build a rom from a phone that has been setup? - Upgrading, Modifying and Unlocking

Hello,
I was wondering if i can somehow make a rom off of a running phone....
Basically here is my thinking...
I have a tilt (kaiser), and i want to setup something like sprite terminator (possibly something else) on it as well as some other apps, once it is all customized the way i like it, i want to backup the device into a rom, then use it to flash my phone..... that way should anyone ever steal my phone even if they did a hard reset it would only flash back to my rom and therefore my terminator already be setup again....

asjeep said:
Hello,
I was wondering if i can somehow make a rom off of a running phone....
Basically here is my thinking...
I have a tilt (kaiser), and i want to setup something like sprite terminator (possibly something else) on it as well as some other apps, once it is all customized the way i like it, i want to backup the device into a rom, then use it to flash my phone..... that way should anyone ever steal my phone even if they did a hard reset it would only flash back to my rom and therefore my terminator already be setup again....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your cooked rom will be always there even with hard reset

asjeep said:
Hello,
once it is all customized the way i like it, i want to backup the device into a rom, then use it to flash my phone.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sort of - you can extract a ROM from an HTC device but, as said above, it won't include any changes made by you after hardreset. All it will do is to take the ROM that sets up Windows, etc. for you. It will only do the same job if you then take that ROM and install it on the same device or elsewhere.
What you probably want to do get a kitchen and cook in these apps. In most cases you can also cook in all your personal settings for those programs and for windows itself.
If you go far enough into cooking kitchens, you'll eventually be able to make a ROM which is, after a hard reset, already set up precisely the way it would be if you hard reset and install all your apps and change all of the setting both in Control Panel items and in your apps. All that could be there smiling at you after a hard reset as you want it to be, but you'll have to cook a ROM to make it so.
Another option is to use an auto-installer for cabs, although that would only make setup easier and can be circumvented pre soft resetting before the installs kick off so it wouldn't have the security of having your name and theft-prevention software already set up.
In my case, my Hermes does come completely setup with all my preferred windows and apps settings, as if I'd spent hours setting up after a hard reset. Mostly this is done by a big cab in Preconfig and most settings in the ROM's registry from cooking with a rgu file. A big one.

(I'm working - albeit slowly - on some simple tools that can help in creating one's own single, personal OEM to add into a kitchen and has all of your settings and apps in it. I just need to work out how to automate some cabwiz functions that currently I'm using some expensive-ish software for which I can't expect others to buy. Can't give out my own 'big cab' even to help as an example I'm afraid as it's got all kinds of paid-for or private stuff in and it'll take ages to unpick. Should I not get this simple tool going as I want, I'll probably just write a page on wiki or something as it's still easier than going through the whole process of cooking in many apps and your windows folder wil be much, much cleaner and your phone a lot faster if you do it this way.)

Great thanks so much for all the help.... BTW tried sprite and it only caused my tilt to not download emails from exchange so it came off and time for another hard reset

Related

First post, a question and comment...

First, just wanted to say thanks to all that have donated their time, brains and energy for all the updates and suggestions. I think it's definitely worth a paypal donation even if it's only 10 bucks.
Second, I'm surprised (not sure why though) at the lack of using the search button. Sometimes it takes some digging but generally with enough of it, the answer is there.
Okay, now for my stupid question. (Yes, I did do a search first... )
I've made the tweaks I wanted to do and I've backed up my system. My question is, if I do a ROM upgrade and then do a restore, will the restore put my tweaks back in it or do I have to start all over?
Thanks,
Mark
PS. Obviously everyone has an opinions but on average, was it worth doing the 1.37 ROM upgrade?
what kind of backup did you do? what ROM are you flashing to?
racerx_ said:
what kind of backup did you do? what ROM are you flashing to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Sprite backup and I've got 1.35.456.3 WWE and I was looking at the 1.37 ROM upgrade for my Diamond.
Sers,
it is good to see somebody new here who follows the rules and searches!! There's really a lack in that for the past weeks ( especially since diamond's release ) !
I dont know what tweaks you did especially, but generally registry tweaks etc. gets lost if you flash a new rom.
You could even back up your registry but I wouldn't recommend that because in case of an update there will be some changes in reg before.
If dont want to install all your apps ever again try SASHIMI - that's an customizable auto installer for apps and maybe reg-tweaks too!
regards
demacus said:
Sers,
it is good to see somebody new here who follows the rules and searches!! There's really a lack in that for the past weeks ( especially since diamond's release ) !
I dont know what tweaks you did especially, but generally registry tweaks etc. gets lost if you flash a new rom.
You could even back up your registry but I wouldn't recommend that because in case of an update there will be some changes in reg before.
If dont want to install all your apps ever again try SASHIMI - that's an customizable auto installer for apps and maybe reg-tweaks too!
regards
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know what you mean. I read all 50 pages and if I had to read one more time where can I get this program, how do I install this, blah, blah, blah... wow, I can see how it gets frustrating for those that have a) the knowledge already b) have posted the answer 1000 times.
I understand that sometimes you just don't feel like chasing something down but for basic questions... they need to search.
As far as my mods, they're simple. I did the battery one (disableling auto-attach) and #1 on the list.
Both are easy to reinstall.
I guess my question was if I use Sprite to back up programs and then do a ROM update, using Sprite to reinstall those programs won't affect the new ROM, will it?
I'm assuming Sprite backups programs, not registry changes too.
I ask because I don't want to backup with Sprite, do the ROM update and then use Sprite and have it put the old registry back into it.
Or does Sprite copy the registry also?
Thanks,
Mark
orangecrush said:
I know what you mean. I read all 50 pages and if I had to read one more time where can I get this program, how do I install this, blah, blah, blah... wow, I can see how it gets frustrating for those that have a) the knowledge already b) have posted the answer 1000 times.
I understand that sometimes you just don't feel like chasing something down but for basic questions... they need to search.
As far as my mods, they're simple. I did the battery one (disableling auto-attach) and #1 on the list.
Both are easy to reinstall.
I guess my question was if I use Sprite to back up programs and then do a ROM update, using Sprite to reinstall those programs won't affect the new ROM, will it?
I'm assuming Sprite backups programs, not registry changes too.
I ask because I don't want to backup with Sprite, do the ROM update and then use Sprite and have it put the old registry back into it.
Or does Sprite copy the registry also?
Thanks,
Mark
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Mark, welcome to xda-dev,
Sprite Backup copy the registry also.
Some apps are key in the registry to operate properly.
That is why you must avoid making a restore of your old ROM on your new ROM.
yeah its not recommended.. unless you're updating to a newer version of the same ROM, provided the chef hasn't done new registry tweaks.. or your old registry will reverse the new tweaks.. SASHIMI is recommended for sure..
welcome new person
no question is silly......unless its been asked many times before.
enjoy your diamond and have fun in this forum!
Thanks guys.... I'll buy the other program instead of using sprite.
Much appreciated.
Mark

Super backup/restore

Does anyone know if it is possible to take an entire backup image of your HD rom so you can later restore from it? I guess this would be like making a ROM backup from your device that you could later burn back to the device as a restore.
It's common when screwing around with theme hacks to stuff manilla and then have to go back to reburning a rom and setting it back up again. I saaw there's tools that try to backup/restore settings but it would be nice to be able to restore from a complete device state (kind of like using Ghost to backup/restore a Windows desktop image).
From my very noob knowledge I'm wondering if you can use the rom tools to do something like this (tools for cooking the roms, the RUU tools used for loading the roms on the device and HSPL/SPL/USPL, etc)...?
nope, sorry mate, there are no noob tools around for backing up.
Only things like PPCPimbackup for backing up your contacts, calendar, text messages, custom folders, and more.
You could also use SASHIMI. It can be very difficult to use it, but if you only want programs installed and your email configured automagically, then it's quite easy. Just watch the first two demonstrations on youtube.
Seriously, only play with your phone if you know how to fix a broken one. Or make sure you have enough cash to just buy a new one
thanks - all good advice. although have to say the tutorials and advice here is ample for you to experiment in an educated way. great site.
so nobody is doing entire rom backups except for the top l33ts eh? I could understand why based on the fact these are not just mini pc's...whole different ball game
cheers
Sprite Backup???
telegraph0000 said:
Sprite Backup???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey now that other product they do "SpriteClone" looks like it is exactly what I'm after;
http://www.spritesoftware.com/products/sprite-clone
...albeit it's $300 because it's designed for corporate/enterprise. Thanks for that link...wonder if anyone knows of a product like that designed for personal use?
SPB Backup is the best
I usually use it to restore all my files and unstalled softwares when changing the ROM
BUT
the new ROM should be of the same type as the older one, i.e., if you are on COM2 upgrading the ROM should be to a COM2 type too and so on
Thanks - SPB Backup looks like an affordable yet sturdy solution. I guess whatr you mean about matching ROM's is fine provided you are restoring to the same rom/hardware you backed up from?

Can I create a Reinstall disc from my Sprint TP2

OK, I searched and could find quite what I was looking for.
I have a new, factory fresh TP2 from Sprint. I'd like to create a reinstall disc so if I screw something up, I could reinstall back to factory and start over again.
Is there a program that does this for me or is it something I have to hack alot to do?
I'm new to the TP but I've been using an Axim for years. Now that I have this new Smartphone, I'd like to play around a bit with the cooked ROMs out there for the PDA and maybe eventually do it to the phone too. But, right now I just want to have a backup of my phone and my PDA just in case.
Thanks
JohnMcD348 said:
OK, I searched and could find quite what I was looking for.
I have a new, factory fresh TP2 from Sprint. I'd like to create a reinstall disc so if I screw something up, I could reinstall back to factory and start over again.
Is there a program that does this for me or is it something I have to hack alot to do?
I'm new to the TP but I've been using an Axim for years. Now that I have this new Smartphone, I'd like to play around a bit with the cooked ROMs out there for the PDA and maybe eventually do it to the phone too. But, right now I just want to have a backup of my phone and my PDA just in case.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the good news is that just resetting your windows mobile install back to it's complete factory-new condition, all you have to do is what's known as "hard reset" (power+send+end), a simple procedure that's built in to the phone just for this type of scenario. The one drawback is that it takes you ALL the way back, so ANYTHING you've added to the phone since you first took it out of the box won't be retained.
Now, if you want to first install your most important programs, contacts, etc before creating the backup, use a 3rd-party program like SPB Backup to create a restorable backup copy of all that right to your storage card.
No, I just wanted to create a disc that would allow me to reset/reinstall everything back to factory just in case I should ever need it. I figure I'll eventually start playing with installing cooked ROMs and such and just wanted a safety balnket in case I don't like what happens.
Well, either of those methods will achieve the same thing, just depends on whether you want that "security blanket" to include anything other than the aboslute stock setup...
-If you do, the SPB backup works just like a backup disk, includes a self-reinstaller in the backups it makes.
-If you don't, then the hard reset is the same thing as a backup disk, just automated and built into the firmware.
Once you start playing with cooked ROM's, a hard reset will not restore the device to factory defaults; it will restore the device to the state it was in right after flashing the cooked ROM.
There is section specifically about flashing ROM's, and there's information there on how to restore to the original factory defaults. Start with reading these two topics: flahing cooked ROM; undo your cooking.
Oh right, I wasn't thinking about that, but yes, hard reset will only take you back to the stock of whatever ROM you have loaded. You obviously have already figured out how to undo it and get back to the Sprint stock if you want
I don't mean to sound rude, but you sound very "green". I would very strongly urge you to read every wiki and sticky on this forum before you ever consider playing around with your device.
If you play around without first educating yourself completely, your device can become a very pretty, very expensive paperweight...aka...a brick.
I have been with xda for a few years and have had a couple of devices, I recently got the TP2, and have spent the past almost 2 months reading and re-reading various tutorials and stickies and wiki's. My rom is still stock. This is not because I am a noob, it is because I am a noob with this device.
SPB backup or Sprite backup are about as close as you will come to a recovery disc for a ppc. As far as I know, there is no true recovery disc as you would have for a laptop recovery.
Also, before you consider trying out cooked roms, you will need to learn the unlocking process. Also using cooked roms, while 99.9% of the time are far superior to stock roms, may void any warranty you have.
So again, I strongly urge you to read, read, read...read until your eyes bleed, then read some more. Once you understand how the device works, then consider f**king around with it.
It would suck if you ended up bricking your device because you went from point A to point D without first stopping at B and C.
akashastrega said:
I don't mean to sound rude, but you sound very "green". I would very strongly urge you to read every wiki and sticky on this forum before you ever consider playing around with your device.
If you play around without first educating yourself completely, your device can become a very pretty, very expensive paperweight...aka...a brick.
I have been with xda for a few years and have had a couple of devices, I recently got the TP2, and have spent the past almost 2 months reading and re-reading various tutorials and stickies and wiki's. My rom is still stock. This is not because I am a noob, it is because I am a noob with this device.
SPB backup or Sprite backup are about as close as you will come to a recovery disc for a ppc. As far as I know, there is no true recovery disc as you would have for a laptop recovery.
Also, before you consider trying out cooked roms, you will need to learn the unlocking process. Also using cooked roms, while 99.9% of the time are far superior to stock roms, may void any warranty you have.
So again, I strongly urge you to read, read, read...read until your eyes bleed, then read some more. Once you understand how the device works, then consider f**king around with it.
It would suck if you ended up bricking your device because you went from point A to point D without first stopping at B and C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That I Am! and I make no bones about it. AS far as the idea of modding my PDA's go, I've never done it since I really kinda relied on them for the programs I carried at work(medical), I was afraid of bricking it. I'm new to modding but not to PDAs in general.
Now that I have my TP2 and have finally converged into a phone and PDA in 1, I now find myself with 2 Axims begging to be cooked. BUT! before I do that I want to have a backup.
Any and all advice you have is welcome. Please keep it coming.

Rom backup tool

I think it would be very useful to have available a tool which could dump to the sd card the rom that is currently on the phone, all settings, pim data, etc. and make so all you have to do is flash the rom and when its done, everything is as it was. Kind of like making restore points on your pc. Currently it seems people are using a combination of this to do that, that to do this, and there is a kinda steep learning curve for new users, and experienced users are still taking 1/2 hr to an hr to set everything up after flashing and it seems every chef has thier preferred autoinstall stuff cooked in. I would be willing to donate $50 to author of a working tool such as I have described but it would have to restore everything, just t29, flash the b/u rom and ur in business, and it would have to be noob friendly at least for the most part as this tool would be a preferred method for newer users. I think such a tool would make experimentation with apps and modifications, rom building/testing much safer and faster for people just to flash back to a stable rom all set up if something doesnt go right. I know theres some seriously smart people here at xda, hopefully some of you could look into creating a tool that would benifit many people, and hopefully more people would be willing to donate for such a tool.
huggs said:
I think it would be very useful to have available a tool which could dump to the sd card the rom that is currently on the phone, all settings, pim data, etc. and make so all you have to do is flash the rom and when its done, everything is as it was. Kind of like making restore points on your pc. Currently it seems people are using a combination of this to do that, that to do this, and there is a kinda steep learning curve for new users, and experienced users are still taking 1/2 hr to an hr to set everything up after flashing and it seems every chef has thier preferred autoinstall stuff cooked in. I would be willing to donate $50 to author of a working tool such as I have described but it would have to restore everything, just t29, flash the b/u rom and ur in business, and it would have to be noob friendly at least for the most part as this tool would be a preferred method for newer users. I think such a tool would make experimentation with apps and modifications, rom building/testing much safer and faster for people just to flash back to a stable rom all set up if something doesnt go right. I know theres some seriously smart people here at xda, hopefully some of you could look into creating a tool that would benifit many people, and hopefully more people would be willing to donate for such a tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is that when you backup program items, it also backs up the registry entries, and those entries may vary between ROMS. I use SPB Backup on my system, but ONLY restore to the same ROM version - to avoid this very issue.
The absolute safest way to flash a new ROM is to use activesync to backup your contacts, emails, and schedule (plus mobile shortcuts), and then flash. Then manually install each of your programs onto the phone. This ensures that your phone will be setup to match the OS. Then restore your contacts, etc, by using activesync again.
There are various solutions to get around this (I use XDA_UC myself), but that requires some reading and knowledge.
stevedebi said:
The problem is that when you backup program items, it also backs up the registry entries, and those entries may vary between ROMS. I use SPB Backup on my system, but ONLY restore to the same ROM version - to avoid this very issue.
The absolute safest way to flash a new ROM is to use activesync to backup your contacts, emails, and schedule (plus mobile shortcuts), and then flash. Then manually install each of your programs onto the phone. This ensures that your phone will be setup to match the OS. Then restore your contacts, etc, by using activesync again.
There are various solutions to get around this (I use XDA_UC myself), but that requires some reading and knowledge.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, I understand about reg entries not matching between roms, I'm saying to restore the same rom that was backed up. That way, if you installed a app, wanted to try a new rom, made some change or whatever that made the rom unusable, you could just restore that rom to the last stable configuration that you backed up. You could have the rom on your sd and have a stable rom to flash back to anytime, so you dont have to restore everything anytime you screw up your phone and must HR. Since I have had my TP2, I have had to HR many times, caused by messin with stuff trial and error style, I think it would be a nice safety net, to be able to flash back to something stable, all set up the way it was when the backup was made. Then alls you would have to do is get your rom all set up once, and remember to back it up.
huggs said:
Right, I understand about reg entries not matching between roms, I'm saying to restore the same rom that was backed up. That way, if you installed a app, wanted to try a new rom, made some change or whatever that made the rom unusable, you could just restore that rom to the last stable configuration that you backed up. You could have the rom on your sd and have a stable rom to flash back to anytime, so you dont have to restore everything anytime you screw up your phone and must HR. Since I have had my TP2, I have had to HR many times, caused by messin with stuff trial and error style, I think it would be a nice safety net, to be able to flash back to something stable, all set up the way it was when the backup was made. Then alls you would have to do is get your rom all set up once, and remember to back it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, for THAT I recommend SPB Backup. It isn't free, but it does a good job. But it would not contain the flash contents, and all bets are off if you are attempting to overwrite a newer ROM. What I do is re-flash the ROM that matches the backup, and THEN restore the SPB backup file.

A way to change roms without having to install everything again

ok so i know you can backup your apps through titanium or rom toolbox or something else but what i want to know is there a nandroid like backup that backups everything but the rom...so i can freely switch the rom as i like and then tap 1 thing and have all my apps, data, settings, lock screen / background photos, etc etc back in place. basically what i want to accomplish is to be able to swap roms...is that something that is out there or at least an idea that is the works / maybe something someone would see and have the motive/skill set to make for us. i believe it would be an amazing tool. just go into cwm and not have to wipe data or anything else, just select new rom and the cwm would take care of everything, deleting the rom you have installed and replacing it with the new rom.
any information would be greatly appreciated.
Unless the rom you're running has an update based on the same build and all its features on the update are compatible with your current rom, what you're asking is not possible, every rom or software our devs make made by compiling files and scripts, that take tame to decompile then put back together to make things work properly if not close to it unless you read, if you read the installation suggested methods and it says DO A FULL WIPE, in order to have a successful installation, unless you want a 500$ paperweight, keep on dreaming on your cool idea
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
It would be a nice idea and make things a lot easier, but as suprakarma said it's unfortunately not possible. This is probably the biggest reason I don't flash custom ROM's. It's fast to wipe, format and install a new ROM. But then takes time reinstalling and setting up everything again, just like if you were to get a brand new phone.
If I have time on a weekend or am bored then I have given it a try in the past, but with 2 kids and always being on the go it's just not an option to play around with my settings so I just stick with stock. Everything works, everything is set the way I like and I don't have to keep wiping/installing and reconfiguring everything again.
I am missing out on a lot of great ROM's though and would love to give some a try even if for a couple days. Just not in the cards at the moment. Peace.
thank you i didnt think it was possible but was just thinking that it would be cool, like when you go to install a new rom, it would do a backup of your info/data on to your sd card then do a full wipe, install the new rom and then insert your info/data so everything is the way it was (when i say info/data i mean like photos, music, contacts, texts, wifi passwords, apps, so basically combine titanium with cwm and have it all run together in nice move)
suprakarma said:
Unless the rom you're running has an update based on the same build and all its features on the update are compatible with your current rom, what you're asking is not possible, every rom or software our devs make made by compiling files and scripts, that take tame to decompile then put back together to make things work properly if not close to it unless you read, if you read the installation suggested methods and it says DO A FULL WIPE, in order to have a successful installation, unless you want a 500$ paperweight, keep on dreaming on your cool idea
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually don't really agree with this post. First of all, I don't think you can create a paperweight by restoring a /data partition.. this just sounds like fear-mongering (I often try doing an advanced restore of /data just in case - It often causes problems, but sometimes it works perfectly and everything is as it was before I flashed).
I think the OP has a great idea, and I think it is entirely possible. In all honesty though.. although I am a software developer, I am not an android dev, so I could just be talking tripe.
We all know that some apps can be restored along with their data across roms and even across roms with a different Android OS. The problem is that there is some data that is not. What we need is a mechanism (perhaps an app) that will identify and 'export' metadata for the system data that is potentially not compatible. Of course, it wouldn't be able to export passwords for accounts etc, but those could be easily re-entered during an "import" of this metadata and could in fact perform all the manual installation and data entry (usually done by the end-user) in an automatic way.
Theoretically, data content shouldn't need to be changed, just the way its stored/read/written, so it might just need to get reformatted with each new rom (there may be exceptions of course).
Practically speaking, this is a beast of a project, and may not be feasible for any dev to undertake. It will likely cause more grief to end-users than anything until all the bugs are worked out (which may be never) and will be difficult to maintain across many devices.
Just wanted to point out that it could be possible in thoery. I would love to hear arguments to the contrary though (love to learn!)
As long as new devices keep on merging they become less development Friendly, and in order for this to be possible, every ROM would need to be equal, meaning no room for development choices, and this feature would need to be on a specially made recovery, what this idea means is to disclosure a nandroid backup, leaving only what is needed for the new ROM, this may have been plausible on gingerbread, and there are much more rom development in progress for developers in order to make what we have to work properly if not close to it instead of working on a project like this, therefore, at least for our device is not possible and there are many threads of users bricking their devices by not following instructions, whipping correctly, not reading etc and I stand for my statements without meaning to flame
Sent from my SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2

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