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[Q] Dual, Tri, or Quad-Boot?

I'd like to quad-boot my Nexus 5 with Android, Ubuntu Touch, Sailfish, and Firefox OS. Can this be done? I would also happily settle for tri-boot or dual-boot. What is the best way to go about this? My phone is not rooted (yet).

Multirom, probably

Thanks, I've been researching this all morning and I've come up with a couple problems.
There doesn't seem to be a way to do a full backup of the stock phone. A Nandroid backup would be perfect but in order to do that, custom recovery must be installed which requires unlocking the bootloader which wipes the phone. One of MultiROM's features is "Boot from USB drive attached via OTG cable". Can I do that and leave the phone's internal memory 100% untouched so I don't have to unlock the bootloader and wipe the phone?
It sounds like MultiROM itself requires custom recovery so I won't be able to receive OTA updates for an Android booted from MultiROM. Does that mean I will have to wipe Android each time I want to update it?
I don't think there would be any need to root the phone in order to set up and use MultiROM, correct?

You do have to unlock bootloader.

Think you are trying to run before you can walk. With 4 roms where would you store apps as well for them all. Most of those have little support anyway
SENT BY ENTANGLEMENT

Aren't apps written to the ROM are you're using the OS like the rest of the user data?
Lack of support is OK.
Can I leave the phone's memory untouched and install MultiROM on a USB stick? I would think custom recovery would be required in order to boot from USB which would require unlocking the bootloader which wipes the phone.

You do have to unlock your boot loader and root your device for multirom to work,
Just back up your data and restore it after you finish the process.
I currently have an N5 with multirom installed and can boot
4.4.4
Dirty Unicorns 5.1.1
Pure White 5.1.1
Ubuntu Touch
FirefoxOS
The storage space is shared on android roms so you can view your file downloads, music and videos. You can view on Ubuntu Touch
The apps are separated by the Roms, so you can install the same app on each rom with different settings.
I have a 32 GB N5 with 580 songs, Copilot GPS app + data on the 4.4.4 rom, and a 2 TWRP backups (one for original 4.4.4 and one for the multirom) I still have 7.96 GB left of storage

qnc, the problem is there is no way to do a full backup without first unlocking the bootloader which wipes the phone. There are various backup techniques available but none of them restore your phone exactly as it was like a NANdroid backup/restore does.
Android shouldn't need to be rooted in order to install MultiROM. That can be done from the command line with the phone connected to a computer via USB.
Have you tried Sailfish OS? That's the one I'm most excited about due to their Android app compatibility layer.

xdadevelopersrocks said:
qnc, the problem is there is no way to do a full backup without first unlocking the bootloader which wipes the phone. There are various backup techniques available but none of them restore your phone exactly as it was like a NANdroid backup/restore does.
Android shouldn't need to be rooted in order to install MultiROM. That can be done from the command line with the phone connected to a computer via USB.
Have you tried Sailfish OS? That's the one I'm most excited about due to their Android app compatibility layer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh understood. I missed the full backup.
I only worry about SMS/MMS backups and pictures. I don't worry about app data.
Question what data would be lost if a full backup is not done?
I have not tried Sailfish OS, I will look into it to see what it is.

qnc said:
Question what data would be lost if a full backup is not done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google Authenticator stuff for one thing. But in general the point of a full backup for me is I don't have to think about it and I won't be surprised after the restore.
qnc said:
I have not tried Sailfish OS, I will look into it to see what it is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's created by the former Nokia OS team in Finland. You can actually run Android apps inside the OS.

xdadevelopersrocks said:
Google Authenticator stuff for one thing. But in general the point of a full backup for me is I don't have to think about it and I won't be surprised after the restore.
It's created by the former Nokia OS team in Finland. You can actually run Android apps inside the OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see, I don't use Authenticator much, if at all.
I'm guessing that I probably don't since I don't worry about it. I change ROMs on my phone so much it would probably be a hassle for me.
Sailfish OS sounds very cool I will look at it and flash later today.

qnc said:
I see, I don't use Authenticator much, if at all.
I'm guessing that I probably don't since I don't worry about it. I change ROMs on my phone so much it would probably be a hassle for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So when you want to update a stock Android install, you have to backup/restore since you're using third-party recovery/bootloader?
Please let me know how you like Sailfish if you get a chance.

no i dont have to back up and restore for upgrade
since i upgrade manually i just flash everything except userdata image. i get the upgrade without deleting data.
also i flashed sailfish OS. it is really smoorh.
gestures are killing ubuntu.
im posting in sailfish right now.

Nice, my Nexus 5 shows up today (right after the 5 o'clock free crack giveaway) so I'll be dialing in MultiROM over the weekend.
So you keep your userdata on a separate image? How do you do that?

xdadevelopersrocks said:
Nice, my Nexus 5 shows up today (right after the 5 o'clock free crack giveaway) so I'll be dialing in MultiROM over the weekend.
So you keep your userdata on a separate image? How do you do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is just a matter of flashing each image individually.
I'm on my phone so I can't find the link, but there are directions on how to update while saving user data.
You just flash bootloader, recovery, system, boot, radio images and do not flash userdata image.
You systems is upgraded and you keep you user data and apps.
You then must root and ad back custom recovery, but thstcis pretty simple.
There are directions on XDA I just can't find link on my phone right now.

Myriad of issues and questions

Alright, I'll start from the beginning. I was on 4.4, unlocked via sunshine and was rooted, updated to 4.4.4 with all root and wp off. Life was good. Got a bit bored and flashed Exodus, and then it hit the fan. GPS wasn't working and I did the clear radio and modem commands in fastboot, which worked. Used the phone for about 12 hours, decided to do a routine "post rom setup" cache clear in TWRP....phone toasted. It screwed up my system partition (no idea how), and I couldn't repair the partition in TWRP for the life of me. Couldn't re-flash exodus, couldn't even wipe the system, couldn't restore my stock backup. Couldn't get my device to be recognized by adb and fastboot to reflash twrp, so I figured I'd rsd back to stock since I am unlocked and can just fastboot twrp (when I have more time to screw with it) and flash supersu to root again. So here are my questions:
I'm now on 4.4.4, su6-7.2....I still am unlocked but unrooted, so I want to confirm I can fasboot flash TWRP and then flash supersu to root? Or is that not an option now?
Also, and ironically, my gps does not work at all. WTF? I assumed stock recovery wasn't there since I'm unlocked and originally flashed TWRP (didn't boot it), and I was right, no stock recovery. It just says "No Command". So I can't clear cache from there.
Any recommendations to get GPS back? I'll try the fasboot flash twrp in the near future as well. Totally my fault for even having the itch to flash Lollipop, but then some weird issues popped up that I've never encountered before, and I still don't know why my system partition got wasted like that.

So you did rsd back to stock. Your boot loader is still unlocked. You could or want to flash twrp again to gain root and just use xposed.
Have you tried a GPS fix from the play store or just a GPS app to see if you could get a lock on GPS?
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk

tecsironman said:
So you did rsd back to stock. Your boot loader is still unlocked. You could or want to flash twrp again to gain root and just use xposed.
Have you tried a GPS fix from the play store or just a GPS app to see if you could get a lock on GPS?
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, pretty much had to rsd. That's what I'm going to do, stay on Kit Kat with xposed like I was before.
GPS is now working. Seriously, I have no idea why so intermittent. I messed with GPS for a good hour before posting, then about 10 minutes after I posted, one final try, it started picking up satellites and locked. Now it's quick to lock. My issues over the last 24 hours still have me semi-stumped as to why, since they aren't consistent! Oh well. Next step is twrp later. I think I'll try the ghost patch one in Android development.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

I'm sure other people are having issues with 5.1 and not posting it. Same reason why Verizon has not released 5.1 for the droid series phones either.
My WiFi likes to disconnect from time to time and all I do is a restart and its back to normal again. I rarely use GPS but it does take a bit to get a fix.
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk

tecsironman said:
I'm sure other people are having issues with 5.1 and not posting it. Same reason why Verizon has not released 5.1 for the droid series phones either.
My WiFi likes to disconnect from time to time and all I do is a restart and its back to normal again. I rarely use GPS but it does take a bit to get a fix.
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hear ya. I got the Maxx for its solid radio, so I really can't deal with the finicky issues in custom roms. However, they are so much smoother and more customizable, which are big draws. (assuming if someone is on art mode in 4.4.4 since no xposed is available)
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

Droid ultra here unlocked via Chinese method signal is much more solid with exodus than cm
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk

tecsironman said:
Droid ultra here unlocked via Chinese method signal is much more solid with exodus than cm
Sent from my DROID Ultra using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, my signal wasn't necessarily bad on exodus, but I noticed similar data hand off issues, especially in lower service areas. Which is all day at work for me.
Sent from my XT1080 using Tapatalk

After restoring OxygenOs 5.1.9 with flashable .bat files, OP6 performing strangely

Hello all,
I just tried upgrading to android P on my OnePlus 6 using the beta program... it was fairly buggy so i decided to revert back when things went horribly wrong. Long story short, i lost not not only all of my internal storage but even my operating system; I was left in TWRP with no way to flash oxygenos because it doesn't support flashing like that anymore. After hours of digging I found this post on XDA that helped me flash these .bat files and I got my phone up and running finally. however, there are still little issues. I don't understand how they are there considering my entire phone was wiped, I mean the ENTIRE thing gone leaving ONLY TWRP. The problems are, but not limited to, no "hidden space" in the app drawer, failing safety-net despite having no root and literally being on untouched stock oxygen os 5.1.9, hindered performance (speed, network), etc. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thank you

Who told you you can't flash OOS from twrp? I've done it many times.

have you tried msm downloader tool????

Did you do all your re-setup work on a FULL battery ? . . . . I low battery reinstall can cause all kinds of weird $hit.

This is EXACTLY what happened to me yesterday - I lost everything!
I used the Bat file restore method from the brick megathread seems to be fine though for me.
---------- Post added at 07:41 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:40 PM ----------
iElvis said:
Who told you you can't flash OOS from twrp? I've done it many times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't access storage to put the OOS.zip on the storage to flash.

Vivasanti said:
You can't access storage to put the OOS.zip on the storage to flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a version of twrp with mtp working. Install that, then flash.

iElvis said:
There is a version of twrp with mtp working. Install that, then flash.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep - this is true, im only on 3.2.2.0

[HEEEEEELP]-TWRP stock Backup deleted - Xiaomi mi a2 lite

Hi all,
As you all know Android rolled out the new 9 pie Update on all xiaomi devices.
After updating my mi a2 lite became the crappiest phone on earth as all the bugs started appearing(phone was rebooting multiple times, image was broken, sd xcard not recognised and battery life draining fast as hell).
Because of that I decided to root my phone and install Havoc 2.0. Fair enough, I used the rom for a bit but honestly I am not really happy about it too as doesn't seem really stable at all (many functions are there but not working, the camera app is crap, the volume bar appears every time I touch the fingerprint sensor and the fingerprint lock isn't working as well). At this point I wanted to revert and get back to the stock oreo 8.1 so I booted the recovery twrp to restore the firmware backup that I did at the beginning before installing havoc but this disappeared!!!!!
Reading again the procedure i followed I noticed that one of the steps was to wipe the caches and, as the procedure was saying, the system as well(I know.... I am an idiot for relying on what the procedure said)!
Obviously this deleted my previous backup completely leaving me empty hands without any stock firmware/rom.
Is there any chance to revert back to the stock (maybe downloading all the pieces and then force flashing them?) or I am screwed?
I know, I should have followed one of your tutorial (and I am sorry for asking now for your assistance) but now I think you are the only one that can actually help me.
Best regards,
D.

manna.davide87 said:
Hi all,
As you all know Android rolled out the new 9 pie Update on all xiaomi devices.
After updating my mi a2 lite became the crappiest phone on earth as all the bugs started appearing(phone was rebooting multiple times, image was broken, sd xcard not recognised and battery life draining fast as hell).
Because of that I decided to root my phone and install Havoc 2.0. Fair enough, I used the rom for a bit but honestly I am not really happy about it too as doesn't seem really stable at all (many functions are there but not working, the camera app is crap, the volume bar appears every time I touch the fingerprint sensor and the fingerprint lock isn't working as well). At this point I wanted to revert and get back to the stock oreo 8.1 so I booted the recovery twrp to restore the firmware backup that I did at the beginning before installing havoc but this disappeared!!!!!
Reading again the procedure i followed I noticed that one of the steps was to wipe the caches and, as the procedure was saying, the system as well(I know.... I am an idiot for relying on what the procedure said)!
Obviously this deleted my previous backup completely leaving me empty hands without any stock firmware/rom.
Is there any chance to revert back to the stock (maybe downloading all the pieces and then force flashing them?) or I am screwed?
I know, I should have followed one of your tutorial (and I am sorry for asking now for your assistance) but now I think you are the only one that can actually help me.
Best regards,
D.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wiping system is not what wiped your backup, your backup was stored on internal storage or on external sdcard, it does not get stored in system. The only you could have wiped the backup is if you also chose the option to wipe the internal storage when you wiped cache and system.
Factory reset and the normal wipes in TWRP do not wipe /data/media, /data/media is where your user data is stored. Only specifically choosing the option to wipe internal storage can wipe /data/media.
And you aren't an idiot for following instructions, you're an idiot for following instructions incorrectly. If you had wiped cache and system but left internal storage alone, you wouldn't be in the mess you're in.
Have you tried doing a Google search for:
"Return to stock (your model number)"
If it's available, that should find the instructions, tools and files you need.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Wiping system is not what wiped your backup, your backup was stored on internal storage or on external sdcard, it does not get stored in system. The only you could have wiped the backup is if you also chose the option to wipe the internal storage when you wiped cache and system.
Factory reset and the normal wipes in TWRP do not wipe /data/media, /data/media is where your user data is stored. Only specifically choosing the option to wipe internal storage can wipe /data/media.
And you aren't an idiot for following instructions, you're an idiot for following instructions incorrectly. If you had wiped cache and system but left internal storage alone, you wouldn't be in the mess you're in.
Have you tried doing a Google search for:
"Return to stock (your model number)"
If it's available, that should find the instructions, tools and files you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, first of all thanks for replying.
Interbal storage hasn't been wiped out, i am sure about it as the proceedure was saying not to do it. (I've selected just the first 3 options and internalbstorage is the 4th so I am def8nitely sure about it). Might be somewhere else then?
I did a second back up now and I see it so at this point I am not really sure where this could be!
Is 12 hours that I am searching proceedures but everything is very confusing.

manna.davide87 said:
Hi, first of all thanks for replying.
Interbal storage hasn't been wiped out, i am sure about it as the proceedure was saying not to do it. (I've selected just the first 3 options and internalbstorage is the 4th so I am def8nitely sure about it). Might be somewhere else then?
I did a second back up now and I see it so at this point I am not really sure where this could be!
Is 12 hours that I am searching proceedures but everything is very confusing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mate @Droidriven you're a monster!
I found it in data/media in the internal storage! thanks a lot mate!
I'll run it and see if all comes back as usual.
Infinite thanks!

Good to go.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk

Droidriven said:
Good to go.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you mind me asking you one last thing?
At this point, having the original backup, I can try another custom Rom before reverting everything to Oreo.
My question are 2:
-Because you seem very driven, do you know any stable custom rom that I can run on this Xiaomi MI A2 lite?
-Do you know if I can Install the old Havoc on and purge this pie version?
Thanks again,
Davide

manna.davide87 said:
Do you mind me asking you one last thing?
At this point, having the original backup, I can try another custom Rom before reverting everything to Oreo.
My question are 2:
-Because you seem very driven, do you know any stable custom rom that I can run on this Xiaomi MI A2 lite?
-Do you know if I can Install the old Havoc on and purge this pie version?
Thanks again,
Davide
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know anything about any of the ROMs for your device, I don't have your device.
Sent from my LGL84VL using Tapatalk

Anyway to clean flash Android 10 stable without losing data?

Hey guys just wondering if anyone knows how to clean flash update to 10 stable from 9 without losing data? I want to try android 10 but don't want to lose all my data and if I use Titanium Backup, it usually messes up notifications when I restore my apps? Any help appreciated !

Doing a clean flash is losing data, u will want to dirty flash
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/how-to/successfully-upgraded-to-9-5-7-t3937414

Bradl79 said:
Doing a clean flash is losing data, u will want to dirty flash
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/how-to/successfully-upgraded-to-9-5-7-t3937414
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, does dirty flashing slow the phone down at all?

valeriee said:
Thanks, does dirty flashing slow the phone down at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It can cause issues. Many advice never to do it but many do it and deal with what ever gremlins tend to happen.

valeriee said:
Thanks, does dirty flashing slow the phone down at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have dirty flashed every single update since the phone has came out and no real issues yet. But the above post is correct it can cause some issues but u can dirty flash and if u come across any then clean flash but u should be good.

Bradl79 said:
Doing a clean flash is losing data, u will want to dirty flash
https://forum.xda-developers.com/oneplus-7-pro/how-to/successfully-upgraded-to-9-5-7-t3937414
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It really depends on which android/ oxygen OS you are updating to. If you are in 9.5.X and updating to 9.5.XX, then a dirty flash is ok. But if you are upgrading to Android 10/ OOS10, then it's better to clean flash

amirage said:
It really depends on which android/ oxygen OS you are updating to. If you are in 9.5.X and updating to 9.5.XX, then a dirty flash is ok. But if you are upgrading to Android 10/ OOS10, then it's better to clean flash
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you keep your data when you clean flash? Or did you start over again? Thanks

valeriee said:
How did you keep your data when you clean flash? Or did you start over again? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's impossible to keep your data on a clean flash unless you are previously rooted, have Titanium backup, did a complete backup, and saved that backup on a computer. Once you have clean flashed (and assuming you have rooted again), you can restore the data from the titanium backup. But.......if you are upgrading from 9.0 to 10.0, then it's not advisable to restore app data from titanium backup as the backup will have 9.0 data while you are on 10.0. It will lead to force closes eventually making you to uninstall and reinstall the apps.
P.S.: and if ever you figure out how to root 10.0 let me know

amirage said:
It's impossible to keep your data on a clean flash unless you are previously rooted, have Titanium backup, did a complete backup, and saved that backup on a computer. Once you have clean flashed (and assuming you have rooted again), you can restore the data from the titanium backup. But.......if you are upgrading from 9.0 to 10.0, then it's not advisable to restore app data from titanium backup as the backup will have 9.0 data while you are on 10.0. It will lead to force closes eventually making you to uninstall and reinstall the apps.
P.S.: and if ever you figure out how to root 10.0 let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just downloaded the 10 file zip from oxygen updater and flashed it with twrp zip and magisk in twrp. Get root from this method

amirage said:
It's impossible to keep your data on a clean flash unless you are previously rooted, have Titanium backup, did a complete backup, and saved that backup on a computer. Once you have clean flashed (and assuming you have rooted again), you can restore the data from the titanium backup. But.......if you are upgrading from 9.0 to 10.0, then it's not advisable to restore app data from titanium backup as the backup will have 9.0 data while you are on 10.0. It will lead to force closes eventually making you to uninstall and reinstall the apps.
P.S.: and if ever you figure out how to root 10.0 let me know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IMHo Titanium backup is abandoned project. It was my favorite root app a while ago.
Now when I was migrating from OnePlus 6t to OnePlus 7 pro (same android version) I had lots of force closes after restoring data or no restore at all. Even OnePlus migration app did a better job. So I am actively searching for alternatves now

vukis said:
IMHo Titanium backup is abandoned project. It was my favorite root app a while ago.
Now when I was migrating from OnePlus 6t to OnePlus 7 pro (same android version) I had lots of force closes after restoring data or no restore at all. Even OnePlus migration app did a better job. So I am actively searching for alternatves now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Swift Backup

vukis said:
IMHo Titanium backup is abandoned project. It was my favorite root app a while ago.
Now when I was migrating from OnePlus 6t to OnePlus 7 pro (same android version) I had lots of force closes after restoring data or no restore at all. Even OnePlus migration app did a better job. So I am actively searching for alternatves now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I agree. I wasn't 100% it was abandoned but if that's the case, what a shame. That was a classic application that people have been using for years.

valeriee said:
Thanks, does dirty flashing slow the phone down at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did a local install from 9 to 10 using the full download package.
No issues. I like to walk on the wild side though.
I always dirty flash via local upgrade.

vukis said:
IMHo Titanium backup is abandoned project. It was my favorite root app a while ago.
Now when I was migrating from OnePlus 6t to OnePlus 7 pro (same android version) I had lots of force closes after restoring data or no restore at all. Even OnePlus migration app did a better job. So I am actively searching for alternatves now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm still on OnePlus 6 [OP6] (it's the last model, with headphone socket )
and i have huge love for Titanium Backup [TiBu], however i have read that it's kind of broken for Android 10
for those migrating to OP7 or to Android 10, it did not work properly, etc.
there are ways to prevent TiBu to avoid "no restore", e.g. in "App Processing Mode" to play around with options called 'AUTO, Indirect' or 'INTERACTIVE').
there alternatives which are gaining more popularity to TiBu
oandbackup [F-Droid]
-- https://f-droid.org/de/packages/dk.jens.backup/
Swift Backup [Google Play]
-- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.swiftapps.swiftbackup&hl=en_AU
^ this apparently needs you to stay logged into Google Play

metaxda said:
Swift Backup [Google Play]
-- https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.swiftapps.swiftbackup&hl=en_AU
^ this apparently needs you to stay logged into Google Play
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already switched using swift backup. Developer is very active and supportive in telegram. But I didn't had a chance for testing it with a phone migration yet.