Getting control of my Desire HD - Desire HD General

Hi folks,
I want to be able to uninstall all the bloatware that my DHD came with so I guess I need to root it. However in this regard I don't need a perm root? As I don't need to change the UI etc, just remove a bunch of unecessary apps.
I've tried using the rooting guide here but as an anroid newb the instuctions are too vague for me to follow and my attempts to infer what the authors mean have resulted in failure (no brick tho! ).
So, I have visionary and supersuer both installed and I tried the temp root and perm root function in visionary (which is granted supersuer permissions from the superuser app in the process) but when I go back to "manage applications" the uninstall button for all the bloatware apps is still greyed out.
Any ideas?
EDIT: Typing "su" in terminal emulator results in "#" so that appears to be working correctly. But still no go on uninstalling the apps. I don't care about not getting updates over the air as I value having greater control over my device more. Besides, I can always flash it manually.

dccxviii said:
Hi folks,
I want to be able to uninstall all the bloatware that my DHD came with so I guess I need to root it. However in this regard I don't need a perm root? As I don't need to change the UI etc, just remove a bunch of unecessary apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hello 718 ,
I've read something about uninstall unwanted applications
in the adb description "Using ADB.pdf" and "How to install adb.pdf".
Hope it helps you, I'm in the searching and reading phase of owning
the HTC DHD (some weeks ago - and android newbee) -
it's a jungle of information here on xda-developers
WBR peschi

Use titanium backup or root explorer.
sent from my dhd

Thanks for the replies.
So far i've started using titanium backup as it seems easier to use then having to install adb shell. Although I installed that as well and start learning some basic commands.
For now, titanium seems to be the answer to my issue as it allowing me to uninstall a whole heap of useless apps. But I think in the next few days of tinkering i'm gonna come to the conclusion that I want even greater control. Which seems to indicate falshing an entirely defferent rom to HTC sense. Although the keyboard on the sense UI is second to none IMO but smoething tells me that there's a .apk file out there with that in it

So, I've rooted my Desire HD with VISIONary+ and mounted /system as r/w using that "Mount system r/w" app from market, to move some of the stock apps from the Desire HD (and to hopefully solve that Facebook for Android problem I described in another thread). I used Root Explorer to move the apps to a folder on the SD card, turned the phone off and back on, and the apps were back?
Is this because I haven't done that "S-Off" thing, does the quick boot option need to be disabled (even though I turned the phone off entirely) or something else, in order to keep the apps that I moved, from respawning in /system/app?
Thanks in advance (and sorry for borrowing your thread, OP).

I don't think i've got s-off (whatever that means lol) and I was able to uninstall the crapware using titanium backup. My process was somewhat convoluted but I guess it boiled down to 2 things. Visionary and Superuser apps.
Now I don't think my phone is completely rooted because when I go to the default "manage applications" list in the stock UI the uninstall button for the crapware system apps is still greyed out. But for when I run titanium backup, it gets granted superuser acces from the superuser app and is then able to uninstall all the bloatware.
I would like to know of a sure fire way whether my phone is completely rooted or not though. Namely because I think I want to start using completely different roms.

I temprooted using visionary+ then opened titanium back up to uninstall unwanted apps. But which are safe to remove? I want to get rid of Facebook, Friendstream and a few others but Titanium warns me they are system components and my phone may not work after uninstalling them....
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

I got rid of all of that (twitter, myspace etc rubbish). Even some native htc ones that I know are ancilliary. You just have to use a bit of logic as to what might require what. Crap like friend stream or whatever wuold most likey rely on such apps. But since I uninstalled that too... you get the idea
I was gonna get rid of sound hound as well but it's actually kinda useful. One of the few apps I left on it from the factory.
EDIT: I've also been using titanium to backup more usefull HTC system apps so that when I do eventually move to a new rom, i can just install them later. Things like the HTC clock, office apps, calender, messaging etc are superior to stock android equivalents.

WTF...
I had to remove my sim card for something and when I reinserted it and turned on the phone all the apps I 'removed' were back as if nothing ever happened!
Did I miss something because I don't remember reading anywhere that that would happen if you rebooted your phone!
Agrrrr...I need some help >.<

If your DHD does not have S-OFF after every reboot it will restore everything you removed.

Ahh, thnaks for that. I've used the S-off radio tool to disable the security now. Hopefully those rubbish apps will stay away (tested with reboot and it seems so). However, now that i've rooted my phone and switched to S-off I am still curious as to why system apps are still unable to be uninstalled through the in-built android app manager.
Also, I attempted to use the clockworkrecovery mod to install new ROMS and so wanted to backup my current ROM install before trying new ones but the phone just goes to a black screen with a pic of a mobile phone with a red exclamation point in a triangle.
...unless of course after all this it STILL isn't rooted. In which case I think I might start looking seriously at the Nexus. *sigh*

The built-in app manager will not let you remove system apps regardless of being rooted. Install Titanium Backup from the market. This will remove it.
Download ROM Manager from the market, and "Flash Recovery" again, some users have issues with it working first time.

That did the trick! Thanks very much
One last question then, if I flash a new ROM e.g. cyanogenMOD, will that completely replace HTC sense and thus allow me to use the built in app manager to remove apps because...there won't be anymore 'system' apps?

andyharney said:
If your DHD does not have S-OFF after every reboot it will restore everything you removed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have root + Radio S-Off but every restart the phone causes my default Smart Keyboard deactive. Do you have any idea about that, is it spesific for an app or a general problem?
I am asking because I did not do ENG S-Off I have done only Radio S-Off.

With S-ON every reboot will result in ANY change to the system being restored, You make system changes permanent you need S-OFF.
As for your keyboard being disabled, not sure about that. Installing & using an additional keyboard shouldn't make any system changes.

dccxviii said:
That did the trick! Thanks very much
One last question then, if I flash a new ROM e.g. cyanogenMOD, will that completely replace HTC sense and thus allow me to use the built in app manager to remove apps because...there won't be anymore 'system' apps?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Even on CM system apps cannot be uninstalled through the Android App Manager. It's the way its designed, why would the system allow you to remove the "Android System" or "Dialer". Imagine the chaos if you uninstalled something you actually needed and Android let you do it.
You need to use 3rd Party apps (Titanium Backup) to do this, or ADB

still scared
so after rooting my HD what ARE the apps which are safe to remove?

Mat Buenaluz said:
so after rooting my HD what ARE the apps which are safe to remove?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you ever want to make use of ota updates (eg to improve camera performance) then none of the 'bloatware' apps are safe to remove as removing them will prevent the ota update installing.
Sent from my HTC HD so may contain typos, bugs and, if the battery lasts, pearls of....(battery 0%)

As the tittle says getting control over your DHD, so this might be the right thread, allthough might be off topic to op's post...
Anyway my last device was a N900 and that was fully rooted with no permission limits. I've learned that the rooted DHD has some limits and i've run into one. On the N900 i used the terminal for allmost anything, flashing, copying, installing, removing etc. and would like to do so here on the DHD. My problem is that i'm trying to flash the kernel/zImage through terminal emulater but get this error - failed with error: -1. -
Any help would be great
Sorry to go off topic...

You cannot flash a kernel using terminal emulator. If you want to flash manually, get android sdk and use fastboot.exe in platform-tools to flash.
1. Reboot your device while holding vol-, it will go to bootloader
2. Select fastboot in bootloader
3. In your PC, type: "fastboot.exe flash zimage c:\any_folder\zImage"
4. Type: "fastboot.exe reboot"
After that you have to remount your DHD's system to rw state: "mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/mmcblk0p25 /system", and manually push wifi module to /system/lib/modules/ using adb. If you do not do that, your wifi does not work. You need ENG S-OFF.

Related

[Q] Temp Root and Removing Bloatware

Hi Everyone,
Longtime lurker here. Didn't want to ask questions until I exhausted all the Q&A threads. This is my first Android and by the way the Red MT is smokin!!!
I read all the threads relating to rooting and most of what I have gathered is about permanent rooting. I think the best bet for me is temp rooting and to remove the bloatware that came with my phone. However, there's not much info and instructions on temp rooting.
Can some kindly give me a step-by-step instructions on what I need to do to remove the bloatware (amazon thingy and the games) without permanent rooting?
Thanks in advance.
Easiest way is to disable apps, rather then removing them. This way you will avoid potential issues with future OTAs as well. You will not gain any space neither if you delete apps since most of them are in /system/app partition with is not user accesible.
1. Get Visionary from one of the threads here on on MoDaCo and temp root.
2. Get Titanium Back-up (get pro version, it's very nice and not too spendy)
3. In TB, go to Back-up/Restore tab, click any app and choose "Freeze" option.
This will put app in disabled state. Yes it's there, no it's not active, not in the app drawer and not taking up any resources. I would also detach those apps from market (again, in TB) to make sure you don't update them and put them back in "enabled" state.
Hope that helps. There's also a big thread about it in dev. section.
Good luck.
I did it another way - get visionary (its not on the market, google modaco and get the apk. You will need a file browser like astro, navigate to your downloads or whereever u saved it and instal it from there). Then get a terminal emulator from market. Open visionary, do root now or whatever that option is. It will take a minute to temproot, when done it wont say anything but it's rooted. Dont reboot.
open terminal emulator type
su (this gives u superuser access)
then type
pm list packages (this will list all packages)
then just look at the packages u want to disable (they're selfexplanatory mostly) and type
com disable EXACT PACKAGE NAME WITH CORRECT LETTERCASE (press enter)
and so on, it will tell you that such and such package is disabled
comprende?
ctakah27 said:
com disable EXACT PACKAGE NAME WITH CORRECT LETTERCASE (press enter)
and so on, it will tell you that such and such package is disabled
comprende?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What you want to type is
Code:
pm disable EXACT PACKAGE NAME
Please double check your spelling when you give instructions to someone else.
Titanium does exactly that (pm disable) but with UI so it's a little easier for new users, that's why I recommended that instead of doing it manually.
is the "pm disable" command like "freeze" in titanium backup? or does it uninstall the app completely? if it freezes it, how would i unfreeze it?
also, if i remove or freeze apps with a temproot, will the apps still show up or reinstall after i reboot?
borodin1 said:
Easiest way is to disable apps, rather then removing them. This way you will avoid potential issues with future OTAs as well. You will not gain any space neither if you delete apps since most of them are in /system/app partition with is not user accesible.
1. Get Visionary from one of the threads here on on MoDaCo and temp root.
2. Get Titanium Back-up (get pro version, it's very nice and not too spendy)
3. In TB, go to Back-up/Restore tab, click any app and choose "Freeze" option.
This will put app in disabled state. Yes it's there, no it's not active, not in the app drawer and not taking up any resources. I would also detach those apps from market (again, in TB) to make sure you don't update them and put them back in "enabled" state.
Hope that helps. There's also a big thread about it in dev. section.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked like a charm on my G2....other than you MUST have the PRO version to freeze....Rebooted, uninstalled visionary, superuser, and ti backup afterwards...Apps still disabled! Yay!
Remove from Terminal
Hello:
Instead of the PM Disable command, is there another command you can type to remove/delete the package permanently?
Thanks,
jameswenn said:
Hello:
Instead of the PM Disable command, is there another command you can type to remove/delete the package permanently?
Thanks,
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being that the phone will do a security check there is no way to delete the applications from the phone's hard drive w/o permarooting.
the T/Backup sounds like your best option.
Although the root.sh scripts are extremely easy to execute will little chance of "bricking" the device. If you should want to permaroot the phone
You can batch-freeze
To save time and effort in removing bloatware on a re-boot with Visionary, create a file (Titanium Backup Pro calls it a "label") in Titanium Backup Pro containing the apps you want to freeze.
Then, after a reboot using Visionary for temp root, you can open TB, go to "Batch" operations in Menu, scroll to and select "freeze all user & system apps" and apply the filter you created when the next screen appears.
Apparently perfectly safe because all of this is undone at the next reboot.
ecdy said:
To save time and effort in removing bloatware on a re-boot with Visionary, create a file (Titanium Backup Pro calls it a "label") in Titanium Backup Pro containing the apps you want to freeze.
Then, after a reboot using Visionary for temp root, you can open TB, go to "Batch" operations in Menu, scroll to and select "freeze all user & system apps" and apply the filter you created when the next screen appears.
Apparently perfectly safe because all of this is undone at the next reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Freeze is permanent, you don't need to re-do it after reboot.
Is there a way to remove the Sense UI with this method?
Sent from my HTC Magic using XDA App
Removing Sense
Don't know about removing Sense (I haven't used Titanium Backup to freeze specifically sense-identified programs) but you can freeze the programs the Tmo puts in the interface, like Faves, and install one of the froyo 2.2 launchers. I've done this and my 4g home screen looks just like my N1 home screen and the app drawer is as clean (almost) as the N1's also. So my 4g has the feel of my N1, with the benefit of 4g access. Wish I could get rid of the lame "genius" button though.
Would anyone know why none of the apk's would show up under backup/restore?
I'm perm. root with S=OFF and have the pro version of TB.
Thanks
smellmyfingers said:
Would anyone know why none of the apk's would show up under backup/restore?
I'm perm. root with S=OFF and have the pro version of TB.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you open up TB, you need to go to press the "problems?" button below.
this will install busybox.
then you should see them under backup/restore.

[Q] Removing pre-installed apps on Vodafone branded DHD

Hi all.
I have searched the forum and can't find any method to permanently remove the Vodafone pre-installed apps from my DHD.
I have used VISIONary to root and have tried Root Explorer and Titanium Backup to remove the programs, either apk's or Uninstall.
All seems find until the phone is rebooted and the apps are restored.
Does anyone know how to stop that happening? Is there some startup script that checks and unpacks?
Or else, is the fact I am temp-rooting in VISIONary something to do with it?
Many thanks in advance to anyone that can help remove this bloat!
I will put a custom rom on later, Cyanogen, but want to hold off on that for a bit.
if you're only doing it until you put on cyanogen, i'd just freeze the apps. that stops them showing in the drawer.
You need to root AND s-off. Follow the guides in the development forum and then you can remove stock apps. The htc bootloader resets itself and reverts to stock so you need a modified bootloader. It's very easy. Just follow the guides.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Thanks to both.
For now I have frozen the apps with Titanium Donate as they are more annoying than damaging.
I will hold of rooting for a bit longer too, usually until I hit some issues or lack of updates.
Again, a big thanks.
I've got a Vodafone/A1 branded Desire HD, and was using Visionary Temproot & the free version of Titanium backup to force uninstall all the branding apps I didn't like.
Worked for me.
In Visionary:
.) Run visionary.sh after root - checked
.) Set system r/w after root - checked
press "Temproot now"
Titanium backup:
Select application and keep finger on it until context menu appears \ force app delete(through recovery exploit)
Just make sure you know what you're doing, I can't see an option to reinstall these apps.
If you reboot your phone these apps will return. Without S-OFF, any pre-installed bloatware will return.
Stoffl_ said:
I've got a Vodafone/A1 branded Desire HD, and was using Visionary Temproot & the free version of Titanium backup to force uninstall all the branding apps I didn't like.
Worked for me.
In Visionary:
.) Run visionary.sh after root - checked
.) Set system r/w after root - checked
press "Temproot now"
Titanium backup:
Select application and keep finger on it until context menu appears \ force app delete(through recovery exploit)
Just make sure you know what you're doing, I can't see an option to reinstall these apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do what he says, the apps will remove, but this can be time consuming, to do it individually for each app too.
Yes, I will do that for any apps that chomp resources.
Didn't realise about long press until later
Cheers all.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

Some Questions Before I Root

I've considered rooting and installing a custom ROM dozens of times ever since I got my Droid X back in August and I've finally decided I'm just going to do it, but i just want to double check a few things before I root my phone and install Fission:
1. I know that rooting voids your warranty, but if I have problems with my phone and I end up needing repairs, can I just unroot my phone back to stock and still have my phone be covered under the warranty?
2. Will my phone be secure rooted with a custom ROM? I don't want people having access to my personal info contact data, and my passwords.
3. If I Overclock to say 1.2 or 1.3 Ghz with ULV, will I have stability problems with demanding 3D games or other demanding apps?
4. After I root and install my Custom Rom, will I need to reactivate my phone or need to re-add my phone contacts/apps?
5. Will Z4Root work on system version 2.3.340?
I have unrooted and exchanged under warranty with no problems. Your phone will be just as secure. 1.2-1.3 are very stable on my phone. If you do have to reactivate it's as easy as dialing *228 and following the prompts. If your contacts are "google" contacts they'll return to your phonebook. Your apps from the market shall return without a problem. And yes, z4root will work with your system version.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
I am having difficulty rooting my droid x. I am an android noob, but am a pretty savvy user. I used z4 (permanant) and it says it has been rooted when i launch the app. However i see no appreciable difference in access. My terminal still shows a $ prompt and i cannot uninstall verizons crapware. I used rage against the cage prior to z4 with similar results, but i was able to at least get temporary su access and install the bootstrap recovery and perform a system level backup. It reverted to user access after rebooting. Please help.
Superuser confirmation
alright, if you want super user privileges in terminal type "su", then once you hit enter, you get "#" instead of "$" To test if you have root access, first check app drawer for "Superuser" if its there, open an app that requires it, (wifi teather, root explorer, rom manager to name a few) you should get a pop up similar to this
http://www.google.com/imgres?imgurl...=1&ndsp=12&ved=1t:429,r:8,s:0&biw=888&bih=638
that would be a diffinitive confirmation that you have superuser permissions.
The way I remove verizons crap once rooted, is to use root explorer, go to system/app and find the .apk files you want to remove. There are lists around the forums what is safe to remove. I highly recommend simply renaming the files. For example, the 3g hotspot app is called mynet.apk, so I would just rename it to mynet.bak, or mynet.apk.bak, really anything that lets you know what it is, but removes the .apk extension.
Ok, I have confirmed su access, but am unable to rename any of the offending .apk's. I am simply told that the operation was unsuccessful. I have tried a couple of different file managers, as well as trying from a terminal, still no luck. I like 2.2.1 alright, but if i can't control what apps are running on my phone with root access, I may want another ROM. Any suggestions are appreciated, aswell as any links to a rom installer that is pc-less.
I usually rename apk's from Root Explorer, just prefer the graphical interface, so I can't really help you on the terminal process.
Rom manager is "pc-less" although most roms are posted in forums first it is often the easiest route, also lets you make backups and restore. There are a few posts around on how to install a rom you might want to read first. Also, you should find the thread for the rom before you flash it, in favor of size and speed, some developers go down to bare minimum and may remove something you need/want.
I have not used it, but I hear Titanium Backup allows you to "Freeze" apps, so that is a possible route also.
2.2.1 is not exclusive to people running official vzw builds, many of the roms on the forum (and rom manager) are running 2.2.1, so you will not be taking a step back to an earlier release.
SharkBaitDave said:
I usually rename apk's from Root Explorer, just prefer the graphical interface, so I can't really help you on the terminal process.
Rom manager is "pc-less" although most roms are posted in forums first it is often the easiest route, also lets you make backups and restore. There are a few posts around on how to install a rom you might want to read first. Also, you should find the thread for the rom before you flash it, in favor of size and speed, some developers go down to bare minimum and may remove something you need/want.
I have not used it, but I hear Titanium Backup allows you to "Freeze" apps, so that is a possible route also.
2.2.1 is not exclusive to people running official vzw builds, many of the roms on the forum (and rom manager) are running 2.2.1, so you will not be taking a step back to an earlier release.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are trying to rename apps in the /system/app portion of the OS, you will need to mount /system as RW first.
from terminal: mount -o rw,remount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
After it has been mounted read-write, you should be able to rename...
to remount as read-only: mount -o ro,remount /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system
zwade01 said:
I have unrooted and exchanged under warranty with no problems. Your phone will be just as secure. 1.2-1.3 are very stable on my phone. If you do have to reactivate it's as easy as dialing *228 and following the prompts. If your contacts are "google" contacts they'll return to your phonebook. Your apps from the market shall return without a problem. And yes, z4root will work with your system version.
Sent from my DROIDX using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your response. Just out of curiosity, did you (or anyone else for that matter) have to reactivate your phone after rooting and installing a custom ROM? I'd rather not have to re-activate my phone every time I want to update a ROM or change to a different ROM.
Thank all of you for the great info. Here's what I've learned after a day of rooting and romming: titanium freezes apps only in the paid version, z4 was the most user friendly app for rooting noobs, milestone overclock works well if you have the patience to lock up your phone several times finding the right settings, and I'm digging apeX 1.3.1. Thx to everyone for your help, i will definately be checking here frequently. One last question: where might i find a side by side comparo of roms with things like features and memory footprint, etc.? Or am I asking for too much. Im not scared of the search button, but i will defer to the more experienced of you. Thanks again.
galaga4991 said:
Thank you for your response. Just out of curiosity, did you (or anyone else for that matter) have to reactivate your phone after rooting and installing a custom ROM? I'd rather not have to re-activate my phone every time I want to update a ROM or change to a different ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used rom manager to load apeX 1.3.1 and did not need to #228. I did not clear the user data or cache, but I do not know if that affected my results or not. Your mileage may vary.
stpvapor said:
Thank all of you for the great info. Here's what I've learned after a day of rooting and romming: titanium freezes apps only in the paid version, z4 was the most user friendly app for rooting noobs, milestone overclock works well if you have the patience to lock up your phone several times finding the right settings, and I'm digging apeX 1.3.1. Thx to everyone for your help, i will definately be checking here frequently. One last question: where might i find a side by side comparo of roms with things like features and memory footprint, etc.? Or am I asking for too much. Im not scared of the search button, but i will defer to the more experienced of you. Thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know that anyone has really done a side by side per say. Since you say you are apeX, then if you are looking for more ROM's that contain blur features, then I would recommend looking into ZapX Bazinga, or Fusion (from the same creator as Fission, but just with blur). I have not worked with any of the Blur ROM's so far...
If you are looking for ROM's that do not have blur, then the big ones are Liberty, Fission 2.5.7, GummyJar 2.5, and Rubix Focused 1.9.5. Liberty is the big one right now, because it just came out and combines the great talents of Kejar31 and Jrummy. Most others I believe are using Fission. All are great choices, as the dev's do some AMAZING work.
Each has their owns unique feel...so I woudl recommend just digging through each thread for their respective ROM's as they usually include what components are built into each ROM on the original post of each thread.
Hope this helps somewhat =)
another ROM to try is DarkSlide. It comes in both flavors, Blurred & Blurless. It's fast, stable & well supported. You only have to re-activate if you wind up bricking your phone & have to flash an SBF. My advice it to spend the $$ on DroidXBootstrapper (available in the market) to make a nandroid backup prior to flashing your new ROM. This way you have a base to go back to in the event you run into problems, or want to try multiple ROMS. One other suggestion is to rename each backup into something that will let you know what the backup actually is, like StockROMBU or the like.

[Q] what are the advantages and disadvantages of rooting and are there any risks?

Could somebody please tell me what the advantages and disadvantages of rooting the flipside are, and MOST IMPORTANTLY, are there any risks??
Will I be able to take of all of these ATT apps?
Will I be able to move my apps from the phones memory to the SD card?
Can the phone be unrooted?
Will all of my apps still work?
What is the best route to root? I have the z4root.
I am much indebted to anyone who will answer these questions. Thanks.
z4root will work fine, it's nice an easy to use. Rooting won't give you an easy way to move apps to the sd card, but you can remove the AT&T (and other system) apps. You can either do it by hand, or with any number of apps on the market. I prefer titanium backup, personally. All of your existing apps will work, there's no change there.
The only real disadvantage is that you'll have the power to screw up your phone. You can potentially screw up bad enough that you'll need to reflash the stock .sbf file. Generally, this takes some real screwing around, but just thought I'd point it out.
Thank u for your thourough answer. What do you mean by screw it up. How could I do that and how do i avoid it. Are you saying by virtue of the fact that i'm rooting that i'll screw it up, or it's something that i may do afterwards that may do it? Thanks.
also, are there any other advantages to rooting other than taking off the apps?
The act of rooting itself shouldn't screw anything up, but having root means you could possibly do something later that would. Generally, you'd have to be messing with stuff you have no business messing with. With root, you can remount the system directory as read/write, and then end up deleting or modifying a file that won't let the phone boot, which means you'd need to reflash. Stay away from the command line if you don't know what you're doing, and don't grant root access to apps you don't trust, and you're reasonably safe.
Other than removing system apps, like the AT&T garbage, you can also backup and restore apps and their data, which is great for if you need to reflash, if you switch phones, etc. There's not a TON of stuff that requires root, but honestly, removing the AT&T junk is definitely a good reason to root, the phone feels much faster after scrapping a lot of the blur and AT&T stuff.
I'm assuming then that any android/att/Motorola updates will not be problem either? BTW, do you if and when Motorola will bupdating the flipside to 2.2? Thanks.
There shouldn't be any problem updating with an official update if/when we get one, but you'll need to re-root and remove the AT&T stuff again. There's no word on when we'll get 2.2, but I'd assume we'll get it at some point.
Ok. I just rooted! Yeah, it worked! But i cannot figue out how to delete the att bloatware. I go into the apps manager and click on one of the att apps, and there is still no option to uninstall; only to clear the cache. Also, I downloaded the titanium and I cannot figure out how to do it from there either. Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.
mordechai said:
Plus, I still had to sideload the titanium which i tbought that i would not have to do once i rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to enable Unknown Sources before you can install non-Market apps
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=867637
This is also an example of how you can mess up your phone by having root access.
That is part of the problem that i do not have that option in two.one. that is why i had to sideload all of those programs. are you saying that i screwed up my phone. i tried clicking on the link but this googlw ad comes up and i cant get past it.
Ok, i got through to the link. But the guy seems pretty shaky as to whether you should follow his instructions. Is this legit or what?
Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
There are instructions in another post in this forum on how to enable Non-Market Apps, also known as Unknown Sources. With Titanium Backup, make sure that you grant it root permissions when it asks, and that it says something like this on the overview:
Root access: OK (BusyBox 1.17.2 from system)
HyperShell (FAST!): YES
Fast/Auto app install: Yes (using HyperShell)
SQLite: YES (SQLite 3.7.2 included)
Then just click on Backup/Restore at the top, and you'll get a list of all your apps. If you don't have backup/restore at the top, your sd card isn't mounted on the phone, unplug your usb cable and hit Menu > More > Reload application.
From Backup/Restore, you get a huge list of all the apps on your phone. Just scroll down to the AT&T stuff, tap them, and click uninstall in the top-right corner. If you're not sure if you want to uninstall something, because it might belong to something important, click Freeze instead. Freezing will stop the app from running, and stop it from showing up in your tray, but you can easily unfreeze it to restore it if it turns out it was important.
Here's the list of stuff I have frozen/uninstalled:
AdService 1.0
all of the "AT&T" apps
all of the "com.motorola" apps
Data Manager and Data Manager Service
Help Center
Home (I use ADWLauncher, don't remove this if you don't already have an alternative launcher installed)
MediaSync
Mobile Video
all of the "MotoBlur" apps
My Uploads
Phone Portal
Quick Contact
Social Messaging, Social Messaging Service, Social Networking, and Social Status
Sticky Note
Video Editor Lite
Vlingo Voice
Weather 2.1
WHERE
Work Contacts
Mobile Banking
Magic Smoke Wallpapers
Kodak Perfect Touch
AT&T Address Book
Quickoffice
YPmobile
As for enabling unknown sources, it's a bit of a pain, you'll need to be comfortable with a command line to do replace the files, and comfortable with a hex editor if you want to edit your own instead of reusing someone else's files. I managed to screw up my phone in the process and had to completely reflash and start over, it wasn't fun.
His instructions do work, but his .sh file doesn't work, you'll need to paste the commands one by one into your command prompt. I preferred to edit my own files, so I wouldn't have the same market ID, and that's just slightly more complex. I can help you through it either way though, just make a post over in that thread if you're having problems.
bubba90744 said:
Maybe one of you guys can help. I'm new to alot of this but my last droid x was rooted and it was great I used z4root worked perfectly. But now I have a new X and a z4root apk. On my laptop, now what? Last rooted X, I was fortunate enough to catch z4root on the market, like a day before they updated. HELP!!!!!
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You just need to get z4root installed on your phone, it should be pretty straightforward. The Droid X shouldn't be blocking non-market apps, so just download it from your phone and run the .apk to install.
So do I hook my phone up to my laptop, and put the apk. on my sd?
Or download the apk. directly to my phone from the site?
Sent from my DROIDX using XDA App
I found the link, but the directions are too complicated for my novice understanding of technology. It looks like I am stuck. I don't want to try what he's saying and take any chances. Are there any other alternatives? Or do you have any other suggestions as to how to make the most of the space that I do have with the att bloatware, because I am constantly running out of room. It is a strange phenomenon that I don't understand, that when I turn on the phone it will have around 40mb to play with, and after a few hours it is down to 16 and then 10, and then before I know it, the phone is telling me that my memory is full. So then I reset and it's back to ~40 again. Do you have an explanation? Thanks.

[Q] Deleting phone, camera, etc apps?

I just purchased a NC yesterday and I've had a great time playing around with it. I am running the Nook 1.4.1 OS internally and using my SD card to boot MIUI 1.11.4.
I've searched all over the web and I've not been able to find any straight answers one way or another -- is there a way to delete the apps that are obviously meant for a phone? The camera, phone, dialer, messaging, etc apps are pointless on the NC and I'd like to get rid of them. Especially since I can't just delete them off of the desktop in MIUI.
Has anyone been able to do this before?
Thanks a ton!
Erica
AFAIK, there is no way to do this without titanium backup. TiB is available in the market for root users
If you are rooted and have superuser installed, you can use root explorer or es file explorer (with allow root explorer and mount file system as writable Checked in settings) to delete system apps in system/apps. Removing system apps may render apps incompatible with device. Use TitaniumBackup for insurance.
Yeah, I tried all of that but I couldn't get system rw permissions on anything.
Finally found a few tutorials on editing custom roms, and I did that to delete the pointless apps. Getting ready to flash it back onto the NC, so we'll see if it works.
Luckily, I haven't put anything on the nook at all that I would need to save/back up. All I've done the past 48 hours since getting the NC is try out different custom roms to see which one I want to stick with. LOL. And I'm doing it all on the SD card so I can keep the native nook functionality.
Thanks for the replies though. <3
Let us know which ROM you choose. Just curious...
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk
hwong96 said:
Removing system apps may render apps incompatible with device. Use TitaniumBackup for insurance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seconded! I deleted Gtalk one time (it was constantly FCing even when it was running in the background) and the android market stopped working until I put it back on.
There is no real good reason for doing this and a lot of bad ones. They do not use up much if any resources and some apps may make calls to them even though they are not technically used. I would leave well enough alone....
I agree with leaving most stuff alone, but the problesm I'm running into is that the new market fc's. I can uninstall the updates to market and it works fine, but market updater updates it again shortly thereafter. I need to freeze or uninstall market updater, but anything I've tried to use can't mount /system. Any ideas?
GrStead123 said:
I agree with leaving most stuff alone, but the problesm I'm running into is that the new market fc's. I can uninstall the updates to market and it works fine, but market updater updates it again shortly thereafter. I need to freeze or uninstall market updater, but anything I've tried to use can't mount /system. Any ideas?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can uninstall the market updater with Titanium Backup.
mounting /system is quite easy with root explorer. I've experimented a lot with removing system apps. I move them into a new sub folder within /system, so I can put them back if something becomes unstable, but for the most part I run a really light /system folder that boots even quicker than without.
root explorer needs to have the "browse as root" option checked in its settings, and then, when you are in the system folder, you need to press "mount r/w" at the top of the screen.
If you just want to optimize battery, removing phone.apk and telephonyprovider.apk get the best net benefit. After that, I recommend creating a shortcut to Settings/Accounts & Sync so that you can turn off background data and Automatic Syncing when you are not actively using them. They draw a lot of power over the course of a day. I find that with them off during screen off and wifi off, the battery will not diminish for many days.

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