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Root [HOW TO]: Root, Install a Custom ROM, Fix the Market, and Add Flash

SolidOrange

SolidOrange

Android Expert
well, somebody had to make the first post! i have already put this info in the general tablet forum, but there are new ROMs out there and i know this is the first thread any g-tab owner will be looking for. if someone can sticky this, i will try to keep it as up to date as possible.
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**COMPLETE OVERHAUL, 3/9/11**
I have edited these instructions to simplify. Rooting before installing a custom ROM is NOT on the g-tab as long as you can get ClockworkMod working.

BOOTLOADER INFORMATION 6/17/11
Some g-tablets are now being shipped with the 1.2 bootloader. Info is here and VERY IMPORTANT.
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HOW TO: Root, Install ClockworkMod, Load a Custom ROM, Fix the Market, and Add Flash


1. download and install ClockworkMod Recovery with the links/instructions on this page. MAKE SURE YOU ARE USING THE CORRECT VERSION FOR YOUR BOOTLOADER AND STORAGE LOCATION.
2. choose a ROM from the thread here. Make sure to do your reading on them, as there are benefits and issues with each.
3. download your ROM of choice to your desktop/laptop.
4. if the file is in .RAR format, you will need to extract it on your computer (resulting in an Update.zip and Recovery folder). if it is a .ZIP file, it usually does not need to be renamed or extracted. (ROMs using .zip files can actually be downloaded straight to your tablet, forgoing the need for steps 5 & 6)
5. connect your gTab to your computer, turn on usb storage, and move the update.zip or ROMname.zip to the internal memory. you may put them in any folder you want (except the root) since you are using ClockworkMod. I prefer using the "Android" folder as it is easy to find.
6. turn off USB storage, disconnect from your computer, and power down the gTab
7. hold the volume + button and the power button to boot into ClockworkMod recovery. you can let go when you get past the white viewsonic bootscreen.
8. use the volume rocker to move up/down in the menu and select "backup and restore" with the home button. once in the menu, select "backup". this will create a copy of your current ROM to fall back on should any issues arise in the future. it will take 5-10 minutes.
9. when you are returned to the main menu, select "wipe data/factory reset" and then scroll down to yes.
10. next, select "wipe cache partition", scroll down and select yes.
11. now choose "install zip from sdcard" -> "choose zip from sdcard" and scroll through the list until you find the folder containing the update.zip or ROMname.zip you saved in step 5. (If you downloaded the file directly to your tablet, it will be located in the "download" folder.) once you find it, select the .zip file and scroll down to yes.
12. your new ROM should now install, it will root your tablet in the process. when it is finished, return to the main menu and select "reboot now". you will know it has worked as soon as it reboots because your bootscreen/homescreen will be different and you will now have a SuperUser icon in your app drawer.
13. go here and follow the intructions to fix the android market. (the stuff you need is 3:30 in if you want to start there)
14. go here and download the Adobe Flash update. since it is an apk file, you will also need to download Astro File Manager and use these instructions to install.
15. ENJOY! (and click thanks. :p)
 
tom108 said:
wouldn't it be a good idea to install clockwork mod recovery on it so you can do backups advanced backups and install roms from within folders?

[GUIDE] How To Install ClockworkMod - xda-developers
Click to expand...

it is actually a great idea, and i was considering adding it to the post from the beginning. the only reason i did not is because it isn't absolutely necessary, and i was trying to keep the instructions as simple as possible for new users. that being said... i would never flash a ROM without it, and have been using it since day 1. :D

i will add it as a optional step, as it is a great resource.
 
SolidOrange, thanks for your comments on this forum and others.. extremely helpful!

The gtablet screams now.. Flashed TNT Lite, but wanted more of the Android functionality that VEGAn gives--- all extremely easy to do with your instructions and links for the market fix and flash fix.
 
watersrules said:
SolidOrange, thanks for your comments on this forum and others.. extremely helpful!

The gtablet screams now.. Flashed TNT Lite, but wanted more of the Android functionality that VEGAn gives--- all extremely easy to do with your instructions and links for the market fix and flash fix.
Click to expand...

glad i could help! if i am able to give back even half of the information i have received from this (and other) forums, it is well worth the time it takes to post. when i came over from blackberry in september, i had no idea what rooting was or why i would ever want to do it. now i change ROM's/kernels/themes on my phone or tablet at least once a week, lol. thanks to the help of many others, i have learned alot around here, and i am more than happy to pass it along.
 
Hi all, need some help on this. I've downloaded and installed the z4 and Clockwork. I've gotten to step #11 (second set of instructions) but I'm not getting past that. Each time I reboot, it takes me to the home screen of old ROM. I moved the update and recovery folder to the download folder on the tab.
I am on a Mac and am pretty literate to computers so I'm a bit frustrated!
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated!
 
sammiepeeps said:
Hi all, need some help on this. I've downloaded and installed the z4 and Clockwork. I've gotten to step #11 (second set of instructions) but I'm not getting past that. Each time I reboot, it takes me to the home screen of old ROM. I moved the update and recovery folder to the download folder on the tab.
I am on a Mac and am pretty literate to computers so I'm a bit frustrated!
Any thoughts or help would be appreciated!
Click to expand...

sounds like either you are not holding the volume + button long enough when you are turning the tablet back on, or you do not have clockwork properly installed. try step 5 again, when you reboot while holding the volume + key, you should get a screen that looks like this (different version #):

clockwork.jpg


if you cannot get clockwork to install, try using the original version of instructions. while it does not allow you to make a backup, it should still work.
 
SolidOrange said:
sounds like either you are not holding the volume + button long enough when you are turning the tablet back on, or you do not have clockwork properly installed. try step 5 again, when you reboot while holding the volume + key, you should get a screen that looks like this (different version #):

clockwork.jpg


if you cannot get clockwork to install, try using the original version of instructions. while it does not allow you to make a backup, it should still work.
Click to expand...
Thank you. Yeah something isn't right. I still don't see that screen and have re-done it multiple times!
I will go ahead and try it the straight way and see if I can't get somewhere!
I'm so embarrassed because I consider myself to be pretty quick with these things and can't figure this out! lol!
Thanks for your patience with me :-)
 
sammiepeeps said:
Thank you. Yeah something isn't right. I still don't see that screen and have re-done it multiple times!
I will go ahead and try it the straight way and see if I can't get somewhere!
I'm so embarrassed because I consider myself to be pretty quick with these things and can't figure this out! lol!
Thanks for your patience with me :-)
Click to expand...

Are u using a micro sd card? Because depending on which clockwork zip you are using will determine if u need a external sd card or not. If u dl'd a file called cwmod08 (or something like that) to install clockwork recovery...you will need a micro sd card.
 
Yep got a 16gb micro sd card installed. I just did the steps over and rebooted and got a swirly rainbow thing happening for a bit and then to Launcher screen. Hmmm...not the green and black screen like Solid posted. Well that's one way of doing it!
Has anyone seen what I'm talking about before?
 
The instructions at xda said to be ready with ClockworkMod in case you flash a ROM and end up bootlooping. BUT they didn't say HOW to do that. Do I just reload CWM onto the internal SD card with the recovery folder and command file? Is there some other way to prevent or recover from bootloop? :confused:

I am THIS close to getting this thing ROMmed... thanks!
 
The_Chief said:
The instructions at xda said to be ready with ClockworkMod in case you flash a ROM and end up bootlooping. BUT they didn't say HOW to do that. Do I just reload CWM onto the internal SD card with the recovery folder and command file? Is there some other way to prevent or recover from bootloop? :confused:

I am THIS close to getting this thing ROMmed... thanks!
Click to expand...


Are you on TnT and have CWM loaded? Normally, repartitioning your internal SD card to 2048 and 0 fixes bootloops. If you're on Vegan like me, I have mine set at 2048 and 256. You can do this under the Advanced settings in CWM.

Almost forgot, when you do this it wipes all the data in your internal SD card. So make sure to back up.
 
sammiepeeps said:
Yep got a 16gb micro sd card installed. I just did the steps over and rebooted and got a swirly rainbow thing happening for a bit and then to Launcher screen. Hmmm...not the green and black screen like Solid posted. Well that's one way of doing it!
Has anyone seen what I'm talking about before?
Click to expand...


lol. Swirly rainbow thing??? Haven't seen that before.
 
xmr405o said:
Are you on TnT and have CWM loaded? Normally, repartitioning your internal SD card to 2048 and 0 fixes bootloops. If you're on Vegan like me, I have mine set at 2048 and 256. You can do this under the Advanced settings in CWM.

Almost forgot, when you do this it wipes all the data in your internal SD card. So make sure to back up.
Click to expand...

I'm on ClockworkMod but trying to flash TnTLite (nervously). DO I partition the SD card BEFORE flashing TnTLite or after? What are the steps to recover if I DO get a bootloop?

The problem with backups is that partitioning wipes out the backup. THEN WHAT?

Droid I can do... G Tab making me antsy here :D
 
The_Chief said:
I'm on ClockworkMod but trying to flash TnTLite (nervously). DO I partition the SD card BEFORE flashing TnTLite or after? What are the steps to recover if I DO get a bootloop?

The problem with backups is that partitioning wipes out the backup. THEN WHAT?

Droid I can do... G Tab making me antsy here :D
Click to expand...


If you can do droid, you can do the Gtab. CWM works the same way. Create a back up, save it to your computer or external sd card. Now you have a back up of the stock os. After that, flash Tnt lite and if you boot loop, then partition the sd card to 2048 and 0. That should clear your bootloop.

This device is unbrickable! Go for it, Chief!
 
SO if I DO bootloop, I can still get into recovery? I was under the impression that one would have to reflash ClockworkMod if that happened and I'm not sure how that would work out.

I will flash all tomorrow when the G Tab has a full charge and so do I :P

EDIT: I didn't know you could switch SDcards... I thought they were completely separate animals, accessible by completely different methods. ???
 
The_Chief said:
SO if I DO bootloop, I can still get into recovery? I was under the impression that one would have to reflash ClockworkMod if that happened and I'm not sure how that would work out.

I will flash all tomorrow when the G Tab has a full charge and so do I :P
Click to expand...


Yeah, it'll still be there.
 
DONE! Rooted & ROMmed with VegaN on it, rocks and rolls - I didn't even have to fix the market... it all just works! Daughter is well pleased, and I am grateful for all the help & support :D

Quadrant 2359!
 
When installing Zpad Clean 3.0, I get the following message "assert failed: write-raw-image ("/tmp/boot.img, "boot")" and E:Error in /sdcard/sdcard1/Zpad_3_0(2).zip and (Status 7) Installation aborted.
I have installed VEGAn ok but I thought I would try the ZPad ROM.
 
shark91301 said:
When installing Zpad Clean 3.0, I get the following message "assert failed: write-raw-image ("/tmp/boot.img, "boot")" and E:Error in /sdcard/sdcard1/Zpad_3_0(2).zip and (Status 7) Installation aborted.
I have installed VEGAn ok but I thought I would try the ZPad ROM.
Click to expand...


A while back, I received that message and all I did was re-download the ROM and put it back into the internal sd card. Then I re-installed via clockwork recovery.
 
Neither z4 or super one click will work. z4 starts running then the system reboots and does not root, super one click locks up at waiting for device and has to be ended.

Has Viewsonic blocked root?
 
SamuraiBigEd said:
Neither z4 or super one click will work. z4 starts running then the system reboots and does not root, super one click locks up at waiting for device and has to be ended.

Has Viewsonic blocked root?
Click to expand...

Honestly, I don't think you need a root tool to load a custom ROM. I know Tnt lite and Vegan come pre-rooted. You just need to replace the standard recovery with Clockwork mod. And you can do that by putting the update zip and recovery command file on your internal sd card (or external, depending which CWM file you are using) and rebooting into recovery. It should flash CWM and after that you can load a custom ROM. Or if you do not want to replace the standard recovery, I believe you can flash certain ROMS like TnT lite in a similar fashion.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=892090
 
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