[Sprint HTC One (M8)] sgtduckyboy:
Clarification`

i am not sure why its not easy for someone to figure out what is meant by all these terms. Once again, i find myself confused as to whether or not I should update my M8 or how I should do it.

I am sprint H/K edition, 4.20.654.10 at the moment, rec'd message .14 with wifi enhancements is available. I am rooted, S-off via sunshine and unlocked BL. DO I , or DO I NOT, flash the update? will i lose everything or not? if i need to flash to stock recovery, is that the file labeled 0P6BIMG RUUs?

If I want to keep all apps and settings, should I go RUU route? I wonder when the terms Firmware and ROM will stop being used separately, everwhere I look for definitions, i see these mean the same thing in Android definitions, but on XDA they mean something else. can someone point to me to a link where the commonly used terms are clearly defined?

what is meant by firmware?

what is meant by ROM?

'flashing firmware only will not update OS'. (yet Android definition says OS/ROM 'IS" the Firwmware)

what is 0P6BIMG and what is the difference between 4.25.654.10 and 4.25.654.14 0P6BIMG files?

what does this mean to me (quote from first post), not sure what each one offers me, why would i be concerned about 'removed boot' or 'recovery'? (would that just flash firmware and OS as you guys call it?) but doesnt

does installing the third one below put stock recovery on, but leave device rooted, and unlocked and s-off?

Here is the extracted Firmware for the Harman version, can be flashed on either handset:

4.25.654.14 Modified Firmware....removed recovery (fastboot flashable): https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95916177934552838

4.25.654.14 Modified Firmware....removed boot & recovery (fastboot flashable): https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95916177934552837

4.25.654.14 Full Firmware from OTA (fastboot flashable): https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95916177934552394 *credit to dopy25 thx!

4.20.654.10 ADSP only from RUU (fastboot flashable): https://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=95916177934528752

and then this part:

Flash Firmware via Hboot (requires micro sd card)....

-rename firmware to 0P6BIMG.zip

-copy 0P6BIMG.zip to ext_sd card

-boot into bootloader

-make sure hboot is highlighted, press power button

-it will scan your ext_sd card, then ask if you want to start the update

-press volume up & let it do it's thing...

if 0P6BIMG.zip is recovery as the best I can deciper, why is it being called 'firmware' here?

but in the 4 steps in previous question, that is for flashign firmware also..

HOW MANY WAYS ARE THERE TO FLASH FIRMWARE AND WHY ARE THEY ALL SO VERY DIFFERENT IN FORMAT, METHOD AND STEPS??

I am in IT and been a tinkerer all my life. It is baffling to me that I can not determine what the hell you guys are all talking about. If i can get over this barrier, I can move on and start to get more involved, but until i understand the terminologies I am not able to move past this point. I have been doing this for 2 years plus now on motorola, htc's, samsungs and LG's and for the life of me, can not make one bit of sense of terms used.

I hope my request makes sense to someone and they can point me to a site/link/post with more information on Android setup that explains what is being done in these forums. All the definitions I find do not explain difference between OS and firmware and ROM. to them, they are all the same.

Thanks.