I have been digging around trying to find a straight answer. My understanding is that the J120a is simply an AT&T-branded J3. Is this correct? If so, can the J120a successfully run custom ROMS designed for the J3? I like the phone, and it was inexpensive, but the bloatware is frustrating. I have read lots of forum posts regarding rooting this phone, but rather than simply deleting the bloatware after rooting it, it figured it would be much better to flash to a ROM that doesn't have all that garbage (Like the factory Samsung ROM).
Thank you in advance and I apologize if this is a redundant question.
Related
Hello all. I'm about to bombard you with a few noob questions that I'm really hoping someone could help me out with.
I'm currently using a Galaxy S2, but after reading a bit about custom ROMs and the ability to possibly increase battery life among other features, I have decided to delve a bit deeper. I do have a few questions though.
- What is the difference between rooting and using a custom ROM?
- Do I need a specific Kernel version or build number in order to use a custom ROM on my Galaxy s2 or does none of that matter when installing a new ROM?
- It is to my understanding that custom ROMs cannot use Kies. So, in the event that Android 4.0 comes out, will I have any problems being able to get it onto my phone with a custom ROM? Will it cause any interferences between the ROM and the new operating system?
I'm very interested in trying this out, however with the firmware I am currently running, there is no replacement to be found. In the event that I want to revert back to factory, it probably will not be possible to find this specific firmware that I am using (already searched).
Thanks a ton in advance for the help
Rooting gives you access to aspects and features on the phone that you otherwise couldn't get to. Installing a custom ROM wipes out the software on your phone and replaces it with software someone other than the OEMs developed.
You need to unlock your bootloader in order to install a custom ROM, and the process for this differs from phone to phone. Other than the different steps, it doesn't really matter what your phone has to start out with.
I don't know anything about Kies.
Honestly, I would highly recommend rooting your phone... just make sure you maek a backup as soon as you get root access (but before you install a custom ROM) and you're good to go!
roboedar said:
Hello all. I'm about to bombard you with a few noob questions that I'm really hoping someone could help me out with.
I'm currently using a Galaxy S2, but after reading a bit about custom ROMs and the ability to possibly increase battery life among other features, I have decided to delve a bit deeper. I do have a few questions though.
- What is the difference between rooting and using a custom ROM?
- Do I need a specific Kernel version or build number in order to use a custom ROM on my Galaxy s2 or does none of that matter when installing a new ROM?
- It is to my understanding that custom ROMs cannot use Kies. So, in the event that Android 4.0 comes out, will I have any problems being able to get it onto my phone with a custom ROM? Will it cause any interferences between the ROM and the new operating system?
I'm very interested in trying this out, however with the firmware I am currently running, there is no replacement to be found. In the event that I want to revert back to factory, it probably will not be possible to find this specific firmware that I am using (already searched).
Thanks a ton in advance for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's probably a for for the GS2, where you can find details for your phone. Some methods of rooting on some devices do require a specific version of firmware. Give or take carrier issues I heard the GS2's were getting ICS in an update...
The main reasons to root your phone are to do things you can't do without root. For example using a VNC server you typically requires root, but it allows connecting to your phone via VNC. Custom ROMs are usually rooted; installing a custom ROM doesn't always need root (e.g. nvflash) but it helps eventually.
No idea what Kies is and I'm to cold to Google it. If it's in the market, check it in a browser to see what versions they support.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk
Questions or Problems Should Not Be Posted in the Development Forum
Please Post in the Correct Forums
Moving to Q&A
Hi everyone,
I am new to the android world having just bought a galaxy s2, so please be gentle. I'm a previous iphone owner and always hated the restrictions apple put on their phones and dictated the way I could use my handset! I've since moved over to android and my first impressions are OMFG, how confusing is all of this!! I'm not techphobic by any means but I am struggling to piece together how the world of android works and I have spent a lot of time reading various things about ROMs, rooting, flashing, kernels etc... but I am getting more and more confused!
I recently bought a Galaxy S2 which is running a custom ICS ROM on it (resurrection remix 1.0) and also has CWM on it. Having looked at the forums i can see that another version in out (1.3 i believe) but i'm very hesitant to try a flash as i dont want to screw my phone.
The way I see it i've got two choices, either try and reset the phone to stock so that warranty etc... remains uneffected and then update to ics through kies when its available or try and install a later version of one the ics ROM's that are availabe. I was wondering to that end if you lovely people coudl give me some guidance.
If I were to reset my phone to stock how do i do this bearing in mind i am confused about
a) what kernels are in the first place and
b) which one i woudl need for my phone and will I need a usb jig for this?
c) -i need to unroot my phone to return it to stock and if so how do i do this
also:
-what is the difference between an insecure and secure kernal
-if i flash my phone to a newer version of ics can i revert back to 1.0 as at the mo apart from the odd app crashing here and there I'm not having any probs with it.
I'm reading about GAPPS and APKs and dont know what the hell these are either but they keep popping up every so often.....basically i'm confused and on the verge of a breakdown!!
Please could somebody help mw with this and massive apologies if i've posted where i shoudnt have.
Thanks in advance
Saf
If you had taken the same time took for typing here to search and read you would have learnt almost everything...
go through these stiky threads
also see my links in singnature.......read as much as possible....no other substitute for reading and learning, nobody will answer you in essays like you typed
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544657
Appreciate what you're saying mate and thank you for taking the time to reply. I have been reading various threads over the last day or so but the problem is when something like this which is quite techinical is completely new territory you dont know where to start. Google throws up page after page of stuff that doesnt make much sense and i've searched on the forums here and read up on quite a bit but again am not sure if i've grasped it.
problem is I didnt install the custom ROM on the phone, i bought it like this and to do anything further with it i dont know if i need to go back to the original owner with more questions or can i just go ahead and start tinkering with it without knowing what software was originally on the phone? (bearing in mind that various posts state that you need certain software which is as close to the original one as possible)
Thanks anyway
Saf
this is the stage which passed by all the noobs including me, dont worry
Your strating treble will only be over when you start flashing a ROM,
cool.
ima go ahead and try and install version 1.3 of resurrestion remix! Wish me luck hehe!!
Good luck,
dont forget to follow the steps mentioned the ROM thread atleast...
Hey guys,
i am having a little bit of an issue here.
I want to put a custom rom on my SGS2, but I want to obtain the Samsung Dive capabilities.
I googled it and found out that it is not possible to use it without a custom rom based on Samsung firmware or at least including the samsung framework and using a lot other samsung apps.
Since I was going to use CyanoGenMod this is not an option.
So... the data and access I am giving to those apps or services I do not want to use just anything.
Can you recommend any serivces?
Self-Hosted would be great, but i doubt such thing is out there.
Greetings
func0der
sorry - please delete this post.
I wanted to start a new thread an accidently answered to this topic...
Hello,
Noob here in the flashing ROMs department. I need a RELIABLE way to backup my stock ROM on a Galaxy S4 9505 Kitkat 4.4.2 international version(rooted) .
Something that can be reversed exactly! to the way it was when I bought it without loosing the warranty. Including the Knox counter reset.
I have read a bit about the apps available to do this and there's a lot of problems lately(seems like) with Twrp Cwm etc and a lot of bricked phones (maybe just my opinion after reading some of the Google results for my searches).
The reason for my request is obviously wanting to flash a custom ROM (interested in whatever cyanogen/oxygen OS would fit my phone) but I am very weary of the apps used to achieve this.
Any help as in a step by step instructions would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you
All,
Originally posted a request for help in the Galaxy S4 International forum for using Odin to downgrade my Verizon Galaxy S4 SCH-I545 from Lollipop to KitKat.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/help/odin-fails-to-downgrade-galaxy-s4-t3278803
Eventually one helpful guy mentioned that Verizon crippled this device with a locked bootloader, (or a mismatched age/version of the bootloader) something never even hinted at in ANY instructions I've ever found for using Odin. I'm really disappointed in the Lollipop version that I've been stuck with, mainly due to the slowdowns on the phone and the need to kill off all apps at least every day., and the need to hit buttons multiple times before enough system resources clear up and it does what I want. All I wanted to do was go to an earlier version, and it looks like that might not be possible.
I see forum posts talking about rooting this version of the phone, but I don't have a handle on what good that will do for me in my particular situation. Now that I've found the correct forum, any suggestions? Part of me likes the idea of rooting and debloating to speed things up, but if I can't downgrade and the performance reduction is just a function of the version of Android I'm stuck with, then I don't see the point in wasting even more days of my life fighting this aging phone.
Oh, and as an aside, what the hell is OC1 and OF1? Can't find anywhere that explains what the heck they're talking about. My best guess is they're versions of firmware, are the designations just random?
Thanks!
Ryan
I'll try to write you some things i've learned about this device, hope it helps you
Samsung Galaxy S4 Verizon SCH-I545 has the same specs than others Qualcomm Galaxy S4, but this one is managed by Verizon to distribute, update software, etc... That means, even when it has the same hardware than others it will have some differences on software and limitations. Now, let's talk about our "charming" bootloader:
When we talk about bootloader, we use as reference the last 3 characters of bootloader version (this also applies to firmware, kernel), you can get your bootloader version by running this command on terminal emulator getprop ro.bootloader (this is why we refer to lollipop OC1, OF1, to kitkat NG5, NG6, NK1 and so on) when you get a software update almost always your bootloader is updated. Only MDK bootloader (first firmware released) was unlocked. After that, Verizon decided to start locking the bootloader to prevent rooting, software downgrade... So, why don't we unlock the bootloader? because they used something called qfuse, the qfuse is hardware related and when it's triggered (updated) cannot be untriggered (downgraded).
After reading this you may be really dissapointed and thinking to get another device, I was in that situation, but you can root your device (this means, you can debloat and do something to speed your s4), even you can install a custom rom's (they're really nice), maybe it's not the best solution, but, hey! it's really better than stay stuck with device stock rom. Btw, you cannot downgrade with custom roms, you can just install those that are meant for your bootloader or higher.
Edgardo_Uchiha said:
After reading this you may be really dissapointed and thinking to get another device...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is what I'm leaning towards. The frustrating part is the time wasted trying this in the first place. I think I'm just going to cut my losses, suffer my crippled phone with quiet grace and dignity, and replace it at some point.
Thanks for all the help!
Ryan
So, is there any way to root a Galaxy S4 verizon phone with 5.0.1 (Lollipop)?? I've been reading threads and how-tos and trying various techniques for several hours with zero success.
Don't despair too much. There is a great dev who has provided the means to flash a very stripped down version of Lollipop OC1. I can honestly say that, in the 2-1/2 years I've owned this device, it has never run better since installing his ROM.
It is still a Touchwiz ROM, but everything, and I do mean everything that can be considered crapware has been removed from this ROM. The result? a slim, sleek user experience that will cause you to never look back (considering we will NEVER have a true AOSP ROM for our device.
Check his link out below. Read everything and make sure you understand what you have now and what you will need to do. Then study some more. It took me a month before finally feeling confident to make the plunge. Even then I needed help, but got all I needed from the good folks...especially Stang5litre, on the discussion board.
Good luck!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/development/stang5litre-ediition-5-0-t3132555
---------- Post added at 03:18 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:12 PM ----------
gonyere said:
So, is there any way to root a Galaxy S4 verizon phone with 5.0.1 (Lollipop)?? I've been reading threads and how-tos and trying various techniques for several hours with zero success.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Presuming you are on OF1, have a look here...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/general/root-of1-t3249971
jwhistler said:
Don't despair too much. There is a great dev who has provided the means to flash a very stripped down version of Lollipop OC1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just took a peek, that looks well beyond me, and at least a dozen times more complex than the tantalizing downgrade forum posts that pulled me down this road in the first place. Heck, pretty much every other word is some acronym I've never heard of. Thanks though, I'll pass.