[Q] New member/ Droid Owner - I can has help!? - Droid X General

Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!

Initial GT3 said:
Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off- that is a lot to bite off as an opener. lol. I have to get in a minute- plus I am a newb as well but here a couple of things...
1) You sound pretty on track. Root gives you access to more options with your phone. It also voids your warranty.
2) Flashing. A term used loosely. Normally it is used in conjunction with "flashing a rom". It simply means to install something (basically).
3) Rom. It is the image (not in the photo-graphical sense) that is embedded/burned on your phones hard drive with all the information of your operating system. For instance: you are on the stock 2.2 ota "rom". But you could "flash" the new "AOSP rom" that was just released. That means you would be removing the factory image that came on your phone and replacing it with a modified image. Theme's and .apk's -those are not "burned" into the phone. If you do a factory reset- those will be wiped. The rom image stays put. If you flash from 2.2 ota to AOSP and then did a factory reset- you would not return to the original state your phone came from Motorola bc that image is completely removed and replaced by the new image you flash. Instead you would return to a clean AOSP.
4) .apk's - .apk is simply the name of the file extension used for android applications. I came from Windows Mobile and they were called .cabs. So any app can be referred to as an .apk. You can download an apk from XDA, place it on your sdcard, tap the file, and i think you will be prompted with "do you want to install" (some where along those lines). There is a setting in the "Settings" that allows you to install 3rd party (non-market) .apk's.
5)Installing themes. This refers to modifying the images (and this time I do mean in the graphic sense) of certain .apk's and other whatchamajiggies. You can install a simple theme that just changes your lockscreen, or you can install a huge theme that changes almost every part of every image so the entire phone looks similar. Here is the tricky part about using themes- your phone has to be deodexed.
deodexed. When you get your phone all of the system files come with a few different parts to them. One of those parts is an odexed file. Apparently the theme building types do not like working with these files so they run this process called de-odexing in which all of the system files are somehow manipulated in a way where they no longer need their odex file. So you end up "de-odexed". There is a program called "xultimate 2.2" that enables regular folk like you and me to deodex our phones. I tried running it yesterday and it errored out on me. So I used another method that worked fine. There are some threads on here about deodexing- if you want themes you will have to do it.
6) locating and moving downloaded content. When you have root you can get Root Explorer from the market. I am sure there are other good file exploreres- but I can't speak to them- I use Root Explorer. As far as locating downloaded content- whenever I download something from my phone, it always (normally) goes to /sdcard/downloads. If it is not there, I guess you just do a search for it. If you want to move it- long press the item, copy, move.
And you will need to google "ADB" (android device bridge). Many of these activities will require the use of ADB. You plug in your phone through USB (make sure phone settings are set to "USB debugging") and... well there is just way to much on this one. Google this one and you will find a lot of stuff- or search it here on XDA
have a great weekend. got to go.

Related

HELP ! ROM Update to Android 2.0 / 2.1

Hey Guys at first sorry for my english i'm not good in it. And I'm a Android newbie I just gained a bit exerience with my Touch Diamond but it's broken now..okay but that's not the probleme....
If got a question:
After about 2 days of searching for an android 2.0 or 2.1 ROM I was a little bit confused of the diffrent news everybody was talking about. I'm root on my Hero. That was the first an last thing I made with my device.
1. Everybody is gonna talk about MoDaCo 3.0 but when I was trying to download his ROM my browser never got a request. Is the site down, where that ROM is hosted ?? Could someone give me a working link with this ROM ??
2. Is there a ROM with Android 2.0 or 2.1 outside or even not ??? And if yes are they working well ???
Would be nice if someone can help me =) thanks a lot.
Please answer soon if you know something about that =)
Greetz BassdoxXx
you can get modaco's roms at his website, www.modaco.com.
in the android development section there are some 2.0/1 roms, none of them works flawless, see for yourself if it fits your needs.
Thanks a lot for your fast answer. =)
The problem that i couldn't open the modaco page was my isp -.- i downloaded it at school
BassdoxXx said:
Thanks a lot for your fast answer. =)
The problem that i couldn't open the modaco page was my isp -.- i downloaded it at school
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What? Does ISP's block that site? Lol, would never happened in Norway
there is a few 2.0+ roms out there for the hero.
most seem to be very usable now.
best sense ui would be lox/behnaam community release on 1.6.
http://htcpedia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1448
there are two aosp roms worth looking at.
lox aosp ( im using that on a daily basis)
http://htcpedia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1416
jnwhiteh aosp
http://htcpedia.com/forum/showthread.php?t=1528
Hello all,
I am having very specific request when it comes to choosing a proper rom for install on to my hero.
I am blind. Stock roms are only running Android 1.5. More robust accessibility features are available starting with Android 1.6 and improving even more with Android 2.0.
So for sure I am forced to upgrade my hand set.
There are various roms, some of their authors have even disable google specific features so I know I can't install such a rom.
All the accessibility efforts are being lead by the google developers.
Most likely these accessibility tools won't be usefull to most of you but please can anyone recommend me a rom where market is working and where the following applications can be installed and used?
- eyesfree suite of applications,
- talkback - the google screen reader for android,
- tts service.
All possible help is already appreciated.
sorry for the double posting. I've accidentally posted twice and I am unable to remove the post.
Hope anybody can help me please.
pvdeejay said:
Hello all,
I am having very specific request when it comes to choosing a proper rom for install on to my hero.
I am blind. Stock roms are only running Android 1.5. More robust accessibility features are available starting with Android 1.6 and improving even more with Android 2.0.
So for sure I am forced to upgrade my hand set.
There are various roms, some of their authors have even disable google specific features so I know I can't install such a rom.
All the accessibility efforts are being lead by the google developers.
Most likely these accessibility tools won't be usefull to most of you but please can anyone recommend me a rom where market is working and where the following applications can be installed and used?
- eyesfree suite of applications,
- talkback - the google screen reader for android,
- tts service.
All possible help is already appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am on mcr3.0, i looked in the market, i can find 8 apps for eyesfree, tts is one of these. i didn't try to install one of these, but usually it works. the search for talkback returned nothing.
not that i want to be rude, but wouldn't you be better off with another phone if you are blind? i can not imagine a touchscreen only phone would be suitable for someone who is not able to see... especially because there are great devices out there that have a full qwerty keyboard, and come with android 2.0 out of the box... imho this would be a better solution.
again, the last thing i want to be is rude, but maybe this was your mistake: you posted in the htc hero section of this forum, the hero is a touch screen only device, including a virtual keyboard on the screen. it has only six buttons and a trackball, and two rocker buttons for the volume. just to make clear we are talking about the same device
if you are still up for the hero you could try the 2.1 rom from here: http://htcpedia.com/forum/showthread.php?p=30418&posted=1#post30418
best you try for yourself, it has some drawbacks, but maybe in areas you don't need (afaik syncing with exchange does not work for example, which wouldn't be a problem for me...). otherwise it might be worth to wait another week or two, we all are waiting unpatiently for the official eclair release from htc
keep asking if you need to know more, but maybe open a new thread, since your problems are very specific, and might drown between all the newbies question about "how to root my phone".
Hello,
Thanks for your reply and a great attitude.
Yes it may sound strange I have really got HTC Hero here. I know I'll be having problems with virtual keyboard but also I am afraid accessibility features of Android phones are not really such mastered one can use it daily. For example reading emails and content from the web browser is not yet possible. I just want to try how things work and I would also like to touch the virtual keyboard. If I can memorize computer keyboard and use it daily, typewriter keyboard, nokia mobile phone keyboard, then perhaps I might be able to make some use of this too.
I am sory but here are some more questions:
I haven't yet verified with some sighted friends but... is it possible my hero is running even older version of android like Android 1.5? I've based the assumption that it's most likelly running 1.5 because majority of the devices I was reading on the net are running it.
You've been triyng to locate eyes-free applications on the market but you were unable to find talkback. Are you sure you are running newer version of Android than 1.5?
Talkback is supposed to be installed with Android 1.6 andd 2.0 by default and you should be able to find it in the accessibility menu of your phone. I am not sure how well this applies to the custom roms.
Talkback requires google's accessibility api which is reported to be available on Android 1.6 upwards.
To tell you the full story first I've asked on the eyes-free google group whether some accessibility experts from there can help me but no one knowledgeable enough has replied to my query, so I'm trying my luck here then.
Oh I am really excited since I've got really well formed informative reply.
Thanks again
Edit:
Also, I've seen somewhere in the forums here this leaked HTC rom does not support the market. Has this been rectified already? You know if market does not work then most likelly I won't be able to install these applications I am tallking about.
Also you are mentioning possibility to wait a few weeks until HTC guys role out the official update for Hero. Wouldn't that break chances I will be able to root my device later?
Edit2:
Ooops, I should read better next time. Market works on this rom. The problem is paid apps can't be installed which is hopefully not a big issue for me since most of the accessibility enabled applications are free.
Which of the downloads from Hero 21 do I need?
63.18.55.06JU_6.35.09.26) or No Wipe Download. I will need a wipe I am sure but since this link says nowipe I am ehmmm. confused.
pvdeejay,
Unfortunately there is not an 'official' update for Android 1.6, 2.0 or 2.1 as of yet. There are rumours of one coming out soon, but nothing cast-iron yet.
You are correct in that the Hero runs 1.5. It does say it under Settings | About Phone (bottom item on list)| Firmware Version (bottom on list again), although without a working screen reader, there is probably little use in knowing how to find that.
If you did want to upgrade, I'm sure plenty of people could help find a ROM that would suit. The only issue with that is that you would need a rooted phone with a custom recovery image installed. Unfortunately, a lot of the procedures would not be easy for you, as the software that you might need to use to go through the procedure is probably not designed that well for accessibility tools. I don't know what kind of software you are using, but some of the instructions for making goldcards are quite complex, and involve editing some numbers in a 'table' which could be quite difficult for you, I would imagine.
I'm sure a friend would be able to help you out with making a goldcard/rooting if you did want to install a custom ROM (you'll probably be waiting a while otherwise ). They could even root their phone while doing yours (just share the goldcard between the devices).
Nonetheless, there is probably a ROM out there with little removed from it. I'll have a look just now, but you would need to have your phone rooted to do anything just now.
When it comes to rooting and installing custom recovery image. Do you thing the following instructions might work for me?
These instructions don't require a gold card:
- How to Root HTC Hero and Install Amon Ra Recovery Image
- How to install a custom rom on a HTC Hero
Hello,
Here are some numbers I've asked my friend to read from system -> about screen. The phone interface is in czech so I am unable to get some names translated to english, but I believe some of the geeks will understand these identifiers and might be able to help me what is best:
Code:
firmware: 1,5
63.118.55.O6U|6.35.04.25
2.6.27-a5504199
Build number: 1.76.405.6 146733 CL# 47214 release-keys
Software version: 1.0.0.A6288
pvdeejay,
to sum it up:
the hero definitly runs on android 1.5. there are no roms for older android versions, and a few homebrewn for newer versions, as we said already.
i searched for talkbalk on my 1.5 rom, so it is obvious that i couldn't find it...
about rooting of newer roms: it is just a matter of time, sooner or later there will be always methods of rooting a rom. what i meant by waiting is: wait until the official update is out, then wait a few more hours until the first rooted and customized rom is out
@pvdeejay,
I would have to agree with kendong2 that waiting for the official ROM is probably the best idea for you at the moment. There are no guarantees that an unofficial ROM would help, and it would be another user interface to try and learn.
@kendon,
I noticed he has the original, easily rooted version of the hero. IIRC, that is what I had on my G2 (and had the security unlocked bootloader out the box). If that's the case, would pvdeejay be able to 'fastboot boot' a full system img file for the purposes of testing it out to see if it meets the requirements.
The reason I ask is that I've only ever fastbooted my AmonRA recovery (I didn't flash it, because I never felt any need to). I'm guessing you could fastboot a full img, but I'm not sure about the practical issues of where it would be stored in memory...
Sorry guys originally I believed I am slowly getting into the matter and am begining to understand how flashing / rooting / upgrading home brew firmwares works on these phones.
After these 2 posts I feel like a total noob again.
Now again some very concrete questions:
What about these 2 guides I've posted links to?
Can I somehow got [Recovery] [13-Dec-2009] RA-hero-v1.5.2 installed so I will be able to do nandroid backup and then possibly flash some new roms?
Can I really brick my phone by trying to install amon ra?
Originally I thought the process works as follows:
1) get the custom recovery image installed (that's the amon ra in this case),
2) do a nandroid backup which will dump everything usefull on to the memory card,
3) backup and reformat the card,
4) download a rom, rename it to update.zip, put it onto the root folder of the cart, reboot the hero in recovery mode, do the wipe of the data partition, and run update,
5) reboot again and believe it's good.
Also some very significant bit is the thing you are all calling the radio. I am afraid I've not identified this bit thus it's missing in this summary.
Which files will I need to download if I decide to try Android 2.1 community edition 1.8? Are these files I've copied links to a few posts earlier both needed?
Can you please check this list, identify the things I am missing, and make suggestions and corrections why this may not work on my device based off of those number I tried to put down here?
Even if I won't be able to do this right now I'd be happy to get corrections as I can learn something new.
Of course I won't be doing all this on my own. I will ask my bro to read all the stuff to me and we'll do it according to your advices.
To give some bits about me and my computer skills, I believe I am a Windows power user, Basically I do also understand unix, I know what's bash how the files are arranged in a file system, can use command-line tools, telnet, ssh. I am working as a network administrator here so some background is there really.
Hi pvdeejay,
Answers to your questions here.
You can actually use fastboot to 'temporarily' load up the AmonRA recovery image into memory and run it from there. I do that on my phone, for the simple reason that I can't be bothered ) ) to flash the recovery. Once you get AmonRA running, the first thing you should do is make a Nandroid backup. It will be saved to your SD card, so then get the nandroid directory of your card and save it to your PC (just in case!)
So, here's how you'd go about this.
(Make sure you have the android sdk installed, and that adb and fastboot commands are working). USB cable should be plugged in throughout.
Before you begin, put the ROM you want (ie. Android 2.1 community edition 1.8) into the root of the microSD card (a .zip file).
Code:
adb devices
Should list your phone's serial number
Now turn off the phone, and turn it on with the back key held down (the one at the very bottom right of the device).
You should enter fastboot mode. Now type
Code:
fastboot devices
and you should see the serial number again.
Now type
Code:
fastboot boot AmonRA.img
where AmonRA.img is a file in your present working directory that is the filename of the latest custom recovery image. This does NOT flash your phone, it merely runs the image (pretty much as close as you get to risk free, other than sitting there with a tinfoil hat on )
See screenshot of the recovery image here:
http://www.sizzledcore.com/wp-content/uploads/2009/12/RA-hero-recovery-image-500x375.jpg
Make the Nandroid backup by choosing 'Nandroid Vx.x Backup' and waiting a while.
If your ROM needs a wipe first (most new ones do), select Wipe data/factory reset. You will lose all your user data on the device (but you've got a nandroid backup just in case)
You're now good to go. So choose "Apply sdcard:choose zip"
Now select the custom ROM zip file you downloaded. It doesn't even need to be called update.zip! Choose it from the list and push trackball.
Wait for the update.zip to go in. Do NOT turn off the device or pull the battery. First boot can take a very long time (upto 30 minutes). Just keep it plugged in via USB and wait...
As for radios, see http://android.modaco.com/content/h...-24-11-hero-roms-radios-in-update-zip-format/ and look at the section titled radios. The latest one is in bold. It is a .zip file as well, that you use these exact same instructions for to install (don't do the wipe or anything like that. Just install the .zip file)
anon2122 said:
@kendon,
I noticed he has the original, easily rooted version of the hero. IIRC, that is what I had on my G2 (and had the security unlocked bootloader out the box). If that's the case, would pvdeejay be able to 'fastboot boot' a full system img file for the purposes of testing it out to see if it meets the requirements.
The reason I ask is that I've only ever fastbooted my AmonRA recovery (I didn't flash it, because I never felt any need to). I'm guessing you could fastboot a full img, but I'm not sure about the practical issues of where it would be stored in memory...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is correct so far, i did the same, except i installed the recovery. i play a lot with my phone, the installed recovery image with the nandroid backup is the best i have ever seen for a phone...
@pvdeejay
you always write so much...
i try to answer everything:
the two guides you posted are good for your situation. i never tried flashrec, but from what i read it is safe to use. i installed my recovery image through fastboot, the guide is here: http://android.modaco.com/content/h...ng-the-patched-recovery-image-on-your-device/
i have no idea how this works out for you, but my honest suggestion would be that you have someone seeing assisting you, you CAN brick your phone, though it is not likely if you follow the instructions precisely. the process is not very time consuming at all, so you don't need to bother anyone for days of their time.
edit: and now i read your post to the end and saw that your brother will be helping you, so you are on the right track
once you have the recovery installed you can make nandroid backups, and i would suggest that you do this first thing after installing the recovery, better make a backup too much than one too less...
the 5 steps you described are correct, except there is no need to rename the zipfile anymore, you can select any .zip from your sdcard.
the radio part is the number that begins with 63.18.55.06, then comes two letters and then more numbers. as by now the version can be identified by the letters, with JU being the up-to-date one. in general you can say the newer the better, but you have to try for yourself. start with the newest one, if you have problems go back.
thanks this seems to be pretty doable plus I will easily be able to restore the current data backed using nandroid backup.
Which android SDK do I need the latest one?
The commands I need to type are supposed to be typed on the PC or on the phone? I assume on the PC but I just would like to ensure.
Hero21 1.8 community edition has a recommended radio listed in the first post. Is it necessary to install that one as well? What should I install first the actual rom or the radio? Do I need installing radio at all? Should i do the same with radio i.e. renaming it to update.zip and using amonra to install it?
Also will I be able to use this method even if I install another rom (running amonra without actually flashing it)?
Edit:
sorry guys did not realize renaming to update.zip is no longer needed.
Edit2:
is there an easy way on how to access sd card from windows? I can't just remove the card from phone and insert it into my laptop because I don't have the proper adapter. Previously my boss was using the hero and perhaps it would be nice to backup the sd card first.
Edit3:
uhmmm, installing android sdk is perhaps not as simple as it sounds.
I have just seen this article.
I am on a limited gprs internet connection, can you please suggest sdk features I won't need to save some download bandwith?
- you need only the adb binary (thats adb.exe for windows) from the sdk, the rest is not needed for this.
- install the radio from the 2.1community-rom-thread, it is the newest. install the radio first. DO NOT PULL THE BATTERY until the phone has rebooted completely. if you pull the battery during radio upgrade your phone will be dead. it takes a few minutes, do not panic!
- you can copy the contents of the sdcard via the usb-cable, plug it into your pc and pull down the notification bar...
Do I need to run SDK Setup.exe when I have downloaded android sdk for windows?
Or can I simply run that binary from the command-line without the installation?
Do I need any USB drivers so my phone can be recognized?

Virgin rom.

I have looked and looked and maybe im just usnig the wrong words in seach but i havenet been able to find anything yet. I am looking for a virgin 1.5 rom that i can use to start freh and make my own rom to flash to my phone. Basically what I am looking for is a rom (not the RUU that puts a factory default on it) but the actual factory original rom before anyone has taken anytihg out or put on there own themes.
I have looked and looked. I find all kinds of roms to flash to my phone but all of them have been violated in some way or anouther. and although they are nice i would rather do it myself than use someone elses.
If this is already discussed somewhere please link me to it and i am sorry but i havent found it.
Thanx in advance for any help anyone can give me.
This might be what your looking for..
http://forum.androidcentral.com/sprint-htc-hero-roms/6699-cdma-hero-rom-gumbo-rom-1-5c.html#post41536
Check in the sticky wiki for available roms
Yeah me too! Damn all these promiscuous ROMs
Wouldn't doing an RUU and then rooting give you what you want?
casperlt1 said:
This might be what your looking for..
Check in the sticky wiki for available roms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This gives you gumbo wich has stuff removed and added I want what gumbo based his off of not what gumbo did too it so to speak. Not that I dont like gumbo but he removed things I want virgin before that.
I have checked all of the roms on the wiki page and all have something done to them.
Where is the one that says here is the stock rom from sprint with nothing done to it.
justinisyoung said:
Wouldn't doing an RUU and then rooting give you what you want?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, doing the ruu from what I understand installs the factory original to the phone. I want it before it goes into the phone so I can modify it before it goes to the phone. Also I would like to re install the rom whenever I want but using the RUU i would have to use the RUU next time and the update it again.
Tipharet said:
Yeah me too! Damn all these promiscuous ROMs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HeHeHe. Thats funny!!!
This has to be out there. Basically I want a rom that if I flashed it to the phone would be no different than if I bought a new phone from sprint and turned it on.
You cant tell me everyone that roots their phone wants other than stock rom on it.
@ cammel, I agree with justinisyoung
theres not much more to it.
just flash an RUU and root it. this will provide the base files you need for your stock rom.
david7586 said:
@ cammel, I agree with justinisyoung
theres not much more to it.
just flash an RUU and root it. this will provide the base files you need for your stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, say I do the RUU how do I get the rom off the phone to edit it?
I think what youre talking about doing would be creating a signed update zip. While I dont know how to do it those are probably the key words you'd need to search to find the answers youre looking for. Hope that helps!
cammel8 said:
Ok, say I do the RUU how do I get the rom off the phone to edit it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To my understanding the RUU is not a ROM.
It is a return to factory default. You would typically use this option when you needed to take your phone in for repair to the store or to get it back to stock.
So after your run the RUU, you would then root your phone using the method of your choosing, and then you would have what you are asking for.
When you download the RUU, there is a file called rom.zip
That's what you're looking for.
HERNANDEZ4LIFE said:
I think what youre talking about doing would be creating a signed update zip. While I dont know how to do it those are probably the key words you'd need to search to find the answers youre looking for. Hope that helps!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how to creat a signed update zip I do that alot. I need a rom to sign.
ccapasso said:
To my understanding the RUU is not a ROM.
It is a return to factory default. You would typically use this option when you needed to take your phone in for repair to the store or to get it back to stock.
So after your run the RUU, you would then root your phone using the method of your choosing, and then you would have what you are asking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are correct that the phone would be back to original. But then how do i get that to my computer to edit it?
Also with this method I would have to re root my phone.
Plus Ive heard that you can brick your phone with the RUU with a 110 error thats unbrickable. not exactly fond of that idea.
abcdfv said:
When you download the RUU, there is a file called rom.zip
That's what you're looking for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In th rom.zip there is a bunch of img files. im guessing if i tried to use that it would error out on me. I need the one with like sytem fioles and stuff I can edit.
You cant tell me this isnt out there. People have been modding this rom since it came out. So there has to be an untouched original somewhere to wich you can base your work off of. Otherwise that would meen everyone bases there work off of other peoples and never start from scratch. Is that really the case? Am I the first that wants a fresh rom to start with and build from there?
Contained in the image files is what you're look for.
abcdfv said:
Contained in the image files is what you're look for.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I have tried extracting info out of the img files with powerISO, magicISO, imageburn, IrfanView, XnVview and Iso buster. But all of them say it is the wrong format.
I have seen multiple threads that link to a how to extract the files using unyaffs and ubuntu but I dont have ubuntu.
So I now have two questions:
First
Is it possible to extract files from an img file using window (windows 7 to be exact) and if it is possible what program would I use.
Second
Is there a tutorial out there Im missing?
Sorry If im being a pain in the A** about this and I usually figure stuff out on my own but this one is really givin me a headache. I have been working for three days on this one and its really getting to me.
If anyone can help me I would Appreciate it.
And thanx to everyone that has tried to help so far. Every time I get an answer that doesnt work it just meens Im one step closer to finding one that does so thanx everyone.
http://jiggawatt.org/badc0de/android/index.html
Here is a good place to get started.
What you're interested atm is the unyaffs program.
Google and forum search are really useful tools and the answers to your questions are out there. Just not packaged nice and neat like you would want.
Here's the jist of what you need to get started.
1. Android SDK
2. Java JDK
3. android zip signing tool
4. unyaffs utility
5. RUU
6. start RUU
7. let it go all the way just before the point where it actually starts to flash your phone.
8. check your computers temp folder for the system.img
9. unpackage it using unyaffs
10. enjoy naked young virgin
11. zip devirgined rom back up
12. sign it
13. flash it
14. fix bugs, rinse, repeat
15. try and search next time.
16. sorry about the crankiness, had a lousy day at work.
hope my step-by-step while not overly detailed was helpful.
are you looking for AOSP? or do you want Sense UI and all that stuff? RUU Includes Sense
obelisk79 said:
Google and forum search are really useful tools and the answers to your questions are out there. Just not packaged nice and neat like you would want.
Here's the jist of what you need to get started.
1. Android SDK
2. Java JDK
3. android zip signing tool
4. unyaffs utility
5. RUU
6. start RUU
7. let it go all the way just before the point where it actually starts to flash your phone.
8. check your computers temp folder for the system.img
9. unpackage it using unyaffs
10. enjoy naked young virgin
11. zip devirgined rom back up
12. sign it
13. flash it
14. fix bugs, rinse, repeat
15. try and search next time.
16. sorry about the crankiness, had a lousy day at work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I understand your cranky, but maybe you should give a person the benefit of the doubt before assuming they are an idiot. Remember what they say, when you assume you make an ass out of you and Uma Thurman.
So I rooted my phone on Friday. I then proceeded to download every rom on the site, and see what all there was available. I'm guessing the same thing everyone does when they first root it. By Saturday morning, after reading a bunch of stuff on here, I decided I was going to do My own mods to the rom. Yes the others out there are nice but they are not mine.
The first thing I did was to make My own animated boot screen (I decided on a naked pink female android instead of the stupid green one that comes stock. So I worked for hours and hours on that. Finally got it all done, uploaded it and it didn't work. (Come to find out the program I was using to make the GIF, "Easy GIF Animator", which I use for websites all the time, was putting extra stuff into the header that the HTC didn't know how to deal with. Just use gimp to make it and you are fine.) So now I have a working animated boot sequence of my own. (All from searching.)
Out of all of the themes I had seen done so far, I really liked the Aloysius because of the way the launch bar was made. I wanted to do that. So I researched some more and found out how to edit the APK files in the framework so I could change stuff. So I went about changing all the stuff I wanted to change. The Icons, the little Icons at the top, the buttons on the bottom. Anything I could change.
Yeah me, I have a bunch of stuff now that I can make an update file with so I can update my phone. I throw it all in a file, name it update, and flash it, but it won't work. After some more searching I find out that I have to sign the file before I can update it to the phone. This wasn't an issue before with the boot screen so I search find out how to do that and, wa la, I have a new theme all mine. (All from searching.)
So then I decide, well everyone else is adding and removing files, couldn't be that hard, so I did some searching and what do you know it isn't hard at all. So I added the programs I always have on my phone, and now when I flash it, it is all ready to go. Wee, now we are talking. (All from searching.)
Then I start playing with some of the apps, and realize that any app that sends out an sms by itself wouldnt send text messages. (IE: sms bomber, SMS my location, wavesecure) the program acts like it is working but then doesn't actually send the message. So I do some more searching. Come to find out Most of the roms on the site have stuff removed. It must be one of the apps removed or settings that were changed has something to do with it. Worked before installing the rom, don't work after installing the rom must be something in the rom, that or something I did to the rom afterward. So I do a fresh install of Aloysius and add sms bomber and it won't work. Must be Aloysius. (some from searching some from trial and error.)
So I decide I am just going to get the original rom, since I don't need any of the stuff in Aloysius because I have replaced most of it with my own anyway, and the apps I like in it, I can just add myself. So I search and search for a Virgin rom. Can't find one anywhere. Figure well maybe I can just pull the rom from my phone by copying the directory structure. So I re-flash my original backup and try pulling the files that way. I get them off the phone, add them to a zip file, name it update, and put it on my phone and go to flash it back to see if it works. Epic Fail. After searching some more I find out that you have to have a script to tell it what to install and where so I learn through searching how to make a update-script file, throw it in the META-INF folder in its right place zip the two folders up sign them and put them on my phone. In case you were wondering it didn't work. come to find out, after doing some searching you cant do that. Maybe I should have searched that one before just jumping in on that one. Eh, live and learn I guess.
So I search and search for the not so ever present virgin rom. Apparently, if it is out in the wild, it is a well hidden secret cause I can't find it. (still cant) Finally after hours and hours of searching, I give up and ask for help finding it. Yes thats right I asked for help. Well that ask didn't exactly garner me a here is a link just follow it and you can download your prize. No instead I find out that it isn't out there. Not in rom form at least.
There are ones that are close but nothing completely virgin. Why waste my time on those when They might have something I need removed and I don't even know it. Finally ABCDFV tells me its in the RUU in the Rom file Packed into an IMG file. Not exactly a rom but close enough that, I'm guessing, it's the closest I will get. So now All I have to do is unpack it and be done with it. Yeah me. I have unpacked stuff before this should be a synch. Mind you that was at 2 pm.
So I use every program I can think of that are used for opening IMG files, and none of them work so I search the internet and find butt loads more, but they don't work either so I do more searching and find out that the IMG files that are packed in the roms are special and can't be opened in the normal ways.
So after more searching I find many tutorials on how to unpack the files but all of them are in ubuntu. Well I'm running windows 7 so that won't work. I search and search and can't find a windows program to save my life so I reserve myself to having to use Linux.
I go to my back room and find an old 700 mhz computer, download ubuntu, and install it. Get all of my files, take them to the other computer, and start reading the tutorials. This is when I realize that I have no freaking clue what I am doing in Linux. Sure I have played with it but I don't use it like this. I get to the first command in all of the tutorials and it says type "gcc -o unyaffs unyaffs.c" but not one of them say where to type it. (come to find out it's in terminal. would it really kill the people that made the tutorials to put that little tidbit itn there. go ahead look not one of them I saw asid open terminal thay just say type this) so I go back and search that to find out. after I finally get that figured out, I realize that not one of these tutorials on how to do this is complete. Sure they might be complete to someone that knows UBUNTU but not to me. After hours and hours of searching and trying and failing I finally get fed up with UBUNTU. That was at about 9 o clock.
I disconnect the computer, take it outside, and shoot the damn thing with my 12 gauge. That's right I shot it. No joke. No it didn't help me to unpack the file. No it wasn't logical, reasonable or even rational, but damn it I felt better. Seeing them little green pieces of pcb flying, and knowing I would never be defeated by this computer or operating system again was almost blissful.
I came back in, and through utter frustration and dismay, haven been beaten by a fricken IMG file I again ask for help. That is when ABCDFV showed me the link to the X86 version of unyaff. Yes, finally my worries are over. I download it drag the system.IMG file to it and it pops up a message. "cygwin1.dll file is missing." You have got to be fu**ing kidding me. So back to searching I go. Come to find out it is a file used on windows machines so you can run Linux programs. I JUST SHOT LINUX AND IT IS COMING BACK TO HAUNT ME, I KNOW IT NOW. So I go to the website for cygwin and wouldn't you know it, there isn't a file like that on their server just an exe file that loads something. Screw it, I'll load it. So I download it install it, which mind you it says will fix the problem. And guess what, it didn't fix it.
So after searching and searching I find a website that has it. Sure there are about 50 gazillion that had it but I wanted one that didnt charge me, or want me to install there stupid program to get it. I get the file and install it.
30 seconds later and I am looking at the ever so hard to find, "virgin rom". Well not exactly. It is not a rom yet but I have everything else I need to make the rom so Might as well be the rom. I make my update-script put it in with it, zip it, sign it and send it to my phone.
I flash it to my phone, the whole time it is going, I'm just praying it will work. Verifying, verifying, Come on, copying files, yes its working! Finished. I can't fu**ing believe it. After everything, I finally have it, my own virgin rom. Yes, yes, oh freakin yes, everything is right in my world again.
Only one thing left to do, reboot phone. I hit the reboot and it blinks off. A second later HTC. A minute later Still HTC. It's ok sometimes when you flash a new rom it takes a while. 15 minutes later still HTC. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKIN KIDDING ME. So I reboot and get the same thing. Apparently there is something I am missing. Don't know what yet, I'm sure something I read will hold the answer, but I sure as sh*t aint doing it tonight.
That is when I came back on. I figured the least I could do was to thank ABCDFV for helping me get this far. That is when I seen your post. To tell you the truth, It pi**ed me off. Where do you come off telling me to do a little searching and I can find it. That is all I have been doing the last three days is searching. and not finding Sh*t might I add. there is a whole bunch of stuff but nothing that directly relates to what I need.
I dont think I am doing that bad either, I have taught myself all of this in the matter of four days by serching. I know people that have been rooting their Phones since G1 and dont know half of what I know now. And I have only been doing it for 4 days. So I dont think I am doing that bad. Especially since I have only had to ask one question and then a follow up.
Apparently you were born with all of the HTC Hero information and never needed to ask anyone a question about it ever, and that is all well and good, but people like me have to ask every once in a while for a little help.
I thought that is what this forum was for.
I am sorry if I am not another script kiddy that is ok with other people making stuff and me just throwing it on my phone and calling it my own.
I am sorry if I don't want to say to someone look what someone else did and I was able to install it on my phone just like your 11 year old neighbor can do to his phone by reading a tutorial or watching it on youtube. (Sh*t I never even thought of youtube. Probly somthing on there I could have watched instead of reading it. Oh well maybe next time.)
I am sorry if I want to do something from scratch instead of using other peoples work.
I am sorry if I want to be able to say look what I did.
Maybe you are Ok with that, maybe you're not, But I sure as hell am not. And I don't know you from Adam. You may be the person that first came out with all of the stuff that makes this possible, or you may be just another script kiddy happy to install others work, I don't know. I am sure after I am done here I will find out, but to do that I have to search and I'm not into that right now.
But next time you want to go off on a rant to someone, maybe you shouldn't assume they haven't done anything, and are just looking for a handout. Maybe you should just help them. Maybe If someone would have said in the beginning of my thread that the virgin rom doesn't exist, and you have to rip it from the RUU and there is no other way I wouldn't have spent the last 24 hours trying to figure it out.
This isn't my first time at a rodeo you know, just my first time on this bull. I am a member of many forums for many different things. And usually people come to me for help cause they are too lazy to search, and I would understand If I would have asked what is a rom an how do I root my phone. Or something simple covered hundreds of times in the forums elseware but I didn't.
Not only did I ask for help with something that is obviously nonexistent or close to it but I asked for a link so I could go in the right direction. I didnt just automatically ask where is it and what do I do with it. I want to learn so I can teach others. I want to learn so when someone asks why won't this work, I can tell them why, instead of "I don't know, it just don't work" I want to understand what I am doing, not just do it for the sake of doing it.
So as far as your crankiness goes, Sorry if I made you cranky, but maybe if you are cranky cause someone wants help, you shouldn't be on a forum that is for helping people. Because it is just going to make you more cranky. Just a thought.
So that is it for my rant. Sorry it was so long but I had to get that out. Now onto what I came here for originally :
abcdfv said:
link to unyaffs program
Here is a good place to get started.
What you're interested atm is the unyaffs program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks dude That worked Awesome. I had to find a file for it but it worked like a charm. I didnt get my rom to work yet But cause of you I am a Huge step closer. I got it out of the RUU, got it on the phone now it wont boot so I just have to figure out why. but that is for anouther day, Im going to sleep. But thank you for finding that for me. I coulndt find it at all. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Congrats. Sorry I wasn't so specific first time around. Forgot it was in .img contained as yaffs.
cammel8 said:
Ok I understand your cranky but maybe you should give a person the benefit of the doubt before assuming they are an idiot. Remember what they say, when you assume you make an ass out of you and Uma Thurman.
So I rooted my phone on Friday. I then proceeded to download every rom on the site and see what all there was available. I'm guessing the same thing everyone does when they first root it. By Saturday morning after reading a bunch of stuff on here I decided I was going to do My own mods to the rom. Yes the others out there are nice but they are not mine.
The first thing I did was to make My own animated boot screen (I decided on a naked pink female android instead of the stupid green one that comes stock. So I worked for hours and hours on that. Finally got it all done uploaded it and it didn't work. (Come to find out the program I was using to make the GIF, Easy GIF Animator, which I use for websites all the time, was putting extra stuff into the header that the HTC didn't know how to deal with. just use gimp to make it and you are fine.) So now I have a working animated boot sequence of my own. (All from searching.)
Out of all of the themes I had seen done so far I really liked the Aloysius because of the way the launch bar was made. I wanted to do that. So I researched some more and found out how to edit the APK files in the framework so I could change stuff. So I went about changing all the stuff I wanted to change. The Icons the little Icons at the top, the buttons on the bottom. Anything I could change.
Yeah me I have a bunch of stuff now that I can make an update file with so I can update my phone. I throw it all in a file name it update and flash it but it won't work. after some more searching I find out that I have to sign the file before I can update it to the phone. This wasn't an issue before with the boot screen so i search find out how to do that and wa la I have a new theme all mine. (All from searching.)
So then I decide well everyone else is adding and removing files couldn't be that hard so I did some searching and what do you know it isn't hard at all so I added the programs I always have on my phone and now when I flash it, it is all ready to go. Wee now we are talking. (All from searching.)
Then I start playing with some of the apps and realize that any app that sends out an sms by itself wound send text messages. (IE: sms bomber, SMS my location, wavesecure) the program acts like it is working but then doesn't actually send the message. So I do some more searching. Come to find out Most of the roms on the site have stuff removed. It must be one of the apps removed or settings that were changed has something to do with it. Worked before installing the rom, don't work after installing the rom must be something in the rom, that or something I did to the rom afterward. So I do a fresh install of Aloysius and add sms bomber and it won't work. Must be Aloysius. (some from searching some from trial and error.)
So I decide I am just going to get the original rom, since I don't need any of the stuff in Aloysius because I have replaced most of it with my own anyway and the apps I like in it I can just add myself. So i search and search for a Virgin rom. Can't find one anywhere. Figure well maybe I can just pull the rom from my phone by copying the directory structure. So I re-flash my original backup and try pulling the files that way. I get them off the phone add them to a zip file name it update and put it on my phone and go to flash it back to see if it works. Epic Fail. After searching some more I find out that you have to have a script to tell it what to install and where so I learn through searching how t make a update-script file, throw it in the META-INF folder in its right place zip the two folders up sign them and put them on my phone. In case you were wondering it didn't work. come to find out after doing some searching you cant do that. Maybe I should have searched that one before just jumping in on that one. Eh live and learn I guess.
So I search and search for the not so ever present virgin rom. Apparently, if it is out in the wild, it is a well hidden secret cause I can't find it. Finally after hours and hours of searching, I give up and ask for help finding it. yes thats right I asked for help. Well that ask didn't exactly garner me a here is a link just follow it and you can download your prize. No instead I find out that it isn't out there. Not in rom form at least.
There are ones that are close but nothing completely virgin. Why waste my time on those when They might have something I need removed and I don't even know it. Finally ABCDFV tells me its in the RUU in the Rom file Packed into an IMG file. Not exactly a rom but close enough that, I'm guessing, it's the closest I will get. So now All I have to do is unpack it and be done with it. Yeah me. I have unpacked stuff before this should be a synch. Mind you that was at 2 pm.
So I use every program I can think of that are used for opening IMG files and none of them work so I search the internet and find butt loads more but they don't work either so I do more searching and find out that the IMG files that are packed in the roms are special and can't be opened in the normal ways.
So after more searching I find many tutorials on how to unpack the files but all of them are in ubuntu. Well I'm running windows 7 so that won't work. I search and search and can't find a windows program to save my life so I reserve myself to having to use Linux.
I go to my back room and find an old 700 mhz computer download ubuntu and install it. get all of my files take them to the other computer and start reading the tutorials. this is when I realize that I have no freaking clue what I am doing in Linux. Sure I have played with it but I don't use it like this. I get to the first command in all of the tutorials and it says type "gcc -o unyaffs unyaffs.c" but not one of them say where to type it. (come to find out it's in terminal) so I go back and search that to find out. after I finally get that figured out I realize that not one of these tutorials on how to do this is complete. Sure they might be complete to someone that knows UBUNTU but not to me. After hours and hours of searching and trying and failing I finally get fed up with UBUNTU. That was at about 9 o clock.
I disconnect the computer and take it outside and shoot the damn thing with my 12 gauge. That's right I shot it. No joke. No it didn't help me to unpack the file. No it wasn't logical, reasonable or even rational, but damn it I felt better. seeing them little green pieces of pcb flying and knowing I would never be defeated by this computer again was almost blissful.
I came back in and through utter frustration and dismay. haven been beaten by a fricken IMG file I again ask for help. That is when ABCDFV showed me the link to the X86 version of unyaff. yes finally my worries are over. I download it drag the system.IMG file to it and it pops up a message. "cygwin1.dll file is missing." You have got to be fu**ing kidding me. So back to searching I go. Come to find out it is a file used on windows machines so you can run Linux programs. I JUST SHOT LINUX AND IT IS COMING BACK TO HAUNT ME I KNOW IT NOW. So i go to the website for cygwin and wouldn't you know it there isn't a file like that on their server just an exe file that loads something . screw it ill load it so i download it install it, which mind you it says will fix the problem. and guess what, it didn't fix it.
So after searching and searching I find a website that has it. Sure there are about 50 million that had it but I wanted one that didnt charge me or want me to install there stupid program to get it. I get the file and install it.
30 seconds later and I am looking at the ever so hard to find, "virgin rom". well not exactly. It is not a rom yet but I have everything else I need to make the rom so Might as well be the rom. I make my update-script put it in with it, zip it, sign it and send it to my phone.
I flash it to my phone the whole time it is going I'm just praying it will work. Verifying, verifying Come one copying files, yes its working! finished. I can't fu**ing believe it. After everything I finally have it my own virgin rom. Yes, yes, oh freakin yes, everything is right in my world again.
Only one thing left to do, reboot phone. I hit the reboot and it blinks off. A second later HTC. A minute later Still HTC. It's ok sometimes when you flash a new rom it takes a while. 15 minutes later still HTC. YOU HAVE GOT TO BE FREAKIN KIDDING ME. So I reboot same thing. Apparently there is something I am missing. Don't know what yet, I'm sure something I read will hold the answer but I sure as sh*t aint doing it tonight.
That is when I came back on. I figured the least I could do was to thank ABCDFV for helping me get this far. that is when I seen your post. To tell you the truth It pi**ed me off. Where do you come off telling me to do a little searching and I can find it. That is all I have been doing the last three days is searching.
I dont think I am doing that bad either I have taught myself all of this in the matter of four days by serching. I know people that have been rooting there Phones since G1 and dont know half of what I know now and I have only been doing it for 4 days. So I dont think I am doing that bad. Especially since I have only had to ask one question and then a follow up.
Apparently you were born with all of the HTC Hero information and never needed to ask anyone a question about it ever, and that is all well and good, but people like me have to ask every once in a while for a little help.
I thought that is what this forum was for.
I am sorry if I am not another script kiddy that is ok with other people making stuff and me just throwing it on my phone and calling it my own.
I am sorry if I don't want to say to someone look what someone else did and I was able to install it on my phone just like your 11 year old neighbor did to his phone.
I am sorry if I want to do something from scratch instead of using other peoples work.
I am sorry if I want to be able to say look what I did.
Maybe you are Ok with that maybe you're not But I sure as hell am not. And I don't know you from Adam. You may be the person that first came out with all of the stuff that makes this possible or you may be just another script kiddy happy to install others work, I don't know. I am sure after I am done here I will find out but to do that I have to search and I'm not into that right now.
But next time you want to go off on a rant to someone maybe you shouldn't assume they haven't done anything and are just looking for a handout. Maybe you should just help them. Maybe If someone would have said in the beginning of my thread that the virgin rom doesn't exist and you have to rip it from the RUU and there is no other way I wouldn't have spent the last 24 hours trying to figure it out.
This isn't my first time at a rodeo you know just my first time on this bull. I am a member of many forums for many different things. And usually people come to me for help cause they are too lazy to search, and I understand If I would have asked what is a rom an how do I root my phone. Or something simple covered hundreds of times in the forums else ware but I didn't.
Not only did I ask for help with something that is obviously nonexistent or close to it but I asked for a link so I could go in the right direction. I didnt just automatically ask where is it and what do I do with it. I want to learn so I can teach others. I want to learn so when someone asks why won't this work I can tell them why instead of "I don't know, it just don't" I want to understand what I am doing not just do it for the sake of doing it.
So as far as your crankiness goes Sorry if I made you cranky but maybe if you are cranky cause someone wants help you shouldn't be on a forum that is for helping people. Because it is just going to make you more cranky. Just a thought.
So that is it for my rant. Sorry it was so long but I had to get that out. now onto what I vcame here for originally :
Thanks dude That worked Awesome. I had to find a file for it but it worked like a charm. I didnt get my rom to work yet But cause of you I am a HUge step closer. I got it out of the ruu got it on the phone now it wont boot so I just have to figure out why. But thank you for finding that for me I coulndt find it at all. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Holy **** I didn't read one word that.
Good luck man!

Hello, New to android programming and got ?'s

Hello,
I'm Andy, and I'm a little bit more active on other forums, but I've had my android device since November, and love it. Anyways, I had a couple of ?'s about an app I have in progress and I was wondering if what I want to do is even possible.
Basically, I want to develop a simple app, with just 1 activity. I have the graphics/XML stuff all taken care of already, thats easy peezy stuff.
Next, I want to install a file I include with the app to a specific location of the internal memory. By default, if you install a file included, it goes to /data/data/....., I would like my file to install, to /system/xbin/. I know you would need superuser permissions, thats fine, I was wondering if it was possible. If it is, would someone enlighten me as to how? If it isn't thats still fine, cause I can include the file in a flashable zip.
Next question,
Can I have my app run the file (ie. the equivalent to going into a terminal emulator and navigating to /system/xbin/ and typing the file name?) I ask this, cause all I've found is running files that located within your app, or creating files and editing them. I don't need that, I just want the file to be read.
Next, um, if the above is possible, how do I stop it?
So here is what the app would be:
usb tethering for senseui phones and 2.1. It may not work with all (probably not aria, i don't think that was included), but this method works with the Sprint Hero. I would like to make it idiot proof, as in creating the exploit into an app. One that installs the file onCreate() and then runs it with the first button press, and then kills it on the second button press and maybe adding a menu option to quit the app. Its not an app I would charge for, nor even attempt to distribute on the market. Any help is greatly appreciated. Thanks.

A guide to tweaking your X2.

Disclaimer: I am not knowledgeable about phones. I do not code and nor do I usually do what I describe in this post. The contents herein was put together by me in order to avoid confusion for people with the same interest as myself, making my X2 work better/faster or just plain customized. Because of this, I've made a few assumptions and also only described the way that worked for me.
This guide is based on the collective work of forum users, I take no credit or responsibility for its accuracy other than the fact that it worked for me.
This is only the installation steps, they are not specific to my knowledge. There are other guides out there for changing your language and doing more advanced thing, but this is just the basics. At least they are to me. Let us begin.
-----------------
Hello and welcome, this post is meant to guide you through the process of customizing the installation of your Xperia X2. My hope is that it will make your phone more responsive, but more importantly give you the option of deciding what you want installed.
The first thing we're going to be doing is to get ahold of the right files to install on your X2. Thankfully these files have been made availiable to us by PavelX1 in his post "NEW ORIGINAL X2 ROMS + Extracted CABs update 14.6.2010"*
Don't let the number and letter jumble intimidate you, on your own X2 the information you need to find the right package is found at Settings -> System -> Unit Information**. Here you'll find a bunch of numbers and letter combinations, if you look closely some of these will correspond to the names of the files availiable by PavelX1. Find the one that corresponds to your unit.
In my case it said that the following:
Software ID: 1230-2397
Software Version: R3AA035
Customization ID: 1231-4911
Customization version : R20A
Language Region: GENERIC_SE
I therefore searched for the following file which matched my information :X2_1230-2397_GENERIC_SE_R3AA035_CDF1231-4911_R20A.rar. Below that file was the file we're interested in for this particular guide. The GENERIC_*your language*_*version*_CABS.rar which in my case was named GENERIC_SE_R3AA035_CABS.
Now what we're going to do is get your computer prepared. Please download the Sony Ericsson Update Service (SEUS) available at their website.
If this is the first time connecting your X2 to your computer it might want to install some drivers in order for your computer to communicate with your phone, this is irrelevant to this guide but I mention it in order to let you know that this is normal and you have done nothing wrong.
Once we can connect to our phone and use its memorycard (which I assume you have) we will open the GENERIC_*your language*_*version*_CABS.rar and extract its contents into it. It has been suggested that you throw in an extra file together with the others availiable in the post "Want a fix for the X2? Only us can do it." on page 3.
We may now move on.
If you already have SEUS installed it was suggested by royalbloodvi in his thread "[TESTED 100% WORKING] Quickest way to get MR2 for those of you who can't get it!" that you remove the following folder C:\Program Files\Sony Ericsson\Update Service\db from your computer. I haven't tried any other way so I'll leave that bit of info as is.
Now we can begin the install process, this will take a little while so don't be in a hurry. It's important that you do not do this on a phone with an empty battery as it may interrupt the install process and cause problems, charge it before you do this. You may also want to backup any files important to you on the phone as they will be removed in this step. As an extra precaution you may want to remove the sim card as well.
Now that we're ready, go to Settings -> System -> Clear phone memory and press it. You'll have reset your phone to its original, empty, state. Connect your phone to your computer, if you haven't already, and begin the update process. SEUS might tell you that your phone is already up to date, this may be true, but we don't WANT it to be up to date, we want to decide what it is updated WITH so click update anyway.
Your phone will reboot. Disconnect your phone from your computer and open the backside of your phone by sliding the lock switch and removing the cover. Remove the stylus and you will see a small depression at the top left that was shidden by it. This is the hard-reset button for your phone which we will be using in a moment. Untill then you wait. Your phone will ask you to calibrate it after the sony logo has shown up. Calibrate the screen and your phone will start installing .cab files. quickly go to the hard-reset we mentioned a moment ago and press the tip of the stylus to it. A click was heard on my X2 when I pressed it and I assume the same is true for yours.
Now your phone will reboot, you will notice that it looks markedly different from what it did before this procedure. Don't worry, we can fix that if you like, but first we must address the window that has popped up and asked if you wish to try the install again. No, no we don't. Click no.
We are now freed from the shakles of oppression that is preinstalled and unremoveable software and may begin installing the files we WANT.
GO to the file explorer and select Storage Card and you will see all of the files we extracted to it previously. In order for you to know which ones you want I suggest that you go to the second page in the thread "Want a fix for the X2? Only us can do it." to get an overview of what the individual files do. Installing them is as simple as clicking them and selecting to what part of the phone you want them installed, I choose to install all of these files to my phone and not my memory card.
Now, to get your phone looking like it did before you did this (assuming you didn't use a panel but a standard theme) you will spot three theme files called X2_Saturn.cab (which is the one I use that looks like the stock one) X2_Saturn_Light.cab (which I don't know what the difference is) and X2_Titan.cab (which I also don't know what it looks like).
And that's that, you're done and hopefully your phone is more to your likeing.
--------------
Here is a shorter step by step guide without the filling, unceremoniously "borrowed" from royalbloodvi and slightly reformatted. Please read the full guide and use this only as a quick procedure guide.
1) Reset your phone.
2) Unpack the GENERIC_*your language*_*version*_CABS.rar to your phones memory card and add the multifix.cab found on this site.
3) Open SEUS, start a new update. Even if it says you have the latest version you want to do it update anyway.
4) Once your phone reboots the calibrations screen will appear. After calibration it will start applying .cab files. Now push the reset button that is hidden behind your stylus and battery cover and it will reboot again.
5) You may now find the files you wish to install on your phones memory card in the file explorer.
*I, as I am a new member, am not allowed to post links, thus the name of the forums from which this information is gleaned is named instead of a direct link.
**If this informations isn't named exactly the same as I have described it, but is merely similar, it could be because I've done a literal translation from Swedish to English.
Edit: I just noticed a very similar guide is available on the General section, which I overlooked. I feel like an ass now. This thread may removed at moderators leisure.

[Q] Samsung Galaxy Tab 4 8.0 AT&T SM-T337A Root but NO Recovery

Hi Devs,
I've just joined and am uncertain of the proper place for this thread. Apologies if inaccurately posted.
I have the T337A, which I have rooted on ANF4, but I cannot find a recovery. I have read and read but am not finding the solution to my little project. I would like to get a safestrap on this locked bootloader so that I can install and learn to write custom ROMs. I have tried a safestrap but it was not for this specific device and did not work. I have also installed and purchased CWM Recovery and TWRP Recovery, in my learning process. The problem with the recovery is that there is no custom recovery written for this device and the bootloader is locked, as this is the AT&T WiFi/LTE version. So it looks to me like I need to figure out the partitioning image somehow in order to make a safestrap work on this device...as step 1. Is there anything else that I can do with this locked bootloader? I would love to have some help in writing a custom recovery and ROM for this device but I am a tiny tiny noob here and not a hard core programmer. If I could get some feedback on places to start for such a daunting task, it would be great. I guess one thing that I do not understand is why I cannot make my current rooted ROM the default recovery in TWRP. It asks me to choose from the list of supported devices. I understand that it goes: NAND --> aboot.img/bootloader --> recovery/or/kernel --> OS/or/ROM? If this is close to accurate then I would have to write something to the NAND?, which I'm not sure what is yet, in order to hijack the factory bootloader and then write the partitions on the sdCard for the ROM, like the safestrap folks wrote? It looks to me like they also included a version of TWRP touch which I used on the S4 yesterday and was really cool, so I guess that would be needed as well and is also why TWRP does not work for me now...it cannot hijack the locked bootloader. How do I hijack this hard headed thing? fastboot does not work to this device. In the process of this project, I have also run into a roadblock trying to update the /system/framework/framework-res.apk, in the manner that a flash needs to be done, I think. I want to change the /res/values/bools/bools.xml switch "voice_capeable" to true. AT&T or Samsung disable this on this version of the tablet, I guess to sell tethering or something else I'm not familiar with...but the way it looks to me, everything is configured on the device and I have a phone number provisioned for data at least. Why can't I turn on this switch and use the phone portion of the device? Any time I tickle the running framework-res.apk, it kills the OS. I tried compiling an update.zip aligned and signed with test keys or something like that but when I flash it, it fails with wrong footer and invalid signature...then it wipes me back to the stone ages. I warned I was a noob..! ...but not scared to brick some shtuff in order to learn this and write some custom solutions. An after thought...is there a solution for a bootable extSdCard for Android? This might lead to some options if it is possible.
Gathering phone info...
Collecting information. Be patient! Do NOT disconnect the phone!
Model: SM-T337A
Android Version: 4.4.2
Sales Code: ATT
PDA Version: T337AUCU1ANF4
Phone Version: T337AUCU1ANF4
CSC Version: T337AATT1ANF4
Product Code: SM-T337AZWAATT
HIDSw Version: T337AUCU1ANF4/T337AATT1ANF4/T337AUCU1ANF4/T337AUCU1ANF4
Board Platform: MSM8226
Serial Number: R32FA00PMRF
Imei: 3534.............
Unique Number: C1604.......
Connections: AT,MTP,MTP
Battery Status: 4.28V (94%)
Network Type: GSM
SuperSU Pro v2.40
TWRP donate latest
CWM donate v5.5.3.7
BusyBox Stericson donate v1.23.0
Titanium Backup Pro latest
xPosed v2.7.1
Wanam xPosed v3.3.1
NinjaMorph Pro v2.8.2
ROM Toolbox Pro v6.0.6.5
RootLogger Pro v1.9
Nandroid Backup v4.4.5
Next Launcher 3D Shell v3.20
Root Firewall Pro v2.1
SetCPU v3.1.2
w/respect. PitPin
Sir,
Please wait until mods will move this thread to the device specific forum for more relevant answers.
Stand by
Good luck
We had a dev working to get safestrap, but he struck out. So if you can get it, I'll test. I too have the 337a. Sucks to have a locked bootloader and no dev interest.
pre4speed said:
We had a dev working to get safestrap, but he struck out. So if you can get it, I'll test. I too have the 337a. Sucks to have a locked bootloader and no dev interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks pre4speed. I am taking a look at the two tasks again tonight and decided to take the res/bool = voice_capable issue on first since this will determine how brickable this device can be for me. If I can use it as a regular modem phone then I might be a bit more careful with the bootloader project I did some more tinkering with the framework-res.apk ...specifically the /res/values/bools/bools.xml resource and tried the following:
-------
Factory wipe
Flashed sammobile.com T337AATT1ANF4 firmware
Rooted
SuperSU
Busybox
Froze AT&T update service and others involved
Titanium backup and pulled a good backup
Online Nandroid and pulled a good backup
Installed my XDA app. of course..!
-------
Framework-res.apk:
Used total commander to copy the running apk off to the sdCard and then my PC.
Decompilled in APKStudio2.0.3b-Windows (I am also using Ubuntu 14.04 if there is a better way here..also Android Studio on both OS...just learning).
Edited my value.
Recompiled with zip align/sign option.
***Now here in lies the problem, if I haven't already created one above ***
The random article I dug up said that in order to get past the wrong footer and signature issue, and stone-age wipe, when attempting this via abd sideload with an update.zip, is to now copy the edited file back into the original APK using 7zip in order to retain the original signing keys. When I open the original APK archive, it does not show the resource folders deemed "important and I should not jack with them" in the compiled APK (mainly values/* folder). The article mentioned the resource folders such as res/values/bools are compiled and hidden and that I needed to copy over the new resources.arsc file. I see this in the newly compiled APK I made but it also put the Manifest.xml and /res folder in there. Do I need to copy all of that or just the compiled resources.arsc file? I did all and it boot looped me so I'm guessing that I either did something wrong or this was not the right answer. The last part was to chmod the new APK, use total commander to mount the folder as rw, copy over the file, and reboot. All of that worked and I had to reboot many many times...loop.
That is where I am on the modem part and am going to attempt copying just the resources.arsc in a few. I will post more on the bootloader side soon, as I've been researching what goes on from the time I push the power button until the time I swipe the first screen. Lots of reading
w/respect - PitPin
Copying only the resources.arsc file from within the newly compiled apk back to the original framework-res.apk made some progress. Now I have the phone dialer app icon in my apps drawer... but it is failing complaining about contacts. On to the next round of research..!
PitPin said:
Copying only the resources.arsc file from within the newly compiled apk back to the original framework-res.apk made some progress. Now I have the phone dialer app icon in my apps drawer... but it is failing complaining about contacts. On to the next round of research..!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stalled out temporarily on the tab project as laptop hard drive bought the farm. Back in action and made some progress on the tab voice_capable issue. Everything appears to be there and in working order but the SMS modules. I think this has something to do with why the contacts app is blowing up but not sure yet. GoSMS and EXDialer seem to work together without blowing up but the dialer taps the modem and then dies. Taking a break from this to start a thread on rooting the AT&T Alpha. I'm about half way through the exploit on that project. Any input on what might be my SMS problem on the tab 4 would be appreciated. Attached are a few screens.
Does anyone know how to removed the caution sign on the left corner it keep telling me unauthorized action have been detected.
I am in the same boat, I so wish this would come through because I do love this little tab.
same boat
/baker said:
I am in the same boat, I so wish this would come through because I do love this little tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so did you finally get it going or what?I have been wanting to get my Tab going as well. I've Rooted it and paid for an unlock even, which worked fantastic by the way...Thanx XDA!!! The rooting guide I got from here was right on point,no problem at all!!But anyways, I have it on metro pcs now on the unlimited $60 plan which is awesome (.REAL unlimited internet with NO THROTTLING ) for me because now at home I run pda.net, which gives me very good, fulltime, internet for my home computers as well as the ability to stream everything onto a large screen or even via windows when we want to watch with all the bells and whistles! No lag at all usually,and I don't use my hotspot because of the usb internet connect on pda.net. When I do use the wireless connect, it doesn't take any of the allotted hotspot usage up either!!All in all it's a great deal for me. I just got a new sim for it, called in the imei to metro ,which in turn gave me a phone number and data account, and presto!Been on the net ever since! Now that I've had it for over a month ,I wanna get the voice capability to work as well, being that I am paying for 2 lines now. Although I can use the old trusty hangouts dialer with the GoogleVoice easily enough. I want to be able to use my metro number mainly because these phone companies charge and charge and charge, never caring about us,or our need to have communication at our disposal at all times.Cell phones are by far not inexpensive and the internet wasn't started for us to pay aan arm and a leg to use.Anytime I come out good while dealing with a wireless company. it's a stupendous event,I'm telling you!! Heck ,I'm writing from my home computer now, going through the Tab at this very moment! Nevertheless, I'm wanting for the devs, to come through as well. With maybe even a new rom,sans the at&t stuff, of course, since I do now have a different carrier? Heck, the Tab is even great for when we travel! 24/7 unlimited internet /streaming , and the screen size is much better than the phone screen ever was!I just really wanted to thank XDA for the work they put in to help us part - timers out,Ive been rooting and unlocking and bricking and un-bricking for quite some time now,I even repair phones now actually,but the programming and the putting it all out here for guys like me to have fun and tinker with these phones would be entirely impossible without the DEV'S and their hard work for SURE...Thanx Guys!!You ROCK!

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