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[Q] Flashing kernals and roms questions

I have a kernel that i found that i want to flash. When you flash a kernel, does it replace a flashed ROM or do they combine?
Also, when you flash anything (ROM or kernel) does it replace the stock ROM or does it take a spot next to it? Can you make several spots so there can be more than one ROM? What is wiping out a ROM? If you leave a ROM, can you save your setting so when you go back you don't have to start over again? Can you back up contacts,messages, and apps from stock ROM and extract the data to the new ROM?
I AM CONFUSED

pranker98 said:
I have a kernel that i found that i want to flash. When you flash a kernel, does it replace a flashed ROM or do they combine?
Also, when you flash anything (ROM or kernel) does it replace the stock ROM or does it take a spot next to it? Can you make several spots so there can be more than one ROM? What is wiping out a ROM? If you leave a ROM, can you save your setting so when you go back you don't have to start over again? Can you back up contacts,messages, and apps from stock ROM and extract the data to the new ROM?
I AM CONFUSED
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No, they "combine"
2. It replaces it when you flash
3. Yes, but its more complicated than just flashing multiple roms. There is an app but it doesn't support Sensation.
4. Wiping a ROM is just that, wiping your phone of the ROM along with all your app,data and anything else on the phone(SD card not effected).
5. Umm. I don't understand your question completely but yes flashing a new ROM over an old ROM will preserve your data but you can flash a different rom and expect it to work. For example ARHD-->ARHD(updated) is OK but ARHD --> Insertcoin wont work.
6. Yes, its called titanium backup. Look it up.

thanks. after reading this, I stumbled on radios. what are radios?

pranker98 said:
thanks. after reading this, I stumbled on radios. what are radios?
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Radio is what gives your phone signal. which version works best for you will depend on your location and carrier so you will just have to experiment. its generally advised that you flash the latest recommended version stated on the rom your using

pranker98 said:
I have a kernel that i found that i want to flash. When you flash a kernel, does it replace a flashed ROM or do they combine?
Also, when you flash anything (ROM or kernel) does it replace the stock ROM or does it take a spot next to it? Can you make several spots so there can be more than one ROM? What is wiping out a ROM? If you leave a ROM, can you save your setting so when you go back you don't have to start over again? Can you back up contacts,messages, and apps from stock ROM and extract the data to the new ROM?
I AM CONFUSED
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
kevinliu2336 said:
1. No, they "combine"
2. It replaces it when you flash
3. Yes, but its more complicated than just flashing multiple roms. There is an app but it doesn't support Sensation.
4. Wiping a ROM is just that, wiping your phone of the ROM along with all your app,data and anything else on the phone(SD card not effected).
5. Umm. I don't understand your question completely but yes flashing a new ROM over an old ROM will preserve your data but you can flash a different rom and expect it to work. For example ARHD-->ARHD(updated) is OK but ARHD --> Insertcoin wont work.
6. Yes, its called titanium backup. Look it up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only thing I'd add is that for:
o If you leave a ROM, can you save your setting so when you go back you don't have to start over again?
You can do a Nandroid backup from CWM recovery, it takes a snapshot of the ROM, Kernel, Data,.. You can then play with other ROMs. Then at a later date restore the Nandroid backup from CWM and you're back at the earlier ROM.
It's extremely important that when you play with ROMs you backup a working version. It saves a lot of swearing when you lose a nice working system unintentionally. It's happened a couple of times to me and it's a bugger.

[Q] How to update ROM's

So here's my question: How do you update your ROM?
Yes I am using the same ROM to update to.
Is it the same method as flashing it in the first place?
e.g.: Go into CWM and flash it?
Or is there a different way of doing it.
If you have an answer please explain it thoroughly.

Hi,
i have last week installed cyanogen 9
to update to the last build of yesterday, i have just installed it from CWM.
i didn't lose any data

heniki said:
Hi,
i have last week installed cyanogen 9
to update to the last build of yesterday, i have just installed it from CWM.
i didn't lose any data
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So your saying just flash it again with no additional steps?
Just place the updated ROM file in the root of the sdcard and just flash away?

th3controller said:
So your saying just flash it again with no additional steps?
Just place the updated ROM file in the root of the sdcard and just flash away?
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Click to collapse
Yes

I've noticed that flashing ROMs without wiping data causes more problems than it helps you avoid.
Also, see:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/Samsung_Galaxy_S/SGH-T959V/AOKP_Frequently_Asked_Questions
It's always better to do a factory reset before a ROM install to avoid these issues, even when doing a direct upgrade from AOKP -> AOKP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

It wouldn't hurt to fix permissions after you flash if you don't wipe your data.

If FB said yes then cheers to that! Thanks FB!
And thanks for the advice guys, I'll make sure to wipe data before updating.
EDIT: Also what are gremlins? Do I need to remove these gremlins before I update my ROM? Or do I just clean gremlins IF I install a different ROM?
If so how do I remove gremlins? (A link provided is enough )

This thread should explain everything:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1500427
I would recommend it only if you have flasheda bunch of stuff and are starting to see problems like poor performance, or extreme battery drain. It's also helpful if you just need to get back to stock+root quickly. Also, if you're having problems, try the other steps in the thread first. When I was having battery issues, the battery trick in the thread fixed it perfectly.

Wodensman said:
This thread should explain everything:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1500427
I would recommend it only if you have flasheda bunch of stuff and are starting to see problems like poor performance, or extreme battery drain. It's also helpful if you just need to get back to stock+root quickly. Also, if you're having problems, try the other steps in the thread first. When I was having battery issues, the battery trick in the thread fixed it perfectly.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for that, I'll surely keep this bookmarked.

FBis251 said:
Yes
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So by flash do you mean just putting the ROM into the phone and selecting it just like you would when you originally installed the ROM? How do you wipe the original ROM before flashing the update?

Certain ROMs now use the Aroma installer (FBis was responsible for much of the work to make that possible for SGS4G ROMs) which provide more options than a CW Recovery or TWRP "install zip" kind of install. The Aroma installer generally lets you save/restore or wipe.
Both CW Recovery and TWRP have options to wipe one or more of your partitions before you install. They are a little different and which one you have will depend on what you are flashing from.

[Q] ViperS 3.1.2 + Sensation XE

Hi.
I want to switch to ViperS 3.1.2 but have few questions before I do so. I've never done it before so I'm new to this.
Does it come rooted (or do all ROMs come rooted)?
Is there any instruction on how to do it or just flash it from .zip via the recovery mode (I have CWM 5.x.x installed already)?
And are there any bugs with it such as Wi-Fi problems/tethering, or calls (speaker)?
Also, what if something goes wrong? I've got a backup of my current ROM (stock), so do I just flash that one back or try ViperS' in case it was a mistake on my side?
Lastly, I've heard some people mentioning OTA updates. I'm assuming it's done in the same way as stock ROMs, so you just need Wi-Fi/working internet and the new update will install on its own, or do I have to download the update from here and then do it myself?
Thanks!

MrCatalyst said:
Hi.
I want to switch to ViperS 3.1.2 but have few questions before I do so. I've never done it before so I'm new to this.
Does it come rooted (or do all ROMs come rooted)?
Is there any instruction on how to do it or just flash it from .zip via the recovery mode (I have CWM 5.x.x installed already)?
And are there any bugs with it such as Wi-Fi problems/tethering, or calls (speaker)?
Also, what if something goes wrong? I've got a backup of my current ROM (stock), so do I just flash that one back or try ViperS' in case it was a mistake on my side?
Lastly, I've heard some people mentioning OTA updates. I'm assuming it's done in the same way as stock ROMs, so you just need Wi-Fi/working internet and the new update will install on its own, or do I have to download the update from here and then do it myself?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you S-Off or S-On? If S-Off then you can flash the zip directly from recovery and if you're S-On then you gotta flash 4EXT recovery first and enable smart flash feature and then flash the zip file.
There are no major bugs in the Rom except the ones listed on the OP of the official thread. Enjoy flashing.
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda app-developers app

I'm S-Off. I've had root earlier but I've installed SuperSU and accidentally pressed Clean SU which has pretty much wiped it. :|

Post your bootloader details to make things more clearer. Flashing a custom Rom doesn't need root access. You can flash it as you're s-off.
What Rom you're using currently? What firmware?
Sent from my HTC Sensation Z710e using xda app-developers app

I apologise for not posting, although it may be a bit too late now since I'm already installing the ROM.
So, just wanna know now - do ROMs come rooted, and if I can always go back to stock ROM as long as I have the boot.img/download stock ROM from HTC site?

MrCatalyst said:
I apologise for not posting, although it may be a bit too late now since I'm already installing the ROM.
So, just wanna know now - do ROMs come rooted, and if I can always go back to stock ROM as long as I have the boot.img/download stock ROM from HTC site?
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Click to collapse
Yup they come pre-rooted

Thanks for the help, everyone! Managed to install the ROM, despite being stuck in bootloop for 2 hours but it works flawlessly now.

MrCatalyst said:
I apologise for not posting, although it may be a bit too late now since I'm already installing the ROM.
So, just wanna know now - do ROMs come rooted, and if I can always go back to stock ROM as long as I have the boot.img/download stock ROM from HTC site?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Most roms come rooted, and the rest provide root tools so you have a choice while flashing.
To return to stock look up ruu. An ruu + s on = your device as it came.

If you had flashed Firmware-3.33 before the ROM - you would have had no "bootloops" at all! The most important thing is to have Firmware-3.33

Rom is broken , EMERGENCY , plz help
Hello everybody. I'm in a real trouble with my phone. it's very emergency , so i really need your help please. My ViperS 3.1.2 is broken and doesn't boot. i reinstalled Rom without wiping and again with update only setting but still doesn't boot.I flashed boot.img again but still... i did everything i could such as wiping cache and dalvik cache but again the same problem. the phone stays on "SENSATION" boot screen with beats audio on bottom for 20 seconds and suddenly screen become dark and phone restarts . i wiped dalvik and again "android is upgrading" starts and after it finished the phone restarts again i know if i perform a full wipe during Rom installation it will be fixed but i REALLY,REALLY,REALLY need my contacts and messages.... is there anyway i could fix my phone or make a backup of contacts and messages??? PLEEAAASSSE help me . tnx

VAHIDHAVASBEIGY said:
Hello everybody. I'm in a real trouble with my phone. it's very emergency , so i really need your help please. My ViperS 3.1.2 is broken and doesn't boot. i reinstalled Rom without wiping and again with update only setting but still doesn't boot.I flashed boot.img again but still... i did everything i could such as wiping cache and dalvik cache but again the same problem. the phone stays on "SENSATION" boot screen with beats audio on bottom for 20 seconds and suddenly screen become dark and phone restarts . i wiped dalvik and again "android is upgrading" starts and after it finished the phone restarts again i know if i perform a full wipe during Rom installation it will be fixed but i REALLY,REALLY,REALLY need my contacts and messages.... is there anyway i could fix my phone or make a backup of contacts and messages??? PLEEAAASSSE help me . tnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you made a backup before flashing you should restore it, or else flash the ROM you had before flashing.
Then use "Titanium Backup" and back up your messages (your contacts are automatically synced with your google account, unless you saved them on the phone, but you can change that with the "people" app.
after you backed your phone up, make a full wipe, and flash the new ROM. Install Titanium Backup and restore your messages backup.
Good luck.

astar26 said:
If you made a backup before flashing you should restore it, or else flash the ROM you had before flashing.
Then use "Titanium Backup" and back up your messages (your contacts are automatically synced with your google account, unless you saved them on the phone, but you can change that with the "people" app.
after you backed your phone up, make a full wipe, and flash the new ROM. Install Titanium Backup and restore your messages backup.
Good luck.
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Click to collapse
excuse me, you said 2 options . first is to restore backup , unfortunately i don't have backup. second is flashing the rom i had before flashing ! i didn't understand what you said... what do you mean? i don't have any backup, if you can help me to boot up phone just for 2 mins to backup my contacts! they aren't synced to my google account....

pleeeeaaaaaaaaaasssseeeee helppp meee. i am becoming crazyy because of my problem.... HELP PLZZZ :crying:

VAHIDHAVASBEIGY said:
excuse me, you said 2 options . first is to restore backup , unfortunately i don't have backup. second is flashing the rom i had before flashing ! i didn't understand what you said... what do you mean? i don't have any backup, if you can help me to boot up phone just for 2 mins to backup my contacts! they aren't synced to my google account....
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Click to collapse
Get a download of the ROM you had before, and you can flash it normally. If you had stock, find a download of stock ROM (although Sense 3.6 custom ROMs might actually work too).

Right
i dont had a Problem :good:

astar26 said:
Get a download of the ROM you had before, and you can flash it normally. If you had stock, find a download of stock ROM (although Sense 3.6 custom ROMs might actually work too).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
excuse me again! you mean install another ROM without Wiping on ViperS? I am using ViperS for about 1 years, Are you sure? now i should download another ROM like Android Revolution HD for sensation and install it on my phone without performing full wipe and it can fix boot problem?

VAHIDHAVASBEIGY said:
excuse me again! you mean install another ROM without Wiping on ViperS? I am using ViperS for about 1 years, Are you sure? now i should download another ROM like Android Revolution HD for sensation and install it on my phone without performing full wipe and it can fix boot problem?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh no, I thought you wanted to flash viperS. Flash the ROM you had before flashing, whichever ROM that was (but flash that specific ROM, not a different one. My advice from the previous comment was if you came from stock ROM). If you flash the same ROM you don't have to wipe, and then you can back up your phone.

astar26 said:
Oh no, I thought you wanted to flash viperS. Flash the ROM you had before flashing, whichever ROM that was (but flash that specific ROM, not a different one. My advice from the previous comment was if you came from stock ROM). If you flash the same ROM you don't have to wipe, and then you can back up your phone.
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Click to collapse
ohhh , in my first post i said ( i reinstalled Rom without wiping and again ...) i mean i did your advice , but it doesn't fix my problem... :crying:

VAHIDHAVASBEIGY said:
ohhh , in my first post i said ( i reinstalled Rom without wiping and again ...) i mean i did your advice , but it doesn't fix my problem... :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hope you can operate adb, because the solution I found requires it.
Go to recovery, and use adbto pull the contacts database with the following command:
adb pull data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts.db
It might give an error for a protected directory (but I don't know since it's going to be done in recovery), if that happens, use 'adb shell' and then 'su'. then exit, and you have root access to the device (do it only if required).
Once you obtained the file, it should be on your adb folder. you need to open it with a database app which supports SQLite3 (I won't reccomend anyrhing since I've never used them. but from a quick search I found a few. and searching in the context of reading android databases would give some recommendations.).
Good luck
p.s - It's hard for me to believe this is the simplest solution. It might work, but it's not easy. So others might give better solutions.

astar26 said:
I hope you can operate adb, because the solution I found requires it.
Go to recovery, and use adbto pull the contacts database with the following command:
adb pull data/data/com.android.providers.contacts/databases/contacts.db
It might give an error for a protected directory (but I don't know since it's going to be done in recovery), if that happens, use 'adb shell' and then 'su'. then exit, and you have root access to the device (do it only if required).
Once you obtained the file, it should be on your adb folder. you need to open it with a database app which supports SQLite3 (I won't reccomend anyrhing since I've never used them. but from a quick search I found a few. and searching in the context of reading android databases would give some recommendations.).
Good luck
p.s - It's hard for me to believe this is the simplest solution. It might work, but it's not easy. So others might give better solutions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
tnx , if i try i can do it. i can operate adb easily . but a person said me to backup /data partition with recovery and then perform a full wipe and install viperS again then restore /data . do you have any idea abou it? can it help?

The camera has recently stopped working

Hi, I'm getting this error quite often in the last days.
the camera has recently stopped working
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It happens when I use HDR filter.
Tride to delete cache and data in app Manager but no change...
Thank you

Do you use a custom rom with the original built in camera app or do you reflash the camera app by yourself?
Or do you use the original CM11s ROM?

I use original CM11S, no root.

Go for a Custom Rom like crDroid (have the rom on my phone and its smooth amd stable ) If you dont want to root/flash your device boot in the stock recovery mod and clean your cache

I dont want to install other roms... I like CM11S.
edit: https://jira.cyanogenmod.org/browse/BACON-127

no notification sound... Help

Since flash marshmallowon my 6046k, my ringtone has not been ringing. I've tried the do not disturb, turning up the volume, setting the profile to default and rebooting my phone. Rebooting seems to work but only for a couple of hours after a while the phone only vibrates on calls. Please help

Phone is running custom or stock rom?

audit13 said:
Phone is running custom or stock rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flashed rom by marionette.

Does the sound work properly on a stock rom? Did you post your question on the rom thread?

audit13 said:
Does the sound work properly on a stock rom? Did you post your question on the rom thread?
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Click to collapse
Before sound was working perfectly no issue. Yes i post my prob on rom thread no one reply.
Somewhere i read that factory reset can solve problem but ibdont want to rest my phone. Is there any othe possible solution for this ??

Maybe reflash the same rom over the existing rom without wiping data? Or create a backup using twrp, reflash, and restore data?

audit13 said:
Maybe reflash the same rom over the existing rom without wiping data? Or create a backup using twrp, reflash, and restore data?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks so much .. Just let me know i have backup of old rom 5.0 can i go back to stock just flashing backup by twrp or i need to use anyother method??

If you backed up your old ROM using TWRP, you can restore it using TWRP. Before restoring, I recommend wiping the system, cache, and data. Just make sure you have a back up of your data somewhere in case something goes wrong.