Related
So yes, Titanium Backup and the deletion of google talk are at it again. This time I actually knew I shouldn't delete then brain farted and did it anyway. So here lies my marketless and FC gapps everytime I pull the market app up.
For the record I searched as best as possible for a solution and the closest I got was a link for gtalk and the Evo 4G, and needless to say it still doesn't work, the market and the force close gapps.service still happens after re install
A solution without a flash and re-root is preferred, please educate the new guy! Thanks for the record I know I'm a jack wagon lol.
Search these forums (or Google) for Fascinate System Dump. It will have whatever files you deleted.
So dump files obtained. Is this is simple drag and drop to the OS or do I need a program on the computer to be able to interface with the filesystem on the Fascinate?
Bare with me guys, while I bring myself up to speed on tearing through the Andriod OS, hacking windows is one thing - tearing apart my phone for the first time - thats a whole nother ball game for me.
DeezNotes said:
Search these forums (or Google) for Fascinate System Dump. It will have whatever files you deleted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I did that, finally got the files onto my phone and reinstalled all the google.apks including ones that were already existing on the phone.
To no avail I still get the gapps Force close and I'm still unable to download from market after restoring Google Talk Service.
Any help or a simple suggestion would be appreciated - been trying this all day with no success.
I'm not sure if you "installed" the apps or if you placed them back in their proper folder(s), but my guess is that any app you had pre-installed which you deleted was previously in the /system/app folder. The dump has all the files in this folder. You don't need to re-install these files, you need to just copy them back to the /system/app folder.
When you download and install an app, it will install to /data/app. If you "installed" the files rather than copying them back to /system/app, that may be the problem.
On a side-note, this is why I like to move files from one folder to another rather than use Titanium Backup to delete apps/files.
Don't forget to reboot your phone after you copy the files back to /system/app.
Lastly, I'm not responsible for what you break.
DeezNotes said:
I'm not sure if you "installed" the apps or if you placed them back in their proper folder(s), but my guess is that any app you had pre-installed which you deleted was previously in the /system/app folder. The dump has all the files in this folder. You don't need to re-install these files, you need to just copy them back to the /system/app folder.
When you download and install an app, it will install to /data/app. If you "installed" the files rather than copying them back to /system/app, that may be the problem.
On a side-note, this is why I like to move files from one folder to another rather than use Titanium Backup to delete apps/files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Roger that side note - that will be my new policy when managing files.
As far as the clarification - I have been indeed installing the apps instead of moving them to the appropriate location - I guess the difference in installation location never occurred to me. Thank you in advance for the heads up and I'll report my success or failure, hopefully success after i get out of work this evening.
Don't worry if I brick I won't hold you accountable - after all I'm the one who deleted Google apps from the Andriod phone. LOL, In hindsight it was a terrible Idea.
hi, i deleted a file off my phone, and i would appreciate if someone can send me a copy,
the file is called packages.list in /data/system/
you can get it off the phone using,
adb pull /data/system/packages.list
it will be saved to your sdk tools folder unless you specify otherwise,
my email is ass.lovaratgmaildotcom
thanks
hmmm, i dont think so. Two reasons:
1) your gmail address is ass.lovar - yes im being srs lol
2) you don't need my list of installed apps
But what i will do is this, do a fresh flash of a rom and give you that..
that file doesn't get reinstalled with a fresh flash, but maybe it gets wiped, which i doubt it,
and thanks
Here ya go
I pulled it off of a fresh flash of CM6 with the Gapps installed as well.
But seeing as it is a list specific to your device I would recommend loading a recent nandroid if it messes anything up.
If I knew 'exactly' what the list did I'd be more help, but unfortunately I don't.
thanks a lot, i just cleared the file and put it on the phone, it doesn't look very important, but just in case,
Hi there. D:
I opened a thread here some minutes ago (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=23800125#post23800125), where I ask for help for changing my notifications bar.
After opening the thread I discovered the web "UOT Kitchen", so there I just configured my order to just change the notifications bar as I want, uploaded my systemUI.apk and the framework-res one there and later I downloaded the file of my order.
On that file there was (inside of their folders) a new systemUI.apk and a new framework-res file. There was a META-INF folder and another one on the zip, but because I just uploaded the systemUI.apk and the framework-res file, I only copied these two on my SD Card. Then I opened Root Explorer and with it I overwrote the two files inside my Xplay.
After doing this, my Xplay shut down and now it is rebooting forever (it only appears the Sony-Ericsson logo, then the mobile shuts down and then reboots again).
I know what are you going to tell me, "don't touch something if you don't know well what are you doing". I agree with you, but please, tell me that this is easy to solve. PLEASE.
Thanks... T___T
Locked or unlocked bootloader?
Stock ROM (latest update), root, locked bootloader. R800i (Spain).
restore nadroid if you dont have one conect to pc companion and repair the Software..
It's a bootloop. Nothing that Flashtool can't cure
Download Flashtool and the latest firmware (.62) and follow the tutorial on the Q&A thread with all the resources. You won't even lose your data if you untick the relevant option on Flashtool
The issue could have happened because you maybe forgot to give those two files the appropriate file permissions. Since those files are loaded at boot, if they don't have the permissions they aren't loaded, and so the system tries and tries to load then without success, giving you a bootloop.
UOT Kitchen themes are update.zip files. As all update.zip files, they load stuff (in this case the SystemUI.apk and the framework-res) and give those files the permissions they need. If you look inside the META-INF folder you'll find a file called "updater-script". That file contains the permissions that those files are given. If you can replicate those permissions with the Root Explorer GUI, they will load properly on boot and you won't have a bootloop. However, that's difficult to do because you're actually using the SystemUI.apk and the framework-res at the same time that you modify them.
Flashtool basically nukes the system partition (where those two files are located) and flashes the stock one, so you will go back to the stock look. If you don't tick Wipe data, your data will be kept. It shouldn't be a problem, since the thing which caused the issue (faulty SystemUI and framework) is in the system partition.
Logseman, this totorial? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1384535
And where can I find the latest firmware?
Thanks for your quick answers, guys.
PD: I didn't say it but, I saved my original systemUI and framework-res files before overwritting them. Is there any way to use them? I say it because I had a little mod on the notifications bar with switches...
Still looking for a download link for the 4.0.2.A.0.62 update, I don't find it...
Miles Wolf said:
Still looking for a download link for the 4.0.2.A.0.62 update, I don't find it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There isn't one , just download the .42 one and update after. IF this doesn't work use SEUS - it can take up to 20 retries for it to work but it will work eventually (I've reflashed using it more than a couple of times where this was needed =|)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1409355
Just download SEUS Sony ericsson update service and update your xperia play with it and it will all be so good as new
If you have cwm installed, you can fix everything in recovery via adb shell without wiping data...
(When its booting open up command prompt, type in adb wait-for-device then when you get the next command prompt, type in adb reboot recovery)
Sent from my R800x using Tapatalk
Ok, I flashed 0.42 with flashtool, updated to 0.62 with PC Companion and my Xplay is back to life xD
Now some questions...
1- I was rooted, have I lost root?
2- I lost the switches on the notifications bar. I have the systemUI and the framework-res files I had before all this mess. Is there any way to reinstall them to have again the switches?
3- Once everything is solved... How do I change the colour of the notifications then? xD
Onlock bootloader... Makes everthing way easyer and we can help you better becouse most of us have unlocked bootloader. ;-)
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
IE-coRe said:
Onlock bootloader... Makes everthing way easyer and we can help you better becouse most of us have unlocked bootloader. ;-)
Sent from my R800i using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hum, yes, i'm interested in unlocking my bootloader, but first there's the first question of my last post wich I think is very important, because when I got root I unisntalled some games like Fifa or the Sims and now they're back.
You have lost root indeed.
just connect you phone to Sonyericsson Update service ,
flash that
Miles Wolf said:
Hum, yes, i'm interested in unlocking my bootloader, but first there's the first question of my last post wich I think is very important, because when I got root I unisntalled some games like Fifa or the Sims and now they're back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just re-root with this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1312859
You don't need the VERY latest firmware just .42, stop messing with your phone or if you do unlock the bootloader and make regular nandroid backups and before you want to mess around with system files
For god's sake it's about time someone stickied these two things, especially for noobs:
1. DON'T uninstall system apps. Freeze them and when you're sure everything's fine, say after a day or two, delete them. You can freeze with the pro version of titanium backup or with systemcleanup free. sure there are other apps too.
2. When replacing system files, copy the new files to /SYSTEM first. Change permissions there (if you don't know what permissions are or what permissions to set, STOP NOW and read up), and THEN move the files to the appropriate locations.
Too many problems because these simple steps were missed.
Exactly we need a moderator. Where do ya sign up
cacerts.bks updated 12-6-20
When the original search was on to repair the aging cacerts.bks file in order to get the Kindle app working again, one of the things I came across was a remark from a fellow who had located a Honeycomb ROM (Android 3.2...last stop before the format of the security certificate storage was changed) and copied the cacerts.bks file from it to his Android 2.2 device which was having problems with websites, etc.
I still can't get the method described by @tshoulihane in this thread to work for me. But his edited cacerts.bks file works really well in solving the problem.
Yesterday I managed to locate a CM 7 ROM (Honeycomb). It contains a largish cacerts.bks file (compared to ours) with 127 certificates, 17 of which have expired. These seem to be mostly for central/eastern European and Asian entities, so perhaps not that critical. Well, it's only 10 years old
It has worked for me with the Kindle app and perhaps will help with some of the websites that complain about a secure connection even though I have enabled TLS 1.2 in Opera Mobile. More testing is needed there.
For anyone who wants to try it out, it is attached below. To use, rename your current cacerts.bks file (that's in /system/etc/security) to cacerts.bks.bak or similar. Then move the new file (unzip) into the same place. Check permissions. They should be rw-r-r. Reboot.
This looks great... though when I tried to rename and copy the new cacerts file, I am getting blocked due to the lack of root permissions.
I'm running the 1.2.1 tweaked/modded rom so I thought it wouldn't be an issue. I also tracked down the supersu3.1.3 apk and sideloaded it, but it didn't help either. Wondering if you had any ideas?
xrayd2 said:
This looks great... though when I tried to rename and copy the new cacerts file, I am getting blocked due to the lack of root permissions.
I'm running the 1.2.1 tweaked/modded rom so I thought it wouldn't be an issue. I also tracked down the supersu3.1.3 apk and sideloaded it, but it didn't help either. Wondering if you had any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So was your SU app missing? Or did your file manager just not have root access?
Hard to know where to start. From my experience, the best-behaving SU for the NST/G is the one that comes with NookManager (attached below). It's old and the binaries are probably out of date, but you don't need anything better for the device.
You can try removing the one you have now, reboot, and install the one below. Then check that your file manager has root acccess. In ES File Explorer, for example, you have to go into settings and tick the selection for root access. It's not automatic. And even with that, you have to tick an additional box to mount /system as rw while you're working in it.
At one time the superuser app was included -- but is no longer linked, and I had overlooked it after initially flashing the rom.
Unfortunately, the su app you provided also doesn't work. When I try to delete the old cacerts.blk it looks like it's doing something, but then the file still remains. If I instead try to rename the file, I get "operation failed".
I tried to delete or rename using an app called "root browser", and also the file manager in "super manager" suite. When I try to enable the root explorer function in ES file manager , I get "sorry, test failed. This feature cannot run on your device."
When I go under Device info, the ROM name does indeed say "Tweaked Modded ROM". I assume this should mean it's rooted but I'll have to dig deeper.
I appreciate your help though!
xrayd2 said:
When I go under Device info, the ROM name does indeed say "Tweaked Modded ROM". I assume this should mean it's rooted but I'll have to dig deeper.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mmm.... so the ROM came "rooted"? I've attached a root check app which I've tried on my NST. This should answer the question of root.
If root has been lost somehow, it might be possible to salvage what you have by running NookManager. If you don't want the various additions like Relaunch, you can remove those apps from the data/app folder once you've written the card and then make the other needed changes as described here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/nook-touch/development/nst-g-updating-nookmanager-t3873048
Or, you could just use NM as-is and uninstall unwanted material afterwards. The important thing is root and a functioning SU.
Okay... turns out my device was NOT rooted after all; I had assumed the binaries were already installed. Fortunately, I was able to find a superSU 0.93 binary and root through CWM. I replaced cacerts.blk with yours, and now the kindle app works! At first I had difficulty logging in, but turns out Amazon was emailing me a one time password after every attempt. After entering the OTP I am now up and running.
My next issue is getting Pocket working -- I installed Read it Later 1.0.1 but it's not syncing.
Thanks for the link to your other post. I will sideload the apk's you recommended.
xrayd2 said:
My next issue is getting Pocket working -- I installed Read it Later 1.0.1 but it's not syncing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Might not be possible. Chatter here: https://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1604661&page=2 goes back to 2013.
I found reference to a functioning version in 9/2016. Had hoped it was a cacerts issue but maybe pocket changed their api.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=68600731&postcount=54
Would this be what's causing my Nook to not load certain https sites?
I can get to gmail fine, but I can't for the life of me load the todoist website
Tried loading your cacerts.bks, doesn't seem like it changed anything
I had no problem getting the Todoist home page. Logging in may be another matter.
Are you using Opera Mobile and did you make the settings change for TLS 1.2?
Background: Really not loving the default New Contact icons and the random colors. Should be easy enough to change. What I tried (and failed miserably...)
MODest ROM 11 (Twiz/stock 6.01-based)
Flashpoint 5 Kernel
Copied SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk from
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
to my Win7 PC.
Used 7-Zip to unpack the file to a temporary folder.
Found the .qmg files I didn't like.
Found a .qmg that would be a passable replacement for the ones I didn't dig.
Made 11 copies of that image in a working folder.
Renamed each copy to the exact name of each of the 11 files I wanted to replace.
Dragged those 11 files back into the open .apk in 7-Zip
On the Phone, in Root Explorer:
Made a copy of SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk in the same folder:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
deleted the original
Copied my mod'd apk back into this folder and set the perms.
Rebooted.
No Phone or Contacts on home screen or in Apps
Tried to 'install' the apk from Root Explorer.
Wouldn't install
Tried to delete cache & Dalvik from TWRP.
No Joy.
Tried to do a partial Nandroid restore of Contacts and sec.phone from Titanium (nothing there called /systempriv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA)
No Joy.
Nandroid restore from TWRP.
Back to normal.
Okay, what did I do wrong, and how can I change the icons?
Should I have used APKTook instead of 7-Zip, created a new signature, etc?
Should my mod'd apk somehow be flashed from recovery rather than copied to a system folder?
Is this some perverted Samsung-ism that would have worked fine on any other phone on the planet?
Thanks for reading.
ForestCat said:
Background: Really not loving the default New Contact icons and the random colors. Should be easy enough to change. What I tried (and failed miserably...)
MODest ROM 11 (Twiz/stock 6.01-based)
Flashpoint 5 Kernel
Copied SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk from
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
to my Win7 PC.
Used 7-Zip to unpack the file to a temporary folder.
Found the .qmg files I didn't like.
Found a .qmg that would be a passable replacement for the ones I didn't dig.
Made 11 copies of that image in a working folder.
Renamed each copy to the exact name of each of the 11 files I wanted to replace.
Dragged those 11 files back into the open .apk in 7-Zip
On the Phone, in Root Explorer:
Made a copy of SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk in the same folder:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
deleted the original
Copied my mod'd apk back into this folder and set the perms.
Rebooted.
No Phone or Contacts on home screen or in Apps
Tried to 'install' the apk from Root Explorer.
Wouldn't install
Tried to delete cache & Dalvik from TWRP.
No Joy.
Tried to do a partial Nandroid restore of Contacts and sec.phone from Titanium (nothing there called /systempriv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA)
No Joy.
Nandroid restore from TWRP.
Back to normal.
Okay, what did I do wrong, and how can I change the icons?
Should I have used APKTook instead of 7-Zip, created a new signature, etc?
Should my mod'd apk somehow be flashed from recovery rather than copied to a system folder?
Is this some perverted Samsung-ism that would have worked fine on any other phone on the planet?
Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That apk took me a long time to figure out too. It's one of the apps you I had to modify for multi dpi. The only way I know of is to change the compression when you're putting the app back together and even then it took a couple tries. There's probably a better way but the compression change seems to work well enough.
I don't know if 7-zip has this option, but with winrar you can change the compression to "store". You should know right away whether or not it worked. You'll see the little phone icon in the bottom left of the lock screen. You may still have to do a factory reset to see your changes (probably not though) but the app should work without it.
By the way, you can swap those image files for .png files if you'd like. Just delete the corresponding .qmg or .pio file.
I saw your post in the rom thread about theming TouchWiz. You should check out @supergrobi94's theming threads. He's put together an impressive collection of options for 6.0.1 and 5.1.1 and there's also a [how to] section that uses the vrtheme zip that will modify the res folder of a specific app without having to break it down. I'm not sure how active he is these days but he's always been very helpful with requests and questions in the past if you need it.
Supergrobi94's theming threads:
This one has all the themes
This is the [how to] thread
kevintm78 said:
That apk took me a long time to figure out too. It's one of the apps you I had to modify for multi dpi. The only way I know of is to change the compression when you're putting the app back together and even then it took a couple tries. There's probably a better way but the compression change seems to work well enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, that makes perfect sense. But I'd never have figured it out myself, lol.
I'll dig into those theming threads, thanks.
kevintm78 said:
☆☆Edge Panel for ModestRom v11☆☆
DOWNLOAD-This will change your Contacts app to the S6 version and the IncallUI app to the Note 7 version because the people stripe will not work with the N4 contacts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, this is from the MODest ROM thread, but I think it's germain here.
SO.....
If I want to 'try out' that Edge Panel, is there a way to revert back to the stock apps in question other than restoring a nandroid backup or re-flashing the ROM?
I ask because I'm thinking that, at least in the case of the Note 4 and its well known memory problems, 'bulk' memory writes like ROMs, nandroid retores, etc., stress the device, so I'm trying not to do it more than I have to.
During my last episode(see above) putting the stock apk back in its original folder didn't work.
Is there a standard procedure for either android generically, or touchwiz specifically, for safely reverting back to the stock system apps after experimenting w/ custom stuff?
EDIT: Just tried something. In Root Explorer, went into:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
and simply renamed the .apk to .foo
Rebooted.
No Contacts, as expected, but no Phone either??? Not sure why.
Anyway, back into Root Explorer.
Rename .foo back to .apk
Reboot.
Still no Contacts or Phone, so something bigger at work here.
Before I have to restore Nandroid anyway (unless there's a better way???),
I flashed your EdgePanel.zip in TWRP to see if it would restore the Phone/Contacts apps.
Wiped the cache. Reboot.
Edge Panel is now there, but still no Phone or Contacts. WTF???
Last resort-TWRP- Factory Reset.
Now the Contacts/Phone are back (and all my other stuff is gone, lol)
So is whacking the Data a necessity here?
If so, it makes trying out things related to the phone/contacts a LOT more tedious...
Any workaround???
Thanks again.
ForestCat said:
OK, this is from the MODest ROM thread, but I think it's germain here.
SO.....
If I want to 'try out' that Edge Panel, is there a way to revert back to the stock apps in question other than restoring a nandroid backup or re-flashing the ROM?
I ask because I'm thinking that, at least in the case of the Note 4 and its well known memory problems, 'bulk' memory writes like ROMs, nandroid retores, etc., stress the device, so I'm trying not to do it more than I have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it doesn't look like I ever made an easy way to go back. I had thought I did but I'm either overlooking it or it's not there. Feel free to rifle through my androidfilehost folders if you want to double check. All of my stuff is very organized so it could be buried in there somewhere.
If you still need a recovery zip let me know and I'll get one together. I'm actually going to make one anyway but if you need it right away I can get on it. I didn't realize that there wasn't a way back to stock.
ForestCat said:
During my last episode(see above) putting the stock apk back in its original folder didn't work.
Is there a standard procedure for either android generically, or touchwiz specifically, for safely reverting back to the stock system apps after experimenting w/ custom stuff?
EDIT: Just tried something. In Root Explorer, went into:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
and simply renamed the .apk to .foo
Rebooted.
No Contacts, as expected, but no Phone either??? Not sure why.
Anyway, back into Root Explorer.
Rename .foo back to .apk
Reboot.
Still no Contacts or Phone, so something bigger at work here.
Before I have to restore Nandroid anyway (unless there's a better way???),
I flashed your EdgePanel.zip in TWRP to see if it would restore the Phone/Contacts apps.
Wiped the cache. Reboot.
Edge Panel is now there, but still no Phone or Contacts. WTF???
Last resort-TWRP- Factory Reset.
Now the Contacts/Phone are back (and all my other stuff is gone, lol)
So is whacking the Data a necessity here?
If so, it makes trying out things related to the phone/contacts a LOT more tedious...
Any workaround???
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is strange that they are not coming back. You may just want to double check your permissions and that there isn't two of the same apps in your folder. At the time of making that Edge zip I was still using other programs to make zips for me and the major downside to that is having to name the new apps the exact same as the old so it would get overwritten so if it doesn't match you'll end up with two active apps in one folder.
Now I think the best way to do that is to use a binary script (osm0sis has great tutorials for this) to change the app getting replaced to a .bak file and then just copy the new app to the system, set perms, and reboot (dalvik cache/ cache needs to be wiped if it's a framework .jar file). But to each their own. If you can get the job done a better way then I would use what you're comfortable with.
My system to test apps isn't much difference than yours. I think the only thing I do differently is change the app to be replaced to .bak instead of .foo although I can't imagine there's much difference. There's been a few apps like the Contacts app that gave me a bunch of trouble when modifying them but I can't remember ever having trouble bringing back the stock app. I wish I had more insight on that situation for you. If push comes to shove I would reflash the rom zip over factory reset only because the factory reset won't correct the system partition problem, if that's what's going on in this case.
kevintm78 said:
If you still need a recovery zip let me know and I'll get one together..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, Merry Christmas!
Thanks very much. No rush on that, I'm OK on the Edge version for the minute.
What would be extremely useful if you have some time/curiousity would be to replicate my steps, ie renaming the untouched apk in a fresh MODest flash (i.e. break the contacts/phone function), and then see if you can get the whole thing working again without a factory reset, or if not, why. I see on xda, you & I are not the first ones to be tripping over this contacts.apk issue.
The other thing that would be telling is after successfully installing the Edge.zip, whether you can modify something (like a picture) within the contacts apk within the zip, reflash the zip and have contacts/phone still working with the change active.
I think there just HAS to be abetter way than Factory Resets.
Thanks so much again for the insights. I really want to become at least minimally competent at hacking my own ROMs together so I don't have to feel like such a noob/mooch on here, but I really do appreciate the help.
What are your weapons/platform of choice, or, if there are better tools for noobs learning the ropes, I'm all ears.
EDIT: Just found this. The last post is interesting...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/devs-only/recompile-seccontacts-apk-t3377142/page2
ForestCat said:
First, Merry Christmas!
Thanks very much. No rush on that, I'm OK on the Edge version for the minute.
What would be extremely useful if you have some time/curiousity would be to replicate my steps, ie renaming the untouched apk in a fresh MODest flash (i.e. break the contacts/phone function), and then see if you can get the whole thing working again without a factory reset, or if not, why. I see on xda, you & I are not the first ones to be tripping over this contacts.apk issue.
The other thing that would be telling is after successfully installing the Edge.zip, whether you can modify something (like a picture) within the contacts apk within the zip, reflash the zip and have contacts/phone still working with the change active.
I think there just HAS to be abetter way than Factory Resets.
Thanks so much again for the insights. I really want to become at least minimally competent at hacking my own ROMs together so I don't have to feel like such a noob/mooch on here, but I really do appreciate the help.
What are your weapons/platform of choice, or, if there are better tools for noobs learning the ropes, I'm all ears.
EDIT: Just found this. The last post is interesting...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/devs-only/recompile-seccontacts-apk-t3377142/page2
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Click to collapse
I'm not exactly sure what's going on with your contacts app not showing back up. Ever since modestrom v8 (I think) I've been doing the multi dpi on SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA and every time I would test it doing the same as your way. After a reboot if the modified app was no good, then I would just delete that new app and change the name of the old app back to .apk, reboot and it would work again. I can't remember running in to any problems where I would have to factory reset or reflash the rom to get things working again.
There has been a couple times where I've had to factory reset to get a color change to show up or if you're adding toggles to the QS drop down that also (sometimes) requires a factory reset to show up.
As far as the post you linked, that is exactly how I do it except I use winrar to open the newly compiled app and drag the changes to the original. When I drag the changes over I change the compression method from "normal" to "store". If I don't change the compression the app doesn't work for me. The apps that I've ran into where I had to change the compression are: secContacts, secCamera, secSettings, and framework-res.apk. Any other app that I've worked on can be dragged and dropped without compression changes.
Jar files don't need an original signature though (so long as signature verification has been disabled, which it has in modestrom). They can be decompiled, edited, recompiled, and copied to the system. It does require a dalvik cache/cache wipe though on all framework files except for the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk
If you get a chance, you should start using apktool to decompile/recompile. It will make things easier for you in the long run and most of the time if you've made any mistakes in your edits apktool will catch it. If you're not familiar with apktool you can try using Tickle My Android or Advanced Apktool. You may also want to get Apktool by itself. I use all three of them. Android can be fickle and sometimes what works with one app won't work with another. What's nice about TMA and Advanced Apktool is that they'll do the drag and drop method for you, but when the compression needs to be changed that's when I use apktool by itself.
Sorry for the word vomit. Hopefully, this all makes sense.