4 replies to this topic

[newskate9]

First off - NattyBee, damn you! Since I got my MAXX, I took your suggestion to try Eclipse on my soon to be sold X2. I found I love it. Like so much, like I want to keep using it....... But no 4g of course - so now onto the MAXX! Thanks for the suggestion - that is/was my FIRST ROM ever and I think it's pretty cool. I mean very cool. Like keep my X2 kidda cool. I'm afraid I might start wanting others. Like ROM crack.... Damn You! [ You know I'm joking - right? ]

So the questions: I turned the unit on and got the latest OTA. I think I figured how to root still, no issues there, and there are tools out there, on here, etc. that I see work. I'm hesitant to go ROM'ing new MAXX, sort of.

1. EASY SBF: This was developed for the X and X2 with SBF capability. Some have disparaged it (for some reason), but for me it is a Godsend. It works lights-out and gave me the courage to try Eclipse on the X2. Since I tried it, I've been back and forth multiple times, reSBF'd, etc. Does anyone think there will be something like that for the RAZR?

2. There's no SBF. But, there are files here and elsewhere to "return to stock". What's the difference?

3. I've heard it's hard to kill your phone rooting. I've heard flashing ROM's is "safe". And flashing back to stock is possible with the right file. So where's the danger? What are folks doing to brick their phones?

4. So if I root and flash Eclipse, do I lose the MAXX's programs too - one in particular I thought I might like is the SMART ACTIONS. Sort of like a poor man's tasker.

5. What's the real difference between a whole new ROM, like Eclipse, and ADW Launcher. Both to me seem to basically change how your and your device interact. I can still freeze stuff. Is there something about this or any ROM I am missing? Again, I am completely new to ROMs so be gentle.

That's enough for today's lesson!

[snives]

1. EASY SBF: This was developed for the X and X2 with SBF capability. Some have disparaged it (for some reason), but for me it is a Godsend. It works lights-out and gave me the courage to try Eclipse on the X2. Since I tried it, I've been back and forth multiple times, reSBF'd, etc. Does anyone think there will be something like that for the RAZR?

It is already available. There are the options of using RSD Lite (the official Motorola tool) or using Mattlgroff's utility found on this forum (which uses the same method essentially, but from command line). WIth RSD Lite you will need the latest 'FastBoot Files'.

2. There's no SBF. But, there are files here and elsewhere to "return to stock". What's the difference?

Possibly something structurally, but they do the same thing. They are refered to as Fastboot Files because they are used in AP Fastboot mode I believe.

3. I've heard it's hard to kill your phone rooting. I've heard flashing ROM's is "safe". And flashing back to stock is possible with the right file. So where's the danger? What are folks doing to brick their phones?

It is from people not following instructions, or not verifying the MD5 (or other hash type) after downloading which leads to either a botched or corrupted flash.

4. So if I root and flash Eclipse, do I lose the MAXX's programs too - one in particular I thought I might like is the SMART ACTIONS. Sort of like a poor man's tasker.

Eclipse currently kills Smart Actions, but Nitro is considering looking into putting it back in. Pretty much the rest of Blur (Motorola's software, a.k.a 'the MAXX's programs') was removed by Nitro and most other ROM devs as a lot of it is nothing but battery killing, CPU slowing bloatware.

5. What's the real difference between a whole new ROM, like Eclipse, and ADW Launcher. Both to me seem to basically change how your and your device interact. I can still freeze stuff. Is there something about this or any ROM I am missing? Again, I am completely new to ROMs so be gentle.

A new launcher is a new interface on top of the current operating system. A new ROM, depending on whether the device has an unlocked bootloader, can be a completely different build or version of the operating system. With a locked bootloader, a different ROM can still be a very heavily modified version of the operating system, although complete replacement becomes impractical. For example, Eclipse for the RAZR is built based on combining the file systems from the Droid Bionic and the RAZR (MAXX is exactly the same hardware/software, just with a larger battery). Essentially, a ROM can be anything from just replacing the launcher (user interface) to changing how the system functions entirely. A launcher is just giving your device a makeover.

[newskate9]

Thank you! So if I continue to behave, I should be good to go.

[neckchop]

This has already been.a very helpful and informative thread. Thanks all.