Database Info

How to Port a ROM to Milestone2

As lately some people are asking me about ROM porting I decided to create this new thread where we can share knowledge about this hard task.
Please note this is a Dev talk thread, so DON'T ASK about fixing a particular ROM problem here. Also don't ask questions like "My phone is bricked! please help!". This IS NOT the appropriate place for it. There are plenty of other threads to help you out.
Also note that this is not a step by step guide (and not a guide at all), it's just a point where you can start from. Android is a very complex system and there are many things I don't know yet. So, research and hard work is what you need to learn it deeply. My first tip is Google really works. Don't be afraid to search
Ok, to the basics. Porting a ROM is no simple task. It requires advanced understanding of how android works and how it is organized. Previous Linux/Unix knowledge helps A LOT. As android is based on this O.S. there are many similarities between both. In fact many ppl consider android to be a kind of linux distro.
The very first task to port a ROM is finding a device which is compatible with your own. For example Defy/Milestone2. Then you are going to choose a ROM to port to your device.
As our devices (Milestone2) have a locked bootloader we now need to find a system image that have a compatible kernel with the ROM we are trying to port. This is mainly based on trial and test and takes a long time. You'll be ending flashing your phone several times with RSD Lite. You should learn how to use MotoAndroidDepacker and how to create a fixed SBF.
The basic procedure to try that:
1. Open original ROM update.zip and remove any files/commands that flashes boot/devtree/recovery/anything.
2. Install this new file on your phone via CW Recovery.
3. Boot into bootmenu and enable ADB so you can read logcat while phone boots.
4. Choose Boot/Normal. If your ROM uses 2nd-init you will need to place/edit/adapt bootscripts into bootmenu 2nd-init folder.
5. Check logcat for errors:
- If you're getting HAL errors you're going to need a new kernel;
- If you can start android without getting HAL errors but still getting errors and bootloop on android animation you should try to replace libs with appropriate original ones.
6. Once you are able to boot android you should test it's features to see what needs to be fixed.
This is what I have to say for now. The thread is now open for discussion.

At this week, motorola has just pushed the GB official update for Droid 2 and Droid 2 Global....
Can i try to port this new rom to milestone 2 and after a success boot, fix the radio..??
I was asking that, because some people has success on port CM7 to milestone 1, when it originally maked for droid 1...
tks a lot..!!

jorgebaruchi said:
At this week, motorola has just pushed the GB official update for Droid 2 and Droid 2 Global....
Can i try to port this new rom to milestone 2 and after a success boot, fix the radio..??
I was asking that, because some people has success on port CM7 to milestone 1, when it originally maked for droid 1...
tks a lot..!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be possible, but you'll have a hard time fixing the baseband.
You may have to mod the init.rc scripts and find the right radio binaries (rild is one of them) and drivers.
Ask those ms1 people for help, if they are still with the same phone...
Sent from my Milestone 2 XDA App

I don't know if this will be relevant or not.
I wanted to know if to do any of this, having a Linux distro as OS a must or can I try my hands at it on a windows based machine. I mean I'm sure that a Linux distro will give certain advantages (as Android is based on UNIX/Linux) but can we get things to work a 100% on windows.
If yes, then will someone be kind enough to get give the list of all softwares etc. which will be required to do the job on Windows machine as well as a Linux machine.
I do know a few softwares but I'm not sure if I have an exhaustive list. I would like to learn and try and at least be able to modify in bits n pieces to begin with.
I apologize if this wasn't supposed to be asked in this thread.

The only thing i can get from SBF is a bunch of smg files.
But the only ones i can open are
preinstall.smg
CG39.smg
Is there a way to open/see the rest?
2)
Im trying to modify the CM7 rom, what boot does it use? 2nd-init or 2nd-boot?

i guess it is second-init. but not sure

thanks a lot for this !!!

WeeDv2 said:
The only thing i can get from SBF is a bunch of smg files.
But the only ones i can open are
preinstall.smg
CG39.smg
Is there a way to open/see the rest?
2)
Im trying to modify the CM7 rom, what boot does it use? 2nd-init or 2nd-boot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
SMG files are disk images of certain partitions of your flash memory.
You can only open CG39.smg and preinstall (CG66.smg) because they are the only images in ext3 format. The rest of images may be on ramdisk format or some proprietary format. For more details on partition codes take a look here:
http://and-developers.com/partitions:cdt
You may be able to open and see contents of other partitions but the only one that matters aside from system and preinstall is the boot partition (CG35.smg), which contains the init scripts we should mod in order to make they work with 2nd-init. Boot partition is in ramdrive format. More details here:
http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=HOWTO:_Unpack,_Edit,_and_Re-Pack_Boot_Images
http://elinux.org/Android_on_OMAP
It is easier to unpack boot image using Dsixda's Kitchen here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246
Edit: To see what boot your CM7 uses just go inside /system/bootmenu/config and look for a file called default_bootmode.conf. That should be the boot method used. It's normally 2nd-init.

sahilarora911 said:
I don't know if this will be relevant or not.
I wanted to know if to do any of this, having a Linux distro as OS a must or can I try my hands at it on a windows based machine. I mean I'm sure that a Linux distro will give certain advantages (as Android is based on UNIX/Linux) but can we get things to work a 100% on windows.
If yes, then will someone be kind enough to get give the list of all softwares etc. which will be required to do the job on Windows machine as well as a Linux machine.
I do know a few softwares but I'm not sure if I have an exhaustive list. I would like to learn and try and at least be able to modify in bits n pieces to begin with.
I apologize if this wasn't supposed to be asked in this thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't worry, this is the right place
As for your question: yes you can work in windows if you like, but using at least a Linux VM is more productive. I don't have a full list of applications to give you, as different mods may require different tools, but I advice you to have at least:
- Notepad++ (essential for editing text files and keeping linux end-line format);
- dsixda's Android Kitchen (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246)
- 7zip (or some other compress tool you like)
- Moded putty for ADB as working with windows command prompt really suck (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803225)
- Oracle Virtual Box (if you are going to use linux VM).

r2beta0 said:
SMG files are disk images of certain partitions of your flash memory.
You can only open CG39.smg and preinstall (CG66.smg) because they are the only images in ext3 format. The rest of images may be on ramdisk format or some proprietary format. For more details on partition codes take a look here:
http://and-developers.com/partitions:cdt
You may be able to open and see contents of other partitions but the only one that matters aside from system and preinstall is the boot partition (CG35.smg), which contains the init scripts we should mod in order to make they work with 2nd-init. Boot partition is in ramdrive format. More details here:
http://android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=HOWTO:_Unpack,_Edit,_and_Re-Pack_Boot_Images
http://elinux.org/Android_on_OMAP
It is easier to unpack boot image using Dsixda's Kitchen here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=633246
Edit: To see what boot your CM7 uses just go inside /system/bootmenu/config and look for a file called default_bootmode.conf. That should be the boot method used. It's normally 2nd-init.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again r2beta

thanks r2beta0
- Notepad++ -- got it
- dsixda's Android Kitchen -- downloaded (need some link for a how-to on its usage)
- 7zip -- got it
- Moded putty for ADB -- got it
- Oracle Virtual Box -- can't install Linux on my system as this is a work machine
dunno if I can do without the last option.

sahilarora911 said:
thanks r2beta0
- Notepad++ -- got it
- dsixda's Android Kitchen -- downloaded (need some link for a how-to on its usage)
- 7zip -- got it
- Moded putty for ADB -- got it
- Oracle Virtual Box -- can't install Linux on my system as this is a work machine
dunno if I can do without the last option.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oracle Virtual Box is an application that lets you run an operational system on a virtual machine, in other words, it doesn't install linux on your real computer. It's a very useful tool that I use everyday. Google for it and learn a bit, you won't be disappointed. About kitchen: the link I provided was download + guide. Read it again. If necessary read the full thread.

r2beta0 said:
Oracle Virtual Box is an application that lets you run an operational system on a virtual machine, in other words, it doesn't install linux on your real computer. It's a very useful tool that I use everyday. Google for it and learn a bit, you won't be disappointed. About kitchen: the link I provided was download + guide. Read it again. If necessary read the full thread.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know a bit about virtual box but as I said I'm not allowed to have softwares not approved by the IT team to be present on the system. Though I can get away with small things like notepad++ and 7-zip, having virtual box on my system may raise some eye brows.
I'm trying to arrange an alternative system.

Me neither. I must do almost everything at home, and at this very moment I simply don't have any free time. I'm afraid you're not going to see me here very often anymore (maybe in a few months? a year? well, it might be a bit too late for milestone2...)

hi. Have a question, I want to remove baseband from a flashable zip (lets say, CM7 from Tezet) , is it posible? I dont know where to look for it (baseband). Thanks!!

Baseband is located in \system\etc\motorola\bp_nvm_default\
But don't remove it, just replace it with files from ROM, which have baseband you want.

---UFO--- said:
Baseband is located in \system\etc\motorola\bp_nvm_default\
But don't remove it, just replace it with files from ROM, which have baseband you want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for the info.
Sent from my A953 using XDA

Hi All,
Just a quick question. I have ported Paranoid Android 2.10 to MS2 but the problem I am facing is that Reboot goes through Bootmenu and I have to choose reboot from Bootmenu again.
Any inputs?
Thanks in advance

Megalith27 said:
Hi All,
Just a quick question. I have ported Paranoid Android 2.10 to MS2 but the problem I am facing is that Reboot goes through Bootmenu and I have to choose reboot from Bootmenu again.
Any inputs?
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant to get to it last night, but I was tired after work and fell asleep watch tv. Eventually, later tonight, I'll be uploading PA for MS2. Check my Defy PA thread in 12-14 hours cause I'm about to go to work and I'm not gonna feel like making a MS2 PA thread or updating my Bravo PA thread -- but the Defy Thread is always up to date when I put out new roms.
Also, I'm looking to get either a Defy or MS2 -- I've heard that there's 3G issues with AT&T users (which I am) with the MS2 -- Apparently the MS2 has different 3G frequencies than AT&T. Are there any AT&T MS2 users who are knowledgeable about that? While I can deal with no 3G, edge only, calls only -- I need to make sure I can at least do that before I commit to something.
I'd rather have the MS2 because I want a hw keyboard and I don't have the $300+ to try and get a Photon Q LTE from eBay (and I don't have to change up my repos if I get a MS2). If anyone here knows of a phone that's AT&T compatible, Defy code compatible, and has a keyboard, please let me know.
Thanks.
//Normally I'd post the latter half in the Q&A section, but ya'll don't have one so I'm just gonna piggyback
//My Bravo doesn't have a Q&A page either -- it needs one that's not my PM box...Don't PM me on how to root your phone and flash CM7 -- read one of the 5 guides on the first page of both General & Dev...:silly:

Ok devs need some help here.
I am trying to port a rom to our Milestone 2...but it bootloops on rom animation.
I tried to logcat it but I don't think it gets as far as adb server to detect the device.and just keeps saying "waiting for device"...so I end up with no logcat to diagnose the problem.
I can logcat my current working rom but only after the phone boots....am i missing something here? please, help
Any help is very much appretiated.
Thanks a lot in advance

[ROM/WIP][ICS/US 9.2.1.11] 4.0.3 Minimal

This is my first attempt at a custom ROM for any Android device, so bear with me. I did not build this from AOSP source, or any other source code. It's entirely from ASUS. This ROM is intended for those who don't like the stock ASUS apps, similar to KRAKD/FROZN, except I've not optimised any of the APKs or anything else. Hopefully this can be a useful base ROM for another dev, taking the tedious part out of the equation. It's completely based on US, not WW or TW.
It's large(300Mbyte) because I used a binary blob. I'm working on shrinking it down with a proper update sript.
Apps I removed:
Amazon Kindle
MyCloud
ASUS File Manager
MyLibrary
MyNet
Netflix
News & Weather(and their widgets)
PolarisOffice
PressReader
MyZine
Tegra Game Zone
Web Storage
Zinio
PC Sync
ASUS Software keyboard(the touchscreen one, not the dock keyboard)
DMClient(related to ASUS updates, from what I understand)
ASUS software update(so no annoying OTA notifications that you can't use anyway)
SuperNote
-any others not included that I forgot to list
How to install:
1. A complete data wipe(at least dalvik & cache, data is optional) is strongly recommended if you're coming from Honeycomb.
2. Flash the zip from CWM.
3. Enjoy your new ICS.
You should be able to flash from any ROM if you clear at least dalvik and cache.
Features:
-Pre-rooted for your convenience, with busybox, su, and SuperUser.
-ALL bloatware removed, hopefully improving performance
-Closer to an AOSP experience due to all bloat being removed.
What this ROM does NOT have:
-Custom kernel
-Stock ICS buttons(it has the crummy ASUS back, home, recent app buttons)
-Zipaligned APKs
-Deodexed APKs
-A name, since it doesn't really need one right now.
How I created it(roughly, not a step by step):
1. I reverted from a custom ROM(krakd) to the latest US .21 HC release, with stock recovery
2. I Rooted with nachoroot and then used OTA keeper to unroot
3. I updated to US ICS via OTA.
4. I reapplied root with OTA keeper
5. I used ES file manager and terminal to remove the apps
6. I used ES file manager to add SuperUser to /system
7. Installed busybox at some point during these steps, I forget when.
8. Used dd to image the /system partition(mmcblkp0) to a file on my MicroSD
9. Replaced the LNX and APP blobs of a Honeycomb update(.21) with the ICS ones
10. Flashed it, and it worked.
So it's not a "proper" update, broken down into directories and such, but it does work.
Links:
ROM: http://dev-downloads.com/asus-tf101-romwipicsus-9-2-1-11-4-0-3-minimal/
Trebuchet CM9 launcher: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/31118/signed_TrebuchetCWM.zip (thanks to whitekidney/wk on #asus-transformer irc)
Here is the MD5 for the ROM zip: 0B9BC1C83C271DF26501CF533A046CB1
And the SHA1: B7BBC2C3AB33844E46CC8D8D2900E2AF1C68EFB5
Credits:
Whitekidney for the Trebuchet launcher upload

Have you tested this at all?>

Yes, why? It worked fine on my TF101.

I think everyone is always a bit skeptical of a ROM that someone says openly is their first attempt and they have less than 10 posts on here..you are after all talking about potentially rendering a $500 device useless..people are usually right to exercise caution..when the developer cannot post in the dev section because his post count is too low!
But hey, that is how Paul Burton started here, though it was not his first ROM I am quite positive..

daxtsu said:
Yes, why? It worked fine on my TF101.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After flashing, not booting anymore, and as I I know what I am doing...unless my power cord just broke.

thanks I guess, but I can remove my own apps From a rom ......

luna_c666 said:
I think everyone is always a bit skeptical of a ROM that someone says openly is their first attempt and they have less than 10 posts on here..you are after all talking about potentially rendering a $500 device useless..people are usually right to exercise caution..when the developer cannot post in the dev section because his post count is too low!
But hey, that is how Paul Burton started here, though it was not his first ROM I am quite positive..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fair enough, I do admit I'm new to Android development, but I wouldn't release something without testing it on my own device first.
DTgreat said:
After flashing, not booting anymore, and as I I know what I am doing...unless my power cord just broke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you do a full wipe? I installed it at least 5 times today during testing removing apps with no major issues..
BTW: Here is the MD5 for the zip: 0B9BC1C83C271DF26501CF533A046CB1
And the SHA1: B7BBC2C3AB33844E46CC8D8D2900E2AF1C68EFB5

Yes, although like I said. I know what I am doing. My power cord in fact, may have just broke. (Although I doubt it.)

IF YOU cant post links yet it's for a reason

cool, where did you get the source code from asus?

timbit123 said:
cool, where did you get the source code from asus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It sounds like he got the ROM and removed the third party apps, not that he got the source code to build it to AOSP.

its more a list of apps that are safe to remove with TB...... IMO anyway. Happy to wait and see if it leads to something a bit more though.

Lets make sure that no one will ever want to dev for us anymore by slapping the new guy around who took the time to try something himself. I recall Paul didnt have enough posts to start a thread in dev but he seems to know what hes doing. Why not just ban anyone whos new from ever posting any kind of dev work ever. Because what we need are more people making fun of and trashing someones work instead of people actually willing to take their time and try to make YOUR device nicer. Any wonder if this is why devs are leaving xda every day?
BTW..Just flashed this and it booted just fine. I did a system wipe first.
Maybe you should be the guy to add onskreen framework to a rom....hint

DTgreat said:
Yes, although like I said. I know what I am doing. My power cord in fact, may have just broke. (Although I doubt it.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible. I've had a few reports of it working so far.
KingDavid63 said:
IF YOU cant post links yet it's for a reason
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know. It was because my post count was too low.
timbit123 said:
cool, where did you get the source code from asus?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't, sadly. I kludged it together somewhat by dding the fully updated ICS /system partition(adding busybox, su, Superuser beforehand) and making it into a blob that's flashable.
robojerk said:
It sounds like he got the ROM and removed the third party apps, not that he got the source code to build it to AOSP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct.
Thanks for the feedback guys. If you want anything added, I'll try to accomodate with flashable zips since they're smaller to upload. My upload is horrible, so I can only upload a large ROM every once in a while(it takes over an hour!). I'm not discouraged, I know how it is to be the new guy. I know this rom's probably nothing special, but I just wanted to share what I'm enjoying with others.

daxtsu said:
Yes, why? It worked fine on my TF101.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey man at least you are the first to have out a custom rom, can't wait to test it out later
Sent from eee pad Transformer running ICS

Lantek23 said:
Hey man at least you are the first to have out a custom rom, can't wait to test it out later
Sent from eee pad Transformer running ICS
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, it's not that custom, more of a repack with a bunch of removed apps, but I'll look into making it deodexed and stuff. I'm still learning how to do that.

Popping into a best buy and trying a different power cord when my friend gets here. Not trying to naysay. Just trying to troubleshoot.

DTgreat said:
Popping into a best buy and trying a different power cord when my friend gets here. Not trying to naysay. Just trying to troubleshoot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I know. It's cool.
Hope you get it sorted out soon.

I'll try it out later (I got too many projects going on), but I appreciate your contribution.

As someone who has been around these forums and been messing around with ROMs for a while now (but has never posted before), I applaud the effort. THANKS.

[Q] One Click Ubuntu installer for 3.1.10 kernel ?

Hi,
i'm currently thinking about installing ubuntu on TF101. I recently saw that new kernel 3.1.10 is becoming really stable and supports many tf101 features that 2.x kernel doesn't (in my opinion ubuntu with 2.x was more like a "proof of concept" than a real usable system)
So i think time is mature to a "one-click ubuntu" installer or, even better a dual boot rom with both android 4.0.3 AND ubuntu with 3.1.10 kernel (but i think maybe this technically will never be possible, what do you think ? ).
As today, installing ubuntu on tf101 is really too much of a hassle and, if you succeed (think about sbkv2 users using also wheelie) you then have to manually add files to upgrade kernel.
We are in 2012 and still using 1950's command line
What do you think ? could someone initiate this new project (i have a little knowledge, but really no time ).
Thanks !
TheMac

Eventually, It's on my list.
List:
1) APX 1-click root for peri.
2) APK version of peri..
3) scream at asus for patching root exploit (This is bound too happen..)
4) ???
5) Profit!
6) Workaround root for new patched firmware
7) Update PERI
8) Ubuntu 1-click installer.

Thing O Doom said:
Eventually, It's on my list.
List:
1) APX 1-click root for peri.
2) APK version of peri..
3) scream at asus for patching root exploit (This is bound too happen..)
4) ???
5) Profit!
6) Workaround root for new patched firmware
7) Update PERI
8) Ubuntu 1-click installer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uhm !
I like number 5 AND number 8
TheMac

I like the 1950's command line!!

still trying to finish my 1click installer foe Ubuntu on sbkv2 devices. Once that's done ill look into adding the newer kernel from jhinta. Ill see about making a 1click from that. If its all working.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda premium

If kenshin is doing it im not gonna bother xD If he needs any help though I'm totally willing.

Thing O Doom said:
If kenshin is doing it im not gonna bother xD If he needs any help though I'm totally willing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can do it, it would be better. I have been trying to rip apart exactly how everything is flashed still. Being slowed down from personal projects.

[Q] How to make any ROM nflashable OR where to obtain a recent nvflashable ROM

Helloo,
Alas googling turned up no answers to this question (or the same question unanswered in other places), so here I am!
I am looking to dual boot ubuntu and android on my TF101. To do that, I need an nvflahable ROM. However, I am only aware of an old PRIME ROM that comes packaged ready to be nvflashed. Are there any recent ROM's packaged such that I can nvflash them? Alternately, how could I go about repackaging a ROM in such a way? I run ubuntu, and I'm comfortable with terminal utilities and lark.
Thanks in advance
James

Symlink pain =( (Can't get in / mount to do what I want)

First a disclosure, I'm a Windows network guy so I know my way around symlinks and vhds and that ilk, but Linux / Android just isn't letting me do what I am trying to.
My goal is pretty simple: I want to migrate all the erroneous files laying around the /sdcard/ to folders that are more organized. Ideally, I would like to be able to scrip this process so the things I use regularly and the things people I work with use regularly can be 'formated' similarly since I'll want to do this for my other androids I own and I'll no doubt have a few (not necessarily a lot) of people who see my system and go "DO WANT" (it happened with my Windows setup, so I expect similar).
The problem I am having is not only can't I can things to "stick", but I can't even get a script to work at all.
I've been most successful so far running down my list through ADB, but the problem is, when I reboot, everything resets.
I've also tried writing a script and running it through the below version of busybox:
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.jrummy.busybox.installer
That just errors out completely =(.
The links I am trying to make are as follows:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/gbieej5genkzwk0/Symlinks.xlsx
The script I tried using is as follows:
https://www.dropbox.com/s/kajafjlzzy0bcm6/mount.sh
The resource page I am using for Linux commands is as follows:
http://www.ss64.com/bash/
The resource page I am using for ADB is as follows (though should be obvious!):
http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html
The device I am currently working with is a Galaxy S3 T-999 running Slimbean 4.3, though once successful, I plan on implementing these on changes on another Galaxy S3 T-999 runing Slimbean 4.3, a Galaxy S2 T-989 running Slimbean 4.3, a Galaxy S1 i897 running Slimbean 4.3, a Transformer TF201, a Vizio Co-Star running Stock Vizio (maybe if it doesn't make me want to kick it, which is the more likely outcome) and an Android AK-802MiniPC running Stock Jellybean.
Heck, maybe I'll try to tear the offal iOS7 off the iPhone 4 I inherited and try to install Android on it and do that too, lol.
Thanks for any help!

You may want to research how to set up your init.d
http://ilovegalaxyy.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-enable-initd-on-android-mobile.html

soupmagnet said:
You may want to research how to set up your init.d
http://ilovegalaxyy.blogspot.com/2013/06/how-to-enable-initd-on-android-mobile.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That pointed me in the right direction --- The app you tossed at me illustrated that the problem is in fact that my Kernel doesn't support init.d and that's probably where all my problems are stemming from. Thanks!
That Universal Init.d app seems to get around the problem, but I think I am going to look into another kernel. I know from experience the Cyogen kernels are compatible with the rom I am using. I'd prefer to stick to Slimrom because its such a nice, slim setup, but I guess that means if I have too many problems and my primary goal is cross device compatibly, Cyogen might end up being my best bet.