One of my very first XDA posts, so go easy on me, please.
Preface:
I somehow managed, through all my tinkering, to end up with the stock OB6 bootloader, and stock OF1 everything else (PDA, CSC, Baseband) on my SM-N900V, after installing JasmineROM 6.1, which is Android 5.0. I'm certain it's something I did, or didn't do properly, and not as a result of a proper installation of JasmineROM.
I discovered the bootloader mismatch using the app "Phone INFO *SAMSUNG*", which is great to view extended information about your device.
You can find the app here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo&hl=en
I decided to update the bootloader from OB6 to OF1 to be in parity. I couldn't find a standalone Odin-friendly OF1 bootloader tar.md5 for download, so I compiled this one.
Of Note:
- I cannot and will not be held responsible if something goes wrong.
- I can only recommend this update to go from the OB6 bootloader to the OF1 bootloader, as it's the only scenario I tested. It may work with other versions. It may not.
- This is not an update which required me to wipe my data and/or caches before or afterwards, nor did it affect my custom recovery. As intended, it only affects and alters the bootloader itself.
- There may be absolutely no performance/functionality benefit to updating your bootloader. Maybe others can chime in on this. However, this may be handy to use to restore a corrupted OF1 bootloader, if you're a tinkerer, and you screwed it up.
- This will "undo" an unlocked bootloader, as it's a stock OF1 bootloader going into place. To unlock the OF1 bootloader after the update, complete the simple tutorial here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-note-3/general/official-note-3-verizon-bootloader-t3359370
How-To Do The Bootloader Update:
- Back your phone up anyway, as you should before any other firmware update operation. I didn't and it went 100% fine. YMMV.
- Download the N900VVRUEOF1_Bootloader.tar.md5 file from Mega here:
https://mega.nz/#!lqIRwATT!-sOc1meun6PlHjUN_zReGFBx4TY5iSyhKXuxmxL-3Fg
- Power off your phone.
- Boot into download mode by holding in the power, home, and volume down buttons simultaneously until the download mode screen comes up, then release. Once it does, tap volume up.
- Connect your phone to your PC.
- Launch ODIN (I used v3.12) on your PC.
- Browse to the N900VVRUEOF1_Bootloader.tar.md5 file via the BL slot in ODIN.
- Under options in ODIN, I ticked "Phone Bootloader Update". I've seen conflicting information about if this requires to be done or not. However, I did, and it updated as hoped.
- Click Start.
- Once the update completes in ODIN, and your phone reboots, it's safe to unplug your phone and close ODIN, and you're done.
I don't expect a bunch of people (anyone?) to be looking for this, but in case you searched for literal hours looking for a stock OF1 bootloader like I did...
Footnote: I've had my Note 3 now for 3 years and 6 months, and for me to get rid of it, it'd need to be pried out of my cold dead hands. It's still fast and stable. More than the day I got it.
Preface:
I somehow managed, through all my tinkering, to end up with the stock OB6 bootloader, and stock OF1 everything else (PDA, CSC, Baseband) on my SM-N900V, after installing JasmineROM 6.1, which is Android 5.0. I'm certain it's something I did, or didn't do properly, and not as a result of a proper installation of JasmineROM.
I discovered the bootloader mismatch using the app "Phone INFO *SAMSUNG*", which is great to view extended information about your device.
You can find the app here:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.vndnguyen.phoneinfo&hl=en
I decided to update the bootloader from OB6 to OF1 to be in parity. I couldn't find a standalone Odin-friendly OF1 bootloader tar.md5 for download, so I compiled this one.
Of Note:
- I cannot and will not be held responsible if something goes wrong.
- I can only recommend this update to go from the OB6 bootloader to the OF1 bootloader, as it's the only scenario I tested. It may work with other versions. It may not.
- This is not an update which required me to wipe my data and/or caches before or afterwards, nor did it affect my custom recovery. As intended, it only affects and alters the bootloader itself.
- There may be absolutely no performance/functionality benefit to updating your bootloader. Maybe others can chime in on this. However, this may be handy to use to restore a corrupted OF1 bootloader, if you're a tinkerer, and you screwed it up.
- This will "undo" an unlocked bootloader, as it's a stock OF1 bootloader going into place. To unlock the OF1 bootloader after the update, complete the simple tutorial here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-galaxy-note-3/general/official-note-3-verizon-bootloader-t3359370
How-To Do The Bootloader Update:
- Back your phone up anyway, as you should before any other firmware update operation. I didn't and it went 100% fine. YMMV.
- Download the N900VVRUEOF1_Bootloader.tar.md5 file from Mega here:
https://mega.nz/#!lqIRwATT!-sOc1meun6PlHjUN_zReGFBx4TY5iSyhKXuxmxL-3Fg
- Power off your phone.
- Boot into download mode by holding in the power, home, and volume down buttons simultaneously until the download mode screen comes up, then release. Once it does, tap volume up.
- Connect your phone to your PC.
- Launch ODIN (I used v3.12) on your PC.
- Browse to the N900VVRUEOF1_Bootloader.tar.md5 file via the BL slot in ODIN.
- Under options in ODIN, I ticked "Phone Bootloader Update". I've seen conflicting information about if this requires to be done or not. However, I did, and it updated as hoped.
- Click Start.
- Once the update completes in ODIN, and your phone reboots, it's safe to unplug your phone and close ODIN, and you're done.
I don't expect a bunch of people (anyone?) to be looking for this, but in case you searched for literal hours looking for a stock OF1 bootloader like I did...
Footnote: I've had my Note 3 now for 3 years and 6 months, and for me to get rid of it, it'd need to be pried out of my cold dead hands. It's still fast and stable. More than the day I got it.
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