Root [Virgin Mobile] Switching to Firmware Version MD4?

[other gus]

So as many of us have discovered, to install CM10.1 you need to have firmware version MD4 (the latest Sprint stock).

I found THIS forum post for Sprint users about manually updating to MD4 and thought this was a good jumping off point.

That thread is geared towards Sprint users, and the author states you must be on firmware MB1...does anyone know if this presents issues for Virgin Mobile users? Or is there another way to get to MD4 that I simply missed?

Edit:
The author of the above post is careful to mention not to try his method on anything other than Sprint. He may just be trying to avoid incident for some of us VM users, but at the same time I feel like I've heard a few people mention here that they attempted flashing Sprint stocks and not only did they not work but they could not return to any of their backups successfully (the radios didn't work anymore.)

I guess my second question then is whether or not we have a working VM GS3 stock file....and I'm pretty sure we don't, though I've seen a few people working on it this week.

 

[peter counias]

Ok take punks modem bin file an add it in to the sprint flashable modem zip after removing sprint bin an there you are!

 

[other gus]

Ok take punks modem bin file an add it in to the sprint flashable modem zip after removing sprint bin an there you are!

which zip exactly are you talking about when you say the "sprint flashable modem zip"? your post made me think i need to get the odexed/deodexed stock ROM zip and replace a file somewhere in there, but i'm not 100% sure.

UPDATE:
downloaded the sprint flashable modem zip, replaced the modem files...but trying to flash the new zip in CWM leads to an "Installation aborted" error. any clue why? they were zip files all along...but could it be a checksum error?

 

[evanrobinson85]

so I'm guessing you figured it out. .? if not I'll post a method later when I'm done with my chemo treatments and can get to my computer. I just didn't know where to find the file. I have already installed a few Sprint roms, but haven't got to try any cm 10.1 roms yet because I was stuck with this issue myself.

EDIT: I got impatient and flashed the file before I got home. nothing broke that I can tell. I still have 3g. the only thing is that I still was unable to flash the cm 10.1 roms. I'll try a few more things when I get home.

 

[other gus]

so I'm guessing you figured it out. .? if not I'll post a method later when I'm done with my chemo treatments and can get to my computer. I just didn't know where to find the file. I have already installed a few Sprint roms, but haven't got to try any cm 10.1 roms yet because I was stuck with this issue myself.

EDIT: I got impatient and flashed the file before I got home. nothing broke that I can tell. I still have 3g. the only thing is that I still was unable to flash the cm 10.1 roms. I'll try a few more things when I get home.

I did figure it out. Starting to write up a tutorial tonight.

BASICALLY (because we're all so impatient...I don't want to keep you waiting til my tutorial is finished) what you need is number one the Modem/Firmware zip in the thread I linked and number two punk's modem bin. Take punk's modem bin (which is actually called NON-HLOS.bin) and copy and paste it into that Modem/Firmware zip (which is the latest Sprint firmware update). Then put the zip on your SD card, along with CM10.1 (Sprint) and the latest gapps. Then go to CWM, wipe cache and dalvik (and factory reset, not sure if necessary). Flash (in this order) the modem/firmware zip you just modified, CM10.1, and then gapps. That should give you working CM10.1...mine is fully working save MMS.

 

[evanrobinson85]

does your usb file transfer still work (media storage)? mine doesn't it broke it when I flashed it. I think I messed up and left the Sprint modem.bin in the file when I flashed (I thought I replaced it). I was distracted by the dang nurse when she missed my vein while putting in my iv and made my arm swell up when she started the machine. I'm trying to figure out how to fix it now. I have to use Bluetooth file transfer in the mean time (which is taking forever).

 

[other gus]

does your usb file transfer still work (media storage)? mine doesn't it broke it when I flashed it. I think I messed up and left the Sprint modem.bin in the file when I flashed (I thought I replaced it). I was distracted by the dang nurse when she missed my vein while putting in my iv and made my arm swell up when she started the machine. I'm trying to figure out how to fix it now. I have to use Bluetooth file transfer in the mean time (which is taking forever).

yes, mine works. the modem shouldn't affect that, though. i'd try reinstalling it but doing generous wipes beforehand. not 100% sure but things in the cache/dalvik/anywhere else could mess it up.

 

[evanrobinson85]

Thanks. I'll try again maybe it will fix it self in the process. this time I made sure I put the correct modem file in. but I still don't see what went wrong. I did the same thing you did. (I'm pretty sure) as I said I did get distracted though. be back shortly to update you on my status.

 

[evanrobinson85]

Well I was able to install sprints cm 10.1 but it still says "Hardware Id Missing :windows can not identify the device plugged in SAMSUNG Mobile USB Composite Device" I at least found a sorry excuse for a work around for the time being instead of using bluetooth transfer. taking the sd card out of my phone and putting it in and sd adapter on my computer was much faster. it had completely slipped my mind that i could do that. i'm going to rack punks brain and see if he can help me in my problem.

 

[other gus]

Well I was able to install sprints cm 10.1 but it still says "Hardware Id Missing :windows can not identify the device plugged in SAMSUNG Mobile USB Composite Device" I at least found a sorry excuse for a work around for the time being instead of using bluetooth transfer. taking the sd card out of my phone and putting it in and sd adapter on my computer was much faster. it had completely slipped my mind that i could do that. i'm going to rack punks brain and see if he can help me in my problem.

that's really strange. if i had to guess i'd say you could try using zadig to fix it by replacing the drivers, which is a necessary step when installing heimdall on windows.

but don't try that unless someone else says it's a good idea...that's simply a guess.

here's a stupid suggestion - try going to the usb notification and unchecking-and-rechecking the two options. checking those options begins the driver installation, or at least that's what i've been led to believe...if they never installed correctly, that'd be your problem.

 

[evanrobinson85]

Ill give it a try.

 

[evanrobinson85]

Holy crap! lol it worked! i just checked the Camera (PTP) box and it installed with success, then rechecked Media device (MTP) and it reinstalled the drivers with success. good thinking. i was trying all the most complex methods first. the only issue now is that i have to do it every time i want to use it.


Edit: You may want to add it to the guide in case someone else has the issue.