best way to migrate across Android8 border? - OnePlus 3 Questions & Answers

I once tried the regular firmware update from Oreo to Android 9 and ended up with a factory reset phone. Got everything back through nandroid but never tried that again. Now, years later, however, it's finally time for the job. But I don't want to loose the hundreds of settings I made over the years.
Is there any easy way to take a (graphical) look at all the settings of my current installation, when the phone can no longer show them (after the factory reset)?
Would it for example be possible to execute my nandroid in the Android SDK? I know, not directly because of hardware/emulator incompatibilities, but could it be possible to do something like this with the Android SDK:
- install a default Android8
- install all the apps that currently are on my phone
- copy the settings from my nandroid
?
Or anything similar? Any ideas welcome!

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[Q] Geeky questions

Hi everyone,
I have some advanced questions so I'm reaching out to the geeky people out there for help.
Just a bit of backgroud, I have the OPPO find 7 and so far I managed to root it using guides online and to add Cyanogenmod on it and I'm comfortable so far installing CM 11 nightly build updates and doing things like backup/restore.
Recently during an update the phone was bricked and I managed to unbrick it myself following some guides online. After I unbricked it, I noticed that it was running Lollipop and that few things had changed. After I installed CM 11 I have been having problems so here's my questions:
a) I noticed the Logo during startup has changed and also the "fastboot" icon is different too. This seems to have nothing to do with the OS. Did I somehow manage to change the Kernel? Could all the problems I am having be caused by the change of Kernel?
b) How do we update the Kernel? Can I put it back to how it was when everything with was working?
c) If the startup logo and the fastboot is not related tot he Kernel, then what is it that I have accidentally changed?
d) A lot of people in forums make recommendations such as to "install COS model version blah", or use Nameless Rom version blah, or to do a full wipe first and then blah. I am extremely confused about all of these recommendations because I have hundreds of apps that are very specifically configured and if I have to do a full wipe it'll take me weeks to bring the phone to a state where it's useful to me.
Do all these people have a way of backing up all their apps and data? It sounds like a cosmic joke that I wasn't let it on.
I know how to do an image backup/restore but that changed the OS too. I am using TWRP, can that do a different type of backup that only backs up all the data/apps/cache but leaves OS independent?
nkomp18 said:
Hi everyone,
I have some advanced questions so I'm reaching out to the geeky people out there for help.
Just a bit of backgroud, I have the OPPO find 7 and so far I managed to root it using guides online and to add Cyanogenmod on it and I'm comfortable so far installing CM 11 nightly build updates and doing things like backup/restore.
Recently during an update the phone was bricked and I managed to unbrick it myself following some guides online. After I unbricked it, I noticed that it was running Lollipop and that few things had changed. After I installed CM 11 I have been having problems so here's my questions:
a) I noticed the Logo during startup has changed and also the "fastboot" icon is different too. This seems to have nothing to do with the OS. Did I somehow manage to change the Kernel? Could all the problems I am having be caused by the change of Kernel?
b) How do we update the Kernel? Can I put it back to how it was when everything with was working?
c) If the startup logo and the fastboot is not related tot he Kernel, then what is it that I have accidentally changed?
d) A lot of people in forums make recommendations such as to "install COS model version blah", or use Nameless Rom version blah, or to do a full wipe first and then blah. I am extremely confused about all of these recommendations because I have hundreds of apps that are very specifically configured and if I have to do a full wipe it'll take me weeks to bring the phone to a state where it's useful to me.
Do all these people have a way of backing up all their apps and data? It sounds like a cosmic joke that I wasn't let it on.
I know how to do an image backup/restore but that changed the OS too. I am using TWRP, can that do a different type of backup that only backs up all the data/apps/cache but leaves OS independent?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I will attempt to answer your questions. Forgive me if I didn't answer everything to your satisfaction.
A) How is your fastboot icon different? Any elaboration? Startup animation should (by right) be different every time you flash a custom ROM. For example, if you flash CM, you'll have the CM boot animation and not the Oppo boot animation. This issue shouldn't be caused by a change in kernel. Your boot animation is stored in system/media/bootanimation.zip. Not sure about fastboot though.
B) Kernels are updated when you flash a ROM. You will get the CM kernel when you flash a CM ROM, etc. If you want the stock kernel back, you'll need to flash COS (1.2.5i recommended)
C) Look at A), again, not sure about fastboot, need a pic or explanation.
D) Normally for me, when I run into a major issue, I simply download the ROM+GApps, boot into recovery, wipe system, cache and Dalvik cache then flash the ROM before GApps. This should solve most issues. If you run into radio/GPS issues, you'll have to back up your apps via TB or Helium, then copy your whole internal storage onto a computer (for backup purposes), then flash COS. Boot into COS, run a few apps, then flash your custom ROM. (Custom recovery first of course.)
P.S. how did you unbrick your device? I don't know any tool that flashes Lollipop when unbricking.
---------- Post added at 08:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 PM ----------
If you have any questions feel free to ask.
This is still quite confusing then, because I still don't understand why the logo and the fastbook icon changed and also I don't understand why the phone loaded Lollipop. Before the logo was a gray "OPPO" but now it's a white one, with different font and it says Android at the bottom. The fastboot icon used to be a green android robot with a blue text saying "fastboot" if I remember correctly but now it shows chinese text with the OPPO emoticon.
I downloaded CM 11 latest nightly (which bricked my phone) and then I followed your guide to unbrick it. But instead of flashing COS as you recommended, I followed this recommendation here and used a unbrick_cm.zip which should, in theory, load CM 11, but instead it booted to Lollipop:
A problem was identified in the find7 nightlies for the 14th and they were pulled; unfortunately you and possibly a few others already installed it. The problem has been identified and a fix has been found:
http://www.oppoforums.com/threads/gu...nd-7-7a.23067/ provides a tool and instructions on how to return a bricked find7 to stock. The linked download includes the entire stock ColorOS rom, which isn't needed to fix this problem(and is over 1gb in download size!); an edited version can be found at https://mega.co.nz/#!SQNh2ShY!UlHUE8...fTuaP_CPYr9yfQ will fix the specific issue caused by this nightly without replacing the OS or wiping your data.
Use the unbrick_cm.zip with the instructions in the oppoforums post (I also had this problem but it wouldn't work on win7 but did on xp, so there may be some compatibility issues) and you should be good to go.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am still quite confused about what happened to be honest. After the phone was unbricked I used an earlier image I had from a backup and restored the phone to that point, so If the kernel and OS are in the image then the logo and the fastboot menu should go back to exactly as they were before, but they didn't!
nkomp18 said:
This is still quite confusing then, because I still don't understand why the logo and the fastbook icon changed and also I don't understand why the phone loaded Lollipop. Before the logo was a gray "OPPO" but now it's a white one, with different font and it says Android at the bottom. The fastboot icon used to be a green android robot with a blue text saying "fastboot" if I remember correctly but now it shows chinese text with the OPPO emoticon.
I downloaded CM 11 latest nightly (which bricked my phone) and then I followed your guide to unbrick it. But instead of flashing COS as you recommended, I followed this recommendation here and used a unbrick_cm.zip which should, in theory, load CM 11, but instead it booted to Lollipop:
I am still quite confused about what happened to be honest. After the phone was unbricked I used an earlier image I had from a backup and restored the phone to that point, so If the kernel and OS are in the image then the logo and the fastboot menu should go back to exactly as they were before, but they didn't!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have used the tool I linked in my thread. It's by Addel (Oppo employee if I'm not wrong) so nothing should go wrong. I never heard if the unbrick_cm.zip before so... Yea, not recommended. You should use the tool I linked to install COS 1.2.5i then mess around with it. Nothing should go wrong.
P.S. never use third party tools for unbricking unless dev is recognised or well-known.
Using TWRP you can restore apps/data/cache independently from system - just check/uncheck the boxes.
Lord Childe said:
Using TWRP you can restore apps/data/cache independently from system - just check/uncheck the boxes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think it'll work if you restore apps/data from a COS while on CM. Learnt this the hard way by bricking my old Note 2
Irwenzhao said:
I don't think it'll work if you restore apps/data from a COS while on CM. Learnt this the hard way by bricking my old Note 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed Nightly on my 7a, restored app+data (TWRP) without a problem. But I had issues with the 'screen of death' on CM every time the phone was put in sleep mode, so I went back to stable color 1.2.7 and restored everything with TWRP. So my experience of it is OK.
You could always use Titanium to restore apps/data if you don't want to risk bricking again, although I can't see how restoring non-system apps/data can brick your phone.

On VS98510B, just want to upgrade to latest android, please help.

I have a VS985 LG G3. I was running marshmallow yesterday, but after trying to root and unlock mobile tethering and hotspot (because I am on unlimited data) I managed to brick my phone while typing in adb commands because my phone decided to randomly shut off. So after plugging it into the USB and figuring out a way to put it into download mode, I flashed it to VS98510B. After that, I rooted with Stump Root and installed SuperSU, following some guides. It works fine once again but I'm not where I want to be.
After multiple times trying to open adb shell and get it to just recognize my device, I'm done. I know there are people out there who know this stuff by heart, so please, at this point, just tell me what to do step by step so I can do it and move on with my life. I have spent hours upon hours on this and it never seems to just work. Please.
All I want is to be able to install the latest TWRP or whatever is recommended., and then install either the SkyDragon Rom or the stock marshmallow VS98546A rom, but with the verizon apps disabled since in one guide it warns that those report for modified device, which I am not sure what that means but it doesn't sound good.
I'm on VS98510B. Rooted and SuperSU installed.
I want to be able to use mobile hotspot and tethering.
There's just information overload to the extreme, I'm overwhelmed.
Thanks again if any help is possible.
If you're already rooted with TWRP installed, the hard part should really be over. You shouldn't need to be plugging into a computer and running adb commands at this point. You also said you need step by step instructions, and to really spell it all out would be a lot, but considering how far you already got I don't think you really need every little detail, so I'll give you the general idea then if you have questions I can try to fill those gaps.
Basically you'll need to find and download the new ROM you want. The easiest thing to do is download it directly from your phone so you don't have to mess around with transferring it from your computer to your phone. Many custom ROMs will also require Gapps, but if you're flashing a stock ROM (or a custom ROM based on stock) you don't need to do this because it's included in the ROM.
After you've downloaded the ROM (should just be a zip file), you need to reboot to recovery (TWRP). If you don't know how to do this, there's an app called Quick Reboot that can do it for you (01400) personally haven't used it but I assume it works).
Once you're in recovery, you normally want to make a backup first in case anything goes wrong. This is done by selecting the backup button. After you have a backup, you want to "wipe" data before installing. Select the wipe button, then I click advanced and select everything except internal data and external data. This will wipe all apps, settings, etc. from your phone so make sure you're ok with that before you do it,
After wiping, you're ready to install. Back at the first main screen of TWRP, select Install, then browse to where you downloaded the ROM and select it, then select the Install button and swipe to confirm. Assuming all goes well, when it's finished it'll give you the option to reboot. Do this and it should start booting up to your new ROM.
Also, you mentioned SkyDragon, but I just wanted to point out that this isn't the latest version of Android, I believe that's still Lollipop (not Marshmallow). You also mentioned not wanting your rooted status to be reported to Verizon, but if you're currently on stock, rooted, and don't have any apps disabled, then you already are running this risk.
Let me know if you have any questions. I think this will be easier than me trying to walk you through every detail and confirmation screen.
I don't have TWRP installed. What is the best course of action to take to install it?
As far as disabling verizon apps, is it as simple as just going into the application manager and disabling them or is there a tool I need to download?
Thanks for all the help so far!
I see, it's been a couple years since I installed TWRP and I was thinking it was part of the rooting process. I believe this is the post I followed to install TWRP: http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-...mp-unlock-lg-g3-twrp-d852-d852g-f400-t2900614
Like I said, this was a few years ago and it's kind of a one-time thing. I don't know if there's something better available now or what, and I don't remember the details. I don't remember running into any problems, so if you happened to have any I'm not sure how good I could help.
As for disabling things, the things that need to be disabled are system apps and can't just be disabled from the stock application manager (Verizon doesn't want to make it easy for you to disable their software ). There are different ways this can be done, but I personally use Titanium Backup to disable (or "freeze" as they call it) apps. It will let you freeze anything, which also means it gives you the ability to break things, so don't just go in freezing random things. I don't remember if freezing requires the paid version of the app or not, but you can get it from the play store and find out.
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk
As far as Titanium Backup goes, is it along the same lines as TWRP? Like do they do the same things? Do you recommend I do one over the other?
Also as far as verizon apps reporting root, what do they do and what does that matter?
Also, I'm currently dealing with the LG DemiGod Crash Handler problem that seems to have started up on my phone the other day. I'd never rooted or messed with my phone in any way and that started happening, I thought perhaps flashing a new ROM might fix it, but I guess not. If you have any sort of tips on how to fix that, other than replace the battery (which I have not yet done, but supposedly that can solve the problem) I'd be grateful.
Titanium Backup and TWRP are two different things. Titanium Backup is a "normal" app that you can get from the Play store, while TWRP is a custom recovery and isn't ran from within your ROM. TWRP lets you do full image backups of your phone (like your entire phone in a single backup) and can also be used to install ("flash") ROMs. Titanium Backup lets you backup, freeze, and uninstall specific apps.
I use them both because they both serve a specific purpose. You have to use TWRP to install ROMs, then as far as backups, I use TWRP to make a backup of everything in case I flash a ROM that I end up not liking (I can use the backup to easily go back to my previous ROM and still have apps and everything all setup just like they were). If I do like the new ROM I flashed, I'll use Titanium Backup to restore a lot of my apps/data to the new ROM (ex. text messages, my alarm clock app, etc.)
As far as Verizon knowing about your root status, honestly I'm not sure what all that would mean. I'm sure they wouldn't like it, rooting voids your warranty so you probably couldn't get things replaced under warranty, if you have insurance through Verizon they would maybe use your root status as a reason to deny a claim, etc. I don't think you'd have to worry about them calling you up or cancelling your service or anything like that, but getting them to assist you with problems might be more frustrating than usual
Regarding the demigod crash thing, I know what you're talking about but I don't really know much about it. A while ago I would get those every once in a while and it was frustrating. I think at the time I kind off wanted to try a new ROM anyways and I think I did but I still got it occasionally. Now that you mentioned it though I haven't had one in quite a while. I'm not sure if those ROMs both happened to cause it, if it was a Lollipop thing (doesn't seem like I've had it since Marshmallow), or if it's all just a coincidence or I've just been lucky. I haven't gotten a new battery though, so that's definitely not it (for me anyways).
Sent from my VS985 4G using Tapatalk

HTC One M8 - Soft brick on unrooted phone (apart from OS upgrades)

I've had my M8 since about the end of 2014. Originally on Android 4, have since done OTA upgrades to 5 and 6 as they were flagged as available by my carrier (UK, O2).
I've never managed to get HTC Backup on my PC to recognise the phone, even with the original USB cable, so have never done a proper backup (Yes. I know). Fortunately for me, my Gmail contacts list was almost up to date, and apart from my calendar, that was the most important thing to save, so I've just had to grin and bear it.
Because of the lack of proper backup and therefore the facility to restore from one, I'd never done a factory reset after the various OS upgrades, which I've been told might have avoided my present situation, which is that I can't get any further than a bootloop situation. Other than that, I can get into recovery mode, but no further.
I've tried clearing the cache, I've tried a factory reset. Neither of those have got me anywhere.
I've no great desire (at present) to go fiddling with rooting or anything clever with the phone, I'd just like to get it working again. I've downloaded Android Studio to get the SDK for ADB but don't really know what I'm doing, and if I mess around without expert advice I could end up with a hard brick - which is why I'm here.
Can anyone give me some guidance about what I need to do to get my phone working again?
Thanks in advance...
Hi, I have the same problem, started a few days ago when I was trying to download VLC from the play store, the phone rebooted and said optimizing apps.... It has been in an optimizing apps bootloop since - it gets to the end, then says starting android then freezes and reboots, then starts again... I tried clearing the cache and doing the factory reset as well but nothing helps. We could really use some expert help on this :S
If a stock phone isn't booting, and factory reset doesn't help, the OS is possibly damaged or corrupted in some way; and needs to be restored.
If your version has RUU, you can try to run that.
If no RUU for your version, then probably your only choice is to unlock the bootloader, install custom recovery, so you can restore a stock TWRP backup from the following thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/help/tutorial-how-to-stock-stock-twrp-t3086860
I am in a very similar situation, apparently because of a botched automatic system update, almost same symptoms as airick94. I haven't tried a factory reset yet though, because I want to try to recover what I can from the internal storage first. Can I do that through ADB even if my phone is not recognised as a device by the computer?

Nexus 5x Full Restore not working (Nexus Root Toolkit)

Hello,
I'm in a bit of a pickle. Bought my sister a brand new Nexus 5x about 3-4 months ago, first thing I did was install Pure Nexus (6.0.1) on it (prerooted) and unlocked bootloader, don't know why I did it but I thought it'd be nice for her to use foreign country appstores/other things. Anyways long story short, I installed Nexus tool root kit (latest version 2.1.9) to return the device to stock and relock the bootloader.
First thing I did was do a full backup (around 600mb, she didn't install much stuff).
Backed up other things - SMS/Phone/Contacts/Media (70mb.. weird), also copied and pasted all media to computer as I didn't trust the small file size here.
Next, I did a flash and unroot with stock firmware, selecting the latest firmware 7.0 (bullhead MTC20k) and this wiped the phone. After that finished, enabled debugging and etc and reconnected. At this point I used the toolkit to relock the device and it was wiped once again. Now, the phone was running the latest firmware and was locked and back to stock.
After rushing through the initial setup, (wifi, account etc.) I got back to home screen, went to developer options to re-enable USB Debugging and got the phone's fingerprint access thing approved. Then I went to open the toolkit to run the restoration. Following prompts and accepting to restore (no password set/required), I saw pretty much all the app names pop up and being restored. However after it completes, the computer's log says check device. Looking at the device I see no apps added or anything. I've run this step a few times but it appears no applications are being restored.
I would greatly appreciate some advice on what to do next, as I'm at a loss here. Thank you!
Hey guys,
Reporting back, I have downgraded the firmware to the latest Marshmellow version 6.0.1 MTC20K, and tried the whole process again. I'm glad to say that the restoration now worked and all the apps can be seen (including the ones requiring root, which now, no longer work).
It appears upgrading to a completely new version prevented the apps from showing.
Anyways, glad the ordeals over, once photos and contacts restored I can present the phone back to my dear sister.
Thanks!

Any issues using TWRP to reload backed up images?

Hi Guys,
I have used TWRP many times in the past to take a snapshop of everything on the phone for backup and also right before I do an upgrade.
This is the first phone I have dealt with that has encryption enabled by default and does make things in TWRP a little tricky.
So the question is with the encryption enabled can I still take a image backup of my working system (9.6.8.0) and then upgrade to MIUI 10. If MIUI 10 doesn't work correctly I want to be able to easily flash right back to the old image and be up and running again.
Thanks!

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