Rooting and slimming down Android

[Pete_S]

Just thought it would be handy, specially for newcomers, to have all the info in one thread about what can be got rid of from the Scroll, and any benefits and side effects.

Rooting and installing backup software

You need to gain root access before anything else. Install:

z4root http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=833953
Android Terminal Emulator http://www.mediafire.com/?p2iwqqaaxb3pw0p
Root Explorer (a paid for app or use Google)

There's a thread on this forum about rooting here:
http://scrolltabletforum.co.uk/site/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=125.

Install Clockworkmod, the relevant thread is here:
http://scrolltabletforum.co.uk/site/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=127&p=1167#p1167

* If you don't want to (or can't) connect the Scroll to your PC, the "easy mode" for Clockworkmod install just needs a microSD card and a simple command in Terminal Emulator *

Once rooted and with Clockworkmod installed you can backup and restore your Scroll, so any mistakes you make can be undone. Don't forget to use Clockworkmod to regularly back up, it is your lifeline. The boot menu which has the backup and restore options can be accessed by holding down the "volume up" button whilst pressing the power button until the boot menu appears. You are now in complete control of your Scroll

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build.prop

This important system file specifies, amongst other things, aspects of how the software interacts with the hardware. Once rooted and with Clockworkmod backup installed you can substitute (using Root Explorer or Terminal Emulator) this file with a modified version courtesy of Warpedflash. Some benefits are smoother operation, better looking screen, and longer battery life.
http://scrolltabletforum.co.uk/site/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=147

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Disabling unnecessary apps

The "pre-installed" system apps can be found in \system\app\
To disable an app, rename it by adding .ex or .old (or anything else) to the end, so example.app.apk becomes example.app.apk.old for example.

The three most people get rid of first, and it must be done strictly in the following order are:
Phone.apk (you will get instability after this, so just force the Scroll to power down and restart)
Mms.apk
TelephonyProvider.apk
Remember, strict order. PMT!
The Google Market should start working properly after these are removed - paid for apps appear as does the "carousel" for what it's worth.

Gallery3D.apk can go without problem, and the annoying tmp files won't appear on your sd card any more.

I removed the next two in the following order, I can't say what would happen in the reverse order.

Gallery.apk can go if you don't use the 2D Gallery app. You will need to install a separate image viewer. Almost any one would be better than Gallery IMHO. The Android mediaplayer is unaffected.

MediaProvider.apk This stops Android constantly scanning for images etc and generating thumbnails. You can now connect a USB stick or camera to the USB host and won't get unsolicited thumnails generated. YES! I also had a problem when using Youtube downloader apps where a .thumbdata3 file in "/nand/DCIM/" would grow in size and fill the entire internal storage. This uncouth behaviour has now stopped
I've since discovered that some apps might expect to find the system thumbnails and not like it if they can't, I've only encountered one such app. Another, a picture viewer app, asked me to choose between using the system or making its own thumbs, so no problem there.
Another issue is, any notification sounds you set (like the start up sound) might stop working to be replaced by a default sound.

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Uninstalling old non-working youtube and installing new

The original youtube app can stop working. It's a system app and has to be uninstalled manually before the updated version can be installed. Make a Clockworkmod backup before you begin!

Delete YouTube.apk from /system/app

Delete com.google.android.youtube folder from /data/data

Delete system@app@YouTube.apk@classes.dex from /data/dalvik-cache

Reboot the Scroll, go to Settings - Applications - Manage Applications and uninstall the YouTube app (it's already gone but this entry would prevent the new version installing).

Finally, install the updated version from here http://www.mediafire.com/?ql6v72qia20wkh7 after renaming it from signed_YouTube.apk to YouTube.apk

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What to do if your "Android Market" stops working

Later versions of Scroll firmware (v1.00 onwards)can develop problems with market download not working - it will hang at the point of download. This appears a very common problem, but without answer till now.
Detection's guide to fixing the broken market: http://scrolltabletforum.co.uk/site/viewtopic.php?f=27&t=615

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Don't forget to use Clockworkmod backup periodically.

Please correct me if anything above is wrong or if you've discovered side effects

[Veng]

Good advice.

[edtuckerartist]

Good starting info!
I am going to wait a while before I jump in and do this, as would like to see a few more sucssesful attempts to know it's completly safe. ( unemployed so can't afford to replace my Scroll!)

[Charlie]

Good starting info!
I am going to wait a while before I jump in and do this, as would like to see a few more sucssesful attempts to know it's completly safe. ( unemployed so can't afford to replace my Scroll!)

a lot of people on here have done most if not all what is listed in the post above & the scroll is still working fine. You just need to take your time & read the instructions fully, and make sure you fully understand what you are doing before doing it. - with these changes (like cooking) things need to be done in the right order or you end up with, well not what you hoped for.

[Pete_S]

- with these changes (like cooking) things need to be done in the right order or you end up with, well not what you hoped for.

Is that cooking as in a ROM, Charlie, or like dinner

[edtuckerartist]

I've Jb'ed my Ipo*, Put OSX on my Dell netbook, put Android and Ubuntu on same netbook and Rockboxed a few mp3 players so I'm not new to modding lol
So cook the chips in the droid (low fat oil) then put the root in And wait for the plant?

[Pete_S]

So cook the chips in the droid (low fat oil) then put the root in And wait for the plant?

What you been smokin', Ed? Can I have some please Ah,yes, Rockboxing. That takes me back (iRiver H100, H320)

[edtuckerartist]

So cook the chips in the droid (low fat oil) then put the root in And wait for the plant?

What you been smokin', Ed? Can I have some please Ah,yes, Rockboxing. That takes me back (iRiver H100, H320)

Strange you should mention that as I quit Smoking two weeks ago after having been a smoker for over thirty years

And (roid) I just jumped into the hot oil - Thought what the hell - and did the root thingy above!

[edtuckerartist]

Ran into a slight problem. Downloads start then don't Show after downloading, can't find where they dissapear too ?
Not sure if they are actually downloading.

[Warpedflash]

I would appreciate the 1st rooting link being removed as it rapidly stopped being about rooting and more about flashing experimental clockwork versions and upadate.zips (Dont want anyone to read it then do shit they shouldnt lol)