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Root Guide: Root and install ClockWorkMod custom recovery on LG P690 (Optimus Net / Link / Spirit)

meet5000

Well-Known Member
Feb 17, 2012
138
31
India
LG_P690.jpg



This guide is only for LG P690, not LG L45C or LG P698!

Note, neither I nor Android Forums is responsible if you get your device bricked. Follow this procedure on your OWN RISK!

Please, read every line of the guide. Being careless can be dangerous!


Please note, all the files you'll be downloading, are uploaded on my Google Drive and there are nothing like surveys, so don't worry.

Now let's start:



=========
-: Rooting :-
=========


It's a complete guide for rooting LG Optimus Net P690.

1. You'll need a Microsoft Windows based Computer.

2. Download these required LG Drivers:

>> LG Android Driver
>> LG United Mobile Driver
>> Restart your PC after installing drivers.

3. On your phone, Check 'USB Debugging'. Path: Menu >> Settings >> Applications >>
Development >> Tick 'USB Debugging'.

4. On phone, go to Menu >> Settings >> Storage >> Uncheck 'Mass storage only'. If it is already unchecked, you don't need to do anything for this.

5. Connect your phone with PC. Phone will ask you to 'Turn on USB Storage'. DO NOT TURN IT ON! You should see these two messages on phone's notification bar:
1. "USB Connected"
2. "USB Debugging connected".



====Method 1: Using Unlock Root 3.0====


1. Download and install 'Unlock Root' on your PC from here: Unlock Root 3.0

2. Open Unlock Root and press 'Root' button, it may ask you to select online devices (devices connected with PC), just select LG P690.

3. Withing a few seconds, it'll ask you to reboot your phone, click on OK. When phone starts, go to menu and you'll find Superuser app there.

It means you're rooted now!



====Method 2: Using SuperOneClick 2.3.3====


1. Download the SuperOneClick 2.3.3 RAR Archive from here: SuperOneClick v2.3.3

2. Extract the archive and find the ADB folder in the folder you just extracted.

3. In ADB folder, press and hold Shift and right-click in any empty space and select Open command prompt window here from context menu.

4. Write following commands in the CMD window:
Code:
adb devices
adb shell
echo 1 >/data/local/lge_adb.conf

5. After entering above code, minimize the CMD window, DON'T CLOSE IT!

6. Now open SuperOneClick.exe from extracted archive and click on root button.

7. Your device will be rooted in few seconds and all done! You can close all windows now.




===============================
-: Installing ClockWorkMod custom recovery :-
===============================


Some new Android users may be wondering, what is ClockWorkMod Custom Recovery Image?
They can go here and find their answers:

What is ClockWorkMod Custom Recovery and how to use it on Android?

First, Your phone must be rooted.
If it's not rooted, use above guide of rooting.



1. Required downloads:
----------------------------



Step 1:

First, Download this all-in-one RAR file: Recovery Tools.rar
The RAR Archive contains:
1. Fast Boot (folder)
2. flash_image
3. recovery.img
4. MD5 Hash.apk


Step 2:

Now extract the archive and copy all files (except Fast Boot Folder) to the root of your phone's SD Card (i.e. /sdcard/) and install the MD5 Hash(MD5 Hash.apk) application.




2. Checking the MD5 Sum of 'recovery.img' file:
--------------------------------------------------


Now you must check the MD5 Sum of 'recovery.img' file.

First, What is MD5 Sum?
Answer:
MD5 Sum of a file, is a string / series of characters that is used to check whether the file is corrupted or not.


Step 1:

>> Use MD5 Hash to do it.
>> Open MD5 Hash and select Calculate MD5 from file
>> Now click on ... button, browse to /sdcard/recovery.img and press 'Select button'.
>> Then click on Calculate MD5.


Step 2:

Compare the calculated MD5 with this MD5 Sum: 258e95cd2a697d902c2c139893d83063
(Now see if both the sums are same. If not, download the recovery.img and try checking MD5 again.)

REMEMBER, BOTH THE MD5 SUMS MUST BE SAME OTHERWISE YOU AND YOUR PHONE WILL DIE!!
(Different MD5 Sum means the recovery image is corrupted.)




3. Flashing the recovery image:
-------------------------------------



====Method 1: Using a Microsoft Windows based Computer====

NOTE: If you're browsing with your phone, you can directly flash recovery image without a computer. Just skip to alternate method.

Step 1: Enable USB debugging: Menu >> Settings >> Applications >> Development >> USB Debugging.

Step 2: Open the Fast Boot folder, press and hold Shift and right-click in any empty space and select Open command prompt window here from context menu. Then type adb shell in the CMD Window.


====(Alternate) Method 2: Using the LG P690 Phone====

(Alternate) Step 1: Download Terminal Emulator from Google Play Store.

(Alternate) Step 2: Open Terminal Emulator.


Step 3: Now type following commands (green colored) one by one in CMD window / Terminal Emulator:



su

mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock1 /system

cat /sdcard/flash_image> /system/bin/flash_image

chmod 755 /system/bin/flash_image

mv /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/etc/install-recovery.sh.bak

mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock1 /system

flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img

reboot recovery



Note!: The command, mv /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/etc/install-recovery.sh.bak will give an error: No such file or directory. Just ignore the error and continue.

Now your phone should boot into CWM.

* And.. TADA! The ClockWorkMod Custom Recovery is now installed! :D *


How to boot into CWM? : Turn off your phone completely and hold Power + Volume up + Home buttons together about 5 to 7 seconds.


Touch not working! How to navigate? :

Volume + = Move up
Volume - = Move down
Power / Search = Select
Back = to go back.




==============
Tips and Warnings:
==============



Tips:
------


Tip #1: Install Busybox:

Busybox is a wonderful collection of UNIX Operating System's useful tools. It's a must!

Link:https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=stericson.busybox&hl=en



Tip #2: Nandoird backup:

Now you are rooted and have a custom recovery image installed.
Means you have access to file system of Android.

So, any system file can be accidentally deleted and it can cause a fatal error or worse!
And you know, taking a backup is always a good habit.

You can also backup whole Android system!

To do so, boot into recovery, then go to Backup and restore and select Backup.

Now whenever you experience any problems with OS, you can reinstall your OS by restoring the backup! :)



Tip #3: Uninstall some crappy system apps:

You can use Root Explorer to do it.
System apps' APKs are located at /system/app
Recognize the app you want to uninstall by its icons.

Put '.bak' behind the '.apk' extension.
For e.g., To uninstall Finance, rename it to Finance.apk.bak (orginal: Finance.apk)


These apps are safe to uninstall:

1. LG Remote Call
2. Email (not Gmail)
3. Finance
4. LG World
5. Smart Share

Whenever you want any app back, just remove .bak and you're done!




Warnings:
------------


Warning #1: Factory Reset

You have installed recovery image so you need to be very careful!

NEVER USE PHONE'S BUILT-IN FACTORY RESET OPTION. IT'LL BRICK YOUR PHONE!

If you need to perform a factory reset, it's available in recovery.


Warning #2: Bad Message "recovery "

Every time you'll boot into recovery, it'll give the above error!
Hey! Don't doubt yourself! You just flashed it fine!
Yeah, that's also a standard error. Just ignore it.
All the Best.
 
Last edited:
This guide worked well for me.

Just one addition, as I had problems in using Terminal Emulator on my small screen phone, I wished to use Qtadb which is able to be run from a PC under Windows. I had all sorts of problems getting Qtadb to 'see' my phone and the installed files.
This is what I had to do:
1. Download and install Qtadb and Windows binaries Download
 
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I want to root my lg optimus spirit (LG-p690f), which i think is nearly the same as the optimus net (p690)

Will the same process work for my phone as the Net?

Edit... I tried these steps -But when I hit the root button, all I got was '' would you like to try and install driver'' or something similar. I hit 'yes' and same thing pops up again?? :D How can I fix this?
 
Upvote 0
I want to root my lg optimus spirit (LG-p690f), which i think is nearly the same as the optimus net (p690)

Will the same process work for my phone as the Net?

Edit... I tried these steps -But when I hit the root button, all I got was '' would you like to try and install driver'' or something similar. I hit 'yes' and same thing pops up again?? :D How can I fix this?

I think LG Android drivers isn't enough for your phone. Then install LG United Mobile Driver from here:

Support for LG P690F

(You'll see three tabs there. Click the 'Download' tab then click 'Windows USB Driver' and download it.)

Try it and feedback here :)
If it works for you, I'll edit my guide.

Good luck.
 
Upvote 0
Do you mean the same MD5 Code for the flash_image and the recovery.img?

For the second thing in the terminal emulator # cat etc...

I get a No such file or directory? Is that a problem?

Wait a minute!
You don't need to check MD5 Sum of flash_image.
I have mentioned that long click on recovery.img and select 'Properties'.
Last line will be the MD Sum. Compare it with the sum I've given in the guide.
 
Last edited:
Upvote 0
I'm not sure but the key combo might be like this: Volume Up + Home + Power.
If you try it, feedback here. But I'd recommend you not to use the combo.
If you see Android logo coming out from the white box (which means hard reset) after using key combo, then it'll brick your phone.

REMEMBER, NEVER USE ANDROID'S IN-BUILT FACTORY RESET WHEN YOU HAVE CUSTOM RECOVERY INSTALLED. IT'LL BRICK YOUR PHONE!!
 
Upvote 0
NooB me can understand most and have Rooted my lg p690f I have recovery image but when I long click on props it doesn't show a MD5 SUM just
Type:
Location:
Size:
Modified:

I also have Flash image unzipped on SD

I have terminal emulator and can input su

How do I copy/paste?......
Is my phone supposed to be connected to my PC to copy/paste or am I expected to be viewing this forum via my phone to copy/paste?????
Or do I need to manually write this info?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks Glen.
 
Upvote 0
NooB me can understand most and have Rooted my lg p690f I have recovery image but when I long click on props it doesn't show a MD5 SUM just
Type:
Location:
Size:
Modified:

I also have Flash image unzipped on SD

I have terminal emulator and can input su

How do I copy/paste?......
Is my phone supposed to be connected to my PC to copy/paste or am I expected to be viewing this forum via my phone to copy/paste?????
Or do I need to manually write this info?

Any help would be appreciated

Thanks Glen.


Copying and pasting would be easy if you browse on your phone or you'll have to type it if you're on PC. At the topic of MD5 Sum, I've mentioned about Root Explorer.
Download and install it, open, find recovery image, long click on it, select 'Properties'. You'll see last line: 'MD5'. Compare it with the Sum I've given in the guide. If it's same, then you're ready to go! If not, download the recovery image and try again.
 
Upvote 0
I'm struggling with this operation, I can't copy the recovery image over to the root folder...(failed to move recovery.img)

I have rootbrowser to view files

Still when I long click on recovery.img and select properties I dont get MD5 SUM

Now I get:
Size: 4.07MB
Last Modified: 2 Jul 2012
Permissions: ---rwxr-x (0075)
File path: /sdcard/download/recovery.img

Any ideas?
 
Upvote 0

# mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock1 /system
# cat /sdcard/flash_image> /system/bin/flash_image
# chmod 755 /system/bin/flash_image
# mv /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/etc/install-recovery.sh.bak
# mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock1 /system
# flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
# reboot recovery

To make entering the above easier, I saved the above into a text file, removed the # from the start of each row and copied that file to my phone, then copied and pasted from that file
 
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