[Q] Preserve my recovery while flashing ROM zip - Sony Xperia T, TL, TX, V

Hello all,
as long as I would like to test new CM12 official nightlies as they become available for my Xperia T, I'd also like to have a fast and easy way to revert back to my previous ROM.
This would be easily done with the backup and restore function of any CWM based recovery, but every time I flash a nightly I get my recovery replaced by Cyanogen's one, that (AFAIK) lacks this useful feature.
Is there any way to prevent my current recovery from being replaced every time I flash a nightly, or a simple way to put it back?
I tried hard not to, but today I ended up restoring bootloader lock, stock firmware and all, then repeating all the steps to install a custom recovery.
Please, tell me there's another way 'round it.

You can flash a boot.img that includes CWM before restoring your backup.
I recommend DoomKernel for this purpose.
Another way would be to flash a revovery for FOTA partition, which will replace all recoveries in kernel.

I flashed DoomKernel v12 via fastboot and it worked really nicely. It's a fast way to put a recovery on my device when I want to flash something, and I can even choose what recovery to use. Thanks!
Having installed a FOTAKernel recovery, are there any precautions I must take while flashing other ROMs if I want to keep the recovery in place? Also, what operations will erase it or make it unavailable?

Darsil said:
I flashed DoomKernel v12 via fastboot and it worked really nicely. It's a fast way to put a recovery on my device when I want to flash something, and I can even choose what recovery to use. Thanks!
Having installed a FOTAKernel recovery, are there any precautions I must take while flashing other ROMs if I want to keep the recovery in place? Also, what operations will erase it or make it unavailable?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No rom I know of contains an integrated FOTA recovery, so you shouldn't have to worry about that when flashing a new rom.
The only way to revert to stock recovery is to flash a stock ftf via Flashtool.

Related

[Q] Do kernels always include recovery?

The first thing I had to do to root this phone was flash a kernel which put on CWM.
Then I flashed CM10.1 which put on a newer CWM.
Then I flashed on kernel which put on a branded version of CWM.
On my previous phone, the recovery partition was flashed separate from anything else. This seems a much safer idea as no matter what you flash onto the phone you can always go to recovery to mend it.
The way this is on the SGS, if I flashed the wrong thing I could surely break recovery as easily as the rom and be stuck. Is this a technical limitation in that the SGS doesn't support recovery as usefully as it might or what?
This presumably also makes it impractical to have the recovery I want? If I flash a touch recovery for instance then it's just going to be removed next rom update.

[Q] Recovery doesn't "stick"?!

Hello guys,
I would like to flash a different version of CWM onto my N7000 but somehow it does not stick.
I currently run AOKP 4.1.2 and it has 6.0.1.5 as CWM which always gives you the md5 generation error when you do a nandroid backup.
I've installed Rom Manager and downloaded a different version of CWM and tried to install it both with Rom manager and also in CWM itself.
On the first boot after I flash some other recovery like the one from rom Manager (6.0.1.2) it actually loads the new recovery and lets me do a sucessful nandroid for example, but when i reboot into recovery another time the old recovery is back.
When I flash a new rom though, the CWM does get permanently replaced. I flashed a different rom which came with CWM 6.0.2.8 and then I permanently had that version. (same behaviour when I tried to overwrite it with the 6.0.1.2, wouldnt stick).
I even tried just partially restoring the nandroid and leaving boot out, but then phone will get stuck on boot.
Is there any way to permanently flash a recovery to the note without overwriting the whole boot.img? CWM and Rom Manager do not seem to be able. Maybe Heimdall or ODIN? Been so long since I had to use them..
Hope someone knows whats goin on with the recoveries.?!
because the recovery is in the kernel. to change recovery, you need to change the kernel. MD5 error is a known bug in AOKP.
you can use this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmgzcjN0MWMub25uYW5kYnVwIl0.
to make a nandroid backup on AOKP roms
nokiamodeln91 said:
because the recovery is in the kernel. to change recovery, you need to change the kernel. MD5 error is a known bug in AOKP.
you can use this
https://play.google.com/store/apps/...wsMSwxLDIxMiwiY29tLmgzcjN0MWMub25uYW5kYnVwIl0.
to make a nandroid backup on AOKP roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks man, yea i got some tools installed that should be able to do a nandroid from running system, was just wondering if there is a way to permanently switch the recovery - it is sometimes booted, right after flash but then its gone - so there must be a way to stop the restore or?
Or are there any custom aokp kernels out there for the n7000? usually they only support TW or CM as far as I saw, or only older versions.

Trying to install 4.4 Rom, falling at every hurdle.

Hi There,
Just wondering if anyone had any ideas why my phone refuses to co-operate!
Basically, after getting bored of the stock rom when I first got my phone, I somehow managed to install a CM based rom. That worked, but I got bored of the fact that the camera never seemed to work right, and some apps didn't work/ were graphically buggy. Assuming it was just a badly ported graphics driver or whatever, I found a way, using FlashTool, to revert to the stock rom (C6603_10.3.1.A.0.244_Generic UK to be precise). I wasn't sure exactly what it did, but it was back how it used to be. sorted.
So, since kitkat made it's way to the XZ, I thought I'd try one of those roms, being the curious bugger that I am. The process I ended up going with eventually was:
>Downgrading Kernel to a lower version because the root explot wouldn't work on 10.3.1.A.0.244
>Rooting using "DooMLoRD_Easy-Rooting-Toolkit_v18"
>Upgrading kernel to one that would accept a recovery
>Installing TWRP
>Booting into recovery, CWM appeared instead. Strange, I thought. Oddly, mount USB wouldn't work at all, so I had to boot the phone back up to transfer the kitkat rom over
>Trying to flash the rom gave me an error number 7
>Boot Loop, at which point I just flashed 10.3.1.A.0.244 again.
I've tried this twice now, first with DooM Kernel, and then once with a different one. Neither CWM or TWRP have worked properly. Any help? Or am I just cursed?
Cheers
Tried this again, did literally everything I could think of and still no dice. Help? Have I somehow forced my phone to be on stock software forever?
If you dont unlock your bootloader, you can not use any kind of custom kernel.
That means aosp or aokp based firmwares can not run over locked bootloader.
Locked bootloader checks sign of kernel, if not certificated you will stuck on bootloop.
If you want to use any kind of custom rom... basicly.
1. Backup ta partition. " so you can revert any time you want."
2. Copy firmware zip file tou your internal or external sdcard.
3. Flash custom kernel. "Most of kernel have recovery option build in".
4. Boot in recovery mod. "Mostly press volume down while booting"
5. Insall custom rom.
6.a wipe dalvik-cache
6.b factory reset
Old setting might work or not with new rom. So first try to wipe dalvik- cache. If you stuck on boot loop or any kind of problem, just boot in recovery again and run factory reset.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
eryen said:
If you dont unlock your bootloader, you can not use any kind of custom kernel.
That means aosp or aokp based firmwares can not run over locked bootloader.
Locked bootloader checks sign of kernel, if not certificated you will stuck on bootloop.
If you want to use any kind of custom rom... basicly.
1. Backup ta partition. " so you can revert any time you want."
2. Copy firmware zip file tou your internal or external sdcard.
3. Flash custom kernel. "Most of kernel have recovery option build in".
4. Boot in recovery mod. "Mostly press volume down while booting"
5. Insall custom rom.
6.a wipe dalvik-cache
6.b factory reset
Old setting might work or not with new rom. So first try to wipe dalvik- cache. If you stuck on boot loop or any kind of problem, just boot in recovery again and run factory reset.
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, thanks for your reply!
I had unlocked the bootloader when I first got the phone and just assumed it would be permanent. Would flashing it back to stock firmware re-lock the bootloader?
But yes, assuming my boot loader is still unlocked ( I have tried to check and it doesn't seem to be locked) I have been through those steps basically. I am fine to flash a kernel with a recovery but the recovery never works properly/ at all. I can root the phone no problem though.
Best to extract the boot.img from the zip file of the ROM you want to flash, and flash that first. Then flash the ROM from its recovery.
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
shoey63 said:
Best to extract the boot.img from the zip file of the ROM you want to flash, and flash that first. Then flash the ROM from its recovery.
Sent from my C6603 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cheers, I'll give that a go - I was under the impression that you weren't supposed to flash kernels that weren't designed for the currently installed ROM though? It just seems that any kernel I flash isn't working properly so I didn't think doing that would play any nicer with the phone
SuburbanKnight said:
Cheers, I'll give that a go - I was under the impression that you weren't supposed to flash kernels that weren't designed for the currently installed ROM though? It just seems that any kernel I flash isn't working properly so I didn't think doing that would play any nicer with the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're not actually going to boot into your current rom after flashing the kernel.
Flash the kernel via fastboot, then boot into recovery and flash the rom.
All this should be covered in the installation instructions of whatever rom you're trying to flash in any case....
Sent from my C6603 using Tapatalk
Well, that seems to have done it! Thanks very much for your help.
So, I guess the moral here is that if you're on stock and need a recovery to flash a new ROM, always use the boot.img from the ROM you'll be using.
Thanks again - I'd never seen that said before but quite possibly I wasn't paying attention!

How To Flash Tangerine Kernel Or DooMLoRD Kernal Without Phone Data Losing ??

I need to flash Tangerine Kernel Or DooMLoRD Kernal.. one time i test. but my all data erased. i want flash one of kernal without data losing.. Please Can you Help Me ?
Stock 12.1.A.1.205
JellyBean 4.3
C5303
KoRTaN said:
I need to flash Tangerine Kernel Or DooMLoRD Kernal.. one time i test. but my all data erased. i want flash one of kernal without data losing.. Please Can you Help Me ?
Stock 12.1.A.1.205
JellyBean 4.3
C5303
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tangerine only works for Lollipop roms so don't even try it or you be stuck in a bootloop, Doom kernel I think it's too old, try Williams Kernel 9.1, best one for 4.3 roms. Did you unlock your bootloader?
HUEguy said:
Tangerine only works for Lollipop roms so don't even try it or you be stuck in a bootloop, Doom kernel I think it's too old, try Williams Kernel 9.1, best one for 4.3 roms. Did you unlock your bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stock 12.1.A.1.205 / C5303 / JellyBean 4.3 / Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted
Can I Flash Williams Kernel 9.1 Without Any data losing (auto wipe data\chache) or bootloop error ??
KoRTaN said:
Stock 12.1.A.1.205 / C5303 / JellyBean 4.3 / Bootloader Unlocked / Rooted
Can I Flash Williams Kernel 9.1 Without Any data losing (auto wipe data\chache) or bootloop error ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing a kernel doesn't auto wipe data. Since you're completely stock right now, I am guessing you'll be flashing the kernel via fastboot so you should be fine. As for boot loop errors, the kernel's meant for stock based roms so it shouldn't be a problem. I remember using it with Existenz. Worse case scenario, you'll have to reflash the kernel part from the stock firmware with Flashtool if things go wrong. Alternatively you could take a backup of your kernel via Rashr since you're already rooted.
Speaking of Rashr, you could use it to flash a recovery in your Fota partition which doesn't go away unless and until you remove it using stock firmware. This means that no matter which kernel or rom you flash, you'll always have a working recovery to get yourself out of trouble. You can take a complete nandroid backup of your system before even trying Williams kernel and in the off chance your phone is stuck in a bootloop, you can just restore your nandroid backup and you'll be back to stock.
If you're still worried about your data, just get Titanium backup and make a backup before you proceed. I have switched over a dozen roms in the past few months only because of it. Imagine setting up 30-40 apps every time you migrate to a different rom
XenolithicYardZone said:
Flashing a kernel doesn't auto wipe data. Since you're completely stock right now, I am guessing you'll be flashing the kernel via fastboot so you should be fine. As for boot loop errors, the kernel's meant for stock based roms so it shouldn't be a problem. I remember using it with Existenz. Worse case scenario, you'll have to reflash the kernel part from the stock firmware with Flashtool if things go wrong. Alternatively you could take a backup of your kernel via Rashr since you're already rooted.
Speaking of Rashr, you could use it to flash a recovery in your Fota partition which doesn't go away unless and until you remove it using stock firmware. This means that no matter which kernel or rom you flash, you'll always have a working recovery to get yourself out of trouble. You can take a complete nandroid backup of your system before even trying Williams kernel and in the off chance your phone is stuck in a bootloop, you can just restore your nandroid backup and you'll be back to stock.
If you're still worried about your data, just get Titanium backup and make a backup before you proceed. I have switched over a dozen roms in the past few months only because of it. Imagine setting up 30-40 apps every time you migrate to a different rom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks For Details And i need to know, How to flash recovery & kernal ?
Kernal Can speedup my XSP ?
KoRTaN said:
Thanks For Details And i need to know, How to flash recovery & kernal ?
Kernal Can speedup my XSP ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I am not mistaken, SP like most older Xperia phones (not sure about the new ones) does not have a stock recovery nor does it have a recovery partition. The recovery is part of the kernel (the boot.img file or the .elf file). So when you flash a kernel, you are flashing the recovery along with it. This is why people flash a recovery in the Fota kernel partition since its a separate partition and is not overwritten while flashing other roms or kernels. A recovery flashed in the fota partition becomes your primary and only visible recovery irrespective of how many recoveries came bundled with the kernel you flashed. The only way to remove it is by flashing stock firmware or to be more specific, the fota kernel from the stock firmware. If you need it, you can find it here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=59908442
Now since your phone's already unlocked and rooted, go grab Rashr from the playstore and use it to flash the latest Twrp from here :
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=61698751
This way you will have a permanent recovery which you can use to take a nandroid backup before you try new roms or kernels and restore it if things go wrong.
Your other option is to flash the kernel via fastboot but remember if you flash another rom, the existing kernel will be overwritten by the kernel that came with the rom. It becomes really cumbersome when you are trying different roms. Another reason to flash a recovery in the Fota partition.
As for a new kernel speeding things up, yeah it helps. The first link is also the main thread for Tangerine kernel which has CPU overclocking and governor options and a bunch of other tweaks to improve performance but its only for LP roms. If you wanna stay stock, you can try the Williams kernel. Doesn't have as many features as the Tangerine kernel but more than the stock kernel. If you know which tweaks to make, I am sure you can gain a performance boost from either.

Recovery

EDIT: SOLVED!!!
Hi guys! I have a question. I have twrp that I installed with the help of advanced stock kernel. But it doesn't look like a permanent recovery. If I install a custom ROM without a recovery, I will lose my recovery. Can you help me install a permanent recovery on my phone. ?
I have tried flashing using flashtool and it only boots into twrp and not android.....
Thanks !
panzerox123 said:
Hi guys! I have a question. I have twrp that I installed with the help of advanced stock kernel. But it doesn't look like a permanent recovery. If I install a custom ROM without a recovery, I will lose my recovery. Can you help me install a permanent recovery on my phone. ?
I have tried flashing using flashtool and it only boots into twrp and not android.....
Thanks !
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The reason you lose recovery when installing a new ROM is because TWRP is built in Advanced Stock Kernel,and when you flash for example SLiMM ROM it reflashes its kernel.
That means that every time you install a new ROM you will need to reflash the kernel.
Dinkec27 said:
The reason you lose recovery when installing a new ROM is because TWRP is built in Advanced Stock Kernel,and when you flash for example SLiMM ROM it reflashes its kernel.
That means that every time you install a new ROM you will need to reflash the kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, Im going to close the thread now . The problem was that i cannot flash the kernel on roms like PA or CM without getting a bootloop, but i managed to find out how to flash a recovery to the recovery partition and then enter it using a key combo, and it works quite well, perfect for my needs!
Thanks anyway!:good:

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