Hey guys. Recently rooted my DX2 that was on the latest 2.3.5 update and flashed Eclipse. I love it and its amazing but I want to try other ROMs that have much more custom options, etc. However, I was wondering what the best way to go about this is. I know how to make nandroid backups and have one with eclipse as well as one from right after i rooted.
what's the best way to switch between these without losing data etc?
Ok well the nandroid is good but all the other ROMs for the X2 are based on 2.3.4. You will need to sbf down and unfortunately there is no way around this. If you ever wanna come back to eclipse though just take the 2.3.5 ota, root and restore your backup. The same process can be done for the ROM's on 2.3.4. Install one, make a backup so if you ever want to come back to it you can just restore the nandroid. Use Titanium Backup to backup apps so you can just restore them on the other ROMs. Don't back up system data though because it will screw up other ROMs.
if i have a backup of stock rooted i can just boot into recovery and restore using the backup? also, is there an up to date guide on how to rename them.
as for the 2.3.4 ROM backups, i'd have to be on 2.3.4 in order to restore them?
Yea you can restore the stock rooted if you want. To rename them just use a file explorer or something similar and rename to whatever you want. Don't add spaces though or it will screw it up.
And yea you don't wan't to restore a backup of a different version of android. I don't know definitively that it will not work, but it's just a bad idea in general.
What gets erased when I apply an update? My backups are on my external sd card so they'll overwrite the internal correct?
Ive had my internal reserved for mostly just mp3s (and recently photography books and vids), and it still hasnt been erased through months of data wipes and sbfs.. App data can be backed up with titanium backup pro and batch restored. Google backs up contacts, wifi settings, wallpaper sometimes. If using a non stock launcher, your home screen setup and setting can be transfered btw roms. Its just system data and customizations that you need to do for the new rom and thats the fun part. I skipped some details of course but Android is a really efficient system.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda app-developers app
thanks for the reply. it looks like the /system and /data folder are the ones that get overwritten so everything else stays untouched from what i can tell.
i tried restoring an old backup i made and got stuck at checkin_mot.db file.. pulled the battery, factory reset, restored latest eclipse backup. not sure what went wrong or if i just wasn't patient enough lol.
I had trouble with a cm7 backup freezing at the same spot..had to delete it. The cm9 backup i tried afterwards restored fine and pretty fast.
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda app-developers app
The biggest issue when coming from Eclipse, is the kernel. You cannot use a nandroid backup to switch between a 2.3.4 and a 2.3.5 rom. The nandroid cannot backup the kernel due to our ****ty locked bootloader.
So the only way you can go to another rom is to SBF back to 2.3.4 then root, and flash a new one. And even then a nandroid of Eclipse is worthless without it's kernel.
So no, there is no easier way. Other than to avoid eclipse like the plague, and stick with 2.3.4 roms.
Please let me know if I'm a complete retard here, but this has been my experience for the last year and a half.
Well before JB CM10 came out I'd say Eclipse was the most stable and best DD... Lol "avoiding it like the plague" is a bit overboard. But otherwise you are correct. To go to any other ROM it's time to SBF.
I definitely love the skin and feel of eclipse but I would like some more flexibility in terms of options, without overloading the overall device and making it sluggish again like stock.
Are any of the CM versions entirely stable and does everything work? Or they all have force close/non working parts?
Cm7 is pretty stable. The ones with the most bugs would be the CM9 based roms. CM10 JB is incredibly stable for the most part. You would never know it is an alpha. It runs very smoothly. There are problems installing some apps from gplay until alpha 2 is released but if you have titanium backups of your apps you can restore most if not all of them. It's only a work around but its good for now. I'm using CM10 as my daily driver (came from Eclipse.)
GoClifGo05 said:
Cm7 is pretty stable. The ones with the most bugs would be the CM9 based roms. CM10 JB is incredibly stable for the most part. You would never know it is an alpha. It runs very smoothly. There are problems installing some apps from gplay until alpha 2 is released but if you have titanium backups of your apps you can restore most if not all of them. It's only a work around but its good for now. I'm using CM10 as my daily driver (came from Eclipse.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that sounds promising. is it specific to the x2 in regards to the soft buttons? (as we already have hard buttons and the baked in ones dont really make sense)
Related
I am currently running stock 1.8.3 and rooted. No other mods. What is the best reliable app or tool for backing up & restoring my current Atrix ROM? I always keep a current TI full backup on my computer just in case, but have not backed up the ROM.
The last 1.8.3 update gave my phone a bit of a boost in that the screens load a bit faster and the phone seems a little more responsive.
My biggest wishes are:
1. Get the built in FM radio app from Motorola
2. Want Skype to enable video chat
3. Get rid of the white status bar. God I hate the white background, but am hesistant to use any of the mods because of the known bugs and for fear of screwing up future OTA updates. I have been on XDA a long time and have seen a lot of screw ups so I am very cautious.
I have about 420 apps installed so far, with about 83 processes/widgets running and the phone just steams ahead and takes everything I throw at it.
Anyway if anyone has experience with a ROM backup would appreciate any info
thanks
bump question
Nandroid, which you can access through tenfar's recovery.
Swyped from my Motorola Atrix 4g using XDA Premium App
I don't think nandroid will backup a rom in its entirety in that you can't use it to restore once you flag another sbf but it will backup LLC the user an system settings to be restored on your same sbf. So if you need to recover, keep a copy of your sbf around, and your nandroid backup (on your computer obviously would be safer, especially if you use gingdrbreak to root) and reflash, root, install cwm, then restore nandroid
Stock Bell Atrix on Rogers with updated radio, Rooted, deodexed, Honeycomb theme, and frozen!
Hi Folks,
as you can probably see this is my first post to XDA. please be kind.
I have used CM7 on both the LG g2x and Samsung Tmobile Vibrant. (T959)
I got a little tripped up trying to go back from CM7 to stock nandroid backup on my Vibrant. I failed to understand the differences in the filesystem layout.
After much jiggering and finagling I did get it back to stock... But you can understand that I don't want to repeat that...
I'm thinking of installing the latest Zendroid. I already am running 2.2 UVKB5 with root. CWM. Cmenard overstock kernel and Voodoo sound.
I make regular backups both with Titanium and CWM....
If I install the latest Zendroid, will I be able to go back to my previous backups?
As far as I understand Zendroid is just a streamlined build of the Samsung OS.
I could upgrade to Zendroid and fallback
Also does the dock audio functionality work with zendroid ? Not a dealbreaker just a question.
bests
JACK LINGUINI
nandroid does not back up your kernel. So if you are going to gingerbread then you cannot restore a nandroid backup of froyo without flashing a froyo kernel first, and even then i'm not 100% sure it would work
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
not going to GB
Nope. Zendroid is I *believe* Froyo kernel.
The problem I had trying to restore from CM down to original OS might have been both a kernel issue and a FS issue. I *think* the problem had to do with the different partition table and PIT used by CM7 vs OG Samsung.
Anyhow. I'm a very literal person so I just want to know what I am looking at
before I do a wipe and a whole new install. I don't want to have to go thru the
whole ODIN process if I want to backout.
bests
JACK LINGUINI
I would stay away from CWM (nandroid) backups. When you restore those, you are essentially overwriting the entire system and data partitions on the phone, and basically overwriting the entire rom with whats contained in your backup.
Titanium backups of applications are safe to restore, as well as a few system apps (contacts, dictionary, calendar, bookmarks, and Wifi access points are all I restore from the system apps in Titanium), but mostly with titanium you want to stay away from restoring the red and green colored apps. White are fine though and won't cause any issues.
Basically, if you flash ZenDroid, then do a CWM restore, you will lose all of the streamlining and tweaks that are in my build, and you will really be running stock again.
And yes, ZD is a Froyo (KB5) based rom, and a Froyo based kernel.
Dock audio, should work, but I don't have a dock to test it with. I didn't take anything out of the build that effects it TMK, so it should work.
EDIT - and while you will not have to Odin to go from ZD to a different rom, being good friends with Odin and flashing stock firmware from time to time is always high on my list of recommendations, jsut to alleviate any ghosts of roms past.
Thanks !
That's what I wanted to know.
I just didn't want to deal with any of the CM7 issues when trying to restore.
I do realize that if I install zendroid then restore I go back to my pre zendroid state. I am just making sure that I can roll back to normal if I have issues.
Stock touchwiz is a bit bloated but the basics work good and I get decent battery life. CM7 was pretty heavy on battery life.
I had to use CM7 on the LG G2x because LG couldn't be bothered to produce production ready software before they released the thing.
The Samsung software does have some bloat but runs OK.
thanks br!ck'd for making this build. I will let you know how it's rocking once I install and test.
bests
JACK LINGUINI
Ok, so I have been waiting for ICS patiently since I got my phone and didn't want to jump to any other rom but I am going to have 2 weeks off work and I know I will want to try and flash something out of boredom.
Few questions...
Switching from Stock Rooted to Unnamed
1. If I want to keep all my saved game/app info I just need to do Titanium Backup of user apps correct?
2. Will I have a problem playing MKV, AVI on the stock player, and will TW widgets like Picture Gallery work?
3. And if I do not like UnNamed (doubt I wont like it) do I just need to do a CWM recover to go back to exactly where I was then restore my apps/games from Titanium?
My main concern is loosing anything, thanks in advance for the help and I will make sure to hit that thanks button.
LiLChris06 said:
Ok, so I have been waiting for ICS patiently since I got my phone and didn't want to jump to any other rom but I am going to have 2 weeks off work and I know I will want to try and flash something out of boredom.
Few questions...
Switching from Stock Rooted to Unnamed
1. If I want to keep all my saved game/app info I just need to do Titanium Backup of user apps correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you backup with Tibu before installing the rom, just be sure to only restore missing apps with data. Don't install any system apps or system data. I think you need pro version for that feature.
2. Will I have a problem playing MKV, AVI on the stock player, and will TW widgets like Picture Gallery work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UnNamed is based on stock. You should be able to run anything that you can run on stock. You'll still have tw unless you change it. The widgets will work.
3. And if I do not like UnNamed (doubt I wont like it) do I just need to do a CWM recover to go back to exactly where I was then restore my apps/games from Titanium?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you first install a CWM enabled kernel, you can make a nandroid backup before you flash the rom, and then return to stock plus CWM enabled kernel from the nandroid backup. After that, you could even flash the stock kernel back if you wanted. In this case, your current configuration would be retained.
Made the switch earlier than I thought.
Thanks for the answers, when I get home ill play with it some more.
One additional factor about unnamed is because its based on Stock you can still use Samsung Kies for backup/restore...Now I have moved on to ICS'd ROM from Task and you cannot use the USB kies.
This becomes even more enticing now that gtg has posted the 2.0.0 Unnamed update and it includes much of the animation that is in ICS. Now I think there is even a 2.0.0a that included the latest Entropy daily.
srqrob said:
This becomes even more enticing now that gtg has posted the 2.0.0 Unnamed update and it includes much of the animation that is in ICS. Now I think there is even a 2.0.0a that included the latest Entropy daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea I wish I waited one more day before flashing, but I will use 1.3.2 for a few days.
Should I update to Entropy or Siyah latest kernal or I should leave it at what 1.3.2 came with?
At least I realized how easy it is to actually flash and retain all my stuff.
Missed call logs but I got the app just now, kinda really needed that and rejected list.
I had the same question. Easy answer is that you can flash UnNamed 2.0.0 right over the 1.3.2. using the zip on your SD and CWM. That way you can just continue and don't have to reset/install anything. Worked like a charm. Don't know about call logs. Didn't matter to me. Finally, you can easily flash updated kernels like the Entropy ones.
I think he recommended to format 1.3.2 to install 2.0, but I flashed over and it was fine.
gtg started out recommending factory update and wipe but it's playing out that you can just install, what is is now, 2.1.1 right over 1.3.2 and there have been no issues on that account. gtg is putting an incredible amount of work into this.
I knew I might have problems when using Titanium Backup to restore my apps and data from my Captivate to my new SGS2. I did some research prior and could not find any information that said there would be a problem for sure, so I went ahead.
Now I am having a bunch of force closes... Messenging, e-mail, bunch of things not working at all. Suggestions?
Information: Rooted SGS2 running 2.3.4, build GB.UCKH7
I think the best thing to do now is a complete wipe... But I am not sure how to do that without messing up my phone since it is rooted. Also, even if I do wipe it, how do I restore my text messages, phone log, etc, without messing it up again? Is this even possible or should I give up?
FYI: I have never restored to a different phone before, only from Captivate to Captivate.
Thanks in advance.
It is not recommended to restore system apps going from one rom to another, so I can only assume coming from another phone is such a bad idea.
Restoring user apps is all you should do, but from another phone I don't know how that works exactly.
For messages, call logs, check the market for a few apps that will do that for you.
Did you try to restore your mms and phone log by restoring the apk? I do not think you can do that from one phone to a different phone.
You should backup and restore with something like "SMS Backup +" from Google Play.
EDIT// Damn I'm too slow
restoring from device to device is fine...however it would appear that you restored SYSTEM data
or
you restored all apps + data instead of MISSING apps+data....big difference.
Pirateghost said:
restoring from device to device is fine...however it would appear that you restored SYSTEM data
or
you restored all apps + data instead of MISSING apps+data....big difference.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I selected the option "Backup all user apps + system data," which I already figured out was the WRONG option. Grrr.
What is the best way to fix this situation I am in? Since my phone is rooted, I am hesitant to use the menu systems to reset since that might mess up my phone.
I suppose installing a custom rom will fix the issue for sure, right? I was not sure I wanted to get into that with this phone.
Install a custom rom and be done with it.
If you like stock give that latest leak a try and enjoy ICS.
I'm with lilchris on this one. Just do a clean install of a custom rom then only restore user apps. In my experience restoring system data is just way more trouble then its worth. Google stores your critical information (contacts etc.) and everything else is not worth the pain.
LiLChris06 said:
Install a custom rom and be done with it.
If you like stock give that latest leak a try and enjoy ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you recommend stock or your ICS Rom? I actually prefer custom roms, I was just not sure I wanted to spend all the time putting one on... I guess I have to now!!!! Might as well get a custom one. I miss the custom one I had on my Captivate already!!!
As far as ICS roms go, how does yours rank? It looks pretty awesome.
Thanks.
Phone Bricker ICS Rom
Just installed Chris's Phone Bricker ICS Rom and it truly is AMAZING!!!! ICS has got to be the best Android Rom I have seen yet. I am loving it so much.
Thanks Christ, you are awesome. As soon as my phone finished downloading all my apps (which is did automatically!!! never had that happen with any prior Android Rom!), I will install the update you provided.
Hello, I'm brand new to these forums, but I've been browsing them for the past week, and Im thinking about making the plunge to CM7. I've never done anything like this before, so could you guys answer a few of my questions, and maybe put my fears to rest?
First off, let me say that I read the Moto Atrix noob guide and updated thread.
This is my phone info:
System Version: 4.5.141.MB860.ATT.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.6
I have had this phone for over a year, and everything is completely stock.
Questions:
1. I have seen various threads about the latest firmware from Motorola causing an inability to change the OS. Is this true? And if not, do all the guides I've read regarding flashing, roms, backup, etc. still applicable?
2. I want to run CM7, but is it better to install CM7 directly from their website, or use some of the versions that I have seen members offering here. What are the main differences? What do you recommend?
3. Is CM7 as stable as stock?
4. Is it possible to flash different kernels to see what type of battery life difference they make, and can you do this without changing the OS?
5. I've seen multiple times of the importance of backing everything up. My only concerns are the contacts and sms. My contacts are stored on "Motorola Services." How can I back them up? As for sms, I use an app called SMS backup and restore. It creates an xml file I think, so when I go to restore my sms messages, everything should be as i was before, right? I'm worried about formatting issues here.
I just want to make sure I understand everything so I dont mess anything up. Thanks for your help!
yep. being a virgin and knowing it has to happen gives ya them butterflies in the tummy. Don't worry, you'll be fine, WE were all virgins at one time also. There will be somone here to assist you if you need it.
1.Follow the automatic bootloader thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
2. Read a little on the roms you are considering. The ones based on cm7 are basically the same. differences will be in themes, and extra/different features like diff apps and launchers & more or less customization options such as for settings. Have to choose which one appeals to you, and go with it. Beauty of this is if you want to try something else, only takes a matter of minutes and you can change to a differnt cm7 rom. In a lot of instances, once you are on cm7, flashing a different cm7 rom, you don't have to erase or lose your data, just wipe system and caches and load new flavor. Only takes a couple of minutes to flash a new rom, or kernal, or radio, and your data stays intact. Changing to a CM9 or a different base rom is when you will need to wipe the whole phone including data.
3. Yes, cm7 was the last revision when devs were still able to use OEM drivers, so they are stable.
4. Answered in #2
5. I don't recall which apps were good for saving your sms stuff on cm7. Seems like ages ago since I was using that! Might want to consider moving your Motorola based stuff over to Google. Contacts will be availabe there and will load automatically when you initiate your new rom. You don't need to do any formatting, but erasing will wipe areas, and will erase personal data if that option is chosen, so your concern is noted. Pay attention to what you are doing, don't wipe data from CWM when flashing if you intend on keeping your user data. You can wipe system and caches and not lose your data.
Yes back everthing up. Make a copy of your PDS folder and stash it away on your pc (do this before starting flashing), this has your phone id stuffs and a couple other valuables. Don't share that with anyone either. Make a nandroid b/u (an option in your new CWM) as soon as you can after installing CWM. You can reload that if things don't go good, and be back where you started. Install SuperuserSU (not the plain Superuser) from google play.
Just do it, you'll like it! become one of the elite!
If you ask me... You'll need a custom recovery to be able to flash CM7 anyway, so why not use it to make a proper full nandroid backup too?
I mean sure, you can try messing around with specialized apps to save and restore only the parts most critical to you (like contacts and texts), but if for any reason you'll want to completely go back, at least you'll know you can.
ravilov said:
If you ask me... You'll need a custom recovery to be able to flash CM7 anyway, so why not use it to make a proper full nandroid backup too?
I mean sure, you can try messing around with specialized apps to save and restore only the parts most critical to you (like contacts and texts), but if for any reason you'll want to completely go back, at least you'll know you can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
wvcaudill2 said:
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM will allow you to restore individual partitions. So you can, say, restore just /data and leave others intact. It won't let you restore specific folders in /data though. Basically such a backup is most useful if you need to restore the entire phone to a specific state.
wvcaudill2 said:
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use titanium backup to restore individual apps and their data...
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
ravilov said:
CWM will allow you to restore individual partitions. So you can, say, restore just /data and leave others intact. It won't let you restore specific folders in /data though. Basically such a backup is most useful if you need to restore the entire phone to a specific state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what all is stored in the /data partition?
Also, is there some comparison of roms out there? I've been searching through the forum, and can't seem to find any. I see NottachAtrix4G alot. Is this based off of CM7? Also, does the fingerprint scanner work in cm7?
wvcaudill2 said:
what all is stored in the /data partition?
Also, is there some comparison of roms out there? I've been searching through the forum, and can't seem to find any. I see NottachAtrix4G alot. Is this based off of CM7? Also, does the fingerprint scanner work in cm7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The data partition is where your contacts, messages, settings and apps that you have installed go to.
I'm sure I saw some threads comparing ROMs, even though I recommend you try all the ROMs and see which one best fits your needs. Back when I had my old Milestone 2, everyone talked about the CM7 ROM, as it was the best to the device, but as soon as I tried the MIUI 2.3.7, never came back to CM7 (at least with M2, used it again with atrix)
Nottachtrix isn't based off CM7, it's a stock gingerbread ROM with modifications.
Yes, the fingerprint scanner works (at least on Neutrino CM7).
MaxK47 said:
The data partition is where your contacts, messages, settings and apps that you have installed go to.
I'm sure I saw some threads comparing ROMs, even though I recommend you try all the ROMs and see which one best fits your needs. Back when I had my old Milestone 2, everyone talked about the CM7 ROM, as it was the best to the device, but as soon as I tried the MIUI 2.3.7, never came back to CM7 (at least with M2, used it again with atrix)
Nottachtrix isn't based off CM7, it's a stock gingerbread ROM with modifications.
Yes, the fingerprint scanner works (at least on Neutrino CM7).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for a good answer. I have yet another question though.
Some of the ROMS I have been looking at advertise that they are packaged with a certain kernel. Do all ROMS contain a kernel, or will I have to flash my own depending on which ROM I choose?
Again, sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I dont screw this up!
Every ROM is a complete system, so it must come with a kernel. In most cases after flashing a ROM you're ready to go. You'd only want to flash a different kernel if for some reason you're not happy with the one supplied with the ROM.