Root [Verizon] [Guide] Step-by-Step Rooting & Flashing

[php111]

Would any of those apps and more in your OP screw up my phone if I run them? If so, I'm going to pass. Lol.

 

[Mikestony]

Would any of those apps and more in your OP screw up my phone if I run them? If so, I'm going to pass. Lol.

No, lol...all that is listed there is for the Verizon SG3.
Just be sure to follow any and all instructions for any roms or kernels etc listed.
All the apps listed, I have, or had on my phone too.

Just remember, if you are going to flash anything, make a nandroid backup!--before the flash, that is

 

[php111]

I'm not up to a task for flashing kernels and ROMs. Thats out of the question. I'm more looking for music apps that may not require backup. You think I'm going to sit here flashing all day long and play around like that? I like your help and all but those things are more at the advance level. I don't even do that with my PC. I don't even flash the BIOS. Lol.

 

[Mikestony]

I'm not up to a task for flashing kernels and ROMs. Thats out of the question. I'm more looking for music apps that may not require backup. You think I'm going to sit here flashing all day long and play around like that? I like your help and all but those things are more at the advance level. I don't even do that with my PC. I don't even flash the BIOS. Lol.

As far as music apps that don't require backup...how do you mean?
Like using Google Music?

 

[php111]

As far as music apps that don't require backup...how do you mean?
Like using Google Music?

Like Pandora music? Like Slacker radio?

 

[Mikestony]

Like Pandora music? Like Slacker radio?

Ah, gotcha I don't use those so it didn't occur to me

 

[Zoandroid]

If you are looking for a nice music "player" app, to play your MP3s and such, I prefer PowerAmp, because it allows me to not only use playlists, but also to "play from folders". Meaning, it will play a folder in which I have arranged the tracks by naming their files in the order I want them, and it will play them in that order. So many of today's players only look at Meta-tags, and so insist on playing tracks in the order they were cut on the original album. I want to be able to arrange the tracks "my way", and PowerAmp lets me do just that.

 

[Zoandroid]

If you have some specific kinds of apps in mind, I might be able to make some recommendations for you. The Play Store can be a bit confusing sometimes because it has so many different apps. Keep an eye on the reviews people write. They will often post what kind of Android device the use, so you can sometimes see if someone had luck running the app on the S3.

You'll find that different web browsers will all bring different things to the table. The stock browser can sometimes be ornery, but I guess that's true with them all. I like Opera Browser for most things, but it has trouble playing Flash videos sometimes, so for those I'll use Firefox or the stock browser. Now that you are rooted, one utility I highly recommend is Root Explorer, to look at the folder tree in your S3. It can access both the S3's internal memory (which is quite confusingly referred to as "SD Card" as well as the REAL external SD Card (if you are using one).

Titanium Backup Pro is a great way to make a backup of all your apps and their settings and data. You can restore individual apps, all your apps, or it also has a filter to select certain apps. It's retail, but well worth the price. Most of the Store apps are pretty affordable if they are not free.

Oh, also, if you are not a fan of pressing the crazy button combinations to reboot or boot into recovery, get QuickBoot. It will let you do those things just by tapping the screen.

I hope you are enjoying the new S3!

 

[php111]

Thank you so very much!

 

[php111]

I don't have credit cards to make purchases, and I seen PowerAmp is a trial. How else could I get those you recommend?

 

[Zoandroid]

I don't have credit cards to make purchases, and I seen PowerAmp is a trial. How else could I get those you recommend?

You're very welcome.

I'm sorry but I don't know a way around the purchasing issue for the retail apps. There are a lot of free apps, both on the Play store and on Amazon. But when it comes to quality, free stuff can be and is always a crap shoot. For apps like Titanium Backup, I don't know of a similar free product, aside from that you can make app backups with ES Explorer. But it doesn't have the feature set of Titanium Backup, by a long shot.

Perhaps if you know someone with a credit card you could give them some cash and they could let you charge the purchase on their card?

 

[php111]

You're very welcome.

I'm sorry but I don't know a way around the purchasing issue for the retail apps. There are a lot of free apps, both on the Play store and on Amazon. But when it comes to quality, free stuff can be and is always a crap shoot. For apps like Titanium Backup, I don't know of a similar free product, aside from that you can make app backups with ES Explorer. But it doesn't have the feature set of Titanium Backup, by a long shot.

Perhaps if you know someone with a credit card you could give them some cash and they could let you charge the purchase on their card?

No one I know of. I did manage to get those apps you mentioned. Could you please possibly recommend some more?

 

[valorian]

I don't have credit cards to make purchases, and I seen PowerAmp is a trial. How else could I get those you recommend?

If you have a Target near you, you can go there and buy prepaid Play cards in $10 and $20 amounts. You register these on Google wallet and use them to pay for apps. There is a used game store you can get them at too but I can't remember the name of it.

 

[php111]

If you have a Target near you, you can go there and buy prepaid Play cards in $10 and $20 amounts. You register these on Google wallet and use them to pay for apps. There is a used game store you can get them at too but I can't remember the name of it.

Thank you!

 

[Zoandroid]

No one I know of. I did manage to get those apps you mentioned. Could you please possibly recommend some more?

I'd be very happy to, but if you could tell me what things you would like to do on the S3 it would be easier to know which apps might interest you. So what would you like to do on your new S3?

 

[php111]

I'd be very happy to, but if you could tell me what things you would like to do on the S3 it would be easier to know which apps might interest you. So what would you like to do on your new S3?

Maybe tweak up my new S3? I don't know how to explain. Also, when I tried to put both my Opera and the stock browser in the dock but I guess the stock has a limit of icons on the dock? Would it be possible to change the icon limit and how? I do know with Cydia on the iPhone that would be possible.

 

[Mikestony]

You could try a different launcher such as GoLauncher..among others.

 

[php111]

You could try a different launcher such as GoLauncher..among others.

Hey! Good morning! I understand from reading about rooting there are other advanced ways? 1.) What's the difference between those advanced ways and the way I done it? 2 ) What's your prefer and recommend advanced way to root?

 

[Mikestony]

Hey! Good morning! I understand from reading about rooting there are other advanced ways? 1.) What's the difference between those advanced ways and the way I done it? 2 ) What's your prefer and recommend advanced way to root?

I'm not sure I follow you when you say "advanced" ways to root? Do you mean a different method for rooting?

 

[php111]

I'm not sure I follow you when you say "advanced" ways to root? Do you mean a different method for rooting?

Yes, I would honestly say thats what I mean. I could even give a few examples if you like? I'm tired though lol. If you give step by step instructions I could try it. First, would be to root with and without tripping the flash counter? I could be wrong but I would say tripping the flash counter would be more advanced? Please correct me. Also, more advanced if and only you recommend would be installing the ROM you could recommend. Short answer to your question would be yes if by what I wrote.

 

[Mikestony]

I am not clear myself on what exactly trips the counter.
I have heard that flashing a rom with an unsigned Samsung kernel will trip it.
I have also heard flashing roms thru TWRP or CWM will not trip it.
There may be a method to root without tripping the counter but I have not looked into it.

I am not worried about my flash counter...there is an app called "Triangle Away" that will reset your flash counter. So, if the time ever comes for me to get my phone fixed via warranty, there is an unroot method available used in conjunction with "Triangle Away" that will bring my phone back to bone stock.

You can check you flash counter by booting into Odin mode (download mode) on your phone and it will give you the count.

I think mine was at 3 last time I looked.

As far as recommending a rom, that is a matter of preference. Some folks like the CM series. I like CleanRom myself. There are a slew of other roms available.

If you wanted to start out with a rom, personally, I recommend CleanRom. It has given me no issues and is smooth and quick.....even with the kernel it came with.

 

[php111]

First, thank you so very much for all the info and help you gave me! I do really apperciate it. Would CleanROM be 100% free? If it is, will you please be able to assist me through all steps to get it on my S3 phone? I would really appreciate it! Thank you so much again!

 

[Mikestony]

Yes, all custom roms are free. :thumbup:
And guiding you thru all the steps yes, but I am at work so I am not at my computer all the time to answer promptly
But basically, to flash a rom:
1. Find the rom you like and download it to your sd card.
2. Verify the md5 ...(and I will elaborate on that in a minute)
3. Make a nandroid backup. (A MUST!!)
4. Make sure you have all your contacts backed up to your google account.
5. Use Titanium Backup to save your apps and data if desired.
6. Follow the O.P. (original post) instructions of the rom on how to flash. (which is usually a wipe of cache/dalvik cache/factory reset, then flash the rom.)

 

[php111]

Yes, all custom roms are free. :thumbup:
And guiding you thru all the steps yes, but I am at work so I am not at my computer all the time to answer promptly
But basically, to flash a rom:
1. Find the rom you like and download it to your sd card.
2. Verify the md5 ...(and I will elaborate on that in a minute)
3. Make a nandroid backup. (A MUST!!)
4. Make sure you have all your contacts backed up to your google account.
5. Use Titanium Backup to save your apps and data if desired.
6. Follow the O.P. (original post) instructions of the rom on how to flash. (which is usually a wipe of cache/dalvik cache/factory reset, then flash the rom.)

I rather be patient and wait until you are fully available becsuse I'm kind of lost and don't understand all 6 steps. What time do you get off of work? I'm in EST time zone, and I live in Pennsylvania.

 

[Mikestony]

I rather be patient and wait until you are fully available becsuse I'm kind of lost and don't understand all 6 steps. What time do you get off of work? I'm in EST time zone, and I live in Pennsylvania.

No prob...I'm sure others can help out too but I'll be available tonite at about 7:30 p.m. CST. barring any unforeseen circumstances