Rooted Android - You really don't need to do this anymore

The Something Awful Forums > Discussion > Inspect Your Gadgets > Rooted Android - You really don't need to do this anymore

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kill you are self: Jun 17, 2005; pa rum pum pum pum

I just rooted my HTC Sensation 4G, installed clockwork and Android Revolution HD and apparently 4EX Recovery Touch. The main reason that I rooted was to get rid of Facebook for HTC Sense, Nova, other bloatware. I absolutely hate having something on my phone that I have no control over.

Now that I'm newly rooted, Ive manually deleted/uninstalled a lot of the bloatware. I admit, I am oblivious to what else I can do now. What's cool things to do with an unrooted phone? I am your oyster.

E: I also bought Root Explorer.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 05:54

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# ? Jun 5, 2024 08:05

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Deathlove posted:

Having just gone through this with my phone not charging, here's what I did; run this RUU by putting it in the root of your SD card, naming PG86IMG.zip. Go into bootloader mode, and that'll format and wipe you back to stock, and in my case, put you back to S-ON/HBOOT 1.3 (I was S-OFF/1.4).

nandroids are kept in a folder on your SDcard called nandroid, in my experience.

Once I'm in the bootloader, how do I make it go? Or did you mean recovery, and flash from there?

# ? Dec 30, 2011 06:00

Deathlove: Feb 20, 2003; Pillbug

hooah posted:

Once I'm in the bootloader, how do I make it go? Or did you mean recovery, and flash from there?

If you renamed it to PG86IMG.zip, it should find it when you enter the bootloader, and automatically extract/flash it (after asking you for confirmation). If you flash it from recovery, it'll error out.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 06:15

tofes: Mar 31, 2011; #1 Milpitas Dave and Buster's superfan since 2013

Man, I really want to root this Rezound and delete all the poo poo that comes preinstalled on it

# ? Dec 30, 2011 06:15

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Deathlove posted:

If you renamed it to PG86IMG.zip, it should find it when you enter the bootloader, and automatically extract/flash it (after asking you for confirmation). If you flash it from recovery, it'll error out.

Well, it ...didn't. I'm on HBOOT 1.5, S-ON. Unlocked via HTC's method.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 06:20

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

tofes posted:

Man, I really want to root this Rezound and delete all the poo poo that comes preinstalled on it

Dooo it. I've been getting the itch to root my Nexus, if only to use Nova Launcher to its fullest extent.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 06:27

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Deathlove posted:

If you renamed it to PG86IMG.zip, it should find it when you enter the bootloader, and automatically extract/flash it (after asking you for confirmation). If you flash it from recovery, it'll error out.

I'd previously left it in /sdcard/download, but re-read your instructions :doh:

and put it in the right place. When I did that and went to bootloader, the phone said this:

code:

SD checking...
Loading...[PG86DIAG.zip]
NO image!
Loading[PG86DIAG.nbh]
No image or wrong image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.zip]   <--- This step takes 30-45 seconds.

The screen flashes, and briefly displays

code:

SD checking...
Loading...[PG86DIAG.zip]
NO image!
Loading[PG86DIAG.nbh]
No image or wrong image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.zip]
NO image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.tar]
NO image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.enc]
NO image!

Then it kicks me back to the HBOOT menu, and nothing's changed.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 15:34

Leathal: Oct 29, 2004; wanna be like gucci?
lil buddy eat your vegetables

Ugh there's four different ICS alphas posted for the Evo3D on xda, each with their own bugs.

You can choose from working hardware acceleration that breaks all Webviews, no acceleration with a kernel that makes the phone run hot as an oven, or some bastardized combination of the above.

None of them have a working camera, so I guess it's a moot point since lol @ not having a camera on vacation.

I just want a mostly working ICS dammit; I don't care if I lose 3d and Wimax. :mad:

# ? Dec 30, 2011 15:44

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

I'd previously left it in /sdcard/download, but re-read your instructions and put it in the right place. When I did that and went to bootloader, the phone said this:
code:
SD checking...
Loading...[PG86DIAG.zip]
NO image!
Loading[PG86DIAG.nbh]
No image or wrong image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.zip]   <--- This step takes 30-45 seconds.
The screen flashes, and briefly displays
code:
SD checking...
Loading...[PG86DIAG.zip]
NO image!
Loading[PG86DIAG.nbh]
No image or wrong image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.zip]
NO image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.tar]
NO image!
Loading...[PG86IMG.enc]
NO image!
Then it kicks me back to the HBOOT menu, and nothing's changed.

Not sure if you've already tried this, but HBOOT is really picky about the format of your SD card. Do you have a spare card you can format from the phone, the drop the file on there?

# ? Dec 30, 2011 16:30

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

Not sure if you've already tried this, but HBOOT is really picky about the format of your SD card. Do you have a spare card you can format from the phone, the drop the file on there?

I don't think I have another card, but I could copy this one and re-format it.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 16:36

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

I don't think I have another card, but I could copy this one and re-format it.

If you do go that route, make sure to show hidden files to make sure you get everything on the card. A few apps put stuff in hidden directories.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 16:40

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

If you do go that route, make sure to show hidden files to make sure you get everything on the card. A few apps put stuff in hidden directories.

Turns out I do have another one. What format does it need to be in?

# ? Dec 30, 2011 17:04

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

Turns out I do have another one. What format does it need to be in?

If you can get around the wigging-out touchscreen enough to boot up normally and format the new card from within Android, that would be your surest bet, but otherwise try formatting it as FAT32. This might not solve the problem, but it would at least eliminate this variable.

On a semi-related note, it looks like the Rezound making it onto HTCdev.com might not have been an accident after all!

# ? Dec 30, 2011 17:36

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

Time to unlock the boot loader and root the Galaxy Nexus. I'm a little tired of the limitations of the stock launcher but want the full functionality of Nova launcher.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 17:45

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

If you can get around the wigging-out touchscreen enough to boot up normally and format the new card from within Android, that would be your surest bet, but otherwise try formatting it as FAT32. This might not solve the problem, but it would at least eliminate this variable.

On a semi-related note, it looks like the Rezound making it onto HTCdev.com might not have been an accident after all!

In my settings menu, I've only got the option to erase.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 17:47

MC Hawking: Apr 27, 2004; by VideoGames; Fun Shoe

kill you are self posted:

What's cool things to do with an unrooted phone? I am your oyster.

Adfree Android for one. LBE Privacy Guard for another. Both these require root access, but are great to help have active permission control and pull a lot of annoying interstitial advertising.

Another couple things you can do is font replacement with applications like Font Installer. Roboto is the ICS font FYI.
You can usually replace bootscreens by dropping "bootanimation.zip" into /system/media and overwriting the old file. You'll need to make /system writable in your file explorers settings. http://androidbootanimation.com/ has a couple of great ones.

MC Hawking fucked around with this message at 18:27 on Dec 30, 2011

# ? Dec 30, 2011 18:22

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

Penguissimo posted:

If you can get around the wigging-out touchscreen enough to boot up normally and format the new card from within Android, that would be your surest bet, but otherwise try formatting it as FAT32. This might not solve the problem, but it would at least eliminate this variable.

On a semi-related note, it looks like the Rezound making it onto HTCdev.com might not have been an accident after all!

Sup Motorola?

I wonder what the excuse will be this time? Not that they owe us one but there is clearly interest among the community.

# ? Dec 30, 2011 18:40

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

In my settings menu, I've only got the option to erase.

Ooh, that's the same thing. Sorry for the confusion!

# ? Dec 30, 2011 19:29

OMGMYSPLEEN: Jul 12, 2009; Rawwwwhiiiiide; College Slice

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but why when I reboot my Evo 3D running fresh does it change all my notifications and ring tone back to default?

# ? Dec 30, 2011 21:27

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

Ooh, that's the same thing. Sorry for the confusion!

Now I got a message saying "Wrong zipped file".

# ? Dec 30, 2011 21:41

tofes: Mar 31, 2011; #1 Milpitas Dave and Buster's superfan since 2013

Codiusprime posted:

Dooo it. I've been getting the itch to root my Nexus, if only to use Nova Launcher to its fullest extent.

I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it yet, and I don't want to blow up the warranty :sigh:

# ? Dec 30, 2011 22:05

ClassActionFursuit: Mar 15, 2006

tofes posted:

I haven't decided if I'm going to keep it yet, and I don't want to blow up the warranty

Isn't the Galaxy Nexus like the Nexus S where the bootloader can be locked and unlocked at will (and thus doesn't impact the warranty at all)?

# ? Dec 30, 2011 23:35

tofes: Mar 31, 2011; #1 Milpitas Dave and Buster's superfan since 2013

LastInLine posted:

Isn't the Galaxy Nexus like the Nexus S where the bootloader can be locked and unlocked at will (and thus doesn't impact the warranty at all)?

Sorry, I'm talking about the Rezound. HTC released their unlocking software but using it voids your warranty, I'm not sure if you can restore it to stock after rooting it

# ? Dec 30, 2011 23:48

ClassActionFursuit: Mar 15, 2006

tofes posted:

Sorry, I'm talking about the Rezound. HTC released their unlocking software but using it voids your warranty, I'm not sure if you can restore it to stock after rooting it

Gotcha. You're right, it would void the warranty but unlike the Nexus series unlocking the bootloader doesn't root the phone. Even with an unlocked bootloader you could flash a non-rooted ROM or just keep (and I'd imagine restore) the stock non-rooted ROM if you wanted to. You can just never relock the bootloader.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 02:10

wolrah: May 8, 2006; what?

Is it possible to have TWRP loaded on a Kindle Fire and not have it see the stock OS as rooted (so Prime Video and the Library feature still work)? I don't have any real interest in a rooted version of stock and right now the AOSP builds are not great, but I'd like to be able to keep trying them with the normal backup/flash/restore tactic. Unfortunately even with only doing the temp root before installing TWRP it seems to trip Amazon's safeties and I can't get the features back without reflashing a stock update (which eliminates TWRP).

ninmeister posted:

Maybe I'm doing something wrong but why when I reboot my Evo 3D running fresh does it change all my notifications and ring tone back to default?

If the tones you're trying to use are on SD, sometimes the SD card doesn't mount fast enough and the phone fails back to the defaults. I've never had an on-board tone fail, but so far I'm three for three on both smart and dumb phones defaulting ringers stored on SD.

wolrah fucked around with this message at 04:19 on Dec 31, 2011

# ? Dec 31, 2011 04:16

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

Now I got a message saying "Wrong zipped file".

At the bootloader, you mean? This is where I probably stop being able to offer useful suggestions, as I just replaced my Inc with a Nexus.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 04:59

ClassActionFursuit: Mar 15, 2006

wolrah posted:

ninmeister posted:
Maybe I'm doing something wrong but why when I reboot my Evo 3D running fresh does it change all my notifications and ring tone back to default?
If the tones you're trying to use are on SD, sometimes the SD card doesn't mount fast enough and the phone fails back to the defaults. I've never had an on-board tone fail, but so far I'm three for three on both smart and dumb phones defaulting ringers stored on SD.

wolrah is probably right and the solution is to just copy the tones you want to the ringtone/notification/alarm folder and reboot. Obviously they'll disappear with every new ROM so just a heads up on that. Also Android uses metadata to populate the name field in sound chooser menus so be sure to fill in the Title field on the tag with how you want it to appear in the lists.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 05:10

OMGMYSPLEEN: Jul 12, 2009; Rawwwwhiiiiide; College Slice

LastInLine posted:

If the tones you're trying to use are on SD, sometimes the SD card doesn't mount fast enough and the phone fails back to the defaults. I've never had an on-board tone fail, but so far I'm three for three on both smart and dumb phones defaulting ringers stored on SD.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 06:17

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

At the bootloader, you mean? This is where I probably stop being able to offer useful suggestions, as I just replaced my Inc with a Nexus.

Right, after I go to the bootloader and it tries to use the .zip you linked. So I guess it's off to XDA at this point?

# ? Dec 31, 2011 06:29

Penguissimo: Apr 7, 2007

hooah posted:

Right, after I go to the bootloader and it tries to use the .zip you linked. So I guess it's off to XDA at this point?

Yeah, I'd dig around over there. I'm not sure which ZIP you think I linked though...?

# ? Dec 31, 2011 06:39

hooah: Feb 6, 2006; WTF?

Penguissimo posted:

Yeah, I'd dig around over there. I'm not sure which ZIP you think I linked though...?

Whoops, got you and Deathlove confused.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 06:50

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

Unlocked and rooted the Nexus, was painless and Nova Launcher is very nice.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 07:43

ExtremeODD: Jul 16, 2005

So for the bionic is the only way to root is via computer right? Just got one yesterday and my computer takes a poo poo on me.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 14:23

lunar detritus: May 6, 2009

Slopehead posted:

You can usually replace bootscreens by dropping "bootanimation.zip" into /system/media and overwriting the old file. You'll need to make /system writable in your file explorers settings. http://androidbootanimation.com/ has a couple of great ones.

That's really interesting, I thought I had to install a custom ROM to do it.

When I turn on my phone it shows the motorola logo, then a motoblur animation and then the logo of the original phone company. Does a custom bootanimation.zip replace all of those or just the motoblur one?

# ? Dec 31, 2011 16:46

Aatrek: Jul 19, 2004; by Fistgrrl

I'm happy enough with the stock ICS launcher on my Nexus, but I wish I could put widgets in the bottom dock - so I could use Desktop Visualizer to put my own custom icons down there. Any thoughts?

# ? Dec 31, 2011 16:56

flyboi: Oct 13, 2005; agg stop posting; College Slice

Aatrek posted:

I'm happy enough with the stock ICS launcher on my Nexus, but I wish I could put widgets in the bottom dock - so I could use Desktop Visualizer to put my own custom icons down there. Any thoughts?

Nova Launcher. Get it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1389071

# ? Dec 31, 2011 17:23

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

flyboi posted:

Nova Launcher. Get it.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1389071

You have to be rooted and have Nova Launcher in /system to get the widgets in the app drawer like stock. Not a big deal but just something to note. It's a great launcher though.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 17:43

lunar detritus: May 6, 2009

Are the apps at /system/app/ normal apks? (Can I backup them and then install them normally on another phone?)

# ? Dec 31, 2011 18:09

Maker Of Shoes: Sep 4, 2006; AWWWW YISSSSSSSSSS
DIS IS MAH JAM!!!!!!

gmq posted:

Are the apps at /system/app/ normal apks? (Can I backup them and then install them normally on another phone?)

Technically, yes but you can only install them properly by adb push'ing them back to that directory.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 18:24

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# ? Jun 5, 2024 08:05

Codiusprime: Mar 17, 2006

Does anyone know if Rom Manager is working for the GNex? I mean, I can download it, so I guess it is. I figure the comments would note if it wasn't.

# ? Dec 31, 2011 20:49

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