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Backing up stock firmware from ADP1

How to back up all partitions of the stock firmware from ADP1?
Is it possible to do this without changing any partition at first?
Checked the forum for answers but didn't find if it is possible without
updating with custom JF stuff in the first hand.

Trying this:
http://groups.google.com/group/android-discuss/browse_thread/thread/e9eb4604357ff117

[Q] Can I update stock N5 BUT with Franco Kernel?

I've got a Nexus 5 on Lollipop that's completely stock except for running franco kernel. Haven't touched it for awhile. If I check and there are any OTA updates available, will they install successfully?

No, you must have stock kernel, stock recovery, and unroot

micens said:
No, you must have stock kernel, stock recovery, and unroot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks.

Is there a way to manually flash the OTA, or to install it one way or another, without having to revert to stock kernel and unroot and then re-root and re-install franco again?

Edit flash-all file and remove "-w".
Save the file and flash it from fastboot

.psd said:
Is there a way to manually flash the OTA, or to install it one way or another, without having to revert to stock kernel and unroot and then re-root and re-install franco again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As of Lollipop, the OTA method has changed and instead compares the checksum/hash of the entire /system partition, as well as the boot and recovery partitions. The "old" pre-Lollipop method was to check the specific files it cares about rather than sum of the entire partition.
The best way for you to update is download the factory image, extract it then flash the boot and system images using fastboot while your device is booted into the bootloader. You may also want to flash the new bootloader and/or radio. Don't flash the userdata image as it will wipe your /data partition (which the internal storage also resides in), unless that is something you want.
After that, boot into your custom recovery and simply flash the latest SuperSU and if you want to, a Lollipop version of the kernel you want. Files required by SuperSU/root access reside in the /system partition, which prevents an OTA update, and is overwritten when flashing a factory system image. A KitKat kernel won't boot on Lollipop, and a custom kernel also prevents OTA.
OTAs are really only for those who have absolutely no software modifications (and are not informed enough to be able to flash manually) and is honestly the worst way of updating.

Is there a way to revert custom ROM to stock and keep the phone rooted?

Also, how can I tell what were the previous versions of Android that my phone had (STOCK)?
For example: there were several 5.1.1 versions or 5.0. versions - how do I know which one do I need?
Thanks.

The easiest way to have a routed rom would be to flash a stock rom from Google, flash twrp, and flash supersu from twrp.

audit13 said:
The easiest way to have a routed rom would be to flash a stock rom from Google, flash twrp, and flash supersu from twrp.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry if I didn't explain myself - my phone is rooted and I have a custom ROM. What I want to do is to go back to stock ROM but keep it rooted.
Thanks.

Flash a stock rom, then just root the stock rom. There is no other way unless you flash a stock pre-rooted rom.

audit13 said:
Flash a stock rom, then just root the stock rom. There is no other way unless you flash a stock pre-rooted rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you can't keep it rooted while flashing stock?
And how do you know which versions are for your phone (if I don't want to go back to the latest Marshmallow for example)?

You can only keep root when flashing stock if you find a prerooted stock image.
Google search for nexus factory images.

audit13 said:
You can only keep root when flashing stock if you find a prerooted stock image.
Google search for nexus factory images.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I know that I need to Google for factory image, but there are several images with the same release. For example, there are three 5.1.1. (LMY48B, LMY48I and LMY48M). Same with 6.0.0. and 4 X 6.0.1 version. How do you know which one is for my device?
Thanks.

Any stock image for hammerhead will work on a hammerhead device. The reason it will delete root is you will have to flash system, and unless the system image you flash is prerooted, no more root.

wangdaning said:
Any stock image for hammerhead will work on a hammerhead device. The reason it will delete root is you will have to flash system, and unless the system image you flash is prerooted, no more root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Just trying to understand that difference between the different versions, or are these simply system updates, from XXX29K to XXX29S for example?

Changes in the android version 5.0->5.1->6.0 are fairly large system updates. Within 5.1.1 they are security patches.

If you have a rooted phone and talk about flashing, you should know this. Else you are a menace to your phone...
Root is a system modification - if you delete or reinstall the System partition, you'll lose root. But re-root is easy.
I recommend to read tutorials and get some knowledge before trying to root, flash or before asking those questions, where Senior xda-members just shake their heads.

The simple way to do what you seem to want is to back up all your important stuff (photos, etc.), install MMB29V (the latest March 1st 6.0.1 security version), install TWRP 3.0.0.0, and from TWRP flash SuperSU v2.70. It will take slightly longer than it's taken me to type this, but not much...
After that, when a new monthly security version comes out, flash system.img, boot.img & radio.img, and repeat the TWRP & SuperSU steps. No data loss.

downgrading to 5.1

Hey folks, I was thinking of downgrading from 6.0.1 which I am using now to 5.1 so I can try some different Roms. My phone was already on 6.01 when I bought it so not sure going down to 5.1 is safe or not.
Any help would be awesome.
PAP

PAPTOGAS said:
Hey folks, I was thinking of downgrading from 6.0.1 which I am using now to 5.1 so I can try some different Roms. My phone was already on 6.01 when I bought it so not sure going down to 5.1 is safe or not.
Any help would be awesome.
PAP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I know downgrading firmware is not possible on this phone.
But any of the older roms should work just fine regardless of the marshmallow update
Sent from my SM-N920T using Tapatalk

From what I understand we cannot downgrade. But I was thinking this. . .what if someone who has made a twrp backup of their LL stock firmware sent that download to me. Then I would download and flash via TWRP. Would that work? I was trying to break open the tar.md5 from my phone to see where the verification of the firmware would be to delete that particular string in the metadata script. I haven't really looked into it deeply but it may be a start. The backup stock ROM from TWRP might be our best bet if someone still is on stock LL.

So we r able to flash LP Roms even tbough we r on MM?

PAPTOGAS said:
So we r able to flash LP Roms even tbough we r on MM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In theory since we can flash a twrp backup. We would have to convert that backup into a flashable zip file. I'll work on how to do it this weekend. But once I get a zipped file it's going to have to be tested. If this works we still need someone with LP rom to do the backup.

is it possible to return to stock after trying alternate os?

I've been trying out lineageos, but have been unable to get open_gapps installed, without which my banking apps refuse to work, so I'd like to reload the stock image.
I'd like to know how to restore the stock system, if possible. The official firmware comes as a zip file, but I assume the restore needs to be in the form of an ".img" file. Or perhaps I should be asking how to restore the stock recovery first?