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Root pre-rooting questions

jarves

Member
Hi,

I've read the threads posted in this forum on rooting but I could not find anything similar to my questions so I thought about starting my own thread.
Here are my questions:

- Is it okay if I root my device without installing a custom ROM or installing a radio?
- Is it okay to root my device and retain my stock ROM of android?
- if it is okay to root my device and retain my stock ROM shall I be able to have complete control on the SDCARD I have like installing AP2SD?
- is there a free app as replacement for gallery? I can't seem to create folders/albums.
- is there a better camera app than the one default? It seems to have a limited settings when taking pictures.
 
- Yes
- Yes
- Not sure on that, I think apps2sd+ required init.d support, which stock roms don't have.

Is there a particular reason you don't want a custom rom?
 
Hi Danfrance,

Thanks for your prompt response. Is there another app like ap2sd that does not require init.d? or all apps like ap2sd really requires this file? I want to have a custom rom, but i can't decide yet which is the best out there. Maybe perhaps you can recommend one for me?:)

Thanks!
 
@jarves - not sure if this is what you need, but I set different gallery folders using my PC. I have different folders for dock icons, wallpapers, app icons, etc etc. When I open the Gallery I get a list of folders (that I named myself) and I can add/remove images from each folder.

To do it you need to be connected to your PC using the USB cable, with the phone connected as "Disk Drive" - this gives you access to the SD card.

Create a new folder on the SD card and name it, for example, "Holiday 2010". The folder should be created in the root directory of the SD card, not inside any folders already there. Click and drag images from your PC to the Holiday folder. If you have photos on your camera that need to go to the Holiday folder, look for the DCIM folder which will contain the camera shots, then drag photos to the Holiday folder as before.

After disconnecting the USB, open Gallery and the phone will scan the SD card for folders containing images. The Holiday 2010 folder will appear. Do this for as many folders as you want, I have about 20 folders with different icon packs and photo groups.
 
It depends what you are looking for. If you like HTC Sense, there is AuraxTsense, Leedroid and even a Desire HD rom you can use.

for vanilla, you can go cyanogen or defrost. This has no HTC crap on it at all.

In regards to apps2sd, there are apps like Titanium backup which will force apps to external media, however as this is the normal SD partition, if you access the sd card on a computer, you wont be able to use these apps.
 
You can't run A2SD on a purely stock ROM unless you use the built in version.

If you want to be as close to stock as possible, then you can use mine and just add on the A2SD+ mod with nothing else.
 
You can't run A2SD on a purely stock ROM unless you use the built in version.

If you want to be as close to stock as possible, then you can use mine and just add on the A2SD+ mod with nothing else.


Yeah I would recommend this.

See youve updated to 2.29
 
What do you mean by built version?
"You can't run A2SD on a purely stock ROM unless you use the built in version."

What do you mean mine? You have a ROM?
"If you want to be as close to stock as possible, then you can use mine and just add on the A2SD+ mod with nothing else."
 
1. You can't root your phone and then just add the A2SD+ function as you need more than just that

2. Teppic has made a stock rooted ROM with add-ons, find his thread in here or over on XDA
 
You can't run A2SD on a purely stock ROM unless you use the built in version.

If you want to be as close to stock as possible, then you can use mine and just add on the A2SD+ mod with nothing else.


Can I use Titanium backup instead of ap2sd on my stock rom? So that would be rooted phone + stock rom + titanium backup. Is this okay? Or maybe titanium backup has dependencies just like ap2sd.?
 
So if your main reason for rooting is space you pretty much have to get a custom ROM as you won't be able to transfer all your apps to SD?
 
Pretty much.

You can use various techniques to force apps to use the standard Froyo A2SD (use Ti Backup to move them, or the ModInstallLocation app), but Dan's already mentioned one drawback, in addition to which widgets don't work when moved that way (and hence you also can't move apps with widgets if you want to use the widget), and less of the app is moved and so you run out of space faster. I tried that for a couple of months, but eventually went A2SD+ anyway.

If you want something that's very much stock, Teppic's ROM has already been recommended (use the init.d capable version, then add the A2SD+ patch).
 
you can but not all apps would work properly
best is a2sd+ with a custom rom

Pretty much.

You can use various techniques to force apps to use the standard Froyo A2SD (use Ti Backup to move them, or the ModInstallLocation app), but Dan's already mentioned one drawback, in addition to which widgets don't work when moved that way (and hence you also can't move apps with widgets if you want to use the widget), and less of the app is moved and so you run out of space faster. I tried that for a couple of months, but eventually went A2SD+ anyway.

If you want something that's very much stock, Teppic's ROM has already been recommended (use the init.d capable version, then add the A2SD+ patch).

Thanks chaps.

Still slightly uncomfortable with the whole rooting thing.

Read the unrevoked stuff which seems pretty easy but I guess like everyone else just scared of making a pigs ear of it & knackering my phone :(
 
The last screenshot in that link, is it true of your PC's device manager?

What I mean is, do you have the bootloader interface, under the android phone parent device?

Nope that's on the website.

My phone appears in device manager as Android phone but when I try & install the HBOOT drivers it won't let me cos windows says they are up to date.
 
I think you mis understood me.

I know its on a website. I'm attempting to ascertain if your device manager looks identical to that of the screenshot - Because it needs to ;)
 
I think you mis understood me.

I know its on a website. I'm attempting to ascertain if your device manager looks identical to that of the screenshot - Because it needs to ;)

Sorry :o

It does in terms of layout but when I attached the phone it's listed as Android phone rather than other as on the screenshot.

Do I need to remove everything to do with HTC? When I remove HTC sync there are a couple of things left in programs on the control panel.

I think the issue I have is that windows automatically tries to install drivers when I connect the phone which obviously I don't want it to do but don't know how to stop it.
 
Only HTC sync needs to be uninstalled.

I link to an unrevoked guide in my rooting faq (see sig). The steps may be slightly different. Have a look there and confirm you then have the same.
 
Only HTC sync needs to be uninstalled.

I link to an unrevoked guide in my rooting faq (see sig). The steps may be slightly different. Have a look there and confirm you then have the same.

It's the unrevoked guide in your sig I was using :D

I can't seem to get Windows to let me install the driver though :mad:

When I connect the phone Windows updates drivers automatically.
 
Only HTC sync needs to be uninstalled.

I link to an unrevoked guide in my rooting faq (see sig). The steps may be slightly different. Have a look there and confirm you then have the same.

Your guide is top notch mate, my phone is now rooted :D

Well I guess it is cos I have superuser in my app drawer! :)

unrEVOked worked like a charm, no probs at all.

Next step is a ROM but I think I'll leave for another day, I've had enough excitement for 1 day :D
 
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