Database Users

Can you reverse flashing a recovery image?

Hi Guys,
I'm a little new to all this so please bear with me..
Just rooted my MT4g and want to make a nandroid backup before i do anything. However i see that i need to use CWM to flash a custom recovery image in order to make the backup.
Is there anyway to reverse that recovery image back to stock? Incase i need to revert the phone completely back to stock...
Thanks.

Sorry, i think i found it!
I'm guessing this is it: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=843289
Please close this thread if that's it.. sorry for spamming.

If you completed the root process then you already have CwM recovery. Just use Rom Manager to make a backup. If you have to revert back to stock the process will reinstall the stock recovery img for you.
shortskoolbus said:
Hi Guys,
I'm a little new to all this so please bear with me..
Just rooted my MT4g and want to make a nandroid backup before i do anything. However i see that i need to use CWM to flash a custom recovery image in order to make the backup.
Is there anyway to reverse that recovery image back to stock? Incase i need to revert the phone completely back to stock...
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Hmm okay. I did successfully root the device and I was following this write up to backup the phone using nandroid which says i need to flash a custom recovery ROM.
I just tried to backup current ROM and it gives me a message saying i must flash CwM recovery first and gives me an option to install it. But i'm guessing it's possible to restore that from the link in my second post?

You can use clockwork to restore your factory rom, but if you want to revert your recovery back to stock you will need to fastboot flash the stock recovery back on. This is assuming you have first flashed the stock rom which will leave you without clockwork rom manager installed. There's a few unroot guides that will help you if you need to send your phone back to tmo. I would suggest becoming familiar with ADB and Fastboot. That knowledge will give you more options in a pinch.
Swyped on my rooted MyTouch4G

Thanks much!
Yes i am doing a lot of reading right now, but wanted to make sure all the files i needed were out there for the MT4G already. Looks like the factory recovery is out there and it can be flashed back so i'm not to worried.

shortskoolbus said:
Thanks much!
Yes i am doing a lot of reading right now, but wanted to make sure all the files i needed were out there for the MT4G already. Looks like the factory recovery is out there and it can be flashed back so i'm not to worried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes all the files are out there that you would need to pretty much do whatever needed. Check out the links in my sig for some good things.

Rooted my GF's Fascinate, Need Help Nandroiding

I just rooted my girlfriend's year old fascinate that was bone stock from day 1. In CWM I am unable to make a nandroid (I get an error). I've heard I need a modded stock kernel in order to successfully make a backup in CWM 3.x or something along those lines.
I looked in the developer forum under the sticky with the list of everything, but it only shows three or so kernels (none of which hint at stock).
I have a Thunderbolt and before that a Droid 2 so I know a lot about rooting and flashing with those two devices, but I am new to the Fascinate. I messed around a bit with Odin when I rooted the phone, but I'm still learning.
Any help is greatly appreciated.

Older recoveries supported amend scripting (2.x.x) while newer ones support edify scripting (3.x.x)...depending on which rom your running it may cause problems with backups and restores if you don't have the right recovery...unless you plan on going to an Mtd build (cm7, Miui, ect) I would recommend using the (2.5.1) recovery also called the 3/30 fix all recovery because this version supports both amend and edify scripting..so you make a nandroid with out issues....if you can get to recovery still I would install this zip and then select reboot recovery...it will bring you to the 3/30 fix all recovery where you should be able to backup and restore your nandroid...link to follow shortly...
Scroll down in the first page to the .zip file, download and continue with the steps I listed...I know its confusing at first mainly because development has happens rather quickly which is a good thing! its just a lot to catch up on!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=942021
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

What would you recommend if my plan was to install MIUI or OMFGB?
I'm deciding between those two because I use OMFGB on my Thunderbolt all the time, but MIUI is very good for my girlfriend I think because it's very straight forward and simplistic.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1124391
Its not hard to get in to these roms, but you must be sure if you have problems or want to go to anything non Mtd you will have to Odin an official VZW tar and pit file to repartition before going to any non Mtd rom
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1124391
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

So basically:
1. Flash the CWM you posted in your original reply
2. Nandroid her current stock setup
3. Flash MIUI
4. If I ever want to return to stock or a non-mtd rom I have to do what's posted in your second reply?
If all that is correct please let me know. Also lets say she doesn't like MIUI, can I simply flash that nandroid or will I have to do what's posted in the second reply?

When I try to flash that older CWM in CWM I get this message:
http://i.imgur.com/3QiwQ.jpg

want a droid said:
So basically:
1. Flash the CWM you posted in your original reply
2. Nandroid her current stock setup
3. Flash MIUI
4. If I ever want to return to stock or a non-mtd rom I have to do what's posted in your second reply?
If all that is correct please let me know. Also lets say she doesn't like MIUI, can I simply flash that nandroid or will I have to do what's posted in the second reply?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you will have to do what's in the second reply.
You have it all correct, if you nandroid her current stock setup you can only restore it on a non Mtd build you would have to do what I linked to in the second post to use a vzw rom with pit file to repartition...boot fully, flash recovery then you could restore her stock nandroid..for example you get her on Miui you can only do a nandroid with the recovery that comes with it...I think its a 4.x.x recovery...trying to restore the stock nandroid before repartitioning back to stock will cause problems...so basically you only want to restore a nandroid on the same build (Mtd to Mtd nandroid, or ext4/rfs to ext4/rfs nandroid) and if all else fails and you run into big problems, doing the VZW restore (although can be a lengthy process) will get the phone back running to start over!
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Did you see my reply before this? I was unable to get CWM 2.x to flash so I'm still on CWM 3.x.

want a droid said:
Did you see my reply before this? I was unable to get CWM 2.x to flash so I'm still on CWM 3.x.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did see it after I replied, is her phone on ed05? I'm surprised that neither the 3/30 fix all or 3.x.x is working
Edit after looking at the pick again you're using times infinity's recovery....you would need to Odin the 3/30 fix all recovery and immediately three finger boot into recovery without letting the phone boot or if you installed the 3/30 fix all via .zip file, you need to choose reboot recovery to enter the fix all one, it should be 2.5.1 I believe
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Here's a picture of her phone info:
http://i.imgur.com/rs1Jd.jpg
And as you can tell from the other photo, both making a backup and flashing the CWM 2.x doesn't work.
Trying a backup results in: "Error while backing up boot image!"
Trying to flash CWM 2.x results in that long information message.

That sucks man i'm sorry I've never been on ed05 so I don't know if that why your having problems my suggestion...back up all her contacts by exporting them to sd card, download titanium backup its free in the market, backup all of her apps and screw the nandroid, flash what you want, restore her apps with titanium, but do not restore data, restore get contacts and then boot into the recovery that comes with the rom/kernel and then do a nandroid and that WILL work..again sorry for the trouble, just trying to help.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

I appreciate all your help. I'll let you know how it goes.

ed05 is not the problem...You have to use cwm 2.5.1.x if your trying to nandroid backup a stock rom. This version of cwm works on all froyo roms and powerwashed gingerbread. After you make a nandroid with cwm2.5.1.x, then flash cwm4 and proceed to installing miui.
Read this link for flashing mtd based roms such as miui, cm7, vgb...etc
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1212239

That was my first reply to him...to use 2.5.1 but he said he still got errors? I don't have a clue what the problem is...he's said he's used ti's 3x.x, and the 3/30 fix all still with errors? confused?
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

droidstyle said:
ed05 is not the problem...You have to use cwm 2.5.1.x if your trying to nandroid backup a stock rom. This version of cwm works on all froyo roms and powerwashed gingerbread. After you make a nandroid with cwm2.5.1.x, then flash cwm4 and proceed to installing miui.
Read this link for flashing mtd based roms such as miui, cm7, vgb...etc
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1212239
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess you skipped the entire thread, but we already went through all that.

want a droid said:
I guess you skipped the entire thread, but we already went through all that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you skipped a step... Are you flashin cwm via the PDA function in ODIN?
If not you need to:
ODIN the cwmAll.tar here: http://api.viglink.com/api/click?format=go&drKey=1359&loc=http%3A%2F%2Fforum.xda-developers.com%2Fshowthread.php%3Ft%3D1238070&v=1&libid=1316306736482&out=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediafire.com%2F%3F6x5utoca59et7o9&title=%5BGUIDE%5D%20Installing%20a%20rom%2F%20cwm%20recovery%2F%20or%20going%20back%20to%20stock%20for%20NEWBIES!%20-%20xda-developers&txt=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.mediafire.com%2F%3F6x5utoca59et7o9&jsonp=vglnk_jsonp_13163071702031
make a nandroid back up of the stock rom.
go back to odin and flash the jt's cwm4
boot into recovery
wipe data, cache, dalvik
install miui.zipfrom sd card
Follow the rest of the directions in the link I provided

+1 there ya go. Beat me to it.
Plus, I wouldn't even worry about backing up your stock ROM. Just flash the full official package. This will wipe your slate clean if you run into problems. Restoring nandroid backups leads to glitches eventually from what I've seen.
Sorry, I didn't see there was a second page here...I'm a bum.

want a droid said:
I guess you skipped the entire thread, but we already went through all that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should probably try not being a **** when you're begging for help from people.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Personally, I thought his reply was honest and effective. I commend him on his frankness, and respect him for his boldness.

grenade01 said:
Personally, I thought his reply was honest and effective. I commend him on his frankness, and respect him for his boldness.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? Snide, snarky comments are respectable? At the very least, they shouldn't be coming from the person asking for help.
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Help! Flashed stock recovery and now dead tablet

Hello i downloaded the stock recovery for my nexus 10 because i wanted to go back to stock for the sooon to come 4.3 android update. I tried using the command to flash but it didnt work so i downloaded flashify and used that to flash. It said it completeded and told me to either flash more stuff or reboot. I rebooted and it went to a dead android with a warning in the chest area :crying: I tried holding power to shut off tablet for 30 seconds but it turns right back on into dead android image. I can get into fastboot if i hold volume up while it turns on but now the only choice is start and it says downloading do not turn off target. If you know whats wrong please help me. Is there anyway to fix this without flashing stock?

abdel12345 said:
Hello i downloaded the stock recovery for my nexus 10 because i wanted to go back to stock for the sooon to come 4.3 android update. I tried using the command to flash but it didnt work so i downloaded flashify and used that to flash. It said it completeded and told me to either flash more stuff or reboot. I rebooted and it went to a dead android with a warning in the chest area :crying: I tried holding power to shut off tablet for 30 seconds but it turns right back on into dead android image. I can get into fastboot if i hold volume up while it turns on but now the only choice is start and it says downloading do not turn off target. If you know whats wrong please help me. Is there anyway to fix this without flashing stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There might be. Using onboard flashing tools is not a good idea since it doesn't seem like you know what you're doing (no offense) with the low-level tools. You should be able to dirty flash your ROM from stock (although you do realize that the stock recovery will be useless to you if you're trying to update to 4.3 over a custom ROM, right? Or if you're on a stock rooted ROM that flashing will unroot you?) to leave your /data partition intact.
When you said "the command to flash", I assume you're referring to "fastboot flash recovery <path-to-recovery.img>". You will need to rerun that, probably flashing a custom recovery. If your system boots correctly after this, then you can go ahead and reflash your stock recovery (and the problem would likely have been a messed up partition). If not, then you can try to boot into the custom recovery to do a dirty flash of your ROM (i.e. a flash without using factory wipe). If that doesn't work either, you can open up a .zip of your ROM and use "fastboot flash system <path-to-system.img>", pointing to the system image in your ROM. That should generally get you at least bootable again.

Rirere said:
There might be. Using onboard flashing tools is not a good idea since it doesn't seem like you know what you're doing (no offense) with the low-level tools. You should be able to dirty flash your ROM from stock (although you do realize that the stock recovery will be useless to you if you're trying to update to 4.3 over a custom ROM, right? Or if you're on a stock rooted ROM that flashing will unroot you?) to leave your /data partition intact.
When you said "the command to flash", I assume you're referring to "fastboot flash recovery <path-to-recovery.img>". You will need to rerun that, probably flashing a custom recovery. If your system boots correctly after this, then you can go ahead and reflash your stock recovery (and the problem would likely have been a messed up partition). If not, then you can try to boot into the custom recovery to do a dirty flash of your ROM (i.e. a flash without using factory wipe). If that doesn't work either, you can open up a .zip of your ROM and use "fastboot flash system <path-to-system.img>", pointing to the system image in your ROM. That should generally get you at least bootable again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm on stock. Anyways I'll try what you said about flashing custom recovery again and thanks for the reply. I just really don't want to lose all my data or else I wouldve flashed stock by now
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)

abdel12345 said:
Yes I don't really know what I'm doing. I'm on stock. Anyways I'll try what you said about flashing custom recovery again and thanks for the reply. I just really don't want to lose all my data or else I wouldve flashed stock by now
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a problem. These tools are really useful when they work, but it's definitely better to know how to do it when things go wrong (and they almost always will at least once). Just keep a level head about it and don't panic. Fastest way to lose data, that.

ok thanks. Well i got it booting and i decided im just going to back up everything with titanium backup and reflash stock with wugs toolkit

OK I'm a big idiot I did all this for no reason. I flashed back to stock with wugsroot kit and apparently it wiped all SD data so I lost all my titanium backups as well as pictures and apps and everything. Damn I'm stupid. Well I guess now that I lost all my data I might as well flash a custom ROM :banghead::banghead:
Sent from my Xperia Play (r800x)

[Q] Rooting/flashing outline.

Hi finally I have decided to proceed in rooting my i337M (Canadian) S4, along with flashing a CM 10.2 nightly. I have read up on the subject, but being the person who tends to worry a lot (don't want to brick my phone!) I guess I will just outline the steps I'm going to take and if anyone has anything to add/ any issues with my procedure please tell me!
Baseband is I337MVLUAMG1
1. Root using CF-Auto-Root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293800
2. Install latest CWM using ROManager
3. Boot into recovery and make a NANDroid backup of stock ROM
4. Clean wipe, along with formating system
5. Flash ROM and gapps
Also if I want to restore to a NANroid backup, do I have to do any required wipes beforehand, or can I go straight ahead and restore to my stock backup.

I337ucuamdl
AstronomicaI said:
Hi finally I have decided to proceed in rooting my i337M (Canadian) S4, along with flashing a CM 10.2 nightly. I have read up on the subject, but being the person who tends to worry a lot (don't want to brick my phone!) I guess I will just outline the steps I'm going to take and if anyone has anything to add/ any issues with my procedure please tell me!
1. Root using CF-Auto-Root
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293800
2. Install latest CWM using ROManager
3. Boot into recovery and make a NANDroid backup of stock ROM
4. Clean wipe, along with formating system
5. Flash ROM and gapps
Also if I want to restore to a NANroid backup, do I have to do any required wipes beforehand, or can I go straight ahead and restore to my stock backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See how I printed my Baseband version in the title of my reply?
My Build number: GOLDENEYE BY iB4STiD XXUBMGA
How are we supposed to figure out your question if we have no clue what you're dealing with?
I used CWM before, like on the Captivate, but I'm no help here as I used TWRP for my custom recovery on this handset. So far we know how you got root, and what your intended custom recovery is, and that you're a Canadian. Perhaps spelling out the rest of it will help shed the light on the details needed for a decent answer?
It does sound like you're on the right track, but I for one cannot give you the "go ahead" nod.
It takes some intestinal fortitude to make a nandroid, then flash it to test to see if it's any good. I don't see nearly enough of that around this forum!

Please Help! -TWRP issues

I have had several custom roms using TWRP with no problems. Today I decided to try pacman rom and nandroid backed up my negalite wonderom. downloaded pacman to external card, rebooted to TWRP. I formatted internal storage and did full wipes on everything but external sd. I tried installing pacman zip and get FAILED unzipping and updating partition. so I then try flashing my old rom and get same error. I then nandroid back to previous rom and boots as expected. If i reboot again, I get stuck on samsung galaxy s4 boot screen. I've tried repeating all these steps but now I am without a phone until one of you nice people help me. What can I do? Please help.

csrredcoat said:
I have had several custom roms using TWRP with no problems. Today I decided to try pacman rom and nandroid backed up my negalite wonderom. downloaded pacman to external card, rebooted to TWRP. I formatted internal storage and did full wipes on everything but external sd. I tried installing pacman zip and get FAILED unzipping and updating partition. so I then try flashing my old rom and get same error. I then nandroid back to previous rom and boots as expected. If i reboot again, I get stuck on samsung galaxy s4 boot screen. I've tried repeating all these steps but now I am without a phone until one of you nice people help me. What can I do? Please help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin back to stock.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app

ROMANTiC KiD said:
Odin back to stock.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did odin back to stock, ut i am stuck on galaxy s4 boot screen. What can I do to fix? Thanks

During this whole ordeal, I was trying to install CWM over TWRP and accidentally checked repartition in ODIN, it didn't seem to do anything ..just hanged and I pulled battery. I am now wondering if this screwed anything up and if so, what can I do?

csrredcoat said:
I did odin back to stock, ut i am stuck on galaxy s4 boot screen. What can I do to fix? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take out battery. Put in back in. Go to stock recovery (by pressing volume up and power button and letting go when you see tiny blue letters) from there just do a factory reset then reboot. Dont worry if you a dead android its ok. Then you should be ok.
---------- Post added at 11:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:12 PM ----------
csrredcoat said:
During this whole ordeal, I was trying to install CWM over TWRP and accidentally checked repartition in ODIN, it didn't seem to do anything ..just hanged and I pulled battery. I am now wondering if this screwed anything up and if so, what can I do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well from my understanding we should not have repartition checked. Dont know the outcomes tho but im pretty sure now you need pit files for gs4 sprint to remap the partitions for your phone back the way it was. Should be here in xda but if you cant find them then just odin again a stock tar and do a factory reset in stock recovery. See if that works.

Back to Stock but have a question
So I was able to successfully odin back to stock. I am confused about format data vs wipes. I had some issues on a ROM and someone in a forum advised to format to truly erase any junk left behind by other roms. I did this in TWRP and installed a rom and it fixed the former issues I had on that rom. So I thought I had a new strategy, to format not just wipe.
So now I have CWM and don't even see the option to format data. If I want to make sure I erase everything, how do I ? Just doing factory reset, wipe data, cache and dalvik seems to leave files behind including personal files on internal storage. Just want to learn the best practices to avoid issues. I am kinda glad this happened, been a learning lesson. Thanks to all!

Software/Baseband Version MDC to MF9
After ODIN back to stock I am on MDC and want to get back to MF9. This is the procedure I used a few months ago HERE Is this the best way? Thanks.

csrredcoat said:
So I was able to successfully odin back to stock. I am confused about format data vs wipes. I had some issues on a ROM and someone in a forum advised to format to truly erase any junk left behind by other roms. I did this in TWRP and installed a rom and it fixed the former issues I had on that rom. So I thought I had a new strategy, to format not just wipe.
So now I have CWM and don't even see the option to format data. If I want to make sure I erase everything, how do I ? Just doing factory reset, wipe data, cache and dalvik seems to leave files behind including personal files on internal storage. Just want to learn the best practices to avoid issues. I am kinda glad this happened, been a learning lesson. Thanks to all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not so sure on CWM since ive been using twrp so I can help you there.
csrredcoat said:
After ODIN back to stock I am on MDC and want to get back to MF9. This is the procedure I used a few months ago HERE Is this the best way? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its better if you just accept ota (*optional* do a factory reset when already at mf9.) Or just get the mf9 stock tar and just odin that when you have problems
You can download the mf9 tar here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2375523

ROMANTiC KiD said:
Im not so sure on CWM since ive been using twrp so I can help you there.
Its better if you just accept ota (*optional* do a factory reset when already at mf9.) Or just get the mf9 stock tar and just odin that when you have problems
You can download the mf9 tar here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2375523
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, I am confused but eager to learn. I just did a ODIN back to stock, I am now unrooted. I did a factory reset in stock recovery. Now I think I should be able to click update firmware to get to MF9 but it says no updates found or I am up to date. I don't get this. Why is it not finding any updates?

Even More Confused!
edit

Ok, it is downloading MF9 in background now. Not sure why it initially said no updates found. I should be good now. Thanks!