pworcester
Member
What's the point over uninstalling apps if you don't benefit the space they occupied?
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Root What's the point?
- Thread starter pworcester
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- lg ally
therealciviczc
Member
As much as I was glad to get rid of the crapwear, I was kinda bummed that the tools I used to do it took up about as much space... Titanium Back Up, Rom Manager, BusyBox, and Universal Androot took up about the same space as the stuff I removed. Oh well. Now that they're on there and any chance of returning this phone to Verizon is shot, I might as well go to Velocity.
Vmanisme
Android Enthusiast
uuhhh no u can flash back to stock with lg tool and verizon will never know
therealciviczc
Member
Well hot damn.. that's good news. I'm so lost on much of this. I like almost have it, but something just hasn't clicked. I'm not a moron, but I learn more by doing, and I haven't gone beyond rooting, removing the basic crap they put on the phone using TB, doing a clockwork recovery, and then realizing that I may have went further than I wanted to. So at this point, I can get the LG tool, flash back to stock and get back to VZB, WITH the apps I removed back? I guess I'm lost on at what point I cannot get this thing back to stock and fully updated, receiving OTA updates, etc. Can I always do that as long as I don't "brick" the thing?
By the way, some of you guys in here are great. I really appreciate all you guys are doing. Its amazing.
dots
Android Expert
Correct by going back to stock the means you will be back to stock v6. Once you're there you can do OTA's to v8 and/or ZVB. Not sure which OTA you would get.
Here's the guide http://androidforums.com/ally-all-things-root/166588-how-flash-stock-lg-rom.html
dansingingfool
Newbie
So I guess what is the point of rooting? I'm also trying to figure all this stuff out. I'm wondering what are the Pros and Cons and what can I do differently rooting vs. not rooting.
I also agree with you all being great on here. I love this forum and the people in it are very helpful.
I also agree with you all being great on here. I love this forum and the people in it are very helpful.
dots
Android Expert
You can do more than just remove apps once you root
You can
-Install apps that require root
-Flash custom recovery images
-Make backups/restore backups
-Flash roms
-flash kernels
And other stuff i can't think of
The point to rooting is mainly to take complete ownership of your phone. You have complete administrator access to a device you own. The way it should be.
The other pros are mostly customization and adding things that are not availble with out rooting. Things such as kernel optimizations, and alot of other things that save battery life and increase speed and reliability of the phone.
Ultimately it comes down to the ability to improve your phone, instead of waiting for lg to do it(they wont really, they will talk it up to get you to buy, from there, they do what they want).
It's a matter of ACTUALLY OWNING a device you paid for.
The other pros are mostly customization and adding things that are not availble with out rooting. Things such as kernel optimizations, and alot of other things that save battery life and increase speed and reliability of the phone.
Ultimately it comes down to the ability to improve your phone, instead of waiting for lg to do it(they wont really, they will talk it up to get you to buy, from there, they do what they want).
It's a matter of ACTUALLY OWNING a device you paid for.
dansingingfool
Newbie
You can do more than just remove apps once you root
You can
-Install apps that require root
-Flash custom recovery images
-Make backups/restore backups
-Flash roms
-flash kernels
And other stuff i can't think of
Forgive my stupidity, but some of this stuff is like another language to me. What kind of apps require root? Are they worth it? Will they make my life easier or better? What are Flash roms, custom recovery images, and things like that? What the heck are kernels? And what kind of backups would interest me?
As I reread my post, I sound pretty negative. I'm not trying to sound that way, I'm just trying to get information that makes sense to me. And yes, maybe if I am this dumb I should forget the whole rooting thing, but now I'm too curious/involved to forget. Now I just want to know, and I'm all for owning my stuff.
dots
Android Expert
Forgive my stupidity, but some of this stuff is like another language to me. What kind of apps require root? Are they worth it? Will they make my life easier or better? What are Flash roms, custom recovery images, and things like that? What the heck are kernels? And what kind of backups would interest me?
As I reread my post, I sound pretty negative. I'm not trying to sound that way, I'm just trying to get information that makes sense to me. And yes, maybe if I am this dumb I should forget the whole rooting thing, but now I'm too curious/involved to forget. Now I just want to know, and I'm all for owning my stuff.
If you don't know what my above post means that means rooting probably isn't for you.
Some wireless tethering apps require root, screenshot apps, and others i cant think of. The things i said above require root. Think of a custom rom as a custom version of android designed for your phone. Designed to improve the phone. By kernels i mean kernels that allow you to overclock.
Redfury's post is also a very good.
dansingingfool
Newbie
I knew somebody was going to say if you don't understand you probably shouldn't root. I realize that, and as of now I wouldn't do it because I don't know if I would benefit from it. However, I'll continue to read and learn and see where it leads me. One more thing, can all the other normal apps I've downloaded so far work on a rooted phone, and will that and my contacts and such all transfer over?
I realize that, and as of now I wouldn't do it because I don't know if I would benefit from it. However, I'll continue to read and learn and see where it leads me. One more thing, can all the other normal apps I've downloaded so far work on a rooted phone, and will that and my contacts and such all transfer over?dansingingfool
Newbie
And in case I haven't said it enough, this forum is great and all you that offer help for us noobs are great. Thanks again. 
dots
Android Expert
And in case I haven't said it enough, this forum is great and all you that offer help for us noobs are great. Thanks again.
Yes all your non-rooted apps will work after you root. Atleast they should. I've never had a problem.
Your contacts should still all be there and all your other settings too.
Here's a new site you should bookmark that should help you with your curiosity.
Android Ally
Also see my singature for our IRC channel if you have further question for a quicker response (if people are around
)
D
darkxsun
Guest
You can, it's just not automatic. You don't get more room for downloaded apps, but you can use the space freed up on /system partition to store apps by manually moving them there. Just remember to redo it if the app updates (updates are stored in /data/app again). And, you can't uninstall the normal way from /system/app (the system thinks they're... well, system apps).
Zoandroid
Android Expert
Reading through this I saw some very good points about what rooting can get you. But I never saw the particular reason I decided to root my Ally, and I think it is one that a lot of those unfamiliar with rooting a phone will likely run into at some point if they like to install apps. That is, what to do when you keep getting "low memory space" messages, but you want to KEEP all the apps you have installed? I had to go through my apps several times and keep tossing the stuff I 'wanted' but wanted 'less' than something else I had. I got tired of waiting for the Froyo 2.2 update to give us the ability to run apps from the SD card, which puts an end to that problem. So I quickly found out that rooting the Ally lets me do exactly that.
Looking back on things from where I am today, they put a really TINY amount of usable application memory in the LG Ally. It may seem like plenty when first deciding to buy the phone, but it fills up fast when you start getting apps like some of those I use which take 12-15MB each.
So, the answer is - I did it to be able to move my apps to the SD card. Initially I thought I would have as much space as I want on the SD card for apps. But I learned along the way that (for now at least) I am again hitting a limit of 512MB on the SD card for apps, using the tools I used to get rooted and install the utility called "A2SD" that allows me to have the phone's apps moved from internal memory to the SD card. It might be different for those using more manual methods of rooting. But still, that is a FAR cry from the 76MB LG gave me when the phone is not rooted. I won't be filling 512MB any time soon.
There is a lot of info on forums like this one about root and the things it allows you to do. Some of what I read along the way is, as I often find on forums, looking to be "old data" and has been replaced by newer ways to do things. But no one usually goes back and updates those early posts. So it can get confusing, trying to read enough to figure out what root is all about. In a nutshell it is opening the same access in the Android OS as "administrator" gives you in a Windows OS, and perhaps even more.
Fortunately, we have good folks like Dots here, who was VERY helpful in my getting my Ally rooted!! The chat room he mentioned is like this forum on time-shifted steroids. Someone always seems to be there to answer questions right away. It was a huge help to me, mostly coming from Dots himself. ( I don't think he ever sleeps ).
If you are the kind of person who looks at the device in hand and thinks (gee, if only it could......) then rooting is how you can often open those possibilities (in so far as the device's ultimate physical imitations). But the way these phones are stock out of the box is only a fraction of what they can do according to what I have read so far.
I was apprehensive about it. But looking back on it now, and knowing I can 'undo' it if I want, it was actually pretty easy, and very satisfying once accomplished!
Zoandroid
Looking back on things from where I am today, they put a really TINY amount of usable application memory in the LG Ally. It may seem like plenty when first deciding to buy the phone, but it fills up fast when you start getting apps like some of those I use which take 12-15MB each.
So, the answer is - I did it to be able to move my apps to the SD card. Initially I thought I would have as much space as I want on the SD card for apps. But I learned along the way that (for now at least) I am again hitting a limit of 512MB on the SD card for apps, using the tools I used to get rooted and install the utility called "A2SD" that allows me to have the phone's apps moved from internal memory to the SD card. It might be different for those using more manual methods of rooting. But still, that is a FAR cry from the 76MB LG gave me when the phone is not rooted. I won't be filling 512MB any time soon.
There is a lot of info on forums like this one about root and the things it allows you to do. Some of what I read along the way is, as I often find on forums, looking to be "old data" and has been replaced by newer ways to do things. But no one usually goes back and updates those early posts. So it can get confusing, trying to read enough to figure out what root is all about. In a nutshell it is opening the same access in the Android OS as "administrator" gives you in a Windows OS, and perhaps even more.
Fortunately, we have good folks like Dots here, who was VERY helpful in my getting my Ally rooted!! The chat room he mentioned is like this forum on time-shifted steroids.
Someone always seems to be there to answer questions right away. It was a huge help to me, mostly coming from Dots himself. ( I don't think he ever sleeps ). If you are the kind of person who looks at the device in hand and thinks (gee, if only it could......) then rooting is how you can often open those possibilities (in so far as the device's ultimate physical imitations). But the way these phones are stock out of the box is only a fraction of what they can do according to what I have read so far.
I was apprehensive about it. But looking back on it now, and knowing I can 'undo' it if I want, it was actually pretty easy, and very satisfying once accomplished!
Zoandroid
DJAlmix
Well-Known Member
Why I rooted
- The same reason I don't like Apple, because my philisophy with tech is, if I own it, I should be able to do what I want with it.
- Overclocking to about 750MHz
- Easy WiFi tethering
- Advanced theming
- Mod apps (i.e Froyo->Eclair)
- Apps2SD (even with my stock MicroSD card it's very hard to fill it up with apps)
- ROM's
- Backup/Restore
- Rooted Apps
Overall, if you are a big computer techie, rooting just feels right.
- The same reason I don't like Apple, because my philisophy with tech is, if I own it, I should be able to do what I want with it.
- Overclocking to about 750MHz
- Easy WiFi tethering
- Advanced theming
- Mod apps (i.e Froyo->Eclair)
- Apps2SD (even with my stock MicroSD card it's very hard to fill it up with apps)
- ROM's
- Backup/Restore
- Rooted Apps
Overall, if you are a big computer techie, rooting just feels right.
flyinjoe13
Android Enthusiast
Actually you do. I thought the same thing as you after I rooted my phone and used TB to uninstall a ton of the bloatware. Not once did I see my internal memory total increase, which I thought I would. Then (and i'm not sure why I did this because it wasn't suggested) I went into recovery and wiped my cache and dalvik cache. When I rebooted the phone, my internal memory total had taken a drastic increase. I think it went from something like 102mb to 128mb. Can't remember exactly because it was about 4 months ago.
The one thing I should point out though is that I removed a lot of stuff so your increase might not be as much. Also remember that after you uninstall an app with TB, you still need to go into the Manage Applications menu and remove the entries in that list before an app is totally uninstalled.
Zoandroid
Android Expert
What is "TI"? I have not yet removed any stock apps and am still learning how to do it.
When you say "wifi tethering" do you mean turning the phone into a wifi access point for others?
I surely agree that rooting the phone 'feels right' DJAlmix. I like to think I can hold my own with PCs (don't know if I would be considered 'big' in the PC techie crowd) but there is still a lot I don't know about them. But I bristle any time someone tries to tell me 'you can't', especially with something I paid for. It usually just drives me harder to prove them wrong.
I am noticing that the home screen icons take longer to appear now when I switch back to the home screen. Is that because the phone takes longer to find and index the installed apps because they are moved to the SD card? I can live with it, but would like to know if this is the reason. I am watchful for anything 'not right' since rooting.
Zoandroid
When you say "wifi tethering" do you mean turning the phone into a wifi access point for others?
I surely agree that rooting the phone 'feels right' DJAlmix. I like to think I can hold my own with PCs (don't know if I would be considered 'big' in the PC techie crowd) but there is still a lot I don't know about them. But I bristle any time someone tries to tell me 'you can't', especially with something I paid for. It usually just drives me harder to prove them wrong.
I am noticing that the home screen icons take longer to appear now when I switch back to the home screen. Is that because the phone takes longer to find and index the installed apps because they are moved to the SD card? I can live with it, but would like to know if this is the reason. I am watchful for anything 'not right' since rooting.
Zoandroid
DJAlmix
Well-Known Member
I am noticing that the home screen icons take longer to appear now when I switch back to the home screen. Is that because the phone takes longer to find and index the installed apps because they are moved to the SD card? I can live with it, but would like to know if this is the reason. I am watchful for anything 'not right' since rooting.
Download LauncherPro to fix that. The default home-screen is incredibly slow.
Yes, I have mine set up with a name and a WEP just like a regular modem (except certain devices cannot connect.)
GRZLA
Android Enthusiast
What is "TI"? I have not yet removed any stock apps and am still learning how to do it.
When you say "wifi tethering" do you mean turning the phone into a wifi access point for others?
I surely agree that rooting the phone 'feels right' DJAlmix. I like to think I can hold my own with PCs (don't know if I would be considered 'big' in the PC techie crowd) but there is still a lot I don't know about them. But I bristle any time someone tries to tell me 'you can't', especially with something I paid for. It usually just drives me harder to prove them wrong.
I am noticing that the home screen icons take longer to appear now when I switch back to the home screen. Is that because the phone takes longer to find and index the installed apps because they are moved to the SD card? I can live with it, but would like to know if this is the reason. I am watchful for anything 'not right' since rooting.
Zoandroid
Simply rooting your phone will not effect its performance. TI? Do you mean TB? Titanium backup. You can remove Stock APK's with it. There is a list of what you can and cannot uninstall in the sticky at the top of the screen.
DJAlmix
Well-Known Member
I am noticing that the home screen icons take longer to appear now when I switch back to the home screen. Is that because the phone takes longer to find and index the installed apps because they are moved to the SD card? I can live with it, but would like to know if this is the reason. I am watchful for anything 'not right' since rooting.
Rooting Does:
Allow for Apps2SD
Allow for overclocking and underclocking
Rooting Does not:
Affect performance
Affect Apps
Activate Apps2SD
Just to clear up some confusion