Database Users

[Q] Can i flash a non-chinese firmware?

My machine is chinese version GT 7.7
It looks like that some people met problems when they flashing other country's firmware on their chinese version 7.7
Does it mean that i can't flash other firmware by now?

Chinese brand
Hi,
I also have the same question.
I am new to android - coming from many years on iPhones.
I just got a 7.7 (From the Taobao Samsung shop here in China, they had a trail version program where 300 people can pay a deposit and then use the tablet for 30 days and return it)
I want to know if the Chinese version is also able to flash to the Hong Kong version as this Chinese version is really a mess - no android market, no google access and a lot of stock Chinese software. (and I think a few monitoring things a well???)
Anyway - I have read most of the post on the 7.7 and it seems that there are some people who have had a hard time flashing the Chinese version? (It also seems to me like they might just have run into some problems)
As far as I understand, coming from a server admin background, this should be really basic and should be easy to do?? One should be able to flash any countries firmware onto any version?
Please let me know.
PS...I have the 16GB 3G version

Use one thread for China p6800 issues, 'kay? Seach, boys:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=22857309#post22857309

SHV-E330

Hello,
I am totally new to this forum and to android as well
this is the first time i got android running phone, namely Galaxy S4.
My location is Georgia, Tbilisi, and i got the phone which is manufactured for korean market.
the phone came with many korean programs installed. news feeds are also in korean.
i would like to re-install the operational system, Rom or how it is called.
i would like to install the international one, in order to get all updated in my country without any restrictions.
please advice what should i do and how
thank in advance

The first you should do is: read, read, read, read and read. You should know what are some basic terms before start to "mod" ur phone like ROM, FIRMWARE, BOOTLOADER, RECOVERY, CSC, KNOX, ODIN... etc. You can use XDA search for them. You can ask then when you understand how they work. Good luck :highfive:

[Q] Galaxy s5 missing features

Hi. I received a Samsung Galaxy S5 as a gift about a month ago, but it's missing so many features I have no idea why.
My friend has exactly the same model, yet he has so many more options. For example,
I cannot edit the options for Power Saving mode
There is NO S voice on my apps page
The Sound Recorder looks just like the one from S4 and not S5, it also has NO options either, to configure it
Cannot change several options on the Camera, such as setting the brightness. The option is there, but it's greyed out, I cannot select it
I cannot update the android version. My current version is 4.4.2 and I cannot update it. As I access the 'System Updates', it does say 'Checking for update', but after a while it just says 'Network connection failed' no matter what. The signal for internet is the strongest, as well.
If I press and hold on the Home Screen, the whole options are not coming up either, such as seeing the current running applications. It just says 'Set wallpaper for', 'Apps and widgets' and 'Folder'.
What's wrong with it? Any way I can at least get the S voice?

Your phone might have a custom ROM. Go to settings -> About and list the following information so we know what we're dealing with here:
Model name
Baseband version
Kernel version

Commodore 64 said:
Your phone might have a custom ROM. Go to settings -> About and list the following information so we know what we're dealing with here:
Model name
Baseband version
Kernel version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Model number
SM-G900F
Baseband version
G900FSKSU1ANCD
Kernel version
3.4.5
[email protected] #1
Mon Dec 1 16:04:57 CST 2014

SM-G900F is the European version of S5 and from what I see there are some discrepancies with the kernel number ...
So here is my hypothesis:
A. It has the incorrect ROM, which means flashing a 900F ROM should bring back those grayed out menus
B. It is a clone and not the real thing! Try reading some more by googling this "3.4.5 [email protected] #1 sm-g900f"

Thank you for the reply. I will ask where has the gift been specifically bought from to ponder on the "clone" thesis. I really, really hope such is not the case. Also, will it only bring back the greyed menus and ignore the 'S Voice' problem?
Regarding the 900F flash, do you think it's okay follow this guide in the attachment? (Have to do it this way cause I can't post links)

I would not try to flash anything before you're sure what you have in your hands cause if it's fake and you try to flash official Samsung rom you would be in trouble. Download Phone info Samsung from play store and check there if it's a original s5

this seems to be common specs of clone s5 phones that i am guessing need the appropriate custom rom - would anyone know if the given specs/details above would be enough to identify a specific custom rom - i have the same specs and when i did a hard reset it let loose a mass of spyware, adware, downloaded numerous playstore games and porn site links all as soon as i put the phone online - i am therefore desperate to find a clean custom rom that matches the above specs - i am hoping as doves above for an appropriate custom rom source

[SM-J5108] Convert my J5 SM-J5108 to a more usable version ? (510F ?)

Hello,
My title may not be very cler but I can't find any custom ROMs for my device the J5 SM-J5108CHM (J5 China Mobile version) I can find official firmware but I just hate the interface, I found a really good-looking ROM (VIperOS) but it was for another variant of the phone.
So my question is : can I convert this phone to some other variant with same specs ? Thanks in advance

I've got the same question but no one seems to go to this thread if anyone has an answer to this that would be very appreciated. the j5108 seems to have all the same specs as the other variants so it should work but I'm not taking any risks because this is my everyday phone.
also the china mobile os is complete rubbish use this one (im a new user so i cant post link but just search up updato (dot) com, go to search bar and search j5108, in teh filters bar up top choose hong kong and press update under the search bar)
First, install any lollipop update (if you skip straight to marshmallow you'll end up in a bootloop), and then install either OTA update (it keeps failing for people but its good if you don't want to use Odin again) or you can download the marshmallow os after you install lollipop (make sure to NOT do a factory reset etc you'll end up in a boot loop). Install MM os and boom GAPPS and everything else you'll need.

jeff the cheff's left nut said:
I've got the same question but no one seems to go to this thread if anyone has an answer to this that would be very appreciated. the j5108 seems to have all the same specs as the other variants so it should work but I'm not taking any risks because this is my everyday phone.
also the china mobile os is complete rubbish use this one (im a new user so i cant post link but just search up updato (dot) com, go to search bar and search j5108, in teh filters bar up top choose hong kong and press update under the search bar)
First, install any lollipop update (if you skip straight to marshmallow you'll end up in a bootloop), and then install either OTA update (it keeps failing for people but its good if you don't want to use Odin again) or you can download the marshmallow os after you install lollipop (make sure to NOT do a factory reset etc you'll end up in a boot loop). Install MM os and boom GAPPS and everything else you'll need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't. Its a different phone. Maybe you think because it says J5 chinese version that its the same thing, just different model number. There are reasons why ot has a different model number, baseband, etc... Its like you have the Samsung Galaxy S2 with exynos and the American one with SD. They are both S2, but totaly different phones.

does xda have a word cap or did my other post not post because it was long or is the image verification a post-verification. anyway, i was saying that all the j5 2016 variants are exactly the same which in theory would allow any model's OS to work on any variant. S2 isn't a great comparison because different models have different hardware while j5 2016 has different models with identical hardware. Just search up j5108 specs and j510x specs and they'll all be the same ill post back in a few weeks when I get a new battery and test out different OS (rn I'm using the stock hong kong OS). I'll try OS for different PDAs and then ill try out different models. Btw all the spec sites say the variants are compatible with Australia so I shouldn't have a problem using different models OS in Australia (meaning 4G, wifi, phone numbers etc should be fine).
Also please explain in more depth why j5 2016 variants are so different to the point that they have different model numbers (i know that sounds passive aggressive and pretend it isn't I honestly want to know). I'm super sorry if I sound like an arrogant **** that wants everything his way but the way the j5 2016 models are made they all seem identical and logically (and in theory) the other variants OS should work on the j5108. if for some reason I cant see my first reply but others can I'm so sorry for this post.

jeff the cheff's left nut said:
does xda have a word cap or did my other post not post because it was long or is the image verification a post-verification. anyway, i was saying that all the j5 2016 variants are exactly the same which in theory would allow any model's OS to work on any variant. S2 isn't a great comparison because different models have different hardware while j5 2016 has different models with identical hardware. Just search up j5108 specs and j510x specs and they'll all be the same ill post back in a few weeks when I get a new battery and test out different OS (rn I'm using the stock hong kong OS). I'll try OS for different PDAs and then ill try out different models. Btw all the spec sites say the variants are compatible with Australia so I shouldn't have a problem using different models OS in Australia (meaning 4G, wifi, phone numbers etc should be fine).
Also please explain in more depth why j5 2016 variants are so different to the point that they have different model numbers (i know that sounds passive aggressive and pretend it isn't I honestly want to know). I'm super sorry if I sound like an arrogant **** that wants everything his way but the way the j5 2016 models are made they all seem identical and logically (and in theory) the other variants OS should work on the j5108. if for some reason I cant see my first reply but others can I'm so sorry for this post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phones today can have the same harware, same SoC, same RAM, same everything, even the same RIL preferences, but they are different models. The whole stock software was made for a specific device model. The J510FN is different than the J510H, if there was no difference why would Samsung bother to make many versions? The whole operating system, every part of it: Kernel, Apps, Recovery, Hal, Bootloader are mannualy made for a specific model number. Because of that it is hard to make a ROM that supports all of the phones in one Samsung model family lineup. You see now that by pure logic the j508 is very different from the J510FN

Old newbie help!

Hi all,
It's been a long, long while since I tinkered with roms, I think my last one was either a Samsung Galaxy Tab (the original one!) or an HTC Sensation.
So I've recently acquired a Note 4 n910F and can't stand all of the Samsung bloatware, and I'd like a newer version of android for compatibility with newer apps.
So remind me... What does 'stock' mean? Is this as Samsung intended, or as android intended? I'd just like a vanilla as possible android experience that works well.
Help please!

richuu said:
Hi all,
It's been a long, long while since I tinkered with roms, I think my last one was either a Samsung Galaxy Tab (the original one!) or an HTC Sensation.
So I've recently acquired a Note 4 n910F and can't stand all of the Samsung bloatware, and I'd like a newer version of android for compatibility with newer apps.
So remind me... What does 'stock' mean? Is this as Samsung intended, or as android intended? I'd just like a vanilla as possible android experience that works well.
Help please!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey! I don't know if you've already found your answers but I thought I would respond in case you haven't.
In almost every reference you see in this section of xda "stock" is referring to the TouchWiz OS that Samsung phones are shipped with.
True android stock is referred to as "vanilla" like you said.
I use a different model Note 4 than you have but from what I've read it's fairly easy to flash TWRP (custom recovery) on the F model via Odin and from there you can pick from whichever rom suits you. Just be sure you're in the Snapdragon section. There are many different models of the Note 4 and some of them have a different processor called Exynos. The roms are processor specific and you can only use the ones built for your type which is the Snapdragon processor.
One other thing I wound suggest, because of the different variants of the F model, is to take notice of your CSC code. Once you start flashing other roms it may be hard to track down the original code. Use this app to see what it is and that way you can flash the appropriate modem file (or if you need to reflash your stock firmware) instead of just using whichever modem file is provided in the OP of the rom you're flashing. There are many different variants of the F model with many different country codes, just remember that just because the firmware has a newer release date doesn't mean it's the correct version.
TWRP- Found here
Samsung USB drivers for Windows. Needed to connect your phone to your PC- Found here
Odin download- Found here
Development section for Snapdragon- Found here

Fantastic response, thank you. I think I'd like to do without TouchWiz... Pretty much all of my previous phones have been HTC, which either had the HTC skin over it, which was fairly unobtrusive, or barely anything at all. The current version of android and TW on the note 4 is messy.