[1/10/11] Root and install CWM, CM7 etc: GB 52577 Scroll Tab

[Rocksalt]

UPDATE 2: 01/10/2011
- New CM7 Base now @ http://androtab.info/telechips/firmwares
Highlights:
*Flash and mp4 videos now play smoothly using 'software decoding mode' on most video players such as Rock Player or Mobo player for ARM V6 processors
*embedded web flash videos playing on some sites (Instructions @ viewtopic.php?f=27&t=1593)
*much more responsive and smooth

UPDATE 1.Thread Updated on 05/09/2011 to include
- Installing google apps including full Android market on CM7
- More apps added to Apps section

I just bought the Scroll 52577 Capacitative tablet running GB 2.3.1. Eventually flashed and modded it and thought it might help those also getting the GB Roms.
Disclaimer: I will not be held responsible for a bricked tablet!!

This thread includes

1. How I Rooted this tab
2. How I installed clockwork recovery
3. How I flashed CM7 GB 2.3.5
4. How I removed unnecessary system apps to free up memory
5. How I adjusted the lcd density to improve screen resolution
6. Useful apps to optimize user experience
7. A CM7 theme I absolutely love

1. ROOTING THE TAB

I used Super Oneclick (S1C) as z4Root didn't work for me. The newest version of S1C didn't work either but an older version worked

How to:
a. install these drivers: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4364278/PdaNetA300.exe. (Thanks to Suggsy 89).
b. Download SuperOneclick 2.0.beta1 from http://shortfuse.org/?p=41
c. Extract S1C and open the applicatiion as an administrator
d. Enable debug mode on your tablet from settings>applications>development and tick USB debugging
e. On your tablet go to settings>Storage and tap unmount SD card
f. Plug in your tablet and wait for the install complete notification
g. Then on the S1C User interface click the 'Root' button. Wait until it says OK.
That's it. You are now rooted. Reboot and enjoy.

2. FLASHING CLOCKWORK RECOVERY and CM7

Go to this site:http://androtab.info/telechips/firmwares and download the files clockwork and CM7 for Storage Options Scroll 7" Capacitive GB ROM. Read the instructions on the page on how to flash. Do not rename the downloaded files

A. How to install Clockwork recovery:
a. Plug your tablet into your PC and mount USB
b. Transfer the 2 files you have downloaded above to SD card. Then unmount USB and unplug tablet.
c. Turn tablet off
d. Go into stock recovery by Holding down on the Power button and Volume up button simultaneously until you see the caution triangle. Release both buttons and press the Home button. You should now see the recovery options.
e. Use the volume button to move up or down and the power button to select.Select install update.zip, Highlight the clockwork zip file on your sd, and select to install.
f. Now use back button and select reboot.
Done. Now you have CWM

B. NOW BACK UP YOUR STOCK ROM. This is a must
a. Repeat steps c and d from A above; this should now get you CWM recovery
b. Highlight and select 'backup'
c. Select reboot when backup complete
c. You should now see a file called Clockwork on your SD card with your back up file.

C. How to install CM7 GB 2.3.5
a. Repeat steps c and d from A above
B. Highlight and select wipe data/factory reset. When done press back button on tablet
b. Select install update.zip, Highlight the CM7 zip file on your sd, and select to install
c. Reboot
d. calibrate the touch screen
e. Reboot. DONE

NOTE: What works on CM7
-almost everything works:wifi, auto-rotate, videos
- really fast and customizable
- excellent UI
What has not worked for me: Mount USB storage on PC. I use dropbox app instead

INSTALLING MARKET AND GAPPS:
CM7 has no google Apps pre-installed; you need to go to http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Latest_Version#Google_Apps and download the gapp package for CM7 (Version 20110613). Flash it via CWM, reboot, install apps you would like and reboot again. You should now have a full working market.


3. REMOVING FILES FROM SYSTEM TO FREE MEMORY

How to:
a. Download and install Super manager (search google or free from market)
b. Open it, go to options and tick Root
c. Navigate to Phone Root by clicking the 'Back up level folder' button (at top column)
d. Go to system folder > apps. Tap Mount R/W when option pops up
e. What to delete
- be careful what you delete. From both stock and CM7 I have deleted live wallpapers and live music wallpapers. I laso deleted advanced task killer and all storage options apps from stock.
f. Reboot.

4. IMPROVING RESOLUTION VIA LCD DENSITY

This improves the image quality on the screen
a. Using Super manager navigate to system folder and select build.prop . Copy this file
b. Paste it on your SD card.
c. Using a file manager such as Astro (free on market), open the SD copy of the build.prop as text, look for the line that contains LCD density, then change the figure. For Stock rom I replaced the 220 with 200, and for CM 7 I replaced 161 with 140.
d. Press menu button and tap save.
e. Now go back to super manager and copy this saved build.prop from c
f. Navigate back to system folder on tablet root and paste it.
g. Reboot phone.

NOTE: I have uploaded my copies of build.prop for both Stock and CM7 Roms. http://www.multiupload.com/MC836JDZ0I.
Simply replace the build.prop in systems folder with this. For CM7 rename to build.prop before replacing

5. USEFUL FREE APPS TO OPTIMIZE USER EXPERIENCE
Some need root function.
If you don't have market just google them

a. Autokiller memory optimizer free from market or google. I use Ultimate Preset. Find it from options, preset; select ultimate and Apply

b. Button Saviour: Very useful if you want to use soft keys instead of constantly pressing your hardware buttons. Find it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865525

c. Astro file manager (no root function) and Super manager (Root function)

d. Quickboot app free from market: Soft key replacement for power button

e. Areader: excellent ebook reader with shelf UI

f. Mobo Video player (V) for ARMV6 processors

g. Opera Mini web browser: simply the best for this tablet after trying almost all of them

h. Fast reboot: one click killer of all running apps

i. Alternative keyboards to stock keybaord
T-mobile trace keyboard: works excellently well. Find it here: http://www.multiupload.com/MC836JDZ0I.
Go Keyboard: free on market; has life-saving bi-directional arrows, theme-able, very functional (like HTC keyboard)

j. Adfree: the best for preventing ads that run with free apps!

k. AnimMod: small app to enable animations like fly and fold etc: works great on scroll; put the life back on my scroll. Free on market

l. Custom Android Font changer: on tap font changer; light app with over 100 fonts to choose from; free on market

m. RecentApps: simple app to enable assessing recent apps from status bar instead of long-pressing home button

n. DropSync: automatically sync your DropBox without the hassle of manually downloading


6. THEME FOR CM7.
Anastasdroid Theme is absolutely the best, I have found. Simply elegant. Free on the market or from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1025595.
After instalation, go to apps, theme chooser and select Anastasdroid to apply. Best if you disable tablet tweaks in CM7 settings.

THE END

Thank you. I am not a developer but well experienced at flashing Roms. I will help with questions if I can. Cheers.

[Charlie]

Hi Rocksalt & welcome to the forum,

Thanks for the very good and informative 1st post (best one I have ever seen) - I must say you are definitely worth your salt

[Fonefixer]

Welcome to the forum!

I agree with Charlie, a great first post. Perhaps I should nominate it for a "Post of the Week Award" (if we had one!)

[Rocksalt]

Thank you Charlie and Fonefixer for the encouraging comments. Much appreciated please.
Cheers

[Fickster]

I have just registered on this site to say thank you! Amazing post, took me about 1 hour to follow all of the instructions. I am not technical and I had never rooted a phone or table before. The instructions where easy to understand and I now have a great working tablet from something that was slow and error prone.


Thank you for all of you help!!!

[Charlie]

Great up date on your post Rocksalt, nice one

[Rocksalt]

Great up date on your post Rocksalt, nice one

Thank you Charlie.

[Rocksalt]

I have just registered on this site to say thank you! Amazing post, took me about 1 hour to follow all of the instructions. I am not technical and I had never rooted a phone or table before. The instructions where easy to understand and I now have a great working tablet from something that was slow and error prone.


Thank you for all of you help!!!

Glad you found it useful!

[petrivan]

Hi! Rocksalt, thanks a lot for the very detailed instructions! Here are my impressions after the CM7 installations.
Good:
the tablet boots faster and works faster then before in general applications (like browser)
I can download applications from market (although not all of them)
Bad:
video playback is unusable in my case (I have tried players, which were working flawlessly before)
camera is not working
Skyfire browser, which is supposed to play Flash video on websites - requested Flash plugin installation
as it was said before, USB was not mounting on PC (actually it was until I have flashed Google apps)
Finally, I have flashed the stock ROM back (thanks to Rocksalt for must have remainder!). Everything works slowly again, but it works

[sensismile]

Hi,

my results are the same as the post above - the usb <-> pc is working directly after flashing CM7 - or even after first boot (after calibration). I also installed gapps and the functionality was gone.

Video is alo not usable - low res mp4 plays only audio, hires mp4 doens't play at all - the same with flv movies.

Sensi