Firmware matching

[trimesh]

OK, that string ("R1GB001") is just the current firmware version - you can flash any version you like into the phone. The main and FS versions should match (although you can often get away with it if they don't), but the cust pack is not tied to any specific firmware version.

Normally you need to make sure the model matches - the platform (like DB2020) is not specific enough to be sure that it will work - two phones could have the same platform but different radios / UI / display / camera / flash size / etc. - and in some cases (most notably when flashing firmware designed for a phone with a larger flash chip into a phone with a smaller flash) you can overwrite something critical (such as the GDFS) and brick your phone.

The GDFS is separate from the main firmware and the filesystem - and it contains quite a lot of data that is phone specific (such as the calibration settings for the hardware, IMEI, simlock state) - some of the fields are encrypted and/or signed, so changing them is not trivial.

There is another area of the flash called the "EROM" - this is generally only updated by the SE service tools when changing the CID - it's actually the bit of code you are talking to when you connect the USB cable with the "C" button held down.

You can read the flash out using various service tools - but when you do this it lacks the digital signatures that the original flashes have, so it's not that useful, since the standard flashing tools won't accept it.

[narqval]

Ok got it, so those firmwares in the download area are obtained in some other way then.

I also presume that I should NEVER run the SE firmware update (neither PC via cable/or live from cellphone) because that would make my CID go higher = screwed.

Finally, is there a way to mod the alarm clock behavior. I really hate it going from mute to full-loud, and not being able to customize snooze interval.

I guess this concludes my questions for this thread, still a lot of stuff I want to know but those I have to research more before asking any more questions, oh and thanx alot trimesh, you gave me the exact information I wanted :)