I have been reading all kinds of stuff on flashing ROMS. I don't know if it is really that complicated, as it seems. I have looked at the wikkis at XDA and Cyanogen...there are lots of similarities, but trying to figure out exactly what you need to flash a ROM seems to be anything but straight forward. There also seems to be no absolute SINGLE meaning for some terms.
Do you need to install SDK, or is it already part of something, like Titanium, ClockworkMod or Busybox?
Every time I look at another source of information, I end up thinking that there is an almost infinite number of ways to skin the ROM flashing cat.
I am just looking for a clear linear path to follow.
Rooted sgh-i727R
You have to Root the phone first, if you don't do that then you can't do anything to the phone. Then flash a Clockwork Recovery, and install the ROM.
What phone are you using though?
ZiggyR2005 said:
You have to Root the phone first, if you don't do that then you can't do anything to the phone. Then flash a Clockwork Recovery, and install the ROM.
What phone are you using though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a Rooted Samsung GS ll Sgh-727R. I thought it was a bit more complicated than that?? Don't you need to copy the rom to your p.c. 1st?
In one of the wikkis they were also talking about unmounting the SD card etc. Every time I read one" Guide",it conflicts with the next..
Is flashing the ROM as straight forward as the instructions in this link?
And, just to be sure. In the instructions, when they say" SD CARD", do they mean; Download the CM7 & Google apps to the INTERNAL SD, or the Removable EXTERNAL SD CARD?
sdcard usually means the internal sdcard, i.e. /mnt/sdcard
the instructions differ from device to device, because some just can't be flashed another way.
it usually boils down to two methods:
- put the rom on the sdcard, and use a recovery manage like CWM (clock work mod) to flash the rom from the device itself
OR
- install the correct usb drivers on your computer and use a tool like heimdall/odin to flash the rom from your computer
i did not see any link
Dark3n said:
sdcard usually means the internal sdcard, i.e. /mnt/sdcard
the instructions differ from device to device, because some just can't be flashed another way.
it usually boils down to two methods:
- put the rom on the sdcard, and use a recovery manage like CWM (clock work mod) to flash the rom from the device itself
OR
- install the correct usb drivers on your computer and use a tool like heimdall/odin to flash the rom from your computer
i did not see any link
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Would I be correct in thinking, that it's easier to just flash the ROM from the phone?
Sorry, here are a couple of the links that I was looking at
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12874680#post12874680
http://www.theandroidsoul.com/cyanogenmod-7-cm7-for-the-att-galaxy-s-ii-skyrocket-sgh-i727/
The HUGE difference between the two instructions, is what was kind of confusing.
One other question... if your phone is rooted, but you still have the stock ROM, will you still be able to update to ICS via OTA once it becomes available?
THANKS!
What counts as easy depends on what you find easy ;-).
I prefer flashing through recovery mode.
Sometimes it is not possible to flash it through recovery and you need odin/heimdall for certain steps (i.e. when your recovery does not allow flashing of unsigned files and you need to flash a custom recovery like CWM).
It is also easier to brick your device by ticking the wrong box in odin/heimdall ;-).
I have never updated a device via OTA, i think you can still receive the OTA update, but will most likely have to root your device again.
Dark3n said:
What counts as easy depends on what you find easy ;-).
I prefer flashing through recovery mode.
Sometimes it is not possible to flash it through recovery and you need odin/heimdall for certain steps (i.e. when your recovery does not allow flashing of unsigned files and you need to flash a custom recovery like CWM).
It is also easier to brick your device by ticking the wrong box in odin/heimdall ;-).
I have never updated a device via OTA, i think you can still receive the OTA update, but will most likely have to root your device again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Vielen Danke
Related
Hi guys. I've got a Samsung Mesmerize and I'd like some assistance getting CWM on my phone so I can properly flash kernels and such. I know next to nothing.
Currently, I am using the stock EC10 ROM with stock recovery. It was simple enough to get, I followed some instructions for adb and did the "adb reboot download" command with my phone to put it in download mode and then used Odin to flash the ROM. This is literally the extent of my knowledge.
I began wanting a new kernel because of the speed and battery life improvements, among other things, that seem to accompany custom kernels. All the instructions I found for flashing them involved CWM, which of course I do not have.
Finally I found an app on the market called "sgs kernel flasher" which claimed to be a very easy way to flash new kernels without using CWM. So I installed it and used it to make a backup of my current kernel, and then I flashed jt1134's 0327-2 kernel which I got from here. All went well.
And that is the state I am at now. I am using the stock EC10 ROM with stock recovery (which I've never used nor do I know how) that I flashed with Odin, and I am using jt1134's 0327-2 kernel that I flashed with sgs kernel flasher.
Now though I believe it would be a very good idea for me to get CWM as it seems to be what is used if something goes wrong with the phone. I have the Voodoo Control app that I got from the market and it states the lagfix is active and has options which I believe enable and disable the lagfix.
From the current state my phone is in, can anybody tell me what I need to do in order to get the latest version of CWM working on my phone? Many thanks in advance and sorry for not knowing what I'm doing!
This Thread. It's only the very first sticky...
AndroidTipster said:
This Thread. It's only the very first sticky...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I saw that except I literally don't know what I am doing, and I can not find anywhere in that thread that says HOW to install CWM. I get the impression that these threads are written for people who have at least some basic understanding of how this stuff works, which sadly I do not...
And also how do I disable the lagfix to flash things if I don't have cwm? Can it be disabled with voodoo control?
userno69 said:
Thanks, I saw that except I literally don't know what I am doing, and I can not find anywhere in that thread that says HOW to install CWM. I get the impression that these threads are written for people who have at least some basic understanding of how this stuff works, which sadly I do not...
And also how do I disable the lagfix to flash things if I don't have cwm? Can it be disabled with voodoo control?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your voodoo control you can disable it by unchecking the boxes and rebooting. You should hear the lagfix lady when rebooting.
For CWM I actually flashed it with Odin. this thread Will help you in the easiest way possible.
AndroidTipster said:
In your voodoo control you can disable it by unchecking the boxes and rebooting. You should hear the lagfix lady when rebooting.
For CWM I actually flashed it with Odin. this thread Will help you in the easiest way possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, so if I understand correctly, the process to get CWM is to disable the lagfix in the Voodoo Control application, and reboot the phone. Then put it in debug mode and connect to my PC and use ADB to put it in download mode, and finally use Odin to flash the CWM tar file? Is there anything special I need to do in Odin, like enable certain anything or check any specific boxes?
In Odin, do I flash the tar file in the PIT, PDA, PHONE or CSC field?
To put your phone in Download Mode all you have to do is take the battery out and hold the Volume Down button while plugging your phone up to your computer via USB (yes without the battery in it). There's no need to fool with adb
No offense but this is the exact kind of thing I don't understand. When everyone else in the world follows standard procedure of ODIN'ing the stock ROM with CWM to then be able to flash kernels and all that, why don't you? Every single time a question like this arsises is because someone tried to go out and not do what everybody else does and try to go approach things in some roundabout way.
Lesson for the future and for others - Just follow the instructions and what not in the forums. If you start skipping steps or trying to create your own avenue of accomplishing something you're just going to run into trouble.
For instance
userno69 said:
All the instructions I found for flashing them involved CWM, which of course I do not have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That should've been a hint right there. If they all have instructions that involve CWM, well then **** man, clearly you should get CWM.
Not trying to haze your nuts, just using you as an example for other.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
add144 said:
To put your phone in Download Mode all you have to do is take the battery out and hold the Volume Down button while plugging your phone up to your computer via USB (yes without the battery in it). There's no need to fool with adb
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Alright... I flashed the CWM package with Odin and it was successful. Do I have CWM recovery now? I held volume up/down and powered on the phone and it went into a red menu that appears to be CWM and has options for voodoo and such.
I take it this means I was successful? I read somewhere that to finish the installation, I need to flash sdcard/update.zip from recovery, and I do see the option to do that in the red menu. But I'm confused, because it looks like I already have CWM now? Also, in my file manager I do not see a file called update.zip in the /sdcard location, or anywhere. Am I done? Why is that option in CWM if there is no update.zip file (apparently)?
So if I do now have CWM, how do I flash a kernel with it? Appreciate the help, I am learning here.
EDIT:
I know I didn't do this correctly from the start, but that was because in the beginning I was only looking to upgrade to Froyo and keep everything else stock, then I got interested in doing more...
The red recovery menus are CWM.
To flash a new kernel just download it onto your SD card. Then in CWM select, Install zip from SD Card. Then select Choose zip From SD Card and select the kernel.
add144 said:
The red recovery menus are CWM.
To flash a new kernel just download it onto your SD card. Then in CWM choose, Install Update.zip from SD Card. Then choose Select .zip From SD Card and select the kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Do I actually need to name the kernel file "update.zip" or is that just the arbitrary name of the menu option?
No, sorry couldn't remember exactly the way CWM worded it. It doesn't doesn't have to be update.zip, it can be named anything.zip. It'll take you to navigation type menu where you can move in and out of folders on your SD card and select the appropriate file.
Simple question that I can't find an answer to...
What exactly does ROM Manager's flash option do? If it's a fake flash where does it write the recovery program to and how does it get the phone to boot it? I don't see any kind of update zip on either the internal or external SD so it must have written it to one of the partitions on the block device, but which one and what did it replace?
The phone is a Wind Mobile G2X not a T-Mobile and stock recovery is nothing more than factory reset + reboot. As far as I can tell it's still there and I can still get into it with power+volume-down at boot, so that's not what ROM Manager replaced I guess.
yuma80 said:
Simple question that I can't find an answer to...
What exactly does ROM Manager's flash option do? If it's a fake flash where does it write the recovery program to and how does it get the phone to boot it? I don't see any kind of update zip on either the internal or external SD so it must have written it to one of the partitions on the block device, but which one and what did it replace?
The phone is a Wind Mobile G2X not a T-Mobile and stock recovery is nothing more than factory reset + reboot. As far as I can tell it's still there and I can still get into it with power+volume-down at boot, so that's not what ROM Manager replaced I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem with ROM Manager is that it messes up the files when flashing a ROM or any file. It is more advised to use CMW Recovery.
yuma80 said:
Simple question that I can't find an answer to...
What exactly does ROM Manager's flash option do? If it's a fake flash where does it write the recovery program to and how does it get the phone to boot it? I don't see any kind of update zip on either the internal or external SD so it must have written it to one of the partitions on the block device, but which one and what did it replace?
The phone is a Wind Mobile G2X not a T-Mobile and stock recovery is nothing more than factory reset + reboot. As far as I can tell it's still there and I can still get into it with power+volume-down at boot, so that's not what ROM Manager replaced I guess.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rom Manager should not be used on the G2x. If you flash a rom and something goes wrong and you can not boot you are dead in the water. Use Nvidia CWM instead.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847
Yes thanks. I understand that I shouldn't use ROM Manager, but I want to know what it does and why it doesn't work. For starters anybody know where it writes CWM to?
Worse comes to worse I'm just going to dump /dev/block/mmc* and look for strings or disassemble the apk or something...
yuma80 said:
Yes thanks. I understand that I shouldn't use ROM Manager, but I want to know what it does and why it doesn't work. For starters anybody know where it writes CWM to?
Worse comes to worse I'm just going to dump /dev/block/mmc* and look for strings or disassemble the apk or something...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've always been curious about the details of a 'fake flash' too.. please let us know if you figure out any details.
Rom manager has been around since the original Droid from Verizon. The fake flash you refer to isn't actually a fake flash. It actually flashes CWM recovery. It just doesn't work on this particular phone. I may be wrong on the exact details but the G2x partitions and drivers require the use of NVflAsh to install the CWM. However, there are many phones that once they have been rooted, the user can install Rom Manager and use the Flash Recovery option to install their CWM recovery. There are also times when a particular recovery version (ie.. 5.0.5. Or 4.6.3) works better than another on one particular phone. Rom manager allows users an easy way of flashing between those CWM versions by simply pushing the flash button.
So in summary of a long response... it is only called a fake flash because it looks like it worked on our phone , but in fact it does not. We have to use NVflash to flash our recovery.
If it looks like I'm remotely right ( which I think I am..) hit that thanks button. (Shameless request, I know)
From my understanding, the "fake flash" that ROM Manager does is that it doesn't actually flash CWM like NVFlash does (on the recovery partition) but still puts the CWM files on your SD card saying that you do have it installed (sdcard/clockworkmod) so when you try to flash/install a ROM, it can't put it anywhere. I don't think it will flash anything, but people mess up their devices by wiping data/system and such...
OR...
Maybe it does flash CWM to your device but it has the partition tables all messed up?
One or the other lol, it's just a guess for both options but I believe the first one is right.
I've wondered for a while why rom manager is included in roms for the g2x when it's not advised to use it
Sent from this
DorisTheHeavy said:
I've wondered for a while why rom manager is included in roms for the g2x when it's not advised to use it
Sent from this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To rename your nandroid backups .
buru898 said:
To rename your nandroid backups .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never thought about that. I was always unsure what flashing CWM with ROM Manager would do when it's already on my phone using NVFlash.
Since our phones have a dual partition in it. I think it flashes to the internal 1 gig memory so then loading another rom writes over it.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
OK, I finally had some time to do some poking around. Some of this is guess-work since I was too lazy to verify 100% exactly what it does when you specify that you're running a G2X.
Anyway, in it's settings DB it says this phone's recovery partition is read-only, and there's no flash command set, so I guess it doesn't try to flash it directly. It looks like it's relying on the Google stock recovery image to do the flashing instead, so it downloads a recovery-update.zip to the SD card and writes a script to /cache/recovery and reboots the phone into recovery mode. Google stock recovery would execute the script in /cache/recovery, which says to apply recovery-update.zip, but the actual stock recovery on the phone is either not Google stock, or has been modified; it doesn't bother to execute scripts, it just does a factory-reset (clear /cache, /data, etc) so that's why it doesn't work.
Meanwhile, ROM Manager writes to it's DB that it just flashed CWM version X.Y.Z and happily displays that every time it runs, even though that's not true.
I used NVFlash and moved on with my life.
I am on stock 4.0.4 with a locked bootloader. I want to have root with the stock rom, nothing else just root.
So I am gonna use the tool provided here,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544940
I have already installed drivers and have the tool downloaded.
Then I would like to flash the stock google 4.0.4 rom that will let me receive OTA updates. Is this the right file?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1569509
Or can I just flash the stock rom from here?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1572307
I heard there are problems flashing stock rom with CWR if the stock recovery isnt removed? Thats why I dont know if I should flash the stock image.
Is the process of flashing rom with CWR recovery the same as with stock recovery?
My phone is the i9023.
Thanks a bunch in advance.
Gambler_3 said:
I am on stock 4.0.4 with a locked bootloader. I want to have root with the stock rom, nothing else just root.
So I am gonna use the tool provided here,
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1544940
I have already installed drivers and have the tool downloaded.
Then I would like to flash the stock google 4.0.4 rom that will let me receive OTA updates. Is this the right file?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1569509
Or can I just flash the stock rom from here?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1572307
Is the process of flashing rom with CWM recovery the same as with stock recovery?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Baseband version? under about phone
billchen0014 said:
baseband version? Under about phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i9023xxki1.
Sorry should have specified my phone in the OP.
Best way is to do it manually. You can find all of the steps required here. The only difference is that you should be flashing the latest recovery from here and the latest superuser.zip file when flashing with recovery.
Note, unlocking bootloader will cause loss of EVERYTHING on the device that you have put on there (sdcard, apps, data partition, etc).
Harbb said:
Best way is to do it manually. You can find all of the steps required here. The only difference is that you should be flashing the latest recovery from here and the latest superuser.zip file when flashing with recovery.
Note, unlocking bootloader will cause loss of EVERYTHING on the device that you have put on there (sdcard, apps, data partition, etc).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You suppose thats better to do manually so I will have latest version of recovery and superuser?
And yes I am aware of the data loss waited sometime to finish all my games now I am ready to lose all my app data.
Harbb said:
Best way is to do it manually. You can find all of the steps required here. The only difference is that you should be flashing the latest recovery from here and the latest superuser.zip file when flashing with recovery.
Note, unlocking bootloader will cause loss of EVERYTHING on the device that you have put on there (sdcard, apps, data partition, etc).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do it this way. The one click is fine but using Android SDK and going through all that will help you in the long run. This way you know the process in case something goes wrong. It may be confusing at first but worth it. It will teach you a lot more than flashing a one click!
I learnt a lot from this and feel much more experienced and capable because of it. I know I will be able to solve any major issues using Android Debug Bridge (adb).
Okay then I am gonna try the manual way and gonna take out time for it. Now I just need to know what do I flash once I have unlocked bootloader and installed CWR?
I just want the stock google rom and receive OTA if nexus S continues to be supported by google.
You won't need to reinstall the ROM if you are currently on 4.0.4. The ROM stays there as-is. Feel free to do your wipes in recovery and reflash stock 4.0.4 through CWM if you must. You flash CWM to your phone and then superuser through CWM.
Steps:
Setup ADB/fastboot
Bootloader --> fastboot oem unlock --> agree
Bootloader --> fastboot flash recovery recovery.img --> this will give you CWM
Recovery --> flash superuser.zip and, if you must, wipe and reflash ICS (flash su AFTER this if done)
Reboot --> bingo
Also note, with stock ROMs it will replace your current recovery with stock recovery on each boot. If you want to keep CWM, delete /system/etc/flash-recovery.sh when you first boot. You'll have to reflash recovery afterward and it will stick.
Oh I was of the impression that unlocking bootloader wipes everything means it wipes the OS as well. That is nice if it's just data and not the OS, dont think I would reflash it if it's not needed.
Can you explain what you mean by will have to reflash recovery? I will have to do that even if I delete that file on first boot? And whats the drawback if I dont delete that file and stick with stock recovery?
As soon as you boot into stock android it will replace the recovery. So if that file is there on first boot, it will replace it while booting and you will be without CWM (stock instead). After first boot you can delete the file (you can reflash a ROM which has this deleted, or delete it yourself from a stock ROM, or even use adb or a recovery-based file manager to delete the file, then you won't have this problem at all) and it will no longer reflash stock recovery, but you would already have the stock one and need to flash CWM one more time to get it to stick. Easiest way is to just flash CWM and delete it within android imo, saves mounting commands and the such.
No downside really. If you need to flash something for one reason or another you'll just have to reflash CWM before you do so. Once rooted, ROM Manager can do this for you within android anyway.
I had already downloaded and installed the drivers from the one click root thread and my computer shows the android adb thing when I connect my phone with USB debugging.
But as you guys suggested I am gonna do the manual way. So do I just skip the installing driver on computer in the part 1 of this guide?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1007782
In my bootloader menu why is it showing my phone as an i9020?? Is it normal?
Gambler_3 said:
In my bootloader menu why is it showing my phone as an i9020?? Is it normal?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because you have a Nexus S with amoled. That's the i9020. The i9023 is SLCD.
DeuXGod said:
Because you have a Nexus S with amoled. That's the i9020. The i9023 is SLCD.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He has the i9023 to my knowledge. It is completely normal, though. Bootloader and recovery for i9020 and i9023 series are the same, this can be attributed to the issue with 4.0.3 recovery backlight not turning on.
If fastboot recognises your phone in the bootloader (the fastboot menu), your drivers are installed an working perfectly.
Finally got to the unlock bootloader screen, didnt do it just yet but now I know how to do it.
I must say the guide is a bit outdated, the software has changed quite a bit seems. The most frustrating part was that the fastboot file is actually in the platform tools folder instead of the tools folder which I didnt figure for a while. I will hold off rooting when I have a whole day off because once I lose everything I would be very anxious to get my phone back to normal which will take time.
Thanks for the help harbb, if I have any problem flashing recovery and superuser I will come back for more help.
And yes I have the LCD version i9023.
Btw the guide said the fastboot will be in the tools folder but the tools folder had a read me that "adb has moved to the platform tools folder" this is how I figured to go to that folder and thats where the fastboot file actually was.
Now it says I should put the recovery image in the tools folder so should I do that or put it in the platform tools folder?
In the instructions for the flashing recovery I am not understanding one thing.
6 - Then back on the SNS select Power Off (Reboot also works)
Part 4 - Root
1 - Power ON the SNS
So after flashing recovery I have to reboot? Since I am on stock rom that would bring back the stock recovery so how would I flash superuser then?
If I delete the stock recovery can I still get OTA updates?
fastboot and adb is now in platform tools, that is correct. Easiest way is to put your recovery in there too so you don't have to type in the absolute file path to it, don't put it in tools.
Don't power off or reboot the phone. After you flash recovery go straight into the recovery menu and root, flash custom ROMs, kernels, etc. You can transfer files to flash via the mounts and storage --> mount usb storage menu. After this feel free to reboot.
Harbb said:
fastboot and adb is now in platform tools, that is correct. Easiest way is to put your recovery in there too so you don't have to type in the absolute file path to it, don't put it in tools.
Don't power off or reboot the phone. After you flash recovery go straight into the recovery menu and root, flash custom ROMs, kernels, etc. You can transfer files to flash via the mounts and storage --> mount usb storage menu. After this feel free to reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wanted to update that I successfully unlocked and rooted. Thanks a bunch mate.
Gambler_3 said:
Just wanted to update that I successfully unlocked and rooted. Thanks a bunch mate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good work, been wandering what you were up to on this
Hope you enjoy the possibilities.
Just got my first device rooted.
Now i have installed a ROM.
I feel awesome.
But then i read this
"With ROM Manager you can back up your existing ROM, flash new ROMs, and install custom themes or kernels. It features a long list of ROMs which is frequently updated and you can install ROMs to the SD card or OTA (over the air). If you want to unlock features like premium ROMs, update notifications, and automatic backups, then you’ll need to spring for the premium version."
So now i am trying to figure out what custome themes are and what custom kernels are compared to the Avatar ROM i installed.
behedwin said:
Just got my first device rooted.
Now i have installed a ROM.
I feel awesome.
But then i read this
"With ROM Manager you can back up your existing ROM, flash new ROMs, and install custom themes or kernels. It features a long list of ROMs which is frequently updated and you can install ROMs to the SD card or OTA (over the air). If you want to unlock features like premium ROMs, update notifications, and automatic backups, then you’ll need to spring for the premium version."
So now i am trying to figure out what custome themes are and what custom kernels are compared to the Avatar ROM i installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now let me put this simple. The ROM is the operating system of your device (OS). You know what a theme is. Its just changing the way things look can be your icons, interface shade/colour,etc. Its just visuals. And the next is kernel. Kernels are the thing which links your OS and hardware. Literally they are responsible for the way your phone behaves. Custom kernels has tweaks whicj can improve your device's performance, the battery drain, way your processor's I/O works.. It helps you to do things like over clock and under clock,etc. But it is risky as your manufacturer has made a stable kernel for your device and these custom kernels may be unstable. Sure thing you dont want to mess with em unless you know what you are doing. Now as you have choice to do things like changing ROMs and Kernels using Rom manager, i would recommend you to use CWM and flash zip files which has ROMs and Kernels made specifically for your device as this is more safe. But be sure to have a backup as installing something not meant for your device will brick it. Dont worry. Have a backup and also Odin with stock rom incase its really hard bricked. If it helped hit thanks button plz..
haridevil99 said:
Now let me put this simple. The ROM is the operating system of your device (OS). You know what a theme is. Its just changing the way things look can be your icons, interface shade/colour,etc. Its just visuals. And the next is kernel. Kernels are the thing which links your OS and hardware. Literally they are responsible for the way your phone behaves. Custom kernels has tweaks whicj can improve your device's performance, the battery drain, way your processor's I/O works.. It helps you to do things like over clock and under clock,etc. But it is risky as your manufacturer has made a stable kernel for your device and these custom kernels may be unstable. Sure thing you dont want to mess with em unless you know what you are doing. Now as you have choice to do things like changing ROMs and Kernels using Rom manager, i would recommend you to use CWM and flash zip files which has ROMs and Kernels made specifically for your device as this is more safe. But be sure to have a backup as installing something not meant for your device will brick it. Dont worry. Have a backup and also Odin with stock rom incase its really hard bricked. If it helped hit thanks button plz..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome now i have a good hint of what each thing are.
Now this lead me to some more questions.
Since i have already rooted my device. I have installed Avatar ROM and tested some others...
But i never made any backups... Is it to late for that?
Is my best choice to download Titanium Backup and backup everything with that application?
You said something else about Odin, how to backup aswell with that?
What is CWM and how does it differ from Rom Manager?
When i install a ROM i download a zip file, put it on my device SD card
Boot the phone in and wipe data, wipe cache, wipe delvik (or whatever it is called) and last install the new .zp file.
behedwin said:
Awesome now i have a good hint of what each thing are.
Now this lead me to some more questions.
Since i have already rooted my device. I have installed Avatar ROM and tested some others...
But i never made any backups... Is it to late for that?
Is my best choice to download Titanium Backup and backup everything with that application?
You said something else about Odin, how to backup aswell with that?
What is CWM and how does it differ from Rom Manager?
When i install a ROM i download a zip file, put it on my device SD card
Boot the phone in and wipe data, wipe cache, wipe delvik (or whatever it is called) and last install the new .zp file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM is clockword mod recovery. An advanced recovery which has more options than stock recovery. I guess you already has cwm. Probably it must be what you used to flash the Rom and clear cache. Now to Titanium backup, it backs up the whole phone, so do cwm. As we use CWM for our flashing and other things, cwm backups should be enough unless you got space on your sd to have many backup files. And if your phone is working perfectly right now then its never late to take a cwm backup as if you ever encounter a bootloop while tweaking, you can restore your phone. Sometimes even cwm fails to fix your phone. This is where Odin comes in handy. Odin is a pc software which can be used to flash the stock Rom of your device. You can search and find the Stock Rom for your device and region if you google. You can find how to flash using odin guides out there. Flashing stock rom via odin will remove every traces of ever tweaking your phone which includes rooting, flashing of custom roms and kernels,etc. Your device will be just like when you bought it. This is helpful when you want to take your phone to service centres as rooting and doing other stuffs will void your warranty. Hopes this helps...
haridevil99 said:
CWM is clockword mod recovery. An advanced recovery which has more options than stock recovery. I guess you already has cwm. Probably it must be what you used to flash the Rom and clear cache. Now to Titanium backup, it backs up the whole phone, so do cwm. As we use CWM for our flashing and other things, cwm backups should be enough unless you got space on your sd to have many backup files. And if your phone is working perfectly right now then its never late to take a cwm backup as if you ever encounter a bootloop while tweaking, you can restore your phone. Sometimes even cwm fails to fix your phone. This is where Odin comes in handy. Odin is a pc software which can be used to flash the stock Rom of your device. You can search and find the Stock Rom for your device and region if you google. You can find how to flash using odin guides out there. Flashing stock rom via odin will remove every traces of ever tweaking your phone which includes rooting, flashing of custom roms and kernels,etc. Your device will be just like when you bought it. This is helpful when you want to take your phone to service centres as rooting and doing other stuffs will void your warranty. Hopes this helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you.
I can tho not figure out how to know for sure if i have CWM or not. I have no apps called that.
And how do i do a CWM backup if i can start CWM some other way than using an app icon ?
behedwin said:
Thank you.
I can tho not figure out how to know for sure if i have CWM or not. I have no apps called that.
And how do i do a CWM backup if i can start CWM some other way than using an app icon ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM is a shell and not an app and it cannot be installed on android os so you cant access it through your Rom but you can run it whenever you need it but through stock recovery. CWM comes as a .zip file which should be selected from stock recovery or in other words flash it. It will open cwm recovery. And you can access advanced recovery options which stock recovery doesn support. Well search and download cwm for your device, place it sd card root(not inside any folder), run it using install update option on your stock recovery, it will open cwm which will be in yellow colour themed. Select backup and restore opt in it and select backup. That will take care of taking full backup of your device.
haridevil99 said:
CWM is a shell and not an app and it cannot be installed on android os so you cant access it through your Rom but you can run it whenever you need it but through stock recovery. CWM comes as a .zip file which should be selected from stock recovery or in other words flash it. It will open cwm recovery. And you can access advanced recovery options which stock recovery doesn support. Well search and download cwm for your device, place it sd card root(not inside any folder), run it using install update option on your stock recovery, it will open cwm which will be in yellow colour themed. Select backup and restore opt in it and select backup. That will take care of taking full backup of your device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, this thread have cleared many small things that come as so obvious for those that have done this for some time.
Perfect for me to quick understand what I am reading in threads and other sources.
I have now a CWM backup, Titan Backup and installed Odin and found my stock ROM to use if things goes to ****.
behedwin said:
Awesome, this thread have cleared many small things that come as so obvious for those that have done this for some time.
Perfect for me to quick understand what I am reading in threads and other sources.
I have now a CWM backup, Titan Backup and installed Odin and found my stock ROM to use if things goes to ****.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well.. Thats good to hear. And there was none other than me. And anyway a small precaution, never interrupt while you are flashing through Odin coz it will hard brick your device which is literally R.I.P to your device.
So i did something stupid right after rooting my Relay. I deleted basic stock files that are necessary for the phone to function properly. I was able to copy them from my current phone (rooted T-Mobile G2/Desire Z) onto an SD card and in turn push them back onto my Relay. My problem is that I still get error messages constantly after boot up and the simplest tasks can take hours (not to mention I can't use phone, contacts, messaging). I have seen all over the web (and XDA) about unrooting the phone and retuning it to stock. I was thinking that I could unroot, then reroot my Relay and that will solve my problem.
I was all set to unroot when I encountered yet another issue. Samsung-updates.com and sammobile both direct you to download the firmware files from hotfile. Hotfile has been shut down due to copyright infringement. Where I can find the stock firmware files now that hotfile has been shut down?
Please help me as I anxiously await using my new phone without the extra bloatware!
Thank you,
RockinRita
RockinRita said:
I was all set to unroot when I encountered yet another issue. Samsung-updates.com and sammobile both direct you to download the firmware files from hotfile. Hotfile has been shut down due to copyright infringement. Where I can find the stock firmware files now that hotfile has been shut down?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would Samsung's Kies software be able to restore it to stock, or is it too far gone for Kies to work?
Bobby Tables said:
Would Samsung's Kies software be able to restore it to stock, or is it too far gone for Kies to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Without the stock files wouldn't Kies be pointless?
The easiest way I've found to completely revert to stock, is to get a CWM flashable version of the unmodified stock rom (From the straight system image, not an update.zip reformated image) and a CWM flashable version of the stock recovery. Flash those in. If you want to reset your flash counter, make certain to also flash a su binary of some form (I personally prefer SuperSU, since it's so easy to clear out, run triangle away, then uninstall your su app properly.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48581775&postcount=6
I've just put up recovery and system flashables of Stock JB.
Pushing on a Relay
RockinRita said:
So i did something stupid right after rooting my Relay. I deleted basic stock files that are necessary for the phone to function properly. I was able to copy them from my current phone (rooted T-Mobile G2/Desire Z) onto an SD card and in turn push them back onto my Relay.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a very similar thing to my Relay and I can only get it boot off of the SD card. I am curious how you performed the push. I assumed that you
used adb push, but how?
Thanks,
Lou
scopedial said:
I did a very similar thing to my Relay and I can only get it boot off of the SD card. I am curious how you performed the push. I assumed that you used adb push, but how?
Thanks,
Lou
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I copied the files from my rooted HTC Desire Z/ T-Mobile G2 to a spare SD card I have and then I inserted that card into my Relay and started it up. It took me a few hours to get passed all the error messages that constantly pop up. And then I went into my files, external SD and moved the files over to the system folder on the Relay. After several reboots, the error messages still are coming up which I why I need to unroot it and reroot it.
Magamo said:
The easiest way I've found to completely revert to stock, is to get a CWM flashable version of the unmodified stock rom (From the straight system image, not an update.zip reformated image) and a CWM flashable version of the stock recovery. Flash those in. If you want to reset your flash counter, make certain to also flash a su binary of some form (I personally prefer SuperSU, since it's so easy to clear out, run triangle away, then uninstall your su app properly.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48581775&postcount=6
I've just put up recovery and system flashables of Stock JB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You may have just saved me, Magamo! Thank you for saving them to Drive! Once I get on my old slow Dell laptop (i'm on my Chromebook now- which unfortunately doesn't support most things) I'll try to flash your files and update you here since I cannot comment on your post as I have not posted enough myself.
Stock ROM Restore Method I Used
Magamo said:
The easiest way I've found to completely revert to stock, is to get a CWM flashable version of the unmodified stock rom (From the straight system image, not an update.zip reformated image) and a CWM flashable version of the stock recovery. Flash those in. If you want to reset your flash counter, make certain to also flash a su binary of some form (I personally prefer SuperSU, since it's so easy to clear out, run triangle away, then uninstall your su app properly.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48581775&postcount=6
I've just put up recovery and system flashables of Stock JB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You could also use Odin to flash a md5 sum of T699UVBMC5_HOME using the download mode of the Relay. Place in PDA, and tick off the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time and hit start. Make sure you have the drivers required to do this. I think they're included with Kies. In my case, I used CWM to format /system, then I used download mode. However, I had to reset my device. AND CWM (plus root access) was erased after the stock restore. I didn't miss an important detail, did I?
furboom1240 said:
You could also use Odin to flash a md5 sum of T699UVBMC5_HOME using the download mode of the Relay. Place in PDA, and tick off the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time and hit start. Make sure you have the drivers required to do this. I think they're included with Kies. In my case, I used CWM to format /system, then I used download mode. However, I had to reset my device. AND CWM (plus root access) was erased after the stock restore. I didn't miss an important detail, did I?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll be honest, you've got me on this one. I've never used ODIN, and am not well versed in its use. But yes, this is sounds like a more technical way of doing it without the CWM flashables I've mentioned. -- Impossible in some situations. For example, my fiancee's phone's USB port has died for all purposes other than charging, So if I'm to send it in for a warranty repair, I'll have to use the method I posted.
Confused here
Magamo said:
The easiest way I've found to completely revert to stock, is to get a CWM flashable version of the unmodified stock rom (From the straight system image, not an update.zip reformated image) and a CWM flashable version of the stock recovery. Flash those in. If you want to reset your flash counter, make certain to also flash a su binary of some form (I personally prefer SuperSU, since it's so easy to clear out, run triangle away, then uninstall your su app properly.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=48581775&postcount=6
I've just put up recovery and system flashables of Stock JB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Magamo,
I'm sorry, but I'm still totally confused here. Not sure how to flash the files in. I downloaded Kies and both of the zip files from your post. Successfully updated the firmware and my error messages are gone, but I don't have CWM on it. I extracted your files, but now what? I'm not very technologically inclined so this is all Greek to me.
furboom1240 said:
You could also use Odin to flash a md5 sum of T699UVBMC5_HOME using the download mode of the Relay. Place in PDA, and tick off the Auto Reboot and F. Reset Time and hit start. Make sure you have the drivers required to do this. I think they're included with Kies. In my case, I used CWM to format /system, then I used download mode. However, I had to reset my device. AND CWM (plus root access) was erased after the stock restore. I didn't miss an important detail, did I?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
furboom,
What is T699UVBMC5_HOME? How do I get the md5 sum of it? How do I use CWM to format /system? How do I get to stock restore? Again, I'm sorry for asking so many questions, i just have no clue what I'm doing here.
Thanks,
Rockin Rita
RockinRita said:
Magamo,
I'm sorry, but I'm still totally confused here. Not sure how to flash the files in. I downloaded Kies and both of the zip files from your post. Successfully updated the firmware and my error messages are gone, but I don't have CWM on it. I extracted your files, but now what? I'm not very technologically inclined so this is all Greek to me.
furboom,
What is T699UVBMC5_HOME? How do I get the md5 sum of it? How do I use CWM to format /system? How do I get to stock restore? Again, I'm sorry for asking so many questions, i just have no clue what I'm doing here.
Thanks,
Rockin Rita
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you don't have CWM, or some other custom recovery running on this, how did you get root in the first place? The easiest way to get root is to use heimdall or ODIN to flash CWM or another custom recovery, then flash Superuser or SuperSU using your new custom recovery.
The .zip files I linked are only meant to be flashed through recovery. Not Kies, not ODIN, not any other method.
Got it!!
With the help of this site (http://www.celldekho.com/how-to-unroot-samsung-galaxy-s-relay-4g/) and the file it linked to on rapidshare, along with your tip Magamo, I was able to unroot my Relay successfully. I'll reroot it later when I have the time and make sure not to delete important files LOL Thanks so much for the help!