[Q] newbie: how to flash and which version of clean rom - Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II

I have a note 2 arriving this afternoon and I would like to unlock the bootloader and flash stock samsung experience. My understanding is that I download and run CASUAL (link in general forum) from linux using oracle java 7 and the system will be prepared for flashing (have bootloader unlocked, radio firmware updated and twrp installed).
-
I then download cleanrom (either cleanrom ace 4.2.5 or cleanrom vzw-se) put the binary on a microsd card; double check md5 hash. I then reboot the note 2 and hold volume up; home and power at same time while it boots and there will be an option to select a rom to boot?
-
Four questions:
1) Am I correct in the instructions (and will the radio be automagically updated by casual or is that a different process) ?
2) Which is 'better' or what is the difference between cleanrom ace 4.2.5 and cleanrom vzw-se ? Which is more likely to see updates as samsung make changes ?
3) When future radio updates occur how are they applied; do I rerun CASUAL?
4) Can the device be permanently bricked or can I always get into bootloader to load somethjing off sd card (I though the original hack - pre CASUAL - suggested that if you did not flash the radio first you could permantly brick the device which I did not understand is why you could not start over and then flash the radio?)
--
This will be my first time flashing an andriod device. My current (and first smart) phone is a verizon razr which is locked.

---

jake21 said:
I have a note 2 arriving this afternoon and I would like to unlock the bootloader and flash stock samsung experience. My understanding is that I download and run CASUAL (link in general forum) from linux using oracle java 7 and the system will be prepared for flashing (have bootloader unlocked, radio firmware updated and twrp installed).
-
I then download cleanrom (either cleanrom ace 4.2.5 or cleanrom vzw-se) put the binary on a microsd card; double check md5 hash. I then reboot the note 2 and hold volume up; home and power at same time while it boots and there will be an option to select a rom to boot?
-
Four questions:
1) Am I correct in the instructions (and will the radio be automagically updated by casual or is that a different process) ?
2) Which is 'better' or what is the difference between cleanrom ace 4.2.5 and cleanrom vzw-se ? Which is more likely to see updates as samsung make changes ?
3) When future radio updates occur how are they applied; do I rerun CASUAL?
4) Can the device be permanently bricked or can I always get into bootloader to load somethjing off sd card (I though the original hack - pre CASUAL - suggested that if you did not flash the radio first you could permantly brick the device which I did not understand is why you could not start over and then flash the radio?)
--
This will be my first time flashing an andriod device. My current (and first smart) phone is a verizon razr which is locked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can download any rom, and it doesn't matter if it is on the SD card or not. I just always make sure I have a nandroid on my sd and on my computer at all times.
I'm unsure how to answer 1.), because i'm unsure what you are asking exactly.
2.) neither is better than the other. if you use VZW apps, use the VZW cleanrom. If you don't and want the purest version possible, use cleanrom ace. I personally use cleanrom ace.
3.) do you mean OTA? they are international roms so you don't get asked for the VZW updates
4.) i think you can brick the device, but it is really hard and almost impossible to do as long as you are reading the instructions for hte mod/rom/etc... you are using. Most of the time you can use a nandroid to get back to a saved state.

---

With (1) I was asking if i listed the right sequence or if I missed some critical detail. If I use cleanrom ace (I'm leaning towards either cleanrom ace or jellybean) is there a way for me to install myverizion (which is the only verizon ap I used; polaris is also nice but both version include polaris).
kimdoocheol said:
You can download any rom, and it doesn't matter if it is on the SD card or not. I just always make sure I have a nandroid on my sd and on my computer at all times.
I'm unsure how to answer 1.), because i'm unsure what you are asking exactly.
2.) neither is better than the other. if you use VZW apps, use the VZW cleanrom. If you don't and want the purest version possible, use cleanrom ace. I personally use cleanrom ace.
3.) do you mean OTA? they are international roms so you don't get asked for the VZW updates
4.) i think you can brick the device, but it is really hard and almost impossible to do as long as you are reading the instructions for hte mod/rom/etc... you are using. Most of the time you can use a nandroid to get back to a saved state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

---

jake21 said:
With (1) I was asking if i listed the right sequence or if I missed some critical detail. If I use cleanrom ace (I'm leaning towards either cleanrom ace or jellybean) is there a way for me to install myverizion (which is the only verizon ap I used; polaris is also nice but both version include polaris).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're missing a lot of steps. Also to get to recovery power off. Then do the button combo to power it on. Here is a great guide on how to flash a ROM. You are going to want section 2. Also if you want my Verizon you're gong to want the Verizon version of clean or beans or Eclipse. Then just download my Verizon from the play store
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34891181
Sent from the dark on a Note 2

---

Ok thanks. There is some side confusion on my part (perhaps with system layering) that I think contributes:
I understand what a bootloader is but I'm unsure what twrp is (is it a boot loader or does it act as a kernel that the bootloader runs and in itself allows for execing another kernel (the actual user layer). I also don't quite understand where the radio fits in this picture. I.e, how do you tell the system to flash the radio eprom indepdently of the kernel. My basic understanding of the system layer is:
rom -> exec bootloader from nvram -> bootloader has a configured option to exec the kernel -> kernel runs everything else
radio is in a different nvram that the chip knows how to read when radio is triggered by the kernel
(I used nvram above but I really don't know what sort of r/w chip they use these day; i.e, eeprom or something else)
-
My understanding is that if the flashing of hte bootloader fails then the phone is truely bricked and will require the nvram/eeprom be pulled and falshed exeternally as the rom bootloader has no method to recover.
-
Is this correct ?
kintwofan said:
I think you're missing a lot of steps. Also to get to recovery power off. Then do the button combo to power it on. Here is a great guide on how to flash a ROM. You are going to want section 2. Also if you want my Verizon you're gong to want the Verizon version of clean or beans or Eclipse. Then just download my Verizon from the play store
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34891181
Sent from the dark on a Note 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

---

jake21 said:
Ok thanks. There is some side confusion on my part (perhaps with system layering) that I think contributes:
I understand what a bootloader is but I'm unsure what twrp is (is it a boot loader or does it act as a kernel that the bootloader runs and in itself allows for execing another kernel (the actual user layer). I also don't quite understand where the radio fits in this picture. I.e, how do you tell the system to flash the radio eprom indepdently of the kernel. My basic understanding of the system layer is:
rom -> exec bootloader from nvram -> bootloader has a configured option to exec the kernel -> kernel runs everything else
radio is in a different nvram that the chip knows how to read when radio is triggered by the kernel
(I used nvram above but I really don't know what sort of r/w chip they use these day; i.e, eeprom or something else)
-
My understanding is that if the flashing of hte bootloader fails then the phone is truely bricked and will require the nvram/eeprom be pulled and falshed exeternally as the rom bootloader has no method to recover.
-
Is this correct ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you are way over thinking this. So, TWRP is just your recovery. It replaces the stock Android recovery. To change your radio you would boot into TWRP and flash it like anything else.
As for the system layer break down. It's not really important for flashing except that kernels are included with whatever ROM you flash so unless you want to run a different one there's no need to worry about it. Also, radios are never included in a ROM flash so no need to worry about it.
To the if you can brick your phone. If course you can, but as stated is hard to do. Check the md5 before using Odin and don't unplug in the middle of a Odin flash. You can still recover most the time anyways, but why risk it.
Sent from the dark on a Note 2