How many Root N' Rom ? - Moto G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have been reading the Moto G Threads since shortly after I bought the phone and have even made the odd input. But today I am wondering just how many users actually root and custom rom? I imagine that in reality it is a tiny percentage of Moto G users. Yet I notice in these threads that while it seems to be a source of pride to some, it also brings many problems and quirks because a significant number of threads talk about custom ROM problems. Myself, I do use Custom Roms but generally start using only after the manufacturer has stopped supporting/upgrading. I have done this on several Nexus devices and a couple of Samsung's. For me a custom Rom is only used as a tool to keep firmware up to date for a longer period. With regards to the Moto G, the manufacture is still upgrading. So why bother romming? I decided to Root only and use Xposed tools and Greenify, to tweak things and Titanium to backup. Maybe, when Moto G stops the support, and, providing I still have the phone I might change the ROM. But if it ain't broke why waste time on it, its just a phone after all. But quite a nice one, although admittedly I'm drooling at the $299 OnePlus one right now!

I would like to use either a ROM or Xposed, but I want to keep my warranty for now.

This is the first of many Android phones that i haven't rooted or messed about with.
Why ??? Because its the first phone that i have been entirely happy with.
I don't have any issues at all .
That's not to say that i wont one day though.

Related

First smartphone - help me get gingerbread!

Note: I'm hoping this is the correct place for this thread, hopefully others with this same phone would benefit from it, as this sub-forum seems barren of any guides on what I am looking for
After Christmas, I decided to get my first smart phone, the D2G. I ordered it through Newegg and had it linked to a family account on Verizon.
So what I currently have now is Android 2.2, System Version 2.4.330.A956.Verizon.en.us, and tons of Verizon branded bloat.
My goal is that I would like to install a vanilla version of gingerbread. Being my first smartphone, and my first time on these forums, I'm greatly lacking in knowledge of these phones and how to get from where I am at to where I want to be. What I do have, however, is an understanding of operating system architecture, UNIX experience and good technical knowledge of PCs. I understand what rooting means, what apps are, what a bootstrap does, however I know nothing of how to get or use these things on this phone, nor any idea where to look for this information. Because this phone is on contract (and thus only paid $150 for it), I'm hoping to minimize the risk of bricking it, or otherwise costing me more money.
What I am looking for: any information/guides/links that will help me to get me from Android 2.2 to a vanilla version of gingerbread on the D2G. From what I have gathered from other threads is that I need to root it (by installing z4root I read), boot in recovery mode, then install ROMs. None of those things I know how to do right now. I suppose helping me learn how to do those would be a great start.
tl;dr I need a layman's guide to get gingerbread on D2G
Thanks in advance for any help
To begin you won't be able to get Gingerbread until Motorola releases an update. The Droid 2 (and D2 Global) have a locked bootloader which means the kernel can't be changed except by Motorola. Without a kernel upgrade Gingerbread will remain out of reach.
You can, however, grab some things that have been backported from Gingerbread like the keyboard and theme. As time goes by more and more external things from Gingerbread will become available for non-GB users, but certain things that rely on the GB kernel will be elusive.
Now as for FroYo, there currently isn't a completely working AOSP (Android Open Source Project) ROM yet. Fission and GummyJAR strip away as much Blur as possible and work towards AOSP. Unleashed, Ultimate Droid, and Tanzanite are all AOSP ROMs in development but are lacking full functionality at the moment. Basically you've got to pick your poison: AOSP-like that works or AOSP that's not quite done.
Given that you have a D2 Global I'd personally hold off on changing ROMs at the moment. The D2G SBF (System Boot File) hasn't been leaked yet so if anything were to go wrong while changing ROMs your phone would be bricked until the SBF is released. A SBF allows you to revert your phone back to its out-of-the-box state should anything go wrong; your phone can be in a boot loop but you can turn it on in a way that will allow you to get things back to square one at least. Without the SBF you're really taking a gamble.
Alright, so I take it I just got too new of a phone then ~_~
thanks
Don't be too upset that your phone is too new yet...
Just be very careful with what you try for now.
It is just over a year since I got my first Droid and while there were plenty of hacks and roms for that back then, few were really STABLE. It didn't take long before not only were stable roms available, they were far better and included features that were not supposed to be on the phone.
Including overclocking it to twice the stock speed.
The D2G is in a similar place right now but the whole "eFuse" thing makes hacking a lot trickier. Its much easier to brick a D2/DX than an original Droid.
BUt progress is being made and there is little doubt in my mind that all the devs out there will make this phone what it should be just like they did with the Droid.
Gingerbread will get to us eventually, but for now Fission rom has already improved my D2G 100% over stock.
rogerdugans said:
Gingerbread will get to us eventually, but for now Fission rom has already improved my D2G 100% over stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Interested in Fission, but as I have previously stated, I'm quite clueless for the time being
Is this something that is safe?
Kenshin- said:
Interested in Fission, but as I have previously stated, I'm quite clueless for the time being
Is this something that is safe?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want 100% safe- leave your phone exactly as you received it.
Seriously.
There is risk in doing this stuff, even when we are simply taking advantage of the very risky work done by devs to figure out HOW to modify our phones.
Generally speaking, the longer you wait the less risky it is, but the fact is that there is never ZERO danger to it. Even if all the mods and hacks you use are time tested and there has not been a single bug found by anyone- flashing a rom can go wrong and leave a device bricked.
Even flashing a manufacturer provided BIOS on a computer has risk.
All of that said, if you want to minimize risk, wait just a little while for the bugs to be worked out more thoroughly.
I just saw that there is now an SBF for the D2G last night- that helps provide a buffer for accidents (disaster recovery!) but I don't know how well tested it is. We should know fairly soon- quite a few folks with bricked phones have been waiting for it!
I would say that right now the D2G has risk in the "moderate" range- new phone, not that much dev time, etc.
The only other phone I have personal experience with is the original Droid- risk on that is "minimal." Hard to kill those things.
All that said, I have accepted the risk and did so before the sbf was out. I have had no problems at all so far.
IF you choose to do so, I highly recommend following instructions exactly and making sure you know what you are doing and why.
I don't mean to talk you or anyone else out of improving their smart phone, but I do believe that realistic risk assessment is a wise thing to do before starting.
I used the SBF to flash my phone 2 days ago, with no issues.
rogerdugans said:
Generally speaking, the longer you wait the less risky it is, but the fact is that there is never ZERO danger to it.
...
All of that said, if you want to minimize risk, wait just a little while for the bugs to be worked out more thoroughly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have a D2 and I got it pretty new a few months ago it was my first Android phone but I watched the forums and learned as things became available how to do it all. I watched as the device everyone thought wasn't even going to get root access got it, then the ROMs came; it wasn't easy and they aren't like the ROMs that came for previous devices because of the locks Moto put on the phone. But, we were happy with it and I've been pleasantly surprised at what the devs have come up with and have been running custom ROMs so long I don't remember what stock was even like. I just know it wasn't as cool as the custom stuff I'm running.
So hang in there and read all you can about your device or similar devices (D2, DX, DPro) so that when something comes along that you want to try you know what to do to make it work and what to do if it doesn't go as planned.

[Q] Wondering why D2G is ignored by modding community

I went from a Motorola Milestone to a Droid 2 Global. And as much as I am enjoying the Fission ROM from Team DeFuse, I am wondering why there seems to be such low interest in the Droid 2 Global compared to the original Droid 2? Can anyone give me some info as to why this is the case? I realize that with the Droid 2 globals additional radios that that transcribes to more work to get those operational in a custom ROM, I just dont understand why this powerful phone is ignored and left to sit on the curb. Thank you to all in advance.
1. The Global is hard to dev for. There aren't many Global devices to go off of, so the radios are hard to get 100% working on custom roms
2. It was launched silently. No one really knows it exists, so it just didn't receive the initial dev bump that phones usually get when they're first released
3. It didn't sell very well. I can't speak for the whole sales numbers, but my friend who works for Verizon Corporate (or something like that) said the numbers weren't fantastic in New York.
4. Three devices is a lot. Any devs willing to work on the Global probably already work on the Droid X and Droid 2. Adding a third device to the list is just too much for people who do this as a hobby.
That's the best explanation I can give... sorry for how negative it was, lol.
To be fair, the D2G is receiving more support this last month or so. Look on droidforums.net, some good work being done on there (3 or 4 roms available).
I will keep an eye out on droidforums. I was also thinking that with the possibility of 2.3 coming out for it most devs dont (myself included) see a point in making a ROM on froyo when 2.3 is around the corner. Thank you for your input. Its much appreciated
Most of the correct answers were already stated...
Just wated to point out that only people who truly needed global support would buy the D2G.
Droid Pro got play merely because it was targeted at the Crackberry crowd conversion which really didn't work.
Those are the only two GLOBAL phone I know of. Doesn't make sense to make many more with the 4G revolution under way.
Business have bought into the form factor but the Devs they all look at the performance specs and the EASE of development regarding the model.
The biggest issue though is the locked bootloader! Since the boot loader is locked you can not run custom Kernels so any development that could be made is limited to the stock kernel.
All of the Motorola development you see regarding phone with lockd bootloaders are really nothing more than a bunch of stock and AOSP apps and system files that change the look and the startup sequence but the base code that runs the phone pretty much stays the same!
I would love to see more people making ROMs for the unit but what I really want to see is the unlocking of that boot loader.
If we managed to do that then none of us would be worrying how many roms were available or which one updates next.
We would probably all be running Cyanogen at this point and merely wait for the next release of stable! And also be looking for the next great Kernel update to make it even better!
Asphyx said:
Most of the correct answers were already stated...
Just wated to point out that only people who truly needed global support would buy the D2G.
Droid Pro got play merely because it was targeted at the Crackberry crowd conversion which really didn't work.
Those are the only two GLOBAL phone I know of. Doesn't make sense to make many more with the 4G revolution under way.
Business have bought into the form factor but the Devs they all look at the performance specs and the EASE of development regarding the model.
The biggest issue though is the locked bootloader! Since the boot loader is locked you can not run custom Kernels so any development that could be made is limited to the stock kernel.
All of the Motorola development you see regarding phone with lockd bootloaders are really nothing more than a bunch of stock and AOSP apps and system files that change the look and the startup sequence but the base code that runs the phone pretty much stays the same!
I would love to see more people making ROMs for the unit but what I really want to see is the unlocking of that boot loader.
If we managed to do that then none of us would be worrying how many roms were available or which one updates next.
We would probably all be running Cyanogen at this point and merely wait for the next release of stable! And also be looking for the next great Kernel update to make it even better!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't anyone who wants a keyboard on verizon also get the D2G? I mean it's the only half decent phone with a physical qwerty keyboard on verizon, and the droid 2 itself was phased out months ago, 4 months ago when I got my D2G you couldn't get a new Droid 2 at verizon, though I think Best Buy might have still had them, though they were just clearing out stock.
Also I thought fact that everything has to be signed is the problem with the phone. When you don't know how to sign the kernel and other things the phone has hardware to autobrick which is why no one can get around it. Tons of phones out there have locked bootloaders that are gotten around well before or within a few days of the phone being released. If it was just the locked bootloader then I'd say motorola has found the holy grail of security, because everything else out there has been hacked through.
The problem isn't that the bootloader is signed, its that its encrypted. Newer htc phones have bootloaders that require signed kernels and people have found ways around them already, the encryption prevents us from loading custom software on it.
Sent from my DROID2 GLOBAL using XDA App

[Q] Rant on triumph

Bought this phone soon after release, the phone and data plan seemed like a worthwhile effort to swap the carriers. Previously I owned HD2 (android-stock sense) on T-mobile. While the phone wasn't the perfect one, I'd still prefer HD2 over Triumph if it wasn't for carrier lock. The first problem was the touch screen, it's unresponsiveness to be exact. I was busy during the time so the 30 days flew in a moment and when I found the time to deal with phone, it was too late to return it. To my relief, the development started to pick up and I was hoping for improved ROM i could flash. Around this time I started to notice other problems; GPS, slow unlock and terrible sound capabilities to name few. While the Roms were a great achievement and I give big thanks to all the devs who have the time and patience for development, most of the problems didn't go away. In addition major bug with video driver was found. This phone isn't the worst out of bunch, and it's not unusable at all, just looking at other phones, considering how much I paid initially leaves wishing for a better device without such apparent bugs.
P.S. Since I'm stuck with this device which Rom would be better, Latest CM gingerbread or modded stock firmware?
CM7 Reloaded for sure. Check it out here
http://androidforums.com/triumph-all-things-root/470282-rom-cm7-tg-reloaded-latest-01-14-a.html
Choosing which rom is best depends on what you use and like... If you use hdmi out regularly then I would suggest a stock based rom, if you use wifi and bluetooth at the same time a lot, then a stock based or cm7-tg-reloaded, if you like easy custimizability with lots of options then I would suggest Miui... What I would do is just flash different roms and maybe use them for a day or so each and see what you like best... Also you can find more help and faster on android forums for the MT. I think a lot more people are more active over there than on XDA...

The most boring phone I've ever owned

Hey folks just wanted to say that I really love my V10. But coming from Nexus and some of the other LG series I am going crazy with the lack of "things" to tinker with. I am not exactly a flash-a-holic but I am definitely a tinkerer (if thats a word). I like to flash custom Roms and fool around with xposed and maybe a little mod here or there. It's crazy how this phone still has virtually no developer support or any kind of custom rom scene. (yes I understand why about the locked bootloaders etc etc). It's been so long I almost feel like I'm rusty and probably forgot how.. Haha.
Nevertheless I love it and it's a great phone (although a bit on the heavy side as time goes on). My wife just got the Galaxy S7 and it's so nice and small and bright and waterproof. Does make me think about looking other ways. I dunno. I hope LG doesn't just make this phone like a stepchild to the flagship series. Still barely gettin marshmallow update in other countries and not really anything new with the 2nd screen for any apps or anything. I guess this is borderline off topic but just some musings I've had the last week or so. Later!
Sent from my LG-H901 using XDA Free mobile app
I feel the same way. I have been considering selling this and getting something else.
Sent from my LG-H900 using Tapatalk
If you have a version that is rootable, use the many xposed modules out there. I have tweaked mine to be better than what my nexus 5 was. If you have been around long enough as I have, you will have learned that when ROM's are not available that a Root Explorer is a very good friend. I will go in depth
Base things one uses with a unlocked bootloader / Alternatives to a locked bootloader.
Custom Recovery: TWRP (Or W/E you like) / FlashFire (Install zips, make backups)
Custom ROM: CyanogenMod ( Or if Im using a device DHacker is supporting then I would use that to test the **** out of it) / Stock/BloatStock ( Xposed Modules can do almost everything any custom ROM can if not more than what a Custom ROM could do)
Custom Kernel: Dont need one, never needed one. If it was forced via the ROM then it was used. / Plenty of apps to do little things like Overclock or RAM management etc.
It's my belief people new to the Android Platform go for Custom ROMs is to get everything in one place in one ROM build. Hence why Android is beginning to absorb most of the popular things in the modding community to the aosp nexus builds, slowly if I might add.
All in all, research, time, and stock img files are your best friend to learn from trial and error.
I don't understand you. You got the phone for a reason. And that reason still is valid. There are always newer phones available the moment you buy something.
DarkestSpawn said:
If you have a version that is rootable, use the many xposed modules out there. I have tweaked mine to be better than what my nexus 5 was. If you have been around long enough as I have, you will have learned that when ROM's are not available that a Root Explorer is a very good friend. I will go in depth
Base things one uses with a unlocked bootloader / Alternatives to a locked bootloader.
Custom Recovery: TWRP (Or W/E you like) / FlashFire (Install zips, make backups)
Custom ROM: CyanogenMod ( Or if Im using a device DHacker is supporting then I would use that to test the **** out of it) / Stock/BloatStock ( Xposed Modules can do almost everything any custom ROM can if not more than what a Custom ROM could do)
Custom Kernel: Dont need one, never needed one. If it was forced via the ROM then it was used. / Plenty of apps to do little things like Overclock or RAM management etc.
It's my belief people new to the Android Platform go for Custom ROMs is to get everything in one place in one ROM build. Hence why Android is beginning to absorb most of the popular things in the modding community to the aosp nexus builds, slowly if I might add.
All in all, research, time, and stock img files are your best friend to learn from trial and error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Totally agree, I dont miss the phone dying on me once in a while, having to flash an "old" backup, loosing some data... And with xPosed this phone is as customisable as I ever needed :good:
I am the same ..im bored of this phone
---------- Post added at 06:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:00 PM ----------
faearai01 said:
I don't understand you. You got the phone for a reason. And that reason still is valid. There are always newer phones available the moment you buy something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ppl like you will never understand what he talking about
Explain it to me. Explain it for people like me.
faearai01 said:
Explain it to me. Explain it for people like me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I said you will never understand ..so even if i did explain it you won't understand its something like drugs
But I'm willing to understand. So give me a hint and maybe it turns into a TIL.
faeArai said:
But I'm willing to understand. So give me a hint and maybe it turns into a TIL.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The need to be able to make a change to how the phone operates, and see that change in action.
And then change it again. Ownership of the device, playing with the experience of using the phone.
Getting to touch, swish, swipe, scroll - interact with the device (you never been in bed and gone endlessly through your settings menu, again and again; into all the options, all the possibilities? It's not really for the 'settings', you already know what you want really...It's to swish and swipe, especially if the phone is high end, the screen is beautiful and the actions like silk) until you fall asleep cradling it lovingly in your hand under the pillow and waking with it stuck to your cheek?
A sense of learning
A sense of making technology do what You want - of being able to effect change.
To. Develop. Perhaps.
To use the phone.
To discover and distribute something to others..
TO TWEAK BATTERY LIFE. (Heh)
To be part of a community doing the same.
This is my second LG phone, and absolutely latest one.
Whay?
Because of soooo pore support and update.
Update is nothing.
Im coming from LG G4, REALLY what's improvement in LG V10? nothing + poor update support.
At all i NEVER buy a LG phone and NEVER suggest any LG mobile phone for anyone.
Talk about 1st world problems ?
faearai01 said:
I don't understand you. You got the phone for a reason. And that reason still is valid. There are always newer phones available the moment you buy something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So what are you going to buy now?
I've a v10 and will stay with it for at least one year. Since MM is being rolled-out, I'm pretty fine. I also had and still have several nexus devices and was disappointed by the quality of hardware.
There is a lot more to do on the V10 than my previous Nexus 6. I don't think I understand...
I don't get that guys here saying that they are moving to an other phone. Just do it. But noone cares which phone you have and why you're moving on. It seems like those guys still are not sure and just want other to ask them to stay. I don't care. Have fun with your next phone - until you get it and and complain and buy an other one. And so on and so on. There is an other root cause of your frustration and I'm pretty sure it's not the phone ?
This thread is not serving any productive purpose.
Meanwhile people are raving about the LG V10...
LG V10 & V10 Dual Sim - Reviews Collection
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjPU6VGWk-5PiT76ejWAUamHYxWaeDK
incidentflux said:
This thread is not serving any productive purpose.
Meanwhile people are raving about the LG V10...
LG V10 & V10 Dual Sim - Reviews Collection
https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLyHjPU6VGWk-5PiT76ejWAUamHYxWaeDK
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best phone around by far :good:
Only one feature missing imo: IP68.
Should have stayed with my nexus 6. The second screen is a crappie gimmick. Gonna try and stick with this phone until the note comes out.

Is the Pixel 2 right for me? Opinions appreciated.

Hi all,
I am enamored by the Pixel 2 for the camera, general size and clean android experience. I am coming from a Moto X (2013) DE, which I have been using for almost three years with no complaints. I am on Verizon GFUDP, am unlocked, rooted and using Xposed framework. I use the phone for tethering quite often. I don't generally use custom ROMs,; once I am setup and got everything running nice, I stop playing around with the phone and just use it.
That said, I am ready to upgrade and still want an unlockable, rootable device, which has a really good camera and will allow me to tether at will. My thought is to purchase the Pixel 2 through Google. I see that there has been some bumpiness in the road to root success, and I am wondering if this device will eventually (if it's already not) become stable enough to do what I want without a lot of fooling with it, or fear of accidentally "bricking", or other issues down the road.
So in the big picture, do you feel that the Pixel 2 can be set up, forgotten about, and just used, as I describe above, or do you think that the device will need to be tweaked on a regular basis? If so, do you have any recommendations of devices which better fit the parameters listed above?
Thanks in advance!
amajamar said:
Hi all,
I am enamored by the Pixel 2 for the camera, general size and clean android experience. I am coming from a Moto X (2013) DE, which I have been using for almost three years with no complaints. I am on Verizon GFUDP, am unlocked, rooted and using Xposed framework. I use the phone for tethering quite often. I don't generally use custom ROMs,; once I am setup and got everything running nice, I stop playing around with the phone and just use it.
That said, I am ready to upgrade and still want an unlockable, rootable device, which has a really good camera and will allow me to tether at will. My thought is to purchase the Pixel 2 through Google. I see that there has been some bumpiness in the road to root success, and I am wondering if this device will eventually (if it's already not) become stable enough to do what I want without a lot of fooling with it, or fear of accidentally "bricking", or other issues down the road.
So in the big picture, do you feel that the Pixel 2 can be set up, forgotten about, and just used, as I describe above, or do you think that the device will need to be tweaked on a regular basis? If so, do you have any recommendations of devices which better fit the parameters listed above?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It should be good in the long run. In my personal experience after using a lot of ROM's/kernels/mods since 2011 I would say the max your needs would come to is getting a custom kernel. With no disrespect to the developers who have worked on providing great roms throughout the years, google has really developed 8.0/8.1 into a completely viable solution that till now has not got me to even consider rooting the device to get some custom features on it.
flunk03 said:
It should be good in the long run. In my personal experience after using a lot of ROM's/kernels/mods since 2011 I would say the max your needs would come to is getting a custom kernel. With no disrespect to the developers who have worked on providing great roms throughout the years, google has really developed 8.0/8.1 into a completely viable solution that till now has not got me to even consider rooting the device to get some custom features on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
amajamar said:
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Afaik just rooting and getting an app designed for that should be fine I guess. It's not something I know since we don't have that issue with carriers on that front
amajamar said:
As I said, as long as I can get the tethering function, I am pretty much good to go. Do I need a custom kernel for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As far as I'm aware you can achieve this with Magisk root and a Magisk module.
Buy Pixel 2, unlock bootloader before you set up the phone (get the factory reset out of the way), then just use it as-is indefinitely until you find you need something that only root can provide. If that's the case, then install Magisk, and keep on rolling.

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