<<Q>>cracked screen. ADB and/or OTG what are my options? - Nexus 4 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

first... its been a while since i have messed with a nexus. so im not on the nexus boards that much. my buddy and i both bought nexus phones during the first day of second round of sales back in 2012. back then there was no otg support. and rooting was done via adb etc. i sold mine shortly thereafter and have not been on the nexus boards since. so please catch me up to speed with my questions and maybe help me to get his files switched from his old nexus with a cracked screen to the new one he just got yesterday.
is there now otg support for this phone?
i found a post to adb past the lockscreen. can i also use adb to pull the backup file (i booted into recovery and did a backup yesterday) on the old and use it on the new? new phone is not rooted yet, but can be.
is there a way to pull specifics from the backup. or pull specific apps with adb? as in he has company passwords and such in a note app that he really needs with a passion.
is there an easier way to get to the files than what i am thinking i have to do? i still need to relearn how to use adb and such, but if i can otg through this and use airdroid that would be wonderful. if adb is the only way to get this done.... would you mind giving me the commands i need to get to and pull the files i need. i can get the paths from his new phone to figure out where they are. i just dont know the commands to do the deed.
thanks a ton for anyone willing to help. <-- seriously.
-patrick

You can get USB Host working BUT it has to be externally powered.
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 4

I hope I'm understanding your exact situation; feel free to let me know where I misunderstood you.
Ok, your friend bought a Nexus 4 a while back, has somehow broken the screen, bought a new Nexus 4, and wants to grab a nandroid backup and a document from a notepad-esque application from it?
If so, this is what I'd do. I'd grab the Nandroid backup from the old device, and restore it onto the new device (again, assuming both old and new devices are the same model i.e. Nexus 4)(also after backing up the new device, in case you ever need or want to revert to a fresh image) and grab the text file. What recovery are you using on the broken phone? I don't know the path for backups for TWRP, but if you're using CWM, the path is /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/. Ok, let me make this easier by making a step-by-step. Some of it you probably already know how to do but I want to be as clear as possible.
1. Make a nandroid backup on new device in case something goes wrong, or you want to go back in the future
2. Hook up broken device to computer, open a cmd window in the platform-tools folder, containing adb.exe (shift right-click in an Explorer window and hit "Open command window here" is the fastest way)
3. Use this command: adb pull /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/NameOfBackup/ NameOfBackup
4. That will pull the backup and put it in a folder called NameOfBackup (whatever you called it) in the platform-tools folder containing adb.exe
5. Flash CWM recovery onto new device
6. Hook up new phone to computer and run this command: adb push NameOfBackup /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/NameOfBackup/
7. Boot into recovery and flash that backup
8. Reboot. It should look exactly like your old phone. Grab the file you want with all the passwords in it and back it up on your computer something. Now you can restore the other backup you made of this device or keep with your backup of the broken phone. Your call.
EDIT:
I just reread my post to make sure I included everything. You might have to move step 5 way up before step 1. You'll need a custom recovery to make a nandroid, so flash a custom recovery first.

Johmama said:
I hope I'm understanding your exact situation; feel free to let me know where I misunderstood you.
Ok, your friend bought a Nexus 4 a while back, has somehow broken the screen, bought a new Nexus 4, and wants to grab a nandroid backup and a document from a notepad-esque application from it?
If so, this is what I'd do. I'd grab the Nandroid backup from the old device, and restore it onto the new device (again, assuming both old and new devices are the same model i.e. Nexus 4)(also after backing up the new device, in case you ever need or want to revert to a fresh image) and grab the text file. What recovery are you using on the broken phone? I don't know the path for backups for TWRP, but if you're using CWM, the path is /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/. Ok, let me make this easier by making a step-by-step. Some of it you probably already know how to do but I want to be as clear as possible.
1. Make a nandroid backup on new device in case something goes wrong, or you want to go back in the future
2. Hook up broken device to computer, open a cmd window in the platform-tools folder, containing adb.exe (shift right-click in an Explorer window and hit "Open command window here" is the fastest way)
3. Use this command: adb pull /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/NameOfBackup/ NameOfBackup
4. That will pull the backup and put it in a folder called NameOfBackup (whatever you called it) in the platform-tools folder containing adb.exe
5. Flash CWM recovery onto new device
6. Hook up new phone to computer and run this command: adb push NameOfBackup /mnt/shell/emulated/clockworkmod/backup/NameOfBackup/
7. Boot into recovery and flash that backup
8. Reboot. It should look exactly like your old phone. Grab the file you want with all the passwords in it and back it up on your computer something. Now you can restore the other backup you made of this device or keep with your backup of the broken phone. Your call.
EDIT:
I just reread my post to make sure I included everything. You might have to move step 5 way up before step 1. You'll need a custom recovery to make a nandroid, so flash a custom recovery first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are awesome. thanks a ton. thats what i needed. just wasnt sure if the imei needed to match or whatnot. cwm is what i am using on the old phone. and ill make sure thats what goes on the new one once i root it. will come back and let you know how it goes. i still need to meet up with him and get his new phone to make things work.
once again. thank you.

ok so he thought he had debugging turned on. but he apparently does not. i keep getting device not recognized by adb. he has an icon of a jellybean with horns or antennas coming out of it. i thought that was the notif icon for debuggin. but after an image search i see that debugging is different.
anywho... it doesnt look like i can rig up an otg cable either because i need to be able to install a zip script before it will work. it looks like i am out of options. i guess i need to tell him to buy another screen. let me fix. and then he can sell it on craigslist and try to get his money back.
if there is anything i am missing... let me know. but for now i seem to have hit the end of the road.

Boot to recovery and use adb.
Either straight up pull the backup (might be more sane to make a tarball and pull that) or push the otg mod and use cwm to flash that.
If you have cwm touch, you can use adb or fastboot to flash the regular cwm.

ziddey said:
Boot to recovery and use adb.
Either straight up pull the backup (might be more sane to make a tarball and pull that) or push the otg mod and use cwm to flash that.
If you have cwm touch, you can use adb or fastboot to flash the regular cwm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool beans. did not know i could adb in recovery. ill give it a try after work, bout to head to bed. ill search tarball to find out what you are talking about also. i will need to push your .zip to it anyways for the pics and such. i guess i will go ahead and jump on amazon to get the cables and hub.
edit: i used ill and i wll several times. but too tired to go back and re-word. pardon the near impossible to follow post.

How much free space is on the phone? Tarballs are archives similar to zips (although without compression in base form). If you have the space for it, just make a big tarball and adb pull it. Only real reason to go OTG is if you want to be able to use the phone still-- hook up a usb hub, keyboard, mouse, usb stick.

Related

Rooting through a noob's eyes

I'm not sure how this will be taken by the people here. Everyone seems really helpful when other people ask questions or need help so I may be surprised, but after rooting my Incredible last night and then trying to look into boot animations, removing bloatware and other things I was left with some feelings that took the joy out of being rooted and I wanted to share them.
Laugh if you will, insult if you feel it's necessary. I'm old enough to be able to handle it but beyond all of that I just wanted to say that the "rooting community" are a brilliant bunch of people. The things that you guys do boggles my mind. Since I only just registered I'm forbidden to post links, but if you're so inclined to go read it here it is.
ishootpixels.tumblr.com/
EDIT: I'd also like to add that my wife's netbook is running XP and not Vista. I forgot that we downgraded it (or upgraded however you want to look at it). I've gone back and changed my blog post.
If you would like some help getting where you want to be, PM me and I would be glad to help. I am far from an expert, but after scouring these forums endlessly, I am quite familiar with the process.
@mtag1029 Thanks. I guess my first problem is that whenever I type in "adb" anything, I get that "adb is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file."
I've used this method to connect the phone to the netbook...
1. Boot into Clockworkmod recovery by powering off the phone and pressing and holding the volume down and power button until the screen lights up.
2. At the menu press volume down to select Recovery, then press power.
3. At the Clockworkmod main menu select partitions menu, then select mount /system
4. On the computer click Start > Run, and type CMD to open a command prompt.
5. In the command prompt type cd\sdk\tools
6. At the command prompt type adb shell. Now you’re in the phone’s OS.
and I get as far as step 6 before I can't go any further which is where I get that message. Right now I'm trying to install a boot animation and sound but I'll also need to be able to get beyond this in order to remove the bloatware. What am I doing wrong?
And THANK YOU again for the help. I'm almost to the point of returning it to stock so I'll at least be able to get Froyo whenever it's released OTA, but I've come so far at this point I'd hate to throw it all away and go back to stock.
IShootPixels said:
5. In the command prompt type cd\sdk\tools
6. At the command prompt type adb shell. Now you’re in the phone’s OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Assuming your sdk folder is in the root of the C drive (i.e. C:\sdk\), the command in step 5 is wrong -- it's supposed to be:
Code:
cd \sdk\tools
with a space. That should get you into the C:\sdk\tools directory, where adb is.
Not sure if the lack of spacing was just a typo, but if not, there ya go Let me know how it works
edit: Just tried cd\sdk\tools, actually works, I thought there had to be a space, but maybe not. I guess the next step would be to make sure there's an adb.exe in your tools folder?
I created a file folder under Local Disk C called "sdk" and inside that I created another folder "tools". I couldn't find folders that were already named this so I created them myself. That may be wrong so it wouldn't surprise me if that's my first mistake.
Beyond that, when I get into running command lines I have gotten to where it looks like this...
C:\sdk\tools>
No spaces. I'm taking a pic and trying to attach it if my noob status on the forums will allow me.
I don't have the exe file. I didn't need it to root the phone. I don't know where to even get it.
IShootPixels said:
I created a file folder under Local Disk C called "sdk" and inside that I created another folder "tools". I couldn't find folders that were already named this so I created them myself. That may be wrong so it wouldn't surprise me if that's my first mistake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you just made the folders, there's nothing in them -- if you go to the tools directory and type "dir", there probably won't be any files unless you extracted some in there.
From the how 2 adb thread by dreamersipaq:
1) Setting up ADB
ADB stands for Android Development Bridge. It is used by Android developers for programming. For us, it is used to hack into our phones . For our purposes, just know that it is like the cmd (command prompt) that allows us to send commands to our phone. This is extremely useful when we're in the custom recovery
Download the Android SDK from Google: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
Unzip to your desktop
Take the "android-sdk-_**-windows" folder and move it to the root of your hard drive (C:\)
** will change, it is revision of SDK, like "r6"
****The below is not necessary, but is useful sometimes if you just want to run "adb shell" from anywhere without going into the sdk directory****
Right click on My Computer and click properties
Select the Advanced Tab or Advanced System Setting (Vista/Windows 7)
Select Environment Variables...
Press New
For Variable Name type: adb
For Variable Value type: C:\android-sdk-_**-windows\tools
****End of the "This is not necessary thing****
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
edit: the rest of that thread is located http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=709220 there, if you're interested
gmonox is absolutely correct. You cannot just create the folders. They have to come from the sdk.
Another thing. You mentioned in your blog post that you would like to have froyo. Froyo should be flashed before removing any apps becauseeverything that you have removed will be put back in with froyo.
Wow, that was a pretty necessary step that I never knew about. Okay, so I DL'd, unzipped, and copied the folder to the root of C. Question, do I have to rename the "android-sdk-windows" folder to simply "sdk" when following the directions I listed earlier or do I leave it and at the command line type...
cd\android-sdk-windows\tools
I also didn't do the "advanced" part of the post simply because it's my wife's PC and I'm really not in the mood to screw up anything else today.
EDIT: And about Froyo, right now I just want to see if I can get a little boot animation working before I even THINK about tackling ROMs, Kernals or anything else. Although I know that most ROMs have the kernals that are optimized for that particular ROM if I've read things right. I realize Froyo is not a mod so it won't have an overclocked kernal but I read that others might. I've read that Froyo packs in VZ Nav (like I didn't have enough of that crap with my old Blackberry) amongst other things. If nothing else, I'm really good at reading about all of the things that I wish I could do.
IShootPixels said:
Wow, that was a pretty necessary step that I never knew about. Okay, so I DL'd, unzipped, and copied the folder to the root of C. Question, do I have to rename the "android-sdk-windows" folder to simply "sdk" when following the directions I listed earlier or do I leave it and at the command line type...
cd\android-sdk-windows\tools
I also didn't do the "advanced" part of the post simply because it's my wife's PC and I'm really not in the mood to screw up anything else today.
EDIT: And about Froyo, right now I just want to see if I can get a little boot animation working before I even THINK about tackling ROMs, Kernals or anything else. Although I know that most ROMs have the kernals that are optimized for that particular ROM if I've read things right. I realize Froyo is not a mod so it won't have an overclocked kernal but I read that others might. I've read that Froyo packs in VZ Nav (like I didn't have enough of that crap with my old Blackberry) amongst other things. If nothing else, I'm really good at reading about all of the things that I wish I could do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Either way works. I renamed mine sdk because I'm too lazy to type android-sdk-windows every time I want to go into adb shell. But it's up to you
Ok, I'm guessing that my question will be answered after I run the setup. I didn't see the link at first to the thread. Apparently my wife's netbook doesn't even have the right java ver. to run the setup.
This is making my brain hurt.
I should have asked this earlier, have you made a nandroid backup?
LOL. Actually as soon as I finished rooting the phone I DL'd Titanium from Marketplace and installed it and BusyBox and made a backup that way. Then I remembered Nandroid and went in and backed up that way too. Probably overkill but the whole process has scared the crap outta me. I wouldn't know how to apply these backups, but at least I have them.
At the moment I'm installing the Documentation for Android SDK, API 8, revision 1
EDIT: This is going to take awhile I'm guessing. Installing SDK Platform Android 2.2, API 8, revision 2
Okay. The nandroid is the most important. It will save your butt if something goes wrong.
IShootPixels said:
LOL. Actually as soon as I finished rooting the phone I DL'd Titanium from Marketplace and installed it and BusyBox and made a backup that way. Then I remembered Nandroid and went in and backed up that way too. Probably overkill but the whole process has scared the crap outta me. I wouldn't know how to apply these backups, but at least I have them.
At the moment I'm installing the Documentation for Android SDK, API 8, revision 1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both types of backups are easy to restore, for nandroid you just go into recovery, same place as you backed it up but click Restore and just wait for it. For titanium, go into backup/restore, batch, and there's an option to restore apps, apps+data, and apps+system data I think. If you have the paid version, the apps will all install on their own, but if not I don't think they will.
Are you still on a netbook or can you use a pc? Might be easier if your java's out of date and whatnot to just use a pc, I'm no expert on netbooks but I'd imagine they're stripped down a lot
gmonox said:
Both types of backups are easy to restore
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just keep in mind that you need a functioning phone in order to use Titanium. If you mess something up while in adb and the phone will not boot, Titanium is useless. A nandroid however will restore you back exactly how you were before messing around in adb even if the os will not boot.
Well then I'm glad I did the Nandroid BU! Bsically then I guess that because I backed up with Ti first and then with Nandroid, the Nandroid created a back up of my Ti backup. If so I think I just set a record for redundancy.
As for using a netbook, I don't have a choice. I run everything off of my Macbook, or did until now. The only Windows based item in the house aside from my Xboxes is my wife's netbook. I've updated the Java and begun the setup process. I had to do as the thread said and force the http and then go into the available packages and I'm DLing and installing them all because I was afriad that if I didn't I'd find that I needed one I hadn't installed. I'm guessing that since I'm already rooted (and I'm hoping) that once I'm done installing all of these packages that that should be it except for step #4 and #5.
1. Run SDK Setup.exe
2. If it gives you any error go to settings and click on "Force http//....."
3. Select usb driver package, let it download and install
4. Some say the below step is not needed, but I did this so I'm posting it
Go to tools folder, and edit "android_winusb.inf" (you can do this by opening it via wordpad). Add the following at the end of the [Google.NTx86] and [Google.NTamd64] blocks:
;HTC Incredible
%SingleAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0C9E
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0C9E&MI_01
%SingleBootLoaderInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_0BB4&PID_0C94
Save the file and exit.
5). Plug your phone into PC, when windows asks to install drivers for new found hardware, point the New Hardware Found wizaed to android_winusb.inf that you just edited.
I'd also like to add that this is the YouTube video that started this mess. I followed his tutorial on rooting the phone and although the sound was low it was pretty spot on minus one or two things he failed to mention.
However, after watching this video I thought it would be just as easy to install the boot animation as it was to root the phone. Seems the bigger task would be rooting rather than a boot animation. In the hours that you guys have helped me I've learn that this boot video lacks a TRUCK LOAD of information and assumes that the person watching it isn't a noob. Dont' most people that watch tutorial videos watch them because they have no idea what they're doing? I realize now that there's a ton o' stuff missing from it. I still want the animation and sound though.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-Ju9lpH7_4g&feature=channel
Titanium stores backups on your SD card. Nandroid does not backup your SD card, but you are in good shape. Keep us posted.
I'm not sure if step 4 is required, I'm on win7 64bit and I don't recall doing it, but I guess it couldn't hurt. Also, I don't think nandroid backs up your titanium backup -- Ti backup is stored on your SD card

Troubleshooting for Newbies (having a "wtf!?" moment?)

Most of this information has been repeated so many times. But I wanted to make a short list of all the silly mistakes and simple oversights I’ve made over time.
(I make mistakes constantly - there are probably some mistakes in this very post - and I usually search around and try to find my way out of them. I will edit this post whenever I run into a problem. If anyone has any input, I will gladly add it to this post.)
YOU CAN NOT COME BACK FROM UNLOCKING YOUR BOOTLOADER:
If you ever think you’ll need to or want to “relock” your bootloader, you can’t.
Alternative root method:
VISIONary
(when you launch the application, you can leave everything unchecked)
Alternative recovery option:
ROM Manager (in the market)
ALWAYS DO A NANDROID/CLOCKWORKMOD BACKUP!
It will restore everything the way you had it if you F something up.
Want to go back to original shipping, but followed this guide, downloaded the linked file and can’t find the image files?
They’re not in that file. I don’t know why. Go here and download FRG33, decompress it and use the contents to follow the tutorial
Are you getting a “verification failed” error when you try to apply an update.zip in recovery?
Mount your SD card to your computer, download whatever file you were trying to apply directly to it (don’t download it and then drag it), and rename it to “update.zip”.
If you’re using Windows, make sure “hide extensions for known file types” is unchecked in your folder options within the Control Panel. You’ll keep having problems if it’s named “update.zip.zip” and you didn’t realize it
If you're still having problems, try this download of the stock FRG83 update.
<Added 11/18> I had another facepalm moment. If you downgraded back to FRG33 and you get an "assert failed" error, flash the recovery.img from that FRG33 package you extracted. (found this solution here)
Did you flash a ROM or go back to stock, start up your phone and noticed that you’re stuck on Edge?
Go to Menu>Settings>Wireless and Networks>Mobile Networks>Network Operators>(choose your carrier), wait.
Trying to copy something from your SD Card to /system/app (for instance)?
If you use the “cat” command, DON’T FORGET THE “>” SYMBOL. Nothing awful happens as far as I know, but it’s unnerving to watch the terminal puke all over itself.
Code:
cat /sdcard/thing.apk > /system/app/thing.apk
If you’re new to Linux and/or Android and are removing apps:
BE CAREFUL with the “rm” command. Once it’s gone, it’s gone.
You can always rename (technically, "move") the files instead:
Code:
mv /system/app/thing.apk /system/app/thing.apk.bak
Switch the commands to get it back
Code:
mv /system/app/thing.apk.bak /system/app/thing.apk
And don't forget to mount /system as read and write. To do that:
Windows: (must have drivers installed, Nexus One drivers are in the SDK)
Code:
adb shell
su
Linux: (no drivers necessary)
Code:
./adb shell
su
Code:
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/mtdblock3/system /system
Don't forget to mount /system as read-only when you're finished. To do that, use the same code but replace "rw" with "ro" (without quotations of course)
Having trouble connecting with adb?
In Linux, you need to be in the SDK directoy (mine is in ~/AndroidSDK/tools). In Windows, you need to have ;C:\AndroidSDK\tools in the system path, within Environmental Variables (right-click on Computer>Properties>Advanced>Environmental Variables)
Unplug the device
In Linux, cd to ~/AndroidSDK/tools (or whatever you called it) enter:
Code:
sudo ./adb kill-server
sudo ./adb start-server
Plug in the device
Code:
sudo ./adb devices
In Windows:
Code:
adb kill-server
adb start-server
Plug in the device
Code:
adb devices
Device not found?
Did you enable USB Debugging in Menu>Settings>Applications>Development?
Trying to install an .apk but it just won’t work?
Try the “adb install” method, or push the apk to /system/app. If the app force closes or doesn’t work, just remove it
Code:
rm /system/app/thing.apk
Using Ubuntu (or another Linux distro), trying to mount your SD through Amon-Ra's recovery, but it won't mount?
Disable USB-MS toggle, unplug the phone, reboot your computer, try again.
Can I kiss you?
Seriously though I really appreciate it when the guys on here take time out of their day to post helpful guides like this since it prolly took 30 min at least. Thank you very much for doing this it might have been just what I'm looking for
ap3604 said:
Can I kiss you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope.
ap3604 said:
Seriously though I really appreciate it when the guys on here take time out of their day to post helpful guides like this since it prolly took 30 min at least. Thank you very much for doing this it might have been just what I'm looking for
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm glad you appreciate it. I'm not technically one of the guys on here. I've been on XDA in different device forums for a little while but have always been absorbing the information and never giving anything back. This is my first try. I can only dream of being a developer when I grow up, and solving more serious problems.
ahorriblemess said:
Want to go back to original shipping, but followed this guide, downloaded the linked file and can’t find the image files?
They’re not in that file. I don’t know why. Go here and download FRG33, decompress it and use the contents to follow the tutorial
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering ahorriblemess, I looked over the guide and it says:
"This will do the followings to your Nexus One:
1. Reset your system files to the original system files.
2. Reset your kernel/boot image to the original shipping boot image.
3. Reset your recovery to original recovery (if you wish)."
Since I'm a real idiot... does this guide get your baseband / radio back to original (january) shipping image as well?
I didn't see it in those 3 things and have the 5.12.00.08 version so I wanted to make sure following that guide would reset the radio baseband back to the original (january) version as well before I did it.
Now all I need to do is figure out how fastboot works and I'm gold!
ap3604 said:
Just wondering ahorriblemess, I looked over the guide and it says:
"This will do the followings to your Nexus One:
1. Reset your system files to the original system files.
2. Reset your kernel/boot image to the original shipping boot image.
3. Reset your recovery to original recovery (if you wish)."
Since I'm a real idiot... does this guide get your baseband / radio back to original shipping image as well?
I didn't see it in those 3 things and have the 5.12.00.08 version so I wanted to make sure following that guide would reset the radio baseband back to the original (january) version as well before I did it.
Now all I need to do is figure out how fastboot works and I'm gold!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know. I'm in no way an expert at any of this. My intent with this thread was to compile all of the sort of simple things that I've overlooked in the past. Usually I've found solutions to those problems scattered all over the place, so I just thought it would be helpful to put them all in one place in case anyone ever has the same problems I've had.
I have a pretty good feeling about the answer, but I don't want to share it in case you decide to act on it and it's wrong.
Thanks a ton!

OUTDATED[Guide] Setting up/using adb/fastboot-unlock, flash custom recovery & root

OUTDATED[Guide] Setting up/using adb/fastboot-unlock, flash custom recovery & root
Below is a great guide to rooting, from several sources, (mostly taken from pingvinen's "An Idiot's Guide to Flashing the Xoom" and a guide by publicanimal. and I hope it helps. You can find the links to all of the files referenced below in the Xoom Heaven thread (thanks StrifeSoldierVII!)[/I]
(New thread in General Section by Jack207407 will have all the updated links for flashing
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1443110
One Stop For ROM's, MOD's, and Root Wifi-Only and 3G/4G Models)
"What you need to do can be encompassed in these following short steps (will be detailed later on) in the following order. Each step is required before you can proceed to the next one. However, make sure that you are very very careful and don't try to take any shortcuts. That may soft-brick your device, and you may have a difficult time to explain that to your wife ... You have been warned.
HERE'S THE USUAL DISCLAIMER--I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANY HARM THAT MAY COME TO YOUR DEVICE IF YOU FOLLOW ANY PART OF THIS GUIDE--ANY RISK IS ON THE USER!
I strongly recommend you to read the entire guide before trying. In fact, read it twice to ensure that you have understood everything. If there is weird stuff that you don't understand, don't hesitate to ask. The reason for me writing this down is that I like to document what I have learned. This is to me an excellent way to ensure that I will remember what I just did. Another reason was that I could not find a single thread that encompassed all steps required. There are many different threads, but no one (that I could find) that really guides you from start to goal. So enjoy and good luck!
I would like to thank LandMaster and cam30era for helping out with advice during my initial trail-and-error session. I soft-bricked my device once and had big problems to get by point 4.3 (avoid overwriting of CWM), but with their encouragement I finally succeeded.
Just a note before we begin: the different Xoom. Models that are able to use this guide are the following:
MZ600 - stingray_cdma - Motorola US 3g Xoom (technically this device is stingray as well, but I will be using stingray_cdma as the two devices have incompatible software)
MZ601 - utms_everest - Motorola EU 3g Xoom
MZ602 - stingray - Motorola US 4g Xoom
MZ604 - wingray - Motorola Wifi Xoom
(thanks solarnz!)
___________
Overview of the 6 required steps
1. Install Motorola USB drivers for your computers (for USB connectivity) 2. Install Java SDK and Android SDK tools (for adb and fastboot commands) 3. Unlock the device for flashing (allowing replacement of recovery and boot images) 4. Install a modified recovery image (ClockWorkMod recovery for Android) 5. Root the device (Allow r/w access to the device filesystem) 6. Flash a kernel that supports overclocking etc.
Steps 1, 2, 4, 5 and 6 require that you download install, image and zip files needed for the flashing.
All this was performed on a Windows PC. Windows 7, Mac and Linux users will probably have to do some steps differently.
1.0 Install the latest Motorola USB drivers
The installation file can be found at: http://developer.motorola.com/docstools/USB_Drivers/
1.1 Install the drivers and ensure that your Xoom is recognized by the computer
2.0 Installation of development software
Android SDK and Java SDK need to be installed. You can find the installation kits here.
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html In case you can't find fastboot.exe, look for it here (thanks to jerrycycle): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=19546334&postcount=5
Update: you could also just install the adb fastboot pack here:http://www.android.net/forum/downloads.php?do=file&id=67
http://www.oracle.com/technetwork/java/javase/downloads/index.html
2.1 Install them as any other software, making an Android SDK folder on C/.
2.2 Make sure that all the files you need are in the Platform Tools folder (fastboot, recovery image file and so on). Copy any files in the Tools folder to the Platform Tools folder if necessary. Note: If the Android SDK complains that the Java Dev Kit can't be found, just press Back and then Next again. Wierd, but that seems to do the trick ... go figure.
(Warning: Never put any zip files in your Platform Tools folder. Flashing zip files through fastboot will cause very serious problems. Zip files must be flashed from the external micro SD card through CWM recovery on the Xoom...we'll get to that later.)
2.3 Test that ADB and FASTBOOT works. You should open a command window by right clicking in your Platform Tools folder where all of your files are, plug in your Xoom to your computer with your Motorola cable (it may not work with a generic cable) and write 'adb devices'. Your Xoom should now be listed. Did your device not show up? Make sure that you have USB debugging enabled in Settings/Applications/Development on your Xoom.
Optional: Those that want to be able to access adb from any where on their computer, here's a tip from scsa20: "For windows, if you go into System Properties and choose Advanced, then Environment Variables..., you'll be able to edit the Path variable under System variables, just add the path to where adb and fastboot is located (separated with a semi-colon ().
Here's what my Path variable looks like:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;%SystemRoot%\system32;%Sy stemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\ System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\;C:\android-sdk-windows\tools;C:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\SnapAPI\
It's long but do you see the android stuff there at the end?"
Update: xda poster Mandelbrot Benoit suggests an alternate adb setup, here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=18072572&postcount=50
If your windows computer doesn't see your Xoom, consider this (Originally Posted by AngryBulleteyeTruth):
When the xoom does not show up on PC it may be the problem of.... windows media player!
Xoom uses drivers of WMP to communicate with PC. If someone does not have the newest WMP drivers it will not show up and you can see xoom device in the devices tab on PC having an exclamation mark.
So the solution is to download and install Windows Media Player 11. It has worked for me.
--------
OK. Now that you are set up, it's Showtime! Take a deep breath...
3. Unlocking the device for flashing
This step will effectively erase the internal storage, including all your apps and settings. Use whatever backup you want to secure important data before you start. (It will also void your warranty, so you still have time to go back.)
3.1 Power up and start the Xoom.
3.2 Ensure that your device is fully recognized by the computer. A good sign is that the 'Portable device' dialog is activated on Windows when your Xoom has booted. The Xoom should also be seen in 'Computer'. If not, go back to step 2 and double check your USB drivers.
3.3 Use the command 'adb reboot bootloader' to go into Flash mode.
3.4 Use the command 'fastboot oem unlock'. This will trigger a dialog on your Xoom. Follow the instructions on the screen to complete the unlocking. I repeat, this *will* do a factory reset and all data will be lost!
3.5 Once unlocked, the Xoom will restart and work as normal. Don't bother to do any setup at this time, just make sure that USB debbuging is checked in settings, and now go on to step 4
4. Install recovery image (CWM) UPDATED 4/19/12
If you haven't done it already, download the recovery image file and save it to your computer in the Platform Tools folder.
(Download the recovery image from this link: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1604014 only the img file flashed through fastboot Remember, never try to flash a zip file through fastboot!)
Important: At this time, make sure you have a good (known to be working) microsd card in your sdcard slot in your Xoom. Reboot the Xoom with the sdcard in the slot to make sure it's mounted.
4.1 Boot into flash mode with 'adb reboot bootloader.'
4.2 Install your downloaded recovery image: 'fastboot flash recovery eos-recovery-r6.img' or whatever is the exact name of the recovery img file you are flashing.
4.3 Enter CWM recovery with the procedure below.
4.4 Restart the device with 'fastboot reboot'. Timing is essential here, so be alert when the device restarts, or you will have to redo section 4.
4.5 Once the Motorola logotype is shown, start counting to 3. At 3, press the Volume Down button. This should result in the text 'Android Recovery' in the top left corner. If it does not work (if you see Starting Fastboot Protocol), experiment with the timing (see below).
4.6 When 'Android Recovery' is shown press the Volume Up button. This should invoke the CWM recovery menu. If that works, then congratulations for getting this far!
Here is a potential pitfall. If you are unable to enter CWM *before* the device boots into Honeycomb, then the newly installed recovery image will be overwritten by the system default recovery. Just repeat steps 4.1 through 4.6 if that happens.
UPDATE(12/28/11) Since putting this guide together, Motorola has issued a number of Over-the-Air (OTA) updates that have complicated the process of flashing the Clockawork Mod recovery, so if you have accepted any OTA updates, please read the following, which describes each step (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=26009191#post26008083) (Thanks to Landorin.)
(If you have root and want to remove these files, remove or rename /system/etc/install-recovery.sh with something like root explorer. You can then flash your custom recovery through fastboot again.)
For those of you that get stuck with some error like 'device not recognized' poster Madjinj gives the following advice:
1) Be sure that you have your adb folder in the root of C drive directly and be sure that you are in adb folder in command prompt program (CMD in Windows machines) i.e by typing "cd c:\XXX" where XXX is the name of adb folder in your machine.
2) Be sure that you type "adb reboot bootloader" in comand prompt to activate adb program. if the problem persists, try typing "fastboot reboot" then after reboot type "adb reboot bootloader" in command prompt program.
3) Use the USB cable that came with your Xoom (some cables are not good in flashing for unknown reason..!!
4) make sure that you activate USB debugging mode.
5.0. Rooting the Xoom
The Universal Xoom Root zip file from solarnz is located here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1242241
5.1 You need to transfer the Universal Xoom Root zip file to a working external micro SD card. You can do this on a computer or cell phone, but the Universal Xoom Root zip file must be located in the root directory of the micro SD card.
5.2 Insert the now prepared SD card in the Xoom.
5.3 Boot into recovery (as described in 4.3). Navigate using the volume buttons and press the power button to select the active option.
5.4 Select 'Install ZIP from sd card.'
5.5 Select 'Choose ZIP.'
5.6 Navigate to the ROOT zip file with the Volume buttons and select it with the Power button. Confirm that you want to install it.
5.7 Everything should indicate success, so back out to the main CWM menu and reboot the device.
5.8 From Android Market, install any app requiring root and start it. If the rooting was successful, then the app should request superuser permission and you should be able to grant it without any problems.
6. Flashing a new rom or kernel...(e.g. Tiamat Moray Rom and/or Odachi Kernel). Look in the Xoom Heaven thread or in the Development section of this form for all of these files.
6.1 This step is identical to 5, but swap out the ROOT zip for the ROM or KERNEL zip. For simplicity, you may want to prepare the micro SD card with both zip files at the same time in step 5.1..."
------------------------
This is still one of the best explanations of how to use adb and fastboot to unlock and root the Xoom and install a custom recovery, etc, and doesn't deserve to buries on back pages of this forum. Hopefully, the step-by-step nature of this guide will help those of you that have limited experience with this kind of tinkering.
Oh, and please feel free to correct any errors or omissions. As I said, it came from several sources and needed to somewhat updated.
Thank you, just bought my xoom yesterday and was confused on the steps to take!
This has made it as clear as possible for me and will follow your instructions to the letter tonight.
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
fastyan said:
Thank you, just bought my xoom yesterday and was confused on the steps to take!
This has made it as clear as possible for me and will follow your instructions to the letter tonight.
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck! Let us know how you make out and if anything needs to be clarified.
think im doing something wrong as unlocked fine but when i go to install the recovery file it keeps coming up cannot load? any ideas where im going wrong?
been at it 3 hours now lol and losing the will to live im sure its gona be something simples
fastyan said:
think im doing something wrong as unlocked fine but when i go to install the recovery file it keeps coming up cannot load? any ideas where im going wrong?
been at it 3 hours now lol and losing the will to live im sure its gona be something simples
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check to make sure that your file download is good, and that you are typing it's name correctly. Better yet, you could rename the file "recovery.img" and that will make it very easy to get it right.
On the sd card?I thought we had to put it into sdk platform tools? I have put it and renamed it onto my sd card but what is the command to flash recovery from sd card?
Also noticed once I have done "adb reboot bootloader" my computer doesn't see the XOOM properly, is in can't see it in my computer but does make a noise when I connect and disconnect is this correct? Debugging is on.
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
fastyan said:
On the sd card?I thought we had to put it into sdk platform tools? I have put it and renamed it onto my sd card but what is the command to flash recovery from sd card?
Also noticed once I have done "adb reboot bootloader" my computer doesn't see the XOOM properly, is in can't see it in my computer but does make a noise when I connect and disconnect is this correct? Debugging is on.
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you're in the bootloader, you won't be able to access the SD Card or anything of that sort and adb won't work, in stead, when you're in the bootloader, you're switching over to fastboot. I'm sure if you type in fastboot devices you'll see your xoom listed.
Thank you for the reply and that's one thing sorted but any idea why its telling me "cannot load recovery"? I have tried renaming it and downloaded the recovery file 4 times incase that was wrong but still no joy :-(
I have done this all before on my phone and never had a problem so I must be missing something but f$*@ed if I know what?
Thanks again for your help though.
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium
Just had a thought. Could it be that the XOOM hasn't actually unlocked, would that cause it to not load? Is there any way to check if its unlocked successfully? Although I did try it twice before?
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
Once you got it in the bootloader, you gotta make sure you do fastboot oem unlock, press volume down then up, press volume down again then up again, and let it format and reboot.
If it's already unlocked, you'd get a message telling you so (generally).
Then when you go to flash the recovery, make sure that the recovery image is in the folder where fastboot is and type in fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (if I remember the syntax that is, I'm at work and don't feel like scrolling up or going into the root guide to confirm xD ).
fastyan said:
On the sd card?I thought we had to put it into sdk platform tools? I have put it and renamed it onto my sd card but what is the command to flash recovery from sd card?
Also noticed once I have done "adb reboot bootloader" my computer doesn't see the XOOM properly, is in can't see it in my computer but does make a noise when I connect and disconnect is this correct? Debugging is on.
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium[/QUOTE
No, sorry, I was trying to respond. when I was tired and distracted.I totally miswrote. Of course the cwm recovery img goes in the platform tools...thank goodness you guys are out there to catch mistakes!
So, I don't know if you had any progress, but not successfully unlocking would surely stop you in your tracks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okantomi said:
No, sorry, I was trying to respond. when I was tired and distracted.I totally miswrote.Oof course the cwm recovery img.. goes in the platform tools...thank goodness you guys are out there to catch mistakes!
So, I don't know if you had any progress, but not successfully unlocking would surely stop you in your tracks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With the way I have my system setup, I can run adb and fastboot wherever I am
No, sorry, I was trying to respond. when I was tired and distracted.I totally miswrote. Of course the cwm recovery img goes in the platform tools...thank goodness you guys are out there to catch mistakes!
So, I don't know if you had any progress, but not successfully unlocking would surely stop you in your tracks.
No progress yet as im at work but when I get home I will start the process from scratch again and see how I get on and will keep you posted.
scsa20 said:
With the way I have my system setup, I can run adb and fastboot wherever I am
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Care to share???
That would be helpful to many, I'm sure. We could add it to the guide, along with anything else you can think of.
fastyan said:
No, sorry, I was trying to respond. when I was tired and distracted.I totally miswrote. Of course the cwm recovery img goes in the platform tools...thank goodness you guys are out there to catch mistakes!
So, I don't know if you had any progress, but not successfully unlocking would surely stop you in your tracks.
No progress yet as im at work but when I get home I will start the process from scratch again and see how I get on and will keep you posted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If, as you follow this guide, you find any explanations that are not clear or if you think of a step to take or something else that might improve the guide, please post it and we can add it in. It's been almost 6 months since I've unlocked and at least a couple of months since I've had to use adb, so I'm sure I've forgotten some things. Those of you whose experience is fresh can give really good advice. That's how this guide was originally written, by pingvinen, right after he had gone through a grueling rooting process.
okantomi said:
Care to share???
That would be helpful to many, I'm sure. We could add it to the guide, along with anything else you can think of.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For windows, if you go into System Properties and choose Advanced, then Environment Variables..., you'll be able to edit the Path variable under System variables, just add the path to where adb and fastboot is located (separated with a semi-colon (;)).
Here's what my Path variable looks like:
C:\Program Files\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Microsoft Shared\Windows Live;C:\Program Files (x86)\NVIDIA Corporation\PhysX\Common;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\;C:\android-sdk-windows\tools;C:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools;C:\Program Files (x86)\Common Files\Acronis\SnapAPI\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's long but hey, see where the android stuff is near the end?
@Okantomi:
We all have learned some things from trial & error (eg.the sk cannot detect java dev kit)
i could only flash recovery after renaming it to recovery(do not forget to add.img in cmd while flashing).also the official motorola name recovery as same.
after downloading sdk and updating to platform tools i have kept a zip in safe location so that i do not need to download again platform tools if i install sdk fresh
initially knowledge was scattered now it is at one place.
right now testing steady hawkin's kernel and new recovery
btw good signature pic.
Ok so another night has gone and still can't get recovery on!! Tried re unlocking the XOOM and every time it comes up with "cannot load recovery.img" I tried installing everything on my laptop and went right from the start and getting exactly the same thing!
Starting to think im never gonna get this sorted now :-( just feels like the XOOM isn't unlocking? Every time I go through the unlocking process it never states that its already unlocked? Is there any way I can check that it is unlocked?
Please help im losing the will to live now lol
Sent from my MZ604 using xda premium
I would say to send it to me and I can take a wack at it but I don't think you want to wait that long to simply root it.
Let me ask you, are you getting any sort of error messages when you do fastboot flash recovery recovery.img? If so, what's that error message?
scsa20 said:
I would say to send it to me and I can take a wack at it but I don't think you want to wait that long to simply root it.
Let me ask you, are you getting any sort of error messages when you do fastboot flash recovery recovery.img? If so, what's that error message?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not getting any error message it just says "cannot load recovery.img"
I have tried with and without the .img and always the same?
Tried going through the whole process again on my laptop incase I had missed something but exactly the same.
When I unlock it I follow the onscreen instructions and at the end it says its complete before it reboots. Then I turn on usb debugging again and reboot bootloader all ok but won't let me load the new recovery?
Normally I would just say it wasn't meant to be and leave as it is but I wont be beaten on this so I'm purposely not installing anything on it till its done. Any ideas apart from bringing it round yours lol ;-)
Sent from my Desire HD using xda premium

*Recovery Mode - Cannot mount Internal/External SD or Mount USB Fix

This has whooped my a$$ all evening and I've finally found some sort of a work-around for it, thought I'd share.
When I flash a ROM, I really like to nuke everything. Problem with nuking everything is you often cannot mount the phone to the computer to copy over the shiny new Rom
So here's the scenerio:
You're in recovery, you can't mount an SD, you've accidentally (or otherwise) deleted everything off of the INTERNAL card (including your new rom). Clockwork for some reason or another hates you and won't let you mount USB to transfer the ROM over for install. So you're officially dead in the water with no hope in sight.
three magic letters come in to play on this one. ADB.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010
Moving on now to the point of Post-ADB-Installation...
Find your shiny new ROM, and copy it to the ANDROID-SDK/PLATFORM-TOOLS/ directory (mine was installed on the C: drive, but yours is wherever you installed it)
Open a CMD.exe window (start, cmd, enter)
navigate yourself to the ANDROID-SDK/PLATFORM-TOOLS/ directory
type this command:
adb push shiny.new.rom-name.zip /sdcard/
now go back to the phone, back into recovery, install from sd, laugh all the way until the next time you think you've destroyed your $600 smart phone.
Hope this works for you!
skipster99 said:
Find your shiny new ROM, and copy it to the ANDROID-SDK/PLATFORM-TOOLS/ directory
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or you could add PLATFORM-TOOLS to your PATH environment variable like most people do.
Also, try Droid Explorer.
skipster99 said:
This has whooped my a$$ all evening and I've finally found some sort of a work-around for it, thought I'd share.
When I flash a ROM, I really like to nuke everything. Problem with nuking everything is you often cannot mount the phone to the computer to copy over the shiny new Rom
So here's the scenerio:
You're in recovery, you can't mount an SD, you've accidentally (or otherwise) deleted everything off of the INTERNAL card (including your new rom). Clockwork for some reason or another hates you and won't let you mount USB to transfer the ROM over for install. So you're officially dead in the water with no hope in sight.
three magic letters come in to play on this one. ADB.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010
Moving on now to the point of Post-ADB-Installation...
Find your shiny new ROM, and copy it to the ANDROID-SDK/PLATFORM-TOOLS/ directory (mine was installed on the C: drive, but yours is wherever you installed it)
Open a CMD.exe window (start, cmd, enter)
navigate yourself to the ANDROID-SDK/PLATFORM-TOOLS/ directory
type this command:
adb push shiny.new.rom-name.zip /sdcard/
now go back to the phone, back into recovery, install from sd, laugh all the way until the next time you think you've destroyed your $600 smart phone.
Hope this works for you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All well and good but my simple method after a wipe is to flash a stock rom then CWM root and copy file over .No need to bother with all that Linux stuff and probably easier for noobs and nearnoobs .
jje
I'll check out droid explorer - Thanks
As far as "all that linux stuff" I think one ADB PUSH command from WINDOWS is easier and faster than loading another rom on to the phone. Do what you wanna do, was just something I stumbled upon to help other noobs stuck in the same situation.
skipster99 said:
I'll check out droid explorer - Thanks
As far as "all that linux stuff" I think one ADB PUSH command from WINDOWS is easier and faster than loading another rom on to the phone. Do what you wanna do, was just something I stumbled upon to help other noobs stuck in the same situation.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So now they have two methods pity they will never look or search .
jje
+1 for all that linux stuff -- I love it! Droid Explorer is nice too but I feel like a wuss when I use that program because all its doing is executin linuxy stuff.
Hey, WHY are you nuking your sdcard? Thats overkill!!! but whatever floats your boat!

[HOWTO] Backup and Restore the System Software

The recently posted rooting method for the KFHD has been great for owners to get started on modifying the device to suit their own tastes. However, I've been a little concerned about everybody jumping in without a safety net in place. There are numerous ways that this device can get bricked. Not to put all of you into a panic, but just getting an eventual OTA update from Amazon might put some of these rooted KFHDs in jeopardy. With no custom recovery on the horizon, I think it's important to have some backup/restore plan to get these devices booting again.
Overview
This backup plan involves making raw data clones of all critical storage partitions required to boot the device. These backup archives can then be stored somewhere off the device. In case of some critical failure that prevents the device from booting normally, these archives can be used to get the device booting normally again. The restore procedure requires the use of fastboot to write the backup archives back to their proper partitions. The use of fastboot requires a working bootloader, so the device will need to boot to the bootloader's bootlogo at a minimum. If the device has a broken bootloader, this guide will not be helpful. There's currently no working procedure for repairing a broken bootloader on the 2nd generation Kindle Fire devices.
To be clear, this guide is not a backup/restore plan for your data. This is strictly for backing up the system software while in a bootable state and recovering it if some modification bricks the device. This procedure has been tested on a KFHD with system software version 7.1.1. Although I have not tested it, I'm nearly certain it will work just fine on version 7.1.5. If the KF2 has the same partition layout as the KFHD, there's no reason why it shouldn't work for that device as well. Check the post on KFHD partitions for details.
Warning: Everything below is inherently dangerous and can potentially brick your device if they are not executed properly. I have tested various aspects to the best of my ability, but you assume all responsibility for performing any of these steps.
Backup
Attached is a small shell script written to do the following…
Make a "kindlebackups" directory in /sdcard (if necessary) and make it user read/writeable.
Create gzipped backup archives of partitions 1 through 11. This includes all partitions except /cache and /data.
Make all archive files user read/writeable.
The entire backup (stock) takes up approximately 550 MB, so be sure to have at least that much available in /sdcard. Root privileges are required for the script to run properly. The best time to use this script is after step two of the published rooting procedure. That's after the second reboot of the process when the device boots up in emulation mode and allows root access for the first time. At this point, the system partition is completely stock and has not been exposed to any modifications. Even if you are past this point, the backups will still be useful for any bootable state that allows root privileges.
Download the script, unzip and place it into your current working directory where you still have access to adb, then run the following adb commands to copy the script to the Kindle Fire and prepare it to be executed...
Code:
adb push backup.sh /data/local/backup.sh
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/backup.sh
If the device is in the process of being rooted and it has just finished rebooting for the second time...
Code:
adb shell /data/local/backup.sh
If the device has already been rooted and the su binary is available on the system...
Code:
adb shell su -c "/data/local/backup.sh"
The entire process should take approximately 5 minutes. Once the script has completed the backup, access the Kindle Fire's storage area from your computer, then copy the contents of the "kindlebackups" folder to it. The "kindlebackups" folder may be deleted after transferring to your computer.
Restore
To begin the restore procedure, the device must be put into fastboot mode. My factory cable did the job for me, so I have not explored the possibility of changing bootmodes. I developed this guide on a borrowed KFHD and I do not intend to risk the device more than necessary. Unless someone comes forward with a procedure to change bootmodes into and out of fastboot mode, I'm going to say that a factory cable is required for the time being. Besides, based on my experience with the original Kindle Fire, a broken system almost always means there is no way to change the bootmode through it. Since this procedure will very likely be used on a device that cannot boot completely or otherwise has a bad system, a factory cable will probably be the only way into fastboot mode. If you plan to root or modify your system software, invest in a factory cable.
Use the factory cable (with the device turned off, plug into the device, then the computer) to get to fastboot mode. If successful, a "fastboot" logo will take the place of the original "kindle fire" logo.
Decompress the gzipped archive to be flashed… Linux users have gunzip, Mac OS X users also have gunzip and a built-in GUI utility, and Windows users can use 7-zip. The archive must be decompressed before flashing. Skipping this step will brick your device.
Flash the image file(s) back to the device. In most cases, the device will just have to get a working system partition flashed back to it, but the others are available if they are needed. To flash the system partition...
Code:
fastboot -i 0x1949 flash system system.img
- Optionally erase the cache and/or userdata partitions if the contents of either interfere with the operation of the system software. The system will rebuild them on reboot…
Code:
fastboot -i 0x1949 erase cache
fastboot -i 0x1949 erase userdata
Once the process is complete, long-press the power button (~20 seconds) until it powers down, unplug the factory cable, and power the device back up.
Good luck.
Thanks kinfauns. I appreciate everything you did for the original kindle fire. This should help a lot of people.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
My kindles /system directory is already screwed. Do you have a system.img file I can use?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda app-developers app
When i boot my kindle fire hd to fastboot (by factory cable) and connect it to pc, pc can't recognize kindle, it don't have driver for it.
Could anybody post his clean backup here? Screwed my kindle, want go back to stock. Backup is only way.
Copying kindlebackup folder
Thanks for the script - the backup procedure was smooth -
I couldnt find the kindlebackups folder while browsing through my PC and for others like me who wonder how to take these out of your KFHD, here is a simple way - I used a program called Wondershare MObilego (Manage SDcard option under more tools) Backing up was a cakewalk.
I have no affiliation to this tool maker - Just sharing a way that helped a n00b like me. (First rooting experience)
Thanks for the efforts!
BTW, will a backup from a clean device work for other devices instead of the same one which the backup was created from? Just wondering if people who have already fiddled around their root devices can get a fresh start.
vuhai6 said:
When i boot my kindle fire hd to fastboot (by factory cable) and connect it to pc, pc can't recognize kindle, it don't have driver for it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know if anybody has packaged the device drivers set up for this device. If nothing else, you can get the device driver installer in the "Kindle Fire Utility" for the original KF and use that. You just have to change the PID from 0006 to 0007 before installing it and should work. Refer to this post if you still have problems...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=23747671&postcount=2
for device driver information. Again, written for the original KF, but the process for installing device drivers is the same. Only the PID is slightly different and that should get edited in the INF before installation.
ceebu said:
Thanks for the script - the backup procedure was smooth -
I couldnt find the kindlebackups folder while browsing through my PC and for others like me who wonder how to take these out of your KFHD, here is a simple way - I used a program called Wondershare MObilego (Manage SDcard option under more tools) Backing up was a cakewalk.
I have no affiliation to this tool maker - Just sharing a way that helped a n00b like me. (First rooting experience)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad to hear it worked out for you. I am not familiar with that program, but the KFHD should connect automatically to a Windows device as external storage... does it not?
dreamcryer said:
Thanks for the efforts!
BTW, will a backup from a clean device work for other devices instead of the same one which the backup was created from? Just wondering if people who have already fiddled around their root devices can get a fresh start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have not tested this and don't have a way to do so. I have some concerns about it, but I'm sure someone desperate enough will jump in and try it out. I know it's too late for some, but my suggestion is for everybody to make a backup if you can and not rely on someone else to give you archives after the fact. It's better to have your own backups.
Not recognized
My kindle is also not recognized when plugged in
kinfauns said:
I don't know if anybody has packaged the device drivers set up for this device. If nothing else, you can get the device driver installer in the "Kindle Fire Utility" for the original KF and use that. You just have to change the PID from 0006 to 0007 before installing it and should work. Refer to this post if you still have problems...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=23747671&postcount=2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But pc don't recognize as Kindle, it as Tate-PVT-08 (sorry, i use mac cho screenshot, but windows too)
vuhai6 said:
But pc don't recognize as Kindle, it as Tate-PVT-08 (sorry, i use mac cho screenshot, but windows too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that the vendor id is correct.
Sent from my Kindle Fire
kinfauns said:
Glad to hear it worked out for you. I am not familiar with that program, but the KFHD should connect automatically to a Windows device as external storage... does it not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was only able to see the contents of /sdcard using windows...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
cesdev89 said:
My kindle is also not recognized when plugged in
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Then you're first going to have problems getting root privileges. You need to get adb working before you attempt any part of rooting or backing up with this procedure.
vuhai6 said:
But pc don't recognize as Kindle, it as Tate-PVT-08 (sorry, i use mac cho screenshot, but windows too)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the correct "product" reported by the KFHD. This and the product ID (0007) are the only differences between the KFHD and the original when it comes to installing the device drivers on Windows.
ceebu said:
I was only able to see the contents of /sdcard using windows...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/data/media and /sdcard are essentially the same thing (see the second post in this thread for an explanation of why this is the case). You should have seen kindlebackups in that directory.
kinfauns said:
You should have seen kindlebackups in that directory.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For some reason I didn't see it there, on hindsight I guess I panicked a bit (n00b) and fell back to the solution I already had.. (been using mobilego to manage my sgs2)..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
kinfauns said:
I don't know if anybody has packaged the device drivers set up for this device. If nothing else, you can get the device driver installer in the "Kindle Fire Utility" for the original KF and use that. You just have to change the PID from 0006 to 0007 before installing it and should work. Refer to this post if you still have problems...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=23747671&postcount=2
for device driver information. Again, written for the original KF, but the process for installing device drivers is the same. Only the PID is slightly different and that should get edited in the INF before installation.
Glad to hear it worked out for you. I am not familiar with that program, but the KFHD should connect automatically to a Windows device as external storage... does it not?
I have not tested this and don't have a way to do so. I have some concerns about it, but I'm sure someone desperate enough will jump in and try it out. I know it's too late for some, but my suggestion is for everybody to make a backup if you can and not rely on someone else to give you archives after the fact. It's better to have your own backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm ready to try
Didn't show at first
Kindlebackups showed up in root browser right away, but didn't show on PC until I rebooted KF2. So now should
I decompress and put in folder containing ADB?
Yuretz said:
Could anybody post his clean backup here? Screwed my kindle, want go back to stock. Backup is only way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got the same situation, could anyone kindly help to provide a backup?
Same here ... just need the system image ... Please
I'd appreciate it if everybody would refrain from making this a "beg for a system image" thread.
strat6 said:
Kindlebackups showed up in root browser right away, but didn't show on PC until I rebooted KF2. So now should
I decompress and put in folder containing ADB?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can put the the images wherever you want, but you'll need to specify the path to the file. For example, if you are using Windows and put the kindlebackups directory on C:, you just need to modify the command to...
Code:
fastboot -i 0x1949 flash system C:\kindlebackups\system.img
Thank you for posting how to do this. It opens a lot of doors with at least a little security.
I made a backup earlier without a problem, then went ahead and made myself a factory cable(easy to do and worked great- old asus usb cable, 1k resistor, soldering iron, shrink tape and voila!). I feel much better about doing any mods to this device now knowing I can just flash my backup.

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