[Q] General concepts questions (root, flash, bloatware) - General Questions and Answers

Hey all,
So I have been reading around a bit now and was wondering if someone could help me understand some general concepts.
my goal: I am trying to remove all the bloatware from a Huawei y300 (no carrier) and put stock android on it.
From what I have been reading, it sounds like I need to first unlock the device, then root it to get access to superuser. Then what? Can I just use the superuser to remove the bloatware? Or do I need to flash it all and install a custom ROM?
Also, I should prob back the whole device up first so that if I mess it all up I can still restore the phone to the way it was when I got it from the distributor. Is that easily possible, or are there risks associated with that? If I mess up the phone real bad is there a big chance I will not be able to get back to its original state?
Now the details of how to do all this are burried in the forums, and I will figure all that out. I am just confused about the order of things a bit. So if anyone could give a high level explanation on the order of steps and the need for each that would be awesome!
Much appreciated, and thanks

The basic process is unlock the device, root the device, flash a custom recovery, flash a custom rom. Flashing a new rom is what will remove the bloatware for you, and you can find a stock android rom that will literally be the barebones version of android. Rooting the device allows you access to flash the custom recovery, which is needed to flash custom roms.

Everything as said above, with a nandroid backup added as soon as u flash the custom recovery is recommended.
BTW there are chances that u can brick ur phone if u don't follow the custom rom flashing instructions properly.
Anyway the nandroid backup will help u in this case.
In case if the nandroid backup even fails, which means there is a heavy mistake also there are very less chances of it to happen, u can try flashing the stock firmware.
Hit thanks rather than typing it

Got it thanks!

parkourkarthik said:
Everything as said above, with a nandroid backup added as soon as u flash the custom recovery is recommended.
BTW there are chances that u can brick ur phone if u don't follow the custom rom flashing instructions properly.
Anyway the nandroid backup will help u in this case.
In case if the nandroid backup even fails, which means there is a heavy mistake also there are very less chances of it to happen, u can try flashing the stock firmware.
Hit thanks rather than typing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK so I unlocked, rooted, installed TRWP recovery, and then used that to back up my phone. From what I read online it looks like backing up with TRWP is the same as backing up with Nandroid. I'm prob just not getting it, so wanted to ask what is the significance of Nandroid? Why do both TRWP and Nandroid?

Related

Nandroid backup and rooting: how?

I would like to root my sensation, but before, I want to backup my stock rom, so, in case of problems, I can go back.
But, if I have understood well, in order to perform a Nandroid backup (with ROM Manager, right?), I need to root my phone: it's completely absurd!
If I root my phone, which backup can I do? The stock Rom will gone away and the guarantee too!
Do I miss something?
Another question: I read about some problems with Rom Manager, which are the other methods to do a nandroid backup?
Thanks and sorry for the noob question, but I am a noob and this is my first android phone.
bye!
you will still have stock roms after you have rooted so this is what you have to make a backup from.
Have no issue with rom manager- dont know where u heard that from.
Dont know of any other method other than nandroid to backup rom etc
u can use titanium backup / my backup for apps etc
hth
j.
Well, if i have understood correctly, I root my phone following the step 3 here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300), then with ROM Manager I make a Nandroid backup and finally, if I want, I can install another ROM, am I right?
If u wanna go back 2 stock that's what the ruu's are for
Sent From My Pocket
Here's a guide created by alphadog32 to go back to your specified ROM and s-off or s-on. 10 people said it worked for them.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1201773
rive-noob said:
Well, if i have understood correctly, I root my phone following the step 3 here (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300), then with ROM Manager I make a Nandroid backup and finally, if I want, I can install another ROM, am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do a backup before you root
so sequence is (after CWM step is complete)
backup
root
backup (not 100% necessary but saves u having to reroot if u restore a pre root backup)
install custom rom (not necessary - u can stick with stock)
the guide u linked to is great - follow it step by step and u wont go wrong
and enjoy ur unrestricted device
That 'guide' tells you to root but you should only root if you want Stock ROM + Root
If you want a custom ROM (which automatically have root) then you don't need to root your Stock ROM
So you'd want to do this
-Revolutionary- S-OFF > Custom Recovery (but flash it through HBOOT) > Nandroid Backup
Then you have a backup of your stock ROM, unrooted.
You can now manually root your stock ROM if you like.
That 'guide' should really state that root is NOT obligatory if you don't want to stick with your stock ROM.
I've flashed lots and lots of ROMs and played about with my phone so much, but not once have I ever manually rooted.
And don't bother with ROM Manager, just flash the fixed recovery provided in that 'guide' through HBOOT and you should be fine.
All the recovery options, including Nandroid Backup/Restore can be accessed by loading up the bootloader and choosing 'recovery'. No need to do anything through ROM Manager
I want to confirm; we do need to make nandroid for every custom kernal, right? Cause if I remember correctly, if something goes wrong, you cant restore a nandroid that was made from a different kernal than you presently have installed. Correct or incorrect??
asapelectric said:
I want to confirm; we do need to make nandroid for every custom kernal, right? Cause if I remember correctly, if something goes wrong, you cant restore a nandroid that was made from a different kernal than you presently have installed. Correct or incorrect??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Anyone, please?
asapelectric said:
Anyone, please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never read about this anywhere, but I installed InsertCoin hours ago, and got kernel 2.6.35.14
When I restored a nandoird backup, I got again 2.6.25.10.
Maybe those numbers didn't change? I don't really remember, I hardly remember what I ate 10 mins ago xD
Good luck
claudenegm said:
Never read about this anywhere, but I installed InsertCoin hours ago, and got kernel 2.6.35.14
When I restored a nandoird backup, I got again 2.6.25.10.
Maybe those numbers didn't change? I don't really remember, I hardly remember what I ate 10 mins ago xD
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, maybe what Im remembering is, you can't restore a 2.3.3 backup, if you have rom with 2.3.4 installed, for example.
Shouldn't you be able to access nandroid recovery on a stock out of the box sensation by turning off fastboot and holding volume down and power when turning it on?
I tried on a friends stock sensation but it gave me an error and couldn't find a recovery image....

I hate me [n00b question]

So I have a I-9020A with at&t. I have rooted followed by flashing -su and roms instructions using instructions on the net. But after following that process and then going backwards (flashing stock w/ no root locking bootloader) I have realized after that I have more questions.
So first: Unlocking the Bootloader erases the phone. Unlocking the bootloader is needed to flash CWM and SU. I have read many many things about NANDROID, how is NANDROID different from CWM?
So I guess my next question is: How does one remove SU? In the process of rooting and flashing CWM and ROMs I make a backup prior to going to deep... that Backup will have SU, I have unrooted, but SU is still on the phone and I cannot seem to remove it.
Another question is: where are the data files on the phone for apps like Plants vs Zombies? I would like to move them off my phone prior to root, though I'm not sure if that is possible (is it?).
The last question is: If I wanted to muck around with ICS and the source code, is it as simple as flashing the source as explained on the google site? because they make it sound rather easy.
Thanks for any and all help,
toonhead
toonhead85 said:
So I have a I-9020A with at&t. I have rooted followed by flashing -su and roms instructions using instructions on the net. But after following that process and then going backwards (flashing stock w/ no root locking bootloader) I have realized after that I have more questions.
So first: Unlocking the Bootloader erases the phone. This process is needed to flash CWM (but not -su?). I have read many many things about NANDROID, but I have no idea what that is except a backup of a stock rom. When I power my phone off and press Vol up and power on then go to recovery I get an Android w/ a triangle with an exclamation and cant do anything at that point.
So I guess my next question is: How does one backup a stock rom (like you would using CMW) without rooting? or is there not a way and I should just except that when I root for the first time I should expect to loose everything and take off things like pics ect before hand.
The last question is: If I wanted to muck around with ICS and the source code, is it as simple as flashing the source as explained on the google site? because they make it sound rather easy.
Thanks for any and all help,
toonhead
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like you should have read more.
When you open the bootloader (the lock) it will wipe your personal data off the phone (not SD storage). This just means you get it as if you just bought it from the store. There is no way around it but happens only once and you'll never have to do it again. Unless you lock it back
Once the bootloader is unlocked you can now flash a custom recovery such as CWM which will let you manage and back up your phone with whatever ROM you want/have.
Once recovery is on your device you also have to root the phone. For this you'll need a zip flashable file with the superuser apk and SU binary files. Flash it in recovery and you should be good to go.
The last step is to install a ROM of your choice. You can just run what the phone has and it will work fine and even take updates without a problem. However, every time you want to flash something you'll need to flash CWM again because the stock image flashes the default recovery on reboot. There is a file you can delete to prevent this from happening. I forgot the path so look around. However, I would recommend you flash a stock ROM which already comes loaded with good stuff and all other things are done for you Just stop by the development section and pick a ROM you like.
Naroid is just a backup.
Oh, and BTW, mocking around with ICS... I would leave that for later. First get your head around basic flashing/rooting stuff. Changing the source code requires knowledge of code and even phone hardware. I'm guessing it's not for you just yet
obsanity said:
Sounds like you should have read more.
When you open the bootloader (the lock) it will wipe your personal data off the phone (not SD storage). This just means you get it as if you just bought it from the store. There is no way around it but happens only once and you'll never have to do it again. Unless you lock it back
Once the bootloader is unlocked you can now flash a custom recovery such as CWM which will let you manage and back up your phone with whatever ROM you want/have.
Once recovery is on your device you also have to root the phone. For this you'll need a zip flashable file with the superuser apk and SU binary files. Flash it in recovery and you should be good to go.
The last step is to install a ROM of your choice. You can just run what the phone has and it will work fine and even take updates without a problem. However, every time you want to flash something you'll need to flash CWM again because the stock image flashes the default recovery on reboot. There is a file you can delete to prevent this from happening. I forgot the path so look around. However, I would recommend you flash a stock ROM which already comes loaded with good stuff and all other things are done for you Just stop by the development section and pick a ROM you like.
Naroid is just a backup.
Oh, and BTW, mocking around with ICS... I would leave that for later. First get your head around basic flashing/rooting stuff. Changing the source code requires knowledge of code and even phone hardware. I'm guessing it's not for you just yet
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i was going to write something similar. toonhead85 you should do a bit more research and reading before you start hacking on your phone. youve hearts in the right place, but youre not quite ready just yet. at least take small steps at first
A little more clarification or nandroid backups:
Nandroid is a specific type of backup of the phone's system files. I think that includes system rom and radio. I not sure if any data is included in the backup. You should make a nandroid backup of the stock rom bbefore you flash any custom roms. If something goes wrong with a rom flash or if you want to restore to a previous stock or custom rom, you can restore from the backups you have made. You create these nandroid backups by booting into recovery and selecting the backup option (I think maybe named backup and restore). Backups are usually found on your SD card, but you can copy them to your computer to save additional copies.
If you want to also backup apps, get a good backup program from the market. Two that I have used are Titanium Backup for Root and MyBackups for Root. They can backup and restore apps and data as well as system data.
Thanks for all of the amazing replys. I do know that I am not at the point where I wanna muck around in the system to much as this is my one and only phone. But I would like to at some point.
But something I wanna know is this: If in flash CWM, can I use it without root? Say to make a backup of the stock rom before flashing SU? I only ask because I am currently at work and can't test the idea.
Another question is this: I know how to get to the stock recovery, but from what I read you use the VOL UP to get the "Menu". When I push any (hardware) button I get nothing and the image being displayed is an Android with a triangle and there is an exclimation point in it. Any thoughts?
a nandroid saves everything in your phone, just how it is at that moment. and when you restore it, your phone goes back to that very moment you made that nandroid backup. all your data remain. everything. its like you didnt do anything in between backing up and restoring
simms22 said:
a nandroid saves everything in your phone, just how it is at that moment. and when you restore it, your phone goes back to that very moment you made that nandroid backup. all your data remain. everything. its like you didnt do anything in between backing up and restoring
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
and you need root to use NANDROID? Or just an unlocked bootloader and to flash it over?
toonhead85 said:
and you need root to use NANDROID? Or just an unlocked bootloader and to flash it over?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unlocked bootloader
FANTASTIC!!! Thank you all so very much!!
simms22 said:
unlocked bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And CWM recovery.
You don't need root to backup but remember that when you reboot it will flash back to stock recovery (the triangle). You can simply repeat the adb command to flash CWM again.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G
And CWM recovery.
You don't need root to backup but remember that when you reboot it will flash back to stock recovery (the triangle). You can simply repeat the adb command to flash CWM again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I could flash unlock my bootloader > flash CWM > Make a backup and save it to my computer then when i reboot my phone it would automatically reflash the stock recovery? and if this is correct, then all i would need to do is flash CWM to restore the saved backup?
So here's a question, is it the action of flashing SU that keeps the phone from removing CWM and reinstalling stock recovery?
You must rename the /system/etc/install-recovery.sh file or it will keep replacing the stock recovery. See this post, item 2.

Install Custom Rom!

Just a quick question to double check.. I rooted my atrix 2 and installed CWM and took backup of my phone thru it. So two questions:
1.} Now to install custom rom, what should i do? directly now download and install thru cwm or need to flash any other thing?
2.} I accedently changed my stock battery icon thru rom toolbox pro and when i restore my stock rom thru cwm it says md5 check failed.. What should i do?
To install a Custom Rom only need access to CWM Recovery, and follow the installation steps of the Rom you choose, as there are two forms, one is restored and the other is flashing, so you should read the instructions.
thanks buddy!
I did not use rsd or did not flash fast bootfiles, are these necessary for installing custom rom? I guess not i am trying custom roms now..
And what abt the second question?
Sedariya11 said:
thanks buddy!
I did not use rsd or did not flash fast bootfiles, are these necessary for installing custom rom? I guess not i am trying custom roms now..
And what abt the second question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No rsd and fastboot files are for flashing back to stock in the case of u messing up your phone (soft brick or bootloop)
Sedariya11 said:
thanks buddy!
I did not use rsd or did not flash fast bootfiles, are these necessary for installing custom rom? I guess not i am trying custom roms now..
And what abt the second question?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
for restoring. do a few things. first, make a backup right now and try to restore it right away. If that works, something went wrong with your old one. you can open up the nandroid.md5 file within the backup folder and delete everything, that will make it restore, but it could cause some issues if it really was broken. Or it could not even boot, but that is what the fxz is for.
If it also fails, most likely there is something wrong with your sdcard. that happened to me. try formatting it WITH THE PHONE (backup anything that you need to since it will be wiped). if it fails both times the backups are most likely fine, so just delete everything in the nandroid.md5 file and do it. Keep in mind it may still have issues so be familiar with the stock restoring process just in case.
As always, i don't take responsibility for anything that happens.

HELP! In Rooting

so i need some help in rooting my tab 7+ p6200
so basically i dont know anything about rooting and all the other stuff about android..
so can someone explain to me some guidelines about rooting
is it safe? if ever i brick my device, will there be a way to unbrick? just some questions about rooting
and please kindly explain these terms that i dont understand
1. flashing
2. CWM
3. Firmware recovery
4. kernel
5. and so many more stuff
so if someone out there who can help me.. it will be a big help..
THANKS!
theejay0625 said:
so i need some help in rooting my tab 7+ p6200
so basically i dont know anything about rooting and all the other stuff about android..
so can someone explain to me some guidelines about rooting
is it safe? if ever i brick my device, will there be a way to unbrick? just some questions about rooting
and please kindly explain these terms that i dont understand
1. flashing
2. CWM
3. Firmware recovery
4. kernel
5. and so many more stuff
so if someone out there who can help me.. it will be a big help..
THANKS!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don;t have a 6200 so i don't know how to root it, it could be the same as the 6210 but I'm not sure. Look in the development section.
I can answer a couple of these other things but you could really get the answers quickly by googling them.
CWM
Clockwork Mod Recovery, a custom recovery as opposed to the stock recovery. You have to have a custom recovery installed in order to flash custom ROMs.
ROM
The operating system (OS)
Kernel
Facilitates communication between the OS and the hardware.
Flashing
A general term for installing a custom ROM, the stock firmware, a mod or an update. There are many ways of flashing and not all devices do it the same way. Samsung uses Odin and also certain files can be flashed in the stock recovery if it is unlocked. With HTC you can flash certain files directly in hboot if the device is unlocked otherwise you need a custom recovery.
Recovery
This is a software layer that you can flash to your phone that allows you to boot the phone into a utility state where you can install roms, flash things like patches or modifications, backup your rom/kernel, etc. When people refer to a nandroid backup, they are referring to a backup made here. It's a snapshot of your phone that lets you mess with things and restore back to that point in time should you screw something up. You pretty much can't brick your phone at this level - it's all just files and filesystems. You can also mount your SD card to reader mode for connection to a computer, do a factory reset of data, and a few other fun things like root your rom here. You should only root your rom if it is a stock rom that has not been rooted yet. Rooting a rooted rom will usually unroot your root so you don't have root. (copied from tspderek in the Rezound forum)
kzoodroid said:
I don;t have a 6200 so i don't know how to root it, it could be the same as the 6210 but I'm not sure. Look in the development section.
I can answer a couple of these other things but you could really get the answers quickly by googling them.
CWM
Clockwork Mod Recovery, a custom recovery as opposed to the stock recovery. You have to have a custom recovery installed in order to flash custom ROMs.
ROM
The operating system (OS)
Kernel
Facilitates communication between the OS and the hardware.
Flashing
A general term for installing a custom ROM, the stock firmware, a mod or an update. There are many ways of flashing and not all devices do it the same way. Samsung uses Odin and also certain files can be flashed in the stock recovery if it is unlocked. With HTC you can flash certain files directly in hboot if the device is unlocked otherwise you need a custom recovery.
Recovery
This is a software layer that you can flash to your phone that allows you to boot the phone into a utility state where you can install roms, flash things like patches or modifications, backup your rom/kernel, etc. When people refer to a nandroid backup, they are referring to a backup made here. It's a snapshot of your phone that lets you mess with things and restore back to that point in time should you screw something up. You pretty much can't brick your phone at this level - it's all just files and filesystems. You can also mount your SD card to reader mode for connection to a computer, do a factory reset of data, and a few other fun things like root your rom here. You should only root your rom if it is a stock rom that has not been rooted yet. Rooting a rooted rom will usually unroot your root so you don't have root. (copied from tspderek in the Rezound forum)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you sir for your answers! really cleared a lot..
theejay0625 said:
Thank you sir for your answers! really cleared a lot..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I should also add that Rooting (root) is just adding the superuser binaries to the system/bin folder and nothing else. Its pretty much the same thing as an administrator in windows, it allows you access to system folders. Rooting and installing a custom recovery are not the same thing, two different animals, though some devs will included both in their method for rooting a device. I prefer to do mine separately as I don't always want to install a custom recovery.

[Q] cm10 unintall method for htc one v (india-gsm)

i have installed cm10 on htc one v primo-u (india gsm ) and i wish to revert to the original image.
i tried to flash India_1567201recovery_signed.img file but no success.
can someone help me with a procedure how to revert to either 1.56.720 or 2.09.720 image of the phone
romah1 said:
i have installed cm10 on htc one v primo-u (india gsm ) and i wish to revert to the original image.
i tried to flash India_1567201recovery_signed.img file but no success.
can someone help me with a procedure how to revert to either 1.56.720 or 2.09.720 image of the phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you try to flash the RUU? You can not flash it like a normal ROM
Also if you are looking for the RUU try HERE
I see what you're trying to do, that won't work...you can't flash a recovery to get to stock because stock phone won't flash from recovery, which is why once you get root the first thing you do is flash a custom recovery. Use the RUU to flash it back to shipped state stock, or if you are trying to keep root and just want to use a different ROM. More clarification on what you are trying to accomplish would be nice.
If you did a Nandroid prior to flashing CM10 I would wipe all partitions except SD and restore the Nandroid, if all you want to do is get CM10 off your phone. Remember Nandroid Backups are your friend do them before flashing anything and save them to your PC if you don't want the SD space taken. Doing this has made flashing pain free and hassle free. If I don't like how my phone is running after a flash I can always get it right back to how it was when I was happy with it. Lastly there was a time when I had a Nandroid backup of a Sense ROM and was on AOSP and wanted to flash back to Sense, well my Backup wouldn't flash. After spending hours raising hell I did a clean install of the ROM booted once, then rebooted into recovery and flashed the Nandroid backup that had the settings I was using (when I was on Sense, it won't restore data and apps used on AOSP)...sorry if its not much help but more details are needed. But you have a starting point.
ItzCrooK2UxD said:
How did you try to flash the RUU? You can not flash it like a normal ROM
Also if you are looking for the RUU try HERE
I see what you're trying to do, that won't work...you can't flash a recovery to get to stock because stock phone won't flash from recovery, which is why once you get root the first thing you do is flash a custom recovery. Use the RUU to flash it back to shipped state stock, or if you are trying to keep root and just want to use a different ROM. More clarification on what you are trying to accomplish would be nice.
If you did a Nandroid prior to flashing CM10 I would wipe all partitions except SD and restore the Nandroid, if all you want to do is get CM10 off your phone. Remember Nandroid Backups are your friend do them before flashing anything and save them to your PC if you don't want the SD space taken. Doing this has made flashing pain free and hassle free. If I don't like how my phone is running after a flash I can always get it right back to how it was when I was happy with it. Lastly there was a time when I had a Nandroid backup of a Sense ROM and was on AOSP and wanted to flash back to Sense, well my Backup wouldn't flash. After spending hours raising hell I did a clean install of the ROM booted once, then rebooted into recovery and flashed the Nandroid backup that had the settings I was using (when I was on Sense, it won't restore data and apps used on AOSP)...sorry if its not much help but more details are needed. But you have a starting point.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have installed CM10 without backing up any image, therefore i cannot restore the orifginal vendor's rom. Nandroid back would have prevented this situation. the second problem is that I couldnt find any RUU for this phone. indeed the link you attached seems to have it bu unfortunately it is in chineese and after pushing all the buttons i couldn't download the file. so my options are
1- to pray that someone will be kind enough to publish it in a manner that it is accessible
2- I have a friend with a simillar phone , can i somehow back up hus rom and restore it in mine ????
thank
romah1

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