[TouchPad Development] johnsmith33584:
First experience using TPToolbox

My daughter asked me to update her TouchPad from CM9 to something newer. I decided to use her's as my beta test for using TPToolbox.

After downloading all the required files, unzipping toolbox to a folder in my PC and placing the install files in the same folder, I placed my TP in WebOS recovery and ran the .bat file. In around 30 seconds, TPToolbox was up and running on my tablet. Ran the A6 firmware flash first thing. Then ran the "Complete Data Reset" and then "Install Android". I accepted all the defaults for partition sizes and when prompted, copied the install files over to the "media partition" TTinstall folder. Once I ejected the TouchPad as prompted by the script, the utility installed Moboot, CWM and proceeded to boot to CWM and install the Rom and Gapps without any actions required on my part. When done, it rebooted the tablet back to Moboot and the install was complete. Note: I already had novacom installed, so if you have never done that, you will need to follow Mr. Sullins instructions on doing that. All this was done on a Win7 PC.

Here is the interesting part. I made a nandroid backup, using CWM6, of my daughter's CM9 install and saved it off to my PC. Instead of allowing Android to download and install all apps from the play store, of which my daughter had like 170 of them installed, after doing the minimal setup, Google account, WiFi and all that, I rebooted to CWM and made a quick nandroid backup so CWM would setup the proper folders on the internal SD card. I then connected the PC and copied the nandroid backup I made from her CM9 installation back to the "backup" folder under the ClockworkMod folder. I then used CWM's "Custom Restore from /sdcard" to restore data only and when done, cleared cache and Dalvik cache and rebooted. Once Android was done with all the housekeeping it has to do because I cleared both caches, I have my daughter's complete setup from CM9 running on CM11. All apps, data and settings. Everything was just like it was before uninstalling CM9 and WebOS.

A note of caution, be sure to uncheck everything except "Restore data" when doing the "Custom Restore from /sdcard" . You do not want to accidentally install the /boot or /system from your old version of Andorid. Then when you tap on "Start Custom Restore Job" and select the Nandroid backup you wish to use, on the next screen you will see all the files within the Nandroid backup. The only one you want to tap on is the "data.ext4.tar". Depending on how much data you have to restore, you might see two or more files named like "data.ext4.tar.a" , "data.ext4.tar.b". I repeat, only tap on the "data.ext4.tar" selection. CWM splits up the data it backs up so the .tar files do not become too big. The "data.ext4.tar" file has all the info to use what is kept in the other files to restore all your data.

The whole process of starting TPtoolbox and installing Android took less than 15 minutes. At some points during this process the TouchPad does sit there for a while like it has stopped. Don't get impatient and start pressing buttons. At certain points during the process it will say it is done with that step. There will be a couple of points along the way where you will be required to say "yes" to keep going. Otherwise, it's all very automated.

Give it a try and have fun. Good luck, John