Database Users

A newbie who screwed up

Hi everybody. I'm Quistnix and I'm a compulsive tinkerer.
Whenever I get my hands on a new piece of hardware, I just have to fiddle with the software. My iPod Touch has been jailbroken, bricked, unbricked, re-jailbroken, broken, repaired and jailbroken. My pc has been running a lot of different editions of Linux and Windows, and has been screwed even more times when I tried to install those.
To the point: I'v got a HTC Magic (32b) and I'm very happy with it. However, I just had to go and put some custom roms on it. I was kinda overconfident and hopscotched from one guide to the other until I got a result I liked. Unfortunately, the end result turned out to be a phone running Android Dev Phone 1, Firmware 1.6 without any backups to restore to.
In it's current state wifi won't run, I don't have root access, Recovery Flasher returns "Flash FAILED.", Terminal won't give me SU rights and it's one of those 'perfect' devices that don't allow fastboot.
Apart from those issues everything seems to work fine, so if it's going to stay like this I'll still end up with a great and perfectly functional phone. Still, I'd like to ask if there is a way to either get it back to its original state, or to make it run a custom rom.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Quistnix said:
Hi everybody. I'm Quistnix and I'm a compulsive tinkerer.
Whenever I get my hands on a new piece of hardware, I just have to fiddle with the software. My iPod Touch has been jailbroken, bricked, unbricked, re-jailbroken, broken, repaired and jailbroken. My pc has been running a lot of different editions of Linux and Windows, and has been screwed even more times when I tried to install those.
To the point: I'v got a HTC Magic (32b) and I'm very happy with it. However, I just had to go and put some custom roms on it. I was kinda overconfident and hopscotched from one guide to the other until I got a result I liked. Unfortunately, the end result turned out to be a phone running Android Dev Phone 1, Firmware 1.6 without any backups to restore to.
In it's current state wifi won't run, I don't have root access, Recovery Flasher returns "Flash FAILED.", Terminal won't give me SU rights and it's one of those 'perfect' devices that don't allow fastboot.
Apart from those issues everything seems to work fine, so if it's going to stay like this I'll still end up with a great and perfectly functional phone. Still, I'd like to ask if there is a way to either get it back to its original state, or to make it run a custom rom.
Any help is greatly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have a look at the numerous threads on how to replace the perfect SPL with goldcard method. once you're done with that, replace the recovery, choose a rom and flash.

nmesisca said:
have a look at the numerous threads on how to replace the perfect SPL with goldcard method. once you're done with that, replace the recovery, choose a rom and flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot, I'll give it a shot tonight

In case somebody else stumbles upon this thread with the same problem:
Using Jester's guide I created a goldcard, and Amon's guide helped me to un-perfect it. After that I could one-click-root without trouble.
I'm currently using the build installed by the ROM v2.16.707.3 from Amon's guide, and it's great.
The only problem left is that I tried to install Amon's [ROM] [32A & 32B] [10-Oct-2009] RAv1.6.2 and got stuck with a never-ending boot screen. This was easily reverted with a backup. I´m going to try installing another rom soon, to see if that helps.

the reason you got stuck in a boot loop is because you didnt wipe your ext partition. you can do that using amon ra's newest recovery. easy peasy lemon squeezy. you need to wipe whenever you flash a new hero rom or any other now now-a-days. do you have adb set up?

edit: Never mind, it's all running beautifully. Thanks!

[Q] So Much Information!!! Brains exploding! Assist!

When I found out that 2.2 wasnt coming out from this phone I decided that I would root the phone and load a 2.2 ROM, etc. etc. So I started researching all of these about 2 days ago... and for the past 2 days I have read so much information on this that I am now currently so mixed up and lost. There are soooo many different ROMs, different ways to do this, that, etc. I see some people do one thing that it works great, another person do the exact same thing and they havent the same luck.
Even when getting ready to just root the phone, I found an awesome post that had great information... but, then when I looked at it the post was from 7 months ago and in the N1 forums. So, I started to 2nd guess.
I suppose basically what Im in need of is possibly a normal/basic recommendation to get moving on this... Would a possible recommendation be to root the phone with the 1 click root being run through a file manager, then create a nandroid backup, then go with something popular like Cyanogen6 RC1? Its just that mod -seems- to be what a good bit of people have, and problems seem limited on it. But then again, ive read about 10 other ROMs that appear to be just as good, and people like just as well... so agian, this choice leaves me frozen as well.
Im just so overwhelmed with information ive just about frozen up... I think it need to bring it back to a basic simple plan to get moving on this. Everything I read in these forums sounds so awesome and just plain ole fun.... but like I said im currently frozen/lost. Please help if my request isnt too much...
Thanks! Any help with this will definitely melt this horrid ice!!!

Use this to root: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=753910
Just do as it says and follow directions. I rooted both of my brother's phones this way. It works.
Then do as you were thinking: nandroid then install CM6 RC1. It will probably be your best bet for a solid 2.2 experience.

here's what I posted on my carriers facebook page. I kept things simple and to the point, and the point was to install 2.2 on a hero.
1. go to settings, applications and check allow installation from unknown sources.
2. install bar code scanner from the market if you don't have it.
3. scan the qr code from here: http://bit.ly/d1f0RN
4. download and install the app
5. open universal androot and click root
6. go to the market and download rom manager
7. open rom manager and click flash clockwork mod recovery
8. click backup current rom (you can always restore your backup later to go back to exactly how your phone was)
to load the rom after rooting:
1. download both the rom and google apps from http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=755795
2. copy the zip files to your sd card
3. open rom manager and click install rom from sd card
4. choose the rom file you copied to the sd card and click add zip, then choose the google apps file you downloaded earlier. Click ok and choose backup current rom and wipe data.
5. Enjoy android 2.2 on your Hero!!
(be careful restoring stuff using mybackup, open source roms and htc roms don't store data the same way. applications are safe to restore but system settings can potentially break things requiring you to wipe and reload again)

Not because it is my root method, but I would actually recommend using my root method and following all of the steps. It has you flash a custom recovery and patched boot.img so you keep full root via adb.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=694572

CM6 is the ONLY 2.2 ROM for the Hero at this point. But know that it doesn't have much of the Sprint/CDMA or HTC SenseUI functionality and stuff that you're used to from your current phone....like updating Profile and PRL; Sprint Navigation/Football/Nascar/etc.; your Contacts, Dialer, Messaging, and some other menus will be a little different....that's just a few things off the top of my head.
So if you kinda LIKE the way your phone is now (except maybe for some lag/slowness), CM6 won't be a very similar ROM. But you won't know unless you try it out Just offering some helpful info. Good luck -- we're here to help.

I have not found a 2.2 FroYo that I like for the Hero, it's rooted and running Fresh 2.3.3
http://geekfor.me/new-release/fresh-hero-233/

Awesome... the community here is absolutely incredible. Although I am literally tryin my best to read the ****in manual, I continue to fear that im reading something too old or outdated, or that there is something newer (easier) that I should be doing instead. I did the rooting with the 1click which was so simple... I cant believe I even spent that much time on it.
Thinking next the nandroid/recovery image thing would be a breeze, but it appears to almost be the hardest step. I see on most posts that they always tend to mention Nandroid for backups - is there a particular reason that I should use that one? Some other ones appear to be easier, but not as interesting or fun. However, im fearfully coming across a lack of exact guides that explain the process.
I truly think that once I can get the recovery image done, and I can start trying out other ROMs and such... this will become too much fun. But again, im getting so mixed up by should i do this, that, or maybe this... or wait, is that too old of information?
Regardless, thanks for all the help!

Download ROM Manager from the Market. From ROM Manager you can flash ClockworkMod recovery or Flash Alternate Recovery (I prefer this option RA Recovery) there is a newer relase but this works fine.
You can then reboot and go into recovery, back up your system as it is right now, that way you can always go back to the basic root version that you have right now. That my friend is a Nandriod back up. now you can install a ROM of your choice, once it is installed and functioning the way you like make a Nandriod back up of it, that way you always have a good platform to start from if anything isn't playing nice.

saltyclams said:
When I found out that 2.2 wasnt coming out from this phone I decided that I would root the phone and load a 2.2 ROM, etc. etc. So I started researching all of these about 2 days ago... and for the past 2 days I have read so much information on this that I am now currently so mixed up and lost. There are soooo many different ROMs, different ways to do this, that, etc. I see some people do one thing that it works great, another person do the exact same thing and they havent the same luck.
Even when getting ready to just root the phone, I found an awesome post that had great information... but, then when I looked at it the post was from 7 months ago and in the N1 forums. So, I started to 2nd guess.
I suppose basically what Im in need of is possibly a normal/basic recommendation to get moving on this... Would a possible recommendation be to root the phone with the 1 click root being run through a file manager, then create a nandroid backup, then go with something popular like Cyanogen6 RC1? Its just that mod -seems- to be what a good bit of people have, and problems seem limited on it. But then again, ive read about 10 other ROMs that appear to be just as good, and people like just as well... so agian, this choice leaves me frozen as well.
Im just so overwhelmed with information ive just about frozen up... I think it need to bring it back to a basic simple plan to get moving on this. Everything I read in these forums sounds so awesome and just plain ole fun.... but like I said im currently frozen/lost. Please help if my request isnt too much...
Thanks! Any help with this will definitely melt this horrid ice!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know exactly what you mean. I've rooted my Hero the day the universal 1 click came out,but as yet have been reading everything I can on which new Rom to install first.
I went out and bought a new 16 gig sd card for more storage as well. I've been trying to read up on how and what is the best way to do all of the various partitions on it cause some say to just have a ext 2 partition,and others say have a ext3/4 partitions on it.Unfortunately I haven't found a easy way to make this happen except by using the FroydVillain 1.4.3 rom and I don't know if it will work with a cdma Sprint Hero or not yet.
I love the phone,and want to upgrade it to the best stable over clocked rom that will allow me to use it for everyday usage,but it doesn't look like it is going to easy as rooting the damn thing was. Seems to me that you need to be a programmer in Linux to make it work the best
I hate posting a bunch of neewb questions about it but I guess I will
Mac

Awesome! Okay perfect... it worked perfect! I know have CyanogenMod running - yeah, it def different. Seems like it will take some time to get used too. Esp since its so far from SenseUI off the bat... err well, just the way that it handles things and such.
I will definitely give it a fair shot before I even try out some other ones... but I def want to try to use one of those Fresh Roms as well.
Thanks a ton for all the help! Most appreciated!

Very new and complete noob

Hi all.
I have a Samsung Vibrant that's still on 2.1. I want to get into rooting and running custom ROMs, but my first attempt failed miserably. I had only rooted the phone and played with a little bit of overclocking for a couple of days when I received an OTA update announcement. Not thinking about it, I accepted it. After that, I got stuck on the "Vibrant" startup screen during the reboot. I took the phone and flashed it back to stock using the method most use (ODIN?). Anyway, even back to stock it would get stuck in a loop of running the media scanner during startup...needless to say I had to get a new phone.
My point is that I want to get my phone more personalized but I'm a bit stand-off-ish because of my prior experience. There is a ton of terminology I'm not familiar with at all...the most I can do with a computer is turn it on and use it.
Is there a place I can go that's an entry level course in rooting and the terminology associated with it? Thanks.

Check my signature. Noob guide. If something is not answered please pm me so I can add it.
I would not use kies to get 2.2.

What is "kies?" Also, I've been reading through (obviously there's a lot of reading to do) but I have another question that relates to my previous experimentation with rooting:
Is there ANY way to do a full back up of my phone now so that if I ever have to go back to stock using ODIN I can go back to how my phone is now? The last time I tried I could not find the same software I had before and a few things had been changed...basically like it wasn't a true stock file.

OK, so you are nooBie
Here are a list of things you are going need if you want to update your phone to 2.2
1. If you do not know what you are doing (which is the case) then, read
member-s15274n Noobie guide in the Bible. This will get you up to speed on the knowledge necessary to modify the phone.
2. If you decide to do the factory (from tmobile/samsung) update, then read on that process. I personally do not recommend updating that way.
3. If you update via some of the excellent roms in the Dev section (which I recommend) then read up on them Master's Axura, Jellette's Einherjar rom and Team Whiskey's Roms are all excellent and there are others YOU NEED TO READ UP ON THESE,
4. If you go with a custom rom Then you need The following programs/patches:
A. Odin 1.7 (this installs on the computer)
B. Oneclick root. (Go to unlockr.com) they have a video easy to follow and have the links for this.
C. Clockwork (Rom Manager) free installs on the phone
D. Titanium Backup (installs o nthe phone)
E. Original 959JFD 2.1 stock ROM (in case you f#ck-up) you can odin back
F. The Custom rom of your choice.
That is all you need, read up and once you get going you will maybe have questions..... Ask in the Q & A we all here welcome a new person to the forum and help them.

BMRbrnSNRbrd said:
What is "kies?" Also, I've been reading through (obviously there's a lot of reading to do) but I have another question that relates to my previous experimentation with rooting:
Is there ANY way to do a full back up of my phone now so that if I ever have to go back to stock using ODIN I can go back to how my phone is now? The last time I tried I could not find the same software I had before and a few things had been changed...basically like it wasn't a true stock file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Samsung Kies is an official program that syncs your phone to your PC. This includes downloading and installing official OS updates to your phone.
A NANDroid backup can backup everything except the kernel. When you restore this backup your phone will go back to the state it was in when you backed it up.
Remember to always read a lot before doing anything.
I'm kinda new too. I personally chose Team Whiskey's ROMs. Their guide and s15274n's Noob Guide helped me a lot. Have fun!

Thanks for the information.

Ok, now I really feel like a noob....I am to the phone rooting idea, but not to forums...but I cannot for the life of me find the Developers section...

Vibrant > vibrant android development

Trying to root - problems [SOLVED]

Hey guys.
I've been attempting this all morning and so far I've had no luck. I have a VodafoneAU Legend which I updated to the official 2.2 yesterday. But now I want to try root.
I've been trying to follow the HBOOT 1.01 guide but there's a few problems. First, I cannot connect to the phone with adb unless it's in htc sync mode. No other mode will work. So when it's time to copy testimage.zip to the card I have to change from sync mode to disk mode, whereby adb loses it's connection. What do I do about this? Is it a driver problem (in Win7 here) or something else?
Thanks,
Dave.

Ok, the first problem were drivers.
Now I can't finish the second guide. When I try using clockwork to install the firmware.zip, the phone just boots to the red triangle. What do I have to do?
Dave.

So I pressed the up button/power combo at the red triangle and get the Android system recovery. Selecting "apply update.zip" says it can't verify. What do I do? Is this guide for my phone or do I need to follow something else?

I don't understand this guys. Anyone help? I'm thinking since this is a step to root the phone, I'm not actually rooted yet so I can't use the clockworkmod? Then what is the guide for? The guides at unlockr don't mention what firmware/hboot they work for so I'm not keen to try them yet.

Read the guide on fake flash. You need the recovery file named "update.zip" in the root of your sd to proceed..
Sent from my Legend using XDA App

whitetigerdk said:
Read the guide on fake flash. You need the recovery file named "update.zip" in the root of your sd to proceed..
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But isn't that what Rom Manager does? Download the update.zip then run it? Man this is getting even harder to understand.
Edit: And this is left out of the HBOOT 1.01 guide because.....????? When I work this out I'll write a PROPPER guide, lol.

Just checked and update.zip is on the card.
So which part of the guide am I getting wrong?

Decided to reinstall phone with the official froyo release and am now ready to try this again. Is there anyone that will walk me through the process? I will write a complete guide if the "gotchas" are still there.

i feel for you ... hope you get it fixed... thats one of the reason i havent dared messing with the phone because i've seen a few post like yours where something didnt go quite as described... for whatever reason... and im sure the answer is out there but just not within the guide instructions... i guess there is no way to gather all gotchas because there are so many environment variables...
good luck
and please share your technique

Just saw gobczak's thread in the developer forum having similar troubles with Vodafone UK phone, getting the red triangle at reboot. I'll keep an eye on his thread and see how he goes with it.

Did you run the stage1 and stage2 bats while in recovery?

dezzadk said:
Did you run the stage1 and stage2 bats while in recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No because the guide didn't say to.
The thing is it seems I'm only stuck on the part where the firmware.zip file has to be flashed. The guide says to use clockworkmod for this. But when I try installing the clockworkmod recovery it gives some file verification error. Isn't there ways to do this via the pc, either through those batch files, adb etc? Or will that fake-flash update.zip file work?

jabbado said:
No because the guide didn't say to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I just posted on the other forum, I think you need to skip that step in guide 2 and go straight onto guide 3 after you have flashed the LEGEIMG.zip, rebooted, and then removed LEGEIMG.zip from the SD card.

Guys I've got to the point of downgrading to 1.31. But when I run the first batch file it just hangs at the "Writing zip" part, with the htc logo on the screen. Is there any way to fix this?

Can someone please explain this part of the guide:
Phone will reboot and find LEGEIMG.zip on your sdcard, copy it into RAM and check it. If you get CID error at this point, then you don't have goldcard.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so I don't get an error. I get nothing. The phone just boots to the fastboot screen. If I press the power button it goes to the hboot screen and I can see the messages of loading LEGEIMG.zip. But the guide doesn't say to press anything.
So should I or shouldn't I press the power button? Also, if I try making the goldcard again, at which point in the guide do I start from again? The entire process or just copying LEGEIMG.zip to card then rebooting phone? I mean, will all the other things like flashing misc1-2.img still be there?

Guys I finally got this working.
The first problem was with the goldcards. For whatever reason formatting them with the win7 format tool just wouldn't work. I had to use the command-line format tool, setting the block size etc manually.
The second problem was the unnecessary steps in the guide. A few people helped me out with this (namely blackbart at the Aus Whirlpool forum), but basically in the second step you can stop after flashing the LEGEIMG.zip. The updating froyo part isn't needed - for my phone anyway.
Then when running the batch files in the third part, for whatever reason the first batch would keep hanging at 'writing zip...' and I needed to remove the battery to unfreeze the phone. flannigan, also from the Aus Whirlpool forums suggested to just go on to the second batch file. This worked!
So my Legend is now finally a true Legend
Anyway, thanks for the help everyone - couldn't have done this by myself.
Dave

Great news, I think we need a new guide focused on rooting for HBOOT 1.01 / Stock Froyo to clear up the inconsistencies in the existing one. It's a minefield for a noob (or a rite of passage!), a revised guide will certainly save a lot of time and frustration for those taking this road in the future.
Sent from my HTC Legend using XDA App

EpicSauce said:
Great news, I think we need a new guide focused on rooting for HBOOT 1.01 to clear up the inconsistencies in the existing one. It's a minefield for a noob (or a rite of passage!), a revised guide will certainly save a lot of time and frustration for those taking this road in the future.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll write one if ya's want. I wanted to include little tidbits like downloading the apps required (visionary, rom manager etc) from the market then backing them up to the card with Astro so if it goes all wrong and you have to start again, you can just install them all from the card Also on using adb to push the files (roms, img's etc) when the guides say "copy this blah blah". Much quicker than changing to disk mode and back. Sound good?

Sounds good! Happy to help and add my 20c worth along the way. The existing guide has got the meaty bits, a new guide would cull the stuff not relevant, help fill in the gaps and alert to the pitfalls we've fallen into.

jabbado said:
I'll write one if ya's want. I wanted to include little tidbits like downloading the apps required (visionary, rom manager etc) from the market then backing them up to the card with Astro so if it goes all wrong and you have to start again, you can just install them all from the card Also on using adb to push the files (roms, img's etc) when the guides say "copy this blah blah". Much quicker than changing to disk mode and back. Sound good?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree... i've done my reading since june of last year but then didnt check for another 4 months... and so many how to's pop up with various ways of doing it depeding on the situation... a lot of those howtos were consolidated howtos which sometimes make intermediate steps unenecessary (may be in some cases causes more head aches since it didnt take into considerations on newer version of hboots...etc)... an updated how to will be much appreciated...
And you're right the most important pre requirement is to have a safety net ... so starting with how to create a back up in case you screw it up is a must!
but im glad it worked out for you!

[Q] A sort of newbie query but...

Hi there,
I had been umming and arring about rooting and installing a new ROM one of my familys HTC Heroes for some time now and finally after reading lots of "How to's" on lots of different forums I decided to take the plunge and give it a go using the guide on here.
Both my wifes phone and my sons phone are sim unlocked Orange HTC Heros running 2.1-Update 1.
Rooting it was easy. One press of a button and I was there. Its pretty much worked OK and I have sucessfully made three backups of the wifes Hero.
My main query and this is the bit I have not really been able to find much info about despite spending a day trawling through the forums looking for similar queries is this:
Having flashed my recovery image file, the first time I reboot I can get into the recovery mode just fine. From here I can make a backup of the current ROM after which the Hero reboots and goes back into the OS as it should.
If I then shut it down and reboot using the HOME key + POWER option It does not go into the recovery mode. I get the screen with an image of the phone next to a red triangle with an exclamation mark in it.
Using the advice from various forums whilst searching for further advice / hints I have left the phone for up to half an hour but it stays on this screen. The only way to get it out of this screen it to pull the battery.
If I then boot up the phone and reflash the recovery image, I can then get into the recovery mode once again but for ONE BOOT ONLY.
I have tried AmonRA Revcovery v1.7.01. and also the Clockwork Recovery 2.5.0.7 images and both produce the same results. I have tried flashing the images via ROM Manager and also via Android Terminal Emulator
My question is this: Do I have to flash the recovery image EVERY time I want to open the recovery mode or is there something I have missed? At present I have held back from installing a new ROM in case I go past a point of no return where I brick the phone. Neither my wife or son would be too pleased despite my son wanting a better ROM on his.
Apologies for writing "War and Peace" but I wanted to make sure I had covered all I could and hope this is a) not a query already posted elswhere which I have missed b)posted in the right place. Apologies to any forum mods if its not.
Regards
Rhinestone.

hmm look on the unlokr.com or something like that. They use some simple passes and it's the way i did it. the on;y difference is that my phone wasn't blocked on a carrier...
1.there is a program that roots the hero's rom
2.after that i recommend installing clockwork recovery mode (it doesn't need signed zips)
3.if you don't feel safe doing this, i recommend to stop... I know that the 2.1 rom is boring but you can end up with a bricked phone after this...

The official 2.1 update has a script that reflashes the stock recovery every time the phone is shut down.
Hunt about for a modified 2.1 rom, all of them have had that script removed. I'm not a huge fan of sense now, but when I did use it, I found villainrom to be a good 2.1 sense rom.

TheReverend210 said:
The official 2.1 update has a script that reflashes the stock recovery every time the phone is shut down.
Hunt about for a modified 2.1 rom, all of them have had that script removed. I'm not a huge fan of sense now, but when I did use it, I found villainrom to be a good 2.1 sense rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, just flash a custom ROM and it will stick.

Hello,
Problem might be with rooting, possible it has not been rooted completely or anything messed up. You can try this for rooting.
http://unrevoked.com/
If you are sure its rooted completely, then check out Superuser apps, if its there, and you are rooted, if not then download terminal emulator and type "su" command, if its doesnt display any error then its rooted.
Other then this,
problem might be with the recovery images you are flashing, download droid explorer its a window application, its has an option of flashing recovery with one click, simply choose recovery image & flash it, clockmod recovery or amonr any of this you can get in xda.