I switch roms constantly on my phone and the most annoying part of that is having to every time enter my gmail, facebook, twitter and other information that never changes... Is there anyway to make a FLASHABLE update.zip that I can just install after a rom flash? Out would even be better if I can put certain applications in there too. Like my Angry Birds, Rom Manager, and Titanium Backup. You know just the apps that no matter what rom I use I always have to reinstall. This would save me and whoever find themselves in this situation alot of time when it comes to experimenting with different Roms. Please help!
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I don't know about login information but you can make an update.zip with miscellaneous apps that you don't want to re-download. It's kind of a pain (personal opinion) to make an update.zip but here are some directions:
1. Create a folder, we'll call it "update".
2. Inside "update" make two new folders called "META-INF" (without the quotes and capitalized) and "data" (also without quotes).
3. Inside "META-INF" create a folder called "com".
4. Inside "com" create a folder called "google".
5. Inside "google" create a folder called "android".
6. Close the folders you have open and re-open "update".
7. Open "data" and create a folder called "app".
8. Add the .apk files you want to flash to "data/app".
9. I've attached a few files to the post, unzip "secFiles.zip" and put "CERT.RSA", "CERT.SF", and "MANIFEST.MF" into your "update/META-INF" folder.
10. Also attached is "script.zip". Unzip this and add the "updater-script" and "update-binary" to "update/META-INF/com/google/android".
11. Now that you have the folder structuring complete you can zip it all up. When you zip it, make sure you zip "data" and "META-INF" NOT "update". You will have errors if you zip "update"!
12. If you have ClockworkMod Recovery you do not need to sign it. If not then I recommend making a nandroid backup and copying it to your computer so that your WiMax (4G) keys are backed up, then switching to ClockworkMod Recovery.
13. Make a nandroid backup anyways! Don't come calling me if you're phone messes up. I do not believe there to be anything wrong in my directions but I can't afford to fix you're phone.
14. Flash away! Hopefully it worked. I'll try to elaborate if you're confused.
Thank you so Much! but thats just half the equation... Titanium Backup has a way to backup and restore the Accounts and Sync data which is what the goal is here... im thinking about finding a way to extract that and put it into a flashable zip. Im learning alot about the android structure and it might now be long until i unintentionally solve this myself
You could add Titanium Backup to your flashable zip and have it preinstalled as well as your backup wherever it belongs. (Sorry, don't use Titanium Backup)
Or another idea to try out, if you have Clockwork Recovery you can restore just the data partition. I'd be careful of doing it but if you're in the mood to experiment I think it might do what you're looking for. Note that you'll have to have a data.img nandroid backup of everything you want. If you manage to figure it out please share because I hate typing my ridiculously long passwords every time I flash a new rom.
you can make a flashable zip for titanium. from the app, press menu > more > create update.zip
this option gives you an option to create a signed zip file (you need a free app from the market called zip signer) that will install titanium as either a user or system file
It would be great to know how to create a update.zip of the titanium backups and that way, it would include +data
Anyone know how to do that?
Keri
Related
So I tried renaming my backups on pc, since rom manager would always mess up when trying that method. Both ways I get a "m5 sum incorrect " or something like that!
Any ideas, sometimes I have so many backups its hard to tell what's what
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
ROM Manager will let you name your backups. Only thing I can think of.
how do you use rom manager to rename them i renamed them all with ES File Explorer and now all my backups get that m5 sum incorrect thing
Already tried rom manager to rename, if I try and restore I get the "sum "error
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I used to have this problem. What I currently do, is as follows, using Amon_RA 2.2.1 Located here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=705026
I use the recovery nandroid backup. When I do this it creates a folder under /sdcard/nandroid/...... where ...... is the folder nandroid will create upon your first backup. From there all your future backups will go into that folder, it will be something goofy, the folder for me is Ht096Hl01177 (path looks like this: /sdcard/nandroid/HT096H101177/New Backup, rename this folder, not the HT one), within that folder will be your actual backup. Create the nandroid backup, I use ROOT EXPLORER (Paid but worth it since you can do mounted deletes), to rename the newley created backup, do not change the parent folder. Then when I want to restore to that one, I make sure I do a full wipe including Dalvick Cache. Using this process I don't hardly ever get the m5sum error. Hope that helps. I currently have 4 backups under the parent directory and I can restore them fine as long as I wipe first.
The easiest and cheapest way is by opening rom manager and scroll down to where it says backup/restore and on the backup you want to rename you hold it and then it will give you options like delete etc...chose rename and rename it example MikFroyo_1-24-2011 when you space make sure you _ for spaces and you should not get an error I segest you make a backup and use that to test it you can also rename it by clicking back up restore within rom manager and press back and rename it like showed in the example hopes this helps I have tested both with no problems what so ever
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
I always rename mine with no issues...so far. I just leave all the numbers then start at the end like this. 2010-11-20.07.24.51 then I add -MYN-01-HB-76. Dont know if this will work for everyone. I just didnt want to mess with the file name too much
Evo - Myn 2.2 RLS 3 - Clockwork - HBoot .76
The key thing to know about renaming nandroids is that you have to be sure to leave no spaces in the names...
You can name it CM6.Jan25 but not CM6 Jan 25
You do not need to save the given name of it, I assure you.
....this is true whether you rename with rom manager, root explorer or estrongs ..... that is all you need to be concerned with, as long as you do that you should be fine....
eeeeeeeeek said:
I used to have this problem. What I currently do, is as follows, using Amon_RA 2.2.1 Located here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=705026
I use the recovery nandroid backup. When I do this it creates a folder under /sdcard/nandroid/...... where ...... is the folder nandroid will create upon your first backup. From there all your future backups will go into that folder, it will be something goofy, the folder for me is Ht096Hl01177 (path looks like this: /sdcard/nandroid/HT096H101177/New Backup, rename this folder, not the HT one), within that folder will be your actual backup. Create the nandroid backup, I use ROOT EXPLORER (Paid but worth it since you can do mounted deletes), to rename the newley created backup, do not change the parent folder. Then when I want to restore to that one, I make sure I do a full wipe including Dalvick Cache. Using this process I don't hardly ever get the m5sum error. Hope that helps. I currently have 4 backups under the parent directory and I can restore them fine as long as I wipe first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
right on. this is execly what i do to rename
Vandelay007 said:
The key thing to know about renaming nandroids is that you have to be sure to leave no spaces in the names...
You can name it CM6.Jan25 but not CM6 Jan 25
You do not need to save the given name of it, I assure you.
....this is true whether you rename with rom manager, root explorer or estrongs ..... that is all you need to be concerned with, as long as you do that you should be fine....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, I use Root Explorer, no spaces, works fine for me.
Being a newbie that is learning A LOT, my most recent question is:
If I have flashed a BYOR (midnight rom) then added the apk files that I wanted, is there a way of saving my modified ROM so that if I try something else and need to flash back, I can without reloading all of the apps from the zip files?
Make a backup in CWM before wiping, then restore it later when you want to switch back. That's all you can do as far as I know.
notmyepic said:
Being a newbie that is learning A LOT, my most recent question is:
If I have flashed a BYOR (midnight rom) then added the apk files that I wanted, is there a way of saving my modified ROM so that if I try something else and need to flash back, I can without reloading all of the apps from the zip files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st download Titanium Backup and save all your files on your and window information email etc etc . u hit menu then BATCH then back up all files and data ......
CWM ... got to restore n backup then select back up and let it work ..........
now after u check out the other Rom u go back into CWM .... RESTORE UR OLD FILE .... then download TITANIUM BACKUP and restore everything or just choose what you want NOTE: YOU CAN DO TITANIUM w the ROm IF U CHOOSE TO KEEP IT
Also, you can take applications from say the midNight v5 upgrade zip(use 7zip to open the zip file) navigate to system/app folder. Copy the apks from the upgrade zip to the same folder in the BYOR zip file; same for files in system/lib.
You can repeat that step for other apps you like from the midNight Extras folder.
If you ever have to flash fresh; then you'll have a rom zip pre-built with your apps and you wont have to flash each zip.
Absolutely utilize the backup in CWM .. that can save you butt ... before any theme, kernel or ROM install. That way if you hit a boot loop or freeze .. simply boot to recovery and restore your phone back to before that flash attempt.
Thanks everyone. When I get a chance I may try something different
I would download and install 7zip. make a backup copy of your midnight 5.0 byor zip incase you mess something up but not likely. right click on one of the rom zips and 7zip open archive. in that archive you opened there should be an sd card folder. open that and extract the midnight extras folder to your desktop (drag it to the desktop). open that archive up again and navigate to system/app. go into your midnight extras folder and copy all the apk's you want on your phone and paste them in the system/app folder. After this any time you flash this zip you will have all the apps you put in the system/apps folder and wont have to flash multiple zips for apps. this can be done for themes, boot animations, shutdown animations, fonts, pretty much anything you can flash as long as you know where to put them. ps always backup before flashing
I thought I read somewhere installing zip file with CWM, it needed the apk and another file (believe it was meta file)
Is this the case, or is the zip files with meta also for something bigger than just apks?
guys how can i put a bunch of applications in a zip folder a flash it by recovery.Ive tried putting 3 apps in a zip folder and flshing it via recovery but it says failed..
I tried that a while ago on the g1 with mixed results.
You have to put them in the data/app/ folder the same way they appear on your phone. If you are feeling ambitious, you can also grab the corresponding folder in data/data. You'll have to look for the java package name, not the app name. Lastly, you have to adjust the updater-script in META-INF/com/google/android/ to mount and flash the data folder, not system and then clean out the extra cruft.
You might have to resign the zip or just toggle sig checks.
Other options include using recovery to restore the data partition, but this will be everything, not just your 3 favorite apps. Alternatively, you could write a script that runs from your PC while your phone is in recovery and use the "adb install" command. I think there are also apps that do that for you, such as Titanium backup.
Gee one thanks for the reply but can you plz reexplain "If you are feeling ambitious, you can also grab the corresponding folder in data/data. You'll have to look for the java package name, not the app name. Lastly, you have to adjust the updater-script in META-INF/com/google/android/ to mount and flash the data folder, not system and then clean out the extra cruft.
You might have to resign the zip or just toggle sig checks."
Your phone stores the app in data/app/some.java.name.here so if you use flash those files, your apps will be installed. The app itself stores settings, history, etc in data/data/some.java.name.here If you flash the corresponding folder in data/data, you'll also get all your settings and won't have to bother setting it all up from scratch.
If you use adb or a file explorer to poke around in your data/data and data/app folders, you'll see what I mean.
In order to get the zip to flash, you have to include "instructions" that tell the recovery what to do with the zip. Unzip one of the flashable roms and look in the META-INF/com/google/android folder. There should be two files there. You want to edit the updater-script so that it flashes your data. Most likely, it is set up to flash a custom rom to your system folder. You'll have to do some editing and some trial and error to figure it out, but if you are just flashing the data partition, most of the commands in updater-script will be superfluous.
Lastly, and this the part that everyone hates (second only to adding adb to your path), you either have to sign the zip with jarsigner, signapk, or something similar, or turn off signature checking in your recovery. Signing the zip is essentially adding a digital signature so that your phone knows that the zip is intact. Clockworkmod recovery will let you toggle the signature checks in one of the options- poke around and get familiar with your recovery. It's probably in there somewhere.
I think Titanium backup will let you freeze/unfreeze apps- you might want to consider it.
Thanks
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
Did this work? Like to buy a beer for someone who wants to upload a zip with a file explorer all for a project I have that has no play store or file explorer on it. Thank you
I was looking around and saw there may be a .zip to flash to restore the 0 partition back to normal when going back to a JB ROM.
I looked around and tried to search. Can anyone lend me a hand and shoot me a link?
Thanks.
I copy and pasted this from the s3 side.......
We all had that problem, we can't find our backups after flashing Cm 10.1. IT IS FIXABLE! So why would you factory reset through Odin? Here is how to fix it.Step One: Make sure you are on a ROM with the play store. (When I flashed CM10.1, I had CM10 still on my sdcard with the Gapps, so I flashed that.)I use ES file explorer, but you use what you want. Be sure to rename any important folders just in case so the files don't over lap.********************************If you play games.. BACKUP YOUR DATA! THIS PROCESS DELETES GAME AND APP DATA! I AM SORRY! USE BACKUP PRO OR TITANIUM BACKUP IF YOU ARE FAMILIAR WITH IT! YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!*********************************Step Two: Go into your 0 folder and highlight everything in there except Android. Shown here:Step Three: Hold down on a folder and select "Move to"Step Four: it will bring up a box, go up till you get to the parent folder, shown here, and select SDcard (Internal SD!).Step Five: After Selecting the internal SD Card, hit "ok" and it will move everything up to your parent folder where the "0" is. You can delete the "0" Folder (Make Sure there is nothing left in there that you need!), reboot into recovery, and get your backups back!
There are zips but not sure if we have one for the note 2, so id probably try this first..
Hi does anyone know how to make flashable apk zip file? I want to make a zip file for my backed up apps to flash in twrp. Thanks for you help!
Titanium backup pro can create a flashable zip of backups of your apps. Although I'm not to sure whether if its the free or the paid version you can do this on.
When you open the application, theres a checkmark up at the top, press that. Then you can backup all of your apps under the Backup category.
Once done, you then scroll down to the bottom under the RECOVERY MODE options and select Create "update.zip" from app+data backups.
You then can restore with the update.zip of all the backups you have made, whether you have chosen app, app + data, or data only.