Hey guys,
Firstly, not sure if this is the right place to ask, but I thought it would be about right.
I'm currently undergoing a project to help Android users get the best out of their device. A lot of my friends and clients (I run a small computer shop in my neighbourhood) have come to me asking me if I can fix or upgrade their Android device, especially after I show them how clean and functional ROMs such as Cyanogenmod AOSP can run on older devices such as my old Samsung Galaxy S and S2, instead of the bloated touchwiz and sense garbage most people are forced to use.
Over the past 4 months or so, I have been working hard on trying to create my own ROMs for a range of devices. The goal is to keep it as close to Cyanogenmod released as possible, and add in a few extras to make it easier and better to use, such a better launcher (apex), extra apps for more functionality, folder organiser for apps, a neat homescreen layout, and a number of tweaks in settings. I do this across several devices and document it all, and I am currently building a user guide to help total noobs love and android to its full potential. I try to make each device work and feel the same to ensure that my user guides that I create are universal across all the devices I work on. At the moment I'm working only on smartphones.
At the moment, this is my current process for setting up a device, in a simplified form:
Firstly I root and install a custom recovery on a device (easy peasy)
I then test a few ROMs such as AOSP builds and Cyanogenmod to find most stable and best daily driver ROM.
Copy over my "toolkit" onto the SD card which includes the original ROM files, gapps, wallpapers, user guide, and other apps such as Titanium backup. Depends on the device/version of Android though
I then setup my specialised google account which just has titanium backup pro purchased
Depending on the version of Android and the characteristics of the device, I will copy over a Titanium Backup archive I've prepared already for that type of device. When I don't have this prepared, I'll use a similar Titanium Backup achive i've used before and then make a new backup archive when I'm finished modifying the ROM
The titanium backup is restored and everything is installed.
The homescreens and widgets are then setup to my liking
I then do a cleanup of the ROM, remove my google account I use to access Titanium Backup (at least on ICS and JB, GB uses a different method entirely), delete apps included in the ROM which are not needed (extra launchers, homescreen tips etc)
I then make a Nandroid backup once it's ready for action to make it much easier for the next time I setup that particular device
Unfortunately, this is a pretty time-consuming process, and updating ROMs can be very time consuming as new ROMs are released and I'm forced to do a clean install for stability.
I'm just throwing this post out there to see if any developers who know the Android framework better than I do might have any advice on how to streamline this process. I've done some Java programming in the past so I'm not scared of a little (I'm not great with it) bit of code. I'm supporting over 15 devices now and I've made over 25 custom ROMs and I just feel that there might be a faster way of doing this as it's taking a LOT of my time by doing things manually. Any advice would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers!
Any suggestions? Are there ways I can package my modifications into flashable zips? Am I posting in the wrong forum? haha
To install the apps, you could just make an update.zip and flash it in recovery and that would take care of them. I'm not sure how you would go about enabling settings by default or changing the homescreen layout though.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
smithchipz said:
To install the apps, you could just make an update.zip and flash it in recovery and that would take care of them. I'm not sure how you would go about enabling settings by default or changing the homescreen layout though.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking that, Titanium Backup now allows to creation of flashable zips for apps. Little things like notification widgets and lockscreen settings are the time consuming items.
Is there a way to be able to get the setup wizard to run again once more btw?
Bump...
Related
Hi!
Little, stupid question... But is there a way to backup the Sense tab order priror to flashing a new ROM? I use Enery ROMs and the enclosed UC and the Settings Exporter, but this tools don't backup the order of the tabs.
not sure maybe ask in his thread really, might get a better response if someone knows how to do it as we all use different roms the back up features differ.
But isn't there just a tool, which can export these settings plus something like e-mail accounts and WiFi settings?
not that i no off because sense is built into the rom build its self if a new version of sense is used in an updated rom you're going to have big problems with the back up crashing and not loading maybe,
email and wifi settings erm there might be, but again the rom thread is usually the best place to ask see how other people are backing up things and going about saving settings, as the roms are different not every solution will work for everybody sorry
Hi,
Place your tabs in the right order as you want to backup them.
Then, using a reg editor, backup the folowing registry folder:
HKLM\Software\HTC\Manila\Configuration
This key holds the tab order, and wich one are visible.
After you flash a ROM, you can just import this key in your registry, and your sense tabs are restored the way you want it.
Works perfectly here.
Gl
Hello guys. I'm new to smartphones and Vibrant is my first. I bought one off ebay for $240 and it has Android version 2.1-update1 installed on it. I would like to know if you guys recommend that I ungrade it to Froyo or above. I've heard some bad things about Froyo and wouldnt like to regret doing the update. I've already backed up all apps on the phone. Just need your professional opinion on this matter. Thank you.
Well welcome to the world of the samsung Vibrant, lol, well obviously froyo us the best and You should upgrade and if you want, You should root your device and learn to put a "ROM" on ur phone like the ones below, and FYI, since u posted this in the wrong place, your gonna get flamed, next time post in vibrant Q and A.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Nabeel10 said:
Well welcome to the world of the samsung Vibrant, lol, well obviously froyo us the best and You should upgrade and if you want, You should root your device and learn to put a "ROM" on ur phone like the ones below, and FYI, since u posted this in the wrong place, your gonna get flamed, next time post in vibrant Q and A.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ive already rooted the phone and unlocked it. How do I set the ROM? What is ROM?
mbison83 said:
Ive already rooted the phone and unlocked it. How do I set the ROM? What is ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A ROM is pretty much your OS. All these Froyo ROMs are really good, just know how to flash properly. I STRONGLY suggest you:
1) Consistently backup all your apps with "Titanium Backup" and google, AND make a copy of all your data on your computer.
2) READ, I suggest you read the Bible (it's Stickied at the top) and LEARN before you do ANYTHING.
3) And lastly, when you mess up, as EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE has, you will need to know how to revert back to STOCK firmware.
Keep this link close, it will save your neck:
http://androidspin.com/2010/08/09/how-to-restore-or-recover-your-samsung-vibrant/
check out the rom vibrant bible thread all ur answers will be ther enjoy, oh and yes upgrade to froyo
bobbbb said:
A ROM is pretty much your OS. All these Froyo ROMs are really good, just know how to flash properly. I STRONGLY suggest you:
1) Consistently backup all your apps with "Titanium Backup" and google, AND make a copy of all your data on your computer.
2) READ, I suggest you read the Bible (it's Stickied at the top) and LEARN before you do ANYTHING.
3) And lastly, when you mess up, as EVERYONE, and I mean EVERYONE has, you will need to know how to revert back to STOCK firmware.
Keep this link close, it will save your neck:
http://androidspin.com/2010/08/09/how-to-restore-or-recover-your-samsung-vibrant/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For some reason Titanium Backup does not work for me. When I run it I get 0 as a number of apps installed and when I click backup all apps and system files it immediately says backup completed. I've been using the Flii Backup. Is that okay? How do I copy all the stuff to my PC? Thank you for all the info.
Also, should I go with the 2.3 Gingerbread version instead?
mbison83 said:
For some reason Titanium Backup does not work for me. When I run it I get 0 as a number of apps installed and when I click backup all apps and system files it immediately says backup completed. I've been using the Flii Backup. Is that okay? How do I copy all the stuff to my PC? Thank you for all the info.
Also, should I go with the 2.3 Gingerbread version instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you open Titanium Backup, does it say that it has been granted SU permissions?
If it does, then we're good so far. I've had that happen when I first used TiB on my hubby's phone. The way I got over that was to hit the menu button and select "Batch". You should now be on the Batch Backup/Restore - ALL page. From there, I selected RUN for "Backup all user apps + system data". That should force TiB to go ahead and make the backups.
Now, as for copying the files over onto your PC, just use plug in your USB cable and connect it to your PC. Your phone should emit a little tone or vibrate after this (or at least mine does but it's been a long time since I've used stock). From there, slide down your notifications bar (slide your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom of it) and you should see a note telling you that your USB is connected and if you hit that, it will ask you if you would like to mount your SD card (or something similar to that). Select "yes" and your PC will ask you if you want to open these "drives". Select "yes" again and now you will be able to explore the files on your phone the same way you'd do it on your PC.
As for the whole copy+paste thing, the files work the same as if you're copying files around your PC. Generally, I keep multiple backups on my PC, so it might be a smart idea to label your Titanium Backup file with name or date (ie: Titanium Backup - Stock JFD or Titanium Backup - ROMname blahKernel).
Afaik, we don't have a stable Gingerbread ROM yet but I think our devs are getting pretty close. However, we have several stable Froyo ROMs available in the Android Dev section.
Oniyuri said:
when you open Titanium Backup, does it say that it has been granted SU permissions?
If it does, then we're good so far. I've had that happen when I first used TiB on my hubby's phone. The way I got over that was to hit the menu button and select "Batch". You should now be on the Batch Backup/Restore - ALL page. From there, I selected RUN for "Backup all user apps + system data". That should force TiB to go ahead and make the backups.
Now, as for copying the files over onto your PC, just use plug in your USB cable and connect it to your PC. Your phone should emit a little tone or vibrate after this (or at least mine does but it's been a long time since I've used stock). From there, slide down your notifications bar (slide your finger from the top of the screen to the bottom of it) and you should see a note telling you that your USB is connected and if you hit that, it will ask you if you would like to mount your SD card (or something similar to that). Select "yes" and your PC will ask you if you want to open these "drives". Select "yes" again and now you will be able to explore the files on your phone the same way you'd do it on your PC.
As for the whole copy+paste thing, the files work the same as if you're copying files around your PC. Generally, I keep multiple backups on my PC, so it might be a smart idea to label your Titanium Backup file with name or date (ie: Titanium Backup - Stock JFD or Titanium Backup - ROMname blahKernel).
Afaik, we don't have a stable Gingerbread ROM yet but I think our devs are getting pretty close. However, we have several stable Froyo ROMs available in the Android Dev section.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. It seems to work now. I've used the Clockwork Recovery app and did backup through it. Would that be enough? Where is the Android Dev section? What do I do next? Thank you.
As far as the ROM goes. Which one would you recommend? I was looking at the Axura 2.3.1.0 and Ginger Clone R2. How about Nero v5? Thanks guys!
Welcome! And yes you should definitely update to Froyo, or a rom based on Froyo. I'm not sure what you heard that soured your opinion of Froyo...but it is a noticeable performance upgrade! It's been a while but I'm pretty sure the JIT compiler was introduced with 2.2 (someone fact check me pls) which should improve java performance multiple times.
I recommend Bionix-V 1.21 for a custom ROM made especially for the Vibrant. It's extremely fast and the community is friendly, helpful, and most importantly VERY active. I linked you to a guide that should answer any questions you might have regarding the rom, and android in general.
Arkasai said:
Welcome! And yes you should definitely update to Froyo, or a rom based on Froyo. I'm not sure what you heard that soured your opinion of Froyo...but it is a noticeable performance upgrade! It's been a while but I'm pretty sure the JIT compiler was introduced with 2.2 (someone fact check me pls) which should improve java performance multiple times.
I recommend Bionix-V 1.21 for a custom ROM made especially for the Vibrant. It's extremely fast and the community is friendly, helpful, and most importantly VERY active. I linked you to a guide that should answer any questions you might have regarding the rom, and android in general.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Unfortunately the link does not work for me. It wants me to sign up.
mbison83 said:
Thank you. Unfortunately the link does not work for me. It wants me to sign up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, forgot to mention that...but hey if you're gonna try the rom you might as well join their site ;P
Update: Ok, guys. I went to this link and got the Axura 2.3.1.0 installed with the use of this video, which is very useful and I was able to perform this flash flawlessly.
Anyway, The ROM is really responsive and I have only found one flaw, which is that the Fast Web Install app does not work on it. I get the message that they are working on it. Also, the Titanium Backup did not back up anything. All was backed up by the ROM Manager and the Flii Backup.
This ROM has impressed me with its responsiveness. It seems like a high-quality ROM and this is the first time I did the flash, so I'm not familiar with other ROMs. However, this ROM seems like a good pick for now at least. Can you guys advise me where I can sign up for notifications about the Axura updates? Any further suggestions? I appreciate your precious time.
In the Questions and Answers section, at the top, there is a NOOB guide... I would HIGHLY suggest reading it. It explains just about EVERYTHING you could want to do to your new phone!
As far as your next mod... start customizing your phone! Go to the Theme section of the forum and browse around for some custom battery mods and framework mods. It's CRAZY amazing how customizable these phones are!
I used to use the ROM's on here, but since Froyo came out, I'm sticking with a deodexed stock of KB1 (the latest and greatest update). That allows me to modify my framework and all the phone images without having to worry about screwing up one of the custom ROMs out there. I always feel safer with stock... plus root of course. Replaced my boot and shutdown animations with custom ones I created... don't have them posted on here as they are made specifically for my band and noone here would want them!
Keep your contacts synced to google so you don't lose them, backup with Titanium every once in a while to keep your game data and app data up to date, keep reading on here about modding, you could start reading the google developers website to learn about the inner workings of Android and how to write programs... so much to do and so little time in life!!!
Enjoy!
P.S. Everything that I've done to my phone (and it is quite a bit) I've done myself simply by reading these forums and researching everything on my own... you would be surprised how little you have to post questions on here if you simply take some time and read everyone else's posts. The search button up on top of every page is very useful!
I was wondering how I could make an exact copy of my system the way I have it set up, minus my personal info / installed apps after the fact and transfer it to another note.
I installed Holo kernel / TCPnote v2, froze tw launcher (after installing the latest golauncher ex beta) and several other bloat related things. Basically the whole system is running GoContacts / sms / launcher / locker. Changed some memory options / font / themes.
I have a friend that has a note as well and he liked my setup but I don't feel like going through all the work of doing it all again on his and was wondering if there was someway I could dump my setup to a image and reflash on his.
Any input is appreicated.
Would it help if whomever can help me with this got a donation, say $50.00 for their time?
jb0nd38372 said:
Would it help if whomever can help me with this got a donation, say $50.00 for their time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do a backup through CWM and then copy the backup file to his clockwork mod backup folder and restore it . also do a titaninum back up of all the apps he wants that you have. then do a factory reset on his phone and it will erase all of your personal information. then go back to titanium back up and restore all the apps he wants from your setup.
Thanks for the idea, I dunno if what I said in the first post was sensible, I already have a bunch of apps and stuff installed for me, that 'm sure he wouldn't want. What I was hoping to do is be able to image the core system (or the whole thing, and take out extras + my personal info / accounts, etc) then repackage it, flash with odin or cwm, Basically like the devs do roms, except backwards. I have the system setup / tweaks / launcher / addon's and would like to pull that out, minus anything i had installed afterwards, and make it flashable to his phone by any means necessary.
His phone is completely stock, so if I could image it to fash thru odin then he would have working root / cwm / custom rom + beats and other things i've deleted such as bloatware / vpn / stuff average users will never use.
Any other sugguestions?
djwascom33 said:
You can do a backup through CWM and then copy the backup file to his clockwork mod backup folder and restore it . also do a titaninum back up of all the apps he wants that you have. then do a factory reset on his phone and it will erase all of your personal information. then go back to titanium back up and restore all the apps he wants from your setup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I dont know how to do it any other way. but if you could give me a thanks for trying it would be very appreciated
On Titanium Backup, you can uncheckmark the programs that you don't want to restore.
You can do a backup on your phone, and a backup using Titanium Backup, restore onto his phone by copying over the clockwordmod folder and the Titanium Backup folder.
Root/cwm his phone, then restore using cwm. Factory reset, then reboot.
Download Titanium Backup (Pro makes this a lot less painful), run it, do a batch restore, and uncheck the programs he won't use.
EDIT: Someone else ninja'd me. I really don't know if there's a way to reverse it. There should be theoretically. You most likely would have to still factory reset and use titanium backup.
EDIT 2: This might work: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.p3droid.odinmaker.donate
Can you make a nandroid without data and cache?
at first glance it looks like you want to make a rom
but upon reading it again, i have to say:
generally no, but it MIGHT be possible with LOTS of work
the main problem is, that most of your settings (like widgets, ...) are stored in data.
so what you could do is:
manually remove the data stuff you don't want, keep only the stuff you really need (lots of work, and might not work correctly)
and then you might be able to share it together with your system image (you would need to wipe cache and data before you write your backed up data...
which brings us back to the original answer...
I think possibly doing a part manual and part automated might be your best bet. Use titanium to back up then restore apps to his phone. There are apps that backup your desktop (shortcut and widget locations). Perhaps this will reduce a bulk of your setup time once you get a preferred ROM in place. Paid version of Titanium Backup allows you to restore all apps in unattended batch rather then making you click yes/install to every app. This may be worth it, I love it. I have been thinking about this on and off since yesterday and just can't think of a way of doing it that wont require a good but of work one way or another. Good luck though, let us know what you figure out.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk
Thanks for all the suggestions, for the moment, I installed CWM and rooted the Note, still deciding on the best way to get his like mine with minimal amount of work needed for me or him. To bad there is not a way to image a phone's system completely, then just restore on the other phone.
Now I wish I would have cared more about programming instead of the hardware side back when I was in school eating up computer courses.
Chief Geek said:
I think possibly doing a part manual and part automated might be your best bet. Use titanium to back up then restore apps to his phone. There are apps that backup your desktop (shortcut and widget locations). Perhaps this will reduce a bulk of your setup time once you get a preferred ROM in place. Paid version of Titanium Backup allows you to restore all apps in unattended batch rather then making you click yes/install to every app. This may be worth it, I love it. I have been thinking about this on and off since yesterday and just can't think of a way of doing it that wont require a good but of work one way or another. Good luck though, let us know what you figure out.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search fruit cake maker and contact the dev.. It may be simple to get working on the note.
jb0nd38372 said:
Thanks for all the suggestions, for the moment, I installed CWM and rooted the Note, still deciding on the best way to get his like mine with minimal amount of work needed for me or him. To bad there is not a way to image a phone's system completely, then just restore on the other phone.
Now I wish I would have cared more about programming instead of the hardware side back when I was in school eating up computer courses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA App
00mred00 said:
Search fruit cake maker and contact the dev.. It may be simple to get working on the note.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using XDA App
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Click to collapse
Just my thought. Search for the user Samcripp. He basically has a program that makes s a system img of your current setup. I know it is in the skyrocket forum but not sure if it would work for our device.....not sure why it wouldn't but that's why I'm not a dev.... lol
Sent from my Transformer Prime TF201 using xda premium
Hello,
It would be great if someone could help me out.
I have spent the whole day trying to find out if it is possible to create a flashable rom from an already running and setup android device.
I have found many tutorials on how to create roms from scratch, but can't seem to find a way to do it from an already running android device.
I already have an android device setup with all the apps, settings and files I want in the rom. I wondered if there was a way to use my Windows system to create a flashable rom from this device which I can then use to setup/flash new devices.
I hope that makes sense.
Thanks for your time.
Hi there, i am curious as well if this is possible.
I have to set up about 1600 Samsung S5 mini phone's for a customer. Almost al the setting, apps en stuf are identical so i would also like to create a flashable rom / image from one phone so we can install it to the other 1599 phones
Thanx in advance.
steefzz said:
Hi there, i am curious as well if this is possible.
I have to set up about 1600 Samsung S5 mini phone's for a customer. Almost al the setting, apps en stuf are identical so i would also like to create a flashable rom / image from one phone so we can install it to the other 1599 phones
Thanx in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
From what I have read online if you are wanting to do this for a phone you can do a nandroid backup. I have just found a number of guides on how to do this with phones. If you search this forum for nandroid backup you will find them. Hope that helps you steefzz.
I am actually trying to clone TV box with all apks installed and configured. I can see how I can package apks into a rom, but they won't have all addons and settings saved. This is why I was hoping for a way to clone the entire device to restore onto future devices.
Ideally i don't even want to have to power up the devices, I would like to plug them into my PC apply the cloned rom and that's it.
If anyone has an idea of how to do that without having to pre-install any recovery or software onto the devices, or even power them up before hand ( they are already rooted) that would be great.
Thanks again.
sym0n said:
Hi,
From what I have read online if you are wanting to do this for a phone you can do a nandroid backup. I have just found a number of guides on how to do this with phones. If you search this forum for nandroid backup you will find them. Hope that helps you steefzz.
I am actually trying to clone TV box with all apks installed and configured. I can see how I can package apks into a rom, but they won't have all addons and settings saved. This is why I was hoping for a way to clone the entire device to restore onto future devices.
Ideally i don't even want to have to power up the devices, I would like to plug them into my PC apply the cloned rom and that's it.
If anyone has an idea of how to do that without having to pre-install any recovery or software onto the devices, or even power them up before hand ( they are already rooted) that would be great.
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
With a nandroid backup it wil indeed kind of work out how i want, however when i want to restore a backup to the phone, the backup has to be in \TWRP\BACKUPS\<PhonIdNr>
The Phone Id number is unique and before i can restore a backup, i first have to make a small backup to create these folders.
Also i am expected to write a manual so that other collegaes can also do this procedure. For me it's no problem (i'm using custom roms for about 5 years now with different brands) however most of my collegeas are not known with these methods to restore a nandroid.
So i was experimenting with the creation of a own made custom rom . For now it partially worked. I managed to make a flashable zipfile. However it only work is i dont install the /data folder. If i only install the /system folder it works fine, only i have to maken al bunch of manual setting. When i also install the /data folder the phone is stuck at boot logo, when i then full wipe i, it will boot again.
So i actually would like to maken a flashable zip or an Odin flashable tar that also contains (some) /data.
Is this even possible?
Greetings all,
The Honor 5x is the first phone i have been able to use custom rom's on.
I wanted to know how to approach updates for these devices.
Basically, i want to know:
Do i still receive basic android security patches (Not necessarily the Huawei ones)?
What do i need to do to keep my device up to date with these patches?
Is there a way that I can update/switch roms without loosing my data or installed apps?
I am not technically un-savvy. This is just my first real time with android that i can play with.
Previous experience has been locked down verizon devices.
Any tips or info is helpful.
~EDIT~
I probably should have been more clear on my original post. Apologies for the confusion:
-- I have already unlocked the device through the Huawei official method using their site
-- I have TWRP, and understand how to backup my current ROM, or flash a new one (Currently running the stock de-bloated By clsA)
-- I have NOT tried to flash a different ROM over an existing one (if this is a thing?), instead they have all been full wipe-and-install.
-- Cyanogenmod wasn't my thing. EMUI with Nova launcher looks better to me, and lag hasn't been an issue since i turned off most of the animations.
-- I do have a working SD card, and have the Tasker app backup my latest TWRP zip from my SD card to my home-server when i get to my home wifi. (Double backup locations covered.)
Currently, what i'm trying to learn is if there is a way to flash a new ROM, but keep my apps installed so that i don't have to re-install them every time. (I'm thinking similar to a Linux /Home directory?)
As a day job I am a Cisco CCNA, but that doesn't really qualify me to be knowledgeable in android. However, I'm pretty used to technical stuff, and don't mind using the ADB interface (still learning), as it's reasonably similar to what i already know.
You need a PC to keep your backups- custom ROM backups can be restored using TWRP, stock rom backups need stock recovery.
Only stock ROM gets security updates via OTA that require an unmodified stock rom. Meaning no root and no TWRP.
There's a lot of information on this site- read up some and we will be here for help.
Sent from my HUAWEI KIW-L24 using XDA Labs
Arobase40 said:
If this is your first Android smartphone why do you need to play with custom ROM ???
If you do care about official updates just stay on stock, take time to be accustomed with it and with all potential apps as there are so many things to discover and it may take some months to deal with.
Maybe later, much later if you're really unsatisfied with it you could then probably change for another ROM, but for now just use it as it...
You can also play with all the Play Store apps which won't modify you device internally but which could bring nice effects such as a new launcher, themes, wallpaper, keyboards, etc...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not his first Android device. Verizon seems to lock their device so costumers won't be able to flash ROMs, sadly.
Dead_Dude said:
You need a PC to keep your backups- custom ROM backups can be restored using TWRP, stock rom backups need stock recovery.
Only stock ROM gets security updates via OTA that require an unmodified stock rom. Meaning no root and no TWRP.
There's a lot of information on this site- read up some and we will be here for help.
Sent from my HUAWEI KIW-L24 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for clearing up the OTA update.
I already keep backups on my PC, but after starting to use TWRP to mess about i don't want to go back to stock.
Arobase40 said:
If this is your first Android smartphone why do you need to play with custom ROM ???
If you do care about official updates just stay on stock, take time to be accustomed with it and with all potential apps as there are so many things to discover and it may take some months to deal with.
Maybe later, much later if you're really unsatisfied with it you could then probably change for another ROM, but for now just use it as it...
You can also play with all the Play Store apps which won't modify you device internally but which could bring nice effects such as a new launcher, themes, wallpaper, keyboards, etc...
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Not my first android phone, but the first one that was unlockable and can use custom roms.
As i am not familiar with custom roms as much as i am with stock android, i am not sure how this changes how i should handle my device security.
Should i be substituting these OTA updates i am used to with manual ones? does missing them put me at risk?
bylithium said:
It is not his first Android device. Verizon seems to lock their device so costumers won't be able to flash ROMs, sadly.
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They do. Bootloader lock, and not able to install custom recovery. Also, sideloading is super complicated. Bricking the phone is super easy too, so you can't even poke around much...
Thanks for the great post!
I realize that I should have probably put more info in my initial post, so i've made some additions.
I'm still learning about the ADB interface, and how the whole flashing process works. (I can do it, but don't totally understand what's going on when I do)
Here's what I added, just for reference sake.
I probably should have been more clear on my original post. Apologies for the confusion:
-- I have already unlocked the device through the Huawei official method using their site
-- I have TWRP, and understand how to backup my current ROM, or flash a new one (Currently running the stock de-bloated By clsA)
-- I have NOT tried to flash a different ROM over an existing one (if this is a thing?), instead they have all been full wipe-and-install.
-- Cyanogenmod wasn't my thing. EMUI with Nova launcher looks better to me, and lag hasn't been an issue since i turned off most of the animations.
-- I do have a working SD card, and have the Tasker app backup my latest TWRP zip from my SD card to my home-server when i get to my home wifi. (Double backup locations covered.)
Currently, what i'm trying to learn is if there is a way to flash a new ROM, but keep my apps installed so that i don't have to re-install them every time. (I'm thinking similar to a Linux /Home directory?)
As a day job I am a Cisco CCNA, but that doesn't really qualify me to be knowledgeable in android. However, I'm pretty used to technical stuff, and don't mind using the ADB interface (still learning), as it's reasonably similar to what i already know.
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itsbentheboy said:
Thanks for the great post!
I realize that I should have probably put more info in my initial post, so i've made some additions.
I'm still learning about the ADB interface, and how the whole flashing process works. (I can do it, but don't totally understand what's going on when I do)
Here's what I added, just for reference sake.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's the bottom line
if your phone is on say lollipop 5.1.1 and you want to flash a rom 5.1.1 it's not necessary to wipe / factory reset your phone
if your phone is android 6 and you wish to return to lollipop 5.1.1 you need to totally wipe the phone (clean start) then return to 5.1.1
same if your on 5.1.1 and moving up to android 6 a clean start is the best.
If your flashing from android 6 (cm13) to another android 6 (Bliss rom) no wipe is needed (it's called Dirty flash)
If you want to play with custom ROMs
1. Stick to apps that have cloud saves.
Flashing ROMs in the safest way requires wiping the entire device. Dirty flashing can cause completely unpredictable results.
2. Get yourself a huge SD card. Maybe a spare to hold a backup stock image in the DLOAD folder. You won't always have a PC available to bring your phone back from a bad ROM.
3. Stick to the cloud as much as possible. But for the app or two you can't use the cloud with, get a good backup app. This device has a decent enough app on stock, but the app you use must run on all the ROMs you use Also remember, a lot of backups won't restore on m from l or vice versa.
4. Stick to the cloud. I've lost GTA game saves and worse by relying on an app to backup stuff properly. Manually copying files is much more reliable but slow.
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And there's the two sides.
:good:
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