[Q] flash rom without erasing content? - T-Mobile LG G2x

I'm running CM7 and would like to try out the MIUI rom. Do I need to wipe data/factory reset in recovery before flashing the new rom? Also, is there anything I should do outside of a nandroid backup before flashing a new rom? This is my first time flashing a different rom.

In your case, yes.
Developers and their ROMs vary in the changes they make, and while some might need no wiping, many do.
As a result, as a general safe consensus, the following is usually recommended to avoid all possible repercussions.
1. factory reset
2. format/cache
3. format/system
4. wipe dalvik cache
Again, this isn't always necessary, but when moving from one ROM to another, this is a good idea.

jamadio said:
In your case, yes.
Developers and their ROMs vary in the changes they make, and while some might need no wiping, many do.
As a result, as a general safe consensus, the following is usually recommended to avoid all possible repercussions.
1. factory reset
2. format/cache
3. format/system
4. wipe dalvik cache
Again, this isn't always necessary, but when moving from one ROM to another, this is a good idea.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, man. Thanks for the quick reply! Was hoping I could avoid a data loss. Flashing now.

I've used Titanium Backup whenever I've switched roms, and it's been super handy.

You can usually safely just wipe the cache, format the system and wipe the Dalvik Cache and leave the data partition alone (as long as the rom is using the same file system type). Then on the first boot all your previously installed user apps will magically reappear, but your first boot will take much longer.

Related

[Q] upgrading roms

i'm using a htc desire running on cm6.
when there are newer versions of cm and i would like to update to it.
what is the best way of achieving this without having to wipe the data/settings/etc?
if there is no such way, what can i do to backup settings/data/apps so that once i update to a newer cm , i can just restore my stuff?
what about Rom Manager Premium, theres an option to check for rom updates, would Rom Manager update your rom for you?(and keep all settings/data/etc?)
Yup.
it does everyting. buy it. seriously.
vision
seriously?
i use titanium backup and it works fine for me..
another option to back up your apps & system data is the nandroid backup on the recovery menu..
titanium backup requires busybox and for that to work i need to be nand unlocked.(which im not).
i always thought that nandroid backup will backup everythign to a state, so if i were to upgrade roms, and then use restore, wont it just revert me back to the previous state(not updated)?
edwinlee90 said:
titanium backup requires busybox and for that to work i need to be nand unlocked.(which im not).
i always thought that nandroid backup will backup everythign to a state, so if i were to upgrade roms, and then use restore, wont it just revert me back to the previous state(not updated)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are correct. A nandroid restore will undo your update.
If you're upgrading to a newer release of CM6, you should be able to do it without wiping your data. Wipe dalvik and cache, flash the rom, and reboot. You'll have new featuers but all your old apps and data in tact.
Nandroid backup first for good measure though
oh okay, so wiping dalvik and cache would just wipe all settings(including home screen layout, widget placements, folders etc?)
some tutorials that i've read about updating roms, is that i dont even need to wipe dalvik and cache, anythign bad about that?
edwinlee90 said:
oh okay, so wiping dalvik and cache would just wipe all settings(including home screen layout, widget placements, folders etc?)
some tutorials that i've read about updating roms, is that i dont even need to wipe dalvik and cache, anythign bad about that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, dalvik and cache wouldn't even affect your settings.
The cache is the temporary cache used by the Android operating system, and the Dalvik-cache is the cache used by the Dalvik Virtual Machine. The only thing about wiping them is that the first boot will take longer as they rebuild their indexes and such.
Nine times out of ten, you'll be fine without wiping these. It's just generally considered "better" if you do.
Again, nandroid backup and try it out. If it doesn't work without wiping, restore back and wipe the caches.

[Q] Update question?

Hi people, just a quicky! If you update NSCollab 1.0.38 to 1.0.39, do you have to delete data & dalvik cache (factory restore!) like it's a new installation, or can you just do a delete dalvik cache? Only I did the delete dalvik cache ONLY method for the update & had no problems, but I'm now presuming that if you don't do the full wipe, then really in essence you're effectively not really fully updating the whole system as you would be if wiping it first (through ClockworkMod Recovery,(RomManager!)!?
TIA!
There is no need to fully wipe when doing that minor upgrade to 1.0.39. I think you only need to fully wipe when changing ROMs. You probably do not even have to wipe Dalvik cache but since it only takes a few minutes to reload it, I would do it anyway.
Data wipe is completely overkill, however.
Apolyxon said:
There is no need to fully wipe when doing that minor upgrade to 1.0.39. I think you only need to fully wipe when changing ROMs. You probably do not even have to wipe Dalvik cache but since it only takes a few minutes to reload it, I would do it anyway.
Data wipe is completely overkill, however.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Apolyxon for your quick reply! I had thaught as much, as I knew wiping data also would effectively commit a factory restore & I would lose all my apps, settings etc! Just wanted to be sure!

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

[Q] CWM Commands?

So, we all know how to flash a ROM and the various steps you should do to ensure a clean install.
Dalvik, cache, data, and system should be wiped. Minus factory reset (which does data and system) for updated builds of a ROM.
My question, which was prompted by installing Google Now, is what do each of these things actually do? It would be useful for example to know if I should clean the Dalvik cache when trying to install a less buggy version of the app, but as I have no idea what Dalvik is I have no way of knowing.
Would any knowledgeable person like to quickly break down what clearing the cache, data, system and Dalvik do?
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
yes whenever you install a new ROM its better to have a good clean up before doing so...
factory rest will format or wipe cache and data...dalvik is inside cache so no need to do it again..the same for battery stats...format system is clearly just wiping system partition clean

[Q] If phone isn't rooted, does it mean I'm unable to wipe...

....to wipe unneeded files in the dalvik cache, and so they will add up over time and take a lot of space and make the phone slower? Therefore it is a MUST to root one's phone?
Is that a correct assumption?
Thanks!
Try it. Use any file manager, go to /cache/dalvik-cache, and delete something, or everything.
The reason why it is called a cache is to speed up the phone.
It won't take up memory because of the way the phones storage is partitioned.
Sent from my DROID2 using xda premium
MarlonKaye said:
....to wipe unneeded files in the dalvik cache, and so they will add up over time and take a lot of space and make the phone slower? Therefore it is a MUST to root one's phone?
Is that a correct assumption?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For formating caches you could use file manager but it also need root permission...
And until you flash other custom rom you need not to wipe cache...
Apps cache is being created for the first time you boot your phone for better application launch...
So if you got a serious problem of force crash on stock rom, please do full reset...
Rom: CodeBox 1.4.0 Unofficial
Kernel: Horsepower 3.1 by fuss
If you like my post please hit thanks button...
You can use Factory Reset from Settings menu.
guys...
Guys, please read the original post.
Anyway, I tried unrooting my phone and deleting contents of dalvik cache. As expected, this is what happened:
1. Using ES File Explorer, WAS NOT ABLE to access the /data/dalvik-cache folder. It showed "Empty folder" or something like that.
2. Using Root Explorer, message that read "You're phone doesn't seem to be rooted, etc. etc. " (cannot access folder also)
---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So here's my new set of questions:
1. Does factory reset erase dalvik-cache? (I would assume so)
2. If phone is unrooted, dalvik cache contents cannot be accessed or deleted (as I have proven). Does that mean they will add up over time (unless you factory reset the phone??) and cause problems like making the phone slower?
Hope that's clear.
Thanks!!!
What phone are you using? If for samsung, you can still wipe that in stock recovery even if you are unrooted...
Dalvik cache is in your /data partition, so yeah, it will be erased if you factory reset...your phone should manage dalvik by itself, it should not build up (except if you mess with it), so don't worry...
Ryuinferno, hello. I'm using Samsung Galaxy Ace. So how do I wipe the dalvik cache in stock recovery of unrooted phone? Are you referring to factory reset / data wipe? I know that already. I know that already. If you're referring to something else, please let me know.
Are you sure android phones manage the dalvik cache by themselves? Because sometimes when I uninstall an app, a related file would still be left in dalvik. I would then manually delete it or delete it using Titanium Backup. Also, why does Titanium Backup have an option to "Clean up the Dalvik cache..." if the phone manages it by itself?
Thanks!!!
Ryuinferno said:
What phone are you using? If for samsung, you can still wipe that in stock recovery even if you are unrooted...
Dalvik cache is in your /data partition, so yeah, it will be erased if you factory reset...your phone should manage dalvik by itself, it should not build up (except if you mess with it), so don't worry...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even wiping dalvik cache will cause apps to misbehave in you don't factory reset ...
If you are rooted , it will also have same effect ...
So do factory reset if you are in stock ROM and full wipe if you are on custom ROM ...
ROM : CodeBox Unofficial 1.4.0
Kernel : Horsepower 3.1.0-Fuss
If you like my post please hit like button...
Hmm...I can't remember too well as I left stock recovery too long...never left my phone unrooted......I think there is a wipe cache option in stock recovery but I am not sure whether will it wipe dalvik or not...
Titanium backup has an option to wipe dalvik because when changing ROMs/restoring apps, the current dalvik may be conflicting with the newly restored app...that is why you need to rebuild them...usually the old unused dalvik should be cleared upon a reboot...
"Hmm...I can't remember too well as I left stock recovery too long...never left my phone unrooted......I think there is a wipe cache option in stock recovery but I am not sure whether will it wipe dalvik or not..."
Maybe not? Because wipe cache and wipe dalvik cache are two separate options in ClockworkMOD Recovery, is it not? Or maybe in stock recovery, it DOES wipe dalvik as well....

Categories

Resources