Reinstall OS without wiping data

[TheOldAndRusty]

Hi everyone!

My Galaxy A31 is not working properly, abd my guess if that an update failed and the launcher got corrupted or something along those lines. Basically it's stuck in "the phone is statrting".

I've read somewhere (but I can't find the link now) that having ADB access I could decompress a ROM on top of the current one and have it "installed" without wiping my current data (Contrary to a "factory restore").

Is that so??

I would be following this guide:

How to update your Samsung Galaxy smartphone and install official firmware

Follow these instructions to manually install Android updates through recovery and full firmware using Odin on Samsung Galaxy smartphones.

www.xda-developers.com

The device model is "SM-A315G" and the carrier is "Movistar Argentina", would it be ok to get a new ROM from this link:

Latest Samsung Galaxy A31 (SM-A315G) Argentina (Movistar) firmware

All Samsung firmwares for Galaxy A31 in Argentina (Movistar) with model code SM-A315G. We offer free and fast download options. Check them out now.

www.sammobile.com

Which of the methods in the link would be best for me?
The sdcard path sounds way easier, but again, I'm concerned whether it will wipe the local storage files or not.
I've never rooted a phone, and rooting it is not really something I care to do unless it is required...
And I'd prefer an official ROM over a "modded" one.

Thanks in advance!
Rusty.

 

[mustang7757]

Welcome to AC!
Download Odin and Frija latest version from XDA forums, then extract it on your PC when u get this far I'll guide you with the rest

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Hi!
I apologize for not getting back at you when you replied, life has been a roller-coaster this past months and this got pushed to the side.

I've got those packages now. I you are still willing to give me a hand I will really appreciate it.

If not, any pointers in the right direction will be welcome too.

Regards.

 

[mustang7757]

Hi!
I apologize for not getting back at you when you replied, life has been a roller-coaster this past months and this got pushed to the side.

I've got those packages now. I you are still willing to give me a hand I will really appreciate it.

If not, any pointers in the right direction will be welcome too.

Regards.

Yeah definitely will help

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Yeah definitely will help

So glad to hear that! Thank you!

I was getting these notifications at the spam folder but I've 8hopefully) corrected that now.

So, I redownloaded the apps in case they were updated in the meantime, and I have with me the phone and an USB cable with which I'm able to access using ADB.

How should I proceed now in order to reinstall the OS without wiping out the existent data?

FWIW, in the past I've tried to launch and reinstall apps but that always fails in a manner that suggests the launcher is broken making it impossible for any other app to start. (either with ADB, the screen or whatever).

Thanks.

 

[mustang7757]

So glad to hear that! Thank you!

I was getting these notifications at the spam folder but I've 8hopefully) corrected that now.

So, I redownloaded the apps in case they were updated in the meantime, and I have with me the phone and an USB cable with which I'm able to access using ADB.

How should I proceed now in order to reinstall the OS without wiping out the existent data?

FWIW, in the past I've tried to launch and reinstall apps but that always fails in a manner that suggests the launcher is broken making it impossible for any other app to start. (either with ADB, the screen or whatever).

Thanks.

Ok so once you extract Odin , open it up and the firmware from Frija you download to your computer and extracted?

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Ok, I don't have much experience with the whole Android upgrading, rooting and the like, so this is what I did:

I installed Frija, since it's not portable AFAIK, and with it I downloaded a samsung firmware wich matches what I had looked upon some time before.

With Odin I only launched it and didn't know what to do with it... Upon launch it shows a warning saying I should delete my samsung/google account "before downloading the binary".

But I didn't go any further than that. I suspect I will have to use the one I got with Frija but, obviously, I would wait for your advice..

Thanks.

 

[mustang7757]

Ok, I don't have much experience with the whole Android upgrading, rooting and the like, so this is what I did:

I installed Frija, since it's not portable AFAIK, and with it I downloaded a samsung firmware wich matches what I had looked upon some time before.

With Odin I only launched it and didn't know what to do with it... Upon launch it shows a warning saying I should delete my samsung/google account "before downloading the binary".

But I didn't go any further than that. I suspect I will have to use the one I got with Frija but, obviously, I would wait for your advice..

Thanks.

That warning with Odin disregard it will say that no need to do anything like that

So I'm going leave you a little guideline just follow to your device

This is the steps :

Windows computer needed

Latest Odin can Google it from XDA Forums and download the latest should be Odin 3.14.1 / and Frija tool or samfirm (i usually download both)

Download samfirm v0.4.1 tool and frija, extract it with 7zip.

You will extract files for Odin prince comsey 3.14.1once download with 7zip and will do same for firmware with 7zip .

Put your model number then region and select check for updates , then download the FIRMWARE , extract the FIRMWARE with 7zip.

There will be 4 files after you extract the firmware

BL

AP

CP

CSC

Each of those files will go in Odin when you open to the corresponding slots

BL

AP

CP

Home slot don't out anything

CSC USE HOME CSC FIILE TO SAVE DATA /THIS ONLY GOING BETWEEN CARRIER FIRMWARE OR IF YOUR ON UNLOCKED GOING BETWEEN UNLOCKED FIRMWARE

If you going from carrier to unlock firmware keep regular CSC not home CSC and do a back up it will factory reset the device.

connect your phone with cable to computer , once the files are in its slots hit start, once done you'll see pass in Odin and it will reboot

*Make sure you put phone in download mode
*If dont see your phone connected in Odin change cables or ports in computer .
*Never disconnect the cable in middle of flashing.

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Ok, so I think I'm ready but I'd like to double check some details.

I'm not sure what you mean with this part:

"USE HOME CSC FIILE TO SAVE DATA /THIS ONLY GOING BETWEEN CARRIER FIRMWARE OR IF YOUR ON UNLOCKED GOING BETWEEN UNLOCKED FIRMWARE"

And about this

If you going from carrier to unlock firmware keep regular CSC not home CSC and do a back up it will factory reset the device.

The phone has (broken) stock firmware and I am not looking to unlock it unless doing so is beneficial to regain access to its contents, which I believe is probably not the case.


So, this is what I've selected based on what I understood from your post, but please correct me if there's something wrong :


From there, I would connect the phone in "download mode" and then hit start.

Thank you.

Edit: typos.

 

[mustang7757]

Ok, so I think I'm ready but I'd like to double check some details.

I'm not sure what you mean with this part:


And about this


The phone has (broken) stock firmware and I am not looking to unlock it unless doing so is beneficial to regain access to its contents, which I believe is probably not the case.


So, this is what I've selected based on what I understood from your post, but please correct me if there's something wrong :
View attachment 365503

From there, I would connect the phone in "download mode" and then hit start.

Thank you.

Edit: typos.

Yeah you got it correct in your screenshot
Home CSC to save Data and the regular CSC firmware will factory reset

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Hi !
I've ran the process, this is where I am now:

- The log panel says everything was correct. "All threads completed. (Succeed 1 / failed 0)"

- The upper panel has it's first "block" in green with a "PASS!" message.

- The phone went though a process that finished with a message "Optimizing applications" (which, btw, reminds me to what it says when you do a boot repair from the phone's recovery options).

- Then the phone booted and got to the "Initiating phone" and stays there, as it does since the problems started. I's remained like that for about 30 minutes now.

So I don't know if there are additional steps I need to do now, or what I might have missed?

Somehow I feel like this might have been transferred part to the system, like the boot partition and I am yet to send the bigger "apps" bundle maybe??


TIA

 

[mustang7757]

Hi !
I've ran the process, this is where I am now:

- The log panel says everything was correct. "All threads completed. (Succeed 1 / failed 0)"

- The upper panel has it's first "block" in green with a "PASS!" message.

- The phone went though a process that finished with a message "Optimizing applications" (which, btw, reminds me to what it says when you do a boot repair from the phone's recovery options).

- Then the phone booted and got to the "Initiating phone" and stays there, as it does since the problems started. I's remained like that for about 30 minutes now.

So I don't know if there are additional steps I need to do now, or what I might have missed?

Somehow I feel like this might have been transferred part to the system, like the boot partition and I am yet to send the bigger "apps" bundle maybe??


TIA

So that means the flash part was successful nothing further to do , so since it still doesn't boot up there is no saving data if you want to try flashing once again without Home CSC firmware as it will factory reset

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

oh, dang!..

well, just a final idea before I give up: I was wondering about trying to downgrade the OS... could that have any chance?

But then it seems there is no good candidate for this phone: for what I just read, since it has "bit 5" (?) (baseline is"315GDXS5DXA1") it would require a "binary 5" image and there are not such image of android 11 or 10 according to my search:

https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-A315G/ARO

What about using an non-adecuate image?
Rendering the phone unable to use a carrier would be no problem in this case because I only care about the phone's contents.

What is the worst effect that could have?
Should I still care about "binary number" (bit) ?

 

[mustang7757]

oh, dang!..

well, just a final idea before I give up: I was wondering about trying to downgrade the OS... could that have any chance?

But then it seems there is no good candidate for this phone: for what I just read, since it has "bit 5" (?) (baseline is"315GDXS5DXA1") it would require a "binary 5" image and there are not such image of android 11 or 10 according to my search:

https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-A315G/ARO

View attachment 365564

What about using an non-adecuate image?
Rendering the phone unable to use a carrier would be no problem in this case because I only care about the phone's contents.

What is the worst effect that could have?
Should I still care about "binary number" (bit) ?

View attachment 365565

Unfortunately can't go back once it has updated, Samsung doesn't allow you.

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

I just watched a video of someone downgrading an A52 (IIRC) from 13 to 12 and he stated that pertty much the only thing to be cautios about was using the same "bit" version because a different bit would make the process refuse to run.

He was using Odin and SamFw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV7RDigRLug

The vid is in spanish, but probably you can still make sense out of it.

I feel sorry for sounding stubborn on this, I greatly appreciate your help so far and don't want to become a PIA... please feel free to put this on hold and enjoy what's left of your sunday.

Regards.

 

[mustang7757]

I just watched a video of someone downgrading an A52 (IIRC) from 13 to 12 and he stated that pertty much the only thing to be cautios about was using the same "bit" version because a different bit would make the process refuse to run.

He was using Odin and SamFw.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lV7RDigRLug

The vid is in spanish, but probabbly you can still make sense out of it.

I feel sorry for sounding stubborn on this, I greatly appreciate your help so far and don't want becom a PIA... please feel free to put this on hold and enjoy what's left of your sunday.

Regards.

Watched half of the video.

If there was a way I would definitely mentioned it but I've dealt with flashing Samsung stock firmware for long time in past they would allow not anymore. That being said you can check XDA forums if anyone has a solution and if it involves majestic /rooting be careful because usually u have to wipe the device in order to do that .

You have a great reset of your Sunday also no problem hitting me up .

 

[TheOldAndRusty]

Well, seems like it's the end of the road for this endeavor ...

With nothing to lose I tried flashing it with a slightly older image from another region and the phone would not boot. I re flashed the "proper" image and the phone returned to it's "booting-but-not-fully-loading-state", right where it started...

So I finally gave up on recovering this.

Regardless, thanks a Ton for your help @mustang7757 !!
As someone who, at some point, was a volunteer in a tech community forum, I know first hand that helping others like this takes a lot of time and dedication, so Kudos to you, and -again- thank you very much.


PS:
Funny thing is... I did a factory reset on the phone and now I'm stuck in FRP asking for a PIN I don't have... yeah, "fun" indeed.

Oh, well, maybe I will start a new thread on that, maybe I just set this on fire and send it to h*** where it belongs. Still deciding.

 

[mustang7757]

Well, seems like it's the end of the road for this endeavor ...

With nothing to lose I tried flashing it with a slightly older image from another region and the phone would not boot. I re flashed the "proper" image and the phone returned to it's "booting-but-not-fully-loading-state", right where it started...

So I finally gave up on recovering this.

Regardless, thanks a Ton for your help @mustang7757 !!
As someone who, at some point, was a volunteer in a tech community forum, I know first hand that helping others like this takes a lot of time and dedication, so Kudos to you, and -again- thank you very much.


PS:
Funny thing is... I did a factory reset on the phone and now I'm stuck in FRP asking for a PIN I don't have... yeah, "fun" indeed.

Oh, well, maybe I will start a new thread on that, maybe I just set this on fire and send it to h*** where it belongs. Still deciding.

The FRP doesn't ask for Google credentials? Been long time since I used Andriod 4.4.4 just a pin?