Hi there xda-ers!
I am about to buy myself one of these bad boys. The thing is, I will be needing to unlock it to use GSM to work in my country. Can this be accomplished no matter what D3 firmware version I pick up?
Also, are there any firmware versions which are not able to be rooted/have custom roms flashed to them?
I am a little confused - we still await an unlocked bootloader, yet people are flashing custom roms?
Thanks!
s1ice said:
Hi there xda-ers!
I am about to buy myself one of these bad boys. The thing is, I will be needing to unlock it to use GSM to work in my country. Can this be accomplished no matter what D3 firmware version I pick up?
Also, are there any firmware versions which are not able to be rooted/have custom roms flashed to them?
I am a little confused - we still await an unlocked bootloader, yet people are flashing custom roms?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Droid 3 can be unlocked for all GSM bands except T-mobile 3g (correct me if I'm wrong)
All firmware versions can be rooted and you install safestrap (from Hashcode) to flash a custom ROM.
Safestrap uses a 2nd-init to 'get past' the bootloader, so we can flash a different ROM, but we keep the same kernel.
Although we now have something called kexec (bugs are being worked out) that allows us to load a kernel after the bootloader verifies the stock kernel. This will allow for custom ROMs and kernels.
Sent from my DROID3 using xda app-developers app
I have been browsing through all the subforums within HTC One for the last few weeks. I've seen a number of threads and posts that talk about the topic in question, but, don't really answer what I am after. Hence, this thread.
I have the Dev Edition. Rooted. CWM 6.0.3.1. Stock ROM. On TMobile prepaid in the US. ROM version 1.29.1540.3.
On my previous phone (HTC Evo), I had CM7 and will probably ultimately end up with CM for this phone too. However, for the next few months I plan to stick with Sense. I know that there are custom Sense ROMs out there; however, I don't really have a pressing need to ditch the stock ROM. Another concern is that the various custom Sense ROMs are based on the international ROM/firmware (I see many threads that go back and forth on all GSM variants being identical or different... and the real vs perceived differences in radios). I intend to remain with TMobile for the near future and so, while I'd love to get the AWS band working, more importantly, I don't want to get any worse speed/performance than I already have. So, bottom line, current preference is to stick with the stock ROM.
That said, I see newer versions of the Stock ROM (here) and read about HTC releasing 4.2.2 based ROM in the near future and so on. I understand that with the CWM recovery installed, I will not get OTA updates from HTC (part of the draw of the Dev Edition was getting frequent updates from HTC - did not realize at that time that a custom recovery would nix OTA updates).
So, here's what I am unsure about - specifically for the Dev Edition...
Are these newer ROMs for the Dev Edition or have they been released for an international variant, but, found to work fine for the Dev Edition? From this list, it looks like the latter. If so, will I lose any functionality (such as performance on TMo) by flashing a 401.13 ROM?
If I did not have a custom recovery, would I have received this 401.13 ROM via an OTA update?
If I choose to flash the 401.13 or newer stock ROM, can I just flash the zip from CWM Recovery? I want to retain the CWM recovery and root. I see various threads that describe how to go back to stock, how to relock the bootloader, how to get back to stock recovery and get OTA updates. However, if all I want is this newer build of the stock ROM, what do I need to do (wipe what?, flash what?, root again?).
I've read about the differences between odexed and deodexed ROM. Mike's thread has links to both versions of the 401.13 build. Can I choose either of them or is there any dependency on anything else?
Thanks,
MediocreFred.
I am in the same boat with the exception that I am on AT&T. I also have CWM touch, rooted with RuperSU, and now wonder about the 4.2.2 update coming. I am reasonably sure that you'll need to un-root. I don't think youll need a stock recovery or to lock to boot loader since the dev version is gracefully unlocked. I would assume the dev OTA will cover those circumstances. As for the 401 rom, it will work, but why bother. It makes no changes to your current rom. 1503 is just dev of 1.29. same like 403 is international of 1.29. the version is 1.29. Please correct me if I am wrong as I also am pretty new to this. I can tell you that as of now AWS HSPA is a no go on the dev version for T-Mo. I am a bit pissed about the articles of perceived speed decreases on AT&T with the international or dev roms. It is not just a bar problem. The LTE speed IS SLOWER. I would go AT&T rom but um [email protected]#K that? I just hope HTC fixes it in the next Dev rom release or someone smarter than I does on this forum.
Hello!
I'm currently stationed in Singapore and bought a Moto X about a month or so ago from eBay. While I am anxiously waiting for my Moto X to receive the 4.4 update, I realised that the system version (after the previous camera update) is 139.12.35.ghost_row.AmericaMovil.en.PR, which I found to be a Latin America version after some searching on the forums and Googling here and there.
I also found this thread, where OP said that they can be flashed over to either the T-Mobile version. Does this continue to work for the 4.4 updates by T-Mobile or AT&T, and would there be anything else required for flashing? (I saw something about flashing new radios and all, but was quite confused by contradicting explanations and suggestions :/)
Thanks in advance!
// EDIT:
To add on after a bit of searching, I realised that I am allowed to unlock my bootloader, despite claims from the original retailer on eBay that the phone came from AT&T (which is notorious, even here, for their stance on bootloader unlocking). What gives?
I got the same Moto X from a buddy yesterday. I did a lot of searching and also discovered the thread about the phone being flashed to t- mobile.
I fooled the steps on another thread titled " Return to stock 100%" out something like that...
I downloaded the correct Att firmware and with the use of RSDLite, I successfully flashed my Moto X to ATT.... it took less than 10 minutes. And as soon as it booted up, I got hit with the "update available" message ( kit Kat)
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
Thanks for the information!
I've successfully upgraded my phone to the Verizon version (minus all the bloatware that I hastily blasted off), with root and TWRP. So this is what I did, for future reference:
It seems that AmericaMovil versions are not bound by the AT&T's locked bootloader policies, and other Latin America versions are probably free from the restriction too. So I managed to get my hands on the Motorola Fastboot and unlocked my bootloader. TWRP was installed (remember to use 2.6.3.1 and above for 4.4 support), and then flashed the Verizon system dump available here. Root was installed by TWRP.
After getting on the device and setting things up, I rebooted to recovery to remove lots of bloatware (available in /system/app and /system/priv-app). Had to remove some of them through Titanium Backup as the file names were not always indicative that it came from Verizon. I made the extra step of killing the god-awful boot animation that they had by replacing it with this.
And... that concludes my experience with this, I suppose.
I've been looking through a few threads and I am not comfortable enough to flash the T-Mobile rom over my AmericanMovil one yet.
I can't seem to find step by step instructions on how to do this.. Would anyone like to explain it from the ground up?
My understanding
1) unlock bootloader
2) flash a recovery like twrp or cmw
3) flash the rom that is given in the OG post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2477180
4) this should now give us the t-mobile version of things and we should be able to do the standard OTA from there?
[Q] So can this all be done without ever having to root the phone?
alternetconcept said:
I've been looking through a few threads and I am not comfortable enough to flash the T-Mobile rom over my AmericanMovil one yet.
I can't seem to find step by step instructions on how to do this.. Would anyone like to explain it from the ground up?
My understanding
1) unlock bootloader
2) flash a recovery like twrp or cmw
3) flash the rom that is given in the OG post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2477180
4) this should now give us the t-mobile version of things and we should be able to do the standard OTA from there?
[Q] So can this all be done without ever having to root the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not too sure whether flashing via TWRP/CMW will allow you to get OTA, unfortunately. Which is why I went straight for the Verizon system dump. But yes, you can change firmware without ever having to root the phone. Heck, I think there's a guide on restoring mentioned by @plmiller0905 below that will allow you to do it without unlocking the bootloader, even.
RagnaParadise said:
I'm not too sure whether flashing via TWRP/CMW will allow you to get OTA, unfortunately. Which is why I went straight for the Verizon system dump. But yes, you can change firmware without ever having to root the phone. Heck, I think there's a guide on restoring mentioned by @plmiller0905 below that will allow you to do it without unlocking the bootloader, even.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe the bootloader does have to be unlocked in order to flash a different firmware.
Sent from my XT1058 using Tapatalk
RagnaParadise said:
I'm not too sure whether flashing via TWRP/CMW will allow you to get OTA, unfortunately. Which is why I went straight for the Verizon system dump. But yes, you can change firmware without ever having to root the phone. Heck, I think there's a guide on restoring mentioned by @plmiller0905 below that will allow you to do it without unlocking the bootloader, even.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah after doing so more reading.. (at least the way I'm willing to do it) is to just unlock my bootloader and then using RSD Lite (Which i still have no idea what that is / where it is) flash an SBF found here (http://sbf.droid-developers.org/ghost_rcica/list.php)
I guess following this video somewhat http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fr0JHSAXJDI#t=15
Does that sound right?
Should I flash the TMO_RETAIL_XT1053_4.2.2-13.9.0Q2.X-116-X-17-57_MR1_CFC.xml.zip
Or just jump straight to the 4.4 version TMO_RETAIL_XT1053_4.4-13.11.1Q2.X-69-3_MR2_CFC.xml.zip
??
As far as I know, the use of RSD Lite doesn't require an unlocked bootloader (at least, that's what it shows in the video you showed me anyway), especially since these are images supposedly signed by Motorola themselves. Let me know if you've found something else?
As for your question on which to flash... I'm not sure, but you'd skip a lot of the hassle if you could flash 4.4 straight, so how about trying that?
RagnaParadise said:
As far as I know, the use of RSD Lite doesn't require an unlocked bootloader (at least, that's what it shows in the video you showed me anyway), especially since these are images supposedly signed by Motorola themselves. Let me know if you've found something else?
As for your question on which to flash... I'm not sure, but you'd skip a lot of the hassle if you could flash 4.4 straight, so how about trying that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rsdlite is a shell for a flash boot flash supposedly with an XML doing all the steps together. Just makes it easier.
You need unlocked boot loader only to flash an image that doesn't match your current boot loader. So if you have a. At&t phone you can only flash at&t images by rsdlite. But if you unlock your amerimovil phone you can flash any xt1058 image I think. So amerimovil could take say a rogers or at&t or telcel image. Not sure if T-Mobile image will work on a full rsdlite flash as it is an xt1053 image. I think you can flash most of a T-Mobile image by twrp but not by rsdlite not sure
sleepyguy007 said:
Rsdlite is a shell for a flash boot flash supposedly with an XML doing all the steps together. Just makes it easier.
You need unlocked boot loader only to flash an image that doesn't match your current boot loader. So if you have a. At&t phone you can only flash at&t images by rsdlite. But if you unlock your amerimovil phone you can flash any xt1058 image I think. So amerimovil could take say a rogers or at&t or telcel image. Not sure if T-Mobile image will work on a full rsdlite flash as it is an xt1053 image. I think you can flash most of a T-Mobile image by twrp but not by rsdlite not sure
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I flash the at&t image found here (http://sbf.droid-developers.org/ghost_rcica/list.php), would it come pre-loaded with all the bloatware AT&T has even though I'm not using AT&T network?
alternetconcept said:
So if I flash the at&t image found here (http://sbf.droid-developers.org/ghost_rcica/list.php), would it come pre-loaded with all the bloatware AT&T has even though I'm not using AT&T network?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes of course. think about it like if you took a dell windows 7 install CD , and put it on an HP. all the dell customizations would still be there.
obviously since you have unlocked bootloader, once you do the RSDlite you can always flash twrp, and superuser, and delete all that stuff. but then you wouldn't get updates again. i dont think the at&t image is really THAT bad. though i've heard the rogers one is better (though maybe not 4.4 yet)
sleepyguy007 said:
yes of course. think about it like if you took a dell windows 7 install CD , and put it on an HP. all the dell customizations would still be there.
obviously since you have unlocked bootloader, once you do the RSDlite you can always flash twrp, and superuser, and delete all that stuff. but then you wouldn't get updates again. i dont think the at&t image is really THAT bad. though i've heard the rogers one is better (though maybe not 4.4 yet)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah unfortunately that's what I thought. Hence why I would of liked to flash the t-mobile image but I'm going to hold off until someone that is a bit more adb savvy then myself tries it out. I wouldn't know what to do if I ended up soft bricking my phone
Well it didn't take long to try it out myself...
It worked out!
I used this thread here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2446515
I downloaded the Tmobile 4.4 Image and used RSD.
All you have to do is unlock your BL. (Note: I was completely bone stock with NO root and NO special recovery like CMW or TWRP)
Have all the proper drivers installed, enable USB debugging in developer settings on the phone
Go into Fastboot on the phone
Plug in the phone and just follow the video
I do not take any responsibitliy if you brick your phone. It is fairly easy process and took only a few mins.
Hope this helps!
- deleted because I was sleepy enough not to notice that replies were done on the next page -_- -
alternetconcept said:
I've been looking through a few threads and I am not comfortable enough to flash the T-Mobile rom over my AmericanMovil one yet.
I can't seem to find step by step instructions on how to do this.. Would anyone like to explain it from the ground up?
My understanding
1) unlock bootloader
2) flash a recovery like twrp or cmw
3) flash the rom that is given in the OG post here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2477180
4) this should now give us the t-mobile version of things and we should be able to do the standard OTA from there?
[Q] So can this all be done without ever having to root the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been doing some research on this since yesterday and I've been hesitant on doing it. I saw in your last post that you successfully flashed the TMO 4.4 ROM on your AmericaMovil phone, so I have a few questions for you before I go ahead and do the same:
1. Can you please confirm that your model is XT1058 and not XT1053?
2. Does the TMO ROM have the TMO boot logo and any TMO bloatware?
3. Does the TMO ROM have the Tethering & portable hotspot option under Settings > More?
4. Does the TMO ROM have the Mass Storage option under Settings > Storage > | > USB computer connection?
5. Have you been having any radio problems since you flashed the TMO ROM?
I wonder if I install the ROM in here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2477180 using RSDLite, would I get the OTA update to 4.4? The reason I want to install this ROM is because it only flashes system and boot.img without flashing bootloader, modem, logo etc... and I know the XT1058 radio is different from the XT1053 radio, so I've been reluctant to flash a full XT1053 ROM on my XT1058 phone.
But what I also would like to know is if an OTA update would flash a full ROM or not. In other words, if I flash the ROM above and then OTA update to 4.4 and the OTA update flashes the full ROM including the radio, I might as well flash the full 4.4 immediately.
What do you or anyone else think?
I'll answer to the best of my ability. heh
mschumacher69 said:
1. Can you please confirm that your model is XT1058 and not XT1053?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was an XT1058, and has been flashed to XT1060. (I didn't notice that T-Mo had a 4.4 ROM on the list, so I went straight for the flashable ZIP for Verizon instead. silly me.)
mschumacher69 said:
2. Does the TMO ROM have the TMO boot logo and any TMO bloatware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At least according to this article, the TMO version shouldn't have any bloatware.
mschumacher69 said:
4. Does the TMO ROM have the Mass Storage option under Settings > Storage > | > USB computer connection?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no reason why there shouldn't be; I'm seeing it on my Verizon version.
mschumacher69 said:
5. Have you been having any radio problems since you flashed the TMO ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't say for sure if you'll face any problems, but I flashed the T-Mo radio provided here with my Verizon ROM, and I had no problems connecting to my network in Singapore.
--
I can't answer the rest unfortunately. Sorry. Hope I've helped.
RagnaParadise said:
I can't answer the rest unfortunately. Sorry. Hope I've helped.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answers!
Regarding Mass Storage, the reason I'm asking is because I don't have it on my AmericaMovil ROM.
The ROM is basically exactly what you get when you buy the T-Mobile version.
I figured the radios are nearly identical from the AT&T version and the T-Mobile version so my XT1058 is running on the XT1053 radios. There is no bloatware. tethering is there but I'm not sure if t-mobile will allow it. There is NO tmobile logo that comes up on boot. USB connect to computer is there.
As for the radio section again.. I was getting only EDGE in my house before I switched to this ROM (Meaning when I was on the ORIGINAL XT1058 image) and I am still getting only EDGE in my house.. Unfortunately I haven't left my house since yesterday flashing the image but when I'll be back at work in NYC and should see '4G/LTE' over there.
We'll see.
alternetconcept said:
The ROM is basically exactly what you get when you buy the T-Mobile version.
I figured the radios are nearly identical from the AT&T version and the T-Mobile version so my XT1058 is running on the XT1053 radios. There is no bloatware. tethering is there but I'm not sure if t-mobile will allow it. There is NO tmobile logo that comes up on boot. USB connect to computer is there.
As for the radio section again.. I was getting only EDGE in my house before I switched to this ROM (Meaning when I was on the ORIGINAL XT1058 image) and I am still getting only EDGE in my house.. Unfortunately I haven't left my house since yesterday flashing the image but when I'll be back at work in NYC and should see '4G/LTE' over there.
We'll see.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for ur reply! Which network are you on right now?
mschumacher69 said:
Thanks for ur reply! Which network are you on right now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always been on T-mobile network. Both when i was on original XT1058 AmericanMovil system version and still on T-mobile when I switched the image to XT1053.
Back on my Nexus 4 though.. I would have HSPA+ in my house.. So I thought it was a bit odd that as soon as I received this phone that I wasn't getting anything other than EDGE..
Hello!
I've done some reading and having not gotten a satisfactory answer I thought I'd throw my question out to the community.
I'm currently running Twisted Lollipop v7.
I can Odin back to stock 4.4.2 whenever and redo towelroot and install safestrap etc.
I've been unsuccessful at flashing an AOSP rom and wanted to confirm once and for all if it is truly impossible to flash Blisspop or Cyanogenmod or Sonic or any of those I enjoyed on my trusty old S3 onto my unlocked At&T S5 Active.
If it is not possible I will get rid of this unlocked AT&T S5 active and get a used what? The T-mobile variant? The international variant? I just want to be able to flash whatever the hell I want without too much hassle! I do like the phone other than that though!
Looking forward to any advice!
Thanks!
Edbogue
edbogue said:
Hello!
I've done some reading and having not gotten a satisfactory answer I thought I'd throw my question out to the community.
I'm currently running Twisted Lollipop v7.
I can Odin back to stock 4.4.2 whenever and redo towelroot and install safestrap etc.
I've been unsuccessful at flashing an AOSP rom and wanted to confirm once and for all if it is truly impossible to flash Blisspop or Cyanogenmod or Sonic or any of those I enjoyed on my trusty old S3 onto my unlocked At&T S5 Active.
If it is not possible I will get rid of this unlocked AT&T S5 active and get a used what? The T-mobile variant? The international variant? I just want to be able to flash whatever the hell I want without too much hassle! I do like the phone other than that though!
Looking forward to any advice!
Thanks!
Edbogue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you can not flash any AOSP roms on a device that runs safestrap, the bootloader isnt unlocked so you cant install a custom recovery the closest thing to a recovery is safestrap, and with a locked bootloader you can not install kernels which is why you cant install AOSP based roms.
mcmellens said:
No you can not flash any AOSP roms on a device that runs safestrap, the bootloader isnt unlocked so you cant install a custom recovery the closest thing to a recovery is safestrap, and with a locked bootloader you can not install kernels which is why you cant install AOSP based roms.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your response!
Blues! It's what I suspected. I intend to offload this phone as a result and get another. Which variant would you recommend I get so I can flash happily and not worry about a locked bootloader? The SM-G900F, or what else would you recommend?
Thanks for your help!
Edbogue
edbogue said:
Thank you for your response!
Blues! It's what I suspected. I intend to offload this phone as a result and get another. Which variant would you recommend I get so I can flash happily and not worry about a locked bootloader? The SM-G900F, or what else would you recommend?
Thanks for your help!
Edbogue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any phone that has a carrier would be locked for the most part, i know sprint and maybe t-mobile usually don't lock there bootloaders, but that doesn't mean anything they could still be locked down. Your best bet if your looking to get a new phone for whatever reason stick with the ones straight from samsung the international versions. they usually don't have locked bootloaders.
Hello, I currently have a few Samsungs (old, S3), and they are all rooted (I am familiar with rooting, firmware loading via Odin, TWRP/CWM, etc). I have read a large number of posts on how the Galaxy S5 after 5.X is boot loader locked. I was gifted with a AT&T Samsung Galaxy S5, with the Sim unlock code (and I would like to use it), however, it has been updated to G900AUCS4CPA2. To add insult to injury, I am on T-Mobile.
Forum posts have indicated that the only requirement to move to T-Mobile is to change the sim. However, it would be nice to use the wifi calling, etc (or at least a T-Mobile rom). Even though the bootloader is locked, is there a way to install a Tmobile S5 5.X or 6.X rom? It seems like installing different AT&T roms via Odin is possible, as long as they are >=5.X. Is there a way to install a T-Mobile rom via Odin?
Barring all of that, is there a way to install a totally generic rom, and not be AT&T branded/bloated/etc?
Thank you.
No. The locked bootloader prevents all of that.
shortydoggg said:
No. The locked bootloader prevents all of that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, but it came with 6.0 and I downgraded to PA2. So there is no way to install anything else?
Backstory: I initially tried and failed to install 4.4.2, and with more reading realized that I was on the "bootloader locked" 6.0, and that I had thrashed the current rom that was installed. I then found an XDA post on moving back to 6.0, but it starts with PA2, which installed successfully and the phone is on PA2 (the rom I posted in the beginning of the thread). So, I can seemingly install AT&T roms, as long as they are 5.0+?? I just can not move anywhere else??
Thank you for your input.