[Galaxy S III I9305 (4G LTE + 2GB RAM) Android Deve] droido123:
stuck on whether to install the I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5 software and what I risk

EDIT: thread Readers please note. I was a NOOB and I initially and accidentally credited "Lyriquidperfection" (who has also been very considerate in assisting) for the thread when "btemtd" was the original thread creator. "btemtd", I have edited to show appropriate. I am sorry please forgive my oversight.

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Dear "btemtd"

*Note the following pre-install procedures and verifications confirmed:

1) My phone is NOT bricked and is running stock OEM i9305 installed software with details for the device posted at the end of this reply.

2) prior to doing ANYTHING I verified I can Dial *#7284# on phone and can see the 'Qualcomm USB Settings' button

3) KIES drivers installed and i9305 to PC works in KIES application and drag and drop modes

4) I have downloaded the Param_Bin_I9305.tar.md5 file in case I need it.

5) I have downloaded the I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5 file for use when I install the CWM.

6) I have downloaded the CWM-SuperSU-v0.96 application but have not yet installed it and have not yet learned about how to operate it (I will study and follow your instructions prior to doing so)

7) I have read this entire thread and all replies.

8) I have also read the entire thread and all replies to: [WARNING! + GUIDE] Backup and Restore IMEI / NV Data Procedure for GT-I9305

9) I don’t care about losing any of the media or pictures or applications (whatsapp) installed on my phone as these can all be reinstalled later on.

I have successfully executed the following so far:

1)	I installed QPST v2.7.378 program on my PC and backed up a .qcn file. I then restored the .qcn file back to the i9305 and it accepted the restoration without problem. I can see my IMEI number by dialing Dial *#06#

2)	I DID NOT back up any of these files below because I was NOT rooted and I DO NOT have a terminal emulator application (I can learn the emulator application if it is necessary and if someone can provide a link to where to get it). IF it is required for me to back up these files PRIOR to proceeding using ODIN please direct me to do so. I would prefer to not have to learn the emulator program unless it is required.

m9kefs1 - Located at: '/dev/block/mmcblk0p4'

m9kefs2 - Located at: '/dev/block/mmcblk0p5'

m9kefs3 - Located at: '/dev/block/mmcblk0p6'

3)	I installed ODIN version Odin3 v3.04 (but I still have no clue how to operate this software)

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This is where I stopped. Why? Well, after reading the instructions "btemtd"provided in thread I became concerned. My primary objective is to first save a backup of my phone. Since I am such a noob I don’t even know what a backup file extension is named (for example a backup for PC might be named xxxxx.img). I suspect that the backup extension file might be named xxxxx.tar.md5 but I still don’t know.

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As I read "btemtd"instructions further I became concerned about the following items:

1)	"btemtd"states in the In the 4th that one should “Now you must Root your device and install CWM recovery”. Well, since I am still such a noob I don’t know how I should root my device. Ideally, I want to make a backup of my phone (I think that will eventually be called a “nandroid”) as quickly as possible so if I inadvertently damage something during an install I will have an original source file to revert to (and hopefully be able to restore). I have a few questions:

A) Is there a special “rooting” software I should be using it or is “rooting” just a process name (like “flashing” a drive for example)? It might help me if I could have some noob instruction on how to root an i9305 without bricking it.

B) If I “root” my phone at this stage (without having made any backups other than the xxxx.qcn file) do I risk bricking my phone and not being able to revert to the stock OEM i9305 software?

2)	Another area of concern was as follows. "btemtd"advocates installing the CWM (I presume that is short for clockwork module) application and provides a hyperlink for it (which I read). In this instruction it advocates downloading the file named “I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5”. This is where things get a little murky and hence the advance questions (which hopefully will help other noobs beyond myself and allow "btemtd"to concentrate on the i9305 problems I couldn’t solve in a lifetime). My critical question is as follows: IF I follow the instructions that "btemtd" hyperlinked to (these instructions were posted by senior member “ausdim”) and IF I install the CWM (install via ODIN) file named “I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5” WILL I be replacing my stock i9305 OEM software with this new one created as “I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5”? Could you please apprise on this instruction (remember, my first goal is to make a full backup of my existing stock i9305 OEM software on the i9305 so that I can restore if I late noobify any of the instructions). I want to confirm that by proceeding with the procedures kindly laid out by audsim I will NOT be wiping out my OEM software on the i9305 supplied when the phone was new. IF the answer to that question is “YES, you will be essentially replacing the stock OEM software for the i9305” with the new one created under “I9305_CWM_Recovery.tar.md5.”” then I might have to consider the implications of losing all of the factory OEM software that came on the phone. Please note that I am hoping that this procedure will result in the phone OS changing from:

FROM: stock OEM i9305 software

TO: stock OEM i9305 software + CWM module

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This post is lengthy, yes, but I hope accurate and hopefully it will provide some clearance, comfort, or guidance to other noobs looking to backup their phone prior to risk bricking it on more risky adventures.

Thanks in advance and donations to "btemtd" for his hard and thankful efforts.

DEVICE MODEL BUILD is as follows:

Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE Hong Kong Version

Model number:GT-19305

Android version: 4.1 .1

Baseband version: 19305ZHALl1

Kernel version

3.0.31-177985

se.infra@SEP-85 #1

SMP PREEMPT Thu Sep 20 23:04:05 KST 2012