From the Android Forums: Managing recovery versions

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ClockworkMod recovery

Shiny Top asks in the Android Central forums,

I have two Galaxy Nexus phones, bought 3 weeks apart. I have uninstalled Rom Manager from both.

One, when I reboot into recovery, has CWM Recovery version 5.8.0.2 and the other has 6.0.1.0.1. The 5 version has larger letters and can be controlled by touch or volume and power button. The 6 version can only be controlled by the volume and power buttons. I don’t know how to change the version and wonder if anybody can enlighten me. I prefer the 5 version if that matters.

We’re glad you asked. There’s two ways to install ClockworkMod recovery on your G Nex — an easy way and a less-easy way. Let’s hit the break and have a look at the methods.

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The not-as-easy way, where you learn something

I like to call this the good way. Visit the device specific section of the forums for your particular phone, where you’ll find information on how to flash recovery images to your phone. In this case (Galaxy Nexus), you use fastboot. You’ll find plenty of information about getting fastboot up and running on your computer, whether it be Windows, Mac, or Linux. This sounds like a chore, but fastboot is an extremely powerful tool, and well worth the “trouble” of setting it up. Read through a bit, then download the appropriate files and follow directions. If you hit a snag, remember two things:

  • It’s OK to get stuck. None of us were born with this knowledge, and we all had to learn
  • There are people in the forums who love to help. Let them help you.

Once you have fastboot up and running, head over to the ClockworkMod recovery download page. Decide which version you would like to flash, and download it from the list. Drop the image file you downloaded into the same folder you have fastboot set up in, boot your phone into fastboot, and flash recovery thusly:

fastboot flash recovery [name of recovery file].img

​Use the correct file name, and don’t enclose it in brackets. That was done just to make the instructions more clear and universal. You can now reboot into your new recovery.

The easy way

Maybe you don’t want to go through setting up fastboot, or are in a hurry and don’t have time. As long as you’re rooted, this method is perfect. Install, or re-install Rom Manager from Google Play. Open the app, and near the bottom of the page displayed you’ll see this.

Rom Manager

Rom Manager uses a utility to flash recovery images while your phone (or tablet) is booted and running. In this section of the app you can choose to flash any older version of ClockworkMod recovery, ClockworkMod Touch recovery, or an alternate recovery. ClockworkMod touch requires an in-app purchase and most folks feel it’s worth a few bucks, but for our purposes the last entry is the one you’ll need. Tap it, choose a version, and it will flash it for you. When it’s finished, you can safely uninstall Rom Manager and your recovery will stay intact.

A word about Rom Manager is in order here. It’s a great app, and a really easy way to manage backups and recovery images. But it may not be the best way for your device. Be sure to check and see that Rom Manager and ClockworkMod are working well with your hardware and version before you use it. The forums is a great place to verify that, as well as investigate alternative recovery options, which vary from device to device.