[FAQ] Q & A on Rooting/ROMs/Methods

[sinic]

Interesting. So any clue if they'll do the roll out piecemeal or all at once? I remember reading that for another carrier, T-Mobile I think, they were saying they'd be rolling it out only in certain areas to start with and then going wider over time.

The other question this brings up is data migration. When other phones have gone through the eclair -> froyo update what gets lost? What stays? If the official update is going to end up wiping the phone anyway is there any "harm" in rooting/flashing prior to the update since everything would get lost in the transition anyway?

Also, as a more tech question, are there any known issues with using older computers for doing any of the hacks outlined here? Right now I'm on my old laptop (Dell Inspiron 9100) and I know I've sometimes gotten messages about hardware conflicts with certain high speed USB devices. This might be a non-issue, but since there was a caution to make sure you've got a good cable for the USB transfers I figured I should check about this as well.

 

[Paul627g]

Interesting. So any clue if they'll do the roll out piecemeal or all at once?

Not to sure but like any OTA update (if that is the way its released) it could take days to weeks before its reached to everyone.

The other question this brings up is data migration. When other phones have gone through the eclair -> froyo update what gets lost? What stays?

Your information such as contacts/calendar events are synced with Google, so those will be fine. Judging from the Vibrant Froyo upgrade and the unofficial leaked Froyo DK28 on Epic most of your information is retained. Your setting might be factory reset.

If the official update is going to end up wiping the phone anyway is there any "harm" in rooting/flashing prior to the update since everything would get lost in the transition anyway?

Even if it did wipe everything which I doubt, you need to meet the following...

You can install OTA (Over The Air) updates if your phone is:
1) stock
2) rooted

You cannot Install OTA updates if your phone:
1) has any system apps removed
2) has a custom ROM
3) leaked/unofficial (OS) software installed

Also, as a more tech question, are there any known issues with using older computers for doing any of the hacks outlined here? Right now I'm on my old laptop (Dell Inspiron 9100) and I know I've sometimes gotten messages about hardware conflicts with certain high speed USB devices. This might be a non-issue, but since there was a caution to make sure you've got a good cable for the USB transfers I figured I should check about this as well.

It is worth a try, if your phone and computer recognize each other with Odin and ADB which are used in their respective means then you should be fine. Only way to find out is read the stickies here in this section and give it a try.

 

[epstew]

Thanks for the reply. I use the clockwork as you suggested. I then used Titanium to remove most all my bloatware and unwanted items. Should I remove the Sprint Hotspot and replace it with something else? I didn't know if I could remove it without messing something up. When you take all the junk off of it you realize how little is actually on it stock.

 

[ioo]

Removing stock apps will mess up the update to 2.2 when its released. You will have to replace everything to stock, update to 2.2, then remove what you dont want again.

Just fyi.

 

[jrz5024]

+1 on Baked snack. I've been using it for awhile now, it's the only thing that makes my battery life passable.

 

[Paul627g]

Thanks for the reply. I use the clockwork as you suggested. I then used Titanium to remove most all my bloatware and unwanted items. Should I remove the Sprint Hotspot and replace it with something else? I didn't know if I could remove it without messing something up. When you take all the junk off of it you realize how little is actually on it stock.

No problem. Removing Sprint Hotspot will probably cause FC's (force closings) to happen.

As mentioned here, you will have to replace any items you removed to be able to receive the OTA update.

Keep that backup handy you made in CWM and you can restore with that or use Odin to restore back to complete factory stock. [How to] Factory Restore (or Fix a Bricked Phone)

 

[Kite09]

Um, Help?

Alright, so I am still new to the world of rooting and roms, but I don't know what happened here. I went to flash the Truly Epic Rebirth 1.5 on my Epic. It was rooted when I did so and running the Andromeda Kernel. I went and flashed the rom in Clockwork recovery mode, and now it wont load past the samsung screen. I have no clue where to go from here. Is it bricked, or still salvageable?

 

[Kite09]

Anyone? I have odin open and it won't find my phone, and I can't get it into download mode either.

 

[Paul627g]

Alright, so I am still new to the world of rooting and roms, but I don't know what happened here. I went to flash the Truly Epic Rebirth 1.5 on my Epic. It was rooted when I did so and running the Andromeda Kernel. I went and flashed the rom in Clockwork recovery mode, and now it wont load past the samsung screen. I have no clue where to go from here. Is it bricked, or still salvageable?

First a little history please. From my understanding Andromeda Kernel is based on Eclair 2.1 OS.

This ROM is based on Froyo DK28.

 

[Kite09]

Yeah, after some more research I realized that is what messed me up. But I now have it working. Thank you for the help.

 

[marinefet]

Help with roms or 2.2.... Or something

Hello. Im a new member and new to android mods in general. I've recently aquired a new epic due to my last epic catching fire. On my last epic I manually upgraded to 2.2 that I downloaed from somewhere onto my sd card and applied the upgrade via recovery mode as a update.zip file. But now that I have a brand new epic to start from scratch with I wanted to look into different versions of 2.2..... I guess. I'm still new to this and trying to still learn and put everything together. What versions are out there and what do you suggest to use, and I would prefer to update via the method I've already used because odin screwed one of my last epics. Help? Thanks. Can contact me faster at marinefet@gmail if you would

 

[Paul627g]

Hello. Im a new member and new to android mods in general. I've recently aquired a new epic due to my last epic catching fire. On my last epic I manually upgraded to 2.2 that I downloaed from somewhere onto my sd card and applied the upgrade via recovery mode as a update.zip file. But now that I have a brand new epic to start from scratch with I wanted to look into different versions of 2.2..... I guess. I'm still new to this and trying to still learn and put everything together. What versions are out there and what do you suggest to use, and I would prefer to update via the method I've already used because odin screwed one of my last epics. Help? Thanks. Can contact me faster at marinefet@gmail if you would

Try this, its about the only thing I could come up with at the moment for the update.zip method. It appears to be the same file size as the one I still use.

Stock DK28 Froyo update.zip

Remember this is bone stock Froyo DK28. You will have to root and install CWM, depending on what you would like to achieve.

 

[marinefet]

What about the "viper rom"? Stuff like that is what I'm interested in looking into. Is it possible to do stuff like that with the update.zip method. And what is the viper rom pray tell

 

[Paul627g]

What about the "viper rom"? Stuff like that is what I'm interested in looking into. Is it possible to do stuff like that with the update.zip method. And what is the viper rom pray tell

The update.zip method will get you stock Froyo. From there you will have to decide which ROM you would like to go with and follow the ROM devs instructions for installation.

Viper ROM has a lot of user customizable features. I have never ran it personally but I have read reports that it can be challenging to customize the ROM using their own custom made tools.

 

[marinefet]

Do you have any suggestions for any roms. If so can you provide a link and possible discripetion? I'm just looking for something different.

 

[robomav]

What is the better way to do it? Update from the recovery method that marinefet mentions or using ODIN for going to stock 2.2 from stock 2.1?

Or does not really matter? Thanks.

 

[Paul627g]

Do you have any suggestions for any roms. If so can you provide a link and possible discripetion? I'm just looking for something different.

[ROM] TrulyEpic Rebirth v1.5 AC Edition
I'm not pushing it because I'm apart of the dev team but because its a solid, daily driver of a ROM.

What is the better way to do it? Update from the recovery method that marinefet mentions or using ODIN for going to stock 2.2 from stock 2.1?

Or does not really matter? Thanks.

It doesn't matter really. They both give you Stock DK28 Froyo. What you do after wards is really what matters, depending on what type of ROM your going to run.

 

[sinic]

Opinion question: Is it better to go with a 2.1 custom kernel and ROM combo or to use the stock kernel and custom 2.2 ROM? Thinking about it a bit more I think getting used to a 2.2 ROM before the custom kernels for it start coming out would probably be a good idea, but the idea of getting more battery life from a custom 2.1 kernel right now is also very tempting... especially since after about 12-14 hours my battery is shot.

Thoughts?

 

[Paul627g]

Opinion question: Is it better to go with a 2.1 custom kernel and ROM combo or to use the stock kernel and custom 2.2 ROM? Thinking about it a bit more I think getting used to a 2.2 ROM before the custom kernels for it start coming out would probably be a good idea, but the idea of getting more battery life from a custom 2.1 kernel right now is also very tempting... especially since after about 12-14 hours my battery is shot.

Thoughts?

All a matter of preference.. Froyo even if they do the official release as reported on Feb. 21st isn't going to gaurentee the source codes will be released anytime soon for the devs to make custom kernels for Froyo which is needed to alter processor speed for overclocking and also better battery usage.

If you want to check out some custom stuff on Eclair I will sell it again, Baked Snack is a favorite among many for its quality and kernels. ROM ALERT: Baked Snack v1.6 [update6]

 

[jmaciel90]

HELP! Stuck in ClockWork

Hey guys,

Need help with something.

I was trying to update my Epic from 2.1 to 2.2 using Odin of course in download mode and idk what happened. It failed and then i looked at my phone and it was unresponsive. So i pulled the battery and restarted it and came up with the picture in this video: YouTube - Flashing Firmware with Odin on Samsung Vibrant

I followed that videos instructions on how to get into download mode again but it is instead taking me to clockwork.

Need help guys

Thanks in Advance!