Ok, I gotta be a noob for a second. I've been married to this message board since Thanksgiving when I got my Rezound, I've read nearly every word written over the last week since we got unlock/ root..... but I am lost on one thing....
What is this boot.img file all about? There is a lot of talk about how to flash it, but I am not clear on when or why you need it. It sounds like it's part of the ROM zip file, but I'm running BAMF and it does not contain a boot.img file, and it doesn't appear that it was needed in this case since everything is working.
Can someone hook me up with a quick 101 course on this file?
Basically that file is the kernel of the OS.
The big deal with it is the fact that we can not flash the file directly as part of the normal ROM flashing procedure. This is because we do not have S=off. No ROMs for the Rezound will include a boot.img in the .zip, other devices with S=off will have the boot.img
This means that whenever we flash a ROM, the kernel is untouched by the ROM flash, we must then use fastboot to flash the kernel necessary for the ROM.
This isn't a big deal for ROMs strictly based on the stock ROM. Just flash the ROM and go, you can even switch between stock based ROMs with no problem or need to flash the kernel. (as long as you have not flashed a different kernel)
Now if the ROM is stock based but uses a kernel different than the stock kernel, you must flash the kernel it comes with after you flash the ROM.
This goes for any ROMs not stock based as well. AOSP, MIUI, and others will need to have a separate boot.img file available for download that you will need to flash in fastboot in order for the ROM to boot.
The real problem comes when you want to run a custom kernel (One that did not come with the ROM originally, or not purposely designed for the ROM you are using) This is because there are files within the ROM itself that are unique to the kernel being used. If you want to use a custom kernel then you must alter these files to be compatible with the new kernel. you then must flash those files into the ROM before you flash the new kernel.
Luckily we have a new tool that can do this for us, but the process is still a pain.
Marine6680 said:
Basically that file is the kernel of the OS.
The big deal with it is the fact that we can not flash the file directly as part of the normal ROM flashing procedure. This is because we do not have S=off. No ROMs for the Rezound will include a boot.img in the .zip, other devices with S=off will have the boot.img
This means that whenever we flash a ROM, the kernel is untouched by the ROM flash, we must then use fastboot to flash the kernel necessary for the ROM.
This isn't a big deal for ROMs strictly based on the stock ROM. Just flash the ROM and go, you can even switch between stock based ROMs with no problem or need to flash the kernel. (as long as you have not flashed a different kernel)
Now if the ROM is stock based but uses a kernel different than the stock kernel, you must flash the kernel it comes with after you flash the ROM.
This goes for any ROMs not stock based as well. AOSP, MIUI, and others will need to have a separate boot.img file available for download that you will need to flash in fastboot in order for the ROM to boot.
The real problem comes when you want to run a custom kernel (One that did not come with the ROM originally, or not purposely designed for the ROM you are using) This is because there are files within the ROM itself that are unique to the kernel being used. If you want to use a custom kernel then you must alter these files to be compatible with the new kernel. you then must flash those files into the ROM before you flash the new kernel.
Luckily we have a new tool that can do this for us, but the process is still a pain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Man This Information Is Greatly Appreciated. I Definitely Had The Right Idea In My Head And Now You've Clarified That For Me And Anyone Else Who's Wondering.
Much thanks Marine, that's exactly what I was looking for. My confusion has been alleviated... for now at least....
I have just bought an SGS2 to replace my HTC Desire.
I rooted it using SuperOneClick. It seemed to work, I can run apps requiring root now.
But the very first thing I want to do is make a nandroid backup of the phone in it's out of box state (or as close to). Is it possible?
On Desire you had to root first, then install a custom recovery such as CWM, and then do a nandroid backup from there. So I guess I will have to install CWM. But googling tells me that on the SGS2 I have to replace the entire kernel to get a new recovery, is that right? And how do I do that?
If the only way to make a nandroid backup is to install a new kernel, I guess the backup will contain the new kernel. Is it possible to go back to the out of box state with the original kernel and original recovery and no root etc.?
pinkfloydhomer said:
I have just bought an SGS2 to replace my HTC Desire.
I rooted it using SuperOneClick. It seemed to work, I can run apps requiring root now.
But the very first thing I want to do is make a nandroid backup of the phone in it's out of box state (or as close to). Is it possible?
On Desire you had to root first, then install a custom recovery such as CWM, and then do a nandroid backup from there. So I guess I will have to install CWM. But googling tells me that on the SGS2 I have to replace the entire kernel to get a new recovery, is that right? And how do I do that?
If the only way to make a nandroid backup is to install a new kernel, I guess the backup will contain the new kernel. Is it possible to go back to the out of box state with the original kernel and original recovery and no root etc.?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just flash any of these and you'll get Super User, Busy Box, CWM, CWM Manager
CF-Root For Stock
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=14283369#post14283369
Siyah Kernel (Custom)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1263838
Speed Mod
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182498
Flash em via Odin and you'll have CWM take a backup and you are good to flash any custom ROM
Just take note what your stock firmware and kernel is and if you ever need to send off to Samsung you can just flash back to stock using intratechs stock rom thread
Sent from my Galaxy S II using xda premium
Hi everyone. I'm running Galaxy Ace, stock ROM Android 2.3.4
Never flashed a custom ROM before, so be gentle.
Phone already rooted (I have the superuser icon)
From reading threads here at xda, I have download these 3:
1. ClockWorkModAce.zip
2. recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.6-galaxyace-fix.zip
3. GT-I9100_ClockworkMod-Recovery_4.0.0.2.tar
I'm guessing number 3 is not for galaxy ace, right? So that leaves 1 and 2.
QUESTIONS:
1. Are 1 and 2 essentially the same thing? Which do you suggest I use?
2. These two files are on my laptop. Should I simply copy either one of them to my phone's sd card, turn off phone, boot into recovery by pressing home and power button simultaneously, select "Apply update from sd card", then select either ClockWorkModAce.zip or recovery-clockwork-5.0.2.6-galaxyace-fix.zip?
3. After installing either of the two files, and rebooting, would "nandroid" be on my phone then?
4. I believe nandroid backs up EVERYTHING into sd card (recovery image, right?). Can I then copy it to my thumb drive or laptop so I can erase it from the sd card?
5. If I want to get back to my stock ROM, is it done by booting into the custom recovery (like the clockworkmod) and selecting an option there?
6. After going back to stock ROM, how would I go back to stock recovery too?
7. For clarification, when you guys are saying cwm or clockworkmod, do you mean ROM Manager? Because a lot of guys are warning me against it! I just found out clockworkmod is the name of the developer, not the app.
8. From the ROM Manager page at market.android.com ,
Samsung users: You must flash a Clockwork compatible kernel first (see XDA forums)
Is this really necessary?? So much prerequisites! =P
9. Should I install ICS Beta Full on my Galaxy Ace Android 2.3.4???
10. Already rooted, so how much time will it take from installing cwm to installing the custom ROM? I want to know so I won't panic
11. If I install cwm, does the recovery automatically becomes the custom recovery?
12. What does a full wipe mean and do I do it with the stock recovery or with the custom recovery?
Please be as detailed as possible, and use small words.
Appreciate it guys!
Thanks a lot!
first zip is for cwm4 official one
second is cwm5.. i personally prefer cwm4 as had no problems with it
cwm5 failed to take backup when i tried to several times
and i have flashed all roms that claims to do it with cwm5 with cwm4 with no problems at all
you can copy backup images to laptop but DO NOT modify names of any folder as it will result in mismatch of md5 so copy directly folder as it is without modification
ROM MANAGER IS ***** DO NOT INSTALL ON SGA or else you loose your device damn
you can flash it on stock kernel as well
if you want to go back to stock rom from restoring backup then your backup must be taken after converting filesystem to ext4 or else it will fail..
so before backing up flash cf-root and convert fs to ext4 to save time of flashing stock from odin and then restoring backups
thats your option to install cm9 on phone as its not stable and needs many changes at this time.. if you are ok with bugs then you can
1. yes u should delete it. judging by the name its for sgs2, would brick ur phone instantly if flashing that one.
2. i dont really sure about cwm 5.0.2.6 (ur second file) either it can be flash from stock recovery or not but the cwm 4.0.0.6 (ur 1st file) definitely can. and i think its "install zip from sdcard" in stock recovery to flash it.
3. yes.
4. yes, its located in /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup.
5. yes.
6. by flashing stock rom via odin.
7. nope. here if we said cwm or clockworkmod, its referring to the recovery itself (clockworkmod recovery). rom manager is different thing, a tool used to flash cwm or rom. and yes, u should avoid it as countless sga already bricked because of it. and yes, clockworkmod is nickname of the guy who created it and named it as clockworkmod recovery, and here we just called it cwm.
8. again, avoid using rom manager
and u probably wanna read this
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/what-is-clockworkmod-recovery-and-how-to-use-it-on-android-complete-guide/
1.First one is official CWM recovery..Its v4..Second one is unofficial CWM recovery..Its v5..I didnt have any problem with them both..But,you should not rename the backups you take with cwm5,it will give you a md5 mismatch error when you do that..
2.Yes..Just copy the file to the sd card
3.Nandroid is a feature of CWM...So,yes.When you flash cwm,you get Nandroid backup
4.Yes...It backsup everything on your phone.But as amit said,Dont rename them
5.By stock,if what you mean is,an untouched Firmware,like the one you got from the factory..Yes..But if you are going to flash any roms,it may convert the system partition to ext4,which will result in a bootloop if you try to restore the stock you have now.So,a better option will be to flash with Odin
6.If you go back to stock,you would still have cwm as your recovery..If you want your stock recovery back,you will have to do a flash with Odin(But,trust me,You will never feel to go back to a complete stock rom and the stock recovery after you start playing around with the other cm7 roms
7.CWM is a recovery..ROM Manager is an application..ClockWorkMod recovery is not a developer..Koushik Dutta is the developer of both CWM recovery and Rom Manager..If you have any thought about using ROM manager,then i suggest that you clean that thought because ROM manager does NOT support Galaxy Ace and if you use ROM manager to flash a rom,you are going to BRICK your device
8.Nothing like that,from what i know.I never flashed any kernel Right after i rooted my ace,i flashed cwm recovery..I didnt do anything else
9.Its your choice..The Myth Ics is an awesome rom
phew....
Prawesome said:
1.First one is official CWM recovery..Its v4..Second one is unofficial CWM recovery..Its v5..I didnt have any problem with them both..But,you should not rename the backups you take with cwm5,it will give you a md5 mismatch error when you do that..
2.Yes..Just copy the file to the sd card
3.Nandroid is a feature of CWM...So,yes.When you flash cwm,you get Nandroid backup
4.Yes...It backsup everything on your phone.But as amit said,Dont rename them
5.By stock,if what you mean is,an untouched Firmware,like the one you got from the factory..Yes..But if you are going to flash any roms,it may convert the system partition to ext4,which will result in a bootloop if you try to restore the stock you have now.So,a better option will be to flash with Odin
6.If you go back to stock,you would still have cwm as your recovery..If you want your stock recovery back,you will have to do a flash with Odin(But,trust me,You will never feel to go back to a complete stock rom and the stock recovery after you start playing around with the other cm7 roms
7.CWM is a recovery..ROM Manager is an application..ClockWorkMod recovery is not a developer..Koushik Dutta is the developer of both CWM recovery and Rom Manager..If you have any thought about using ROM manager,then i suggest that you clean that thought because ROM manager does NOT support Galaxy Ace and if you use ROM manager to flash a rom,you are going to BRICK your device
8.Nothing like that,from what i know.I never flashed any kernel Right after i rooted my ace,i flashed cwm recovery..I didnt do anything else
9.Its your choice..The Myth Ics is an awesome rom
phew....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you want to backupp your stock original firmware and want to restore wit cwm
download cf root
and then use ext4 manager
to convert system to ext4
then wen done you can backupp your stock original rom
and restore it with no problems ( ive used this a lot )
======================
SGSII styled rom
for galaxy ace
======================
The Serious MOD V1
fir galaxy ace
======================
The Serious MOD V0
for galaxy gio
======================
made by Robinandroid
about number 5 and using odin in general
Hi. Thanks a lot guys for your effort in helping out a newbie.
I'm a bit confused about using odin. Is odin like the "safer" way to flash ROMs?
I know I can flash a ROM via booting into recovery, then "install update from sd card", and selecting the ROM. Does Odin do the same thing? When exactly should Odin be used? Only when I want to go back to my original stock firmware AND the original/stock recovery?
Thanks!
As far I know, ODIN is only for flashing stock ROM's.
And well, even if it can be used to flash custom rom's,please do not use it. ODIN can brick your phone. Flashing via recovery is the most safest way
further clarification
Hey guys, thanks a lot. Please clear these up for me:
1. If I am now on stock ROM (never flashed a custom ROM before), then I flash a custom ROM like TheMyth ICS Beta 2 Full, and wish to go back to my stock ROM (which was backed up with clockworkmod recovery), do I simply boot into cwm recovery and restore the stock ROM or do I use Odin?
2. If I am now on stock ROM (never flashed a custom ROM before), then I flash a custom ROM like TheMyth ICS Beta 2 Full, and wish to try another custom ROM like cyanogenMod, should I just flash cyanogenMod with cwm recovery? Meaning, from TheMyth ICS Beta 2 Full straight to CyanogenMod via cwm recovery? Or do I have to go back to stock ROM, as well as stock recovery, by using Odin, and then flash cyangogenMod via stock recovery?
3. If I am now on stock ROM and wish to upgrade to an official android version thru samfirmware.com, do I simply flash it with the stock recovery or do I have to use Odin?
Thanks a lot guys!
1- yes
2- yes, straight away. no need to go to stock rom
3- odin
Hi
I have ics and i am going to install gb kernel&rom
I will make back up in my recovery now .. When i install the new gb kernel & rom can i restore all thing or i need to flash my current ics kernel to restore my current system and all thing ?
To restore an ICS firmware, you only need a Recovery. You can restore the backup from Gingerbread, but then don't forget to flash ICS kernel, otherwise the phone won't boot properly
Would the following work as a way to try out, for example Cyanogenmod 10. I am currently running a 4.1.2 install (pretty much stock just rooted/cwm via Philz as per the tutorial). I have a complete backup made via Philz recovery of this rom along with the kernel (which I believe is still stock from that) and efs.
1) Install a custom kernel (eg. dorimanx 9.x?) via the Philz recovery.
2) Install cm-10.2-20140102-NIGHTLY-i9100.zip.
3) To return to the original rom, reflash the original kernel (with whatever CWM is included in dorimanx) - then reflash the backed up rom via the same recovery?
I hope this is clear enough a question.
I believe you have to flash a stock rom through Odin, to return to complete stock. Just flashing a stock kernel isn't enough, and is surely not going to work (so don't do it).There are also tutorials how to remove the yellow triangle afterwards.
Please correct me if I'm wrong
Donnie Sins said:
I believe you have to flash a stock rom through Odin, to return to complete stock. Just flashing a stock kernel isn't enough, and is surely not going to work (so don't do it).There are also tutorials how to remove the yellow triangle afterwards.
Please correct me if I'm wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the part I'm most unsure of. Ideally I'm trying to figure out the process that lets me go from CM10.2 (and whatever recovery) to the point I am running the backed up rom rooted with PhilZ-cwm6-XWLSW-XEU-5.06.1-signed.zip again. Very confused on how to do so.
TopherBrink said:
This is the part I'm most unsure of. Ideally I'm trying to figure out the process that lets me go from CM10.2 (and whatever recovery) to the point I am running the backed up rom rooted with PhilZ-cwm6-XWLSW-XEU-5.06.1-signed.zip again. Very confused on how to do so.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Topher,
If you have rooted and cwm via philz, you already have a modified kernel installed. I believe the philz-cwm6 should be as close to stock kernel with the CWM incorporated. You don't need to add another kernel, because it will be replaced when you install the custom ROM. You should just be able to flash the cm10.2 via philz or via odin. You can then flash the dormanix kernel if you want - can't comment on that kernel - or if it has cwm included.
I would also suggest that you consider backing up you /efs folder (one with you imei information etc) prior to flashing any custom roms. People have been using hcKtool to do the backups and also an actual copy as well.
Depending on the custom rom, you may have connection problems with your network. So you may want to consider keeping a copy of your modem.bin file from your stock rom handy in case you need to flash onto the custom rom.
If you want to go back to stock, then you just need to flash the stock rom - you can check sammobile website for your stock rom or use the backup that you made.
I should point out that I have yet to do any of the above - I gathered this from reading the forums. Some more experienced forum users can add corrections. I rooted my phone a couple of months ago and now considering installing custom rom in the next couple of months.
Thanks.
if u flash a custom rom (cm10.2 for example), it already included kernel as well. so if u want to try out other custom kernel, i can flash it after you are done flashing a custom rom but make sure it is compatible with your android version. (u cant use custom kernel that not support android 4.3 with a custom rom running android 4.3)