Root [Virgin Mobile/Sprint] Unbrick VM/Sprint F3

[elgecko]

Np.

*sammyz goes on to the f6*

Nooooo! Don't abandon us!

Seems you know what your doing. Stick around make us some ROMs and such. LOL

 

[sammyz]

Nooooo! Don't abandon us!

Seems you know what your doing. Stick around make us some ROMs and such. LOL

I can build source that is complete. I'm not in any way good with making ROMs. Sorry. I could port aokp but you need CM already built first and besides, if CM source is good, you can use it to build aokp, Pac-Man, etc.

 

[tronik]

First Sammyz, Thank you for documenting this procedure! I've had the F3 rooted for a while and so do a few of my friends - I don't expect *knock on wood* to need this info but who knows. Looks like a great guide. Downloaded the goods anyway! I just like to have a set of software in case something happens. Currently playing with the F3 and my MotoX has become my workhorse. Stinks we haven't gotten an unlock, but maybe we can get an AOKP or CM build of 4.1 running on this little thing.

 

[sammyz]

First Sammyz, Thank you for documenting this procedure! I've had the F3 rooted for a while and so do a few of my friends - I don't expect *knock on wood* to need this info but who knows. Looks like a great guide. Downloaded the goods anyway! I just like to have a set of software in case something happens. Currently playing with the F3 and my MotoX has become my workhorse. Stinks we haven't gotten an unlock, but maybe we can get an AOKP or CM build of 4.1 running on this little thing.

Bootloader is already bypassed with Loki....

 

[Wrath42]

so after I disconnect and reconnect the USB cable in download mode the flashing starts after about 500 seconds I get
:: Error ::
F0000002

Tried 3 times.

4th time at 89% after the log says Rebooting and the phone boots up to the screen where it asks if you would like to activate talk back voice navigation for the visually impaired the communication port 41 that says LGE Android Platform USB Serial Port disappears I don't know if this has anything to do with the reason I am failing

Can someone confirm for me they can see their phone in the device manager while the phone is on under the COM Ports listed as LGE Android Platform USB Serial Port

5th time yup after Rebooting comes up in the log it disappears from the device manager.

 

[npolite]

If I hold down volume up + volume down + power it goes into the Factory Hard reset. Am I doing something wrong?

Also with the "Select Add, choose the tot file you downloaded.", do we need to rename the bin file to tot?

 

[npolite]

Here is what I found on another board. Please let me know if this looks correct. My question also is do I need to rename the actual image bin file to something else?

Go ahead and put phone in Download mode by VolUp + plug in USB to PC. At this time your computer should install the device, if it hadnt already. Open device manager to check if un der "Ports (Com and LPT)" it shows up as LGE AndroidNet for VZW USB Serial Port (COM##) IF the COM number is anything other than 41, which it probably will be. Right click it in device manager and choose peroperties, then go to port settings tab and click advanced. On the bottom choose COM41 and hit OK. (if you get an error about it being in use I'll write more about that later)hit ok and all that and close out the properties.
2) Open LG Flash Tool
You may get a menu asking ??? Korean labor camp or something like that choose that one hit OK.
Now in here you have to choose "Select Manual Mode" checkbox on top then on the top DLL box choose the "LGVS980_20130902_LGFLASHv151.dll" we saved earlier, then in the S/W box click add and choose your TOT file. MAKE ABSOLUTELY SURE ITS THE RIGHT ONE
Then hit OK.
3) Now click the yellow arrow in the top left of the main window. It will prepare and maybe give a milky way error (seriously) ignore it until it says finished, or ready.
4) Now unplug your phone, power off and then go back into download mode again, volUp+USB. It should immediately connect and start flashing.
It will restart around 83% and then you are done!
if you red light is flashing on phone just unplug and hold middle power until it either boots or turns off so you can turn it back on.
Done!


Update: Problem solved. I had to read a few times that I had to leave the Flash tool on, disconnect and then go back into download mode to actually start the flashing.

 

[npolite]

Ok here is my doc. Thanks to Sammyz for the guide. I just detailed it a bit further since there was some confusion on my part. I hope it helps others.

Flashing your LG F3 to Stock ROM. This will wipe out all data and applications and restore to out of box.
1) Download and install the stock drivers from LG’s site
http://tool.xcdn.gdms.lge.com/dn/downloader.dev?fileKey=UW00120120425


2) Download and install the LG F3 Flash Utility. Do not run the application after it installs. After the installation there is a MegaLock.dll file in the zip. Copy this over to the installation directory of the flash utility (C:\LG\LGFlashTool)
http://oudhitsquad.com/android/LGE/Firmware/LS720/LS720ZV5_00.zip


3) Create a folder on your desktop called LG


4) Download and then extract to the LG directory the Dll for the Flash Tool Utility
http://tool.xcdn.gdms.lge.com/dn/downloader.dev?fileKey=CT109876368442163684421/[LGFLASHv151]LGLS720_20130509_Download.zip


5) Download and then extract to the LG directory the stock ROM
http://oudhitsquad.com/android/LGE/Firmware/LS720/LS720ZV5_00.zip


6) Power off your LG phone


7) While holding the up volume button, connect the phone to your computer via the micro USB cable. You should hear the USB connection activating and if this is the first time connecting it, will see a configuring device message (at least in Windows 8). On the screen of the phone you should now see “Download Mode” DO NOT UNPLUG the device until the process is complete.


8) Open device manager and expand ports (COM & LPT). Expand this and you should now see your com ports. Double click the “LGE Android Platform USB Serial port”.

Click the port setting tab, then the advanced button. Change the COM Port number to 41 like below. Click ok twice and close device manager.

9) Next Launch the LG Flash utility. On the pop-up for the model config, click the “Select Manual Mode”. For the Dll, select the LGLS720_20130509_LGFLASHv151.dll that we download to the LG folder on the desktop. For the S/W select the ROM that we downloaded to the LG folder LS720ZV5_00.bin. Ensure that the connection mode is set to USB and the Upgrade DL is selected. Click OK.

10) On the main screen of the LG flash utility press the yellow right arrow button. When it says “Ready!!” in yellow, disconnect your phone from the USB cable. ***LEAVE THE LG FLASH UTILITY RUNNING ****

11) Disconnect the USB cable from the phone. Wait 5 seconds.

12) Connect the phone back to the USB cable. The flash utility should start updating the firmware and show a percentage. Once it hits around 85% the phone will reboot. You can now disconnect and close out of the Utility.

 

[mymms]

thank npolite and sammyz for the instructions. it worked for me.

but I am a newbie, so what do all these steps do? and if I want to use this virgin mobile F3 on page plus, what's next I should do ? thanks

 

[npolite]

thank npolite and sammyz for the instructions. it worked for me.

but I am a newbie, so what do all these steps do? and if I want to use this virgin mobile F3 on page plus, what's next I should do ? thanks

This procedure allows you to reload the stock ROM back onto the phone in case you somehow mess it up.

 

[JRADSAN]

Stupid Question. my phone doesn't turn on at all. just messed it up from app2sd initialization. downloading everything right now and just looking for a little wisdom! thanks

 

[HaTrEd360]

Stupid Question. my phone doesn't turn on at all. just messed it up from app2sd initialization. downloading everything right now and just looking for a little wisdom! thanks

This phone does not support apps2sd as that's for older Android versions. You must use links2sd now and format your sdcard with a second ext2 partition.

 

[npolite]

This phone does not support apps2sd as that's for older Android versions. You must use links2sd now and format your sdcard with a second ext2 partition.

Is there any particular reason to use ext2 over ext4? The ext4 has on the fly file system checking so it is what I would use.

 

[HaTrEd360]

Links2sd recommends ext2 over the others. It's more widely supported, and I use ext2 with no problems at all it does just fine. Besides, it's just to store app storage, that's all. Otherwise, you don't put anything else on it. I've got over 60 apps linked, with no problems at all. But I've heard some ppl have had problems with ext4 on other phones, so idk how this one would do with it. But I supposed you can try, lol.

 

[schpelTiger]

I've read that ext4 does more write operations than ext2, which can kill your card faster. Don't quote me on that, but your best bet is to stick with ext2.

 

[PlayingMantis]

Would this process load a straight Sprint ROM that would remove any MVNO branding from the system? Or is that set somewhere else?

 

[sammyz]

Would this process load a straight Sprint ROM that would remove any MVNO branding from the system? Or is that set somewhere else?

Sprint and virgin are using the same firmware/software/etc. Don't know how branding works like this....probably depends on the IMEI number.

 

[mymms]

I did all these steps on my phone, then activated it on page plus.
now I found it is extremely battery sucking. I turned off data, wifi, etc, only left it to accept phone calls. with this, the battery can only last about ONE day.
GSam battery monitor shows that most battery is used by phone radio.

is that possible this issue is related to the ROM used in this procedure? any hint of bad battery performance is appreciated.

thanks

This procedure allows you to reload the stock ROM back onto the phone in case you somehow mess it up.

 

[MrGlowy]

This is stock, I highly doubt it is the cause of the battery drain. It's probably because the phone isn't getting signal. It's looking for it harder. Which is why the radio is being used so much.

 

[mymms]

thanks for your reply. since I have another phone with the same network and it doesn't have similar problem, can I assume this particular phone might have hardware issue? so if I want an exchange, how to convince the store that it is defective?

This is stock, I highly doubt it is the cause of the battery drain. It's probably because the phone isn't getting signal. It's looking for it harder. Which is why the radio is being used so much.

 

[MrGlowy]

It could be defective.

 

[un1ocked]

is there a way to download a dll file from LG server?
i need a dll file for optimus F7
thank you

 

[sammyz]

is there a way to download a dll file from LG server?
i need a dll file for optimus F7
thank you

There was, LG changed their links.

 

[un1ocked]

How do you get the F3 dll?

 

[sammyz]

How do you get the F3 dll?

Don't need it for metro/tmobile phones. I can't get it again for virgin mobile/Sprint phones.