Great hardware but what is going on with stock firmware/sofware? - ZenFone 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hello there.
I just got Asus Zenfone 2 in my hands. Btw I ordered Asus ZenFone 2 32GB version ZE551ML but instead I got asus_z00ad. Does this matter?
Also seller sent me an item from Chine because UK warehouse (btw I ordered from amazon.co.uk) was out of stock...
Anyways I got a phone in my hands and after a boot I was shocked. Litereally 30+ preinstalled apps. From Clean master to some weird shorcuts on the screen to I don't know what, to asus backup and some other asus preinstalled apps and I almost puke when I saw it. I own Motorola mogo g 1st gen with nearly AOSP rom. And I can tell you that my Morotola moto G 1st gen encrypted is more responsive than Asus Zenfone 2 now unencrypted - I'm testing it
What did I miss here? Why does a monster of a hardware have 30+ preinstalled apps (probably has 40+) I just can't use it and when I tried to uninstalled an app it just soft rebooted and app was still there.
I tried to wipe/factory reset but I still have a ton of ugly bloated apps. Also when I installed antutu and run tests, it shows my phone as Auss z00ad and is bellow Asus Zenfone 2 ZE551ML <- the one I thought I ordered.
Should I return the phone? Should I get ZE551ML?
Since they shipped it from China will I have working LTE in EU? How do I Check what frequencies this phone from Chine works on?
Did everybody here get 30+ preinstalled apps on this phone?
Is there any stable AOSP rom for this phone because sorry Asus **** like this is just not acceptable. Maybe it's just my phone like that and maybe I should write an open letter to Asus
Sorry for writing like that but right now I don't know what to think.

You need to up to date to unsiall all apps you want. Yeah you should return it.

ElmirBuljubasic said:
You need to up to date to unsiall all apps you want. Yeah you should return it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean by "up to date"?

Perform a system update from the app drawer or settings menu. The later updates allow you to uninstall almost everything.
Also the Z00AD is the ZE551ML
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

Yeah mine is also ze551ml with z00ad version.
2.3 ghz 4gb 32 gb its ww out off the box. Maybe its just revised version of hardware , really dont know because asus has some strange model naming which can be misleading

jmoak said:
Perform a system update from the app drawer or settings menu. The later updates allow you to uninstall almost everything.
Also the Z00AD is the ZE551ML
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I tried to do system update but I don't have any icon system update under Settings -> About I've attached screenshot. Also I don't see any system update from the app drawer
P.S. did anyone got preinstalled that blue robot from the right corner?

I think you should return this phone and order another Zenfone 2 from Amazon.fr or amazon.it. They sell WW versions. Getting a ch version or any version from Asia is no fun. Because, as you have already seen, they sometimes alter the software to prevent you from updating your phone. The WW version, officialy sold in Europe via Amazon I suggested above can let you update to the latest firmware, and then you can unintstall or disable most of the annoying apps.
Yeah you are totally correct, this phone has some good specs and is cheap, but the software is crap.

I'm with you on this. I think the stock FW is terrible. I guess that the best I can say on the matter is that people here are working on the problem....
I have no idea what blue robot you mean, though. You might want to try resetting to default, maybe your phone was gently used before you got it?
frojnd said:
Ok I tried to do system update but I don't have any icon system update under Settings -> About I've attached screenshot. Also I don't see any system update from the app drawer
P.S. did anyone got preinstalled that blue robot from the right corner?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

If you still can - return it. You got a CN device with CN sku and broken WW firmware loaded on it. You can make it WW by changing sku and side loading full WW firmware, however your LTE bands most likely would not work. Save your self a headache and just return it.
frojnd said:
Ok I tried to do system update but I don't have any icon system update under Settings -> About I've attached screenshot. Also I don't see any system update from the app drawer
P.S. did anyone got preinstalled that blue robot from the right corner?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

DiGecko said:
If you still can - return it. You got a CN device with CN sku and broken WW firmware loaded on it. You can make it WW by changing sku and side loading full WW firmware, however your LTE bands most likely would not work. Save your self a headache and just return it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's bad :/ I will try and return it. I hope I won't have any problems with tax officers.
faddat said:
I'm with you on this. I think the stock FW is terrible. I guess that the best I can say on the matter is that people here are working on the problem....
I have no idea what blue robot you mean, though. You might want to try resetting to default, maybe your phone was gently used before you got it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The blue robot heh, you can see it on my attachment one post above (right of the android version).

Ah, I know that blue guy! I lived in China for a while and that blue guy is some sort of ridiculous phone assistant-- I think that it is the one from baidu.com, but it could be one of the other Chinese tech sites. Most people there are mobile-only, and have never used a PC-- stuff like that is quite popular with many people. Then again, keep in mind that if you took your phone to China and gave it to someone, they'd tell you it was broken, because nothing would work because it hadn't had the google stripped from it, so it wouldn't be able to load-- anything at all coming from google.com. If you buy a phone in China:
1) Usually google's blocked at a FW level
2) Google has been stripped from android
3) Google has been replaced with baidu or a number of other popular chinese portals.
Scary facts:
Baidu maps owns google maps
The chinese web is getting so gosh-darn vital and chock-full of good software, even I can understand how people might not miss the big G that much.

frojnd said:
Hello there.
I just got Asus Zenfone 2 in my hands. Btw I ordered Asus ZenFone 2 32GB version ZE551ML but instead I got asus_z00ad. Does this matter?.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You got right model only. Asus Got 3 versions under the same model number ZE551ML & Z00AD (Yes. It's awfully confusing ). Top of the line model with 4GB RAM & 2.3GHz Intel Atom Z3580 processor, Mid range model with 4GB RAM & 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor and Low end model with 2GB RAM & 1.8GHz Intel Atom Z3560 processor. All these models come with 5.5-inch 1080p Full HD display.
For further clarification see this post
Sent from my ASUS_Z00AD using Tapatalk

Ok you helped me alot already.
Is there a way I can check what frequencies my phone supports? Especially I'm interested for LTE if it supports 1800 and 800 or just one of them? How would I test this with a software?

DiGecko said:
If you still can - return it. You got a CN device with CN sku and broken WW firmware loaded on it. You can make it WW by changing sku and side loading full WW firmware, however your LTE bands most likely would not work. Save your self a headache and just return it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if I can't return?
What is Chinese sku and why did I get broken firmware?
Can you link me to some guides on how I can change sku and sideload full ww firmware? Would it be better for me to first root device, then install twrp make a backup and then try to change sku and sideload ww?
How can I check with software what bands does current lte support?
EDIT: Ok sku means stockkeeping unit. Meaning if my phone is really from China then it has CN sku. Ok my current firmware loaded on a phone is: LRX21V.WW-ASUS_Z00A-2.19.40.18_20150612_1183_user

frojnd said:
What if I can't return?
What is Chinese sku and why did I get broken firmware?
Can you link me to some guides on how I can change sku and sideload full ww firmware? Would it be better for me to first root device, then install twrp make a backup and then try to change sku and sideload ww?
How can I check with software what bands does current lte support?
EDIT: Ok sku means stockkeeping unit. Meaning if my phone is really from China then it has CN sku. Ok my current firmware loaded on a phone is: LRX21V.WW-ASUS_Z00A-2.19.40.18_20150612_1183_user
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://www.asus.com/zentalk/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=14962&extra=page=1&mobile=2

^^^
That is the guide that I used. Once you get to the step 6 - grab the 2.20.40.90 files and follow the instructions
I had to do that for mine with 2.20.40.93 full firmware and it side loaded fine.
I also did factory restore once I completed all the steps. My phone is perfectly fine, and I was able to flash latest firmware on it when it came out few days ago (I don't get OTA because I used Asus tool to get boot loader unlocked, so I have to do it by hand now, but if you just follow the guide, you should still receive OTA as it comes out no problem).
On the side note, once getting the phone to the latest firmware and disabling several app, and uninstalling others, since we have that option now - I really like the phone, and battery life is pretty good with the 139 firmware.

@miku1024 Thank you! I had CN recovery sku and I've upgraded it by upradig system firmware to the latest firmware: 2.20.40.139
DiGecko said:
^^^
That is the guide that I used. Once you get to the step 6 - grab the 2.20.40.90 files and follow the instructions
I had to do that for mine with 2.20.40.93 full firmware and it side loaded fine.
I also did factory restore once I completed all the steps. My phone is perfectly fine, and I was able to flash latest firmware on it when it came out few days ago (I don't get OTA because I used Asus tool to get boot loader unlocked, so I have to do it by hand now, but if you just follow the guide, you should still receive OTA as it comes out no problem).
On the side note, once getting the phone to the latest firmware and disabling several app, and uninstalling others, since we have that option now - I really like the phone, and battery life is pretty good with the 139 firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm. How can I uninstall for example Bbbler Actors? Or at least disable it? Or Easy Mode?
But overall... much faster experience without that silly beidu robot Now I just have to test LTE if it's working in EU. BTW, any app that tells what bands my phone supports? It can be also linux/windows apps by connecting phone to the system.

Double post. Please delete it.

Bbbler Actors uninstalled for me when I removed updates for it. As far as easy mode goes, that's part of ZenUI, so it will stay.

Related

Optimus G E975 UPDATE version E97510D rolling out!

I have Optimus G (E975 Poland) with version E97510B (4.1.2) on board from the begging. Today LGMobile Support Tool said to me that it has version E97510D for my phone. I will flash this as soon as my battery will have better level. I don't know what has changed because there is no changelog.
There is no update by OTA in Android. It says that I have actual version.
STEPS:
STEP 1:
(picture 1)
Downloading (very slowly, about 200-300 kbytes/s). It will took about 40 minutes to download 982 MBytes.
Stucked on 52%, I had to restart this. It looks like now it is downloading faster and it should take only 8 minutes. I have my full speed 20 mbits/s
It took 25 minutes to download it. Sometimes faster, sometimes slowe.
STEP 2:
(picture 2)
Unpacking
STEP 3:
(picture 3)
Downloading to phone. One phone ther is "DOWNLOAD MODE DO NOT UNPLUG.." red text on small white box.
RESTART OF THE PHONE ON 94% .... PROGRESS BAR STILL MOVING UNTIL IT REACHES 100%
STEP 4:
(picture 4)
Program says tha "update is completed"
Phone has run updating process by app optimalisation.
DONE.
It is still Android 4.1.2 , compilation JZ054K
Software version: E97510d-260-06
I lost my root. I will give screenshots after rooting.... I hope so....
I cannot find anything new. Probably this is some kind of stability/bugs update.
Rooted with this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2181103
No problems at all.
I've addes screenshots of system information before and after the update. Only one letter has been changed.
Kernel is dated 2013.03.16 so it is probably new version.
I have the same, E97510b Denmark. But my LG Software tells me that my phone doesnt support upgrade.. And OTA theres no software either :-\
Sent from my LG-E975 using xda premium
EDIT: Because 'LGMobile Support Tool' will not tell you this: it needs to be 50% of battery to start process of upgrading.
Cool thanks for posting
Sent from my LG-E975K using Tapatalk 2
than33 said:
I still have only 46% of battery and it tells I have to charge it more....
EDIT: Because LGMobile Support Tool will not tell you this: it need to be 50% of battery to start process of upgrading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have 83% charge, and both LG Support and PC Suite tells me that their isn any updates for my phone .. which is odd since I have the same model, just living in a other part of europe ..
Nothing here also.
I guess we'll just have to wait in western europe
NickereN2O said:
I have 83% charge, and both LG Support and PC Suite tells me that their isn any updates for my phone .. which is odd since I have the same model, just living in a other part of europe ..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It not works like that. It doesn't matter how much battery you have when you are checking for update, but when update starts (after clicking update) new window will open and it will immediatelly stop after telling you that your battery has too less power. When battery has more than 50% then it will start to download.
NickereN2O said:
I guess we'll just have to wait in western europe
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is only one ROM version for whole Europe: Western, Eastern, Southern, Northern, Central and every name you will give. One Europe to rule them all
If you have E97510B you should be updated. Probably they don't want to have servers stucked and they are rolling updates by countries.
I have 97510b-eur-xx and as I said, no update.
Do anyone know what this update actually does? Battery fix? 4.2? anything at all, block root, bootloader etc?
NickereN2O said:
Do anyone know what this update actually does? Battery fix? 4.2? anything at all, block root, bootloader etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting method is working fine. I don't know about bootloader as I see no reason to unlock it (LGs ROM is as far 'stock Android' as I like and their changes are only for good.)
About battery: I don't know.
OS version is exactly the same: 4.2.1
I have feeling that Camera is less noisy in dark scenes, but it has to be investigated.
Okay, I think I wait then - cause CM for E975 has come out and I really want that since I hate the stock rom.. doesn like the apps and menu layouts (yea I use Nova Launcher, but still)
In india,
Today i'l get the update
Only 6.97 mb,
nuth for my E975 in DK yet
Update server unavailable. I feel it's coming.
--
E: Server back online, but no update.
If you have rooted the device and unlocked the bootloader,you won't see the update or you won't be able to update.i had to flash stock kdz,only then it saw the update.it was 8.49 mb,something related to lte connection,making it visible on settings.i had 10c,now it shows 10d.rooted and unlcked normally with fiddy's script and freegee.no problems at all.
No big deal with the update
Sent from my LG-E975 using Tapatalk 2 running CM10.1 by chad
No updates available in Italy......
But your polish phone is with carrier or no brand?
I was rooted but not unlocked. There was nothing in OTA but lg tool updated phone to version D. Probably OTA version has only what changes and lg tool has always full Rom to update.
Sent from my LG-E975 using xda premium
LG tool says my phone doesnt support upgrade?
I have the danish E97510b, stock. No root
Sent from my LG-E975 using xda premium

Ordered Asus Zenfone 2 and Received a rooted Device. Shall i Un-root?

Guys i recently ordered an Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe from a Chinese retailer. Obviously because the phone was the Chinese or Taiwanese Version they rooted the device and installed a WW Firmware before shipping it to me. The Version i have is 2.19.40.18 but the battary life is really bad. I realised all this when i tried to search for firmware updates but there is no way to search from the settings menu and the OTA Solution doesn't seem to work because i don't get a notification to update.
ADB doesn't work either because the 3 PCS i installed all the necessary drivers on, i couldn't get them to correctly recognise the device.
Anyways, i just want to be able to update the device to the latest WW software version, i don't care about the root if i will loose it because i don't use the device as a superuser.
What do you advice?
Same situation here. I have the same software version (both on device and in recovery). I also want to update the sofware but OTA option is unavailable in the SOFTWARE INFORMATION MENU, I tried manually but it doesnt work. I dont even know the root method used by seller so I dont know how to unroot, neither will unroot make manual OTA possible.
Please help someone.
chryant said:
Guys i recently ordered an Asus Zenfone 2 Deluxe from a Chinese retailer. Obviously because the phone was the Chinese or Taiwanese Version they rooted the device and installed a WW Firmware before shipping it to me. The Version i have is 2.19.40.18 but the battary life is really bad. I realised all this when i tried to search for firmware updates but there is no way to search from the settings menu and the OTA Solution doesn't seem to work because i don't get a notification to update.
ADB doesn't work either because the 3 PCS i installed all the necessary drivers on, i couldn't get them to correctly recognise the device.
Anyways, i just want to be able to update the device to the latest WW software version, i don't care about the root if i will loose it because i don't use the device as a superuser.
What do you advice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Had the same problem. I unrooted, flashed stock latest firmware and now I have system update option.
I used this threads for guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/zenfone2/general/guide-to-apply-ota-bootloop-rooted-zf2-t3127835
http://www.asus.com/zentalk/forum.php?mod=viewthread&tid=14962&extra=page=1
Hope it helps.
It does! Thank you!!

KitKat, Rooted with Purple drake, update OS will i loose root

OK I have a UK Vodaphone G3 (LG-D855) still with their bootloader but it is rooted using the purple drake method which i did about 9 months ago, I think now is the right time to update the OS, so should i go via the OTA route and go to Lollipop or wait and go the Marshmallow or given i have rooted do i have to use another method to upgrade the OS.
Looking at my "Update Centre" it says the following "New OS Version: V20f-DEC-22-2014 (522.49MB)"
I am happy working with PC's but know very little about phones so please be gentle with me.
If you need any more info from me just ask.
All1
Allonewordinuk said:
OK I have a UK Vodaphone G3 (LG-D855) still with their bootloader but it is rooted using the purple drake method which i did about 9 months ago, I think now is the right time to update the OS, so should i go via the OTA route and go to Lollipop or wait and go the Marshmallow or given i have rooted do i have to use another method to upgrade the OS.
Looking at my "Update Centre" it says the following "New OS Version: V20f-DEC-22-2014 (522.49MB)"
I am happy working with PC's but know very little about phones so please be gentle with me.
If you need any more info from me just ask.
All1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do not upgrade via ota when rooted this is a big no no can cause big problems.. If you want a new update just flash a kdz (stock rom) with flashtool. There are plenty of guides on here on how to do that.
v20f is a very old update the newest is 21a..I would probably wait for Marshmallow according to rumors it should be with us about middle of December .:good:
Edit here are a couple of links for you flashtool and guide >>http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785089 << Kdz stock roms >> http://lg-phone-firmware.com/index.php?id_mod=41 <<
Also when you are rooted you can't take ota
OK many thanks for the info tallman43 and also thx for the links, looking at the link with the rom's i'm unsure if i should go for number 520 as it say V10l or 530 as mine is Vodaphone 16GB, or does it not even matter?
Also one very newbie question if i may these "roms" are in PC talk just images of a pc when it comes out the factory, all have windows 7 for example but some will have different apps preinstalled depending if it was Dell or HP etc, just trying to get my head round it "my way" if you get my drift.
All1
Allonewordinuk said:
OK many thanks for the info tallman43 and also thx for the links, looking at the link with the rom's i'm unsure if i should go for number 520 as it say V10l or 530 as mine is Vodaphone 16GB, or does it not even matter?
Also one very newbie question if i may these "roms" are in PC talk just images of a pc when it comes out the factory, all have windows 7 for example but some will have different apps preinstalled depending if it was Dell or HP etc, just trying to get my head round it "my way" if you get my drift.
All1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
V10 kdz are kitkat roms V20 kdz are lollipop roms obviously if you want the latest firmware then V20 is the one to go for.Also if you look through all the firmware's not just uk you will find 21a kdz this is the very latest one.Also you don't have to specifically use the uk ones technically you can flash any I am from the Uk and have used 21a without any problems.
Only thing I would say is if you flash one from another country try for ones that are closer to uk ie: Don't flash lets say a HongKong firmware but places like Poland,Spain,France etc are ok but like I said you could technically flash any.
Also in answer to your last question about pre installed apps yes some of them may have odd one or two different apps installed in them by the carrier.
One last thing if and when you use flashtool make sure you do not unplug your phone until it as fully flashed and rebooted flashtool sometimes comes up with a banner saying something like can't connect or failed. Look at the progress bar on your phone this is the best way to see if it is flashing ok.
OK mant thanks tallman43 you've been a real star with all this info.
All1
Another thing - custom ROMs are faster than stock work various improvements, so flashing a custom is highly recommended.
(insert witty signature here...)

Weird ZenFone 2 model?

Due to a series of unfortunate events(user error), I just purchased my third ZenFone 2. Each time I have purchased the same model Z3560, simply with different color and capacity just due to the pricing at each time. I just received the third one and I have found some oddities with it that I just want to share or ask about. I noticed on the gsmarena page that it says that the Z3560 is supposed to have 2GB of RAM but mine has 4GB. Also as I would usually do with a new phone, I went to update it but there is no update button where it was on the previous two ZenFone 2s I have owned, I simply cannot work out where to update this phone. Any ideas as to how to do that? I'm on build number ASUS_Z00A-2.18.40.12_20150529. Finally, when looking in CPU-Z to see the hardware it was reporting I noticed it said I already had root access which is odd? This has literally just been opened in the last 30 minutes and does not seem to be tampered with or a preowned model as the box was still in the shrink wrap plastic packaging that the box comes in. This isn't an issue, I just find it odd as I had to root my previous devices, zenfones included.
Z3560 with 4GB of ram comes from China wit China software,sellers in other countries changing it to EU ROM which is pre rooted,it was with mine but before I bought it seller has info in advertisements about it,I do not have any errors yet and I hope I won't get but I have problem with overheating it is warm on the top of the phone...
Did you stay on the rom that yours came with? Do you know if I am still able to flash other WW firmware onto this? I would like to be on the latest update for my device and this doesn't give me the option so I'm missing out on some of the newer features that I'm used to like disabling the bloat on the device
SnakeBiteScares said:
Did you stay on the rom that yours came with? Do you know if I am still able to flash other WW firmware onto this? I would like to be on the latest update for my device and this doesn't give me the option so I'm missing out on some of the newer features that I'm used to like disabling the bloat on the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a 32gb 4gb 3560 zenfone 2, 2 actually. I followed the change to ww from cn guide to make sure everything was ok and have no issue with getting OTA's...
Everything works fine and one is on the latest stock 165 rom, the other is on a custom rom. Both had bootloader unlocked and both are rooted.
If you wish to find the latest pre-rooted rom, go to the pre-rooted rom thread made by Shakalaka, thanks again, and download from there, the latest is on Mega however.... Flash using fastboot...
He also provides recovery, boot and droidboot images,again, flash using fastboot BUT make sure you don't just copy and paste the same thing repeatedly, flashing the system image on the recovery partition after flashing the boot and droidboot image there already can really bork your phone...
Would suggest unlocking bootloader, seems to be easier flashing new roms and no issue with OTA's either. Bit more flexible if things go screwy...
ultramag69 said:
I have a 32gb 4gb 3560 zenfone 2, 2 actually. I followed the change to ww from cn guide to make sure everything was ok and have no issue with getting OTA's...
Everything works fine and one is on the latest stock 165 rom, the other is on a custom rom. Both had bootloader unlocked and both are rooted.
If you wish to find the latest pre-rooted rom, go to the pre-rooted rom thread made by Shakalaka, thanks again, and download from there, the latest is on Mega however.... Flash using fastboot...
He also provides recovery, boot and droidboot images,again, flash using fastboot BUT make sure you don't just copy and paste the same thing repeatedly, flashing the system image on the recovery partition after flashing the boot and droidboot image there already can really bork your phone...
Would suggest unlocking bootloader, seems to be easier flashing new roms and no issue with OTA's either. Bit more flexible if things go screwy...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I'll unlock the bootloader and flash the latest preroot WW rom

Battery lifetime too short when wifi activated

Hi folk,
I'm writing this because I have a Zenfone 2 ZE551ML bought in China last week but with WW firmware. The phone is cool and the hardware is brilliant. I'm quite satisfied with phone spec, but it has a serious problem: the battery. When the phone is connected to the wifi, the battery drains in a few hours. If I use the phone, the battery run out in a less hours indeed. It is quite difficult to reach the night with some battery content. The firm version I have installed is 2.20 (the last one) dowloaded from asus web page. The authomatic starting is disconnected for all apps, unless whatsapp and google photo. I also have a microSD. The phone is not rooted and I haven't removed bloatware. Any suggest??
Do a factory reset, one of solution
What do you mean exactly? Reset the ww version I have right now or going,back toCN firmware the smartphone had installed (my zenfone) is chineese version.
Alberto71 said:
What do you mean exactly? Reset the ww version I have right now or going,back toCN firmware the smartphone had installed (my zenfone) is chineese version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did this problem occur on cn version? or just ww?
Only in WW version. Any suggest?
Should I reinstall the software?

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