To prevent new users asking the same questions again and again, i decided to write this little FAQ and introduction about ROM flashing.
To all of you who are new to ROM flashing: Don't mind to ask, we all will help you if possible, but you should understood that it is annoying when the same question is asked 20 times a week. So please first search, then ask. Thank you.
If someone finds an error please do not post it, just send me a pm and I will correct it. Additional FAQ entries will be added regulary. If someone likes me to add a question, please send the question and the answer to me via PM and i will add it asap.
Thank you to the whole community, because without all of your information, this FAQ could not be possible.
If you are new to ROM flashing, please read this thread. It will give you information about your device and a short introduction on how to flash another ROM to your phone.
Below you will find the ROM flashing FAQ and the Introduction to ROM flashing.
Please feel free to add links to this thread to your signature using the following code:
[b][url=http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1790046#post1790043]ROM flashing FAQ[/url][/b]
[b][url=http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=1790046#post1790046]Introduction to ROM flashing[/url][/b]
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Click to collapse
ROM flashing FAQ
ROM flashing FAQ:
Q: What is a ROM?
A: A ROM contains the operating system and often additional software which can be “installed” to your mobile device. Most ROM’s provided by the chefs (people who create cutomized ROM’s) just contain the operating system and additional applications. Shipping ROM’s (ROM’s provided by the manufacturer or official providers) also contain a Radio ROM and a bootloader.
Please notice: A ROM can ONLY be flashed to a device it is made for.
Q: What is a bootloader?
A: A bootloader contains information about your device. It is quite similar to a computer’s BIOS. Official bootloader also have a security option called CID (Carrier-ID) which allows you just to install ROM’s from the provider of your phone. So, if you want to flash another ROM, you first have to turn off this security option by “CID-unlocking” your device. Check the flashing instructions below on how to do this.
Q: What is a Radio ROM?
A: The Radio ROM contains the drivers for the communication devices of your phone. Some ROM’s need one or more specific Radio ROM’s to work properly. Usually the chef, who created the ROM recommends a Radio ROM. But don’t mind, if your Radio Rom does not match, you can always flash another without needing to flash the ROM containing the Operating System (OS) again.
You can check the version of your Radio ROM when you click Start > Settings > System > Device Information or booting your device (there will appear three lines of red text. The Radio ROM version is the number after the R:.
You can download Radio ROM's at the xda-developers FTP-Server in the Uploads/Kaiser/Radio-Folder. Username and password are both 'xda'. To install it, download, extract and execute it. Then follow the instructions on your screen. Flashing a Radio does not delete any files on your device's ROM.
To choose the perfect Radio ROM for you check this thread.
Q: What means CID(-unlock)?
A: All known providers add a Carrier ID to their devices. This CID is added to prevent a device being flashed with a ROM which is not from the provider and/or not designed for your device. Be sure to brick your Kaiser, if you try to flash a ROM designed for a Wizard.
To flash other ROM's, you have to unlock the CID. If you flash another ROM on a CID-locked device, the new ROM will not work properly.
Q: What means SIM-Unlock?
A: Lots of providers want to bind their customers. So they add a SIM-Lock to their devices with only allows to use SIM-Cards using their networks. If you want to use a SIM-Card from another provider, you need to SIM-unlock your device. This can be done by contacting the phone's provider (paid & sometimes free), using a service like www.imei-check.com, or using Jockyw2001's Kaiser SIM Unlocker.
Q: Can I brick my phone by flashing a ROM?
A: To be true… YES. But if you follow all instructions, it is quite implausible that your device bricks.
Q: Does flashing affect the warranty of my device?
A: Yes, but, as long as your device can be flashed again, you will find some help at jcespi2005's thread where you can find dumped original ROMs.
Q: What can I do, if i gain problems with the ROM i flashed to my device?
A: First of all you should inform the creator by posting in the ROM's thread if the problem is not described yet. Then you should wait for an update/fix or, if the issue is a showstopper for you, try another ROM.
Q: Which is the best/fastest/... ROM?
A: Nobody can answer you this properly. There are nearly daily new ROM's here and everybody has different demands to a ROM. If you want to know, which fits best for you, read the ROM description and try the ROM('s). Only you can decide, which ROM is the best (for you).
Q: I own an AT&T Tilt. After flashing another ROM, my hardkeyboard does not work properly.
A: AT&T uses another keyboard layout than HTC. To fix this, install the tilt keyboard fix.cab. You can download it at Dutty's Kaiser CAB Collection.
Q: What is the difference between a hardreset and a softreset?
A: A softreset reboots your device. A hardreset sets all settings back to the ROM's defaults. All of your data, settings and additionally installed programs will be deleted.
Q: What are *.CAB-files and/or how do i use them?
A: Cab-files for WINCE-Devices are different to the files you may have seen (e.g. on your Windows Installation CD). They do not only contain files but also installation information similar like a MSI package. To install them, just copy the *.cab to your Mobile Device and run it from there. Most shipped ROMs delete cab-files after executing, most cooked do not. To be sure, check the registry. If HKLM\Software\apps\Microsoft Application Installer\nDynamicDelete = 0 (DWORD decimal), cab-Files will not be deleted after execution.
Q: I have questions which are not described in this FAQ. What shall i do?
A: First of all search the forum and the wiki (http://wiki.xda-developers.com). Maybe the question has been already answered. If you don't find an answer, create a new thread. As i know from experience, the community will always try to help you as soon as possible.
Introduction to ROM flashing
Introduction to ROM flashing
These are the steps on how to flash your device the first time:
1: CID-unlock your device by following the instructions at pof's HTC Kaiser Hard-SPL v1 - CID Unlock & Flash any ROM to your device (4 free)-thread
This needs to be done to flash a ROM to your device which is not created from your provider (or HTC if you own a device with HTC branding).
Additionally you may check persianowns Kaiser HardSPL Walkthrough Video.
If you are running in a white screen running HardSPL, please read this thread.
2: Search this forum for the ROM, you like to flash. Then download and, if needed, extract it.
3. Check, if your Radio-ROM matches the new ROM. If you don't find any information in the ROM's thread don't mind. You can update your Radio ROM later if you gain any problems.
4. Make sure, your devices battery status is NOT LESS than 50%.
5. Connect your device to your computer and wait until activesync/Windows Mobile Device Center recognizes it
6. Last chance to synchronize and/or backup files. All files and databases will be deleted after performing the next step!
(Optional: If you want to save your text messages and/or eMails, use a tool like DotFred's PIM Backup.)
7. Execute the .exe file you downloaded with the ROM.
8. Follow the instructions and DO NOT disconnect your device until flashing is finished.
9. Disconnect your device from your computer.
10. You need to delete the old activesync/Windows Mobile Device Center partnership, because it thinks, your device is not the same as before... and it is right ^^. Deleting an old partnership is only possible, if the device is not connected.
(Optional) If you want to change the name of your device, do that now by clicking Start > Settings > System > About > Device ID. Enter the new name of your device and click on Ok.
11. Connect your device to your computer, create a new partnership and synchronize. Then configure your device to your needs and if needed install additional software.
Congratulations! You succeed flashing your device!
Great FAQ....simple, concise, and informative
Well done
Excellent post bmueller77!
This should clear up a bunch of the questions that are asked.
thanks for that
its hard to find some basic info on here like this, so can we please sticky
Really Good Thank you...
Can you please make a general version of it and put it in general wiki so that it can benefit all not just kaiser guys
Although I am more interested in HTC Elf Touch version []
you could add my video to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCt5pUn6iI
shows how to hardspl
verysmartncool said:
Really Good Thank you...
Can you please make a general version of it and put it in general wiki so that it can benefit all not just kaiser guys
Although I am more interested in HTC Elf Touch version []
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Click to collapse
Let's see. I am already working on a more general FAQ version including info on Windows Mobile but, to be honest, a general flashing introduction would be much more complicated and i want to make it as easy as possible for newbies.
I think it would be better, if someone grabs this thing and would edit it for another device to keep it concise. If anyone is interested, just ask me via PM and i'll send you the whole including vbCode.
persiansown said:
you could add my video to it http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UaCt5pUn6iI
shows how to hardspl
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it. Thank you.
I have made this thread a sticky upon request.
I feel that this info should be ported to the wiki so that it can be found and edited by all.
At the momnet we have FAR to many sticky's in this section which makes finding anything hard to say the least.
Have a look at the BA section (in my signature) to see what I mean.
Aright, will add a general version to the wiki at the weekend.
Thank You but still have a question
Hi, I just got my HTC TyTn 2 as a present from my dad he got it from orange and got it sim unlocked for me. But I don't like it because Orange has their crappy stuff on it I wont the original stuff from HTC on it like HTC Home etc. I've got my phones detail in my signature can some one plz help i jus want to know if i can use it on my rom n radio version. Thanks.
thx
Super! Thank you!
this thread is awesome...it really help a newbie like me
the wiki is also very helpful
keep up the good work
I've been flashing ROMs for a long time. There is one thing I don't know. Does anyone know what is the reason behind stopping flashing RadioROMs at 95%? Whatever RadioROM I want to flash to my Vario III (keeping the standard T-Mobile ROM) it stops. In the RadioROM thread, there were several cases like mine. Can it be that for being able to flash another RadioROM you have to flash a custom ROM like Dutty or Schaps before flashing the Radio? I cannot recall such problems with Hermes.
Thanks for the guide. Also am not new to this I haven't done this in a while. ROM Flash went without a hitch. Keep up the good work.
haamedullah said:
Hi, I just got my HTC TyTn 2 as a present from my dad he got it from orange and got it sim unlocked for me. But I don't like it because Orange has their crappy stuff on it I wont the original stuff from HTC on it like HTC Home etc. I've got my phones detail in my signature can some one plz help i jus want to know if i can use it on my rom n radio version. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So long as your phone is SIM unlocked as in you can use any sim card in it then you flash it exactly the same as described in this thread. I flashed mine no problems. Does that answer your question or are you just wanting the home screen without flashing? If so Im not sure if thats possible, I heard some people say that you can enable it on orange phones but I flashed mine before I ever tried it.
Excellent FAQ!
Now i can get my hands dirty with that so called "ROM flashing" .
noobie question, but how do i install a cab file? thanks
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, I've done a search and can't find anything.
I know there's a few dumps of WP7 roms on the forum. But my understanding is that these have been from the rom files rather than from a phone. My question is is there a way to get a copy of EVERYTHING in the rom/nand from a working WP7 phone onto a computer/drive? I know there's tools on this forum for editing WP7 roms, but again, my understanding is that those roms weren't ripped from a working phone, rather from the rom file.
I know someone has used a HTC TyTn and has terminaled into the bootloader to send commands to dump the rom. Is this possible with a WP7 deivce? Say the HD7?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
yes i believe ppl flash new roms to unbrand their devices, you should check the devices forum, bet ull find roms there..
puunda said:
I'm sorry if this has been asked before, I've done a search and can't find anything.
I know there's a few dumps of WP7 roms on the forum. But my understanding is that these have been from the rom files rather than from a phone. My question is is there a way to get a copy of EVERYTHING in the rom/nand from a working WP7 phone onto a computer/drive? I know there's tools on this forum for editing WP7 roms, but again, my understanding is that those roms weren't ripped from a working phone, rather from the rom file.
I know someone has used a HTC TyTn and has terminaled into the bootloader to send commands to dump the rom. Is this possible with a WP7 deivce? Say the HD7?
Any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the rom's here on the forum(except the one's for the hd2) are original stock rom's for wp7 phones that can be flashed on real wp7 phones (with the same vendor ID)
you can't dump the actual rom from your phone right now (maybe later,but it will def take some time)
ceesheim said:
the rom's here on the forum(except the one's for the hd2) are original stock rom's for wp7 phones that can be flashed on real wp7 phones (with the same vendor ID)
you can't dump the actual rom from your phone right now (maybe later,but it will def take some time)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What phone(s) can you actually do a dump of the actual rom from the phone right now?
I understand some phones have things like clockwork recovery or magldr installed and use that to write new roms to the phone. Can the same programs not read (or backup) the current rom?
puunda said:
What phone(s) can you actually do a dump of the actual rom from the phone right now?
I understand some phones have things like clockwork recovery or magldr installed and use that to write new roms to the phone. Can the same programs not read (or backup) the current rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can only talk for wm/wp and only from wm (6.*) you can dump the rom using a tool that is installed on the phone .
if you had a jtag or something like that you could dump (read the ROM/NAND and copy it) almost any phone.
but a jtag is hardware and it cost money (lots of it) and you need to know exactly how to work with it and you would need to open your phone (till the last screw)
I don't know clockwork .
magldr is something like a second bios (not right , but for you to understand) that help to start the os (normally the spl/hspl will do that )
magldr is used only for playing tetris and to load android/wp7 to a phone that isn't build to run that kind of os
it can only load something , it can't dump a rom.
ceesheim said:
I can only talk for wm/wp and only from wm (6.*) you can dump the rom using a tool that is installed on the phone .
if you had a jtag or something like that you could dump (read the ROM/NAND and copy it) almost any phone.
but a jtag is hardware and it cost money (lots of it) and you need to know exactly how to work with it and you would need to open your phone (till the last screw)
I don't know clockwork .
magldr is something like a second bios (not right , but for you to understand) that help to start the os (normally the spl/hspl will do that )
magldr is used only for playing tetris and to load android/wp7 to a phone that isn't build to run that kind of os
it can only load something , it can't dump a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What tools can you use in WM6.* to dump the rom? I've read an article where someone used terminal commands and did a dump through the bootloader. Is there another way to do it?
I know about JTags, and am not touching them!
My point with clockwork and magldr is that if you can write (load) android/wp7 to the rom/nand, surely you should be able to get it to read from it?
It seems like either there's no way to do it with wp7 yet, or at least I've not found a way. But I was thinking if you can't do it with a real wp7 device since there's no clockwork/magldr, then can you take a dump of an HD2 with wp7 loaded into the rom/nand?
I have searched for a samsung focus stock rom in the past but I couldn't find it anywhere? have you seen any one?
ceesheim said:
I can only talk for wm/wp and only from wm (6.*) you can dump the rom using a tool that is installed on the phone .
if you had a jtag or something like that you could dump (read the ROM/NAND and copy it) almost any phone.
but a jtag is hardware and it cost money (lots of it) and you need to know exactly how to work with it and you would need to open your phone (till the last screw)
I don't know clockwork .
magldr is something like a second bios (not right , but for you to understand) that help to start the os (normally the spl/hspl will do that )
magldr is used only for playing tetris and to load android/wp7 to a phone that isn't build to run that kind of os
it can only load something , it can't dump a rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excuse me newbieness but if I'm getting you correctly, you're saying that it is possible for my to extract the ROM from a working Samsung Focus and then write it to my bricked Samsung Focus using a JTag?
Totally possible, theoretically.
The WM/WP OS image is only a piece of data saved in a flash partition, bootloader can read the content from the flash partition out and transfer bytes to PC (no need to care about the file system, just perform flash chip level read), but the question is you must know how to communicate with the bootloader and send proper command to it. And as I know in the shipped device, the ability usually will be removed from bootloader for security reasons (e.g. eboot is useful in development phase, but it must be removed from shipped device).
Yes, you also could use JTAG to read content out but due to the same reason, the debug port on the SoC usually also be disabled in shipped device (like Tegra, it has internal fuses to enable/permanently disable the JTAG).
UzEE said:
Excuse me newbieness but if I'm getting you correctly, you're saying that it is possible for my to extract the ROM from a working Samsung Focus and then write it to my bricked Samsung Focus using a JTag?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think reading the OS partition when OS is running is impossible (frankly, I never verified it). Two reasons, first the OS partition should be locked by last phase bootloader or some early bootup codes in OS (just set the NAND controller in SOC), and since OS is running, many system files are in memory so the corresponding files should also be locked by OS.
It is safe to dump whole OS image in bootloader, or so-called recovery mode.
So someone basically has to install a custom bootloader on the device. Then again, if the NAND is locked, that wont be possible.
QPST and Memory Debug allow to download raw NAND and radio copy. i've succesfully one it (even found private info like passwords and contacts), but i don't know how to split it into partitions. Mb anyone will help?
Maybe starting a new topic about it here would help. Might attract the attention of some other devs.
Useless guy said:
QPST and Memory Debug allow to download raw NAND and radio copy. i've succesfully one it (even found private info like passwords and contacts), but i don't know how to split it into partitions. Mb anyone will help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you describe how you do that?!
How to do this?..
Please note this is a rewrite and cleanup of first post. Original firstpost is in post#3.
Here I publish the ROM's I make for the MT6575 based Lenovo Dual SIM phone
The current and advised ROM is A750_ROW_S114_cybermaus_ICS_V3.1 described in post#2 below
This is the original A750 thread, but as not everyone can post in developer threads, I also have a publicly available new Q&A thread.
I advise you post your question here (if a more advanced and development specific A750 question) or in the Q&A question.
I am not going to be policing, so you can post where you like, but I invite everyone to use this new thread for any Q&A, and this thread for ROM releases and deep development talk only. Please understand I do not know everything, so using the Q&A thread is better then PM'ing me, as that way maybe others know the answer too.
Also, I am moving file hosting to Dev-Host. So if you encounter a dead link to a ROM file, do look here in my Dev-Host folder.
ICS IceCream Sandwich
Starting 2012/09/12 I have a second flavor of ICS ROM for the A750
ICS V1 ~ V1.3 are based on the original Lenovo A750 ROM's Most people tried them, but went on to APKHOT because of multilang. There was a V2, but never released
ICS V3 and onward is based on the Lenovo P700 ROM, see below
ICS V1 series
It is a update.zip type update. If you already got S306, and rooted/gapps'ed it yourself, you could stick to that, this is the same, with some minor extra cleanup.
'Normal' cleanup actions:
- Prevented update from overwriting Recovery
- Added root (Chainfire) & gapps (CM9 120429) & Maps & Streetview
- Cleaned Chinese & SmsReg
- Replace talking Unicom bootup with silent butterfly
- Set to US/en & added MoreLocale2
- Added MobileUncle 2.0.9
Instructions for A750_S306_120530_cybermaus_ICS_V1:
Assuming you have the custom recovery. If not, flash the recovery from my 4-shared using the flash tool.
- Put S306 V1 zip file on SD card (do not unzip)
- Also put S306 V1.3 zip file on the SD card (do not unzip)
- Boot into Recovery
- First apply V1, then apply V1.3
- Potentially, clear userdata and cache, especially if you come from any S14x GB
- Reboot, and wait for it to complete.
BTW: It should probably be noted that while I packaged V1.2 and V1.3, it was again bgcngm who we have to thank for knowing how to solve the location problems.
If you already lost recovery due to the S306 OTA update, reinstall it using the flash method from first post.
Please always respond if you tested it, even if you did not like it.
Oh, and if you do like it, press the thanks button of course.
ICS V3 series
For a long time I guessed the P700 is similar to the A750, but why bother. Until I recently heard it has a multilingual ROW (Rest Of World 海外版) version!
So I took the leap, and transplanted the A750 kernel into the P700 ROM (needed because the screen driver is different), and installed it on my A750.
It works pretty well. I did not need to fix location services or gapps (though I did put the newest in there). Also did I not need to clean up any Chinese apps. And the Calender is Chinese free, and the Dialer free of Chinese city names. So I barely had to do anything. Also GAPPS TTS was in there, though I still cannot find the settings menu.
But alas, the only 'multilang' in the ROW was Vietnamese. I guess "Rest Of World" is pretty limited.
Also, for those of you that liked it, the Security App (Anti-Virus, and limit permissions per App, so sort of a firewall) is also missing. I may put it back in later, but I want to run vanilla for a while to test stability.
But it is still nice and clean, and all programs a month newer. And Chinese out of the browser/email-setup/calender/dialer. Oh, and for all of you that went to APKHOT because of the newer SIM taskbar icons: It also has the newer icons. For an ongoing list of findings in post #585
So for those of you that want to try: A750_ROW_S113_cybermaus_ICS_V3 based on P700_ROW_S113_120801.
Assuming you have the custom recovery. If not, flash the recovery from my 4-shared using the flash tool.
A750_ROW_S114_cybermaus_ICS_V3.1
Based on factory ROM P700_ROW_S114_120903, and located in my Dev_host. Similar to V3, but newer, and a few extra tweaks.
Summery of changes:
- Same as on V3, and additionally:
- Whatever Lenovo fixed in their S114 (there is a unconfirmed suggestion that it may be signal strength related)
- Different (better?) call-log and Caller-ID behavior, see post #3 below
- Prepared busybox (you need to run script /system/xbin/installbusybox as root if you want it)
- Added a tweak so USB-Debug notification is no longer shown
- Added a tweak so Wifi works on all 14 international channels (rather than only the 11 US ones, may be undone if you set a different locale)
- Kept the original S306 radio firmware (baseband). They had the same timestamp as the P700 one anyway.
Instructions:
This is a update.zip type ROM. If you are on any ICS ROM, you do not need to flash V3 first, you can directly flash V3.1"
- Put ROW_S114 zip on SD card
- Boot into recovery
- Apply zip file
- Reboot, and wait for it to complete.
- If you came from a domestic Chinese ROM, clean data for calender, notes, desktop and if possible contacts, using these utilities. Or if you do not mind, wipe all data from recovery.
=================
BTW: Due to new forum rules, resulting in a large number of people that cannot post into developer threads and that subsequently PM me, I open op a new Q&A thread.
I am not going to be policing, so you can post where you like, but I invite everyone to use this new thread for any Q&A, and this thread for ROM releases and deep development talk only.
Consequently, if you PM'ed me, look for your reply in this new thread
Thanks
====================
PS: do drop me a reply if you use or tried it! Or press the 'thanks' button.
HELP, I lost my IMEI ! / Caller ID
Please note the content below was originally in post#1. I cleanup Post#1 a little, to make it clearer to new users.
=================
Hi All
My second Lenovo A750 ROM release: A750_S148_120428_cybermaus_V1
Edit: For ICS rom check the 2nd post.
Fixed toward V0
- Different GAPPS, resulting in
- More stable Play Store with less unlisted apps
- WiFi based Location services (from for example Places) working (GPS did work in V0)
- NANP (US style) numbering formating removed from phone
- Replaced Unicom talking bootup animation with silent Lenove butterfly
- Added 'new phone Setup' program
Still to improve (if you know how, on a MT6573/MT6575, let me know!)
- Caller ID lookup in Contacts should ignore IDD prefixes
- SMS app trips over hyphens and brackets in stored numbers
- Arabic/Hebrew RTL fix not applied yet.
- Remove 'new phone Setup' program again?
This is a simple and clean ROM, not too much done, essentially just the factory S148 ROM (A750_S148_120428) rooted, cleansed from Chinese and with Google Play Store and other GAPPS.
So it is mostly clean. It does not even have the Skype/YouTube/Flash apps, as I believe such apps change too often to be in the system portion. I upload the ones I got from Etowalk separately, in folder Etotalk_apk, you can install yourself.
Specific changes:
- Rooted the phone
- Set to boot in US-english
- Added MoreLocale for extra languages
- Removed Chinese apps, incl Chinese keyboard
- Removed SmsReg.apk
- Left Lenovo Security (anti-malware) intact
- Added Google framework
- Added modded Play Store 3.x.16-mod from XDA
- Added MobileUncle toolbox V2.0.9
- Added CWMR Touch / 593zn.com recovery image
Most images are unmodified from stock S148, even boot.img is unmodified. Only system.img was really changed, you could flash only that.
You will also need the flash tool and USB driver. For example tool SP_Flash_tool_v3.1208.01 and driver USB_VCOM_Driver. The flashing is the
typical Mediatek MT6573/MT6575 based flashing sequence as shown by bgcngm, the undisputed champion of Mediatek ROMS.
Which reminds me: Thanks to bgcngm for his help, and to jazzor for his help
Instructions:
By default, the ROM will not overwrite USERDATA. If you want a clean slate, first extract empty.userdata.rar. Also do this if you get "weird" behaviour after flashing, like Play Store not starting, your old setting may be incompatible with the new ROM
By default, the ROM will not overwrite FAT (the internal SD card). If you like an empty internal SD card, extract empty.fat.rar before flashing.
By default, the ROM will clean out CACHE. If for some reason you feel CACHE should not be cleared, deselect the CACHE from flashing.
IMPORTANT: If you want to play it safe, it may be wise to backup your phone's IMEI file before you flash or reset to factory defaults. See here for help on backup or restoring IMEI
IMPORTANT: If you are trying this ROM on another model phone, which I STRONGLY advise AGAINST, then do NOT flash the first two (preloader and dsp_bl) as you will may not be able to flash it back afterward and thus brick your phone. Someone tried it against an ZP100 and bricked his phone.
Download A750_S148_120428_cybermaus_V1
I will also upload the driver, flash utility and official ROM's there.
Enjoy
May 11, 2012
cybermaus
------------------------------------
Caller ID bug
Caller ID on the on the A750, on the P700 ROW, and I suspect in general on the Lenovo phones.
The lenovo ROW (=Rest Of World) based ROM are much more international then the other Lenovo ROMs. I cannot be sure about the other china brands, but Lenovo in ROMs intended for the local China market, 'update' the phone to nicely recognise chinese cities. I am sure China locals will be pleased with this service. I do not know if/how this applies on phones which are already more international like the multilingual Zopo's and Thl's out there.
In doing so, Lenovo seems to break the normal caller ID function. Not only do you get to see Chinese city names for non-Chinese numbers, but also in some cases it does not resolve an incoming call to your phone book. This seem to be especially true if the incoming call is in local format (no +CC) and the phone book is in international format (with +CC)
The ROW based ROMs work much nicer. No Chinese city names for non Chinese numbers. Also, it finds correct country names. So far, I was called by unknown numbers from California, UK, London, Russia, Romania, Saudi, Yemen and Jordan, and it all correctly resolved them. For California and London even to greater detail then the country. It only shows this for unknown numbers, for known ones it shows the contact name.
Indeed Caller ID seems to work correctly for local vs international format. So if the incoming is formatted without +CC, but leading 0, and the phone book is +CC, it finds it.
And it seems to nicely format all phones according to the desired national formatting. So +1 XXX-XXX-XXXX for US, but +966 X XXX XXXX SA fixed and +966 XX XXX XXXX for SA mobile. And +31 XX XXXXXXX for NL fixed and +31 XXX XXXXXX for NL mobile.Very nice
HOWEVER: The caller-ID lookup now seems 'whitespace-sensitive'. I had a contact number stored as +966 XXX XXXXXX, and he did not find it. But when I changed it to +966 XX XXX XXXX it did find it. Similar for number that had "(XXX)" brackets in it, as was common in NL in the past.
This may or may not be a problem, because if you touch your phone book entry in the edit mode, it will automatically change +966 XXX XXXXXX to +966 XX XXX XXXX. Symilar if you sync through Google. But as I sync with outlook using Android-Sync, many are stored like +CC (XXX) XXXXXXX
So, Caller ID is 'different'. But better? For most people probably yes. But may depend on your situation.
EDIT: I found the whitespace was actually due to me not clearing data. Everything seemed find, but the caller ID was a resulting problem. You need to clear contacts, so it reindexes the phone numbers, and then Caller ID is perfect. Even ignores () brackets. You can clear contacts many ways, but I made a patch for it.
Links to other A750 ROMS and other useful information:
EDIT: I have not kept this list updated. Search this thread for other ROMS, especially Smileyvvv's APKHOT seems popular
Original A750 ROMs: (S14x=GB; S30x=ICS)
A750_S148_120428 - Chinese/English - No root - No play store
A750-S305-120514 - Chinese/English - No root - No play store
A750_S306_120530 Original full S306 (no OTA, flash package)
Please note that all *official* ROMs come with password bbs.lenovomobile.com. If the password is missing, someone did something to the ROM. Also, there are 'root' images availible that only flash boot.img. These work by overwriting system.img *on every restart*. Creative, and I used it myself for a while, but currently I feel the method described below is a better method.
Other modified ROMs (GB):
S750 S143 Etotalk Multilang
A750_S148_120428_RUS by Anton_vrn V1.3 (true Russian translation!)
BM's Hebrew fixed
BaderMQ's multilang+Arabic fix
(please note none of these are really multilang, just multi-locale, which means system apps will remain English, but third party apps can be set to other languages, similar to my ROM's, I simply do not make the claim. Anton is the only one who actually translated the ROM, but to only one new language)
Other modified ROMs (ICS)
My ROM in sepo of course
lenovo750-4.0.3_Anton_vrn_v3.01(true multilang?? Hints that it contains: ar-de-es-fa-fr-in-it-nl-pt-ru-th-tr-vi-zh, but based on S305)
Etotalk S306 multilang_by_Dean : It exists, but I do not know an internet location to download it from.
How to root a ROM yourself:
- Flash the CWMR Recovery partition (the recovery only, not the root&recovery one)
- Reboot into recovery (poweroff - Press/hold Power for 2 secs, then also Up/Down)
- Apply this root update
- Use RootExplorer to remove any Vending* or Phonesky* from /system/app
- Apply the correct GB or ICS GAPPS package, from bottom page here, or its mirror here.
- If a ICS rom, even though not from me, you may still want to apply my ICS V1.3 update, especially if you have location or market compatibility issues.
Caller ID
Hy I have a Lenovo A750 and all my contacts in the address book are saved in international format ex.: +44 78......, and when somebody calls me the number that shows up on the display is 0 78....., as local format.
Unfortunately the phone doesn't recognise it as being saved in my address book and it show's me "078 .... is calling" instead of "Ben is calling".
How could I fix this?
Please help me, or at least give me directions.
Thank you
Its one of the more important (of not most important) issues, and it has focus of myself and more experienced people. It's listed above as "Caller-ID to Contact mapping should ignore IDD prefixes." But alas, afaik, at this moment, no solution exists.
Keep an eye on this thread, and/or this one. Rest assured that as soon as we know how, it will be fixed.
Edit: Caller ID bug is less prominent in ICS ROM's
And in any case, using this, you can work around it.
COOL
You have done great job man thank you. I was using etotaks v 2.0 rom but it kind of sucked so i decided to try yours and its all good. I like the net traffic, battery saving and LeSecurity and they come only with the lenovos rom. I will look foreward for future releases. Great Job.
Reagards.
RTL
Hi,
Are you planning to update your rom?
i was searching for a Lenovo A750 rom that support Arabic - Hebrw RTL.
There is a methods out there but its only for deodex Roms,and your rom odex.
anyway to convert odex to deodex?
Thanks
There is already a Arabic & Hebrew RTL version for A750 out there. Not my me, but by someone more experienced, though A750 is not his focus.
I am playing with my ROM, and while it is not on the top of my list, once I get round to updating it I was thinking of copying his RTL fix to my ROM also. In the mean time, try the other one, and tell me how it works in relation to the issues I still have on the to-do list.
Thanks
I downloaded the rom from that topic , it failed to install . it give me an error msg when i try to flash it thru CWM.
I manage to convert the lenovo A750 Roms to odex using crcstudio_1.2.0.0
now i'll try to apply the fix manually.
Well, you can always try to use the recovery I am using. It seems to work well for Bruno's ROM's.
I have never even attempted to put CWM on these Mediatek based phones. Nor have I heard of anyone else (other than you). Are you able to flash anything with it? I was assuming there was a reason people were not using CWM on Mediatek.
I advise you to put Recovery ROM from here, flash it using this method. And then use that to apply the zip based ROM's.
I am working to update my ROM with Hebrew also (actually, working on other stuff, but will try to also put that in), but be aware, it will also be a 'flash-utility' ROM.
Edit: ROM V1 is coming tomorrow, but no RTL, sorry. I was able to fix the location service and Play Store is now not blocking so many apps.
I already did try CWMR ... But when i ever try to flash BM Rom it shows an error.
And by the way .. I already used CWM to flash other roms on my A750 and its working.
so what i did:
I extract BM Rom and merge it with other chinese rom S148 and build new rom.
It works.. i can read/write Arabic . and for browser/gmail i install the Brightidea's app from the market. it fix the Arabic problem.
New V1 upload in first post.
Spanish from etotalk?
There are any possibility to get the spanish traduction from the etotalk rom?
Thank you
I'm using new ROM since last night.
I made a complete flash (userdata, sd...).
Now there are less Chinese applications, is good.
Good work, Thank you.
Quick question
Hi cybermaus
sorry for the noobie question but I didn't own a smartphone since windows mobile. I expect a A750 and it might come unrooted. Do I have to root it before installing the rom or is this done automatically in the flushing process? Thank you.
newbie_vlc said:
There are any possibility to get the spanish traduction from the etotalk rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check if the Spanish selection is part of the 'MoreLocale2' app. If not already there, add it as a custom locale.
Edit: If you meant: can I take Etotalk ROM and transplant its Spanish into my ROM, then that is already done! Neither Etotalk nor myself actually translate anything, we both just added the free public app MoreLocale2, which has most translations in it. Using MoreLocale2, the phone becomes 'reasonably' translated, though there may remain some English parts.
cliviu said:
Hi cybermaus
sorry for the noobie question but I didn't own a smartphone since windows mobile. I expect a A750 and it might come unrooted. Do I have to root it before installing the rom or is this done automatically in the flushing process? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This flash is using bootloader method, not recovery, and it will not need root. Upon flash, it will apply root automatically. Use the flash sequence as linked in the first post.
It is strange the size is only 157 mb. I will give it a try
Yes, V0 accidentally had two copies of the rom image inside the rar. It did not hurt, but it bloated the package a bit. The 157GB (164 981 710 bytes) is correct
Good to see you are paying attention though
Remove the Unicom bootup animation
I landed on this page when I was looking for help to remove the Unicom talking bootup animation/sound and remove all Chinese apps from my phone (A750) that I recently picked up.
But I have never done this and I am no developer but can you please help me with a list of procedure that I can follow to use this A750_S148_120428_cybermaus_V1?
If someone has skype or share their phone number I can call to seek help.
Email: [email protected]