[Q] Which ROM? - Galaxy S III Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

I have the international Galaxy SIII (UK edition) which I got about 15 months ago. It's running OK, but there are a couple of really irritating things about it.
1. It is SLOW. It can take 4-5 seconds for the phone screen to pop up (for example). Sometimes a bit quicker, but never instant. I have turned off all animation. Other apps are not too bad, but I really want to use it as a phone....
2. When it reboots, it always goes back to the basic keyboard. I like AI keyboard and want that as the default.
So, assuming there are no cures for the above (and if there are, please tell me), which ROM would you suggest I burn to make the system work as I want it to. I am not a stranger to rooting and updating (I've done my Nexus 7, Nexus 10 and a few Touchpads)
Thanks for any advice.
Alan

Which rom posts are not allowed, try them for yourself and decide.
There are solutions to your issues, the search function will help you find them.

Read the development forum and start with the rom you understand how to install first .

Mod Edit
"Best" ROM/kernel threads are not allowed on XDA.
Please test these things for yourself.
This is the only way you will get an unbiased opinion,and then, you can decide for yourself if it meets YOUR needs.
Thread Closed
malybru
Forum Moderator

Related

[Q] G-TABLET OS Upgrade Service

I would appreciate some guidance with my question. I have a G-TAB that is running the Android 2.2 OS. I am aware that there are better OS systems available for the G-TAB with more capabilities, but I have heard that some of them disable FLASH and the CAMERA capabilities? I was wondering if there was a better OS upgrade out there in the development world that would not disable some of the origianl G-TAB features? Also, since I am a novice in this area, is there a service available that will perform this OS upgrade for me for a price? Please advise as I would like to move forward with the suggested upgrade. Many thanks!
There are some good froyo roms such as brilliant corners, mountain laurel, And a couple more that don't lose any functionality. There are plenty of guides to follow to change roms. Just read them carefully and follow the instructions. Don't pay someone to do it.
I'm more than happy to do it but I'm expensive. Considering that it costs 200+ more to buy a unit with Linux on it, I would charge the same for any possible version of Android. The majority of the price is the liability and time. I can fix anything, that's not the problem. The real problem lies in how we're forced to upgrade devices. It's a pretty straight forward process but if anything goes wrong it could take hours of research to figure it out.
If you're willing to pay $200 and ship it to me with a return label, I'm more than happy to help you out. Honestly you could do the same things I'm going to do if you put a little time into the research here on XDA and the other forums out there. If you're too busy or not technically inclined I can understand that. Daddy needs a new pair of shoes as they say...
PM me if you still need someone to help.
I'm not aware of any real service for flashing tablets. But we aware that if you pay someone to flash a new ROM you'll have no knowledge of how to fix it when things go wrong. And things will eventually go wrong. If you want to run anything other than stock, it's absolutely necessary to understand at least the basics of modding android devices. Check out http://viewsonic-gtablet-for-dummies.webs.com/ to get started. Good luck.
seiously, these topics are getting OLD quickly...
READ
READ
READ
READ
READ
READ
READ
Patience yoda we have a young padawan among us
kieso said:
Patience yoda we have a young padawan among us
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously not an illiterate one, though.
Does anyone ever read first, then ask questions anymore?
I know that it can get confusing, but really. Before I got my Gtablet back in April, I read just abotu every thread on here, and watched just abotu every youtube video available.
Was I fearful when I flashed my first rom? Absolutely. Did it work flawlessly? Absolutely. Did I read, re-read, watch videos, re-read, read step by step as I was doing it, then read again when I was done to make sure I didn't skip a step...YOU BET YOUR BIPPY I DID.
The reason that I get blunt when I see these questions is because this tablet has been available for almost a year. There is more information available for this device on several forums that there should be no reason to ask questions that have been answered at least 50 times.
If you seriously need a "service" to flash a rom for you, then you REALLY should have bought an iPad, and have been stuck with whatever Apple provides.
FORUM RULES:
1. Search before posting.
Use one of our search functions before posting, whether you have a question or something new to share, it's very likely someone already asked that question or shared that news.

Just got my ATT NOTE! few questions..

I want to Rom this with an ICS Rom...
Where should I start first?
1. Do I have to put Clock Work Mod on it? I keep seeing people say "flash it in CWM" i've used CWM before.. i just don't know how to put that on my note first..
If the answer to that is yes.. is that the first step?
2. Which rom would still let me use the STYLUS, like for example the taking a screenshot feature of the stylus?
Any help would be appreciated... I'm an IT Engineer, and honestly i can say that i'm trying to read through all these posts.. but some of these forum threads are damn ear over 200 pages long.. and this is all really intimidating..
I just don't want to Brick my note, and want to put a good rom on it..
**ALSO**
I want to try out that APN/Settings file trick that you flash where it increases your speeds.
If anyone helps me with this.. i will seriously LOVE YOU LONG TIME =)
Welcome to the Note. It's a great device.
Please do some reading and searching. Can you imagine if all ten million Note readers did what you did and opened a thread just because they got a new device?
There are several threads telling you what to do and the order in which to do them. Look for stickies. Don't use any other ROMs or tools except for ATT specific ones. There are a few different versions of the Note. ATT is the i717 model. Don't use the N7000 stuff, for example. They could brick your device.
Good luck.
since this is a question(s), it probably belongs in the Q n A section
Search, read, search, read some more.
I snooped the forums for a week before finally rooting and installing a rom. It can seem intimidating... until you really get in to it. There's a great thread in the General section for noobs like me, that taught me all about everything i needed to know here.
Read, read, read.
Im using Team Perfection's Objection. Silky smooth with Spen support.
do this first
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1526431

[Q] Do I have to do a factory data reset for every new rom?

DISCLAIMER: It seems I, and all the other newbies, have to add this to the top of our posts. Yes, I have tried searching for my answer, and no, I did not find it quickly. I prefer the speed and intimacy of human interaction, as well as the fact that I usually learn new things that I would not have from a simple search. If I offend you by dirtying up your forums with a repeat question, please just ignore this thread entirely, I don't want to hear it. If I offend any mods by asking a repeat question, I apologise, please lock this thread and I'll be on my merry way
So I've got the base CM7 working on my Bell MB860, and I love it. I finally have HDMI mirroring, my phone's boot time is 1/10th of what it was before, I don't have any bloatware anymore... these people are getting a donation from me! And to think that some people expect you to pay $1.99 for a flashlight app on Google Play, and the Cyanogenmod is completely free... I just have a few questions:
1) Since I lost my backup of my stock ROM (CWM told me it made the backup just fine before I flashed it, CWM did NOT tell me it corrupted the MFT of my SD card to a point where even R-Studio could not recover the raw data), I just made a backup of the working CM7 installation. Am I correct in that the backup is stored in sdcard\\clockworkmod\backup? And is the timestamp on it supposed to not be adjusted for time zone? Just trying to make sure I have the right backup selected, but the time stamp is 4 hours before when I actually made the backup.
2) I would like to try out some of the ROMs based on CM7. I hear MROM is pretty good. But is there an easier way to install new roms than doing a factory data reset, and then reinstalling all my apps and reconfiguring all my settings for every new rom?
Other 2) And what's all this about downgrading your SBF version can hardbrick your device, would downgrading my CM version do the same?
3) Why do dogs have cold, wet noses?
Thanks in advance for anyone who donates their time to read and answer my questions!
You only have to wipe when switching to a different ROM "flavor". When upgrading to a new version of a ROM, a wipe is not necessary unless the upgrade instructions say otherwise. Or, you could go with the inverse logic - don't wipe unless absolutely necessary, ie. apps are crashing and/or malfunctioning after flashing.
You might also want to try Titanium Backup, it helps with transferring apps and user data to a new ROM.
Also...
moeburn said:
I prefer the speed and intimacy of human interaction
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will soon learn it is completely irrelevant what you do or do not prefer. If you want to be a part of a community, you have to adhere to that community's rules. Here, that includes searching and reading on your own as much as you can, with opening a new thread being the very last resort. People have put tremendous effort into writing tutorials and explanations and building compendiums and knowledge databases, asking the same question over and over again basically means all their effort was completely wasted. They have done so specifically to avoid every single newbie asking the same questions again.
ravilov said:
You only have to wipe when switching to a different ROM "flavor". When upgrading to a new version of a ROM, a wipe is not necessary unless the upgrade instructions say otherwise. Or, you could go with the inverse logic - don't wipe unless absolutely necessary, ie. apps are crashing and/or malfunctioning after flashing.
You might also want to try Titanium Backup, it helps with transferring apps and user data to a new ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the info!
ravilov said:
Also...
You will soon learn it is completely irrelevant what you do or do not prefer. If you want to be a part of a community, you have to adhere to that community's rules. Here, that includes searching and reading on your own as much as you can, with opening a new thread being the very last resort. People have put tremendous effort into writing tutorials and explanations and building compendiums and knowledge databases, asking the same question over and over again basically means all their effort was completely wasted. They have done so specifically to avoid every single newbie asking the same questions again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do not wish to be a part of any community that treats newbies asking repeat questions with such hostility. If anything, it helps make it easier to find the answer to your question if there is more than one thread asking that question. Part of the problem is that there are so many tutorials and explanations and knowledge databases that after about 30 minutes of trying to search for my answer, I simply give up. I didn't ask anyone to write a tutorial, if they feel their time was wasted, that's their problem. It is very sad to see that every single time someone asks a question, they almost always preface it with a statement to the effect of "I tried searching, but...". There's very little gain to be made by telling someone to "go use the search function and stop asking repeat questions". You make a newbie feel unwelcome, and make it harder for them to learn, at the expense of having a slightly tidier forum, and sensitive tutorial writers not having their feelings hurt.
You too should know that it is irrelevant to me what people like that prefer. I honestly would prefer no help at all, to that kind of 'help'. I would prefer to have my account banned, than to have some punk think that they can treat me like sh*t just because my Join Date and Post Count are less than theirs.
moeburn said:
I do not wish to be a part of any community that treats newbies asking repeat questions with such hostility. If anything, it helps make it easier to find the answer to your question if there is more than one thread asking that question. Part of the problem is that there are so many tutorials and explanations and knowledge databases that after about 30 minutes of trying to search for my answer, I simply give up. I didn't ask anyone to write a tutorial, if they feel their time was wasted, that's their problem. It is very sad to see that every single time someone asks a question, they almost always preface it with a statement to the effect of "I tried searching, but...". There's very little gain to be made by telling someone to "go use the search function and stop asking repeat questions". You make a newbie feel unwelcome, and make it harder for them to learn, at the expense of having a slightly tidier forum, and sensitive tutorial writers not having their feelings hurt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how others feel like, but personally I think this is not so much about keeping "the precious forum clean", more like "give a man a fish" vs. "teach a man to fish". Not quite the best approach, I agree, but this kind of attitude (sometimes viewed as aggressive or hostile) does indeed often make people search (or search more), and then often times they do find the answer they've been looking for, written down in plain sight. And then they do it again, this time on their own. And so in due time they're not only able to find all the info they need, but they're also able to teach others to do the same. It's not even just about this forum, being able to research properly is IMO a very useful skill in general.
On the other hand, there is indeed a set of "very well known facts" around here, and anyone asking about them is immediately seen as a noob with little to no regard for the community and with either poor search skills or just plain lazy. This "ellitistic" attitude seems to plague most hi-tech communities sooner or later, and I agree it is not a good thing. I myself have been guilty of it, but I'm trying to get rid of it.
Anyway, that is just my personal opinion and view of the situation. I by no means own this forum and generally I'm trying to not tell people what to do, just point them in the right direction. I'm just trying to give you an insight of how communities like this function. I'm a part of another (highly technical) forum and the general atmosphere there is very comparable to here, so it's safe to assume that that is just how things go in communities like this. You can adhere to the same rules or you can choose to be hated because you don't, but you won't ever change the mindset.
Anyway, enough off-topic.
moeburn said:
DISCLAIMER: It seems I, and all the other newbies, have to add this to the top of our posts. Yes, I have tried searching for my answer, and no, I did not find it quickly. I prefer the speed and intimacy of human interaction, as well as the fact that I usually learn new things that I would not have from a simple search. If I offend you by dirtying up your forums with a repeat question, please just ignore this thread entirely, I don't want to hear it. If I offend any mods by asking a repeat question, I apologise, please lock this thread and I'll be on my merry way
So I've got the base CM7 working on my Bell MB860, and I love it. I finally have HDMI mirroring, my phone's boot time is 1/10th of what it was before, I don't have any bloatware anymore... these people are getting a donation from me! And to think that some people expect you to pay $1.99 for a flashlight app on Google Play, and the Cyanogenmod is completely free... I just have a few questions:
1) Since I lost my backup of my stock ROM (CWM told me it made the backup just fine before I flashed it, CWM did NOT tell me it corrupted the MFT of my SD card to a point where even R-Studio could not recover the raw data), I just made a backup of the working CM7 installation. Am I correct in that the backup is stored in sdcard\\clockworkmod\backup? And is the timestamp on it supposed to not be adjusted for time zone? Just trying to make sure I have the right backup selected, but the time stamp is 4 hours before when I actually made the backup.
2) I would like to try out some of the ROMs based on CM7. I hear MROM is pretty good. But is there an easier way to install new roms than doing a factory data reset, and then reinstalling all my apps and reconfiguring all my settings for every new rom?
Other 2) And what's all this about downgrading your SBF version can hardbrick your device, would downgrading my CM version do the same?
3) Why do dogs have cold, wet noses?
Thanks in advance for anyone who donates their time to read and answer my questions!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to complete a factory reset if you're going to a completely new ROM. You simply need to process a data and cache wipe in CWM. Use titanium backup, call log restore, SMS restore, and APN settings restore before wiping. That'll make the migration process much easier and seamless. It takes time, but it eliminates a few layers of complication during the process. Upload your backups to google drive or Dropbox as well as to your desktop.
About your disclaimer: I completely understand your frustration. However, including such a vociferously rebellious statement atop each thread that you post invites a negative reaction. And doing so isn't going to change the social dynamics of this community. It simply disrupts the integrity of our discussions. Simply search for your answer. If that fails to satisfy your needs, post a new thread. Ignore those who respond in a unhelpful manner. If they're not acknowledged, they're powerless. By specifically addressing and acknowledging that demographic during each post, you're inviting their hostility into the discussion.
Yes, there are great compendiums of technological knowledge available to us on XDA. However, a forum search engine hardly qualifies as a great organizer for such a repository. So, we will encounter redundant threads guys. Deal with it.
Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk HD

Android 5.0 on Google Nexus 5 - Newbie questions / support

Hello everyone,
At first, as a new member, let me congratulate you for this amazing forum and the community that is built around it. A lot of useful and interesting stuff can be found here, and I know that it takes a lot of hard work to boost and maintain a forum to this high-quality level, create a community and share knowledge, so thank you for that and keep up the good work.
To get to the point, I recently became the owner of a Google Nexus 5 and 3 days ago I upgraded the preinstalled Android 4.4 to Android 5.0. Before that, I used a Nokia N900 phone with Maemo 5 and ArchLinux (desktop Linux Distribution), and this Nexus became my introduction to the Android operating system for the first time.
So as a newbie to Android, I want to ask toy a few questions on how to make some things done.
While I had my Android rooted before, after the upgrade it probably needs rooting again, so I'd be grateful if someone points out a link to a tutorial that describes this process. I also need to install an anti-theft application, and from what I've seen, Cerberus just does what I want, but I need to install it in a way that even if someone restored the phone to its default settings or even format it, the application woud stay in place. From what I've read, it is possible, right? I don't know how, maybe it has something to do with the ROM, which brings me to my next question. Custom ROMs, what are they? How do they get installed and which one do you suggest for Nexus 5?
As for now, those are my questions. I know that I could use Google to find out more about those stuff, but I really want to learn how they work, not just how to accomplish them, and all my searches in Google result in different ways to achieve the same thing, a fact that confuses me instead of teaching me stuff. That's why I ask here.
So, if anyone could point out some links or explain to me how to do the things I want, I'd be very grateful.
Also, besides all those things, any suggestions you might have of any nature, I'd be glad to hear them and they'll be much appreciated!
Than you very much in advance. I appologize to the forum and its moderators if I posted this in a wrong category or broke any rule. I assure you that if I did, it was not intetional.
Best regards,
Elias
Should I post this over to the Google Nexus 5 forums?
[SOLVED]
Ok, after a lot of reading, I finally understood the whole concept of ROMs and Recovery.
For anyone having trouble with his first steps on those issues as well, the following links would be very useful:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/help/faq-to-android-read-post-root-t2508292
http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...ide-nexus-5-how-to-unlock-bootloader-t2507905
http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...olkit-wugs-nexus-root-toolkit-v1-8-3-t2517778
http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...nux-universal-nexus-linux-toolkit-v2-t2528616
Good luck!

Navigating Long Threads

This will be a launching pad for tips and recommendations for members negotiating long threads and reading pertinent information. I read many posts with members stating that the thread is just too long to read. Then using that as an excuse for not reading at all. Please add your ideas and methods for reading.
The first thing I do when looking at a new thread is read the OP. I always check dates and also the date of the latest iteration of the ROM, kernel, etc. after reading what the author wrote about their thread I'll jump to the end of the thread and read backwards to the date of the latest release. This gets me up to date with the latest build and any issues.
Then I'll decide if I want to flash this on my very expensive device.
Like I said...
Please add on your tips!
Thanks!
RayMcGrath said:
This will be a launching pad for tips and recommendations for members negotiating long threads and reading pertinent information. Please add your ideas and methods for reading.
The first thing I do when looking at a new thread is read the OP. I always check dates and also the date of the latest iteration of the ROM, kernel, etc. after reading what the author wrote about their thread I'll jump to the end of the thread and read backwards to the date of the latest release. This gets me up to date with the latest build and any issues.
Then I'll decide if I want to flash this on my very expensive device.
Like I said...
Please add on your tips!
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi...
The way you use to read a thread pretty much summarize the way I do it myself. I go a step further by searching within the said thread with some key words such as:
Problem, issue, brick, bricked, bootloop, etc...
I may sound paranoid, but I often browse the forum late at night and I could miss an important post due to being tired.
Cheers...
Great idea Ray. Teach by teaching, not by beating a person over the head lol
I go to the OP also and if I am interested in flashing, go back a month or two and read posts to see if things are stable or not. I also follow a bunch of Roms that I don't intent to flash or, have flashed before - just to see what kind of problems have arisen and how they were dealt with. It's a great way to pass a ride on the train or other idle time. I do think that there are many from around the world here and language might be a factor effecting their ability to read and/or search. Either way, I love this XDA, a valued tool! Too bad I came along so late in the game.
Bobbaloo said:
Great idea Ray. Teach by teaching, not by beating a person over the head lol
I go to the OP also and if I am interested in flashing, go back a month or two and read posts to see if things are stable or not. I also follow a bunch of Roms that I don't intent to flash or, have flashed before - just to see what kind of problems have arisen and how they were dealt with. It's a great way to pass a ride on the train or other idle time. I do think that there are many from around the world here and language might be a factor effecting their ability to read and/or search. Either way, I love this XDA, a valued tool! Too bad I came along so late in the game.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great to have you. You're a big help to many folk.
5.1 said:
Hi...
The way you use to read a thread pretty much summarize the way I do it myself. I go a step further by searching within the said thread with some key words such as:
Problem, issue, brick, bricked, bootloop, etc...
I may sound paranoid, but I often browse the forum late at night and I could miss an important post due to being tired.
Cheers...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right!
Performing a search can be an art form. Using the just right keyword to be successful takes some practice. It is so important to try many paths and exhaust all possibilities before posting your question in the threads. And then phrasing your question with all your information is important as well.
RayMcGrath said:
You're right!
Performing a search can be an art form. Using the just right keyword to be successful takes some practice. It is so important to try many paths and exhaust all possibilities before posting your question in the threads. And then phrasing your question with all your information is important as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, since my first modded android phone in 2008, i have never felt the need of asking anything. Most likely because all issues I encountered were already covered. Either by developers or people answering issues reported by previous users having the same problems. And maybe because I like to get things done by myself. (Which I achieve 1% of the time ).
I check XDA almost every day since. I must say that the "reading thing" may sound challenging for some people. You'll ask me why?
What follows is about novice users for the most part who don't know about/how to use the search function. Try reading a thread where 100 users come each and every day writing the same thing about the same problem over and over. And over again...
Trying to find the relevant posts in-between all this mess is sometimes quite discouraging.
I'm lucky to have affinity with English and of course it's a lot easier to read and find infos when I need them. Google translate became really nice with time. Yet i find myself using it, since English is not my native language and I learned it the hard way. Sometimes it's sad to see people not using such a powerful tool.
People, please use the search function! Take some time to read. If you don't get it, use an online translator. :good:
PS: Hopefully I didn't derail too much from the OP with this post... I'll delete it if needed.
5.1 said:
Well, since my first modded android phone in 2008, i have never felt the need of asking anything. Most likely because all issues I encountered were already covered. Either by developers or people answering issues reported by previous users having the same problems. And maybe because I like to get things done by myself. (Which I achieve 1% of the time ).
I check XDA almost every day since. I must say that the "reading thing" may sound challenging for some people. You'll ask me why?
What follows is about novice users for the most part who don't know about/how to use the search function. Try reading a thread where 100 users come each and every day writing the same thing about the same problem over and over. And over again...
Trying to find the relevant posts in-between all this mess is sometimes quite discouraging.
I'm lucky to have affinity with English and of course it's a lot easier to read and find infos when I need them. Google translate became really nice with time. Yet i find myself using it, since English is not my native language and I learned it the hard way. Sometimes it's sad to see people not using such a powerful tool.
People, please use the search function! Take some time to read. If you don't get it, use an online translator. :good:
PS: Hopefully I didn't derail too much from the OP with this post... I'll delete it if needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
From the beginning, searching for the answer - did someone else have the same situation and fix it(?) - THIS always seemed easier and more gratifying than waiting for someone to answer me on a thread
Actually, I was flashing macks ROM, then CM on my note 2 and I didn't even KNOW XDA existed. I was so grateful when I found it. Especially when I got this phone. With Google ai, now it seems so much easier to do a quick search on the web
Bobbaloo said:
From the beginning, searching for the answer - did someone else have the same situation and fix it(?) - THIS always seemed easier and more gratifying than waiting for someone to answer me on a thread
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I know how you feel! At least for me having no real technical knowledge, I'm always glad to find the solutions by myself. Since it's around and just needs a search it's even faster than waiting for an answer. Also, since I only need to search when my phone is broken, I simply can't wait for someone to answer. Imagine no one replied during two days...
Bobbaloo said:
Actually, I was flashing macks ROM, then CM on my note 2 and I didn't even KNOW XDA existed. I was so grateful when I found it. Especially when I got this phone. With Google ai, now it seems so much easier to do a quick search on the web
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the first place I found when I started to flash my HTC vision back in 2008. I started reading guides and development and was like: WTF these guys are cracking bootloader, carrier unlocking, etc... And all can be found so easily... :good:

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