Custom ROM creation issues.. - 8125, K-JAM, P4300, MDA Vario Software Upgrading

Hi everyone,
I've been reading up and creating a custom ROM for a while now, and I think my eyes were bleeding for quite some time trying to figure out this issue. I've had no luck, so I'm hoping someone can help.
I'm using mamaich's tools, and I can get the ROM extracted and dumped just fine. Specifically I'm just doing the OS portion of the ROM.
I've gone in and added and edited files where I think they need to be, and modified the reg files and such. So I think I'm good there. I want to test it out though, so I need to create the nk.nbf. That's the part I'm having troubles with..
I run buildimgfs, and it seems to do something, but the date and time on the bin files don't change. So, for ****s and giggles I run make_imgfs, and I get a strange error that I can't read, as it looks like perhaps it may be in a different language.
Anyone else run into this, perhaps have any ideas?
THanks!

Related

Question on extracting and customizing Roms

How do you extract a custom Rom so that I can tweak it around and take/add a few programs to fit my own needs? I've read the countless number of pages on how to cook a Rom, and my head is about to explode from all the information I'm trying to take in, but nothing explains how to extract and dissect a custom rom.
I understand this is probably something people may not wish to explain so that others don't modify custom ROMs and name it their own, but this is something I wish not to do. I simply wish to take some programs out I never use and add a few that I always use into the ROM so that when I do a hard-reset I don't have to go through the time consuming process of copying and loading cabs all the time.
I've used the search function, but nothing truly explains how to do what I want.
Most chefs protect their ROMs, so you won't be able to extract them.
Here is an excellent guide about customizing an official ROM.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=494793
I figured so. Thank you for the link. I guess it's time for me to learn to cook my own ROMs now...hopefully they don't get burnt.
Some chefs upload their entire kitchens along with the finished ROM, so you can customize it to your taste.
I tried to extract R1A UK (the only rom that can play video without lag), but get an error during the extraction.
mah...

Emulator: Installing ROMs for testing?

Hello all,
I'm curious if there is a way to install ROMs in the Android emulator from the SDK for testing..?
I've done some digging and experimenting, and can't find any information on this -- if it's possible, could someone point me in the right direction?
I play around with different ROMs a lot and like to see them in action, and am changing ROMs often. This is a pain to do on my phone, and it's beginning to show its wear ; ) Ideally, I'd be able to install the ROMs in the emulator to play around with the different flavors before deciding on one to install and keep on the phone.. also to stay up-to-date without risking the stability of my device..
I've tried using a nandroid dump of system.img off my phone mixed in with the Android SDK's images, and this boots OK with the ROM (I had Cyanogen 4.2.3.1 at the time).. but the problem then is getting a system.img of the new ROMs from the "update.zip" files that are available, without putting them on my phone first (kind of defeats the purpose)..
Is this doable? Either "flashing" these updates to the emulator image, or creating a system.img from the zip's?
Thanks!
From what I've found, you can do it from Nandroid images. However, I didn't really have any luck with it.
I'd LOVE to finally find a real solution.
also from what i know only cyans roms will work other roms frameworks are too heavily modded to work on the 1.5 sdk ie. hero,pulse,blur
sad i know
grivad said:
I've tried using a nandroid dump of system.img off my phone mixed in with the Android SDK's images, and this boots OK with the ROM (I had Cyanogen 4.2.3.1 at the time).. but the problem then is getting a system.img of the new ROMs from the "update.zip" files that are available, without putting them on my phone first (kind of defeats the purpose)..
Is this doable? Either "flashing" these updates to the emulator image, or creating a system.img from the zip's?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol i well didnt read the post before replying no there is no way that you can test it from a update.zip sorry

Chef's Only Please...my first ROM, want suggestions/recommendations

Greetings,
I have, over the course of a few years, tried several ROM's from some of the most notable Chefs here. And I thank you (Energy, No2CHem, Mighty, just the most recent I've used I know there are more). I have gotten to the point where I would like to try building my own. I have ventured over to PPCKithcen.org and downloaded their kitchen and updated it for the Rhodium. This morning I compiled Cooked the ROM, and have saved the data output file. I am wondering the danger of flashing this ROM. I know "I flash at my own risk, and could brick my device...yada yada." But what is the real danger here? Would the Kitchen break if the ROM was invalid? Is part of the cooking process verifying the data?
Anyway, I appreciate all of your guidance in this venture. I am NOT going to post the ROM, because...well it hasn't been tested on any device. I can post the Build Status Output, and will gladly send an Chef's my ROM to look at. Also are you all using/prefer one kitchen over another, or do you alternate between depending on the device and radios? Is there a "virtual machine" that one can use to test a ROM?
Mordekai
p.s. okay, message me here, and I can email you the files...can't post files and don't have a file hosting service...yet, maybe if this goes somewhere.
At microsoft.com there's a mobile emulator in the Windows Mobile SDK.
Google that and you shall find that.
Also, you should be fine, unless you're messing with something like the radio or unlockers, you can just reflash the stock rom(recommended but not really needed) then reflash a custom rom of your choice.

How do you load a custom rom?

I apologies if this has (see probably was) posted before, but after some searching I was unable to find anything.
I just rooted my HTC Hero for sprint and was interested in installing the Darchdroid 2.7 ROM. Problem is, I'm not entirely certain of how to do this since I am new to the process. Near as I can figure, you change the name of the zip file he provided to update and tell the phone to flash to that.
Rather than do that and brick my phone however, I'd prefer to get some kind of confirmation or at least some easy directions.
Again, sorry if this is bothering someone. I'm just quite new and don't want to kill my phone.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=674833
u dont have to rename it. read the post on his roms thread. it says how to do it

[Q] Radio and custom rom

Hello,
For the past few days i have been trying to find an answer to my question but so i've come up short. With regards to loading a custom rom, what is the process of ensuring that the correct radio image gets loaded as well? I have went as far as modifying my stock rom with dsixda's kitchen (great by the way, very easy to use), but I have not figured out what to do with the radio.img. I incorrectly assumed that it would be retained in the build, and now I'm a bit worried to try it until i know for sure where it needs to go.
Thanks for all your help,
Flashing a new ROM doesn't affect the radio at all. You could change your ROM 6 times per day and still have the same radio.
I'd say your best bet is to search around the forum and find one of the flashable .zips for whatever radio you want. They are out there cuz I remember doing that a while back. As long as you flash one meant for CDMA (DO NOT FLASH A GSM RADIO!!!) you should be fine.
Here's the one that a lot of us are using right now, the newest Radio that came in Sprint's 2.1 Stock release: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=681703
Ok well that makes sense. I would use that radio, but I don't have a sprint device, so unless I am completely lost I should just stick with what I as my radio image. I have just gotten a bit confused with all the talk about using sprint rom's in non-sprint phones and losing the ability to make/receive calls,data, ect.
Just so I am clear, as long as I am clear, since I modified my stock rom to add root, wifi tethering, blah blah; the radio will be fine. So essentially, loading my rom would have no more effect on the carrier files than a master reset would. Am I over simplifying it?
Thanks, you are the first person is 5 different forums that explained this to me.
Ok yes, you shouldn't flash a Sprint radio if you're not on the Sprint carrier. Your provider may not recognize it and your phone might not even get signal.
And yes you're also correct that adding root, wi-fi tether, and other such apps/mods will not have any effect on your radio at all. The radio is basically just what the phone uses to receive its signal from the tower. It's like you said...if you're not having any signal/data problems, you really don't need to worry about updating your radio.
Finally, you're also correct in that you shouldn't flash a Sprint-based ROM to your phone if you're not on Sprint. The frameworks and operating files are built somewhat differently in other providers ROMs, so a Sprint-based ROM on your non-Sprint phone likely wouldn't even work.
There are other ROMs for a few other carriers out there in the Development forum. Browse around there to see if one of those will work for you.
Sounds like you understand it all just fine
Thanks, I went ahead and took the plunge and loaded my own rom and it worked flawlessly, well with the exception of my custom boot screen image and the boot sound. I guess I need to just take baby steps I guess. Does anybody know where I can get some get directions on creating custom bootup features? I read somewhere all I needed to do was open the media folder and edit the images as I see fit. It seemed easy enough, but on startup, the screens froze and I got no sound. It did load all the way but I would like to correct this if possible.
Thanks again
A somewhat basic boot animation tutorial (that doesn't seem really good in my opinion, but a good start at least): http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=639471
Some boot animation instructions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=6651435&postcount=2
Boot animation preview tool: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=676385
There's lots more stuff out there if you search the forum for "boot animation". Looks like some ppl just modify existing boot images to their liking rather than completely building from scratch.
Thanks, I will give them a try. I am still a little afraid to try some of the tried and true custom roms out there for fear of incompatability with my radio, so I am gonna work with what I got and continue to work on my own. Thanks again for all your help
chromiumleaf is totaly right, if your not real familiar with flashing radio's stick with the one your carrier provided a wrong radio flash can brick your phone quick.
for the boot animations when cooking them into your roms, copying and pasting your new bootanimation into the /system/media folder in your working directory, and leaving the option in the kitchen unchecked will give your better results, also here's some more info that might be helpful in building them.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=7574576&postcount=12
Just make sure u delete the bootanimation.zip file in the media folder before u add ur boot animation cause the zip will always over rule ur animation.

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