Related
First time smartphone owner and first experience with android, so forgive my basic questions.
1) Can one view the important operating system directories, like System, without rooting? If so, how? And can you get write access?
2) What is the difference between firmware and baseband? Can they be updated independently? Can they be updated without rooting?
3) What is the general term for software like TouchWiz? Can you replace it without rooting? What happens to is when you install a different type?
Thanks in advance for your help.
to answer your first question, you can download an app called astro file manager from the market that will give you access to the directories you want, but i don't think you can have write access without root, but i could be wrong
second, not sure what the difference between firmware and baseband. pretty sure you need root to update the firmware though since there hasn't been an official release.
lastly, i think the term you're looking for is 'launcher'...you can download alternative launchers from the market. ADW launcher and Launcher Pro are probably the most popular. you can have them installed without actually replacing the Touchwiz launcher, but you won't have access to the Samsung widgets. you can also download an app called 'home switcher' to switch between the different launchers you have installed.
hope this helps. and, anyone feel free to correct me if i'm wrong
Thanks for the reply.
I have Astro File Manager, but I can't see the System dir. Any idea what I might need to do?
Are Launcher and Home Switcher Synonymous?
Home Switcher is an app that lets you move from LauncherPro, ADW and TouchWiz more easily.
DLarva said:
Thanks for the reply.
I have Astro File Manager, but I can't see the System dir. Any idea what I might need to do?
Are Launcher and Home Switcher Synonymous?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You won't be able to see the System dir without rooting. You might as well root if you want access to the System dir. I've had the G1, the Nexus One, the MyTouch Slide, and now the Vibrant and this phone is by far the easiest to root so far AND its reversible just in case you need to un-root to send it in for repairs or warranty claim. You can learn how to root here in xda but here's a link with step-by-step instructions.
http://tinyurl.com/2arangz
Thanks for the replies, this is clearing up a lot of things in my head. I'll be sure to check out that link. I was hoping to hold of rooting until we got froyo, but I'm guessing that won't be for a while.
DLarva said:
Thanks for the replies, this is clearing up a lot of things in my head. I'll be sure to check out that link. I was hoping to hold of rooting until we got froyo, but I'm guessing that won't be for a while.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm hearing Sept for froyo for us but if you root and keep the stock rom like I'm doing you should get the OTA update for froyo when they decide to send it out.
I rooted my phone, installed lagfix, and removed some bloatware from the phone via Titanium. The phone was stupid fast after doing this, almost everything loaded up instantly. However I started to notice some things weren't functioning properly. Apps on the marketplace would not download, I would try to download Launcher Pro and nothing would happen, nothing downloaded. Tried this with other apps, same thing. I rebooted the phone and noticed upon reboot that a force close/app error happened, not sure which app it was but it had google in it. I have no idea what app it could have been since I only removed apps if I knew what they were like Slacker, Kindle, Sims etc. Maybe removing the Sims caused the error?
I also noticed that emails wouldn't send (or would take a long time) even when I was on wifi. And the XDA app wouldn't work. I would go to make a post, click the text input box, but it wouldn't let me move the text cursor. I would press the keyboard and nothing happened.
I removed a crap ton of apps but they weren't anything major. I also removed the samsung widgets since I would never use those. Guess I should have asked on the forums before removing so much stuff.
---
Which apps are okay to remove? Any ideas on which app could have caused the market to mess up?
From what you listed, those are all safe apps to dump. I would have thought any issue is more likely to come from the lag fix than nuking "safe" apps. There are several threads discussing the apps that are safe to get rid of, take a look in the stickie for a link if you can't find it via seach.
Cool thanks!
SykesAT said:
From what you listed, those are all safe apps to dump. I would have thought any issue is more likely to come from the lag fix than nuking "safe" apps. There are several threads discussing the apps that are safe to get rid of, take a look in the stickie for a link if you can't find it via seach.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I 2nd that, I accidentally installed both lag fixes and got the force close thing. I had to nandroid restore and reinstall.
Sent from the best phone from TMO... Vibrant
DELETE THE BLOAT!
Download Root Explorer (i'm not associated with) and go to System/App to remove a lot of the bloatware that came on the phone. I strongly encourage researching what can & can NOT be removed. ALWAYS make a backup. Here is a good thread about removing the bloat. Remember, I am not responsible. It will be some time before we have a custom ROM that removes this crap for us.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Read the Tips and Tricks sticky. There's a lot of good stuff in there.
Which is the best for removing bloatware; Titanium, Root Explorer, or Root Manager?
Arcadia310 said:
Which is the best for removing bloatware; Titanium, Root Explorer, or Root Manager?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used root explorer, to "move" apps to a backup folder on sd card. Then went into Android settings -apps-manage apps --filter - all and uninstalled the apps.
Two step process. First step puts them out of sight, second properly gets rid of them. FYI, you can not do step 2 without doing the first step.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
SykesAT said:
I used root explorer, to "move" apps to a backup folder on sd card. Then went into Android settings -apps-manage apps --filter - all and uninstalled the apps.
Two step process. First step puts them out of sight, second properly gets rid of them. FYI, you can not do step 2 without doing the first step.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense. What if I move lets say 10 "bloatware" apps onto the SD card, delete them from the phone, then something goes wrong or something stops working. I can just move it back and it'll be fine right? And you don't literally mean you can't do step two without doing step one right?
I did filter all in the manage apps but I have two questions.
1. I went to a random app ThinkFree Office, there was no option to delete it there. I thought you could only delete bloatware in an app like Titanium?
2. When you delete an app it creates that long "com.app.uselessword here.word" listing right? In order to truly remove an app you would have to delete it in Titanium/Root Explorer then delete the thing I said right?
Unless you do step 1 you can not delete them in apps manager. Not sure why and it makes it a PITA.
when I dumped my bloat files were compeately gone from system/app. there was no com.app.uselessword here.word type listing.
I have not used Ti to remove apps so I can not speak as to how it works, if it truley uninstalls then it could be a one step process (I would still back the apk odex files first).
Again I have not tried to reinstall but I would imagine it works in reverse, move apk/odex to system/app and install.
I'm a complete noob when it comes to ROMs / Apps / Themes, basically smart phones in general. Just got a Droid X for Christmas.
Thinking of using a ROM like Gummyjar2.5 or Rubix(don't know best version) because they seem to be very popular here. Anyone have any links for tutorials on installing either / both? And opinions to which would be better for a total noob? I want my phone to run faster / use less battery but still look pretty flashy.
As for themes, does anyone know where I can go to check out themes for the said two ROMs?
Thanks in advance for the help.
Roms are a mattet of how each person likes the feel of it for themselves. Right now, gummyjar 2.5, rubix 1.9.5, and liberty 1.0 are the usual choices. If you still want blur elements like you have it right now, then I suggest zapX bazinga, or apex.
All the roms run very well, but like I said, try out each. You will want to root the phone using z4root (google for it vers 1.3.0)
Then you will want to download droidx bootstrap. This will allow you to backup/restore your phone. It is also used to install the *.zip themes and ROMs.
As for themes, I recommend any of Bignadad's themes. He is the most thorough as far as complete images for framework and apps as well! Make sure that the theme you pick is compatible for any ROM you choose to use.
When I get back to a computer instead of my phone I can try and help out more =)
Ps... Look at the thread for each ROM/theme to see what you like and they will almost always include install instructions!
Hope this helps! Post back if you have more questions, I'm more than happy to help!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Sent you a pm
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Ok, to start with.. No worries, we all had a point where we knew nothing about this stuff!
Blur is an "interface add-on" that motorola has added to their phones. If you were to look at the Nexus One or Nexus S, these two phones both have a stock version of android without Motorola Blur or HTC Sense on them. Sense and Blur are modifications of system applications and the user interface... Some people really like these interfaces, but most people are against it in the Android forums because they are mostly wanting performance (which is usually degraded by Sense or Blur).
Most of the ROM's now strip out the blur components (yay for our devs!) and that is what GummyJar, Liberty, and Rubix do. If you want a ROM with blur components, I would suggest using Apex or ZapX Bazinga.
2. That z4root and backup thing you said to download. Do I do that with my phone and just launch them? Or?
I have attached the z4root and droid X bootstrap .apks. What you need to do is copy these to your phone's sdcard. Then go to Settings-->Applications--> Check the Unknown sources check box. While you're at it press on the development section as well. Then check the USB debugging box.
You can then install these using a File manager such as Astro (free on the market) by opening Astro File Manager, and then browsing to the .apk file on your sdcard.
To root your phone after installing z4root, launch the app from your applications list, and then click permanent root. It will take a while (potentially) and then your phone will reboot and be rooted.
After that, then go to Astro and browse for the bootstrap apk and install that. This is what allows you to backup/restore. After that app installs, you will be prompted for superuser rights, hit yes.
Then open Droid X bootstrapper. You will want to click the top option, as that hijacks the boot process. Then reboot recovery will allow you to go to the backup/restore mode.
Check out this link: droid X wiki. I have to go take care of some stuff, but will add another post with some stuff.
3. Where do I find the threads for the specific ROMs / Themes?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=687
Use this link. This is the general Droid X thread page. The general section is just mostly questions and "general" stuff for the Droid X. The themes sections has themes.. lol and the android development has the ROMs.
Just read through the different threads and post back if you have questions.
So what does rooting my phone do? I get what backup / restore is, but not that.
This z4 is taking forever. -_-
So I went to sleep while z4 did its magic and it wasn't running when I woke up. How would I know it x completed?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
EDIT: Also, when I installed bootstrap, it didn't ask me the question you said it would. Now it's showing an error when I want to do "Bootstrap Recovery". Tried uninstalling and reinstalling and that didn't work.
Sophrosyne said:
So I went to sleep while z4 did its magic and it wasn't running when I woke up. How would I know it x completed?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
EDIT: Also, when I installed bootstrap, it didn't ask me the question you said it would. Now it's showing an error when I want to do "Bootstrap Recovery". Tried uninstalling and reinstalling and that didn't work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reboot your phone, re-run the Z4root program (phone will reboot) and after you should have a GREY Super User icon in your app drawer.
Hope this helps.
That worked, man. Thanks! So I have Bootstrap, z4 and ROM manager all ready. Now I just need to get a ROM and find one that has a slick THEME.
How do you like Liberty, Sys? I saw it was just something you put over the top of Gummyjar, which was probably the one I was going to go with if Bignadad (by the way, I don't know where to find his themes. =/) had a cool theme for it. Have you tried Rubix?
EDIT: I love Swype. Are these ROMs going to take it away from me? =P
I think many will agree that Liberty 1.0 seems to be the sweetest right about now..... try it out.
Got Liberty up successfully, but don't know how to retrieve my contacts.
hey i have one question, when z4 is done and you run bootstrap, the phone is empty of apps and contacts...and you have to do a backup from somewhere correct?
havensed said:
hey i have one question, when z4 is done and you run bootstrap, the phone is empty of apps and contacts...and you have to do a backup from somewhere correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So you already have loaded liberty? Just trying to make sure I have my details straight. If you followed the install instructions and wiped data and cache then yes you will need to restore apps from titanium backup or whatever means you may have backed up your apps.
If you load a ROM such as liberty, then you will not want to use bootstrap to restore. Bootstrap completely backs up your entire phone state, not just your apps. Sorry if I misinterpretted any part of your message
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
So I've loaded Liberty, but can't "Link" facebook contacts to their phone numbers. Is there some option I need to enable to do this? Or should I go back to vanilla? That's a convenience I don't really intend to do without.
Sophrosyne said:
So I've loaded Liberty, but can't "Link" facebook contacts to their phone numbers. Is there some option I need to enable to do this? Or should I go back to vanilla? That's a convenience I don't really intend to do without.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is facebook installed on your phone? If not install it from the market and the initial setup should ask you if you want to set up facebook sync.
If facebook is installed to go phone settings->accounts and sync. Your facebook account should show up there and you can setup sync options.
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Yeah, I have no problem with having my Facebook contacts in my contacts list, but I used to be able to link them with their phone contact. Meaning if I had a person's phone number, I could link it with their Facebook profile so their phone number would display their facebook default pic and latest status. Now, when I try to edit facebook contacts and add a number to them, it says I can't do that with this device.
Sophrosyne said:
Yeah, I have no problem with having my Facebook contacts in my contacts list, but I used to be able to link them with their phone contact. Meaning if I had a person's phone number, I could link it with their Facebook profile so their phone number would display their facebook default pic and latest status. Now, when I try to edit facebook contacts and add a number to them, it says I can't do that with this device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hm... I haven't really messed around with this much, as I haven't had to add/edit contacts lately... All my contact info is backed up to my gmail account...
I will try and toy with this the next couple of days and get back to you.
If anyone else has info on this... Please chime in!
If I want to go back to vanilla to re-do it, back it up, and then come back to liberty, do I have to download the vanilla zip? Or is there any way to just revert?
Also, I need a cool theme. Reg Lib is too boring. ;]
Sophrosyne said:
If I want to go back to vanilla to re-do it, back it up, and then come back to liberty, do I have to download the vanilla zip? Or is there any way to just revert?
Also, I need a cool theme. Reg Lib is too boring. ;]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, slightly confused by your post... But I think I may have what you mean.
If you want to go back to vanilla (original phone condition) then you will need to sbf if you didn't take a backup before installing Liberty. If you did take backup using Boostrap, then I would recommend just restoring your backup.
If you didn't create a backup before... create a backup now with liberty installed in case you need a place to come back to for reference. Nandroid backups are your friend...
I'm not quite sure what you mean by vanilla, so I may be way off here. Feel free to add in some more details please =)
Yeah I mean I want to go to the completely original phone setup. I did do a bootstrap save or whatever, but bootstrap isn't installed. If I reinstall does it still have my vanilla Droid saved?
Also, how would I go about switching back to it? Navigating those menus makes me nervous.... Haha.
I'd go into Bootstrapper -- > Reboot Recovery... then what?
Sophrosyne said:
Yeah I mean I want to go to the completely original phone setup. I did do a bootstrap save or whatever, but bootstrap isn't installed. If I reinstall does it still have my vanilla Droid saved?
Also, how would I go about switching back to it? Navigating those menus makes me nervous.... Haha.
I'd go into Bootstrapper -- > Reboot Recovery... then what?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay... So if you have taken a backup before you did your install of Liberty (or any other ROM/Theme) then yes, it should still be saved on your SDcard actually. Bootstrapper creates a folder on your sdcard called "clockworkmod". Inside of that folder, there should be two more folders: backup and download. Inside of the backup folder, you should see a folder titled in a similar manner:
2010-09-10.04.03.48 (yyyy-mm-dd-hh.mm.IDK what the rest is.. LOL)
But regardless, this is what you should see. If you re-install the bootstrap program, then when you go reboot recover--> backup and restore--> restore, you should see this folder/option. You will use the volume up and down buttons to move the cursor up and down. Pressing the camera button (red) will select the highlighted option. You can use the back arrow key or power button to go up a level in the menus.
If this doesn't work, you can always SBF the phone (this takes the phone back to the complete original condition out of the box). It is slightly scary to do the first time (at least for me it was...), but I have probably done it at least 10 times now.
Let me know if the bootstrap backup works. Take note that you will lose any apps/texts on your phone that you now have unless you use an app like titanium backup to backup your apps, and an SMS backup app to save your text messages. The bootstrap backup takes you back to the exact condition the phone was in when you took the backup.
Lemme know if this works out for you! Good luck!
[Q] How to get rid of the SE Home launcher ? Thank you
I mean I know I can get another launcher from the Market, but can I just use Titanium backup to get rid of SE Home ? after I get another launcher...
Thanks.
silcharde said:
[Q] How to get rid of the SE Home launcher ? Thank you
I mean I know I can get another launcher from the Market, but can I just use Titanium backup to get rid of SE Home ? after I get another launcher...
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
U cant get rid of pre installed launcher, however u CAN set the new launcher as the default
Sent from my X8 using XDA App
YES YOU CAN get rid of the pre-installed/stock launcher, granting you have Titanium Backup to use to remove it and MOST IMPORTANTLY you should already have a 3rd-party launcher ALREADY INSTALLED because if not, your phone will not boot properly and you will get stuck at the SE boot logo..
You can remove it "by hand" too, with adb shell, a terminal emulator or Root Explorer. You don't need Titanium backup, though you can use it of course. However, what you certainly need is root and read-write access in the /system position.
Logseman said:
/system position.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my R800i using Tapatalk
Freaking Swype... I meant the /system partition.
So, what you guys are saying is that is safe to remove SE home as long as I have another launcher already installed ? Thanks.
That is the case.
If your going to remove it, back it up first - future upgrades may require it or they will fail. I installed a pre release version of the SE Launcher, and because I didn't back it up first, I had a hell of a time getting the upgrade going (had to do a full wipe, downgrade, etc etc..)
Thats the only gotcha i know of
I have the 32GB Galaxy S 4. I rooted my phone using the motochopper exploit after I received the OTA update to I337UCUAMDB and I also replaced SuperUser with SuperSU. Every time I restart my phone and enter the unlock pattern I am greeted with a prompt to Complete action using Easy Launcher or TouchWiz Home. I have selected both and tried choosing Always or Just once for each choice but after rebooting I am always presented with the prompt again.
Has anyone else seen this or does anyone have any ideas why this prompt is appearing?
Thanks in advance for your help.
If you're rooted, get Titanium Backup and freeze the launcher you don't want. If there's only 1 installed, you won't get the popup.
You can also go to settings/applications and do a "clear defaults" on both, then reboot. Maybe that'll help the choice stick.
alryder said:
I have the 32GB Galaxy S 4. I rooted my phone using the motochopper exploit after I received the OTA update to I337UCUAMDB and I also replaced SuperUser with SuperSU. Every time I restart my phone and enter the unlock pattern I am greeted with a prompt to Complete action using Easy Launcher or TouchWiz Home. I have selected both and tried choosing Always or Just once for each choice but after rebooting I am always presented with the prompt again.
Has anyone else seen this or does anyone have any ideas why this prompt is appearing?
Thanks in advance for your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This isnt a Question and Answer forum.
MrGriffdude said:
This isnt a Question and Answer forum.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry, I see the correct forum now.
gtj0 said:
If you're rooted, get Titanium Backup and freeze the launcher you don't want. If there's only 1 installed, you won't get the popup.
You can also go to settings/applications and do a "clear defaults" on both, then reboot. Maybe that'll help the choice stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried clearing defaults and also clearing the cache and data on both but I still got the prompt. I froze EasyLauncher with Titanium Backup and that worked. Thanks for your help!
gtj0 said:
If you're rooted, get Titanium Backup and freeze the launcher you don't want. If there's only 1 installed, you won't get the popup.
You can also go to settings/applications and do a "clear defaults" on both, then reboot. Maybe that'll help the choice stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there any other method of accomplishing removal of that that prompt? I do NOT wanna spend 6 bucks a ****ty backup app just to freeze one stupif thing because of a bug in the S4. I have app quarantine but it doesn't allow me to freeze easy launcher.
You can freeze it with the application manager. Just select the one you don't want and where Uninstall usually is you will find "Disable”
You can find this disabling option for system apps when you change to the "All" tab.
Sent from my awesome AT&T SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SGH-I337 using xda developers app.
CAG-man said:
You can freeze it with the application manager. Just select the one you don't want and where Uninstall usually is you will find "Disable”
You can find this disabling option for system apps when you change to the "All" tab.
Sent from my awesome AT&T SAMSUNG GALAXY S4 SGH-I337 using xda developers app.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
EDIT: It's *greyed out.* I first hit force stop and it still didn't ungrey disable
i would post a screenshot but it's blocking me. If it let's me post this remove dots from beginning of URL
h.t.t.p.:././.i295.photobucket.com/albums/mm131/ismellrealbad/Screenshot_2013-06-06-11-51-17_zpsc827f4be.png
ismellrealbad said:
It's disabled I first hit force stop and it still didn't ungrey disable
i would post a screenshot but it's blocking me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some apps do not allow you to disable within settings. Just support the developers of Titanium Backup and purchase pro and freeze it.
blyndfyre said:
Some apps do not allow you to disable within settings. Just support the developers of Titanium Backup and purchase pro and freeze it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
root=free but would have paid for
app quarantine=free allowed me to freeze 25 apps. would have paid for
nottach xposed=free provided 70 extra options
titanium= $6 bucks and does all kids of things i don't care about. all i want is a bug gone that I shouldn't have to pay for
there must be some other way of freezing the app or fixing the bug
ismellrealbad said:
root=free but would have paid for
app quarantine=free allowed me to freeze 25 apps. would have paid for
nottach xposed=free provided 70 extra options
titanium= $6 bucks and does all kids of things i don't care about. all i want is a bug gone that I shouldn't have to pay for
there must be some other way of freezing the app or fixing the bug
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wanting things you shouldn't have to pay for, sounds fair and logical.
Can't you just use ES File Explorer (Free) and delete Easy Launcher then?
Yeah, like the person above just stated...you can use es file explorer or some other root file manager, you don't even have to delete the app...you can freeze it by renaming it!!!
Install es file explorer (free)
Enable root explorer
Mount /system
Navigate to /system/app
Rename the app by placing .bak at the end
Now its no longer recognized as an app due to the .bak at the end instead of .apk, if you want to unfreeze it then delete the .bak part and make sure it ends with .apk
-if your sure uninstalling it won't cause any issues than you can just delete it if you want
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
mg2195 said:
Yeah, like the person above just stated...you can use es file explorer or some other root file manager, you don't even have to delete the app...you can freeze it by renaming it!!!
Install es file explorer (free)
Enable root explorer
Mount /system
Navigate to /system/app
Rename the app by placing .bak at the end
Now its no longer recognized as an app due to the .bak at the end instead of .apk, if you want to unfreeze it then delete the .bak part and make sure it ends with .apk
-if your sure uninstalling it won't cause any issues than you can just delete it if you want
Sent from my HTC PH39100 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I installed ES File manager. Went to Root explorer. Uninstalled Easy Launcher. It said the uninstall failed, however it was removed from the list. I rebooted and no more easy launcher prompt!! THANKS :good:
I started having this same problem yesterday. When I reboot the phone I get prompted to "complete action" either use "touchwiz home" or easy launcher. If I select touchwiz home and set as the default action and reboot I get the same screen again. I'm just wondering what caused this and how I it can be fixed rather then disabling easy launcher.
just forcly close both of them