Develop Bugs

[Q] Getting rid of Vodafone AU ROM to 'stock'?

Hi,
I've had my DHD for 6 months now, and I love it, but after seeing this thread...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056329
I've finally decided I want to get rid of the Vodafone crap on my phone. It takes way longer to boot than it should, I have stupid apps on there, and I'm generally sick of seeing the Vodafone symbol every time I boot my phone, especially as I bought the phone from them and am not even contracted to them.
Is there an easy way to rid myself of this Vodafone branded ROM? I know next to nothing about rooting or anything, however.
After seeing the link above, I realised that I'll probably be waiting ages for Vodafone to send the update OTA, and I would really like some Gingerbread around about now. Hopefully the process will speed up my phone.
But, is there anyway I can do this without losing everything on my phone? My messages, apps, settings?
A lot of questions there - thanks in advance.

Hi, you will lose everything you don't backup.
Apps will need to be reinstalled, and settings will be lost.
If your firmware version is greater than 1.3x.xxx.x then you will need to downgrade to 1.32
Follow THIS thread to downgrade.
Once downgraded simply download & run the RUU~.exe file and it will take care of the rest.

How could I backup my apps (and settings) and restore them once updated?
My 'software version' is 1.32.178.5
Looking at the link you provided, it says...
System requirements:
Desire HD with build number 1.72 or higher
My DHD's build number is 1.32.xxx.x... Do I...not have to downgrade? Or what?
Also, since I'm running on an Australian network (Virgin), will I need to incorporate that somehow into the software I put onto the phone or something..?

You can root your phone and use clockwork to remove data/cache to go back to factory settings
as for the virgin thing, just make sure your APNs are correct and you should be fine

So I could root it and use Clockwork and my phone would basically be like a standard Desire HD that I bought new, unbranded in a shop?

yeah but you will also lose all your contacts and messages etc
i think you can use titaniumbackup to save those kind of things .. but done quote me because ive never done this, ive only rooted and cleared then flashed a new rom on

actually look up a stock RUU guide
EDIT: Just Root your phone and flash a custom rom imo
I did it .. never going back

Hmm, okay.
What about if I wanted to put something on my phone like the link I posted up top, the 2.3 'release'?

well click the ROOTED link in my sig
and do all the steps with the exception of the flashing of the MIUI.zip ... just replace it with the custom rom of your choice and bobs your uncle
i advice to back up your apps and anything else you want to keep

How to make a full backup before installing roms?

Hello,
I would like to create a full stock backup, I do not care for applications or settings, the only thing I want is full non-rooter, current Gingerbread with ability to install possible upcoming OTA updates.
The reason for this is simple, I want to try out different ICS roms just for fun and then go back to original, HTC Sense 2.1 powered rom.
The question is: How do I do that? I know I can handle rooting the device and installing various things but how do I get back?
Thanks!
PS A link with instructions on how to do that would be nice, I tried searching the forums and Google but nothing legit came out.

If you have already rooted your phone and installed a recovery such as ClockworkMod or 4EXT, reboot into recovery and go to the "Backup" menu and make a full backup.
In the event of problems, you can do a full wipe or factory reset, and then go to the same backup/restore menu to restore your backup from the SD card.

But if the phone is Gingerbread (it is) I have to downgrade first, correct? To Froyo 2.2. So Basically that leaves me with a copy of 2.2 while my phone came with Gingerbread in the first place.
It basically shows that I've changed (downgraded) the software, doesn't it?

stranded.eu said:
But if the phone is Gingerbread (it is) I have to downgrade first, correct? To Froyo 2.2. So Basically that leaves me with a copy of 2.2 while my phone came with Gingerbread in the first place.
It basically shows that I've changed (downgraded) the software, doesn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have ALREADY rooted it, then there is no need to be downgrading back to an exploitable firmware when you've already exploited the phone. If all you're doing is installing a custom rom on an already rooted/unlocked phone then you need only flash the roms via recovery.
You would only have to downgrade the firmware if you for some reason decided to flash the original stock firmware, hboot, etc onto the phone.
But that's least as far as the backups go.
In terms of how to get the phone back to non-root/locked state there's a sticky/wiki for that, though I would find it to be a pain in the butt to have the phone rooted and unlocked and then have to go thru the process of locking it back up only to possibly risk bricking it. The more times you mess with the firmware/radio/hboot the more likely you are to brick it.

Just to make it all clear my phone is kinda new, was never rooted, that's why I'm asking. I still can't believe that HTC doesn't have an app like Xperia has, SEUS to be exact, you can fix any phone with one click. By saying fix I mean install the latest, official rom.
That's too bad there is no other way to root Desire Z.

stranded.eu said:
Just to make it all clear my phone is kinda new, was never rooted, that's why I'm asking. I still can't believe that HTC doesn't have an app like Xperia has, SEUS to be exact, you can fix any phone with one click. By saying fix I mean install the latest, official rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If never rooted there's not much of a way to make a full backup first (since most backup tools like Titanium Backup requires root).
That's too bad there is no other way to root Desire Z.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well there is the HTCDev unlocker from HTC themselves, but you actually have better luck following something like cyanogenmod's wiki entry.
Something like this works quite well : http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/HTC_Vision
You just need to make sure to triple-check all the numbers and messages, someone accidentally skipping 2 or 3 steps multiple times is just asking for problems.
But once rooted (like for my G2 I followed the cyanogenmod steps, and then went another step by upgrading my radio to the latest, I just went with a different rom after being rooted) it's usually best to keep it that way even if you decide to just flash the stock rom (i.e.: still rooted and unlocked, but simply using the original software they provide you, which can be rooted simply by having the su binary and superuser app).
The voiding of warranty usually applies to software, i.e.: you bricked the phone as a result of flashing the wrong hboot. Where as if the screen or eMMC dies, it's a hardware failure and shouldn't be voided simply because the phone was rooted (unless of course they determined you fried your CPU by running the phone at 1.9Ghz constantly).

You could just download a full version of the G2 gingerbread rom from shipped-roms.com and flash that if you ever want/need to go back to stock gingerbread.
-Nipqer

[Q] Newbie doing homework before flashing rom

I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I just wanted to make absolutely sure I'm ready before I flash, so I don't brick my phone. I have been reading the forums for a few days now. I have an S3 (i747M) with Fido. I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with. From what I understand so far, I'm thinking StockMOD or Dandroid. I want a fairly minimalistic OS, latest version (4.3 vs 4.4?), so I can play the occasion game on it and get good idle battery life. I believe I have rooted my stock rom and I have disabled some of the bloat through the "Application Management" option under settings. Any advice on flashing? I have spent many years building, modding and generally tinkering with windows pcs but I haven't done anything with phones, android or linux. Any advice? Obviously do the backup of my current phone with the app mentioned on the related ROM installation page. I assume I can restore my phone back to this stock ROM is the new one fails? After the backup, do a full phone wipe and default restore. Then hook the phone to my PC via USB and use the related program to flash the phone? Thank you for any and all replies in advance. :good:

Kwijybow said:
I'm sure this has been asked many times before, but I just wanted to make absolutely sure I'm ready before I flash, so I don't brick my phone. I have been reading the forums for a few days now. I have an S3 (i747M) with Fido. I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with. From what I understand so far, I'm thinking StockMOD or Dandroid. I want a fairly minimalistic OS, latest version (4.3 vs 4.4?), so I can play the occasion game on it and get good idle battery life. I believe I have rooted my stock rom and I have disabled some of the bloat through the "Application Management" option under settings. Any advice on flashing? I have spent many years building, modding and generally tinkering with windows pcs but I haven't done anything with phones, android or linux. Any advice? Obviously do the backup of my current phone with the app mentioned on the related ROM installation page. I assume I can restore my phone back to this stock ROM is the new one fails? After the backup, do a full phone wipe and default restore. Then hook the phone to my PC via USB and use the related program to flash the phone? Thank you for any and all replies in advance. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in my opinion or anyone will say that 4.3 is the most stable right now, and 4.4 is only available for CM based roms.....Samsung Touchwiz will always be the last to update their devices to 4.4 while custom roms AOKP, SLIM BEAM, PAC ROM, BEAN STALK, CM, PARANOID, ETC they will always have nightlies on latest the Android version but will take sometime for stable roms to be released
1st before you think of flashing please research and know what you're getting into
2nd read all the info. ROOT your i747m with cf-auto root (i recommend it cuz its the simplest, easiest, safest way to root)
3rd install custom recovery there are two that i know of but am confident and comfortable with clockworkmod recovery....u can try TWRP
4th yu can either wish to stay stock touchwiz, 2types of stock
-one that comes from samsung all bloated and no tweaks and
-the one that is taken by devs debloated, modded, customized, xposed mod, minimalistic, faster and better.
--OR you can go completely Android vanilla stock, which has nothing but the normal google staff (ITS LIKE A NEXUS DEVICE from Google) you dont have any bloatware, or features/addons just plain stock
5th Once yu know the basic, the universe is yours, with Android comes endless customization and possibilities just like Microsoft Windows, Linux, ubuntu or even OSX
6th wish to become a DEV its your choice, wish to modify, play with the filesystem its your choice but without knowledge of what you're doing bricking is easy as just deleting a file yu think its not important
7th help the rest with android as you do with PC
PS am learning to code now but one thing at a time so am starting with Web design, plan to learn some computer languages, hacking, etc computer science :laugh: maybe yu can help me out
everything you need to know about what i said or root http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1725839

Thanks for the reply. It's been a while since I originally posted this. I decided to hold off on a custom ROM at that time but I find myself back again, still wanting to customize my phone (especially now that my contract is about to expire). I figure that if I do brick my phone beyond repair, I'll just get another phone anyways so not so worried about it now.
Anyways, one concern I have about flashing a custom ROM on my S3 is can I go backwards in Android versions? I can confirm that I am running the stock (Rogers / Fido) Android 4.4.2 which I believe is Kitkat? I am very interested in going either StockMOD or Dandroid, which as far as I can tell are 4.3 Jellybean? Can I do that?

Yes, you can run a 4.3 rom on your phone as long as you do not try to downgrade the bootloader.
You can go back to completely stock Rogers by using Odin to flash as stock kk rom from sammobile.com.

audit13 said:
Yes, you can run a 4.3 rom on your phone as long as you do not try to downgrade the bootloader.
You can go back to completely stock Rogers by using Odin to flash as stock kk rom from sammobile.com.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Regarding the bootloader, the versions of Android I'm looking to install say they need the 4.3 bootloader. How can I check which bootloader I am running on my phone?

If you're phone is running stock Rogers kit kit, you have a kit kat bootloader which you can't downgrade.
If the rom needs a 4.3 bootloader and since you have a newer bootloader, you can probably load the rom.

Kwijybow said:
I'm not totally sure which ROM to go with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Using the most recent build of the most popular ROM has it's advantages.
cm-12.1-20150807-NIGHTLY-d2att.zip
fast, light, stable, secure, supported

Need help Installing CWM on i747

Its been awhile since I've done my firmware, but I'm giving my phone over to my sister soon and upgrading to a Note Edge.
I'm trying to get this phone on Likewise S5, but having a little difficulties with the older guilds to install various stuff, also all the warning on the Likewise S5 don't show up in the guide I was following for the actual installation, like stuff about bootloaders and modems (I don't know what these are), I am a techy just I'm not well versed in Cellphone Firmware talk at all, more of a PC person.
This was the guide I'm following well can't link it, its on Team android, for the likewise S5 for S3 i747
I'm Trying to install CWM Because I believe I don't have one currently installed, if I do is there a way I can find out? all I believe I have is just a oem 4.1.2 firmware that was rooted.
Almost all the CWM guides that are out have their own downloads that no longer work for the CWM that they provide, and honestly I don't wanna mess with it anymore and want to get the proper combination, I've downloaded the latest one for Samsung Galaxy S3 from the Official Clockwork mod website for Touch version, but I'm not sure how to flash "that" I know it says to use PDA on 1.85 Odin which i've tried but it just says
<ID:0/004> Added!!
<ID:0/004> Odin v.3 engine (ID:4)..
<ID:0/004> File analysis..
<OSM> All threads completed. (succeed 0 / failed 1) (No pass or fail)
I'm not sure what I'm doing at this point and could really use some help, specific to what I'm doing.
And to be specific I have a Samsung Galaxy S3 i747 From Rogers Wireless in Canada (Sept 2012), and it isn't bricked have booted it up just fine.
Currently I am dealing with a finnicky USB port as well, need to get some alchohol and see if I can get a more reliable connection out of it. I got it to point now I feel like I'm comfortable flashing it just eh, could be better, long as its sitting generally its connected slight pressure in cord to be sure, usually charges no problem but USB connectivity is whats finnicky. I cleaned out the lint with a needle didn't really seem to help a whole lot but definetly lets the plug go in further now, even bought a new cord that gets a decent click but it still a little floppy side to side, feels like its the plug has room to move inside the female end of the plug, vs anything being "loose"

Any chance your phone is already rooted? Odin flashing anything with a flaky USB port would make me a little nervous.
If you're rooted, there's an app called flashify that makes updating recovery pretty simple and there is no USB connection needed.
Also in the Play store if you search for Samsung Phone Info you should find an app that will tell you what firmware you're on. Install it and report back what it tells you you're on for bootloader and baseband and someone here should be able to chime in on whether it will run newer roms ok, or how to proceed if its out of date.

jason2678 said:
Any chance your phone is already rooted? Odin flashing anything with a flaky USB port would make me a little nervous.
If you're rooted, there's an app called flashify that makes updating recovery pretty simple and there is no USB connection needed.
Also in the Play store if you search for Samsung Phone Info you should find an app that will tell you what firmware you're on. Install it and report back what it tells you you're on for bootloader and baseband and someone here should be able to chime in on whether it will run newer roms ok, or how to proceed if its out of date.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am already rooted I know that I did the root myself, to get Super admin permissions for the Ps3 controller blutooth controller permissions.
I'll look into Flashify, I'll install phone info now

Ok here is from my Samsung phone info app;

DMF1 firmware is pretty out of date. Unless you pick an older build of a custom rom, you'll run into some issues.
The full Canadian carrier updates for i747m are all available for download from sammobile.com, but those will be really big files to flash with Odin. I wouldn't try that unless you're really confident in that USB port. This won't be a really quick flash and interrupting it could brick your phone.
The safest route might be to unroot the phone and take carrier OTAs until your firmware is up to date. You'll have to be on stock recovery for OTAs. Once you're unrooted if you power down and reboot your phone, I'm pretty sure the stock recovery will come back. If not, here's a link to a stock recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2026751
To get going with rooting and custom roms again you'll have to flash a custom recovery in Odin once you get up to date on OTAs, but that will be a 5 - 10 MB file to flash as opposed to a 1 GB+ full system update. Don't worry about that until you get the bootloader and modem up to date, one step at a time. :good:

How do I perform an update though to manually update the phone, like to unroot it basically I'm Connecting it to USB getting it to recognize in Kies?
Like I have full USB access to my phone now, yes the port is flaky but it functions. Kies says my device is on latest firmware even though I know 4.4.2 was released by rogers for the device, i.e I don't understand how to unroot it and bring it up to date
I don't know what a OTA is, I don't understand what a modem/bootloader is etc.
I'm assuming what I have to do is update it to 4.4.2 via the normal firmware but currently it isn't giving me an option to

OTA is "over the air" updates. They are pushed to your phone and often update your phone's bootloader, modem, and rom to new versions. They'll download and install with wifi or cell data, no USB connection required. It is a very safe way to update your phone, but OTA updates will fail if you are rooted and have custom recovery (at least AT&T's will).
With android 4.1 and DMF1 firmware you're something like 2 or 3 updates out of date. Usually OTA notifications just pop up on their own, or you might have a "check for updates" option somewhere in your rom settings. Has this phone been off the grid for a while, update process frozen, or just declining OTAs for the last year and a half or so? Is it not tied to a carrier anymore?
I have updated bootloaders and modems outside of the OTA process, but only on the i747 AT&T variant. If OTA is not an option for some reason, I can't comment on what your safest route would be on the Canadian variant, but there are plenty of expert i747M users on here. Someone will chime in to help you out.
If OTA is an option, then the easiest way to unroot used to be to install SuperSU from the Play store, if you're not already using it. In SuperSU settings there used to be a "full unroot" option.

Ok So what do I need to do exactly I unrooted the phone no problem but it still doesn't recognize it as needing new firmware still so I'm still confused how to update it.
My understanding is I need to update this to latest base version which would be 4.4.2, but I'm not sure how to do that exactly since its not automatically doing it given the custom rom.

Confirm the bootloader on your phone and post it here.
It is the bootloader that will determine which stock firmware to flash from sammobile.com onto your i747m.

audit13 said:
Confirm the bootloader on your phone and post it here.
It is the bootloader that will determine which stock firmware to flash from sammobile.com onto your i747m.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, I'm not well versed in android terminology etc, I don't really know what a bootloader is, everything in those screen caps above is what I'm using

If you want to be on the latest stock, just use Odin to flash the stock Rogers 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile.com. Then use OTA updates to update the phone to the latest KK.

audit13 said:
If you want to be on the latest stock, just use Odin to flash the stock Rogers 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile.com. Then use OTA updates to update the phone to the latest KK.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again, I Really Need more details Odin isn't so simple that its Oh Slot dis dat flash in der and poof completeo, if you read through the thread you'd you I have a flaky USB port that isn't 100% stable, flashing a 1gb rom through a iffy connection doesn't sound smart.
How do I flash this correctly from SD card if I can?
Please describe, Which App I need for it, what I need to do in app etc, cuz Odin is like AD AP DS WE aslaksd its all gibberish to me unforunately for different flashing locations

I know of no way to flash a completely stock ROM from an SD card.
If you wanted to flash it from an SD card, you would probably need to download the entire ROM, strip out the stock recovery, and re-pack the ROM into a zip file.

I'm still extremely confused, I need consise directions what I need to do, so far I haven't had solid details in this thread yet how to get my firmware installed :crying:

Evockzi said:
I'm still extremely confused, I need consise directions what I need to do, so far I haven't had solid details in this thread yet how to get my firmware installed :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
since youre computer literate , so to speak , perhaps this method would help/be more 'simple'. IDK , just a thought.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2225405
"all i can really do , is stay out of my own way and let the will of heaven be done"

Is that method compatible with my device? before I've only been following ones that flash with odin.
The Reason why the isn't helpful immediately for me, I Do Not Know what I need to Do to achieve what I need.
Bootloader means almost nothing to me, I do Not know what I need to accomplish, No one has answered that question yet for me.
My Question is again, So, Do I need to install 4.4.2 Base as downloaded from that Samsmobile, and How Do I install Specifically that?
Beyond That my question expands into, Ok After I install that What do I need to do to install likewise.
I Do not know what I need to do so all these guides about doing specific tasks that you know what you need to do are useless to me at this moment I'm afraid.
I have enough of a stable USB connection I can Odin it Right now I just need to know what to select, etc

I yolo'd it with the connection, and flashed it with older odin 1.85 since I know PDA is the correct one idk what the hell it is in the new odin.
Passed, took almost 8 mintues to flash it, Now I just need to get back to original question of installing CWM Recovery and Getting Likewise S5 rom installed.
Do I have correct 4.3-4.4 Modem and boot loader that it spams in bright red on the likewise requirements?

Managed to finish all the installations without a hitch,
Followed a guide to CWM install and then root it through installing SuperSU, Then had everything to install Likewise which can be done on the device.
Everything installed perfect now I have a S5 to give to my sister cheers

@Evockzi glad you got it figured out.:victory:
"all i can really do , is stay out of my own way and let the will of heaven be done"

[Q] Arc S android update suggestions (for backup and space issues?) - noob :$

Hi,
I'm having problems with space and the general speed of my Xperia Arc S so the time has come to finally upgrade from Sony's version of Android 2.3 in hope that it will improve things.
I've kind of avoided this so far as I don't really know the best way to back-up things.
I want to back up to my computer - not to the internet.
I am guessing that for the applications that I would like to back up I would need to back up both their APK files and whatever their setting files are. I guess there are also some system settings to back up (but then these are less important).
A problem I have always had is space on the phone - it has very little storage space and although I try and move everything to the SD card, a lot of it doesn't seem to be able to be moved.
Things like simply the Google Play services take up loads of space! I don't even really have that much on there - mainly just whatsapp.
The phone is stock although I have checked in the service menu and it says that I can unlock the bootloader. Part of the reason I didn't upgrade to Sony's version of Android 4 was because I heard that it locks the bootloader and I didn't know if this was bad.
What is the bootloader unlock for? Is it for loading custom roms? As i thought you could do this even if it was locked? Or is it for rooting?
So yer, I guess I am looking for recommendations for a CFW to suit my needs. Priorities are that it works and i'm guessing the latest android version possible would be best as this will help with performance etc. Or is that a misnomer as newer android releases are generally geared for phones with higher specs? I've heard that some CFWs have problems with wifi etc so i'd like to avoid those as I certainly need that.
Overall there seem to be so many even on this forum that I don't really know which would be a best fit for my needs or this phone.
I also have an original San Francisco (zte blade) to update but will save that 'till I've done this one.
Hopefully I can get an understanding as to how all this CFW / Rooting / whatever business works and the best / latest way to do things, as as with everything, it all rapidly changes and you can find yourself looking out lots of outdated and now incorrect or superseeded information.
All a bit overwhelming really, which is why i've put it off so long!
Thanks for your time and help!

1. Q : For backup on ICS 4.0.4, right?
A : Unlock bootloader first -> root -> flash cwm - now u can backup everything from ur phone.
2. Q : Little storage, right?
A : After backup, reboot system.
Partition ur sdcard -> install link2sd. (google it for how to)
Link what do u want to link (google it for how to)
3. Q : Unlockbootloader, right?
A : It's for using custom kernel (google it for how to)
There's too many tutorial from all your question.
Read it again and again :good:

Abigail said:
1. Q : For backup on ICS 4.0.4, right?
A : Unlock bootloader first -> root -> flash cwm - now u can backup everything from ur phone.
2. Q : Little storage, right?
A : After backup, reboot system.
Partition ur sdcard -> install link2sd. (google it for how to)
Link what do u want to link (google it for how to)
3. Q : Unlockbootloader, right?
A : It's for using custom kernel (google it for how to)
There's too many tutorial from all your question.
Read it again and again :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have android 2.3 - is this a problem?
I thought that the Sony ICS 4.0 update made it so you could not unlock your bootloader?
Hmm if you unlock your bootloader, it will also root the phone, correct?
But it seems that using the Sony tool will wipe my phone developer.sonymobile.com/unlockbootloader/unlock-yourboot-loader/
So i saw there is the S1tool but then people said that it does not work with the Arc S.
Is this still the case? What is the reason? is it impossible?
So, you say that in order to back up my applications and things, i need to unlock my bootloader. The official way seems to wipe my phone though - so then i can't back up :S
Hmm, see, i am confused about the order i should do things. Also i've heard that if you use the Sony tool then you cannot use OTA updates which seems like it could be problematic? Mind you i guess CFW cannot use OTA either - so how do you update? You must check for updates on your PC and reflash your phone regularly? Or are there ways for Stock android CFW to support OTA updates?
So, does the Sony ICS update stop you unlocking the bootloader?
I guess there are 2 options. Update using that and then install helium OR root and then use titanium backup.
Not sure which to try.
Thanks!

1. Unlock bootloader is only affected by the phone manufacture date, check the battery compartment and see if the date is before 12W11. Any date after this means the phone can't be unlocked.
2. Software does not affect the unlocking of bootloader, like I mentioned earlier check the battery compartment.
3. Unlocking your bootloader does not mean you have rooted your phone. It just means you can flash custom kernels onto your phone.
4. It's not that S1tool doesn't work, if I told you the entire process of doing it you wouldn't want to do it either.
5. Sony last stopped the update at 4.0.4, no need to concern yourself with future updates.
6. If you use CFW, refer to the thread for instructions on how to install updates.
7. Like I mentioned, ICS update does not affect bootloader unlock, only the manufacture date does. Furthermore, if you update from stock to a CFW, you will not be able to restore your data from the old software. You will have no choice but to start with a clean slate.

I am on Sonys 2.3, build 4.0.2.A.0.62 and i read that i cannot root this version.
I can't use backup software as i can't root to use titanium and helium doesn't support 2.3.
Sony back also apparently doesn't support my phone.
Basically, my apps are outdated due to me not having enough space to update them.
I think that updating to Sony's ICS update might enable me to use these programs and root so that i can backup, then unlock the bootloader and use cfw. (i checked and my s# is older than 12W11 so that's fine).
However, i am worried that if i try to update to Sony's ICS update that i will either lose my applications or the data that is stored with them (whatsapp history, game saves, app config etc etc) - particularly as they are not up to date.
Is this the case? Is there anything i can do?
Thanks

oneNight1 said:
I am on Sonys 2.3, build 4.0.2.A.0.62 and i read that i cannot root this version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at the tool namend one click root (this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2219781), your build should be root-able, just read carefully and decide if you wanna try...
I used this tool on stock sony ics 4.0.4 build and it worked nicely, haven't tried it on stock sony gb 2.3 build though.
Good luck! :good:

BadGround said:
Take a look at the tool namend one click root (this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2219781), your build should be root-able, just read carefully and decide if you wanna try...
I used this tool on stock sony ics 4.0.4 build and it worked nicely, haven't tried it on stock sony gb 2.3 build though.
Good luck! :good:
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Thanks for the tip! It worked!
If you do it twice it relocks your phone. Took some google translate to find out what the chinese was saying hehe.
I'm now on stock 4.0.3 (4.1.A.0.562).
Doesn't seem a great deal better than 2.3, i guess i need to find out what a good lightweight CFW is really. Firefox for android constantly crashes so i tried naked browser and that does too. Wish there was a good selective script blocker for mobile browsers - that would help a lot. Noscript for firefox would be a possibility but the problem is it crashes a lot even with javascript disabled.
So yer not sure where the problems are coming from, maybe due to the low RAM in this phone. That's why i was thinking a lightweight CFW might help matters but not sure if it's best to go with a 5.1 one that breaks 720p recording and has issues with things like turning off GPS.
Or it might be better to go with the latest type that doesn't break anything. I'm guessing that is a 4.0.4 CFW? Or maybe 4.4? I know stock only goes up to 4.0.4 but i think i read something about being able to get CFW based on stock so HDMI, FM radio, 720p recording etc etc won't be broken?
Thanks anyway!

oneNight1 said:
Or it might be better to go with the latest type that doesn't break anything. I'm guessing that is a 4.0.4 CFW? Or maybe 4.4? I know stock only goes up to 4.0.4 but i think i read something about being able to get CFW based on stock so HDMI, FM radio, 720p recording etc etc won't be broken?
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Well, I haven't tried 5.1 so far, only following the 5.1-threads to see how it's going on.
HDMI is only working up to 4.0.4 roms, FM radio is working in 4.1 roms too, and you'll get 720p recording also in 4.4.4 roms. If you want all things working your phone is able to you will have to use roms based on stock GB or ICS. Therefore I'm using a stock based ICS rom most of the time (T-Rom).

By T-Rom for Arc S, i assume that you mean this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1746508
Or if not then this port of it? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2239187
Sounds like something worth trying to see if it helps!
Thanks!

oneNight1 said:
By T-Rom for Arc S, i assume that you mean this? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1746508
Or if not then this port of it? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2239187
Sounds like something worth trying to see if it helps!
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
For Arc S the first link is the matching one. I think it's the most recently updated ICS rom for our device :good: