Database Users

[Q] Iam not able to install a custom recovery

Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you are doing wrong is using a toolkit. Follow these instructions. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2018179

I use mskip's Nexus 4 Toolkit without any issues. So far I've used it to root, install clockworkmod recovery and flash the stock image after messing up a build prop edit. Saved me a lot of headaches as I haven't used adb or fastboot commands in over a year, don't even have the sdk installed any more. This is the first phone since I got my Incredible in 2010 that I actually wanted to put a custom recovery on and play with.
Here are some basic questions. Did you unlock your boot loader? Do you have usb debugging enabled? Does your device show up when when your plugged in and booted up into fastboot? Do you have the correct drivers installed? Which recovery are you trying to install and did you try the other one available? Did you use the toolkit to root and did it work?

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp.
But everytime it comes up with the android figure and a red warning.
Seems that every tool kit like the 1.6. nexus root toolkit or the Google Nexus 4 ToolKit is not able to install/flash a recovery.
Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After you root the device using the toolkit, it is easiest to download ROM Manager or Goo.im from the Play Store to install your custom recovery.
As Ed Daddy said, it's best to use ADB, however, it would save you some times and a few headache if you could just go ahead and download ROM Manager. Sometimes people forget there are *really easy* ways to do stuffs.

KyraOfFire said:
After you root the device using the toolkit, it is easiest to download ROM Manager or Goo.im from the Play Store to install your custom recovery.
As Ed Daddy said, it's best to use ADB, however, it would save you some times and a few headache if you could just go ahead and download ROM Manager. Sometimes people forget there are *really easy* ways to do stuffs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I agree there are "really easy" ways to do things, I was trying to point him in the direction of learning.
Obviously since they don't know how to flash a recovery, they probably aren't familiar with much else.
Learning how to do things properly never hurt anyone.
Sent from my Nexus 4

Toobie said:
Hey, just got my N4 yesterday.
I rooted my device today.
I also wanted to install a custom recovery like cwm or twrp...
...Am i doing anything wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
El Daddy is correct.
Toolkits are silly on Nexus devices, for Nexus the simplest way is flashing via faboot. At the very least take the time to learn from the guide that El Daddy provided a link to. With that knowledge you'll be able to resolve issues like this and help others who get stuck.

Actually I unlocked my bootloader, rooted the device. Using normal OTA 4.2.1
But it seems that every toolkit cannot flash the recovery.
I will try it now with using adb commands...

All the toolkits are are scripts that run the fastboot and adb commands for you, they're nothing complicated and IMO from someone with experience I prefer using them now as I no longer have the sdk installed. Gave up on custom ROMs, my own and others, a long time ago.
---------- Post added at 08:32 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:29 PM ----------
Toobie said:
Actually I unlocked my bootloader, rooted the device. Using normal OTA 4.2.1
But it seems that every toolkit cannot flash the recovery.
I will try it now with using adb commands...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually it's fastboot not adb that you use to flash recoveries, two different animals. and to the poster recommending ROM Manager, its kind of borked right now and I wouldn't use it to flash anything.
Edit: spoke too soon on ROM Manager looks like Koush updated it and it appears to be working properly. This was the first app I ever bought back in 2010 when I first rooted my Eris and couldn't get clockworkmod recovery to install, the moderators at the time recommended ROM Manager to me to get it installed as nothing else worked.

Yeah, but both didn't work.
I used now the adb commands on my one, still remembering them from my Nexus One, and see it works

For sure fastboot and adb will work. I used it very recently when my n4 updated. Just make sure to download the latest cwm. Had a boot loop the first time as I used an old one. Hehehe
Edit: actually not sure if it was the old fastboot files or cwm that caused the error. Anyway I updated my sdk so everything works well
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Actually all the tools booted the phone fine in the fastboot mode, telling me flashing the recovery is fine.
But every time i wanted to reboot in the recovery i got this android roboter with the red alarm...
with the normal adb commands everything was really fine!

You're getting that because flashing custom recovery alone without modifying a file or two generates stock recovery every after a reboot. Go to your /system folder and look for recovery-from-boot.p and rename that to whatever you like then flash the custom recovery again
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

thephantom said:
You're getting that because flashing custom recovery alone without modifying a file or two generates stock recovery every after a reboot. Go to your /system folder and look for recovery-from-boot.p and rename that to whatever you like then flash the custom recovery again
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds great, will try that.
Thank you.

[Q] New to modding, easiest way to install Kernel?

Hey guys, getting my Nexus 4 for Christmas and looking to install Franco Kernel.
I was wondering the best way to install it, I have searched for tuts but nothing is clear. I know he has an app for his kernel, does this require root to use? It doesn't mention it.
Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Go here and download the All In One script: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1995688
You're going to need to unlock the bootloader (will wipe your phone), so follow the steps in doing that.
Next, you'll need the latest CWM Recovery: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1995440
Follow those steps. Then download the Franco kernel .zip from its appropriate thread and flash it in CWM.

Shnew said:
I was wondering the best way to install it, I have searched for tuts but nothing is clear. I know he has an app for his kernel, does this require root to use? It doesn't mention it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First thing I'm going to tell you - Go back and read the OP. Because he actually does have instructions in it (Although very minimal).
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=34375927&postcount=1
Here's the quick and simple of how to do it.
1. Download the Nexus 4 Toolkit -- http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1995688 (READ THE OP COMPLETELY)
2. Unlock the bootloader.
3. Install custom recovery.
4. TAKE A BACKUP!
5. Transfer kernel files to device.
6. Use recovery to flash files.
7. Hold breath while booting.

DO NOT USE TOOLKITS. Especially if you're new to modding.
That's like saying, I want to overclockmy computer. Just give me a toolkit where I can one click and overclock my computer.
Read more here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1469909
Do it the proper way and download ADB drivers
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1514942 (enable USB debugging)
set up ADB environment
adb reboot bootloader
fastboot oem unlock
unlock bootloader on phone
download clockwork recovery or TWRP (i suggest TWRP)
put the .img file of recovery into your /platform-tools/
fastboot flash recovery <name-of-file>.img
then boot into recovery and there you can flash your ROM, gapps, kernel.
In the long run, IT WILL PAY OFF because eventually YOU will be faced with a problem with your phone and you won't be able to recover your phone because you dont know basic fastboot or adb commands all simply because you wanted to use a toolkit. People are already asking on how to use adb / fastboot in Q&A, we can reduce the clutter by not having people use toolkits and actually learning how adb / fastboot works when it isn't a very complicated thing to do at all

netsyd said:
4. TAKE A BACKUP!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure the boot partition is checked when you are backing up. To return to the stock kernel, (if you ever need to) you will need to restore this backed up boot image.
Sent from my Nexus 4

Can I just root and use the stock recovery to flash franco kernel? I want to be able to download ota from google in the future...

hophamson said:
Can I just root and use the stock recovery to flash franco kernel? I want to be able to download ota from google in the future...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no you need custom recovery

Unlock the bootloader, install a custom recovery and flash the zip.
Sent from my Nexus 4, powered by CyanogenMod via XDA Developers app.

[Q] Lost TWRP and root - Help needed

Hi.
I had my nexus 4 with 4.2.2 stock rom rooted with the Nexus Root toolkit from WUG. TWRP recovery also instaled.
Last night using this software, i flash the 0.84 radio in order to install the factory image of the new 4.3 android (downloaded from google developers site).
I also did that using the Wug software.
Now i already have the 4.3 android on my nexus, but lost root and also twrp recovery. I can´t get to recovery mode and since i'm not rooted anymore, can´t flash any zip, includind the SU from chain fire.
How can i get my recovery mode back and root the phone again??? The phone is unlocked!
thanks.

Use adb to flash SU. But I've heard SU is not working well with 4.3. Find the instructions below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010312
tigas68 said:
Hi.
I had my nexus 4 with 4.2.2 stock rom rooted with the Nexus Root toolkit from WUG. TWRP recovery also instaled.
Last night using this software, i flash the 0.84 radio in order to install the factory image of the new 4.3 android (downloaded from google developers site).
I also did that using the Wug software.
Now i already have the 4.3 android on my nexus, but lost root and also twrp recovery. I can´t get to recovery mode and since i'm not rooted anymore, can´t flash any zip, includind the SU from chain fire.
How can i get my recovery mode back and root the phone again??? The phone is unlocked!
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

spicediablo said:
Use adb to flash SU. But I've heard SU is not working well with 4.3. Find the instructions below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010312
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks. :good:

tigas68 said:
thanks. :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Still isn't working...
When i tried to fastboot the recovery img the device turns off and never turns on again on is own!
Help please!
I like my root...!

here's the screens of waht happens.
This his what happens when i try to go into recovery mode...

first of all, dont ever use a toolkit.
1. turn phone off
2. plug the phone in via usb
3. hold volume down + power until a screen pops up.. you're in bootloader mode.
4. you better have adb / fastboot environment setup, if not then google and find out how to do it.
5. fastboot flash recovery <nameofrecovery>.img
6. volume down to recovery
7. flash superuser zip

I can confirm the SU work on 4.3 Stock ROM for TWRP I recommend to flash the CWM first and then replace with TWRP it will be easier.

zephiK said:
first of all, dont ever use a toolkit.
1. turn phone off
2. plug the phone in via usb
3. hold volume down + power until a screen pops up.. you're in bootloader mode.
4. you better have adb / fastboot environment setup, if not then google and find out how to do it.
5. fastboot flash recovery <nameofrecovery>.img
6. volume down to recovery
7. flash superuser zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
zephiK,
Already done that! I flashed the CWM recovery throught fastboot. The device turned off. When i turn it on again and tried to go into recovery mode, so i can flash the SU from chain fire, but got the image on my post!
The phone is unlocked!

That mean you didn't flash the CWM to your phone ~ The image you showing is Official Recovery Mode Screen!

Johnsonyc said:
I can confirm the SU work on 4.3 Stock ROM for TWRP I recommend to flash the CWM first and then replace with TWRP it will be easier.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the sctock rom downloaded from the google developers website!

Johnsonyc said:
That mean you didn't flash the CWM to your phone ~ The image you showing is Official Recovery Mode Screen!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he said. The recovery flash isn't going through.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4 Beta

Why do people seem to think it's any different than with 4.2.2? It's the same bloody procedure!
Now, if you were ***** enough to use a toolkit and not learn how to use fastboot/adb yourself then that's your own fault but seriously there are guides everywhere on how to flash a custom recovery and it's the EASIEST thing in the world

spicediablo said:
Use adb to flash SU. But I've heard SU is not working well with 4.3. Find the instructions below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2010312
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google fixed the vulnerability that was used to gain superuser rights in Android. Chainfire has a semi working version of SuperSU but from what I read only TWRP can flash it properly. On Koush's Google+ feed he says Chainfire had to do a real hack job to get superuser working, thus why it's not working well. He is not sure if he can even get his own open source superuser to work again and made no mention of fixing CWM Recovery to be able to flash SuperSU. As I no longer really need root for any thing I'll just wait and see what Koush can come up with.

kzoodroid said:
Google fixed the vulnerability that was used to gain superuser rights in Android. Chainfire has a semi working version of SuperSU but from what I read only TWRP can flash it properly. On Koush's Google+ feed he says Chainfire had to do a real hack job to get superuser working, thus why it's not working well. He is not sure if he can even get his own open source superuser to work again and made no mention of fixing CWM Recovery to be able to flash SuperSU. As I no longer really need root for any thing I'll just wait and see what Koush can come up with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am flash my SuperSU from CWM it does work. I am working so hard to get off the ROOT ! But Root Explorer slap my face, I can't live without it.

kzoodroid said:
Google fixed the vulnerability that was used to gain superuser rights in Android. Chainfire has a semi working version of SuperSU but from what I read only TWRP can flash it properly. On Koush's Google+ feed he says Chainfire had to do a real hack job to get superuser working, thus why it's not working well. He is not sure if he can even get his own open source superuser to work again and made no mention of fixing CWM Recovery to be able to flash SuperSU. As I no longer really need root for any thing I'll just wait and see what Koush can come up with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I've read the same. In the meantime I've really just learned to love stock Android for what it is. At least until one of the mad geniuses finds a 100% working fix.
Johnsonyc said:
I am flash my SuperSU from CWM it does work. I am working so hard to get off the ROOT ! But Root Explorer slap my face, I can't live without it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed. The only main thing I need root for is to use Root Explorer. I can't believe after all the time I still use the hell out of that app. :laugh:

sn0warmy said:
Yeah, I've read the same. In the meantime I've really just learned to love stock Android for what it is. At least until one of the mad geniuses finds a 100% working fix.
Agreed. The only main thing I need root for is to use Root Explorer. I can't believe after all the time I still use the hell out of that app. :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't even really use root explorer anymore just like having the ability to make nandroid backups. But after doing a clean install of 4.3 in fastboot and it only took 30 minutes from start to finish including app and data restores nandroids to me are not that useful anymore (I don't flash custom ROMs anymore). Google automatically re-installed all my apps as soon as I reconfigured my WIFI, they also restored my APN and my work WIFI settings but not Bluetooth. And I used Helium to restore the user app data and all my texts and helium doesn't need root access to work.
Here is the start of Koush's post on Google+ where he talks about superuser on 4.3.
I finally had a chance to dig into seeing why Superuser is broken on Android 4.3. https://android.googlesource.com/platform/dalvik/+/9907ca3cb8982063a846426ad3bdf3f90e3b87c2
Basically /system is mounted as nosuid to any zygote spawned process (ie, all Android apps). Root will still continue to work via adb shell, etc.
This is a pretty nasty change. It seems that SuperSU works around this by replacing install-recovery.sh to run a su daemon that pipes subsequent through it. Pretty hacky, but understandable why it was done this way.
Will need to look into how to do this in a less invasive fashion, if that is even possible. Of course, if building from source, this change can simply be reverted.

Here's a better explanation about superuser from Android Police.
http://www.androidpolice.com/2013/0...n-but-chainfires-supersu-works-and-heres-why/

Rooting for me is used for restoring my apps and stuffs using titanium backup. Another useful thing about rooting is the ability to check saved wifi passwords.

Just install twrp from fastboot and then flash the su zip file in twrp
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

EddyOS said:
Why do people seem to think it's any different than with 4.2.2? It's the same bloody procedure!
Now, if you were ***** enough to use a toolkit and not learn how to use fastboot/adb yourself then that's your own fault but seriously there are guides everywhere on how to flash a custom recovery and it's the EASIEST thing in the world
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@EddyOS
Your answer is what forums are not about! Instead of helping you had an atitude of an ass...!
@ Everyone else
After 5 or 6 attemps, doing it by the book, the CWD worked and i now have a Recovery mode! I didn´t did anything different, so i couldn´t really understand what went wrong before... SU from chainfire works perfectly! It´s now Rooted! And yes, the tuturials are idiot proof!
There´s something that´s bothering my mind... I can´t unistall some trash that cames with the 4.3 version using titanium backup, because he can´t find the apk files...! I could do it with the 4.2.2 version, but not with this one. I'm using the deoxed version.
Does anyone has the same problems?

[Q] Root 4.3 without toolkit and custom recovery?

I've been searching the forums and the rest of the net looking for a how to root a Nexus 7 without using a toolkit (using fastboot/adb instead). I'm in the process of learning as much as I can about the operating system itself but haven't gotten to the point yet where I know how to root a device on my own.
What I'm wondering is:
1. All the guides on rooting the N7 include flashing a custom recovery, then SuperSU, so on and so forth. Is there any way to avoid having to flash CWM or TWRP to root an N7?
2. Is there any where I can learn how to root my device without a toolkit?
If I've somehow missed an obvious thread on the subject, I apologize.

keithD9 said:
I've been searching the forums and the rest of the net looking for a how to root a Nexus 7 without using a toolkit (using fastboot/adb instead). I'm in the process of learning as much as I can about the operating system itself but haven't gotten to the point yet where I know how to root a device on my own.
What I'm wondering is, all the guides on rooting the N7 include flashing a custom recovery, then SuperSU, so on and so forth. Is there any way to avoid having to flash CWM or TWRP to root an N7? If I've somehow missed an obvious thread on the subject, I apologize.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing SuperSu is very simple with TWRP.
1. Install Fastboot (and adb)
2. Go here: http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/103
3. Download the latest image (at time of writing, 2.6)
4. Open up the terminal (Unix/Linux) or command prompt (windows)
4.1 (If you haven't unlocked bootloader, you will need to type "fastboot oem unlock". WARNING! THIS ERASES ALL DATA
5. Type "fastboot flash recovery recoveryfilename.img" and replace recoveryfilename.img with the name of the image downloaded.
6. Install SuperSu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you aren't keen on unlocking bootloader, see this thread here. It is, however, a glitchy, no good (IMHO) method which could brick your nexus and may not be compatible with all android versions.
Also, be warned, my instructions aren't bulletproof, you might be better following instructions from one of the many threads about rooting/unlocking bootloader of the nexus 7, incase of typo/stupidity on my behalf! Here is one thread for CWM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395

Do I need TWRP or CWM in order to root though? Or can you still root with stock recovery?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app

keithD9 said:
Do I need TWRP or CWM in order to root though? Or can you still root with stock recovery?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I747 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You would need custom recovery but you don't have to flash it permanently. You can use the command 'fastboot boot recovery nameofrecovery.img'
It will merely boot the device into a temporary custom recovery for you to root it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

Aha, and there we have it. Finally clicked. I'm positive someone must have said the same thing but in a different way. Thanks for the info!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

Is there a easier way to install twrp or cwm with using and on my pc

I want to know if there is a easier way to get a recovery on my phone without using my pc? I have never used ADB it just seems to complicated. Please help as I want to root and install recovery.
Thanks
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda app-developers app

OkcThunder said:
I want to know if there is a easier way to get a recovery on my phone without using my pc? I have never used ADB it just seems to complicated. Please help as I want to root and install recovery.
Thanks
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This thread -> http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2469995
It's pretty bulletproof, install driver, double click the batch phone, plug in phone, press y and then enter, wait. TWRP is installed, can flash custom ROM now or root using a flashable su binary like this one http://downloads.noshufou.netdna-cdn.com/superuser/Superuser-3.1.3-arm-signed.zip

I wouldn't be afraid of ADB, the only use I had for adb was pushing over the image of Loki and TWRP with adb push, and with rooting, look at "IOroot".
Sent from my awesome VZW LG G2

I too had not used adb in the past until this phone. I don't know why I never wanted to use it, but it is pretty simple to use. As long as you follow the directions in the threads for installing twrp or cwm and make sure to do exactly as they say you should be fine. Since there are a few versions of this phone just make sure you are getting the right recovery for your phone

You could use your phone to download the recovery image (TWRP) and use flashify (found in the play store) to flash the image. It's quick and easy.

I used flashifly and works easily. My only question when I used flashifly with art image does it come with loki installed with it. And if so will flashifly take me right into recovery to flash New roms?
Thanks
Sent from my LG-D800 using xda app-developers app

UsingRom Manager or Flashify is not really recommended. Who knows what version you are getting of whatever you are trying to flash. Better to use the simple adb commands and .bat script with loki to properly install a recovery with loki built in and to get root installed.

I used Flashify to install TWRP and I do not know if it is a Flashify or TWRP issue but the backups I do in TWRP has dates at 1970 and the times are about 6 hours and 15 minutes off. Does anyone know if this is a TWRP or Flashify issue?
Trying to decide if I should use adb to install TWRP on my G2.

NevetsDrassel said:
I used Flashify to install TWRP and I do not know if it is a Flashify or TWRP issue but the backups I do in TWRP has dates at 1970 and the times are about 6 hours and 15 minutes off. Does anyone know if this is a TWRP or Flashify issue?
Trying to decide if I should use adb to install TWRP on my G2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a TWRP issue.
Thanks Devs. From my VZW G2.