[Q] Edit update package? - Streak 5 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Does anybody know what is in an update package? Is it like a Windows Ghost image of a functional operating system or is it a collection of stuff that gets installed? What I'm looking for is, is it possible to edit the package to remove programs you don't want prior to installation?
I ask because I question how cleanly rooting and deleting apps through a file manager actually removes apps. Of course this is probably because I have a lack of knowledge as to how this OS works.

If you want a clean image, flash stock (if that's what you want to start from) -> root -> delete apps you dont want -> unroot (if you want) -> nandroid
Uninstalling apps is just about the same as deleting them manually, only you need to restart so android knows it's not installed and clears it's cache (uninstalling does it automatically i think?) Data should be removed either way (in same manner as cache)

Nandroid?
Can you point me to the best description of how to perform this backup/restore?
Do I need to download anything else to do this?

mid_life_crisis said:
Does anybody know what is in an update package? Is it like a Windows Ghost image of a functional operating system or is it a collection of stuff that gets installed? What I'm looking for is, is it possible to edit the package to remove programs you don't want prior to installation?
I ask because I question how cleanly rooting and deleting apps through a file manager actually removes apps. Of course this is probably because I have a lack of knowledge as to how this OS works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not Android Development
Please post in the correct Forums Please
Moving to Q&A

I have installed Quick Boot which does nothing terribly useful that I can see so far. On my Streak (rooted), all it does is a simple reboot.
Do I need additional downloads to be able to make recovery images?

Nandroid backups
To do a nandroid backup (which I think is something similar to a disc image in Windows) you have to install either Clockwork Recovery or StreakMod Recovery. Personnally I had to use StreakMod because Clockwork gives me errors when it tries to backup all the files.
Just do a search here in the forum for either and they both have threads stickied with all the information you need.
One thing to be careful of is installing drivers, follow any directions to the letter and constantly check to make sure windows hasn't tried to install it's own drivers once you connect your Streak to the computer.
That has to be bar none biggest problem we all face, drivers, which are the way of communication between the computer and your phone.
What I finally did was used what is called the QDL tool to repair my phone, then took the necessary steps to install StreakMod recovery. QDL tool will put a Stock Froyo system on your phone. Once you have Streakmod installed then you can make a nandroid backup to get you back to that stock system (just as you would in windows) if you screwed up your phone by fiddling with it.
Once I made a nandroid backup of my Stock Froyo and installed all apps I wanted and got all accounts setupd, I went back and made ANOTHER nandroid backup of my system....
I forgot to mention the reason for making a nandroid backup after using the QDL tool to get back to stock froyo. The QDL tool will leave you with the stock DELL recovery which doesn't allow you to flash custom roms. So, install the custom ROM and then make an image of your system and then you won't ever have to go back and take all those painful steps to get StreakMod on your phone again, it will be a part of the image you created with nandroid.
Now with all that said, and Streakmod installed, it's a very simple process to flash Streakdroid to your phone, actually the EASIEST step out of everything I had done so far, but everyone has to jump through the hoops first I guess.
Don't worry about making a nandroid image after your initial install of StreakDroid, you already have it in the form of the .zip file you will have on your SD card.
So after getting StreakDroid installed, I setup all my apps again, with the launcher I liked, accounts and everything else, and THEN made another nandroid image.
So now I have two images to choose from, the stock installation with apps and accounts, rooted and StreakMod installed, and then a StreakMod image with all the same things, apps and accounts... I tend to go back and forth depending on my mood. It's only about a 10 minute process going from one system to the other, kinda like dualbooting a computer...
Whew!!! Have fun!!!

Related

[Q] Question about a Kernel (Warning..n00b inside)

Hey all, I have rooted and flashed my fist android phone thanks to this forum. And also soft bricked it during a voodoo 1click lag fix install and saved in Odin and re-flashed again lol.
I am looking for a kernel (like I know exactly what it is) that will increase the performance of my device. I currently am running Axura Final and have CMW and Titanium Backup installed.
What kernel would be best for my current set-up and p[referably one that I did not have to use Odin to start the process all over. Looking for a sort of download to SD and reboot in recovery and install type thing!
Thanks in Advance!
Go here;
http://eb-productions.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=samsungsgs&action=display&thread=28
Here is a thread with all of Eugen's kernels, but you need to register beforehand. Also, stock EB kernel is good, it's found there...
I'm using "B_Stock_1120_100 Kernel" with all tweaks enabled and JFS on all partitions.. About the best stable experience you can get on any JK2 or JK6 based Froyo build IMHO..
Going forward, you may want to read up in here or post in General Q&A to avoid a flame fest, as this is not exactly development thread worthy...
Thanks, I appreciate the replies. Just read the forum rules, I guess this is in the wrong section. WEll since I have your attention, the B Stock kernel you linked me to, is it as simple as installing on sd card then reboot to recovery and load from zip?
Yes, if you are booting into and flashing from clockwork recovery..
You can put the clockwork recover update.zip in the root of you INTERNAL SD card and boot into from the stock 2E recovery. Alternatively, you can install Rom Manager and have it propagate the flash commands within android.
Perfect... Also, when I use titanium Backup, Will it save all of my current apps as well? Then I just restore from Titanium Backup again right?
To answer your question simply, yes, TB will backup and restore the APK an Data associated with a 3rd party application. Take caution when restoring anything other than 3rd party apps or apps from the market as you can easily make a mess if restoring from different Roms or Android builds all together.
You can do so via the batch menu, selecting to restore/backup all apps with data. If you are in fact a "N00b", I'd stay away from restoring system data and apps until you have a better feel with what can safely be altered. Also, if you don't recognize something in the list, don't restore it.
Good luck
one more thing, If after titanium Backup I decide to go to R13, MUST i re-flash to stock and re-root and then flash R13, or can i just move R13 files to sd and load via CW

[Q] Ok..so I grew a pair and I'm rooted and backed up. (( update.zip question ))

I was in Clockwork Recovery after backing up my stock system (this is my first time) it gave me the options in green text: Reboot, reinstall update.zip, etc.
I chose reboot and everything loaded up fine and after checking in Rom Manager I have a backup of my system. I just want to know if that was the right choice. or should I have reinstalled update.zip
I guess my question revolves around update.zip.
What is that file? I know I originally used it to gain root access but do I need to reinstall it from clockwork recovery everytime before rebooting? and when should I delete it? and are there any negative consequences for not doing either?
As you can tell I'm a noob....but hey I can't believe I'm rooted and backed up at the moment. I'm gonna stop here before flashing any custonm roms and get this question answered first.
I think you are fine. I would not worry so much, i have deleted the update.zip, but since you booted up into ClockWork Recovery you are most likely fine.
I am booted back up completely and the stock os is running and I'm still rooted. I just want to know what that option inside of clockwork recovery means. What is the reason to reinstall update.zip from clockwork recovery and what is the reason to reboot? And once I'm booted back up and running when/why do I go into my files and delete update.zip?
It's not that I'm worried...I just want to know why I'm doing what I'm doing.
I would keep the file. Less chance of failure.
You are only going to use cwr for this:
Backup/restore system
Wipe cache, factory wipe, etc
Flashing rom's (install from sd card)
Don't worry about the other stuff.
I'm confused by the op, not sure how you made a backup from how it reads.
I think I made the backup by flashing into clockwork recovery from rom manager. It started with the purple text recovery mode and I hit reinstall packets. Then it went into the green text clockwork recovery....I think. I've only done it once.
So in clockwork recovery I choose the backup/restore option and then the backup option. So then the phone I assume began the backup process and displayed many lines of white text. At the very end it said something about not being able to mount my ext sd card (which) had me worried.....but then it brought up the menu again. The top option was reboot, the second was reinstall update.zip and I didn't pay attention to the rest because I was pretty sure I needed one of the first two....I just didn't know which one. I selected reboot and the phone then booted into the stock os and was still rooted. Is the fact that it wasn't able to mount my ext sd card at the end of the backup process an issue? I'm able to find a backup in rom manager. Also, if the backup process works correctly should the phone reboot by itself?
What I'm asking is what am I booting from when I choose "reboot" from clockwork recovery and what does it mean to choose "reinstall (packet?) update.zip"? I thought update.zip was what I needed to root.
This last step wasn't in your tutorial (purple text menu) so maybe something didn't go as it should have.
I'm not sure.
Thanks s15274n for the tutorial btw. Its by far the most helpful concise instructions I've found and is really appreciated.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
The update.zip in the root of the internal SD card is clockwork recovery (CR). When you install CR it does not overwrite your phone's recovery. What it does is install that update.zip in the root of the SD card. When you want to use CR, you need to "update packages" which will flash that update.zip which contains the CR package. That will load CR into memory only and still does not overwrite the original recovery on the phone. When you reboot into recovery from ROM Manager, it automatically reboots and applies the update.zip and places you into CR. If you enter recovery manually (via buttons on boot), you will need to "re-install packages" from the stock recovery to get CR.
So if you want to use CR, keep that update.zip in the root of the SD card. If you erase it, you will need to re-install it (using ROM Manager) before you can use CR instead of the stock recovery. I hope that makes sense. If not, here is the explanation straight from Koush on how it works.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=734164&highlight=clockwork
^^ You are all good then.
The SD-EXT is not going to backup, because you do not have a partiotion on your external SD card (no need for one, like some other phones require). This is normal from what you described.
You will never use the apply update.zip option in CWR... just dont pay any mind to it.
When you select reboot system now, that is all it is.... you are basically saying "Cool, I did everything I needed to do (backup/flash a rom/wipe, etc)... and now I am ready to reboot my phone... ie, you are basically cutting your phone on.
Positive you did, but you can open rom manager, click on manage backups and you should see a file there that has a format kinda like YYYYMMDDTIME, that is the backup you made... no action needed, just an easy way to verify you made a backup of your system.
s15274n said:
I would keep the file. Less chance of failure.
You are only going to use cwr for this:
Backup/restore system
Wipe cache, factory wipe, etc
Flashing rom's (install from sd card)
Don't worry about the other stuff.
I'm confused by the op, not sure how you made a backup from how it reads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks s15274n
i have been wondering the same thing about the update.zip file whether to keep it or not.
Thanks s15274n for the tutorial btw. Its by far the most helpful concise instructions I've found and is really appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Also wanted to say i feel the same way. Appreciate the guide so much!
Thanks guys. I'm glad to have that cleared up so I understand it. Gives me more confidence to do the other things I want to do.
I got confused with the fact that I need to delete the update.zip file after rooting and the fact thats its there again after flashing cw and backing up.
Sometimes I need things spelled out for me. Makes complete sense now.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

[Q] roms

i just recently rooted my droid eris, i've had it for about a year and had the latest ota update. I did the one click root and now i'm currently running the vanilla tazz rom. I noticed there is a new gingerbread cynogenmod, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=944430 and i'd like to to run that rom, is there anything i should know from switching from one rom to another? Or any other advice anyone might have would be useful as well. Thanks
1. I would download Titanium backup from the market. Instructions for its use can be found on its official page. Backup your apps but not your settings using Titanium Backup.
2. In the link I'm about to give you insert this step after step 4:
(step 4.5) On the recovery screen use the volume down button to select "make nandroid backup option". Make nandroid backup by depressing trackball.
3. Here is the link with info on copying ROMs
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=How_to_copy_a_ROM_to_your_Eris
4. If you experience serious problems with your new configuration, you can always reboot to recovery and use the nandroid restore option to revert back to your previous ROM.
5. You can use Titanium Backup to restore your apps to the new ROM.
Best of luck to you.
I'm sure you have read this and done it having a new ROM ànd all but after completion of your NAND backup it can't be said enough to do your wipes prior to flashing. Follow directions in the thread for the custom ROM but just to be safe I always wipe data and dalvik unless instructed specifically not to do so. Also, depending on your SD storage capacity I always keep extra copies of the ROM I have and the one I'm flashing but you definitely not necessary esp with a nandroid backup. I'm just always flashing and it can't hurt.
Also you may need to enable USB toggle in recovery and delete 'android secure' folder. I guess my best advice anyone can give is follow the directions in the ROMs thread I didn't look to see which it was. If you are unclear on anything before flash wait until you are sure. Hope we helped. I'm still learning every day.
sent with FR$H lemunz

[Q] Changing root

I have rooted my Nook Tablet at around Christmas, but am thinking about switching the root to CM7. Do I have to go back to factory setting and remove the old root or will CM7 root over the old root method?
Thanks.
Okay.
First things first. Read this thread
Now, I'll clear it up here, but you should really read that thread as well. You do not "change root." The fact that your tablet is rooted simply means that on your current version of Android (the stock B&N version by the sound of it) you have root access. Newer "root methods" simply have made it easier to attain root access.
What you now want to do, by indicating that you want cm7, is install a custom rom. This means you will be completely overwriting the stock B&N OS. You will have root access with this rom as most custom roms come with the ability to have root access to the file system.
The steps you should take are:
1. Find and download the cm7 zip file (I think the link may be broken in the rom's thread. Have a look around for it. Make sure you do not download any cm7 zip files for the Nook Color). You'll also want to find and download the cm7 gapps files if you want the play store and other google apps.
2. Download indirect's app to flash recovery, install it and flash clockworkmod recovery.
3. Boot into clockworkmod recovery and make a backup.
4. Seriously make a backup.
5. Did you make a backup? Cause you should have.
6. Select "install from zip" and find the cm7 zip file you downloaded. Do this again for the gapps zip file.
7. Wipe data/factory reset.
8. Reboot system and you'll be booting into cm7. The stock B&N OS will be gone.
If you don't like it, simply boot into clockworkmod recovery again and restore the backup you made (you made a backup right?).
Finally, please read the thread I linked. You should have a firm understanding of everything it says before you tinker with this stuff.
Thanks for the quick and detailed response. I've read your linked post and I'll look into how to back up my Nook Tablet and research a bit more before attempting this.
Currently, I'm rooted (fastboot style) but have had a several problems after turning on the Nook. Occasionally, when I turn on the Nook and get the launcher choice menu, the menu is rapidly flashing and I'm unable to make a choice and must reboot. This is why I'm thinking about starting over with a different root method. Other than the occasional startup problems it works fine.
Thanks again!

A noob's (i.e. Me) guide to rooting the i717 and flashing a new ROM

So, after much research and trepidation, I flashed my first ROM to my i717 last week. Then I decided I didn't like that ROM and flashed another an hour later. So far it's been stable and speedy. I'm very happy. Thanks to XDA-Developers, Google, the Internet, and everyone who made this possible.
So, now, here's my simplified guide to doing what I did. This should NOT be taken as gospel. Please read as much as you can first. But, in an effort to give back, I thought a simple, step by step guide (or, more like links to the guides I found helpful) would be useful to someone. Are we sitting comfortably? Then let us begin.
1. Go here - http://rootgalaxynote.com/galaxy-no...y-note-sgh-i717-icsgingerbreadeasiest-method/ - and root your phone. It will also install ClockworkMod Recovery. Both of these need to be done before you can flash a new ROM.
NOTE: I hear that TWRP is the preferred recovery app. I've tried it and it's very nice. It just so happens that I had ClockworkMod installed when I actually decided to flash a ROM. But use whatever you like.
2. Go to the Play Store and buy Titanium Backup Pro. Well, actually, download the free version then buy the Pro key. There are other backup methods, but I like this one.
3. Backup EVERYTHING. You might never restore a particular app, but best to have it and not need it than need it and not have it. I like to use the Google Drive option in Titanium to push by backup off my phone. But you can just hook it up to your PC and copy the backup folder from your SD card to your PC. This is just in case something REALLY bad happens. Best to have an off-phone backup.
4. Find a nice ROM to settle down with. I'm using Revolt (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2288566&highlight=revolt) but do your research and find one you like. If you decide to go with something built off Android 4.2 or 4.3 then you'll lose the Samsung Touchwiz stuff (fancy SPen features, etc.), but to me that wasn't as big a deal as I though.
NOTE: Make sure you know if the ROM need an additional Google Apps package. Sometimes they're listed with the ROM, sometimes not. Read and make sure or you could lose a lot of phone features or it may not even boot. Again, READING IS YOUR FRIEND.
5. Save the ROM (and GApps file if needed) to your phone's SD card (internal or external doesn't matter)
6. Boot into recovery (Hold Vol UP+Vol DOWN then press PWR and hold all 3 until you feel a vibration, then let go of PWR). When ClockworkMod (Or TWRP) comes up, RUN A BACKUP!
7. Read 6. Make sure you actually do it. I'll know.
8. Once you're sure you have your Titanium and ClockworkMod backups, follow the instructions for installing the ROM. Usually this involves (from ClockworkMod or TWRP):
a. Factory Reset
b. Wipe Cache (this is usually a part of Factory Reset, but doesn't hurt to do again)
c. Wipe Dalvik Cache (see cyanogen's response here for what this does - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=519495)
d. Flash new ROM
e, Flash Google Apps (you can also wipe cache and Dalvik cache between d and e)
9. Now the moment of truth. Reboot. Wait. This can take some time, so don't fret if it seems to be taking too long. I'd say if it's over 15 minutes then you might need to worry, but chill before then)
10. When it does boot, you'll basically have a fresh, new phone. You'll need to enter your Google account and follow all the usual stuff you did when you first got your phone.
11. Leave your phone alone now. You can click around, but don't install anything new just yet. I've seen many a post about letting things settle. So, maybe, poke around for 15-30 minutes just to see but don't change anything. Then Reboot
12. Now reinstall Titanium. You can start reinstalling your apps. DON'T reinstall standard apps or they could break (e.g. email app or its data) as the new ROM might not support the old version of the app. My rule of thumb is don't restore any data I can get back from my online accounts (Email, FB, G+, Keep, etc.). All of your pics and that should be on your SD card and should not need to be restored.
13. That's it. If you enabled a scheduled backup in Titanium you might want to disable it for a while to make sure you like what you have. That way, you can go back if you don't like it.
Hopefully that helps someone. Please forgive any mistakes or omissions and if anyone with more experience wants to give it a once over I'd appreciate it.
Thanks and good luck.
Sorry guy, but on step one there is a very high probability of someone bricking their phone.
Why? Because it has happened about 100 times over the past two years from people using that site/method. If you flash the wrong kernel you kill your precious.
You should edit your step to say in the strongest terms triple check your operating system and get the correct kernel.
And step one is unnecessary because all roms here are already rooted.
1. Flash TWRP using pc and Odin.
2. Download new rom.
3. Boot into recovery.
4. Wipe cache, system, data.
5. Flash rom. Boot and wait 10 minutes.
6. Check settings for networks.
7. Optional modem flash.
Only wipe that's needed is a factory reset within recovery. That wipes /cache too. The dalvik cache resides on the data partition and is thusly wiped as well.
The Rom will have a format /system line within the updater script.
And within titanium backup don't backup or restore system settings (anything in the list that's red.)
And as said rooting first isn't needed unless you've been using stock for awhile and have apps you'd like to backup first... the easiest way to root is simply flash the latest twrp with Odin.. boot into recovery... then when you go to reboot the system it'll see that you're not rooted and ask if you'd like to do so.
Thanks for the feedback. Like I hope I stressed, this is the method that worked for me.
I guess I have the terms mixed up in 1. I'm saying to install ClockworkMod (or TWRP) and root your phone. I want to root it here because I want Titanium installed before I change ROMS so I can go back to exactly how everything was before modding if I want. Does that make sense?
Also, can you tell me what's specifically wrong with the site I link in Step 1? I was on ICS at the time I think. Does it brick if you do it on JB?
I'll change the step to say to go here instead - http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/96
Is that better?
Also, can you explain your cache wipe suggestions. I've seen the official instructions say to Reset, then Wipe Cache, then Wipe Dalvik. I know the last 2 are included in the first, but why are we explicitly asked to do them again? Why do you think we don't?
My thinking behind adding it here is that it does no harm and if some devs think that not doing it will cause problems then why not include it to be extra safe.
If you wanted it back to the way it was before modding anything then you could flash a custom recovery and do a nandroid backup before rooting at all.
Titanium backup needs root. If you want your app data after flashing a rom then that's when it's needed.
As far as extra wiping... putting your arms over your head spinning in a circle while chanting a manta does no harm either and is just as effective.
When you flash as often as I do... you wanna streamline the process. Extra anything is just that... Extra... and is just a waste of time
His first step is correct. No one that I know has bricked their phone using those directions because that link does not install any kernels. And it never did. It works for all versions of android. Even after all this time there is so much misinformation given.
Studacris's help is as good as gold though. He has put me in my place in the past.
Thanks Everyone.

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