Root Universal Eris Root for Dummies!

[doogald]

Thanks so much for your help. I do have another question regarding Xtrasense. I just don't notice any difference in speed. I also keep getting an error message "The process com.google.process.gapps has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again." I can't connect to the app market but I can connect to internet using Dolphin browser.

Just to ask the question, did you wipe data/factory reset from the wipe menu in Amon-RA recovery before you restarted the phone after installing xtrSENSE? If not, go back and do this again. You should not be seeing these error messages.

Oh, one other thing to anybody who may be reading this thread:

DO NOT INSTALL KAOS FROYO!

I'm not sure why people always pick that one, but you really have to know what you are doing to get it to work right, and at this point, with great Gingerbread ROMs like CondemnedSoul's CM7 ROM, in my not-so-humble opinion, there is absolutely no reason at all to run KF. Absolutely none. There are even better Froyo ROMs than KF.

I have AppMonster, I was hoping to move my apps to the SD card, which is new. It says they are moved there but I didn't see a increase in my phone's memory. It says it backed up the apps to the SD card but I see my SD card as almost full, except for 2 photos I transferred there.

Ok, here is one thing that is cool about xtrSENSE: because of a feature called cache2cache, there is a lot more room for apps than on stock Eris. In fact, with a minimal number of apps installed in stock and xtrSENSE - the same apps, with the same data - stock leaves me with just over 20 MB storage free, while xtrSENSE leaves me with over 80 MB. [edit - make that over 100 MB.]. It is a dramatic difference.

After you do the wipe data and reinstall your apps, go into the settings app, SD card & phone storage, and report back how much internal phone storage is left. If you are well over 30 MB, you should be all set.

If not, there is a procedure that you can go through in xtrSENSE that will move all of your apps to your SD card, but there is a long, involved process that requires backing up your SD card, using Recovery to partition it, changing a setting in xtrSENSE and restarting your phone to get it to happen. It's not all that difficult to do, really, but you will have a lot more flexibility to install other custom ROMs if you can work without moving apps to SD, because most of the Gingerbread ROMs will not mount an SD card with more than one partition on it.

(By the way, partitioning your SD card means that you create multiple disk drives on your SD card, instead of the default single partition.)

Also, I think that you are misunderstanding what AppMonster does. It allows you to back up and restore apps to and from your SD card, but not actually move apps to SD.

I'm also using Go Launcher. I like it but would it make a difference to use a different one?

Go is a good launcher. It shouldn't make that much of a difference.

 

[scary alien]

Thanks so much for your help. I do have another question regarding Xtrasense. I just don't notice any difference in speed. I also keep getting an error message "The process com.google.process.gapps has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again." I can't connect to the app market but I can connect to internet using Dolphin browser.
I have AppMonster, I was hoping to move my apps to the SD card, which is new. It says they are moved there but I didn't see a increase in my phone's memory. It says it backed up the apps to the SD card but I see my SD card as almost full, except for 2 photos I transferred there.
I'm also using Go Launcher. I like it but would it make a difference to use a different one?

Again thanks for your help. I'm just so happy my phone is up and running again

Jenn,

No problem, happy to help .

I think you might want to start a new, separate thread with some of your new questions since your out of the woods, boot-loop wise. But I'll take a quick stab at a few of them.

edit: Oh, I forgot about your speed question. xtrSENSE is, I believe overclocked to 710MHz by default. This should give you a nice, subtle bump in speed and make the overall ROM smooth and responsive, without sacrificing battery life.

Not sure what is going on with the Google apps (gapps) errors you are getting. I'm guessing that it might have to do with the (fairly) recent changes Google has made to the Market and Gmail, etc. I don't know if there's a more recent version of the Google apps available that you could flash... Its been a while since I've flashed xtrSENSE, so I'm not really up on the current issues there might be with it (here's the link on XDA in case others are reporting this, too: [ROM][GPL][3/15/2011] xtrSENSE5.0.1 [cache2cache,apps2sd,oc,jit]-HTC Sense - xda-developers).

I'm not familiar with AppMonster, but I'm guessing that its an alternative market or similar to AppBrain.

Re. the phone memory question, I think that since xtrSENSE uses cache2cache to give you more space for apps.

Anyway, start a new thread and you'll get a few more responses from the guys who are more familiar with your questions than I.

Cheers and good luck!

edit: I see doogald is on-line and posted a reply...take your cues from him--he'll be able to guide you best re. this.

 

[JennRN]

Just to ask the question, did you wipe data/factory reset from the wipe menu in Amon-RA recovery before you restarted the phone after installing xtrSENSE? If not, go back and do this again. You should not be seeing these error messages.

Oh, one other thing to anybody who may be reading this thread:

DO NOT INSTALL KAOS FROYO!

I'm not sure why people always pick that one, but you really have to know what you are doing to get it to work right, and at this point, with great Gingerbread ROMs like CondemnedSoul's CM7 ROM, in my not-so-humble opinion, there is absolutely no reason at all to run KF. Absolutely none. There are even better Froyo ROMs than KF.



Ok, here is one thing that is cool about xtrSENSE: because of a feature called cache2cache, there is a lot more room for apps than on stock Eris. In fact, with a minimal number of apps installed in stock and xtrSENSE - the same apps, with the same data - stock leaves me with just over 20 MB storage free, while xtrSENSE leaves me with over 80 MB. [edit - make that over 100 MB.]. It is a dramatic difference.

After you do the wipe data and reinstall your apps, go into the settings app, SD card & phone storage, and report back how much internal phone storage is left. If you are well over 30 MB, you should be all set.

If not, there is a procedure that you can go through in xtrSENSE that will move all of your apps to your SD card, but there is a long, involved process that requires backing up your SD card, using Recovery to partition it, changing a setting in xtrSENSE and restarting your phone to get it to happen. It's not all that difficult to do, really, but you will have a lot more flexibility to install other custom ROMs if you can work without moving apps to SD, because most of the Gingerbread ROMs will not mount an SD card with more than one partition on it.

(By the way, partitioning your SD card means that you create multiple disk drives on your SD card, instead of the default single partition.)

Also, I think that you are misunderstanding what AppMonster does. It allows you to back up and restore apps to and from your SD card, but not actually move apps to SD.



Go is a good launcher. It shouldn't make that much of a difference.

Thanks! I didn't do a factory reset, went back and did it and set up google. It worked. I'll have to look into all the settings to see if I have more mbs. So does any program actually move apps to the SD card? I'm just wondering what it's for then? Just photos?
I'm busy with kids now and gotta go. Thanks again

 

[doogald]

Thanks! I didn't do a factory reset, went back and did it and set up google. It worked. I'll have to look into all the settings to see if I have more mbs. So does any program actually move apps to the SD card?

By default, no. As I said, there is a way, but the design of Android as of the Eris's version 2.1 did not yet allow moving apps to SD using standard software.

I'm just wondering what it's for then? Just photos?

Personal data, yes. Well, many software apps store settings and such on the SD card.

But, truly the only reason to move apps to SD is because you have so many apps that you are running out of space. Even on Froyo and Gingerbread - where there is a standard method of moving apps to the SD card - you cannot move all apps, particularly apps that use home screen widgets.

So, if you have plenty of space in internal storage on your phone, I'd suggest not even bothering with apps2sd.

 

[JennRN]

I just want to say thanks again for all your help. I was really scared I wouldn't be able to recover my phone. I feel like the phone is more responsive now.

 

[doogald]

Glad to help. And, if you really want to play around with apps2sd and have some time, you can try installing CondemnedSoul's CM7 ROM, which is a vanilla Android 2.3 (Gingerbread) based ROM.

It's here: [ROM] 9/18/11 Condemned CM7 V18.3 (2.3.5) - xda-developers

If you are going to try it out, just make sure to do these steps:

- copy that .zip file to your SD card, just as you did with KaosFroyo and xtrSENSE

- restart the phone in Recovery
-backup/restore menu
- Nand backup (this will allow you to restore xtrSENSE later if you wish, just as it exists now)
- back up to the main menu
- wipe menu
- wipe data/factory reset
- wipe Dalvik cache
- main menu
- install a zip from SD card
- choose the CS CM7 zip file
- after install, reboot

This will work just fine - better than KF.

 

[shaggylouie]

Hey Guys,

It's been a long time since I've been here. XTR has been good to me, but it's time for me to upgrade.

My questions (my apologies if there is a thread for this):

1. Do I need to unroot my eris before upgrading through the Verizon store?
2. Will the data transfer done at Verizon harm my new phone coming from a rooted phone?

Thanks!

 

[doogald]

Hey Guys,

It's been a long time since I've been here. XTR has been good to me, but it's time for me to upgrade.

My questions (my apologies if there is a thread for this):

1. Do I need to unroot my eris before upgrading through the Verizon store?

As somebody who has not upgraded their Eris yet, take this with a grain of salt, but I cannot see why you would have to.

2. Will the data transfer done at Verizon harm my new phone coming from a rooted phone?

Hmmm, this is a different question. If you are using Google contacts (presumably, that is all that Verizon would be transferring from your old phone), they will automatically get re-synced to your new phone. Also, all new phones (I think...) will install all of your current apps when you log in to your Google account at set-up and activation.

If you have just phone contacts, and you are running xtrSENSE or xtrROM, it should be upgradable for sure. With xtrSENSE, I am not sure that they would even notice.

Do the stores even offer this as a service anymore?

Anyway, one thing that you could do is to use the application MyBackup Pro (it is a paid application - https://market.android.com/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro&feature=search_result ) to backup your data to the SD card and then pop that SD into your new phone, reinstall MyBackup Pro on the new phone (since you already paid for it, you will not be charged again) and restore the data, such as contacts and SMS messages, that you may want to bring over to the new phone.

But, perhaps we should wait for an old-hand upgrader like ScaryAlien to let us know for sure...

 

[shaggylouie]

Thanks! I changed to XTR Sense last night - ha! I'm sure it will all be fine. I'm considering taking the Bionic plunge! My upgrade is next week and my poor little Eris is shutting down whenever it feels like it. Time for a new phone.

Thanks again.

 

[spinnin]

Quick question....
I don't necessarily have to have a ROM loaded and on standby do I? I could just root the phone and do a Nandroid backup without following the ROM flashing instructions for now, correct?

Then just reboot the phone and use as normal until I find a ROM I want to flash...

Am I correct in my thinking?

Thanks....

 

[erisuser1]

Quick question....
I don't necessarily have to have a ROM loaded and on standby do I? I could just root the phone and do a Nandroid backup without following the ROM flashing instructions for now, correct?

Then just reboot the phone and use as normal until I find a ROM I want to flash...

Am I correct in my thinking?

Thanks....

That's correct.

This method doesn't even touch (or even "root") the OS, but only installs a custom recovery boot.

What you do from that point forward is entirely up to you... which is the whole point of "having root"

eu1

 

[dansamy]

We've come such a long way! I flashed CM the other day to my Eris to give the kids a Droid to play on and it was so easy and effortless. (I still got lightheaded!)

 

[jcdill]

Root for Dummies, just what I needed. I installed the Plain Jane ROM. I also downloaded the fonts.zip and unbloat.zip (not exact file names, they were on the same page as the Plain Jane 2.0). Dummy questions: How do I install or run these files/programs?

Second dummy question, should I be using Plain Jane 2.0, or is there a more recent ROM? Also, the phone keeps saying there's an update - is this a system update from Verizon that I'm being prompted to install, or is Plain Jane telling me there's a more recent OS and I should be updating the OS?

(I just bought a used Eris when my Droid died - I'm 6 months from being able to get a new phone.)

My sole purpose for rooting is to run Open Garden (which I was using on the Droid) so that I can tether my laptop to my phone when I need to use my laptop and don't have internet access (which is what I'm doing *right now*). I don't need fancy bells and whistles, just a working ROM that lets my phone operate without bugs, and lets me use Open Garden.

Thanks TONS for all your help.

jc

 

[metlcat]

Root for Dummies, just what I needed. I installed the Plain Jane ROM. I also downloaded the fonts.zip and unbloat.zip (not exact file names, they were on the same page as the Plain Jane 2.0). Dummy questions: How do I install or run these files/programs?

Second dummy question, should I be using Plain Jane 2.0, or is there a more recent ROM? Also, the phone keeps saying there's an update - is this a system update from Verizon that I'm being prompted to install, or is Plain Jane telling me there's a more recent OS and I should be updating the OS?

(I just bought a used Eris when my Droid died - I'm 6 months from being able to get a new phone.)

My sole purpose for rooting is to run Open Garden (which I was using on the Droid) so that I can tether my laptop to my phone when I need to use my laptop and don't have internet access (which is what I'm doing *right now*). I don't need fancy bells and whistles, just a working ROM that lets my phone operate without bugs, and lets me use Open Garden.

Thanks TONS for all your help.

jc

Welcome to the world of rooted Eris. Plain Jane is a fairly outdated ROM at this point. The system update is from Verizon, but it will not install with the custom recovery (Amon_Ra) installed on your device. If you want a stock Eris ROM, I would use xtrSense as it incorporates the system update from Verizon and uses cache2cache which will give you plenty of room for apps without having to move them to the sdcard. I've never heard of Open Garden, but I know xtrSense allows you to use wireless tether, so I don't think it will be a problem.

 

[nomarsgirl]

Welcome to the world of rooted Eris. Plain Jane is a fairly outdated ROM at this point. The system update is from Verizon, but it will not install with the custom recovery (Amon_Ra) installed on your device. If you want a stock Eris ROM, I would use xtrSense as it incorporates the system update from Verizon and uses cache2cache which will give you plenty of room for apps without having to move them to the sdcard. I've never heard of Open Garden, but I know xtrSense allows you to use wireless tether, so I don't think it will be a problem.

To add to this, if you decide to try a different ROM, be sure to make a Nandroid backup of what you have now first. Since it seems everything is working the way you need it to, you want to make sure that you can easily go back to the way it is now if something doesn't work right.

If you really want the latest and greatest, forget Eclair. Skip right over Froyo (which never ran right on the Eris) and go right to Gingerbread.

 

[doogald]

Welcome to the world of rooted Eris. Plain Jane is a fairly outdated ROM at this point. The system update is from Verizon, but it will not install with the custom recovery (Amon_Ra) installed on your device. If you want a stock Eris ROM, I would use xtrSense as it incorporates the system update from Verizon and uses cache2cache which will give you plenty of room for apps without having to move them to the sdcard. I've never heard of Open Garden, but I know xtrSense allows you to use wireless tether, so I don't think it will be a problem.

I agree with this 100%. PlainJane is outdated at this point; xtrSENSE is a better choice.

To add to this, if you decide to try a different ROM, be sure to make a Nandroid backup of what you have now first. Since it seems everything is working the way you need it to, you want to make sure that you can easily go back to the way it is now if something doesn't work right.

If you really want the latest and greatest, forget Eclair. Skip right over Froyo (which never ran right on the Eris) and go right to Gingerbread.

While I agree with this for me, there is no doubt that the stock Eclair custom ROMs are the most compatible with the Eris. Everything runs as designed, and there is no tweaking necessary to get it running well. With even the up-to-date GB ROMs, you do have to change some settings, etc., to get the phone to run well. I don't mind, but some may.

I like the GB ROMs mostly because they give me the updated GMail app from Google, which does not run in Android 2.1.

Root for Dummies, just what I needed. I installed the Plain Jane ROM. I also downloaded the fonts.zip and unbloat.zip (not exact file names, they were on the same page as the Plain Jane 2.0). Dummy questions: How do I install or run these files/programs?

Ok, to answer this question, this is what you would do:

- shut down the phone
- restart in Recovery by holding VolUp while you power up the phone
- Go to Backup/restore
- Nand backup
- Press VolDn to go back to the main menu when this completes
- Flash a zip from SD card
- Choose one of the .zip files that you downloaded
- Restart the phone to verify that all is working

Repeat for each of the zip files that you downloaded. The Nand backup step may seem excessive, but it's probably better to backup more often than less often.

Lastly, if you are going to switch to xtrSENSE, these .zip files may not work. (They may - I never tried them.) However, xtrSENSE does include an application called GScript that includes the files that you need to do some de-bloating.

Best of luck, and let us know if you have any other questions.

 

[moto57]

Just wanted to give out a huge thanks to everyone who had a hand in making this rooting method for the Eris so simple and easy for "noobs" out there trying to get an idea of what this is all about! I just successfully rooted my Eris (that I am using since my OG Droid quit and while I wait for the GNEX!) with xtrSENSE and like it so far. For being my first time rooting, it could not have been easier, thanks again!

 

[scary alien]

Just wanted to give out a huge thanks to everyone who had a hand in making this rooting method for the Eris so simple and easy for "noobs" out there trying to get an idea of what this is all about! I just successfully rooted my Eris (that I am using since my OG Droid quit and while I wait for the GNEX!) with xtrSENSE and like it so far. For being my first time rooting, it could not have been easier, thanks again!

Welcome to the AndroidForums, moto57!

Yeah, the guys and gals in here have been awesome (especially the author of this thread).

You picked an excellent, stable ROM in xtrSENSE. Also, there's still some awesome devs that still work on their ROMs and keep the wheels spinning. So, keep checking back in this area.

Cheers and hope to see you around!

 

[moto57]

I definitely wanted a stable ROM for my first since I don't know a whole lot about this stuff yet. However, if I do decide to go on to a different ROM to get a newer "look," what would you recommend? This Eris is going to be my sort-of test baby, if you will, so I am not too terribly worried about rendering it useless (although I do need it to last me until the GNEX comes out). I like the ICS look of this ROM, [ROM][11/16/2011] GSB v4.2 - ICS-ish | CM7.1 [2.3.7 GingerBread] - xda-developers, and word on it? Thanks a lot!

 

[scary alien]

I definitely wanted a stable ROM for my first since I don't know a whole lot about this stuff yet. However, if I do decide to go on to a different ROM to get a newer "look," what would you recommend? This Eris is going to be my sort-of test baby, if you will, so I am not too terribly worried about rendering it useless (although I do need it to last me until the GNEX comes out). I like the ICS look of this ROM, [ROM][11/16/2011] GSB v4.2 - ICS-ish | CM7.1 [2.3.7 GingerBread] - xda-developers, and word on it? Thanks a lot!

Well, I'm not the big ROM flasher like a lot of folks are (still running xtrSENSE myself), but I can tell you that these guys are highly thought of:

CondemnedSoul's Condemned CM7:

http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/318705-condemned-cm7.html

[ROM] 11/19/11 Condemned CM 7.1 V21 (2.3.7) Splashed with ICS - xda-developers

workshed's GSB (as you've already linked):

http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/279220-gingershedbread-gsb.html

[ROM][11/16/2011] GSB v4.2 - ICS-ish | CM7.1 [2.3.7 GingerBread] - xda-developers

Also, MongooseHelix is still active here and over at XDA and does excellent work:

Droid Eris Android Development - xda-developers

I would just make sure you make your Nandroid backups (so you can restore if need be) and try some of 'em out. Be sure to follow the dev's installation instructions carefully (there's sometimes extra things to flash like Google apps, etc.).

Browse around here and over at XDA and you'll get a good/better feel for what folks are using and what their experiences are.

Good luck!

 

[doogald]

Well, I'm not the big ROM flasher like a lot of folks are (still running xtrSENSE myself), but I can tell you that these guys are highly thought of:

CondemnedSoul's Condemned CM7:

http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/318705-condemned-cm7.html

[ROM] 11/19/11 Condemned CM 7.1 V21 (2.3.7) Splashed with ICS - xda-developers

workshed's GSB (as you've already linked):

http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/279220-gingershedbread-gsb.html

[ROM][11/16/2011] GSB v4.2 - ICS-ish | CM7.1 [2.3.7 GingerBread] - xda-developers

Also, MongooseHelix is still active here and over at XDA and does excellent work:

Droid Eris Android Development - xda-developers

I would just make sure you make your Nandroid backups (so you can restore if need be) and try some of 'em out. Be sure to follow the dev's installation instructions carefully (there's sometimes extra things to flash like Google apps, etc.).

Browse around here and over at XDA and you'll get a good/better feel for what folks are using and what their experiences are.

Good luck!

+1 to all of this.

CM7 stands for CyanogenMod Version 7, or Android Gingerbread 2.3.x; CyanogenMod is a team of developers creating stock Android custom ROMs for multiple devices. Again, most require the download and flash of a separate google apps zip file right after you flash the ROM zip file and before you restart the phone. The first post in an xda-developers thread will tell you if the separate flash is required.

 

[moto57]

Thanks again, guys. So when I go to flash one of these ROMS, the GSB ROM specifically, I will just follow the instructions posted there and that is it? Coming from xtrSENSE, there shouldn't be anything else I need to do that is sort of "common knowledge" to those who really know what there doing and just goes unsaid in the thread? I just want to make sure I get everything figured out before doing another ROM, this first one went so easy I want to make the next as painless as possible! Thanks for the help, you guys are great!

 

[scary alien]

Thanks again, guys. So when I go to flash one of these ROMS, the GSB ROM specifically, I will just follow the instructions posted there and that is it? Coming from xtrSENSE, there shouldn't be anything else I need to do that is sort of "common knowledge" to those who really know what there doing and just goes unsaid in the thread? I just want to make sure I get everything figured out before doing another ROM, this first one went so easy I want to make the next as painless as possible! Thanks for the help, you guys are great!

See doogald's post #956 above (http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies-20.html#post3252276) where he outlines the typical steps you follow when flashing a ROM, replacing the ROM name with the one you are selecting, of course .

Let us know if you have any additional questions.

Cheers!

 

[moto57]

Gahh, I even knew that was there, just read it yesterday! Ha. Thanks!

 

[scary alien]

Gahh, I even knew that was there, just read it yesterday! Ha. Thanks!

LOL / no problem...yeah, doogald has (with seemingly infinite patience) repeated and re-written that in countless threads...hmmm, maybe we should put that process right in the main root sticky guide, eh? [I'll do that later, if I remember].

Cheers!