Database Users

Very Quick Question

If I take a ROM in .ZIP format and unzip it on my PC into a folder with the same name...
Then delete any .APKs of programs I have no use for (Twidroid, facebook, etc) and then replace the boot.img with a different kernel of my choice and different SuperUser.apk...
Can I then ZIP this primary folder and load it as a ROM onto my MT3G?
Forgive me if this sounds really stupid, but I have no idea.
Would it need to be "cooked" before I can load it??

When you cook you need to make sure the gloves are on and you have the oven's temp turned up real nicely to fry that thing
I guess you didnt search or something? I need you to confirm that you cant/can see this at the top left corner of screen:
xda-developers > Dream > Dream Android Development
Press Dream then head to Q&A section please.Wait a sec...Thats not a Dream..You belong here for asking q's about your phone:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=480
Just do a search for signing tool and it shows up.

rbrainard said:
If I take a ROM in .ZIP format and unzip it on my PC into a folder with the same name...
Then delete any .APKs of programs I have no use for (Twidroid, facebook, etc) and then replace the boot.img with a different kernel of my choice and different SuperUser.apk...
Can I then ZIP this primary folder and load it as a ROM onto my MT3G?
Forgive me if this sounds really stupid, but I have no idea.
Would it need to be "cooked" before I can load it??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
its more complicated than it looks...
First u will have to know if removing those .apk will not cause any trouble...
Second u will have to sign the apks u r going to add, and signed the zip too...
about changing the boot.img has been tried before in another thread...
but most important u will have to search, search and read, read...
going to try and find some thread for u, before the mods closed this...

Need to have it resigned...once a zip file is open it breaks the signature but I would aslo like to kno if this is possible

ilostchild said:
Need to have it resigned...once a zip file is open it breaks the signature but I would aslo like to kno if this is possible
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
here its a thread about resigned:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=473580
read it all, has interesting stuff, but keep searching...
actually i would like to try this too...
if u ask devs, unless they want to teach u, great...

Wow...
You can open zips (roms/updates) and browse them without the need to resign them. If you change any of the contents in a zip (rom/update) file, as in remove or add, then you have to resign. You do not have to resign the apks you add to the zip (rom/update) file.
To do what you want to do, refer to the link about signing zips that was posted above. Remove the APKs, sign the zip (rom/update) file, and apply the update to your phone.

bring in the wrecking crew!

anyone know how to run this on a mac?

Ha people had post, but the one that make the thread, its no where...

Sweet! Thanks folks.
The "Search" function is the most important in any forum, but it does the user no good if they have absolutely positively no idea what to search for... lol
My goal is to take Manup's Eclair_2.1-v1.5 and remove all the .APKs I don't have any use for... Swap the boot.img for the eclair one with the 10MB hack, replace the SpareParts.APK with one that contains "Keep home app in memory" option, etc, etc, etc.

rbrainard said:
If I take a ROM in .ZIP format and unzip it on my PC into a folder with the same name...
Then delete any .APKs of programs I have no use for (Twidroid, facebook, etc) and then replace the boot.img with a different kernel of my choice and different SuperUser.apk...
Can I then ZIP this primary folder and load it as a ROM onto my MT3G?
Forgive me if this sounds really stupid, but I have no idea.
Would it need to be "cooked" before I can load it??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You've just described in detail what about 90% of roms out there really are: open zip, add/remove files, ..., profit!!!
As mentioned correctly by Moonspoon, all you'd need afterwards is to sign your package (just to ensure that there's no problems with the signature, delete the three files inside /META-INF (leave the folders alone)).
Also, as mentioned by ginatojr (kind of...), you have to know which files you're removing, for example, removing TelephonyProvider.apk, well, that should be obvious. One that's not so obvious is gtalkservice.apk. When I first started, I removed it because I though it was part of Google Talk, when in fact it's more closely related to GoogleApps and SubscribedFeedsProvider.
The only times you want to deal with signatures is if your roms come from two different sources (if you're using an AOSP test-signed core and want to toss in some release-singed Google apps), but for the most part it's unnecessary and mostly discouraged as it's a different can of worms.
So, yeah, that's basically "Rom Cooking 101", where most other people releasing roms are at "Rom Cooking 102", there's really nothing to it.

rbrainard said:
Sweet! Thanks folks.
The "Search" function is the most important in any forum, but it does the user no good if they have absolutely positively no idea what to search for... lol
My goal is to take Manup's Eclair_2.1-v1.5 and remove all the .APKs I don't have any use for... Swap the boot.img for the eclair one with the 10MB hack, replace the SpareParts.APK with one that contains "Keep home app in memory" option, etc, etc, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The keep in home might not work on 2.1 roms yet.

If this works out... My future plans would include doing this to streamline and modify any ROM of my choice as they are released.
I have absolutely no intention of modifying ROMs for redistribution.
This will be for my own personal needs alone.

Can anyone tell me where the .APK files of Market downloads are stored on the handset?

rbrainard said:
Can anyone tell me where the .APK files of Market downloads are stored on the handset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NEVERMIND!
Found them in /SDCard/BackupRoot/app directory.

Is it possible to move/install any .apk to /system/app

sorry for the double post
Curious..........when we install .apks do they alreadly know where to install its self. some apks i can completely move to the /system/app/ and others go straight to /data/app where most apks go and cannot be moved without FCing
IS there a way to force all data that i want to system/app/
just wanted to know if this is possible...would be sweet
TIA

As far as I know if you install them manually you can install them wherever you want. System or data.
While rom building I've put non-standard apps into the system/app folder with no problem.

If you put them in the system/app folder you might need to make sure the permissions are set right.

bp328i said:
If you put them in the system/app folder you might need to make sure the permissions are set right.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well here is my situation.........
i want to use the HTC_IME_lo.apk mod found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416
then I would like to Remove the stock HTC_IME.apk im sure everyone does this...
then i cook
bake and
flash but it doesnt install
how do i edit the permissions or maybe there is another solution ???????
TIA fellow chefs

DS36 said:
Well here is my situation.........
i want to use the HTC_IME_lo.apk mod found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416
then I would like to Remove the stock HTC_IME.apk im sure everyone does this...
then i cook
bake and
flash but it doesnt install
how do i edit the permissions or maybe there is another solution ???????
TIA fellow chefs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm probably out of my league here, but I would guess that you should be able to add in the new keyboard (to the SYSTEM folder), select the new keyboard as your default keyboard (using an SMS app or something), then once it's selected you're good to go. You may be able to even delete the old one at that point without any errors?
However, you mentioned cooking and baking so this is what's over my head. Sorry if this doesn't help you.
Also, like that other dude said... "other" apps like the ones installed from the Market usually go in DATA. I noticed that when some ROMs have Maps installed in SYSTEM and you go to update it, it will install the newer version in DATA. I remember seeing in the logcat during boot that the phone detects both versions and just ignores the older version in the SYSTEM folder.

DS36 said:
Well here is my situation.........
i want to use the HTC_IME_lo.apk mod found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=624416
then I would like to Remove the stock HTC_IME.apk im sure everyone does this...
then i cook
bake and
flash but it doesnt install
how do i edit the permissions or maybe there is another solution ???????
TIA fellow chefs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have used that exact keyboard on ROMs in the past. I did a straight install from the SD card using a file explorer, Astro to be exact.
Maybe I'm missing what you are trying to accomplish, but that's how I installed it. I'm not up on the cooking and baking, but maybe it's different if you are trying to add it to the ROM prior to flashing?
To remove the standard HTC_IME.apk, I would install the new one first then go into adb shell and remove it that route.

The only way I know how to change permissions is by using the Root Explorer app. If you have that you mount r/w and navigate to the apk you wanna change. Then you long press it and go to permissions. It looks like all the ones in /system/app are "User: Read, Write; Group: Read; Others: Read". Hope this helped!

zwade01 said:
The only way I know how to change permissions is by using the Root Explorer app. If you have that you mount r/w and navigate to the apk you wanna change. Then you long press it and go to permissions. It looks like all the ones in /system/app are "User: Read, Write; Group: Read; Others: Read". Hope this helped!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great info guys but actually im trying to build a Rom from scratch in the Rom Kitchen.......
when i flash the Rom to my Phone i want the keyboard i want and not the stock one built in at all....i actually remove it while in the kitchen....
so basically if you were to flash this rom to you phone the stock is gone and the custom will be there.....
P.S. I already know about removing the htc ime_mod via ADB after i flash but i want it gone before
TIA everyone great info

ANYBODY ??????

Install your own apps via xRecovery - Collection of xRecovery files

Hi Guys!
Now that finally the devs arrived with some amazing ROMs, I change these ROMs a lot every day. But I experienced some problems because I often do that at work where I don't have adb shell available. So I created an xRecovery zip-file to install Android Terminal Emulator before booting into the ROM the first time.
That gave me the idea to offer you some zip-files with useful (free) applications you perhaps want to have pre-installed on any ROM before booting it.
I also attached two blank zip-files where you can easily add your own apps, perhaps a preferred keyboard in your language or whatever you want to push onto your phone via xRecovery.
If somebody's interested we could turn this into some kind of collection for universally usable xRecovery files.
How to use the blank zip-files:
To use this method, you need to have the app available as an apk-file, of course.
If you have the app already installed on the ROM you're looking to replace, you can just use a root file manager like Root Explorer to copy and paste the apk file from \data\app\ to your SD card.
If you cannot get the apk file, you can request it here or send me a PM and I'll try to prepare the zip-file for you. Don't ask me to do this with paid apps! This whole method is meant to be used with free apps and I will not add or support warez in any form!
Okay, now let's start. As you can see, I attached two blank zip-files: blank_data-app.zip and blank_system-app.zip. Why two of them?
There are basically two locations where you'll want to install your own apk's:
\data\app\ --> contains all non-system-relevant user apps and should be your choice in most cases. If you install here, you can easily uninstall the apps later if you don't need them anymore.
\system\app\ --> contains system-relevant and pre-installed apps such as vending.apk / phonebook.apk / Email.apk / Gmail.apk / Calender.apk / etc.
Only install here if you want to replace one of these apps with a themed one or if you want to force-update market for example! It's not possible to uninstall anything you installed here the usual way! You'll have to use Titanium Backup or another third-party app.
Only overwrite existing apps in this folder if you know what you're doing!
So, just choose where you want to install your app, open (NOT extract!) the corresponding file with a zip-file manager of your choice (I'd recommend 7Zip or WinRAR) and drag the apk-file you want to install into data\app\ (for blank_data-app.zip) or system\app\ (for blank_system-app.zip. pretty obvious, huh? ). Confirm to copy the file there and close the zip file.
That's it. Now you just have to give your zip-file an appropriate name and push it onto your SD card to install it via xRecovery-->install custom zip-->choose custom zip from sdcard.
__________________________________________________
Some comments on the zip-files attached:
- Android_Terminal_Emulator.zip:
This is useful if you installed a new ROM and experience problems like flashing homescreen or no GSM/data connection. In that case, open ATE and type the following:
su (confirm SuperUser rights)
busybox killall servicemanager
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This will restart the phone and hopefully solve your problems. (I know this mini guide seems not to fit here, but perhaps someone reads it before spamming the dev thread with questions that were answered a thousand times )
- JIT_Enabler_v2-zdz.zip:
all KUDOS go to zdzihu. Make sure you visit his thread to always get the latest version of JIT Enabler.
Note that you only need this file on 2.1 ROMs where JIT Enabler isn't pre-enabled! On 2.2+ ROMs JIT is always included.
- New Market V2.2.11.zip:
Make sure to sign into your google account and open market once (accept licence agreement) before you update to the new market. Many people experience problems if they don't do this!
- TitaniumBackup-3.6.7.1.zip:
You can also create this file yourself. If you open TB and tap on Settings-->more... there's an option to create an update.zip
- XDA_app.zip:
Useful for any kind of problems of course
__________________________________________________
So, not much of a collection at the moment, but perhaps there's interest for something like that. If you know something that will come handy to have it preinstalled, just tell me!
Cheers
qwer23

very nice idea, but i was wondering if there is a guide to how to make .zip files for xrecovery
"instead of giving me a fish to eat for a day, teach me how to fish!"
Sent from my X10 using Tapatalk

mezo9090 said:
very nice idea, but i was wondering if there is a guide to how to make .zip files for xrecovery
"instead of giving me a fish to eat for a day, teach me how to fish!"
Sent from my X10 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i like that point of view! well i only found one for creating a whole update. zip for a rom with android kitchen I can explain some of the basics inside this zip file this evening after work. a zip just for installing apps is created quite easily. it gets more complicated if you have to set permissions and things like that.
Sent from my rooted X10i using XDA App

good idea!
thanks

Great! thanks a lot for this useful guide, I will use it.
Just one question in the same line like mezo, If I already have a rom zip file and I want to add to this rom the apps, would it be possible? and Could you explain us? or its just copy the files inside the \data\app\ folder?
Thanks again for your help.

Great idea, thanks!
Sent from my Freex10 2.2.1 Darkstyle

770G said:
Great! thanks a lot for this useful guide, I will use it.
Just one question in the same line like mezo, If I already have a rom zip file and I want to add to this rom the apps, would it be possible? and Could you explain us? or its just copy the files inside the \data\app\ folder?
Thanks again for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as the apps aren't system-relevan, it's as easy as that, yes
For all of you willing to learn more: I'm quite a noob, too, but I'll try to make a tutorial on how to create recovery zip-files as soon as I can.
Won't be today though, because I'll go out to party into my birthday this evening
So long,
qwer23

mezo9090 said:
very nice idea, but i was wondering if there is a guide to how to make .zip files for xrecovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use the Android Kitchen to create custom zip files, I use the Cygwin method as it makes file management a little easier imo.

Great idea man, a lot of thanks!

1 zip - several apps
Is it possible to create one zip to install several apk's?
Maybe I have a few "stock" apps, the ones that I always need, and want to install all in a single step.
Can this be done or I have to install one by one even using xRecovery?
Thanks!
Great tuto and thank you for sharing

jpdediego said:
Is it possible to create one zip to install several apk's?
Maybe I have a few "stock" apps, the ones that I always need, and want to install all in a single step.
Can this be done or I have to install one by one even using xRecovery?
Thanks!
Great tuto and thank you for sharing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can throw as many apps as you want into the zip file. everything inside the data\app folder will be installed
Sent from my rooted X10i using XDA App

Hello all. Ihave a problem with xRecovery 0.2 (the last release) when I reboot my phone holding the back button a few moments after the SE Logo appears, it doesn't work. I've installed it with the xRecovery installer and with the FlashTool with BusyBox 1.17 installed. I'm on a X10 2.1 Generic . Thaks

Gugoo said:
Hello all. Ihave a problem with xRecovery 0.2 (the last release) when I reboot my phone holding the back button a few moments after the SE Logo appears, it doesn't work. I've installed it with the xRecovery installer and with the FlashTool with BusyBox 1.17 installed. I'm on a X10 2.1 Generic . Thaks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, the xRecovery depends upon its version of busybox. In the version I use it is 1. 15. 3
So re-install xRecovery(just in case).
Secondly, u don't hv to keep the back key pressed but tap it a few times repeatedly during the screen with "Sony Ericsson" logo.
Hope this helps.
Regards
kLouD™
Sent from my X10i on zdzihu's 2.2.1(beta3) using XDA App

thanks for the info!

kloud_ said:
Secondly, u don't hv to keep the back key pressed but tap it a few times repeatedly during the screen with "Sony Ericsson" logo.
Hope this helps.
Regards
kLouD™
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thx but that doesn't working =(

it works ! thx

bro i need your help... im using froyo custom rom on my x10.. now i need to install backup & restore apps but it said apps cannot installed. so how to install it using xrecovery... i have the apk as well.. but i think the apk is for Eclair.

Sof_600 said:
bro i need your help... im using froyo custom rom on my x10.. now i need to install backup & restore apps but it said apps cannot installed. so how to install it using xrecovery... i have the apk as well.. but i think the apk is for Eclair.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry, backup and restore only works with stock se rom and mods based on it (like kx10 or blue sparks,...). it's impossible to install on any 2.2/2. 3 or 2.1 AOSP rom.
Sent from my rooted X10i using XDA App

in deed ..you only have to press twice.. (press one..wait one sec then press again and release...and wait for the terminal to popup) voilà!
--------
hey im having a problem.
I know that you will say "this belong to another thread" but since this way i can trick the thing and install again the system apps like the Package administrator etc, i need to know what to do in mi case with this method:
mi BETA3 was working smooth!
iv been using the BETA3 a long time but some days ago, suddently i couldn't install apps anymore (thouse that are in mi SD or frome the market...not even Applanet...nothing)
The screen shows the "barber shop black and white" bar rolling and rolling and never stop.
Mi USB detection is not working, that means that mi PC is recognazing the phone (it sound like a UYSB is been conected) but never apear the folder of the SD. nto even options of debugging usb etc in the notification bar of the device.
and when i get in Settings> runing aplications, all aplication are in "calculating..." mode. so they say 00 mb. and never stop triying to get the numbers. its so odd.
the other aplication (that came installed with the BETA) works fine.
I have tryed, erasing the firmwares and isntalling them from the beginning and everything worked fine with old firms like 2.0 and 2.1 update1. too!
then i do the root (first z4root, then busybox, then xRecovery) and make xrecovery work. install the beta 3, and again i can't do anything.
i triyed installing the BETA4 but never stop rebooting so i just yield and stick with BETA3.
any idea..plzzz!!! i really don't whon't to use Eclair...it's just so ugly!!

it's not working on mi xRecovery. i put the apps insinde app folder of thwe .zip and put it in a random folder of mi SD, then do >the Recovery > install custom.zip>Choose from SD card>confirm install the selected "blank_data-app.zip".
and it say:
Finding update package.....
opening update package.....
E i asume E means Error!) can't open blablabla/blblabla folder/blank_data-app.zip (bad)
installation Abnorted.
i asume iv done something wrong...!?!?
PS: BTW can somebody sen me the original .apk of FROYO bwecasue i can't find them , to use the system-apps.zip
thanxxx!!!

[Q] Customising a custom ROM

OK, finally decided to pass on to a custom ROM, and the choice fell on sunaabh 1.1
Now the question is, I downloaded the ROM and I see it's a standard zip file. Is it possible to further customize it by removing/substituting/adding/updating files in the correct folders, and then flash it normally?
As an example, update the hosts file, removing the useless HTC apps, preinstalling titanium or any other app I like?
If it is possible, should I unzip the ROM, do my things, and zip it back, or does it require anything special?
Thanks in advance!

Veon11 said:
If it is possible, should I unzip the ROM, do my things, and zip it back, or does it require anything special?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it should be as simple as that. Most likely you do not need to re-sign the rom.zip since you're already using a custom recovery (assuming you have rooted your phone), but I signed mine anyway, so I didn't get to confirm it myself. Good luck and have fun!

Veon11 said:
OK, finally decided to pass on to a custom ROM, and the choice fell on sunaabh 1.1
Now the question is, I downloaded the ROM and I see it's a standard zip file. Is it possible to further customize it by removing/substituting/adding/updating files in the correct folders, and then flash it normally?
As an example, update the hosts file, removing the useless HTC apps, preinstalling titanium or any other app I like?
If it is possible, should I unzip the ROM, do my things, and zip it back, or does it require anything special?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can do exactly that. Open it up, mess around, making sure everything stays in the correct folder, zip it back up, and you're done. No need to sign if you're on Clockworkmod recovery.

[Q] How to make an update script

Hey all.
I've been searching all over, for a guide to make your own update script.
Did take a look at corky's thread, but that was not what I had planed for.
Since I play a lot around with ICS on my HD2, I kinda wanna do a simple update.zip script, so I can install all those programs that do not follow the aosp rom.
For instance:
Install those apk's you have on the side, and then flash it in cvm
Is it possible??
Hope I explained it good enough ;-)

Stenager129 said:
Hey all.
I've been searching all over, for a guide to make your own update script.
Did take a look at corky's thread, but that was not what I had planed for.
Since I play a lot around with ICS on my HD2, I kinda wanna do a simple update.zip script, so I can install all those programs that do not follow the aosp rom.
For instance:
Install those apk's you have on the side, and then flash it in cvm
Is it possible??
Hope I explained it good enough ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
eyeyeyeyeyeyey... searching skills need improvement D
yes its, possible. in fact its very easy
here you go:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=936175
one more hint. just take an existent rom.zip. delete what is inside and put your own files in there. and check the updater script, if it needs adjustments. use total commander to open the zips as normal folders. this way you wont mess up the compression or other settings. generally, total commander is best allround tool ))