how to restore back to default ROM

[Guest mokkimhong]

i already flashed using secany's latest rom.

i flashed only PDA.

now i tried to hard-reset, but it didnt go back to factory default...

the Windows version still remain at v6.5 build 21883....

:)

Edited January 4, 2010 by mokkimhong

[Guest Ender Psp]

i already flashed using secany's latest rom.

i flashed only PDA.

now i tried to hard-reset, but it didnt go back to factory default...

the Windows version still remain at v6.5 build 28883....

:)

Do you have a second partition (hidden) in MyStorage? You can check that with WinHex (open drive).

[Guest ruskival]

hello everyone.... im not an expert when it comes to roms but ive done quite a few rom updates on the Omnia II I8000 8gig Australian Version and the original omnia I I900.

from what i can see in this forum and others is that the hard reset changing it back to the out of box state only happens with the 2gig version of the phone... someone may correct me if im wrong. from what i understand (once again someone may correct me if im wrong) but there are actually two copies of the rom on the phone. one which we use and modify and another hidden and is used when we do a hard reset (the phone has to get the data and info to change everything back to roginal from somewhere) and from what i see is with the 8gig version when u install a custom rom it overwrites both versions so if u do a hard reset it actually restores it back to the rom u have just a clean instal of it. but with the 2gig the hidden "restore" rom doesnt get overwritten and so when u do a hard reset it actually takes is back to the original out of box state. we also have to bear in mind that the partion on he 2gig is done a bit diferently as it is telco custom tailored and the custom rom updates that we do it a bit different from the official way of updating. it has the sam results but it is done differently and as such its possible that with some versions of the phones it doesnt overwrite the backup of the rom.

once again correct me if i was wrong anywhere

[Guest Ender Psp]

I think this applies to any version that has the second hidden partition of 512MB. There, a default copy stock rom lies, that can be flashed using Omnia's internal Octan every time a hard reset is pressed. I do have the 2GB version indeed (UK).

You can check the existence of this hidden partition with WinHex, by setting the usb connection to MyStorage and clicking Tools, Open Drive. If you see 2 partitions of which one hidden and about 512MB, then you have a copy.

Now why would Samsung do this? Beats me. I personally think these were (2GB) the "default" models and accidentally got released with a pre-release bundle, but fully working "test" version that include a copy of the flash.

[Guest ruskival]

I think this applies to any version that has the second hidden partition of 512MB. There, a default copy stock rom lies, that can be flashed using Omnia's internal Octan every time a hard reset is pressed. I do have the 2GB version indeed (UK).

You can check the existence of this hidden partition with WinHex, by setting the usb connection to MyStorage and clicking Tools, Open Drive. If you see 2 partitions of which one hidden and about 512MB, then you have a copy.

Now why would Samsung do this? Beats me. I personally think these were (2GB) the "default" models and accidentally got released with a pre-release bundle, but fully working "test" version that include a copy of the flash.

thats actually an inteesting point and actually i remember somewhere in this forum there was a guy who bought a 2gig model but when he checked through winhex he actually had 6gig of unused unpartitioned 'lost' space. so in theory he actually had a 8gig omnia2 would be interesting to see if its posible to actually change it into a fully functional 8gig model.

what im interested in is that the 8gig must also have a backup for the rom so that when we do a hard reset it takes it back to clean rom setup and im wondering if it would be posible to maybe find the file which finds the hidden rom to use for hard resets and maybe make a second hidden partition with a stock rom and that way u actually have 2 hidden roms one original one custom so that incase you have to take it to a store you quickly reset to original and then maybe just internally hard reset to a custom rom if thats possible

[Guest Ender Psp]

thats actually an inteesting point and actually i remember somewhere in this forum there was a guy who bought a 2gig model but when he checked through winhex he actually had 6gig of unused unpartitioned 'lost' space. so in theory he actually had a 8gig omnia2 would be interesting to see if its posible to actually change it into a fully functional 8gig model.

what im interested in is that the 8gig must also have a backup for the rom so that when we do a hard reset it takes it back to clean rom setup and im wondering if it would be posible to maybe find the file which finds the hidden rom to use for hard resets and maybe make a second hidden partition with a stock rom and that way u actually have 2 hidden roms one original one custom so that incase you have to take it to a store you quickly reset to original and then maybe just internally hard reset to a custom rom if thats possible

The thread you mention about the other partition is here. However, after investigation it turns out that the 2GB is... 2GB. There are 2 partitions there, in a 2 GB removable media: one user of 1.4 gb and one hidden of 512 MB. If you open the hidden partition in WinHex, it might display some information that might mislead you, but don't forget that that partition is stored in 512 MB so it can't go any further than that :) Basically, it's the way WinHex interprets the data that is misleading, since apparently Samsung uses a custom way to store their stock firmware in that partition, for backup purposes.

As for the other thing you're talking about, it may take a while (long while) until someone decodes that partition and can "update" it with a customized rom. As I said in another thread, I think this whole thing with hidden part on 2 GB might have been done by mistake. The devices might have been put in production with a previous version of the ROM, the one that includes the "backup" firmware, more like a "final test before release" rather than the final one. Why do I say this? Well, what's the point of announcing 2GB MyStorage if you actually have only 1.5 GB free for the user?

[Guest napx]

The thread you mention about the other partition is here. However, after investigation it turns out that the 2GB is... 2GB. There are 2 partitions there, in a 2 GB removable media: one user of 1.4 gb and one hidden of 512 MB. If you open the hidden partition in WinHex, it might display some information that might mislead you, but don't forget that that partition is stored in 512 MB so it can't go any further than that :) Basically, it's the way WinHex interprets the data that is misleading, since apparently Samsung uses a custom way to store their stock firmware in that partition, for backup purposes.

As for the other thing you're talking about, it may take a while (long while) until someone decodes that partition and can "update" it with a customized rom. As I said in another thread, I think this whole thing with hidden part on 2 GB might have been done by mistake. The devices might have been put in production with a previous version of the ROM, the one that includes the "backup" firmware, more like a "final test before release" rather than the final one. Why do I say this? Well, what's the point of announcing 2GB MyStorage if you actually have only 1.5 GB free for the user?

maybe a shadow copy of actual ROM?

If burning process fails then O2 loads it back.

Edited January 5, 2010 by napx

[Guest Ender Psp]

No, it's a "default" rom, the one that the phone came with. The second hidden partition is not altered after flashing, so the backup flash never changes.

[Guest Tylwith]

i want to clarify things here.

there is actually 2 rom format.

the .mst and .nb0.

when you flash Secany rom you flash using a .mst

.mst is replacing the copy of the rom in the hidden partition. So if you hard reset or change language the rom will not change.

currently all custom rom are nb0.

when you flash using a .nb0 it only flash your pda part so your copy on the hidden partition stay the same as the previous .mst rom file.

so if you hard reset or change language the phone will put back the copy it has on the hidden partition.

so to finish.

if you nerver flash to secany rom. your hidden partition is unchange.

you flash a custom rom so a .nb0 file.

the hidden partition is still unchange.

you hard reset -> you go back to your hidden partition version.

[Guest prosxpal]

i have a 2gig o2 and i don't have any hidden partition. but when i connect it to pc and start i900_EXEcutor_2.5 on pc i can get 5     ".bin" files named sth like  dsk1.bin, dsk2.bin ... 

one is my storage card

one is my storage (2gb)

one is ~4.75 mb

one is ~166 mb

one is ~302 mb

so no hidden partition for me to backup i guess :)

do the files above i mentioned can be used for flashing back to 6.1 if i update to 6.5 via nps?

[Guest mokkimhong]

i want to clarify things here.

there is actually 2 rom format.

the .mst and .nb0.

when you flash Secany rom you flash using a .mst

.mst is replacing the copy of the rom in the hidden partition. So if you hard reset or change language the rom will not change.

currently all custom rom are nb0.

when you flash using a .nb0 it only flash your pda part so your copy on the hidden partition stay the same as the previous .mst rom file.

so if you hard reset or change language the phone will put back the copy it has on the hidden partition.

so to finish.

if you nerver flash to secany rom. your hidden partition is unchange.

you flash a custom rom so a .nb0 file.

the hidden partition is still unchange.

you hard reset -> you go back to your hidden partition version.

yes...

BINGO...

i flashed secany's ROM....

by the way, i have flash it again to HD2 rom...

so far its usable..

:)

[Guest napx]

if you nerver flash to secany rom. your hidden partition is unchange.

you flash a custom rom so a .nb0 file.

the hidden partition is still unchange.

you hard reset -> you go back to your hidden partition version.

How can I load back my hidden partition version?

After hard reset I got the new ROM version not original (hidden). I never install Secany (or any .mst) ROMs.

I think O2 loads that shadow when flashing ROM fails.

[Guest grahamkdt]

i want to clarify things here.

there is actually 2 rom format.

the .mst and .nb0.

when you flash Secany rom you flash using a .mst

.mst is replacing the copy of the rom in the hidden partition. So if you hard reset or change language the rom will not change.

currently all custom rom are nb0.

when you flash using a .nb0 it only flash your pda part so your copy on the hidden partition stay the same as the previous .mst rom file.

so if you hard reset or change language the phone will put back the copy it has on the hidden partition.

so to finish.

if you nerver flash to secany rom. your hidden partition is unchange.

you flash a custom rom so a .nb0 file.

the hidden partition is still unchange.

you hard reset -> you go back to your hidden partition version.

I have UK spec 2GB Omnia 2. I flashed custom ROM 6.5.3 using .nb0 only. After hard reset, the custom ROM remains. I tried both ways of hard resetting and the result is the same... custom ROM remains after hard reset even though flashing .nb0 only! :)

Edited January 9, 2010 by grahamkdt