Root Do not Factory Reset your Rooted Phone

[dave2322]

my phone will not load in recovery. never has been able to

 

[AndyOpie150]

Could you explain what steps you are performing in your attempt to get your phone into the recovery menu. Is your phone rooted? What exploit (rooting method app) did you use to root if it is rooted?

 

[Phil42]

If I'm rooting an Optimus V just so I can use various root applications (Titanium Backup, Samba Filesharing, etc.) and not interested in flashing a new ROM then what are the rules about Factory Resets?

In addition, I've received a suggestion to install Clockwork after rooting my phone to ensure against bricking the phone by accident in the future. Will this work/help with the Optimus V?

Also - what do I do if the phone's in an unstable state and I need to do the equivalent of a full reset?

Thanks for any assistance. I've used other Androids in the past but this is my first experience with the Optimus and I want to make sure I'm doing everything correctly.

 

[AndyOpie150]

You probably have a Hitachi screen. This means you need to download and install/flash the VM670NH_recovery.img(the Bob Zohme Modified CWMod recovery) or the new Touch Screen recovery (it allows you to use the touch screen or the hard keys). For install instructions go here http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770
For the touch screen recovery go here http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...l-things-root-guide-updated-03-09-2012-a.html
This is a cool thread where I and the other Guides and Moderators try to keep all the best stuff for the V, if it looks like it's missing something shot me a pm with the name/function and link.

 

[brotherswing]

For the record, the new touch recovery works with both generations of the V.

 

[Phil42]

How can I determine which screen I've got installed in my Optimus? I haven't the faintest idea how old the phone is because I purchased it used.

Also, I couldn't find an answer to my previous question - if I'm rooting the phone just to use apps which require root (Titanium Backup, Samba File sharing, etc.) and am not planning on flashing a replacement ROM do the rules for not selecting Factory Reset still apply? And what do I do if the phone is unstable and I do need to do the equivalent of a Factory Reset?

 

[Atma]

How can I determine which screen I've got installed in my Optimus? I haven't the faintest idea how old the phone is because I purchased it used.

Download terminal emulator from the market. Start it up and type:

dmesg | grep hitachi
dmesg | grep novatek

if you get output with the novatek line, you have an old (first-gen) OV.
if you get output with the hitachi line, you have a new (2nd-gen) OV.

You may have to type in su first. I can't remember.

Also, I couldn't find an answer to my previous question - if I'm rooting the phone just to use apps which require root (Titanium Backup, Samba File sharing, etc.) and am not planning on flashing a replacement ROM do the rules for not selecting Factory Reset still apply? And what do I do if the phone is unstable and I do need to do the equivalent of a Factory Reset?

After you're rooted, even with stock ROM, do not use factory reset in the privacy menu. You can use factory reset in the recovery menu.

 

[AndyOpie150]

^+1 Using the factory reset option in the privacy setting on a rooted device = B.R.I.C.K.

 

[Phil42]

Download terminal emulator from the market. Start it up and type:

dmesg | grep hitachi
dmesg | grep novatek

if you get output with the novatek line, you have an old (first-gen) OV.
if you get output with the hitachi line, you have a new (2nd-gen) OV.

You may have to type in su first. I can't remember.

I get -

grep: not found.
write: Broken pipe

 

[AndyOpie150]

You need to type in su first. Type in the line for the Hitachi first. Then if it says: not found, type in the one for the Novatek. If you get anything on the grep output then you have that screen version.

 

[Phil42]

You need to type in su first. Type in the line for the Hitachi first. Then if it says: not found, type in the one for the Novatek. If you get anything on the grep output then you have that screen version.

I did type su first and the prompt changed from $ to # so I'm certain I was in superuser mode, but apparently it can't find grep.

 

[nijel]

You are on stock rom with no busybox, right? That's why grep is not found.

 

[Phil42]

You need to type in su first. Type in the line for the Hitachi first. Then if it says: not found, type in the one for the Novatek. If you get anything on the grep output then you have that screen version.

That was it. I installed Busybox and went back to the Terminal Emulator and typed in the dmesg commands. It turns out I've got the novatek display.

Rooting the phone went smoother than I expected and worked on the first try.

 

[AndyOpie150]

Thanks nijel, that was a good call. A lot of times I assume people install Busybox right after rooting with the Gingerbreak.apk as it has the necessary binaries for all rooted tasks.

Phil42: The only recovery you need to avoid using is Xionia v1.2518.6 as it sometimes doesn't work right on Novatek screen models. The Xionia v1.2518.4 is what will work the best. Xionia works the best for Froyo ROM's.
The Bob Zohme Modified CWM recovery (VM670NH_recovery.img) works best for CM-7 and CM-9 ROM's.

The Touch Screen recovery(can remember the designation) works just as well, but should not be used to flash a radio image as it will brick your phone. As long as you do not install the VM update, which will take away root and tethering, then it is not an issue as you wont need to flash the radio image to straighten it out. I have the Touch Screen recovery and really like all the functions on it. It has one more added menu option and you can either use the touch screen or the hard keys.

With the Novatek screen you can flash any ROM or kernel built for the V that's out there.

 

[memar]

OK, I'm hoping someone can help me here because I am desperate.
I have read through at least 20+ forums and can't find a solution to my issue, so this is my last hope!

Alright, I know, I'm stupid - I was in recovery mode and moronically did the LG Factory reset everyone says NEVER TO DO. But I didn't do it from the privacy menu - I did it from the Xionia clockwork recovery.

Now I'm stuck in blue fastboot with my optimus V. Can't go back into recovery - it just keeps bringing me back here. When I try to go into recovery, I get an Android 'unpackaging' graphic and says Android system recovery, formatting cache...factory reset, rebooting.. and then goes back to blue fastboot screen.

So..

I tried connecting with ADB using my mac.

But when I user terminal and put in:
Users/.../Desktop/android-sdk/platform-tools/adb devices

I get this, followed by nothing.

List of devices attached:

When I plug my phone into the USB of my comp, it says "fastboot: processing commands"...

I was able to get some response using the fastboot command.

fastboot reboot is able to reboot my phone

But when I put in:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
(I renamed the recovery file recovery.img)

it says "error: cannot load recovery.img"

I continue to get problems when I keep the original file name, and even when I just try booting the recovery image.

/Desktop/android-sdk/platform-tools/fastboot boot xionia_cwma_12518.6.img
cannot load 'xionia_cwma_12518.6.img'

Desktop/android-sdk/platform-tools/fastboot flash recovery xionia_cwma_12518.6.img
error: cannot load 'xionia_cwma_12518.6.img'


Any advice please? I'm at my wits end

 

[AndyOpie150]

I've been pretty busy, so I couldn't get over here. Have you tried just pulling battery and holding power button for 30sec (this is called a soft reset). I just managed to get myself in the fastboot screen 2 days ago. Worked for me. If it doesn't work for you PM me and I'll try to get over here just as soon as I can (I have the phandroid app, when you give me a PM I get a notification/ringtone on the phone).

 

[nijel]

...
But when I put in:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
(I renamed the recovery file recovery.img)

it says "error: cannot load recovery.img"
...

Did you type full path to recovery.img file enclosed in ' or "?

 

[AndyOpie150]

I'm going to find you member who used the fastboot root to help you out. I have one in mind, Just a little foggy on the name.

 

[baracuda68]

Okay, I want to understand this topic, so I don't hose my phone in the future.
I have my Optimus V, stock ROM, rooted/busybox.

I understand where (not) to go to factory reset the phone in the menu, but in the past,before it was rooted,I have had to do the 3 fingered dance (Holding down the HOME button, VOLUME DWN button and POWER button at the same time)-at the time, the phone wasn't charging. This resolved the issue. but now that it is rooted, is it still safe to do this again, if that issue happens again? I would hate to brick or loop...

 

[AndyOpie150]

The method you described is how you get into your recovery. If you don't have a custom recovery it would be a very, very, good idea to get one installed and back up your system(stock ROM) in the custom recovery's "backup and restore option" (this is called a nandroid backup).
Now that you are rooted you can accidentally delete something that crashes an important process or the whole phone. Just go to your recovery, wipe and format everything that is necessary to install a new ROM, then select restore. Your phone will be back just the way it was when you made the backup.
No custom recovery, no backup= a messed up phone or possible Brick. For info on what recovery is best for your phone and how to install it, go here http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770

PS: If you make a lot of changes to your ROM then you can make another backup and it will backup all your changes. Then go to the sdcard/clockworkmod folder/backup folder and delete the old backup (the backup's have date stamps)

 

[lumberjackegg]

If you're reading this then you probably did a factory reset from the privacy menu, so now you want to fix your phone.Well if you reset from the privacy menu most likely you will be booted into the thunderrc recovery menu(you need to be able to get into this menu to fix your phone), but you cannot escape it even after flashing a new rom. So in order to fix your phone you need to do the following:

go here Xionia_CWMA_12518.4_VM_Recovery.zip and put that file onto the root of your sd card(you can either use the recovery menu option(USB MS toggle) to access your phone's SD card from the computer and plug in your phone to the computer or take out the sd card and put it into your computer).

then you go into the recovery menu and choose install zip from sd card or whatever the option is. flash the zip and you should now boot into xionia recovery where you can flash a rom and tada you are unbricked .

to get back to stock ROM and everything go here: stock rom

link to recovery for newer phones here

im in need of help! i did a factory reset (not knowing i shouldn't have) and i followed these instructions.. i flashed the xionia zip. But now i can't get into the recovery when i boot it up it says "android system recovery.. do not pull out battery.. fomatting cache etc. then it goes to the virgin mobile logo and gets stuck there. ive tried hitting the power, home, and volume down button to get into the recovery but it does the same thing everytime. Any advice?? i would definitely consider myself a noob.. so any help would be great.

 

[AndyOpie150]

You didn't manage to flash the Xionia recovery. You are in the stock recovery. Give me a little bit of time and I'll get you set up with ADB and QtADB and the LG drivers for the V.

 

[lumberjackegg]

You didn't manage to flash the Xionia recovery. You are in the stock recovery. Give me a little bit of time and I'll get you set up with ADB and QtADB and the LG drivers for the V.

hell yeah hell yeah fosho

 

[AndyOpie150]

I don't know what all you have already so i'll just give it all to you. The LG Optimus V drivers for windows here http://www.lg-phones.org/wp-content/uploads/LG-Optimus-V.zip.
ADB established in your system path, here New pre-packaged ADB installation This is absolutely important in order to get QtADB to work properly. If you just have the SDK folder but don't actually have ADB established in you system path then use what I linked you to (it is fool proof and has a 100% success rate). First delete the SDK folder and anything else you might have done to try to get ADB.
You will also need the Java 6, here Download Free Java Software This is not important unless you want to use the ability to see your phones screen on the PC. It comes in handy from time to time.
Last but not least: QtADB http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-all-things-root/517758-playing-qtadb.html#post4093175
When you have everything set up plug you phone into your PC. Go to the QtADB folder (you need to extract the folder from the zip), open it up and click on the android guy (this is the QtADB.exe). Then tell me what you see.
Also, go to the Shell option and tell me what you see.

 

[lumberjackegg]

okay ive done all these steps and opened up the QtADB android guy and it shows a window with folders and at the top its says "choose path to dir with adb and aapt binaries" also i dont know how to go to the shell option?