Database Users

Help: Dont laugh - Bricked my phone

Ok so this morning my alarm wakes me up and I noticed I had to unlock my phone to make it snooze, something didnt seem right as my alarm app usually comes up to the front and I can snooze without unlocking my screen. So what do I decide to do half asleep? I decide to reinstall the rom. Here are my steps, and I suggest you dont follow them.
1. Format system
2. Format data
3. Format cache
4. Mount system
5. Reboot phone (Swear this was an accident, as I was trying to navigate to the "install zip from sd card" option)
So my question is ,whats the quickest way to unbrick my phone. It just stays on the "M" boot logo. I found a couple of threads on different sites but want to make sure I"m using the latest method and for the Droid X. Thanks in advance

SysAdmNj said:
Ok so this morning my alarm wakes me up and I noticed I had to unlock my phone to make it snooze, something didnt seem right as my alarm app usually comes up to the front and I can snooze without unlocking my screen. So what do I decide to do half asleep? I decide to reinstall the rom. Here are my steps, and I suggest you dont follow them.
1. Format system
2. Format data
3. Format cache
4. Mount system
5. Reboot phone (Swear this was an accident, as I was trying to navigate to the "install zip from sd card" option)
So my question is ,whats the quickest way to unbrick my phone. It just stays on the "M" boot logo. I found a couple of threads on different sites but want to make sure I"m using the latest method and for the Droid X. Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Looks like an SBF is in your very near future.
Go to the Development subforum and search there.
If you have not applied the OTA 2.2 update, you will need the instructions to SBF back to 2.1 and then apply the 2.2 leak, and load your ROM from there.
If you have already done OTA 2.2, there is also an SBF that will restore /system only. It Might save you.
BE ABSOLUTELY SURE YOU DO NOT FLASH the 2.1SBF if you were on OTA 2.2. If you do, it will be game over.
Let us know how you fair.

One of the first things I did was the 2.2 ota when I got my phone.
Thanks, I will search there and report back.

SysAdmNj said:
One of the first things I did was the 2.2 ota when I got my phone.
Thanks, I will search there and report back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you not get back into Clockwork if you pull your battery?? And they do have a 2.2 sbf that restores your system files.

MrDanger said:
Can you not get back into Clockwork if you pull your battery?? And they do have a 2.2 sbf that restores your system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you hose /system you won't be able to get back into recovery. Recovery depends on the logwrapper in /system/bin. If it's gone, no recovery boot.
I'm guessing Format System pretty much took care of that

MrDanger said:
Can you not get back into Clockwork if you pull your battery?? And they do have a 2.2 sbf that restores your system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zaphod-Beeblebrox said:
if you hose /system you won't be able to get back into recovery. Recovery depends on the logwrapper in /system/bin. If it's gone, no recovery boot.
I'm guessing Format System pretty much took care of that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, I cannot get back into clockwork recovery.
I can get into android recovery but I cant do much from there.

Guys, is the ota 2.2 sbf I need SHADO_X6_2.3.13_SYSTEM-ONLY.zip
found here?
http://rootzwiki.com/index.php/Main-Page/Team-Black-Hat-does-it-again.html

SysAdmNj said:
Guys, is the ota 2.2 sbf I need SHADO_X6_2.3.13_SYSTEM-ONLY.zip
found here?
http://rootzwiki.com/index.php/Main-Page/Team-Black-Hat-does-it-again.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. I think that is your only hope at this point. If it doesn't work, I think you are SOL.

I did something very similar to this, flashing the 2.2 System SBF fixed it

I'm back up and running. Thanks people.

good for you man. seriously. just read a couple threads like this. makes me real nervous about flashing roms.

Not nervous since I have insurance
Seriously I caused my issue with a silly mistake. Usually its smooth sailing.

Possible Brick?[Solved with Nandroid Backup]

I know you guys hate when people jump the gun...but I'm honestly running out of ideas here. Earlier today I tried to use LCD Density changer on my Nexus S...whether this was stupid on my part, you all can decide later. As for now my nexus boots a black screen. I'm only posting here cuz maybe in finding a solution we can uncover a bit about how the nexus is set up, because it seems to refuse any changes made to the system through fastboot or adb push.
I have tried just about every option to restore the system to stock format, and need help getting my nexus back to booting condition. I've tried fastboot flashing the system.img and just get a "write failed" error. I've pushed the whole system dump to /system through adb and when i reboot it is still missing the files i just pushed. I've flashed different boot.img's in combination with the first two steps, and still my phone remains unbootable.
Any ideas what could be going wrong?

fykick said:
I know you guys hate when people jump the gun...but I'm honestly running out of ideas here. Earlier today I tried to use LCD Density changer on my Nexus S...whether this was stupid on my part, you all can decide later. As for now my nexus boots a black screen. I'm only posting here cuz maybe in finding a solution we can uncover a bit about how the nexus is set up, because it seems to refuse any changes made to the system through fastboot or adb push.
I have tried just about every option to restore the system to stock format, and need help getting my nexus back to booting condition. I've tried fastboot flashing the system.img and just get a "write failed" error. I've pushed the whole system dump to /system through adb and when i reboot it is still missing the files i just pushed. I've flashed different boot.img's in combination with the first two steps, and still my phone remains unbootable.
Any ideas what could be going wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it safe to say you didnt do nandroid restore prior?

Yes, that is correct...didn't think it'd cause this much of a problem(stupid me). I asked earlier if maybe some could upload a nandroid restore for me so I could at least attempt that. But I got no response, so I'm still in the dark.

fykick said:
Yes, that is correct...didn't think it'd cause this much of a problem(stupid me). I asked earlier if maybe some could upload a nandroid restore for me so I could at least attempt that. But I got no response, so I'm still in the dark.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I get home in an hour, I'll factory wipe and make a backup of the stock rom for you.
Any recommendations on where to upload?

I got you man im backing up right ow....going to wipe then backup again and ill upload it so give me a bit
maybe ill be really nice and include some custom transitions for you

Only been 1 day since it came out, since it boots to black, take it back to the store, act stupid, get another one. Solved.

nandroid
pm'ing you the link
let me know if it works
mount usb storage copy and paste the into clockworkmod/backups
unmount usb storage and restore....gave you all the goodies too

nxt said:
Only been 1 day since it came out, since it boots to black, take it back to the store, act stupid, get another one. Solved.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hahahahaha best thing I've heard all day
Apparently the NS is super-brickable, according to JBQ (@jbqueru) on android-building:
-Even though Nexus S is designed to be suitable for AOSP work, there
are some caveats. I very strongly recommend against trying to use
Nexus S for anything related to AOSP at the moment. Trying to unlock
or use your Nexus S for AOSP work could easily turn it into a Nexus B
(where B means "brick"); I have two of those, they're not very useful.
I'll send some guidelines about what is currently possible once I've
finished pushing the source code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Is there anyway I can get the link for that nandroid? I seem to have messed my system files up as well.

wdfowty said:
Hahahahaha best thing I've heard all day
Apparently the NS is super-brickable, according to JBQ (@jbqueru) on android-building:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that is a frightening prospect;( How can google make a dev phone thats super brickable... hmmm
JD

AndHel said:
Is there anyway I can get the link for that nandroid? I seem to have messed my system files up as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I get the link for the stock nandroid also? I need to use a secure boot image.

Okay, thank you very much for the Nandroid. It worked and I'm back up and running.

OKay
So i sent the backup to at least 3 people anyone care to let me know hows its going and whether or not they like the customizations

drexman8244 said:
So i sent the backup to at least 3 people anyone care to let me know hows its going and whether or not they like the customizations
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
maybe you can upload it to mediafire or somewhere else, and create a thread? it might help others out

ill take your advice on that Thanks

adb push may not have been working because your system wasn't mounted properly in Clockwork recovery. I had this issue when trying to root. In Recovery, go to Mounts & Storage and hit "Mount System" THEN adb push the system dump.

You probably didn't need to nandroid. Could have just used adb to reset the density line in your build.prop I assume?

fykick said:
Okay, thank you very much for the Nandroid. It worked and I'm back up and running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please mention it on the Thread Title PROBLEM SOLVED.

An nandroid backup can be found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=877601

Hi guys, i'm the developer of LCD Density Changer. Sorry about the problems it caused.
Is it true that the Nexus S, doesn't support a density change. That would be a real bummer! Not for the app, but in general. I just don't hope Google blocks a density change in their new Android versions.
A question: does the "preview/temporarily" density change works in the LCD Density Changer app. If so, there is still hope.
Meanwhile, based on these reports I will put up a note to warn Nexus S users.

[Q] One Click vs Unlocked Bootloader

Simple question, one i didn't find a quick simple answer too.
I know the main differences between one-click root and unlocking the bootloader, and the biggest for me was the warranty. I used one-click root so just in case, I could revert back. Now my warranty is just about up, and I figure why not? My biggest question is, will it provide any benefits?
For some reason I have never been able to install themes (either update.zip files or through metamorph), I just go into an infinite boot loop. I was hoping this was the only issue. But I don't know enough to know the answer

Benefits are safer radio flashing, and if you ever **** the phone up so bad you can't boot into anything other than the bootloader, you can fastboot flash everything required to get going again.

Rusty! said:
Benefits are safer radio flashing, and if you ever **** the phone up so bad you can't boot into anything other than the bootloader, you can fastboot flash everything required to get going again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more little question; Should i reflash CM7 (im running the nightlies currently) when its done? I read that it will wipe all data (already got everything backed up ready to go) but I was just wondering if I would need to reflash anything right now, like CM7 or the recovery?

Take NANDroid, unlock, restore NANDroid, continue as if nothing happened.

Rusty! said:
Take NANDroid, unlock, restore NANDroid, continue as if nothing happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tons of awesomesauce I guess thats what I will go ahead and do! Thank you so very much for the quick help!
EDIT: Done, restoring the NANDroid backup now I hesitated a little bit when hitting that button though, a year of me holding back doing it because of the warranty was still making my trigger finger nervous
... And back in my rom, everything normal once again And again thanks for the quick help.

Well not so normal; I have lost my setup accounts, and everytime I try restoring a NANDroid the accounts are still gone, and there isn't an option to add in a google account and none of the google apps work. No force closes just closes the second you try to open it.
I have tried reflashing both the rom and gapps, still no good.
Am i going to need to wipe?

Certainly shouldn't do, I unlocked my bootloader in the same way and everything continued as normal.
Bit odd that you can't add your account back though, the option should be there under accounts & sync.
It sounds like what happens when you try and use CM without adding GApps

That's what I thought too. So I tried flashing gapps, nothing.
Went ahead and did a full wipe. Quite amazed so far what all android is restoring for me. Nearly all back
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Hellos

Looking forward to flash my first ROM today, I've read the stickies, wish me luch
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Good luck. Make sure to back everything up first.

androidmonk30 said:
Looking forward to flash my first ROM today, I've read the stickies, wish me luch
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
read read read and read. get familiar with odin and make sure your phone is recognized ny odin. good luck once you start its addictive!!!!!

Yeah, i kind of have everything prepared, phone is rooted back up setup complete, i will just have to decide what ROM i want to go with. Not sure wich one yet, i know i want a decent battery life, fast, and GPS. I will look into more ROMs later today.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Reboot into CWR (both volume buttons held in) while booting until you see “Vibrant'
Once there, go to Backup and run that. Should take about 5 minutes, maybe more.
If all hell breaks loose, this is a snapshot of your phone at that point... it's important to do this before flashing a new ROM!
I'm sure it's something stupid on my side BUT, all the options i have after booting in CWR are(blue): reboot system now, reinstall packages, delete all user data, delete cache data, format internal sd-card.
I decided NOT to touch any of those now since i cant find the Backup option on there, so i just rebooted my phone. Please guide me with a link or something. Thanks. I don't want to rush things.

androidmonk30 said:
Reboot into CWR (both volume buttons held in) while booting until you see “Vibrant'
Once there, go to Backup and run that. Should take about 5 minutes, maybe more.
If all hell breaks loose, this is a snapshot of your phone at that point... it's important to do this before flashing a new ROM!
I'm sure it's something stupid on my side BUT, all the options i have after booting in CWR are(blue): reboot system now, reinstall packages, delete all user data, delete cache data, format internal sd-card.
I decided NOT to touch any of those now since i cant find the Backup option on there, so i just rebooted my phone. Please guide me with a link or something. Thanks. I don't want to rush things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thats the cwm recovery, i dont think you backup from there.
you backup using the app, and nandroid I think.
also make sure to save the backup onto your computer also!
also, there is a special folder, i forget which folder it is. it must be backed up separately i think. It contains your phones imei and other information, without it your radio and phone will not make calls. back that up. I forget what its called. If you loose that, you lost it for good and your phone is junk

SamsungVibrant said:
thats the cwm recovery, i dont think you backup from there.
you backup using the app, and nandroid I think.
also make sure to save the backup onto your computer also!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's actually incorrect. What you described is still the stock recovery menu. Cwm recovery has more options, and the text will either be green or red, depending on whether you have the ext4 (voodoo) lagfix applied.
If you have the correct CWM update.zip file on the root of your internal sd, then boot into stock recovery and select "reinstall packages." You'll be thrown back into stock recovery, whereupon you select reinstall packages a second time. That second one will put you in CWM recovery.
And to clarify, you CAN restore/backup from CWM (as well as many other things...maybe read up on that). Just remember that a backup does not include your kernel, in case you bounce between 2.1, 2.2, and 2.3 roms.
Hope that helps...good luck.
Sent from my Vibrant using XDA App

SamsungVibrant said:
thats the cwm recovery, i dont think you backup from there.
you backup using the app, and nandroid I think.
also make sure to save the backup onto your computer also!
also, there is a special folder, i forget which folder it is. it must be backed up separately i think. It contains your phones imei and other information, without it your radio and phone will not make calls. back that up. I forget what its called. If you loose that, you lost it for good and your phone is junk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're thinking of EFS. I don't believe you can back that up through recovery. There is a different procedure for that which I can't recall off the top of my head.
Don't forget, after flashing you should wipe cache, wipe dalvik cache, and fix permissions. All are options in the recovery.

Hi guys, all went smoothly and I am now using Axura ROM 2.3.1.3 and I got to say WOW,I love this ROM, very stabile,GPS works a breeze and battery life seems good also, thanks for your support.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

It is addicting the flashing game is very bad though I ruined 2 micro SD cards
Sent from my T959 using xda premium

its way too addictive!!!

Help with wipe-rom-kernal for first time, If have donate button I can donate cpl$

Im not rich or I would have got a newer version tablet by now, but if anyone who helps has a donate button I have no issue donating a couple dollars to the person who helps me get this done, Thanks. Or just a couple dollar PP gift. better than nothing I guess.
I just want to be sure I dont mess anything up here. I have a nexus 7 wifi model.
I used NRT to unlock and root and all seems fine. Am I correct in this:
I use nandroid backup to backup first
Put ROM file on device (where do I put it?)
Wipe (is this done via nexus root toolkit or is ok do do in the custom recovery?)
Then what, boot into recovery and find the ROM and install it via recovery install button?
Then do I do the same with a kernal? Where do I put it?
Then done?
I know there are guides around but for a complete newbie I need to be sure cause I dont always see a complete fully explained step by step. Just like when I was stock not getting SU to work after rooting via nrt, I did read to flash SuperSU.zip, but had no idea how, then when I found the file and thought maybe install from recovery meant same as flash, I didnt know the message about messing the device up was normal so I was afraid at first.
THANKS to any replies,
Been unsure for days now trying to make sure my ducks are in a row before i commit to a ROM/Kernal. I want to CPU control for both under and overclocking etc. Mainly overclock just a little. I must say I love root already, got stuff to work I couldn't before

1. Create nandroid- there's a free app called something like nandroid on line - very simple to use
1a. I'd also recommend backing up with titanium backup app. It means you can keep your app data (e.g. game progress) when switching between ROMs, unlike a nandroid which is just a backup of your device as a restorable image
2. Put ROM file on device - ROM will be a .zip file, out it wherever you want, as long as you remember where it is
3. Put kernel anywhere on device - easiest to find a kernel with .zip format (recommend M-kernel)
4. Wipe - from custom recovery
5. Hit install in your custom recovery, I always flash kernel and then ROM, but I don't think it really matters
Install from recovery and flash are the same thing.
I'd recommend only flashing ROM or kernel and sticking with that set up for a few days, then flashing the other desired element. That way, if anything goes wrong then it's easier to pinpoint.
Good luck!!
Sent from my HTC Desire C using xda app-developers app

THANKS! Don't see a donate button, did you want anything?

No, of course not! God luck!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

butler0607 said:
5. Hit install in your custom recovery, I always flash kernel and then ROM, but I don't think it really matters
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually that completely matters. Flashing a kernel before rom is worthless because the rom contains a kernel that will replace whatever you have just flashed.
If you want to run a custom kernel on a rom it is recommended to boot into the rom first before flashing the kernel.

Pirateghost said:
Actually that completely matters. Flashing a kernel before rom is worthless because the rom contains a kernel that will replace whatever you have just flashed.
If you want to run a custom kernel on a rom it is recommended to boot into the rom first before flashing the kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I just want root access and overclock should i just flash kernal and forget a rom?
can i revert back to stock kernal if need to? ask cause need to find a kernal that has V4L enabled for a usb camera app i use currently to use an inspection camera via usb on my tablet. I guess i need to read what various roms and kernals add. do i need to do both. Hard to know what to pick out of them, lol.
Thanks for advice.

Anyone know of a list to show ROMs with V4L enabled? None seem to mention it?

I have read and see different suggestions around on various sites. What all do I wipe? I have read cache, dalvik cache, plus other stuff. What all must I wipe before flashing a rom or kernel? I did a nandroid backup already.
PirateGhost, Ill donate a couple dollars if you help, thanks.
Thanks.

When going from one rom to a different one all you need to do in custom recovery is select factory reset.
This wipes out your currently installed apps, their settings, but doesn't touch your 'sdcard'
Wiping dalvik is pointless as it's automatically handled in the rom process, and cache is wiped in factory reset.
When switching kernels follow the instructions provided by the dev. If no instructions are provided, it's safe to assume you just flash without wiping anything.

When doing this, I'd recommend titanium backup too. When you do a factory reset, all apps are lost, but some data is kept (not sure on the details). Basically Titanium allows you to restore all your apps with data when you change ROMs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Pirateghost said:
When going from one rom to a different one all you need to do in custom recovery is select factory reset.
This wipes out your currently installed apps, their settings, but doesn't touch your 'sdcard'
Wiping dalvik is pointless as it's automatically handled in the rom process, and cache is wiped in factory reset.
When switching kernels follow the instructions provided by the dev. If no instructions are provided, it's safe to assume you just flash without wiping anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Ill donate a couple dollars later today when I get back from the doctor.
I have not put any customs ROM(s) on yet, so is it the same still? All I have done so far is unlock/root with custom recovery and nandroid backup....
butler0607 said:
When doing this, I'd recommend titanium backup too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I backed up the one app I needed to via TB, I just recently unlocked and rooted so lost most app data anyway and have only added one back so far. Thanks.

butler0607 said:
When doing this, I'd recommend titanium backup too. When you do a factory reset, all apps are lost, but some data is kept (not sure on the details). Basically Titanium allows you to restore all your apps with data when you change ROMs.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No data is kept except what's on the sdcard. Mostly only game saves and some basic stuff. Apps databases are wiped during factory reset.

Pirateghost said:
No data is kept except what's on the sdcard. Mostly only game saves and some basic stuff. Apps databases are wiped during factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, Ill donate a couple bucks. had bad day yesterday so wasn't on much.

Is it normal for the donate link to be missing the regular PayPal security info on the browser?

eBandit078 said:
Is it normal for the donate link to be missing the regular PayPal security info on the browser?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea what this means.

Pirateghost said:
I have no idea what this means.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe Ill just do it and change my password when finished. Thanks. Sorry not replied yet have been in a lot of pain Only a couple dollars but better than nothing I guess. Thanks for your help. Ill be back online tonight to do it.

eBandit078 said:
Maybe Ill just do it and change my password when finished. Thanks. Sorry not replied yet have been in a lot of pain Only a couple dollars but better than nothing I guess. Thanks for your help. Ill be back online tonight to do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not forgot about you, had family issues, holiday etc, well did forget but I'll look into why it does that and figure it out. Sorry for delay.