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

1. download Z4root with your tablet (it is not available in the market any more, but you can download it here. ....... quote from big ed

When I follow the link to get started on rooting the download for Z4 asks for another password. Is this another site I need to sign up for? The password and user I am using to type this doesn't work there.
 
kimkgk said:
1. download Z4root with your tablet (it is not available in the market any more, but you can download it here. ....... quote from big ed

When I follow the link to get started on rooting the download for Z4 asks for another password. Is this another site I need to sign up for? The password and user I am using to type this doesn't work there.
Click to expand...

If your gonna end up installing a custom rom anyways like. Vegan or tntlite, I would just skip Z4root and follow the instructions on how to get clockwork on your tablet. The beauty of this tablet lies on the unlocked bootloader. Rooting and even clockwork isn't necessary to load a custom rom. But we recommend clockwork because of the extra features like wiping data and cache and the ability to make backups with ease.
 
kimkgk said:
1. download Z4root with your tablet (it is not available in the market any more, but you can download it here. ....... quote from big ed

When I follow the link to get started on rooting the download for Z4 asks for another password. Is this another site I need to sign up for? The password and user I am using to type this doesn't work there.
Click to expand...

that link goes to the xda forums, which you would need to sign up for seperately.

as xmr said, you can just skip to step 5 if you are going to load TnT lite or VEGAn, as they are pre-rooted ROMs.

i would, however, recommend signing up at xda anyway as most of the files and support for the g-tablet come directly from that site. there are probably going to be other things you will want/need from there in the future.
 
SolidOrange said:
that link goes to the xda forums, which you would need to sign up for seperately.

as xmr said, you can just skip to step 5 if you are going to load TnT lite or VEGAn, as they are pre-rooted ROMs.

i would, however, recommend signing up at xda anyway as most of the files and support for the g-tablet come directly from that site. there are probably going to be other things you will want/need from there in the future.
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+1 on signing up at xda. They do have some useful stuff in there. However, just don't post anything about Ultimate Droid. ;) jk
 
GREAT how to root guide fellas, I thanked your posts but Ill thank you again here. Rooted my new gtablet yesterday in under 15 minutes and it couldnt have been any more simple.

The developers behind these mods are amazing
 
calsnook said:
Solid Orange/amr405o,

My gratitude to both of you. I have everything on the G that you guys have shown me. Thanks. Will now look for swype, and one other thing. Which browser do you guys feel is the best. I was at B&N and could not connect with their wi-fi. Their window never came up that you check to be connected, any thoughts that's the last question in this "rooting" thread.

When I was at Best Buy looking at the ipad, there was a guy who saw me answering you guys on the pad. I told him about the G and he was going to check it out. Told him about this site.

Calvin
Thanks again
Click to expand...

I was reading through some of the threads and came across the thread where Calvin was originally asking for help on how to root his G-Tab. I ended up following it through the Root thread and was rooting for Calvin the whole time. I felt like I was reading a good book where the protagonist comes out on top at the end. I'm so glad Calvin has his G-Tab up and running with root and VEGAn. I have a feeling he'll be helping people on these forums do the same thing in no time.

This is truly a great community.
 
AwesomeIT said:
I was reading through some of the threads and came across the thread where Calvin was originally asking for help on how to root his G-Tab. I ended up following it through the Root thread and was rooting for Calvin the whole time. I felt like I was reading a good book where the protagonist comes out on top at the end. I'm so glad Calvin has his G-Tab up and running with root and VEGAn. I have a feeling he'll be helping people on these forums do the same thing in no time.

This is truly a great community.
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I agree that Cal will be a pro in no time. He's very persistent and I'm glad he didn't give up.
 
kimkgk said:
The first root program wont download to the pad saying it is unsupported. What am I doing wrong.
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It won't download so you haven't installed it yet? Make sure it's an apk file. But if it won't root, just skip that and install Clockwork mod. Check out post 34 or 35 depending on how you want to load it.

Edit: It is an APK file. So are the issues downloading it or installing it?
 
As xmr said, skip the root process completely, install clockwork mod and then flash a custom rom that is already rooted.

I tried rooting over and over with both tools listed and neither would work. I am guessing that if these worked before there has been a change in the factory rom that prevents them from working now. The tablet I tweaked was a recent purchase.
 
I was reading the thread this morning and saw the replies from AwesomeIT and amr405o. Don't know if you guys have read the post paying tribute to amr405o and SolidOrange. In case you didn't see it (don't remember which topic or thread, think following the thread line is harder then rooting, sometimes)hahaha

I'm returning my G and Solid helped me bring it back to out of the box condition. ALL OF YOU GUYS ARE GREAT! I posted "NO FEAR" I believe as the topic heading. I need to return my G, cuz unfortunately Tabs are not ready for prime time word processing. I was trying to replace my laptop to carry.

The rooting of the G may take me to the DroidX phone, I still have the first Verizon phone i got from 4 years ago. They keep trying to get me to upgrade!

I intend to check in on the forum to offer encouraging words when I see any hesitancy from anyone wanting to root their G. I believe I responded to KimKGK, if you read this "NO FEAR".

What I like the most about this forum (never mind the root expertise) is the intelligent, respect, and civil courtesy yo'all show to one another!

I'm not a social networker, crazy texter etc. But conversational wit, and threads such as I see on THIS particuliar thread is "diamond in the rough"! Again my humblest thanks to participate in your knowledge, see you guys soon!

Calvin
 
I've read through the entire thread, and I just want to be sure I'm understanding this correctly. You can flash a custom ROM using Clockwork Recovery WITHOUT rooting and WITHOUT using an sd card? Does the Gtab come with access to the Android or Google Market? If this is true, what is the point of rooting? This could be my dream tablet if I don't have to do too much to get it right!

Right now, I have a NC that I have tried to root 2 different ways, and have been unable to do so. Very frustrating!
 
Chick, it's my understanding that you MUST have root access in order to alter the recovery (i.e., install ClockworkMod). You can do this without an external SD card by putting the correct Clockwork in internal memory. I used z4root and it worked beautifully... rooted with one click! Then installed ClockworkMod, MADE A BACKUP of the stock image, and then installed VEGAn5.1 beta.

I cannot imagine doing all that without root access to the system files but if they say it's doable, then it's worth a try. I says go ahead and root since it's a pretty minor step that affects the tablet in a major way :)
 
You do not require root to install a custom recovery on the G Tab. As a matter of fact, none of the root methods would function on the tablet I installed Clockwork Mod on.

The G Tab does not come with Market access stock, it ships with a market by Handcent which is a joke. Fixing it to run the official market, flash and making it a good working tablet are the points of rooting. The stock rom is complete garbage, slow and poorly laid out, which is why there are so many returns, Office Max stopped carrying it for this reason.

Please clarify something, you say you have an NC? This is a Viewsonic G Tablet thread, are you in the correct place?
 
The_Chief said:
Chick, it's my understanding that you MUST have root access in order to alter the recovery (i.e., install ClockworkMod). You can do this without an external SD card by putting the correct Clockwork in internal memory. I used z4root and it worked beautifully... rooted with one click! Then installed ClockworkMod, MADE A BACKUP of the stock image, and then installed VEGAn5.1 beta.

I cannot imagine doing all that without root access to the system files but if they say it's doable, then it's worth a try. I says go ahead and root since it's a pretty minor step that affects the tablet in a major way :)
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I guess I should have mentioned this in my previous entry, but in post #79, xmr refers to NOT rooting to get a custom ROM. Maybe I'm just completely misunderstanding. After trying to root my NC a couple of times, I would like to avoid the multiple step rooting process if I can. Willing to root, but I need VERY simplified instructions to do so.
 
SamuraiBigEd said:
You do not require root to install a custom recovery on the G Tab. As a matter of fact, none of the root methods would function on the tablet I installed Clockwork Mod on.

The G Tab does not come with Market access stock, it ships with a market by Handcent which is a joke. Fixing it to run the official market, flash and making it a good working tablet are the points of rooting. The stock rom is complete garbage, slow and poorly laid out, which is why there are so many returns, Office Max stopped carrying it for this reason.

Please clarify something, you say you have an NC? This is a Viewsonic G Tablet thread, are you in the correct place?
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Thank you for the information. I am in the right place. I have a NC but am thinking of returning it and trying another tablet. I'm simply researching to find the best fit for me.
 
Your welcome, I would definitely go with the G Tab. After you load Clockwork Mod and a custom rom (this is where you get your root) these things are a dream. The spec's rival tablets that are coming out now.
 
HarleyChick said:
Thank you for the information. I am in the right place. I have a NC but am thinking of returning it and trying another tablet. I'm simply researching to find the best fit for me.
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Hi Harley!

I have the Nook and the Gtablet. I'm gonna be honest...both are probably at the same level of difficulty when installing a custom ROM that's pre-rooted and has the Android market. The steps for the Nook and Gtablet are just different. Rooting isn't a required extra step for either the Nook or the gtablet because their processes include ROMS that are already pre-rooted.

I believe you have a Android phone already so hopefully you are familiar with transferring files from your PC to your phone. If you do, then this process should be less foreign to you than the nook process.

Without getting into too much detail, there are 3 files you'll need to put on a gtablet. 2 files are for clockwork mod, which is on post #34. And a custom ROM file, which we can show you if you decide to go for the gtablet.

That's it.

If you follow our instructions, you should be up and running in no time. :D
 
SamuraiBigEd said:
Your welcome, I would definitely go with the G Tab. After you load Clockwork Mod and a custom rom (this is where you get your root) these things are a dream. The spec's rival tablets that are coming out now.
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Slightly biased, maybe? More questions: Clockwork Mod - how/where do you get it? Can it be downloaded directly from your computer to the GTab via usb cable, or do you have to do the sd card thing?
 
HarleyChick said:
Slightly biased, maybe? More questions: Clockwork Mod - how/where do you get it? Can it be downloaded directly from your computer to the GTab via usb cable, or do you have to do the sd card thing?
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Actually, no, I have researched and checked out other tablets and this is where my money goes.

All of the links to download what you need are in the original post in this thread detailing how to install a custom rom. Disregard the process showing how to root, this is not a necessary step, just load Clockwork Mod then you can flash the rom of your choice. If you run into any problems, post them here and there are any number of members who are willing to help.

Now, I am biased towards VEGAn!:D;)
 
SamuraiBigEd said:
Actually, no, I have researched and checked out other tablets and this is where my money goes.

All of the links to download what you need are in the original post in this thread detailing how to install a custom rom. Disregard the process showing how to root, this is not a necessary step, just load Clockwork Mod then you can flash the rom of your choice. If you run into any problems, post them here and there are any number of members who are willing to help.

Now, I am biased towards VEGAn!:D;)
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Thanks so much for the help/advice. Will consider your words should I go with the GTab.
 
HarleyChick said:
Thanks so much for the help/advice. Will consider your words should I go with the GTab.
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if you decide to join the club, all of the links you will need are somewhere in the first post of this thread. i actually wrote it all while doing it for the first time (it has been updated several times since then) so the instructions are very detailed. some may even go so far as to say that they go a little overboard, but i wanted to make sure even a brand new user could follow them.

if you are going to install TnT lite or VEGAn, you will not need to do the root process beforehand as they are pre-rooted ROMs; simply start at step 5 of the first post. if you get hung up on anything, there are lots of us around here to help! we've already gotten a bunch of new g-tablet owners up and running, including a few that had never used ANY android device before.
 
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