How to brick-proof my phone before flashing to another language

roy_hu · #1 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 05:34 PM

I got my Diamond from Sprint. I'm planning to flash it with a ROM in a different language, and restore the phone later. I have some concerns before I pull the trigger.

I only want to change the OS so that all the interfaces can be understood by someone that knows no English. I want to keep the Radio intact. Can I tell if the ROM only contains OS and that the Radio will not be overwritten?
I'm not sure if the Rom I downloaded is for GSM or for CDMA. Most likely it's for GSM. Will I be screwed if I flash the Rom? If it's just that the programs cannot use the phone and I can restore it with, say, Juicy's rom, then I'm not worried.
If the entire stack is overwritten, can I go back? What's the backup/restore plan?

Thanks!

**mwalt2** · #2 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:42 PM

I don't know that much, but I'm pretty sure you'll brick the phone if you flash a CDMA phone with a GSM ROM and vice versa...so I'd avoid that.

reggiep · #3 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 08:46 PM

i agree! Your sprint phone is cdma and you cannot use it on a gsm network so you will trash your phone....everything else is moot! get a phone from att and try again!

roy_hu · #4 (**permalink**) 03-10-2009, 10:21 PM

My parents are visiting me from another country, and they don't speak any English. Using the computer analogy, I want to format the disk and install another operating system. How is a gsm ROM going to trash my cdma phone? Is it possible to rip a gsm rom to make it safe?

**lawmangrant** · #5 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 02:12 AM

A GSM rom uses different files, and well, there are a ton of reasons not to do it. You will brick your phone if you try to flash to a GSM rom.

And as for as making your phone "brick-proof", I do not think there is any way to ensure that.
Some of the best Chef's on here have bricked devices (but they usually can recover them).

If your parents need a phone for the visit, how bout a basic, flip phone or something. That would be cheaper than bricking a phone and having to replace it.

**tobeychris** · #6 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 02:14 AM

If you only flash a GSM ROM containing only an OS (no Radio, SPL, etc) then you won't brick, it just won't work and you'll have to go into bootloader to flash back.

Still, it won't work.

creedin · #7 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 07:42 AM

download a language pack... and use it as your default language

http://pocket-pc.penreader.com/

might cost a bit

roy_hu · #8 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 03:31 PM

Thank all for your help! I now understand the risk.

Unknownforce · #9 (**permalink**) 03-11-2009, 04:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by roy_hu

I got my Diamond from Sprint. I'm planning to flash it with a ROM in a different language, and restore the phone later. I have some concerns before I pull the trigger.

I only want to change the OS so that all the interfaces can be understood by someone that knows no English. I want to keep the Radio intact. Can I tell if the ROM only contains OS and that the Radio will not be overwritten?
I'm not sure if the Rom I downloaded is for GSM or for CDMA. Most likely it's for GSM. Will I be screwed if I flash the Rom? If it's just that the programs cannot use the phone and I can restore it with, say, Juicy's rom, then I'm not worried.
If the entire stack is overwritten, can I go back? What's the backup/restore plan?

Thanks!

1.) Most if not all ROM's only affect the SYS ROM, and not the Radio ROM. I don't think there's an EASY way to tell. It is possible though.

2.) You can NOT flash GSM to CDMA or vise versa... that = brick.

3.) Not sure what you're asking for here... but you always should backup with either PIM backup or SPB backup before doing ANY flashing. You always lose programs/settings when flashing... this is unavoidable, the only thing you can do is have the cabs to install anything you need, and do a PIM backup or SPB backup for contacts, emails, appoinements, messages, etc.