Develop Bugs

[Q] Switching ROMs, need advice

Just to give a run down of my current setup, I am using Synergy (RLS1+GodMode) with Freedom kernel. I do like the way Synergy was running but there are a few small issues that annoy me to the point where I would like to switch. I do not have a ton of app's installed but my phone permanently says that I am running low on storage space. It also tends to lag whenever I unlock the screen or switch between any apps. I am most familiar with Cyanogen and Fresh as they were the ones I used for the longest time. I am looking for a stable ROM / kernel build that I will not have to mess with for a while. I do heavily use the GPS, WiFi, and camera, but I don't have 4G in my area so don't care about compatibility there. Any suggestions or links to topics on a stable ROM / Kernel combo would be appreciated. Also I am wondering what the best way to install would be as I am looking to completely format the phone and sd storage to get a 100% clean install. I work as a computer system technician so I do know how to figure things out, just have not done a complete wipe yet. Thanks in advance for any help.
Also I would like to say sorry if there are recent posts regarding the same issue. I do use the search feature and do my research, but would like a direct answer that I can respond to for my phone specifically.

Think I am going with MIUI for my ROM as it seems like the favorite around here. Just need some kernel suggestions as well as a possible link to a guide for completely wiping phone storage and potentially sd while switching into a new ROM.

Never tried MIUI but I've always loved using CM7 with the SavagedZEN kernal.
Here's a really good guide on flashing a rom:
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/HTC_Evo_4G:_Full_Update_Guide

Are you using Amon RA recovery or ClockworkMod?
For Amon RA (preferred Recovery), go through the wipe menu and wipe every item in the list. After you wiped every item, partition your SD card (partitioning also formats the SD card so essentially wiping it again). You can then use the USB-MS toggle item to mount your newly partitioned SD card and drop your ROM in from a computer.

Rom flashing question

I'm not new to flashing roms but I am new to this phone. I'm used to the old epic and evo where everything is stored on a external sd. So with this phone storing everything internal I was wondering when I wipe or do factory reset to flash a ics Rom will I lose all of my songs and pictures and whatnot?
Thanks

No sir. All your pictures/music will be safe.
Sent from my E4GT running AOKP from times_infinity.

konaman said:
I'm not new to flashing roms but I am new to this phone. I'm used to the old epic and evo where everything is stored on a external sd. So with this phone storing everything internal I was wondering when I wipe or do factory reset to flash a ics Rom will I lose all of my songs and pictures and whatnot?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should get yourself an external SD card.
You should also spend some time reading through the wiki's and stickies. Actually a lot of time. If you don't, even though you may have plenty of flashing experience with other devices, you could easily 'paper weight' your phone.
This phone is different in structure to your previous one(s).
It will ONLY help you to understand how to properly do things by reading and then reading some more.
Welcome to the E4GT and have fun.

Flashing a ROM that's already been flashed on your phone

Title pretty much says it all but i have a question..Let's say i was to flash a ROM onto my phone that i had already flashed before but then decided to flash a different one but i also kept the .ZIP file on my phone. If i was to flash back to that old ROM would i keep certain things like the WIFI codes and the wallpaper i had before i went to a new ROM?Because this seems to be a problem for me. Also Would this problem be fixed if i downloaded a fresh ROM copy from the internet or off my Laptop?

Seshin said:
Title pretty much says it all but i have a question..Let's say i was to flash a ROM onto my phone that i had already flashed before but then decided to flash a different one but i also kept the .ZIP file on my phone. If i was to flash back to that old ROM would i keep certain things like the WIFI codes and the wallpaper i had before i went to a new ROM?Because this seems to be a problem for me. Also Would this problem be fixed if i downloaded a fresh ROM copy from the internet or off my Laptop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing the exact same ROM over your current ROM will tend to cause no issues, but no guarantee. Flashing to a different ROM, now thast a whole new can of worms. Its HIGHLY ADVISED to wipe all data and cache then flash. Use TDJ superwipe in CWM to do this, or you can use TWRP and do a factory reset. Now, depending on the ROM, you either flash gapps, or sign in into google. Either way, you have to sign in. If you would to chose to google to back up your phone, which is the default settings, then your wifi and wallpaper will be restored. You might have to restart to get the wallpaper back. Having the ZIP on your phone makes no difference in the way the ROM installs. The zip is no different then any other piece of data on your phone. You can find all the resources ive mentioned the development thread.

LoopDoGG79 said:
Flashing the exact same ROM over your current ROM will tend to cause no issues, but no guarantee. Flashing to a different ROM, now thast a whole new can of worms. Its HIGHLY ADVISED to wipe all data and cache then flash. Use TDJ superwipe in CWM to do this, or you can use TWRP and do a factory reset. Now, depending on the ROM, you either flash gapps, or sign in into google. Either way, you have to sign in. If you would to chose to google to back up your phone, which is the default settings, then your wifi and wallpaper will be restored. You might have to restart to get the wallpaper back. Having the ZIP on your phone makes no difference in the way the ROM installs. The zip is no different then any other piece of data on your phone. You can find all the resources ive mentioned the development thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
P.S Don't be afraid to wipe all your system data. It won't touch your SD card. Your pics and files will be safe. Only your ROM and programs with its data will be deleted. Use titanium backup or ROM toolbox to back up your data. SMS backup is a good program to backup your SMS.
Sent from the pink Unicorn from the Darkside.

Seshin said:
Title pretty much says it all but i have a question..Let's say i was to flash a ROM onto my phone that i had already flashed before but then decided to flash a different one but i also kept the .ZIP file on my phone. If i was to flash back to that old ROM would i keep certain things like the WIFI codes and the wallpaper i had before i went to a new ROM?Because this seems to be a problem for me. Also Would this problem be fixed if i downloaded a fresh ROM copy from the internet or off my Laptop?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Strictly answering your specific question... "If i was to flash back to that old ROM (ed: after flashing a different one) would i keep certain things like the WIFI codes and wallpaper i had before i went to a new ROM?"
Simple answer: NO. When you flash a ROM, generally whatever was on the phone will be lost. Generally, it's like installing a new copy of Windows on a hard drive that has been partitioned into more than one partition. Whatever was in the partition the new Windows was installed to will be overwritten (<< note key word). Stuff that got overwritten will be lost. Stuff that doesn't MAY still be accessible assuming you didn't format the partition first. While stuff that is in the other partition will likely still be there, but may not be useable due to various reasons. In the PC example: installing Windows on a formerly Linux pc and retain the other linux partitions. The data's still there, but Windows (without massive driver/software support) will not be able to read the other partition and will ask you to format before using, which WILL then destroy all data there.
Stuff like wallpaper, it depends. If it's a wallpaper that was a file saved on your SD card or one of the stock wallpaper that came with the ROM, you can reuse it, however, you WILL need to reselect it (unless the stock wallpaper was the default one, which sounds like it was not, in your case).
Stuff like WiFi codes, all bets are off, and I wouldn't put any $ down as chances are VERY good that that information will have been erased. That's why you are supposed to keep backup of that information, preferably in a location away from the device.
Only data stored on the SD card and whatever partition that was not specifically erased/overwritten by the installation process will remain, and if you follow generally good practices, you should have had erased the various partitions and caches on top of the installation to ensure maximum reliability of the ROM. Thus only what you have on the SD is the only thing that would be retained after a ROM installation.
---------- Post added at 12:27 AM ---------- Previous post was at 12:12 AM ----------
LoopDoGG79 said:
P.S Don't be afraid to wipe all your system data. It won't touch your SD card. Your pics and files will be safe. Only your ROM and programs with its data will be deleted. Use titanium backup or ROM toolbox to back up your data. SMS backup is a good program to backup your SMS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I agree, I too use Titanium. If you're really concerned about saving data (like that WiFi codes), then you will need something like Titanium and a SD card. Just remember to restore that data.
Please be aware that this assumes that you are using the saved data from the original ROM and, after trying a different ROM, you are going back to the first one.
If you are trying to migrate data (like the WiFi Code), for example, from the second ROM to the first ROM, this will only work IF both ROMs used the same software to handle WiFi and data are stored/used the same way in both ROMs.
That's why it's a good idea to keep a hard copy of the account and password information backed up separately from the application that's using the information. At the very least, in a text file stored on the SD card. I prefer using Dropbox and store it OFF the phone itself.

Bootloop

So my Desire is bootlooping since last night :s tried flashing multiple roms, it goes to boot animation and stays there. also tried formatting my 32gb card and re partitioning and everything, still no luck. The only thing that works are nandroid backups, but even those got wiped when I formated the sd card. Any suggestions guys? :crying: Recovery is 4ext 1.0.0.5 RC9
EDIT: Flashed Rooted Stock GB and it worked .... but other ROMs refuse to boot, and even in the stock ROM it says I have low storage space even though I just booted...
EDIT 2: So I think I found the problem, my data partition is full, although I've performed several wipes :\ does anyone know anything that may have caused this? it's very odd and although there are workarounds like flashing another hboot, I wish I didn't have to lose that much space on my phone.

quimbexa said:
So my Desire is bootlooping since last night :s tried flashing multiple roms, it goes to boot animation and stays there. also tried formatting my 32gb card and re partitioning and everything, still no luck. The only thing that works are nandroid backups, but even those got wiped when I formated the sd card. Any suggestions guys? :crying: Recovery is 4ext 1.0.0.5 RC9
EDIT: Flashed Rooted Stock GB and it worked .... but other ROMs refuse to boot, and even in the stock ROM it says I have low storage space even though I just booted...
EDIT 2: So I think I found the problem, my data partition is full, although I've performed several wipes :\ does anyone know anything that may have caused this? it's very odd and although there are workarounds like flashing another hboot, I wish I didn't have to lose that much space on my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try a different sdcard because not so long ago i was using an 8gb sandisk sdcard and i started getting bootloops and i too reflashed roms, re partitioned my sdcard but nothing, still bootloops, rom freezing/restarting etc then i tried another sdcard, flashed the same download of the rom and it worked fine after that. so maybe ur sdcard got corrupt some how.

There may be some hidden files left over on your SD card.
Connect it to a PC, enable to view hidden files and see if anything is left out.
Sent from my HTC Desire using xda premium

I have tried another card, the result is the same, the partition I cant wipe is internal. Flashed cm7 hboot and it boots and works normally, has it expands the data partition. Is there anything I can do to format the data partition? I've tried anything, and flashing the cm7 hboot is but a workaround and limits the ROM I can flash to my phone :\

Note 8 5100 internal storage size?

Has anybody notice that the internal storage is not 16G. I have only 10G available even after doing a complete wipe and format. Plus when installing a small ROM like PacROM there is still only 10 or maybe 9.75G, not the 16G as advertised.:crying:

Tarasque174 said:
Has anybody notice that the internal storage is not 16G. I have only 10G available even after doing a complete wipe and format. Plus when installing a small ROM like PacROM there is still only 10 or maybe 9.75G, not the 16G as advertised.:crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In answer, once a rom gets installed, a certain amount of space is allocated to cache, dalvak, etc. It's common to lose several GB of internal memory. Also remember, there are probably some folders on internal memory also taking space. So this can be normal depending on device. One thing you can try, is to do a wipe on all internal memory, then install the rom.
Also, questions belong in Q & A Forum (I moved it). General is for tips, tricks, general information.
Cheers
MD

Moscow Desire said:
In answer, once a rom gets installed, a certain amount of space is allocated to cache, dalvak, etc. It's common to lose several GB of internal memory. Also remember, there are probably some folders on internal memory also taking space. So this can be normal depending on device. One thing you can try, is to do a wipe on all internal memory, then install the rom.
Also, questions belong in Q & A Forum (I moved it). General is for tips, tricks, general information.
Cheers
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any thoughts on how to get memory back?
I was on civs ROM but I am going to try cm for a while
I have less than 2 GB of memory that I have used
And I only have 1.59 GB available out of the 9.87 GB that I have all up??
Will trim in 4.3 help for this?
Cheers

jocko6872 said:
Any thoughts on how to get memory back?
I was on civs ROM but I am going to try cm for a while
I have less than 2 GB of memory that I have used
And I only have 1.59 GB available out of the 9.87 GB that I have all up??
Will trim in 4.3 help for this?
Cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Mate, looking at your display, I would say for starters CM is reporting your storage wrong. I mean look at the chart. 1.5gb for data, which is ok. But look at the grey area in comparison.(only 1.9 free???) I would flash a factory type (rooted or custom) and see if it reports differently. If it does, then CM isn't calculating it correctly.
To be honest, I don't mess with the new CM builds anymore. Way too strange in some aspects, at least for my 2 devices (tablets)
MD

Moscow Desire said:
Hey Mate, looking at your display, I would say for starters CM is reporting your storage wrong. I mean look at the chart. 1.5gb for data, which is ok. But look at the grey area in comparison.(only 1.9 free???) I would flash a factory type (rooted or custom) and see if it reports differently. If it does, then CM isn't calculating it correctly.
To be honest, I don't mess with the new CM builds anymore. Way too strange in some aspects, at least for my 2 devices (tablets)
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply
it was reporting the same in civz 3.6 which is why I tried CM
I thought trim in 4.3 might help (I don't know if this is the memory type that trim helps recover?)
When you say flash a stock type ROM
Do you think flashing it with Odin instead of CWM would be worth trying?
Cheers
EDIT - fixed what i did was restore the first backup i made the day i rooted
it was stock 4.1
when i looked in storage under settings there was a miscellaneous files of 5gb that was not showing with either 4.2.2 or cm 4.3
it was a cwm backup that was not being read by the file manager
i deleted all of the files then flashed cm and now i have 8.42 gb
thanks MD
cheers
Jocko

Moscow Desire said:
In answer, once a rom gets installed, a certain amount of space is allocated to cache, dalvak, etc. It's common to lose several GB of internal memory. Also remember, there are probably some folders on internal memory also taking space. So this can be normal depending on device. One thing you can try, is to do a wipe on all internal memory, then install the rom.
Also, questions belong in Q & A Forum (I moved it). General is for tips, tricks, general information.
Cheers
MD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I do a fresh install I do wipe everything, Dev,Internal SD. I do it twice just to be sure. This is pretty odd. When I did these steps with my Galaxy Tab Plus I would get a full internal HD space. This just makes me wonder if there was really 16Gb for internal storage.

jocko6872 said:
Thanks for the reply
it was reporting the same in civz 3.6 which is why I tried CM
I thought trim in 4.3 might help (I don't know if this is the memory type that trim helps recover?)
When you say flash a stock type ROM
Do you think flashing it with Odin instead of CWM would be worth trying?
Cheers
EDIT - fixed what i did was restore the first backup i made the day i rooted
it was stock 4.1
when i looked in storage under settings there was a miscellaneous files of 5gb that was not showing with either 4.2.2 or cm 4.3
it was a cwm backup that was not being read by the file manager
i deleted all of the files then flashed cm and now i have 8.42 gb
thanks MD
cheers
Jocko
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. I'm not real familiar with Sammy devices, although I am about to get an SGS III in a week or so. Funny it couldn't read the backup files though. Must be a peculiar thing with your version of CWM or TWRP. Seems they all store backups in different named files.
Glad you got it fixed though.
As for my experience, every time I ran a recent CM build (a501 and a701), it created directories and multiple sub directories called "0", and replicated back-ups and such. Ate my internal memory to a point where I just did a complete format on my internal and went back to a stock based rom. My own cooked rom's
Cheers
MD