Database Info

[Alpha ROM Builder] Create Custom Application Backup-Removal Update.zip

Joeykrim's Custom Android Application Backup and Removal Update.zip
Disclaimer: Use this at your own risk.
ALPHA version - not very pretty. quick and dirty but its working!
Description:
The default is nothing. If you select nothing, it does nothing. This will ONLY backup and remove the applications manually selected.
This does not effect anything on the /data partition - meaning no data or settings will be changed by using this update.zip
Background:
This will allow stock applications (.apk and .odex) to be backed up to the sdcard (/sdcard/sdx/backup) and removed from the phone (/system/app). If an app is selected to be removed and its already removed, the script will keep going, it will not result in any kind of error or boot loop.
Requirements:
Custom Recovery - Few Suggestions:
[RECOVERY] Permanently replacing your recovery with ClockworkMod Recovery Image
[Recovery] [18-June-2010] RA-evo-v1.7.0.1 - Not compatible because it forces all .zip files to be signed and this online kitchen doesn't java sign the .zip files. In order to stay compatible, please manually sign the .zip file.
Instructions:
Check any combination of boxes below to combine actions into one custom-SDX-update.zip file.
Download this file and put it onto the /sdcard of the phone.
Boot into a recovery mode using a custom recovery (reboot recovery from adb shell or vol down + power).
Select Apply Update.zip and choose the zip.
Reboot.
Let me know if it works, doesn't work, etc. Thanks!
NEW HOST
http://www.joeyconway.me/evo/custom/index.php
Added more applications to the list. If there is an application which isnt on there that you want added, please post it and I'll add it!
To Do List: - Please post what you want added!
Add more safe apps to remove
Add boot animations
Custom Kernels
Themes
Potentially Other ROMS

Moment to Evo you make it happen

Re: Create Custom Application Backup-Removal Update.zip
Thanks joey...doesn't get easier then this. Will try when I get home
-------------------------------------
Sent from my PC36100

Could you add GSD.apk, the sprint_promo apk, and all the stock and newsreader apk's?
Also does this remove the .odex files with the .apk?
Thanks for your work

ryan5943 said:
Could you add GSD.apk, the sprint_promo apk, and all the stock and newsreader apk's?
Also does this remove the .odex files with the .apk?
Thanks for your work
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, .odex files are also removed, ive added that to the directions.
i also added everything you mentioned above. for the stock and news apks, i might have missed one but tried to grab them all, i read if they are removed there are sync issues ... haven't heard it confirmed either way so i added a warning.
thanks for the feedback. hope it works? let me know!

Joey, so good to see your skills being applied over here! One quick question, if we use this removal script and select an app that is already removed, will it cause any issues like a bootloop or failure? Or would if just ignore the missing app and move on?

vinscuzzy said:
Joey, so good to see your skills being applied over here! One quick question, if we use this removal script and select an app that is already removed, will it cause any issues like a bootloop or failure? Or would if just ignore the missing app and move on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good question. i can add this to my main post.
if you select an app which is already removed, it will attempt to remove it again and when it finds it not there, it will skip over it. will not cause a bootloop or any kind of failure!
update: added a few more requested apps to the list! let me know if there is anything else!

easy as can be, worked great!

Works great to remove not so much putting back unless there is a trick to it. I can't get mail to reinstall or nav

rjmjr69 said:
Works great to remove not so much putting back unless there is a trick to it. I can't get mail to reinstall or nav
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good point!
perhaps i could add a feature that allows apps removed using this method to be restored using this method.
putting back should be simple thru adb. i'd recommend doing it from recovery.
adb shell
cp /sdcard/sdx/backup/Mail.* /system/app/Mail.* (this will copy apk and odex if you're using a ROM with odex)
hopefully that helps! thanks for the feedback!

Will we be seeing some boot anims and custom boot logo's in the kitchen soon?

Good job Joey! I missed this from my Moment...glad to see it's available for the EVO!!

lol its funny cuz the maker of Titanium Backup is named Joel

Kshawn said:
Will we be seeing some boot anims and custom boot logo's in the kitchen soon?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i sure hope so!
any requests? links? i can reach out to the authors and get their permission!

joeykrim said:
i sure hope so!
any requests? links? i can reach out to the authors and get their permission!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yessir, I would like to request boot animation used in Bugless Beast v4 ROM =], when I think or come across i will keep you posted.
Also I will create some boot logo's to contribute.

How adding the PDF Viewer and Qik to the remover.

ski05751 said:
How adding the PDF Viewer and Qik to the remover.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PDF Viewer is already added. Qik is now added!
hope that helps! and welcome to XDA!

Thanks for this. exactly what i was looking for!
edit: just tried to apply the update.zip and i get a no signature error. ( using fresh rom)

brock1909 said:
Thanks for this. exactly what i was looking for!
edit: just tried to apply the update.zip and i get a no signature error. ( using fresh rom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great question. need to have a custom recovery. im updating the OP! thanks for the feedback!
there are a few available here:
[Recovery] [18-June-2010] RA-evo-v1.7.0.1
[RECOVERY] Permanently replacing your recovery with ClockworkMod Recovery Image

i do.
i have the RA EVo 1.7.0.1

[ROM] (Appalachian_Wireless) AW10 based off the Appalachian Wireless 2.1RUU

This Rom is made for the Appalachian Wireless hero users out there.​This is a complete rebuild of my original rom, it is faster, better optimized and themeable with some new features added.
FIRST OFF THANKS GOES TO..
dsixda
MrDanger
theresthatguy
First boot can be a little slow about 2-3 min while it's rebuilding the cache.
FEATURES
Added Market fix so protected apps will now display in market.
Added Flash 10.1
Moved Maps to /data/app so duplicate versions won't be installed when it gets updated from the market.
Rooted (unsecured boot.img)
Rooted (Superuser.apk + su)
Deodexed /system/framework, /system/app
PNG optimized for speed
Bash shell support
BusyBox installed
Nano text editor installed
Live Wallpapers
ADDED APPLICATIONS
Wireless tethering installed
Estrongs Files Explorer
Terminal
Spare Parts
CarDock
REMOVED APPLICATIONS
amazonmp3
StockWidget
TwitterWidget
Facebook
HtcFacebook
HtcFootprints
HtcFootprintsWidget
HtcTwitter
HTMLViewer
LearnMore
PDFViewer
Quickoffice
Stock
teeter
Removed apps are placed on your sdcard in the AW10/removed directory.
To Reinstall
connect your phone to your computer
choose charge only when prompted on your phone
open a command prompt, cd into the android-sdk/tools directory and run
Code:
adb remount
adb push /sdcard/AW10/removed/nameofapp.apk /system/app
INSTALL:
DOWNLOAD
Alternate DOWNLOAD mirror
place .zip file on sd card
reboot into recovery mode
nandroid backup
wipe
wipe dalvik cache
install AW10.zip file
live wallpapers are optional, to install them flash lwp.zip via recovery separately from the rom.
known issues:
issue: if you flash the lwp.zip and the rom together at the same time, it can cause boot loops.
fix: install the rom let it boot once, reboot then install the lwp.zip.
issue: updating of google maps in market fails
fix: uninstall old version first by going into Settings/Applications/Manage applications uninstall maps then re-download from market.
NOTE: Live wallpapers only work when using an alternate launcher like ADW or Launcher Pro from the market.

got any screenshots?

joeman24 said:
got any screenshots?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I updated some things and added some screen shots.

Wow, and I thought I was the only person with Appalachian Wireless to Root, you know I had a terrible time rooting. Just about every guide I could find was for Sprint only. I wish I had found you about 2 months ago. I had to upgrade to the Stock 2.1, before I was able to root. Did you have as hard of a time getting your Hero rooted as I did on Appalachian Wireless? Just curious.

lordofletterbox said:
Wow, and I thought I was the only person with Appalachian Wireless to Root, you know I had a terrible time rooting. Just about every guide I could find was for Sprint only. I wish I had found you about 2 months ago. I had to upgrade to the Stock 2.1, before I was able to root. Did you have as hard of a time getting your Hero rooted as I did on Appalachian Wireless? Just curious.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no i waited until 2.1 was released and rooted, i didn't want to take the chance of messing up my carrier settings with the sprint RUU, and not being able to restore them, i was tempted though very tempted.

Could you please host this somewhere else??? I cant get it to download from mediafire..

can't download it ,can u give another link ty

baddime said:
can't download it ,can u give another link ty
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
please be patient with me I'm working on this, should be fixed in a little while.

OK because all my files on mediafire got wiped
and i was going to release this newer version in a couple days anyway, i decided to go ahead and post it tonight.
the only thing missing that i wanted to include in this version is some custom mods i made for it.
i decided to just add them to the original post as metamorph addons instead of including them with the rom, that way you can pick and choose which ones you want instead of me I'll try to have them up soon.

Very nice codejunkie. You've got a little more accomplished with this rom than what I got done with it. My rom was pretty much bare stock. Nothing removed. I was able to get it de-odexed, but when I started looking into changing the rosie, that was when things started becoming unstable.

sadalius said:
Very nice codejunkie. You've got a little more accomplished with this rom than what I got done with it. My rom was pretty much bare stock. Nothing removed. I was able to get it de-odexed, but when I started looking into changing the rosie, that was when things started becoming unstable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the kind words, I've been working on theaming a lot Lately and your so right any wrong change to the framework files and things can go crazy fast.
Sent from my HERO200 using XDA App

Awesome man kudos to you...Thank you so much been hitting all the others since someone talked me through a root back in early summer and forgot how nice sense was. How do we add themes for it?

Questions from a NOOOOB

I have a bunch of questions, but here is where I'm at.
I had 2.2 stock OTA. I then used bootstrapper to place dr154's Deodex OTA 2.2 onto my phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=794007
Next, I again used bootstrapper to put NexTheme on my phone: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=749692
Question 1: Are both the deodex OTA and NexTheme now on my phone, or did NexTheme replace the deodex OTA? If I were to load another Theme on, would all 3 coexist or would the other(s) be replaced?
Question 2: If I were to factory reset my phone, what would it revert to? Stock? dr154's deodex? Etc.
Question 3: If vzw released a system update, do I have to do anything to my phone before I receive it?
Now more questions regarding SYSTEM APPS.
Problem 1: MotoTorch was preloaded as a system app, as a part of either Deodex or NexTheme, assuming these coexist. When a new version came out in the market, I could not update to it, because it was a system app. Superuser, same thing, a newer version came out, couldnt get it, "installation unsuccessful".
Problem 2: Additionally, lots of the system apps aren't even recognized as installed by the market. So sometimes you won't even know if an update is available. This was the case with MotoTorch.
So I used the common solution that everyone uses and that I found with a little searching, I loaded adb and mounted /system/app as rw, then removed the apks. Then reinstalled them from the market. Then remounted /system/app as ro.
My question regarding system apps is this:
Question 4: What is the advantage of having an app be a system app?
Question 5: The stock system apps such as Amazon Mp3, or City ID - can I safely remove these? Which ones CANNOT be removed? When I did ls /system/app, there were a huge number.
Lastly, I am new, so I'm sorry if I missed it or could have search it or whatever, but I'm wondering....
Question 6: What is tranquility exactly? I see a lot of themes say they're based of tranquility? If I wanted it, where could i find the newest version? If I install a theme based off tranquility, and then a new version of tranquility comes out, can I reinstall tranquility on my phone, then reinstall the theme and will then the theme be using the newest tranquility?
Question 7: What are the advantages of being blur-less?
Question 8: Is xda the best place to find new themes? Or is there another more centralized site?
Thank you very much for any answers!!

just about everyone of your questions are answered somewhere on the web, but ill give it a shot anyways.
1. Themes only replace certain apks, (this is usually stated in the themers OP) so at times you are most likely going to have a merge of themes, sometimes you will notice it sometimes you wont.
for example, you load a new rom which has apks 1-20. Now you load a theme that has apks 1-6. next you decide to load theme 2 that has apks 1-4. then you load theme 3 with apks 1-2. so even though your main theme is is theme 3, you still have parts of 1 and 2.
2. I would avoid a factory reset, just keep a backup and a copy of the rom your on. And if need be boot to recovery and restore one of those.
3. Yes you would need to revert back to bone stock, best done with an sbf. Google it, that subject is beaten to death.
your using the term system app wrong.
1-2. if the apps were loaded and pushed to system/app they usually wont update. the apks should be in data/app.
when you did the mount/uninstall/install this loaded the apk to the proper data/app location.
4. again wrong terminology. consider system app an app that is either neccesary for phone to run or an apk that MUST be in system/app
5. google "remove droid x bloatware"
6. would take way to long to fully explain that. newest can be found on rom manager or TBH.
7. personal preference, plus less &%$# running in the background.
8. no centralized site, you can find different stuff on different sites. mydroidworld, droid-life, droidforums, droidxforums, etc.

thanks for your answers, but when i ls /system/app i see a lot of useless junk that I am pretty sure aren't required for the system...
the theme gave me mototorch to /system not /data

Here's the BIG question. Did you make your own nandroid back-up before you started this whole process? In other words- did you go into bootstrap recovery and create a back up of your phone first? and then do all this other stuff? Bc that is the easiest and number one way to return your phone to its factory settings. In fact- at this point it may be the only way. With 2.1 we had an SBF file which was essentially the original "rom image" (i come from windows mobile so forgive me). So if you were tinkering around or flashing roms and something happened - you could restore using the SBF to the factory state.
On 2.2 there is no complete SBF. Team Black Hat released a partial SBF they are calling a "system SBF" that can help people that have fubared their phone installing themes and what not. But i don't think it returns the phone to factory settings- I could be wrong since I am a complete newb to android.
So to make a long story even longer- that is why I asked if your remembered to make your own nandroid back up of your phone b4 you did all this stuff- so you have a way to return your phone to its original factory state. If you did not- then don't let it bother you. I have read many posts from seasoned android users that simply got excited and forgot to do it. Eventually - the SBF has to be leaked and we all can sleep a little easier.

I didn't make a nandroid backup. Thanks for letting me know about this, now I know not to try to revert until a true sbf comes out, you might have just saved me from bricking. I guess if an OTA comes out, and we still don't have an SBF, I'll just have to wait for a customized version of that OTA to be released.

Turns out the full SBF was released yesterday by the way:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=807903

DroidXChat said:
I didn't make a nandroid backup. Thanks for letting me know about this, now I know not to try to revert until a true sbf comes out, you might have just saved me from bricking. I guess if an OTA comes out, and we still don't have an SBF, I'll just have to wait for a customized version of that OTA to be released.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DroidXChat said:
Turns out the full SBF was released yesterday by the way:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=807903
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes- this is confirmed lagitamate. So you are good to go. You can now restore to factory by downloading this sbf and using RSDlite (RSDLight? - can't remember).
So- didn't have to wait to long

build.prop and themes

Quick question. Probably obvious but i don't know.
When i install a new theme will i lose my modified build.prop?

btw i'm planning on installing the 928Droid deodexerrrrrrrr theme and then going back to the 928Droid stock deodexed theme, and then to Incognito

davidukfl said:
btw i'm planning on installing the 928Droid deodexerrrrrrrr theme and then going back to the 928Droid stock deodexed theme, and then to Incognito
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
9/10 times.. themes do not affect build.props.

alright thanks. I just noticed when i unzipped the theme file to see what was in it, i saw a system folder with a build.prop file in it.
Now if the theme does change the build prop, can i just replace it with my modified build.prop file once the theme is installed?

davidukfl said:
alright thanks. I just noticed when i unzipped the theme file to see what was in it, i saw a system folder with a build.prop file in it.
Now if the theme does change the build prop, can i just replace it with my modified build.prop file once the theme is installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI the build.prop change all depend on the person who put the theme together. Some have it while others do not. So it is best to look in the *.zip each time prior to installing.
As for your question about changing it after you did install a theme, YES you can. it will have no affect on the theme.

alright thanks.
Also while i got people's attention. What are the odds of bricking my phone when applying a theme? This is my first time doing this
these are the instructions i'm going on
droid-life said:
1. You need to be rooted.
2. You need to have run Koush’s Droid X Bootstrap.
3. You need to have the DeOdexEERR.zip file on your SD card.
4. Open Koush’s DX Bootstrap and boostrap the recovery before rebooting to it.
5. From there, go into “backup / restore” and create a backup.
6. Then choose “install zip from sd card.”
7. Choose “select zip to install” and find the DeOdexEERR.zip.
8. Say “yes” and your phone will deodex and apply the 928Droid theme.
9. Enjoy!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

davidukfl said:
alright thanks.
Also while i got people's attention. What are the odds of bricking my phone when applying a theme? This is my first time doing this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is very possible. My best suggestion is backup with nandroid.. so if anything do go wrong. Just do a nandroid restore and it will be like nothing ever happened.

MrDanger said:
It is very possible. My best suggestion is backup with nandroid.. so if anything do go wrong. Just do a nandroid restore and it will be like nothing ever happened.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
alright cool, I'm creating a backup right now
Thanks for the help

davidukfl said:
alright thanks.
Also while i got people's attention. What are the odds of bricking my phone when applying a theme? This is my first time doing this
these are the instructions i'm going on
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Guess it is a matter of opinion on what a brick is. A device stuck in a bootloop or on the M symbol is NOT a brick IMO. With that said as long as you have an nandroid backup and can get into recovery you can get it up and running. Plus with the actual SBF files posted for 2.1 & 2.2 now its very unlikely you'll brick it.
To me a bricked is a device that will no longer function AT ALL. And about the only way you are going to truly brick you device is if you start messing with the locked bootloader as I have seen in person one that is brick. And when I say brick I mean brick it will not even power on, charge, or have a light come on no matter what you do to it.

about to install a theme, but one more quick question.
I have removed skype and blockbuster apps using Titanium backup (not frozen, actually removed) and frozen a couple of other apps.
will this have any negative effects when installing the theme?

never mind. got my answer. I installed the theme and it just reinstalled some of the apps I'd frozen and/or removed

[Q] settings app missing

I just flashed the first real version of my new rom, and it appears that the settings app is not installed?!?!?! I have no idea why, I can see it in /system/app with the file browser, but it does not show in my app drawer and if I try to install it it tells me I don't allow unknown sources. but if I click change settings it obviously force closes since settings doesn't exist. does anyone have any idea what could cause this?

The exact same thing just happened to me last night! Ironic...
I have not had time to dig into it again yet (hopefully tonight)... but I also had the setup issue and "this is not a blur device" when trying to use the stock home. I partially suspect the moto setup issue is related to cheescake... once i reinstalled cheesecake, switched to the default server, then setup worked fine...
I'll let you know what I find out about settings tonight... you likewise - let me know what you come up with..
Edit- to explain the cheesecake thing... i think I used a backup or some files from one after I had been checking different servers on cheesecake.. so i think the non-default server settings got transferred over.
Anyone know which files cheesecake affects?
Sent from my mind using XDA

So, I was just giving it another go, and for some reason or another, right after I hit build I decided to go back and change an apk - right before I started the zip-align process... and low and behold there was no Settings.apk in the working folder! Very strange.. i don't recall removing it... So, I tossed it back in.
We'll see what happens.. gotta finish up this draft.
Sent from my mind using XDA

I just had this happen to me last week. I flashed a ROM (don't remember the name) then decided I wanted to try Lithium. I didn't read the small print on the post that says you have to flash Lithium 1.2 first, do a full boot into OS, then reboot and flash 1.2.1. When I flashed directly to 1.2.1 I was missing my Settings just like you described.

Dude, I don't know if you figured it out, bricked your phone, or are furiously busy trying to crank out a new ROM... But, i've come to the conclusion that the mysterious missing Settings.apk has something to with the xml edits and/or recompiling the apk. Had another round of flashing, and I made a couple extra update.zips this time along with the full rom.
So, initially after flashing the rom, I went and checked with root explorer and the settings.apk was physically there.. but was not being recognized by the system (I think TB showed it as uninstalled). So, I flashed one of my settingsfix.zips that I made - first the one with my xml edits (that had previously been de/recompiled) - and it was a no go - still not seeing Settings. Then I flashed a version from a Stock set, and that fixed it.
I am still having the Accounts Setup issue though - that's my pain in the... But, I made another setupfix.zip and that helped me skip the Account Setup - I can add google accounts with no problem, but when I try to add a yahoo account I get a login failed... and when I check for software updates through settings and try to setup a moto account, I get connection failed...still suspecting cheesecake.
Edit - Yup. Cheesecake - I just reinstalled it - did not hit the top "install necessary files" button - just switched to the default production server, and then went back to settings to check for system update - and this time the moto account was setup no problem, and my device is up to date... What the heck does cheesecake modify?? Where are those servers listed?

still having the issue. the app is there, but will not be recognized, is it a permissions issue? any idea how to fix it?

Did you try just flashing the Settings.apk only? If that's a no go, then its the apk - if it goes, then it's a problem with the rom building...
I can't figure it out yet but I got all of my settings working, inverted.. I think I started from scratch again but flashed it separately.. I haven't had a chance to dig into it again recently.. but yea.. don't know..
Sent from my mind using XDA

alteredlikeness said:
Did you try just flashing the Settings.apk only? If that's a no go, then its the apk - if it goes, then it's a problem with the rom building...
I can't figure it out yet but I got all of my settings working, inverted.. I think I started from scratch again but flashed it separately.. I haven't had a chance to dig into it again recently.. but yea.. don't know..
Sent from my mind using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried writing a zip to flash it again after install of the rom. next i guess I will try installing the rom by backup, as that will probably work better. I think flashable zips are much better though. I have been using JRW28's inverted settings app, so Maybe I'll grap a normal one from a stock rom and see how that works.

Try signing the Settings.apk - it worked for me. Here's what I figured out so far if you are decompiling apks... (no need for simple image editing/swapping...)
SIGN:
Settings
PerformanceManager
DON'T SIGN:
BatteryManager
DataManager
framework-res
moto-res
blur-res
SystemUI
Not certain about the **-res.apks and SystemUI since I did those so long ago, but.. I got all inverted settings/task manager/Battery&Data manager working!

alteredlikeness said:
Try signing the Settings.apk - it worked for me. Here's what I figured out so far if you are decompiling apks... (no need for simple image editing/swapping...)
SIGN:
Settings
PerformanceManager
DON'T SIGN:
BatteryManager
DataManager
framework-res
moto-res
blur-res
SystemUI
Not certain about the **-res.apks and SystemUI since I did those so long ago, but.. I got all inverted settings/task manager/Battery&Data manager working!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good idea, I'll have to try signing them, I hope this ends up being the problem.

The settings apk looks for a signature that matches the major system apks. If it doesn't match it will not run at boot.

Along with that (I think this helps with the signature check), I placed blur-res, framework-res, moto-res, and SystemUI apks in my \Apk_Manager_5.0.2\other folder, then opened the command line on that folder and set the framework dependees or whatever...
CODE:
apktool if framework-res.apk
(hit Enter)
apktool if blur-res.apk
(hit Enter)...
...for all of the apks
Then do your de/recompiling...

Well, I am baffled again.. I threw those new signed/unsigned apks in a rom build I was working on, flashed it, and Setting.apk was missing again... So, I flashed the small update zip with inverted Settings.apk and PerformanceManager.apk I made earlier that day and flashed successfully while on stock. And, Settings.apk came back (and was inverted), but Task Manager force closes - then I tried to flash a restore zip (with stock settings and task manager) - and it restores Settings, but doesn't fix the task manager - So, needless to say, I am back to square one in my understanding of all of this. I am assuming it is merely a signature check issue somehow??
Like I said, I had everything working yesterday on stock 2.3.6 after flashing a small update.zip with new signed Setting.apk and PerformanceManager.apk, and another one with unsigned battery and data manger apps.. Ended up restoring back to stock by the end of the day, and now today those same zip packages don't work like they did yesterday... Are new signatures created each time when the system is installed (or re-installed)? It was the exact same system restore on which I built the new inverted apks - so, I am very confused.
I will get to the bottom of this.. but, if anyone can shed some more light on the situation, that'd be great...

still no luck here either. I got my stuff working as a cwm backup, but it won't boot passed the boot logo (motorola M) now, so who knows. I am busy right now, but after next week I should have a lot more time to work on this.

Just tried another restore.zip, but nothing fixes Task Manager for me now.. Could it be that something is created in /data based on the apk in /system? So, when I flash older stock versions it doesn't fix it, since some link has been created outside of the apk?
Another thing possibly worth noting is that I am working with .apks and their .odex counterparts... but, that shouldn't be making a difference since I am not messing with the odex files.. plus, you've got similar problems, and I am assuming you are working with deodexed apks...

alteredlikeness said:
Just tried another restore.zip, but nothing fixes Task Manager for me now.. Could it be that something is created in /data based on the apk in /system? So, when I flash older stock versions it doesn't fix it, since some link has been created outside of the apk?
Another thing possibly worth noting is that I am working with .apks and their .odex counterparts... but, that shouldn't be making a difference since I am not messing with the odex files.. plus, you've got similar problems, and I am assuming you are working with deodexed apks...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yep, I'm using jrw28s inverted settings
Sent from my MB865 using XDA

OK.. Did a little more researching.. And, I think you need to resign all of the moto system apks with the same key.. then the signatures should match up, and apps shouldn't fail to be recognized...
I believe this is only if you are editing the AndroidManifest.xml, otherwise you can just copy the META-INF folder from the original apks with 7zip to retain the signature...
Not sure about the details and if it will actually work, also not sure exactly which apks to re-sign (probably the major 4), but that's my next game plan... trial and error... still trying to make sense of it all.

good idea, I'll have to try signing them, I hope this ends up being the problem.

What I discovered (through numerous trials and error) is that you can't mess with the AndroidManifest.xml... Something gets messed up with the signature (i.e. it doesn't match the framework signatures, or maybe it needs to match all of the moto apk sigs - not sure yet - because sometimes it worked when I pushed them separately), and the system doesn't recognize the apk.
But once I got re-did all of the apks without editing the AndroidManifest - all of my problems went away. I still was able to decompile the apks and edit /res/values xmls, just not that manifest..
So, as for the OP's problem, it looks like JRW's inverted Settings.apk (which were probably created by editing the AndroidManifest), is not matching the signatures of the other major apks in your ROM..
I will still try to figure out how to safely edit the manifest when I get around to it... any hints from JRW28 would be great! Is that the reason you had to originally make a separate update.zip for the inverted settings in Lithium?
Side note, I also figured out my setup issues... it was cheesecake related, along with my Settings.apk missing.
A couple of things finally clicked for me two nights ago...

alteredlikeness said:
What I discovered (through numerous trials and error) is that you can't mess with the AndroidManifest.xml... Something gets messed up with the signature (i.e. it doesn't match the framework signatures, or maybe it needs to match all of the moto apk sigs - not sure yet - because sometimes it worked when I pushed them separately), and the system doesn't recognize the apk.
But once I got re-did all of the apks without editing the AndroidManifest - all of my problems went away. I still was able to decompile the apks and edit /res/values xmls, just not that manifest..
So, as for the OP's problem, it looks like JRW's inverted Settings.apk (which were probably created by editing the AndroidManifest), is not matching the signatures of the other major apks in your ROM..
I will still try to figure out how to safely edit the manifest when I get around to it... any hints from JRW28 would be great! Is that the reason you had to originally make a separate update.zip for the inverted settings in Lithium?
Side note, I also figured out my setup issues... it was cheesecake related, along with my Settings.apk missing.
A couple of things finally clicked for me two nights ago...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, not sure whether I am even going to continue with this or not. With ics stuff starting to roll in I might save my time for that.