Hello,
I read a lot about the big ROM flashing and did this on my XDA mini. Anything seems to work so I'm quite happy until now. One point of concern is still there... what about the apps from the ExtROM that I copied for backup on my harddisk? Using an XDA on the O2 network, we are talking about apps like Homezone and O2 settings.
If I understood the BigROM thing right, I deleted the ExtROM that was executed on a hard reset before. Therefore, after BigROM,
- no O2 app will be loaded after hard reset
- no autostarter, like in the O2 ExtROM, is necessary any more since nothing is loaded after hard reset
- after hard reset, all apps have to be installed once again
- best way to keep the apps secure and appropriate is install all apps once and frequently backup the whole setup
Is this the right way to look at the changes?
Another question about the O2 files: Besides the homezone control, are there alternative programs for the rest (Java, Today screen) or do I need the special O2 apps due to the settings coming with them?
Any help appreciated!
Yes you got it all right! After the Big Storage ROM the Extended ROM bit was deleted from the ROM. The space consumed by the Extended ROM is now available for you to use under the /Storarge folder.
Now, to install the required extended ROM programs just copy them to any folder on the PPC and click on them from the file explorer.
However I would suggest to install a program called CABINSTL. This allows you to run CAB files and install them in the folder of your choice instead of the default folder that consumes some of your precious RAM. I would install these CAB files in the /Storage folder, thus making benefit of the Big Storage ROM
The same applies to any other program you install. Always install it in /Storage. If you don't, after the Big Storage upgrade the only benefit would be of having some extra storage space. If you have an SD Card you don't need this space so might as well use it to install programs and free up the RAM.
If I use the cabinstl programme to manually install my Orange ExtRom files after a BigStorage install - even when I choose a different install location (eg. /Storage) the utility is still installed into the default location (usually somewhere in /Windows/).
I have the same problem. Also i pushed the option not to delete the cab file, but after install they are deleted I know i can make them read only, but i cannot do this trough explore of activesync.
It appears that some CAB files have their install location 'hard coded' into the file so it cannot or should not be changed.
I guess that this is to ensure that the utility works correctly so I don't suppose that there is much that we can do.
You can edit the CAB on your PC and define your own folder. However this is not recommended as the code for these programs may have some paths that are hard coded as well.
Anyway these couple of CAB files will not impact your overall RAM situation at all. On mine I only installed JAVA, MMS, Bluetooth and Camera patches from the Extended ROM. I don't need the rest.
Thanks for your help! So is it okay to install anything in the storage that goes there without complaining? As I installed PocketPlus there, Windows looked at it like on the memory card and displayed a message that installing apps there could become a problem during startup.
Thanks again and bye!
Ok this is a newb question but is there any integration between these three?
I would like to do some relatively basic customization to ROMs I install and be able to reapply them. It would also be nice to work in a PC environment and test there. Any guidance?
I guess you can backup either smartphone or emulated device via activesync with more expensive version of sprite backup, and then restore the backup to any device or emulator again... should be enough.
As far as I know, it's not possible to emulate the ROMS on a PC using an emulator. I remember someone else asking about this. Yep... you're reviving part of this topic.
ok, forget about the emulator...
If I run sprite backup on a ROM and do a backup, does it just save the changes that I made to the ROM or does it save everything in the ROM?
If it is the former, it would seem that I could reapply my changes to a new ROM after an upgrade...
owner information
carrier MMS and phone information
updated styles
softbutton location assignments
adding new icons
registry install information for programs
added and deleted icons
etc.
...and I could keep reapplying these same changes to new ROM builds as long as the changes didn't break a new build.
Or am I missing something?
If Sprite Backup is only good for a given build and I switch ROM builds every quarter it doesn't seem worth doing a backup.
ROM Cooking
bipinsen said:
As far as I know, it's not possible to emulate the ROMS on a PC using an emulator... this topic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I have even more respect for ROM builders now. I can't imagine having to apply changes without being able to test them in an emulator, although if you can apply your changes to your phone and save that image to make a ROM later, it seems like you wouldn't need Sprite Backup. You would just use the ROM tools to backup your whole ROM.
kkrull said:
If I run sprite backup on a ROM and do a backup, does it just save the changes that I made to the ROM or does it save everything in the ROM?
If it is the former, it would seem that I could reapply my changes to a new ROM after an upgrade...
owner information
carrier MMS and phone information
updated styles
softbutton location assignments
adding new icons
registry install information for programs
added and deleted icons
etc.
...and I could keep reapplying these same changes to new ROM builds as long as the changes didn't break a new build.
Or am I missing something?
If Sprite Backup is only good for a given build and I switch ROM builds every quarter it doesn't seem worth doing a backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a hit or miss depending on the ROM version. I have noticed that the registry entries among the different versions for WM6 (different builds) are sometimes different enough that registry restores don't always work. Here's been my strategy (you have to do a search yourself for these softwares):
- Connect with Mobile Registry Editor from my PC to phone => backup as separate .reg files all pertinent locations of the registry that I want
- Have a permanent location in my SD card where I can keep these .reg files
- When I have downloaded a new ROM, I use Resco Registry Editor to import the reg files back in registry. Since I'm not importing the entire hive, I have been reasonably successful with this. Note: there are many different ways of importing registry files on the phone; I just like Resco.
I'm still using default ROM on my kaiser, although i have hardspl and super cid installed. I just have couple of simple questions, which i could not find on forum.
1. Can i uninstall some applications that are cooked into the custom rom?
2. Is it better to cook applications to rom or to install them afterwards with cab?
3. Since i don't use all that stuff that chefs cook into their rom, should i take time and study rom cooking and make my own, or should i install the most basic and lite rom i can find, and then install cab's i need?
tnx all
1. There is no straightforward way to uninstall programs that are cooked into ROMs. You can install the program (overtop) via a .cab, then uninstall it. That will theoretically take everything out, but it's kind of a pain and no guarantee you'll get everything (depending upon the cook's custom settings and file locations).
2. I tend to cook in applications that probably aren't going to change versions for a while. But it's not such a pain to re-cook a ROM that it's not a big deal.
3. I would suggest going with a lite ROM and figuring out which programs you like before you take on cooking. Alex has really made it quite easy, but you can run into problems. You should flash a number of ROMs (and seen the issues that can result) before you try to do it yourself. There are a number of great ones out there. I'd suggest Alex's Lite and Q-Mobile to start. Both are great.
If you are like me and are constantly re flashing your phone then I am sure you will get sick of installing all your CABs and alltering settings.
Does anyone know how to get CABs to install automatically?
I have used WinCE CAB Manager to look after alot of my registry tweaks, I have used sprite backup to backup and restore my phone as it was on a previous ROM but I am aware that sprite backup seems to restore elements from my previous ROM which makes testing a nightmare.
I also read about External ROMs on other phones (not Raphael) that enabled users to copy CABs to this External ROM, this enabled CABs to automatically load after a hard reset. This however, required a registry hack containg passwords to un hide and unlock this section of the Rom.
Does the Raphael have an external ROM or is this determined by the cooks?
I have also noticed that TomTom7 has an auto installer which installs after every hardreset regardless of which ROM has been cooked. This gives me hope in that it is possible.
I will have a play with the TOMTOM auto installer and see what I can do.
I am sure that this will eventually enable us all to reflash more often with less time reloading CABs.
Let me know what you do to install your CABs or if I have been searching in the wrong place.
SDAutoRun gives customziation to everybody!
Check out UC HEREand HERE
shashimi for me.
Sashimi is the most powerful tool for auto installation and can do much more than just installing cabs.
It'll take a while to configure the first time but it's worth the hassle.
SASHIMI AutoInstaller RAW Edition v.8.0
Sprite BackUp
Sprite Restore Merge Level 1 moves me between ROMs fine.
This a simple and quick guide for everyone who wana make or just modify their own HTC DESIRE ROM's.(Rooted ones)
For example you downloaded a nice ROM from one of devs here, but they removed some application that you cant live without. Now you dont need to beg them to add those files back, simple add them your self and flash your rom.Missing APK's you can get simple by downloading any stock rom, than extract them and put them in your new ROM.
After you extracted files provided (c root recomended), you will see 2 maps
"Sign ROM" and "tools"
Signing ROM's:
After you modifed your ROM zip file, simple put it in "Sign ROM" map, and rename it to update.zip.Than run "Sign.bat" After the process is done you will get another zip called "update_signed.zip" which you can now put to your SD card and your ready for flashing. Note:JAVA SDK files are included, you only need to have normal java installed.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2921/signedrom.jpg
Pushing recovery files from windows:
Now to flash your ROM you dont need linux anymore, simple enter recovery (Power button+back, than select recovery...), and than in the map "tools" run recovery-windows.bat. Than you will get standard screen where you can flash your roms, partition SD, clear data and so on..
NOTE: You need to have HTC Sync driver installed or your phone wont be detected (you can get them from HTC)
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1894/pushfiles.jpg
If you have any questions, suggestions or if i wrote something wrong i will be happy to answer/corect them.
http://hotfile.com/dl/43311449/92d9ee6/Desire_Tools.exe.html
http://www.megaupload.com/?d=JNI68MWZ
http://rapidshare.com/files/388849647/Desire_Tools.exe.html (Thanks pympster for link )
http://www.robertolsen.no/desire_tools.rar
(Thanks GeoTrail for link)
would this tool work for the HTC Legend aswell?
For signing roms yes, for pushing files not sure if Desire and legend use same files..
Ok this one is simple, but this is only how to add/delete several apps.
How about going little bit more deeper?
Well if you wana go deeper, you can download costom kernels with overclocks or low volatege and replace the ones in rom, or those circle battery mods or costom boot sounds and so on...Basicly your replacing/modifying original files. But this is just quick basic guide for basic stuff, let real ROM developing and costomizing to the developers who are good at it.
As far as hardware support goes is it the kernel that provides everything? Basically if I take an N1 rom (like cyanogen 5.0.6) and change to a desire kernel, is it likely to just work perfectly or are there other bits in the ROM that are likely to need changing?
Of course you can just use dsixda's Kitchen which is cross-platform and quite straightforward to use.
You just add the update.zip file you want to change, remove/add any apps you want and make any advanced changes you want too.
Select Build ROM and it'll create the new update.zip that you can flash to phone.
I've used it on my Desire without problem for adding/removing apps.
Well that kitchen is nice, but still..you need to downlaod virutal machine to make it run under windows or Cygwin tool than download JAVA SDK..setup lots of things.
My point of this thread was just vey basic and simple way to quickly add/remove/costomize files from ROM, without installling and downloading lots of tools, and quickly install it on Phone and test.
Sorry, I wasn't meaning to undermine your work. No doubt you've spent a lot of time creating this and trying to contribute to the community. It's far more than I can say for myself.
I was just pointing out there's something already out there, and more capable than this.
It's definitely good to see people helping out the members and this is definitely something useful
Everything is cool TheAshMan, and thanks for you link, im sure some enthusiastic people will try some advance things like that. But even my self im not big expert about Linux and phones, i do have great knowledge about windows and computers, but dont have much time for this area.
Screen shots on how to use this would help, I've come from cooking my own WinMo ROMs and wuld like to give this a try if possible
Also, as I use W7 x64 is it best to run the .bat files as an admin? Had issues using Windows methods in the past so have been using Linux to get rooted
I'm also using Windows 7 x64.
About running bat's as admin its not necessary unless you have some kind of UAC high settings, or running on some kind of limited user account. I never run this bats as admin and they work fine.
Basicly download some stock rom, or someones rom. And simple add or remove files inside rom.zip/system/app/
If you dont like facebook for example, just remove Facebook.apk and facebook.odex(if its present).
After your done with that, rename ROM to update.zip and put it in the folder
C:\Desire Tools\Sign ROM\ and excecute "Sign.bat" , and it will create signed rom with name update_signed.zip.
http://img99.imageshack.us/img99/2921/signedrom.jpg
This is just some base, im not gona explain you about ROM deodexing, framework, boot images kernels and stuff, because im not expert at this.
Now you can put that file to root of your SD card.
Now you can test it on your phone.
Shut down your phone. Turn it ON while holding back button.You will see Bootloader selected, press power button again. Than Recovery will appear, you can navigate down with volumen UP AND DOWN and select Recovery and press POWER button again to select it.Phone with Red triangle will appear on your phone. Now go in map C:\Desire Tools\tools and excecute "recovery-windows.bat"
http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/1894/pushfiles.jpg
And on your phone you will get that screen with green letters where you can select to 'Flash zip from sdcard' ,where your signed rom will appear.(You need to wipe data before from the same menu)
I hope i made some thing clearer im writing this from work so dont have much time
Right, got a ROM and added 2 .apk files to the /system/app folder and now got a signed_update.zip...is that it? They'll be on the device from the start?
Seems to simple to me!!
How can you add a new radio? Or change the version number in About phone>Software?
Yea thats it. About those other things..Google is your friend...
edit mate
when i flash it says:
E: Can't find update script
rom.zip/META-INF/COM/google/android/update-script
Did you touch that in ROM? If you didint, than you removed something that you shouldnt.
Can u also remove apps from rom that you don't like by this method.
-------------------------------------
Sent via the XDA Tapatalk App
Yea, thats the all point of everything i wrote here. Very simple way of very quickly removing apps that you dont want from the rom before flashing it.
Also, you need to watch out, and to a bit experementing. Because sometimes if you remove some crucial app, you will start getting random crashes of applications or random bugs. Allways make a copy of original rom.
For example if you remove HTC-IME.apk, you wont have any kind of keyboard in the rom. Making it un-usable
Somebody already asked how to add radio update, is it maybe included in Modaco r3 rom(the one without apps2sd and modaco additional stuff)?
Tnx for help