The REAL San Francisco beginners thread - Please contribute

[Guest ShockedFIN]

I'd like to put in a request for instructions to install clockworkmod recovery and installation of custom ROMs. Step by step with explanantions as above would be fantastic.

That would be great especially for us Symbian to Android defectors ;)

[Guest mjm1483]

A big thanks to Andoidian and everyone thats contributed so far to the real beginers guide.

I'd managed to bimble through the other guides for rooting and debranded and found that pretty easy but this guide would have halfed the time it took!

I'd like to put in a request for instructions to install clockworkmod recovery and installation of custom ROMs. Step by step with explanantions as above would be fantastic.

I've had a go at this a few times following Pauls intstructions but failed at every attempt.

I would also greatly appreciate this as a new user. In addition, it would be great if someone could briefly explain which exact modifications are causing problems with the new TFT models, and perhaps create separate sets of instructions for the OLED and TFT phones.

Sorry if this is too simple or tedious, but I guess this is the 'beginners thread' ;) I've been reading through the threads for a long time now, and while I think I know what to do, I'm still a bit nervous as things seem to constantly change and update.

[Guest mountainstar]

Hi Andoidian and for all who contributed,

Great thread and guide this for a beginner like myself, so I was wondering if you could answer these questions please.

Some I think I know, some I don’t, so some clarity it simple language would be very helpful, thanks. I realise that some of them may be obvious to most of you experts out there, but to us noobs they may not....

1 What exactly is 2G & 3G, and the difference between the two?

2 Why would you want to switch between 2G & 3G?

3 Why should I switch from Orange to another network? (cost only?)

4 Dummies guide to unlocking my SF? and its benifits?

5 What alternative simm would you recommend (to still use the internet)?

6 Does it have to be a 3G simm?

7 Can I still get the internet if it is not a 3G simm?

8 Can I still keep my current phone number with a new simm?

9 If using Android market and downloading tracks, am I using the internet (and my credit) to do this?

10 If using Apps like Lastfm/Trapster/Orange maps/TripAdviser/RACtraffic etc. am I using the internet (and my credit)?

11 Should I use Orange internet, Opera mini or another one to access the internet?

Hello again, this thread seems to have died, with no answers to my original questions....anybody still there? :D

[Guest Dan Diplo]

Great thread! As a newbie and prospective San Francisco owner there's a few questions I have, too.

1. What advantages are there to upgrading to Android 2.2 from the stock ROM? Are there any disadvantages?

2. Which custom ROM(s) are recommended for new users? ie. Which is least problematic and stable? (Ideally one that works on both OLED and TFT screens).

3. If I install a new ROM, will I lose anything (eg. Apps, data, settings)? What should be backed up and how?

3. What features and/or settings should users be aware they can turn-off or disable to preserve battery life?

4. How can PAYG users avoid adverse bills for 3G internet usage? (e.g. Settings to turn off, apps to disable)?

Many thanks :D

[Guest EndruBoy]

Hello

I have a really short question:

If I made a backup with clockwork and I want to restore it, all I have to do is wipe the current system, then click restore? I mean the restore contains the full ROM too and not only my settings and apks?

[Guest fryguyse]

Hello

I have a really short question:

If I made a backup with clockwork and I want to restore it, all I have to do is wipe the current system, then click restore? I mean the restore contains the full ROM too and not only my settings and apks?

Correct.

[Guest Fou-lu]

Screenshot`s or a video of the entire flashing process would be highly more useful to any newbie, anybody up for making them? ;)

[Guest wadgel]

Hello again, this thread seems to have died, with no answers to my original questions....anybody still there? ;)

Did you miss posts #23 and #24 which both answer all your questions?

[Guest oldfella]

probably obvious to many of you, but its worrying me ....

1 if I update the standard Orange 2.1 Rom with the custom R4 Modaco 2.1 - am I right in thinking it will replace all the original apps supplied with the Rom, but leave unchanged all the apps and data I have added since, assuming I dont do a wipe ?

2 Contacts data can I think be recreated by exporting to SD before changing the ROM and then importing ?

3 the only thing that wont work is the widgets which need to be reset

4 presumably my lock screen and home screens will be recreated from saved data when I reload WidgetLocker and Go Launcher

5 will the phone still have records of purchased apps

many thanks .. Mike

[Guest oldfella]

should anyone else be interested have just flashed the R4 ROM and the answer to all my questions is yes !

[Guest gouabafla]

A newbie questions: I am constantly finding that I have limited phone memory and I have to delete apps. It is a bit of a struggle to keep the apps that I really need and the ones that, I want, on the phone. Would upgrading to Froyo help with this problem?

[Guest mountainstar]

Did you miss posts #23 and #24 which both answer all your questions?

Yes I did miss 23 & 24....sorry for that, did not see that it went to a page 2, and never got the email to say there was an answer to my post. ;)

So many thanks :)