I am definately a beginner at this so any experienced help would be much appreciated.
I want to try out some new roms but im not 100% sure of ALL the steps
1) do I have to do a wipe/factory reset every time before installing a rom
2) do I have to do a nandroid backup everytime
3) Is there a way to save my settings in a particular rom so that it makes it easy to switch back and forth
I'd also like some insight on what roms have an everyday functionality to them. I am running the C-6 rc1 version of Froyo and love it. Only prob is battery life. But i would like to know what other roms work well for everyday use.
Much appreciated people!
1. do so unless instructed by the dev that you dont have to. But always wipe when switching between different roms (e.g cm6-fresh)
2.no, just make sure you have at least 1 good one
3. Not entirely, you can use something like titanium backup though in order to backup settings for specific applications, which could be used to save your custom keyboard dictionary, text messages, and things like that. It can also be used to backup downloaded aps etc.
4. Try a rom like fresh, damage control, baked something. there are so many. I use cm6 so I have no experience with the above
..here is a cute little thread with what some people are using:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=733732&highlight=rom
don't know how statistically accurate it is, but it gives you an idea of the top roms I think who knows D;
What about radios?
I'm running a rooted 1.47.651.1 with the latest radio and wimax (whitslack's fix). Will I need to flash the radio and wimax again if I flash fresh 1.0.1 or something else?
Read the dev forums and all the Wikis.
If something is not clear, read them again.
Then flash and search for any issue you run into.
no radio and wimax are neither backed up or restored during a nandroid, nor are they touched when flashing a new rom unless the dev specifically made the rom to flash the radio also (and I do not think anyone does this)
3) Is there a way to save my settings in a particular rom so that it makes it easy to switch back and forth
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Click to collapse
actually the best way i have found to switch between roms and keep settings - nandroid.
If you are trying multiple roms just make a nandroid once you have it all set up if you later switch to a new rom and want to go back and not have to set everything up just restore that nandroid. Since you probably will know that you want to go back you can store them on a pc if you want to save space and dont switch often. Just remember to always keep at least 1 good back up on the phone.
I rename the back ups to reflect the rom and then switch at will takes about 10 minutes or whatever to do the restore but in my opinion easier then having to titanium back up and re set up all your widgets if you switch a lot. I do use titanium back up for other reasons and NEW roms its great for but if you switch a lot or are testing to see this may be a "easier" option
see signature for daily driver (everyday use rom) and the ones i play with. I personally feel DamageControl gives the best battery life for my device. It is also very stable (though most 2.1 roms are now yay amazing devs )
Using Nandroid to reinstall custom ROMs
I was wondering about that. Would the following strategy work?
1) Wipe as needed and then flash a new ROM.
2) Use Titanium Backup to restore the apps and data you want restored.
3) When the new ROM is all fixed up how you like it, make a nandroid backup of it.
4) Repeat step 1-3 with a different new ROM.
5) When or if you decide to start using one of the previously tried ROMs again, instead of repeating steps 1-3, simply restore the nandroid backup of that ROM.
Wouldn't that work? Wouldn't the nandroid backup restore the custom ROM complete with all the apps and data you restored to it?
Thanks.
--VI
Hello, I havent posted much here but I have been a long time reader. I am running CM6 on my EVO and have been for a few months now. I normally do not care about 4G but I am going to Chicago this weekend and want to be able to use it so here is my dilemma. I want to flash a new ROM but save everything (I can use NAND normally but this re-flashes my ROM too obviously) but I want to save everything (emails, texts, screens, apps; everything) but use it all on a new ROM. I have a feeling there is a way to do this I just dont know how. Could someone please point me in the right directions? Thanks!
You can use Titanium for your apps and texts and home screen settings. You will have to use the same launcher when you flash the new ROM in order to backup the homescreen settings. You are going from AOSP to sense so you need to really limit the system data that you backup/restore to prevent problems from arising.
Personally, I would just do a nandroid before you go, then flash the new ROM and only the stuff you need to get you through your trip and then restore your nandroid when you get home.
danman421 said:
Hello, I havent posted much here but I have been a long time reader. I am running CM6 on my EVO and have been for a few months now. I normally do not care about 4G but I am going to Chicago this weekend and want to be able to use it so here is my dilemma. I want to flash a new ROM but save everything (I can use NAND normally but this re-flashes my ROM too obviously) but I want to save everything (emails, texts, screens, apps; everything) but use it all on a new ROM. I have a feeling there is a way to do this I just dont know how. Could someone please point me in the right directions? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup Pro, Backup all apps and data. Make a update zip flash your new ROM, then reboot into recovery and flash update zip, then run Titanium backup and do a restore, then reboot phone and you should be good to go.
there is a way to do it but you may run in to problems with the new rom you flash. By not wiping the data before a flash just wiping cache and dalvik you can keep all of that but flashing another rom over an old one without wiping can cause problems like broken apps and fc's at random times for no reason especially sense. If you want to keep your contacts export them to your sd card messeges i'm not sure but apps you can save with titanium back up just not the data for the apps (it tends to lock up the phone). You can try it out and see how well it goes for you but i wouldn't suggest it, then again there have been some people who do this and have nothing wrong its 50/50 all up to you if its worth the risk just make sure you nand backup before you do anything
i was looking around and found that evo n other android phone can dual boot so i wondering if some one can come up with dual boot for g2
You can just use nandroid if you want to switch. It's not too bad to test out and play between ROMs.
Stryder5 said:
You can just use nandroid if you want to switch. It's not too bad to test out and play between ROMs.
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i hate installing apps over n over.....
its more practical to use nandroid
theXeffect said:
i hate installing apps over n over.....
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What are you talking about? You wouldn't need to if you backup the roms properly.
Why in the world would you want to dual boot? Just nandroid.
im just saying it would be cool to have cuz its call dual boot n something new to try.......u guys dont? thats fine.......i wish someone would tho
I don't think I'm performing nandroid backups properly either. I always have to reinstall apps like the OP. Can someone please tell me the right way? Thanks!
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Lol! what on earth are yall talking about? nandroid only works with the same type of rom you used previously. for example, using rooted stock rom then backup via nandroid then switch to CM and restoring doesnt work. you would have to flash back to rooted stock and then restore. you can obviously make multiple backups... one for each rom. but again... you have to be on the same rom... otherwise, the restore will seriously corupt your current rom.
I'm beginning to wonder if some even know what dual boot actually means, lol!
Thats why you do a wipe befor you restore from a nandroid backup
shiznt said:
Thats why you do a wipe befor you restore from a nandroid backup
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Click to collapse
That doesnt really matter if you are using a different rom this time around especially a themed one. Sometimes it can help.... but if the rom is completely different like sense then to stock or CM, you gonna have issues no matter if you wipe or not. Are folks crazy? the system folder varies HEAVILY between different roms. sure you can TRY restoring just the data/cache/ext but that doesn't always work out right. Stick around, kid. You might learn something if you quit running you mouth
Calm down guys. . . . Nandroid works just fine. .
I have used it on an array of ROMs, Stock, Sense, CM . .It works. You just need to backup, then wipe and flash the ROM you want. If you want to go back to the other ROM, back up, then restore the one you backed up previously. You can even name them, you just have to change the folder name in the clockwork mod folder on your SD and look for backups.
Seems like there's a little confusion on how Nandroid works...I didn't understand it myself until recently. I'll attempt to explain how it works, if any experts think I got it wrong, please let me know.
Basically, Nandroid lets you backup your current phone's state (ROM, apps, settings and all) into a single save file that you can restore whenever you want. So as an example, let's say you install ROM X, but you want to try ROM Y. You would first make a Nandroid backup of your phone, then flash ROM Y. Then let's say after a day of playing around with ROM Y, you want to go back to ROM X, you would then make a Nandroid backup of ROM Y, and restore the Nandroid of ROM X. Your phone will then be exactly the way it was when you created the backup of ROM X, and at any time you want you can restore your ROM Y. In this way, you can bootup any ROM you've saved in the past, anytime you want. This makes Nandroid a fairly effective "multi-boot".
You might notice one slight pain in this whole process, the first time you use any particular ROM, you'll have to setup your phone all over again. This can be made easier if you use Titanium Backup, which is an app that backs up your apps and settings to your SD card. Then when you try out a new ROM, install Titanium Backup from the Market and use it to restore your apps and settings. If you're using the free version, this means tapping the screen twice for each app on your phone ("Install", "Done", repeat), but I noticed the paid version claims to have a "0-click restore" feature.
I hope this helps clarify some things.
~~Tito~~ said:
Calm down guys. . . . Nandroid works just fine. .
I have used it on an array of ROMs, Stock, Sense, CM . .It works. You just need to backup, then wipe and flash the ROM you want. If you want to go back to the other ROM, back up, then restore the one you backed up previously. You can even name them, you just have to change the folder name in the clockwork mod folder on your SD and look for backups.
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Click to collapse
Lol! Thats what I've been trying to explain to them but they just want to argue with me for some reason. hahaha! They'll figure out on their own any way if they want to be stubborn about it. Heck, I was just trying to save them some frustration. oh well...
dracoaffectus said:
Seems like there's a little confusion on how Nandroid works...I didn't understand it myself until recently. I'll attempt to explain how it works, if any experts think I got it wrong, please let me know.
Basically, Nandroid lets you backup your current phone's state (ROM, apps, settings and all) into a single save file that you can restore whenever you want. So as an example, let's say you install ROM X, but you want to try ROM Y. You would first make a Nandroid backup of your phone, then flash ROM Y. Then let's say after a day of playing around with ROM Y, you want to go back to ROM X, you would then make a Nandroid backup of ROM Y, and restore the Nandroid of ROM X. Your phone will then be exactly the way it was when you created the backup of ROM X, and at any time you want you can restore your ROM Y. In this way, you can bootup any ROM you've saved in the past, anytime you want. This makes Nandroid a fairly effective "multi-boot".
You might notice one slight pain in this whole process, the first time you use any particular ROM, you'll have to setup your phone all over again. This can be made easier if you use Titanium Backup, which is an app that backs up your apps and settings to your SD card. Then when you try out a new ROM, install Titanium Backup from the Market and use it to restore your apps and settings. If you're using the free version, this means tapping the screen twice for each app on your phone ("Install", "Done", repeat), but I noticed the paid version claims to have a "0-click restore" feature.
I hope this helps clarify some things.
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Click to collapse
That was a perfect explaination! I hope that sheds some light for folks who didnt understand what I meant and I apologize for being annoyed. originally, I had thought the OP was talking about dualbooting with android/windows mobile or something... I didnt think about the possiblity of running two android roms. I see how nandroid was brought up now... yeah, thats kind of silly to dualboot with two android roms. but to each his own...
theXeffect said:
im just saying it would be cool to have cuz its call dual boot n something new to try.......u guys dont? thats fine.......i wish someone would tho
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i cant believe nobody agrees, i would love to have dual boot just like my my laptop with win7\ubuntu netbook remix. the iphone people are dual booting into android or Ios and thats kinda cool even if its not completly functional. Id rather dual than trying to restore back and forth. Good Call
I used the Nandroid method on the G2 to switch between SuperD's ROM and KingKlick's Eclair builds. It works and really does make a good "multi-boot." Also, I use MyBackup Pro to back everything up, and all the settings for the apps and the phone are saved.
veritasaequita said:
i cant believe nobody agrees, i would love to have dual boot just like my my laptop with win7\ubuntu netbook remix. the iphone people are dual booting into android or Ios and thats kinda cool even if its not completly functional. Id rather dual than trying to restore back and forth. Good Call
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Click to collapse
Of course, I have to agree with you... There are several things that bother me about nandroid, which I say, is not a good replacement for dual-booting. With dual boot you can shut down your phone/computer and be able to switch between operating systems. I can use Windows 7 to play games, Ubuntu to code, and Mac OS X 10.5 for multimedia. I'm pretty sure that people don't backup Windows 7, wait for that to finish, then install Ubuntu on their computer, wait 20-30 minutes for it to boot up, then get to work(and I'm sure computers would be horrible if you needed to do that). But I'm just saying this so I can get into the conversation and actually get somebodies recognition so they can actually start working on a script for the G2 so you can dual-boot. I'm pretty sure that it's possible... but I'm not sure if there's anybody willing to do it.
Well that's accomplished by partitioning, on a pc.
whichever rom u install completely takes over the previous one, thus eliminating that previous rom. There would need to be some sort of partitioning mechanism,involved. to achieve the dualboot, wouldnt there?
correct me if i am wrong, but the hboot controls the partitions of the phones, and when the G1 needed a new hboot to be re-partitioned to allow for better bigger ROMs there were a LOT of bricks that took months to figure out how to fix, so if someone wants to try to flash the hboot from another phone(and risk losing their phone forever) then by all means have at it, but for the time being nandroid will have to do.
I seem to make one right before I decide to make a big change on the phone for example and rom update or theme update.
It's starting to be hard to keep up with the all of them. Anyone else got tips on how to manage them or if it's possible to make auto backups every week or so like titanium dose with apps?
I back up before making major changes. I only keep 1 or 2 recent backups on the SD card and will archive the rest onto my computer. I'll eventually clear them out, but there are a few worth keeping- such as the stock, rooted rom.
I just keep a fresh back up of the phone in stock with nothing on it besides stock apps and crap. Auto sync takes care of my contacts and I could care less about what texts I lose, most of my apps are on the sd card so I just load what I want back.
dietotherhythm said:
Auto sync takes care of my contacts and I could care less about what texts I lose
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Click to collapse
Same here. I don't care much about losing any texts. I have it set up for auto delete at 50 anyway. I theme my phone on a daily basis. So I usually backup when I'm about to push a file into the framework. If the push was successful (phone doesn't go into a boot loop) then I delete the old backup I just made and backup again with the changes I just made. Otherwise, I also backup when flashing a ROM (obviously).
I back up when I flash a new ROM, a new theme, or make tweaks to certain files (like the anti-data-throttling technique). Beyond that, I have no need.
Sent from a Western Union telegram.
How do ya geniuses do the nandroid backups?
I've been tempted to flash cyanogen mod, but I see so many glitches, and since I'm no expert at this, I kinda doubt to do the rom flashing to my phone.
EdWRX said:
How do ya geniuses do the nandroid backups?
I've been tempted to flash cyanogen mod, but I see so many glitches, and since I'm no expert at this, I kinda doubt to do the rom flashing to my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rom flashing is easy, use Rom manager from market to flash clockwork(after rooting if not already there) and then download cyanogenmod as it is awesome stable right now and flash via rom manager.
it should then ask if you want to back up(nandroid) and/or wipe, check both options and you will have a backup
on original topic i have pro version of rom manager and so i have it set to make a backup every 4 days(but i don't delete very frequently and my 8GB sd card is not nearly big enough)
ive got my stock rom backed up from when i first rooted just incase i ever want to go back, Cm6.1 and then the current virtuous rom that im using. i really do need to clean my SD card up though, haha.
Like most, I made a nandroid as soon as I'd finished rooting, and then I keep one copy of my current ROM (Virtuous). If I'm going to make a major change or upgrade, I'll make a backup and keep it around for a few days, till I'm sure there are no bugs, and then keep the newer and delete the older backup. At most I have 3 backups, but normally I only have 2.
Honestly.... Never.
There's nothing a Nandroid can fix that flashing a new rom cant And the new rom gives you a nice change
once a week!
so that i can flash with a new rom and if i dont like i can switch back to my backup with everything still on there like it was before i flashed it ?
on a similar note
i have a few games and stuff that i got when i bought a phone dock for my xperia play, i typed in some codes and it allowed me to download some games
if i was to flash a new rom on phone would i be able to get these games back on my phone ? or are they gone for good ?
ive still got loads of gunk on my phone and it is constantly running out of usable memory so would like to speed it up and get with the program like yous guys on here
the phone is unlocked and rooted by alexandro so is good to go
thank guys
Uh, I think is called a Nandroid Backup, havent tried it but I think its accessed by CWM.
I think its something along them lines.
And secondly, backup the apps by Titanium Backup.
Yep, nandroid backup is as comprehensive a backup as you'll ever get. If you switch kernels, just copy the previous kernel to somewhere, as a nandroid can't backup kernels on the Play