[INFO] XXJVK with or with-out bootloaders [Find the answer here]

[[Ramad]]

Before you read any further:

This thread will not discuss fixing Download Mode on effected mobile phones.
This thread will not discuss any method on flashing bootloaders only.
This thread will not discuss anything beside bootloaders of XXJVK and why they are needed in some cases.

Please keep the thread clean and stay on topic, thanks

Why did I write this:
I have been across many threads, including the XXJVK firmware thread, and I did read many posts by members asking on which firmware to flash, if it should be the one with bootloaders included or the one without.

I did also find a post telling our members to flash the bootloaders only and not the whole firmware.

I would like to clear some things up for our members and why there is 2 versions, one with bootloaders and one without bootloaders.

Why 2 versions:
If you flash the firmware without bootloaders when your device have been running only Froyo and have not flashed the Gingerbread beta XWJV1 before, then your device is still using the old bootloaders and you will notice the followings:

* Graphics corruption during boot.
* The device will not be able to enter Recovery Mode.

Just to make it easy to understand, please look below:

XXJVK firmware with-out bootloaders + Froyo/Eclair bootloaders on device = Graphics/Screen corruption + Can't enter Recovery Mode

XXJVK firmware with-out bootloaders + XWJV1(GB Beta) bootloaders on device = OK!

XWJV1(GB Beta) firmware with-out bootloaders + XXJVK bootloaders on device = OK!

Froyo firmware with-out bootloaders + XXJVK or XWJV1(GB Beta) bootloaders on device = OK!

After the device has been updated to the new bootloaders by flashing the firmware with bootloaders, then it will work with any firmware, and you don't have to flash the firmware with bootloaders again, this is why there is 2 versions, because bootloaders flash can be risky, the package that does not include bootloaders is for those that have already flashed a full XWJV1 or a full XXJVK with bootloaders included, may need/like to re-flash, or for those that only want to try the new firmware.

Why not flashing bootloaders alone:
Flashing bootloaders is risky, this is why when the XXJVK with bootloaders has been repackaged then it was repackaged so 2 files will be flashed prior to bootloaders, so if there is a bad connection between the PC and the phone or with Odin by any chance, then Odin is far from touching boot sectors, and by that a member can have a good flash even while flashing a full firmware with bootloaders included.

I don't advice to flash bootloaders only, if there is a bad connection or Odin hangs by any chance, then you have nothing but a paper-weight nice-looking-dead-device on your desk.

My question is: Do you see any thread or a post in this forum that stats a bricked or a dead device after 16000+ downloads and then take the risk of flashing bootloaders only?

Note:

This thread is not intended for showing or discussing methods on how to flash bootloaders only, but about informing the members of the new bootloaders and what firmware XXJVK version to choose and why.

If you plan to discuss other methods on flashing bootloaders then make your own thread where you can take responsibility for it.

 

[bdl1969]

@Ramad, thanks for this information. Do we know for certain whether Samsung have 'locked' these new bootloaders like they did with the Galaxy Tab ones or can you flash back to a 2.2.1 Rom with no problems after flashing the Gingerbread bootloaders?

 

[[Ramad]]

@Ramad, thanks for this information. Do we know for certain whether Samsung have 'locked' these new bootloaders like they did with the Galaxy Tab ones or can you flash back to a 2.2.1 Rom with no problems after flashing the Gingerbread bootloaders?

Thanks

The bootloaders are not locked and will not prevent the device from flashing or using older releases(Froyo/Eclair), I have tested the new bootloaders with both Froyo and Eclair and they worked fine.

 

[.Slane.]

<Don't try it if you don't really know what that implies !>

I've only Flashed Sbl.bin (after add it in a tar on Linux machine, don't make it with another tool !) fixes graphics corruption and recovery and downgrade to 2.2.1 works like before.

</Don't try it if you don't really know what that implies !>

 

[Pisca]

I must confess a noobish doubt, how can I see if I have bootloaders ?
I'm using a custom rom JS8 Froyo
So I can determine wich version should I use

 

[[Ramad]]

I must confess a noobish doubt, how can I see if I have bootloaders ?
I'm using a custom rom JS8 Froyo
So I can determine wich version should I use

Every device has bootloaders, but if you are asking if it's the old or new bootloaders that are installed in your, then you have old bootloaders if you have not flashed the beta XWJV1 or XXJVK package that has bootloaders included, those 2 firmwares has the new bootloaders.

 

[Mothatt]

Thank you once again ramad

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App

 

[kasper_h]

<Don't try it if you don't really know what that implies !>

I've only Flashed Sbl.bin (after add it in a tar on Linux machine, don't make it with another tool !) fixes graphics corruption and recovery and downgrade to 2.2.1 works like before.

</Don't try it if you don't really know what that implies !>

What would be the advantage over flashing both boot loaders? Because that also will not interfere with froyo...

Sent from my galaxy using the xda app

 

[andromeda1968]

What would be the advantage over flashing both boot loaders? Because that also will not interfere with froyo...

Sent from my galaxy using the xda app

very good...the bootloaders are very important

 

[bizkopt]

I did'n upgrade bootloader when i flash 2.3.3(from samfirmware) using odin and i have no any isues with my phone.i can entry to recovery and.download mode.
So why some people have a proplem and some not at all?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[[Ramad]]

I did'n upgrade bootloader when i flash 2.3.3(from samfirmware) using odin and i have no any isues with my phone.i can entry to recovery and.download mode.
So why some people have a proplem and some not at all?

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Have you flashed the Beta XWJV1 before? Please read the first post before posting.

 

[squashfanatic]

Thanks for that bootloaders it is then, but I have one more question, do I tick bootloadets in odin or not? Thanks again

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[[Ramad]]

Thanks for that bootloaders it is then, but I have one more question, do I tick bootloadets in odin or not? Thanks again

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

That is not needed, Odin will flash those files anyway.

 

[bizkopt]

No, i did not flash beta before and when i flash 2.3.3 using odin i use 512 pit file and tick re-partition only. I never choice update bootloader.now i remember i have that isue when i was using darky 9.4. After upgrade to 9.5 and his new kernel,problem,was gone

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

 

[[Ramad]]

No, i did not flash beta before and when i flash 2.3.3 using odin i use 512 pit file and tick re-partition only. I never choice update bootloader.now i remember i have that isue when i was using darky 9.4. After upgrade to 9.5 and his new kernel,problem,was gone

Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Bootloader files are in the PDA tar archive, when you flash the PDA tar archive, the bootloaders on the device will be updated, this is why I wrote that checking 'Phone Bootloader Update' will not matter. If the file that you have is called PDA_XXJVK_Sbl.tar then the bootloaders in your device are updated now.

 

[LordVetinari]

SBL Bootloader / Rooting.

[Ramdad], Thanks for the post.

I've got the SBL exe, which I assume will flash the bootloader in the correct way. Now my question is, if I want to update my firmware, is it safe (bootloader wise) to flash the JV1 & root kernel and then the JVK kernel?

Thanks!

 

[[Ramad]]

[Ramdad], Thanks for the post.

I've got the SBL exe, which I assume will flash the bootloader in the correct way. Now my question is, if I want to update my firmware, is it safe (bootloader wise) to flash the JV1 & root kernel and then the JVK kernel?

Thanks!

Thanks, just flash JVK that you have and you will be fine.

 

[g00ndu]

[Ramad],

Not trying to confuse people, cm7 and MIUI require 2.2 bootloaders even though the firmware is 2.3.3.

So if you are from Samsung rom like xxjvk or jv1 and going to cm7 or MIUI, you will encounter screen tearing as well. Downgrade to a 2.2 with bootloaders will eliminate the tearing.

Hope you can include this info as well.

P/S: As always, thanks for sharing this with the users here.

Sent from my GT-I9000

 

[orenzah]

thanks for the information... I thought to flash with bootloaders... now I'm considering again...

 

[needhelp11]

Hey Ramad,

I have a little question : a few firmwares on Samfirmware have these files in PDA : sbl.bin, boot.bin and param.lfs. I have heard that these files can brick our phone.
Can i delete them without changing anything in the PDA and flash through Odin ?
Thanks for helping me.

Sorry for my bad english.