Database Develop

[Q] sgs cwm recovery problem

hello .
i am using galaxy s i9000 , with stock ddjv9 , n speedmod kernel .
i flashed speedmod kernel n i was able to reboot into cwm recovery using 3 buttons .
then i installed rommanager from market but it was not recoznising the cwm recovery version , so i flashed cwm recovery again frm rom manager .
but when i select reboot into recovery or back up rom frm rom manager it reboots to stock 3e recovery , n doesnt perform any backup .
i can still boot into cwm recovery 2.5.1.2 using 3 buttons .
plzz help . i want to use rom manager to perform backup .

Forget from manager and you your recovery to perform a backup. It's called a nandroid back up, it saves your whole system in its current configuration.
You restore this backup if something goes wrong and you can't boot up to your home, but you can still use recovery. If you want to backup apps and stuff then use other means such as titanium backup. If you want specific backups then let me know and I will give you a list of what i use.
As far as I know rom manager does the same thing however automates it so you don't have to go to recovery and go through the selections. Another thing you may need to be aware of is if rom manager doesn't recognise your recovery, any backup you attempt to make may be corrupt and un usable. If you want to fix recovery you may need to reflash your kernal. Not just CWM. This should retain all data and settings.
Hop that helps
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA

But i cant do back up frm cwm recovery too . Its reboots into 3e recovery n nothing happens .
I want to use rommanager to flash custom roms after making a backup .
So my main aim is to make cwm recovery working thru rom manager .
My rommangaer can detect cwm recovery . After i selected flash recovery frm rommanager. But cant reboot into it or do other functions.
Plz help. With steps to perform.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA

i have same problem i think .
1. i tried to install a new rom downloaded it and put it into phone & sd card.
2. i have tried to apply update from sdcared first i found it it seems to run fine but after that phone keep turning on seeing "galaxy s i9000 " and than showing it again in loop .
3. i can get into clockworkmod recover v 3.0.0.5 by pression those 3 buttons.
4 . when i plug it into the computer i cannot do anything with the data.
hope someone can help me.
and sorry if that is not connected to the thread
thanks~!.
p.s
my phone is rooted

dhillon7 said:
i can still boot into cwm recovery 2.5.1.2 using 3 buttons
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thought you could get into this recovery??
Are you saying when you use the 3-button combo to get to this recovery it works, but then trying to make a backup does not work??
To fix recovery...
Talon26 said:
If you want to fix recovery you may need to reflash your kernal. Not just CWM. This should retain all data and settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dhillon7 said:
I want to use rommanager to flash custom roms after making a backup.
So my main aim is to make cwm recovery working thru rom manager.
My rommangaer can detect cwm recovery . After i selected flash recovery frm rommanager. But cant reboot into it or do other functions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what your saying is although rom manager detects it (recovery), it is useless as you cannot get into it to make a backup via rom manager
I suggest first go to manage apps and clear data for rom manager>>>open up rom manager>>>make a backup.
*CWM not detected?>>>flash via Rom manager>>>Backup...Remember because you are on stock your device is Galaxy S not Galaxy SMTD. As i believe MTD is for cyanogen based roms (I am 99% sure of this)
*If this still does not work, clear data again>>>do not open Rom manager but turn off phone>>>go to recovery (via 3-button combo)>>>Backup/restore>>>backup
If that does not work then Reflash your kernal as you did before, or any other kernal that you want that is compatible with stock roms. You will probably need Odin flashable kernals as your CWM is not working. You can try flash the kernal via rom manager, not sure what the result of this would be if CWM is not being installed properly. Instructions for installing the kernal will be from where ever you download the kernal.
So all the above should enable you to bypass Rom manager for the backup, or fix the backup/recovery which should fix the rom manager backup/compatibility whatever issues, Hopefully
HarryGN said:
1. i tried to install a new rom downloaded it and put it into phone & sd card.
2. i have tried to apply update from sdcared first i found it it seems to run fine but after that phone keep turning on seeing "galaxy s i9000 " and than showing it again in loop .
3. i can get into clockworkmod recover v 3.0.0.5 by pression those 3 buttons.
4 . when i plug it into the computer i cannot do anything with the data.
hope someone can help me.
and sorry if that is not connected to the thread
thanks~!.
p.s
my phone is rooted
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you mean the phone runs fine?? Did it ever boot up properly, as in get you to the home screen??
Have you tried reflashing the rom via recovery as you said it works...
If you use ADB you should be able to transfer back and forth, but there is a fairly long winded process to set it all up! However after this it should be easy..
If that doesn't work restore your backup which you should always make before flashing! (Im guessing your in this situation because you didn't do that? )
So if you don't have a back-up get an odin flashable rom either from stock firmware on sammobile.com or from the general forum where Ramad has made an extensive collection. Also you could flash DarkyROM 10.2 RE Odin ROM which is a custom rom and odin flashable..

I have heard frm sumwhere that we have to apply some update.zip two time to make cwm recovery working on sgs. Is it true ?
N which update .zip?
After reflashing kernel . Should ma rommanager detect recovery automatically or i have to do sum thing?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA

n plz i dont want to bypass rom manager ,
i want to use rommanager , help me to make cwm recovery working thru rommanager .
i tried clearing data frm rommanager but it didnt helped .

dhillon7 said:
I have heard frm sumwhere that we have to apply some update.zip two time to make cwm recovery working on sgs. Is it true ?
N which update .zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have not heard of this... Sometimes you do have to flash roms twice that have kernals to avoid problems which may be what you are talking about. All custom kernals use CWM as it has many extra features. If you follow the instructions of the rom/kernal you should never have any problems.
dhillon7 said:
After reflashing kernel . Should ma rommanager detect recovery automatically or i have to do sum thing?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should work, possibly its a problem with the kernal I'm not sure. But I can say that every time i have installed and used Rom manager (I dont usually use it, so i uninstall it ) I have had to re-install CWM. What happens is i get a popup telling me to install the latest CWM, I then have to pick my device, I do so and then the pop up just disappears and all downloads are available to me. So in my case it doesn't even look like it installs anything as it doesn't reboot etc.
Soooo the answer is that it will probably tell you that you need to install the latest CWM, so just follow the prompts and if it installs the latest then great. Hopefully it will work after this. If it doesn't you may have to try a more recent kernal. If that still doesn't work, then use Odin to flash a rom.
Odin flashable custom rom that usually never fails for anyone This rom is usually recommended to people with problems. After this you should have CWM and be able to use Rom manager like it should be used
dhillon7 said:
n plz i dont want to bypass rom manager ,
i want to use rommanager , help me to make cwm recovery working thru rommanager .
i tried clearing data frm rommanager but it didnt helped .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why are you so attached to rom manager?? You think its safe? Probably agree but you may have to dump it for the first flash and then get back to it once you can get it working.. If changing kernals doesn't work then it may be your stock rom, and to change will either have to be odin or a zip via recovery...
Hopefully all goes well, Good Luck
REALISATION...
This is all because you cannot get a backup... If the above does not work then forget the backup and just flash the rom via rom manager. Because even if you have the backup you wont be able to use it as you don't have a CWM recovery right??
The apps i use for backup
App list backup
Sms backup and restore
titanium backup

[Q] rom manager recovery mode

Hi guys,
posting here as i've tried searching and nothing comes up (anything that does has out dated download links or just doesnt apply)
Problem: after rooting my phone when i try to use rom manager, nothing happens. I've bout CWM touch, I've downloaded the normal CWM but when i try to either load cyanogen from the zip on my sd card it does nothing, it prompts me to back up, wipe etc but then when it says it will boot to recovery nothing happens. Also tried other apps to reboot and none of them work
any advice on this?
I've seen a cmd prompt set of instructions for Superoneclick, but im lost as to the getting to the directory through cmd tool.
any help would be greatly appreciated
phone specs
Android version 2.3.4
XMM6160
kernel: 2.6.35
build #: GRJ22
Software version: V20b
rooted: yes

Hi , if you have CWM touch, install QtADB on your computer => http://qtadb.wordpress.com/download/
reboot recovery from menu
or install android sdk and in a command prompt : adb reboot recovery
or at reboot OB, press G-key

Did you flashed recovery? First option in rom manager.
Trolling in the deep

yep clicked the first option, the prompt for the device comes up, i hit it, then the bar loads... then "succes".
then when i try to install from SD card nothing happens
Thankyou YkZ_1967 !!! However I installed qtADB and got reboot recovery, but it just reset the phone. Any ideas?

eddyd42 said:
yep clicked the first option, the prompt for the device comes up, i hit it, then the bar loads... then "succes".
then when i try to install from SD card nothing happens
Thankyou YkZ_1967 !!! However I installed qtADB and got reboot recovery, but it just reset the phone. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's depend what you want to do, if you install custom rom, reboot in recovery, wipe data/cache / dalvik , then install zip from sdcard and choose your rom, then after success flash, reboot now.

I want to install cyanogen but when i try to load from sd card in rom manager it wont go into boot recovery.
when i managed to get it to boot recovery in the way you suggested it only reset the phone.
I feel like i'm missing something, did not think it would be this difficult

eddyd42 said:
I want to install cyanogen but when i try to load from sd card in rom manager it wont go into boot recovery.
when i managed to get it to boot recovery in the way you suggested it only reset the phone.
I feel like i'm missing something, did not think it would be this difficult
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That means actually no cwm recovery installed yet so it will reset your phone everytime you want to enter recovery mode. This is the best thing you should do : reroot your phone like in this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1487105. It will automatically installing cwm recovery touch. After that, you can go to recovery mode by using quick boot (download it from playstore). Therefor, you can start flashing roms, but remember don't use rom manager, coz it wont detect your cwm recovery touch and forcing you to flash the non-touch cwm recovery.
Sent from my MB860

This is the root method I recommend : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22304591&postcount=91.
Sent from my MB860

follow the method with smartflashtools and v20.x patched with cwm touch by SnegovikRZN , then you have OB rooted with CWM Touch, you will be able to install CM7 and unbrick your phone.

Thank you thank you thank you!!!!
Got it to work that way all i had to do was flash that then clear data/wipe cache/wipe dalvik and then load from sd card and it works! very happy now

how can I boot into recovery , from a turned off phone

bimasakti85 said:
This is the root method I recommend : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=22304591&postcount=91.
Sent from my MB860
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dude d link for PATCHED_LGP970AT-00-V20n-262-XXX-DEC-31-2011%2B0_AP.7z iz not working pls can u gimme another source for this file

eddyd42 said:
Hi guys,
posting here as i've tried searching and nothing comes up (anything that does has out dated download links or just doesnt apply)
Problem: after rooting my phone when i try to use rom manager, nothing happens. I've bout CWM touch, I've downloaded the normal CWM but when i try to either load cyanogen from the zip on my sd card it does nothing, it prompts me to back up, wipe etc but then when it says it will boot to recovery nothing happens. Also tried other apps to reboot and none of them work
any advice on this?
I've seen a cmd prompt set of instructions for Superoneclick, but im lost as to the getting to the directory through cmd tool.
any help would be greatly appreciated
phone specs
Android version 2.3.4
XMM6160
kernel: 2.6.35
build #: GRJ22
Software version: V20b
rooted: yes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after you try to install zip from SD card and fails, check to see if it shows: error can't mount /sdcard. or something like that. ???
if it syas so. try a different recovery like TWRP, i was having a problem, similar to what you describe, an hour ago while rooting and flashing my mother's in law OB, i flashed the CWMT recovery and for some reason it couldn't load the ZIP from SD and it showed this error, so i flashed TWRP recovery and then it was fine, i manage to flash marvel rom and all was good.
hope it helps.
---------- Post added at 04:40 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:34 PM ----------
bimasakti85 said:
That means actually no cwm recovery installed yet so it will reset your phone everytime you want to enter recovery mode. This is the best thing you should do : reroot your phone like in this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1487105. It will automatically installing cwm recovery touch. After that, you can go to recovery mode by using quick boot (download it from playstore). Therefor, you can start flashing roms, but remember don't use rom manager, coz it wont detect your cwm recovery touch and forcing you to flash the non-touch cwm recovery.
Sent from my MB860
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are right, but i had a problem, the CWM was flash and ob went into CWM recovery mode, but for some reason it stated an error that it cannot mount /sdcard, so i tried via recovery menu to mount sd card, didnt work, then i tried again to flash a different version of CWM, same error, then i went and flshed TWRP and it worked.
i wonder if its a specific OB bug, bcoz this problem happen on my mother in law OB and on my OB it was rooting and flashing just fine, exactly like the guide.

[Q] problem with downgrading from ics to gb

i downgraded my n7000 from stock ics to stock gb just for installing paranoid rom , but when i try to install cwm , root , rom file from recovary , it fails...
though gb is running asusual in normal mode , what shud i do now to have paranoid rom on it....

---->Flash stock GB ROM once again (download one from dr.ketan's guide---be sure to choose a DRIECTLY ROOTABLE one ! )
---->Root stock ROM by following dr.ketan's guide
---->Flash the paranoid ROM and the 'hybrid' Gapps after the Rom
---->WIPE DATA/ Factory Reset
---->Enjoy new ROM
Also, I'd advise against going back to stock ICS - too risky with the Hardbrick bug around

Where does it fail more exactly?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

i had now installed a pre rooted rom , whn i go to recovery by vol up+home+powr and select file from apply update from sdcard the eroor is repeating
it says signature verification failed for the paranoid zip and and along with dat error msg failed to verify whole-file signature whn tryed to flash cwm...

what should i do now ??
can i install stock ics rom ??

Did you try this ?
Are you getting any error while following it ?
After rooting, try going to CWM recovery and Wipe data/factory reset and Wipe Dalvik Cache

Go to install zip from sdcard. I suppose you have cwm, right?
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

kannegantiaditya said:
i had now installed a pre rooted rom , whn i go to recovery by vol up+home+powr and select file from apply update from sdcard the eroor is repeating
it says signature verification failed for the paranoid zip and and along with dat error msg failed to verify whole-file signature whn tryed to flash cwm...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I presume by pre-rooted ROM,you flashed the KJ1 ROM by dr.Ketan ?
It had CWM,yes? Then WIPE DATA and WIPE DALVIK CACHE.After that, download the Paranoid ROM again and then try to flash it.Don't use apply update from sdcard, select install zip from sdcard and then choose zip from internal/external sdcard and browse and select the ROM zip file
---------- Post added at 10:50 PM ---------- Previous post was at 10:45 PM ----------
The apply update from sdcard flashes any update.zip present in your sdcard, which isn't the case with the Paranoid Rom zip ( unless you have renamed it ?)

thanks bro , able to root and install cwm...
will try paranoid now....

thank u both wafareonly and alexdumitru
it all worked atlast by using ketans guide to cwm and root...
time 4 me to grab a beer...

Partial Brick, Need Help Moving from ICS Build Please

If a pro could help me out I would appreciate it very much. I have been trying to move from a dangerous ICS build to JB and I am having this same problem.
My N7000 previously had this on it:
android 4.03
radio 19220zclp6
kernal version 3.0.15-i9220zclp1-cl131270 (bad ics kernal)
build number midnote 2.0 iml74k.zclp1
So I used ODIN to flash it to a GB rom but I got the com.android.process error and my phone would lock up.
So then I found this link http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1424997 and flashed this ROM "N7000UBLR3 N7000UVOLR1 - Download - Argentina" from the bottom of the page. I then wiped only the the cache (not the entire phone reset because I had forgot some data on the phone) and flashed it again but I still get the process error and phone locking up. I don't even know if this ROM is a safe ROM!!
Am I even on a safe kernal now? kernal n7000ublr3-cl890184 build imm76d.ublr3
What I need help doing is the following.
1. Before doing a full wipe, I need to either manually save my contacts to my PC or back them up. (no apps work but my pc can browse my phone) If I knew where my contacts were located, maybe I can manually copy them to my pc? So any help saving data from a partially unusable phone would help.
2. Flash to a safe GB rom, so I can then do the full wipes safely and then flash to a stable JB rom. (I have no clue which roms to choose here and need to be spoonfed the exact GB and JB roms to use. I think I prefer a CM10 JB rom.
Thanks for any help..

the rom you have flashed the last is an ics rom and its unsafe
go to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901191 and download the PhilZ-cwm6-UBLR3-PSN-v2.7 and put it in internal or eternal sd.
then boot into recovery and install zip from sd and point to the kernel you downloaded.
after this reboot and boot into recovery again. this time you should see CWM recovery
do a backup of your rom...... backup & restore > backup
after it completes do a factory wipe, dalvik wipe and cache wipe.
check if the phone boot normally

nokiamodeln91 said:
the rom you have flashed the last is an ics rom and its unsafe
go to http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901191 and download the PhilZ-cwm6-UBLR3-PSN-v2.7 and put it in internal or eternal sd.
then boot into recovery and install zip from sd and point to the kernel you downloaded.
after this reboot and boot into recovery again. this time you should see CWM recovery
do a backup of your rom...... backup & restore > backup
after it completes do a factory wipe, dalvik wipe and cache wipe.
check if the phone boot normally
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I will try it. So when you do a backup of a ROM, after flashing to a new ROM if you then do a restore, does it reinstall all your android apps on the new kernel or do you always need to reinstall your apps when you upgrade ROMS?

the phone becomes as it was when you did the backup. hopefully it will start.. but if it doesnt then you can manually extract the contacts using TB or from the nandroid backup folder
data.ext4.tar\data\data\com.android.providers.contacts\databases\
---------- Post added at 01:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 AM ----------
on the other note.. instead of doing a whole restore.. try advance restore of just the data part

nokiamodeln91 said:
the phone becomes as it was when you did the backup. hopefully it will start.. but if it doesnt then you can manually extract the contacts using TB or from the nandroid backup folder
data.ext4.tar\data\data\com.android.providers.contacts\databases\
---------- Post added at 01:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 01:23 AM ----------
on the other note.. instead of doing a whole restore.. try advance restore of just the data part
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The data backup restored the com.android.process error and phone locking problem so I just used that new CWM to flash and it boots fine now. The problem I get now is "null" every time I try to type on the keyboard. Resetting and rewiping everything and then reflashing the kernel doesn't seem to fix the "null" problem.
Anyone know how to fix null in the samsung keyboard?
EDIT: What full ROM file do I need to use so I can flash CSC via Odin? I think this will fix my null problem. Then I will reflash PhilZ via CWM.

the same rom you are on. tar.md5 . put that in the csc tab. but this will wipe data again,

CWM Recovery Won't Install

I'm following this tutorial on how to root my Orange UK GT-I9305 LTE Unlocked phone running 4.1.2.
Everything goes fine with Odin the phone reboots, then I unplug and turn off my phone, and boot into recovery mode only to find it hasn't installed and Android system recovery 3e is still there.
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?

synthecypher said:
I'm following this tutorial on how to root my Orange UK GT-I9305 LTE Unlocked phone running 4.1.2.
Everything goes fine with Odin the phone reboots, then I unplug and turn off my phone, and boot into recovery mode only to find it hasn't installed and Android system recovery 3e is still there.
Any ideas what I'm doing wrong?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not flashing as instructed is the usual .Like unzipping the file or wrong file faulty file download .
Try another recovery.
jje

JJEgan said:
Not flashing as instructed is the usual .Like unzipping the file or wrong file faulty file download .
Try another recovery.
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did follow them to the letter, does installing CWM Recovery actually root the phone or is "rooting" the phone a different process entirely that's required for installing CWM Recovery?.
:laugh:
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE
Model Number: GT-I9305
Build Number: JZO54K.I9305XXBMF1

synthecypher said:
I did follow them to the letter, does installing CWM Recovery actually root the phone or is "rooting" the phone a different process entirely that's required for installing CWM Recovery?.
:laugh:
Phone: Samsung Galaxy S3 LTE
Model Number: GT-I9305
Build Number: JZO54K.I9305XXBMF1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All depends upon the package but most CWM are root and recovery .
TRYhttp://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2002953

Ended up using Auto-Root which seemed to work no problem.

synthecypher said:
Ended up using Auto-Root which seemed to work no problem.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I initially had a rooted stock ROM that i was using for ages then upgraded to a custome ROM but for personal reasons decided to go back to stock.
Loaded stock ROM with intention of rooting only to get rid of bloatware, but not one of the ODIN Flash recoveries work at all, not one, so like you ended up using CF Auto and that worked but now im still stuck with Stock Recovery. I dont understand why none of the recoveries flash when they did before.
Cheers

trouble with cwm/ twrp
Hi all. Yes I'm a noob and I wouldn't ask If hadn't tried a plethora of ways to install either cwm or twrp.
It took me a good hour to find this thread so hope I'm in the right place.
Ok I used odin to root and cwm didn't stick so still on stock rec. However I used framaroot to get super su working and titanium says I'm all rooted up. Other apps only for root also work.
I've since tried using goo manager and Rom manager to install cwm or twrp and both say unsupported.
I've searched these here threads and found a few with same problem namely when using odin cwm wont stick and android reinstalls stock recovery.
So I'm a bit stuck, I'm rooted but have no cwm or twrp.
Any help would he much appreciated.

Try Philz recovery .

I have never used a custom recovery on this phone but i think i read somewhere that when flashing by odin the thing to do is not let odin reboot the phone. untick the reboot option. then when odin is done flashing and says pass shut down the phone . dont let it boot up.once phone is off you can boot into recovery by vol up+hom+power Here is the tricky part. as soon as you see the white samsung start to load aka bootloader screen release the power button but continue to press volume up and home. you should see the circle with the hat symbol. and enter into clockworkmod once in clockwork mod you will need to wipe data cache and dalvick DO NOT WIPE SYSTEM then flash a custom rom zip that you have previously copied to either your extsdcard or sdcard0 at the same time you probably will want to flash gapps as well. the thing is if you boot up before entering recovery . the default native recovery from samsung will take its place back. maybe it is easier to just flash rom manager in the play store. flash clockworkmod and then boot into recovery from the app itself. I9300 is supported . dont know about I9305

thanks !
ashraf sharif said:
I have never used a custom recovery on this phone but i think i read somewhere that when flashing by odin the thing to do is not let odin reboot the phone. untick the reboot option. then when odin is done flashing and says pass shut down the phone . dont let it boot up.once phone is off you can boot into recovery by vol up+hom+power Here is the tricky part. as soon as you see the white samsung start to load aka bootloader screen release the power button but continue to press volume up and home. you should see the circle with the hat symbol. and enter into clockworkmod once in clockwork mod you will need to wipe data cache and dalvick DO NOT WIPE SYSTEM then flash a custom rom zip that you have previously copied to either your extsdcard or sdcard0 at the same time you probably will want to flash gapps as well. the thing is if you boot up before entering recovery . the default native recovery from samsung will take its place back. maybe it is easier to just flash rom manager in the play store. flash clockworkmod and then boot into recovery from the app itself. I9300 is supported . dont know about I9305
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thats exactly how I understood the cwm not sticking problem. I have tried rom manager and said not compatable with my device as did goo manager for twrp. I think odin is the only way I get it to stick. So il flash in odin and il try to get into cwm as it boots and wipe those two files you mentioned.
But then can I just boot up as normal ? or will android try to reflash its stock rom ? Damn my phone for being so difficult
I only ask because I haven't decided what CR to use yet (or even looked for any). I was gonna get it all ready first then learn how to install a CR - 1 thing at a time i thought.
Anyway thanks for your help :good:
JJEgan I found Philz thread to be helpful but something I feel Im just not ready for. Im new to this and although the updated cwm looked cool there were just to much going on, maybe for a later day.
Thanks all the same :good:

wiping data plus cache plus dalvick cache is done to prepare your phone for the custom rom that you are going to flash. the wiping is to clean those partitions because if they are not erased you will have problems. especially if you go from one android version to another or touchwiz to aosp. it is done so you get a clean install with minimal issues. if it is not done you will most likely bootloop. effectively it is a factory reset. all of your apps and app data will be gone so you do not want to do that unless you have backed up your apps . however sometimes google automatically installs them after you sign in.
I am not sure why clockwork mod does not stick but if you copy the rom you want to your phone install clockworkmod with odin and then use clockwork mod to flas the rom and gapps package then factory reset you will not have the stock recovery anymore. but this has to be done without booting into android stock . PLEASE FOLLOW THE FLASHING INSTRUCTIONS TO THE BEST OF YOUR ABILITY. AND UNDERSTAND ANYTIME YOU FLASH OR MODIFY YOUR PHONE YOU VOID YOUR WARRANTY AND POSSIBLY CAN CAUSE IRREPARABLE DAMAGE. BEST OF LUCK!
---------- Post added at 04:28 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:24 PM ----------
Also philz recovery is highly recommended
HERE IS SOME VERY GOOD READING http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2362743&highlight=philz+recovery http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2344125

think I got it lol
Ok that's sounds good. However I've just read the threads you linked and now I've got to back up my imei and NV files first or il loose them when flashing. The procedure is all there and seems doable for a noob but i read some peeps are having trouble just doing that. I really wanted to root/install a CR regardless of the troubles cos I want full access and more importantly want to learn all the ins and outs so I can get the best use from my phone so glad I found this forum cause I'm sure I would have bricked my phone otherwise.
Might I ask if I've got this right tho?
1: backup imei/NV files
2: use odin to get cwm to stick using your method
3: boot into cwm to wipe data/dalvick cache and gapps
4:use cwm to flash a CR
5:factory reset
I think that's right?

CLOSE
1 BACKUP EFS FOLDER(IT CONTAINS imeiAND SERIAL NUMBER AND OTHER NETWORK SETTINGS) MAKE AT LEAST 2 BACKUPS ONE FOR EXTERNAL SDCARD AND ONE TO KEEP ON YOUR PC
2 INSTALL CWM RECOVERY USING ANY WORKING METHOD. byTHE WAY PHILZ CAN BACKUP EFS.
3 IN CWM RECOVERY MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP OF YOU CURRENT ROM. I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT ,THIS IS IN CASE YOUR FLASH FAILS YOU CAN RESTORE CURRENT ROM FROM BACKUP. ALWAYS BACKUP BEFORE A FLASH
4 IN CWM RECOVERY WIPE DATA, CACHE , AND DALVIK CACHE
5 IN CWM RECOVERY FLASH ZIP FOR ROM AND FLASH ZIP FOR GAPPS "GOOGLE APPS"
6 BOOT ANDROID THIS MAY TAKE UP TO 10 MINUTES FOR THE INITIAL BOOT. BE PATIENT. IF IT BOOTS YOU ARE DONE
7 IF PHONE DOES NOT BOOT THEN IN RECOVERY WIPE DATA AND CACHE AND DALVIK AGAIN
8 STILL NOT BOOTING FLASH ROM ANG GAPPS AGAIN
NOT BOOTING? RESTORE NANDROID
FACTORY RESET=WIPE DATA AND CACHE
DONT EVER WIPE SYSTEM UNLESS YOU HAVE A RECENT NANDROID. NANDROID IS GOOD BUT THE OLDER IT IS THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO GET CORRUPTED
ALSO IF YOU GET FORCE CLOSES FIXING PERMISSIONS USUALLY WORKS FOR THAT.
SOME ROMS ARE FLASHED IN DIFFERENT WAYS .ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DEVELOPERS INSTRUCTIONS

i had the same Problem before.
I Just disassembled the battery after a full-wipe for few minutes and it works... i don't know y, but that was the only way... ?!

brilliant thanks!
ashraf sharif said:
CLOSE
1 BACKUP EFS FOLDER(IT CONTAINS imeiAND SERIAL NUMBER AND OTHER NETWORK SETTINGS) MAKE AT LEAST 2 BACKUPS ONE FOR EXTERNAL SDCARD AND ONE TO KEEP ON YOUR PC
2 INSTALL CWM RECOVERY USING ANY WORKING METHOD. byTHE WAY PHILZ CAN BACKUP EFS.
3 IN CWM RECOVERY MAKE A NANDROID BACKUP OF YOU CURRENT ROM. I FORGOT TO TELL YOU THAT ,THIS IS IN CASE YOUR FLASH FAILS YOU CAN RESTORE CURRENT ROM FROM BACKUP. ALWAYS BACKUP BEFORE A FLASH
Am I backing up to ext SD card?
4 IN CWM RECOVERY WIPE DATA, CACHE , AND DALVIK CACHE
5 IN CWM RECOVERY FLASH ZIP FOR ROM AND FLASH ZIP FOR GAPPS "GOOGLE APPS"
Are these seperate zips?
6 BOOT ANDROID THIS MAY TAKE UP TO 10 MINUTES FOR THE INITIAL BOOT. BE PATIENT. IF IT BOOTS YOU ARE DONE
7 IF PHONE DOES NOT BOOT THEN IN RECOVERY WIPE DATA AND CACHE AND DALVIK AGAIN
8 STILL NOT BOOTING FLASH ROM ANG GAPPS AGAIN
NOT BOOTING? RESTORE NANDROID
FACTORY RESET=WIPE DATA AND CACHE
DONT EVER WIPE SYSTEM UNLESS YOU HAVE A RECENT NANDROID. NANDROID IS GOOD BUT THE OLDER IT IS THE MORE LIKELY IT IS TO GET CORRUPTED
ALSO IF YOU GET FORCE CLOSES FIXING PERMISSIONS USUALLY WORKS FOR THAT.
SOME ROMS ARE FLASHED IN DIFFERENT WAYS .ALWAYS FOLLOW THE DEVELOPERS INSTRUCTIONS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank-you for all that,I really appreciate it.
Can I ask the difference between the apps nandroid manager and titanium? I've backed up with both and wondered if i really needed to? The nandroid backup was nearly 3gb!
Also I was gona backup with qpst for imei and NV files but then read its only for US versions? Will the backup of efs folder include those?

honestly i really dont know what the differences are. l do not use custom recoveries or custom roms. i dont use titanium backup .Any rom I flash i get from sammobile.com. one reason i do not use custom roms is that none can support mhl. I use a monitor and bluetooth mouse and keyboard . without mhl I cant mirror my screen so i always stay with stock roms. i use Xposed framework for modifications.

ashraf sharif said:
I have never used a custom recovery on this phone but i think i read somewhere that when flashing by odin the thing to do is not let odin reboot the phone......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx you so much. this was the secound s3 that had this issue. deactivating auto reboot did the job!!!!