[Q] flashing a rom.. root directory - General Questions and Answers

I am on a mac. Whenever I try to "flash" a rom Ill find a file like cyanogen mod thats a .zip and then downloads as a folder with a bunch of stuff in it. How do I flash this rom to my root directory? Do i just drag this folder into my mounted phone? I am very new to rooting, i have superuser I'm fully unlocked I just don't know what it means to flash a rom.
I have read a million forums but still can't understand so any help would be great thanks!

Flashing a rom basically means taking the OS from your phone off and putting the new one on, like upgrading from xp to vista. If you're trying to flash a rom, just put it on your SD card, boot into recovery, wipe data/cache, install the rom zip that you put on your sd card and you're good to go. Read up on the specific thread of your ROM as flashing instructions could be different and probably more detailed, I just gave you a brief overview.

Related

Rom Manager not working today

I just did an Odin 1 click to stock then proceeded to install rom manager after rooting and i cannot flash CWM recovery. every time i do it says there was an error downloading the recovery. is this a problem with just me or is it community wide? This is the same process I use every time to flash roms, and i can't think of anything i've done wrong this time around.
Can anyone confirm this? Im stuck on the stock captivate rom I really wanted to flash the gingerbread themed rom thismorning :/
Also i flashed back to stock a second time and re-did the root, but still i'm getting the same error in rm manager that there was an error downloading the recovery....
just copy this update.zip to your internal sd, it'll apply clockwork recovery, bypassing the Rom Manager install. No need to rename or anything
1)copy update.zip to internal sd
2)reboot into recovery
3)select reinstall packages (or whatever it is...can't remember exactly, but you should know what I'm talkin about)
4)it'll reboot, then you'll have Clockwork Recovery, and can do whatever
hope this helps ya.
I've found it significantly time saving if, after going back to stock in preparation for a new flash, you just copy this update.zip and the rom file to your internal sd, then reinstall packages to get clockwork off this update.zip, then immediately from there, you can flash the new rom. Totally saves time of having to root the 2.1 install, download rom manager, flash the recovery, reboot, copy rom to sd, then install...cuts flash time in half, it seems
Thank you so much! this worked for me
pyrplhaze said:
just copy this update.zip to your internal sd, it'll apply clockwork recovery, bypassing the Rom Manager install. No need to rename or anything
1)copy update.zip to internal sd
2)reboot into recovery
3)select reinstall packages (or whatever it is...can't remember exactly, but you should know what I'm talkin about)
4)it'll reboot, then you'll have Clockwork Recovery, and can do whatever
hope this helps ya.
I've found it significantly time saving if, after going back to stock in preparation for a new flash, you just copy this update.zip and the rom file to your internal sd, then reinstall packages to get clockwork off this update.zip, then immediately from there, you can flash the new rom. Totally saves time of having to root the 2.1 install, download rom manager, flash the recovery, reboot, copy rom to sd, then install...cuts flash time in half, it seems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
For anyone and everyone seeing this post, this method is considered the best and the most non-intrusive way. And yet, it gives complete functionality in recovery mode.
glad I could help. happy flashing!

[Q] A problem with the os/rom

I was trying to reinstall my rom, so I format everything excepting the sd-card
but I did a mistake in the last part, I clicked format sd-card wrongly.
Now, I have no os or rom, and i cant run my android to put my files back to it from my laptop.
What should I do now?? I tried to install the rom (zip file) in the fastboot mode,
but it said i hv no system.img, recovery.img..so on..
p.s. my clockwork is still here, but just have no backup for the restortion.
Thank you very much to read this..
I really suck now..
bonki said:
I was trying to reinstall my rom, so I format everything excepting the sd-card
but I did a mistake in the last part, I clicked format sd-card wrongly.
Now, I have no os or rom, and i cant run my android to put my files back to it from my laptop.
What should I do now?? I tried to install the rom (zip file) in the fastboot mode,
but it said i hv no system.img, recovery.img..so on..
p.s. my clockwork is still here, but just have no backup for the restortion.
Thank you very much to read this..
I really suck now..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're able to get into Clockwork by booting to recovery from fastboot if I understand your post correctly. (If you're not, you should be able to get there by flashing clockwork from fastboot.)
Once you have clockwork up and running, you might be able to plug the phone into your computer's USB port and access it via adb. If you have adb access you're cool. I think you can mount the sdcard from the clockwork mount options, then push the rom files you want to flash to the sdcard, then you can flash them from within clockwork.
If you need full images (I'm not sure all ROMs are full images, there's some fresh clean images in the Development section people are using for restores).

Flashing roms question....

coming from a G2, i have flashed a many a roms, did wipes, etc. my question is not toally newbish, but is newbish to the G2x.
i did the nvflash, installed the newer CWM, comfirmed that i have a recovery setup,etc...
now, from this point is anything different compared to doing it on the G2? i still scroll down to install update from SD card and stuff like that, and install the zip file and phone does all the work?
tackleberry said:
coming from a G2, i have flashed a many a roms, did wipes, etc. my question is not toally newbish, but is newbish to the G2x.
i did the nvflash, installed the newer CWM, comfirmed that i have a recovery setup,etc...
now, from this point is anything different compared to doing it on the G2? i still scroll down to install update from SD card and stuff like that, and install the zip file and phone does all the work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, should be the same as any other phone with CWM. As long as the flashable .zip is made for CWM and your phone, you're good to go
MWBehr said:
Yes, should be the same as any other phone with CWM. As long as the flashable .zip is made for CWM and your phone, you're good to go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool. It worked fine. I was just wanting to confirm. All went well
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
MWBehr said:
Yes, should be the same as any other phone with CWM. As long as the flashable .zip is made for CWM and your phone, you're good to go
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey guys I'm coming from Windows mobile and I've never used CWM before. I rooted, installed CWM using Gunman's directions last night, and I downloaded CM7 to my extSD but I just don't know exactly what to do next. Is there a link someone could provide me or give me directions on the steps I need to take after I'm loaded into recovery?
Do I just wipe and then install zip from the folder? Thanks for the help. Sorry for being a newb.
mathedrivein said:
Hey guys I'm coming from Windows mobile and I've never used CWM before. I rooted, installed CWM using Gunman's directions last night, and I downloaded CM7 to my extSD but I just don't know exactly what to do next. Is there a link someone could provide me or give me directions on the steps I need to take after I'm loaded into recovery?
Do I just wipe and then install zip from the folder? Thanks for the help. Sorry for being a newb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So once you have recovery, you can now flash custom roms, kernals and themes.
1. Put the files you've downloaded into you ext SD
2. Reboot into recovery by pressing and holding power + vol down button til you see a red recovery screen
3. MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP
4. Wipe data/cache
5. Install .zip
6. Choose the ROM that you want to flash
7. Reboot
Edit: Also if you'd like to save your apps and their data, I suggest installing Titanium backup and make backups for your apps before you flash anything. And if all else fails, just reboot back to recovery and restore your nandroid backup
Somewhere I must have done something different, when I boot into CWM thru the button method I get the red recovery but it doesn't see my backups. When I use Rom Manager, and boot into recovery I get the orange/yellow recovery and it shows my backups. What I need to do to fix so the red recovery sees my backups?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
Nivek91 said:
So once you have recovery, you can now flash custom roms, kernals and themes.
1. Put the files you've downloaded into you ext SD
2. Reboot into recovery by pressing and holding power + vol down button til you see a red recovery screen
3. MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP
4. Wipe data/cache
5. Install .zip
6. Choose the ROM that you want to flash
7. Reboot
Edit: Also if you'd like to save your apps and their data, I suggest installing Titanium backup and make backups for your apps before you flash anything. And if all else fails, just reboot back to recovery and restore your nandroid backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot for the step-by-step list. For some reason when I navigate my folders in CWM the .zip files are not showing up. For CM7, then only file that it will allow me to install is the boot_animation.zip, which I'm sure won't boot the actual CM7 software. Oy ve. I'll keep messing around with it and see what I can figure out. Maybe I'll load a few other roms and see if those .zip files will show up when I navigate the folders.
Has anybody had this problem? Loading the boot.img file to a particular area on your ext_sd card (which was the one I set up when I installed CWM and nvidia or whatever it's called), and then once you try to find it it doesn't show up? Ugh. I'll try at it some more tonight and let you guys know what I find out.
I don't have to rename the boot.img file to update.sd.zip or anything do I? I should just be able to navigate to the folder and install the file, right?
mathedrivein said:
I don't have to rename the boot.img file to update.sd.zip or anything do I? I should just be able to navigate to the folder and install the file, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't want to unpack the .zip file. The way you downloaded it should be the way you put it on your SD card. Do not rename anything inside the .zip.
So, take the cm7.zip file that you installed, whatever the exact name of it is, and copy that to your external sd card. When you're in recovery, pick the option to chose .zip from sd card, navigate to the .zip you just placed on the card, and it should ask you to install it.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you're confused about anything
If I were to flash cm7 is the newer red text bootloader OK to use?
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App
knuckelpuc said:
You don't want to unpack the .zip file. The way you downloaded it should be the way you put it on your SD card. Do not rename anything inside the .zip.
So, take the cm7.zip file that you installed, whatever the exact name of it is, and copy that to your external sd card. When you're in recovery, pick the option to chose .zip from sd card, navigate to the .zip you just placed on the card, and it should ask you to install it.
I hope that helps. Let me know if you're confused about anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I think I got it. On my old HD2 I used to have to unzip the deal when I would run it from my sd card. I think that's where I was confused. So I just download the .zip file, don't extract it at all, place it in the folder, and just run it straight from my phone. Thanks for your help. Hopefully now it will work.
EDIT: That worked. Thanks knuckelpuc. Woohoo, CM7 how I've missed you.
I have a quick noob question undeserving of its own thread so im gonna borrow this one real quick
Do nandroid backups restore the kernel?
Thanks!

[Q] New G2X: Should I mod/root?

I got a new LG P999 (I think that's the G2X). I'm new to Android but I'm not sure if I should root/mod or not.
Is there really any significant benefits from modding (like speed or stability) or it's just to make your Android flashier?
Also, what mod would be best to go for? And if someone could link me to a beginner tutorial on how to mod (with simpler terminology; I only found some with terminology like NANDroid, clockwork recovery, etc... which I don't really understand), that would be much appreciated.
Hope someone can help, thanks!
kefloxin said:
I got a new LG P999 (I think that's the G2X). I'm new to Android but I'm not sure if I should root/mod or not.
Is there really any significant benefits from modding (like speed or stability) or it's just to make your Android flashier?
Also, what mod would be best to go for? And if someone could link me to a beginner tutorial on how to mod (with simpler terminology; I only found some with terminology like NANDroid, clockwork recovery, etc... which I don't really understand), that would be much appreciated.
Hope someone can help, thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, rooting/modding gives you every benefit out there. Battery life, speed, options, features, the list goes on. Flashing ROM's is basically 99% the reason why people root or install a custom recovery on their phones. NANdroid, Clockwork MOD, etc are basically the basis and the stuff that you need to know about rooting. Since you're new I suggest you read a lot first and get to know what those terminologies are. ClockWork is a custom recovery that enables you to flash a custom ROM onto your phone.
Here is the G2x Bible. That's a reference guide to most, if not everything, that you need to know.
Here is the NVFlash method that you need to do to install Clockwork onto your G2x. You don't really need root for the G2x, just install Clockwork via that guide and you'll be good to go.
Remember: Read, read, and read.
Thanks for your reply! Those links helped me a lot. A few questions though:
1) If I don't have an external SD card, will I be able to put an external SD card without problems later? And can I re-flash for the external SD card support if desired?
2) Once I'm in the ClockworkMod Recovery, how do I put the ROM on my phone? (Flash is the correct terminology if I'm not mistaken).
3) Which ROM or mod should I go with? From the looks of it, a lot of people use CyanogenMod, but is there one that's most stable/fast?
Thanks again for your answer.
Here's another guide on NVFlashing.
These are my 3 favorite ROM's. And I'm sure most of the G2x people would agree as well.
Eagle's Blood: Based on LG's stock 2.3.3 Gingerbread.
Weapon G2x: Again, based on LG's stock 2.3.3 Gingerbread, but with Whitehawx's many tweaks and features.
And of course, CyanogenMOD 7 Nightlies: It's based on Google's AOSP, but the CM team has added in hundreds of tweaks that makes the user experience the best you can ever get on Android.
My favorite is CM but I suggest you try all 3 to see which one you like the best.
Yes, you can slip in an SD card after you've flashed if you want. Just follow the instructions carefully on how to NVFlash, there's even a YouTube video on how to do it.
Once you're in CWM, I suggest you do a NANDroid backup to backup your current ROM. Then do the following steps.
1. Wipe Data
2. Wipe Cache
3. Wipe Dalvik Cache (within Advanced)
4. Then go into mounts and format your /system
5. Then proceed to flashing your desired ROM.
Here's a quick video on how to flash a ROM.
But note; that video is how to flash a ROM on a myTouch 4G, just ignore the ROM's I showed in that video as it's for the MT4G. But the Clockwork MOD that you see there is just like the one for the G2x, except now the letters are blue. Do as I did in that video by wiping everything. Only thing I left out is formating /system since it wasn't needed on the MT4G. So don't forget to do that on your G2x.
Also, do you have Froyo or Gingerbread right now?
If you need any help with your g2x just drop me an email at [email protected]. I will be happy to help with any questions you may have.
Sent from the fastest g2x in the world
Thanks again for your awesome reply mackster248.
To answer your question, I'm currently running Froyo and I'm not actually with T-Mobile. I'm in Quebec with Videotron but I read it's the same phone. The phone model I have is LG P999DW.
I think I'll go with CM V7.1.0.1 as my first ROM (the nightlies may not be as stable as I want them to be). Do you think that would be an okay ROM as a first?
So just to confirm, this is what I will be doing as a whole process:
First, I will follow the NVFlashing guide which will allow me to use ClockworkMod Recovery. Next, I'll do a backup with NANDroid (which I assume is an option in CWM). Following that, I follow the wiping steps you listed (same as your video). Is that correct or am I missing something?
Thanks again!
EDIT: So I followed the NVFlash steps and it worked fine until I tried to boot in Recover by holding Vol Down + Power, but it doesn't seem to do anything... I can boot up the phone fine normally by holding the power button though. Is there a reason booting into recovery wouldn't work?
EDIT 2: Ah, nevermind. It works after I took out the battery and tried again.
EDIT 3: I haven't wiped my data yet in the recovery, but it seems I need an SD card so I can load the zip of the ROM I want. Is there a way to load the ROM from my computer or will I need to get an SD card first? Also, I would like to know if I should root as well? Does it make a difference? If not, why do people root before flashing?
Do you mind making a video of all the steps you did in exact order? also people root because most phones just use ROM manager to flash clockworkmod right from ROM Manger, but we are using NVFlash so we dont technically need it. Also new to the G2x, from (wind Mobile, i believe its the same one as the videotron P999-DW)
but im so scared to flash lol i had a vibrant i9000-m die on me before :3
Well, I can't make a video of what I did since I don't have a spare camera. All I did up until now is follow the NVFlashing guide to get ClockworkMod Recovery. It's not very hard to do actually.
I'm apparently supposed to wipe data, etc. now but I don't want to do that because steps later say that I need to flash from the SD card which I don't have. So I need to know now whether I need an SD card to flash a ROM on the phone? I've ordered an SD card which might take a while to get but after I get it, I also would like to know whether I need to root to flash? (since ROM manager says I need to root to use it, maybe I need to root to flash a ROM via CWM as well?)
I downloaded ROM manager and it says I need to root my phone for it to function. I also tried "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" via the ROM manager which gives me an error as well.
So if someone could let me know whether 1) I can flash without an SD card and 2) whether I need to root to flash via CWM, that would be much appreciated. Thanks!
The newest version of CWM Recovery requires a physical SD to put the rom backups on. Go get yourself one. The smaller capacities are very inexpensive now, but it is nice to have a larger one if you can afford it. Each backup is very large, so a small card would run out of space quickly if you don't offload them to your computer or another storage medium. If you want to backup to the internal sd then install the older version (4.0.1.5) of CWM that support internal sd only, then you don't need a physical sd card. That is why TGA_Gunnman put that version back into his flasher.
With the latest CWM and a g2x and NO sd card, I was able to root, and flash roms. Just select the flash zip from internal SD option in CWM. I did not backup though.
hesher said:
With the latest CWM and a g2x and NO sd card, I was able to root, and flash roms. Just select the flash zip from internal SD option in CWM. I did not backup though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wouldn't the flash zip be deleted after you wipe the data, etc.?
Also, do I need to root for flash via CWM to work?
No just place it in the root.
kefloxin said:
Wouldn't the flash zip be deleted after you wipe the data, etc.?
Also, do I need to root for flash via CWM to work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you're saying that if I place the ROM on the root of the phone, it won't be deleted once I wipe data, wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache and format my /system?
I would just like to make sure as I don't want to be stuck without a phone until I get an SD card and no backup.
Thanks
kefloxin said:
So you're saying that if I place the ROM on the root of the phone, it won't be deleted once I wipe data, wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache and format my /system?
I would just like to make sure as I don't want to be stuck without a phone until I get an SD card and no backup.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you were factory resetting a Samsung the internal SD is also wiped; but thankfully, LG does not do that. When you do a factory reset on the P999 all it does is wipe the data and cache partitions. The internal sd is left alone. So yes you can place the zip package on the internal sd, reset and then flash it. It also doesn't have to be on the root. In CWM if you select install zip from sd card, you can then choose external or internal sd and navigate to any folder and zip file you want to flash. Have fun!
I was able to install the old CWM with internal SD card support and I used that to make a backup and flash the ROM successfully. Everything seems to be awesome so far except that I can't use USB mass storage from the O/S. I turn on USB mass storage and my computer doesn't detect it. The only way to make it work is going to CWM and mounting the USB. Anyone know how I would be able to make it work through the O/S again?
I also can't install Swype without an external SD card, but I'll have one soon so that's not a big worry.
Aside from those things, I think it's pretty cool.
Thanks to everyone who helped.
Have fun bud. No phone is perfect, but the G2x is pretty awesome.
Powered by a G2x
Yeah, it's awesome. But anyone know why USB mass storage doesn't show the removable drive on my computer? I have to go into CWM and mount it to make it work, but I would prefer to be able to do it via the O/S.
Thanks for all your help though guys, you guys are awesome
kefloxin said:
Yeah, it's awesome. But anyone know why USB mass storage doesn't show the removable drive on my computer? I have to go into CWM and mount it to make it work, but I would prefer to be able to do it via the O/S.
Thanks for all your help though guys, you guys are awesome
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the LG Gingerbread drivers. Let me find a link.
Edit: I had the same problem as you, but this fixed that.
http://www.lg-phones.org/t-mobile-g2x-usb-driver.html
Powered by a G2x
It doesn't seem to work. I installed the drivers via the download link in the link you provided. Didn't work, then I tried to update following the instructions using the LG mobile support tool, and it still doesn't work either. (I've tried on 2 computers btw.)
I'm not sure why it only works via CWM, any other suggestions?
kefloxin said:
It doesn't seem to work. I installed the drivers via the download link in the link you provided. Didn't work, then I tried to update following the instructions using the LG mobile support tool, and it still doesn't work either. (I've tried on 2 computers btw.)
I'm not sure why it only works via CWM, any other suggestions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could be USB connection type is set wrong internally. See if there is some setting in CM7 for it. On a stock rom you can go into LG Hidden menu and set USB to automatic.

Recovering Phone after failed rom (no backup)

Hello, my phone is rooted and unlocked but unfortunately I'm stuck without a way to rom my phone back to operation (4.0.4). I made the mistake of not keeping a backup or rom on my internal sdcard . Clockworkmod doesn't seem to work when you try and mount the sdcards in recovery
I decided to try the jellybean rom which for some reason doesn't have the play store on it which I cannot install astro so I can copy a new rom over within the os.
I didn't leave any roms on my internal sd card , I cannot mount the internal or external sdcard CWM recovery to copy a new rom and install (running 6.0 CMW) , I've attempted to find a solution to flashing ANY rom back onto my phone via ODIN but no luck.
are their roms available in md5 / tar format that I've overlooked?
Thank you so much!
You may need to flash with a PIT file included with stock rom tar. Look around for a PIT FILE. I don't know if anyone has one posted
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2
did you download GAPPS??? thats probably why you dont have a play store
^^^^^^ that's probably true. If you want to change roms with Odin, there are a handful of Odinable files around. Do you want to go back to an unrooted or rooted rom? Also, what happens when you try to access your SD card (internal or external) from CWM? And where did you get the CWM you are currently running?
There are links to ODINable stock images and the like at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1762709. You should be able to restore your phone to an out-of-the-box state with the information and directions provided.
just do a quick search

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