Hi, I have questions with my defy+ relating to kernels and Bootloader. I'm not new here but things got really confusing when i changed my defy with defy+. So here are the questions. I've seen many people asking on kernels in ROM threads but nobody give precise answer as far as I know.
There many ROMs for froyo kernel and gingerbread kernel out there but none of them actually say the exact kernel version. What I've found so far is that 2.3.6 cannot be downgraded to froyo kernel. On contrary, there are some posts on downgrading to froyo kernel from gingerbread kernel before flashing the ROM. So can someone explain which kernel versions are considered as froyo kernel and which versions are gb kernels and is it possible to downgrade from gingerbread kernel to froyo kernel as some post said? I know that BL7 cannot be downgraded to BL6 so as long as I have BL6 does it mean that i can flash any kernel and my phone is compatible with ROMs for froyo kernel? ( i know about some issues with battery and camera).
my current kernel version is 2.6.32.9-gbdd614e on android 2.3.4.
I dare not upgrade my defy+ since i bought this. Am I safe to assume that my phone is still with BL6 and can install froyo kernel based ROMs since mine is 2.3.4 is not 2.3.5 or 2.3.6???
Best Regards,
darkcomputer said:
Hi, I have questions with my defy+ relating to kernels and Bootloader. I'm not new here but things got really confusing when i changed my defy with defy+. So here are the questions. I've seen many people asking on kernels in ROM threads but nobody give precise answer as far as I know.
There many ROMs for froyo kernel and gingerbread kernel out there but none of them actually say the exact kernel version. What I've found so far is that 2.3.6 cannot be downgraded to froyo kernel. On contrary, there are some posts on downgrading to froyo kernel from gingerbread kernel before flashing the ROM. So can someone explain which kernel versions are considered as froyo kernel and which versions are gb kernels and is it possible to downgrade from gingerbread kernel to froyo kernel as some post said? I know that BL7 cannot be downgraded to BL6 so as long as I have BL6 does it mean that i can flash any kernel and my phone is compatible with ROMs for froyo kernel? ( i know about some issues with battery and camera).
my current kernel version is 2.6.32.9-gbdd614e on android 2.3.4.
I dare not upgrade my defy+ since i bought this. Am I safe to assume that my phone is still with BL6 and can install froyo kernel based ROMs since mine is 2.3.4 is not 2.3.5 or 2.3.6???
Best Regards,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Kernels are flashable, interchangable, downgradable, whatever you want to call it.
Now what is generally called the Bootloader or Bootloader version or BL (eg: BL4, BL5, BL6, Bl7) that is something that is affected when you use this software called RSD Lite to flash an "SBF" extension file onto your phone. These files are made by motorola, they are official ROMS as you may know. Now if you flash for example 2.3.6 SBF onto your Defy+ (which is on 2.3.4), they you cannot flash a 2.3.4 or 2.3.5 SBF again, only other 2.3.6 SBF's. This is because one file inside these SBF's has a version number. It is version 4 for Froyo ROMs, 5 for 2.3.4 I believe, 6 or 7 for 2.3.6. Now Versions 4, 5, 6 are okay (5 & 6 for defy+), there are many SBF's for these and they can be rooted to install custom recovery, roms etc. Version 7 has no root method yet.
Now there a few "Fixed SBF's" lying around (I think they are all for Defy only though), these are SBF's where that particular file has been removed so it won't change the version number of the file currently flashed on your phone.
Anyway answering your question even if you flash version 5 or 6, you can still flash a Froyo kernel and later flash a GB kernel. Only thing is that Froyo Kernel may not work too well with your Defy+, ie probably the battery won't charge fully. I think since you have 2.3.4, you are at BL5, not BL6.
So don't confuse Kernels with downgradability. Kernels=flashable safely. SBF's=undowngradable.
tejus.k.v said:
Kernels are flashable, interchangable, downgradable, whatever you want to call it.
Now what is generally called the Bootloader or Bootloader version or BL (eg: BL4, BL5, BL6, Bl7) that is something that is affected when you use this software called RSD Lite to flash an "SBF" extension file onto your phone. These files are made by motorola, they are official ROMS as you may know. Now if you flash for example 2.3.6 SBF onto your Defy+ (which is on 2.3.4), they you cannot flash a 2.3.4 or 2.3.5 SBF again, only other 2.3.6 SBF's. This is because one file inside these SBF's has a version number. It is version 4 for Froyo ROMs, 5 for 2.3.4 I believe, 6 or 7 for 2.3.6. Now Versions 4, 5, 6 are okay (5 & 6 for defy+), there are many SBF's for these and they can be rooted to install custom recovery, roms etc. Version 7 has no root method yet.
Now there a few "Fixed SBF's" lying around (I think they are all for Defy only though), these are SBF's where that particular file has been removed so it won't change the version number of the file currently flashed on your phone.
Anyway answering your question even if you flash version 5 or 6, you can still flash a Froyo kernel and later flash a GB kernel. Only thing is that Froyo Kernel may not work too well with your Defy+, ie probably the battery won't charge fully. I think since you have 2.3.4, you are at BL5, not BL6.
So don't confuse Kernels with downgradability. Kernels=flashable safely. SBF's=undowngradable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks , that was very informative
Thanks..
tejus.k.v said:
Kernels are flashable, interchangable, downgradable, whatever you want to call it.
Now what is generally called the Bootloader or Bootloader version or BL (eg: BL4, BL5, BL6, Bl7) that is something that is affected when you use this software called RSD Lite to flash an "SBF" extension file onto your phone. These files are made by motorola, they are official ROMS as you may know. Now if you flash for example 2.3.6 SBF onto your Defy+ (which is on 2.3.4), they you cannot flash a 2.3.4 or 2.3.5 SBF again, only other 2.3.6 SBF's. This is because one file inside these SBF's has a version number. It is version 4 for Froyo ROMs, 5 for 2.3.4 I believe, 6 or 7 for 2.3.6. Now Versions 4, 5, 6 are okay (5 & 6 for defy+), there are many SBF's for these and they can be rooted to install custom recovery, roms etc. Version 7 has no root method yet.
Now there a few "Fixed SBF's" lying around (I think they are all for Defy only though), these are SBF's where that particular file has been removed so it won't change the version number of the file currently flashed on your phone.
Anyway answering your question even if you flash version 5 or 6, you can still flash a Froyo kernel and later flash a GB kernel. Only thing is that Froyo Kernel may not work too well with your Defy+, ie probably the battery won't charge fully. I think since you have 2.3.4, you are at BL5, not BL6.
So don't confuse Kernels with downgradability. Kernels=flashable safely. SBF's=undowngradable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.. you explained very well and cleared my confusion. I hope this can help new users too..
tejus.k.v said:
Kernels are flashable, interchangable, downgradable, whatever you want to call it.
Now what is generally called the Bootloader or Bootloader version or BL (eg: BL4, BL5, BL6, Bl7) that is something that is affected when you use this software called RSD Lite to flash an "SBF" extension file onto your phone. These files are made by motorola, they are official ROMS as you may know. Now if you flash for example 2.3.6 SBF onto your Defy+ (which is on 2.3.4), they you cannot flash a 2.3.4 or 2.3.5 SBF again, only other 2.3.6 SBF's. This is because one file inside these SBF's has a version number. It is version 4 for Froyo ROMs, 5 for 2.3.4 I believe, 6 or 7 for 2.3.6. Now Versions 4, 5, 6 are okay (5 & 6 for defy+), there are many SBF's for these and they can be rooted to install custom recovery, roms etc. Version 7 has no root method yet.
Now there a few "Fixed SBF's" lying around (I think they are all for Defy only though), these are SBF's where that particular file has been removed so it won't change the version number of the file currently flashed on your phone.
Anyway answering your question even if you flash version 5 or 6, you can still flash a Froyo kernel and later flash a GB kernel. Only thing is that Froyo Kernel may not work too well with your Defy+, ie probably the battery won't charge fully. I think since you have 2.3.4, you are at BL5, not BL6.
So don't confuse Kernels with downgradability. Kernels=flashable safely. SBF's=undowngradable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey!
Thank you very much.
Finally i can understand something relative to bootloaders and how they work.
Regards.
is there any tool to check my defy's BL version?
Go to download mode, you can find the bl version
kernel depends on the boot loader
So if boot loader is locked, we can't make custom kernels..we cant touch the kernel in any way..
But why does gb kernel work on bootloadr 9 ?..any ideas? Anyway it's modified rite?
Sent from my MB526 using Tapatalk 2
pjgowtham said:
Go to download mode, you can find the bl version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure how to do that, please explain?
vietales said:
is there any tool to check my defy's BL version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@vietales: Did you find out how to check the BL version?
Related
Hello everyone. I have some questions about the different Kernels and ROMs running around. All the information is completely scattered throughout the forums, and it became almost impossible to get proper info.
I like to be sure about what I'm doing, and currently, I haven't been able to do much.
FYI, I have searched a lot on the forums, and everytime I find a pertinent info, the discussion mixes up discussions about different roms and kernels, or just assumes I know stuff I do not.
My first question is: How can I get know what is the CG version of a Kernel? Right now I'm running CM 7.2, under Froyo Kernel (used the stock one), and I want to be able to reverse everything I do.
Second question: I know there are lots of different CM versions out there, from Quarx, Epsylon, etc... what are their repositories, and what kernels do they use?
Thank you in advance.
Read this :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216982
All the custom rom: CM7, MS2ginger,MIUI... Use froyo kernel
If you want flash GB SBF, use only Nandroid and fixed SBF... Never flash full GB SBF
I have read it, that's what taught me about CG versions, However many ROMs requests a specific kernel, such as CM7 Kernel, Defy+ Kernel, and so on... not sure if I understood if right, but isn't changing the kernel what can change the CG version?
So because of that, I have not messed with anything that requires a different kernel, I have no idea on how to be sure of the CG version of anything
More infos there :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=966537
All CM7 have CG = 4, CM7/CM9 Defy+ are only for Defy+ user and don't have kernel inside and use the original GB kernel CG = 5 or 6...
Thank you! The first few lines of the link already showed me how to find the CG version, exactly what I wanted!
if i knew, i wouldnt flash a full GB SBF.
now that i did it, what can i do?
narutow said:
if i knew, i wouldnt flash a full GB SBF.
now that i did it, what can i do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
currently not much I believe. eppsylon3 also got stuck - not able to downgrade again.
perhaps we just have to wait until our devs break the damn bootloader
so we are stuck in this, right?
please devs, HELP US
btw, it stays in motorola logo, a blue led shows, then a green led, then it disappears.
what can I do to make it work again?
I've been reading the thread in the dev forum about the leaked Chinese sbf that is Froyo based but with BL6 - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1486731
I was thinking - would this allow a Defy+ owner with either a BL5 or BL6 flashed sbf to flash the chinese BL6 Froyo SBF and then install Quarx Froyo Kernel builds of ICS?
It's been a while since Epsylon's Gingerbread ICS builds have been updated and was wondering if this would be an opportunity for us Defy+ owners to hop onto the Froyo kernel builds. Perhaps even could be the precursor to development of ICS for both the MB525 and MB526 being merged into one build so the dev's can pool together and work on just the one build.
I've only just got my Defy+ so am not well clued up on this- would be grateful for other more experienced owners take on the above before I try and brick my phone!
I think you can use this if you haven't flashed a bld 7 rom. Keep in mind that it is a bld 6 rom so you can never flash a bld 5 rom afterward directly. Also, there aren't many people who have tried it No garanty.
But with a defy+ you can always flash a bld 6 defy+ rom if it didn't work.
I think my Defy+ was last flashed with a BLD5 rom so will have to think carefully if I want to go up to 6 first. I've snagged the Chinese SBF and a Froyo 2.2 CEE Nandroid so will keep an eye on that thread and see what feedback comes of trying this. I did notice one person has already tried this and says their running WIUI which I could never try being on a >=BLD5 rom.
I would like to check what BLD my current ROM has me set at. Is there a way to examine the sbf to find this out? I've tried googling for an answer but am struggling to come up with anything.
In settings > about phone you can find the build number.
You can find the links to the threat of you rom here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=966537
If there isn't a threat, there is a script to check for the version.
Thanks for the heads up on how to find the smg build number.
I split the sbf with http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=550748&d=1300980924 and ran the smg checking script from http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=835336&d=1325246979 against the files and found the last time I flashed my phone I must have already upped my BL to 6.
Then you can try the sbf without risk (apart form losing data of course) as you can always just flash your current rom again and you'll be back.
I recently bought a UK Moto Defy (MB525, red lens) from Orange on PAYG. I want to remove the simlock and flash an ICS ROM on the phone, but am very confused as to what I should be doing. I tried to follow the all-in-one beginners guide, but I didn't understand parts of it. From what I understood, if I flash certain ROM versions, I will never be able to flash ROMs of a lower android version, unless if is a 'fixed' SBF - is this correct? And if that's the case, I first need to make a Nandroid backup of my current stock ROM so the new ROM that I want to flash can use the CG31 and CG39 files?
Attached is an image showing the info on my current (stock) ROM.
You have Froyo (2.2), do NOT flash a full SBF. With what you have now you can use almost all the ROMs here.
Trimis de pe Defy CM9
vap_66 said:
You have Froyo (2.2), do NOT flash a full SBF. With what you have now you can use almost all the ROMs here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, but which kernel version should I choose if I want to install ICS (and also which ICS ROM, Defy or Defy+)?
Since you have a Bayer module (red lens) you can use both kernels. The Defy ROMs are compatible only with the Froyo kernel. The Defy+ ROMs are compatible only with the Gingerbread kernel. Also, that seems to be the recommended kernel (GB) by the other guys (they reported better battery life, better performance in 3D, etc). Not sure here, but you need a battery fix. Better ask around before.
Trimis de pe Defy CM9
So I can safely install a Defy+ GB kernel and ROM on my Defy SB525 (and retain the ability to go back to an earlier ROM version)? If so, does that mean that these CM7 and CM9 ROMs are 'fixed' SBFs?
Anyone...?
You're confusing ROM and SBF. CM7 and CM9 aren't SBFs at all, they're just custom ROMs. The only way you'll lose downgradability is if you flash a higher version full SBF, but you don't need to worry about SBFs if all you want to do is install custom ROMs—you just need to root your phone. However, I don't recommend installing an ICS-based ROM for Defy, as they're experimental and lack things like hardware acceleration.
cm7 and cm9 are not fixed sbf but zip files...
and you will retain downgradibility unless you flash a full sbf through rsd ....
See Youtube channel onestopdefy..
It will help you install cm7 and cm9
Thanks guys! As for ROMs, are there any in particular that you can recommend? Ideally, i'd like to try ICS, but anything that makes full use of the Defy's hardware (i.e. 720p video recording) with good battery life would be good.
If you want something that makes full use of the hardware, the ICS builds aren't the way to go, but you could always try CM9 and revert to another ROM if you don't like it.
I'd recommend you start with CM7.1—it's basically the "standard" custom ROM, because it's the latest most stable and well-supported. If you like it and when you feel like taking the next step, see this thread. You don't typically have to wipe your data to switch between CM ROMs, so it's painless.
CM doesn't have 720p recording... If you want to have 720p I would recommend some modded stock moto rom, like MS2Ginger.
Sent from my MB525 using XDA
Thanks everyone for the help so far, it has really helped to clarify everything.
One last question: Is MS2Ginger an SBF ROM? And if so, if I flash it, will it affect my ability to flash to other ROMs like CM7/CM9?
Every custom rom is a. zip file you can flash from CWM! so basically you can jump from one custom rom to another by going into CWM, make a wipe data/cache and wipe dalwik cache, and install rom as .zip! (you don't even need to wipe data if you want just updating a cm nightly with a newer one.)
You can only lose your downgradeability, if you flash an official sbf from moto with a higher be number !
Sent from my MB526 using XDA
Today I flashed MS2Ginger 3.0 but am having a problem. I need to remove the SIM lock using the softunlock method detailed in the Defy General forum.
My stock defy had the correct baseband version (EPU93_U_00.59.01), but after installing MS2Ginger, the baseband got changed to EPU93_U_00.61 - I ran the Baseband_change(EPU93_U_00.59.01).zip in recovery, which said that the baseband had been changed successfully. I then ran GB_Defy_softunlock_v1.3(EPU_U_00.59.01).zip, which reported that the simlock had been removed. Finally, as per the instructions in the softlock thread, I rebooted once with the standard SIM card, shut down the phone, installed my new SIM card, but still get the sim unlock prompt on startup.
Does anybody know how I can change the baseband version back to the default one in MS2Ginger? I tried posting in the MS2Ginger thread but it requires me to have >10 posts to reply...
Anyone? I just need to know how to change the baseband in MS2Ginger...
Hi there,
I want to ask you maybe a noob question... But I was never flashing other SBF than original SEA froyo.
So, now, when the custom kernel came to us, I have one (only one) big problem with this, it's battery life. And I want to try to install stock Gingerbread SBF to give this kernel another try. I think that maybe this is a problem : Froyo sbf + JB rom + GB kernel + SOC defy. All in one! :laugh:
So, my question is:
Is there any GB SBF which is downgradable? Because without this kernel my camera won't work. And if my battery will be the same disaster as it is now I would like to go back to original froyo. I hope you understand me.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Anyone? Every information will be useful for me.
devil1406 said:
Hi there,
I want to ask you maybe a noob question... But I was never flashing other SBF than original SEA froyo.
So, now, when the custom kernel came to us, I have one (only one) big problem with this, it's battery life. And I want to try to install stock Gingerbread SBF to give this kernel another try. I think that maybe this is a problem : Froyo sbf + JB rom + GB kernel + SOC defy. All in one! :laugh:
So, my question is:
Is there any GB SBF which is downgradable? Because without this kernel my camera won't work. And if my battery will be the same disaster as it is now I would like to go back to original froyo. I hope you understand me.
Thanks in advance for any tips.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No if you flash a stock GB SBF there is a downgrade path to Froyo BUT it involves flashing a later BL version Froyo than your original - so you will never be able to go back to your original SBF.
You can flash a "fixed" GB SBF (may require a matching NAND backup) which won't change your BL version, or you can just flash a GB kernel (zip file, not SBF) from CWM. Or you can flash a zip ROM which contains GB kernel to try battery life. As long as you do a NAND backup first, you will always be able to reflash your original SBF and restore everything.
But no, if you flash the stock GB SBF you can't go back to your original stock Froyo SBF.
Read this excellent guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216982
usually if you flashed Gingerbread SBF you cant downgrade (so you install only nandroid backup supporting your kernel ) .
but there's a new Chinese SBF with the CG31 and the CG33 smg files downgradable even though its GB.
i know it from milestone 2 but somehow it is possible that after you flash it (not the whole version just the "Fixed" sbf ) you will be able to downgrade as much as you want.
Hi Guys,
I am planning to upgrade my defy from stock ROM to JB.
Is there any SBF available that is fixed than full.
Fixed ROM does not burn the e bridge inside the phone so that I can downgrade the phone to stock.
But with FULL ROM , it burns the bridge and thus I Would not be able to downgrade the phone.
Any info or suggestion would be helpful.
You got the right idea about flashing higher SBF will get you stuck and can't downgrade.
But you have a bit misconception about SBF, those SBF files are "Stock" roms from Moto. Defy has 2.2.2 froyo stock rom as the newest (they abandon it) Defy+ has 2.3.6 gingerbread the most (got abandoned too).
So, there're 2.2.2 SBFs for Defy mb525, and 2.3.6 SBFs for Defy+ mb526, but no "ICS or JellyBean SBF for Defys".
We use SBF only for reverting back to Stock.
Fixed SBF are usually a patch to get a custom rom work without breaking it, not a custom rom itself.
You should read more about SBF and Custom roms. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1216982
If you want Jellybean roms, you must use custom roms. Custom roms didn't use SBF to install (as you know, it burn the bridge).
Instread we use 2ndinit/bootmenu to workaround and install custom roms without touching the bridge.
If you interested to try JB, read this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1795647
Thank you.
I had mistakenly mentioned sbf for custom ROM. My bad.
So, is there any ROM that is fixed and not full for jb?
Sent from my MB526 using xda app-developers app