[Vibrant Android Development] MS_Guru:
Loop Fix...

If your having issues with boot looping, especially after flashing a new kernel, don't go blaming your chosen kernels dev for producing faulty kernels. In fact it seems to be something in the CM7 kernel source itself causing the hiccup.

I always build myself a stock kernel flasher for each build I tweak. Here's a link to my current flash tool, nightly build 32. I've also included a few scripts in my flasher, most notably, birgertime's permission script, and Wes Garner's Zipalign script. You should also download Lippols Kernel Cleaner, as you'll need it in my procedure. As well as a modem of you're choosing. For Modems I'd suggest anything KA6 and up. I currently use a KB5 modem which seems best suited to my hilly area in northern Cali. Your results may vary.

To fix your loopy loops, try the following procedure. Remember, anything you do to your phone is your own fault. Both procedures I've outlined are safe, given you follow the directions explicitly, and aren't a complete moron.

Firstly, to make life easier in general, you should already have flashed the Gingerbread loaders. If you haven't flashed the GB loader, I'd suggest you do it once you've made your repair. I fought it for awhile myself, but it just makes things easier. The following procedure will assume you've already flashed the GB loader. But if you haven't flashed a GB loader, where I outline the use of the "volume down key", you'll be pressing both "volume up & down".

Have these on your internal SD prior to this procedure.....

Your choice of Kernel: My Tool, Nightly Build #32, Glitch's kernel, etc...

Ultimate Kernel Cleaner Script

Your choice of Modem, aka. Radio Image

And for good measure, a current Nightly

Step 1) To actually stop the looping, and login to recovery. On the Gingerbread loader hold volume down+power through a full power cycle. Ie. hold both buttons through the "Vibrant" screen, then through the kernels boot screen, at which point your phone should reboot before again looping. Continue to hold through "Vibrant" image, then release the power button once you see the kernels boot logo. At this point you should be logged into your phones recovery image.

Step 2) Next go to "advanced" and "Wipe Dalvik Cache". Then choose "*****Go Back*****".

Step 3) Next choose "wipe cache partition". Don't worry, all your settings and apps will still be there after this procedure...

Step 4) Now your ready to install a new kernel. Choose "install zip from sdcard", then "choose zip from sdcard", and select Lippols kernel cleaner. Once the cleaner runs its course you can either reinstall the current stock kernel via my kernel tool, or something OC'able like Glitch's kernel.

Step 5) Following a kernel flash, for good measure I always flash my chosen radio image.

Step 6) One step left, choose "*****Go Back*****" then "advanced" and "Fix Permissions". At this point select "reboot system now", cross your fingers, and off you go.

It may be necessary to do this procedure more than once. If you're looping after 2 times through this procedure, I'd suggest replacing the kernel flashing step with a full CM7 install. Again, if you follow the procedure I've outlined, you shouldn't loose any data.

Loop Fix Extreme Edition...

If you continue to have all kinds of issues, and a full flash doesn't seem to cut it, you have one procedure left before having to do a complete wipe and reinstall of your apps.

In all actuality this isn't that big of a deal, as its similar to what happens when you flash a new nighly, its just a manual way of doing things. Seeing as this is a bit more advanced, I won't hold your hand as much, because frankly, its late, and I wanna go to bed...

Step 1) Big one here.... have a current version of the Nightly downloaded onto your internal sdcard. If you forget this step, there's no hope for you, and you should quit flashing your phone cause yur kinda Dumb...

Step 2) Once in recovery, choose "advanced" and flush your "Dalvik cache". Then "go back" and go to your "mounts" and format "boot" "system" and "cache". Be careful at this point not to touch your touchscreen, or to reboot. Yes just touching one of your touch screens buttons at this point could have ill effects. While you won't brick, its a pain in the ass to recover at that point.

Step 3) Flash the Nightly you downloaded earlier, "Fix Permissions" once more, and walla, a clean image with all your apps intact.

If you actually screwed up and rebooted before flashing a new nightly, and after formatting those partitions, yur just plain dumb. Don't you remember, I told you not too to that. Having said that, your only choice is to Odin back to JFD.

Good luck flashing. Hit the thanks button if this was helpful...