[HOW-TO] Simplified Root + Recovery + Custom ROM

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This is a simplified guide for those new to rooting & flashing a custom ROM on the Optimus V. No need to type complex commands that are hard to follow and prone to mistakes. Basically there are 3 main steps: Root, Install custom recovery, & flash custom ROM.

Windows Drivers for the Optimus V (Optional but suggested):
http://www.lg-phones.org/wp-content/...-Optimus-V.zip

Rooting

Rooting is the process of gaining administrative rights to the phone so one can do customizations that aren't normally allowed. Root by itself doesn't do anything interesting, unless there's an app that needs it. The fancy stuff comes from custom ROMs. Just remember Virgin Mobile Activation only works on Froyo ROMs, so do it before going to Gingerbread. The easiest way to root nowadays is to use GingerBreak. It can be found here:

[26.04.2011][v1.2] GingerBreak APK (root for GingerBread) - xda-developers

Instruction Steps:

1. Turn on USB Debugging (Settings - Applications - Development)
2. Copy the GingerBreak.apk to a /sdcard dir, then using a 'file manager' app (search for one in Android Market) install it like a regular app.
3. It can take up to 10 minutes, and will reboot automatically when complete (rooted), if attempt fails, reboot manually & run it again.


Install custom recovery image

The recovery image is an alternative bootup instead of normal Android Operating System. It allows low-level operations such as backup/restore a ROM, wipe partitions, and flash ROMs.

4. Download and copy the recovery image VM670NH_recovery.img (works with new & old OV screens) onto your /sdcard.
5. Install the Flash Image GUI app (save the .apk to a /sdcard directory, then open it with file manager) Run the app & select 'Recovery Image' option with the file above.


Flash Custom ROM

I.H.O CyanogenMod 7 ROM (Gingerbread)

6. Copy the unextracted ROM .zip that you wish to install to the /sdcard dir. Also if installing a CyanogenMod Gingerbread ROM, the unextracted gapps.zip also needs to be placed in the same dir to flash right after the ROM .zip.
7. Boot into Clockworkmod recovery mode (From powered off state, hold vol-down, home, and power button until the LG logo appears).
8. FIRST, BACKUP ORIGINAL ROM! Don't continue until this is successful. Use vol-up/down, camera, & back keys to navigate in recovery.
9. Wipe Data/Factory Reset, wipe cache partition. Under Advanced submenu, wipe dalvik-cache. Then uner Mounts & Storage submenu, format all partitions EXCEPT /sdcard.
10. Flash the custom ROM.zip from sdcard and gapps.zip too if going to a CyanogenMod ROM
11. Reboot and enjoy the new ROM, the first boot takes longer than usual, also some problems may disappear after rebooting.

NOTES:

- NEVER use Android Settings 'Factory Reset' from now on, only do factory reset & wipes from within recovery mode. Most ROMs should have this option removed from the Android settings.

- Some newer Optimus V screens hardware changed, see link: [FIX]Black screen with custom recovery and custom roms (BobZHome's IHO recovery from the Wiki binary -> recovery page also works with newer screens.)

- If restoring a backed up ROM in CWM recovery gives 'MD5 mismatch' error (likely caused by renaming a ROM backup). Try this fix:
# cd /sdcard/clockworkmod/backup/<name_of_backup>
# rm nandroid.md5
# md5sum *img > nandroid.md5

- If you ever want to restore to original stock ROM (ONLY on OV's with older screen), with original recovery and UNrooted:
http://www.prepaidandroid.org/index....inal_condition

titanium backup?

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Excellent guide for the likes of me (noob), you might wanna mention titanium backup too

help

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Hey u have a great step by step guide, however when I run gingerbreak to root it gives me an error I kno u said reboot manually and I did twice and I couldn't get it to work, any thoughts of to why it did this twice thanks

Originally Posted by Zachary droid

Hey u have a great step by step guide, however when I run gingerbreak to root it gives me an error I kno u said reboot manually and I did twice and I couldn't get it to work, any thoughts of to why it did this twice thanks

What is the exact error you're getting? I believe you have to keep retrying, maybe up to 10 times.

Thanks a lot.Real helpful

Will this work for LG Optimus S? It's been difficult to find specific information for this phone.

Thanks.

Originally Posted by KidGusto

Will this work for LG Optimus S? It's been difficult to find specific information for this phone.

Thanks.

the windows drivers and gingerbreak will work.
you'll need an optimus S custom recovery and rom, though. If you use optimus V software, your home and menu keys will be backwards, and there may be other little issues with the network.
look on android central forums for optimus S development and you'll find roms and recoveries no problem.

Thank you for this. The Rom manager method is great, i was afraid not to brick my optimus one with the adb shell crap and pc connection. They should make a nici sticky like this in the euro section, not with adb crap.

Can this guide by updated, with more details?
The menu options in ROM manager are not the same anymore, and I am flailing around trying to figure out which options to hit.
I'm stuck at the LG logo boot up screen after doing what I think is flashing the bumblebee ROM step. (step 10 in the guide).

I used these steps and they worked great for rooting, but I'm having a problem with recovery. I flashed CWM 3.2.0.1 from ROM Manager and it appeared to work fine, but when I try to boot into recovery I just get a blank screen.

I have done the following:
Busybox 1.19.2 from Stericson, installed to /system/bin
Superuser from market, updated to 2.3.6.3, su is 2.3.2-efgh
Used ROM Manager 4.4.0.7 to flash CWM recovery 3.2.0.1

I've tried getting to recovery using Home+Vol Dn+Power, or the reboot menu option in rom manager, and just get the blank screen.

Anyone run into this or have suggestions?