ROM flashing

ROM flashing is basically flashing a custom ROM to load a different version of the Android OS. A custom ROM is the full Android OS customized by the ROM builder, usually to make it faster, provide better battery life, or add new features. AOLineage OS ROM is one of the more popular ROMs. Other ROMs like Fresh 3.5 offer a ROM very similar to the default experience by leaving Sense and incorporating over-the-air updates into an updated version of the ROM. In order to flash a custom ROM, you must first root your device.

The smartphones of today are all about providing options along with convenience to the user. Android undeniably rules the list of Smartphone Operating Systems due to the choices it provides and sets benchmarks for other Mobile Operating Systems to breach in the field. One of the primary additional features of an Android device is its ability to allow its users to flash new custom ROMs. Many users will doubtlessly find these words a bit confusing, and for them, here are some small explanations to clarify things.

A ROM, in terms of the Android OS, is the OS interface, including apps and firmware that have been loaded into the read-only memory of the device. Users can change this firmware and interface by changing or updating the ROM. This process is called ‘flashing a ROM’. During flashing, users load the new ROM in a manner similar to installing manual updates to the device. This installation is done through a recovery – a dedicated and bootable partition on your smartphone device that can install new updates to your device.

The first and foremost requirement for flashing a custom ROM is an Android device with a custom recovery. A custom recovery is a customized version of your stock device recovery and allows you to easily flash updates, take backups, wipe data, etc. Some of the more popular custom recoveries are TWRP and CWM recoveries.

Secondly, users must choose a Custom ROM to install on their device, depending on the features they would want to have with that ROM. For a detailed look at the advantages provided by a custom ROM

Procedure

• It is recommended to make a backup of the current ROM.
• The next step in this process is determining whether the device has an unlocked bootloader or not. A Bootloader is the program which loads the OS into the Phone memory once the device is booted or started, and a locked bootloader will allow an OS with an approved OS signature to load, in process blocking any custom OS. Thus, it is important to unlock the bootloader before a ROM is flashed.
• Given that users flashing a custom ROM generally use a rooted device, there is a very high probability that the bootloader will already be unlocked. However, rooting does not necessarily require an unlocked bootloader. Many devices come with unlocked bootloaders from factory, and therefore users with these devices can skip this step. Users with devices having locked bootloaders can Google or take help from various Android forums such as XDA-developers to get the device-specific steps to unlock the bootloader on their device.
• Users can now reboot their devices to recovery, in order to wipe device memory and storage. Each device has a specific key combination, which when pressed during boot will take them to the recovery console. Here, users should wipe cache, dalvik cache, and factory reset their device, which essentially implies cleaning apps and existing firmware.
• Users who are upgrading from one version of a custom ROM to another might even skip the step to factory reset their device before flashing the new ROM, which is known as a ‘dirty’ wipe in developer slang. However, developers generally insist on a ‘clean’ wipe, in order to successfully remove any portion of the older firmware which might conflict with the new ROM and cause errors.
• Once the user has wiped the storage and memory of his device, he can go ahead to install and flash the custom ROM to his device using the custom recovery. Some ROMs might be flashed simply using the recovery console; some may have inbuilt installers such as the AROMA installer which will start and allow users to customize options during the installation.
• Once the ROM has been flashed, users can reboot to the system. The first boot after a flash might take some extra time, and users are advised to be patient. In case users find their device in a bootloop or a Softbrick, they can always repeat the process or restore a NANDroid backup of their device taken

Rooting

Rooting is gaining superuser privileges to Android Operating System, by which we can edit the system internal settings and change the data in the partitions, which will help us in installing a recovery in Android phones.

On a basic level, rooting an Android phone means giving yourself superuser access.

What does that mean? If you use a desktop computer that allows multiple user accounts, some of those user accounts have more power than others, right? Administrative accounts allow you to do more, and they're also a little more dangerous – because they allow you to do more. A superuser account on Android is sort of like that administrator account. It allows more access to the operating system. That means more power, but it also means more potential for damage

File:Root apps.jpg

Root apps

Advantages

• Installing Custom ROMs

After rooting your device, you can flash a custom ROM or Kernel, which means you can have a new device.

• Remove Preinstalled Crapware

Manufacturers won’t allow you to uninstall those preinstalled apps on your device. Rooting a device can make them removed easily, which ensures a high running quality.

• Blocking Ads in Any Apps

Sick of the pop-up ads when playing games? A rooted device can remove these annoying ads immediately.

• Install Incompatible Apps

Some wonderful apps need root access if you install them on your device. Root your phone, enjoy more apps.

• Keep Latest Android OS

A rooted Android can get the new OS months before the carrier releases the update, often along with a few bonus features.

• Change Skin for your Android

As you can see, there are only 3 to 4 default skins on your device to change. But if you root your phone and install new ROMs, you can enjoy customized and tweaked skins on your device.

• Boost your Android Device’s Speed and Battery Life

Some powerful apps like Greenify can close useless applications automatically, which can effectively improve your device’s performance. Of course, Greenify needs root access.

• Make Complete Backups of Your Android Phone or Table

An unrooted Android phone can only backup some settings and apps of your device. Titanium can be used on a rooted device to give you a complete backup. In one word, rooting can make you the master of your Android phone. You can automate everything on your Android device.

Disadvantages

• Root can Brick Your Device

Compared with an unrooted Android device, the rooted one faces a common threat from mis-operation, and sometimes you may turn your Android device into a brick. Avoid this risk: Just download apps from reliable places like Google Play, and do not delete the files if the files are suggested not to delete by rooting apps.

• The Android device manufacturers will not cover the damage after you root your device. For some brands, we can unroot the device after rooting, so the manufacturers don’t know if you have rooted your Android device or not. But to make matters worse, Android device manufacturers also go to great lengths to know if your device has been rooted!
• Problems with Updates

Sometimes you root an Android phone to get the latest OS, but after rooting, you may find that the automatic updates to the firmware stopped. Updates fail to install due to software modifications that occurred while the device has been rooted.

References

This article "ROM flashing" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles copied from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be seen on the Draft Namespace of Wikipedia and not main one.

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