Rooting The TF700T And Installing A Custom ROM

[joshsevers]

So I've had my TF700T for a while now, and I'm thinking about rooting it, but I don't know where to start nor whether or not what I'm thinking about doing is even called rooting / installing a ROM.

This is what I want to do. I want to use my tablet for playing mobile games and for running some music apps (not only something like Pandora or Play Music, but I use it for a metronome during live performances and some sampling / MIDI triggering apps). I'll keep some basic things like Chrome, Drive, YouTube and some utilities, but I won't really use it for anything else. Therefore, I'm wanting to get rid of everything else, including all the pre-installed ASUS software that you can't remove normally. I also want to be able to customize things like the home bar (with the Back, Home, Apps buttons) and the notifications area. I have had limited experience with what rooting and ROMs do, but I think a custom ROM would be where I would be able to customize things like that, yes?

Another big thing I was wondering about was performance optimization. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming many performance issues I have experienced could be alleviated just by removing most of the bloatware. I'm not worried about squeezing every ounce of speed out of the processor (because as I understand it, overclocking the processor on the TF700T could be harmful for the life of the tablet), but if there was a way to optimize things slightly beyond the stock settings, I'd be interested in that as well.

So, with that being said, would anyone kindly point me in the right direction? I'm fairly confident in my technological aptitude if I can follow a set of instructions, but I just don't fully understand the concepts of rooting and custom ROMs nor what I would be looking for in a custom ROM. I mean, do I build one myself or are there ones to find that would be slightly customizable beyond an already-built framework?

Also, if I'm wrong in my assumptions I do apologize. I've tried to research this a bit but I'm only human, after all, and I'm out to learn. Thanks!

 

[UJ95x]

So I've had my TF700T for a while now, and I'm thinking about rooting it, but I don't know where to start nor whether or not what I'm thinking about doing is even called rooting / installing a ROM.

This is what I want to do. I want to use my tablet for playing mobile games and for running some music apps (not only something like Pandora or Play Music, but I use it for a metronome during live performances and some sampling / MIDI triggering apps). I'll keep some basic things like Chrome, Drive, YouTube and some utilities, but I won't really use it for anything else. Therefore, I'm wanting to get rid of everything else, including all the pre-installed ASUS software that you can't remove normally. I also want to be able to customize things like the home bar (with the Back, Home, Apps buttons) and the notifications area. I have had limited experience with what rooting and ROMs do, but I think a custom ROM would be where I would be able to customize things like that, yes?

Another big thing I was wondering about was performance optimization. Tell me if I'm wrong, but I'm assuming many performance issues I have experienced could be alleviated just by removing most of the bloatware. I'm not worried about squeezing every ounce of speed out of the processor (because as I understand it, overclocking the processor on the TF700T could be harmful for the life of the tablet), but if there was a way to optimize things slightly beyond the stock settings, I'd be interested in that as well.

So, with that being said, would anyone kindly point me in the right direction? I'm fairly confident in my technological aptitude if I can follow a set of instructions, but I just don't fully understand the concepts of rooting and custom ROMs nor what I would be looking for in a custom ROM. I mean, do I build one myself or are there ones to find that would be slightly customizable beyond an already-built framework?

Also, if I'm wrong in my assumptions I do apologize. I've tried to research this a bit but I'm only human, after all, and I'm out to learn. Thanks!

Welcome to Android Central
Deleting bloatware apps can only be done with root access and an app like Titanium backup, so yes, you are correct
The root method for the TF700t on 4.1.2 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2252563

Deleting bloatware should have a slight effect on performance but I would look into custom ROMs if you want more control over the customization and performance.
You don't need to build anything, all you need is root access and a custom recovery like TWRP.
Here's where to get that: http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/105

CyanogenMod ROMs for your device: http://download.cyanogenmod.org/?device=tf700t

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[joshsevers]

Thank you for welcoming me haha let me see if I follow you...

Okay, so I've got to unlock my device before rooting it, and using Motochopper can root it. After granting root access, I need to use a custom recovery application (like TWRP) before I can install any custom ROMs. Now, are Titanium Backup and TWRP the same kind of program? I don't think I'm entirely clear on what 'custom recovery' means; does it just refer to using an application that can provide a backup (recovery) through root access? If so, would I need just either Titanium Backup or TWRP, or would having both do different things?

So Titanium Backup can provide a way to backup the apps I have installed on my device? Now, if I root my device, install a custom recovery app and install a custom ROM, would I still be able to download and install apps from the Play Store? Also, Android 4.2.1 is currently installed; would a custom ROM be a way to upgrade to a more recent release like 4.4? Or would a custom ROM take the place of a proper Android installation?

So that list of ROMs on CryogenMod, what do the different types of ROMs mean (i.e. nightly, snapshot, stable, etc.)? Once I've unlocked, rooted, and installed a custom recovery app I'm sure I'll see or find out how to install the ROMs no problem, but what are differences between them, and is there a way to see what they do/are before installing them? Is there someplace that certain mods are demonstrated or do we just demo them on our own by installing them and trying them out?

 

[joshsevers]

CryogenMod

Ha! I mean Cyanogen... whoops! I guess my brain read what it wanted to read.

 

[UJ95x]

Thank you for welcoming me haha let me see if I follow you...

Okay, so I've got to unlock my device before rooting it, and using Motochopper can root it. After granting root access, I need to use a custom recovery application (like TWRP) before I can install any custom ROMs. Now, are Titanium Backup and TWRP the same kind of program? I don't think I'm entirely clear on what 'custom recovery' means; does it just refer to using an application that can provide a backup (recovery) through root access? If so, would I need just either Titanium Backup or TWRP, or would having both do different things?

So Titanium Backup can provide a way to backup the apps I have installed on my device? Now, if I root my device, install a custom recovery app and install a custom ROM, would I still be able to download and install apps from the Play Store? Also, Android 4.2.1 is currently installed; would a custom ROM be a way to upgrade to a more recent release like 4.4? Or would a custom ROM take the place of a proper Android installation?

So that list of ROMs on CryogenMod, what do the different types of ROMs mean (i.e. nightly, snapshot, stable, etc.)? Once I've unlocked, rooted, and installed a custom recovery app I'm sure I'll see or find out how to install the ROMs no problem, but what are differences between them, and is there a way to see what they do/are before installing them? Is there someplace that certain mods are demonstrated or do we just demo them on our own by installing them and trying them out?

This is a little old, but it gives a basic definition for a lot of Android terms
http://www.androidcentral.com/dictionary
Recovery mode is a partition if the Android OS, used for administration of the device. A custom recovery "overwrites" that and allows for a lot more control of the device. These are not applications.
Titanium Backup on the other hand, is. This allows for freezing or deleting of apps, and backing up app data. The premium version allows for more options.
You can still use the same Google services like the play store, but to do so, you need to flash a compatible gapps with your ROM. These are usually found in the same place as the ROM file.
Nightly is exactly that. A build that is updated each night, and is usually too buggy to be a daily driver, but is used for improving the performance for snapshots. Those are monthly builds (might be weekly). Stable builds are the least buggy and should have no problem with being used daily. Those are the ones I recommend using.
As for custom ROMs and OS versions, you can usually find newer ROMs that are more up to date than the official software provided by the OEM. My phone is yet to get the officit 4.4.2 update, but I have been using SlimKat 4.4.2 for a couple of weeks now. The ROMs are still built on Android but replace the stock firmware. When you install your custom recovery, the first step is to make a nandroid backup. This makes a full image backup of the entire system, and if you ever want to go back to it because you're not liking a newer ROM or are having issues, restoring the nandroid will have the phone exactly the way it was when you first made it. I usually make a new one about once a month, even if I don't flash any new ROMs

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[joshsevers]

Okay. Let me see if I got this.

First unlock the tablet via a utility like the ASUS utility they provide on their website.
Next, root the tablet via Motochopper.
Next, install a custom recovery like TWRP Goo Manager.
What is the difference between Titanium Backup and Nandroid Backup? Do they essentially do the same thing, just made by different people? Also, if I had either Titanium or Nandroid, would I need the TWRP Goo Manager?
Now, once I've done all that I can flash (which essentially means install, right?) a custom ROM onto the tablet. So with the different ROMs available, I just have to install them onto the device to see what they look like / how they function? Also, if I back up my system with Titanium or Nandroid, I can restore it if I want to remove the ROM and/or install a different ROM, yes?

Thanks again for helping me; I feel like a child in this place haha

 

[joshsevers]

Right! One more thing: is gapps something different than a ROM? Can a ROM be compatible with Google services or not? If it's not, would I need to install a gapp (does that just stand for Google-apps or something?) alongside the ROM to enable usage of Google services? How can I tell if a ROM would be compatible or not?

 

[UJ95x]

Okay. Let me see if I got this.

First unlock the tablet via a utility like the ASUS utility they provide on their website.
Next, root the tablet via Motochopper.
Next, install a custom recovery like TWRP Goo Manager.
What is the difference between Titanium Backup and Nandroid Backup? Do they essentially do the same thing, just made by different people? Also, if I had either Titanium or Nandroid, would I need the TWRP Goo Manager?
Now, once I've done all that I can flash (which essentially means install, right?) a custom ROM onto the tablet. So with the different ROMs available, I just have to install them onto the device to see what they look like / how they function? Also, if I back up my system with Titanium or Nandroid, I can restore it if I want to remove the ROM and/or install a different ROM, yes?

Thanks again for helping me; I feel like a child in this place haha

TWRP is a recovery; I haven't used Goo Manager, but I know that it's an app that let's you download ROMs onto the phone, as well as gives a few reboot options, like booting into recovery.
Titanium Backup is the app that let's you delete bloatware or freeze apps, and backs up your app data, but nothing else.
A nandroid backup is a full image backup of your system, which can be done in TWRP or CWM (Another popular custom recovery). You should make one of these as soon as you get a custom recovery. That way if anything goes wrong when flashing something else, or simply if you don't like a ROM you tried, you can revert the phone exactly to the way it was when you made it.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[joshsevers]

Okay, that makes sense. So what about the gapps? Researching a bit, I think I understand that a gapp is something I can install alongside a ROM and both the device and the version of Android off which the ROM is based determines which gapp I should download. Installing a gapp matching my device and ROM's Android base is done separately from flashing a ROM, right?

 

[UJ95x]

Okay, that makes sense. So what about the gapps? Researching a bit, I think I understand that a gapp is something I can install alongside a ROM and both the device and the version of Android off which the ROM is based determines which gapp I should download. Installing a gapp matching my device and ROM's Android base is done separately from flashing a ROM, right?

Gapps are Google apps, like Google+, Gmail, YouTube, Google Now, etc.
You flash them at the same time as you do the ROM, so they're done exactly the same way.

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[joshsevers]

Okay, so I'll just need to figure out which Gapps I want and find a version of them that is compatible with the ROM I want to flash onto my device?

 

[UJ95x]

Okay, so I'll just need to figure out which Gapps I want and find a version of them that is compatible with the ROM I want to flash onto my device?

No, you find the ROM you want, and then flash a compatible gapps. Not the other way around

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[joshsevers]

Gotcha. Okay, I think I'm going to try and do this. Starting slowing and going to backup apps and make a nandroid backup soon as I can.

 

[berndlb]

Gotcha. Okay, I think I'm going to try and do this. Starting slowing and going to backup apps and make a nandroid backup soon as I can.

I wrote a guide to custom ROMing the TF700 here: http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...ginners-guide-flashing-custom-rom-tf700t.html
I think it covers most of your questions.

Gtanner00 translated it for TF300 users and added a couple of very good posts about the difference between custom ROMs for the Transformer. Since the 300 and 700 are very similar in terms of framework there's usually a TF700 version of each custom rom he mentions.
http://www.transformerforums.com/fo...nstall-roms-tf300-jelly-bean-kitkat-roms.html

But you have to research each single one. They require different recoveries, sometimes different bootloaders.
The fastest way to a brick is flashing the wrong recovery for your bootloader and then an incompatible rom for either bootloader or recovery. The sequence is:
1. Make sure you have the correct bootloader
2. Make sure you flash the correct recovery
3. Flash a ROM that is compatible with both

You may want to look into generating the nvflash blobs and flatline bricksafe image for your tablet. With those you can recover from any brick not hardware related. But this procedure is not for the faint of heart! Do your homework!
https://www.androidroot.mobi/pages/guides/tegra3-guide-nvflash-jellybean/

 

[joshsevers]

Okay, so would it be better to select which ROM I want to flash first, then find the bootloader and recovery that are compatible and then install the three in sequence? When you say bootloader, do you mean I must select the correct method of unlocking the tablet? Or once I unlock the bootloader are there replacements that need to take the place of the bootloader itself?

Also, thanks for pointing me to that post! You can never have too much information, eh?

 

[berndlb]

Okay, so would it be better to select which ROM I want to flash first, then find the bootloader and recovery that are compatible and then install the three in sequence? When you say bootloader, do you mean I must select the correct method of unlocking the tablet? Or once I unlock the bootloader are there replacements that need to take the place of the bootloader itself?

Also, thanks for pointing me to that post! You can never have too much information, eh?

There is only one way for unlocking the bootloader: Using Asus Unlock Tool.
If you are on the latest firmware, you probably have the required bootloader for the latest versions of the custom roms for this tablet (but maybe not for older ones...)
I have seen it many times, that users did not do enough research, came from an older firmware like 10.6.1.14.8, had a recovery like TWRP 2.5.0 and then just flashed a CM11 rom on top of that. The subsequent bootloop or stuck boot then led them to wipe data from the bootloader or some other foolish action which may result in a forced reboot to recovery loop or a total hardbrick.
Once you are unlocked it's up to you to choose what bootloader, kernel, recovery and rom you want to run in any combination you like. It's also up to you to make sure the components you flash work with each other.
The freedom to customize the tablet to your liking includes the freedom to mess up badly. That's why you always want to have a nandroid of your last working setup and ideally your nvflash blobs squared away.

For the purposes you stated I would recommend you look for a stable CM version (10.2 would be latest) or CROMi-X.
With all CM based roms you can only choose to flash or not flash the gapps package (Google apps). Sure - you can first flash them an then uninstall those you don't want with Titanium Backup - but that's not very elegant.
CROMi-X (based on the Asus firmware) lets you choose which Asus stock apps (most of them don't work on CM roms) and Google apps you want to install.
On both you can install the Xposed framework and different modules for it to further customize the UI to your liking.
You find the threads for the most popular roms in the TF700 development section on XDA.

 

[joshsevers]

Okay, so you're saying that if I didn't have the most up-to-date firmware, it would not contain the most up-to-date bootloader that I could unlock, and if I wanted to flash a ROM that required a more recent bootloader I couldn't do it (or I could install the correct bootloader), right?
On my tablet, my firmware is 10.6.1.14.10-20130801 (I'm just looking at the build number, correct?), is that a good one? If I needed to get a different bootloader, where would I find that?

 

[UJ95x]

Okay, so you're saying that if I didn't have the most up-to-date firmware, it would not contain the most up-to-date bootloader that I could unlock, and if I wanted to flash a ROM that required a more recent bootloader I couldn't do it (or I could install the correct bootloader), right?
On my tablet, my firmware is 10.6.1.14.10-20130801 (I'm just looking at the build number, correct?), is that a good one? If I needed to get a different bootloader, where would I find that?

The bootloader is updated when you do a software upgrade to the device. Check for an update

Sent from my Galaxy S4 running SlimKat 4.4.2

 

[berndlb]

Okay, so you're saying that if I didn't have the most up-to-date firmware, it would not contain the most up-to-date bootloader that I could unlock, and if I wanted to flash a ROM that required a more recent bootloader I couldn't do it (or I could install the correct bootloader), right?
On my tablet, my firmware is 10.6.1.14.10-20130801 (I'm just looking at the build number, correct?), is that a good one? If I needed to get a different bootloader, where would I find that?

You are on the latest bootloader and it's good with any recent custom rom I can think of - so don't worry about it. To change bootloaders you almost always have to go the Asus firmware route - flashing the stock firmware that contains the bootloader you want and then changing recovery and rom again. There are a few exceptions to that rule - but as I said: You don't have to worry about it unless you want to flash an ICS rom or some such.

 

[joshsevers]

Got it. Yeah, I've checked for updates pretty often and I haven't had a new one in a while haha
Okay, I most likely will at least want to check out that CROMi-X or a ROM that's close to Android 4.4.
Thanks for being patient with me, guys; I wanted to at least talk to someone who knows about it before only trying to follow just a set of instructions I found online.