I want to permanently customize setting and apps that stay even after factory resetting phone. so that when I*factory reset*my phone, it would revert back to*almost*factory settings, except with a few alterations. For example: some extra apps (maybe settings within those apps already selected), certain an!droid settings already selected (developer tools, unknown sources etc), superuser with permissions already granted for certain apps, basically things beyond the scope of just pre-installed apps.
I understand the phone would need to be rooted, I would want to keep the original rom with the above mentioned changes. Of course I can always make a backup and simply load it, but I want to know if it can be done through*factory reset. I only have experience rooting and loading custom roms (on many devices*, I've always done so since droid 1) but I have never made a custom rom, which from my understanding, is what I need to do to for something like this.*
Basically if you guys can tell me if I am in the right direction, completely off track and where should I go from here to make it happen.
Factory reset is a reset. Not a partial reset.
Everything you're looking for is accomplished with a nandroid backup. Which also "resets" your phone to the point the backup was created.
But to directly answer you ....no, I've never heard of a way to modify a factory reset. ?
jonagpa said:
I want to permanently customize setting and apps that stay even after factory resetting phone. so that when I*factory reset*my phone, it would revert back to*almost*factory settings, except with a few alterations. For example: some extra apps (maybe settings within those apps already selected), certain an!droid settings already selected (developer tools, unknown sources etc), superuser with permissions already granted for certain apps, basically things beyond the scope of just pre-installed apps.
I understand the phone would need to be rooted, I would want to keep the original rom with the above mentioned changes. Of course I can always make a backup and simply load it, but I want to know if it can be done through*factory reset. I only have experience rooting and loading custom roms (on many devices*, I've always done so since droid 1) but I have never made a custom rom, which from my understanding, is what I need to do to for something like this.*
Basically if you guys can tell me if I am in the right direction, completely off track and where should I go from here to make it happen.
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That's exactly what you would need to do -- basically make your own stock-based rom. It will require an unlocked bootloader (not just root) - no way around this.
Good Luck
Edit: Keep in mind that OTA updates will absolutely not be possible. You would need to make a new stock-based rom built off the new SBF when a new updates comes out (assuming you want updates).
Your first step will be downloading and researching the SBF for your particular phone. Find the SBF files here:
sbf.droid-developers.org/phone.php?device=0
You'll need to find a guide on custom roms, and learn the procedures. Once you have succeeded and packaged up your rom with all the modifications you want, it will *absolutely* survive a "factory reset".
Additionally, KJ is correct. The 'nandroid' backup option in custom recovery makes this an extremely easy process (though it won't 'survive' a factory reset, it's easy enough to restore back assuming you saved the backup somewhere accessable). Building a ROM is considerably more involved. I personally wouldn't attempt it just for the convenience of having persistent apps and a few mods that survive resets.
Finally, if you are using Safestrap, or don't have a custom recovery, this is NOT possible.
Related
I'm considering rooting my phone, but I'm kind of on the fence. First, I don't really want to void my warranty, but since I bought the phone used do I even have a warranty anymore? Second, I'm not really that interested in custom ROMs at this point since I'm new to Android OS and I'm happy with the way things are stock for now. So my question is... What can I do with a rooted phone running the stock Froyo ROM? Anything cool/interesting, or does it not even pay to bother rooting if I'm going to keep it stock?
I waited 3 months before rooting and I thought the same as you, wasn't interested in custom ROMs and all. Once I finally rooted and loaded cyanogen ROM, it completely changed my thinking. I highly highly recommend using cyanogen if you root. I can't stress enough. Things wkt can do with root are many, 720p video hack, black notification bar, themes, meta morph, audio volume hack, ROM manager, titanium backup, nand backups! The list is endless. Hell nand backup alone is worth rooting.
Is there a place or a link I can find more information about just stuff that I can do with a rooted phone BESIDES installing custom ROMs? Everything I usually find is just about ROMs. I want to just get my feet wet a little before I decide to just jump right in. For now I'm just interested in stuff I can do with plain old vanilla android once it's been rooted.
Look for apps that require root, see what they are and if you need any of them.
Here's my current list of things "to root for", I haven't yet..
Reasons to root:
Just root, nothing else:
- Adblock host file
- ClockSync
- GScripter
- Remove built-in crap (Amazon MP3)
- Screenshots
After installing recovery image
- Nandroid
After installing custom rom
- Black notification bar
Depending on where you live, you might still have warranty. For example, in Europe, the warranty is by default 2 years on the device. So it doesn't matter if you got it second hand, as long as the device still has warranty, you're OK.
Secondly, you can root your device without unlocking the bootloader. Check this thread for more info. At step 18, before doing the 2 'exit' commands, also take the time to rename /system/etc/recovery-install.sh & install + make executable a file called flash_image (google it to find a download) into /system/bin. This way you can install a custom recovery (e.g. for doing nandroid backups) and will make installing custom ROMs later a lot less painful.
A rooted stock FRF91 can already do many things, search for 'root' in the market and you can find tons of apps that require root privileges and that will run fine on stock. However, the really interesting things (like color trackball alert, firewalling, proxy support, ...) will require you to install a custom ROM.
I rooted my stock N1 with the above procedure a couple of weeks ago, and installed Cyanogen6 RC2 ROM to get some of the more advanced functionality. Been working like a charm and I've actually managed to get a lot more out of my device AND have longer battery life
So I installed and ran psouza's bloatware removal script, but when it was reset my phone got stuck at the boot screen. So I did battery pull and re-booted the phone, which led me to be stuck at the boot screen once again. Ok, no biggie, I don't really have too much on the phone I'll factory reset it. Once I did that everything was going good until after it asked me what gps services I was going to use(verizon, google, stand alone) I clicked them all pressed finished, and then things started to get a bit weird. The screen was completely black except for the notification bar up top, which I could access and set up things like wifi and such, but pulling it back up showed the same black screen as before. Now what this leads me to believe is that I might have removed the launcher on accident(I don't know how I was being very careful as to watch what I was removing, but it's been a long day...). So my question is, is there any way to recover my phone, whether it be setting it back to stock somehow, downloading another launcher from the android market(keep in mind I don't exactly have access to the market via my phone), or other? Also I really don't want to talk to Verizon/get a new phone unless it's the only thing possible.
Thanks in advance, and sorry for being such a noob >.<
Edit: Managed to install launcher pro and now everything is working fine.
use ADB and install launcherpro to the device. You can get it from www.launcherpro.com and use adb install (not push).
For everyone else reading...
Factory Reset is the last thing you want to do when having issues with your phone if you have modified the system/app files in anyway (renamed, deleted, froze, etc..).
It seems from what I've been reading, most do not know what a Factory Reset does. Factory Reset wipes your /data /cache and /davlik-cache partitions clean. It does not change your /system partition, does not "restore" apps you've deleted, changed, replaced, added or anything else in /system. Why...because there is no hidden partition that holds a copy of "how the phone was" when it was stock. It's only "resetting" what you have (as a user) done on the phone. If you've deleted contacts.apk and added SuperUser.apk to /system/app....then that's the same way it will be after a factory reset. Same for /system/xbin or /system/bin if you've copied SU and BUSYBOX there......
So what it does it is erases all the settings, configurations, apps you've downloaded/installed from the Market, account info and such....things that might still function once configured and then some apps deleted/renamed/frozen but will not function if trying to configure fresh.
If you have a stock phone, Factory Reset can be your friend. If you have a modified phone, Factory Reset can be your worst nightmare.
Complete ROMs (CM7, Bugless Beast, etc..) can be Factory Reset just like a stock ROM...unless you start changing things in /system......
Remember, Factory Reset is not a recovery, it's an "erase the stuff I've added/configured" based off a stock unrooted users abilities. Changes to files/folders/apps that are in areas that require root to access, are not touched by a Factory Reset.
This is why you can get in more trouble....things are missing and now you've wiped your configurations/install apps (example...using LauncherPro and deleted the stock Launcher.apk...do a Factory Reset....now LauncherPro no longer exist and the deleted stock Launcher.apk is still deleted....no home screen launcher).
Thanks for the insight tcrews, I managed to get everything straightened out right before you posted, but it still has some valuable information that I will make sure to remember. I really shouldn't have done to much messing around with my phone since I wasn't quite sure what I was doing(I don't even have a reliable way to recover via sd, or cloud storage yet). I think this instance was just one of carelessness, in that I wasn't paying full attention to what was going on. Oh well, I learned my lesson.
I have googled this but all the solution I find are either to factory reset or re-flash your firmware. I'd really like to avoid that.
I have a Z3 compact, rooted and then flashed with the latest firmware I think its the .77 at the end.
Xposed framework with a few mods running beautifully on it.
The last 3 changes I did before the phone got stuck in the boot loop:
- updated minmin xposed module from 1.8.1 to 1.9
- updated another module but forgot its name
- fiddled with the settings of this app: https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=org.namelessrom.devicecontrol
I'm pretty sure its the latter as it sets certain kernel parameters at reboot.
Can anyone give me instructions on how to disable this app from booting or how/where to find it and delete it?
Where can I find logs of this boot loop?
I really want to avoid re-flashing, re-rooting, re-flashing and restoring my backup again as that will take half a day.
I've just brought back mine from bootlooping after I've installed several extensions (just discovered that the culprit was DonkeyGuard) and I'm about to do it for the second time, by flashing a Xposed-Disabler-Recovery.zip file that's stored either in the root of your phone or at
/storage/emulated/0/Android/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer/files/Xposed-Disabler-Recovery.zip
But that would only work in case you messed it up with Xposed.
Thanks, I'll keep that in mind if I encounter this problem again.
Still finding it hard to believe there's no other reply to a seemingly common problem / question, does everyone just pack up and factory reset when boot looping?
Well, it's as common as people repeating to make a nandroid backup, you know
Btw, before I will flash yesterday a black theme (modded system files), I made the backup, so when my Z3C got stuck in a bootloop for the third time, I had nandroid ready. Such a shame, I really liked that mod.
If the kernel is problem, how about just reflashing your kernel?
Believe it or not, I started looking into nandroid backups today already made my first tests.
Until now I relied on titanium backups but that still makes me do a factory restore before I can restore stuff from those backups.
But the issue is, I am not looking for better "protection" I'm trying to find out how I can fix something minor like this i.e. via adb and command line...
Talking about a custom kernel, is there one? I have a rooted xperia z3 compact and wouldn't mind checking out a different kernel but I held back unlocking my bootloader until there is a custom ROM available that can fully replace my rooted stock ROM.
If love to get PAC man ROM for my phone.
I had the same issue, but by using 3C toolbox (similar to the app you've mentioned).
In my case putting back the original build.prop into /system via ADB fixed the bootloop.
As for custom kernel, you can try AndroPlus kernel HERE
@ovizii as @davebugyi said, you could always put some files back via ADB, but you need to have a file that you want to put back, like in davebugyi's case an original file. In your case you don't have it, so unless you know what value you changed, there is nothing much that you could really do with ADB access.
-V-O-Y-A-G-E-R- said:
@ovizii as @davebugyi said, you could always put some files back via ADB, but you need to have a file that you want to put back, like in davebugyi's case an original file. In your case you don't have it, so unless you know what value you changed, there is nothing much that you could really do with ADB access.
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Hm, I was thinking along the lines of accessing log files, like a system log file, check what went wrong, i.e. auto start of a certain app, or setting of kernel parameters at boot time, then remove the offending apps/entries?
Just not sure if that's possible, hence this question here
Checking out the suggested ap and the kernel! Thanks!
Hello everyone. I asked this in another thread for a specific ROM, but I figured it'd be better to have my own thread about this. I have not had a custom ROM in many years. This is mostly due to living in the U.S. and having a locked bootloader since (I believe) the Samsung Galaxy S6. I finally purchased an Exynos device and have the true root with TWRP that I have been missing for so long. There used to be no way to keep apps and app data when changing ROMs. If I were to use this ROM is there a way to keep existing apps and the app-data associated with them? Or is a clean install followed by re-downloading everything and then setting it all back up again the only option when changing ROMs still?
P.S. I like the idea of a full wipe still. That just gets rid of everything, and I like the clean start for the most part. I just didn't know with the way these backups work now (it used to be just a single backup of the entire ROM, but now it is broken into sections) if possibly one could restore apps and app data after the full wipe and loading the new ROM. Then everything would be a clean install (fresh start) with the exception of the apps.
Hi all, this forum has been great for providing answers, so ive got 1 last question before i do anything to my phone.
Obliviously installing a custom recovery like TWRP requires bootloader unlocking which wipes data. I want to perform a backup of my phone, a complete backup, system, apps the works so if anything is wrong i can restore the backup, no when i say backup i mean almost like a Nandroid backup you can perform with a custom recovery, is this possible?, or ate very least is there any 3rd party apps that will perform a backup of everything inc Apps and App data, so for instance, passwords etc are backed up as well for each app which saves a ton of time having to reinstall them and remember all the passwords. Nandroid backup were easy on previous phones because on some bootloader unlock wasnt required just to install TWRP. Can anyone help with this issue, id really like to have a full backup for peace of mind. Many thanks in advance.
Swift backup is the closest I have come across
gazza35 said:
Hi all, this forum has been great for providing answers, so ive got 1 last question before i do anything to my phone.
Obliviously installing a custom recovery like TWRP requires bootloader unlocking which wipes data. I want to perform a backup of my phone, a complete backup, system, apps the works so if anything is wrong i can restore the backup, no when i say backup i mean almost like a Nandroid backup you can perform with a custom recovery, is this possible?, or ate very least is there any 3rd party apps that will perform a backup of everything inc Apps and App data, so for instance, passwords etc are backed up as well for each app which saves a ton of time having to reinstall them and remember all the passwords. Nandroid backup were easy on previous phones because on some bootloader unlock wasnt required just to install TWRP. Can anyone help with this issue, id really like to have a full backup for peace of mind. Many thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately with a lock bootloader, you can't really create a full backup of data of apps. You can only back the APK file and some data. Even if you somehow did, restoring backups is also a problem as some backups aren't compatible with a different rom. Nandroid backups aren't an option too as restoring those from a different rom will cause issue due to incompatibly (someone tried before and caused destroyed system).
What I did in my preparation before is backed up important files through drive or cloud storages. I also rely on password managers for log-ins. I also created a separate Google Account solely for storage for my backup too. If you have, I highly advise backing up using SD Cards. They're quite an essential especially for phone modding and backup restores. Also before unlocking, make sure to have a plan on what to do after, do you stay on MIUI or try some mods or custom roms etc... So that you can switch afterwards before restoring your backup.
Lastly, if anything goes wrong, you can always reflash the stock MIUI ROM using MiFlash.
BigChungus321 said:
Unfortunately with a lock bootloader, you can't really create a full backup of data of apps. You can only back the APK file and some data. Even if you somehow did, restoring backups is also a problem as some backups aren't compatible with a different rom. Nandroid backups aren't an option too as restoring those from a different rom will cause issue due to incompatibly (someone tried before and caused destroyed system).
What I did in my preparation before is backed up important files through drive or cloud storages. I also rely on password managers for log-ins. I also created a separate Google Account solely for storage for my backup too. If you have, I highly advise backing up using SD Cards. They're quite an essential especially for phone modding and backup restores. Also before unlocking, make sure to have a plan on what to do after, do you stay on MIUI or try some mods or custom roms etc... So that you can switch afterwards before restoring your backup.
Lastly, if anything goes wrong, you can always reflash the stock MIUI ROM using MiFlash.
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Thanks for all that useful info. I do have a 128gb sd card in the phone as well as the inbuilt 128gb, so plenty storage. Im just so used to other phones where backups where simple of bl unlock wasnt required to flash twrp etc, i did try the phones inbuilt backup system to backup the apps, it seemed to backup some info but not the apps which is odd, google backup ive never used so im unsure. ill try and look for a password manager and see if i can find a way to backup passwords at least. From what ive read everything with this phone seems impossible without first unlocking the BL, i just wish i didnt have to wait 7 days or wipe the phone to do it lol. My main aim is to downgrade back to Android 11 stock Miui, im not convinced custom roms available for this device are at a daily driver stage yet, as for mods, i may end up rooting at some point and get magisk, i think most mods i used would be mainly aesthetic, like changing splash screens etc etc, simple stuff. Anyway i have drivers installed, i have Miflash unlock installed. i shall start getting my passwords and some apps saved off etc and go from there. As always, thankyou once again for the detailed reply, youve been great help
Found Wondershare MobileTrans. Thankfully it backs up most stuff inc apps, havent found any other way as yet. Thanks again.
gazza35 said:
Thanks for all that useful info. I do have a 128gb sd card in the phone as well as the inbuilt 128gb, so plenty storage. Im just so used to other phones where backups where simple of bl unlock wasnt required to flash twrp etc, i did try the phones inbuilt backup system to backup the apps, it seemed to backup some info but not the apps which is odd, google backup ive never used so im unsure. ill try and look for a password manager and see if i can find a way to backup passwords at least. From what ive read everything with this phone seems impossible without first unlocking the BL, i just wish i didnt have to wait 7 days or wipe the phone to do it lol. My main aim is to downgrade back to Android 11 stock Miui, im not convinced custom roms available for this device are at a daily driver stage yet, as for mods, i may end up rooting at some point and get magisk, i think most mods i used would be mainly aesthetic, like changing splash screens etc etc, simple stuff. Anyway i have drivers installed, i have Miflash unlock installed. i shall start getting my passwords and some apps saved off etc and go from there. As always, thankyou once again for the detailed reply, youve been great help
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Alright. Also some points that I would like to add, since like you said, you're staying at A11 Miui which for the most part is now forgotten (or at least have the minority using it), you'll have to use the official twrp instead of the newer unofficial ones due to compatibility and it's the only recovery in a11 which can decrypt the storage (newer ones can only decrypt a12-a13, not a11...weird). Also, this is just a suggestion but obviously unlocking bootloader results in failing integrity API test (formerly safety net) so you'll have to really root and spoof the device to pass integrity API test and use banking apps etc... Good luck though and yeah you can't skip that 7 day wait, it's a good time to backup and prepare.
BigChungus321 said:
Alright. Also some points that I would like to add, since like you said, you're staying at A11 Miui which for the most part is now forgotten (or at least have the minority using it), you'll have to use the official twrp instead of the newer unofficial ones due to compatibility and it's the only recovery in a11 which can decrypt the storage (newer ones can only decrypt a12-a13, not a11...weird). Also, this is just a suggestion but obviously unlocking bootloader results in failing integrity API test (formerly safety net) so you'll have to really root and spoof the device to pass integrity API test and use banking apps etc... Good luck though and yeah you can't skip that 7 day wait, it's a good time to backup and prepare.
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Click to collapse
Ok, sounds like a lot of Work, Another question for you, if i stay on A12, 12.0.3.0 which worked amazing until it upgraded, will i have to do the whole same spoofing thing?, i did forget about my banking apps. And where can i find Disable Dmverity and will that sort out the banking apps, i know itll let me keep cust recovery, I see reference to it but i cant find it anywhere, is there like a certain website or something where people download their mods and stuff.
gazza35 said:
Ok, sounds like a lot of Work, Another question for you, if i stay on A12, 12.0.3.0 which worked amazing until it upgraded, will i have to do the whole same spoofing thing?, i did forget about my banking apps. And where can i find Disable Dmverity and will that sort out the banking apps, i know itll let me keep cust recovery, I see reference to it but i cant find it anywhere, is there like a certain website or something where people download their mods and stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, unlocking your bootloader will cause you to fail integrity test so you'll have no choice but to root and spoof if you're going to use banking apps. I can help you with this process if you want.
You can get the DM Verity file I used here:
https://zackptg5.com/android.php , it also includes some of my favorite mods like JamesDSP. You'll probably get something like DisableDMverity_forceencrypt zip or something like that so be sure to rename the zip file only to "Disable_Dm-Verity" zip (it's one of those zips where it uses the name of the zip to select what it's patching, it is recommended to keep force encryption enabled as to avoid data theft when you lose your phone). You flash the disable dm verity right after TWRP so you can boot to your rom afterwards. And yes dmverity won't help you pass integrity API.
As for themes/mods and such, I mostly get them here from XDA, Telegram groups, or Github. Mostly telegram tbh. But be sure to check whether it's safe to use as some bundles their modules (or once the app gets root access) will cause damage to your phone.
BigChungus321 said:
Yes, unlocking your bootloader will cause you to fail integrity test so you'll have no choice but to root and spoof if you're going to use banking apps. I can help you with this process if you want.
You can get the DM Verity file I used here:
https://zackptg5.com/android.php , it also includes some of my favorite mods like JamesDSP. You'll probably get something like DisableDMverity_forceencrypt zip or something like that so be sure to rename the zip file only to "Disable_Dm-Verity" zip (it's one of those zips where it uses the name of the zip to select what it's patching, it is recommended to keep force encryption enabled as to avoid data theft when you lose your phone). You flash the disable dm verity right after TWRP so you can boot to your rom afterwards. And yes dmverity won't help you pass integrity API.
As for themes/mods and such, I mostly get them here from XDA, Telegram groups, or Github. Mostly telegram tbh. But be sure to check whether it's safe to use as some bundles their modules (or once the app gets root access) will cause damage to your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thankyou i think i have everything i need, ive backed up My 3rd party apps, all my Passwords, calendar, contacts etc etc, so, im ready to move forward and just wait for phone to be unlocked now. Youve been a great help, thankyou very much indeed.
RAMBO29 said:
Swift backup is the closest I have come across
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But if the file get large size about 6-8 gb it was hard to transfer it to pd or sd card and something it shows error while transferring