Warning about CWM.zip (temporary/Toch recovery) - MUST READ

dr.ketan · Aug 2, 2012

Warning about using CWM.zip (temporary / Touch recovery) to root or flash any file
Note : This is referance only to CWM.zip , which is temporary/touch recovery commonly used to root device. Other cwm recoveries which are permanent and getting along with custom kernels are safe.

Entropy have quoted this

Entropy512 said:
After seeing multiple reports of Superbricks connected with a "cwm.zip" - I've finally found the source of that file - here.

I checked the recovery binary using "strings" to see if it was a "dangerous" or "safe" one.

Code:

adodd@quadmonkey:~/Documents/galaxynote/tmp/sbin$ strings recovery |grep discard warning: %s: Wipe via secure discard failed, used discard instead discard_after_textures discard_before_textures Can't discard critical data on CRC error. discard discard

The key here is that warning - if that string is present in a binary, it is most likely a dangerous one. Since there have been multiple reports of bricks associated with this zip file, I've sent the moderators a report that this release should be removed.

DON'T USE CWM.zip (touch recovery) at all

Present option to root ICS ROM is

So present option for rooting is - You can select any of one.

1. Short, easy - requires to reset counter

-Download Odin (.tar) version of custom kernel like Notecore, Speedmod, CF root kernel Or other any with same function.
-Flash it using PC odin for PDA tab.
-You will get exclamation mark and raised counter, which can be reset with Triangle Away

2. Long, No raised couter OR Exclamation mark
-Downgrade to Rootable GB ROM and Root it. OR Download This pre rooted GB ROM and flash using PC Odin
-Wipe cache, data and delvic cache from recovery
-Install Mobile Odin Pro
-Copy ICS ROM file in .tar (you want to flash) to Internal SD card (recommended, but you can have it on EXT too)
-Copy one of custom Kernel in .tar file e.g.Notecore, Speedmod, CF root kernel Or other any with same function.
-Open Mobile Odin Pro
-select open file
-Point to ROM file you have copied
-All fiels will popup and feel automatically
-select kernel and point to custom kernel file you have copied
Flash.
Done!

azzledazzle · Aug 2, 2012

Damn !!! just when you think we're making progress and things and things are getting 'safer' something like this happens

Good find :good: well done !!

Matchstick · Aug 2, 2012

Do we have any working methods for rooting the latest 4.0.4 Stock ROMS at the moment ?

Or do we need to wait till a fixed CWM is available ?

dr.ketan · Aug 2, 2012

I think available option is
-Flashing custom kernel with PC odin, and then reseting counter with triangle away
-switching Rooted ROM to ICS with Mobile odin pro

MR.change · Aug 2, 2012

dr.ketan said:
Warning about using CWM.zip to root or flash any file
Or it is same unsafe like using backup/restore/wipe function with CWM.zip

backup?! is backup also dangerous on an effected kernel? I understand it writes the backup image ,but that's usually to the external SD card which is unaffected by the bug due to different hardware

are you sure a backup is as dangerous as a restore? I backup all the time on an affected kernel

Yin-Yang · Aug 2, 2012

How about mobile odin. Is it safe.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

msedek · Aug 2, 2012

I'm on anidroid rom with anidroid kernel and recovery.

Will I brick when I wipe in cwm using this setup?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

andreww88 · Aug 2, 2012

dr.ketan said:
-switching Rooted ROM to ICS with Mobile odin pro

Yin-Yang said:
How about mobile odin. Is it safe.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda app-developers app

Yes, Mobile Odin should be safe if you read what Dr.Ketan said.

---------- Post added at 09:39 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:38 AM ----------

msedek said:
I'm on anidroid rom with anidroid kernel and recovery.

Will I brick when I wipe in cwm using this setup?

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

No, you are safe. From everything I am reading, this is different.

M3TALLICA · Aug 2, 2012

Damn it. I used to flash SpeedMod kernel from "CWM.zip" to root ICS.
But only kernels not ROMs or never used it to factory reset or backup / restore.

From now on I'll use only PC Odin.

edit...

I just checked that Note has 12 partitions and one of those is kernel partition. And last thing I want is corrupt kernel partition.

As Dr Ketan and Entropy told, stay away from "CWM.zip"

Cruzaders · Aug 2, 2012

This is really weird. Ive been using this cwm to flash ics and gb and my phone does have the emmc bug. I made this like 6 or 7 times and had no problem at all... o.o maybe im just lucky

Enviado de meu GT-N7000 usando o Tapatalk 2

ckmemphis · Aug 2, 2012

Are there any other ways to root the device, now that CWM.zip is known to be dangerous....

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

andreww88 · Aug 2, 2012

Cruzaders said:
This is really weird. Ive been using this cwm to flash ics and gb and my phone does have the emmc bug. I made this like 6 or 7 times and had no problem at all... o.o maybe im just lucky

Enviado de meu GT-N7000 usando o Tapatalk 2

I wouldn't be so sure of that. Have you tried that eMMc app that chainfire made in Themes/Apps to see if you have a corrupted firmware?

---------- Post added at 10:06 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:06 AM ----------

ckmemphis said:
Are there any other ways to root the device, now that CWM.zip is known to be dangerous....

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Use PC Odin.

satishp · Aug 2, 2012

Even I've rooted with the CWM.zip file available in Dr.Ketan's thread a couple of times. But I only use it for installing the SU-Busybox Installer.
I flash everything else with Mobile ODIN.
By the way, If I root using this method, do I lose root if I factory reset? (I'm on speedmod kernel, which is told to be safe)
Or do I have to specifically use the SU-Busybox Uninstaller to Unroot?
Is it safe unrooting after such a discovery has been made?
Does flashing the Busybox ZIP files using this CWM.zip perform any wipes?

dr.ketan · Aug 2, 2012

satishp said:
Even I've rooted with the CWM.zip file available in Dr.Ketan's thread a couple of times. But I only use it for installing the SU-Busybox Installer.
I flash everything else with Mobile ODIN.
By the way, If I root using this method, do I lose root if I factory reset? (I'm on speedmod kernel, which is told to be safe)
Or do I have to specifically use the SU-Busybox Uninstaller to Unroot?
Is it safe unrooting after such a discovery has been made?
Does flashing the Busybox ZIP files using this CWM.zip perform any wipes?

Factory reset wont erase root
Y u needbto uninstall busybox i dont understand.
Flashing busybox dont cause any wipe n i am still in process to discuss with entropy, if it is safe just for rooting purpose.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

micu999 · Aug 2, 2012

dr.ketan said:
Factory reset wont erase root
Y u needbto uninstall busybox i dont understand.
Flashing busybox dont cause any wipe n i am still in process to discuss with entropy, if it is safe just for rooting purpose.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

so if cwm.zip not save, can u give me link step-by-step to root my galnote in safest way?coz 2 weeks ago i superbrick my galnote once using cwm.zip..

dr.ketan · Aug 2, 2012

Use custom kernel e.g. speedmod CF root kernel in tar format and flash using PC odin. You will get raised counter and exclamation mark. That can be reset using triangle away application by CF.

satishp · Aug 2, 2012

dr.ketan said:
Factory reset wont erase root
Y u needbto uninstall busybox i dont understand.
Flashing busybox dont cause any wipe n i am still in process to discuss with entropy, if it is safe just for rooting purpose.

Sent from my GT-N7000 using xda premium

I asked because incase I ever need to take the device to a service centre, do I still have to uninstall busybox using SU-busybox Uninstall ZIP file? Because there is no other evidence of the device being rooted other than the busybox application on the phone as the counter is still at 0.
I've never tried unrooting though. So I was wondering whether factory reset would remove busybox as it saves the hassle of unrooting or even flashing back stock via ODIN.

Sorry for being offtopic, I also wanted to ask you one more thing, as you have an Indian Galaxy Note, are you seeing any "clipping" when playing videos with dark scenes or viewing images with dark shadows? Because every Note I've seen here has this issue and there are a lot of threads in XDA describing this issue.

micu999 · Aug 2, 2012

dr.ketan said:
Use custom kernel e.g. speedmod CF root kernel in tar format and flash using PC odin. You will get raised counter and exclamation mark. That can be reset using triangle away application by CF.

will it work?bcoz im in ICS ROM.. do i need to downgrade it to GB first?or just flash it?i would like to flash paranoidandroid hybrid ROM, any suggestion?

dr.ketan · Aug 2, 2012

satishp said:
I asked because incase I ever need to take the device to a service centre, do I still have to uninstall busybox using SU-busybox Uninstall ZIP file? Because there is no other evidence of the device being rooted other than the busybox application on the phone as the counter is still at 0.
I've never tried unrooting though. So I was wondering whether factory reset would remove busybox as it saves the hassle of unrooting or even flashing back stock via ODIN.

Sorry for being offtopic, I also wanted to ask you one more thing, as you have an Indian Galaxy Note, are you seeing any "clipping" when playing videos with dark scenes or viewing images with dark shadows? Because every Note I've seen here has this issue and there are a lot of threads in XDA describing this issue.

No factory reset won't remove busybox, and unrooting will leave some footprint.
So best way before sending service centre is just to flash stock GB ROM using PC odin + Wipe
No i have never experience clipping issue.

Entropy512 · Aug 2, 2012

Matchstick said:
Do we have any working methods for rooting the latest 4.0.4 Stock ROMS at the moment ?

Or do we need to wait till a fixed CWM is available ?

Flash a custom kernel.

Cruzaders said:
This is really weird. Ive been using this cwm to flash ics and gb and my phone does have the emmc bug. I made this like 6 or 7 times and had no problem at all... o.o maybe im just lucky

Enviado de meu GT-N7000 usando o Tapatalk 2

You got lucky. Secure erase does not always do damage - in fact it frequently doesn't. But every time you do it, there's a risk of damage.

ckmemphis said:
Are there any other ways to root the device, now that CWM.zip is known to be dangerous....

Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Flash a custom kernel using PC Odin. Then flash SuperSU or Superuser using it.

Reset the flash counter with TriangleAway

If you wish, reflash the stock kernel for your release with PC Odin.

Even if current custom kernels have some sort of incompatibility with the latest firmwares, to my knowledge all of them (even the obsolete and unmaintained DAFUQ) will allow you to install SuperSU or Superuser then run TriangleAway before flashing back to the stock kernel.

Warning about CWM.zip (temporary/Toch recovery) - MUST READ

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