Database Users

"E: Failed to sysmapfile" during Custom ROM installation?

Hello XDA! First off I'd like to say that I'm so glad there's a dedicated community of Android users who are willing to share their experiences and help others.
Nothing like a good tech community that have their comrades backs!
So I've been trying to iron out all the issues with running a custom ROM on my Samsung Galaxy S4 (SGH-i337m) for a few days now.
I've soft bricked this little dude 5-10 times and have always been able to figure out what I may have done wrong or how to fix it with the help of other people's help threads.
Slowly but surely I'm grasping more and more about how android works, I'm glad for that!
The only real issue is that I managed to get stuck with an error that doesn't really have an answer that I've been able to find so far.
THE ERROR DETAILS:
Recovery: TWRP v2.8.4.0
ROM: cm-12-20150312-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip
ROM THREAD: http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4/i9505-orig-develop/rom-cyanogenmod-12-t2943934
gApps: pa_gapps-modular-pico-5.0.1-20150307-signed.zip
gApps Thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/par...apps-official-to-date-pa-google-apps-t2943900
Method of installation:
Flash TWRP with odin3 via download mode
Launch TWRP
Standard TWRP wipe
Install cm-12-20150312-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip
Receive message:"E: Failed to sysMapFile '/external_sd/cm-12-20150308-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip' "
Full on-screen error log:
Code:
Installing ''/external_sd/cm-12-20150308-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip'...
Checking for MD5 file...
Skipping MD5 check: no MD5 file found
E: Failed to sysMapFile '/external_sd/cm-12-20150308-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip'
Error flashing zip '/external_sd/cm-12-20150308-OPTIMIZED-jflte.zip'
Updating partition details...
... done
My additional questions and details:
1. I used the Advanced Wipe feature in TWRP with these checked: Dalvik Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage, Cache
---- is this part of the reason why I'm having issues? (is it because I wiped System?)
2. I have reverted back to the stock ROM for this phone (Koodo Canadian SGH-i337m), I have no issues except I don't like the stock rom (ew touchwiz) but still can't install a custom ROM, WHY?!
Thanks for taking the time to read this and giving me whatever answer you have for me!

1. When you do your wipes only wipe data and the caches. If your rom was on the internal sd card when you wiped internal sd card you wiped your rom too.
2. Do you have any other issues reading from your external sd card? It looks like to me that that is the problem. You might have to reformat it and start over.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app

jd1639 said:
1. When you do your wipes only wipe data and the caches. If your rom was on the internal sd card when you wiped internal sd card you wiped your rom too.
2. Do you have any other issues reading from your external sd card? It looks like to me that that is the problem. You might have to reformat it and start over.
Sent from my Nexus 9 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only wiped Dalvik Cache, Cache, Data, System, and Internal Storage.
I'll revert back to stock rom, reformat my SD card, re-load my stuff on to the SD, then I'll post what happens when I try to flash the CM12 Rom with TWRP.

FIXED / SOLVED
Thank you for your help jd1639
Anyone who reads this in the future looking to fix their problem this was the solution I used:
Use Odin to flash back to your STOCK ROM (close after PASS message)
Settings -> Storage -> Format SD Card
Plug into computer, Add your files back to the SD Card (ROM, gApps, etc...)
Power OFF phone
Boot into Download Mode (Hold: Down Volume, Home, Power buttons simultaneously until you see the warning message - Press volume up and accept the dangers)
Open fresh Odin, Load TWRP or other recovery with the PDA option - Press Start)
Phone should reboot, wait for it to reboot and Odin to say PASS
Unplug phone from computer
Power OFF
Boot into Recovery mode (Hold: Up Volume, Home, Power buttons simultaneously until you see the booting recovery message)
TWRP starts
Wipe -> Advanced Wipe -> CHECK BOXES: System, Data, Dalvik Cache, Cache NOTHING ELSE!
Go back to the main page when you regain control
Install -> *locate your SD card with ROMs* -> Select desired ROM -> ADD MORE ROMS -> Select compatible gApps -> INSTALL
Wait for reboot
Follow on screen ROM settings tooltip
IF YOU FOLLOWED THESE STEPS EVERYTHING SHOULD WORK!
(if it doesn't work, it's probably your ROM or gApps that caused the issue)

Fix freeze , lags etc.

Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?

Orangley said:
Hello people my phone getting old i think 1.5 year so far my phone started to freeze having lags getting too hot while browsing. And bootloops started without flashing anything. First bootloop happened 2 weeks ago. Today happened again twice i wiped dalvik cache and everything is fine how can i fix it? I thought rom cause it i flashed stock firmware rooted it and removed bloatware. Still happens lags,freeze,getting too hot and bootloop. Is it lollipop update? I never had this issues with kitkat. How can fix this and keep my alive?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.

GDReaper said:
Try a full factory reset. Be careful as this will wipe your internal storage.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your answer but I did it after flash stock rom via odin. Wiped data / factory reset , cache partition , mounted cache , system , data , wiped dalvik cache..

Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.

GDReaper said:
Wiping data does not equal a factory reset. Wiping data does just that, wipes user installed apps. But generally leaves the internal storage alone.
A factory reset returns the phone to the settings it came out of the factory with, including a clean internal storage(If you have the stock rom). I heard that changing roms and just wiping data, dalvik and cache will still leave behind some files.
But it could also be untrue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing stock rom is same with factory reset i think clears everything.

I don't know. Haven't flashed stock on this device yet.
But don't most guys recommend doing a wipe before going back to stock?

I dont know i'll try that when i have free time. I did research some guys saying lollipop causing these problems. I'll try wipe before flash stock rom again , if issues keep happen i'll use lates 4.4.2 custom rom. Thank you for your answers i'll report back.

Real reset
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have the PIT file downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.

Thank you so much i'll try this now.

AndroidInitiate said:
This method will wipe everything, including operating system and efs files. Before you do this:
you must root
Download twrp recovery
Install the recovery using the app from the play store
Boot into recovery mode and have twrp backup everything
save your backup to an SD card and the computer (can't hurt to have two backups)
Doing the above will preserve your phone important data like your imei and efs
in case something goes wrong.
NOW
after you have backed everything up use twrp recovery to wipe data. Have twrp wipe everything except for your SD card (don't won't to lose the backup)
After everything has been obliterated have twrp boot you into download mode.
Download Odin from XDA preferably 3.09 (most stable release) and then grab an official stock firmware from a trusted source. The latest stock firmware should be at least 4.4.2
If you have carriers other than t-mobile you will also need to find a PIT file for partitioning.
When you have all of this open up Odin with your phone connected in download mode and make sure repartitioning, clear efs and nand-erase is checked along with the defaults.
Select pda button and choose your firmware (unzipped tar.md5 format.) Then select repartitioning PIT file button and direct to where you have it downloaded.
now click start (be sure that the Com port is recognized by Odin: will be highlighted in blue or yellow.)
This will take a while depending on your computer.
when it finishes your phone should reboot with a fresh os and filesystem. If you get stuck in a bootloop reboot into recovery mode and do a wipe data and wipe cache. Reboot and your phone should be good as new.
IMPORTANT!!! It is vital you keep your TWRP backups for as long as you have your phone if you lose them and something goes wrong while flashing your phone you will lose important things such as IMEI baseband which will prevent you from connecting to your network and Sim card recognition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?

Orangley said:
Odin freeze everytime i put twrp tar.md5 file cant i use philz touch which i use for long time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.

AndroidInitiate said:
Is that another custom recovery?
If so then yes just make sure you have all of your system files and most importantly your efs backed up.
Run odin as administrator if that doesnt work, try using another version of Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.

Orangley said:
Doesnt work another versions both twrp and odin. I'll keep my custom recovery and try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What carrier are you using, model number of the phone, etc.
Have you backed everything up? And can you flash the custom recovery through Odin if it fails?
Try it without wiping efs first just to be safe
Look here for your device you will be able to find standalone flash able versions of twrp that should work through odin.
http://twrp.me/Devices/

Using i9500. And i did what you said and works fine thank you! Mods close thread please.

No writing access to internal sd card after restoring backup

Dear forum members,
Im having issues with writing to my internal sd card, here the descripption of what i did:
I installed the rom Phronesis v6.2, everything was working perfectly until I realized that xposed was missing, I decided to install it by flashing the xposed-v80-sdk22-arm, unfortunately I got a boot loop so i decided to go back to my original stock rom (4.4.2) restoring a nondroid backup.
The problem is that after restoring it seems that I lost writing privileges to my internal sd card, using es file explorer shows that the storage/emulated/0 folder is empty, but it displays that is using 16 gb from 26. Using the stock “my files” the folders are displayed but I cannot copy anything to it (failed to copy). Applications in general work (some force closes) but I cannot save any settings
If I connect the phone to a pc, i cannot copy any files from the computer to the internal or external sd cards, however I can copy from the external sd to the computer.
I tried to format clear cache etc and restore again but the issue persists.
Can anyone be so kind and try to help me figure out a possible solution?
Thanks in advance
galaxy note n9005 snapdragon

Can anyone please help?

kartoshka22 said:
Can anyone please help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Go to your custom recovery and wipe all (system, data, dalvik).
2. Reboot in DOWNLOAD MODE and flash the ORIGINAL STOCK android 4.4.2 firmware via ODIN.
3. Root your device and flash via ODIN the custom recovery again.
4. Restore your nandroid backup.
5. Done. Good luck :highfive:

Hello Joku,
Thanks a lot for the reply, i fixed the issue by formatting the internal sd, wiping all (system, data, dalvik) and then restoring the nandroid backup, now all works.
Thanks again!
Joku1981 said:
1. Go to your custom recovery and wipe all (system, data, dalvik).
2. Reboot in DOWNLOAD MODE and flash the ORIGINAL STOCK android 4.4.2 firmware via ODIN.
3. Root your device and flash via ODIN the custom recovery again.
4. Restore your nandroid backup.
5. Done. Good luck :highfive:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Save internal storage from i9505 software brick/stuck on bootlogo

Hello,
since one week my device, a samsung galaxy s4 i9505, is software bricked and stuck on bootlogo and I've been tryin to save my internal storage, but I'm close to giving up. I hope someone here can help me.
My situation:
1. Updated my TWRP to version 3.0.1-0-jfltexx with odin 3.10.0
2. Flashed new ROM "OMEGA ROM", that worked good.
3. Backup with TWRP, successfull, reboot, galaxy logo appears, flash, again -> bootloop
4. Flashed firmware "i9505XXUHOB8" BL and modem, with odin 3.10.0 in BL and CP
5. No bootloop anymore, but stuck on ROM Logo with normal start and with recovery start blue text "recovery booting..." on galaxy screen but nothing happens.
6. Saw that TWRP 2.8.7.0-i9500 is the recommended TWRP for the i9505, flashed the .img.tar with odin 3.09 in AP (is the .img a problem?) but still same problem, with TWRP 2.8.6.0-i9500.tar too.
6. Tried different firmwares: i9505XXUHOB7, i9505XXUHOF2, i9505XXUHOJ4 -> I thought the problem is the bootloader -> odin error: complete (write) operation failed or NAND write error (->problem was usb port)
7. Tried different odin versions: 1.85, 3.10.6, 3.09
8. Tried different usb cables
9. Flashed cf-auto-root to mount the data partition, but theres no option. Recovery mode is now working, but the samsung recovery, not TWRP.
10. Tried to copy internal storage with ADB, can navigate the directory but can't pull or cd /storage/sdcard0 -> no such file or directory, same with /mnt/sdcard (ADB only works during the ROM logo)
11. Flashed stock samsung firmware "i9505XXUHOJ2_i9505AUTHXXUHOJ1_i9505XXUHOJ2" with odin 3.09 -> now stuck on samsung boot logo. My ROM is now deleted, right?
12. Wipe cache don't help
13. Could wipe data/factory reset or repartition with odin but then I will lost my internal storage.....
I have a backup from the successfull backup with TWRP, but can't open the data.ext4.win001 after rename it (the .win000 is ok)....
Can anyone help me or have an idea how can I save my data and repair the system?
-Mr.Tea

use TWRP to copy files from internal storage over to external SDcard for stuff you wanna keep.
if you manage to backup the data partition you're supposed to be able to extract apps and data from a nandroid with titanium backup pro (never tried it though).
this data you wanna save, if it wasn't created while running omega rom then it wasn't likely to work with it anyway. that could be the source of your bootloops. if that data came from a previous custom rom then try to go back to it, and if successful backup apps with titanium and files to SDcard. you can't keep your data partition and go into a new rom with it.
if the data came from a stock rom you'll loose it trying to go back so extracting from a nandroid is probably your best bet there or restoring once back to stock.

3mel said:
use TWRP to copy files from internal storage over to external SDcard for stuff you wanna keep.
if you manage to backup the data partition you're supposed to be able to extract apps and data from a nandroid with titanium backup pro (never tried it though).
this data you wanna save, if it wasn't created while running omega rom then it wasn't likely to work with it anyway. that could be the source of your bootloops. if that data came from a previous custom rom then try to go back to it, and if successful backup apps with titanium and files to SDcard. you can't keep your data partition and go into a new rom with it.
if the data came from a stock rom you'll loose it trying to go back so extracting from a nandroid is probably your best bet there or restoring once back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP is not working anymore -> blue text "Recovery booting..." on galaxy logo
In many forums they mean TWRP backup not includes the internal storage (/sdcard partition)?!
Can extract my "data.ext4.win000" and "data.ext4.win001" but not find the /sdcard location or my userdata.

Mr.Tea said:
TWRP is not working anymore -> blue text "Recovery booting..." on galaxy logo
In many forums they mean TWRP backup not includes the internal storage (/sdcard partition)?!
Can extract my "data.ext4.win000" and "data.ext4.win001" but not find the /sdcard location or my userdata.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try TWRP 3.0.0 by JDCteam, hundreds of happy users there. if it works first time make sure to try backing up your data partition and then wiping it. you can copy your media storage with the built-in file browser as mentioned.
you've got bigger problems if it's not data causing your problems...

ZE601KL No OS installed! (TWRP)

Hi all,
Recently it's been restarting every once in a while.
I have TWRP installed, so I went into recovery mode and factory data reset my device to start fresh of course backing up all my data.
But me being the cleverclogs went into Wipe -> Advanced Wipe and selected all the boxes thinking it will do a proper cleanout (Dalvik/ART Cache, System, Data, Internal Storage, Cache, Micro SDCard). But when I try to reboot it there's a msg saying "No OS installed! Are you sure you wish to power off?".
When restarting the phone it just goes back to ASUS IN SERCH OF INCREDIBLE
How can I install the stock ROM or I might even try custom ROMS (any recommendations?). I haven't installed a custom ROM since the Samsung Galaxy II days so I'm a complete noob again.
I have two Rom in the Internal Memory, one Asus stock and one of LianogenOS 16, but when trying to install, in both they give me the same error, MD5 NOT FOUND
I have copied the two ROMs into a micro SD, but it is not shown with the TWRT File Explorer
I am trying to send a ROM to Internal Memory with ADB push from Minimal Adb but it gives me an error.
Maybe I could install an .img ROM from Fastboot Mode?
Where can I find any?
Thanks for your help.