So i'm pretty noob with all this stuff but i finally decided to try flashing my phone and, in the end, ended up with a "bricked" (or the extent a vibrant can be bricked) phone. Thanks in advance for the advice.
what i did
I followed the flashing guide in the sticky post "** GUIDE - TIPS - TRICKS ** Last Update 12/03/10 ** READ BEFORE ASKING" and everything worked great. I downloaded Rom manager, made a nandroid backup of my stock rom, flashed it with bionix fusion and everything worked great. I didn't do the titanium backup and there was an app that i needed to use the next day so on the way to work, i decided to restore back to the stock thinking that i could go back for the day, use the apps that i needed and when i got home got home, back up my apps with titanium back up and restore again back to the bionix fusion. So i did that. I went to rom manager and I first backed up my bionix fusion rom and then tried to recover my stock rom. When the phone restarted, it didn't go past the vibrant/samsung screen.
The question...
what went wrong? based on some reading i think it has something to do with the kernel but i'm not really sure.
but the real question is, how do i avoid from this happening again? did i do the recovery wrong? what's the best way to unbrick my phone back to stock without losing any data on the phone. is it possible????
at this point, i can go into download mode. what should be my next move?
Thank you again if you can provide any insight.
*edit*
So looking at some posts, I looks like I need to flash the stock kernel. can anyone tell me how to flash just the kernel using odin? I've never used it and I can't seem to find anything on flashing just the kernel. Thank you.
Problem SOLVED!
ok. not completely solved T_T.
What i've done.
I've flashed back to stock vibrant firmware and that works fine. When i try to restore my nandroid backup, and it reboots, I get stuck back to the same place i was. I made two nandroid backups and tried them both but neither of them work. am i doing it wrong? I have even re-rooted my vibrant and downloaded rom manager again and tried it through there and still get the problem. have tried it about 4 times now with no luck.
Again, any help is appreciated.
Nandroid doesnt replace the kernal
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Exactly, nandroid doesn't replace the kernel. If you want to run a nandroid restore, you have to either flash the rom the nandroid was created on, then restore (safest imho), or flash a compatible kernel for the rom from which your nandroid was created, then run your nandroid restore.
Sent from my Vibrant running Macnut R13 w/JK6 Modem and Black Froyo
Pretty sure this was in the sticky too
followed this thread back in november when i first got the phone(its the first thread in the "thread roll-up sticky") : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=798064
Back then it was much different and said to get voodoo. Everything went fine and I havent seen a reason to update my phone.
Now I want to update to whatever the newest stuff is. I guess we have 2.2 by now? I dont need a lot of stuff. I probably didnt need voodoo. But on my current version things have started to get really glitchy and slow and GPS will not find my location at all.
I also froze the verizon auto update program or whatever its called because they kept trying to update my phone OTA. I dont like that.
What steps do I need to do in order to get up to date and not lose all my stuff on my phone?
I think this really depends on what YOU feel up to date is for YOU.
Plenty of people could push a custom ROM and all its shiny bells and whistles but from the onset you seem like you would just be happy with a functioning stock ROM (perhaps a debloated and debinged one).
I would read through the few ROMs we have, including the latest 2.2 stock ROM and figure out what you would like. Find out if you want a custom kernel or just an easy set and forget one, voodoo or non.
I'll do my best at a suggestion here before I tackle the next part of your post.
I would go here --> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1013312
Grab one of the stock ED01 or EC01 (read the bugs n such if you like, basically the same thing) ROM and radio ODIN packages and follow the guide to flashing with ODIN. Grab Imnuts stock voltage PBJ kernel and just keep it vanilla.
**The above will require the use of ODIN and CWR(clockwork recovery MOD)**
Now the "not lose" part of your question. This depends on what you mean by lose. ( I feel like Clinton and his definition of what "it" is....). If you backup with google and/or titanium backup you are pretty much in the clear. Aside from losing maybe a login or some preferences you will not lose any hard data (pics, contacts, apps....etc)
Read all the steps before you do anything. Also, you will need Odin. Just search for it in the forums (or Google) and you should be able to find it.
What you want to do is flash CWM 3 by following this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046905
Then, you should go and backup your stuff with Titanium Backup (get it at the market). Backup contacts with Google.
Get the new radio from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097355 I would go for ED01.
Download ComRom 2.0 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1108991) to your SD Card. I recommended getting a version with a kernel either pbj or otb kernel.
Next, boot to Clockwork Mod (press volume up and down and power) and make a nandroid backup there. (Select the backup option in the menu).
Now, after every thing is backed up, wipe data, clear cache, clear dalvik (under advanced menu I think).
Finally, flash the ComRom by selecting the zip from the sdcard.
Now, as a warning, you will lose the stuff on your phone which is why you made backups. DO NOT flash the nandroid (CMW) backup. That is for if you go back to stock. DO use Titanium Backup and your Google account to get MOST of your stuff back. Everything stored on your SD Card should be safe.
If anything that I said is wrong, xda please correct me, but I've done it a few times... this is roughly what I did, and it worked for me.
EDIT: gkirby11 beat me to it.
I would agree with the previous suggestions, and would add that you should use Titanium Backup to backup all your user apps+data. Do not, however, use it to backup/restore system data, because this has been shown in many cases to be the cause of force closes, and other headaches.
I am thanking you for your great username, Art Vandelay. I assume that is a Seinfeld reference to the importer/exporter.
jptech7 said:
Read all the steps before you do anything. Also, you will need Odin. Just search for it in the forums (or Google) and you should be able to find it.
What you want to do is flash CWM 3 by following this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046905
Then, you should go and backup your stuff with Titanium Backup (get it at the market). Backup contacts with Google.
Get the new radio from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097355 I would go for ED01.
Download ComRom 2.0 (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1108991) to your SD Card. I recommended getting a version with a kernel either pbj or otb kernel.
Next, boot to Clockwork Mod (press volume up and down and power) and make a nandroid backup there. (Select the backup option in the menu).
Now, after every thing is backed up, wipe data, clear cache, clear dalvik (under advanced menu I think).
Finally, flash the ComRom by selecting the zip from the sdcard.
Now, as a warning, you will lose the stuff on your phone which is why you made backups. DO NOT flash the nandroid (CMW) backup. That is for if you go back to stock. DO use Titanium Backup and your Google account to get MOST of your stuff back. Everything stored on your SD Card should be safe.
If anything that I said is wrong, xda please correct me, but I've done it a few times... this is roughly what I did, and it worked for me.
EDIT: gkirby11 beat me to it.
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Click to collapse
Okay, I sat here for the past hour trying to get caught up to date before I ask my questions. I only use this site like once a month and there is always new stuff here. I already have odin on my laptop cause I needed it for the tutorial that I linked in the OP
1)I have Rom Manager(v4.3.1.3) and under RECOVERY It says "current Recovery:ClockworkMod 2.5.1.0" and "Latest: ClockworkMod 3.0.0.8. Does this change step one as you posted?
2)I have titanium backup and have used it to freeze some of the bloatware. I do not know how to backup anything with it though. where do the backup files sit anyways until I am ready to put them back on my updated phone?
3)Can I go strait to ED01 from where I am now(DI01--was a few months after phone was released) Or do I have to work my way up through the other updates? What order do they go?
I dont even know what this step is, lol. Radio???
4)I will get the 1.5 OTB voodoo kernal. also, I noticed this roms stup looks like adwlauncher or whatever that other launcher is. Right now i use launcherpro, which i like more. I hate touchwiz. can I still use launcherpro on here?
5)I am guessing this part would be self explanatory once I got to it, but I might as well ask just in case, what is a nandroid backup?
6)Where do I go to complete these functions?
7)Do I just select it using a file browser like astro????
I thought that I had to remove voodoo before I did any of these steps??
What about the bloatware that I have frozen? The only reason I did that was because i was told to so in the tutorial that i linked in the OP . It said I will need them if I ever update.
Thanks for your help guys!!
1. CMW 2.x is fine.
2. Open Titanium, click the backup/restore tab at the top. Now press the menu button (left to your home button), click batch. Now, select RUN next to Backup all User Apps. It will then back them up to your SD Card.
3. Go through the steps listed in the tutorial. You will step through a couple radios to get to ED01
4. It uses the gingerbread launcher (made by google, but it is modified by TSM), but yes, you can use whatever launcher you want on almost any ROM.
5. A nandroid backup is made in Clockwork Mod, and it backs up the system & all your apps & data. If you want to go back to stock, you can flash the stock ROM and then restore this backup, and it will be exactly how it is right now.
6. These functions are in Clockwork Mod Recovery. Hold Volume Up, Volume Down, and Power to get to CWM.
7. No, you select the option in Clockwork Mod. It is something like choose zip from sd card. From there you navigate the SD card looking for the zip file with ComRom.
As a tip, to navigate CWM, use the volume keys to go up and down in the lists and the power button to select an option. Use the menu button to go back to the last list. When you are done, select reboot & cross your fingers.
If you have voodoo, OTB is also voodooo, so you are fine (*should be fine*).
Your bloatware will "disappear". You won't have to freeze it ever again. ComRom doesn't have any of the bing, vzw bloat, etc.
Good Luck & if at first you don't succeed, flash, flash again! For the worst mistakes, Heimdal and Odin work wonders.
Sorry if I miss something but first off try and stay away from rom manager, many people have been having issues with it.
ED01 is what verizon released to us as the official ota. EC01 is one that developers created from the mesmerize I believe. I don't think there's much of a difference between the two. Getting ED01 takes a bit more work as you have to return to stock and ota all the way up through 3g and it takes a bit.
If you're already on voodoo I think you shouldn't have any problems flashing a rom with a packaged voodoo kernel such as otb.
What I would do since you already have a recovery is download a zipped CWM 3.x and place it on your sd. Then download the rom of choice, recommend com rom or evil fascination if you're not going to flash much, they come with voodoo kernels.
Hop on odin and flash the EC01 radio. Boot into recovery and flash CWM 3.x. wipe data, cache, and dalvik. Flash the rom. After backing up of course.
Someone correct me if I'm wrong. Hope this helps
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
Sent from my SCH-I500 using Tapatalk
jptech7 said:
I am thanking you for your great username, Art Vandelay. I assume that is a Seinfeld reference to the importer/exporter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep- most people i work with are too young to get that.
bangdrum said:
Sorry if I miss something but first off try and stay away from rom manager, many people have been having issues with it.
ED01 is what verizon released to us as the official ota. EC01 is one that developers created from the mesmerize I believe. I don't think there's much of a difference between the two. Getting ED01 takes a bit more work as you have to return to stock and ota all the way up through 3g and it takes a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I would stay away from ROM Manager. Just boot into CWM.
Also, if you follow the step in the forum post that I linked, you can get ED01 without going back to stock and ota-ing. They have extracted the upgrade packages, so you just have to flash two or three packages to get to ED01. Really though either EC01, ED01, or ED03 should be fine.
Once I boot into clockwork mod I dont get an option for Nandroid backup
this is what I get:
Android system recovery <2e>
Samsung recovery Utils
--For BML--
Reboot system now
apply sdcard:update.zip
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
E: Can't mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p1
(invalid argument)
#MANUAL MODE#
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the exclamation marker and the little android guy. I am affraid to click anything else so I just rebooted the phone and now i am stuck. I started here because this was the first step to do in the tutorial.
also, for me, to select anything in CWM, I need to press the home button, not the power button.
wut do?
You don't have CWM installed then.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
If you can boot into android. Make your titanium backups and google backups. Then, get one of the all in one packages for odin and flash it.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
jptech7 said:
If you can boot into android. Make your titanium backups and google backups. Then, get one of the all in one packages for odin and flash it.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what if i just flashed CWM like you said to do in your original post? Even if its a few extra steps or whatever, it makes it easier for me because I have that list and a tutorial you linked to go off of
fupamobile said:
Once I boot into clockwork mod I dont get an option for Nandroid backup
this is what I get:
With the exclamation marker and the little android guy. I am affraid to click anything else so I just rebooted the phone and now i am stuck. I started here because this was the first step to do in the tutorial.
also, for me, to select anything in CWM, I need to press the home button, not the power button.
wut do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are booted into the stock Samsung recovery, not CWM. This is why the home key works instead of the power button.
Flash this recovery via Odin if you're on voodoo: (or want to get on voodoo)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/36791/CWM3_Voodoo.tar.md5
Or, use this if non-voodoo: (use .tar file)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=942021
Once Odin is done, it will power down the phone. Unplug, reinsert battery and boot into CWM by holding vol up, vol down, and power at the same time, continue holding until CWM appears. Go to backup/restore.
artvandelay440 said:
You are booted into the stock Samsung recovery, not CWM. This is why the home key works instead of the power button.
Flash this recovery via Odin if you're on voodoo: (or want to get on voodoo)
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/36791/CWM3_Voodoo.tar.md5
Or, use this if non-voodoo: (use .tar file)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=942021
Once Odin is done, it will power down the phone. Unplug, reinsert battery and boot into CWM by holding vol up, vol down, and power at the same time, continue holding until CWM appears. Go to backup/restore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is wierd to me though. because when i first got the phone I thought I had done all that already. I followed the tutorial in the OP but this was in november and it was much different then. what that tutorial accomplished was getting rid of bloat, adding voodoo, getting root, installing CWM via Odin, adding launcherpro. I know I did SOMETHING right because my boot animation changed, touchwiz was gone, the bloat was gone, and I have root. but thats all I know that I did........
fupamobile said:
this is wierd to me though. because when i first got the phone I thought I had done all that already. I followed the tutorial in the OP but this was in november and it was much different then. what that tutorial accomplished was getting rid of bloat, adding voodoo, getting root, installing CWM via Odin, adding launcherpro. I know I did SOMETHING right because my boot animation changed, touchwiz was gone, the bloat was gone, and I have root. but thats all I know that I did........
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you heard the robotic android lady during install, then you have ext4 file system enabled (aka voodoo). If you don't remember, you can use voodoo control from the market to check if you have etx4 lagfix enabled. If you can't install this, your kernel isn't compatible. I recommend imnuts' PB&J kernels here. Stick with sv (stock voltage) if you aren't familiar with undervolting/overclocking.
http://sites.google.com/a/imnuts.net/android/kernels
If you are on the stock kernel, that can sometimes overwrite CWM. You have to boot directly into CWM after Odin to avoid it. Make your backups and flash ComRom then. Then CWM will stay, and you will have a ROM installed... with Voodoo nonetheless.
You can also get an ODIN package for a ROM. Look at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1048380 and get one of the Community Rom ones that wipes data. Make your Titanium,etc. backups, and then Odin that. Then update to the latest ComRom, and make sure to always wipe data, cache, and dalvik. That could be easier for you to do if you are fine with Odin.
artvandelay440 said:
If you heard the robotic android lady during install, then you have ext4 file system enabled (aka voodoo). If you don't remember, you can use voodoo control from the market to check if you have etx4 lagfix enabled. If you can't install this, your kernel isn't compatible. I recommend imnuts' PB&J kernels here. Stick with sv (stock voltage) if you aren't familiar with undervolting/overclocking.
http://sites.google.com/a/imnuts.net/android/kernels
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Click to collapse
yes i definitely heard that lady. so i have voodoo. but i dont have CWM??
so does that mean i can start from step one in the original post that jptech posted in this thread?
thanx guys for your help. i know im probably being a little difficult. i just dont want to screw up my phone.
Personally, no offense.. but it seems that you are having issues with CMW. I too had a disappearing CWM. The easiest route would be to backup what you can with Titanium, Google, etc. Then, use one of the all-in-one Odin ROM packages that I posted. Download one that wipes data, and you will start fresh with ComRom, a new kernel, and CWM. From there, feel free to flash another ROM from CWM. Just remember to wipe in between ROMs, and you'll be fine. Really though, it is very hard to "mess up" a Fascinate. As long as you don't corrupt the bootloader or flash a ROM for another phone, you can always ODIN.
Just a tip: I use the Amazon App Store, and it stores the apps that I have online (just without my data). It is really easy to reinstall things that way, but Titainum is great too. It can store your app's data which is really a nice feature.
Also, remember that it is fine to ask questions (it is the Q and A section). I respect that you are trying to be careful. Everyone starts somewhere.
Hi, stupid question here from a relative noob....
I have a Cincinnati Bell Vibrant, that I recently flashed CM7 on (after using Rom Manager to backup up my stock rom). Liked it, but found it too battery-intensive, so I booted into clockworkmod recovery and attempted to restore the backup of my stock rom. It failed on flashing the boot image, and now my phone is stuck on the Vibrant screen, and won't boot. None of the hardware combinations to get into recovery mode are working, but I can get it into download mode. Before I screw things up further, what is the best way to go from here to get the backup restored, or is it even possible at this point?
Thanks
tabbott01 said:
Hi, stupid question here from a relative noob....
I have a Cincinnati Bell Vibrant, that I recently flashed CM7 on (after using Rom Manager to backup up my stock rom). Liked it, but found it too battery-intensive, so I booted into clockworkmod recovery and attempted to restore the backup of my stock rom. It failed on flashing the boot image, and now my phone is stuck on the Vibrant screen, and won't boot. None of the hardware combinations to get into recovery mode are working, but I can get it into download mode. Before I screw things up further, what is the best way to go from here to get the backup restored, or is it even possible at this point?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This doesn't sound too bad. Basically you want to Odin back to stock. Then reflash the rom you were on, then you can reboot back into recovery and restore your backup. If voodoo was enabled on your backup make sure voodoo is enabled again before restoring(it might work either way, but I'm not sure). When I've done this, I restore a prerooted 2.2 stock Rom without changing the bootloaders, but almost any official stock rom will also work. I'm on the go, so I don't have a link handy, but post back if needed and I will point you to the odin package I use. Good luck.
I also am having some issues with Clockworld recovery. The problem i am having is that when doing a nandriod backup this is the error i am recieving
"E:cant mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 (or @)
Cant mount /mnt/sdcard
any suggestions on whats going on?
phone_noobie said:
I also am having some issues with Clockworld recovery. The problem i am having is that when doing a nandriod backup this is the error i am recieving
"E:cant mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 (or @)
Cant mount /mnt/sdcard
any suggestions on whats going on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure the sdcard is good? If so then I would follow the same steps listed above, that way you know your CWR is good.
mattb3 said:
Are you sure the sdcard is good? If so then I would follow the same steps listed above, that way you know your CWR is good.
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Click to collapse
yes it is good because i can see all the videos, pics i have saved in it. Also i put the new ROM on my internal sd card and its there so sd card is def good. What could be causing the problem?
To the op, I would use Odin, no real worries there.
To the other guy with sdcard issue, try moving all files to your PC, format your sdcard, reboot, move files back, flash cwr in ROM mgr, backup work? Move critical files back from PC.
mattb3 said:
This doesn't sound too bad. Basically you want to Odin back to stock. Then reflash the rom you were on, then you can reboot back into recovery and restore your backup. If voodoo was enabled on your backup make sure voodoo is enabled again before restoring(it might work either way, but I'm not sure). When I've done this, I restore a prerooted 2.2 stock Rom without changing the bootloaders, but almost any official stock rom will also work. I'm on the go, so I don't have a link handy, but post back if needed and I will point you to the odin package I use. Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...that's exactly what I did, except the backup would never quite "take." It completely loaded and cycled through the boot process, but I ended up on a boot-restore loop. So now I've Odin-ed back to stock with the closest build I could find to my stock (which I don't think is out there yet - FROYO.UVJL6.ULTIMOBILE - do you know anywhere to find it?), rooted, and am searching for a good, stable, battery-friendly mod once again.
s15274n said:
try moving all files to your PC, format your sdcard, reboot, move files back, flash cwr in ROM mgr, backup work? Move critical files back from PC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i did try formatting, then moving all the stuff back and am still getting that same error message
^ what rom are you on, if one?
You could always ODIN, and use my option b cwr in the noob guide. I just tested making a backup using trigger 8/22 and know there are no issues. Not really sure whats up on your end. I will say though, I've emailed koush several times that there is an issue with cwr on the vibrant from rom manager, for some it won't even flash.
phone_noobie said:
i did try formatting, then moving all the stuff back and am still getting that same error message
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try different sd card..or reinstall CWM...