Firmware and updates on Android - What? Where? When? What for? Android firmware using the FastBoot utility firmware in the zip archive

If your mobile device (smartphone or tablet) stopped working normally, he can help flashing. How to reflash android you will learn from the article below.

Modern smartphones and tablets based on Android today have become very common devices that have almost everyone. To a considerable extent, this contributed to the influx of such equipment of Chinese production. It is inexpensive, presentable outwardly and can be quite "shrous" inside. However, such devices are very often unstable, and at one point they can refuse to work at all ...

Help "put on your feet" your device with a chance of 50 to 50 can flashing it. And this process will be devoted to today's article. By the way, almost everything referred to in the article tools for the firmware of most Chinese devices you can download under the article!

Principle of firmware

Rough process of firmware of any phone can be compared with the Windows installation process on a computer. However, if Windows can be put on almost any PC, the installation of Android is in itself a variety of pitfalls. The fact is that the firmware contains not only the system itself, but also a complete set of drivers and programs suitable for a specific device model.

Considering that the Chinese collect their smartphones from everything that can be cheap to buy from various manufacturers, it is not difficult to state the fact that the same externally copy, for example, SAMSUNG S7 can be based on completely different platforms! Actually, the main problem during the firmware is exactly the search for the one that is ideal for your device in all respects.

You can search for firmware on the Internet by the name of the model of your device. However, if he is not a corporate, but a Chinese copy, then it can come tightly ... It will take preliminary tests to at least figure out what "stuffing" knocked into the phone Uncle Liao. First of all, we are interested in the assembly platform and its Alps number.

To find out this information, the most reliable to open the device and "break" on the Internet numbers specified on the motherboard. However, not every device can be disassembled without prejudice. Therefore, there are a number of diagnostic software. They can be installed both on the smartphone itself (for example, AIDA64 or CPU-Z) and on the computer. In the latter case, you will also need to install a special driver (it will also be needed during the firmware).

After installing the driver, you can use one of the most frequently used for the "Chinese" based on the MT65XX platform tool - the MTK Droid Root and Tools program:

When you connect your USB cable to a computer to a computer, the program scans it and gives a certain portion of information from which you can start when searching for the desired firmware. The most important data are version platform (Firmware) and system build number (Build Number). Knowing them will be more accurately able to determine which firmware to download (and sometimes, very much!)

So, suppose you found the desired firmware on your device model. I download it and be sure to read the instructions for its installation. It can be installed using:

staff recovery (the easiest way);
modified recovery (most often CWM or TWRP);
firmware or flash drive programs (for example, ODIN, SP Flash Tool, etc.).

In any case, before the firmware, you are very desirable (if, of course, the device starts) to make a complete backup of all data on the device and its firmware. If this is not done, you risk getting instead of your favorite device so-called "brick", which will go to the "Eternal Rear". But about this below, and now we will consider the options for the firmware of the Android.

Firmware through regular recovery

If you are very lucky, the official firmware for your device can be installed from a memory card through a regular recovery. For example, I am with my experimental Cubot GT99 (see Screenshot above) Siltartilo! All that is needed for its firmware - throw off the archive with the required files to the root of the flash drive (only, it is desirable that other archives there are not there):

When the firmware already lies on the SD card, you need to turn off the device and load it in the recovery mode. For this, as a rule, you need to hold "Swing" volume up (less often down) and plug button. When the boot method selection menu appears, you need to choose the same "swing" to choose the same "swing" "Recovery Mode" And push the rocker up (less than a power button) to go to the recovery:

In the menu that appears, you need to select a "swing" volume "APPLY UPDATE FROM EXTERNAL STORAGE" or "Install Zip From SD Card" and apply it by pressing the shutdown button. The firmware process will start and we will only wait for it to end:

Firmware via modified recovery

The staff recovery is a useful thing, however, not all firmware are installed with it. Only official system signed by all certificates can be installed with it. If you want to experiment with custom firmware, you will need to deliver the custom recovery.

The most popular and common versions are currently already mentioned above CWM and TWRP. The finished assemblies of such recovery exist for most popular models of devices. However, for Chinese smartphones will have to search them. True, in some of them, the custom recovery is already the default, which greatly simplifies the conduct of various experiments.

The principle of firmware of the device through custom recovery is similar to the above. The only difference is that with it, you can install almost any suitable zip archive, even if the files do not have any signatures in it. Moreover, if the firmware does not fit, the recovery will automatically make a rollback to the backup you created (you, after all, did not forget to do it?;))

The entrance to the custom recovery is usually carried out by the same combination as in the stock ("swing" volume + power button). To install the firmware with an SD card in CWM you will need to go along the way install Zip From Sdcard - chooze zip from sdcard. It is usually desirable to disable the test signatures in the section toggle Signature Veritification:

In TWRP to achieve the same result, go to the section Install And follow the prompts. By the way, in this recovery, management is made not by physical buttons, but through the touchscreen (although there is a similar assembly of CWM Touch).

Castomal recovery is a very useful thing. In addition to the firmware, you can get the root on your device, connect in AdB debug mode, manage phone memory sections, etc. The trouble is only that such a useful thing is ported only for few devices ...

Firmware with PC

Anyway, even if there is no custom recovery assembly for your device, you can flash it with a PC. For this you will need at least:

Driver To recognize your device's computer.
Firmware, suitable in all parameters.
Bacup of the current firmware On the SD card in case the new firmware does not work.
Working USB cable To connect the device to a computer.
Program for firmware Your phone or tablet model (it is a flash drive).

From the above list, we are most interested in the last item. For popular branded devices, there are also branded flashlight utilities. For example, for samsung "ODIN ODIN, for LG - LG GSM Multi or PC Suite, HTC - HTC Sync, etc.

Consider the principle of firmware on the example Odin. For Samsung. First you need to connect the machine in the download mode to the computer. You can enter this mode by closing on the disabled device at the same time "rocker" sound up, the "Home" button and inclusion. After connecting the phone in this mode, ODIN must recognize it as a connection on one of the COM ports.

Now B. field "AP" You need to select an archive with firmware (usually in formats.tar or.tar.md5). Check the AUTO Reboot options and F. Reset Time options, and then you can click the button. "Start". If everything is fine, the firmware load will begin on the phone and its installation:

For Chinese devices, most of which run on the MediaTek platform, there is a private universal firmware program. Sp Flash Tool (or just Flash Tool).

The principle of firmware here is next. Open the program on tab "download" (usually opens by default) and click "Choose" button opposite the field. The firmware selection dialog opens. It must be previously retrieved from the archive to the folder (preferably at the root of the disk, like the flash drive itself) and contain a text scatter file with the Marking Markup of the system partitions.

When the file is selected, the table of available sections will open. You usually need to remove checkboxes with "Preloader", "Cache" and "UserData", but read more accurate information in the instructions to your device model. Last Step - Pressing the button "DOWNLOAD". Now it remains only to connect to a computer. Fully off phone And wait for the completion of copying files:

"Brick" and what to do with it

As you can see, the firmware itself is not a very complex process (if you consider that the loader is not blocked on your device). But why then many of them are so afraid? And then the fact is that the success of the firmware is never guaranteed and you risks every time to get the so-called "brick" - The device that does not boot at all or is constantly rebooted, not reaching the inclusion of the system itself.

Options "Okrewing" may be by and large, two: full "brick" and with the preserved recovery. If access to the recovery is preserved and you have previously done a system backup on a flash drive, then the "dig" device can be very quickly used by using the firmware or image recovery method (if there is such an option) through the recovery.

If, with an unsuccessful firmware, a section was broken down from the recovery, then you can return the device to life only by installing the correct firmware version on it. Here you already, as they say, there is nothing to lose and you can try various firmware, until you find the right one! Typically, such dances with tambourine are required when working with Chinese phones in which the developers themselves are programmatically hide the version of the platform or the "iron" package.

In the most running cases, it may turn out that none of the firmware available on the Internet you ... if you encountered such a situation, do not rush to despair! First, with time (pair of months or six months) the image of the firmware version needs it. Secondly, you can always ask for help from experienced users on the largest Russian-speaking forum of 4pda or English-speaking XDA. The owners of the "Chinese phons" may try to happiness on the chain-iophone.ru resource.

conclusions

General principles of Android firmware, as you could make sure that are not particularly difficult. However, this, alas, only in theory ... In practice, you may encounter various non-standard situations, which, most often, happen when you try to flash the next Chinese device from an unknown manufacturer. Here everything can turn into a very tangled quest with an unknown outcome (which is why at the very beginning I wrote that the probability of success is 50/50).

In any case, starting to engage in the firmware android, first of all be sure to make backups! The second thing is not be lazy to read the instructions that other more experienced users write on the forums (if these instructions are). After all, sometimes not even there, the check mark can turn your device in the "brick" literally in one touch!

One more thing. Always start working on a fresh head and with a reserve of time at least in a couple of hours. This will give you the opportunity to calmly think about your actions, if suddenly something goes wrong. In general, let android firmware will always be successful for you!

P.S. It is allowed to freely copy and quote this article if you specify an open active reference to the source and maintaining the authorship of Ruslana TRADER.

Update or installing the firmware allows you to eliminate many problems associated with the functioning of the Android device. With long-term operation, the system memory of mobile gadgets is clogged with residual files () ("Sleeping" of previously downloaded programs), malicious code () and other unnecessary data. All this leads to a decrease in the performance and speed of the processor and RAM. As a result, the smartphone (tablet) begins to hang it often and independently reboot. And if the factory reset () did not lead to a positive result, the user remains only to update the software itself. Consider how to reflash the phone running on the Android OS.

Types of firmware and ways to install

Android firmware at home is largely different from the installation of the rest of the software. This process is more time consuming and is associated with many risks. When choosing an inappropriate version of software or violation of the update process, there is a possibility of transforming a phone or a tablet to useless "". However, having learned how much the flashing of professionals is, many still decide to change the software version on their own.

To flash Android there is no single instruction that would come to all models of mobile devices. It all depends on the manufacturer of the device and what software is planned to be installed.

All android firmware are divided into two types:

Official. Supplied directly by the manufacturers of smartphones and are usually suited only to a certain brand. Such programs are considered the most reliable, therefore, if possible, use them.
Unofficial (custom). Developed by Android devices and small firms. They apply when the Android reinstallation is performed on Chinese devices (for example, Lenovo, Meizu, Xiaomi, etc.).

When using custom software, there is a possibility of installing poor quality updates, with the result that the gadget will begin to slow down even more. Therefore, you need to download the executable file only after the detailed reading of its description and familiarization with user feedback.

Change the firmware on Android in several ways:

Preparation for independent flashing

Before reinstalling software on the Android device, you need to make a number of preparatory activities:

download on the PC program to update software (Odin, Kies or SP Flash Tool and find a high-quality USB cable (if reinstallation will pass with a computer);
(if you plan to reinstall the android to the unofficial version);
charge the gadget battery by 100%;

The functionality of the installed support largely depends on its version and assembly. So that the new firmware after some time did not begin to conflict with the "hardware", you need to find out the serial number of the mobile device:

More detailed procedure for updating Android on the phone Consider on the example of Samsung and Lenovo, although this instruction is also suitable for many other brands.

SAMSUNG smartphone firmware

Update software on Samsung devices is made using the KIES program. This utility allows not only to reflash the tablet or phone, but also make a backup copy of the old system, synchronize personal data from PC and much more.

Before changing the firmware to the newest provision, you need to properly configure Kies. This is done as follows:

Configuring Kies, create a backup available on a software smartphone. This will allow you to restore the performance of the system in the event of an unsuccessful firmware. To make backup android through a PC, in the initial application window, select "Backup", check the items you want to save and run the procedure by pressing the appropriate button.

Having created a backup, boldly reflash the phone or tablet via the computer. To do this, open the "Tools" section and activate the item marked in the figure, thereby running the update process.

While the device is stitched, in no case disconnect it from the PC and do not perform other actions that can lead to the disconnection.

I stitches the Android phone through the computer, check the performance of all its functions. If nothing fails, it means that the software update was successful.

Replacement of firmware on Lenovo tablet through PC

Before you flash the Tablet Lenovo, you need to understand that the software developed specifically for this brand is not. Therefore, it is necessary to be content with universal developments. One of these applications is the SP Flash Tool. Consider how to make a software update on Lenovo through this utility:

After you managed to update the firmware, check the performance of all the functions of the tablet.

Let's start with what you need Linux. In Windows, you can only disassemble the firmware, but it will not be possible to collect back to purely technical reasons. Now about the firmware. Usually they spread in the form of zip-archives stitched through custom recovery. It is one of them we will need for experiments. It is recommended to start the path of Romoodel, I recommend with some as close as possible to AOSP a custom firmware, because it is often easier to figure out than in stock.

Unpack the archive with the firmware to any folder.
Swing the script on the link and unzip to any folder.
We start the EXT file (if you swear on the absence of Java, just miss, pressing Y; Java is needed only for the searches).
Now choose the unpacking by pressing the button 1, and then enter.
The new folder named Extract_ * will appear next to the EXT file and the Tools folder. Copy to it files System.New.Dat and System.Transfer.List.
After copying files, press Enter and wait. After some time, you will need to press Enter again, enter the administrator password and tap ENTER again.
Ready. System content in the Extract _ * / OUTPUT folder.

Manual way

Unpack the archive with the firmware to any folder (for example, in ROM):

$ mkdir ~ / rom $ unzip path_O_Archiva -D ~ / Rom /

Download the tools you need to this folder:

$ CD ~ / ROM $ wget https://github.com/xpirt/sdat2img/raw/master/sdat2img.py

Run the script:

$ chmod + x sdat2img.py $ ./sdat2img.py system.transfer.list System.New.Dat System.img

It converts the System.New.DAT file to the RAW image named System.img. Mount the image to the subfolder MNT:

$ MKDIR MNT $ sudo mount -t ext4 -o loop system.img ~ / rom / mnt

Structure of Android directories

After unpacking the SYSTEM, the following catalog structure will appear:

app. - pre-installed applications with standard privileges;
priv-App. - pre-installed applications with elevated privileges, including some system components;
bin. - Binary ELF format files, directory / bin and / usr / bin directory in Linux. Contains various system components used by higher level system components;
eTC. - Settings files. Full analogue / ETC in Linux used, however, only by those systemic components. Android applications store individual settings in the / Data / DATA /;
fonts. - Fonts. By default, only Roboto branded fonts;
framework. - Java class libraries used by the system and applications. There is a Framework-res.apk file that contains a full description of the operating system interface, including all graphic files;
lib and lIB64. - Linux libraries used by low-level components of the system. Analogue of Directors / LIB and / USR / LIB in Linux, including such standard libraries as LIBC, LIBZ, LIBSSL. On devices with Armv7 architecture and below the LIB64 catalog will be absent;
media. - Media Files: Ringtones, Notification Sounds, Interface Sounds and OS Loading Animation;
tTS. - Files required by speech synthesizer;
usr - Directory, which usually contains files needed to work applications from the BIN directory. Essentially analogue / usr / share;
vendor - Files supplied by the device manufacturer. Usually contains binary Firmware for various iron components, such as Wi-Fi module;
xbin. - optional directory; Custom firmware use it for storing things such as Bash, SSH, PowerTop, BusyBox interpreter, and other useful tools;
build.prop. - a file containing the assembly information, as well as various low-level settings;
addon.d. - Contains scripts that run after installing the firmware. Here, Gapps prescribe their script, thanks to which they are reborn after reinstalling the firmware.

After reading the basic structure of Android, let's start making changes.

We delete and add applications

All preset programs can be found in two folders:

/ SYSTEM / APP /;
/ System / Priv-App /.

They differ from each other. Access privileges. If programs from the APP have the same powers as third-party programs (for example, installed from the Play Store), then applications from the PRIV-APP can use privileged APIs (Privileged rights). You can learn more about this.

To preset applications in the firmware, just throw it apk-file in / System / App /. You can, of course, create a separate folder, but in our case it makes no sense, because the folder serves to store libraries and the ODEX files that we simply do not have. To delete, simply delete the folder with it.

You can go further and change stock applications on analogs. For example, to replace the calendar, we delete the folder Calendar And copy our favorite com.rpagyc.splecalendar.apk copying to / System / App. And you can not copy. Then the firmware will be without a calendar.

The main thing, remember: Stock Cards may be interconnected. Therefore, the removal of one program may well lead to complete inoperability of another (for example, CalendarProvider and Calendar: Deleting the first, you will do not only stock, but also any other calendar). Fortunately, in clean AOSP-firmware relationships not so much.

Change the animation of download

Animation is stored in the form of PNG pictures packed in the /System /Media/Bootanimation.zip archive without compression. Inside the archive are:

desc.txt - a file describing the animation;
part0. - folder with animation files that are reproduced first;
part1 - folder with animation files that are reproduced by the second;
pART? - Extreme folder, images with which is reproduced at the end.

DESC.TXT file may contain something like

1920 1080 60 P 1 0 Part0 P 0 Part1

The purpose of these lines is intuitive: 1920 × 1080 - resolution of the picture, 60 - the number of frames per second. Part0 and Part1 indicate folders from which animation will be played, and the playback sequence. In general, it can be both one part and a few (three and more).

Images located in the Part folders are numbered by five digits in playback order: 00000.png, 00001.png, 00002.png ... These images can be changed to your own, thereby creating an original animation. And you can simply delete the bootanimation.zip file. Then the device will show an animation from standard Android. Or take advantage of the finished collection of animations on wage 4pda.

Change sound decoration

In fact, all the sounds that play the system are stored in the / System / Media / Audio folder. Inside it, you will find the following folders:

alarms. - the alarm tune;
notifications - sounds of notifications;
ringtones. - call melodies;
uI - System sounds, such as low battery charge, camera focus, selection of interface elements.

In Alarms, notifications, Ringtones can be thrown out any of any melodies. You can take them, for example, here:

standard melodies from different phones and Nokia smartphones;

And Lyfhak Lyfhak: Deleting files from the UI folder will not lead to failures and errors, but to the disappearance of system sounds. Therefore, you can easily disable the sound of creating a picture from the camera, removing the screenshot, simply losing these sounds files (their names intuitively understandable).

Add fonts

Fonts are stored in Fonts. Find archives with font files on 4PDA and XDA. To install, it is enough to copy with the replacement of TTF files from the archive to the Fonts folder.

Change system settings (Build.prop)

In the System, there is an interesting build.prop file containing a variety of useful information about the device's gland and default settings for different stock applications. In fairness, I note that this is not always the case. For example, in Gigaset Me and ME Pro Build.prop divided into two parts. One part contains settings for Gigaset Me, and for Me Pro, some rows are duplicated, but the keys (smartphone name and so on) are different in them. It was done to ensure more or less correct performance of the same firmware on different devices.

Build.prop contains (or may contain) a huge number of settings. Some of them do not change anything, some improve one due to the deterioration of the other, but there are those that are really helpful:

ro.Product.Model and ro.Product.Manufacturer. - Smartphone model and manufacturer name. With the help of the replacement of these lines, you can get the Play Store think that you have another smartphone that will open access to more software. For any little-known Chinese smartphones, these lines can be saved;
hW.QEMU.MainKeys. - only two values \u200b\u200btakes: 0 - show the navigation keys, 1 - Do not show the buttons. No string corresponds to 0;
debug.sf.nobootanimation - The value 1 disables the load animation, which raises its speed slightly. Installation 0 or deleting a string Returns an animation into place;
ro.Telephony.default_network. - says the system, in which mode Mobile network must be switched when loading;
ro.sf.lcd_density - DPI display, the most accurate value for the display can be counted through a convenient site. But no one forbids to put and more or less in its taste: higher values \u200b\u200bmake interface elements larger, low - less;
ro.config.vc_call_vol_steps. - the number of volume steps during the conversation (default 8);
ro.config.media_vol_steps. - Number of multimedia volume steps (default 15).

Implement into Google Apps firmware

Almost always custom firmware comes without Google services and application store. Developers offer us to install them separately using the GAPPS package. However, it can be integrated directly into the firmware.

First you need to download the Gapps package. I recommend taking Open Gapps archives. You choose the version of Android, the processor architecture and the configuration option (Pico, Nano, Stock ...), which defines how many different Google applications contain an archive. I recommend downloading Pico version. It contains only the Play Store and the set of libraries necessary for its work.

Integration of Gapps in the firmware is performed as follows:

Unpack the ZIP archive of Gapps using any archiver.
Go to the Core folder.
We see many archives with extension.tar.lz. Remove with lzip.
After unpacking, copy files from folders to the appropriate folders in the SYSTEM. What to throw, it is not difficult to guess the structure of directory in the archive. For example, configupdater (from the screenshot) must be thrown into the PRIV-App folder.
Go to the Gapps folder (located next to the Core) and we do items 3 and 4 for files in it.
All, we integrated Gapps to our firmware!

Free place

It must be understood that the place to install the firmware is limited. You can not install the firmware, the size of which outweighs the size of the System device partition. You can see its value using:

$ ADB Shell DF / System

Second option: Put the terminal on the device and type the command

$ DF / System

The size of the partition in bytes can be found by installing on the BUSYBOX smartphone and running the command in the terminal

$ BusyBox DF -B 1 / System

Or the same with ADB:

$ ADB Shell BusyBox DF -B 1 / System

The place occupied by the firmware will be approximately equal to the size of the System in the unpacked form. In general, when creating a firmware, it is necessary to take into account that the user can also flash various modifications on top of it (SuperSU, XPosed) or transfer applications to the System section. For example, the minimum package of Google applications (PICO) requires a minimum of 150 MB of additional space for installation.

If necessary, the size of the firmware file can be reduced, removing not only unnecessary programs from / System / App (/ System / Priv-App) and call sounds from System / Media / Audio and Bootanimation.zip, but also:

/ System / TTS / Lang_Pico - Languages \u200b\u200bof the primitive voice engine Pico TTS, Google's voice engine will not affect;
/ SYSTEM / USR / SREC / CONFIG / - Offline languages. You can download then online, if you need.

Assembly

After making changes, you need to collect everything back. First, pack the System section in System.New.Dat. Download the tools you need:

$ wget https://github.com/xpirt/img2sdat/raw/master/img2sdat.py $ wget https://github.com/xpirt/img2sdat/raw/master/blockimgdiff.py $ wget https: // github. com / xpirt / img2sdat / raw / master / common.py $ wget https://github.com/xpirt/img2sdat/raw/master/rangelib.py $ wget https://github.com/xpirt/img2sdat/raw/ Master / Sparse_img.py $ sudo apt-get install Android-toools-fsutils

We convert our folder back to the RAW image. Let's call it system_new.img:

$ sudo make_ext4fs -t 0 -s file_contexts -l 1073741824 -a System System_new.img Output /

1073741824 Change the size of the System in bytes. It is advisable to even make it a little less. Make from the RAW image Sparse-image:

$ img2simg system_new.img system_snew.img

We transform our image in System.Transfer.list and System.New.Dat, which you need to throw the archive with the firmware, but first delete the old files:

$ rm -rf system.transfer.list $ rm -rf system.new.dat $ rm -rf system.patch.dat $ chmod + x img2sdat.py $ ./img2sdat.py System_snew.img

Separate the firmware files from excess husks (files that we downloaded to work. To do this, it is convenient to use the archive with the firmware). Removed? Now you need to pack the firmware in the zip archive (any archiver).

It remains to sign the archive. You can do this on both the Android itself with Zipsigner and on the PC (the Java installed) will be required:

$ wget https://github.com/appium/sign/raw/master/dist/sign.jar $ java -jar file.zip

Underwater rocks

During the assembly of System.New.dat, you can face several problems caused by constant changes in the mechanisms for forming Android firmware. The method described above should work well in the case of the Android 5.1 based firmware, in newer difficulties may occur, so you need to use other versions of assembly tools. Unfortunately, we cannot describe all the assembly nuances, so you may have to google.

Installation

To install a custom firmware, a TWRP custom recovery is necessary, which allows you to install firmware unsigned or signed by the test key (we created that we created). In the journal, we repeatedly described the process of its installation, and in the branches of the forum dedicated to your device, usually there is enough information to do this.

TWRP.

conclusions

This article describes only the top of a huge iceberg called "Modification of Firmware". "Serious" firmware not only complement the kernel and the firmware itself with the stock applications in many functions (which are often escaping from other cores and firmware), organizing or even changing the principles of their interaction, but also may well radically change the principles of operation of the OS. True, such a drawing is no longer Android, but a separate OS, even if play-services get there to put there (by the way, such actions, to put it mildly, Google is not encouraged). Well, do not forget: all shells from manufacturers - Touchwiz, Zenui, HTC Sense and so on - only ordinary customs that are most attached to the device and to each other.

He conducts active customer support, with varying success, updates and updates for their gadgets. In practice, official firmware developer supplies mainly "by air" (via update OTA), as well as by posting a special firmware image file, on its website or portal.

You can flash the image due to the set of special software:

CWM Recovery.
TWRP Recovery.
With the help of a computer and a special set of programs (FastBoot, KDZ UPDATE, ODIN and other utilities).

As a rule, images of firmware before the update are packs into special archives that have the expansion of ZIP, ISO and others.

In addition to official firmware, very often users and community of the gadget form support for devices, releasing custom versions of firmware and laying out them on amateur forums and portals. Such updates can provide an extended or trimmed functionality of official images, complementing or removing unnecessary moments of them.

To begin with, before the flashing process, be sure to take care of your data on the internal memory of the device. When updating, all files are erased, which means you need to make backup in advance and save important files on external media.

On the question how to flash android Under the OTA update "By air", we will not stop there, but I will better concentrate all your attention on other methods of updates.

Phone firmware with CWM Recovery

The rich functionality of CWM Recovery allows you to produce with the device many manipulations, including and rolling the firmware. By default, the devices are installed stock Recovery, which means it is necessary to install directly the clockworkmod recovery utility itself.

The overall firmware process described below concerns ZIP files. Instruction:

Go to Recovery. To do this, it is necessary to completely turn off the device, and after clamping a certain sequence of buttons, on the body of the device. A set of keys can vary depending on the device manufacturer. Each combination may differ among themselves. Additional information can be found with the search engines by setting the relevant question. A universal option is the following clicks:

Button enhance the volume + key on.
The volume button + key on.
Buttons enhance / lower the volume + power key + "home".
At the same time squeezed volume keys up + down and the power key of the device.

Once in the recovery, you will see the central menu, moving around which you can use the zoom buttons and decrease the volume, and the inclusion key will perform the action selection feature.

Before starting the device, it assumes the full reset of the gadget to the factory settings. To do this, go to "WIPE DATA / FACTORY RESET" and confirm the action by clicking on the line with the inscription "Yes - Wipe All User Data".
Returning to the main lobby, select "Install Zip".
Next, click on the "Choose Zip From / SDCard" and in the Explorer Tree, select a file with a previously stored firmware.
I confirm the choice by clicking on the "Yes - Install ..." paragraph.
Start the process of flashing the device. At the end of the process, the user will see the inscription on the "Install from SDCard Complete" screen.
All that remains to make the user is to return to the main Lobby CWM Recovery and perform the process of rebooting the gadget by pressing the "Reboot System Now" string.

After the specified actions will start installing the firmware. Do not panic, because the installation algorithm can last up to 10 minutes.

How to flash android phone with TWRP Recovery

For those who like more about working with a TWRP Recovery utility, the following instruction of the update update is as follows as a ZIP archive:

Run the file with the image of the firmware in the device's memory.
Go to the recovery TWRP. This is done by analogy with CWM.
Receive to factory settings by clicking in the Main Menu on the "WIPE" parameter. Take the lever to the right. At the end of the removal of the gadget, return to the original lobby, clicking on the "BACK" key.
In the main lobby, select "Install" and find the image downloaded previously in the file system. Click on it, having dragging the slider to the side.
After that, the firmware process will be launched. According to the standard, it does not exceed 2-3 minutes.
Upon completion, the utility will automatically display a message about successful flashing. By clicking on the "Reboot System" paragraph, restart the device.

Installing updates using ROM Manager

Using this application, you can not only perform the firmware, but also create a backup of the system. Use this option to not lose important data and quickly restore the entire functionality of the smartphone.

To get started, you will need to have special on the device that allow the system level to access the internal files of your device. To do this, you can use any of the programs presented.

The second important aspect when working with ROM Manager serves a custom recovery. All firmware actions occur directly in the Android launcher itself, and Rom Manager serves as a visual superstructure over Recovery.

First, download the file with the firmware for your gadget, and follow the following instructions:

Transfer the firmware archive, in the expansion of ZIP in memory of your device.
In the Utilities menu, go to "Set ROM with SD card" item. "
Among the folders and files, select your image and click on it.
In the new lobby, select "Restart and Installation". Do not forget to put a mark on the "Save Current ROM" item. In this case, you will have the opportunity to restore the system at any time.
Clicking "OK" your gadget will go into Recovery mode, and the firmware update process will begin.

Thanks to the enlarged functionality of the ROM Manager application, users can directly download images for their device. You can do it by clicking on the item "download firmware". Access to some Romam is available only in the paid version of the program.

How to flash android through computer

Universal means for firmware Android devices using a PC is a FastBoot utility. It is part of the SDK Platform Tools, which means it is suitable for a large number of devices.

The second stage before the start of the firmware is to gain access to the system core. Very often, many manufacturers block this system parameter, not wanting that users would personally change the system files of their firmware. Such manufacturers include HTC, Nexus, Sony and Other Device Line. To do this, you need to unlock the bootloader. To do this, you need to explore detailed instructions for setting up and managing the command line. Before starting the firmware using a computer, do not forget to enable the USB device debugging in the device's engineering settings.

Brief Instructions for Installation Zip Firmware Using FastBoot

To begin with, copy .Zip archive with a way, and place it in the folder with "ADB".
Move your smartphone or tablet to FastBoot mode mode and write a query on the command prompt: FastBooflash Zip_File .Zip name, where file name .Zip is the name of your firmware.
Wait for the end of the installation and overload the device.

You must flash Android using fastboot, but do not know how? This article provides a detailed instruction on using the FastBoot utility and how to use it to flash Android devices.

This instruction will fully tell how to use FastBoot! If you do not know how to set archive updates, then you need an article - ClockWordMod - what it is. Instructions for CWM Recovery with pictures

Download and install FastBoot

Before flashing Android using FastBoot, you need to download it and install it on the necessary computer.

1. You can download the FastBoot utility with the official Android SDK program (high weight)

why ADB Run is better

(Rutube) 35AB1DE9E0BBA7DA32B643D19A14C9F0 (/ Rutube)

Running

If you downloaded separately FastBoot

After you downloaded and installed FastBoot, open the program to the PC " Command line »

and V. die commands to go to folder with the FastBoot utility (if installedseparate FastBoot)

CD /
cD ADB.

If you downloaded AdB Run

If your choice fell on the ADB Run program, then run it and select MANUAL in the menu -\u003e ADB

Files that need to flash should be in one folder with FastBoot utility

Team instructions How to flash Android using fastboot

It is very important to write commands and firmware files as they are indicated!

If you have the command specified

fastBoot Flash Cache nazvaniafile.img

that you need to write this way, but neither anyway. In other words, the register of letters is important, you will get a mistake cannot Load 'Image' - There is no such file.

Restart commands to firmware mode (Bootloader)

FastBoot Reboot-Bootloader

Team "See" whether PC is your Android

Take a habit to check before doing something in FastBoot if the connection between the computer and Android:

Check "Whether" PC Your Android

FastBoot Devices.

This command is to execute when the device is already in the firmware mode (Bootloader)

Unlock and Lock Lock Nexus

Unlock bootloader for nexus

FastBoot OEM Unlock.

BOOTLOADER BOOTLOADER FOR NEXUS

FastBoot OEM Lock.

Team learn version bootloader

Shows the version of the bootloader number installed on Android

fastBoot GetVar Version-Bootloader

Section formatting commands

Before flashing any section in Android, it is first necessary to format in order not to have arisen in the work.

fastBoot Erase IMYA_RAZDELA. - Erase Section: Boot, Radio, Recovery, System, UserData and others

Erases the cache section (Cache)

FastBoot Erase Cache.

Erases Date (DATA)

FastBoot Erase UserData.

Erases the section Systems (System)

FastBoot Erase System

Selects section Recovery

FastBoot Erase Recovery.

Commands for firmware

After the formatting of the partition or partitions has been formatted, you can proceed to the firmware

fastBoot Flash IMYA_RAZDELA IMYA_FILE.IMG - Firmware selected section: Boot, Radio, Recovery, System, UserData and others

Flash system partition (System)

fastBoot Flash System IMYA.IMG

Flash the cache section (Cache)

FastBoot Flash Cache IMya.img

Emighting Date (DATA)

fastBoot Flash UserData IMya.img

Smack section Recovery.

fastBoot Flash Recovery IMya.img

Installation of Enference Animation (Section Firmware with Animation)

fastBoot Flash Splash1 splash.img

Flash all sections (Boot, Recovery and System)

FastBoot Flashall.

Instead imya.img. - It is necessary to prescribe the name of the file that you are going to flash

Team for installing update.zip

Flags on Android archive update in Update.zip format or zip archive with img images of various sections

fastBoot Update File Name.zip.

For Sony devices

Checking the connection of the Sony device, if the answer is 0.3 device, then connected

fastBoot.exe -i 0x0fce GetVar Version

Unlock Bootloader.

fastBoot.exe -i 0x0fce OEM Unlock 0XPC

More detailed information on unlocking Bootloader Sony - how to unlock bootloader sony

WAITING FOR DEVICE ERROR

If you have a long time in the command window, the inscription waiting for Device. - So:

Not installed or incorrectly installed driver - reinstall or install
Android device is not in bootloader mode - translate
Incorrect connection to the USB port - use the rear ports of the USB 2.0 computer, do not use USB hubs

Video example of working with FastBoot utility

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For those who do not understand anything!

For those who do not understand anything use the ADB Run application, almost all commands that are needed for FastBoot are entered in this program!

Below is an example of an ADB RUN operation - how to flash the RECOVERY quickly using ADB Run in less than 5 seconds (just forget to first translate into bootloader mode)! Click on the image to view.