[Q] The newest info on rooting/flashing i9300 - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello guys! I have an international variant of the S3, the i9300 since Jan 2013. Never flashed nor rooted the device, but the will to do that has been growing on me for a few months.
I've flashed only stock firmwares (the case where the newest firm wasn't available to my CSC) via ODIN, never rooted, never flashed anything else.
My question is: where should I look for the newest info on rooting/flashing the S3?
I remember there was a stock firmware released that changed the EFS folder, but I suppose that every customROM out there now takes that into consideration, right?
For the last year, I've been reading kernel this, TWRP that but never looked into the in depth definitions before but been reading into the matter since yesterday.
Also, flashing a customROM will make me lose videocall or the camera best definitions due to drivers or is it just a hoax/thing of the past?
Thanks in advance guys :good:

Go read the sticky thread in general forum, nothing has changed on rooting.
Custom rom is a personal choice, try them for yourself, those based on stock use the hardware better.

Related

[Q] Phone + firmware compatability

No doubt this is going to turn out to be an idiotic first post and the information is already available on here, but here goes! I've checked through some posts and the helpful FAQs but couldn't find something to reassure me on this.
I have an Orange branded Samsung S2. Ideally I'd like to remove all the branding from the phone and get the latest stock firmware that is possible right now.
I followed this guide on how to root my phone. As my current kernal version was KE2, I took CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEU_KE2-v4.0-CWM4.zip and used Odin to put that on. That all went on fine, so now I have a rooted phone. That's where I am now.
So now I understand I need to put on the stock firmware, which should be taken from this thread. My question here, which I can't seem to find an answer to (so perhaps isn't a problem), is are all "Samsung S2 i9100" firmwares compatible with all versions of the phone, or are there deviations in the hardware meaning I have to make sure I pick the right firwmare?
In the same way I needed to have the right kernal version before, is that the same for firmware? Does it need to stay in the format KEx? I think I just have a misunderstanding on how the firmware releases relate to each other here. I see a lot of firmwares in the thread with the format XWKyx and I'm not sure what one I would choose? Just keen to not kill my phone by going ahead and picking the wrong thing.
PirateKitten said:
No doubt this is going to turn out to be an idiotic first post and the information is already available on here, but here goes! I've checked through some posts and the helpful FAQs but couldn't find something to reassure me on this.
I have an Orange branded Samsung S2. Ideally I'd like to remove all the branding from the phone and get the latest stock firmware that is possible right now.
I followed this guide on how to root my phone. As my current kernal version was KE2, I took CF-Root-SGS2_XW_XEU_KE2-v4.0-CWM4.zip and used Odin to put that on. That all went on fine, so now I have a rooted phone. That's where I am now.
So now I understand I need to put on the stock firmware, which should be taken from this thread. My question here, which I can't seem to find an answer to (so perhaps isn't a problem), is are all "Samsung S2 i9100" firmwares compatible with all versions of the phone, or are there deviations in the hardware meaning I have to make sure I pick the right firwmare?
In the same way I needed to have the right kernal version before, is that the same for firmware? Does it need to stay in the format KEx? I think I just have a misunderstanding on how the firmware releases relate to each other here. I see a lot of firmwares in the thread with the format XWKyx and I'm not sure what one I would choose? Just keen to not kill my phone by going ahead and picking the wrong thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that you have root I recommend to backup you EFS folder. Search EFS backup and you will find the post on how to do it. Once that is done then you can flash any of the ROM's on the page you linked, I recommend the KI3 as it is the latest leaked Firmware. Just follow the instructions and you will be fine , remember you will loose root and will have to root again...
Thanks for the advice. Will backup - could you offer any advice on my questions about firmware? I am able to just go ahead and use the XXKI3 Frankenstein firmware (so it doesn't wipe my data?) on my current KE2?
As long as you have the international version of the SGS2 then the answer is yes.
Follow the guide on how to flash with Odin and you're good to go.
Thanks for that confirmation, it's much appreciated. EFS backed up on to my machine and now running stock 2.3.5
Hope the battery life has improved!
Modems Kernels firmware are generally interchangeable on this model .
2.3.4 KH3 firmware KI3 2.3.5 kernel KDD modem will work for instance .
jje
Look hard enough and you will find what your looking for. I was wondering the same thing. Good to know this info.

[Q] Noob on rooting/flashing original and custom roms

Hi there, been lurking a lot in the last month, since I bought my new S3 of course. One an iPhone user, I find it a little bit confusing to get all the concepts behind "flashing a Rom".
I used the all-in-one kit from the development section to root and install CWM recovery, and then I installed the touch one via odin, because ROM manager updated it to the last version (the one with the >2GB backup bug).
I then simply installed the camera mod from HX-Mod, silenced the shutter sounds and the cell standby fix, but nothing more.
I was actually waiting for a stable Cyanogen Rom (I installed one on my wife's HTC Wildfire and it was good), primarily because I don't have a lot of time to wipe/restore things every time, and I actually can't have a perfectly functioning phone while I'm away from home (not a beta tester that is ).
Anyway, it seems to me that I can flash a stock firmware (lfb, I'm on xxale8 in Italy) without wiping anything, right?
I'm happy with the stock firmware (for now), and I understand that development for this phone is still at its early steps, so I'm not eager to flash a custom rom/kernel, but I wanted to keep up with updates, since I had the last update I think a month ago...
Can I flash directly from Odin or will I get CSC problems? From what I read on the sticked topic on original ROMS, the UK lfb rom seems to have the Italian one included...
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Yes you can flash the official unbranded rom with Odin.
What the link in my signature it shows the process.
Sent from my GT-I9300 using xda premium
fastest83 said:
Hi there, been lurking a lot in the last month, since I bought my new S3 of course. One an iPhone user, I find it a little bit confusing to get all the concepts behind "flashing a Rom".
I used the all-in-one kit from the development section to root and install CWM recovery, and then I installed the touch one via odin, because ROM manager updated it to the last version (the one with the >2GB backup bug).
I then simply installed the camera mod from HX-Mod, silenced the shutter sounds and the cell standby fix, but nothing more.
I was actually waiting for a stable Cyanogen Rom (I installed one on my wife's HTC Wildfire and it was good), primarily because I don't have a lot of time to wipe/restore things every time, and I actually can't have a perfectly functioning phone while I'm away from home (not a beta tester that is ).
Anyway, it seems to me that I can flash a stock firmware (lfb, I'm on xxale8 in Italy) without wiping anything, right?
I'm happy with the stock firmware (for now), and I understand that development for this phone is still at its early steps, so I'm not eager to flash a custom rom/kernel, but I wanted to keep up with updates, since I had the last update I think a month ago...
Can I flash directly from Odin or will I get CSC problems? From what I read on the sticked topic on original ROMS, the UK lfb rom seems to have the Italian one included...
Thanks in advance to anyone who replies!!
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read this, this says it all http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1674286.

SGS2 - Root / Kernel / ROM?

Hi All.
I last rooted a HTC Desire well over a year (or 2) ago and I am now looking into rooting my Samsung Galaxy S2 - I9100, from Optus in Australia.
Although well versed, I am finding myself in noob land trying to read and firgure out what is the correct way to alter my phone.
Firstly I apologise for posting something that I am sure is answered out here. So please just point me to the right place and close this thread if so.
I can see that the standard boot loader (hope I refer to that correctly) appears to allow you to install another OS (ROM).
This appears to be called ODIN.
Am I able to load new ROMs by using the default ODIN on the phone, or do I need to load something like ClockworkMod?
I am intending to download and install the generic stock ROM (non-carrier) version before looking into other variants.
I am assuming to load other ROMs, like say Cyanogen 9, I would have to go through the root process.
Aside from rooting, I am reading posts that refer to updating the kernel. What is the kernel and why do I need to change it?
Thanks in advance for any assistance.

Some (possibly ignorant) questions about upgrading from Spain 4.1.1 to 4.1.2

Hi, I recently got an international Galaxy S3 - my first Android phone. It's an unlocked Spain model (not tied to any carrier), and I upgraded it from 4.0.4 to 4.1.1 as soon as I took it out of the box. I've been rooted through Chainfire's ExynosAbuse since it was released. I've never used Kies; the only update I've had was done OTA.
I wasn't planning on messing around with ROMs for quite a while, but I considered installing a 4.1.2 ROM after seeing the Premium Suite announcement. I figured I'd wait however long it took for Samsung to release 4.1.2 to Spanish phones... but reading that the XXELLA upgrade fixes the sudden death issue - something which I've been quite worried about - I kind of want to just install it, assuming there's no adverse effects. And if the eMMC bug causes damage to the chip over time, I would like to install the hotfix as quickly as possible... (I do have the affected chip and FW rev)
I have been reading up quite a bit in the GT-I9300 sections here, and I think I've got an okay picture of how stuff goes, but I do want to make sure before I do anything with my expensive phone! There is an overwhelming amount of information and it's hard to keep track of everything. Anyway, here's what I was wondering...
- What's the best and safest way to flash the 4.1.2 ROM? It seems like I can use Odin, Mobile Odin, Heimdall or a recovery... but I assume I would need to flash the latter through one of the other three? I use Linux, so I would prefer to use Heimdall over Odin (if it's not more risky). Is a recovery required for custom ROMs, or is it just for convenience? Is it safer than the other methods?
I should also mention that if I used Mobile Odin, I would have to use the lite version as paid Play apps aren't available where I live and I don't have a credit/debit card anyhow.
- Would doing this get me the same result as installing it through Kies or OTA if it was officially released for Spain? (eg. the properly updated kernel/bootloader/modem/whatever else...) Including the famous eMMC fix...
- Are there any adverse effects to installing a ROM belonging to a different country? I think I'd probably end up going for the UK version.
- Would I keep my installed apps, settings, etc like I did with the 4.1.1 OTA update?
- I may end up installing a custom kernel later on (possibly Perseus or something of the like); is there anything I should take into account for this, like what method I use to flash it? And would I lose my data through doing this?
I hope I haven't asked anything too dumb, lol. Thanks very much!
Treeki said:
- What's the best and safest way to flash the 4.1.2 ROM?
>> follow the instructions for the firmware
? I use Linux, so I would prefer to use Heimdall over Odin
Use hEIMDALL
. Is a recovery required for custom ROMs,
Yes
Is it safer than the other methods?
No
- Are there any adverse effects to installing a ROM belonging to a different country? I think I'd probably end up going for the UK version.
Possible need to flash modem or CSC for your region / network
- I may end up installing a custom kernel later on (possibly Perseus or something of the like); is there anything I should take into account for this, like what method I use to flash it?
Follow the kernels instructions .
BASICS .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1927113
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] Help trying to decide what root/rom combo.

Hi all,
A few newbie queries, if anyone will indulge me please?
I've just got an S3 international verison, having had various Nexus's and HTCs in the past, which I've rooted & used custom roms on. I got this s3, rooted it, then started looking for roms, but i'm a bit lost. It's tricky when you're new to a model of phone and have to re-learn the root nuances.
One of the apps I need is ARLibertator (for pionieer's appradio) which doesn't play nice with any ASOP roms, so I presume I'm going to be stuck with stock.
So far, I've rooted, but haven't updated from mb5>mg4. I've backed up the factory state with a clockwork mod backup and i've done a dump of the EFS using K tool.
Can I update from mb5 > mg4 without any issue using KIES, or do I need to be careful about the change it makes to the EFS?
Also, if i decide not to bother trying to use ARLiberator, am I good to try Cyanogen or similar now, or have I missed any steps or done the wrong thing?
There are stock based custom roms .
Kies will remove root .
Thanks - when you say 'remove' - perfectly safe to re-root the same way again after the update?
Also, what terminology would I need to search for for Roms based on stock - something like this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1797334
Thanks for the help - really appreciate it.
james03 said:
Thanks - when you say 'remove' - perfectly safe to re-root the same way again after the update?
Yes just reroot .
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1566
Mostly Samsung based roms but not all of them
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep as jje linked "android development" is mainly samsung based roms where as aosp are mainly in "original android development" as they're original, not reworks if existing work.
There are some aosp roms in "android development" as they are unofficial cm builds for example.
Samsung rom threads usually have the samsung build number in the thread title, eg XXEMG4
Sent from my GT-I9300 using Tapatalk 4

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