[Verizon] Noob question - choosing a rom/kernel

[skiflyer]

I'm rooted, unlocked, clockworked, 4.0.4 radios, and using a new launcher. I think that means I've done a good chunk of the "hard" part. (None of it's really too hard on this phone).

Now I want to tinker with 4.0.4 so I'm looking to find a ROM and a Kernel... think that's all I need, right?

Leaves me with 2 questions
1) How do you guys pick'm? Just tinker and play around until you find one you like?

2) No matter how much I read I can't figure out how onerous switching is going to be after the fact, maybe I just don't understand the different wipes. Easy enough to put on a new Kernel/Rom it seems. But I can't seem to figure out the answers to the below and whether this happens everytime you change a Kernel/Rom, only when you change between types, or never?

- Do I need to redownload all my apps afterwards? (even if it's automatic, do I have to wait and chew up the bandwidth)
- Do I lose things like SMS histories?
- Icon layouts (I now I can back those up and restore, but am I going to need to?)
- All my contacts are google so I should be good there I assume, am I right?
- What about application configurations - e.g., my email servers, evernote login information, etc.

 

[pool_shark]

Most people suggest doing a factory reset when switching ROMs, so yes, you will lose all of that.
You can backup your apps with titanium backup, then restore them, it also backs up the app data, so you can restore them without reconfiguring.
You can use SMS backup or go SMS for your text messages.

 

[trophynuts]

Just be careful restoring come app data when restoring using TiBu. Some apps in my experience don't like that. Typically apps like Facebook, Twitter, and apps that just work off a logon i don't restore data for. I usually install those fresh from the Play store.

 

[skiflyer]

Well I took the leap last night when I couldn't sleep. Liquidsmooth ROM and LeanKernel.

Lost more than I wanted to, but not too much. Definitely will need to figure some things out if I do it again.

Biggest thing was I took too long to turn off 4g so I Titanium was racing the play store for reinstalling apps. Anyway, just posting to say thanks for the tips.

 

[colchiro]

+1 ^^

After a new rom or data wipe, I open market and stop the download. Then I search for TIBU and the TIBU pro key and install them, open TIBU and tap the menu icon, choose "batch" and "restore all apps with data". Then I uncheck the ones I don't want. Do not restore any red or green items if you've swapped roms or updated android versions (like 4.02 > 4.05).

 

[skiflyer]

Nice idea, didn't even know I could do that. And that explains the red items I was wondering about. Thanks.

 

[colchiro]

If you want to try green or red items, make a backup first. I'd LOVE to restore my 4 email accounts after a wipe, but it's not worth the trouble, (backup/restore backup) when it fails. Besides, if it works for rom "a", it might not for rom "b".