Develop Bugs

[Q] Questions on Clockwork vs. RA

I was hoping some of you could decisively wrap up these issues for an Android newb...
ClockworkMod - What is it and what exactly does it do?
Amon RA - How is it different than ClockworkMod?
In ROM Manager, the "Flash Latest Recovery" option shows CWM v3.0.0.4 as my current and v2.6.0.1 as the latest. Why has the version been reverted?
What is a NANDROID backup? I gather that Amon RA makes a NANDROID backup, but CWM does not. Does this mean CWM backups are less thorough?
In the Amon RA recovery console, there is an option for "Nand backup" and another for "Nand + ext backup". What's the difference?
Following up with the previous question: I understand ext is a partition on my phone (I understand that much from using Linux a little). I have not changed the partition since buying the phone - is it recommended that I re-partition? What would be the ideal setup?
That's it for now. I appreciate all the help.

I never received any feedback on this post and I think it was because the title was very generic. Any help you can give would be appreciated.

NoCatharsis said:
ClockworkMod - What is it and what exactly does it do?
Amon RA - How is it different than ClockworkMod?
In ROM Manager, the "Flash Latest Recovery" option shows CWM v3.0.0.4 as my current and v2.6.0.1 as the latest. Why has the version been reverted?
What is a NANDROID backup? I gather that Amon RA makes a NANDROID backup, but CWM does not. Does this mean CWM backups are less thorough?
In the Amon RA recovery console, there is an option for "Nand backup" and another for "Nand + ext backup". What's the difference?
Following up with the previous question: I understand ext is a partition on my phone (I understand that much from using Linux a little). I have not changed the partition since buying the phone - is it recommended that I re-partition? What would be the ideal setup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. CWM is a custom recovery. It allows you to flash new roms and kernels and make backups of your current setup.
2. Ra is also a custom recovery. I prefer it over CWM. In the old days, if I remember correctly, RA backed up your wimax keys while CWM didn't. Also it was rumored that CWM didn't wipe correctly. Now I think they're pretty much the same. I just like the yellow words over the horrible green that CWM uses.
3. It may have been reverted because of the differences between the partitions on different evos.
4. CWM makes nandroid backups too. They both backup everything. A nandroid backup will back up everything on your phone. It is highly recommended to make a nandroid before you flash anything onto your phone. If it breaks something or bootloops your phone then you can restore that backup and go back to how you were.
5. The nand backs up the phone, the nand+ext backs up the phone and the ext partition on your sd card where your apps are installed.
6. The ext partition is on your sdcard. (IMO) No need for apps2sd unless you have a crazy amount of apps on your phone or you have a bunch of huge games.

NoCatharsis said:
I was hoping some of you could decisively wrap up these issues for an Android newb...
ClockworkMod - What is it and what exactly does it do?
Amon RA - How is it different than ClockworkMod?
In ROM Manager, the "Flash Latest Recovery" option shows CWM v3.0.0.4 as my current and v2.6.0.1 as the latest. Why has the version been reverted?
What is a NANDROID backup? I gather that Amon RA makes a NANDROID backup, but CWM does not. Does this mean CWM backups are less thorough?
In the Amon RA recovery console, there is an option for "Nand backup" and another for "Nand + ext backup". What's the difference?
Following up with the previous question: I understand ext is a partition on my phone (I understand that much from using Linux a little). I have not changed the partition since buying the phone - is it recommended that I re-partition? What would be the ideal setup?
That's it for now. I appreciate all the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clockwork is a recovery. It does many different things ex. Flashing, Wiping, Partitioning etc.
RA use to be the only one to back up wimax now clockwork has this feature and with RA you was not able to navigate through folders like clockwork but now you can with the new update.
I'm not sure about the 3rd question.
A nandroid is backing up your entire phone so that you can restore if you run into any problems it backs up everything except your splashscreen or ext partition unless you choose to back that up. RA & Clockwork can perform a nandroid Clockwork didn't have the ability to backup wimax keys(4g).
Nand is everything except your partition you use the ext if you use darktremor a2sd it backs up everything and your partition.
Only repartition if you want to install apps to sd, cache, or dalvik to your sd card saves internal space on the phone.
Hope I helped

Buff McBigstuff said:
1. CWM is a custom recovery. It allows you to flash new roms and kernels and make backups of your current setup.
2. Ra is also a custom recovery. I prefer it over CWM. In the old days, if I remember correctly, RA backed up your wimax keys while CWM didn't. Also it was rumored that CWM didn't wipe correctly. Now I think they're pretty much the same. I just like the yellow words over the horrible green that CWM uses.
3. It may have been reverted because of the differences between the partitions on different evos.
4. CWM makes nandroid backups too. They both backup everything. A nandroid backup will back up everything on your phone. It is highly recommended to make a nandroid before you flash anything onto your phone. If it breaks something or bootloops your phone then you can restore that backup and go back to how you were.
5. The nand backs up the phone, the nand+ext backs up the phone and the ext partition on your sd card where your apps are installed.
6. The ext partition is on your sdcard. (IMO) No need for apps2sd unless you have a crazy amount of apps on your phone or you have a bunch of huge games.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buff nailed it great, I'll explain #3.
Clockworkmod team jumped the gun with their 3.0 recoveries betting that all the developers had switched to the newer edify scripts which appeared with Froyo and are required to script a Gigngerbread rom. The older scripting used ammend which is what 90% of the developers are still using. This made the 3.0 based recovery incompatible with 90% of the roms out there so Cloockwork team had to come up with a backward compatible release and numbered it 2.6.01. This is the version you need unless you are going to install the CM7 roms. 2.6.0.1 is compatible with all hboots, all partitions, and backs up and wipes everything Aman RA does so they are pretty much equal. The difference is if you flash the clockworkmod recovery all the features of rom manager will still work, if you flash aman ra, rom manager is useless.

So then at this stage is one better than the other?
I'm still new to "daily" ROM flashing and liked the ROM Manager but heard that RA was better (have that now)
I'd like the ease of switching between ROMs to figure out likes/dislikes.

ucf.elk said:
So then at this stage is one better than the other?
I'm still new to "daily" ROM flashing and liked the ROM Manager but heard that RA was better (have that now)
I'd like the ease of switching between ROMs to figure out likes/dislikes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
About the same now. I actually prefer coming here and reading threads and manually downloading and flashing my roms over rom manager. I like to see screenies and see changelogs and read feedback.
Sent from my nook COLOR.

[Q] Recommended version of CWM Recovery ?

Hi all,
the last few days, i did extensive reading concerning the whole matter of downgrading, rooting, s-offing and flashing a custom rom on my new DHD.
All steps are clear to me except one: which version of Clockworkmod Recovery should i use ?
I'm planning on flashing revolution hd where i supposedly can use either 2.5.1.3 or 3.0.0.6.
Am I right in the assumption, that its best to just use 2.5.1.3 since many modifications need this version to work. Where would i get it from ? If i download rom manager from the market, won't it just flash the latest version of CWM recovery (3.0.0.6 or .7) ?
And what makes the unofficial version "2.5.1.2 r2" from paul of modaco forums special ?
One last question: say i create a nandroid backup with 2.5.1.3 and later upgrade to a higher version (3XXX or whatever), will i still be able to restore this previously created nandroid backup ?
sorry if all these questions got answered somewhere else already, i searched but couldn't find any answers to these specific questions.

I'd stick with 2.5.1.3, everything works with it and I think if you create a backup with it and then upgrade to 3.x.x.x then it won't work when returning to your backup.
Personally, I don't see many benefits to using 3.x.x.x at all
Ah sorry, didn't notice your other question, Just download Clockwork and it will get it for you. If it wants to get 3.x.x.x then you can easily find 2.5.1.3 on a google search

thanks for the answers
just noticed that leedroid needs 2XXX, too. so i'll just get the older version.
thx again !

Actually you can restore nandroids from one version with the other. The important thing is which >filesystem< does the rom use.
I tried backing up stock rom with cwm3 and tried restoring but didn't get past boot. Reason was it was restoring it to ext4 partitions, which the stock rom doesn't support.
Then i booted cwm2.5 using fastboot and restored with that instead... no problems.
peace!

so you are saying that cwm2.5 always creates ext3 partitions on restore, and cwm3 creates ext4 ?
if that is the case, can i flash the newest revolution hd roms with cwm2.5 despite the fact that they use ext4 ?
p.s. sorry @ mods for creating this thread in the wrong forum...

-shadeless- said:
so you are saying that cwm2.5 always creates ext3 partitions on restore, and cwm3 creates ext4 ?
if that is the case, can i flash the newest revolution hd roms with cwm2.5 despite the fact that they use ext4 ?
p.s. sorry @ mods for creating this thread in the wrong forum...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What I do know is that cwm2.5 supposedly can't mount an existing ext4 partition whereas cwm3 can. Even if cwm2.5 lacked the support the rom you're talking about could still be flashed to ext3 and booted as ext4 (since it's forward compatible). But once it's used with ext4's new features (like extents) you're stuck.
Wiping a partition in cwm3 and then mounting it mounts it as ext4 (according to "adb shell mount". Booting cwm2.5 using fastboot and formatting same partition results in a ext3 partition.
Sorry if I confuse the matter further

Sorry if I confuse the matter further
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no problem, i think i understand
flashing revolution hd with v2.X will create an ext3 partition, but the files that revoHD is creating later on will be kind of ext4 (does that even make sense?). but when i wipe everything it will be ext3 again, and restoring a CWM2.X backup with CWM2.x shoult be possible, is this correct ?

-shadeless- said:
no problem, i think i understand
flashing revolution hd with v2.X will create an ext3 partition, but the files that revoHD is creating later on will be kind of ext4 (does that even make sense?). but when i wipe everything it will be ext3 again, and restoring a CWM2.X backup with CWM2.x shoult be possible, is this correct ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds right to me Yeah it's a feature of ext4 that you can mount ext3 as ext4 but when you do so using the new features you can't go back (automatically atleast) and the partition is now ext4.
Restoring a 2.x backup with 2.x should always work since 2.x can only make backups of ext3 in the first place...
peace!

you can use 3.0.0.6 for both. Trust me.

[solved] Help! cannot restore stock rom!

few days ago I just flashed cwm recovery and made a backup for every partition, after that I flashed the cm7.2.
but now when I want to go back to stock, I cannot restore the backup. it seemed that the recovery cannot format the partitions into rfs. (even I used the rfs+ext4 recovery)
anyone has any ideas?

Did you have an ext4 partition when you did the backup? I've experienced problems with the CWM backup a couple of times because it's not getting along well with ext4 partitions so I had to go from scratch a couple of times because I couldn't do a restore. For Galaxy Gio, I would recommend you to use Titanium Backup instead of CWM Recovery from now on if don't want to get into trouble with backups and stuff.

Just flash a new firmware via ODIN.

LegoGabi said:
Just flash a new firmware via ODIN.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for replies but my original firmware contains chinese which cannot available here

Try this:
1) flash some stock multi-package firmware (that would format your FS to rfs from ext4); shouldn't matter much what firmware you flash, just something Gingerbread-ish to allow CWM to work, as you only need it to format partitions
2) flash CWM (or install via update.zip method from recovery) that works with stock firmware (I believe it's the one with rfs+ext4 support but you better check in CWM thread)
3) restore your stock ROM backup

Have you checked Samsung firmware websites like samfirmware to see if they had yours?
If not, there are instructions here on creating an Odin flashable backup, which you could do if you have access to another, unmodified Gio.
Otherwise, look into the workings of CWM. You may be capable of DD'ing the nandroid files manually, but don't take my word for it.

thanks everyone who replied, i finally figured out what's wrong.
It turned out to be the problem that no CWM for gio could format the partitions into rfs therefore they kept giving me errors when i tried to restore.
and after some trials, I found that the CWM for CM7 (cwm-v2.zip) can actually restore my backup, but with the system, data, cache formated in ext3. Therefore with the stock kernel, it won't boot.
Final remedy: use CWM for CM7 to restore the backup, then flash a custom kernel for stock rom.

crescal said:
thanks everyone who replied, i finally figured out what's wrong.
It turned out to be the problem that no CWM for gio could format the partitions into rfs therefore they kept giving me errors when i tried to restore.
and after some trials, I found that the CWM for CM7 (cwm-v2.zip) can actually restore my backup, but with the system, data, cache formated in ext3. Therefore with the stock kernel, it won't boot.
Final remedy: use CWM for CM7 to restore the backup, then flash a custom kernel for stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which kernel? Im in your exact situation, i got the cwm you mention and it restored the back up and flashing the kernel for stock rom with lots of options claiming to support ext4 i get boot loops. If you can tell me what kernel you booted with i will be very grateful. Tomorrow is my daughters bday and i need my korean gio with different wifi hardware to tether to my tablet for ideo chat, which only works with stock. Thank you.

[Q] unable to backup system!

hi guys i recently downgraded my recovery from revolutionary to CWM v2.5.0.7.
now i can't do a backup of my CM 7.2 ROM.
backing up boot...
backing up recovery...
backing up system...
it freezes at backing up system..i waited for 20 mins but it doesn't move a inch..
some apps in my sd n some are in my internal storage.
i also tried upgrading to revolutionary and still the same problem persists..:crying:
Can you guys help me out here?
sorry for my bad english.

eddykuhan said:
hi guys i recently downgraded my recovery from revolutionary to CWM v2.5.0.7.
now i can't do a backup of my CM 7.2 ROM.
backing up boot...
backing up recovery...
backing up system...
it freezes at backing up system..i waited for 20 mins but it doesn't move a inch..
some apps in my sd n some are in my internal storage.
i also tried upgrading to revolutionary and still the same problem persists..:crying:
Can you guys help me out here?
sorry for my bad english.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like you're messing up the terms a bit...: "Revolutionary" doesn't really have to do something with your "Recovery" (Clockworkmod). Same goes for "upgrading to revolutionary" - I have no clue what you tried to do there
Let's try to get some useful information:
- If you've downgraded your recovery I assume your phone is rooted and has S-OFF and worked well before?
- for what reason did you downgrade? to flash a radio?
- if yes: did that work well?
I have suggestions what you could do but it would be better if you'd provide above information first

eddykuhan said:
hi guys i recently downgraded my recovery from revolutionary to CWM v2.5.0.7.
now i can't do a backup of my CM 7.2 ROM.
backing up boot...
backing up recovery...
backing up system...
it freezes at backing up system..i waited for 20 mins but it doesn't move a inch..
some apps in my sd n some are in my internal storage.
i also tried upgrading to revolutionary and still the same problem persists..:crying:
Can you guys help me out here?
sorry for my bad english.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clockwork mod and revolutionary are two different things.
Try flashing another CWM version through fastboot or pc49img.zip method. You can find the links in wildfire index thread in development section.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA

saadislam said:
Clockwork mod and revolutionary are two different things.
Try flashing another CWM version through fastboot or pc49img.zip method. You can find the links in wildfire index thread in development section.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i tried the latest version of ClockWorkMod v5.0.2.0.but the same problemstill persists
eventcom said:
Looks like you're messing up the terms a bit...: "Revolutionary" doesn't really have to do something with your "Recovery" (Clockworkmod). Same goes for "upgrading to revolutionary" - I have no clue what you tried to do there
Let's try to get some useful information:
- If you've downgraded your recovery I assume your phone is rooted and has S-OFF and worked well before?
- for what reason did you downgrade? to flash a radio?
- if yes: did that work well?
I have suggestions what you could do but it would be better if you'd provide above information first
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, my phone is rooted and s-offed n work well before this and sorry guys previously I was using ClockWorkMod v3.2.0.0..i downgraded to ClockWorkMod v2.5.0.7 to flash radio..but it didn't succeed..So, i flashed through fastboot method and it succeeded.i was able to do a backup after flashing the radio..all went well and 1 day wen i try 2 make a backup in the same ClockWorkMod v2.5.0.7 it stucked in backing up system..

eddykuhan said:
i tried the latest version of ClockWorkMod v5.0.2.0.but the same problemstill persists
(...)
i was able to do a backup after flashing the radio..all went well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see. I already thought that it doesn't have to do with recovery - just wanted to make sure
I suggest you to try reflashing the ROM first - but better make sure that you avoid leftovers of your current "system":
- put the ROM and gapps (20110828) into root of your sd card
- boot into recovery
- format "system" (in "mounts and storage")
- wipe "cache"
- flash CM7
- flash gapps 20110828
- reboot
try a nandroid backup again afterwards
if this doesn't help either my suggestion would be to do a complete wipe:
- put the ROM and gapps (20110828) into root of your sd card
- boot into recovery
- wipe all / factory reset
- (I usually do an additional format "system", "data" as well - just to make sure)
- wipe "cache"
- wipe "dalvik-cache"
- flash CM7
- flash gapps 20110828
- reboot
see, if everything went ok then reboot in recovery and do a partial restore of your data (backup & restore/advanced)
reboot again (see if everything works) and reboot into recovery again to try your nandroid backup
There's another thing coming to my mind: do you have enough space left on your sdcard? I never had that problem so I'm not sure if CWM spits out an error about that...

Just for the info, Cwm doesnt give any error if low on space. It just keeps going on with backup.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA

So what you meant was .... you downgraded from revolutionarys cwm version to 2.5.0.7 ? Did you use revolutionary to do this or other method?
You couldn't backup with 2.5.0.7 cwm so upgraded back to revolutionarys version with same backup issues afterwards ?
You upgraded cwm to 5.0.2.0 and your still not able to backup ?
Can you restore a nandroid ?
Do you have custom mtd set up ?
Ive not come across the won't back up issue but have had the same issue during restores after flashing a new cwm ?
Some cwm restores are not compatible with some other cwm versions but your problem is backing up so this can't be the case lol.
Have you got the Rom up and running before trying to back it up,and your NOT wiping anything prior to attempting the back up ?
1st I would try wipe dalvik cache from advanced and format cache from mounts and storage then try a backup.
If that fails........ (your gonna lose your current Rom setup with the following but 1 of these methods should get your cwm functioning again.)
Try restoring an old backup then if that is successful try a backup again as this could just kickstart your cwm backup into gear.
Failing that.........,
then I think your gonna have to do a full wipe and reinstall Rom.
Forum fishing.... Who's biting!

Agreed. This is very strange. Have you flashed anything else we should know about that has anything to do with the system partition? Tweaks ect?
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

slymobi said:
So what you meant was .... you downgraded from revolutionarys cwm version to 2.5.0.7 ? Did you use revolutionary to do this or other method?
You couldn't backup with 2.5.0.7 cwm so upgraded back to revolutionarys version with same backup issues afterwards ?
You upgraded cwm to 5.0.2.0 and your still not able to backup ?
Can you restore a nandroid ?
Do you have custom mtd set up ?
Ive not come across the won't back up issue but have had the same issue during restores after flashing a new cwm ?
Some cwm restores are not compatible with some other cwm versions but your problem is backing up so this can't be the case lol.
Have you got the Rom up and running before trying to back it up,and your NOT wiping anything prior to attempting the back up ?
1st I would try wipe dalvik cache from advanced and format cache from mounts and storage then try a backup.
If that fails........ (your gonna lose your current Rom setup with the following but 1 of these methods should get your cwm functioning again.)
Try restoring an old backup then if that is successful try a backup again as this could just kickstart your cwm backup into gear.
Failing that.........,
then I think your gonna have to do a full wipe and reinstall Rom.
Forum fishing.... Who's biting!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi,
-after upgraded cwm to 5.0.2.0 and i'm still not able to backup
-im using custom mtd
-in matter fact i can restore my old nandroid backup
the story like this after i restore my old nandroid i cannot do backup same ROM again.
and i also tried to wipe dalvik cache from advanced and format cache from mounts and storage then tried a backup and it still fails..:crying:
guys thanks for your feedback im going to do a full wipe and reinstall Rom.!!

eddykuhan said:
-im using custom mtd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just to make sure: have you flashed the bravoboot file after the nandroid backup?
If you did, well, a full wipe might be a good idea anyway - but: have you tried my initial suggestion - to format just system? if this is the point where the nandroid backup fails this could be enough to solve your problem...
- put the ROM and gapps (20110828) into root of your sd card
- boot into recovery
- format "system" (in "mounts and storage")
- wipe "cache"
- flash CM7
- flash gapps 20110828
- flash the bravoboot file
- reboot
If everything works again you could try to do a partial restore of "data" (in CWM / Backup and Restore / Advanced Restore)
But don't forget to flash the bravoboot file after that one again - and better don't try to restore system again - just data (and sd-ext, .android-secure whatever you like)

Maybe you can try to do backup in 3.x.x.x version of cwm? I had similar problem to yours (I was on 2.5.x.x v CWM) and after it everything worked

I currently have the same problem (CWM5028) and have not solved it yet.
Interesting to note is that the time noted in the title for the stalling backup is 3 hours off. A clue to the cause?

cweijden said:
I currently have the same problem (CWM5028) and have not solved it yet.
Interesting to note is that the time noted in the title for the stalling backup is 3 hours off. A clue to the cause?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Got it solved... I also use MTD partitioning (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1233340) and probably have forgotten to flash a required zip after restoring a backup. According to the instructions this should have left me with a white screen. That didn't happen, but it left me unable backing up my system for a while. After repartitioning as suggested by eventcom I was able to make backups again.

Help Installing A New Rom

I Have Rooted And Installed Cwm On MY Phone But The Cwm Only Supports ext4 Now How I Install Cwm That Supports Ext4+Rfs And I Want To Know Steps Required TO Install A New Rom
THanks In Advance

Install this CWM EXT4+RFS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1421650
or format all partitions in ext4 and install a new rom.

BlackRazorPT said:
Install this CWM EXT4+RFS http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1421650
or format all partitions in ext4 and install a new rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How To Install This Recovery
Do I Have TO Flash This Cwm With My Currently Installed Cwm Thats Supports Ext4?
I Mean With My Current Recovery I Able to Flash A Zip Weather It Is Ext Formatter Or CWM
And I Want To Know Steps To Install A Rom

Which new ROM do you want to install? If you want to install a custom ROM then you don't need RFS support just flash EXT4 Formatter from this link (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1903143) through the current CWM recovery by going to "install zip from sd card" and you re ready to go The same goes for installing a rom.
As far as I Know, CWM with RFS support is only used to make a backup of stock rom