Database Users

[Q] Stupid noob question inside

So I am wanting to download the Team Whiskey Beta V5 to my vibrant. When I down load the file to my computer do I need to extract all the files first?? or can I load the unzipped file to my sdcard and then go in and install the update.zip?? any help would be greatly appreciated. especially any detailed instructions. It doesn't sound to complicated but Im affraid I will brick my phone.

No put the file on your internal sd card as it is. In ROM Manager click on install ROM from SD scroll down and select the .zip file. After which you will be asked to make a backup and if you want to wipe data, the wipe data part is a tad redundant as most ROMs do that anyway but I check both.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

DCrozier28 said:
So I am wanting to download the Team Whiskey Beta V5 to my vibrant. When I down load the file to my computer do I need to extract all the files first?? or can I load the unzipped file to my sdcard and then go in and install the update.zip?? any help would be greatly appreciated. especially any detailed instructions. It doesn't sound to complicated but Im affraid I will brick my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically what ^^^ said. All roms are designed to be flashed via clockwork recovery. You need to be rooted first, of course. If you're not, you'll never see the clockwork recovery, and only the standard 2e (blue) recovery. Assuming you're rooted, flashing is easy. Reboot into recovery mode from within the clockwork app, watch your phone reload, and choose select from zip. Once you scroll down to it, go ahead and flash it.
Doing it directly from clockwork and choosing the file from wherever you put it tends to hang up my phone. I have more success doing it the manual way I just described.
If all else fails, just click the link in my sig if you get lost.

Thank you. Sorry, another stupid question. How would I get it on to the SD card. Is it just simply plugging in the phone (usb debugging) and drag a drop the file???

DCrozier28 said:
Thank you. Sorry, another stupid question. How would I get it on to the SD card. Is it just simply plugging in the phone (usb debugging) and drag a drop the file???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you talking about the rom file?
you just download the files you want to your computer first (you can do it on your phone but sometimes theres issues doing that)
then plug the phone in by USB and mount to the computer but since this mounts both the internal sd card and the external, make sure you put these files on your internal sd card at the root of it (not in a folder)

DCrozier28 said:
Thank you. Sorry, another stupid question. How would I get it on to the SD card. Is it just simply plugging in the phone (usb debugging) and drag a drop the file???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you do need to be rooted to flash the rom, have you done that part yet?
also once your rooted download rom manager from the market and flash clockwork recovery to your phone.

actualy to avoid confusion... heres a step by step:
1 follow the instructions posted here: Root Instructions
4. download your rom from here (I'm asuming by beta 5 you mean obsidian beta 5?: Obsidian Beta 5
5. mount the phone to the computer and put Obsidian on the root of your internal sd card just as it is without unziping or anything (and make sure you dont put the rom on the 2 gig external sd assuming your using the stock one that comes with the phone)
6. unmount from the computer
7. download and install rom manager from the market
8. open rom manager and choose the first option (flash clockworkmod recovery)
make sure and choose the vibrant from the list that pops up. and wait untill it finishes, it may take a few minutes.
9. choose the next option down (reboot into recovery)
once it reboots into recovery, if it looks the same as when you flashed the root file, just hit reinstall packages and it should reboot into clockworkmod recovery.
10. select "choose sip from sd card"
11. select obsidian
12. confirm
13 wait for it to flash
14 reboot using the reboot option in clockwork recovery.
it may take a bit longer than normal to boot up the first time, just be patient.
15. have fun with the new rom

also check out this sticky thread if you havent already: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=732458
pretty much anything you'll want to know is there, and the guy that wrote it updates it really nicely, its the only sticky thread I've actualy bookmarked

^ very kind, thank you. I'm working on adding videos soon.
Op, if the sticky doesn't answer, check the q&a section. I've STARTED a more noob friendly version. It should be easily found if you search "noob friendly" I imagine.

Overclock Kernel

I'm new to android but starting to get it down. I've rooted my phone, and want to try the overclocking kernel. How would I go about installing it? Also, with the zip file that its in... do I extract all files to sd root? Thanks in advance.

gforce89 said:
I'm new to android but starting to get it down. I've rooted my phone, and want to try the overclocking kernel. How would I go about installing it? Also, with the zip file that its in... do I extract all files to sd root? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You install the OC kernel by flashing the .zip file.
In order to do this you'll need recovery installed.
1. Place the .zip on your SD card (in a folder or not, doesn't matter, but know where you put it)
2. Reboot into recovery
2A. CREATE A NANDROID BACKUP.
3. Wipe Dalvik-Cache
4. Flash .zip and reboot phone. Reboot will take a while as it has to rebuild the Dalvik Cache.
5. Install SetCPU (free here on XDA, or donate on Market) or OverclockWidget and choose which speed to run at in different scenarios.
HTH.
Also for future reference, a post like this one would be great within the kernel thread in the Development forum. (Not sure if they implemented the new rules about new members yet)
Hope this helps.

gforce89 said:
I'm new to android but starting to get it down. I've rooted my phone, and want to try the overclocking kernel. How would I go about installing it? Also, with the zip file that its in... do I extract all files to sd root? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DON'T UNZIP THAT FILE! If you've rooted and installed a recovery. You can then boot into the recovery by holding the power button, and the volume down button simultaneously while the device is powered off. Once in recovery proceed to do a "Nandroid Backup" in the backup/restore option, so you have something to fall back on incase the kernel causes issues. Once the backup is finished go to flash zip from SD Card, and locate the kernel .zip file and select it with the power button. Once its installed select "reboot now" and you're done. Then go to the market and purchase. An called"SetCPU". That program will allow you to edit and change the cpu clockspeed.
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...

riggsandroid said:
You install the OC kernel by flashing the .zip file.
In order to do this you'll need recovery installed.
1. Place the .zip on your SD card (in a folder or not, doesn't matter, but know where you put it)
2. Reboot into recovery
3. Wipe Dalvik-Cache
4. Flash .zip and reboot phone. Reboot will take a while as it has to rebuild the Dalvik Cache.
5. Install SetCPU (free here on XDA, or donate on Market) or OverclockWidget and choose which speed to run at in different scenarios.
HTH.
Also for future reference, a post like this one would be great within the kernel thread in the Development forum. (Not sure if they implemented the new rules about new members yet)
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I'll try it out. They did set the new rules for posting in the devs forum... Otherwise I would have posted this there. I was on xda for my htc diamond and had a decent account built up but I can't remember the password :/

riggsandroid said:
You install the OC kernel by flashing the .zip file.
In order to do this you'll need recovery installed.
1. Place the .zip on your SD card (in a folder or not, doesn't matter, but know where you put it)
2. Reboot into recovery
3. Wipe Dalvik-Cache
4. Flash .zip and reboot phone. Reboot will take a while as it has to rebuild the Dalvik Cache.
5. Install SetCPU (free here on XDA, or donate on Market) or OverclockWidget and choose which speed to run at in different scenarios.
HTH.
Also for future reference, a post like this one would be great within the kernel thread in the Development forum. (Not sure if they implemented the new rules about new members yet)
Hope this helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Beat me to it lol
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...

oboroninja said:
DON'T UNZIP THAT FILE! If you've rooted and installed a recovery. You can then boot into the recovery by holding the power button, and the volume down button simultaneously while the device is powered off. Once in recovery proceed to do a "Nandroid Backup" in the backup/restore option, so you have something to fall back on incase the kernel causes issues. Once the backup is finished go to flash zip from SD Card, and locate the kernel .zip file and select it with the power button. Once its installed select "reboot now" and you're done. Then go to the market and purchase. An called"SetCPU". That program will allow you to edit and change the cpu clockspeed.
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oboroninja said:
Beat me to it lol
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how could I be faster than a ninja?
And I didn't tell the poor guy to nandroid! LOL. Make sure to create a backup, before you do ANYTHING!

oboroninja said:
DON'T UNZIP THAT FILE! If you've rooted and installed a recovery. You can then boot into the recovery by holding the power button, and the volume down button simultaneously while the device is powered off. Once in recovery proceed to do a "Nandroid Backup" in the backup/restore option, so you have something to fall back on incase the kernel causes issues. Once the backup is finished go to flash zip from SD Card, and locate the kernel .zip file and select it with the power button. Once its installed select "reboot now" and you're done. Then go to the market and purchase. An called"SetCPU". That program will allow you to edit and change the cpu clockspeed.
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ummmm... oops... I'll repackage it. Thanks.

... And because I'm so awesomely new to Android I don't really get the instructions for recovery or nandroid... Can I bug you guys for a little more help?

gforce89 said:
Ummmm... oops... I'll repackage it. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't repackage it. use the original, if you deleted it, re-download. These are zip'd in a specific way.
What do you need help with?

The recovery and nandroid thing.

gforce89 said:
The recovery and nandroid thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10951380&postcount=2
See that thread for installing recovery.
Once you have that done let me know.

riggsandroid said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=10951380&postcount=2
See that thread for installing recovery.
Once you have that done let me know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do. Thanks.

Those would be the directions I can't quite get a grip on...
"cd to wherever recovery was placed"
and where the code comes in is what I don't get. Do I need to put the .img on my sd root? Do I need anything for a nandroid backup?

gforce89 said:
Those would be the directions I can't quite get a grip on...
"cd to wherever recovery was placed"
and where the code comes in is what I don't get. Do I need to put the .img on my sd root? Do I need anything for a nandroid backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, come join the IRC (here) and it will be easier to chat with you there

mods please delete this thread after two more posts unless you see fit to keep it open

riggsandroid said:
how could I be faster than a ninja?
And I didn't tell the poor guy to nandroid! LOL. Make sure to create a backup, before you do ANYTHING!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My ninja typing reflexes aren't working today lol. I sure hope he remembered to do a nandroid backup.
powered by the tears of a million orphaned alpacas...

Yeah we remembered the nandroid. He walked me through the entire thing.1 more post

Aaaand BOOM 10 posts.

My phone won't allow me to boot into recovery just stays stuck on white htc screen when you first start

jahovah said:
My phone won't allow me to boot into recovery just stays stuck on white htc screen when you first start
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you flash recovery?

[Q] How to install a rom via clockwork recovery?

As I've said before,I'm working on a custom rom.But since the system.img is extracted in a folder called system,I want to install it via clockwork.But everytime I try to install zip from sd card I get an error.Am I doing something wrong?

edit post:
Wrong section, sorry~!

fdespotovski said:
As I've said before,I'm working on a custom rom.But since the system.img is extracted in a folder called system,I want to install it via clockwork.But everytime I try to install zip from sd card I get an error.Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of error do you have ??? Can you write it. ;-)

fdespotovski said:
As I've said before,I'm working on a custom rom.But since the system.img is extracted in a folder called system,I want to install it via clockwork.But everytime I try to install zip from sd card I get an error.Am I doing something wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you have the updater-script (or update-script) in the META-INF>com>google>android folder? Also check it for errors (make sure that all of the commands are written correctly)
Hope it helps,
Jack

JackG256 said:
Do you have the updater-script (or update-script) in the META-INF>com>google>android folder? Also check it for errors (make sure that all of the commands are written correctly)
Hope it helps,
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Jack, is there a tutorial anywhere that shows us how to install a rom via CW recovery?
It seems I too have the same issue as fdespotovski being: How to install a rom via clockwork recovery?
GreenDroid and SYNERGY both dont use sytem.img but rather a system folder.
Can install other roms like Joe Stones or CM7 fine or by command line with .img files or others with KDZ updater, yet these ones with CW Recovery seem to be lacking tutorials on where and how to do this installation in simple language.
Any assistance would be appreciated.

zzsomebody said:
Jack, is there a tutorial anywhere that shows us how to install a rom via CW recovery?
It seems I too have the same issue as fdespotovski being: How to install a rom via clockwork recovery?
GreenDroid and SYNERGY both dont use sytem.img but rather a system folder.
Can install other roms like Joe Stones or CM7 fine or by command line with .img files or others with KDZ updater, yet these ones with CW Recovery seem to be lacking tutorials on where and how to do this installation in simple language.
Any assistance would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How to you mean, you want to install the .zip ROM. You will need to copy the update .zip file to your SDCard. Then, in Clockwork, select "Install .zip from sdcard" and choose "choose zip from sdcard" and then select the .zip you copied to your sdcard. It should begin installing the ROM. Then 'wipe data/factory reset' Reboot the phone. There, ROM is installed.
Jack

Thanks Jack,
I think the problem is, I dont have clockworkmod installed on my phone as when I use an app called Rom Manager it gives an option called Flash CWM Recovery yet nothing happens when I select that so obviously I need to install that.
Any good tut's on now to install that, whilst using Joe Stones version 2.3.2?
Will search around, so thanks again.

zzsomebody said:
Thanks Jack,
I think the problem is, I dont have clockworkmod installed on my phone as when I use an app called Rom Manager it gives an option called Flash CWM Recovery yet nothing happens when I select that so obviously I need to install that.
Any good tut's on now to install that, whilst using Joe Stones version 2.3.2?
Will search around, so thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, ROM Manager doesn't work with our phone, yet. But here is how to flash it on your device (without fastboot)
Download Clockwork Mod 2.5.1.8 from here.
Next, install YaffsExpert from the Market. (It's free ) Open it and in the first dropdown box, choose "Restore" and in the next, select "Recovery" press "Browser" next to the Operation File field. Select the recovery.img file. Make sure the "Target Device Model" is set to "All other" then press "Operation" wait for it to finish.Next, install YaffsExpert from the Market. (It's free ) Open it and in the first dropdown box, choose "Restore" and in the next, select "Recovery" press "Browser" next to the Operation File field. Select the recovery.img file. Make sure the "Target Device Model" is set to "All other" then press "Operation" wait for it to finish.
There, Recovery is installed
Hope it helps,
Jack

Thanks yet again there Jack, very kind of you to continually reply.
I have that version of clock work, as I have many of the the 3.x.x series as well so dont need to download that, but does it matter which one we install? I see there is now a clockwork v4 and one with an auto installer as shown by Dudeman at a Swifdroid blog he has posted.
So will it matter which CWR I use? or is it very specific?
I have also just updated to Cyanogen RC0 which is I seem to be able to do fine as well as installing Joe Stones rom too. But not the ones that need to install from zip.
Speaking of downloads, well guess what, this brings me to another problem I have
(and one I have always had) which is for the life of me, I cannot understand why I cannot download from Market.
Meaning, I also have some webspace of my own I can down and install apps or .apk files just fine, yet although when I go to market, and click on install, agree and install, the app then says downloading and takes me to the page prior to the app page.
I then go back to the app page to see whats happening and it continually says "Starting download" but will stay like this forever never changing as it will not ever download. Nor will it for any file on or from Market.
Why the heck is this? Tell ya, this has me cursed it has, and has limited me from doing many things that others are doing on their GT540.
Any more info regarding this would be most appreciated.

JackG256 said:
Yeah, ROM Manager doesn't work with our phone, yet. But here is how to flash it on your device (without fastboot)
Download Clockwork Mod 2.5.1.8 from here.
Next, install YaffsExpert from the Market. (It's free ) Open it and in the first dropdown box, choose "Restore" and in the next, select "Recovery" press "Browser" next to the Operation File field. Select the recovery.img file. Make sure the "Target Device Model" is set to "All other" then press "Operation" wait for it to finish.Next, install YaffsExpert from the Market. (It's free ) Open it and in the first dropdown box, choose "Restore" and in the next, select "Recovery" press "Browser" next to the Operation File field. Select the recovery.img file. Make sure the "Target Device Model" is set to "All other" then press "Operation" wait for it to finish.
There, Recovery is installed
Hope it helps,
Jack
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done this and I cannot boot into recovery mode my phone just starts up in safe mode ?
I also have tried to flash using terminal.
su
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
but i just get a message saying no permitions
Ive copied the Flash_image file into system/bin
any ideas im trying to flash a recovery so i can flash 2.3.3 without fast boot or a pc
Im using the Baltic 2.1 rom
Sent from my GT540 using Tapatalk

[ANDROID] ClockworkMod Permanent Installation Fix! - Step by Step Instructions

I have figured out a way to permanently install ClockworkMod Recovey on your hybrid WebOS/CyanogenMod Touchpad. Like many of you, my ClockworkMod installation failed when I tried to install using ACMEInstaller while I also installed CyanogenMod.
I realize there is now a workaround to "inject" ClockworkMod into your TP using novacom however this requires you to utilize a computer everytime you want to boot ClockworkMod. Follow the instructions below to install ClockworkMod onto your TP permanently and free yourself from your PC!
1. Boot into WebOS
2. Mount TP to your computer and create a "cminstall" folder if it no longer exists after your CyanogenMod installation
3. Copy the "update-cwm_tenderloin-1012.zip" file into the "cminstall" directory, then unmount TP from computer
4. Download the "Internalz Pro" program using the "Preware" application in WebOS if you haven't already (Google is your friend if you get stuck here)
5. Open "Internalz Pro" and navigate to the "boot" menu (will most likely require you to tap the top-most icon of a folder with two dots next to it to get to the root of the TP - should be second folder down)
6. Tap on the file "uImage.ClockworkMod" and select "move"
7. Navigate to the "media/internal/" directory and click "select" to move file
8. Now tap on the file "update-uimage" and move the file to the same "internal" directory you did in step #7
9. Exit from "Internalz Pro" and reboot device while holding down the up volume key, which will take you in to WebOS Recovery (or select WebOS Recovery when you get to the moboot screen you may have previously installed) - you should now see a large USB icon and should be connected to your computer using a usb cable
10. Go to your command prompt in Windows and navigate to the menu where you have novacom installed - you should also have the ACMEInstaller binary file copied into this directory by now (If you don't know what I'm talking about, remember Google is your friend)
11. Type in "novacom boot mem:// < ACMEInstaller" in the command line and press enter
12. You should now see ClockworkMod recovery installing on your TP - Once it reboots into moboot select "boot ClockworkMod" and watch it boot into ClockworkMod!
13. After celebrating, boot back into WebOS, go into "Internalz Pro" and move the file "update-uimage" back into the "boot" directory - the "uImage.ClockworkMod" file that you put in the "Internal" directory is no longer needed since you reinstalled ClockworkMod properly
Essentially the boot directory was overloaded which caused for insufficient space when installing ClockworkMod. Now you should be able to boot into WebOS, CyanogenMod, WebOS, AND ClockworkMod Recovery without a computer. As always, I do not take responsibility for you bricking your TP or variability you may have... use this information if it is helpful but don't blame me if something goes wrong. I'm just trying to help out the community that has helped me for so long.
Let me know if this is helpful to you. Thanks!
dseelye

What!?
Hi!
firstly, thank you for making this guide, i know that alot of people like myself will appreciate it.
but i've run into a problem, see, now i don't have the option to boot into cyanogenmod anymore !
can i flash it in clockworkmod, or do i have to do it all over again?
a reply would be appreciated

you most likely copied the wrong file from the boot folder, as there was one for clockworkmod and one for cyanogen mod... look and see if you incorrectly copied the cyanogenmod "uImage.CyanogenMod" to your internal sd card to free up space. You will have to move this back to the boot folder and grab the other one.

Thank you VERY much!
and thanks for the INCREDIBLY quick reply!
EDIT: IT WORKED!!! YOU'RE THE MAN!!!!!

No problem... let me know if that solved your concern...thx
EDIT: Oh, just saw the edit of your post...great, glad that was it!

Just wondering... how permanent is permanent?
For instance, if I use "web doctor" to restore my touchpad, will the recovery be overwritten?

Yes, I just mean that you don't have to "inject" clockworkmod into your TP using your computer which was the workaround for the people who couldn't get it installed originally during the CyanogenMod installation. This just installs it properly but can be wiped with WebOS Doctor like anything else...

bigblueshock said:
Just wondering... how permanent is permanent?
For instance, if I use "web doctor" to restore my touchpad, will the recovery be overwritten?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap... it will not delete a single bit of CM7, just gonna restore the original bootloaders, delete moboot and skip CWM /Android on boot...
Running again ACME with only moboot and CWM in the cminstall folder will restore them.
....After WebOS doctor... it will show CM7 as the last time you shut it down.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

I followed directions exactly but I am not seeing the uImage.clockwork in the boot folder. Any suggestions? I see that file in the cminstall folder, do I just leave in there or should I copy directly to media\internal?
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

The "uImage.ClockworkMod" may not be in the boot directory I suppose if the previous install attempts didn't put it there so not sure why it isn't in yours. Essentially you are just trying to move some of the larger files out of that directory so you can install ClockworkMod properly as the space constraint of the partition size seems to be the issue. The other file I mentioned, "update-uimage", is actually the largest one I found and you may be able to do the ClockworkMod install properly by only removing that one temporarily. Let us know if you are able to resolve.

I've installed clockworkmod recovery with no errors on the first try, is it advisable that I need to use this method?

I was installing cwm for the first time. I didn't include it originally with the install of cyanogen mod, I guess that's why it wasn't in the boot folder. I placed both files in the media\internal directory and also inside the cminstall folder and ran the command and it worked fine. When I checked internalz pro to remove the files, the cminstall folder and uimage files were gone already. So it looks like I am good to go. cwm is working, I flashed gapps from it. Thanks for reply.
Now I just need to figure out how to make phone calls.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

If you installed ClockworkMod completely the first time and it works, then you definitely don't need to do this as this thread was intended for those that tried to install it at the same time as when they installed CyanogenMod and ClockworkMod Recovery didn't install properly. These instructions are to outline how to get it installed correctly as just trying again using ACMEInstaller wasn't working for anyone due to the small size left in the boot directory.

hey thanks for the fix but after the fix i cant get into the market

Not sure why you can't access the market...no issues here. I would suggest reinstalling the gapps zip file and possible the market fix file that are out there now that you have clockworkmod working properly.

thanks for the help thats what i had to do

Hi, the "move" option isn't available, only "copy" "info" and "open"
The entire directory is "view-only"

Not sure why "move" isn't available for you... its been a while since I installed Preware and Internalz Pro so I must have gotten root access somehow and that's why it shows up for me and others. I'd suggest searching for how to obtain root access to WebOS to find your answer... possibly development mode if you haven't already done that but I thought that was required to get Preware installed in the first place.

Move command
dseelye said:
Not sure why "move" isn't available for you... its been a while since I installed Preware and Internalz Pro so I must have gotten root access somehow and that's why it shows up for me and others. I'd suggest searching for how to obtain root access to WebOS to find your answer... possibly development mode if you haven't already done that but I thought that was required to get Preware installed in the first place.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem. Move/delete commands are available on the media/internals but on boot folder move is not available.

Thanks
Awesome man! Been struggling with this since two days. Thanks a lot for the fix and step by step instructions
---------- Post added at 09:07 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:00 AM ----------
tmkhan said:
I have the same problem. Move/delete commands are available on the media/internals but on boot folder move is not available.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After Opening "Internalz Pro", Open "Preferences", scroll down to the bottom. You will see an option called "Master mode". Turn it on. You will get read/write access to the boot folder.

[tutorial]how to make nandroid backups without rebooting to recovery

WARNING: BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING PLEASE READ THIS THREAD AND MAKE SURE YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING. I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY DAMAGE TO YOUR PHONE.
A few days ago I came across this thread which made me think and try. At the beginning I couldn't flash the zips necessary for making backups without rebooting to recovery .
What you will need:
1.Bootloader unlocked and a rooted phone . If you don't have any of them please read here and here
2.Busybox
3.A root explorer of your choice
4.A terminal emulator app
5.The 2 files from the zip attached
6.Patience
Open your root explorer extract and copy the 2 files attached to /system/bin and set permissions 755( that's rwxr-xr-x).
Reboot your phone.
Open Terminal app and type su to obtain root followed by onandroid.
Sit back and relax while the script backs up your rom.
All thanks go to ameer1234567890 who gave us the Online Nandroid . I only found the thread and also found the method to copy the files to Razr I.
When i'll have some time i'll try to make a flashable zip for the lazy ones

As promised here are the zips for flashing from recovery with update binary working with the Razr I. I have only tested with CWM, but they should work with TWRP as well.
I suppose everyone knows what to do, but just in case someone new tries it:
-copy the 2 zips to you internal storage or external sdcard
-reboot to recovery
-select install zip from sdcard(now choose the location of your files)
-select zip
-install
-reboot
Enjoy

nandroid,etc, assistance
free2live said:
As promised here are the zips for flashing from recovery with update binary working with the Razr I. I have only tested with CWM, but they should work with TWRP as well.
I suppose everyone knows what to do, but just in case someone new tries it:
-copy the 2 zips to you internal storage or external sdcard
-reboot to recovery
-select install zip from sdcard(now choose the location of your files)
-select zip
-install
-reboot
Enjoy
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Is this the best way to do a " nandroid " - I have been part of this site for quite some time , read numerous sites, but i have a very bad memory problem and that's why i have many text documents setup to the point i am confused. Right now I have an AT&T S4 which has a bad IMEI, so I want to use it as a test phone, but it has been updated to 4.3 -which from what I understand I would need to downgrade back to 4.1.2 order to unlock the phone via the dial pad. I was able to accomplish that one time when I first got a Samsung S4 and did it via the dial pad before the OTA came out for 4.3.
I also own a S3, also AT&T, so i can learn how to to root and unlock and use CWR or TWRP and than learn ROMS. I know I need to make a backup before I do anything, and also constantly reading the " Noob " general forums for both phones. I also am familiar with Samsung Kies, which does a backup but I don't think it's the same as this nandroid i have been reading about.
Thank you or taking out the time and reading my post. I will check back to see if anyone had some time to give me some direction or an answer to my problem with " nandroid" or if someone even could touch up on any subjects I have mentioned. Please don't think I haven't spent hrs of time on YouTube, Google, Howard forums and especially here on XDA.