Related
Is it safe to update to newest version without relocking the phone.
I'm using Omnia 7 (Samsung Tools used to prevent relocking).
if you used the prevent relock, as you said, you should be fine.
Save the first backup file that the update creates for future purposes.
Copy and paste the backup/restore files to a safe location.
See here for steps to locate and save your backup/restore files:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1023817
Thank you!
I would like to ask something more.
Should I reset the phone to manufacture setting and unlock it again before update
(I don't know how much junk deleted apps and files leave)?
and...
Is it ok to delete Samsung Tools once you installed and used it?
no need to reset the phone before going to nodo. The less that is on the phone, the quicker the process, because the backup/restore files will backup all the apps, and songs files, and images, etc... BUT it's not necessary to reset.
After you have done the prevent relock, you can delete the Samsung Tools app, but you don't have to. It's your call.
Have you ever installed a ROM that AUTOMATICALLY wiped your data when you installed it? Some ROM's have commands in their updater scripts that will AUTOMATICALLY wipe your data during the ROMs install process regardless if you chose not to wipe data before the install. This was frustrating to me because I did not want to have to go through the process of resetting up my device when I was only updating to the current version of the ROM I already had on my device.
It is always better to wipe completely before installing a new ROM, however there may be instances when you do not want to do that (i.e. upgrading from ROM version 1.1 to version 1.2, etc.). I recommend doing a full wipe when installing a new ROM however, I like to have the option to not do a full wipe and preserve my data and my system setup and not have the ROM automatically wipe my data.
If my ROM runs fine without wiping data then I like the convenience of not having to re-install all of my apps and system settings. If I find that the ROM is not behaving correctly after updating then I will go back and do a fresh install with a full wipe.
So if you have a ROM that AUTOMATICALLY wipes your data then this is how to modify the ROM so that it will not automatically wipe your data upon installing. It is very easy to do. Follow these instructions:
Navigate to the directory where your ROM is saved on your computer.
Open the ROM zip file with a zip application of your choice.
Navigate to the "META-INF>com>google>android" folder.
Extract the "updater-script" file.
Open this file with the Notepad application in Windows.
Locate this line in the text *format("ext3", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p26");*. It is usually somewhat near the beginning of all of the text in file.
Delete that line (note: the line will not have the * symbols before and after so just delete the line in between *'s)
Save the file but do not choose "Save as". Make note of the directory where the file was saved.
If your zip application does not ask to save the edited file automatically into the ROM zip file then re-add that file back into the ROM zip file in the original directory/folder where the file existed in the ROM zip file.
Copy the ROM zip file to your phone SD card.
Boot into recovery and install the ROM zip without manually wiping data.
Do not remove any other text lines or text characters from this file other than what is in between the *'s from the above instructions. There are no spaces in between any of the commands in the updater-script so keep the same character formatting in the file. Also, use Notepad in Windows (or a text editor in Mac; I do not know what that application is called on a Mac) for editing this file and do not use a word processing application (such as Word). Word processing applications can sometimes add hidden formatting in the text that you do not want.
This is for use with custom ROM's for the Thunderbolt. I do not know if this will work for other devices. Always make a backup before using this mod/change.
This mod/change only prevents the ROM itself from AUTOMATICALLY formatting and wiping your data upon installing. It does nothing else other than that. If the ROM itself does not AUTOMATICALLY wipe data during the install process then there is no need to use this. I have tested this successfully multiple times without issue.
The usual disclaimer applies to making this or any other modification to your device. I am not responsible for any damage this may cause to your device. Use at your own risk. However, if you made a backup then you should be fine.
I have searched the internet and the forums and did not find any instructions on how to do this so I made this post. If something like this has been posted before I apologize for cluttering the forum. Also, if I posted in the wrong forum I also apologize.
Hope this helps anyone who has this issue.
Very nice. Although I've had bad luck not wiping.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Have had random issues not wiping I always do now even if rom says it will do it...
Sent from my BURNTH3ORYX using Tapatalk
If wiping is to much of a hassle for you then you shouldn't be flashing roms. The only time not flashing work is an update to a Rom. If its to much of a hassle to set things up then its going to be a bigger hassle when you run into problems and have to re-flash you Rom and wipe data, or just restore Nandroid because your to lazy (sometime you just don't have the time, I've been in this situation. What you do is just wait until you do, problem solved)
eraursls1984 said:
If wiping is to much of a hassle for you then you shouldn't be flashing roms. The only time not flashing work is an update to a Rom. If its to much of a hassle to set things up then its going to be a bigger hassle when you run into problems and have to re-flash you Rom and wipe data, or just restore Nandroid because your to lazy (sometime you just don't have the time, I've been in this situation. What you do is just wait until you do, problem solved)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sometimes I have had the pleasure of screwing something up while toying with settings, where a quick install of the same rom over the current install is an easy fix. This makes that possible on roms that auto wipe... its a GOOD thing.
Morkai Almandragon said:
Sometimes I have had the pleasure of screwing something up while toying with settings, where a quick install of the same rom over the current install is an easy fix. This makes that possible on roms that auto wipe... its a GOOD thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see your point, and I have flashed an untouched Rom over one that I themed and something got screwy, many times. I guess I haven't stuck with any Rom that had auto wipe for more than a day before I'm back to a better Rom.
Awesome and thanks... definitely use for me.
Chingy provides similar instructions for his ROMs on his site. It's useful if you, say tweak a kernel setting or fat finger something and the ROM goes unstable and all you really want to do is reflash the kernel, but the kernel, like Ziggy's, is only available in the ROM itself. Flashing one ROM over the exact same ROM shouldn't cause problems and this does have practical use in fixing problems. I'm gonna also the thanks button for it on behalf of someone that didn't know this, used it, and didn't thank back.
snicklet said:
Have you ever installed a ROM that AUTOMATICALLY wiped your data when you installed it? Some ROM's have commands in their updater scripts that will AUTOMATICALLY wipe your data during the ROMs install process regardless if you chose not to wipe data before the install. This was frustrating to me because I did not want to have to go through the process of resetting up my device when I was only updating to the current version of the ROM I already had on my device.
It is always better to wipe completely before installing a new ROM, however there may be instances when you do not want to do that (i.e. upgrading from ROM version 1.1 to version 1.2, etc.). I recommend doing a full wipe when installing a new ROM however, I like to have the option to not do a full wipe and preserve my data and my system setup and not have the ROM automatically wipe my data.
If my ROM runs fine without wiping data then I like the convenience of not having to re-install all of my apps and system settings. If I find that the ROM is not behaving correctly after updating then I will go back and do a fresh install with a full wipe.
So if you have a ROM that AUTOMATICALLY wipes your data then this is how to modify the ROM so that it will not automatically wipe your data upon installing. It is very easy to do. Follow these instructions:
Navigate to the directory where your ROM is saved on your computer.
Open the ROM zip file with a zip application of your choice.
Navigate to the "META-INF>com>google>android" folder.
Extract the "updater-script" file.
Open this file with the Notepad application in Windows.
Locate this line in the text *format("ext3", "EMMC", "/dev/block/mmcblk0p26");*. It is usually somewhat near the beginning of all of the text in file.
Delete that line (note: the line will not have the * symbols before and after so just delete the line in between *'s)
Save the file but do not choose "Save as". Make note of the directory where the file was saved.
If your zip application does not ask to save the edited file automatically into the ROM zip file then re-add that file back into the ROM zip file in the original directory/folder where the file existed in the ROM zip file.
Copy the ROM zip file to your phone SD card.
Boot into recovery and install the ROM zip without manually wiping data.
Do not remove any other text lines or text characters from this file other than what is in between the *'s from the above instructions. There are no spaces in between any of the commands in the updater-script so keep the same character formatting in the file. Also, use Notepad in Windows (or a text editor in Mac; I do not know what that application is called on a Mac) for editing this file and do not use a word processing application (such as Word). Word processing applications can sometimes add hidden formatting in the text that you do not want.
This is for use with custom ROM's for the Thunderbolt. I do not know if this will work for other devices. Always make a backup before using this mod/change.
This mod/change only prevents the ROM itself from AUTOMATICALLY formatting and wiping your data upon installing. It does nothing else other than that. If the ROM itself does not AUTOMATICALLY wipe data during the install process then there is no need to use this. I have tested this successfully multiple times without issue.
The usual disclaimer applies to making this or any other modification to your device. I am not responsible for any damage this may cause to your device. Use at your own risk. However, if you made a backup then you should be fine.
I have searched the internet and the forums and did not find any instructions on how to do this so I made this post. If something like this has been posted before I apologize for cluttering the forum. Also, if I posted in the wrong forum I also apologize.
Hope this helps anyone who has this issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for posting this. I have to different format commands, one that is 26 and one that is 25. Do I only delete the 26 one?
You always always need to Wipe for best performance.... Always. Period
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk
ajftl said:
You always always need to Wipe for best performance.... Always. Period
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your running the same EXACT version, not even a minor update, then its fine to flash without a wipe, but that's the only time you can do so.
Only the 26.
nrfitchett4 said:
thanks for posting this. I have to different format commands, one that is 26 and one that is 25. Do I only delete the 26 one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only the 26. Leave all the others.
snicklet said:
Only the 26. Leave all the others.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, guesses that was the way to go. Worked without problems.
i just integrated my updated system apps for my nexus s 2.3.4 root. it disabled market, music, and a few other apps. the only way i can think to reverse it would be to simply install a different rom.
But i am now unable to do so. Not thinking i ended up removing all apps from my phone in an attempt to completely reset it to stock, but it didnt change anything with the os system data. the files still dont work properly and keep force closing.
i can use my phone so its not a complete brick.
but how do i go about regaining access to market and other system apps?
claylay said:
i just integrated my updated system apps for my nexus s 2.3.4 root. it disabled market, music, and a few other apps. the only way i can think to reverse it would be to simply install a different rom.
But i am now unable to do so. Not thinking i ended up removing all apps from my phone in an attempt to completely reset it to stock, but it didnt change anything with the os system data. the files still dont work properly and keep force closing.
i can use my phone so its not a complete brick.
but how do i go about regaining access to market and other system apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If i was in your situation, I would try one of the official OTA updates that are a full rom. you will loose root and custom recovery, but those are easy to re-obtain. Since it's a full rom, it will rewrite all system apps and/or updated apps that are system integrated.
As always, since you are not coming from a full stock rom, A full wipe/reset should be done once flashing
i tried that actually. my issue was then error 7. it wouldnt verify the signature. all of the methods i have seen to make it verify the signature require me to have some apps on my phone and the ability to use market.
i also downloaded the sdk package and the adb software. i can link my phone up to it and lock/unlock the oem that way; but when i do a search for devices, it doesnt show my phone as a listed device. i tried to simply install titanium backup anyway to at least get my apps back and es file explorer, but it says device not found.
it really has become a puzzle for me.
and it is a stock rom. i just rooted it. unless that un-stocks it??
I've only ever seen the signature error on the incremental updates. Make sure you use the full ROM. Alternatively you could look for a CWM image of stock.
Root will not prevent an ota from being applied.
Sent from my Nexus S
Hello,
I will really appreciate if you can help to understand few basic issues:
1) When rooting the phone, is the boot-loader must be unlocked? i.e., if I've rooted the phone successfully using some 3rd party utility, it means that the boot-loader was unlocked during the rooting process or it was unlocked in advanced?
2) If the answer to the first question is "yes" (i.e. bootloader must be unlocked before rooting), how it is possible that my data wasn't wiped after rooting? This means that the boot-loader was unlocked in advance? Or maybe the 3rd party application backed up the data before unlocking the boot-loader and than restored it?
3) I heard that in order to install SU, the stock-recovery must be changed to a custom one. Is it necessarily true?
4) How can I check which recovery is installed on the phone?
5) If the recovery is changed to a custom one, does it mean that I stop receive OTA?
6) Can I backup up the stock recovery before changing it? Or how can I know which one it is to search on the net?
7) Do applications, like Titanium, change the recovery upon installation?
8) How applications, like Titanium, move apps, that are not supposed to move in regular installation,from ROM to SD? Can it harm the performance of the app?
9) When deleting apps from ROM (System or Data) manually, do I need to delete other files or folders besides .apk files in system/app or data/app? Is there any cache or other data to delete?
10) Do I need (or should I in case of lack of space) clean some cache files from ROM? (Like Dalvik or others...) If yes, which ones and how?
Sorry for the long post, but It will really help me to understand all these issues, once and for all.
Thank you in advance!
yuri_feigin said:
Hello,
I will really appreciate if you can help to understand few basic issues:
1) When rooting the phone, is the boot-loader must be unlocked? i.e., if I've rooted the phone successfully using some 3rd party utility, it means that the boot-loader was unlocked during the rooting process or it was unlocked in advanced?
2) If the answer to the first question is "yes" (i.e. bootloader must be unlocked before rooting), how it is possible that my data wasn't wiped after rooting? This means that the boot-loader was unlocked in advance? Or maybe the 3rd party application backed up the data before unlocking the boot-loader and than restored it?
3) I heard that in order to install SU, the stock-recovery must be changed to a custom one. Is it necessarily true?
4) How can I check which recovery is installed on the phone?
5) If the recovery is changed to a custom one, does it mean that I stop receive OTA?
6) Can I backup up the stock recovery before changing it? Or how can I know which one it is to search on the net?
7) Do applications, like Titanium, change the recovery upon installation?
8) How applications, like Titanium, move apps, that are not supposed to move in regular installation,from ROM to SD? Can it harm the performance of the app?
9) When deleting apps from ROM (System or Data) manually, do I need to delete other files or folders besides .apk files in system/app or data/app? Is there any cache or other data to delete?
10) Do I need (or should I in case of lack of space) clean some cache files from ROM? (Like Dalvik or others...) If yes, which ones and how?
Sorry for the long post, but It will really help me to understand all these issues, once and for all.
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sorry but Ive already answered all of these questions and one in fact could take a good couple paragraphs to explain.
Maybe tonight I'll answer or you could check out xda university.
yuri_feigin said:
Hello,
I will really appreciate if you can help to understand few basic issues:
1) When rooting the phone, is the boot-loader must be unlocked? i.e., if I've rooted the phone successfully using some 3rd party utility, it means that the boot-loader was unlocked during the rooting process or it was unlocked in advanced?
2) If the answer to the first question is "yes" (i.e. bootloader must be unlocked before rooting), how it is possible that my data wasn't wiped after rooting? This means that the boot-loader was unlocked in advance? Or maybe the 3rd party application backed up the data before unlocking the boot-loader and than restored it?
3) I heard that in order to install SU, the stock-recovery must be changed to a custom one. Is it necessarily true?
4) How can I check which recovery is installed on the phone?
5) If the recovery is changed to a custom one, does it mean that I stop receive OTA?
6) Can I backup up the stock recovery before changing it? Or how can I know which one it is to search on the net?
7) Do applications, like Titanium, change the recovery upon installation?
8) How applications, like Titanium, move apps, that are not supposed to move in regular installation,from ROM to SD? Can it harm the performance of the app?
9) When deleting apps from ROM (System or Data) manually, do I need to delete other files or folders besides .apk files in system/app or data/app? Is there any cache or other data to delete?
10) Do I need (or should I in case of lack of space) clean some cache files from ROM? (Like Dalvik or others...) If yes, which ones and how?
Sorry for the long post, but It will really help me to understand all these issues, once and for all.
Thank you in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) To my knowledge, yep. (Not much experience with locked bootloaders, sorry!)
2) But then again, different phones have different bootloaders, they might work In different ways.
3) Nope. Most (if not all) root tools install SU without custom recovery.
4) when your phone is powered-off, press Vol up, home and power button (this depends on your phone, this is Samsung standard, what phone are u using?
5) Go to download mode, (Vol down, home and power button, again Samsung standard) and check if: System Status: Official. If yes, OTAs can be taken. If System Status: Custom, you cant take OTAs.
6) U most probably can. Use Online Nandroid Backup, free from Google play store, and backup recovery only. That should work.
7) No.
8) Depends on the app.
9) Again, depends on the app.
10) Cache and dalvik cache can be wiped from recovery. The custom recovery will do it for u. Wiping dalvik cache from recovery won't be useful, as it recreates itself on reboot.
No problem with the long post, always glad to help
Smack that thanks button if I helped!
Note 2 LTE powered by Illusion ROM and Plasma Kernel.
Sent from dat small country called Singapore.
Thank You
Lgrootnoob said:
Im sorry but Ive already answered all of these questions and one in fact could take a good couple paragraphs to explain.
Maybe tonight I'll answer or you could check out xda university.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would really appreciate if you could answer, or refer me to the correct paragraph in XDA university or give a me a link to your previous answers.
Thank you very much.
Irwenzhao said:
1) To my knowledge, yep. (Not much experience with locked bootloaders, sorry!)
2) But then again, different phones have different bootloaders, they might work In different ways.
3) Nope. Most (if not all) root tools install SU without custom recovery.
4) when your phone is powered-off, press Vol up, home and power button (this depends on your phone, this is Samsung standard, what phone are u using?
5) Go to download mode, (Vol down, home and power button, again Samsung standard) and check if: System Status: Official. If yes, OTAs can be taken. If System Status: Custom, you cant take OTAs.
6) U most probably can. Use Online Nandroid Backup, free from Google play store, and backup recovery only. That should work.
7) No.
8) Depends on the app.
9) Again, depends on the app.
10) Cache and dalvik cache can be wiped from recovery. The custom recovery will do it for u. Wiping dalvik cache from recovery won't be useful, as it recreates itself on reboot.
No problem with the long post, always glad to help
Smack that thanks button if I helped!
Note 2 LTE powered by Illusion ROM and Plasma Kernel.
Sent from dat small country called Singapore.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank You for your help.
Regarding the last issue: if I wipe the cache, something bad can happen to the applications ot their data? I mean, should I do it only when flashi rom or is it healthy to do it in a while in order to clean unnecessary files?
yuri_feigin said:
Thank You for your help.
Regarding the last issue: if I wipe the cache, something bad can happen to the applications ot their data? I mean, should I do it only when flashi rom or is it healthy to do it in a while in order to clean unnecessary files?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The cache is actually a temporary section of the disk that does not contain any application cachery but things along the lines of software upgrade files. It is only wiped merely to make sure there is space for other mod's temp storage.
The data partition contains the data for yourr applications and the 'cache' as you see in settings for apps is for imagery and stuff so regardless if that is removed it wont matter.
The dalvik cache is compiled bytecode for the dalvik vm for each app. (Look up Java vm to get an idea of what I mean and then look up odexing and deodexing on xda university)
Here is some info on the thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=48151745#post48151745
Lgrootnoob said:
The cache is actually a temporary section of the disk that does not contain any application cachery but things along the lines of software upgrade files. It is only wiped merely to make sure there is space for other mod's temp storage.
The data partition contains the data for yourr applications and the 'cache' as you see in settings for apps is for imagery and stuff so regardless if that is removed it wont matter.
The dalvik cache is compiled bytecode for the dalvik vm for each app. (Look up Java vm to get an idea of what I mean and then look up odexing and deodexing on xda university)
Here is some info on the thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=48151745#post48151745
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot!
I have few more questions, please:
1) So what will be the best way to clear the cache partition? Only from recovery? Even from stock recovery?
Is there any other way, like a feature in some application or can I delete it manually?
2) Regarding the data partition, I guess I can go each application and clear its cache and/or data from application manager... Is there a better way? By away, if I delete the data of application (not the cache), I loose all the configuration and personal data. What I mean by "cleaning" is to erase some false data that remained by mistake, not to remove the necessary data of the apps. It is especially important for apps installed on ROM. What will be the best way?
3) Is sometimes remains unnecessary junk data in Dalvik Cache? If yes, how to remove it? (not the all Dalvik Cache)?
4) By away, what is the best way to check whether my bootloader is unlocked and to check which recovery is installed? (custom/stock)
5) If I want to mess with the start-up task manager, using some ROM application - what are the "receivers" that are connected to the apps? what is the difference between disabling an app/task/service and disabling receivers?
6) What is the difference between recovery boot mode and bootloader boot mode? When do I need to use the bootloader mode?
6) And another question, with your permission, is what kind of backups are exist beside nandroid? ADB is a backup? Do they back up all the ROM? I guess I will need a custom recovery to restore those backups.
yuri_feigin said:
Thanks a lot!
I have few more questions, please:
1) So what will be the best way to clear the cache partition? Only from recovery? Even from stock recovery?
Is there any other way, like a feature in some application or can I delete it manually?
2) Regarding the data partition, I guess I can go each application and clear its cache and/or data from application manager... Is there a better way? By away, if I delete the data of application (not the cache), I loose all the configuration and personal data. What I mean by "cleaning" is to erase some false data that remained by mistake, not to remove the necessary data of the apps. It is especially important for apps installed on ROM. What will be the best way?
3) Is sometimes remains unnecessary junk data in Dalvik Cache? If yes, how to remove it? (not the all Dalvik Cache)?
4) By away, what is the best way to check whether my bootloader is unlocked and to check which recovery is installed? (custom/stock)
5) If I want to mess with the start-up task manager, using some ROM application - what are the "receivers" that are connected to the apps? what is the difference between disabling an app/task/service and disabling receivers?
6) What is the difference between recovery boot mode and bootloader boot mode? When do I need to use the bootloader mode?
7) And another question, with your permission, is what kind of backups are exist beside nandroid? ADB is a backup? Do they back up all the ROM? I guess I will need a custom recovery to restore those backups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1: Only recovery.
2: "Cleaning" is not possible So the application manager is the only way and yes it would basically reset an application if you delete its data.
3: Its not necessary but can save space for more apps to be installed if you have removed apps manually or with titanium backup. However if you have uninstalled with the app manager in the settings app then the dex files in the dalvik cache are automatically removed. "Unnecessary junk", I have exactly what you are looking for: use Titanium backup's feature in the menu to remove unsused dalvik cache elements and integrate system dalvik into rom. (In the same section when you press the menu button)
4: What phone? (This is neccessary because of the variation in phones.)
5: The only legitimate way of stopping tasks is to disable the intent of the task(I think that is the reciever ). To do this you could use Autostarts from the Play store or you could use the Bootmanager Xposed module. Don't use any task manager unless you want problems. Disabling an app in settings would actually completely freeze the application meaning you could also not start it manually and it wouldnt be started at boot.
6: The bootloader loads recovery or Android. The bootloader is usable depending on the features given by your phone manufacturer. You would know the difference when you use recovery and if you have a Nexus device when you are in bootloader mode. Samsung devices have Download mode which is technically part of the bootloader and allows you to load custom software such as recovery, data partition, system partition etc.
7: You will use recovery to backup/restore.(I don't think that there is any other way because you are using the data that you are backing up or restoring if you didi it while you were running android. Adb cannot backup either but you could pull a recovery backup with adb from the sd card. Adb has a sideload feature for loading software in recovery with your computer. Again I need your phone model.
It seems you seek info on recovery and backing up, This will help a lot: http://xda-university.com/as-a-user/android-dictionary Specifically the Nandroid and Recovery section.
I will be more than happy to expand on any of these topics.
@yuri_feigin
I revised my answer to better suit what you were asking.
Are you still with me?
Is it possible to make an application that in no way it can be removed, i.e. hardreset or installing new ROM, except if user roots the phone & manually removes the application.
ipika said:
Is it possible to make an application that in no way it can be removed, i.e. hardreset or installing new ROM, except if user roots the phone & manually removes the application.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
System applications will not be deleted by performing a hard reset. Installing a new rom will probably be done via custom recovery, which mean full access to the phone's storage. So "NO" there is no way to do so. May I ask what kind of app you want to protect?