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I'm new to rooting and just rooted my Droid 2 Global and have no idea what to do next. Where do I find roms? What are the best ones? And how can I get rid of some of this junk moto has on here?
Google team defuse
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
I'm sorta new to this too. I rooted with Z4Root. I'd recommend going to the market and downloading Root Uninstaller. That helped me get rid of all the stupid crap verizon put on there, like Blockbuster, Kindle, CityID, etc.
Another thing you could do is look up "root" in the market. It will show you all the apps that require root access.
Becareful though, just like your home computer, uninstalling some software may have unintended consequences. Hope that helps.
marcort said:
I'm sorta new to this too. I rooted with Z4Root. I'd recommend going to the market and downloading Root Uninstaller. That helped me get rid of all the stupid crap verizon put on there, like Blockbuster, Kindle, CityID, etc.
Another thing you could do is look up "root" in the market. It will show you all the apps that require root access.
Becareful though, just like your home computer, uninstalling some software may have unintended consequences. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a lot. Has anything you uninstalled caused you problems?
Not yet. But I only uninstalled the factory installed extra stuff. I noticed a slight pickup in speed and battery life (although it could just all be in my head... LOL). Let me know if you do anything else cool. Im still trying to build up enough balls to actually start flashing roms.
marcort said:
I'm sorta new to this too. I rooted with Z4Root. I'd recommend going to the market and downloading Root Uninstaller. That helped me get rid of all the stupid crap verizon put on there, like Blockbuster, Kindle, CityID, etc.
Another thing you could do is look up "root" in the market. It will show you all the apps that require root access.
Becareful though, just like your home computer, uninstalling some software may have unintended consequences. Hope that helps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is a bad idea, don't do it.
When you delete the bloatware that comes on the phone, you make your phone unable to receive OTA updates from Verizon. This includes any future updates to Android version 2.3 (Gingerbread). The updates run as a patch, they check for all of the system data to be present. This includes pre-installed apps like blockbuster, amazon, etc. If ALL of the system data isn't present, the patch can't run.
Instead, you should use Titanium Backup to freeze these programs. It does the same thing, but instead of removing the files, it changes their extension, so that they can't run. It has the same effect, but when you want an update, you just unfreeze your programs, update, and then refreeze them. It also lets you make backups of your apps and app data.
If you don't want to pay for TiBu, you can always manually change all the filenames from cityID.apk to cityID.bak, etc etc. This does the same thing, for free, but is more involved and less beginner friendly.
Do what ever you want......if you want to go back to stock to get offical ota updates just search for the sbf file and your all good. Just know what your doing before you do it. If you delete bloatware it will effect ota updates. But flash the sbf with rsd lite and you'll be fine
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
You could do that, yes. But freezing bloatware is more efficient. Flashing an SBF is more time intensive, and has a higher chance (not high, mind you, but highER) of not working correctly. Also, TiBU has the added benefit of being a backup utility that's easy to use and very functional and stable.
Ok.
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
Well I guess that shows how much of a dummy I am with this stuff. I ended up reinstalling the stuff I removed from the market and unrooting because I had to send the phone back. It had a really weird charging issue that was present when I bought it. Im on the new one now. (Rooted to try and fix the charging issue. It didnt work). I haven't rooted the new phone yet. Im reading through all the forums to try and gain a little better understanding of how to do this stuff without wrecking my phone or missing out on updates. Thanks for all the good info! I wont be screwing around with bloatware so soon this time.
Definitly do not go the uninstall route on the Blur stuff.
Freezing is better!
As for ROMs there is only one ROM that I know of and it is Fission.
Get the ROM manager here at XDA and flashing it is a snap. It even has the Stock Droid in the manager so you can easily go back to stock when needed.
The stock rom in the rom manger still has root, busybox and is deodexed. If sent back with these programs on it will void your warranty. So if you ever need to send back sbf 1st to be safe. The .sbf takes like 15 minutes. Maybe two minutes more then flashing a ROM. So I really don't get how flashing a .sbf is difficult. And it actually is the safest due to the locked bootlader and the drivers usually never fail if running Windows 32 bit.
so i'm assuming that all of the other "popular" ROM's (liberty, rubix, apex, etc.) that say they are for the DX and D2 wont work on the D2G? I've installed many ROM's on my D2G and all of them get stuck on airplane mode and wont unlock. I end up having to restore and revert back to stock...
Yep, pretty lame that all these devs havent taken numerous peoples' offers to test out d2g ports of the d2 roms. i mean i have no idea how to port it myself but theres people saying "if you try it, ill test it" and still no devs take anyone up on the offer.
So does ne one think that we are going to get ne roms ported over to us from the dx or the d2 cuz I was lookin forward to flashing liberty to my D2G so can some1 pm if they got ne idea or if they kno when we can expect a new rom
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App
D2G Rooting
Hey Guys- I just rooted and installed Fission ROM on my D2G- WHEW!! My wife (the IT pro) and I rooted this past Sunday evening. We used Z4ROOT- this part was fairly easy. Then we spent the next 6 hours- with no luck whatsoever- trying to install a custom ROM. We finally found out that there aren't many out for the D2G just yet.
We finally found Fission ROM, but could not get it installed. You must have a bootstrap program to install the rom. I found this out by accident. Finally installed Fission on Tuesday night. Only used for a few hours, but so far so good.
BTW- there are several bloatware freezers on the market. I had read not to remove it, so I froze it. App Freezer for Root seems to be working fine.
Be careful, and good luck!
biknut1 said:
We finally found Fission ROM, but could not get it installed. You must have a bootstrap program to install the rom. I found this out by accident. Finally installed Fission on Tuesday night. Only used for a few hours, but so far so good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are instructions with everything you need to know (including koush's bootstrap) provided by team defuse on their website. The entire process shouldn't take more than 30 minutes tops.
And you can delete anything you want now that there is the D2 global SBF for recovery. Just make sure you know how to use it before things go awry so you don't panic and flood the forums with questions that have already been answered.
Sent from my DROID2 using XDA App
pfallin said:
so i'm assuming that all of the other "popular" ROM's (liberty, rubix, apex, etc.) that say they are for the DX and D2 wont work on the D2G? I've installed many ROM's on my D2G and all of them get stuck on airplane mode and wont unlock. I end up having to restore and revert back to stock...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
how do you revert back to stock. yes i made a backup.
How do you get the OTA Update? I mean, you have to be on Verizon to get it, right? What if you unlocked the phone and use it outside the US with a different sim card from some other carrier? Can you still get the update? Please help.
And, if somehow I can find this precious update, then if I change my rom to Fission, I won't get updates anymore, right? Then what is the point of getting new roms? I'll have to be checking for newer roms with newer updates from Verizon all the time? Is this the idea?
Thank you,
hgrimberg said:
How do you get the OTA Update? I mean, you have to be on Verizon to get it, right? What if you unlocked the phone and use it outside the US with a different sim card from some other carrier? Can you still get the update? Please help.
And, if somehow I can find this precious update, then if I change my rom to Fission, I won't get updates anymore, right? Then what is the point of getting new roms? I'll have to be checking for newer roms with newer updates from Verizon all the time? Is this the idea?
Thank you,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can get the update, no matter you are not on Verizon network. But update will not be 'pushed' to you, you have to go to system/about phone/system updates. Phone will check for update and let you know if one is available. If you are already running 2.4.330, you will get prompt no update is available. If you are on 2.4.29 - you must get the prompt update is available and will be downloaded.
Update will work only if you are using stock firmware (for me it worked fine no matter I had rooted the phone, you must make sure there are no 'frozen' apps before update is applied, or it will fail to install). On Fission, it will not show/work. Many users, including myself, have reported update does not seem to be adding anything benneficial to users on GSM/UMTS networks. On some networks (in Canada and Australia so far) update causes the phone to become unreliable when it comes to keeping connection to the cellular network. Another user (in Germany) reports no problems using the updated firmware. I suspect this is related to frequencies - in Canada and Australia we use bands that overlap with US bands which as we all know have some software restrictions imposed by the phone. In Europe (Germany, Greece) you guys use 2100Mhz.
Again - update addresses some CDMA issues, I find absolutely no different with/without the update in terms of battery life or call quality. (I am on Rogers Canada - GSM/HSPA 850/1900.)
i,
I'm new here, I hope I'm posting this in the right forum. My apologies if not.
I have a rooted Verizon Droid 4 running Gingerbread. I had busybox installed to root it, and I configured it using the Droid utility on OS X some months ago. I used Titanium Backup (with root) to freeze the bloatware.
Fast forward to a couple days ago, when Verizon pushed the ICS update to it's phones. I downloaded it and ran it, and it reported "update failed", then I smacked myself in the head and remembered that I didn't un-root the phone.
So I disabled root via busybox, and then retried the update. It downloaded and ran, and now it gets stuck at the Droid animation screen (the one after the "M" "Dual Core" screen).
I'm thinking it's because I did not unfreeze those apps through Titanium?
In any case, I've tried restoring it to Gingerbread (219) (VRZ_XT894_6.5.1-167_DR4-1_M1-219_1FF_01.xml), and it fails on step 6/18 (cdt.bin).
I understand that you can't flash back to Gingerbread from Ice Cream Sandwich, but I'm not sure if ICS ever went all the way through.
Right now I'm downloading the ICS fastboot files (I've been attempting all these restorations via RSD Lite on a mac pro with bootcamp, and a factory cable that I made from the instructions on here (what a pain in the ass that soldering was)).
Does anyone have any advice on what to do to return my phone to stock? I can't get it to do anything.
Many, many thanks in advance to anyone who might be able to help. I've been tearing my hair out over this for the last 3 days.
lol man thank god us Samsung people have Odin...
Is there a stock ICS image out yet?
Can you get into recovery or just bootloader?
I don't think this would have been hard to find if you had looked, but here's where you should be asking your questions: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=1503
Actually, you'll likely be able to find a thread detailing how to return to stock anyway. The problem is that, as you guessed, you didn't unfreeze those stock apps and processes before taking the update.
I hope you're able to restore to GB as ICS isn't perfect yet because of VZ's tweaking and I don't think it's worthwhile unless you're going to a custom Rom. At least now you know how to handle things in the future, though I wouldn't recommend taking updates until they've been out for a bit and problems have been dealt with.
I own a Verizon SCH-I535 that had version 4.1.2 and after months of avoiding the Verizon update I stupidly pressed install now instead of later. I did have enough mind to take the battery out before it could reboot but my question is can I still root? And can I still use the 4.1.2 method? I don't want to install any roms just wish to uninstall any bloat apps.
I had a very similar issue some time ago. Check out my thread at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2607252
I went in a few circles, soft bricked my phone, but was able to recover. I think the important thing is to verify if your bootloader has been locked or not; boot into odin/recovery mode and checkout the messages posted in my thread. If the bootloader is not locked yet then you have options. If it is locked, you should probably just reboot the phone and let it do it's thing as the locked bootloader cannot be reverted.
Depends on how important this is to you. My wife got the 4.3 update and loves it, but she is not the type to do any customization. I now have a CM 10 d2vzw and am happy. It I were to do this again, I would probably verify you have an unlocked bootloader and re-flash the complete stock 4.1.2 image as I did. Issue is, you will probably lose a lot of data & settings, but things like pictures, etc. should sitll be there. Once the stock 4.1.2 is there you will want to root and disable updates, or else flash a new rom.
The 4.3 update (and anything after it) locks the bootloader. If that's a big deal to you, then you need to push some custom roms. If not, towelroot works on everything so far, so you'd be able to reroot (pretty hassle free) and do what you want.
I have successfully rooted my note 12.2 - thanks to this awesome forum.
With that I can't do OTA or use Kies to stay up to date. So I'd like to know how I can stay up to date as Samsung releases new firmwares? For example I just downloaded the newly released 5.0.2 from Samobile and flashed it with Odin 3.09. That went well but of course it wiped my machine so I'm starting fresh again. I'd like to be able to stay up to date with out a complete re-wipe each time if possible. Thoughts?
As a long time root user I can tell you that the cardinal rule is that one should give up the notion of getting OTA updates for good once one roots for the simple fact that with each major OTA update comes the risk of losing root forever should the update lock the doors on the exploit used to gain root to begin with.
Casual root users are best served by watching forum threads after updates are released to see how more experienced users are fairing with getting their devices up to date. The exception to this is if a custom ROM is installed and the developer updates the ROM periodically to integrate the updated software or features that the device manufacturer releases. Even then, if a major update is released that let's say jumps to a new system like kitkat to lollipop there's a chance that a full wipe can't be avoided. ROM developers typically warn users when clean installs are required, and some even distribute their own OTAs.
I'm a religious user of titanium backup, and I will often dirty flash a ROM update or use prior titanium backups to restore data but this can be risky business when major updates are released because if software or drivers change from one major firmware release to another a backup of a particular application may no longer be compatible and stability may be affected upon restore.
Bottom line, if you want lollipop on your note pro, rooted, can live with the current bluetooth issues and want to be able to update further easily while retaining root then go with a custom ROM like civs and just monitor the thread of that ROM for updates.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the excellent advice. One two more more question on the topic. I had root on KitKat, but after flashing the new stock Lollipop via Odin, I lost root. So after installing the stock Lollipop I had to re-do the root flash via Odin to get root back, thankfully it all worked out. (Lollipop is awesome BTW).
Questions:
1. Was I in danger of forever losing root as you state above or was this a safe route? I understand that OTA and even Kies can make me lose root forever, but what about flashing a stock via Odin?
2. Are you saying that next time there's an update I could try to dirty flash the ROM via TWM (after doing a good backup via Titanium of course)? Basically find ROM on samobile, download, copy to SD card and dirty flash away using these suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/sthr8/dirty_flashing_what_it_is_and_is_not_lets_set_the/
Typically to keep root the stock recovery is replaced with a custom one, TWRP is the main one used for our device. Stock updates from Samsung downloaded as OTA will typically fail to flash in TWRP. Odin flashing stock images will erase everything including the custom recovery, thus causing loss of root. In other words you'll typically lose root one way or another and the key to retaining it is to not blindly update until a root method is ensured for the next version of firmware. Resign to the fact that with each update you will temporarily lose root and need to redo it. Plan ahead, wait for root confirmation and then update with a plan of how to get root again.
I typically don't TWRP flash stock so I don't know if it works but in the distant past I recall that it wouldn't so thus I never try. Maybe someone can confirm. For me I haven't updated firmware on my note pro for a year now and I am not missing anything. ..
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
I have a stock unrooted Motorola Droid Razr M xt907
4.4.2 OTA OS, but I DID remove a few stock items.
Sys Ver: 182.46.15.XT907.Verison.en.US
Kernel is: July 29 2014
I have never owned or worked with a smartphone before, but have OC exp dating back to MS Dos 1.x-2.1 and have some Linux exp using OpenSuse
If I understand correctly I need to back upi the system files BEFORE ROOTING the device to protect myself in the event I go to far while rooted and bootloop or brick the device.
I am trying to understand how to create a Nandroid backup without rooting, but I'm not understanding quite enough to have any great success.
I''d rather not wipe all the installed apps, but if I need to I'd like to know if I can
- back up apps and settings using a utility that does not require root access
- do a reset
- then back up the virgin unrooted 4.4.2 system files
- Then root
- Then install CM11 (KitKat 4.4.4 based)
- The restore the apps and settings fromt eh (non Nandroid) backup I need to do a real OTA reset because I killed some of the stock apps already. (At least, that's my understanding)
I really appreciate you all being here to help folks! Many thanks in advance!
XDA Visitor said:
I have a stock unrooted Motorola Droid Razr M xt907
4.4.2 OTA OS, but I DID remove a few stock items.
Sys Ver: 182.46.15.XT907.Verison.en.US
Kernel is: July 29 2014
I have never owned or worked with a smartphone before, but have OC exp dating back to MS Dos 1.x-2.1 and have some Linux exp using OpenSuse
If I understand correctly I need to back upi the system files BEFORE ROOTING the device to protect myself in the event I go to far while rooted and bootloop or brick the device.
I am trying to understand how to create a Nandroid backup without rooting, but I'm not understanding quite enough to have any great success.
I''d rather not wipe all the installed apps, but if I need to I'd like to know if I can
- back up apps and settings using a utility that does not require root access
- do a reset
- then back up the virgin unrooted 4.4.2 system files
- Then root
- Then install CM11 (KitKat 4.4.4 based)
- The restore the apps and settings fromt eh (non Nandroid) backup I need to do a real OTA reset because I killed some of the stock apps already. (At least, that's my understanding)
I really appreciate you all being here to help folks! Many thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlock your bootloader.
Flash the latest TWRP recovery in fastboot.
Make a backup with TWRP.
THEN flash SuperSU to gain root using the TWRP Recovery.
It's actually a great idea to hold onto a non-rooted backup, in case you want to return to stock one day to get an OTA update.
Okay, in looking for directions to unlock the bootloader, I'm jsut finding a lot of hits that begin y saying the phone needs to be rooted first, so I could use a push in the right direction there.
The forum linked here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2226729
should give you all of the info that you need.
xunholyx said:
The forum linked here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2226729
should give you all of the info that you need.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm so confused. The first instruction in the first post is to root the phone, but then how can I get an unrooted Nandroid backup?
I believe the answer I need may be covered here, but I'm not sure I follow how to flash this properly BEFORE rooting the phone. I intend to make a walkthrough on another forum once I get this all sorted, and would be happy to plug XDAD and you for the help.
There is a broken link in the guide you linked me to. I just wanted to make you aware. I have the motorola driver loaded on my Win 7 Ultimate Retail 64 bit driven PC, so I'm good, but the link for the drivers is returning a 404
I'm the one who is confused.
Sorry, I should have read the OP in that link better.
You can backup all of your data using ADB: adb backup -apk -shared -all -f C:\Users\NAME\backup.ab
And restore it using this command: adb restore C:\Users\NAME\backup.ab
Replace "NAME" with your Windows username of course.
There is a more comprehensive guide here.
Read the OP, then go to the last 10pgs or so to see if there is new info (didn't read that far, but the thread is still active).
Okay, I suspect this last link is probably more what I'm after, but before I do that, I'm HOPING it is possible to back up the installed apps and their respective settings first. The reason for this is that I really do want a squeaky clean, uprooted Nandroid backup of the last OTA update supported which, (no surprise), is 4.4.2, which includes the handy Heartbleed bug "feature" and makes the Razr M all but useless.
Of course, as we know, 4.4.4 runs very well on the Razr M and the Heartbleed bug is easily solved by it, but Motorola prefers you buy a new phone, so they introduce a bug, load it on everyone's 1-1/2 year old devices, and they refused to fix it by not allowing users access to the "new" unbroken OLD KitKat platform! You can only run that LAST version of the OLD KitKat on NEW HARDWARE!
The other tactic used on consumers by Motorola and others is not allowing customers to purchase new factory fresh batteries for their devices, whether "non-replaceable" or not. These are two strong-arm tactics adopted that now dominate cellular and other technologies.
I digress.
I am going to HAVE to restore this phone before making the Nandroid because I pulled some stock 4.4.2 Motorola firmware bloat out of it, adn now I need iot back for that backup to be truly virgin. :/
Soooooooo . . . .
The first order of business is to determine if I can add the stock stuff back, or if I have to actually do a reset on the phone. I fear adding the stock items back MAY still leave changes in the system folder, which is not acceptable to me. *IF* I CAN successfully add the stock bloat back in and get a clean Nandroid, I'd be happy about that, though I'd be concerned about it working properly none-the less.
This is why I ask if I can back up apps and app data and later successfully restore that stuff that was backed up under 4.4.2 once I have successfully loaded the (KitKat 4.4.4 based) CM11 Mod.
If the backup of apps and app settings WILL restore to 4.4.4, I'd like to:
- > back up all apps, app data adn user data > reset the phone loading the 4.4.2 OTA BONE STOCK > make my Nandroid of the bone stock unrooted 4.4.2 > Root > Load CM11 MOD ROM > Restore my apps and user data.
I will work on learning to make the unrooted Nandroid some while I wait for a reply, as I'm going to have to do that as a later step.
Giving this a try. I'm about to crash. I'm pretty zonked out.
If all that you want is to save apps and app data, and not system and boot partitions, then use the ADB commands that I posted. That will do exactly what you want.
Oh no no, that's not all I want to do by any means. I am going to load the KitKat 4.4.4 based CM11 ROM, but before I do that I want a clean OTA backup of the stock unrooted KitKat 4.4.2 so I have that to fall back on.
To that end, in preparation for the new ROM I'd like to back up all apps that are currently loaded along with the current app data, and also to back up all personal data.
Once that is done, I need to do a reset to get 4.4.2 back into it;s stock trim as this will be my original 4.4.2 OTA Nandroid.
THEN I will root and install CM11
Then, if it's possible, I'd like to restore all of my current apps and app data.
I've been working on understanding the steps needed to make that unrooted 4.4.2 Nandroid while awaiting suggestions about how to do the app/app data and personal data backup., as well as a yea or neigh about if the app backup can even be successfully restored under the new (4.44 based) os.