Database Users

[Q] Noob needing help updating and backing up

Hi all...sorry if this is very noob but hope someone can help me out...
i got my galaxy s4 for att and its been great so far...i did root it and got rid of all the junk stuff on the phone which was nice to do... but a little issue now..there is an OTA update and its trying to apply it by rebooting but it goes to my console screen i guess and i know even if it applies it it would get rid of root.... is there a way to apply this without having to reinstall all my emails (5 emails) and my apps and keep the root ability on it? I would love to get the feature to send apps to my SD thats the only reason i really want it.
again im sorry if this is very noobish to some of u but would like a nice guide if possible how to do it.
Thanks in advance

What device? Thats important, and DO NOT let it do the update. if you are rooted, you could freeze the samsung updater.
I would get off stock and flash a custom rom.

TheAxman said:
What device? Thats important, and DO NOT let it do the update. if you are rooted, you could freeze the samsung updater.
I would get off stock and flash a custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im on a samsung galaxy s4 as mentioned above....which rom would u suggest that is not bugged? i want all the features to work just as it stock would..and the battery life now is great.
thanks

nxtstep said:
im on a samsung galaxy s4 as mentioned above....which rom would u suggest that is not bugged? i want all the features to work just as it stock would..and the battery life now is great.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hehe I know you stated galaxy s4, but I needed to make sure, US version right?
Use my rom, mine is totally stock, with a few modifications, and FAST!
or you can go any TW rom.
here is mine..
[ROM] ViSiON-X v1.0|AROMA|4.2.2|MGA|TW|[08-03]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391142
then you will not have to worry about an update, until someone finds a patch for the update...

TheAxman said:
hehe I know you stated galaxy s4, but I needed to make sure, US version right?
Use my rom, mine is totally stock, with a few modifications, and FAST!
or you can go any TW rom.
here is mine..
[ROM] ViSiON-X v1.0|AROMA|4.2.2|MGA|TW|[08-03]
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2391142
then you will not have to worry about an update, until someone finds a patch for the update...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
is there anything running 4.3??? and yes its US version

nxtstep said:
is there anything running 4.3??? and yes its US version
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No 4.3 just yet. Google only.

Questions and help issues go in Q&A and Help section
Thread moved
FNM

I am using KANGABEAN Rom 4.2.2 v all Samsung goodies works plus better performance and some kool tweaks
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349077
Infamous S4 is great rom as well I go back and forth between those 2 All Samsung goodies works plus some kool modes.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2304792
Try either one you will love it!

Backup and Restore
maxshah912 said:
I am using KANGABEAN Rom 4.2.2 v all Samsung goodies works plus better performance and some kool tweaks
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2349077
Infamous S4 is great rom as well I go back and forth between those 2 All Samsung goodies works plus some kool modes.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2304792
Try either one you will love it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use Infamous S4 as well, I love it. It's pretty stock feeling.
When it comes to the backing up part, I suggest Titanium Backup. Get the pro version and you can batch install all of your apps from a backup, otherwise you have to do it one by one. It also saves all app data and system data and accounts, so you can do a full wipe when installing an update or a new ROM (always a good idea,) then just let it completely restore the phone from a backup. You can use it to back-up everything, except for the home-screen layout (android limitation apparently.) Plus you can backup right to the phone if you have space so you don't have to wory about using the computer. I recomment getting a microSD card for 10 bucks at Staples and backing up to that. When you're restoring, make sure that you check what you're restoring. Most of the stuff in red are system apps that don't need to be restored (as newer or the same versions may already be installed from the update.)
For restoring root priviledges, CWM and TWRP custom rrecoveries have a tool for this.

[Q] Can anyone tell me which one is he most stable CFW now?

Like the title, can anyone tell me which one is the most stable cfw now? b/c there many cfw in the forum and I dont know which one is good, or having problem, issue....ect. If not, I will go back to stock, root, install revovery, and update stock 4.4.2 KK

street.basketball said:
Like the title, can anyone tell me which one is the most stable cfw now? b/c there many cfw in the forum and I dont know which one is good, or having problem, issue....ect. If not, I will go back to stock, root, install revovery, and update stock 4.4.2 KK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well on first note you can flash a rooted kk and keep recovery there are two ways of doing so, now for your first question recommending roms is not that good because everyone has a different preference in my case I need power and battery life since I mainly use my phone for gaming but you might have something else in mind so it's always best to just just flash on your own until you find something that suits your needs

Madhi rom is a pretty good rom and stable rom. So far I found 0 bugs with my everyday use. I recommend it. And having a nandroid backup makes the return to your stock rom a 5 minute process, if you didn't like it
Sent from my g2 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

XxZombiePikachu said:
well on first note you can flash a rooted kk and keep recovery there are two ways of doing so, now for your first question recommending roms is not that good because everyone has a different preference in my case I need power and battery life since I mainly use my phone for gaming but you might have something else in mind so it's always best to just just flash on your own until you find something that suits your needs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But what i need is a stable rom, like there no bugs, issue, errors blah blah, so if you know any like that, tell me
j1miroquai said:
Madhi rom is a pretty good rom and stable rom. So far I found 0 bugs with my everyday use. I recommend it. And having a nandroid backup makes the return to your stock rom a 5 minute process, if you didn't like it
Sent from my g2 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks man, can you give me a link? And nandroid backup is in cwm recovery right?

nandroid backup is called the process of taking backup your entire phone . data system cache etc.
You can find it in all custom recovery programs cwm , twrp .VERY VERY VERY usefull
I used both cwm and twrp for nandroid backup and it's a pretty straightforward process.
here is the link for Mahdi ROM http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2590700

XxZombiePikachu said:
well on first note you can flash a rooted kk and keep recovery there are two ways of doing so, now for your first question recommending roms is not that good because everyone has a different preference in my case I need power and battery life since I mainly use my phone for gaming but you might have something else in mind so it's always best to just just flash on your own until you find something that suits your needs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wait, you said I can update 4.4 and still have recovery? I though I only can keep root, can you show me how?

Just purchased a Nexus 7 on swappa.com...

The previous owner said he had unlocked and rooted it. Not sure what version it's on... But could I take an ota update successfully? I don't care if I lose root. I bought this for my son to play with.
Thanks

FormeriPhoney said:
The previous owner said he had unlocked and rooted it. Not sure what version it's on... But could I take an ota update successfully? I don't care if I lose root. I bought this for my son to play with.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check to see if there's custom recovery installed. You should flash a factory image and wipe it clean to be 100% sure it'll take an OTA.

kcipopnevets said:
Check to see if there's custom recovery installed. You should flash a factory image and wipe it clean to be 100% sure it'll take an OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes he said he had clockwork on it but I prefer twrp which I'll probably flash..
That's if I decide to just throw a sick based rom on it instead.
Can you recommend a good stock based rom that would continue to be updated?

FormeriPhoney said:
Yes he said he had clockwork on it but I prefer twrp which I'll probably flash..
That's if I decide to just throw a sick based rom on it instead.
Can you recommend a good stock based rom that would continue to be updated?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm... Well, I dunno if Team Android makes any more ROMs but those are as close to stock as you can get. Perhaps going simple CyanogenMod or Carbon would be great alternatives if you cannot flash to stock (although there may not be anymore OTAs it's super stable). I don't think the little one will care too much about customizing the UI.

kcipopnevets said:
Hmm... Well, I dunno if Team Android makes any more ROMs but those are as close to stock as you can get. Perhaps going simple CyanogenMod or Carbon would be great alternatives if you cannot flash to stock (although there may not be anymore OTAs it's super stable). I don't think the little one will care too much about customizing the UI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. I just want something stable so any apps or movie players (MXplayer) run without an issue.
Always seems like cm had so many bugs, even the so called "stable or snapshots".
I saw that SlimKat had a few stable builds. I love that on my 2013 N7 and my G2. Super stable

FormeriPhoney said:
True. I just want something stable so any apps or movie players (MXplayer) run without an issue.
Always seems like cm had so many bugs, even the so called "stable or snapshots".
I saw that SlimKat had a few stable builds. I love that on my 2013 N7 and my G2. Super stable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I guess CM was kinda a bad recommendation, although I never had problems... Anyways, stock or Carbon...or SlimKat, more games and movies! And speed! Have fun choosing!

kcipopnevets said:
I guess CM was kinda a bad recommendation, although I never had problems... Anyways, stock or Carbon...or SlimKat, more games and movies! And speed! Have fun choosing!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How about of I just use wugfresh toolkit to unroot. Would I receive ota update from that point on?

FormeriPhoney said:
How about of I just use wugfresh toolkit to unroot. Would I receive ota update from that point on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That I'm not sure of. If the /system partition was changed at all, the md5 would come out invalid and it would send you into a bootloop. You'd also need stock recovery but you can flash an OTA through custom recovery as a .zip. I seriously recommend flashing a stock image if you expect to take an OTA because you really don't know what the original owner had done...

kcipopnevets said:
That I'm not sure of. If the /system partition was changed at all, the md5 would come out invalid and it would send you into a bootloop. You'd also need stock recovery but you can flash an OTA through custom recovery as a .zip. I seriously recommend flashing a stock image if you expect to take an OTA because you really don't know what the original owner had done...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was under the impression that unrooting and Locking through wugfresh installed the latest stock firmware and bootloader

FormeriPhoney said:
I was under the impression that unrooting and Locking through wugfresh installed the latest stock firmware and bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, I thought you meant ONLY revoking root. Yes, you are actually correct. Go for it!

kcipopnevets said:
Ah, I thought you meant ONLY revoking root. Yes, you are actually correct. Go for it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup. Gonna give it a shot. Thanks for the help

No problem! Just hit me up if you have any more questions!

[Q] Former moderator with Noob questions

Okay, I have not flashed in about a year since I got my knox-ridden Note 3 and I am ready to get back into the game. I have busted knox and installed CWM touch and have a couple of questions
Do you still have to do a full wipe on all roms first time out?
Is there a way to quickly reinstall all of your programs that is reliable (cwm backup, titanium etc)
If yes to last what should i not restore does anything cause problems
Are there any tips
What is the most stable full featured rom (I know everyone has a favorite)

blackinjun said:
Okay, I have not flashed in about a year since I got my knox-ridden Note 3 and I am ready to get back into the game. I have busted knox and installed CWM touch and have a couple of questions
Do you still have to do a full wipe on all roms first time out?
Is there a way to quickly reinstall all of your programs that is reliable (cwm backup, titanium etc)
If yes to last what should i not restore does anything cause problems
Are there any tips
What is the most stable full featured rom (I know everyone has a favorite)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Full wipe is advisable yes, but I've dirty flashed plenty of times previously.
Yeah you can use titanium backup to restore apps just don't do it for system apps
Make sure you make an EFS backup, use the script i n the dev section and avoid play store efs backup apps as they brick Samsung devices.
Cwm touch is great, however it's not supported anymore (philz has stopped development and cwm is outdated) switch over to TWRP.
To summerise.
Flash twrp (don't need root FYI) then flash your ROMs as and when you need/want.
Sent from my Spectrum ZX +2

I think the Galaxy S5 Stock ROM is very stable and featureful

This_Guyse said:
I think the Galaxy S5 Stock ROM is very stable and featureful
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashable on the note 3?
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk

blackinjun said:
Flashable on the note 3?
Sent from my SM-N900P using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a couple of S5 ports for the Note 3, not 100% on the features (S-Pen) but people seem to like them.

you can also try MultiX v2.2. it is fully odexed and has aroma installer for many customisation. For me, it's very stable, good battery life, great support and it's one of the fastest TW rom i have used so far

Should I wait for an Android 5 ROM?

So in these past few months, I've messed around with my phone a couple of times and a bunch of stuff happened, and I was unable to enter recovery mode. But now, for some odd reason, I just can! So I guess its time for me to flash a Custom ROM since I've had such poor battery life after rooting my phone (thanks to towelroot) and a bunch of other issues.
Do you think I should wait for an Android 5 Custom ROM or install an already existing ROM like CM11? I REALLY do love the Lollipop look, but I've been put under the impression that it's easy to switch from ROM to ROM, so is it just better to go to CM11 now and switch to a Lollipop ROM later on, when it's fully developed?
Thank you!

Hanzva said:
So in these past few months, I've messed around with my phone a couple of times and a bunch of stuff happened, and I was unable to enter recovery mode. But now, for some odd reason, I just can! So I guess its time for me to flash a Custom ROM since I've had such poor battery life after rooting my phone (thanks to towelroot) and a bunch of other issues.
Do you think I should wait for an Android 5 Custom ROM or install an already existing ROM like CM11? I REALLY do love the Lollipop look, but I've been put under the impression that it's easy to switch from ROM to ROM, so is it just better to go to CM11 now and switch to a Lollipop ROM later on, when it's fully developed?
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can install CM11 now and when Lollipop is released, I'm sure that CM brings an update with the Android 5.0 build
And Lollipop will be released for the S4 in the next year, I guess, so lot of time since then.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
You can install CM11 now and when Lollipop is released, I'm sure that CM brings an update with the Android 5.0 build
And Lollipop will be released for the S4 in the next year, I guess, so lot of time since then.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
okay great, thank you! also, I've been reading through the CM11 threads and I've noticed that there's a lot of comlplaints about battery life- how common is this?
and out of curiousity, is there a sense ROM for the s4 19505? i absolutely LOVE the sense 6 look, the settings page, the stock apps, everything looks very professional.
oh and, what other ROMs would you recommend for me? i know this is a very open ended question, but there's just so many options, i'd like to get some suggestions from people who are experienced. of course my priorities are battery life and speed.
thank you!

Hanzva said:
okay great, thank you! also, I've been reading through the CM11 threads and I've noticed that there's a lot of comlplaints about battery life- how common is this?
and out of curiousity, is there a sense ROM for the s4 19505? i absolutely LOVE the sense 6 look, the settings page, the stock apps, everything looks very professional.
oh and, what other ROMs would you recommend for me? i know this is a very open ended question, but there's just so many options, i'd like to get some suggestions from people who are experienced. of course my priorities are battery life and speed.
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I can't help you there
Visit the relating rom threads and try out.
Sense roms still exists. For example
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2402208
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
Sorry, I can't help you there
Visit the relating rom threads and try out.
Sense roms still exists. For example
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2402208
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahaha, thank you! also, one last question:
is the cyanogenmod easy install reliable? like the one on the website, is that applicable for the 19505?
do i just click on the get started button and just go on from there? or do i have to download a specific build for the 19505?
additionally, do i have to do a nandroid backup before doing this, and then restore again after its done?
also, has there been any problems with that? thank you!

Hanzva said:
ahaha, thank you! also, one last question:
is the cyanogenmod easy install reliable? like the one on the website, is that applicable for the 19505?
do i just click on the get started button and just go on from there? or do i have to download a specific build for the 19505?
additionally, do i have to do a nandroid backup before doing this, and then restore again after its done?
also, has there been any problems with that? thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, first of all, you have to do backups everytime when you flash custom firmware. I recommend you to make a Nandroid backup and Titanium backup.
But when you install a custom rom for example, it doesn't make sense to restore the nandroid backup afterwards. Because than you restore the previous rom again. Nandroid is a complete system backup. This is just for the case when something goes totally wrong.
You have to read the installation introductions and follow them, than you are safe
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
Okay, first of all, you have to do backups everytime when you flash custom firmware. I recommend you to make a Nandroid backup and Titanium backup.
But when you install a custom rom for example, it doesn't make sense to restore the nandroid backup afterwards. Because than you restore the previous rom again. Nandroid is a complete system backup. This is just for the case when something goes totally wrong.
You have to read the installation introductions and follow them, than you are safe
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ohh, okay i thought you always restore it after flashing to get all of your setting again. thank you!
also is the easy install cyanogenmod usable for i9505?
thanks!

Hanzva said:
ohh, okay i thought you always restore it after flashing to get all of your setting again. thank you!
also is the easy install cyanogenmod usable for i9505?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What du you mean with easy install?
No, for restoring apps and settings you can use Titanium backup but be careful it is difficult to restore Touchwiz system apps on AOSP rom like Cyanogenmod. This might cause trouble and won't work.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
What du you mean with easy install?
No, for restoring apps and settings you can use Titanium backup but be careful it is difficult to restore Touchwiz system apps on AOSP rom like Cyanogenmod. This might cause trouble and won't work.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
like when you go to cyanogenmod.com, theres a "get started" and it instals pretty easily; no flashing needed. does this work for i9505? also, the only apps i'd like to backup are whatsapp, bbm, some of my games and my contacts. is it possible to backup my contacts?
thank you!

Hanzva said:
like when you go to cyanogenmod.com, theres a "get started" and it instals pretty easily; no flashing needed. does this work for i9505? also, the only apps i'd like to backup are whatsapp, bbm, some of my games and my contacts. is it possible to backup my contacts?
thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will lead you to the cyanogenmod installer and this works for your device.
Yeah you can select single apps you want to backup with Titanium. You can save contacts by copying them to external sd card if you have one. Go to contacts-settings-import/export contacs. That's all. Or you download backup software from playstore but I never testet them.
Greets
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
This will lead you to the cyanogenmod installer and this works for your device.
Yeah you can select single apps you want to backup with Titanium. You can save contacts by copying them to external sd card if you have one. Go to contacts-settings-import/export contacs. That's all. Or you download backup software from playstore but I never testet them.
Greets
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
oh thank you! would you recommend the easy install version or flashing it? or is there no real difference?
thank you so much!

Hanzva said:
oh thank you! would you recommend the easy install version or flashing it? or is there no real difference?
thank you so much!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never tested it
Sorry
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
Never tested it
Sorry
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ah, thank you though!
just one last question:
do you have any tips during and after flashing a custom rom? some people said let it settle for a day or so, without re-installing lots of new apps. this would apparently minimize battery drain, but i'm not very convinced. does this work?

Hanzva said:
ah, thank you though!
just one last question:
do you have any tips during and after flashing a custom rom? some people said let it settle for a day or so, without re-installing lots of new apps. this would apparently minimize battery drain, but i'm not very convinced. does this work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never heard about it
I never did that and my battery life is normal. I guess this is kind of voodoo or stuff like that...
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

Hanzva said:
ah, thank you though!
just one last question:
do you have any tips during and after flashing a custom rom? some people said let it settle for a day or so, without re-installing lots of new apps. this would apparently minimize battery drain, but i'm not very convinced. does this work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those people are crazy and should be put on your ignore list immediately.

Lennyz1988 said:
Those people are crazy and should be put on your ignore list immediately.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i just found it through researching ahaha, but thank you!
i'll be flashing it once my phone is fully charged
so just to get this straight::
1) make a back up with CWM and Titanium
2) use the cm installer
3) reinstall all Titanium backups and apps from google play store
is that the usual order? thanks!

Hanzva said:
i just found it through researching ahaha, but thank you!
i'll be flashing it once my phone is fully charged
so just to get this straight::
1) make a back up with CWM and Titanium
2) use the cm installer
3) reinstall all Titanium backups and apps from google play store
is that the usual order? thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't forget fullwipe before and after flashing it
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
Don't forget fullwipe before and after flashing it
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
doesn't the installer do this for me? also, after flashing it too? how come?
thanks!

Hanzva said:
doesn't the installer do this for me? also, after flashing it too? how come?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, this could be. I never tried the installer ^^
I do a fullwipe also after flashing the rom. You don't have to but I do it to avoid issues.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk

DarkerTimes said:
You're right, this could be. I never tried the installer ^^
I do a fullwipe also after flashing the rom. You don't have to but I do it to avoid issues.
Sent from my Galaxy S4 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahaha okay great thanks! i'm backing up my phone now, a bit nervous since the last time i did this it didn't turn out as expected ahaha