Database Users

[Q] Flashing clarification

After having just recently rooted my phone using CF-Auto root (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlsO5o_-CI8), I am looking to flash a new ROM and hoping to get some clarification or confirmation on the flashing method I am planning to use. I want to try and flash either a Google edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341794) or Omega ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2253528).
When attempting to flash I will be following these steps:
Perform a nandroid backup,
1. Downloading the .zip file and put it onto my external memory card.
2. Booting into PhilZ CWM recovery and wiping data/cache.
3. Perform a factory reset using CWM recovery. (does this delete all my apps?)
4. Flash the .zip file using CWM.
5. Reboot phone.
Are these the correct steps to take?
I keep reading something about bootloaders and how it can brick your phone if you do not unlock it, is this true? I am unsure as to whether or not I have unlocked it.
Furthermore, can i use titanium backup or another program to not lose my apps? I really would not like to reinstall every single app after flashing a new ROM.
I am currently using the GT-I9505 locked to Virgin in Australia.

warriorya1 said:
After having just recently rooted my phone using CF-Auto root (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vlsO5o_-CI8), I am looking to flash a new ROM and hoping to get some clarification or confirmation on the flashing method I am planning to use. I want to try and flash either a Google edition (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2341794) or Omega ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2253528).
When attempting to flash I will be following these steps:
Perform a nandroid backup,
1. Downloading the .zip file and put it onto my external memory card.
2. Booting into PhilZ CWM recovery and wiping data/cache.
3. Perform a factory reset using CWM recovery. (does this delete all my apps?)
4. Flash the .zip file using CWM.
5. Reboot phone.
Are these the correct steps to take?
I keep reading something about bootloaders and how it can brick your phone if you do not unlock it, is this true? I am unsure as to whether or not I have unlocked it.
Furthermore, can i use titanium backup or another program to not lose my apps? I really would not like to reinstall every single app after flashing a new ROM.
I am currently using the GT-I9505 locked to Virgin in Australia.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If You have Just Rooted it using CF Root then u need to Install Recovery First. You Can Head to the Philz Recovery Forum and download the Tar file and flash Via ODIn.
And then You Can follow the Steps mentioned.

manu44 said:
1. If You have Just Rooted it using CF Root then u need to Install Recovery First. You Can Head to the Philz Recovery Forum and download the Tar file and flash Via ODIn.
And then You Can follow the Steps mentioned.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe I have downloaded CWM recovery, or which ever custom recovery this is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2281367
I am still quite unsure on the bootloader, should I just not worry about this? Also, is there anyway to recover apps afterwards because I do not feel like downloading all my apps again.

[Q] Installing custom ROM's

I've seen instructions for installing custom ROM's where you bring up the ROM file inside Odin (PDA area),
then you place the cell in Download mode, then you hit the [Start] button.
Instead of doing this, why can't you place the ROM files onto the SD card, then use Recovery mode to install them from there?
Thanks!

andyistic said:
I've seen instructions for installing custom ROM's where you bring up the ROM file inside Odin (PDA area),
then you place the cell in Download mode, then you hit the [Start] button.
Instead of doing this, why can't you place the ROM files onto the SD card, then use Recovery mode to install them from there?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I only used Odin to root my device. After setting up a custom recovery, I've downloaded all my ROMs to the SD card and flashed them from there. Since you're (hopefully making and) putting your nandroid backup on the SD card, it makes it very easy to recover from an accident.
The method I used was from a Youtube video where the guy used Odin to root, and then GooManager to install TWRP. I've got a custom ROM on my phone and haven't looked back.
Good luck and have fun,
-Jeff

you need a custom recovery, I prefer TWRP, as stated above you can get it through goomanager which is available from the play store. after installing the recovery you can download any rom you want to your pc, transfer it to your phone (either phone storage or external SD) after that go into recovery mode on the phone (hold volume UP home button and power button down at the same time, when you see the Samsung logo, let off all buttons) at this point you can find the rom you transferred, and flash, before flashing anything you will want to do a nandroid backup, then do a full wipe before flashing the rom. after the rom is installed you can go into recovery through the power menu. good luck!
sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4

water wsloriz
scott_0 said:
you need a custom recovery, I prefer TWRP, as stated above you can get it through goomanager which is available from the play store. after installing the recovery you can download any rom you want to your pc, transfer it to your phone (either phone storage or external SD) after that go into recovery mode on the phone (hold volume UP home button and power button down at the same time, when you see the Samsung logo, let off all buttons) at this point you can find the rom you transferred, and flash, before flashing anything you will want to do a nandroid backup, then do a full wipe before flashing the rom. after the rom is installed you can go into recovery through the power menu. good luck!
sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So a couple of questions then:
1: You cannot install a ROM using stock recovery?
2: What's included in an nandroid backup?
I'm assuming it includes the modem/radio files, yes?

andyistic said:
So a couple of questions then:
1: You cannot install a ROM using stock recovery?
2: What's included in an nandroid backup?
I'm assuming it includes the modem/radio files, yes?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. no, you will need either TWRP ot CWM
2. backs up all your data, etc, so yes everything gets backed up
sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk 4

You use Odin to flash .tar files, which reverts your phone back to stock, unrooted factory condition.
Once you've rooted the phone, you use a custom recovery to install unsigned .zip files, which will generally be custom roms and/or mods.
Stock recovery will only install .zip files that are signed by the manufacturer, such as OTA updates and....not much else. If your phone is rooted, you have absolutely no use for stock recovery.
A Nandroid backup will usually include the boot image, system files, and user apps & data. I use TWRP, which also gives you the option to back up your recovery and EFS partition (telephony data). In most cases, you only need to make a backup of boot, system, and data.
Hope this helps.
Sent from my SPH-L720 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

How to restore your KitKat apps from Titanium Backup on Lollipop

Hi guys,
I had a very strange problem, my Titanium Backup on android KitKat backed up all apps, but I could not restore them on Lollipop. When I verified the backups, TB said they were corrupted (using AOSP Lollipop). Switching back to KK and verifying the apps again confirmed my backups were okay. The only thing working on LP in TB was restoring app's data (only). So, how do you install apps from your backup created with KitKat on Lollipop?
Install android KitKat ROM
If you are already on KK, skip this step.
If you are on LP, take a nandroid backup, wipe your phone, and install any KK ROM. Install Titanium Backup on that ROM.
​
Make an "update.zip" package
Open TB, open batch menu and verify your backups (while the backups were "corrupted" on LP, they worked for me on KK).
Open batch menu, and find "Recovery mode" in the list. There's just one option (Create "update.zip" from app+data backups). Pick the backups you want to restore on LP and run it.
It will create a recovery script, with all the apps (including their data). You're done on KitKat, back to LP!
​
Install/restore Android Lollipop
Wipe your phone again, install or restore any LP ROM you want to use.
Boot your phone to LP, set your Google account and other things you want to.
Install Titanium Backup on your phone. Do NOT restore anything yet.
​
Reboot to recovery & install your apps from the file you created with Titanium Backup (usually "update.zip" in the sdcard folder)
Reboot (system), your phone will update android and setup all your application's. Do not open those apps yet.
​
Restoring application's data with TB
If the TB did not begin the data restoring process yet (you would see that as a notification), reboot your phone again (system).
Your phone should start restoring data to the application's you installed via recovery earlier. Let it finish.
That's it, you're done! Your backups from KitKat, that could not be installed on Lollipop via Titanium Backup are now installed and working!
WARNING: Even if you have to wait/reboot more times, do it! If you setup your apps manually, and TB won't restore any data, there's a huge chance it will start restoring them on the next reboot and it will replace the data you already setup!

Cool!
Just one point I confuse, step 4, "Reboot to recovery & install your apps"
What apps? and how do you install it/them from recovery?
Honestly, I've never done it that way b4. I install all .apk files when the system is up and running.

votinh said:
Cool!
Just one point I confuse, step 4, "Reboot to recovery & install your apps"
What apps? and how do you install it/them from recovery?
Honestly, I've never done it that way b4. I install all .apk files when the system is up and running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in the point 2. he said that you have to create an "update.zip" package that contains all of your apps & backup data...
then in step 4. you flash that update.zip through recovery

votinh said:
Cool!
Just one point I confuse, step 4, "Reboot to recovery & install your apps"
What apps? and how do you install it/them from recovery?
Honestly, I've never done it that way b4. I install all .apk files when the system is up and running.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
60nine said:
in the point 2. he said that you have to create an "update.zip" package that contains all of your apps & backup data...
then in step 4. you flash that update.zip through recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Exactly like he said, I'll edit it a bit to make things more clear.

4. Reboot to recovery & install your apps from the file you created with Titanium Backup
Get back to recovery and install the *.zip file you created earlier with TB in recovery.
Why do you need to say or add this step: "Reboot to recovery & install your apps from the file you created with Titanium Backup"
Why can't you just say
4. Reboot to recovery & install the *.zip file you created earlier with TB in recovery.
Why need to install apps in one step then get back to recovery and install the .zip file?
That's the confused part.

votinh said:
4. Reboot to recovery & install your apps from the file you created with Titanium Backup
Get back to recovery and install the *.zip file you created earlier with TB in recovery.
Why do you need to say or add this step: "Reboot to recovery & install your apps from the file you created with Titanium Backup"
Why can't you just say
4. Reboot to recovery & install the *.zip file you created earlier with TB in recovery.
Why need to install apps in one step then get back to recovery and install the .zip file?
That's the confused part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to restore them just one time, of course. I'm sorry i messed up with the description. Sorry to confuse you.
I fixed it now.

That's much better, my man.
G'day, m8

Thanks.

so i have to go back to KK and make an update.zip file thru TB, and then back to LP and install zip file via recovery...? do i understand this rite? is there no way stayin on LP and restore apps somehow? my verification says 0 errors, but still when i try to restore it gets stuck at 0% of restoring...

Yes, you do understand it right. There may be a way, but the only one working for me was this one.

Thank you
Big thanks for this!

You are welcome! Glad I helped!

How do you downgrade from Lollipop to KK?

Well that depends. If you are running LG's stock LP, then I am not sure. You better ask somewhere else. However, if you are running custom LP ROM, and you have custom recovery and rooted, then all you have to do is pick one custom KK ROM, flash it, and you are done. Use Pardus ROM, or CloudyG2, or CyanogenMod, whatever you like. It does not matter.

danek731 said:
Well that depends. If you are running LG's stock LP, then I am not sure. You better ask somewhere else. However, if you are running custom LP ROM, and you have custom recovery and rooted, then all you have to do is pick one custom KK ROM, flash it, and you are done. Use Pardus ROM, or CloudyG2, or CyanogenMod, whatever you like. It does not matter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, its working for cusrom LP only? Not for stock LP ?

aboutmath said:
So, its working for cusrom LP only? Not for stock LP ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. It works for stock LP as well. I was trying to say that I am not sure how to downgrade.

danek731 said:
No. It works for stock LP as well. I was trying to say that I am not sure how to downgrade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. Now, i see. Thanks

Hi,
thanks for that great instruction. It worked very good on my Nexus 4 from Kitkat to Lollipop.
But one little failure.
Several app notifications (for example Quizduell, Tapatalk) don't come up after the update. Is there any chance to get them back, or do I have to reinstall that apps?

Try to open the apps. When you open the app, the notifications should start working properly. If they don't, just reinstall the app.

Will this work vice versa also?
Will this method work if you switch from lollipop to kitkat as well?

How Flash update zip from recovery

Is it possible to flash zip update without having to flash miui first ?
like going back to miui from cyanogenmod without using fast boot processes

Just flash stock miui rom.zip in recovery

already tried doesn't work on both original recovery nor on twrp

dranzer006 said:
already tried doesn't work on both original recovery nor on twrp
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i always do this to get back to miui and it works. By the way which rom are you currently on? and which recovery you use.explain everything.

Best way
1.fastboot Stock ROM
2.Root,Install Custom Recovery(i prefer flashify,take a backup of stock recovery)
3.Backup using custom recovery.(copy backup to PC/OTG,no need for 32GB cards)
4.flash desired rom.
5.Migrate data using Nandroid Manager/Titanium Backup.
6.If don't like ROM,restore stock from recovery.
7.if you dont want custom recovery too,restore from flashify
8.Unroot
Ta Da,Back to out of the box
Done
#android&proud

he asked without fastboot.
GeorZ said:
Best way
1.fastboot Stock ROM
2.Root,Install Custom Recovery(i prefer flashify,take a backup of stock recovery)
3.Backup using custom recovery.(copy backup to PC/OTG,no need for 32GB cards)
4.flash desired rom.
5.Migrate data using Nandroid Manager/Titanium Backup.
6.If don't like ROM,restore stock from recovery.
7.if you dont want custom recovery too,restore from flashify
8.Unroot
Ta Da,Back to out of the box
Done
#android&proud
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

rkmadotra said:
he asked without fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Skip Step 1

i used fastboot now to flash back latest miui.
I was using cm13 with twrp. i tried to flash original miui recovery with fastboot command but my miui zip won't be flashed

Procedure to go back to MIUI from CM13

Hi. I'm using the 18/Redmi2Prime and I was thinking of reverting back to MIUI and I'm on CM13. I'm kind of confused with all the threads here because it's been a while since I was active here in the forums. Can't I just flash the MIUI ROM over CM13 using TWRP 2.8.7 with a clean install?
I wanted a rooted lollipop miui hence I am reluctant of choosing this. And I donno which ROM to choose either. Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Grab a copy of the stock recovery from here, and follow the instructions to install it onto your device. Basically, download the file, extract the .img file from it, and install the .img file using TWRP. Then boot to recovery.
Then, download a copy of the official MIUI ROM (beta, release or otherwise), from here, rename it as update.zip, copy paste it to your SD card (internal/external), and from the stock recovery, wipe all existing data (cache and user data - SD card can stay). Install the update.zip from the recovery from the options shown.
Done.
Additional notes -
1. If you are plan to go back to a custom ROM, then install a pre-lollipop based MIUI ROM, or backup your EFS, Modem, Boot partitions prior to wiping the existing recovery - this will save you a lot of trouble, and perhaps opening another thread.
2. It is preferable to download the MIUI ROM and rename it as update.zip before you restore to stock recovery, should anything go wrong down the lane. (That is, without a ROM installed, and the computer just not willing to recognize your device, you might end up in a small soup - you cannot access the files on the phone using the stock recovery easily.)
3. If anything goes wrong, check for instructions on how to install the MIUI ROM using fastboot.

Hey thanks for the quick reply. Will do the mentioned and will get back to you if need be. Thanks again!
But wait. It isn't prerooted right?