[Q] Rooting Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G SGH-T679 - Samsung Galaxy Exhibit 4G

Most posts on this are two years old and links no longer work to files needed...
I have never rooted my SGH-T679 but now I keep getting notices that the phone memory is low. I would like to root without touching the rom on the phone so that I can finally dump the bloatware. I have read the XDA thread on rooting this phone and the links to root-stock.zip - 1.62 MB no longer work - come up file deleted or missing. Also second file required - ClockworkMod (? - not sure the name) also comes up as not found.
Yes, it is an old phone (actually only three years old) and I can't afford a another one right now. If I can still root this phone I can get more years out of it. And I like the Gingerbread rom it has.
Also - will the rooting process wipe out all currently downloaded and installed apps? I'd like to avoid that too if possible.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!

Rooting wipes nothing. Links work fine for me. Perhaps dev-host was down at the time.
http://d-h.st/s9X root
http://d-h.st/O36 cwm
Are you talking about storage space? Removing bloat will not help as that only frees up system space which most apps won't use. If you mean actual memory rooting alone won't help and removing bloat won't help at all. These phones have very little memory and the only thing that will really help is a kit kat ROM as they have been optimized for phones with 512mb memory. Tweaks are mainly a placebo as @ArtfulDodger found out for us through extensive testing.
Sent from my SGH-T679 using xda app-developers app

Dvarl said:
Rooting wipes nothing. Links work fine for me. Perhaps dev-host was down at the time.
http://d-h.st/s9X root
http://d-h.st/O36 cwm
Are you talking about storage space? Removing bloat will not help as that only frees up system space which most apps won't use. If you mean actual memory rooting alone won't help and removing bloat won't help at all. These phones have very little memory and the only thing that will really help is a kit kat ROM as they have been optimized for phones with 512mb memory. Tweaks are mainly a placebo as @ArtfulDodger found out for us through extensive testing.
Sent from my SGH-T679 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried both of those links before I posted this. All download buttons on those pages led to spam ads. Seems every comment on those pages is how do I download - and then a mysterious thanks as if the answer was revealed and then deleted. At one point I got a link on that page to go to a page that said no file found - missing or deleted. Just tried again and found one download button that actually worked.
The system memory on my Exhibit 4G is just about full and there is 1.07 GB of system memory. The internal USB/SD memory is almost empty as is my external SD card. What I need to do is free up internal memory - and deleting apps that will not install to Internal USB/SD memory that I don't use has freed up a small amount of that system memory. But there are some apps that will not install to internal SD and insist on sitting in system memory. And then there are the screen after screen of apps that Samsung shoved on this phone that keep updating constantly and 80% of those apps I have never used. So researching this the recommendation always seems to be root and dump the bloatware - and have the ability to swap External SD for Internal SD. So I am looking to root. I have found Clockworkmod on some other site and just got the stock-rom.zip.
Thanks for responding - hopefully if I do this it I won't get notices to delete apps or the phone will cease this function and that function.
So after I root every app on the phone that I installed will still be there and the only difference is the phone will be rooted. Just asking because one video showed an empty phone other than stock apps after rooting.

Ok, then what you are more looking for may be swap sd since your on stock. It may be a hastle shifting things around. In the long run a lot of people chose to use this feature to have quite a few apps. I never personally used the feature as I never load many apps on my phone. So you would do the following.
1. Flash rootstock.zip
2. Flash cwm.zip
3. MAKE A BACKUP!!! (sorry but I need to stress this point as it will save you tons of headaches)
4. Install/flash swapsd you'll have to search for it as its buried in the thread
5. Shift non system apps/data to your memory card (new internal)
6. Enjoy
Hope the info helps.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using xda app-developers app

Dvarl said:
Ok, then what you are more looking for may be swap sd since your on stock. It may be a hastle shifting things around. In the long run a lot of people chose to use this feature to have quite a few apps. I never personally used the feature as I never load many apps on my phone. So you would do the following.
1. Flash rootstock.zip
2. Flash cwm.zip
3. MAKE A BACKUP!!! (sorry but I need to stress this point as it will save you tons of headaches)
4. Install/flash swapsd you'll have to search for it as its buried in the thread
5. Shift non system apps/data to your memory card (new internal)
6. Enjoy
Hope the info helps.
Sent from my GT-P3113 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do i "flash root"? sorry im new =)

Instructions are in first post of this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1686384
Sent from my GT-P3113 using xda app-developers app

1776 said:
So after I root every app on the phone that I installed will still be there and the only difference is the phone will be rooted. Just asking because one video showed an empty phone other than stock apps after rooting.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rooting alone will not touch any of your data. It just gives you full permissions to your phone.
however, I HIGHLY recommend you put a custom ROM on this phone. If you really want to get the most out of this phone, it is THE BEST way to go. I've owned this phone since it was first out and had so many problems with it on the stock ROM. I was seriously considering spending a lot of $$ on a new phone. Once I put a new ROM on it, its like a brand new phone. Everything is so much smoother. Just put your data on an SD card. If you sync your contacts with Google they will all sync back up to your phone. All your apps will be re-downloaded. Its a bit of a pain to set them all up again but soooo worth it.
After you make a backup, give it a shot. If you really don't like it then you could go back to the backup... but I doubt that would happen after you see just how well the phone runs.

kfs325 said:
rooting alone will not touch any of your data. It just gives you full permissions to your phone.
however, I HIGHLY recommend you put a custom ROM on this phone. If you really want to get the most out of this phone, it is THE BEST way to go. I've owned this phone since it was first out and had so many problems with it on the stock ROM. I was seriously considering spending a lot of $$ on a new phone. Once I put a new ROM on it, its like a brand new phone. Everything is so much smoother. Just put your data on an SD card. If you sync your contacts with Google they will all sync back up to your phone. All your apps will be re-downloaded. Its a bit of a pain to set them all up again but soooo worth it.
After you make a backup, give it a shot. If you really don't like it then you could go back to the backup... but I doubt that would happen after you see just how well the phone runs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What ROM did you end up using?

Raschal said:
What ROM did you end up using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The most stable one I used was this CM 10, Fairly good performace and was rock solid stable for me.
I am currently using slimkat 4.4 though. It does have some small hiccups but nothing that makes me want to go back to CM 10

wadswerth said:
The most stable one I used was this CM 10, Fairly good performace and was rock solid stable for me.
I am currently using slimkat 4.4 though. It does have some small hiccups but nothing that makes me want to go back to CM 10
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info. I have used Peach Sunrise for sometime. It is very stable.

Towel root?
1776 said:
Most posts on this are two years old and links no longer work to files needed...
I have never rooted my SGH-T679 but now I keep getting notices that the phone memory is low. I would like to root without touching the rom on the phone so that I can finally dump the bloatware. I have read the XDA thread on rooting this phone and the links to root-stock.zip - 1.62 MB no longer work - come up file deleted or missing. Also second file required - ClockworkMod (? - not sure the name) also comes up as not found.
Yes, it is an old phone (actually only three years old) and I can't afford a another one right now. If I can still root this phone I can get more years out of it. And I like the Gingerbread rom it has.
Also - will the rooting process wipe out all currently downloaded and installed apps? I'd like to avoid that too if possible.
Any help is appreciated. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you ever heard of towelroot? there is a website called towelroot.com, and i am not sure whether it still works, but you should try anyway. You click the lambda and it will download an app. You then install it and click the make it rain button, and you should be root. After that, download Supersu, and root checker. You should then be able to clear bloatware with a root browser.

Related

[Q] Just rooted my phone! adivce? cool apps?

Ok, first off i'll say i don't have much android knowledge. I did successfully root it following a video. I now have one click lag fix installed. Now, someone please answer these for me
1. Now that its already rooted successfully, is bricking still possible? or is that only something that happens during trying to root.
2. What is a good way to backup everything on my phone? and where do i find it?
3. What are cool apps or widgets to have that can only be used on a rooted phone?
4. Lastly, will someone point me in the direction of a manual or instructions on how to install custom roms and how to get froyo.
Thanks!!
i'd like to know that too...
C-4Nati said:
Ok, first off i'll say i don't have much android knowledge. I did successfully root it following a video. I now have one click lag fix installed. Now, someone please answer these for me
1. Now that its already rooted successfully, is bricking still possible? or is that only something that happens during trying to root.
2. What is a good way to backup everything on my phone? and where do i find it?
3. What are cool apps or widgets to have that can only be used on a rooted phone?
4. Lastly, will someone point me in the direction of a manual or instructions on how to install custom roms and how to get froyo.
Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No
2. Titanium Backup from the market
3. I don't know but I don't care much for widgets.
4. Check sticky posts here and the dev board of galaxy s
try SetCPU for conserving/overclocking your device,
Titanium Backup is godsend! well worth the price
Try rom manager from the market, it will assist in making a more comprohensive backup
Most custom roms should have a good install guide with them and aslong as you read it first, download everything first, and not get scared off by the reference to all the diferent csc files its qctually fairly easy. In the event that it does go wrong it probably was a user error but easily fixed by going over the steps again (i myself only just flashed my first android last weekend, and the improvement is worth the time and small hassle of learning to do it your self).
Some good apps are ShootMe (screenshot app), rescan media root (controls the media scanner function), cache cleaner, and there are some wifi transfer app that need root to work (still fairly new/beta/buggy). Not root but the xda forum app aswell
Hope that helps a bit
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA App
oh and autokiller to alter the minfree setting. makes the phone fly!
Root file manager
C-4Nati said:
3. What are cool apps or widgets to have that can only be used on a rooted phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am looking for a good root file manager - one that allows me to see whole device. Anyone know of a good one?
reydoog said:
I am looking for a good root file manager - one that allows me to see whole device. Anyone know of a good one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root Explorer is the best file manager i've come across, works great and well worth the price.
Best apps (I know these dont all require root) I've come across are
"App 2 SD" - This moves your installed apps (that are compatible) to your external memory card to save phone memory
"Titanium backup" (root) - As mentioned above, its a great backup tool for your apps and settings
"CacheMate" (root) - clears your apps cache, helps speed things up
"MixGet" - increase headphone volume, very useful if you find output it quiet, be careful not to deafen yourself
"PhoneMyPC" - Connect via wifi to your computer and control, useful if you want to be lazy and sit back to move the mouse
Best thing to do is goto market and search "root", that will return the majority of them
"Handcent SMS" - Very customisable sms app, much better than stock samsung one
Good games:
Angry Birds - This is free but includes ad's (turn off internet on phone so they dont display)
Talking Tom cat - repeats everything you say in a funny voice
Need for speed Shift - Excellent graphics, really good racing game
Asphalt 5 - (can get this free from samsung apps)
Widgets I use:
Accuweather - self explanatory, great for the days weather, includes a clock (find this on samsung apps on F.W JPM) available in market
Facebook - Facebook Status updates
If I think of any others I'll let you know

Help: Firefox for android stuck in memory

Tried firefox for android beta2 today and it freezed my phone, so I uninstall it only to realise that it locked 13MB of my internal memory permanently probably due to bad uninstall. Tried to reinstall it so that I can uninstall it again but it didn't allow me to install again saying that I don't have enough memory (though i still have ~45 MB free internal memory).
Anyone knows where does firefox install to? I couldn't find it in any of the app directory (not in data\app or system\app, nothing in dalvik cache and data\data as well). having 14MB memory locked is really a paint considering how small our milestone memory is.
Please help.
Thanks
en0203 said:
Tried firefox for android beta2 today and it freezed my phone, so I uninstall it only to realise that it locked 13MB of my internal memory permanently probably due to bad uninstall. Tried to reinstall it so that I can uninstall it again but it didn't allow me to install again saying that I don't have enough memory (though i still have ~45 MB free internal memory).
Anyone knows where does firefox install to? I couldn't find it in any of the app directory (not in data\app or system\app, nothing in dalvik cache and data\data as well). having 14MB memory locked is really a paint considering how small our milestone memory is.
Please help.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bump. please can someone help. thanks
en0203 said:
bump. please can someone help. thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.Do you have a recent nandroid backup? that would be a simple fix?
2. What rom and kernel are you using?
3. Is your phone rooted? Probably yes...All the apps go to /system/app, unless you have apps2sd installed
4. If it's not there and it's not in "manage applications" then probably it's a an error of your rom showing erroneous available space.
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
1) I am using XT720, we don't have nandroid backup tools yet
2) Stock EU rom and kernel for XT720
3) yes, rooted. I am sure it's not in /system/app (mine has got apps2sd)
4) I guess I'll probably need to reflash the rom to get rid of it then. a bit troublesome but no choice I guess.
Something about the firefox is that if you install it you'll find that the space taken up by the firefox is much bigger than the .apk+dalvik cache+data in the normal app installation path. some portion gets installed into somewhere else which nobody knows where. My friend with a Nexus one try to move it to sd but it simply won't move the whole thing because part of it does not install to the /app.
Anyway, thanks for the help. I'll wait another day or two before I flash it to stock again.
Many thanks
en0203 said:
Hi,
Thanks for your reply.
1) I am using XT720, we don't have nandroid backup tools yet
2) Stock EU rom and kernel for XT720
3) yes, rooted. I am sure it's not in /system/app (mine has got apps2sd)
4) I guess I'll probably need to reflash the rom to get rid of it then. a bit troublesome but no choice I guess.
Something about the firefox is that if you install it you'll find that the space taken up by the firefox is much bigger than the .apk+dalvik cache+data in the normal app installation path. some portion gets installed into somewhere else which nobody knows where. My friend with a Nexus one try to move it to sd but it simply won't move the whole thing because part of it does not install to the /app.
Anyway, thanks for the help. I'll wait another day or two before I flash it to stock again.
Many thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you go into recovery? ADB commands actually work as root there.
You also said you have app2sd - I'm guessing the ext version. You can browse around the ext partition if you have something that can read it (like Ubuntu) and delete it from the card as well.
- Look into your /cache partition and delete every download*.apk
- Look into /data/app and look if there is still an apk left
- Look into /data/data and see if a Firefox-folder is located there - delete it!
You can do all this with RootExplorer
Then you should be fixed
Milestone isn't supported. I think I read it somewhere on the mozilla site. There's some known issue logged somewhere
Sent from my Milestone using XDA App
Check if there is any "*.tmp" files under /data/app ?
I was locked some memory due to unsuccessful install of "Pocket Legends", and found out that the apks were stored in both "/cache/downloadfile.apk" and "/data/app/vmxyzxyz.tmp".

[Q] Rooting just won't work

So I have the GT-S5830, and I have some pitiful 8MB of internal storage left. To fix this it appears I have to root the phone (to get all the junk pre-installs out of there); however every way I'v tried has resulted in the installation itself being successful, but still not root access. I'v tried several methods including the main guide in the development section of the forum.
It's an Australian phone, locked with Optus, Android version 2.3.6
Baseband V. - S5830XWKT3
Build Num. - GINGERBREAD.XWKT7
Would anyone know what I could be doing wrong; or even better write an idiot-proof guide which should work?
Thank you in advance
Not quite sure here but in order to root you need to have more than 8mb of storage as rooting installs Busybox,SuperUser etc. You need more storage mate. Try deleting some stuff you don't need or use and try again.
Edit: I heard somewhere that in order to install an app you need to have TWICE the amount of storage as the app takes up. E.g. App is 10mb then you need 20mb free. Never had low storage so I'm not sure how true this is.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2
HTCTerrorist said:
Not quite sure here but in order to root you need to have more than 8mb of storage as rooting installs Busybox,SuperUser etc. You need more storage mate. Try deleting some stuff you don't need or use and try again.
Edit: I heard somewhere that in order to install an app you need to have TWICE the amount of storage as the app takes up. E.g. App is 10mb then you need 20mb free. Never had low storage so I'm not sure how true this is.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks mate. Superuser and the testing app usually install fine (well their icon is there and they run fine), it's just that they don't do anything because I still don't have root access.
However I will do it again with more space (I don't know what i'll delete, pretty much everything is pre-installed bloat) and if that works I'll let you know.
chloefreak17 said:
Thanks mate. Superuser and the testing app usually install fine (well their icon is there and they run fine), it's just that they don't do anything because I still don't have root access.
However I will do it again with more space (I don't know what i'll delete, pretty much everything is pre-installed bloat) and if that works I'll let you know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't work unfortunately. Any other ideas? My phone keeps saying my "message memory" is full.
chloefreak17 said:
Didn't work unfortunately. Any other ideas? My phone keeps saying my "message memory" is full.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok try this one. do a factory reset n then root ur sga via CWM recovery. Doing factory reset will give a fresh memory. hit thanx if helpd.
chloefreak17 said:
Didn't work unfortunately. Any other ideas? My phone keeps saying my "message memory" is full.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try to use a CWM delete script
Have a look at this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2346116

Virgin Mobile Help

I have one of the Virgin Mobile models that has the smaller memory. I have been looking through these forums looking for a way to clear up the memory. It looks like there is simply not enough progress on this phone currently. What I would really like is a basic ROM replacement that does not have any of the HTC crap in it to make it leaner and use less space. Am I right that I need to wait for future developments? I just want to make sure I am not missing something. Is there any way to free up more space right now with existing hacks? I see lots of different posts in here, and when I think I am on to something, I read that it does not work on the Virgin Mobile phones, so I am getting confused. I was hoping somebody who knows my phone really well could hold my hand and tell me exactly what I can do to get some more free space. I am familiar with a lot of the tools, and have rooted and installed recovery on my Kindle Fire, and on my Ouya. I have rooted an old LG phone, but that was cake compared to what I am reading for this phone! Thank you!
Probably the best you can do for now would be to flash a write protection removed kernel, remove as much uneccessary HTC and carrier bloat as possible, and then use an app from the Play Store called System App Manager to turn most of the apps you install into system apps, thereby using unused space on /system instead of your internal storage. My advice is to make a TWRP backup before converting any apps, because some apps will not act right after being moved to /system, so just do a process of elimination/trial & error until you figure out which apps can be moved without causing problems. When you figure out which apps act up, restore your backup and re-do the process without converting the unruly apps.
You also might want to flash Raptor Rom, as it's probably the smallest rom available, leaving tbe most empty space for those apps you move. Someday we'll get a rom/kernel that will allow the moving of apps & thier data to an sd partition, till then this is probly your best bet.
sent from a device
huggs said:
Probably the best you can do for now would be to flash a write protection removed kernel....You also might want to flash Raptor Rom, as it's probably the smallest rom available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great! Can anybody point me in the right direction for some good/updated directions on performing each of these? Thank you!
jrburke99 said:
Great! Can anybody point me in the right direction for some good/updated directions on performing each of these? Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, if you haven't done so already: Follow this
Then go grab the download from whatever kernel you want to use thread or grab RaptorROM here. RaptorROM already includes a version of @Pattyboi's kernel, but you can always flash the newer kernel (which he put up last night?) on top.
Drop whatever files you plan on flashing onto the phone, or the sdcard. Reboot into TWRP (volume down and power button when phone's off then select Recovery), tap install, find the .zip or .img to flash, tap, then Swipe to Install/Flash

[Q] Some questions before I purchase a Desire 510

Hello, all! Just joined up to post a few questions. Every Android phone I have owned has been rooted and a custom ROM installed, so I am no stranger to all this. I'm finally getting around to replacing my ancient Motorola Triumph (Virgin Mobile USA) and for cost reasons I am seriously considering the Desire 510. I'd love to get the Desire 816 but that's out of my current price range Anyway, I have been reading the posts here and over at Android Forums dot com and I am confident that I will have no problems with the 510 should that be the phone I end up purchasing. But I've got several questions before I make a final decision.
1. Can anyone tell me (or how can I find out) if the 510 from Virgin Mobile USA is the 32-bit or 64-bit phone? I wasn't able to find much information except something online (unrelated to Virgin Mobile) that says the U.S. version is 32-bit while all other countries get the 64-bit. Since that information is now several months old can anyone confirm that it still holds true, or is there a possibility that 64-bit devices are now available in the U.S.?
2. If the Virgin Mobile USA version is indeed 32-bit, is there anywhere I can get a 32-bit ClockworkMod recovery? I see a post here for a 64-bit CWM but couldn't find mention of 32-bit anywhere. Nothing against TWRP, just that I have been using CWM since Day 1 of rooting and that's what I'm comfortable with. Also, before flashing a new recovery, how do I go about making a backup of the stock recovery.img? I imagine there's a way to rename it (i.e. recovery-stock.img) or copy it to my PC for safekeeping, but I'm not very familiar with Android SDK. (My current phone does not need SDK for anything. Simply plug in, copy new recovery where it needs to be, and reboot.)
3. What, exactly, is the write protection that I have seen mentioned all over the place? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it *SOUNDS* like rooting and/or installing a custom recovery and/or installing a custom ROM essentially cuts off SD card access until a "fix" is applied. So if anyone can offer a simple explanation or a link to some information, that would be fantastic.
4. Taking #4 into mind, what do I need to consider in choosing a kernel? If it matters, I have been looking mainly at CurbThePain's RevMod, but also LarryBoyG's RaptorRom GPE v2 and shinru2004's Unofficial CM11.
I know that's a lot of questions all in one place but I figured I'd start somewhere. Any and all answers are appreciated, and any questions for me will be answered in as timely a manner as I can. Thanks in advance for any info you guys are able to provide me.
EDIT:
5. Supposedly this phone has 8GB of internal memory but all the screenshots I see say it has 4GB, and most of that is taken up by the operating system. I was just reading the reviews on virginmobileusa.com and almost every single one of them is negative, focusing on the fact that nobody can download more than a few apps before the phone runs out of memory. What's the official internal storage for OS and apps, 4GB or 8GB, and how does the memory look after a custom ROM is installed?
Some answers before you purchase
GKNByNW said:
Hello, all! Just joined up to post a few questions. Every Android phone I have owned has been rooted and a custom ROM installed, so I am no stranger to all this. I'm finally getting around to replacing my ancient Motorola Triumph (Virgin Mobile USA) and for cost reasons I am seriously considering the Desire 510. I'd love to get the Desire 816 but that's out of my current price range Anyway, I have been reading the posts here and over at Android Forums dot com and I am confident that I will have no problems with the 510 should that be the phone I end up purchasing. But I've got several questions before I make a final decision.
1. Can anyone tell me (or how can I find out) if the 510 from Virgin Mobile USA is the 32-bit or 64-bit phone? I wasn't able to find much information except something online (unrelated to Virgin Mobile) that says the U.S. version is 32-bit while all other countries get the 64-bit. Since that information is now several months old can anyone confirm that it still holds true, or is there a possibility that 64-bit devices are now available in the U.S.?
2. If the Virgin Mobile USA version is indeed 32-bit, is there anywhere I can get a 32-bit ClockworkMod recovery? I see a post here for a 64-bit CWM but couldn't find mention of 32-bit anywhere. Nothing against TWRP, just that I have been using CWM since Day 1 of rooting and that's what I'm comfortable with. Also, before flashing a new recovery, how do I go about making a backup of the stock recovery.img? I imagine there's a way to rename it (i.e. recovery-stock.img) or copy it to my PC for safekeeping, but I'm not very familiar with Android SDK. (My current phone does not need SDK for anything. Simply plug in, copy new recovery where it needs to be, and reboot.)
3. What, exactly, is the write protection that I have seen mentioned all over the place? Correct me if I'm wrong, but it *SOUNDS* like rooting and/or installing a custom recovery and/or installing a custom ROM essentially cuts off SD card access until a "fix" is applied. So if anyone can offer a simple explanation or a link to some information, that would be fantastic.
4. Taking #4 into mind, what do I need to consider in choosing a kernel? If it matters, I have been looking mainly at CurbThePain's RevMod, but also LarryBoyG's RaptorRom GPE v2 and shinru2004's Unofficial CM11.
I know that's a lot of questions all in one place but I figured I'd start somewhere. Any and all answers are appreciated, and any questions for me will be answered in as timely a manner as I can. Thanks in advance for any info you guys are able to provide me.
EDIT:
5. Supposedly this phone has 8GB of internal memory but all the screenshots I see say it has 4GB, and most of that is taken up by the operating system. I was just reading the reviews on virginmobileusa.com and almost every single one of them is negative, focusing on the fact that nobody can download more than a few apps before the phone runs out of memory. What's the official internal storage for OS and apps, 4GB or 8GB, and how does the memory look after a custom ROM is installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello GKNByNW,
1. Only one person on here said they have a 64-bit model that they bought in the U.S. from Cricket. You can probably ask the salesperson when you purchase it, but I think it's highly likely that the device you are going to buy will be 32-bit.
2. I don't know of a CWM for the 32-bit model. I was the same way. CWM was the only recovery I was used to. The first time I used TWRP was with this phone. I think you should try TWRP. I like it a lot. I have never used CWM Touch, but I'm sure TWRP may be like that. It is very user friendly. I don't know how you would go about making a backup of your stock recovery, but you should be able to use this one. It works great for my Boost phone. You may need to get familiar with adb and fastboot if you are not already. I don't know if we can just copy the recovery to where it needs to be, but most of us have been fastboot flashing it.
3. Write protection was included with Android KitKat. It has nothing to do with modding the phone. Google restricted some access to the sdcard, I believe for security reasons. When you flash a write-protect removed kernel, you can delete system apps, make changes to build.prop and make other changes. If you do not have a write-protect removed kernel, you can delete system apps, but when you restart the phone, they will return. You can also make changes to build.prop but when you restart they will not stick. I'm not sure of all of the things that will not stick if you have the stock kernel but those are a couple. Here is some more information: http://www.androidcentral.com/kitkat-sdcard-changes and https://source.android.com/devices/storage/index.html.
4. There are currently 2 kernels that most people use: Modded Desire 510 Kernel v2.6.1, which is tuned more for stability and Rhinstone-kernel, which is tuned more for performance. I haven't tried RevKernel and it hasn't been updated in a while, but you can check it out. Definitely check out the ROMs we have available and read through some threads to see which you like best.
5. The phone has 8GB internal, but we can only use ~1GB in the /data partition. I guess ~5GB is used for Android and Sense, since ~2GB is used for the /system partition. Check out this Storage Truth: https://goo.gl/photos/tCD1P26QTXM7my2r7
It's kind of weird, but this is the Storage Truth from my wife's phone, which has never been modded, and she has Cricket:
https://goo.gl/photos/uijoVA8Bk8tCtwe3A
She can still only use ~1GB, but I wonder why it shows ~4GB for the /data partition and only ~1GB for me.
After app updates and after you download a couple of apps the storage gets full, quick. The custom ROMS free up a lot of space. On a Jelly Bean based phone I had, without the sdcard restriction, I was able to integrate pretty much all of my apps on /system and have tons of room left over in /data. So I had so much space for apps and that phone didn't have as much "space" as this one has. On this one we're not so lucky. If you integrate the Google Play Store, Google Play Services, and the Gallery you will get force closes. There are more apps that will cause force closes if you integrate and delete them, but those are the main ones. You can delete the lockscreen with no issues, if you prefer the AOSP one. You can use Aparted and Link2SD to free up space. This method will allow you to download apps to your heart's content. Check out this thread to find out how to do that.
honestly,id skip the 510 and go for the 816 any day of the week. even if its more expensive,if i would have checked this thing out before i bought it after breaking my moto g,i would have bought a new moto (cricket dosent carry the 816)
blaqueknight said:
Hello GKNByNW,
1. Only one person on here said they have a 64-bit model that they bought in the U.S. from Cricket. You can probably ask the salesperson when you purchase it, but I think it's highly likely that the device you are going to buy will be 32-bit.
2. I don't know of a CWM for the 32-bit model. I was the same way. CWM was the only recovery I was used to. The first time I used TWRP was with this phone. I think you should try TWRP. I like it a lot. I have never used CWM Touch, but I'm sure TWRP may be like that. It is very user friendly. I don't know how you would go about making a backup of your stock recovery, but you should be able to use this one. It works great for my Boost phone. You may need to get familiar with adb and fastboot if you are not already. I don't know if we can just copy the recovery to where it needs to be, but most of us have been fastboot flashing it.
3. Write protection was included with Android KitKat. It has nothing to do with modding the phone. Google restricted some access to the sdcard, I believe for security reasons. When you flash a write-protect removed kernel, you can delete system apps, make changes to build.prop and make other changes. If you do not have a write-protect removed kernel, you can delete system apps, but when you restart the phone, they will return. You can also make changes to build.prop but when you restart they will not stick. I'm not sure of all of the things that will not stick if you have the stock kernel but those are a couple. Here is some more information: http://www.androidcentral.com/kitkat-sdcard-changes and https://source.android.com/devices/storage/index.html.
4. There are currently 2 kernels that most people use: Modded Desire 510 Kernel v2.6.1, which is tuned more for stability and Rhinstone-kernel, which is tuned more for performance. I haven't tried RevKernel and it hasn't been updated in a while, but you can check it out. Definitely check out the ROMs we have available and read through some threads to see which you like best.
5. The phone has 8GB internal, but we can only use ~1GB in the /data partition. I guess ~5GB is used for Android and Sense, since ~2GB is used for the /system partition. Check out this Storage Truth: https://goo.gl/photos/tCD1P26QTXM7my2r7
It's kind of weird, but this is the Storage Truth from my wife's phone, which has never been modded, and she has Cricket:
https://goo.gl/photos/uijoVA8Bk8tCtwe3A
She can still only use ~1GB, but I wonder why it shows ~4GB for the /data partition and only ~1GB for me.
After app updates and after you download a couple of apps the storage gets full, quick. The custom ROMS free up a lot of space. On a Jelly Bean based phone I had, without the sdcard restriction, I was able to integrate pretty much all of my apps on /system and have tons of room left over in /data. So I had so much space for apps and that phone didn't have as much "space" as this one has. On this one we're not so lucky. If you integrate the Google Play Store, Google Play Services, and the Gallery you will get force closes. There are more apps that will cause force closes if you integrate and delete them, but those are the main ones. You can delete the lockscreen with no issues, if you prefer the AOSP one. You can use Aparted and Link2SD to free up space. This method will allow you to download apps to your heart's content. Check out this thread to find out how to do that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
pattyboi:) said:
honestly,id skip the 510 and go for the 816 any day of the week. even if its more expensive,if i would have checked this thing out before i bought it after breaking my moto g,i would have bought a new moto (cricket dosent carry the 816)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies, guys. I'm sorry for taking so long to get back and respond. Anyway... Yes, pattyboi, I am in total agreement. After reading reviews on Virgin Mobile USA's website and Amazon, I am definitely NOT going for this phone. Virgin no longer carries the 816 though it is still available new through retailers on Amazon, but the $180 price tag is a bit more than I want to spend on a phone right now. The other phone I had considered was the Samsung Galaxy Core Prime but it looks like that is only available for their Data Done Right plans, unless I am misunderstanding something. I don't really get what the whole Data Done Right thing is. It looks to be cheaper than my current plan ($45/mo. for unlimited talk/talk/1GB data) but I think Data Done Right is only for multiple lines. Also, I looked up the Galaxy Core Prime a couple weeks ago and it doesn't look like there's much information yet in regards to rooting and custom ROMs for that particular phone, so I might want to wait a while.

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