Flashing ROM : Basics to Flash ROM of Mobile, PMP, Tablets

Flashing ROM is done either to upgrade the official Operating System or Firmware of an embedded computing device or to use custom software to enhance features. This Flashing ROM – Basics to Flash ROM of Mobile, PMP, Tablets article is a generalized guide on Flashing ROM and explanation of the terminologies for the newbies that will help anyone to understand how to proceed, what are basically required etc.

Flashing ROM :  The Terminologies Used

ROM or Read Only Memory :  Read Only Memory or ROM has been discussed in detail. Often ROM is colloquially used to denote the Operating System or Firmware – for example the word Cynogen ROM is used to denote special version of Android OS. Similarly ROMs For Android means the compiled software not the hardware.

Embedded Device :  Embedded System usually have custom Platforms and Operating System.

Firmware : When you use any hardware, it is guided by a software that can be compared to a driver for a component on your computer. This software is called firmware.

System on a Chip (SOC) : System on a Chip (SOC) has been discussed before.

Reverse Engineering :  Reverse Engineering is practically to steal some brand’s hidden methods used and release it (in case of Flashing ROM) to circumvent vendor lock in.

Flashing ROM : Usually used Method

The most important part from developer aspect (or to reverse engineer it) is to get the original ROM Software from the company. “Helpful Hands” usually helps to get it out from the company for free and use it as if like Open Source to help the users. This is unofficial application of Flashing ROM method.

Officially Flashing ROM is done to upgrade a software or operating system, like Nokia has such system – you can do it yourself or they will do it for free of cost. Free because it violates SLA to charge.

The basic method and needed things for Flashing ROM are :

• An USB cable or some other cable to connect the device to the computer. Usually the end of the cable for the Device has a Micro USB plug, but can have proprietary plug. Nowadays most companies supplies this cable with the device.
• An interpreting Computer Software; which will install the needed driver softwares and an GUI based option window to prevent the Device to become detected as USB mass storage device.
• And the Software – either a custom hacked or unlocked software or an Upgrade.

Flashing ROM : Things to Remember

Usually the companies try to reinforce their own terms of warranty to prevent the vendor lock in to stop Flashing ROM unofficially. Unofficial Flashing ROM is equivalent to jail-breaking. Be careful to read the documentation as unsuccessful Flashing ROM can render the device unusable.

Unofficially : Many company’s service center support has not much knowledge about Flashing ROM. So, you will never surrender before them that you have followed a unofficial Flashing ROM method, which has made the device unusable. Always pretend to be a basic user before them and tell them the story – it just has happened while something was playing nicely. They usually replaces the device, but we can not give warranty about it. So be careful.