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[GUIDE] How to create a your own ROM

How to create your own ROM update.zip for the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G
Things you will need to perform this:
Java SE Dev Kit from Sun. java.sun.com
May need Cygwin with zlib0 package, from cygwin.com
This will give you Android 1.6 with all the Google applications, Root access.
I never found one place where all this information is all together, so that is why I compiled this together.
Now anyone can do this themselves.
Thanks to all the hard work others have done before this.
1.
First Root your phone and install a new Recovery image, either Amon Ra or Cyanogens Recovery image.
Instructions for one-click root: http://theunlockr.com/2009/08/22/how-to-root-the-mytouch-3g-or-g1-in-one-click/
2.
Download the Android 1.6 System image from
http://developer.htc.com/google-io-device.html
extract the contents of signed-google_ion-img-14721.zip.
3.
You now need to extract the contents of system.img using a tool called unyaffs. The source code is here:
http://code.google.com/p/unyaffs/downloads/list
Or download a prebuilt win32 version here.
http://jiggawatt.org/badc0de/android/index.html
Note you may also need cygwin1.dll and cygz.dll (zlib0 package). Found at cygwin.com
Of course if you already have Cygwin installed with the GCC packages, you can just compile it yourself. Then also
if you comment out the line 67 to "// symlink(oh->alias, full_path_name);"
then it will not create the copies of the symbolic link file, and you will not have to worry about deleting duplicate
symbolic link files later.
Now in the directory where system.img exists, create a new directory called "system"
go into the "system" directory.
type the following command:
unyaffs ..\system.img
That should extract all the files from the system.img file into the system directory.
4.
Now we just need to clean up some items. Since the system.img is a linux file system, it has symbolic
links built into it, but when we extracted it, it just created duplicate files, if you used the prebuilt unyaffs.exe.
So we can just delete the duplicates and have a script recreate the symlink on install.
So we need to delete some extra files from the system\bin directory.
Run the attached DeleteExtras.bat file from the same directory where system.img is in.
If you notice, all the files it deletes are 28 byte files, and if you open them in notepad only contain:
"!<symlink>toolbox..."
And we will remake the symbolic link when it is installed.
5.
Now from the directory where the system.img is, enter the following commands
mkdir META-INF
mkdir META-INF\com
mkdir META-INF\com\google
mkdir META-INF\com\google\android
Now copy the included file "update-script.txt" into the "META-INF\com\google\android" directory
and RENAME it to just "update-script".
This update-script gets run to recreate the symbolic links.
Not sure if these two are needed but they are in some custom ROMs here:
Copy the two files "fix_permissions" and "flash_image" to the "system\bin" directory.
6.
-- Optional --
These add root and Superuser access to the ROM, plus the Terminal Emulator application.
Copy the file "su" from Cyanogen's rom to the folder "system\bin"
Copy the file "Superuser.apk" to the folder "system\app"
Copy the file "Term.apk" to the folder "system\app"
You can also replace the "system\etc\apns-conf.xml" with a more complete one from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=547718
or here
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZNbAmKkmakoZGZxZHNwMnpfMjJkaHg3ejN3eg&hl=en
Turn data roaming off by default by editing line in the build.prop file:
ro.com.android.dataroaming=false
Also to fix the Market program to show "Protected" applications change the ro.build.fingerprint line to the following:
ro.build.fingerprint=tmobile/opal/sapphire/sapphire:1.5/COC10/150449:user/ota-rel-keys,release-keys
Only phones with a fingerprint of a "released" device can access some market applications.
--------------
7.
Now we just need to create a ZIP file for the final ROM
Zip up the following file and two folders:
boot.img
META-INF
system
8.
Now sign the zip file.
See here how to sign a ZIP file for flashing it.
http://androidforums.com/developer-101/8665-how-signing-roms.html
9.
Copy it to your SD card, boot into recovery, wipe, apply the update, Reboot.
You are now running Android 1.6!

the finger print is found in build.prop is this correct and what app do you use to edit your build.prop

Yes the fingerprint is in build.prop
Make sure to use an advanced text editor like TextPad, UltraEdit, or EditPlus. It has to handle UNIX text files.
Also use this for the update_script.

how abt kernel parameters?

How would one go about customizing this with Hero? Or is that not possible at this point?

detox702 said:
How would one go about customizing this with Hero? Or is that not possible at this point?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would like more info on hot to incorporate senseui

Thanks for sharing... Got nothing to do today, so I experimented on my phone... I gotta say, I'm pretty amazed w/ this feature. Was able to sort out and organize my files.
Kudos!

How does one create the system.img file once one has the system files...
What I want to do is use some of the custom roms here and put it on an AVD emulator system.
Can someone help with this please.
NOTE: I dont have linux. So if there is an alternative to mkbootimg, it will be excellent.

the ion is the 32b if I'm not mistaken?
Is there an image for the 32a or do we always have to use the ion and throw a patch over it?
Sorry if this is a stupid question

in step 5. it says
Not sure if these two are needed but they are in some custom ROMs here:
Copy the two files "fix_permissions" and "flash_image" to the "system\bin" directory.
Where do i copy the files from or download please?
thanks in advance
P.S. any tips on changing the splash screen would be much appreciated.

DeleteExtras.txt or DeleteExtras.bat doesn't work. I have to delete the extra files by myself - one by one.

codysoloman said:
DeleteExtras.txt or DeleteExtras.bat doesn't work. I have to delete the extra files by myself - one by one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
check this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246

Perhaps someone here knows or could point me to the right resources, but if the phone isn't supported by Cyanogen, how would a custom rom be made in that case?
How is a custom rom made from scratch? Since android is just linux, is it simply a matter of building it with the right drivers for the phone and installing it? How can an image be manually copied to the phone if it isn't supported by Clockwork recovery? How can it's steps be manually done?

ping pong...

Can i install my own rom on samsung ace?????

anybody knows how to make a ROM customized and make a "update.img" to run on a un-rootable device? I know when you backup a linux image for example ubuntu, this image will run on all other PCs, the image will automatically knows the new PC's drivers and adapt everything with that, is it what happening to an android too ?
---------- Post added at 08:36 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:33 AM ----------
and pls let me know how to open/edit a "update.img" file, thnx

Question
androidcustomrom said:
How to create your own ROM update.zip for the T-Mobile MyTouch 3G
Things you will need to perform this:
Java SE Dev Kit from Sun. java.sun.com
May need Cygwin with zlib0 package, from cygwin.com
This will give you Android 1.6 with all the Google applications, Root access.
I never found one place where all this information is all together, so that is why I compiled this together.
Now anyone can do this themselves.
Thanks to all the hard work others have done before this.
1.
First Root your phone and install a new Recovery image, either Amon Ra or Cyanogens Recovery image.
Instructions for one-click root: http://theunlockr.com/2009/08/22/how-to-root-the-mytouch-3g-or-g1-in-one-click/
2.
Download the Android 1.6 System image from
http://developer.htc.com/google-io-device.html
extract the contents of signed-google_ion-img-14721.zip.
3.
You now need to extract the contents of system.img using a tool called unyaffs. The source code is here:
http://code.google.com/p/unyaffs/downloads/list
Or download a prebuilt win32 version here.
http://jiggawatt.org/badc0de/android/index.html
Note you may also need cygwin1.dll and cygz.dll (zlib0 package). Found at cygwin.com
Of course if you already have Cygwin installed with the GCC packages, you can just compile it yourself. Then also
if you comment out the line 67 to "// symlink(oh->alias, full_path_name);"
then it will not create the copies of the symbolic link file, and you will not have to worry about deleting duplicate
symbolic link files later.
Now in the directory where system.img exists, create a new directory called "system"
go into the "system" directory.
type the following command:
unyaffs ..\system.img
That should extract all the files from the system.img file into the system directory.
4.
Now we just need to clean up some items. Since the system.img is a linux file system, it has symbolic
links built into it, but when we extracted it, it just created duplicate files, if you used the prebuilt unyaffs.exe.
So we can just delete the duplicates and have a script recreate the symlink on install.
So we need to delete some extra files from the system\bin directory.
Run the attached DeleteExtras.bat file from the same directory where system.img is in.
If you notice, all the files it deletes are 28 byte files, and if you open them in notepad only contain:
"!<symlink>toolbox..."
And we will remake the symbolic link when it is installed.
5.
Now from the directory where the system.img is, enter the following commands
mkdir META-INF
mkdir META-INF\com
mkdir META-INF\com\google
mkdir META-INF\com\google\android
Now copy the included file "update-script.txt" into the "META-INF\com\google\android" directory
and RENAME it to just "update-script".
This update-script gets run to recreate the symbolic links.
Not sure if these two are needed but they are in some custom ROMs here:
Copy the two files "fix_permissions" and "flash_image" to the "system\bin" directory.
6.
-- Optional --
These add root and Superuser access to the ROM, plus the Terminal Emulator application.
Copy the file "su" from Cyanogen's rom to the folder "system\bin"
Copy the file "Superuser.apk" to the folder "system\app"
Copy the file "Term.apk" to the folder "system\app"
You can also replace the "system\etc\apns-conf.xml" with a more complete one from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=547718
or here
http://docs.google.com/Doc?docid=0AZNbAmKkmakoZGZxZHNwMnpfMjJkaHg3ejN3eg&hl=en
Turn data roaming off by default by editing line in the build.prop file:
ro.com.android.dataroaming=false
Also to fix the Market program to show "Protected" applications change the ro.build.fingerprint line to the following:
ro.build.fingerprint=tmobile/opal/sapphire/sapphire:1.5/COC10/150449:user/ota-rel-keys,release-keys
Only phones with a fingerprint of a "released" device can access some market applications.
--------------
7.
Now we just need to create a ZIP file for the final ROM
Zip up the following file and two folders:
boot.img
META-INF
system
8.
Now sign the zip file.
See here how to sign a ZIP file for flashing it.
http://androidforums.com/developer-101/8665-how-signing-roms.html
9.
Copy it to your SD card, boot into recovery, wipe, apply the update, Reboot.
You are now running Android 1.6!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you tell me where I can correct the fake data in the phone like the real RAM is 512 MB but it say 1GB ,can you tell me how to
correct it thanks in advance:good:

Permanent unlock - set your code to 00000000 - fix no code found?

I can't read french, but the translation site seems to indicate that this hexedit will permanently unlock any phone. My Captivate nv_data.bin matches perfectly.
I just can't translate all the comments and i really want to read what everyone is saying.
Any french speakers out there?
http://forum.frandroid.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26052
Thanks to zzyxy for posting this in another thread.
EDIT - changed title and found English Post on XDA.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8182729&postcount=107

Translated by google chrome
Here is how to unlock a phone that has missed its flash Froyo JPC (request for unlock code and displays the correct imei)
New semi automated method available here: http://forum.frandroid.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=27019
Beware if the imei is not good before you start, it will not be at the end.
This method can also be used to modify the Product Code for those interested
All that was done on'm Android 2.1 since Froyo modifies the files to his liking (I advise to do New JM1, it works very well).
Thank you for everything you read, do not fly the tutorial is very important !!!!! I could not be responsible for those who are mishandling
Before anything else, save the file efs /, we will play with:
http://forum.frandroid.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=25668
Need to be root, busybox, android sdk available here:
http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
(In windows) we decompress the ZIP, it renames the file "android-sdk-windows" to "android" short and placed in c: \ (the name and location to the sdk is placed are important to commands typed by hand later)
Extracting a nv_data.bin:
Plug the phone in usb mode enabled USB debugging
Start => Run => cmd (a DOS window will open)
Tapper to space by:
cd ..
cd ..
cd android
cd tools
adb pull / efs / nv_data.bin
Close the DOS window
The file will appear in the nv_data.bin réperoire c: \ android \ tools.
Edit the file with a hex editor nv_data.bin (EditHexa available in my example here: ... http://www.logitheque.com/logiciels/win a_9903.htm):
188 021 offset (page 3137) to "XEF" (ca will recognize the phone as "naked") (thus change the product code)
Offset 18146E (page 3,083) to "00000000" (ac will put the network unlock code 00000000)
We backup ^ ^
Then we go back in adb ^ ^
Start => Run => cmd (a DOS window will open)
Tapper and point in space by:
cd ..
cd ..
cd android
cd tools
adb shell mkdir / sdcard / efs "
adb push nv_data.bin / sdcard / efs
adb shell
su
mv / efs / .nv_data.bak / efs / .nv_data.bakk
mv / efs/.nv_data.bak.md5 / efs/.nv_data.bakk.md5
rm / efs / nv_data.bin
rm / efs/nv_data.bin.md5
rm / efs/.nv2.bak
rm / efs/.nv2.bak.md5
cp busybox / sdcard / efs / nv_data.bin / efs / nv_data.bin
chmod 755 / efs / nv_data.bin
chown radio.radio / efs / nv_data.bin
If he ever put the radio user does not exist, try "chown 1001:1001 / efs / nv_data.bin" instead and yes for some it is still not the same ....( thank you Froyo JPC / JPH )
There may be errors on. Nv2.bak and md5 (they do not exist at all)
I renamed the. Bak. BAKK to set aside the time everything is finished, they will be erased later.
do: ctrl + c
unplug the phone, remove the battery without turning the phone 30 seconds.
restart (on or before this point we must put the sim)
The network will unlock code: 00000000, it will the code is good but not unlock it anyway. If its not working properly and restart the phone again.
once functional, * # 06 # displays the correct imei
After there are bugs that require reflashing, reflash in New JM1 via Odin with re-partition active (I did not test other firmwares)
Must rooter again (the busybox normally installs with the root) ... and yes again ^ ^
reboot (so the normally nv_data.bin.md5 must have recreated)
Creating the. Bak
plug the phone into USB debugging mode enabled
We return under adb ^ ^
Start => Run => cmd (a DOS window will open)
Tapper and point in space by:
cd ..
cd ..
cd android
cd tools
adb shell
su
rm / efs / .nv_data.bakk
rm / efs/.nv_data.bakk.md5
busybox cp / efs / nv_data.bin / efs / .nv_data.bak
busybox cp / efs/nv_data.bin.md5 / efs/.nv_data.bak.md5
chown radio.radio / efs / .nv_data.bak
chown radio.radio / efs/.nv_data.bak.md5
Ctrl + c
Unplug your phone
and it finally finished your phone is unlocked and working again all operators ... remember to save them now ^ ^
A big thank you to Rickou who brought me on a platter chown radio.radio Chaineau who was missing.
And has Reve40 with whom I studied nv_data.
And Hideki Jis26 who tested the method before it is online.
A remark Hideki:
hideki wrote:
Otherwise I just add details about my case.
So personally I stopped before the stage flashing in JM1 because I had no problem and my bak files were recreated itself at startup.
I tried the following reredémarrer my imei and no problems still, no application code. And like bin files are recreated at each boot from bak, I concluded that my bak was so good .
What greatly simplify the procedure .
This was not the case for me and therefore Jis26 peus be that after the Roma moved to the base, we could have some small variations, I can not say more.
Last edited by helroz (25-09-2010 1:50:37 p.m.)

Thanks for the translation but I found something even better then machine gobbly gook ,
I just found the original post by Helroz - in english on XDA if anyone wants:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8182729&postcount=107
"This method work for galaxy s with damaged nv_data caused by froyo JPC (good imei but unlock code required)
this method is to recreate a new unlock code and allow the phone to unlock with new unlock code
I post this on frandroid with pictures and link for software:
h***://forum.frandroid.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=26052"

So has anyone tried this method? Is changing the country code "XEF" necessary for unlock? Is that just for changing the product code?

michael.seltzer said:
So has anyone tried this method? Is changing the country code "XEF" necessary for unlock? Is that just for changing the product code?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have yet to try it, but changing the country code is only necessary if you flashed a different international firmware and it changed that.

Ya i flashed to cognition 2.2 so it shouldn't be an issue right?

michael.seltzer said:
Ya i flashed to cognition 2.2 so it shouldn't be an issue right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not the country code, since you flashed an AT&T build.

when performing the busybox line, I get
cp: write error: No space left on device
Why? I have plently of room on my phone, what is the problem here?

No one has any idea?

Vae Hostilis said:
when performing the busybox line, I get
cp: write error: No space left on device
Why? I have plently of room on my phone, what is the problem here?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran into this, and i have an answer... took me bit to discover it...
The /efs partition is only about 6MB in size - the nv_data.bin is 2mb. There is a hidden backup file and another file as well that are also about 2mb.
ls -l -a (you can't do ls -la as in linux or unix) will show you hidden files and sizes.
So you probably tried to backup your nv_data.bin in the /efs folder, and then copying a new one over and you ran out of space. Delete the nv_data.bin after you back it up to your SD card, then copy the changed one over.

alphadog00 said:
I ran into this, and i have an answer... took me bit to discover it...
The /efs partition is only about 6MB in size - the nv_data.bin is 2mb. There is a hidden backup file and another file as well that are also about 2mb.
ls -l -a (you can't do ls -la as in linux or unix) will show you hidden files and sizes.
So you probably tried to backup your nv_data.bin in the /efs folder, and then copying a new one over and you ran out of space. Delete the nv_data.bin after you back it up to your SD card, then copy the changed one over.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Tried deleting the file in the efs folder, then just copying the file over using root file manager and it still says I don't have enough room. after deleting the file, I have 1.91mb free in that folder. is there anything in there I can toss?
And what does busybox have to do with transfering the file? as in why do i have to include busybox when typing in the command on adb?
Edit: here is the list of files in there in case I have some unnecessary ones.
.android (folder)
---empty
.imei (size: 15)
.nv_data.bakk (2097152)
.nv_data.bakk.md5 (32)
.nv_state (1)
imei (folder)
---bt.text (23)
---mps_code.dat (3)
nv.log (96)
after listing these off, I notice there is a serious math problem here..... how do i have 4.01 mb (according to root file manager) filled?

Vae Hostilis said:
Tried deleting the file in the efs folder, then just copying the file over using root file manager and it still says I don't have enough room. after deleting the file, I have 1.91mb free in that folder. is there anything in there I can toss?
And what does busybox have to do with transfering the file? as in why do i have to include busybox when typing in the command on adb?
Edit: here is the list of files in there in case I have some unnecessary ones.
.android (folder)
---empty
.imei (size: 15)
.nv_data.bakk (2097152)
.nv_data.bakk.md5 (32)
.nv_state (1)
imei (folder)
---bt.text (23)
---mps_code.dat (3)
nv.log (96)
after listing these off, I notice there is a serious math problem here..... how do i have 4.01 mb (according to root file manager) filled?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did all this via ADB shell and i didnt use the busybox command; but i don't see your original nv_dat.bin - that is 2MB. You can delete the bakk file - that was made by some script - i have never seen the OS add 2 K's.
If you want to keep something move it to SD card and then delete from /efs. I know it is the nv_data.bin and .nv_data.bin that are 2MB files - they take up the room in the partition.
Unless you use a terminal and type in the commands - it is hard to tell what the file manager may still be hiding. I haven't used root file manager.

alphadog00 said:
I did all this via ADB shell and i didnt use the busybox command; but i don't see your original nv_dat.bin - that is 2MB. You can delete the bakk file - that was made by some script - i have never seen the OS add 2 K's.
If you want to keep something move it to SD card and then delete from /efs. I know it is the nv_data.bin and .nv_data.bin that are 2MB files - they take up the room in the partition.
Unless you use a terminal and type in the commands - it is hard to tell what the file manager may still be hiding. I haven't used root file manager.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the .nv_data.bak, the .nv2.bak, and the nv_data.bin in the sdcard folder. I believe the instructions told us to move those out of the efs folder and rename the copies (left in the efs folder) to .bakk instead of .bak, as they were the ones that would be deleted later.
All the files you see, are all the files in there, looking through ADB and the Root File manager app w/ hidden files shown. and the file sizes are not adding up to the total 4 it says I have in there, but I will try deleting the .bakk file and see what happens.

The nv_data.bin is the important one.
With what you listed, you should have about 4mb free, not 4 mb used. If you are in ADB shell you also have the df and du commands to show you how much of the /efs partition is used.

lol. it tells me 4.01mb is used.... sigh.....
Edit: just wiped my phone for the hell of it to see if it fixed anything. All the files are back, safe and sound, and the MATH ADDS UP (Yeay!). I'll try one more time before I give up.
Edit 2: just ordered a replacement device from at&t. I'll just run the Generate Code program on that, hopefully. Thank you for your help!!

So has anyone actually tried this? Does it actually work?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

How did you get att to replace it?

michael.seltzer said:
So has anyone actually tried this? Does it actually work?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does work. As long as your IMEI is good. (*#06#). Take a good unlocked nv_data.bin - put your IMEI and unlock/unfreeze codes in it; in the right places. Move it your phone and reboot.

so if i just follow the guide exactly i'll be good? Is there a chance that my phone might not boot up? For some reason my phone can't get into download or recovery mode so i don't want to be stuck.

michael.seltzer said:
so if i just follow the guide exactly i'll be good? Is there a chance that my phone might not boot up? For some reason my phone can't get into download or recovery mode so i don't want to be stuck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
with a bad nv_data.bin - it should still boot -but I can't guarantee it. Never tried.
Hacking system files, there is always the chance the phone won't boot. AT&T did it with OTA upgrade.... How bad do you need to unlock your phone -that is the question you need to ask yourself.

[Q] unpack userdata***.backup from cwm on windows

Hi/Hello/good evening!
I have a broken MTK phone waiting for spareparts and one backup file from its SDCard made with CWM
name userdata_20130615_140224.backup where I need to extract contact data from.
How to do it?
I have been searching a whole while now but could not find one single post about opening this archive.
Pls help!
Thank you,
Erwin

If u have any spare phone with Titanium Backup installed then u can transfer ur backup to tat mobile's sd card and use TB to extract data from Nanoid Backup..
Sent from my WT19i using xda premium

expanding file
hi,
unyaffs doesnt work on that .backup file and I dont have a spare phone lying around. I got the file on windows
and please after reading 20.000 tuts on "backups" can there be one that explains how to extract the file
with windows?
thank you,
Erwin

NOW!!!
ewoewo said:
hi,
unyaffs doesnt work on that .backup file and i dont have a spare phone lying around. I got the file on windows
and please after reading 20.000 tuts on "backups" can there be one that explains how to extract the file
with windows?
Thank you,
erwin
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tell me the tec solution internet!

ewoewo said:
Hi/Hello/good evening!
I have a userdata#######.backup and I cant enter into recovery mode. once i try toenter recovery mode in boots and shuts down without entering into recovery mode. I want to restore this backup file. Help me out
Thank you!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

It's a 512 byte header in front of a "tar.gz"
hexdump -C userdata_xxxxxxxx_yyyyyy.backup | less​showed the magical zip header "1f8b0800 00000000" at offset 0x200
So, skipping 512 bytes, the rest can be gunzip | tar
dd if=userdata_xxxxxxxx_yyyyyy.backup bs=512 skip=1 | gunzip -c | tar xv​

Code:
dd if=/home/user/_backups/E380-android-phone/userdata_20160126_223433.backup bs=512 skip=1 > /home/user/_backups/E380-android-phone/userdata_20160126_223433.backup.dd-out.tar.gz
Worked for me. Then just used KDE's archive opener (Ark) to view the files, looks to have everything in there except keys and whatnot.

if you prefer a linux solution use this script it converts android backup to nandroid backup
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=65374561

Hello! Super-Developers, mega-programmers and smart hackers!
Nobody does not know how to open *. backup file?
No one can't help in this problem suffering millions of android/windows users?
You suggest them to install Unix/Linux system, - everybody to become hackers and programmers?!
maybe in the World exists GUI- programme to open *. backup file?
Someone can solve this problem of the century?

Philoandr said:
Hello! Super-Developers, mega-programmers and smart hackers!
Nobody does not know how to open *. backup file?
No one can't help in this problem suffering millions of android/windows users?
You suggest them to install Unix/Linux system, - everybody to become hackers and programmers?!
maybe in the World exists GUI- programme to open *. backup file?
Someone can solve this problem of the century?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do you expect. You are trying to edit a Linux based file. Not to mention a closed sourced compressed file.

There are free programs like OSFMount or DiskInternals Linux Reader for mounting (android) linux file system images on Windows. Also 7-Zip for Windows can extract files from linux file system images.
However, there is metadata like user identifier and group ownership, file permissions, SELinux context (user role type range) stored for each file, which gets lost once you have saved linux files to windows disk. Without this metadata you can not restore files to phone.
Regardless you can extract files in windows if you just care about pictures, music files etc. Maybe one day there is a developer who may write such a program no matter its useless for restoring complete user data to phone.
Regarding the userdata*.backup files (no cwm) this is a chinese feature not provided by google android open source project. Without source code its nearly impossible to analyze the checksum algorithm. You can not re-create a userdata*.backup file.
What you can do is unpacking it. make a guess. cut off the first 512 byte header of each file which is probably the checksum. then merge the files together. Now you have a file for further analysis. Its probably either a ext4 disk image or a (gz compressed) tarball archive. a disk image can be mounted as a new drive, metadata keeps preserved in this case. a tarball archive must extracted with gnu tar to linux file system. when extracting with 7-Zip you will lose metadata.
There is a risk of tarball archive is unheadered Tar, in this case 7-zip will not extract it. If your phone is encrypted, the disk image is probably encrypted disk image (thats where the hacker stuff starts).
If you want to remove the checksum in windows, there is a small problem. There is no such command. You can use a third party command line utility Trunc to try it. (truncate deletes only from tail)
Another way for Windows, you can use some linux utils with cygwin. I don't know exactly how to do it, but @Doc_cheilvenerdi.org released a Windows script Odinatrix which converts unheadered Tar to Ustar Tar. From this you can use some linux utils (i don't know if it works for converting backups, too)
1. unpack the Odinatrix-WINDOWS.zip file. copy the folder named "files" containing cygwin linux utils. rename the folder to bash (or any meaningful name)
2. create a new folder on Windows Desktop
3. move the backup files to <some folder>
4. open the Windows Command Prompt
goto Windows Start - Run...
type: %SystemRoot%\system32\cmd.exe - press OK
now type the following commands in Windows terminal console:
5. add bash folder to windows environment variable %PATH%
(example: PATH=%PATH%;C:\Program Files\bash)
Code:
PATH=%PATH%;<path to bash folder>
6. change directory and list backup files
Code:
cd %UserProfile%\Desktop\<some folder>
dir /a userdata*.backup*
7. cut off 512 byte header from each file using (cygwin) gnu "dd" linux util like @ektoric suggest in post #6.
do this for each file, skipping 512 bytes only (without unpacking). replace the wildcard * with <date>_<time>
Code:
dd if=userdata*.backup of=userdata*.part0 bs=512 skip=1
dd if=userdata*.backup1 of=userdata*.part1 bs=512 skip=1
dd if=userdata*.backup2 of=userdata*.part2 bs=512 skip=1
dd if=userdata*.backup3 of=userdata*.part3 bs=512 skip=1
8. merge the files with windows
Code:
copy /v /y userdata*.part0 /b + userdata*.part1 /b + userdata*.part2 /b + userdata*.part3 /b userdata*.img /b
9. try to mount the userdata*.img with OSFMount. if not working, try extracting with 7-zip.
Besides this linux is no hacker-os and just as easily operated as windows. You can boot a live distribution from usb-stick without installing.
for further questions, please visit the main thread
[Q] How to Extract data from .Backup file ? - Created with android system recovery

zelendel said:
What do you expect. You are trying to edit a Linux based file. Not to mention a closed sourced compressed file.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the answer!
Please comment next:
1) Video how to extract files from
"Linux based, Not to mention, a closed sourced compressed" backup file with metadata:
Распаковка и извлечение файлов из резервной копии - YouTube
m.youtube.com/watch?v=HNXed7RGR2g
2) quote from Android Backup Extractor's README-TXT-instruction:
"Usage:-- Windows: very easy"?
Android Backup Extractor - -- sourceforge.net/projects/adbextractor/files
-sourceforge.net/projects/adbextractor/reviews?source=navbar
I tried to use Android Backup Extractor In WinXp SP3
but windows version of this app shows cygwin&some other files missing.
Do you know why it doesn't work?
I don't need to recover backup on its own place.
My target is to extract and open few files: photos, videos, documents...
Strangely 7zip also doesn't work. Thank you in advance!

adbextractor is for adb backups *.ab only (btw open source).
cygwin is a implementation of linux utils running in windows.
the above solution uses cygwin, did you try?

aIecxs said:
adbextractor is for adb backups *.ab only (btw open source).
cygwin is a implementation of linux utils running in windows.
the above solution uses cygwin, did you try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for first very detailed answer!
It seems that you have a remarkable grasp of this subject,
that's why I ask you to comment my previous post about video and Android Backup Extractor.
Your second post is not clear for me: adbextractor is only for *.ab files??
I have few files cygwin, is it a separate program??
I attempted to run file start.exe - windows version of Android Backup Extractor with those few cygwin files
but unsuccessful.
I read and test a lot, but The problem is still unsettled.

i came up two years ago with same question, how to unpack, and ended up with learning linux. i have uploaded a bash script, but i don't know if it works. i am not a developer and still learning, and nobody give feedback.
what is exactly file name of your backup? suffix *.ab or *.backup? these are completely different, don't mix up tools.
if you mean userdata_20180313_161000.backup files, please try mini tut above beginning 1.

aIecxs said:
i came up two years ago with same question, how to unpack, and ended up with learning linux. ... i am not a developer and still learning
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is classic aphorismic sentence!! I like it.
What's the bash script? for what goal? it is for Windows? If yes, I'll try it. give me the link.
my files are userdata_20100102_045926.backup, -=-=.backup1, 2, 3......
I'm not Englishman, "mini tut" is mini tutorial?
You have 100 posts and 25 thanks - super rate for notdeveloper.

the tool in video (adbextractor) can not unpack your backup. your backup is a splitted ext4 partition image. OSFMount can open ext4 partition images from Windows
bckp2cwm.sh script is basically doing the same steps like mini tutorial above. unfortunately it is for linux. main goal is convert userdata*.backup to cwm backup, but its paused in the middle (after unpacking, before repacking)
as windows user, all you need is a usb-stick. there is a tool unetbootin running in windows. it is a one-click-solution for downloading and copying any linux distribution to usb-stick. you can boot into linux from this usb-stick, for example ubuntu

aIecxs said:
OSFMount can open ext4 partition images from Windows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OSFMount can extract few files from my backup?
Thank you very much for efficient advices!!!:highfive:
I'll try them in sequence.
although Linux is not my :angel:dream.

Solution for Windows
1. Download and install free hhd hex editor neo.
2. Open each of your .backup files, in select menu select range at 0 offset size 512 decimal, delete and save.
3. Use Windows copy command to join files as described in post#11 (Thanks to the author for free education).
4. Use any program that reads Linux disk image files. I used diskinternals (mount image from the drive menu first). Openext worked too.
This won't work on tar archives if I understand correctly. This took me days to figure out and only minutes to execute. No thanks to confusing android prompts while upgrading to a new OS.

yoyohelp said:
1. Download and install free hhd hex editor neo.
2. Open each of your .backup files, in select menu select range at 0 offset size 512 decimal, delete and save.
3. Use Windows copy command to join files as described in post#11 (Thanks to the author for free education).
4. Use any program that reads Linux disk image files. I used diskinternals (mount image from the drive menu first). Openext worked too.
This won't work on tar archives if I understand correctly. This took me days to figure out and only minutes to execute. No thanks to confusing android prompts while upgrading to a new OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi i have a problem i have 5 files from the backup each with 2gb when i do the command from post 11 it works nice but when goes to backup part 3 it gives an error, what could it be? Im i doing something wrong?

Universal Android Flasher

From now on, Android rom can be easy to pack. You don't need to worry about the permissions of the files or the symlinks anymore.
What does this package do:
1. Automatically find and recognize the img with patterned name in the same folder of this package.
2. Automatically wipe and flash the system partition when system.img is found.
3. Automatically flash the addon pack without wiping the system partition when addon.*.img is found.
4. Automatically backup efs and efs_gsm partition, on Samsung Duo sim card phones.
5. Be able to flash the unmountable partitions like boot, recovery, modem, etc.
How to pack:
1. Make you rom on on the Phone or Linux. On the Phone? Yes, you can test your patches on your phone.
2. No matter on the Phone or on Linux, cd /system/ or cd <your system folder>, check the permissions and symlinks. Usually I don't check cause I modify directly on a system I dumped from my phone. Yes a dump of system partition is a good idea.
3. You have two optitions: 1. Use the modified dumped system partition dump as system.img. This usually generate a big img to flash, but will flash faster. 2. If you use extracted folder or want to use small files, cd to the system folder in shell and make the folder to a tarball with the command: 'tar --lzma -cf <your tar file> * .[!.]*'. Why use * .[!.]*? This will put the .* files and folders in the tarball.
4. Then rename the dumped image or the tarball to system.img and put it in the same folder of the FLASHER.
5. Want to make an addon? Just make the name like addon.<your name>.img. Don't for get the permissions and ownership of the files and folders.
Future plan:
1. Make a packer/dumper for the system partition.
Github:
https://github.com/maxfu/universal_android_flasher
I will edit this post and post some pictures later.

Root Remix OS for PC

This guide is to root Remix OS for PC
You will need Ubuntu for Rooting (You can download and run it in live CD)
If you are experienced with linux systems don't read whats written in bracket
1. Download and Extract RemixRoot.zip
2. Copy system.img from your pendrive or hdd wherever you have installed Remix Os to this folder (ie RemixRoot folder it should be alongside Readme.txt)
3. Open Terminal (Ctrl+Alt+T)
4. Type
Code:
sudo -i
5. Enter your password (If you are running in live cd then no password)
6. Change directory to RootRemix folder (Goto tmp folder, right click and goto properties and copy location, this is your <dir> replace it in command below )
Code:
cd <dir>
7. If you did it right next line of terminal will end with RemixRoot# followed by blinking cursor
8. Now run rootx.sh script by typing
Code:
sh rootx.sh
9. If everything goes right there wont be any error message and you will get a root.img in your RemixRoot folder
10. Rename it to system.img and copy to your pendrive/hdd replacing previous system.img
11. Reboot and go to RemixOS and update SuperSU binaries
12. That's it! you are now rooted
Thanks to Chainfire & hackarchive

I tried it but i got no system.img, i got r/w access to system (choosen by install) so i tried to symlink it to my system directory and commented out all image mounted related things from script and then tried it.
but after that i cannot boot android anymore, i think the problem is app_process linking to daemonsu, since i set back to original it boots like normal but no superuser access. SuperSU said theres is no superuser installed.
Any suggestion?

Silly question but will I lose root access if I update to the newest version by flashing the new image over the top?

Yes a silly question.... Deserves a silly answer. It will still be underneath, but good luck trying to retrace it!

any other method for rooting, without using ubuntu?
#tested with ubuntu live, and it works like a charms. Thank you..
Sent from my C46G using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

ninharp said:
I tried it but i got no system.img, i got r/w access to system (choosen by install) so i tried to symlink it to my system directory and commented out all image mounted related things from script and then tried it.
but after that i cannot boot android anymore, i think the problem is app_process linking to daemonsu, since i set back to original it boots like normal but no superuser access. SuperSU said theres is no superuser installed.
Any suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
same problem here.

Hope same other method can solved

I modified the original script to work with the system folder installation and i removed all app_processX dependend things from script (dunno if it affects the root in any way, cannot find any issue by now) Read the Readme.txt for further installation instructions. The link you find on the reddit sub that GoPal has posted! I cannot post links right now.
Try this
kretex said:
Hope same other method can solved
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

ninharp said:
I tried it but i got no system.img, i got r/w access to system (choosen by install) so i tried to symlink it to my system directory and commented out all image mounted related things from script and then tried it.
but after that i cannot boot android anymore, i think the problem is app_process linking to daemonsu, since i set back to original it boots like normal but no superuser access. SuperSU said theres is no superuser installed.
Any suggestion?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will get root.img file you will have to rename it to system.img

masdeco said:
same problem here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Me too [emoji25]
Envoyé de mon E5333 en utilisant Tapatalk

I've just installed RemixOS 2.0 onto a partition on my Lenovo X200T. I followed the instructions and all was good until I tried to run SuperSU. When it tried to update via the normal method the install failed and asked for a reboot. Any suggestions.

ninharp said:
I modified the original script to work with the system folder installation and i removed all app_processX dependend things from script (dunno if it affects the root in any way, cannot find any issue by now) Read the Readme.txt for further installation instructions. The link you find on the reddit sub that GoPal has posted! I cannot post links right now.
Try this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the answer is replace the system folder. this is my methode :
1. copy the system img from the extracted remix iso to somewhere
2. then run the script
3. unpack the system img that already rooted and copy all the content to the system folder of the remix (replace)
4. done. Remix os rooted.

Guys, I installed Remix to ext4 partition (in order to use all free space), so there's no "system.img" on it (but there's "system" folder). How to modify the script or to root Remix other way?
masdeco, thanks for the idea! How do you unpack img file, btw?

4ezahernya said:
Guys, I installed Remix to ext4 partition (in order to use all free space), so there's no "system.img" on it (but there's "system" folder). How to modify the script or to root Remix other way?
masdeco, thanks for the idea! How do you unpack img file, btw?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
after root the system img then mount it, copy all the content to the system folder of your remix.
since I am a linux user so I use this command :
mount -o loop system.img tmp

this is so cool cool

Works Lenovo Yoga 2 11
Installed to a partition on my HD:
Downloaded RemixOS iso
extracted contents of iso
created temp, data and system folders
ran this tool to root the system.img (now root.img)
renamed root.img back to system.img
mounted system.img to temp folder
copied contents of temp folder to system folder
added entry in grub
now I am triple booting Windows, Linux and RemixOS 2.0 Android with ROOT
Thank You!!!

here is a xdelta3 for patching system.img for those using Remix OS 2 from a USB stick and run windows

GizmoTheGreen said:
here is a xdelta3 for patching system.img for those using Remix OS 2 from a USB stick and run windows
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can you please explain its usage?

the_poolee said:
can you please explain its usage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
me too!
Please

the_poolee said:
can you please explain its usage?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dariett said:
me too!
Please
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
it shouldn't be too hard to figure out, put the files in your folder of choice with the system.img from your usb stick, run the batfile. it should create a file named rooted system image, now just replace system.img on your usb stick with that and run...
ofcourse I am assuming your system.img is identical to the one I had, which it should be if it was the 2.0 dev preview which is the only thing you can get today, right?