View source for Sprint LG Optimus S Root and ROM Replacement

[[Category:Cellphones]]

After [http://falz.net/tech/htchero-androidmod rooting an HTC Hero], the phone was upgraded to an [http://www.lg.com/us/mobile-phones/LG-LS670-Purple.jsp LG Optimus S]. Below are instructions. Rooting was done from a Linux laptop, you should be able to root using any OS the Android SDK runs on (Windows, OSX, Linux).

* [http://falz.net/static/android/optimus/ Local mirror of files]

= Overview =
* Root using [http://developer.android.com/sdk/ Android SDK] and [http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/43108-how-root-lg-optimus-s.html these files]
* Install [http://www.appbrain.com/app/superuser/com.noshufou.android.su Superuser app] which will allow certain apps to have root access
* Backup settings and apps with [http://matrixrewriter.com/android/ Titanium Backup]
* [http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/45397-custom-recovery-optimus-s-thunderc-sprint.html Install recovery software]
* Backup Nand
* Flash ROM
* Restore settings and apps with Titanium Backup

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= Detailed Instructions =
== Rooting ==
Original instructions found [http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/43108-how-root-lg-optimus-s.html here].

* Install the [http://developer.android.com/sdk/ Android SDK] for your OS. In my case I just grabbed the linux .tgz and extracted it into a directory
* run '''tools/android''' which will launch a GUI.
* Choose '''Available Packages''' -> '''Android Repository'''. I installed '''Android SDK Tools''', '''Android SDK Platform-tools''' and '''SDK Platform Android 2.2'''. Platform-tools requires '''adb''' which is used for this process.
* Close the GUI
* Plug your LG Optimus S into your PC with a USB cable. 
* Get [http://forum.androidcentral.com/attachments/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/4305d1289345896-how-root-lg-optimus-s-optimusroot.zip OptimusRoot.zip], extract it and you should have three files: '''su''', '''busybox''', '''rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin'''. These files will be pushed to the phone in a moment.
* Enable USB debugging from '''Settings''' -> '''Applications''' -> '''Development'''.
* Run '''sudo tools/adb start-server''' from your command prompt. This is a daemon that talks to your Android phone. You should see something like:
 * daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
 * daemon started successfully *
* Push the files from OptimusRoot.zip to the phone:
 platform-tools/adb push /path/to/rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage
 platform-tools/adb push /path/to/su /data/local/tmp/
 platform-tools/adb push /path/to/busybox /data/local/tmp/
* Start a shell to the phone:
 platform-tools/adb shell
* You should now be at a '''$''' prompt, which is a shell on the phone. Set permissions:
 chmod 4755 /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage
 chmod 4755 /data/local/tmp/busybox
* Finally run the app that will root the phone.
 cd /data/local/tmp
 ./rageagainstthecage
* The above step will give a warning and kill your adb shell. Wait about two minutes (really) and run '''adb shell''' again. This time you should be at a root prompt ('''#'''). If not start over from 
* Since you have root access you can remount the filesystem as read write and copy files to it:
 mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock4 /system 
 cd /data/local/tmp
 ./busybox cp su /system/bin
 ./busybox cp busybox /system/bin
 cd /system/bin
 chmod 4755 su
 chmod 4755 busybox
* Install [http://www.appbrain.com/app/superuser/com.noshufou.android.su Superuser app] immediately. This app will allow you to give superuser access to files that have been installed, mainly '''su'''. 
* If you were to reboot the phone (you don't have to at this point) and get back into an '''adb shell''' you will be at a non-root prompt ('''$'''). Run '''su''', the superuser app will light up on your phone and ask you to permit it. Do this and you won't have to again. This is how you get back as root.


== Backup ==
* Install [http://matrixrewriter.com/android/ Titanium backup]. 
* Go to Settings-> Batch. Run '''Backup all user apps + system data'''. It will take a while

 
== Recovery Partition ==
Original instructions found [http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/45397-custom-recovery-optimus-s-thunderc-sprint.html here]. Note that this thread talks about a recovery version 1.1.2 but this version did not work for me so we are using v 1.1.0.

* Download [http://forum.androidcentral.com/attachments/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/4445d1290455442-custom-recovery-optimus-s-thunderc-sprint-flash_image.zip flash_image.zip] and [http://www.mediafire.com/file/i02zc8m15nj9haz/recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s-1.1.0.img.zip recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s.1.1.0.img.zip].
* unzip '''flash_image.zip''' which will give you a file simply called '''flash_image'''. Place this on the root of your SD card.
* unzip '''recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s-1.1.0.img.zip''', you will have a file called '''recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s-1.1.0.img'''. Place this on the root of your SD card.
* Start a shell with the phone with '''platform-tools/adb shell'''. You should be at a '''#''' prompt. If not, run '''su''' and look at your phone to ensure it has been permitted by the Superuser App.
* Remount filesystem to read write:
 mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock5 /system
* Copy flash_image file
 cat /sdcard/flash_image > /system/bin/flash_image
 chmod 755 /system/bin/flash_image
* Rename a recovery file. Note that my phone did not have this. If yours doesn't don't worry.
 mv /system/etc/install-recovery.sh /system/etc/install-recovery.sh.bak
* Remount filesystem as read only
 mount -o remount,ro -t yaffs2 /dev/block/mtdblock5 /system
* Finally install the recovery image 
 flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery-RA-GNM-thunderc-s-1.1.0.img
* Now reboot into the recovery
 reboot recovery
* If the above doesn't work, power off your phone. Hold down '''VOL_DOWN''' and '''HOME''' and '''POWER'''. Release '''VOL_DOWN''' and '''HOME''' when you see the LG logo.

* Your phone should boot into a text screen. Navigate with the Volume keys, settings button for OK, back button for back.
* Perform a '''Nand Backup'''


== ROM ==
Original instructions found [http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s-roms-hacks/45401-rom-thunderom-v1-5-12-14-2010-a.html here]

* You need to have [http://www.mediafire.com/?9cca3y42qjqcsnf ThundeROM_V1.5.zip] in the root of your SD Card.
* Get into the Recovery mode per instructions above. Ensure you did the '''Nand Backup''' per above.
* Choose '''Wipe''' and wipe '''data''', '''cache''', '''dalvik'''. This wiped your phone (not SD card)
* Choose '''Flash Zip from sdcard''', point it to '''ThundeROM_V1.5.zip'''. Flashing will take about 5 minutes.
* Reboot into your new ROM.


== Restore ==
* Install Titanium backup again.
* Go to Settings-> Batch. Run '''Restore missing apps + all system data'''. Every app that is installed will make you choose OK just like you were downloading it from the market. This step may take 15 minutes or so depending on what you had on your phone. 
* A few of the apps it installed it gave an extra warning saying it was a system app. I chose not to overwrite those and things worked fine. YMMV.
* The only glitch I noticed was that widgets on my home screens said they couldn't load. I manually removed and re-added them and all was fine.