• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

What is Android phone Flash?

Andima

Andima

Android Enthusiast
Hi
I already published my Sony Ericsson Xperia mini has a heating problem in this forum. So today i went to the Sony repair center and told my phone issue. And i also mention that i already reinstalled its OS. Then one technician told me that this phone should flash. So what is flash and how do they do it?:o
 
Andima said:
Hi
I already published my Sony Ericsson Xperia mini has a heating problem in this forum. So today i went to the Sony repair center and told my phone issue. And i also mention that i already reinstalled its OS. Then one technician told me that this phone should flash. So what is flash and how do they do it?:o
Click to expand...

I think they think that you're rooted and have flashed a new ROM. Breaking that down, it means:

You gave yourself administrator rights and installed a custom build of Android.

If you didn't do that, I think you just reset to factory defaults, so try explaining to them again that your device isn't working. Don't mention anything about reinstalling software or anything. Just that you did a factory reset and the problem still exists. Make them figure out the problem.
 
jerofld said:
I think they think that you're rooted and have flashed a new ROM. Breaking that down, it means:

You gave yourself administrator rights and installed a custom build of Android.

If you didn't do that, I think you just reset to factory defaults, so try explaining to them again that your device isn't working. Don't mention anything about reinstalling software or anything. Just that you did a factory reset and the problem still exists. Make them figure out the problem.
Click to expand...

Friend i have non-rooted phone, I never install custom rom. :D
 
Anytime the OS is updated or replaced in modern smartphones, rooted or not, you are flashing the rom. For the most part, phone updates these days are accomplished over the air. The phone downloads the update file in the background and when finished prompts the user to start the update process. Some devices still require the user to download a update file to a computer and then run a utility to transfer the update to the phone via usb cable. The later method is old and introduces many more opportunities for the process to fail and leave the device "bricked" (as in useless). Now why the tech would say "this phone should flash" is another issue. Without context, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Was there a OTA (over the air) update that the phone should have received but didn't? If so, why didn't the tech update the phone manually? What did the tech do? Nothing?
 
pastafarian said:
Anytime the OS is updated or replaced in modern smartphones, rooted or not, you are flashing the rom. For the most part, phone updates these days are accomplished over the air. The phone downloads the update file in the background and when finished prompts the user to start the update process. Some devices still require the user to download a update file to a computer and then run a utility to transfer the update to the phone via usb cable. The later method is old and introduces many more opportunities for the process to fail and leave the device "bricked" (as in useless). Now why the tech would say "this phone should flash" is another issue. Without context, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Was there a OTA (over the air) update that the phone should have received but didn't? If so, why didn't the tech update the phone manually? What did the tech do? Nothing?
Click to expand...

When i purchased my xperia mini it has Android v2.3.3 or similar version. I can't remember its exact version. So i update it using my windows computer via USB cable ( two times ) that you mention as second method. As well as i reinstall OS using Sony Ericson some utility.

This Tuesday i will receive my phone after the repair, but that technician only assume that "this phone should be flash". He is not confirm it. :D

Thanks!
 
pastaFrankenstein said:
Anytime the OS is updated or replaced in modern smartphones, rooted or not, you are flashing the rom. For the most part, phone updates these days are accomplished over the air. The phone downloads the update file in the background and when finished prompts the user to start the update process. Some devices still require the user to download a update file to a computer and then run a utility to transfer the update to the phone via usb cable. The later method is old and introduces many more opportunities for the process to fail and leave the device "bricked" (as in useless). Now why the tech would say "this phone should flash" is another issue. Without context, it doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me. Was there a OTA (over the air) update that the phone should have received but didn't? If so, why didn't the tech update the phone manually? What did the tech do? Nothing?
Click to expand...

Hi,
Your explanation is pretty useful. Just two questions:


- Are you 100% sure that flash means completion of updates in any software made for mobile of any model or brand?
- In your opinion the right term is "flashing a ROM" or "flashing Android"?


Thanks in advance
 
Watchd said:
Hi,
Your explanation is pretty useful. Just two questions:


- Are you 100% sure that flash means completion of updates in any software made for mobile of any model or brand?
Click to expand...

It certainly does for Android.

- In your opinion the right term is "flashing a ROM" or "flashing Android"?
Click to expand...

Phones employ flash memory - just like a USB stick - for internal storage.

Installation is called flashing - because of that.

You can flash a rom, flash a kernel, flash a bootloader, flash radio firmware and so forth.

No one says they flashed Android. The Android OS is included in a rom.
 
EarlyMon said:
It certainly does for Android.

Phones employ flash memory - just like a USB stick - for internal storage.

Installation is called flashing - because of that.

You can flash a rom, flash a kernel, flash a bootloader, flash radio firmware and so forth.

No one says they flashed Android. The Android OS is included in a rom.
Click to expand...


Hi,


It helps a lot the detailed information that you are sharing. I did not know that the installation/configuration of a device was called "flashing".


As for the flash memories itself, I'm just curious to know about if there are capacities to classify this element ... And, if that capacities (flash memory specs) affects the overall performance of the phone.


Do you know something about that?


Regards
 
Watchd said:
Hi,


It helps a lot the detailed information that you are sharing. I did not know that the installation/configuration of a device was called "flashing".


As for the flash memories itself, I'm just curious to know about if there are capacities to classify this element ... And, if that capacities (flash memory specs) affects the overall performance of the phone.


Do you know something about that?
Click to expand...

Sure.

Performance, no, flexibility, yes.

A few years ago, 1 GB of on board storage and an SD card slot were considered plenty.

Today, storage is often 8, 16, 32, or even 64 GB.

What phone do you have?
 
EarlyMon said:
Sure.

Performance, no, flexibility, yes.

A few years ago, 1 GB of on board storage and an SD card slot were considered plenty.

Today, storage is often 8, 16, 32, or even 64 GB.

What phone do you have?
Click to expand...


Hello,

I have a Galaxy S4 Mini Duos...

When you say flexibility ... About what you are referring?

About the likelihood of "flashing" with more ROM's versions?

Regards
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom