Database Users

[Q] custom recovery without flashing

Hi
When I had rooted my stock nexus 4 that had come with 4.2.2
I did not flash a custom bootloader/ROM
I did not flash anything at all !!!
What I remember doing is using a fastboot/adb command that for one time booted me in a CWM bootloader/recovery.
I dont want to flash my ROM/Firmware/Bootloader how can I get custome recovery?
Thanks in Advance

You can use "fastboot boot recovery.img" to boot it once. After a reboot it will be gone.

chromium96 said:
You can use "fastboot boot recovery.img" to boot it once. After a reboot it will be gone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh Ok that means I have been trying the correct command !!!!
when I execute
fastboot boot c:\recovery.img
It executes successfully but with CWM it just gives a black screen and with TWRP that everyone is recommending for rooting 4.3 it just shows Google written on the screen !
Well my primary question is answered thanks !
If someone can point me to a custom recovery that I can boot into for Android 4.3

Actually, apparently Google removed the "fastboot boot" command in the new 4.3 boot loader. That's probably why it's not working.
Sent using xda premium

In 4.3 to boot a recovery do this
Open a command prompt in the directory mentioned above and type: fastboot boot customrecovery.img Note: If you are running the latest bootloader (z20i), the command would be: fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot customrecovery.img Thanks hwti & el_charlie
From my BLACKED OUT N4

Can't boot into custom recovery.

If tried reinstalling the drivers and also using the toolkit. I choose not to flash a recovery, just temporary boot so I can install stuff. I tried using fastboot to boot twrp but all I get is a black screen. Seems like sometimes the driver changes. Never had this problem on 4.2
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4

biggyk said:
If tried reinstalling the drivers and also using the toolkit. I choose not to flash a recovery, just temporary boot so I can install stuff. I tried using fastboot to boot twrp but all I get is a black screen. Seems like sometimes the driver changes. Never had this problem on 4.2
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
Boot your Nexus to the bootloader by first powering down the phone then simultaneously press and hold the volume down and power buttons for 2 seconds. Once in the bootloader connect the USB cable from the Nexus to your computer. Open a command prompt in the folder where you have installed fastboot, type "fastboot devices", and press enter. If you see a deviceID listed, you will be able to flash TWRP with the command "fastboot flash recovery openrecovery-twrp-2.6.0.0-mako.img" (assuming you are installing TWRP v2.6.0.0); otherwise, you will need to reinstall the Nexus drivers.

^The op wants to boot the recovery, not flash it.
Google removed the "fastboot boot" command in the new 4.3 bootloader. The new way to do this is by using the following command:
Code:
fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot recovery.img
Sent using xda-developers app

Chromium_ said:
^The op wants to boot the recovery, not flash it.
Google removed the "fastboot boot" command in the new 4.3 bootloader. The new way to do this is by using the following command:
Code:
fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot recovery.img
Sent using xda-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Worked fine!!:victory:

[Q] Android 4.3 recovery problem

Hi, when android 4.3 launched, i went back to 4.2 complete stock with no custom recovery and locked the bootloader to receive the update OTA.
Now I have 4.3 with Z20i bootloader and when i flash cwm, phone gets stuck on the GOOGLE splashscreen and after 1/2 hour moves to the X screen and gets stuck there. Recovery does not works. I had to flash stock recovery and wipe all data to make it work. when trying
Code:
fastboot boot recovery.img (recovery-clockworkmod-6.0.3.6-mako.img)
, it shows a black screen after google and then reboots in safemode whenever any button is pushed.

RohMish said:
Hi, when android 4.3 launched, i went back to 4.2 complete stock with no custom recovery and locked the bootloader to receive the update OTA.
Now I have 4.3 with Z20i bootloader and when i flash cwm, phone gets stuck on the GOOGLE splashscreen and after 1/2 hour moves to the X screen and gets stuck there. Recovery does not works. I had to flash stock recovery and wipe all data to make it work. when trying
Code:
fastboot boot recovery.img (recovery-clockworkmod-6.0.3.6-mako.img)
, it shows a black screen after google and then reboots in safemode whenever any button is pushed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Normally you have to execute
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Try it with the latest cwm image
Sent from my Nexus 4 running Android 4.2.2

mihahn said:
Normally you have to execute
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Try it with the latest cwm image
Sent from my Nexus 4 running Android 4.2.2
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Click to collapse
flash installs the recovery but nothing works. i have to do a wipe and install the stock recovery to boot it. i wrote it on top

Put your device on the bootloader menu and use this: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occamjwr66v
Always use the stock bootloader like pretty much everyone who owns the Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

andyabc said:
Put your device on the bootloader menu and use this: https://developers.google.com/android/nexus/images#occamjwr66v
Always use the stock bootloader like pretty much everyone who owns the Nexus 4.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is on the stock bootloader that comes with the nexus 4. The problem is after 4.3 update, i am not able to install cwm on my phone. using fastboot boot command gives black screen while fastboot flash boots a recovery whose none of functions work as it is unable to mount any partition, etc. and i have to install factory image of recovery and do a factory reset to boot the device again to android.

RohMish said:
It is on the stock bootloader that comes with the nexus 4. The problem is after 4.3 update, i am not able to install cwm on my phone. using fastboot boot command gives black screen while fastboot flash boots a recovery whose none of functions work as it is unable to mount any partition, etc. and i have to install factory image of recovery and do a factory reset to boot the device again to android.
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Click to collapse
Oh, I thought that was some custom bootloader, apologies.
Em yeah you will have to install the factory image.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

andyabc said:
Oh, I thought that was some custom bootloader, apologies.
Em yeah you will have to install the factory image.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
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Click to collapse
Did that. it has made me more mad as it took 3 hours to download and when your phone is not working, even ever minute is like an day.

RohMish said:
Did that. it has made me more mad as it took 3 hours to download and when your phone is not working, even ever minute is like an day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you try installing an other recovery like either the latest version of CWM or TWRP?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

andyabc said:
Did you try installing an other recovery like either the latest version of CWM or TWRP?
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tried an older version of cwm, touch, everything. but all are having same issues

RohMish said:
tried an older version of cwm, touch, everything. but all are having same issues
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Older is worse!
Try TWRP 2.6.0.0.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

andyabc said:
Older is worse!
Try TWRP 2.6.0.0.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
trying it now.
any ways i can switch to cwm after that as i prefer cwm any day of week. will fastboot boot command word as i dont want to sit flashing the factory image and let the apps and all download again
UPDATE: Tried twrp via fastboot boot command. nothing. just a blank screen after the reboot from bootloader (and after google boot screen) for a few seconds, andd then shuts down.

RohMish said:
trying it now.
any ways i can switch to cwm after that as i prefer cwm any day of week. will fastboot boot command word as i dont want to sit flashing the factory image and let the apps and all download again
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue is that fastboot boot recovery doesn't work on 4.3. The new command if fastboot - c lge.kcal=0|0|0|x boot recovery.img
BLACKED OUT LTE N4

spaceman860 said:
The issue is that fastboot boot recovery doesn't work on 4.3. The new command if fastboot - c lge.kcal=0|0|0|x boot recovery.img
BLACKED OUT LTE N4
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Click to collapse
not working. says 0 is a not a command. this is as | works as a batch separator in windows
Update: as i remembered modifier <"> will prevent | from kicking into next line, i tried that, and it works!
fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot recoverycwm.img. but still no action. tried a backup, it starts to backup but files are corrupted. and nothing else work.

This is from efrant guide
Open a command prompt in the directory mentioned above and type: fastboot boot customrecovery.img Note: If you are running the latest bootloader (z20i), the command would be: fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot customrecovery.img Thanks hwti & el_charlie
BLACKED OUT LTE N4

spaceman860 said:
This is from efrant guide
Open a command prompt in the directory mentioned above and type: fastboot boot customrecovery.img Note: If you are running the latest bootloader (z20i), the command would be: fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot customrecovery.img Thanks hwti & el_charlie
BLACKED OUT LTE N4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i loads up but is kind of broken.
any way i can copy the files to my pc to do some analysis. currently the folder which used to save the files has nothing. adb pull /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/ /android/adbbackupfiles/nexus4 is yielding nothing.
OK. so now i tried using the touch version, and this time there are some files(Still copying). but those are very different than what it was on my older phones and my initial backup. Sorry, I had got away with this due to studies. now the files are .a and.b and the orignal file which is 0KB

Root while staying stock recovery?

I am looking for a way to root my Nexus 4 (and 7 later on should be able to figure that out through this) without flashing CWM or TWRP. Essentially, I just want to root and keep OTA updates. At the current time, 4.3 has been just fine for me, however I would like root for certain applications. I have heard you can use TWRP and still get OTA updates, but it seems every thread I've checked has lots of people saying yes and no to that, so I am not sure.
Is there anyway to flash the zip without installing a custom recovery? I have been searching for a couple days and have gotten no definite answer. Of course I could just not be using the right search words as always.

Yes you can use the fastboot boot command to temporarily go into twrp (instead of permanently flashing it) and flash the root zip. After you reboot twrp will be gone, and it will go back to stock recovery. Search up 'oode' on YouTube. He's got a video that shows you how to do this (on the n7, but the steps are essentially the same as for the n4...just different recovery file)
Sent using xda-developers app

I tried doing this, but anything I load with "fastboot boot blablabla.img" doesnt boot correctly. The custom recovery is actually running, as i can connect with adb shell and I get a root shell, but it is completely black screen. I tried with both CWM images, twrp, and even the stock recovery.img. they all load to blackscreen when I use "fastboot boot" but they work fine when I do "fastboot flash recovery blablabla.img".
So, if you dont mind navigating the recovery blind, then sure, you can load up a custom CWM, then find your way somehow to the "install zip-> install from sideload" option. Then grab the installer zip for kouch's superuser and run "adb sideload superuser.zip". wait about 30 seconds, and then "adb shell", and finally "reboot".

gianptune said:
I tried doing this, but anything I load with "fastboot boot blablabla.img" doesnt boot correctly. The custom recovery is actually running, as i can connect with adb shell and I get a root shell, but it is completely black screen. I tried with both CWM images, twrp, and even the stock recovery.img. they all load to blackscreen when I use "fastboot boot" but they work fine when I do "fastboot flash recovery blablabla.img".
So, if you dont mind navigating the recovery blind, then sure, you can load up a custom CWM, then find your way somehow to the "install zip-> install from sideload" option. Then grab the installer zip for kouch's superuser and run "adb sideload superuser.zip". wait about 30 seconds, and then "adb shell", and finally "reboot".
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Instead of using "fastboot boot" try this command instead:
Code:
fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot blablabla.img

Chromium_ said:
Instead of using "fastboot boot" try this command instead:
Code:
fastboot -c "lge.kcal=0|0|0|x" boot blablabla.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy hell. That worked. Is this documented anywhere? I've had similar issues where I cannot even fastboot the stock kernel on my Galaxy s4 Google Edition. Maybe it needs a similar fix?

Chromium_ said:
Yes you can use the fastboot boot command to temporarily go into twrp (instead of permanently flashing it) and flash the root zip. After you reboot twrp will be gone, and it will go back to stock recovery. Search up 'oode' on YouTube. He's got a video that shows you how to do this (on the n7, but the steps are essentially the same as for the n4...just different recovery file)
Sent using xda-developers app
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Click to collapse
Thanks for this, I knew there would be some how to do this. Will try it here in a bit and see how it goes.

I just use CF Auto Root by Chainfire a few minutes ago to root. Pretty simple and fast.

Wow, this was so straight forward that I slapped myself afterwards.
It is literally just "fastboot boot twrp.img"
then you just flash the zip that you have on your nexus 4 and you win, worked very fast and easy.
Thank you very much, I will remember this when I go to do my Nexus 7.

flashing oneplus one

howto flash the one without working volume controls??
is this possible?

Yes, it is possible. LineageOS has an option to boot to recovery or fastboot via the standard reboot dialogue.
You can also use adb commands "adb reboot recovery" or "adb reboot fastboot".

kekerosberg said:
Yes, it is possible. LineageOS has an option to boot to recovery or fastboot via the standard reboot dialogue.
You can also use adb commands "adb reboot recovery" or "adb reboot fastboot".
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Click to collapse
thanks for the reply. is there any manual to do so?
for im´m an absolute newbie on this. adb and faastboot are installed on my ubuntu machine.

Depends on what you are trying to accomplish.
Flash TWRP recovery? You may also use LineageOS recovery instead of TWRP if you want. Follow their instructions https://twrp.me/oneplus/oneplusone.html
Flash LineageOS? Follow the wiki instructions https://wiki.lineageos.org/devices/bacon/install
Beware that unlocking the bootloader will erase all data on the phone.

kekerosberg said:
Yes, it is possible. LineageOS has an option to boot to recovery or fastboot via the standard reboot dialogue.
You can also use adb commands "adb reboot recovery" or "adb reboot fastboot".
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Click to collapse
yes i tried but failed because in the last step i had to reboot in recovery with the volume control and start button, because at that point iḿ in fastboot mode and adb reboot recovery won work?!

yes i tried but i failed because in the last step i had to reboot in recovery with the volume control and start button, because at that point i'm in fastboot mode and adb reboot recovery won't work?!

While in fastboot mode, you may boot into recovery using "fastboot reboot recovery". Almost there, good luck!

kekerosberg said:
While in fastboot mode, you may boot into recovery using "fastboot reboot recovery". Almost there, good luck!
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doesn't work on my ubuntu machine. "unkown rebbot target recvery..
i tried .guess i check it on my win machine.

You can also reboot to recovery from within the OS by using "adb reboot recovery". It should work if you were able to reboot to fastboot using this method.

unfortunately it does not work while being in fastboot mode.
adb says device 'null'not found..

Yes, you are supposed to use adb from whatever OS you have installed, CM, CyanogenOS, LOS, ...

but?
is flashing possible without being in fastboot mode? just using adb?

I understood that you had already flashed the recovery. Now you need to boot into the recovery to flash an OS.
Fastboot is used to flash the recovery.
Recovery is used to flash the OS.

yes i think that's it and therefore i had to reboot to recovery without working controls..

koeskemc said:
yes i think that's it and therefore i had to reboot to recovery without working controls..
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Click to collapse
any idea?

kekerosberg said:
I understood that you had already flashed the recovery. Now you need to boot into the recovery to flash an OS.
Fastboot is used to flash the recovery.
Recovery is used to flash the OS.
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Click to collapse
yes, and that's my prob how to boot into recovery without using any controls?
or is there another way?e.g adb sideload??

You have a working operating system installed? Cyanogenmod, LineageOS or something similar?
Use the power button to boot into the operating system. Then connect the phone to your PC and "adb reboot recovery".

hello again.
i got a new prob. i've istalled twrp(don know how!)
with terp i imstalled lineage 18.1...zip.
but after booting i alwasy get twrp and not the os.
whats my fault

or do ihavr to istall the .img file??instead of.zip?

hello again,
everything's fine so far. i got lineage os on boot up! but how to get back to twrp again to install gapps??