Rooting etc totally daunting

Zascar

I feel like a moron here as I'm fairly technical, but the whole process of rooting and putting on a new rom is baffeling to me. Command line stuff, twrp, dalvik, I'm lost.

I've searched for the absolute beginners guides and get stuck within the first few steps.

Has anyone been in the same position as me and actually got past it? I'm sure like anything once you know how to do it it's easy. I have a OnePlus One and want a new ROM as stock is giving me issues...

heebusjeebus

Just read and research as much as you can about the fundamentals before you try it yourself.
Learn about ADB as it's used a lot for android development and debugging.

Once you're happy with the fundamentals, read up the forums on XDA about your specific phone and also take a look at some youtube videos of the process to get a good idea of what you should be doing.

The biggest issue i faced was getting the right bloody USB drivers installed onto my pc. Once that was done I was sorted.

Danger781

There is GUI apps available for some phones (OPO included) where it is literally a case of 'Next, next, next' while letting the GUI take care of the underneath process

Check the OnePlus section of XDA there should be a toolkit available.

howamidifferent

Danger781 wrote: »

There is GUI apps available for some phones (OPO included) where it is literally a case of 'Next, next, next' while letting the GUI take care of the underneath process

Check the OnePlus section of XDA there should be a toolkit available.

Yep, search for "Bacon Root toolkit". Its for the OPO.

Riesen_Meal

howamidifferent wrote: »

Yep, search for "Bacon Root toolkit". Its for the OPO.

@Zascar

If you ain't comfortable using adb approach a tool kit like above is probably best way to go....

Adb was all we used in the early days before lads started creating " toolkits " - which are basically similar to batch files, its the same as manually punching in the code without having to put in the code...

The main issues with rooting via adb is making sure all your drivers are properly installed, honestly that is 3/4 of the battle if your using Windows for it...

I've managed to do it on my Mac when I was stuck for a Win machine...

Zascar

Thanks guys, the toolkit is exactly what I'm after!

EDIT: I had lots of issues but I think I'm getting there now...

Riesen_Meal

That's usually the point of where drivers come into play tbh...

Type adb devices and see is it "seeing" the connected phone...

Is there some kind of software package for your PC that One Plus do ?

Similar to HTCs God awful Sync Manager?

As that most likely has all the drivers you need in it....

MarkR

I had a similar issue with Bacon tookkit recently. Try this and see how you get on?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5O2e_R_TbVg

ThisRegard

Take a look at Cyanogenmod, there's a step by step guide on their Wiki. Once you initially have it installed you can then update via the phone itself. Not sure if that has ROMs for your phone.

As someone said the trickiest bit is getting your computer set up with the drivers etc.

You can get the ADB not found message if you don't have your phones drivers on your computer, or haven't clicked on the message asking for ADB authority on your phone which can sometimes be missed when your concentrating on the ADB console itself.

You also might need to disconnect and reconnect the phone if the drivers have just installed.

cormie

I've had partyatmygaff (boards username) do it for me before, he's a whiz at it and I'd much rather pay someone what is a very reasonable fee to do it and know it's done properly than to go messing around and trying to learn new stuff that I will rarely have the need for and spending hours doing so.

He created this facebook page too but I'm not sure if he still monitors it: https://www.facebook.com/TheAndroidClinic

Zascar

Ok guys I tried flashing a new Rom, it worked but its almost completely blank. No Gmail, play store etc. How do I get back to a normal Rom? It didnt even ask me to log into my google accounts. I'm confused...

I tried flashing Euphoria first and then went back to CM12 nightlies - its not really what i expected.

Any advice?

ED E

Zascar wrote: »

Ok guys I tried flashing a new Rom, it worked but its almost completely blank. No Gmail, play store etc. How do I get back to a normal Rom? It didnt even ask me to log into my google accounts. I'm confused...

I tried flashing Euphoria first and then went back to CM12 nightlies - its not really what i expected.

Any advice?

They arent allowed include "gApps". Download and flash Pico gApps to get you started, play store can add the rest as needed.

Zascar

Oh no. I did not know this. Literally nothing works, no phone, texts nothing.

Can anyone point me to a normal rom that has all the stuff I would normally get?
Or even the stock rom? I'm done messing I just need my phone to work now..

Danger781

Zascar wrote: »

Oh no. I did not know this. Literally nothing works, no phone, texts nothing.

Can anyone point me to a normal rom that has all the stuff I would normally get?
Or even the stock rom? I'm done messing I just need my phone to work now..

That doesn't sound right. Flasing the gApps should help. XDA is your friend in this situation. If you want to go back to stock there should be some 'How to' around there somewhere.

Zascar

I went back to the stock rom https://cyngn.com/support and it seems to be ok now. Phew.
Anyway at least I have got it unlocked etc - and hopefully now I can try out different roms etc. thanks for the help.
Where should I look to now for experimenting safely?

ThisRegard

Did you flash Cyanogenmod ? If so, then you're best sticking that, the updates section in settings will give you a list of available roms.

If you're haven't and just flashed back to the factory image again take a look at the Cyanogenmod wiki.

Danger781

OSI wrote: »

Wait, doesn't the OnePlus One ship with CyanogenMod as it's stock Rom anyway?

OnePlus One, yes.

ED E

Zascar wrote: »

Oh no. I did not know this. Literally nothing works, no phone, texts nothing.

Can anyone point me to a normal rom that has all the stuff I would normally get?
Or even the stock rom? I'm done messing I just need my phone to work now..

If mobile service stops its usually the baseband. Its software that runs the radios and some roms require you to be on/flash baseband x to function. Should be in flashing instructions.

Zascar

Thanks I managed to get it back to normal. I just went and put the stock rom back on. I'm new to this so I did not know the Google apps etc are seperate.

Anyway, now that I'm rooted, what things should I try? What apps etc do people use when rooted? Any suggestions appreciated.

ThisRegard

I don't use my phone any differently really, I just root and flash when either the carrier stops providing software updates, or an update doesn't really work on a device (I'm looking at you Lollipop on the original Nexus 7).

MarkR

Helium is good for backing up. sms backup and restore also.

Zascar

Does anyone us it for ad blocking?

Ha Long Bay

I would recommend adaway on a rooted device. You can find the apk to download over on XDA sorry cant post links.

Hootanany

cormie wrote: »

I've had partyatmygaff (boards username) do it for me before, he's a whiz at it and I'd much rather pay someone what is a very reasonable fee to do it and know it's done properly than to go messing around and trying to learn new stuff that I will rarely have the need for and spending hours doing so.

He created this facebook page too but I'm not sure if he still monitors it: https://www.facebook.com/TheAndroidClinic

Ive meassaged him but no reply:mad:

uRbaN

john4321 wrote: »

I would recommend adaway on a rooted device. You can find the apk to download over on XDA sorry cant post links.

Or you can install the Fdroid app and search for it on there.

Adaway is the first app on every time I reflash!

cormie

Hootanany wrote: »

Ive meassaged him but no reply:mad:

Did you try through PM or through facebook?

Zascar

I got Adaway working - works great! So many sites have loads of annoying ads, now all gone! So much better.

I also just got a "Nightly" download notification - ran it and it installed fine. I'm guessing I'll barely notice any of these differences.

So what's the deal, is it possible for me to try new ROMs without having to totally set up my phone again with apps, calls, texts and settings etc?

Hootanany

cormie wrote: »

Did you try through PM or through facebook?

Facebook but he got in contact with me this morning.