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Root Keeping rooted F3 safe from a noob

Vernal

Lurker
Thanks to this forum I've been able to root a number of devices without really knowing anything about what I'm doing, for which I am extremely grateful!

So I'm about to root my friend's F3 v8, but I don't know how to give it back to her without her being able to cause herself some serious problems (she's the kind who could break a ball-bearing). Is there a way to lock down the phone again so she can't do any damage? I'm primarily doing it so she can use Link2SD and robaho's wifi hotspot netmgr app.

Preferably I would like it to behave the same as a non-rooted phone, so I won't even have to do any maintenance at all. I'm going to install a recovery and create a nandroid bkup even though it may not be entirely necessary, but I would prefer not to have to use it. (I'm not a total noob w/computers, but my knowledge doesn't rise to toenail level of some of the people here.)

I figure I'll be able to lock whatever SU app that's recommended here with a PIN, but is that sufficient idiot-proofing? I don't want to unroot since it appears that re-rooting again may be an issue. Thanks for any links/responses you can provide!
 
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Ya I would set it up to hide any future updates (V9 for example). It's really easy to update by accident.
 
Do I block updates by using the "Disable Service" app from the Play Store? (I googled "hiding future updates from optimus f3" and found a video with this solution. The other results didn't look applicable).

I don't need to block app updates, do I? Y'all just mean updates to the Android version, right?
 
You wouldn't need to block app updates, just software updates.
To be honest, all attempts to block the update notification has failed. Google has found a work around to keep it popping up.
 
The only way to "noob proof" any phone is..education. Teach her what apps are HERS to use, and what ones are needed to be left alone cause they keep the phone functional. She CAN NOT break this understanding. My old man runs my old rooted LG F3 without crashing it, and he's a caveman! an older subspecies of noob! Install a third party launcher like Apex or Nova. Hide any custom or system apps like SD Swap, Gravity Box, Xposed framework installer, etc from appearing in the app drawer. As long as you know they are there, you can "unhide" them again to do maintenance. Uncheck the root explorer function in your File Explorer so the can only explore so far. Freeze the rom/manufacturer updater apk using Links2SD. And ALWAYS keep a current backup to reboot from. Maybe save that backup and a copy of all the rom software available in a computer file, just in case! As a noob, she'll have to learn her limits before she can expand her boundaries!
 
Ha, I WISH education would have worked! I basically gave her one rule: don't press "reboot." It took her less than a week to press "reboot" and factory-reset her phone. I wasn't sure there were working recoveries for the F3, so I gambled and didn't install one. I certainly crapped out on that whole situation.
 
I believe the only recoveries available for the F3 are TWRP & CWMT. If she factory reset it, then all you have to do is reroot, install CWMT (worked best for me) then run your last backup from the external sd card. Bingo! A full restore with only a few steps. Good luck with your noob!

p.s. I understand your frustrations, my caveman learned to text, but hasn't learned to use a browser yet! He has a fully rooted phone but can't manage using a Google Search widget! Pray for me!
 
Freeze the rom/manufacturer updater apk using Links2SD. And ALWAYS keep a current backup to reboot from. Maybe save that backup and a copy of all the rom software available in a computer file, just in case! As a noob, she'll have to learn her limits before she can expand her boundaries!

In regards to freeze the rom/manufacturer updater apk using Link2SD. Where is that option? I'm not finding that apk? Could you give instructions on how to do that or details? Or anyone else if they want to chime in. Thanks.
 
In Links2SD...scroll down to the app you want to freeze. Touch the app you want to freeze. When open, touch the 3dot menu at the top right corner to open a sub menu. It will say Launch. Freeze, etc. Chose Freeze. That app will cease function. Be careful playing with system apks. They can screw up! The updater will say LG Updater.
 
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