So im wondering, what is the standard practise, or based on your own experiences. What is the best way to flash over an existing rom using CWM? What do you do to prepare the fone for new rom, wipe user data, dalvik cache, before or after flashing. Just trying to get a good idea of how to do it.
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going from rom to rom:
put rom.zip on /sdcard/
reboot to recovery
install zip from sdcard
point to rom.zip
flash
reboot
any rom that has been properly done will wipe user data and dalvik cache for you. no need to do it manually
i always flash back to eclair and master clear with odin one click to make sure all files from previous roms are gone then CWM flash new ROM
Pirateghost said:
going from rom to rom:
put rom.zip on /sdcard/
reboot to recovery
install zip from sdcard
point to rom.zip
flash
reboot
any rom that has been properly done will wipe user data and dalvik cache for you. no need to do it manually
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Except I do clear the caches manually, but that's just because I have OCD.
CremeFraiche said:
i always flash back to eclair and master clear with odin one click to make sure all files from previous roms are gone then CWM flash new ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lets look at the master clear function shall we?
when you flash to stock...your entire / is stock (RFS, eclair 2.1, /data /system, etc)
essentially, you have just reformatted your root, think of it like formatting your C drive and your sdcard is like a secondary internal drive that contains storage
master clear at this point will only delete items off your /sdcard
roms dont care about your /sdcard, master clear is worthless when you are stock
there was a time where it was necessary to flash to stock to reset the filesystem and then flash the rom. it has not been needed in months, but it continues to get preached as gospel.
even flashing to stock isnt necessary unless you are trying to come from CM7 or MIUI....or if something goes horribly wrong
Thx for info guys, I have flashed a few times and it seemed like now and then my fone must became bogged down and needed to be fully wiped, sound didnt work or lagfix folders bunch of text docs, just seemed cluttered. So if wanted to really clear out junk what would be a good way without having to flash back to stock?
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Just flash. If you have a problem then back to stock Ans a MC. I have flashed hundreds of time back to stock once.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
Pirateghost said:
lets look at the master clear function shall we?
when you flash to stock...your entire / is stock (RFS, eclair 2.1, /data /system, etc)
essentially, you have just reformatted your root, think of it like formatting your C drive and your sdcard is like a secondary internal drive that contains storage
master clear at this point will only delete items off your /sdcard
roms dont care about your /sdcard, master clear is worthless when you are stock
there was a time where it was necessary to flash to stock to reset the filesystem and then flash the rom. it has not been needed in months, but it continues to get preached as gospel.
even flashing to stock isnt necessary unless you are trying to come from CM7 or MIUI....or if something goes horribly wrong
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would definitely agree. I have also seen people say to disable lagfix before flashing. I have not done that either and never had any problem.
Would just like to amend the advice already given with the following:
Pre-flashing:
1. Titanium Backup of apps and data
2. Nandroid backup in case something goes boom.
Post-flashing (assuming success):
TB restore of user apps/data only. NEVER RESTORE SYSTEM FILES.
They may not apply to some people, but I feel those are necessary steps for anyone that actually uses their phone daily.
modest_mandroid said:
Would just like to amend the advice already given with the following:
Pre-flashing:
1. Titanium Backup of apps and data
2. Nandroid backup in case something goes boom.
Post-flashing (assuming success):
TB restore of user apps/data only. NEVER RESTORE SYSTEM FILES.
They may not apply to some people, but I feel those are necessary steps for anyone that actually uses their phone daily.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why not restore system files? Does this apply if coming from flashing back to stock first, or just flashing from one rom to another?
Glad to hear the advice about not flashing back to stock, that's been one of the major reasons I haven't flashed quite as many rom's as I want, too time consuming.........not to say that i'm not flashing a couple rom's a week, but there's just so many options to try
neophile said:
why not restore system files? Does this apply if coming from flashing back to stock first, or just flashing from one rom to another?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Making "search" a standard practice would be very helpful.
Restoring system is known to mess up ROMs in all cases. Though may not be mandatory, but make it a standard practice to flash stock. Takes hardly 10 mins, and helps save big headaches later.
neophile said:
why not restore system files? Does this apply if coming from flashing back to stock first, or just flashing from one rom to another?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Incompatibilities across rom versions, mostly. As the guy above me said, restoring system files tends to mess up a rom because you are overwriting part of it with files from a different rom.
There is one caveat, however. If you're flashing back to a rom you originally performed the backup on, you can safely restore system files. For example, if you were running Cog 4.3 and did a full TB backup, then decided to flash Serendipity 6.3, you would want to restore only your user apps and user data. However, if you decided to flash back to Cog 4.3 at some point, you could do a full TB restore without worrying about incompatibilities.
I agree with everyone else. Flashing over another rom seldom causes issues. I make s nandroid backup of my favorite rom with everything setup the way i like it. then flash away trying different roms. When i am done, i just restore my backup and all is good!
I have done a search, couldn't find the specific answer I needed, hence my asking. Could be I wasn't phrasing the search correctly......but here I am.....
To clarify, what do you dpo to get your system settings back after flashing a new rom? I flashed to serendipty 6.4 last night, as per the advice, I didn't restore system files, just apps and data, but that didn't work so well for me. I lost my data connection, could only use my wifi, and had no contacts, or any sms msgs. I don't know what else was missing, but I then went and restored system files, everything came back as needed, and there seems to be no issue......
How do I get my info setting back, or do I just need to manually re-set everything after flashing? Apart from wireless info, msgs and contacts, what else do you lose by not restoring?
Appreciate your help
havent flashed a new rom in a while and forgot if anything extra was needed when flashing a rom over a rom
thx!
Related
Hi all
Is Nandroid backing up all the apps I've got at that moment? Or it just saves system files?
Like a complete and exact "photo" or are there things that I should do on my own if I mean to recover exactly as it was...
I assume that no wipe is necessary...
Thanks!
What's the truth about Nandroid backup?!
i guess there's no need to open a new topic, because i got kinda the same question
before you guys start to redirect me to the "search" function, i want to assure you that i have been using it, but i have found myself in a very strange situation, one question, two different answers... and because i'm new to the whole root stuff, i want to learn everything correctly before starting to make modifications to my phone
The question is: Nandroid backup, does it also back up the kernel or not?
I mean, if i root and install a custom rom that also comes with a custom kernel, will i be able to use my previous Nandroid backup to restore my phone to the old rom & kernel?
Searching the forums, i have found 2 totally different answers!
Answer 1: Nandroid does not backup the kernel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=806340
Answer 2: Nandroid does backup the kernel: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=844352
So, please make me and all of us root noobs understand once and for all, does it backup the kernel or not?, will we be able to restore from a custom rom+kernel in case we need to?
and does it backup apps?
OK...As I understand it....
What does Nandroid Backup?
The ROM Itself..Obviously.
All your system settings, emails, SMSes, etc
All the Apps you have installed, so no need for TB
The Kernel you have installed (though there is controversy about this, and to be honest, I have never restored a nandroid backup when I had a different kernel already installed...however it really doesn't matter since kernels are easy to flash)
What does Nandroid NOT backup - This is VERY IMPORTANT
The modem (not a big deal)
The File System setting (A BIG DEAL)
This I think is where the confusion arises concerning the kernel being included in the nandroid backup. For many people the kernel is all about the lagfix. If you have installed a lagfix on your phone via the kernel, say changing the file system to Ext4, and then flash a Nandroid backup that includes a stock kernel or other kernel that does NOT support Ext4, you are in for a world of hurt...and in this case hurt means endless bootloops.
The way you avoid this is, if you need to flash a Nandroid with a kernel that does not support your lagfix...go into recovery, disable whatever lagfix, tell it when it asks that you wish to REBOOT INTO RECOVERY after the change....then flash the nandroid you wish.
This is why it is very important to keep regular nandroid backups, and to wait and see if a ROM/Kernel are stable for you before applying lagfixes or other tweaks.
So, let me see if i got this right, Nandroid does backup up my current kernel along with my rom, but if i apply any changes (lagfix) to my kernel afterwards or change it with a custom one with lagfix, nandroid won't be able to restore it anymore...
so the whole problem here is that nandroid is not able to backup / restore The File System setting, this being the rfs / ext4 transition
If this is the case, it seems that the Nandroid type backup is not as powerful as i thought, you can't really change from one rom to another in just a few clicks, but then again i guess that all the customs roms already come with some type of lagfix and you can make a nandroid restore between them, the problem would be when you want to revert back to a stock kernel, then you'll have to disable the lagfixes or simply flash a stock kernel and then restore the stock nandroid backup
so, i got this right guys?
maranello69 said:
So, let me see if i got this right, Nandroid does backup up my current kernel along with my rom, but if i apply any changes (lagfix) to my kernel afterwards or change it with a custom one with lagfix, nandroid won't be able to restore it anymore...
so the whole problem here is that nandroid is not able to backup / restore The File System setting, this being the rfs / ext4 transition
If this is the case, it seems that the Nandroid type backup is not as powerful as i thought, you can't really change from one rom to another in just a few clicks, but then again i guess that all the customs roms already come with some type of lagfix and you can make a nandroid restore between them, the problem would be when you want to revert back to a stock kernel, then you'll have to disable the lagfixes or simply flash a stock kernel and then restore the stock nandroid backup
so, i got this right guys?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes as I understand it.
You see Nandroid can't convert your file system or change anything, all it can do is flash a disc image onto your phone. If that image can work with your file system, you are golden. If not, it is like flashing a Mac OS image onto a Windows machine....nothing will work right.
However the good news is that most custom kernels support Ext4...so really the only problem comes when you try to flash back to a stock image...or vice versa.
got it then, thanks for your answers
and, if i still got your attention, maybe one more question
i just downloaded a stock firmware from samfirmwares.com, and all i got is a .tar file, can i use it somehow to flash just the kernel from it or i have to flash the whole firmware?
if i flash the whole firmware, will it also change my PHONE and CSC?, because the .tar file must be put just in the PDA section in odin
maranello69 said:
got it then, thanks for your answers
and, if i still got your attention, maybe one more question
i just downloaded a stock firmware from samfirmwares.com, and all i got is a .tar file, can i use it somehow to flash just the kernel from it or i have to flash the whole firmware?
if i flash the whole firmware, will it also change my PHONE and CSC?, because the .tar file must be put just in the PDA section in odin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it will flash the PDA, csc, modem and kernel...the whole shooting match. The single file firmwares are designed like that to avoid mismatches and issues. Once you flash it, flash a kernel that supports cwm (I suggest speedmod or something by CHAINFIRE) via odin, then flash a new csc and modem if you wish from recovery.
Remember that installing a new csc will do a factory reset so do it before reinstalling apps.
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
great stuff man
finally i got enough info and i can start my root & flash procedure, guess i'll also learn a few other tricks along the way, this community is definetly the place to be if you want to learn how to "really use" your device
the whole info about the issues with the Nandroid type backup should be integrated in one of those massive info topics, so the root noobs like me know what they're dealing with
maranello69 said:
great stuff man
finally i got enough info and i can start my root & flash procedure, guess i'll also learn a few other tricks along the way, this community is definetly the place to be if you want to learn how to "really use" your device
the whole info about the issues with the Nandroid type backup should be integrated in one of those massive info topics, so the root noobs like me know what they're dealing with
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA Premium App
Hey guys i actually used the search button (yay) and this is definitely the most informative one regarding the topic.
However i still have one more question: does it backup files and folders as well? Ie. my Nexus S storage is mainly used up by my videos and music (about 7-10GB) which are in their own folders and not tied to any apps in particular. Hence if it does include those i wouldn't have enough storage space to create a nandroid backup am i right?
Edit: thanks to the search button i didn't realise that i posted on a Galaxy S forum please forgive me, the question should still be relevant to the topic though
frenccw said:
Hey guys i actually used the search button (yay) and this is definitely the most informative one regarding the topic.
However i still have one more question: does it backup files and folders as well? Ie. my Nexus S storage is mainly used up by my videos and music (about 7-10GB) which are in their own folders and not tied to any apps in particular. Hence if it does include those i wouldn't have enough storage space to create a nandroid backup am i right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I understand it, it does save folders and files, so yes if you have large data folders on your internal SD it will make GIGANTIC nandroid backups. You may want to store such files one your external SD.
I know that there is a version of CWM that does not backup /data/media in Nandroid on the Galaxy Tab 10.1...perhaps there is something similar that I don't know about for Galaxy phones. Does anyone know?
I have recently flashed the JVS firmware from samsung firmware, and then followed that up with this CF-Root-XX_OXA_JVS-v4.1-CWM3RFS, flashing via the PDA section in ODIN. My phone has been working perfectly for a few days, no problems at all, until right now when I've gone to restart the phone.. I was having troubles with the market, and I turned my phone off mid-download of an app.. I'm pretty sure it was mid-download and not mid-installation of it..
However, when I turn my phone back on, it'll show the Galaxy S I9000 screen, then go to the next screen with the glowing S, however after that, it just gives a quick, short vibration, and seems to turn off, then do it all over again..
What does this mean? Is there a way I can get out of it without re-flashing the entire firmware? I am still able to get into download mode, but I don't want to lose messages that I have saved on my phone..
Any help is greatly appreciated..
Denno
Ok, so I let the phone go for a while (around 10 minutes), of the screens cycling through as mentioned above, but now it seems to have actually found a way into the phone, and has now loaded up properly.. However, I'm still interested in what the problem could be on the phone??
are u using new market app?
its happened to me once and i reflashed whole firmware starting from 2.1 to 2.3.5 lol just to avoid sh*t like that
When I had 2.2 on there, I had the new market app, however after flashing 2.3.5, it had the old market, so I was downloading apps from the old market at the time..
What do you mean you re-flashed whole firmware from 2.1?
Anyone else have any ideas?
Try to wipe factory reset and wipe cache or try to flash rom again
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Could be a corruption in the bootloader, if it happens again i would reflash. Otherwise just leave it i guess, maybe it was a one off
It happens pretty much all the time now.. I have reflashed the firmware a couple of times.. And it still seems to happen. What would wiping the cache remove? Will I lose any settings or anything that I have on the phone? I have been restoring backups made using titanium, however just apps and data, not system settings..
If it's the bootloader, is there any way of fixing that?
Thanks
Ah that could be the problem. Sometimes when you restore backup they can conflict and thus cause issues like this...
Try only return the data, that works for me. Get app list from the market and after a backup move to external sd. Format internal sd card. Then do an Odin flash with repartition checked. This is designed to get you back to factory state, so you will loose everything. Make sure your backups are not on your internal sd when you format. Also before you flash i think its a good idea to put a copy of your nandroid backup into the internal sd. Or just use a nandroid backup from when you phone was working fine.
Deleting cache does not delete your settings usually, however when deleting dalvick cache it can take up to 30 mins (max i think) to start you phone, but usually its 5/10 mins.
Yes bootloader can be fixed just find a flashable bootloader with a rom or the directions given. Use search for this
Ok thanks for the tips Talon.. Firstly, this nandroid backup that I keep hearing about.. What exactly is that? Is that the backup that I do through Clockwork Mod Recovery? I'm also unsure how to return just the data to apps? I had a look at Titanium Backup, and the only data recovery option is for system data.. Everything else I think I can handle..
Thanks
Yes nandroid backup is the backup through CWM. You should always do one BEFORE you flash anything on your phone. And keep them in a safe place and leave one in your internal sd card.
You should use titanium backup to backup up a single app at a time, not batch. This way you'll have more files and can choose which apps you want to return, and if you only want to return the data. (I have always done it this way, so i dont know if you can pick the apps you want to return if you do backup via batch.). Use the other app i suggested to keep the market links, so you download the app from market first then you install the data once its there.
I suggest you don't return any apps at first see how it goes, then add either a couple or one at a time, again only the app data. (Once you backuo the app individually, flash then, TB, backup/restore press on the app, restore, then pick data only...) If you go from froyo to GB i think you cant do it)
Thank you very much for your reply Talon. I am currently on JVS, and plan to re-flash this exact same firmware, which is the stock firmware, nothing custom..
As for what you've written, it's going to take me a few reads before I can get my head around it, but I just wanted to say thankyou for a quick and detailed reply. I think I might just bite the bullet and figure out which apps I actually use, and just work with them for now..
I'll post back soon hopefully with results.
After getting very frustrated with the phone, I've finally re-flashed back to a seemingly stock situation. Phone is running great, and all problems seem to be gone. Slowly re-downloading apps from the market as I feel that I need them, so I hopefully won't get any interference from the old backups I had..
One more question, how do you make your backups? If you say you don't use the batch mode in Titanium? I can't see any other way that's as easy..
Thanks for your help Talon.
As i said before, backup/restore click on the app you want to back up, and click backup. When you want to restore it, back to the menu, click on the app, click restore, then pick data only longer but safer
Change the location of TB to your exsd if you haven't already, then go to setting find, and it will make it default location
Ahk.. Sounds very time consuming.. lol..
Phone is running like a champ now . Thanks
I've had my Bell I9000m for almost two years now. I've loaded lots of roms (at least 8) and right now running hacksung v17.
My phone seems to be working just fine, but;
After all this time would it be worthwhile to flash back to stock rom and then mod again? I am just thinking all those older roms I flashed must of left junk behind on the phone.
Will I have to root my phone again?
I have never done this before, I have read lots of threads and have the stock KG3 rom ready to go.
I was thinking the same thing. I'm sure that you would have to re root but I don't know if it would completly format the phone.
If every thing is running fine there is no reason to return to stock,it is the stock firmwares that contain the "junk", as long as you clear caches,data every once in a while when flashing a new update or new rom then you will be fine , and yes if you go back to stock you will have to re root it before starting again.
Ok, let me put it this way.
Is there anyway I can completely wipe out the phone (all the folders.. etc) without going back to stock and then flash Hacksung 7 again?
thanks
Format SD card?
snapper.fishes said:
Format SD card?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has nothing to do with the internal memory. So really is pointless.
You would just have to wipe cache , data and dalvic then reflash rom and gapps( nadroid backup first tho.)
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
Hey guys,
Sorry if this seems really noobish, but I seem be to kinda lost in all of this ROM'ing goodness.
I have read up on installing custom roms and plan on doing so but I have a couple of questions first before I take that last step (already unlocked and rooted on my One) - note: I have read through the guides but I still seem a little confused as to what exactly changes.
I notice that all tuts mention that you will lose all data on your phone. Does this include installed apps or are we just talking system files needed for the new rom? I have my phone setup already and have my apps backing up with Helium (Carbon) but this is something I seem to be a little confused with
Secondly, using something like CWM (Premium), can I update my ROM quickly and easily without losing any data?
I know that unlocking my bootloader will not get me OTA's so I am looking forward to using many of the awesome ROMs here on the site!
1) When you flash a rom, you need to do a full wipe in aroma.
Full wipe will erase all but not the sd, so your app in home, your background, your account will be erased.
2) You can upgrade your rom with CWM if is the same rom and the base isn't different.
If the base is different you have to do a full wipe.
One more
How likely is base to change for a ROM package? And if I have to flash that new ROM package instead of doing the update through CWM, am I back at square one again with my apps and data or is it just updating what it needs to?
Thanks again for the help!
Then:
Now, all the rom is based on 1.29.401.13.
When it will change (it depens from htc) and you will flash the latest update of rom, you have to do a full wipe, and you will lose all file, settings and other.
Instead, if you have to flash an update like: you're on 2.5 to 2.6, you can flash the rom with only dalvik cache and cache wipe.
But it depens, you always have to read in thread rom
I guess its not so big of a deal considering I can backup most of my apps using Helium and the rest of the apps can just be redownloaded if I keep a list. Configurations should be backed up anyways.
Thanks for the help!
If you're rooted and you will restore your app after a full wipe, i advise you titanium backup.
With this you can do a flashable zip with all your apps and data
Thanks!
I will take a look at Titanium backup and see what it can do! It would only make sense that someone would invent a way to backup all your apps and data (no matter what) to be able to restore them after a ROM update that wipes the phone completely!
Titanium backup can do this
However, only data app, not system app.
If you backupping system app too, you can have issue with new update of rom
I a installing ARHD...
So I am coming from 13.4 to 31.0... do I need to wipe the stuff in Aroma or can I go without wiping?
I advice you to full wipe all for a clean install and you won't have any issue.
However, backup your contacts, sms and other stuff you need before the full wipe.
p.s. Your sd won't be touched.
Guich said:
I advice you to full wipe all for a clean install and you won't have any issue.
However, backup your contacts, sms and other stuff you need before the full wipe.
p.s. Your sd won't be touched.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm with this guy^^
Definitely wipe it. And it's good to have things backed up anyway. Once you get used to making your backups you can do a full wipe and rom install really quickly, I do them daily when I'm testing or trying out new builds.
My contacts are in google (gmail) and sync when I sign in at the setup screen, I backup and restore sms/mms and I use titanium backup for my user apps, but google installs most of my apps when I sign in. I also copy my entire sdcard storage over to a folder on my computer about every month or so, just in case something happens. I just select the whole thing, drag and drop it into it's own folder on my PC's hard drive.
We all have different methods, just gotta use a method thats best for you to make restoring after an install easy.
On a sidenote: With a jump in versions like that will you be installing different firmware? I dunno that it's required but if you are then you will get a slightly different answer.
CharliesTheMan said:
On a sidenote: With a jump in versions like that will you be installing different firmware? I dunno that it's required but if you are then you will get a slightly different answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Isn't required, but is better upgrade also the firmware, because it's optimized for the new base
I can tell you that I tried a dirty upgrade (made a nandroid backup first thankfully) from 22.1 to 31, and it messed everything up. restored, backed up apps etc, did wipe through aroma, upgraded, havent had a problem.
couldnt get a firmware upgrade working (s off was giving me the dreaded 1 error, which apparently doesnt have a fix), but its working fine without.