Questions on Custom ROMs?

[Bulldog60]

I am about ready to try a custom rom but have a few questions first.
I am Rooted already.

1. Where is the best resource to find custom roms? This site is a great resource but my search turned up many threads containing custom rom preferences but no guided instruction. I may have just missed this.

2. What apps are typically needed for the process of installing a custom rom?

3. If I use a custom rom, will I still be able to use other themes?

4. Are custom roms typically faster then the standard rom?

If this has already been asked and answered my apologies. Just point me in the right direction please and remove this thread.

 

[moosc]

I take it u have the bootstrap app, next make a back up of your current system then try tranquil Rom, DarkSlidev4.1(my favorite and excellent support) try xda mydroidworld, for some roms.yes they can speed up your system.

 

[seanubis]

Newbie ROM advice follows, take with caution

1. I think Droid X Roms - Droid Forum - Verizon Droid & the Motorola Droid Forum has a good selection of Droid X ROMS

2. You need Droid X Recovery Bootstrap and whatever ROM you want to use.

3. In most cases, you should only use themes made for the ROM you are using.

4. From what I've seen, many of the descriptions of custom ROMs mention better speed than the stock ROM.

I just installed a custom ROM (GummyJar) for the first time yesterday and had no problems - here are the steps I took:

1. Root with Z4Root:

2. Install Droid X Recovery Bootstrap

3. Download GummyJAR to root of SD card (from here)

4. Download DX Swype for GummyJar to root of SD card (from here)

5. Run Droid X Recovery Bootstrap

6. Bootstrap recovery

7. Reboot recovery

8. Make a backup

9. Select "wipe data/factory reset"

10. Select "Yes -- delete all data"

11. Press the power button to go back.

12. Make another backup.

13. Select "install zip from sdcard"

14. Select "choose zip from sdcard"

15. Find and select DX_GummyJAR-X.X.zip

16. Wait for that to install

17. Select "install zip from sdcard"

18. Select "choose zip from sdcard"

19. Find and select GJAR.DX.Swype.zip

20. Reboot

The first reboot sat at the Motorola M for several seconds, then switched to the Gummy Jar boot animation. It then dropped me into activation and setup, and finally to a very nice un-blurred almost-Gingerbread OS

 

[Bulldog60]

Thanks. I think I am ready. I have backed up and have Gummy sitting on my SD card. I am a big chicken and me just doing the backup way new and frightening! lol. But I think I will give it a go tonight.

 

[Smitty_82]

Thanks. I think I am ready. I have backed up and have Gummy sitting on my SD card. I am a big chicken and me just doing the backup way new and frightening! lol. But I think I will give it a go tonight.

It's always a little unnerving flashing your first rom. As long as you have a working backup you will be fine. I've used my backups before and it is a great safety net. Have fun!

 

[seanubis]

Also, lots of good info here: General ROM FAQ

 

[Bulldog60]

I am stuck. I can not find my gummy zip file. OOps I didn't scroll down far enough! Its up and running, now to get all my apps back!

 

[ultravisitor]

If we install a ROM and want to get back to stock, what do we do? SBF?

 

[Bulldog60]

Ok new ROM installed and before I flashed the old I made a backup with Titanium Backup so I could restore my apps but Titanium is no longer in my apps drawer. Does that mean I lost all my backed up data?

 

[Cyber Warrior]

You can use an app called rom manager for easily switching between roms but yea back up your stock rom before you do anything or you can always find a link somewhere and download it back.
Z4root
Titanium backup
Bootstrapper
Rom manager

Apex is a great rom. Has the gingerbread features with excellent performance and increased battery life and runs great with no problems. Its a solid built rom.

 

[Cyber Warrior]

Ok new ROM installed and before I flashed the old I made a backup with Titanium Backup so I could restore my apps but Titanium is no longer in my apps drawer. Does that mean I lost all my backed up data?

Redownload it and you should have the backed up files on the sd card.

 

[Bulldog60]

Thanks will give it a try! Thanks a bunch! That worked and I have my music back too!

 

[seanubis]

If we install a ROM and want to get back to stock, what do we do? SBF?

If you make a nandroid backup before you install a ROM (ie while you are still stock), you can restore that backup to get back to stock.