[Unlocked Only][RECOVERY][2011-11-14] Custom CWM-based Recovery 5.0.2.7-photon3

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romracer

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
717
4,324
Kansas City
This is a modified CWM-based recovery for the Motorola Photon 4G. It is based on my own custom code forked from the CyanogenMod team's recovery. The major changes I have made include full support for dual SD cards, support for webtop partitions (SD card and internal) and changes to Nandroid backup/restore for this phone's additional partitions.

Some highlights include:
  • Dual SD card support
  • ADB support
  • USB Mass Storage support
  • Nandroid additions/changes
  • ext3 formatting
  • Probably others

This recovery is only for UNLOCKED devices. It is intended to be flashed directly to the recovery partition.

UNLOCKED users can flash this recovery using:
Code:
moto-fastboot devices

moto-fastboot erase recovery

moto-fastboot flash recovery recovery-photon3.img

Example:
Code:
$ moto-fastboot devices
TA20700KXH      fastboot

$ moto-fastboot erase recovery
            erasing 'recovery'... OKAY [  0.741s]

$ moto-fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
  sending 'recovery' (4780 KB)... OKAY [  0.490s]
            writing 'recovery'... OKAY [  0.544s]

This is posted in a DEVELOPER forum and is being released to help further the development of Android for the Motorola Photon 4G. I have NOT personally tested this on my phone and YOU assume full responsibility for any damage incurred to YOUR phone!

I do NOT have a Motorola Photon 4G. I have based this recovery off the Photon kernel and Atrix resources as suggested by Calkulin. I do not SUSPECT there will be problems but again, I have NOT personally tested this on my phone and YOU assume full responsibility for any damage incurred to YOUR phone!


SPRINT USERS
Orange 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 0dc70209659fecbf7a2a01fe64b431af / a7fa2daf946557006931d33f3954e350
Cyan 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 440baa230638bd12dfd38b67977d3ac3 / 4da9f845f5d8ae0c37d0e1deaecd931c
Light green 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 b0791b6a4e0ea1a593d450518f309315 / f4afa4ca6f9616713ba436149df48c46
Dark green 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 5ef4862918169c1b4f9b0cbd60c70267 / 12acbe4adac62dc79e9a2b9ed1d0ea3b
Blue 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 cb1a4b2b48d18f535f5a3ce312e3ee81 / 53eee173392a8a821e45e8ddb1bbefd6
Red 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
MD5 f95a0adfb47ae2b995412b89d95f40fe / ca222e4891f756b5b4ad59fe06b6f0bf

Original ROM Manager/CWM installable zip thanks to SolidHelix. You must still be UNLOCKED and have already applied at least one version of this recovery via fastboot to use them.

Source is here.

A few notes:
  • The "osh" partition is webtop. It is the largest by far and will take some time to backup. Nandroid is not frozen!
  • The "sd-ext" partition is an ext2/3 partition on your external SD card. Veterans will know this as apps2sd and data2sd from other phones. I am not aware of any use of this partition on this phone yet.

Thanks to:
  • Koush and the CM team for CWM
  • Calkulin for pointing out the kernel
  • Everyone who has made unlocking the Photon possible
 
Last edited:

romracer

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
717
4,324
Kansas City
** Changelog **

2011-11-14 (5.0.2.7-photon3):
  • Minor bugfix update mostly
  • ext4 experimental support
  • Added the ability to convert an ext3 partition to ext4 under advanced. Shouldn't break anything, but it is experimental

2011-09-23 (5.0.2.3-photon2):
  • Updated to CWR5 base source.
  • The blue version is now the new CWR5 color. Old blue is gone. New photos welcome! :)

2011-09-17 (4.0.1.5-photon1.3):
  • Added a verify option to the backup and restore menu.
  • Renamed internal SD card mount point to /emmc and external is now /sdcard (this is largely cosmetic).
  • Merged in miscellaneous fixes from the official CWM. Version 5 will be merged in once its ready.

2011-08-17 (4.0.1.5-photon1.2):
  • Changed fstab to ext3 since no kernel support yet

2011-08-17 (4.0.1.4-photon1.1):
  • Added 0MB option to ext3 partition size under External SD card partitioning which removes any ext3 partitions from the card (choose 0MB ext3/0MB swap to have only a FAT32 partition).
  • Added a red build to the mix.
  • Updated the update-binary in the CWM zips to be tailored for this phone.
  • Minor fixes to sdparted (log file related mostly).

2011-08-14 (4.0.1.4-photon1):
  • Initial release

Screenshots
Thanks to DarkSim2o9 for the following screenshots (these show an Atrix, but the color is identical):

Known Issues
  • I doubt ext4 support works due to no kernel support. Disabled currently. Added in -photon3.
  • Soft keys to use as navigation may not work due to the kernel.

Miscellaneous
If you'd like ROM Manager to see this recovery as "official" you can try XCellPhoneSalesRep's suggestion posted here.
Alternately, you can try dcarpenter85's suggestion here.
For issues with recovery not sticking, see here:
Thanks to mrinehart93 for pointing this out.

The system runs /system/etc/install-recovery.sh on boot with the stock rom. On boot it checks the recovery partition for some update and with CWM installed decides to reflash the stock recovery over it. Rename or delete the file and the CWM should stick.

Old versions
You can browse and download old versions here.
 
Last edited:

the3rd

Member
Nov 3, 2007
18
2
Awesome job. One question, how might one boot direct into the recovery from a full Power Off?
 

e240

Senior Member
Feb 12, 2011
279
14
ahhh this is what im getting..it seems fastboot isnt working for some reason even tho i just rooted..some help please


C:\AndroidSDK\tools\moto-fastboot>moto-fastboot devices

C:\AndroidSDK\tools\moto-fastboot>moto-fastboot erase recovery
< waiting for device >"

edit: nevermind got it working ..thanks!
 
Last edited:

tim-tim

Senior Member
i think theres an issue with the recovery.
it installed perfectly and booted properly.

i chose to format the internal sd partition and it didnt remove any of the data.

i havent tried to flash anything yet or make a nandroid but ill keep you posted and i do have it loaded.

thanks for all of your hard work. greatly appreciated
 

ooxcfhxoo

Senior Member
Aug 10, 2011
75
18
Awesome job. One question, how might one boot direct into the recovery from a full Power Off?

the same way you boot into fastboot


when phone is off.......

1. press and hold power and volume down
2. when the phone displays fastboot release the buttons
3. use volume down to switch to android recovery
4. press volume up and boot into cwm
 
Last edited:
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ooxcfhxoo

Senior Member
Aug 10, 2011
75
18
Im creating a backup as I type (speak)

IMG_4936-Copy-Copy2.jpg


IMG_4956.jpg
 

romracer

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
717
4,324
Kansas City
This is what Calk posted earlier......right? I know it's yours, but not to be confused......just different colors...correct?

Two questions:
1. Has anybody verified the "ROM Manager support" method on the Photon yet?
2. Other than color choice, what is the difference between this recovery and the one Calkulin posted earlier?

Calkulin's is based off my -atrix3 revision. This is slightly newer code (-atrix3.1 bug fixes mostly). It uses the same kernel as his. He PM'ed me to let me know how he got it to work on this phone and I simply used his advice to create the thread.

I haven't verified ROM Manager on this phone. It may need until Koush updates ROM Manager to say it supports this phone. I thought several times about editing that out of the second post but chose to leave it for now.. :p
 
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romracer

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
717
4,324
Kansas City
i think theres an issue with the recovery.
it installed perfectly and booted properly.

i chose to format the internal sd partition and it didnt remove any of the data.

i havent tried to flash anything yet or make a nandroid but ill keep you posted and i do have it loaded.

thanks for all of your hard work. greatly appreciated

Under Mounts and Storage menu? If someone can provide me with /proc/mounts while booted into regular Android, I can check it out.
 

romracer

Senior Member
Apr 4, 2010
717
4,324
Kansas City
Minor update released. Biggest changes include 0MB ext partition option under external SD card partitioning which combined with 0MB swap gives you just a FAT32 partition without having to use Windows, etc. There's also a red version now.

The code is technically based on 4.0.1.5 but Koush pushed his commit late and so the build still says 4.0.1.4. I didn't see the need to recompile just for that :)
 
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Reactions: my2cents

Yay 4 Juggs

Senior Member
Apr 1, 2007
1,395
478
Minor update released. Biggest changes include 0MB ext partition option under external SD card partitioning which combined with 0MB swap gives you just a FAT32 partition without having to use Windows, etc. There's also a red version now.

The code is technically based on 4.0.1.5 but Koush pushed his commit late and so the build still says 4.0.1.4. I didn't see the need to recompile just for that :)
are the tools fixed such as being able to clear cache...nandroid...etc?
 

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  • 35
    This is a modified CWM-based recovery for the Motorola Photon 4G. It is based on my own custom code forked from the CyanogenMod team's recovery. The major changes I have made include full support for dual SD cards, support for webtop partitions (SD card and internal) and changes to Nandroid backup/restore for this phone's additional partitions.

    Some highlights include:
    • Dual SD card support
    • ADB support
    • USB Mass Storage support
    • Nandroid additions/changes
    • ext3 formatting
    • Probably others

    This recovery is only for UNLOCKED devices. It is intended to be flashed directly to the recovery partition.

    UNLOCKED users can flash this recovery using:
    Code:
    moto-fastboot devices
    
    moto-fastboot erase recovery
    
    moto-fastboot flash recovery recovery-photon3.img

    Example:
    Code:
    $ moto-fastboot devices
    TA20700KXH      fastboot
    
    $ moto-fastboot erase recovery
                erasing 'recovery'... OKAY [  0.741s]
    
    $ moto-fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
      sending 'recovery' (4780 KB)... OKAY [  0.490s]
                writing 'recovery'... OKAY [  0.544s]

    This is posted in a DEVELOPER forum and is being released to help further the development of Android for the Motorola Photon 4G. I have NOT personally tested this on my phone and YOU assume full responsibility for any damage incurred to YOUR phone!

    I do NOT have a Motorola Photon 4G. I have based this recovery off the Photon kernel and Atrix resources as suggested by Calkulin. I do not SUSPECT there will be problems but again, I have NOT personally tested this on my phone and YOU assume full responsibility for any damage incurred to YOUR phone!


    SPRINT USERS
    Orange 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 0dc70209659fecbf7a2a01fe64b431af / a7fa2daf946557006931d33f3954e350
    Cyan 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 440baa230638bd12dfd38b67977d3ac3 / 4da9f845f5d8ae0c37d0e1deaecd931c
    Light green 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 b0791b6a4e0ea1a593d450518f309315 / f4afa4ca6f9616713ba436149df48c46
    Dark green 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 5ef4862918169c1b4f9b0cbd60c70267 / 12acbe4adac62dc79e9a2b9ed1d0ea3b
    Blue 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 cb1a4b2b48d18f535f5a3ce312e3ee81 / 53eee173392a8a821e45e8ddb1bbefd6
    Red 5.0.2.7-photon3 / ZIP version.
    MD5 f95a0adfb47ae2b995412b89d95f40fe / ca222e4891f756b5b4ad59fe06b6f0bf

    Original ROM Manager/CWM installable zip thanks to SolidHelix. You must still be UNLOCKED and have already applied at least one version of this recovery via fastboot to use them.

    Source is here.

    A few notes:
    • The "osh" partition is webtop. It is the largest by far and will take some time to backup. Nandroid is not frozen!
    • The "sd-ext" partition is an ext2/3 partition on your external SD card. Veterans will know this as apps2sd and data2sd from other phones. I am not aware of any use of this partition on this phone yet.

    Thanks to:
    • Koush and the CM team for CWM
    • Calkulin for pointing out the kernel
    • Everyone who has made unlocking the Photon possible
    15
    ** Changelog **

    2011-11-14 (5.0.2.7-photon3):
    • Minor bugfix update mostly
    • ext4 experimental support
    • Added the ability to convert an ext3 partition to ext4 under advanced. Shouldn't break anything, but it is experimental

    2011-09-23 (5.0.2.3-photon2):
    • Updated to CWR5 base source.
    • The blue version is now the new CWR5 color. Old blue is gone. New photos welcome! :)

    2011-09-17 (4.0.1.5-photon1.3):
    • Added a verify option to the backup and restore menu.
    • Renamed internal SD card mount point to /emmc and external is now /sdcard (this is largely cosmetic).
    • Merged in miscellaneous fixes from the official CWM. Version 5 will be merged in once its ready.

    2011-08-17 (4.0.1.5-photon1.2):
    • Changed fstab to ext3 since no kernel support yet

    2011-08-17 (4.0.1.4-photon1.1):
    • Added 0MB option to ext3 partition size under External SD card partitioning which removes any ext3 partitions from the card (choose 0MB ext3/0MB swap to have only a FAT32 partition).
    • Added a red build to the mix.
    • Updated the update-binary in the CWM zips to be tailored for this phone.
    • Minor fixes to sdparted (log file related mostly).

    2011-08-14 (4.0.1.4-photon1):
    • Initial release

    Screenshots
    Thanks to DarkSim2o9 for the following screenshots (these show an Atrix, but the color is identical):

    Known Issues
    • I doubt ext4 support works due to no kernel support. Disabled currently. Added in -photon3.
    • Soft keys to use as navigation may not work due to the kernel.

    Miscellaneous
    If you'd like ROM Manager to see this recovery as "official" you can try XCellPhoneSalesRep's suggestion posted here.
    Alternately, you can try dcarpenter85's suggestion here.
    For issues with recovery not sticking, see here:
    Thanks to mrinehart93 for pointing this out.

    The system runs /system/etc/install-recovery.sh on boot with the stock rom. On boot it checks the recovery partition for some update and with CWM installed decides to reflash the stock recovery over it. Rename or delete the file and the CWM should stick.

    Old versions
    You can browse and download old versions here.
    3
    New version posted. Updated to 5.0.2.7 base source. See post #2 for full changelog.
    3
    New version posted based on CWR5! See post #2 for details.
    1
    ... thanx man once again.:eek: now as far as my understanding goes these are the things i need to do in the following sequence. kindly correct me and protect me from bricking my phone considering i am a noob ;) :
    1. Root the phone with AIO Root.
    2. Unlock Bootloader with this command "moto-fastboot oem unlock".
    3. Flash CWM Recovery with this command "moto-fastboot flash recovery recovery-red-photon3.img"
    4. Flash ROM and gapps.

    a few questions though... shud i have to install aroma before flashing ROM and please throw some light on "Options Chooser" ...

    You have the steps right

    Aroma is part of the ROM flashing process. It allows you to pick and choose some options for the ROM you are flashing. Same thing with the options chooser, gives you options for cna, aokp, miui. Allows you to flash individual gapps.

    Be sure to check out qbking77 on YouTube to make sure you get all the steps right. Good luck

    CodeNamed JellyBean MoPho