Help me get back to stock. I'm sick of xposed being installed, the mod collection, the play store, etc. I just want root and Tasker, and I'll gets apps across other ways.
But how do I truly restore/hard reset this thing. I don't want a 'factory reset' as it seems pieces of xposed or the mod collection remain and I just want it gone.
Does the alt+print method truly rewrite the OS? I don't want just /system cleared, I want all this stuff GONE!
why you ask? All the work that has been done is awesome, and provides great features. But it still feels a bit like a dirty hack and no matter what I do my system is still slow. It wasn't slow before installing all this stuff, but it still is after a factory reset. Half the mods didn't work for me, 720 no, stop updates no, play store yes, kinda, when it doesn't crash.
Thanks for listening to my rant, kinda annoyed by a forced OTA that's trying to install and preventing me from using my system right now.
Just uninstall Xposed. Then the other mods won't load.
Well, preferably I would overwrite everything that's on there and start over. I have exposed installed but only the play store is active (as nothing else works).
I heard flashing the OTA while rooted turns the flash into a complete flash instead of a partial. Is this true? Also, if I reload the boot loader (or overwrite boot loader?) In cwm installing the flash might it do a full system write?
I ask because I maintained root after my last OTA so something remained. I would like to not have this happen.
Snoman002 said:
Well, preferably I would overwrite everything that's on there and start over. I have exposed installed but only the play store is active (as nothing else works).
I heard flashing the OTA while rooted turns the flash into a complete flash instead of a partial. Is this true? Also, if I reload the boot loader (or overwrite boot loader?) In cwm installing the flash might it do a full system write?
I ask because I maintained root after my last OTA so something remained. I would like to not have this happen.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whether you're rooted or not isn't going to change how the updater script works. And if you've ever tried what you're proposing on an Android phone or tablet, you'll know that that's called "dirty flashing" (flashing on top of existing material). If you really want to go full-stock, you'll need to format your partitions [/system and /data, along with userdata first, then flash a stock OTA or zip (either via a fastboot zip, which I'm pretty sure doesn't exist right now, or via recovery).
How comfortable are you with using adb/fastboot?
Related
Everyone seems excited about this, what exactly is it? Does it just restore the phone back from root or what? I am still a WM user, but ordered a Inc so looking forward to rooting it. Just lookin ahead
It simplifies and automates the root process. Whereas before you had to sit there repeatedly rebooting and uplugging your Droid a billion times to get it into root (if at all), then follow a bunch of steps after that, this program fully automates it. All you have to do is install some drivers, start the program and it goes through and does just about everything for you, rebooting the phone and everything.
quagmire0 said:
It simplifies and automates the root process. Whereas before you had to sit there repeatedly rebooting and uplugging your Droid a billion times to get it into root (if at all), then follow a bunch of steps after that, this program fully automates it. All you have to do is install some drivers, start the program and it goes through and does just about everything for you, rebooting the phone and everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
partly true, but you need to be rooted before the reflasher will work
reflashing the recovery is a big thing. it allows you to do nandroid backups (full system backups) and flash unsigned (custom) roms. which give you options such as overclocked kernels, sense-less roms and stuff of that nature
The process the unrevoked team made flashes the clockwork recovery which allows us to flash custom roms, make nandroid backups, partition and mount and write system files... etc etc... basically allowing us to fully customize our phone with a simple, easy to use menu..
ok, so from what I understand you have to be rooted before you run recovery. You run recovery so it will give you a menu to work with instead of having to hook the phone up to the computer to add kernels or whatever you are trying to do?
I am trying to understand it all, linux is just new to me.
I think there is a misunderstanding of the purpose of recovery. Recovery has nothing to do with root, although you need it to apply a custom one. It is built into all android phones, it is what allows the phone to apply updates to /system and it also is used when wiping to factory reset the phone.
The recovery's that Amon_Ra and Koush have worked on are similar, but just with added functionality to allow things like making backups, restoring backups formating the SD card etc. By having the ability to backup and restore /system and /data it allows you to roll back to a state where the phone still functioned properly in case you went and messed something up by accident (or on purpose).
You can still have root and flash custom ROMs w/o custom recovery. its just reckless as you could be left with a broken phone.
ah ok, so basically I can backup my phone from the stock settings with the recovery program that way if I ever want to revert back to the outofbox ROM I can. Then I can try other ROMs and always be able to revert back.
That said, if I backup my phone will it save everything (account settings, programs, appearance...)?
I've searched around various forums to learn how to do a complete wipe of the system to start completely brand new. I'm not talking about simply deleting user data, but system folders as well that may have gotten modified over time. I'm looking for the equivalent of an iPhone restore (it completely wipes out everything and loads the specified firmware).
So far I've seen people saying just to click on factory reset/restore in Android's settings or in CWM, but those only take care of user settings and files. I've also seen some people say that what I want is not possible.
Please clear it up for me. Is there a way to wipe everything (or reformat) to start off new with a chosen firmware from Asus? If not, then what's the closest thing I could do to achieve what I want?
Thanks
+1
need to go back to the start. sick of the android.launcher always force closing.
help would be appreciated.
I just did this yesterday by following the unroot guide on the sticky page. It takes you back to a 8.2.something ROM with the stock recovery and then the OTA brought me right back up to the latest .11 fw.
IT also wiped CWM and now it's bone stock.
zeus2you said:
I just did this yesterday by following the unroot guide on the sticky page. It takes you back to a 8.2.something ROM with the stock recovery and then the OTA brought me right back up to the latest .11 fw.
IT also wiped CWM and now it's bone stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like this just removes/replaces the rooted files with the regular stock files, then loads the stock ROM over existing files. Yes it will appear as if you are back to out-of-box stock, but I believe you will still have random leftover files spread throughout your filesystem that had to do with modifications to root or whatever.
I'm looking for the equivalent of PC's reformat hard drive, install OS.
Spd2Last said:
Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but it seems to me like this just removes/replaces the rooted files with the regular stock files, then loads the stock ROM over existing files. Yes it will appear as if you are back to out-of-box stock, but I believe you will still have random leftover files spread throughout your filesystem that had to do with modifications to root or whatever.
I'm looking for the equivalent of PC's reformat hard drive, install OS.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I went a similar route, mainly by accident. I went through NVflash, which i believe formats and recreates partitions and will flash a rom of your choice. I went straight from format to prime 1.5 in this way. Qualitatively, it does appear a bit snappier than my previous install (root from factory > upgrade to prime).
yeah! i have noticed the leftover files etc too..
I would love to know if you found a way, specially how to format /sdcard and the internal storage
Backwardsblade said:
I went a similar route, mainly by accident. I went through NVflash, which i believe formats and recreates partitions and will flash a rom of your choice. I went straight from format to prime 1.5 in this way. Qualitatively, it does appear a bit snappier than my previous install (root from factory > upgrade to prime).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to customize what it is you want to flash? I've only found guides on how to use nvflash with a permade packages.
Just got a GTab 2 7.0 a few days ago. A P3113, so only 8GB of storage, about half of which is the ROM and crap apps. I've rooted before (had a KF 1st gen when it came out), and just wondering about a few things with the GTab:
Right now, I don't mind the stock ROM so much. There are problem things that would be "nice to have", but right now, would like to generally stay as "stock" as possible. That being said, I'd still like to "de-crap" the ROM to free up some storage space, and I assume that might lead to it running a bit better, since so much seems to just pop-in while running other apps. So:
I know I need to root first, so my first question - how reliable is that? I'm on a Mac, but have access to a netbook running Win7, so could run Odin to "get things done". I'd hate to brick the thing, still having 51 weeks of warranty left. (I also understand that I might want to install something else to keep the flash count from showing it's been flashed).
Once root'ed, is it better to use one of the "de-crapped" ROMs floating around? And if so, which seems "best" (yeah, I know the moderators hate the "which is best" - I'm looking for stock - and STABLE)
Or, is it better to eliminate the apps myself? (Not sure if this is a wholesale "rm" to remove certain apps from a terminal app, using adb, or if they have some uninstallers embedded somewhere, or...) - so better to use one of the ROMs floating around?
Is the GTab 2 "stable", so even if you trash a ROM, you can still get into the ROM manager to restore a previously working, or stock, ROM?
I'll probably come up with a couple more questions, especially depending on the replies... TIA
Hi..
I can answer some of your questions. I hope that helps!
1- Rooting is easy and reliable. you may use "CF-Auto-Root" tool (search for it in XDA forum).
But you need to remember that rooting and custom ROMs void your warranty.
2- If you just need to free some storage space, you may use an app such as "Clean Master" to uninstall system apps and get rid of temp and junk files.
3- If you opt to use a custom ROM make sure it is very well supported and maintained.
aisais said:
Hi..
I can answer some of your questions. I hope that helps!
1- Rooting is easy and reliable. you may use "CF-Auto-Root" tool (search for it in XDA forum).
But you need to remember that rooting and custom ROMs void your warranty.
2- If you just need to free some storage space, you may use an app such as "Clean Master" to uninstall system apps and get rid of temp and junk files.
3- If you opt to use a custom ROM make sure it is very well supported and maintained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - but prior to using Clean Master I assume I better either get a stock image to reload, or use CWM so I can make a backup of the ROM before messing something up?
tundrwd said:
Thanks - but prior to using Clean Master I assume I better either get a stock image to reload, or use CWM so I can make a backup of the ROM before messing something up?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Taking a backup is always good thing to do. I suggest you try clean master to know how it works and what does it do.
aisais said:
Taking a backup is always good thing to do. I suggest you try clean master to know how it works and what does it do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks - I plan to use Clean Master. Allows me to be selective about what I remove/move, instead of getting a ROM from someone and they removed the ONE THING I really wanted.
Ok, got it rooted and CWM installed.
HOWEVER, when I boot into CWM, I DON'T see an option to backup my ROM (I've used TWRP before on my KF, so the menu is different).
What I've got on my screen in CWM:
Android system recover <3e>
Volume up/down to move highlight;
power button to select.
reboot system now
apply update from ADB
apply update from external storage
wipe data/factory reset
wipe cache partition
apply update from cache
That's it. Where's the option to do a ROM backup? Oh, used file P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip Had CWM and Root all in one. I do have GT-P3113_ClockworkMod-Recovery_6.0.1.0.tar as well. Should I just go through procedure again to flash this CWM? Will it still retain SU?
nandroid backup ok to use? Seems it's just a wrapper for a backup script...
Ok - I'll reply to myself.
I don't know what was wrong with the CWM I installed via the aforementioned file (P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip), but I went to the CWM site, D/L'ed the latest touch enabled CWM for the P3113 (6.0.2.3, I believe), and installed it over the existing recovery image on the device (I had to create my own .tar.md5 - easy with *nix).
Anyway, I now have access to the backup options by scrolling down. The image from P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip, simply wouldn't scroll beyond what I listed earlier. Now can scroll down, make backups, etc.
Haven't tried yet to re-install the image I made with nandroid - I'm a bit leery of that - so I'll just get the stock 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile, and keep it around....
tundrwd said:
Ok - I'll reply to myself.
I don't know what was wrong with the CWM I installed via the aforementioned file (P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip), but I went to the CWM site, D/L'ed the latest touch enabled CWM for the P3113 (6.0.2.3, I believe), and installed it over the existing recovery image on the device (I had to create my own .tar.md5 - easy with *nix).
Anyway, I now have access to the backup options by scrolling down. The image from P3113_SAMSUNG_RECOVERY_SUPERSU-0.96_BUSYBOX-1.20.2.tar.md5.zip, simply wouldn't scroll beyond what I listed earlier. Now can scroll down, make backups, etc.
Haven't tried yet to re-install the image I made with nandroid - I'm a bit leery of that - so I'll just get the stock 4.1.1 ROM from sammobile, and keep it around....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's exactly what I did today, grabbed the stock image for a backup, rooted with Odin and CWM then flashed a CM based 4.3 ROM. Piece of cake.
Hi all,
it's been a while since i started following you and 'till now i haven't had any issue at all.. over the last few days i started experimenting with my N4.
As of now i keep in unlocked, rooted with stock kernel and.. no custom recovery. Bad thing is i've done some crap steps, other than not having a recovery:
1 after unlocking/rooting, i uninstalled some pre-build apps (korean/pying/imeikeyboard/exchange..)
2 everything seemed fine
3 today i tried sideloading 5.1.1 and, of course, it gave me error "couldn't find 'koreanblabla'"
4 i deleted those apps from the ota
5 it passes the apps check but failed upon signature verification - no surprise, i was expecting this.
Now, how do i have that - modified - ota signature ok?
Wipe is not an option, i'd rather buy a new phone lol
Installing those app neither, i'd wanna stick with "my way" : F
I've found these.
jhshi.me/2013/12/02/how-to-create-and-sign-ota-package
source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/sign_builds.html
BTW, along with overclock.net - and reddit lol -, that's one of the best communty driven portal.
Thanks.
urielejh said:
Hi all,
it's been a while since i started following you and 'till now i haven't had any issue at all.. over the last few days i started experimenting with my N4.
As of now i keep in unlocked, rooted with stock kernel and.. no custom recovery. Bad thing is i've done some crap steps, other than not having a recovery:
1 after unlocking/rooting, i uninstalled some pre-build apps (korean/pying/imeikeyboard/exchange..)
2 everything seemed fine
3 today i tried sideloading 5.1.1 and, of course, it gave me error "couldn't find 'koreanblabla'"
4 i deleted those apps from the ota
5 it passes the apps check but failed upon signature verification - no surprise, i was expecting this.
Now, how do i have that - modified - ota signature ok?
Wipe is not an option, i'd rather buy a new phone lol
Installing those app neither, i'd wanna stick with "my way" : F
I've found these.
jhshi.me/2013/12/02/how-to-create-and-sign-ota-package
source.android.com/devices/tech/ota/sign_builds.html
BTW, along with overclock.net - and reddit lol -, that's one of the best communty driven portal.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Due to the way 5.0+ does signature checks, if you are even just rooted with stock recovery and no other changes, you have to unroot and revert to stock to install the OTA. It now checks the whole partition and will error if even a byte is out of place. You can either do that, or just flash the images directly, which I find to be the easiest.
Why you don't use factory image and edit flash-all.bat. Remove -w switch and flash. You will lose root and recovery but all apps and data remains.
viktorlj said:
Why you don't use factory image and edit flash-all.bat. Remove -w switch and flash. You will lose root and recovery but all apps and data remains.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whatwaitwhat?!
what will that do? is that similar to windows' refresh?
Yes, it will install complete system without wipe. But you must edit flashall.bat and remove -w switch.
what if i reinstall those uninstalled apps? will the integrity check be ok?
If you decide to use factory image there is no integrity check.
mmm
urielejh said:
what if i reinstall those uninstalled apps? will the integrity check be ok?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, because you had to be rooted to remove them in the first place. You have to be unrooted to use the OTA, it has nothing to do with those apps. If you replace, you will just get an error at a different part of the OTA sideload process.
Use the images, as another poster said, you can remove -w from flashall to prevent the wipe (I prefer to always wipe to ensure a clean install however. I don't have anything which I don't backup or can't reinstall quickly)
ok, guys, think i'm done.
using Nexus Root Toolkit i've flashed 5.1.1 update without wiping.
Thanks. pity that i didn't make it the hard way lol
I flashed the no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip to disable the internal encryption, but now the phone can't boot into the OS anymore. It can still boot into TWRP, is there any way to recover it? Thanks.
awdrifter said:
I flashed the no-verity-opt-encrypt-5.1.zip to disable the internal encryption, but now the phone can't boot into the OS anymore. It can still boot into TWRP, is there any way to recover it? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol that zip doesn't 'disable encryption', it prevents the system from encrypting the storage the first time that it boots with a non-encrypted storage. Installing SuperSU or Magisk is usually enough because they have that script integrated too.
The way to fix it is to go to Wipe --> Advanced wipe --> Format data --> type 'yes'. You're gonna lose your internal storage and data.
After doing that, don't reboot. Go to Install and flash Magisk or SuperSU or that no-verity zip (only flash one of those).
Well, I tried to update TWRP last night and I think I have completely bricked it. To flash it back requires opening up the phone, which I'm not going to do. Maybe I'll make a smash the phone video later. I'm glad I only attempted this after I got a new phone, never ZTE, never again.
awdrifter said:
Well, I tried to update TWRP last night and I think I have completely bricked it. To flash it back requires opening up the phone, which I'm not going to do. Maybe I'll make a smash the phone video later. I'm glad I only attempted this after I got a new phone, never ZTE, never again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol the one who messed up was you, not ZTE
If you knew that flashing that zip on an already-encrypted storage wouldn't do anything, it'd still work...
Also, I'm curious: What did you do to brick your phone while attempting to update TWRP? It was as simple as putting the .img on your phone and goin to Install image...
Well, if I knew why it bricked I wouldn't flash it would I? The ZTE phone had some kind of encryption in the internal storage, I was trying to disable it. It probably tripped some security measure. The phone's software was garbage the day I got it (almost 1 year ago). After I rooted it I thought I could flash some third party rom to fix it, but since it was encrypted I can't. I didn't want to mess with my only phone, so I begrudgingly used it for almost a year, but now that I have a replacement phone, I thought I would attempt to disable the encryption and flash different rom just to experiment before giving the phone away. So in a sense I already written off this POS. Never ZTE, never again.
awdrifter said:
Well, if I knew why it bricked I wouldn't flash it would I? The ZTE phone had some kind of encryption in the internal storage, I was trying to disable it. It probably tripped some security measure. The phone's software was garbage the day I got it (almost 1 year ago). After I rooted it I thought I could flash some third party rom to fix it, but since it was encrypted I can't. I didn't want to mess with my only phone, so I begrudgingly used it for almost a year, but now that I have a replacement phone, I thought I would attempt to disable the encryption and flash different rom just to experiment before giving the phone away. So in a sense I already written off this POS. Never ZTE, never again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay. For anyone who comes next: it is NOT NECESSARY to root the phone to install a custom ROM! Simply with unlocking the bl and installing TWRP, then wiping system and formatting data, then using the universal bootloader and modem, you can install a custom ROM.
I was asking what you did to brick it while updating TWRP. Never heard about something like that