[Android General] cloud4g:
Many new posts here that tend to be repeated periodically. To sum up with what has been repeated in posts by others previously:

1. Number one Rule: Backup or find a copy of your factory recovery before attempting any custom mods. This can help in cases where flashing of a ROM or messing with root files causes things to go wrong, resulting in frozen start screens or what looks like a bricked device.(sometimes is.. but Its often possible to re-flash back to the original or factory updated ROM.

2. Backup your custom settings, programs and other information using one of the popular tools such as Rom Manager. Its best to copy the backup folder to your PC just in case. Search on this thread for details.

3. Check, double-triple check that your device is the Haipai i9220 and not a look-alike, if not the exact model, do not attempt to use the custom ROM or other instructions other than as a learning guide. The same goes for any model of phone you ever own: never flash even though the models have what appears to be identical outward appearance or some fellow idiot says so... unless you see multiple confirmations or a new custom ROM that an expert here has confirmed to work, never flash a ROM for one model on another device.

4. Try to start with a 'clean Windows PC' to connect with you device. Many problems, including my own experience, come up because of driver conflicts, outdated drivers, relatively small differences in procedures such as "remove battery first, then reinstall it once ADB connection is made'' can frustrate individual efforts. If everyone had the same hardware with the same fresh installation of software, chances are much of the frustration would not be experienced. While that isn't possible, it is possible to reduce the conflicts on your end: If you have an old computer that can be used for this and similar stuff like running Linux/BackTrack or web server workstation, then use it instead of a laptop or other commonly used PC. That way you can install just the monitor, keyboard/mouse and then the USB drivers/Android SDK to achieve a 'clean install' configuration without legacy drivers posing potential conflicts. What is needed is not a high horsepower PC with great graphics... just a simple Windows workstation.

5. Root the device as instructed if needed.

6. Read the instructions on the first page. This page has evolved and may be found to be a bit confusing. The objective is to 1: Get your device to a state where it can use a custom ClockWorks Mod recovery that Angelobiz has provided in step #4 and #5. To make use of the Clockworks Mod custom recovery flash method you must first flash the custom CM recovery using the FLASH tool as instructed in step #3 . You can go through the entire step #3 update or just use the tool to FLASH the CM mode recovery which will prepare the device for Step4 or 5 and any future ROMs that are CM compatible for this device. Many people here started out flashing earlier mods so that when step 4 and 5 came about they were ready to use CWM to do a recovery flash.

Those coming in now need to follow an abbreviated instruction set: that is to 1. Backup, backup, backup. 2. Root the device if not alredy, 2. Use the Flash tool to flash Angelobiz ClockWorks mod custom recovery, 3. Transfer and use the more recently CWM update ROM to do a boot-update flash. From then on, it should be very straight forward to do an upgrade using the same file transfer and CWM update process to a new ROM such as Android 4.1 if that becomes available.

Hints: A cool tool for easy file transfers that does not require messing with USB cables and drivers is to use on of the free Wi-Fi transfer programs available on Android store. Search for 'WiFi file transfer'. Its very convenient for storing off-device backups or deleting junk files from programs you no longer use or stuff like Chinese apps that are difficult to uninstall .. the new custom ROM here cleans that stuff up for you.

If you are buying a device, try to get the supplier to deliver it rooted, and with CWM recovery installed. That might take arm twisting but these suppliers want to sell their devices and some know enough about how to do this to make it routine for them for this device by now.