jefftheworld's Kobo Vox Guides - Page 6

oldyellr · 01-18-2012, 11:15 AM

I haven't rooted mine and have no desire to. One disadvantage I can see from reading this forum is that whenever there's an update, you first have to un-root it to update the Vox and then go back through all the work again to customize it and remove the default apps all over again.

mr_nobody · 01-18-2012, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by oldyellr

I haven't rooted mine and have no desire to. One disadvantage I can see from reading this forum is that whenever there's an update, you first have to un-root it to update the Vox and then go back through all the work again to customize it and remove the default apps all over again.

The "unroot before update" part is apparently a myth brought over from ios jailbreaking. It is true you have to remove the default apps again but using es file explorer, this is 5 minutes work and you _can_ remove them again which you can't without root. Another option (if you simply don't want to see the default apps or allow them to run but don't care about recovering their space) would be to freeze them using titanium backup. This would survive an update and again would require root.

BWinmill · 01-18-2012, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kraftie

Your instructions are clear and easy to follow but with all due respect, (and as a complete and utter noob) I'm just wondering how rooting the device makes it better. Does it improve functionality and if so, how?

If you can't think of a use for rooting your device, then you probably won't appreciate the improved functionality.

As far as I can tell, most apps can be installed without resorting to root. Also as far as I can tell, adb also gives you root access to the device. Which means that you don't actually need to root a Vox to modify it. I'm guessing that covers the most common cases where people want to do more with their device.

suedenim · 01-19-2012, 01:26 PM

So I came across this...

http://lifehacker.com/5877356/qtadb-...o-your-desktop

Haven't tried it yet but it looks promising.

bitterbug · 02-06-2012, 11:41 AM

This is strange. My device is rooted, and I've tried all 4 versions of Busybox that were in the original guide, yet when I attempt to connect with ConnectBot it tells me that local shell is unavailable.

I figure I'd just use ES File Explorer and remove the bloatware that way, yet even after putting it in root mode and making /system writable uninstallation fails.

Did I miss a step somewhere?

Schuchwun · 02-20-2012, 01:56 PM

I would like to see this here as a guide to install Google Market. From XDA http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...3&postcount=70

Quote:

1) On your device, go to Menu -> Settings -> Applications and ensure "Unknown Sources" is checked, then press development and enable "USB debugging";
2) On your device, download and install GingerBreak-V1.20.apk from here;
3) Open Gingerbreak and click on "root device". Your device will reboot. You are now rooted;
4) On your device, download a file manager that has root access (like ES File Explorer or File Expert), and install it;
5) On your computer, downloaded and extract gapps-gb-20110828-signed.zip from here;
6) Transfer the following files from the extracted zip (on your computer) in the /system/app folder to a microsd card, and place the microsd card in your device:
- GenieWidget.apk
- GoogleBackupTransport.apk
- GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk
- GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
- GoogleFeedback.apk
- GooglePartnerSetup.apk
- GoogleServicesFramework.apk
- MarketUpdater.apk
- MediaUploader.apk
- NetworkLocation.apk
- OneTimeInitializer.apk
- Vending.apk
7) On your device, using your file manager, mount the /system partition as read-write;
8) On your device, copy all the apk's from step 6 to the /system/app directory using your file manager;
9) On your device, set the permissions to 644 (Owner : read/write, group read, everyone read) using your file manager; *see not below;
11) Restarted your device;
12) Go to Menu -> Settings -> Accounts & Sync, and add your Google account;
13) Launch market;
14) Download YouTube and GMail if you so desire.
15) Done. Enjoy!

*Note: If you can't figure out how to change permissions in your file manager, you can download Terminal emulator, install it, open it, and type the following:
su
chmod 0644 /system/app/GenieWidget.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GoogleBackupTransport.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GoogleCalendarSyncAdapter.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GoogleContactsSyncAdapter.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GoogleFeedback.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GooglePartnerSetup.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/GoogleServicesFramework.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/MarketUpdater.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/MediaUploader.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/NetworkLocation.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/OneTimeInitializer.apk
chmod 0644 /system/app/Vending.apk

Terminal Emulator : http://goo.gl/cPG7o
ES File explorer: http://goo.gl/Lklm4

Schuchwun · 02-20-2012, 02:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jefftheworld

3. Removing unwanted apps manually (Expersise: Intermediate, Importance: moderate)

Prerequisite Tools, Apps or Tutorials
First, you'll need to follow the instructions in the first tutorial and root your device.

Second, you'll need to download and install terminal program. I prefer ConnectBot, but there are plenty of terminal programs out there.

Thirdly, you'll need BusyBox installed. Grab it from my app pack or online.

(NOTE: Make sure you install the busybox apk and then RUN IT to complete the install!)

Steps

1. First, using your terminal of choice, connect to the local shell. Some terminals will default to local, or be local-only. ConnectBot requires you choose the local option and enter a nickname (it can simply be blank for local).

2. In the console type:

Code:

mount | grep /system

The mount command wants to output all the mount data on your device, but the pipe (this thing --> |) sends the output to a grep command which filters it and prints only the lines that contain "/system", which is the line we need.

3. You'll see that the ro (read-only) flag is active, meaning we can't currently delete anything in this area of storage.

4. Time to get to work. Type "su" to request (and gain) root access. If successful you'll see your shell prompt change to a # symbol.

5. To remount the /system partition as read-write just type:

Code:

mount -o remount,rw -t ext4 /dev/block/mmcblk0p1 /system

You may notice your text scrolling off the edge of your screen, that's fine.

6. Anyway, I'm not going to get into what all that means, but it will remount /system as read-write.

You can confirm that by running that same command we wrote earlier:

Code:

mount | grep /system

And you'll see the ro flag has become an rw flag.

Now, change directory to the folder with the built-in apps.

Code:

cd /system/app

7. Typing "ls" will list all the apps in this folder. It will probably scroll off the top of your screen but in ConnectBot you can scroll up and down with the touchscreen.

8. To permanently remove an app simply use the command:

Code:

rm appname.apk

9. To temporarily remove an app, use the command:

Code:

mv appname.apk appname.apk.bak

Additional Notes:

The following is a list of all apps found on a stock Vox as of the last firmware update:

Spoiler:

Anything ending in Stub.apk is just a link to a website and can safely be removed (you can remove them in bulk by using *Stub.apk with the rm command).

Here are the apps I've removed and therefor confirmed as safe to remove:

Spoiler:

Addition

after going to /system/apps to save time from typing in all the stubs do the following :

Code:

rm *Stub.* (note: Stub must be capitalized)

mollyvox · 03-03-2012, 03:29 PM

How long should it take for Gingerbreak to finish rooting? Mines been stuck at "rooting... Running exploit..." for almost an hour.

Jesslynne · 03-03-2012, 03:42 PM

If you've got the March 2nd update, gingerbreak won't work. Kobo inadvertently removed the ability either accidentally or purposely? I don't know.. I haven't updated for that reason.

mr_nobody · 03-03-2012, 03:48 PM

Gingerbreak doesn't take long to run, certainly less than a minute.

mollyvox · 03-03-2012, 07:39 PM

Sadly I do have the March 2nd update. I hate it and it is actually what pushed me over the edge to finally root my vox.

mr_nobody · 03-03-2012, 07:58 PM

Then you have to try the more complicated adb instructions in the March 2 update thread. Good luck.

Jesslynne · 03-03-2012, 08:18 PM

Yeah, except they didn't post specific instructions so I don't even know how to follow.. I probably would do so if that were the case. Just to get FB working again. But.. I'm not going to..

Especially if it means replacing the bloat ware and unable to uninstall them.

samysdad · 03-04-2012, 09:19 PM

As of March 2 update this sticky thread isn't valid.

03-04-2012, 09:19 PM	#89
samysdad Enthusiast Posts: 29 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: Kobo Vox	Rooting with Gingerbread no longer working As of March 2 update this sticky thread isn't valid.

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01-18-2012, 11:15 AM	#76
oldyellr Evangelist Posts: 484 Karma: 26106 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Amazon Fire 7	I haven't rooted mine and have no desire to. One disadvantage I can see from reading this forum is that whenever there's an update, you first have to un-root it to update the Vox and then go back through all the work again to customize it and remove the default apps all over again.

01-19-2012, 01:26 PM	#79
suedenim Connoisseur Posts: 51 Karma: 400010 Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: BC Device: Kobo Vox	So I came across this... http://lifehacker.com/5877356/qtadb-...o-your-desktop Haven't tried it yet but it looks promising.

02-06-2012, 11:41 AM	#80
bitterbug Member Posts: 14 Karma: 10 Join Date: Oct 2010 Device: Sony PRS-600 / Kobo Vox	This is strange. My device is rooted, and I've tried all 4 versions of Busybox that were in the original guide, yet when I attempt to connect with ConnectBot it tells me that local shell is unavailable. I figure I'd just use ES File Explorer and remove the bloatware that way, yet even after putting it in root mode and making /system writable uninstallation fails. Did I miss a step somewhere?

03-03-2012, 03:29 PM	#83
mollyvox Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: kobo vox	How long should it take for Gingerbreak to finish rooting? Mines been stuck at "rooting... Running exploit..." for almost an hour.

03-03-2012, 03:42 PM	#84
Jesslynne Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manitoba, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Kobo Mini	If you've got the March 2nd update, gingerbreak won't work. Kobo inadvertently removed the ability either accidentally or purposely? I don't know.. I haven't updated for that reason.

03-03-2012, 03:48 PM	#85
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo mini, nexus 7 (2012), kobo vox	Gingerbreak doesn't take long to run, certainly less than a minute.

03-03-2012, 07:39 PM	#86
mollyvox Junior Member Posts: 5 Karma: 10 Join Date: Mar 2012 Device: kobo vox	Sadly I do have the March 2nd update. I hate it and it is actually what pushed me over the edge to finally root my vox.

03-03-2012, 07:58 PM	#87
mr_nobody Evangelist Posts: 440 Karma: 26671 Join Date: Nov 2011 Device: kobo mini, nexus 7 (2012), kobo vox	Then you have to try the more complicated adb instructions in the March 2 update thread. Good luck.

03-03-2012, 08:18 PM	#88
Jesslynne Zealot Posts: 141 Karma: 126 Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Manitoba, Canada Device: Kobo Vox, Kobo Mini	Yeah, except they didn't post specific instructions so I don't even know how to follow.. I probably would do so if that were the case. Just to get FB working again. But.. I'm not going to.. Especially if it means replacing the bloat ware and unable to uninstall them.