Database Info

[help needed] terminology and a clear answer?

Im a bit of a noob when it comes to Android.
im more a windows mobile person however....
For xmas i recieved an android tablet which is an awesome toy! but ive had issues with making the widgets work on the home screen - they dont show up.
Ive read forums and forums all day and each forum points back to xda:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=780828&page=13
Looks great, downloaded the apk tried to copy it to the system/app folder but it wont let me do it.
Ive managed to confuse myself after hours of reading so hoping someone can give me some ideas.
Ive read about needing the device 'rooted' i still dont understand what this is n how i do it.
Ive also read the file is to be pushed into the folder??
Ive downloaded the terminal emulator, file explorer etc... tried copy/paste, move, cut etc... all with the same answer of insufficent access.
The terminal emulator on the other hand i cannot use as its all touch screen with no hard buttons once running i cannot type into the program.
surely theres an easier way to load things into the system folders?
Sorry if its the wrong section or what seems a simple ask for some direction, I'm used to windows mobile and htc sence modding where you can just delete and replace files at will

Hey,
Root is like the administrator in Windows. By default, you have a user account, not a root or admin account. And therefore you're access permissions are limited. You do not have write permissions to most internal directories and are pretty much limited to the sd card, which is kinda like 'home' in linux or 'my documents' in windows. Also, cannot run applications that require su (superuser, ie: root, admin).
Rooting is the act of accessing the root user account, or admin account. Like 'jail-breaking' in the apple world.
How to root your android depends on which model you have.
For installing the widget app, as long as its an .apk file, you should be able to just click on it and be prompted to install it.
To access your widgets, should be able to log press on a blank area of the home screen and get a option box to select from. Or if you have a 'menu' button there should be an add option.
To use the Terminal, long press 'menu' and your keyboard will popup. Or click menu and there will be an option for the keyboard, also settings to change color, text size and others.
Sent from my ERIS using XDA App

Also, in the terminal, it will use linux commands, not windows commands.
You can google android commands and get a list of common commands.
Good luck. Have fun. If you don't have some linux experience, it may seem like there's a steep learning curve, but most things will become easy after a little tinkering.
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im finding this an incredibly steep curve - a bit too steep lol

I would recommend searching <(name of device) root guide> and then you will find your way around.
But, i don't think you need root, root is for when you need to install applications that you need higher permissions to control system settings. Also to install different versions of android.
Your problem seems to be only a bug. If you want to install an application that is not on the market, you just go to your settings and turn on installing from unknown sources.
You don't need to put it in system apps, the apk is like an .exe, just put it on your sd card, install a file manager program like ASTRO, and then open that app, go to the directory you transfered the file, and click it, ASTRO will give you the ability to install it.

patriotaus said:
I would recommend searching <(name of device) root guide> and then you will find your way around.
But, i don't think you need root, root is for when you need to install applications that you need higher permissions to control system settings. Also to install different versions of android.
Your problem seems to be only a bug. If you want to install an application that is not on the market, you just go to your settings and turn on installing from unknown sources.
You don't need to put it in system apps, the apk is like an .exe, just put it on your sd card, install a file manager program like ASTRO, and then open that app, go to the directory you transfered the file, and click it, ASTRO will give you the ability to install it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think rooting is essential to do this but from what ive read - it helps.
the app in question is this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=780828
this should replace the file on my system which doesnt work. unless anyone has a suggestion to get the same item by installing an apk to achieve as per the instructions state "copy into system/app and set permissions"

App/file managment

I realize everyone has their opinion about software but I was wondering if there was a good app/file management tool in the market that everyone likes or most people like. Or are these two separate applications? I plan on rooting shortly and want to get rid of the bloatware and be able to manage my files. Thanks

I like Astro File Manager, works like a charm..........

Same Here. Pro version is awesome. Free version is good too...

Root Explorer, full r/w access to the entire system, text editor, and gives you access to the /data folder that other file managers don't.

I would have to say that I have also used astro file manager since I first got my nexus one over a year ago and it is one of the first applications I download when I get a new android device. I would recommend it to anyone.
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Thanks
I'm going to start the root now! Thanks for the info. hopfully all goes well.

I use Astro and Root Explorer as well, both premium. I will use the root explorer to "borrow" apps from my 6 other devices to swap around with eachother.

[Q] 2.3.6 Bloatware

I'm trying to remove some of the bloatware from my rooted OTA GB 2.3.6. I'm using Root Explorer and deleting select apk's and their odex file from the system/app directory. However there is one app called Rhapsody that I haven't got all the pieces, because the Rhapsody process keeps showing up in my running services list after I reboot. Both the apk and the odex file have been deleted. Anyone know what other file(s) I missed that are connected with Rhapsody?
Also, there is this rather annoying "media scanner" that runs every time that I boot my phone. Is this a must have, or can I delete it? It adds to my boot time, and if it doesn't have to be there, I want to get rid of it. And if I can delete it, what is the name of the app?

Lexus One said:
I'm trying to remove some of the bloatware from my rooted OTA GB 2.3.6. I'm using Root Explorer and deleting select apk's and their odex file from the system/app directory. However there is one app called Rhapsody that I haven't got all the pieces, because the Rhapsody process keeps showing up in my running services list after I reboot. Both the apk and the odex file have been deleted. Anyone know what other file(s) I missed that are connected with Rhapsody?
Also, there is this rather annoying "media scanner" that runs every time that I boot my phone. Is this a must have, or can I delete it? It adds to my boot time, and if it doesn't have to be there, I want to get rid of it. And if I can delete it, what is the name of the app?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in root explorer you must delete the apk from /system/app and the associated data folder in /data/data then do a search of the whole system for 'rhapsody' as there might be little fragments left in dbdata or dalvikcache folders just delete anything with rhapsody in the name... as for the media scanning, there is a work around for this which I believe is putting a file named '.nomedia' in whatever folder you want excluded from the scan (music or pictures for instance), if you want no scanning at all put on root of SD card and that should stop it however this means you will have manually search/scan for anything you're looking for because that file will tell all apps trying to access what you're blocking that there's nothing there
blazing through on my Acer A500 via XDA app

The Media Scanner feeds Gallery and possibly the default music player. I don't think it is something you can get rid of, but I could be wrong.
There is an app called Super Manager that makes it very easy to mark folders as "noscan". I use it so all of my ebooks don't show up in the gallery.

I didn't know about the additional related app files being in the data/data. What might be the repercussions if I miss cleaning up all of them? Do they just take up memory space, or are they being executed by the system, even if the apk and odex files are gone?
As for the media scanner...I take it this is a critical system function? Is it an indexer? If the ONLY way around it is the ".nomedia" trick...and there are obvious disadvantages to using this method, then perhaps it is just best to put up with the extra boot time.
UPDATE: Just ran "Rescan Media Root" from the Market. It stops the media scan from occurring. And you can re-enable it at any time by running this app.
I also got Rhapsody stopped by searching and deleting the rest of the associated files. Thanks for the help guys!

I'm a little late here, but Rescan Media works fine to stop the scanner, and Titanium Backup has a "Chuck Norris" mode of killing bloatware.
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Rescan media Root is what I use
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Bloatware Removal

I finally Rooted my Sidekick and have Titanium Backup Free installed. I want to remove the bloatware from the Phone Storage. Which titles would you recommend removing and which to leave alone??
Any suggestions

I removed a lot of apps. I removed device carbon, zipwhip, group text, cloud text, tmobile contacts backup, twitter, myspace, the stock browser, gmail, wifi calling, telenav, tmobile app pack, tmobile mall, maybe some others i cant remember. i replaced the stock browser with dolphin mini which i use for only mobile browsing. i also have opera mobile which i use for desktop browsing. i use google maps for navigation. i downloaded gmail from the market. seems the preloaded version may be faulty but the market version works fine. i used an app from the market called apps2rom to convert gmail, dolphin, opera, and a few other user apps to system apps. seems to work good so far.

sidekick_fanatic said:
I removed a lot of apps. I removed device carbon, zipwhip, group text, cloud text, tmobile contacts backup, twitter, myspace, the stock browser, gmail, wifi calling, telenav, tmobile app pack, tmobile mall, maybe some others i cant remember. i replaced the stock browser with dolphin mini which i use for only mobile browsing. i also have opera mobile which i use for desktop browsing. i use google maps for navigation. i downloaded gmail from the market. seems the preloaded version may be faulty but the market version works fine. i used an app from the market called apps2rom to convert gmail, dolphin, opera, and a few other user apps to system apps. seems to work good so far.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
out of curiosity, how exactly did u remove those apps? adb remove?

no. i use an app called total commander. you wont find it in the market yet, so just google total commander for android or visit ghisler.com. when you open total commander in landscape mode, you should see a button with a green plus sign. if you dont see that, switch to portrait mode and hit the botton with the two green arrows. then you should see the green plus sign. when you hit the green plus sign, a window will pop up that says add/edit button. at the top of the window it will say change directory. click that and change it to internal command. then click where it says command and select 119 remount. this will only work with root access. click ok/apply. you will now have a button with an r on it. go into any partition and click the r button and it will remount as r/w. when mounted as r/w, the button will also display r/w. click the button again and it will remount as r/o. go into system/app and remount as r/w and you can delete any system app. when im done i usually remount as read only again just to be safe. you probably already know this, but you have to allow total commander su permissions for this to work. but thats how i do it.

You can also use root browser by jrummy 16 he allows u to have the full verison for free
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The easiest way to uninstall "uninstallable"/preloaded apps is with TiBu...
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there are several good ways to remove system apps. any file browser with root functions will do the job. i like total commander because it has two windows, you can copy from one window and paste in the other, i like the interface, and i like the way it displays folders. it is also free, and it is the "full version". its an app thats currently in development. right now release candidate 4 is the current version. i dont know when the official version comes out, but i know it will be in the market. also dont know if it will be paid or free, but i think free. right now its free, if it becomes paid, i will have to find another root browser that i like. but i hope it stays free. i doubt i will like any other browser as much as i like total commander.

i also have converted several user apps to system using an app called apps2rom. its available in the market for free if anyone is interested. its very straightforward. select the apps you want to convert, click move, allow the device to reboot, and voila! its done.

Titanium Backup Free also allows for free app block/removal (and this is for a *rooted* Sidekick 4G). (and it is what I have installed )

Just get a custom rom like glorious overdose..it will save you the trouble of going through each unnecessary app and deleting it..a good rom like that is already fast and lightweight..
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some people want to stay on the stock firmware, myself being one of them. removing bloatware really isnt that troublesome. if you spend a little time figuring out how to do it, it really takes no time at all. removing bloatware takes most of the bugs out of the stock firmware anyway (now is the part when people start screaming about touchwiz being the main problem, but it works fine for me). not everyone needs a custom rom though.

I finally tried to block an app but found out that feature is only in the PAID (aka DONATION) version of Titanium Backup. Cheapskate that I am, I went to your "Total Commander for Android" (1.0 rc4) and downloaded it. Any suggestions on how to use it?

sidekick_fanatic said:
no. i use an app called total commander. you wont find it in the market yet, so just google total commander for android or visit ghisler.com. when you open total commander in landscape mode, you should see a button with a green plus sign. if you dont see that, switch to portrait mode and hit the botton with the two green arrows. then you should see the green plus sign. when you hit the green plus sign, a window will pop up that says add/edit button. at the top of the window it will say change directory. click that and change it to internal command. then click where it says command and select 119 remount. this will only work with root access. click ok/apply. you will now have a button with an r on it. go into any partition and click the r button and it will remount as r/w. when mounted as r/w, the button will also display r/w. click the button again and it will remount as r/o. go into system/app and remount as r/w and you can delete any system app. when im done i usually remount as read only again just to be safe. you probably already know this, but you have to allow total commander su permissions for this to work. but thats how i do it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
these are all the instructions you need to delete apps i cant explain it any better

I guess I am not sure where to LOOK for the system files. not sure which folders have the files in them (no clue about how Android sets up their stuff in the root directory) but I saw the R & the icons mentioned, etc.

open total commander. click file system root. scroll down, click system. then click app. then remount, delete the apps you want, then remount back to read only. if you are not sure what an app is or does, google it. thats how i figured certain things out. i dont remember what any of them are, i only looked them up and deleted them. i also suggest if you have cwm recovery that you boot into it after deleting system apps and run fix permissions. to do that, boot into cwm, scroll down and select advanced, then select fix permissions. you dont have to do it after you delete every system app, just delete a bunch and then do it. android stores permissions for every app, and i theorize that deleting system apps causes permissions errors similar to registry errors in windows. fix permissions takes care of that.

re-reading stuff now. Where to I move them to? I am thinking of making a new folder in my SD card and moving stuff there. I can then upload the stuff to my SugarSync account for permanent storage.

I removed the default Contacts APP. the "CONTACTS" word disappeared for the home screen. I used Go Contacts Pro. if I move that app into the system folder, will the "CONTACTS" Shortcut come back?
Also getting constant "android.process.acore has stopped unexpectedly" Force Close error again and again. How do I fix this?

also, where do I find "cwm recovery"??
i looked here and don't see anything:
https://market.android.com/search?q=cwm+recovery&c=apps
AND
https://market.android.com/developer?pub=ClockworkMod&start=0&num=12

I tried this 1:
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.stericson.permissionfix
But it didn't seem to do anything. Still getting the "acore" Force Close error

after a bit more research on the error, it looks like Facebook & Contacts are the main culprits. i will attempt re installing them back into the system app folder.

HTC ONE S Asphalt 6 cant uninstall?

Hi,my wife got the HTC One S,the game was on it so i just downloaded te around 500Mb tried it out and now i want to uninstall it but there is no such option in Apps or when i go in Play Store on my apps it doesnt show Asphalt 6.can somebody help to delete this stupid thing from the phone?Thx

If it isn't rooted, there is no way to delete it. You must root, go to a file explorer and manually delete the apk, or use Titanium Backup and delete it. This my friend is what we call bloatware - stuff no one wants but carriers get paid to put them on the phone. Another reason to root. Hope I helped.

You can get rid of the 500MB file by going to your sd card and deleting the GameLoft folder, then go into your app manager and select the "All" tab, find and disable Asphalt. Not exactly uninstalled, but mostly gone that way.
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