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[Verizon] Root Noob Wants JB 4.1

GreatGoo

GreatGoo

Well-Known Member
Hey Guys,

After reading about Jelly Bean and Google Now I have finally caved and would really like to root my phone to get Jelly Bean. I know there are stickies at the top of this forum that walks through the process but some of the terminology is a little over my head.

  • I'm more of a visual learning. Is there a video that recommeds how to backup all my phones info before rooting?
  • Also, is there a video that provides a step by step guide of how to root my phone?
  • Lastly, is there a video that shows me how to install the latest JB 4.2?

Thanks for any insight. Truly appreciate it!
 
Wugs method it's really easy. The most confusing term for me was "make a nandroid", that means to make a back up. Make sure you do that after rooting so you can go back if something goes wrong. Another rookie mistake I made was to not flash GAAPS (Google apps). You flash this right after you flash a ROM. If you forget, Google apps are going to be missing.

My suggestion if you are not sure, ask here before taking the next step. Most bricks I have seen are people losing patience and pulling the battery out in the middle of a process. Some of these updates/flashing take a long time to boot/update (up to 10 min. for JB). As for Jelly Bean, I suggest JB 2.1. (requires 7/4 Gaaps)
 
If your phone is not yet unlocked, first copy ALL your files from your sdcard to your PC. All files on the phone will be erased when the device is unlocked. Copying files to your PC will allow you to preserve all your pictures and such. If you want to save your text messages, look at SMSBackup or a similar app.

Once you are unlocked, rooted, and have a recovery in place (CWM or TWRP), moving to JB is very simple. Just follow the instructions for the ROM you choose.
 
Dabitz said:
Wugs method it's really easy. The most confusing term for me was "make a nandroid", that means to make a back up. Make sure you do that after rooting so you can go back if something goes wrong. Another rookie mistake I made was to not flash GAAPS (Google apps). You flash this right after you flash a ROM. If you forget, Google apps are going to be missing.

My suggestion if you are not sure, ask here before taking the next step. Most bricks I have seen are people losing patience and pulling the battery out in the middle of a process. Some of these updates/flashing take a long time to boot/update (up to 10 min. for JB). As for Jelly Bean, I suggest JB 2.1. (requires 7/4 Gaaps)
Click to expand...

I'm having a major issue. I am using Wugs method and it was working great until I got to the root section. I have all the drives, backups, and am now unlocked. But for some reason where I try to start the root section with permanent CWM my computer restarts on me. The fastboot fails.

What should I do? I can't seem to root my phone with this process.
 
I read somewhere that is a driver error. Did you do the part where you have to make a change on your computer's device manager? I think you have to go there, go to the exclamation point driver error and update drivers, but look for that in Wug's instructions because I know it's there.
 
I figured it out. I just changed my cord to another USB and that worked.

SO now that my phone is unlocked and rooted what is the next step? Should I restore my data/media and backup file I stored?

Or should I flash the JB rom?
 
Did you make a back up? I recommend you go to Rom manager (app) and install Flash Clockworkd Mod Touch. This makes things a lot easier when flashing. Anyway, within Rom Manager backup your current ROM. A must have app also is Titanium Backup, this you can use to re install apps and their data every time you flash a new ROM. Don't backup system settings, only apps as this I have learned can cause problems.

After you make a full backup then you can install JB 2.2 (see link on this forum) and make sure you follow directions. You download the file, reboot into CWM from there you wipe catch, you do factory reset, then go to advance and wipe Dalvik). After you do that you can "Install the room by findind the Zip you just downloaded, then install the GAAPS, reboot, and reactivate your phone.

Note the reason you made a full ROM backup (ICS) is because if something goes wrong, you can always boot into "Recovery" = "CWM" and restore your backed up ROM.

I always download the ROMS from my phone directly (WIFI) and install them by browsing to my "download" folder within CWM.
 
Dabitz said:
Did you make a back up? I recommend you go to Rom manager (app) and install Flash Clockworkd Mod Touch. This makes things a lot easier when flashing. Anyway, within Rom Manager backup your current ROM. A must have app also is Titanium Backup, install it and do a full backup of Apps. Don't backup system settings, only apps as this I have learned can cause problems.

After you make a full backup then you can install JB 2.2 (see link on this forum) and make sure you follow directions. You download the file, reboot into CWM from there you wipe catch, you do factory reset, then go to advance and wipe Dalvik). After you do that you can "Install the room by findind the Zip you just downloaded, then install the GAAPS, reboot, and reactivate your phone. Go to Market download Titanium Backup again and restore your apps and data.

Note the reason you made a full ROM backup (ICS) is because if something goes wrong, you can always boot into "Recovery" = "CWM" and restore your backed up ROM.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the help Dabitz. Yeah I backed up my phone before I unlocked and rooted. I used Wug's toolkit so I backed up data/media and a backup file. Do I need to restore both of these before I backup my current ROM?
 
No, don't restore anything. Just do a full backup within ROM Manager (or CMW), this is a safety precaution. You want to have this backup you can then go back to from within CMW. You are basically done with Wugs. From now on, you will do everything from CWM. I believe your Wugs backup is in case you wanted to unroot and go back to stock.

Glad to help, I started the same as you and can understand why it sounds so confusing at first.
 
Oh wow. So the first time you Root to have to reinstall everything?

And then once I do that full backup I should reinstall everything on the phone and use Titanium Backup going forward to save my apps, pics, etc?
 
In my case (if i remember correctly) I had the Google backup option checked so after rooting, Google re-installed everything automatically. Then I backed the apps using Titanium Backup and then never used Google's backup option anymore, only Titanium. I hope somebody corrects me if I'm wrong... :-)
 
Make sure you get updated kernel files. I am using the Viscious version and the kernels built in were bad. Right after you flash JB to your phone, install any new kernels immediately after. This is done the same way that you flashed the JB ROM, by installing .zip file in CWM.

Oh...and be sure to follow the memory/cache wiping instructions (all are built into CWM). I missed these steps and it caused the phone to hang on the boot screen.

Also, for now, be prepared for some apps to not play well with JB. Light Flow and SwitchPro are having some problems dealing with the new OS.
 
GreatGoo said:
Oh wow. So the first time you Root to have to reinstall everything?

And then once I do that full backup I should reinstall everything on the phone and use Titanium Backup going forward to save my apps, pics, etc?
Click to expand...

Titanium Backup will only backup your user apps and their settings. It will not backup your pictures, text messages, downloads, etc. Before I do major changes to my phone (ie JB ROM), I run TiBu and SMSBackup, do a nandroid backup from recovery, and then copy at least the nandroid folder, pictures, and the TiBu folder to my PC. That way, if I have to totally wipe the phone, I can get the important stuff back.
 
OK so this is soooo a noob question but... oh well.

I'm currently, Verizon GNex, rooted, stock 4.0.4. I'm actually happy with just rooted stock. But I do want to update to Jelly Bean (I'm eyeing a couple different AOSP 4.1.1 builds) But before I flash a JB Rom I want to make sure...

Initially after unlocking, rooting and totally setting my phone back up the way I liked it, I created a nandroid back up through Rom Manager. Now up to this point I was always under the impression that I could install a custom rom, and if I didn't like it just re install my nandroid backup. But after doing some reading it sounds like theres more to it than that? Now I'm thinking.... I can't just install CM9 for example, not like it, then go into Rom Manager and directly restore my stock nandroid backup. Is that right? Instead what I should do is, If I don't like the current custom Rom I'm on and want to go back to my original stock nandroid, I first have to flash the 4.0.4 images, then restore my stock nandroid backup? Right? In other words I thought it was... Stock, make nandroid, custom rom, back to nandroid. But instead it's actually... Stock, make nandroid, custom rom, flash stock, then back to nandroid.

This is simple stuff I know, but I'm still starting and need someone to confirm this or set me straight here. Also...

If this is true, how do I return to stock? Flash the 4.0.4 images found here? How would I do that? Would I have to do it through the PC / ADB? I'm only familiar with Wug's GNex root toolkit (that's how I unlocked and rooted in the first place). Once I'm confident that I know how to restore my stock nandroid backup (should something go wrong or I don't like a JB Rom), then I'll be free to install a JB Rom.

Thanks in advance for your help!
 
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