Develop Bugs

[Q] Newbie: What is the best practice for quickly experimenting with new roms?

I have been trying to read through all the threads and want to confirm if I understand the best approach for playing with different Roms (after my system is rooted).
Is the best approach to:
1) On my stock Rom, get the system into a stable state with all my apps, settings, etc.
2) Install Titanium Backup and Rom Manager
3) Run Titanium backup and backup "All user-apps and system data"
- q: Is this the correct "batch" to run?
4) Run Nandroid and backup the entire ROM so I have a stable environment to return too if necessary.
--- Now I am good for new ROMs! --
5) Run Rom Manager and install a new ROM (is this the best approach? Does this automatically do a system swipe?)
-- On first run of the new ROM --
6) Install Titanium backup
7) Restore "all user-apps and system data"
- q: Is this the correct "batch". What will not be restored with this approach? (I assume I will have to re-setup all the widgets/screens but will my apps be reestablished as expected?). Is there any potential conflicts with system data/ apps being restored from ROM to ROM?
8) Clean-up widgets/screens (assuming that does not happen with titanium backup)
9) Run Nandroid to backup if I like the set-up and may want to return to it.
Any steps I am missing? Any issues I should be aware of?
Thanks!

One more question.
My phone is unrevoked forever!
To install the latest radio (needed by many ROMs), before step 5 (install new ROM), do I need to unroot the phone or can I just install the radio zip file? (last time I tried the zip file, it claim to have loaded after a bunch of reboots but my radio was not updated)

everything seems to be right, well, according to me, because everything that you just posted, i do too. and as for the radio, there are ways to install the radio with and without root, just depending on your phone.

make sure that when you do the batch restore in ti backup (after the fresh rom is intalled) that you have the paid version. because otherwise you gotta do each app manually and it is very time consuming. also, i have heard that it is best to redo system data and not carry it over, but i think its easier to just batch restore all missing apps +system data. i didnt have any problems with it

Thanks!
Another question:
Does unrevoked forever! mean my phone is permanantly rooted? For example, if I accept Verizon's OTA update to Froyo, am I still rooted (can I add wireless tether) or does unrevoked forever! just enable the ability to overwrite ROM's (aka if I get the OTA update to Froyo, it is locked down but I could still choose to load a different ROM)?
Basically, my real desire to root was for wireless tether and froyo (fine with sense so I don't need to go crazy with a vanilla install). If the officital OTA release will be the easiest solution, I can easily wait a week. If that won't work, I will probably install Sky Raider w/ sense.
Thanks.

its kinda hard to explain, so just head to unrevoked[dot]com/forever

I read it and the q&a is open to interpretation since I also read that OTA Froyo may be unrootable.
Basically, I am trying to get a yes/no for the following:
Even if the OTA Froyo is not rootable, does having Unrevoked Forever! installed allow me via the steps listed on the forever page (under "Reinstalling an official recovery") make the OTA Froyo rooted?
Also, assuming that does root OTA Froy, those steps say to find the superuser access update.zip. Where is the appropriate thread/download link for that file?
Thanks

siteexperts said:
Also, assuming that does root OTA Froy, those steps say to find the superuser access update.zip. Where is the appropriate thread/download link for that file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
post 5 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=754094

[Q] Unroot a custom rom?

Hey All,
For Work I need to install the app Good for Enterprise so I can get my calendar and work email pushed to my phone. Unfortunately it is company policy that it be unrooted. Presumeably a security issue. Is it possible to unroot a custom rom? i'd rather not go back to stock for the simple reason of app storage. I love A2SD+ and being able to have as many apps as I want installed. Also nandroid backups, that would go away without root too wouldn;t it? Can I just remove the SU.apk? Will that suffice to be "unrooted"? Is that even possible?

Tweak_four17 said:
Hey All,
For Work I need to install the app Good for Enterprise so I can get my calendar and work email pushed to my phone. Unfortunately it is company policy that it be unrooted. Presumeably a security issue. Is it possible to unroot a custom rom? i'd rather not go back to stock for the simple reason of app storage. I love A2SD+ and being able to have as many apps as I want installed. Also nandroid backups, that would go away without root too wouldn;t it? Can I just remove the SU.apk? Will that suffice to be "unrooted"? Is that even possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want to unroot, you'll need to go back to stock.
The reason they want unrooted phones, is not so much a security issue, as it is they just don't understand or don't wish to deal with possible problems.

If you backup your apps and data you can run the official RUU, and it will put the original unrooted system to your phone. I don't know other method.
Here are the official ROMs: http://shipped-roms.com/index.php?category=android&model=Bravo

Removing the SU binaries will unroot you, I don't see the need as to why you have to be unrooted though.

apparently you can't use the new movie-rental feature of google's market, when you are rooted.
Is it possible to stick to a custom rom but unroot it, so that google recognises your phone as a not-rooted device and allows you to watch movies from market?
I don't need root-permissions every day - in fact I only need it for Titanium Backup, so deleting su-binaries and/or superuser.apk would be ok - but it must be possible to restore them (via recovery/adb) to run TB.
This probably isn't what google wants you to do since you can download the movie to watch later and if you have a working recovery you probably could get you hands on the downloaded files, but still - would be nice, if this was possible.

Easiest way to unroot and go back to stock is to stick a PB99IMG.zip on your sdcard, and turn your phone on with volume held down

How about this:
1) Go back to stock ROM via RUU
2) Install Good For Enterprise (I guess your IT department installs this, so they can check you are not rooted?)
3) ROOT the stock ROM using UnRevoked
4) Take a Titanium Backup of Good For Enterprise
5) Re-install your custom ROM
6) Restore the Titanium Backup of GfE
-> You have a rooted, custom ROM with GfE installed. And your company will never know!

madcr0w said:
Easiest way to unroot and go back to stock is to stick a PB99IMG.zip on your sdcard, and turn your phone on with volume held down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Congratulations for not reading the post. Here is your cookie.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA Premium App

Demonic idea
kuroneko007 said:
How about this:
1) Go back to stock ROM via RUU
2) Install Good For Enterprise (I guess your IT department installs this, so they can check you are not rooted?)
3) ROOT the stock ROM using UnRevoked
4) Take a Titanium Backup of Good For Enterprise
5) Re-install your custom ROM
6) Restore the Titanium Backup of GfE
-> You have a rooted, custom ROM with GfE installed. And your company will never know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I like your idea mate! Hahahahahaha....
Edit: Bad boy! Bad bad boy! hahahahahahahaha....

kuroneko007 said:
How about this:
1) Go back to stock ROM via RUU
2) Install Good For Enterprise (I guess your IT department installs this, so they can check you are not rooted?)
3) ROOT the stock ROM using UnRevoked
4) Take a Titanium Backup of Good For Enterprise
5) Re-install your custom ROM
6) Restore the Titanium Backup of GfE
-> You have a rooted, custom ROM with GfE installed. And your company will never know!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has anyone ever tested this?

Or why don't you just delete superuser via adb or android commander

good for enterprise checks for root access/ su every time it starts. It's not an issue of not being able to install the app. It's available for free on the market. The problem is when entering all your info and starting it up, it checks for SU.
I am guessing the best way around this is to install custom rom, set everything up that you need that requires SU/root. Then delete all the su/root related files. Then install Good.
Unfortunately I don't have a list of all the files that have to be deleted for this to work.
There have been reports that other users who have tried this method got it to work but the App stopped syncing after a few days.

List:
/system/app/superuser
/system/bin/su
Sent from my HTC Desire using Tapatalk

I tried this method, renamed the 2 files. It has been working for last 24 hours. I'll update again after a week if it still works..
Edit:
yep this works perfectly.

vvelumm said:
I tried this method, renamed the 2 files. It has been working for last 24 hours. I'll update again after a week if it still works..
Edit:
yep this works perfectly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You renamed SU.apk to SU.apk.bak most likely...
What did you rename the libs file to?

vvelumm said:
good for enterprise checks for root access/ su every time it starts. It's not an issue of not being able to install the app. It's available for free on the market. The problem is when entering all your info and starting it up, it checks for SU.
I am guessing the best way around this is to install custom rom, set everything up that you need that requires SU/root. Then delete all the su/root related files. Then install Good.
Unfortunately I don't have a list of all the files that have to be deleted for this to work.
There have been reports that other users who have tried this method got it to work but the App stopped syncing after a few days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have rooted my HTC Salsa to get apps2sd which is great, but now my mobile banking app says it will not work on a rooted device, similar to your issue.
I am new to android modding, what commands do i need to enter where to rename the files you mention ?
Thanks in advance.
Mike

wont work good enterprises would more than likely check every time like sky go. you would have to removed a2sd command line i think and all su binarys ( and su.akp ( difficult as its normally a system app and once one of the su has been removed you dont have premition to remove the other/
and to the donunt who said ( the dont understand root) wanna cookie 0. basicly good enterprise is a secure web client for companys to send information to mobiles, i have it on my work (iphone) <<<< scummmy.. anyways as root gives to the option to do what ever you or anyone else wants with the phone in theory you could use that system to breack the law or for instance chaindd could possible put an update in to su that will take data from the company> for google videos ) well with root you can screen record ( basicly ) excuse the spelling im trying to find out how to un root and keep all of my system ui mods and themes and my rom ( proving difficult)

hey I know that this is based on a old post but I have a question did you ever find out how to unroot a custom rom that is pre-rooted?

[Q] Advice/Help on removing "locked" or un-uninstallable apps that I do not want

[Q] Advice/Help on removing "locked" or un-uninstallable apps that I do not want
Ok, so.... Flashed CM 10.1. Did not like it at all. I have always been happy with the stock rom and realized through this process that what I really wanted was a stock ROM that I could remove all the nonsense that is imbedded and that runs and drains my battery life. I want to have complete control over my OS.
So, my main question is: Having read differing opinions on how to remove the so called bloatware(I like some of the stuff that is built in), what is the best way to go about it?
I obviously can root and flash my phone and can install CWM and have Odin installed and have done all that stuff. What I am looking for is a complete solution/method to removing the apps that I do not want. A lot of times the so called bloatware free ROMS have taken out too much and do not have what I am looking for so I am almost looking to create a custom stock ROM in a way by being able to delete the stuff that I do not use at all.

Do you use Titanium Backup?

jasvncnt1 said:
Do you use Titanium Backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This.
You can flash the bloated version of your carrier's rom, get root and use Titanium Backup to either uninstall or freeze (paid version) the apps you don't want.

Thanks! Done. Exactly what I needed.
Had already reverted back to the bloated version with something like this in mind and actually paid for the pro version. I think this is the first time I've ever paid for an app.
Now to make a list of all the things running that I don't need/use and uninstall them.

Why Should I root?

Hey guys! So I had a Samsung vibrant for years before I got a 920 and rooted it. I would then of course flash roms every week. I looked over the main features of the Roms coming out for the new nexus 7 and don't see anything that I can't already do, but I may he wrong. Can you tell me what is unlocked if I root my amazing new n7? (Apps I can use if rooted , features, etc) Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

I am more than happy to answer that question for you. First: I want to shed a little light on what 'rooting' a device means, and what flashing new ROMs entails.
First and foremost: root is not required to flash new ROMs. Having root access to the file system is having full control and rights to your files. Think of it like having an Administrator account in Windows. You're free to manipulate all files on your device, including core system files, which is why you don't have root access by default; the normal end-user wouldn't know which system files do what and could delete a very important file that could soft-brick their device, or could download a malicious app that would do the same (think of it as a virus in Windows)(Protip: if you only download apps from the Play store, you're good).
Second: the only thing required to flash a new ROM is your bootloader to be unlocked, and maybe a custom recovery is required, I'm not too familiar with the stock recovery and whether or not you can flash .zips from there. Unlocking your bootloader enables you to flash unsigned images to your device, a custom ROM in this case. Here's where the confusion happens: when you flash a new ROM, it overwrites your old ROM, including the superuser status you had. Most custom ROMs have root enabled by default, which is why it seems like your old root access carried over. Think of flashing a new ROM as re-installing Windows on your computer. All of your old profiles are erased and you need to set up new ones. Having root access is like setting up your Administrator profile and using it.
Third: the benefits of rooting. I personally use root specifically for Titanium Backup, Cerberus, ES File Explorer, and franco.Kernel updater. If you don't know what those apps do, I'll explain. Titanium Backup backs up all of my apps so when I flash a new ROM, I can easily restore them, instead of having to manually re-install them from the Play store which takes time and sometimes, data. TB needs root because it's installing apps on your device automatically (after you tell it to). You can see why you would need root there. Cerberus is an anti-theft app, which needs root to remotely activate sensors like GPS, camera, take screenshots, show messages, get device info, etc. Again, you could see why root would be needed there: security. ES File Explorer (any root explorer app) needs root because, well, so you can see and manipulate files that you need superuser status to do those things. I use it for many miscellaneous reasons such as renaming my nandroid backups. franco.Kernel updater I use to tweak my kernel settings.
Now, I'm not trying to convince you to root. That is a decision that should be made by you. Having root comes with potentially negative consequences. You could mess up your ROM. The chances are very slim, and very reversible (worst-case scenario: flash new ROM), but still very real. If you don't know your way around the bootloader, or how to restore factory images to the device, it could be frustrating to fix a soft-brick caused by system files being manipulated. Still, you have XDA, full of helpful people and plenty of guides and if you have the patience to read and listen to advice, you should be able to learn how to fix your problem, should one arise.
Ok, sum-up. Having "root" is like having Administrator rights on Windows. Installing ROMs is like re-installing Windows on your computer. Recovery is like the BIOS on your computer. Therefor, root is not required to flash a new ROM, only your bootloader unlocked (possibly custom recovery). Root is nice to have, and poses almost zero risk to hard-bricking your device. Having root could soft-brick your device if you don't know what you're doing, however, and could potentially be very frustrating if you don't know your way around the bootloader and/or recovery. If you have the patience to learn or listen to advice, it can be fixed though. It's up to you to weigh the risks and rewards. One thing to keep in mind: if you only download apps from the Play store, you should be 100% A-Ok to have root. The only way to soft-brick your device then, is if you're in there poking around with files you shouldn't be messing with (so, user-error). If you do decide to root and/or flash new ROM's, I'd advise in doing it manually at first instead of using toolkits. That way, you can see what's happening, which could come in handy if something should come up later.

Well said, Johnmama.
Basically, the #1 reason I root is Titanium Backup. I do also use some additional root apps, like ES File Explorer, but I could live without them. Titanium Backup is the ONE app that I will not do without.

The majority of custom ROMs already come prerooted.

Rooted!!! Now what????

I want to start this off by saying that i am totally new to rooting and anything that pertains to phone customization. But i can follow directions very well aslong as they are in lamens terms. I enjoy learning and want to continue to absorb all i can along the way. I dont play games on my phone, i watch movies sometimes, so i am looking to just be able to customize my phones appearance and have it run smooth and fast. So if anybody can lead me in the right direction i appreciate your time and consideration..

villaf7420 said:
I want to start this off by saying that i am totally new to rooting and anything that pertains to phone customization. But i can follow directions very well aslong as they are in lamens terms. I enjoy learning and want to continue to absorb all i can along the way. I dont play games on my phone, i watch movies sometimes, so i am looking to just be able to customize my phones appearance and have it run smooth and fast. So if anybody can lead me in the right direction i appreciate your time and consideration..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To truly use root, I would suggest a custom recovery such as TWRP or CWM. Then you can flash custom AOSP roms. These ROMS are highly customizable from the settings menu. Always backup your stock setup 1st, in case a ROM doesn't work properly. You can customize without flashing recovery or custom ROM. There are many apps in Google play that require root access, such as ROM toolbox that has a ton of options. You can download adaware off the internet to remove most ads you get on your phone. Also root explorer in Google play will allow you to remove apps you don't use from the system, but be careful with this, because you can bork your phone from removing certain apps, escpecially Google apps.
sent from my GS3

joeyhdownsouth said:
To truly use root, I would suggest a custom recovery such as TWRP or CWM. Then you can flash custom AOSP roms. These ROMS are highly customizable from the settings menu. Always backup your stock setup 1st, in case a ROM doesn't work properly. You can customize without flashing recovery or custom ROM. There are many apps in Google play that require root access, such as ROM toolbox that has a ton of options. You can download adaware off the internet to remove most ads you get on your phone. Also root explorer in Google play will allow you to remove apps you don't use from the system, but be careful with this, because you can bork your phone from removing certain apps, escpecially Google apps.
sent from my GS3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
TO BACK UP MY PHONE AFTER ROOT I SIMPLY DO IT IN RECOVERY SETTING?(holding the volume up? right?) and i used the goku tutorial to root( it worked first time!!) and it suggested to nanodroid back up? i wasnt sure but im assuming it is talking about recvery back it up using the philz screen right?