Root [HOW-TO] Simplified Root + Recovery + Custom ROM

[toronado455]

You need to get busybox installed before you do anything else. Which recovery did you download?

VM670NH_recovery.img from the link on the first post in this thread. I haven't done anything with it yet though because I need clarification on how to proceed with the FlashImageGUI.zip file from within AndroZip.

Are you saying I need to get busybox before installing FlashImageGUI?

 

[AndyOpie150]

Yes. Let me read the first post again, make sure the OP included that in the steps.

 

[AndyOpie150]

The flash_image GUI should work. The Busybox binaries are necessary for doing a lot of things while rooted.
You don't have to install it if you don't want to do anything but install a recovery,and ROM.
Let me know how that flash_image GUI works out. I've never used it. Just used Lynux code.

 

[toronado455]

which busybox do i need?
this one?
https://market.android.com/details?id=stericson.busybox

all i want to do for now is install wireless tether. i'm not yet ready for the custom ROM

 

[AndyOpie150]

Get his Busybox installer instead.
If it doesn't install to /system/bin then choose /system/xbin.

 

[toronado455]

Get his Busybox installer instead.
If it doesn't install to /system/bin then choose /system/xbin.

you mean this?
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jrummy.busybox.installer

it's by a different guy

 

[Atma]

you mean this?
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.jrummy.busybox.installer

it's by a different guy

That one works well. Same one I've been using.

 

[AndyOpie150]

The neat thing about the jrummy16 one is it will allow you to install previous Busybox versions. Some scripts require an older Busybox version to run properly. A good example would be V6 Supercharger.

 

[toronado455]

thanks

I got the jrummy one and installed the latest version of busybox to /system/bin

(the default choice was /system/xbin but that didn't work so I switched it to /system/bin and it installed fine)

I'm still confused about how to proceed with the FlashImageGUI.zip file from within
AndroZip because it is a zip file, not a apk file as stated by the OP. Do I need to extract first?

 

[AndyOpie150]

I don't honestly know, i'll check in to it.

 

[AndyOpie150]

I just downloaded it. It's an .apk.
Whent to the download folder, long pressed the .apk, selected move. Hit backbutton. Selected move here button.
Follow the rest of the instructions after you delete the first .apk, redownload the .apk from your phone and do what I did ^.

 

[toronado455]

I just downloaded it. It's an .apk.
Whent to the download folder, long pressed the .apk, selected move. Hit backbutton. Selected move here button.
Follow the rest of the instructions after you delete the first .apk, redownload the .apk from your phone and do what I did ^.

okay I figured out what happened - though i don't know why - it's strange...

if I download the file using opera, i get FlashImageGUI.zip

but if I download the file using dolphin, I get FlashImageGUI.apk

 

[msdiddyj]

okay, apparently i am an idiot. i followed all of the directions, except i forgot to put the actual ROM on my sdcard; i only put the google apps and a theme for BACKside. so i installed the theme and google apps from zip in recovery mode then rebooted the phone. it stayed on the lg logo, of course, because there was no ROM. so i went back in recovery mode and did a restore and rebooted. the lg logo came, and the virgin mobile jingle came on, but now it is stuck on a black screen with the red and black virgin mobile logo. i don't know what to do did i brick my phone???

UPDATE: okay, i figured out that i had to go to advanced restore and restore the system from there, and it worked. i was able to plug my phone into the pc and put BACKside on the sd card. i just installed that and the google apps. i rebooted, the lg logo came on and now the BACKside IHO logo is on the screen. how long is that supposed to stay there?

UPDATE: clearly i am impatient lol. i got it now

 

[quikmcmuffins]

this thread man this f***ing thread thank you op thank you so much i was geting so frustrated you rock .....ilove you

 

[toronado455]

Run the app
& select 'Recovery Image' option with
the file above.

could someone please explain what exactly that step does?

I'm afraid it's going to flash my phone or something

please remember I'm new to this

thanks!

 

[toronado455]

UPDATE: clearly i am impatient lol. i got it now

glad you didn't brick it!

 

[Atma]

could someone please explain what exactly that step does?

I'm afraid it's going to flash my phone or something

please remember I'm new to this

thanks!

Its like it says in the OP,

"The recovery image is an alternative bootup instead of normal Android Operating System. It allows low-level operations such as backup/restore a ROM, wipe partitions, and flash ROMs."

So you need to flash that recovery if you are going follow the rest of the steps and put on a new ROM after rooting. Follow all the steps to the letter and you will be fine. It hasn't been that long since I first did it. I know its a high pucker factor the first time.

 

[toronado455]

thanks for the encouragement!

I've got the Flash Image GUI app installed.

When I launch it, I get a notification that SU binaries are outdated. Should I hit the button to update?

 

[AndyOpie150]

Yes. Then reboot your phone. Go to market and update the superuser app as well.

 

[toronado455]

Yes. Then reboot your phone. Go to market and update the superuser app as well.

Thanks

I've updated the SU binaries. (I had already updated SuperUser)

Just to be clear... when I run Flash Image GUI, I browse to the VM670NH_recovery.img file on the SD card, choose the Flash Image option, *leave both Clear Dalvik and Clear Cache UNchecked* and tap Flash Image? Is that correct?

Sorry about all the questions... I just don't want to make any stupid mistakes.

 

[AndyOpie150]

Again, I'm not sure. I'll give it a look see though and get back to you.

EDIT: Installed flash_image GUI.
When installing the recovery.img make sure both boxes are clear/unchecked.
The boxes only need to be checked when flashing the kernel.

 

[toronado455]

does anyone know how much space a nandroid backup takes up? I'm still using the stock 2GB SD card which shows 1.22 GB of free space. is that enough?

 

[AndyOpie150]

Yes that's plenty.
FYI the nandroid is stored in the clockworkmod folder. When you install a custom ROM mak sure you back it up after you've set everything were you want it. Then you can delete the previous backup which has a specific date stamp if you need the space.

For more install instuctions go here http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-...tory-reset-your-rooted-phone.html#post3263770

 

[toronado455]

thanks

i made the backup... 525.92MB (as per folder properties in AndroZip)

725MB space remaining on SD card.

 

[benslgdroid]

With link2sd and all my apps mine are just over a gig each