Database Develop

[Q] ROM Manager: Recommended or not?

Hey guys,
Last night I installed ROM Manager and ClockworkMod Recovery on my Roger's Samsung Captivate and proceeded to watch some YouTube videos on how it works. It would appear that this app has made flashing extremely easy. Too easy one might say.
My question is: Is flashing via ROM Manager safe? Better? Or not, compared to the "old school" method?
Any feedback on ROM Manager or flashing in general for my i896 Captivate would be much appreciated!

TheShamsMan said:
Hey guys,
Last night I installed ROM Manager and ClockworkMod Recovery on my Roger's Samsung Captivate and proceeded to watch some YouTube videos on how it works. It would appear that this app has made flashing extremely easy. Too easy one might say.
My question is: Is flashing via ROM Manager safe? Better? Or not, compared to the "old school" method?
Any feedback on ROM Manager or flashing in general for my i896 Captivate would be much appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say Rom Manager is downright essential, but your mileage may vary. Besides the uber easy flashes there are a number of utility type things it does, not least of which is it gives us cappy users the ability to make nandroid backups.
As far as safe? As safe as any other method I guess. If you do your homework and the Rom's cook has his/her shizzle together (and most of them do.) you should be good using it to flash.
You'll find with some of the newer kernels that a modified CWM is actually replacing the stock 2e/3e recovery also, so it's not a terrible idea to get familiar with it a bit first.
Just some thoughts, hope they help.

Thanks for the reply dude!
Does ROM Manager automatically present users with the option to backup their existing ROM before proceeding with a flash?
I attempted to back up my current ROM with ROM Manager. It rebooted into a recovery menu, but non of them gave me the option to back up. Just wipe and reboot (can't remember the exact options). Is it possible the Captivate is no supported? How would I enable nandroid for Captivate?

TheShamsMan said:
Thanks for the reply dude!
Does ROM Manager automatically present users with the option to backup their existing ROM before proceeding with a flash?
I attempted to back up my current ROM with ROM Manager. It rebooted into a recovery menu, but non of them gave me the option to back up. Just wipe and reboot (can't remember the exact options). Is it possible the Captivate is no supported? How would I enable nandroid for Captivate?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You open the app and tap flash clockwork recovery, select your phone, and it will proceed to reboot into recovery mode. At this time, you move down to reinstall packages, and it will then load clockwork recovery. It is from there that you can make your nandroid backup.

miztaken1312 said:
You open the app and tap flash clockwork recovery, select your phone, and it will proceed to reboot into recovery mode. At this time, you move down to reinstall packages, and it will then load clockwork recovery. It is from there that you can make your nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What he said. It sometimes chokes on loading itself. It puts a file named update.zip on your sdcard. When you get to the blue menu (2e recovery) you select reinstall packages and it should load right up. Sometimes it will reboot and get stuck there again. Just do it again and it'll come up.
Yes, before you flash through rom manager it asks you if you want to do a backup. You'll find over time tho that you'll just go straight to clockworkmod and skip the whole rom manager thing. At least I did. And if you go to one of the kernels with the modified cwm in place of the recovery menu rebooting to recovery with rom manager will bring you to the wrong one. The modified has extra stuff like lag fixes and that sort of thing that the original cwm doesn't have.

Yeah. So far, I find it easier to just use ROM Manager to boot into Recovery and do everything else from there.
I like how it only presents you with ROMs available for your specific device. I look forward to the list populating for the Captivate. It's currently empty.

You open the app and tap flash clockwork recovery, select your phone, and it will proceed to reboot into recovery mode. At this time, you move down to reinstall packages, and it will then load clockwork recovery. It is from there that you can make your nandroid backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the very first time i did this clicked reboot instead of reinstall packages. (i have fat thumbs) now every time i do 'tap flash clockwork recovery' instead of rebooting it just says 'successfully downloaded clockworkmod recovery'. how am i supposed to reinstall if i cant get to the option to do so?
im using a rooted captivate.

"Reinstall Packages" is in Android Recovery. When you perform the action "Flash Clockwork Recovery", you are downloading update.zip (which is Clockwork). "Reinstall packages" will install that update.zip and bring you into Clockwork.
So for you nawlage, now you can select "Reboot into Recovery" in ROM Manager, and your phone should boot into Android Recovery (blue text). Once there, reinstall packages (you'll probably have to do this twice), and you'll be brought to Clockwork Recovery (green text). If for WHATEVER reason "Reboot into Recovery" isn't working for you, use the 3-button combo to boot into Android Recovery.

thanks a load. i had just read this... posted by big99gt:
After these steps you won't really have to "hack" your phone lol. Root your phone and download Rom Manager from the Android market...then have it flash a recovery (the first selection at the top) choose your device when prompted. Now after that finishes select "reboot into recovery" and as the above post states you may need to select "reinstall packages" (I did). Once that goes through, you'll see your new custom recovery menu. DO A NANDROID BACKUP of your current Rom as soon as you can....then (as long as your current rom isn't messed up, if its stock your fine) from there on out you can play as much as you want with very little risk of bricking your phone. There are others who can explain it better but your stuck with me till they chime in lol. Its a very easy process and nearly foolproof.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
..and did just that. and it takes me to the clockwork recovery (green text). because of this i dont have to reinstall packages?
also, is the backup option in clockwork recovery (green text) equivalent to nandroid backup?

Once you are in Clockwork Recovery (green text), there is no more need to reinstall packages.
The "Backup Current ROM" in ROM Manager makes a nandroid backup.

very nice. two thanks for you. thank you.

unable to load clockwork recovery!

my 3 button recovery mode is working. however, i need to disable verification so as to install roms from the SD card. hence, i installed rom manager to use clockworkmod. i flashed clockworkmod recovery, and then chose the option to boot into clockwork mod recovery. however what appears on the screen is exactly the same as my normal 3br combo! no extra options whatsoever that clockwork recovery is supposed to provide. what did i do wrong?

SexyIceCream said:
my 3 button recovery mode is working. however, i need to disable verification so as to install roms from the SD card. hence, i installed rom manager to use clockworkmod. i flashed clockworkmod recovery, and then chose the option to boot into clockwork mod recovery. however what appears on the screen is exactly the same as my normal 3br combo! no extra options whatsoever that clockwork recovery is supposed to provide. what did i do wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need 2e recovery in order to flash any unsigned ZIP files.
Flash this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=788108 using ODIN and then you can flash any ZIP files. You will also be able to enter CWM recovery.
Hope this helps.

oh lol thanks!

Rom manager issues, cant flash

so i went to download mode and flashed back stock with odin i896 rogers,
rooted the phone was going to install firefly rom. But when i downloaded rom manager and tried to do the captivate clockworkmod flash it doesnt work. I have tried using a update.zip and everything from 3e recovery pressed the reinstall packages doesnt work. I have tried to copy the recovery file to the system/bin and stuff, still doesnt work. Any way to fix this.
Also, i saw in the reviews everybody with a captivate is having issues with that TODAY.

anybody know how to fix this? I have tried a recovery file replacement and all that doesnt work? Anybody? I have read other threads about this those files dont work...

If you have 3rd recovery issues. You need either get into download mode and odin to your stock firmware or use odin to flash a kernel with recovery built in using the standalone odin. I know that firebird offers an odin flashable kernel which you could use.

is their a way to downgrade from 3e to 2e, to be able to flash? for rogers 2.2?

What are you even talking about, in terms of 3e and 2e?
Just flash back to stock ROM, put update.zip in your root of storage, and once you've done that, reinstall packages TWICE, by now you should be in a green menu, this is the Clockwork Recovery menu. Using the volume keys and the power button, navigate to 'Install from .zip from sdcard', and select the ROM you want to install. Once you've done that, all you have to do is reselect it to confirm.
If that doesn't work, or it's telling you something funny when you try to install, your .zip is corrupt and you might need to redownload it.

I believe you can use sgs kernel flasher app to flash a new kernel. I would suggest which ever fire fly uses. This will fix your recovery and allow j you to flash the rom

i think this is a server issue with rom manager, because captivate cwm flash isnt working, i will try later.

If you have 3e recovery this won't make difference

this is a known issue of recovery 3e - signature issue.
you can do the followings for flashing the rom:
1. copy the update.zip to your sdcard root folder;
2. shut down your phone and use key combo to boot into recovery mode;
3. apply the change twice to get into cwm;
4. select your rom zip file and flash the rom;

mengbo said:
this is a known issue of recovery 3e - signature issue.
you can do the followings for flashing the rom:
1. copy the update.zip to your sdcard root folder;
2. shut down your phone and use key combo to boot into recovery mode;
3. apply the change twice to get into cwm;
4. select your rom zip file and flash the rom;
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you are on 3e recovery...you can apply the update.zip a million times but it wont work .....
need to be on a modded 3e recovery that allows unsigned zips or on 2e recovery...

Pirateghost said:
if you are on 3e recovery...you can apply the update.zip a million times but it wont work .....
need to be on a modded 3e recovery that allows unsigned zips or on 2e recovery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
since he is on the stock rom, using key combo will get him into the stock recovery and apply the changes will work for him if using the correct update.zip.

mengbo said:
since he is on the stock rom, using key combo will get him into the stock recovery and apply the changes will work for him if using the correct update.zip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not everyones 'stock' is 2.1 with 2e recovery....maybe he just got his phone from rogers and it had 2.2 on it already. considering in his first post he says hes already on stock rom and it has 3e recovery.....

to clear it up, im on rogers 2.2, i was on stock from kies then flashed to firefly with ease when i did the recovery file change, the problem i think is you know the first button u click in rom manager it isnt downloading the thing. Last time i downloaded it for captivate did the switch and worked, this time i think the server is offline.

i flashed from firefly to stock, the/now the recovery...^^^^^^^^

Owais1437 said:
to clear it up, im on rogers 2.2, i was on stock from kies then flashed to firefly with ease when i did the recovery file change, the problem i think is you know the first button u click in rom manager it isnt downloading the thing. Last time i downloaded it for captivate did the switch and worked, this time i think the server is offline.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you did the recovery file change so that you bypass 3e recovery signature verification, just drop the update.zip onto your /sdcard/
you dont need to use ROM manager for anything

how do you get into recovery mode on a i897 the phone is just rooted

which update.zip? theres a bunch

perroschatos02 said:
how do you get into recovery mode on a i897 the phone is just rooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Three button combo
Phone off
Volume up and down and power
At&t comes on
Let go

it worked! flashing firefly as im typin this, i used the update.zip i attached.
mounted sd card (internal) and put it as update( i dont think i put zip)
and put in the recovery file with root manager into system/bin replaced it and
then flashed into recovery from rom manager and did reinstall packages twice and it worked. Thanks for the info ^^^^^^everybody.

[Q] Cant boot into clockwork recovery?

No matter what android version or ROM whenever i install ROM manager and allow thorugh superuser and reboot into recovery i get the stock recovery screen. This is very annoying. Could anyone give me advice?
Thanks

doctorwhobbc said:
No matter what android version or ROM whenever i install ROM manager and allow thorugh superuser and reboot into recovery i get the stock recovery screen. This is very annoying. Could anyone give me advice?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, below im going to suggest two different ways to accomplish this.
Before you try this, if you are currently on 2.2 you will run into a 3e security error when in recovery. This process must be done from 2.1 or you must use the 3e security work around if attempting from 2.2. Which is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=909213
For me, its easier to use odin and flash back to 2.1 and then load the rom from there than to mess with the whole recovery thing.
How To: Install clockwork recovery.
DOWNLOAD THIS FILE FIRST THEN FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW.
FILE: http://www.mediafire.com/?ve234hbg64ctcu0
1. Go to the download folder and rename clockworkrecovery.zip to update.zip. Mount your phone and drag the update.zip file into the root directory. It is ok to overwrite the update.zip you used before. When it is done copying turn off your phone.
2. Unplug your phone and hold down both volume buttons and the power button until a strange menu with blue items pops up. This is called the recovery menu.
3. Scroll using the volume buttons to the menu item titled "reinstall packages" and press the power button to select.
4. Your phone should restart and you should be at a green menu which is clockwork mod. Do whatever you need to do from here.
Let me say, this is probably an older version of CWM because I pulled it from this thread :http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884364
It should work fine for flashing all 2.2 based roms but I do not have any say for the 2.3 roms as Ive never tried.
2nd way. Use odin to flash a kernel that already has the CWM recovery installed. This is a little more complicated than it sounds as some kernels are not compatible with some roms and you must check that before flashing. If you choose this method, you need to go find a kernel that works and understand how to use Odin before trying.

capocaccia said:
Ok, below im going to suggest two different ways to accomplish this.
Before you try this, if you are currently on 2.2 you will run into a 3e security error when in recovery. This process must be done from 2.1 or you must use the 3e security work around if attempting from 2.2. Which is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=909213
For me, its easier to use odin and flash back to 2.1 and then load the rom from there than to mess with the whole recovery thing.
How To: Install clockwork recovery.
DOWNLOAD THIS FILE FIRST THEN FOLLOW THE STEPS BELOW.
FILE: http://www.mediafire.com/?ve234hbg64ctcu0
1. Go to the download folder and rename clockworkrecovery.zip to update.zip. Mount your phone and drag the update.zip file into the root directory. It is ok to overwrite the update.zip you used before. When it is done copying turn off your phone.
2. Unplug your phone and hold down both volume buttons and the power button until a strange menu with blue items pops up. This is called the recovery menu.
3. Scroll using the volume buttons to the menu item titled "reinstall packages" and press the power button to select.
4. Your phone should restart and you should be at a green menu which is clockwork mod. Do whatever you need to do from here.
Let me say, this is probably an older version of CWM because I pulled it from this thread :http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=884364
It should work fine for flashing all 2.2 based roms but I do not have any say for the 2.3 roms as Ive never tried.
2nd way. Use odin to flash a kernel that already has the CWM recovery installed. This is a little more complicated than it sounds as some kernels are not compatible with some roms and you must check that before flashing. If you choose this method, you need to go find a kernel that works and understand how to use Odin before trying.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! It works

[Q] How to download clockworkmod and install while offline?

Hello.
ROM manager is unable to download clokworkmod recovery. Maybe because I'm in a "sanctioned country" CUBA and I have a lot of internet restrictions from both Google and my ISP.
My question is: Can I manually download clokworkmod recovery and copy it on the SD card and have ROM manager install it?
If the answer is yes: How? and where do I find Clockworkmod for the captivate?
i897 stock 2.1.1 rooted and unlocked.
Thanks.

ian77ex said:
Hello.
ROM manager is unable to download clokworkmod recovery. Maybe because I'm in a "sanctioned country" CUBA and I have a lot of internet restrictions from both Google and my ISP.
My question is: Can I manually download clokworkmod recovery and copy it on the SD card and have ROM manager install it?
If the answer is yes: How? and where do I find Clockworkmod for the captivate?
i897 stock 2.1.1 rooted and unlocked.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
all rom manager does is put this zip file on your sdcard. its not needed.
just drop this on the root of your sdcard, reboot to recovery and reinstall packages twice. CWM will come up then

Pirateghost said:
all rom manager does is put this zip file on your sdcard. its not needed.
just drop this on the root of your sdcard, reboot to recovery and reinstall packages twice. CWM will come up then
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the one caveat to this ... make sure you have the 2e boot loader when you boot into recovery. The 2e bootloader is the stock bootloader that comes with froyo. 3e will require you to have the update packages signed, and therefore will need to downgrade to 2e before you can switch to CWM.

pironic said:
the one caveat to this ... make sure you have the 2e boot loader when you boot into recovery. The 2e bootloader is the stock bootloader that comes with froyo. 3e will require you to have the update packages signed, and therefore will need to downgrade to 2e before you can switch to CWM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wrong.
2e RECOVERY comes from firmware 2.1, which the OP stated he was on. Froyo comes with 3e recovery. Has nothing to do with bootloader, because the bootloaders are the same between eclair and Froyo.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I777

GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Working, one more question. I noticed three things:
1 - If I reboot to recovery again it goes into stock recovery (2e). Then I hit reinstall packages only once and ClockWorkMod comes up.
2 - If I delete the update.zip from the sd card CWM will not work.
3 - ROM Manager still says that CWM is not installed therefore is not working OK.
Is all this ok? Should I select: "Install sdcard:update.zip" while in CWM? Should I do something else?

ian77ex said:
GREAT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
Working, one more question. I noticed three things:
1 - If I reboot to recovery again it goes into stock recovery (2e). Then I hit reinstall packages only once and ClockWorkMod comes up.
2 - If I delete the update.zip from the sd card CWM will not work.
3 - ROM Manager still says that CWM is not installed therefore is not working OK.
Is all this ok? Should I select: "Install sdcard:update.zip" while in CWM? Should I do something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That sounds pretty normal to me. If you are getting into CWM then thats all that really matters. The deal with ROM manager is that it doesnt work very well with our phones. But if you are trying to flash a custom ROM you can still do it without ROM Manager. However, you need to read up about the rom you want to flash because it is a slightly risky process. Its as risky as using ROM Manager and almost Russian roulette if you dont read.
But do not delete the update.zip after you install it. I dont know if it messes with the boot process of recovery mod but I do know its better to have that backup file on your SD card already if you run into a problem later on.

Don't bother with ROM manager. Its close to useless with SGS phones. Make sure your 3 botton combo works and you should be golden. Also making a jig isn't a bad idea also, just incase you do screw up and you get in a softbrick where your keycombos decide to not work.