Related
So unless I have missunderstood something, the recovery.img is what state the phone returns to when you do a factory reset. I would very much like to change this state to have a few apps installed and pre-configured.
The best solution would be to create a recovery-image from say nandroid-backup. Is this possible? Or are there any awesome guides out there that teaches how to create your own recovery-images?
Cheers,
edit: I found alot of good information in these threads, but I really cant find information on how to customize my recovery-image to have certain apps installed, and such. Im guessing there is no automated way to transfor a nandroid-backup to a recovery image
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=443994
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=575144
recovery image is the barebones boot up and options that allow you to wipe, nandroid, and such. when powering up and pressing home at the same time, this is the recovery image. what you are talking about is either creating your own update, with preinstalled apps, or creating a clean nandroid backup with some apps installed. hope this clears up a bit.
byt3b0mb said:
recovery image is the barebones boot up and options that allow you to wipe, nandroid, and such. when powering up and pressing home at the same time, this is the recovery image. what you are talking about is either creating your own update, with preinstalled apps, or creating a clean nandroid backup with some apps installed. hope this clears up a bit.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, thanks for the info. So maybe I should not change the recovery-image. But I want to change the state the phone returns to when I do a factory reset. I think atleast the recovery-image is loaded during factory reset, because I have managed to make factory reset not work by making a faulty recovery image that hangs the phone, lol.
Maybe this is what I should do: An update.zip that inclodes a ROM that has pre-installed apps. Is this what the phone returns to at a factory reset?
sandis84 said:
Maybe this is what I should do: An update.zip that inclodes a ROM that has pre-installed apps. Is this what the phone returns to at a factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct
ronni.rasmussen said:
Correct
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have tried creating an update.zip, but I have ran into some problems as specified in this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=5101633#post5101633
However, I am still unsure on how this update.zip would work. It feels as if I should edit the data.img-file, since it contains the information in the data-folder (i.e. the apps and their state). But I have found no editor or guide to do this. However, this might only change the state of the phone directly after installing the update-zip? If I install an update.zip with modified data.img, is this really what the device will return to after a factory reset?
I.e, exactly from where does the phone load the state it returns to after a factory reset?
Cheers,
are you wanting to have all gmail and other things with passwords already done or simply install barebones rom with your little bits you want
if its the latter option thats easy
make an update zip with your apks wifi apn settings inside and flash stright after installing rom before a reboot
or open up your desired rom and drop the files in the correct folders re-sign and thats it
sitimber said:
are you wanting to have all gmail and other things with passwords already done or simply install barebones rom with your little bits you want
if its the latter option thats easy
make an update zip with your apks wifi apn settings inside and flash stright after installing rom before a reboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im not sure I understand, but here is a clarification of what I want: What I want to do is specifically to change the "factory reset state". I am trying to do this to make a personalized very noob-friendly ROM, where they can just make a factory reset and still keep their essential apps and settings. It is meant for people that for example arent technical enought to make a restore from nandroid or such stuff.
edit: To create an update.zip with certain apps and settings, is there a complete guide for doing that? I have found many guides that covers parts of it, but I always run into problems.
edit2: Nvm, I have nog managed to create an update.zip. So I just add some apk-files to the data/app-folder in the boot-img in the update? Well, Im going to give it a try... I'll report back in a while =)
Well, I have managed to create and install an update.zip, but the result is not showing up! I create my update, place it on the sdcard, start in recovery mode and run the update. Then i restart.
When I restart first i see the "phone out of box"-image for about half a second, then splashscreen. Then "phone out of box"-image for half a second again, and then it returns to the splash screen and boots normally.
When it has booted I check if my changes has applied. What i have done is I have tried to create several directories in the file system by adding three lines in the init.rc:
Code:
mkdir /sdcard 0000 system system
mkdir /system
[b]mkdir /test1[/b]
mkdir /data 0771 system system
mkdir /cache 0770 system cache
[b]mkdir /test2 0770 system cache[/b]
mkdir /sqlite_stmt_journals 01777 root root
[b]mkdir /test3 01777 root root[/b]
mount tmpfs tmpfs /sqlite_stmt_journals size=4m
But none of these directories has been created. Even worse, the lines I added are gone from init.rc! It seems as if the update was never applied. What could be wrong? Any help would be VERY appriciated, since I feel very very stuck at the moment.
My P1000 shut down randomly, so I tried to put everything new on it. After flash and all the other stuff it won't run properly anymore. Everytime I get 'System UIDs Inconsistent'. used Odin and Heimdall, I did wipe the data and the cache, I can see with ADB it is gone, but after reboot all the corrupt apps and system failures are back again. I installed several different firmwares, nothing worked.
I have changed permissions with chmod and deleted by hand several files, amongst them the everytime restarting but crashing apps like skype and whatsapp.
When I perform wipe, delete, rename or move actions in ADB the results are what I wanted. But when I restart everything is back again. I even deleted almost anything, did not work.
This happened in all the roms I installed, so it must be a problem in the filesystem or so. Any idea how to permanently delete stuff while in adb shell? I already gave myself all the rights on the tablet, synced it after the deletes, nothing works.
Or does anybody know how to start from scratch?
I cannot start the tab anymore in normal mode, but I do have recovery mode and overcome cwm.
best of luck
nbreed said:
My P1000 shut down randomly, so I tried to put everything new on it. After flash and all the other stuff it won't run properly anymore. Everytime I get 'System UIDs Inconsistent'. used Odin and Heimdall, I did wipe the data and the cache, I can see with ADB it is gone, but after reboot all the corrupt apps and system failures are back again. I installed several different firmwares, nothing worked.
I have changed permissions with chmod and deleted by hand several files, amongst them the everytime restarting but crashing apps like skype and whatsapp.
When I perform wipe, delete, rename or move actions in ADB the results are what I wanted. But when I restart everything is back again. I even deleted almost anything, did not work.
This happened in all the roms I installed, so it must be a problem in the filesystem or so. Any idea how to permanently delete stuff while in adb shell? I already gave myself all the rights on the tablet, synced it after the deletes, nothing works.
Or does anybody know how to start from scratch?
I cannot start the tab anymore in normal mode, but I do have recovery mode and overcome cwm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
try plugging it up while its in cwm and access the adb shell while its displaying. the prompt should be ~# if its universal. maybe you can completely wipe everything and flash a recovery at the same time? that may keep it deleted. i dont know. just a suggestion. i hope you succeed... tell me how it goes.
thanks for answering.
i tried all that, even did a complete format of the internal sd card, in adb with parted and also in windows with a mounted card. it says it is deleted, but after reboot it is all back again...
Do you have a backup of a working ROM you can restore?
Crap.... Hmm... Have you tried any formatting software? Try to find a programmer who can wipe it completely, re partition, and reinstall the stock rom. Then try to restore to something before the problems
Sent from my R800at using XDA
Use flashtool. I've heard it can unbrick, maybe it'll help???
Sent from my R800at using XDA
nbreed said:
My P1000 shut down randomly, so I tried to put everything new on it. After flash and all the other stuff it won't run properly anymore. Everytime I get 'System UIDs Inconsistent'. used Odin and Heimdall, I did wipe the data and the cache, I can see with ADB it is gone, but after reboot all the corrupt apps and system failures are back again. I installed several different firmwares, nothing worked.
I have changed permissions with chmod and deleted by hand several files, amongst them the everytime restarting but crashing apps like skype and whatsapp.
When I perform wipe, delete, rename or move actions in ADB the results are what I wanted. But when I restart everything is back again. I even deleted almost anything, did not work.
This happened in all the roms I installed, so it must be a problem in the filesystem or so. Any idea how to permanently delete stuff while in adb shell? I already gave myself all the rights on the tablet, synced it after the deletes, nothing works.
Or does anybody know how to start from scratch?
I cannot start the tab anymore in normal mode, but I do have recovery mode and overcome cwm.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this Q
With Q???
Recovery rom can be installed, but is gone after reboot. Formatting in windows or linux (adb) performs without errors, but after reboot, yes you guessed right, it is back. So this internal sd card has a life of its own, the only thing I can do is install a working system with flashing, but then no app will work, every activation of whatever app will give inconsistent uids errors. And I cannot install new apps, because vending.apk (market) will crash. I installed vending by hand (adb), then it work for a moment, but after reboot to use it the normal way, again crashed.
AS LONG AS I CANNOT REPLACE THE SDCARD IT IS HOPELESS?!?
This morning I left the unwilling android tab in the power adapter to be fully charged for a new go. But: it is now a real brick. It won't power up any more, the button lights do not flash anymore, the only thing it does, is showing the battery. Never again will I buy such an expensive underdeveloped piece of plastic crap again!
Calm down... You need to boot into recovery mode and try using formatting the sd. If comp can recognize, format the sd with the computer. It's not the android. It's what you did. Sorry
ROOTED Xperia Play 4G 2.3.3
can you read? i did format the sdcard in adb with parted, i did format it on the pc. but when i reboot EVERYTHING is back again. before rebooting it is totally empty. after reboot the old non-working stuff is back.
end of android, no end of samsung for me
Help
How do I install the radio over abd
News on this issue?
nbreed said:
can you read? i did format the sdcard in adb with parted, i did format it on the pc. but when i reboot EVERYTHING is back again. before rebooting it is totally empty. after reboot the old non-working stuff is back.
end of android, no end of samsung for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the very same problem, did you managed to fix it ??
i would like to install google prey or similar apps as an system app, or default app so when you factory reset the device it is already installed with the user and configuration, are the tutorials "installing app as system app" the ones that will work?
any tips for where to go or what to do? thanks
jvds said:
i would like to install google prey or similar apps as an system app, or default app so when you factory reset the device it is already installed with the user and configuration, are the tutorials "installing app as system app" the ones that will work?
any tips for where to go or what to do? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're rooted you can use Titanium Backup to convert it to a system app or you can use ES File Explorer with root explorer enabled to manually push it to your /system/app folder then boot to recovery and wipe cache and Dalvik/Art cache then reboot to system.
You can also use adb to adb push it to /system/app folder.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
If you're rooted you can use Titanium Backup to convert it to a system app or you can use ES File Explorer with root explorer enabled to manually push it to your /system/app folder then boot to recovery and wipe cache and Dalvik/Art cache then reboot to system.
You can also use adb to adb push it to /system/app folder.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks, i tried it with airdroid, but factory reset still delete the settings, the app stays like intended but configurations and login to app is all gone. any tips?
jvds said:
will factory reset still delete it or delete the settings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It won't delete the app but it will delete the settings but you can also use Titanium Backup to backup and restore the app data for that app, you can also backup the app data to google and you can restore it from Google.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
It won't delete the app but it will delete the settings but you can also use Titanium Backup to backup and restore the app data for that app, you can also backup the app data to google and you can restore it from Google.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but will titanium backup survive factory reset?
do any one know if you can also move the settings to specific locations to avoid them being deleted? for airdroid, or google prey or any other app that can track?
for airdroid the apk and the lib files hat to be moved to system folders and it stays after a factory reset, but anything that looses the settings over a factory reset is pretty much useless for stolen devices, the first step a thief takes is factory reset and format the device. all aps on play store is as good as nothing when it comes to recovering a stolen device. :silly:
jvds said:
but will titanium backup survive factory reset?
do any one know if you can also move the settings to specific locations to avoid them being deleted? for airdroid, or google prey or any other app that can track?
for airdroid the apk and the lib files hat to be moved to system folders and it stays after a factory reset, but anything that looses the settings over a factory reset is pretty much useless for stolen devices, the first step a thief takes is factory reset and format the device. all aps on play store is as good as nothing when it comes to recovering a stolen device. :silly:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Titanium Backup will back up whatever apps, app data and settings that you want it to.
You can use Titanium Backup to make itself a system app, it won't get removed by the factory reset, then just use it to restore everything that you backed up.
There is plenty of information about all of this all over XDA and all over the internet if you'll just take the time to do some searching. Get off your butt and get to looking and you'll see.
As for the device being stolen, there are apps that you can install on the device that can be used to lock the device or wipe the device or even track the device to its location or last known location, whichever of those apps you use to secure your device can also be made into system apps using Titanium Backup. Then if its stolen and wiped the apps will still be there.
It isn't rocket science, why are you over thinking and complicating it?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
Titanium Backup will back up whatever apps, app data and settings that you want it to.
It isn't rocket science, why are you over thinking and complicating it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi, i'm not trying to over complicating it, the thing is that i tried moving aps like google prey and airdroid that can locate a device to the system folders but when i factory reset the device, the apps are there but the configuration of the aps is gone, i want the configuration to stay alive with the aps, because thieves just factory reset the device at the moment they steal it and then you kiss your device good bye, at least if i can get the configuration to stay alive then i have a 50% chance against thieves, at the moment the chance is next to none.
the reason i ask is to not waste time testing things that some one already know, i searched but don't find good tutorials on that, and i'm not sure if Titanium Backup will work for that, i was expecting some one knowing the software like Titanium Backup can tel me that if i do convert an app to a system app with Titanium, that the system app and its configuration will sirvive a reset and not just the app.
i will test Titanium Backup later today when i have some free time, thanks
jvds said:
hi, i'm not trying to over complicating it, the thing is that i tried moving aps like google prey and airdroid that can locate a device to the system folders but when i factory reset the device, the apps are there but the configuration of the aps is gone, i want the configuration to stay alive with the aps, because thieves just factory reset the device at the moment they steal it and then you kiss your device good bye, at least if i can get the configuration to stay alive then i have a 50% chance against thieves, at the moment the chance is next to none.
the reason i ask is to not waste time testing things that some one already know, i searched but don't find good tutorials on that, and i'm not sure if Titanium Backup will work for that, i was expecting some one knowing the software like Titanium Backup can tel me that if i do convert an app to a system app with Titanium, that the system app and its configuration will sirvive a reset and not just the app.
i will test Titanium Backup later today when i have some free time, thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Factory reset removes all data and settings when you factory reset even for system apps, there is no way to protect that data from a factory reset. You can back it up and restore it but you can't prevent it from being wiped.
There is an alternative though, you can remove the recovery, then turn USB debugging off then password/PIN protect your system settings app.
Removing recovery ensures that they can't use recovery to factory reset.
Turning off USB debugging ensures that they can't flash the device with PC or use adb/fastboot because PC won't recognise the device.
Password/PIN protecting your system settings app prevents them from getting into your system settings so they can't factory reset from settings.
The one issue with this setup is that if your device encounters an issue where it won't boot or bootloops then even YOU won't be able to fix it because you won't have recovery and you won't be able to connect to PC because you won't be able to get into settings to turn USB debugging back on to be able to flash it.
Research these things to verify its safe to do on your device because all devices are different and things are different depending on the device in question.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk
thank you
I'm interested in this topic, since nobody seems care that much to write up a friendly method to do that...
Not friendly
These guys claim to know these things but fail to even give a link to a tutorial on how to do it. Its infuriating. They tell us to research but asking here on XDA is part of research. Pls give a valid tutorial on how to secure prey data so it doesn't get deleted.
Hi All
I am hoping someone can help... I have the Galaxy S7 (SM-G930F / 6.0.1 / UK / EE) and have come up with an issue.
I use Cerberus Apps in case my phone is lost - you are able to install this into the system to avoid someone wiping the phone and removing the software. To do this the phone must be rooted and then I usually use Link2SD to transfer the app to make it a system app. This has always worked on my old phones - but alas not this time.
The problem is that the system partition (4Gb) is full!! I have deleted all the language packs to try and clear some space - but it is still full! Strangely enough I also uninstalled an "Amazon" app which was listed as being a system app and quite large (from memory I think it was just under 100Mb)... but when I removed it and rebooted the system partition free space remained unchanged! It's possible that Amazon was a user app and I mis-read it... but anyway - I thought that the only way to clear some space was to resize the system partition - so I installed TWRP (3.0.2), have done a complete backup (system/efs/etc) apart from \data as this showed 0Mb and "failed to mount" when I tried to back it up originally.
So, my question is - can anyone help me to free some space from the system partition to allow Cerberus App to be stored there? I did think about uninstalling the VR Gear files as I dont have a VR device and assumed I could re-load these from Google Play if needed - but I do have the Galaxy Gear watch - so decided not to remove these files in case it screwed this up. Not sure which Google Apps I can remove and re-install if needed... so if anyone knows this, then that would be a help too
I thought you could resize the partition in TWRP but cant find any clear details on how to do this, so thought I'd ask here before I screw the phone up :silly:
Any ideas/help greatly received.
TWRP doesn't support encryption so that's likely why /data won't mount. Resizing partitions is typically done via Odin with PIT files, but it's very dangerous, so I wouldn't recommend it.
Luxembourg ROMs have around 130mb free system space, so there must be a ton of carrier bloat in yours. This doesn't sound right though, it's required that there is some space for expansion. Could you run the following command in a root terminal and post the results please?
df -k | grep system
CurtisMJ said:
df -k | grep system
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Curtis - I left my phone at home today, so will try this tonight and post results. After deleting all the unwanted language files I have about 40Mb space free, but this still doesnt seem to be enough as when I run Link2SD and reboot the phone, Cerberus has vanished and has to be re-installed... although when it re-installs it shows it as an "update" which would indicate that it is installed already - just 'lost' ???
Will update tonight when I get a moment.
Thanks
That's interesting actually. It seems to be indicative of permission issues. The app was successfully moved to the system, but the permissions on its files were wrong and the system refuses to load it(Link2SD's fault, essentially) . It's still acknowledged by the app manager though, which is why it can be "updated". Can you try move it with something apart from Link2SD? I recommend titanium backup.
CurtisMJ said:
Can you try move it with something apart from Link2SD? I recommend titanium backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Curtis - I have Titanium Backup (free version) installed already so can give it a go - I have only used it for backups (a long while ago) and have never used it to relocate an app... is it fairly self explanatory how to do it?
Will look tonight when I get in
Thanks
Just tried with titanium myself and it fails in a similar manner. Seems Marshmallow is a little fiddly and Link2SD puts out a generic message when it has issues. Titanium just freezes. You'll have to do it manually
First you'll need to clear the system of failed attempts. Look in the /system/app and /system/priv-app with a root Explorer for Cerberus apks or folders. Next, look in the /data/app folder and find the Cerberus folder. Take note of this path.
Next, fire up a root terminal and enter the following commands. In my case I was moving Greenify.
mount -o remount,rw /system
cp - a /data/app/com.oasisfeng.greenify-1 /system/app/Greenify
Replace the data folder with your noted path. The system path can be anything.
Then reboot and the app should be system.
Hi Curtis
Thanks for spending so much time on this.
OK, I skipped straight to the manual relocation method that you said. Whilst the app is Cerberus the APK etc is called System Framework as I have installed the 'hidden' version rather than the one which shows as Cerberus on the phone. However using OI File Manager, when I look in /system/app and /system/priv-app folders there is nothing called Cerberus or System Framework... so I am assuming that there are no orphaned APKs or other files.
But, this is where the strange thing starts, when I look in the /data/app folder, it is empty... so I am guessing I am looking in the wrong place as there are loads of apps! I am looking from home then selecting data, etc... any thoughts?
Oh, I have checked that hidden files are shown too!
Thanks again
i used to install the same app on my S7
please follow this guide & let me know the result.
1- uninstall Cerberus App, Link2SD, TTb, etc. and reboot
2- install SystemCleanup.
3- from the app SystemCleanup swip to tab apps and remove some bloatware like Google books, music, games, google TTS.
4- Reboot & install Cerberus App, do not run it.
5- from the app SystemCleanup go to apps tab and move Cerberus App to system/app & reboot again.
6- That's all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Abuzar
Thanks for the help... I tried using System Cleanup and initially it didn't work... it didn't show System Framework after cleaning up which made me think it was uninstalled properly. But when I tried to re-install it I got a message asking if I wanted to update the the built in application... so I said yes and re-checked in System Cleanup and it was visible, so I tried uninstalling it and after a couple of attempts it succeeded.
Then I re-installed and it installed it as a new app and it was visible in System Cleanup as installed in /data. So, I moved it to /system and configured it. It now lists in System Cleanup as being installed @auto system+data... so I am assuming it has installed properly... but not 100% sure as it lists some of it in data - so not sure if after a reset it will wipe the user profile from Cerberus or not.
I took a backup in TWRP and thought I would do a factory reset and test it... but on the S7 using factory reset in O/S it asks for my samsung password etc so looks like it may delete my Samsung/Google account's so didn't proceed as I didn't want to delete any online info. So... I tried factory wipe in TWRP but it just said failed "could not mount /data and unable to find crypto footer" and a few more "failed to mount /data" errors... so I gave up and will have to assume its installed properly as a system app
Thanks for all your help.
Just as a final note, the system+data combo sounds normal. Under regular conditions, the system partition is read only, so in order to install any updates to system apps, Android actually installs them as data apps, but cross-references them to system apps and gives them the relevant permissions. You can remove the data part by selecting "Uninstall Updates" in the app info page.
I want to switch from supersu to superuser, and having an interesting problem that supersu somehow covered up. I have a Nexus 5x running the stock rom. With every months upgrade I would flash using fastboot, go into twrp recovery before first full boot and remove a bunch of unneeded applications in /system/app. When I would boot up those applications would be gone. Somehow this isn't the case with superuser. I can still go into recovery and remove them, but when I boot up all the applications are still in /system/app. If I go back into twrp they are still shown as being missing. I've tried installing es file explorer, but it's unable to delete the applications once the system is up. remounting /system doesn't work either. Any help?
Unrooting supersu caused all the applications to come back; so does supersu not really delete them either, but somehow prevents them from showing up following the recovery scheme or something?
bsd1101 said:
I want to switch from supersu to superuser, and having an interesting problem that supersu somehow covered up. I have a Nexus 5x running the stock rom. With every months upgrade I would flash using fastboot, go into twrp recovery before first full boot and remove a bunch of unneeded applications in /system/app. When I would boot up those applications would be gone. Somehow this isn't the case with superuser. I can still go into recovery and remove them, but when I boot up all the applications are still in /system/app. If I go back into twrp they are still shown as being missing. I've tried installing es file explorer, but it's unable to delete the applications once the system is up. remounting /system doesn't work either. Any help?
Unrooting supersu caused all the applications to come back; so does supersu not really delete them either, but somehow prevents them from showing up following the recovery scheme or something?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You aren't doing something right or you don't have something setup correctly. With root, you should be able to unintelligible them completely.
When you removed them, did you wipe cache and dalvik/ART cache before rebooting? If not then the system probably still thinks they are there because they still have data loaded into cache.
I recommend sticking with SuperSU, superuser doesn't work as well as SuperSU
Sent from my SM-S903VL using Tapatalk
I've been googling a bit more. As it turns out there are two system partitions for nougat; in nexus 5x and some other devices apparently. This became more apparent when the file recovery-from-boot.p; which I rename in order to prevent recovery from being overwritten is not renamed when booting the OS. Nougat apparently pulls the system files from somewhere else. So whatever Chainfire did makes it boot the same partition as visible in recovery. Fully unrooting brings all those apps/system partition back. Haven't been able to find a good post that tells me how to to circumvent this without SuperSU; or exactly how this works.