Some time ago, friends asked for my help to configure their first Android devices. One option was to help them in person, spending a couple of hours with each one of them. Another option was to spend some hours writing a guide, then simply give it to anyone who asked for my help. While the first option seemed more direct, I would probably have to do this all over again and again, so I decided to opt for the second one. Recently, another friend asked for my help. Instead of giving this guide to him privately, I decided to share it with the community for anyone who may find it helpful. Nowadays it seems that there is a lot of information floating around. Anyway, there is nothing wrong about sharing just another guide.
This guide is addressed to anyone who prefers doing things manually, keeping as much control as possible. It is highly not recommended for people who like to find the easiest and quicker way to complete any task and do not really care about what is going underneath.
INTRODUCTION
As far as the appropriate Android device driver installation is concerned, there is a lot of information around, but hardly concentrated in extensive guides with detailed information. Most of the people sadly suggest 3rd party device drivers or proprietary adware software for convenience, which, as usual, install additional applications and services to the system.
As far as the use of the Android SDK Platform-tools is concerned, simple instructions on how to setup a minimum working installation of the Android SDK Platform-tools cannot be easily found. Most of the people sadly suggest installing the whole Android SDK, saying that it can be handy in the future. It is a real pain installing the whole Android SDK in multiple installations and virtual machines, just to use adb and fastboot.
Last but not least, as far as the actual Android device configuration is concerned, if you like to have maximum control over your device's operation, you want to make as many configurations as possible manually, using the adb shell. Most of the people sadly suggest using automated rooting tools running directly on the device or using the adb shell. Most of these methods are supposed be harmless (and are indeed), but some of them make some configurations to the system which have to be altered afterwards, according to your liking. Anyway, using these automated tools does not leave the feeling of satisfaction you are getting when you do things yourself, especially in Android devices that have looser security and can be completely manually configured.
DISCLAIMER
You may use any information found in this guide at your own risk.
This guide is not meant to be a professional one.
You may find this guide too long and/or boring.
You do not have to like this guide or read it if you are uninterested.
CONTENTS
PART 1: How to manually install appropriate Android USB Drivers in Windows
PART 2: How to manually uninstall Drivers in Windows
PART 3: How to manually install Android SDK Platform-tools
PART 4: How to manually root your Android device using ADBs
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