Develop Bugs

[Q] Nooby Questions about Flashing/Rooting/ROMs.

So, I guess I'll begin by saying I'm new to Android. I feel so dumb saying that, but that should clear thing up a bit, as I have no clue about what "flashing" is, or "modems," and Lord help me, because "Odin" sounds like a really funny name.
So, I do have some precedents with iOS, and I know how to work with that, but I am a total noob with Android.
So now on to the Questions, there will be a few.
1) How to Root Epic 4G Touch- How safe is it? I do know I get things like Clockwork Mod, which I believe is for loading things.
2) Installing Custom ROMs- How do I "flash" these ROMs, and what exactly is flashing? I have been looking at certain ROMs, and I guess it is down to Starburst and Caulkin's.
3) Does Rooting/Installing erase the things on my phone?- I currently have my phone loaded with things, will rooting/installing ROMs delete this? How can I create backups?
4)LoS- I heard LoS happens more often on rooted phones. Is this true?
5) Kernels- What in the same hell is this?- Any best one of these out there? What do they do?
6) Tutorials for any of these?
Oh, and I'd like to say that I'm stock, running modem( can someone tell me what this is again?) EG30. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks guys. I'll update the thread if I have any new questions. xD

1) watch and follow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExN-Y2pfxA
so far its kinds controversial wether its safe or not but i think it is
2)first turn off your phone second hold power and vol up and it will turn on into clockwork mode then wipe data/factory reset from menu then wipe cache from menu. choose install zip from menu then click choose from sd. then find it and click and install.
3) rooting and unrooting won't wipe data but installing roms will
4) its been shown on both rooted and unrooted phones so we really don't know.
5)DONT PLAY WITH THESE unless you know what your doing
i think they are the #1 reasons for soft bricking phones.
i don't exactly know how to explain it but they affect how your phone does what it does
whether it over clocking of voodoo color
6) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1268548

gtuansdiamm said:
1) watch and follow http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExN-Y2pfxA
so far its kinds controversial wether its safe or not but i think it is
2)first turn off your phone second hold power and vol up and it will turn on into clockwork mode then wipe data/factory reset from menu then wipe cache from menu. choose install zip from menu then click choose from sd. then find it and click and install.
3) rooting and unrooting won't wipe data but installing roms will
4) its been shown on both rooted and unrooted phones so we really don't know.
5)DONT PLAY WITH THESE unless you know what your doing
i think they are the #1 reasons for soft bricking phones.
i don't exactly know who to explain it but they affect how your phone does what it does
whether it over clocking of voodoo color
6) http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1268548
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, just one more question, have you rooted? I want to know from people whose phones are successfully rooted, as I don't know much about Android, and I would probably kill myself if I ****ed up such a beautiful piece of machinery.

yup im rooted and i got to say i like my phone being rooted
there are less restrictions placed and since i have had android for while now and my last phone was rooted i coulnt stand being not rooted
also i used to have los daily once or twice but it was drastically reduced after doing this : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5VDxEnO1tow for me

you can also try out the one click root option that located in the top of the dev section it works great and you dont have to us ODIN to root you phone. Just remember to read read and read you will find all your answers that way
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342728

ewalk4866 said:
you can also try out the one click root option that located in the top of the dev section it works great and you dont have to us ODIN to root you phone. Just remember to read read and read you will find all your answers that way
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342728
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this let me flash Starburst ROM?

Oh, and one more thing, this doesn't mess with phone activation, etc. Right? Or would I have to re-activate the phone or something once I flash a ROM/root?

F3L1XZS said:
Will this let me flash Starburst ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will let you install any rom that you want as long as you also insstall clockwork mod (CWM5) it also in the instructions on how to root.
No this will not mess up your activation just start flashing roms till you find one you like. please just remember to do a backup inside cwm once you are rooted you will see an option there for it. This will let you go right back to how your phones is right now.

Thank you so much! Also, last nooby question, I promise, I heard something about a Binary counter with Odin, will flashing roms/rooting with that one click root increase it? Also, what happens when it does increase?
Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App

I have another question. I'm currently rooted with EG30 but have not installed any roms. When it says to do a wipe does this also wipe the data from my internal and external sd cards?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

ashevillemike said:
I have another question. I'm currently rooted with EG30 but have not installed any roms. When it says to do a wipe does this also wipe the data from my internal and external sd cards?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it will not wipe any sd card data
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

F3L1XZS said:
Thank you so much! Also, last nooby question, I promise, I heard something about a Binary counter with Odin, will flashing roms/rooting with that one click root increase it? Also, what happens when it does increase?
Thanks.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes once you flash cwm you will have a binary count but if you go on eBay and search for USB jig it will reset the binary count for you
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

ashevillemike said:
I have another question. I'm currently rooted with EG30 but have not installed any roms. When it says to do a wipe does this also wipe the data from my internal and external sd cards?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming you are using ClockWorkMod, wiping data and cache will not affect the information on your external SD card. If you select "advanced" from the CWM main menu, it will provide an option for partitioning the SD card. I haven't messed with that item, but I'm guessing it could wipe data from the external SD card.
I use the ClockWorkMod backup/recovery and it works great. I also use Titanium Backup. It will allow you to backup all of your applications and files and then restore after you've wiped everything and installed a new ROM. Titanium also requires rooting.
I started out using the Odin ROM and has some issues, so I reloaded the stock ROM and then flashed the Starburst ROM with LoST kernal. I'm having great success...great battery life and all is well.

No when you wipe data its on the phone but not pictures on the SD card. Its easy once you get going.
Email me if needed I can walk u thru.

txbatman90 said:
Assuming you are using ClockWorkMod, wiping data and cache will not affect the information on your external SD card. If you select "advanced" from the CWM main menu, it will provide an option for partitioning the SD card. I haven't messed with that item, but I'm guessing it could wipe data from the external SD card.
I use the ClockWorkMod backup/recovery and it works great. I also use Titanium Backup. It will allow you to backup all of your applications and files and then restore after you've wiped everything and installed a new ROM. Titanium also requires rooting.
I started out using the Odin ROM and has some issues, so I reloaded the stock ROM and then flashed the Starburst ROM with LoST kernal. I'm having great success...great battery life and all is well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't I have an advanced option in CWM? ROM manager says that I have the latest version (5. 0.2.7)
I tried to flash the EK02 zip and got an invalid signature file error in cwm and the installation was aborted. I did wipe data and cache beforehand. Can anyone tell me why this happened?
Thanks,
Mike
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk

[Q] CWM recovery and the DHD

Hi guys.
I have some question, mostly out of interest really that may help me understand flashing etal better.
When in CWM recovery, if I want to flash a new ROM, I use a fullwipe.zip that I found on this site, to, well, wipe the phone
The last thing wipe.zip says is make sure you install a new ROM.
Now, as I have, afaik, performed a full wipe, if I were to reboot after the wipe and before flashing a new ROM, would I brick the phone, or would it just boot into bootloader etc...
Would CWM recovery still be present on the phone after the wipe is it just running in ram or something?
I also have a load of other questions. But they can wait.
Cheers dudes.
Greg.
Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

I've never done this, so I'm curious to know what happens exactly.
But as far as i'm aware if you were to boot the phone without a rom installed, you would just get a blank screen or maybe the splash screen. Recovery stays installed, which is good news because you need to get back there to install a rom or the phone won't work. So to do that you would have to plug the phone in and use adb to get back to recovery with "adb reboot recovery" or if that doesn't work, pull the battery, hold vol down + power to get to bootloader and then get to recovery that way to install a rom.

If you run the phone without os you get stuck in a bootloop i think. After that not sure what happeness. It's always easier to install 4EXT recovery, dowload any ROM you like from here and flash through 4EXT. No need for any full wipe scripts since a full wipe is format data/system/cache, erase dalvik which is very simple in 4EXT.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

answer on your question:
CWM still works, even if you flashed a fullwipe or "superwipe".
But, i just want you to know, that you get other problems if you tried to unlocked your bootloader via htcdev, within flashin new roms.

Lol i dont get it,you wiped her,why would you want to blast off into oblivion
Interesting though,rather start picking my rom out?
Theres so much choice now
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App

If you do that you will be stuck in boot loop as no OS is installed and yes you will still have CWM available. To get out of the boot loop just remove the battery. And then just press vol down and power to get into hboot and then you can get into recovery from there.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda premium

arknailed7754 said:
Lol i dont get it,you wiped her,why would you want to blast off into oblivion
Interesting though,rather start picking my rom out?
Theres so much choice now
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey dude. It was purely out of interest.
I was thinking about this after i flashed the LC ICS ROM.
I used CWM to full wipe and flash the new rom zip, but it seemed to install very quickly.
So quickly in fact I thought that it couldn't have installed correctly.
I didn't want to reboot incase the rom hadn't taken and I bricked my DHD so I ended up restoring a nandroid backup I'd made before wiping the phone.
But if CWM recovery would remain on the phone even after a wipe, then I can take the gamble that it had installed.
Cheers for your answers dudes.

TeamDraven said:
Hey dude. It was purely out of interest.
I was thinking about this after i flashed the LC ICS ROM.
I used CWM to full wipe and flash the new rom zip, but it seemed to install very quickly.
So quickly in fact I thought that it couldn't have installed correctly.
I didn't want to reboot incase the rom hadn't taken and I bricked my DHD so I ended up restoring a nandroid backup I'd made before wiping the phone.
But if CWM recovery would remain on the phone even after a wipe, then I can take the gamble that it had installed.
Cheers for your answers dudes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lords ICS does install pretty fast. But it just works... so there's little/no risk there. I try to always do a full wipe before installing but lately with his builds, I've only been wiping dalvik and cache and updating with the newest build. If something doesn't work, then I wipe and see if I get the same behavior with a full wipe. Multiple Nandroid backup points let me restore to whatever point in time that I want. It's a great approach.
Best of luck and have fun!

djmasoda said:
Lords ICS does install pretty fast. But it just works... so there's little/no risk there. I try to always do a full wipe before installing but lately with his builds, I've only been wiping dalvik and cache and updating with the newest build. If something doesn't work, then I wipe and see if I get the same behavior with a full wipe. Multiple Nandroid backup points let me restore to whatever point in time that I want. It's a great approach.
Best of luck and have fun!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers dude.
I just flashed it onto my DHD.
Runs well, the otly first poopy impression I have is the pictures from the camera!
Any suggestion on a 3rd party Camera app?
Cheers.
Greg

I've found better luck with Pudding Camera and Camera 360. For me, the camera is the only hit or miss item atm. Folks have been posting ideas to get it working right, such as disabling the flash or putting it in burst mode with on 1 photos set. Also try clearing the data from the app too. Peruse the development thread... There's a lot of camera tweaks being offered here and there.
Another note, video is also problematic in the rom too... Really, so long as I can scan barcodes using amazon, I can get by otherwise. I look forward to your thoughts as you dig in... More updates are coming daily from Lord!
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using xda premium and Lord's ICS

Hey dude.
The camera is a real deal breaker for me. With two kids and one on the way I want a good camera and camcorder.
Cheers for your comments though guys.
Greg.

Help, T989 phone stuck on Cyanogen 9 blue screen...

I rooted my phone fine. I unlocked my phone fine.
I installed clockworkmod recovery fine. I flashed clockworkmod. I backed up my rom at the stage after rooting and unlocking.
I then downloaded cyanogenmod from the app's download page. I downloaded it and installed it. I used the default selections which is "wipe delvich cache"
When I turned on my phone, it stays at the blue screen with the alien forever.
Any help on what to do? Thanks!

Reflash the ROM using these instructions. You probably wiped the wrong way.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=32532260
Sent from my SGH-T989 using xda premium

I had same problem installing cm10 with cwm. In order to get past boot animation you have to use the dark side cache wipe after flashing ROM. Ideally you should -darksidesuperwipe then flash ROM then darksidecachewipe. I like to let it boot without gapps first. Set up WiFi and all that.
Try rebooting and flash darksidecachewipe. Then reboot. I always had lingering problems until I flashed twrp. After twrp is installed there is no need for darkside scripts.
Worth it to just get twrp and redo.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app

ctrlaltdeln said:
I had same problem installing cm10 with cwm. In order to get past boot animation you have to use the dark side cache wipe after flashing ROM. Ideally you should -darksidesuperwipe then flash ROM then darksidecachewipe. I like to let it boot without gapps first. Set up WiFi and all that.
Try rebooting and flash darksidecachewipe. Then reboot. I always had lingering problems until I flashed twrp. After twrp is installed there is no need for darkside scripts.
Worth it to just get twrp and redo.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow very informative and helpful too bad the OP could not at least give you some props and let you know he saw this and you helped him out. People panic come on here and ask questions then never come back to thank or at least acknowledge the help... Hey for that I will give you your first xda Thanks.... :good:

Try returning to stock and try again. Do things in this order: 1. Root, CWM, ETC. 2. CM7 or another 2.3 ROM (usual wipe) 3. CM9 (again, wipe)

Help please!! I can't reboot my phone without a freeze.

So as I was flashing a rom and decided 2 wipe my internal memory from recovery(maybe where I went wrong??). Now after flashing a rom I can't reboot my phone without it freezing. Any help or answers will be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Odin back to stock it's your best shot. I've done the exact same thing and that was the only choice I had left and the only one that worked..
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

DMen81 said:
So as I was flashing a rom and decided 2 wipe my internal memory from recovery(maybe where I went wrong??). Now after flashing a rom I can't reboot my phone without it freezing. Any help or answers will be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flashing CWM recovery on it.

I you are on twrp wipe everything (advanced wipe and click everything) 3 times. Then flash your ROM of choice (TW: wicked recommended, GE: evil unwizzed recommended, AOSP: domination recommended) clear cache, dalvek, fix permissions, reboot, and let sit for a bit, (5 minutes min.) Reboot and enjoy.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I am always on the mobile app and am always 'trying' to help others and moderators on the forum and learning something new everyday. I make stupid posts sometimes, but I never repeat a mistake more than once. I may not be a developer, but I know alot of stuff, so feel free to messsge me any questions and I'll be happy to answer them to the best of my ability.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
I'm starting a video game company with my friend where we will be making Android games. message me for more info or go here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2290843

TWRP is the issue. I am going to assume thats what you are using. A known issue with that recovery is it will mess up your phone if you format internal with it. You will need to Odin to stock to fix the partitions and start from there again.

DMen81 said:
So as I was flashing a rom and decided 2 wipe my internal memory from recovery(maybe where I went wrong??). Now after flashing a rom I can't reboot my phone without it freezing. Any help or answers will be very much appreciated, thanks in advance.
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 4 Beta
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay you need less speculations and more solid answers. To do that I need more information.
What recovery are you using?
What exactly do you mean by freezing during boot? Be specific. Tell me what happens during the boot process and where it fails.
Have you tried starting over and flashing the ROM again?
Have you tried redownloading the ROM adn flashing a new copy again? It's possible that this is as simple as a bad flash or that your download was corrupted.

Skipjacks said:
Okay you need less speculations and more solid answers. To do that I need more information.
What recovery are you using?
What exactly do you mean by freezing during boot? Be specific. Tell me what happens during the boot process and where it fails.
Have you tried starting over and flashing the ROM again?
Have you tried redownloading the ROM adn flashing a new copy again? It's possible that this is as simple as a bad flash or that your download was corrupted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wasn't speculating. Those symptoms describe the issue exactly. If he is using TWRP then that is the problem. It has been documented a number of times that if you format internal memory using that recovery, your phone will freeze at that screen or just boot into recovery only. I appreciate your willingness to help but try not to be condescending towards others who are also here to help.

Cal-El said:
I wasn't speculating. Those symptoms describe the issue exactly. If he is using TWRP then that is the problem. It has been documented a number of times that if you format internal memory using that recovery, your phone will freeze at that screen or just boot into recovery only. I appreciate your willingness to help but try not to be condescending towards others who are also here to help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy, tiger. No one is attacking you and I didn't even have you in mind when I posted. Relax. Multiple people are throwing out random ideas about a cause and a cure based on very limited information from the OP.
You said you aren't speculating...then said IF he is using TWRP. You don't know he is. That is speculation.
Then is matters which version of TWRP. 2.5 is very different than 2.6.
And even if he is using TWRP those symptoms could still be caused by other factors, including the issue you mentioned.
Without knowing all the details any suggested fix is based off of speculation.
You could very well be correct. But you are making some assumptions to fill in missing data not provided by the OP to reach your conclusion.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

Thanks everyone for all your help! I have been using TWRP, and the freeze is while it's booting down. It will show the samsung s4 then freeze, the only 1 possible thing I can do after that is: pull battery, manually boot into recovery, format internal data again, reboot recovery, full wipe (data, system, cache, dalvik cache), flash rom, and never reboot.
I really like "Odin back to stock" n think that is all I can do at this point as lagunas11 has mentioned. I hope this works because I really don't want to go through the whole process I just mentioned because I can't reboot my phone at all. Thanks again everyone!
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda premium

For clarification on the Non Specific comments I've read which are disingenuous to the TWRP Recovery , I've been using TWRP 2.5.0.2 Without issue for months. I have read about issues with version 2.6.0.0 which I'm unsure if they have been resolved. With the above being said, I would:
Install TWRP 2.5.0.2 if not already
ODIN Samsung Stock Firmware
and start from the beginning.
I don't have a dog in this fight regarding Custom Recoveries. I've used CWM on my previous devices, and ever since owning my S4 I've been using TWRP 2.5.0.2 Without issue, although there are other Custom Recoveries which also work well without issue

Biker1 said:
For clarification on the Non Specific comments I've read which are disingenuous to the TWRP Recovery , I've been using TWRP 2.5.0.2 Without issue for months. I have read about issues with version 2.6.0.0 which I'm unsure if they have been resolved. With the above being said, I would:
Install TWRP 2.5.0.2 if not already
ODIN Samsung Stock Firmware
and start from the beginning.
I don't have a dog in this fight regarding Custom Recoveries. I've used CWM on my previous devices, and ever since owning my S4 I've been using TWRP 2.5.0.2 Without issue, although there are other Custom Recoveries which also work well without issue
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. TWRP 2.5 is much less problematic than 2.6
It is the way to go.
I would try flashing 2.5 an doing a full wipe and clean install first before the Odin option just because its quick and easy to try. If it doesn't help then Id try Odin.
Just make a backup of all your data with Titanium first so you can easily restore it after you are all fixed up.
Sent from my SGH-M919 using xda app-developers app

I could use your help please
hello first I have problem with jump screen but i root the phone and i did the fastboot with program call Shuame after that the phone was dead, I can't reboot it , but I can get in to recovery mode where is the 1.reboot system now-when I reboot my phone the screen becomes black.2.Apply update from sdcard - i don't have any update .3.Wipe data/factory reset -I did that but nothing change I can't reboot my phone get black screen 4.wipe cache partition I did it, nothing changed 5. backup user data and 6. restore user data. My phone model is Hardware :MT6575 Model :magcomm89_ics2 Android v:2.3.6 ect.or in the phone I got this information Model number: GT-I9500- Android version: 4.2.2 -Baseband version : I9500xxuamde - Kernel version 3.4.5-I9500 ZSKJ6-CLG79970-Build number :GINGER BREAD.ZSKJ6- Costum build version:Galaxy.20130517.F.V007. SO PLEASE HELP ME. What should I do?Could you help me please with your knowledge? Myself don't have any knowledge. P.S. Please i need a rom for flashing

Phone is rooted now I need help with installing cyanogen mod.

Good day everyone.
I have successfully rooted my S3 1747.
I have done a backup after installing Rom manager. I also have a nandroid and titanium backup completed.
I would like to install cyanogen mod but its very important that I am able to get my contacts back.
I plan to install through the so called easy method in rom manager.
Am I able to get my stuff back after the install?
Thanks in advance

Most system app data will not be compatible. I don't know about CM, but in TW there's an option to export contacts to SD. It'll save them in a .CSV file. Maybe you can import them to CM contacts like this. Might want to confirm that first though.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Thanks for the reply. I'm going to do this later. Does cyanogen live up to the hype?

Everyone has their own preference. I personally like touchwiz better. There are plenty who would agree and disagree.
If you've got a nandroid backup of your current set up, its pretty easy to flash a bunch of different ones to see what you like, and then go back if none keep your interest.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Thanks again for the response and sorry for my late thanks. I was busy at work and overlooked the post.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

You can use google to back up all contacts and restore them on any android with your google account on it....as for the install I believe our s3 is compatible with the cm installer

crazymonkey05 said:
You can use google to back up all contacts and restore them on any android with your google account on it....as for the install I believe our s3 is compatible with the cm installer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say cm installer. I assumes you are talking about the app and pc program that does everything automatically. It says my phone is compatible however wouldn't work originally. I had to root and use twrp. Can I use that to update from now on or should I continue to use twrp?
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

Edit - double post

Well for me cwm is the easiest to use as you just wipe and flash.....its purely up to you, if your gunna use twrp just download the zip boot recovery wipe system, cache, dalvik cache, data (factory reset), and hit install zip and bam you got cyanogen

I wouldn't wipe /system before a flash. If the rom fails to flash youll have no OS to boot into, and it can be a huge pain to get it back. If the rom does flash, its first step will be to format /system, so it gets done anyway.
I think this may be one of those things people used to have to do on some older devices, and was carried on to newer ones. I just think its an unneeded extra step, and more than a few times ended up taking a day or two to help people get their device working right again.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk

DocHoliday77 said:
I wouldn't wipe /system before a flash. If the rom fails to flash youll have no OS to boot into, and it can be a huge pain to get it back. If the rom does flash, its first step will be to format /system, so it gets done anyway.
I think this may be one of those things people used to have to do on some older devices, and was carried on to newer ones. I just think its an unneeded extra step, and more than a few times ended up taking a day or two to help people get their device working right again.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's good advice that would have helped me a lot. All the instructions I followed online said to wipe/format everytime.
Sent from my SGH-I747M using Tapatalk

Yeah, its extremely common advice. I see it all the time. There are rare times when it is necessary to format system, but I dont feel a rom flash is one of them.
Its still possible to end up with no OS after a failed flash, but the chances are greatly decreased by eliminating that one step!
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk