Related
So for a while now ive been debating if i should flash my phone with a new rom (or kernel) or if i should just keep it safe and just keep it rooted with nothing else.
Now the biggest thing thats keeping from flashing it is that i really dont know how hard it would be to get it back to stock. Ive been doing my hmwk and been reading through the forums but still im a little lost.
So any help / advice would be welcomed.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
d1zturbe3d said:
So for a while now ive been debating if i should flash my phone with a new rom (or kernel) or if i should just keep it safe and just keep it rooted with nothing else.
Now the biggest thing thats keeping from flashing it is that i really dont know how hard it would be to get it back to stock. Ive been doing my hmwk and been reading through the forums but still im a little lost.
So any help / advice would be welcomed.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well i dont own a vibrant, but from what ive read ODIN is used to get back to stock or if u soft brick ur phone. go to the rom bible for vibrants and you can find easy instruction on how to use ODIN. and there are numerous videos on youtube showing how to use ODIN.
Good luck man
d1zturbe3d said:
So for a while now ive been debating if i should flash my phone with a new rom (or kernel) or if i should just keep it safe and just keep it rooted with nothing else.
Now the biggest thing thats keeping from flashing it is that i really dont know how hard it would be to get it back to stock. Ive been doing my hmwk and been reading through the forums but still im a little lost.
So any help / advice would be welcomed.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have read how to return to stock from a soft brick and are still lost, then I'd say definitely no!
Download Fusion if you do not want TouchWiz, or Bionix if you do. Stick with the stock kernel (for now).
Make sure you have Rom Manager and clockwork recovery working.
install titanium backup and backup all apps + data (I would not bother with system data).
Do a nandroid backup.
Flash your Fusion/Bionix.
If you ever want to go back, just restore your nandroid backup.
( All of these steps are in my signature in much greater detail if needed )
+1 to what s15274n posted.
The first time is always the most nerve-wracking. You've got a great phone, everything works great, & it wasn't cheap. The last thing you want to do is "do something" that might mess it up right? I was in that boat for a while and when I did flash a ROM, I was like..."I was worried why?"
It's pretty simple, I just made sure to sync my contacts/calendar, used AppBrain to sync my apps (you can use Titanium Backup to to this too but I didn't need/want to save any data) and then I was good to go.
I downloaded TGA's One Click Root/Unroot. Then after I made sure SuperUser was installed in the App Drawer I downloaded ROM Manager (Free from the Market), installed it, & ran it.
After that I clicked on ClockWork Recovery inside the app so it would download/install (it's a separate download but dependent upon ROM Manager). After that, I rebooted into recovery from within the ROM Manager. Followed the directions on the menu to perform a nandroid backup then I was good to go.
The directions for installing ROMs are in the beginning of all the ROMs threads plus there's a lot of good information in the Tip & Tricks sticky thread in General and the Team Whiskey site (Home of the Bionix ROMs) has a good writeup.
I tend to stick with the non-Froyo ROMs just because I use the GPS daily and we don't have the GPS drivers for Froyo yet. Eugene's Hybrid & Bionix Fusion are great ROMs to start with. Just pick one with the attributes you like and you won't go wrong.
Hope this helps a bit & have fun flashing,
~SB
Thank you all for your advice and help. I already downloaded Rom Manager and titanium back up all i have to do now is pick a rom and go for it...and i think i will actually pick one and do it later today.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Flash away my friend. I must warn you that flashing is addictive!!
Always do a Nandroid backup before Flashing. If you screw up, you can always ODIN back to Stock. ODIN is your friend!!
When flashing, I prefer to flash through Clockwork Mod. You can flash through ODIN too but Clockwork is easier.
I would also suggest making sure you can get into Download mode without adb or terminal commands as well.
If you can't then you'll want to check the bible on the method to fix the hardware lock.
Also, if you haven't yet upgraded your phone to JI6, you should SIM unlock your phone (I believe you lose this option when you go to JI6) and backup the folder that has your unlock (should also be in the bible). You may never need it, but it's definitely a nice option to have, especially on a phone that can get the AT&T 3g signal (well, one radio band of it anyways).
Hey guys so I flashed my phone earlier today using the bionix stock rom. Everything went great but then I tried going back to stock using nandroid and my phone ended being stuck at the Vibrant logo screen. After realizing that it was stuck I just went back to the bionix rom. Anyone know why nandroid wasn't able to restore me back to my back up?
Also if I wanted to install another rom would I just download it and install it or would I would have to go back to stock then flash it??
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Sounds like you had the jac or kk kernel, and not the stock.
Nandroid doesn't restore the kernel, so you have to flash the stock kernel before.
Does the stock bionix come with a different kernel? Because I thought my kernel didn't change. I checked before and after flashing and my kernel was the same?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Nope...stock Bionix is the regular JI6 kernel.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
even if you have the stock kernel of a custom Rom. when you do a nandroid restore your phone will be soft bricked. they say that after you restore, you have to flash the stock kernel too in the recovery mode.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Aright I guess I need to download the j16 kernel
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I tried upgrading my girlfriend's Vibrant to one of the new 2.2 ROMs and she didn't like it, so I disabled voodoo, booted into recovery and attempted to restore the backup I made in nandroid. After 30 minutes of hanging on 'restoring data', I gave up and tried to reboot. Phone is now stuck in the vibrant logo and will not boot into recovery. Tried pulling the battery and it just reboots back to the Vibrant logo.
I know there is a way to fix this with something called Odin? (not sure if that's the name). My only problem is I don't want to delete any of her non-restorable stuff. Is there any way to fix this without deleting anything that can't be restored? Also, any idea why the nandroid backup didn't work? I'm afraid that even if I can get back into recovery, the restore will just freeze again.
I did notice when it was wiping to install the ROM originally, it also froze on deleting data, but a reboot fixed that. So maybe a reboot will fix that too but I'm not sure. Any help?
do you reboot when you have disabled voodoo and hear linda say 'convertion successful' ? sometime it will not work proper if you disable and flash something without reboot
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Yeah I used the flashable disable zip thru rom manager.
velocity92c said:
Yeah I used the flashable disable zip thru rom manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
*edit* it is because kernel i think
BTW post wrong section..
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
I made this same mistake the first time I flashed. What it is, its that nandroid does not backup the kernel, so you have to flash one with the same version of android. At this point you will have to use odin to do it then once you have you can do a nandroid restore.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
o i'v just got what your problem is！ you should flash a 2.1kernel before nand restore. because it will not restore your kernel
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
oiiboy said:
I made this same mistake the first time I flashed. What it is, its that nandroid does not backup the kernel, so you have to flash one with the same version of android. At this point you will have to use odin to do it then once you have you can do a nandroid restore.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think maybe he can get into recovery and flash a new 2.1 kernel. Will this work?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Post in the right forum and you will get the answer to how to fix it.
Moved to Q&A as not development
look at the bright side... at least ur Vibrant isnt stuck on the Captivate screen....
I'm sorry about posting in the wrong forum, honest mistake but it won't happen again. Can someone exolain to me what I need to do, in order, to fix this? I need to use odin, then flash a 2.1 kernel, then run nandroid restore? Which 2.1 kernel should I use?
Anyone know if I can restore a CWR backup after changing the bootloader and kernel? I went to a GB Rom and now I want to go back to my Bionix backup. Both are Voodoo Ext4.
Since over 9000 people have said, reported, experienced that the boot loaders are backward compatible. You will be fine. Enjoy you more convenient button combos.
Beware of angry gingerbread man
I'm more worried about the kernal difference and CWM backup. I guess I could always re flash the original kernal if it loops.
What I reccomend is to odin back to stock then restore your nandroid .i use this method alot of the time
Thsnks buttom if I hepled
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Im rather curious if the Nandroid backup contains the bootloaders as well.
Anyone know?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
I thought about this and it seemed a bit rash. Although it would be the most thorough and probably yield results most like the original settings.
FReQ Z said:
Im rather curious if the Nandroid backup contains the bootloaders as well.
Anyone know?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nandroid doesn't touch bootloaders, kernel or modem for vibrants. (i don't think nanadroid touches anyone's bootloader tbh)
I am a serial crack flasher and had a question. If I install a rom and do a Android backup can I restore a previous backup of a different from or do I need to do the whole wipe/restore thing. I wanted to ask cause I know sometimes u need to flash a boot img etc.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
mpetruzz said:
I am a serial crack flasher and had a question. If I install a rom and do a Android backup can I restore a previous backup of a different from or do I need to do the whole wipe/restore thing. I wanted to ask cause I know sometimes u need to flash a boot img etc.
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nand backup will restore to exactly what was running when it was saved.
Unless that rom he went to had the ability to use a diff kernel right? In that case he'd have to flash his old boot.img to get the original kernel back.. This seems to be one of the biggest reoccuring problems/questions on these threads. Everyone is so used to bringing back their nandroids to full 100% of where they were before, but that is not the case in the current state of s-on only.. I'm very glad we've already come so far but I think there is still a lot of confusion about rom/kernel flashing in particular how it relates to restoring a nandroid.
Hag77 said:
Unless that rom he went to had the ability to use a diff kernel right? In that case he'd have to flash his old boot.img to get the original kernel back.. This seems to be one of the biggest reoccuring problems/questions on these threads. Everyone is so used to bringing back their nandroids to full 100% of where they were before, but that is not the case in the current state of s-on only.. I'm very glad we've already come so far but I think there is still a lot of confusion about rom/kernel flashing in particular how it relates to restoring a nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, kernel would need to be flashed seperately..
I suggest using CleanFLASH by scrosler it works great!!
http://www.scottsroms.com/downloads.php?do=file&id=57
Ok so I'm on Note #3. While setting this last one up, I forgot one step during the root, ROM process. The last 2 I did were fine. But I forgot to make a Nandroid backup of stock ROM. I know.... Dumb rookie mistake but hey, I was excited and since this is my first Android device, I guess I'm still a rookie. So my question is this: is that backup really necessary? I mean there are stock ROM files out there and stock radio files too. So theoretically I could just flash those to go back yes? I'm on Saurom now and except for getting an official ICS update which could be forever coming, I'm doing just fine on the current setup.
Opinions and advice welcome here!
Thanks XDA. No doubt the BEST community ever!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
You can always get back to stock using a downloaded ROM from XDA. No worries.
There are threads in the development section with stock AT & T tar files for odin which will put it exactly as it was out of the box.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
I never nandroid.
Odin and tibu make that pointless.
studacris said:
I never nandroid.
Odin and tibu make that pointless.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know about that..
restoring a hand takes about 10-15 minutes; restoring with odin/tb, can take up to 45 minutes, so, if you screw something up, and just want to quickly go back to how you were b4 the screw up, restoring a nand is still the fastest, easiest way..
but, yeah, odin/heimdall and TB is pretty easy too!
wase4711 said:
I don't know about that..
restoring a hand takes about 10-15 minutes; restoring with odin/tb, can take up to 45 minutes, so, if you screw something up, and just want to quickly go back to how you were b4 the screw up, restoring a nand is still the fastest, easiest way..
but, yeah, odin/heimdall and TB is pretty easy too!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What?? What Odin do you use? Mine flashes to stock in 3-4 mins, 45 mins is crazy talk. And I just keep the rooms in my SD! They flash faster than nandroid!
odin/heimdall is fast; its restoring 100-200 apps with Titatnium Backup that takes all the time...
kimtyson said:
You can always get back to stock using a downloaded ROM from XDA. No worries.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's what I figured but had to ask. Now, knowing all this, should I Nandroid backup for my current ROM which is Saurom 7.1? If I did, could I then flash an ICS ROM and if I didn't like it, backup from the Saurom 7.1 backup I made?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
dakleenupman said:
Yeah, that's what I figured but had to ask. Now, knowing all this, should I Nandroid backup for my current ROM which is Saurom 7.1? If I did, could I then flash an ICS ROM and if I didn't like it, backup from the Saurom 7.1 backup I made?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep thats exactly what I did. Went from 7.1 to ics and then back to Surom. It's like you never left. Just be sure to follow all the instructoins while installing ics
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using xda premium
truth77 said:
What?? What Odin do you use? Mine flashes to stock in 3-4 mins, 45 mins is crazy talk. And I just keep the rooms in my SD! They flash faster than nandroid!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have to respectfully disagree with you on this one. I would highly recommend you make a nandroid backup before flashing any new roms. Nothing is faster, easier, more comprehensive, and safe than nandroid. It restores your phone back to an exact copy of itself at that moment in time. All your data, settings, and apps go with it, not to mention your nice functional (and hopefully stable) rom. Its the best protection when flashing custom roms. And plus you don't have to worry about broken links in old stock rom posts.
Flashing via Odin means you have to use Titanium Backup to restore apps and data. That takes a minimum of 20-30 mins for anyone with more than 100 apps. Plus, if I'm not mistaken, that also means you have to take the time out to place them back on their respective homescreens or folders, and redo all your custom settings and so forth. That takes another 20-60 minutes, depending on how particular you are (and I'm particular).
That being said, its not a critical step in the flashing/rooting process. It's just a safety net for when you inevitably fail (cause we all do...im sure even the best of devs have soft-bricked a phone...if you haven't, it just means you haven't flashed enough... )... No worries if you forgot...if you have an old nandroid you can use that, or go back to stock via one of the posted roms....