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Root [Virgin Mobile] 3 more days till Gs3! And rooting!

wilberfan1 said:
Yes. Exactly. Link2SD on the Optimus V.

I'm vaguely remembering that newer versions of Android allow you to move apps to the SD without an app/script, correct?

And are you saying that an SD card for the Samsung needs to be formatted/partitioned differently than for the Optimus?

Any links to a discussion about that would be most appreciated...! :-)
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No. What I'm saying is that whole mess is a thing of the past (yay):-):-) :-) .

This phone has 12GB of internal memory available for apps. That memory will "look" like an SD card (sort of) in a file manager. Your apps will be in that memory (simplified). In all reality, there simply is no more need to move apps at all. They barely make a dent. It takes hundreds of (most) apps just to consume one gig... Just about any app that needs to store large amounts of data (maps, etc) let you choose or change the location of the folder(s) it uses so you can use the SD card for that.

Partitions, formats, etc are almost irrelevant as well, at least to the average user. If you get a new SD, just install it and go. You can also format an SD right from the phone settings.

It's just a whole new ball game and trust me, I know exactly what you're wondering about... Soon you'll forget about the one thing you probably never figured out the "best" way to manage...
 
So while an SD card is certainly optional, I would highly recommend grabbing a 32GB and installing it, because you will want a safe haven for files. Plus, that will expand your storage capacity from 12GB to almost 41GB total (my 32GB card starts at about 29GB of usable storage). I keep a lot of ROM files on my phone, plus backups, ROM mods, flashable modems, etc., etc. and the SD card is the perfect place to store those. Internal storage is good for apps, music and pictures/videos. Most of us do use an SD card, so it has just become common to refer to that particular storage, but you really just need to know which path to direct things like Philz Touch to when doing any flashing, the recovery will function the same whether it is flashing files stored internally or externally. Hope this helps.
 
Amazon's recently also been having sdcard sales, I got a 64gb sandisk ultra series for $40

Which technically brings me to a total of 80gb on my phone lol even tho only like 65-75gb usable which I never plan to use all of lol

I usually do as struckn has suggested, just create folders in the SD cards root directory "the first screen when u open it on a PC" and have a folder for your stock, folder for your ROM and fixes and so on, that way if anything happens while ur out and about u don't need to wait till u get home

Also the way I do it, if its a folder for a ROM that also requires fixes, name them with the order ex. 1. Rom, 2.gapps and so on that way in the recovery they will be listed in install order, that way even if u forget the specific order ur phone reminds you lol
 
Well, the S3 arrived this afternoon--but I'm going to ramp up the anticipation by waiting until tomorrow to unwrap the lil' sucker! ;-)
 
wilberfan1 said:
Well, the S3 arrived this afternoon--but I'm going to ramp up the anticipation by waiting until tomorrow to unwrap the lil' sucker! ;-)
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Very nice! I have the day off tomorrow, which means I will be on the forums more than just before and after work, so PM me or post if you want any help/clarification/guidance. If you post, quote me or mention me so that Tapatalk will alert me in case I am away from my computer.
 
struckn said:
...PM me or post if you want any help/clarification/guidance. If you post, quote me or mention me so that Tapatalk will alert me in case I am away from my computer.
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Wow! Such service! I really appreciate it!

It occurred to me I should probably get the phone charged overnight, so I'm ready to go tomorrow!

My sense of sequencing, at this point, is probably something like:

1) Get battery charged up. (I'll start that now. Wonder how long to full?)

2) Turn on phone, check Android version, etc. (Will it try and upgrade itself prior to activation? If so, refuse update.)

3) Do the Samsung Drivers, Odin, SuperSU, PhilZ thing to get the phone rooted.

4) Boot into Stock

5) Activate/Check Beyond Talk Plan (Easy to change from Optimus V plan to SGS3 plan?)

6) Install Carbon ROM

7) Enjoy

8) Start shopping for accessories

First impressions? I kinda wish the case was black or metalic--but I guess I'll get over that... ;) I like the thinness, and it feels good in my hand...
 
wilberfan1 said:
Wow! Such service! I really appreciate it!

It occurred to me I should probably get the phone charged overnight, so I'm ready to go tomorrow!

My sense of sequencing, at this point, is probably something like:

1) Get battery charged up. (I'll start that now. Wonder how long to full?)

2) Turn on phone, check Android version, etc. (Will it try and upgrade itself prior to activation? If so, refuse update.)

3) Do the Samsung Drivers, Odin, SuperSU, PhilZ thing to get the phone rooted.

4) Boot into Stock

5) Activate/Check Beyond Talk Plan (Easy to change from Optimus V plan to SGS3 plan?)

6) Install Carbon ROM

7) Enjoy

8) Start shopping for accessories

First impressions? I kinda wish the case was black or metalic--but I guess I'll get over that... ;) I like the thinness, and it feels good in my hand...
Click to expand...

You seem pretty well prepared, for sure. You will want to get your phone activated first though, before rooting. Just make sure you are doing only the plan activation and not accepting the Knox "upgrade" in the process, they should be two distinctly different operations.
 
struckn said:
Yes.
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Okay. Well, I got the phone activated... (and actually saw a 4G indicator during that process).

It keeps checking for a PRL update--every time I cancelled that, it seems to have cycled and tried it again. And while I was distracted by this post, it seems to have gotten applied! Was that a bad thing??

It was also looking for a firmware update. I cancelled that and powered off the phone!

How badly have I screwed up so far...?

[edit] Ah. PRL is apparently Preferred Roaming List. That's probably essential. I'm guessing the firmware update is the one I really want to avoid... So maybe I'm still okay...
 
wilberfan1 said:
Okay. Well, I got the phone activated... (and actually saw a 4G indicator during that process).

It keeps checking for a PRL update--every time I cancelled that, it seems to have cycled and tried it again. And while I was distracted by this post, it seems to have gotten applied! Was that a bad thing??

It was also looking for a firmware update. I cancelled that and powered off the phone!

How badly have I screwed up so far...?
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PRL update is fine, it's the firmware update you want to avoid. PRL just has to do with the function of the phone, firmware is what contains the Knox bootloader. I am pretty sure the firmware update can't apply without your actual consent, as in it can't just force itself. Regardless, getting rooted will take care of that. If you are ready I'm planning on being up for quite a while longer, otherwise anytime tomorrow I can help/advise for what you need.
 
struckn said:
PRL update is fine, it's the firmware update you want to avoid. PRL just has to do with the function of the phone, firmware is what contains the Knox bootloader. I am pretty sure the firmware update can't apply without your actual consent, as in it can't just force itself. Regardless, getting rooted will take care of that. If you are ready I'm planning on being up for quite a while longer, otherwise anytime tomorrow I can help/advise for what you need.
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I'm tempted as hell to do this NOW, but I suspect the better part of valor is to do it "fresh" tomorrow. And, yeah, I don't trust the firmware to wait for my approval, so I'll leave the phone off till I can devote my full attention to it! :)

I'm guessing my old phone will NOT ring now--having activated the new phone? So I guess I shouldn't put it off too long tomorrow...
 
wilberfan1 said:
I'm tempted as hell to do this NOW, but I suspect the better part of valor is to do it "fresh" tomorrow. And, yeah, I don't trust the firmware to wait for my approval, so I'll leave the phone off till I can devote my full attention to it! :)

I'm guessing my old phone will NOT ring now--having activated the new phone? So I guess I shouldn't put it off too long tomorrow...
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Correct. To be honest, the actual procedure of getting Philz Touch installed and then flashing SuperSU takes less time than it does to download the files, including drivers and Odin, and get ready.
 
struckn said:
Correct. To be honest, the actual procedure of getting Philz Touch installed and then flashing SuperSU takes less time than it does to download the files, including drivers and Odin, and get ready.
Click to expand...

Off-topic: Any consensus on whether the insurance is worth it? $5/mo, but a $100 deductible... I passed on it during activation.... Thoughts?
 
struckn said:
You will be good to go no matter what, some scenarios just require a little more caution is all. Most likely, your phone will come with the original 4.1.2, and then try to update once you install the battery, as it has probably been sitting in a warehouse since before the official 4.3 update. You will want the MG2 bootloader if it is not installed, once again depends on how long your phone was in that warehouse. Mine, purchased in late September, had the MD7 bootloader (Ice Cream Sandwich version) and when I activated it, did the update to the MG2 bootloader (JellyBean version), but this was prior to official 4.3 and Knox, so that was the end of the updates and I promptly rooted, which I always do with a new device. On the plus side, once you have a custom recovery and are rooted, the Knox update cannot apply, as that requires a complete stock setup. Obviously, once your phone arrives we can help you in more detail based on more than just speculation! Keep us posted.
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Interesting: I woke up and thought I would check the battery. It didn't seem to have charged much. The phone then went into its "checking for firmware update" thing. Then the response: "No firmware update found." Not sure yet what to make of that...

[edit] The battery not charging turned out to be a non-working top half of the electrical outlet I plugged it into? What are the odds?? (The bottom half was working!)
 
Well [hands shaking slightly] I've performed the steps to root the phone. I'm now at the stock "Welcome/Start" screen, and not sure if/how I should proceed. I'll HAVE to proceed to test if I'm rooted (say, with Titanium Backup), so...? Maybe struckn will come to my rescue here soon... ;-)

I learned that Odin wants an .md5 file, NOT the .tar file I tried to feed it. I also took a lot of screen captures on the phone trying to press the power/home/volume down buttons! :-/ And I'm not quite clear on how to reboot into the recovery, now that it's installed? Is it the Vol up/home/power sequence?

Plus, for whatever reason, Odin 3.09 has no PDA button! :-O
 
wilberfan1 said:
Well [hands shaking slightly] I've performed the steps to root the phone. I'm now at the stock "Welcome/Start" screen, and not sure if/how I should proceed. I'll HAVE to proceed to test if I'm rooted (say, with Titanium Backup), so...? Maybe struckn will come to my rescue here soon... ;-)

I learned that Odin wants an .md5 file, NOT the .tar file I tried to feed it. I also took a lot of screen captures on the phone trying to press the power/home/volume down buttons! :-/ And I'm not quite clear on how to reboot into the recovery, now that it's installed? Is it the Vol up/home/power sequence?

Plus, for whatever reason, Odin 3.09 has no PDA button! :-O
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You want Odin version 3.07. And correct on the booting into recovery sequence. You have to hold the buttons past the point where the phone vibrates. And yes, trying to use Titanium will let you know whether or not you have root access.
 
Also, there should be no harm in doing the initial setup stuff, as you mentioned, you will have to proceed to a certain point in order to know what worked and what didn't (hopefully everything worked obviously!). Funny about that electrical outlet, my house has multiple outlets that are controlled by wall switches. When my girlfriend and I bought the house last summer, we noticed that a lot of the wall switches were grouped three to a panel, and only the last one actually turned on a light. It wasn't until we noticed certain electrical outlets supposedly weren't working that we realized that all the extra switches controlled certain outlets. Really annoying actually, still figuring out some of the connections!
 
Jesus--what IS the trick to getting power/home/vol up to work correctly?! :-[ I end up rebooting back into stock. Grrrrrr...

Boy, that's the nicest recovery i've ever seen! :-D
 
wilberfan1 said:
Jesus--what IS the trick to getting power/home/vol up to work correctly?! :-[ I end up rebooting regularly... Grrrrrr...
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You have to hold all three buttons long enough. The phone will vibrate at a certain point, don't let go of the buttons until after the vibrate. You should see some text in the top left of the screen about booting recovery, then you can let go.
 
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