Root [International] Bloatware removal - Dummies Guide

JWaldenback said:

Hi,

I am trying to decide whether to freeze certain apps I don't need or install a custom DjeMBeY ROM and getting rid of them permanently. Maybe someone here can help me decide what to do?

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Only you can decide as only you know which, and how many, of the deleted apps you need.

Is there any difference in speed when between a custom Super Slim ROMs and the stock one? More bloatware (frozen or not) does in my thinking slow the device, but then, I have quite limited knowledge when it comes to freezing and such so don't know if that's true.

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I find the DjeMBeY Modified ROM faster than the stock ROM. You should download the Deleted Apps file for whichever DjeMBeY Modified ROM you wish to use, I am on MGA and it shows 61 apps = 416MB, removed. Of these, I only use DropBox which I downloaded the later version from Google Play Store. In addition to the removed apps, I have also frozen a further 60 system apps that I personally do not use.

I was also thinking about Titanium Backup. Let's say I do a backup with Titanium on my device as it is now where I haven't frozen any bloatware at all. Then I decide to install a custom ROM but first wipe the device clean (by the way is there any necessity wiping it?) and then restore the device with that backup. Does it install all off these Samsung bloatware again? Because when I made this backup those apps were installed on my device?

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A Titanium Backup is for apps/data only, 3rd party and system, so you would have to load a firmware/ROM first, which would contain fresh copies of the system apps that come with it, bloatware and all. It is not a good idea to replace a system app in another firmware/ROM. For instance, replacing system apps from Firmware ABC to Firmware, XYZ and certainly not across platforms such as ICS to JB or Android 4.2.2 to Android 4.3. Third party, Play Store apps, are usually OK between different firmwares/ROMs but may not be so between platforms unless they have been updated themselves.

As for wiping, there are 2 distinct sorts of wipes...

1. The Recovery wipe of the cache partition and dalvik cache that I always recommend when installing anything new. This does not affect the firmware/ROM/data.

(There is a 1.5 option of just doing a Factory Reset but this depends on where you have your apps and their data stored)

2. The Full Monty wipe, whereby everything needs to be backed up and then the SD card and Internal memory are formatted, particularly if you have installed apps on these, and the phone is Factory reset. You can then use Titanium Backup to restore the apps but not the data and certainly not any system, (red), apps as these can cause problems. This wipe is usually recommended if... (a) You are switching platforms, say, 4.2.2 to 4.3... or, if you have a persistent problem with your phone that cannot be resolved by using the first method.

The majority of problems on the forums tend to be caused by people who do not wipe and whilst some may get away with it, others will be posting about screen freezes, lags, shutdowns, apps not working, etc: The first thing that is usually recommended in these cases is to do step 1 and, if that fails, move to step 2.

If I don't wipe my device before installing this Slim ROM what happens then? Does my settings on all apps stay the same when reinstalling them?

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If you are flashing, say, DjeMBeY Modified ROM MGA over the top of the stock Samsung firmware, MGA, you should be OK to leave it as a No Wipe installation, apart from cache and dalvik, that will leave your remaining apps and settings OK.

And then I must ask about installing apps that DjeMBeY have got rid off, for example, Dropbox. Is it ok just to install it via Play Store?

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See above. I have. Plus, as mentioned in post #1 of the DjeMBeY Dummies Guide, you can add from the deleted apps folder, any system apps that you need.

Edit: I came up with yet another question. Installing a custom ROM vs freezing apps on the stock ROM. Is it easier to update the phone to the newest Android firmware with the stock ROM? (I have no need doing this since I'm very happy with 4.2 but I believe it's worth taking into consideration when deciding what to do next).

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When switching platforms I always flash the stock Samsung firmware first, as a known, good, base, before flashing a custom or modified ROM for that platform.

joesixpack said:

Is it me or did somebody change the spreadsheet and get rid of all the colors? My view shows none of the colors mentioned (and it used to!). What gives?

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Yes... some clot has removed the colours in the latest revision. If you click on File > Show revision history... you can bring up the colours again by restoring the 4th March version. Hopefully, this will be rectified soon.

EDIT: Rectified. Colours are back!