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Hi guys, i'm new to doing this for Google Android as i've never owned an Android phone before. A friend of mine wanted me to do it for him because i've done iphone jailbreaking, PSP / DS hacking, installing custom roms on many mobile platforms. The only one i haven't done is Android but he feels that it's safer that i do it for him.
I owned a HTC Touch Pro and know how the process works, but it seems for Android devices, you have to "root" it first by bypass some sort of CID or SPL check??
Anyway my question is, can someone give me a rough and quick explanations on how this work for Android phones, or more specifically the HTC Desire?? My friend simply wants custom roms installed on his phone, just like how it is for the windows mobile devices like the Touch Pro or Touch Pro 2 etc.
So do i simply root it first, and then install the custom rom and that's it?? Are there any extra steps i must take as well such as updating the kernel or something??
I know for rooting, you have to create a gold card. I have found guides for those, but if anyone can give me guides on how to install custom roms or any other helpful infos that i need to them, please do. It seems it's not as easy and straightforward as it is for Windows Mobile phones........
and apparently, rooting the phone means that some apps won't be usable?? It seems there are some downsides to this as well. If anyone can give me as much info related to rooting or installing custom roms for Android devices, that would be awesome.
chaoscreater said:
Hi guys, i'm new to doing this for Google Android as i've never owned an Android phone before. A friend of mine wanted me to do it for him because i've done iphone jailbreaking, PSP / DS hacking, installing custom roms on many mobile platforms. The only one i haven't done is Android but he feels that it's safer that i do it for him.
I owned a HTC Touch Pro and know how the process works, but it seems for Android devices, you have to "root" it first by bypass some sort of CID or SPL check??
Anyway my question is, can someone give me a rough and quick explanations on how this work for Android phones, or more specifically the HTC Desire?? My friend simply wants custom roms installed on his phone, just like how it is for the windows mobile devices like the Touch Pro or Touch Pro 2 etc.
So do i simply root it first, and then install the custom rom and that's it?? Are there any extra steps i must take as well such as updating the kernel or something??
I know for rooting, you have to create a gold card. I have found guides for those, but if anyone can give me guides on how to install custom roms or any other helpful infos that i need to them, please do. It seems it's not as easy and straightforward as it is for Windows Mobile phones........
and apparently, rooting the phone means that some apps won't be usable?? It seems there are some downsides to this as well. If anyone can give me as much info related to rooting or installing custom roms for Android devices, that would be awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
basically what it is, when google made android, they locked us out of accessing system files, kinda like the windows directory on winmo fones if you get me, by rooting your fone you regain access to them system files in order to flash a rom there are 3 steps,
1) rooting (Lets us mod the system)
2) install custom recovery (Recovery is where you can flash roms and other update files)
3) get the rom you want, (copy the .zip to the root of your sd card, then just flash it via recovery)
thats it all done
thanks for your reply mate.
But i've read from a few topics that rooting is only required for branded devices, and i don't think my friend's HTC Desire is branded at all, will i still need to root his phone though?
Also, how do i install the custom recovery?? This is the first time i've learned about this, all the other guides i found were similar to how you install custom roms for Windows Mobile, just using the RUU_Flasher (something like that), it's like an automated installer that flashes your phone so you don't have to do anything else at all so it's very simple. Could you link me to the custom recovery thing you talked about??
So basically, the recovery thing is kinda like an app that you launch from Android itself, and then it'll install the rom found on the root of your memory card??
Oh and lastly, i've read something about the SPL and kernel as well, do those matter??
One question about rooting...
Is this something you do one time and it keeps forever? For example, I'm actually in android 2.1, but android 2.2 is going to be released soon. If I root my device now but I update it later to android 2.2 will be still rooted or should I root it again?
I'm asking this question because the root process needs an specific boot/ROM and updating the phone might update one or both of them, making the rooting process unavailable for the time being.
chaoscreater said:
But i've read from a few topics that rooting is only required for branded devices, and i don't think my friend's HTC Desire is branded at all, will i still need to root his phone though?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is incorrect.
If the phone is unbranded, you don't need a goldcard, but you still need to "root" it to install custom ROMs.
In reality, what we call "rooting" here is a two stage process.
The first stage is to get a custom recovery on your device, which allows you to flash custom ROMs.
The second stage is to flash a ROM which allows you to gain root access to the device when in operation.
There are plenty of threads and guides on these forums that can take you through the process. IMHO, UnRevoked3 is the best solution.
Regards,
Dave
AzureusPT said:
Is this something you do one time and it keeps forever? For example, I'm actually in android 2.1, but android 2.2 is going to be released soon. If I root my device now but I update it later to android 2.2 will be still rooted or should I root it again?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you install a ROM via an HTC RUU, or an OTA update, you will almost certainly lose root. So, once rooted, always flash ROMs that are pre-rooted via a custom recovery image. If you allow an HTC update to replace your bootloader, you may end up with a device that is no longer rootable by current methods.
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
This is incorrect.
If the phone is unbranded, you don't need a goldcard, but you still need to "root" it to install custom ROMs.
In reality, what we call "rooting" here is a two stage process.
The first stage is to get a custom recovery on your device, which allows you to flash custom ROMs.
The second stage is to flash a ROM which allows you to gain root access to the device when in operation.
There are plenty of threads and guides on these forums that can take you through the process. IMHO, UnRevoked3 is the best solution.
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok so i basically use the UnRevoked3 app to install all that stuff on the Desire, and then put the custom rom image file on the root of my memory card, and where do i go from there?? I know i obviously have to install it but how? Will there be any apps installed on the phone by the UnRevoked3 program, and that i use the app to install the custom rom?
And btw i haven't gotten the phone yet so couldn't try this out so just wanna know exactly how this works.
Thanks for your reply btw, i appreciate it.
If you've got a custom recovery on your phone (via UnRevoked3 say), in order to install a custom ROM you need to:
a) Power down your phone
b) Power up your phone whilst holding volume down
c) Using the volume up/down keys navigate to "Recovery" and the power button to select. This will take you into your recovery image.
d) From here, you can then make Nandroid backups, flash new ROMs, wipe the device etc, etc
Regards,
Dave
foxmeister said:
If you've got a custom recovery on your phone (via UnRevoked3 say), in order to install a custom ROM you need to:
a) Power down your phone
b) Power up your phone whilst holding volume down
c) Using the volume up/down keys navigate to "Recovery" and the power button to select. This will take you into your recovery image.
d) From here, you can then make Nandroid backups, flash new ROMs, wipe the device etc, etc
Regards,
Dave
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AHH ic ic, this is similar to hacking a PSP and install a custom firmware
ok i think i got the gist of it overall. Just one last question, what is Nandroid?? I read the FAQ on the homepage for UnRevoked3 and it mentioned something like this, or was it Nand?? I forgot, but it's one of those things that couldn't be flashed or changed permanently. I know nand is quite a common term for PSP and iPhones, so just wondering what this is for or what it means on Android...
here's an old video which shows how fake flash recovery works:
once you root your phone, you can use this procedure to flash roms:
vol down + power to enter hboot
choose Recovery option using vol buttons and power to confirm
once red triangle shows up, vol up + power, then choose apply update.zip to enter fake flash recovery
from there, you can backup your rom, wipe everything, flash new roms/radios, partition sd card...
thanks for your help, yup i got it.
But i just want to know what is Nandroid?? I read the FAQ on the homepage for UnRevoked3 and it mentioned something like this, or was it Nand?? I forgot, but it's one of those things that couldn't be flashed or changed permanently. I know nand is quite a common term for PSP and iPhones, so just wondering what this is for or what it means on Android...
btw i just watched the video and what's the difference between:
apply sdcard:update.zip
and
install zip from sd card
it's around the 0:39 on the video.
apply update.zip is to enter recovery
install zip from sd card is used to choose rom or radio from sd card to flash
nandroid backup is system image that you create prior to flashing. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your backup, and have everything as it was, without any consequences (that's how it should be in theory, to tell the truth I haven't used it yet )
djoni1980 said:
apply update.zip is to enter recovery
install zip from sd card is used to choose rom or radio from sd card to flash
nandroid backup is system image that you create prior to flashing. In case something goes wrong, you can restore your backup, and have everything as it was, without any consequences (that's how it should be in theory, to tell the truth I haven't used it yet )
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok but for the "apply update.zip", how is it that it enters recovery?? I thought you ARE in the recovery, and thus you get those options as shown in that video??
I have read all the threads, but as ever on the wonderful forum , they go off in all areas .
All I want to do is delete the APK's from the \system\app folder
I have Orange UK ROM ( 2.2) that works fab for me... but I'd like to delete some ofthe rubbish... ( stocks etc )
Will the "Unrevoked" work on my phone.... there seams to be some confussion now as if you need a gold card or not.
I do not want a new image , I do not want to unlock my phone .. I just want to delete the rubbish on the phone.
This also maybe in the wrong area.
Thanks for your help... just a simple yes or no will do .
Download 'AndroidCommander' - it's a Windows-based app that basically uses adb but with a nicer GUI. You can then remove what you don't want quite easily and I don't think you have to be rooted
stunning app.. but YOU NEED ROOT ACCES !!
Ant one else to my orginal question...??
If you need to be rooted to use AndroidCommander (which just uses adb) then you'd need to be rooted to use adb as a standalone - which would lead to a no to your question...
I'm sure you don't need to be rooted to use adb, though
Thanks, but Orange dont want a new rom .. will Unrevoked work with a gold card ... orginal question .....?????????????????????????????
Ah, right!!!
You shouldn't need a gold card to root the phone, best thing is to wait for someone who has a branded Desire and see what they say. Mine was debranded and so didn't need one
i rooted a branded desire with 2.2 froyo on orange using unrevoked, no problems, but if like me you want to remove the orange bloat ware, rooting alone wont let you, but it will let you flash a genetic rom
so in basic, orange froyo can be rooted with unrevoked without goldcard, but wont let you remove orange pish
Mike
Anyone know how to remove the bloatware the easiest way, then?
I'd rather not have to flash a generic rom because I want to use some of Orange's facilities.. just not the game demos and other bloated apps.
You need to root using unrEVOked (which won't change anything bar giving root access) and then use AndroidCommander to remove the gumpf you don't want, leaving what you do!
Yes yes yes , but will this work on an Orange UK Branded phone ? with out killing it ?
Yes it will work on an Orange phone.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App
Yes it will work otherwise I wouldn't have said to do it!
Once you have rooted with unrevoked you could try using titanium (from the market) to freeze or uninstall system apps. Sometimes its handy to freeze aps rather than uninstall them. Its less hassle than adb/adb commander but you may need the pay version of titanium.
I get this :
The hbbot drivers worked and win xp sees phone correctly .
I then ran reflash.exe, came up after 5 mins Failed to flash recovery image .
All I want is the ROOT permisions , not to put a new rom on it…
I got my HTC desire today :yay:
Now I'm thinking on rooting it. I also need some information:
I want a very stable and fast rom. don't care much about Sense UI or not.
App2sd is a must have. (do i need S-off to enable App2sd?)
MIUI looks nice, does any of the MIUI roms have swedish dictionary?
Is it worth to overclock the desire?
I know the some of the general when comming to root and so since i switched between openfire and Wildpuzzle ALOT on my wildfire.
Also would like som recomendations on apps and games that i wasn't able to use on my wildfire.
Did you do as advised and get the stock ROM for your device so you can unroot if needed? If not, get that first.
Then, just use the phone...no point diving into rooting if you don't need to. If you find the phone as it is doesn't work THEN look into rooting
EddyOS said:
Did you do as advised and get the stock ROM for your device so you can unroot if needed? If not, get that first.
Then, just use the phone...no point diving into rooting if you don't need to. If you find the phone as it is doesn't work THEN look into rooting
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yea i found the right ruu and have it downloaded and re-uploaded to my dropbox.
Also i wan't to root it since i need more space on the phone by app2sd/dalvik2sd.
And i though that if I'm going to root i could aswell try out some roms
Is it possible to use app2sd/dalvik2sd/cache2sd without a custom rom?
No because it uses a modified boot image to enable scripts to be loaded from init.d
Eph.
First off, yep, I used the search but nothing did quite match the question I have...
Now, one of the main reasons I want to root my phone for, is, that I don't have (even nearly) enough space for the apps I want to use.
1. I saw a ROM floating around here which is enabling the complete installation of applications to the sd card, is this possible with every ROM or just with this specific one?
And:
2 .On the current stock ROM there already is an App2SD function, but I haven't got enough space anyway, does this improve with root access?
The second reason I want to root my Desire is, that I'd like to have 2.3 instead of 2.2, because of some features that were added.
One, actually minor but anyway, more reason for rooting for me is, that I can have a different theme (I'm getting bored of the stock one...)
3. Are this and the first one enough reasons to root your phone? Is it worth it?
Then, some more general questions about rooting:
4. I saw a few tutorials out there, which are "noob proved", is it really that simple? (I'm not complete idiot in terms of technical things, but I haven't got much expirience with android...)
5. I also saw that it is possible to "brick" your device, does this just happen when you do something completly wrong, or is it just random? How "high" is the chance of bricking your device?
6. After you rooted your device, can you "switch" ROMs quite easily or is it a kind of harder process each time?
7. Im not soo familiar with android, as I mentioned before, so, does android write the SMS and so on to the SIM card or are they saved internal? Are they getting lost while rooting?
And now over to some more personal questions:
8. What application or advantage did you root your phone for?
9. Which root apps are really making it worth rooting?
I'd be really thankfull if you could help me with this, and I appreciate each answer!
Best regards
P.S.: Sorry for my kinda bad english, but I'm not quite often using it....
1. You are talking about a feature named a2sd. If a rom supports it, it will be listed in its feature list. To use it, you have to follow the given instructions for partitioning sd card for a2sd in the roms corresponding thread.
2. That's not a2sd, it's the "froyo-style app2sd". The difference is, with the froyo one you can only move the application to sd card if the developer programmed the app for it. With a2sd, all apps you install will be automatically moved to a special partition on your sd card, namely sd-ext. You don't have and must not do anything.
You can already download gingerbread from htcdev.com:
http://htcdev.com/devcenter/downloads
3. Rooting gives you many advantages. Most important things are you can backup your apps/settings and your rom, and you can flash custom roms.
4. Of course they are. That's why they named like this.
5. If you follow all guides carefully and don't do something silly, imho the chance the phone bricks is not higher than an untouched stops working.
6. It's very easy. You do it from recovery, where you can backup your previous rom.
7. Yep, but you have to it with an extra program like sms backup & restore:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.riteshsahu.SMSBackupRestore&feature=search_result
8. Flash custom roms, backup and restore apps/rom -> better and so awesome desire experience.
9. Most important one is imho titanium backup:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.keramidas.TitaniumBackup&feature=search_result
i recently rooted and then unrooted and then rooted and s-off my desire trust me reading the instructions makes its sound more difficult than it is. just read carefully dont take shortcuts and ull be ok.
i rooted as i ran low on space also i like the fact i can delete system apps as i dnt use them.
you can use themes.
there are roms with data2sd or data2whatever, better than app2sd.
just read thru ask some questions of people.they will help u out. boobkmark the pages u want to use i always forget and then can never find the advice again!!!
once ur rooted used unrevoked for that. you can swap roms like there ur socks!! i and many others on here im sure swapped roms hourly let alone daily , u need to see which one fits u the best.
this is just what i no from my very limited experience others on here are much more in the know!
good luck
Use this guide
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1016084
If you follow it exactly you should not brick your phone
Switching roms is easy as long as you read the requirements for each rom, which are usually found within the first two posts on the rom thread
If you use cyanogenmod rom you can use the s2e app from market to move apps to your sd card, imho this is a very easy way to implement app2sd, I'm using this, I have heaps of apps installed and still have plenty of space left
Sent from my CM7.1 Desire using XDA Premium App
Read some noob guides you need more knowledge
Thank you very much for the answers!
I downloaded all of the files needed and backed up SMS and contact information and tomorrow I'll root my phone (got more time and patience....).
Just one more quick question: I bought my phone unbranded (on Amazon), so I don't need to make a "gold card", am I right?
Nascor said:
Thank you very much for the answers!
I downloaded all of the files needed and backed up SMS and contact information and tomorrow I'll root my phone (got more time and patience....).
Just one more quick question: I bought my phone unbranded (on Amazon), so I don't need to make a "gold card", am I right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are right. But if I were you, I would made one even so, just in case.
I have made the transition from IOS to Andriod I was a wiz with the Iphone, Jailbreaking and so on... But now I have the Samsung s3 Galaxy and I want to find out whats the main tricks and tips .... For instance what is Rooting? And what software would I need for this.. And what is the latest software? Can I please have someone tell me all the steps I need to do to pimp up and jailbreak this phone.
Thanks Guys Your help will be much appreciated
Guys I have a GT-I9300T version so first of all what software should I install on my computer, for the rooting or flashing etc
root GT I9003
btemtd said:
Guys I have a GT-I9300T version so first of all what software should I install on my computer, for the rooting or flashing etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u can root using odin v1.5, download pda files according to ur firmware on ur mobile on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1331253 and flash it in the download mode, and u r done!!
drsandeshdahal said:
u can root using odin v1.5, download pda files according to ur firmware on ur mobile on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1331253 and flash it in the download mode, and u r done!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^ This.
There's plenty of step by step noob guides here, just search for your device and I'm sure you'll find a great guide with a youtube video to make it all easy as pie.
drsandeshdahal said:
u can root using odin v1.5, download pda files according to ur firmware on ur mobile on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1331253 and flash it in the download mode, and u r done!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I dont want to stuff my phone, how do I know what firmware it is I goto the About section and nothing says Firmware all I see is
Model Number GT-I9300T
Android Version 4.0.4
Baseband version ****
Kernel version *****
Build NUmber ***
So which one is it
I really need some guide through this
I also want to know why people root? and is flashing the same as rooting? Whats the reason people do this? I need know the ups and downs for sll this
Nothing on pc just get a file manager of play store then in phone browser Google universal androot and dl the .apk file open it in file manager then dl ROM maneger off the play store then install recovery dl a zip open recovery then flash it custom ROM
Sent from my HTC Hero using xda app-developers app
Welcome to the other side
The following URL will tell you the pros of rooting your Android phone.
http:/android-dls.com/wiki/index.php?title=Why_Root
(add a '/' after 'http:/', was unable to post a link directly)
Cons all I can think of is that you probably lose your warranty but there are ways to fool your OEM technician that your phone was never rooted. And you run the ever diminishing risk of bricking your phone if something goes wrong. (chances are close to nill these days)
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
flashing is like completely changing your OS. like from froyo to gingerbread. while rooting is gaining extra access into your handheld, like unlocking administration on your PC.
Root is one of the machines as necessary when we want to intervene more deeply into the operating system your device running Android
Yes I definatley Love this phone, Im in love.. so android is my new baby I now know what rooting and flashing is.. Next step is what should I do before I decide to choose a Rom ... Should I flash it back to stock? That is always better then the Service provider software correct? But there is one thing that I want ... it is called the NAVIGON its a navigation program... hmm what should I do? And how do I find the stock files for my phone to flash and the latest ones at that.
somtimes root make ours phone sloooooowly
First root, then CWM, finally some sweet custom rom, i.e. CM9...
Ok I have rooted to the cf 6.4 version and I have updated the superSU aka SuperUSER and now what.. With Iphone There used to be a thing called Installeus and Cydia and its like the Black Market Everything on there is free is there an equivalent on Android?
No Cydia equivalent in Android. There's many different app stores for Android, just no one central. After all you can install third party software in Android without root, you just un-click option in the menu. Root gives you freedom and access to apps that need root to work.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bonu said:
No Cydia equivalent in Android. There's many different app stores for Android, just no one central. After all you can install third party software in Android without root, you just un-click option in the menu. Root gives you freedom and access to apps that need root to work.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must not forget I am new to this stuff so when you say "just un-click option in the menu" I dont have a clue what you are talking about which menu and what option. And what does it do? A small step by step would be great.
And Could you give me just a few app store links and if there's a specialty link that specializes in Rooted appz a link would be great sorry but like I said I am just learning and so far all these comments are helping me with the lingo and so on...
You just go into Settings --> Applications --> click Unknown sources in order to allow instalation of non-Market apps. I know that you are new but it does not have anything to do with root as you can do it as well on unrooted phone and believe me I am not a user manual
As for the sources for apps, just use the Market as well as specific threads in this forum in your phone's section from where you can download an app, transfer it to the SD card in your phone and install directly from the file. For that you need to click the option I mentioned above as without it you can only install from the Market. That's one thing.
As for apps that need root, it is a different issue. I don't know what kind of apps you need. Maybe check at first the most popular ones like Titanium Backup, Ad Free, Root Explorer, SetCPU, Terminal Emulator or Avast that have additional options like firewall on rooted phones. You can find all of these on Market, so you don't need a Cydia. You just can't use them without root but still they are to be found on Market. After you install any of them, you will have to give them superuser (root) powers, they will ask you for it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bonu said:
You just go into Settings --> Applications --> click Unknown sources in order to allow instalation of non-Market apps. I know that you are new but it does not have anything to do with root as you can do it as well on unrooted phone and believe me I am not a user manual
As for the sources for apps, just use the Market as well as specific threads in this forum in your phone's section from where you can download an app, transfer it to the SD card in your phone and install directly from the file. For that you need to click the option I mentioned above as without it you can only install from the Market. That's one thing.
As for apps that need root, it is a different issue. I don't know what kind of apps you need. Maybe check at first the most popular ones like Titanium Backup, Ad Free, Root Explorer, SetCPU, Terminal Emulator or Avast that have additional options like firewall on rooted phones. You can find all of these on Market, so you don't need a Cydia. You just can't use them without root but still they are to be found on Market. After you install any of them, you will have to give them superuser (root) powers, they will ask you for it.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks I have figured it all out before you even wrote that hehe thanks anyways.. i found that 4shared is great for getting free appz and games...