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[Q] PING: Someone knowledgeable...

In a stupor induced by too many Christmas crowds this afternoon, I installed CWM on my "stock" machine that I have been trying to keep for checking OTA updates, etc.
I mentioned it in the General area and as a result of a suggestion found a thread on restoring as of OTA 3053 and OTA 2967. I want to go back to 2967.
The thread by Roebeet accompanying those downloads and posts following said 2967 would not install unless the assert command for recovery.img was deleted because it would conflict with CWM. I edited it and loaded it w/o the assert and it worked fine ---but it just didn't overwrite CWM. I would think it would have to overwrite the recovery.img with CWM in it to get back to stock, but this didn't seem to do that.
Is there a way short of the nvflash method to get back to 2967?
Rev

I've installed 3053 (the latest) twice using cwm, and both times it actually overwrote cwm recovery. I don't think that was the case with the previous ROMs.

roebeet,
Thanks for the suggestion. I will try 3053 then. I was going to download 3053 if I could get back to 2967 so that would work for me.
Ignore the thread in General. Dup. Blame it on the stupor.
Rev

Roebeet, et al,
I wound up taking the Vanilla 3053 rom as listed in Roebeet's FAQ thread. I made a "Recovery" file with Command in it to start the update. Then put that along with the downloaded 3053 update.zip in the /sdcard directory. Brought up CWM and started the zip file running. It picked up the recovery file the first time through, showed the boxwitharrow that goes with regular recover and completed.
Then it rebooted again and repeated the same load using regular recovery. When all was done, I had a OTA 3053-level tablet. I then reset the user data to make sure all was OK there, and I went in manually in ES file manager and deleted the old CWM directory and backup directory under it.
So now I am back to 3053 totally stock and should be able to get any OTA update that might come along.
Thanks to all who made suggestions.
Rev
EOT (End of Thread)

My opinion on Clockworkmod

I started discouraging its use on TNT Lite after the TNT Lite 5 fiasco, but I didn't realize that my opinions carried so much weight. So I want to set the record clear for everyone.
First off, if the developer / modder requires clockworkmod for their ROM, then that's the tool you need to use. I've had more than a few PM's on this question, but the answer is simple. Use what the developer asks you to use -- but also understand the risks. I would guess that most of the devs here mod with clockworkmod in mind.
For my own two active mods (TNT Lite 4 and gADAM) -- for the gADAM, it requires clockworkmod to install, right now. The reason why is because you HAVE to do a data wipe post-install, which standard recovery does not have. I have this written clearly in the instructions. As for TNT Lite, I discourage it for flashing, but I have instructions for clockworkmod users regardless. gADAM 1.3.0+ and TNT Lite 4.3.0+ have something called "Recovery Pack" built into them. This allows the user to toggle between clockworkmod and standard recovery.
Flashing is my concern, btw. For nandroid backups, data wipes and SD repartitions, the cwm tool is an absolute must. And if you are flashing between 1.1-based mods, clockworkmod should still be a low risk. HOWEVER, if Viewsonic releases a 1.2-based mod with a new bootloader, then cwm becomes a much higher risk. My point with discouraging clockworkmod for flashing on TNT Lite is just to get people used to the idea that cwm has caveats that might become a problem, later on.
When that new firmware is released, we will pick it apart and tell everyone the results of what we find. Hopefully my concerns are for nothing and the new firmware will be safe for clockworkmod users.
Also, for reference: I've been throwing around the term "1.1-based ROM" for about 2 weeks, now. Viewsonic's stock firmware has come in three flavors, so far: 1.0.1 and 1.1, which seem to be on the same dev branch and compatible (from a clockworkmod standpoint). Most, if not all, of the mods here are 1.1-based. 1.2 is a new dev branch that was introduced with build 3991, which was never officially released. This build has a bootloader that, if not flashed with standard recovery, will soft-brick your device. This is the dev branch that concerns me and that we should be watching out for, when that new firmware is released. As I mentioned, we will test it when the time comes.

when the time comes...
Somewhat quicker.
Thanks for detailed explanations!

absorbers said:
when the time comes...
Somewhat quicker.
Thanks for detailed explanations!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quicker is not always better, imo. If users here use cwm, they should understand the risks. I would argue that anyone using a mod here should also understand how to install and use nvflash - devices like the Advent VEGA, Notion Ink Adam and even Viewsonic's own Viewpad10s have nvflash-only firmware updates. I personally find it to be a critical tool for anyone modding their device.

Thanks for the explanation. As a n00b (Wooter) to all of this, I have to say that I have used the built in bootloader to flash both Vegan 5.1.1 and TNT Lite 4.4 without any issues. I did not install CWM based on your previous warnings about it and so far I haven't had any issues. I needed to do a factory data reset after changing ROMs to fix some FC issues, but so far I haven't seen a need to repartition the SD card or any other features that CWM has.

severusx said:
Thanks for the explanation. As a n00b (Wooter) to all of this, I have to say that I have used the built in bootloader to flash both Vegan 5.1.1 and TNT Lite 4.4 without any issues. I did not install CWM based on your previous warnings about it and so far I haven't had any issues. I needed to do a factory data reset after changing ROMs to fix some FC issues, but so far I haven't seen a need to repartition the SD card or any other features that CWM has.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And you have cwm ready for use, with TNT Lite 4.4.0 - it's in the Recovery Pack. So, if you find the need to do an SD repartition later, it's there for you to use. I find it to be a good balance and I toggle back and forth a lot. Actually, for day-to-day I leave it on clockworkmod and then flip it to standard if I plan to flash.

There have been some discussions in the partition thread regarding the 'fix permissions' portion of CWM making the repartition suggestion obsolete. I don't have access to standard recovery to check if that option is in there too but the permissions thing may also be a feature of CWM that will be difficult to let go.

roebeet said:
And you have cwm ready for use, with TNT Lite 4.4.0 - it's in the Recovery Pack. So, if you find the need to do an SD repartition later, it's there for you to use. I find it to be a good balance and I toggle back and forth a lot. Actually, for day-to-day I leave it on clockworkmod and then flip it to standard if I plan to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, thanks for your work here. You guys rock! I am using TnT Lite 4.4, where do I locate the recovery toggle? Is it an app?

I wanna say Thanks for the 'Recovery Pack', I actually didn't find it until after I had
gone over the scripts in TnT Lite 4.4 and copied all the files to SDCard.
I then flashed back to Stock 3855 and gave Terminal Emulator SU, mounted system rw and copied them back in.
I ran the 'cwmrecovery.sh' and booted into ClockWorkMod and successfully did a backup (and later a restore).
I ran the 'fixrecovery.sh' and booted into Standard recovery and got the downloading animation and it proceeded to a normal startup (no exclamation!).
Is this normal?
I think there was an update.zip @ root but no command file.
Thanks again for all your work, looking forward to more modding.
Peace!

brown14you said:
First, thanks for your work here. You guys rock! I am using TnT Lite 4.4, where do I locate the recovery toggle? Is it an app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a set of scripts - just read my first post, and the Recovery Pack reference link, at the bottom.
jazzruby said:
I wanna say Thanks for the 'Recovery Pack', I actually didn't find it until after I had
gone over the scripts in TnT Lite 4.4 and copied all the files to SDCard.
I then flashed back to Stock 3855 and gave Terminal Emulator SU, mounted system rw and copied them back in.
I ran the 'cwmrecovery.sh' and booted into ClockWorkMod and successfully did a backup (and later a restore).
I ran the 'fixrecovery.sh' and booted into Standard recovery and got the downloading animation and it proceeded to a normal startup (no exclamation!).
Is this normal?
I think there was an update.zip @ root but no command file.
Thanks again for all your work, looking forward to more modding.
Peace!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If memory serves, you should get the "!" and then a reboot. But it might not do anything if there's no command file (just hang there for a moment, and then reboot).

Thanks. Got it!

Thanks, I just booted again to recovery, no command or update.zip and same thing.

jazzruby said:
Thanks, I just booted again to recovery, no command or update.zip and same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To verify 100% that it's working, you might want to run an update.zip. ie. use the Recovery Pack standalone, it will just overwrite what's already there. Always good to know before you actually need it.

I'm not so sure I'd feel 100% just flashing the 'Recovery Pack'.
I was getting ready to flash Pershoot's Kernel so I think first I'll flash 3588 with stock recovery and be sure all's good.
Then I'll flash the RP and boot into ClockWorkMod and Restore 4.4 from backup.
Thanks for the Heads Up!

jazzruby said:
I'm not so sure I'd feel 100% just flashing the 'Recovery Pack'.
I was getting ready to flash Pershoot's Kernel so I think first I'll flash 3588 with stock recovery and be sure all's good.
Then I'll flash the RP and boot into ClockWorkMod and Restore 4.4 from backup.
Thanks for the Heads Up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pershoot's kernel may not work with standard recovery, just a heads up. But you can certainly give it a go.....

Pershoot's kernel is nested in a subfolder and I need/want to wipe first.
I just flashed 3588 with Stock recovery and all's good.
I got root and flashed 'RP' and CWM restored my backup.
I ran TE 'fixrecovery.sh', rebooted into Stock recovery and I don't see the (!).
Aside from the downloading animation it seems like a normal boot.
This was with no update.zip @ root or command file in recovery subfolder.
So I guess it's safe to say that no (!) is nothing to worry about.
Just to be sure I dropped an update.zip @ root and same results.

[Q] Remove CWM B90

I know there is a thread going (Easy [UNROOT]), and I would have posted in the development section, but I'm not aloud because of my limited posts.
First let me say, I did read this post:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154947&highlight=unroot+b90
And followed this tutorial:
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how-to-unroot-and-remove-cwm-recovery-on-asus-transformer/
I have a B90 (US - rooted with RC) and had an issue in the unroot process - specifically flashing ASUS recovery. I did the first install, reboot, manual boot to recovery, and then when I tried flashing the 8239USrecovery.zip I get:
---
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
E:Can't open /sdcard/unroot/8239USrecovery.zip
(bad)
Installation aborted.
---
After the first failure I powered down, pulled the SD and deleted / re-downloaded / re-added the zip, and tried again. Same outcome.
Any thoughts are much appreciated!

UPDATE:
I tried going back to my restore last night, and that was a no go. I wiped again from CWM, and tried the whole process over again. Nada.
This morning I tried another download of the file, did another wipe of data, wipe cache, wipe dalvik, reboot, manual boot to CWM, and flashed the file.
And it worked! Fifth time's a charm? So if you have a B90, this method does in fact work. You might just have to give the second step a few tries.

How did you root it, because I'm trying to root my B90 using whatever process is shown here and nothing. Just get the gears turning and the exclamation point.

felix8787 said:
How did you root it, because I'm trying to root my B90 using whatever process is shown here and nothing. Just get the gears turning and the exclamation point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the delay! I missed this.
I used Razor Claw, though, at the time my firmware version was at .19 or lower. When I unrooted, I saw that I'm up to 8.6.5.21 now. I'm not 100% sure, but I'd check that out for compatibility with the latest RC.

[Q] nachoroot for first time rooter

I believe this is my first post on these forums. I just did the nachoroot mod today per
[ROOT] NachoRoot - supporting all firmware jan 3rd 2-118
and
[Update: Works On The OG Transformer, Too!] Exclusive: 'NachoRoot' Brings Root Access To The Transformer Prime, Even With The Newest Firmware:
on my TF101 B80 32 gb.
I did the procedure per the second link above. I've been able to verify root with Root Check Basic from the Android Market.
I've never rooted an Android device before and am quite concerned about unrooting, in case I ever need to return my unit to Asus.
I've heard I need cwm, the clockwork recovery mod, in order to unroot. I hope it is ok to do this after the initial rooting procedure.
Please pardon me if this has been asked before, as it my first time, and I find a lot of the documentation a bit cryptic.
Thanks in advance...

Yes the procedure to unroot with your build number required flashing a repacked stock ROM via CWM recovery. For TF with older SBK they can use NVFlash.
You can flash CWM anytime with RecoveryInstaller
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1346180
To unroot
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how-to-unroot-and-remove-cwm-recovery-on-asus-transformer/

Thanks fire the response!
I've managed to browse parts of the file system previously blocked. Otherwise, I haven't made another changes to my system. Its nice to finally where some of my apps have been storing data.
I am curious about cwm which I've installed. It enables recovery mode to restore the stock ROM. It is one of the two options presented after holding the power and volume down buttons together. One option is cold boot and the other is recovery. The recovery option was there before nachoroot and the cwm installations. What is different about the recovery option now versus before?

skallal said:
Thanks fire the response!
I've managed to browse parts of the file system previously blocked. Otherwise, I haven't made another changes to my system. Its nice to finally where some of my apps have been storing data.
I am curious about cwm which I've installed. It enables recovery mode to restore the stock ROM. It is one of the two options presented after holding the power and volume down buttons together. One option is cold boot and the other is recovery. The recovery option was there before nachoroot and the cwm installations. What is different about the recovery option now versus before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you have flashed CWM recovery? You should have a lot more options.
After installing RecoveryInstaller, did you open the app and click on "flash CWM recovery" tab?

I didn't click on the flash tab because I don't intend do recovery at this time. To be clear I understand what recovery is, I think it means to return my TF101 back to an unrooted state with the current ota release, which is .23, and also wipe out all my data. If this is incorrect, please let me know.
You said I should see more options than just the flash tab. What else should I see? And when should I see it?
Now that I've successfully rooted, my main objective is to learn how to return my device back to its unrooted state in order be ready for the ICS ota update when it arrives. If that means I'll also wipe out my data in the process, then I'll need to learn how to backup and restore.
Please do let me know if I understand the process or not. I still have have a reading and learning ahead.

Recovery lets you flash packages, ROM patches, and complete ROMs that require very deep (i.e. low level) system access.
If you don't intend to flash any custom ROMs (e.g. Revolver) or install things that need low level system access (e.g. a USB to Ethernet adapter) you won't need to flash CWM.

One of the admins on Transformer Forums gave me the impression I need cwm to unroot my TF101. That is the only reason I downloaded it.
If I don't need cwm to unroot, then I'll focus my reading on unrooting link listed earlier in this thread.
I don't have any interest in other roms, at least not for now. My concern, for now, is unrooting when it comes time for the ICS update...

baseballfanz said:
Yes the procedure to unroot with your build number required flashing a repacked stock ROM via CWM recovery. For TF with older SBK they can use NVFlash.
You can flash CWM anytime with RecoveryInstaller
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1346180
To unroot
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how-to-unroot-and-remove-cwm-recovery-on-asus-transformer/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second link above (theunlockr.com) refers to old firmware (repacked-8.2.3.13_US_without_SU_app.zip).
Is that file already outdated?
Perhaps a newer version for .21?

Well it all depends on your serial number. Early builds (B60 and earlier plus some B70) you can use NVFlash to get back to totally stock.
If you have B80(and some B70) and above you'll need cwm recovery to get back to stock following the link i posted above.

I finally watched the video from your earlier post and it answered a quite a few questions.
Bottom line: when it comes time to update to ICS, do I need to unroot first?
The ICS update is my main reason for unrooting. I read for some users lost root after the last ota update to .21. I don't have any immediate need to unroot other than to prepare for the ICS update when yet comes.
And there's also a long term need unroot when and if I ever send the unit back to Asus for service.

Trying To Put On a New ROM, Having The Worst Time

My old phone got lost so I am using my Infuse again. I decided to update it since it is still on the old version from when it first came out. I was trying forever to update through the kies software until I realized I rooted it and so this won't work. So then I found out there are roms for way better versions anyways. So I found the Cyanfox rom and I wanted to do that, but I needed to first upgrade to cm9 so I went and downloaded the cm9 file and got the clockworkrecovery, and I installed it.
Now my phone will not turn on, it sits as samsung screen. And if you try to go to recovery it is just a messed up screen with all different colors as if the screen was broken. So now my only option to bea ble to install anything on it is through odin. I can get to download mode fine.
But this damn odin software will not detect my phone for the life of me. It literally will not work. I don't understand. I have spent hours upon hours on this between the past few days. I just want to update my damn phone.
Now I have to leave for work in 30 minutes and my phone doesn't work. This is just great.

How did you install CWM?
Sent from my Asus MeMO Pad 8"

Well I tried clockworkmod through the rom manager app, but I was running the android recovery 3e and it said I needed a modified version of that to be able to install 3e. So I replaced the recovery file with the one I was given, and then I manually installed cwm by naming it update.zip and running it on the recovery
The only problem was that every time I wanted to use cwm, it would go back to android recovery 3e, and I would have to click install again to get it to go into cwm.
Either way, it doesn't work anymore and I just need the damn thing to connect to Odin so I can flash it back.

Are you using a desktop or laptop? If desktop, are you using the USB ports in the back? If laptop, have you tried different USB ports? Maybe try a different computer? I've heard that USB 3.0 doesn't play nicely with ODIN so it's good to find some 2.0 connections. What Windows version? I've heard that Win8 can cause problems. Could also try Heimdall instead of Odin.
Unless I think of anything else, is the cable in good working order (recent successful file transfer)?

Alright. I got things working somewhat. I had to use different drivers for each program for it to be able to detect it. I don't know, its annoying as hell, but it worked when I went back and forth between drivers.
Anyways, I got my device restored. But the whole point of this was that I was trying to get to the KitKat rom(Cyanfox). I am still quite a few steps away from that. I am actually further away than when I started,
This is what originally happened: I had my device rooted(from when I last used it, 1-2 years ago) and had the 3e recovery. So I found out I needed a modified 3e so I could install Clockworkmod. Got that, all was well, and the thing basically got bricked when I went to update to a new rom. It wasn't the kitkat rom, but a CM9 rom that I needed to go to first so that I could then update to kitkat.
Now I got it unbricked, and I updated it using kies. So now I am on gingerbread. So then I rooted it again. So now I have the 3e recovery again, the only problem is when I go to system/bin/ there is no file called recovery, and I can put one there but it does not affect the recovery, it still looks for signed files, meaning I cannot install Clockworkmod.
Not sure what to do...

Seems everyone follows this process (looks like you already did step one) now....
1. Either use Odin or Heimdall One-Click. Follow instruction on how to do it.
2. While phone running install sgs kernel flasher from Market/Google Play.
2a. Copy/transfer Synthesis GB Kernel to your Internal SD card.
2b. Start up sgs kernel flasher and choose it from your Internal SD card. Phone will auto-reboot after done flashing.
2c. Wait a bit while your phone convert to new partition format and activate lagfix. Your CWM recovery version should be 2.5.1.3
3. Reboot phone into CWM Recovery and DISABLE vodoo lagfix and /system lagfix. Reboot once done. Phone will convert partition to old format. If you don't turn the lagfix off the phone will hang at Samsung logo when you install new rom.
4. Prepare your flavor rom/gapp for installation by copying them to your Internal SD card.
4a. Go into CWM Recovery mode and install the rom. You will need to do this twice since the 1st time was just a warning about partition format being different.
4b. Reboot once done. You will need to REMOVE the battery to power down the booting process and put it back in.
4c. Go into the New CWM Recovery and install the rom again since the previous attempt only install the new CWM Recovery.
5. Install Gapp.
6. a. Wipe: Cache / Factory Reset <--- Probably don't need it since it's new install from stock unless you installed stuff. Just to be safe.
b. Wipe: Cache Partition
c. Wipe: Dalvik Cache
7. Reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never tried step two myself, as I found a flashable download for ODIN that did this for me. But mine is a Rogers phone (not AT&T) so that would not work for you. Hope this helps.

Thanks you so much man. I know that is just copy/paste but I didn't see it, and it works. I was looking in Cyanfox thread, never looked at the Beanstalk thread.
Anyways I am in the process of doing this and it seems like it will work. Appreciate all your help!
Edit: Boom. Worked like a charm. Thanks so much. I am very happy now The funny thing is, half the reason I wanted this is cause everyone was group messaging, and I didn't have that capability anymore when I lost my phone(I was on such an old version). Again thanks so much.