Related
I’ve just updated from MoDaCo’s 1.5 ROM to the CM6 2.2 ROM and since it’s been so long (over a year) since I’ve rooted my phone and dived into all the information involved in doing so. Back then it wasn’t as easy as it is now with some of these rooting methods. In fact I remember it being a real mess ha. (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583291)
So basically, I’ve managed to do quite a lot of things and I want to help a friend out but I want to make sure all my info is right.
ALL of this is basically on giant question. I just word it as if I know what I’m talking about. But please help me correct everything that is wrong (and I know there is a lot), help answer some of my questions, and even let me know where I’m right. I didn’t type everything up as questions so that it reads easier. If I need to repeat some sections to get clarification I can.
Customizing you Phone
The first step is to gain root access via installing (flashing) a recovery program (image).
This program (image) is only accessible via boot (boot into recovery). It allows you to make a back-up of the phone in its entirety, restore said back-ups, allow PC access connectivity (via USB), flash programs/files (“installing” in a sense), partition an SD card, perform various wipes, and some miscellaneous things.
Ok – I’ll pause here to get some info. Wipe Data/Factory Reset; this means erasing everything off the phone and it resets the current ROM back to its native state. Wipe Dalvik-cache… I’m not sure what this does exactly but I assume it has something to do with the programs installed or the SD card. Furthur, why would I want to ‘wipe battery stats’ or ‘rotate settings’ ? And wipe SD:ext partition has to do with Apps to SD?
Also, when you do these wipes and flashes and re-do your phone from scratch, the only thing that is never touched is the recovery image. It’s fair to say, when you flash the recovery image during your rooting, it’s the only set in stone thing on your phone… that is until you re-root your phone or flash an alternate recovery.
Apps2sd – When I first rooted my phone and installed MoDaCo’s ROM, I ventured into the land of Apps2sd. This too was a PAINFUL process partitioning my SD card and learning all about the ext2/3/4 and I’ve already forgotten everything. After going through all that to clear up what little space I had on my Hero, I then read all kinds of people saying Apps2SD is bad cuz it’s slow and blah blah. So I took it off. Now it seems that Google has made an Apps2sd native? I just need updated on the whole Apps2sd thing both in general and for the Hero.
Ok – Back. Some of the things you can flash are custom ROMs (a ROM is the Operating System essentially), data that tells the computer to work differently such as custom kernels (what makes the phone work, basically communication between hardware and software), new radios (what retrieves and uses signals), and battery stuff (what would it be called? “Battery kernel info”? haha). You can even flash programs right to the phone (apk files).
The biggest reason to root your phone, is to install a custom ROM. Custom roms typically cut out a lot of bloat that the stock OS would have such as un-removable programs (Sprint NFL and NASCAR… Thanks but no thanks Sprint) and OS things. Many developers have even tweaked ROMs to optimize performance and battery life. Why would the stock ROM not do this? And why would it seem the dev’s (developers) making custom ROMs are better than the devs at Google/Sprint/Samsung/etc.? Certain applications also require rooted phones (or just simple ‘root’) due to their extended abilities or required securities (such as WaveSecure?).
Reminder – everything is a question even tho some things have ‘?’ and some don’t. I know that I do not know what I’m talking about. I just want to confirm what I do know, and learn where I’m wrong!
Now some straight up questions:
When you get a custom recovery, ROM, and kernel on your phone… you’ve just about altered all major parts of your phone (software speaking of course)?
When you want to put on a custom ROM, you first wipe everything then flash the ROM. Then you may flash additional items such as gapps (google applications pack), custom Kernals, etc. When you want to change roms, do you have to undo everything and start from scratch and put new gapps back on, a new kernel, etc? What about just updating a ROM? What if you have a ROM you like, but just want to un-install(un-flash) gapps – possible?
[*]So example, If I needed something I forgot on an old setup – like a text message or file from EasyNote, I would have to nandroid backup, wipe everything, flash old ROM and additional files, restore OLD nandroid, grab the files, wipe everything, flash back newer ROM and additional files, restore new nandroid that was just created to be back where I started? (I actually have to do this too haha – want to make sure that’s right.) Basically I’m making sure I’m right about nandroid. It back’s-up all data and setting type files for current ROM?
What would happen if I tried to restore a nandroid back-up created during another ROM?
MoDaCo’s old custom ROM had WaveSecure installed with it so that it could not be removed. Is it possible to still do this with other ROMs?
Why do some people talk so negatively about gapps? Is there something wrong with them?
Back when I first tried learning all this a year ago, the Hero’s messaging app was known to be a real battery-eater and never slept so it was recommended to switch to a 3rd party and disable the stock app’s notifications. What’s the development on that?
I still have a whole paper full of other questions, but I think this is already getting loooong… so I’ll leave it here for now. The point of all this is to yes, educate myself so that I may help others…. But I plan on writing up a real all-inclusive guide to android and rooting and the like. I’ve searched a lot and learned a lot, but nowhere (including the wiki) did I find a nice, chronological guide of information. Hopefully I can fill that niche once I know exactly what I’m talking about, and even then I’ll need some peeps to clean my stuff up a bit. I also happen to be a filmmaker so I’d like to make a good video on this as well. It won’t be one of those videos where you can barley understand the person talking, shot in the basement with all the lights off, camera held in hand and shot with web-cam, etc. (Note: Just today I saw the XDA-TV post… sorry I missed it) D:
LAST NOTE:
Ok I promise I’m almost done. I just wanted to say that if anyone would not mind talking on the phone… I would love to just blow through this stuff a lot faster and be able to have a convo with some 1 on 1 feedback allowing me to get lots of questions answered. Even just 10 minutes would help me out tons! So if anyone who is a genious on this stuff (like devs… ) and wouldn’t mind chatting for a few – please PM me. I can do Skype as well.
I hope someone will take the time to answer you, it will help me too LOL. Last thing I rooted was the G1 years ago, & just yesterday rooted the Hero (& flashed CM6 today) I got off of Craigslist. Seems like some phones have better wikis than others.
I haven't been in the rooting/flashing game for a while since I've owned tons of different devices before & after the G1. Since then the only flashing I did was flashing Android onto a WM device LOL. Never bothered flashing the Vibrant, Epic, or Evo (sold, sold, & sold.)
Anyway, yeah, I hope someone answers! You have my support!
Root and recovery are two totally separate things - you can root your phone and not flash a recovery, it's totally up to you. Root gives you access to things on your phone, that you would otherwise not have - like flashing recovery, ROM(s), apps that need root access, etc. Goto the wiki there's a link which gives a high level idea of what root gives you.
Recovery - gives you features such as Nand backup/restore, wipe cache, dalvik-cache, flash stuff (ROMs, kernels, etc.,)
Apps2SD - allows you to install apps to the SD card. If you are using android 2.2 or above, this feature is available natively, so you don't need something line apps2sd
Now, answers to your "Straight up questions..."
1. Yes, once you root, flash recovery, flash ROM... you have altered your phone from a software stand point. You can return it to "out-of-the-box" state by running any official RUU provided by HTC/Sprint (for HTC Sprint Hero)
2. This varies from ROM to ROM, you should read the specific instructions provided by the ROM builder. About removing gapps, it is pretty easy to remove any apps once you have root access - read up the wiki or search for removing apps
3. Depends on what you want to get back - for all your daily needs, there are backup applications that can help you backup stuff from the phone, which you can then restore, once you have the app running and backup available
4. If you restore a nand backup, it will put your phone to a stage when you had created the backup
5. You will have to read up about MoDaCo ROM, that is a ROM specific thing
6. There's nothing wrong about the gapps - not sure what you are referring to
7. There are multiple messaging apps - handcent, chomp, google voice, etc. It all depends on your personal preferences
I would honestly recommend you to search on the forums and also visit the wiki. There's a whole lot of information about everything here. Also, Hero being a bit old phone, more often than not, the problem you might be facing... might have been already answered. Yes, it is time consuming, but will surely help you. The more you read, the comfortable you will feel.
Hope this helps. Let me know if I can help you further. Again, I started the same way as you, rooted the phone, flashed CM6, played around, something went horribly wrong, then had to RUU, root, flash... everything. But, that taught me a lot.
Enjoy!
So basically, I’ve managed to do quite a lot of things and I want to help a friend out but I want to make sure all my info is right.
Customizing you Phone
The first step is to gain root access via installing (flashing) a recovery program (image).
This program (image) is only accessible via boot (boot into recovery). It allows you to make a back-up of the phone in its entirety, restore said back-ups, allow PC access connectivity (via USB), flash programs/files (“installing” in a sense), partition an SD card, perform various wipes, and some miscellaneous things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure which phone you are working with, but I'm pretty sure, as a general
rule, you need root before you can flash the recovery image. Could be mistaken
on that, but that's how it was for my hero. Once you have the recovery image
flashed, you are correct, you can make and restore backups, you can access
the phone's internal storage and SD card, push/install apps, remove apps, etc.
Ok – I’ll pause here to get some info. Wipe Data/Factory Reset; this means erasing everything off the phone and it resets the current ROM back to its native state. Wipe Dalvik-cache… I’m not sure what this does exactly but I assume it has something to do with the programs installed or the SD card. Furthur, why would I want to ‘wipe battery stats’ or ‘rotate settings’ ? And wipe SD:ext partition has to do with Apps to SD?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wipe/Factory Reset basically formats the various partitions in the phone's
internal memory, if you do a wipe and reboot your phone, you'll boot loop, as
the phone no longer has an operating system. To restore back to original,
you would need to use an official RUU as andythegreenguy stated. You can
get the official rom upgrades (RUU's) from your carrier's website.
I'm still learning a lot of this myself, but the Dalvik-Cache is basically the OS's
cache, which has files randomly dumped into it and removed from it. Wiping
the Dalvik-Cache is beneficial (and sometimes required) when making
modifications to your rom. It can help improve your performance under some
circumstances, but will make your phone boot slower while the cache is being
recreated. SD:EXT only applies if you have partitioned your SD, for example,
to be used with Apps2SD. If you have no EXT partition, you can't format it.
If you are using Apps2SD, and have partitioned your SD card, this will erase
the EXT partition.
As a general rule that I follow, whenever I am making major changes, and
especially when I am flashing between different roms, I wipe everything, and
repartition/format my SD card. This helps me to know that any problems I run
into are not caused by something from a previous rom that didn't get erased.
I've never messed with wiping rotate, but wiping battery stats can be useful.
Lithium batteries have a little controller board that basically stores the battery
state. Sometimes this can get messed up, and a perfectly healthy battery will
think it's out of power a lot faster than it should. Resetting the battery info
can sometimes fix this issue. A recommendation I saw was to run your battery
down, reset the battery state, let the phone die, then do a full charge/discharge
cycle. Never had to do this, myself..
Also, when you do these wipes and flashes and re-do your phone from scratch, the only thing that is never touched is the recovery image. It’s fair to say, when you flash the recovery image during your rooting, it’s the only set in stone thing on your phone… that is until you re-root your phone or flash an alternate recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorta.. hboot and the radio are both beyond the recovery, and messing with
either of those without knowing what you are doing can cause your phone to
become a brick. Any recovery you flash should remain in place unless you use a
RUU, flash a different recovery, flash a rom that includes a different recovery,
(haven't run across that except for the RUU's), or mess with the MTD partitions.
Apps2sd – When I first rooted my phone and installed MoDaCo’s ROM, I ventured into the land of Apps2sd. This too was a PAINFUL process partitioning my SD card and learning all about the ext2/3/4 and I’ve already forgotten everything. After going through all that to clear up what little space I had on my Hero, I then read all kinds of people saying Apps2SD is bad cuz it’s slow and blah blah. So I took it off. Now it seems that Google has made an Apps2sd native? I just need updated on the whole Apps2sd thing both in general and for the Hero.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Apps2SD is fine, any speed issues would primaryly be loading delays on slower
SD cards. Apps2SD also requires your SD card to be properly partitioned. The
Apps2SD that is in Android 2.2 is a little different, in that from my nderstanding,
it uses the Fat32 partition on the SD card, and thus does not require you to
partition your SD card. It is also to my knowledge only available on roms based
on Android 2.2.
A lot of custom roms have some form of Apps2SD now, but they require you to partition the SD card, and, as far as "speed" issues, I have ran my apps from
a class 2 card just fine, but moving the Dalvik-Cache to the SD card will cause
lag if you have a slow card. Class 4 or higher is recommended for moving your
cache.
Ok – Back. Some of the things you can flash are custom ROMs (a ROM is the Operating System essentially), data that tells the computer to work differently such as custom kernels (what makes the phone work, basically communication between hardware and software), new radios (what retrieves and uses signals), and battery stuff (what would it be called? “Battery kernel info”? haha). You can even flash programs right to the phone (apk files).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct, you can flash ROMS, Kernels, Radios, apps (if packaged properly),
apk files that aren't packaged in an update.zip will either have to be pushed
via ADB, or can be installed from your SD card with a file manager.
The biggest reason to root your phone, is to install a custom ROM. Custom roms typically cut out a lot of bloat that the stock OS would have such as un-removable programs (Sprint NFL and NASCAR… Thanks but no thanks Sprint) and OS things. Many developers have even tweaked ROMs to optimize performance and battery life. Why would the stock ROM not do this? And why would it seem the dev’s (developers) making custom ROMs are better than the devs at Google/Sprint/Samsung/etc.? Certain applications also require rooted phones (or just simple ‘root’) due to their extended abilities or required securities (such as WaveSecure?).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as the biggest reason to root your phone, I would have to say that the
answer to that would vary from person to person. Most users root to install
custom roms, but rooting gives you full control of the operating system. Since
android is Linux, having root access on your phone will allow you to change the
things that you otherwise could not. Utilities like Titanium backup can be used
to back up and restore your apps and data, performance benefits are always
a huge consideration. Companies like HTC and Sprint don't take performance
concerns into consideration because they are providing a product that is in their
opinion disposable, and "generic enough" for most users. Asking why they don't
fix the performance issues is like asking why every car on the road can't run 160
miles per hour while getting 40 miles per gallon. Some people don't care to have
the fastest, most efficient phone, and some people can't stand having sluggish
and unresponsive phones.
Now some straight up questions:
When you get a custom recovery, ROM, and kernel on your phone… you’ve just about altered all major parts of your phone (software speaking of course)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With a recovery, rom, and kernel, you've flashed all of the major software components
that you will be concerned about. Performance gains are all found in the ROM
and Kernel, and so most people have no need to go further than that. Basically,
think of the Kernel as the brain, and the ROM as the rest of the operating system
The recovery is important, but is transparent to the function of the phone once
everything is up and running.
[*]When you want to put on a custom ROM, you first wipe everything then flash the ROM. Then you may flash additional items such as gapps (google applications pack), custom Kernals, etc. When you want to change roms, do you have to undo everything and start from scratch and put new gapps back on, a new kernel, etc? What about just updating a ROM? What if you have a ROM you like, but just want to un-install(un-flash) gapps – possible?
[*]So example, If I needed something I forgot on an old setup – like a text message or file from EasyNote, I would have to nandroid backup, wipe everything, flash old ROM and additional files, restore OLD nandroid, grab the files, wipe everything, flash back newer ROM and additional files, restore new nandroid that was just created to be back where I started? (I actually have to do this too haha – want to make sure that’s right.) Basically I’m making sure I’m right about nandroid. It back’s-up all data and setting type files for current ROM?[*]What would happen if I tried to restore a nandroid back-up created during another ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll try to answer these in one shot. It's recommended that you always wipe
everything before installing a custom rom, except if the rom you are installing
is *SPECIFICALLY* an update for the rom you are running, and the dev states
that a wipe is not necessary. Generally, you want to make a nandroid backup,
wipe, install the rom, make sure everything is fine, nandroid, install the kernel,
check things over, rinse and repeat.
In my case, I generally return to configs that I've already tested, so I skip some
steps, but the order is ROM, Kernel, then the other parts.
If you forgot a text message from another rom, as long as you have the nandroid
you should be OK. You can boot into recovery, make a nandroid backup of your
current configuration, then wipe everything, restore the nandroid from the
old configuration, retrieve your message or data, Then you can reboot, wipe,
and restore the nandroid from the new configuration. Keeping multiple nandroids
can be userful if you are using an AOSP rom as your daily rom, since on the
Hero, to my knowledge, you can only update your PRL under a Sense based rom.
A lot of users will restore the sense backup to update their PRL, then restore the
AOSP rom.
[*]MoDaCo’s old custom ROM had WaveSecure installed with it so that it could not be removed. Is it possible to still do this with other ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never used WaveSecure, but as a general rule, if you can download the APK, you
should be able to install it on any rom.
[*]Why do some people talk so negatively about gapps? Is there something wrong with them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some people like fat chicks, and some people don't. The argument about
gapps is akin to asking what's better, PC or Mac, Linux or Windows, sports cars
or station wagons. It's all personal preference. What's right for you might not
be right for your best friend.
[*]Back when I first tried learning all this a year ago, the Hero’s messaging app was known to be a real battery-eater and never slept so it was recommended to switch to a 3rd party and disable the stock app’s notifications. What’s the development on that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The messaging app had a bug that would lock the dialer and prevent the phone
from sleeping. This bug was supposedly fixed in the 2.1 update, but 2.1 also
introduced a whole plethora of other bugs. Some people still prefer third party
messenging apps, but I use the stock app with no issues. on a good day I can
get 27 hours on a charge, but I do a lot and so most days I get 12 hours or so.
Hope this has helped.
LAST NOTE:
Ok I promise I’m almost done. I just wanted to say that if anyone would not mind talking on the phone… I would love to just blow through this stuff a lot faster and be able to have a convo with some 1 on 1 feedback allowing me to get lots of questions answered. Even just 10 minutes would help me out tons! So if anyone who is a genious on this stuff (like devs… ) and wouldn’t mind chatting for a few – please PM me. I can do Skype as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This may sound strange from a guy with a cellphone, but I actually hate talking
on the phone. Feel free to send me a PM now and then with questions. If I know the answer, I'll help out.
I'm not as knowledgeable as any of the devs, I'm still learning all of this myself. My answers might not be
'correct', but they work for me. most things related to android have no 'correct' or 'definitive' answer, but
that's the beauty of a platform that can be customized to taste. We can all make recommendations, and
can even tell you our reasoning or logic behind them, but we can all also learn a few things.
andythegreenguy said:
Root and recovery are two totally separate things - you can root your phone and not flash a recovery, it's totally up to you. Root gives you access to things on your phone, that you would otherwise not have - like flashing recovery, ROM(s), apps that need root access, etc. Goto the wiki there's a link which gives a high level idea of what root gives you.
Recovery - gives you features such as Nand backup/restore, wipe cache, dalvik-cache, flash stuff (ROMs, kernels, etc.,)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah! So the recovery is a nice, built-into-phone way of flashing, whiping, etc; otherwise you would need to use the command prompt. (Correct?)
andythegreenguy said:
Apps2SD - allows you to install apps to the SD card. If you are using android 2.2 or above, this feature is available natively, so you don't need something line apps2sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Excellent. But does running apps from the SD card cause the apps to run slower or open slower? Should I keep primary apps or most commonly used apps on the phone or it doesn't matter?
andythegreenguy said:
If you restore a nand backup, it will put your phone to a stage when you had created the backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So the Nand-Backup saves ALL information including flashed ROMs, Kernels, BatteryTweak, etc? What about information on the SD card especially not that apps can be moved there)?
andythegreenguy said:
There are multiple messaging apps - handcent, chomp, google voice, etc. It all depends on your personal preferences
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand this, but I just wanted to know If it's a mistake to be using the stock texting app - if the messaging app in CM6 is even the stock one. I have tried Chomp and Handcent and I actually love handcent, but it's just WAY to slow.
I have searched the forums and wiki quite a lot, thats how I got this far. I try to search for some as many things as I can, but it's just hard to get some real clarity on some things and especially the broad things. That's why I plan on taking the results of this thread and making a nice 'general' guide and possibly a video.
Thanks a lot andythegreenguy. Appriciate the help a lot
To moxlon69:
moxlon69 said:
you need root before you can flash the recovery image
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are right. I was a bit mixed up on that (even though I've done it twice! haha)
moxlon69 said:
Wipe/Factory Reset...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lot of good clarification there. Very good, thanks!
moxlon69 said:
Sorta.. hboot and the radio are both beyond the recovery...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah. What is hboot? Had some trouble finding general info on it. What is there to know about the radio? I haven't done it nor think i need to, but isn't changing the radio just the same as flashing something? (http://geekfor.me/faq/flash-radio/)
moxlon69 said:
Apps2SD is fine, any speed issues would primaryly be loading delays on slower SD cards. Apps2SD also requires your SD card to be properly partitioned. The Apps2SD that is in Android 2.2 is a little different, in that from my understanding, it uses the Fat32 partition on the SD card, and thus does not require you to partition your SD card. It is also to my knowledge only available on roms based on Android 2.2.
A lot of custom roms have some form of Apps2SD now, but they require you to partition the SD card, and, as far as "speed" issues, I have ran my apps from a class 2 card just fine, but moving the Dalvik-Cache to the SD card will cause lag if you have a slow card. Class 4 or higher is recommended for moving your cache.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So if I have a 2.2 ROM... would I need to make a partition? I never read anything about needing it in CM6 threads. What was all the jazz about making different ext-s? Like 2, 3, or 4? I guess it's not relevant any more.
How do you move the Dalvik-Cache to SD?
Quick note:
AOSP and PRL are not on the wiki - not that many people don't know what they are... but why not?
Q: Why do some people talk so negatively about gapps?
A:Some people like fat chicks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well said haha. The whole analogy was good.
Thanks a million moxlon69 - That helps out more than you can imagine. I'm going to begin working on a write up of all this, but I do still have lots of questions. I'll probably continue posting in this thread for a while to keep it simple... unless I have an embarrassingly stupid question I can't find an answer for then I'll PM ya!
Thanks again moxlon69 and andythegreenguy.
Edit: This thread is going to become the tl;dr thread! haha
One more try.
I know it's a lot of reading, but any help you guys can offer is much appreciated and will be returned in the form of a video. You could then just send all the newbies to the video and hopefully many of their questions will be answered.
I just don't want to make the video without being precisely accurate. I have more questions, but I should probably wait for the current queue of my questions to go down.
Thanks again for the help thus far!
so i have this question. I have a Galaxy Tab bought in the philippines. when i bought the tab it was already able to take in any carrier here in our country, i dont know if it was correct to say that it was already jail broken. (able to handle any carrier's sim) Im still new to the android world and tried upgrading my tab already.
as of today, I am now using the MODACO rom for the galaxy tab. only issue though the 3g is not working anymore after upgrading (or maybe downgrading) from the stock rom. before i upgraded my tab, The gps is working, 3g working, gallery working, camera working, practically everything is working smoothly without noticeable lags. then now, after upgrading to modaco, the gallery is not working, gps still working, 3g not working, camera working, now experiencing some lags when multiple applications are running like, music + browser and causes me to force close. At start up, i noticed a pixelated flash resembling the recovery menu but it was only like a 1/2 a second flash and would start normally but sorry im a perfectionist, I don't like little things bothering me but if all else fail, I just stick to what I have and bare with it.
browsing the forums i saw that CM7 (cyanogen mod 7, correct me if im wrong) is better than modaco but with camera feature being down, I wouldn't like my camera to be disabled especially when my cousins like to take ALOT of pictures of themselves and other people coz they're vain little buggers. so, which ROM/OS/MOD is the best of the best out there.
I'm thinking of returning my Gtab to the store where i bought it and claim my act of god insurance just to replace my gtab and stay using official everything just for the sake of undoing my "mistake" of upgrading to a Custom Rom even though im still very very veeryy noob at the android world.
FOR CLARIFICATION:
How do you flash/reflash?
What is Flashing? (and i dont mean the naughty kind)
What is a ROM?
What is a MODEM? How to know your MODEM version?
How to know your PDA and CSC?
What are PDA and CSC?
What is a KERNEL?
What is a BASEBAND?
What is a NANDROID BACKUP? Is it different from a Titanium Backup /w root?
What is the most updated custom rom as of today?
Your opinion, What custom rom are you using and think that its best for you.
What custom rom is best used just for occasional use?
What custom rom is best used for heavy using? i.e. Texting, Web Browsing, MP3, Video recording, Camera, Gaming, Office Editing(word, excel, ppts.)?
Thanks to those who would answer my noob questions
anybody ? any answers ?
I'm guessing you've done some research... Forum rule #1: Search before posting. Also, you are missing one important question, rooting. Unless you already know this. Anyhow..
Most of the answers are here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=933400
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=803682
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=888071
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=885734
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=973402
and here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=932082
What is/How do youFlashing? - Flashing is basically replacing a phone's Kernel/ROM/OS. (see above links)
What is a ROM? - Read only Memory: operating system (OS) and all the drivers and software that comes with the phone.
What is a MODEM? How to know your MODEM version?
see here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1069727
What are/How to know your PDA and CSC?
These are codes to get Firmware version information:
*#*#4986*2650468#*#* PDA, Phone, H/W, RFCallDate
*#*#1234#*#* PDA and Phone
*#*#1111#*#* FTA SW Version
*#*#2222#*#* FTA HW Version
*#*#44336#*#* PDA, Phone, CSC, Build Time, Changelist number
What is a NANDROID BACKUP? - used to backup ROM
Is it different from a Titanium Backup /w root? - used to backup system and user-installed apps.
Rooting - gives you "administrative privelege" on your tab. It gives you the ability to open all folders, hidden and system, delete any file, render your tab useless , as well as install many apps that really rock!
What is the most updated custom rom as of today? Depends. The purpose of ROM customization is to have a phone that works the way you want it to, and not the way the vendors (e.g. samsung) do.
Your opinion, What custom rom are you using and think that its best for you.
Overcome (see above). Also, gingerbread will be out shortly, which means, if you want to try the latest official GB on your tab, you have to re-flash the stock (orig) rom.
What custom rom is best used just for occasional use? stock! Overcome! This really depends on your personal preference.
What custom rom is best used for heavy using? i.e. Texting, Web Browsing, MP3, Video recording, Camera, Gaming, Office Editing(word, excel, ppts.)?
Same as above.
Thanks to those who would answer my noob questions.
It took me a good 10 minutes to answer these.. Please click the thanks button as many times as you can. After all, you had a LOT of questions.. See my other posts and thank them too!
well, i just wanted a quick answer or just a database or a list of what i can search about lol, searching through heavy content could be a hassle when you see lots of results but not the ones you wanted. so yea. hehehe.. i pressed the thanks button. thanks for answering my questions XD
btw, if you back up before editing your tab on kies and try to restore it from kies also, will it revert back to your original ROM when you do it. just want to know, also, will it remove the root after doing so ?
also, you didn't answer the NANDROID BACKUP and TITANIUM BACKUP correctly, I mean please elaborate more on this.
how are they different from each other. XD sorry for being so naggy about this, lol. needed some intelligent answers from people sculpted to my needs. lol!
btw, if you back up before editing your tab on kies and try to restore it from kies also, will it revert back to your original ROM when you do it.
Kies will only back up content such as contacts, images, and videos.. and of course can only restore the same. There is no way of using kies to backup or modify roms. To backup roms, you use nandroid. Search tha market for ROM manager for that. Kies cannot backup applications as well. That's where you use Titanium. One more thing Titanium does is removing vendor installed apps that you don't use (bloatware).
just want to know, also, will it remove the root after doing so ?
Rooting will not affect backup in kies. similarly, restoring contacts, pics and videos will not remove root. HOWEVER, it is reported that some rooted device will not upgrade its firmware in kies. This is a different thing from kies backup.
Again:
Kies is for contacts and pics/vids back up. It is also for official phone updates.
Nandroid backup is for ROMs.
Titanium backup is for system and user applications.
XD sorry for being so naggy about this, lol. needed some intelligent answers from people sculpted to my needs. lol!
Don't be sorry, I don't know anyone who wasn't a noob at one time, including myself. Thanks button is always appreciated!
Clockworkmod
Read this one pre.. but make sure your tab is rooted. Use Superoneclick. I gave you the link to this in the first reply.
This is CWM for flashing ROMS and doing Nandroid back ups. This is one of the easiest guides out there.
http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...-and-how-to-use-it-on-android-complete-guide/
Hit thanks if I helped!
Wow. Thanks dude. Now i have a one stop referrence easily found via bookmarking. Hahaha. Now, i just have to find a micro sd card large enough for backung up via nandroid. Just found out today that nandroid is actually just clockworkmod and choosing the backup from the backup and restore menu. Thought that it was a completely different app. Hehehe
Good day all.
Before I ask my questions I would like to say that In the few days I have been here I have been working on Understanding the Technical terms and Jargon this site uses ever so much, I have learned.
While the wiki (and these posts here) has helped a bit...I still find myself feeling a bit nauseous from what I have been currently been unable to understand so you might have to stand me being a noob for just a little bit longer I'm afraid.
Anywho...on to the questions...
I am aware the ROMs must match a given make and model of a phone to work and custom kernels must be matched to specific ROMs, but alot of these ROMs have really awesome features & improvements. Better Sound, DSP-equalizer, More efficient battery use, more function UIs, more control on security, SONY based Engines, CRT-Off Animations, ...why can't they all just work together?!?! So now I have to ask the crazy...
Is it possible to stack the features of different ROMs?
What is it I need to be looking for compatibility wise between all these ROMs/Themes/Apps/Kernels to make sure that I don't Clay or Brick the Note by combining the wrong codes?
I'm trying to figure out what I can do to mix and match intelligently to get the most out of a rooted note (as is... I suppose... all of you here).
On that...uh...note, I have seen a lot of talk about Titanium-backup App, Clockworkmod Recovery App & Nandroids.
Why do I need to use these to back up?
Why can't I just go into the phone & copy and paste all the files on a folder in the computer? Is it because Android is Linux based? Do not all the files show?
Should I have all these Backup Apps to back up every part of the Note or is just one enough?
Oh and one more thing... I Received my note today & a lot faster than I expected. So...
What would you recommend to be the smartest thing to do first after root?
Decisions Decisions.
Thank You
The most basic differentiating factor is to see if the ROMs are TouchWiz based or AOSP/CM/AOKP based, those are the main 2 categories that every ROM here falls under
Features from one category *mostly* can not be ported to other category if they are not present there. For example, S-Memo are exclusive to TouchWiz ROMs just like Tablet mode is exclusive to AOSP/CM/AOKP ROMs, but there might some rare exceptions
IMHO Titanium Backup is useful only if you have games data, normal apps I prefer to set them up manually to have the cleanest setup possible. Nandroids, OTOH, are essential, they are your safety net if anything goes wrong.
You can't back up an OS just by copying the files over cause you don't have access to the kernel and lower system files, that's where nandroids help
Hope this helps
matius44 said:
The most basic differentiating factor is to see if the ROMs are TouchWiz based or AOSP/CM/AOKP based, those are the main 2 categories that every ROM here falls under
Features from one category *mostly* can not be ported to other category if they are not present there. For example, S-Memo are exclusive to TouchWiz ROMs just like Tablet mode is exclusive to AOSP/CM/AOKP ROMs, but there might some rare exceptions
IMHO Titanium Backup is useful only if you have games data, normal apps I prefer to set them up manually to have the cleanest setup possible. Nandroids, OTOH, are essential, they are your safety net if anything goes wrong.
You can't back up an OS just by copying the files over cause you don't have access to the kernel and lower system files, that's where nandroids help
Hope this helps
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh! Right... I'm not just backing up apps... I'm backing Up the OS. Duh. Ok.
I was thinking about it the wrong way.
I know what a TouchWiz ROM is, and its good to know that Tablet mode is exclusive to AOSP/CM/AOKP ROMs, I didn't know that either. As I mentioned in my post... I'm still working on the Jargon here. What does "AOSP/CM/AOKP" Mean? Can I switch around features if I kept in those respective types of ROMs?
CrazyOGuy said:
Oh! Right... I'm not just backing up apps... I'm backing Up the OS. Duh. Ok.
I was thinking about it the wrong way.
I know what a TouchWiz ROM is, and its good to know that Tablet mode is exclusive to AOSP/CM/AOKP ROMs, I didn't know that either. As I mentioned in my post... I'm still working on the Jargon here. What does "AOSP/CM/AOKP" Mean? Can I switch around features if I kept in those respective types of ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AOSP is "Android Open Source Project". That is just one kind of custom ROM. Also, several ROMs on here are built on "AOSP", meaning they use AOSP as a base and add "features" to it.
CM is "CyanogenMod". They are a very popular team that builds custom ROMs for different phones out there. Same thing applies, people will builld custom ROMs based on CM9 (which is Ice Cream Sandwich based) and add their own "features" to it. CM7 is Gingerbread based and not on the Note.
Also, read about the bricking situations, just to wrap your head around it and stay safe. Basically, just know right now that the only "safe" kernel is the CM9 kernel built by xplodwild OR the DAFUQ kernel built by Entropy.
The ICS sources have come out so we should see more kernels come out as the devs get their hands dirty.
I use Titantium Backup, personally, to back up my individual apps and such when I switch ROMs. Now, of course, if you restore apps, you might run into problems and you might need to wipe data again and start over and not restore apps. But, I RARELY have problems.
I hope all these details help!
CrazyOGuy said:
Oh! Right... I'm not just backing up apps... I'm backing Up the OS. Duh. Ok.
I was thinking about it the wrong way.
I know what a TouchWiz ROM is, and its good to know that Tablet mode is exclusive to AOSP/CM/AOKP ROMs, I didn't know that either. As I mentioned in my post... I'm still working on the Jargon here. What does "AOSP/CM/AOKP" Mean? Can I switch around features if I kept in those respective types of ROMs?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AOSP = Android Open Source Project = Google's pure android
CM = CyanogenMod
AOKP = Android Open Kang Project
Features theoretically can be ported between these, but it requires hackery skills since mostly it's framework dependant
For example, AOKP is famous with its ROM Control option in Settings menu, this is not present in AOSP at all and some of it is present in CM9. If you have good knowledge in code you can port, not very easy task
CrazyOGuy said:
What would you recommend to be the smartest thing to do first after root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are things that need to be done before the root. You need some basic tools to get into the business of flashing stuff.
1. PC Odin - that's a software for flashing firmware from your Windows. You can get it here. Top left hand corner of the first post.
2. Windows drivers - they are needed so your PC can recognize the phone once connect the two. Get it from the same URL, same place.
3. Mobile Odin Pro - basically does the same functions as PC Odin, but from your Note, not from the PC. Get the Lite version
if the Playstore doesn't let you buy the Pro one.
4. Titanium Backup - this is optional. I use it all the time with no trouble, but some prefer to re-install their apps manually after they switch to another Rom. Titanium allows you to backup all your apps and their data, and does a quick batch restore when you need it.
Now about the rooting matter.
I would recommend the following method:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25285584&postcount=3
I think it is by far the easiest and quickest one.
After you are successfully rooted, come back here, report, and we'll take it from there, OK?
We won't be going anywhere.
P.S. If you get into bootloop after the PC Odin has finished the flash, don't panic, but read this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26460335&postcount=4
chasmodo said:
There are things that need to be done before the root. You need some basic tools to get into the business of flashing stuff.
1. PC Odin - that's a software for flashing firmware from your Windows. You can get it here. Top left hand corner of the first post.
2. Windows drivers - they are needed so your PC can recognize the phone once connect the two. Get it from the same URL, same place.
3. Mobile Odin Pro - basically does the same functions as PC Odin, but from your Note, not from the PC. Get the Lite version
if the Playstore doesn't let you buy the Pro one.
4. Titanium Backup - this is optional. I use it all the time with no trouble, but some prefer to re-install their apps manually after they switch to another Rom. Titanium allows you to backup all your apps and their data, and does a quick batch restore when you need it.
Now about the rooting matter.
I would recommend the following method:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=25285584&postcount=3
I think it is by far the easiest and quickest one.
After you are successfully rooted, come back here, report, and we'll take it from there, OK?
We won't be going anywhere.
P.S. If you get into bootloop after the PC Odin has finished the flash, don't panic, but read this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26460335&postcount=4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did all that Pre-Root stuff two days ago. ☜(ﾟヮﾟ☜) YEAAAA!
As for how the root went...so far so good. As such I've just been upgraded from noob to kiddie hacker. Yay me...I guess.
I also did go for Titanium-backup App & Clockwork mod Recovery App (Free). Could not find Nandroid.
I am currently on 2.3.6 GB.
With that said. Now comes the fun part(...right?)
If you have done just what cursed4eva did in his video, you are rooted, but still haven't got a proper CLockWorkMod Recovery for further flashing.
If that is the case, you need to go to Chainfire's kernel thread and download the matching CF-Root kernel. For instance, download CF-Root-SGN_XX_OXA_LC1-v5.3-CWM5.zip if you have flashed N7000XXLC1_N7000OXALC1 Open Europe.
You need to extract the kernel zip to get the tar file inside. Put that tar file on your SD card, start Mobile Odin, tap on 'kernel' option, navigate to the kernel tar and flash. The phone will reboot, MO will flash the kernel, and you'll have the fully functional CWMR you need for doing nandroid backups/restores and flashing custom Roms.
Sorry for the Delay. Micro-SD Card took longer to receive than expected.
I have gone in and put that matching LA# .tar file on Moble ODIN. At the risk of asking a question whose only answer can be "DUH!"...
To flash the Kernel (or any of the respective things Mobile ODIN can do) do I press "Flash Firmware"?
My Concern of Bricking > Risk of asking Stupid Obvious Question
Edit: Every single place I searched presses said button...so I guess that's a yes. >_<
Edit 2: Success!
So how are the names given? Is all I need to look for is just match random bits of the titles code to see if the two are compatible?
And with this done...I can now start with some of the fun stuff... right?
Before you start reading, please make sure, you are 100% sure of ur answers, and that you have TIME to answer them ALL with clarification
Really thanks for ur time and help!
So i got a samsung galaxy ace, it's rooted and with b84 CF-Root kernel.
1) The thing is sometimes, I press Wi-Fi button or Bluetooth, and in the Wifi it says Error and on bluetooth just won't conect. I don't know what the problem is, and the only solution is to reboot the phone. Is this a problem? Can it be fixed? If It can, how? If not, please read point number 2.
2) If its not fixable, what ROM you advice me to reinstall? I have s5830XWKS2, some people say the DDxxx8(or something like that) is better don't know why I'm no programmer...
2.1) If I really have to have to reinstall it in order to fix it, how can I do it? Can you point out the thread for it?
3) I run a small business, and I use Tasker for all my stuff. together with other 60+ apps I need to keep, i'm using SD card with ext partition with Link2SD. And the thing i'm most afraid of, is loosing all the data. I came from a Nokia 5800XM, and I flashed it some times, backups are easy to do. Now here on Android becomes a bit complicated. Maybe never someone cleared me enough about it. So what can I do to sucessfully restore all data on the new ROM? I got Titanium backups, and CWM..Will that backup even my dictionary saved words?
4) Thanks, and please, again, make notice that I can't loose anything due to my business, but I can't work with phone needing to reboot at random times cause of wifi or bluetooh beeing bricked.
First of all. There is no such things as urgent situation here. You should remember that.
Second thing. You should post questions in Q&A sub-section. General is for sharing and discussions.
Third thing. There is a adb logcat thingie, which allows to understand a root of your problem more than 'Help me. Something doesn't work'
I remain this thread open but move to correct section.
NunoPitbull said:
Before you start reading, please make sure, you are 100% sure of ur answers, and that you have TIME to answer them ALL with clarification
Really thanks for ur time and help!
So i got a samsung galaxy ace, it's rooted and with b84 CF-Root kernel.
1) The thing is sometimes, I press Wi-Fi button or Bluetooth, and in the Wifi it says Error and on bluetooth just won't conect. I don't know what the problem is, and the only solution is to reboot the phone. Is this a problem? Can it be fixed? If It can, how? If not, please read point number 2.
2) If its not fixable, what ROM you advice me to reinstall? I have s5830XWKS2, some people say the DDxxx8(or something like that) is better don't know why I'm no programmer...
2.1) If I really have to have to reinstall it in order to fix it, how can I do it? Can you point out the thread for it?
3) I run a small business, and I use Tasker for all my stuff. together with other 60+ apps I need to keep, i'm using SD card with ext partition with Link2SD. And the thing i'm most afraid of, is loosing all the data. I came from a Nokia 5800XM, and I flashed it some times, backups are easy to do. Now here on Android becomes a bit complicated. Maybe never someone cleared me enough about it. So what can I do to sucessfully restore all data on the new ROM? I got Titanium backups, and CWM..Will that backup even my dictionary saved words?
4) Thanks, and please, again, make notice that I can't loose anything due to my business, but I can't work with phone needing to reboot at random times cause of wifi or bluetooh beeing bricked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I experienced the same problem,could be software bugs problem so I think you can reinstall your software for the better.
I prefer cm mod7/8 for ace as it is much faster so you can try Google cyanogenmod for ace. They have all the tutorial you need.
As for your Apps, titanium backup will do fine. Its the best backup so far. Your dictionary words is the default system one? I recommend you smart keyboard pro as it has the function to backup all your words
So in short, backup your EVERYTHING with titanium backup, rmb your contacts too, and install cyannogen mod 7 or 8 whichever you prefer! Hope this helps!
Sent from my LG-P705 using xda premium
spaz1201 said:
Yes I experienced the same problem,could be software bugs problem so I think you can reinstall your software for the better.
I prefer cm mod7/8 for ace as it is much faster so you can try Google cyanogenmod for ace. They have all the tutorial you need.
As for your Apps, titanium backup will do fine. Its the best backup so far. Your dictionary words is the default system one? I recommend you smart keyboard pro as it has the function to backup all your words
So in short, backup your EVERYTHING with titanium backup, rmb your contacts too, and install cyannogen mod 7 or 8 whichever you prefer! Hope this helps!
Sent from my LG-P705 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's no such thing as cyanogen mod 8...only unofficial cm 7.1 kang and official cm 7.2...
Nunopitbull, wifi & bluetooth problems that you experience are caused by the kernel, not the firmware or rom...so my suggestion is to use a kernel that is not based on cf root or use a stock kernel (the one that came with your phone)...just root your phone with the update zip method will do, and for cwm flash the zip for it...the newest version for sga is 5.0.2.6...there's no need to flash a custom kernel...
About cwm backups, it backups your whole system and data partition and also your boot.img (kernel related)...so yes, it is quite safe to say that your whole phone is backup-ed...but keep in mind that stock roms use .rfs format for the partitions...new custom roms use .ext4 format...so to flash a backup of a stock rom, first flash a fresh stock firmware with ODIN and the cooper.pit file...then re-root and re-flash cwm to restore your phone...
And fyi, link2sd uses a second partition right? The apps inside the second partition can be relinked if you reset the phone...as long as you don't format the second partition...but personally I suggest you to use DTa2sd or amarulzz script as it saves more internal space...check it out...
Hope that all the above helps...
So you're saying my problem of wi-fi/bluetooth is because of kernel? Can you help me by PM how to get it working again? I wanted a custom kernel don't remember already why, but I think was for the custom speeds of CPU, so I could have low ones..
Just want this bug to disapear of bluetooth and wifi!
Ryuinferno said:
There's no such thing as cyanogen mod 8...only unofficial cm 7.1 kang and official cm 7.2...
Nunopitbull, wifi & bluetooth problems that you experience are caused by the kernel, not the firmware or rom...so my suggestion is to use a kernel that is not based on cf root or use a stock kernel (the one that came with your phone)...just root your phone with the update zip method will do, and for cwm flash the zip for it...the newest version for sga is 5.0.2.6...there's no need to flash a custom kernel...
About cwm backups, it backups your whole system and data partition and also your boot.img (kernel related)...so yes, it is quite safe to say that your whole phone is backup-ed...but keep in mind that stock roms use .rfs format for the partitions...new custom roms use .ext4 format...so to flash a backup of a stock rom, first flash a fresh stock firmware with ODIN and the cooper.pit file...then re-root and re-flash cwm to restore your phone...
And fyi, link2sd uses a second partition right? The apps inside the second partition can be relinked if you reset the phone...as long as you don't format the second partition...but personally I suggest you to use DTa2sd or amarulzz script as it saves more internal space...check it out...
Hope that all the above helps...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far I haven't seen a custom kernel for sga that works flawlessly...especially the ones with oc function...only stock kernels work with the least problems...since you want to underclock, just use the stock kernel and set it to the lowest value with an app like set cpu...it shall do you fine...
Ryuinferno said:
So far I haven't seen a custom kernel for sga that works flawlessly...especially the ones with oc function...only stock kernels work with the least problems...since you want to underclock, just use the stock kernel and set it to the lowest value with an app like set cpu...it shall do you fine...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are the other advntages with the CF Root kernel? I can't remmeber why I puted it, but I think they were another reason behind it...
Where I can get teh stock kernel? Or which one you advise?
Chill please...don't shoot questions in here...if you want quick answers, please search about it (e.g. go to the cf-root thread and read about the features, I don't memorise them, but I believe you want the overclock and a2sd features)...If you want direct answers, you will have to wait...
I understand that you need your phone for your business, it's very important to you...I'm trying my best to help out here ok? To get a stock kernel, just flash a stock firmware via ODIN...but you will have to re-root and re-flash cwm...any stock kernel will do, as long as it is with the firmware you flashed...
Ryuinferno said:
Chill please...don't shoot questions in here...if you want quick answers, please search about it (e.g. go to the cf-root thread and read about the features, I don't memorise them, but I believe you want the overclock and a2sd features)...If you want direct answers, you will have to wait...
I understand that you need your phone for your business, it's very important to you...I'm trying my best to help out here ok? To get a stock kernel, just flash a stock firmware via ODIN...but you will have to re-root and re-flash cwm...any stock kernel will do, as long as it is with the firmware you flashed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Chill what? I'm not in a hurry for answers You answer when you can. I jsut reply when I can, if it was fast, I didn't noticed
I remember to put this kernel i did something from CWM reboot, your saying i need to reinstall a full ROM to get the stock kernel?:S And what's ODIN
Reply when u can, im in no hurry ;D
NunoPitbull said:
Chill what? I'm not in a hurry for answers You answer when you can. I jsut reply when I can, if it was fast, I didn't noticed
I remember to put this kernel i did something from CWM reboot, your saying i need to reinstall a full ROM to get the stock kernel?:S And what's ODIN
Reply when u can, im in no hurry ;D
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea...a full stock samsung rom..you might wanna look at this
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12874680
Is your Samsung Galaxy Ace a GT-S5830 or a GT-S5830i ??
Sent from my GT-S5830i using xda app-developers app
If you want only professionals to answer your questions, take your phone to the Samsung Engineers....
Sent from my GT-S5830 using Tapatalk 2
NunoPitbull said:
Before you start reading, please make sure, you are 100% sure of ur answers, and that you have TIME to answer them ALL with clarification
Really thanks for ur time and help!
So i got a samsung galaxy ace, it's rooted and with b84 CF-Root kernel.
1) The thing is sometimes, I press Wi-Fi button or Bluetooth, and in the Wifi it says Error and on bluetooth just won't conect. I don't know what the problem is, and the only solution is to reboot the phone. Is this a problem? Can it be fixed? If It can, how? If not, please read point number 2.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try flashing a new kernel, this is NOT a rom issue, just a kernel issue.
I have had my Bionic for a while now and have been thinking about rooting it. I finally got the ICS update but have been using GO Launcher too much to even notice it. Anyway, like I said, I want to root my phone. I am current on all updates. For some reason it's running at a tenth of it's memory tho not much is running that I can see. This leads me to believe there's things running in the background that I can not see. I am reluctant to get rid of all my apps, but I also don't want anything that's eating all my resources either. I kinda want to start new but kinda don't. I guess I just don't like letting go of anything.
I know this is selfish of me, but I am hoping that this thread will stay clean of others chiming in asking about their issues. I just don't want the thread to lose focus since this is about what I hope to get from my phone.
Ok, so here are my questions or favors to ask:
Since my phone is fully updated, do I need to do some other updated steps for rooting my phone or is rooting always the same no matter the build or version?
When I go to root my phone, I back up everything first and then I get it back, right?
I read somewhere that it's possible to brick the phone. What precautions should I take to avoid that?
Can I get all the benefits of a rooted phone without a ROM?
Are ROMs really that awesome that I should get one, or three?
I am interested in a ROM after some posts and pages I read. I was attracted to CM at first but so is everyone else probably at first. Does CM even work on the Bionic? And if it does, does everything work like the camera and Bluetooth?
As I said earlier, I use GO Launcher. One of the things I really like about it is the folders I can make in the App Drawer. Now CM is based off of ADW Launcher, but no options to make folders in the app drawer? Is it possible in any way if I choose CM as my main ROM?
Is CM overrated? Liberty and Eclipse look nice too. I also read a little, very little, about AOKP. Any suggestions? I want to get rid of a lot of extra processes and bloatware but I don't want to lose some of the apps pre-installed like Google Maps and Navigation, etc. Unless there are other, much better replacements that anyone knows of.
I know most of this is personal preference but I am hoping to find a comprehensive way at figuring out what's best for me.
I had more questions but I will wait and ask more as the thread continues.
Oh, I don't really need answers in step by step unless I ask. A simple link would suffice unless it's not covered anywhere.
Thanks for reading this, I hope I am not frustrating anyone as I am sure similar posts have been made.
You're basically asking to have this entire forum summarized into one post...
Spend some time reading, then ask smaller, more concise questions.
Not trying to sound like a ****, but i could spend an hour answering all of that. Half of those questions could be answered with some reading of the ROM specific threads.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2
Ok, I know that SOME of the questions are answered somewhere else. The thing is that after I read one thread only to find it unsolved, I read others that are are 50 pages long going nowhere as well. I haven't seen anything about my phone being fully updated and I am not going any further until I know for sure from someone like a DEV that I can.
Some of these questions are yes/no questions, which wouldn't take long at all to answer, maybe even less time it takes to write a complaint about my post. I certainly don't expect one person to write for an hour on every topic I asked about. I thought it would be a collective effort.
I guess I will take this slowly.
Since my Droid Bionic is updated to the current versions, do I need to do this differently than others have used in the past to root this phone?
Where is the best method to do this?
Before I start, I have to backup everything, right? If so, what's the best way to go about backing up everything?
I read somewhere that there are 3 things you should do to make sure you avoid bricking. I have since lost it. Does anybody know a surefire way to do this.
Please be gentle.
CycoPuppet said:
Ok, I know that SOME of the questions are answered somewhere else. The thing is that after I read one thread only to find it unsolved, I read others that are are 50 pages long going nowhere as well. I haven't seen anything about my phone being fully updated and I am not going any further until I know for sure from someone like a DEV that I can.
Some of these questions are yes/no questions, which wouldn't take long at all to answer, maybe even less time it takes to write a complaint about my post. I certainly don't expect one person to write for an hour on every topic I asked about. I thought it would be a collective effort.
I guess I will take this slowly.
Since my Droid Bionic is updated to the current versions, do I need to do this differently than others have used in the past to root this phone?
Where is the best method to do this?
Before I start, I have to backup everything, right? If so, what's the best way to go about backing up everything?
I read somewhere that there are 3 things you should do to make sure you avoid bricking. I have since lost it. Does anybody know a surefire way to do this.
Please be gentle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st question . No, your phone is not special since it is updated what worked for others will work for you.
2nd follow this link and the instructions to the letter http://www.droidrzr.com/index.php/topic/4026-samurihls-house-of-bionic/
3rd . Since you are stock. I would suggest using Verizon's back up services. TiBu requires root. IMHO I wouldn't bother because Google automatically backs up contacts and most roms require you to do a full data wipe.
There is no magic formula to keep from bricking your phone. Just follow directions and if you can't tolerate the risk don't do it.
From my EVOLVED bionic
Obsidian_soul said:
1st question . No, your phone is not special since it is updated what worked for others will work for you.
2nd follow this link and the instructions to the letter Can not post links
3rd . Since you are stock. I would suggest using Verizon's back up services. TiBu requires root. IMHO I wouldn't bother because Google automatically backs up contacts and most roms require you to do a full data wipe.
There is no magic formula to keep from bricking your phone. Just follow directions and if you can't tolerate the risk don't do it.
From my EVOLVED bionic
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That link no longer works
Also I found an article named "Learn How-To Root, Custom Recovery, Backup, And De-Bloat Your DROID BIONIC" while searching around for ROM ideas and such. Anyway, after reading this, it almost seems as if I don't need to do factory reset. Is this ok?
CycoPuppet said:
That link no longer works
Also I found an article named "Learn How-To Root, Custom Recovery, Backup, And De-Bloat Your DROID BIONIC" while searching around for ROM ideas and such. Anyway, after reading this, it almost seems as if I don't need to do factory reset. Is this ok?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just last week I started with a stock ICS Bionic and followed this guide to root: http://droidbionicroot.com/droid-bionic-root/how-to-root-ics-on-droid-bionic-and-motorola-android/
That went very well. I wanted to try out JB 4.2.2, so I installed SafeStrap and an official CM 10.1 nightly. The net result was that I had a very unstable phone until I did a factory reset . As of this writing, however, it's behaving extremely well. YMMV.
Ratamacue said:
Just last week I started with a stock ICS Bionic and followed this guide to root: Can not post links
That went very well. I wanted to try out JB 4.2.2, so I installed SafeStrap and an official CM 10.1 nightly. The net result was that I had a very unstable phone until I did a factory reset . As of this writing, however, it's behaving extremely well. YMMV.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so you flashed the ROM, didn't work so well, then you did a factory reset. Doesn't a factory reset wipe the phone? If that's the case, doesn't it wipe out the ROM?
Oh one more thing. Following this link, does this wipe the data from my phone? Anything I should back up before doing this? Should I do any updates before flashing CM 10?
CycoPuppet said:
Ok, so you flashed the ROM, didn't work so well, then you did a factory reset. Doesn't a factory reset wipe the phone? If that's the case, doesn't it wipe out the ROM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, a factory data reset doesn't wipe the ROM, but it does require running the initial setup (as if you were setting up a brand new phone).
CycoPuppet said:
...one more thing. Following this link, does this wipe the data from my phone? Anything I should back up before doing this? Should I do any updates before flashing CM 10?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You definitely want to back up everything you're not willing to lose. I ran a backup the very first thing after installing SafeStrap, and it was a good thing because with all my messing around I managed to bork my stock ROM to the point that it wouldn't boot. Fortunately, all I had to do was restore it from a backup.
My phone on CM 10.1 had enough issues with freezing and crashing that I decided this morning to try a different ROM. So far, I've had really good results with Icarus HD (a custom ICS ROM). I really don't know if my experience with CM 10.1 was typical.
OK, so I want to root. Now does rooting wipe any data? Regarding Safestrap, I install that first before rooting?
Rooting doesn't wipe any data. Root first, then install SafeStrap.
Okay, I will be rooting and installing safestrap when I get home for work today. I will still have more questions I am sure. I do have a few before I actually start rooting or right after.
I know safestrap makes a backup/recovory, but is it full recovery only or can I recover portions, like say my Dolphin browser with the settings and bookmarks?
I read that when making a backup of stock ROM, use sdcard, I'm sure that means external but when flashing a ROM, will that wipe data from the external card?
When setting up slots for multi booting ROMs, gernally how much storage do they need?
If I have two different ROMs, does it act like user accounts in Windows, would I have to download the same app on each ROM or do both ROMs have access?
Can one ROM have stuff I don't want the other ROM to have visible?
CycoPuppet said:
I know safestrap makes a backup/recovory, but is it full recovery only or can I recover portions, like say my Dolphin browser with the settings and bookmarks?
I read that when making a backup of stock ROM, use sdcard, I'm sure that means external but when flashing a ROM, will that wipe data from the external card?
When setting up slots for multi booting ROMs, gernally how much storage do they need?
If I have two different ROMs, does it act like user accounts in Windows, would I have to download the same app on each ROM or do both ROMs have access?
Can one ROM have stuff I don't want the other ROM to have visible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. SafeStrap is full recovery only. Use Titanium Backup for backing up apps and data.
2. Flashing a ROM won't do anything to your external SD card.
3. When you set up ROM slots, you'll be asked how much room you'd like to allocate for data. The choices are 1, 2, or 3 GB. I started off allocating 3 GB to the stock ROM slot and was never able to load more than 3 separate ROMs before I ran out of room. I'd start with just using 1 GB for data.
4. Each ROM is an island. You have to download the apps separately (unless when you go through the initial setup you tell the system to restore apps and settings from the Google servers.)
Cool. I rooted and got safestrap but it's version 3.05 and not 3.11. Some ROM I was interested in said must have 3.11, which I am assuming that's the newest one so far. I did watch a tutorial about getting the current version, so no question there.
So the ROMs are separate islands and during flashing they can be in slots allocated up to 3GB. Does that mean that's the only amount of storage I can have when running that ROM? Say I like taking lots of photos and didn't save them to my external card, could I essentially run out of space or is the storage allocation just for the ROM itself and any updates it may have?
Sorry about these series of questions, just want to make sure I am doing it correctly in case I might make a mistake for future's sake.
The storage allocation is for the ROM, apps, and data that haven't been assigned to the external SD card. You can definitely run out of space if you load several ROMs and don't save any of your data to the external SD card.
Also, keep in mind that when VZW sends the OTA update to 4.1 next week, the only way to keep root is to root in ICS and use Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper to protect root before you take the OTA. If you flash the system image, you will lose root, and there is no known working root exploit for the Bionic JB release.
Lost Root
Hey, I used Voodoo before flashing the 4.1 update, but forgot to update the binary beforehand, and therefore lost root. Anyone have any luck yet with an exploit for the OTA?
And there's no working FXZ before this now, correct? This software is now the earliest version I can FXZ to?
auglove3rd said:
Hey, I used Voodoo before flashing the 4.1 update, but forgot to update the binary beforehand, and therefore lost root. Anyone have any luck yet with an exploit for the OTA?
And there's no working FXZ before this now, correct? This software is now the earliest version I can FXZ to?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not root exploit yet for bionic JB. And if you try to FXZ back to an earlier version, you will brick your phone.
OK, so I rooted, got safestrap tho still not updated to 3.11, got TBU (free), got Voodoo. I had to race the clock today cuz it was updating android, or at least downloading the update. The root process I used gave me SuperSU and didn't tell me the version for the SU binaries. I searched around and all I could find was info on SuperUser in regards to backing up root. I uninstalled SuperSU, kinda. I just told it to use a different SU cuz when I used SuperUser and updated the binaries, SuperSU wanted to update them, then I opened SuperUser and the binaries reverted back. I was worried so I just told SuperSU to use a different SU. Was that ok? I didn't update to JB yet. Has there been luck with the Bionic using voodoo and keeping root after the JB update?
All this back and forth means I'm making a full image backup, then trying various ROMs. I've tried CM10.1, too many issues (no car dock, trouble installing lots of apps, no speakerphone). Next is... Whizzed Bean?
EDIT: Seems Speakerphone issue was fixed in the 0420 nightly. Will have to try it again.
AND I copied all the backups to my PC, so I can restore them at will (provided the phone still boots, that is... )
If I can't find a JB ROM I like I guess I can do HouseofBionic reflash (which did NOT cause me to lose data, as I upgraded to ICS that way) then allow the JB OTA to go through.
*sigh*... So much bull**** in these updates.
Hope someone sees my question above. I still haven't updated to JB yet. Once I do I will be flashing ROMs. I am interested in CM, Liquid Smooth, Icarus Hd and Wizzed Bean or Synergy (executioner ) Both WB and Synergy look indentical. What is the differences.
CycoPuppet said:
Hope someone sees my question above. I still haven't updated to JB yet. Once I do I will be flashing ROMs. I am interested in CM, Liquid Smooth, Icarus Hd and Wizzed Bean or Synergy (executioner ) Both WB and Synergy look indentical. What is the differences.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WB is a fork of CNA (codename Android) 4.1 JB (which is itself based on AOSP)
while Synergy is a fork of the standard Moto ICS (.246).
Yes, they look identical because they both used the Samsung UI elements.