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I'm going to try to make this #2 post useful but take note: Anything I post here is NOT official and is NOT coming from the OMFGB team. If you want help straight from the horse's mouth, ignore me. That said, I'm going to put info here to help people so we can allow xoomdev to focus more on coding and less on supporting us.
As with any documentation, this will be out of date over time, so please see the Last-Edited date at the bottom of this post in case some of this information is out of date.
Unofficial FAQ
FAQ Sections:
[hide=Q: I know what I'm doing generally. What do I need to know specifically about OMFGB to get started quickly?]
A: Root TBolt -> MR2 (or newer) radio -> download ROM -> flash in recovery = you're done.
God Mode is an app to configure the ROM and also lists nightlies in it. Pretty much all of the AOSP/CM7 kernels work here (stock is DRod's). Pretty much all of the CM7 themes work here.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Where are the latest nightlies?]
A: Here or in God Mode.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Is this a stable ROM?]
A: No, and yes.
This is not yet a Final Release-quality ROM. However, it is generally very stable. MANY people run this as their daily driver and are much happier with this than with a Sense-based ROM. Sometimes a nightly may have some major glitches, but most are very solid.[/hide]
[hide=Q: So I understand that OMFGB is AOSP-based but so is CM7 and it's available now. Why would I want this ROM instead?]
A: It's up to you!
Is this ROM better than CM7? Nope. Is CM7 better than this ROM? Nope. In fact, there are other AOSP-based ROMs available now! Check out this article I wrote comparing the various AOSP-based ROMs available for the Thunderbolt.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why did it take AOSP ROMs so long to become stable?]
A: No LTE radios have been mastered prior to these ROMs. The Thunderbolt is the guinea pig for all other LTE phones in the future.
If you are familiar with AOSP vs Sense-based ROMs at any level, you understand that AOSP-based ROMs perform MUCH faster than Sense-based ROMs and have much more flexibility in customizing it to do things that HTC hasn't allowed for you to do. Initially, CM7 and OMFGB were the only AOSP-based ROMs available for the Thunderbolt with a functional RIL.
Usually, AOSP-based ROMs aren't this difficult to get running on new Android devices as they are released, but the Thunderbolt is a special exception and you already know why. This was the first Verizon LTE device made. With this new LTE radio comes new difficulties that nobody else has ever attempted to tackle. With other devices, the radio challenges usually had already been solved with the devices that came before it but this is not the case with the Thunderbolt.
The developers of the various AOSP-based ROMs are all working with one another to help each other tackle these new LTE challenges but it takes time. And unfortunately, the primary developers working on the code that interfaces with the LTE radio (you'll hear referred to as RIL - Radio Interface Layer) live in areas that don't even get LTE reception, so that made it incredibly more difficult for them to get these ROMs working perfectly. Lastly, because this RIL has been so challenging, these developers have spent much less time than they would have liked polishing the other aspects of the ROMs.
That said, Xoomdev and Slayher have done an incredible job with the RIL for our Thunderbolt community.[/hide]
[hide=Q: After I successfully flashed this for the first time, I couldn't find the Market or anything. What gives?]
A: You must install GApps via Recovery after flashing the ROM.
There is the officially supported GApps and there are also other versions of GApps. Any time you flash a different version of GApps, you MUST perform a full wipe for stability.[/hide]
[hide=Q: What kernels work on OMFGB?]
A: AOSP/CM7 kernels.
Because of the always-changing nature of kernels, I won't try to list all of the kernels that do work or what bugs they have. However, suffice to say that there are 3 categories of kernels and only one of them work with this ROM. These categories are: 1) Sense Froyo, 2) Sense Gingerbread, and 3) AOSP Gingerbread (also often called "CM7"). Of these three categories, the AOSP Gingerbread-based kernels work with this, for the most part.
As time goes on, there may be issues running a specific AOSP-based kernel on this ROM that doesn't exist in other ROMs (such as CM7) but the developers will likely try to address these issues and release fixes for them in newer versions. So ultimately, you will need to read up on the kernel or just try it.[/hide]
[hide=Q: What radios work on OMFGB?]
A: MR2+ (Gingerbread).
Because of the always-changing nature of radios and leaks, I won't try to list all of the radios that do work or what bugs they have. However, suffice to say that there are 2 categories of radios and only one of them work with this ROM. These categories are often (but very confusingly) called "Froyo" (or MR1) and "Gingerbread" (or MR2 or MR2.5) radios. The "Froyo" radios work with the earlier versions of Sense Froyo ROMs and AOSP-based ROMs, and probably came on your phone. The "Gingerbread" radios work with the Sense Gingerbread ROMs as well as newer Sense Froyo ROMs.
Prior to the 7/2 nightly, Froyo radios were required. Beginning with the 7/2 nightly, both Froyo and Gingerbread radios were supported. Beginning with the 7/9 nightly, Gingerbread radios are required. This change with 7/9 came with a Gingerbread radio becoming officially supported in a recent OTA update from Verizon/HTC.[/hide]
Radio/Data Questions
[hide=Q: What radio works best?]
A: There are mixed results which specific one is best, though.
There is not currently a "best" radio to run this ROM on. Some people report great results on one radio while others report great problems on that radio. And vice versa with other versions. At this time, you will have to experiment for yourself to determine what radio is best for you.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Do I need to _______ when I flash a radio?]
A: No, you may flash different radios without changing anything else as long as the radios are compatible.
No need to Wipe Data, Wipe Cache, Wipe Davlik Cache, or any of that. You MIGHT want to consider wiping battery stats but even this unlikely to help when you flash a new radio.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I'm having various issues where I lose data. What do I do?]
A: Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile networks -> Network Mode: Switch it to CDMA/EvDo, wait for a solid 3G signal, and switch it back to CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto. You might need to repeat this a second time.
There are a number of bugs with the radio that are being diligently worked on. However, these steps should make these bugs tolerable. The scenarios that seem to trigger these bugs are when you move from a 4G to a 3G area, from a 3G to a 4G area, from WiFi to mobile data, from mobile data to WiFi, or if you disable Airplane mode. Sometimes this kicks in when you boot up, too. You will probably see the most stability if you stay in CDMA/EvDo mode but you will not benefit from 4G speeds. It's your call what the best tradeoffs are for you.[/hide]
Application Questions
[hide=Q: Why can't I send an MMS?]
A: Disable Wifi.
This is a known bug in AOSP-based ROMs that has been eluding our devs. In the mean time, if you disable wifi, the MMS will go through.[/hide]
Theme Questions
[hide=Q: How do I theme OMFGB?]
A: Use the Theme Chooser, just like in CM7.
T-Mobile has created a wonderful theming system, and even released the source code for it, that has become the standard for various AOSP-based ROMs to use for theming. Here is a good thread to learn more about the T-Mobile Theme Manager System. Here is a good place to find some themes to install (they're simply APK files that you install like other apps, and then they will appear in the Theme Chooser).[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme that works on ____ ROM/phone, but there is this bug in OMFGB. I thought all themes worked on all ROMs with the Theme Picker?]
A: Sometimes a themer with little experience (or a lack of time) will take shortcuts or make customizations to a theme that ties it to a specific phone or ROM.
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do other than to ask the developer to make the theme universal. Most themes out there have very few restrictions like this, but there will always be exceptions.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme, but why are some of the graphics all fuzzy?]
A: Make sure you have an HDPI version of your theme and not an MDPI version.
Many themes support both HDPI (high definition) and MDPI (low definition) versions. For those, make sure the version you installed is the HDPI version. Others, however, only support MDPI and you will not be able to use those themes on this phone very well. Ultimately, this has nothing to do with OMFGB but has to do with the higher quality of the screen on the Thunderbolt.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme, but why don't I get a themed lockscreen (or other things)?]
A: Some themes require additional steps with additional files to flash via various methods.
Unfortunately, the T-Mobile theming engine cannot theme ANYTHING. Some exceptions include the lockscreen and some aspects of the dialer. Because of these limitations, some themers provide additional steps to theme these things. However, these additional steps may or may not work on this ROM. Attempt them at your own risk.[/hide]
OMFGB Settings and Special Features
[hide=Q: What is God Mode?]
A: God Mode is an application that provides you access to special settings, options, and applications.
Think of this as being similar to the "Toolkit" in various other ROMs. There may or may not be other ways to change some of these advanced settings.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why isn't the ______ setting in Launcher Settings in God Mode working?]
A: These settings only work for the stock launcher, not third-party launchers like LauncherPro, ADW, or Go Launcher.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Where did my Notification Toggle buttons go?]
A: There is an icon on the right side in your Notifications window to hide/show the Toggle buttons - hit it to bring them back.[/hide]
Upgrade Questions
[hide=Q: Do I need to wipe data when I upgrade?]
A: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you're having strange problems, then wipe. If you want to be safe, then wipe.
Ultimately, this answer may always be different depending on what version of OMFGB you're upgrading from and to. If it's from a previous night's nightly, you may be safe without wiping. However, there will always be exceptions and it will never be clear. However, it's always best to wipe if you want to be safe and avoid random problems.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I upgraded without wiping but certain things are missing. Where did they go?]
A: Perhaps you need to reinstall GApps, or perhaps you should wipe for good measure.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I downloaded a new nighly via God Mode. Where did it save at?]
A: SD Card: t3hh4xx0r/downloads/______.zip[/hide]
[hide=Q: I downloaded a new nighly via God Mode. What radio does it need?]
A: As of 7/9, it needs MR2 (or similar).[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why is my kernel all screwed up after upgrading?]
A: Upgrading flashes the stock kernel back on there.
If you flash a custom kernel onto your phone, it may support features (overclocking, undervolting, OpenVPN, in call recording, etc.) that the stock kernel doesn't support. So if you need to run a custom kernel and you upgrade, you'll need to reinstall that custom kernel after upgrading.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Okay, so I want to upgrade in the *best* way possible. What is this process?]
A: You have 2 options: Manually or Automatic.
Manual:
Other Questions
[hide=Q: Why isn't my GPS working?]
A:
If "Full GPS" is not working, see this thread. This is the "flash-to-Sense" trick.
If "Network Location" is not working, see this thread. The 10-second summary is to turn on Wifi (you do not have to connect to a wifi network) and this will work much better.[/hide]
---
If there are additional questions you think should be in this FAQ, please PM me. And again, please keep in mind that this is an UNOFFICIAL FAQ that is community-driven and NOT driven by the OMFGB team! All thanks go to that team for all of their tireless work!
As with any documentation, this will be out of date over time, so please see the Last-Edited date at the bottom of this post in case some of this information is out of date.
Unofficial FAQ
FAQ Sections:
- New-to-OMFGB Questions
- Radio/Data Questions
- Application Questions
- Theme Questions
- OMFGB Settings and Special Features
- Upgrade Questions
- Other Questions
[hide=Q: I know what I'm doing generally. What do I need to know specifically about OMFGB to get started quickly?]
A: Root TBolt -> MR2 (or newer) radio -> download ROM -> flash in recovery = you're done.
God Mode is an app to configure the ROM and also lists nightlies in it. Pretty much all of the AOSP/CM7 kernels work here (stock is DRod's). Pretty much all of the CM7 themes work here.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Where are the latest nightlies?]
A: Here or in God Mode.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Is this a stable ROM?]
A: No, and yes.
This is not yet a Final Release-quality ROM. However, it is generally very stable. MANY people run this as their daily driver and are much happier with this than with a Sense-based ROM. Sometimes a nightly may have some major glitches, but most are very solid.[/hide]
[hide=Q: So I understand that OMFGB is AOSP-based but so is CM7 and it's available now. Why would I want this ROM instead?]
A: It's up to you!
Is this ROM better than CM7? Nope. Is CM7 better than this ROM? Nope. In fact, there are other AOSP-based ROMs available now! Check out this article I wrote comparing the various AOSP-based ROMs available for the Thunderbolt.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why did it take AOSP ROMs so long to become stable?]
A: No LTE radios have been mastered prior to these ROMs. The Thunderbolt is the guinea pig for all other LTE phones in the future.
If you are familiar with AOSP vs Sense-based ROMs at any level, you understand that AOSP-based ROMs perform MUCH faster than Sense-based ROMs and have much more flexibility in customizing it to do things that HTC hasn't allowed for you to do. Initially, CM7 and OMFGB were the only AOSP-based ROMs available for the Thunderbolt with a functional RIL.
Usually, AOSP-based ROMs aren't this difficult to get running on new Android devices as they are released, but the Thunderbolt is a special exception and you already know why. This was the first Verizon LTE device made. With this new LTE radio comes new difficulties that nobody else has ever attempted to tackle. With other devices, the radio challenges usually had already been solved with the devices that came before it but this is not the case with the Thunderbolt.
The developers of the various AOSP-based ROMs are all working with one another to help each other tackle these new LTE challenges but it takes time. And unfortunately, the primary developers working on the code that interfaces with the LTE radio (you'll hear referred to as RIL - Radio Interface Layer) live in areas that don't even get LTE reception, so that made it incredibly more difficult for them to get these ROMs working perfectly. Lastly, because this RIL has been so challenging, these developers have spent much less time than they would have liked polishing the other aspects of the ROMs.
That said, Xoomdev and Slayher have done an incredible job with the RIL for our Thunderbolt community.[/hide]
[hide=Q: After I successfully flashed this for the first time, I couldn't find the Market or anything. What gives?]
A: You must install GApps via Recovery after flashing the ROM.
There is the officially supported GApps and there are also other versions of GApps. Any time you flash a different version of GApps, you MUST perform a full wipe for stability.[/hide]
[hide=Q: What kernels work on OMFGB?]
A: AOSP/CM7 kernels.
Because of the always-changing nature of kernels, I won't try to list all of the kernels that do work or what bugs they have. However, suffice to say that there are 3 categories of kernels and only one of them work with this ROM. These categories are: 1) Sense Froyo, 2) Sense Gingerbread, and 3) AOSP Gingerbread (also often called "CM7"). Of these three categories, the AOSP Gingerbread-based kernels work with this, for the most part.
As time goes on, there may be issues running a specific AOSP-based kernel on this ROM that doesn't exist in other ROMs (such as CM7) but the developers will likely try to address these issues and release fixes for them in newer versions. So ultimately, you will need to read up on the kernel or just try it.[/hide]
[hide=Q: What radios work on OMFGB?]
A: MR2+ (Gingerbread).
Because of the always-changing nature of radios and leaks, I won't try to list all of the radios that do work or what bugs they have. However, suffice to say that there are 2 categories of radios and only one of them work with this ROM. These categories are often (but very confusingly) called "Froyo" (or MR1) and "Gingerbread" (or MR2 or MR2.5) radios. The "Froyo" radios work with the earlier versions of Sense Froyo ROMs and AOSP-based ROMs, and probably came on your phone. The "Gingerbread" radios work with the Sense Gingerbread ROMs as well as newer Sense Froyo ROMs.
Prior to the 7/2 nightly, Froyo radios were required. Beginning with the 7/2 nightly, both Froyo and Gingerbread radios were supported. Beginning with the 7/9 nightly, Gingerbread radios are required. This change with 7/9 came with a Gingerbread radio becoming officially supported in a recent OTA update from Verizon/HTC.[/hide]
Radio/Data Questions
[hide=Q: What radio works best?]
A: There are mixed results which specific one is best, though.
There is not currently a "best" radio to run this ROM on. Some people report great results on one radio while others report great problems on that radio. And vice versa with other versions. At this time, you will have to experiment for yourself to determine what radio is best for you.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Do I need to _______ when I flash a radio?]
A: No, you may flash different radios without changing anything else as long as the radios are compatible.
No need to Wipe Data, Wipe Cache, Wipe Davlik Cache, or any of that. You MIGHT want to consider wiping battery stats but even this unlikely to help when you flash a new radio.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I'm having various issues where I lose data. What do I do?]
A: Menu -> Settings -> Wireless & Networks -> Mobile networks -> Network Mode: Switch it to CDMA/EvDo, wait for a solid 3G signal, and switch it back to CDMA + LTE/EvDo auto. You might need to repeat this a second time.
There are a number of bugs with the radio that are being diligently worked on. However, these steps should make these bugs tolerable. The scenarios that seem to trigger these bugs are when you move from a 4G to a 3G area, from a 3G to a 4G area, from WiFi to mobile data, from mobile data to WiFi, or if you disable Airplane mode. Sometimes this kicks in when you boot up, too. You will probably see the most stability if you stay in CDMA/EvDo mode but you will not benefit from 4G speeds. It's your call what the best tradeoffs are for you.[/hide]
Application Questions
[hide=Q: Why can't I send an MMS?]
A: Disable Wifi.
This is a known bug in AOSP-based ROMs that has been eluding our devs. In the mean time, if you disable wifi, the MMS will go through.[/hide]
Theme Questions
[hide=Q: How do I theme OMFGB?]
A: Use the Theme Chooser, just like in CM7.
T-Mobile has created a wonderful theming system, and even released the source code for it, that has become the standard for various AOSP-based ROMs to use for theming. Here is a good thread to learn more about the T-Mobile Theme Manager System. Here is a good place to find some themes to install (they're simply APK files that you install like other apps, and then they will appear in the Theme Chooser).[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme that works on ____ ROM/phone, but there is this bug in OMFGB. I thought all themes worked on all ROMs with the Theme Picker?]
A: Sometimes a themer with little experience (or a lack of time) will take shortcuts or make customizations to a theme that ties it to a specific phone or ROM.
Unfortunately, there's not much you can do other than to ask the developer to make the theme universal. Most themes out there have very few restrictions like this, but there will always be exceptions.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme, but why are some of the graphics all fuzzy?]
A: Make sure you have an HDPI version of your theme and not an MDPI version.
Many themes support both HDPI (high definition) and MDPI (low definition) versions. For those, make sure the version you installed is the HDPI version. Others, however, only support MDPI and you will not be able to use those themes on this phone very well. Ultimately, this has nothing to do with OMFGB but has to do with the higher quality of the screen on the Thunderbolt.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I applied a new theme, but why don't I get a themed lockscreen (or other things)?]
A: Some themes require additional steps with additional files to flash via various methods.
Unfortunately, the T-Mobile theming engine cannot theme ANYTHING. Some exceptions include the lockscreen and some aspects of the dialer. Because of these limitations, some themers provide additional steps to theme these things. However, these additional steps may or may not work on this ROM. Attempt them at your own risk.[/hide]
OMFGB Settings and Special Features
[hide=Q: What is God Mode?]
A: God Mode is an application that provides you access to special settings, options, and applications.
Think of this as being similar to the "Toolkit" in various other ROMs. There may or may not be other ways to change some of these advanced settings.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why isn't the ______ setting in Launcher Settings in God Mode working?]
A: These settings only work for the stock launcher, not third-party launchers like LauncherPro, ADW, or Go Launcher.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Where did my Notification Toggle buttons go?]
A: There is an icon on the right side in your Notifications window to hide/show the Toggle buttons - hit it to bring them back.[/hide]
Upgrade Questions
[hide=Q: Do I need to wipe data when I upgrade?]
A: Sometimes yes, sometimes no. If you're having strange problems, then wipe. If you want to be safe, then wipe.
Ultimately, this answer may always be different depending on what version of OMFGB you're upgrading from and to. If it's from a previous night's nightly, you may be safe without wiping. However, there will always be exceptions and it will never be clear. However, it's always best to wipe if you want to be safe and avoid random problems.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I upgraded without wiping but certain things are missing. Where did they go?]
A: Perhaps you need to reinstall GApps, or perhaps you should wipe for good measure.[/hide]
[hide=Q: I downloaded a new nighly via God Mode. Where did it save at?]
A: SD Card: t3hh4xx0r/downloads/______.zip[/hide]
[hide=Q: I downloaded a new nighly via God Mode. What radio does it need?]
A: As of 7/9, it needs MR2 (or similar).[/hide]
[hide=Q: Why is my kernel all screwed up after upgrading?]
A: Upgrading flashes the stock kernel back on there.
If you flash a custom kernel onto your phone, it may support features (overclocking, undervolting, OpenVPN, in call recording, etc.) that the stock kernel doesn't support. So if you need to run a custom kernel and you upgrade, you'll need to reinstall that custom kernel after upgrading.[/hide]
[hide=Q: Okay, so I want to upgrade in the *best* way possible. What is this process?]
A: You have 2 options: Manually or Automatic.
Manual:
- Download the updated version of OMFGB that you want to flash
- Verify the MD5 after it's on your SD Card to make sure it isn't corrupt (Astro File Manager is an easy way to do this)
- Charge your battery to full (consider running a Titanium or other backup while you charge)
- Boot to Recovery
- Perform a nandroid backup
- Optionally wipe Data, Cache, Davlik, and more optionally Battery Stats (performing these steps is the *safest* way to do it)
- While still in Recovery, flash the new version of OMFGB. Do NOT perform this step from ROM Manager.
- After flashing the ROM, do not flash anything else but go ahead and boot up into Android.
- Do not touch anything! Let Android run for at least 5 minutes after you get the Launcher to show up.
- Optionally flash into Recovery to flash your Kernel (do NOT use ROM Manager or Kernel Manager for this).
- Boot back into Android, do NOT touch anything, and let sit for 5 more minutes.
- Boot back into Recovery and flash GApps (do NOT use ROM Manager for this).
- Boot back into Android. When it prompts you to click on the Android, wait 5 minutes before you start.
- Now you may begin setting your phone up as you choose.
- Open up God Mode -> Nightlies -> Click on the version you want to install.
- If you haven't yet downloaded, wait for it to download.
- Go back into God Mode -> Nightlies -> Click again on the version you want to install.
- It will inform you that it will flash the new ROM - click OK.
- Flashing the new version of the ROM may or may not lose your GApps. If it does, you will need to flash these again (either manually or via God Mode).
- As a safeguard, you may want to go into Recovery and wipe Cache, Davlik, and Battery Stats. This is your choice.
Other Questions
[hide=Q: Why isn't my GPS working?]
A:
If "Full GPS" is not working, see this thread. This is the "flash-to-Sense" trick.
If "Network Location" is not working, see this thread. The 10-second summary is to turn on Wifi (you do not have to connect to a wifi network) and this will work much better.[/hide]
---
If there are additional questions you think should be in this FAQ, please PM me. And again, please keep in mind that this is an UNOFFICIAL FAQ that is community-driven and NOT driven by the OMFGB team! All thanks go to that team for all of their tireless work!
