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[Q] Android revolution 4g question

I've loaded and installed this rom and am on version 5.1.6 currently. I see that there is an update to 5.1.7 and that due to the new file format you have to format your card with the new file system. If I do this will I have to redo all of my current settings? I know I can back up my contacts, pictures etc and load those, but i'd rather not have to re-install all my apps and load all my passwords and emails again. Also, I'm currently very happy with how 5.1.6 is running. Is it worth it to go through all of this for this current update?

Android Revolution HD / 4G 5.1.7 [18.05.2011]
- System partition formatted as EXT4 - Data partition formatted as EXT4 (optionally) - Cache partition formatted as EXT4 - Speed tweak for Sense app drawer and 3rd party launchers - Overall system performance improvement - HTC Feedback removed - Google Talk 1.3 updated to new version - Small changes for better compatibility with new filesystem - Fixes in one of the init.d script - Other minor changes
Please read this before flashing new ROM!
1. No need to full wipe if you have 5.1.x already!
2. For best performance it's recommended to format data partition as EXT4 as well. Special script for formatting data partition before flashing ROM is in the download section.
3. Do not use any kind of wiping tools 1.3, 1.4 or any else. ROM will do all for you.
4. Please re-download ALL mods from the second post + no-Sense patch.
5. Your SDcard will remain untouched FAT32 and it's recommended to leave it like that.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA Premium App

Right from the OP
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA Premium App

I see that. But it also says:
For best performance it's recommended to format data partition using EXT4 filesystem. Do it before flashing EXT4 version of my ROM.
This script will format your data partition using EXT4 filesystem.
Do not use any kind of wiping tools 1.3, 1.4 or any else. ROM will do all for you.
Formatting data partition will delete all your stored data. Please make sure you have a backup of your contacts, callendar, etc..
Your SDcard will remain untouched FAT32 and it's recommended to leave it like that.
You can restore your data partition content using Titanium Backup but don't restore it using NANDROID backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So again, i'm sorry that I'm not as technologically advanced as others on here, but will I have to set up my phone again if I do this method? It sounds like I will, which I would rather not do.
Also, is it worth it to upgrade over 5.1.6?

Monkeydias said:
I see that. But it also says:
So again, i'm sorry that I'm not as technologically advanced as others on here, but will I have to set up my phone again if I do this method? It sounds like I will, which I would rather not do.
Also, is it worth it to upgrade over 5.1.6?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes if you wipe data all your apps will be gone.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using XDA Premium App

Well if your looking for an opinion here mine. Its very very smooth like buttah and there's lots of addons you can add to make it to your likeings. Imagine you starting off with optimize stock rooted and added the things you want to it. Insted of downloading a certain rom which only give you so many choices. my opinion.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA Premium App

[Utility] Format back to ext3....

Just flash in clockwork and it will format your system and data partitions back to ext3. Faster than dealing with nandroid restores.
Useful for reverting from installs using Dragon or Trinity kernels that convert you to ext4.
NOTE: This FORMATS your partitions, you WILL lose all data held on them. Your phone will NOT boot until you install a ROM ZIP file or restore a nandroid backup. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED.
CREDIT: @paulobrien from Modaco wrote this for the O2x. I just changed the partition names to match our setup. I left his original banner in there as a result. My change amounts to about 4 bytes. If you have issues, please don't bother him, post here.

This is great...I always hesitate trying out updated or experimental kernels because of the amount of time it takes to nandroid....the cm7 kernel has been really good as of late so I've been sticking with that
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

Hmmm Let the confusing questions begin in 5,4,3,2....

Thanks man!
Sent From My Stock G2x

Reminder: NONE of my kernels and ROMs require the use of this utility. All of my kernels and ROMs are ALL NATIVE EXT3 only mounted as ext4.

faux123 said:
Reminder: NONE of my kernels and ROMs require the use of this utility. All of my kernels and ROMs are ALL NATIVE EXT3 only mounted as ext4.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
wow, i never knew that. so if we are using one of your cm7 ext4 kernels and then flash a new nightly/kang we could go back to using the stock cm kernel and wouldn't have to necessarily flash your kernel again?

mattyg151 said:
wow, i never knew that. so if we are using one of your cm7 ext4 kernels and then flash a new nightly/kang we could go back to using the stock cm kernel and wouldn't have to necessarily flash your kernel again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeap... should be no issues.

Is there a difference between this and just wiping, formating system and data, in cwm?
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

billydroid said:
Is there a difference between this and just wiping, formating system and data, in cwm?
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cwm is set up to keep whatever format you have at the time you run it, so if you are on ext4, the format command will format to ext4. It makes sense, you wouldn't want to write an ext4 fs onto a partition with vfat on it, for example. Not automatically anyway. And most users wouldn't know what to tell it to use if it were to give you the option. The forum would be full of "What file system do I use?!?!?"... The usual method is to restore a nandroid backup from stock or a stock file system. This is significantly faster.
It is of somewhat limited usefulness as many kernels/roms don't change the filesystem. However, as I switch around a lot with running tests for the cm guys, my own stuff, etc., it's nice to have a fast way to deal with it.

ttabbal said:
cwm is set up to keep whatever format you have at the time you run it, so if you are on ext4, the format command will format to ext4. It makes sense, you wouldn't want to write an ext4 fs onto a partition with vfat on it, for example. Not automatically anyway. And most users wouldn't know what to tell it to use if it were to give you the option. The forum would be full of "What file system do I use?!?!?"... The usual method is to restore a nandroid backup from stock or a stock file system. This is significantly faster.
It is of somewhat limited usefulness as many kernels/roms don't change the filesystem. However, as I switch around a lot with running tests for the cm guys, my own stuff, etc., it's nice to have a fast way to deal with it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

EDIT: nvm. looked over the files and got my answer.

Works great thanks for putting this together. Will come in handy.
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

is this utility gonna wipe out all my data (meaning I will have to install all the apps again, setting up my phone again, signing in to google again and stuff) ?

te_quiero_forever_girl said:
is this utility gonna wipe out all my data (meaning I will have to install all the apps again, setting up my phone again, signing in to google again and stuff) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes it will wipe.
Upgrading EXT3 to EXT4 will preserve data but downgrading from EXT4 to EXT3 won't.

With cm going ext4 this is priceless.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

xsteven77x said:
With cm going ext4 this is priceless.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A nandroid of ext3 is the same thing also I have installed an ext3 rom over ext4 works great
Sent from my LG-P999 using XDA App

Why do we people want to go back to ext3 when ext4 is much faster and stable than all the other filesystems.
Sent from my LG-P999 using xda premium

Moving from EXT4 ROM to an EXT3 one

I recently installed WCX Illuminati [3.5 Sense Based on 1.22.461.2 (Quicksall Rcmix kernel v12 )overclocked to 1536 by default.].
While the ROM is not advertised to be (as far as I can tell) an EXT4 ROM, I noticed during the install the system was formatted as EXT4.
I'll like to experiment with some other ROMs that are EXT3. Do I have to go through any special steps to go back to an EXT3 ROM after running an EXT4 ROM, I can I just flash the new ROM though CM Recovery?
Thanks.

Four-Fifty-X said:
I recently installed WCX Illuminati [3.5 Sense Based on 1.22.461.2 (Quicksall Rcmix kernel v12 )overclocked to 1536 by default.].
While the ROM is not advertised to be (as far as I can tell) an EXT4 ROM, I noticed during the install the system was formatted as EXT4.
I'll like to experiment with some other ROMs that are EXT3. Do I have to go through any special steps to go back to an EXT3 ROM after running an EXT4 ROM, I can I just flash the new ROM though CM Recovery?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are no steps for that, just flash the new Rom. But make sure to flash CWM recovery first as the illuminati Rom uses stock recovery. Go to Rom manager and flash recovery. Once you have done that flash the Rom you want.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

glevitan said:
There are no steps for that, just flash the new Rom. But make sure to flash CWM recovery first as the illuminati Rom uses stock recovery. Go to Rom manager and flash recovery. Once you have done that flash the Rom you want.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good. Thanks.
Sent from my HTC Inspire 4G using XDA App

I was wondering this myself also. But I want to ask a little deeper question.
Say I have 2 ROMS. One that is ext3 and the other that is ext4. Each one formats the system appropriately when installed fresh. But say I have a NAND backup of the ext3 ROM on my card and I have the ext4 ROM installed on the phone at the present. Can I restore the ext3 ROM without doing anything other than the normal wiping using clockwork? Or would I have to reinstall the ext3 ROM fresh to get the proper format and then restore the backup?
And would it be the same going the other direction too?

Agoattamer said:
I was wondering this myself also. But I want to ask a little deeper question.
Say I have 2 ROMS. One that is ext3 and the other that is ext4. Each one formats the system appropriately when installed fresh. But say I have a NAND backup of the ext3 ROM on my card and I have the ext4 ROM installed on the phone at the present. Can I restore the ext3 ROM without doing anything other than the normal wiping using clockwork? Or would I have to reinstall the ext3 ROM fresh to get the proper format and then restore the backup?
And would it be the same going the other direction too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess but not sure that when you do a wipe to install a new Rom your partitions are formatted and ifvyo don't use an ext4 Rom then you will have just ext3.
Sent from my Inspire 4G using XDA App

Agoattamer said:
I was wondering this myself also. But I want to ask a little deeper question.
Say I have 2 ROMS. One that is ext3 and the other that is ext4. Each one formats the system appropriately when installed fresh. But say I have a NAND backup of the ext3 ROM on my card and I have the ext4 ROM installed on the phone at the present. Can I restore the ext3 ROM without doing anything other than the normal wiping using clockwork? Or would I have to reinstall the ext3 ROM fresh to get the proper format and then restore the backup?
And would it be the same going the other direction too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure how ClockworkMod handles this but I've been using 4EXT Recovery for a few months and it will automatically determine which format the ROM you're flashing uses and convert if necessary. Works for both fresh ROM flashes or backups.
I've been running ARHD and wanted to pull something off of the stock ROM backup I had. When I restored the stock nandroid, 4EXT formatted the existing ext4 partitions to ext3 and restored the backup. Then when I restored ARHD it automatically switched 'em back to ext4.

Thanks for the responses guys. Still looking for someone to answer positively on this last question. I don't want to be the someone asking about how to get my phone to boot when it is stuck on the white screen. lol.

Agoattamer said:
Thanks for the responses guys. Still looking for someone to answer positively on this last question. I don't want to be the someone asking about how to get my phone to boot when it is stuck on the white screen. lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm with the other guy, i use 4EXT. but when making a backup it says "writing ext4 data" (or something along those lines) for each partition that uses ext4. it does the same for ext3.
i would be inclined to believe that CWM does the same thing and changes the file system accordingly. one way to check if it records the file system type would be to look at the tar files. go to sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/whatever-you-named-your-backup that folder should contain, at a minimum, the following files: system.xxxx.tar, data.xxxx.tar, boot.img, and an md5 file. the xxxx should be the file system that particular backup uses.
EDIT: that is assuming that CWM uses tar backups and not yaffs2. not sure how those backups are structured. either way the filesystem should still get recorded some how.
i think you'd be fine just restoring. there would have been massive amounts of new threads popping up saying "OMGIDIDARESTOREANDMYPHONEISFUX0RED!!!!" if anyone had any problems once ext4 showed its face. know what i mean?
as an alternative. why not just flash 4EXT Recovery? since you KNOW it does what you're asking? kinda takes the guess work out... lol

Need to format SD card...

My ROM does not have a format button in the settings, is there another way to format the internal SD space within Android itself?

Jessical said:
My ROM does not have a format button in the settings, is there another way to format the internal SD space within Android itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Quite possibly, kinda. Are you rooted? If so, what recovery are you using? Most recoveries allow you to do this.
Why do u need to format within android? Why not just format from your pc?
Using SeanZ's SkyICS 4.2F r2 v6B ROM / XDA Premium

Boot into recovery, select Mounts and storage then format sdcard/ or emmc whichever one you are wanting to format
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

gs2usr said:
Boot into recovery, select Mounts and storage then format sdcard/ or emmc whichever one you are wanting to format
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is correct, or as an alternative u could either a) hook it up to a computer, mount it and format, or b) use adb, but I recommend either a or the method gs2usr suggested

im gonna post in this thread instead of making a new one since im having a similar issue.
In CW recovery it'll tell me it cant mount my sd-ext and as well give me an error when trying to install a custom rom from my emmc, so do i need to do a format of both of those in order to get a custom rom to finally install again?
i've had this error ever since i switched back to rogers stock 4.0.4 to try it out

I'm getting errors in cwm too. How can I do it in ADB? Macs don't do fat32 correctly and I don't have a Windows machine.

confyzone said:
im gonna post in this thread instead of making a new one since im having a similar issue.
In CW recovery it'll tell me it cant mount my sd-ext and as well give me an error when trying to install a custom rom from my emmc, so do i need to do a format of both of those in order to get a custom rom to finally install again?
i've had this error ever since i switched back to rogers stock 4.0.4 to try it out
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Figured it out. Please try this and see if it fixes your internal aswell.
So go ahead if you don't have it, ADB install a copy of Root Explorer.
Go into the emmc folder and give it read and write permissions.
Now, in the settings, under storage, it should let you reformat the disk again and you should be okay.
I have no idea what's up with CWR, but we were told not to use it anymore on our Kindles due to it messing with partitions. But this is how I just fixed my Skyrocket, just in time for the fireworks tonight.

when in cwm, mount the emmc first

Jessical said:
Figured it out. Please try this and see if it fixes your internal aswell.
So go ahead if you don't have it, ADB install a copy of Root Explorer.
Go into the emmc folder and give it read and write permissions.
Now, in the settings, under storage, it should let you reformat the disk again and you should be okay.
I have no idea what's up with CWR, but we were told not to use it anymore on our Kindles due to it messing with partitions. But this is how I just fixed my Skyrocket, just in time for the fireworks tonight.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gonna give it a go I don't use root explorer but i use es file explorer which is the same pretty much
Sent from my SGH-I727R using xda app-developers app

[MOD][ALPHA][2013-02-14] Save internal memory: dalvik-cache on /system AROMA

WARNING: This is far from complete, read carefully to know whether it is safe!
I created a tiny mod that automatically moves dalvik-cache to your /system partition in order to gain space on /data. The idea to do it came from here: http://petermolnar.eu/linux-tech-coding/how-to-move-dalvik-cache-to-system-partition-in-android/
Fiddling with the bootimage seemed to cumbersome and on a ROM supporting init.d-scripts, it should be possible to fix all from there (remount /system rw and check whether symlink is damaged from a dalvik-cache wipe attempt). This is my first working-for-me zip to automate the process in a flashable zip.
The installer contains an option to revert the mod -- works for me.
Prerequisites
For this to work, you need:
A ROM that supports init.d scripts
busybox installed (of course)
A custom recovery with all busybox links in place (should work on most)
Enough free space on /system for dalvik-cache
Limitations
Untested -- so far tested only on my Sensation with SuperXE 4.2.1 ROM
Prerequisites unchecked -- this includes busybox and space requirements on /system. Check yourself for now before flashing
Dalvik cache wipe non-functional -- at least for me on 4EXT Touch recovery. But it doesn't do any harm, at least.
Benefits
More space on /data -- around 150 MB for me
Downsides
/system must be kept rw
TODOs
Check some prerequisites to make it safer to flash
Analyze why dalvik-cache wiping does not work, maybe provide own wiping-option in AROMA
Check whether this works on ROMs with dalvik-cache on /cache; it already looks there after /data, so it SHOULD work
dalvik-syscache_0.2a_ALPHA.zip - use at your own risk.Nandroid keeps you safe, so please test after backup !
Older versions
dalvik-syscache_0.1a_ALPHA.zip
Changelog
* 0.2a:
Added dalvik-cache wipe option in AROMA
Minor cosmetic changes

Very nice idea!
On a related note - is there no safe way to repartition our device and just shrink the /system partition, giving it to /data instead?

manuelkuhs said:
Very nice idea!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, although the idea is old, just tried to automate it.
On a related note - is there no safe way to repartition our device and just shrink the /system partition, giving it to /data instead?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think so. No idea what kind of partition table is used, but given the fact it's all on the same internal mmc block device, even the recovery partition, I assume it would be quite risky. But maybe someone around knows better?

wipe dalvike-cache option added in aroma ...

great job!
but i want to know if there any harm to our phone when system partition been read and write much more frequently than before?

AW: [MOD][ALPHA][2013-02-14] Save internal memory: dalvik-cache on /system AROMA
theggs said:
great job!
but i want to know if there any harm to our phone when system partition been read and write much more frequently than before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No worries there, it's the same underlying block device. The only "issue" with having /system rw is it's maybe easier to accidently mess with your Rom at the command prompt. But wear on the flash is the same, no matter what partition is used for dalvik-cache.
Sent from my HTC Sensation XE using xda app-developers app

trying it out

trying it on cm10.1..it works!save 200+mb in /data. now more apps can be installed. now i can install much more apps thx for your great job!
just for one thing, this mod just move dalvik-cache in /data to /system, and dalvik-cache in /cache is still there. so still can only creat 50mb swap partition in /cache with the turbo boost.
Sent from my HTC Sensation using Tapatalk 2

theggs said:
trying it on cm10.1..it works!save 200+mb in /data. now more apps can be installed. now i can install much more apps thx for your great job!
just for one thing, this mod just move dalvik-cache in /data to /system, and dalvik-cache in /cache is still there. so still can only creat 50mb swap partition in /cache with the turbo boost.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, thanks for testing!
For your issue: I think there should be only one dalvik-cache (either in /data or in /cache), the other one probably being a leftover of another rom. could you try wiping dalvik-cache & cache and see which one is re-created at boot? [If really both, I'll gonna have a look at CM 10.1 myself...]
edit: uninstall the mod before wiping please ...

tired and still get dalvik-cache in both /date and /cache without this mod. and with this mode, dalvik-cache in both /cache(67.73mb) and /system(238.32mb).

theggs said:
tired and still get dalvik-cache in both /date and /cache without this mod. and with this mode, dalvik-cache in both /cache(67.73mb) and /system(238.32mb).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks ... I just researched a little on this and probably your ROM splits dalvik-cache in two parts, for system apps (on /cache) and user apps (on /data).
Of course I could make this mod move both of them to /system, but I think I'll first try to implement some checks for available space in order to make this a safe operation. I'll think about solutions ...
edit: for stripped-down / AOSP roms, this should always be safe, having around 450 to 500 MB free space on /system -- but in order to make this mod safe for all, I think I'll have to work a little on it

Looking forward to the next vision. thx for your work again!

Nice idea!
Just wondering since most of us have s-Off, isn't there a way to repartition the band, so I can make more space on data instead of system? I always use aosp roms, so there isn't needed much space on system for me
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium

Caspertje19 said:
Just wondering since most of us have s-Off, isn't there a way to repartition the band, so I can make more space on data instead of system? I always use aosp roms, so there isn't needed much space on system for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, I had that idea, too. Especially using AOSP, the space on /system is wasted.
I'm still not sure whether repartitioning is possible, but now I think I wouldn't dare to, given the fact that recovery resides on the same block device -- I'd worry to brick my phone fiddling with the partition table.
So, for me, moving dalvik-cache to system and installing apps I constantly use to /system/app seemed to be the "next-best" solution.
I'll update this mod probably this weekend, adding some logic checking space-requirements should make it safe to flash.

Caspertje19 said:
Nice idea!
Just wondering since most of us have s-Off, isn't there a way to repartition the band, so I can make more space on data instead of system? I always use aosp roms, so there isn't needed much space on system for me
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Only people I know who can create custom hboots are alpharev and thalmus_
Sent from my HTC Sensation using xda app-developers app

It's an old thread, but has anyone a working link to download this ?

I think this is relevant for today.