New to Android, have some questions.

[XfLRKS]

First of all, I'd like to thank anyone that provides any help in advance. It's kind of overwhelming at the moment, I bought the phone yesterday. It's my first Android, and also my first smartphone. Anyways...

1. When I was at Verizon, they had to sync it to my gmail. There's all kinds of screwed up things on that account, I won't go into detail, but I don't want to use it and have since made a new one. However, it seems I cannot remove my old account without doing a factory reset because it is required for some apps. I don't have that many right now, and all are free so that isn't an issue. But, I do have some questions about it.
-What exactly does it reset?
-What can go wrong?
-Will it save my contacts, or should I write them down or something?
-Will it affect my service, i.e. disable me from calling, texting, browsing, etc and needs to be activated again or something? Or will I just need to sync my new gmail account?

2. When I was at Verizon, the salesperson installed the Task Killer. I have since read that using the task killer is bad, is this true?

3. Will my phone revert to 2.1 if I factory reset? It was 2.1 when I bought it, then I did the update to 2.2, will I have to do it again?

4. Any general tips for a new Android user would be appreciated as well!

Thanks again to anyone who can answer ANY of my questions, I really appreciate it.

 

[DF Smod]

:welcome: to the Forum

The most important thing here (besides never let a VZW employee set-up your device for you) is to uninstall the Task Killer it slows your performance and is not needed, Android has a very efficient task managment process built into the O/S

As far as a factory reset, it would make your phone just as it was before the VZW employee started messing with it exept it will be activated and linked to your wireless number, no harm in a factory reset

Again welcome and anything we can do to help, just ask

 

[DF Smod]

Almost forgot, a factory reset will not change your Android Version, it will stay at 2.2

 

[mtz_gto]

1.) Brings everything back to stock, wipes data, apps, contacts etc..
If you have not changed any of the system files aka (Not Rooted) you
will be fine. You will be able to enter your other gmail account.
If you wnat to save the contacts you already have you can back them
up to the sdcard from the contacts page, click the menu, then export it.
Your service will be fine, I am pretty sure you wont have to do another OTA
(Over The Air) programing but if you do you wont have any problems unless
your bill isnt paid and your service is suspended.

2.) Yes task killers are a no no. Your android phone already has a built in
task killer inside the OS (operating system). There is a link here on the forums
of google developers talking about the harm of using 3rd party task killers.

3.) No.

4.) search the forum as much as possible, break down your search options for
key words if your previous searchs arnt returning anything of use.

My pleasure, hope this helps.

 

[mwhartman]

First of all, I'd like to thank anyone that provides any help in advance. It's kind of overwhelming at the moment, I bought the phone yesterday. It's my first Android, and also my first smartphone. Anyways...

1. When I was at Verizon, they had to sync it to my gmail. There's all kinds of screwed up things on that account, I won't go into detail, but I don't want to use it and have since made a new one.

Your Gmail/Google account is used to sync your phone with Gmail, contacts, calendar, and any apps you install (free and paid). Be cautious of changing this unless you are not concerned about reentering or repurchasing any paid apps

However, it seems I cannot remove my old account without doing a factory reset

Correct!

because it is required for some apps. I don't have that many right now, and all are free so that isn't an issue.
See my first comment.
But, I do have some questions about it.

-What exactly does it reset? Clears the data and cache back to "out-of-the-box"
-What can go wrong? Not much.
-Will it save my contacts, or should I write them down or something?

See first comment contacts are synced/linked to your Gmail/Google account.

So you will need to move from the first account to the second.

-Will it affect my service, i.e. disable me from calling, texting, browsing,

No
etc and needs to be activated again or something?

Yes by entering the new account information.

Or will I just need to sync my new gmail account?

Yes after you enter the account. When do you plan to enter the info into the new account?

2. When I was at Verizon, the salesperson installed the Task Killer. I have since read that using the task killer is bad, is this true?

I suggest removing the task killer. Typically, they cause more problems than they solve.

3. Will my phone revert to 2.1 if I factory reset? It was 2.1 when I bought it, then I did the update to 2.2, will I have to do it again?

No, it will still have the OS that came with the phone

4. Any general tips for a new Android user would be appreciated as well!


Read the FAQ section for your phone

Thanks again to anyone who can answer ANY of my questions, I really appreciate it.

Welcome! See comments above. Hope this is helpful

 

[harrellj]

Write your contacts down or go to google.com/contacts and export them from the account you're currently using on your phone. Also, write down the apps you've installed and make backups of their settings (if possible). Since you want to switch Google accounts, these items will be saved to your previous account and will need to be added back into your new account.

 

[XfLRKS]

Thanks for the comments everyone, very helpful. Sorry for the late response, was a little busy writing everything I'll need down. I'm about to reset it, hopefully nothing can or will go wrong. >_> I'll make sure to come back if anything happens, or I need help with something, and I'll stay around the forums. Thanks for the welcomes and help again.

 

[mwhartman]

We'll be here if you need anything!

 

[XfLRKS]

Well I just finished the reset, however the 3G icon is not present in the notification bar at the top? Is this because I have WiFi on? How do I turn my 3G back on?

 

[aaf709]

It was briefly mentioned, but if you have a paid app, you don't have to repurchase it if you do a factory resent. If you uninstall it within 24 hours of purchasing you'll get your money back. If it's uninstalled after 24 hours there'll be no refund, but you do get to install it without paying for it again.

 

[harrellj]

If you're on wireless, you won't have the 3G icon since your data needs are being handled by the wireless instead of via Verizon.

Are you connected via wireless or just have the radio enabled?