Re-learning the custom recovery process, had a question

[alpha2k]

I know about custom recoveries, and am comfortable with useing them, so that's not gonna be an issue, what I was wondering though is 2 things:

1: Clearing cache partition, is/can this be dangerous?
2: This question kinda goes along with #1 in a way, kinda.......normally I don't remove my sd card, but when you Wipe Cache Partition, I am kinda thinking I better remove it for whatever reason.

I am currently on Cm10.1 android 4.2.2 right now, but I never did the "Wipe Cache Partition" so I never removed my sd card at all.

I guess the word wipe and partition, kinda have me wondering what exactly it does, in lamens terms, so I can better understand it.

 

[Rxpert83]

Wiping cache is a pretty standard thing. Its not dangerous, and there should be no reason to remove the SD card. In fact, wiping cache and dalvik cache can help fix a lot of random bugs sometimes.

If you're ever worried, it can't hurt to back the SD card up to your computer anyway.

 

[alpha2k]

Wiping cache is a pretty standard thing. Its not dangerous, and there should be no reason to remove the SD card. In fact, wiping cache and dalvik cache can help fix a lot of random bugs sometimes.

If you're ever worried, it can't hurt to back the SD card up to your computer anyway.

Thanks for the reply. it's been awhile since I have flashed roms, but I guess I have the itch again lol, I flashed CM10.1 last night played with it for a day, now I'm going to try out Touched by S4 rom, it looks quite interesting.


One last question.......it seems as if EL29 is the go to for flashing roms be it TW/CM/AOKP, am I correct in assuming that when flashing roms a lot, it's safe to use el29 as a go to for recovery when flashing the roms and stuff?

 

[Codegerm]

Thanks for the reply. it's been awhile since I have flashed roms, but I guess I have the itch again lol, I flashed CM10.1 last night played with it for a day, now I'm going to try out Touched by S4 rom, it looks quite interesting.


One last question.......it seems as if EL29 is the go to for flashing roms be it TW/CM/AOKP, am I correct in assuming that when flashing roms a lot, it's safe to use el29 as a go to for recovery when flashing the roms and stuff?

EL29 and EL26 are the two most used recoveries for flashing to another ROM due to an ugly issue that showed up when ICS kernels arrived. The issue was the eMMC brick bug. certain productions runs of the phone have a chip in them that would brick the phone if it was being wiped with an ICS kernel installed. The work around was to go back to a gingerbread kernel. for flashing ROMs. Since then most recovery kernels have been made safe, but the Devs have stuck with what works, and that is a good practice to follow.

It can seem confusing at times. With this phone, the recovery is tied to the kernel, and not a stand alone part like it is on the Prevail.

 

[alpha2k]

Thanks CJ.
I played with touched by s4 some, it's cool and all, just needs some more ironing out, i.e.: video player. I know there is a fix, just not feeling like fixing a bunch of things manually 1by1, so I went back to CM10.1 android 4.2.2, really do like this whole Cm Rom.
Had Agat recovery, used mobile Odin, flashed EL29, and the rest of the stuff, did titanium backup, all on my phone this morning, and an up and running, and all without a pc. They make it so easy anymore to swap roms. I absolutely love it.
Once again thanks for the advice and help.

 

[gkak]

Does it matter which recovery/kernel is used for backup and restores?
e.g i'm running vanilla rootbox now with blasphemy kernel 6.2 (can't recall which recovery is included with that kernel) can I back up my vanilla rootbox with blasphemy kernel's included recovery and then restore my projectx backup (with the same recovery)

 

[Codegerm]

Does it matter which recovery/kernel is used for backup and restores?
e.g i'm running vanilla rootbox now with blasphemy kernel 6.2 (can't recall which recovery is included with that kernel) can I back up my vanilla rootbox with blasphemy kernel's included recovery and then restore my projectx backup (with the same recovery)

Most of the time the answer would be no. But there is a way that things can work though it does require you keep the zip files of the different kernels.

Projext X and all other TW jelly bean ROMS have a new partition called /preload, which after much work from Garwynn and Agat we now have working recovery kernels that will include that partition. So make your nandroid and store it along with the zip of the recovery kernel you used to make the backup.

Now if you are on a CM ROM and want to go back to Project X you would need to flash back in the Kernel for it, boot into its recovery, do a wipe, then do a restore.

 

[gkak]

Most of the time the answer would be no. But there is a way that things can work though it does require you keep the zip files of the different kernels.

Projext X and all other TW jelly bean ROMS have a new partition called /preload, which after much work from Garwynn and Agat we now have working recovery kernels that will include that partition. So make your nandroid and store it along with the zip of the recovery kernel you used to make the backup.

Now if you are on a CM ROM and want to go back to Project X you would need to flash back in the Kernel for it, boot into its recovery, do a wipe, then do a restore.

sorry a bit confused... can I just use EL26 to back up and restore between jb and aosp roms? would jbformatall take care of the preload partition? thanx for your help

 

[Codegerm]

sorry a bit confused... can I just use EL26 to back up and restore between jb and aosp roms? would jbformatall take care of the preload partition? thanx for your help

No you can't the restore would not restore the partitions properly.

You HAVE to flaash in the recovery kernel for the ROM, to run the restore. (example Project X uses Agat's 1.42 kernel with recovery. you would have to flash that kernel in then boot into its recovery then run the restore for project X.

You can not use EL26 to backup any touch wiz JB ROM. It simply won't work right. the recovery in EL26 does not backup all the partitions.

In short, you backup with the recovery kernel that you are using as a daily driver for the ROM you are running, and you restore using that same exact recovery kernel.

This phone does not use a universal one size fits all recovery like the Prevail..

 

[gkak]

No you can't the restore would not restore the partitions properly.

You HAVE to flaash in the recovery kernel for the ROM, to run the restore. (example Project X uses Agat's 1.42 kernel with recovery. you would have to flash that kernel in then boot into its recovery then run the restore for project X.

You can not use EL26 to backup any touch wiz JB ROM. It simply won't work right. the recovery in EL26 does not backup all the partitions.

In short, you backup with the recovery kernel that you are using as a daily driver for the ROM you are running, and you restore using that same exact recovery kernel.

This phone does not use a universal one size fits all recovery like the Prevail..

Thanks almost got it...
so the recovery in EL26 is only for flashing new roms, whether they are TW or AOSP?
i'm running blasphemy kernel 6.2 with vanilla rootbox , can I use it to backup and later restore vanilla rootbox?

 

[Codegerm]

Thanks almost got it...
so the recovery in EL26 is only for flashing new roms, whether they are TW or AOSP?
i'm running blasphemy kernel 6.2 with vanilla rootbox , can I use it to backup and later restore vanilla rootbox?

EL26 is just used for flashing new ROMs keep a copy if you happen to like to try different ROMs a lot.

just make sure you are running the restore from the same recovery kernel. keep a copy or the zip of the recovery kernel you are running on and making your backup with, so if you are on a different recovery kernel you can flash back to it so you can run the restore.