Hello,
some weeks ago I got to an old Mediatek 6572 device for free. Mobistel Cynus E1. My first smartphone
For some reasons I want to make an another ROM on it. (I want a special app, that is only for Android 4.4 and higher, but that should not be topic here. I don't think, that I find a solution for this.)
After some learning, tweaking, backup, rooting (system and shell) and porting to Custom Recovery CTR I found a Custom-ROM (Mediamod 5) I wanted to test, which was tagged with "MTK6572" and "Jellybean 4.4.2", so that I come to the closest possible compatible ROM. I only had to make the changes in the folders between Stock-ROM and Port-Rom like it is written in the descriptions out there and also in this community, since there is no already special explicit Cynus E1 ROM out there. I made 4 versions (changed files in "system" folder only, changed in boot.img and updater-script only, changed both and changed none).
Put all 4 on the ext. SD-Card. The first installation was started from ROM Manager app, which rebooted with some parameters (Wipe cache) into the recovery mode then and started the installation. But nothing started. Installation aborted.
BUT: The original .zip worked. In the sense, that the installation started and was completed. Not that I could boot after this in the system. The Screen was illuminated, but dark.
Hmm, what was wrong with my .zip ROMs?
I unzipped the original ROM, changed only one attribute in of the updater-script in Metafile/google. Zipped all again - Installation aborted
Unzipped original .zip, changed nothing, zipped all again. - Nothing, Installation aborted.
Tried 7-Zip as alternative to Winrar for Zipping. - Nothing. Installation aborted
Tried 2 different zip-signer (sign-em.bat and flashable zip signer) found in this forum. Nothing changed. Installation aborted.
I can't work out, what information/data get lost and at which process when I decompress the archive and compress the folders againt without any other action?
Can you help me?
Bump.
Solved
Bump and Solved.
Very shameful that I had not saw this: I didnt select the files/folders "system", Meta-inf" "boot.img" ... for the archive, but the ROM-folder, in which these files were. Clearly that so the installation routine didn't find the files.
frishar said:
Bump and Solved.
Very shameful that I had not saw this: I didnt select the files/folders "system", Meta-inf" "boot.img" ... for the archive, but the ROM-folder, in which these files were. Clearly that so the installation routine didn't find the files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In your original post, you stated that you modified the updater-script, the updater-script is in the META-inf file, so I don't see how you missed that.
Also, in your original post, you vaguely described the things you did with statements like moved "some files" from original ROM to port ROM or to "some partitions"
You didn't state exactly what you modified.
I know you tried to describe your situation but how it actually came out is you basically only stated that you tried porting a ROM by "doing some stuff like in the guides everywhere but it didn't work". That isn't enough information for anyone to even START understanding what your issue might be.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
Droidriven said:
In your original post, you stated that you modified the updater-script, the updater-script is in the META-inf file, so I don't see how you missed that.
Also, in your original post, you vaguely described the things you did with statements like moved "some files" from original ROM to port ROM or to "some partitions"
You didn't state exactly what you modified.
I know you tried to describe your situation but how it actually came out is you basically only stated that you tried porting a ROM by "doing some stuff like in the guides everywhere but it didn't work". That isn't enough information for anyone to even START understanding what your issue might be.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like I said. I also failed for nonmodified version, when I only unpacked and repacked the rom.zip. My mistake was, that for Repacking I selected the folder, which was not there in the original .zip, but which was created by winrar at unpacking (with the files and folders in it). So the installation routine of CWM/CTR couldn't detect the files.
Related
Hi all,
I've recently got my Vodafone Magic and am enjoying the awesome work of all those here that have helped to root the phone and create the brilliant custom ROMs. So big thanks to all those involved.
On to my problem. I actually tweaking the updates I apply to the phone slightly, such as adding ring tones or changing to the android keyboard. I've got scripts that do this, but I'd really like to alter the update.zip and apply it in a single go. I understand what needs to be done, but the signing of the altered update.zip file doesn't work.
I am using signapk as per instructions, which succesfully completes, but it removes the META-INF\com directory (and yes it is in the original zip). I saw someone had a similar problem a while ago, but the thread didn't have a solution.
I'm using Windows XP 32bit. I've downloaded and installed the JDK 6 Update 14, and installed it to \Java to ensure no spaces are in the directory path.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
RogueJay said:
Hi all,
I've recently got my Vodafone Magic and am enjoying the awesome work of all those here that have helped to root the phone and create the brilliant custom ROMs. So big thanks to all those involved.
On to my problem. I actually tweaking the updates I apply to the phone slightly, such as adding ring tones or changing to the android keyboard. I've got scripts that do this, but I'd really like to alter the update.zip and apply it in a single go. I understand what needs to be done, but the signing of the altered update.zip file doesn't work.
I am using signapk as per instructions, which succesfully completes, but it removes the META-INF\com directory (and yes it is in the original zip). I saw someone had a similar problem a while ago, but the thread didn't have a solution.
I'm using Windows XP 32bit. I've downloaded and installed the JDK 6 Update 14, and installed it to \Java to ensure no spaces are in the directory path.
Can anyone help?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the signapk never removes files. (imho)
you have to put all the files in one zip file
META-INF
-com
--google
---android
----update-script
-cert.rsa
-cert.sf
-manifest.sf
system
boot.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the cert.rsa, cert.sf, manifest.sf, will be updated (imho) by the signapk
kingchris said:
the signapk never removes files. (imho)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well it is on my machine.
kingchris said:
you have to put all the files in one zip file
the cert.rsa, cert.sf, manifest.sf, will be updated (imho) by the signapk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the files are in the original zip file and signapk does update the cert.rsa, cert.sf & manifest.sf. It just seems to remove the com directory and hence the update script.
I started with the ION update, extracted it, changed a couple of things under system, rezipped it and tried to sign it with the outcome I mentioned.
I've tried creating the zip with XPs built in zip handler and WinZip.
RogueJay said:
Well it is on my machine.
All the files are in the original zip file and signapk does update the cert.rsa, cert.sf & manifest.sf. It just seems to remove the com directory and hence the update script.
I started with the ION update, extracted it, changed a couple of things under system, rezipped it and tried to sign it with the outcome I mentioned.
I've tried creating the zip with XPs built in zip handler and WinZip.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can do a test like this.
download the signed rom and try to sign it again. then take a look into the zip file in the meta directory
Yay - got it working.
It would seem that the problem was the zip files as created by WinZip. When I created the zip file using 7-zip, all went well. At least all the files are there - haven't tried putting it on the phone yet.
for those who do not know how to do this yet, follow directions given here.
Just took this info from the web. None of this except for the guide is written by me.
I am not responsible for anything please do not contact me if a green sludge starts attacking your neighborhood eating one person at a time.
************************************************************
************************************************************
************************************************************
http://code.google.com/p/unyaffs/downloads/list
made for linux, but if you know a bit of c, you can probably change it to work with windows, maybe I will do that if I have some time this week.
********OR********
http://jiggawatt.org/badc0de/android/unyaffs-x86-win.zip
or http://www.4shared.com/get/fgryPnPx/unyaffs-windows.html
for windows..... instructions below apply for both
if not included in the zips above, cygwin1.dll and unyaffs.exe are included as an attachment of this reply.
open up a command line, in windows vista/7 just press start and then type cmd press enter and change the directory to the folder with the unyaffs and the img in it. in xp press start>run>cmd... then the same
the usage is: unyaffs /path/to/img
example:
(if unyaffs.exe and system.img are both in c:\temp)
"c:\temp> unyaffs /temp/system.img"
note: the '/' is the way linux determines the pathname of a file and since it is built using cygwin(a file allowing for windows) it is preferrable that the path to the actual file is in unix POSIX format ie: / instead of \ between folders and files.
*********WARNING************
this will extract to directory that unyaffs binary is in.
That's so weird -- I was gonna post the same thing tonight. Thx for writing this up. It's odd that more people don't talk or ask about this tool!
I remember reading this stuff back when I got my G1, and tonight I was trolling the themes and apps section cause I couldnt sleep. (which I rarely look at)
I was baffled that this wasnt common knowledge. I figured if there was no threads about it that people just knew how and didnt have any problems with it. My mistake lol...
enjoy.
can you please explain what is it? what it does? thanks
ericizzy1 said:
can you please explain what is it? what it does? thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Umm, it expands nandroid img files not sure how else to explain it. Clockworkmod backups are in the img file format. This process allows you to extract those files to get stuff out of them
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
When you create a backup in Clockwork recovery, it leaves you with a folder like this:
2010-11-18.08.52.49
As you can prob figure out, I made that backup on 11/18 at 8:52am
Inside that folder are .img files, such as: data.img and system.img
Those files basically contain your data (like apps you've installed from market) and system (..system apps that might've come with the phone).
In the orig post, he's explaining how to extract the files from these large .img files.
To give an example, I had a couple of corrupted clockwork backups, and wanted to ONLY pull out some database files (like text messages and call logs) which were not corrupted. Even tho the backup was messed up, I could still extract the files I needed by using the method above, then copied them manually to my phone.
decalex said:
When you create a backup in Clockwork recovery, it leaves you with a folder like this:
2010-11-18.08.52.49
As you can prob figure out, I made that backup on 11/18 at 8:52am
Inside that folder are .img files, such as: data.img and system.img
Those files basically contain your data (like apps you've installed from market) and system (..system apps that might've come with the phone).
In the orig post, he's explaining how to extract the files from these large .img files.
To give an example, I had a couple of corrupted clockwork backups, and wanted to ONLY pull out some database files (like text messages and call logs) which were not corrupted. Even tho the backup was messed up, I could still extract the files I needed by using the method above, then copied them manually to my phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thx
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
smeyerhuky said:
Umm, it expands nandroid img files not sure how else to explain it. Clockworkmod backups are in the img file format. This process allows you to extract those files to get stuff out of them
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, like if you wanted a file or a few files from clockworkmod img backup, then this process would give you an extended file system, other than what you would normally use to extract the img files. Just trying to understand this so, please correct me if im wrong.... I've been trying to get more knowledge of this, so im still learning.
I prolly sound like a complete idiot, lol...
Sweet! Thanks for this man. I'd been looking for how to do this for some time and kept ending up learning about emulation or some other tangential topic. This is the basic functionality I was looking for. Thanks for posting!
Np. I'm working on writing some stuff on top of the source code that should allow you to browse and pull just one our more file
Its been a but since I looked theory source code so it might take a while... Maybe in between semesters?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App
Dode you saved my as** thx big thx
Great, now how can I re-compress back to .img after I've made the changes that I want?
EDIT: Nevermind. I just made a zip of the new system folder and flashed it in CWM.
This worked great for me.
Thanks,
Bud
Man, I do not know how to thank you. I was able to recover some important stuff off of my cwm recovery backup. THANKS!!
I am happy with what I have since the new update from Viewsonic.
If I only want to add Google Experience, marketplace, do I still need to go through the process of rooting, installing clockwork and a new UI?
Is there just a simple way to add GE to the Classic UI?
Gapps install
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=842590
Everyone,
I have had zip luck with this method of installing zapps. Not a dev, but I've been doing this long enough.....
I moved the Recovery file to to /sdcard. Checked for command and command line inside that file All ok to my eye.
Downloaded the gapps file which my WinRAR pronounces a WinRAR/Zip file. So I tried renamein the original update.zip and didn't get any install. So I extracted using winRAR. Still no install.
I tried the permutations as well. Extracted using G-Tablet extract. Still no results.
There must be something I am missing here -- too much holiday cheer or too many crowds or whatever.
Suggestions?!
Rev
butchconner said:
Everyone,
I have had zip luck with this method of installing zapps. Not a dev, but I've been doing this long enough.....
I moved the Recovery file to to /sdcard. Checked for command and command line inside that file All ok to my eye.
Downloaded the gapps file which my WinRAR pronounces a WinRAR/Zip file. So I tried renamein the original update.zip and didn't get any install. So I extracted using winRAR. Still no install.
I tried the permutations as well. Extracted using G-Tablet extract. Still no results.
There must be something I am missing here -- too much holiday cheer or too many crowds or whatever.
Suggestions?!
Rev
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I HAD to resort to putting on Clockwork Mod 0.8 to get GApps on my G Tablet.
Putting the update.zip on the internal and sd card storage did not work for me either with the newest update installed.
Clockwork Mod is a super easy install - just follow the instructions on how to install G Apps...basically: put CWM on your SD card in it's root (meaning NOT in any directories) and rename it update.zip, put the corresponding recovery directory on the SD as well. I use Winrar as well, I drag the recovery directory right from the file itself and to the SD Card.
Will look like:
Drive: update.zip
Drive: /recovery/command
basically.
Flash it the normal stock way (power and volume +). I press Power and Volume + without even powering off the device, because if the device is powered down and then you start it and miss that first start up, the device WILL delete the recovery/command file and the update won't flash.
GL
I don't officially get to play with my GTab until after package opening tomorrow so I can't do anything today, but I'm trying to line up my to do list. I have never rooted, flashed, or modded anything but am not afraid to play around as long as I don't brick the tablet.
What do you mean when you say "put the corresponding recovery directory on the SD as well. I use Winrar as well"? What is the corresponding recovery directory? What do you use Winrar for? I Googled "winrar" and found " WinRAR is a shareware file archiver and data compression utility developed by Eugene Roshal, and first released in the fall of 1993.[1] It is one of the few applications that is able to create RAR archives natively, because the encoding method is held to be proprietary. " I cannot figure out why it would be needed to load the standard Android market.
MSU_Sparty,
When you do updates (or installs) that have to be flashed onto the internal sdcard, they usually com in pairs of files. You will have an update.zip file that has the update in it (DUH!) -- and accompanying it will be a "Recovery" directory that has a command file in it (The command file has only one line that "calls" the update.zip file.
WinRAR "Zip" utility enters the picture because most of the devs here use WinRAR to package updates. The when they tell you to decompress it, you use WiinRAR and are left with a .zip file to install.
That's the question I had about this update. The Gapp file show to be a RAR package, but when I un-RAR it I come up with no .zip file -- only regular files.
Hope this helps you understand.
Rev
P. S. -- If you are new to this business, take it slow and easy and read ahead on this site and make sure you understand what you are doing. I try to do that, but even with years of IT experience I still mess things up once in a while.
Neoprimal,
Thanks for the tip about CWM. I have two tablets and the other has CWM on it and is fairly modded.
But this tablet I am trying to keep basically stock so I can get updates, etc. and see what the "state of product" is.
As mentioned in my previous answer, I am stumped because I am not getting what looks to be an update.zip file from the Gapp download. When I use WinRAR to decompress the Gapp file, I don't get a .zip file -- only a couple of directories. On the other hand, when I rename the Gapp file update.zip and try to flash it it doesn't work.
Again, thanks for the reply.
Anyone else with suggestions!!!????
Rev
Thanks. What you've written really does clarify the previous post. I appreciate it.
But let me ask another naive question. Why don't the developers create their update programs so they can be installed by just downloading them OTA like most applications? That would sure make it easier for neophytes. I'm guessing that the reason is because we aren't really adding an application but replacing the OS.
I greatly appreciate your guidance and that of all of the folks who use this forum.
Happy Holidays!
Hi All,
I'm looking for a windows utility, that can edit, customize and update an existing rom...
Basically, I am trying to tweak a Chinese rom to make it more INTERNATIONAL... However I'm not seeing many Windows (GUI) Apps that can do this, and if there is, they've been discontinued at ICS or earliest JB build.
Does anyone know an updated tool that can help me with this please...??
PhilzTouch is supposed to support this, but the package didn't work either...
Thanks, Lister
Lister Of Smeg said:
Hi All,
I'm looking for a windows utility, that can edit, customize and update an existing rom...
Basically, I am trying to tweak a Chinese rom to make it more INTERNATIONAL... However I'm not seeing many Windows (GUI) Apps that can do this, and if there is, they've been discontinued at ICS or earliest JB build.
Does anyone know an updated tool that can help me with this please...??
PhilzTouch is supposed to support this, but the package didn't work either...
Thanks, Lister
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Philz touch is a recovery, not a ROM editing utility
Hi @DSA,
Yeah I'm aware it's a recovery, as I use it on my Note. However when I've tried to research looking for one of these Apps, some people suggested (and have seen in past, on unrelated topics) that with PhilzTouch you can clone your existing LIVE OS, and package it up to a Flashable Zip.
Well it did create a flashable zip, and it even puts it in a folder called "Custom Roms" which is based on a "Update.zip" file, even though it has a different name... However it doesn't flash, and when opened the file, it has .TAR files included and not a normal rom package.
So yeah, struggling to find anything that works... I came close to building/porting a rom earlier, however I received FCs afterwards...
Thanks, Andy
DSA said:
Philz touch is a recovery, not a ROM editing utility
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lister Of Smeg said:
Hi @DSA,
Yeah I'm aware it's a recovery, as I use it on my Note. However when I've tried to research looking for one of these Apps, some people suggested (and have seen in past, on unrelated topics) that with PhilzTouch you can clone your existing LIVE OS, and package it up to a Flashable Zip.
Well it did create a flashable zip, and it even puts it in a folder called "Custom Roms" which is based on a "Update.zip" file, even though it has a different name... However it doesn't flash, and when opened the file, it has .TAR files included and not a normal rom package.
So yeah, struggling to find anything that works... I came close to building/porting a rom earlier, however I received FCs afterwards...
Thanks, Andy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
adb pull /system then zip with 7zip or winrar you will also need to make an updater script and updater binary for your device. with correct blocks so that the rom flashes correctly. so, you need to search for how to create an updater binary for your device and the correct blocks for data, system, and boot img. for your device. if cm has one for your device, you can usally download their rom zip and put all your info you pulled using adb into their zip deleting their's but note you will need your boot image to be pulled also which i do not know how to do
Hello,
First post here though in the past I have read discussions on many occasions in search for information and it was always to my benefit, thank you.
My question revolves around the TWRP installation files for Fairphone 3.
On the TWRP website (https://twrp.me/fairphone/fairphone3.html#) are given 2 files, a twrp-installer-.......zip and a matching version of a twrp- ........img, and from the instruction given it is not clear to me what is the purpose of the .img file - are both used concomitantly during the installation, or not.
At one early and critical stage the TWRP instduction reads:
"...Download the correct image file and copy the file into the same folder as your platform-tools as well as device's storage. Rename the image to twrp.img."
Since the file needs to be renamed to .img apparently it is the original installer.zip.
The entire instruction afterwards refers to this downloaded and renamed file.
What then is the the purpose of the matching .img file? Is it used at all? The TWRP installation instruction doesn't even mention it.
Sorry for asking if this is common knowledge, but I did several searches all to no avail.
Thank you