Develop Bugs

[Q] Newb question: How do you flash custom ROMS

I rooted my EVO running stock Froyo last night with Unrevoked 3.2. It worked flawlessly and phone is experiencing no problems. Now i'm all excited to run the custom ROMS but kind of confused as how the flashing of the custom ROMS works. Do I have to wipe out the entire contents of my SD card everytime I want to run a custom ROM? I only have the 8gig card. I was under the assumption that I could save my current stock setup and download and flash into a custom ROM and revert back to the stock rooted setup when I wanted. I downloaded a program called ROM Manager v2.0.2.6 but unsure how to use it. Looks like a 1-click solution to loading custom ROMs but I dont want it to wipe out my phone. Can someone please help me to understand the steps to take to load a custom ROM? I was thinking of trying out Fresh or something similar which still has HTC Sense in it. Feel free to message me on here. Thanks in advance.....

lostsoul1977 said:
Do I have to wipe out the entire contents of my SD card everytime I want to run a custom ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No.
I'm not sure about using ROM manager, perhaps somebody else can help with that.
The process is simple...
Connect your EVO to your PC and enable disk drive.
Transfer the ROM zip to the root of your sd card (if your computer mounts as drive F: ... just transfer to F:\)
Eject/disable disk drive
Boot into recovery (turn device off, hold volume down and power button at same time until you see your hboot screen, choose recovery)
Perform a nandroid backup (just in case you need to get back to where you are)
Perform wipe
Use recovery option to flash zip from sdcard
Select the ROM zip
Those are the quick and dirty instructions, I'm a newb with this stuff, I've had my EVO for 2 weeks and I've not had a single problem. I had CM6 on it and I just flashed Fresh 3.2 to test that out and test 4G this weekend.

I would advise doing a Nandroid backup of your current setup. Then go the development section and choose a rom that suits you. Each developer normally will tell you how to go about flashing there rom.
Basically you would need to go into recovery and choose the flash from zip...

ok first no you dont have to erase your sd card every time you flash a rom.
you should however do a factory dalvik and cache wipe. this will erase all settings yuo previously had and will uninstall all apps.
to combat this you can use programs like Titanium back up to back up all your apps. (system settings are not recommended to be blind restored as they can cause issues between roms)
You can also make a back up of your stock rom you have now to do this through rom manager simply make sure you have the latest clockwork recovery flashed (very top button in rom manager) then go down to where it says back up rom click it and it will do the rest. This is recommended before you do anything.
once you ahve your nand back up (the back up through rom manager) and have your apps backed up through something like titanium back up. place the rom yuo want to flash on your sd card and follow these steps.
boot into recovery (either through rom manager or by powering down the phone and then holding vol down and power until it launches the boot loader and select recovery)
select wipe data/factory reset
select wipe cache partition
Select install zip from sd
select choose zip rom sd
scroll to and select the rom you moved to the sd card
select yes and let it do its thing once done select reboot phone.
It will take a little extra time the first time it boots up vs normal jsut let it sit and it should after a while boot into the custom rom.
or follow link
http://lmgtfy.com/?q=How+do+you+flash+a+custom+rom+on+an+evo

video assistance

Thanks everyone! I'm running titanium backup at the moment and backing up the entire system. I had ROM Manager do a backup of my stock ROM last night, so I think i'm good. ROM Manager also downloads ROMs for me and sets them to load at boot up. Most of the ROMS suggest doing a full wipe?

a full wipe jsut means factory/data cache and dalvik which is basically wiping all info on the phone itself. the sd card however doesnt need to be wiped

i installed baked1.7 and all loaded smoothly. I'm assuming I now have to re-download titanium backup to restore my apps and all?
Also, i'm finding no info on how to load the wimax update and the htc radio update files and the custom kernels for baked1.7

lostsoul1977 said:
Also, i'm finding no info on how to load the wimax update and the htc radio update files for baked1.7
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Load those updates onto the root of your sd card. Get quickboot from the market to easily boot into recovery mode. Or you can power off, then hold vol down while powering on to get into bootloader and select recovery. Flash zip file and select those files. Reboot and your wimax/radio should be updated.

Nandroid Backup

Hi Guys,
Wanted to clarify how to do this before I make a mistake (not finding the Defy as easy as the Magic).
1. Install Z4Root and Permanent root (done this so far)
2. Install Clockwork Recovery (Defy Mod)
This is where I get stuck, after this what do I need to do?
3. Factory Reset?
4. Wipe Cache?
5. Nandroid Backup from Clockwork?
Cheers

Depends on the ROM you are upgrading to, if you usually you require a program called RSD lite check out the posts by higgsy he always does pretty easy to follow guides that I use and all have gone well.

1) Get it rooted then it reboots
2) Install Clockwork Recovery from Tenfar
Open Clockwork Recovery, click Install Recovery System, a pop-up should appear, allow it and wait till it is installed, now you can use Recovery Boot (be sure you have USB debugging OFF (settings-application-development), it reboots into recovery
3,4) once in Clockwork recovery, you can make back up of your system, before you restore nandroid backup it is recommended to wipe your data and cache, because it can get messed up with data and cache from the new nandroid backup
5) restore accordingly to guide for each custom ROM (Backup & Restore-Restore-here you chose your nandroid back up), to see your nandroid backup you must first copy it to SD card (sdcard/goapkrev/backup/)
use your volume rocker to move around and your power button to confirm things
hope it helped a bit

[Q] Error When Trying to Flash new Rom

I have Full Root to my phone and am trying to flash new roms. I have tried Rom Manager App and Recovery Boot Process and neither works. I get an error than zip file is bad. I have android Version 2.2
Software #3.70.651.1
When I use ROM Manager and Flash Clockwork Mod, It's says HTC Evo (CDMA). Does the CDMA version stop me from flashing Mods?
PLEASE HELP...

Don't use Rom Manager to flash. If you've tried flashing manually through recovery and you still get errors, try Amon Ra. You can flash it through Rom Manager. Go into Amon Ra, go ahead and do a nandroid backup as backups made with ClockworkMod won't work with Ra, then wipe and flash.
Also, what is the exact error you're getting? And no, CDMA has nothing to do with it.
(from... Evo/MIUI/Tapatalk)

I did a ROM Backup on ROM Manager. How do I do a Nandroid Backup? and How do I use Amon Ra? Sorry for being totally ignorant to these facts, but I am a complete newbie at this.

The new clockword can't flash certain roms because the scripting has changed. The best way to do it is going to be this way. Open up rom manager, scroll down to the bottom where it says "flash alternate recovery" then click the flash button for amon ra 2.3.. After the has completed reboot into recovery. (turn phone off then hold power and volume down, then select recovery) that will take you to amons recovery. Go to to the backup/restore menu (using the volume keys to navigate, and power button to press "enter" then click then perform a nandroid backup. I would select everything but android secure and sd-card ext. (they take up tons of space) then you will have succesfuly performed a backup of your current setup. I would get used to doing all your flashing through recovery, its much more stable. (recovery is the menu u were just in to perform the backup) Put the zip file of your rom you want to flash on the root of your sd card (not in a folder) Go back into recovery, enter the wipe menu, at least wipe data/factory reset, cache, and dalvik cache. Then go to install zip from sd card, select your rom zip, and click flash, it will then flash the rom for you. hope this helps

corey140 said:
I did a ROM Backup on ROM Manager. How do I do a Nandroid Backup? and How do I use Amon Ra? Sorry for being totally ignorant to these facts, but I am a complete newbie at this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Before starting, try to have at least 50% battery and have the rom on the root of your SD card - not in any folders.
The backup you did in Rom Manager is the same as a nandroid backup. If you've already "flashed alternate recovery" in Rom Manager, then power the phone down. Hold down the volume down button and power button at the same time until the phone turns on to a white screen with skating Androids. This is the bootloader/hboot. Check the top and make sure it says ship s-off at the top (if it says s-on then you aren't fully rooted). Assuming you're s-off, use the volume buttons to move up/down the menu. Highlight the option that says "recovery", then press the power button to choose it. Your phone will show the white HTC Evo screen then boot to recovery. From there (using the volume and power buttons like you did before), choose backup/restore, then nandroid backup. Leave the first three options checked then do your backup. When that finishes, go ahead and backup your wimax. Go to the nandroid backup screen, uncheck the first three options with the power button, then check only wimax. Do the backup again. Then go to the wipe menu. Wipe everything in the list except the SD card. When that's finished, go back, then install zip from SD card. Choose zip from SD card, then use the volume up button to go all the way to the bottom. Highlight the rom you want to flash and press the power button. Confirm with the power button, then let it flash. Then reboot.
(from... Evo/MIUI/Tapatalk)

I really appreciate the help plainjane & jeffm922? Two last questions, hopefully. I am trying this just after rooting my phone about a week ago. I keep seeing things about radios and wimax and kernels, and gingerbread, and other stuff I never heard of...LOL. 1st Question, do I need to download a certain type of radio or wimax or kernels for certain roms??? and 2nd Question, with me only having Version 2.2,which I gues is Froyo, do I only have the capabilities to download Roms for Froyo or doest that change depending on what Rom I install? SORRY AGAIN FOR MY IGNORANCE ON THE MATTER, BUT I'll NEVER KNOW UNLESS I ASK.
THANKS In ADVANCE

corey140 said:
I really appreciate the help plainjane & jeffm922? Two last questions, hopefully. I am trying this just after rooting my phone about a week ago. I keep seeing things about radios and wimax and kernels, and gingerbread, and other stuff I never heard of...LOL. 1st Question, do I need to download a certain type of radio or wimax or kernels for certain roms??? and 2nd Question, with me only having Version 2.2,which I gues is Froyo, do I only have the capabilities to download Roms for Froyo or doest that change depending on what Rom I install? SORRY AGAIN FOR MY IGNORANCE ON THE MATTER, BUT I'll NEVER KNOW UNLESS I ASK.
THANKS In ADVANCE
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Certain roms do require the latest radios, etc. If it does, there will be info in the directions for the rom (usually in the first couple posts). If you do need to flash a radio update, when you reboot from recovery you will see a black screen with an Android in a box or a phone with a down arrow... don't freak out and pull the battery - this screen is part of the radio update. Let it run and it will take you back to recovery when it's finished. If you do pull the battery, you will most likely brick your phone.
There are Gingerbread roms and Froyo roms - you can flash either. Just be sure to read all of the information given on the first page of the thread so you don't miss any info & always do a backup and you'll be fine.
(from... Evo/MIUI/Tapatalk)

OK tried flashing SNS v1.3.zip the exact way the instructions you gave me tell me to. It says same thing as it did when I used ROM Manager.
1. Finding update package...
2. Opening Update Package...
and then here it goes
3. Can't open /sdcard/SNS v1.3.zip
(bad)
Installation aborted
What am I doing wrong or not doing at all? I downloaded this Rom off of the following thread [ROM]UPDATE!(4/28/11) SmoothnSexy V1.3, Gingerbread-ish looking Froyo/SENSE
from this site.

Also noticed this when doing fastboot PC36DIAG.zip
Is this correct?

HAve a buddy with an evo, his is doing exacly the same thing..... helllppp

rwon said:
HAve a buddy with an evo, his is doing exacly the same thing..... helllppp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have Amon RA Recovery. Did you install it and when you hold the power and vol- button together, you get a white screen. At the top does it say S-OFF?
If so, then proceed to go to the recovery. If it is Amon RA, it will be green. If it is the latest version of clockwork (which you don't want to use), then, it's orange.
If it's green, then wipe cache, data, boot, system, dalvik cache, sd-ext (if you have it) and then flash your ROM.
ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP FIRST from whatever Recovery you are using. Clockword(orange lettering), does not support Edify scripting, only Amend. If you have Amon RA(green lettering), it supports both edify and amend scripting.

I did this but it says skipping Wipe od SDEXT...
Could this be the problem?

says skipping Wipe of SDEXT...
not
skipping Wipe od SDEXT...

Something else to take into consideration, your SD card may need to be re-formatted as well. Try this:
Once you have Amon-RA installed, and you are booted into it, then connect the phone to your computer via the USB cable. Navigate to USB-MS Toggle and activate it, you should now be able to copy everything from the card to your computer (re-partitioning will erase everything on the card).
After you have backed up, you can use the partition SDCard menu to repartition and reformat your card. Or you can use the Wipe menu to just format the SDCard - though I would re-partition it just to ensure the file system on the card is truly reset. If you do re-partition, use 0 for a swap (most ROMs don't use it), use anywhere from 0-500MB for the ext (this will be mostly used by app2sd, and not a requirement of the ROM, so it is optional), and the rest of your card size for the remainder (this will be partitioned as FAT32, I believe).
Once that process is complete, you can copy your ROM back over to the card (USB-MS toggle) and try again.
I had similar issues with MY Evo (using the SD card that came with it), re-partitioning it worked like a charm in clearing out all of the problems I had been experiencing. Good Luck!
BigJohn

corey140 said:
I did this but it says skipping Wipe od SDEXT...
Could this be the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not the problem. You are s-off correct? I've never heard of that rom, you got it from the Evo Development forums, right? Make sure it's compatible with your phone.
I've seen this problem before, so do a search and see what the solution was.
EDIT: Do what Big John said, that sounds like a likely culprit.
(from... Evo/MIUI/Tapatalk)

corey140 said:
I did this but it says skipping Wipe od SDEXT...
Could this be the problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SDEXT is just the EXT partition on the SD card (if there is one, see my previous post). What you are seeing is recovery just telling you that this partition doesn't exist.
BigJohn

Get aman ra for sure then do it all thru recovery
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

THANKS TO EVERYONE!!! Needed to Partition SD CARD and reflash ROM...WORKING GREAT NOW!!!

glad to hear

corey140 said:
THANKS TO EVERYONE!!! Needed to Partition SD CARD and reflash ROM...WORKING GREAT NOW!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've had the same problem you are having and I'm about to try what everyone has suggested on your post. Question though... when you partition your SD does it delete everything on the SD card? And did you partition the SD before or after what everyone suggested? Thanks!

Best way to wipe? Lol

What do you do to make your roms run great everytime. Wipe data 1x, 2x, 3x. Etc. I get force closes and wondering if I didn't wipe right. I also got boot manager with miui stable as rom 1. It's been acting wierd lately. Hoping Simone can give me tips on flashing through clockwork and installing through boot manager for best results.
Sent from my ADR6300 using xda app-developers app

I don't use boot manager, but for a clean install of a ROM, format boot and system, and wipe data/Factory Reset, all just once.
cvpcs.org/blog/2011-06-05/time_to_wipe_data/cache

Boot to cwm recovery.
Go to mounts and storrage menu.
Format every option available except emmc and sdcard.
Flash rom of your choosing.

PonsAsinorem said:
I don't use boot manager, but for a clean install of a ROM, format boot and system, and wipe data/Factory Reset, all just once.
cvpcs.org/blog/2011-06-05/time_to_wipe_data/cache
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly what this guy said. Wipe data/factory reset takes care of /data, /datadata, and /cache all in one stroke. All that's left is /boot and /system

Also, with MIUI you may need to clear out your app cache regularly. Use this App Cache Cleaner, it's super simple. That should help your fc problems.

These are the steps I follow when flashing ROMs. Seems to work well for me:
Reboot your phone into Bootloader Mode. (You can do that by pressing and holding the Volume Down and Power buttons until HBOOT boots.)
Using the Volume keys, highlight Recovery and select it by tapping the Power button. Your phone will now boot to Recovery Mode.
Create a NANDroid backup of your current ROM. Go to Backup and Restoreand select Backupon the next screen. Wait until recovery finishes backing up your ROM.
Once done, go back to the main menu and perform a full wipe:
[*] ----> Select Wipe data/factory resetand confirm the action on the next screen.
[*] ----> Select Wipe cache partition and confirm the action on the next screen.
[*] ----> Go back to the main menu and select Advanced.From there, select Wipe Dalvik Cache and confirm the action on the next screen.
Select Install ZIP from SD card.
Select Choose ZIP from SD cardand locate the ROM.zip file. Confirm the action on the next screen to flash the ROM to your mobile phone.
Go back to the main menu and flash GoogleApps.zip in the same manner as in steps 6 and 7.
Go back to the main menu and select Reboot system now. This will reboot your phone with the new ROM.

What I normally do is boot into cwm and just do the factory reset/data wipe and that makes everything run nice and smooth whenever i flash a new rom.

ardax said:
Exactly what this guy said. Wipe data/factory reset takes care of /data, /datadata, and /cache all in one stroke. All that's left is /boot and /system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I find that if you don't also do /boot and /system some things linger that can cause problems. I did not do this recently and it still remembered Wifi locations, brought up an old wallpaper and sounds choices via music and ringtones were severely limited. Don't be afraid, do what the man says!!

CyanoLou said:
Yes. I find that if you don't also do /boot and /system some things linger that can cause problems. I did not do this recently and it still remembered Wifi locations, brought up an old wallpaper and sounds choices via music and ringtones were severely limited. Don't be afraid, do what the man says!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No need to format boot. Some devices don't even support that option. Plus flashing a new ROM always flashes a new boot.img in its place which overwrites the old one. System is OK but then you have to flash gapps with updates where before its optional. Wiping system isn't a bad idea on sense ROMs as it doesn't always get wiped by the script. On aosp it does and on cm it wipes system after backing up gapps.
Also WiFi and wallpaper choices are stored in datadata not system. If wallpapers come back after a factory reset that is due to Google restore. Sound choices are stored in a database that needs to rebuild after a wipe.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk 2

And in swoops tiny wielding the clue-by-four.
Normally I'll only wipe /system if I'm switching ROMs. Updating dailies doesn't require it.

[Q] Rooted stock recovery to CM10 M2, are these the right steps?

Finally looking to try a non-stock ROM. Heard good things about latest CM10 M2.
Current setup: Stock recovery, stock ROM, rooted, I747UCLEM
Steps already done:
1. do a full imei backup
Steps I'm planning on taking this evening:
1. download Rom Manager
2. use Rom Manager to flash CWM Recovery (should I do normal or CWM Touch?)
3. do a nandroid backup (never done one before)
3. download zip of CM10 M2 rom and google apps (where do i put them on the int or ext SD?)
4. boot into recovery, do factory reset/wipe, wipe cache
5. install CM10 from zip
6. ?? do i install google apps as well now, or do i wait til after CM10 is done/rebooted and then go into recovery again?
6. sign into google to get contacts/gmail/etc synced back up
7. anything else? i'm not going to restore from TB, I want to start fresh.

jhc5 said:
Finally looking to try a non-stock ROM. Heard good things about latest CM10 M2.
Current setup: Stock recovery, stock ROM, rooted, I747UCLEM
Steps already done:
1. do a full imei backup
Steps I'm planning on taking this evening:
1. download Rom Manager
2. use Rom Manager to flash CWM Recovery (should I do normal or CWM Touch?)
3. do a nandroid backup (never done one before)
3. download zip of CM10 M2 rom and google apps (where do i put them on the int or ext SD?)
4. boot into recovery, do factory reset/wipe, wipe cache
5. install CM10 from zip
6. ?? do i install google apps as well now, or do i wait til after CM10 is done/rebooted and then go into recovery again?
6. sign into google to get contacts/gmail/etc synced back up
7. anything else? i'm not going to restore from TB, I want to start fresh.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2 up to you i prefer twrp you can get it from goomanager in the play store
3 easy to do in recovery best insurence you can have for a bad flash
3. internal is best
6 i have done it both ways with no problem
7 nope looks like you got the steps right but you do know m2 is a experamental build

#2 do normal unless you want to buy touch, don't think it's free
#3 once in recovery choose backup, it will take a bit, let it finish
#4 put it on your internal and this should be done before you boot into clockworkmod recovery
#5 steps in recovery are: 1 install zip from sd card
2 choose zip from sd card
3 navigate to the zip,
4 install
#6 you can install them right after the ROM
#7 reboot when finished, let phone fully boot THEN
#8 reboot phone, helps settle things a little (you just made a big change to your system lol)
#9 sign into google and let things sync
Troubleshooting, gapps may force close on you a couple times, don't worry, if it happens continuously then reboot into recovery and wipe cache and dalvik cache and reflash just the gapps (they are finicky) If you experience multiple force closes and stuff not working right, boot into recovery and under advanced find fix permissions and let that run.
If all else fails then boot into recovery and do it all over again, coming from stock to aosp your MAY have to flash a couple times to avoid errors while flashing a completely different os(usually not an issue but you never know)
Good Luck
edit--->dang I'm slow tonight lmao

Thanks to both of you! Very much appreciate the detailed responses.

your welcome and @jethro650 the more people willing to help the better the forum

jerrycoffman45 said:
your welcome and @jethro650 the more people willing to help the better the forum
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Always try to help but I forgot the factory data reset wipe cache wipe dalvik before the flash ROM.
Just not on the ball tonight

jethro650 said:
Always try to help but I forgot the factory data reset wipe cache wipe dalvik before the flash ROM.
Just not on the ball tonight
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So my nandroid backup just finished, and the folder is only 20MB in size. Is that normal? I guess I expected it to be bigger. I have about 70 apps, all installed to their default location, no music, no photos, no videos, on rooted stock AT&T. I did the backup by booting into CWM Touch Recovery from Rom Manager, going to 'backup and restore', 'backup to external SD card'. Took about 20 minutes to complete, it said completed successfully, and I hit 'go back', then 'reboot system now'. When I moved the backup folder to my pc and checked the size, it only shows as 6 files are 20.9mb.
Files are as follows:
boot.img 10,240kb
cache.ext4.dup 1kb
data.ext4.dup 760kb
nandroid.md5 1kb
recovery.img 10,240kb
system.ext4.dup 228kb
Thanks!
Whoops. Figured it out. The whole blob folder is part of it too. Sorry