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  • Well the those options dont come up for me when i selected the ultimate droid download the latest version is froyo beta and no options came up just “download rom” and “cancel” other than that no other options came up. did i do something wrong?

  • Hello Kellex
    I NEED HELP, PLEASE!
    I just got finish rooting my 2.1 stock droid, using the steps you provided using SPRecovery. Everything went well until I installed ROM Manager. I first install the FREE version, then the $3.99 version, but when I go into the program to try to install a new ROM (like the one you used in SPRecovery Video) I get an error message from ROM manager that says: “I must have ClockWorkModRecovery installed in order to flash a new ROM” but when I click on the first option (FLASH ClockworkMod Revocery) it starts to download, then gives me an error message (Sorry! Activity ROM Manager (in application ROM Manager is not responding) 1-Force Close, or 2-Wait. I tried both but all the options in ROM Manager are still grayed out for me. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong? Please help.

  • Hello Kellex
    I NEED HELP, PLEASE!
    I just got finish rooting my 2.1 stock droid, using the steps you provided using SPRecovery. Everything went well until I installed ROM Manager. I first install the FREE version, then the $3.99 version, but when I go into the program to try to install a new ROM (like the one you used in SPRecovery Video) I get an error message from ROM manager that says: “I must have ClockWorkModRecovery installed in order to flash a new ROM” but when I click on the first option (FLASH ClockworkMod Revocery) it starts to download, then gives me an error message (Sorry! Activity ROM Manager (in application ROM Manager is not responding) 1-Force Close, or 2-Wait. I tried both but all the options in ROM Manager are still grayed out for me. Can you tell me what I'm doing wrong? Please help.

  • Hey Kellex, I got a question 4 u or anybody that can help. I had 2 call verizon bout the setting on my phone, the tech support guy told me that I haven't done a update and told me 2 dial *228 to get the update. I haven't done this cause I'm rooted and running a custom rom and a cutsom kernel and don't want 2 mess anything up w/ what I'm running. what do u or anybody else think bout it, should I do this or not?

  • How do you remove Smoked Glass-esque, I tried to update my rom from CyanogenMod 5.0.5.4 to higher and it went into a launcher fail loop. I had to reboot go to a backup. I think that Esque may have been the issue.

  • Kellex, I'm running CyanogenMod 5.0.5.7, Smoked Glass-Esque, Berkit kernel 5-slot 1.1Ghz. I really like the way I got it set up, but kinda curious bout what the orthers look like and do. Do u or anybody have any suggestions on what would b good?

  • if you installl a theme but you wanna change to another one do you you have to wipe date and cache or not?

  • Been going back and forth in my head on whether or not to run a custom mod, mostly for the overclocking ability and newer 3D launcher. I'm currently running rooted 2.1 with the Helix Launcher and have already installed ROM Manager and flashed to Clockworkmod Recovery. It seems I have pretty much everything I want with the multiple screens, persistent icons, live wallpapers…

    What I'd really like to see is a comparison of the custom ROM's availble such as a feature set etc. to help see what each one offers. Can anyone provide a link or know where to find a comparison chart?

    I'd also like some suggestions/best practices on when to use the backup & wipe data/cache feature for ROM Manager… I'm still unsure of when to use the wipe data/cache function – when changing ROM families (Cyanogen to Blackdroid?) or just when upgrading within the same family (Cyanogen 5.0.5.7 to 5.0.5.8?)

    Lastly, does a ROM backup also backup all the installed apps & settings as they were so if I want to backup my current rooted 2.1 setup w/settings & apps will the backup tool in ROM Manager do this so if I want to return to my current settings I can w/o the need to reinstall?

  • So all I have to do is install rom manager and rom manager premium to load these custom themes? I don't have to root? And can't root because I am running 2.1, right?

    • rom manager is for root users only. cannot get custom roms unless you root your phone. i wish it was that easy but unfortunately not… and yea you would have to go back to 2.0.1 to root your phone. its a process but well worth your time.(in my opinion)

      • Thanks. I am very new to all of this…not ready to take on rooting, yet. Just trying to gain an understanding of what it all means right now. My phone is new, so messing it up and not having a warranty to back me up makes me nervous.

        • 100% understandable. it took me a while to make my decision too. and if 2.1 came just a little bit sooner i most likely would have waited much longer. but now with 2.1 running smooth on droid and all the market apps available there is really no need to. the main difference in my opinion is just the speed ie:the ability to overclock. other than that its all cosmetic. but if or when you decide to root droid-life is the place to look to for advice.

          • I appreciate your help alot. So when I see screenshots of live wallpapers that are in the 2.1 update, but the user in those screen shots are running custom roms…those users are still not 2.1 updated, right? I assume custom roms include many, if not all, of the 2.1 features…such as live wallpapers, voice to text, etc..Sorry to be so “dumb”…once again…this is all very new to me.

          • as far as i know i can say with 99%certainty that all custom roms have everything and more that android 2.1 offers. they all vary a little bit but essentially every custom rom will have live wallpapers, voice to text, ability to run google maps w/o problems like 2.0.1 had, everything your OTA update gave you, you can get with a custom rom. and more. iv run three different roms and have been able to change little bits and pieces of all of them. cyanogen, blackdroids ultimate droid, and droidmod. as of right now i think that cyanogen is the most “user friendly” and customizable. but im still running ultimate droid @1.25ghz. and its blazing fast. sometimes faster than my PC

          • im not an expert by any means. everything i know now is thanks to droid-life.com so you are definitely in the right place to learn.

          • OK, now you are really tempting me. I have seen all of the processes for rolling back off of 2.1 to 2.0.1, how to root it, etc…I assume there are probably processes for loading cyanogen, droidmod, etc…too

          • its really not too much of a process. when you are rooted thats when you can download rom manager and download and install custom roms from there. just make sure you are familiar with your phone enough and are comfortable doing all of this. and if you do make sure you have a full battery.

          • Thanks, Jason. You have been really helpful. I may sit on it a while, read these posts, watch some videos…most likely… I will end up going for it. I believe I saw a process for unrooting as well to go back to stock…if the need would arise.

          • No worries.i would recommend thinking about it for a while as well.dont do it unless you are completely sure. Trust me I watched countless videos before I did it too.good luck

  • running Ultimate Droid v9.8. fast as hell but its much more of a process to customize this than v9. was. minor inconvenience but still managed to get my droid eye live wallpaper and ultimate droid theme. but 3d app drawer and orientation switch on home screen 🙁

  • I can not connect to my home secure wifi network with cyanogen 5.0.5.4. Only can connect with open networks. Also have syncing error with google contacts and callander. Does anyone know if these issues are resolved with 5.0.5.7 or is there is any way of fixing these issues?

    ULTIMATE DROID USERS: is there anyway to get the persistent four shortcuts at the bottom of the screen with Ultimate droid? Really want to check it out but dont want to loose that feature. Also does UD have any of the above issues like cyanogen?

    • The persistent 4 shortcuts are from Helix launcher, and yes, you can have that with UD. As far as wifi, I'm connected to my home network and am running secured.

    • search all the different droid forums for “blackdroid” or “ultimate droid v9.8” or some combination/variation of that and you should be able to find zip files to download on your SD card and install from recovery mode. fairly simple once you get the hang of it. as soon as you find it either download srt8 from your phone or mount your phone and download from computer.

  • Hey Kellex, any idea what the rub is with Blackdroid and the RomManager team? Blackdroid's post on Droid Forum is stating not to install from Rom Manager but to install from that thread instead…. =( Also noticed no customization for UD like there used to be from Rom Manager (I installed before I read his thread)….any pointers on nandroid?

  • I am using CM 5057 but it seems that my phone is getting unusually warmer. So today I will be going back to CM 5054. I am not a gaming person so cannot see any APPS2SD usefulness?

    CM 5054 was the most stable ROM I found ever….

  • So I would like to do a custom ROM now. Though I did the manual update to 2.1update1… Was wondering how to go back to 2.0.1 to get cyanogen, but before I do that, how do I backup my contacts? also all my apps that I am using, cause I hope I dont have to reinstall all of those one by one. Please help me!!!!!

  • Anyone have a problem with Cyanogen running hot?? Seems like whenever I switch to Cyanogen from Droidmod it's heating up pretty bad.. What temps are you guys on the 5.0.5.7 w/ 1Ghz kernel running??

    • I had the same problem going from droidmod to cyanogen 5054. Heated up to 45 degrees celcius (which is only 5 degrees shy of the failsafe!) My battery was also draining FAST. The problem turned out to be a google syncing issue. If you see a little sync circle that keeps showing up in your status bar then you liely have the same issue. Go into settings, Accounts and Sync and then click on you Google account and uncheck the auto sync for callander and contacts. You can leave email synced because at least in my case the sync error is with callander and contacts. Bad news is those two things are no longer syncing, good news is phone is running cooler than ever and battery is lasting a long, long time!

  • Has anyone else gotten the “Error occurred while downloading the developer list” message when you hit “Download Rom” in Rom Manager?? I've verified connection to the network (wi-fi), have the latest Clockwork Recovery (1.8.0.8) installed and have tried it with developer mode on and off with no luck. I also have the paid version of Rom Manager, this is the first problem I've ever had with it in fact.

  • Hey guys kind of off topic but what is the best case in your opinion for the Droid ??

  • Running ice theme here. Looks awesome with nex Live wallpaper And cyanogen like Beautiful widget! 🙂

  • Someone PLEASE help me, I'm a Verizon employee and I can't be without my phone…

    I was rooted 2.1 with CM……when I followed the instructions for the Smoked Glass, whenever the home screen came back up, updating SD etc, it put me in a reboot loop…I know I can hold down X and get into recovery, but I need STEP BY STEP instructions to get me back where I was…i backed up everything. Please guys, I'm mad something as simple as this has screwed me up, but I can't be without a phone at work….I HAVE to have my phone and I'm freaking out. URGENT, heh.

    • well maybe i dont need the smoked glass after all…damn, well as far as I know all you do is wipe data and cache then a nandroid back up and ur back and running, ive had to do it a gfew times ha ha no biggie though youll be fine

        • boot into recovery then select nandroid then restore and select which of the back ups you have to restore…they should be dated your phone will restore the back up reboot and you should be good to go!

          • Thank you sir, I'm trying it out as we speak. As much process as the rooting was, I figured a theme would be a cakewalk. I was wrong.

      • I'm in recovery mode, I need to know EXACTLY STEP BY STEP what I need to know to get back to the recent version of CM, I'm not one of those people who can go “OK, reboot, recovery, leap year, high tide” etc…thanks for the help but I need a brief walkthrough. 😀

      • the theme you downloaded should go like this if its the same directory that the roms get downloaded to. now this is from memory so dont quote me on this just trying to help
        go into astro
        clockworkmod
        downloads
        koush
        motorola
        sholes and in there some where like said Im not rooted anymore so thats from memory but it should get you pretty damn close

        • ok theres the problem its not in there and yes your memory is awesome bro, umm any other way to try to download it again, every time i go in to rom manager it says its already downloaded?? thanks for your help

          • Hmm I'm trying to help the best I can. That is the only folders I'm aware of that rom manager downloads stuff to. Maybe it saves under a different file name then what your looking for. It may not be spelled out exactly as the title you in other words it wont look exactly like Smoke Glass-esque1.3 as the file name on the sd card go into your astro file manager preferences and check show file details this should put a date on each file so you know what was downloaded today if that was the only thing you downloaded from rom manager today that should be what your looking for. i hope this helps its the only other thing i can think of its 2am and im pretty tired lol

          • thank you anyways bro…get some sleep im sure kellex will have his hands full tomorrow ha ha

          • nice! no problem I'm glad I could help. I hope it works for you this time lol. Enjoy it! I'm jealous I really need to get rooted again! lol

        • Just wanted to say, you guys, Kellex, and this site are the shit. Up and running again, thanks SO much!

          • awesome. did the link i put up make a little easier to follow??? I hope so. I didnt mean to be vague but to explain it by memory with out doing it step by step myself is difficult and since im not running clockwork recovery anymore I couldnt tell exactly what that screen would look like. Glad all is well now though.

          • No, that was awesome, the problem was with the nandroid backup, once I got that figured out I was straight…thanks again brother!

          • cc_em_jay, could you walk me step-by-step through the process of how you first downloaded cyanogenMod to the point where you had the smoked-glass theme?

    • Hold “x” and powerbar to get to recovery mode and then go to nandroid< restore your backup < restart

    • DM posted on there website that they will not be working on a way to root 2.1 bc its already out there so for people just getting DROIDS with 2.1 coming to the phone after activation will have to follow the steps that are already available. That doesnt mean they wont be working on an updated rom they just will want me creating a way to root besides what we already know. http://droidmod.org/android/faq-when-will-2-1-b… maybe some one else may though. Who knows. It would be nice to have another way besides going back to 2.0.1 to get it.

      • PLEASE HELP???
        I tried to install the smoked glass theme a few minutes ago this is what I got when it went into clockwork recovery…

        waiting for SDS card mount (20s)
        SD card mounted
        preparing to install rom…
        E:Command run_program: non-package program file
        “/sbin/touch”not supported
        ClockworkMod Recorvery v1.7.8.3

        so any suggestions???

        • did you make sure your rom manager and recovery image are both the most current version available???

          • yes and I dont do much to my droid, Im running Cyaogen 5.0.5.7 and I have never had one problem with this phone, can you think of anything…oh ya one thing is i dont know how to find the file i downloaded i looked in astro file manager but have no clue what im looking at or for…im still a noob but im rooted! ha ha

          • it should alert you as soon as you open rom manager if the recovery image isnt updated…but i also always check the market before I download anything to make sure there is no rom manager updates as well that screwed me up once so I do it as a habit now…well i used to anyway that was when i had my old cool rooted droid now i got a stocker 2.1 🙁

          • ya i knew if I just had some patience and didnt worry about the update it wouldnt bother me, but I really want to try out this theme its like the talk of the internet and its driving me nuts, everything is current as far as i can tell, do you know how to find what i downloaded on my droid or where it even is stored, is it astro file manager…is that where I would find the smoked glass esque 1.3??

  • I'm using Ultimate Droid…it runs as fast if not faster than cyanogenmod. Both are excellent ROM's and you can't go wrong. Sooooooo glad I went the root route instead of stock 2.1!!

  • Updated baseband running UD 9.8 with NexTheme and its blazing fast dont even need setCPU

  • heres one for my droid lovers…
    I tried to install the smoked glass theme a few minutes ago this is what I got when it went into clockwork recovery…

    waiting for SDS card mount (20s)
    SD card mounted
    preparing to install rom…
    E:Command run_program: non-package program file
    “/sbin/touch”not supported
    ClockworkMod Recorvery v1.7.8.3

    so any suggestions???

  • I have a question will DM Updater still be able to root my 2.1 droid update, I have click on the dm updater and it promt me to update the dm updater and I also notice that it knew that I was running the new ESE81 and still promt me to root.

    • They are no longer looking for a root for 2.1, because there is already one out there, hopefully they are working on a 2.1 rom with the ESE81, but they seem to be behind others, and they aren't really doing anything, that is why i finally switched to cyanagen.

      • Yeah there is a root for 2.1 but, I think a lot of us are waiting for root access without reverting the phone to 2.01
        That's when a lot of people will jump on board. I know I will lol

        • No, developers are no longer working to find a root directly from 2.1 because there already is a way to root your phone. If you want check droid-life.com

  • I'm using hexfusion on cyanogenmod 5.0.5.7 and it works great. I've tried a lot of the other main themes but I think there's some bugs still because like others my notification bar never changes and I get a lot of force closes. the best way to theme is to back up everything, clean wipe, install cyanogenmod, backup using Rom manager with clockwork recovery , then try installing themes. I've tried themeing over themes installing cyanogenmod and back to other themes but with out a clean wipe or a restore from a clean backup I seem to always see issues.

  • Believe it or not I'm still on CM 5.0.5.4. I have BowerBar theme applied and it looks amazing and runs very smoothly so I've never really had a reason to update.

        • as mentioned before, the devs aren't in a rush bc people can easily get back to 2.0.1, root then install a custom rom based on the ese81 build. not saying it won't ever happen, but if you're impatient like myself…i'd rather be rooted.

    • Recent post on http://droidmod.org/ (below). Doesn't mean we won't see it eventually, but this illustrates the attitude of alot of the developer community.

      “Many people have been asking when 2.1 will receive a “proper” root exploit. The answer is probably never. This is not because we believe it is impossible, but is simply due to the fact that the phone already has been rooted. It would be nonsensical for any developer to waste their time working on this when there is already a way to root the phone.

      To anyone who is waiting around for DMUpdater to be able to root 2.1: You’re waiting for something that will never come. No one is working on this, and no one will.”

  • I'm using smoked glass esque for the black status bar. I love blackdroid, but for now i'll stay with cyanogen

  • you might want to add that this only works if you have paid for this app … 🙂 just so people know ahead of time ..

  • I have version 2.1 rooted from ROM Manager. I would like to go to Ultimate Droid 9.8. I have tried to use ROM Manager three times and each time it freezes up on the Motorola screen. I tried to hold “X” and start and it still freezes on the Motorola screen. I then just pull the battery and turn on the phone and it reboots back to 2.1 rooted. I also tried to backup the ROM in ROM Manager and it did the same thing, freezing on the Motorola screen. I have wiped cash on the last two attempts and still the issue.

    Any thoughts?

    • you need to download the update.zip from ultimatedroid.com and use SPRecovery. Using ROM Manager, mine would boot up, but I would lose my contacts and phone app. Really weird. Using SPRecovery, it worked no problem and is FREAKING SWEET!!!

  • Yeah UD 9.8 is awesome! I only wish they would add the 360 orientation that Cyanogen has…

  • Any idea why upgrading to Cyanogen 5.0.5.7 and installing smoked glass-esque 1.3 (as demonstrated in the video) would make my SetCPU go back to default settings (max: 600MHz)? Can't seem to get it to let me overclock now.

    • Never mind. Found the post from a couple of days ago regarding kernels. Ugh, now I'm nervous.

      • regarding those kernels..I tried the standard voltage 1.2ghz kernel and my droid did not like it one bit. I then used the low voltage 1ghz kernel and it worked just fine.

  • Using blk droid 9.8 … i think its faster and cleaner theen the recent cyanogen

  • hey guys, I posted this on another thread but I think it may have died a bit over there so i will post it here..

    I decided to try out CyanogenMod but was having issues.. I am currently on 2.1 ESE81 rooted, but everytime I try to flash the rom it installs and gets stuck on the boot animation.. Am I missing a step? Do I have to still update the baseband before installing? and do I also have to wipe data? I was hoping to keep everything I had and just switch over to this mod.. thanks in advance and keep up the good work Kellex!!!

    • answered my question.. I had to wipe data and it seemed to work just fine now

  • any chance you'll do and sbf method tutorial? eh.. but then again maybe too complicated.

  • This comment starts like most. Huge props, Kellex. Everything I know about my phone, I've learned from watching videos of your bouncy right pointer finger.
    I've tried a lot of these themes and the only problem I usually have is some widgets never load right. But no biggie, an easy fix because at least I know where the new one should go. Also, some themes seem to get mixed up. Like some icons don't get replaced when I'm jumping from theme to theme and not wiping cache.

  • I followed the steps to install Smoked Glass-Esque 1.3 and I'm running 5.0.5.7, yet i'm not getting the black notification bar it downloads and reboots but its not changing.

  • UD 9.8 is loading up at LEAST 4 times faster than Cyanogen was in this video. That was like waiting for windows 3 to load up on a Packard Bell. Even by the end of the video, things were STILL loading.

    Ultimate Droid FTW

    • When I had Ultimate Droid, the launcher would force close everytime I tried to used it so I went back to Cyanogen. I prefer the look of Ultimate Droid but cyanogen is still great…

  • Oh.. I was just wondering, Kellex Can you like make a notification app for Droid-life? That would be really nice.

  • Ive used them all lol, have to say i like smoked cuz it looks clean but the buff theme is pretty cool

  • Curently using UD 9.8 with Nextheme, but Smoke-Glass theme on Cyanogenmod look great also. Thanks Kellex !!!

  • I'm using the NexThemeand I'm loving every bit of it. Are there other sites that offer custom themes too?

  • Once you have a theme installed if you do not like it how do you revert back and can you install other themes on top? Do you restore backups? 🙂 Thanks for the video I have been tempted to play with the themes I was just not sure how easy it was to go back and forth.

    • you can just reinstall the cyanogenmod Rom on your sdcard over a themed rom but I seem to always notice lag so make sure you have a clean backup of how you like everything restore and then try another theme.

  • I definitely agree with Dalton! Kellex Ultimate Droid is sick and its the shiznit. Don't install the stock edition though…for some reason the the phone icon and contacts are gone and I couldn't manage to dial out. But, the Nextheme edition is so sick bro…believe me Kellex I'm using it right now.

  • Thanks for this video! I was wondering what it takes to install a theme…and BAM! you answered right away without me having to ask.

    But I now I wonder what it takes to go back to the normal Cyanogen look from a theme. Do you have to do a wipe or just reinstall the same version of Cyanogen you had on top of itself? Also, can you switch between themes just as easy as installing one?

    • If you create a backup before installing a theme, you can then just restore that backup and get back to normal.

    • You should re-install Cyanogen to go back to normal and you don't necessarily have to wipe data and cache. You should also go back to “stock” Cyanogen before switching between themes to avoid any complications.

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