[Guide] How to update/change the ROM

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Casey_boy

Retired Recognized Developer
Feb 2, 2010
456
56
Modified from my instructions posted in the wiki.

http://xdaforums.com/wiki/index.php?title=Samsung_Omnia_7#Updating.2FChanging_the_ROM

Updating/Changing the ROM
Before continuing with any of the following processes, you should note that (at present) there is no way to back up your user data. Things such as your contacts and emails can be re-downloaded from your phone since they are stored on remote servers. Multimedia items which have been synced with Zune to your PC can also manually be transferred back to your phone. However, things such as personalisation settings, SMS and MMS are lost. Programs can, of course, be re-downloaded from the Marktetplace - but this, again, is a manual process.

This process may also help your recover a "bricked"device - or rather one which does not successfully boot up into Windows Phone fully.

Hard Reset / Full Format
You may wish to hard reset the phone if you are experiencing software errors which are not fixed after a soft reset (pulling the battery out) or if you wish to clear the phone (i.e. you've just bought the phone second hand or are selling the phone).

To hard Reset your Omnia 7 without booting into Windows Phone 7, you have to:
  • Turn off the phone.
  • Turn on the phone, holding the Power + Volume DOWN + Camera buttons
  • Hit home button (Start) twice to begin.

Update/Change the ROM
Disclaimer:You should note that this process may void your warranty! Neither I nor xda will be held responsible for any damage caused, or refusal of warranty, by following this guide.

Before you can update your ROM you'll need to see if you can access the phone's Download Mode.

Accessing Download Mode
To update your ROM software, you will need to be able to access the phone's download mode.

  • Turn off the phone
  • Turn on the phone, holding down the Power + Volume UP + Camera buttons simultaneously.
  • When the phone turns on, release the power button.
  • A yellow triangle with an exclamation mark and a "download mode” message should appear.

If you are successful in this then you can continue with the flash. If you are unable to access download mode, then your phone has a faulty(?) bootloader. Follow the instructions in this forum post.

Download your ROM and flash tools
To flash the new ROM you will need:
  • Your new ROM.
    There are currently three ROMs available though the only difference is their locale (which you can change later in the settings). The 8700XXJK1 ## 2010 November CSC_Cetus_Europe_I8700XENJK1 can be found here. The ROM package is compressed in .rar format, the password is samfirmware.com
    Edit: A nice sticky thread now exists with loads of ROMs available here
  • Samsung Mobile USB Drivers v5.2
    Can be found here
  • Samsung WP7 Flash Program
    Can be found here

Now we're ready to flash!

  • Turn off your phone and disconnect it from the PC
  • Unrar the downloaded ROM package and install the Samsung USB drivers
  • Boot the phone into download mode (or insert your jig)
    download_mode.jpg
  • Now connect the phone to your PC. Windows should recognise your device and install the drivers (it may check Windows Update first, you can either skip this or just let it be).
  • Open the WP7 flash program. If you are prompted with an md5 error, don't worry! You should see now an Active COM port (green) in the program.
    logiciel_02.png
  • Drag and drop the ROM files (all four) into the program, a small box will pop up and check the files. It will disappear.
    logiciel_03.png
  • Click start and the flash process begins!
  • DO NOT interrupt this process. Keep the phone and PC connected throughout. After 10-15mins the phone will reboot and you'll have your fresh new ROM.

Some things to note:
  • Between steps 7 and 8 everything should go automatically.
  • After the phone reboots for the fist time, a screen with a phone and a computer with an arrow and a red cross over the arrow will appear - this is OK!
    There may be some delay between the phone asking for its new configuration settings and the flash program saying the flash is complete (a progress bar states it is still "Rebuilding"). It may be wise to just allow that progress bar to complete before inserting the new settings.
  • Depending upon what ROM you flash, you will find that your language and locale are probably not correct. You will need to change these in "Settings" for things such as Marketplace to work correctly.
  • If the Flash program does not recognise your device, try a different USB port. If that still doesn't work, try starting the program first and then plug in your phone.

Credits: Heathcliff74 and Erwan for the images.

Casey
 
Last edited:

TheShowStopper

Senior Member
Jun 21, 2007
259
1
near Derby
Very good and very detailed... super job dude! :D

One quick question if i may... the screenshots show Vista OS i believe? Any idea if this will work on XP at all?

Thanks in advance :)
 

Casey_boy

Retired Recognized Developer
Feb 2, 2010
456
56
Yep, I think it works on Windows 2000 SP4, XP SP3, Vista and 7 - though I've only tested it on Win 7.

Let us know, if it doesn't!

Casey
 

omniauser7

Member
Nov 6, 2010
11
0
london
Flashing the ROM always seemed quite complicated to me. But after going thorugh the guide and flashing my phone successfully I have to say it actually quite easy.

Thanks for the guide.
 

gogibyte

Senior Member
Mar 4, 2010
224
17
Celje - SLOVENIA
www.gogibyte.si
I have a problem :S ...

i want to update my Omnia 7 and i get this...

screenomnia7.png


I don't know why ... it was green...com 3

EDIT: I guess that i must connect USB cable to back of my PC :) ... in front USB just disconnecting device.
 
Last edited:
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Casey_boy

Retired Recognized Developer
Feb 2, 2010
456
56
I have a problem :S ...

i want to update my Omnia 7 and i get this...



I don't know why ... it was green...com 3

[B]EDIT: [/B] I guess that i must connect USB cable to back of my PC :) ... in front USB just disconnecting device.[/QUOTE]

Yeah that's strange but I used to have the same problem when flashing ROMs to my HTC HD2, some of the USB ports worked and some didn't.

Glad you managed to fix it though!

Casey
 

0711

Senior Member
May 9, 2010
173
13
I have a problem. My HP pavilion 6 doesn´t found my omnia 7 in download mode.

had the same issue...

- first i had to use jig for downloadmode (with the 3 button "trick" i got only the restore thing)
- i plugged the phone to computer...nothing happens (driver was installed before and i have rebooted)
- i unplugged the phone and used another usb port
-> driver where installed, i thought all is fine
- i started "WP7 flash program" but the program didnt see the phone, i checked device manager and all looked fine
- i unplugged the phone and plugged it in at the usb port i used first (when the phone was in restore mode)
- wp7 flash program found my phone
- flashed and all was fine
:)

btw had a t-mobile (de) branded one and didnt get the 7008 update...now i have it in no time


€dith
i think marketplace and zune (on the phone) are now much more stable#

@dith 2:
marketplace ist much much much more stable compared to my original image and i had bad lags, now...no lags.
I dont know if the 7008 update makes this all or just the new firmware
 
Last edited:

17-apg

Senior Member
Download Mode

When I try to put my Omnia 7 into download mode using the 3 buttons I get a screen showing a phone to the left with a zig zag arrow to a laptop on the right. Is this an alternative download mode screen or is it the "bad" downloader??
 
Last edited:

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  • 26
    Modified from my instructions posted in the wiki.

    http://xdaforums.com/wiki/index.php?title=Samsung_Omnia_7#Updating.2FChanging_the_ROM

    Updating/Changing the ROM
    Before continuing with any of the following processes, you should note that (at present) there is no way to back up your user data. Things such as your contacts and emails can be re-downloaded from your phone since they are stored on remote servers. Multimedia items which have been synced with Zune to your PC can also manually be transferred back to your phone. However, things such as personalisation settings, SMS and MMS are lost. Programs can, of course, be re-downloaded from the Marktetplace - but this, again, is a manual process.

    This process may also help your recover a "bricked"device - or rather one which does not successfully boot up into Windows Phone fully.

    Hard Reset / Full Format
    You may wish to hard reset the phone if you are experiencing software errors which are not fixed after a soft reset (pulling the battery out) or if you wish to clear the phone (i.e. you've just bought the phone second hand or are selling the phone).

    To hard Reset your Omnia 7 without booting into Windows Phone 7, you have to:
    • Turn off the phone.
    • Turn on the phone, holding the Power + Volume DOWN + Camera buttons
    • Hit home button (Start) twice to begin.

    Update/Change the ROM
    Disclaimer:You should note that this process may void your warranty! Neither I nor xda will be held responsible for any damage caused, or refusal of warranty, by following this guide.

    Before you can update your ROM you'll need to see if you can access the phone's Download Mode.

    Accessing Download Mode
    To update your ROM software, you will need to be able to access the phone's download mode.

    • Turn off the phone
    • Turn on the phone, holding down the Power + Volume UP + Camera buttons simultaneously.
    • When the phone turns on, release the power button.
    • A yellow triangle with an exclamation mark and a "download mode” message should appear.

    If you are successful in this then you can continue with the flash. If you are unable to access download mode, then your phone has a faulty(?) bootloader. Follow the instructions in this forum post.

    Download your ROM and flash tools
    To flash the new ROM you will need:
    • Your new ROM.
      There are currently three ROMs available though the only difference is their locale (which you can change later in the settings). The 8700XXJK1 ## 2010 November CSC_Cetus_Europe_I8700XENJK1 can be found here. The ROM package is compressed in .rar format, the password is samfirmware.com
      Edit: A nice sticky thread now exists with loads of ROMs available here
    • Samsung Mobile USB Drivers v5.2
      Can be found here
    • Samsung WP7 Flash Program
      Can be found here

    Now we're ready to flash!

    • Turn off your phone and disconnect it from the PC
    • Unrar the downloaded ROM package and install the Samsung USB drivers
    • Boot the phone into download mode (or insert your jig)
      download_mode.jpg
    • Now connect the phone to your PC. Windows should recognise your device and install the drivers (it may check Windows Update first, you can either skip this or just let it be).
    • Open the WP7 flash program. If you are prompted with an md5 error, don't worry! You should see now an Active COM port (green) in the program.
      logiciel_02.png
    • Drag and drop the ROM files (all four) into the program, a small box will pop up and check the files. It will disappear.
      logiciel_03.png
    • Click start and the flash process begins!
    • DO NOT interrupt this process. Keep the phone and PC connected throughout. After 10-15mins the phone will reboot and you'll have your fresh new ROM.

    Some things to note:
    • Between steps 7 and 8 everything should go automatically.
    • After the phone reboots for the fist time, a screen with a phone and a computer with an arrow and a red cross over the arrow will appear - this is OK!
      There may be some delay between the phone asking for its new configuration settings and the flash program saying the flash is complete (a progress bar states it is still "Rebuilding"). It may be wise to just allow that progress bar to complete before inserting the new settings.
    • Depending upon what ROM you flash, you will find that your language and locale are probably not correct. You will need to change these in "Settings" for things such as Marketplace to work correctly.
    • If the Flash program does not recognise your device, try a different USB port. If that still doesn't work, try starting the program first and then plug in your phone.

    Credits: Heathcliff74 and Erwan for the images.

    Casey
    2
    Hey folks, I have some problems to download the needed software, all links aren't working, maybe some guys from samsung
    are doing some censoring on the web...
    Can anyone please send me working links for the stuff?
    Thx in advance


    Hi,you can find various ROM here:

    I8700 Omnia 7 Firmware

    Here there is I8700XENJK1:

    I8700XENJK1

    And here I8700 Downloader and I8700 Samsung Mobile USB Driver:

    I8700 Downloader

    I8700 Samsung Mobile USB Driver
    2
    If, for modified, you mean you would like to flash both Engineer and Product ROMs, here it is! ;)
    1
    I have a problem :S ...

    i want to update my Omnia 7 and i get this...

    screenomnia7.png


    I don't know why ... it was green...com 3

    EDIT: I guess that i must connect USB cable to back of my PC :) ... in front USB just disconnecting device.
    1
    I flash the phone samsung i8700 omnia7 but the language stay the same! only Deutsch, English (United Kindom) English (United states) Español Français, Italiano! And i need put Português (Portugal)!

    Please help
    http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2197846 ;)