yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Asus Transformer TF700] LetMeKnow:
Oop, I forgot that you use it in your boot folder... It is my bad..:o I will give it a try when I am done with my system2sd testing and will ask more questions on the way..:) Thanks for the information...

Cheers,

LMK
[Asus Transformer TF700] dasunsrule32:
You should be fine until I enforce SELINUX. But I haven't finished the policies yet. Still have some issues to iron out with that. Have about 90% of them done, I think.. lol :)
[Asus Transformer TF700] johnlgalt:
Just out of curiosity, will this only work with primary partitions?
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
It should also work with logical partitions if you modify the partition numbers accordingly. And please remove the full quote of my guide from your post, we should not emulate an Outlook-style mess in the forum.
[Asus Transformer TF700] johnlgalt:
Yeah, I quoted it that way b/c I was asking specifically about that part - but it that part works I suppose the rest would too, huh? :silly:
[Asus Transformer TF700] lj50036:
Wow

Thx for this, easy cheesey, Great work, Love the dual boot!!!!:D
[Asus Transformer TF700] kali113:
Is there any chance *someone with the required skills* could port bootmanager to our device? :confused:

BootManager

it would be the best, considering that your method uses the same load-from-sdcard thing.

Just curious thats all.
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Looks like commercial software, so ask the devs of that app.
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Here is an experimental flashable zip file that redirects the TWRP recovery to the ROM2SD environment. It doesn't really install anything to storage, it just reconfigures the device nodes so that the recovery is tricked into accessing the system and data partitions on the microSD card instead of internal storage.

It works so well that after "installing" this, a following ROM install that unmounts and formats /system and installs itself to /system on mmcblk0p1 will actually be installed on the microSD card, so you don't need to replace the partition names in the updater-script any longer (but you still need to comment out the blob flashing line for now or reflash my kernel after the ROM).

It also works so well that after "installing" this, you don't see your internal /sdcard any longer, so put whatever you want to flash on the first partition of the external microSD card. :)

"Installing" the script again will undo its actions, so you can toggle back and forth between external and internal storage.

Warning: I tested this only once, and the script does not have any error handling - if the inserted microSD is not prepared for ROM2SD, behavior is undefined - most likely the recovery will complain that it can't mount system or data. Use this at your own risk and make sure you have backed up all valuable data and your ROM, just in case.

View attachment 2373724

The script also contains a nice example how to output text from a shell script to the recovery console. It shows a list of device nodes so you can see what the script did (the device numbers of mmcblk0p1 and mmcblk1p3 are identical).
[Asus Transformer TF700] vnphatbuddha:
Can I follow this guide to have paranoid rom on internal and cromi-x rom on microsd?
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
I've never tried PA but it may work if you use my kernel and modify the preinit script accordingly (my kernel contains a stock-compatible ramdisk, so you need to copy the PA ramdisk to / if the microSD is *not* inserted).
[Asus Transformer TF700] vnphatbuddha:
sorry for such a noob question but how do you compile the zips from the git links to an executable? Or does the bloobtool and unpackbootimg able to run from its extracted zips? slightly new to this...
[Asus Transformer TF700] JoinTheRealms:
You need to compile the blobtools on git. extract the .zip and run blobunpack on the .blob then abootimg -x on the boot.img.to repack: abootimg --create *new-bootimg* - k *zImage* -r *ramdisk*, then repack the .blob

and/or

follow this tutorial from the blob master himself http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=36925180 :)
[Asus Transformer TF700] vnphatbuddha:
The problem I'm having is that I do not know how to use git to compile. What are the commands and do I input it in the top search bar of the site?
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
You don't use git to compile, you use it to manage the source code.

To compile the source code, you need the appropriate development tools installed (I think it's called "build-essential" on Debian-like distributions) and run "make" in the directory with the extracted source code.
[Asus Transformer TF700] vnphatbuddha:
Wow this is too complicated to compile, having to setup and run debian on usb. Guess I can't try out rom2sd :(
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Er.... I don't think so as the kernel for 4.1.1 doesn't understand rom2sd preinit scripts - let me check. Yeah not currently supported I'm afraid.
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Looking at my firmware cheat sheet (http://xdaforums.com/wiki/ASUS_Transformer_Infinity/TF700T), Android 4.1.1 was firmware 10.4.4.x. There's definitely a 10.4.4.25 kernel that supports preinit.

Look, it's even in the thread title :) -> http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2125783
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
logcat or it didn't happen. :)
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Oops my bad - so technically it can read the script and execute it.
[Asus Transformer TF700] gads1:
hello and thanks for all the hard work. Apologies for the noob question:

Can I avoid all the dual-boot stuffola and simply use CROMI rom2sd option (currently installing v5.4)? I wanted to insure I'm not missing something.

I opted to try rom2sd as last ditch effort before I DITCH my TF700 because it's so darn slooowwwww.

I don't install a ton of stuff -- but my core needs are the following:

Nova Launcher (purchased), TouchdownHD, SwitftKey, eBay, Facebook, and Firefox with ABP (ad-block).

with only the apps listed above -- and me using FSTRIM every couple days (purchased premium) -- the TF700 grinds to halt. switching between apps takes huge amount of time - like 10-15sec sometimes.

it's awful and mostly unusable. so on to rom2sd option (after direct dialog with sdbags).

I've now run CROMI v5.3 and now v5.4 with rom2sd. I purchased 32G SanDisk Ultra Micro-SD for this project.

In the interest of optimal use of SD card, I following instruction in post #1 of thread with single addition that not detailed:

do I need a 4MB "unused" partition at beginning of SD? unsure if ONLY partition size needs to be multiple of 4 -- or if all sector placement should be multiple as well?

So -- using this line of thinking and using gparted, I created an unused 4MB partition and then created the 3x partitions listed in post #1.

The results.

TF700 still bogs down from time to time... major stuck in mud ... 10sec freezes when swapping between apps.

I just rebuilt the TF700 for one last time, completely wiped all SDx partitions and starting over.

Finally, Wireless is VERY SLOW. this started about CROMI 5.3 or so. nothing has changed on my AP (Aerohive commerical with WPA2).

any ideas?

Any suggestions before I toss this TF700 in trash?
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Something else is wrong. MY TF700 is zippy and I never have to wait an unreasonable amount when switching apps. CROMi-X 5.4 should fly on your device.

You don't need to do anything in this thread if you have the right partitions formatted with GParted - just choose the rom2sd option in the CROMi-X installer and away you go......

Couple of points worth mentioning.

Turn off auto updates form the play store - these will bog down the device if they run in the background.

The ROM2SD1.zip file is worth having - you flash it and then choose wipe and it wipes your rom2sd setup rather than internal.

Make sure you are on at least the 10.6.1.14.4 bootloader and preferably the 14.10 latest one.

Try a clean install.

So flash ROM2SD1.zip

Wipe (just do /data)

Then flash CROMi-X 5.4 with ROM2SD option and thatv8 kernel.

Let it boot and go through the setup. Give it 10 mins to settle.

If it is still slow the only thing I can think of is your sdcard is knackered. A poorly performing sdcard can wreck the performance of android. IF you suspect this install cromi-x 5.4 to internal and then take the card out - does it perform better?
[Asus Transformer TF700] gads1:
thanks sdbags --

bootloader is 10.6.1.14.10

I will try the suggested procedure and report back... with ROM2SD1.zip.

=====>

update -- spoke too soon. maybe previous install didn't happen.

following reboot, I'm stuck at following:

..

system/boot/preinit: mcblk1p3 detected, setting up for ROM2SD

Note: at end of install procedure, TeamWin reports that "no OS installed" and prompts to install SU.

===>

update2

repartitioned SanDisk Ultra micro SD. can't get the three step procedure provided by sdbags to work (sd2rom1.zip, wipe, install cromi-5.4 -- in same recovery session).

the result always the same... TEamwin reports "no OS installed" at end of procedure and attempt to reboot.

Note: the P2 and P3 partitions start the procedure empty and have non-zero contents following install (verify this by shutdown, move sd card to laptop and view contents with gparted -- posting screenshot in subsequent post).

should I re-install rom2sd1.zip after cromi-5.4 to undo the device link changes so teamwin doesn't freak..?

weird.
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
My money is on Firefox with the ad blocker being the culprit.....
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Firefox is terrible on this device I agree. Not sure if it causes the issues but you never know!
[Asus Transformer TF700] gads1:
hello -- after some tinkering and observations, it appears you must turn TF700 OFF after doing the rom2sd1.zip and updating mount points.

I proceeded literally and the flash of Cromi-5.4 completed in 5 sec but subsequent TeamWin error msg upon attempt to shutdown (you have no OS install, are you sure?).

so inserted a "shutdown" and reboot into TeamWin before flash of Cromi-5.4 and install taking typical period of time.

more to follow on performance observations. -GA
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
If you rebooted after flashing rom2sd1 the later 5.4 flash without flashing rom2sd1 first would have gone to the internal SD. You have to do flash rom2sd1, then the rom in the same recovery session.

By best guess: The partitions on the microSD are not formatted correctly...
[Asus Transformer TF700] gads1:
hello and sincere thanks for clarification.

I have re-partitioned this SanDisk Ultra 32G card a couple times. the results are always the same using the procedure flash using rom2sd1.zip and follow with cromi-5.4

gparted screenshot attached...

Note: the "used" portions for p2 and p3 on gparted screenshot are a result of cromi-5.4 install with kernel_v8 and rom2sd option. partitions were formatted with gparted ext4 prior to attempting install (per sdbags suggestion).
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
THat looks fine. If you use rom2sd1 once you should flash it again (it reverts back) and then install the rom.
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
I think I identified the brain fart: If you flash CROMi as rom2sd you do not have to flash rom2sd1.zip at all.

Just boot into TWRP, select the CROMi-X zip, flash it and during the install process, in the Aroma installer, select the option: Install as ROM2SD.

If you wanted to install any other rom or do a nandroid or data wipe on the rom2sd installation you would have to flash rom2sd1.zip first to change the nodes around.

But sbdags build that functionality into the Aroma installer. You do not have to flash rom2sd1.zip first to flash his rom as rom2sd.

Does this make sense???
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Yes. You only need rom2sd1.zip if you want to wipe your sd-ext /data partition first. If you go straight to wipe without flashing it you will wipe internal /data. After wiping sd-ext /data you then flash rom2sd1.zip again and it reverts back to the internal setup so TWRP can then flash CROMi-X and you use the ROM2SD install option there. :)

Confusing but it works.
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
.... once you get your head around it. Only took me a month or so... :cyclops:
[Asus Transformer TF700] gads1:
HAHA ... :p .. multi-thanks! After all the tinkering referenced above with rom2sd1.zip, wiping, etc; it appears I horked something on local storage.

Per previous misunderstanding, I was following sdbags procedure of flash rom2sd1.zip/wipe/install cromi-5.4. at end of this procedure, TEAMWIN announced that "no rooted system, do you want to install super su?". At this point, TF700 un-bootable.

I ended up doing standard WIPE in TEAMWIN, followed by install of Cromi-5.4 to LOCAL (no rom2sd).

Once complete and see that TF700 would actuallly boot, I reran the install procedure using wipe/install_cromi-5.4 and selecting rom2sd.

pretty sure this is back where I started a week ago with single difference is that I've now re-partitioned Sandisk ULTRA.

Per previous comment, I did NOT install Mozilla and simply using adaway service with Dolphin. Personally, I like Ad block+ ... I've been using something similar since [MENTION=2045215]Guard[/MENTION] in 90's (and Admuncher only windows).

thanks again. -GA
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I am having difficulties installing a ROM to SD on my TF300TG. I know this is not the forum for my tablet, but I used instructions found here (I tried to flash CROMi-X 5.4 from sbdags). I followed the steps in the ROM2SD thread, I have 3 partitions, as suggested in the thread. I flashed the zips in order, then I flashed the ROM with ROM2SD support. Flashing is either very fast (it seems that nothing is written to /data or /system partitions) or some information is written, bu the last zip (that is suppose to extract the ramdisk) is exiting with an error. Has anybody else tried this? Can I blame it on the recovery (I have the one compiled in the russian forum, with support for 4.2 on the TF300TG). What am I doing wrong?
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
You cannot use CROMi-X on the TG. It has very different hardware like a 3G radio. So the firmware is different too.
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I have no problems using it from the internal memory, it just does't flash properly to the SD card. I am attaching a log. I will ask sbdags too, maybe someone has another idea.
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Provide recovery.logs please. TG is supported by CROMi-X.:D
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I already attached the log I saved after flashing it. How do I get the recovery log?
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
According to that log you haven't set up your partitions correctly on the sdcard. Did you follow the gparted guide in post 2 of the CROMi-X or CROMBi-kk threads?
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I think I did. The first one is FAT32, the second one is data (6 GB EXT4) and the last one is for system (2 GB EXT4, prepared for a possible port from the 4.4 update received by TF701T).
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
I think you are are on an invalid TWRP and that is why it is failing. It can't mount or unmount the external partitions. Which version of TWRP are you using? You need one that supports 4.4 not 4.2 as they won't work. See the one recommended in the first set of posts in the TF300 but please confirm that iot works on the TF300TG before flashing it.
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I am flashing a 4.2 Rom, I just said I prepared the partitions for Kit Kat. I was suspecting that TWRP could be to blame, I am using a 2.6.0.0 version compiled for the TF300TG, there are no official 4.2 versions for the 3G. I will try the TF300T version, I remember it caused problems on the TF300TG.

Edit: I flashed a newer TWRP, even if it was for TF300T. I had no issues with it, but it didn't solve the issue. I realized what I was doing wrong. For Rom2SD, the 2 zips you have to flash before flashing the ROM are ensuring that the recovery will use the external partitions when flashing the new ROM. By mistake, in the kernel choosing screen, I was choosing the third option, the one that installed /data and /system to the SD-Card, but this is not needed. I just needed to flash the ROM normally, the zips I was flashing are taking care of this. I just checked the EXT partitions on the card, they have now the contents of the ROM.
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I hope it won't be considered a double post. If this is the case, then a moderator can join them.

It still doesn't boot. The installation is going fine, but the script that is suppose to extract the ramdisk and copy the kernel modules is not working. I even tried to manually put there the kernel modules from the ROM archive, if I boot the tablet with the ROM installed to the SD card, it just stays at the first screen forever. How can I make a rom2sd2.zip good for the kernel I want to use? I know its name (the ROM provides several ones).
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Yes the third option will do everything for you - no need for external zips or kernels. You have something wrong with your tab. Which TWRP are you on exactly - version wise. The log says it can't mount or unmount the external partitions......
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I tried 2.5.0.0 (it is the only one not complaining about /boot and /recovery partitions not being found), 2.6.0.0, 2.6.3.0 and some others. I don't think it is recovery related, it is related to the zips I got from the ROM2SD thread. They are not doing what they are suppose to do. I am on TWRP 2.5.0.0 at the moment. I've modified the updated scripts and I used part of the ROM2SD files I found in kernel\rom2sd\system\boot\rootfs_rom2sd in your deodexed zip for 5.4. It boots fine from the internal memory.
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
It is the recovery. 2.5.0.0 is the last proven recovery that JB 4.2 works with - later versions might install but you would need to switch to the crombi-kk rom2sd installer.

The rom scripts work for everyone else - you shouldn't need to change them. Talk me through what you are changing for it to work. Booting to internal and booting to rom2sd are two different things.
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
Maybe the kernel I have installed in the internal memory (from CROMi-Xenogenesis 4.7.0) is to blame. I even tried Crombi-kk on SD card, it would not boot (I installed _thats v10). I think the issue is with the first zip you have to flash (rom2sd-data2sd-intmedia-shell-that1.zip) and with the last one (the one that extracts the ramdisk and copies the kernel modules).

For instance, in fstab.cardhu from rom2sd-data2sd-intmedia-shell-that1.zip we have:

/dev/block/mmcblk0p1	/system	ext4	noatime,noauto_da_alloc,ro	wait

/dev/block/mmcblk0p2	/cache	ext4	noatime,noauto_da_alloc,nosuid,nodev,nomblk_io_submit,errors=panic	wait

/dev/block/mmcblk1p2	/data	ext4	noatime,noauto_da_alloc,nosuid,nodev,nomblk_io_submit,errors=panic	wait,encryptable=footer

/dev/block/mmcblk0p8	/datai	ext4	noatime,noauto_da_alloc,nosuid,nodev,nomblk_io_submit,errors=panic	wait,encryptable=footer

The first line should be:

/dev/block/mmcblk1p3	/system	ext4	noatime,noauto_da_alloc,ro	wait

I have even prepared a rom2sd2 zip with the proper modules (from _that's kernel found in the CROMi-X_DEODEX_5.4_Signed.zip), but it doesn't boot the ROM from SD card. I will stop trying for now.
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
I have no idea what you are installing or editing - but what ever you installed gave you an fstab for data2sd not rom2sd. CROMi-X 5.4 has everything you need for booting Asus Stock as ROM2SD. It will not boot CM11 based roms to ROM2SD though. For that you need the new preinit and kernels from CROMBi-KK as the 2 use different methods and Android 4.4 requires a static linked busybox not dynamic like we had in 4.2.1......
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
So you are telling me I should not use any of the script in this thread and just install the ROM with the ROM2SD option? I thought I needed to flash the zips in this thread too from the post you linked in CROMi-X thread.
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
Yes you don't need any additional scripts. Where does it say you need these scripts? ;) These scripts were written by _that for before I tweaked and integrated them into CROMi-X.
[Asus Transformer TF700] tmihai20:
I feel a little stupid right now. I flashed the ROM on the SD card by just using the option ROM2SD in the Aroma installer and it worked wonderfully. I have a tendency to complicate things when I should not. Thank you for assisting me.
[Asus Transformer TF700] berndblb:
If it makes you feel any better: You are by far not the only one who doesn't realize that the scripts from this thread have been integrated into sbdag's roms - or the Aroma installer for that matter :laugh:
[Asus Transformer TF700] sbdags:
No worries :)
[Asus Transformer TF700] MiM81:
Hi there.

Could somebody pls write down the *exact* way how to backup a well running rom on external sd (Cromi-X) using twrp and use this nandroid to restore ("overwrite") the internally installed Cromi-X?

Reason is, I installed Cromi-X and did nothing else (but switching to Android Jellybean Launcher) and made all my installations and settings to later installed external rom on sd and now want to have my internal rom as well configured backup system.

I thought it would be like this:

TWRP -> install rom2sd1.zip to replace internal with external device nodes -> Home -> Backup -> backup only system and data, not boot

I did this and saved my backup to external sd. Should I have backed up boot? I thought I shouldn't because of the special init script which looks up for external partitions and so on.

Then I did (still same twrp session) :

Home -> install rom2sd1.zip to revert nodes to internal -> Home -> Restore -> chosing my system+data nandroid

When it comes to the point where /data has to be restored, it's unable to mount /data and exits.

Now to the strange part:

After this I just rebooted and expected my internal setup would be messed up while the rom on sd (which I thought I didn't touch at all) would still run fine and I could ask someone here at xda what to do.

But for some reason my external rom on sd now started with a totally fresh android install screen. Why?

And what did I do wrong in general?

greets,

MiM81
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Was that the rom2sd1.zip from this thread? Or some modified one that doesn't change back?
[Asus Transformer TF700] MiM81:
I think so.

After the second run it echoed (echoed...? strange word...) "reverting to internal system and data" and showed up the moved / reverted partitions.

Might be I have to mention that I created a completely new google account during initial setup on internal and then tried to restore a nandroid backup which I have run associated to another google account on external, if that matters... (while it for me still wouldn't explain why "/data" could not be mounted but I don't really understand android filesystem and user rights at all ;) )

greets,

MiM81
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Maybe you didn't unmount /data between backup and running rom2sd1.zip again.
[Asus Transformer TF700] MiM81:
ok, so I have to manually unmount data between the steps I mentioned? I didn't know this and will try tomorrow. :)
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
Yes, the changed device nodes only take effect at the next mount operation.
[Asus Transformer TF700] sam369:
[MENTION=4878287]_that[/MENTION] Why isn't WIFI working for some ROMs, like this one, following the instructions? I copied the files in /lib/modules, and revised 'init.cardhu.rc' accordingly. Is it because those ROMs have WIFI support relying on zImage?
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
If the kernel that you're using does not have WIFI support compiled into the zImage, the modules installed in /system/lib/modules need to be compatible with the kernel and they need to be loaded by some init.rc script. Check the output of lsmod and the output of dmesg for relevant messages.
[Asus Transformer TF700] _that:
It's not at all complicated, but doing it manually is interesting for the first time, boring for the second time, annoying for the third time, and I have to do something about it. :)