How to select firmware from another phone. Firmware for tablets: step-by-step instructions

Finally, it freed users from a rather unpleasant nuance, namely, differences between versions of the same system for different device specifications. The innovation is not God knows what, but it significantly simplifies the life of iDevice owners when completely reinstalling (restoring) the OS.

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As you know, Apple releases different device specifications for different regions due to the technical features of the cellular networks of local operators. Determining the exact variation of your iPhone or iPad is quite simple - it corresponds to the model number indicated on the box and back panel of the device itself (A1453, A1533, A1518, etc.). That is, when reinstalling iOS through recovery, the user previously needed to download an IPSW file with a specific version of the system that exactly matched the device specifications. It is worth admitting that many users did not succeed in choosing the right firmware for their iPhone or iPad the first time.

How to choose firmware for restoring (flashing) iPhone and iPad

Now what? From now on, iOS 10 is not only universal for all iPhone and iPad specifications, but in some cases the same firmware can be suitable even for different models. For example, same iPSW file will correctly install “top ten” on iPad Air 2, iPad mini 3 and iPad mini 4 (previously, each device had at least two versions of the IPSW firmware file).

You can always download all current firmware files for iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

What's the use of this? Naturally, it is now much easier to find firmware for your iPhone or iPad, and the task of reinstalling iOS for beginners is greatly simplified - additional nuances often complicate the procedure. In addition, some users (for example, those involved in iDevice repair) store IPSW files on physical drives or in the cloud, and this innovation will help save disk space.

For some reason, everyone is afraid to update software, and not only on routers. This is probably due to the fact that there is a risk of turning the device into a brick. But this is a wrong opinion. Yes, if you want to flash the router with some third-party firmware and do not follow the instructions, then anything can happen. But, if you download a new version of the software from the manufacturer’s website, strictly for your model and for the hardware version of your device, and follow the instructions, then nothing bad will happen.

In this article, I will not talk about exactly how to update the firmware (this information is in a special article, see the link at the end of the article). I will try to answer the questions in detail:

  • Where you need to download new versions of software for Tp-Link routers. I'll show you how to do this using the example of one of the models.
  • I’ll write and show you how to choose the right firmware for your router. By model and hardware version of your network device from Tp-Link. It is very important.

If you are interested in the question of whether it is necessary to update at all, then it is unlikely that you will find a specific answer anywhere. Many people adhere to this rule: if everything works, then it’s better not to touch it. On the one hand, this is correct. But, on the other hand, in new versions of router software, manufacturers correct errors, introduce some new features, and improve the operation of the device.

If you bought a router, then most likely it already has the latest firmware, but this is not always the case. Before you start setting up, it is better to make sure that the installed version is the latest. If your router has been running for a long time, then most likely there is already an update for it, and it is advisable to install it.

If you install the correct firmware from the official website, then you will not void the warranty of your router. Tp-Link provides support for official firmware.

But, installing third-party software such as DD-WRT will void the warranty on your device

These instructions are suitable for all popular Wi-Fi routers from Tp-Link: TL-WR841N, TD-W8968, TL-WR842ND, TD-W8960N, TL-MR3420, TL-WR843ND, TL-WR1043ND, TL-WDR3600, TL-WR741ND , TL-WDR3500 and others.

How to determine the current firmware version?

Everything is very simple. Just go to settings. To do this, connect to the desired router, via cable, or via Wi-Fi (just to view the current version, you cannot flash via Wi-Fi!), in any browser, in the address bar go to http://192.168.1.1, or http://192.168.1.1. A password and login request will appear. Default - admin And admin(if you haven't changed them).

Enter them and the control panel will open in front of you. Immediately, on the tab Status we can see the software version that is installed on our router.

You can leave this page open so that later, when you download the software, you can check whether there is an update for your model or not.

We are looking for and downloading the correct firmware for the Tp-Link router

In order to download the correct software version, you need to know your router model and hardware version.

This information can and should be viewed on the bottom (or side) of the router on a sticker. It looks something like this:

As you can see, our model is TL-WR841N, and the hardware version is 7.2. Version 7.2 means you have V7. And we will download the firmware for V7. If, for example, you have Ver: 8.2, then the software is needed for V8.

Next, go to the official website of the company, directly to the download page http://www.tp-linkru.com/support/download/.

We look for the model of your router on this page. By default, the page with wireless equipment (regular Wi-Fi routers) will open. On the left, in the table, you can select a section with other equipment. For example, routers with support for 3G/4G modems, wired routers, ADSL modems, etc.

When you find your model, click on the link.

On the next page, select the hardware version that we learned above. For example, I have V7. We click on it.

The firmware that is at the very top is the newest. You can compare its version with the one you already have installed. And, if the version on the site is newer, you can download the software and update it. On the right, in the table, you can see information on the software version. It shows the release date, language, archive size, description of changes, etc.

In order to download the archive with the firmware, click on the link next to the green arrow.

Save the archive to your desktop, for example.

The easiest way to seriously update your gadget is to install custom firmware on it. With it, you can not only expand the number of controls over the system, but also try something new, get many convenient features or even a new version of Android. In this article I will talk about the ten most popular, interesting and functional firmware created on the basis of Android.

Paranoid Android

Harvesters

Temasek's

MK (MoKee)

The interface is truly original. Absolutely all standard Android applications have been replaced with applications of our own, and the rest have been significantly improved. The notification panel has quick toggles that appear above notifications. The “Energy Consumption” section has been renamed to “Power Management” and is much more convenient and informative; the “Network Modes” button allows you to enable the “3G Only” and “2G Only” modes.

There are no complaints about the speed of the graphical shell. Everything is very fast and smooth. It is worth saying that the firmware has an interesting permission management mechanism built into it. It allows you to limit significantly more parameters than Android Marshmallow. The settings interface and almost all system applications are completely Russified. But in all applications that work via the Internet, you will see only Chinese characters, but the method of scientific poking and knowledge of how such applications work allows you to use them.

The Chinese equivalent of the Play Store has almost all popular (and not so popular) applications. But Google programs will refuse to work without Google Play services, and installing these services is not so easy. There is a solution to the problem on the Internet, but it does not always work; you will have to use either the built-in market or various unofficial stores, and also come to terms with the fact that some applications will not start without Google Services.

Dropped out of the test

Bliss

Official site: blissroms.com/
48 (as of 08/13/2016)
The basis: CyanogenMod
Android Version: 6.0.1

The developers claim that Bliss is one of the most customizable tailoring. Actually this is not true. The firmware is indeed a collection of interesting functions from other firmwares, but it is very far from RR, AICP or Temasek. Unless they are initially built in and launched through the Kernel Adiutor and SuperSU settings. The settings of the firmware itself are not translated into Russian. The translation only applies to items that are in CyanogenMod.

crDroid

Official site: ww2.crdroid.org
Number of officially supported devices: 29 (as of 08/09/2016)
The basis: CyanogenMod
Android Version: 6.0.1

The purpose of creation, like everyone else, is to add the best features from other firmwares. On the welcome screen during initial setup it is written that the firmware includes a lot of functions from OmniROM, Paranoid Android, Temasek and others. Unfortunately, it's the same story as with Bliss. Lack of exclusive features and a significant lag in capabilities compared to RR, AICP, Temasek. There are no interesting applications built in.

Outside the test

  • NexSense 6.0- an attempt to port HTC Sense 6.0 (Android 4.4.2) to Nexus 5. At first, only the firmware itself was launched, but over time, enthusiasts were able to get Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, GPS, and various sensors to work. But for a very long time this could not be achieved from the camera and sound. Over time, the developers came to the conclusion that it was necessary to rewrite some libraries almost from scratch. Local craftsmen seemed to have tried to do this, but to no avail.
  • ASUS ZENUI CM 13 (Nightly) Based- a project to port applications from Asus ZenUI to CyanogenMod 13. Officially, development is carried out only for LG G2. According to the developers, about 90% of all applications have already been moved.
  • MIUI- the firmware has been officially ported to 286 different devices. Developed by Xiaomi and based on the source codes of CyanogenMod and AOSP. Many features have migrated here from iOS, TouchWiz, UX (LG), HTC Sense, but there are also some of our own. There are so many useful functions that their description is a topic for a separate article.
  • MaruOS- a very original firmware, which, when connecting a smartphone to a monitor, turns it into a full-fledged desktop. You can read a detailed review and interview with the developer.

How to install?

For most devices, the stock firmware looks like this:

  1. Unlock the bootloader (this is individual for each device, so go ahead, Google).
  2. Install a custom recovery (in rare cases, you can install custom ones without it, but this is not a good idea).
    2.1. We go to the official TWRP website, enter the name of your device there, and download the newest version for it.
    2.2. We connect the smartphone via USB and install drivers for your device on the computer.
    2.3. Download and install Android SDK.
    2.4. We launch the terminal and flash the recovery with the command fastboot flash recovery recovery_name.img (fastboot is located in the platform-tools folder inside the SDK).
  3. After flashing the firmware, go to TWRP, select the Russian language (at the very bottom), check the “Allow changes” box and swipe to the right.
  4. Go to the “Cleaning” section and select “Format Data”. This is necessary if the data section is encrypted.
  5. We connect the smartphone to the computer and transfer the file with the new firmware to the memory card.
  6. Select “Install”, and then the firmware file. We agree by swiping to the right.
  7. Click on “Reboot into OS” and wait for the download to complete (about ten minutes, including application optimization).
  8. After the initial setup, we recommend booting into recovery again and making backups. At a minimum, an EFS partition in which IMEI, s/n and other important data are embedded.

If you don’t want to lose the main firmware, you can install the custom one with a second system. The one-of-a-kind MultiROM Manager will help with this. It allows you to install multiple firmware at once. The device prompts you to select the firmware from the installed ones when you turn it on. Installing the program is quite simple (just don’t forget to make backup copies before doing so, just in case):

  1. Install MultiROM Manager from the Play Store and launch it.
  2. Click the “Install” button.
  3. We wait for the installation to complete, and then agree to reboot.
  4. After rebooting and installing some scripts, the firmware selection interface will open.

Installation of the second firmware is performed through MultiTWRP in the Advanced -> MultiROM section or through the application itself.

Dictionary

  • Stock (stock, stock firmware)- official firmware, preinstalled by default by the manufacturer. Also, not only absolutely clean images of stock firmware are often called stock, but also images prepared for installation through unofficial recovery.
  • AOSP (Android Open Source Project)- original Android source codes from Google, available for downloading and modification by everyone. The term “based on stock, based on AOSP” means that the firmware was compiled based on these sources (and not CyanogenMod sources, as is sometimes the case). Most Xposed modifications only work in AOSP/CyanogenMod and firmware based on them.
  • CAF (Code Aurora Forum) is a project supported by the Linux Foundation that accelerates the advancement of open source in mobile technology. The main participant in the project is Qualcomm, which maintains the Android for MSM repository, which contains Android source code with optimizations for Qualcomm chips. If developers claim that their firmware is based on CAF, then it includes all these optimizations. But it is worth keeping in mind that changes from Android for MSM often flow into AOSP.
  • CyanogenMod Based (CM based, based on CynogenMod)- firmware based on CyanogenMod code. Immediately after the release of a new version of AOSP, CyanogenMod developers copy its sources into their own repository and begin to implement their additions to it and port it to new devices. And the list of devices supported by CyanogenMod is such an impressive number that many developers of custom firmware choose it as a base, and not AOSP.
  • Recovery (recovery mode, recovery)- Android recovery console. Designed to perform a factory reset or install a zip file of firmware signed with the manufacturer's key. For many devices, there are third-party recoveries with advanced functions, such as ClockworkMod, TWRP, Philz. They allow you to make full backups of both the entire system and individual parts, install third-party firmware, format and resize partitions, install any add-ons and much more useful things.
  • Bootloader (bootloader, bootloader)- loaded first. It passes the partition table of the on-chip NAND memory to the kernel, loads it into memory, and runs it. It is the bootloader that connects to the PC in fastboot mode and launches the recovery. Therefore, before installing custom recovery and often third-party firmware, it must be unlocked. Almost always, after unlocking the bootloader, absolutely all data is erased from the device’s memory.
  • GApps (Google Apps)- a set of services and applications from Google. GApps packages come in various sizes, from the smallest (less than 100 MB), which include only Google Play and the services it runs, to large ones, which contain almost all existing Google applications (the size of such packages is close to 800 MB). Many firmware developers recommend installing Open GApps. Differences between versions can be viewed in the Open GApps Wiki. Please be aware that some GApps may replace system applications.
  • Nightly (“nightie”)- overnight firmware assembly. For many devices, assemblies are done daily (nightly). In theory, they have low stability, but in practice, unsuccessful builds are extremely rare, and bugs that pop up are fixed very quickly.

File system F2FS

Almost all custom firmware supports the F2FS file system, which is designed specifically for working with flash memory and, in theory, uses it more efficiently and more carefully than ext4. You can switch to this FS in the following way:

  1. Login to TWRP.
    2.0. Open the item “Cleaning -> Selective cleaning”.
    2.1. Check the Cache section.
    2.2. Click “Restore or change file system -> Change.” file system -> F2FS" and swipe to confirm.
    2.3. Press the "Home" button.
  2. Repeat step 2 for the data and system sections.

Notes:

  • Not all firmwares support F2FS. If there is no support, you will experience endless loading.
  • After changing the file system of the data partition, not only program data and firmware settings will be lost, but also files saved on the internal memory card.
  • In practice, the performance gain will be a few percent at best.

Conclusion

We have not reviewed all existing firmware. However, even this is enough to have an idea about modern firmware. In terms of interface, they are almost all similar, they all work very smoothly, and it is very difficult to notice any differences in operating speed. But their functions are different. On my own behalf, I can add that if you spend a long time at least on MoKee, or especially Resurrection Remix, then you won’t even want to go back to pure CyanogenMod. But you will probably have to turn to Xposed for help. Fortunately, almost all existing custom ROMs work with almost any Xposed module.

Firmware is the basic software of a smartphone, which allows you to perform all the functions included in the device. By correctly configuring the firmware, you can achieve optimal operation of the device: improve performance, increase battery life, or enhance the quality of GPS and cellular signal reception.

How to reflash Android and what is required for this?

Taking into account the fact that currently the development of smartphones on Android is carried out by almost everyone who is not too lazy, the number of firmware options is growing, and accordingly, each device will require an individual approach, however, the main stages of firmware remain unchanged.

1. First of all: Before flashing the device to Android, you need to make sure that your the device is charged and will not sit down at the most inopportune moment.

2. Secondly: you need to look in the settings of the device itself the exact name of your device and firmware version, since attempting to install incorrect firmware may damage your device.

3. Thirdly: you need to decide what firmware you need: official or “custom”.

Official firmware- This is the firmware that the device manufacturer develops itself, assuming that its settings are most suitable for the majority of users. As a rule, official firmware has stable operation, but can be overloaded with unnecessary “garbage” consisting of pre-installed programs.

Custom firmware– firmware created from scratch, or a modification of the official firmware. It is created by enthusiasts in order to speed up the operation of the device, add additional features and functions, and also remove errors found in official firmware. However, not all custom firmware may have good operating stability, so before installing them, you need to study the reviews of those who have already done it.

Once the firmware itself has been selected, you can begin the process of installing it on the device.

Let's look at some options with which you can flash Android devices.

The most common method is to flash the device's firmware using auto-update. It is suitable in cases where your device has an outdated version of the software and there is an update for it. To check if there is an update for your device, you need to go to “settings” - “about phone” - “system update”.

If you want to install custom firmware or “roll back” to earlier versions of your own, then you need to resort to using other flashing methods. Different smartphone developers have different approaches to flashing their devices, and accordingly, different software will be required.

List of programs by manufacturer:

  1. Samsung - Odin
  2. Lenovo - Flash Tool
  3. HTC - Fastboot
  4. LG – KDZ Updater
  5. Sony - Flashboot
  6. Nexus - Fastboot.

These are not all smartphone manufacturers and, accordingly, applications for their firmware.

Video to help:

If your “mobile friend” begins to glitch and slow down, and quite noticeably, then it’s time to change its firmware to a more recent one. Most tablet owners contact service centers to replace the firmware. But you can easily do this yourself. Why, one might ask, overpay? All you need is a tablet, a cable to connect to a computer and unlimited Internet.

Let's say right away that the process of flashing mobile devices is the same. Only minor details of the process depend on the model and manufacturer. Otherwise, everything follows the same scenario. No one should have any problems flashing their tablet independently. After all, this is not a Newtonian binomial.

Why do this?

There are many reasons to change the firmware. For example, the tablet does not turn on, or slows down, or somehow begins to work inadequately. There are cases when flashing tablet firmware can restore a completely “dead” device. And many manufacturers patch holes and vulnerabilities in new firmware, optimize work with hardware and improve the operating system in every possible way. At this point it is vitally important to re-flash your device.

There is also another reason. The fact is that some users cannot stand official firmware. They only need “custom” (firmware modified by users). There is a grain of truth in this. Custom ones are usually much faster than their official counterparts. However, there are also pitfalls. In custom, access to managing the OS file system is available. And this is not good, because through ignorance you can turn your tablet into a brick.

What needs to be done before the firmware process?

Before you take on this risky task, you should make a backup of the OS (if your tablet works). If something goes wrong, you can always restore a working system. Next, we need to decide on the type of firmware and find it. Although custom ones are faster, the most stable ones are still the official firmware versions. We will install them.

Let's assume that we found and downloaded the firmware. Now is the time to install on your computer the drivers necessary to connect the device. Without this, firmware for tablets will be impossible. After installing the drivers, you can connect the tablet to the computer and begin the process. There are several ways to flash your device with the official OS. In principle, it all depends on the tablet itself.

Firmware using SD card

The simplest and most effective way. All you need to do is download the firmware file and unzip the DLOAD folder to the root of the SD card. Next you need to “drive” the tablet into update mode. Different types of devices may use completely different key combinations for this. But in the standard version, these are combinations like “turn on - volume up” or “turn on and 2 volume buttons”.

If everything is done correctly, a green robot will appear on the screen and the firmware of the tablet will begin. Once the process is complete, you need to reboot the device. In some cases, you will have to press the power button for a very long time to do this. After a reboot, the device will try to start the updated OS for a very long time. This usually takes about 5-10 minutes.

Samsung products

The firmware is slightly different from the standard method. This happened due to the hardware and system features of this company’s products. Nothing will work here without software intervention. To carry out the firmware process, you will need to download the Odin program. It is specifically designed for flashing Samsung tablets.

Having installed all the necessary drivers and downloaded the firmware itself, you can begin the installation process. Launch the Odin program and press the PDA button in it. Then we “drive” the tablet itself into bootloader mode. To do this, press the “volume up and power” key combination. Depending on the model, the combination of buttons may vary. Connect the tablet to the PC. Odin will automatically detect the device. After this, all you have to do is press the “Start” button. The tablet firmware will begin. The program will notify you of the end of the process with a sound signal.

After installing the firmware, it is recommended to go into recovery (volume down and power button) and reset the settings to standard (wipe data). Otherwise, the firmware may become unstable. Then you can begin to configure the installed system.

Chinese tablets

With the "Chinese" everything is not so simple. For them you need to select the firmware, focusing on the exact name of the model. Because if you use the wrong firmware, you can get a “brick”. Programs for flashing Chinese firmware vary depending on the type of processor. If your device uses processors from MTK, then your choice is SP. If the device is based on Allwinner, then Live Suite is suitable for its firmware.

Sewn strictly using a computer. There is no way to flash them from an SD card. Although customs are installed on them via Clockwork Mod. Let's look at an example of Chinese firmware. You should be extremely careful during the flashing process. The Chinese are extremely capricious. One awkward move and you have a brick. Of course, brick can also be revived. But why do we need extra problems? This is what it is like - firmware for tablets originally from China.

Firmware Samsung N8000 (China)

Samsung Galaxy Note N8000 is a Chinese tablet; its firmware, accordingly, depends on the type of processor. This device has Allwinner A13. Accordingly, you need to download the Live Suite program. Also, don't forget about drivers. It is difficult to find firmware for it, but it is there. As a last resort, you can try other firmware from the same devices.

So, unpack the archive with the firmware into some folder with an English name. Launch Live Suite. Turn off the tablet, hold down the “volume up” button and connect to USB. Click the button with the image of a gear in the program and select the folder with the unpacked firmware. After this, the process itself will begin. At the end of the installation process, the program will display an English message like Update Success. We turn off the tablet and try to turn it on.

The N8000 64Gb tablet firmware may differ slightly in functionality, but in any case, they all work stably on devices of this type.

Tablets from MegaFon and other operators

At their core, tablets from operators are the same devices from ZTE or Huawei. This means that they are subject to the rules of standard firmware. They can be flashed using an SD card. The method with firmware update and the DLOAD folder is suitable. There are no problems observed during the firmware installation process.

Firmware for the MegaFon tablet with a custom OS occurs according to a standard firmware update scenario using Clockwork Mod. In general, these tablets are among the most flexible in terms of firmware. There are never any problems with them. The only difference from regular versions of tablets is that these devices are hardware-locked to use only one SIM card from a specific operator. Otherwise, these are ordinary devices.

DNS Tablets

These devices can safely be called “purebred Chinese”, even though according to their passport they are produced in Russia. The build quality is poor, strange Allwinner and MTK processors. In general, all the attributes of a miracle of Chinese engineering. Accordingly, they are stitched in the same way as their Chinese counterparts. You need to accurately select the firmware and program to update. Otherwise it will turn out to be a brick.

The DNS tablet firmware is no different from the Chinese firmware. Therefore, all actions performed when flashing Chinese crafts are also relevant here. These tablets have only one plus - they are more responsive than the “Chinese” ones in this regard. And usually the firmware is installed on them without any problems.

Conclusion

Flashing tablets is not such a difficult task. The main thing is that firmware for tablets 4.1, 4.2 or 4.4 is present. The rest is a matter of technique. The process of updating or replacing a tablet has a clear sequence of actions. It is unacceptable to arbitrarily change the order of actions. Perhaps this is the main rule that is worth remembering when flashing firmware for a particular device.

Of course, the process of flashing a particular device may vary somewhat due to the design features of the device. But the very essence of this process does not change. There are several ways to flash the firmware. Choose which one you like best and go ahead.

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