Database Users

[Q] Regarding TWRP and Custom ROMs

Hi, I am not too sure if I posted this in the right place or not but please let me know if it is posted in the wrong place. I am actually relatively new towards rooting of an android device so i need to clear my doubts.
I used Wugfresh toolkit to root my Nexus 10. The toolkit also have an option to install TWRP. But the version of TWRP is not the most updated one. So, can I just download the latest one and flash it or i need to remove the current one before I can update the version.
Also, I am interested in flashing a custom ROM. But my question is if a new stock firmware is out, how am i going to update to the latest stock firmware when I am in a custom ROM.
Please let me know if you don't understand my question. I will try my best to explain further and also thank you in advance.

iOrdinary said:
Hi, I am not too sure if I posted this in the right place or not but please let me know if it is posted in the wrong place. I am actually relatively new towards rooting of an android device so i need to clear my doubts.
I used Wugfresh toolkit to root my Nexus 10. The toolkit also have an option to install TWRP. But the version of TWRP is not the most updated one. So, can I just download the latest one and flash it or i need to remove the current one before I can update the version.
Also, I am interested in flashing a custom ROM. But my question is if a new stock firmware is out, how am i going to update to the latest stock firmware when I am in a custom ROM.
Please let me know if you don't understand my question. I will try my best to explain further and also thank you in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TWRP typically recommends installing and updating their recovery via Goo's app thing, but if you know where to look (openrecovery on goo + manta), you can get the .img and then flash it with fastboot. I usually do fastboot erase recovery and then fastboot flash boot TWRP-IMAGE.img. But if you don't feel too comfortable with fastboot, then Goo's program should take care of it I think.
If you want to try the latest stock when you're using a custom ROM, you'll need to flash the latest factory image from Google to go back stock, and then update it (unless the factory image is updated to the latest, which doesn't usually happen till days later). Just want to make sure you backup anything important.

espionage724 said:
TWRP typically recommends installing and updating their recovery via Goo's app thing, but if you know where to look (openrecovery on goo + manta), you can get the .img and then flash it with fastboot. I usually do fastboot erase recovery and then fastboot flash boot TWRP-IMAGE.img. But if you don't feel too comfortable with fastboot, then Goo's program should take care of it I think.
If you want to try the latest stock when you're using a custom ROM, you'll need to flash the latest factory image from Google to go back stock, and then update it (unless the factory image is updated to the latest, which doesn't usually happen till days later). Just want to make sure you backup anything important.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, for TWRP, it means that I can restore the stock recovery before I flash the TWRP img right? Because I am using the Wugfresh toolkit to run all these fashboot commands and they only have the options to either flash a custom recovery or to restore the stock recovery.
As for the custom ROMs, every time I flash a ROM, all my stuff in my Nexus 10 will be gone right? For example my game progress etc. Because if I were to backup, I will make a nandroid backup which means every single thing in my nexus. So, correct me if I am wrong. Every time I flash a ROM, my nexus will be back to a clean state right?
Thank you in advance for your answers. ^^

I'm a nervous noob.

This is a pretty specific question and i'm not sure this is the correct place to ask this but i recently installed the stock rom (Via Zip) on this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2527806 . I flashed just the rom NOT including the bootloader (Because i don't know what it does) and the .97 radio because there seems to be some issues with it. Now, everything is working perfectly as it did before. What i'm wondering is after today's random new 4.4 factory image and ota update from Google (I think its krt16s); i know they are probably going to compile a flashable zip, and if they do what exactly do i need to do?
I'm extremely weary when i do these kind of things, the last time i flashed any sort of rom was on my OG RAZR. Would i have to install that new bootloader? (Also what exactly does it do) And would i have to wipe?
I can make the radio judgement on my own but i'm just not entirely sure.
If anyone could answer my questions that would be wonderful, i'm also sorry for posting this here, i'm not allowed to post in that thread because i'm "new" to the site.
Thanks!

you dont have to sorry as you are in the right section for asking questions.
You can either wait for a day or two for someone to post a flashable zip file. If someone do post it; all you have to do is copy it to your phone. Reboot to recovery mode; make sure you have cwm recovery installed. From there choose "install zip" > install zip from sdcard, choose the flashable zip. Once it finishes installing, clear cache partition and reboot. You will not lose anything in the phone.
If you want to install the new krt16s stock update. First, copy all of your files (pictures/music/data etc...) to your computer. This will wipeout everything. Download the image file. Open it with winrar or 7zip. Extract all the files to a folder. Connect your phone to the computer and reboot it to bootloader. Run the "flash-all.bat" file from the extracted files. Wait for it to finish. It will update everything (kernel, bootloader and the new 4.4)

You should know what something is before flashing them wildly, that's the easiest way for people to brick their phone by flashing something incompatible with their devices. Bootloader is the main program that boot first when you turn on to phone to make selftest and boot normally into the operating system kernel, with Nexus you can use it boot into recovery and flash images to partitions as well. It's very recommended to update it along with new Android version or you may run into issues. You should already know this since you had to access the bootloader screen to boot into the CWM recovery.
Stick with using CWM for now and flash the flashable zips. Just make a full backup of your device you can always restore it later. Just know that unless you flash radio separately (aka baseband), roms generally and should not come prepackaged with the baseband, so it is not affected when you flash a different rom, you have to upgrade it manually.
When you flash a new Android version, usually its recommended to do a factory reset in your recovery to avoid issues.
Installing factory image takes a few more steps and required using fastboot, but if you want to check the link in my sig. Also I recommend switching to TWRP recovery, but that's just me.

badboy47 said:
you dont have to sorry as you are in the right section for asking questions.
You can either wait for a day or two for someone to post a flashable zip file. If someone do post it; all you have to do is copy it to your phone. Reboot to recovery mode; make sure you have cwm recovery installed. From there choose "install zip" > install zip from sdcard, choose the flashable zip. Once it finishes installing, clear cache partition and reboot. You will not lose anything in the phone.
If you want to install the new krt16s stock update. First, copy all of your files (pictures/music/data etc...) to your computer. This will wipeout everything. Download the image file. Open it with winrar or 7zip. Extract all the files to a folder. Connect your phone to the computer and reboot it to bootloader. Run the "flash-all.bat" file from the extracted files. Wait for it to finish. It will update everything (kernel, bootloader and the new 4.4)
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Click to collapse
I see, me personally, I'm not very fond of using adb; I haven't used it at all prior to yesterday. I may try this out, but should someone post the new kernel, boot loader, 4.4 and radios would that be the same as flashing the factory image?
This probably seems like a really stupid question but I wouldn't be smart to try to download the ota directly from the phone (via check for updates) would it?

joshvader8 said:
I see, me personally, I'm not very fond of using adb; I haven't used it at all prior to yesterday. I may try this out, but should someone post the new kernel, boot loader, 4.4 and radios would that be the same as flashing the factory image?
This probably seems like a really stupid question but I wouldn't be smart to try to download the ota directly from the phone (via check for updates) would it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to learn to use adb and fastboot if you want to be able to do advance things with the phones, or just avoid flashing too much, because once you run into trouble (especially due to using toolkits), you will not know how to recover your device.
If you want your device to be stock and able to receive OTA updates, in addition you also need your stock rom to be an "odexed" version, some roms are "deodexed" which will not receive OTA. You also need to have stock recovery, which CWM isn't.

eksasol said:
You need to learn to use adb and fastboot if you want to be able to do advance things with the phones, or just avoid flashing too much, because once you run into trouble (especially due to using toolkits), you will not know how to recover your device.
If you want your device to be stock and able to receive OTA updates, in addition you also need your stock rom to be an "odexed" version, some roms are "deodexed" which will not receive OTA. You also need to have stock recovery, which CWM isn't.
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Click to collapse
Thank you! One more question, let's say I revert back to my nandroid back up. I backed my ROM up on Android 4.3 rooted and unlocked with CWM. If I flashed the 4.4 factory i image what exactly would happen? Would I boot into 4.4 absolutely stock? Or would I end up with 4.4 unlocked etc...?
Thank you for the help I really appreciate it. ☺

joshvader8 said:
Thank you! One more question, let's say I revert back to my nandroid back up. I backed my ROM up on Android 4.3 rooted and unlocked with CWM. If I flashed the 4.4 factory i image what exactly would happen? Would I boot into 4.4 absolutely stock? Or would I end up with 4.4 unlocked etc...?
Thank you for the help I really appreciate it. ☺
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you flash factory image (using fastboot method), it will wipe your entire device and all user data, and you will boot into stock. Except if you do it manually you can prevent datas from wiping, follow these steps and pay attention to the red texts.
Sometimes apps data from older version can cause issues with newer version though, so a clean install is always best.
But if you have custom recovery, you can flashable stock roms, such as this one by fireb33, it's essentially the same as stock. Get the "odexed" version which is required to get OTA updates. Some peolpe say they can get OTA with custom recovery, but I have never tried that. The safest bet is to use fastboot to restore to stock recovery. You could also use custom recovery to flash OTA update packages to update versions that way.
As for backing up, people tends to call the backup "nandroids". After you do backup, if you're doing something that required the device to be wiped, you need to copy the backup to your pc. The CWM nandroids are usually located in 'clockworkmod' folder, but if you don't see it, search in "/data/media". I do not use CWM so I don't know what it allows you to back up, but generally "boot" (which is the kernel), system, and data partitions. It will not restore everything to stock such as your radio (baseband) or recovery.
I highly recommend switching to TWRP recovery, it will make flashing a lot easier.

[Q] Nexus 10 back to modified stock?

N10, rooted (supersu), unlocked bootloader, TWRP Touch recovery v2.6.3.1, Omnirom 4.4.2, Franco Kernel R16, ART.
I been flashing a lot, tried many roms... Now looking to go back to stock, but still want to use TWRP, and FK. I'm torn between using xposed (for AppOps and other cherrypicked mods) and Dalvik, or no xposed and ART...
My Question is, what is the best way to get back to stock 4.4.2 KOT49H, while keeping root and custom recovery. Do I need to sideload the factory image, re-root, and re-install custom recovery? Ideally I'm looking for a zip I can just flash along with supersu while keeping the custom recovery. I've looked for a zip file for pure aosp, but all I am finding is the sideload files from google's git, or "pure" AOSP roms with mods....
Also, I feel silly asking this because it seems pretty basic and I probably should already know at this point... The bootloader needs to stay unlocked once a custom recovery is installed, or should I be re-locking? I have been leaving it unlocked, for fear of bricking (aware bricking is not a huge deal with Nexus) but as I understand it, there are security concerns leaving the BL unlocked. Or am I way off base here?
TIA

Not much for security concerns, at least not for me. I personally always keep bootloader unlocked
As for keeping things similar but going back to stock +rooted, I would do this
Download factory image (just Google search: android factory image and grab appropriate one)
Unpack all on pc
Then boot to recovery, make a nandroid and then move all wanted files to PC (next steps involve some data loss)
Boot to bootloader
fastboot erase system -w
fastboot erase boot
fastboot flash system system.img
fastboot flash boot boot.img
Now boot to recovery and should have an option to flash su, if not sideload a su.zip here
Now reboot, you will be stock kernel and ROM, and will be rooted and have same recovery as before
Best of luck!
Sent from my Nexus 4 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

How to backup or make stock recovery

I've been doing some research to understand rooting, unlocking, and other Android stuff, but one thing I still haven't figured out is how people "make" a stock recovery image, so that for example after flashing TWRP you can go back to the stock recovery (which I read is one way to install future updates). I think in general it would be possible if rooted, but for ZE551KL, so far I'm pretty sure the only way to root is to unlock and install TWRP. So, how would one make a backup of the stock recovery? If it can't be backed up without root, do people get it from somewhere else, firmware releases maybe? I looked but seems to be mostly a giant system.new.dat file...
Past that specific question, where can I learn more about the partition structure of my phone? Like where is the recovery in the file system?
Thanks for the help!

Is it OK to clean flash Factory Image in TWRP?

I want to make a clean Install of factory image (Android 8.0 Oct) on my Nexus 6P with TWRP.
Should wipe Dalvik, Data, System and Internal storage, then move the stock zip file (That I downloaded from google's web) from my computer to my phone and just install in TWRP? Will it work?
Device is unrooted, only has an open boot loader, I just want to make a clean install of Android 8.0

If you wipe your internal all your downloads and your factory image are gone.
Sure you can flash the unpacked *.img with twrp, but don't try to flash the bootloader or radio with twrp.
If you really want a clean start and wipe everything, then you should flash the factory image with fastboot. This will update your bootloader and radio too.

coremania said:
If you wipe your internal all your downloads and your factory image are gone.
Sure you can flash the unpacked *.img with twrp, but don't try to flash the bootloader or radio with twrp.
If you really want a clean start and wipe everything, then you should flash the factory image with fastboot. This will update your bootloader and radio too.
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Click to collapse
Hi coremania, I have a few questions towards this method.
1. If the stock image is stored in either external SD card OR USB OTG, even then will there be any problem installing the the stock rom back using TWRP?
2. If the boot loader is unlocked, should one has to re-lock it first before reinstalling the stock rom either thru' TWRP or thru' Fasboot commands?. and finally,
3. Is it not advisable to flash the stock rom from the full factory image using TWRP rather than Fastboot?
(As I think it is easier to flash thru TWRP than typing those ADB commands in Fastboot).
Thank you for your inputs.

AndroMani said:
Hi coremania, I have a few questions towards this method.
1. If the stock image is stored in either external SD card OR USB OTG, even then will there be any problem installing the the stock rom back using TWRP?
2. If the boot loader is unlocked, should one has to re-lock it first before reinstalling the stock rom either thru' TWRP or thru' Fasboot commands?. and finally,
3. Is it not advisable to flash the stock rom from the full factory image using TWRP rather than Fastboot?
(As I think it is easier to flash thru TWRP than typing those ADB commands in Fastboot).
Thank you for your inputs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you decide to flash and test some stuff the bootloader should be always unlocked. If anything will went wrong and your bootloader is locked you're mostly f***ed. Never relock your bootloader until you want to sell your device.
I mostly use flashfire to flash stock and custom roms, TWRP is ok too, but it's easier to keep root and TWRP with flashfire by flashing stock images. Do not flash bootloader and radio with flashfire, never ever !!! There are TWRP flashable zips for bootloader and radio here on XDA, you only should use these with TWRP, but the safe way for bootloader and radio is fastboot for sure. Fastboot is the safest way for flashing stock,
but not absolutely necessary, you have to decide this for yourself.
Edit: to your first question, I never flashed with USB otg on the n6p, but I think yes it should be fine.

I hope someone here can help answer this question. I also want to flash factory image version 8.1.0 on my nexus 6P. But somehow my phone is not recognized by any computers I tried to plug it in. When I plug in the usb cable to the phone, it doesn't pop up the usb notification to choose MTP for file transfer. Then I try with Developer tab in Settings to choose it manually (USB debugging is enable) but it still doesn't work. My laptop has been updated with android usb drivers and other stuffs. I have a second phone (Oneplus 1) and it's recognized by my laptop the moment I plug it in. Please suggest any solutions to fix this. Thanks everyone.

sinjok said:
I hope someone here can help answer this question. I also want to flash factory image version 8.1.0 on my nexus 6P. But somehow my phone is not recognized by any computers I tried to plug it in. When I plug in the usb cable to the phone, it doesn't pop up the usb notification to choose MTP for file transfer. Then I try with Developer tab in Settings to choose it manually (USB debugging is enable) but it still doesn't work. My laptop has been updated with android usb drivers and other stuffs. I have a second phone (Oneplus 1) and it's recognized by my laptop the moment I plug it in. Please suggest any solutions to fix this. Thanks everyone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check your cable, or try a different with different port.
In the Dev options you can reset the debugging options, i guess a reboot is necessary afterwards.

coremania said:
If you decide to flash and test some stuff the bootloader should be always unlocked. If anything will went wrong and your bootloader is locked you're mostly f***ed. Never relock your bootloader until you want to sell your device.
I mostly use flashfire to flash stock and custom roms, TWRP is ok too, but it's easier to keep root and TWRP with flashfire by flashing stock images. Do not flash bootloader and radio with flashfire, never ever !!! There are TWRP flashable zips for bootloader and radio here on XDA, you only should use these with TWRP, but the safe way for bootloader and radio is fastboot for sure. Fastboot is the safest way for flashing stock,
but not absolutely necessary, you have to decide this for yourself.
Edit: to your first question, I never flashed with USB otg on the n6p, but I think yes it should be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for the clarification. So, far I have not faced a situation to flash my custom recovery either thru' TWRP or thru Fastboot. Instead, I am using my Nandroid backups taken from TWRP and using it to restore my system after I try a custom rom OR upgrade my system with the latest Magisk version for a systemless root. So far there are no issues. But, I wanted to be aware of the methods to go back to stock (without any user installed apps/data) if need be. I read in some forums that we need to re-lock the unlocked bootloader if we want to go back to stock rom using fastboot. Otherwise, the system will not be installed alright and might cause a bootloop.
That's why I wanted to clarify.
Thanks again for your inputs.

AndroMani said:
Thank you for the clarification. So, far I have not faced a situation to flash my custom recovery either thru' TWRP or thru Fastboot. Instead, I am using my Nandroid backups taken from TWRP and using it to restore my system after I try a custom rom OR upgrade my system with the latest Magisk version for a systemless root. So far there are no issues. But, I wanted to be aware of the methods to go back to stock (without any user installed apps/data) if need be. I read in some forums that we need to re-lock the unlocked bootloader if we want to go back to stock rom using fastboot. Otherwise, the system will not be installed alright and might cause a bootloop.
That's why I wanted to clarify.
Thanks again for your inputs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to ever relock your bootloader. If you want to try stock and use TWRP try SuperXe 8.1. It's just flaahable stock with some extras you can opt out of your not intereseted.

AndroMani said:
Thank you for the clarification. So, far I have not faced a situation to flash my custom recovery either thru' TWRP or thru Fastboot. Instead, I am using my Nandroid backups taken from TWRP and using it to restore my system after I try a custom rom OR upgrade my system with the latest Magisk version for a systemless root. So far there are no issues. But, I wanted to be aware of the methods to go back to stock (without any user installed apps/data) if need be. I read in some forums that we need to re-lock the unlocked bootloader if we want to go back to stock rom using fastboot. Otherwise, the system will not be installed alright and might cause a bootloop.
That's why I wanted to clarify.
Thanks again for your inputs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't confirm the relock and unlock method to go back to stock. Senseless to me.