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[Sprint] Installing custom ROM (steps- review?)

J

joe03809

Lurker
Hello,
I'm new to the forums, and new to rooting in general. Spring Galaxy nexus - was on stock 4.2.1.

I followed the steps over at the rooting guide (sticky at top of the forum), and was able to root. I want to ensure that I did things correctly, and would like some help in confirming the next steps. Could you help review the following and tell me if I am on the right path?

Already done:
  1. Unlocked bootloader (that wiped my phone)
  2. Installed/flashed TWRP (touch) 2.4
  3. Performed backup from TWRP (compressed backup). Is this the same thing as performing nandroid backup? It created a TWRP folder on my device, and under 3 subfolders, it has 9 files (boot.emmc.win, data.ext4.win, recovery.emmc.win, system.ext4.win and their corresponding MD5 files, and a recovery.log - 874MB all combined)
  4. Flashed SuperSU, and once the phone was booted up, it auto-updated itself to current version.
  5. Installed Titanium backup, and backed up all user apps/data, and then backed up some of the system data (call logs, SMS/MMS etc). I'll probably back up all system data just as a precaution.


Assuming I have the nandroid backup done correctly (step 3 above), I would now like to flash a custom ROM - thinking of trying out CM10.1 most recent monthly first (cm-10.1-20130304-EXPERIMENTAL-toroplus-M2.zip)


(Ensure that phone is fully charged before proceeding with next steps)

Next Steps:
  1. Download cm-10.1-20130304-EXPERIMENTAL-toroplus-M2.zip from CM download site. Also, download the current gapps (for 4.2.2 / CM10.1) )from goo. im/gapps
  2. Connect phone to computer using USB, and place the CM zip file (and gapps.zip) on phone, and then, using ES explorer, move the folder to root folder.
  3. Disconnect phone from computer, and connect phone to charger
  4. Boot to recovery, wipe dalvik cache, and cache (anything else?)
  5. Install (flash) the CM zip, and without exiting recovery, flash gapps zip
  6. Exit recovery, and boot (expect to wait up to 10-15 minutes). If after 15 minutes, phone is still stuck, pull battery, and start over at step 4
  7. Set up google account, and allow apps to install from market
  8. Use Titanium backups to restore app data for a few apps (lightflow, tasker, sms/mms, etc)

Am I overlooking something?

Question 1: I was reading a guide for the VZN Galaxy Nexus by The_chief (link from the jbsourcery site) explaining how 4.2 had changed file structure, and noticed a comment in there: There are four partitions you want to completely wipe: data (this is also called a factory reset: do NOT wipe internal memory under any circumstances! NO NO NO!), cache, Dalvik and system.
What does the caution about "do not wipe internal memory" mean (w.r.t. Galaxy Nexus?

Question 2: Currently, the TWRP backups (and the Titanium backups) are on my phone. (I did back these up to my PC as well as a precaution). When I wipe the cache, and install the new ROM, doesn't that wipe out my backups on the phone too?
 
First off, welcome to the forums.

Seems like you have done your homework, that's good.

The backup through twrp is the nandroid. Make sure to keep them backed up to your computer just in case.

As for tb, only use it to restore user apps not system. Restoring system spots can cause issues. For example, use it to restore angry birds progress.

For wiping, don't wipe internal storage because you will write the SD card. Their you will have nothing to flash.

Sounds like you are good to go. Flash away. The consensus around her is sorcery. Key is know how it goes.
 
Thank you Aaronone :)
(I'll skip restoring my google accounts and my call logs/sms messages - only user apps)

I haven't used TWRP to flash a new ROM yet (only to backup, and of course to flash the SuperSU). Given that the GNex doesn't have a real SD card, wouldn't a wipe of system, data (and dalvik and cache) wipe everything, including my TWRP backup/Titanium backup/New ROM/GApps? Or is the system partition different than the partition where all my personal files are?

I've only done a factory reset from the Settings menu in the past, and IIRC, that wiped everything - all pictures, videos, music, everything.

Also, I verified that the TWRP MD5s matched the MD5 in the corresponding file. Is there anything else I need to do to make sure that I will be able to revert back to this?

One last question - going to sound incredibly dumb for asking this, but when I flash a ROM (CM or JBSorcery), am I updating the kernel and the radios too? And if I revert back to my Nandroid backup, does it restore the kernel and radios back to how they are today (pre-flash)?
 
joe03809 said:
Thank you Aaronone :)
(I'll skip restoring my google accounts and my call logs/sms messages - only user apps)

Google accounts are restored when you log in during the initial set up after flashing. There are SMS back up apps that can be used. I don't save text messages.





I haven't used TWRP to flash a new ROM yet (only to backup, and of course to flash the SuperSU). Given that the GNex doesn't have a real SD card, wouldn't a wipe of system, data (and dalvik and cache) wipe everything, including my TWRP backup/Titanium backup/New ROM/GApps? Or is the system partition different than the partition where all my personal files are?

Correct, the system partition is different so the back ups are safe as long as you don't wipe the SD.





I've only done a factory reset from the Settings menu in the past, and IIRC, that wiped everything - all pictures, videos, music, everything.

Also, I verified that the TWRP MD5s matched the MD5 in the corresponding file. Is there anything else I need to do to make sure that I will be able to revert back to this?

Nope. You are good. Save a copy of this on your computer and drop box. Just in case.




One last question - going to sound incredibly dumb for asking this, but when I flash a ROM (CM or JBSorcery), am I updating the kernel and the radios too? And if I revert back to my Nandroid backup, does it restore the kernel and radios back to how they are today (pre-flash)?
Click to expand...

Most, if not all, ROMs have a kernel baked in. Once you flash the ROM you will have whatever kernel is included. If you nand back, whatever set up you had will be restored. Think of it like a snap shot of your current set up. Everything reverts back. You do not need to flash new radios every time. You should fix permissions and update profile and prl after.
 
When you wipe data /factory reset your sd data will not be touched. You'll notice that twrp will state that data /media is not being wiped. That is where all that stuff is housed

Welcome to the forums. And yeah Sourcery is pretty freaking good.
 
AARONONE said:
You should fix permissions and update profile and prl after.
Click to expand...

Fix permissions - ? Not sure I understood that. Permissions for apps? When I install the apps (from market or from the gapps), aren't the permissions pre-defined?

Edit: Also some of the ROMs seem to have the new CWM Superuser baked in. The TWRP nandroid backup I performed was after Flashing SuperSU. And market auto-updated SuperSU when I logged on. So, when I connect my google account after flashing the new ROM, I suspect it will auto-restore SuperSU too. Will it cause problems having two Superuser managers on board? Or should I uninstall SuperSU from my current ROM before flashing the new one (to avoid auto-restore)

Sorry about all these questions - planning to flash jbsourcery this weekend, and trying to get all my doubts cleared to try to prevent issues with my phone :)
Thanks to all for your patience!


Edit 2: been reading thru' JBSourcery site, and can't seen to find a log of all features. Could folks who are using Sprint ROM for JBSourcery 5.1 confirm that the following features are available (and fully working) on 5.1?
  1. Wifi Tethering
  2. Controlling individual app's permissions
  3. Ad blocking
(I'd assume that it does, since these are the the very basic features for rooted ROMs, but with the recent upgrades to JB, I just wanted to confirm that these work. I for one have been unable to get WiFi tether app to work successfully on my Stock rooted ROM so far, which is one of the main reasons why I'm looking at custom ROMs)
 
joe03809 said:
Fix permissions - ? Not sure I understood that. Permissions for apps? When I install the apps (from market or from the gapps), aren't the permissions pre-defined?

Edit: Also some of the ROMs seem to have the new CWM Superuser baked in. The TWRP nandroid backup I performed was after Flashing SuperSU. And market auto-updated SuperSU when I logged on. So, when I connect my google account after flashing the new ROM, I suspect it will auto-restore SuperSU too. Will it cause problems having two Superuser managers on board? Or should I uninstall SuperSU from my current ROM before flashing the new one (to avoid auto-restore)

Sorry about all these questions - planning to flash jbsourcery this weekend, and trying to get all my doubts cleared to try to prevent issues with my phone :)
Thanks to all for your patience!


Edit 2: been reading thru' JBSourcery site, and can't seen to find a log of all features. Could folks who are using Sprint ROM for JBSourcery 5.1 confirm that the following features are available (and fully working) on 5.1?
  1. Wifi Tethering
  2. Controlling individual app's permissions
  3. Ad blocking
(I'd assume that it does, since these are the the very basic features for rooted ROMs, but with the recent upgrades to JB, I just wanted to confirm that these work. I for one have been unable to get WiFi tether app to work successfully on my Stock rooted ROM so far, which is one of the main reasons why I'm looking at custom ROMs)[/QUOTE

Fixing permissions cab help prevent force closes after a flash. It take a second and can be done in recovery under advanced.


You should be fine with su. If you revert back to an older band, the market will prompt you to update to the latest version.

Tether, ad blocking, and all of that is baked in jbs. Along with a million other customizable features.
Click to expand...
 
Successfully flashed! So far, so good!

I don't see how to control individual app's permissions though - where is that?
 
I finally flashed Sourcery ROm too. I was at the same point as you - rooted/stock. Finally took the plunge. I had used the same files (ROM/GApps) as you, but I ran into an issue.

After flashing, and rebooting, it got stuck at the boot animation for over 20 minutes. I logged onto Sourcery site to look for workarounds, and noticed they had an IRC up. Found an extremely group of people - especially zzz73. He got me to flash back to stock using my nandroid, and got me to install Sourcery 5.1.1 (new build?), along with Gapps (non inverted, without contacts). Flashed this, and was at home screen in under 5 minutes.

ROM seems to work well (incredibly customizable). At a few screens (occasionally), it lags a little more than stock, but I suspect that may be because of the Apex Launcher - not sure. But it isn't a biggie.

Good thing is that my bluetooth issue with the stock ROM (phone connection to car receiver would drop all the time) seems to be gone. I tried it for my drive today, and it seemed to hold up without a single drop. Hopefully, it stays this way! YAY!

I wasn't able to get the MAP profile option in Bluetooth however - it shows media streaming, and phone audio streaming, but MAP profile doesn't even show up (it works fine with my old EVO 3D). Did MAP profile get removed?

I don't see the option to control the app permissions either. Hopefully, it is there in the ROM somewhere, and I'm just not seeing it. If anyone knows where it is, could you please point me to the appropriate place?
Thanks!
 
jj14x said:
I finally flashed Sourcery ROm too. I was at the same point as you - rooted/stock. Finally took the plunge. I had used the same files (ROM/GApps) as you, but I ran into an issue.

After flashing, and rebooting, it got stuck at the boot animation for over 20 minutes. I logged onto Sourcery site to look for workarounds, and noticed they had an IRC up. Found an extremely group of people - especially zzz73. He got me to flash back to stock using my nandroid, and got me to install Sourcery 5.1.1 (new build?), along with Gapps (non inverted, without contacts). Flashed this, and was at home screen in under 5 minutes.

ROM seems to work well (incredibly customizable). At a few screens (occasionally), it lags a little more than stock, but I suspect that may be because of the Apex Launcher - not sure. But it isn't a biggie.

Good thing is that my bluetooth issue with the stock ROM (phone connection to car receiver would drop all the time) seems to be gone. I tried it for my drive today, and it seemed to hold up without a single drop. Hopefully, it stays this way! YAY!

I wasn't able to get the MAP profile option in Bluetooth however - it shows media streaming, and phone audio streaming, but MAP profile doesn't even show up (it works fine with my old EVO 3D). Did MAP profile get removed?

I don't see the option to control the app permissions either. Hopefully, it is there in the ROM somewhere, and I'm just not seeing it. If anyone knows where it is, could you please point me to the appropriate place?
Thanks!
Click to expand...

You basically shouldn't have to worry about setting an individual app permissions. Is there any reason why you need to do that? All I've ever had to do is fix permissions every now and again but that can be done in recovery.

Root explorer has an option for c changing individual permissions but like I said I've never really had to do that.
 
Well, let me try to rephrase. If I install an app (say a battery widget), and it requests access to my contacts (for whatever reason - to provide the option to share battery stats - whatever), but I don't want that app to be able to access my contacts.

Some custom ROMs (like CM I'm told) allow the user to control the permissions that an app has - so, in the example above, I could install the app, but deny the app permission to access my contacts (with the understanding that some functionality will be limited)

battery widget is probably not the best example - because there are plenty of other options - but you get the idea.
 
jj14x said:
Good thing is that my bluetooth issue with the stock ROM (phone connection to car receiver would drop all the time) seems to be gone. I tried it for my drive today, and it seemed to hold up without a single drop. Hopefully, it stays this way! YAY!
Click to expand...

Crap - bluetooth issues started again - UGH! Google!!! Grr!
 
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