[Q] Pull SIM and external SD cards before flashing rom? - Atrix 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

After unlocking my bootloader last night, I installed romracer's recovery and made a full backup to the external SD card. Also made sure that my app+data backups could be successfully recovered, and they are. (And yes, I know not to go restoring system data after flashing a custom ROM.)
So the last step is likely going to be nottach's Darkside prefinal. Before I go flashing this:
- Per the title, do I need to pull my SIM card and/or external SD before wiping, flashing, and re-wiping?
- After some paranoid digging around of threads and seeing wifi issues happening at random, some posters thought a tegrapart-kernel mismatch might be at fault. Mine is mbr:d00:100:800, kpanic:2100:400:800. What I couldn't figure out was which tegrapart was supposed to correspond to a US Atrix and which was international, between d00 and 1100? (i.e. do I have a "standard" US build or did I get sold an international phone?)
- If something goes completely wonky, will restoring my backup through CWM act like a "restore point" with my original stock (OTA) Gingerbread rom?
- Lastly (assuming a successful flash) if I had a need to return to stock, would I be better off flashing the fruitcake or using my CWM restore?
Thanks all.

cowsaregreat said:
After unlocking my bootloader last night, I installed romracer's recovery and made a full backup to the external SD card. Also made sure that my app+data backups could be successfully recovered, and they are. (And yes, I know not to go restoring system data after flashing a custom ROM.)
So the last step is likely going to be nottach's Darkside prefinal. Before I go flashing this:
- Per the title, do I need to pull my SIM card and/or external SD before wiping, flashing, and re-wiping?
- After some paranoid digging around of threads and seeing wifi issues happening at random, some posters thought a tegrapart-kernel mismatch might be at fault. Mine is mbr:d00:100:800, kpanic:2100:400:800. What I couldn't figure out was which tegrapart was supposed to correspond to a US Atrix and which was international, between d00 and 1100? (i.e. do I have a "standard" US build or did I get sold an international phone?)
- If something goes completely wonky, will restoring my backup through CWM act like a "restore point" with my original stock (OTA) Gingerbread rom?
- Lastly (assuming a successful flash) if I had a need to return to stock, would I be better off flashing the fruitcake or using my CWM restore?
Thanks all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't pull anything. I use my external sd to hold all my roms and backups and such. Your cwm backup would be the easiest. Fruitcake if that doesn't work.

Related

Flashing stock ROM and the going back to Cyanogen

Hello, I always find the people on this corner of xda very helpful. As usual, I think I know what I'm doing, but I'd like to check that I am proceeding in the right direction.
I've been using Mik's Cyanogen ROMs on my Optimus One. That's going well. But I need to SIM unlock my phone and I need to go back to a stock ROM to input the codes (please let me know if this is incorrect).
Before installing Mik's ROM, I performed a Nand backup. I have boot, cache, data, recovery and system img files. I think I can flash these through recovery and I should be back to stock.
Do I lose my apps and settings by doing this? Do I need to clear any caches?
What about returning to Cyanogen after I unlock my phone... Do I have to root my phone again or will I still be able to flash using recovery?
Using Clockwork, I just backed up my current ROM. I assume I will be able to restore from this later.
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
Thanks for answering my questions / clearing up my confusion.
Hello, I always find the people on this corner of xda very helpful. As usual, I think I know what I'm doing, but I'd like to check that I am proceeding in the right direction.
I've been using Mik's Cyanogen ROMs on my Optimus One. That's going well. But I need to SIM unlock my phone and I need to go back to a stock ROM to input the codes (please let me know if this is incorrect).
this is correct
Before installing Mik's ROM, I performed a Nand backup. I have boot, cache, data, recovery and system img files. I think I can flash these through recovery and I should be back to stock.
Do I lose my apps and settings by doing this? Do I need to clear any caches?
to revert back to stock, you must wipe data/factory reset, cache, and dalvik cache. you will lose your settings. as for your apps, you can back them up with titanium backup and restore them after you have restored your backup.
What about returning to Cyanogen after I unlock my phone... Do I have to root my phone again or will I still be able to flash using recovery?
when you restore your backup of the stock rom, you will still have root. i dont think unlocking your phone will cause you to lose root. your root access and custom recovery will still be intact
Using Clockwork, I just backed up my current ROM. I assume I will be able to restore from this later.
yes this is true
Is there anything else I should be aware of?
just to be on the safe side, please list the steps you are going to follow
Thanks for answering my questions / clearing up my confusion.
Thanks for the quick answer...
I on my sd card, I have a /clockwork directory with two subdirs. One is my original backup that I made before first installing Cyanogen. The other is the one I just made. Both contain boot, cache, data, recovery and system img files. The difference is that with my new backup the image files have an extra yaffs2 suffix: cache.img (stock) but cache.yaffs2.img (Cyanogen). Any problem here?
1. boot into recovery
2. restore stock from my sdcard using nandroid and wipe caches as you indicated
3. reboot, enter unlock code
4. reboot into recovery
5. restore current ROM from my sdcard using nandroid and again wipe the same caches
6. reinstall / restore apps (I'm not using Titanium, instead I backed up the list of installed apps)
Will I need to find and reinstall the GoogleApps (Market, etc) or will they come with the backup of my current ROM?
Pretty simple really. This make sense?
Thanks for the quick answer...
I on my sd card, I have a /clockwork directory with two subdirs. One is my original backup that I made before first installing Cyanogen. The other is the one I just made. Both contain boot, cache, data, recovery and system img files. The difference is that with my new backup the image files have an extra yaffs2 suffix: cache.img (stock) but cache.yaffs2.img (Cyanogen). Any problem here?
there might be a problem. what clockworkmod version did you use to make the backup of the stock rom? if i remember correctly, using cwm 3.x.x.x backs up a certain way (and also does not have the yaffs2 suffix) and using cwm 5.x.x.x backs up a different way (with the yaffs2 suffix) so backups may not be "inter"compatible (more info on that here). however, you can just flash back cwm 3.x.x.x right now (you can do it using rom manager), restore your stock rom backup, do the following steps, flash back cwm 5.x.x.x, then restore your backup
1. boot into recovery
2. restore stock from my sdcard using nandroid and wipe caches as you indicated (i recommend wipe first then restore)
3. reboot, enter unlock code
4. reboot into recovery
5. restore current ROM from my sdcard using nandroid and again wipe the same caches
(same here again, wipe first then restore)
6. reinstall / restore apps (I'm not using Titanium, instead I backed up the list of installed apps)
Will I need to find and reinstall the GoogleApps (Market, etc) or will they come with the backup of my current ROM?
i think you will have to flash gapps again
Pretty simple really. This make sense?
looks good (how sure am i? id say 80-90%. it definitely makes sense, but i have never done this before)
Good good. It's getting late so I'll tackle this tomorrow. Thanks for the detailed help... I'm glad I asked before going at it.
sweetnsour said:
looks good (how sure am i? id say 80-90%. it definitely makes sense, but i have never done this before)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed your instructions (I downgraded Clockwork before starting) and the 10-20% chance of you being wrong came true... but in a good way
Restoring from the backup brings everything back: apps, settings, contacts, SMSs etc. So it was actually even easier than you suggested since I didn't have to use my backups at all.
Thanks again for the tips!
bosth said:
I followed your instructions (I downgraded Clockwork before starting) and the 10-20% chance of you being wrong came true... but in a good way
Restoring from the backup brings everything back: apps, settings, contacts, SMSs etc. So it was actually even easier than you suggested since I didn't have to use my backups at all.
Thanks again for the tips!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
glad it worked out for you i am assuming your phone is now unlocked right?
sweetnsour said:
glad it worked out for you i am assuming your phone is now unlocked right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes... when I was back in stock I could access the unlock menu by entering 2945*#500# on my keypad. The SIM unlock code that I have worked fine. I haven't actually tested with another SIM card but the phone claimed to have been unlocked, so I should be good to go.

[Q] Need help!!! (nand restore problem)

OK, im gonna explain this simple.
Im using Lg p350 and i have a problem restoring my backuped rom. When i select restore in custom recovery it immediately says: opps something went wrong. Its hard for me to find a sollution because the error log is stupid and not giving any info.
Thank you.
May I ask what the custom recovery and version is? CWM, TWRP, amonRA, etc?
Have you upgraded to a new version of your recovery since you made the backup?
If you've changed recovery, then I would suggest flashing back on the version you made the backup with and try restoring your backup from there.
If you renamed the backup folder, and it now contains spaces or any characters other than underscores or dashes, remove all of those characters and try again.
1. its: recovery-RA-pecan-2.2.1-GNM-drap
2. no, because, there are no updates
3. didnt rename, but what exactly do you mean by changing recovery?
Rudoslav said:
1. its: recovery-RA-pecan-2.2.1-GNM-drap
2. no, because, there are no updates
3. didnt rename, but what exactly do you mean by changing recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello,
Sorry for being vague. All meant by changing the recovery was, flashing a different version of the Recovery, or switching to something like Clockworkmod Recovery. If, for instance, you made the backup with version 2.0.1 (example version number), and are trying to restore with 2.2.1, something may have changed in the way the new version handles backups.
Sometimes SD cards can cause strange issues to occur, if you have another, copy backup folder from the SD card in your phone to another, place that other card into your phone and try restoring from that card instead.
Good luck.

A "non-wipe" ROM?

Having troubles with my GSII. Need to flash a new ROM but I don't want to lose all of my contacts, messages etc. so which ROM's won't wipe the data on the phone? Or will any ROM work once I don't wipe the data manually from CWM? I'm on an old build of a Gingerbread MIUI ROM, but would flashing an ICS ROM work fine?
Need to do something - it's the last straw before I bite the bullet and buy an iPhone 4S (saving myself €680 in the process).
Backing up in CWM shows "Error while generating MD5 sum!" when it's nearly complete, backing up to the internal SD card as when I try a normal one it comes up "Error while backing up boot image" straight away. Going out to buy a 4S at around lunch time if it doesn't work so I need help quickly.
Skellyyy said:
Having troubles with my GSII. Need to flash a new ROM but I don't want to lose all of my contacts, messages etc. so which ROM's won't wipe the data on the phone? Or will any ROM work once I don't wipe the data manually from CWM? I'm on an old build of a Gingerbread MIUI ROM, but would flashing an ICS ROM work fine?
Need to do something - it's the last straw before I bite the bullet and buy an iPhone 4S (saving myself €680 in the process).
Backing up in CWM shows "Error while generating MD5 sum!" when it's nearly complete, backing up to the internal SD card as when I try a normal one it comes up "Error while backing up boot image" straight away. Going out to buy a 4S at around lunch time if it doesn't work so I need help quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it is very simple to backup your contacts/call logs/data/apps with MIUI backup, if you are moving MIUI to MIUI
it is strongly recommended to wipe your data before moving from GB to ICS.
I have solution for MD5 checksum error, if you need ask...
ZACQ8 said:
it is very simple to backup your contacts/call logs/data/apps with MIUI backup, if you are moving MIUI to MIUI
it is strongly recommended to wipe your data before moving from GB to ICS.
I have solution for MD5 checksum error, if you need ask...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well then I guess I'll flash a GB ROM so. What's the solution can I ask? I'm getting a continuous boot-loop, so unfortunately I cannot back-up via MIUI Backup.
bigboxrate said:
Just try the reverse and if it doesn't work, you may need a compulsive reboot device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean reverse? Back to stock? I would, but the computer I'm on doesn't have anything on it with relation to my SII.
Skellyyy said:
Well then I guess I'll flash a GB ROM so. What's the solution can I ask? I'm getting a continuous boot-loop, so unfortunately I cannot back-up via MIUI Backup.
What do you mean reverse? Back to stock? I would, but the computer I'm on doesn't have anything on it with relation to my SII.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
MD5 checksum error of CWM of the MIUI roms is a known issue,
solutions are:
1) flash a siyah GB kernel from CWM and reboot to its CWM and make a back up,
by default backup will be stored to external SD, make space for atleas 1.5 gb (depends on your apps size, if only few apps 1 GB is enough)
if above also is giving same treble, use the second option which worked for me nicely..
2) Download ROM manager, falsh CWM version from thata, reboot recovery from Rom manager from there make a Backup..
CWM will not read the Backup from External SD by default move your backups to internel backup forlder of Clockworkmod.
then you dowload the latest GB version MIUI, either form XDA or from MIUI sites and flash from CWM, again flash Siyah
ZACQ8 said:
MD5 checksum error of CWM of the MIUI roms is a known issue,
solutions are:
1) flash a siyah GB kernel from CWM and reboot to its CWM and make a back up,
by default backup will be stored to external SD, make space for atleas 1.5 gb (depends on your apps size, if only few apps 1 GB is enough)
if above also is giving same treble, use the second option which worked for me nicely..
2) Download ROM manager, falsh CWM version from thata, reboot recovery from Rom manager from there make a Backup..
CWM will not read the Backup from External SD by default move your backups to internel backup forlder of Clockworkmod.
then you dowload the latest GB version MIUI, either form XDA or from MIUI sites and flash from CWM, again flash Siyah
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't actually get into the phone in any way so I guess I'll have to try the kernel. Will any version of the kernel work?
Skellyyy said:
I can't actually get into the phone in any way so I guess I'll have to try the kernel. Will any version of the kernel work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are on GB version try only GB version, any GB will do....
this is the latest try this : http://gokhanmoral.desean.net/siyahkernel/v2.6/Siyah-v2.6.14-CWM.zip
flash from CWM...
ZACQ8 said:
if you are on GB version try only GB version, any GB will do....
this is the latest try this : http://gokhanmoral.desean.net/siyahkernel/v2.6/Siyah-v2.6.14-CWM.zip
flash from CWM...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Put it onto the SD card yeah? And apply update or install zip? I'm guessing zip.
Skellyyy said:
Having troubles with my GSII. Need to flash a new ROM but I don't want to lose all of my contacts, messages etc. so which ROM's won't wipe the data on the phone? Or will any ROM work once I don't wipe the data manually from CWM? I'm on an old build of a Gingerbread MIUI ROM, but would flashing an ICS ROM work fine?
Need to do something - it's the last straw before I bite the bullet and buy an iPhone 4S (saving myself €680 in the process).
Backing up in CWM shows "Error while generating MD5 sum!" when it's nearly complete, backing up to the internal SD card as when I try a normal one it comes up "Error while backing up boot image" straight away. Going out to buy a 4S at around lunch time if it doesn't work so I need help quickly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please save us time and go buy your iphone, instead of making excuses....
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
I'm fairly sure there's space on the phone. But I can't copy it over because it's saying there's zero space on the phone? As it's including the external SD card files in the total. :S
atifsh said:
Please save us time and go buy your iphone, instead of making excuses....
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please go and get out of my thread. Thanks. Mis-interpretation at its finest. If I wanted to just go ahead and buy the iPhone I would, but I don't. It's the last straw as everything else I've done has failed. You can't deny that they're the most reliable phone there is.
bootloop is the result of launcher & Themes, when I tryed to change themes I got FCs and bootloop on reboot, only worked was factory data reset and flash the same ROM zip from CWM...
but you are concerened about your apps & data, by flashing the siyah I dont think resolve bootloop issue but you may be able to make a back up from its Recovery...
since you have no access to interal SD now, copy to external SD and select kernel zip from install zip from external SD card. i hope it will work..
otherwise you will have to flash Tar version of the Siyah kernel form ODIN in download mod
ZACQ8 said:
bootloop is the result of launcher & Themes, when I tryed to change themes I got FCs and bootloop on reboot, only worked was factory data reset and flash the same ROM zip from CWM...
but you are concerened about your apps & data, by flashing the siyah I dont think resolve bootloop issue but you may be able to make a back up from its Recovery...
since you have no access to interal SD now, copy to external SD and select kernel zip from install zip from external SD card. i hope it will work..
otherwise you will have to flash Tar version of the Siyah kernel form ODIN in download mod
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Yes. I hope to just backup with Siyah. I'm currently transferring all 19GB's worth of data on my SD card to my computer in hopes that it will show up with space in Finder. This will take a while.
ZACQ8 said:
bootloop is the result of launcher & Themes, when I tryed to change themes I got FCs and bootloop on reboot, only worked was factory data reset and flash the same ROM zip from CWM...
but you are concerened about your apps & data, by flashing the siyah I dont think resolve bootloop issue but you may be able to make a back up from its Recovery...
since you have no access to interal SD now, copy to external SD and select kernel zip from install zip from external SD card. i hope it will work..
otherwise you will have to flash Tar version of the Siyah kernel form ODIN in download mod
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also I do have access to it. But only through "external SD" in the internal files.
I don't have an SD card adapter so I can't use that.
Skellyyy said:
Also I do have access to it. But only through "external SD" in the internal files.
I don't have an SD card adapter so I can't use that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
actually I dont get.....
Your phone is booted and are you able to access the phone memory throu PC, that is what you mean??
You accuse others of misinterpretation.
Which part of "help-me-fix-my-phone-or-I'll-buy -an-iphone-right-now-in-fact-during-my-lunchbreak" am I misinterpretating?
And with an attitude like yours, why should we care?
B3311 said:
You accuse others of misinterpretation.
Which part of "help-me-fix-my-phone-or-I'll-buy -an-iphone-right-now-in-fact-during-my-lunchbreak" am I misinterpretating?
And with an attitude like yours, why should we care?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite a lot. Maybe it came across as a little rude, but there's no denying that iPhone's are the most reliable smart phone on the market. Most Android phones need you to root/flash to get the most out the system, with iPhone's this isn't the case. I know they're not the best phone on the market, which doesn't delight me but I'm contempt owning one. Knowing that something is not likely to go wrong - leaving me without any of my precious data.
With my SII all that happened was the phone died, and then all of a sudden it started boot-looping, after working fine for about a month (had a similar problem before).
Not happy about being trapped into Apple's eco-system, but if that's what it takes to have a reliable phone with superb battery life then that's what I'm going to do. And once there is a jailbreak for the 4S on 5.1 I'll be doing it ASAP.
Anyway; flashed that kernel to my phone. Worked a treat, and the whole back-up was successful (changed my CWM to a touch version too lol). Thanks a lot ZACQ8.
Here's hoping that flashing a new ROM will work smoothly. If so I'm going to sell it, get the $$$, bring the 4S back (I've got 14 day cooling off period) and try out the One X.
I know I should really just be searching but I doubt I'll find a specific answer so... does anyone have suggestions for a reliable ROM?
Download 'My Phone Explorer' on your computer, being using it for two years now with no complaints, used it with a sgs2 recently.
Sent from my X10S using xda premium
Roger00 said:
Download 'My Phone Explorer' on your computer, being using it for two years now with no complaints, used it with a sgs2 recently.
Sent from my X10S using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From this website? http://www.fjsoft.at/en/
Quite a generic name for a piece of software, and does it work without actually needing access to the phone in an 'off' state? As still getting boot-loop meaning I've no chance of getting into the phone.
I expect it to not work very nicely with Mac OSX though. Really sounding like an Apple fanboy, eh?
Also, the ROM I'm looking for (quite specific) has to be 2.3 and a non-wipe ROM. Currently downloading 'XWLA4 by TugaPower'. The non-wipe version, let's hope.
Successfully flashed that ROM, getting FC's when trying to enter my contacts. So then went into CWM, tried to restore my old backup but it's saying: "MD5 mismatch!"
How exactly do I fix this to be able to flash my backup of my previous ROM?
Skellyyy said:
Successfully flashed that ROM, getting FC's when trying to enter my contacts.
Factory reset .
# Fails reflash firmware .
So then went into CWM, tried to restore my old backup but it's saying: "MD5 mismatch!"
How exactly do I fix this to be able to flash my backup of my previous ROM
Requires same version of CWM as backup taken with .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

[Q] First time installing custom ROM on S4 - Thoughts & Questions

Hi all,
This is the first time I've tried installing a custom ROM on my VZW S4 (i545) (MDK firmware. Yes, I held out on the OTA since May). I've got a few thoughts and a couple of questions I was hoping could be addressed. I consider myself familiar with flashing ROM's and whatnot, so I won't need hand-holding steps in answer to my questions.
Some info:
VZW S4
MDK Firmware
Recovery: OUDhs CWM Touch Req0very v1.0.3.5
I haven't taken any OTA since I got the phone back in May. This leads me to believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that I'm on Android 4.2.2?
Current ROM: AOKP Nightly Build for 10/31/2013 (MR2)
Thoughts: Holy hell, this ROM is BLAZING fast. I am missing a few features, but none I use regularly (I don't use any of the TouchWiz "smart" features. Damn battery hogs). I was able to flash this over and install GAPPS without any problems. Loading time is incredible, and I love how clean the interface is.
Questions:
Can anyone help me figure out why I cannot install CM10.2? Not sure if that's because I downloaded the wrong version or something, but after flashing it, the screen stays stuck at the Galaxy S4 logo and doesn't move. Maybe I didn't wait long enough, but it surely didn't move in any reasonably expected time (AOKP, by comparison, loaded probably <1 minute). Any thoughts on why this might be? I really want to try CM10.2, so perhaps I should try a different build?
Another question/concern: I downloaded a few different ROMs last night -- CM10.2, AOKP and st0ckdr0id. AOKP installed fine, CM10.2 froze up, but when I installed st0ckdr0id (after wiping out, of course), I got what I think is referred to as a kernel panic. The message was similar to "This phone has software installed on it that Verizon Wireless has determined to be unsafe. Please power off the phone and take to the nearest Verizon Wireless store for help". In the top-left corner, it had in bold RED letters "Kernel secure: FAIL" (or similar wording). I fixed this by booting back into recovery, wiping out, and then installing AOKP again. Can anyone help me understand why this happened?
Why is only ~10GB of space still available when I -thought- I wiped out everything?
What I'm really searching for is an AOSP ROM that is very clean and light, but has SOME of the TouchWiz features. Any recommendations?
My phone only shows me as having a 3G connection, where normally I have 4G LTE. Anything I can do to fix this? Is this an issue with the ROM not detecting the right kind of radio? Bug report, perhaps?
I can't mount my external_sd in my CWM anymore. Yes, I used to be able to do it at one point, because I've done an external nandroid backup to it from within CWM in the past (as of October 29th, if the date on the backups is correct). I've read in other Google searches that it has something to do with the formatting of the SD card, but I haven't removed that SD card from my phone in a few months to have adjusted anything to do with formatting. I plugged the memory card into my Linux laptop this morning while diagnosing this and got an error about an unknown exfat partition. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Stupid question: Is there a way to -completely- wipe my internal SD card clean of all my current files? I know when I "wipe" /data I can still see all of my files from the previous installation, and I'm not ballsy enough to wipe /sdcard. I guess the question that then coincides with this is if I were able to completely wipe the phone, I assume that would wipe the recovery as well?
Sorry for some of the novice questions -- I have no problem messing with my old TF300T tablet (because NVFlash will save the day), but this is my only phone, only line of communication and SOLE way for me to answer calls for work (24/7 rotating on-call), so it is VERY important to me to ask questions and not go down for more than 1 hour.
Thanks for all help guys, its much appreciated. I hope to be able to test ROMs regularly and maybe start posting video reviews or something, who knows?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
opethfan89 said:
Hi all,
This is the first time I've tried installing a custom ROM on my VZW S4 (i545) (MDK firmware. Yes, I held out on the OTA since May). I've got a few thoughts and a couple of questions I was hoping could be addressed. I consider myself familiar with flashing ROM's and whatnot, so I won't need hand-holding steps in answer to my questions.
Some info:
VZW S4
MDK Firmware
Recovery: OUDhs CWM Touch Req0very v1.0.3.5
I haven't taken any OTA since I got the phone back in May. This leads me to believe (correct me if I'm wrong) that I'm on Android 4.2.2?
Current ROM: AOKP Nightly Build for 10/31/2013 (MR2)
Thoughts: Holy hell, this ROM is BLAZING fast. I am missing a few features, but none I use regularly (I don't use any of the TouchWiz "smart" features. Damn battery hogs). I was able to flash this over and install GAPPS without any problems. Loading time is incredible, and I love how clean the interface is.
Questions:
Can anyone help me figure out why I cannot install CM10.2? Not sure if that's because I downloaded the wrong version or something, but after flashing it, the screen stays stuck at the Galaxy S4 logo and doesn't move. Maybe I didn't wait long enough, but it surely didn't move in any reasonably expected time (AOKP, by comparison, loaded probably <1 minute). Any thoughts on why this might be? I really want to try CM10.2, so perhaps I should try a different build?
Another question/concern: I downloaded a few different ROMs last night -- CM10.2, AOKP and st0ckdr0id. AOKP installed fine, CM10.2 froze up, but when I installed st0ckdr0id (after wiping out, of course), I got what I think is referred to as a kernel panic. The message was similar to "This phone has software installed on it that Verizon Wireless has determined to be unsafe. Please power off the phone and take to the nearest Verizon Wireless store for help". In the top-left corner, it had in bold RED letters "Kernel secure: FAIL" (or similar wording). I fixed this by booting back into recovery, wiping out, and then installing AOKP again. Can anyone help me understand why this happened?
Why is only ~10GB of space still available when I -thought- I wiped out everything?
What I'm really searching for is an AOSP ROM that is very clean and light, but has SOME of the TouchWiz features. Any recommendations?
My phone only shows me as having a 3G connection, where normally I have 4G LTE. Anything I can do to fix this? Is this an issue with the ROM not detecting the right kind of radio? Bug report, perhaps?
I can't mount my external_sd in my CWM anymore. Yes, I used to be able to do it at one point, because I've done an external nandroid backup to it from within CWM in the past (as of October 29th, if the date on the backups is correct). I've read in other Google searches that it has something to do with the formatting of the SD card, but I haven't removed that SD card from my phone in a few months to have adjusted anything to do with formatting. I plugged the memory card into my Linux laptop this morning while diagnosing this and got an error about an unknown exfat partition. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Stupid question: Is there a way to -completely- wipe my internal SD card clean of all my current files? I know when I "wipe" /data I can still see all of my files from the previous installation, and I'm not ballsy enough to wipe /sdcard. I guess the question that then coincides with this is if I were able to completely wipe the phone, I assume that would wipe the recovery as well?
Sorry for some of the novice questions -- I have no problem messing with my old TF300T tablet (because NVFlash will save the day), but this is my only phone, only line of communication and SOLE way for me to answer calls for work (24/7 rotating on-call), so it is VERY important to me to ask questions and not go down for more than 1 hour.
Thanks for all help guys, its much appreciated. I hope to be able to test ROMs regularly and maybe start posting video reviews or something, who knows?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow that's a lot. Let's see if we can get you answers.
1. Switch recoveries to twrp 2.5.0.2. I can't stress the importance of the particular version enough. There are others. This is absolutely the most stable. It's what the devs use. I think then your cm issue will be resolved.
Correct way to wipe with twrp.
1.wipe - >factory reset.
2. Advanced wipe - >check system, data, davlik, cache then wipe.
3. The go back to main screen and install rom.
2. Answered by answer one. Lots of people have lots of opinions about the various recoveries. All I can tell you is this is what all the devs use for their recovery. Can't argue with that.
3. Reserved space. It might say you have 16 gigs but a good size chunk is taking merely by formatting. Then the ROM and programs you have installed of course.
4. Honestly they are all freaking great. The aosp roms. You do the answer to number one and you can find out. DU is my fav @ this moment. Followed by beanstalk.
5. Go to mobile networks make sure your network mode is set to cdma +lte/evdo.
6. Answer 1.
7. You don't really want to wipe the entire internal SD card. Sounds good when you think it might screw you if you did it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Mightycaptain said:
Wow that's a lot. Let's see if we can get you answers.
1. Switch recoveries to twrp 2.5.0.2. I can't stress the importance of the particular version enough. There are others. This is absolutely the most stable. It's what the devs use. I think then your cm issue will be resolved.
Correct way to wipe with twrp.
1.wipe - >factory reset.
2. Advanced wipe - >check system, data, davlik, cache then wipe.
3. The go back to main screen and install rom.
2. Answered by answer one. Lots of people have lots of opinions about the various recoveries. All I can tell you is this is what all the devs use for their recovery. Can't argue with that.
3. Reserved space. It might say you have 16 gigs but a good size chunk is taking merely by formatting. Then the ROM and programs you have installed of course.
4. Honestly they are all freaking great. The aosp roms. You do the answer to number one and you can find out. DU is my fav @ this moment. Followed by beanstalk.
5. Go to mobile networks make sure your network mode is set to cdma +lte/evdo.
6. Answer 1.
7. You don't really want to wipe the entire internal SD card. Sounds good when you think it might screw you if you did it.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your response Mightycaptain! I used CWM as my first ever recovery and am kinda pressed on it, which is why I use it, but I have no issues going to TWRP if that means fixing my issues. Can you elaborate on how to install TWRP in place of my current CWM? I'll do some Googling in the meantime to try to find the answer myself. (I haven't done any flashing or rooting stuff since I got the phone in May!!)
Thanks for your answer in #5. Fixed the issue I was having.
My reason for wanting to wipe the entire internal SD card is there are still files, folders, logs and backups from when I had my previous ROM. I'm having issues restoring my nandroid backup from the night of the 7th so is it at all possible for me to salvage some of my settings, apps and file backups from those existing files? Once I fix my nandroid, I'm going to keep the nandroid backup in a safe place and I ideally want to have a completely clean phone to start from: That means getting rid of all those old files and other nonsense from before. Is this a possibility?
I'm going to spend my time today trying to extract data from my nandroid backups using ROM Toolbox Pro. If that doesn't work, I have a nandroid backup from the 31st that has 99% of the stuff I need so I'll try to restore that. If THAT doesn't work, then I'm going to cry myself to sleep while trying to remember all of my contacts
Wish me luck, and hopefully I can get some answers to my last few questions!
Thanks,
Opethfan89
opethfan89 said:
Thanks for your response Mightycaptain! I used CWM as my first ever recovery and am kinda pressed on it, which is why I use it, but I have no issues going to TWRP if that means fixing my issues. Can you elaborate on how to install TWRP in place of my current CWM? I'll do some Googling in the meantime to try to find the answer myself. (I haven't done any flashing or rooting stuff since I got the phone in May!!)
Thanks for your answer in #5. Fixed the issue I was having.
My reason for wanting to wipe the entire internal SD card is there are still files, folders, logs and backups from when I had my previous ROM. I'm having issues restoring my nandroid backup from the night of the 7th so is it at all possible for me to salvage some of my settings, apps and file backups from those existing files? Once I fix my nandroid, I'm going to keep the nandroid backup in a safe place and I ideally want to have a completely clean phone to start from: That means getting rid of all those old files and other nonsense from before. Is this a possibility?
I'm going to spend my time today trying to extract data from my nandroid backups using ROM Toolbox Pro. If that doesn't work, I have a nandroid backup from the 31st that has 99% of the stuff I need so I'll try to restore that. If THAT doesn't work, then I'm going to cry myself to sleep while trying to remember all of my contacts
Wish me luck, and hopefully I can get some answers to my last few questions!
Thanks,
Opethfan89
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check my post here for twrp 2.5.0.2.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47275165
You can flash it in your current recovery. It overwrites CWM. I would make sure you have a flashable for CWM just in case you need to go back for some reason. Also the backups between those 2 recoveries are not compatible. But I would nandroid with CWM before flashing twrp. I would also change were you recovery is pointing to for storage to the external SD if you haven't already. After you have cut your current backup and past it there. You can use rom toolbox pro to back up your contacts and restore it once you flash a new ROM.
Now as good advice going forward I would add your contacts to your Google account. That way when you flash new stuff or drop your phone in the toilet as soon as you add your Google account to the phone all those contacts will automatically download. But it is always a good idea to use tibu or rom toolbox pro to back up all your apps and seeing and use that after flashing roms to restore apps and settings.
But honestly I'd nandroid, move my contacts to Google, make app backups. Flash twrp. Then start flashing roms. You could be doing it in an hour. After you flash twrp make another nandroid so you have a twrp compatible backup. Then in a day or so of you are happy with everything delete the CWM backups for space.
Edit: as to extracting things from your current nandroid. Not sure if that is possible for one thing it is compressed not sure how that would work unless you are doing a full restore.
Also for future reference with TWRP. When restoring nandroid wipe like your flashing a new rom before restoring.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Mightycaptain said:
Check my post here for twrp 2.5.0.2.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=47275165
You can flash it in your current recovery. It overwrites CWM. I would make sure you have a flashable for CWM just in case you need to go back for some reason. Also the backups between those 2 recoveries are not compatible. But I would nandroid with CWM before flashing twrp. I would also change were you recovery is pointing to for storage to the external SD if you haven't already. After you have cut your current backup and past it there. You can use rom toolbox pro to back up your contacts and restore it once you flash a new ROM.
Now as good advice going forward I would add your contacts to your Google account. That way when you flash new stuff or drop your phone in the toilet as soon as you add your Google account to the phone all those contacts will automatically download. But it is always a good idea to use tibu or rom toolbox pro to back up all your apps and seeing and use that after flashing roms to restore apps and settings.
But honestly I'd nandroid, move my contacts to Google, make app backups. Flash twrp. Then start flashing roms. You could be doing it in an hour. After you flash twrp make another nandroid so you have a twrp compatible backup. Then in a day or so of you are happy with everything delete the CWM backups for space.
Edit: as to extracting things from your current nandroid. Not sure if that is possible for one thing it is compressed not sure how that would work unless you are doing a full restore.
Also for future reference with TWRP. When restoring nandroid wipe like your flashing a new rom before restoring.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks again for your quick response!! I'm glad I checked this first, because I'm in my ROM Toolbox app atm and it has an option to let me install TWRP 2.5.0.2 from within the app itself. Should I do it this way?
I will be adding all contacts to Google from now on. Unfortunately I saved all my stuff to my Verizon backup assistant so I just need one last shot at my phone to save all those contacts (manually, if I must) and be able to enter them onto the new ROM.
By "flash it in your current recovery" I assume you mean download the .zip, place it on my internal /sdcard, and then "flash" it just like I would flash a ROM, right?
I'm sure I have a "flashable" for CWM somewhere but like I said, I haven't done any of this stuff on this phone since I first bought it, and things have changed so much with everyone having OTA's and being locked out that I'm not sure what process is the same or what has changed. I can't afford to lose this phone so I'm hesitant to go balls to the wall to try things.
I will try the things you've listed here. Seems like a nandroid + TiBu + Google Contacts is my best bet to get up and running each time I decide to try a new ROM.
Thanks again!
opethfan89 said:
Hey thanks again for your quick response!! I'm glad I checked this first, because I'm in my ROM Toolbox app atm and it has an option to let me install TWRP 2.5.0.2 from within the app itself. Should I do it this way?
I will be adding all contacts to Google from now on. Unfortunately I saved all my stuff to my Verizon backup assistant so I just need one last shot at my phone to save all those contacts (manually, if I must) and be able to enter them onto the new ROM.
By "flash it in your current recovery" I assume you mean download the .zip, place it on my internal /sdcard, and then "flash" it just like I would flash a ROM, right?
I'm sure I have a "flashable" for CWM somewhere but like I said, I haven't done any of this stuff on this phone since I first bought it, and things have changed so much with everyone having OTA's and being locked out that I'm not sure what process is the same or what has changed. I can't afford to lose this phone so I'm hesitant to go balls to the wall to try things.
I will try the things you've listed here. Seems like a nandroid + TiBu + Google Contacts is my best bet to get up and running each time I decide to try a new ROM.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Understand the hesitancy completely. But with nodding comes risk. It is always about whether you can accept the worst possible outcome.
Rom toolbox pro flashing recovery? I don't know never tried it.
Yes I would download the recovery. Leave it on SD card reboot to recovery and flash like a rom.
Yes nandroid tibu and saving your contacts to Google is the quickest way to get up and running again.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Mightycaptain said:
Understand the hesitancy completely. But with nodding comes risk. It is always about whether you can accept the worst possible outcome.
Rom toolbox pro flashing recovery? I don't know never tried it.
Yes I would download the recovery. Leave it on SD card reboot to recovery and flash like a rom.
Yes nandroid tibu and saving your contacts to Google is the quickest way to get up and running again.
Sent from my SCH-I545 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mighty, just wanted to report that flashing TWRP 2.5.0.2 from within ROM Toolbox Pro worked like a charm. I'm on TWRP as we speak.
Thank you so much for your responses. If anyone else has anything to add, or a different response to my questions, please do so! In the meantime, I'm going to try to figure out how to get my nandroid backup working...
Cheers!
*EDIT* Made a backup with TWRP (whose interface is bloody phenomenal, btw), flashed CWM and its working like a charm!! Going to try the st0ckdr0id one as well. Still working on getting that nandroid working so I can recover my stuff and get to customizing!

[Q] Excuse me, how would i create a NOT-bootlooping backup with Philz 5?

First of all, sorry if my question is one of many repetitions, but i just want to make sure i'm doing all well
So, a week ago, i decided to stop flashing custom roms since i never got satisfied with any of them...mainly because i always lose some of the samsung goodies such as smart stay, Settings Menu Layout or even if the included stock samsung camera were missing the default 'long-press to multiple shots' ability. So i'll keep the stock S3 JB 4.1.2 rom, but i installed siyah kernel to have more control over the low-system settings.
At an initial point, i thought that my phone would be safe if i didn't play with several custom/aosp roms everyday..., but i've encountered many apps that say they could break or bootloop my device, so i don't want to live a 'don't touch anything' life because i think that would be really boring and i just want to get my S3 to my very own 'best' state.
Now, the last (well, the ONLY) time i tried to make a nandroid backup, i was using the philz_touch_5.06.1 recovery for GT-i9300, but...since then, i'm afraid of nandroid backups...
The problem is that the phone got into bootloop, but for me it was ridiculous, because that happened JUST AFTER the completion of the backup, i admit that i before i went into the custom nandroid backup settings and checked the option 'backup /preload'..., do u think that was the problem? i feel like every noob that ticks something without even knowing what is it about..., forgive me plz.
Now, my phone is working ok, but i would like to make a full backup (including kernel if possible) just without getting into bootloop, so, what would you recommend? swithing back to the original CWM? which options may i disable/enable before making the backup?
I would test it by myself, but i'm afraid of having to reinstall everything again...
Ahh, and just another question..., i got a 32gb microsd Class 10, so i would like to use 'ExtSd2InternalSd' solution to automatically install big games and other involved things to the extSd and leave the IntSd just to record FullHd and maybe, a litte bit of swap, would this procedure break the corresponding External/Internal Sd/storage in Philz? (or CWM : P). For example, i don't know if after this, i would try to format the internal sdcard and philz would just format the external one...
So, here are my system specs:
ROM: (Stock) I9300UBEMH2_I9300UVOEMH1_ARO (from Argentina)
Android version: 4.1.2
Kernel: Siyah Kernel 1.9.1
Recovery: philz_touch_5.06.1-i9300
Thanks in advance!
Nandroid via Philz
recovery
backup and restore
backup to ext sd card
JJEgan said:
Nandroid via Philz
recovery
backup and restore
backup to ext sd card
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! It worked, i've made a full backup to external sd and then restored it, the phone (at least within the same rom) boots ok
Sorry for taking too long to reply but i've been a little busy editing some shots made with the phone. Thanks again, really!

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