Database Info

What are your basic steps when flashing a new ROM?

1. Titanium backup to backup apps
2. Boot to recovery - wipe data / cache / dalvik
3. Flash new ROM
4. Titanium backup to restore apps
5. Rebuild my homescreen and settings etc
J/w how the rest of you guys flash new roms. Anything else I should be doing when flashing a new rom?

Only think I would add is to wipe /system while in recovery. You can do that by accessing the "format /system" option in CWM Recovery under "Mounts and Storage"
Also, maybe make a Nandroid Backup before wiping /data incase something goes wrong
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk

I'll be honest I could care less about anything on the ROM itself. Apps I just reinstall, contacts/email/calendar resync. All my music/pix are saved to the internal memory.
1. Reboot to recovery
2. Wipe boot/system/data/cache/dalvik
3. Reboot ROM and reinstall all apps and accounts
I don't like backing up the apps because I like the "starting fresh" feeling by putting back in the apps I actually want.

What i do
boot into recovery
wipe boot/system/data/cache/dalvik
install the rom/kernel
boot and leave the phone for 5 mins then reboot again =D

I know a lot of users will disagree but I simply nandroid, factory wipe and then flash the new rom. A factory wipe clears data and cache and flashing the rom will wipe system and boot. I've yet to have an issue with this method. I also know how to recover from most problems I could encounter on my own. Additionally, i'm a member of the do as i say, not as i do club. Always nandroid and follow dev instructions is what most people really need to do.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G running CM7/franco.Kernel

installing rom question

Do you have to backup to stock rom or can you just install a rom on top on another without backing or w/e?

rasdabess said:
Do you have to backup to stock rom or can you just install a rom on top on another without backing or w/e?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should backup your rom before flashing, this way if anything goes wrong you can go back.
You should always wipe, wipe, wipe.
Wipe data/factory reset
Wipe cache partition
Go to Advanced and wipe Dalvik Cache
After the wipe go back and Install zip from sdcard. After install I do another wipe on the Dalvik Cache then fix permissions. Remember Wipe, Wipe, Wipe.

so as long as I do that then I can install a rom over another and delete the previous one while doing so?

rasdabess said:
Do you have to backup to stock rom or can you just install a rom on top on another without backing or w/e?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I recommend making several backups.
First, make sure you have Clockworkmod installed via nvflash. Then make a backup. Download the backup to your pc for safe keeping (just in case things go wrong).
Use Titanium Backup (free version works, but buy the full one if you like it). Use the batch feature to back up all user apps. Do not back up system apps.
When installing a new rom, especially roms that use different versions of android, you should wipe everything you can except the external sd card (where you keep your backups). Wiping "system" is important.
If you need help, shout out.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847

[Guide] Nandroid Backup - backup & restore

What is a Nandroid Backup?
It is a full backup of the partitions on your device’s NAND flash (NAND actually stands for NOT AND, which in simple terms means an electronic gate). Basically a backup of your phones hard drive if you will...
The Nandroid Backup is a snapshot of your device (it means everything on your phone – your apps, data, your current ROM and even the kernel is backed up) at the time you do the back up. If you restore the back up, it changes your phone BACK to that state. You will need clockworkmod (CWM/TWRP). So make sure you have CWM on your device.
The SD Card data is not backed up in the process. Although, the Nandroid Backup itself is created on your SD card. Make sure you have enough space on your SD card to make a COMPLETE copy of your phone.
It’s highly recommended that once you have done a backup, you manually copy it to your computer in case your sd card is wiped or corrupted.
Pre-requisites:
1. Rooted Device:
2. Custom Recovery (CWM or TWRP)
While the OS is running you cannot do a backup. The boot loader in the recovery enables you to take a backup of the OS while it’s not running.
How to Make a Nandroid Backup via CWM:
Backup via CWM:
1.Boot into Recovery pressing in the same time Volume Up + Home + Power buttons for our Galaxy S Advance phones
2. Select ‘Backup and Restore’ from the recovery.
Once you are in recovery, scroll down to the option ‘Backup and Recovery’ with volume Up/Down and select it (Power button for select).
3. Start the backup.
Once you are on the Nandroid screen, select ‘Backup’ to start the backup process. You have the option to ‘Restore’ backup on the same screen.
The backup process may take a while. Take a break for a coffee.
4. Transfer the backup to your computer (recommended).
Once you reboot, you can see the backup in the ‘clockworkmod/backup/…’ (or similar file) directory on your SD card.
Move, copy, or paste this folder on your PC safely.
Restore from a Nandroid Backup via CWM:
1. Boot your device into CWM and navigate to the Nandroid screen.
2. Choose ‘Restore’ and begin the process.
If you select ‘Advanced Restore’ option, you may select which part of the backup to restore – i. e. the boot,system, data or cache. Or choose the whole backup.
3. Reboot your device. Your system is now restored and is exactly the same as the time when the backup was taken.

R_a_z_v_a_n said:
<SNIP>
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why make a new thread? Add it to your cwm guide!
I do not respond to tech support via PM

Agreed. This needs to be incorporated into the CWR guide.
Thread Closed....But I will also give you ownership of the 2nd post over in that thread so you can port this over.
Edit: I gave you #2 and 3 and moved this over to that thread for you.

Does factory reset in twrp delete the backups?

So I'm on twrp recovery (rooted Oneplus 3T) and i do a lot of moding which often results in bootloops, so I resort to my backups made in twrp. I was wondering if I'm doing a clean flash of a new rom and it fails, do i still have the backups?

Factory reset wipes only Data , Cache , and Dalvik.
If you select Advanced Wipe and then wipe the Internal Storage or select the option Format Data from the Wipe menu then you will lose your backups (and all your personal data too ) as they are located in Internal Storage/TWRP/Backups.

kenny3fcb said:
Factory reset wipes only Data , Cache , and Dalvik.
If you select Advanced Wipe and then wipe the Internal Storage or select the option Format Data from the Wipe menu then you will lose your backups (and all your personal data too ) as they are located in Internal Storage/TWRP/Backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What if you selected Factory Reset from Android Settings? Does that delete the TWRP directory (folder) and its contents as well (which contains the Nandroid backups)?

Cifer17 said:
So I'm on twrp recovery (rooted Oneplus 3T) and i do a lot of moding which often results in bootloops, so I resort to my backups made in twrp. I was wondering if I'm doing a clean flash of a new rom and it fails, do i still have the backups?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Save your data in laptop and boot your phone

zetret said:
What if you selected Factory Reset from Android Settings? Does that delete the TWRP directory (folder) and its contents as well (which contains the Nandroid backups)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, if your TWRP backups are stored in internal sdcard, factory reset from settings will wipe the internal sdcard and remove your TWRP folder and the backups contained in that folder.
BUT...
If your backups are stored on external sdcard, they will not be wiped by factory reset from settings, they also would not be wiped by factory reset from TWRP.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Yes, if your TWRP backups are stored in internal sdcard, factory reset from settings will wipe the internal sdcard and remove your TWRP folder and the backups contained in that folder.
BUT...
If your backups are stored on external sdcard, they will not be wiped by factory reset from settings, they also would not be wiped by factory reset from TWRP.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah... If you don't have SDcard, make sure your NAndroid backups or ROMs are backed up on your PC or external hard drive. Otherwise you cannot install/flash your new ROM which includes the android system.

DryreL said:
Yeah... If you don't have SDcard, make sure your NAndroid backups or ROMs are backed up on your PC or external hard drive. Otherwise you cannot install/flash your new ROM which includes the android system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know that, you probably meant to quote the person I responded to.

DryreL said:
Yeah... If you don't have SDcard, make sure your NAndroid backups or ROMs are backed up on your PC or external hard drive. Otherwise you cannot install/flash your new ROM which includes the android system.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Or, you could just factory reset in TWRP, factory reset from within TWRP does not wipe data/media, otherwise known as user storage partition where the TWRP folder is stored, therefore, any TWRP backups stored in the TWRP folder in your internal sdcard will not be wiped by the factory reset process from within TWRP.
However, factory reset in TWRP does wipe data/data partition, where user settings and user installed apps are stored. If your ROMs are also stored in the data/media(user storage partition), they will not be wiped by the factory reset process from within TWRP either.

Edit

What files can I delete in the root "/" directory?

If I'm going to install a new os via twrp recovery with full wipes.
In other words
What files can't i delete?
Thank you so much

Just make a factory reset in TWRP and you're good to go. No need to go through files and folders with a file manager.

zerolam said:
If I'm going to install a new os via twrp recovery with full wipes.
In other words
What files can't i delete?
Thank you so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't delete anything in root ("/") partition, before or after flashing.
Make a nandroid backup of your current ROM before you do the following.
If you want a completely clean install of the new OS then you need to choose the Wipe option in TWRP, then choose the advanced wipe option, then select the data partition, system partition, cache partition and dalvik/ART cache, then swipe the slider to wipe these partitions, then you're ready to flash the new ROM.
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk