[APP] Flash Image GUI - Flash Kernels and Recoveries from normal Android mode!

[joeykrim]

Description:
This android application, FlashImageGUI, is basically a GUI interface for the linux binary, flash_image provided by google in AOSP for loading custom kernels and recovery images onto the phone.
This app allows the flashing of kernels and custom recovery images in normal android mode!

Current Device Support:
Full Kernel, Logo and Recovery flashing: Samsung Moment, Transform, Intercept and Acclaim - the s3c6410 series of devices
Full Kernel (Anykernel and boot.img) Flashing and Recovery (zip file or image) flashing: HTC One S, EVO 4G LTE, EVO 3D CDMA and GSM, Amaze, Vivid/Holiday, EVO 4G, EVO Shift, Nexus 7, Samsung Google Galaxy Nexus (GSM & CDMA), Nexus S/Nexus S 4G & LG Optimus
Full Kernel (zImage) Flashing: Samsung Epic
Check application version for updates

Credits for HTC One S Testing:
Special Thanks to: Smokem_I
Tecardo, orenfl and mteezy

Confirmed Compatible Hboot Versions:
1.06, 1.09, 1.13, 1.14 (US and EU), and 2.15 (thx DisruptiveMind)

Credits:
birbeck for the usual random java guidance, slushpupie for his previous java guidance, dodgejcr for extreme amounts of testing, and one_love_420 and shift for some great graphics!
testers: JT-, couga6442, happytweak and many others I might have forgot in the furry of three days I built the initial app from scratch.!
Thanks to SDX

Background:
flash_image (bmlwrite) is an extremely useful utility for flashing custom kernels, boot logos (so far ONLY Samsung devices) and recoveries. This binary has made it possible to easily flash all these items and is used almost everywhere behind the scenes (i.e. in custom recoveries, packaged into kernel /sbin, etc).

Custom Recovery
Supports both CWM and TWRP!

Future Support:
Will continue to test kernels as they are released to ensure compatibility!

Install Directions:
Install process is the same as any other .apk. Download to computer and adb push or mount sdcard on computer and copy over or download directly to the phone. Use any file manager, adb, connectbot/terminal emulator to install.
My preferred method, maybe a bit technical: ./adb install c:\downloads\FlashImageGUI.apk

Download Locations
Market (99 cents!): Flash Image GUI
Release version (free): Flash Image GUI

Contact:
Any questions, comments, concerns, or issues, please post in this thread or send me an email! Thanks for all the help and support!

FAQ:
Q: Will this app support a marketplace to pick and chose kernels from?
A: No. Use Kernel Manager!

Screenshots:

Feedback:
Please post any helpful feedback. I'm always looking to improve the application!

HTC Unlock - User Guides for Flash Image GUI!!

HTC Unlock - Users Guide for ROMs with a Kernel (boot.img file):
1) Unlock using Official HTC method
2) Load this application, Flash Image GUI, onto the device, either through the Market or the link provided in this OP.
3) Download ROM .zip file to the sdcard on the device.
4) Open up Flash Image GUI, select Browse and select the ROM .zip file, downloaded to /sdcard in the previous step.
5) Flash Image GUI will provide a warning, reminding that the ROM .zip file will *need* to be flashed in the custom recovery afterward.
6) Flash Image GUI will index the full ROM .zip file searching for the kernel and kernel modules. Once located, the Flash Image button should be enabled.
7) Select the Flash Image button and Flash Image GUI will load the kernel modules and kernel from inside the ROM zip file.
8) Select reboot recovery.
9) Inside the custom recovery, load/flash the ROM zip file.
10) Reboot to normal Android mode and all should work including Wifi!

HTC Unlock - Users Guide for flashing ONLY a Kernel (zip file):
1) Make sure the selected Kernel is compatible with the currently loaded ROM. If not, this will result in a lot of frustration!!! See troubleshooting steps below.
2) Download kernel zip file to /sdcard.
3) Open Flash Image GUI, browse and select kernel zip file, downloaded/loaded to sdcard in previous step.
3) Flash Image GUI will validate the kernel zip file is contains the minimum required files
4) Select the Flash Image button and Flash Image GUI will load the kernel and the kernel modules from the source kernel zip file.
5) Reboot

Basic Troubleshooting:
Troubleshooting after Rebooting:

First step, when experiencing issues flashing is to RE FLASH the files again. Many times, re flashing again will clear up any issues. If not, see the issues/solutions below.

Issue #1: If the device hangs or reboots while on the splash screen, the kernel (or packaged ramdisk in the kernel) is NOT compatible with your device!!!
Solution for #1: Have to boot into fastboot and load the custom recovery to flash a known good kernel or restore a previously known good nandroid backup. Command: fastboot boot c:\downloads\cwm-recovery.img
Issue #2: If the device hangs or reboots while on the boot animation, the ROM is likely NOT compatible with the kernel!!!
Solution for #2: Have to boot into fastboot and load the custom recovery to flash a known good ROM/kernel combination either from a zip file or restore from a nandroid backup.

 

[mteezey]

Glad to see you post it for everyone to try. Always loved this apk.

Just to show working on one s

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[Sneakyghost]

Thanks mate looks like a handy tool. Salt I had no time to help test this, would have loved to. seems you have gotten it to work decently now. Very good. Thanks a lot!

sent from a bugged One s....

 

[Smokem_I]

Awesome bro! It's great to finally be able to flash a rom on the go without the need of fastboot! Flashed several roms with this so far and haven't had any issues. We were in desperate need of something like this! Thanks for taking the time to add support for our device!

Sent from my BluMagic Viper One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[shadowch31]

Can't say thank you enough! Works like a dream, hell you even put a smile on my miserable old face

 

[snwman]

So once we know that the ketnal is supported by a Rom we can just flash away once its unlocked and rioted obviously

 

[Darknites]

New favourite app lol good job on this.

 

[Smokem_I]

So once we know that the ketnal is supported by a Rom we can just flash away once its unlocked and rioted obviously

It supports all roms available for the One S. The Viper Beta Team tested it extensively before release. We didn't encounter any issues or roms that weren't compatible. Also don't forget to hit joeykrim's thanks button or better yet show him support by buying from the Play Store

New favourite app lol good job on this.

Soon to be everyone's favorite app once they find it! This is the must have app for the One S.

Sent from my BluMagic Viper One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[shadowch31]

It supports all roms available for the One S. The Viper Beta Team tested it extensively before release. We didn't encounter any issues or roms that weren't compatible. Also don't forget to hit joeykrim's thanks button or better yet show him support by buying from the Play Store







Soon to be everyone's favorite app once they find it! This is the must have app for the One S.

Sent from my BluMagic Viper One S using Tapatalk 2

I think if it states on the title 'for ALL hboot versions' or something similar it may help attract people. I can't understand how this is staying so quiet! I've been flashing boot.img using this app from stock roms to asop and different recovery version like there was no tomorrow. Its just all so easy off to buy the market version now to show the dev some love.

 

[mteezey]

This won't stay quiet for long. Once more users realize they don't have to use fast boot to flash kernels or use a workaround like htc dumlock which takes alot more work. They will all be using this. Its a must have app for any device that does not have s-off this app was a lifesaver for me on my evo 3d. Even once it got s-off I still used regularly to flash kernels on the fly. I have low hboot but still been using this for the past couple weeks since we started testing. All I have to say for those that don't know is NO MORE FASTBOOT!

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[joeykrim]

If you have any feature suggestions, please let me know! Appreciate all the positive support!

I think if it states on the title 'for ALL hboot versions' or something similar it may help attract people. I can't understand how this is staying so quiet! I've been flashing boot.img using this app from stock roms to asop and different recovery version like there was no tomorrow. Its just all so easy off to buy the market version now to show the dev some love.

Good comments. I listed in the OP and copied below for convenience, which hboot versions were confirmed. If I'm missing any hboot versions, please let me know.
Confirmed Compatible Hboot Versions:

1.06, 1.09, 1.13, 1.14 (US and EU)

This is directed to anybody/everybody, in regards to methods that can spread the news, it might be worthwhile to write up a simple guide post explaining the steps, very similar to what I have in the OP.
Another method would be to reach out to the ROM/kernel developers and ask them to link back to this thread, or a guide thread, on the various methods to load their software including using this application as one of the methods.
Just throwing out ideas! Appreciate all the help and support!

So once we know that the ketnal is supported by a Rom we can just flash away once its unlocked and rioted obviously

If you refer to the last section of the OP with the guides, they explain step-by-step process that answer your question. I've pasted below for your convenience. Thanks for the support!

HTC Unlock - User Guides for Flash Image GUI!!

HTC Unlock - Users Guide for ROMs with a Kernel (boot.img file):
1) Unlock using Official HTC method
2) Load this application, Flash Image GUI, onto the device, either through the Market or the link provided in this OP.
3) Download ROM .zip file to the sdcard on the device.
4) Open up Flash Image GUI, select Browse and select the ROM .zip file, downloaded to /sdcard in the previous step.
5) Flash Image GUI will provide a warning, reminding that the ROM .zip file will *need* to be flashed in the custom recovery afterward.
6) Flash Image GUI will index the full ROM .zip file searching for the kernel and kernel modules. Once located, the Flash Image button should be enabled.
7) Select the Flash Image button and Flash Image GUI will load the kernel modules and kernel from inside the ROM zip file.
8) Select reboot recovery.
9) Inside the custom recovery, load/flash the ROM zip file.
10) Reboot to normal Android mode and all should work including Wifi!

HTC Unlock - Users Guide for flashing ONLY a Kernel (zip file):
1) Make sure the selected Kernel is compatible with the currently loaded ROM. If not, this will result in a lot of frustration!!! See troubleshooting steps below.
2) Download kernel zip file to /sdcard.
3) Open Flash Image GUI, browse and select kernel zip file, downloaded/loaded to sdcard in previous step.
3) Flash Image GUI will validate the kernel zip file is contains the minimum required files
4) Select the Flash Image button and Flash Image GUI will load the kernel and the kernel modules from the source kernel zip file.
5) Reboot

 

[Darknites]

Get the rom devs to put the info in there threads should help out a bit.

Edit, dam it didnt see there was a 2nd page seem you have that idea already.

 

[scufutz]

Hi there , let me understand if for example i want to change the rom ? Right now i am on aokp , if i download the kernel from viper 1.2.0 and flash it and then after reboot i will remain on twrp and flash his 1.2.0 rom will WORK?
I kind of tired of using computer to change roms and kernels etc ...

Ps : i wanted to sell my phone becouse of this (i really mis my old sgs/sgs2 method to flash roms/radios/kernels)

Good work

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[shadowch31]

Hi there , let me understand if for example i want to change the rom ? Right now i am on aokp , if i download the kernel from viper 1.2.0 and flash it and then after reboot i will remain on twrp and flash his 1.2.0 rom will WORK?
I kind of tired of using computer to change roms and kernels etc ...

Ps : i wanted to sell my phone becouse of this (i really mis my old sgs/sgs2 method to flash roms/radios/kernels)

Good work

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Even easier than that.
Simply download the rom and direct the program to it on your sdcard it will then extract the boot.img and any other files it may need such as wlan.ko - flash the kernel and an option to boot normally or boot to recovery is offered, boot to recovery and flash the rom and hey presto. Who needs s-off when we have this method!

Yes I know S-Off would be nice for other things but for now this is by far the lesser of two evils.

 

[Darknites]

I was thinking is it possible to have it just point to the boot.img file so that i can still delete it from the rom zip to speed up install of the rom? Which takes over 5 mins if it has it.

 

[shadowch31]

I was thinking is it possible to have it just point to the boot.img file so that i can still delete it from the rom zip to speed up install of the rom? Which takes over 5 mins if it has it.

Well it does that? Maybe I'm not understanding but you select the rom and it extracts the needed files and flashes them, then simply remove the boot.img from the zip and flash it to see if it works. Never tried flashing a rom without the boot.img so cannot say.

 

[mteezey]

IMO removing the boot image isn't gonna cut off any time. In the long run u spent more time navigating through your file manger to go and delete it than it would for it to just flash. Were talking a matter or seconds in recovery. That's just my thoughts though do as you please.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

 

[Darknites]

IMO removing the boot image isn't gonna cut off any time. In the long run u spent more time navigating through your file manger to go and delete it than it would for it to just flash. Were talking a matter or seconds in recovery. That's just my thoughts though do as you please.

Sent from my HTC One S using Tapatalk 2

Em its takes me over 5 minutes to flash a rom with the boot.img in the zip but if i remove the boot.img its less then a minute. With that in mind i would like to remove the boot.img from the zip and then when i copy the rom to sd i copy over boot.img as well.

 

[DrRyder]

Why is the HTC One S not listed in supported devices if its posted in HTC One S Apps & Themes?

 

[Phantom Pt. II]

I love you! This is great! Going to test it soon, next time I need to flash my rom.

We need to make you App look sexy as well!

Sent from my HTC One S using xda app-developers app