Today I would like to consider such an issue as phone firmware. We welcome only official versions of updates and firmware for LG smartphones. Therefore, as an example, we will take the firmware of a smartphone using the LG Mobile Support Tool software.
In this case, we will flash the LG GT540 Optimus with Android 1.6 Donut OS to a newer version of this operating system 2.1 Eclair.
Announcement
Preparing for smartphone firmware
After updating your LG GT540 Optimus, all information from your phone will disappear, so you need to back up all the information and applications installed on your device. You don't have to worry about the data stored on the memory card, it will not be affected, but if you are so worried about it, you can remove the memory card from the phones after creating a backup copy of the data.
First, let's make backup copies of your contacts and calendar. For this:
5. After synchronization, make sure that the data is saved in your Google account.
1. Download and install the Call Logs Backup & Restore and SMS Backup & Restore applications from the Android Market;
2. Launch the Call Logs Backup & Restore application and click Backup Call Logs;
3. Launch the SMS Backup & Restore application and click Backup.
1. Download and install the ASTRO File Manager application from the Android Market;
Smartphone firmware
After creating a backup copy of all the necessary data, you can proceed to flashing the firmware of your smartphone.
1. Download and install the LG Mobile Support Tool from the LG website. Then run the program;
2. If the USB driver for your model is not installed, install it by clicking Install USB Driver in the program;
3. Connect your phone to your PC. Make sure the SIM card is inserted into the phone;
4. Click “Start Updating”;
5. Select the desired region from the list that appears. If there is a Russian Federation region, then select it, otherwise select CIS. Once selected, click Next;
6. Wait for all steps to update your phone to complete.
Data recovery
After updating your phone, you need to restore your data. Let's start with restoring contacts and calendar.
1. Open “Settings”;
2. Go to “Accounts and synchronization”;
3. Add a Google Account and enter data from it;
4. Check the box “Auto-sync”;
5. After synchronization, make sure that the data is saved on your phone.
After this, we will make backup copies of the call log and SMS messages. For this:
1. Download and install the Call Logs Backup & Restore and SMS Backup & Restore applications from the Android Market again;
2. Launch the Call Logs Backup & Restore application and click Restore Call Logs;
3. Launch the SMS Backup & Restore application and click Restore.
Now all that remains is to back up the applications, which can be done using the ASTRO File Manager application.
1. Download and install the ASTRO File Manager application from the Android Market;
2. Launch the ASTRO File Manager application;
3. Go to “Menu” and click “Tool”;
5. Wait for the application saving process to complete.
Announcement
After all these steps, you will flash your smartphone. Updating smartphones, including LG GT540 Optimus firmware, is not mandatory, but it can save you from many problems that you currently have, because LG adds fixes to the update. We wish you good luck and safe firmware!
LG Mobile Support Tool is a completely free application for owners of LG mobile phones, designed to update the firmware of devices from the Korean manufacturer. Installing a more recent version of the software will make your device work faster and more stable, so we recommend that you always update the firmware in a timely manner.
To start the program, you need to connect your mobile phone to your computer using a USB cable. If the connection is not detected, try installing the USB driver. To do this, select the appropriate item in the LG Mobile Support Tool window, and also specify the phone model. Next, depending on the connected device, you will need to do one of the following:
- In the "USB connection" panel, select "LG Software". Or go to the settings menu, select “USB Connection Mode”, and then select “LG Software”;
- go to the settings menu, select the "SD card and phone memory" section, go to the "USB connection mode" item and uncheck the box next to "Data storage device";
- select "Advanced features" in the Windows Mobile menu and go to "Windows Mobile Update".
The last option must be performed for devices running the Windows Mobile operating system. After performing all the necessary operations, LG Mobile Support Tool will check for firmware updates and install them automatically. After installation, you will need to restart your portable device.
Key Features and Functions
- serves to update the firmware of LG mobile devices;
- works with most existing models, including devices based on Windows Mobile;
- allows you to install a USB driver, if necessary;
- checks and updates software automatically;
- available completely free of charge.
LG Mobile Support Tool is an official LG program designed for flashing firmware on their smartphones and tablets.
Functional
LG Mobile Support Tool, being an official product, provides its users with access to the company's servers on which firmware files are stored. This means that using this solution it will be possible to install only official firmware, and not custom ones. By downloading them, you can be sure that the file will not contain viruses or adware. The smartphone is connected to the computer in the standard way - via USB.
As soon as the program identifies your device, it will immediately show the availability of updates and offer to install them. In this case, you are not required to perform any actions other than confirming the start of the download. Upon completion, you will need to restart LG and you can begin exporting important information from backup copies. By the way, it is not necessary to install a new version - the utility allows you to “roll back” to previous firmware.
Important information
Do not forget that before flashing your smartphone, you need to remove the memory card from it, and also copy all the important information stored in the device’s memory to third-party media - a flash drive, SD card or to a folder on your computer’s hard drive. If the utility does not recognize your portable device, most likely you need to download a USB driver for it. You can do this directly from the program window by entering the make and model of your phone into the search engine.
Key Features
- allows you to “flash” LG smartphones and tablets;
- requires connecting the device using a USB cable;
- provides access to company servers with official firmware;
- makes it possible to upgrade to a new version or install an earlier one (downgrade);
- deletes all data stored in the device memory and on the SD card;
- works with any version of Windows;
- executed in the form of a step-by-step wizard;
- If you have problems recognizing the device, you should download and install USB drivers for it.
Often, when choosing a new mobile device, the consumer pays attention not only to the technical parameters, but also to the software component. From time to time, the developers of the manufacturing company release new firmware versions that may bring new functionality, improved hardware performance, or a new version of the operating system. Today we will describe how to flash LG smartphones and tablets using official methods.
Updating your smartphone over the air
The easiest and fastest way to update LG is the so-called “over-the-air” update method, referred to as FOTA in the case of LG smartphones. Typically, notifications about the availability of a new update come when the Internet connection is turned on after the device automatically carries out the appropriate analysis. When you receive such an alert, all you need to do is expand the notification shade and click on the corresponding message. You can also check it yourself by following the path Settings - About phone - Software update (in some Update Centers - Software Update) - Check for update. If there is an update, a corresponding window will appear on the screen where you need to click on “Install Now”. It is worth drawing your attention to the fact that the smartphone’s battery charge should be at least 50%, and better yet, fully charged.
Update via LG Mobile Support Tool
It happens that the developer, for some unknown reason, has not released the next update over the air, but it is available on the company’s website. The program mentioned above is just for such cases. It appeared quite a long time ago and does not offer as many opportunities as its more recent counterparts. However, the “old lady” is still operational and often comes to the aid of owners of LG smartphones. We connect the device to a computer with the Mobile Support Tool installed, after which the program will recognize your device and start checking for an available software update. If the update is available, then click on the “Start update” button. Requests for confirmation may appear, to which we answer “Next”, “Proceed”, “Start” and so on, while carefully reading the text displayed on the monitor screen. Upon completion of the installation, a corresponding message indicating the end of the process and a “Exit” or “Finish” button will appear. After this, we can disconnect the mobile device from the PC and use it.
Update via LG PC Suite
The PC Suite program, or as it is also called PC Sync, has a richer set of interactions with smartphones from the South Korean company than the Support Tool and also allows you to update the software of your LG mobile device. We connect the device to the PC and click the “Connect” button in the upper left corner of the program window. After the device is detected, information about the phone will be displayed, including information about the installed software. You can check for the latest version of the software by clicking on the “Check for updates” button or click on the “Mobile device” tab, and then on “Mobile device software update”. The process of installing the update does not require any professional skills, so we carefully read what is written and make the necessary choice of action.
Update via LG Bridge program
Like the previous proprietary software for synchronizing smartphone data with a computer, Bridge offers almost the same set of functionality, but the distinguishing feature is the presence of the LG AirDrive application (for remote access to phone files) and a clearer and simpler interface. This program was released last year and is mostly intended for the previous flagship device G4, but according to information from the manufacturer, the utility can be used in conjunction with all mobile devices 2015 and older. To install the update, you need to connect your smartphone to your personal computer, go to the “Software Update” tab in the program and click the “Software Update” button. Next, follow the tips from the developers.
