Database Users

[Tutorial] Restoring Recovery Mode while working only Fastboot Mode*ALL METHODS HERE*

Hello!
Yesterday I found myself in a very terrible situation. I spend about 6-7 hours...
It just happened that I deleted the recovery (through fastboot), and before that deleted firmware of the phone. That is, there remained only mode HBOOT (fastboot). Around the internet and google there are no guides on how to return
recovery by the alternative methods or how to flash a new ROM through
fastboot.
Thats why i want to present to you my little guide... Coz i think it will be very useful for some ppls like me with the same trouble.
So, if you're in a situation where you do not have Recovery, and the phone is not started in boot ROM then first try a standard way to flash a new Recovery through fastboot mode
Standart way of flashing new recovery via fastboot​
1.Connect your phone with PC via USB and power off your phone (if it up).
2.Than start up in fastboot mode - (in my situation, fastboot mode is CAMERA+POWER, then button "send") in all other (as i know) this is starting the phone while pressing button BACK.
3.Open -> Start->Run->cmd (open command prompt in windows*) and write:
Code:
fastboot devices
Than you must see your device serial number like this:
Code:
H94XTGAMSHDY
and should say "fastboot".
If all right - go next. If not - check fastboot mode (is on?) and USB cable.
4.Than change directory via cmd to where you have saved your recovery image (NEW recovery.img !!! ALWAYS CHECK MD5 SUM)
5. Than type this :
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img [enter]
(while you are stay in the same dir where you saved recovery.img)
(if you got some error about previously version or smth like this you can try to use this: fastboot erase recovery and only than try to flash new recovery from step №5)
6.Check your phone's display, as recovery is being sent and flashed to your device. And check your command prompt/shell to make sure the process is over.
7.Reboot into recovery by holding Home and Power (before it power off device).
Thats all! You can use any recovery, all what you like. I use Amon_RA's recovery.
IF WHILE FLASHING YOU GOT :
Code:
sending 'recovery' <4594kb>... OKAY [ 1.734s]
writing 'recovery'... INFOsignature checking...
FAILED <remote: signature verigy fail>
finished. total time: 3.125
Use next steps (my Alternative method)
And IF you can't flash recovery by this method it is not big trouble as you think now
Alternative way of BOOTING new recovery via fastboot​ checked and founded by me
Everything here is much easier and faster!
Do not be scared as I did it yesterday
Only what you need it :
Change directory via cmd to where you have saved your recovery image (NEW recovery.img !!! ALWAYS CHECK MD5 SUM)
And than TYPE:
Code:
fastboot boot recovery recovery.img
And your phone will be rebooted about 2 seconds in RECOVERY MODE. Yes!
After this you can use your old Nand Back up (restore it) and start up your old ROM. Or you can wipe all and try to flash new ROM and many operations what you can use via recovery. When you will get working ROM and flash it - you can flash recovery via adb. Or Use Rom Manager (Not recommended!)
Why we use this method? Because if you got error while flashing - FAILED <remote: signature verigy fail> you CAN'T FLASH ANY .img. Why? I Don't know, i hope some android guru's help us with it theory
(ALL AFTER THIS LINE ALL TEXT COPYED FROM WIKI.CYANOGEN.COM CREDITS GOES TO Cyanogen. Thx you, god)
If you want to flash recovery via adb (using power on phone with working firmware) (This method working 100% but strongly need working phone with working ROM)
Working only with HTC DREAM (G1) - Attention.
adb method by cyanogen version
Restoring the custom recovery image
Download the flash_image tool (HERE LINK
Next, place the file on your desktop
Change the directory to where "flash_image" is located, e.g. in Windows: cd C:\<path-to-flash_image-location>, in Linux: cd /home/USERNAME/path/to/flash_image on a Mac: cd /Users/USERNAME/path/to/flash_image)
IMPORTANT: Turn on USB debugging. Settings -> Applications -> Development -> check the box "USB Debugging"
Open up and adb shell
With your phone booted, type the following command
s:
Code:
adb root
This will start ADB as root, or notify if it is already running as root.
Code:
adb remount
This will mount the system partition (/system) as writable, allowing the following
Code:
adb push flash_image /system/bin
This will send the flash_image script into the /system/bin, so we can use it from within the shell
Code:
adb shell chmod 0755 /system/bin/flash_image
Finally, change the permissions of the script to allow it to perform the desired action.
Now that the script is installed, we are ready to proceed with flashing the custom recovery, saved on the root of the SD card earlier:
Code:
adb shell flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
P.S. If you want i can post here method by flashing original 1.6 ADP Rom via fastboot (but as i think it is on htc dev web... But i can post here cut version of this - coz original version have many not needed things.)
Credits:
Cyanogen
all xda cool ppls
ANtiHazarD

hey ANtiHazarD i have a desire so im not sure if this is suppose to work but all 3 methods fail for me, any advice, thanks in advance

Nice steps! man hope this gets a good stick or added to the rom bible, you do know though fastboot method is a common way to flash recovery

ilostchild said:
Nice steps! man hope this gets a good stick or added to the rom bible, you do know though fastboot method is a common way to flash recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I was thinking... Seems almost pointless for a guide since there's instructions how to fastboot on every recovery thread.
Either way, nicely written guide. Someone will probably find this useful.

pablo34 said:
hey ANtiHazarD i have a desire so im not sure if this is suppose to work but all 3 methods fail for me, any advice, thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a desire this is quite different, as it has an activated nand flash protection (s-on), so no fastboot flash recovery here. Although this should prevent you from not having a recovery at all...
* note: I don't have a desire (yet) so this is speculation *
Best is probably something similar to this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=750852
I guess if you get the correct PB99IMG.zip for exactly your device/brand you will not need a goldcard, so don't follow the howto blindly (it is for the newer SLCD versions, but the basics will still be applicable to AMOLED devices). Best would be a PB99IMG.zip that still has a hboot version < 0.92, otherwise you will need to downgrade to root. If you already have 0.92, then just take the newest image, as older ones are normally not flashable.
After step 7 of the howto, you are either done, or you will need to find instructions to downgrade if you want to root.
As soon as you have a working system, with a 0.8* hboot you can just use unrevoked to root and flash a custom recovery.
Enough OT... @ANtiHazarD: Very useful overview. Thanks.

WAY WAY WAY more complicated than it should be...
It is a simple matter of:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Done.

lbcoder said:
It is a simple matter of:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its not quite that simple,
1) if eng spl use fastboot instructions from RA recovery post (fastboot flash recovery recovery.img)
2) if older stock spl with fastboot ruu modes (1.33.000*) where the * is

lbcoder said:
WAY WAY WAY more complicated than it should be...
It is a simple matter of:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe so
but i want to post here ALL known methods thats why so much text is here
why? coz it was a trouble and the method with
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
not working! thats why - all ways is here.
(all pre-info into 1st post in the top)

pablo34 said:
hey ANtiHazarD i have a desire so im not sure if this is suppose to work but all 3 methods fail for me, any advice, thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh... i want to give to you some advice, but don't know what exact. because i don't have desire at my hands... and can't test.
so... thats why only - sorry
maybe there is some guide in the same way in desire section?
p.s. and thanks one more time to ezterry for old support

Can you please help me,
I have stuck here with the G1 phone,
it starts up and stucks on the G! logo.
I can get into fastboot bet have the same problem :
writing 'recovery'... INFOsignature checking...
FAILED <remote: signature verigy fail>
I get into fastboot with thre android logos on skates,
even tried to restore nandroid using fastboot but I get the same error? could you help me out?
I have HTC DREAM with 1.33.0013d and radio 2.22.27.08
I am really frustrated,
I tried all you gave up here but none worked for me.

Also when I try to get into recovery I see a G1 logo with a fastboot usb written on top left in red.

behzadbayat said:
Can you please help me,
I have stuck here with the G1 phone,
it starts up and stucks on the G! logo.
I can get into fastboot bet have the same problem :
writing 'recovery'... INFOsignature checking...
FAILED
I get into fastboot with thre android logos on skates,
even tried to restore nandroid using fastboot but I get the same error? could you help me out?
I have HTC DREAM with 1.33.0013d and radio 2.22.27.08
I am really frustrated,
I tried all you gave up here but none worked for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you read everything before you flashed the 1.33.0013d SPL?
If yes, you would have noticed, that this SPL is not able to flash a recovery or radio using fastboot. You have to flash the orange-...nbh file to get back a full engineering SPL, but you will loose everything you have installed on the phone ...
Send from my G1 with HTCClay's UNOFFICIAL Superfly 1.6 D/S ADS using XDA App

i don't know about this spl, but all what you can do (what i know) you can use this method which named in prev. post. with RC29 or RC7 stock firmware *.nbh
after flashing all data, radio, recovery will be reflashed by a stock data. All must be fine after this... i hope
ezterry can give for your advanced advice, may be

ANtiHazarD said:
i don't know about this spl, but all what you can do (what i know) you can use this method which named in prev. post. with RC29 or RC7 stock firmware *.nbh
after flashing all data, radio, recovery will be reflashed by a stock data. All must be fine after this... i hope
ezterry can give for your advanced advice, may be
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't use RC29.. its once of the most annoying NBH files to need to re-root for the dream.
If you have 1.33.0013d note the orange.nbh posted on the new radio OP post: here
ezterry said:
If you find yourself stuck without recovery!!
Dream
1) Download: orange-1.58.73.2.nbh (MD5: aca4dee0c1ece7e9773f2ecbdfbba7c0) (mirror)
2) enter fastboot and run 'fastboot flash nbh orange-1.58.73.2.nbh'
3) wait for the entire nbh to flash
4) boot into the bootloader again (it will be an engineering SPL 1.42.2000)
5) You can now re-flash the radio/hboot/recovery via fastboot that you wish to have installed.
​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basically if you intend to still use the new radio; after installing 1.58.73.2 you can reboot-bootloader; and use my fastboot installation steps at the top of that post
You can do this without a goldcard because I bypass various checks in 1.33.0013d
(It will let you install any other signed NBH but that will still wipe the phone completely; and if it fails to flash cleanly it will leave you without an engineering SPL thus make it harder to make android go again)

hey i tried to flash the MTD too and now i keep getting "E:cant open CACHE:recovery/log" when i go into recovery . I can flash roms but when i reboot my phone my phone stays in the G1 Logo . and when it does make it to the rom i can not get my market or gapps no matter what i do . please help me guys .
EDIT: theres times when i get past the g1 logo but itll just stay on the roms boot screen forever until the phone dies . does anyone have any ideas ?

try to 'fastboot wipe system -w'
after
wipe all (data/cache, cache, dalvik, ext, stats)
and move log to sd

ANtiHazarD said:
try to 'fastboot wipe system -w'
after
wipe all (data/cache, cache, dalvik, ext, stats)
and move log to sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive never really done fastboot tho . is there any other way ?

breezy169 said:
ive never really done fastboot tho . is there any other way ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's worth learning to use it ...
Really, especially when using the 14MB-hack or CustomMTD and it's not so difficult. There should be a tutorial on adb and fastboot here in the forum.

AndDiSa said:
It's worth learning to use it ...
Really, especially when using the 14MB-hack or CustomMTD and it's not so difficult. There should be a tutorial on adb and fastboot here in the forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i agree but i just finished reading the forum that shows how to do it but it sounds so complicated .
EDIT: i ended up flashing another recovery and that solved the problem . that was the weirdest thinq ive ever seen . and honestly i thought i bricked my phone but it was a simpleee fix lol . thanks for the advice tho

I am hanging at booting while trying to do this any ideas?

[Q] cant go in recovery mode on htc tattoo, please help!!

Hi my friends!
Can enyone help me? please?
I have tattoo on factory 1.6., SD card 2 GB kingston!
Then I root him with maverixx root, and then I use custom ROT 1.7 on there http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=723255
Everything gonna great until I want to partition my SD card on ROM manager!
When I think I was partition, phone restart and try to get in recovery mode! But then he only wibrate once a time and frozen first, TATTOO picture on himself!
When I tried to start him normarly, he starting!
But every time I try to get in recovery mode, he do the same thing (restart, vibrate once and frozen TATTOO text on display)!
I tried with adb reboot recovery but its the same thing!
I have nandroid on my sd card!
I also can entry on SD card via USB and also I can conected my phone to my com in deb. mode.
But I cant get my recovery mode!
Can someone please help me? Please! But step by step, my English isnt too good and my knowledge about this, too!
Thanx and best regards from Serbia!

Have you tried installing new recovery via adb?
You can also try to format your sd-card again and if that doesn't work I will recommend you try installing new recovery or reinstalling your recovery as mentioned above.

Thanx for replying!
How to install, reinstal my recovery mode??

now I was format my SD card, and the same thing
and now when I turn on phone in meni I lost ROM manager and superuser adv.
please anyone help??

could I install somehow new Recovery Mode and then istall again custom ROM?
please help
thanx

rista77 said:
Thanx for replying!
How to install, reinstal my recovery mode??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is commands, but can you see your device in adb when connected with usb. Can your phone get to the fastboot screen, I think it is power+vol down button.
Here is the commands you should try:
Via adb:
adb shell
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
via fastboot menu as indicated:
fastboot erase recovery
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Note: You should put the recovery.img in your root folder of the sd card(That is your main menu in your sd card). Also replace "recovery.img" with the name of the recovery img you want to install. The adb commands should be done with phone on as normal but connected to usb.
Example: flash_image recovery /sdcard/Maverix2b.img
Good luck.

rista77 said:
could I install somehow new Recovery Mode and then istall again custom ROM?
please help
thanx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you installed the recovery you will be able to reinstall the rom.

timlambo said:
Here is commands, but can you see your device in adb when connected with usb. Can your phone get to the fastboot screen, I think it is power+vol down button.
Here is the commands you should try:
Via adb:
adb shell
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
via fastboot menu as indicated:
fastboot erase recovery
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Note: You should put the recovery.img in your root folder of the sd card(That is your main menu in your sd card). Also replace "recovery.img" with the name of the recovery img you want to install. The adb commands should be done with phone on as normal but connected to usb.
Example: flash_image recovery /sdcard/Maverix2b.img
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it writte:
flash_image: permission denied!
Example: flash_image recovery /sdcard/Maverix2b.img? when I could get this maverix2b.img?in his root folder? recovery.img and then rename it to Maverix2b.img? Sorry about but I trying to understand you good!
and from where to copy recovery.img to root of sd card?
Thanx so much...

I just sucseed
with this thread!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=603286
I sucseed to put original ROM, but I must put him in FASTBOOT
thanx for help!!!

[Q] MT3G bad recovery flash, stuck

Hi,
I have a mt3g, TMobile. CyanogenMod 6.1.0, ClockWork recovery. Used ROM Managed to flash Amon Ra recovery, since I needed to re-calibrate the battery. It asked me to pick phone model, picked Ion/MyTouch 3G. After reboot:
- Stuck on splash screen if I try to go to recovery
- When booted up - a bunch of force closures, keeps playing a ringtone over and over and...
Everything I tried to do through ROM Manager didn't help.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.

truss said:
Hi,
I have a mt3g, TMobile. CyanogenMod 6.1.0, ClockWork recovery. Used ROM Managed to flash Amon Ra recovery, since I needed to re-calibrate the battery. It asked me to pick phone model, picked Ion/MyTouch 3G. After reboot:
- Stuck on splash screen if I try to go to recovery
- When booted up - a bunch of force closures, keeps playing a ringtone over and over and...
Everything I tried to do through ROM Manager didn't help.
Any help is appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you still have root? If you can get into ROM manager, reflash clockwork recovery, then wipe cache, dalvik, and run a fix permissions. That should get you back up and running long enough to try again to flash amon ra.
Not sure if the oem spl will let you fastboot flash a new recovery but that's your most reliable bet.
It sounds like it might be time to do a full wipe and reflash anyway. Have you heard of Ohsaka's SuperWipe?

I tried reflashing Clockwork through ROM Manager. It says "root granted", "clockwork flashed" immediately. When I try to boot into recovery - I get stuck on green MyTouch screen forever. Battery pull is the only way out.
I guess the problem is that I cannot get to any recovery anymore. Any ideas?

Do you have fastboot. If so you can flash recovery from there.

kodjo said:
Do you have fastboot. If so you can flash recovery from there.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I do that through adb shell? I don't think I built fastboot.

truss said:
Can I do that through adb shell? I don't think I built fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fastboot is a different mode. Boot into hboot (vol down + power I think) and then select fasboot from the menu. Then plug into computer. From a command prompt type:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
The recovery needs to be in your tools or platform-tools folder and named recovery.img for this to work. Otherwise it would be fastboot flash recovery c:\path\to\recoveryfilename.img. Make sense?
Link to Amon_Ra Recovery 1.7 for MT3G 32B. http://www.filefactory.com/file/caa48b0/n/recovery-RA-sapphire-v1.7.0G-cyan.img
Otherwise keep trying with ROM Manager. Might take a few attempts to get recovery to stick, even temporarily. It did for me. Flash once then flash again. There's also an option in ROM Manager settings to erase recovery prior to flashing. Check that and see if it helps.

Phateless said:
Fastboot is a different mode. Boot into hboot (vol down + power I think) and then select fasboot from the menu. Then plug into computer. From a command prompt type:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
The recovery needs to be in your tools or platform-tools folder and named recovery.img for this to work. Otherwise it would be fastboot flash recovery c:\path\to\recoveryfilename.img. Make sense?
Link to Amon_Ra Recovery 1.7 for MT3G 32B.
Otherwise keep trying with ROM Manager. Might take a few attempts to get recovery to stick, even temporarily. It did for me. Flash once then flash again. There's also an option in ROM Manager settings to erase recovery prior to flashing. Check that and see if it helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I appreciate your help.
When I try to flash recovery.img, I get this: error: cannot load `recovery.img`
When I try running fastboot with absolute path, I get: FAILED (remote: not allow). Is there a way to fix this?
Tried flashing through ROM Manager many times - no result.

truss said:
I appreciate your help.
When I try to flash recovery.img, I get this: error: cannot load `recovery.img`
When I try running fastboot with absolute path, I get: FAILED (remote: not allow). Is there a way to fix this?
Tried flashing through ROM Manager many times - no result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interesting... Where are you trying to flash recovery.img and getting that error? What method are you using? Are you sure you have the path to recovery.img correct?
As for fastboot, you need an S-OFF/engineering spl so I guess that's out.
What happens if you use Terminal Emulator?
su
flash_image recovery sdcard/recovery.img
Does that work? Keep at it, you have root so not all is lost. Eventually you will get there.
EDIT - make sure you rename the recovery to "recovery.img" and leave it on the root of your sdcard for my italicized instructions above to work. What ROM are you running? If flash_image doesn't work I need to know which version of the binary to give you.

Phateless said:
Interesting... Where are you trying to flash recovery.img and getting that error? What method are you using? Are you sure you have the path to recovery.img correct?
As for fastboot, you need an S-OFF/engineering spl so I guess that's out.
What happens if you use Terminal Emulator?
su
flash_image recovery sdcard/recovery.img
Does that work? Keep at it, you have root so not all is lost. Eventually you will get there.
EDIT - make sure you rename the recovery to "recovery.img" and leave it on the root of your sdcard for my italicized instructions above to work. What ROM are you running? If flash_image doesn't work I need to know which version of the binary to give you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much.
Running flash_image recovery command using adb shell a few times did the trick. I was able to boot to Amon RA recovery, wipe and flash CyanogenMod 6.1.0.

truss said:
Thank you very much.
Running flash_image recovery command using adb shell a few times did the trick. I was able to boot to Amon RA recovery, wipe and flash CyanogenMod 6.1.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice! Glad you got it sorted out.

[Q] Bootloop on rebooting into recovery?

I rooted through cyanogenmod method, then unrooted (went back to stock 2.2.1) with the stock P15100.zip. I had another hardware issue with my phone (microphone failing) and thought it could be software. The mic was still broken and I wanted to root again so went through cyanogen method again flashing CWM. I was able to reboot once into recovery to flash synth's ICS. When I try to fully reboot, then reboot into recovery again, I got bootloop for a minute, then eventually booted into the rom. I tried flashing 4ext and same issue. I tried flashing CWM again from app and still have the issue. I'm just guessing recovery is corrupted and it needs to be formatted and re-flashed? Anyone know how to format recovery via adb and then push cwm or 4ext?
Any help much is appreciated.

You can flash a recovery through terminal emulator. As I recall, the commands are:
su
flash_image recovery recoveryname.img
Sounds like you might be having bigger issues, though. I hope your recovery partition isn't going kaput.
Jack_R1 might have an idea.

Man, Jack_R1 is still around these parts? But as for OP, definitely sounds like your recovery is corrupt. What you want to do is if you have any fastboot/ADB knowledge is you're going to want to download the recovery.img of your choice, name it "recovery.img" then place it in your ADB folder, plug your phone in in Fastboot mode and then type in the following commands:
Code:
Fastboot devices
it should show you a number followed by "fastboot" after this type
Code:
fastboot delete recovery
it should spew out how long it took followed by "recovery deleted" or something like that.
lastly you're going to flash the recovery that you downloaded. Type
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
That should do it! PM me if you need any other help

Yes, I still visit here
OP, what phone do you have? You're writing a wrong name for PD15IMG.
In any case, if you indeed have PD15IMG - find "root for S-OFF users" thread in Development, get the PD15IMG with CWM from there, flash it just like you flashed return-to-stock package, and boot into recovery. If it doesn't work - it means that it's not the recovery that's corrupted.
And I suspect that you're just not understanding correctly what your phone does, and/or not actually booting into recovery.

Nicgraner said:
Man, Jack_R1 is still around these parts? But as for OP, definitely sounds like your recovery is corrupt. What you want to do is if you have any fastboot/ADB knowledge is you're going to want to download the recovery.img of your choice, name it "recovery.img" then place it in your ADB folder, plug your phone in in Fastboot mode and then type in the following commands:
Code:
Fastboot devices
it should show you a number followed by "fastboot" after this type
Code:
fastboot delete recovery
it should spew out how long it took followed by "recovery deleted" or something like that.
lastly you're going to flash the recovery that you downloaded. Type
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
That should do it! PM me if you need any other help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used adb a bit (for root with cyanogen method). I'm guessing that the delete command will reformat the recovery partition? I'll give this a go when I get home and get back to ya. Thanks for the reply! Is there a way to download the 4ext recovery img file?
Edit:
I downloaded the CWM touch img and connected to the phone in fastboot. Was able to follow your instructions, but the command is erase not delete. When I put in the delete command it came up with the instructions and was able to figure it out. Flashed recovery and I can now boot into recovery every time from fastboot, terminal, adb, and from power prompt in rom! BOOYAH! Thanks a ton!

Jack_R1 said:
Yes, I still visit here
OP, what phone do you have? You're writing a wrong name for PD15IMG.
In any case, if you indeed have PD15IMG - find "root for S-OFF users" thread in Development, get the PD15IMG with CWM from there, flash it just like you flashed return-to-stock package, and boot into recovery. If it doesn't work - it means that it's not the recovery that's corrupted.
And I suspect that you're just not understanding correctly what your phone does, and/or not actually booting into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Jack,
I have HTC Glacier. Was a typo for the PD15IMG name. I think I have a decent understanding of the phone, and most likely have a corrupted recovery partition. Seems that instead of just flashing a recovery over a recovery, I may need to reformat the partition and then flash? I'll try flashing the file you suggest and report back. If it is not the recovery that is corrupted, what else could be the issue? Possibly an issue with the bootloader not allowing the phone to boot into recovery? Thanks for the reply.

Flashing recovery isn't copying a file. When you flash IMG through bootloader, it is flashed just like what it is - a complete image. Formatting the partition doesn't do anything, since it has no "format" - the image flashed by the bootloader contains both the structure and the data, just like a CD/DVD image does, for example.
The possible options I can think of are:
1) Your recovery partition is physically bad - unlikely.
2) Your bootloader is corrupted - could possibly lead to you being unable to enter recovery.
3) Something that prevents your phone from entering recovery - i.e. a stuck button or something - or you're doing it wrong. I'm afraid that what you're describing as "phone bootloops for a minute and then boots a ROM" isn't really a bootloop - because these phones can't get out of bootloop on their own, if booting failed once - it'll fail always. Logcat can confirm this. I believe it's just the ROM that's booting normally when you try to enter recovery, so, in this case, since you didn't specify how exactly you're trying to enter recovery - it seems like you're either doing it wrong, or when you try to enter recovery you're not getting there.
To help people help you, please write down the exact way you're using when trying to enter recovery, and if you know more than one way - try them all (from bootloader, by adb reboot recovery, directly booting without flashing by "fastboot boot", etc). And post your HBOOT version.

Jack_R1 said:
Flashing recovery isn't copying a file. When you flash IMG through bootloader, it is flashed just like what it is - a complete image. Formatting the partition doesn't do anything, since it has no "format" - the image flashed by the bootloader contains both the structure and the data, just like a CD/DVD image does, for example.
The possible options I can think of are:
1) Your recovery partition is physically bad - unlikely.
2) Your bootloader is corrupted - could possibly lead to you being unable to enter recovery.
3) Something that prevents your phone from entering recovery - i.e. a stuck button or something - or you're doing it wrong. I'm afraid that what you're describing as "phone bootloops for a minute and then boots a ROM" isn't really a bootloop - because these phones can't get out of bootloop on their own, if booting failed once - it'll fail always. Logcat can confirm this. I believe it's just the ROM that's booting normally when you try to enter recovery, so, in this case, since you didn't specify how exactly you're trying to enter recovery - it seems like you're either doing it wrong, or when you try to enter recovery you're not getting there.
To help people help you, please write down the exact way you're using when trying to enter recovery, and if you know more than one way - try them all (from bootloader, by adb reboot recovery, directly booting without flashing by "fastboot boot", etc). And post your HBOOT version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I wasn't more descriptive. I really appreciate your help and everything you have done for this community. Seems the recovery was corrupted by the 4ext app. I was able to extract the recovery.img from the 4ext download and was able to flash it via fastboot. Everything boots properly now. HBoot is 0.85.2007 FYI. Thanks again!

Going back to Sense from [RUU] Google Edition Conversion.Graffixync UPDATE 12th May

EDIT - UPDATED INSTRUCTIONS 12th May 2014
Due to the partition sizes being different in the GPE RUU it is not simply a case of flashing a sense rom in recovery. You will experience problems if you do this. This might involve getting the storage encrption message, bootloops, freezing etc etc.
This thread is specifically for users who have problems getting back to sense. Solution is below. If you have alternative solutions that have worked without issues please post.
I have tried to make them as simple as possible. This guide assumes you are S-Off otherwise how did you get here. (
This does not apply if you have installed a GPE ROM. You can flash as normal through recovery. (using instructions of new rom)
Thanks to @exad for his continuing support/assistance throughout the thread, as well as @graffixnyc for the GPE RUU and both he and @navalynt for finding the initial fixes.
It will be much easier if you have your new Rom on your external sdcard prior to starting this. It will also stop a number of problems if you have SuperCID (11111111) If you don't know how to - FASTBOOT Commands
1. Enter the command "fastboot oem readcid". Make and KEEP a note of your original CID.
2. Enter the command "fastboot oem writecid 11111111"
3. Enter the command "fastboot read cid" [it should confirm your CID is 11111111]
4. Press the volume down button twice on your phone and navigate to reboot bootloader, then hit power button to reboot the bootloader.
5. Bootloader will also say "CID-11111111" now to confirm (Thanks to @xl VipeR lx ) Also to @umjammerlammy for the GENTLE reminders to include this
Make sure the firmware file and twrp recovery are in your Android directory on your PC - Mine is
C:\Users\Grentuu\AppData\Local\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools\
During this process you may find that when you reboot the phone starts to boot into android. Mine did but simply had the GPE animated logo but never entered GPE. All you do is press Vol up and power for about 10 seconds to reset. As soon as it resets press vol down and power to get back to bootloader.
Flash 1.54.401.5 firmware from Here
Fastboot Method
Boot device into FASTBOOT mode either by adb reboot bootloader or Vol down & Power (device should show FASTBOOT USB)
Make sure the firmware file to be flashed is in your android folder
Open a command prompt from the folder where fastboot resides. (Hold shift key/right click in the dir to get menu - left click on Open Command Prompt here.)
Run the following commands:
fastboot oem rebootRUU (this will reboot the device into RUU mode in preparation for zip flashing)
fastboot flash zip 1.54.401.5-W_Splash.zip (the name of the zip should EXACTLY match the name of the file you're flashing)
It will fail the first time. Run the same command AGAIN until you see it has flashed successfully.
I repeat - Run the same command TWICE until you see it has flashed successfully.
Once complete, type fastboot reboot-bootloader The hyphen is required.
Some users have stated this firmware (1.54.401.5) did not work for them as they weren't GSM and reboots just threw them back to recovery. If this happens try a stock (your original e.g. T-mobile) firmware then follow the rest of the process.
Boot into stock recovery
Factory reset
Reboot into bootloader
Flash TWRP - command = fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.7.0.2-m8.img (The must match exactly the name of the recovery you are flashing and remember the recovery file must be in your android folder)
Boot into TWRP
Go into Wipe menu
do a full factory reset wipe
Reboot back into recovery
Install rom
Profit
These have worked for me everytime (Change count =19)

Thanks for this. I'm about to give it a shot now.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
---------- Post added at 05:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:40 PM ----------
For some reason the firmware wont flash in twrp. Should I sideload the firmware?
Sent from my GT-P5210 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

To flash a firmware you must be in bootloader/fastboot mode.
Fastboot oem rebootRUU
Fastboot flash zip firmwarefilename.zip
Then again
Fastboot flash zip firmwarefilename.zip
Fastboot reboot-bootloader

exad said:
To flash a firmware you must be in bootloader/fastboot mode.
Fastboot oem rebootRUU
Fastboot flash zip firnwarefilename.zip
Then again
Fastboot flash zip firnwarefilename.zip
Fastboot reboot-bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Understood, I was just reviewing my steps for the conversion. I really just want to try out that new Sense rom and then I'll probably revert back. BRB...I'll let you know how it goes.

Bear in mind you must have S-off to flash a firmware that way.

exad said:
To flash a firmware you must be in bootloader/fastboot mode.
Fastboot oem rebootRUU
Fastboot flash zip firmwarefilename.zip
Then again
Fastboot flash zip firmwarefilename.zip
Fastboot reboot-bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those are the instructions in post 1 the original thread.
The issue is with people wanting to go back to sense

This thread is about returning to sense. Flashing a firmware is always the same. It's the firmware itself that's different...

Here is where I am at..
I converted to GP easily and it worked well.. I wanted to convert back so I installed twrp first, then through twrp installed the 1.54.401.5 firmware.
Installing that firmware removed twrp and the rom. So I am without an OS at all, and have stock recovery.
Is there anyway I can flash a custom recovery or a rom via the stock firmware/recovery?
My computer will not recognize adb devices. But it used to obviously.
I have an SD card.
Any help and I will be sooo grateful. (maybe even donate)
Thanks!

You can't flash a firmware through recovery... You can flash a stock recovery after the steps listed above if you like. See the stock backup thread.
You can flash any recovery through fastboot... Adb only works with the rom booted or with custom recovery booted.

Thanks will try it out.

exad said:
You can't flash a firmware through recovery... You can flash a stock recovery after the steps listed above if you like. See the stock backup thread.
You can flash any recovery through fastboot... Adb only works with the rom booted or with custom recovery booted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what do I do in this situation with no rom installed only 1.54 firmware and stock recovery.

Flash twrp

exad said:
Flash twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no rom installed, so it wont show in adb devices.

PunchLick said:
I have no rom installed, so it wont show in adb devices.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You flash recovery via fastboot, no need for a rom.
Just make sure you have the proper fastboot drivers from htc.

Dmaxon said:
You flash recovery via fastboot, no need for a rom.
Just make sure you have the proper fastboot drivers from htc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADB devices shows no devices. If i had custom recovery this would be so much easier, but im using 1.54.401.5 firmware with stock recovery and no ROM.
Just dont know what to do to get a working device again. All i can do is boot into stock recovery, hboot and fastboot.. but computer shows no device.

PunchLick said:
ADB devices shows no devices. If i had custom recovery this would be so much easier, but im using 1.54.401.5 firmware with stock recovery and no ROM.
Just dont know what to do to get a working device again. All i can do is boot into stock recovery, hboot and fastboot.. but computer shows no device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would recommend the All-In-One Toolkit. This will allow you to fastboot the recovery, even though the pc doesn't recognize it. This has worked for me in the past.
Meanwhile, I get the following error message when attempting to flash the 1.54...
Any suggestions guys???
Problem solved. I had not supercid. After I did that, I was able to successfully flash 1.54...

Why post steps if your not willing to help?
The steps in the OP can still cause issues for some people.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

Ideas4ya said:
I would recommend the All-In-One Toolkit. This will allow you to fastboot the recovery, even though the pc doesn't recognize it. This has worked for me in the past.
Meanwhile, I get the following error message when attempting to flash the 1.54...
Any suggestions guys???
Problem solved. I had not supercid. After I did that, I was able to successfully flash 1.54...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you elaborate a little on which options etc, because that sounds fantastic and would help me so much!

PunchLick said:
Can you elaborate a little on which options etc, because that sounds fantastic and would help me so much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you open the all in one...the 3rd option on the top right is what you need. Follow the step, even if fastboot says device is not connected, this will still send the recovery to your device as long as you're in the bootloader.

I will never understand why people play with there phones and have no understanding of adb and fastboot commands with the bootloader. if people would learn that first there wouldn't be so many threads when they get stuck. tool kits are bad it makes people lazy. but I appreciate the devs who make them