[EVO 4G Android Development] slugbug2010:
Full wipe before installing a rom

Since Myn is recommending a full wipe before flashing rls4, I thought I’d share what I do to get my phone back the way I want it as fast as possible. I only know how to do this because other here have helped me, so I take no credit. There are other ways to do this, this is just what I do. Some of it is redundant, but I’d rather be triple safe than “just” safe.

*App Brain > sync apps

*My Backup Pro > Backup> Data> Local> I select: Bookmarks, System Settings, Alarms, Dictionary, Music Playlist (+ 2 widgets I use: Quick Profiles and More Icons). Contacts and Calendar sync to the cloud, and there are others you can choose to backup, but I don’t’ mind losing/clearing out SMS, MMS and a few others. I am not sure what Android Home is but I do know it takes FORever to restore.

*Titanium Backup > Backup/Restore > Menu > Batch> Backup all user apps and system data > Run

*Attach Evo to laptop via USB, use as disk drive, then I copy the entire folder under an Evo Backup file folder I created (um – do not select Cut, I did that by mistake one time and it was a disaster :eek:)

*Perform Nandroid

* After reboot, I long press power and go into Reboot into Recovery. Wipe cache twice, Wipe Dalvik twice. Wipe Battery stats. Wipe Data/ Factory Reset. Yep - Yikes. Just do it. When it’s done, I install zip of the new rom. Reboot.

*Now you have a “clear and clean” phone with JUST the rom, no user apps. Some people make a nandroid of this, too.

*First thing, go to Market and download Titanium Backup.

* Titanium Backup > Backup/Restore> Menu> Batch > Restore all user apps and system data

**** look through this list. If there are apps you don’t want or don’t use anymore, now is a good time to remove them from the restore file. One of the times I restored it even restored apps I had deleted so I make sure I check this every time.

*Run the Restore. Wait. It takes a little while. If you had any apps that were “Frozen” before, they will come back “Unfrozen” You might want to “freeze” them again now.

*My Backup Pro> Restore> Data > Local > select the file you created when you backed it all wait. Let it run. Wait.

* You are almost back in business!! For the most part, everything should be back to way you had it before did a full wipe. I have found that some widgets don’t always go back the right way. And I always make sure no “ghosting” has occurred (double icons) – I do this by dragging an icon and making sure there is nothing underneath it.

*I double check my essential settings (Talk, Enable Always on Mobile Data, haptic feedback off, etc) Most will be ok, but some get reset after a wipe, even though My Backup Pro says is saves system settings, I think it misses some.

* I usually play around with the new rom before I start flashing zips of some of the customizations I like.

*When you are ready to flash other zips, do a nandroid, wipe cache and dalvik (twice), then start flashing the zips you want (stock fonts, remove htc lock, glass clock, etc)

**** A lot of this can be done via Warm Updater. Use that if you want. Don’t use Rom Manager. Make sure you are using RA recovery and NOT Clockwork.

Please feel free to correct me where I have gone wrong and to add where I have missed.