Database Users

Is there a morons guide

Im embarrassed to say that as a first year programming student I am frightened by most of the guides.
So many steps and so many requirements it makes me wonder just how this community got to be the size it is.
I lack an sd card and only recently found how to move files onto my phone. And while the 21 or so step process for unlocking the phone is documented I don't understand what im doing more do I understand what some of the steps mean (such as the two different kind of caches im clearing).
Also the version text im given to reference methods from fails to make sense when my phone has 3 or 4 different version numbers all pertaining to different things.
I like the features offered in these roms and would love to explore more and even contribute.
And while im not asking for an iPhone cracking app (though that would be great) a for dummies guide that explains the steps as you go along with maybe some visual elements would be extremely welcome.
Since I lack the resource to buy multiple phones im going to study and decipher the guides that are available but it would be great if someone more knowledgeable than I took the initiative to help dumb this all down or atleast point me towards a wiki I could use as reference material
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

ertDeath said:
Im embarrassed to say that as a first year programming student I am frightened by most of the guides.
So many steps and so many requirements it makes me wonder just how this community got to be the size it is.
I lack an sd card and only recently found how to move files onto my phone. And while the 21 or so step process for unlocking the phone is documented I don't understand what im doing more do I understand what some of the steps mean (such as the two different kind of caches im clearing).
Also the version text im given to reference methods from fails to make sense when my phone has 3 or 4 different version numbers all pertaining to different things.
I like the features offered in these roms and would love to explore more and even contribute.
And while im not asking for an iPhone cracking app (though that would be great) a for dummies guide that explains the steps as you go along with maybe some visual elements would be extremely welcome.
Since I lack the resource to buy multiple phones im going to study and decipher the guides that are available but it would be great if someone more knowledgeable than I took the initiative to help dumb this all down or atleast point me towards a wiki I could use as reference material
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What exactly do you want to do? Unlock bootloader? Root? Both? What carrier and county are you using & in? What firmware are you currently running?

Unlock bootloader, root, perhaps a custom rom
At&t, USA, 4.5.91
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Well when doing any modding there is a chance of messing things up and no one wants to do that. I am an engineer with programming experience and I still ask dumb questions ... so you are not alone.

So what you want to do is this... hopefully this will work for you.
1) Make sure you have the Motorola Drivers installed for your pc setup (i.e. x32 bit or x64 bit)
2) Download and install RSD Lite 5.31 (links in my N00B Guide - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154600)
3) Go here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1136261
4) Download the Unlocker SBF for AT&T users under UNLOCK in the OP (will be labeled pudding.rar)
5) Extract .sbf file to your C:\
6) Put phone in RSD Mode by powering off and upon powering back on hold the Power Button + Volume Up.... should say entering RSD Protocol Mode
7) Open RSD Lite on your PC and drag the .sbf file onto the file path bar (better than finding it with the "..." button)
8) Connect your phone to your PC with usb cable & select device by clicking/highlighting it in RSD Lite Program.
9) Select "Start"
10) It's a small .sbf file, so it shouldn't take long to flash... hopefully you get no errors here... this is the part where if something wrong is gonna happen, it's usually gonna happen here.
11) after sbf flash & reboot, download fastboot files (also available from the Pudding thread, where you got the sbf file from under ROOT)
12) unzip the fastboot files to a folder that you will not forget or delete... ever
13) Put phone in fastboot mode by powering off, then upon power on, hold power button + volume down. select fastboot by pressing volume up button... should enter fastboot protocol mode
14) Connect phone to PC if still not connected
15) Open a command prompt on your pc from the folder you saved the fastboot files (hold Shift + Right Click... Open Command Prompt from here)
16) Type this in command prompt: "fastboot oem unlock" Should see the same thing as the image at the bottom of the OP in the Pudding thread. Can type it again after the unlock process and it should say that you are unlocked.
17) if phone doesn't reboot after unlock, type this command: fastboot reboot and it should reboot phone then, and you will see unlocked signature at top left of screen.
To Root, I would just suggest that you pick a ROM and apply it... most of the well known ROMs will include Root for you. You will need a CWM Recovery to flash most of these ROMs, so that would be your next step: Go here and install this CWM Recovery via fastboot using the commands in the OP: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1204500 Make sure to download the version on the left (non-zip version) for fastboot install.
After you have CWM installed you can flash a custom ROM. You can also flash most ROMs with fastboot as well, just check and see if the OPs of the ROM you want to flash has fastboot install instructions.
If you want to attempt Root first before installing CWM Recovery, you can try the 2nd post in this thread which uses fastboot & adb: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138204 The sbf flash in the OP of this thread, which is supposed to include unlock bootloader & Root has been giving some people problems that have stock 2.3.4, that's why I gave you the old school way / directions above. But if you want to try it and ignore all the above directions, I guess you could just try that 600 mb sbf flash for 2.3.4.
Let me know if it works, or you need further explanation / help.... check my N00B guide too:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154600

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
here's an automatic script for unlocking your bootloader, select what version your phone is and proceed.
if you've updated to Android 2.3.4 though, you're going to get a semi-hard brick, just boot into fastboot mode and proceed with the instructions and you'll get through it. don't panic

ertDeath said:
Im embarrassed to say that as a first year programming student I am frightened by most of the guides.
So many steps and so many requirements it makes me wonder just how this community got to be the size it is.
I lack an sd card and only recently found how to move files onto my phone. And while the 21 or so step process for unlocking the phone is documented I don't understand what im doing more do I understand what some of the steps mean (such as the two different kind of caches im clearing).
Also the version text im given to reference methods from fails to make sense when my phone has 3 or 4 different version numbers all pertaining to different things.
I like the features offered in these roms and would love to explore more and even contribute.
And while im not asking for an iPhone cracking app (though that would be great) a for dummies guide that explains the steps as you go along with maybe some visual elements would be extremely welcome.
Since I lack the resource to buy multiple phones im going to study and decipher the guides that are available but it would be great if someone more knowledgeable than I took the initiative to help dumb this all down or atleast point me towards a wiki I could use as reference material
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here ya go:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JmvCpR45LKA

I weep for the future. Precious snowflake syndrome at its finest. Life is hard.
My recommendation:
Try to follow one of the guides. They're all pretty inclusive, though they have many steps and prerequisites. If you get stuck at a specific step, ask the question. But, TRY! If you do, you might actually LEARN something.

phobos512 said:
I weep for the future. Precious snowflake syndrome at its finest. Life is hard.
My recommendation:
Try to follow one of the guides. They're all pretty inclusive, though they have many steps and prerequisites. If you get stuck at a specific step, ask the question. But, TRY! If you do, you might actually LEARN something.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I blame my iPhone it made hacking to easy for me and made me forget my Linux roots
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

[Q] Is there a guide for "notsonoob" noobs???

Hi all,
The reason why i ask this is because i would like to load some custom firmware onto my KF. I am currently running 6.2.2 (ota) and i am rooted with the android market and go launcher installed. I was looking through the forums and i was trying to find a guide... or something... that basically says what to do next. I didn't want to jump into doing something and make myself a $200 paper weight...
Any assistance/guidance would greatly be appreciated.

not really a guide but maybe a good starting point:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1467013

Thanks for the reply, I was reading around and i DLed the latest KFU, and installed the twrp recovery. I guess what i am looking for is an order of doing things... I have a samsung galaxy s 4g, vibrant, and a P.O.S dart (all rooted w/ custom firmware installed)... all the forums with these devices had posts with an order of doing things so you didn't end up with an expensive paper weight...
this isn't me taking a stab at the dev's for the KF BTW, but maybe a suggestion... as i have no problem following good instructions to the S (at the end... get it? teehee) ... unless i'm sleepy.. then i miss stuff...
Any help... or even a posting with links (in order) of kinda what to do...
thanks all.

if you have a recovery (twrp in your case) then you have all you need to flash a other rom
- go to twrp
- make a backup of your current rom
- copy the rom you would like to flash to the root of sdcard (the .zip file)
- follow the instructions in the op of the selected rom (when and what to wipe/purge - it's different depending on the rom)
- flash the new rom
- reboot and be patient
- the first boot can need up to 20min

[Q] Im sorry, Im paranoid. CWM Recovery

Im sorry Im looking around and Im seeing different methods, old answers on this for HC, new answers for that on ICS.
Im just trying to go about getting this Nandroid Backup & installing Thor's ROM and/or Reapers ROM.
Things I've already done:
Root my a500 tab- I have term emulator, Rom Manager, esFile Manager, Titanium Backup(already backed up all my apps+data)
Installed Acer Recovery Installer v2.74- clicked "Install Recovery Image"
Then this is where Im unsure, I tried manually (power+down) and with Acer Recovery to 'Reboot into recovery' but both ways I get this error: Recovery Verified Failed
In searching, Im hearing talk about Bootloader maybe isnt unlocked? Idk. Did I miss a step somewhere? Im sorry for the noob question, Im usually not this bad but Im just paranoid about bricking my device. Also, I hear CPUID. Not sure how these two things relate to this process, if someone can point me in the right direction.
Here are my specs:
Iconia Tab a500
Stock Android ICS 4.0.3
Kernel 2.6.39.4+
Image version: Acer_AV041_RV05RC01_PA_CUS1
Build Number: Acer_AV041_A500_1.033.00_PA_CUS1
Hope I dont get shunned for this Q

Just follow this guide step by step and don't miss any. I would read it through a few times before hand
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622425
Then use this tool to flash the bootloader and CWM of choice (step 6 in the guide)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/member.php?u=4518389
and you should be good to go. It looks complicated but it is very straightforworward and was actually ALOT of fun for me.
As civato says in his guide:
PLEASE FOLLOW TO THE LETTER AND READ TWICE , don't be drunk , don't watch sports (we are men and can only do one thing at a time), don't take advice from your wife , girlfriend or whatever you need to feel loved , this is not like chopping for a bike or car!!! This is probably the most boring thing you are going to do in your life!
keep reading.... don't be a chicken , just do it !!.

An overwhelmed noob

I have this shinny new powerful phone and I have no idea what to do with it. I've never got too deep into cell phones. But I want to get the most out of this phone. I pay a lot to be able to use it and I want to get the most enjoyment out of it. I've had it a while now and I haven't really done much to it.
I want to get rid of programs that is just taking up space. I want to get the best apps, learn about the phone. Customize it in cool ways.
Should I root it? Am I too much of a noob and or have too good of a phone to even need to worry about it?
Will you guys hold my hand and walk me through this phone or link me to some "lg g2 starter guide" threads to really have fun with this phone?
Thanks

Aye! First of all, welcome to the G2 community!
It's 4 in the morning for me right now, can we 'go for a walk' after I get my sleep?
Just wanted to reply so you won't feel lost and lonely, been there, done that.
In the meantime, enjoy your G2 first for what it is right now.
Sent from my LG-D802 using xda app-developers app

I feel the exact same way! Except I've had the phone for one month now.
Sent from my LG-D802 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Thanks. I bought my phone about two weeks ago. Switched from sprint to verizon after 7 years with sprint

honestly the phone is fast enough by itself with amazing battery, but if you like to get into flashing things first off
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2449670 this will teach you how to install TWRP. after that just download a rom of your choosing, more than likely the developer already root the rom for you so you dont need to do it. enjoy from there. make sure you know how to enter TWRP the hard button way... for tmobile is hold down and power button, once LG logo flash quickly let go and press the two button again. thats tmobile though.

I'm a bit of noob to the whole custom ROMS thing as well. I was just wondering what is a good program to make a back up before rooting and installing new ROMS?

TWRP (Team Win Recovery Project) and CWM (Clockwork Mod) both have backup utilities baked in. The stock full system backup will be quite large. Aside from being a best practice, it's too large to archive on the device, in my opinion. I would recommend offloading it to your PC and learn how to put it back using ADB (Android Debug Bridge) and the TWRP sideload feature in the event of a soft brick condition. Recommend you also backup and save your EFS/IMEI.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2451390

First step, ioroot.

Read and re-read on how to root and flash if you've never rooted or flash ROMS before to reduce to risk of bricking.
Sent from my JEE TWO

G1_enthusiast said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2449670 this will teach you how to install TWRP. after that just download a rom of your choosing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi. As someone who has very little understanding about this stuff, I'm struggling to get any use out of that guide. Is anyone else finding this?
For example:
"Ok, so if you look in the download page for your device and you are getting a zip file, this is a flashable zip, but it cannot be treated the same as an IMG file in this guide. You need to flash an older one that is a .img file, and then use that to flash the newer zip."
I have no idea how to do what it says in that last sentence, or what it even means.
Then where it starts describing option one, I don't understand what it's telling me to do. What does it mean to "push" the loki patch and the img? Where am I supposed to type that stuff in the code box?
I figured I'd just get my g2 rooted and back it up, then start reading about the stuff I didn't understand. But just getting started seems really complicated, and I'm struggling find the info I need to understand that guide. Is there a more detailed, baby step guide for idiots out there? Or can someone just quickly explain the things I mentioned about that guide?
Thanks for replies.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45692679. If you need root, try this guide.
Sent from my LG-D800 using Tapatalk

[Q] SGH-i337 - The Stonewall of Everything

Well, I purchased an SGH-i337 with the hopes of running custom firmware. I got this device in November of 2013. It is now August, almost September of 2014, and I just was able to root my phone for the first time. Still unable, however, to remove all of those stupid AT&T apps that I NEVER USE.
Secondly, I tried to finally install a custom Rom on this phone, only to find out that no matter what I do, I cannot boot into CWM or TWRP recovery. I have searched and searched the forums, the internet, watched numerous (but apparently irrelevant) videos on how to do this, and can find nothing that actually works. I follow these steps to the letter, and keep finding something that I just can't get past.
Step 5: Boot into CWM... Nope, I get 3e
Step 6: Load TWRP with GooManager. Now I have no recovery mode.
Etc. Etc. Etc.
I am really at my wits end here with this process. I don't want to have a phone with all this junk on it, and I can't figure out how to get a custom rom loaded. I currently have UCUFNC1 loaded, and can root using http://towelroot.com/
Other than that I cannot find any "walkthrough" or "installation method" that actually works. If someone could help me with this, or point me toward one, it would be much appreciated.

The only way to get a custom recovery on an AT&T S4 is to have the MDL bootloader. Your phone is too new and or updated.
If you want a custom ROM, you have to use SafeStrap. With SS, you can only load ROMs that use the stock kernel.
Wish I could help more but I don't use SS.
Sent from my SGH-I337 using XDA Free mobile app

You might have saved yourself all this trouble if you took 5 minutes to read through the forums here. You can only use Safestrap as the bootloader is still locked. Find all the info you need here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2616221

Thread moved to Q&A section where it should have been created. The desire to add the [Q] tag to your thread title should have been your first hint about this