[Q] Wiping then restoring with CWM - Epic 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

This is a Noob question, if I wipe data and cache 3 times with CWM and then restore a backup created just before with CWM doesn't it put back all the stuff that I tried to wipe for clean ROM flashing? Or is there garbage in there that does not get backed up and restored?
Thanks.

It will put pretty much everything back. It doesn't backup and restore the kernel, though.

So what is the purpose of wiping 3 times. Does that allow the new ROM kernel to install properly? Then we can restore everything back on top of the new kernel? The main reason I ask is after flashing a new ROM and only wiping once (I know!) about once every other day my txt messages get stuck sending. I have to reboot to send and then the clock starts again until this reoccurs. So is it best to backup with CWM, wipe 3 times, flash, then restore with CWM?
Thanks.

Wiping three times is because there has been a question about whether clockwork 2.5.x wipes certain partitions properly. Apparently it returns back from the function much faster than it should. Some people do seem to have intermittent problems when wiping once. I generally only wipe once between roms, but if anything isn't working right I go back and wipe 3x and reinstall.
Generally, when you wipe something, you aren't going to be restoring it all back. You want to wipe between different roms because certain things may be set up differently in the two and you may get weird glitches and force closes. If you are wiping to get rid of a bug, then you shouldn't restore a buggy backup or you will probably still have the bug.
You can try doing a reinstall of the base rom, wiping first of course. Then you can go restore->advanced restore->restore data to get apps and settings back. See if you still have the problem. If so, then you're going to have to wipe again and reinstall the base rom, but DONT restore your backup. You may be able to carry some apps and settings across with something like Titanium if you absolutely can't start from scratch again.

AH! Now I get it...thank you for that explanation. Tried the 3X wipe today with restore from CWM 2.5.1 so will wait and see if the SMS problem shows up again. Thank you again.

Related

CM7 Stuck in Bootloop

Edit: Still not fixed. Any help would be appreciated.
Hi all. I'm currently using MIUI and want to swith to CM7 for 2.3 and 4G. I've been on the Cyanogen forums but to no avail. I have so far tried the following...
1. Flash from MIUI to CM7 #8 through rommanager with wipe.
2. Flash from MIUI to CM7 nightly 8, 12, 17 through Clockwork with full data and cache wipe.
3. Flash from MIUI to CM6 to CM7 through clockwork w/ full wipe.
4. Flash Amons recovery in rommanager and flash from MIUI to CM7 nightly 17 w/ full wipe.
I am currently at a loss. Please throw any suggestions my way.
- Nick
What exactly are you wiping when you say full wipe?
Try flashing calkulin's format_all.zip, then cyanogenmod, then gapps, all within one recovery session (no rebooting/restarting between flashing each one)
Sent from my hand with XDA Premium installed
Try a full wipe, cache, dalvik, and data. Then reflash the rom.
By full wipe I mean data/factory reset, then wipe cache, then dalvik.
Trying Calkulin now. On Cyanogen forum someone suggested a different kernel. I've never flashed only just a kernel. Would I use the same method as flashing other zips?
That's correct, just wipe dalvik and cache before doing so.
So, I did the calculkin format all however I also did something different this time. I started to notice that it would only boot loop after I did a Titanium batch restore. I would normally restore all apps and system data. This time I only restored apps instead of system data and I can reboot just fine... for now.
Would this cause a problem? Restoring system data from a backup inside MIUI and restoring it in CM?
Edit: Now it's stuck at the white screen. Doing a nandroid backup and going to try some other fun stuff. Yay...
I use amon RA recovery and when I was stuck in a boot loop I would wipe data/factory reset, cache, dalvik cache, as well as wipe the system. That did the trick for me. Best of luck!
PS. Not sure of you can wipe system via clockwork mod, I used it briefly before I got aggravated and flashed a better recovery img IMO.
hTC Evo CM7-n17
You can do a full wipe in clockwork:
factory/data reset, and wipe cache from the main screen, then navigate to advanced and then wipe dalvik cache.
The reason I've been using clockwork is because I like using Rom Manager, but I'm not against Amon if it's the answer. Though, I've now tried it, and it doesn't seem to be.
I've been doing the wipes you're suggesting since the beginning. Those aren't doing it. I have a few ideas that I didn't try last night. Gave up after about hour 7 of trying different things.
My next experiment is to switch kernels. But I'm also thinking there could be a problem w/ my Titanium backup. I don't remember specifically, because I didn't notice it at first, but it does seem to only have a problem after I do a restore. Any thoughts on that one??
deaconzero said:
The reason I've been using clockwork is because I like using Rom Manager, but I'm not against Amon if it's the answer. Though, I've now tried it, and it doesn't seem to be.
I've been doing the wipes you're suggesting since the beginning. Those aren't doing it. I have a few ideas that I didn't try last night. Gave up after about hour 7 of trying different things.
My next experiment is to switch kernels. But I'm also thinking there could be a problem w/ my Titanium backup. I don't remember specifically, because I didn't notice it at first, but it does seem to only have a problem after I do a restore. Any thoughts on that one??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well amon_ra isn't the answer. I've used clockwork and had ZERO problems, and still use it. But if you think titanium is your issue, go into it, and click problems, and it'll download the busybox and correct itself. And if you think the kernel may be the problem, it could be, so go for it. Just make sure to use an aosp kernel on an aosp rom, and the same for sense; don't mix them.
Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on which kernel I could try? On MIUI my kernel is brandon-ThinkPad-T510 #5.
deaconzero said:
Thanks for the advice. Any suggestions on which kernel I could try? On MIUI my kernel is brandon-ThinkPad-T510 #5.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I would try the a froyo savaged zen kernel. They all play nice from what I hear.
No fix yet even after switching kernels. I found this link when I was looking up more info http://www.shahz.net/android/what-is-dalvik-cache.html and this section interested me.
"This dalvik cache can grow immensely huge as more applications are installed on your phone. It is safe to wipe dalvik-cache. It will be rebuilt again when the phone boots. This also explains why your phone takes ages to start up for the first time. As for my Nexus One, having about 145 applications installed, it takes about 13 minutes to build the cache"
Could this be what's going on? Is the dalvik cache being rebuilt and I'm not actually getting a bootloop? Do I need to let the blue arrow circle around the skating android for 15 minutes?
Still not working. Tried the kernel switch and the above idea of letting the boot screen run for over 20 minutes. Nothing.
Anyone w/ any thoughts?? Thanks.
Are you flashing the new kernel the same time you flash the rom. What you should do is wipe everything, factory/data, cahe, dalvik cache, then flash the rom. Give it a couple of minutes to boot up. After it eventually boots up, back it up, then flash the new kernel, just wipe the cache and dalvik before you do so.
deaconzero said:
So, I did the calculkin format all however I also did something different this time. I started to notice that it would only boot loop after I did a Titanium batch restore. I would normally restore all apps and system data. This time I only restored apps instead of system data and I can reboot just fine... for now.
Would this cause a problem? Restoring system data from a backup inside MIUI and restoring it in CM?
Edit: Now it's stuck at the white screen. Doing a nandroid backup and going to try some other fun stuff. Yay...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Restoring system data through Titanium Backup is almost a certain recipe for disaster - especially when switching between different ROMs. Use TB only to restore user apps, and the data associated with only those apps.
The other thing you may want to try is to repartition/format your SD card. Make sure you back it up to your computer first, then use whatever recovery (I know Amon Ra will do it, think CWM will too) to partition and format the SD card. This helped me out when I was getting bootloops...
Good luck!
BigJohn

[Q] A few questions about flashing ROMs

Hey All,
I am curious about a few things...
I had a couple/few nandroid back ups that were stored on my phone, do you all only keep 1 nandroid and delete your previous backups?
I am running mikfroyo and flashed another ROM about 2 days ago, had some issues so I went back to mik. I think I may have done it in a way that nobody else does...I did it like I was flashing it for the first time, wipe everything and flash from sd card.
Should I have just did a nandroid restore? What does this actually bring back? Text, recent calls, apps?
When doing a nandroid restore should I wipe all before doing so? I would imagine the answer is yes.
And one more, before switching to any new ROM, should I always flash Caulkins Format All zip?
Thank you.
Nand restore will restore everything that was on your phone when you made the backup. Definitely a good idea to flash the zip when installing a new ROM. I also do it to restore though.
When you restore, unless you are backing up the cache, which isn't necessary, you need to minimally wipe the cache/dalvik before you restore. Also, if your SD Card is partitioned, you would need to wipe SD EXT. I pretty much flash Calk's format all anytime I restore or flash a new ROM.
I almost never have one back up. I have a few ROMs I like so, I set them up the way I want and restore between them when I get bored, which is like 100 times a day it feels like.
I do usually only keep the latest backup of any one ROM though. At any given time I probably have at least 5.
Edit: I re-read your post and I think I misunderstood one part the first time. Sometimes, when I got back to a previous ROM, I do just reflash it and start over, but I am anal about fresh starts. Usually I do just nand restore, especially if I know the setup was running well. I don't typically restore a lot between ROMs b/c I feel like it just adds to something that can go wrong. A lot of times I redownload apps instead of restoring, especially if they are purchased, since they are just stored in my apps in the market anyway. And I never restore app data. Usually end up only restoring about 30 apps w/out data, but most people do backup/restore a lot of info with no problems.
You should have just restore from a previous backup. When you restore, it bring ti back to EXACTLY how it was, texts, number of calls, ect. Actually you don't need to wipe when doing a restore. Well you can manually wipe all of them, or flash the format all, so I'm saying yes.
Also, I suggest against wiping data before creating a nandroid backup, lol. That would defeat the purpose, as your info and apps will be gone! Just wipe cache and davlik before a backup, or nothing at all, just so there's no confusion.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Yeah, I didn't mean to wipe anything before backing up. But if your going to restore a different ROM and there's no cache included in the nand back up you're going to restore, then best to wipe it before you restore.
jstalford said:
Also, if your SD Card is partitioned, you would need to wipe SD EXT. I pretty much flash Calk's format all anytime I restore or flash a new ROM.
It is partitioned, what gets stored on there that needs to be wiped, apps?
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is partitioned, what gets stored on there that needs to be wiped, apps?
Thanks for your help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the ROM has a2sd built in, yeah, if not, nothing. I always wipe it just so I'm in the habit of doing it for when it's there. Also depending on how a2sd is set up, dalvik can be on there.

Q: stuck in cyanogen boot animation - Flashed back to Cm6

So I got Cm7 running using rom manager, used titanium backup to restore apps + system data, then fixed permissions. For the last 10 minutes it's been stuck in the CM7 screen....
What should I do? Can I pull the battery without harm? Does it take that long to boot after fixing permissions?
Edit: pulled the batter and am trying to boot into recovery...going to wipe the dalvik/cache again.
Edit2: same thing for the last 6 minutes....dang. I guess I'll just nandroid in 5 minutes if it doesn't' get out of it.
Edit3: going to nandroid back. I might try it again later flashing from a Zip instead of using rom manager. I probably won't restore system data either next time. If anyone has any suggestions though please post them.
Edit4: not good...phone is bootlooping cyangen screen after nandroid.
Edit5: Cleared factordata, cache, and when I go to clear dalvik I'm getting
e unknown volume for path sd-ext
Any ideas here?
Edit6: I'm reflashing 6.1.2....okay...got through the boot and now I'm setting up the phone.
You may need to wipe everything now and reinstall fresh. Do a search for Calkulin's tools here and download the format all zip and put it on the root of your sdcard. Flash it just like you would a rom from recovery. It will wipe boot, data, cache and system. Then try flashing cm7 from recovery. Usually boot loops happen because of there not being enough space on one of your partitions like system or boot etc.
housry23 said:
You may need to wipe everything now and reinstall fresh. Do a search for Calkulin's tools here and download the format all zip and put it on the root of your sdcard. Flash it just like you would a rom from recovery. It will wipe boot, data, cache and system. Then try flashing cm7 from recovery. Usually boot loops happen because of there not being enough space on one of your partitions like system or boot etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will do....I know I had been installing apps to the SD card using CM6 and when I first got CM7 up it said my phone memory was low. I thought it would say on the SD card.
I'll probably try tomorrow again if I get the courage and I most definitely will DL Calkun's tools.
Thanks!
I'm going to guess the nandroid didn't work either because of the phone memory low issue?
I would reccomend re-doing what you did originally, except when restoring with titanium, do NOT restore system settings, only apps and data. That's probably the cause.
teh roxxorz said:
I would reccomend re-doing what you did originally, except when restoring with titanium, do NOT restore system settings, only apps and data. That's probably the cause.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiped manually, installed from zip, and didn't restore system data. CM7 has been running for about an hour now.
Thanks everyone!
Glad that you got it working man.
Is ANY system data safe to restore from Titanium?
Had the exact same problem myself... I'm restoring my Myn nandroid as we speak, and I'll mess with it more tomorrow.
Does anyone know what (if any) system data is safe to restore from Titanium? I just want my contacts and text messages basically... I don't know exactly what caused the problem from Titanium since I made sure not to check any of the Sense-related items.
For about 20 min after I pulled the battery I couldn't get the phone to do anything except vibrate three times when I tried to get into recovery. Eventually coaxed it into the bootloader where I selected to boot into recovery to nandroid back. Almost had a heart attack!
phsteve said:
Had the exact same problem myself... I'm restoring my Myn nandroid as we speak, and I'll mess with it more tomorrow.
Does anyone know what (if any) system data is safe to restore from Titanium? I just want my contacts and text messages basically... I don't know exactly what caused the problem from Titanium since I made sure not to check any of the Sense-related items.
For about 20 min after I pulled the battery I couldn't get the phone to do anything except vibrate three times when I tried to get into recovery. Eventually coaxed it into the bootloader where I selected to boot into recovery to nandroid back. Almost had a heart attack!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should never restore system settings.
For contacts, open accounts and sync, tap your google account, then sync contacts, and that'll be done.
For texts, people highly recommend sms backup or my backup. Then backup apps and data, then restore only apps and data, and you'll be set.

[Q] restoring backups

what is the proper way to restore a backup rom? do you wipe anything or just go to recovery and restore
I always wipe but I have read that you do not need to wipe. The back up should over write everything but I always still wipe first to try and get rid of any old data. Maybe its just my ocd
well i was just wondering i always just went to recovery and restored, i got to thinkin maybe i'm doin it wrong, i haven't had any problems doin that way accept a couple bugs with the market not downloading stuff, but easely fixed, just thought i'd ask, thanks for the reply, do you wipe data, cache, or what/
Ya I have been using ext4 and I wipe all except for sd. But like I said I have read that it is not.needed. personally I like a clean start.

[Q] Include 'Preload' in Nandroid of Stock 4.1.2?

I noticed in TWRP 2.5 that there is the option to backup/restore 'Preload'. I have also read that the ROMs based on TMo 4.1.2 need preload working properly to boot, unlike previous ROMs. Should that option to include it be checked when backing up and restoring the stock 4.1.2-based ROMs?
I've also noticed that the the Preload size is 0 when backing up other roms in TWRP, so I haven't concerned myself with it. Before TWRP 2.5, I knew nothing of preload (I guess I still don't really know anything). Any thoughts?
Well, I guess I'll find out what to do by trial (and error?). I backed up JMT JB3 (including preload) to flash the Koodo update and run it for a while. I'll restore it later on and see how it boots.
I'm not sure how it works. I'm on JMT3 myself right now. I used ODIN to update to the official release when it came out, and it was doing fine, but I wanted to try some of the custom ROMs out there that are based on it. I was rooted with CWM, and did the usual backup that has worked since I can remember. I don't remember what ROM I tried next, but I didn't like it much, so I restored my back up. It restored correctly, or so I thought. After some use I started getting FC here and there. I couldn't fix it, so I did a factory reset from within the phones settings, not through recovery. As soon as it tried to reboot I kept getting a boot loop. I never was able to get it booted. I was able to boot to recovery, flash cache and wipe scripts that were recommended, and flashed JMT3. All is good now. I know trying a cache wipe or factory reset through CWM won't work since I tried it before, so I didn't even try it for this one.
So long story short I don't know how CWM (or any recovery) handles the preload. All I know is the scripts work to flash clean, or wipe cache/dalvik/fix perms, but I haven't gotten them to work after restoring a back up. My thinking is to be careful until someone figures it out because I don't think backing up will help if I ever need to. I'll have to start fresh each time I want to flash anything.
Here are the scripts I'm talking about: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2235141
Thanks for sharing your experience. I have those same scripts handy - had to use them when I flashed JMT3.
If or when I restore, I figure I'll wipe my current preload and restore the preload in my JMT backup, then flash the Infamous cache wipe script (or equivalent function in recovery if TWRP develops something similar). I'll post again to share my results when the time comes.
I ended up wanting to restore old stock 4.0.4 in TWRP 2.5.0.0 recovery. Part of me wanted to do it just so I could test the backup/restore of the preload.
I first backed up my current rom (stock Koodo/Telus 4.1.2) with the cache and preload included. I then wiped data, system, caches and preload, and ran the restore of my old backup. The 4.0.4 booted just fine. Once I was done checking for the info that I wanted, I went back to recovery and wiped all the same stuff (everything except internal and external SD) under advanced wipe options. I then restored my stock Koodo/Telus 4.1.2 backup. It seems to be running fine now although I haven't experimented much to test for any FCs. It didn't seem to have any issues booting at least.
I may have been doing some excessive wiping - I assume restoring a partition also formats it before overwriting it. I'm not even sure I needed to wipe anything to restore 4.0.4, but I didn't want a preload (110 mb) causing issues in a rom that doesn't need it at all. In any case, I know what can be done to avoid issues restoring stock 4.1.2, although I'm still not sure what needs to be done to avoid issues.
You did it exactly right. When using a 4.1.2 Samsung rom, be it custom or stock, and backing up or restoring; the preload folder is just as important as data or system. Basically the point of the preload patition is to get the system partition to fit. By symlinking the apps from preload to system Samsung has saved room and allowed a bigger rom to work on our hardware.
As an example, I am on TWRP 2.4.? and cannot backup preload. When I tried a different rom, then went back to my backup I had FCs like crazy. Because I had used the Infamous wipe script it had wiped the preload folder but there was nothing to restore to it from my backup. I had to reflash the rom I was using (really I just wanted the preload folder installed) and then restore my backup to get it working.
I hope all this makes sense. I'm going to Twrp 2.5 so I can backup my preload folder (when I stop being lazy).
Thanks guys.

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