Develop Bugs

[Q] Question about installing a custom rom

Okay my question is:
Is it possible to go from an unrooted phone with the whole software stock to a custom ROM, while keeping your data (apps, appdata, settings, sms, etc.)? If yes, how?
I'm on software version HTC WWE Europe 3.12.405.1, and I stored all my apps and photos etc on my SD-card.
I already know that the easyest way to instal another bootloader (CWM) is the AAHK. I downloaded it. But it will perform a downgrade resulting in loss of data.
Also while flashing a ROM you must reset the phone.
What I don't understand is this: you don't need to reset the SD-card, but the new ROM won't recognise the apps on your SD-card, so do you need to delete all those files then?
I know that what I'm probably asking a very nooby question, but I really hope that somebody can help me out here.
Thanks in advance, koningjim!

koningjim said:
Okay my question is:
Is it possible to go from an unrooted phone with the whole software stock to a custom ROM, while keeping your data (apps, appdata, settings, sms, etc.)? If yes, how?
I'm on software version HTC WWE Europe 3.12.405.1, and I stored all my apps and photos etc on my SD-card.
I already know that the easyest way to instal another bootloader (CWM) is the AAHK. I downloaded it. But it will perform a downgrade resulting in loss of data.
Also while flashing a ROM you must reset the phone.
What I don't understand is this: you don't need to reset the SD-card, but the new ROM won't recognise the apps on your SD-card, so do you need to delete all those files then?
I know that what I'm probably asking a very nooby question, but I really hope that somebody can help me out here.
Thanks in advance, koningjim!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take a look at this thread. Someone else had similar questions recently.
If by apps on the sdcard you mean apps you backed up with GoBackup or MyBackup or something similar, you will need to reinstall that backup app from the Play Store and use that app to restore your apps from the sdcard. If you mean with apps2sd, they're usually saved in a folder in the sdcard called .android_secure, and I know that 4ext recovery (and maybe others) wipes that folder when a new ROM is flashed. If the recovery doesn't, I would guess that it's wise to wipe it yourself.

Thank you very much for your response! This answers some of my questions, but not all. I hope the rest will be answered too.

koningjim said:
Thank you very much for your response! This answers some of my questions, but not all. I hope the rest will be answered too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What else do you need to know?

What I don't understand is this: you don't need to reset the SD-card, but the new ROM won't recognise the apps on your SD-card, so do you need to delete all those files then?

koningjim said:
What I don't understand is this: you don't need to reset the SD-card, but the new ROM won't recognise the apps on your SD-card, so do you need to delete all those files then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm assuming you are taking about the option that Android gives you to move apps to sd. I don't expect you to know this yet, since you haven't rooted yet, but before installing any ROM, you should do a full wipe. On my recovery, which is 4ext (and which I highly recommend you use after AAHK installs CWM recovery), it automatically wipes .android_secure (where the apps2sd are saved) in the course of a full wipe. If you choose another recovery, and it does not do so, I would recommend that you delete it yourself.

koningjim said:
What I don't understand is this: you don't need to reset the SD-card, but the new ROM won't recognise the apps on your SD-card, so do you need to delete all those files then?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not quite sure what you are asking. If you are talking about just the apk file, there shouldn't be any problems. No need to format the sd card.

OOw, I think I get it now! The apps are stored in .android_secure and not in another place in the SD-card. I already backed up my contacts, smses etc. So I guess there's no way to keep your appdata? Because you need root for that and for root you need to downgrade, which resets the phone?

koningjim said:
OOw, I think I get it now! The apps are stored in .android_secure and not in another place in the SD-card. I already backed up my contacts, smses etc. So I guess there's no way to keep your appdata? Because you need root for that and for root you need to downgrade, which resets the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to clarify, the .android_secure folder is for apps moved to the sd using the Android OS's apps2sd capability. If you're referring to another method (like Titanium Backup or GoBackup or something), that's different. Those backup apps can back up your apps, but not app data, to the sdcard; you would then reinstall them using the same backup app once the new ROM is installed.
If you need to downgrade to root, I don't know of a method to keep your app data, since the downgrade would wipe the OS before you had the root capability necessary to back up app data. There might be one, but I don't know of one.

OK, nice! Now I'm rooted and downgraded. However, now I want to install 4ext Recovery. So I downloaded the 4extRecoveryUpdater.apk from their website. But my phone won't open and install it. When I click on it in downloads it just says "Can't open this file".
Please help?!!?!

koningjim said:
OK, nice! Now I'm rooted and downgraded. However, now I want to install 4ext Recovery. So I downloaded the 4extRecoveryUpdater.apk from their website. But my phone won't open and install it. When I click on it in downloads it just says "Can't open this file".
Please help?!!?!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure "install from unknown sources" is checked in Settings -> Security. Try opening it from another application, like a file manager.

Oh well.. this sucks! Just one day after I rooted and lost all my data, a new version of Titanium Backup comes out that can back-up app-data without root
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using xda app-developers app

Upgrade to KitKat via OTA or flash through Odin? Any difference?

Any reason to choose one method over the other?
I'm running rooted stock 4.3 (MK1) on SM-P600 and I've done a nandroid backup in TWRP (which I'm assuming I can restore if I don't like KK).

drdoombot said:
Any reason to choose one method over the other?
I'm running rooted stock 4.3 (MK1) on SM-P600 and I've done a nandroid backup in TWRP (which I'm assuming I can restore if I don't like KK).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Odin is clean install (wipe everything flash a fresh O/S). OTA is upgrade or dirty flash, you still able to keep your setup and all your installed apps. If your phone is running smooth without any issue then OTA should be fine. If you have weird issues, then Odin is recommended. I see you already have TWRP and probably already rooted that means you can not use OTA method and if you use Odin you will wipe out everything including TWRP, root, your setup all the download apps, system/user data and so on. Your phone will be like a new one. This bring us to the point that you will NOT able to restore 4.3 (you will need to reflash TWRP and so on..) and we have mix reports about once you on Kitkat it's not possible to flash back 4.3 due to different bootloader.

buhohitr said:
Odin is clean install (wipe everything flash a fresh O/S). OTA is upgrade or dirty flash, you still able to keep your setup and all your installed apps. If your phone is running smooth without any issue then OTA should be fine. If you have weird issues, then Odin is recommended. I see you already have TWRP and probably already rooted that means you can not use OTA method and if you use Odin you will wipe out everything including TWRP, root, your setup all the download apps, system/user data and so on. Your phone will be like a new one. This bring us to the point that you will NOT able to restore 4.3 (you will need to reflash TWRP and so on..) and we have mix reports about once you on Kitkat it's not possible to flash back 4.3 due to different bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I updated via Odin and it was a dirty flash and everything works fine. I can still create a folder on the external sd and copy a file from the internal sd to the folder that I created on the external sd.
Regards
colin

colint3 said:
I updated via Odin and it was a dirty flash and everything works fine. I can still create a folder on the external sd and copy a file from the internal sd to the folder that I created on the external sd.
Regards
colin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same for me, but I had to root it again. The root was lost, but everything alse working fine. ( I have sm-p601)

[HELP] CM12 based ROM back to Stock Rom or Custom ROM

Good day!
I have been on CM12/CM12.5 and lately, I found out it's not working well for me. It's very buggy. I wanted to go back to either stock rom or one of the custom roms that I have, dr.Ketan v7 or Phoenix ROM 4.3. Is it possible? Can I request for a step by step instruction on how as this is quite new to me? Also, will my back-up (Super Back-up) SMS and Contact back-ups stored on my Internal Storage be erased once I flash the new ROM?
Thank you very much!

- Download new ROM and copy it to internal storage or sd card.
- Backup.
- Boot to recovery "twrp recommanded".
- Wipe ( Cache / System / Dilvik / Factory reset ).
- Then install zip , choose rom and flash it..
first boot may take minutes.... just wait it will boot..

Ba7rani said:
- Download new ROM and copy it to internal storage or sd card.
- Backup.
- Boot to recovery "twrp recommanded".
- Wipe ( Cache / System / Dilvik / Factory reset ).
- Then install zip , choose rom and flash it..
first boot may take minutes.... just wait it will boot..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dont it need any mj5 stuff? The procedure you mentioned are like the instructions in installing CM custom rom, is it really the same? no need for Odin or something? thanks!

If you have TWRP recovery installed in your phone no need for Odin. You can download a flashable zip to phone and flash it using the twrp. Also I would suggest you to backup your sms and contacts. Infact do a full nandroid backup with twrp so if anything goes wrong you can go back to you last working state.

manubhagat said:
If you have TWRP recovery installed in your phone no need for Odin. You can download a flashable zip to phone and flash it using the twrp. Also I would suggest you to backup your sms and contacts. Infact do a full nandroid backup with twrp so if anything goes wrong you can go back to you last working state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow! great to know. I think that this will be easier. if I'll be making a full nandroid back-up, does it cover the SMS and contact? then i'll store it on my external SD card? or is it safe to store on my internal memory just like how my Super Back-up app works?
I know that this is a bit off-topic but, what's the best/recommended ROM for Note 2 outside CM?

rowtare said:
wow! great to know. I think that this will be easier. if I'll be making a full nandroid back-up, does it cover the SMS and contact? then i'll store it on my external SD card? or is it safe to store on my internal memory just like how my Super Back-up app works?
I know that this is a bit off-topic but, what's the best/recommended ROM for Note 2 outside CM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will cover SMS and contacts and I would recommend you store it on your SD card. I had tried DN4 rom which I liked, it had features like Note 4. Now I am also looking for another rom to try, will let you know once I do.

manubhagat said:
Yes it will cover SMS and contacts and I would recommend you store it on your SD card. I had tried DN4 rom which I liked, it had features like Note 4. Now I am also looking for another rom to try, will let you know once I do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, will it also cover my files on my gallery? Would it also be redundant if I make a Titanium Pro back-up for my user app data then do a full nandroid back-up through TWRP Recovery mode? Thanks for accomodating all my questions! I'll look for the DN4 rom that you're referring to.

rowtare said:
sorry, will it also cover my files on my gallery? Would it also be redundant if I make a Titanium Pro back-up for my user app data then do a full nandroid back-up through TWRP Recovery mode? Thanks for accomodating all my questions! I'll look for the DN4 rom that you're referring to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Depends on options you choose while doing nandroid backups, from twrp you can backup system, data, boot, efs, storage (internal, external). If your gallery is on internal storage then do backup internal storage as well. But since you plan to install a different rom backup you gallery, sms, contacts and other important files elsewhere may be on a computer so later on you can copy it back.
Remember nandroid backup is complete backup of your phone current state including the rom & settings while Titanium is individual backup for apps. So when you have a new rom you might want to restore individual app data from Titanium. Nandroid is for scenarios where you device becomes unusable or you don't like the new rom so you can easily go back to last rom & settings.

manubhagat said:
Depends on options you choose while doing nandroid backups, from twrp you can backup system, data, boot, efs, storage (internal, external). If your gallery is on internal storage then do backup internal storage as well. But since you plan to install a different rom backup you gallery, sms, contacts and other important files elsewhere may be on a computer so later on you can copy it back.
Remember nandroid backup is complete backup of your phone current state including the rom & settings while Titanium is individual backup for apps. So when you have a new rom you might want to restore individual app data from Titanium. Nandroid is for scenarios where you device becomes unusable or you don't like the new rom so you can easily go back to last rom & settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! will try your inputs! Appreciate everything. Now I'm torn between leaving CM12.1 to DN4 or stay for a while. Hope I could also figure out my daily driver.

Hi I successfuly flashed the DN4 rom from CM 12.1, however I tried to restore some files from my Nandroid back-up. however, when I tried to restore everything including data and system, it removed my ROM. what should be selected to be restore if I just want to restore my phone settings and SMS and contacts?

rowtare said:
Hi I successfuly flashed the DN4 rom from CM 12.1, however I tried to restore some files from my Nandroid back-up. however, when I tried to restore everything including data and system, it removed my ROM. what should be selected to be restore if I just want to restore my phone settings and SMS and contacts?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you make a backup of sms and contacts using Titanium? If yes you can try restoring from it. Also if you have Titanium pro you can open the nandroid backup and choose selective things to restore but better and quick is to restore your Titanium backup.
Note, as mentioned in earlier if you restore complete nandroid backup it will return your phone to last ROM state.

TWRP insane data backup size

Hello HTC 10 users! I just got this device and thoroughly enjoying the speed and features. I got it s-off, Lees v2.41 rom loaded and using the team viper pnp balanced. Before installing the pnp I wanted to make a backup since I haven't done one since I got the 10. I noticed my data backup is 25GB. I don't even have 4GB used up by the internal space on the 10. In comparison my old m8 ARHD v53.1 backup is around 6GB , that rom was lolipop and using TWRP 3. Can anyone shed some light on this?

revoltech said:
Hello HTC 10 users! I just got this device and thoroughly enjoying the speed and features. I got it s-off, Lees v2.41 rom loaded and using the team viper pnp balanced. Before installing the pnp I wanted to make a backup since I haven't done one since I got the 10. I noticed my data backup is 25GB. I don't even have 4GB used up by the internal space on the 10. In comparison my old m8 ARHD v53.1 backup is around 6GB , that rom was lolipop and using TWRP 3. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you are using the latest twrp?

i've not even unlocked yet, but that smells to me like it's looking at an encrypted partition, which it should be, but i can't speak to whether or not that's normal (assuming not). may try posting this ? in the TWRP thread.

That's a huge backup, roughly double the size of a typical backup for me (12.59GB, including boot, data, & system). What all are you choosing to backup when you make a backup?
Sent from my HTC 10

dangle79 said:
i've not even unlocked yet, but that smells to me like it's looking at an encrypted partition, which it should be, but i can't speak to whether or not that's normal (assuming not). may try posting this ? in the TWRP thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I forgot my startup is encrypted. I kept on hitting cancel before I mounted the partition found on the s-off youtube tutorial. Thanks for letting me know.

The Data only part is 25gb?
My Backups are normaly 8gb, in TWRP 3.0.2-5
3.7gb System Image
around 4.5gb User Data
64mb Boot and 64mb Recovery
Did you activate compression in the TWRP settings?

revoltech said:
Hello HTC 10 users! I just got this device and thoroughly enjoying the speed and features. I got it s-off, Lees v2.41 rom loaded and using the team viper pnp balanced. Before installing the pnp I wanted to make a backup since I haven't done one since I got the 10. I noticed my data backup is 25GB. I don't even have 4GB used up by the internal space on the 10. In comparison my old m8 ARHD v53.1 backup is around 6GB , that rom was lolipop and using TWRP 3. Can anyone shed some light on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are using a really old version of twrp. Please use the latest, which is 3.0.2-6.

Magnum_Enforcer said:
That's a huge backup, roughly double the size of a typical backup for me (12.59GB, including boot, data, & system). What all are you choosing to backup when you make a backup?
Sent from my HTC 10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you suppose to chose in your back-up? I back-up system, system image, data, and boot. Is that a correct back-up?
Sorry for the noob question as I am new to HTC.

mamdroid said:
What are you suppose to chose in your back-up? I back-up system, system image, data, and boot. Is that a correct back-up?
Sorry for the noob question as I am new to HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Boot, data, and system is all I ever backup.
Sent from my HTC 10

jollywhitefoot said:
You are using a really old version of twrp. Please use the latest, which is 3.0.2-6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes because that was on my HTC One m8. I'm on the latest version on the HTC 10. I already figured it out that the backups were copying the full encrypted data partition if I didn't enter the password.

revoltech said:
Yes because that was on my HTC One m8. I'm on the latest version on the HTC 10. I already figured it out that the backups were copying the full encrypted data partition if I didn't enter the password.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense. Starting with 3.0.2-4 TWRP has been able to decrypt data partition. I missed the part where you said you were hitting cancel on the pin prompt.

Is there an option in twrp that allows me to switch between encrypted and decrypted data partitions?

LakesideWiseman said:
Is there an option in twrp that allows me to switch between encrypted and decrypted data partitions?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's controlled by your rom. Natively, Android M requires encrypted data partition, but some custom ROMs allow you to use un-encrypted data. I believe that there is also a script that you can flash in TWRP to allow stock rom to be un-encrypted, but you'll have to fish around in the ROM/Development section for that.
To decrypt your data partition, you have to flash a rom that supports un-encrypted data (or the zip file I mentioned above) and then format (NOT WIPE) data partition in TWRP.

mamdroid said:
What are you suppose to chose in your back-up? I back-up system, system image, data, and boot. Is that a correct back-up?
Sorry for the noob question as I am new to HTC.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
System and System Image are the same.
For Custom ROM's System is fine, if you want to take OTAs on Stock ROM you need a System Image.
I almost never backup Data as every app should have a Cloud Save feature and i prefer to wipe my phone every few months to get rid of stuff i never use.
Mainly before flashing a Custom ROM or playing around i backup UserData aswell.
And yeah, always backup Boot when you backup System, only takes 64MB so doesn't really matter.

jollywhitefoot said:
That's controlled by your rom. Natively, Android M requires encrypted data partition, but some custom ROMs allow you to use un-encrypted data. I believe that there is also a script that you can flash in TWRP to allow stock rom to be un-encrypted, but you'll have to fish around in the ROM/Development section for that.
To decrypt your data partition, you have to flash a rom that supports un-encrypted data (or the zip file I mentioned above) and then format (NOT WIPE) data partition in TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Makes perfect sense. I'm running stock debloated Verizon ROM.

Magnum_Enforcer said:
Boot, data, and system is all I ever backup.
Sent from my HTC 10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haldi4803 said:
System and System Image are the same.
For Custom ROM's System is fine, if you want to take OTAs on Stock ROM you need a System Image.
I almost never backup Data as every app should have a Cloud Save feature and i prefer to wipe my phone every few months to get rid of stuff i never use.
Mainly before flashing a Custom ROM or playing around i backup UserData aswell.
And yeah, always backup Boot when you backup System, only takes 64MB so doesn't really matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you to both you, I appreciate the responses. I kinda figured I was doing it wrong by the time and size of the back-up's. Thanks again fellas!!

How do I update my device's OS when I'm rooted?

Currently I'm using a OnePlus 3 on 6.0.1 (OOS 3.1.1) but I would like to update to Oreo (OOS 5.0). How do I do this when my device is rooted?
I've downloaded the latest OS off the oneplus website. Is it as simple as uninstalling SuperSU and then flashing the latest OS through recovery?
I also have TWRP recovery and Xposed installed.
Would appreciate any help.

Just flash the new OS in recovery, no need to unroot as it will get overwritten anyways. You'll need to root again after updating, of course.
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk

Explorer23 said:
Just flash the new OS in recovery, no need to unroot as it will get overwritten anyways. You'll need to root again after updating, of course.
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The full zip of oxygen OS will overwrite the TWRP recovery with the stock one?
I can update with the zip in the recovery and root whenever i want or i have to do this at the same time?

Explorer23 said:
Just flash the new OS in recovery, no need to unroot as it will get overwritten anyways. You'll need to root again after updating, of course.
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's as easy as that? It's not a problem that I have xposed installed or anything?
What should I wipe before I install the new OS?
Sorry for all the questions, newbie here.

@Edo 91
I'm not sure about overwriting recovery, it's been a long time since I've used OOS (currently on PA, before than on LOS). If I remember correctly the recovery should stay if you DON'T boot into system right after flashing. So, flash the ROM, reboot into recovery first, then boot into system. Can't say if anything changed with Oreo, but that's how I remember it from Nougat and Marshmallow. You can however flash recovery again right after ROM, just to be sure.
You can root later down the road, no need to do everything at once.
@scalliant
Generally yes, it as easy as that. Xposed and root methods modify system partition - and that gets overwritten when you flash new ROM. That's why those modifications have to be flashed again after every update (some custom ROMs are exception, but rest assured the stock one will nuke all mods).
Anyways, we're talking about Android version upgrade here and not just a minor system update, so I'd recommend a clean installation (but you can try dirty first and then do a clean one in case you experience issues).
First of all, make a full nandroid backup (check everything except "system image" in TWRP). Copy all of your media content (pictures, videos, music ... whatever you don't wanna lose) to another device - better safe than sorry. Optionally, backup apps with Titanium or something similar.
To do it clean: wipe /system, /data and /cache. That means losing all apps and settings, but you'll keep stuff that was stored on the phone. After successfully booting into system you can restore app backups or install them and set up everything again.
To do it dirty: wipe just /system and /cache. You'll lose just system settings, but will keep apps and everything else. Less hassle, but higher chance of something going south.

Explorer23 said:
@Edo 91
To do it clean: wipe /system, /data and /cache. That means losing all apps and settings, but you'll keep stuff that was stored on the phone. After successfully booting into system you can restore app backups or install them and set up everything again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought you loose everything when you do a clean install. So photos and files are preserved using this method? I assume text messages will be lost?

shobuddy said:
I thought you loose everything when you do a clean install. So photos and files are preserved using this method? I assume text messages will be lost?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Media is on a (virtually) separate partition and is preserved unless while internal storage is formated. Still, it's never a bad idea to have a backup.
Yes, text messages are lost if not backed up. There are many apps that do that (and can be set to upload to cloud regularly).
Sent from my OnePlus 3 using Tapatalk