Root So I took the plunge...

[RandomSanity]

So I just rooted my Telus HTC Desire and installed OpenDesire 2.2 and I have to say I am quite enjoying the speed boost and the A2SD functionality, though didn't realize how much Sense UI was responsible for. The root process was quick and painless, taking just under an hour to do for the first time with several wipes and updating the radio.

The task bar and icons look pretty bad in vanilla android, though I understand these can be modified on a rooted device? Is this a difficult process?

Also the default gallery application for pictures and icons is ridiculously slow. It took almost 40 minutes to load and I only have a dozen folders of icons and no large images. Is there a good replacement for this, or is it possible to install select apps from Sense UI?

If I decide to install a custom ROM with Sense UI would I just follow the same steps I followed while installing OpenDesire? This will not undo my root as long as I use a custom ROM? Also, I'm a little confused on whether or not it matters which rom I'm using with the SLCD screen, does the ROM itself have to support it, or only the custom recovery image I've already installed?

 

[teppic74]

Everything has to support SLCD (bootloader, recovery and ROM) but all ROMs based on froyo support SLCD.

Installing a custom ROM won't remove root. You install the same way.

 

[RandomSanity]

Thanks, very good to know. Also, how did you guys get used to the keyboard on vanilla android? I could type fine on the Sense keyboard, but now I'm completely inaccurate and every other word is gibberish lol

 

[teppic74]

Unless you specifically don't want Sense I wouldn't recommend OpenDesire or DeFrost, and stick with a Sense-based ROM.

 

[kboya]

Thanks, very good to know. Also, how did you guys get used to the keyboard on vanilla android? I could type fine on the Sense keyboard, but now I'm completely inaccurate and every other word is gibberish lol

you can always use this kb
HTC IME Mod Keyboard with Voice Input (v27, June 08, 2010) - xda-developers
It is like Sense and rocks even more!!
k

 

[RandomSanity]

Unless you specifically don't want Sense I wouldn't recommend OpenDesire or DeFrost, and stick with a Sense-based ROM.

Thanks. I suppose I will be flashing a new rom again tonight and downloading all my apps again haha is there a sense based 2.2 rom you would recommend?

Is it recommended that I do a factory reset once again before installing the new custom rom? Will my radio and recovery tools remain or will I have to update these again?

 

[teppic74]

Coming from OD you'll have to do a reset yeah.

 

[SUroot]

Not sure about Open Desire but on defrost or Cyanogen, there are cyanogen settings where you can change the colour of the notification bar and status bar.

 

[RandomSanity]

Thanks guys. I think I will do another flash tonight and try out the latest Modaco mod. The whole kitchen thing seems really nice, its too bad I don't have $10 to spare lol

 

[Rastaman-FB]

leedroid 2.1 is the very good and stable 2.2 froyo rom with sense

 

[SUroot]

Thanks guys. I think I will do another flash tonight and try out the latest Modaco mod. The whole kitchen thing seems really nice, its too bad I don't have $10 to spare lol

Yeah it is great.

 

[RandomSanity]

Is it possible to remove applications that come with a custom rom? Perhaps remove them from the file before installation?

Thanks!

 

[teppic74]

Yes, though decent custom ROMs won't come with many extra apps (it should be left to you to decide what to install). Don't remove any system apps unless you know what you're doing.

 

[SUroot]

Is it possible to remove applications that come with a custom rom? Perhaps remove them from the file before installation?

Thanks!

Yes but as teppic says, you need to know what you're looking for.

The the rom .zip, they're all located in system/app

I'd recommend flashing it first before removing anything. See if there is anything that annoys you. If there is remove it from teh zip and flash it over itself.

It will be exactly the same but with out the apps.

Or do it this (more complicated) way...

http://androidforums.com/desire-all-things-root/158131-how-easily-remove-installed-system-apps.html

Also, to point out, you wont gain space by removing these apps. The rom takes up the same amount of space without them.

 

[teppic74]

Generally speaking you shouldn't remove anything from system unless you check with the ROM maintainer that it's ok, unless you know for sure it's safe.

It's never good when someone reports a problem that you spend 20-30 mins investigating only to find out later they've removed something essential from the system without telling you that...

 

[RandomSanity]

Thanks guys, Modaco does have quite a few extra apps installed with it that I don't have any need for.

However now I find that today my recovery no longer boots.. just hangs at white htc screen. Was booting every time yesterday I wonder what happened Tips?

 

[teppic74]

Did you install 2.5.0.7? The earlier version (with SLCD support) is broken and doesn't always boot.

 

[sookster54]

OpenDesire is a nice ROM, but after a few days of using it and reading up on it, I became annoyed at how unstable it is and how the developer for it is about it and constantly updates it every second day which makes it less stable with added new bugs. In less than 2 weeks the version went from 4.0.3 to 4.0.25 and still has huge battery drain, random reboots and FC's.

 

[RandomSanity]

So I updated Amen Ra Recovery and flashed to Modeco however now my ext3 partition seems to be gone and A2SD+ is no longer working? Also it came with so many garbage apps that I can't uninstall.. I've pulled Wavesecure out using adb but there are still quite a few others.

I suppose I will try LeeDroid. Is there anything I can do to fix the EXT3 partition through amen ra without installing clockwork instead?

Thanks for the patience.

 

[sookster54]

Boot into recovery, adb shell in and mount /system and go into /system/app and look at the apps you want to remove, be caucious though otherwise you'll have to reflash again if you remove the wrong app. I thought Modaco had the A2SD+ included, maybe you have to flash the addon if there's one, sometimes they say it's recommended to wipe /sd-ext in recovery before flashing a new ROM.

 

[teppic74]

I don't think Modaco (free) supports A2SD+. Be very careful wiping using amon ra recovery as it tends to wipe your whole sdcard.

 

[SUroot]

Modaco has 3 versions. On the post, you have to pick the middle one that says with a2sd+

I find it easier to run the rom, see what to remove and remove from the zip file. then flash it over itself again

 

[teppic74]

Ah yes, I didn't see that. The 'additions' are mostly bloat though.

 

[SUroot]

Yeah, stuff like wave secure is annoying if not subscribed. Infact even if you are, as you can't update it easily.

Even on defrost I find myself stripping out a lot. Google Talk, Car Home, HTC IME Mod etc etc.

Cuts out about 13MB of .apks Shame I can't use the space for anything else really.

 

[teppic74]

In mine I've made as much use of system as possible, so Google apps, Facebook and Flash are updated in the system (saving around 20mb I think). I don't modify any of the system apps to hacked versions as it causes problems with upgrades to/from stock and breaks market updates. There are no data apps included - if people want ROM manager, Titanium backup, etc. it takes seconds to get them from the market.