• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root Sticky thread for "things everyone thinks are obvious"?

Claghorn

Claghorn

Android Enthusiast
People who are familiar with android hacking toss off phrases like "boot into recovery", or "flash a zip file", or talk about fastboot and custom recovery and locked and unlocked (I could go on... :-).

Is there a web page somewhere that describes all this stuff in "for dummies" detail? With pictures of the nexus seven screens so you can correlate what you are seeing with the descriptions in the web page?

Or if not a web page, can we maybe get a sticky thread on nexus 7 hacking for dummies going? It would be really handy. I'm no longer totally mystified by all this stuff, but I still don't fool with it enough to remember everything I need when I do have to do something.
 
Claghorn said:
People who are familiar with android hacking toss off phrases like "boot into recovery", or "flash a zip file", or talk about fastboot and custom recovery and locked and unlocked (I could go on... :-).

Is there a web page somewhere that describes all this stuff in "for dummies" detail? With pictures of the nexus seven screens so you can correlate what you are seeing with the descriptions in the web page?

Or if not a web page, can we maybe get a sticky thread on nexus 7 hacking for dummies going? It would be really handy. I'm no longer totally mystified by all this stuff, but I still don't fool with it enough to remember everything I need when I do have to do something.
Click to expand...

Probably not anything with nexus 7 specific pictures, but theres plenty of threads on this website that attempt to explain root terminology.

http://androidforums.com/faqs/443075-root-terminology.html

http://androidforums.com/faqs/617220-youve-went-rooted-phone-now-what.html

http://androidforums.com/faqs/450904-rooting-best-practices.html

http://androidforums.com/faqs/443432-what-root-being-rooted-mean.html
 
Booting into recovery is simply restarting the device in recovery mode. This can be down by manually rebooting to bootloader (power+volume up + volume down) or using an app like quick boot

Flashing a zip is simply installing a file. Basically you just wipe the required partitions in recovery and then select the file to install.

Fastboot is used to manually do many things to the phone. Really only for more advanced things

Unlocked bootloader= one that allows you to install a custom recovery
 
Rxpert83 said:
Basically you just wipe the required partitions in recovery and then select the file to install.
Click to expand...

You just proved Claghorn's point. To someone that is thoroughly familiar with the subject, that statement makes perfect sense, I'm sure. But to me and thousands of other newbies, it's about as clear as mud... Sorry :confused:
 
I don't disagree that there's an awful lot of new terms and concepts to learn about everything root-related, but those things can be complicated and dangerous and making it too accessible is oftentimes very dangerous.

I've always been of the opinion that folks that root their phones be as informed as possible about what's really going on and the impact and consequences of their rooting activities.

For example, one-click rooters are great for folks that already know about what will transpire, but they also open the door for people who honestly have no business rooting their phones (the might be doing "just because" or they don't follow all of the directions/instructions or they won't take any precautions like backups, etc.).

That being said, there are a lot of terms and concepts already documented in a vast number of places, AF included. But the differences between devices, Android versions, and root-related methods make it impossible to write a one-stop shopping type of document that would apply and be relevant to everyone.

Here's a couple of other good links that might be helpful (but are not necessarily N7-specific):

CyanogenMod Wiki

At the bottom of that page, under "Information" you'll find some great resources, including:

FAQ - CyanogenMod Wiki

Terminology - CyanogenMod Wiki

Overview of Modding - CyanogenMod Wiki

Cheers and I hope that helps a little :).
 
halibaitor said:
You just proved Claghorn's point. To someone that is thoroughly familiar with the subject, that statement makes perfect sense, I'm sure. But to me and thousands of other newbies, it's about as clear as mud... Sorry :confused:
Click to expand...

I can't give specifics on it because it depends on what you're installing. Anything you install will give you the proper directions in the OP
 
scary alien said:
Very nicely done, Claghorn!

Would you like me to link that in the all-things-root Guide? Or, if you make a thread here at AF with those contents, I'll sticky if for you (us, really :)).

Cheers!
Click to expand...

Feel free to link it into the guide. I did find a couple of typos and fixed them this morning and added a section in my page with links to places like these forums.

I'm not sure if I should be glad or worried that no one thinks anything is wrong :-).

Thanks for the feedback!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom