[Q] How to flash back to stock? - Galaxy S I9000 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

So I'm fairly new to Android and hacking it but I just have some (basic) questions about Odin and how to flash back to stock.
I am running 2.2 now with CF-Root and Universal Lagfix + BLN (awesome work guys!) and it's all fine. But now I might want to experiment with theme's and stuff and I'm afraid I will break something or brick the phone.
So... let's say I screwed up and I bricked it or I just want to revert back to stock to start over (I didn't but just hypothetically). What to do, where do I start? In my vision I should do the following if I would want to go back to stock JPA. I read on samfirmware.com it's required to have JM8 before flashing JPA.
- Start Odin and flash JM8 files to phone with correct PIT-file, re-partition on
- flash JPA files to phone with correct PIT-file, repartition off
- done!
But is this really that easy as I am thinking/hoping?
- What happens with a possible lagfix which was done?
- Will I lose root? (i think yes since it should be at stock)
- Will old stuff be still on the internal sd? (like stuff from CF-Root) or will my internal sd be completely stock now?
- What do the PDA/Phone/CSC files really contain? (PDA = kernel?)
- Do you have to remove SIM when doing this?
Maybe this all sounds very noobisch but I seem to find it real hard to find closing anwers to these questions on google or XDA search.

little bump...i guess it's not an easy answer after all

Related

[Q] Which version of ODIN3? UPDATE: Contains v1.82.zip

Looking to start flashing and obviously need ODIN3. There looks to be about 50 versions, http://www.filecrop.com/odin3-1.82.html
Which one do I need to work with my Captivate?
I have already used the oneclick for restoring my phone back to stock.
Ohhh... nice odin 1.82 didnt know about that one.
i just tried it its safe...
here ill post it
I used ODIN3 v.1.82.exe.
Cool. Downloaded. Now, where to obtain the correct .pit?
dont use a PIT!!! unless flashing BACK from gingerbread / CM7
every other rom eclair froyo custom have the same partitioning table. but some ROMS (eg the old rogers stock rom) are missing important files that SCREW YOU if you use a pit!
do not use PIT or check the re-partition (p in pit is partion) in odin unless you know you are changing the partitioning tables!

[Q] newbie wants to root SGS I9000 - quick advice!

Dear all
Please bear over with this newbie question, but now I've spend around 10 hours searching/reading in this forum and on the internet so now I feel I've made a decent effort of trying to find the answer I'm looking for, before asking stupid questions.
I want to root my Samsung Galaxy S I9000 phone, in order to (primary reason) modify the hosts-file and avoid ads! The phone is 1 week old. I'm concerned about guarantee, but people has written that I should not be concerned because I can always revert back. I've used appbrain to export a list of applications and I'll unmount the SD-drive before attempting. I've found out that I'm running (typing *#1234#):
PDA: I9000XXJPY (= "baseband version" under settings)
PHONE: I9000XXJPY
CSC: I9000OXAJPY
Build Info: 2010.12
And from settings I know my:
Firmware version: 2.2.1
Kernel version: 2.6.32.9 (it also says: "[email protected] #1")
Build number: FROYO.XXJPY
MY IDEA:
------------
To begin installing Android SDK (on either windows or linux) + Odin3 (think version 1.7 is latest, it's only on windows, right?). Then I think I should install Clockwork Mod Recovery (CWM) + nandroid...
====> Question 1:
I think first step is Odin3 which will root the SGS I9000 phone... Correct? I guess it's as easy as here:
http://www.theandroidsoul.com/how-to-root-xwjvb-and-install-clockwork-mod-cwm-recovery/
Correct ?
====> Question 2:
Should I use z4root or superOneClick from http://shortfuse.org/ ? I think I've read that z4root is the best, however abedi here has the exact same software as me and he says/writes it hangs:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=13025681&postcount=2878
??? Which to use?
====> Question 3:
I read this:
6.I want to install new firmware but I want to have a backup of my original firmware to go back to in case I need to go back for warranty reasons. Can I backup my original firmware somehow?
As of now, there is no way of backing up firmware entirely. However, there are firmwares out for every region and virtually all regions have received a 2.2 or 2.2.1 upgrade which can be applied through Kies or Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
(from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723596 )
So how do I restore everything if I need my warranty and if I need to return the phone?
====> Question 4:
If I have to root the phone before backup up, then how can I restore everything back to the state before I rooted it? I don't understand that. And is it nandroid or CWM I should use?
I still don't get it... In my opinion, making a complete backup of everything should be done before rooting - however it's a contradiction I think that you need to be root, in order to backup because then it's a rooted backup and not an unrooted backup???
====> Question 5:
When I've done the above, is it then a good idea to try this?
http://romkitchen.org/sgs/?s=generator
I've also read that this "Darky's ROM" should be good... I found something here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=814091
Is it correct, that this is good (the best that is currently available?)?
Finally: Thanks for your time - I appreciate your answers and any hints/suggestions. I've taken myself time to read a lot, however there's too much information out there and I need to clarify the above before taking the next step. Another problem is that google and the forum probably have some outdated information here or there and that discourages me a bit. Please help/advice!
Thanks in advance!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=939752
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723596
I've also read that this "Darky's ROM" should be good... I found something here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=814091
Is it correct, that this is good (the best that is currently available?)?
Most help / broke my phone posts on this forum are Darky rom . You choice .
Rom Kitchen stable roms and help on dev thread .
FAQS here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=817703
I think first step is Odin3 which will root the SGS I9000 phone... Correct? I guess it's as easy as here:
http://www.theandroidsoul.com/how-to...-cwm-recovery/
BIG NO thats Beta Gingerbread .
personally i would wait for official Release of Gingerbread 2.3 . Download your official update via kies and back that up then go to rom kitchen and build a custom rom
.
jje
JJEgan said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=939752
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723596
I've also read that this "Darky's ROM" should be good... I found something here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=814091
Is it correct, that this is good (the best that is currently available?)?
Most help / broke my phone posts on this forum are Darky rom . You choice .
Rom Kitchen stable roms and help on dev thread .
FAQS here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=817703
I think first step is Odin3 which will root the SGS I9000 phone... Correct? I guess it's as easy as here:
http://www.theandroidsoul.com/how-to...-cwm-recovery/
BIG NO thats Beta Gingerbread .
personally i would wait for official Release of Gingerbread 2.3 . Download your official update via kies and back that up then go to rom kitchen and build a custom rom
.
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks a lot for your advice/comments.
I've already looked a bit into some of the links. And as I see it, there are still some questions that remains unanswered, but there are also some very good answers (and thanks for that, i.e. use ODIN for updating the rom).
An example where I'm still confused (hope I've not overseen something):
====> Question 2:
Should I use z4root or superOneClick from http://shortfuse.org/ ? I think I've read that z4root is the best, however abedi here has the exact same software as me and he says/writes it hangs:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...postcount=2878
??? Which to use?
And my question 3 is directly related to one of the links you posted and I'm asking for an explanation of the contradiction in the fact that some people say I can make a 100% backup/restore and the link below says it's impossible:
====> Question 3:
I read this:
6.I want to install new firmware but I want to have a backup of my original firmware to go back to in case I need to go back for warranty reasons. Can I backup my original firmware somehow?
As of now, there is no way of backing up firmware entirely. However, there are firmwares out for every region and virtually all regions have received a 2.2 or 2.2.1 upgrade which can be applied through Kies or Odin.
(from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723596 )
So how do I restore everything if I need my warranty and if I need to return the phone?
In Q4 I ask whether to use nandroid or CWM (not quite sure about both):
====> Question 4:
If I have to root the phone before backup up, then how can I restore everything back to the state before I rooted it? I don't understand that. And is it nandroid or CWM I should use?
I still don't get it... In my opinion, making a complete backup of everything should be done before rooting - however it's a contradiction I think that you need to be root, in order to backup because then it's a rooted backup and not an unrooted backup???
bit difficult for me to answer as i have just double bricked my phone .
Double brick = even Odin dont want to recover the phone .
jje
Ok, thanks jje.
I still hope somebody can/will answer Q2+Q3+Q4 in their own words, before proceeding (maybe with something stupid that'll void warranty and maybe something worser)...
As for rooting, I have never had a problem with Super One Click...I used it on both my phone and a coworkers.
Just remember if it hangs, change your USB debugging setting (either turn it on or off, depending).
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
You can't really do a full backup until you root. That first step just has to be a leap of fate. Once you are rooted, use the instructions for hardcore's speedmod kernel to flash a cwm enabled kernel via odin. Then, go into recovery mode and use the clockwork settings to make a nandroid backup.
As for the contradiction, some things will not change when you flash a nandroid backup, such as file system settings and modem. Therefore to return the phone to a warrenty state you need to download the original firmware and flash it via odin. However, for normal use, nandroid backups do just fine.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
rschenck thanks for both replies! My final question/comments comes here!
1) Super One Click didn't hang at all. Installed perfectly without problems (usb enabling was on the whole time). To answer my own question 2: I decided not to try z4root because I read that it is not maintained anymore - just for the record. Maybe some other newbie can use this info.
2) This is a perfect answer to the other things I was wondering about. However, please clarify if you by this "…use the instructions for hardcore's speedmod kernel to flash a cwm enabled kernel via odin…" mean that I should look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=822756 ???
THANKS!!! This wasn't that hard after all... Hopefully nothing will ever break and hopefully I'll never need/get warranty issues...
Firstly gaining root access to access the hosts file is SIMPLE
Superoneclick v1.6.5 roots every sgs I have ever come across (personally I have rooted 4 different ones now) and I have used it to root a xperia x8 as well
I would then recommend downloading the busybox installer from the market and letting that install the latest stable busybox.
then ADFREE also from the market will modify the hosts file and automate the process of keeping that up to date.
on the choice of z4 my only experience was of that not working at all for me so that's all I can add to that.
personally beyond that I use odin to flash the voodoo lagfix and sound mod kernel with CWM and I love that. It's brilliant but I recently did someone elses SGS and it didnt want to play so I used the speedmod kernel with CWM instead. The quadrant scores aren't as high but it seems stable enough and quadrant isnt everything.
CWM will effectively let you back up the whole rom but in order to make effective backup's a simple rooted phone is enough CWM is not a requirement. With something like titanium back up from the market you can make all the back ups you want on a stock phone as long as it is rooted. Personally I do a CWM backup every couple or three weeks, but I do 2 different nightly backups with a weekly full backup scheduled on titanium and I use the titanium media sync to push the backups to my dropbox. This way I always have "belt and braces".
Might seem like overkill but I have around 350-400 apps installed at any given point. 5 lots of push e-mail etc etc etc.
(that should cover question 2&3 I think)
question4
Superoneclick will allow you to remove the the hack and the superuser and busybox programs.
you seem a little confused, there is a difference between hacking the phone for superuser (root) access (which is all you really need and can be done above with one click and no odin etc) and hacking the phone to modify the boot loader which is what clockworkmod is. This changes the recovery area of the phone.
typically when you do this you use odin to flash a new kernel which will include the clockworkrom recovery bootloader.
this is more risky (but still almost always recoverable from in my experience) typically the new kernels include a root solution so flashing a kernel does not require the phone to be rooted already. Usually flashing a new kernel will add extra benefits or features such as the option to change the filesystem that the phone uses to a faster one than the default used by android (this is usually called lagfixing).
technically I would guess that any of these things COULD invalidate warranty but in reality I doubt they would and you should be able to reverse almost any of them prior to returning a device under warranty. personally so far I have screwed up my phone and others a number of times and I haven't once found something that darkyy's ressurection rom hasnt been able to rescue me from. Worst case I flash that then reflash with a stock rom. (I've been able to do this when I have forgotten to unlagfix a phone when I have checked efs or repartition by mistake all sorts, I have had phones in the condition where the wouldnt accept any sim card and darky's has got me out of all these states simply repartition with the resurrection rom and bob's yer uncle)
Hope that answers your questions and helps you understand the differences.

How to revert to stock kernel

I have a Bell SGS, GT-I9000m. I'm considering installing hardcore kernel only, i.e. no custom ROM. If later I want to revert to the stock kernel, how would I do that?
Thanks for your help.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
I'm not quite sure if it is possible with the stock-kernel but if you can make a full backup (like with CWM) you could restore it later. But why do you want to get back to stock-kernel?
If the backup-possibility does not work you have to find the stock-kernel for downloading and flash it via Odin or you have to flash the whole stock-ROM with Odin.
Thanks for your answer. I can't make a Nandroid backup while I'm on stock (because I can't install CWM recovery because I'm on 3e stock recovery, not 2e)
I'm not sure why I would want to go back to stock... Maybe something goes terribly wrong? I guess I just wanted to know if it was possible.
Last question: when you say I would have to find the stock kernel, is that just Google, or are there sites/repositories out there for this sort of thing?
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
I should add, the site/repo question is for kernels and stock ROMs...
Thanks.
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
site1ca said:
I'm not sure why I would want to go back to stock... Maybe something goes terribly wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, then just flash the whole stock-ROM and flash it (look at samnfirmware.com for firmwares).
site1ca said:
Last question: when you say I would have to find the stock kernel, is that just Google, or are there sites/repositories out there for this sort of thing?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't know if you'll find it anywhere cause nobody needs it.
Possible scenario
Alright, thanks for your help. I guess the one scenario that is bothering me is as follows:
1) Bell - FINALLY - releases their official Gingerbread update.
2) I've installed Hardcore kernel, which according to - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=822756 - "works on all 2.2 and 2.2.1 ROMs".
3) Would I be able to install the Bell Gingerbread update with Hardcore kernel?
This is why I keep asking how I would revert from Hardcore because I obviously don't want to lock myself out of Bell updates forever.
It doesn't matter which kernel you are using when you are flashing with Odin. And Bell releases the updates later than Samsung, so you'd have the advantage of getting updates earlier with a 'free' firmware.
One solution to flash back the stock kernel is to extract the zImage (the kernel) from the stock rom and flash that with Odin or Heimdall.
But as far as I know having a custom kernel would not cause problems with installing a stock upgrade.
Done
I've installed Hardcore's kernel. Everything seems to be working fine, phone started up and picked up service.
I booted into recovery, enabled lagfix, turned on all of the recommended tweaks and then ran the Quadrant Standard. Things seem a bit faster, so I guess it's all good.
Next step, Darky's 10.1.
Thanks for your help, everyone.
One more question:
I did a Nandroid backup of everything (so data, dbdata, cache AND system). The restore option says "Be careful!". What's up with that? I mean, what's the caveat?
Thanks.
I've already made some NANDROID-backups, but never seen 'Be careful!'.
If the backup was succesful I wouldn't care about that.
*sigh*, I hate to keep adding questions on to this thread, but I must.
After installing the hardcore kernel and enabling tweaks and lagfix, I'm running into exactly this problem: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=851970
My phone was extremely hot for a while, then I got a warning indicating that my internal phone storage was running low, etc.
Eventually, I found this file (/data/local/tsprsp) to be the culprit. I deleted it and rebooted and now my phone is fine. However, vibration just doesn't work at all!
Any ideas? Has anyone else run into this problem?
I was told that if you do a 'full' backup, in some cases restoration will fail with some error. But it depends on the version of the ROM you are using.
That is the reason why it is recommended to backup only data and if you want to restore, then first reflash your rom, then restore the data.
Thanks, zsori. That explains the "Be careful!".
Sent from my GT-I9000M using XDA App
After trying MIUI, a stock ROM will never touch my SGS again.
meresis said:
After trying MIUI, a stock ROM will never touch my SGS again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you will have to flash back a stock rom via odin if anything wrong happen during the flashing of custom roms, although chances are low if you follow the instructions carefully.
good luck and have fun flashing custom roms!
Which Gingerbread?
So I'm continuing my quest to learn more about all of this custom ROM flashing stuff. And I wanted to get gingerbread on my phone... So I figured I'd just get an image from samfirmware.com and flash it. But then, I went here (because I was also interested in Darky's 10.1 so I was reading their guide): http://www.darkyrom.com/community/i...-darkyrom-gingerbread-jvh-noob-friendly.3080/
It says that flashing "Ficeto_JVH_I9000_Odin" will get me a stock Gingerbread. My question: what's the difference between flashing an image from samfirmware.com or flashing "Ficeto_JVH_I9000_Odin"? How do I know which to pick?
In all my browsing/reading, I realize that there are 3 "separate" parts: kernel, modem and then the "ROM". Ideally, I want to keep my modem as is... What does that correspond to in Odin? I've tried to find what "PIT", "PDA", "PHONE" and "CSC" represent in Odin, but I'm not sure I got it right. PIT = Kernel? PHONE = modem?
And finally, how do I know if a particular kernel is compatible with a particular ROM?
Sorry, I know there are lots of questions there. But please help clearing up a n00b's confusion. Thanks.
site1ca said:
So I'm continuing my quest to learn more about all of this custom ROM flashing stuff. And I wanted to get gingerbread on my phone... So I figured I'd just get an image from samfirmware.com and flash it. But then, I went here (because I was also interested in Darky's 10.1 so I was reading their guide): http://www.darkyrom.com/community/i...-darkyrom-gingerbread-jvh-noob-friendly.3080/
It says that flashing "Ficeto_JVH_I9000_Odin" will get me a stock Gingerbread. My question: what's the difference between flashing an image from samfirmware.com or flashing "Ficeto_JVH_I9000_Odin"? How do I know which to pick?
In all my browsing/reading, I realize that there are 3 "separate" parts: kernel, modem and then the "ROM". Ideally, I want to keep my modem as is... What does that correspond to in Odin? I've tried to find what "PIT", "PDA", "PHONE" and "CSC" represent in Odin, but I'm not sure I got it right. PIT = Kernel? PHONE = modem?
And finally, how do I know if a particular kernel is compatible with a particular ROM?
Sorry, I know there are lots of questions there. But please help clearing up a n00b's confusion. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you got it wrong.
PIT is for mapping the partitioning of the phone. In most cases you should only use 512 pit file. and only use it when you want to wipe the phone.
the three parts is "pda" (which is the rom), "phone" (which is the modem), and "csc" (which is the carrier customization and apns)
the kernel is in the part of pda (the rom)
check the thread in xda of the kernel to see if its a gingerbread kernel or froyo kernel.
hope this clear things up
Yes, that helps. That's really good to know. So now, in Darky's guide to flashing Flash Ficeto_JVH_Odin, I see that only PIT and PDA are specified. This is reassuring, knowing that the modem and carrier stuff isn't touched.
Many thanks.
There are firmwares with three parts (Phone, PDA, CSC, including bootloader) and with only one part (PDA, no bootloader(?)). The one-part-FW is just an 'update', the one with three parts an 'upgrade'.

Downgrade from Gingerbread to Bell's UKC1?

Hey Guys,
I'm selling my SGS i9000 and want to revert it back to Bell's latest release which is Froyo UGKC1 from JVQ w/ root. Can I do that just by using Odin and installing UGKC1 from the samifirmware download?
Thanks
sort of. You want to download JH2 or a full froyo rom and pull the db_data.rfs file from it, add it to your .tar (try IZarc to retar it - see fugu mod thread for a link) and then flash it. Otherwise you will get a db_data mounting error.
If you wipe but do not re partition it should be OK without but I am guess you will want to repartition if you are trying to get to absolute stock. The re partitioning without the db_data.rfs file means that partition is not created and it won't boot fully (loop).
You can find a complete JL2 if you look in the CM7 forums and search for complete JL2 rom - thats where I found that this file was missing (after countless flashes gone awry!).
G

[Q] New GT-I9000 - what to do

Hi guys I have just got a new (to me) GT-I9000 that was on T-Mobile and has been unlocked by the previous owner. It's spec is:
Firmware 2.3.3
Baseband version I9000XXJW4
Kernel version 2.6.35.7-I9000BOJV8-CL273008
Build number Gingerbread.BOJV8
32GB SD Card
I have test connected it to ODIN in Download Mode (3 button press) after giving up on Kies !
1. Should I Root it, and if so how. I have read various articles on here but don't want to brick it due to using the wrong Code/Version
2. Should I back up everything, image etc onto the SD card, if so what method do I use to do that
3. Should I stick with this ROM or are there better/newer ones out there I should flash .. if so which versions and how ?
Apologies for the simple questions, but step by step recommendations would be most helpful so I don't mess things up.
thanks
1) I really recommend rooting it, or installing a custom kernel (like Semaphore). You will get a lot more options to play around with, but more importantly: built in Voodoo Sound.
Here's a guide you can follow if you'd want to flash or just root/flash kernel. If you were to flash a kernel, you just open Odin and put the downloaded tar into PDA and hit Start after plugging in your phone (be sure to matching version).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1102881
2) If you're referring to backing up apps and etc. I personally use Mybackup Root + SMS backup & restore. Also, syncing everything with Google, like contacts. Flashing with Odin does not erase your SD-card but for safety reason I always backup my files to a computer.
3) If you prefer stock/Touchwiz I would suggest you stick with stock GB, maybe XWJW8 which is the latest one? If you'd like a customized GB rom I recommend http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1689513 which is JW7 with some extra tweaks and Galaxy S3 theme.
You could also go with ICS/JB if you want the latest Android versions. Hope everything works out for you!

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