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Root [HOW-TO] Simplified Root + Recovery + Custom ROM

I'm trying to root my old OV, which I gave to my mom - it's not actvated, she only uses the wifi on it. I'm only rooting to get rid of some bloatware for her.
Downloaded gingerbreak 1.2 and enabled USB debugging (done this song and dance before)...while airplane was on...20 minutes later, no root, Gingerbreak FC's.
Turned airplane mode off, tried again - it's been 30 minutes and no reboot, app still says its rooting.
Anyone have a similar experience? A tip or other version of Gingerbreak I could use to make this work?
 
Followed everything to a T and it worked perfectly! Took 13 tries to get it rooted, but it eventually happened. Amazing how great it works now, it's like a new phone.
 
nickabbasi1 said:
Followed everything to a T and it worked perfectly! Took 13 tries to get it rooted, but it eventually happened. Amazing how great it works now, it's like a new phone.
Click to expand...

Yeah, patience is a must. My nephew summed it up beautifully. It's like throwing a sticky waffle at the ceiling, it takes a few throws to get it to stick. :D
 
I'm actually quite surprised that I haven't been able to complete the first 3 steps on this guide. I have a few questions/issues on the first 3 steps.

1. Turn on USB Debugging (Settings - Applications - Development) - Done
2. Copy the GingerBreak.apk to a /sdcard dir, then using a 'file manager' app (search for one in Android Market) install it like a regular app. - Done
3. It can take up to 10 minutes, and will reboot automatically when complete (rooted), if attempt fails, reboot manually & run it again. - For me, this was not a complete step. It does not take 10 minutes to install GingerBreak. GingerBreak installed rather quickly. I believe there is a step missing here (step 2.5). After GingerBreak is installed, launch the app and select "Root device"

Another question I have... why install the Optimus drivers on my computer? Does the phone actually need to be connected to the computer while rooting? I never found a reason to connect my phone to the computer during rooting. I'm simply removed the SD card from the phone and copied the GingerBreak.apk file to the sd card. Why install the drivers if you're not actually connecting the phone to root?

I have attempted the root 4 times, and all 4 times it has failed.
 
With this Guide and the Gingerbreak.apk you do not need to connect to your PC. After you install the apk from your sd card select done. Go to your app drawer and run the exploit from the app that was installed from your sd card. This part will take 10-12 min. and if it doesn't reboot your phone automatically then your need to pull battery/re-install battery. Then reboot and try again. This could take up to 10 try's, but should only take 4-5 try's.
 
I am on my 10th attempt to ROOT the phone with GingerBreak 1.2. GingerBreak executes for about 10 minutes, stating the following:

"Rooting ...
Running exploit ...
This may take a few minutes !
Device will reboot on success !"

After about 10 minutes, I get an error that states:

"Not sure what happened here. Either the exploit failed or the reboot failed. Please reboot manually and see if you have SuperUser !"

I reboot the phone by powering it down and turning it back on. After it reboots, I find that SuperUser was not installed.

Is there something I'm missing? I'm running GingerBreak 1.2 from the link posted on this thread. Is there a minimum amount of free space necessary on the phone or SD card? Should I disable any apps (JuiceDefender, SeekDroid, Task Killer)? Should I format the SD card?
 
Ok, so today I followed this to the letter, and I must say it worked flawlessly. I am extremely pleased with the outcome and would just like to say thank you! (I am sending a donation too! :-)) Thanks again.

John
 
atjaguarx said:
Finally got it after 11 tries and 2 hours. Tip of the day... just keep trying over and over again until it works.
Click to expand...

Still not working for me. I've tried over 15 times.

- took out battery
- format stock SD card on computer
- waited 12 minutes
- turned phone on
- ran gingerbreak
- ERROR, reboot
- repeat

Any other things I can try?

EDIT: I'm up to 25 attempts now. Still no luck. I'm on 2.2.2, baseband VM670ZV5, HW 1.2.
 
Try downloading a fresh .apk. The first one might have gotten corrupted.
Make sure you have USB debugging checked/enabled.
 
Hello, I followed all of these steps, and I was successful with rooting, and installing the new ROM onto my Lg Optimus, and had a visible home screen, and all functions working. However, The google play app was no longer on my phone, nor was any apps, and I could not figure out how to restore anything. I DID follow the step where you said to backup the previous ROM (Thankfully) and restored my phone to the way it was before I rooted.
Can anybody help me, please?

Also: I could not add my gmail account, and ALL apps were uninstalled such as goole maps, play, gmail, youtube, etc.

Edit: I used the backsider ROM, as used in the guide.
 
If you tried to install a gingerbread Rom you need the Gapps. Go to the All things Root Guide ^^ at the top of the sub-forum. I put what gapps are needed next to the ROM's.
 
brotherswing said:
Try plugging a usb cable into a pc. Some users have reported that helps.
Click to expand...

I'm not sure I understand? I've been trying to root with the phone plugged into my PC via USB. Do you mean plugging in another USB cable?

AndyOpie150 said:
Try downloading a fresh .apk. The first one might have gotten corrupted.
Make sure you have USB debugging checked/enabled.
Click to expand...

I tried this as well. I downloaded a fresh apk from the link in the OP. I installed with ASTRO file manager.

USB debugging is enabled.
 
Disconnect USB cable from PC. Make sure phone is fully charged. After you have the .apk moved to the Root of the sd card (bottom of the list of file folders, but not in any folder) then install it. If you try to install it from the a folder it will not work right after it installs the apk in the app drawer.
Then make sure you use the stock uSD card if you have it still. It didn't work with my 8GB card, but did with the stock 2GB card. Sometimes the exploit is a little picky about the sd card.

Open app drawer an run exploit. If after 12 min. it doesn't reboot on it's own, pull battery and try again. It might take 10-12 tries. It only took me 5 tries, but my phone started out as a 2.2.1 OS with a Novatek screen
 
HI GUYS I'M NEW TO ALL OF THIS,I DON'T HAVE A PC BUT I ALREADY. ROOTED USING GINGERBREAK. AND SUPERUSER IS IN THE APP DRAWER.IS THERE ANYWAY TO INSTALL A RECOVERY AND CUSTOM ROM? THANgKS IN ADVANCE! !
 
badblue1 said:
HI GUYS I'M NEW TO ALL OF THIS,I DON'T HAVE A PC BUT I ALREADY. ROOTED USING GINGERBREAK. AND SUPERUSER IS IN THE APP DRAWER.IS THERE ANYWAY TO INSTALL A RECOVERY AND CUSTOM ROM? THANgKS IN ADVANCE! !
Click to expand...

The very first page of this thread is a step by step guide to do just that. I am a first time android user and was able to install a custom rom using this guide with no problems. Just take your time and follow each step exactly
 
I have followed the instructions for installing the Backside IHO Rom. I am now at step #10. "Install the custom ROM.zip from sdcard and gapps.zip too if going to a CyanogenMod ROM" but I don't see the zip file for the ROM. I made a backup, step #8, and saved it to my laptop. The zip file is in Astro, but I later installed Estrong as my file manager. I can't see Astro as a choice when choosing a zip from the SD card, but I know it is there. Can I remove the SD card while in CWM, copy the zip file to it where it is easy to find, put it back in the phone and continue the install? Or will the SD card be damaged when removing it? This is a Noob question--not sure if the card is unmounted while in CWM. Thanks.
 
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