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Hello, I'm brand new to these forums, but I've been browsing them for the past week, and Im thinking about making the plunge to CM7. I've never done anything like this before, so could you guys answer a few of my questions, and maybe put my fears to rest?
First off, let me say that I read the Moto Atrix noob guide and updated thread.
This is my phone info:
System Version: 4.5.141.MB860.ATT.en.US
Android Version: 2.3.6
I have had this phone for over a year, and everything is completely stock.
Questions:
1. I have seen various threads about the latest firmware from Motorola causing an inability to change the OS. Is this true? And if not, do all the guides I've read regarding flashing, roms, backup, etc. still applicable?
2. I want to run CM7, but is it better to install CM7 directly from their website, or use some of the versions that I have seen members offering here. What are the main differences? What do you recommend?
3. Is CM7 as stable as stock?
4. Is it possible to flash different kernels to see what type of battery life difference they make, and can you do this without changing the OS?
5. I've seen multiple times of the importance of backing everything up. My only concerns are the contacts and sms. My contacts are stored on "Motorola Services." How can I back them up? As for sms, I use an app called SMS backup and restore. It creates an xml file I think, so when I go to restore my sms messages, everything should be as i was before, right? I'm worried about formatting issues here.
I just want to make sure I understand everything so I dont mess anything up. Thanks for your help!
yep. being a virgin and knowing it has to happen gives ya them butterflies in the tummy. Don't worry, you'll be fine, WE were all virgins at one time also. There will be somone here to assist you if you need it.
1.Follow the automatic bootloader thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
2. Read a little on the roms you are considering. The ones based on cm7 are basically the same. differences will be in themes, and extra/different features like diff apps and launchers & more or less customization options such as for settings. Have to choose which one appeals to you, and go with it. Beauty of this is if you want to try something else, only takes a matter of minutes and you can change to a differnt cm7 rom. In a lot of instances, once you are on cm7, flashing a different cm7 rom, you don't have to erase or lose your data, just wipe system and caches and load new flavor. Only takes a couple of minutes to flash a new rom, or kernal, or radio, and your data stays intact. Changing to a CM9 or a different base rom is when you will need to wipe the whole phone including data.
3. Yes, cm7 was the last revision when devs were still able to use OEM drivers, so they are stable.
4. Answered in #2
5. I don't recall which apps were good for saving your sms stuff on cm7. Seems like ages ago since I was using that! Might want to consider moving your Motorola based stuff over to Google. Contacts will be availabe there and will load automatically when you initiate your new rom. You don't need to do any formatting, but erasing will wipe areas, and will erase personal data if that option is chosen, so your concern is noted. Pay attention to what you are doing, don't wipe data from CWM when flashing if you intend on keeping your user data. You can wipe system and caches and not lose your data.
Yes back everthing up. Make a copy of your PDS folder and stash it away on your pc (do this before starting flashing), this has your phone id stuffs and a couple other valuables. Don't share that with anyone either. Make a nandroid b/u (an option in your new CWM) as soon as you can after installing CWM. You can reload that if things don't go good, and be back where you started. Install SuperuserSU (not the plain Superuser) from google play.
Just do it, you'll like it! become one of the elite!
If you ask me... You'll need a custom recovery to be able to flash CM7 anyway, so why not use it to make a proper full nandroid backup too?
I mean sure, you can try messing around with specialized apps to save and restore only the parts most critical to you (like contacts and texts), but if for any reason you'll want to completely go back, at least you'll know you can.
ravilov said:
If you ask me... You'll need a custom recovery to be able to flash CM7 anyway, so why not use it to make a proper full nandroid backup too?
I mean sure, you can try messing around with specialized apps to save and restore only the parts most critical to you (like contacts and texts), but if for any reason you'll want to completely go back, at least you'll know you can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
wvcaudill2 said:
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM will allow you to restore individual partitions. So you can, say, restore just /data and leave others intact. It won't let you restore specific folders in /data though. Basically such a backup is most useful if you need to restore the entire phone to a specific state.
wvcaudill2 said:
Will this full backup allow me to then only restore the data I wanted to keep? Because I know I wouldnt want to restore the whole thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use titanium backup to restore individual apps and their data...
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2
ravilov said:
CWM will allow you to restore individual partitions. So you can, say, restore just /data and leave others intact. It won't let you restore specific folders in /data though. Basically such a backup is most useful if you need to restore the entire phone to a specific state.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what all is stored in the /data partition?
Also, is there some comparison of roms out there? I've been searching through the forum, and can't seem to find any. I see NottachAtrix4G alot. Is this based off of CM7? Also, does the fingerprint scanner work in cm7?
wvcaudill2 said:
what all is stored in the /data partition?
Also, is there some comparison of roms out there? I've been searching through the forum, and can't seem to find any. I see NottachAtrix4G alot. Is this based off of CM7? Also, does the fingerprint scanner work in cm7?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The data partition is where your contacts, messages, settings and apps that you have installed go to.
I'm sure I saw some threads comparing ROMs, even though I recommend you try all the ROMs and see which one best fits your needs. Back when I had my old Milestone 2, everyone talked about the CM7 ROM, as it was the best to the device, but as soon as I tried the MIUI 2.3.7, never came back to CM7 (at least with M2, used it again with atrix)
Nottachtrix isn't based off CM7, it's a stock gingerbread ROM with modifications.
Yes, the fingerprint scanner works (at least on Neutrino CM7).
MaxK47 said:
The data partition is where your contacts, messages, settings and apps that you have installed go to.
I'm sure I saw some threads comparing ROMs, even though I recommend you try all the ROMs and see which one best fits your needs. Back when I had my old Milestone 2, everyone talked about the CM7 ROM, as it was the best to the device, but as soon as I tried the MIUI 2.3.7, never came back to CM7 (at least with M2, used it again with atrix)
Nottachtrix isn't based off CM7, it's a stock gingerbread ROM with modifications.
Yes, the fingerprint scanner works (at least on Neutrino CM7).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for a good answer. I have yet another question though.
Some of the ROMS I have been looking at advertise that they are packaged with a certain kernel. Do all ROMS contain a kernel, or will I have to flash my own depending on which ROM I choose?
Again, sorry for all the questions, I just want to make sure I dont screw this up!
Every ROM is a complete system, so it must come with a kernel. In most cases after flashing a ROM you're ready to go. You'd only want to flash a different kernel if for some reason you're not happy with the one supplied with the ROM.
ok so basically i want to find a way to get to 4.3 either rooted or unrooted, my problem is that i have pretty bad ocd and one of my major major problems with that disorder is my tech devices, i will most likely have an anxsiety attack or 2 if i have to set up my phone from scratch and i will spend hours making it look exactly the same. anyway, i want to know:
1:how to update rooted gs3 Gt-i9305t 4g/lte model without loosing data (if possible )
2: update to 4.3 and un root without loosing data (im sure thats impossible )
i would really appreciate the help as i cannot find anyone looking for the same help as me (kinda strange how no one cares about there data at all, but meh)
also on a side note, i have the problem with my s3 where any sd card i put into the machine will eventually kill itself and never work again as far as i know, it has killed 3 32gb sd cards now and its starting to piss me off to the point where i am no longer using an sd card at all. why does the phone do this and is there any way to fix it? either software wise or hard wear wise? thanks !!! :fingers-crossed:
4.3 source code has only just been released. 4.3 roms are not fully functional and have bugs. There are no official releases so they are all "rooted".
You really do need to wipe when making version updates. Theres no way around this.
Stick with what you've got.
that just sucks.
rootSU said:
4.3 source code has only just been released. 4.3 roms are not fully functional and have bugs. There are no official releases so they are all "rooted".
You really do need to wipe when making version updates. Theres no way around this.
Stick with what you've got.
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Click to collapse
that honestly sucks so much, thanks for the info though.
hey another quick question, is there a way to so a full backup, like im talking FULL, like down to the point of where ur apps are placed and all there data, like apple devices have through itunes?? (restore from backup option) cus if so then i dont mind wiping at all, i just hate apple so i will never go back to one of there piece of **** devices again (i like features with my shiny brick) but yeah anything like that? or can kies do that?
i'm using temasek 4.3 preview 3 atm, you should check it out since developer is extremely helpful
and he updates regularly (which is important)
There are a number of ways to keep your data. Including ones that will let you change the ROM and still have your data. Titanium Backup - not sure if it is only Pro version but the one I have lets me create a backup on the extSDcard so I can flash it in a new ROM and restore all my apps and data straight off. SMS Backup and restore and Call Backup and restore both save out your data to the extSDcard so you can bring them back. I used to use My Backup Root as well but it ceased to work on the last update so I nuked it.
Add in a nandroid backup on something like Philz Recovery (where you can do an Advanced Restore from External SDCard and bring back just parts of your current ROM) and you can always get back to your look & feel in any new ROM.
The one thing I ahve NOT found a solution for is replacing my widgets back on the screens they are on - I run 7 screens and it pisses me off a full recovery in something like Titanium doesn't restore my widgets. The only way it happens is a full nandroid restore but that nukes the new ROM I have just installed so that's not an option.
I run Purelook HD as my 1st ROM, GoogyMax kernel and SlimBean as my 2nd ROM. I can nuke either or both and be back to my set up (including widgets) in about 45 minutes.
Journyman16 said:
There are a number of ways to keep your data. Including ones that will let you change the ROM and still have your data. Titanium Backup - not sure if it is only Pro version but the one I have lets me create a backup on the extSDcard so I can flash it in a new ROM and restore all my apps and data straight off. SMS Backup and restore and Call Backup and restore both save out your data to the extSDcard so you can bring them back. I used to use My Backup Root as well but it ceased to work on the last update so I nuked it.
Add in a nandroid backup on something like Philz Recovery (where you can do an Advanced Restore from External SDCard and bring back just parts of your current ROM and you can always get back to your look & feel in any new ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lets dissect this a little.
A Nandroid backup will take a snapshot of your phone. If you flash something wrong, it can be used to restore your data / settings and rom exactly how it was. This will not help restore your data and settings on a new ROM where you had to perform a wipe. (You have to perform a wipe to prevent data and settings incompatibilities with the new ROM that will cause problems.)
Titanium backup is great. However, if you had to perform a wipe, you cannot simply restore everything using Titanium. This is because you will be restoring the incompatabilities (System data) and restoring the problems (negating the point of the wipe in the first place). You can restore user apps and data with titanium but there will be an element of manually setting all your rom settings.
OP - Please read the "Read before rooting" thread in my signature for more info.
**** that
screw it, ill just stay on 4.2.1 i mostly want it cus they (****ING FINALLY ) partially fixed the setting wallpaper problems so you can get at least most of the photo in the screen now, i have it on my nexus 7 but now cant get it on my phone : / screw ocd, it has plagued me since i was little
adex9 said:
screw it, ill just stay on 4.2.1 i mostly want it cus they (****ING FINALLY ) partially fixed the setting wallpaper problems so you can get at least most of the photo in the screen now, i have it on my nexus 7 but now cant get it on my phone : / screw ocd, it has plagued me since i was little
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We all spend hours making it look exactly the same. It's annoying but essential.
rootSU said:
Lets dissect this a little.
A Nandroid backup will take a snapshot of your phone. If you flash something wrong, it can be used to restore your data / settings and rom exactly how it was. This will not help restore your data and settings on a new ROM where you had to perform a wipe. (You have to perform a wipe to prevent data and settings incompatibilities with the new ROM that will cause problems.)
Titanium backup is great. However, if you had to perform a wipe, you cannot simply restore everything using Titanium. This is because you will be restoring the incompatabilities (System data) and restoring the problems (negating the point of the wipe in the first place). You can restore user apps and data with titanium but there will be an element of manually setting all your rom settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Advanced Restore in Philz lets you restore Data. The choices are, Restore Boot, System (+or- reload) Data, Cache and sd ext. The Data restored my latest personal stuff from the BU I tried just before a new ROM experiment. So not all Restores are the same. You don't have to bring it ALL back from a nandroid.
Journyman16 said:
The Advanced Restore in Philz lets you restore Data. The choices are, Restore Boot, System (+or- reload) Data, Cache and sd ext. The Data restored my latest personal stuff from the BU I tried just before a new ROM experiment. So not all Restores are the same. You don't have to bring it ALL back from a nandroid.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Journyman16
You seem to be missing my point.
If you can restore just data via recovery (which you can) then you didn't need to wipe in the first place.
ROM goes in /system. We all know that. Our apps go in /data/app. We all know that. Our data for our apps goes in /data/data but what some may NOT know is that /data/data contains all your system data too. When you set a ring tone or wallpaper, its in /data/data.
If you go from 1 ROM to another, you may not have to wipe. Or you may HAVE to wipe. It depends if there is incompatible system data in /data/data or not.
When you do wipe, you wipe /data/* (includes /data/data). If you nandroid restore /data and your phone works perfectly, you didn't need to wipe. So my point remains.
If you HAD to wipe, you cannot simply restore data via recovery and have a fully working phone.
rootSU said:
@Journyman16
You seem to be missing my point.
If you can restore just data via recovery (which you can) then you didn't need to wipe in the first place.
ROM goes in /system. We all know that. Our apps go in /data/app. We all know that. Our data for our apps goes in /data/data but what some may NOT know is that /data/data contains all your system data too. When you set a ring tone or wallpaper, its in /data/data.
If you go from 1 ROM to another, you may not have to wipe. Or you may HAVE to wipe. It depends if there is incompatible system data in /data/data or not.
When you do wipe, you wipe /data/* (includes /data/data). If you nandroid restore /data and your phone works perfectly, you didn't need to wipe. So my point remains.
If you HAD to wipe, you cannot simply restore data via recovery and have a fully working phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanation - that helps me understand better what goes on. Would that explain perhaps why, after some Restores, I had to run Fix Permissions to stop the FC's?
Journyman16 said:
Thanks for the explanation - that helps me understand better what goes on. Would that explain perhaps why, after some Restores, I had to run Fix Permissions to stop the FC's?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, it could do.
Any updates (I am facing the same problem)?
BTW, OTA updates seem to be able to keep most if not all settings. How they manage to do this?
moshepupkin said:
Any updates (I am facing the same problem)?
BTW, OTA updates seem to be able to keep most if not all settings. How they manage to do this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same here. I've been looking for the exact method to do this, but haven't had any luck so far.
I ended up using Kies to update to 4.3 - it does not check root status.
moshepupkin said:
I ended up using Kies to update to 4.3 - it does not check root status.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, it says that my current firmware is the latest version, rather than 4.3. Is there anything special you're supposed to do?
AriaOfSorrow said:
Hmm, it says that my current firmware is the latest version, rather than 4.3. Is there anything special you're supposed to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who says there is a 4.3 for your phone ???
JJEgan said:
Who says there is a 4.3 for your phone ???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, let's see... there's everyone I know that also has this phone. People online that say they have this phone. Web sites saying that this phone has officially received 4.3. The phone itself saying there is an update for the firmware. So, basically everyone/thing except the Kies program.
Who says their is an update for your phone repeat your phone not some other guys phone and as you failed to give any firmware details impossible to check .
Kies/ Samsung says not for your phone yet.
Contact your vendor .
See multiple identical posts .
Flash stock rom through Odin from sammobile .com
JJEgan said:
Who says their is an update for your phone repeat your phone not some other guys phone and as you failed to give any firmware details impossible to check .
Kies/ Samsung says not for your phone yet.
Contact your vendor .
See multiple identical posts .
Flash stock rom through Odin from sammobile .com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I already told you who said there is an update for my phone. Unless my phone is disguised as some one of a kind phone, I'm supposed to be able to update to 4.3.
This is basically identical to this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2402021
It is posted in the Nexus forum, however, and I don't know how much overlap there is between the users of that forum and this one, so I wanted to ask it here since I'm using an S4.
Basically, when ever a ROM that you're using comes out with a major revision, the expectation is that you do a clean install and wipe all data. This can be quite a hassle when it comes to restoring everything when you boot back up. Especially if it's an active ROM and you find yourself needing to do this monthly. I personally have been using Titanium Backup to restore user apps, but I don't use it for system apps as I presume some of that data might be incompatible with the newer revision of the ROM and I don't want to screw up any of the benefits that the update offers me. However, this still leaves a lot of system settings non-restorable and I was wondering what the experts on here did to minimize the complication of restoring all of their settings after their wipe their device for a software update. For example, Ringtones, WiFi/Bluetooth settings, system application options/settings. Does anyone have a good method to simplify this process of getting your phone back to exactly the way it was prior to the update or is it mostly just a tedious process you put up with every month or so?
Thanks.
Hi!
I was trying to find such information but with no luck.
What is my goal? The most painless migration from Omni to CM11 (or revert).
I'm wondering is it possible to preserve apps and their settings but change the whole ROM or is there any other way to move apps and their settings from one ROM to another (I know about Ti backup and other apps like this but anyone tested this solution?) I don't care much about ROM settings but apps are important for me.
This I9100 is my only phone so I can't stuck with "blank" phone.
Thanks in advance!
Answer: Yes and No
You can use Ti backup, then format sys&data, install CM, then Ti restore.
I've done this before when going from ClearRom to Omni.
HOWEVER, this is still quite annoying since some settings and data may likely not be properly backup/restored.
Question:
How can we install CM11 over on top of Omni, without the extra (and error-prone) steps of backup and restore data?
I was just about to ask the same question, then xda found your post for me.
I have a Note 2 ATT, and recent updates of the Omni became power hungry and eats up battery faster than ever before, plus, each time the Omni updates, I lose Gapp and SU. Often it gives me a hard time to get SU back.
So I want to switch to the newly published CM11.
I've spent the past couple hours doing this.
First I tried just format 'system' then install CM11, it boots, but gives me infinite loop on "cyongen account has stopped".
Then I formatted 'system' and 'data', CM11 boots without error. I restored 'data' from recovery, the error loop is back on.
(devik and cache have been deleted each time)
So... is there any way of doing this w/o needing Ti backup/restore?
Thanks a lot for your answer! I was afraid it's not possible
My only hope is that I don't need ROM settings but only apps so maybe it's possible with Ti.
Do you have pro version of Ti backup or is it possible to backup anything usefull with free version.
EDIT:
I'm using "update" script from SU setings to keep it installed over updates and I use PA gapps which also stay after every update
cauch_y said:
EDIT:
I'm using "update" script from SU setings to keep it installed over updates and I use PA gapps which also stay after every update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm also using the same configuration. But none of them work the way for me as you described.. each update would mess SU up.
As of Ti, I have the paid version, but I'm not sure if you need it to do the same..
Hi everyone,
I hope this question hasn't been asked before, but I used the search and got no results for it so I'm gonna ask anyway. My Galaxy SII (i9100g) is actually running on Cyanogenmod 10.1.3 with Clockworkmod as the recovery. I didn't want to upgrade earlier because I was waiting for a stable version of 11, but since the M builds are now going to be the most stable builds that will be out there I'd like to give it a try. However, since I can't upgrade OTA because I need new Gapps as well, I'll have to do a complete new installation. But I'm worried to loose all my data because of the necessary "Reset to factory settings" so is there any way I can save all my phones data (and I don't mean fotos, music, videos and stuff like that because I'm able to do that myself), I mean EVERYTHING from settings over wifi password over call lists and so on? Like I feel no difference between my phone now and my phone once it's upgraded to 11? Hope you understand what I mean, so a real copy of every little thing on my phone? I really hope so!
Looking forward to your help!
Bump
Nobody knows the answer?
SgtDubKing said:
Nobody knows the answer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think nobody's answering because the answer is you probably need to a complete wipe (format system, wipe data, cache, dalvik). You can TRY to preserve your data but more than likely you will have problems or boot loops of FCs. You need to realize you are changing the completed OS and everything is not compatible. Some stuff is such as contacts, calander, etc can be restored thru Google sync and you might be able to restore SMS with nandroid manager, but be ready to lose data. Make a nandroid backup in case you're not happy with kk. Personally, I feel its worth the time and effort to upgrade. KK is sooooo much better IMO...
@hawaiisteve
Thanks for your answer! I've never updated CM before and since there is no real guide online i have a lot of newbie questions I know I'm about to install a whole new OS, that's why I'm asking if I have to wipe everything. So there is no programm which saves all the app data, sms, video, fotos, contacts, system settings which I could use to restore all my data except for the OS part? Hard to imagine everyone here updating is setting up his or her phone up again because that takes alot of time and is a pain in the ***. If there is no programm capable of doing these things is there atleast one which "mirrors" my whole phone so I can just flash back to 10.1.3 I have right now together with all apps, sms and other data I have on my phone right now? So that I can notice no difference between the phone right now and the phone after 11 and then flashing to 10 again? Thank you for your help, it's really appreciated!
SgtDubKing said:
@hawaiisteve
Thanks for your answer! I've never updated CM before and since there is no real guide online i have a lot of newbie questions I know I'm about to install a whole new OS, that's why I'm asking if I have to wipe everything. So there is no programm which saves all the app data, sms, video, fotos, contacts, system settings which I could use to restore all my data except for the OS part? Hard to imagine everyone here updating is setting up his or her phone up again because that takes alot of time and is a pain in the ***. If there is no programm capable of doing these things is there atleast one which "mirrors" my whole phone so I can just flash back to 10.1.3 I have right now together with all apps, sms and other data I have on my phone right now? So that I can notice no difference between the phone right now and the phone after 11 and then flashing to 10 again? Thank you for your help, it's really appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't have titanium backup? It's a must! It'll save your user installed apps and app data. I remember some reporting restoring data causing problems however.
Do NOT restore system data. It will almost certainly cause issues.
hawaiisteve said:
You don't have titanium backup? It's a must! It'll save your user installed apps and app data. I remember some reporting restoring data causing problems however.
Do NOT restore system data. It will almost certainly cause issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Was never necessary unfortunatly because now it looks like my SII broke yesterday so having a backup somewhere would have been great Thanks for your answer anyway, I'll try to find a way to get my phone to work again and if it does I'll try upgrading