Root Optimus V: All Things Root Guide (updated 03/11/13)

[AndyOpie150]

*** Important Note ***

We need your help to populate and keep this guide organized with the best and most relevant information. Please contact me (by PM) or your favorite Guide, or drop a note in the private chat section if you have any good information to contribute, update, or correct in the root guide. Alternatively, hit the

button and ask a Mod to bring it to my attention.

Thanks for your help!

Again, If you have any questions or need assistance with any guides or recovery,ROM,kernel installation procedures: PM me or leave a post in this thread.

-------------------------------------------------------

Optimus V: All Things Root Guide

Click the "Show" button below for a root warning / disclaimer:

Spoiler

Quick note / disclaimer: as always, you are ultimately responsible for any root-related activities on your phone.

You should understand not only the benefits of rooting, but also any possible consequences (voided warranty, boot-loops, bricking, etc.) that might occur as a result of your root-related actions.

AndroidForums.com / Phandroid.com, its owner, and staff are not liable for any root actions you might undertake as a result of information used from this site.

Reading, researching, understanding, and carefully following the published steps and instructions can go a long way towards helping to make your rooting efforts a successful one.

In addition to the disclaimer above, MacFett has pointed out that it is important to determine which OS you are running (2.2.1 or 2.2.2) and type screen you have as flashing the wrong recovery or ROM could soft brick your device. Read this first: [Guide] How to determine which screen your phone has If you have a 2.2.1 with the Novatek screen you can flash anything. If you have 2.2.2 with the Hitachi screen you will soft brick your phone if you flash a recovery or ROM just for the 2.2.1.


WARNING! Once you have rooted your phone you cannot use the "factory reset" option in the privacy setting on the phone. IT WILL BRICK THE PHONE. You can only use the "wipe data/factory reset" option in a custom recovery.



General Information

• Root Terminology
• You've went and rooted the phone. Now What???

Guides

• [Guide] Simplified Root, Recovery, and Custom ROM Will not work on the ZV9 update
• [Guide] Rooting Without a Computer Will not work on the ZV9 update
• [Guide] How to flash the ZV9 update: Step by step this will allow you to return to bone stock, with no root or custom recovery.
• [Guide] APK's: Their purpose and, safe or not to remove (Big)
• [Guide] How to determine which screen your phone has requires root and Busybox installed
• [Guide] How to install a flash_image; flash a recovery, ROM, or theme
• [Guide] Link2SD: A Tutorial- New and Updated
• [Guide] Link2SD tutorial for a fresh wipe
• [Guide] Unbrick/Upgrade Optimus V [Easy] [KDZ]
• [Guide] Unbrick ANY Optimus V! NOOB PROOF This uses the LG KP500 utility program.
• [Guide][FIX] ADB method to break factory reset bootloop by wiping /mtd8
• [Guide] What not to do when rooting/flashing
• [Guide] The Truth About ROM Manager (Please Read)
• [Guide] Super Secret Optimus V Button Combo's this is the button combo's for entering recovery, emergency mode, safe mode, manually reboot, and a list of recent apps.
• [Guide] How I Port
• [Guide] Optimus V ZVJ
• [Guide] How I Built a ROM from Source (Hopefully?)
• [Guide] How to build from source
• Working Netflix on Gingerbread ROMs Read down to post 38

Root Exploits

• EManU3LXXX Optimus V Root.zip This will work with the ZV9 update as well as all other older firmware versions and uses the Gordita exploit. You will need to use the full SDK to get it to work properly.
• Gingerebreak.apk This will not work with the ZV9 update. This is for all other older firmware versions.

flash_image and Recovery's

• flash_image This is a direct download.
• [flash_image App] Flash Image GUI This has the flash_image included.
• [TWRP RECOVERY][OS2SD][INTERNAL][KitKat ROM DEV] - Tech Vendetta This is for the OS2SD version of bigsupersquids KitKat ROM
• Skinbarks and thekeavens ClockworkMod recoverys for both Skinbarks KitKat ROM and bigsupersquids internal KitKat version Click on link in fist post.
• [Recovery] CWM-Green w/BACKside Updater Auto Installer
  this will work with either screen version. Is designed to be used with the BACKside ROM only
• [Recovery] Touch screen recovery CWMTRecovery_5.0.2.7-th7_thunderc.img Edify scripting ROM's only=Harmonia/Harmonius Bumblebee/all CM-7, CM-9, and CM10 ROM's
• [Recovery] Xionia cwma v1.2518.6 This will work on either screen version and works best with Froyo ROM's (this has the the fix recovery loop option).
• [Recovery] BobZohme modified CWMod recovery (VM670NH_recovery.img) This will work for either screen version and works best with the CM-7, CM-9, and CM-10 ROM's md5 sum: 4196aac89f95ee7b468c53b5ffacf9db
• [Recovery] Cannibal Open Touch Recover (COT) drewwalton's All in One touch recovery (this has the fix recovery loop option).
• [Recovery] ZenGarden recovery Earthnfire78's "new member friendly" recovery (this has the fix recovery loop option).
• [Recovery] TWRP 2.4.4.0 Made for Optimus S, but will work on our phone. It doesn't have the "fix recovery loop" option, but you can put the zipped COT on the root of the SD card just in case.
• [Recovery's] More recovery's in .img and zip form Look toward the bottom of the first post for the zipped version of the Xionia recovery (this has the fix recovery loop option).

ROMs

• [ROM+Kernel][CM-11.0][4.4.2][OS2SD/internal]OV-KitKat (JBC based)
• [ROM][WIP][4.4.2] CyanogenMod 11 Kit Kat for Optimus S/V
• [ROM] JB 4.1.2 SlimRom for LS670 3.1 Build3 Virgin Fix/patch is in the first post.
• [ROM][WIP] CM10.1/PAC-ROM jb 4.2.2 The JBC alpha build (CM10 Jellybean) The patch for the Virgin Mobile Optimus V is right under the screen shot in the first post
• [ROM][WIP] CM10.0.0-RCO-BobZ (CM10 Jellybean) The Gapps are in the first post
• [ROM][MOD][THEME] Bean_Whiz-CM10
• [ROM][WIP] quattrimus (CM9 ICS) Use the alternate page. Require's the ICS-20120429-small Gapps
• [ROM][WIP] COLD as Ice for Optimus V (CM-9 ICS) Go to the goo-inside.me link and download the 20120317 small signed zip (2nd post for 11/20 Virgin 19E patch-attachment 47710; patch link won't show up with phandroid or tapatalk app)
• [ROM] Paranoid Android 1.6 (CM-9 ICS) You will need the Virgin.fix2.PA,1.6.zip as well as one of the Gapp.zips posted.
• [ROM] BACKside (CM7 IHO Gingerbread) Use the 20110828 gapps
• [ROM] IHO GitHub Wiki (CM7 IHO Gingebread) This is where you can also find: MiRaGe ROM; BobZ ROM; ICSandwich ROM; almost-purity; iho magpie; and the OM_Mandylion. All use the 20110828 Gapps except for the Harmonia and Mandylion which don't require the Gapps.
• [ROM] Harmonia 2 (CM7 IHO Gingerbread) This does not require any Gapps
• [ROM] Resurrected Bumblebee (Froyo) (2.2.1-2.2.2)
• [ROM] Harmonia (Froyo) (2.2.1-2.2.2) link to 1.9.0 broken, but 1.8.5 works fine.
• [ROM's] StockOV v2.2.1 - OverDrive v2.2.2 (Froyo) (2.2.1-2.2.2)
• [ROM][MOD] Harmonious Bumblebee (Froyo) (2.2.1-2.2.2)
• [ROM] Basic Stock (Froyo) (2.2.1)
• [ROM] MobiusROM R1.7 "Spring Yard" - RELEASED 5.June.2011(Froyo) (2.2.1)
• [ROM] Stock ROM (Froyo) slightly modified stock ROM (2.2.1)
• [ROM] Aphrodite 1.3.3 (stable w/Xionia 005) (01apr11) (Froyo) (2.2.1-2.2.2)
• [ROM] Slider ROM overclocked/picasticks kernel 9/1/11 - (Froyo) (2.2.1)

Gapp's (Google application's)

• CyanogenMod Gapps This is where you will find the Gapp's for all CM-7, CM-9, and CM-10 ROMs
• Skinny_4.4_Gapps-sd.zip This is for the new KitKat ROMs

Themes

• [Theme] Purple Haze...Hendrix is alive This is a BACKside-build specific theme
• [Theme's]Benslgdroid cm7 mdpi theme chooser themes
• [Theme's] BACKside ROM Theme's
• [Theme] Honeycomb SB-3D
• [Theme] Quicksilver ICS remix (BACKside)
• [Theme] Blue Marble BACKSIDE Theme
• Theming Tutorial
• http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-all-things-root/474635-uot-kitchen-quick-tutorial-pic-heavy.html
• [HOW TO] Easy Theming
• Ultimate Online Theming Kitchen
• Making CM7 Apk Themes with UoT

Overclocking / Underclocking / Undervolting

• overclocking / underclocking For a better understanding go here.
  
  Related Apps
• Set CPU
• Android Overclock
• No-Frills CPU Control

Kernels
It's worth mentioning here that kernels for the newer Hitachi screens will also work for the older Novatek screens. However, the kernels designed for the older screens will not necesarrily work with the newer Hitachi screens. Further info (about this and a lot of other stuff) can be found here The pica07remix kernel works for both screen versions.

• 
  Jellybean Kernels
• [Kernel][ALPHA] android_kernel_lge_msm7x27-3.0.x (3.0.8)
  
  ICS Kernels
  Kernels for CAI can be found in it's 2nd post.
• Cold As Ice CM9 Paranoid Android
  
  Gingerbread Kernels
• [Kernel] OM-kernel Look to the bottom of the first post under "kernels".
• [Kernel][Mod] jawz 101 This enables a fast charge mode
• [Kernel] MiRaGe kernel's
• [Kernel] BobZ_Kernel_v4
• [Kernel] tvall_kernel_v0.2.1.zip This is a tweaked BobZohme kernel for more performance. Will work on all screen versions. Does not play well with Link2SD.
  
  Froyo Kernels
• [Kernel] Picasticks OC Kernel This is for the Novatek screen.
• [Kernel] pica07remix kernel This kernel has been provided by bigsupersquid for the Hitachi screen.
• [Kernel] Xionia Kernel
• [Kernel] Xionia Redux

Radios / Basebands

• [Guide] How to flash the ZV9 update: Step by step
• [GUIDE] Optimus V ZVJ
• [Patches] ZVJ to ZVD & ZVD to ZVJ Flashable zips (Optimus V)

Tweaks

• [MOD][SCRIPTs][TWEAKS] Fly-On Mod V4.0 Beta6/Feel The Smoothness!
• V6 Supercharger
• 3G TurboCharger & Kick Ass Kernel Tweak Installers
• 3G TurboCharger on the OV This will get the 3G TurboCharger to work with V6 Supercharger.
• Amphetamine! Inject your Optimus today
• Performance Tweaks
• Hardkey LED off & microSD read ahead cache
• entropy_n_rngd-tool
• Tweak ZV6
• Swapper Need more RAM, then give this a try.

Tools & Utilities

• ADB (Android Debug Bridge)
• Full Android SDK
• QtADB Why transfer files just from your uSD card to your PC and back, when you can use QtADB to see and transfer any file in your phone to your PC and from your PC to your phone. Will not work with COT or Xionia recovery's
• Droid@Screen This will allow you to display your phones screen on the computer in real time. Great for tutorials or a black/blank screen problem.
• APK MultiTool This is used for editing apk's and jar files (especially useful when porting a ROM over to the V). This is a link to the forum site in case your having installation problems. Link to download site is in first post.
• MD5 checksum verification
• Titantium Backup / Titanium Backup Tutorial
• App Tyrant Use this to back up your apps before you attempt to root.
• My Backup
• Root Explorer The best Root file manager
• Root Browser Lite The best free Root file manager
• ADB Wireless Give shell commands to your phone without a working USB cable connection.
• Zip Signer for android phone
• Debut Video Capture Software This will record computer screen and voice (need mic if not built-in to computer) in real time for video Tutorials. Great with Droid@Screen
• obijohns update wiper zip Flash this before a ROM to get a more complete wipe of any residual data.

DIRECT DOWNLOADS

• LG Optimus V Drivers
• flash_image

 

[MotoTriumphant]

.

Sent from my LG-VM670 using Tapatalk

 

[kenball1980]

This seems to be the only recent place recently discussing root of the optimus v. I am unable to root my device in any way. I had it rooted using the superoneclick method, it worked great for a few days, then I attempted to change a font and when it rebooted, got stuck on the VM boot screen. I ended up (what I believe to be) re installing ROM from LG. I then reset to factory settings and erased everything, starting fresh. The phone works perfect, but I cant root. When I attempt to install Gingerbreak apk, I click on the icon in my file manager and instead of the install button coming up, I get words and coding, tried this many different ways with the same result. And when I use the Superoneclick method (which worked perfect before) it freezes during shell root, using all different combinations of settings and rebooting after every attempt. I've been working on this non stop for the last two days, and got nowhere. Any help would be greatly appreciated!! By the way model vm670 running droid 2.2.2 kernel v 2.6.32.9. Thanks for reading! ANY insight would be great!!

 

[badblue1]

Go to settings > about phone >baseband version, is it zv4 or zv5 , if it's one of those gingerbreak will work, make sure under applications > development > usb debugging is turned on. This could take up to 10 tries before it will work, or the first , let it run 10 minutes or so if it doesn't work pull the battery, put it back in and try again.

If your baseband is zv9 go here to root http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-all-things-root/531810-rooting.html

Right now the best Rom for our phone is the MiRaGe Rom and the best recovery is zengarden.

If you want to flash a custom recovery and rom go here : http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-all-things-root/697813-how-install-flash_image-flash-recovery-rom-theme.html this is the best guide, just follow the directions to the letter.

I SHOULD HAVE TOLD YOU FIRST!!!> " ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING."

Don't be afraid to ask questions, but everything you need to know is right above you ^^^…post back, let us know how it's going.

 

[kenball1980]

I finally got it!! I figured out what I was doing wrong. On the Xda site, I was downloading gingerbreak from the first list of downloads which are zip files, when I extracted them to my sd card they came out .c files. I kept scrolling down and noticed gingerbreak attachments with the .apk downloaded to the root of my sd card, accessed it through my file manager, and viola!! it ran as an app. Just checked root status and, it worked!! I posted this outcome so anyone with the same problem can learn from my dumb mistake!! Thanks for the quick reply badblue1!! And thanks a lot for the tutorial AndieOpie150!!

 

[badblue1]

Glad you got it figured out.

I don't know if you're running a custom recovery and rom, but the MiRaGe Rom is amazing, my phone runs so smooth and fast its great.

 

[kenball1980]

I am trying to figure out how to install zengarden, the instructions are very vague for a noob like myself .

First format the system, data, boot and cache partitions or run the Wipe/Format Options > Prepare for New Install, then push the zip to the data partition.
Code:
adb shell mount /data/ adb push "pathing to zip/name of zip" /data/
After that is done go to Advance Option > Deugging > Quick Fixes and select Install without sdcard. Recovery then will reboot and install the zip file.

He looses me at the very first line, format the system? Maybe once I figure it out I'll make a step by step for noobs.

 

[AndyOpie150]

Marco? Polo!

Your so hot your burning up.
Look in the Guides section. "How to install a flash_image; flash a recovery, ROM, and theme".

 

[kenball1980]

Ha!! How did I miss that?? Thanks Again!!

 

[kenball1980]

Here's an update, I've been using mirage and zengarden on my optimus v for a few months. Other than my phone randomly turning itself off every once in a while, I've been having one problem with the new setup. I can't download anything from play store, I get error 498. Tried wiping dalvic cache, cache fixer, deleted most apps, deleted data from all apps, uninstalled updates for Google play store and market. Still can't download apps.

 

[kenball1980]

Solved! I downloaded an app called market fix, ran it and I can download fine again!!

 

[vandorb12]

Are there any devs working on a Kit Kat ROM for this phone? I really need to update my mom's phone, and her Optimus V is still kicking it, and she won't get rid of it anytime soon.

 

[AndyOpie150]

I haven't heard of any just yet. I have been checking it out though, and it is optimized for phones with only 512MB of RAM so it should work great on the V, once we can get a hold of the source code from the Cyanogen Mode team.

For now: Go here: [ROM][MOD][THEME] Bean_Whiz-CM10 Updated 10/14/2013 - Android Forums at AndroidCentral.com
Follow the directions to the letter (including making the partition on the SD card with a ClockworkMod recovery).
I think your Mom will like it. It is the best JellyBean ROM out there (SlimRom with a few added tweaks and the Galaxy S4 theme) for our V.

 

[badblue1]

Are there any devs working on a Kit Kat ROM for this phone? I really need to update my mom's phone, and her Optimus V is still kicking it, and she won't get rid of it anytime soon.

Welcome to the forums vandorb12, sorry as far as i know, i only heard rumors of someone experimenting with kitkat Right now the most stable and reliable rom for our phone is the MiRaGe Rom 2.3.7,i think it's your best bet, just flash it and forget about it, it's that good!

All the info you could ever need for our phone is posted right above ^you,although if you want the mirage rom, it's posted on android central and you will have to register to get links ,Mirage rom:https://github.com/inferiorhumanorgans/android_device_lge_thunderc_common/wiki/Binary
You should use the bob zhome's recovery :
VM670NH_recovery
Once you are rooted, or if you already are follow this guide :
http://androidforums.com/optimus-v-all-things-root/697813-how-install-flash_image-flash-recovery-rom-theme.html
This is absolutely the best guide to follow, if you follow the guide to the letter, you should have no problems installing a custom recovery, and flashing a rom. Read the guide over a few times to familiarize yourself with it and make sure you understand each step. Don't be afraid to ask questions, there's a bunch of us that have done this a few times and we made the mistakes so new members don't have to.

Good luck.

EDIT : Got ninjad by Andy ... yes Bean_Whiz, also a very good rom, i would be running it, but a bigger sdcard is needed and i don't have a computer to transfer data and files.

 

[stryderson]

hey all of you ninjas out there, I'm trying to root my phone and not currently getting service (wifi only right now), and I've been trying to use gingerbreak but something always goes wrong when I use the app. If theirs anything you have to do beside run the app and someone could tell me what I would be very thankful. thnx in advance

 

[stryderson]

also i have the correct baseband version for gingerbreak

 

[AndyOpie150]

I'm assuming you downladed version 1.2 from the second post in the XDA thread, not the first.
I'm assuming you downloaded the .apk from the browser on your phone, not your computer.

Once the .apk is downloaded (I'm assuming you uninstalled all security programs from your phone), then you need to make sure you have the unknown sources box checked in: Settings>menu>applications.
Now go the development section and make sure you have the ADB debugging box checked (might say USB debugging).

Go to your Downloads folder on the SD card and move the .apk out of it to the Root of the SD card ( /sdcard). The root of the sd card is the same level that all the folders are in.

Tap or long press on it (depends on the file manager) until you see the install option. Install the Gingerbreak.apk. After it installs select "done" and exit out of file manager.

Make sure you have a full battery.

Go to app drawer and select the app.
Note: It might take as many as ten tries for the exploit to gain root, but it will work. After ten minutes and no auto reboot of phone, pull battery and try again.

Once the phone auto reboots, you rooted.
Download a terminal emulator from the PlayStore (first one in their list). Type in:

su
exit

After you typed in su and hit the enter key you should get a Superuser request to allow or decline. Select allow. You should see # right after the su.
Hit the menu key and select to toggle soft keys and then type in exit and close out the terminal.
You have officially verified you have root installed properly. Now go to the PlayStore and upgrade the Superuser app.
You will need to downlad jrummy16's Busybox installer. When done let me know and I'll walk you thru the rest.

 

[vknows]

Thanks again! After hours of searching, found what I needed here to get Gapps on my phone without a working sdcard (reader?). System has been screwed up for several months now. Only way to get anything flashed is with fastboot/adb and I'm a serious/curious noob. Wish I knew how to properly use fastboot and adb lol. Finally found ZenGarden-touch-recovery and flashed MiRaGe with adb, but couldn't get Gapps to flash afterwards. Used Qtadb tool and just moved all the apks right to the system folder on my phone! Awesome tool! Now to continue with the sdcard and wifi problems. Thanks everyone!

 

[AndyOpie150]

Hmm.
I guess we are lacking a fastboot tutorial.

Download the Full SDK.

Plug phone into computer.

Go to the SDK/platform-tools folder (this is where the adb.exe is)and open a command prompt there. Then type in:

su
reboot bootloader

Phone should now boot into fastboot screen if you have a ZV4 Optimus V.
If you have a ZV5 or ZV9 Optimus V then the bootloader is locked.

If you have a ZV4 you can now erase and flash each individual partition (recovery, system, cache, boot, and userdata) by opening up a command propmt in the SDK/tools folder (this is where the fastboot.exe is).

To much to go into from here. Google "fastboot commands" for more info.

 

[vknows]

Thanks AndyOpie. My biggest challenge was/is finding. Img files to flash. Not sure if you can flash zip or ISO files but I was having trouble with those. Could only get. Img files to work. Remember, no SD cards working. That's why ZenGarden was such a great help.

 

[AndyOpie150]

That's why I save my backups to my computer.
Makes it easier to flash just a perticular partition.

 

[tm667]

I know this thread is old, but does anyone know why my 4 keys the bottom of my Optimus S will not turn off? They stay illuminated all the time. I am running the Bean_Whiz-CM10.v2.2.4-ext Rom on it.

Thanks

Edit: I just realized, if I turn off the screen by pushing the power button, they stay on. If I let the screen time out and turn off, the lights turn off also.