After Lenovo P780 has launched KitKat people become very happy that they got an updated Android version, but after a few days people complaining about its bugs. Still now lenovo provided S226 update but many people have a network problem, battery issue bla bla. So I am going to suggest you that if you are frustrated with KitKat that it’s time to downgrade your lenovo P780 ROW to Jelly Bean from KitKat.
Advantage of Downgrading to Jelly Bean from KitKat with this method
- No Root required
- No Warranty violation
- Stock Recovery, mean you will bring back your device like factory condition
Before we are going to start our process, please read the whole article carefully. And do it carefully. But still do it at your risk. We are not responsible for any kind of damage. Let’s start.
The tools you need to download:
- All MTK USB Driver 2014.rar (Windows 7 recommended)
- SP Flash Tool
Now unrar these files.
Download Stock ROM ( The Raw Material)
Download Stock ROM according to your device. If its 4GB version, then download the 4GB version ROM. Vise versa. Don’t try to install 4GB version ROM on 8GB version device. Vise versa.
- 4 GB Version ROW ROM P780_ROW_S123_131231.rar (652MB) (This stock ROM for ROW Device )
- 8 GB Version ROW ROM P780_8GB_S119-ROW.rar (628MB) (This is stock ROM for ROW Device)
Check Your Lenovo P780 ROW manufacture date
Please check your manufacture date of your Lenovo P780. You can check it from the box pack. Now if your device is manufactured after April, 2014 then you have to use a new preloader. To use it just download the zip ( Download New_Preloader1.zip ). Unzip it, then copy the file and replace the existing file in the “target_bin” folder of stock ROM which you downloaded in the Download ROM section above.
Install Driver: (Must do it before proceeding)
Install driver using either Method A or Method B.. Whatever u like. These driver are tested on Windows 7.. So if its fail in Windows 8 then I am sorry.
Part-I
- Unrar the All MTK USB Driver 2014.rar and you will find three folders inside there. Now connect your p780 to PC/ laptop .Then right click on my computer icon on your PC and click on Manage icon on the popup menu.
- Now a computer Management window opens.. On the left side you will see Device manager.. Left click on it( On Device manager).
- On the right side of the Computer Management window look for Portable Devices .left click on the small black triangle (the black triangle turns blue when you put the curser on it).
- Right click on the p780 icon .. A popup window appears….left click on “Update Driver Software”…a mini window opens now..with 2 options…. Then left click on ” Browse my computer for driver software”…now PC opens a mini window. Click on the button with “Browse”.
- Now a PC opens a small window.. select the folder ” All MTK USB driver 2014 ” you have already downloaded.
- Click OK after selecting folder which contained MTK Drivers.. Then click on next on ‘update driver software ‘ popup window.. Then PC will install the needed software .click finish when completed.
Part-II (Installing Preloader 65XX driver, Must for flashing)
- Switch off your phone
- Open device manager
- Now connect it to your PC via USB cable and you will see something appear in Device manager and then vanish
- If you miss it plug off the USB cable and then connect, but you must need to find the device appear and vanish
- Once you see the device just right click on it asap and choose “Update Driver”
- Now browse the directory of All MTK USB Driver 2014 folder not the zip file.
- Then click OK and next to install the driver.
Check Whether Driver Properly installed on your PC or not
After installing driver.. Connect your power on Lenovo P780 to PC /Laptop…Enable USB computer connection on the phone as Media Device (MTP)…then…Right click on My computer Icon on the desktop of your PC/laptop…then double click on manage option on the pop up menu…you will be on computer management window… then double click on device manager..(can be seen in the left column)..in the right column find option …portable device…put cursor on the small blue triangle..put a left click on it..it expands…if you can see your Lenovo P780 there means Driver successfully installed…..see the screen shot bellow
Make backup your device (Play safe Game)
Now .. Let me make it clear that flashing the stock ROM will delete everything on your phone memory ( SD card data will remain).. Hence back up all data which is kept in the inbuilt memory especially your contacts.
Note: If you are installing chines’s ROM on ROW device or ROW ROM on China’s device, then must backup IMIE using MobileUncle Tool. Here we are trying to install ROW ROM on ROW device, so we don’t need to backup IMIE. Mobile Uncle tools works only on rooted device.
Warning: 8 GB users should not use ROM that is meant for 4 GB users. And vice versa.. MOST IMPORTANT .
Flashing steps (Let’s Play)
After downloading the correct ROM for your device. Unzip it. Then open the unzipped folder and again unzip ” target_bin”..zip file. Also unzip ” modemdb“..”apdb“. Mean Unzip all those Zip file.
Then we are going to start flashing official lenovo stock ROM jelly bean…this process will NOT void your warranty. .even if you are rooted now. your warranty will be regained if your device is less than 1 year old..( 6 month in the case of battery)
Step 1: Disable antivirus program in your PC
Step 2: open “control panel”, then open “system security”, then open ” “windows firewall” . Then left click on ” Turn Windows Firewall on or off..then bring the mouse pointer inside the small ring at the left side of the “Turn off Windows Firewall( not recommended)”.. Left click in the small black ring…then click OK. Now your PC is ready to flash stock ROM. Without any problems.
Step 3: Now..disconnect your device from PC ..if it is still connected…make sure your p780 has at least above 80 % battery charge …and SWITCH OFF THE PHONE.
Step 4: Now..open the folder ” Flash Tool”..right click on Flash_tool application (a blue square with red left curved arrow)… A popup window appears….left click on ” Run as administrator”.. User account control will ask to execute program. Click on yes…Smart Phone Flash Tool opens now.
Step 5: Left click on ” scatter-loading ” small window opens…select. ” MT6589_Android_scatter_emmc”( You will find this file in “target_bin” folder in the ROM zip file ).Then press the button ..open..sp tool load all files to be flashed….make sure every box is checked( a √ mark in every box)…then. Left click on the box near . “DA DL All With Check Sum”…after that ..left click on ” Firmware=> Upgrade ” button… ( DON’T press download or format)..,you can see some color strips passes. through bottom white strip and within seconds it stops . .now only a white strip with …0%..can be seen…below that white strip …a word ‘ searching’…is seen….. Means SP Tool searching for the PHONE.
Step 6: Now connect the switched OFF phone to PC through data cable.. Flashing starts..( different color strips passes through the white strip …relax and see the show…DON’T touch anything now ..just see the show…when flashing is completed a square with a green ring appears. Means flashing SUCCESSFULLY completed.( flashing take approximately 4 minutes)..Disconnect Phone from PC. Power on the phone. Initial booting took some time ( around 5 minutes)..after booting up you can configure your phone ( date,time,WiFi,Google a/c . etc.)
What to do if flashing does not start?
1. After connecting your Phone if the flashing does not start, then just remove the back cover of the phone on that condition (Mean connected with USB with laptop and in SP flash tool the searching process) and press and hold the red button( You will find the red button in external card slot) using ball pen for 5- 10 second until the flashing process does not start.
2. If still not start, then you have a driver problem. Repeat the Driver install mainly the Part -II. As while flashing you must need the preloader 65XX driver installed.
Final Finish:
For 8 GB users …you are now on jellybean s 119…update to jelly bean s123 through OTA( over the air)…to do this…go to . settings/about phone/system update…then download lenovo ota update…after installing it you are on jelly bean s 123 ( it is around 65 MB)… Then repeat the ota process again ( this time it is around 11 MB )….then you are on official stock jelly bean 124…the most stable stock ROM for best battery life..
Hope you have successfully flashed ROM and downgrade to JB. In case if you are facing any problem. Just comment here.
NB: This article is written by Anil PK and edited by me. Anil Pk has great knowledge on flashing ROM specially Lenovo P780. That’s why I requested him to write such an article for you guys. Thanks Anil for your contribution.