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Flashing Question

I'm currently rooted running a MIUI ROM. My question is, if I want to flash to a different ROM, what do I need to do prior to flashing? Can I just flash directly over using CWM or do I need to revert back to stock first?
Thanks

If it was an update to the same rom then you could probably just flash over depending on the chef's instructions.
But a different rom, I would definite wipe data/factory reset it first.
Of course I would backup apps/data, and a nandroid backup too

SysAdmNj said:
If it was an update to the same rom then you could probably just flash over depending on the chef's instructions.
But a different rom, I would definite wipe data/factory reset it first.
Of course I would backup apps/data, and a nandroid backup too
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply, so would I need to unroot and reroot and all that stuff over again, or can I just choose the factory rest option from the boot menu?

There's no need to return to stock, just wipe data/cache from the CWM menu.

If I have a backup of of an existing ROM, and a Titanium backups of all apps and app date, why would I need a Nandroid backup too?

[Q] nandroid to zip...

Is there a way to convert a nandroid backup into a flashable zip file? I would like to have the possibility of returning to my rooted rom if ever I decide in the mean time to go back to stock rom and don't like it.
The question has been asked a few times but has never, to my knowledge, received a clear answer.

NoUseToRush said:
Is there a way to convert a nandroid backup into a flashable zip file? I would like to have the possibility of returning to my rooted rom if ever I decide in the mean time to go back to stock rom and don't like it.
The question has been asked a few times but has never, to my knowledge, received a clear answer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid back up takes a snap shot of your entire OS. All of the /system files, all of the /data files. All the apps in their current state. I mean EVERYTHING is store in the nandroid back up. When you preform that there is a "backup/restore" option in the Clockwork ROM recovery image. You would just select "restore" then select the back up you want to store. I will advise you not to change the name of the file as the MD5SUMs will not match and it will not be able to load it. It's a flash-able .zip my nature. but it will verify it's own MD5SUM prior to flashing it.
which brings me to this point.
but to restore you nandroid you need to be a) rooted b)have clockwork installed.

Yup, you can do it, but you need a few things:
1) system.img and boot.img to flash
2) you'll also need a non-stock recovery, so if you return to stock, just go back to a rooted stock system, and keep the non-stock/cwm recovery so that you can apply the zip. This begs neidlinger's point above about just restoring your backup via recovery.
3) if you want to really cross your eyes and dot your tees, then you should also get the EBT partition from the stock firmware so that you can update the bootloader. Most people are fine using what ever old bootloader they had when they rooted, but I think it can cause bootloops with certain combinations.
So yes it can be done, but it's more an exercise in android-fu. You'll have to search around and take apart a few zips to figure it out.

what about this (just to see if I understand the approach): I make a cwm recovery of my present non-stock rom and I somehow manage to go back to a stock rom. If I miss my custom rom, I root , install cwm recovery and restore the backup stored on my external sd card...How is that?

NoUseToRush said:
what about this (just to see if I understand the approach): I make a cwm recovery of my present non-stock rom and I somehow manage to go back to a stock rom. If I miss my custom rom, I root , install cwm recovery and restore the backup stored on my external sd card...How is that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct
You are on a custom OS, you make a nandroid backup Via CRW (ClockWork Recovery) (it will store to the SDcard)
you go back to OE not rooted OS with stock recovery.
you don't like it, it's slow or ugly, what ever.
you re-root. Reinstall CWR
you wipe the device
select "backup/restore"
Then restore
and it will restore the Nandroid completely.
you boot the device to the exact point in which you left it.

Some Back up Questions

Hi,
i am using CWM.
currently, i am under Cyanogen.
i want to try AOKP.
my question is
i have followed the steps below
a backup
Wipe data
Wipe system
Install AOKp
Till now am i right?
and after to come back to my backup
step 1
Should i Wipe Data?
step 2
Should i wipe system ?
Restore CWM of Cyanogen
are the steps 1 and 2 necessary?
is it a bad practice?
do it let gremlim?
moreover can i restore a back up made under TWRP from CWM?
Can i restore a back up made under CWM from TWRP?
how do you restore the back up?
am i missing steps? Fix permissions?
do i need to recalibrate my battery each time?
Thanks
Heniki

You can only restore CWM backups with CWM and TWRP backups with TWRP. As of now CWM 6's backup function is broken but it is being worked on. So make sure your Backups are from either TWRP or CMW 5 if you want them to work.
To restore a backup I wipe data/factory reset and wipe system. Then choose the backup I want to restore. No need to fix permissions unless things start to act funny after the restore. As far as battery calibration goes it's a myth.

hechoen said:
You can only restore CWM backups with CWM and TWRP backups with TWRP. As of now CWM 6's backup function is broken but it is being worked on. So make sure your Backups are from either TWRP or CMW 5 if you want them to work.
To restore a backup I wipe data/factory reset and wipe system. Then choose the backup I want to restore. No need to fix permissions unless things start to act funny after the restore. As far as battery calibration goes it's a myth.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With R6, Bryan said he fixed the backup and restore issues with CWM6. Idk about the rest of the features

When you say "Cyanogen" I think many assume you mean CM9 (ICS).
If you are running CM7 (GB), be very careful how you restore. Most system data (and perhaps some user data) from GB is not compatible with ICS.

jeffsf said:
When you say "Cyanogen" I think many assume you mean CM9 (ICS).
If you are running CM7 (GB), be very careful how you restore. Most system data (and perhaps some user data) from GB is not compatible with ICS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, i am under CM9

Thanks guys
How i Can move from TWRP To CWM?
i found this one to move from CWM to TWRP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721489.
i want really to understand what are the bad practices which will create gremlims

heniki said:
Thanks guys
How i Can move from TWRP To CWM?
i found this one to move from CWM to TWRP http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1721489.
i want really to understand what are the bad practices which will create gremlims
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As Fb said in the post you linked you flash the boot.img that came with your rom or reflash the rom.
The more times you flash roms the more issues you could have with "gremlins". Read more about it in the link.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1500427
Sent from my SGH-T959V using xda premium

[Q][Request] Sharing CWM nandroid backups

Say I have a CWM nandroid backup in TAR format (not dedupe) with only the system (no data, no cache). A result of restoring this would be very similar to flashing the full ROM (leaving recovery untouched and maybe other stuff, unsure)
Say someone has applied an official JB OTA and would like to get back to stock ICS. It seems impossible to flash the full ICS ROM. AP Fastboot says:
Code:
downgraded security version
update gpt_main version failed
preflash validation failed for GPT
In such a scenario, my assumption is that applying someone else's nandroid backup would solve the problem.
What do you think?
Would it work?
Any other way to solve the problem?

Please someone, I need a backup too :angel:

For those interested (if any!), android69800 (thx!) and I worked together on this.
A backup covers 4 partitions: system, data, cache, boot.As suspected, we were able to export such a backup from one device to another and successfully restore it.
It is therefore possible to revert to stock ICS even if one has applied the final JB OTA (i.e flashing the stock ICS ROM with RSD Lite is no longer possible).
I have a nandroid backup of Orange FR ICS ("factory" since there's no data/cache in it) for whoever might need it.
If someone would be kind enough to provide me with a similar nandroid backup of SFR ICS, in TAR format, I'd be grateful. Note that if you have an existing backup in dupe format, or even if your backup has data/cache in it, it is quite easy create a TAR backup with no data/cache. I can give directions if needed.
Thanks in advance.

Reverting back to stock recovery

Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks

nearlygod said:
Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
Why you just flash TWRP again and start from begining?
Anyhow if you wish to reflash your stock recovery You need to reflash a stock boot.img
Here you have 2 ways to do it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66934553&postcount=218
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=66922116&postcount=215
In those threads the point was to re root but the principle is valid you can use them as guides

nearlygod said:
Hi,
I flashed Twrp but I can't backup, because it can't mount data.
I thought, I'd try to revert back to stock recovery and then flash twrp again.
Does anybody know how to do that without flashing an entire stock Rom?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem and found out in my case, at least, it was because when I rooted, I didn't "format data" during the process. I've been told that if you don't format data during the process, you leave the data partition encrypted, and thus it can't be mounted (at least by non-system apps and processes). No guarantees here as always, but If you back everything up and redo the root process and do the data format, then you may be able to mount data. At that point you can restore your apps and info. I've also read (but haven't tried this!) that you can do a nandroid backup and restore ALL your data from that nandroid after you reset your phone (which the data format will do). You should google everything I have suggested and see if you can get what you need in this way, without having to reflash the ROM entirely or try to revert to stock recovery.

kettir said:
I had this problem and found out in my case, at least, it was because when I rooted, I didn't "format data" during the process. I've been told that if you don't format data during the process, you leave the data partition encrypted, and thus it can't be mounted (at least by non-system apps and processes). No guarantees here as always, but If you back everything up and redo the root process and do the data format, then you may be able to mount data. At that point you can restore your apps and info. I've also read (but haven't tried this!) that you can do a nandroid backup and restore ALL your data from that nandroid after you reset your phone (which the data format will do). You should google everything I have suggested and see if you can get what you need in this way, without having to reflash the ROM entirely or try to revert to stock recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1

Hi. Yes, I had to format everything. Now it works. Also the issues I had with Titanium Backup are gone. I flashed the ExtSdFix and I'm almost running like on Kitkat, yeah