Database Users

[Q] Newb Questions 1

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.

[Q] what are the advantages and disadvantages of rooting and are there any risks?

Could somebody please tell me what the advantages and disadvantages of rooting the flipside are, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, are there any risks??
Will I be able to take of all of these ATT apps?
Will I be able to move my apps from the phones memory to the SD card?
Can the phone be unrooted?
Will all of my apps still work?
What is the best route to root? I have the z4root.
I am much indebted to anyone who will answer these questions. Thanks.

z4root will work fine, it's nice an easy to use. Rooting won't give you an easy way to move apps to the sd card, but you can remove the AT&T (and other system) apps. You can either do it by hand, or with any number of apps on the market. I prefer titanium backup, personally. All of your existing apps will work, there's no change there.
The only real disadvantage is that you'll have the power to screw up your phone. You can potentially screw up bad enough that you'll need to reflash the stock .sbf file. Generally, this takes some real screwing around, but just thought I'd point it out.

Thank u for your thourough answer. What do you mean by screw it up. How could I do that and how do i avoid it. Are you saying by virtue of the fact that i'm rooting that i'll screw it up, or it's something that i may do afterwards that may do it? Thanks.
also, are there any other advantages to rooting other than taking off the apps?

The act of rooting itself shouldn't screw anything up, but having root means you could possibly do something later that would. Generally, you'd have to be messing with stuff you have no business messing with. With root, you can remount the system directory as read/write, and then end up deleting or modifying a file that won't let the phone boot, which means you'd need to reflash. Stay away from the command line if you don't know what you're doing, and don't grant root access to apps you don't trust, and you're reasonably safe.
Other than removing system apps, like the AT&T garbage, you can also backup and restore apps and their data, which is great for if you need to reflash, if you switch phones, etc. There's not a TON of stuff that requires root, but honestly, removing the AT&T junk is definitely a good reason to root, the phone feels much faster after scrapping a lot of the blur and AT&T stuff.

I'm assuming then that any android/att/Motorola updates will not be problem either? BTW, do you if and when Motorola will bupdating the flipside to 2.2? Thanks.

There shouldn't be any problem updating with an official update if/when we get one, but you'll need to re-root and remove the AT&T stuff again. There's no word on when we'll get 2.2, but I'd assume we'll get it at some point.

Ok. I just rooted! Yeah, it worked! But i cannot figue out how to delete the att bloatware. I go into the apps manager and click on one of the att apps, and there is still no option to uninstall; only to clear the cache. Also, I downloaded the titanium and I cannot figure out how to do it from there either. Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.

mordechai said:
Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to enable Unknown Sources before you can install non-Market apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=867637
This is also an example of how you can mess up your phone by having root access.

That is part of the problem that i do not have that option in two.one. that is why i had to sideload all of those programs. are you saying that i screwed up my phone. i tried clicking on the link but this googlw ad comes up and i cant get past it.

Ok, i got through to the link. But the guy seems pretty shaky as to whether you should follow his instructions. Is this legit or what?

Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

There are instructions in another post in this forum on how to enable Non-Market Apps, also known as Unknown Sources. With Titanium Backup, make sure that you grant it root permissions when it asks, and that it says something like this on the overview:
Root access: OK (BusyBox 1.17.2 from system)
HyperShell (FAST!): YES
Fast/Auto app install: Yes (using HyperShell)
SQLite: YES (SQLite 3.7.2 included)
Then just click on Backup/Restore at the top, and you'll get a list of all your apps. If you don't have backup/restore at the top, your sd card isn't mounted on the phone, unplug your usb cable and hit Menu > More > Reload application.
From Backup/Restore, you get a huge list of all the apps on your phone. Just scroll down to the AT&T stuff, tap them, and click uninstall in the top-right corner. If you're not sure if you want to uninstall something, because it might belong to something important, click Freeze instead. Freezing will stop the app from running, and stop it from showing up in your tray, but you can easily unfreeze it to restore it if it turns out it was important.
Here's the list of stuff I have frozen/uninstalled:
AdService 1.0
all of the "AT&T" apps
all of the "com.motorola" apps
Data Manager and Data Manager Service
Help Center
Home (I use ADWLauncher, don't remove this if you don't already have an alternative launcher installed)
MediaSync
Mobile Video
all of the "MotoBlur" apps
My Uploads
Phone Portal
Quick Contact
Social Messaging, Social Messaging Service, Social Networking, and Social Status
Sticky Note
Video Editor Lite
Vlingo Voice
Weather 2.1
WHERE
Work Contacts
Mobile Banking
Magic Smoke Wallpapers
Kodak Perfect Touch
AT&T Address Book
Quickoffice
YPmobile
As for enabling unknown sources, it's a bit of a pain, you'll need to be comfortable with a command line to do replace the files, and comfortable with a hex editor if you want to edit your own instead of reusing someone else's files. I managed to screw up my phone in the process and had to completely reflash and start over, it wasn't fun.
His instructions do work, but his .sh file doesn't work, you'll need to paste the commands one by one into your command prompt. I preferred to edit my own files, so I wouldn't have the same market ID, and that's just slightly more complex. I can help you through it either way though, just make a post over in that thread if you're having problems.
bubba90744 said:
Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need to get z4root installed on your phone, it should be pretty straightforward. The Droid X shouldn't be blocking non-market apps, so just download it from your phone and run the .apk to install.

So do I hook my phone up to my laptop, and put the apk. on my sd?
Or download the apk. directly to my phone from the site?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App

I found the link, but the directions are too complicated for my novice understanding of technology. It looks like I am stuck. I don't want to try what he's saying and take any chances. Are there any other alternatives? Or do you have any other suggestions as to how to make the most of the space that I do have with the att bloatware, because I am constantly running out of room. It is a strange phenomenon that I don't understand, that when I turn on the phone it will have around 40mb to play with, and after a few hours it is down to 16 and then 10, and then before I know it, the phone is telling me that my memory is full. So then I reset and it's back to ~40 again. Do you have an explanation? Thanks.

Restart button?

Any recommendations for a restart button? I'm too lazy to power off then power on the device.
Sent from my A500 using XDA Premium App

Quick Boot!! Nice app..

Does that actually reboo the tab?
I thought all it did was kill all running apps to 'simulate' a reboot.
It DOES need root access though (and I've not yet seen any point to rooting the A500).

Fluffbutt said:
Does that actually reboo the tab?
I thought all it did was kill all running apps to 'simulate' a reboot.
It DOES need root access though (and I've not yet seen any point to rooting the A500).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It definitely reboots! The pro version has a mode that "simulates" a reboot, similar to what you're talking about.

Fluffbutt said:
It DOES need root access though (and I've not yet seen any point to rooting the A500).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Although it's not the subject, I really wanted to note that rooting A500 does worth it for sure. I'm using ADFree, ClockSync, Autokiller, File Expert, NTFS mount, Root uninstaller and a few more root-required applications which add some epic user experience. Just consider unrooting your device back before installing any updates or system modifications. Cheers.

anusthegreat said:
Although it's not the subject, I really wanted to note that rooting A500 does worth it for sure. I'm using ADFree, ClockSync, Autokiller, File Expert, NTFS mount, Root uninstaller and a few more root-required applications which add some epic user experience. Just consider unrooting your device back before installing any updates or system modifications. Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, i wasn't trying to bring it up as a subject, just asking if rooting it was worth it for the reboot app.
I can see some people might want root, and the ADFree is probably one good reason. The rest don't interest me at all.

I used to have a custom Darky's ROM on my previous Samsung Galaxy S, I had an extra power-off menu letting me choose Reboot or Shutdown or even Recovery or Download modes. Obviously, I was using the feature to reboot the device pretty often; I'd like to have a one-button widget rebooting my device properly.
Also, about the apps which don't interest u..
*my tablet is usually about +/-2,5 sec every time I shut it down, not reboot;
*autokiller helps to save memory, at least I can be sure I don't have to start a game level again because of an e-mail or something like this;
*a decent root file explorer letting you see hidden system directories is a must just because any minimal and safe modifications do improve performance

Is there any way of deleting factory apps WITHOUT rooting?

I'm wondering if there's any way of deleting some of the factory apps without having my phone rooted? I can't get the root to work so just deleting the apps I don't want would be ok instead.

dsmaori said:
I'm wondering if there's any way of deleting some of the factory apps without having my phone rooted? I can't get the root to work so just deleting the apps I don't want would be ok instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No not really...You need root unfortunately.
What do you mean you can't get root to work? What's the problem you have encountering?

jwonga said:
No not really...You need root unfortunately.
What do you mean you can't get root to work? What's the problem you have encountering?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually scratch that. After 24hrs I've finally figured out how to root it. Maybe I should have stuck to my Nokia 1100. These smartphones are all 'Whiteman magic' to me

dsmaori said:
I'm wondering if there's any way of deleting some of the factory apps without having my phone rooted? I can't get the root to work so just deleting the apps I don't want would be ok instead.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to get rid of the factory apps is to use RootExplorer and delete the .apk of apps you want remove...but Rootexplorer want root!!
Make root is not complicated and I think that it is very useful and practical to run many apps which want root permission, such as rootexplorer (best file explorer ever!), any backup program annd others useful apps
Moreover, remove factory application which we never use helps to improve battery life, have much memory to run own apps, and a more reactive device

I've read about changing the phone's CSC as a possible solution. Can anyone more experienced comment about that?

[Q] Greenify and Others...Safe to install **ROOT** only apps on S4?

I'm not a noob here, but I admit I prolly sound like one with this question...
With all of the warnings and advice about proceeding with caution due to no boot unlocker currently, is it safe to install certain root only apps? I'd like to install Greenify to help with battery life on my S4 (not that it's bad, but Greenify kicks butt).
I'm rooted, but I listen to the feedback about what could go wrong and I (like everyone) don't want to hose up my phone.
Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

peaster3 said:
I'm not a noob here, but I admit I prolly sound like one with this question...
With all of the warnings and advice about proceeding with caution due to no boot unlocker currently, is it safe to install certain root only apps? I'd like to install Greenify to help with battery life on my S4 (not that it's bad, but Greenify kicks butt).
I'm rooted, but I listen to the feedback about what could go wrong and I (like everyone) don't want to hose up my phone.
Thanks in advance for any and all responses.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By root-only, what exactly do you mean?
For example, I used TitaniumBackup to restore all of my old apps from my last phone, as well as Accounts & SMS/MMS.
Everything root-related at this point is a risk, as you can't flash a new ROM or even factory reset.

danstheman7 said:
By root-only, what exactly do you mean?
For example, I used TitaniumBackup to restore all of my old apps from my last phone, as well as Accounts & SMS/MMS.
Everything root-related at this point is a risk, as you can't flash a new ROM or even factory reset.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
"Root-only" meaning TiBu, ROM Toolbox PRO, Root Explorer, etc. Apps that will not work unless you are rooted. I can't seem to find anyone having any adverse effects in my research (which is good). Just looking for direct confirmation.
Good to hear you used TiBu, for example, with no issues I assume.

peaster3 said:
"Root-only" meaning TiBu, ROM Toolbox PRO, Root Explorer, etc. Apps that will not work unless you are rooted. I can't seem to find anyone having any adverse effects in my research (which is good). Just looking for direct confirmation.
Good to hear you used TiBu, for example, with no issues I assume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, no issues. I also froze a few bloatware apps within TitaniumBackup, no negative consequences yet.
I might be wary of something like Rom Toolbox PRO as it delves farther into the ROM, but Root Explorer should be fine. Just don't edit system files, as some have reported issues with editing things such as the DPI.

peaster3 said:
"Root-only" meaning TiBu, ROM Toolbox PRO, Root Explorer, etc. Apps that will not work unless you are rooted. I can't seem to find anyone having any adverse effects in my research (which is good). Just looking for direct confirmation.
Good to hear you used TiBu, for example, with no issues I assume.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm already running greeenify and other apps that are only for rooted devices and haven't had any hiccups!

mcmb03 said:
I'm already running greeenify and other apps that are only for rooted devices and haven't had any hiccups!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! Just the confirmation I was looking for.

peaster3 said:
Thanks! Just the confirmation I was looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can confirm that Greenify and other apps work for me too