Hi there! I see lots of info on how to install, but I can’t figure out what kind of steps to take before I install (maybe just for lack of search engine skills). The main one being: What does it do to what is already on my phone? Completely erases it all? Like a starting from scratch situation?
Obviously, I’m a newcomer so forgive me if this seems obvious. But I’m very interested in getting off Android, so I’m looking forward to figuring this out!
Hello Mars,
it depends at least on
If you do it manual by fastboot you will loose all data when you start preparing your device by unlocking the bootloader. If you can install with the web installer or sideload, maybe this is not the case - i don’t know yet.
As you probably will have other (versions of your) apps after a successful install, i definitely suggest to store backups of all data, that is (solely) stored on your device on storage out of reach of your device before you install a new OS, so that you can try to import your backup data after the install. This means exporting your contacts, calendars, notes, and all other stuff that can be exported and that you want to keep. By this, you get the knowledge about the data you should be aware of. You should have a plan which apps you use before and after the install to manage the data you migrate. If you have the same apps and don’t need such a migration you’re a lucky man. But you should check this prior to your install.
You should remove the storage card and the sim card(s) before you install a new OS. So if you can export your data to the storage card before you pull it out, maybe that’s enough for you… depends on your apps and on your data. And if you do the install via usb i suggest using actual mAid live OS on your PC and a good cable and maybe a usb2 port for stable connection.
If you share more detail, maybe someone can tell more than me - i am no expert, just have successfully fastbooted to /e/OS and then to iodéOS and share my knowledge.
Be careful and have Fun !
Thanks for your response! I feel like it helped answer the question I thought I had, but also opened up new ones, haha! Now it feels like a clear enough and obvious thing that I should save all my contacts and photos and other things that exist solely on the phone. Makes sense!
However you used many terms about the installation that are completely new to me! And now I think I’m maybe in over my head?
But I’ll start with just giving you (and whoever else sees this and might want to help) more info:
I have a Samsung S10e (seems like it is supported by idoe). I was planning on the doing the install automatically (as best as I can figure by the way it is described in iode’s installation guide). As far as the actual data on my phone, I think the only things stored locally on my phone are really just my photos/videos, and contacts. Everything else should be connected to accounts that I can just log into and sync up again after the install.
Another question is - does it remove all the apps that were on the phone before the install? I would assume so, but just curious so I can get a sense of what my process will be like for getting it back together in a way that works for me.
Also, I’m a bit of an unusual case, because I do not have a SIM card. I have actually never heard of a storage card, but I’m assuming I must have that? Basically - I don’t pay for a phone plan, I just use the phone like a mini computer that I connect to wifi when I can, & use a VOIP for calls/texting. So, I just bought this phone refurbished and didn’t add anything to it other than apps.
I did not ever executed the Web installer yet. But i cannot imagine that it will save any of your current apps, configuration or anything else.
As far as i know the install of a OS wipes the storage prior to copying data to it. This is OK, as any “old” content that doesn’t come from the install (apps, data) wouldn’t be executed or recognized by the new Software anyways.
No SIM is totally OK with iodeOS. You can use WLAN, BT, USB to connect to the internet or your devices. Just using the phone wouldn’t work off course.
Wikipedia tells me, that the S10e may or may not have a slot for a memory card: S10 5G does not not, and probably other models do have a slot. If your’s has a card in it ? I know devices where the slots for SIM and memory is located on the same holder but don’t know much models anyways.
If you do the research for your data and back it up in a safe place that should be enough.
BUT:
On
i find the S10e as NOT supported by the installer. I don’t know if this is out of date. But i suggest to check this exactly first. Maybe you found or can find a description for how to install OS your device. Follow that exactly if you decide to use it.
Have Fun and let us know your decision.
Please be aware that there might arise some difficulties with a Samsung device for custom ROM: The manufacturer does not allow 4G/VoLTE for custom ROM. So unless your telephone carrier still has 3G towers, you will run into some problems …
You can find details in previous threads: Topics tagged samsungs10
Maybe you just mistyped. SIM card is for phone calls. For data storage, some devices can use SD cards. If your device does not have it, you should copy your data via USB cable to your computer or onto a USB stick.
When flashing your device with another ROM, your personal data will be wiped. So backup is essential. EDIT: Write yourself a list of the apps you are using and want to keep on iodéOS.
No: Whenever you change operating systems, there will be a full wipe. This is solely due to the different keys used to encrypt the user partition. But also for security reasons (protecting your data from manipulation by an evil-made attack), a full wipe is performed when the bootloader is (un)locked.
I recommend MyPhoneExplorer (you will need Windows Program & Android Client) for this purpose. Keep in mind that the system and app data which aren’t in the user-partition doesn’t back up.
It is not necessary and, in my opinion, makes recovery more difficult.
IodéOS doesn’t have a web installer! It only has an automatic GUI-App which you can install on the disc of your pc.
It’s a Samsung-Device. It’s correct, as you must use Odin/Heimdall.
@dwainzwerg: Thanks for this tip ! I forgot all about my readings about Odin/Heimdall many years ago… I never had done such a flash, as too many different how-to were not qualify-able to me, meant too high risk to brick the device to me.
@Mars: I recommend you look for a how-to to flash iodeOS on your S10e with Odin/Heimdall. Maybe you still find more then one. If so: Compare them. Think about the differences, and if you want ask people about the background to understand it. And then decide yourself.
As far as i remember (i’m actually not quite sure with this) i saw Odin under mAid live OS, wich i then would also recommend to use on your PC for the installation. I recheck this and will tell you, if i was wrong with this remember.
Have rechecked now: mAid live OS rocks: There are several folders on the desktop for different manufacturers of devices. The Samsung folder contains Heindall and 2 different versions of JOdin.
As i had trouble with the stability of usb connection of my PC and my Fairphone device, although my PC has Manjaro with more recent updates than the actual mAid live OS (which is also based on Manjaro) i recommend using mAid on your PC whenever a safe connection is necessary - as for flashing new software.
The instructions always refer to Odin, which is a GUI program for Windows (Heimdall is counterpart for Linux). So I would use Odin on Windows. The iodéOS actually refers to Heimdall: ota / ota · GitLab
@dwainzwerg : Again really great tip: These instructions are quite clear.
@Mars : Prepare that each of the actions from the instructions you have to do on your S10e can time out in just a few seconds. So i recommend to first just read the instructions (a few times) until you feel comfortable with each step and when you come to execute them before you execute a step read ahead and prepare for the next step to not fail for the timeouts on your device.
And as you’ll use heimdall for the actual flashing and dwainzwerg said it is a linux tool i recommend to use mAid on your PC, wich seems to include all you need to do your flash.
Have Fun !
One remark on MyPhoneExplorer:
I used it several years ago for regular backup of my Samsung Star and it was very smooth and easy.
Then i had to recognize that from one day to the other MyPhoneExplorer stops working (having no connection to my device any more while my device and my PC continued to work properly). Reinstall and wiping all data from MyPhoneExplorer didn’t helped.
This experience was a brick in my decision to use Linux instead of windows as in Linux you normally don’t have proprietary things like the registry from Windows, where i think was the reason for that fault. Nowadays you can easily use live Systems, which can come with a complete software stack specifically designed for your needs.
For your current needs MyPhoneExplorer may be a really good choice.
But for regular backups i would suggest to use software which has no point of failure out of control.
I do automatic exports with my contacts and app data on my device whenever the app supports this. And i plan to do automatic uploads of the folder, where all the exports are stored on my device to external storage. I have tried NextCloud to do this, but it didn’t worked for automatic uploads (error connecting to my server). So i will try with SyncThing or just do the uploads manually as occasionally external storage seems OK with me and regularly automatic uploads come at the cost of more power consumption.
4G for Data works, but no VoLTE. With no 3G phone call’s there is a fallback to 2G.
Looking at the future, in my opinion, it makes little sense to continue with such devices. I wouldn’t put so much time and energy here to get an old device fit again and rather go to a new device that supported VoWiFi/VoLTE.
For regular backups on iodéOS I would suggest Seedvault (preinstalled).
WOW! So much advice/info here - thank you all so much for giving this time and discussion!
Unfortunately I don’t think it has actually ‘helped’ me (though I very much think of it all as very helpful as far as being knowledgeable and absolutely coming from a helpful place). Sadly I think my capacity to follow along with technical conversations is very poor. Reading this feels similar to when I try to read wikipedia articles on physics - I have a deep curiosity and desire to learn, but I think that I might just have a limit to my processing power.
I’ll keep trying to parse some of this out, see if I can follow. Not giving up quite yet. However, I did think while reading all this, that maybe I should just buy a phone that has an easier time switching to a more secure OS. After doing some research into the different options, I definitely thought that iode seemed the most interesting to me - but if another one will have a more user friendly install I might have to go with that.
What do y’all think - is there a phone I could get that would help this install be simpler? I only buy used refurbished phones, so I definitely do not mind it being an older model.
I can handle getting the data off my phone for sure. Is there a way to instal iode where I download it on the phone itself and follow setup instructions it will prompt me with as I go?
So depending on where you live I would suggest that you buy a preinstalled iodé phone either (Europe) at the iodé shop or (USA) at Rik’s shop.
Taking such a short cut is not a shame. Just as not everyone has the time/the knowledge to install Windows or Linux on his/her computer, not everyone does so for their smartphone.
PS: Yes, I think that Samsung will not be a good choice for a custom ROM.
No, since a new install needs to wipe the full device, you can’t do it “in place / step by step” on a running phone unfortunately.
About “too much information” overload, yes I (and all of us here) can completely understand how overwhelming a complete paradigm change is. I suggest, if you are OK with your way to get your data off (and later back on) to your phone, then this removes a lot of variables to the discussion as there are so many ways to do that.
So let’s stick to the actual device install. If you stick to the official iodé OS instructions for your device as @dwainzwerg linked to: ota / ota · GitLab that will be the best. If you get stuck, or want to understand better a specific step there, let’s try to take it “one at a time” to help as we can. We’ll try to not flood you, but as you may gather we are all eager for you to get over this obstacle and join us 