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The GT-i9100M works with Replicant!
Added by Alexand(er|ra) Yst over 7 years ago
I ordered a Samsung GT-i9100 online. The seller instead sent a device that behind the battery, says that it's a GT-i9100. However, when booting it up, the boot screen says that it's instead a Samsung GT-i9100G. Which device is this really? If it's a GT-i9100G, can that run the GT-i9100 Replicant system or should I send the device back and try to order a new one?
This is really frustrating. This is the second "GT-i9100" that I've purchased. The first time, the seller instead sent a GT-I727, which is clearly not at all the right device.
Okay, I think that I found my answer on Wikipedia. It says that the GT-i9100G requires different firmware than the GT-i9100. However, it also says that the GT-i9100M runs all the same system images as the GT-i9100. Can anyone confirm this? I found one online and I'd love to get Replicant running on it. Furthermore, Wikipedia says that the GT-i9100T is "functionally equivalent", to the GT-i9100. Does anyone know if that translates to actually being able to run GT-i9100 system images such as Replicant?
Update: Good news! The GT-i9100M arrived and seems to work with Replicant!
I have a couple notes though. First, I read somewhere that if you want to install a custom recovery on the GT-i9100M, you must first perform a system update. The system update supposedly includes a bootloader update that is necessary to make custom recovery installation even possible. I tried to install the update, but no such update was available; it had probably already been installed by the previous owner of this device. Still, if you are going to try using the GT-i9100M with Replicant, I'd try checking for updates from the default system first.
Second, when booting the device, the boot screen will confirm that the device is in fact the GT-i9100M. However, after installing Replicant, the boot screen will change and say that the device is the GT-i9100 instead. I have no idea if Replicant does that or if installing a custom recovery does that. It doesn't have any effect, but is a bit amusing.
Replies (7)
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Joshua Bowren over 7 years ago
How do you know it is a GT-i9100M for sure? I have a similar problem with my phone which is supposed to be a GT-i9300, has a sticker on the back that says GT-i9300, booted up initially with the GT-i9300 logo, but does not seem to be compatible with Replicant. I don't know how we can be certain when you can buy one device that says it is something, but is really something else.
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Alexand(er|ra) Yst over 7 years ago
Hmm. I suppose that if the label behind the battery cannot be trusted and the boot animation cannot be trusted, I can't be sure.
Labels are easy enough to replace, and when I installed Replicant, the boot animation was changed (showing that the boot animation can be changed). Wikipedia says that the GT-i9100M is compatible with GT-i9100 system images, but that may make assumptions that aren't true with Replicant.
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Joshua Bowren over 7 years ago
I should probably note mine came new in an unopened box with the original plastic coverings and everything. I do not think this is being done by the seller, the manufacturer might just have loose requirements for what can be labeled as what. I still have hope that I can learn why exactly my variant does not work with Replicant and possibly even make it compatible. However, if the problem is indeed just incompatible firmware/hardware, it might be as incompatible as a different device like SGH-i747.
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Alexand(er|ra) Yst over 7 years ago
Oh, lovely. That means that every device from Samsung could be mislabeled, not just those from careless/malicious sellers. That's not comforting to hear.
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Joshua Bowren almost 7 years ago
I recently got a hold of a GT-I9100M and it also works with Replicant! The sticker on the back says GT-I9100M, but the boot firmware says GT-I9100. I installed Replicant 6.0.
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Fil Lupin over 6 years ago
Is there a way to check if a i9100 is a i9100G or i9100M or i9100P?
Perhaps a reboot in reboot mode or restore mode could give this information?
RE: The GT-i9100M works with Replicant! - Added by Jacob Bahn about 6 years ago
Do you have 4G working on the i9100M?