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Thinking of getting a Desire, what to do first?

But I wouldn't worry about the partitioning at first. Just backup your current system and then wipe the memory and flash a new rom. The tiny rom will be rattling around in a cavernous HTC Sense system partition, but it doesn't matter at this stage. You just want to see if it works. Then once you're happy and have installed your favourite apps and your contacts, etc., do another backup of your new system and then you can start playing around with the hboot partitions.
!

Many thanks :)

I just booted up the clockwork recovery and did a backup and got the 'completed' message at the end. (from my understanding this is a full nandroid backup?). I then restarted phone but it would not boot fully. The guide said there is a known problem, so i went back to clockwork then restore and I have put that image back on. Was that ok?

Is it best to now put this backup image to my computer?
 
Yes thats right. First CWM backup often causes bootloop. Now all should be fine.

Yes you can copy to PC but also leave a copy on SD for now...
 
Yeah its a symbolic link.

Alright. And would this work with apps like, say, Maps?

Thing is, if I try to restore, for example, DSPManager from my previous CM7 installation using Titanium Backup, I think it's considered a system app and Titanium tries to put it into the system partition. If you don't have enough space for this then Titanium can't restore the app.

Once it's installed though (if there was spare space in the system partition), would converting it to a user app in Titanium automatically move it to the data partition? and would then applying that symbolic link allow it to function properly?

I guess I'm wondering how you install a system app in a location other than the system...
 
Sorry for all these questions guys. I am reading as much as possible and feel bad asking when there are such detailed guides around.

But I have been unable to find a guide to install roms, only information to not use 'RomManager'.

Now I have a backup, is the best method for removing bloatware to connect phone to PC and remove all folders apart from Clockwork (or should i use the 'clear' options in clockwork loader)? Then get the DGB rom on and start adding the main apps I need back in?

Many thanks,
 
First of all, copy the rom file onto the SDcard.

Then, as you suggested, clear from within recovery.

Then select 'install zip from sdcard'

'choose zip from sdcard'

do that and flash away.
 
Make sure the ROM zip is not in any folders when you put it on the sd.

Thanks for help,

I put the DGB mod in the clockwork folder and located it inside recovery, it seems to have flashed ok - should I reflash with .zip outside?

On the DGB site there was mention of a kernal - do I need to use that yet?

What I plan to do it put my main setting details in (internet etc.), then do a backup and store on PC alongside the original one and keep the dgb recovery on the SD and remove the original , sound ok?

^Just did it and all seems fine. Now have 3.7GB free on card and 115mb on internal.
Cheers guys, now time to play :)
DGB I can see already has some nice features including easier boot to loader. Feels super fast too!

Is it recommended getting a google account guys? I do not have one at the moment, is it the same as Gmail?


Thanks
 
If you located it and flashed then you're done! Congratulations!

The kernel is installed as part of the ROM.

The kernel is available on the dGB site as a separate download in case you install another rom in the future but still want to use this kernel - because installing a new rom will change the kernel to the one that comes with the rom, which is likely to be different.

Yes, get a google account. You need it for downloading from the android market, and you can use it for backing up and syncing your contacts, calendars etc. Yes.

What I plan to do it put my main setting details in (internet etc.), then do a backup and store on PC alongside the original one and keep the dgb recovery on the SD and remove the original , sound ok?

sounds good :-)
 
Massive thanks davoid, could not of done it without you and the others.
Hopefully I can return the favour one day :)
 
Massive thanks davoid, could not of done it without you and the others.
Hopefully I can return the favour one day :)

No worries. This is where I learned to do it. I know it seems like there are too many obstacles to begin with, and asking questions is definitely the best way to clarify that you have understood the correct procedures. Again, congratulations. :)
 
Just thought i'd update this,

Getting on really well with the phone, wish I would of got a smartphone sooner.

The apps and ease of use is incredible. Gmail contact sync makes things massively easier and organised.
Really like the android specific apps for common use sites like youtube, google and ebay. Thanks again for all help,

Few questions:

I notice with DGB I have a total of 4 left-right 'home screens', I only need 1 really, anyway to close the other ones or would I gain nothing (resource-wise) by doing this.

I'm finding giffgaff great for mobile internet but there is 1 place at work where i cannot get a signal, however there is a free wifi I can pick-up. I have not done this yet (connected) as I wanted to ask if there was any firewall I need to install? Is it ok to enter sites with a password whilst on a wifi?

Do the majority of you guys leave auto sync and update (+ backgroud data) on? Any security risks doing this?

Kind regards,
 
Only other question I had guys (apart from those 2 above) is what is the maximum size card the desire can take? I understand it is the SDHC type?

Kind regards,
 
I'm inclined to say 32gb but an inclin says 64.
Helpful!

I always thought it was 32gb too but some have said they are using 64gb, there again there was nothing bigger than 32gb out when the desire first came out.
Just because a phone supports up to 32gb & then bigger cards get released doesn't mean it can't use them, the only real test is to fill them up & see if the phone can still read them.
 
I notice with DGB I have a total of 4 left-right 'home screens', I only need 1 really, anyway to close the other ones or would I gain nothing (resource-wise) by doing this.

I don't think there's a way of deleting home screens. Standard android. But you wouldn't really gain anything resource-wise. Home screens only have an effect on performance if you have them full of widgets that are continually updating with real-time information.

I have not done this yet (connected) as I wanted to ask if there was any firewall I need to install? Is it ok to enter sites with a password whilst on a wifi?

You don't need to, but I have a firewall installed, called Droidwall. I installed it so that if there is a rogue app that wants to 'phone home' it won't be able to unless I have given it explicit access to the internet. The downside of course is that sometimes I download and install an app (like youtube, for instance) and wonder why it isn't working. Then I finally remember I have to allow it permission in my firewall... But because of this, I know the firewall works!

Being able to use a firewall is one of the nice things about being rooted.

As far as passwords are concerned, as long as the service you are accessing is secure (such as https:// ) then you should be ok, as your data will be encrypted.


Do the majority of you guys leave auto sync and update (+ backgroud data) on? Any security risks doing this?

I usually leave them turned on, but when I'm out and about I usually have my data turned off to preserve my battery, and only turn on when I need to use it. I can't speak for certain, but I don't think there's a security risk.
 
Only other question I had guys (apart from those 2 above) is what is the maximum size card the desire can take? I understand it is the SDHC type?

Kind regards,

it's supposed to be 32 (SDHC), but there is a new format called SDXC which is 64gb and people have reported them working in phones that don't officially support anything above 32gb. I've seen forum posters saying they use a 64gb card in a Desire.

http://androidcommunity.com/sandisk-64gb-micro-sdxc-cards-working-on-multiple-android-devices-20110927/
 
Great, many thanks Davoid and others :)

Davoid at the moment I have not been installing any apps to SD card, just their default location. Do you think it would be a good ideal that when I get my new card I should partition it first? (Do I then just select 'install to SD' in settings?)

Kind regards,
 
Great, many thanks Davoid and others :)

Davoid at the moment I have not been installing any apps to SD card, just their default location. Do you think it would be a good ideal that when I get my new card I should partition it first? (Do I then just select 'install to SD' in settings?)

Kind regards,

You're getting into root territory here. There is a root memory faq if you go to the "all things root guide" sticky thread
 
Be careful not to confuse the 2 types of apps to sd.

Partitioning (adding a second linux-format partition to the card) is used by the original a2sd approach, available only to root users. This moves all apks to the ext partition, but leaves a "symbolic link" in the internal memory so that to the phone they appear to still be "internal".

The "install location" refers to the method that google introduced in android 2.2, i.e. the "move to sd" option. That moves the apk (and in 2.3 onward other parts of the app) to the default partition of the sd card (actually in a protected directory, .android_secure), and is available even on an unpartitioned card.

With dGB only the second option is available - that's part of the motivation for the very small ROM, to do away with the need for a separate partition on the card. If you use a ROM which supports a2sd+ though, and have a partition, then apps will go to the partition unless you move them to sd or set sd as the default install location.

Edit: now it's SUroot's turn to ninja me :dito:
 
Be careful not to confuse the 2 types of apps to sd.

Partitioning (adding a second linux-format partition to the card) is used by the original a2sd approach, available only to root users. This moves all apks to the ext partition, but leaves a "symbolic link" in the internal memory so that to the phone they appear to still be "internal".

The "install location" refers to the method that google introduced in android 2.2, i.e. the "move to sd" option. That moves the apk (and in 2.3 onward other parts of the app) to the default partition of the sd card (actually in a protected directory, .android_secure), and is available even on an unpartitioned card.

With dGB only the second option is available - that's part of the motivation for the very small ROM, to do away with the need for a separate partition on the card. If you use a ROM which supports a2sd+ though, and have a partition, then apps will go to the partition unless you move them to sd or set sd as the default install location.

Edit: now it's SUroot's turn to ninja me :dito:

A massive thanks again guys, I am still reading and trying to take as much in as possible. I will try not to go into deep root territory and will make a new thread in the section if needed.

What would you say would be my best option for when I receive the 32gb card, what method / size partition would you use? (or is that not really needed). You mention with DGB the only option is to allow movement to 'android secure folder' - how big is this do you know and is this being done automatically now or do I need to select in settings?

Many thanks,
 
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