Database Users

The benefits of root?

I have a new Sprint HTC Hero and was wondering what I would benefit from rooting my new phone.

everything
pretty much anything you would like.
one of my favorite functions is WIFI tether for my laptop and iTouch.
another cool feature is the latest "Fresh" rom. which is currently 1.1
its much faster than the stock sprint rom. plus its pretty!
P.S. and if you ever want to go back to stock you can do that as well!

if nothing else
I rooted my phone for this one reason. I wanted to be able to do back ups of my entire system that way if anything happened, then I didnt have to spend hours redoing everything. eventually though I have become a flash addict. I run fresh 1.1 for my daily rom and I play with AOSP 1.6 and flipzmod and companys 2.1 beta at night. all 3 are great but fresh 1.1 is the most stable

wtphoto said:
I rooted my phone for this one reason. I wanted to be able to do back ups of my entire system that way if anything happened, then I didnt have to spend hours redoing everything. eventually though I have become a flash addict. I run fresh 1.1 for my daily rom and I play with AOSP 1.6 and flipzmod and companys 2.1 beta at night. all 3 are great but fresh 1.1 is the most stable
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very well put, i forgot about mr nandroid!

Thanks for the info. I have just one more question. If I root my phone can I just update it to software version 2.1 when Sprint releases it in the very near future, or will I need to wait for some kind of release from this site?
Thanks.

you'll most likely need to update using a rom from this site. The good thing is, that there will be a release here of it within 24-48 hours.

obelisk79 said:
you'll most likely need to update using a rom from this site. The good thing is, that there will be a release here of it within 24-48 hours.
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Why is that? Why can't he flash to an official rom then update?

Well actually you can go ahead and get the 2.1 update from sprint when it's released, that will undo root though, and since no one has seen it re-obtaining root would take a while for someone to figure out again. That and the 2.1 will probably be available here in leaked form before sprint releases it anyway at least all my windows mobile phones saw leaks on XDA before the carrier. Root is good and should be worth it if you are the kind of guy that likes playing with their tech instead of just using it, otherwise you may be getting yourself into more than you're willing to put up with longterm.

If he flashes the official 2.1 rom when it is released, it is very likely that will invalidate current methods to root the cdma hero. Then you'll have to wait for a new root method to be found. It is also very possible/likely that upgrading to 2.1 via the official RUU once released will make it impossible to flash the 1.5 based RUU's to regain root.
So effectively he could update but would lose the capability to root the device and all of the resulting benefits it offers until a new root method is discovered.
Edit: thezero4 beat me to it, and is also very correct.

my bad wrong thread

Thanks for all of your input and information. It was very helpful and my phone is now rooted and running the fresh rom. Awesome.
I'm still new to this.
How do you backup your phone.
How would you put everything back to stock if needed.
Thanks so much for any help.

schultzy001 said:
Thanks for all of your input and information. It was very helpful and my phone is now rooted and running the fresh rom. Awesome.
I'm still new to this.
How do you backup your phone.
How would you put everything back to stock if needed.
Thanks so much for any help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
to perform a nandroid backup there are 2 options. you can either use the fresh pre-kitchen and perform your backups and restores from you comp or you can boot into recovery and go to backup/restore and then go to nandroid backup (this is also how you would restore any of your back ups).
as far as returning to stock. If you didn't make a backup before you flashed fresh then you need to download the stock RUU file here.
BTW help support flipz and what he does for us, visit his site and click on the adds.

2.1 official release for rooted users?

This is not a 2.1 speculation thread, I just thought I'd ask it here with all that knowledge floating around.
WHEN (May 7th?) the 2.1 update is OFFICIALLY dropped, will rooted users be pushed the update? Or will it only go out to models registered as running 1.56.
ASSUMING one might want to upgrade and that push comes, you guys think updating might cause any harm to the phone? I'm thinking 1.56RUU..
I don't think I will partake in the official release, I can't imagine it being any better then what I have now, and what will come after that official release is dropped, however I have had this question for a while. So what do you guys think?

I don't think they can actually push a OTW update.....
barnacles10 said:
This is not a 2.1 speculation thread, I just thought I'd ask it here with all that knowledge floating around.
WHEN (May 7th?) the 2.1 update is OFFICIALLY dropped, will rooted users be pushed the update? Or will it only go out to models registered as running 1.56.
ASSUMING one might want to upgrade and that push comes, you guys think updating might cause any harm to the phone? I'm thinking 1.56RUU..
I don't think I will partake in the official release, I can't imagine it being any better then what I have now, and what will come after that official release is dropped, however I have had this question for a while. So what do you guys think?
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It is not going to be OTA. It will not matter if you are running custom whatever or stock.
If you run the ruu.exe it will load the official 2.1 release on your phone. The only reason it may not work would be if you ran the 2.1 test ruu.exe and for some reason the official release's hboot is lower than 1.47.000 (the hboot that came with the test release).
Other potential nasty side effects you could get with your official release:
No root
Possibly never be able to root again, or at least stuck with no root until a new work around is found. This fully depends on whether old method is patched.
No custom recovery, no custom roms, no ability to flash .zips from recovery. This goes along with the lack of root.
Inability to run 1.56 ruu ever again due to updated hboot.

danknee said:
It is not going to be OTA. It will not matter if you are running custom whatever or stock.
If you run the ruu.exe it will load the official 2.1 release on your phone. The only reason it may not work would be if you ran the 2.1 test ruu.exe and for some reason the official release's hboot is lower than 1.47.000 (the hboot that came with the test release).
Other nasty side effects you could get with your official release:
No root
Possibly never be able to root again, or at least stuck with no root until a new work around is found.
No custom recovery, no custom roms, no ability to flash .zips from recovery. This goes along with the lack of root.
Inability to run 1.56 ruu ever again due to updated hboot.
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Click to collapse
Couldn't have said it better myself! I would just suggest waiting until the cook of your preference updates his to include items from the official release.

And the single most important reason: No nandroid. Having a point in time backup is insanely important to me. If I ever have to return my phone and get a refurb, it's nice to know I've got a nandroid that will get me right back to where I was before I turned in my phone.

It won't be OTA as I have read in more than one place that Sprint limits OTA updates to 9MB. Since this will be close to or over 100MB it's going to be OTW.
I for one will not be updating to it. My phone is working perfectly as is and this would give me no additional functionality so why bother?
As for the whole rooting issue, I wish folks wouldn't be so scared of the new hboot. I used the RUU and I have custom recovery and can flash any ROM I want. Yes, I know the leaked RUU had root already, but I rerooted it properly and installed busybox and all that so I could use the phone how I wanted.
Anyway, sorry to get sidetracked there, my comment about being so scared of the new hboot is simply this...There is no way the new version will not be rooted sooner or later. Obviously Sprint and HTC would like us to not be able to root any phones but someone always finds a way. There is no way that the new firmware will not be rooted sooner or later. Just like how the Evo will get rooted, as will any newer phone released after it. It is inevitable that someone will figure it out especially with all the talented and experienced folks here working on it as soon as it's released.

jlem26 said:
It won't be OTA as I have read in more than one place that Sprint limits OTA updates to 9MB. Since this will be close to or over 100MB it's going to be OTW.
I for one will not be updating to it. My phone is working perfectly as is and this would give me no additional functionality so why bother?
As for the whole rooting issue, I wish folks wouldn't be so scared of the new hboot. I used the RUU and I have custom recovery and can flash any ROM I want. Yes, I know the leaked RUU had root already, but I rerooted it properly and installed busybox and all that so I could use the phone how I wanted.
Anyway, sorry to get sidetracked there, my comment about being so scared of the new hboot is simply this...There is no way the new version will not be rooted sooner or later. Obviously Sprint and HTC would like us to not be able to root any phones but someone always finds a way. There is no way that the new firmware will not be rooted sooner or later. Just like how the Evo will get rooted, as will any newer phone released after it. It is inevitable that someone will figure it out especially with all the talented and experienced folks here working on it as soon as it's released.
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One big disadvantage/advantage in our case, is that Linux is open source. Anyone who wants to find a root exploit, and is smart enough has the ability to find out where there is potential code to allow for one. So you are correct, my assumption is that we will find a root for it one day. BUT I do think that if the EVO drops soon after, all of the talent that can find one will be on it. Then again, some people are of the mind set "Leave no device un hacked" and it would bother people if they knew we didn't have root LOL

Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't we be able to simply use an older RUU (1.52, etc) to get the phone rootable again?
My intention was going to be to try out the new stock RUU for a bit, then re-flash with an older RUU, get root and RA recovery back on, then go back to Fresh Toast. Will this not be possible?

cicada said:
Correct me if I'm wrong, but won't we be able to simply use an older RUU (1.52, etc) to get the phone rootable again?
My intention was going to be to try out the new stock RUU for a bit, then re-flash with an older RUU, get root and RA recovery back on, then go back to Fresh Toast. Will this not be possible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not possible if the Hboot updates, which it probably will. Those here who tried the test leak 2.1 ruu.exe were unable to run the 1.56 ruu after.
There is an alternative to restore everything except the hboot from the 1.56 ruu here, but you cannot simply run the .exe. This method won't work if the official build has patched the ability to gain root (you won't be able to nandroid). In that case you will be stuck with official 2.1 only.
BTW, speaking from experience with the test build, ruu, hboot, etc.

Kcarpenter said:
One big disadvantage/advantage in our case, is that Linux is open source. Anyone who wants to find a root exploit, and is smart enough has the ability to find out where there is potential code to allow for one. So you are correct, my assumption is that we will find a root for it one day. BUT I do think that if the EVO drops soon after, all of the talent that can find one will be on it. Then again, some people are of the mind set "Leave no device un hacked" and it would bother people if they knew we didn't have root LOL
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Open source is never a disadvantage. Ever.

Good to know, would've been awful to have to wait for new root hack just because I tried the new and shiny!
Guess I will sit back and wait for dev magic before I jump the gun.

Sawawa said:
Open source is never a disadvantage. Ever.
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Mater of semantics, politics, and Ideaologies.
Google has a half belief here, they like open, but they protect that damn search algorithim like its a sacred scripture - Last count I think 8 people on earth knew exactly how it worked.
So the disadvantage to google would be ungodly competition if it was released. Proprietary stuff is a win if you look for profits. Again...depends on which side of the spectrum you are on. Points can be argued either way.

jlem26 said:
It won't be OTA as I have read in more than one place that Sprint limits OTA updates to 9MB. Since this will be close to or over 100MB it's going to be OTW.
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I think the OP is asking about an OTA 'notification' that the official update is available. If so then yes, everyone with a Hero will get a text message regardless of what rom we have installed.

ramiss said:
I think the OP is asking about an OTA 'notification' that the official update is available. If so then yes, everyone with a Hero will get a text message regardless of what rom we have installed.
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THAT BETTER NOT COUNT AGAINST MY TEXT LIMIT!!!!

Kcarpenter said:
THAT BETTER NOT COUNT AGAINST MY TEXT LIMIT!!!!
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ROFL. . . you don't have unlimited text?

lol I would hope having a hero you would have unlimited data and texts
Sent from my HERO200 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

yeah, but I still keep track of them. Habitual addiction to knowing everything LOL.

yeah, but I still keep track of them. Habitual addiction to knowing everything LOL.
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lol! that's great.. ever since sprint gave us that free mobile to mobile in any network I do not bother checking minutes or texts. unless my bill changes.
Sent from my HERO200 using the XDA mobile application powered by Tapatalk

One big disadvantage/advantage in our case, is that Linux is open source. Anyone who wants to find a root exploit, and is smart enough has the ability to find out where there is potential code to allow for one.
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Why is it that people still think open source means insecure? I don't claim to know how previous rooting techniques exploit Android, but I do know that 2 Linux distros have a higher government security rating than any other operating system. I assume most weaknesses in android have to do with the recovery and/or update code, which has nothing to do with Linux.

Sawawa said:
Open source is never a disadvantage. Ever.
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It IS when HTC bogards it from us and hordes it like cookie monster does cookies. I thought open source meant OPEN SOURCE. Ahh, who knows i probably misunderstood the whole concept

Restore from 2.1 to Root via Nandroid?

Okay xda, here's a hypothetical situation I'm considering:
I'm running damagecontrol 2.08.1, and I know the official 2.1 is out now. However, I hear mixed reviews. I'd much rather be running the official update, but at the same time not too sure I want to lose root. It'd be good to hop off the root train to avoid pains like this, but then I'll be impatient when Froyo comes around I suppose. Anyways, I was wondering if it were at all possible to:
1.) Backup via Nandroid my system running 2.08.1 rooted.
2.) Update to the official non-rooted 2.1
3.) Test it out, and if I don't like it, restore to my 2.08.1 rooted via Nandroid, and have root access again.
Can anyone confirm whether or not this would work? Also for those that updated, what are your thoughts on Root-vs-Non?

You figure out how to run a nandroid backup without root, after running the Sprint RUU, and you will make 27 people on this forum VERY Happy.
not me, I was smart and didn't load it...or at least i didn't "take one for the team"

colemorris said:
Okay xda, here's a hypothetical situation I'm considering:
I'm running damagecontrol 2.08.1, and I know the official 2.1 is out now. However, I hear mixed reviews. I'd much rather be running the official update, but at the same time not too sure I want to lose root. It'd be good to hop off the root train to avoid pains like this, but then I'll be impatient when Froyo comes around I suppose. Anyways, I was wondering if it were at all possible to:
1.) Backup via Nandroid my system running 2.08.1 rooted.
2.) Update to the official non-rooted 2.1
3.) Test it out, and if I don't like it, restore to my 2.08.1 rooted via Nandroid, and have root access again.
Can anyone confirm whether or not this would work? Also for those that updated, what are your thoughts on Root-vs-Non?[/QUOTE
This will not work, If you upgrade to 2.1 using official Ruu, You will lose root, and it will wipe the custom recovery image, so no more flashing anything, no more root, until someone finds the clink in the htc armour to regain root
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I see, so that recovery menu isn't stock android recovery? Well then here's another question.
If you could get flash-rec on an unrooted phone through the ASTRO install method, could you flash a custom recovery image like 1.6.2, then do a nandroid restore from backup?
I probably sound like a mega-noob, just wanting to know why we can't do these things.

Nah, I "took one for the team" but am actually working on it. I DO have to say that the official 2.1 is DAMN fast though. Like, faster then pancacke 0.1 hehe
No but seriously, there is almost 0 lag, and the only thing that I have seen wrong is all of the apps in the app drawer
And no, the nandroid thing is NOT possible.

Hmm, thanks regaw for the answer. Is it fast enough to make waiting for a 2.1 rooted unnecessary right now? Cause damage hasn't logged in for ages, and I'm tired of all the force closes and errors I'm getting. I'm just not so sure it's worth upgrading when I may have to wait longer if I update to an unrooted. I mean, I have A2SD, DConfig, all those shenanigans that make the phone so much better. What's your take?

colemorris said:
Hmm, thanks regaw for the answer. Is it fast enough to make waiting for a 2.1 rooted unnecessary right now? Cause damage hasn't logged in for ages, and I'm tired of all the force closes and errors I'm getting. I'm just not so sure it's worth upgrading when I may have to wait longer if I update to an unrooted. I mean, I have A2SD, DConfig, all those shenanigans that make the phone so much better. What's your take?
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Well, If you would like to do anything other than what Sprint/HTC wants you to do, I would recommend NOT upgrading, but waiting for something to come out. I know that Damageless is really busy, but I know that trevE is working on things too. They just need to finalize some stuff to get it out. While official 2.1 is fast, it doesn't have a whole bunch of things that us on custom ROMs take for granted. This is my first time on an official ROM since January, and, I do not want to keep it on for long, 1) just so I can begin developing again... and 2) so I can figure out the method of getting root back for everyone who ran the RUU.

regaw_leinad said:
Well, If you would like to do anything other than what Sprint/HTC wants you to do, I would recommend NOT upgrading, but waiting for something to come out. I know that Damageless is really busy, but I know that trevE is working on things too. They just need to finalize some stuff to get it out. While official 2.1 is fast, it doesn't have a whole bunch of things that us on custom ROMs take for granted. This is my first time on an official ROM since January, and, I do not want to keep it on for long, 1) just so I can begin developing again... and 2) so I can figure out the method of getting root back for everyone who ran the RUU.
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Damn it Regaw I just realzied that you have more posts than me.
Any how, good luck on finding that root.
Here is this from Millworm, But it hink Eris devs proved it was fixed long ago.
http://www.milw0rm.com/exploits/9545
This one is also older, but not sure if anyone has tried it.
http://www.milw0rm.com/exploits/8678
Edit - Milw0rm must be dead.
and this, but it looks like only 2.6.30 Kernel maybe, and its just a Null Pointer exploit which is probably not suitable.
http://lwn.net/Articles/341773/
Also:
Possible way to change an MD5:
http://www.rapidleech.com/topic/2860-change-md5-hash/
Just some stuff I have looked at doing, but I am not willing to jump ship on a rooted phone.

you know I have been back and forth on whether or not to go with the official release and lose root, but during that process I loaded up Pure Hero rom which is based off the alysious (sp?) Rom but with Sense removed and man is it fast.
I have no need to lose root and this little phone is very speedy. And yes, I have tried Damage and Fresh (and a few variation based on those two) roms. Although they are decent roms, they just and turtles when compared to Pure Hero.
As far as Sense goes, I did like Sense, if you want it then do the alysious (again sp?) rom. Just that I think removing sense speeds it up, and honestly you can get all those functions through apps.

Froyo 2.2 OTA = Lose Root?

I stumbled across a page a few days ago, and someone said that if you take the 2.2 update through Sprint, you'll lose your root (I know this part) but he also said you won't be able to root in the future.
Is this true? If so then I'd definitely prefer jumping on a 2.2 ROM and using that instead of receiving the update via Sprint.
I would like to use the Cyro ROM or whatever, but I don't like the idea of not having my FM radio or 4G etc etc.

Just use Fresh 3.0 (based on 2.2) then you can keep all the HTC/Sprint stuff you want.

Any official updates - past, present, and future - will break root. If you are rooted and don't want to lose root, be patient and wait a couple days for the dudes here to put out a rooted ROM without having to wait for a root exploit. When updating to an official ROM there is a likelihood that there will be no root exploit to discover and thus you will be S.O.L. when it comes to regaining root. Patience.
There are currently several 2.2 ROMs based off of the official leak (but it's supposedly not the final build). Look for the rooted ones by netarchy or whoever.

just give it a few more days. the official v2.2 should go out tomorrow. just don't accept the OTA update.
if you are planning on rooting your phone then do not accept any Over The Air updates (yes OTA can jak ur root). the official comes out on 8/3 so give it till the weekend and you should have updated ROMs using the latest greatest. anyone updating to the leaked version 'should' be ok but will prolly be updating again once their ROM gets the official updates. save yourself the stress and wait til the dust settles...unless ur big into the geeking on your EVO...then just make sure your nandroids are good.
Cyanogen will be nice. however, due to that teams philosophy on using opensource code you may not see 4G as fast as you will with some of our other devs (godspeed to madcoders fingers). I'm probably going to load the Fresh 3.0 ROM later this week...once the dust has settled. i miss my 4G.

If you want to keep root, DO NOT download anything from sprint, only download from XDA and the like.

mrono said:
If you want to keep root, DO NOT download anything from sprint, only download from XDA and the like.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA has been known to cause:
Anal Seepage.
Watch.
Right after someone takes it, they are gonna come here wanting root...
If you do OTA, either wait for Root, or SHUT UP!
Don't whine, don't b!tch, and don't say you didn't know!

I am not in hurry to upgrade to 2.2, I don't mind waiting. I've had my phone two weeks and I've barely rooted it and it's still not even setup the way I want it yet because I know I'll be flashing soon anyways.
Looks like Fresh 3.0 will be the way to go, I'll just wait until a bit after the 3rd so I have the final build.

I downloaded the update just so I could have the file I don't want to actually install it. Anyone know where the file is downloaded too so I can pull it off my phone?

[Q] Should I root and install a custom ROM or wait for 2.2?

I'm tempted to root my phone, and install a ROM, BUT is it really worth it? Should I have more patience and wait for 2.2 ROMS? Im worried if I root it now, then 2.2 comes out Ill have to restore it back to stock. I also heard if you have a rooted phone and a major update (like froyo) comes out your pretty much bricked. Advice needed?

malvoc said:
I'm tempted to root my phone, and install a ROM, BUT is it really worth it? Should I have more patience and wait for 2.2 ROMS? Im worried if I root it now, then 2.2 comes out Ill have to restore it back to stock. I also heard if you have a rooted phone and a major update (like froyo) comes out your pretty much bricked. Advice needed?
Click to expand...
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Wrong section.

Root it. You can always unroot your phone and go back to stock. Ive done it plenty of time. Read through the forums....there are plenty of instructions on how to
Sent from my SCH-I500 using XDA App

Agreed on rooting. The stock phone software is really crappy. I'm not sure how you live with it?

RacerXFD said:
Agreed on rooting. The stock phone software is really crappy. I'm not sure how you live with it?
Click to expand...
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this ^^
10chars

You can always flash back to stock if you don't like what you did to it. I end up flashing to stock, then flashing to a rom every other week or so to clean any messes with my phone. You'll learn how to do it right and how to fix. But start by reading the stickies, and asking the guys on irc if you have questions.

I'ld be more concerned that if you get the OTA before you root, that the update will close the exploit and make it impossible to root afterwards. If you root now, you may have to wait a day or two longer for Froyo. But if you plan to root after (or if you unroot for an OTA), you may have to wait a lot longer for a new root method.

Root and ROM. no question about it. We haven't even heard a release date or even a time frame for when the Fascinate will get it. I know everyone bashes me for this but the bottom line is no one has ever came out and said that the fascinate will get it on this date. Maybe the galaxy S is. But not the VERIZON FASCINATE
Sent from my ADR6300 using XDA App