own part as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the answers to those first off. My apologies if i placed this in the wrong section, i thought this part was open for these types of questions.
Im sure irc is a great place to learn a great deal, however i fear asking in irc things that have been discussed many times. While searching will absolutely give you a very basic knowledge it is often repeated from those that don't fully understand it and may have it a little off. This isnt a cut at anybody as it should fall to the lower tiers to answer to the common issues that arise. However that kind of information is normally only good for solving a problem. For when there is no trouble and one wishes to know more about what they just did instead of how they did it, things fall short. Just about every member here can root, cwm flash, and odin but how many of us truly understand the process in detail. i know i dont, but i would like to. Thats what im looking for in this thread. Not how to do what we do, but whats taking place underneath.
Thanks again for the answers so far.
if this is in the wrong area and doesn't getting removed please let it fade.
imnuts said:
People are much more likely to answer questions when they're posted in the correct section. You also tend to get questions answered if you join IRC and ask things, but don't expect to get everything handed to you, there is likely to be some work/searching on your own part as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right about IRC being the place where questions may be answered. As far as searching, I can tell you a lot of the technical details aren't answered here.
MattRussNC said:
Thank you for the answers to those first off. My apologies if i placed this in the wrong section, i thought this part was open for these types of questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the proper place for questions. The problem is that many people will post their questions similar to this in the development forum, and that just gets the thread no where. And searching for technical info is difficult because usually you get flooded with useless stuff in your search.
imnuts said:
There are I think about 10-11 partitions on the internal storage. You have /system, /data, /cache, /dbdata, modem, bootloader, secondary bootloader, kernel, recovery, there is a partition dedicated for OTA updates, and another one as well, though I'm not sure what it is for. There may be more as well.
The PIT file is the partition information table, which tells Odin where each partition starts/ends.
The TAR file can contain any of a number of items for flashing, and they'll get flashed to the appropriate partitions based on their name.
factoryfs.rfs=/system
dbdata.rfs=/dbdata
cache.rfs=/cache
movinand.bin=/data
param.lfs=the .lfs partition, not sure exactly what it does
boot.bin=bootloader
sbl.bin=secondary bootloader
modem.bin=modem/radio/baseband
zImage=kernel
recovery.bin=recovery kernel
Adding a md5 sum to the tar file and renaming it to .tar.md5 allows for built in error correction.
Not sure what csc mode is, but I've never seen it used, so I'd avoid it.
Odin is a tool created by Samsung as far as I'm aware for flashing their phones. No one has the source, or knows exactly where the tool came from, so that is also likely why no one has removed the phone button, because you'd have to HEX edit the executable to remove it, and there is no telling what effects it may have, so it's better to just leave it alone.
Voodoo converts the primary partitions of the phone, /system, /data, /cache, /dbdata. It converts by backing up the data to a file, reformatting the partition, then restoring the data from the file. If it didn't backup the data, it'd just be formatting the system.
Cache is similar to a temporary storage area for files that are created and used frequently/semi-frequently. The files there aren't fully needed, but help speed up the system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was wondering some of those terms my self.
thanks for all the Great info,
One thing been bugging me lately. Most likely every one has experienced the need to either wipe the caches more then once or flash multiple times for success. How is it that wiping cache is not 100%. Why does flashing a rom more then once sometimes yield different results when done the exact same way?
i believe the phone button in odin is to flash radio/modem alone
which we unfortunately do not have (yet)
the phone button and other buttons are still there because the gsm ones, like the captivate and vibrant, are using it
jk0l said:
i believe the phone button in odin is to flash radio/modem alone
which we unfortunately do not have (yet)
the phone button and other buttons are still there because the gsm ones, like the captivate and vibrant, are using it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've only flashed the modem/radio by itself in the PDA button like everything else. As far as I know, we only flash things for the Fascinate through the PDA button (except of course for the atlas v2.2 PIT file.) That includes ROMs bundled in an ODIN package, modems/radios, and recoveries.
jk0l said:
i believe the phone button in odin is to flash radio/modem alone
which we unfortunately do not have (yet)
the phone button and other buttons are still there because the gsm ones, like the captivate and vibrant, are using it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The phone button is for completely different devices, likely their regular, non-smartphone, devices. It is not meant for flashing anything for the Fascinate.
Could have found a better place i guess but this will do. Noticed we are still without a FAQ aside from the outdated one as well as the guide. I thought perhaps some discussion on what should be included in a FAQ was in order to fill the gap.
Simple basic guides are important and have there place, however as one can use links to more details there is no reason not to have a comprehensive guide.
Just a thought. Most of us know the basics of what root is and how to gain that access. Most of us also has no idea exactly how get root manually without following instructions either. So what i was hoping for in the next guide
Q= What is root ?
A= Super user access needed for apps that need more control over your device like titanium backup
For more information click here
Then give the full out dev definition including the details that require reading up to understand. For those that want to learn.
Q= How do i root ?
A= Flash this package in odin (and give the dl link as well as a odin guide link)
For more information click here
Have the full process laid out by what needs to be done in shell without giving the copy and paste instructions. For those that want to understand what they are doing more than just doing it.
Just thought it would be nice if our next guide could be useful to more then just beginners.
Thanks Mr Cook for the Hard work in making the ROM that fixed my problem, for restoring the baseband, The rom works great, but my new problem is no internal memory, witch I think is do to flashing the wrong .PIT file, witch is in my original post, is there any way to get the proper .PIT file for this phone, Its previous contents were,16gigs,of memory,4 witch were dedicated to system, and 1gig,to running memory......I am beyond grateful that your rom brought my phone back to life, but I still have these issues witch stop me from being able to do anything, i cannot receive text messages, nor anything from Google play because, no internal memory......again thank you for your help.......
.PIT is not in efs folder where can I get the correct one. or one that will work???
Pscarpulla said:
Thanks Mr Cook for the Hard work in making the ROM that fixed my problem, for restoring the baseband, The rom works great, but my new problem is no internal memory, witch I think is do to flashing the wrong .PIT file, witch is in my original post, is there any way to get the proper .PIT file for this phone, Its previous contents were,16gigs,of memory,4 witch were dedicated to system, and 1gig,to running memory......I am beyond grateful that your rom brought my phone back to life, but I still have these issues witch stop me from being able to do anything, i cannot receive text messages, nor anything from Google play because, no internal memory......again thank you for your help.......
.PIT is not in efs folder where can I get the correct one. or one that will work???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your phone SGH-I777 or SGH-S959G?
SGH-S959G
creepyncrawly said:
Is your phone SGH-I777 or SGH-S959G?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I did not post that info in the message is, Is a SGH-S959G
Pscarpulla said:
Sorry I did not post that info in the message is, Is a SGH-S959G
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have a pit for that phone. Maybe mr-cook or razen-kain would know.
SGH-S959G Pit Needed
creepyncrawly said:
I don't have a pit for that phone. Maybe mr-cook or razen-kain would know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am looking for a SGH-S959G Pit file if anyone has one can you please sent it to me or post me a link so I can go get it..
You need to check/ask in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1982571
Which is conveniently located beneath this one!
I have a Samsung Galaxy S2 i9100 running Android 4.1.2. It is currently rooted using Chainfire method but no CWM installed.
I have questions about PIT file usage. I have searched the forum on the topic and have seen all the warnings that using PIT files can lead to bricking your phone and should not be done unless you know what you are doing. The only reason that I had been considering repartitioning was that I was running out of application space and wanted to increase the application partition from 2GB to 5GB.
I came across an article that had a link (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2538947) to various sizes PIT files for the Galaxy SII and a procedure on how to do the repartition. I have not tried this procedure since I spent considerable time researching any problems associated with doing a repartition. However, I still have not been able to find the answer to my questions, hence this post.
My questions are as follows:
(1) When doing a repartition using a PIT file, do you have to flash the rom (stock rom or custom) at the same time via odin? Or can you just
do a repartition, and factory reset? The procedure suggests flashing the rom, but I have seen posts that suggests that they just did the
repartition no ROM flash.
(2) After partitioning with the PIT file and decide to flash a custom rom at a later date, will I need to provide the same pit file at the time of
installing the new rom? I know some ROMs already have a PIT file included. The concern that I have is the new ROM may not find the
new repartition mount points – based on some posts that I have seen.
I have not made any decisions with regard to doing the repartition. After getting the answers to the above questions and any other insights that people care to provide, I will then decide on how to proceed.
Thanks.
So you want to expand the space destined to the SO.
You don't need to do that.
Read the korean's S2 thread; is that what you want?
Sent from the little guy
gastonw said:
So you want to expand the space destined to the SO.
You don't need to do that.
Read the korean's S2 thread; is that what you want?
Sent from the little guy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess I should add some additional information, I have already removed unused apps, cleaned up apps/system cache, removed system logs, cleared cache via recovery, and cleared the davilik cache (system recovery and titanium backup). I am still on the borderline - I can barely update any of the installed apps as I am getting the insufficient space error.
I took a look for the korean's s2 thread but no luck - I used the search function and looked at all posts by korean* - I assumed that korean is the userid. Maybe I missed something, perhaps you can post the link or provide a bit more detail so I can find the thread.
Thanks,
By korean I meant the korean version of the SII.
We've got a couple of threads that solve the storage issue you're experiencing, "issue" rather.
Anyhow, check them out.
And believe me, you don't need to re partition your device (PIT)
BTW, are you having trouble with apps or you're just checking the "storage" toggle?
If so, don't worry about it.
Sent from the little guy
gastonw said:
By korean I meant the korean version of the SII.
We've got a couple of threads that solve the storage issue you're experiencing, "issue" rather.
Anyhow, check them out.
And believe me, you don't need to re partition your device (PIT)
BTW, are you having trouble with apps or you're just checking the "storage" toggle?
If so, don't worry about it.
Sent from the little guy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks gastonw, For clarification, my SII is the international version I9100 not the Korean version.
To answer your question, I am having trouble installing/updating apps. I am getting the error insufficient space available.
I get this error when updating apps and it has reached the point where even if I uninstall the app and try and install the same updated app I get insufficient space available.
I have searched for the Korean SII in the Q & A forum and from what I can gather, they are talking about turning the Korean version of the phone into the i9100 which does involve some repartition to the current i9100 PIT. Maybe I am looking at the wrong threads because I missed the reference to the storage problem.
Thanks.
mpcp27 said:
Thanks gaston, Currently still looking through the threads.
To answer your question, I am having trouble installing/updating apps. I am getting the error insufficient space available.
I get this error when updating apps and it has reached the point where even if I uninstall the app and try and install the same updated app I get insufficient space available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try installing romnuke script and flash another rom.
Only if u have gti9100
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
corruptionfreeindia said:
Try installing romnuke script and flash another rom.
Only if u have gti9100
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reference to the romnuke script. Will definitely put that in the arsenal of tools when required. However, I haven't reached the stage of flashing another rom just as yet. I am currently on I9100 Samsung stock rom but rooted. Figured I would deal with the space problem first before moving onto flashing roms at a later date.
Try clearing out them log folders.See what is freed up.
theunderling said:
Try clearing out them log folders.See what is freed up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I tried all of that before considering the PIT solution.
In any event, I think I have found the answer to my questions from drilling down all the way into the original thread that I found. The answers I believe are as follows:
(a) You do need to flash a stock/custom rom when doing flashing the PIT file
(b) Based on the fact that other people have flashed other custom ROMs after flashing the PIT file, I suspect there isnt any problem flashing any other roms with the new PIT structure.
If I were to go about repartitioning the flash, what should I/would I need to do to preserve current partition layout, making sure I can easily restore to "normal". Obviously backup all the partitions, what else though?
one-zero-two-four said:
If I were to go about repartitioning the flash, what should I/would I need to do to preserve current partition layout, making sure I can easily restore to "normal". Obviously backup all the partitions, what else though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be wrong but from what I read in other threads, repartitioning the SIII is not as easy as for instance the HTC Desire and might brick your device with a high probability. maybe someone with more experience could answer your question though.
Nvr do re partition in odin. just tick f reset time and auto reboot ONLY unless the instructions asked u to do else.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Give a thank if I helped you
JellyYogurt said:
Nvr do re partition in odin. just tick f reset time and auto reboot ONLY unless the instructions asked u to do else.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda app-developers app
Give a thank if I helped you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I think you misunderstand.
A. I wouldn't use Odin, I'd use Heimdall
B. I INTEND to repartition my device as part of a project I'm working on.
You are working outside the known universe for S3 users, I've heard of no-one else attempting repartition.
EMMC chip in this device appears to be very fragile, best of luck with your experiment.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
boomboomer said:
You are working outside the known universe for S3 users, I've heard of no-one else attempting repartition.
EMMC chip in this device appears to be very fragile, best of luck with your experiment.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fragile; how so? I can accomplish what I want with loop files but I'd rather use partitions.
one-zero-two-four said:
Fragile; how so? I can accomplish what I want with loop files but I'd rather use partitions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try reading the hundreds of threads where people are left with a hard brick and odin can't even flash a pit, the title of insane bug for the emmc chip says it all. Also many posts by users of cache 'improving' software, again left with a hard brick after resizing a partition.
If you can change/restore the partition structure, without replacing the emmc chip, you'll be one up on everyone else.
Hi,
about a month ago I have hard bricked my SGH-I777 trying to transfer the second version of a modified PIT file edited by me using PitMagic to increase the data application partition. After a month, I finally got back my phone saved using a Riff Jtag. I have mounted the original SGH-I777_ATT_I777UCMD8_I777ATTMD8 released by AT&T, but I really need to increase the data application partition so I would try again and then install the SuperNexus 4.0 Rom. Anyone could give me a tested PIT file for my I777? I'm from Italy and find help for this model is really hard.
Thanks.
Considering that so many i777 users have gotten by succesfully using the stock partition setup, I'm very curious to know why you "really need to increase the data application partition". Are you really beyong 2gb worth of apk's? Is there some other reason?
maddogselect said:
Hi,
about a month ago I have hard bricked my SGH-I777 trying to transfer the second version of a modified PIT file edited by me using PitMagic to increase the data application partition. After a month, I finally got back my phone saved using a Riff Jtag. I have mounted the original SGH-I777_ATT_I777UCMD8_I777ATTMD8 released by AT&T, but I really need to increase the data application partition so I would try again and then install the SuperNexus 4.0 Rom. Anyone could give me a tested PIT file for my I777? I'm from Italy and find help for this model is really hard.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I have got no other reason, considering that I don't use the phone to play with games or stuff like that but just for work. The problem is that although I'm not the kind of person that installs tons of useless apps, a few time ago my phone was unable to download any kind of update or minor app because there wasn't enough storage space available. I can't buy a new phone every month, I have got a 16gb S2 with an external 32gb sd card and i want to use it at the best, and don't be constraind to make a backup every month because Samsung had wrongly thought that 2gb would been sufficient. That's the first reason for wich professionists prefer to buy an I-phone, I prefer to correct a silly evaluation error. I hope you will agree with me and you could help me, I'm not a cheater, I have got only an american phone living in Italy so if I make a mistake I can't take the phone to the customer service. Thank you.
cyril279 said:
Considering that so many i777 users have gotten by succesfully using the stock partition setup, I'm very curious to know why you "really need to increase the data application partition". Are you really beyong 2gb worth of apk's? Is there some other reason?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've never seen any pit file for this phone other than the original UCKH7 pit file that is in the download repository. As far as I am aware, no one has ever needed to repartition the phone to install any firmware version.
I think that there is a misunderstanding. I need to do that: http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...es/mod-partition-internal-memory-app-t2538947 for my SGH-I777. Nothing more, nothing less, but I haven't found a tested version of the modified pit file for my phone, so about one month ago I have made one by myself, with 4-8Gb it worked, but when i tried with 6-6Gb the phone crashed and had an hard brick.
I've found a guy in Italy that have got a Jtag, and finally he gave me back the repaired phone. Now I'm asking if someone can help me to find a tested pit file for my SGH-I777 with 6-6Gb configuration.
Thanks again
creepyncrawly said:
I've never seen any pit file for this phone other than the original UCKH7 pit file that is in the download repository. As far as I am aware, no one has ever needed to repartition the phone to install any firmware version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maddogselect said:
...Now I'm asking if someone can help me to find a tested pit file for my SGH-I777 with 6-6Gb configuration...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't exist for this device, or if it does no one has shared it. My suggestion for you is to stick with the custom .pit you made and leave it be.