[Completed] [Q] backup / root / custom rom for Nexus 4 - XDA Assist

I'm trying to backup my Nexus 4 and then install Cyanogenmod. I am a complete beginner to all this, and I have never had anything other than Stock Android on my phone - it is 100% stock and has never been rooted or anything. So I really have no clue about it.
I have googled a bit, and it's confusing, because most articles about this phone are 2-3 years old and I'm not sure how it is nowadays. I did find this program on the PC called "Nexus Root Toolkit", which I guess I should be using? I've seen somewhere, that I need to create a backup of my stock phone (Android 5.1.1), before I attempt to do anything. However, if I click "Create Nandroid Backup w/ Custom Recovery" on Nexus Root Toolkit, it says my device needs to be "unlocked", but if I want to unlock it using this Toolkit, it says, unlocking will wipe my data. So I'm completely confused about what to do now.
Is there maybe a current guide (at least for Lollipop) on the Nexus 4, that explains EVERYTHING from backup to flashing the ROM, step by step, for someone who's never done this before? Or could someone help me out here? Thanks a lot!

jb91 said:
I'm trying to backup my Nexus 4 and then install Cyanogenmod. I am a complete beginner to all this, and I have never had anything other than Stock Android on my phone - it is 100% stock and has never been rooted or anything. So I really have no clue about it.
I have googled a bit, and it's confusing, because most articles about this phone are 2-3 years old and I'm not sure how it is nowadays. I did find this program on the PC called "Nexus Root Toolkit", which I guess I should be using? I've seen somewhere, that I need to create a backup of my stock phone (Android 5.1.1), before I attempt to do anything. However, if I click "Create Nandroid Backup w/ Custom Recovery" on Nexus Root Toolkit, it says my device needs to be "unlocked", but if I want to unlock it using this Toolkit, it says, unlocking will wipe my data. So I'm completely confused about what to do now.
Is there maybe a current guide (at least for Lollipop) on the Nexus 4, that explains EVERYTHING from backup to flashing the ROM, step by step, for someone who's never done this before? Or could someone help me out here? Thanks a lot!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello, and welcome to XDA! You should find everything you need in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/nexus-4/help/guide-ultimate-nexus-4-root-guide-t2018179. And you can post questions in the thread if needed.
Good luck!

Related

[Q] Doubts about unlocking bootloader and rooting

Hi guys,
I've been playing around with my Nexus S for about 3 weeks and I've decided to root it, but I have some question, I've been searching the answers in older posts but it's not quite clear yet, hope you can help me.
When I unlocked the bootloader, what kind of data will be wiped? It's just the SD card or also all the apps I've already downloaded? what about SMS, pictures and videos?
Is there anyway I can backup that data considering I haven't root it yet???
Thanks in advance.
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol what? its nobodys fault but your own. all the resources are available, just because somebody isnt responding to your threads and holding your hand to restore a nandriod backup doesnt make it a "lack of a community".. and your phone isn't bricked, it can be recovered but you are too close-minded and cant install Clockwork Recovery / get drivers working
The data that will be wiped are most likely your SMS/settings/etc. This is standard procedure. And its something you'll go through a lot when you are using custom ROMs.
There are complete instructions for rooting, unrooting and unbricking your phone. It's all here in the forums, and many other places, you just have to look and learn. I read for two weeks before I unlocked and loaded a ROM into my NS.
If you don't have a need to root your phone I wouldn't do it just because you can. I wanted to run the Voodoo app so I had to root and load a ROM. It took a little while but it was painless and I liked learning about the Android system.
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.
It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!
RogerPodacter said:
It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
"brick" describes a device that cannot function in any capacity (such as a device with damaged firmware)
In the strictest sense of the term, bricking must imply that software error has rendered the device completely unrecoverable without some hardware replacement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(electronics)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
Netconn said:
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?
Make a nandroid backup first and foremost! Use Titanium Backup to make a backup of all your apps. If you want a backup of your sms, go sms pro really does a great job of that. Dont forget your contacts as well! Then copy your sd card and place it on the hard drive of your computer. When you unlock the bootloader, it does wipe your sd card. Once your unlocked and rooted, you should be able to restore everything once you replace the copy of your sd card back on the phone. Coming over from a Vibrant, I was nervous about rooting the phone but its an easy process. Just take your time and do lots of reading! Hope this helps!
Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Woops..yeah, your right there. Too quick to reply. I followed this method here..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=895545
and had no problems. Once you get unlocked/rooted and clockwork recovery, then you can make the fore mentioned backups. Export your contacts to the sd card then copy the sd card to the hard drive of your computer before unlocking the boot loader. I do not think apps get affected during the sd wipe unless you have them stored there.
zephiK said:
its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
may i suggest a noob proof guide|? i postted 1 in the htc desire forum and people love it. yesterday i returned a moto xoom because ti was overheating , got a nexus s and 2day il b returning that because it wont turn on. can any1 help me think of a good idea i can tell the future shop return people?
kmhil said:
I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are forced to lose your data to initially root your device. then after that point, you can always create backups and never lose data again while you switch between ROMs and flashing etc. but i think to initially root, you have to lose everything. not the sd card though.
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do keep in mind, we don't have an i9020 or an i9023, we have an i9020A So the instruction out there all need to take that into considerations. I rooted mine fine with no "Bricking" I had to follow the instruction for the i9023, but it worked. I figure it took me all of 1 minute to root my phone. Admitedly, the "One click root" for the Galaxy series was easier.
I try to make it a point to never be the "First" person to do something on their phone. Much safer that way.
I also find it very unusual that you've managed to brick two phones, I've also had the pleasure of owning the telus fascinate, and not once did i get it bricked, I tried Bionics, CM7, Darky's and a bunch of other ones. Just never mess with the boot loader. When you went back to stock, did you make sure it was a stock ROM for the I9020A?
Have you tried connecting the USB to a computer, holding the volume up (or in the case of the galaxy, both up and down) While powering on the device? I've had to use that a few times to recover my galaxy (Thank you odin!!).
Now in regards to the OP, I would recommend using a program like Ti to back everything up, unlock the bootloader then restore from Ti, it's a little more hassel, but you can pretty much keep your settings and data. Personally, i rooted my phone before configuring a single thing on it.
kmhil said:
Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no way to make a good backup without rooting.
basically yes, you will lose all your settings
there are a few apps you can use to backup your apk before unlocing/rooting the phone.
look for App admin on market https://market.android.com/details?id=az.mecid.appadmin&feature=search_result
the stuff backed to SD does not get wiped
only the internal storage stuff
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i took about 12 minutes total to unlock my bootloader, flash clockwork, and flash a custom rom. its not difficult if you pay attention to what you read. youre phone is not bricked. btw, i read your threads. if you werent so demanding, i would have helped. use the pdanet website the next time you need to install the proper driver, and follow the directions that they give you.
When I unlocked I used Astro to back up my apps, I turned on the Google data sync to back up my contacts and I did a back up of my SD on my computer.
When the unlock and recovery was done NS asked for my Google account then it restored all my contacts, Astro restored all my apps and I restored my files from my computer. A few steps but not difficult at all.
You will have to redo your accounts and data, and maybe an app or two won't load but the market will show them installed, just reinstall any that didn't.
Make sure you follow the directions properly in the forum. I had to use two computers to get it to work, but it did work and nothing was damaged.
With all that said.... This was the first time I have ever owned or altered an Android phone. Sure I was nervous... Now I'm hooked.. haha
I wound up using NSCollab .17 so far so good..
First thing I did when I got my phone was fastboot oem unlock.
Even if you don't want to root, use another ROM. Fastboot unlock it so your data doesn't get wiped.
If your hardware and everything seems okay, then flash Clockwork Recovery and do a nandroid backup so you can restore to pre-flashing point if you need it for OEM purposes.
Afterwards, go crazy and flash like theres no tomorrow and find something that you'll like.
And agreed with simms. You've made so made so many threads about this. I would help you step by step but I've been busy so I can't do that anymore. But if you search, you'll find about two or three threads where I did help somebody get their phone to a working state.
The basic idea is... if your phone doesn't boot but you can get to recovery.
- Download a ROM or Nandroid backup
- Install USB drivers
- Fastboot oem unlock (if you haven't)
- fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (or whatever the recovery.img is named) should be in /sdk/tools
- reboot into recovery (adb reboot recovery)
- mount and storage: mount USB, put the nandroid backup or ROM onto phone
- nandroid restore or flash a ROM (wipe factory,dalvik,cache --> flash ROM (if its CM7.. flash gapps afterwards)
- reboot
your phone boots. alternatively, you can use Odin but thats not a popular method but the choice is available if you wish to go towards that approach
in the worse worse possible case scenario there is always ODIN to the rescue
Why did you guys wait at all?
Once i got the phone i immediately plugged it into my computer and rooted it.

[Q] How to remove rooting AND custom ROM

Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
Also, last question, I am backing my phone up by hooking it up to the computer via USB and dragging each folder and everything into a folder on my computer as a backup. That being said, since I want to UNDO my root and custom ROM and everything, are there any files I should NOT copy to my computer that might mess this up or make my phone think it's still rooted or anything?
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!
gamer6592 said:
Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so basically, you just want to unroot your phone? Go into super user and there is an option to unroot your phone OR, use any file explorer like ES explore, root explore and navigate to this directory /system/xbin and delete su file.
May I ask, what you about to do is really a big waist of time, it doesn't help you anyway in installing custom rom or make your phone run better!! what is the reason for this??
buhohitr said:
Ok, so basically, you just want to unroot your phone? Go into super user and there is an option to unroot your phone OR, use any file explorer like ES explore, root explore and navigate to this directory /system/xbin and delete su file.
May I ask, what you about to do is really a big waist of time, it doesn't help you anyway in installing custom rom or make your phone run better!! what is the reason for this??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st: I bolded the part in your statement that I was talking about in my first post. I appreciate the help a lot, so no offense, but I have no idea what that sentence even meant.. Will you please speak more clearly, and, to be honest, dumb it down a lot for me. I seriously know nothing about this stuff.
2nd: I don't want help installing custom ROMs. I want to go back to the way my phone was BEFORE having to use any custom ROMs. In other words, I don't even want Jelly Bean on my phone the way it is anymore. I want Ice Cream Sandwich back (I'm pretty sure that was the last one, right? Lol) so that from THERE I can update using VERIZON's Jelly Bean update.
The reason is that I've had problems with my phone that I NEVER had before rooting/downloading this custom "nightly" ROM. The main problem, I can not play ANY games on my phone without it crashing minutes in. I have a Galaxy S3, for crying out loud, so the games obviously aren't too much for the phone itself to handle. I think the nightly ROM I downloaded was just a bit buggy.
Another main reason I want to is because I miss all of the developer options my phone had before, i.e screenshots by swiping hand over screen, Kies Air, etc.
If someone could please help me a bit more in depth I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks again!
gamer6592 said:
Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
Also, last question, I am backing my phone up by hooking it up to the computer via USB and dragging each folder and everything into a folder on my computer as a backup. That being said, since I want to UNDO my root and custom ROM and everything, are there any files I should NOT copy to my computer that might mess this up or make my phone think it's still rooted or anything?
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How bout this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1867253
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
I assume you didn't root yourself. I would ask whoever did it for you to undo it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app
Unfortunately if you want to go back to stock ICS (before the updates and everything) without root or unlocked boot loader you are going to lose all your phone data. That's the price you pay for rooting. But you are doing the right thing by copying all the files you want to your computer, I assume you're copying your internal SD card. The best you could do for apps is to use titanium backup and backup your apps, and SMS.
Then follow this guide to go back to ICS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28530394
If you can't do this guide or don't understand it then I agree with the previous poster and get whoever rooted your phone top undo it.
Now that you are back on ICS reroot using the steps in the same guide I just linked download titanium backup and restore your apps and sms.
You can then select the option in the supersu app to full unroot.
Sent from my VS920 4G using xda app-developers app
kintwofan said:
Unfortunately if you want to go back to stock ICS (before the updates and everything) without root or unlocked boot loader you are going to lose all your phone data. That's the price you pay for rooting. But you are doing the right thing by copying all the files you want to your computer, I assume you're copying your internal SD card. The best you could do for apps is to use titanium backup and backup your apps, and SMS.
Then follow this guide to go back to ICS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28530394
If you can't do this guide or don't understand it then I agree with the previous poster and get whoever rooted your phone top undo it.
Now that you are back on ICS reroot using the steps in the same guide I just linked download titanium backup and restore your apps and sms.
You can then select the option in the supersu app to full unroot.
Sent from my VS920 4G using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it myself, eventually, but it was just as hard. So let me get this straight, you're saying that I need to follow that guide (I'm assuming the part that says how to Odin back from ROM etc), then I need to reroot in order for titanium backup to work so that I can restore everything, THEN unroot again? When you say reroot, will following that guide cause me to become unrooted already? Thx.
gamer6592 said:
I did it myself, eventually, but it was just as hard. So let me get this straight, you're saying that I need to follow that guide (I'm assuming the part that says how to Odin back from ROM etc), then I need to reroot in order for titanium backup to work so that I can restore everything, THEN unroot again? When you say reroot, will following that guide cause me to become unrooted already? Thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should follow section 5 if that guide to return your phone to sick ICS. It will be just like you got it from Verizon. This means no root and your internal SD wiped.
Then you will want to root that to restore your titanium backup that you've already made. Again that guide will show you how.
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!
kintwofan said:
You should follow section 5 if that guide to return your phone to sick ICS. It will be just like you got it from Verizon. This means no root and your internal SD wiped.
Then you will want to root that to restore your titanium backup that you've already made. Again that guide will show you how.
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol ok I'll do that. And last Qs (I think lol) unrooting again is just as fast as clicking unroot in superuser? and then last but not least once I do will I be able to update OTA to jelly bean again? Cuz I still want JB I just want official JB. If worst comes to worst I just use that Kies Air program? Thanks
gamer6592 said:
lol ok I'll do that. And last Qs (I think lol) unrooting again is just as fast as clicking unroot in superuser? and then last but not least once I do will I be able to update OTA to jelly bean again? Cuz I still want JB I just want official JB. If worst comes to worst I just use that Kies Air program? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes full unroot from app will unroot you. Or just delete the app and take the ota
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!
I'm really sorry to do this but.. Lol. This honestly should be my last Q. The rest seems quite clear to me but is the part of that guide under section 5 titled "*Flashing a Stock Radio with Odin or a Custom Recovery" applicable to what I'm trying to do as well? It's kind of offset like it's something optional/different but do I need to do that also to take my phone back today? Thanks.

[Q] Root Keeping Stock Recovery

Hi,
I would like to root my phone mantaining the stock recovery, and booting temporarily a custom recovery
If i execute a "fastboot boot customrecovery.img" and then i install from zip the "UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.69.zip" for example, I know that i will have a rooted phone with stock recovery.(right?)
I would like to do this in order to receive OTA without manual installation (i'm right?), thing that i have already done on my "old " Galaxy Nexus and now i would like to avoid doing it on the N5. I know that, in a case like this, i will lose root and then i have to do the process again.
The question is: There's just some contraindication doing this?
Thank you very much. I already tryed to find an exaustive answer searching the forum.
PS. Sorry for my poor English
Chainfire has the solution for you. Root and keep everything else stock.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2507211
You will have to unlock your bootloader if you haven't already done so.
DreamLinker said:
Hi,
I would like to root my phone mantaining the stock recovery, and booting temporarily a custom recovery
If i execute a "fastboot boot customrecovery.img" and then i install from zip the "UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.69.zip" for example, I know that i will have a rooted phone with stock recovery.(right?)
I would like to do this in order to receive OTA without manual installation (i'm right?), thing that i have already done on my "old " Galaxy Nexus and now i would like to avoid doing it on the N5. I know that, in a case like this, i will lose root and then i have to do the process again.
The question is: There's just some contraindication doing this?
Thank you very much. I already tryed to find an exaustive answer searching the forum.
PS. Sorry for my poor English
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your method of booting a recovery image will work fine. That's the way I would do it.
Thanks you all very much!

[Q] Nexus 5 rooted unlocked. Questions on getting to 4.4.4

Before you ask, yes, I have searched. I also went through each page of the "Here are the similar threads we found:" section before posting. That is actually why I am posting. I see too many different answers.
A little background: I know my way around android in general and have been flashing roms since my G1. I used to be the "rom test dummy" for JesusFreak (yeah, im an oldtimer) so I am not afraid of flashing roms. I am currently running on a windows machine, but I have linux available if that is any easier. I am comfortable in either.
My question: I have a Nexus 5 with 4.4.2 (stock) KOT49H and I want to update finally. Each time I have tried the OTA it gave errors, and I eventually found that is because the rom looks for modifications. Out of the posts I have found here, I have seen some say you have to flash all the way back to stock and then start updating. I have also seen posts that say there are tools that will read your device info and decide what to flash. I have seen some that say you can flash a new (stock) rom over the current rom.
I have no problem backing up the device (I have paid premium) if needed. If I can flash without wipe, GREAT. If not, no big deal. My main thing is that I would like a safe route. This is my main phone so I need it to work. I would also prefer one of the shorter (of the safe) methods. I saw a guide a few minutes ago that seemed to say that you should flash 4x during the process. Once to clean the rom, once to downgrade, and 2 more to upgrade. I am hoping I read that one wrong, but that sounds un-needed. Is there a stock 4.4.4 rom that I can just flash on top of my current 4.4.2 and get it all done in one jump?
Darkrift said:
Before you ask, yes, I have searched. I also went through each page of the "Here are the similar threads we found:" section before posting. That is actually why I am posting. I see too many different answers.
A little background: I know my way around android in general and have been flashing roms since my G1. I used to be the "rom test dummy" for JesusFreak (yeah, im an oldtimer) so I am not afraid of flashing roms. I am currently running on a windows machine, but I have linux available if that is any easier. I am comfortable in either.
My question: I have a Nexus 5 with 4.4.2 (stock) KOT49H and I want to update finally. Each time I have tried the OTA it gave errors, and I eventually found that is because the rom looks for modifications. Out of the posts I have found here, I have seen some say you have to flash all the way back to stock and then start updating. I have also seen posts that say there are tools that will read your device info and decide what to flash. I have seen some that say you can flash a new (stock) rom over the current rom.
I have no problem backing up the device (I have paid premium) if needed. If I can flash without wipe, GREAT. If not, no big deal. My main thing is that I would like a safe route. This is my main phone so I need it to work. I would also prefer one of the shorter (of the safe) methods. I saw a guide a few minutes ago that seemed to say that you should flash 4x during the process. Once to clean the rom, once to downgrade, and 2 more to upgrade. I am hoping I read that one wrong, but that sounds un-needed. Is there a stock 4.4.4 rom that I can just flash on top of my current 4.4.2 and get it all done in one jump?
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easiest way(if running a custom recovery).. find a rooted stock here in the andtoid development section, and dirty flash(no wiping) it over what you have. you won't lose any data dirty flashing.
if your completely stock, easiest way.. flash the 4.4.4 factory img via fastboot. but you will lose your data.
simms22 said:
easiest way(if running a custom recovery).. find a rooted stock here in the andtoid development section, and dirty flash(no wiping) it over what you have. you won't lose any data dirty flashing.
if your completely stock, easiest way.. flash the 4.4.4 factory img via fastboot. but you will lose your data.
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Thanks for the info, but can you point to a 4.4.4 rooted stock? I have been searching through the roms and most seem to be customized, not stock. Ive gone through about 7 pages now in http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/development
I havent flashed a rom in a year or 2 since buying Nexus 4/5 devices (hey, they just work) so I am a little out of the loop.
**Edit: I just found this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...-android-4-4-3-ktu84m-rooted-busybox-t2557523 - Maybe I missed it the first time. I think its because the URL says 4-4-3, so I skipped it.
Darkrift said:
Thanks for the info, but can you point to a 4.4.4 rooted stock? I have been searching through the roms and most seem to be customized, not stock. Ive gone through about 7 pages now in http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/development
I havent flashed a rom in a year or 2 since buying Nexus 4/5 devices (hey, they just work) so I am a little out of the loop.
**Edit: I just found this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...-android-4-4-3-ktu84m-rooted-busybox-t2557523 - Maybe I missed it the first time. I think its because the URL says 4-4-3, so I skipped it.
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thats a good one.. if i go with stock, its going to be a @bigxie rom. and i was around as well for jesus freke
Awesome, thanks. I will flash that when I get home after making a backup.
I struggled with this and finally succeeded by flashing first to 4.4.3, THEN to 4.4.4. Now running like a top.
bltzfsck said:
I struggled with this and finally succeeded by flashing first to 4.4.3, THEN to 4.4.4. Now running like a top.
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awesome!

How to dump/backup my own stock firmware without root (nandroid like?)

Hi Team,
Prior any play with my new G930FD I want to fully backup all firmware elements like radio, EFS, etc. to bring it back to state as it is now.
Once this is done I can play with adding root, etc.
Thought process was that it should be possible with ODIN, but I can't find a guide treating this subject.
In the past I've used to use Philz Touch on S4 LTE and all worked fine besides I've had troubles to restore NAND backups. Needed to move back from LineageOS to older CyanogenMOD (due to some issues) only to find out that old backup was not working anymore. I've tested backup earlier but it was years ago and didn't re-test procedure anymore.
Since don't want to run into any similar situation that can't revert to state as I'm in now, thought will asks you experts here.
In the past I'd think about process of booting recovery from computer via fastboot, performing required backup to SD card and them doing whatever I'd need to do.
Checking all guides (and believe me I've spent plenty of time trying to find it) all I was finding was that it required root to perform dump, i.e. using su with dd.
I've no issue to type in terminal as used to patch kernel back in times of kernel v2.4.
I just want to make sure that throughout the process of getting root, I'll have always a roll-back procedure and don't want to trip Knox and other flags, whilst if possible keeping OTA access (based on guides here, this should be possible).
Please advise on steps I should take to backup all current data with any tool or point me to place I've missed as I'm sure someone has described it already and I'm just being blind.
Thanks in advance!
dkadds2 said:
Hi Team,
Prior any play with my new G930FD I want to fully backup all firmware elements like radio, EFS, etc. to bring it back to state as it is now.
Once this is done I can play with adding root, etc.
Thought process was that it should be possible with ODIN, but I can't find a guide treating this subject.
In the past I've used to use Philz Touch on S4 LTE and all worked fine besides I've had troubles to restore NAND backups. Needed to move back from LineageOS to older CyanogenMOD (due to some issues) only to find out that old backup was not working anymore. I've tested backup earlier but it was years ago and didn't re-test procedure anymore.
Since don't want to run into any similar situation that can't revert to state as I'm in now, thought will asks you experts here.
In the past I'd think about process of booting recovery from computer via fastboot, performing required backup to SD card and them doing whatever I'd need to do.
Checking all guides (and believe me I've spent plenty of time trying to find it) all I was finding was that it required root to perform dump, i.e. using su with dd.
I've no issue to type in terminal as used to patch kernel back in times of kernel v2.4.
I just want to make sure that throughout the process of getting root, I'll have always a roll-back procedure and don't want to trip Knox and other flags, whilst if possible keeping OTA access (based on guides here, this should be possible).
Please advise on steps I should take to backup all current data with any tool or point me to place I've missed as I'm sure someone has described it already and I'm just being blind.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a method to do that but I'm afraid it's not for our phone, because you see for the devices that can install twrp with fastboot command you can make a command that only boots twrp "fastboot boot recovery" or something like that, I don't remember clearly,instead of "fastboot flash xxxx" but we can't flash twrp with fastboot so that's impossible for us I think, I strongly advise you not to try these methods because you might end up bricking your device, if you are afraid you might mess up your phone stay away from the root and flashing, AFAIK there's no other method than the one with Odin and formatting data.
Thanks for answer, hoped I was just missing something.
Might be interesting for some people, and in fact for myself too.
I've found out that baseband version I've is not listed at Sammobile:
https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s7/SM-G930FD/
It is:
G930FXXU1DQEJ
Not sure how to proceed should I run into issues?
I do also consider downgrading back to Marshmallow to take advantage of Xposed.
btw. it was all so easy, nice and sweet back in times of my S4 LTE play and now it is all so complicated, that even encryption with root seems to be so, so dangerous. :-S
dkadds2 said:
Hi Team,
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe this one https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software-hacking/tool-twrp-backup-restore-tool-pc-t3572241 or https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/general/guide-phone-backup-unlock-root-t1420351
Long time ago... though forgot to make sure I say thank you! I've had laptop OS level issues and missed to say that. Sorry.

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