Related
So I just installed EH06 (from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1221253) and it's running well, but it's loaded up with a bunch of stock apps I'd like to get rid of. Is there a easy way to get rid of these apps? (sprint tv, nascar, etc) I basically want to barebones it as much as possible.
Thanks!
I use super manager, free on the market, to remove unwanted stock apps.
I tried deleting the files from \system\app but wasn't able to get rid of them. (using super manager)
Hit menu, goto setup, check root function (I also have silent installer checked) then next time you enter system/app/ it should ask if you want it to be r/w, select that and it should allow you to remove them.
Had root already enabled, had to get into settings and hit the 'switch system r/w' settings and then it was fine. Just browsed to /system/app and got rid of the junk i didn't want to keep. thanks for the help/reply!
joshag said:
So I just installed EH06 (from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1221253) and it's running well, but it's loaded up with a bunch of stock apps I'd like to get rid of. Is there a easy way to get rid of these apps? (sprint tv, nascar, etc) I basically want to barebones it as much as possible.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use root explorer or adb (adb is a pc app).
+ 1 on root explorer
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
what is asphalt under?
http://forum.sdx-developers.com/index.php?topic=5341.0
I still use that. It's a terrific, easy tool.
othan1 said:
http://forum.sdx-developers.com/index.php?topic=5341.0
I still use that. It's a terrific, easy tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I use as well.
othan1 said:
http://forum.sdx-developers.com/index.php?topic=5341.0
I still use that. It's a terrific, easy tool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
Sent from my frozen Syndicated Beast...
stir fry a lot said:
This is what I use as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep, it gets the job done.
edit: oh yea and it has a backup feature so use it.
It's no fun to remove something only to find out that thing you removed is more important than you thought THEN find out that you need to either reinstall or start a pointless thread asking people to post apks for you.. nobody likes that guy. don't be that guy.
MaxPatlick said:
Yep, it gets the job done.
edit: oh yea and it has a backup feature so use it.
It's no fun to remove something only to find out that thing you removed is more important than you thought THEN find out that you need to either reinstall or start a pointless thread asking people to post apks for you.. nobody likes that guy. don't be that guy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol. very true.
joshag said:
So I just installed EH06 (from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1221253) and it's running well, but it's loaded up with a bunch of stock apps I'd like to get rid of. Is there a easy way to get rid of these apps? (sprint tv, nascar, etc) I basically want to barebones it as much as possible. The first solution is better but their is more way to skin a cat.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here is another approach if you are willing to reflash download this Rom: Samsung-Epic-EH06-DeOdex-Update then open the zip file using 7-zip, winzip or a similar archive program. Afterward open the system folder and then the app folder, then delete or add the .apk file you want or don't close the archive and save your progress. Afterward flash this Rom Via CWM and then you are done.
jamice4u said:
Here is another approach if you are willing to reflash download this Rom: Samsung-Epic-EH06-DeOdex-Update then open the zip file using 7-zip, winzip or a similar archive program. Afterward open the system folder and then the app folder, then delete or add the .apk file you want or don't close the archive and save your progress. Afterward flash this Rom Via CWM and then you are done.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it really that easy?
Will it work with the tar/ODIN as well?
I'm trying to create an 'update.zip' file to flash after installing a new rom. The problem is, it doesn't actually create a zip file. It just duplicates every file in the backup folder.
Any ideas?
wvcadle said:
I'm trying to create an 'update.zip' file to flash after installing a new rom. The problem is, it doesn't actually create a zip file. It just duplicates every file in the backup folder.
Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just created a zip file containing the apk to be flashed in recovery. Is that what you are doing? Go to menu and head to Special Fetures to create an update.zip of the tb apk that's flashable.
kpjimmy said:
I just created a zip file containing the apk to be flashed in recovery. Is that what you are doing? Go to menu and head to Special Fetures to create an update.zip of the tb apk that's flashable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I apologize. I should've clarified. I'm trying to create an update.zip file that contains all of my backed up apps, via Menu/Batch actions, under Recovery mode. It's narrative says, 'Create "update.zip" from app+data backups'. I assumed this would do what I was thinking it would do.
wvcadle said:
I apologize. I should've clarified. I'm trying to create an update.zip file that contains all of my backed up apps, via Menu/Batch actions, under Recovery mode. It's narrative says, 'Create "update.zip" from app+data backups'. I assumed this would do what I was thinking it would do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that is what it does. So you are saying when you are running that command, a series of additional file folders?
kpjimmy said:
Yes that is what it does. So you are saying when you are running that command, a series of additional file folders?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let's call it a bit of confusion on my part. Not necessarily unwarranted though, because it places both update.zip files outside of the TB folder. Since everything I've had it back up to this point was dumped in the TB folder, I never thought to look elsewhere.
As for the extra files... let's chalk that up to me seeing things?
[click] Thanks for the responses.
wvcadle said:
Let's call it a bit of confusion on my part. Not necessarily unwarranted though, because it places both update.zip files outside of the TB folder. Since everything I've had it back up to this point was dumped in the TB folder, I never thought to look elsewhere.
As for the extra files... let's chalk that up to me seeing things?
[click] Thanks for the responses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah...yes you are correct. Both instances will create an "update.zip" on the 'sd card' of the phone outside of TB. What I do is edit the name to something like appsupdate.zip for the apps and left the other update.zip alone.
kpjimmy said:
Ah...yes you are correct. Both instances will create an "update.zip" on the 'sd card' of the phone outside of TB. What I do is edit the name to something like appsupdate.zip for the apps and left the other update.zip alone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever flashed your apps zip in recovery? If so, did everything go well?
wvcadle said:
Have you ever flashed your apps zip in recovery? If so, did everything go well?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I attempted it a few days ago when coming from 4.2.2 to 4.3. It didn't go very well lol. It would flash the appsupdate.zip, lets say, and I see the apps get flashed, but, my recovery would reboot the phone. Bottom line it didn't work for me at that time. I'll try it after lunch to see how it functions when I have root and the phone is happy and stable lol.
What I did was just download TB from the play store and restored my apps from my backup folder once I got root again.
kpjimmy said:
I attempted it a few days ago when coming from 4.2.2 to 4.3. It didn't go very well lol. It would flash the appsupdate.zip, lets say, and I see the apps get flashed, but, my recovery would reboot the phone. Bottom line it didn't work for me at that time. I'll try it after lunch to see how it functions when I have root and the phone is happy and stable lol.
What I did was just download TB from the play store and restored my apps from my backup folder once I got root again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It threw me for a loop when moving from 4.2 to 4.3, due to having to change it to /legacy/. Think this had anything to do with it, or no, since you were in recovery?
wvcadle said:
It threw me for a loop when moving from 4.2 to 4.3, due to having to change it to /legacy/. Think this had anything to do with it, or no, since you were in recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe, not sure. I'm going into recovery now. Looks like everything is installing currently. When I did this last time. It tried flashing and booted up without a prompt. It does auto boot up after flashing btw.
Booting up.....
looks good!
kpjimmy said:
Maybe, not sure. I'm going into recovery now. Looks like everything is installing currently. When I did this last time. It tried flashing and booted up without a prompt. It does auto boot up after flashing btw.
Booting up.....
looks good!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! Glad to see something work as it's supposed to. Of course, TB is solid, with a solid development team, so it should!
After I install a rom I delete about 130 apk with Titanium Backup.
Can somebody point me in a direction on how I can make a flashable zip for removal?
I do not know where to find the full names of the apk's and where to start.
I have screenshots of all apk's I delete with TB.
LyLu said:
After I install a rom I delete about 130 apk with Titanium Backup.
Can somebody point me in a direction on how I can make a flashable zip for removal?
I do not know where to find the full names of the apk's and where to start.
I have screenshots of all apk's I delete with TB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I might be able to help with this.
I wished to created one and managed to seek help on XDA on accomplishing this.
I've attached the debloat script.
In order to edit it you'll need to open it up on a computer and use Notepad++, thought when I used that I seemed to always get an error then when attempting flashing in TWRP. So I used my phone to do so.
Navigate to:
META-INF/com/google/android and open the updater-script file
You'll need to add/remove the lines such as:
delete_recursive("/system/app/AAAService");
Just make sure that you keep all formatting the same, such as making sure no unnecessary spaces are left in between lines and that each line keeps the semi-colon at the end of each sentence.
Then flash in TWRP.
Be mindful that there is part in that script that will wipe the caches too. Also the script is a little messy and I need to get round to deleting some as I think there are some duplicates. It's a huge heavy debloat list at present, inclusive of alot of Samsung stuff. So edit accordingly.
I've settled just for freezing them so far but it's my intention to finalise this debloat script and use after flashing a new rom.
Let me know how it goes.
cd993 said:
I might be able to help with this.
I wished to created one and managed to seek help on XDA on accomplishing this.
I've attached the debloat script.
In order to edit it you'll need to open it up on a computer and use Notepad++, thought when I used that I seemed to always get an error then when attempting flashing in TWRP. So I used my phone to do so.
Navigate to:
META-INF/com/google/android and open the updater-script file
You'll need to add/remove the lines such as:
delete_recursive("/system/app/AAAService");
Just make sure that you keep all formatting the same, such as making sure no unnecessary spaces are left in between lines and that each line keeps the semi-colon at the end of each sentence.
Then flash in TWRP.
Be mindful that there is part in that script that will wipe the caches too. Also the script is a little messy and I need to get round to deleting some as I think there are some duplicates. It's a huge heavy debloat list at present, inclusive of alot of Samsung stuff. So edit accordingly.
I've settled just for freezing them so far but it's my intention to finalise this debloat script and use after flashing a new rom.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much! I will have a look and test
LyLu said:
Thank you very much! I will have a look and test
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
I've still yet to test if but waiting in a new version of my favourite rom to be released.
I'm tempted to get a Note 8 port rom and debloat the hell out of it, even all Samsung stuff and try make as pure android as possible experience. Or do the same with an S8 rom. But for now just settled with freezing
would love a reliable list for debloating, this is a great step, thanks
cd993 said:
You're welcome.
I've still yet to test if but waiting in a new version of my favourite rom to be released.
I'm tempted to get a Note 8 port rom and debloat the hell out of it, even all Samsung stuff and try make as pure android as possible experience. Or do the same with an S8 rom. But for now just settled with freezing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now I have taken away some of the lines that makes the phone not boot, like smartcardmanager etc, these can be frosen but not uninstaled from phone, or the phone wont boot!
I have a problem with the script tough, when I try to flash I get error: 6 in TWRP
LyLu said:
Now I have taken away some of the lines that makes the phone not boot, like smartcardmanager etc, these can be frosen but not uninstaled from phone, or the phone wont boot!
I have a problem with the script tough, when I try to flash I get error: 6 in TWRP
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ahh really? Sorry to hear this! Like I say I hadn't actually used it as such.
How did you edit the script? As I kept getting that error too, though when I used my phone to edit it rather than using my computer, that worked without that error 6
cd993 said:
Ahh really? Sorry to hear this! Like I say I hadn't actually used it as such.
How did you edit the script? As I kept getting that error too, though when I used my phone to edit it rather than using my computer, that worked without that error 6
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Notepad+
What app you use to edit on your phone?
LyLu said:
Notepad+
What app you use to edit on your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used X-plore and open as a text document. Then used the edit button (top right), made ammendments and then save
This script will be a massive benefit to those (like me) you want a lite ROM with minimal Samsung stuff, thanks.
cd993 said:
I might be able to help with this.
I wished to created one and managed to seek help on XDA on accomplishing this.
I've attached the debloat script.
In order to edit it you'll need to open it up on a computer and use Notepad++, thought when I used that I seemed to always get an error then when attempting flashing in TWRP. So I used my phone to do so.
Navigate to:
META-INF/com/google/android and open the updater-script file
You'll need to add/remove the lines such as:
delete_recursive("/system/app/AAAService");
Just make sure that you keep all formatting the same, such as making sure no unnecessary spaces are left in between lines and that each line keeps the semi-colon at the end of each sentence.
Then flash in TWRP.
Be mindful that there is part in that script that will wipe the caches too. Also the script is a little messy and I need to get round to deleting some as I think there are some duplicates. It's a huge heavy debloat list at present, inclusive of alot of Samsung stuff. So edit accordingly.
I've settled just for freezing them so far but it's my intention to finalise this debloat script and use after flashing a new rom.
Let me know how it goes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...but it´s possible add system apps too?? After the debloat i need to install some system apps to my rom....if the script do that it was very very nice tooo ....can you help me???
Hello there, hope everyone's alright
While uninstalling bloatware I mistakenly deleted my android's file manager (File 7.1.1 com.android.documentsui).
I can't reinstall it via adb because the versions I download don't match the signature of the allegedly deleted file.
Is there a way in which I can absolutely remove every trace in order to have it accept the new apk, or that being impossible, to restore the former file?
Alternatively, could anyone that has the same model/rom extract the app file and upload it for me, or would it clash as well with the signature?
Thanks in advance!
just install a root file browser like mixplorer and drop(copy) the .apk file back into /root/system/priv-apps folder and reboot
it will automatically be installed as system apk and work ....
Sent from my woods_f using XDA Labs
Nevermind what I just posted. Edited.
I managed to install it (had to try between some different versions of the apk file), but now it closes/crashes/stops as soon as I open it, every single time. Any ideas as to what might be the issue?
Dotf said:
Nevermind what I just posted. Edited.
I managed to install it (had to try between some different versions of the apk file), but now it closes/crashes/stops as soon as I open it, every single time. Any ideas as to what might be the issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You probably need the libs. Or the OAT folder. Or the permissions may be wrong.
Here you go. I'll attach screenshot of permissions as well.
It's not a flashable zip, just extract the files and place in system/privapp in a folder (name it DocumentsUI) and set permissions.
You cannot just install it like a regular app. You have to manually place the files
madbat99 said:
It's not a flashable zip, just extract the files and place in system/privapp in a folder (name it DocumentsUI) and set permissions.
You cannot just install it like a regular app. You have to manually place the files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did exactly as you pointed out, but no luck.
After that I tried opening the apk on the privapp folder from mixplorer, and it says it's corrupted.
If I try to install said apk via adb, I get
Package couldn't be installed in /data/app/com.android.documentsui-1: Package /data/app/com.android.documentsui-1/base.apk code is missing
Dotf said:
Did exactly as you pointed out, but no luck.
After that I tried opening the apk on the privapp folder from mixplorer, and it says it's corrupted.
If I try to install said apk via adb, I get
Package couldn't be installed in /data/app/com.android.documentsui-1: Package /data/app/com.android.documentsui-1/base.apk code is missing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ADB is trying to install it as a user app which I said you can't do. Just place the APK and the oat folder in there. Make sure the permissions of the APK and the odex all match the rest of the files in the privapp folder and reboot. Don't forget to reboot that's very important.
You need all folders. Folder named oat, and in that, a folder named arm. Put odex in there. Make sure all permissions match others in priv app (even the oat and arm folders). Reboot.
---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------
Did you delete anything other than document ui? Debloating doesn't mean randomly delete system apps. Some things are needed for Android to function.
madbat99 said:
ADB is trying to install it as a user app which I said you can't do. Just place the APK and the oat folder in there. Make sure the permissions of the APK and the odex all match the rest of the files in the privapp folder and reboot. Don't forget to reboot that's very important.
You need all folders. Folder named oat, and in that, a folder named arm. Put odex in there. Make sure all permissions match others in priv app (even the oat and arm folders). Reboot.
---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:06 PM ----------
Did you delete anything other than document ui? Debloating doesn't mean randomly delete system apps. Some things are needed for Android to function.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Made sure to have everything with the proper permissions, still, no luck.
The other apps that I deleted were either sprint and amazon crap, or google games/videos/music and youtube. This one I mistakenly got rid off because it was labeled as "Downloads" and looked kinda like one of those other unnecessary google apps. In hindsight I should have backed up everything; got too cocky for my own good.
Is there some system-wide checkup that can be performed to make sure nothing else of importance is missing, or at this point is it better to give up and reinstall the rom/factory reset?
Dotf said:
Made sure to have everything with the proper permissions, still, no luck.
The other apps that I deleted were either sprint and amazon crap, or google games/videos/music and youtube. This one I mistakenly got rid off because it was labeled as "Downloads" and looked kinda like one of those other unnecessary google apps. In hindsight I should have backed up everything; got too cocky for my own good.
Is there some system-wide checkup that can be performed to make sure nothing else of importance is missing, or at this point is it better to give up and reinstall the rom/factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it was downloads, I may have given you the wrong one. Let me check.
Dotf said:
Made sure to have everything with the proper permissions, still, no luck.
The other apps that I deleted were either sprint and amazon crap, or google games/videos/music and youtube. This one I mistakenly got rid off because it was labeled as "Downloads" and looked kinda like one of those other unnecessary google apps. In hindsight I should have backed up everything; got too cocky for my own good.
Is there some system-wide checkup that can be performed to make sure nothing else of importance is missing, or at this point is it better to give up and reinstall the rom/factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you have a twrp backup just restore from there ...if you never made a backup of your stock rom in twrp before or after rooting or making sytem changes you are right that you are too cocky ..
Sent from my woods_f using XDA Labs
Dotf said:
Made sure to have everything with the proper permissions, still, no luck.
The other apps that I deleted were either sprint and amazon crap, or google games/videos/music and youtube. This one I mistakenly got rid off because it was labeled as "Downloads" and looked kinda like one of those other unnecessary google apps. In hindsight I should have backed up everything; got too cocky for my own good.
Is there some system-wide checkup that can be performed to make sure nothing else of importance is missing, or at this point is it better to give up and reinstall the rom/factory reset?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which one did you delete? DocumentsUI or downloadprovider?
What I gave you extracted right from my phone (virgin mobile, exact same as sprint) so if it didn't work, either you did something wrong or deleted something else.
madbat99 said:
Which one did you delete? DocumentsUI or downloadprovider?
What I gave you extracted right from my phone (virgin mobile, exact same as sprint) so if it didn't work, either you did something wrong or deleted something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for taking so long, I was out of the house.
While the app appears as Downloads in the app browser, on the properties it's listed as Files 7.1.1 aka documentsUI, the same you uploaded for me.
The main gripe with all of these, is that I can't install or update apps via playstore. They start the download process and get stuck in a loop there, never actually beginning the download in itself, in case it helps as a clue.
Dotf said:
Sorry for taking so long, I was out of the house.
While the app appears as Downloads in the app browser, on the properties it's listed as Files 7.1.1 aka documentsUI, the same you uploaded for me.
The main gripe with all of these, is that I can't install or update apps via playstore. They start the download process and get stuck in a loop there, never actually beginning the download in itself, in case it helps as a clue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try clearing app data for download manager. Also clear cache for playstore. Sometimes you have to clear data for playstore as well. Pretty common problem. Clearing data for those usually works. Some ppl have had to clear data for play services as well.
madbat99 said:
Try clearing app data for download manager. Also clear cache for playstore. Sometimes you have to clear data for playstore as well. Pretty common problem. Clearing data for those usually works. Some ppl have had to clear data for play services as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just checked, and I am indeed missing as well the downloadprovider apk+odex. It's probably the missing piece. I'm honestly ashamed of asking further help from you at this point because of how patient you've been, but if you can upload that one for me, it's probably all it'll take to finally close this up. I tried with other versions from the net but they didn't work.
Dotf said:
I just checked, and I am indeed missing as well the downloadprovider apk+odex. It's probably the missing piece. I'm honestly ashamed of asking further help from you at this point because of how patient you've been, but if you can upload that one for me, it's probably all it'll take to finally close this up. I tried with other versions from the net but they didn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure thing bro. Give me a minute. Also, clear the data for the apps I said. That has worked for many people.
Here ya go. Same deal, make sure to set permissions because as soon as I extract and compress them the permissions change.
madbat99 said:
Here ya go. Same deal, make sure to set permissions because as soon as I extract and compress them the permissions change.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Aaaaaaand....
IT WORKS!
Thank you so much dude, for all your help and patience. I'm gonna have to make a shrine in your honor.
PS: Making a backup of everything ASAP.
Dotf said:
Aaaaaaand....
IT WORKS!
Thank you so much dude, for all your help and patience. I'm gonna have to make a shrine in your honor.
PS: Making a backup of everything ASAP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem. Have fun, be safe, own your device.
Could this app missing be causing a corrupt sd card error?
Background: Really not loving the default New Contact icons and the random colors. Should be easy enough to change. What I tried (and failed miserably...)
MODest ROM 11 (Twiz/stock 6.01-based)
Flashpoint 5 Kernel
Copied SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk from
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
to my Win7 PC.
Used 7-Zip to unpack the file to a temporary folder.
Found the .qmg files I didn't like.
Found a .qmg that would be a passable replacement for the ones I didn't dig.
Made 11 copies of that image in a working folder.
Renamed each copy to the exact name of each of the 11 files I wanted to replace.
Dragged those 11 files back into the open .apk in 7-Zip
On the Phone, in Root Explorer:
Made a copy of SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk in the same folder:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
deleted the original
Copied my mod'd apk back into this folder and set the perms.
Rebooted.
No Phone or Contacts on home screen or in Apps
Tried to 'install' the apk from Root Explorer.
Wouldn't install
Tried to delete cache & Dalvik from TWRP.
No Joy.
Tried to do a partial Nandroid restore of Contacts and sec.phone from Titanium (nothing there called /systempriv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA)
No Joy.
Nandroid restore from TWRP.
Back to normal.
Okay, what did I do wrong, and how can I change the icons?
Should I have used APKTook instead of 7-Zip, created a new signature, etc?
Should my mod'd apk somehow be flashed from recovery rather than copied to a system folder?
Is this some perverted Samsung-ism that would have worked fine on any other phone on the planet?
Thanks for reading.
ForestCat said:
Background: Really not loving the default New Contact icons and the random colors. Should be easy enough to change. What I tried (and failed miserably...)
MODest ROM 11 (Twiz/stock 6.01-based)
Flashpoint 5 Kernel
Copied SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk from
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
to my Win7 PC.
Used 7-Zip to unpack the file to a temporary folder.
Found the .qmg files I didn't like.
Found a .qmg that would be a passable replacement for the ones I didn't dig.
Made 11 copies of that image in a working folder.
Renamed each copy to the exact name of each of the 11 files I wanted to replace.
Dragged those 11 files back into the open .apk in 7-Zip
On the Phone, in Root Explorer:
Made a copy of SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA.apk in the same folder:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
deleted the original
Copied my mod'd apk back into this folder and set the perms.
Rebooted.
No Phone or Contacts on home screen or in Apps
Tried to 'install' the apk from Root Explorer.
Wouldn't install
Tried to delete cache & Dalvik from TWRP.
No Joy.
Tried to do a partial Nandroid restore of Contacts and sec.phone from Titanium (nothing there called /systempriv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA)
No Joy.
Nandroid restore from TWRP.
Back to normal.
Okay, what did I do wrong, and how can I change the icons?
Should I have used APKTook instead of 7-Zip, created a new signature, etc?
Should my mod'd apk somehow be flashed from recovery rather than copied to a system folder?
Is this some perverted Samsung-ism that would have worked fine on any other phone on the planet?
Thanks for reading.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That apk took me a long time to figure out too. It's one of the apps you I had to modify for multi dpi. The only way I know of is to change the compression when you're putting the app back together and even then it took a couple tries. There's probably a better way but the compression change seems to work well enough.
I don't know if 7-zip has this option, but with winrar you can change the compression to "store". You should know right away whether or not it worked. You'll see the little phone icon in the bottom left of the lock screen. You may still have to do a factory reset to see your changes (probably not though) but the app should work without it.
By the way, you can swap those image files for .png files if you'd like. Just delete the corresponding .qmg or .pio file.
I saw your post in the rom thread about theming TouchWiz. You should check out @supergrobi94's theming threads. He's put together an impressive collection of options for 6.0.1 and 5.1.1 and there's also a [how to] section that uses the vrtheme zip that will modify the res folder of a specific app without having to break it down. I'm not sure how active he is these days but he's always been very helpful with requests and questions in the past if you need it.
Supergrobi94's theming threads:
This one has all the themes
This is the [how to] thread
kevintm78 said:
That apk took me a long time to figure out too. It's one of the apps you I had to modify for multi dpi. The only way I know of is to change the compression when you're putting the app back together and even then it took a couple tries. There's probably a better way but the compression change seems to work well enough.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah, that makes perfect sense. But I'd never have figured it out myself, lol.
I'll dig into those theming threads, thanks.
kevintm78 said:
☆☆Edge Panel for ModestRom v11☆☆
DOWNLOAD-This will change your Contacts app to the S6 version and the IncallUI app to the Note 7 version because the people stripe will not work with the N4 contacts.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, this is from the MODest ROM thread, but I think it's germain here.
SO.....
If I want to 'try out' that Edge Panel, is there a way to revert back to the stock apps in question other than restoring a nandroid backup or re-flashing the ROM?
I ask because I'm thinking that, at least in the case of the Note 4 and its well known memory problems, 'bulk' memory writes like ROMs, nandroid retores, etc., stress the device, so I'm trying not to do it more than I have to.
During my last episode(see above) putting the stock apk back in its original folder didn't work.
Is there a standard procedure for either android generically, or touchwiz specifically, for safely reverting back to the stock system apps after experimenting w/ custom stuff?
EDIT: Just tried something. In Root Explorer, went into:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
and simply renamed the .apk to .foo
Rebooted.
No Contacts, as expected, but no Phone either??? Not sure why.
Anyway, back into Root Explorer.
Rename .foo back to .apk
Reboot.
Still no Contacts or Phone, so something bigger at work here.
Before I have to restore Nandroid anyway (unless there's a better way???),
I flashed your EdgePanel.zip in TWRP to see if it would restore the Phone/Contacts apps.
Wiped the cache. Reboot.
Edge Panel is now there, but still no Phone or Contacts. WTF???
Last resort-TWRP- Factory Reset.
Now the Contacts/Phone are back (and all my other stuff is gone, lol)
So is whacking the Data a necessity here?
If so, it makes trying out things related to the phone/contacts a LOT more tedious...
Any workaround???
Thanks again.
ForestCat said:
OK, this is from the MODest ROM thread, but I think it's germain here.
SO.....
If I want to 'try out' that Edge Panel, is there a way to revert back to the stock apps in question other than restoring a nandroid backup or re-flashing the ROM?
I ask because I'm thinking that, at least in the case of the Note 4 and its well known memory problems, 'bulk' memory writes like ROMs, nandroid retores, etc., stress the device, so I'm trying not to do it more than I have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it doesn't look like I ever made an easy way to go back. I had thought I did but I'm either overlooking it or it's not there. Feel free to rifle through my androidfilehost folders if you want to double check. All of my stuff is very organized so it could be buried in there somewhere.
If you still need a recovery zip let me know and I'll get one together. I'm actually going to make one anyway but if you need it right away I can get on it. I didn't realize that there wasn't a way back to stock.
ForestCat said:
During my last episode(see above) putting the stock apk back in its original folder didn't work.
Is there a standard procedure for either android generically, or touchwiz specifically, for safely reverting back to the stock system apps after experimenting w/ custom stuff?
EDIT: Just tried something. In Root Explorer, went into:
/system/priv-app/SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA/
and simply renamed the .apk to .foo
Rebooted.
No Contacts, as expected, but no Phone either??? Not sure why.
Anyway, back into Root Explorer.
Rename .foo back to .apk
Reboot.
Still no Contacts or Phone, so something bigger at work here.
Before I have to restore Nandroid anyway (unless there's a better way???),
I flashed your EdgePanel.zip in TWRP to see if it would restore the Phone/Contacts apps.
Wiped the cache. Reboot.
Edge Panel is now there, but still no Phone or Contacts. WTF???
Last resort-TWRP- Factory Reset.
Now the Contacts/Phone are back (and all my other stuff is gone, lol)
So is whacking the Data a necessity here?
If so, it makes trying out things related to the phone/contacts a LOT more tedious...
Any workaround???
Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is strange that they are not coming back. You may just want to double check your permissions and that there isn't two of the same apps in your folder. At the time of making that Edge zip I was still using other programs to make zips for me and the major downside to that is having to name the new apps the exact same as the old so it would get overwritten so if it doesn't match you'll end up with two active apps in one folder.
Now I think the best way to do that is to use a binary script (osm0sis has great tutorials for this) to change the app getting replaced to a .bak file and then just copy the new app to the system, set perms, and reboot (dalvik cache/ cache needs to be wiped if it's a framework .jar file). But to each their own. If you can get the job done a better way then I would use what you're comfortable with.
My system to test apps isn't much difference than yours. I think the only thing I do differently is change the app to be replaced to .bak instead of .foo although I can't imagine there's much difference. There's been a few apps like the Contacts app that gave me a bunch of trouble when modifying them but I can't remember ever having trouble bringing back the stock app. I wish I had more insight on that situation for you. If push comes to shove I would reflash the rom zip over factory reset only because the factory reset won't correct the system partition problem, if that's what's going on in this case.
kevintm78 said:
If you still need a recovery zip let me know and I'll get one together..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, Merry Christmas!
Thanks very much. No rush on that, I'm OK on the Edge version for the minute.
What would be extremely useful if you have some time/curiousity would be to replicate my steps, ie renaming the untouched apk in a fresh MODest flash (i.e. break the contacts/phone function), and then see if you can get the whole thing working again without a factory reset, or if not, why. I see on xda, you & I are not the first ones to be tripping over this contacts.apk issue.
The other thing that would be telling is after successfully installing the Edge.zip, whether you can modify something (like a picture) within the contacts apk within the zip, reflash the zip and have contacts/phone still working with the change active.
I think there just HAS to be abetter way than Factory Resets.
Thanks so much again for the insights. I really want to become at least minimally competent at hacking my own ROMs together so I don't have to feel like such a noob/mooch on here, but I really do appreciate the help.
What are your weapons/platform of choice, or, if there are better tools for noobs learning the ropes, I'm all ears.
EDIT: Just found this. The last post is interesting...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/devs-only/recompile-seccontacts-apk-t3377142/page2
ForestCat said:
First, Merry Christmas!
Thanks very much. No rush on that, I'm OK on the Edge version for the minute.
What would be extremely useful if you have some time/curiousity would be to replicate my steps, ie renaming the untouched apk in a fresh MODest flash (i.e. break the contacts/phone function), and then see if you can get the whole thing working again without a factory reset, or if not, why. I see on xda, you & I are not the first ones to be tripping over this contacts.apk issue.
The other thing that would be telling is after successfully installing the Edge.zip, whether you can modify something (like a picture) within the contacts apk within the zip, reflash the zip and have contacts/phone still working with the change active.
I think there just HAS to be abetter way than Factory Resets.
Thanks so much again for the insights. I really want to become at least minimally competent at hacking my own ROMs together so I don't have to feel like such a noob/mooch on here, but I really do appreciate the help.
What are your weapons/platform of choice, or, if there are better tools for noobs learning the ropes, I'm all ears.
EDIT: Just found this. The last post is interesting...
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/devs-only/recompile-seccontacts-apk-t3377142/page2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not exactly sure what's going on with your contacts app not showing back up. Ever since modestrom v8 (I think) I've been doing the multi dpi on SecContacts_M_OSup_Note_Legacy_USA and every time I would test it doing the same as your way. After a reboot if the modified app was no good, then I would just delete that new app and change the name of the old app back to .apk, reboot and it would work again. I can't remember running in to any problems where I would have to factory reset or reflash the rom to get things working again.
There has been a couple times where I've had to factory reset to get a color change to show up or if you're adding toggles to the QS drop down that also (sometimes) requires a factory reset to show up.
As far as the post you linked, that is exactly how I do it except I use winrar to open the newly compiled app and drag the changes to the original. When I drag the changes over I change the compression method from "normal" to "store". If I don't change the compression the app doesn't work for me. The apps that I've ran into where I had to change the compression are: secContacts, secCamera, secSettings, and framework-res.apk. Any other app that I've worked on can be dragged and dropped without compression changes.
Jar files don't need an original signature though (so long as signature verification has been disabled, which it has in modestrom). They can be decompiled, edited, recompiled, and copied to the system. It does require a dalvik cache/cache wipe though on all framework files except for the framework-res.apk and twframework-res.apk
If you get a chance, you should start using apktool to decompile/recompile. It will make things easier for you in the long run and most of the time if you've made any mistakes in your edits apktool will catch it. If you're not familiar with apktool you can try using Tickle My Android or Advanced Apktool. You may also want to get Apktool by itself. I use all three of them. Android can be fickle and sometimes what works with one app won't work with another. What's nice about TMA and Advanced Apktool is that they'll do the drag and drop method for you, but when the compression needs to be changed that's when I use apktool by itself.
Sorry for the word vomit. Hopefully, this all makes sense.