The "All you need to know about the V3xx" Thread

[OCM]

This is the All you need to know about the V3xx thread.

You just bought a V3xx and are full of doubts, if this is your case then continue reading.

How do you know you have a v3xx

To start off, how do you know you have a v3xx and not a v3 (noob question, but it has been asked). Look at the image.

The V3xx is slightly longer than the v3 and also slightly thicker, also note the camera, it says 1.3 mp and is housed in a rectangular glass, unlike the v3. Finally, note the "shiny" finish on the exterior, while the v3 had a dull finish.

The new V3xxr can very easily be confused with the V3xx, please note these two phones are in hardware and flash files different but look alsmost identical, the V3xxr has no hole for the internal camera, is managed by AT&T and was released in 2008, Firmware version starts with R272, please take notice of this

Firmwares-Bootloaders and Carriers

The v3xx comes in 4 different types of firmware version, These are not interchangeable!!! These version are:

• R26111MLD - AT&T - B/L 03.08 sticky
• R26111LD - International Version and Cingular - B/L 3.02 or 02.E3
• R26111D - v3xx i-mode - B/L 03.02 You an flash R26111LD over it
• R26117RK - Vodafone Germany - B/L 02.E3 sticky
• R261171RK - MAXX V3 and Vodafone Italy - B/L 03.09 sticky
• R261171MRK - Reported to be Australian V3xx - B/L 04.10 sticky

If you have R26111LD and you flash R26117RK over it then you will be stuck with it, do not flash anything but your own firmware version!!
You can get custom made monster packs from here:V3xx Monster Packs

Your phones Code Groups

Your phone consists of various Code groups, each one does a different thing, these are the v3xx's code groups:
Bootloader:Your phones "BIOS"
PDS:Your phones protected security area, it contains the IMEI and network lock. If damaged it can not be repaired and will not let the phone boot.
CG1:Your phones actual firmware
CG2:Your phones flex, contains the a/ directory
CG3:Your phones DSP or Digital Sound Processor, controls the audio chip
CG4:Your phones font
CG7:A digital signature
CG10:Your phones e/ drive, currently can not be backep up
CG11:Apparently only on R26117RK phones, it is probably another digital signature
CG15:Your phones DRM (icons on the top of the phone and certain icons, like USB icon)
CG17:Another digital signature
CG18:The RSA signature

SEEM Edits and Common Mods.

NOTE: A Seem from one type of firmware WILL work on as different type of firmware, as long as it is a P2K 05 phone
The seems that are most Modded are 0032_0001(general text table) 004a_0001(video/picture settings) 004b_0001(video/picture settings) 005b_0001(Key Map) 0025_0001(available bands).
Here is the P2k05 SEEM MAP:P2K05 SEEM MAP
Here is a thread containing a list of the most common mods with their respective guides (thanks to 98xploder):Official Guides and Mods

Installing Skins
The v3xx has an inner screen resolution of 240x320, so you can only use 240x320 skins. You can get these from here:240x320 skins. You can install these skins two different ways. One would be (hard way) to use P2k Tools VS or P2k Commander to create a new folder (with the name of the skin) under a/mobile/skins and upload all the skin files there, and the other way (easy way, recommended) is using Skin Manager (SkiMan). You can get it from here: SkiMan .51. Open SkiMan and let it recognize your phone, it will list all current skins and you will see an option to install a new skin, click it and uncheck everything that appears on the next window (you can fiddle with those patches later), navigate to where your skin is and select the .ski file. Let it do it's job and when it's done press the restart button, your phone will reboot and the skin will be installed.

Installing Java Apps/Games

To install Java apps it is reccommended to use Motorola Midlets Manager (MotoMidMan). The newest version is .85 2 YEARS and can be found here:MotoMidMan .85. You need to add your firmware to the motomidman ini file for it to work correctly, to do this open the motomidman folder and open the motomidman.ini file. You will see Mode 1 through 7, go to where it says Mode 7 and where the last firmware version is listed enter a space and write your phones firmware version (example:R26111LD) then save the file and close it. Open MotoMidMan and connect your phone, if done correctly it should detect your phone and list all currently installed JAVA apps. Select install new (if you have a jad file select jad if you have only a jar select jar). It will install the app and then refresh the list on installed apps. When it's done press the restart button, your phone will reboot and the app will be installed.

DRM, Fonts and Code Group 2

As said before, you cannot interchange Firmware, this DRM, Fonts, and all code groups (CG).If for example you flash an R26111MLD DRM on R26111LD firmware then you will get a soft brick (explained later).
You can get DRM's here please note the software version before flashing it!:V3xx DRM's
You can get fonts here:V3xx fonts

How To Flash and how to backup

Two main programs exist for flashing, these are RSD Lite and Flash and Backup.
RSD Lite is the Official Motorola flashing program and will almost always flash ok, of course you have to flash the correct type of file. RSD can also flex the phone (.hs files). The phone has to be on (not in B/L mode) for it to be flexed.
Flash and Backup will flash and take backupsas well as having the capability of flashing individual code groups and changing the RAM Loader. Different phones require different Ram Loaders, the MLD ram loader is different from the LD and the LD from the RK and so on. The newest version of Flash and Backup is 3.0.7and it is highly recommended you download it because it includes the loaders for all versions of the v3xx. F&B also uses profiles, please select the correct one before flashing or making backups. For R26117RK users use the attached profile. You can get F&B from here.Note F&B is trial software and has a 15 flash/backup trial period, the full version costs US $10

Help!! My v3xx won't boot!!

Ok, you bricked your v3xx, everybody does it once or twice, don't feel bad, it is a good learning experience. I classify bricked v3xx's in three sections: Soft Brick, Hard Brick and Dead Brick. If i were you i would pray it is a soft brick...
Soft Brick:A soft brick usually occurs when you flash an incompatible MP to your phone. Your phone is stuck in bootloader mode and will not boot, or you can force bootloader (hold * and # while inserting battery), RSD Lite detects it as S Flash Argon. A soft brick can be fixed by flashing a correct version MP to it, preferably a stock one, and RSD Lite works best for reviving phones.
Hard Brick:A hard brick usualy occurs when the phone is disconnected or the battery runs dead while being flashing, succesfully corrupting the phones PDS, you can't enter bootloader mode. RSD Detects it as S Blank Argon. At the time being we can not easily repair the phones PDS (correct me if I'm wrong), so you have to take your phone to an authorized Motorola Repair Center.
Dead Brick:A dead brick usually occurs the same way a Hard Brick does, or by a failed unlock procedure, successfully corrupting the phones PDS, you can't enter bootloader mode. RSD does not recognize your phone and windows may detect it as a defective or malfunctioning device. One needs to testpoint the phone (open it and cut metal shield then ground the testpoint) to obtain S Blank Argon to repair the phones PDS, but at the time being one can not do this so it is recommended to leave the phone as-is and take it to an authorized Motorola repair center.

An OCM770 guide.

[dankif]

An OCM770 guide.

nice. liked it. i thought they can testpoint these by now, but not sure.

[Cyberwulf]

Very good reference guide for noobs and experienced modders alike. Further references can of course be found by searching this forum. Good work!

[kent_lkc]

v3xx i mode firmware version : R2611LD

You can flash R26111LD (international) to R2611LD phone or vice versa. Is compatible.

[deepaksrivastav]

Nice work !

[OCM]

nice. liked it. i thought they can testpoint these by now, but not sure.

We can but we can't repair the PDS yet.

v3xx i mode firmware version : R2611LD

You can flash R26111LD (international) to R2611LD phone or vice versa. Is compatible.

Added, Thanks.

I thought this could be stickied to remove some of the current stickes or make it look more organized, like the MAXX super thread.

[RaMi]

Boom Chicka Wawa Wawa ... Nice thread.

[98xploder]

Sticky.

[mcgehee1]

i've got blank black screen except for top on razr v3re. how can i set a default theme since i can't access anything on the screen?

[Rick150]

Ok, R26117RK, BL 03.02. What is it?

[OCM]

Vodafone Germany. Most users have bootloader 02.e3 but it does happen that they have 03.02

[noobiedonkey]

I think i''m so dead... can some one pls help me...
I think the batt died during flashing. nv imagine that full batt could finish so damn fast. now all i get is...

Bootloader
03.09
SW Version
R261171Rk-AS_U
_99.41.08R

Battery Low
Cannot Program

[OCM]

Download This MPand follow This Guide To flash it, or charge your battery with another phone or use another battery.

Good Luck

[Russoeternal]

nice thread buddy.

[pjgr]

it's amazing that work genius