Backup stock recovery before install

[liochan]

Hi,

I have a samsung S10E model number SM-G970F/DS. Before installing /e/ recovery and /e/Os, I would like to backup the recovery partition. I saw several methods using su or another with fastboot to load custom recovery without installing it.

I wasn’t able to achieve both, su is not installed and I don’t want to root my device either. For fastboot, if I am right, samsung doesn’t use it but instead uses download mode.

There is a way to backup the stock recovery before flashing with the /e/ ?

Also I wonder if I can install /e/ without installing /e/ recovery. For me it is possible because of the download mode and the OEM unlock, you can use adb sideload to push /e/Os rom. What are the downside if I do this ?

Thank you for your help.

Regain your privacy! Adopt /e/ the unGoogled mobile OS and online services

[piero]

Backup the /recovery partition have no interrest, you can find it included into your device firmware (files easily available through samsung’s fan sites).
For exemple
https://samfw.com/firmware/SM-G970F

Your /data partition is were your installed apps and preferences are stored, it can be usefull to backup /data partition. TWRP could do this.

The internal storage (also called /data/sdcard) is the special part of /data that you are used to acces via files-manager. It contains your stored documents and some app needed files.
You can copy it without special tools. (but it is not included in a TWRP backup).
https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s10/samsung-galaxy-s10--s10--s10-5g-cross-device-development-exynos/recovery-twrp-galaxy-s10-e-5g-exynos-t4180287

You can install /e/ without installing the recovery-e, but any other custom recovery manager as i prefer to use TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project)

https://doc.e.foundation/devices/beyond0lte/install

[HOWTO] an Unified Install Guide Project for /e/

this post is editable as a Wiki. (1) Download an /e/OS build (2) Download recovery-e or TWRP (3) install the appropriate Flashing Tools (4) allow “Non Vendor OS” to be installed on the device (5) Check the communication between the PC and your smartphone (6) Unlock the Bootloader (7) Flash a custom recovery manager on your device (8) install /e/ from your computer, using the “adb sideload” method or (9) Install /e/ without computer using the “Storage Device” method (10) post install…

[piero]

Do you plan to use LinuxOS MacOS or. WindowsOS for the installation ?

[liochan]

Hi Piero,

Thank you for your answers.

I have 2 use cases where I need to backup stock recovery :

1. You return the product to warranty because of hardware issue. With a custom recovery and back to official ROM, I had once a denial of warranty because I change software.
2. If I want to resell the device, people are afraid of software change.

I thought that the device firmware are only custom ROM, so I will try to find one. But I am curious to know how people can provide those files ?

My question about installing /e/ without installing the e-recovery is more a question if I keep the stock recovery and I do not install any custom recovery.

For installation I use linux. Everything is ready on my PC and the guide is very well written, so it will be easy to do

[piero]

You need a custom recovery to install /e/.

/e/ will replace the /system partition only and you will have to format /data partition. (why a backup can be wanted).

Restore back to stock Samsung OS is possible using linux “Heimdall” even easier using windows “Odin”

[aibd]

Hi @liochan you will find some fairly entry grade information on the general subject and sources of Stock ROMs (I know no official Samsung ROMs published openly) are in

• Know your hardware - Samsung

@liochan

You return the product to warranty

Samsung have a way to protect themselves and to make evidence to help them deny responsibility in the event of use of any custom software.

If you turn to the Download screen of a Samsung you will find the item

WARRANTY VOID:

• 0 (or variant of zero) is no Void, warranty intact.
• 1 (or variant of one) is effectively “Your warranty is void”

This will change (from 0 -1) the moment you change away from official Samsung firmware.

@liochan

If I want to resell the device

Change back to stock ROM the phone will behave as original, except for this “hidden” detail.

[liochan]

Thank you for your answers @Piero and @aibd. I can install /e/ with a deeper understanding of android/samsung ecosystem.

@piero with the stock recovery you can also reset /data. You can reboot in download mode and install the /e/ ROM with adb directly. I have done research tonight and I have found out that the stock recovery will not boot custom ROM because the signatures will failed. And it is for this reason you need a custom recovery.

@aibd what an awesome documentation you give to us. Thank you very much

I read it and I will do it more than twice !

To give you more details, I bought only refurbished phones. So it is not samsung that denied the warranty, but the vendor on market place.

The research of the firmware by IMEI (https://samfw.com/imei) is so precious in my case. I found out that my phones is a model sold in Italia (I bought it in France). I can download the firmware in case I need to reinstall both stock recovery and rom.