confused about flash counter

[jonnyboi950]

So I've decided that I want to try out some custom roms. I've done all my research about rooting and flashing however I still want to be able to unroot to restore my warranty. I read that every time you root or flash your flash counter increases. is there any way to prevent this so that way whenever I Odin back to stock I will have a completely stock phone that will be able to be sent in for repairs if I ever need them?

 

[lunatic59]

I have read the methods for rooting without hitting the flash counter, but I'm not sure about changing roms. To reset the flash counter you can use Chainfire's app Triangle Away or you can use a USB jig. Personally, I prefer the jig method. It's safe, quick and cheap. You can buy a jig on amazon for five bucks or you could make one for about the same.

 

[Atma]

I don't think that rooting affects the flash counter. From what I've read, flashing anything with a non-samsung kernel is what trips the flash counter. Flashing a recovery wouldn't change the kernel. If you Odin'ed back to stock rom that wouldn't affect it either since you're using the Samsung kernel.

I haven't tried this, but here is a flash counter fix you can use in recovery.

 

[jonnyboi950]

I don't think that rooting affects the flash counter. From what I've read, flashing anything with a non-samsung kernel is what trips the flash counter. Flashing a recovery wouldn't change the kernel. If you Odin'ed back to stock rom that wouldn't affect it either since you're using the Samsung kernel.

I haven't tried this, but here is a flash counter fix you can use in recovery.

So basically, using this method, I would just put the zip into my sd then go into CWM to install the zip when I am ready to reset my counter? It doesn't really give you instructions in the post but I think i understand it mostly.

 

[Atma]

So basically, using this method, I would just put the zip into my sd then go into CWM to install the zip when I am ready to reset my counter?

Yes, it is a CWM flashable zip.

I'm not sure what my counter is. I've never checked. I don't have a warranty anyway so I guess it doesn't matter much.

 

[jonnyboi950]

Yes, it is a CWM flashable zip.

I'm not sure what my counter is. I've never checked. I don't have a warranty anyway so I guess it doesn't matter much.

I did some more reading through the post and it says that flashing ROMs in CWM does not trigger your flash counter and only when you flash unofficial ROMs through Odin. I only plan on flashing ROMs only through CWM however, when you first root and put CWM on to your phone using Odin would that trigger a counter? Could you clarify this for me. Sorry if the wording is confusing lol.

 

[Atma]

I only plan on flashing ROMs only through CWM however, when you first root and put CWM on to your phone using Odin would that trigger a counter? Could you clarify this for me. Sorry if the wording is confusing lol.

No, CWM doesn't affect the counter. I've flashed it several times and I just checked and my counter is zero. I've also flashed stock Gingerbread and ICS though Odin several times and that doesn't affect it either. I can't remember ever flashing a custom rom through Odin or ever needing to.

All the roms I have tried have been CWM flashable zip files. It is usually .tar files that are flashed in Odin.

 

[jonnyboi950]

Would you recommend gb or ics roms to be better in terms of overall performance and battery? I've picked out either beastmod v5 for gb or darkside revolution 3 for ics. Please give me some reviews if you've had experience with either one.

 

[Atma]

Would you recommend gb or ics roms to be better in terms of overall performance and battery? I've picked out either beastmod v5 for gb or darkside revolution 3 for ics. Please give me some reviews if you've had experience with either one.

Its been a while since I have run a rom. I've been content with rooted debloated stock. I've seen a lot of praise for Darkside. Whatever you choose, after you root and before you flash anything, go into recovery under backup and restore and do a backup (what's called a nandroid). If you ever have a problem with a rom you can always restore your backup.

 

[jonnyboi950]

I have a quick question about the rooting process. When I download all the files that i need for rooting (Odin, superSU, and the recovery) I notice that my recovery file is not a .tar file. Instead it is a WinRAR archive file even after i extract it to somewhere else like my desktop. When I go into the packaged zip file that contains all the files and I hover over the recovery file, it does say .tar at the end. So am I doing something wrong or missing some program?

 

[Atma]

Sometimes they will look like Winrar files even though they are .tar. Just to be safe you can download from the link in this post. I know it is .tar.

 

[jonnyboi950]

Okay now I see what you mean by it looking like a winrar file. I downloaded from your links and it looks the same as before so those were the right files from before. I'm all set now thanks. I was looking at the darkside rom and it gives some modded ICS radios. Do you know which one I be flashing? I read through the post and some people say you get better speeds depending on where you live and which radio you pick. I live in NY btw so which one should i pick. Sorry for asking you so many questions. I'm waiting for my verification for xda so i can't post there yet haha. You've been very helpful so I trust your advice!

 

[Atma]

I was looking at the darkside rom and it gives some modded ICS radios. Do you know which one I be flashing? I read through the post and some people say you get better speeds depending on where you live and which radio you pick.

I haven't run any rom's lately, just rooted stock, so I can't really tell you much about the radios. I would suggest doing a lot of reading and see which ones are working well with that rom. I'll pm someone else who I know runs that rom, or was, and see if they have any better info.

 

[alextop30]

Well radios in my opinion really are whether they work and they work ok. Personally tried my T989 with Tmo UVLC8 ICS MODIFIED RADIO - the first one on the download list (yes I usually just download the first one I see if I need it). The reason that was needed is because I was going from gingerbread to the custom rom. If you currently have ICS (stock or anything else) with a working radio you should not need to patch one.

This is not necessary the truth though in all cases - patching radios is primarily in the case of your phone just not working. If you see that internet cuts out or it goes into roaming mode with custom rom - it is time to patch the radio. If you use stock radio (which I personally believe is a good idea because it should be free from bugs the active word SHOULD).

My suggestion - I use to use darkside rom - it is pretty good the only thing is 4.0.3 is still buggy and not as smooth as 4.0.4 or 4.1 . Grab the rom - super wipe install the rom with CWM recovery than cash wipe (dark side cash wipe tool) than reboot your phone and see if the radio works you are done.

If you see shaky data (shakier than usual), bad connection on your phone as far as voice, unusual heat 2 or 3 days after you flash the rom or simply no data when you boot into the new rom go ahead and patch it. I believe you can just patch it from CWM without re installing the rom but that is just a guess so you can try it or if you choose to just wipe and install is your choice of course.

 

[alextop30]

In the interest of me not writing an essay here is a second post with a small explanation of radios:

All the radio does really is controls the way your phone authenticates with the towers. Radios either work or don't and there isn't much in between. The only thing that I have noticed with a non stock radio is that it takes the phone 3-5 extra seconds to update the animation of the bars of signal strength.

A non stock radio not working for me was - suddenly my phone moved into roaming mode and asked me to enable roaming because I did not have data - this happened at home where I usually have very good coverage as I am able to see T-Mobile's tower across the lake.

I would say just do a little experiments - to the best of my knowledge is ok just make sure you read the remarks on the stuff you are flashing.

One last point always have the default rom and system image (the one Atmazzz has in a really nice post of how to revert back to gingerbread which he did not want to sticky ) just in case something gets screwy and you want functionality when you are around your computer as it requires Odin.

Hope my long essays helped a little

 

[jonnyboi950]

In the interest of me not writing an essay here is a second post with a small explanation of radios:

All the radio does really is controls the way your phone authenticates with the towers. Radios either work or don't and there isn't much in between. The only thing that I have noticed with a non stock radio is that it takes the phone 3-5 extra seconds to update the animation of the bars of signal strength.

A non stock radio not working for me was - suddenly my phone moved into roaming mode and asked me to enable roaming because I did not have data - this happened at home where I usually have very good coverage as I am able to see T-Mobile's tower across the lake.

I would say just do a little experiments - to the best of my knowledge is ok just make sure you read the remarks on the stuff you are flashing.

One last point always have the default rom and system image (the one Atmazzz has in a really nice post of how to revert back to gingerbread which he did not want to sticky ) just in case something gets screwy and you want functionality when you are around your computer as it requires Odin.

Hope my long essays helped a little

Alright I get it now, I am already on stock ICS so I guess I will try flashing the ROM without the modded radio and see how it goes from there. I was downloading the ROM and then I fell asleep before it finished and when I went back the file size was 1 MB off from what it should have been lol. I'm gonna play it safe and re download so nothing goes wrong when I try.

 

[alextop30]

Make sure you let us know how you did!!!!

 

[Bandaid]

Some folks had data and gps problems with Darkside Evolution Rom. I did try both radios and stayed with version UVLC8. Darkside was recently updated to version 8 and its running flawlessly for me. This is the smoothest ICS Rom yet. Just remember per the install, you flash the radio and then the rom. If you follow the install info to a T you should be problem free.