Modifying a ROM - myTouch 3G, Magic Android Development

Hi guys, I was wondering how you would go about personalizing ROMs for your own use. Nothing code-wise, but installed programs and such. Opening up the zip files of downloaded ROMs I see the apk files and the system apk files - is it really as easy as just removing those you don't want and plotting in the ones that you do?

If this rom is from the same board as you, can say so.
But, .. you still need to run a linux terminal the code to sign the package that you previously made with same special files..
Just the search tools and you'll find it!
...You can easily too start porting rom's too...

Related

Rom Files

Hey guys im trying to build my own rom using a tutorial i found on this site. the thing is that im at the section where im suppose to put the missing files where they r to go but i cant seem to get pass that section.
my problem is that the PKG Tool shows me the missing files, but where do i find them using the explorer window opened.
i am frustreated man and really need help.
Tambuyeye said:
Hey guys im trying to build my own rom using a tutorial i found on this site. the thing is that im at the section where im suppose to put the missing files where they r to go but i cant seem to get pass that section.
my problem is that the PKG Tool shows me the missing files, but where do i find them using the explorer window opened.
i am frustreated man and really need help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When creating packages with Package tool it creates the following folders:
SYS
OEM
Missing <-- Thats what you are looking for.
I suggest that if this is your 1st attempt and you are building based on a custom rom, use HyperCore Kitchen. Its very easy to use and does the extraction much quicker and easier than doing it by hand. Once you have the hang of it then just move your stuff to another kitchen. Nice part about HyperCore you can dump just about any rom if you set it for that specific device. Just a note: some cookers protect their roms and you end up with almost everything in Missing. You can dump WizFlo from 6.1.1.3 upwards easily
When you have run the PkgTool - Build Packages option, don't mistaken the Missing Manifests for the same thing as Missing Files or Missing Packages. The missing "dsm" manifest files the Pkg Tool refers to are contained in the XIP files (which you will be doing next, i.e., extract XIP). So, you can just ignore the Missing Manifest message and continue on, however be aware that you must use compatible XIP that contains these "missing" dsm manifest files when you go to re-build your rom.
If there are indeed missing packages or missing files, it will tell you exactly what they are and where (what folder) they are supposed to go into. These missing packages/files will be in the dump folder along side the OEM and SYS folders after you run the Build Packages option in the PkgTool app.
This took me a while to realize as it was not explained (or at least I did not see it anywhere) in the various forums/threads on rom building.
If I am wrong on any of this someone please correct me as I too am relatively newbie to this and still learning.
Good Luck!

HELP !!! First try to cook my ROM

I want to do a simple job: backup my actual kaiser rom, modify my rom adding/removing some application, then cook the new modified rom.
I was looking for a lot of time inside the forums for a guide/tutorial how to dump my actual KAISER rom , then modify it adding/removing some applications, then cook the new ROM to be flashed.
After a look around I was able to dump correctly part000.raw,part001.raw,part002.raw and part003.raw.
After I downloaded kaiserkitchen_01_20_08 and installed it.
Then I downloaded Alex 5.1 OEM packages and copied into c:\kaiserkitchen\packages.
Then I downloaded Alex 5 HT ROM 3.03 and copied into c:\kaiserkitchen\sys and c:\kaiserkitchen\sys
I moved .raw files in c:\kaiserkitchen\BaseROM
Then I started kaiserkitchen.cmd. I followed instructions to extract a dumped rom and cook it. The black window worked for some minutes and finished with message : Ignore any error while deleting files ! followed by 10 lines with message Impossible to find specified file...
All seems to be ok here. Yes ?
From here I can not go on, because when I launch BuldOS+PackageTools I can see only some applications that I imagine are from Alex oem, but I want to work only with my applications and I can not find them ! Where are applications installed in my actual ROM. How can I use them to rebuild my own ROM ?
Please, help me !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

PC script to auto remove apk's

Hey everyone!
On the rom I currently use there are about 20 apk's I have no need for. What I do is download the rom, and individually delete the apk's before flashing the rom. The thing is I flash quite often (cheeky, I know ) and this is getting quite frustrating.
Ideally I want a script that does this all for me. I found one but it seems be for running on the phone, after the apk's have been installed. Does anyone know how I can create a script for the PC that does this before I even install the rom?
Thank you for any suggestions.
Oh and here's the thread I found that looked relevant...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=674357
edcoppen said:
Hey everyone!
On the rom I currently use there are about 20 apk's I have no need for. What I do is download the rom, and individually delete the apk's before flashing the rom. The thing is I flash quite often (cheeky, I know ) and this is getting quite frustrating.
Ideally I want a script that does this all for me. I found one but it seems be for running on the phone, after the apk's have been installed. Does anyone know how I can create a script for the PC that does this before I even install the rom?
Thank you for any suggestions.
Oh and here's the thread I found that looked relevant...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=674357
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Over what OS?
If in Windows (or any M$ OS, incl. DOS) you can make a batch file.
My file is adjunted as example (modify as you like, put in the root dir -obviously to the unzipped ROM- and run. Rezip and maybe re-sign)
salu2
Thank you. This is exactly the kind of thing I am after. If I had of been born just a few years earlier I would probably know all about batch scripts. Fortunately, I just missed the DOS days!
Anyway, I puzzled out / looked up the commands in the script you posted. Based on that I extracted the rom, then placed the batch file within it, so that the cd (current directory) command runs correctly.
Unfortunately this mucks up the signing on the rom. Do you re-sign your CM7 roms every time you do this or is there an easier way?
Edit: My PC is Win 7, 64bit, soon to be Win 8 Consumer Preview.
Edit: The roms do not need resigning.
I don't re-sign the ROM, simply flash again over Clockworkmod Recovery.. and work.
But, you can:
1) sign using Auto-Sign....
2) Click [Thanks]...
Salu2
__________________________________________________________________
I know, I know.... my english is ****ty... but my spanish is much better... ;-)
Big thank you. That's solved that one nicely for me!
You're welcome.
Updated zip in my first Post.
Salu2
Hey again. I was hoping to build on the script you kindly provided. At the moment I am using various alpha roms where the exact apk's present changes fairly often. It would be great if I could see the outcome of each action. This way I would know if the apk has had it's name changed or been removed. How would I enable this?

[Q] Any option to detect changes in apk files

Hello guys.
I am wondering if there's any option/programme/app that can detect changes in apk files.
For example:
A dev releases a mod for something, let's say swaps a .png files to a custom .png and shares the mod in a thread.
And i want the same mod but in a different .png.
Now i can ofcourse ask the dev to do it, which is easy but i wont learn anything.
So i decide to try to make it for myself, but having no past experience with android i don't know how to do it.
And here's where the app/programme comes in (if there is one, ofc). A software that can detect any kinds of changes after decompiling apk files. Now many of you know that apk files have several folders inside, and inside those folder are various files.
So this software (if it exists) could be able to detect changes in the modded apk compared to my unmodded apk, and tell me where exactly the change(s) have been made.
In this way i don't need to bother a dev, and i maybe start to learn how to mod special areas of my phones UI.
Thanks for any reply!
Good day!

[newbie] How to for customizing a given Android firmware ?

Hello
I own a Chinese phone with a lot of unneeded applications.
Fortunately, the maker has given the .zip software to flash it.
I'm able to open and mount on my Ubuntu computer the .img files and I can see the .apk I would remove. So far so good.
But I bet it is not that easy....
I've tried searching but all I can find is for flashing back the ROM and not about making it.
I would also like to add an su binary at the correct place ...
So I would like to find some documentation for packing back the software and flash it to the device. An How TO would be great and/or some documentation about the process.
Many thanks in advance for your help !

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