Database Users

Want to get in on the fun!

Ok, so I've worked with computers my whole life, and got the G1 right away and now the vibrant. I never did any moding to the G1 cuz I was ascared, but now I'm ready to go all in with the V. Here's my problem:
I just want some clarification on some technical terms, ROM, kernal, and their difference. I'm really not dumb I'm just scared I'll eff up. See I was about to flash Bionix w/voodoo, until I read more and saw Eugene's 2.2 and the JAC kernal, also Team Whisky just released something new, maybe just an update to bionix, idk.
So yeah, I know this is noobish, I'm just hoping to get a little talking to by some smart folks here so I feel a little more knowledgeable.

dcpetterson said:
Ok, so I've worked with computers my whole life, and got the G1 right away and now the vibrant. I never did any moding to the G1 cuz I was ascared, but now I'm ready to go all in with the V. Here's my problem:
I just want some clarification on some technical terms, ROM, kernal, and their difference. I'm really not dumb I'm just scared I'll eff up. See I was about to flash Bionix w/voodoo, until I read more and saw Eugene's 2.2 and the JAC kernal, also Team Whisky just released something new, maybe just an update to bionix, idk.
So yeah, I know this is noobish, I'm just hoping to get a little talking to by some smart folks here so I feel a little more knowledgeable.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
welcome. bricking the vibrant is actually hard to do. be sure to always use the search forum and the question-and-answers forum here before doing anything else and to avoid getting flamed. i suggest going to the "vibrant directory bible" sticky and start from there. the sticky is located in the development section here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=711

ryan562 said:
welcome. bricking the vibrant is actually hard to do. be sure to always use the search forum and the question-and-answers forum here before doing anything else and to avoid getting flamed. i suggest going to the "vibrant directory bible" sticky and start from there. the sticky is located in the development section here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=711
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
just a question, why do people say that bricking the vibrant is hard to do when lots of people are encountering a soft brick? does the brick you're pertaining to is the one that cannot be fixed anymore?

iynfynity said:
just a question, why do people say that bricking the vibrant is hard to do when lots of people are encountering a soft brick? does the brick you're pertaining to is the one that cannot be fixed anymore?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im sure he means the literal 'bricking' where it is no more than a paperweight, forever (aside from maybe a jtag flash).
Soft bricks are easy but also relatively easy to recover from.
ROM - Think of it as an OS
Kernel - The main piece of code that manages resources on the computer while running.
In the Galaxy S (other phones too?), the kernel is flashed to a specific part of the internal storage. The ROM is the rest of the stuff needed for the phone to do phone stuff (make phone calls, send txts, mms, images, icons, etc)
Sometimes a ROM comes with a kernel as well. Sometimes it will use the 'stock' kernel (i.e. the one that comes with the phone from the factory). JAC, KK, et. al have their own UV/OC kernel built from the samsung sources. I've built some playing with various options. It's not terribly difficult but you should know linux/compiling before hand.
Aaaanyway, I would suggest starting with stock Bionix or possibly UV/OC versions. Leave voodoo until you get more comfortable. Get used to ROM manager and/or Titanium backup. Maybe run through Odin a few times. I keep meaning to write up a short HOWTO on basic procedures, but keep getting side tracked. Someone posted a nice youtube video which works well though.

What is kernal?

Thanks a lot, flashed fusion last night and its going well so far. I feel less dumb now. Not using any lag fix with the JAC version, if I wanted to, is there one I can use?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

dcpetterson said:
Thanks a lot, flashed fusion last night and its going well so far. I feel less dumb now. Not using any lag fix with the JAC version, if I wanted to, is there one I can use?
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can always flash Voodoo on top of Fusion. The information on that is in the Bionix Fusion thread. You should have that thread as a bookmark if you are running that rom.
One thing I do is carry a thumbdrive or flash media with a folder for all my Android stuff. And I have a special folder that has the instructions AND the files/programs necessary to undo a soft brick of my phone.
And one rule to live by, when in doubt ALWAYS disable Voodoo.

Great advice, gettin my own.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Don't forget to backup when switching Roms. There are two main ways to backup that you should get into the habit of doing:
Nandroid: Basically backups the entire phone for the "Uh-Oh" moments (You can use this function through clockwork recovery. Its the option called "backup and restore" or "nandroid")
Titanium Backup: Backups the data of your apps and basically freezes them into a backup (you can download this from the market, instructions in the app) It saves backups to its own folder.
The most important thing to do is to backup your backups to your computer somewhere! If not, you'll lose your backups!! Then, you'll be really screwed.

Updating to Froyo via Kies

I was thinking about updating to Froyo via Kies using this guide I found that XDA will not let me post until I hit eight posts...
I am currently using one of jt's DI01 ROMs and I take it I will need to do a Nandroid so I can perform the upgrade on a stock phone. My question though is can I just backup my Apps with Titanium Backup Pro and then restore each app individually once the Froyo update is on the phone? I don't want to lose all the information associated with the programs like favorites, game saves, contacts, etc.. I know I have restored programs using Titanium before, but it was before they had any of my own personal data added to them, that is what is important to me!
Thank you for your help.

If you are on a vzw fascinate that would be a very bad idea.
good day.

chopper the dog said:
If you are on a vzw fascinate that would be a very bad idea.
good day.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1
10char

I have read people upgrading to Froyo from a different carriers update. Is this not possible. I am on Verizon here in the states.

Steezus said:
I have read people upgrading to Froyo from a different carriers update. Is this not possible. I am on Verizon here in the states.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not yet
10char

Steezus said:
I have read people upgrading to Froyo from a different carriers update. Is this not possible. I am on Verizon here in the states.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not yet, if you want to be able to make calls

You know what I love about this place? (And this isn't even a little sarcastic, I mean it!)
That not a single person responded telling the guy to do it. Other forums they'd love to see a newbie mess up their hardware.
XDA is a great place.

if it wasn't christmas eve, then i'd be all for it. wait till april fools!

If it wasn't created for your phone, or ported to your phone, rule of thumb is not to install it. The more important it is to your phone, the higher the odds you shouldn't install it. Seeing as an os is pretty important you should really not install it.

I like to see when people get their phones borked, but here's the problem with newbies borking their phones.
They come back here for help. They post new threads hoping that someone helps them... Then all of us have to try our best to help them fix their borked phone...
So it comes down to prevention of borking phones. If we can prevent one person from borking their phone by warning them 1000 times, we should do it...

Thanks for the info, I will hold off, probably just flash the DJ05 image and reroot while waiting. Still curious about backing up with Titanium. Does that restore attached personal data for each app or just the app itself?

Steezus said:
Thanks for the info, I will hold off, probably just flash the DJ05 image and reroot while waiting. Still curious about backing up with Titanium. Does that restore attached personal data for each app or just the app itself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has the option to do both.
Open Titanium. Hit Menu>Batch>RUN Restore all apps with data. From there you can check off the one's you do want and don't want.

tlogank said:
It has the option to do both.
Open Titanium. Hit Menu>Batch>RUN Restore all apps with data. From there you can check off the one's you do want and don't want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome, thanks for your help man!

tlogank said:
It has the option to do both.
Open Titanium. Hit Menu>Batch>RUN Restore all apps with data. From there you can check off the one's you do want and don't want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unless u have pro, you will still have to say yes to each individual app. I would highly recommend getting pro, it will run it all the way through and you don't do a thing. Also need to be rooted for both

As stated in the first post, I have Pro. Titanium back up requires root to install, but my questions have been answered. Thanks for the info everyone.

Does Kies even work with our phones?
Sent from my Super Clean Voodoo Fascinate

imnuts said:
Does Kies even work with our phones?
Sent from my Super Clean Voodoo Fascinate
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is a ***** to get it to talk to the phone. It works maybe one out of ten tries for me. I have only messed around with it before installing it because it is such a POS and a complete embarrassment to Samsung. It should have never been released.

Kies is not even meant for the vzw fascinate.
good day.

I agree with chopper. Likely the reason it desnt work with our phones is the fact that it is in no way made for our phones, or a part of our phones software. Only the GSM models that I know of have it. And it is an option when u hook it up to your computer via usb. And we don't have that option.
Sent from my keyboard on my phone using XDA App

Bump to let the guy who is promoting kies to update all fascinates.
This is what happens when you promote misinformation.

EB13 Froyo - is that it for now?

I am just wondering if a newer official ROM looks like it might be released in March to address some of peoples' issues, or if I should just continue my research and preparation to flash what I assume is still available OTW although not OTA. Only thing really holding me back is the prep and the desire to hopefully not do anything riskier than necessary if something else is around the corner (I would do a total Samsung tool flash, by the way to hopefully start clean).

I can't speak for others, but flashing, and Odin, and roms and kernels use to scare the hell out of me. With that said, I used Odin and flashed a clean froyo, did the camera lag kernel fix and my phone is EXCELLENT now. Not a single thing wrong with it. Its fast, the GPS works, and now, I feel comfortable with ODIN.
Before, I was terrified to even start up odin, scared to even put my phone in download mode. Now, I've flashed to Froyo, messed that up, flashed back to Eclair, then flashed to Froyo again, and not a single hiccup along the way. For me, Froyo is worlds better than Eclair.

Thanks for the vote of confidence. Unfortunately the relationship of my Epic to my computer is like a woman's freaking menstrual cycle. I don't even know how I managed to root months ago and clockworkmod never even ended up on there and I have no idea why. So I have to really read, read read this place and do things very methodically before taking the leap. I just saw that there is supposedly yet another Froyo build on Sprint's site today but waiting for another may be pointless right now or close to it.

my last phone was a g1. i thought it was easy to load a custom rom on there, but the process for the epic is downright fool-proof.
you probably didn't get permanent root back on di18, but now they have a pre-rooted eb13 rom you can load through recovery after updating and using the same one click 2.5.5 method. nothing to fear!

v3rk said:
my last phone was a g1. i thought it was easy to load a custom rom on there, but the process for the epic is downright fool-proof.
you probably didn't get permanent root back on di18, but now they have a pre-rooted eb13 rom you can load through recovery after updating and using the same one click 2.5.5 method. nothing to fear!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted, and am very grateful for the many benefits of it. However this involves much more than rooting--it involves data backup and restore, flashing, etc. so even if it's easier on Android phones than say that old ugly Windows Mobile, it still requires some skill and smarts. XDA is a heck of a tech crew though!

It appears to me that those who wiped everything and started fresh don't have problems. Those that tried to preserve their things are having issues.

dmanwithnoname said:
It appears to me that those who wiped everything and started fresh don't have problems. Those that tried to preserve their things are having issues.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What we have been trying to say is that ODIN or Heimdall is the way to go for changing OS's around. You can always get your contact data back through the OS. Your call data and SMS data is easy to get back with Backup to Gmail. Your programs are easily restored with Titanium Backup ($ version) or MyBackup Pro (just don't restore any system data).

Top Nurse said:
What we have been trying to say is that ODIN or Heimdall is the way to go for changing OS's around. You can always get your contact data back through the OS. Your call data and SMS data is easy to get back with Backup to Gmail. Your programs are easily restored with Titanium Backup ($ version) or MyBackup Pro (just don't restore any system data).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please precisely define "system data" and why it shouldn't be restored? I use MyBackup Root and they claim that everything it backs up can be restored pretty much trouble free, even across different ROMs. I'd also like to use CWM and Nandroid (so all eggs aren't in one basket) but have to manage to get the things working first.

DroidApprentice said:
Thanks for the vote of confidence. Unfortunately the relationship of my Epic to my computer is like a woman's freaking menstrual cycle. I don't even know how I managed to root months ago and clockworkmod never even ended up on there and I have no idea why. So I have to really read, read read this place and do things very methodically before taking the leap. I just saw that there is supposedly yet another Froyo build on Sprint's site today but waiting for another may be pointless right now or close to it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"amen to that BROTHA!" lol
ehh things can be tricky at timkes, but they always seem to work out. unless you have a problem like this.... http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vvosH8UZrWw

a system app is anything that you didnt install yourself. its all the apps in /system/app folder. if you download something from the market it gets saved to /data/app. hope that helps. btw is eb13 considered our official froyo? did they finish pushing it ota?

So, maybe some of us are just tired of the burnout from waiting for the now-"discontinued" Froyo. But is there any word on a possible "ECxx"? I'm almost afraid to ask, heheh.

@dog316
I agree froyo is great but im just woundering if your browser dosnt get the checker box when your trying to pinch to zoom. That's the only problem I have with it, but I think it kinda a big problem
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

castro08 said:
@dog316
I agree froyo is great but im just woundering if your browser dosnt get the checker box when your trying to pinch to zoom. That's the only problem I have with it, but I think it kinda a big problem
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I am glad that I am not the only one to run across that problem. I thought that was an 'upgrade'. I am looking at several different browsers right now as most of the time I can't read the tiny type.
George

Yeah that's the only/biggest problem I have
And well have you tried dolphin brower?
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA Premium App

Yes - that is the one I like the best right now
George
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

What's the big deal with odin. I flashed two epics at ones to eb13 on my 4 year old sony vaio its my workhores laptop I flash everthing with my sony, subaru ecus, hondas, phones, any thing I'm moding with custom FW hacks.
The only time it did not work for me was a asus p4c800-e dx mobo's front usb ports
Sent from my ComBadge..

Need help!!

Ok guys, im not much of a andriod fanatic/developer but dont mind trying things out. The problem is there is wayyyyyy too much out there and I am clueless as in where to start. I bought the vibrant few months back. It came rooted and had Nero v3. Now after a while, its starting to suck ass. Battery life is a joke, my quadrant speeds are a joke, theres enough lag to make me wanna throw this thing at someone, hell when i recieve a call and click on talk, i have to wait literally 5 seconds for it to register what the heck ive told it to do and that is, answer the damn call. So now i just dont know where to start, so many roms its not even funny. Should I go back to stock and try gingerbread? Should i put a different rom? please help!!!!

My favorite rom is bionix-v-1.3.1 just do a google search it is fast, great battery life, and looks cool also

Y are you using Nero use a different rom
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App

compucanton said:
My favorite rom is bionix-v-1.3.1 just do a google search it is fast, great battery life, and looks cool also
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea i know its one of team whiskeys roms. Will look into it, im guessing to flash a new rom, i have to back all the apps, contacts, pics, videos, etc. before i can put the bionix, right? Also is this for froyo?
Jasonhunterx said:
Y are you using Nero use a different rom
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hence my thread

phone_noobie said:
Ok guys, im not much of a andriod fanatic/developer but dont mind trying things out. The problem is there is wayyyyyy too much out there and I am clueless as in where to start. I bought the vibrant few months back. It came rooted and had Nero v3. Now after a while, its starting to suck ass. Battery life is a joke, my quadrant speeds are a joke, theres enough lag to make me wanna throw this thing at someone, hell when i recieve a call and click on talk, i have to wait literally 5 seconds for it to register what the heck ive told it to do and that is, answer the damn call. So now i just dont know where to start, so many roms its not even funny. Should I go back to stock and try gingerbread? Should i put a different rom? please help!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One of the newest 2.2 roms out is by Br1ck'd called Zendroid 2.1, it has all the latest tweaks and improvements. It's super fast and smooth and I'm getting an easy 24hrs of battery with moderate use, give that a spin.

Start here, or here. Pour over pretty much every thread in the development section, and then go to town. This is how I learned, anyway. I started with Trigger, and have pretty much stuck with it from the beginning, in all of it's forms, but I switch out kernels like underwear. Right now I'm running Trigger Redux with Bali-CM 2.1. Battry life with the latest Bali isn't what I would want, but it has a lot of good extras to make carrying the extra battery around with me worth it. Good luck!

Jdom58 said:
One of the newest 2.2 roms out is by Br1ck'd called Zendroid 2.1, it has all the latest tweaks and improvements. It's super fast and smooth and I'm getting an easy 24hrs of battery with moderate use, give that a spin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the suggestion. Like I mentioned earlier, im no andriod expert. What steps should i take in order to flash a new ROM? So far ive acked up my apps through titanium bcakup. I looked at this post http://rootzwiki.com/showthread.php?t=702&p=11383 but theres waayy too much info and its jumping all over the place

phone_noobie said:
Thanks for the suggestion. Like I mentioned earlier, im no andriod expert. What steps should i take in order to flash a new ROM? So far ive acked up my apps through titanium bcakup. I looked at this post http://rootzwiki.com/showthread.php?t=702&p=11383 but theres waayy too much info and its jumping all over the place
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the ROM and put it on your internal SD card (13gb), now go to recovery and do all 3 wipes...wipe data/factory reset///wipe cache partition, then scroll down to advanced and wipe dalvik cache. i personally do each 3 times to make sure I get everything. Then got to install zip from SD card///choose zip from SD card and confirm install.
BTW when reinstalling from titanium, make sure you select app only NOT app+data, you may have to sign in to everything again but it eliminates alot of headaches.

ok guys so im going through the steps mentioned to flash a new rom. Basically I have backed up my apps through titanium backup, backed up my contacts and sms messages. Im getting an error message while doing this part
Reboot into Clockwork Recovery and make a backup (Bootup holding both volume buttons until you see “Vibrant” then release).
ok this is the error i am recieving when doing the nandriod backup
"E:cant mount /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 (or @)
Cant mount /mnt/sdcard

can anyone help me out? im stuck

phone_noobie said:
can anyone help me out? im stuck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry can't help you there, all my contacts are backed up automatically with google so when i flash a new rom and sign in they are repopulated. I never back up by sms msgs. I just follow the steps I posted above and never have a problem.
That msg could be though that you're using the wrong SD card, external instead of internal???

Jdom58 said:
sorry can't help you there, all my contacts are backed up automatically with google so when i flash a new rom and sign in they are repopulated. I never back up by sms msgs. I just follow the steps I posted above and never have a problem.
That msg could be though that you're using the wrong SD card, external instead of internal???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well im just trying to create a restore point if anything fails. I only have the internal sd card attached, dont have an external one connected

To root or not to root?

Figured I would finally start a thread.
I've had my EVO for awhile now, 6-9 months. I love it. Initially when I bought it, I had every intention of rooting it, but after having used the native fw I'm not even sure it's necessary. What am I missing that rooting my EVO has to offer?

rrasco said:
Figured I would finally start a thread.
I've had my EVO for awhile now, 6-9 months. I love it. Initially when I bought it, I had every intention of rooting it, but after having used the native fw I'm not even sure it's necessary. What am I missing that rooting my EVO has to offer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wen you root your phone you can flash custom roms free wifi theder you can overclock the CPU also you Dan download titanium backup and backup all your apps and app data. I would recommended rooting
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

Root. It's not a question, its a must. The benefits are endless
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

there is nothing wrong with stock, in fact you won't need to deal with a lot of the bugs and hiccups of custom ROMS.
However, there are many benefits of rooting. There is tethering (or pay for it), over/under clocking, battery saving features, AOSP ROMS (which in my mind make it worth while), and different sense versions to try. Rooting also helps optimize your phone. the amount you will learn is priceless. Everytime you flash a new ROM it is almost like getting a brand new phone.
If you don't like be rooted, you can easily unroot.

I rooted my Evo soon after getting it but I remained stock quite a while.
There are plenty of reasons to root even if you want to remain totally stock.
For me the reasons were:
- Occasional use of tethering. Never needed it enough to pay for it and I never used that much data.
- to back up my apps and all data.
- to remove apps that I did not want to prevent them from running. (Amazon MP3, Sprint Navigation, etc).
- to be able to integrate updates (to Maps, Gmail, Facebook) into the ROM using Titanium Backup. Saved space in the Data partition for other apps.
- Modify the hosts file to block some ads.
- etc...
When I decided to flash something I started with the kernel (to try SBC and then just to use HAVS).

The 'brick' warnings always made me edgy about doing it. Any recommended ROMs worth giving a shot? Would be nice to get a better swype-like keyboard, can't really think of anything else I 'need'.
I wouldn't use tethering either, I barely use my laptop as is and if I did I would get a verizon 4g LTE mifi since Sprint's 4g is a joke.

rrasco said:
The 'brick' warnings always made me edgy about doing it. Any recommended ROMs worth giving a shot? Would be nice to get a better swype-like keyboard, can't really think of anything else I 'need'.
I wouldn't use tethering either, I barely use my laptop as is and if I did I would get a verizon 4g LTE mifi since Sprint's 4g is a joke.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U can still get a better keyboard without rooting. And the bricking part if anything goes wrong people here will gladly help you if you ask. Also if your not that type person who mess around with your phone just leave it be. You can always bring your phone back to factory stock if you need it too.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

I always thought bricked was unfix-able. Good to know. I'm a developer, so completely open to modding my phone, so long as there is added benefit.
Is there an easy way to move your current apps over to the new fw, or is that one of the caveats to having stock fw? SD data is untouched, I'm assuming?

I did it to get rid of Nova. That app gave me nightmaress.

Yes you can alwayz do a nondroid backup and if you brick you phone you can bring it back to your last backup.. right now I'm using team noctunals xplod e4g rom based of Sony experia working very well
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

Truballa4real7 said:
Yes you can alwayz do a nondroid backup and if you brick you phone you can bring it back to your last backup.. right now I'm using team noctunals xplod e4g rom based of Sony experia working very well
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will not be able to restore a nandroid if you brick your phone. When the phone is truly bricked you can not get into the bootloader or recovery. The good news is it is very difficult to brick your Evo unless you really screw up. Just about the only way is to pull the battery while flashing the radio. Flashing a ROM is pretty safe. Even if you screw it up you can always get into the bootloader or recovery and reflash.

I suggest you don't, and if you do, make sure it's not from cyanogenmod.

Good Luck!!