Develop Bugs

[Q] My modified custom ROM

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?

[Q] how to undo non-paginated rosie launcher 1 on synergy

Well the title says it all... I downloaded and updated the non-paginated rosie addon/theme from synergy updater. I want to go back to how it was previously. I'm not sure how I can do that. Any help would be great.

just reflash the rom without wiping anything (ok, a wipe of dalvik and cache never hurts). you'll lose all system mods you have done so far, but it's the only way besides restoring a nandroid or manually replacing the files (which i assume you don't want/know how to do)

I'm sure I can do that, what files do I need to replace. I saw Rosie_scroll in astro.

jm503 said:
I'm sure I can do that, what files do I need to replace. I saw Rosie_scroll in astro.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol rosie_scroll is the cache for the rosie on the sdcard that won't help. to replace files, open the zip you flashed, and find out what files it changed (ignore the META-INF folder btw, that's where the signatures and update scripts are). then just open the rom zip, and find the same files. now adb push, push using root explorer, or build a flashable zip of those files.

[Q] Can you install mods without CWM?

Basically I want to install these mods: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1287810
I have the stock rooted kernel (found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1282415) which doesn't include CWM. Is there a way to install these mods without flashing through CWM?
Thanks.

I heard that rom manager now support our phone, it installs latest CWM version 5.0.2.7
I usually use adb push

Looks like you need a custom kernel for Rom Manager to work right now.
Can I just replace the files on my phone with these files and reboot?

use Odin to flash custom kernel with cwm compiled. lostkernel or zedomax's kernel both got cwm.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Yes but can I install these WITHOUT CWM?

romanodog said:
Yes but can I install these WITHOUT CWM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No without custom recovery which is what cwm is you can not flash anything that is not signed by samsung .....you could flash an update through the samsung recovery but everything else will fail signature check .....that is why we use odin and clockwork mod
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

Technically yes you can. You would have to know how and where to push everything via adb but if you don't know or are uncomfortable I would definitely avoid it.

Hey romanodog you get CWM with stock rooted kernal without having to odin anything. All you have to do is do the following:
1. Go to the thread called " Lets Get Rid of that Yellow Triangle" (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1297999)
Note: with the root method you used you wont have the yellow triangle but this is necessary to get cwm on stock kernal.
2. Download and extract the the zip called "chris41g.devphone.org/LoStKernel/FlashzImage.zip" to your desktop or directory of choice
3. now open this folder and delete the file called zImage
4. go to this thread called "Stock Pulled Repacked with CWM5" (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1305099)
4. download the StockCWM5.zip file and extract this new zImage to the folder FlashzImage
5. run the bat file
Note: after you replace the zImage you can pretty much follow the how to video done by QbKing77 (thank him) in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1297999

cool thanks man, I will have to try that out

you can do all the mods without cwm quite easily.
just take the files from inside the zip and use a file browser to copy them to the phone.
i use es file explorer mostly, its free and lets you access the root partition.
available in the market.
(you can also use the adb push command if comfortable with a command line from the pc or a terminal emulator such as connectbot from the phone)
the trick is just figuring out where the files go. luckily when you unzip the mod you'll get folders such as
meta-inf
system
ignore the meta-inf
its the system folder you want
system> which will usually contain something like app and framework folders
just copy those files to /system/app and /system/framework viola! either overwriting the files already there or better yet backup those files or rename them first.
no cwm needed but you do need root
p.s. also you may need to reboot for changes to take effect

mjcollum said:
you can do all the mods without cwm quite easily.
just take the files from inside the zip and use a file browser to copy them to the phone.
i use es file explorer mostly, its free and lets you access the root partition.
available in the market.
(you can also use the adb push command if comfortable with a command line from the pc or a terminal emulator such as connectbot from the phone)
the trick is just figuring out where the files go. luckily when you unzip the mod you'll get folders such as
meta-inf
system
ignore the meta-inf
its the system folder you want
system> which will usually contain something like app and framework folders
just copy those files to /system/app and /system/framework viola! either overwriting the files already there or better yet backup those files or rename them first.
no cwm needed but you do need root
p.s. also you may need to reboot for changes to take effect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool! I thought I could do something like that but I wanted someone to confirm, thanks!
I'm pretty familiar with linux but these phones are a whole new world to me.

[CWM][ALL] Base CWM zip packages - just add APPS!

Ok forum, so I got this idea: because a lot of people ask for CWM packages of this and that, why not let them create CWM flashable stuff without having to beg devs or other users to make them?
I think it saves them (yes, I am talking about YOU!) and us the trouble. So I created these two base CWM flashable zips to get everyone started:
Data_Skeleton.zip - Used for apps that you can uninstall afterwards.
System_Skeleton.zip - Used for anything that should be installed as a system app
Now, a short guide on how to use them:
1. Download the appropriate ZIP for what you plan to package. If you want to make a regular app package use Data_Skeleton.zip, for system apps, use System_Skeleton.zip.
2. Open the zip file with anything else other than Windows Explorer! Use 7zip, winzip, winrar or anything else, just not Explorer!
3. Look inside the zip! DO NOT DELETE ANYTHING! All you need to do is ADD STUFF!
4. Browse into the "data" or "system" zip folders, then down into the "app" folder inside.
5. After you get to the "app" folder, copy and paste the APKs you want to flash in the folder.
REMEMBER: do not DELETE anything! ADD APK files ONLY in the "app" folder.
6. Wait for the APK files you copy to get added to the archive.
7. Close the archive.
8. Rename and copy the archive to your SD card.
9. Boot into CWM and flash the copied zip file you just created.
10. Enjoy!!
Sooooo, quick 10-step process into cooking you own CWM Zips. You can do much more with them than flashing apps, but for general purpose usage, this should be enough!
Thanks and complaints go underneath.
PS: this idea was given to me by lambstone in a separate thread! Thanks a lot mate!!!
Peace,
C.

Nice thread, waiting for other..............

There's market apps that does this I.e apps2zip
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-2

Ayysr,
App2zip works well for this purpose, but only when it works. There are apps that can't be zipped correctly, mainly those that rely on libs, media and/or other files that can't be included automagically. Needless to say that some apps (mainly games and such) store data on the SD card.
All of this can be easily accomplished by copying the files in a zip file; also learning something about Android in the process, wouldn't you say?
Peace,
C.

cheatman said:
Ayysr,
App2zip works well for this purpose, but only when it works. There are apps that can't be zipped correctly, mainly those that rely on libs, media and/or other files that can't be included automagically. Needless to say that some apps (mainly games and such) store data on the SD card.
All of this can be easily accomplished by copying the files in a zip file; also learning something about Android in the process, wouldn't you say?
Peace,
C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your right, I was not trying to deny your effort in any way
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-2

I actually wasn't expecting anyone to comment on this thread to begin with
The fact that you mentioned app2zip is perfect! I know the intent is not to deny my effort, in fact, I am happy new information surfaced because it's useful and appropriate.
Very few contribute to such posts with relevant info for others. I think this is the point: sharing insightful and relevant stuff with others. But judging by the number of thanks you have, you already know this very well already
So, thanks! And glad to have you in my thread
Peace,
C.

cheatman said:
I actually wasn't expecting anyone to comment on this thread to begin with
The fact that you mentioned app2zip is perfect! I know the intent is not to deny my effort, in fact, I am happy new information surfaced because it's useful and appropriate.
Very few contribute to such posts with relevant info for others. I think this is the point: sharing insightful and relevant stuff with others. But judging by the number of thanks you have, you already know this very well already
So, thanks! And glad to have you in my thread
Peace,
C.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have trying to put 5 apk files on data/app exactly doing what it's in your post, then rename it to apk.zip, but when i'm trying flashing from cwm it's geting error
E:Can't open /sdcard/apk.zip
(bad)
Installation aborted
do I miss something??
edit: i'm using data_skeleton.zip

Make sure you don't extract the ZIP. Open it and add files. If you extract it, you get that error message (usually). That is a problem related to the unzip process in CWM, it's not very "compatible"
I have also re-upped the DATA CWM zip, maybe it got borked in the process. So download again from first post. It works on my tab. You can test it by just getting the zip and flashing it empty, like that.

cheatman said:
Make sure you don't extract the ZIP. Open it and add files. If you extract it, you get that error message (usually). That is a problem related to the unzip process in CWM, it's not very "compatible"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No dude, I do not extract the zip file, I do exzctly what you said in 1st post, just open it with winrar, look for Data-app, then adding apk files on app section/folder inside the zip files, i just try once again to make sure, and i just add 1 different apk file, but still not work, btw i always use this same method before when I' want to replace boot animation for ICS CM9 ROM and adding some apk file to ROM file, and it's always work.
cheatman said:
I have also re-upped the DATA CWM zip, maybe it got borked in the process. So download again from first post. It works on my tab. You can test it by just getting the zip and flashing it empty, like that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will try this one..,
EDIT: have try your 2nd Data_skeleton.zip, it's work when flashing from cwm with or without add apk files, but not with previous zip file, thought the problem it's coming from your zip file..,

Glad the second one works!
Thanks for letting me know the first zip was borked!

Its a good thread man, makes creating flash able zips simple, you should also look into zipsigner2 on the play market
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk 2 Beta-2

Thx for the great work!!
Does this one only works for apks?? say i would like to add some files to system/bin or system/lib what do i need to add??
Thx again

You need to create the appropriate folder structure on your PC/Laptop/Mac drive (system/bin or system/lib as per your example) and add it to the archive.
Do not create the folders directly inside the archive as they seem to get borked. Instead archive the folders after you create them locally. It also works if you extract the skeleton archive as an example, delete the "system" folder from inside it and add to the archive the system folder from your drive to replace the original one.
Sounds more complicated than it is. With these CWM Zips you can create any zip that changes either "/data/*" or "/system/*"
Anything, including full ROMs, libs, firmware etc (i.e. except kernel!) can go inside. Play with them. You can't mess your tab with them. Worst case, you need to flash again your ICS copy and factory reset...
Peace,
C.

yeah jejeje i just mess up i am trying to flash a sound driver for my phone (by the way it works in my live with walkman) but they are not working so.
but it is great because i was able to use your file to flash my phone it seems to be universal.
thx again for your work.

Is it possible for this to work for radio images?
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2 Beta-5

No, it can't be used for radio images.
First off, radio images need to be flashed (i.e. not copied to a folder as this script does) and secondly because as far as I know with the latest versions of CWM don't support this anymore.
The old zips used to flash radio don't seem to be supported anymore. I recently encountered this problem while flashing a friend's HTC Buzz/Wildfire. So, no, I have no idea how to flash radio using CWM anymore. You can flash using Odin, though...
Peace,
C.

cheatman said:
You need to create the appropriate folder structure on your PC/Laptop/Mac drive (system/bin or system/lib as per your example) and add it to the archive.
Do not create the folders directly inside the archive as they seem to get borked. Instead archive the folders after you create them locally. It also works if you extract the skeleton archive as an example, delete the "system" folder from inside it and add to the archive the system folder from your drive to replace the original one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, this explains how come my /system/app zips were coming out fine but my /system/framework were messed up, thanks for the explanation.
I wonder if it's possible for a small tutorial in how to add our own text to a zip when it's being flashed.

I guess I could reupload the zips without the intro section (stating my nickname and galaxy tab / version etc.) if I weren't so lazy...
The problem with changing the text is that although a tutorial can be made, it requires external tools and such, which would make this waaay to complicated and out of the scope of this thread.
For your purposes (I assume you are using some version of Windows), here's my advice: extract the Zip archive, look for the "updater-script" file, change it and make sure you run it through a "dos2unix" tool to convert CR/LFs. Then add it back to the archive.
To everyone else: if this doesn't work for you, just stick to adding apps to the zip. You should be safe, there's no need to edit any files anyway!
Peace,
C.

Great, apparently it was just that simple, worked great, <3

Dumb question - is this only for Galaxy tab? Or can I use it on my Captivate?

[Q] framework decompile help.

Not sure if this is the right spot or should actually go in development or here since I got lectured for putting it in development the last time.
But what I am trying to do is decompile the framework file from the stock rom and change a xml and recompile so as to bypass the tetheringprovison call.
The last time I did this on the HTC One S I ran into the trouble that the recompiled verision didn't work and ended up just opening the recompiled apk as a zip pulling the xml and replacing it in the original apk and load that.
That seemed to do the trick on that phone.
I think the problem is with compression as the output apk I get after recompiling is never even close to the original size.
I am having the same issue when it comes to the file for the gs3.
So far I haven't tested a recompiled one yet since I haven't rooted yet but just working on the file.
That is a job for a little later on my days off where I don't need my phone.
But with this one the file I am looking for once it is decompiled shows in res/values/arrays.xml for this one. How ever if I open either the source file or the recompiled when I don't see those values folders anywhere inside.
I am not sure if they are just hidden in something else or where the other files are.
I am using the newest verision of apk multi tool to recompiling and decompiling with compression values tested at 1 and 0.
both the framework-res.apk and twframework files are loaded into it as well as dependencies.
Any ideas on the best way of changing out this one file?
Or if anyone can recompile one with the following arrays.xml file instead that I have attached.
When it is decompiled it does show the right folder string "\res\values" and the array.xml inside I have just made a change to the xml that would not check the tethering provision on the device to allow the built in tether to work again. and a recompiled verision with that file will bypass any tethering check
any help would be greatly appreciated.
*edited* to include the arrays xml

Anything found in the "values" directory are not going to be visible inside the apk they are files used to build the actual apk that tells the other XML and other files where things are. Compression won't break an apk. What exact file are you editing? Also you are going to have to root if you want to put the modded file back on the device..
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah will be rooton on day off so i dont have to worry about it too much.
But with the arrays file that has a call in it to consult a different program before starting tethering.
I have changed that file so it dont check anymore.
This worked on it before with it just unlocked and a different apn update came and dont work anymore.
I am just confused that why it recompiled before for the one and wouldnt work right.
Based on what i read should be no problem as long as both frameworks are installed to the apk multitool

M9x3mos said:
Yeah will be rooton on day off so i dont have to worry about it too much.
But with the arrays file that has a call in it to consult a different program before starting tethering.
I have changed that file so it dont check anymore.
This worked on it before with it just unlocked and a different apn update came and dont work anymore.
I am just confused that why it recompiled before for the one and wouldnt work right.
Based on what i read should be no problem as long as both frameworks are installed to the apk multitool
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I decompile framework-res.apk all the time with no issues. What is the exact issue you're having?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Just that when I decompile the framework-res.apk replace one xml file and recompile it using the multitool (am using the system apk with dependancies and linking the twframework) and then try and load it on the phone it seems to cause it to crash.

M9x3mos said:
Just that when I decompile the framework-res.apk replace one xml file and recompile it using the multitool (am using the system apk with dependancies and linking the twframework) and then try and load it on the phone it seems to cause it to crash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You cannot replace XML files with other XML files. You have to open the XML in notepad++ and edit the actual lines of code then recompile. And I thought you weren't rooted so how are you able to push the app back to the device? Also, are you setting correct permissions for the newly compiled apk?
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2

Yeah sorry for the late reply.
I am still tinkering with it. I wanted to root just till I had a day off that it wouldn't kill me to have the phone down for a little.
I will be rooting it in the next day or two since I am off.
After recompiling the APK and pulling the XML out of that one and putting in the original was the only way I could get the change to take on the One S.
When I was testing then, and will try the same procedure with the GS3, is after recompiling it with the tool I would put on sd card then using twrp copy to the phone and chmod 644
Out of curiosity what would be the DD command for backing up the recovery to the sd card?
I am having trouble finding that.
I would like to have that to flash back on the phone as I am planning to try this again from within twrp and see what happens.
From my understanding for triangle away to work you need to be on stock recovery right?

Ok
Now I have a new problem I have stumbled upon.
I have modded the file but when I try and push it with ADB from the pc even after system mounted it tells me that permission is denied.
Any ideas why that is happening?

Tried copying over with root explorer and that froze during copy and then resulted I'm a boot loop.
Not sure if that was because of the method or a problem with the file I made.
When decompiling does that need to be done with the twframework dependence or just simple decompile?
Also then after switching the arrays.xml I can just recompile with no compression or do I have to do something with keeping files.
Since the arrays is in something else I'm not sure what it shouldn't keep.
Any ideas would be greatly appreciated.
And I can't find if should either be zipaligned or signed. Some articles say signed some say don't sign system apks

Holy crap... youre allllllllllll over the place one bite at a time.. Quick answers first:
You do not need to backup your recovery. It is flashable via Odin and is much safer to flash via odin then it is using DD. With DD, you could flash the wrong partition by a simple slip of a keystroke. IE you typed '9' instead of '0'
Secondly: You got that 'freeze' issue using Root Explorer because framework-res.apk is constantly in use by the system. The BEST way to apply any system file is by creating a flashable zip file then applying it through recovery.
Thirdly: You do NOT need stock recovery to use Triangle Away, ive used it twice now with CWM as my recovery.
About your issues with decompiling recompiling.. I dont think its necessary to install the twframework... i dont recall if i had to when i was on Frosty, but doing "java -jar apktool.jar if <twframework here>" wouldnt hurt.
Also what exactly are you trying to modify?

Yeah Sorry about that
was just as I was reading other things and playing with it I kept coming across other questions.
Was thinking about that with the recovery so I am just going to skip doing that and flash a custom one then.
Was trying to do it without switching to avoid tripping the counter but seems like that is un neesicary
I am looking to stay on the stock software of the phone but want to edit the arrays file out of the framework so it don't check for tethering provisions.
Previously I was able to tether just by changing the APNs on the device now I can't do that. Says I don't have a tmo tathering plan. But also not with T-Mobile so that is problematic.

M9x3mos said:
Yeah Sorry about that
was just as I was reading other things and playing with it I kept coming across other questions.
Was thinking about that with the recovery so I am just going to skip doing that and flash a custom one then.
Was trying to do it without switching to avoid tripping the counter but seems like that is un neesicary
I am looking to stay on the stock software of the phone but want to edit the arrays file out of the framework so it don't check for tethering provisions.
Previously I was able to tether just by changing the APNs on the device now I can't do that. Says I don't have a tmo tathering plan. But also not with T-Mobile so that is problematic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quick question, are you running Stock Jellybean? And who is your carrier? There was a hacked apk that enabled tethering.. not sure what its called. just read about it. Never tried/downloaded it.

i got this to work last night for frosty 11.2.1, AllenD87 over at the att forums helped me get it right.

I have the stock jellybean on tmo device and use with simple mobile service
Just checked out the other one hack/mod that was looking like the same kind of mod where made changes to the framework and put it back.
different firmware so I don't that I should try that on mine.

i just decompiled framework-res.apk made the changes and recompiled. put it in the rom and flashed the whole rom.

Trying to keep the absolute stock rom.
I just installed twrp since it has file manager so I don't need to make a flashable zip but just copy over and chmod 0644
first attempt gave me a boot hang so I am going to try compiling with a different tool

Ok found out the problem was the multi tool inwas using
Used the beta instead and everything worked ok