I'm looking for a bit of advice. I want to wait to upgrade my Samsung Galaxy S2 Epic 4G Touch, but I'm getting impatient waiting for Sprint. I'd also like to remove the bloatware and improve battery life.
The way I understand getting a ICS rom onto my phone is as follows:
a) Root
b) Apply ROM
Can anyone point me to a good article on rooting my phone and also what a good quality ROM would be? I jailbroke my iPhone and iPod Touch in the past and that was very easy...so this seems a little more involved and felt it best to ask for advice.
Also, if I were to root or ROM the device and wanted to go back to factory settings, what's the best way to do so? If I backup with the thick client Kies app, will it allow me to restore the device easily?
Thanks!
Related
I wanted to put this in the Root section, but i didnt want to get blasted for not putting it in the right forum, so I figured I would post it here.
I just got my phone, and I would love to get this thing rooted, remove some bloatware and oc'ed.
The only concern I have is that there are several methods it seems for rooting the phone, and which method are most people having the best success with?
I have read several posts in all the different methods about signal losses, no wifi or bluetooth, bricks, etc.
I just want to get some feedback from the brave souls out there that have done it, which method, and if you had any issues doing it.
This is my first Samsung phone as I came from the HTC G2, and I love the Epic Touch. Can't imagine a phone being much better and I dont want to have to go through the hassle of bricking it and having to return it to Best Buy or Sprint.
Thanks in advance!
I think you should wait for a bit, they just uploaded the stock kernel.
I have a rooted nook color, but I hardly had to do anything to root it. So now im interested in rooting my DINC 2, but im kind of hesitant.
First off, whats the chance of me just completely ruining my phone and just turning it into a brick?
Secondly, is it a dramatic improvement(performance-wise) using one of the better custom roms vs. stock sense?
Third, whats a good rom for somebody that wants to get rid of all the verizon and sense clutter and with really good performance?
And lastly, is there an easy-out to restore my phone to original factory condition?
I very much appreciate all input.
Hey all, first off, please don't flame. I am totally unfamiliar with Samsung. I just got my mom a gnex for mothers day and am going to root it but I keep seeing all these thread posts saying Google wallet is broken scattered through the ROM threads. I don't know if I'm even gonna put a custom rom on her phone, I just want root for maintenance. And I really don't have time to seriously study tons of threads. If anyone could advise about
A( what is breaking wallet
B( if I unlock bootloader and put on custom recovery, do I need to restore to factory recovery to flash radio updates ?
Ç( if there is a ROM that is pretty stock but more importantly stable, it'd be super appreciated to hear about it.
I run AOKP on me Evo 4g, but the random reboots are quite frequent. Is it more stable here?
By the way, it's a sprint galaxy nexus. Thanks much for any pointers.
Looking for good kernel for battery more than performance. Also, it seems to me on Sammy, you can't flash radio updates on custom kernel or custom recovery. Am I reading wrong?
Much thank to any who take time to respond. Thanks.
sent from 2yr old Evo on ICS
Don't root and ROM your mother's Galaxy Nexus.
Jesus people. Leave it stock. Don't need to do maintenance, don't need to do anything. Leave it stock and you'll save yourself and her all kinds of trouble.
Point taken, but the thing is she's been dealing with a Samsung moment for >2yrs . The thing won't even hardly make phone calls anymore, takes about 45sec for SMS to open etc. She's always asking me if it can be fixed (cuz she knows I spend 24-7 on my Evo and xda). I always tell her I'd have to root it to really try to do anything (wipe caches, etc).. but i got her a gnex figuring if there's issues, I can fix for her easily (also got it for her cuz I figured if development on Evo LTE goes south, I'll trade phones with her.
Anyhow, was hoping for clarification about do I have to have stock recovery and ROM to update radios etc. On HTC Evo you don't, but it seems like I've seen talk of that here.
Thanks anyone.
Edit: and martonikaj, I'll keep your info in mind.
Just trying to figure where the partition checks are with Sammy. I thought I read that if your kernel is custom, you can't flash updated radios.
sent from 2yr old Evo on ICS
scottspa74 said:
Edit: and martonikaj, I'll keep your info in mind.
Just trying to figure where the partition checks are with Sammy. I thought I read that if your kernel is custom, you can't flash updated radios.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand her frustration with her current device and your willingness to help, but you need to keep her device stock. You don't need to flash new radios to the device. Just leave it stock and you'll both be better off in the long run. The cons vastly outweigh the pros when considering rooting/ROMing a device of a completely novice/uninformed user that doesn't need any extra issues.
Just FYI, there is no check on the Nexus. You can be running whatever kernel and ROM you want and flash radios if your bootloader is unlocked. But again, this will never be necessary, the phone will work just fine on stock radios.
I super appreciate your input. You have answered questions I have. I am one of those who deeply feel that if your Android is not rooted, then you should buy a non Android device. It's Only yours if you control its dalvik and can wipe caches
Need recovery for that.
I'm not at all arguing with your point. And I appreciate the responses (but without #, it's only good for throwaway).
Thank you.
sent from 2yr old Evo on ICS
scottspa74 said:
I super appreciate your input. You have answered questions I have. I am one of those who deeply feel that if your Android is not rooted, then you should buy a non Android device. It's Only yours if you control its dalvik and can wipe caches
Need recovery for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
I'll agree on your point if your mom wants to read up on what root is, follow an XDA guide, learn how to use command prompt and Fastboot, and root her own device.
Until then, leave it stock.
Should have gotten her an IPhone lol.. I agree with you that every android should be rooted, but Moms don't need root they need something that just works . If a person is willing to do the research and learning about root themselves I always recommend android, if not stock or IPhone less headache for me
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
twizzler703 said:
Should have gotten her an IPhone lol.. I agree with you that every android should be rooted, but Moms don't need root they need something that just works . If a person is willing to do the research and learning about root themselves I always recommend android, if not stock or IPhone less headache for me
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA
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Click to collapse
The phone its just perfect as is it.. Id root her phone just to put adfree on it
The phone is not Samsung, i mean doesn't have touchwiz on it.. Its pure google
And. Forget about iphone
Galaxy Nexus AOKP m5 Franco kernel m3
msedek said:
The phone its just perfect as is it.. Id root her phone just to put adfree on it
The phone is not Samsung, i mean doesn't have touchwiz on it.. Its pure google
And. Forget about iphone
Galaxy Nexus AOKP m5 Franco kernel m3
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Click to collapse
Exactly. Google will only mass release versions that are finished and user friendly. Don't root it, it won't make her experience any better.
I've rooted devices for a few not-quite-as-technically-savvy-as-me friends in the past, and I've always regretted it - as have they. You shouldn't own a rooted device unless you rooted it yourself and know how to operate it. Otherwise, it's just asking for problems and complications. I got so sick of the calls from friends in other countries, "Hey, you rooted my phone and now I can't install an update that my carrier is pushing. Fix it!" Or if it's not a cry for help, I'd catch blame for any little issue that randomly occurred on the device. "My phone just randomly rebooted itself, this is obviously because you broke it when you rooted it."
I can only imagine how much worse it would be with a mother.
If you absolutely need the ability to wipe cache and dalvik (not really an issue unless your flashing ROMs, which your mother won't be, but whatever), you can always do it through fastboot.
Again, what martonikaj said:
martonikaj said:
Don't root and ROM your mother's Galaxy Nexus.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey i am still noob to my samsung galaxy s3 SGH-i747, and i just rooted my phone with odin. I am currently on 4.0.4 ICS. So i was wondering what type of MUST HAVE stuff i should put onto my phone. Like how to change my kernel and stuff. I just want some simple stuff to give my phone a boost and stuff nothing major like flashing unofficial jelly bean or anything. It would be great of someone can kindly help me and giuld me thru stuff or give me links. I just want to really understand how this rooting and flashing stuff works. Thx! CHEERS~
Lhmm said:
Hey i am still noob to my samsung galaxy s3 SGH-i747, and i just rooted my phone with odin. I am currently on 4.0.4 ICS. So i was wondering what type of MUST HAVE stuff i should put onto my phone. Like how to change my kernel and stuff. I just want some simple stuff to give my phone a boost and stuff nothing major like flashing unofficial jelly bean or anything. It would be great of someone can kindly help me and giuld me thru stuff or give me links. I just want to really understand how this rooting and flashing stuff works. Thx! CHEERS~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should really just search around android developments thats really where the hacks and mods come in.. See for yourself!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1633
Lhmm said:
Hey i am still noob to my samsung galaxy s3 SGH-i747, and i just rooted my phone with odin. I am currently on 4.0.4 ICS. So i was wondering what type of MUST HAVE stuff i should put onto my phone. Like how to change my kernel and stuff. I just want some simple stuff to give my phone a boost and stuff nothing major like flashing unofficial jelly bean or anything. It would be great of someone can kindly help me and giuld me thru stuff or give me links. I just want to really understand how this rooting and flashing stuff works. Thx! CHEERS~
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here's some tips...
- don't start flashing and modding until you have read....read...and re-read. If you follow instructions and cross reference, things will be fun. If you skip details and take foolish risks...you may end up getting a soft/hard brick or just getting jammed up. Take your time, read, absorb...and GO SLOW.
- don't just flash because you can....unless you can afford to throw away TIME and/or MONEY. My stock rom runs near perfect. Battery drain, speed, multitasking yadda yadda...is the best I have ever experienced and I DO COMPARE my stats with those on so called BETTER ROMS. Custom tweaked roms can be very rewarding...but I can see that a huge amount of users are having many uses such as Hot Reboots, unreliability, battery drains etc. Start off with things like replacing your Touch Wiz home screen with something like Go Launcher EX. But if your new here, you may not even realize why it IS or why it COULD be better.
- I always decide to test new apps and or mods...for one main reason. Because I am unsatisfied with a feature or operation. In Android world, there are always multiple solutions or options. If it's not here today, it will be next week or next month. Searching is the key. Good Luck!
themadproducer said:
Here's some tips...
- don't start flashing and modding until you have read....read...and re-read. If you follow instructions and cross reference, things will be fun. If you skip details and take foolish risks...you may end up getting a soft/hard brick or just getting jammed up. Take your time, read, absorb...and GO SLOW.
- don't just flash because you can....unless you can afford to throw away TIME and/or MONEY. My stock rom runs near perfect. Battery drain, speed, multitasking yadda yadda...is the best I have ever experienced and I DO COMPARE my stats with those on so called BETTER ROMS. Custom tweaked roms can be very rewarding...but I can see that a huge amount of users are having many uses such as Hot Reboots, unreliability, battery drains etc. Start off with things like replacing your Touch Wiz home screen with something like Go Launcher EX. But if your new here, you may not even realize why it IS or why it COULD be better.
- I always decide to test new apps and or mods...for one main reason. Because I am unsatisfied with a feature or operation. In Android world, there are always multiple solutions or options. If it's not here today, it will be next week or next month. Searching is the key. Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And thank the people like this guy ^ who help you. Even if it is from 2011 and it just helped you today.
I've recently rooted my phone and now I am questioning why I did it. The first phone I rooted was my Nexus One and I've been a member of this site since the release of the Galaxy S2 so I am no novice. It used to be a necessity to root for the increased control it gave, but now all I seem to be doing is finding solutions to get back functionality that I've lost through tripping Knox. Please, can anyone give me a reason or list the advantages of rooting the current generation of phones because I'm struggling to justify keeping the bootloader unlocked and not going back to stock?
No. I wouldn't... for you though the cat's already out of the bag.
If running on Pie I definitely wouldn't update to 10 or worse 11.
mckeowngoo said:
I've recently rooted my phone and now I am questioning why I did it. The first phone I rooted was my Nexus One and I've been a member of this site since the release of the Galaxy S2 so I am no novice. It used to be a necessity to root for the increased control it gave, but now all I seem to be doing is finding solutions to get back functionality that I've lost through tripping Knox. Please, can anyone give me a reason or list the advantages of rooting the current generation of phones because I'm struggling to justify keeping the bootloader unlocked and not going back to stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like you, I've been rooting since my HTC-Hero way back in the early days of Android. It was necessary for better kernels, better battery life, better RAM and CPU management, better file systems (Early days of ARM and EXT4) and of course those cool themes and apps that only work with Root (Titanium Backup, Gosh I miss you!!). Not to mention what was my favorite, MIUI!
The last phone I rooted was the Nexus 6. It was a powerhouse! I still have it in a drawer full of old devices in my desk and miss it! Someone once told me when checking out my N6, "Your phone is like a muscle car!"
I miss rooting and I hate that carriers have locked the Bootloaders down. Android was founded on and was expanded by the Amateur Development community. Look up Cyanogen for details!.
I just bought my daughter this device outright - first, one I've ever bought that wasn't through my carrier and I'll be doing the same with the Pixel 6 for myself later this year which means I can finally go back to rooting and hopefully back to what earned me the RC title, but I also wonder, do I really NEED to root these??
My daughter isn't a power user. She's probably happy with whatever native settings and Samsung themes she can find on her own. My Pixel 4 XL has been great as is. so I applaud your question because I also wonder if rooting is still necessary or is it just a way to feel rebellious and outside the fray?
I also own a Pixel 4, bought to scratch an itch when I wanted to try out GrapheneOS.
I think I will go back to stock, which is sad as I enjoyed the process of modifying the phones software. If there was a net gain or increased functionality to keep the phone rooted, I would but unfortunately there isn't a compelling reason to keep the bootloader unlocked.
Am I wrong? Is the scene, at least for Samsung phones, dead and this forum obsolete?
Root is a must for me. Just being able to debloat. Either way I bought a unlock token
I understand the debloat of carriers useless apps, but since I found that ADB can basicly remove the programs I don't need root for that. But I still like root for change hosts files and such.