Well - with the firmware push this morning which killed my quick settings / hotspot ability, I guess I am going to have to attempt a phone root.
I see so many different options and so many different ways people say "this is best, that is best" and I also see things like "if you have this, don't do that" and I"m unsure what I am suppose to do next.
And, with the rapid changes, is any of the rooting stuff effective if I already got hit with this firmware update ?
Ok, I was in your shoes about a week ago, and spent countless hours reading and jumping from link to link. I will do my best to tell you what worked for me (on two different phones). Although I started out with the ZVC (not the VD like you), but from what I understand the process is the same. I am still very new at this, but I have learned a ton over the past several days.
Be sure to follow instructions exactly! Read through everything completely before beginning. Ask questions if you are unsure. Make sure you have important stuff backed up before you start.
1) You need to force flash V9 by following the instructions
HERE. This needs to be done because you accepted the OTA update on your phone. From now on, never accept the OTA update!
Be sure to read the warnings to see if any of them apply to you. When you install the LG Mobile Support Tool, be sure to install it using windows XP compatability (right click > properties > compatability) if you are running Windows 7.
2) You need to root your phone. I did this by using an app called z4root which can be downloaded
HERE. Just download the app, email it to yourself (or find some other way like dropbox to get it onto your phone), and install the app. Run the app and choose to do a permanent root. In order for z4root to work you need to have USB debugging enabled (Menu > Settings > Applications > Development > check mark "USB debugging").
3) Now that you have a rooted Optimus with V9, follow the instructions
HERE to get the VD update.
Follow the instructions in part 1. Starting with step 5 (of part 1) you need to install a custom recovery. Install "drellisdee's Custom Recovery" where it gives you the choice (only because that is what I did, and the instructions that I am giving you assume that you do it this way too). To do this, first you need to download Android Terminal Emulator from the Market.
Then, download the file "flash_image.zip" at the bottom of the post
HERE.
Put the "flash_image.zip" file on the root of your SD card (the main folder with all of your other sub-folders on your sd card).
Note: I got the following idea to use the terminal emulator from
HERE (I used a different method, but they do the same thing, and this way is easier). Now, Open android terminal emulator you downloaded above and type su [press enter] You should now have a popup asking you to grant the terminal superuser permission, select "always allow" (After granting permission you may now have a spacing issue in the emulator so please close it by doing Menu > Reset Term.) If that closes Android Emulator Terminal, open it back up. You should now see the # sign. Type the following (you will not have to type the # because the emulator does that for you. Know that you DO need to put a space after the #, then proceed to type. When you get to the end of each line, press ENTER on your keyboard to move to the next line. Make sure you type it EXACTLY how it appears here and included the spaces) :
# mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock5 /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/mtdblock5 /system
# flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s-1.1.0.img
# reboot recovery
I believe when you get to this point, you need to select "Reboot System Now." Use the MENU button (the one just to the right of the home button) to select, and the volume Up/Down keys to go up and down the list.
After installing drellisdee's Custom Recovery proceed to step 6 (of part 1) and update to LS670ZVD using LG Mobile Support Tool (plug in your phone, make sure USB debugging is turned on, run the LG Mobile Support Tool, wait until it is completely finished and your phone is turned back on).
At this point scroll down to part 8. Download the "FlashRootVD-signed.zip" file that is at the bottom of the post. Skip step 1 (of part 8) and do this instead (it is easier to explain to you and does the same thing): Turn your phone completely off. hold down the home button, volume up button and power button (all three buttons) all at the same time. Keep holding them until your screen looks like
THIS (this is called "booting into recovery mode"). Then follow the rest of the instructions in part 8, beginning with step 2. On step 3, it says to create a new folder, but instead, just put the file "FlashRootVD-signed.zip" that you downloaded on the root of your SD card (the main folder with all of your other sub-folders on your sd card). Remember to use the MENU button (the one just to the right of the home button) to select, and the volume Up/Down keys to go up and down the list.
Once you finish, you now have a completely updated, rooted Optimus, that can act as a Hotspot. I would recommend flashing one of the ROMs that are linked in the first post of this thread. I am using Lego ROM, but there are other choices too. You get way better performance, and much more space for all kinds of apps. Let me know if you have questions. I know exactly how you feel, because I was so confused when I began. As I said, this worked for me, and it should work for you, but I can't make any guarantees.