Hidden Partition - Anyone made a full backup of it?

[Guest]

Hi there,

As you might know, there's this hidden partition in most I8000/L i920, etc. devices that contains the Cubic37.mli file from where we can dump a successful Eboot and PDA backup. Doing that will let us keep our original setup before starting to mess with custom ROMs, just in case we need to recover for warranty or other reasons. All of this I found out mostly thanks to Kibiwi's post where he explained the procedure in detail.

Now, that file will dump two nb0 files, and as long as we keep flashing those to our devices (from custom ROMs), when we make a "Change Language" action start in the device, the internal flashing process will combine the language selected with the original ROM and reflash it in our devices, going back to pristine state. The thing is that if we flash the MST files which overwrite that partition, we will lose that forever, and the procedure stated above wouldn't help to recover.

So, what I'm wondering are two things:

- What if we backup the whole partition with a tool such as TrueImage, and using raw sectors. Then, we might be able to recover every type of flash we do, back to our original state!

- Something that comes out of this, maybe after finding a stable setup we could delete that partition and merge those 512MB with the "My Storage" (visible), in order to gain that much amount! And if we ever need to go back / change language, then we recover the disk image we previously did and that ought to work!

What do you think of all this? Have you tried it? Do you have time to test this? Is what I wrote too crazy?

Let me know.

[Guest]

Ehm... what do you think?

[Guest]

Well, just to let you know, I made a full backup of the partitions (visible & hidden) using Acronis True Image just as a safety net. I'm still wondering what would happen if I restore it to the device (which is now flashed to the latest Secany's ROM) and then use the "Change Language" feature...

Do you think it will reflash the original ROM that was found in the Cubic37.mli file inside the hidden partition? Thus, going back to the original PDA part?

[Guest acastiyo]

Wow... this is playing with fire... I don't know if you should keep trying to get those 512Mb back.

[Guest wes58]

Wow... this is playing with fire... I don't know if you should keep trying to get those 512Mb back.

You know, that it looks like there is 8GB on the hidden partition but it's only formated as 512MB. It seems that Samsung split 16GB memory (that used to be on OMNIA) into two 8GB parts, but is using only 512MB of the hidden partition.

Unless I am reading it wrong, and what is shown as free space on partition 2 (7.3GB) is actually partition 1? Then it would be 8GB, and this would make sense?

If someone is game, they can try to read partition information from OMNIA and overwrite it on OMNIA 2, and maybe you can get 16GB. The question is, whether Samsung is accessing this hidden partition during phone boot and if it does, what problem can it cause?

The attached pictures show both partitions.

One more thing I noticed, that in Programs folder on hidden partition there is an application PowerDic2_V1.

Edited March 9, 2010 by wes58

[Guest wes58]

Just another interesting thing I found.

When I try to look at "Free Space" on partition 1, I can scroll to the end.

When I try to do the same with partition 2 I can only get to a certain address, after that I get reading sector errors.

This, sort of, convinces me that it may be another 8GB partitoned to 512MB only?

Attached pictures shows where I can scroll to on "Free Space" on both partitions.

The last picture shows information from Boot Sector on both partition. You can calculate the size of each partition as well.

Edited March 9, 2010 by wes58

[Guest ipaq3870]

Interesting....

I read someone had his O2 repaired due to missing storage problem, and got back with a pleasant surprise - a 8G storage inflated to 16G.

Probably the chip inside is really 16G in size...

[Guest acastiyo]

Ok, at first I didn't understand what was going on... now this looks really interesting...

[Guest Pijiu]

Interesting....

I read someone had his O2 repaired due to missing storage problem, and got back with a pleasant surprise - a 8G storage inflated to 16G.

Probably the chip inside is really 16G in size...

er......if you look at the service manual http://www.modaco.com/content/i8000-verizo...service-manual/

on page 11-7 of the Disassembly &Assembly part (and assuming it is an 8GB model)......the moviNand chip part number is KLM8G4xxxx.

then look at http://www.samsung.com/global/business/sem...4_3_support.pdf

I sort of doubt there would be a true extra 8GB partition.....unless all 8 and 16GB movinand chips are created the same and just labelled according to tested and reliable capacity.

I'm wondering if a 2GB or 8GB moviNand can simply be replaced by a 16GB or larger moviNand (possibly a lot more capacity in the same form factor), flashed and work successfully without anything else having to be done.........

Also wondering if Ram IC on the mainboard could also simply be replaced as well with a higher capacity chip.

This might be the Ram that is used:

Mobile_SDR_DDR_code.pdf

Edited March 10, 2010 by Pijiu

[Guest sekobati]

er......if you look at the service manual http://www.modaco.com/content/i8000-verizo...service-manual/

on page 11-7 of the Disassembly &Assembly part (and assuming it is an 8GB model)......the moviNand chip part number is KLM8G4xxxx.

then look at http://www.samsung.com/global/business/sem...4_3_support.pdf

I sort of doubt there would be a true extra 8GB partition.....unless all 8 and 16GB movinand chips are created the same and just labelled according to tested and reliable capacity.

I'm wondering if a 2GB or 8GB moviNand can simply be replaced by a 16GB or larger moviNand (possibly a lot more capacity in the same form factor), flashed and work successfully without anything else having to be done.........

Also wondering if Ram IC on the mainboard could also simply be replaced as well with a higher capacity chip.

This might be the Ram that is used:

Mobile_SDR_DDR_code.pdf

interesting idea

[Guest Pijiu]

Just to confirm, I pulled the inside back cover off my 2GB i8000 and found that the moviNand is a KLM2G4DEDD-A101.

The board version is I8000 (H, L, T, U) Sub_Rev 0.5 2009.5.18.

When i get time, i'll pull the whole board out and find out where and what the Ram is (if not packaged with the CPU). I've got some BGA rework equipment at work so might try to experiment when I get a chance.

[Guest Arkadas]

In the Netherlands Samsung advertised with the 16 GB millionaire pack, all labels on the package gives you the impression It should be 16 GB.

But in the package a 8GB version was shipped, with an extra memory card of 8 GB.

I contacted the telephone company where i bought te phone, they said a first, wel 8GB internal and 8 external is 16 GB.

Searching the website of the phone company the describtion said: 16GB internal and 8 GB external via a memorycard.

The samsung website, doesn't talk about the combinations of inernal and external memory, but they do say there are 8GB versions and 16 GB versions of this phone!

Regards,

Arkadas

[Guest abdelrahim]

Interesting.....Waiting for Samsung to solve this memory issue ....EVERY TIME I see low memory alert with that huge size of Reserved memory sitting without use , I feel there is a big secret beyond that.... WILL WAIT AND SEE WHAT THEY WILL DO :)

Edited March 26, 2010 by abdelrahim

[Guest mipepim]

I have a 16gb 02, and if I can help....

[Guest Arkadas]

any news on this?

[Guest Arkadas]

bump

[Guest becosemsaida]

Anything new on this??????????? Really would know if it's possible to "inflate" memory since the newer rom use almost everything available.......