Develop Bugs

[Guide] How to PROPERLY flash a rom

OK guys, lately I've been seeing a little too many people complaining about bootloops and UI crashes, etc when installing/flashing a new rom. This guide includes installing an update of the rom you're currently on that has been re-based as well.
The only reason I'm making this guide is so that users stop filling threads with these issues that are caused by user errors (99% of the time). I haven't bootlooped or had any problems at all when flashing a new rom and I can promise you that I am a huge flashaholic. Here are the steps for a TOUCHWIZ rom:
1. Download rom and calculate md5 checksum (this can be done using ES file explorer from the play store)
2. Reboot into recovery and make a nandroid backup! Can't stress this enough...
3. Do a FULL wipe. This is where I notice the error that most people make. You must do a wipe of data, cache, dalvik cache, preload AND SYSTEM.
- Don't just do a Factory reset, you must manually wipe system as well to prevent any issues. In TWRP this will be under advanced wipe, and in Philz touch recovery this is done by selecting the "Full wipe to install a new rom" option.
4. AFTER wiping all of the above mentioned partitions, then look for the rom in your internal/external SD card and install/flash it.
- if the rom has an aroma installer, sometimes it'll include a full wipe option in there, this doesn't mean that you can skip the full wipe done in step 2 of this guide.
5. Allow the rom to install everything and then choose the reboot option within your chosen recovery.
6. Let the phone reboot, input all of your info in the initial setup and then let the phone sit for a couple minutes. After this I usually reboot the phone again as a habit.
If you follow these steps to the T you shouldn't have any problems. I've yet to bootloop once on this phone with any rom. Now go and flash away!
Other possible issues/fixes:
- if you have a 64gb SD card, your current kernel or the kernel included with the rom you're flashing might not support 64gb SD cards in EXfat format. A fix for this would be to either flash another kernel that has 64gb SD card support or to copy everything from your SD card to a computer, format your EXfat sd card to fat32 format and then retransfer the files back to your sd card.
-some people have reported that moving the zip file from the internal SD to the external SD or vice versa has fixed flashing issues so make sure to try this as well, not sure why this works but it does sometimes.
-if a specific cause can't be diagnosed it's always recommended to restore your phone back to complete stock using Odin to flash stock firmware. Here is a link to the stock firmwares (I take no credit for that thread): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2335109
*Will add more info

Just in case.
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The twrp has the system wipe option. I don't see that with Cwm, just factory rest/data, and the two caches
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shengwang917 said:
The twrp has the system wipe option. I don't see that with Cwm, just factory reset/data, and the two caches
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Click to collapse
-Data wipe/Factory reset. In Philz CWM version when you chose this it stated "Wipe phone for new ROM"

Every recovery as far as I've seen has a system wipe option, just have to look for it. Only mention TWRP because I haven't used the other recoveries in a while.
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Question, for restoring nandroid backup : before I first started to flash roms last week. I did the following with Twrp, backup, - wipe data and caches(no system), then I backup again before moving forward with the flash. My question is: can I just restore my second backup with just the system without the data.?
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Why do you backup twice? And why would you restore just the system partition? You might as well just reflash the rom so you don't waste space having a system only backup.
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shengwang917 said:
Question, for restoring nandroid backup : before I first started to flash roms last week. I did the following with Twrp, backup, - wipe data and caches(no system), then I backup again before moving forward with the flash. My question is: can I just restore my second backup with just the system without the data.?
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Click to collapse
A nandroid will restore your phone exactly how it was when you made the back up.
If I read it correctly, on the 2nd backup, you did a wipe before you did a backup.
So if you restored that 2nd backup, it will have wiped ROM (no data and will need to set up phone again). Hope that make sense.

Yeah that's what I want, I want to go back to that clean clean rom, I don't need my user data
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Then don't restore a backup for that. Just reflash the rom.
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marcoxx626 said:
Why do you backup twice? And why would you restore just the system partition? You might as well just reflash the rom so you don't waste space having a system only backup.
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Click to collapse
Cause I'm OCD when comes to things like this, seriously lol. I move all the backups to the external SD and my computer lol. So not too worried about taking up space. I just want to see if everything is working normally with the clean stock rom. I.e. Able to send MMS. Read and write to ext SD properly.
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shengwang917 said:
Cause I'm OCD when comes to things like this, seriously lol. I move all the backups to the external SD and my computer lol. So not too worried about taking up space. I just want to see if everything is working normally with the clean stock rom. I.e. Able to send MMS. Read and write to ext SD properly.
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Click to collapse
Well if you just want to go back to a fresh clean install there's no point in restoring a backup. Just reflash the rom bro. Any kernel changes or system app changes will still be there if you restore a system backup but won't be there if you reflash the rom (after doing full wipe that is).
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marcoxx626 said:
Well if you just want to go back to a fresh clean install there's no point in restoring a backup. Just reflash the rom bro. Any kernel changes or system app changes will still be there if you restore a system backup but won't be there if you reflash the rom (after doing full wipe that is).
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is it right ? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2267895 , I think there is a Odin back to stock thread on here too
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shengwang917 said:
This is it right ? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2267895 , I think there is a Odin back to stock thread on here too
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Click to collapse
Ok, now you lost me. What is your ultimate goal in this? Back to complete stock like out of the box?
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marcoxx626 said:
Ok, now you lost me. What is your ultimate goal in this? Back to complete stock like out of the box?
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Click to collapse
Sorry lol, yeah i want to go back to right out of the box stock.
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Yeah follow that thread. Please hit thanks if I helped at all.
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After I flash unwizzed rom in aroma after it installs everything it says assert failed : package_extract_file("boot.img","/temp/boot.img") ?? It boots the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen then turns off then back on then back into recovery.. been doing this for alot of ROMs i try to flash

shengwang917 said:
The twrp has the system wipe option. I don't see that with Cwm, just factory rest/data, and the two caches
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For cwm:
Mounts/Storage - Mount/System.
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Robdizz said:
After I flash unwizzed rom in aroma after it installs everything it says assert failed : package_extract_file("boot.img","/temp/boot.img") ?? It boots the Samsung Galaxy S4 screen then turns off then back on then back into recovery.. been doing this for alot of ROMs i try to flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what that could be. Did you check the md5?
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I've been asking everyone it does this on alot of roms i flash the only one that worked was Alpha 5.0 but tried to go to 7.0 and did same thing. How do u check the Md5?

My phone shows it has a lot of space but says I only have 2 gigs available

When I look at my internal storage I'm am barely using it and it shows that but it says I only have 2 gigs available I do have 2 back ups one being of my current rom and the other being my stock TouchWiz which has no apps or anything done in it just gapps
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are you on 4.2.2
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ayeitschris said:
are you on 4.2.2
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Click to collapse
Yes cm
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Please read forum rules before posting
Questions and Help issues go in Q&A and Help section
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rajbaba2 said:
Yes cm
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Click to collapse
Depending on your recovery tool it may not have moved everything properly to the 0 folder. You might have duplicated all your user data. Use a file explorer and check the contents of sdcard. I think you should pretty much just have a 0 folder there which has all your stuff in it. I'm back on 4.1.2 now so I'm working from memory. Basically go up a level from your 0 folder and look what's in there.
When I first flashed 4.2.2 I used an old CWM and found I had duplicates of everything. I've since gone to PhilZ and all is well.

MrTallboy said:
Depending on your recovery tool it may not have moved everything properly to the 0 folder. You might have duplicated all your user data. Use a file explorer and check the contents of sdcard. I think you should pretty much just have a 0 folder there which has all your stuff in it. I'm back on 4.1.2 now so I'm working from memory. Basically go up a level from your 0 folder and look what's in there.
When I first flashed 4.2.2 I used an old CWM and found I had duplicates of everything. I've since gone to PhilZ and all is well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Damn there is a folder named emulated that contains 2 copies of everything.. So that is step one but it won't let me delete it
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Backup

Ok this is really bothering me I use TB for my backups for my apps. When I flash a new Rom and I go to reinstall my apps they are not there because you have to do a full wipe when flashing a Rom so how can I flash a Rom and be able to reinstall my apps and games with the data with them. Like games I lose all my saved points
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jason504 said:
Ok this is really bothering me I use TB for my backups for my apps. When I flash a new Rom and I go to reinstall my apps they are not there because you have to do a full wipe when flashing a Rom so how can I flash a Rom and be able to reinstall my apps and games with the data with them. Like games I lose all my saved points
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Click to collapse
Maybe I'm missing something but I back up my tb on my sd card so a full wipe only effects the internal storage.

When I back up with tb it saves to my internal not my external card I have always used tb never any problems is there a way to back up to my external? So what I did last night is back up my game real racing 3 moved it to my external card flashed a Rom installed tb and it did not pick it up on my card moved back to internal card and it picked it up. So I restored it and all it restored was the app no data so I lost my cars and everything. So I went back to stock cause I made a back up and I have all my stuff but if I want to flash a Rom I will lose my game data
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You have to go to preferences and set backup folder to external card. After flashing, reinstall TiBu. Do preferences again, detect whole device, select backup location, say use current folder and you should see your backups.
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psal217050 said:
You have to go to preferences and set backup folder to external card. After flashing, reinstall TiBu. Do preferences again, detect whole device, select backup location, say use current folder and you should see your backups.
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Click to collapse
What he said
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OK I got that thanks so I did that and it worked fine but when I restored like power amp I had all my playlist and **** it was like it is not restoring my saved options same with my racing game it restored it but it was like I have to start over. It never did that on my s3
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Saving data when going to 4.3.1

Currently on stock Rom, and when I flashed roms, carbon and pacman, I lost all my data even when I recovered apps through Tibu. Is there a way, most probably, that I can go from stock, 4.1.2 to a 4.3.1 Rom and recover old data?
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buff31 said:
Currently on stock Rom, and when I flashed roms, carbon and pacman, I lost all my data even when I recovered apps through Tibu. Is there a way, most probably, that I can go from stock, 4.1.2 to a 4.3.1 Rom and recover old data?
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Click to collapse
If you backed up app and data with Titanium, it should be there. Even when restoring, you might need to restore the individual data from some apps. I have done this many times. But be aware, sometimes Titanium doesn't like some roms. I am using cm10.2 and don't have any problems with the restore. Make sure you set you backup folder for the external disk. When you flash a new rom, you will need to reinstall Titanium and have it detect the backup folder again under preferences.
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does rom toolbox pro do the same job as tibu?

deadenz said:
does rom toolbox pro do the same job as tibu?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Suppose to but data didn't work as well for me. Tibu, IMO, does the data better.
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You need to move your data, it's all there but just in the wrong place, Android 4.3.1 puts your data in internal SD in a folder named 0, android 4.1.2 puts the data in internal SD, when you flash from stock to 4.3.1 you need to move/copy the data in your internal SD to that folder 0 and then everything should be fine and you will be able to restore with TiBu.
Erik

ricco333 said:
You need to move your data, it's all there but just in the wrong place, Android 4.3.1 puts your data in internal SD in a folder named 0, android 4.1.2 puts the data in internal SD, when you flash from stock to 4.3.1 you need to move/copy the data in your internal SD to that folder 0 and then everything should be fine and you will be able to restore with TiBu.
Erik
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this 0 folder is a 4.3 thing? or CM is built this way?

ricco333 said:
You need to move your data, it's all there but just in the wrong place, Android 4.3.1 puts your data in internal SD in a folder named 0, android 4.1.2 puts the data in internal SD, when you flash from stock to 4.3.1 you need to move/copy the data in your internal SD to that folder 0 and then everything should be fine and you will be able to restore with TiBu.
Erik
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why move it? Set Titanium preferred backup folder to external and don't worry about it.
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How do I set it up to external card?
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buff31 said:
How do I set it up to external card?
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Menu, preference, select back up folder. Make it a folder on external drive. I made on that says Titanium Backup... Easy to remember. Select it and follow instructions. Only thing is you need to have Tibu detect it on whole device each time you flash but it is there.
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psal217050 said:
Why move it? Set Titanium preferred backup folder to external and don't worry about it.
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I always copy it, it may work to move it to external and I guess it doesn't hurt to try it.
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---------- Post added at 10:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:14 PM ----------
cynosure4sure said:
this 0 folder is a 4.3 thing? or CM is built this way?
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Click to collapse
It was introduced in Android 4.2 and it's part if the multi user feature.
Erik
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Help please

So I'm new to the s3 I successfully rooted and installed cwm. I made a back up of my stock 4.1.2 ROM but when I installed a new ROM my back up went away. On my previous phones in cwm when you wipe data it didn't wipe any backup. Now it did. How can I prevent this from happening and and does anyone please have a 4.1.2 stock t mobile ROM cwm backup!? Would be very much appreciated
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What rom did you install? It's probably under /0 folder.
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Cm 10.2
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chrisram88 said:
What rom did you install? It's probably under /0 folder.
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And its not the 0 folder I've checked it and the device with es3 file manager
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tamalepirates said:
So I'm new to the s3 I successfully rooted and installed cwm. I made a back up of my stock 4.1.2 ROM but when I installed a new ROM my back up went away. On my previous phones in cwm when you wipe data it didn't wipe any backup. Now it did. How can I prevent this from happening and and does anyone please have a 4.1.2 stock t mobile ROM cwm backup!? Would be very much appreciated
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Click to collapse
It should be on the root of the internal storage. To prevent this, stick to one version of the os. No one is going to give you their backup/nandroid. Go through the development section, there's a few 4.1.2 stock Roms with root.
chrisram88 said:
What rom did you install? It's probably under /0 folder.
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It would be under the /0 if op made the backup after flashing and booting up the ROM.
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Da Kine said:
It should be on the root of the internal storage. To prevent this, stick to one version of the os. No one is going to give you their backup/nandroid. Go through the development section, there's a few 4.1.2 stock Roms with root.
It would be under the /0 if op made the backup after flashing and booting up the ROM.
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Click to collapse
What do you mean stick to one version of os. Does anyone have a backup without logging in to a gmail account. So its completely stock
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In my past experience with cwm wiping data always wiped the internal storage.. So one way to prevent it from happening is to make backups to the external sdcard instead of internal.. I don't know how it works now because I've been using twrp for a while now.. And there is stock ROMs in the development section, you can just download one and flash it
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Okay I have it some what fixed I found my backups in the ROM manager app. But can't find them through a file manager app. But my back up is in my phone some where but only accessible from ROM manager.

tamalepirates said:
Okay I have it some what fixed I found my backups in the ROM manager app. But can't find them through a file manager app. But my back up is in my phone some where but only accessible from ROM manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally rom backup is secured and will not be wiped
You can download es file explorer and give root permission
Go to /device,- mnt folder - shell folder - you will find cwm folder and in that backup folder containing your all backup
Try it
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anil2653 said:
Normally rom backup is secured and will not be wiped
You can download es file explorer and give root permission
Go to /device,- mnt folder - shell folder - you will find cwm folder and in that backup folder containing your all backup
Try it
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I allow es3 root permission. I have es3 I've went to mnt/shell/ but shell is empty
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tamalepirates said:
How do I allow es3 root permission. I have es3 I've went to mnt/shell/ but shell is empty
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Click to expand...
Click to collapse
anil2653 said:
Normally rom backup is secured and will not be wiped
You can download es file explorer and give root permission
Go to /device,- mnt folder - shell folder - you will find cwm folder and in that backup folder containing your all backup
Try it
Never mind I found out how thank you man life saver! I'll back those up to an external SD card thanks so much
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Click to collapse
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