Manually flash a recovery image via ADB

This is a quick and easy guide for flashing a custom (or restoring a stock) recovery image to your mobile using the ADB interface.

Drivers

This method does require you to have the relevant drivers installed, for Huawei U8180 these are the Pulse 2.1 drivers available here - Pulse_Drivers_xp_w7_w764. If you have another phone and the Pulse drivers do not work you will need to search online for your devices ADB drivers (for now, I'll be building a list of the drivers to download as soon as I can :)

To test if the drivers are installed on your PC simply switch off your phone and then boot to fastboot mode, for example with the Huawei U8180 you press the volume down and power keys then keep them pressed for 10 seconds or so and the screen will stay on the boot logo, this is fastboot.
(If your phone just switches on when you try to boot into fastboot mode then check that the fastboot option in your settings is unchecked)

(Screenshot's below are for a U8180 where the drivers were not already installed)

1 - Prompt for driver when the phone is connected in 'fastboot' mode.


2 - Select 'Pulse_2.1_XP_Drivers' because I'm using Windows XP, use the specific drivers for your Operating System.


3 - Wait until the drivers install.


4 - You should see something like the screen below once they have installed.



Method

Step 1 - Download Android Control - Android Control v1.3.1 (or my mirror here)



Step 2 - I'm assuming you already have a recovery image for your phone but if not then Google your phone plus ClockWorkMod or CWM and you should find one (again I will build a list of recovery images soon)

Step 3 - Extract your downloaded Android Control to a folder with no spaces in the name on the root of your PC (ie C:\AndroidControl)



Step 4 - Copy your recovery image to the same folder and rename it to recovery.img (makes it easier)



Step 5 - Switch off your phone and re-start in 'fastboot' mode (see above)

Step 6 - Connect your phone to your PC.

Step 7 - Open a Command Prompt and navigate to your Android Control folder.

Step 8 - Type - fastboot flash recovery recovery.img - and press enter.



Step 9 - Wait for the image to flash (You should see a success message in your command window)



Step 10 - Type - fastboot reboot - to reboot your phone normally



Step 11 - Turn your phone off and then re-start in recovery mode (for Huawei U8180 press Volume Up and Power key for 10 seconds or so until you reach the recovery menu)