Related
ok, here goes. i saw a video on youtube
(i'm a new member, so i'm replacing this link. the video is "Root & Install Ice Cream Sandwich On The Samsung Galaxy S Vibrant No Computer Needed" by eddie1west)
it seemed so easy, right? i'm looking for the most stable Tmobile Vibrant ICS. Before i do that, now i have to un-junk my phone. i tried to follow that guy's instructions to put the new OS on my vibrant, but i messed something up along the way. Then i realized when he shows his phone's files, they have a different name and/or version than the links he provides. that may have had something to do with it, but it could also be that he started from stock in january, and i started from gingerbread in july....
well i put some update.zip file in the root (but was never shown when or if it needs removed), then finally got the phone rooted (but when i held all 3 buttons i never got the BLUE menu like he did. mine was RED until i applied his update.zip and then it was only GREEN until i rebooted. it always starts at RED), then installed his gingerbread over mine, then tried to load his link to ICSv13 (even though the one he used was v10), but all i got was a never ending boot. i thought maybe i needed to start from where he did, so i watched his other video (LINK REPLACED: "How To Go Back To Stock Eclair On Your Samsung Galaxy S With Odin 1.3" by eddie1west) and tried to start all over (but his download links didn't work and i had to find all the files singly). So, using odin v1.85 (but he used v1.3), i only ended up getting froyo (not eclair) and NO google apps icon....! Sigh :crying:
then it seemed like every link i clicked to try to fix my issues just brought me to this website. so i'm thinking you all must know your shhhhhhhtuff! i've read through so many forum pages like the "enable a lagfix"/"disable a lagfix" pages, the "flash with 2 files"/"flash with 3 and check a box" pages, sometimes Odin has PDA as the second button and sometimes it's third, some that say to flash without that update.zip file (so delete, flash, then put it there? then leave it?). and to top it all off, most answers take me to an older page (and program or file versions have changed or have updates since then....all newer stuff still compatible with each other?) AND a lot of the links i've clicked on are broken and i have to hope the file i find is the same as the instruction writer intended. (i guess if a file size was indicated, i could compare them kb for kb...)
about an hour ago, i was going to reflash some OS that kind of worked, then try to disable those 2 voodoo commands some page said to enable, then take the update.zip out, then try everything all over again when i got the message "CONVERT PARTITION, SYSTEM NOT AVAILABLE, CONVERT PARTITION, SYSTEM NOT AVAILABLE"!
THEN i thought.....HANG ON! JUST BECAUSE YOU HAVE A P3N1S DOESN'T MEAN THERE ARE LAWS AGAINST STOPPING AND ASKING FOR DIRECTIONS!!!! LOL! :laugh:
So I stopped messing with the phone. From where i am right now, how do i get to a stable version of ICS? Will someone please give me a step-by-step list on what to do now? And can the list include file links that aren't broken and things i can look for to know i'm on the right track at the 1/3 mark and 2/3 mark possibly? :fingers-crossed:
and could i please get a little forgiveness for being so long-winded when i get frustrated? and a tissue? and something to hit? (well..while i'm begging...can i get a large stuffed-crust meat-lover's and some diet dew too?) i may have found the reason that so many people use drugs! lol!
FYI, i'm on T-mobile using a T959V
The T959V is not the Vibrant it's the Galaxy S 4g. I'm not 100% sure but I don't think you can use the same roms on the t959v as the t959(vibrant).
You may need to Odin/heimdall back to stock and start again using a t959v rom.
this is the thread for heimdall and the files for the t959v
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1358498
and you can find some roms in the Galaxy S 4g development forums
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1068
I hope this helped you. :fingers-crossed:
Holy....junk! THAT is quite an oversight! i just thought Vibrant was the 'name' of the Galaxy S 4G! (that's kind of a long name then, huh?) wow.... i will reply to this again after i move my question to the right branch in case anyone wants to follow or post a reply. THANK YOU SIR!
this question has been moved. please reply on the other thread. just put
?t=1734360
after in the web address after the showthread.php part since i'm too new to post a link...
I'm trying to get my note back to original stock GB so I can ota upgrade to ICS.
I did a complete 'backup' of the original rom before I started messing around, and now, no matter what I do, I can't get that backup to reinstall on the phone.
I've done a lot of searching around, and found many threads about getting notes back to AT&T stock, and am very wary about doing that.
I've also found a few threads about getting back to original bell stock firmware etc, but whenever I run the files through odin, I get wierd errors (some with chinese writing), and just get frustrated.
I liked a few of the custom rom's I found, but the crazy thing, is the spen gestures (specifically the double-tap with button down for quick memos) are just too important to be without. I got the phone for work, and thought those where neat 'features'. Well.. seems I can't live without them.
But NOTHING I can find helps. I've tried methods listed on rootgalaxynote.com to unroot and get back to stock, and everything looks fine till I try either ota updating or kies updating. The phone simply isn't recognized in kies, and the ota update says nothing is available. and I know it IS available, cause I did the upgrade just after it was released, before I did all this custom rom stuff.
I'm start to get at my wits end. I simply want my original stock firmware etc. back on the phone, upgraded to ICS, and then I can just forget about everything else.
Is there anyone that can help?
P.S. if you know of any links I may have overlooked, please just post them. Believe me when I say I've spent well over a week just browsing the forums and google, doing searches etc. Its entirely possible it's something obvious that I just didn't see... with my 3 older kids and a newborn, I'm getting almost zero sleep, and am constantly frazzled. I sometimes don't even realize my wife is talking to me (on the worse days).
Anyways, thanks for anyone's help.
Ragnarkov said:
I'm trying to get my note back to original stock GB so I can ota upgrade to ICS.
I did a complete 'backup' of the original rom before I started messing around, and now, no matter what I do, I can't get that backup to reinstall on the phone.
I've done a lot of searching around, and found many threads about getting notes back to AT&T stock, and am very wary about doing that.
I've also found a few threads about getting back to original bell stock firmware etc, but whenever I run the files through odin, I get wierd errors (some with chinese writing), and just get frustrated.
I liked a few of the custom rom's I found, but the crazy thing, is the spen gestures (specifically the double-tap with button down for quick memos) are just too important to be without. I got the phone for work, and thought those where neat 'features'. Well.. seems I can't live without them.
But NOTHING I can find helps. I've tried methods listed on rootgalaxynote.com to unroot and get back to stock, and everything looks fine till I try either ota updating or kies updating. The phone simply isn't recognized in kies, and the ota update says nothing is available. and I know it IS available, cause I did the upgrade just after it was released, before I did all this custom rom stuff.
I'm start to get at my wits end. I simply want my original stock firmware etc. back on the phone, upgraded to ICS, and then I can just forget about everything else.
Is there anyone that can help?
P.S. if you know of any links I may have overlooked, please just post them. Believe me when I say I've spent well over a week just browsing the forums and google, doing searches etc. Its entirely possible it's something obvious that I just didn't see... with my 3 older kids and a newborn, I'm getting almost zero sleep, and am constantly frazzled. I sometimes don't even realize my wife is talking to me (on the worse days).
Anyways, thanks for anyone's help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm you I would continue with a custom rom. GNote replaces what you want. You can always install a TW based ROM. What I do is have Gnote as a shortcut on my homescreen. With Gnote I can still write with my Spen. Personally, I'd never use a NON-JB Paranoid ROM. ICS has melted over the summer! Being able to tweak my DPI settings is very important for me for each app. The default DPI and screen layouts are too fricken big, ie; status bar and icons. My eyes are still fine so I don't everything humongous on my screen.
Make sure you have Odin3 v1.85 on your pc. Download the Bell ICS ROM from here:
http://www.hotfile.com/dl/163095548/c1447e9/I717MUGLF4_I717MBMCLF4_BMC.zip.html
Unzip it on your pc. Restart your phone to Download Mode (Hold "Volume Down" and "Power" to start your phone). Once in download mode connect to your pc and start Odin. Put the ROM.MD5 file in the PDA slot that you just unzipped and update away.
This will give you the Bell ICS stock ROM. Better than the OTA when it comes to rooting it. If you have been reading for a week then I am sure you know what that means.
SOLVED
Thanks for the tips/suggestions.
I did a little more reading, and came to this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1599127
Flashed the kernal/system/recover like it said, and still a nogo. So then I figured wth, lets flash modem too.
BAM. booted it back, and its currently snagging the ota update.
So now that I have the methods and files to get back to stock, I am no longer worried too much about the future. I did have paranoid 2.0 for a while, and was loving it, but the simple idea of doubletapping while in ANY app to get a quick memo was still missing. Maybe after a bit I'll be hating the touchwiz ui yet again, and need a change. But at least I know now how to get back to stock.
Go figure. The thread itself looks vaguely familiar from earlier in the week, but I for some reason must have skipped it. I just got off a nice nap my wife let me have, and HEY... i figured it out. Guess 'sleep' is actually kinda important
Modem is the most important part for having you phone recognized properly for the OTA update. Link I gave you would have given you the update.
OK so it started with having a well balanced stock rooted 4.0.1
the main reason i root is for tethering
i had a carrier update that i was hoping was 4.1 cuz i am dying for google now
ran that but got stuck in the boot (as in not a boot loop but just infinite boot)
i would simply like to have my phone back on a stock rooted ROM* preferably ICS
i attempted "solutions" i found on here for using odin to "plop" a stock rooted ROM* on there but it turned out to be Gingerbread -_-
so i am currently dealing with that and what appears to be a stock Bootloader*
*i barely understand all these terms so please let me know i love to learn and i just cant wrap my head around all of it but any tips would be great. as far as i understand the boot loader is like the boot menu on a computer in the bios and is accessed when holding down all three hard buttons and gives you the selection menu, and the ROM is like the OS, and i think flashing is whenever you use odin to install the ROM instead of the boot loader for some reason.
I apologise for the noobieness but this is like the only way i learn...from direct Q&A :/
thank you in advanced
First off, download:
UCLE5 ICS- This is the stock AT&T GS2 ICS and is already rooted.
Fire up Odin, and:
Code:
Put UCLE5_Stock_Rooted.tar in the PDA slot in Odin.
Reboot your phone.
Oh and, a ROM is sort of a firmware that runs atop a kernel. Usually ROMs and kernels are put in ZIP files for flashing via ClockworkMod Recovery, but in specific cases (such as with Samsung), you can flash them via Odin or Heimdall in .tar formats.
Basically an Android phone needs both a ROM and kernel in order to run. From my very limited knowledge, a kernel is what controls overclocking and other processor related tasks. It also can help define the keylayouts for this particular device. It also contains the system recovery. A ROM holds all the system framework files that arguably makes the phone what it is to the average user. There are many ROMs that are available, such as Touchwiz (Stock/Modded Samsung), AOSP (Stock/Modded Android), Miui (Based off of either Samsung or AOSP, sort of it's own thing).
EDIT: Also, don't be sorry! Feel free to ask questions (as long as you've searched already), and remember that everyone starts somewhere.
We understand that you're new but please attempt to search your problem. Also, 4.0.1 does not and has never existed for our device so I don't know where you got that. Everything else though is easily found on Google, I don't buy that "I need spoonfeeding" line for a second.
Sent from my Zanpakuto using Getsuga Tensho!
PM me and I can give you further instructions if you still can't figure it out.
Hey thanks for your response!
I haven't had the time to try it out just yet (super busy lately) but as soon as i get the chance i will leave a reply as to how it goes.
Also thanks for the explanation. That really helps. I have always wanted to get more into the android field to learn more about the devices i'm using every day.
Ps: The reason for the apologetic sorry is to stand as a polite understanding tone from people who frequent the forums and discourage new posts while assuming no research has been done. i have searched for a good two hours but finding something relevant enough that i would be comfortable progressing through is very difficult and as i mentioned earlier i do learn better from direct Q&A. Thank you for understanding.
~Killubear
estabien said:
First off, download:
UCLE5 ICS- This is the stock AT&T GS2 ICS and is already rooted.
Fire up Odin, and:
Code:
Put UCLE5_Stock_Rooted.tar in the PDA slot in Odin.
Reboot your phone.
Oh and, a ROM is sort of a firmware that runs atop a kernel. Usually ROMs and kernels are put in ZIP files for flashing via ClockworkMod Recovery, but in specific cases (such as with Samsung), you can flash them via Odin or Heimdall in .tar formats.
Basically an Android phone needs both a ROM and kernel in order to run. From my very limited knowledge, a kernel is what controls overclocking and other processor related tasks. It also can help define the keylayouts for this particular device. It also contains the system recovery. A ROM holds all the system framework files that arguably makes the phone what it is to the average user. There are many ROMs that are available, such as Touchwiz (Stock/Modded Samsung), AOSP (Stock/Modded Android), Miui (Based off of either Samsung or AOSP, sort of it's own thing).
EDIT: Also, don't be sorry! Feel free to ask questions (as long as you've searched already), and remember that everyone starts somewhere.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm a casual enthusiast who has always rooted his Android phones without an issue but have run into problems with an i717 I recently bought. I've gone through quite a bit of troubleshooting over the past few days and am beaten and must ask for help. When I first bought the phone, it was woefully out of date so using Kies, I updated the phone. All was good and phone was up to 4.0.4 (or whatever the most current version is) and working perfectly unrooted. At that point, I rooted it using qbking77 instructions on YouTube. Per RootChecker I was rooted but noticed I couldn't connect to the internet without WiFi. At this point, the trains went off the track as I tried to install a stock 4.0.4 modem which didn't work, panicked and used Da_G's [Stock ODIN] ROM trying to get back to stock. At this point, I started getting error messages like "android.process.acore has stopped unexpectedly", something similar about calendar, phone won't work, etc. Also, when I go into recovery mode, I can navigate up and down with the volumes keys but can't select anything with the power key and after about 10 seconds, it goes to an ominous screen with a red triangle and exclamation point. Phone stats currently are:
Android 2.3.6
Baseband: I717UCLF6
Kernel: 2.6.35.11
Gingerbread.UCLA1
In any case I'm really bummed as I just bought this phone on Monday and have already borked it. Any help appreciated and unfortunately I am not familiar with all of the acronyms and nomenclature around here so direct links to helpful post would be useful. At this point, I just want to get to the most current stock AT&T ROM possible. Thanks in advance for your help.
I'd start here >>> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1504218 and also read this >>> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1506330 both links are a good start and should work for your situation.
daswahnsinn said:
I'd start here >>> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1504218 and also read this >>> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1506330 both links are a good start and should work for your situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the response and as I indicated above, I have tried Da_G's methods in the 2nd link multiple times with no success. I'll go through the steps in the first link and see what happens. I am looking for something to wipe the phone completely clean as there is not a thing on it I need. Hopefully these will do the business. One thing that I am not able to sort out is how to tell if a ROM comes with a modem, how to tell from the settings on my phone if a proper modem is installed and if I need to install a modem, how to tell which is the correct modem for the ROM installed. I have read quite a bit on modems but there is just so much information I'm honestly a little confused. Thanks again for your input and I'll post up results later tonight when I have time to troubleshoot.
Looks like you are on a GB rom (2.3.6) with ICS (4.0.4) modem. You can flash a GB modem or use KIES firmware upgrade and initialization to put you back to completely stock ICS (UCLF6)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27869730&postcount=1
Title says GB because that was the latest supported ROM at the time of posting. This will put you back to stock UCLF6.
rsfinsrq said:
Looks like you are on a GB rom (2.3.6) with ICS (4.0.4) modem. You can flash a GB modem or use KIES firmware upgrade and initialization to put you back to completely stock ICS (UCLF6)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27869730&postcount=1
Title says GB because that was the latest supported ROM at the time of posting. This will put you back to stock UCLF6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had a feeling it had something to do with the modem. I did a search for GB modems and am overwhelmed by the amount of options! I found this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1764210 but am unsure what the numerical designators are; EL 26, EL29, etc. Do these make a difference for what I am trying to do? Thanks for posting up and helping out. Can't wait to get home and get this damn phone sorted out.
Forget the modem -- there's no such thing as a GB or ICS modem -- they are independent of the android version.
What you have is the LATEST modem, so that part is OK.
The crazy error messages you're getting are from multiple flashes without cache wipes and system wipes.
The LF6 is year and month of release in samsungese.
Did you install a custom recovery, like CWR or TWRP?
That's your first move toward a good phone.
rangercaptain said:
Forget the modem -- there's no such thing as a GB or ICS modem -- they are independent of the android version.
What you have is the LATEST modem, so that part is OK.
The crazy error messages you're getting are from multiple flashes without cache wipes and system wipes.
The LF6 is year and month of release in samsungese.
Did you install a custom recovery, like CWR or TWRP?
That's your first move toward a good phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't knowingly install a custom recovery unless it was built into a ROM I installed as the phone was new to me and I didn't have any data on it I felt I needed to be recovered. I now have the feeling that this isn't the type of recovery "custom recovery" is used for. I can get into "Android system recovery" through vol+/- and power if that is what you are talking about but like my original post mentioned, I can thumb up and down through the options with the volume keys but can't select anything with the power key. I was able to select with the power button upon originally installing the first 2 ROMs so I don't believe it is a hardware issue with the button. How do I tell if I have a custom recovery installed and what are the steps to take if I don't. Pardon my ignorance but I always assumed there was a way to completely wipe these devices and start over as long as you could access the device through Windows. I have nothing on this phone to save and just want to get it back to stock. I wish I could get Kies to allow me to factory reset but I keep getting the "Your device's current firmware version is not supported to update through Kies". I know we are encouraged to read and learn on our own but as in any forum this size, there is quite a bit of ambiguous information available and I am frankly lost and it also doesn't help that I seem to be having multiple issues at once. If the modem is okay, and I don't have a custom recovery installed, what is the next step? Again, thanks to all of you taking the time to help out! I know what it's like to have a passion for something and the ability to help others work their way out of issues, mine just happens to be carbureted Japanese motorcycles, not phones!
Ignore the "your device current firmware" message in KIES. Open KIES, Put your phone in download mode, connect to PC , in KIES, select tools, firmware upgrade and initialization, enter your model (SGH-I717), it will ask for the serial number so have it handy, and continue through the prompts as outlined in the aforementioned post. KIES will completely reset your device to UCLF6. (Recovery, modem, system, etc.) You will be stock un-rooted when complete.
olschl said:
I didn't knowingly install a custom recovery unless it was built into a ROM I installed as the phone was new to me and I didn't have any data on it I felt I needed to be recovered. I now have the feeling that this isn't the type of recovery "custom recovery" is used for. I can get into "Android system recovery" through vol+/- and power if that is what you are talking about but like my original post mentioned, I can thumb up and down through the options with the volume keys but can't select anything with the power key. I was able to select with the power button upon originally installing the first 2 ROMs so I don't believe it is a hardware issue with the button. How do I tell if I have a custom recovery installed and what are the steps to take if I don't. Pardon my ignorance but I always assumed there was a way to completely wipe these devices and start over as long as you could access the device through Windows. I have nothing on this phone to save and just want to get it back to stock. I wish I could get Kies to allow me to factory reset but I keep getting the "Your device's current firmware version is not supported to update through Kies". I know we are encouraged to read and learn on our own but as in any forum this size, there is quite a bit of ambiguous information available and I am frankly lost and it also doesn't help that I seem to be having multiple issues at once. If the modem is okay, and I don't have a custom recovery installed, what is the next step? Again, thanks to all of you taking the time to help out! I know what it's like to have a passion for something and the ability to help others work their way out of issues, mine just happens to be carbureted Japanese motorcycles, not phones!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well thanks to rsfinsrq's advice, the phone appears to be restored! No more error messages and everything seems to be running smoothly but I still can't get internet connectivity without WiFi. I can send/receive texts and calls but no internet browsing, Google Play, etc. Under Settings-->About Phone-->Status-->Mobile Network State is listed as "Disconnected". What could be causing this? I am leery to go poking around with it this soon but would like to get the full use of the phone. Thoughts?
Settings-more settings-mobile network-enable data?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
olschl said:
Well thanks to rsfinsrq's advice, the phone appears to be restored! No more error messages and everything seems to be running smoothly but I still can't get internet connectivity without WiFi. I can send/receive texts and calls but no internet browsing, Google Play, etc. Under Settings-->About Phone-->Status-->Mobile Network State is listed as "Disconnected". What could be causing this? I am leery to go poking around with it this soon but would like to get the full use of the phone. Thoughts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reading a little more on this, it seems this might be an issue with my AT&T plan and this particular device. I'll run by the AT&T store tomorrow to see if I can get it sorted. If anyone does have any additional suggestions, post them up!
ontriano that
rsfinsrq said:
Settings-more settings-mobile network-enable data?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked that first and it is enabled. I toggled it off, restarted phone and then toggled it back on and still nothing. Like I said, I'll check with AT&T tomorrow and see what they say. Thanks again for taking the time to help.
rsfinsrq said:
Settings-more settings-mobile network-enable data?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same spot, go to access point names, hit the menu button and reset to default.
Mystery solved! A trip to the AT&T store and I was told the lack of connectivity was due to my SIM card not being provisioned for an LTE enabled phone and it was "confusing" the network. 5 minutes spent getting a new SIM card and I was out the door, no muss no fuss and my very first positive experience with AT&T customer service. I guess there is a first for everything! Thanks again to everyone who helped out and I will definitely make sure I am a little more educated the next time I root and flash a ROM. Any suggestions for a stable ROM for me to start with?
Glad to hear you got it sorted out!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I317 using Tapatalk 2
Hey all!
Wanting to upgrade my firmware from ICS to Jelly Bean (as a definite noob, though having flashed firmwares before) I opened Odin and added what I considered the correct .tar file from Sammobile in the PDA field. In short, it failed and I thought I had a new brick*. Following Phistacio's guide to fixing an unflashable GSII I've now got my phone back (woohoo!!), but am stupid enough to want to give it another go!
My question really, is what could have gone wrong, and more largely, what are the variable errors that us noobs make when trying to flash? I'm using Odin, but it seems using a CWM (is this the correct term?!) might now be the chosen route to flashing?
I'm rooted, on an unlocked GSII, recently moved from O2 to Everything Everywhere (T-Mob), currently using an O2 issued ICS, stock kernel and tried flashing Jelly Bean from Sammobile.
So what's critical here? Is my carrier relevant? Is it not possible to go from some firmwares to others? Do I need a different kernel for some firmwares? Or is my mistake in thinking it's as straight forward as I'd like, when in fact all the above make a critical difference in which firmware I can flash, and therefore I should stop trying??!
Thanks in advance for any light you can shed!
*I think I was softbricked - could enter download mode but not recovery, flashing would hang on either "Nand write start!!" or Sbl.bin or Cache.img.
my two cents
Hi joelinit,
First of all, should congratulate you on taking the first step of flashing the roms..
Second, good you got an issue while flashing. It helps you understand the intricacies better once you try to solve it yourself.
You need not worry about the brick. Try flashing back to stock rom available from sammobile using Odin(3.04). (United Kingdom (O2) 2013 March 4.1.2 PDA-I9100XWLSD CSC-I9100O2ULS7). Yes carrier is important as Modem file differs based on which carrier you use.
This will fix the recovery and will get you on stock JellyBean.
but it seems using a CWM (is this the correct term?!) might now be the chosen route to flashing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM is clockworkmod recovery which provides options for flashing custom roms(CM10, SlimRom, NeatRom etc, there are so many).
So what's critical here? Is my carrier relevant? Is it not possible to go from some firmwares to others? Do I need a different kernel for some firmwares? Or is my mistake in thinking it's as straight forward as I'd like, when in fact all the above make a critical difference in which firmware I can flash, and therefore I should stop trying??!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Searching in sammobile for firmwares you will find different firmwares for different carriers. You can flash a UK firmware for some other country, but might have issues with call reception, 3G connectivity, etc. as the modem files are different.
It is possible to go from some firmwares to others.
Stock Roms come with Stock Kernels. When you flash a ROM, kernel will remain the same.
You need to change kernels if your phone is consuming too much battery, crashes etc. This normally happens after flashing custom roms as the kernel is not capable enough to handle the updates in the rom.
Dont stop trying, you will love your phone, once you start flashing the awesome roms,kernels found in xda.
Cheers,
Maddy
Galaxy S2 || CM10.1 nightly 4.2.2 || Dorimanx 9.24
Most of the above is good advice. ....apart from the kernel bit.......
All custom roms and firmwares come with their own optimised kernels. These kernels get flashed during the rom/firmware flash. You can choose to install a custom kernel after you have flashed your chosen rom/fw. Custom kernels offer more control over your OS. All custom kernels offer cwm or twrp (depending on the kernel) and will root an unrooted phone. Most need to be Odin flashed, but some (PhilZ) can be flashed via stock recovery........
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Hey guys! Thanks so much for the friendly replies - I thought I might have got abuse as a noob, possibly asking very repetitve questions!!
So then with my recovered GSII, I decided to give it another blast and, inevitably, it's bricked again! Seems to be the same bahaviour - though instead of hanging on either "Nand write start!!" or Sbl.bin or Cache.img., it's failing on them. And this time, I can't seem to fix it,following Phistacio's guide to fixing an unflashable GSII .
I also tried flashing that firmware you suggested (although as I mentioned, I'm now on T-Mobile, not O2? So also tried T-Mobile's Jelly Bean), though with no success.
To clarify, I've installed Kies, then closed down all Kies processes, started Odin and put the .tar file into the PDA field, left Re-Partition unchecked, with both Auto Reboot and F.Reset Time checked, connected my phone and waited for Odin to recognise it, then pressed Start!
Can you suggest anything obvious that I've done wrong or suggest what I should do next? Thanks so much in advance!
4 things to try.....
Use the original usb cable. ..
Try different usb ports on your pc....
Disable any firewalls......
If you are running windows 7, open odin as an administrator. .....
Oh and a fifth suggestion.....
Try different odin versions...
Edit.....Don't ever flash/select pit
And don't select repartition......
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
These steps are originally posted by MistahBungle. Follow all these steps, he knows what he's talking about.
*Must run Odin as administrator in Windoze.
*Ensure Kies & it's processes aren't running in Windoze task manager. Kill them if they are.
*Try different USB ports; you must be using a 'powered' or mainboard port.
*Try different USB cables (particularly the cable that came with the phone if you're not using it now)
*Try different versions of Odin (search on here/Google)
*Uninstall Kies, reboot, redownload & reinstall it, reboot, try the flash again.
*Turn off antivirus/antispyware/antimalware.
*Check the rom/kernel you download for corruption. Either check the MD5 sum if you have it (use md5summer or similar), if you don't have the md5 sum or can't check it, programs like 7Zip, IZarc, WinRar, etc will allow you to 'test' the rom file you download. If there are any errors/any of the files fail the test, bad download. Try again/try downloading with a different internet connection if it keeps happening.
*Run Windoze Update.
*And if all these steps fail, try a different PC. And if it won't work first go on a 2nd PC, go thru the above steps on that PC. Still doesn't work ? User error (will be almost impossible to say what given we're not there looking over your shoulder, almost always something very obvious being missed) or borked phone - return to service centre or local mobile shop.
I suspect many cases where people (say) they do all the above & still can't get it to work involve problems with the USB ports on the machines they're using. Something along the lines of the port is unable to maintain a constant connection between PC & phone; if that connection drops for even a millisecond (probably not even long enough to be registered as a broken connection by the PC in the normal way), you end up with a constantly failing flash at best and a bad flash which borks your phone at worst.
Obviously the only way I'd be able to test the theory would be to examine/test a bunch of PC's belonging to people who experience this issue, but I've given this issue a lot of thought over the past 18 mths & it's the best explanation I've got for those instances where people are being completely honest about having tried all the steps over & over and on multiple machines (a very very small % of people, most people either simply don't do every step over & over and say they do, or they forget they've forgotten they did A, B & C but not F) & still find they can't flash successfully (and it isn't a case of the phone being borked).
See how you go with that.
Sent from my GT-I9100: Powered by Dorimanx, running RootBox
Thanks so much for all these useful replies - really was expecting to get fobbed off for my noob questions! What a nice community!
I'll try all the above and report back. I have successfully flashed on this computer before and did manage to restore the phone last time, though perhaps the cable is faulty and slightly intermittent? I'm using the USB port that's connected to the mother board too.
Thanks again...
Quite possible. And impossible to diagnose unless you strip the cable (which is pointless given fixing a $10 cable is a waste of time/effort). Go thru the steps Hopper listed (with multiple PC's if necessary) & definitely try a new cable if you need to. Try to get an original Samsung one if you possibly can; for some reason switching to one magically solves this problem for some people when nothing else seems to work.
joelinit said:
perhaps the cable is faulty and slightly intermittent?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MistahBungle said:
Quite possible. And impossible to diagnose unless you strip the cable (which is pointless given fixing a $10 cable is a waste of time/effort). Go thru the steps Hopper listed (with multiple PC's if necessary) & definitely try a new cable if you need to. Try to get an original Samsung one if you possibly can; for some reason switching to one magically solves this problem for some people when nothing else seems to work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Yeah the cable will be the first thing I'll try changing. It's odd that the flash seems to fail at the same point each time though, kind of implying that it's not an intermitted cable? Unless this particular cable is falling short at those particular functions or something?
Anyway, thanks again - I'm actually kinda enjoying learning about my phone, even though there's the fear it's now a brick!! Fingers crossed that's not the case though...
Well how about that - change the USB cable, and flashes successfully first time round! What a fool! I did also remove the battery/sim for the night and left the sim out during the flash - wonder if that made any difference too?
Thanks so much for all your friendly and helpful replies - I think I'll be sticking around this forum and searching for some custom ROMs to try out!
Happy Wednesdays all...
joelinit said:
Well how about that - change the USB cable, and flashes successfully first time round! What a fool! I did also remove the battery/sim for the night and left the sim out during the flash - wonder if that made any difference too?
Thanks so much for all your friendly and helpful replies - I think I'll be sticking around this forum and searching for some custom ROMs to try out!
Happy Wednesdays all...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good job, glad you got it working keep reading up before you do anything else. The more you read, the better you'll get at all this
Sent from my GT-I9100: Powered by Dorimanx, running RootBox
Hopper8 said:
Good job, glad you got it working keep reading up before you do anything else. The more you read, the better you'll get at all this
Sent from my GT-I9100: Powered by Dorimanx, running RootBox
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do! Looking forward to exploring new firmwares so will get as clued up as poss! Have now successfully flashed SentinelROM and loving having a "new" phone! Much more exploring to come.
Thanks v.much to all who've helped me in this thread...