Database Users

How to PROPERLY Flash a ROM

Since I have seen alot of individuals within ROM threads stating things such as, "Your ROM bricked my phone." or "I can't get your new ROM to install." decided to make this guide. Hopefully it will solve this issue and help educate people.
What not flasing correctly can do:
1. Cause your phone not to boot
2. Cause Force closes and issues
3. POSSIBLY Brick your phone (though I have not seen an Eris Brick yet)
We must also remember that:
1. The devs of these ROMs are NOT responsible for any damage to your phone
2. The devs spend alot of time with testing to make sure the ROM works.
3. A ROM will NOT always flash over a previous ROM
OK.. So onto the main topic..
assuming you are rooted and using AMON's Recovery. I suggest AMON's because Clockwork has had recent issues. Big thanks to AMON for this!
How to install a ROM properly:
1. Boot into recovery ( with either reboot to recovery option or powerdown and then holding volume up and power )
2. Goto Backup/Restore and do a NAND Back-Up
3. Do a data/factory wipe ( NOTE: if the dev says you can flash over an old version you dont NEED to do this, but if you don't do this and the ROM is not booting then I suggest you restart this process [minus the back-up] and do a data/factory wipe)
4. Do a Dalvik Wipe... 3 times (ALWAYS ALWAYS ALWAYS do this)
5. Flash ROM
6. Reboot and Wait ( after a Dalvik wipe and flashing ROMs first boot can take 3+ minutes to load... BE PATIENT )
More to Come...

If you could, please explain what a Dalvik flash does. Thanks in adavnce, and thanks for this thread. I've never had any issues flashing, but it's nice to see someone explain the basics....

MOS95B said:
If you could, please explain what a Dalvik flash does. Thanks in adavnce, and thanks for this thread. I've never had any issues flashing, but it's nice to see someone explain the basics....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Dalvik cache is a program cache area for the program Dalvik. Dalvik is a java based virtual machine that is the bases for running your programs (the ones that have the .apk extension). In order to make access times faster (because there's not JIT (just in time) compiler installed by default), the Dalvik-cache is the result of Dalvik doing a optimization of the running program." - Taken From Android forums
Basically it analyzes the phone before it boots. Then it sees what apps you have and will use and assigns cache to them. This way they will load quickly and properly.
When you flash a new ROM apps can change, or if you do a data/factory reset those apps are gone. SO wiping the Dalvik allows it to rebuild itself for what YOU are using.
This is also good to do after cleaning out or removing many unused apps from the phone. I usually do it once a week AT LEAST.

With the exception of a 2.1 ROM running apps2sd on an ext partition, is there really any point to wipe Dalvik if you have just done a wipe data/factory reset (which also wipes Dalvik cache)? And what exactly is the point of wiping Dalvik three times - why is once not enough? Is there something wrong with Amon Recovery which prevents a full Dalvik wipe unless you do it more than once?
It certainly doesn't hurt to wipe Dalvik after a wipe data/factory reset, but it should be already wiped.

I'm still fairly new, but I've flashed quite a bit. I didn't know to wipe dalvik x3. that's an interesting bit of info. Any reason why? Thanks

lp4261 said:
I'm still fairly new, but I've flashed quite a bit. I didn't know to wipe dalvik x3. that's an interesting bit of info. Any reason why? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safety reasons... personally I do factory then dalvik 3x then factory again and dalvik 3x again.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

I tried this and now I have a paper weight lol j/k

tazzpatriot said:
I tried this and now I have a paper weight lol j/k
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My plan worked
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

I believe the reason is that sometimes even after a wipe people have reported residual data in the cache, I personally don't do it three times but I do a wipe, dalvik, dalvik, wipe.
Its not going to hurt anything and it gives me piece of mind.

Delvaris said:
I believe the reason is that sometimes even after a wipe people have reported residual data in the cache, I personally don't do it three times but I do a wipe, dalvik, dalvik, wipe.
Its not going to hurt anything and it gives me piece of mind.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool. Thanks for the good info.

x3? I do once before and once after. Frankly once before has been enough for me... though I suppose being safe has never hurt.

If the dalvik cache still won't clear after 3 times you can piss on your phone. That seems to really help.

in most cases once is enough but like I said, it's not likely to hurt anything to give it a couple of wipes to make sure all the junk data is cleared.

Let me put it this way...
I wont use a public toilet just by seeing it is clean... ill clean it like twice ...
This is why I dalvik 3 times lol
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

icbeer said:
If the dalvik cache still won't clear after 3 times you can piss on your phone. That seems to really help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried that today.. now my phone wont turn on... any fix?...
Jk
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

It would be interesting for someone like Amon to comment on the need to wipe data or recovery more than one time. In my opinion, once is enough. I'm 100% confident than wipes #2, #3, and so on are wiping blank space...

hallstevenson said:
It would be interesting for someone like Amon to comment on the need to wipe data or recovery more than one time. In my opinion, once is enough. I'm 100% confident than wipes #2, #3, and so on are wiping blank space...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally and others have experienced residual data... so is three too much... maybe... but its safe... two might be a better choice... this guide was made to make sure you have no issues... therefore I said three times for safety... if you want to just do it once... be my guest
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

At the risk sounding like an idiot, I must ask this:
You mention wiping the Dalvik once a week. When you do this wipe, do you replace it (flash) something over it? Or can you simply wipe then reboot.
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App

J&M said:
At the risk sounding like an idiot, I must ask this:
You mention wiping the Dalvik once a week. When you do this wipe, do you replace it (flash) something over it? Or can you simply wipe then reboot.
Sent from my FroyoEris using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, just wipe and boot. After wiping dalvik, it will redo your app tree or configuration if you will, just clears all the current info and rebuilds it fresh.
Great thread, people still need it I guess

workshed said:
Yep, just wipe and boot. After wiping dalvik, it will redo your app tree or configuration if you will, just clears all the current info and rebuilds it fresh.
Great thread, people still need it I guess
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol thanks buddy!
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

[Q]Error When Downloading Widgets and Q's about Recovery

Hi there!
Today I noticed there were some new widgets and updates. I started to download them on Wifi in my home.
And then I gotta leave my home. When I left Wifi connection disconnected and updates stopped. After few hours my battery depleted so my phone shut down.
When I come to home I charged it and turned Wifi on. When I looked on get HTC widgets tab There was "Installing" labels next to some of the widgets but they weren't installing actually.
I waited for 15mins -enough time to install Win7 on my phone - but they didnt got installed. I got into manage apps. on settings and uninstalled all the HTC widgets. Restarted the phone three times. Nothing changed.
Any advices?

I decided to recovery but have some questions about recovery.
Will it roll the rom back to 2.1?
What will it erase? Apps, contacts, messages? What kind of settings will it reset? Ringtones, home layout and wallpapers?
Regards.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using XDA app while pooping

Try clearing Dalvik Cache and also Format Cache in Clockworkmod. What do you mean by recovery? Nandroid? It is a 1:1 backup of whenever you made it. Or factory reset? Regardless, yes you will loose sms and contacts and etc so backup with HTC sync first.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk

jonusc said:
Try clearing Dalvik Cache and also Format Cache in Clockworkmod. What do you mean by recovery? Nandroid? It is a 1:1 backup of whenever you made it. Or factory reset? Regardless, yes you will loose sms and contacts and etc so backup with HTC sync first.
Sent from my HTC Wildfire using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant anything that rescue me from my problem If the recovery in HBOOT screen is Nandroid, yes I meant it. I don't know how to clear Dalvik Cache or what it is But searched it and figured something. Now trying. I'm gonna update you.
Thanks.
Edit: And uh, what abput apps? will they erased?
Update: I was trying to Clear Dalvik via adb but it says: rm failed for -rf, Read-Only file system . What should I do?
Update2: I figured something and cleared Dalvik Cache but nonhing changed.
Update3: Performed a factory reset and solved thanks again jonusc for your attention

Full wipe, new Rom, old settings and apps

Hello guys.
I would really appreciate an answer to a question I have.
I installed leedroid 3.0.2 and I have the same apps and settings as before.
I think I haven't done a good wipe..
I rebooted to recovery from cwm and used the wipe before I installed the new Rom. (i was using the revolution 3.5 before)
After I installed the new Rom, when I booted on, all apps and settings were there.
Shouldn't the wipe thing clean everything and leave the phone "empty"?
Or, (most obvious) did I do something wrong and should do it again? Cause there is a little thing with the market that closes the process when I click on new released apps.
Thank you in advance guys.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD

GeorgeKps said:
Hello guys.
I would really appreciate an answer to a question I have.
I installed leedroid 3.0.2 and I have the same apps and settings as before.
I think I haven't done a good wipe..
I rebooted to recovery from cwm and used the wipe before I installed the new Rom. (i was using the revolution 3.5 before)
After I installed the new Rom, when I booted on, all apps and settings were there.
Shouldn't the wipe thing clean everything and leave the phone "empty"?
Or, (most obvious) did I do something wrong and should do it again? Cause there is a little thing with the market that closes the process when I click on new released apps.
Thank you in advance guys.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you wiping data and cache in recovery?
"wipe data/factory reset"
It will then say:
Code:
-- Wiping data...
Formatting /data...
Formatting /cache...
Formatting /sd-ext...
Formatting /sdcard/.android_secure...
Data wipe complete.
Then:
"wipe cache partition"
It will say:
Code:
-- Wiping cache...
Formatting /cache...
Cache wipe complete
(second option is overkill)
Have you still got the setting to backup to Google servers ticked? Or any other app that you have backed things up with?
Whilst the last option wouldn't be instant (they would download again and take a good 5 minutes to appear).
And yes, you will probably experience issues if this is due to a missed wipe.

So, I will need to do a factory reset first, then do a cache wipe and then install the Rom?
(i don't remember doing all these for the revo Rom..)
Do I need to do these without rebooting the phone until everything is done?
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD

GeorgeKps said:
So, I will need to do a factory reset first, then do a cache wipe and then install the Rom?
(i don't remember doing all these for the revo Rom..)
Do I need to do these without rebooting the phone until everything is done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you should always do the "wipe data/factory reset" before installing any new ROMs or if the dev has advised it, also between major update revisions.
You don't need to reboot. If using recovery to install the ROM just do the wipes then flash the ROM using menu.

Awesome. Thanks for the help.
Will try it now and I hope everything goes well. Hope I won't get stuck since am not in front of my pc.
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD

Well, I did it again. Everything wiped out, started as new.
But still, new apps in market and battery history in spare parts give me a process termination...
Oh well, I guess that Lee will release an update.
Oh, something else I would like to ask. There is a new kernel for the Rom. Do I flash it the same way I flash everything? Through recovery?
Thanks again guys
Cheers !!!
Sent from my LeeDroid 3.0.2 Enhanced Desire HD

I use Leedroid and don't have this problem. Today I have installed from scratch and gone back and forth between ROM's. i turned off all the processes that backup and restore apps and I get a blank fresh install.
I have to ask, the last time you installed Leedroid, did you use the downloaded one or a copy from your sdcard? is it possible you are restoring a copy rather than flashing a fresh copy?
And you don't have any apps that have backed up your apps such as Titanium? And you have turned off Google Backup and restore feature?
The thing is, it is handy not to lose data but we need to make sure your wipe is being done. Did you see the same messages in Recovery as I showed above?

gosh, it is sooooooooooooo weird...
i did it all again. factory reset, delete cache, installed the 3.0.3 version (which was released today).
everything seemed to go smooth. still, i went to market and clicking on the newly released apps list i get an error which is "com.android.vewnding" has been shut blah blah blah. and the same happens to spare parts. when i click battery history ""com.android.spare_parts" shuts down.
do you guys think it has to do with the kernel? should i flash lee's kernel (i couldn't find how to. i mean, shall i do it from the cwm recovery?)
i guess that the radio has nothing to do with all these, does it?...
thank you guys once again for your help
Cheers !!!

GeorgeKps said:
gosh, it is sooooooooooooo weird...
i did it all again. factory reset, delete cache, installed the 3.0.3 version (which was released today).
everything seemed to go smooth. still, i went to market and clicking on the newly released apps list i get an error which is "com.android.vewnding" has been shut blah blah blah. and the same happens to spare parts. when i click battery history ""com.android.spare_parts" shuts down.
do you guys think it has to do with the kernel? should i flash lee's kernel (i couldn't find how to. i mean, shall i do it from the cwm recovery?)
i guess that the radio has nothing to do with all these, does it?...
thank you guys once again for your help
Cheers !!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have tried fix permissions in ROM Manager, yes?

eeeeeeeeeerm.... you got me. that is something i totally forgot to do :-(((
gosh.. i flashed the radio, sweet. tried to flash a kernel using jkoljo's tool and it stayed on the white screen (and of course cold sweat was all over the place )
but i flashed the rom again after clearing cache and the likes and (thank god) i'm in.
but the most weird thing is that, after all these, the kernel is flashed :-S
i checked in the phone info and the kernel is there..
anyway, am gonna do the fix permissions thingy and reflash once more. if it stays the same way, i'll have to live with it. it's late here in greece.
thanks again for your help guys, i really appreciate it )))
Cheers !!!

i did it all again but nothing happened.
did the permissions, rebooted to recovery, factory reset, cache wipe, install new rom and nothing.
i have to tell you guys though.. the problem with the market started when i was on the revolution rom. and it started just like that. one day everything was fine, next, bam. it didn't budge.
do you think there might be something wrong with the phone itself? (probably not and i'm paranoid)
other than that, everything works nice.
oh, and some other thing. there is this "full wipe 1.3" zip i had put in my SD card but never really used it.
should i use it this time?
this app should clean everything in the cache but not my files, right?
Cheers !!!

YouTube clip of how to manually full wipe everything.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fCwr6Ru0yko
When using this method I've never had a problem.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA App

I did the wipe as shown in the video. The problem remains the same. New market apps list gives an error followed by a restart of it and spare parts battery history does the same (without the restart though)
I don't know, I'm thinking of trying a different Rom even though I like the one Lee released.
(could all this mean that I have a problem with the phone?.......)
Anyway, thank you guys for spending time helping me.
Cheers !!!

[GUIDE] Proper FULL wipe

I know this is not a development thread but I must insist we have something like this in this area. I would ask a mod to keep this sticky or maybe link to it from another sticky thread. I feel it's important to all development for accurate results and debug information.
I see this all the time. People think they are fully wiping when a developer asks for it. I believe that some people still don't understand what a full wipe is because there is no such single option in ClockWorkMod Recovery. Most likely the reason for that is because Koush didn't want too many posts about "I'm stuck on Google logo" or "my phone won't boot". So here is a test you can do yourself: Backup your ROM of course, and then do a full wipe. Then don't install anything and just reboot. If you end up pass the Google logo and onto the boot loop screen, then what you think is a full wipe is incorrect. If you are stuck on the Google logo and nothing is happening however, then congratulations... you know what you're doing
For the rest of you, here are proper steps to fully wipe without leaving any trace of ROM on your phone:
wipe data/factory reset
format /system
format /boot
Now most people think that the first option is enough. That may often be the case but because the developer can drastically change the contents of the /system folder, things can get messed up if you don't format it. And guess what, that first option will not do it. Wipe data/factory reset only wipes the /data folder which contains your personal settings and all the apps you installed. The ROM is then left blank as if you just flashed it and you can start over. FYI, the format of boot partition simply wipes the boot animation and you can restore it using the advance option in recovery from ROM to another.
I've seen some zip files which do this automatically so that's fine but at least you know what needs to be done to fully wipe.
There you go. I hope this clears some things. Now lets flash some ROMs!

Thank you
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

Sticky please!

I follow the above wipe method for my Epic Touch 4G,SGSII, with the exception of flashing Calkulins Format All.zip at the very end and i havent experienced any issues yet. Hope i didnt just jinx myself...

Simple, yet I'm sure beginners miss it. I also vote for a sticky.

Isn't the dalvik cache stored in the /data partition?
Hence, factory reset necessarily wipes dalvik but wipe dalvik only wipes the dalvik portion of the data partition?
Sent from my Sammy Nexus 4G using XDA App

all we need is a zip that does all of that and were good!!
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

no need to wipe when restoring?

Or use amonRA. Best recovery yet.
Sent from my Nexus S using Tapatalk

donsh00tmesanta said:
no need to wipe when restoring?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, restoring will format each partition before it restores it.

+1 for sticky
This is one reason I like the cwm mods...all the wipe options are in one place

kdepro said:
Isn't the dalvik cache stored in the /data partition?
Hence, factory reset necessarily wipes dalvik but wipe dalvik only wipes the dalvik portion of the data partition?
Sent from my Sammy Nexus 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah. Forgot that its the case. Op edited. Only 3 steps now.

Hi I really like your thread!
Can I post a similar thread on the Vibrant forum? I'll give you credit!
Sent from my Surround.

Does anyone know the edify syntax off the top of their head to properly accomplish this? most of my attempts haven't seemed to work. would they all be formatted EMMC, even SDcard and system?

Or switch to a better recovery.
http://rzdroid.com/ftp/recovery/gingerbread/2.1.4/RZR-2.1.4-download.html
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

VeryCoolAlan said:
Hi I really like your thread!
Can I post a similar thread on the Vibrant forum? I'll give you credit!
Sent from my Surround.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem go ahead. The more people know the better.

pfer10 said:
Or switch to a better recovery.
http://rzdroid.com/ftp/recovery/gingerbread/2.1.4/RZR-2.1.4-download.html
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I prefer kush's recovery. And this is a feature as far as I'm concerned. I usually don't do system format but when doing beta or alfa testing this is a must.

really2 good post man.. i've flash rom with full wipe as u said.. thanks a lot dude..
oICSv43 - *Matri1x* v13.0

Thanks. I never realized i should format the /boot. I have never done that.

Evo_Shift said:
Thanks. I never realized i should format the /boot. I have never done that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well technically you shouldn't have to but this thread is about a full wipe so to wipe any traces you need to wipe it.

[Q] Wipe internal memory TWRP 2.5

I could be wrong, but it seems that older versions of TWRP had the "wipe internal memory" option but it's not listed in TWRP 2.5's wipe advanced options. I have heard that wiping "data" essentially wipes internal storage, but I am certain that even after wiping, rebooting into recovery and wiping again, stiff is still on the sdcard0. Amazon mp3's for instance. Not a big deal, but if it's not wiping the amazon mp3's what else may it be missing on the wipe?
My specific issue is that I have heard that the bluetooth issue is fixed on many of the 4.2.2 roms now (aokp apparently included in this, although according to the guy bringing us aokp it always had "no issues that he knows of" since it's release), however after flashing the latest aokp, I am still experiencing random lockups and reboots while attempting to use bluetooth. In fact, 2 versions ago, the bluetooth seemingly locked up far less than it is with the latest aokp I've flashed. So I want to make sure everything is wiped (if that's necessary), before doing a fresh install of aokp in hopes of experiencing the bluetooth without issue.

I know you're not a big fan of me, but I also missed this with the upgrade of TWRP. I've been using the "format data" option every time I flash a new ROM. I wipe caches, wipe system, format data, and reboot recovery and let it install SU prior to reboot. If you do this, make sure you move all the data you want to keep to external, pics, backups, etc.
Off topic, I promise you I'll clean up my act.
Sent from my Droid Razr M using xda app-developers app

RikRong said:
I know you're not a big fan of me, but I also missed this with the upgrade of TWRP. I've been using the "format data" option every time I flash a new ROM. I wipe caches, wipe system, format data, and reboot recovery and let it install SU prior to reboot. If you do this, make sure you move all the data you want to keep to external, pics, backups, etc.
Off topic, I promise you I'll clean up my act.
Sent from my Droid Razr M using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you sir, I will give this a shot and let you know how it goes. Hopefully this will do the trick. You are a changed man, RikRong!
Sent from my Droid Razr M using xda app-developers app