[Q] A few questions about flashing ROMs - EVO 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

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.

Related

[Q] Wiping then restoring with CWM

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.

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.

Random crashes after restoring to backup.

I had flashed Warm TwoPointThree. Didn't really like it so I restored to my nandroid back up. Now the phone randomly crashes for no apparent reason. It is sitting next to me on my desk and just now it crashed, wasn't even touching it. Secondary to the crashes is that after it happen and I try to report the phone is registering no charge and then immediately shuts down till I put it on a charger, regardless of actual battery charge.
Edit
More info. It has never crashed while on the charger. Don't know if that is relevant.
Did you wipe properly prior to restoring your nandroid? Also, what recovery are you using? If it's not Amon-ra, you need to get it! Make sure when doing a nandroid restore you have the appropriate items checked for restore (Assuming you did this when making the nandroid to begin with). Usually Boot, System, Data, and SD ext if partitioned.
Im using Amon-ra and I have an unpartitioned SD card. What do you mean by wipe? I'm a new to the entire rooting thing.
You need to wipe all data factory reset, boot, system, and dalvik cache in recovery three times each. Then restore your nandroid. You can also use a superwipe script but I feel manually wiping them is best.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA
dieselford said:
You need to wipe all data factory reset, boot, system, and dalvik cache in recovery three times each. Then restore your nandroid. You can also use a superwipe script but I feel manually wiping them is best.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can I use the wipe feature in Amon-ra to do this?
Yes. That is the way to do it.
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
Try fix permissions, I think RA has it under other, or if u have Rom manager there is an option to fix permissions
Sent from my Synergized Aggressive Lionfish Evo using the XDA app
I think I may have found a problem with the backup I was using. For some reason the backup file had 2 copies of every entry.
Under the other tad in RA recovery there was options to fix apk uid mismatches and move recovery.log to SD.
I selected the fix apk uid mismatches. Im hoping that is the fix permissions that the previous poster was talking about. If not then can I get some direction in doing it properly?
SabaBoBaba said:
I think I may have found a problem with the backup I was using. For some reason the backup file had 2 copies of every entry.
Under the other tad in RA recovery there was options to fix apk uid mismatches and move recovery.log to SD.
I selected the fix apk uid mismatches. Im hoping that is the fix permissions that the previous poster was talking about. If not then can I get some direction in doing it properly?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's it.
Well the crashes have started again. They seem to start slow, one crash then like 3 days later another and then just increase in frequency, today it crashed 5 times before noon. I'm at the point that I think perhaps I need to wipe and not attempt to do a restore. My concern is will I lose my root if I do that?
Will I lose root if I do wipe with out restoring afterward?
SabaBoBaba said:
Will I lose root if I do wipe with out restoring afterward?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you wipe without restoring, you won't have a ROM on your device. You'll have to flash one, and as long as it's a custom or rooted stock ROM, you'll be fine.
Well I did a factory reset tonight so we'll see how that goes. Thanks to those people who contributed.
Well I did the factory reset and this morning it crashed again. I'm at a loss. All this started after I installed the Warm 2.3 ROM and then restored back to a backup to get the stock ROM back. Any thoughts on what to try now?
Any further help that anyone can offer on this. I'm at the end of what I can think of to do
SabaBoBaba said:
Any further help that anyone can offer on this. I'm at the end of what I can think of to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just stop restoring and flash a ROM from scratch. Do a full wipe (everything except SD card), and then flash the ROM (custom or stock) or your choice. It seems that the restore is at the root of your problem, so it may be time to give up on that.
Current ROM (BootManager Slot 5): ICS-Deck-PreBeta20 | Kernel: Mason v0.14 SBC (FSO)
Captain_Throwback said:
Just stop restoring and flash a ROM from scratch. Do a full wipe (everything except SD card), and then flash the ROM (custom or stock) or your choice. It seems that the restore is at the root of your problem, so it may be time to give up on that.
Current ROM (BootManager Slot 5): ICS-Deck-PreBeta20 | Kernel: Mason v0.14 SBC (FSO)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well Im going to flash this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1455340&highlight=stock+rom and see if that works. Thanks for the assist.
After wiping last night and loading the rooted version of the latest stock ROM it crashed again today. Next idea?
Try wiping in recovery by flashing Edify_Format_ALL (found on xda). I manually wipe Dalvik, habit... Flash rom from scratch. I use Titanium Backup to back up apps and data just for these situations. Some caches are moved to SD card, maybe delete these folders and let system rebuild them. (ie android_secure).
Hope you get it sorted out.
Grizraz said:
Try wiping in recovery by flashing Edify_Format_ALL (found on xda). I manually wipe Dalvik, habit... Flash rom from scratch. I use Titanium Backup to back up apps and data just for these situations. Some caches are moved to SD card, maybe delete these folders and let system rebuild them. (ie android_secure).
Hope you get it sorted out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ill give that a shot. I hope I can fix what ever I did to foul this thing up.
Just from searching the forums I really dont understand this edify thing. Can you help be get some clarity on it?

[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] Will Wipe system and data in TWRP wipe out my ROM but not my back-ups?

Hey,
I an trying to wipe my ROM and reinstall a fresh ROM. In TWRP Recovery, if I hit wipe system and data wipe, will that effect my back-ups on TWRP? Trying wipe the current one and restore the very first backup after installing the revolution HD M8 9.1 .
Only wiping Internal SD will wipe twrp backups. So wiping system, data and caches should be fine.
Sometimes things go wrong though. Good to have a backup of a backup off the device. And/or another rom zip. Titanium backup backups are good to store off device too. And pics, etc.
Bad things happen... And it's a drag when all your stuff goes away. :good:
Storing things as backup on an external sd is good too... But not fool proof either.
Darth said:
Sometimes things go wrong though. Good to have a backup of a backup off the device. And/or another rom zip. Titanium backup backups are good to store off device too. And pics, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree to all the above. Always give yourself multiple ways out of a jam; and taking a few minutes to backup off-device is a great way to avoid regret and headaches.

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