Develop Bugs

[Q] nandroid backup doubts

can someone help me?
the wonder is my first android and I wanted to learn while before hacking on it ...
last night I did the root and installed ClockworkMod 6.0.1.2 to make a nandroid before flashing a ICS rom.
but I have come some doubts:
1) the nandroid with clockworkmod is done either on internal mem on external sd right? I tried with the internal memory and I did a backup of 17MB ... I have copied to the PC the folder ClockworkMod always 17MB: they seemed to me just a few for a nandroid backup... I did it again ... the same ...
2) then I added the external sd and I deleted the two previous backups from internal mem and redid the backup to external sd ... the process took about twenty minutes (slower then before), and in fact has made ​​a backup of 790mb
3) I try to copy the backup on the PC with the phone attached but it don't work .... I removed the SD card and copied the folder on pc with win7: I did not copy some files because they are "too long" (???)... then I tried to copy it on a pc with ubuntu and makes the copy but when the transfer is finished tells me that the number of files copied is right but instead of 790mb is only 725mb: I need to trust this backup? ?? better to delete and redo everything? I do not want to flash something and do not have a working nandroid...
another question: when I flash a rom and do ALL wipe the sd external is reset? no I think, right? and to put on the contacts and messages and the settings I use those saved using kies or do I need to do a better titanium backup or save contacts synced to gmail?
sorry for the many questions but as I'm a true noob and before I do damage I want to have in mind what I was doing
I'm waiting your reply before flash a rom... thanks

bennymax said:
can someone help me?
the wonder is my first android and I wanted to learn while before hacking on it ...
last night I did the root and installed ClockworkMod 6.0.1.2 to make a nandroid before flashing a ICS rom.
but I have come some doubts:
1) the nandroid with clockworkmod is done either on internal mem on external sd right? I tried with the internal memory and I did a backup of 17MB ... I have copied to the PC the folder ClockworkMod always 17MB: they seemed to me just a few for a nandroid backup... I did it again ... the same ...
2) then I added the external sd and I deleted the two previous backups from internal mem and redid the backup to external sd ... the process took about twenty minutes (slower then before), and in fact has made ​​a backup of 790mb
3) I try to copy the backup on the PC with the phone attached but it don't work .... I removed the SD card and copied the folder on pc with win7: I did not copy some files because they are "too long" (???)... then I tried to copy it on a pc with ubuntu and makes the copy but when the transfer is finished tells me that the number of files copied is right but instead of 790mb is only 725mb: I need to trust this backup? ?? better to delete and redo everything? I do not want to flash something and do not have a working nandroid...
another question: when I flash a rom and do ALL wipe the sd external is reset? no I think, right? and to put on the contacts and messages and the settings I use those saved using kies or do I need to do a better titanium backup or save contacts synced to gmail?
sorry for the many questions but as I'm a true noob and before I do damage I want to have in mind what I was doing
I'm waiting your reply before flash a rom... thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First thing: Why do you need to copy the backup to your PC? I can certainly assure you that the backup is working fine. Just leave your SD card within your device upon backing up. And just leave it there. If you ever really wanted to copy the backup to your pc, well don't get the file size(s) wrong. They will certainly be different since the systems you are trying to copy the files to uses a different file system. So it's normal for them to have different file sizes. To add to that, the CWM uses generated MD5 to confirm that the backup (it's related files) are correct before it will restore a certain backup. If something is wrong or the backup got corrupted, CWM will not continue in restoring it.
Second: when you flash, your personal files in your sd card will remain intact. Flashing (may) be only wiping an SD-EXT if you created such partition in your card since apps uses this. So don't worry.
For most customized ROM, I'm afraid components regarding the communication of your device and Kies won't be integrated since devs prefer your system to be our of bloats as possible. So upon flashing a custom ROM, you might not be able to use Kies anymore. In flashing, internal data such as contacts, messages, APN, wifi(s), etc. will be erased as the system will be erased. So;
For your contacts: Sync it with Google or export them to our SD for later import.
For your APN and messages: There's an app in the Play Store that allows you to backup and restore them.
The titanium backup is a very good tool too. Use it.

Thread moved
The [Q] in your thread title should have been reason enough to post it in Q&A .
Please don't post Questions in General Section in the future.

bbmadzky said:
First thing: Why do you need to copy the backup to your PC? I can certainly assure you that the backup is working fine. Just leave your SD card within your device upon backing up. And just leave it there. If you ever really wanted to copy the backup to your pc, well don't get the file size(s) wrong. They will certainly be different since the systems you are trying to copy the files to uses a different file system. So it's normal for them to have different file sizes. To add to that, the CWM uses generated MD5 to confirm that the backup (it's related files) are correct before it will restore a certain backup. If something is wrong or the backup got corrupted, CWM will not continue in restoring it.
Second: when you flash, your personal files in your sd card will remain intact. Flashing (may) be only wiping an SD-EXT if you created such partition in your card since apps uses this. So don't worry.
For most customized ROM, I'm afraid components regarding the communication of your device and Kies won't be integrated since devs prefer your system to be our of bloats as possible. So upon flashing a custom ROM, you might not be able to use Kies anymore. In flashing, internal data such as contacts, messages, APN, wifi(s), etc. will be erased as the system will be erased. So;
For your contacts: Sync it with Google or export them to our SD for later import.
For your APN and messages: There's an app in the Play Store that allows you to backup and restore them.
The titanium backup is a very good tool too. Use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks a lot bbmadzky, I understand what you say
I wanna copy backup in my pc to have a secure place where put the first nandroid of my wonder with stock rom as I have bougth it external sd can be corrupted or deleted and have a genuine nandroid of my phone I think is better
just do another backup to ha the certainty to have a good backup and now can I try to flash my first costomized rom
thanks a lot dude
ciao

It's been a pleasure in helping you with your doubt. Happy flashing and don't ever forget to do a nandroid backup.
Sent from my GT-I8150 using Tapatalk 2

This reply may be too late in coming...but I'll post it anyway. First, the size of your created nandroid....17mb.....WAY too small....the size of the backup I made was +/-800mb.
Second....if you REALLY have to copy it to a PC, zip it with minimal compression first....I found from personal experience that it copies MUCH more easily and safely....
Finally, keeping personal data (contacts, SMS, lists of installed apps [not including app data]) safe. You can install apps that will make data files of your texts and installed apps that can be accessed after flashing a custom ROM to enable recovery and re installation, and for your contacts (if you store them on the phone instead of the sim card) you go to your contacts, press the menu button and select import/export, then export to SD card. If you use these apps (appbak and SMS backup and restore) and the export to SD card function on your phone, you will find that data files have been created by using them.....these data files MUST be moved to your EXTERNAL SD card BEFORE flashing your custom ROM. They will be perfectly safe there as long as you haven't played around with the storage configurations on your phone....which I don't believe is possible with a stock ROM anyway....
Good luck and happy flashing
Hope this has helped....if it has, click thanks
Sent from my GT-I8150 using xda app-developers app

not so late dude
the problem is... I don't have a working backup still now!
I just flased cm9 and RemICS 1.5 rom and every time I tried to make a backup before flashing...
the first time I have the above doubt (as you can read above)
the second time I've tried to install CWM 6.0.1.0 instead 6.0.1.2 and the backup process is finish well (or it was what I belive ) then when I try to comeback to stock version an error has occurred in restore and I must re-do a flash with stock firmware because the SGW was freezed.
I don't know if there are problems with installation of CWM, the release of CWM (now I try with a CWM 5.5.0.4), with the type of backup files (n CWM6 you can choose the type of format file do you have from the backup process) but now before to flash another rom I want to have a WORKING nandroid!
thanks for your reply and your suggests too... maybe make I something wrong but I follow the tools on web and these are simple... maybe is only bad luck... I retry

Dude...if you read my thread here.......
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846449
And specifically the replies posted by IvanKurnia, you'll find the links (and installation method) for the version of CWM that I'm using.....with success. When you make your nandroid backup, you need to make sure you have enough space for it to complete as you don't get any warning about lack of memory....the backup process will simply stop....and unless you know what to look for, you may not realise.
I'm not totally sure if flashing different versions of CWM on top of each other will cause instability or not....maybe somebody else can answer that one.....
I'd advise getting as much info as you can about EVERYTHING! before you make any more modifications to your phone.....read as many threads and ask as many questions as it takes.....most members of this community will be happy to help (though there are one or two who have a superiority complex...lol)....it's better to ask a hundred questions and get it right, than to ask none and turn your phone into an expensive paperweight.......
CM9...I don't HAVE to.....I just.....can..

first of all: I wanted to write mate not dude sorry for my bad english...
thanks keithross
I read your thread and all the replies in it...
yes the metheod for flashing the CWM is the same I knew. I prefer to flash it whit odin.
I don't think I have problems flashing other versione because I must do a replace of stock firmware before: I set the cell in the status as new... then I reflash on it the CWM.
the only thing I don't have made is to set on USB debugging ON... uhmmm maybe is this the problem?
I try now to flash, make a nandroid, try recovery by nandroid to understand if nandroid works! If not... I try to instal CWM witn the method has showed by ivankurnia
for free space I have enough space in my SD ext card (3gb ca.) and not so many app installed... and yes I use often forum and I think these are the greatest resource on the web xda for android is "the bible" I think so!
p.s. your thread has so many informations I need...

Hi Bennymax, I found ivankurnias method the easiest to use....I'd tried ODIN without success....but successfully installed CWM on the first try with the terminal emulator/busybox method.....others have successfully used this method too. I do still stand by my concerns about flashing different versions of CWM on top of each other as I've come to believe that the recovery partition is separate to the ROM partition and that changing the ROM partition has no effect on the contents of the recovery partition. I hope I'm wrong about that, and that the issues you are having with nandroid backup and restore are as you say bad luck....but I'm not convinced.....having said that, I'm not a developer, and I could be wrong. I feel that it is something that needs researching just in case the luck you've had is not bad, but good in so far as you haven't bricked your phone yet......
Anyway, good luck however you decide to proceed....
Keith
CM9...I don't HAVE to.....I just.....can..

need help with flashing a 4.2.2 rom from tw..

basically whats happening is im currently on fre3 rom and i want to try out liquid, but when i flash liquid my internal sd is wiped? everything from downloaded items, backups from titanium, to my twrp backups and anything in the internal sd is gone
now i suspect it has something to do with the way 4.2.2 roms deal with the users and that whole 0 folder thing, but my question is, is there any way to keep the contents of my sd card so liquid will see it?
because when i pop it into my pc, theyre gone gone, its not like they were overlooked (happened when i tried another rom)
any ideas?

therenegadenail said:
basically whats happening is im currently on fre3 rom and i want to try out liquid, but when i flash liquid my internal sd is wiped? everything from downloaded items, backups from titanium, to my twrp backups and anything in the internal sd is gone
now i suspect it has something to do with the way 4.2.2 roms deal with the users and that whole 0 folder thing, but my question is, is there any way to keep the contents of my sd card so liquid will see it?
because when i pop it into my pc, theyre gone gone, its not like they were overlooked (happened when i tried another rom)
any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No matter what, when you wipe your phone, it wipes internal memory....... At least I'm pretty sure..

Joe0113 said:
No matter what, when you wipe your phone, it wipes internal memory....... At least I'm pretty sure..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea but to an extent no? i mean i always am able to restore things from titanium with no issue, also it erases twrp backups? thats never happened before
also i cannot delete that 0 folder at all, in phone or plug to computer, theres a folder in it, anbech? and in that theres a backup file? an sh file? it wont let me delete it at all

therenegadenail said:
yea but to an extent no? i mean i always am able to restore things from titanium with no issue, also it erases twrp backups? thats never happened before
also i cannot delete that 0 folder at all, in phone or plug to computer, theres a folder in it, anbech? and in that theres a backup file? an sh file? it wont let me delete it at all
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download ES File Explorer and you can delete it. Just make sure you don't delete important folders/files.

Joe0113 said:
Download ES File Explorer and you can delete it. Just make sure you don't delete important folders/files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have es file explorer, and it still wont let me
if i restore back to my tw rom which is 4.1.2 the 0 folder is there, and its the only folder in there, and every time i try, it says i cant

Joe0113 said:
No matter what, when you wipe your phone, it wipes internal memory....... At least I'm pretty sure..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is not true. I've been installing custom ROMs for a long time and I've never had this. If you're restoring a 4.1.2 ROM (like FRE) and all your files are gone then you may have accidentally wiped your internal memory somehow. You are correct in saying that when you flash a 4.2.2 ROM, a new directory gets created called "0" but when flashing back to a 4.1.1 your old files should reappear, only with a new directory called "0.". The best way to avoid this problem all together is, whenever flashing from a 4.1.2 to a 4.2.2 ROM, before doing so copy all the contents of your internal SD card to your desktop (or external storage if you have the space), then when doing your wipes (just b4 flashing your new ROM), wipe your internal memory. Once you're all booted into your new ROM, go back to where ever you copied your internal SD card and copy them back to your internal SD directory. Again you only need to do this when going from a 4.1.x ROM to a 4.2.x ROM (or vice versa).
Good luck!
Hello my name is George and I'm a flashoholic.
EDIT: BTW, for future reference you should put your twrp backups on external.

External sd card doesnt get wiped when the upgrade from 4.1.1 to 4.2.2 as i have my backups stored on internal but should move them to external sd .
Sent from my SPH-L710 using xda app-developers app

[Q] Can't restore from CWM

Yesterday i decided to flash an aosp rom called PACMAN (4.2.2) on my GT N7105 Note 2. I made an nandroid backup of my current rom (wanamlite 4.1.2) and all my apps via titanium backup. I didn't like the new rom so I decided to restore my old one. Now here is where it gets tricky. I went to recovery and pressed restore and it says "No files found" or similar, I checked my SD card where it said "MD5 missmatch". When I looked at my sotrage i saw my entire backup in "0" folder, but how can i access it? The restore doesn't work and I don't wanna lose all my data when I can see it's there.
Would be great if someone has a solution.
Thank you

Did you keep a backup of Cwm backup on pc? If not then you need to download aroma file manager. Via that just move the whole twrp folder to data/media. Not any folder inside it. Then reboot recovery.
this is XXXDDDAAA

worked for me
Lucedl said:
Yesterday i decided to flash an aosp rom called PACMAN (4.2.2) on my GT N7105 Note 2. I made an nandroid backup of my current rom (wanamlite 4.1.2) and all my apps via titanium backup. I didn't like the new rom so I decided to restore my old one. Now here is where it gets tricky. I went to recovery and pressed restore and it says "No files found" or similar, I checked my SD card where it said "MD5 missmatch". When I looked at my sotrage i saw my entire backup in "0" folder, but how can i access it? The restore doesn't work and I don't wanna lose all my data when I can see it's there.
Would be great if someone has a solution.
Thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also experienced this issue..it's only with 4.2.2 roms and cwm related imo.
Just install root browser light and move you backup from folder "0"to original cwm folder.

[Q] Internal Memory Full

I have recently rooted, installed CWM & CM10.1 -- The problem I have is now my internal SD is close to being full, but I havent installed anything on it yet besides a couple apps and some pictures.. Total Internal memory was 16GB.
When I go to Setting > Storage - its shows I have 12.5 GB of total space, but only about 1 GB available.. It shows apps and other things on the phone such as - APS 293MB, Pictures 550MB etc.. But added up it only amounts to maybe 3GB.. So I seem to be missing 13GB of space..
What I think may have happened (and I dont know how to fix) is.... Is it possible that I did the back up of my stock rom & titanium back ups etc.. all onto my internal SD card ? I didnt back anything up to an external drive or my PC, becasue the instructions I followed did tell to do that, nor how to do that.
So if that is the case I would like to extract those file from the SD card on my phone to creat some more room ?
Thanks.

Even if you did backup everything to the internal sd, a cwm backup is usually about a gig and I have 100 and change titanium backups and it also takes up about w gig so I don't think that is the problem. You should be able to hook it up to your PC and check the folder sizes on your SD card. You can also move the clockwork mod folder and TB folders to your external sd but you will need to set up the new location in TB's preference s option. If all else fails backup everything and copy all pics vids downloads and everything else you want to your PC or external SD, and wipe everything from your phones settings menu. This will wipe all data and game data too so be careful to get everything off it you want. Oh yea, make sure you have sync'd or backup up your contacts. That's a pain in the ass.

I had a problem like that when I first got my s3 last year and for me it was 2 files in the lost folder that were like 5 gigs each
hmmm......

Would it have anything to do with when after I rooted and was installing CWM and the new ROM.. It said for me to back up and save my old original ROM/configuration.. Which I did select back up.. But I didnt save it to my PC, I believe it just saved to my phone somewhere.. If I may need that someday I should likely save it correct ? Can someone give me an idea how to access those files so I can transfer off my phone ?
Maybe that is the problem ?

I don't recall ever seeing that option but it was awhile ago. You could try grabbing a root explorer and look around for a large folder. Es file manager for example. I kept my stock backup for awhile but never needed it. You can always find a stock image to reflash with Odin but I'm paranoid and keep at least one cwm backup in case. You could reflash the ROM you put on when you rooted and choose not to select backup this time. It will clear the phone so as above be sure to transfer or save anything you want. Get a little bit used to the process of backing up apps and reinstalling them when you switch roms cause these devs are awesome and always have new features to try. It goes pretty quick after you do it a thousand times. What ROM are you currently using?
---------- Post added at 08:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:02 PM ----------
There is a free app called storage analyser in the play store. I didn't try it but it looks like it will break down what is stored and where. Could help in this situation. Your internal SD should pop up on the computer so if the problem is in there you shouldn't need a root explorer to find that. If its not in there maybe to a cwm backup to external sd and flash something new.

robberrobbie said:
Would it have anything to do with when after I rooted and was installing CWM and the new ROM.. It said for me to back up and save my old original ROM/configuration.. Which I did select back up.. But I didnt save it to my PC, I believe it just saved to my phone somewhere.. If I may need that someday I should likely save it correct ? Can someone give me an idea how to access those files so I can transfer off my phone ?
Maybe that is the problem ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what program did you use to flash the ROM? how many times have you flashed a ROM (specifically 4.2.2 ROM)?

xBeerdroiDx said:
what program did you use to flash the ROM? how many times have you flashed a ROM (specifically 4.2.2 ROM)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have only flashed once.. Using a tutorial from XDA, I rooted using ODIN, I installed CWM v6.0.3.0. followed by flahsing CM10.1 Rom. (10.1 -20130414-nightly-d2att)
During the tutorial it said I should back up my existing stock ROM incase I ever want to go back, so from CWM I seleced back up/restore then selected back up. It didnt tell me how to find this file and save to my PC or somewhere safe.. so is it possible that there are a bunch of files still on my S3 that I cannot see from just plugging it into my pc ?
I would really like to do this properly and remove everything from my S3 and just start with a fresh ROM again.. and know that what I need to have backed up was done properly onto my PC or somewhere other than my phones SD card. pls help = )
I just remembered a problem I ran into while performing the above steps.. I dont know exactly what happened but I think the version of CWM may have been old.. so I tried to update or install a newer version (followed another tutorial) is there a change there is the old version still on SD card ?

Do you have a micro sd card? This would allow you to completely wipe the device and install your OS

xBeerdroiDx said:
Do you have a micro sd card? This would allow you to completely wipe the device and install your OS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I do have one I can install. (2GB) would you be able give me a list of the steps on how to do this properly ? (or link to a post that does)
Also, I do find I ejoy the CM10.1, is the verion I have one that I should be running or is there a standard version ?

If you enjoy cm10, stick with it. I'm on tasks 4/23 release and its running beautifully
Place the rom and gapps on the sd card, get what you want off the phone and you should be all set.
Check out the link in my signature for more information on flashing. when you format /system, also format /data + media.
Before you begin, go in rom manager and update your cwm recovery. Latest is 6.0.3.1. Or download the one at the bottom of post #2 in my signature link and flash it in cwm (then advanced > reboot recovery to have it take effect before flashing the rom).
Keep me posted

xBeerdroiDx said:
If you enjoy cm10, stick with it. I'm on tasks 4/23 release and its running beautifully
Place the rom and gapps on the sd card, get what you want off the phone and you should be all set.
Check out the link in my signature for more information on flashing. when you format /system, also format /data + media.
Before you begin, go in rom manager and update your cwm recovery. Latest is 6.0.3.1. Or download the one at the bottom of post #2 in my signature link and flash it in cwm (then advanced > reboot recovery to have it take effect before flashing the rom).
Keep me posted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I got CWM updated to 6.0.3.1, I backed up apps with TB and saved file to ext SD and got all my pics/vids transferred as well.. Now I just have a couple questions.
1) When I originally backed up my stock ROM in CWM it would have saved to my phones internal SD correct ? Because I could never find it. I just did a back up again and I plug phone into PC and cant find that one either ? Where would the be going ?
2) Can you link me to a good version of CM10.1 for my model as well as the proper google apps.. I cannot locate.
Thanks.

If you backed up to your internal sd card then the location should be something like storage/titaniumBackup. Inside that folder would be an oddly dated folder with all the contents. Transfer that to your computer as well.
Cm10 and the respective gapps are in the original android development section. You can also find their stable and nightly releases on their website. Be sure to only use the ROMs for your device model

xBeerdroiDx said:
If you backed up to your internal sd card then the location should be something like storage/titaniumBackup. Inside that folder would be an oddly dated folder with all the contents. Transfer that to your computer as well.
Cm10 and the respective gapps are in the original android development section. You can also find their stable and nightly releases on their website. Be sure to only use the ROMs for your device model
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I just installed new ROM and now its worse, now I have less internal room.
Here are the steps I have followed.. (obviously its not wiping my entire internal SD right ?)
- Wipe Data / Factory Reset
- Wipe Cache Partition
- Advanced --> Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Mounts / Storage - Format System
- Install Zip from SD --> CM10 file.
Once phone boots up, I go to Settings --> Storage - Here it says I have only 2.6GB of space available and I have absolutely nothing on my phone yet, fresh install.
Am I missing a step ?
Thanks.

You didn't format /data + media like I said.

xBeerdroiDx said:
You didn't format /data + media like I said.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok great that worked.. To to get everything working back the way it was...

robberrobbie said:
1) When I originally backed up my stock ROM in CWM it would have saved to my phones internal SD correct ? Because I could never find it. I just did a back up again and I plug phone into PC and cant find that one either ? Where would the be going ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
robberrobbie said:
Here are the steps I have followed.. (obviously its not wiping my entire internal SD right ?)
- Wipe Data / Factory Reset
- Wipe Cache Partition
- Advanced --> Wipe Dalvik Cache
- Mounts / Storage - Format System
- Install Zip from SD --> CM10 file.
Once phone boots up, I go to Settings --> Storage - Here it says I have only 2.6GB of space available and I have absolutely nothing on my phone yet, fresh install.
Am I missing a step ?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nevermind. Too late to respond.

[Q] Problems and confusion with TWRP

I'm running twrp 2.7.1 and have quite a few problems but I'll just start out with the backup and restore options.
The tutorials I've reviewed instructs to simple backup your stock rom and to reinstall, choose the file and restore.
Why isn't the wipe and factory restore procedure performed?
I followed the instructions and attempted to restore the latest backup but when I hit reboot I get the no OS installed warning, this is without any wipe. I doubled check the checksum of this backup for accuracy.
If I choose the earliest file from the restore list, I get no OS warning and am able to reboot back to the "older" flash of the stock rom. I actually performed the same procedure after a failed install of a custom rom with wipe. Got the OS warning after loading the latest backup but no warning with the oldest.
This only scratches my problem but I'd like to address and hopefully fix this first.
Thanks for any suggestions.

If the nandroid was made with a different version of twrp, maybe try reflashing that version and try again.
Alternatively, you could just flash whatever rom is backed up, then try to only restore the data portion.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Just tried your suggestion choosing latest backup and restoring data only. Now after the splash screen it wants to setup language, email etc. again.

What I meant was flash whatever rom it was that you were trying to restore. If its the sane rom in another backup that's fine though. Did the data restore pass the md5 check?
You can try again, but afterwards go to twrps advanced menu and copy log to SD. It may provide some clue as to what's wrong. Attach it here if you want me to take a look.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Well I'm starting to think twrp is corrupt.
I tried to load the ndroid backup I made yesterday but the log showed it was done in 8 seconds. I attempted to flash back to the original image I made 2 months ago which I have been successful doing..I thought everything was flashing when I noticed the screen is now says...
Could not do normal boot.
ODIN MODE
Product Name: SGH-1747
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD:Yes (3 counts)
CURRENT BINARY: Custom STATUS: Custom
QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT: Enable
Downloading....
Do not turn off target!!!
It's been stuck on this screen for a while.

Sounds like something got corrupted, or you need to try with a different recovery. Either way its in download mode for flashing with Odin.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Have you tried using Philz Touch? I was using TWRP but ran into problems flashing ROMs. I switch to Philz and the problems went away.
Unfortunately, Philz can't restore TWRP nandroid backups.

Could I please get some advice on what to do next?

Okay, I was able to pull the battery and boot into twrp, restore the old stock rom and safely reboot but this is one of many problems.
I haven't been successful installing any roms. I've downloaded Liquid Smooth, Gummy, Carbon and Slim 4.4.4 versions and encounter the following error message.............E: Unable to open zip file
Error flashing zip / external_sd / custom rom / "file name"
I'm using a 64 gb card but am not sure how it's formatted. I've created files with the roms in the internal card but twrp doesn't see it.
I've read tutorials and researched some of the blogs and I assure you that I'm not doing anything haphazard but the amount of problems I'm having is absurd.

the only thing i can think of (and hopefully someone more knowledgeable will chime in) is if in twrp settings see if 'md5 check ' is checked. if it is then uncheck it and try to flash again. srry thats all i got right now. (or bad idea doc ?)
good luck.
err on the side of kindness

Try flashing from internal SD. Don't know why but its worked for a couple other people so far. If it still doesn't work, please use the copy log to SD option and attach it here.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T999 using Tapatalk

Challenged_101 said:
Okay, I was able to pull the battery and boot into twrp, restore the old stock rom and safely reboot but this is one of many problems.
I haven't been successful installing any roms. I've downloaded Liquid Smooth, Gummy, Carbon and Slim 4.4.4 versions and encounter the following error message.............E: Unable to open zip file
Error flashing zip / external_sd / custom rom / "file name"
I'm using a 64 gb card but am not sure how it's formatted. I've created files with the roms in the internal card but twrp doesn't see it.
I've read tutorials and researched some of the blogs and I assure you that I'm not doing anything haphazard but the amount of problems I'm having is absurd.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suggest Philz Touch as a substitute for TWRP. I was having problems with TWRP until I switched to Philz.

I noted that I tried to flash from the internal card but twrp could't find the folder I created.
Twrp still didn't see the files after i moved them out of the folder and placed them among the other folders.

Challenged_101 said:
I noted that I tried to flash from the internal card but twrp could't find the folder I created.
Twrp still didn't see the files after i moved them out of the folder and placed them among the other folders.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Open a file explorer like es file explorer..create a new folder and put the ROM zip in the external SD..I had to do that and I use cwm

I created files with Astro file manager but twrp still doesn't see them on the internal card just the external but won't open the zips.

I'm just not getting much feedback on my problem. Will posting on a different forum help?

If the external sd is formatted as exFat, recovery may not be able to read it correctly. Since its a 64gb card, I bet this is the problem.
Have you gone into the mounts menu and remounted your internal sd and/or /data? Maybe its just not mounted...
You might also want to try twrp 2.6.3.1 or 2.8.0.1. You can get them from the link in my sig.
Or try philz recovery as suggested before.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using Tapatalk