Breaking out of force close loop

[boathead]

I was trying to flash CM7 (or any other ROM, for that matter) and everything goes fine until the system reboots with the changes. When the home screen comes up I get in an endless loop with the following force close message: " An unexpected error occured in something.android.phones". At this point the dialogue allows only 2 options: retry, which results in the same error; cancel, which results in the same error. The only other option is to do a reboot and remove the installation.
As I said, this happens when I try to install ANY ROM.
Question 1: what am i doing wrong?
Question 2: how do i break out of this loop without having to reboot? Is there a way.
The messages above are not exactly literal but they illustrate the general idea - I am paraphrasing for the most part.

Thanks

[enlightened]

Which ROMs have you tried when you say this happens with any ROM?

[CJM]

How did you download and install those rom's?

Swyped from a Droid

[boathead]

Which ROMs have you tried when you say this happens with any ROM?

I have tried CyanogenMod 7.0.0-RC1, IncRom 1.2, and CM7 Build#7 , just to name a recent few.

Thanks

[boathead]

How did you download and install those rom's?

Swyped from a Droid

Here's is my procedure when using ROM Manager:
1. Backup the existing ROM.
2. Download a ROM.
3. Install the ROM (wiping data and cache, always)
4. Reboot with new ROM

When the ROM boots, I swipe to unlock the device and then i enter into an infinite(?) loop and my dialing pad and phone service are unavailable (a most unacceptable situation, since I need to be able to make and receive calls while I experiment with any new ROM)

[CJM]

Here's is my procedure when using ROM Manager:

Rom manager is known to have issues. Try downloading your rom's to a pc then, using your usb, transfer them to your sd. Then flash them in recovery. If you dont have a pc, RM will work. You will just have to keep re-downloading rom's until one works. Other than that, all your other procedures look correct.

Swyped from a Droid

[ToastMAn]

I'm having the *exact* same problem as you. Only, I'm on an HTC Desire.

I would love to know if you found/find a solution for this. I searched and asked about this in several places, but got nothing and only left a line of clueless fellows behind me...

[CJM]

I dont know the Desire, but how did you start having force close issues?

Swyped from a Droid

[ToastMAn]

Exact same deal. Tried to flash several different ROMs. My official rooted ROM works just fine.

[CJM]

Did you use rom manager or your phone to download the rom's?

Swyped from a Droid