How safe is clockworkmod recovery - T-Mobile Samsung Galaxy S II SGH-T989

Does clockworkmod overwrite the stock recovery? If it does then to me it is not a safe method to root a phone. If something goes wrong while flashing clockwork you will lose the stock recovery and can never reflash anything else. Is my understanding correct? This is why I am hesitant to root my phone. Please advice.
Thanks.

datzstr8 said:
Does clockworkmod overwrite the stock recovery? If it does then to me it is not a safe method to root a phone. If something goes wrong while flashing clockwork you will lose the stock recovery and can never reflash anything else. Is my understanding correct? This is why I am hesitant to root my phone. Please advice.
Thanks.
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Click to collapse
Its fairly safe. You could always flash the recovery thru odin found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1332103

Has anyone tried to flash clockwork and failed? What happened afterwards? I assume odin won't work anymore because it requires a recovery partition to work.
I guess what I am still confused about is if clockwork writes over the stock recovery or does it keep the stock recovery in-tacked. I would prefer the later since then you can never break your phone.

With my dilemma would it be best for me to not install clockwork and just use an insecure kernel? Thanks.

It does overwrite the stock recovery i believe. But its very safe to flash. Ive never heard of someone borking a phone installing cwm recovery.

I have literally NEVER had a problem with clockworkmod, it's one of the best pieces of mobile software I've ever used.

kabuk1 said:
I have literally NEVER had a problem with clockworkmod, it's one of the best pieces of mobile software I've ever used.
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Click to collapse
Whole heartedly agree.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

datzstr8 said:
Has anyone tried to flash clockwork and failed? What happened afterwards? I assume odin won't work anymore because it requires a recovery partition to work.
I guess what I am still confused about is if clockwork writes over the stock recovery or does it keep the stock recovery in-tacked. I would prefer the later since then you can never break your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin has NOTHING to do with the recovery partition. ODIN only works in download mode on your phone. You can have a blank recovery partition and it'll still work, as well as the rom, and flashing other things too. The recovery partition stock has one function, to do a factory reset incase of problems. (Not to be confused with the one from inside android, that only formats /data. This one replaces the system partition as well.) CWM is very safe, I really wouldn't worry about it. Just follow the instructions carefully and you'll be fine.
Also, once you get cwm installed on there, I'd suggest doing a backup before you make any changes. Always handy to have your stock image at hand, just incase.
And also, even with stock recovery, you can still break your phone. It's not easy to brick a GS2, but it can be done. Just remember, as long as you can get the phone into download mode, it's not bricked. You can always odin back the stock partitions if you run into issues.

I was a little worried about using it with this phone. No problems to report. Just had to make backup in recovery.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

Thanks mstrk242 for the great explanation. I thought the "download" and "recovery" were two states of a single program. It is clear now that they are separate. You just cleared all my worries.
You said "It's not easy to brick a GS2, but it can be done," can you tell me how this can happen? Just curious. Thanks much.

If you're going to be rooting/flashing at all, you'll have to get comfortable with cwm, Odin, and the other tools that are available for the phone.
This is my second Android phone, both have been rooted with custom roms, and at any point I've run into trouble (which is rare) I've found the tools and the help I need on here by searching a little bit. If you're willing to spend the time doing a bit of reading and know your way around a computer a bit, you won't have a problem. Just make sure you're 100% sure whatever you're flashing is for YOUR phone hardware.
It's not nearly as scary as it sounds once you get going on it and there's a lot to benefit from it.
Cheers and good luck.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

datzstr8 said:
Thanks mstrk242 for the great explanation. I thought the "download" and "recovery" were two states of a single program. It is clear now that they are separate. You just cleared all my worries.
You said "It's not easy to brick a GS2, but it can be done," can you tell me how this can happen? Just curious. Thanks much.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easiest way is to flash a rom for the wrong phone and mess up the partition table. (IE flash an international version of the gs2 rom, you'll brick.)
As long as you get cwm installed on there, and flash the correct roms, you should really be ok.

You can go back to the stock recovery easily. You can do it through Odin or flash an unroot rom
Sent from my SGH-T989 with ClockworkMod ★Touch★ Recovery 5.8.1.3

Related

[Backup] Stock Rom

Here is a stock rom backup for the Sprint G S III. I made the backup after doing a data wipe, so the rom is pure, no lingering data, ect.
Instructions:
-unzip the .zip file
-move the backup folder into your existing CWM folder on the S III internal memory
-restore in recovery
Again, this is a stock backup as some people need it.
https://dl.dropbox.com/u/19699565/fresh_GSIII_backup.zip
From my dropbox, so hit it easy.
Nice, know of some that will appreciate this.
bizdady said:
Nice, know of some that will appreciate this.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
<3
Warning: if you flash this make sure you clear Google wallets data as shown in a qbking77 video so you don't brick the secure element
Sent from my SPH-L710
How is this in any way a stock rom?
nabbed said:
How is this in any way a stock rom?
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Click to collapse
Give him a break. At least this isn't in development.
And he at least did something that could be useful until we get a real stock rom .zip or .tar
~E.R.A.
nabbed said:
How is this in any way a stock rom?
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Click to collapse
You have been in every thread criticizing everyone else s contributions...what the hell have you contributed?
nabbed said:
How is this in any way a stock rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's not, it's a backup. That's not the point, it's still useful to many users that have possibly screwed their device but still have access to recovery. Especially until something official comes out.
will there be a stock package on odin different than just the stock boot image? my phone is bricked for no apparent reason(see my thread here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1731416) and flashing the stock boot image in odin does nothing. i Also cant get into CWM to flash my backup...
pizzlewizzle said:
will there be a stock package on odin different than just the stock boot image? my phone is bricked for no apparent reason(see my thread here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1731416) and flashing the stock boot image in odin does nothing. i Also cant get into CWM to flash my backup...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Eventually there will be, but a lot of people [to include major developers] still don't have the phone yet, so we'll have to be patient. I looked over it, though currently are you able to get into recovery still or no? Additionally did you try re-flashing the cwm recovery in odin?
I can get into download mode but not into CWMR. The only thing i have tried flashing since it bricked is boot-stock-sprint-sph-l710.tar (which sort of worked the first time). I'm at work and don't have my phone on me so i guess i could try flashing CWMR again later but this is really weird. Thanks for the reply. This is my first Sprint phone, but on my Droid X we had a program similar to Odin where you could push a .sbf file that included everything stock and basically just reset your phone to stock. Do these exist for Sprint phones? The . SBF files were usually rather large(around 350mb or so) but the boot-stock-sprint-sph-l710.tar is around 10 or 15 mb so i know it doesn't include all the system files...
Thanks again
teh roxxorz said:
Eventually there will be, but a lot of people [to include major developers] still don't have the phone yet, so we'll have to be patient. I looked over it, though currently are you able to get into recovery still or no? Additionally did you try re-flashing the cwm recovery in odin?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol i just replied the same thing over on another thread he posted in. Stop jumping around pizzle! if you can get into Odin chances are good you can flash cwm and then restore the backup
hahaha sorry about that. When I try and boot into recovery it looks like its about to go to Recovery and then freezes on the Galaxy S III screen. I'll try reflashing CWMR when I get home...Thanks for the advice
So is a back up a nandriod?
I have made a few but never resorted one, you just flash it same as a ROM and your done?
I misplaced my stock nandroid when I flashed CM10 build 2 and my extFs SD card had to be formatted to use again, I was sure I had in on PC but can't find it.
Thanks!

Help!

So i did the ULVH1 update through ODIN, followed the instructions. Once i was on ODIN picked the file for it. Ran it at firt it said Boot! Then Pass! So phone trys to reset but i get stuck on the reboot screen! Did i just brick the phone? Im rooted and using a custom rom (jedi mind trick v7). I need help on this.
Oh onre more thing. When i was stuck on the reboot. I tried getting into CWM and it got me through. Aren't i suppose to be unrooted already once this update occured?
Reboot loop? If you can get into CWM, you can always wipe, flash, wipe cache to fix things. If you can get into CWM you're still ok.
Now the thing about unroot and recovery, there's sort of different things. You can be unrooted, but still have CWM. CWM just lets you flash new ROMs that aren't manufacturer certified, I believe. I forget the details. So booting into ICS you could be unrooted, but the recovery is still CWM/TWRP
You are much better off using TWRP then CWM.
premiatul said:
You are much better off using TWRP then CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you still use TWRP to flash roms that the OP recommends using CWM or CWM Touch?
I also understand NAND backups you made with CWM won't be restored successfully by TWRP?
So I got it to work. Im a noob on this stuff, so i wasnt sure if the file that XDA had was bad or not. I used a diff. one from phandroid.com. Went through ODIN and it went through with no problem. Lost root and CWM. Basically im back to stock. I eventually rooted again and CWM. But the funny part about it is that why do i still have my pics on the gallery? I thought this deletes everything? Like i said. Im a noob! lol. Everything seems working fine. Screen shots (went back the old way, instead of Power and Volume down.) Also, ISIS is that on google play? :good:
No flashing back to stock does not erase your internal storage.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

Please help! CWM not working at all.

I am running v6.0.1.4 and it won't do anything.
It wont backup, restore, or install, it just freezes.
If I try to run a factory reset or a dalvic cache wipe it freezes too.
Nothing is working and I can't even start my phone because I tried to restore it and again, it froze.
Can anyone help me out here at all? I have no clue what to do, and I really would appreciate the help.
spuzwuzzel said:
I am running v6.0.1.4 and it won't do anything.
It wont backup, restore, or install, it just freezes.
If I try to run a factory reset or a dalvic cache wipe it freezes too.
Nothing is working and I can't even start my phone because I tried to restore it and again, it froze.
Can anyone help me out here at all? I have no clue what to do, and I really would appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin back to stock, or flash twrp and try that. Also this should not be in this section bud. Prepare to be flamed by the community
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
I had the same thing happen to me when I updated to the latest one, it would freeze at either restoring, or wiping cache. Luckily I was able to just reboot, and everything was fine on the phone, I then downgraded to 5.XXX
I've been having the same issue on stock recovery, where it sometimes it freezes at wiping, then flash the one from rom manager and its all good. by the way mods please move the thread to Q/A
Wrong section bro. Please see the noob video.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
You don't have to Odin stock or any of that stuff, just fastboot flash the 6.0.0.5 version (or that last one that worked for you) and you should be fine.
spuzwuzzel said:
I am running v6.0.1.4 and it won't do anything.
It wont backup, restore, or install, it just freezes.
If I try to run a factory reset or a dalvic cache wipe it freezes too.
Nothing is working and I can't even start my phone because I tried to restore it and again, it froze.
Can anyone help me out here at all? I have no clue what to do, and I really would appreciate the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, don't panic. I've been having this twice a day every day for the past little while. I first started having this problem when I flashed MIUI JB, but very soon after every JB ROM out there started hanging on me, or killing my recovery in this fashion. It's fixable, though for the life of me I can't tell you what causes it.
Don't ODIN back to stock. Not yet anyway.
ODIN your very first recovery, just as if you are about to root your phone for the first time. ODIN CWM 5.0.2.7, not 6.0.1.4. Yes, it's ancient, I know. Catch your phone as it's rebooting after the flash, and get it to enter recovery. Don't let it boot into whichever ROM you have installed. Then go to MOUNT > MOUNT USB and attach your phone to the computer. Copy Darkside Superwipe over. Unmount from the computer and unmount from the phone. Then get CWM to run the script. You must superwipe your phone, so if you have something important, hope you have a backup. This time around it won't hang on you.
Your phone is recovered, you can now flash anything you want and it will work. You can restore your nondroid backup as well and this will also work. If your nandroid back is in the new CWM format, you will want to flash CWM v6 first. Feel free to flash whichever recovery works for you, but CWM 5.0.2.7 is your fallback recovery in case you need to recover your phone again. It is the only one that does not seem to get corrupted in this way.
You can ODIN back to stock now if you want to make absolutely sure everything is wiped clean, but in my experience this does not contribute much to the overall cleanliness of things: it's not called Superwipe for nothing. It doesn't hurt, though: as long as you do it AFTER you have superwiped, or not even ODIN will recover your phone. It really scared me once when I skipped the superwipe step and was left with a 100% stock phone which wouldn't boot.
---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ----------
Careful with ODIN: Make sure you have NO PIT file selected, or you will kill your phone! Been there, done that, and I don't recommend it. Do it by the book!
kangelov said:
Ok, don't panic. I've been having this twice a day every day for the past little while. I first started having this problem when I flashed MIUI JB, but very soon after every JB ROM out there started hanging on me, or killing my recovery in this fashion. It's fixable, though for the life of me I can't tell you what causes it.
Don't ODIN back to stock. Not yet anyway.
ODIN your very first recovery, just as if you are about to root your phone for the first time. ODIN CWM 5.0.2.7, not 6.0.1.4. Yes, it's ancient, I know. Catch your phone as it's rebooting after the flash, and get it to enter recovery. Don't let it boot into whichever ROM you have installed. Then go to MOUNT > MOUNT USB and attach your phone to the computer. Copy Darkside Superwipe over. Unmount from the computer and unmount from the phone. Then get CWM to run the script. You must superwipe your phone, so if you have something important, hope you have a backup. This time around it won't hang on you.
Your phone is recovered, you can now flash anything you want and it will work. You can restore your nondroid backup as well and this will also work. If your nandroid back is in the new CWM format, you will want to flash CWM v6 first. Feel free to flash whichever recovery works for you, but CWM 5.0.2.7 is your fallback recovery in case you need to recover your phone again. It is the only one that does not seem to get corrupted in this way.
You can ODIN back to stock now if you want to make absolutely sure everything is wiped clean, but in my experience this does not contribute much to the overall cleanliness of things: it's not called Superwipe for nothing. It doesn't hurt, though: as long as you do it AFTER you have superwiped, or not even ODIN will recover your phone. It really scared me once when I skipped the superwipe step and was left with a 100% stock phone which wouldn't boot.
---------- Post added at 10:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:12 PM ----------
Careful with ODIN: Make sure you have NO PIT file selected, or you will kill your phone! Been there, done that, and I don't recommend it. Do it by the book!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what do you mean my very first recovery? Also, I'm not familiar with Odin, I just install it on my pc right?
Miui JB is what I did too. Love me some Miui, but too many bugs. I can't even find the ICS Miui anymore...
spuzwuzzel said:
what do you mean my very first recovery? Also, I'm not familiar with Odin, I just install it on my pc right?
Miui JB is what I did too. Love me some Miui, but too many bugs. I can't even find the ICS Miui anymore...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Look, I'm sorry for your troubles but there is a good reason why we have four different sections. This thread being in DEVELOPMENT is only causing clutter. You will get much better help if its moved to its proper place, Q&A or general. Please PM a Mod to move this.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
spuzwuzzel said:
what do you mean my very first recovery? Also, I'm not familiar with Odin, I just install it on my pc right?
Miui JB is what I did too. Love me some Miui, but too many bugs. I can't even find the ICS Miui anymore...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am referring to the process you followed to install CWM on a stock phone. It didn't come with CWM already loaded, so you must have loaded it somehow. If not with ODIN, then what did you use?
kangelov said:
I am referring to the process you followed to install CWM on a stock phone. It didn't come with CWM already loaded, so you must have loaded it somehow. If not with ODIN, then what did you use?
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Click to collapse
I dont really know where to find 5.0.2.7. the website doesnt seem to have it. I used revolutionary
Thank you for your contribution to the development of the gs2.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Download the clock work mod app from playstore. Then your first choice after opening the apk, your first possible choice is flash cwm, do that. Pm me after that if you need help. he should be good now thanks
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Rushing said:
Download the clock work mod app from playstore. Then your first choice after opening the apk, your first possible choice is flash cwm, do that. Pm me after that if you need help. he should be good now thanks
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no clockworkmod app, unless you mean rom manager. At least, I can't find any. Also, I can't even get my rom to load at all
spuzwuzzel said:
There is no clockworkmod app, unless you mean rom manager. At least, I can't find any. Also, I can't even get my rom to load at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that you are in the right place, I will help you. It looks like you flashed a corrupted recovery. What you need to is Odin flash CWM. Go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27290471
Download Odin and recovery.tar, and Odin flash it. Will boot up just fine after. Don't fear Odin. Its safe as long as you are careful and READ!!
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
LoopDoGG79 said:
Now that you are in the right place, I will help you. It looks like you flashed a corrupted recovery. What you need to is Odin flash CWM. Go here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=27290471
Download Odin and recovery.tar, and Odin flash it. Will boot up just fine after. Don't fear Odin. Its safe as long as you are careful and READ!!
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya Odin flash the recovery tar is probably the easiest way to go
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
Odin is a tool used internally by Samsung. As such, you can't expect Samsung to write you a manual. Be very careful, you can cause a lot of damage with it. It is powerful, though: it can bring your phone back from the brink of death. Or it can take a healthy phone and send it over the edge. What you are doing now is something every rooter does on day 1, and only after days and days of research. I am uncomfortable with what you are going to do now given that you have never done this before, but you have no choice: it's this or a useless phone.
Here's the rundown:
A PIT file is something like the Master Boot Record of your harddisk. Problem is, the first partition is something like your computer's BIOS: it tells your phone how to bootstrap. It can bootstrap into the normal mode, which runs Android, or it can initiate Download mode. Download mode is what ODIN needs to replace parts or all of your phone's software. If something goes wrong with that bootloader, your phone is something called a hard brick: it won't power on, it won't even run Download mode so that you can recover it back to stock. It is dead. If that ever happens, you need something called a JTAG flash: you send your phone out somewhere, and someone takes it apart, hopefully carefully, plugs a programmer into an engineering port on your phone's logic board, and reprograms the bootloader back again). Now with PIT file having the major potential to trash things completely, you really have to pay attention you don't load the wrong one. Problem is, the ODIN you just downloaded DOES come with a PIT file, and that PIT file is WRONG for your device. Follow the instructions! Follow the instructions really really carefully. Don't check off extra things! Don't uncheck things that should be checked! Don't add PIT files! Make sure you load the right file to the right place in ODIN. Your phone depends on it.
ODIN will program your phone from scratch, but you wouldn't want to use it too often. It's a dangerous tool, as you can imagine, and it is meant to replace your phone's software, not maintain it! That's why we have Recovery. Recovery is what you use to do basic maintenance to Android, such as factory reset and clean cache and stuff. With those custom recoveries out there, you gain the added ability to flash custom ROMs and a few other things as well, which is what this forum is all about. So, step one in anyone seeking to root their phone is, flash a custom recovery using ODIN, since you need Download mode for that. In an ideal world, you will never need to use ODIN again after you flash your custom recovery. Well, in the real world, you should needed it only very infrequently.
Your phone first got its custom recovery from a tool designed to automate things for you, and sent you flashing without ever giving you an idea how your phone works. Now you don't know how to recover your phone from a flash gone wrong: in the long run that tool did not do any favours to you. The steps I gave you will bring your phone back to life, it brought mine several times already. Something about those new JB ROMs corrupts every recovery I have tried. I don't know why, I don't know how, but it does it. To make matters worse, ODIN without a proper PIT file cannot repartition your phone and fix whatever mess caused the problem to begin with, so restoring stock directly won't do the trick, you need to flash custom recovery, to fix recovery, and then Superwipe to recreate and realign your system, data and cache partitions: that's a good chunk of your phone. So, after you do this, you should be back in business. From beginning to end, if you know what you are doing, the entire process should not take more than 30 minutes, but don't rush. Take your time: take hours, take days. Take all the time you need.
Read before you do anything, and ask if you don't understand.
I have this issue every now and then when I use the stock recovery (the one i use to root) with ODIN, where it get stuck on everytime i try to wipe or flash, What I used to do is factory stock with Odin, then realize the even though it froze on wiping factory data, the rom wiped!! so what i do know is install rom manager and flash their recovery and problem solve,
this thread is very useful thanks guys.
by the way i dont flash JB roms yet until I they completely fix the call issues so. do you think its not only JB roms?
gypsy214 said:
I have this issue every now and then when I use the stock recovery (the one i use to root) with ODIN, where it get stuck on everytime i try to wipe or flash, What I used to do is factory stock with Odin, then realize the even though it froze on wiping factory data, the rom wiped!! so what i do know is install rom manager and flash their recovery and problem solve,
this thread is very useful thanks guys.
by the way i dont flash JB roms yet until I they completely fix the call issues so. do you think its not only JB roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have had the problem you describe as well. Some ROMs like certain recoveries better than others and if you end up with the wrong combo, they don't boot. Flashing the right recovery after that fixes it instantly, without even a need to reflash the ROM. No, this is a different problem.
We are talking about a problem where flashing a ROM corrupts your recovery so it will stop working on you completely: it just hangs, it won't restore, it won't flash anything. Also, one or more of the ROM partitions on your phone get corrupted somehow so that even ODIN back to stock doesn't get your phone working again (you end up with a fully stock phone that doesn't boot). Maybe the two are related, but I will let those who know more speak. I am just a regular guy who fiddles with his phone a lot more than he should.
As for the problem being on JB only: I've only had it when flashing JB ROMs. I first noticed it with MIUI, but then AOKP started acting up, and when I finally dared to flash a CM10 unofficial nightly for the first time, it happened too... And then I noticed it doesn't happen always, only sometimes, and other times it just leaves me with a JB ROM that doesn't boot, and in some rare occasions: it works without a hitch. Go figure.

[Q] What Am I Doing Wrong...?

I have unbricked this phone probably 15 times in the past day trying to just install a custom ROM.
I run through the unbricking process, get root, load the stock AT&T ROM, factory reset, and it boots just fine from there. However, after I load Clockwork Mod and try to load any custom ROMs at all, the phone will just bootloop forever. It also appears to remove the Clockwork Mod recovery image as well, since I no longer am able to get back into recovery after the flash of the new ROM.
I've scoured this forum for hours, and I'm at a complete loss. Any ideas?
P.S. I made a backup of my ROM before doing all of this using the latest version of Clockwork Mod, but was unable to restore it. It seems that the 6.x.x.x version of the recovery for this phone is busted in some way, it always reports that it can't access any of the root folders, even though the phone has been rooted. The 5.x.x.x versions don't seem to do this, but I still have issues flashing.
SectorNine50 said:
I have unbricked this phone probably 15 times in the past day trying to just install a custom ROM.
I run through the unbricking process, get root, load the stock AT&T ROM, factory reset, and it boots just fine from there. However, after I load Clockwork Mod and try to load any custom ROMs at all, the phone will just bootloop forever. It also appears to remove the Clockwork Mod recovery image as well, since I no longer am able to get back into recovery after the flash of the new ROM.
I've scoured this forum for hours, and I'm at a complete loss. Any ideas?
P.S. I made a backup of my ROM before doing all of this using the latest version of Clockwork Mod, but was unable to restore it. It seems that the 6.x.x.x version of the recovery for this phone is busted in some way, it always reports that it can't access any of the root folders, even though the phone has been rooted. The 5.x.x.x versions don't seem to do this, but I still have issues flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible that your hosts file needs modifying when installing the AT&T ROM? If the LG Support tool connects to LG's servers instead of your local http you set up, it will load the official ICS and completely wipe your phone to install that ROM... With my limited amount of knowledge, that's about all I could see if the process removes CWM Recovery.
Also, CWM 6.x is working fine for me, even manually flashed the touch recovery a few minutes ago, backed up my ROM and installed an updated ROM. No problems at all.
SectorNine50 said:
I have unbricked this phone probably 15 times in the past day trying to just install a custom ROM.
I run through the unbricking process, get root, load the stock AT&T ROM, factory reset, and it boots just fine from there. However, after I load Clockwork Mod and try to load any custom ROMs at all, the phone will just bootloop forever. It also appears to remove the Clockwork Mod recovery image as well, since I no longer am able to get back into recovery after the flash of the new ROM.
I've scoured this forum for hours, and I'm at a complete loss. Any ideas?
P.S. I made a backup of my ROM before doing all of this using the latest version of Clockwork Mod, but was unable to restore it. It seems that the 6.x.x.x version of the recovery for this phone is busted in some way, it always reports that it can't access any of the root folders, even though the phone has been rooted. The 5.x.x.x versions don't seem to do this, but I still have issues flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if anyone has tried the unbrick method with the new version of cwm but you might try twrp. When a similar version of cwm was in beta there were all sorts of issues. So maybe they haven't been fixed. Also are you installing cwm from GB? ICS has a locked boot loader so that might also be an issue.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1888910
Now I would start with the unbricking guide for a 16th time but follow the directions to install twrp instead of cwm. You might also find you like it better. Good luck.
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
lordcheeto03 said:
Is it possible that your hosts file needs modifying when installing the AT&T ROM? If the LG Support tool connects to LG's servers instead of your local http you set up, it will load the official ICS and completely wipe your phone to install that ROM... With my limited amount of knowledge, that's about all I could see if the process removes CWM Recovery.
Also, CWM 6.x is working fine for me, even manually flashed the touch recovery a few minutes ago, backed up my ROM and installed an updated ROM. No problems at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe that the unbricking process would work if the hosts file was wrong, but I checked it again anyway, and it appears to be correct.
The AT&T ROM gets pushed via the abd shell after the unbrick and rooting process. The root appears to work, as the AT&T ROM that I push works fine, it's just not the ROM I want!
Swetnes said:
I don't know if anyone has tried the unbrick method with the new version of cwm but you might try twrp. When a similar version of cwm was in beta there were all sorts of issues. So maybe they haven't been fixed. Also are you installing cwm from GB? ICS has a locked boot loader so that might also be an issue.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1888910
Now I would start with the unbricking guide for a 16th time but follow the directions to install twrp instead of cwm. You might also find you like it better. Good luck.
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After the unbricking process (after I get through all the nonsense on the Korean ROM), the phone is running the GB AT&T ROM, from there I push the CWM recovery.img to the phone using the abd shell. All seems to be working perfectly up until I go to flash the custom ROM! I don't get any errors when I flash the .zip either.
Initially I had installed CWM 6.x.x.x using the ROM Manager application. That's before all this nonsense started, and the phone was on the stock (but rooted) AT&T ICS ROM, so I know that's why I "bricked" my phone the first time.
I'll give TWRP a shot, hopefully that will work.
SectorNine50 said:
I don't believe that the unbricking process would work if the hosts file was wrong, but I checked it again anyway, and it appears to be correct.
The AT&T ROM gets pushed via the abd shell after the unbrick and rooting process. The root appears to work, as the AT&T ROM that I push works fine, it's just not the ROM I want!
After the unbricking process (after I get through all the nonsense on the Korean ROM), the phone is running the GB AT&T ROM, from there I push the CWM recovery.img to the phone using the abd shell. All seems to be working perfectly up until I go to flash the custom ROM! I don't get any errors when I flash the .zip either.
Initially I had installed CWM 6.x.x.x using the ROM Manager application. That's before all this nonsense started, and the phone was on the stock (but rooted) AT&T ICS ROM, so I know that's why I "bricked" my phone the first time.
I'll give TWRP a shot, hopefully that will work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so we know it's not the boot loader issue of ICS after dozens if not hundreds of successful installs using the unbricking guide the only thing left is the new version of cwm. Hopefully twrp will do the trick for you. Has anyone out there successfully completed the unbricking guide with the new version of cwm?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
Swetnes said:
Ok so we know it's not the boot loader issue of ICS after dozens if not hundreds of successful installs using the unbricking guide the only thing left is the new version of cwm. Hopefully twrp will do the trick for you. Has anyone out there successfully completed the unbricking guide with the new version of cwm?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't tried the TWRP recovery a shot yet, since I haven't been home, but I figured it was worth pointing out that the CWM 5.x.x.x (can't remember exact version numbers right now) didn't work for me either. Every time I flashed a ROM, I'd end up with a boot loop on first boot, and then when I'd try to go back into recovery, I'd find that it wouldn't go back in there either.
It was basically acting like when I flashed the ROM that it overwrote the recovery partition, except no one else seems to have this same issue. Yet, if I didn't flash a ROM, I was able to go in and out of CWM recovery as often as I wanted.
Bah.
SectorNine50 said:
I haven't tried the TWRP recovery a shot yet, since I haven't been home, but I figured it was worth pointing out that the CWM 5.x.x.x (can't remember exact version numbers right now) didn't work for me either. Every time I flashed a ROM, I'd end up with a boot loop on first boot, and then when I'd try to go back into recovery, I'd find that it wouldn't go back in there either.
It was basically acting like when I flashed the ROM that it overwrote the recovery partition, except no one else seems to have this same issue. Yet, if I didn't flash a ROM, I was able to go in and out of CWM recovery as often as I wanted.
Bah.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you clarify exactly what method you are using to flash the ROM? I just can't imagine a scenario where flashing a ROM would overwrite the recovery. What ROM are you flashing?
Also, please confirm what phone you have.
drumist said:
Can you clarify exactly what method you are using to flash the ROM? I just can't imagine a scenario where flashing a ROM would overwrite the recovery. What ROM are you flashing?
Also, please confirm what phone you have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure, I may be using the wrong term (my first experiences with custom ROMs date back to Windows Mobile, so the terminology probably blends together), but I'm basically loading the .zip from the SD Card in CWM. I've tried both the CM9 P930 ROM and Paranoid Android CM10.
That was my thought too, I didn't think that the custom ROMs even had recovery images in them. I may be wrong in saying that it deletes CWM, but after the wipe and flash I am no longer able to access it.
I have the LG Nitro HD, and from what I can gather, that is the P930, correct? I hope the issue I'm having is as simple as I'm flashing for the wrong phone...
By the way, thank you all for your help and input, I really appreciate it!
SectorNine50 said:
Sure, I may be using the wrong term (my first experiences with custom ROMs date back to Windows Mobile, so the terminology probably blends together), but I'm basically loading the .zip from the SD Card in CWM. I've tried both the CM9 P930 ROM and Paranoid Android CM10.
That was my thought too, I didn't think that the custom ROMs even had recovery images in them. I may be wrong in saying that it deletes CWM, but after the wipe and flash I am no longer able to access it.
I have the LG Nitro HD, and from what I can gather, that is the P930, correct? I hope the issue I'm having is as simple as I'm flashing for the wrong phone...
By the way, thank you all for your help and input, I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct, the Nitro is P930. And I'm sure this doesn't need pointing out, but when you download the ROM, make sure it's for P93x and not SU640. Most of the ROMS in the developer section have versions for both models.
Also, when you say you can't access CWM after flashing a ROM, how are you trying to access it? Holding Power+Volume down until the Factory Reset screen pops up? It still shows that screen even with CWM installed, but when you press the power button to perform the factory reset it SHOULD take you into CWM Recovery instead.
SectorNine50 said:
Sure, I may be using the wrong term (my first experiences with custom ROMs date back to Windows Mobile, so the terminology probably blends together), but I'm basically loading the .zip from the SD Card in CWM. I've tried both the CM9 P930 ROM and Paranoid Android CM10.
That was my thought too, I didn't think that the custom ROMs even had recovery images in them. I may be wrong in saying that it deletes CWM, but after the wipe and flash I am no longer able to access it.
I have the LG Nitro HD, and from what I can gather, that is the P930, correct? I hope the issue I'm having is as simple as I'm flashing for the wrong phone...
By the way, thank you all for your help and input, I really appreciate it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To access recovery, turn the device completely off. (If you're in a bootloop, pull battery or hold power button for ~20 seconds until screen stays off.) Then when phone is off, press and hold volume down and power buttons at the same time, not releasing until you see text asking if you want to factory reset. Press power button twice to confirm and you'll get to recovery.
Is this the method you're using to try to get to CWM?
My guess as to why you are getting bootloops is that you aren't wiping data first.
Yup, that's how I'm accessing CWM. After the flash, after I press the power button twice, I get something similar to a boot loop. A recovery boot loop, if you will.
Well, I've tried a couple ways now. I've tried using the "factory reset/wipe user data" menu item in CWM, and I've tried going into each partition and wiping them individually before flashing as well.
Just got home, I'll try flashing using the TWRP and let you guys know.
SectorNine50 said:
Yup, that's how I'm accessing CWM. After the flash, after I press the power button twice, I get something similar to a boot loop. A recovery boot loop, if you will.
Well, I've tried a couple ways now. I've tried using the "factory reset/wipe user data" menu item in CWM, and I've tried going into each partition and wiping them individually before flashing as well.
Just got home, I'll try flashing using the TWRP and let you guys know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck. Other possible things to try:
1) Check zip MD5 hash (or just redownload and replace) to make sure it's not corrupted.
2) Reformat entire SD card.
Interesting update:
I decided to give getting back into CWM recovery one more shot before I went through the process of re-unbricking again, and this time it managed to get in (for whatever reason).
So, I did a factory wipe, cleared dalvik cache, flashed the ParanoidAndroid ROM, backed out, did another factory wipe, and tried to reboot into the newly flashed ROM.
No luck. Boot looped, and didn't even get to the ROM animation. Following that, I had trouble getting back into the CWM recovery. Managed to try about 5 times and finally got in, however CWM stated:
Code:
CWM-based Recovery v5.0.2.7
E:Error in /cache/recovery/last_log
(Read-only file system)
So... my phone may have potentially unrooted it's self, somehow... Interestingly, it still shows the file systems as mounted.
So, now I'm doing a full SD card reformat. Figured I'd get that variable out of the way before I go any further.
SectorNine50 said:
Interesting update:
I decided to give getting back into CWM recovery one more shot before I went through the process of re-unbricking again, and this time it managed to get in (for whatever reason).
So, I did a factory wipe, cleared dalvik cache, flashed the ParanoidAndroid ROM, backed out, did another factory wipe, and tried to reboot into the newly flashed ROM.
No luck. Boot looped, and didn't even get to the ROM animation. Following that, I had trouble getting back into the CWM recovery. Managed to try about 5 times and finally got in, however CWM stated:
Code:
CWM-based Recovery v5.0.2.7
E:Error in /cache/recovery/last_log
(Read-only file system)
So... my phone may have potentially unrooted it's self, somehow... Interestingly, it still shows the file systems as mounted.
So, now I'm doing a full SD card reformat. Figured I'd get that variable out of the way before I go any further.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are installing the wrong version of CWM. Never use anything older than 5.8.2.0. This is the one you want: http://download2.clockworkmod.com/recoveries/recovery-clockwork-5.8.2.0-p930.img
Anything older than that is known to not work.
Second thing: You seem to have an incorrect understanding of what "root" means. Having "root" simply means you have administrator access to your current ROM. When you install a new ROM, whether you had root access to your old ROM is meaningless frankly.
drumist said:
You are installing the wrong version of CWM. Never use anything older than 5.8.2.0. This is the one you want: http://download2.clockworkmod.com/recoveries/recovery-clockwork-5.8.2.0-p930.img
Anything older than that is known to not work.
Second thing: You seem to have an incorrect understanding of what "root" means. Having "root" simply means you have administrator access to your current ROM. When you install a new ROM, whether you had root access to your old ROM is meaningless frankly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, thank you! I must've been viewing an old thread. Now that I look at the version number, it appears that's the version I had been hunting for since the newest one didn't work.
Interesting, I most certainly misunderstood, I was under the impression that "rooting" the device was a filesystem level permission change. Good to know!
It seems like we are getting closer to a solution here. Thanks for your patience!
Well, that appears to have been my problem the whole time! That's kind of embarrassing, considering how much time I sunk into this and how simple the solution was!
Anyway, thank you all very much! I assume that TWRP would have also solved my problems as well. It would seem that both the older and newest versions of CWM have some problems (at least for me!).
SectorNine50 said:
Well, that appears to have been my problem the whole time! That's kind of embarrassing, considering how much time I sunk into this and how simple the solution was!
Anyway, thank you all very much! I assume that TWRP would have also solved my problems as well. It would seem that both the older and newest versions of CWM have some problems (at least for me!).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, the new one (6.0.1.5) just came out. I'll have to test it to see if it works for me.
For what it's worth, I haven't had any issues with 6.0.1.5 yet. The touch version is a must, though.
Malnilion said:
For what it's worth, I haven't had any issues with 6.0.1.5 yet. The touch version is a must, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you had a chance to compare to twrp?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
Swetnes said:
Have you had a chance to compare to twrp?
Sent from my LG-P930 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I really enjoy the integration Rom Manager/CM Updater has with CWM. If twrp is capable of running the install scripts those two use, I might consider trying it out, but I don't really like manually going through the steps to flash a rom every day.

SGS III L710 Unable to Mount /anything

A strange predicament indeed. Two identical SPH-L710 phones, both came packaged running 4.1.2 build MD4 and, using this toolkit, I was able to successfully root, flash TWRP recovery and proceed to flash a custom ROM with no issues...at least to one of the phones.
My problems began with the second device. I was able to successfully root and flash recovery (TWRP or CWM) here as well. I question the success of the recovery flash due to the picture as indicated where I get numerous 'unable to...' everything. I might also add that on recovery entry TWRP asks for a password. I am not bricked as I can boot normally into the OS and use the rooted phone. I feel like I have tried everything I could find on this forum as well as several other sites to no avail. I have downgraded to 4.1.1 build LJ7 with the exact same results. I have repartitioned as well. Right now the second device is running build LJ7 since I have come to a screeching halt until I find more things to flash and hack away at this stubborn thing!
This is by no means my first bout with the Android platform, but if anyone can give me a pointer or two to set me on the right path, I will gladly hand out some thank yous!!
I had the same issue on mine. Dropping back to TWRP 2.3.1 solved it for me. Some L-710s just seem to not like the updated version.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using XDA
You can try Flash Image GUI from the Play Store. Or maybe even Rom Manager. Then Uninstall it when you are done.
jdonmc1948 said:
I had the same issue on mine. Dropping back to TWRP 2.3.1 solved it for me. Some L-710s just seem to not like the updated version.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I initially flashed all the way back to the TWRP build before 2.3.1 but stopped there. I'll report back with results of your recommendation in the morning!
prboy1969 said:
You can try Flash Image GUI from the Play Store. Or maybe even Rom Manager. Then Uninstall it when you are done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ROM Manager was something I tried as a last resort as well, it flashed the custom recovery alright, but soft bricked it with a redundant recovery bootloop. I got past that by Odin-ing back to stock.
Odd. I've used the Toolkit you mentioned in your OP. Also the other methods to install a Recovery. Did you manage to Root again, and install a Recovery ?
prboy1969 said:
Odd. I've used the Toolkit you mentioned in your OP. Also the other methods to install a Recovery. Did you manage to Root again, and install a Recovery ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I can easily root every time with Mark's toolkit as well as install a recovery, but I always get the 'unable to mount...' message when I attempt to do anything and it will not recognize neither the internal nor the external sdcard.
jdonmc1948 said:
I had the same issue on mine. Dropping back to TWRP 2.3.1 solved it for me. Some L-710s just seem to not like the updated version.
Sent from my SPH-L710 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UPDATE: Still in the same boat even after flashing all the way back to TWRP 2.2.2.0. Recovery can't find or mount anything!
Although I'm not sure why (since I used the same methods and the same toolkit on both phones), I have a feeling that the internal memory and/or partitions somehow got corrupted. The only thing I haven't tried is using Odin to repartition and reflash everything including the bootloader. Hopefully someone has posted the files for us!
n3td3v said:
Yes, I can easily root every time with Mark's toolkit as well as install a recovery, but I always get the 'unable to mount...' message when I attempt to do anything and it will not recognize neither the internal nor the external sdcard.
UPDATE: Still in the same boat even after flashing all the way back to TWRP 2.2.2.0. Recovery can't find or mount anything!
Although I'm not sure why (since I used the same methods and the same toolkit on both phones), I have a feeling that the internal memory and/or partitions somehow got corrupted. The only thing I haven't tried is using Odin to repartition and reflash everything including the bootloader. Hopefully someone has posted the files for us!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you can do that with mskip's Toolkit. I would also reformat the SD Card. To format the SD Card you can use SD Formatter.
prboy1969 said:
I believe you can do that with mskip's Toolkit. I would also reformat the SD Card. To format the SD Card you can use SD Formatter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried formatting the sdcard as well as without the sdcard and even with a different one to no avail. I'm still on the hunt for pda, csc, etc. Odin files. My last resort will be to figure out how to get it replaced at Sprint as a defective device lol
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium
Have you tried using stock recovery? obviously not to flash anything but just to try and navigate the sd or wipe the cache for example. Just curious if the mounting issues are present in all recoveries or just twrp/cwm. Also a bit intrigued by the fact that the phone still boots and operates normally
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
billard412 said:
Have you tried using stock recovery? obviously not to flash anything but just to try and navigate the sd or wipe the cache for example. Just curious if the mounting issues are present in all recoveries or just twrp/cwm. Also a bit intrigued by the fact that the phone still boots and operates normally
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, stock recovery allows clearing of cache, depending on whose stock recovery I flash. If I flash the toolkit version of stock, I can clear no problems. There are a couple of other stock recoveries, such as this one, in which everything fails as well.
FYI, I have even flashed the stock builds you have on sxtp with the same results.
Thanks for this -- you solved my problem...at least mostly.
I tried to root a new Sprint SG3 by ODIN'ing CWM and then flashing a root.zip file. That epic failed just like your situation where nothing would mount in recovery whether I used CWM or TWRP. I am assuming that something must've changed on the Sprint S3's and that root method must not work anymore (for whatever reason). So I decided to go back to stock recovery and just wait and see if anything further is discovered about this here (I'm not a dev, so I have to wait for other more talented people to solve my problems). However, the stock recovery image that I downloaded from the same "Easy Root" tutorial here didn't work and I still couldn't mount anything.
Saw your post where you stated that the Toolkit stock recovery image worked, so I just tried that and score! However...my poor little recovery android is on his back with a red triangle and a "!". Everything mounts, I can wipe cache, browse around for an update, etc., but I'm a little concerned that my little Android is sick. Should I be? Is that because I have a flash count of 5 so it thinks I have a custom ROM?
Sorry to hijack your thread a little, but my problems seems to be related.
n3td3v said:
A strange predicament indeed. Two identical SPH-L710 phones, both came packaged running 4.1.2 build MD4 and, using this toolkit, I was able to successfully root, flash TWRP recovery and proceed to flash a custom ROM with no issues...at least to one of the phones.
My problems began with the second device. I was able to successfully root and flash recovery (TWRP or CWM) here as well. I question the success of the recovery flash due to the picture as indicated where I get numerous 'unable to...' everything. I might also add that on recovery entry TWRP asks for a password. I am not bricked as I can boot normally into the OS and use the rooted phone. I feel like I have tried everything I could find on this forum as well as several other sites to no avail. I have downgraded to 4.1.1 build LJ7 with the exact same results. I have repartitioned as well. Right now the second device is running build LJ7 since I have come to a screeching halt until I find more things to flash and hack away at this stubborn thing!
This is by no means my first bout with the Android platform, but if anyone can give me a pointer or two to set me on the right path, I will gladly hand out some thank yous!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just got a brand new GS3 today and am having the exact same problem you describe. I have rooted several GS3s before... normally is child's play. I am a bit embarrassed to get stuck here. CWM nor TWRP mount anything... major bummer. TWRP prompts me for a password as if it thinks it is an encrypted /data partition... strange.
swiggs98 said:
I just got a brand new GS3 today and am having the exact same problem you describe. I have rooted several GS3s before... normally is child's play. I am a bit embarrassed to get stuck here. CWM nor TWRP mount anything... major bummer. TWRP prompts me for a password as if it thinks it is an encrypted /data partition... strange.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same boat. Rooted probably 6 S3 before now and my wife's new S3 I am seeing same thing.
Sent from my SPH-L900 using xda app-developers app
I'm having the same issue. I finally downloaded an image that allowed me to flash it but I still cannot mount anything in recovery? Any help would be nice
Thanks guys, it is comforting to know I'm not the only poor soul stuck in this rut! I'm pretty sure I have exhausted all flashing resources out there at this point, but I'm eager to try whatever new that has potential of working that anyone cares to conjure up.
One strange thing I have also noticed on the problematic phone is that the signal is significantly weaker than my phone, even when both were at stock. It is always dropping calls and/or going into roaming, etc. I haven't been able to produce a log of any sort as they won't write since recovery cannot mount ANYTHING! Lol
n3td3v said:
Thanks guys, it is comforting to know I'm not the only poor soul stuck in this rut! I'm pretty sure I have exhausted all flashing resources out there at this point, but I'm eager to try whatever new that has potential of working that anyone cares to conjure up.
One strange thing I have also noticed on the problematic phone is that the signal is significantly weaker than my phone, even when both were at stock. It is always dropping calls and/or going into roaming, etc. I haven't been able to produce a log of any sort as they won't write since recovery cannot mount ANYTHING! Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Folks, A quick search would have led ya here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2183910&page=4 This is a known issue with both TWRP and CWM recoveries on newer S3's. Devs are working on it to find a solution. Just a matter of being patient and waiting. IF you just want root access, you can odin a pre-rooted rom to the phone with no issues. You'll atleast have root at that point. Just unable to change rom/kernels on the fly.
I achieved root with virtually no issues but thank you for the link!
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda premium

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