How To Dual Boot Android With Multiple ROMs


Why would one want to run his Android on multiple ROMs? Well, if you love trying different ROMs on your Android device, then flashing you device again and again does hurt. No doubt that is annoying. So, how about trying to dual boot Android with multiple ROMs?

It does sound amazing, right? In this way you get to keep the ROM you have loved recently, and try out the other one which is new on Internet. It saves so much of time. So, we would be using an app called Boot Manager, which lets you flash more than one ROM on your SD card.

As per the developer, this app supports Motorola Droid, Droid Incredible, HTC Thunderbolt, HTC Vision, HTC EVO 4G, HTC Inspire 4G, HTC Desire, and the HTC Desire HD. But it might work on any other Android device which is not listed over here because these are ones on which it has been tested by the developer.

How To Dual Boot Android With Multiple ROMs

So before you start with any kind of activity, it is highly recommended to backup your current ROM using ROM manager or any method of you own because if something goes wrong in between, we do not want you to use swearing words against us :).

So the first thing that you need to do is download and install BootManager from the Android market. And also, copy the ROM of your choice on the microSD card of your Android device. And if your ROM does not come with default Google Apps, download its ZIP file and copy it on your microSD card.

Looks like you are set to dual boot Android with multiple ROMs. So, time to launch the app.

Now, tap on the option labelled as Install ROMs. And when it asks you to choose the ROM, select the .zip file of the ROM that you have copied on your microSD card. Then it would come with three options, labelled as Wipe System, Wipe Data, Wipe Cache. Check all the three options and hit on the Done option so that it starts installing the ROM on your Android device.

Well, most of the ROMs do not come with default apps like Android Market, Gmail etc. So, its time to get such apps installed on your device.

NOTE: If your ROM comes with the default apps, then you can very well skip this step.

Now, again choose the Instal ROMs option just as you did earlier. And choose the zip file for the Google Apps that you want to install on your device. This time make sure you uncheck all the Wipe options.

So just relax while your Android device gets ready with customized ROMs on it. Once it is done, the question is how to switch between multiple ROMs.

Well, this is also done by Boot Manager. When you launch it, tap on Boot Installed ROM option. It will list you out with all the installed ROMs on your device. Just tap on the one which you want to boot with.

That is it! This is you can dual boot Android with multiple ROMs and switch between them. The app, Boot Manager lets you flash five different ROMs on one single Android device. This app would cost you $2.99, but it is completely worth buying.

Filed under: Android,Tips & Tutorials
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August 5, 2011 by: Prasanth Chandra

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