Hi--I am a generally technically adept Evo owner who would like to root to a Froyo custom ROM, but I've never had to root anything before. I've read threads meant to act as guides (like those linked in the sticky thread), but there seems like so much I don't understand. I know these are simple questions, but my searching didn't really help. I'd be really grateful if anyone had any helpful answers.
Question 1: Does anyone have any recommendations for the best custom ROM that will have these features?:
Froyo (of course)
SenseUI (I prefer it, but have nothing against stock Android)
Ability to restore my apps (via Titanium Backup, I assume)
Unlocked wifi tethering (via app or Froyo's in-built capability)
Unlocked FPS (I have a Novatec panel)
Same or better camera/video capabilities as stock SenseUI (i.e., nothing broken at least)
My current software: Stock Evo, no OTA updates applied, with Superuser Unrevoked permissions.
(That is, I have not applied any OTA updates since I bought it, June 11th. I'm running 2.1-update1, version 1.32.651.6. I did the Unrevoked 1-click "root" that in fact only gave me Superuser permissions (the Unrevoked that was first released, not the Unrevoked2 or 3 updates). I.e., I can use the wifi tether and Titanium Backup, and I've backed up my apps/settings with it.)
Question 2: Can anyone tell me in a simplest method to safely root and install the custom ROM, considering I have no OTA updates and unrevoked superuser permissions?
Specifically, I've read guides that list 3 steps (gaining root permissions, unlocking NAND, gaining "full" root), but I still have a lot of questions:
What does it mean to "flash a recovery"?
[*]When do I have to manually install radio updates, and how do I know which ones I need?
[*]If I decide I'd rather go back to stock, ever, can I do that?
[*]What is the likelihood of a brick, and can I repair a brick?
[*]Can Titanium Backup really restore all my apps after I do a full wipe and root? (just to calm my anxiety, please...)
The best guide I've seen is the "IDIOT-PROOF" root guide, at thread 701004 (sorry, new user restriction, can't post links), but I don't know if it's still current. That also seems more complex than SimpleRoot (also don't know if it's current).
I think I'm looking for the simplest root method with the least possibility of screwing everything up. (It pains me to say it, but a brainless iPhone-like "slide-to-jailbreak" method would be great.)
Sorry for the newbie questions. If anyone has any advice/answers, I'd be glad to hear them!
Well best bet for you is probably going to be either the one click simpleroot, you can go to simpleroot.com its there for download. Of course it depends on exactly what software version you are on. As far as your rom choice there is no rom that offers all of those things, probably closest will be stock rooted 2.2, then you can either live with the 30fps restriction or flash a custome kernel and live with 3mp camera .... you're choice. the recovery is a program that the phone boots into that has nothing to do with the rom at all, with this you can select several operation to make on the rom. You need recovery because you cant modify the rom when you are booted in the rom. Anyway this is all a very basic explanation. My recommendation would be to follow toasts part 1 then part 2 to root and unlock nand. (unlocking nand allows writing and writing to the system area of the rom while booted into the rom) then you will be all set to flash any rom you like. feel free to pm if you need more info As far as knowing what you need I would recommend starting with netarchy's stock rooted 2.2 odexed version. In his post he will tell you flash rom then radio then wimax, all of these files are included there in the post. Then as you learn you can switch between roms to explore what each one can do for you and decide which you like best. Yes Titanium backuop will work with this.
For me and I have flashed every rom lol. Daily driver would have to be the fastest and stabliest rom which is in my opinion Caulkins v1.02 froyo. Use simple root for 1.32. Then use the flash recovery and pick ra recovery.
ifly4vamerica said:
As far as your rom choice there is no rom that offers all of those things, probably closest will be stock rooted 2.2, then you can either live with the 30fps restriction or flash a custome kernel and live with 3mp camera .... you're choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Really? How about a ROM with, say, just 2.2 + SenseUI, with all the standard features, and wifi tether enabled?
Thanks for the advice, by the way, both of you.
ScaryBugThing said:
Hi--I am a generally technically adept Evo owner who would like to root to a Froyo custom ROM, but I've never had to root anything before. I've read threads meant to act as guides (like those linked in the sticky thread), but there seems like so much I don't understand. I know these are simple questions, but my searching didn't really help. I'd be really grateful if anyone had any helpful answers.
Question 1: Does anyone have any recommendations for the best custom ROM that will have these features?:
Froyo (of course)
SenseUI (I prefer it, but have nothing against stock Android)
Ability to restore my apps (via Titanium Backup, I assume)
Unlocked wifi tethering (via app or Froyo's in-built capability)
Unlocked FPS (I have a Novatec panel)
Same or better camera/video capabilities as stock SenseUI (i.e., nothing broken at least)
My current software: Stock Evo, no OTA updates applied, with Superuser Unrevoked permissions.
(That is, I have not applied any OTA updates since I bought it, June 11th. I'm running 2.1-update1, version 1.32.651.6. I did the Unrevoked 1-click "root" that in fact only gave me Superuser permissions (the Unrevoked that was first released, not the Unrevoked2 or 3 updates). I.e., I can use the wifi tether and Titanium Backup, and I've backed up my apps/settings with it.)
Question 2: Can anyone tell me in a simplest method to safely root and install the custom ROM, considering I have no OTA updates and unrevoked superuser permissions?
Specifically, I've read guides that list 3 steps (gaining root permissions, unlocking NAND, gaining "full" root), but I still have a lot of questions:
What does it mean to "flash a recovery"?
[*]When do I have to manually install radio updates, and how do I know which ones I need?
[*]If I decide I'd rather go back to stock, ever, can I do that?
[*]What is the likelihood of a brick, and can I repair a brick?
[*]Can Titanium Backup really restore all my apps after I do a full wipe and root? (just to calm my anxiety, please...)
The best guide I've seen is the "IDIOT-PROOF" root guide, at thread 701004 (sorry, new user restriction, can't post links), but I don't know if it's still current. That also seems more complex than SimpleRoot (also don't know if it's current).
I think I'm looking for the simplest root method with the least possibility of screwing everything up. (It pains me to say it, but a brainless iPhone-like "slide-to-jailbreak" method would be great.)
Sorry for the newbie questions. If anyone has any advice/answers, I'd be glad to hear them!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd like to suggest something before you actually move forward. I usually back up with MyBackup and with Titanium backup. I am completely rooted and nand unlocked but something i've seen Titanium for some reason after i grant it superuser tell me my phone isn't rooted on different roms, also i have seen Mybackup crash the sense and try to reboot it over and over in a loop. Luckily I did a Nandroid restore to a more stable setup. Some of the other forum members here are more likely than not less new to the process than myself, but I thought i had covered everything and when i did simple root, I was on 1.47, with the factory reset and everything lost my data... luckily it wasn't a lot or important. I just thought i'd let you know that it is not a bad thing to have a zipped backup of all of your apks+data, and your contacts with both programs before you go ahead. Hope that possibly can steer you out of trouble if one of them fails to perform as it should. Best of luck.
Exohart said:
I'd like to suggest something before you actually move forward. I usually back up with MyBackup and with Titanium backup. ... Hope that possibly can steer you out of trouble if one of them fails to perform as it should. Best of luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for the tip.
You can get a rooted stock 2.2 ROM, odexed or deodexed. Then you can install a wifi tether app. Personally, I use Fresh 3.1.0.1, I don't notice any differences in general to stock, but you should probably just try different ROMs out and see which one you like. It's easy to switch around.
See this for ROMs.
As for rooting, You can use Simple Root, but I highly suggest doing it yourself using toast's or TheBiles' guides. You learn a lot and it's the same thing as using Simple Root, but you can deal with problems better (although I didn't have any issues when I did mine).
See here for guides.
There is a lot of info on how to get around any issues you have, so be sure to search if you do run into trouble.
And if you need the files for rooting, check here.
Awesome response, SilverZero, thanks! I'm starting to feel comfortable with the rooting procedure.
I think the difficulty I have in choosing a ROM is that many ROM threads don't list conclusively whether a feature works or not. So, for instance, I presume that the Fresh ROM has a fully working camera (8MP/720P with all settings), but I've read other ROM threads that talk about downgraded camera bugs, so I am not sure if I should assume things work fine. Conversely, I think wifi tethering doesn't work, since it *seems* to suggest it isn't working, but doesn't flat-out say so...
I don't suppose some source exists somewhere that lists/compares all of these ROMs' features in a table format, listing whether they work or not, or are downgraded? Having something like that in a central, often-updated location would be incredibly useful...
I used toast's method for rooting, and havent had any problems whatsoever. All I had to do after that, was install the new RA recovery image ( was more current ).
Is this the simplest way? probably not. But, i perfer doing the method with the most manual work. Automated processes tend to scare me, 'oh, our mod does steps 1 through 19 all at once'... well, thats fine, but what happens when it fails half way through? Toast's method, while a bit involved, is pretty simple, and if something happens, you can go "hey, when i do this command <whatever>, it does this, helps?!".
as for your 'questions 2s'
1: Are you sure you dont mean, flash from recovery? recovery is where you do all of your flashing, do your nandroid backups, and wiping. theres 3 ways to get there ( once your rooted/nand unlocked ).. volume -, and power while the phone is off, hold it til you get the menu. use quickboot ( a feature of damagecontrol mod ), or use adb using a command prompt on windows ( adb reboot recovery ).
2: Most people install radio updates when they go to change to new roms. The reason being, 2.2 'code' is based around having a certain radio version, and for things like 4g, and good 3g signal, you need to match.
personally, every time i go to install a new rom, i verify what the most recent radio version is out there, and install it ( same with wimax )
3: Once you are fully rooted, there are walktrhoughs for 'starting over / going back to stock'.. but I would just use one of the rooted stock images, as it gives you the ability to change your mind. for instance, right now 2.2 isnt rootable, so if you changed your mind after switching back to it, your kind of screwed. I'm not sure if the engineering image you install for root would go away if you reverted to stock/root though, as have never tried.
4: as long as you have the phone rooted, any 'bricking' that i have caused ( boot loops, power turning off on boot, etc ), were easily recoverable by just booting into recovery and reflashing. the only way I could see bricking in a totally bad way, would be if you somehow messed up the rooting process and corrupted the bootloader in such a way it couldnt recover. Otherwise, i have yet to see a rom that will flash / change your bootloader or recovery image, so it shouldnt be an issue.
5: It can, but i've seen issues where backing up stuff from a 2.1 rom, and installing a 2.2, causes weird issues. its safer to just redownload them if you are using a 2.2 rom. Another benefit of 2.2, is now google backs up your app selection you had installed, so when you wipe / flash a new rom, it auto-reinstalls all your apps you had from before ( it doesnt backup your settings though, just the applications themselves ).
ScaryBugThing said:
Awesome response, SilverZero, thanks! I'm starting to feel comfortable with the rooting procedure.
I think the difficulty I have in choosing a ROM is that many ROM threads don't list conclusively whether a feature works or not. So, for instance, I presume that the Fresh ROM has a fully working camera (8MP/720P with all settings), but I've read other ROM threads that talk about downgraded camera bugs, so I am not sure if I should assume things work fine. Conversely, I think wifi tethering doesn't work, since it *seems* to suggest it isn't working, but doesn't flat-out say so...
I don't suppose some source exists somewhere that lists/compares all of these ROMs' features in a table format, listing whether they work or not, or are downgraded? Having something like that in a central, often-updated location would be incredibly useful...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's a project that one user is putting together comparing different ROMs.
https://spreadsheets.google.com/ccc?key=0Aguc0npJCrWxdEFyU2NRNG1jNnRkY2trdXBsYlJLdWc&hl=en#gid=0
imiddlet said:
I used toast's method for rooting, ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow, thank you for taking the time--you really answered all of my questions.
SilverZero said:
Here's a project that one user is putting together comparing different ROMs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greeeeat. Exactly what I was looking for.
You guys are awesome--I think I know what I need to know now, and in the next few days I will probably try rooting and installing Fresh Evo or BakedSnack. I'll update once I know how it went!
Urg...Well, I did the manual root method. Everything went fine through the initial root (using the classic method by toastcfh), and through the manual recovery mode where I made a nandroid backup.
Then, in recovery mode, I attempted to flash the latest Fresh Evo 3.1.0.1. It gave me no error messages, and I rebooted.
Now, it is stuck on an infinite reboot at the Fresh Evo ("FRESH!!!") bootup animation. It just keeps running that animation, never loading up. I've let that animation run about 15 times before I had to pull the battery to make it stop. Any time I try to boot the phone, I am stuck at that infinite reboot/load sequence.
The only thing I could do was hold Vol- while powering up to get into the bootloader and redo my stock root. I redid the Fresh Evo install, and it still just keeps rebooting for 10 minutes, before I pull the battery. I'll try Baked Snack next, but I don't want to press my luck with too many flashes... Any ideas anyone?
ScaryBugThing said:
Urg...Well, I did the manual root method. Everything went fine through the initial root (using the classic method by toastcfh), and through the manual recovery mode where I made a nandroid backup.
Then, in recovery mode, I attempted to flash the latest Fresh Evo 3.1.0.1. It gave me no error messages, and I rebooted.
Now, it is stuck on an infinite reboot at the Fresh Evo ("FRESH!!!") bootup animation. It just keeps running that animation, never loading up. I've let that animation run about 15 times before I had to pull the battery to make it stop. Any time I try to boot the phone, I am stuck at that infinite reboot/load sequence.
Anyone have any advice? Am I screwed?
The only thing I think I can do is hold Vol- while powering up to get into the bootloader and have it check PC36IMG, after which it gives me the same normal root Step 1 option to "Start Update" (Vol+ for yes, Vol- for no). Will this just restore to "stock" root? I'd like to get FreshEvo working somehow...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try doing a full wipe, Data, Dalvik Cache, everything except the SD card. Then try reflashing the ROM. That was how I had to fix mine when it did the same thing.
Also don't forget to update your Radio, WiMax and Recovery if you havent already.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=715485
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=6877247&postcount=98
As far as the best ROM is concerned I've been using SteelH's deodexed stock ROM with the netarchy-toastmod kernel and it's been running great. FPS are unlocked, its quick as hell and my battery life is excellent.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=743781
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=719763
xHausx said:
Try doing a full wipe, Data, Dalvik Cache, everything except the SD card. Then try reflashing the ROM. That was how I had to fix mine when it did the same thing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I did a double-wipe (cache, dalvik cache, and data/factory reset x2) before each of the 3 times I tried to install Fresh Evo. Same infinite reboot loop always.
Then I installed Baked Snack just now. I was able to actually boot (54 fps looks great!) but ROM Manager was giving me an error message about flashing the Recovery replacement, Wifi Tether force closed every time I opened it, and every time I plugged in the USB cable, it would disconnect about 2 seconds later, rendering the phone essentially useless since it wouldn't recharge or accept files in that two seconds.
So now I'm flashing back the stock root image, PC36IMG.zip.
I guess this isn't going very well. If anyone has any advice about these problems I'm having, I'm still in the depths of rooting hell. I appreciate the SteelH suggestions. Maybe I'll try that next. But it's definitely worrying me that every ROM I try has some major problems.
ScaryBugThing said:
Thanks for the suggestions. Unfortunately, I did a double-wipe (cache, dalvik cache, and data/factory reset x2) before each of the 3 times I tried to install Fresh Evo. Same infinite reboot loop always.
Then I installed Baked Snack just now. I was able to actually boot (54 fps looks great!) but ROM Manager was giving me an error message about flashing the Recovery replacement, Wifi Tether forced close every time I opened it, and every time I plugged in the USB cable, it would disconnect about 2 seconds later, rendering the phone essentially useless since it wouldn't recharge or accept files in that two seconds.
So now I'm flashing back the stock root image, PC36IMG.zip.
I guess this isn't going very well. If anyone has any advice about these problems I'm having, I'm still in the depths of rooting hell. I appreciate the SteelH suggestions. Maybe I'll try that next. But it's definitely worrying me that every ROM I try has some major problems.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you're using clockwork try switching to Amon-RA. That may be whats doing it
xHausx said:
if you're using clockwork try switching to Amon-RA. That may be whats doing it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion and the very fast responses. I'll give Amon-RA a shot, if I can install it. (note: I didn't use Rom Manager to install any actual ROMs here--it was just what I was about to begin using.)
Sorry if I have so many questions, but: What is the best method to flash Amon-RA recovery? Rom Manager seemed easy because you could simply download the program, run it, and choose an option in the settings menu to replace the stock Recovery.
For Amon-RA, there are two options--fastboot, and adb. I only have a vague idea of what these are and how to make them work.
As an UPDATE: I installed SteelH's ROM, and it booted, but it definitely didn't have 54 fps on mine (clearly 30 fps, Novatec panel FWIW), and I had the same problem with the USB cable disconnecting 2 seconds after plugging it in. I of course wiped everything before installing.
So I'm trying to figure out if I did something wrong in my original root--though it seemed to work fine. Could a locked NAND be causing these problems?
ScaryBugThing said:
Thanks for the suggestion and the very fast responses. I'll give Amon-RA a shot, if I can install it. (note: I didn't use Rom Manager to install any actual ROMs here--it was just what I was about to begin using.)
Sorry if I have so many questions, but: What is the best method to flash Amon-RA recovery? Rom Manager seemed easy because you could simply download the program, run it, and choose an option in the settings menu to replace the stock Recovery.
For Amon-RA, there are two options--fastboot, and adb. I only have a vague idea of what these are and how to make them work.
As an UPDATE: I installed SteelH's ROM, and it booted, but it definitely didn't have 54 fps on mine (clearly 30 fps, Novatec panel FWIW), and I had the same problem with the USB cable disconnecting 2 seconds after plugging it in. I of course wiped everything before installing.
So I'm trying to figure out if I did something wrong in my original root--though it seemed to work fine. Could a locked NAND be causing these problems?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the fastboot method earlier and it was a piece of cake. Just move the recovery to the Tools folder for the SDK, put your phone in fastboot mode and copy paste the two lines in a cmd prompt to install it. I was bored reading through the recovery thread I linked to earlier and apparently clockwork is not wiping properly, others were also having problems with Fresh because of it.
For the FPS fix that is done in the kernel so you would need to flash a custom one.
xHausx said:
I used the fastboot method earlier and it was a piece of cake. Just move the recovery to the Tools folder for the SDK, put your phone in fastboot mode and copy paste the two lines in a cmd prompt to install it. I was bored reading through the recovery thread I linked to earlier and apparently clockwork is not wiping properly, others were also having problems with Fresh because of it.
For the FPS fix that is done in the kernel so you would need to flash a custom one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried to do as instructed. I rebooted into Fastboot mode on my phone, verified the device was seen by fastboot on my PC, then entered:
C:\android-sdk-windows\tools>fastboot flash recovery recovery-RA-evo-v1.7.0.1.img
sending 'recovery' (5032 KB)... OKAY [ 1.406s]
writing 'recovery'... INFOsignature checking...
FAILED (remote: signature verify fail)
finished. total time: 2.094s
I tried to redownload the file, but the same result occurred.
EDIT: I was able to flash the Amon-RA recovery, going back to toast's instructions. I don't know why it wasn't flashed before...
I'm also not sure that my wiping the data is the problem--I wiped factory settings/cache/dalvik cache each time using only the stock recovery. I think my mentioning Rom Manager might have suggested I used that program to wipe my data, but I haven't done so...
Anyway, I appreciate the help. This is tough for me--I can't seem to get anything to work.
EDIT2: Problems solved! Indeed, I had not properly unlocked NAND. I redid the toast NAND unlock steps, and Fresh Evo installed on the first try!
My only remaining question: how do I flash a kernel? I simply flash a ROM and then the kernel? I think Fresh Evo is great, but fps2d is still showing me locked at 30 fps.
EDIT3: I think I found the answer. Flash it like any other ROM from zip. (Doing it with Netarchy's Kernel 4.0.3: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=719763 )
(Probably looks silly reading me answer my own questions, but I thought it was better to look stupid if it might help a future beginner like me.)
Just my oppinion simpleroot never really worked for me and ive read bad things about unrevoked so just follow toasts method to rooting it is very simple and straight forward, as for rom i prefer baked snack themed version it is by far the most sexy rom i have seen it uses manups theme and u can enhance it even more, its very stable and has no fps cap on it, as well as both cameras work and video recording works, im not sure if blue tooth has been fixed yet and am not sure if 4g works because i dont have it where i live try it out and tell me what u think.
So...Everything works! A couple of final notes in case it ever helps anyone in the future:
Note 1: The call part of the phone was not working well at all. I could send and receive calls, and hear the other party, but the audio was very noisy and the other party didn't hear my voice when I talk.
I tried to update PRL and Profile, but I got an error code 1012: "The profile update could not be completed. Please try again later. If the problem persists, you may need to contact customer service. Error code:1012"
I thought the problem might be me overwriting some system files with Titanium Backup (though I was careful). But when I tried wiping factory settings/cache/dalvik cache, and rebooted, still the same problems. Ultimately, it turned out simply that Sprint's servers were down, so I couldn't update my profile/PRL. I finally was able to update the Profile and PRL (now 60669) when they came back up, and everything seems to be working.
Note 2: I realized too late that I lost all of my visual voicemails. I don't think there's a way to restore them, and I don't know if there's any way to back them up. But something to think about if you've racked up a fair amount of downloaded visual voicemails.
Thanks everyone for your help.
I am a US Cellular user, and I'm coming from a Samsung Acclaim, which had a very simple procedure for modifying it.
I had a official Samsung update tool, and several .tar files, that I could flash to get:
-Root kernel
-A more robust recovery console
-DEDOX Templates
-Modified Kernels (Tethering, etc)
and most importantly
-A complete factory image leaked from USCC
I could basically flash the updated recovery console, and then apply tars and zips and go nuts. And all was good, because I could apply the factory image to be 100% legit again.
I am going to be moving to a HTC Desire tomorow, and after looking over this forum for about 3 hours, I'm scared to death! It looks like HTC is alot more careful/paranoid~ No flash tool, no tar files, no source code, signed packages, RUU/MMS/RADIO and half a dozen other different things that I haven't deciphered yet!
What I need to know are just a few simple questions:
1) Is there a way to root and start doing some mods AND GET BACK to factory? If I can't get back to factory, I'm not going to touch a damn thing. (I think I read there are no USCC RUU files yet, whatever a RUU is lol)
2) Does the Desire suffer from the same internal memory problems that my Acclaim did? My Acclaim had 192MB of internal memory on a factory reset, and after Angry Birds, Facebook, Ebay, and half a dozen other apps, it gets down there pretty fast. From what I've read, it looks like the Desire is worse at 110! Since I don't want to root, rom, up to froyo, and app2sd without a restore plan, am I stuck until USCC releases 2.2 themselves?
3) Can I temp root? On my Acclaim, using the recovery console, I applied a rooted kernel, deleted some crap apps from /system/app, and then reapplied the stock kernel. Is that possible? Or am I gonna run into the same problem as question #1 where going back is impossible at this point because of some RUU issue.
Hey there!
Welcome to the world of HTC Desire (lol).
Anyway, I am going to try the best to answer your questions...
1) same as (3)?
2) Depends on how you manage it, but most of the time, the answer is a definite yes (sadly). And yes, you are stuck unless you have app2sd. You can use this to enable app2sd, but once again, no dice unless you are on 2.2.
3) Check out ""VISIONary" from the market. It's mainly for Desire HD or Z, but you should probably start reading about it here... It basically is a way to gain superuser rights for your current boot. Once you reboot, its gone. There's probably another alternative (saw something in the thread)
I think I was trying to cram too much into each idea. Sorry, let me clarify!
To clarify, USCC has not released a 2.2 update, their Desires have 2.1.
1) I have no problem learned the process, rooting, and installing roms on the phone, to get all the fun stuff I want. But in the case of a warranty issue, where I have to send it back, is there a way to flash a stock rom and undo all changes to a USCC Desire? Can I go back to stock?
2 & 3) Since USCC packed this phone so full of crap, with only the 110MB free on a fresh reset, I can't install the apps I want. I will look into the temp root solution you posted Eden, because if I can eliminate some system apps, and move some apps into that /system/app spot and out of /data, I might get enough wiggle room to get by.
I'll go all out and get a 16GB data partition with the Gingerbread launcher etc etc, but only if I can undo it all. That's my real concern.
I'm relatively new to this ROM flashing business and, before I flash my first custom ROM, I have three quick questions that I would be very grateful if one of you more advanced developers could answer.
1. Is it possible to return to the stock ROM (or on the DInc, HTC Sense) without unrooting, or would I have to unroot and reroot?
2. What is the possibility of bricking my phone? I have seen a lot of warnings about bricking, but what is the actual probability that this will happen?
3. By using Titanium Backup, how much am I actually backing up and how much will I have to do myself to re-customize my phone?
Thank you.
1) Yes, by backing prior to your first flash you can always revert back to your backup. You could also download a stock rom and flash to that as another method of returning to stock.
2) Bricking and reading information on flashing have an inverse relationship a.k.a the more you read the less likely you brick and the less you read the more likely you brick. If you use that thing called google you will almost certainly not brick your device.
3) Not sure I can answer this one as I don't use titanium for anything. To get my phone back to the point I had it after each flash I only need to spend about 5 mins tweaking CPU, voltage and placing my clock widget where I want it. Google handles apps and contacts so that isn't a problem. You can backup your messages and what not with numerous programs. Customization can become endless i.e. themes, display tweaks etc but I don't really know how far into that you have gone.
You can follow my step-by-step tutorial, found here-Rooting Droid Incredible- for a very easy way to root.
Backup stock rom first. Don't be like me.
Where's ma rosie at?
I flashed the Optimized Shift ROM, and everything worked very well. However, I do have one more question - a patch for the ROM was posted today, and how do I install that? Do I just flash it like a normal ROM, or do I do something else?
The dev (newtoroot) should have said whether it was something you could flash over or do a full wipe (like before first installing a rom). You just flash the updated version like you did initially.
Whenever I try to restore to my backup of stock Sense/Froyo, my phone gets stuck on the white "HTC Incredible" screen, and I have to take out the battery and reboot into Optimized Sense. Because of this, it appears I may be stuck in a custom ROM. Is there anything I can do?
teentech said:
Whenever I try to restore to my backup of stock Sense/Froyo, my phone gets stuck on the white "HTC Incredible" screen, and I have to take out the battery and reboot into Optimized Sense. Because of this, it appears I may be stuck in a custom ROM. Is there anything I can do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you do a full wipe, the same thing you'd do before flashing a new ROM, and then restore the backup.
RMarkwald said:
Make sure you do a full wipe, the same thing you'd do before flashing a new ROM, and then restore the backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. Unfortunately, I just tried that, and it once again wouldn't boot up. Is there anything else I can do?
Hello everyone.
I enjoyed the noob video and also look forward to being pasted no doubt.
I have a wildfire running 2.2 android which I understand means I am running the latest firmware, which I also understand is going to make it difficult for me to root easily.
Never the less not being one to be beaten I have tried with EVO3, which no matter what I tried would not work, constantly asking if my firmware was too new. I even wiped it but no luck.
So I struck upon revolutionary, which yes I understand is beta.
This is perhaps where my lack of understanding comes in. Would I be right in thinking that custom roms require a specificly rooted device?
The thing is I have apparently been successfull with revolutionary. I can boot into it and I was able to instaly cryongena rom which worked OK until I installed google apps where by it constantaly showed the spinning blue arrow, round and round, rebooting and rebooting.
Thing is all other roms I have tried, everyone, has failed, with either script being old 'error 6' etc etc.
I found I needed a different kind of rom, which a few were offering however these also failed with error 6 which apparent was something to do with not being pure unix or something.
Sorry I am not up on the language, but I think I have tried all the popular ones, puzzle etc and none will install.
When I start up with the volume button pressed it shows the screen then says something about failing to load image, but goes away to quick to read pc4diag.img or something.
Is it possible I have not loaded revolutionary correctly, and have I gained 'root'
Thanks for reading, and please feel free to tear me a new one.
- Yes, I am sure you have Revolutionary installed correctly. You got a bootloop while installing GApps, in which case I would recommend performing a full wipe in Clockworkmod and try to install again. (Install the CM ROM first, then the GAPps Zip. Also, I hope you are using a filename called gapps-gb-2011xxxx.zip)
- If you want to install other ROMs, Sense and Android 2.2.1 ROMs require Clockworkmod 2.x. Attempting to flash them in Clockworkmod 3.x/4.x will give you the "Scripting not supported" error. The workaround to this is to download this attachment:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=662193&d=1311319218
Flash this in your new Clockworkmod Version, which will give you temporary 2.5, then proceed as normal.
- When you boot into the HBoot Mode, it will automatically perform a search for the files PC49IMG.diag and .nbh. It's normal, and theres nothing to worry about. After the search is over, and, it has not found the files, you can navigate properly again.
Oh, and I think you are being too paranoid about the video and everyone here trying to tear you a new one.
Good Luck
Thanks very much for your answer.
Honestly I spent 2 hours on google last night trying to get my head around it.
To be honest all I want is a quick phone, and I am not getting that with stock software on my wildfire, I get very frustrated when trying to scroll but it reads it as me tapping an app icon, and there are loads of them I don't want in here, footsteps and tweets and the likes, I am simply not interested and neither am I allowed to remove them. The cynogenmod looked amazing, but I can see even more processor intensive than the stock software.
I will have a look at what you have suggested and thanks for your help!
In that case, I think you might want to stick with the Stock ROM, and, get an app like 'Root Uninstaller' or 'Titanium Backup' which allows you to uninstall (Or, to be more correct - 'freeze') any apps you wish - Including System Apps.
Not trying to advertise Cyanogenmod here, since I understand ROM preference is a personal thing, but, I would recommend giving it one more try, after a full wipe. Also, go with the latest nightlies rather than the Stables. I have been using it since it was released back in January, and, honestly, I am never going back to Stock / Sense based ROMs.
Don't get me wrong it looks awesome. But the boot up time was just shy of 4 minutes (although I now understand it may have been because of first boot) and two attempts at install failed.
I shall look at how to fully wipe, but to be honest, being very new to hacking my phone I am quite happy having the back up there to revert too.
Well I tried to install anything but nothing works so I shall revert to my original back up and see about these tools for removing unwanted apps.
Thanks for the help, but something is not right. All roms either get as far as the twinkly noise on the HTC screen then do it again and again, and cynogen gets to the rotating arrow, then eventually an android zips across the screen and back to the arrow
Well I don't think I have root on this device. I tried to install busybox and titanium and both tell me my phone is not rooted.
Sigh.
If you are on the Stock ROM, you will have to flash this additionally:
http://bit.ly/su2361ef
This will install Superuser, which is what will give you "root". If you are on Custom ROMs, flashing this additional file is not required, since, they include the Superuser Binary already,. So, flash that, and then try installing Busybox / Ti Backup. (make sure you get a "superuser" icon in your app drawer after flashing that zip)
EDIT:
- Are you on Clockworkmod 3.0.0.6 incidentally? That version has caused bootloops for many users when installing ROM's.
- First boot time is extremely long (Upto 7-8 mins), and its normal.
Hello thanks for the info.
I am not confident I know what mod I am on, I just went to the revolutionary website and downloaded the latest beta.
When you say it can take 7-8mins to load up would this include the boot loops though? Thats all I get on all of them
I shall install the super user bit see if that helps.
No, not including bootloops. BTW, I am referring to the Clockworkmod Version, not Revolutionary,
When you enter the Recovery to flash something, at the bottom, you will "Clockworkmod Version x.x.x.x". It is that version I was asking.
Sadly I am not getting anywhere here, every single rom just goes round in circles in one way or another.
The version say revolutionary CWM v4.0.1.4
I was unable to get the standard revoked installed as I am runnning the latest android firmware and it just kept failing.
Something I am getting rather used to!
I cannot see a clockwork mod number anywhere, although it must be there as I have clockwork folder on the SD card.
Sorry, I am being a muppet here.