Trying to Install ROM

[Talguy]

Hi all,

First time poster and android owner here, I finally rooted my phone over the weekend and now trying to install a ROM on it to get better performance and battery life. I have SU and ROM Manager installed and made sure my phone was rooted using the application called Root Check. I followed Cory Streater Mac procedure to root my phone.

I loaded up ROM Manager, clicked the Download ROM button and searched the list for Liquid Thunderbread v2.6. and selected all three options of making a backup and wiping the caches. The phone rebooted but the ROM was never installed. What could be the reason for this? I have this feeling ClockworkMod Recovery is nto installed on my phone. Is this needed when installing a ROM through ROM Manager? I think I have the MR1 radio on my phone, would this effect installing Liquid Thunderbread.

From the About Phone Software in settings:
Android Version = 2.2.1
Baseband Version = 1.02.00.0103_2r

Also ever since I have rooted my phone and reception is even worse. Don't get as good 3G as I use to also my clock and weather app think I am in Argentina when I use the "Use my Location option" that is based on triangulating your position via cell towers. I think this maybe due to my radio's version but not sure.

So if you could help out a noob to the android rooting that would be awesome. I used the search feature but could not find anything similar to my problem

 

[project.in.process]

yes, ClockworkMod recovery is needed
boot up the phone like normal
enter Rom Manager
Flash ClockWorkMod recovery

then try again

after a while, you'll get used to flashing a Rom without RomManager (it can give incomplete Downloads & partial flashes), but for now it's your best friend

don't forget to check the MD5Sum (sort of a digital mass signature telling the properties of the file) of the ROM download BEFORE you flash it. an incomplete ROM download can screw over your phone. check it.
MD5Sums are provided on internet links of ROM downloads, uncertain if ROM Manager comments will provide them. that's another reason why it's not always the greatest source for ROM downloads.

as far as reception & what ROM you're about to flash (LTB 2.6, a Gingerbread ROM)---this can be fixed by flashing the newer Radios. remember--- Gingerbread ROMs require you to flash a GB radio (MR 2, MR 2.5 or other). so don't freak out if you don't have service after flashing a Gingerbread ROM. just remember to download a GB compatible radio & flash it in HBOOT (even after you flash a GB ROM)
look here & flash in hboot: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1045081
*remember: always delete or rename the radio file immediately when your phone boots up after flashing it. if you restart your phone while the file name "PG05IMG.ZIP" is still on it, you won't be able to do anything like flash a ROM. it'll keep trying to update your radio file.

for future reference, i'll write out some steps. mind me, they're off of memory & i'll try to keep them as simple stated as possible:

how to check an MD5Sum
1) download/install "hashdroid" from the android marketplace
2) download a ROM (be sure to keep the md5Sum text on screen)
a) move the ROM file to the root of your SD card (not necessary, but easiest to find it here when searching for it.
b) after flashin it, move it to a file called "ROMs" which you create on microsd card. not necessary, but i find it helpful.
3) open Hashdroid>"hash a file" tab>"click here to select the file to hash"> navigate to your downloaded ROM file, tap it> tap "calculate"
4) compare the MD5Sum in HashDroid to the MD5Sum shown on the ROM download page
do they match?
yes=it's a complete download. flash it.
no=it's an incomplete download. delete the ROM file & re-download. (multiple no's?=download link is bad. find another download link with new MD5Sum)

**how to flash your ROM (without relying on ROM Manager to flash it for you**
1) check your MD5Sum
2) reboot into recovery
this can be done either via:
A)power off phone, then hold Volume Down & Power until phone boots up to Android skating screen, then
using Volume Keys, navigate to "RECOVERY", tap Power to confirm
B) enter ROM Manager, tap "reboot into Recovery"
3) in Recovery, using Volume Keys, navigate to "wipe cache". power key to confirm. "yes"
4) navigate to "advanced", "wipe dalvik", power key to confirm
5) "go back", "wipe data/factory reset", power to confirm.
(perform steps 3,4,5, at least twice, i do it 3 times just to be sure. ROM Manager only does it once. wiping it multiple times reduces chances of remnants of previous ROMs or software)
6) in main Recovery screen, highlight "apply zip from sd card"
7) "choose zip from sd card"
8) navigate to your ROM file, power key to confirm choice of selection, "yes"
after it's finished unpacking/installing, choose "reboot now", power key to confirm. after you sign in & the ROM takes you to the home screen, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes so it can settle.

remember:
*flashing a new ROM will erase all your data/contacts/everything. SYNC your google account (emails, contacts, calendar entries) before flashing it.
* use TitaniumBackup to backup all apps & app data. do NOT use it to backup your system data. system data from one app will NOT play nicely with other ROMs system data.
* use "my backup root" to backup your MMS, SMS. or, most text applications will backup when prompted.
*after flashing your ROM, allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before modifying it. this will let it load up everything it needs to. THEN you can restore your apps/data by going to the market, install TitaniumBackup, open it, "restore" tab, menu>batch operations, scroll down to "restore user apps & data", and let it do its thing.

wow. sorry for overkill. just got some time to kill

 

[Talguy]

Thanks project.in.process, I'll try that when I get home from work

 

[project.in.process]

no worries, man

i'm at work. slow day, so i figured i'd unload more information than you could possibly want

it gets easier.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Good info from project.in.process. If I may add...

1. ROM Manager kinda sucks for installing ROMs on the Thunderbolt. I seriously recommend using it to flash clockworkmod recovery (and possibly to boot into recovery), and that's it. Everything else can be done directly from the recovery screen...and is less likely to go wrong.

2. Always do a FULL wipe when installing a new ROM. It may not always be necessary when upgrading to a different version of the same ROM, but it never hurts. Just to be clear, a FULL wipe is at minimum (while in clockwork recovery):

Wipe data/factory reset
Wipe Cache
Advanced settings --> wipe dalvik

3. Check the stickies here if you're unsure about backing up your apps and data before you start. In the ROM installation instructions, I believe there is a link to guide I wrote on this subject specifically. Remember, a lot of your settings and data are synced through Google (calendar, contacts, etc), but a lot is not. It's not a big deal to back it up and restore it, but obviously you need to do that first before you install the new ROM.

4. Always charge your battery to full prior to starting. Do not leave your phone plugged in during the process.

I agree that after you go through the flashing process once or twice it begins to become second nature (and much easier), but the first time you do it, be sure to have plenty of time set aside, and take care to follow steps carefully.

 

[Talguy]

yes, ClockworkMod recovery is needed
boot up the phone like normal
enter Rom Manager
Flash ClockWorkMod recovery

then try again

**how to flash your ROM (without relying on ROM Manager to flash it for you**
1) check your MD5Sum
2) reboot into recovery
this can be done either via:
A)power off phone, then hold Volume Down & Power until phone boots up to Android skating screen, then
using Volume Keys, navigate to "RECOVERY", tap Power to confirm
B) enter ROM Manager, tap "reboot into Recovery"
3) in Recovery, using Volume Keys, navigate to "wipe cache". power key to confirm. "yes"
4) navigate to "advanced", "wipe dalvik", power key to confirm
5) "go back", "wipe data/factory reset", power to confirm.
(perform steps 3,4,5, at least twice, i do it 3 times just to be sure. ROM Manager only does it once. wiping it multiple times reduces chances of remnants of previous ROMs or software)
6) in main Recovery screen, highlight "apply zip from sd card"
7) "choose zip from sd card"
8) navigate to your ROM file, power key to confirm choice of selection, "yes"
after it's finished unpacking/installing, choose "reboot now", power key to confirm. after you sign in & the ROM takes you to the home screen, let it sit for about 5-10 minutes so it can settle.

remember:
*flashing a new ROM will erase all your data/contacts/everything. SYNC your google account (emails, contacts, calendar entries) before flashing it.
* use TitaniumBackup to backup all apps & app data. do NOT use it to backup your system data. system data from one app will NOT play nicely with other ROMs system data.
* use "my backup root" to backup your MMS, SMS. or, most text applications will backup when prompted.
*after flashing your ROM, allow it to sit for at least 10 minutes before modifying it. this will let it load up everything it needs to. THEN you can restore your apps/data by going to the market, install TitaniumBackup, open it, "restore" tab, menu>batch operations, scroll down to "restore user apps & data", and let it do its thing.

wow. sorry for overkill. just got some time to kill

Ok so I flashed Clockwork Mod onto my phone via ROM Manager. Rebooted my phone went back into ROM Manager and selected the reboot into Clockwork Mod Recovery. The phone rebooted right back into the bootloader. I can not get into Clockwork Mod Recovery.

Anyone experience this problem before

 

[nate44]

4. Always charge your battery to full prior to starting. Do not leave your phone plugged in during the process.

Hey Pete I agree with everything you said, but I never knew you weren't supposed to have your phone plugged in while flashing ROMS. I've done it several times while plugged into via usb on my laptop and haven't noticed any problems. Do you have more info about this?

 

[nate44]

Ok so I flashed Clockwork Mod onto my phone via ROM Manager. Rebooted my phone went back into ROM Manager and selected the reboot into Clockwork Mod Recovery. The phone rebooted right back into the bootloader. I can not get into Clockwork Mod Recovery.

Anyone experience this problem before

Try uninstalling/reinstalling

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Ok so I flashed Clockwork Mod onto my phone via ROM Manager. Rebooted my phone went back into ROM Manager and selected the reboot into Clockwork Mod Recovery. The phone rebooted right back into the bootloader. I can not get into Clockwork Mod Recovery.

Anyone experience this problem before

Try using a different version of CWM Recovery... in ROM Manager its the last option in the app "All ClockworkMod Recoveries"

 

[Talguy]

Try using a different version of CWM Recovery... in ROM Manager its the last option in the app "All ClockworkMod Recoveries"

Ok, I will try this when I get home from work. We don't get wifi here and I only have one bar of 3G

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Hey Pete I agree with everything you said, but I never knew you weren't supposed to have your phone plugged in while flashing ROMS. I've done it several times while plugged into via usb on my laptop and haven't noticed any problems. Do you have more info about this?

I believe it has to do with the battery stats. While it is recommended in some cases to do a wipe of the battery stats prior to installing a ROM (along with data/cache/dalvik), I believe some ROMs may do this automatically when installing (?). You always want to make sure you battery is at 100% when clearing the batt stats. I'm not sure about the plugged in advice, to be honest, I'm just repeating advice I've seen elsewhere -- it may be related to the same thing. May not be a huge deal, as I have left my device plugged in via USB as well (especially when also using ADB).

Either way, it kinda makes sense, and there's certainly no harm in making sure you have a full charge prior to installing. I guess the main point was that when troubleshooting problems with flashing, you always want to eliminate as many variables as possible to aid in diagnosis.

 

[Talguy]

Ok update to my problem. I tried to flash older version of Clockwork onto my phone and still stuck in that bootloader recovery loop. I have no idea why ROM Manager will not flash clockwork mod onto my phone. Thinking about doing a factory reset and rerooting the phone all over again. Does that sound like the best option for me to go or is there a fix for this.

UPDATE

SO i did some further investigation and found this thread. It says my bootloader need to say S-Off which i think it means signature is off. My bootloader says it is still on. So I guess I need to restore my phone to the factory OS and then go back through the Mac rooting procedure.

 

[Talguy]

So I finally got around to reattempting to root my found after I unrooted from the first unsuccessfully attempt. All I have to say about the second go is that I was successful. Clockwork Mod was finally able to flash to the phone and I can now boot in it. At this moment I am installing Liquid Smoot Thunderbread onto the phone. This weekend I may upgrade to gingersense and the 2.5 radio.

Wish me luck and let the addiction of flashing my phone begin.