Database Users

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!!!

The comprehensive guide to put a custom ROM on your X8 for NOOBS! (2.3)

Hello,
I decided to write this because I had a hell of a time finding out how to do this - all the information is here on the forums but not all in one place so you can just read and install the custom ROM.
The ROM that is available that I have successfully tested is CM7_RC1_X8_004
You will need the following programs:
SuperOneClick - to root your phone
Busybox - from the android Market
Xrecovery
Super Manager - from the Market
X10 Flashtool
and your ROM
Rooting
~~~~~
So First we want to root the phone, we will need to set the USB debugging mode to on. Go into settings - applications - Development and click on the tick next to USB debugging to turn it on. Plug the Phone into the PC via the USB Cable.
At the end of this post are files download SuperOneclick and extract it into a folder on your desktop then run the exe file called SuperOneClick.exe and click on root, it will scroll through a load of things then come up with a message that says "Root files have been installed would you like to run a test?" To which I always say Yes then it says "A su command will now be sent to your phone please hit allow in superuser" (there were no messages on my phone so I just hit OK on that message) Then a message comes up asking you to donate, so if that utility is handy for you feel free to donate to the makers of SuperOneclick!
You can now turn off USB debugging.
Installing BusyBox
~~~~~~~~~~~~
Go to settings - sound and display and set the screen timeout to 30 mins I have found it to keep locking while installing Busybox as it takes a while to do.
Go to the market and search for Busybox and install and accept permissions on it. once this part of the application has installed you need to run it as it has only been copied to the phone - now you have to actually install it.
So run the busybox app and say OK to the message from the developer (reading it first of course) then it will ask you for permission which you say yes.
Next we see a screen saying Status: Working, Your phone is Rooted, amount of free space in system is 10128kb, Busybox not found. (we haven't installed it yet.)
The first time I did this it took ages to get anywhere and ages to install so just be patient and wait for it. Choose Busybox 1.17.1 but change the location of the install to system/xbin (the drop down box at the bottom of the page.) Then Click Install. For me this time it failed so lets try v 1.18 and the default location. back up and then relaunch busybox installer.
I found I had to change the settings a couple times when I installed before to get it to install, you might not find that. Sure enough this time it installed fine using v1.18 and the default save location.
installing Super Manager and Xrecovery
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
First you need to download the new ROM files from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=973753
Go to the third post and download the rom: (currently
http://hotfile.com/dl/109568508/3381b40/CM7_RC1_X8_004.rar.html)
Once it's down extract the files to another folder in your desktop and you should have the files LiveWallpapers.zip, Update.zip, changelog.txt and a BASEBAND folder.
Then connect your phone and copy the three files and the folder to a new directory on your SDcard. (I called mine ROM) Now remove the cable from the PC not forgetting to unmount it first.
Then you need to download Super Manager from the market and install it then run it - choose File explorer - click on the favourite icon at the bottom(the picture of a folder and a heart) and choose SD card, navigate to your folder where you stored the files and click on all the ticks next to the files and folder and then when they are all selected click on any file and hold it till a menu appears and choose copy (This is to copy the files)
Then Click on the favourites one again and choose root path. Then go to System and then Bin and then click on one file and hold the button till the menu appears and scroll to the bottom where you see paste and click on it and this will paste the files into this folder.
X10 Flash tool
~~~~~~~~~~
Next we need to use the X10 Flastool so download it from
http://www.multiupload.com/GYL7A7XQBT
(The thread I got this from is: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=920746).
Once downloaded you need to extract the files and run X10FlashTool.exe.
Then before you plug the phone back in you need to put it into USB debugging mode again. Go into settings - applications - Development and click on the tick next to USB debugging to turn it on. Plug the phone back into the PC.
In the X10Flashtool click on the button that says ask root perms and press allow on the phone when it comes up and in the FlashTool it will say "INFO - Root Access Allowed."
Then Click Optimize and it will then reboot your phone, let the phone come back up and then in x10 Flasher click ask root perms and it should say Allowed again after a short time.
Then click on xRecovery. Power the phone off and wait for 20 seconds and then power it back on. As soon as you see the words "Sony Ericsson" appear on the screen start hammering the back button. Then the phone will boot into xRecovery.
Backup your phone
Use the sound volume up and down buttons to move up and down the menus and the home button to select the option (I think the back button is back as well). Choose the backup/restore option, then backup to backup your phone to the SD card (First the system and then the data)
Then when it's finished it will say complete and you can go ahead and put the new rom on the phone. Choose install Custom Zip, then choose custom zip from SDcard. Navigate to the directory you put your ROM in and choose update.zip it will ask you if you are sure so choose yes and it will update your phone.
Once it says Install from SDcard complete hit backup then choose the top option reboot phone.
Your Phone will then reboot into Android 2.3

Good job on this

Restoring your Phone to It's previous working state
To restore you phone back to how it was before you started all this all you need to do is Boot xRecovery by hammering the back button once you see the very first Sony Ericsson which takes you into xRecovery.
Then use the volume up and down on the side of the phone and choose backup and restore and you can choose advanced restore to restore a different component or just do a restore to do the whole phone back as it was.
I have just restored back successfully!

is there a big risk that i will damage my phone in case i will do everything in #1post step by step with instruction?

I don't really think so, but there is always the possibility when flashing your phone that you might Brick it.
I didn't break mine and I will do this to test every new firmware that comes out and because I've done it once most of the hard work is done which was installing xRecovery.
In short I offer you no guarantee this won't brick your phone what you do is at your own risk, but I had no trouble.

Yeah i know this that im doing it on my own risk, im only asking of probability of breaking phone cus i want root and install custom rom but i have a little bad luck

OK,
I don't know about failures - I haven't seen anyone complaining about destroying their phone and it didn't happen to me, that's all I know sorry.

super manager isn't copying and pasting files. i follow the guide and when i click paste, nothing happens.
edit: it just says "prepare to copy" when i try to copy the files, then nothing when i paste

stef.t97 said:
super manager isn't copying and pasting files. i follow the guide and when i click paste, nothing happens.
edit: it just says "prepare to copy" when i try to copy the files, then nothing when i paste
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In supermanager open the folder system and then select the folder Bin, you have to change the folder from read to read and write first before u can copy anything.

thanks, realized i hadn't given super manager super user permission. what do i do differently when installing Rachts Roms because they don't come with an update.zip?

stef.t97 said:
thanks, realized i hadn't given super manager super user permission. what do i do differently when installing Rachts Roms because they don't come with an update.zip?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When u have Xrecovery and make an backup it will create a folder in SD card "backup" after u download the Rom from racth u put the folder on the backup folder, then in XRecovery u go to backup then restore, u will see the rom there, just press ok and it will do the rest like the zip file.

to the OP thanks a Lot i appreciate this Guide!
and on the same vein as the others i am having some problems pasting the contents of the ROM. i have given Super manager root prves. but it says not enough free desc space which seems right to me cus there is only 128Mb storage on the phone.
i feel like i am missing sumthing basic please assist me, Thanks!

skowrone said:
Yeah i know this that im doing it on my own risk, im only asking of probability of breaking phone cus i want root and install custom rom but i have a little bad luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just need to be well prepared!!!!
Based on my experience.. I didn't really know what I've done that make my phone cannot boot... it's all because not really prepared... Need to do some research and reading 1st..
Luckily, when done some reading, I manage to boot the phone after flashing with SEUS..
And after that... I prepare to do checklist... Now.. Everything seems OK...

genghisk said:
to the OP thanks a Lot i appreciate this Guide!
and on the same vein as the others i am having some problems pasting the contents of the ROM. i have given Super manager root prves. but it says not enough free desc space which seems right to me cus there is only 128Mb storage on the phone.
i feel like i am missing sumthing basic please assist me, Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With your phone did you get a 2GB SD card? I did with mine and that's where you need to copy the ROM files to(you need to copy the files in windows to the SD card). The only thing I was copying with super manager was the xRecovery files. (and I'm not sure I needed to do that since you kinda install xrecovery on the flash tool, I just posted exactly what I did)
mss_2212, yeah using the SE repair might get you out of a few scrapes, it's good that they offer such a utility to completely flash your phone back to the latest SE update!

Well, V6.0a is now out I am downloading that as we speak.

^^ how is it running? i see BlueTooth not working.
i realize my error you were talking about copying the files for Xrecovery i thought you were referring to the ROM files.

Thanks for the help! I hope I success for the install of the last custom rom from CM 2.3! If it's good, it will be translate for the french forums! ;-)

I'm still setting it up to how I like it but so far so good - it's nie and stable for me and WI-FI works which is a dream.
Don't forget to make a backup first of your old ROM though!
Thanks

Hi!
I tried to install the last 2.3.3 CM7 with this guide, but I get a problem with the X10 flashtool... In fact, I don't understand if I have to lauch the .exe in my phone, or in the PC. Because with the phone I can "ask root perms" but I get an error (it says me to use usb debug the phone and install...) but I think that I've followed the guide And since the PC, there is no file in the "firmware" fold...
So I install the custom ROM, without that step, and it success, even if I get another problem, but I think, because of the instability of the rom (no market, and no possibility to dl by internet)
Thanks for the help!

Hello,
Not quite sure what you're getting at, I will try to help if I can (I'm still a bit of a noob really myself)
You need to run the x10 flash tool on the PC with your phone connected in usb debugging mode before it will work.
"Then before you plug the phone back in you need to put it into USB debugging mode again. Go into settings - applications - Development and click on the tick next to USB debugging to turn it on. Plug the phone back into the PC."
The Market and other applications are included in the latest version(.6a as of this writing) in a zip file called gapps-gb-20110307-signed.zip to install them you need to boot into xRecovery and choose install custom zip and then point it to that file which is next to the install.zip. Then the market will work.
v.6a is really nice but ultimately I had to revert because I needed to take some pics but a lot of stuff is working well!

[Q] problems with Google apps

Hi,
I've been experiencing some slow downs on my xperia play, so I uninstalled the Google apps(as I red on some threads). but when I attempt to open android market I noticed an empty window flashing and than closing herself. I noticed that happendsthe same every time I try to open the gmail app. I tried to install the market and gmail app downloading the .apk from the internet, and every type of reset, but without any positive results. I thought that this is happening because the missing of some app that I uninstalled previously, but can't figure out what this could be.
Please help me, and sorry for the eventually bad English:-D

Did you delete google talk by any chance?
Sent from my Xperia Play using Tapatalk

well, I don't think so, but in case this could be the cause? I'm now attemping to re-install it
EDIT: Honestly, right now i'm feeling a little noob. when i try to install the google talk .apk it says "application not insalled". How do i install it??
I've tried this: Step 1:
Download, Extract, and Transfer the contents of this zipped folder to your phone. You can simply do this by plugging your phone in via usb, and dropping the rootexplorer.apk into your download folder.
dl.dropbox.com/u/1239859/Root%20Explorer
Then, go into file manager, Tap the SD Card Tab, go to download folder, and install the root explorer.apk
Step 2:
Download, Extract, and Transfer the contents of this zipped folder to the same download folder.
dl.dropbox.com/u/1239859/Talk%20App%20and%20Services
Step 3:
Go into root explorer, navigate to your SD card, then to the download folder where you will find the following files
1 gtalkservice.apk
2 talk.apk
3 talkprovider.apk
These are the 3 you just transferred over.
Step 4:
Long press on one of those, and click copy or move. Once you click copy, you will see your next option on screen is to paste. Click back 2 times, and scroll to the bottom and you will see system, click system, then click apps. Paste that into apps. Then go back to the download folder again inside your sd card, and do the same for the remaining two files. Once all 3 are moved or copied into the /system/app folder, reboot your phone, and try to download something, if you get the force close error still, then do a hard reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
but still nothing is working.... =(

Is there a way to re-flash all the original files to stock conditions??

diobono said:
Is there a way to re-flash all the original files to stock conditions??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you have an unlocked bootloader? if you do you can flash this system image by bin4ry and it will restore all your /system files
http://unlockbootloader.sonyericsson.com/instructions#13027233107241&if_height=1139
and you can find instructions on how to flash it here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1043630

missing market on mikes rom

Just flashed mikes ics and i dont have any of the gapps icons in the menu
any help?

Re: APPS
Download this:
http://cmw.22aaf3.com/gapps/gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip
Put it in root of your sd card,go to recovery and go to flash or install update.zip
choose that zip file and then reboot, and that is it.
If that doesn't work then unzip that file on pc and go to system/app copy all or just apk's you want to sd card and use astro file manager to install it....
Say thanks if works....

aaa801 said:
Just flashed mikes ics and i dont have any of the gapps icons in the menu
any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
have you tried creating or signing accounts in account and sync settings.once you successfully log in. the app market icon will just appear. i had experience also like what you said.

unable to install B05 OTA update

So im trying to install the new BO5 update but when it finishes downloading if i click on update it will just go back to the settings without doing nothing. What should i do? i currently dont have an sdcard to the manual install

Download it from here: http://www.ztedevice.com/support/detail?id=9824F5AD299B49D8A2EE4227CFB0DB8A
Put it on internal sd card and click check for updates. You must unzip it first I think

Or this link: http://dl1.ztems.com/zxmdmp/downloa...es/HK/ZTE/ZTE A2017G/372555/fota_B16MR_B18.up
Download, rename to update.zip and place it in your phone.

i tryed but it keeps on update(0sec) and even if i click there it does nothing
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0_1iMboYBidUWdKNDdPa2w4VVk

Hello
I have downloaded and renamed (to update.zip) ... but when I check for updates the file doesn't seem to be found ....

Looloup said:
Hello
I have downloaded and renamed (to update.zip) ... but when I check for updates the file doesn't seem to be found ....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EliteS0dlier said:
i tryed but it keeps on update(0sec) and even if i click there it does nothing
https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B0_1iMboYBidUWdKNDdPa2w4VVk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the zip is a folder and in this folder is the update.zip. Save the update.zip to the SD card. Then go to the settings of the phone and select Updates and the update appears and can be installed.
Sent from my Nexus 6P using XDA-Developers mobile app