[Q] A couple of newbie questions - Android Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I've been using android for a while now, and I actually can move smoothly througth the system. But now I want to update for the first time my firmware with a newer custom rom. And I have some doubts:
Usually all customs roms make you do the wipes. What what actually happens with that? I know what those directories have, but I guess the proccess only erases the apps and some configuration, right? Because I think some apps config are stored on the internal storage.
It is recommendable to make a backup of the folders to be wiped and then restore it? If it is, will the overall config be the same as before the rom change?
Thanks in advance.

No one?

Related

full backup or dump of internal storage memory (installed programs,settings,registry)

I would like to try some cooked ROMs.
But I fully personalized all the settings in my actual shipped ROM.
I lost so much time to personalize it.
Is there a way to do a full backup or a "dump" of the internal memory as it is now?
Or there is a good backup program that FULLY backup all settings? (not only documents, contacts, messages, etc... but also registry, program settings, etc...).
So if I want to go back to my actual ROM, I reflash it then I restore the "dump" to get back all my old settings?
Thanks to all for your help!
Read here for instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=424805&highlight=Dump
And please search in the future.
Ta
Dave
I'm sorry Dave, I read the topics about,
but I wasn't sure if the dump of the ROM creates only an image of the ROM's zone where there are the first WM installation/boot files (just like after an hard reset), or if it saves exactly the actual state of internal memory of the device.
parallel666killer said:
I'm sorry Dave, I read the topics about,
but I wasn't sure if the dump of the ROM creates only an image of the ROM's zone where there are the first WM installation/boot files (just like after an hard reset), or if it saves exactly the actual state of internal memory of the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It save's the current state IIRC.
Ta
Dave
No, it doesn't save the current state, only the installation files of the ROM.
I created the dump and I created ruu_signed.nbh.
I flashed ROMeOS, then I flashed back my created ROM.
All settings and programs are gone.
I think I didn't well explained what I would like to know.
I mean if it is possible to create a flash nbh file with the ROM backup (and this can be done, there are many thread about, I tried too and I succedeed), but also a full backup of ALL INSTALLED PROGRAMS IN THE INTERNAL STORAGE (programs I installed, no default ROM programs), all settings (TouchFLO3D settings and customization, phone settings,etc...), registry and system data.
As SBP Backup does.
And also avoid hard-reset restart after flashing that nbh file.
So the phone starts directly the first time normally.
What there is in the Part03.raw which is 330Mb?
The dimension is near the available internal storage.
I dont think it quite works like that.
I think your best bet is to build your own rom with your own settings and apps, AFAIK this is the only way to have the phone exactly as your want it after first boot.
Also have a look at SASHIMI, you may be able to get the results you want using that, although something seems to have happened to the thread pro tem.
Thank you dabs!
I will learn to build my own ROMs.
I used other's cooked ROMs for a long time.
I would like to be able to cook mine.
I downloaded and tried Sashami 7.5. It's a great and powerful program!
Also documentation is simple and complete.
Just in case you you havnt seen it:-
What you want the Raphael Kitchen, its an awesome package that lets mere mortals build their own perfect rom.
parallel666killer said:
Thank you dabs!
I will learn to build my own ROMs.
I used other's cooked ROMs for a long time.
I would like to be able to cook mine.
I downloaded and tried Sashami 7.5. It's a great and powerful program!
Also documentation is simple and complete.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SASHIMI 7.7 is now available. The new location is here

[Q] HowTo : flash roms ?

sorry in advance if this is the wrong place for this....
i can't find out what i need to by doing forum searches and maybe this could help someone else too..
...and feel free to redirect me to another thread for some specifics.
any way i have my phone rooted and running kaos froyo v24
what do i need to do to best try other roms, or just update to v30?
how do i flash ? - and how do i know when to do a full wipe? - and what does that entail(should i do a backup , and does the back up need to be on my computer,not my phone?)
could flashing other roms make my current one unstable?
and lastly .....will i lose all my apps and contacts and stuff with each flash or full wipe?
any clarification on these matters would be awesome.
and thanks so much everyone..... you have given me a better phone
brendan
This would be better placed in Q&A, but I will be happy to help you. All you need to do to flash another rom is what you did for the first one. To move up from one version of a rom to another, you don't need to wipe unless the instructions specify you to do so. But when in doubt, wipe. That is if you dont mind losing all of your saved data. But when going to a new rom, then wiping is a must. Yes, you will lose all apps and contacts for each wipe. No, your phone will not be unstable because of the flash, though if the rom has bugs then it could be. Hope this helps
I suggest installing titanium backup from the market. It allows you to save your current apps and data to be reinstalled on your new rom.
Before flashing a new rom, create a nandroid of your current rom by holding vol up + power. Scroll to backup/restore and create the nand. If for any reason you dont like the new rom, you can wipe data, dalvik, and ext (if your sd card is partitioned) and restore the nand. Your phone will be exactly like before.
To flash a new rom, save the file to the root of your sd card (not in any folder), do a wipe if your going to a new rom or if you have problems updating the old one, and flash the file you downloaded. If your updating the same rom the developer will tell you if you need to wipe or not.
FYI- Nands are saved on your sd card in the nandroid folder. You dont need to mess with them. When you restore, amon ra will look in that folder for you. Don't rename your recoveries like I did and render them useless.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
And your contacts should be resynced when you flash a new rom as long as you're using Gmail and allowing it to backup.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App
awesome !!!
thanks so much guys!

A few questions

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.

[Q] Restoring the /data folder

I run mean rom 3.4, s-off. I haven't upgrade to the new firmware, do have new radios, since I left on deployment when the beta was available and needed something stable but plan on doing so when I get home in a month. My question is after a fresh wipe, dalvik, cache, system, factory, I will install the next version of mean rom, or any rom for that fact. Then, to keep my applications, data and settings, I will restore only the /data folder from a nand backup after formatting the newly generating /data. Is there a problem with this practice? The only thing I notice is some of the larger application need to re download. But all settings, contacts, keys, passwords, screens, icons come back perfect. Although this seems to work in practice I feel like it shouldn't be this simple. I run the kitchen program on all my roms to keep my current bootani, splash, ringtones, sounds etcs and do a app cleaner script to remove the crap apps. I have seen the Aroma backup rom cleaner and am curious. Would this be a better method? Thanks in reply since the recent world events in Yemen and Egypt may prevent me from getting internet for a while.

[Q] Ext partiton and apps

Hi guys,
I have a question regarding installed apps on EXT partition. I understand how it works, but what I want to know is if I were to flash to a new custom rom, would I still be able to see the apps I installed on that EXT partition?
I ask this because I've been flashing new roms a lot recently and it's becoming a hassle to reinstall all my apps over and over again. I've looked up ways to make this process easier or perhaps automated, but they aren't really helpful.
So after doing some research about how EXT partition works on Android, I thought maybe this might work.
By the way, I already have Titanium Backup installed but I'm looking for an easier method than that. I want to simply install all my applications and its application data in one go, like flashing a .zip file from the recovery or something like that. Just simple and straightforward.
And I would like to do this on any rom, not just between different versions of the same rom made by the same developer.

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