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I want to make my own rom based on the cyanogen rom. I want to add a few apps and remove a few that already exist.
I have tried using the adb but it wont uninstall the ones I dont want.
I would like to mod a rom before I flash it, Is there a how to for this?
Thanks,
Dubstar_04
I dont think there's a how-to, but I can type a quick one in a jiffy;
Tools;
A computer (Windows PC in this example)
7zip (google it)
The rom you wish to modify.
Either JRE or JDK (so you can run java apps) (google it)
JF's testsign.jar (google it)
Method:
Install 7zip in your computer. Also install the Java runtimes so you can run java apps through the console (ahem, command prompt).
Unzip (if it's not already) your testsign.jar and place it somewhere easy on your HDD (C:\, for example, doesn't get easier than that). Also place the rom you wish to modify in the same folder.
Open the update.zip file (or whatever it's called) with 7zip (you can do this by either using the command dialog (right click) and selecting 7-zip > Open Archive, or by going right-click > Open With > Choose Default Program and select "Always open with this program" with 7zip FM (file manager)).
Once it's open, navigate to the folder system/app and remove in there any apks you don't want in there (for example, I always remove VoiceSearch.apk, VoiceDialer.apk, SystemUpdater.apk, Talk.apk, and when available, SpareParts.apk, com.mp3.amazon.apk, and a few others). That is basically the uninstall process. If you have the apks for the apps you wish to install, you can drag them into the 7z windows at this point too (if you have hboot spl, you have a lot of space in system, so dumping them here is safe). If you don't have the apks, but you have them installed in your phone, you can use adb to get them. Just make a folder in your desktop called app (or whatever you wish) and run adb with your working directory in the desktop (C:\users\myname\desktop). The adb command would be: adb pull data/app app. This will place all the contents of downloaded apps (free ones) inside the app folder in your desktop as apks. I don't know that there's anything you can do at this point about paid apps.
Anyway, once you're done deleting and adding apks to your zip. Close the 7zip window (it saves the changes automatically, you should have kept the window open through the whole process).
Open up the command prompt again, and change your working directory to C:\ (usually cd ../..), then, if you placed all like I told you to, you can just run; java testsign updatenamewhateveritis.zip
Ofcourse, replace updatenamewhateveritisi.zip with the name of the update, but I recomend renaming it to update.zip beforehand so you don't have to type a lot.
After it's done signing, the rom is ready to flash.
Good lucks to you
Wow...Good explanation.
I have few questions.
-Do i need the jar sign thing?
-Can I create a flasheable update.zip to "add/remove" apps to a fresh flashed rom? (I mean, flash a custom rom and then apply update.zip which can add and remove apk ), or do you recommend to modify the zipped rom instead of creating a update.zip ?
Many thanks
Depending on your recovery you can just toggle on/off if you need a signed zip or not. This is a very old thread and I imagine it was much harder to push apps into /system back then or to remove /system apps for that matter. With root access there are many apps you can do this with now, or with adb or terminal emulator
What is your purpose for this by the way? I feel there may be easier ways to accomplish what you're after
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium
Thanks for answer
Yeah...it's and old thread, but actually it saved me to post a similar topic thread again :good:
My purpose? Not developing anything nor cooking rom. I just found at http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/Barebones that i can safely uninstall apks that i don't use. So i uninstalled some of then, and i was thinking, in case of reinstalling the rom or flashing a new version of it, how to erase the unusefull apks(for me at least) in one step.
I think the easiest way is removing them from the zipped rom before flashing.
What do you think?
yes you can unzip and rome .apks, but then you will have to sign it unless your recovery allows unsigned zipps. why not flash the rom as is, remove all the unwanted, add what you like, then make a nandroid copy of the way you like it. this can then be flashed whenever
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
Oh...the sign thing!
Anyway, there are few useless apks, so i think i can do it manually after flashing rom.
Hey. I'd like to know what nandroid is...
I use CWM recovery to backup/restore data/rom and I use Titanium Backup for the applications. So what the **** is nandroid. I mean, is an apk? Is a boot tool? And what can i do with it?
Thanks a lot dude!
it is the backup you make in your recovery, you will make either a nandroid backup or bart backup. depending how it is done it will be an exact copy of your rom, apps, call log, etc. any thing stored to you phone @ that "recovery" point
it gets its name from nand (the nand flash memory) and android, some recoveries may just call it a backup
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium
I installed this from the market on my legend rom. I have created a nandroid backup of that rom and I'm now rockin the nonsense rom from team-slide (great rom by the way!). However I'm trying to find this on the market now and it seems like it is nowhere to be found. I've tried a variation of searches with no luck. So I thought, well I'll just restore my legend rom backup and adb pull the file from there. It was located in the /data/app as a .zip file while the other apps were .apk. Anyhow I was able to pull the file and its now on my computer. I then did a restore to my nonsesnse rom but I'm unsure how to get the zip file back on the phone. I can adb push it on there but it doesn't 'install' it per sey. Any ideas on how to get this app back on the nonsense rom?
You can place the apk on the sd card and then on the phone you can use astro to install it. If that doesn't work you can connect to the pc and use the "adb install" command.
Sent from my HTC Mytouch 3G Slide using XDA App
Part of the problem is that I don't see an apk file. The file is actually .zip in the /data/app path. The other files in the /data/app path are .apk files. Am I missing something here or is the apk file in another path? When I unzip the file on my computer there are multiple folders. If I had the actual apk then I might be in business. Any suggenstions on where it might be hiding?
go to app private in the backup that u got the zip from there should b the apk
update - app private had the apk, installed and working fine, thanks for all the help. So is it safe to say if it is a zip file the apk will always appear in app private? Why make this different from the other apks? Is it just developer specific i guess?
There is many of you that asks how to remove this and that preinstallaed apps in different ROM
When a developer put apps in system/app it can not be removed so easy.
But if you have RomManager or fakeflash´s update.zip there is a other way.
I have attached a zip fil that contains a ordinare ROM installation script that only contains delete and copy.
Download file and unzip on your computer and take a look in the folders
data/app
META-INF/com/google/android/update-script
system/app
If your only wish is to remove a systemapp
edit the file update-script (textfile)
and add line with the filename of what you want to remove:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
If you want to install some apps put them in system/app for not installable
and data/app for apps that can be removed as usual
rezip folders and install zip with RomManager NO WIPE!!
cm6 azures you will get a error because not same structure for data/app
never mind just select reboot. Delete will work anyway.
Sometimes there will be .so files in system/libs too. They are little more difficult to know which to remove so that demands more knowledge of the app.
Use for instance Astro filemanager or Estrong to look in system/app for correct filename to delete
Script work even if *.odex not exist.
The fact that when you zip folders it will not be signed so file will not work with adb recovery
Googleapps filenames:
CarHomeGoogle.apk, CarHomeLauncher.apk, com.amazon.mp3.apk,
Facebook.apk, GenieWidget.apk, Gmail.apk, GoogleBackupTransport.apk,
GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk, GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk,
GoogleFeedback.apk, GoogleGoggles.apk, GooglePartnerSetup.apk, GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk, GoogleServicesFramework.apk, googlevoice.apk,
HtcCopyright.apk, HtcEmailPolicy.apk, HtcSettings.apk, kickback.apk, LatinImeGoogle.apk, LatinImeTutorial.apk, Maps.apk, MarketUpdater.apk, MediaUploader.apk, NetworkLocation.apk, OneTimeInitializer.apk, PassionQuickOffice.apk, SetupWizard.apk, soundback.apk, Street.apk, Talk.apk, talkback.apk, Twitter.apk, Vending.apk, VoiceSearch.apk, YouTube.apk, QuickSearchBox.apk, Provision.apk
Other apps:
ADWLauncher.apk, Gallery3D.apk
but filename may be different depending of ROM
Mainpart must exist for using phone normally
Hope that this help to remove "non-removable" systemapps in future.
/Snakehult
Good guide.
via Legend using XDA-app
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
snakehult said:
(example)
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/unwanted.odex
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
c_man said:
Thanks snakehult - great guide and very useful!!
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can use some regular filemanager such Astro or Estrongs and look in system/app
Always delete both, script work even if odex file is missing
c_man said:
It may be worth explaining how people:
- can find out the name of the app they want to remove;
- how they know whether to add the suffix of *.apk or *.odex, or both;
Thanks again for your efforts!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cool guide!
anyway you have to detect the filename of the apps this way:
enter the recovery mode (in modaco-root-r4: recovery-windows.bat)
now type:
adb shell
mount -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock3 /system
ls -l /system/app
(this will give you the list of system apps, with space usage)
you have to delete both .apk and .odex files (the latter may not exist)
I use to delete the bigger ringtones too, the list is given by
ls -l /system/media/audio/ringtones
it is safe to delete, after you setup the google accounts (ie after first boot):
HTCSetup*
com.htc.Setup*
Stock*
HtcFoot*
NewsRead*
wow its working......thanks dude........
Uploaded with ImageShack.us
http://android.modaco.com/content/h...apps-from-the-htc-desire-with-adb-in-windows/
Simple guide from MoDaCo
That must be the hardest way to remove apps i guess Have you seen "modaco guide"? All you have to do is reboot your phone in to recovery mode and type 2-3 commands in ADB. Simple as that.
Thanks anyway for your efforts
Many way för same thing
But with a custom-made zipfile you always remove/install favourite apps without adb. And quick modify new ROM install.
Sent from my Legend using XDA App
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
bobstar_fr said:
Hello,
Good guide.
The Legend may be rooted to do this?
I am a newbie.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I see it, no use to do much in the dev forum without an rooted Phone
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Learners Lisence said:
hey guys, thanks for bringing this up. i just tried modaco site method and i deleted stock and its widget only. the internal storage shot from 113 mb to 122 mb and ram from 42 to 134 mb !
what else can i delete
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just delete what you will never use and....no regret
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Learners Lisence said:
thank you cryshop for your expert advise
i tried deleting Innovation.mp3 by this script -
adb-windows shell rm /system/media/audio/ringtones/Innovation.mp3
said file not found even though its listed.
whats my mistake ?
i will try snakehults method also but later.
thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
@kdma : install ROM Manager from the Market, and there is an option inside the app : Reboot into Recovery (easiest way to get into recovery mod)
I also deleted /system/etc/clock* and saved some space again
(of course I don't need Htc clock widgets)
cryshop said:
Hmm, did you forget a slash or a letter in the command? because I tried and I could actually delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
cryshop, i was typing in the wrong directory
Ps - snakehults's appfixer is real delight ! smooooth.
except that my winzip is a trial version and legend dont recognize winrar files.
I was wondering how i got such good figures for change in space and ram the first time. i havent since then. my legend just likes the rebooting involved coz i dont use task killers anymore. and maybe i deleted more than just stock the first time
Will this work with android 2.2 on Hero?
Hey I've been looking all over for something like this. I downloaded the zip, added the lines
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/mms.odex
delete SYSTEM:app/email.apk
delete SYSTEM:app/email.odex
and rezipped it.
I used Rom Manager and selected install rom from SD card. It rebooted, seemed to execute the zip. But the original email and mms apps are still installed. What am i doing wrong?
kdma said:
im trying to use modaco's method but what is the green recovery menu?
i dont understand i go in fastboot then recovery and then?thank you
edit done im stupid
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The first thing you should do is download the required zip file from modaco (I'm a new user of xda and is not permitted to post outside links here. You may easily find that post "24/May r4 - HTC Legend rooting guide - Now with 1.31.x" in android.madaco.com)
I think many of us rooted the device followed the instructions of Paul. So that file might be already in your hands.
Fastboot and then recovery, as you have done before. Run Recovery-linux.sh (or Recovery-windows.bat, if you use Windows) in a terminal window - your device shall be at the green recovery screen.
Open another terminal window and enter:
./adb-linux shell mount /system
and then you can push, pull or rm file. For example,
./adb-linux shell rm /system/app/Calculator.apk
./adb-linux push abc.so /system/lib
--
I didn't notice you have already solved the problem, when I compiled this post. It is no longer useful.
I have no problems updating or applying a theme to my phone and never have issues w/ framework-res and don't have issues with most apps. I changed the notification icon for Gmail, SMS, Googlevoice, etc., with no problems.
HOWEVER, some .apk's always seem to be corrupt when I touch them.
Example: I use MixZing as my music player and wanted to update the notification icon (play button) to match my theme. So I adb pulled the apk., changed the .png (it wasn't a .9), signed it, mounted /data as RW from within Clockwork recovery, adb pushed the .apk back and...it's broken! Doesn't show up in my app list and when I try to launch it from any file explorer it says "error launching...."
Same thing when I try to update the facebook app, tweetdeck, and Phone.apk (trying to change buttons).
What am I doing wrong? Is there different sign tools that just don't work right?
Did you use APK Manager? Try installing it normally on your phone instead of pushing it in recovery. What happens?
ilangoadigal said:
Did you use APK Manager? Try installing it normally on your phone instead of pushing it in recovery. What happens?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. But I did try Root Explorer w/ same results. And Root Explorer allows you to mount folders as R/W and set permissions..
typeadam said:
No. But I did try Root Explorer w/ same results. And Root Explorer allows you to mount folders as R/W and set permissions..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try uninstalling it before installing/pushing it (But installing it should work).
typeadam said:
No. But I did try Root Explorer w/ same results. And Root Explorer allows you to mount folders as R/W and set permissions..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
APK Manager is something you use on your computer, not your phone. I posted a guide here, see if it helps you http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=8450650&postcount=25
Some edited .9 pngs work even without patching it, but most needs to be patched for the app to properly work. .9 pngs are very tricky.
In addition to the above posted suggestion, also try searching the forum on how .9 pngs work and how to patch them. Might be useful for you in the future.
Was wondering if anyone could tell me the process after editing drawables with apk multi tool, The tutorial hicks was kind enough to write is for apk manager and some of the options aree different. i know this is a noob question but gotta start some where.
After i extracted apk's from a zip and edited drawables I then opened multi tool
and zipped apk's, Then I copied these files over old ones in original zip placed in my sd card and tried to flash, i got cant install zip (bad) from cwm.
anyone care to explain what im doing wrong, or what the process is after editing, im not sure what signing and zip aligning are just yet.
Forgot to compile
ok got it decompiled, edited drawables, then recompiled (didn't sign because it said not to for framework-res.apk)
this created unsignedframework-res.apk in modding folder, deleted original framework in modding folder renamed unsigned to just framework-res.apk and pushed to /system/framework through adb, then reboot phone and get stuck in boot loop crash or phone boots then evrything fc's
Any ideas on what im doin wrong? feel like im so close to getting it to work just doing something stupid in the process of re installing.
HighLimit said:
no matter what i do apk multitool says it cannot find adb
installed latest toolset with sdk manager and AVD,
Set path Variable
this is where i have it installed, same place as android sdk
C:\Users\me\Desktop\LGTheme\android-sdk\platform-tools
edit***
got it by manually pushig system apk's but now everything force closes... wondering if i messed up signing it somehow or if it has to do with it being a custom rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You shouldn't have to sign any of the apk's, i was actually told that signing them could prevent them from working. I also had problems pushing apks to my phone using adb, i kept getting force closes, even after rebooting. I could only get it to work by creating a flashable zip and flashing files through cwm. Why that worked over pushing it to the phone, I have no idea, but oh well.
Another thing to try is wiping cache and dalvik, until I tried that, a lot of the changes I made ro the systemui.apk didn't actually change anything.
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium
Tried that, must be doing something wrong, i extract edit.and rezip then i have unsigned and signed in modding folder, not sure what im doing wrong from there, same thing if i decompile compile not sure what the diff is
What apk's are you Modding, and what do you have in your zip file?
Sent from my VS910 4G using xda premium
I just skimmed over this but immediately I see your adding a new file to the zip that will cause a bad zip all you need to do is create a new zip and copy all of the files in the bad zip and make the new one including your Meta inf folder and all that everything needs transferred.
Also with editing images it is not necessary to decompile extracting is fine to extract and zip after you changed what you wanted the only reason to decompile is to be able to read XML and it also let's you see boarders in the .9 images. Have you tried just pushing the apk to the phone instead of making a zip?
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
Yes i pushed through adb because multi tool cant find adb no matter what directory i install them in etc, but when i pushed it worked, changed the image but then everything fc'd after reboot. Thanks for the info i will try justneed to figure out how to make a new zip
HighLimit said:
Yes i pushed through adb because multi tool cant find adb no matter what directory i install them in etc, but when i pushed it worked, changed the image but then everything fc'd after reboot. Thanks for the info i will try justneed to figure out how to make a new zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On windows right click and select the create new compressed file or something like that or maybe you made the folder then right clicked and compress it I can't remember I haven't been on windows in awhile.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium
I got it but fo i need to extrct n zip a Pl ll cause i tried moving the new apk into new zip then copied all the others into it and it still wont load
HighLimit said:
I got it but fo i need to extrct n zip a Pl ll cause i tried moving the new apk into new zip then copied all the others into it and it still wont load
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
first of all.. huh?
Nvrmind i was doing it wrong as usual got it figured out thanks for trying to help guys.