Use this tag when your issue is specific to custom ROMs -- but first make sure that there's no more specific tag, as e.g. for 'cyanogenmod' or 'darky-rom'. See the full tag wiki for more details.
62
votes
7answers
14k views
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc.?
What is the difference between:
Rooting
Jailbreaking
ROM
NAND and Nandroid
Operating System
Mod (e.g. CyanogenMod)
Recovery (ClockworkMod, Amon Ra)
Custom Kernel (e.g. LeshaK's kernel)
Firmware
...
40
votes
1answer
13k views
Where can I find stock or custom ROMs for my Android device?
There are several reasons to be looking for a ROM:
Upgrading or downgrading your stock ROM
Looking for firmware from a different region/language
Flashing a custom ROM for different features, ...
18
votes
1answer
751 views
What is Dalvik cache?
When installing custom ROMs most recommend clearing the Dalvik cache. What exactly is Dalvik cache?
18
votes
2answers
20k views
What is the difference between odexed and deodexed roms?
What is the difference between odexed and deodexed roms? Which is the standard (stock) roms that ship use?
17
votes
1answer
30k views
Why Do I Need to Wipe Dalvik Cache?
When I'm updating a custom ROM, there's always an instruction to wipe the Dalvik cache. I don't see a reason why this is necessarily.
Watching the logcat while the system is booting I can clearly see ...
16
votes
6answers
3k views
What are the Pros and Cons to running CyanogenMod?
Can anyone that's used it list the relevant benefits and drawbacks? I'm actually more interested in the drawbacks and limitations because its not hard to find praise for it.
Edit: Ooops, I forgot to ...
16
votes
1answer
1k views
What are the advantages of a custom ROM over rooted stock?
What can a custom ROM provide beyond rooting that I can't get by downloading an application?
15
votes
2answers
15k views
SD card partitioning? why? how?
I am going to install cm7 and it seems to me that is 'good' to partition my SD card.
I did some reading but I am not sure if ext partition will become accessible as mass storage when an Android phone ...
14
votes
2answers
15k views
What's the difference between an AOSP ROM and a stock ROM?
I'd like to know what's the difference between these two.
What are the Advantages or Disadvantages of using a AOSP ROM vs a Stock ROM?
Is it just the Theme/Skin/UI and Bloatware that's different or ...
13
votes
1answer
3k views
What does zipalign mean and how does it fit into how we use our Android devices?
What does "zipalign" mean and what is its significance?
When a ROM claims to be "zipaligned" what does that mean and what the difference from a ROM that is not "zipaligned"?
13
votes
5answers
1k views
Where can I find a comparsion of non-offical cooked rom/firmware of Galaxy S i9000?
I've been searching around for the topic these few days. However, I am getting into a problem of information overflow - there are too many different version and custom kernal around. Most of them are ...
11
votes
1answer
769 views
How can I install vanilla Android on the Kindle Fire?
I just received my Amazon Kindle Fire and since I am not located within the USA I can't use most of services provided Amazon. So I think the best thing for me would be to install a vanilla (custom) ...
11
votes
1answer
20k views
What is the meaning of “flashing a custom ROM”? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
What is the difference between: Rooting, Jailbreak, ROM, Mod, etc.?
What is a custom ROM, and what does "flashing a custom ROM" mean?
10
votes
5answers
438 views
Noob confused about ROM's
I have a HTC Incredible running 2.2, and i understand you need to Root first before anything else, got that, but now I am confused about the ROM thing.
I would like to Root to uninstall the default ...
9
votes
1answer
3k views
Where can I find a good comparison of available custom ROMs?
I'm looking for a good comparison of custom ROMs' features and quality. I would prefer a comparison that is actively maintained.
8
votes
1answer
719 views
Does rooting require a custom ROM?
I've noticed that some apps say they require a rooted phone. Is it necessary to install a custom ROM in order to root a phone?
Edit: I should mention that I've seen this answer, but my phone isn't ...
7
votes
2answers
710 views
What is involved in installing Android onto a device?
I just picked up a Viewsonic G-Tablet. It's got killer hardware specs and is running Android 2.2 but it's barely usable because of this terrible TapUI that's crippling the device. I have been ...
7
votes
1answer
4k views
Are ROMs with deodexed programs faster or slower than odexed?
I am a bit confused by the effect of deodexing (or even by terminology).
Based on answers to "What is the difference between odexed and deodexed roms?":
A "deodexed" ROM is one where the .odex ...
7
votes
2answers
2k views
Where Are The Sim-Lock Settings Stored on an android phone?
After getting more involved with the "aftermarket" community I have this question that's been on my mind for a while now. Since rooting and flashing a custom rom on an android phone doesn't give one ...
7
votes
2answers
549 views
Security / Privacy concerns regarding custom android ROM
What are the security and privacy concerns surrounding using a custom android ROM like that of cyanogen?
7
votes
5answers
2k views
Can one avoid losing everything on a Galaxy Nexus when applying a new ROM (safely)?
The makers of most ROMs suggest that you do a full device wipe when moving from one ROM to another. I have also found this is usually good practice, so data from the previous ROM does not affect the ...
7
votes
0answers
23k views
Can't mount sdcard from Recovery Mode/Clockworkmod [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Why can I not access the cyanogenmod zip on my sd card?
I'm trying to install a custom ROM on my rooted Galaxy S2, I've been following this guide:
...
6
votes
2answers
523 views
Why is custom recovery a prerequisite for flashing a custom ROM?
I have read in many guides that before flashing, we need to have a custom recovery like CWM installed. I am not able to understand why is this a prerequisite for flashing a custom ROM. Can I flash a ...
6
votes
2answers
2k views
How can I keep settings after flashing a ROM?
I am considering flashing my SGS to a custom ROM. I do not, however, relish the prospect of re-configuring everything. Most apps on my phone and most definitions should have no dependencies on the ...
6
votes
2answers
614 views
What limitations does rooting and/or installing a ROM put on my phone?
I have an Evo and I'm kind of frustrated at the space limitations on the internal memory, the crapware that came pre-installed (Blockbuster and Nascar, Really?) and some performance issues. I was ...
6
votes
4answers
2k views
Install custom ROM from Linux on a LG GT540
I'd like to install a custom ROM on my LG GT540.
It looks like that in order to enable fastboot and make the whole process a lot easier, a custom ROM must be installed the first time with a program ...
6
votes
1answer
671 views
If I encrypt my phone will I still be able to load custom ROMs?
Are there any issues with enabling full encryption and loading custom ROMs or will it be seamless?
5
votes
1answer
637 views
is it 100% safe to install Custom Roms
I wonder if is possible for those people who download the Android source code and customize it then release their custom roms to hack the API or any other part of the codebase like GMail client or ...
5
votes
2answers
257 views
disable music button
How can I disable the hardware music button on the side of my LG GW620? I keep accidently triggering it in my pocket, causing random bursts of Foo Fighters when I sit down in a meeting.
Just ...
5
votes
2answers
6k views
Manually upgrade Galaxy Nexus 4.0.4 (yakjuxw) to 4.1
I have a Galaxy Nexus (maguro/yakjuxw) with Android version 4.0.4. I saw the new features in 4.1 so i want to update, but i don't think an OTA will be available anytime soon. So, I'm considering ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
Does CyanogenMod 7.2 kernel support swap memory?
My current kernel (whatever is built into stock Froyo 2.2 ROM for Verizon Motorola Droid X) does NOT support swap memory.
Does CyanogenMod 7.2 kernel support swap memory? Does that depend on ...
5
votes
1answer
947 views
Does flashing a custom ROM require root access?
It was recently brought to my attention that it does not. Can someone confirm this and explain what the determining characteristics are that dictate whether or not root its required to flash a custom ...
5
votes
1answer
872 views
Installed Galaxy S3 ROM on Galaxy S2
I installed a ROM meant for Galaxy S3 on my Galaxy S2 phone by mistake and now the phone won't boot.
I can get into Download Mode fine but I can't get to Recovery Mode because the ROM installed a S3 ...
5
votes
3answers
1k views
Is there an ICS ROM for the Galaxy Tab 10.1 that has camera support?
I'm keen to upgrade my Galaxy Tab 10.1 to Android 4, ICS. My Tab is already rooted and running 3.2.
However, it seems most ICS ROMs, for some reason, don't support the camera, which is a deal ...
5
votes
1answer
2k views
How to switch sd cards when using a data2whatever (d2w) custom ROM?
I'm currently running MIUI XJ (Gingerbread 2.3.5) with d2w on my HTC Desire with the 4GB sd card it was shipped with, but as I found the joy of the occasional ROM-switch, I found myself running out of ...
4
votes
2answers
9k views
What should I backup before installing a new ROM?
What do I need to backup (using Titanium Backup) if I want to have the 'same system' after applying new version of a ROM?
Is it better to set up everything from scratch or restore my data from the ...
4
votes
2answers
9k views
How do I make older images in my /sdcard/DCIM folder show up in Gallery?
I've tried a few builds of Android Jelly Bean coming from Android Ice Cream Sandwich, and one common thing that happens is that Gallery will only show pictures taken after the ROM installation. The ...
4
votes
1answer
324 views
Do I have to install a custom ROM if I root? [duplicate]
Possible Duplicate:
Does rooting require a custom ROM?
I have an HTC Desire S with the stock ROM.
Can I root the phone but keep my stock ROM, that is the one provided by HTC ?
Or do I ...
4
votes
1answer
305 views
Why wait ten minutes after installing some roms?
I notice a lot of custom roms tell you to wait ten minutes after the firstboot before touching anything and was wondering why it is so.
4
votes
1answer
198 views
Do the ROM files contain some information about themselves?
I have downloaded so many custom ROMs to try, but I did not organize them. One of the zip files is called "ODEXED.zip".
Is there any way to determine what it's name is just by inspecting the files in ...
4
votes
1answer
3k views
How can I disable root on a modded device?
Is it possible to disable root access to applications on an Android device again after installing modded firmware?
I would like to try Cyanogen or one of the other custom ROMs, but I'm wondering ...
4
votes
1answer
509 views
Is a phone's ROM and Firmware the same thing?
I have heard of Custom ROMs and Custom Firmware, are they the same thing? If not, whats the difference?
4
votes
1answer
96 views
Date of ROM installation
Is there any way to know when I flashed my last custom ROM?
Atleast a smart way to find the approximate date/time using some logs deep down in my android would be good.
4
votes
2answers
8k views
How can I flash back to the stock rom for HTC EVO 4G/Supersonic using just the phone and clockwork mod recovery and/or rom manager?
I need to flash back to my stock rom for just a few minutes to get my GPS working again ...
4
votes
1answer
336 views
how long does an OTA update normally take?
I am using the Oxygen ROM on my LG P500 (Optimus One) and I just did an OTA Update and the ohone restarted and it has been in a flashing mode every since, the bar is at about 15% for the past 30 ...
4
votes
2answers
575 views
Enabling Wi-Fi disables 3G service (ZTE Warp running Shinjitsu 1.5b)
I just started using this ZTE Warp (on Boost Mobile) yesterday. I rooted and ROM'd it with Clockwork Mod and Shinjitsu 1.5b (1.5.1c and 1.5.1c-beta2 did not work, for some reason).
Everything is ...
4
votes
1answer
473 views
How to know if a custom ROM uses existing swap partition
Recently I switched my custom ROM installed on my HTC Desire to a 4.1.2 based ROM (PARANOIDANDROID based).
The ROM works fine but sometimes the device has serious lag of several seconds. I assume ...
4
votes
1answer
216 views
Keeps loading on startup
My Samsung Galaxy Gio keeps loading when I turn on my phone. I've installed a custom rom, in the recovery mode, and I think I did something wrong. I don't know what to do, because the only thing I see ...
4
votes
1answer
353 views
How to avoid to have my carrier resend information to my G2X after losing sms over 4g after instaling a rom
Ever since I got that great/not so great phone I have been attempting to get a good version of gingerbread running on it since stock LG froyo is too unstable for me.
Everytime I install a rom I get ...
3
votes
1answer
982 views
Rooting HTC Evo on Froyo 2.2 and installing a custom rom
I just received the latest update from HTC. They have installed more bloatware on my phone and I've finally had enough. I want to root. I found this rom and this guide on how to root. But the root ...
