Database Develop

Bootloader Wars

In the fall of year 2012. LG has finally released long awaited Ice Cream Sandwich update for it's former flagship, Optimus 2x. Short after, young warrior named wkpark cracked the new, locked ICS bootloader for this device. That is the day when Bootloader Wars begun. Lot of Optimus 2x users were eager to see that if LG made a proper job with it's official ICS. First custom stock ICS roms begun to emerging, and more and more users were converting on new, unlocked bootloader.
In meanwhile, developers on the old, GB bootloader didn't fell asleep. Official CM10 came out, there were even few attempts to bring stock ICS to old bootloader. But all ICS and JB roms on old bootloader had a critical flaw named 'call bug'. Because of that bug, even more users started using new instead old bootloader. But all of those who wanted to taste Jelly Bean on O2x were forced to stay on old bootloader. O2x community was separated in two fractions: ones that uses new bootloader, and the other that uses old one.
After some time in stalemate position, things have started to develop further. One member from notorious group The Penguins of Madagascar, pengus77 succeeded to boot up CM10 on the new bootloader. With it's brilliance, he brought the advantage on the new bootloader side. That impact cause a massive troops crossing towards new bootloader.
Another inversion occurred when marsgod fixed the infamous call bug on the old bootloader. It gave the new light for old bootloader users and developers. So, one can say that we're again in stalemate position. Which side will be victorious? No one can and won't predict... only time will tell.
DISCLAIMER: All characters appearing in this work are fictitious. Any resemblance to real persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.
I hope no one will bi offended with little war story I wrote above. If someone find it offending, or wants that I remove his nickname from it, feel free to PM me.
Point of this thread would be to see how much users are on new bootloader, and how much of them uses old one. I'll make poll about that. Also, I would like to hear why someone choose the one bootloader or the other? What are advantages over the other in your opinion? And are you ready to change bootloader again if the community will choose one way...
Also, since this is bootloader thread, I hope that people will stop spamming threads in developers subforum with posts such as: my bootloader is stronger than yours etc.
Let the battles begin! And please, don't start to offend other users because of their bootloader choice. Let's keep it nice and cosy.
And sorry if my english is not good enough, and some sentences sounds funny.

I am currently on new bootloader, but as soon as cm10 without wifi drain is available, I'll switch back to good ol' bootloader
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

I'm on the new bootloader since stefan's v28E stock ICS. I'm happy with it, especially after pengus77 managed to get CM10 working on new BL. Currently using tonyP's PA with penguses kernel. I think it's nice combo.
About old bootloader... there isn't any stock ICS which is a minus. Official CM10.1 is still to buggy for me to use it as daily driver. CM7 (for stability and speed) is the only thing that would make me go back to old bootloader, and somehow I don't want to go back to GB. And CM10 on new BL seems to be enough stable and fast.
But if (when) one day CM10.1 become stable, and if whole community starts to roll back, I wouldn't mind another BL change.

I prefer to be with the new bootloader, because there are many ROMS that are becoming the new BL.
Greetings.

I dont even understand why people ***** about not have old bootloader version, why bother fixing all the issues with the old one when the new one works, its just they are too lazy to flash the new bootloader. The new bootloader is there for a reason.

Base on the same source new bootloader i don't have slow charge issue at least in mine case. Old bootloader the charging are endless hall for me.

orbital_71 said:
Base on the same source new bootloader i don't have slow charge issue at least in mine case. Old bootloader the charging are endless hall for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been on the old bootloader and charging is absolutely fine since over a month. I will stick with RC and official CM, who else can give us daily bug fixes besides cyanogenmod. As for device apecific bugs, I am sure we will have kernel fkx by pengus.
---------- Post added at 11:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:58 PM ----------
kestrelv2 said:
I dont even understand why people ***** about not have old bootloader version, why bother fixing all the issues with the old one when the new one works, its just they are too lazy to flash the new bootloader. The new bootloader is there for a reason.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly my point, why move to a new BL when I am going to run CM 10 only which is only officially supported on the old BL.

Another thread about that?
This will lead into an android vs apple fight, where the loudest people are the ones with the lowest knowledge about what they're talking about.
Fact is: Both bootloaders don't suffer from the callbug and can be considered totally stable for a daily use.
Some people have a slow charging bug with the old one - I for myself never suffered from that with my Nexus 7 charging cable - so try not to use a cheap usb cable.
So choose whatever you want for whatever reason you like and stop telling others what they should do.

AW: Bootloader Wars
I am on new bootloader because of penugs. But actually who really cares? Changing bl is thanks to the AIO really easy. So my decision is not about the bl but the roms. I will choose the roms I am interested in and if I have to change the bl again it doesn't matter. I think this discussion about bl is nonsense.
Gesendet von meinem Transformer TF101 mit Tapatalk 2

Great write up, well done :thumbup:
Sent from my LG-P990 using Tapatalk 2

I don't see point to move to new bootloader.
I am on tonyp's PA, pengus Kernel, and everything is working, no slow charging etc.
Also on CM10 everything was ok.

im on new BL:fingers-crossed:

Pascalwb said:
I don't see point to move to new bootloader.
I am on tonyp's PA, pengus Kernel, and everything is working, no slow charging etc.
Also on CM10 everything was ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? I shall try that one then! Because official CM10.1 is buggy as hell lately... I've been getting SoD's, which I never had, gTalk video is dead (even though apparently there's a flashable zip to correct that), I've had the charge bug (with an original blackberry charger... so I don't think it qualifies as cheap crap usb cable), the phone feels laggier than normal, voice recognition fails miserably... the list goes on...

those reporting about "slow charging" bug, need to know if you charging with screen ON or OFF. i am on old bl and with screen on via usb connected to the pc, slow charging (15%hour) but maybe cause screen is on with autobrightness. with screen off i can get 25%hor, so i do not think it can be considered "slow charging"....could any more confirm this "slow charging" bug or just "screen on with charging" bug?

LarsPT said:
Really? I shall try that one then! Because official CM10.1 is buggy as hell lately... I've been getting SoD's, which I never had, gTalk video is dead (even though apparently there's a flashable zip to correct that), I've had the charge bug (with an original blackberry charger... so I don't think it qualifies as cheap crap usb cable), the phone feels laggier than normal, voice recognition fails miserably... the list goes on...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yop, I tried CM10.1 too before PA, it wasn't smooth like CM10 or PA and other roms, I think it's too soon.
I had slow charging with earlier CM10 builds with SU660 source codes, but it was only on one build.

Pascalwb said:
I don't see point to move to new bootloader.
I am on tonyp's PA, pengus Kernel, and everything is working, no slow charging etc.
Also on CM10 everything was ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I remember seeing a post from pengus77 with an interesting point:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=36824970#post36824970
The work of rc / the whole group behind CM is beyond great... but I cannot help but wonder the future is somewhere else than old bl...

I'm on a new bootloader, but I prefer, cm roms, but cm10 and cm10.1 is fine with new bl.
I belive, old bl, is OK for thistime, I just want a newer cmw, and newer bl

tygryss said:
I just want a newer cmw, and newer bl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just because "new" automatically means "better"... am i right?

Most of the time it is better but also restrictive
Sent from my LG-P990 using xda app-developers app

I'm running cm10 on boot loader with WiFi conserving kernel. Not totally as stable as cm.2 but its getting there.

[Q] Is rooting/flashing worth it?

Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it. I've looked at the Development section and all that, but this is my first Android phone, and I'm worried about messing up and bricking my phone with no warranty. So is it worth it?

boredperson said:
Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it. I've looked at the Development section and all that, but this is my first Android phone, and I'm worried about messing up and bricking my phone with no warranty. So is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its worth it.
I just rooted one yesterday its easy if you read

boredperson said:
Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it. I've looked at the Development section and all that, but this is my first Android phone, and I'm worried about messing up and bricking my phone with no warranty. So is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you love custamisation, and want to make full use of it, it is worth, else, go with the original one...

boredperson said:
Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it. I've looked at the Development section and all that, but this is my first Android phone, and I'm worried about messing up and bricking my phone with no warranty. So is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be amazed what this beast is really capable of once you root and get a custom ROM which have no bloatwares.
In my case games like subway surfer used to lag on the stock JB but after rooting it is all smooth ride .
Go ahead and install mythtools ( say thanks to the dev) and unlock the bootloader and root it.
Bricking your phone is really difficult even if you intend to do so . So get going and post back when you are rooted.

boredperson said:
Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it. I've looked at the Development section and all that, but this is my first Android phone, and I'm worried about messing up and bricking my phone with no warranty. So is it worth it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting has essentially no chance of bricking your phone. What you do after you get root? That's a different story...
Unlocking your bootloader actually makes you safer if you have no warranty anyway. If you flash a custom recovery then you can back up your stock ROM and recover at any point or flash to a much nicer custom ROM. I'm running XenonHD personally and I'm very impressed with it. They recently added the option to overclock the processor to 1.9GHz and I've had a huge performance jump in games and multitasking. Now I just need the EB40 to support it.
If you're a new user then READ EVERYTHING THOUROUGHLY before you proceed. I consider myself rather skilled and even I have had a couple "OH SHI-" moments because I didn't read enough.
tldr: DO IT! But be careful.

Rooting was definitely worth it. Enabled tethering (on T-Mobile, so it would never have worked otherwise), AdFree, Screen Standby (while streaming video on hotel TVs).
Bootloader unlocking I haven't done it. I've lost a phone before and the idea that someone can get through the lock screen, access my data and use the phone bothers me.

diamond12 said:
Rooting was definitely worth it. Enabled tethering (on T-Mobile, so it would never have worked otherwise), AdFree, Screen Standby (while streaming video on hotel TVs).
Bootloader unlocking I haven't done it. I've lost a phone before and the idea that someone can get through the lock screen, access my data and use the phone bothers me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that's what you're afraid of then don't root...seriously. All that's necessary is adb with root access and all your info is mine.
adb root
adb pull /data /local/directory
adb pull /sdcard /local/directory
adb pull /external_sd /local/directory
some things are encrypted, some not. Not sure if its still this way, but WiFi passwords used to be stored as unencrypted text files on /data....CM7, btw.
Anyone of us here could steal your data if we had physical access to your device, some of us if you are on stock, no root, no unlocked bootloader.
The safest way is to have an unlocked bootloader, a password protected recovery (we don't a have one), and disable adb completely. Even then, I could get around that and access your stuff (snap-fastboot flash recovery non-protected-recovery.img ). There is no way to fully lock out an android power user from an android phone, simple as that.

boredperson said:
Hello!,I've had the Atrix HD for a little under a year now, and I was just wondering if rooting the phone is worth it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ohhh boy. I can't wait to see all the comments on this lol.
Yea its definitely worth it. Rooting/unlocking boot loader makes it so you can: 1) flash roms. 2) change the CPU speed at which you phone runs. 3) change you boot loader image (the animation that happens when you phone turns on/off). 4) and the most appealing one (to me), get ride of all that #!*[email protected]!-+ blootwere (apps that come preinstalled that you don't use but aren't able to delete, thus freeing up a lot of memory/ram)
If your worried about bricking you phone, its become pretty hard to permanently brick It as long as you have the determination to fix it.
The MythTools will help you root/unlock bootloader/flash cwm for you so no worries about screwing up
Hit "thanks" if this helps!
Sent from my PACman Atrix HD

I think rooting my atrix hd was well worth it in terms of de bloating all the junk off my phone that just slowed it down.
Not to mention with the PACMAN rom which I LOVE!!!!, you can also overclock the cpu to 2GHZ which is insane fast my girlfriend has the same phone and hers is so slow compared to mine now.
With the PACMAN rom and all the customization available like for example, under the launcher settings I set the transition effect in both the homescreens and apps drawer to cylinder out effect, which pretty much gave the phone a almost complete 3d UI effect along with HD Widgets.
I wouldn't take back rooting mine.

I rooted, unlocked the bootloader, and downgraded back to ICS so I could use the lapdock my dad got me for my birthday. I'm still on stock but I liked the stock look, just had to get rid of that horrible bloatware eating up my space. It was all worth it and I was a afraid to do it at first and just waited. Mythtools came out and it took no time at all to get it done. Try it, I think you'll like it

Rooting is well worth the trouble. It took me 6hrs to root my galaxy s3 and I flashed cm 10.1. I love the customization, speed, themes, boot animations etc... The main thing about it is you have to do back-ups quite a bit.
Sent from my brain to your eyes, to your brain, using my Galaxy S3, running Cm 10.1. I'm in your head now.

Rooting NIGHTMARES!

Hi all,
So my Nexus 4 arrived today and I'm umming and ahhing as to root or not.
I've heard all the good things about doing it but I'm interested in peoples rooting nightmares. What's gone wrong? When have you wanted to throw your phone out the window?
Look forward to reading!

noahdev said:
Hi all,
So my Nexus 4 arrived today and I'm umming and ahhing as to root or not.
I've heard all the good things about doing it but I'm interested in peoples rooting nightmares. What's gone wrong? When have you wanted to throw your phone out the window?
Look forward to reading!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really takes a tremendous effort to screw it up, it really does.
Cliff's Notes/summary, not an actual guide:
1. Learn to do it the old fashioned (and easiest way) by installing the drivers and using fastboot.
2. fastboot oem unlock
3. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
4. flash your SU binaries zip
5. b00m!

CMNein said:
It really takes a tremendous effort to screw it up, it really does.
Cliff's Notes/summary, not an actual guide:
1. Learn to do it the old fashioned (and easiest way) by installing the drivers and using fastboot.
2. fastboot oem unlock
3. fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
4. flash your SU binaries zip
5. b00m!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In that case I'll lower my requirements. Anyone done it and thought 'You know what, I prefer the stock experience.'?

noahdev said:
In that case I'll lower my requirements. Anyone done it and thought 'You know what, I prefer the stock experience.'?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes actually. I thought rooting it was great and all, even went for custom kernels. The thing is, when you get all the updates that Google provides on a near instant basis, there is no need to root and rom your phone. Also, I feel like it doesn't provide too much extra for the experience. On a side note, when I had an HTC Sensation, I would root and rom just to get the newest and greatest from Google.
Your choice, but I like getting OTA's and don't run any SU apps.

Drebin 894 said:
Yes actually. I thought rooting it was great and all, even went for custom kernels. The thing is, when you get all the updates that Google provides on a near instant basis, there is no need to root and rom your phone. Also, I feel like it doesn't provide too much extra for the experience. On a side note, when I had an HTC Sensation, I would root and rom just to get the newest and greatest from Google.
Your choice, but I like getting OTA's and don't run any SU apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting means you are:
- able to make nandroid and Titanium Backups
- run a good custom kernel for color and sound control, better batterylife and performance and lower cpu temperatures
- install adblockers and other usefull apps.
If these aren`t improvements i don`t know what is and you might as well buy an iPhone for stock xperience, just my 2 cents.
BTW: @OP: rooting nightmares only occur with mis and badly informed users.

gee2012 said:
Rooting means you are:
- able to make nandroid and Titanium Backups
- run a good custom kernel for color and sound control, better batterylife and performance and lower cpu temperatures
- install adblockers and other usefull apps.
If these aren`t improvements i don`t know what is and you might as well buy an iPhone for stock xperience, just my 2 cents.
BTW: @OP: rooting nightmares only occur with mis and badly informed users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but I feel like I don't need them on my phone. I don't need to back up apps as I am not switching roms, I like getting the OTA updates, and I don't care about ads on mobile because I never see them anyway, either through paid apps or little browsing.

Drebin 894 said:
Yes, but I feel like I don't need them on my phone. I don't need to back up apps as I am not switching roms, I like getting the OTA updates, and I don't care about ads on mobile because I never see them anyway, either through paid apps or little browsing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Too each his own bro

I fully agree to each his own but if you do not see the advantages and personalization rooti g gives you then most likelyyou are the type tthat is satisfied with what you get. For me T9 calling alone is worth it, adjusting scree colors, raising the sound level,showing actual dBm signal strength, removal of all apps I don't want that were preloaded, darker ui experience. Now if you never try this then you wont miss it but its not lime you can't root it then unroot if you are not happy.
Bottom line updates will come the same day here whether rooted or not and these updates can also come with goodies...
Edit: Also lets be honest in a forum of 100.000's of members and rooter you will find maybe a few hundred or so that may have an issue and most of them I guarantee you was because of them not following directions properly. Thats what makes for rooting nightmares. Remember even non rooters from time to time have to restore their phones for one crazy reason or another. Now you have to restore back to 1 year ago when you first got the phone...SMH

I am having some trouble rooting and puting a custom recovery on my new Nexus 4, I unlocked the bootloader, and flashed the custom recovery through fastboot, but its not sticking, I don't know whats wrong.

UNless youir getting deadlocks letting your phone charge overnight, I would stay on stock.
CM is great, but there are just always broken things and bugs that will eventaully piss you off when you want to do something.

noahdev said:
Hi all,
What's gone wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Absolutely nothing, except for the very slight inconvenience of having to re-root or re-install TWRP after doing an Android operating system OTA update. Not only that, but I now have several "root only" apps that I needed, I have full access to the Linux command line programs which I use, and I am learning a lot about the Android OS lower level stuff. For me anyway, I really have no desire to install custom ROMS, as stock rooted Android does everything I want it to do.

There are stock based custom roms with CM type customization's... Again unless you have tried a stock customized rom with advancements you should not be judging. Also you don't have to use each cutsomization you can actually leave it stock and only use 1 or 2 custom items. Check out PSX 4.1 bone stock with a handful of customizations

There is really only one thing that annoys me about stock and that is the oversized Nav bottons. I just wished they made them smaller or gave us the otion to change the size. This is available on custom Roms and gives you more screen real-estate which definitley makes a difference.
That is one thing that keeps pulling me to custom Roms. I was running AOKP which seemed to run pretty good. I restored my phone back to stock because I thought I was having an issue with the notification light but then saw it just needed an app to make it work the way I was expecting it to.
So I have my phone rooted on stock 4.3 right now and I just wish I can make those Nav bars smaller! There are definitley cool features on some of the custom Roms though and it most certaintly can enhance your experience.

If ur not using the toolkit, then you should be.. If ur using and still manage to screw things, you should leave ur phone stock... The toolkits are already noob proof..
Connect phone to PC
Unlock boot loader
Root
Install recovery
Install ROM....
Its all 1 click each or some toolkits does it all in 1 click...
Rooted and running Paranoid Android + franco.kernel

my nightmare came from me going to fast... i missed a step and screwed up my phone...
i was able to get a stock image and reflash it, but it was a grueling 2 hours with a soft-bricked phone.
read all the stuff you can, and don't rush it.

Lucke said:
my nightmare came from me going to fast... i missed a step and screwed up my phone...
i was able to get a stock image and reflash it, but it was a grueling 2 hours with a soft-bricked phone.
read all the stuff you can, and don't rush it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please don't take this the wrong way... but you being the only person with a real horror story is quite comforting!

noahdev said:
Please don't take this the wrong way... but you being the only person with a real horror story is quite comforting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no offense taken thats what i get for trying to root it while at work dealing with an Exchange upgrade

You can't really screw up a nexus device. It's not like Samsung where you hard flash the wrong version for the wrong phone and end up with a paperweight. If you mess up with nexus you can always return back
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

My last nightmare with rooting was from htc desire hd, lots of bullcrap to be done, lots of s**t pre requisite..goldcard, emmc etc., ugh gives me headaches for days :/

Just use wugfresh toolkit and its a breeze
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

[Q] Unlock Telus Bootloader

I am new to this whole experience, and to this forum, so it may take me a bit extra to understand things at first. That being said, I do have experience rooting and installing custom ROMs on android devices, and understand what needs to be done in general terms in order to actually be successful.
A friend of mine posted about wanting to install a custom ROM on my S3 mini to this forum recently, but not much was accomplished other then the realization that I likely have a locked boot loader, and therefore have limited to no options. Although, I am aware of the ability to actually unlock the boot loader, but am unsure of how to do it, or if I even can on my model. So I pose the question, how do I unlock my boot loader so I can install a custom recovery, and then a custom ROM? I have been searching around for a while without much success and need the help of more experienced group of people.
I am fully aware of the dangers that arise when attempting to flash an unlocked boot loader, but if I come across a relatively safe method I want to try it.
Thanks in advance for any time you spend responding to me, I am very grateful for all your help.
--nav
------------
Sorry forgot to say the model of the phone, it is SM-G730W8.

nav13eh said:
I am new to this whole experience, and to this forum, so it may take me a bit extra to understand things at first. That being said, I do have experience rooting and installing custom ROMs on android devices, and understand what needs to be done in general terms in order to actually be successful.
A friend of mine posted about wanting to install a custom ROM on my S3 mini to this forum recently, but not much was accomplished other then the realization that I likely have a locked boot loader, and therefore have limited to no options. Although, I am aware of the ability to actually unlock the boot loader, but am unsure of how to do it, or if I even can on my model. So I pose the question, how do I unlock my boot loader so I can install a custom recovery, and then a custom ROM? I have been searching around for a while without much success and need the help of more experienced group of people.
I am fully aware of the dangers that arise when attempting to flash an unlocked boot loader, but if I come across a relatively safe method I want to try it.
Thanks in advance for any time you spend responding to me, I am very grateful for all your help.
--nav
------------
Sorry forgot to say the model of the phone, it is SM-G730W8.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let me clear up some stuff for you, and hopefully for all the others that come across this thread; there are 2 official versions of the "S3 mini" as far as I'm concerned. The GT-I8190 which includes its variants GT-I8190L and GT-I8190N, and your version the SM-G730W8. They have absolutely nothing in common, other then their names. They have a similar appearance, but they use different hardware, because of this anything created for the GT-I8190 will not be compatible with your phone and will screw up your phone (maybe even to the point of hard-bricking it where it will no longer work and beyond recovery, unless you send to Samsung or a service shop that can JTAG it back to life). As far as I know since your phone's bootloader is locked, you cannot install anything to it. I know that there might be a build of CWM Recovery floating around for your phone, you won't be able to install it until the bootloader gets unlocked, and so far no one has managed to unlock the bootloader.
By the way, most of the threads for your phone the SM-G730W8 and its variants SM-G730WA, etc seem to be in the Q&A section of the S3 Mini forums. The general forum discussion seems to be predominantly users with T599, T599V, T599N (like myself) who have similar hardware to the GT-I8190 to the point where we can use each other's sources with some modifications, but the ROMs/Recoveries/Kernels are not interchangeable.
I do know that root has been achieved (if I recall correctly) and beyond that, nothing else in terms of development can be done until the bootloader is unlocked. Search around the Q&A subforum, and you should see more threads pertaining to potential development.
I hope I explained this clear enough, I'm just worried that someone may come on here screw around with their phone and end up with a paperweight!

Exothermic said:
Let me clear up some stuff for you, and hopefully for all the others that come across this thread; there are 2 official versions of the "S3 mini" as far as I'm concerned. The GT-I8190 which includes its variants GT-I8190L and GT-I8190N, and your version the SM-G730W8. They have absolutely nothing in common, other then their names. They have a similar appearance, but they use different hardware, because of this anything created for the GT-I8190 will not be compatible with your phone and will screw up your phone (maybe even to the point of hard-bricking it where it will no longer work and beyond recovery, unless you send to Samsung or a service shop that can JTAG it back to life). As far as I know since your phone's bootloader is locked, you cannot install anything to it. I know that there might be a build of CWM Recovery floating around for your phone, you won't be able to install it until the bootloader gets unlocked, and so far no one has managed to unlock the bootloader.
By the way, most of the threads for your phone the SM-G730W8 and its variants SM-G730WA, etc seem to be in the Q&A section of the S3 Mini forums. The general forum discussion seems to be predominantly users with T599, T599V, T599N (like myself) who have similar hardware to the GT-I8190 to the point where we can use each other's sources with some modifications, but the ROMs/Recoveries/Kernels are not interchangeable.
I do know that root has been achieved (if I recall correctly) and beyond that, nothing else in terms of development can be done until the bootloader is unlocked. Search around the Q&A subforum, and you should see more threads pertaining to potential development.
I hope I explained this clear enough, I'm just worried that someone may come on here screw around with their phone and end up with a paperweight!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do thank you for making things a bit clearer for me to understand. I am very disappointed that they advertise these phones as being the "S3 Mini" when in fact they are a completely different version. I bought the phone with the understanding that is was a quick and modern little phone, and that I could install a custom ROM on it. It is a good piece of hardware, but I guess I should have researched deeper then I did into the whole situation. I assumed there would be a little bit ore consistency with the hardware.
I have achieve a root though, and with that there is a lot of things I can change that I wouldn't otherwise be able to. But unfortunately it's not the same as the true Vanilla Android I wanted to install. With some tweaking touchwiz is fine, but it has it's moments. I'll keep looking for something, but if I can't find anything, my time with this device may be limited. Within time, I may end up trading up to an S3 or something that is unlocked.
--nav

nav13eh said:
I do thank you for making things a bit clearer for me to understand. I am very disappointed that they advertise these phones as being the "S3 Mini" when in fact they are a completely different version. I bought the phone with the understanding that is was a quick and modern little phone, and that I could install a custom ROM on it. It is a good piece of hardware, but I guess I should have researched deeper then I did into the whole situation. I assumed there would be a little bit ore consistency with the hardware.
I have achieve a root though, and with that there is a lot of things I can change that I wouldn't otherwise be able to. But unfortunately it's not the same as the true Vanilla Android I wanted to install. With some tweaking touchwiz is fine, but it has it's moments. I'll keep looking for something, but if I can't find anything, my time with this device may be limited. Within time, I may end up trading up to an S3 or something that is unlocked.
--nav
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well for the time being, look into debloating your system through Titanium Backup, and slap on a 3rd party launcher (nova launcher,etc)!

Exothermic said:
Well for the time being, look into debloating your system through Titanium Backup, and slap on a 3rd party launcher (nova launcher,etc)!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Titanium installed, can you point me in the right direction for guides on what to remove?

nav13eh said:
I have Titanium installed, can you point me in the right direction for guides on what to remove?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sadly there isn't one extremely particular to your phone, but be careful with this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2322375
See if any of these apps matches up with your phone. I highly recommend freezing them, over removing them, as you can revert it if anything goes wrong. If you have Polaris office apps, then you can delete that for sure, but other that freeze these apps and it should feel snappier and more fluid. I also highly recommend a third-party launcher, TouchWiz is downright horrible.

Root/Custom ROM/Bluetooth/DRM issues (Stop me buying an iPhone 6s!)

Hi guys,
My knowledge of ROMs and rooting isn't the best so please bare with me if this question seems dumb. And before anyone says, I have read this thread (and countless others) but would like some clarification.
I've always wanted to install CyanogenMod to my Z3 Compact because my car, an E46 BMW has not been able to pair with my phone since 4.2.2 when a change to bluetooth.default.so was made - Cyanogenmod has the fix.
I have seen recent posts on this forum that suggest if the phone is rooted and a custom ROM is installed, I'm still able to maintain my camera quality which previously was limited (fish-eye effect and low light poor quality) due to the loss of DRM'd software due to a DRM restore fix created by one of the forum members. Is this correct? This was the only thing that ever stopped me rooting my Z3 as camera quality is of high importance to me.
I've been using an iPhone 5s since my screen smashed last month and I planned to buy an iPhone 6s this weekend but if it seems I can use the Z3 Compact for all purposes ( In-car Bluetooth, stable Android, good camera and battery life) then I will definitely get the screen repaired tomorrow!
Thanks in advance.
This is a link explaining the Bluetooth issue I'm talking about.

tsmr said:
Hi guys,
My knowledge of ROMs and rooting isn't the best so please bare with me if this question seems dumb. And before anyone says, I have read this thread (and countless others) but would like some clarification.
I've always wanted to install CyanogenMod to my Z3 Compact because my car, an E46 BMW has not been able to pair with my phone since 4.2.2 when a change to bluetooth.default.so was made - Cyanogenmod has the fix.
I have seen recent posts on this forum that suggest if the phone is rooted and a custom ROM is installed, I'm still able to maintain my camera quality which previously was limited (fish-eye effect and low light poor quality) due to the loss of DRM'd software due to a DRM restore fix created by one of the forum members. Is this correct? This was the only thing that ever stopped me rooting my Z3 as camera quality is of high importance to me.
I've been using an iPhone 5s since my screen smashed last month and I planned to buy an iPhone 6s this weekend but if it seems I can use the Z3 Compact for all purposes ( In-car Bluetooth, stable Android, good camera and battery life) then I will definitely get the screen repaired tomorrow!
Thanks in advance.
This is a link explaining the Bluetooth issue I'm talking about.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is true, I am using DRM fix for my Z3c because I didn't backup my DRM keys (duh!) and the camera quality seems perfect, although the fix says it also restores X-Reality and whatnot but I haven't got to get the engine working, I fixed that with Color Control to match my saturation and colors needs...
As for the Bluetooth issues, I've kinda experienced problems with it too, I have a Bluetooth gamepad, and whenever I'm playing an Android game that supports controllers, it disconnects, but when I play on emulators it doesn't happen... I don't know if there's a fix for that but oh well.

DRM fix works only on stock based roms and on Concept roms.
It doesn't work on custom roms like Cyanogenmod.

istux said:
DRM fix works only on stock based roms and on Concept roms.
It doesn't work on custom roms like Cyanogenmod.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. I don't actually need CyanogenMod, I just need to be able to edit the bluetooth.default.so file as per the thread I linked so that in-car Bluetooth works with my handset. Is this possible whilst maintaining camera quality?
Also when you say 'only works on stock based ROMs' - does this mean that I could install stock Android 6.0 to my device with a custom bluetooth.default.so file, then install the DRM fix and it will work as normal? This would be amazing!
PS. What is a Concept ROM?
I'm so sorry for asking what are most probably stupid questions but I'm fairly new to the Android scene thus still learning.

Of course its possible, you don't need unlocked bootloader to edit system files lol. Unlock bootloaders are used to install custom kernels or firmwares not made by Sony, like CyanogenMod or AOKP and etc.
Concept, is the "Alpha" Edition of Marshmallow that Sony plans to ship out within the next few months, they let a select a number of people to test out the rom and help them debug it. I don't recommend installing it as it is near beta stage and the number of bugs really don't make it suitable as a daily driver for you phone, stick with Lollipop until we get the official stable update unless you know what you're doing.
Good luck!

Revontheus said:
Of course its possible, you don't need unlocked bootloader to edit system files lol. Unlock bootloaders are used to install custom kernels or firmwares not made by Sony, like CyanogenMod or AOKP and etc.
Concept, is the "Alpha" Edition of Marshmallow that Sony plans to ship out within the next few months, they let a select a number of people to test out the rom and help them debug it. I don't recommend installing it as it is near beta stage and the number of bugs really don't make it suitable as a daily driver for you phone, stick with Lollipop until we get the official stable update unless you know what you're doing.
Good luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for explaining what Concept is. I guess that's not something that I need right now! To clarify; are you saying that to be able to edit system files, I don't need to unlock my bootloader? I was under the impression that to do this I'd need to:
a) Unlock bootloader.
b) Root device.
c) Access/edit the bluetooth system files.
Any advice on the steps I need to take to have my Z3 Compact work with my car whilst maintaining original camera quality would be much appreciated!
PS. Due to the prompt, positive responses in this thread, I've just taken my Z3 to a local to store so the screen can be repaired. Thanks all for the help - such good folk!

tsmr said:
Thanks for the reply. I don't actually need CyanogenMod, I just need to be able to edit the bluetooth.default.so file as per the thread I linked so that in-car Bluetooth works with my handset. Is this possible whilst maintaining camera quality?
Also when you say 'only works on stock based ROMs' - does this mean that I could install stock Android 6.0 to my device with a custom bluetooth.default.so file, then install the DRM fix and it will work as normal? This would be amazing!
PS. What is a Concept ROM?
I'm so sorry for asking what are most probably stupid questions but I'm fairly new to the Android scene thus still learning.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you need only the root in order to work on that bluetooth file, you can do it without unlocking the bootloader.
Follow this tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343
You will be able to get root without losing DRM keys and else you will make a backup of DRM keys So, if in the future you need/want to unlock the bootloader, you have a safe copy of your keys. :good:

istux said:
If you need only the root in order to work on that bluetooth file, you can do it without unlocking the bootloader.
Follow this tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/z3-compact/general/how-to-root-backup-drm-keys-t3013343
You will be able to get root without losing DRM keys and else you will make a backup of DRM keys So, if in the future you need/want to unlock the bootloader, you have a safe copy of your keys. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much. Will try this in the morning and hopefully I will be able to use Bluetooth in my car once again!

tsmr said:
My knowledge of ROMs and rooting isn't the best[...]I have seen recent posts on this forum that suggest if the phone is rooted and a custom ROM is installed, I'm still able to maintain my camera quality[...]camera quality is of high importance to me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My suggestion (solely based on the points your described):
Either get a Z3c and stick to stock ROM
Or get an iPhone (seriously)
Now don't get me wrong, I am not being against custom ROMs. I am running CM myself and the first think I do before buying any android phone is to check if it has official CM support But you need to know that custom ROMs come with their own cost, and it depends whether you're willing to pay the price.
Reasons for my suggestion to you is that the road to unlocked bootloader and custom ROMs is a rough one. You'll be adding more mods and flashing more updates and you quickly end up with a phone which gets into the way and needs constant maintenance. Then there are issues with warranty, security, bugs, etc. Checking the forums for changelogs, kernels and ROMs will become a normal routine.
If you're regular user who wants his/her phone to just work, accept one of my suggestion and save yourself some pain. However, you might choose to be adventurous, then welcome to the community
PS: I'm myself exploring Z3c and iPhone 5s for my next phone.

Honestly, the road to rooting and properly running a rooted software is really not that long and rocky if you follow the linked thread perfectly. You also don't NEED to unlock the BL to get most of the advantages (there are many pre-rooted customized ROMs available without needing an unlocked BL). Follow the thread, stick to a good stable ROM or customization (I'm on Max Fury right now and she did some amazing work, check it out), and you'll be just fine. My BL is not even unlockable, doesn't bother me one bit. You can use Nova for a more Google-ish feel, and Sony's 5.1.1 is already pretty good at not being "Sony-fied".
Anyhow, this is the best phone I've ever owned, not looking back (I've had MANY more than just in my signature).

hv6478 said:
NOTE: annotated snippets from original comment
- if you follow the linked thread perfectly
- you also don't NEED to unlock the BL to get most of the advantages (it's upto you to figure out that just which advantages follow under that "most" category)
- follow the thread
- stick to a good stable ROM or customization (it's upto you to figure out whether you need a rom or customization)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. This proves my point even more! Now just compare this to getting a phone that just works
Although ROM customization is a beautiful and powerful idea, it's not for everyone, and comes at a cost (read: complexity). If anyone is ready to handle the complexity, please dive right in
Please don't mistake me. I'm not trying to disrespect the devs or offend custom ROM users, I'm both. I'm just trying to list down the pros and cons.