[Asus  Eee Pad Transformer Prime] bregol:
I'm going to be ROM-ing for the first time (well, other than Safestrapping the Bionic for a day or two) and want to make sure I have the right thought in terms of running and upgrading a ROM over the long term. If I'm moving to AndroWook as my daily driver, I want to make sure I have a good procedure in place for quickly and easily upgrading to the latest version of the ROM.

The following is my understanding of this whole process. Is this procedure correct? My main concern is making sure I am doing everything right to be able to quickly update to the latest version of the ROM when it comes out, not spend a day re-configuring. Is there anything I am missing?

BACKGROUND: Partitions

Main Partitions Involved With Wiping

/system = Where the OS lives, along with the apps that are preinstalled

/data = Where user installed programs & their associated data/settings live. This data/settings is the part that gets deleted when you go Settings -> Applications -> pick an application and click "Clear Data". This is what Titanium Backup backs up for user apps (both the "apps" and "data" backed up live here). Also has SMS, contacts, settings, etc... the "system data" in TiBu

/cache = Cache files that help programs to load quickly. Harmless to wipe, as it will regenerate.

/sdcard = Internal sd card area where you keep files and use file manager. some programs also put files here. Not usually wiped.

external sdcard = Physical external sd card, if applicable. Not usually wiped.

Other partitions

/boot = Kernel and ramdisk. Don't wipe unless you fix it before rebooting.

/recovery = Where the recovery (stock or custom) lives.

/misc = Other settings not normally touched.

BACKGROUND: Types of Wiping

Cache = harmless. Cache regenerates itself over time to speed up phone.

Dalvik = harmless. This is simply another cache, this one having to do with Java.

Factory Reset = wipe /data and /cache. internal and external sdcard is NOT wiped

Wipe system = wipes /system (where the os and its preinstalled apps live)

Format data = wipes /sdcard (the internal sdcard)

Format external sd = wipes external sd card

ASSUMPTIONS & NOTES

You are rooted

You have Titanium Backup (TiBu)

For multi-user environment, modify the instructions to account for the need to backup/restore with TiBu for each user. Backup for each user, flash, then restore for each user.

BACKING UP

1. TiBu: Batch Backup all user apps & data (everything) in current ROM

2. TiBu: Batch verify the backup

3. Make a sketch of how your widgets/homescreen is supposed to look

4. If you are doing a total deep clean that wipes sdcard (generally not), here is where we want to back up anything else (sdcard files, etc)

5. File Manager: Backup apk for both TiBu & TiBu Pro to SD card

Alternate: Do nothing now, and we use market in new ROM later​

6. Download ROM & put on SD

WIPING & FLASHING

This part subject to change based on ROM maker's recommendations

1. Boot into recovery

2. Wipe and flash:

Option A: Clean flash (typically done, does NOT wipe sdcard):

1. Factory reset

2. Wipe cache

3. Wipe dalvik

4. For a total deep clean (not usually done, DOES wipe sdcard): Wipe system; Format data

5. Flash zip

Option B: Dirty Flash (usually only OK for minor updates):

1. Wipe cache

2. Wipe dalvik

3. Flash zip

4. There is no need to set up the ROM again in this case.

SETTING UP NEW ROM

1. Boot into new ROM

It will take 30-60 minutes to get up to full speed. After that time, it will be full speed after a reboot.

You can tell it to keep backed up to Google (backups up TO Google), but tell it NOT to restore from Google right now (restores FROM Google right now).

2. System > Applications > Unknown Sources

Restore TiBu & TiBu Pro from apk backup

Alternate: get from market

3. TiBu: Batch Restore system data - ONLY THE GREEN ITEMS

Do not restore red items

Do not restore user stuff yet. We are doing system stuff first.

Note that icons will not show correctly yet... nothing to be concerned about.

If the new ROM is vastly different, take care to restore only what is necessary.

4. Reboot

5. TiBu: Batch Restore missing apps with data - ONLY THE WHITE ITEMS

6. Click Market Doctor to verify that everything is hooked back up to the Market OK

7. Fix up homescreen - widgets & wallpaper

One by one, delete empty Widget then add new one.

Also choose the wallpaper you want

8. Check:

Date & time, alarms, ringtone, voicemail number, other settings

Anti-theft is operating properly

9. Market Place > My apps > Update any other apps

10. If over the course of time you find any apps giving problems, use the market to uninstall them and reinstall them to clear out any problems it may have had in restoring from TiBu