New to the 'dInc' (and Android Forums, too!)

[Steve Mulhern]

I purchased the HTC Droid Incredible on December 3rd. I love this phone (hate the battery life, love the phone)...!

In any case, I have a few questions regarding installing a custom ROM (instead of the bloatware that HTC insists that I use.)

Here are the steps I've undertaken:
I've successfully Rooted the phone with Unrevoked. I'm now a Superuser.

A day or two ago, I backed up the existing ROM, then got cold feet about applying a new ROM, because I don't want to brick it (and had a question or two anyway.)

I downloaded Titanium Backup Pro with Busybox 1.16.0, and went through and backed up all the user data.

I downloaded ROM Manager (the free version), and downloaded the latest CyanogenMod- version 6.1 (as that seems to be the one most talked about on the LifeHacker site.)

I know to back up the (existing) ROM, wipe all data, and clear the cache before installing a ROM.

Now, the questions:
1a) I've seen some mention of "Radio" - is this the typical FM radio that came with the Droid Incredible, or is there something more esoteric that it is actually referring to?

1b) Where should I look for the "Radio" file that would need to be installed?

2) What are the benefits AS WELL AS pitfalls of each ROM? (IE: I see Koush, Lithium, cvpcs, ShadowROM, JagerRom, MIUI, IncROM, etc. for the Incredible- but going to each of them doesn't necessarily tell me the stuff that may not fit my usage.)

I look forward to any and all responses to this post- I know you guys will help- and thank you in advance.

Oh yes- question 3, though it doesn't belong in the "Incredible ROM" forum- I know how to take pictures. How do you save screenshots?

-- S.

 

[Mordecaidrake]

I'm not sure about your radio question, however in regards to ROMS I'm partial to the Cyanogen mod with a new adw launcher theme, to each their own though. To take screenshots its quite simple, you just download an application. The application I've used/prefer is Shoot Me. These are my screens:

 

[PvilleComp]

Steve,

Now, the questions:
1a) I've seen some mention of "Radio" - is this the typical FM radio that came with the Droid Incredible, or is there something more esoteric that it is actually referring to?

As a rule, don't mess with the Radio unless you know what you are doing! There are several modified Radios floating about, but for custom ROM's and Kernels, you do not need to modify the Radio.

The Radio controls the CDMA/EVDO radios for the phone; it's not the FM Radio app on the phone.

1b) Where should I look for the "Radio" file that would need to be installed?

Check out the Radio threads.

2) What are the benefits AS WELL AS pitfalls of each ROM? (IE: I see Koush, Lithium, cvpcs, ShadowROM, JagerRom, MIUI, IncROM, etc. for the Incredible- but going to each of them doesn't necessarily tell me the stuff that may not fit my usage.)

Go to each ROM's official Page - a Quick Google search should get you there - and you will get a better feel for each ROM. The Official ROM'S & MODS HQ Sticky in this forum is also a good place for links to the ROM pages.

Cyanogen and SkyRaider are both good Vanilla Android ROM's. SkyRaider also has a Sense Based ROM if you like Sense but don't like the VZW Bloatware - Same for Virtuous ROM, it's as close to stock without all the bloatware and a few extra goodies as you will get.

Hope this helps - Welcome Aboard!

 

[318sugarhill]

Personally, I use Virtuous. I've like Redemption Rom as well. All have their benefits and downsides, and they are all subjective. I like Virtuous because honestly, I found nothing wrong with the Stock Rom, besides the excess VZW crap. I like the extra additions that Virtuous has, and it still gives me the look and feel of a Stock Dinc (i don't stray far from the norm in general) Before rooting I tried launcher pro and really was not a fan. That's when I knew Sense is for me.

Friends and family have MOTO droids of various models, and I really don't like them much compared to my Dinc. I really like the smoothness and the flow of HTC sense and I don't think I'll ever use a rom that is not sense based.

One word of caution. Make sure you backup with recovery NOT Rom Manager. I have had problems restoring backups made with Rom Manager. I like to download the Roms off the web to my computer, manually move them to Root of the SD card, and then load them in recovery. I have never had a problem this way.

You won't brick your device with ROMS. You may find bugs that appear from time to time from not wiping correctly or restoring data from an old Rom to a new rom that isn't compatible, but as long as you back up, you can restore your phone to a working order.

As far as Radio's leave it alone till you fully understand it. I'm still weighing the risk/benefit analysis in changing my radio, and I've been rooted for 3 months.