Want to root, but don't understand roms, radios, etc.

[bawalker]

Hello all,

First off let me start off by saying I'm definitely not a noob to technology, flashing, and going outside the box to use devices in ways they were never intended too. I was first to mod xbox's, ps2's, and such years ago and loved it. I know the risks of bricking something and in some cases unbricking it.

Anyway, to get to my point is that I have an EVO 4G that is over a year old, now out of warranty and received the OTA Gingerbread 2.3.3 update some months ago. I'm much more comfortable and ready to root it now that S-Off has been made available for GB. I despise GB, everything from no wireless-N drivers to even the volume rocker sound change, but esp the constant sense reboots.

My desire is to get Gingerbread 2.2 on there with stock Sense (hey, it's familiar and I"m comfortable with sense) minus the default Sprint apps (telenav, nascar, etc, etc).

I've been reading this forum from last year regarding rooting and it seems like there is SO MUCH information on what to do, how to root, confusion amongst different roms, do radios need to be flashed, wimax updates, and more. I've held off on rooting even back last year just because there is so much information scattered in so many places that I feel quite lost with it, so I'm coming to you guys here!

My questions about rooting/flashing my Evo are:

1.) Can I return to stock Sprint Froyo 2.2 rom minus Sprint "junk", and how? Does such a rom exist?

2.) What's the difference between flashing a rom and radio? Do both need to be downgraded/upgraded at the same time? I'm not understanding this.

I'm sure I'll have more questions as time progresses but I really want to get a starting point for rooting my Evo and have some clarity about it all.

Thanks!

 

[AlphaTango414]

To answer your first question. Really try any Sense base rom and see how you like it or you can just get the stock 2.2 RUU and install SU and delete all the bloat your self but that is timeful and a waste IMO. Try out something like Fresh Rom.

For your seconded question now. You should have the most up to date radio since you were on 2.3.3 when you rooted. You should keep the most up to date radio installed for best results. As for flashing a rom you do not have to do anything else as they are good to go out of the "box" 99% of the time for Sense based roms.

 

[AlphaTango414]

Sprint Lovers is based on 2.2

Fresh newest version is based on 2.3, older versions are based on older versions of android.

A nice list of several roms for the Evo 4g

 

[bawalker]

Thanks for those replies. I also forgot to ask about what is the difference with ODEXED and DE-ODEXED roms? What about kernels needing to be updated in some cases, or does that even apply?

 

[bawalker]

Sprint Lovers is based on 2.2

Fresh newest version is based on 2.3, older versions are based on older versions of android.

A nice list of several roms for the Evo 4g

I also forgot to ask, with the newer rom's such as SprintLovers based on 2.3.3, does that solve the sense rebooting problem? Do any of the roms solve that? That was my biggest peeve of the stock Sprint GingerBread update. I would consider going the route of a newer 2.3.3 rom if that sense rebooting was fixed. I admit I did enjoy the "fast boot" option but had to disable it to help curb sense reboots.

 

[AlphaTango414]

Thanks for those replies. I also forgot to ask about what is the difference with ODEXED and DE-ODEXED roms? What about kernels needing to be updated in some cases, or does that even apply?

To my understanding de-odexed roms allows you to theme the rom yourself if you have the know how.

As for kernels they are not required but some kernels allow overclocking, under clocking, and etc different things including giving you better battery life at times. All kernels work different with from phone to phone so you just have to try and see which ones work good for you.Just make sure you get a kernel for a Sense rom if you are on a Sense rom and one for a AOSP if on an AOSP Rom.

 

[AlphaTango414]

I also forgot to ask, with the newer rom's such as SprintLovers based on 2.3.3, does that solve the sense rebooting problem? Do any of the roms solve that? That was my biggest peeve of the stock Sprint GingerBread update. I would consider going the route of a newer 2.3.3 rom if that sense rebooting was fixed. I admit I did enjoy the "fast boot" option but had to disable it to help curb sense reboots.

I'm not 100% sure on the rebooting problem but I would more than likely imagine so. I don't run Sense Roms as they are just too bulky for my liking. I run AOSP roms as they are much smaller and run faster.

 

[AlphaTango414]

"ROMs usually come in DeOdexed, and Odexed.

Odexed - In Android file system, applications come in packages with the extension .apk. These application packages, or APKs contain certain .odex files whose supposed function is to save space. These ?odex? files are actually collections of parts of an application that are optimized before booting. Doing so speeds up the boot process, as it preloads part of an application. On the other hand, it also makes hacking those applications difficult because a part of the coding has already been extracted to another location before execution.

DeOdexed - Deodexing is basically repackaging of these APKs in a certain way, such that they are reassembled into classes.dex files. By doing that, all pieces of an application package are put together back in one place, thus eliminating the worry of a modified APK conflicting with some separate odexed parts.
In summary, Deodexed ROMs (or APKs) have all their application packages put back together in one place, allowing for easy modification such as theming. Since no pieces of code are coming from any external location, custom ROMs or APKs are always deodexed to ensure integrity."

this is an excerpt from the rooting guide for dummies. thanx to matlock and akazabam. its their words and not mine.

basically odex roms are smaller but no theming is allowed, but deodexed can be themed.

This is a much better explanation.

 

[thunderkiss65]

Trust me if you try EVOlvedRom you won't be going back.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

 

[srkmagnus]

Nice quote, Dump. Very clear explanation.

Sent from my HERO200 using Tapatalk

 

[HalizDad]

Trust me if you try EVOlvedRom you won't be going back.

Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

I agree completely. I've tried 2 others, and am back on r3chargeD even though I'm not usually a big fan of Sense. I haven't had a SINGLE issue with it yet and it freed up a lot of room on the phone which makes it not as big as an HTC ROM. 95-degrees here today, got me a 12pk, a/c, and my phone...My world is good.

 

[bawalker]

Wasn't there a website for EVOlved some time ago? I remember it allowed you to choose which phone you had, Evo, Hero, etc. I can't seem to find anything on it except download links on XDA forums? Just curious on the website on it cause I know I seen it sometime back in Jan when looking at rooting Froyo then.

 

[HalizDad]

Wasn't there a website for EVOlved some time ago? I remember it allowed you to choose which phone you had, Evo, Hero, etc. I can't seem to find anything on it except download links on XDA forums? Just curious on the website on it cause I know I seen it sometime back in Jan when looking at rooting Froyo then.

I'm not sure...I've tried so many ROM's it's impossible for me to remember. I know the r3chargeD is definitely for the Evo4G though!