How-to Revert From JB To ICS Without Rooting

CVL · Dec 16, 2012

Is it possible to revert from Jelly Bean to ICS 4.0.4 without root? Thanks.

Edit: Yes, it is possible!

Thanks to forum member kbbru who collected the steps needed (you can thank him in this post). Also a huge thank you to the guys at www.sammobile.com, xda-developers.com and www.androidauthority.com for all the great info available.

Please remember the below method is for the P3110 model (methods for other models may vary) and everything you do is at your own risk!

kbbru said:
For your information, I finally find some time to work on this. And I did go back to ICS 4.0.4 without any problems (and without rooting) on my P3110.
In the end the most difficult part was to find the exact information that I needed out of all the information that is available out there...

I used:
* Firmware downloaded from the SamMobile firmware page.
* Odin3 v1.87.
* The process description found in this thread at the XDA Developers forum (with some more details found in the instructions here).

kbbru · Dec 16, 2012

I have contacted Samsung support about reversing the update, and they told me it is absolutely impossible. So I assume that there is no way of doing this without rooting the Tab.
(Samsung of course didn't mention the "R-word"...

)

I'm not even sure you can reverse after rooting. I have found documentation on how to change the UI back to a tablet UI (within JB) which should solve most of the problems. But I have not found anything yet on installing an older version. (I am however completely new at this. I just started looking into the more technical aspects of Android after the forced update a few days ago.)

But I do find it ironic that after decades of Microsoft bashing I have to admit that at least with Windows it has always been relatively easy to reverse an update or install an older version of the OS. :eek:

CVL · Dec 16, 2012

Hi kbbru and thanks for your reply. I read your other post (in the UK update thread) regarding your views on the JB update and also Samsung's disappointing reply to you, but I was still hoping someone out there could help. I think I wouldn't mind rooting the tablet if I could get ICS back again unless a fix for the upper notification bar exists, which leads me to:

kbbru said:
I have found documentation on how to change the UI back to a tablet UI (within JB) which should solve most of the problems.

My biggest gripe with JB is the non-removable notification bar on my tablet so if you have found a solution on how to autohide or move it down I'd be very grateful.

hkmk23 · Dec 16, 2012

Whew!
Thank goodness I turned off my auto update as it sounds very much as though Samsung(Google?) have shot themselves in the foot well and truly with the Jelly Bean update.

Does any one know if you can run Ubuntu or other linux variation on the Tab2 7?

It is such a nice bit of kit but the opsys is leaving too much to be desired.

kbbru · Dec 16, 2012

CVL said:
My biggest gripe with JB is the non-removable notification bar on my tablet so if you have found a solution on how to autohide or move it down I'd be very grateful.

I was thinking of using the method explained here to change the UI within JB from a phone UI back to the tablet UI. But the tablet must be rooted if you want to do this. This should in theory remove the notification bar and put that information back at the bottom. But I'm not sure when I will have time to do this. (Warning: make sure to read the entire thread. There seems to be some wrong information in the first few posts.)

But in the meantime I have found firmware for version 4.0.4 for the GT-P3110 on the Sammobile website. This should be the official Samsung version and I'm thinking about installing that - forgetting about JB and moving back to ICS. If only I can now find a description on how to do this... :thinking:

kbbru · Dec 16, 2012

I have just come about this thread on AndroidAuthority website. I think that this is what we need to turn back to ICS without rooting the tablet. If I manage to complete this I'll let you know. (But I'm not sure when I'll have time...)

CVL · Dec 16, 2012

Cheers, mate, that's an excellent find.

I particularly liked the part about "Instructions for Flashing OTA Files". I reckon this could be the easiest method to downgrade to ICS then. Hmm, should I give it a go or not, that is the question haha. Hmm...

CVL · Dec 16, 2012

hkmk23 said:
Does any one know if you can run Ubuntu or other linux variation on the Tab2 7?

I think Tomaz (sp?) - the founder of SLAX - has made a version which should work on Android, but haven't read too much about it so might be wrong. There's also a link here to a Debian installation on the Galaxy Tab. I personally like both SLAX and Debian and have used them on my pc for years, but have no idea if/how they work on tablets.

bill_in_mtl · Dec 16, 2012

CVL said:
Cheers, mate, that's an excellent find.

I particularly liked the part about "Instructions for Flashing OTA Files". I reckon this could be the easiest method to downgrade to ICS then. Hmm, should I give it a go or not, that is the question haha. Hmm...

If you are comfortable with placing your tablet into "download mode" (power and volume down button) and comfortable using odin flashing software - the process is relatively simple.

The stock 4.0.4 rom is often used to fix a bad flash to a custom rom, or simply to revert back to stock to ensure all of the oem files and folders did not get changed with the custom. I have reverted back to it more than once.

If you are rooted - using PC version of odin will remove it. If you are not rooted, no worries

XDA is full of great resources, if you need more info - let me know, and I will link a few other threads

Regards,

CVL · Dec 16, 2012

bill_in_mtl said:
If you are comfortable with placing your tablet into "download mode" (power and volume down button) and comfortable using odin flashing software - the process is relatively simple.

The stock 4.0.4 rom is often used to fix a bad flash to a custom rom, or simply to revert back to stock to ensure all of the oem files and folders did not get changed with the custom. I have reverted back to it more than once.

If you are rooted - using PC version of odin will remove it. If you are not rooted, no worries

XDA is full of great resources, if you need more info - let me know, and I will link a few other threads

Regards,

Thank you for your helpfulness and guidance, it's much appreciated.

I don't understand the part where you mention Odin flashing software however. In the instructions on the xda website it says:

[HIGH]Instructions for Flashing OTA Files

The OTA file is a zip file that you put in your external Sd card and flash from the Recovery.
In Sammobile you have a "Needed PDA" which is the base firmware and a "Final PDA".
You need to have that base firmware (Needed PDA) on which you can flash OTA update. If you have the same PDA version you're ready to go...
You'll lose root if you have it already.
This will not increase the flash counter.

- Download OTA file "*.zip" and copy the file to the root of your external SD card
- Turn your phone off and put your device into RECOVERY MODE (simultaneously press and hold Vol + and Power buttons)
- With volume buttons (Up and Down) choose "apply update from external storage" pressing the power button
- Find and select the OTA file
- Flash
- Choose "wipe data/factory restore" if you want a clean installation.
- Choose "wipe cache partitions"
- Reboot your device
- Done! [/HIGH]

There's no mentioning of Odin. I thought I'd just download the OTA zip file to my sd card, go into recovery mode, and take it from there?

bill_in_mtl · Dec 16, 2012

CVL said:
Thank you for your helpfulness and guidance, it's much appreciated.

I don't understand the part where you mention Odin flashing software however. In the instructions on the xda website it says:

[HIGH]Instructions for Flashing OTA Files

The OTA file is a zip file that you put in your external Sd card and flash from the Recovery.
In Sammobile you have a "Needed PDA" which is the base firmware and a "Final PDA".
You need to have that base firmware (Needed PDA) on which you can flash OTA update. If you have the same PDA version you're ready to go...
You'll lose root if you have it already.
This will not increase the flash counter.

- Download OTA file "*.zip" and copy the file to the root of your external SD card
- Turn your phone off and put your device into RECOVERY MODE (simultaneously press and hold Vol + and Power buttons)
- With volume buttons (Up and Down) choose "apply update from external storage" pressing the power button
- Find and select the OTA file
- Flash
- Choose "wipe data/factory restore" if you want a clean installation.
- Choose "wipe cache partitions"
- Reboot your device
- Done! [/HIGH]

There's no mentioning of Odin. I thought I'd just download the OTA zip file to my sd card, go into recovery mode, and take it from there?

My mistake - missed the part that the file is a .zip file. Yes, those can be flashed from recovery. I am used to seeing the oem releases as .tar files, and those require odin

You should be good to go

PS - if you ever decided to root your tablet, there is a Tablet.zip file over on XDA that you can flash to the JB Stock rom, it basically gives you the same tablet look and feel as the ICS 4.0.4

Regards,

Deleted User · Dec 17, 2012

It should be possible to flash older rom via Odin. i do it all the time on my phone. though never tried on the tab.

I updated my tab this two days back, and i prefer the old notification bar on the bottom. but can leave with the changes there. didn't find any other issues other then my home screens were reset to default.

CVL · Dec 17, 2012

bill_in_mtl said:
My mistake - missed the part that the file is a .zip file. Yes, those can be flashed from recovery. I am used to seeing the oem releases as .tar files, and those require odin

You should be good to go

Thanks for the confirmation. It almost sounds too easy to downgrade this way, I'm afraid I'm missing some important points here.

To summarize:

In order to downgrade from Jelly Bean to ICS 4.0.4. over the air (OTA)

- I download an OTA zip file of my choice
- Put it onto my external SD card
- Go into Recovery Mode on the phone
- Follow the instructions mentioned above

And that's it?

What if something goes wrong during the downgrade, will it automatically return to JB by turning the tablet on/off or can the tablet be bricked with this method?

PS - if you ever decided to root your tablet, there is a Tablet.zip file over on XDA that you can flash to the JB Stock rom, it basically gives you the same tablet look and feel as the ICS 4.0.4

I actually don't mind Jelly Bean except for the upper notification bar. I would really like to install the JB tablet ui if that was possible without having to root.

I'd be really pleased if I can get back to the previous ICS version using the easy method mentioned above though without having to root, so I guess I have a choice to make now. If only the JB UI gave me a choice to choose where I want my notifications in the first place it would have been much better. :/

Mackinon said:
It should be possible to flash older rom via Odin. i do it all the time on my phone. though never tried on the tab.

I updated my tab this two days back, and i prefer the old notification bar on the bottom. but can leave with the changes there. didn't find any other issues other then my home screens were reset to default.

Yeah, Jelly Bean seems like a nice enough OS except for the notification bar and loss of screen estate. Since I mostly use my tablet in landscape view the notification bar is difficult to ignore for me though.

CVL · Dec 17, 2012

I just found this thread which seems to ask a rather similar question and apparently the answer is no - it does appear that I indeed need to be rooted if I want to downgrade. It seems that if I use the above OTA method without root there will be problems with the bootloader as far as I understand?

I've flashed all my recent Nokia phones without bricking them, but I'm not so sure I want to take the chance on a tablet that is just two months old in case something goes wrong. I think for now I'm stuck with Jelly Bean (until I'm willing to root the device) or wait for some kind of update that gives the user an option to customize the UI or install a tablet UI without being rooted, but I'm not holding my breath haha.

kbbru · Dec 17, 2012

CVL said:
I think for now I'm stuck with Jelly Bean (until I'm willing to root the device) <...>

I'm still looking into my options. But just a question: why would you NOT want to root the tablet? I'm new to all this, but since Samsung doesn't give me what I want I see no reason not to take things into my own hands. Or am I missing something?

And on the choice between the downgrade to ICS and installing the tablet UI in JB, I'm more and more in favour of the downgrade. I have found some more negative aspects to the current version (e.g. in the way certain apps react to touching the screen) and I'm not sure that changing the UI will solve those.

Thank you all for the useful information!

CVL · Dec 17, 2012

kbbru said:
But just a question: why would you NOT want to root the tablet?

I would, if only I was 100 percent sure about the instructions and outcome. At the moment however I don't feel comfortable enough to try to root in case something goes wrong - after all, my tablet is rather new. But the Jelly Bean UI annoys me now the more I use my tablet so I'm probably going the root route sooner rather than later if I know myself well enough mind you haha.

I would be happy if someone here who's been in the same situation know how to root a GT-P3110 model and how to downgrade to ICS, preferably with exact instructions.

kbbru · Dec 17, 2012

CVL said:
I would be happy if someone here who's been in the same situation know how to root a GT-P3110 model and how to downgrade to ICS, preferably with exact instructions.

No personal experience of course, but have you seen these instructions? I will probably go forward using these, but the whole process (+ the consequent reversal to ICS) is not something I want to do when I'm in a hurry - so probably something for the holidays.

CVL · Dec 17, 2012

Yes, I read that one already, thanks anyway though. I remember also looking at the comments, seems like quite a few had problems so I'm a bit hesitant to try for myself heh.

Incidentally, I'm writing this message from my tablet and it appears that the keyboard runs much smoother and is easier to navigate on JB 4.1.1. than on the Ice Cream Sandwich version. I also remember now having touchwiz errors on ICS. There certainly are more pros and cons for each OS than I previously thought of.

I like the idea of a clean (rooted) device where I can remove a lot of bloatware, but on the other hand, with officially released firmware you'll usually get the benefit of an operating system that's been tested over a longer period of time, a system that works out of the box. I really don't know what to do right now so will wait and see. :/

chis51hd · Dec 17, 2012

I'm about to try the CF auto root sir by Chainfire. It uses stock recovery so it's the "closest" to stock with root you can get. I just installed Official stock rom 4.1.1 on my tab.

kbbru · Dec 26, 2012

CVL said:
Is it possible to revert from Jelly Bean to ICS 4.0.4 without root? Thanks.

For your information, I finally find some time to work on this. And I did go back to ICS 4.0.4 without any problems (and without rooting) on my P3110.
In the end the most difficult part was to find the exact information that I needed out of all the information that is available out there...

I used:
* Firmware downloaded from the SamMobile firmware page.
* Odin3 v1.87.
* The process description found in this thread at the XDA Developers forum (with some more details found in the instructions here).

CVL · Dec 26, 2012

Excellent! Thank you.

harshalp99 · Dec 29, 2012

i have download
* Firmware from Here
* Odin3 v1.87.
* turn off my tablet
now what next to do???
should i connect tablet with pc??

kbbru · Dec 29, 2012

harshalp99 said:
now what next to do???
should i connect tablet with pc??

Make sure to read the instructions that I have linked to in post #20 above. The one on the XDA Developer site has everything you need in the first post. (There are several methods explained in there, I have used the method "Instructions for Flashing Firmware with ODIN".)
I don't want to repeat it here, because I think that the author of that post should receive all the credit he deserves. (And "buy him a beer" if everything works out fine...

) But in brief, you should first prepare Odin on the PC, put the tablet in download mode, and only then connect them. (Please read the instructions in full before you start!)

The other link that I have added (to AndroidAuthority) was useful because it adds some details (even if the description is for a P3113 and not a P3110), especially point #10 in the instructions - about doing a Wipe data/Factory reset after flashing.

harshalp99 · Dec 29, 2012

kbbru said:
Make sure to read the instructions that I have linked to in post #20 above. The one on the XDA Developer site has everything you need in the first post. (There are several methods explained in there, I have used the method "Instructions for Flashing Firmware with ODIN".)
I don't want to repeat it here, because I think that the author of that post should receive all the credit he deserves. (And "buy him a beer" if everything works out fine... ) But in brief, you should first prepare Odin on the PC, put the tablet in download mode, and only then connect them. (Please read the instructions in full before you start!)

The other link that I have added (to AndroidAuthority) was useful because it adds some details (even if the description is for a P3113 and not a P3110), especially point #10 in the instructions - about doing a Wipe data/Factory reset after flashing.

1stThanks for reply
wel 1 question raise in my mind tht will it work on my P3100???

and u have followed this tutorial if im not wrong
Instructions for Flashing Firmware with ODIN

- Install KIES or Samsung drivers into your PC and ensure that KIES is closed and not running in the system tray
- Download the firmware version and extract the *.tar.md5 file
- Download ODIN, extract the ODIN folder and open it
- Select PDA tab and point it to *.tar.md5 file. Leave Re-partition, pit, CSC, Phone tab unticked (in other words, don't change anything)
- Turn off your device
- Put your device into DOWNLOAD MODE (simultaneously press and hold Vol - and Power buttons, confirm entering in download mode by Vol+ button)
- Connect device to PC and wait for any required drivers
- ID com port should turn yellow
- Click START!
- Do not disconnect the cable or turn off the device once the flash has started
- Wait until ODIN shows PASS! Device will reboot when it finishes.
- Disconnect device from PC during the reboot and you can now disconnect the cable.
- Done!

one more thing is does it need pit file for P3100 because i download flasher program from sammobile and .rar file contain pit files with it
need ur confirmation before i start flashing

kbbru · Dec 29, 2012

harshalp99 said:
and u have followed this tutorial if im not wrong

I don't know if it will work on a P3100. I can only talk about my own experience with a P3110. (Search around a bit, and I'm sure you'll find similar instructions for the P3100. I think the main difference is the version of the firmware that will not be the same.)
And I clearly said that I didn't want to copy the instructions into this thread because I feel that people should consult them in the original thread. (There is no copyright on these things, but we should at least respect the work done by others.) SO WHY DO YOU COPY-PASTE THE ENTIRE TEXT INTO YOUR POST??? (You could at least mention the original author. And also: if the original text ever changes, thanks to you there will be an outdated version circulating on the Internet.)
Are you by any chance the same person as technomagic?

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