I'll soon be "creating" a new ROM. It will be the unadulterated MF3 system and kernel - not including bootloaders, modem, or recovery. The purpose will be to allow Devs to flash and play with the original MF3 system/kernel without losing Loki/root - but still have the original code to work with. It doesn't even need to be Lokified.
Before I begin crafting the .zip file for this thing, I wanted to check with the community here to see if it is an acceptable practice to create a rom that overwrites the /dev/block/mmcblk0p16 partition directly. Personally, I would have no problem with this, so long as I knew 100% that the rom was intended for my device. However this might not be acceptable, considering if a newbie from another handset (with different pit mapping) flashed it, it could potentially brick their device.
That being said, what would be the best way to pack this rom such that I don't break permissions or otherwise accidentally soil this 100% stock rom?
If it is acceptable to simply write to the partition directly, just let me know. I'll be sure to put warnings in my post, telling people not to flash this on anything other than the device(s) it was intended for.
Thanks.
UPDATE:
I ended up just flashing the partition by name, instead of by partition number. This way, the integrity of the image is maintained, but the safety of not hard-coding a partition number is included. If you're stumbling upon this post and wondering what the result was, this is it.
Hi.. Im new here with this device i read almost every single post here but there are quite a few things that I don't get it..
What is bootloader? Should i unlock it before rooting the device? And recovery here is in Chinese so shall i get TWRP instead? Also about the flashing Roms issue that erase imei and SN.. why would that happen? And How can i take a backup for these in case i lose them.. Some people mentioned SN writing tools but some people says its not working so im abit confused.. And has anyone noticed that the flashlight of the mobile is actually yellow that affects camera's captures? I would be really grateful if someone helps
1. What is a Bootloader?
Hboot, or we may call it Boot-loader, is like BIOS to windows. It is the first thing that runs when you boot up your Android device. It packages the instructions to boot operating system kernel and most of them are specifically designed to run their own debugging or modification environment.
Every Android phone has a boot-loader that instructs the operating system kernel to boot normally. But you need to understand one thing here that as Android OS is an open source OS and is available on a variety of different hardware, every manufacturer has their own version of bootloader specific for the hardware present in it’s environment.
2. Should you unlock it before rooting the device?
It solely depends on you whether you want to unlock it or not. Unlocking bootloader will give you access to installing custom recoveries on your phone and also you can use custom kernels to boost up phone's performance or simply get more battery juice. Since our K4 note doesn't have any custom kernels so good luck with that.
Warning: Unlocking Boot-loader voids phone's warranty
3. Why does IMEI/SN erases while flashing ROM's
People don't read the tutorial properly. They blame the OP instead when they do something wrong and loose their IMEI/SN.
What basically happens is, when flashing ROM's through SP flash tools, They should flash it in "DOWNLOAD" mode only and not in "Format ALL" mode. People who all lost their IMEI basically did this mistake.
4. How to Backup and Restore your IMEI/SN (NVRAM)
All the device specific details such as IMEI, SN, MAC addresses are stored in a partition called as NVRAM. So backing it up will indirectly be referring to backing up your IMEI/SN. Here is how you can do it.. LINK
5. How to install Recovery?
if you are on Marshmallow then you will be able to install recovery through this thread. LINK
6. Yellow Flashilight problem?
This bug is introduced in Android V6.0 that is marshmallow. Actually this is not truly a bug. Unlike on Lollipop which had only one LED light enabled during Camera operations, Lenovo decided to enable both of the LED's (That is white and yellow) to give the images a more true LIVELY appeal.
But terming this as bug here because nobody liked it and users were pissed off straightaway. Hopefully, Lenovo will fix it soon.
Hit Thanks if i helped..
Krishnas096 said:
1. What is a Bootloader?
Hboot, or we may call it Boot-loader, is like BIOS to windows. It is the first thing that runs when you boot up your Android device. It packages the instructions to boot operating system kernel and most of them are specifically designed to run their own debugging or modification environment.
Every Android phone has a boot-loader that instructs the operating system kernel to boot normally. But you need to understand one thing here that as Android OS is an open source OS and is available on a variety of different hardware, every manufacturer has their own version of bootloader specific for the hardware present in it’s environment.
2. Should you unlock it before rooting the device?
It solely depends on you whether you want to unlock it or not. Unlocking bootloader will give you access to installing custom recoveries on your phone and also you can use custom kernels to boost up phone's performance or simply get more battery juice. Since our K4 note doesn't have any custom kernels so good luck with that.
Warning: Unlocking Boot-loader voids phone's warranty
3. Why does IMEI/SN erases while flashing ROM's
People don't read the tutorial properly. They blame the OP instead when they do something wrong and loose their IMEI/SN.
What basically happens is, when flashing ROM's through SP flash tools, They should flash it in "DOWNLOAD" mode only and not in "Format ALL" mode. People who all lost their IMEI basically did this mistake.
4. How to Backup and Restore your IMEI/SN (NVRAM)
All the device specific details such as IMEI, SN, MAC addresses are stored in a partition called as NVRAM. So backing it up will indirectly be referring to backing up your IMEI/SN. Here is how you can do it.. LINK
5. How to install Recovery?
if you are on Marshmallow then you will be able to install recovery through this thread. LINK
6. Yellow Flashilight problem?
This bug is introduced in Android V6.0 that is marshmallow. Actually this is not truly a bug. Unlike on Lollipop which had only one LED light enabled during Camera operations, Lenovo decided to enable both of the LED's (That is white and yellow) to give the images a more true LIVELY appeal.
But terming this as bug here because nobody liked it and users were pissed off straightaway. Hopefully, Lenovo will fix it soon.
Hit Thanks if i helped..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahaaaaa Thanks Alot now it get it all.. Hope they fix that soon.. And i read that some devs here is willing to make a custom kernel i guess.. thanks again and sorry for wasting ur time.. Btw have u noticed that the sound on headset and Bluetooth is also abit lower than other devices?
Lenovo A7010 - CM13.0 Android 6.0 on lenovo-forums.ru
Here's my understanding of getting custom ROMS for your device by doing little to no work.
If SHARP isn't releasing the source code, can't we just go and flash a ported ROM zip?
First, you find a device with exactly the same specs as yours: Easiest way to do this is googling phones with the same processor.
https://www.kimovil.com/en/list-smartphones-by-processor/qualcomm-snapdragon-400-msm8926
Now, we press "Compare" and see if we can find a phone that has exactly the same camera and/or other components.
Let's assume that our cameras are going to work out-of-the-box, and sort it down.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/leon
Oh, lookie! A phone with pretty much exactly the same specs, and a community that is making/porting ROMS for it?
https://forum.xda-developers.com/leon/development/aosp-5-1-1-lg-leon-ms345-t3611883
Hey, an Android 5.0 ROM?
Now, knowing the information we know now. Can't we logically go into the (aosp-5-1-1-lg-leon.zip) and change around the MANIFEST values to make sure they point to the correct places? Can't we change around the configuration so it will install?
I don't know all too much about porting ROMS, but if it's as truly as easy as I'm explaining it, why haven't we done it yet?
(Feel free to correct me if I have any details wrong! I'm open to criticism!)
Quick Update:
To begin porting other ROMs, I am compiling an actual flashable ZIP (Stock ROM Image) to use as a base for the other images. I am getting my sources from here: http://www.sharpusa.com/Home/CustomerSupport/SharpCareCenter/MobileSupport/OpenSourceCode.aspx
And compiling them using AnyKernel. I will post flashable ROM.zip here when I am done.
updates
Rhioun said:
Quick Update:
To begin porting other ROMs, I am compiling an actual flashable ZIP (Stock ROM Image) to use as a base for the other images. I will post flashable ROM.zip here when I am done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
any progress?
Yes, I managed to make a flashable Aquos Sharp zip, based off Kernel Version S4081.
Currently, I'm attempting to get a ported ROM over.
I'll post the flashable Stock ROM though:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Fuy6MV4s8RU0NUMzRvLVp5WjA/view?usp=sharing
hi thanks for all very good news
can i flash with 305sh factory unlocked and rooted ?
No, that is a ROM for the 306SH.
The 305SH files are on a Japanese version of the Sharp website.. the links on these forums somewhere.
I can't test 305SH files, since I only own a 306SH.
If you could find the links for the 305SH system.img and boot.img, I could compile a flash able ROM for you.
Else, search around for a TWRP backup for the 305SH that you could restore on your phone.
Rhioun said:
Yes, I managed to make a flashable Aquos Sharp zip, based off Kernel Version S4081.
Currently, I'm attempting to get a ported ROM over.
I'll post the flashable Stock ROM though:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0Fuy6MV4s8RU0NUMzRvLVp5WjA/view?usp=sharing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you paste a few pictures? THX
This seems like a cool idea. I'm willing to help with some testing if I can catch up. I remember getting this phone a few years back and due its low popularity I never thought it would get rooted. Now that it is I am at a loss of what to do. (I think I may have messed up a few things during my previous attempts at rooting, I can no longer access my security tab and my phone no longer detects the sim card.)
Any tips on how to get it safely backed up? (not that it's in great shape) I tried the TWRP tool and that gave me the option to backup "recovery" and "boot" (not that I really know what those are). I am not sure if it's actually making the files or where I should be storing them or how I would recover from them. I can see the files with ES file explorer but not with windows.
I really need to figure out what I'm doing XD
A TWRP Backup is a nandroid backup, in essential, it took a backup of the whole partitions. The partitions include names that identify them, such as boot, recovery, cache, system, etc.
It is just asking you to restore what partitions you want from your nandroid backup.
Let's say, you updated to a new TWRP version, but it is buggy or something, and you wish to switch back. Simply click "Restore" and select only "recovery" and it should flash your nandroid backup of the recovery partition to your existing recovery partition, and you'll have your old TWRP again.
Since you messed a few things up already, I'd suggest you go with the full nandroid backup, leave everything selected, and click "Restore".
Hopefully you made the backup before you began fiddling too much with your phone!
Rhioun
Any progress at work?
I've tried porting multiple ROMs, looking for compatibility. I've had zero success in getting one to boot up. Either the device goes to a black screen after the primary Sharp Boot Logo, or it boots up TWRP immediately after the Sharp Logo.
I saw how another guy on these forums also made a flashable room for the Sharp Aquos Crystal using Superr's Android Kitchen, so I believe my next trial-and-error phase will lie there. However, before I do that, I plan to use his flashable ROM as a base to port other ROMs, and see if I have any more luck.
Maybe my flashable ROM was invalid somehow.
Anywho, I highly recommend anyone who's interested in porting ROMs for this phone to begin to do so. We have plenty of materials scattered about, and DuckDuckGo is your friend.
Don't hesitate to try.
Thanks, and I'll hopefully keep this thread updated about my progress.
I've working on an Android 5.1 RR ROM from the LG Leon. I've (so far) replaced a majority of firmware files and updated symlinks, dumped vendor files, replaced a few .ko files, edited the build.prop and updater-script, configured the fstab from the ramdisk, copied over the kernel built for the Sharp Aquos Crystal, and rebuilt the boot.img. I customized the updater-script to include chameleon.img, modem.img, and persist.img (partitions that assist with connecting to Sharp, and some kernel configurations).
This has been a lot of tweaking to the ROM, and I tested it and was thoroughly disappointed when my device began to bootloop. (Goes to Sharp 1st boot screen, and reboot, go to 1st boot screen, reboot, etc.). TWRP won't boot when this happens, and holding Volume Down+Power will yield nothing. You can't even power off the device, troubling because the battery is (nigh impossible to remove) not meant to be removed. No matter, although, holding Power Up+Power puts the device in fastboot more (the led will hold solid white) and from there you can successfully power off the device and start up TWRP. Luckily, I made a TWRP backup before I tried flashing the ROM, so I was able to restore back to that. However, I edited a good deal of things, so I just need to know what is causing the bootloop, or maybe then ROM, even ported, is simply incompatible with our Crystals.
I looked around, and found XDA Forums that promote the use of logcat to figure out why a device isn't booting. I am going to try this next, and if it yield nothing, I will find another phone to try porting a ROM from. (We have a good deal with the same processor, shouldn't be too hard.)
Sent from my Aquos Crystal
Still patiently waiting for a ROM. I'm still holding on to this device just because i have been watching this thread and i have hope it will have run custom ROM one day.
Geodripp said:
This seems like a cool idea. I'm willing to help with some testing if I can catch up. I remember getting this phone a few years back and due its low popularity I never thought it would get rooted. Now that it is I am at a loss of what to do. (I think I may have messed up a few things during my previous attempts at rooting, I can no longer access my security tab and my phone no longer detects the sim card.)
Any tips on how to get it safely backed up? (not that it's in great shape) I tried the TWRP tool and that gave me the option to backup "recovery" and "boot" (not that I really know what those are). I am not sure if it's actually making the files or where I should be storing them or how I would recover from them. I can see the files with ES file explorer but not with windows.
I really need to figure out what I'm doing XD
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for my reply earlier, I skimmed your post and thought you were trying to RESTORE a backup since your phone was in such terrible condition.
Just to be clear, unless the 306SH gets a new recovery, there is usually no reason to backup "recovery" as that is just backing up your current TWRP.
(Usually used in case a new TWRP version is buggy and you want to restore back to your old one)
However, certainly backup boot as that contains all kernel files and ramdisk settings, and without it, the phone would not 'boot'.
Just backup everything. Leave everything checked. (Unless you're a stickler for space.)
I recently made a flashable Aquos Crystal Stock ROM (seems camera and data and everything work fine) with no carrier-specific apps installed.
I can supply you with that, or, if you'd prefer, I can make a TWRP backup of a factory default 306SH phone and send it your way,
for either of them, just put one on your SD Card and if TWRP Backup, press "restore" and select the backup I provided you with, or for flashable ROM, press "flash" and navigate to it.
There is really no difference between them.
However, some things to note if you do want me to supply you with a backup.
It has SUPERSU preset installed. (I can't change this. It made its way into about everything.) So, if you want to use apps like (Android Pay, Applike), you will have to open SuperSU, and click "UNRoot" and take it off.
I have fixed Kitkat 3rd Party SD Card write privileges, (bug in android 4), and that fix has also seemingly worked itself into my factory default as well. (No disadvantages to it, although..)
Both of these files will fix your issues and supply you with a factory default environment.
If you, or anyone else in this forum would like a factory default TWRP backup, or flashable zip, feel free to say so.
I'm at a standstill. I've gotten my hands on a niche version of CyanogenMod 11, and replacing some vital files, I got it to boot on Sharp Aquos Crystal.
However, files I replaced were apk's, system ui, libs, and breaks some (most) functionality of Cyan 11.
I need a boot log tool of sorts so I can replace files, do a boot log, figure out what is causing a boot loop, or forever boot, and fix it.
I looked online, and everyone is all about the logcat. However, I tried this and it says "waiting for device".
So the device does not reach booting adb daemon.
I need a tool that will save a boot log.txt to the SD card at boot, (I imagine init.rc ) so that I may debug the ROM and then use the working ROM (and logging tool) to port more recent ROMs.
Anyone know of any such logging facility/tool?
keep it up
Does anyone know of a boot debugging/logging tool? There must be one. Please reply to this forum or PM me about one, as I do need one.
It is vital to building a ROM, rather than stupidly copy-pasting and blind guessing playing at Roulette trying to get the ROM to work.
Please. I need one.
Why is every rom in this thread instructing us to dirty flash but then say they won't give support to those that dirty flash. You must wipe the system and data otherwise it's not a clean install and if you do end up trying to clean install any rom you soft brick your device. What is going on with the OnePlus development and why is the source for the roms so incomplete that they can't install without oos being installed first. Kind of defeats the point of having an unlocked bootloader doesn't it?
I asked before and only thing I got was vendor and firmware.
That being said most ROMs flash without issue. Omni is the only one I had real issue getting to boot. It is important not boot to system before flashing anything else and to make sure both a/b are flashed proper.
Dirty flash comes from the days where custom kernels would modify system to implement own drivers, e.g. WiFi.
Kernels using Anykernel2 usually don't need this, but don't rely on it. If you dirty flash your current ROM you make sure there are no remnants in system.
But settings present in data could cause issues hence no support for dirtty flashes. To report a bug, wipe, do a clean install and if it's still present, move forward. Hope this helps.
Thank you guys for informing me. I couldn't find the reason online I kept getting a run around. Still this sounds like a pain but as long as there's a method to the madness ?