[Q] [HELP] War with HTC - G2 and Desire Z Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi
Im new on XDA and I have problem
I have war with HTC about updating Desire Z to android ICS or JB
HTC said the cant update 2.3.3 to 4.0 because you will lost your data
So I have idea how to protect data while istalling update to new android, but Im N00b and cant write program that will protect /data from wipe.
Possibilities:
1 Copy /data partition to sdcard as ./data
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
2 Dump /data to data.img/data.zip to your sdcard
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
3 Format /system , dump /data to .img or .zip , copy to ./system
Then format all partitions (EXCEPT /system)
Restore /data from /system/data.img
Add /data files from new ROM
Format /system
Add /system files
Im a programming N00b, so can You tell me:
1. Is it possible?
2. Can You write this script for any ICS Sense 4 (or 5) ROM? (HTC Desire Z)
Sorry for my English. Im a Polack from Poland

I installed Flinny's Andromadus CM10.1 over my previous CM7 installation I had been using for years, it worked perfectly fine with no data loss really. Quite a few of the settings transferred over surprisingly. HTC isn't interested in updating 3 year old devices let alone your carrier, your warranties are up and you own the phone by now. You're on your own and it's now the community's job to support it which is slowly petering out.

Go root and flash
Hi,
I switched very soon to Custom ROMs and had a long list of ROMs on my DZ from the Virtuous ROMs to Andromadus and slimBean. I'm now back to Andromadus Mimicry which is a Android 4.0.4 ROM (I tried Slimbean but it has no car mode, go for it when this doesn't bother you, it's 4.2).
Please keep in mind that the DZ is a rather old device and slow compared to the actual ones. HTC wants its Sense on Android which significantly slows the DZ down. So I went for more custom ROMs and have come Sense feeling eith the Apex Launcher. The only thing I really miss is the Sense contacts app that aggregates different addresses of a user (Exchange/Xing/LinkedIn/Facebook/Twitter) into one single contact. I didn't find a replacement for that.
Re. data: Which unique data do you have on the phone? Most of my data sits on the SD card and that is not affected when you flash a new ROM. All the calendar/contact/mail data can be re-synced from Google or Exchange or whatever you use. Use Titanium Backup and make Backups with Clockworkmod and you're perfectly fine. I tried out a ROM last evening and was back to my old ROM and up again in a hour. A Nandroid backup keeps the complete state of the phone so it's easy to roll back.
Apart from this (and some waiting moments here and there) a DZ with a Custom ROM is absolutely useable. I'm a 48 year old freelancer who uses the phone for work so I need a reliable phone and a keyboard for Emailing - and I've got that now.
Have fun and use all the Howtos to root and flash your phone
Cheers, Ralf

FotelPL said:
Hi
Im new on XDA and I have problem
I have war with HTC about updating Desire Z to android ICS or JB
HTC said the cant update 2.3.3 to 4.0 because you will lost your data
So I have idea how to protect data while istalling update to new android, but Im N00b and cant write program that will protect /data from wipe.
Possibilities:
1 Copy /data partition to sdcard as ./data
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
2 Dump /data to data.img/data.zip to your sdcard
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
3 Format /system , dump /data to .img or .zip , copy to ./system
Then format all partitions (EXCEPT /system)
Restore /data from /system/data.img
Add /data files from new ROM
Format /system
Add /system files
Im a programming N00b, so can You tell me:
1. Is it possible?
2. Can You write this script for any ICS Sense 4 (or 5) ROM? (HTC Desire Z)
Sorry for my English. Im a Polack from Poland
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What kind of data is it that you really want to save?
Contacts, Call Logs and SMS can be easily saved by apps available on the Play Store. Super Backup, SMS Backup + for example. Your contacts get synced to Gmail so you don't really need to save those.
If you are worried about application data, get an app like Titanium Backup Pro, root your phone and back the whole lot up. All the app settings and data gets backed up to your SD card.
Do a Nandroid backup in any case. You can restore stuff from that too. Wipe, flash new ROM and restore everything from Titanium one by one. Is there anything else specifically that you don't want to lose?

War with HTC
Yeah, I know
By "Data" I mean whole /data partition (contacts, apps, appdata etc.)
My friends have root on their DZ's, but they dont want to backup everything before installation of new ROM, and install everything again on new ROM (ex. Migration from GB to ICS/JB)
I think its really annoying

FotelPL said:
Hi
Im new on XDA and I have problem
I have war with HTC about updating Desire Z to android ICS or JB
HTC said the cant update 2.3.3 to 4.0 because you will lost your data
So I have idea how to protect data while istalling update to new android, but Im N00b and cant write program that will protect /data from wipe.
Possibilities:
1 Copy /data partition to sdcard as ./data
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
2 Dump /data to data.img/data.zip to your sdcard
Then format /data /system /boot /cache /dalvik-cache etc
Copy system files to /system and /data
Restore /data from sdcard
Add /data , /system files
3 Format /system , dump /data to .img or .zip , copy to ./system
Then format all partitions (EXCEPT /system)
Restore /data from /system/data.img
Add /data files from new ROM
Format /system
Add /system files
Im a programming N00b, so can You tell me:
1. Is it possible?
2. Can You write this script for any ICS Sense 4 (or 5) ROM? (HTC Desire Z)
Sorry for my English. Im a Polack from Poland
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have no choice but to loose data such as Games etc... BUT you can backup your contacts, appoitmnets (Calendar) and messages by using
SMS Backup+ for your messages and call logs and even MMS
Sync your phone with google to backup contacts and calendar remonders (I know you know how to do that )

War with HTC
I know how to do that, but AppData backup dont exist, sms too but contacts are incolmpete (In Google backup, of course)

FotelPL said:
I know how to do that, but AppData backup dont exist, sms too but contacts are incolmpete (In Google backup, of course)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are many ways to back up app data, many ways to back up contacts, really I can't think of what you can't back up completely
Google completely backs up contacts so long as its synced to gmail
And to answer the op this is a standard song and dance that OEMs give when they don't want to continue developing for an old device, there are many ways they could solve the app loss issue, even if they didn't they could but a build on their website you have to download as an RUU with disclaimers and not an ota. This way they could keep both groups of users happy
Unfortunately they don't find it t be in their best interest supporting old devices, one of many reasons xda and other sites exist
Sent from my Nexus 4 using Tapatalk 2

Related

[Q] Apps2SD +++

I've been trying to add all apps+data+dalvik to my sdcard but only got the apps+dalvik to the sdcard.
After installing a few apps i was out of space internally and tried to mount a 4th sd partition as /data/data.
The problem was:
1. when all was done in recovery it was not used when rebooting the phone, this also applies to /etc/fstab
2. still canot figure out how to permanently mount /dev/block/mmcblk0p4 as /data/data or as an alternative mount it as /sd-ext2 and mount -o bind /sd-ext2 with /data/data
3. the froyo style apps2sd seems to me like a bunch of crap, the went to my fat32 partition ?
4. not the problem ? Partition1=fat32, partition3=ext3(apps), partition3=swap, partition4=ext3(data)
5. the phone totally crashed when trying to combine partition 2 and 4 as one with 2gb storage and mounting it to /data/
If anyone can figure out a solution to this it would be great
Btw, tried this on modaco r9, pinkolin pinky, auraxtsense and leedroid roms, all with sense. (I want to use sense just because!)
PLZ come up with a solution/patch/mod, this would be the lifesaver for us who want's alot of apps and still lots of free storage space
Iknow linux, but it made no difference with android in some ways.
I've tried several attempts to ln-s /sd-ext/data to /data/data as well, but ever boot it resets it and does it's thing.
Nothing I do seems to permanently change this thing.
Where can I change it ?
It's the same as with /data/app and /data/dalvik-cache ?
And if so, where is that ?
SYmlink works with /data/app and dalvik-cache, why not on /data/data ?
This is strange because I've moved my dalvik-cache to /cache without any problem.
Maybe froyo doesn't like being symlinked to external storage?
hawkn said:
I've tried several attempts to ln-s /sd-ext/data to /data/data as well, but ever boot it resets it and does it's thing.
Nothing I do seems to permanently change this thing.
Where can I change it ?
It's the same as with /data/app and /data/dalvik-cache ?
And if so, where is that ?
SYmlink works with /data/app and dalvik-cache, why not on /data/data ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the symlink wont exist after reboot unless you add a correct script to the /system/ect/init.d/ directory!! but be warned i have tried this and its not worth the effort, even if your device dosent bootloop when you try to boot, it will be as slow as a stoned wildfire, if you have s-off, i suggest changing the partiton tables on your device, you can gain an extra 50mb+ on the data partition that way, and its alot safer!

Trying to understand the file structure.

Hi everyone!
I currently am running Glazed ICS 6-16-2012 Rom and I am attempting to understand the file folder structure within my Kindle Fire.
This comes about after playing around with different roms, and after running the TB restore, a few games I play not having the data, requiring me to start over. In an attempt to try and manually recover the data from a twrp recovery I did, I realized didn't have a good idea of the folder structure within Android. Thus I am hoping to get some clarification with the following questions. Thank you in advance for any advice.
1- what folders, if any are required on my sdcard if say I were to start with a fresh rom, with no apps installed other then what is included in the Rom? Using ES File Manager now, it looks to me like an completely unorganized folder ".estrongs, burstlyImageCache, game_cache" etc.
2- Could I copy my TB backup folder off the Kindle Fire then wipe the whole SD card, copy the TB backup back and restore to clean up excess junk folders?
3- Do apps/games put their save data wherever they chose, or is it kept in the program folder in the internal memory, /mnt/sdcard/...?
Thank you again for reading my ramble, cheers.
Silverbrain
1.: Usually Application you installed in SD card partition is under /mnt/sdcard/android/data/<application folder> . now this contains all the information and other data of the games, i think you can back-up this portion aside from using titanium back-up.
For application specific folder, they are usually located in /mnt/sdcard/.<appname> but this folder usually contains caches and can be deleted, since the app will just create them once run again.
2. I do not suggest to wipe your SD partition since technically this is not a standard SD card but partition part of the whole system.
Note: I'm not expert on this, but after playing around with a couple of android devices already, the structure is basically the same.
I think (if it is a unix derivative) the /sdcard is the partition location and /mnt/sdcard is where the system finds what is there. kindle fire does it this way because there is no removable memory card, so it creates an artificial one with a partition. So, for us human types, the locations refer to the same thing. /sdcard is the partition and /mnt/sdcard is where the system mounts it.
Thank you for the replies.
Ixthusdan- I get what you mean regarding the unix and the mnt folder, I technically cannot wipe that is it is just a spot on the internal memory.
vertcam9- I started looking around where you mentioned, and I am starting to understand a little better
The actual name of the partition is "media" and that's how it's identified to the system.
Where the media partition gets mounted is dependent on what gets booted. For example, TWRP will mount the media partition on /sdcard while CM7 will mount it on /mnt/sdcard and create a /sdcard symbolic link that points back to /mnt/sdcard. Most people generically will refer to the media partition as the /sdcard partition because that's what's visible on the system.
I believe the /sdcard thing is an android convention. Because many apps expect the /sdcard to be the primary "large" storage area easily accessible by the user, apps that expect to find large files... music or video files for example... will look there.
Most apps will store settings and small databases in the /data partition. I don't play many games, but someone decided to install Angry Birds on my KF. That game stores most of its files in /data/data/com.rovio.angrybirds. On the other hand, Titanium Backup will put most of its files on /sdcard/TitaniumBackup because it needs more space for backup files and because the /data partition is much more likely to get deleted when you switch ROMs, etc.
For the most part, even if you completely reformat the /sdcard partition, most of your android and app settings will remain intact because that is stored on /data.
kinfauns - Thank you for the extended explanation! I see what I think I need in the /data/data folder

S2E and Galaxy ICS CM9 procedure

Hi Guys,
this is my first post.
I managed to get S2E working with the latest CM9.
The key problem seems to be related with the ext4.
So, let's distinguish two cases:
1) Data wiped. In this case it should be enough to create an ext2 partition. You can refer to one of the many guides to do that. Then in recovery, just mount system and in the folder /system/etc/init.d and remove the file 90userinit. After this you can install S2E from the market or download and install it from the sdcard.
2) Already using S2E and not willing to wipe data.
Assuming you have the clockworkmod, go to recovery.
Backup your system.
Install the latest CM9 (galaxy-ics-latest).
Rename you sd-ext backup file (from sd-ext.ext4.tar to sd-ext.ext2.tar) in the folder just created inside /clockworkmod/backup, i did it mounting the usb in the usb and storage menu.
After this, you also have to open the nandroid.md5 file and do the same as prevoius point in the file. It shouldn't be required to generate a new signature.
Create an ext2 partition:
mkfs.ext2 /dev/block/mmcblk0p2
Restore the backup in the recovery menus: Advanced restore, restore sd-ext.
If everything went fine, just reboots and S2E should work.
Cheers.

Format /System Question

From my understanding formatting the /system partition through CWM will remove the android OS completely from your device and you would have to flash a new one to replace it. Found the following information on the below website:
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...plained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/
/system
This partition basically contains the entire operating system, other than the kernel and the ramdisk. This includes the Android user interface as well as all the system applications that come pre-installed on the device. Wiping this partition will remove Android from the device without rendering it unbootable, and you will still be able to put the phone into recovery or bootloader mode to install a new ROM.
My question is, if I format the /system partition, does it remove all my currently saved pictures and videos on my internal memory? When I install a new ROM I typically wipe data /factory reset, then perform TDJs super wipe before installing the new ROM.
However, the instructions for installing the newest CM10 ROM also says to wipe /system partition. I know this will remove the OS, but will this also remove my pics and videos or should I back them up first before performing this step? Thanks.
Chochiwpg said:
From my understanding formatting the /system partition through CWM will remove the android OS completely from your device and you would have to flash a new one to replace it. Found the following information on the below website:
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...plained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/
/system
This partition basically contains the entire operating system, other than the kernel and the ramdisk. This includes the Android user interface as well as all the system applications that come pre-installed on the device. Wiping this partition will remove Android from the device without rendering it unbootable, and you will still be able to put the phone into recovery or bootloader mode to install a new ROM.
My question is, if I format the /system partition, does it remove all my currently saved pictures and videos on my internal memory? When I install a new ROM I typically wipe data /factory reset, then perform TDJs super wipe before installing the new ROM.
However, the instructions for installing the newest CM10 ROM also says to wipe /system partition. I know this will remove the OS, but will this also remove my pics and videos or should I back them up first before performing this step? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now i could be wrong as i am no Dev by any means but i do not think it will wipe your emmc as well. Reason i think it will be fine if you wipe /system is if you go in with root explorer and go to your /system folder your emmc is not located there so therefore if you were to wipe your /system patition it sould leave the emmc partition in tact.
But as always i would backup your emmc to your pc and give it a try. Hope this helps :good:
sinfulgray said:
Now i could be wrong as i am no Dev by any means but i do not think it will wipe your emmc as well. Reason i think it will be fine if you wipe /system is if you go in with root explorer and go to your /system folder your emmc is not located there so therefore if you were to wipe your /system patition it sould leave the emmc partition in tact.
But as always i would backup your emmc to your pc and give it a try. Hope this helps :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was thinking the same thing as well but just had to ask because I have never processed the format /system action before. I am currently running a TW ROM ATM and looking through ES File Explorer my sdcard (which is the same as emmc on AOSP ROMs) isn't located located in the /system folder either.
Thanks for your reply, I tried to give you a thanks but I have reached my limit today
sinfulgray said:
Now i could be wrong as i am no Dev by any means but i do not think it will wipe your emmc as well. Reason i think it will be fine if you wipe /system is if you go in with root explorer and go to your /system folder your emmc is not located there so therefore if you were to wipe your /system patition it sould leave the emmc partition in tact.
But as always i would backup your emmc to your pc and give it a try. Hope this helps :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm no Dev either, but your right. Formatting system will not touch your emmc or sd cards. If you format system when flashing a new nightly (which I do every 3rd flash), you won't lose any user data at all. Only ROM and system apps, this is why you need to reflash Gapps as well if you format system.
When you use TDJ's wipe script, it formats everything (including system) except emmc and external sd cards.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
RikkKeith said:
I'm no Dev either, but your right. Formatting system will not touch your emmc or sd cards. If you format system when flashing a new nightly (which I do every 3rd flash), you won't lose any user data at all. Only ROM and system apps, this is why you need to reflash Gapps as well if you format system.
When you use TDJ's wipe script, it formats everything (including system) except emmc and external sd cards.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-T989 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much, I run TDJ's wipe script with each install of a new ROM and completely didn't realize that is also wipes the /system partition. I just re-read his Superwipe thread and right in the OP it says
"This exceeds anything that CWM is capable of from the menu options. This will format and erase EVERYTHING on your /system, /data, /cache partions with EXT4 file system. It WILL NOT wipe SD CARD or EMMC... After it is complete with format and e****, it will align all disks partitions properly."
I was up extra early this morning, forgive me, I need to learn how to read better as well :laugh:
Thanks again.
Remember guys, wiping doesn't wipe everything. However, not wiping everything can bring its own issues.
Sorry for bumping up an old thread but it was very relevant to this topic. If I wipe the system before flashing a new ROM will my apps remain intact with their data? I know system apps will be gone but they will come back anyway so it doesn't matter.
Chochiwpg said:
From my understanding formatting the /system partition through CWM will remove the android OS completely from your device and you would have to flash a new one to replace it. Found the following information on the below website:
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...plained-boot-system-recovery-data-cache-misc/
/system
This partition basically contains the entire operating system, other than the kernel and the ramdisk. This includes the Android user interface as well as all the system applications that come pre-installed on the device. Wiping this partition will remove Android from the device without rendering it unbootable, and you will still be able to put the phone into recovery or bootloader mode to install a new ROM.
My question is, if I format the /system partition, does it remove all my currently saved pictures and videos on my internal memory? When I install a new ROM I typically wipe data /factory reset, then perform TDJs super wipe before installing the new ROM.
However, the instructions for installing the newest CM10 ROM also says to wipe /system partition. I know this will remove the OS, but will this also remove my pics and videos or should I back them up first before performing this step? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I flash all the time and always format system, you will not lose your internal or SD memory
Inagalaxyfaraway said:
Sorry for bumping up an old thread but it was very relevant to this topic. If I wipe the system before flashing a new ROM will my apps remain intact with their data? I know system apps will be gone but they will come back anyway so it doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they will stay intact with a /system wipe. However, with a factory reset or /data wipe, your apps will be gone.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Sorry to bump old thread. I just deleted system, data, cache etc everything. Now when i attempt to
Reboot it warns that no OS installed. I m using TWRP. is it safe to power off the device? Will i be able to get back to recovery to flash a new rom afterwards, as i dont have one ready now??
Btw i hav nexus 7 , but didnt find this discussion there so i am posting here.
Thanks in advance for help....
I accidentally formatted system on my HTC desire HD. but i'm unable to install rom in it. If anyone can help me make it working(instruct how to install ROM in it) i'd be grateful.
Sawrose said:
I accidentally formatted system on my HTC desire HD. but i'm unable to install rom in it. If anyone can help me make it working(instruct how to install ROM in it) i'd be grateful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You might want to post your question here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=754
Careful with that with new versions of TWRP and CWM! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1966887
I format my system through xrecovery but after that first it stuck in sony ericsson logo.. sometimes it doesnt boot and the red light flashes
Accelerator00000 said:
I format my system through xrecovery but after that first it stuck in sony ericsson logo.. sometimes it doesnt boot and the red light flashes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you're lost friend. LOL.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
kj2112 said:
I think you're lost friend. LOL.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it stucks at the sony ericsson and i cant enter the xrecovery sorry it just low battery thats why red light flash.. LOL
Accelerator00000 said:
it stucks at the sony ericsson and i cant enter the xrecovery sorry it just low battery thats why red light flash.. LOL
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Buttttt...this is the t989 S2 forum.
Sent from my Moto X cellular telephone...

Using SDCARD as /data

I have a problem with my phone.
I believe that the internal partitions are messed up.
I have tried a couple of guides to fix this but no luck. I get "error formatting /data!" on recovery. I also tried using the formatting tools from adb shell (e2fsck, gparted).
The main problem is that when i restart my phone the /data partition gets wiped, and the phone reboots in blank, no apps no setting (some of them remain).
I wonder if i can solve this by setting my sd-card to be the new /data. I doesn't matter if i have to leave the sd-card on all the time. i mainly use this phone for developing apps.
Thanks.:good:
Felivel said:
I have a problem with my phone.
I believe that the internal partitions are messed up.
I have tried a couple of guides to fix this but no luck. I get "error formatting /data!" on recovery. I also tried using the formatting tools from adb shell (e2fsck, gparted).
The main problem is that when i restart my phone the /data partition gets wiped, and the phone reboots in blank, no apps no setting (some of them remain).
I wonder if i can solve this by setting my sd-card to be the new /data. I doesn't matter if i have to leave the sd-card on all the time. i mainly use this phone for developing apps.
Thanks.:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It could probably be done if you could get the sdcard to mount at boot, not sure if thats possible. You would need to create a flashable much like the ext4 mod, that edits the init.inc.rc file to mount the sdcard and /data to it. You would want to partition your sdcard with an ext3 or ext4 partition and use that for data.
Yes it can be done. That's how boot manager works, by modifying the ramdisk to load images from sdcard or emmc instead of the partition. I think I have an idea on how to make your request work.
Edit: If you feel like trying a project, what needs to be done is create a file data.img and mount it as loopback using busybox (ROM needs a working busybox).
Then the boot.img needs to be updated replacing the mount /data entry in init.inc.rc with the location of the loopback device and a loopback setup prior to this. The data.img created needs to be formatted ext3 or ext4. I know it's not too detailed but rather just a summary.

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