New? START HERE BEFORE ASKING!!!! (The mostly noob proof guide....) UPDATED

I have started this thread so that I can relieve the forum of senseless noob Q and A.

FLASH WILL NOT FUNCTION PROPERLY ON THIS PHONE DO NOT ASK PLEASE
The reason this being is that an ARM6 processor (our phone has this) will not allow Flash to function properly without ruining your phone. The Droid Eris community (which I was a part of not too long ago) got this to work with an ARM6 but it was BAD BAD news. The only proper processor is an ARM7.

Please please PLEASE FOR THE LOVE OF FLYING SPAGHETTI MONSTERS!!!
Do not ask for estimated times of arrival from developers. REPEAT. No asking for ETA's from devs.
It is proper etiquette to let our devs do things on their own time. They are not our employees and they have their own lives to attend to first. No sniveling when someone cracks the whip if you ask for an ETA. This has been a public service announcement, thank you for your consideration.





1- Dictionary

ADB- Android Developers Bridge: The program used to talk to your phone and give it commands (USE IT ONLY IF YOU FEEL COMFORTABLE LEARNING)

Root/Rooting- Getting the administrative control i.e, "hacking", "jailbreak", etc, etc...... Root is also defined as the base folder of your SD card. If you are told to place a file into root then this is what is meant. REMEMBER-root/rooting-admin control OR base folder on SD card. Please re read instructions you find in the forums throughly so that you may be able to save yourself some time and heartache.

Superuser- program which gives authority for another program to have Root access. Program examples are "setcpu", "terminal emulator", "auto killer memory optimizer"

Recovery- a useful tool that allows root users to flash roms, reinstall backups, and do many other fantastic things to help keep your phone from becoming a brick.

Flash/flashing- the action of "installing" a file that isnt normally installed by conventional means i.e. flashing a rom, flashing a radio, flashing a kernel, etc etc

Brick- making a device useless so that it is rendered a mass of uselessness i.e. PWNED

Terminal Emulator- a program which simulates ADB and basically is a way to communicate with the phone and provide a command language that is for upper eschelon (1337) users to helm.

Nand backup- In your recovery terminal there is an option to make a "Nand backup". This is a restore point or in gaming terms a save point. As most of us gamers know, if you save before you go further in the game and you make a poor choice then you can reset and go back to where you started. This is the same thing but for your phone

Kernel Easiest way to put it: it is the thing that manages your system resources. This puppeh can help make your phone run better and also overclock it.

Overclocking Dont worry I wasnt gonna leave this term out. This is written for newbs so lets just say this is the term for making your phone run faster. IMPORTANT NOTE!!! Overclocking your phone too far can make it seize up or go into bootloops if done incorrectly! It can also make your phone run hot. BEWARE!!!!

PRL Preferred Roaming List: This is just an updated list of what cellphone towers have been added to the system. This means better coverage when updated



2- Rooting
Phones that came out of the closet....er...box I mean, with 2.2 ONLY!
Google search for "z4 root.apk" or use this nice little link: [APP] z4root - xda-developers

Phones that came with 2.2.1 out of the box:
Gingerbreak 2.2.1 one click root


First step I do to install any program I find on the net to get onto my phone is to use "androzip" (found on marketplace) to browse my sd card and find the .apk file I put (usually just place something where you can find it).
Use the permanent root option and you should have a new rooted phone!


YOU MAY SKIP STEPS 3 AND 4 BUT IT IS RECOMMENDED YOU DO STEP 3 AT LEAST SO YOU HAVE A WAY TO FIX YOUR PHONE!!!!


3- Recovery Menu
Please see the link below for the recovery menu. THIS IS THE FIRST STEP IN PUTTING MODS ON YOUR PHONE

http://androidforums.com/getitnowmarketing/256286-custom-recovery-ms690-optimus-m.html

(NAND)- Please make a Nand backup as soon as you have this recovery terminal so that you can start messing with your phone and have a restore point in case you noob up your phone

4-Installing a Rom
This is so easy that your cat can do it while playing SEGA!!!

TO INSTALL A ROM (clean install)
/!\ WARNING: flash at your own risk and make sure you have over fifty percent battery and do not interrupt the flashing procedure. YOU HAVE BEEN WARNED!!!!!

-Place the .zip folder in the root folder on your SD card.
-Turn phone off
-Press Vol down+ Home +Power and release at LG Logo
-When in the Recovery menu use the volume down key to navigate onto "flash zip from sd card", use the button on the face of your phone that has the two boxes icon on it (the left most button) to make your selection
-Use the volume down key to find your .zip file and use the leftmost button again to select
-Let phone run its job. Phone should return to normal startup screen



ROMS
Please visit the links below so that you may enjoy the works of our handy Developers (please give them thanks and be nice since they are the ones who gives us all the nifty things we enjoy)

Asadullah
http://androidforums.com/lg-optimus-m/256095-rom-zero-1-0-a.html

edodonnell (rom) and joneidy (for the method)
http://androidforums.com/optimus-m-all-things-root/279318-root-2-2-1-get-data-working.html

CM7 Newest GB rom by Reppard

Gingerbread CyanogenMod 7 ROM from Joneidy here




5-Modifications

These apps can safely be removed from the LG Optimus M. (Big Thanks to edodonnell for this list)

Just because an app is listed here does not necessarily mean that it is useless or that you will want to remove it. It only means that it can safely be removed without damaging anything else.

If you remove an .apk, then you can also remove the corresponding .odex. Not all apps will have an .odex.

I (nomorefear) delete only the .apk files after backing up the files up on my computer so that I may reinstall them if need be.

Apps safe to remove:
AnalogClockWidget.apk - Analog Clock widget
Boingo_Wi-Fi.apk - Boingo WiFi
Calculator.apk - Calculator
Calendar.apk - Calendar App
CalendarProvider.apk - Supports the calendar. Remove only if Calendar.apk and CalendarWidget.apk have been removed.
CalendarWidget.apk - Calendar Widget
CarHome.apk - Car Home - Remove CarHomeLauncher.apk if this is removed.
CarHomeLauncher.apk - Car Home Launcher - Linked to CarHome.apk
ClockWeatherWidget.apk - Clock Weather Widget
DeskClock.apk - Clock app
DigitalAlarmWidget.apk - Alarm Clock widget
DualClockWidget.apk - Dual Clock widget
Email.apk - Email app - Safe to remove if you use Gmail or some other email app
GoogleQuickSearchBox.apk - Google Search widget and app
Homeselector.apk - Home Selector - Will not work if LGHome.apk is removed
LG-MS690_MetroBackup_1.27_PRODBuild_10082010.apk - MetroBackup
[/I][/B]
LGMS690_MetroNavigator_4.9.1_Build_57_10222010_rel _signed_PROD.apk - MetroNavigator
LGMS690_MetroPCS_EasyWiFi_V4.0.90.apk - EasyWiFi
LiveWallpapers.apk
LiveWallpapersPicker.apk
Loopt_Android_2.4.1_Oct.13.2010.apk - Loopt
MagicSmokeWallpapers.apk
Metro411.apk - Metro411
metroappstore-v1.3a.apk - MetroPCS App Store
MobileBanking.apk - Mobile Banking
MobilePosse.apk - MyExtras
Mocospace-1.2.4.apk - Moco Space
MPCS-MobileIM-0.4.24.2.apk - MobileIM
Music.apk - Music Player
MVC.MetroPCS.android02.apk - Virtual Card
PEX-3.1.1.1-metro-rc.apk - Pocket Express
PGA_Android.apk - Free Games
Protips.apk - Tips widget
RSSViewerWidget.apk - RSS Reader
SNS.apk - LG Facebook and Twitter app
thinkdroid.apk - Think Free Office
UNO_DEMO_LG_MS690_EN_NONIGP_MetroPCs_TS_307.apk - UNO Game
YouTube.apk - YouTube video player
z7-android2x.apk - Mail@Metro


These apps SHOULD NOT be removed:
Browser.apk - MetroWEB - Required for Android Market
Phone.apk - Phone app/dialer
Settings.apk - Settings menu
Talk.apk - Google Talk
LGHome.apk - Home app (NONONONO dont delete!!!)


Want to save more space? Delete the ringtones and notifications that you do not like!
If you feel comfortable with root explorer (like you two are going steady or at least have gone to second base) then please try this out:

Use a file explorer (root explorer is best IMO) that can also modify system apps,
-navigate to system
-go to media
-audio
-click notifications or ringtones (dont play with the ui sounds please)
-delete whichever sounds you do not like (most file explorers can play the tone right in the system so you can decide on the spot)


Want a fast phone?? (only grandma doesnt.... are you grandma? No? Thought so!!! >)
OVERCLOCK THAT SON OF A (watch yo mouth!).....
HUGE FOOKING THANKS TO REPPARD (seriously give that guy some thanks or better yet DONATE)

Reppards super fantastical Kernel for OC!


Want a better signal? PRL update your phone!
Its as easy as calling *228, wait for the prompt and say "update roaming list" and then "yes" when prompted. Let the phone do its stuff and presto chango you should have a better signal.


Jealous of all those cool android phones that have themes?
Go here and use the kitchen to theme your rom! This requires a little reading but is so simple a newb.... wait -you- can use it! GO NEWB GO!




6-Reverting back to whence you came

Stuck on 2.2.1? Wanna just go back to a regular phone? Downgrade for some odd reason sound good to you?
andyo70 has made a valid point in a post below so I am going to post his suggestion since its an awesome one... So go:

here and here

These two links are the methods proven to get you back to square one. After learning all that you have in this post, I am sure you can follow directions.




HOW TO GET YOUR PARTITION OFF THE SD CARD!!!!
Get "terminal emulator" from the market
type the word su then press enter then these commands:

parted /dev/block/mmcblk0 (press enter after each command)

rm 1 (deletes partition number 1)
rm 2 (deletes partition number 2)
rm 3 (if needed. keep going till all partitions are removed)


HELPFUL HINTEROONIE- If you have a file that you have to put on the sd card first and use adb to install it then do yourself a favor and try using the TERMINAL EMULATOR and place the commands as shown.... This is a hint for those who have overcome their newbness

I would like to make the blanket THANK YOU to all of our Devs first and foremost and a thank you to all of our testers for taking the risks to make this community what it is.

Feel free to email me at suffering_fortune@hotmail.com if you have any questions, concerns, or any other matter please. Thank you!
-nomorefear

I also take paypal donations so I can pay for gas and go visit my daughter

http://bit.ly/jIw0Lo

 

Just stick to deleting the.apk's posted above and do not tinker with anything else unless you have step 3 done (recovery) and have made a Nand backup.
If you wanna delete things on your phone and see what they do then the Nand can restore your phone from an earlier point, kind of like what you can do in Windows with the restore option

If you have the .apk, then you have to put them on your sd card and navigate to them and install them. you cannot simply put them back on your phone. Think of your phone like a computer. You can put the file back on but then you have to install it for it to work

 

I agree with Talk.apk (I should have proof read better) so when I am done with school later I will make the change. KTHXBAI! ^_^

 

Ive been out of lately since I am a full time student but I will make the necessary changes. I know for a fact that edodonnell has 2.2.1 rooted since that is what I am on. Maybe I should link to that as well.

 

does this have your seal of approval andyo70? ^_^
keep in mind this is my first ever full on thread

 

I am sorry jensmonkey but there is no viable way that flash can work on this phone properly (I was a part of the Droid Eris community not too long ago on the XDA forums and they got it working but it was just plain bad for the phone since it could not handle the processor usage and would inevitably ruin your phone). Flash requires an ARM7 processor while ours is an ARM6. SORRY!

@andyo70, thank you once again for your help and I do hope you get better.

 

Can we please have this stickied? Anyone?