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Root Newbie to Custom ROMs. :D

V

vieve

Newbie
Hey, guys!

I'm Gen :D While I've been lurking around these parts for a while now, and rooted my OpV months and months ago, I've only now decided it's time to get Gingerbread/CM7 on this thing. I'm not remotely tech-phobic, but this is the very first time I've messed around with a custom ROM and so it's juuust a smidge intimidating. So, I was hoping someone could hold my hand a little here, just so I don't hose the whole darn thing up.

Could someone please verify that I've got my steps right? I've already made sure that I've got 2.2.1 and the z4 baseband, and ergo one of the older OpVs/older screens. I'm not planning on Titanium backup-ing anything because I have my photos/mp3s/etc backed up and would rather reinstall my apps fresh. Unless there's another reason I should do so? Otherwise:

Do I have my logic here, right?



1. Download:
- ROM Manager @ the Market and flash ClockworkModRecovery
I read on 'The Truth about ROM Manager sticky that this won't give the proper phone model with IHO ROMs. I plan to use the BACKside ROM, so I take it this applies. Is there a different version of ROM manager I should use? If so, could someone point me to the apk?

- BACKside-IHO-VM670-01252012.zip (mediafire.com/?j4rnjq782q8l0gx)
This is the most up to date version of the ROM, yes?

- Latest Gapps (cmw.22aaf3.com/gapps/gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip)
Ditto, being the most up to date/correct Gapps?

- Bootsounds zip (mediafire.com/?ycg7172ab6ddkc3)
To​
 
I'm open to going the adventurous terminal route. I'll need a little more clarification, however.

When you say terminal emulator, you're talking: https://market.android.com/details?id=jackpal.androidterm yes? I downloaded and did a search for flash_image as in the thread you linked me to; I don't seem to have it.

Thus, would the steps then change to:

1. Download Terminal Emulator

2. Download flash_image as linked here, link #2 from AndyOpie
 
If you already have a recovery you don't need to change the flash_image.
For futher clarification read this http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770
I tried to make this as complete and as easy to understand as possible. If not pm me and I'll edit where necessary.
The commands in my tutorial are proven to work with no problem. The other ones are a bit tricky sometimes, both are case senssitive so I tried to show where the spaces are (this is where the mistakes are usually made).

1 other thing, do you already have Busybox installed?
The best recovery for the BACKside is the VM670NH_recovery.img
 
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I don't have a recovery as far as I'm aware. At least I've never flashed one? I rooted via Gingerbreak and have Superuser installed -- that's it. Or are you saying that if I DOWNLOAD a recovery, I don't need to change flash_image? I feel like I'm being especially obtuse here, I'm sorry.

No busybox either, though I just downloaded it. It's asking where to install:

/system/xbin/ vs. /system/bin/

Thank you for the nudge towards the right recovery!
 
Ok. All the info and directions are in the link I gave you.
You will need the flash_image
Busybox installs better if you put it in /system/xbin

The recovery should have .img not .zip, make sure it's unzipped.
The flash_image.bin not .zip, make sure it's unzipped.
Everything else stays zipped
 
When you first type in su on the terminal emulator a pop up asking to accept permission will apprear. Select yes, then to get the keyboard back hit the menu button and choose "toggle soft keys".
 
It's late to start on this tonight, but I'll probably take a crack at getting settled into the new ROM tomorrow morning/afternoon. I'll pop back in to let you know how it goes.

Until then: Everyone, THANK you so much. I'm feeling much more confident now. I really do appreciate it. :)
 
It's really not a scary operation, it just seems like it the first time.
I know, my first time was in end of September/start of August. Now look at me.
You can teach an old dog new tricks.
 
I have joined the BACKside!

Or should it be Houston, we have Gingerbread? :D

Excellent! Everything went smoothly with the install and now seems to be running perfectly. I'm LOVING it. I'm off to get link2sd and my apps installed now, and I suppose the real test will come when I'm using my phone out and about, but still.

Again, thank you SO much. It really WASN'T that difficult, but it was nerve-wracking for a first-time install. This community rocks.

Next step: Themes!
 
Hi, Andy!

(Betcha can't flash just one!)

I can definitely see how this gets addictive. I'm already ridiculously happy with BACKside-- all I really wanted was a nice, stable updated Gingerbread build so that I could a) use an equalizer for my music, and b) learn to develop themes, but
 
I was just tinkering around at UoT Kitchen following your tutorial! Once again, it made me a lot less apprehensive, and now my OpV is all set up with a quick custom theme. Between that and the walkthrough listed on the same sticky, I'm pretty excited.

Thanks for the tutorial and the warm welcome!
 
I ended up flashing my own recovery, as recommended.

I think there's a real tendency for people who've never flashed anything to gravitate towards ROM Manager because it dangles this apparent, shiny, command-line free "solution" in front of people. Plus a whole crapton of how-to videos use it on YouTube. (That's why I started down that route, even after lurking here, haha.)

However - and someone more knowledgeable than me will have to confirm all of this - reading around more, especially in recent threads, it looks like RM isn't rec'ed as a method because the version of CWM recovery it flashes isn't always compatible with our phones and/or BACKside? Plus, the new OpV's in particular have a different screen and the recovery RM flashes causes some screwy errors (all the black-screen help requests that are floating around, I believe?)

But yeah, ANYWAY.

All the information you really need is on the threads linked here by Andie & benslgdroid. I'd recommend reading them just so you get an idea of what you're doing to your phone. However, I know it's a LOT and it's sometimes easy to get lost in long directions, especially for intimidated newbies ;D.

I'll write up a quick summary of what I did in a few here.

( PS: Andie: So right. Ruffles may have ridges, but ROMs have ...uh ...root? ;) )
 
Here we go. The pseudo-simplified How-Gen-got-her-ROM-on summary.

Disclaimer and Stuff: I'm so ridiculously new to this, it isn't funny. This is probably super, super, super redundant, and I'm posting this more as a reference of one "newbie" experience than anything else. It worked for ME, but please please please read all the other instructional posts and confirm with somebody who knows the ins-and-outs if you're uncertain. I don't want anybody bricking their phones 'cause I did/said something dumb.

Also, all of this was compiled from other threads here, so all credit goes to the original authors.

:D


1. Confirmed I had an Optimus V with the older screen.

  • I bought mine in April 2011, it's running Android 2.2.1, and has the z4 baseband.
  • YES, the version of the phone you have is IMPORTANT.
  • Seriously.


2. Rooted via Gingerbreak v1.20



3. Installed Terminal Emulator



4. Installed Busybox in /system/xbin



5. Downloaded the Following:



Note: I did NOT use TitaniumBackup because I had a bunch of apps I didn't want anymore, others that needed updated anyway, my photos/ringtones/backgrounds/etc. were backed up, and I generally wanted a fresh start. Reference one of the other threads if you do want to use it. :D



6. Put above downloaded files on root of SD card.

  • flash_image and the VM670NH_recovery.img should be UNZIPPED
  • I renamed the recovery to recovery.img
  • All of the other files remained zipped


7. Opened Terminal Emulator. Followed Andie's terminal commands to install flash_image binary and then flash the recovery.img

  • #7 from this thread: http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770
  • be careful of the spaces. I've removed the underscores from the original thread because i've used terminal commands in Windows/Linux/OSX before and found them distracting when I was getting ready to do this. If you have doubts, ref. the original thread.
  • this WILL reboot you into recovery if you use the last (reboot recovery) command, so be prepared for that.

Code: 
su
mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /system /system
cat /sdcard/flash_image > /system/bin/flash_image
chmod 755 /system/bin/flash_image
flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
reboot recovery




8. Backed up ROM in recovery. BACKED UP ROM!

  • Holy crap, I'm editing to say don't forget this step. I don't know how I forgot to put this in.
  • It's in the recovery menu.
  • Backup and Restore > Backup
  • Do it. :D


9. Wiped Cache, Dalvik Cache & Formatted boot, system & data in recovery menus.

  • Wipe Cache Partition
  • Advanced > Wipe Dalvik Cache
  • Mount and Storage > format /boot
  • Mount and Storage > format /data
  • Mount and Storage > format /cache
  • Mount and Storage > format /system
  • PS: DONT format your SD card. This could be obvious, but uh. Just sayin'. :D'


10. Installed BACKside ROM using recovery menu

  • Install zip from SD Card > chose zip from SD Card
  • Select the BACKside installation zip.


11. Installed Updater Fix, Bootsounds & Gapps using recovery menu

  • Install zip from SD Card > chose zip from SD Card
  • Select appropriate zips for each


12. Rebooted.

  • Had small heart attack when phone went to charge screen because I had it plugged in.
  • Shut phone down, unplugged, rebooted.
  • BAM. New ROM. Installed market, link2sd, etc.






Credits:

AndieOpie, Benslgdroid, Whyzor and probably a dozen other people. Plus, obviously, JerryScript for Backside. :D
http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...wip-backside-rom-cm7-green-machine-theme.html
http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770
http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...-how-simplified-root-recovery-custom-rom.html


Wow, that got long. Like I said, redundant with all the other (much better, PLEASE READ THEM) instructions around here, but if it can even help clear things up for one person, then I'm happy.

That is all.
 
Nicely written, easy to follow. You should call this the Supernoob's Guide to the BACKside! Thank you for sharing your experience.
 
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