[draftpeppin]

Hi,

Well, I see there are plenty of resources on here (and even more if I ask Google) about roms, roots, and unlocking. Lots on Youtube too. But I feel like you have to really browse through tons of pages of people asking specific questions, further discussion, etc., to the point that I don't really know where the simplest step-by-step instructions for getting Jelly Bean are.

My Galaxy Nexus is basically set up exactly how I want it in terms of where my home screen icons and widgets are, what I'm logged into, how those apps are configured, etc.

Keeping in mind that I just realized this morning that rooting and unlocking aren't the same thing (and still don't quite follow the distinction), what's the best way to get to Jelly Bean without having to re-login to all my apps, set up my icons and widgets all over again, and that type of thing? Youtube videos are what helps me the most rather than reading through technical instructions. Only things I've found on Youtube for this are people saying that what they're doing will result in your data/settings being lost. I'm willing to wait for Verizon if I have to deal with all that setup again.

Thanks,

Steve

[dmmarck]

You should (and by should, I mean must) read my Don't Panic guide and pretty much every sticky out there. There are no shortcuts to doing this stuff; those that exist leave you at great peril and risk for the future.

However, very briefly, if you use a custom launcher, you can save your settings to the sdcard to restore at a later date. Since you'll need to unlock your bootloader, that and everything else in your sdcard folder will be erased. So back it up.

Still, please read my Don't Panic guide (it's written exactly for these situations, hence the name ).

[cyberdalek]

Highly recommend "Don't Panic" it was a great resource for me.

[draftpeppin]

Thanks. I've actually followed that link to your guide a few times. I'm not sure why I'm still not getting it. Probably not enough pictures/videos. What can I say? Maybe I'm hopeless.

Custom launcher? Don't think I've come across that, sorry.

SD Card? I was led to believe the Galaxy Nexus does not have one. Wikipedia seems to agree with that: . So, I have gotten further confused now. lol

I keep bouncing between "I'll just wait for Verizon" and "It can't be that hard." I don't know why there are so many people that get it, but it just leaves me frustrated each time I try to read about it.

Thanks for attempting to help me, in any case.

[dmmarck]

Thanks. I've actually followed that link to your guide a few times. I'm not sure why I'm still not getting it. Probably not enough pictures/videos. What can I say? Maybe I'm hopeless.

Custom launcher? Don't think I've come across that, sorry.

SD Card? I was led to believe the Galaxy Nexus does not have one. Wikipedia seems to agree with that: . So, I have gotten further confused now. lol

I keep bouncing between "I'll just wait for Verizon" and "It can't be that hard." I don't know why there are so many people that get it, but it just leaves me frustrated each time I try to read about it.

Thanks for attempting to help me, in any case.

The unlock/root guide has pictures .

We have an sdcard--it's just not external. It's a folder labeled "sdcard." It's where everything saves, more or less.

Custom launcher...you know that circle thing with dots in it? On your home screen? It "launches" your apps and widgets. That's the launcher. You can replace that with a custom one from the play store, notably Nova Launcher and Apex Launcher.

[AppleBonker]

Youtube videos are what helps me the most rather than reading through technical instructions.

Youtube videos are a great way to see what is going on when you do this stuff, but they wont really help explain it. Trust me, reading and learning is the best way to be able to root and have control since you'll know everything about what you're doing. As D said, read the stickies and stuff and try to figure out WHY you are doing what they tell you to do. Once you know the why, the how becomes much easier.

Also, since some of the stuff is a bit steep technically, if you don't understand something post up a question. Plenty of people here are so knowledgeable it almost hurts. You'll get to the bottom of it.

Keeping in mind that I just realized this morning that rooting and unlocking aren't the same thing (and still don't quite follow the distinction)

The don't panic guide has a pretty good explanation. But to further it, think of your phone as a house. Stock, the house is locked and you can only decorate the outside. When you unlock the bootloader, it's like unlocking the front door. It gives you access to go inside. However, without root access (or to use a rough analogy, administrator access) it would be like me following you around said house not letting you change anything. With root access, you now have the ability to do whatever you want to the inside of the house as well (including burning it down if you're not careful). This is a rough explanation, but covers the general principle.

[draftpeppin]

Thanks AppleBonker. I think your statement that it is "a bit steep technically" is probably right on. I originally started looking into this when folks were saying there's no reason to wait for Verizon's update and that it was simple to get to Jelly Bean yourself. Since I have tinkered a lot with Windows machines, done Visual Basic programming, and worked with SQL, I figured I'd have some relevant technical skills to figure this out if it's as easy as folks are saying. But I have not found anything that's as easy as getting an update from the carrier (that doesn't wipe out my settings), at least not in terms I understand.

I'd be thrilled to find a Youtube video that just shows me everything to do and that assures me I won't lose my settings, and move on to really understanding it over time. I learn through watching and doing more than studying sometimes. Learned PC stuff through trial and error, which is great when you have an old computer to mess with while your primary computer stays the way you want it. Can't do that with just one phone.

[pool_shark]

You seem to be one of those people who over complicates things in your mind and makes yourself afraid.

It really isn't difficult, and once you find the method best suited for your thinking, you will realize how easy it was and your fear was unjustified.

I used this write up and I was unlocked and rooted within 20 minutes.



At the time it was written, it was the simplest, best explained method.
Now of course there are easier "point and click" methods.

[dmmarck]

You seem to be one of those people who over complicates things in your mind and makes yourself afraid.

It really isn't difficult, and once you find the method best suited for your thinking, you will realize how easy it was and your fear was unjustified.

I used this write up and I was unlocked and rooted within 20 minutes.



At the time it was written, it was the simplest, best explained method.
Now of course there are easier "point and click" methods.

Lot of truth in that statement.

[AppleBonker]

I think your statement that it is "a bit steep technically" is probably right on. I originally started looking into this when folks were saying there's no reason to wait for Verizon's update and that it was simple to get to Jelly Bean yourself. Since I have tinkered a lot with Windows machines, done Visual Basic programming, and worked with SQL, I figured I'd have some relevant technical skills to figure this out if it's as easy as folks are saying. But I have not found anything that's as easy as getting an update from the carrier (that doesn't wipe out my settings), at least not in terms I understand.

Given your abilities listed here, it's not as steep as you'd think. It's steeper for people who have no idea how a computer works or what code/the command line is.

I'd be thrilled to find a Youtube video that just shows me everything to do and that assures me I won't lose my settings, and move on to really understanding it over time.

Think of it kind of like formatting your hard drive and installing a fresh copy of Windows from scratch. The settings wont be preserved. However, there is software for the phone (custom launchers mentioned above - personally I use Apex, but plenty like Nova as well - find them in the Play Store) where you can setup your homescreen/app tray/dock/etc and save the configuration. Move it to your PC for safe storage and when you unlock/root/install custom rom transfer that config back and restore it. Pretty painless.

For any of us that flash roms regularly, we've become proficient in this. Every time we do a clean wipe and flash a new rom, all of our settings are gone. Using Titanium Backup (Play Store) and Apex launcher, I can have my phone reconfigured (and all my apps installed) exactly how I want it in less than 20 minutes. This includes application settings.

[Droidintorrance]

Hey Steve... welcome; I totally know how you feel... totally read D's Guide... but if it'll help.. read my Guide too...

[Guide] The Busy Parent’s (& Noobs) Guide to Root...

It's a bit long, but I hope that it'll help you feel more prepare to root... I wrote it specifically for people in your (our) situation...

G/L and let us know how we can help...

[draftpeppin]

So this Titanium Backup would let me save my current settings so that I can get the phone back to how I want it once I get Jelly Bean installed?

[yodatom10]

So this Titanium Backup would let me save my current settings so that I can get the phone back to how I want it once I get Jelly Bean installed?

Not the first time. tibu requires root either to root you need to unlock either to unlock you need to format everything. Good news is u only have to do this once and from there on out tibu will take care of ya. I know its a pain but its totally worth it. Jb is that good

Sent from my Jelly bean powered Galaxy Nexus

[draftpeppin]

Hmmm.... I dunno. I hate having to set up Google Authenticator all over again. Always have to rescan it into both my phone and tablet so they're both in sync. Then there's Facebook, my main google account and my school gmail account. And all my folders/groupings on the home screen. What a PITA! Why is it that Google/Samsung/Verizon can send an update without losing settings but this process just can't get there? Will it ever improve?

I'm back to thinking it's worth waiting just a bit longer. But thanks all for being informative.

[yodatom10]

Hmmm.... I dunno. I hate having to set up Google Authenticator all over again. Always have to rescan it into both my phone and tablet so they're both in sync. Then there's Facebook, my main google account and my school gmail account. And all my folders/groupings on the home screen. What a PITA! Why is it that Google/Samsung/Verizon can send an update without losing settings but this process just can't get there? Will it ever improve?

I'm back to thinking it's worth waiting just a bit longer. But thanks all for being informative.

Nova can do your home screens


Rooting also gets ya free teathering
First to updates
Google now (very cool)
Full system backups if you ever had to reset or replace your phone you can pick up where you left off
And customizations galore.

The decision is yours. But if you take your sunday and root I promise you will never look back

Sent from my Jelly bean powered Galaxy Nexus

[draftpeppin]

This Nova thing....does it back up my screens how I have them now, or would I have to recreate it in Nova and then back it up?

[yodatom10]

This Nova thing....does it back up my screens how I have them now, or would I have to recreate it in Nova and then back it up?

Recreate and backup. I know its a lot of work but its totally worth it especially for the full image backup

Sent from my Jelly bean powered Galaxy Nexus

[cyberdalek]

This Nova thing....does it back up my screens how I have them now, or would I have to recreate it in Nova and then back it up?

You would have to recreate it in Nova.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[draftpeppin]

A friend of mine says he's got some GUI option to do all of this, including a backup. I'm very skeptical now after seeing the consensus here seems to be that I can't backup what I've got. I guess I'll hear him out when he comes over but I'm not sure I'm going to let him touch my phone. lol.

Really all I want is Google Now. But I waited months to move from my crummy Droid X to the Nexus. I can probably wait a little longer for an official update so I don't ruin my day when I lose something, do it wrong, or get stuck being up at 3 AM trying to put everything back the way I like it.

Well, I posted this hoping for an "easy" answer. I do thank you all for your time!

[cyberdalek]

Why don't you try a different launcher and if you don't like it you can always switch back to your current setup by using the stock launcher again. No wiping or data loss. It would be a safe place to start.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus

[Droidintorrance]

Steve.. there isn't much you can do the first time you unlock the phone.. this is not like a OTA where everything stays the same..

Yes it is a PITA but you will be forces to know your phone inside and out like never before...

It used to take me weeks to set the phone back up.. but now a couple of hours..

If U install a launcher.. you are already going to loose your home screens.. so its up to you.. I like the bone stock look.. and I don't mind setting everything up manually..

But as my guide said...

Take screen shot of everything! I mean everything.. your home screens.. your folders.. settings.. then go thru my each app and and make sure you know how to log back in.. I like to tag the activating email.. with account name and password.. I know where to search..

Everyone should be doing all this.. just in case.. you ever need to do a factory reset or turn in your phones..



Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Android Central Forums

[draftpeppin]

The GUI option someone I know had referred to turned out to be from a "Wugfresh" and this page seems to indicate that you can back up settings:

I think that's partly what he's referring to when he says you can backup. Is that incorrect? There are a lot of spelling errors in there, so it's entirely possible I'm interpreting it wrong.

[windhorser]

I was in your situation a few months ago. I agree with you, it is a fair amount of work, and depending on how you feel about fooling around with your phone, it might not be worth it. Some of the ROMS are updated very frequently, and if you choose to install each new version you'll be spending some serious quality time with your phone. The amount of work that developers do with their ROMs is impressive....it gives me a bit of appreciation for why Verizon takes so long to release an update (unpopular minority opinion). And for what it's worth, (another unpopular minority opinion) I didn't find Jelly Bean to be all that much of an improvement--most of the changes are under the hood. The biggest change is that the animations are much smoother (like butter..) and you might or might not find that important. I do like it, but if I think about what I would actually pay for that, and then think about how much my personal time is worth, it might not be such a bargain.
On the other hand, I decided to go for it because the one-time effort allows me to back up the entire phone. You just can't do that without root. Then, I lose my phone, or it's damaged so that I can't access its data, one I get my replacement phone I can reinstall the complete backup--everything--in just a few minutes.
Once I did it, I was glad that I had tried. It really didn't seem difficult to me. And actually, it was fun. Watch out if you tend to get addicted to technology and gadgets!
My advice? Follow the advice above about what to read, root, find a ROM that works for you, set it up perfectly, make a nandroid backup (details elsewhere), and then don't fuss with it too much. Back it up again occasionally. Even if you root but stay with the stock ICS ROM ( a reasonable choice, IMHO), you'll have more security and flexibility.
Obviously, this is just my opinion, many here would disagree with much of what I said, and I am still a beginner.
Finally: this forum is great, everything that you would ever want to know is here, it's very well organized and has very supportive and friendly members. The moderator is fantastic.
Sorry for the long reply, but I've been there. Good luck!

p.s
I use:
JellyBelly 6.4.1 (most recent version is 6.6, it's updated often)
Franco's kernel
Nova launcher

[triptosyll]

You know man, four mos. ago, I didn't even know what the word rooting meant. Really. But I read...and read...and read a little more, and now, I'm able to theme any ROM, and I've successfully built my own ROM from source on my computer. I'm learning java because of it.
I flash a different ROM to my phone at least twice a week, which means A LOT of time spent with it in my hand. I USED to just find one I liked, and stick with it, but it gets addicting. U wanna know more, do more....change more! But once u root (let go of having to reconfigure ur phone, there's no way around it if u wanna root) and u get to know titanium backup, it'll make ur life A LOT easier. It even backs up the apps themselves so u don't even have to redownload them from the market. Just download titanium backup, the restore what u backed up.
Give rooting a shot, and I promise u u won't regret it. :thumbup:

Sent from my SCH-I500 using Android Central Forums

[draftpeppin]

You guys really are like salesmen for the rooting cause. By the answers I have gotten so far, it seems that the answer is that this GUI program I referenced last night does not back up settings, app settings, etc. Neither really addressed it directly. More like sales pitches to encourage me to do it anyway. Which sounds like they're saying it doesn't do what I'm asking about.