Database Users

Beginner question - how to start?

Hi,
It will probably take some time until I'll get my phone, but I am trying to understand how to start.
I am OK with having only English on my phone, but I would prefer to have a clean and bloat free rom that has the GAPPS and that can get OTA updates.
I want to do the minimum needed to get this, I really don't want to change roms every other week.
How should I start? I am a bit lost.
Is the Chinese rom that bad?
Should I change the rom and root it?
Thanks in advance,
Asaf

I think this should be in the Q&A forum
It sounds like you want a stable ROM with Gapps. Xiaomi offer several ROM types. If you want Gapps included from the start, you want their stable international ROM. The trouble is that at the moment they don't do one for the XRN2 yet. Head over to en.miui.com, pick a phone that has been around for longer and in the download section for that device you will see the different ROM types (there are tabs at the top of each phone section). There are also a couple of great explanatory pages in their forum that guide you through the different ROM types.

Use the xiaomi.eu ROM. Multilanguage, clean and with Gapps. OTA also included
Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

First, get TWRP installed in your phone.
Then flash a stable rom
At the end, install proper gapp using TWRP.

Thanks.
So
1. Install TWRP, will this link should be enough to install it? http://en.miui.com/thread-156838-1-1.html
2. Go to http://xiaomi.eu --> ROMs DOWNLOAD and take the DOWNLOAD WEEKLY rom (http://miuif.celogeek.com/5.9.10/xiaomi.eu_multi_hermes_5.9.11_v7-5.0.zip)?

shemsha said:
Thanks.
So
1. Install TWRP, will this link should be enough to install it? http://en.miui.com/thread-156838-1-1.html
2. Go to http://xiaomi.eu --> ROMs DOWNLOAD and take the DOWNLOAD WEEKLY rom (http://miuif.celogeek.com/5.9.10/xiaomi.eu_multi_hermes_5.9.11_v7-5.0.zip)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BUT, you said you don't want to have to flash a new ROM every week. The xiaomi.EU weekly ROMs are a beta ROM, they are not the same as the 'stable' ROM. I'm using the weekly version just fine, but there are a few bugs. This ROM may or may not suit your needs. Please be aware of that As soon as Xiaomi release the official stable International ROM with Gapps, that's the one you want (based on your stated requirements).

Thanks
So perhaps I'll wait, hopefully it will come up soon enough.
Hope the Chinese rom isn't too bad...

shemsha said:
Thanks
So perhaps I'll wait, hopefully it will come up soon enough.
Hope the Chinese rom isn't too bad...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first ROM I flashed was the stable ROM from MIUI.com. At the moment this is available as Chinese only (with only Chinese and English languages on board). It is also MIUI version 6 not 7. You do not need TWRP installed to flash this. You can just download it straight to internal storage, then use the Xiaomi updater app (which is already on the phone) to manually flash it. This ROM is not rooted.
Next I tried the weekly ROM from MIUI.com. At that point I incorrectly thought that it would be multi language, but it wasn't. It did at least have MIUI 7 on board though. TWRP is also not needed to flash this. This ROM is rooted. Root settings can be accessed via the Security app. You can also install SuperSU, grant it root access, then use it to control the root access of other apps if you wish. There are no Google apps on board. I was on n holiday at the time so I manually placed all the relevant files, set permissions and so on using ES File explorer that I side loaded and granted root privileges to. Yes, my girlfriend thought it was very romantic of me to spend a whole evening split between doing this and hunting some particularly aggressive mosquitoes trapped in our room. Only the best for my love.
Finally I downloaded the latest weekly (not stable) ROM from from Xiaomi.EU. As well as being a beta, it is not an official Xiaomi ROM. They do also have a stable ROM in offer, but it is not rooted. Basic Google apps are installed. TWRP is not needed here either. However, I installed it briefly to make a full backup of my phone, and a separate backup of the NVRAM portion of the device where the IMEI resides. Experience tells me this is important on an MTK phone in case the area becomes corrupt during an incorrect flash. You can also use SPFlash Tools to do this from a computer. Google the process, it's well worth being prepared. Damian Parsons over on GizBeat and China Phone Arena has done some useful tutorials with videos. Make sure you have the right version of SPFlash tools (which is not the same as MTKdroidtools -or something like that). I have only used a couple of times with my first two MTK phones so I don't know what version you need to use with this chipset.
For my purposes NONE of these ROMs actually fit the bill. Why? Because none of them so far allow me to select UK English as the default language or select the UK as the region I'm in. It's a small thing, but the last three Chinese phones I've had all suffered from the same problem. I end up rooting and using More Locales app to create a new default language code over and above selecting UK English in Google keyboard.
Once Xiaomi release an official global ROM the download page for the Note 2 will look like in the attached screenshot which shows the Mi4 page. Note the two tabs at the top, global and Chinese, in addition to the 'stable' and 'developer' sections down the left hand side.
Please somebody correct me if I'm wrong because I'm new to Xiaomi devices

Thanks for the detailed response.
Sounds like that for my purposes, and until an official rom is out, the easiest option is either the latest weekly or stable from xiaomi.eu.
I understand they can be installed using xiaomi updater as well?

Yes, you can install them the same way as official ROMs.

shemsha said:
Thanks for the detailed response.
Sounds like that for my purposes, and until an official rom is out, the easiest option is either the latest weekly or stable from xiaomi.eu.
I understand they can be installed using xiaomi updater as well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also, when I received my phone there was a lot of non-MIUI related bloatware and possibly malware on board. It was multi language (with UK English as a built in option) but it all felt wrong, slow and dodgy. Reading elsewhere it was recommended the best thing to do was flash a ROM from a PC using the fastboot method to erase everything, then start from there. There are fastboot ROMs with instructions on the en.miui.com site. If you think you need to, you could flash via fastboot, then download your subsequent choice of ROM from xiaomi.EU and flash that however you please. As I was away (and impatient) I didn't do the first flash via fastboot. I just did a full wipe from the stock recovery, then put a ROM into internal memory, then flashed it from the stock recovery, then factory reset again. No idea if that was sufficient, but there's no sign of the extra apps any more.

You don't need TWRP
Sent from my Redmi Note 2 using Tapatalk

Ouzo said:
I installed it briefly to make a full backup of my phone, and a separate backup of the NVRAM portion of the device where the IMEI resides. Experience tells me this is important on an MTK phone in case the area becomes corrupt during an incorrect flash. You can also use SPFlash Tools to do this from a computer. Google the process, it's well worth being prepared. Damian Parsons over on GizBeat and China Phone Arena has done some useful tutorials with videos. Make sure you have the right version of SPFlash tools (which is not the same as MTKdroidtools -or something like that). I have only used a couple of times with my first two MTK phones so I don't know what version you need to use with this chipset.
For my purposes NONE of these ROMs actually fit the bill. Why? Because none of them so far allow me to select UK English as the default language or select the UK as the region I'm in. It's a small thing, but the last three Chinese phones I've had all suffered from the same problem. I end up rooting and using More Locales app to create a new default language code over and above selecting UK English in Google keyboard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, this is great for me. I will follow what you said regarding backing up this NVRAM you speak of, as I just read that the source code for the Helios X10 has been released, so we can expect more people including members of the HTC M9+ forum playing around with code.
It would be nice to have an option for UK English (or Australian English for me, to be precise) however I haven't noticed much of a difference, maybe because I have Swiftkey installed and that already has the correct language setting.

zan5hin said:
Thanks for the info, this is great for me. I will follow what you said regarding backing up this NVRAM you speak of, as I just read that the source code for the Helios X10 has been released, so we can expect more people including members of the HTC M9+ forum playing around with code.
It would be nice to have an option for UK English (or Australian English for me, to be precise) however I haven't noticed much of a difference, maybe because I have Swiftkey installed and that already has the correct language setting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the language to UK English is only part of the problem for me. Basically the phone thinks I'm in the U.S, or rather, that I have a U.S phone in the UK. This can cause problems within apps that want tailor content to my region code (or even deny me content). I've tried editing the build.prop a little, but it doesn't seem to help.
Mobile Uncle tools (free in Play Store) used to be able to back up one's IMEI number, but it didn't work on this phone. Dunno if that's because it runs lollipop. Anyway, that's why TWRP was handy and I will try using SPFlashTools again at some point.

[Problem] Redmi 2 issues & pop up ads

Hi guys,
I have been a iPhone user for the past year, so sorry for not being updated.
I ordered a Redmi 2 for a friend. But she complained the phone was too slow, so I asked her to borrow it for some time.
First thing I did was a factory reset. Then installing the most comon apps, facebook, messenger, youtube. nothing more.
So far, appart from the low available RAM at any given time, what's really driving me crazy are pop up ads. They show everywhere, facebook, youtube, messenger. Even in the homescreen.
My first question is.
Are these normal nowadays in Android? I find that hard to believe.
Second question. How can I disable this. I understand in app adds and why they are there. But youtube/facebook/homescreen? The add is pretty much the same almost every time, "Lebara Talk" and shows every time I enter the apps after not using them for like 5 minutes.
Please let me know if there is a way to remove this.
Now on other topic, in case the phone shows itself laggy as she told me, are there better optimized ROMS. Keep in mind this is a non tech-savvy girl using it.
Many thanks
Best Regards

Is it the HM2014811 model with 1GB ram? It probably came with the chinese/global rom which has bloatware. Download the global rom from here: http://xiaomi.eu/community/threads/5-10-15-16.28809/
Just make sure you download the correct version! for example for the HM2014811 it would be: xiaomi.eu_multi_HM2014811_5.10.15_v7-4.4.zip (dev rom).

You have guessed it right. Thanks for helping. Are these ROMS stable? Also, I am going to search for it, but until then, it would be much apreciated if someone could point me to a tutorial on how to install these.

There are 2 versions, Developer rom and Stable.
Developer roms get updated every week, stable every ~3 months. The stable one is based on MIUI V6 and the Dev on MIUI V7 so sometimes various fixes that are installed on latest dev roms take a while to get to the stable. I would recommend the Developer rom for Redmi 2 as it has less/ no issues (people have reported SIM lock issues on the stable version).
You can use this guide: http://en.miui.com/thread-142581-1-1.html to install the rom through recovery. With this method it will wipe all the data/apps of the system.
If you want to save your internal storage/apps you can do a backup with the MIUI app or with Titanium Backup and restore afterwards.

Many thanks for the help. It's a new phone now. how can I mark this as solved?

No need, enjoy!

No oddities at all

Got my Mix yesterday - set it up last night.
I was apprehensive with everyone talking about different ROMs, unlock codes, rooting, throttling, etc etc.
Mine came with MIUI Global 8.0.7.0.0 with Google appstore already installed. The packaging was sealed.
Downloaded apps at about 3.5 megabytes per second (as shown by the notification bar connection speed widget).
SMS works fine.
Calling works fine.
I even get 4G on O2 (in the UK). I live in Leeds so it's one of those cities where O2 are using 1800 mhz for 4G as well as the usual 800 Mhz which Mix can't do.
All my banking apps work fine.
I've got Nova Prime on it. MIUI has some nice tweaks built in. There's no bloatware on it at all.
Also, compared to the Lumia 950XL I had for a year, it's about 2 mm wider and that's about it.
I've been using an S7 Edge for the last couple of months and set up wise, there's no difference. Everything just works out of the box. No flashing, tweaking, rooting etc.
Fingerprint reader is faster than S7. It can also wake the phone as well. Double tap to wake is there too.
If I didn't know better, I'd say this was just any other Android phone bought in the UK, instead of a China import where people have been talking about flashing EU ROM etc and having other issues.
Funniest thing about it is that once you get over the initial WOW factor of the screen, you just get used to it. It's only when you look at other phones you think, haha your phone looks like it's from the 1970s.
Only thing I haven't really tried is the camera. Pretty sure it won't be up to 950XL or S7 standards but I've installed Snap Camera so let's see if it's half decent.
Great phone so far.

Just depends if your happy with vendor rom and no updates as long as you own the phone, I removed vendor rom and have had 2 updates since with like yourself no issues.

Where did you get your Mix? Mine also had that ROM but I flashed the China ROM since it wasn't getting OTA updates. Your Mix might be fine for now but I hear the spyware/malware stuff works like a trojan horse, I'd recommend flashing now, your bootloader is probably already unlocked. Just install the China ROM and skip the EU ROM or rooting if you want.

slitz123 said:
Where did you get your Mix? Mine also had that ROM but I flashed the China ROM since it wasn't getting OTA updates. Your Mix might be fine for now but I hear the spyware/malware stuff works like a trojan horse, I'd recommend flashing now, your bootloader is probably already unlocked. Just install the China ROM and skip the EU ROM or rooting if you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed and I skipped rooting and EU (for now)

jazz452 said:
Agreed and I skipped rooting and EU (for now)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm really confused now.
I thought my Global 8.0.7 ROM was the 'normal' China ROM.
Is it a VENDOR ROM? Is it obvious because it came with Gapps installed?
Also, how do you know this has malware on it? Kaspersky doesn't find anything on it.
Anyway, I better flash the official China ROM now - the EU one sounds more suitable (since I'm in the UK) but it's not official is it so ANYTHING might be in that.
Thanks.

Hid Sugiura said:
I'm really confused now.
I thought my Global 8.0.7 ROM was the 'normal' China ROM.
Is it a VENDOR ROM? Is it obvious because it came with Gapps installed?
Also, how do you know this has malware on it? Kaspersky doesn't find anything on it.
Anyway, I better flash the official China ROM now - the EU one sounds more suitable (since I'm in the UK) but it's not official is it so ANYTHING might be in that.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't think they do put spyware on never found anything, no updates is the killer for me, they probably aren't allowed to mess with official ROM and keep the same numbers plus updates would probably mess up Google apps.
I went with stable China as it has English language and didn't want to TWRP at the moment. OTA updates aren't available on EU ROM ATM although first custom ROM is out with OTA based on EU ROM see forum. I installed Google apps from the mi store with no issues once all permissions were granted.

jazz452 said:
Don't think they do put spyware on never found anything, no updates is the killer for me
I went with stable China as it has English language and didn't want to TWRP at the moment. OTA updates aren't available on EU ROM ATM although first custom ROM is out with OTA based on EU ROM see forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, so this ROM I have is some sort of weird ROM put on by Gearbest (where I got it from). Who developed it and has it been confirmed that there is malware on it?
Reading up on it, I can see how to install: China stable V8.0.12.0.MAHCNDI
Download ROM. Copy to root directory of phone.
Go into Settings/updates/reboot to recovery mode and install the Zip.
Is that right? Since it's not an update, do I have to wipe the phone in recovery?
I'm a bit loathed to do it cos:
a) This is a rather expensive phone from China which makes it a bit hairy. I've flashed ROMs on cheaper devices before but...
b) It's currently running dandy.. everything is fast and smooth and everything WORKS but this thing about spyware and malware I find worrying (even tho I can't seem to find any proof of this.) But yeah, lack of updates is a problem.
Does anyone have a link on an idiots guide on how to go from Vendor to China Stable Official?
There's a thread on this forum about this but it kinda says you need TWRP and Root etc.
If I put China Stable, do I need to root it to put on Gapps?
Will China ROM stop my banking apps to work?

jazz452 said:
Don't think they do put spyware on never found anything, no updates is the killer for me, they probably aren't allowed to mess with official ROM and keep the same numbers plus updates would probably mess up Google apps.
I went with stable China as it has English language and didn't want to TWRP at the moment. OTA updates aren't available on EU ROM ATM although first custom ROM is out with OTA based on EU ROM see forum. I installed Google apps from the mi store with no issues once all permissions were granted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Another question... since I have the Vendor ROM on it, does it mean that my bootloader is unlocked already?

Hid Sugiura said:
Another question... since I have the Vendor ROM on it, does it mean that my bootloader is unlocked already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The updater app has been disabled on this ROM, there is a guide (under guides) how to flash from vendor rom to China stable mine came from gearbest and was unlocked. No need TWRP or root. No rush your home won't set on fire with vendor rom just read a few times till you are sure of what you are doing. mi flash is used for flashing ROMs with xiaomi.

Hid Sugiura said:
I'm really confused now.
I thought my Global 8.0.7 ROM was the 'normal' China ROM.
Is it a VENDOR ROM? Is it obvious because it came with Gapps installed?
Also, how do you know this has malware on it? Kaspersky doesn't find anything on it.
Anyway, I better flash the official China ROM now - the EU one sounds more suitable (since I'm in the UK) but it's not official is it so ANYTHING might be in that.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you use Malwarebytes on the Vendor ROM, it flags the MIUI Notes app as "Agent.downloader.Trojan". Check it out! I didn't even sign in on the phone until I could get the EU ROM flashed. Not saying that Vendors deliberately inject their ROMS with malware. Just saying there can always be that one hacker dude who is compiling these ROMS for the vendors.
From what it looks like, most vendors are given a flashable signed zip file that can be flashed using official recovery, the file is named MIUI Global 8.0.7.0 or 8.0.8.0 (Mine came with 8.0.8.0).
So when most vendors receive stock, guess they unbox it, flash this zip file most probably via the official MIUI recovery, run the diagnostic test and if everything passes, they box the item and ship it out. Most vendors may have staff who are trained to copy the flashable zip file via MTP, boot stock recovery and flash! It doesn't take a genius to do that and its done it 5 minutes.
I am on the EU ROM. Even though unofficial, these MIUI EU ROMS have been there since the beginning of MIUI and no one ever had any reliability issues with the EU ROM. The ROM has no bloatware and comes with GAPPS pre-installed.
---------- Post added at 02:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 AM ----------
Hid Sugiura said:
Another question... since I have the Vendor ROM on it, does it mean that my bootloader is unlocked already?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not necessarily! Mine came with a vendor ROM and bootloader locked. This is why I assume that Vendors are given a Signed ROM file which can be flashed using the official MI Recovery. I don' t think every vendor has the skills to unlock bootloader and flash a vendor ROM after installing a custom recovery. Its a time consuming process.
If they already have a Signed customized ROM file that can be flashed using the official recovery, its as easy as copying the ZIP file to the phone and flashing it via the recovery. Takes hardly 5-10minutes.

Thank you very much for your replies - much appreciated.
As soon as I read your post, I did Malwarebytes and that found nothing - apart from saying I should switch off NFC so that's a little more comforting. As I said, Kaspersky hasn't found anything.
So, the China Stable is the ONLY official ROM there is - the vendor and EU ones are equally unofficial and neither have OTA updates.
OK more questions:
Some people say China Stable is the way to go cos of the updates.
1) Is the bloatware that bad? Can't I just ignore it? haha
2) Does it need rooting to put Gapps on it? Rooting is a no no for me cos certain apps won't run with it.
If I go the EU ROM, cos of the built in Gapps, can it be updated without wiping every time?
Thanks for all your help.

Hid Sugiura said:
Thank you very much for your replies - much appreciated.
As soon as I read your post, I did Malwarebytes and that found nothing - apart from saying I should switch off NFC so that's a little more comforting. As I said, Kaspersky hasn't found anything.
So, the China Stable is the ONLY official ROM there is - the vendor and EU ones are equally unofficial and neither have OTA updates.
OK more questions:
Some people say China Stable is the way to go cos of the updates.
1) Is the bloatware that bad? Can't I just ignore it? haha
2) Does it need rooting to put Gapps on it? Rooting is a no no for me cos certain apps won't run with it.
If I go the EU ROM, cos of the built in Gapps, can it be updated without wiping every time?
Thanks for all your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should go with EU rom, or custom rom which is starting to appear now. The worst rom to go for imo is the China one, and I find it a bit strange some people want to go for that due to OTA update. OTA update is not such a big deal, you get more update with EU or custom rom and no, you don't need to wipe data, it is so simple and easy to do manual update.
If you are totally beginner then maybe you find the OTA update easier, but at the same time if you are totally beginner you will find it hard to get china rom to become stable and usable. By the way the new custom rom also has OTA update, if you really want that.
So in short, I see almost no reason to stay in China rom, unless you find selecting zip file and flashing rom "too hard". But it's really quite easy to learn.

Mine from gearbest has unlocked bootloader but slightly different number than yours 8.0.8, it's easy to check from fastboot plenty of threads on here.
---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:22 AM ----------
satishp said:
If you use Malwarebytes on the Vendor ROM, it flags the MIUI Notes app as "Agent.downloader.Trojan". Check it out! I didn't even sign in on the phone until I could get the EU ROM flashed. Not saying that Vendors deliberately inject their ROMS with malware. Just saying there can always be that one hacker dude who is compiling these ROMS for the vendors.
From what it looks like, most vendors are given a flashable signed zip file that can be flashed using official recovery, the file is named MIUI Global 8.0.7.0 or 8.0.8.0 (Mine came with 8.0.8.0).
So when most vendors receive stock, guess they unbox it, flash this zip file most probably via the official MIUI recovery, run the diagnostic test and if everything passes, they box the item and ship it out. Most vendors may have staff who are trained to copy the flashable zip file via MTP, boot stock recovery and flash! It doesn't take a genius to do that and its done it 5 minutes.
I am on the EU ROM. Even though unofficial, these MIUI EU ROMS have been there since the beginning of MIUI and no one ever had any reliability issues with the EU ROM. The ROM has no bloatware and comes with GAPPS pre-installed.
---------- Post added at 02:37 AM ---------- Previous post was at 02:19 AM ----------
Not necessarily! Mine came with a vendor ROM and bootloader locked. This is why I assume that Vendors are given a Signed ROM file which can be flashed using the official MI Recovery. I don' t think every vendor has the skills to unlock bootloader and flash a vendor ROM after installing a custom recovery. Its a time consuming process.
If they already have a Signed customized ROM file that can be flashed using the official recovery, its as easy as copying the ZIP file to the phone and flashing it via the recovery. Takes hardly 5-10minutes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Xiaomi hate vendor ROMs that's why they lock bootloader, no one wants a bad name with spyware installed on their phones.

RIGHT! Thank you again for all your replies and advice.
I'm gonna do:
1) Find out if it's unlocked and get that done if necessary.
2) Install the EU one knowing now that updates don't wipe the phone.
My fear is that somewhere in between having an unlocked bootloader (which I might have already) and having the EU ROM, I lose the ability to use my Barclays Banking apps. I definitely know that it won't work with root but I also know that unlocked bootloaders and custom ROMs aren't the same as being rooted.
However, the fear of this vendor ROM being a security hazard gives me the heebie jeebies so I'll follow the kind advice given and put on the EU ROM.
Thanks for now!

Hid Sugiura said:
RIGHT! Thank you again for all your replies and advice.
I'm gonna do:
1) Find out if it's unlocked and get that done if necessary.
2) Install the EU one knowing now that updates don't wipe the phone.
My fear is that somewhere in between having an unlocked bootloader (which I might have already) and having the EU ROM, I lose the ability to use my Barclays Banking apps. I definitely know that it won't work with root but I also know that unlocked bootloaders and custom ROMs aren't the same as being rooted.
However, the fear of this vendor ROM being a security hazard gives me the heebie jeebies so I'll follow the kind advice given and put on the EU ROM.
Thanks for now!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck! Just to let you know i am on EU ROM with bootloader unlocked and rooted, i can still use Paypal and HSBC Banking apps. I don't use Barclays so can't comment on that.

OK I'm following the guide on XDA under Guides: Guide: Flash Global/China ROM.
I've checked that the bootloader is unlocked - which it is.
I've done point 7:
copy the latest xiaomi.eu rom zip to your device (which you can see in your computer's explorer as a device)
But when I use the command to get the phone into TWRP, the screen is unresponsive so I can't Swipe to Unlock.
I've waited for minutes as suggested on other sites but to no avail.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.

Hid Sugiura said:
OK I'm following the guide on XDA under Guides: Guide: Flash Global/China ROM.
I've checked that the bootloader is unlocked - which it is.
I've done point 7:
copy the latest xiaomi.eu rom zip to your device (which you can see in your computer's explorer as a device)
But when I use the command to get the phone into TWRP, the screen is unresponsive so I can't Swipe to Unlock.
I've waited for minutes as suggested on other sites but to no avail.
Any ideas?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't root remember to flash dm-verify before you boot phone or will boot loop. TWRP unresponsive is known have a search

Again, thanks for helping me.
So, found the right TWRP for my phone. For others having the same non-responsive screen, don't install the TWRP that has RC1 or RC2 EU in the file name.
Thanks to the guy above for telling me to install dm-verity before rebooting. I would never have known that.
It installed - but there was a slight strangeness.
I expected the phone to be totally wiped and set to default but everything was as I had set it.
I checked the About Phone and it is now MIUI 8.2 by xiaomi.eu 6.12.29 Beta.
Everything works and is set up as before when I was on Vendor Rom.
Am I safer now?

Hid Sugiura said:
Again, thanks for helping me.
So, found the right TWRP for my phone. For others having the same non-responsive screen, don't install the TWRP that has RC1 or RC2 EU in the file name.
Thanks to the guy above for telling me to install dm-verity before rebooting. I would never have known that.
It installed - but there was a slight strangeness.
I expected the phone to be totally wiped and set to default but everything was as I had set it.
I checked the About Phone and it is now MIUI 8.2 by xiaomi.eu 6.12.29 Beta.
Everything works and is set up as before when I was on Vendor Rom.
Am I safer now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was fate TWRP failed, could of been in a whole heap trouble, although not to the point of brick

Good stuff that you managed to get the EU ROM on. You didn't actually need to install TWRP if you just wanted to flash the China ROM though, EDL mode with the stock image on full clear would've been fine but don't worry about it. Gearbest get their stock from other suppliers who are the ones that put the vendor ROM on apparently, but I can't confirm that.
A good order to do things if you've identified you have a vendor ROM would be:
Flash the China ROM with EDL mode with the flash tool set to Flash all (using other options will keep your apps and settings on the vendor ROM but I have no idea if that means it'll keep any trojans or spyware installed)
Boot up the phone and set it up
If you're happy with the China ROM then call it a day then optionally use the Google Installer v2 from the Xiaomi forums if you need GApps (you may have to tinker with the GApps permissions if some things aren't syncing right).
If not then you could flash twrp-3.0.2-0-rc2-eu-lithium.img, flash on the EU ROM and optionally SuperSU for root and also optionally Xposed, then enjoy a preconfigured GApps with no Chinese apps that you aren't too likely to use plus extra languages!
If you are rooted then I'd recommend adding the following line in your build.prop to enable the Camera2 API:
Code:
persist.camera.HAL3.enabled=1
Personally, I'm still waiting on a CM port though, MIUI is too aggressive in killing my apps even though I have like 4.2 GB of RAM free even with all the relevant power settings, app settings, app locks, dev settings etc off. Android Wear functions better after disabling those power settings at least, I sat there scratching my head for a while wondering why the heck my watch wasn't showing any notifications.

Best ROM for Redmi 4 Prime as of right now

Hey guys,
I am currently running a beta of MIUI EU (it was one of the first original ROMs) however I want something new and stable. If I flash the stable MIUI EU I need to flash it from scratch and delete data, so I might as well see whats out there.
What is the most stable ROM for us currently?
My requirements in a ROM are the below;
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Encryption
- No bloatware
- Stable
- Receives OTA updates
- Good battery management (MIUI actually does a pretty good job of this AFAIK)
I am currently looking into EPIC and Resurrection however I want the one that will be receiving updates going forward etc.
Please let me know your thoughts of what you guys are using and why etc.

VulcanX said:
Hey guys,
I am currently running a beta of MIUI EU (it was one of the first original ROMs) however I want something new and stable. If I flash the stable MIUI EU I need to flash it from scratch and delete data, so I might as well see whats out there.
What is the most stable ROM for us currently?
My requirements in a ROM are the below;
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Encryption
- No bloatware
- Stable
- Receives OTA updates
- Good battery management (MIUI actually does a pretty good job of this AFAIK)
I am currently looking into EPIC and Resurrection however I want the one that will be receiving updates going forward etc.
Please let me know your thoughts of what you guys are using and why etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try FlymeOS, but as some bloatware... There's no Custom ROM with OTA. Only MIUI and FlymeOS

VulcanX said:
Hey guys,
I am currently running a beta of MIUI EU (it was one of the first original ROMs) however I want something new and stable. If I flash the stable MIUI EU I need to flash it from scratch and delete data, so I might as well see whats out there.
What is the most stable ROM for us currently?
My requirements in a ROM are the below;
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Encryption
- No bloatware
- Stable
- Receives OTA updates
- Good battery management (MIUI actually does a pretty good job of this AFAIK)
I am currently looking into EPIC and Resurrection however I want the one that will be receiving updates going forward etc.
Please let me know your thoughts of what you guys are using and why etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mokee (By Razziel)
Lineage 13(By Jacoghi)
Flyme(By Liberation)

VulcanX said:
Hey guys,
I am currently running a beta of MIUI EU (it was one of the first original ROMs) however I want something new and stable. If I flash the stable MIUI EU I need to flash it from scratch and delete data, so I might as well see whats out there.
What is the most stable ROM for us currently?
My requirements in a ROM are the below;
- Fingerprint Sensor
- Encryption
- No bloatware
- Stable
- Receives OTA updates
- Good battery management (MIUI actually does a pretty good job of this AFAIK)
I am currently looking into EPIC and Resurrection however I want the one that will be receiving updates going forward etc.
Please let me know your thoughts of what you guys are using and why etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Currently the only custom rom that usable is mokee 6 by razziell, but no OTA. Else use xiaomi.eu like your current choice.
All nougat custom rom currently suffer from either fingerprint, gps and camera bug due to lack proper driver from xiaomi. MIUI 9 based on nougat will fix those problems.

dels07 said:
Currently the only custom rom that usable is mokee 6 by razziell, but no OTA. Else use xiaomi.eu like your current choice.
All nougat custom rom currently suffer from either fingerprint, gps and camera bug due to lack proper driver from xiaomi. MIUI 9 based on nougat will fix those problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say "the only custom rom that (is) usable", are you taking into account the latest unofficial lineage os 13 by Jacoghi? I'm referring to lineage-13.0-20170506-UNOFFICIAL-markw that isn't available on Xda, but only on Bruno Coghi's YouTube channel.
It has everything working and covers all the items on that checklist, except for OTA updates.
It's my daily driver and it works great.

mnbpt said:
lineage-13.0-20170506-UNOFFICIAL-markw
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess it is already unusable on the sole ground that is hasn't June security patches.
Does 20170506 mean 2017-June-5 or 2017-May-6?

adefigo said:
I guess it is already unusable on the sole ground that is hasn't June security patches.
Does 20170506 mean 2017-June-5 or 2017-May-6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you go by that criteria, then probably 99% of all Android devices are unusable...
What you probably mean is that it is not the best case scenario. But there's a huge difference between not the best and unusable. And having just the May security updates, although not absolutely great, is still pretty good.
Sure I'd love if the dev kept releasing updates, but i think my device is pretty safe for the time being.

go for Epic, you wont disappointed

mnbpt said:
probably 99% of all Android devices are unusable...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
:good: yes!

Thanks for all the replies. I am really torn between them now. The Miui EU stable offers a lot, but it's still bloated like anything and will prob run very heavy like the current one I'm running.
If I opt for something else no OTA and some features will be broken.
Hmmm

VulcanX said:
Thanks for all the replies. I am really torn between them now. The Miui EU stable offers a lot, but it's still bloated like anything and will prob run very heavy like the current one I'm running.
If I opt for something else no OTA and some features will be broken.
Hmmm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WTF? does it even make sense the thing you're saying? "If I opt for something else no OTA and some features will be broken"?! Just try something yourself, watch reviews of the ROMs that exist for our device and choose yourself the one that you think that attracts you the most

mnbpt said:
When you say "the only custom rom that (is) usable", are you taking into account the latest unofficial lineage os 13 by Jacoghi? I'm referring to lineage-13.0-20170506-UNOFFICIAL-markw that isn't available on Xda, but only on Bruno Coghi's YouTube channel.
It has everything working and covers all the items on that checklist, except for OTA updates.
It's my daily driver and it works great.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
High accuracy gps still drain battery faster than on Razziell mokee rom. Also Razziell rom more updated since jacoghi shift development to nougat.

psykkuno said:
WTF? does it even make sense the thing you're saying? "If I opt for something else no OTA and some features will be broken"?! Just try something yourself, watch reviews of the ROMs that exist for our device and choose yourself the one that you think that attracts you the most
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah so what Im saying, is it worthwhile using something that maybe I sacrifice the OTA but the rest is absolutely amazing, or stick with something a bit heavier but it has the OTA ie. MIUI EU Stable.
I use my phone for work so I cant really be messing around with something that isnt pretty stable and reliable you know.

VulcanX said:
Yeah so what Im saying, is it worthwhile using something that maybe I sacrifice the OTA but the rest is absolutely amazing, or stick with something a bit heavier but it has the OTA ie. MIUI EU Stable.
I use my phone for work so I cant really be messing around with something that isnt pretty stable and reliable you know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I have never ever used OTA, and can't really understand the requirement of a ROM to have it.
There are a lot of stable ROMs out there. Mokee, Lineage OS 13, and I'm currently using AOKP with no issues.
If you want something more like stock try Epic ROM.
Else just use MIUI EU Stable.

I tried a few roms. Epic seems steady for work n battery.
Think it's about half the weight of global about 900 mb approx.
I get nearly 4 days if phone was in ideal.
17.5 hrs sot strong WiFi, screen 20% no sim..
Sent from my Redmi 4 using XDA-Developers Legacy app
---------- Post added at 08:49 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:49 PM ----------
Idel#
Sent from my Redmi 4 using XDA-Developers Legacy app

DISASTER .....i installed
1. PACK_TWRP_MrRaines-Thematized_Anik_Khan's_Recovery_And_Unlock_Bootloader_Tools ==== OK
2. epic_kenzo_global_V8.5.3.0_6.0.1_aroma ====== after is ask me to reboot ........ BLACK SCREEN ....... and NO system , NO fastboot , NO recovery mode , NO battery charge , NO Miflash with original ROM , NOTHING to DO at a ENDLESS BLACK SCREEN
3. solution ?????!!!! i will try to leave it all night to charge (even if epic OS was installed at 60 % of battery) ....maybe in the morning something miraculously happend ...... otherwise i'm afraid that it will be declared as a bricked REDMI 4 Prime.
i am opened to any other solution .....please

dllungu said:
DISASTER .....i installed
1. PACK_TWRP_MrRaines-Thematized_Anik_Khan's_Recovery_And_Unlock_Bootloader_Tools ==== OK
2. epic_kenzo_global_V8.5.3.0_6.0.1_aroma ====== after is ask me to reboot ........ BLACK SCREEN ....... and NO system , NO fastboot , NO recovery mode , NO battery charge , NO Miflash with original ROM , NOTHING to DO at a ENDLESS BLACK SCREEN
3. solution ?????!!!! i will try to leave it all night to charge (even if epic OS was installed at 60 % of battery) ....maybe in the morning something miraculously happend ...... otherwise i'm afraid that it will be declared as a bricked REDMI 4 Prime.
i am opened to any other solution .....please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you flashed the wrong Rom,Kenzo is redmi Note 3 or something like that but not r4p

dllungu said:
DISASTER .....i installed
1. PACK_TWRP_MrRaines-Thematized_Anik_Khan's_Recovery_And_Unlock_Bootloader_Tools ==== OK
2. epic_kenzo_global_V8.5.3.0_6.0.1_aroma ====== after is ask me to reboot ........ BLACK SCREEN ....... and NO system , NO fastboot , NO recovery mode , NO battery charge , NO Miflash with original ROM , NOTHING to DO at a ENDLESS BLACK SCREEN
3. solution ?????!!!! i will try to leave it all night to charge (even if epic OS was installed at 60 % of battery) ....maybe in the morning something miraculously happend ...... otherwise i'm afraid that it will be declared as a bricked REDMI 4 Prime.
i am opened to any other solution .....please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong ROM:
Kenzo=Redmi note 3 pro
Markw=Redmi 4 Pro

N1ck474 said:
Wrong ROM:
Kenzo=Redmi note 3 pro
Markw=Redmi 4 Pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you for your answer
a saw answers into forums that kenzo rom it has been recomanded to be installed on Redmi 4 Pro also , that way i give it a try (even if i have already CM 14.1 ready for it) .... it is late anyway ... so now i search solutions to restore any functional rom on it .... but this black screen it gives me realy headache .....( As if you were working with your eyes closed )

dllungu said:
thank you for your answer
a saw answers into forums that kenzo rom it has been recomanded to be installed on Redmi 4 Pro also , that way i give it a try (even if i have already CM 14.1 ready for it) .... it is late anyway ... so now i search solutions to restore any functional rom on it .... but this black screen it gives me realy headache .....( As if you were working with your eyes closed )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you able to use fastboot? If not then you bricked your device, either deep flash cable or test point could bring back your device. Never trust someone to flash rom to your device before you do research on the rom, kenzo and markw is different device and have different SOC.
It only make sense if you try to flash mido (Redmi Note 4) rom since they have same SOC, but don't try this. Only flash rom that are build for markw.

Wanting to install another Rom

Please excuse this very long post.
On my Pro 5 I am stuck on Flyme 6.3.0.0G and I am having an issue with a streaming app supplied by Dazn. No video appears; Dazn say this is because it needs a more up-to-date Android, but there is no official room available. I have been looking at the Resurrection Remix option but I am worried about bricking the device.
My principal worry is about (1) root and (2) the bootloader.
I obtained root long ago using the standard Meizu supplied system, but since then the option to unroot has disappeared. The phone is, effectively, rooted. How should I handle the business of the bootloader to get TWRP? Also, how can I backup my entire current official Rom in case something goes wrong.
Again, please excuse such a long post.
MTIA
Enviado desde mi PRO 5 mediante Tapatalk

agustincordoba said:
Please excuse this very long post.
On my Pro 5 I am stuck on Flyme 6.3.0.0G and I am having an issue with a streaming app supplied by Dazn. No video appears; Dazn say this is because it needs a more up-to-date Android, but there is no official room available. I have been looking at the Resurrection Remix option but I am worried about bricking the device.
My principal worry is about (1) root and (2) the bootloader.
I obtained root long ago using the standard Meizu supplied system, but since then the option to unroot has disappeared. The phone is, effectively, rooted. How should I handle the business of the bootloader to get TWRP? Also, how can I backup my entire current official Rom in case something goes wrong.
Again, please excuse such a long post.
MTIA
Enviado desde mi PRO 5 mediante Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Latest release is 7.2.0.0

But the Chinese version which has its own problems unfortunately.
I used it know for a while but overall I think the latest global is still the better bet.

badreligion said:
But the Chinese version which has its own problems unfortunately.
I used it know for a while but overall I think the latest global is still the better bet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not for me, it's still Lollipop based.

Sure, would like to use the android 7 rom.
Could you share how you installed the google apps and how did you get them running properly? I still have issues with account management and in genereal many google apps (maps, chrome) do not run well.
Also I have memory issues so that when writing e.g. the keyboard crashes and even chrome itself crashes regularly. My guess was some memory issue that leads to ending apps.
---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------
When I want to sign in with chrome e.g. I always get the message "this account already exists on your device".
Did anyone else had this problem and knew how to fix it?

badreligion said:
Sure, would like to use the android 7 rom.
Could you share how you installed the google apps and how did you get them running properly? I still have issues with account management and in genereal many google apps (maps, chrome) do not run well.
Also I have memory issues so that when writing e.g. the keyboard crashes and even chrome itself crashes regularly. My guess was some memory issue that leads to ending apps.
---------- Post added at 07:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:40 PM ----------
When I want to sign in with chrome e.g. I always get the message "this account already exists on your device".
Did anyone else had this problem and knew how to fix it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very simple man. I've got NO ISSUES AT ALL, simply:
* full wipe ( Dalvik / Cache / Data / System ) with TWRP
* flashing with TWRP the Flyme 7 rom
* flashing with TWRP the Open Gapps, Pico Version, 64 Bit

I am on Flyme 6.3.0.0G. I can install the 7.2.0.0 ? Where can I find him ? Thank you

marius33grd said:
I am on Flyme 6.3.0.0G. I can install the 7.2.0.0 ? Where can I find him ? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Usual Flyme asian link :
https://www.flyme.cn/firmwarelist-23.html

marius33grd said:
I am on Flyme 6.3.0.0G. I can install the 7.2.0.0 ? Where can I find him ? Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your french, don't change ROOM.
7.2.0.0 is fully bugged and not for french. => http://forum.flymeos.com/forum-28-1.html

Flyme 7.2.0.0 goes very badly.Back to 6.3.0.0G. What custom rom for Pro 5 do you use ?

I've rarely used my Meizu Pro 5 in these last months but I'm using 7.2.0.0 since January without problems.
In Italian, forced language of course :good: Only Settings remain in English.