[Q] Big list of no-nos

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WHAT NOT TO DO
1. Do not flash Nexus S 4G stuff on a regular Nexus S. That actually goes for any device. Never flash something that wasn't made for it. [thanks polobunny!]


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Hello, I am new (well, actually hoping to become part of this family tomorrow).
So, tomorrow I'm hoping to get my Nexus S. It will be my third Android phone; the first one was already rooted when I got hold of it (Galaxy Spica) the second one had only 30 minutes of stock ROM (Galaxy 5 - it took me 30 minutes to get home and power up my computer). This is exactly what I intend to do with my future Nexus S (about which I am extremely excited, I;ve already watched some videos with it running various CMs and it looks promising, especially from someone coming from 600MHz/800MHz phones that could barely support CM7).

I want to get home tomorrow, power up my computer and root it. I am still pondering whether to go with the nightly cm10.1 or settle for the stable cm10 ( I know myself pretty well as to not lie to myself that I will stand not at least trying cm10.1).

Now, on my previous phones there were a bunch of no-nos which if performed, would result in hardbricking the device. The only one coming to mind at the moment is: if we flashed a boot logo larger than 190kb on Spica, it would not go pass it, so no adb, no nothing, only jtag would resolve it.

What are the big no-nos of Nexus S. What should I NOT do, under any circumstances, to my (hopefully) new second-hand phone? I've already viewed the video explaining how to unlock the bootloader, flash CWM and flash SuperUser (will use SuperSU because it's awesome!). Also, how's the compatibility with Titanium Backup? That's one app I couldn't live without

I promise to be a good member

EDIT: I also thought it would be a good idea to make a list in the first post. So future newbies like me have a place where they can find them all

There's no many no nos.

Only one I know that will nearly assuredly make your life a nightmare, flashing a Nexus S 4G bootloader on a Nexus S or vice versa. Yes, some people are that awesome...

Otherwise the Nexus S is nearly unbrickable. Make sure to make a backup of your EFS, just in case, and you're good to go.

I highly suggest using the latest CM10 nightly rather than the stable (released on December 20th 2012) because it integrates some important fixes that the stable doesn't have.
CM10.1 is good for trying, but definitely not my best, as the Nexus S is definitely showing its age there.

Added! Thanks. Will double check when I get home and start flashing it.
Also, what are the hotkeys? For example to go directly into Download Mode or Recovery? On my Galaxy 5 width cm10.1 I did the very intelligent thing of trying out the multiple display thingie and the phone was unable to boot. My luck was that the phone got stuck in a sector where adb was available and could do a factory reset.

Liking the backup EFS bit. Had that on Spica but not on Galaxy 5..

Originally Posted by andrei1015

Added! Thanks. Will double check when I get home.
Also, what are the hotkeys? For example to go directly into Download Mode or Recovery? On my Galaxy 5 width cm10.1 I did the very intelligent thing of trying out the multiple display thingie and the phone was unable to boot. My luck was that the phone got stuck in a sector where adb was available and could do a factory reset.

VOL up + PWR = fastboot (can access recovery from there)
VOL up + VOL down + PWR while plugged in computer = download mode

That's it.


Edit: Oh and it's not any Nexus S 4G stuff. If you flash a Nexus S 4G radio, it's recoverable. A Nexus S 4G recovery? Also recoverable. A Nexus S 4G rom? Recoverable. Only the bootloader has not to be messed with.

Much obliged good sir

Does upgrading/downgradin require me to do a factory reset? I will use titanium backup on a daily basis, but heh..
EDIT: has it ever happened to anyone to miss a call because the phone is so laggy and you couldn't answer?

Originally Posted by andrei1015

Much obliged good sir

Does upgrading/downgradin require me to do a factory reset? I will use titanium backup on a daily basis, but heh..
EDIT: has it ever happened to anyone to miss a call because the phone is so laggy and you couldn't answer?

Upgrading from revisions (such as Jellybean 4.1.x to 4.2) usually doesn't require wiping your data.
Changing bases though (AOSP to Cyanogenmod), downgrading (Jellybean 4.2 to 4.1.x or to ICS) or upgrading major revisions (ICS to JB) usually necessitate a wipe or a wipe is very recommended.

Never missed a call. Sometime did get a text notifcation that didn't popup because the phone was under too great of a load though. The Nexus S is still only a 1GHz phone with 512MB of ram (but with much less usable). The ram is really what "kills it" for a lot of people.