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How to update phone with Rom file without losing data

sonyboyj

Well-Known Member
I unlocked my N5 bootloader about a month ago, and was wondering if i don't wanna wait for the OTA update to Android L once its released how can i update my phone to Android L without losing my data music,pics,apps ect.;)
 
I wasn't to sure what sideloading was but OK i can try that, is there a good video tutorial on how to sideload you recommend. Im new to the ADB commands
 
If I'm being honest, L isnt ready for everyday use.

If you arent familiar with flashing ROMS or doing things through fastboot, its going to be best to wait. However, if you really would like to give it a try, we can give you step by step directions :)
 
I unlocked my N5 bootloader about a month ago, and was wondering if i don't wanna wait for the OTA update to Android L once its released how can i update my phone to Android L without losing my data music,pics,apps ect.;)

Are you looking to upgrade now to the test version of Android L that is available currently? Or are you looking to update to the final version of Android L once it is released (without waiting for OTA)?

If the latter, you just wait for the OTA zip file to be available, and then, sideload in your recovery (assuming you haven't modified the system partition). Fairly easy to do. (what recovery do you have? And have you taken a system backup - nandroid yet? If not, please do that before you root and make system changes)
If the former, the steps are different.

Look at it this way - the OTA is usually provided as an incremental upgrade. So, it takes what you have, and just updates the necessary files. (it does require your system partition to be almost entirely stock). That's why the OTA is usually small in size.

The test version out there now is not an incremental upgrade - they have provided a system image that will replace your current OS completely. There is a way to extract just the system partition files from there and flash it, so that way your data stays intact. But as Rxpert83 said, L isn't ready for day-to-day use yet.
 
If I'm being honest, L isnt ready for everyday use.

If you arent familiar with flashing ROMS or doing things through fastboot, its going to be best to wait. However, if you really would like to give it a try, we can give you step by step directions :)

Hopefully they sort it out PDQ, as it's meant to be released in a few weeks isn't it? End of October was the last date every one seems to be quoting
 
Hopefully they sort it out PDQ, as it's meant to be released in a few weeks isn't it? End of October was the last date every one seems to be quoting

October/November is what everyone is expecting, but thats just based on historically the new nexus being released then, and each nexus device has come with an updated version of android as well.

Its a pretty good bet, but not a guarantee. Anything could happen.

Since the build date of the developer preview of Android L is from way back on June 20th, they've had loads of time to nail down the bug - and thanks to the preview they've had even more numbers looking for bugs and submitting reports. This could be the most stable release yet.
 
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