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Root My way of testing ROMs

dsmryder

dsmryder

Android Expert
First thing, I do a nandroid backup! I can't stress this enough. I have only lost a small chunck of data while doing this.

Second I don't just back up the ROM, I backup some of the things that I would rather not do without.
I look forward to any comments. I know there are other methods of doing things. I am curious about any other methods out there. We all know about Titanium backup by TITANIUM TRACK for backing up apps and it's data. I used to use it myself. I just had too many times that it would be a probable issue. Mostly when restoring app data.

Anyway, Holla.
 
I use app extractor, after a ROM install to pull SMS/mms, call logs, and BT/wifi devices/passwords from the Nandroid backup.

I also have titanium backup make an update.zip of itself so I can flash it after the ROM and gapps so I don't have to download anything from the market.
 
I for the Most part do the same as far as keeping a Titanium update.zip on the sd card to flash so it is already installed. Will then run a batch restore of just my most commonly used user apps, no data just the app. Periodically do batch backups of my user apps so they are up to date when restored. I also will reboot into recovery and wipe the caches again after. Seem to have less issues after doing this but probably all in my head. Probably in my head also but will generally skip the setup wizard and sign in via account settings. Not sure why but because the setup Wizard sometimes noticeably flubs setting the correct Wallpaper I just always wonder what else weird may get flubed not as noticeable as say the Wallpaper.

Otherwise will delete call logs and messages regularly so never really messed around with any methods for restoring either.
 
dsmryder said:
First thing, I do a nandroid backup! I can't stress this enough. I have only lost a small chunck of data while doing this.

Second I don't just back up the ROM, I backup some of the things that I would rather not do without.
I look forward to any comments. I know there are other methods of doing things. I am curious about any other methods out there. We all know about Titanium backup by TITANIUM TRACK for backing up apps and it's data. I used to use it myself. I just had too many times that it would be a probable issue. Mostly when restoring app data.

Anyway, Holla.
Click to expand...

Great idea, posting your testing process! :)
 
thangfish said:
Have you had a chance to test the beta that adds CWM 6 support?

That's the only thing keeping me on CWM 5 right now.
Click to expand...

No, actually, I had time to do it today, but, laziness actually took my soul

I am still running CWM 5.0.2.6

Perhaps Thursday if I am free, I might try
 
Wounder how hard it would be to do something like before flashing a test or update running a script that makes a copy of all the apk's in data/app into a zip or sd card directory and then say include or make a flashable init.d script that on boot checks what APK's are currently in data/app vs the sd card directory and then copies in the apk's from the sd card directory not found in data/app? Probably would not hurt to even just copy them all over without the check. For someone like me who does not restore any data could even eliminate the need Titanium or any other backup app. Sure ill think of why not in a few minutes, Usually how it works.
 
Chairshot215 said:
Wounder how hard it would be to do something like before flashing a test or update running a script that makes a copy of all the apk's in data/app into a zip or sd card directory and then say include or make a flashable init.d script that on boot checks what APK's are currently in data/app vs the sd card directory and then copies in the apk's from the sd card directory not found in data/app? Probably would not hurt to even just copy them all over without the check. For someone like me who does not restore any data could even eliminate the need Titanium or any other backup app. Sure ill think of why not in a few minutes, Usually how it works.
Click to expand...

It should be easy with ADB. I don't know if it could be done through the terminal emulator. Does busybox have the ability to make a .zip with alignments?
 
dsmryder said:
It should be easy with ADB. I don't know if it could be done through the terminal emulator. Does busybox have the ability to make a .zip with alignments?
Click to expand...


Honestly not sure, was thinking it out as I was typing it and thought maybe just putting them I'm a directory would be easier. Zip would be nice though. Thinking further could maybe even have it place the apks in separate sub directory based on android version in the build.prop and then have the init.d script also look at the android version to determine what directory to copy in the apks from. Just thought of this but could you have an init.d script on boot backup apks in data/app to the SD card directory and then second copy them back over, all or just the apk's found in the sd card directory not found in data/app, probably a few different ways of doing this part but not sure? This way all data apps would be backed up automatically on boot and then say on a new flash would really only do the second part as data/app should be empty at that point. If so could be a completely automated process.
 
dsmryder, thanks for posting.

I would test more roms if it weren't due to the fact of setting my apps all up and also having call logs, sms, and app saved tidbits restored for each rom upgrade.

i got point one and two.

3) And I made a copy of my /data/app directory to my SDcard. Under that I will remove the google play update (com.android.vending-1.apk). I've had issues with force feeding it back in.

How is this done? what app allows you to copy from /data/app to sd card? some file manager?

4) Then I will take that and put it in my data installer. Basicly I open it with WinRAR or in Linux and put the old app in, then flash it after the ROM. It makes the first load stay on the bootanimation forever, but it's faster than any other way I know.

Again, I'm lost here as well: "I will take that" the /data/app on sdcard?
"and put it in my data installer"? lost at data installer? how do you put it in your installer?
"Basically I open it in winrar" open what? the data/app that you have on the sdcard?
What do you save the winrar as? I guess anything you want to name?


thanks again for posting.
 
Ramalama said:
dsmryder, thanks for posting.

I would test more roms if it weren't due to the fact of setting my apps all up and also having call logs, sms, and app saved tidbits restored for each rom upgrade.

i got point one and two.

3) And I made a copy of my /data/app directory to my SDcard. Under that I will remove the google play update (com.android.vending-1.apk). I've had issues with force feeding it back in.

How is this done? what app allows you to copy from /data/app to sd card? some file manager?

4) Then I will take that and put it in my data installer. Basicly I open it with WinRAR or in Linux and put the old app in, then flash it after the ROM. It makes the first load stay on the bootanimation forever, but it's faster than any other way I know.

Again, I'm lost here as well: "I will take that" the /data/app on sdcard?
"and put it in my data installer"? lost at data installer? how do you put it in your installer?
"Basically I open it in winrar" open what? the data/app that you have on the sdcard?
What do you save the winrar as? I guess anything you want to name?


thanks again for posting.
Click to expand...

Yeah, I use ES File Explorer to poke around. I go to root (/) then to /data/app, copy everything to the SDcard and remove vending.
I made a link to a "data_installer.zip" I made. Like I said, I just open it up and copy the files over. Then it's crazy easy to reload my apps when I do a fresh flash.

Keep in mind that when the ROM is fresh like this and there are this many apps it will take a long time to reload the caches.
 
I'm testing Go Backup Pro which does SMS, MMS, Launcher Preferences, Walpaper, WiFi Access Points, Call Log, Bookmarks and Apps. It has the option to backup to Google A drive which is what I am testing. It also will back up to Dropbox. Looks like a pretty stable app so far. I'll post after I test it a few times.
 
makosinski said:
I'm testing Go Backup Pro which does SMS, MMS, Launcher Preferences, Walpaper, WiFi Access Points, Call Log, Bookmarks and Apps. It has the option to backup to Google A drive which is what I am testing. It also will back up to Dropbox. Looks like a pretty stable app so far. I'll post after I test it a few times.
Click to expand...

Ok I've tested this with CM7 and the current version of CM9. Both worked perfectly. I used local (sdcard) and Google Drive in my tests. Although it's a bit slower recovering Google Drive is the choice of backup location I'm going to stick with. From a bare ROM to completely restored took about 16 minutes. I'm pretty impressed with this app. Also, for those that might want to try it, the folks at Go Launcher have Beta 2 of what they are calling Next Launcher available. Here is the link.

I'm running it on my Triumph with CM7 and really like what they've done. It's 1 process consuming about 29MB which is similar to Go Launcher in memory.
 
Thanks for that SMS backup app. I always had problems with that in the past when switching ROMs. Especially when 10+ people wanna text me in the middle of me trying out three new ROMs in one day. -_-
 
Decided to expand on my method of flashing and restoring apps. Most of my steps are probably completely unnecessary as I am one who honestly falls victim to the placebo effect more often then not. With that said I have also flashed probably somewhere between one or two hundred times and very rarely if ever experience bugs reported by other users so placebo or not decided I'm just going to list my process regardless.


Figure we are all good on how to put an update zip on the sd-card and reboot into recovery so will start from there.

. Wipe data / Factory reset

. Wipe Cache (I know, Cache is also wiped when performing the above data wipe but I do it again anyway.)

. Format /System (I know most don't do this but was recommended by TG after having an issue way back in the day so has been part of my process every single flash since.)

. Wipe Dalvik Cache

. install Rom Update zip from sd-card

. Install Gapps Package

. (optional) install Titanium Backup Update zip if one had been created.

. Reboot

. After first boot has completed will skip the Set-up Wizard unless wifi is unavailable but for the most part these days thats pretty rare. This is also probably one of those placebo things I was talking about but in the rare cases I have signed in over 3g I have notice things like wallpaper not setting correctly or different sound options set for things like Lockscreen or screen selection sounds being different from one flash to another. These things themselves are no big deal but they make me wonder about other things not so noticeable or apparent.

. Connect to wifi using Wireless & network settings.

. Sign into Google account using Account & Sync Settings.

. After Google sync has completed and Market has updated to the Play Store will open the Play Store and check for updates and install Titanium if not already installed via Update zip in recovery.

. Turn off all radios including mobile data, wifi and GPS.

. Open Titanium and select batch restore for user apps. Apps only, no data so remember to select the apps only option before running the batch as apps & data will be set as the default.

. After Batch install has completed will then reboot back into recovery and wipe the caches. This is probably yet another one of those unnecessary steps but for some reason I'm troubled by how Titanium can re-install all those apps in half the time the Android system takes rebuilding just the caches after a cache wipe in recovery so it just makes me feel better wiping the caches again after running a batch restore.

. After the boot has completed I go back into Wireless settings and turn Mobile data back on. I usually hold out until the screen turns off before doing this to insure everything is back up and running. That and because everything is slow as all get out the first few minutes after.

. After 3g indicator has turned blue I give it a few seconds to see if it starts a sync and give it one last reboot. If it does start a sync I will wait until the sync icon is no longer showing on the statusbar before the reboot.

Anyhow this is the process I follow. If it has anything at all to do with why I never experience bugs reported by other users or not I really have no idea.
 
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