How To: Load a Custom ROM on the Motorola Backflip
I. Before You Begin
1. You must have done our How To Root procedure.
II. Flash a Custom Recovery Image
1. Download the custom recovery image .zip file and extract it to the tools folder of your AndroidSDK on your computer.
Backflip Recovery (Updated 9.18.10)
2. Plug the phone in via USB cable and make sure USB Debugging is checked ON still from the rooting procedure.
2. Open a command prompt on your computer by clicking on the start menu and typing cmd and hitting enter in the search box.
3. In the command prompt type the following with hitting enter at the end of each line:
cd\
cd c:\androidsdk\tools
adb push recovery.img /sdcard/recovery.img
adb shell
su
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
4. Now that the new recovery has been flashed, we are going to make sure the old recovery doesn’t get put back. In the command prompt type the following with hitting enter at the end of each line:
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
cd system
rm recovery.img
III. Load a Custom ROM
1. Head over to Google and search for Backflip ROMs section and download the ROM you want to flash.
2. Plug in the phone to the computer and mount the sd card (so we can transfer files to it).
3. Copy the ROM’s .zip file from the computer to the root of the sdcard (NOT inside any folders just on the sdcard itself. Do NOT extract the .zip file, leave it zipped).
4. Once it is done transferring, unplug the phone and turn it off.
5. Turn the phone back on by holding down Camera Button and Power and keep holding it until it says to let go. Then click Volume Down for the recovery screen to come up.
6. Select Wipe Data and do a wipe.
7. Then select Apply Zip and select the ROM file you just saved to the sdcard.
8. Once it is done flashing, select reboot now and wait a while for it to reboot. Once done, you are on your custom ROM.
9. To switch to a different ROM, simply redo Section III only with a different ROM file.
But there are no existing roms for the backflip at your link to download….??????
Jimmy Pop,
Noone has submitted any yet. Feel free to if you find one on another site!
Ehh… Nice guide, but you don’t have any ROMs in your Backflip ROM section…
Ingramm,
That is because noone has submitted any 🙂 Feel free to if you find any on other sites and we’ll link them in that section so they can all be found in one place (the Backflip doesn’t seem to have too many custom ROMs yet, but that might change now that the rooting is a lot easier).
in the tut vid that was a cliq phone….. would those cliq roms work on a backflip?
Sketch,
The rooting procedure is the same but not sure if the ROMs will work the same. You can try just make sure you do a nandroid backup in recovery first. Let us know if they work!
That is not the proper recovery image to use for the Backflip. It is the MB501 CliqXT recovery image, and does not work on the Backflip. Try it, you can navigate the menu and that’s about it. Pressing “Home” does not select your choice, so there’s no way to do anything using this recovery.
Why not use the proper one for the MB300 Backflip? It was made by the same individual.
http://modmymobile.com/forums/557-motorola-backflip-motus-development/555774-recovery-j_r0dd-mb300-v1-7-4-1-8-27-10-a.html
Weasel,
Thanks for the link, I thought I was linking to that one already, changing the link today.
mine keep freezing at the $
@TheUnlockr
the ones that created the Preclair Beta are j_r0dd and KB7SQI
Sketch,
Thanks, updated it!
Thank you, im kinda retarded when it comes to this stuff, lots of ./- and stuff confuse me
does anyone know how long it takes to reboot its been stuck on it for a while 🙁
10-20 Mins
I’m stuck at trying to push it, it just lists the commands i can do instead of actually pushing it to the device
when I get to the command mtdblock3 /system it says not found way to do pls help
well I was guessing that the last set of commands the first two go together and if they do it tells me cant cd to system when I type when I type command cd system help pls
Im stuck at “rm recovery.img” When I hit enter it says file not found??
Help PLEASE!
rm failed for recovery.img, No such file or Directory.
Need help soon and please just comment back n the site.
Finisher,
That command removes the recovery, so if it says not found, problem already solved, just continue. (Also make sure you cd’ed to the right directory before typing that in).
yup thanks to ur page im rooted and flashed the rom love it gd looks unlockr
thank you for the root and loading custon roms. i dont know if anyone has said this but i have tested 2 motorola cliq roms and they did not work..
Thank you so much it worked perfectly. all you people having problems with the rm recovery part just skip it i did and it worked still…..
hey, so i just leave it out? because it says “rm failed for recovery.img, No such file or directory”
or should i start over again without typing that command?
thanks
hey, so i just leave it out? because it says “rm failed for recovery.img, No such file or directory”
or should i start over again without typing that command?
thanks
I keep getting an “error writing recovery: Permission denied” error while trying to do this, I followed the steps word for word, any suggestions?
Oh, forgot to allow root access on my phone, silly me.
lol totally failed at this.
i got my phone rooted and i got the same message.
now here is the noob question. how do i allow root access? lol
i keep getting error writing recovery permission denied pls help
@poster and oldman:
To flash the recovery image go to your superuser app on your phone. When you ask for su permissions in abd shell your superuser app will ask for permissions. Grant them.
I was having the same problem until I did a simple search in google “adb shell su permission denied” the first result gave the solution 🙂
at abd push recovery.img /sdcard/recovery.img it says error: more than one device and emulator???
This walkthrough makes rooting and flashing custom roms SO EASY! Thanks a billion my phone can do so much more now its not stuck on 1.5
Welcome!
ok so i keep trying and it doesnt work. can u please email me crazykillerz_01@yahoo.com.
Sooooooooooo i didnt do the entire section 2 process, and instead wiped everything from my phone. I try and install the ROM and it says no file exits ‘/sdcadr/update.zip or something like that. Help?
And now everytime I try to back up the phone on the customn backup screen, it’ll say error : run ‘nandroid-mobile.sh via abd!’
Fml wtf. WHAT DOE THIS MEANS?
NVM SINCE NO ONE REPLIES
You have to have enough space on your sd card. so delete all your music. 😛 I had 1.6 GB of music. lololol ooops.
took that off, then preformed the backup for the rom thing. 😀
backing up as i type.
I wanted to know if the motoblur can be installed back after installing the rom
Thx !!! worked like a charm !
Hey! In the picture of this post, it’s an HTC looking thing. Sorry if I sound noobish, but getting to the point now 😛
Basically I’m asking, is there an HTC ROM I can install that allows full/most HTC sense? I love my phone, but I hate the motoblur interface. Why I didn’t get an actual HTC phone? I honestly don’t know. There’s a few backflip features that I couldn’t resist.
Please, if anybody has an HTC sense ROM, I will love you forever. And if I had it, I’d give you a million dollars 😀
Thanks
-Tyler
ok so im doin the flash part and it gives me errors. it says not enough space on device . please help
when type su on command they write su and followed by three errors can u help me.
when i try to go into the recovery mode it says security on fastbboot disabled… why?
Where in this procedure does it say you need fastboot? Just continue with the procedure if it lets you.
When you boot whit the camera and power you take the option recovery mode y have this :
USB FastBoot : V0.5
Machine ID: Motus 0aa0
Build Date : Jun 16 2010 18:37:52
Serial Number : **********
** Security on, fastboot disable **
when ever i get to the point to type su it says CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE
please respond and help and also it doesnt ask for permission on my phone =( so i dont know
when I do the flash custom recovery image, I get stuck in the cmd prompt. When I type in SU it says CAN NOT LINK EXECUTABLE (don’t mean to yell, just typing what it says.
I have a Motorola Back Flip 2.1 with ATT. Has anyone gotten that type of msg?
Im getting the same thing 🙁 I hope the unlockr is not on vacation
1. The site gets 1.3 million hits a month and the only people who leave comments are those that have issues (the other 90% that got it to work just move on). So never wait for a response from me try and google for a solution. The site is a reference tool not a help desk lol. But if I can help trust me I will, just don’t rely on it.
2. What is the exact error you guys are getting and at what step?
1. The site gets 1.3 million hits a month and the only people who leave comments are those that have issues (the other 90% that got it to work just move on). So never wait for a response from me try and google for a solution. The site is a reference tool not a help desk lol. But if I can help trust me I will, just don’t rely on it.
2. What is the exact error you guys are getting and at what step?
just do the super one click method on this site but do it from start i did it and got it to finally work =) first re-root then load a custom rom
Im getting the same thing 🙁 I hope the unlockr is not on vacation
when I do the flash custom recovery image, I get stuck in the cmd prompt. When I type in SU it says CAN NOT LINK EXECUTABLE (don’t mean to yell, just typing what it says.
I have a Motorola Back Flip 2.1 with ATT. Has anyone gotten that type of msg?
hey just dont do this root do the super one click method just search it on this website and do it from the beginning like re-root then do there load a custom rom i did it and now im using a rom that changes the phones speed to 748mhz and is android 2.3 themed. ( only place i could find roms were at modmymobile.com i used speedy rom)
this isn’t the root. this is a custom rom. i’ve already done a root. im concerned about the android 2.1 upgrade the backflips got. will these recovery files push me back to 1.5 if i have to flash recovery? i don’t use this phone any more. im using it as a test bed to learn about rooting and stuff but i don’t want to screw it up either.
Hey thanks for posting this it didnt work for me but i guess I was doing something wrong but I did get it to work with the super one click method so thanks anyway for being a great person loading these videos for people who need the help so ill say it again Thanks!
When i type in su it says reloc_library[1244]: 21329 cannot locate…… any help?
when i type in su it gives me an error any help?
I had this same problem, just re-root with OneClickRoot and then try it.
I had this same problem, just re-root with OneClickRoot and then try it.
someone please add me on skype n0minz or email me nauman.akmal427@gmail.com. i really need help onn this I CANNOT DO IT!!! HELP!!!
done this dw
done this dw
@TheUnlockr
hey, ive done all the steps correctly, but in the last step “rm recovery.img” it says an error, but i skipped it.
well i installed the rom and all but when i reboot it it shows the motorola loga with the white background, then it keeps turning off and going back to the white screen with moto loga, am i doing something wrong?
cheers
@TheUnlockr
hey, ive done all the steps correctly, but in the last step “rm recovery.img” it says an error, but i skipped it.
well i installed the rom and all but when i reboot it it shows the motorola loga with the white background, then it keeps turning off and going back to the white screen with moto loga, am i doing something wrong?
cheers
please guide how to install from 2.1 on MB300????
please guide how to install from 2.1 on MB300????
im sooooo having trouble with “su”.
It shows this:
“$su
su
reloc_library[1244]: 5519 cannot locate ‘_ZNK7android6Parcel15setDataPositionEj
‘…CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE”
I have the MB300 with Android 2.1 installed with MOTOBLUR, and i would love to get rid of this stupid MOTOBLUR.
Thanks,
Micky D.
(^o^)/ < woo hoo!
im sooooo having trouble with “su”.
It shows this:
“$su
su
reloc_library[1244]: 5519 cannot locate ‘_ZNK7android6Parcel15setDataPositionEj
‘…CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE”
I have the MB300 with Android 2.1 installed with MOTOBLUR, and i would love to get rid of this stupid MOTOBLUR.
Thanks,
Micky D.
(^o^)/ < woo hoo!
anyone who gets the reboot cycle should go here
http://modmymobile.com/forums/4015552-post226.html
can you help me plz ??!!
i can’t install that rom !! the root is ok but in the recovery mode when i go to flash with sd card and i select the update it’s gives me an error msg : ” E can’t open / sdcard / update.zip (bad) .”
i tried with lot of rom’s !!
i need your help for my motorola backflip
can you help me plz ??!!
i can’t install that rom !! the root is ok but in the recovery mode when i go to flash with sd card and i select the update it’s gives me an error msg : ” E can’t open / sdcard / update.zip (bad) .”
i tried with lot of rom’s !!
i need your help for my motorola backflip
im on the last step and it say rm failed for recovery.img, no sucj file or directory.
Is the directory to delete the recovery.img file from supposed to be system or sdcard.
When I type
cd system or cd sdcard
rm recovery.img
I get a no such file or directory error
Should I instead be deleting recovery.img from sdcard directory not system, we pushed the original recovery.img to sdcard not system
cd sdcard
I believe where it says
cd system it’s supposed to say
cd sdcard then
rm recovery.img
we pushed the recovery.img to the sdcard n ot system, it must be a typo
I believe where it says
cd system it’s supposed to say
cd sdcard then
rm recovery.img
we pushed the recovery.img to the sdcard n ot system, it must be a typo
wow finally a video that makes the entire process…simple. Thank you.
wow finally a video that makes the entire process…simple. Thank you.
rm failed for recovery.img No such file or directory.
Your tutorial says push the recovery.img to /sdcard/recovery.img however, when you run the rm command you are trying to do it from system. should we be typing, cd sdcard insted of cd system, after
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
and then rm recovery.img?
bonjour, quand je fais le principe : récupération flash_image / sdcard / recovery.img
ca me marque : recuperation not found
i’m stuck here:
c:androidsdktools>adb shell
$ su
su
bionic/linker/linker.c:1581| ERROR: 2914 could not load ‘libbinder.so’
bionic/linker/linker.c:1641| ERROR: failed to link su
bionic/linker/linker.c:1741| ERROR: CANNOT LINK EXECUTABLE ‘su’
$ flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
error writing recovery: Permission denied
$ mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
mount: Operation not permitted
$ cd system
cd system
$ rm recovery.img
rm recovery.img
rm failed for recovery.img, Read-only file system
$
PLEASE HELP ME!
the link to the recovery image doesnt work out
ATTENTION EVERYONE: I had the “CAN NOT LINK EXECUTABLE” issue, and I finally solved it, the issue was caused due to an “su” and “superuser.apk” that would not work in the Android 2.1 version, here is the download link to the Su and Superuser.apk for the Backflip owners that have Android 2.1 and have the “Cannot link executable” issue. Just change the su and superuser.apk inside the file you will download for the ones you had previously, root again, and you should load a ROM using the method described in this site, or using ROM MANAGER. Thanks, hope it is useful.
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=RUGOVS84
after i typed flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img it sais permission denied any help?
@TheUnlockr:disqus , i ve completed all the steps correctly bt when it comes to replacing the recovery img, it says permission denied..!!! help!!
This tutorial should point out that you need to rename whatever the zip of your custom rom is called to “update.zip”. I didn’t know and almost bricked my phone, since there was no way to rename it and recovery wasn’t working 90% of the times I tried it.
I have a Telus Backflip, I loaded the signed-j_r0dd.preclair.v1.6.zip rom and now i’m stuck in a boot loop….any suggestions?
on the last step when i type rm recovery.img it says rm failed for recovery.img, no such file or directory…. what do i do?? please help..
Use the Root Explorer
Copy The Recovery.img File To The System Folder
OMG thanks!!!!!!!!!!!11
Thank you So much, you are my hero….
I have rooted with Cyanogenmod7.2; I have a problem with Wifi it does not connect and keeps scanning…. Phone: Motorola XT5 — (Z71 Variant).
please help me out to resolve this problem
Thanks in advance
Mr.B
when i press camera and power button and hold them it apears an blue screen with Bootloader usb init on thhe bottom, what can i do to solve this?
i got the same problem
got it
you dont have to hold the camera button (Or press it at all)
turn on the phone normally and when motorola mark apears hold both volume keys
megaupload is down, is there any way to get this with the su probblem?
after typing su im given a message that permission denied