Root [Sprint/Cricket] Just rooted. Suggestions?

[jackroo]

Just got my S3 rooted by a friend who knew what he was doing. He put a custom recovery on it as well. (I messed up last time). So my question is what would be some good beginning apps/tweaks to do before I dive in and do ROMs? Last time I didn't get to enjoy my rooted phone because I accidentally flashed an incorrect rom right off the bat. This time I want to get more comfortable with some apps and minor tweaks before I do anything major. Thank you for your guidance! I know you guys on here know a lot and it's greatly appreciated!

 

[jackroo]

I was also wondering if there was a list of bloatware that I can safely uninstall using root uninstaller? Thank you

 

[eisawi99]

unless you do something with flashing, i really cant think of anything useful except for root explorer... or you could underclock your cpu... i recommend that you install a kernel that can overclock for simple tweaks... you may want to flash roms form this site only...

 

[Rxpert83]

Well, rootings only the first step my friend!

Now you are the all powerful administrator of your phone.


My first steps are always flashing a custom ROM and kernel for better battery life and performance.

However, if this is your first time its important to read, re-read, and ask questions before doing something!

Its easier to prevent mistakes than correct them

 

[jackroo]

Well, rootings only the first step my friend!

Now you are the all powerful administrator of your phone.


My first steps are always flashing a custom ROM and kernel for better battery life and performance.

However, if this is your first time its important to read, re-read, and ask questions before doing something!

Its easier to prevent mistakes than correct them

That's just it. I am new and the last time I tried to flash I bricked my phone. Totally my fault and I should have asked more questions and read up. I did have a few questions. I downloaded ROM Manager from Google Play and it says I have my recovery setup as TWRP. Do I need to do anything else before I download and flash a rom? I know I have Sprint and I can only use Sprint ROMs. Would I be able to flash through my cellular network or is it better on wifi? Thank you for the help and assistance. I knew I could count on folks here!

 

[Rxpert83]

I'd stay away from rom manager or any other app that automates recovery processes.

Using them is another quick way for beginners to fall in a trap when something goes wrong. The app can't help you if it screws up and the phone won't boot.

I would highly suggest doing things manually from your recovery screen. At least until you are comfortable in it and know what to do if something goes wrong.


If you want to stay with touchwiz roms I'd check out MOAR or the people's rom.

If you want to give stock Android a try (with plenty of bells and whistles thrown in) try cyanogenmod.

 

[jackroo]

So I should get rid of ROM Manager? I only have superuser and titanium backup installed.

 

[Rxpert83]

So I should get rid of ROM Manager? I only have superuser and titanium backup installed.

I edited my post above.

Yes, i would get rid of rom manager

 

[Rxpert83]

I made it to a computer, so I'll give you a better step by step on how to flash a ROM.

For the purposes of this, I'll assume you're going to use a touchwiz ROM. I'll be using MOAR http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2116531

Steps before flashing:

• Download your ROM and place it on the phone (either internal or SD card, just know where it ends up). If you are going to flash an AOSP ROM like cyanogenmod you'll also need to download the gapps
• Download titanium backup and use it to backup any app data you want saved for the next ROM
• If you want SMS messages saved, youll probably want to download another backup app like my backup
• Next we want to reboot to recovery. Shut down your phone. When its fully powered down, hold power, home, and volume up to get to recovery.

Creating a nandroid:
Once in recovery, select "backup" to create a nandroid backup. This is a complete backup of the current state of your phone in case something goes wrong. The stock settings it has are fine. You can choose it rename it to stock rooted or something so you know what it is. When satisfied, just swipe across the bottom. When its done go back to the main recovery page.

Installing the ROM:
Select Wipe. Swipe along the bottom to perform a factory reset. Go back to the main page

Select install. Find the ROM you just downloaded and select it, swipe along the bottom to flash. (If you chose an AOSP ROM, you'll also need to flash gapps. Itll usually be in the OP of the ROM thread)

If you chose MOAR like I linked above, it'll actually take you into a graphical installer known as AROMA. Here you can choose to install it normally or customize your theme and options during the install

When its done just reboot the phone and you're good to go. Redownload titanium and restore the app you downloaded.

 

[kevindroid]

now that you are already to alter your phone. MAKE A NANDROID FIRST!!!!!!

 

[jackroo]

Rxpert, thanks for that tutorial! Just need to be sure: do I need to be on wifi when I do this or no?

 

[jackroo]

now that you are already to alter your phone. MAKE A NANDROID FIRST!!!!!!

I tried doing that and when I try to go into download mode it just comes up with that screen about installing a custom OS and gives me the option to press up to continue or down to cancel. I pressed up and all it did was just say downloading. I'm trying to do a nandroid backup :/

 

[Ramer84015]

I tried doing that and when I try to go into download mode it just comes up with that screen about installing a custom OS and gives me the option to press up to continue or down to cancel. I pressed up and all it did was just say downloading. I'm trying to do a nandroid backup :/

You don't want to go into download mode, you want to go into RECOVERY mode. Re-read Rxpert's excellent post above. Download mode is achieved by shutting down your phone, then holding the home button, power button and volume UP at the same time. You'll see the word Recovery in small blue letters, at that point you let go of the buttons.

 

[Ramer84015]

Rxpert, thanks for that tutorial! Just need to be sure: do I need to be on wifi when I do this or no?

To actually flash a rom, you don't need to be in either. Ideally, you should download the rom to a PC and file copy the rom to your phone's internal SD or external SD. You may run more of a risk downloading a rom from the internet directly to your phone as you stand more of a chance of the file being corrupted.

 

[jackroo]

You don't want to go into download mode, you want to go into RECOVERY mode. Re-read Rxpert's excellent post above. Download mode is achieved by shutting down your phone, then holding the home button, power button and volume UP at the same time. You'll see the word Recovery in small blue letters, at that point you let go of the buttons.

Okay so I go into recovery...and isn't that achieved through the same method as download mode? Confused here. Before Rxpert advised to uninstall rom manager I had it installed and I saw I could get into recovery mode from there...but I appreciate your guys help!

 

[Rxpert83]

Download mode is power + home + volume down

Recovery is power + home + volume UP

You don't want download mode. You want recovery.

If you need an app to help you get to recovery, use quick boot. But I'd highly recommend being able to get there without it

 

[jackroo]

Download mode is power + home + volume down

Recovery is power + home + volume UP

You don't want download mode. You want recovery.

If you need an app to help you get to recovery, use quick boot. But I'd highly recommend being able to get there without it

Ah, got it. Once I'm in recovery I know I have to wipe a few times but what all exactly do I have to wipe? I noticed you said to also do a factory reset? That won't mess anything up? Thanks for guiding me through this

 

[Rxpert83]

"Factory reset" will wipe everything needed to flash a rom.

It wipes your data, cache, and dalvik cache.

The system gets wiped by the installer script during rom installation.

You can wipe them separately if you wish, but the easiest is just the factory reset

 

[jackroo]

Got it. And after I do that I should be good to go on installing a rom?

 

[Rxpert83]

:thumbup:

Backup apps, do a nandroid, wipe, flash.

Rinse and repeat to your hearts content. Just make sure the rom your flashing is for our device (d2spr)

 

[jackroo]

Sounds good! I did a nandroid backup and I'm waiting on the people's rom to download looking forward to it! I'll be sure to let you know how it goes. If anything does mess up my friend assured me he would help me out but after your clear explanations I don't anticipate any issues

 

[Rxpert83]

We'll be around as well.
:thumbup:

 

[jackroo]

So I tried to flash The People's Rom and it didn't fully go through. Thankfully my phone still works though lol. I still have superuser and the phone was factory reset so no harm done.

When I did a wipe the bottom screen said it went through fine. Then I went to install TPR and it said "installation aborted" or something like that. I tried again with no success. The zip was on my internal sd card and was easy to find. What went wrong? Not gonna give up until I get a rom on here

 

[Rxpert83]

Sounds like you had a bad download. That can happen.

Just delete the file you downloaded and try it again. If this becomes a regular problem, we can show you how to check the md5 of the file, which verifies that it downloaded correctly. That's gonna have to wait for another day though, I've gotta hit the hay.

If you restore that nandroid you made it'll be like you never did the factory reset.

 

[jackroo]

After work today I am going to give it another go. I figured it may have been a bad download and nothing I did on my part. Thanks again for your help. Hopefully I'll be running a custom rom soon