[Q] Why does ota update work without data wipe? - Sprint Samsung Galaxy S III

I'm just wondering why Sprint's ota updates don't require a data wipe, but flashing the stock ROM in a custom recovery needs the wipe? I installed cnexus's rooted stock on my phone and initially tried a dirty flash, but had problems, so I wiped and did a clean install and all is good. My wife's phone is being prompted for the ota and I want to update her but I'd prefer not to have the Knox bootloader. I would simply update her phone as I did mine, but she'll kill me if I wiped her data. So, why can the ota install without the data wipe but the (essentially) same ROM installed manually can't? Anybody know?

An OTA just adds new file, a rom overwrites the entire system, that's why a full wipe is always recommended. I think there is a thread somewhere here that has flashable OTAs though. It sounds like she is rooted, so why don't you use a backup app like titanium?

Titanium is great and you will never have to worry about losing data. Plus its good to clear out the phone every once and awhile to keep it running fresh.

Related

[Q] How to ensure a clean ROM install

After playing around with several ROM / kernel combinations I am looking to return to the latest stock Rom. I have the PC36IMG file on my SDcard and will be installing via ClockworkMod recovery. What is the proper procedure to ensure the cleanest possible installation? Im a bit scared of all the options in recovery such as all the format options in the partitions menu. Do I need to format everything? Will any files be carried over? I know I will need to re install Clockwork and SU app just want to make sure everything is as clean as possible. Thanks in advance.
cleanest possible? Flash this in recover. It wipes 100% of every every time.
Courtesy of Calk.
If you are just changing kernels, choose wipe catch and delv catch.
Changing to a different rom you need to wipe everything.
Thanks for the tip. I am running a custom kernel so I'd be looking to wipe all of those files as well as the ROM. The ROM I am using is just a re packaged RUU, does the RUU completely wipe all data or will I still need to manually wipe?
You should always manually wipe. I never count on something else to do it for me. When I am changing roms I always wipe data/factory reset, cache and davlick, plus I use calkulin's format all tool that the other responder to your question attached to his post. That way you know nothing will be left over. Before you do all that, remember to make a backup of your current configuration just in case something goes wrong. I have been bailed out by nandroid backup a few times.
Also one more thing, there is a Rom on here that is the latest stock already rooted which would make it much easier on you. You could just wipe and flash and still have SU and all other benefits of having root. Just a suggestion.
I found the stock rom thread. It has both odexed and deodexed version. Odexed will probably boot faster, but deodexed can be themed and/or modded. Heres the link: Stock 3.70 EVO Rooted
I reccommend clearing the cache, and then wiping the dalvik to ensure a clean rom. After that, just flash your rom. As always if you are unsure, you can backup your SD card.

TWRP - is DATA backup necessary?

Hi,
So the official 4.3 ROM UEMK8 was released today for my Note 2 n7100.
I'm currently running UEMK4 4.3, so I thought of backing up everything through TWRP before backing up, as the file I used to flash Odin with (the leaked 4.3) is no longer available as I deleted it by mistake.
so as I'm backing up, everything works but DATA gives me error tarring split files.
so is DATA backup necessary? can't I simply just install the K8 ROM , then if something fails I just wipe my data/cache then restore System and Boot? as I don't need the DATA inside, unless DATA is part of the OS and I MUST have it.
thanks
No one replied.
Conclusion:
No, just perform full wipe.

[Q] Wanting to do a factory reset on a rooted and bumped VS985

Hey everyone. My phone has been running like crap lately and I have thought about doing a factory reset. I just had a few questions. If I did a factory reset I'm pretty sure I lose root, but what about the custom recovery?
Also, this is what I had in mind to do - but would you mind checking to see if it would be my best route please? I am going to install a custom rom on it. But just wanted to do a factory reset / install stock firmware first before I did it.
Download and install stock firmware. 10B I believe is what it is.
Root it again and put the bumped recovery back on it.
Install CM12 or another rom.
Is that pretty much what I should do?
Thanks!
mikewelch5 said:
Hey everyone. My phone has been running like crap lately and I have thought about doing a factory reset. I just had a few questions. If I did a factory reset I'm pretty sure I lose root, but what about the custom recovery?
Also, this is what I had in mind to do - but would you mind checking to see if it would be my best route please? I am going to install a custom rom on it. But just wanted to do a factory reset / install stock firmware first before I did it.
Download and install stock firmware. 10B I believe is what it is.
Root it again and put the bumped recovery back on it.
Install CM12 or another rom.
Is that pretty much what I should do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do a factory reset (with the kdz tool, its the best way if you want to reinstall the stock firmware), you lose everything (root, recovery, etc..) because it will flash the phone completely.
I recommend you to take a look at this for all the thing that you need to do: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2785089
And make sure you never do a factory reset from within Android w/ a custom recovery like TWRP installed, otherwise your phone will end up in a continuous boot loop. There's no reason for you to go back to stock anyway, as you're planning on reinstalling CM12 or installing a different ROM. You'll be doing a factory reset (wiping System, Data, Cache, and Dalvik) from within TWRP before flashing anyway, so there's no need to go back to stock beforehand.
mikewelch5 said:
Hey everyone. My phone has been running like crap lately and I have thought about doing a factory reset. I just had a few questions. If I did a factory reset I'm pretty sure I lose root, but what about the custom recovery?
Also, this is what I had in mind to do - but would you mind checking to see if it would be my best route please? I am going to install a custom rom on it. But just wanted to do a factory reset / install stock firmware first before I did it.
Download and install stock firmware. 10B I believe is what it is.
Root it again and put the bumped recovery back on it.
Install CM12 or another rom.
Is that pretty much what I should do?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you flash your phone with kdz, yes, like the guy above said you will lose both root and recovery. What I'm curious about is reason you want to do it? You already have custom recovery so if you want to do factory reset (that is wiping data and cache partitions) why not do it manually there?
And what is the point of it? As you said you will flash CM12 or another ROM, so that will basically do a factory reset, you will wipe all (system, data, cache) to install your new ROM...
Of course before flashing or wiping system partition with TWRP I recommend doing a backup just in case.
Thanks for the info everyone. The reason I wanted to do a clean factory install instead of just putting on CM12 is because if I didn't like it, I could just go back to a stock, rooted KK.
Like I said it has been acting up lately, so maybe a clean install of factory can help it. That way, if I don't like CM I can just restore my clean copy.
Where as now, if I didn't like CM I would have to restore my messed up backup.
But I will probably flash back to stock firmware, root it again and put a custom recovery on it again. Make a backup of that, then play around with some ROMS.
But once again, I appreciate the help!

Root / SuperSU Failing to complete? ( Help)

When I try to flash SuperSU it fails and just aborts.
I have tried flashing stable and all the beta builds same results. I'll attach a screenshot of it.
Originally I had root with everything working fine but decided to try and update through the update app when I was rooted. This was when I was on 3.2.4 trying to get to 3.2.7. All the update process seemed to do was revert my phone to unrooted and did not update to 3.2.7. Ever since then flashing SuperSU didn't seem to work. I waiting for a full zip. Of 3.2.8 to come out thinking flashing full update would fix it. It didn't.
Everything is running fine on 3.2.8. Just any attempt at flashing SuperSU fails.
These were all dirty flashes.
I have not tried a complete restore to stock yet. Would like to avoid this if possible.
I have no active modifications to my system.
savvymatthew said:
When I try to flash SuperSU it fails and just aborts.
I have tried flashing stable and all the beta builds same results. I'll attach a screenshot of it.
Originally I had root with everything working fine but decided to try and update through the update app when I was rooted. This was when I was on 3.2.4 trying to get to 3.2.7. All the update process seemed to do was revert my phone to unrooted and did not update to 3.2.7. Ever since then flashing SuperSU didn't seem to work. I waiting for a full zip. Of 3.2.8 to come out thinking flashing full update would fix it. It didn't.
Everything is running fine on 3.2.8. Just any attempt at flashing SuperSU fails.
These were all dirty flashes.
I have not tried a complete restore to stock yet. Would like to avoid this if possible.
I have no active modifications to my system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Clean installation will probably fix it and has less risk of potentially bugs compared to dirty flashes.
LS.xD said:
Clean installation will probably fix it and has less risk of potentially bugs compared to dirty flashes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah kinda figured that. How exactly do you force a fresh install and? Sorry for the noob question.
savvymatthew said:
Yeah kinda figured that. How exactly do you force a fresh install and? Sorry for the noob question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OnePlus.net offers the rom files as download:
OOS 3.2.6 (capable for OTA 3.2.8)
Open Beta 7
I'm using the Open Beta at the moment and it runs without any issues
OOS roms can be flashed with custom TWRP
For a clean installation just wipe partitions (System; Data; Cache; Int. Storage) with TWRP before flashing the new rom
Just don't be surprised if you wipe your int. storage, you will lose all of your roms and things you've downloaded to your phone. I never wipe int. storage, just Cache, Dalvik, Data, and System.
Hw4ng3r said:
Just don't be surprised if you wipe your int. storage, you will lose all of your roms and things you've downloaded to your phone. I never wipe int. storage, just Cache, Dalvik, Data, and System.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for pointing on that I backup all my stuff on my computer once a week but others may not.
By never wiping your internal or manually deleting folders you will collect garbage over time when you change android installations.
I have a back up from when i first set it up, so its very old. After i Flash and set everything up again think im gonna start making weekly back ups, with all the roms and stuff for this phone probably be smart.
Thanks guys

updating rooted op3 without clean flash

haven't updated my phone in quite a while now, and was wondering if there is a method to update to latest OOS without having to perform a backup-->clean flash-->restore.
obviously the backup should stay, is it possible to update without clearing data?
what about oxygen updater app?
thanks
knoximator said:
haven't updated my phone in quite a while now, and was wondering if there is a method to update to latest OOS without having to perform a backup-->clean flash-->restore.
obviously the backup should stay, is it possible to update without clearing data?
what about oxygen updater app?
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are changing Android version, it is better to clean flash. Clean flash involves wiping System, Data, Dalvik and Cache. Internal Storage where your photos and other files are stored need not be wiped. That said, it is prudent to have a backup of the photos and other files stored on your PC/Laptop since you never know whether ultimately you end up wiping Internal Storage also.
Obviously, you will lose root (and TWRP) which you have flash again. For root, Magisk is better than SuperSU on Oreo.
I have no experience with the Updater app.

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