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Root help

T

tdiddy1987

Newbie
alright, i have to do this even though i look like a ******
my X10 is my first android phone, it came with 2.1, and im kinda sorta getting the idea of what everybody is saying, but there are a few holes in my knowledge that are holding me back
1) what is a ROM?
2) what does it mean to 'root' an android device?
3) why do people root android devices?
4) what is X-recovery?

stupid questions, but their killing me over here.. :confused:
 
ROM in our case here is a custom image. Most of them are stripped down versions of Android 2.x with all the essentials and a sometimes another launcher and wallpapers all preloaded in there.

To root, is to gain access to places your cell provider tried to block on your phone. (voiding warranty, but allowing you to remove the crap and restrictions they put on there)

People Root because if I don't root, I can't remove the stupid things my cell provider put on there....I can only install updates that were created by Sony and then were approved by my cell provider. If I root, I could install a base version of Android 2.1 and only install the things I want.

xRecovery is a recovery console. It allows you to create an image on the phone...or restore created images that other people have setup. So, an example is the Eminence Rom....here is what it comes with and what is included and what is not:

Included

3.D Gallery, BusyBox, FileManager, Gauge Battery Widget [free], HTC ime [Themed], LauncherPro, Linpack, Signal Strength Widget, Superuser, Tajm, Titanium Backup [Free Version], xRecovery, Rooted

Removed *

Chinese Text input, Creatouch, Digital Clock Widget, EManual, Emanual Launcher, Facebook, Face Recognition, Home Launcher, Latin IME, Learning Client, Moxiermail, Music, Officesuite, PC Companion, Playnow/Client/Back/App Installer, Quadrapop, Ringtones, Recent Calls, Status Switch, Semc/Checkin/Setup Wizard/TouchPal Korean Qwerty, Search Widget, Textinput TNG, Timescape/Plugin Manager/Provider/Themes, Track I.D, User Support, uWlop, Wallpaper

Features:

JIT

Framework Animations

SuperCircle Battery Mod

X10 Res Mods Styling

Extras:

Bootscreen, Comfertaa Font, Wallpaper
Click to expand...

Hope that answers some questions.
 
mos definatly helps, thanks for the explanation.
im still a little fuzzy though, a ROM is just an esthetic addition? its just fonts and wallpapers?

also, it one were to 'root' their device it voids the warranty presumably... is there any way to restore the phone to the point is was at when it was warrantied? .. so for example can i root my phone, then if having serious issues just restore it to factory and carrier default and send it back for repairs?

and just to say.. i understand why people do root, alot of the things that come stock on the x10 are pretty useless.... for example i havent even opened moxier mail or any moxier application and i cant find an uninstaller on the market that will get rid of it.

cheers! please keep the info coming! i want to learn as much as i can about this, i really want my phone to perform better, it scored under 500 on the quadrant benchmark... and i saw a guy on youtube get 1400! FML
 
tdiddy1987 said:
mos definatly helps, thanks for the explanation.
im still a little fuzzy though, a ROM is just an esthetic addition? its just fonts and wallpapers?

also, it one were to 'root' their device it voids the warranty presumably... is there any way to restore the phone to the point is was at when it was warrantied? .. so for example can i root my phone, then if having serious issues just restore it to factory and carrier default and send it back for repairs?

and just to say.. i understand why people do root, alot of the things that come stock on the x10 are pretty useless.... for example i havent even opened moxier mail or any moxier application and i cant find an uninstaller on the market that will get rid of it.

cheers! please keep the info coming! i want to learn as much as i can about this, i really want my phone to perform better, it scored under 500 on the quadrant benchmark... and i saw a guy on youtube get 1400! FML
Click to expand...

A ROM is a whole image. Not like a theme pack. It could be an image of Android 2.1, 2.2 or something else.

If you compare it to a computer....think of what you have on there right now as like having an HP computer loaded with Windows 7 and a crap load of useless software (like 12 different HP programs and useless junk) and think of the ROM like a fresh copy of Windows 7. Or better yet....if you happen to remember TinyXP which was a stripped down version of Windows XP and was only like 50-90 MBs instead of 300+MBs.

The root application I used gives me the ability to root and unroot my phone.

So if my phone ever did need to go in for repairs, then I could unroot it and reinstall the original version of Android the phone came with (by running through the Sony Ericsson Update Service)

I didn't notice how slow and laggy my phone was until I setup this Eminence ROM. Everything is quicker....smoother...better. And it happens to look better too.
 
the tinyxp comment makes me a lot clearer,
what application did u use that lets you unroot and restore to factory default?
why dont all people that root just do that instead of warning everyone that rooting voids warranties?
 
I did this:

http://androidforums.com/x10-all-th...-x10-setting-up-boot-loader-custom-theme.html

Some people are scared and I am sure there are specific steps you could do that would brick your phone (but from what I have read it is really really hard)

People warn about voiding warranty because if they don't know...root their phone...then try and send it back to their cell provider or Sony for repairs....Sony or their cell provider will probably be upset if they see a hacked version of Android on there instead of Sony's special Android on there.

The warning is more of a heads up....and if things go wrong on the phone, reflash the phone and install the original copy of Android before sending the phone away for repairs. So don't go complaining to Sony if you have any problems...ask around the forums...or if you want to go to Sony for help make sure you have their copy of Android on the phone.
 
tdiddy1987 said:
that seems quite complicated.. but potentiall worthwhile
lol my thing is.... check this out
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGFJvPxMThI&feature=fvw
does this guys one minute operation with no restarting, do the same thing that your list of instructions does?
Click to expand...

It's a couple step process.

Step 1 is getting phone rooted...then install an app that gives you superuser access (essentially letting you write other apps to a previously rooted area)...next step is installing a new boot loader (xRecovery)...then copy over the special image/rom...and restore that ROM.

Not that many steps...now that I have been through it, it would probably take me less than 15 minutes to do it all, but my first time...having no clue what I was doing...it took me over an hour of reading and trial and error before I psyched myself up to get it all finished and looking good.

Here are the Coles notes of what I did:

1- Download Z4root here - One Click Root App.... - I chose - z4root.1.3.0.apk

Download xRecover here - [RECOVERY] xRecovery 0.2-release | INSTALLATION FIX | 16/12/2010 - xda-developers - filename is xRecovery-0.2-release.apk

In the Google Market download and insall Busybox, but don't open it after you install it (or don't open it and click install yet)

Download x10 Res Mods v1.6 from here - [THEME] X10 Res Mods... - and unrar the zip file

2- Copy z4root.1.3.0.apk and xRecovery-0.2-release.apk and X10RM_v1.6.zip onto the SD Card somewhere you will remember

3- Using a file browser like OI File Manager or Astro run z4root.1.3.0.apk to install...after install open applications and run Z4 root....click Permanent Root...restart the phone and run Z4 app once more and click Yes/Accept

4- Find that Busybox application you installed from the Market and run it....Click Install

5- Using a file browser run xRecovery-0.2-release.apk to install...after the installation open the app...click Install and click Yes/Accept...there should now be little green checkmarks beside the files listed

6-Shutdown the phone....turn it back on and when you see it show the Sony splash screen tap the Back button about once a second and it should open this new boot loader

7- In the boot loader use the up and down arrow keys and the home button (middle one) as the enter button...choose load custom zip then point to the X10RM_v1.6.zip file...when done click the back button and chose to reboot the phone

8- Done...it might take a while to reboot, but when it comes up you will have rooted the phone and added the boot loader and a custom theme...you can now mix and match and edit with new themes or other themes...but the hard part is done
Click to expand...
 
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