Database Users

[Question] how to unroot/restore

Hello,
I recently bought a nexus one from Craigslist. I thought it hadn't been tampered with but it turns out that it is rooted. I read you can tell its rooted when theres an open lock underneath the nexus sign when loading it. I don't know how he rooted but its preventing me from updating to the pinch and zoom capabilities. Always get (status 7) error. So I want to unroot the phone, update it then perhaps later root it. Is there a way I can unroot it with a Mac?
Thanks for the help!
Extra info about my phone (if it makes a difference)
Firmware version
2.1
Baseband version
32.19.00.16U_4.02.02.14
Kernel version
2.6.29-gad36b87
[email protected] #1
Build Number
ERD79

It's rooted without an unlocked bootloader? I doubt that, or maybe you have the only one in existence.
You can always just flash this:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/hy2yj42my3i/gapps-passion-ERE36B-2-signed.zip
in recovery and you'll get the multitouch update.

mortzz said:
It's rooted without an unlocked bootloader? I doubt that, or maybe you have the only one in existence.
You can always just flash this:
http://www.mediafire.com/file/hy2yj42my3i/gapps-passion-ERE36B-2-signed.zip
in recovery and you'll get the multitouch update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Dude did you not read his first post? It has an OPEN lock. There is a way you can get the update. Man

Extra info about my phone (if it makes a difference)
Firmware version
2.1
Baseband version
32.19.00.16U_4.02.02.14
Kernel version
2.6.29-gad36b87
[email protected] #1
Build Number
ERD79

change your thread title. Its seriously misleading....[HOW TO] is for threads TEACHING how and not for questions or requests.

shonanthebarbarianTP2 said:
Dude did you not read his first post? It has an OPEN lock. There is a way you can get the update. Man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How do I update it then? I have always gotten (status 7) error. Better yet how do I unroot it? Any ideas?

As of right now, theres no way to unroot a phone. But if I were you, id consider upgrading it to CyanogenMod (search in nexus one development for it) that enables the multi-touch capabilities.

Its not possible
The best you could do is this, http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=614850
But anyway, why unroot, a rooted phone is much better
How about you look around the site and see wah u can actually do with your phone now

Just look for modaco's 1.7 , download it. Put your phone into recovery by powering down then hold volume down, down while holding that down press n hold power button. A white screen should come up. Leave it be until the green lettering disappears. Then press volume down to navigate to "recovery". Once in recovery use trackball to navigate to USB toggle . Click on it via trackball. Now plug ur phone into your comp via micro USB cable. Go to "my computer" on ur comp. Double click removable disk to open ur SD card. Delete everything from ur SD. Go to where u saved modacos 1.7 drag it to your empty SD card. Now click ur track ball to disable USB connection. Unplug your phone. Go to wipe. Click on it with ur track ball. Now click wipe data. Let it do its thing. Then wipe dalvik cache. Let it do its thing. After that push volume down to get back to ur menu. Go to flash update. Click on it and click on the zip you just put on ur Sd card. Let it do its thing and you're done.

1. Download a ROM of your choice, and then load it on to your SD card in the root directory.
2. Shut the phone off.
3. Hold down the volume down button, and hit + hold the power button at the same time.
4. Continue holding until the phone boots up
5. Scroll down to recovery by hitting the volume down button once.
6. Press the power button once.
7. Scroll down with the scrollball to Wipe
8. Wipe device/factory reset
9. Wipe cache
10. Click the volume down again
11. Scroll to Flash update/zip
12. Scroll to the ROM you downloaded and loaded to your zip, and then click
13. Click the trackball again to accept.
Now, you really just have to make sure the ROM you downloaded has the pinch to zoom, which most have. I don't believe you'll lose root, but you should at least gain the features you're looking for.

Your Nexus One is unlocked, not rooted. There is difference.

Thanks everyone for the help! I ended up needing to install the Amon RA recovery image and then installed the MoDaCo ROM. Works good but I read that Cyanogen is better with better features. I think I will now install the Cyanogen ROM. Not sure what he means by updating the radio if needed though. My radio is RADIO-4.02.02.14
If anyone knows if this is ok then I would appreciate it, I will try to research and see if it's ok too.
Thanks again!

Remember to do a nandroid backup in case you either screws something up or you wish to go back to your previous Rom (saves time and headache).

As far as i know updating the radio is optional, you just download it, nandroid backup, update like a rom, and reboot, IMPORTANT ON REBOOT IT WILL GO TO A LOADING SCREEN WHERE IT UPDATES THE RADIO DO NOT TOUCH ANYTHING OR PULL BATTERY OR YOU MAY BRICK YOUR PHONE-FOR REAL. With that said after the radio loads it will take you back to recovery, then nandroid again if you want(never hurts), wipe and flash cyanogens rom then the gapps add on and then reboot and youre good to go.

I just download all the files but I noticed that the radio is a .img file
Not sure how I can install it... any suggestions?

Up shat creek

Did the 1 click root successful and loaded up cyanogen 6 and then tried thinking I was a big dog and screwed around and f'd up my phone,it won't get past any of the recovery screens,I will link what I have gone through over at nof.net,sorry for the link but I suck at typing because it takes me forever so please read,also I will paypal 20 bucks who can get me out of this debacle. Thanks.
oops can't link cause I'm new but If you are kind enough to go to nexusoneforums.net and read it ,It's titled In deep doodoo.
Basically it won't boot past the x no matter what i do,but I can see everything is still on my memory card through my laptop

direct link to his post
http://www.nexusoneforum.net/forum/nexus-one-development-hacking/8483-deep-doodoo.html

thank you
10 char

I think you need to locate a stock, signed update zip file and put it on your sd card. I'd do this seperate from the phone. Take the card out and put it in your laptop or whatever you have to read it.
I'd then get back to where your were on page four of your other thread where it says apply update zip.
you don't know if you have the stock recovery img still? or Ra or clockwork?
your phone isn't broke, I wouldn't worry too much.
You also don't know if you bootloader is unlocked or not?
heres frf91 full if you choose to go this route http://www.mediafire.com/?xniymzimojg

Stock ROM's here: http://www.mediafire.com/n1passion
Sounds to me like you need to relax a little and read a bit more before jumping in with both feet... Rooting isn't necessarily for everyone.

I won't ever ever attempt this again.

Macklessdaddy said:
I won't ever ever attempt this again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ahh don't do that! I don't even want to begin to count how many bootloops I've had, I'm pretty sure I've seen more of that X than I have of my home screen. I think once you've messed up once and had someone help you to fix it it kinda implants into your head how to fix it in the future. My only advice for future attempts is to Nandroid backup (make sure you have atleast 1 sure working back up, then do further updated back ups along side it)

Can someone tell me which file I need in post #5 for a tmobile n1.Thanks

http://www.mediafire.com/?xniymzimojg

jbrinkley,I downloaded the file and put it on the memory card,but I'm still getting the same x screen,anything else I can try.

I won't ever ever attempt this again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to master something is through multiple failures
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

Somebody help me,I had no clue this phone meant so much to me.

wrench115 said:
The only way to master something is through multiple failures
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't want to fail with my phone.Trust me when and If I get it working I will stay in my lane and leave the rooting to you guys.

Flashing back to thw original stock rom should fix it there's a link posted above. Atleast it worked when I had a g1 and royally screwed up. I would try that first.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App

I cant,or obviously don't know how to flash back to the original rom.Don't mean to sound ungrateful but it appears nobody is reading about the problem I'm having ,again I'm stuck at the x and can't get out.

I will paypal 20 bucks to the person who helps me out of this mess

OK, relax... take a deep breath... and try this out...
1. Download a full ROM zip (e.g. Passion-EPE54B.zip) from http://mediafire.com/n1passion
2. Pop out your SD card and pop that zip onto your SD card, be sure to rename it to PASSIMG.zip
3. Boot into bootloader mode (power off -> trackball + power)
4. The phone should pick up the PASSIMG.zip and ask you if you would like to update it... select yes!!
This will restore you to the stock EPE54B image, you can then download the FRF91 OTA or re-root you phone...

Craig,I downloaded the file from post#9 and renamed it PASSIMG.zip and went to bootloader and the x came up again,do I need to use the 54 one you were talking about to get to 91,sorry but I'm smartphone illiterate as hell.I get a message that says no image or wrong image
If I try to apply sd card update I get this message
failed to open\sdcard\update.zip(no such file or directory)
E signature verification failed
Installation aborted
Does it matter where on the memory card the file is at?

what we don't know is what recovery you have, if you bootloader is unlocked or not.
I don't know anything about that one click method. if you have a nandroid file on you sd look in there and see if you have actual backups.
and now i can't remember if you got to the restore menu or not.

jbrinkley said:
what we don't know is what recovery you have, if you bootloader is unlocked or not.
I don't know anything about that one click method. if you have a nandroid file on you sd look in there and see if you have actual backups.
and now i can't remember if you got to the restore menu or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
bootloader not locked,under clockwork mod I see recovery and there is 3 backups under recovery

Little Overwhelmed

I just bought g tablet. I need some help on where to start.
I read below to use Z4 root:
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/12/08/how-to-unleash-the-power-of-the-viewsonic-g-tablet-and-turn-it-into-the-best-performing-tablet-on-the-market/
Also read here that I have to set up ADB first then root with SuperOneClick
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=827209
Is it necessary to set up ADB? Can I just use Z4 root?
Android police say next step would be installing ROM like
Cyanogen 6.1, TnT Lite or ZenPad. Which one can be recommended?
I'm not sure what all this means I just want to follow some instructions to get this tablet working better.
Is there a way to back up before I try this so I can go back?
Sorry for all the questions but this is very new to me.
Thanks for any help.

I cannot figure out how to do anything

Start with the FAQ area, in my signature. It has information / links on the alternate ROM's available. They are rooted already and can be installed using the device's own firmware update process.

redwine4me said:
I cannot figure out how to do anything
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A little comfort knowing I'm not alone but I want to get it working. I need a tablet this size with flash so I can watch my movie at work

I was the same way with roebeet and a few others u will be savy in no time.
Make sure u get clockeorkmod 1st installed.
Partition ur sdcard and back up frequently. You can't break this thing with those things in hand I promise.
Purchase root explore and titanium backup for the rest.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Watch this video...it shows how to flash the firmware
LINK

cjbailey75 said:
I was the same way with roebeet and a few others u will be savy in no time.
Make sure u get clockeorkmod 1st installed.
Partition ur sdcard and back up frequently. You can't break this thing with those things in hand I promise.
Purchase root explore and titanium backup for the rest.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I assume I need to do root first, right?
Is there instruction somewhere for installing clockworkmod?
How do I partition the sdcard for this operation?
Thanks!

that video helped me greatly,now after doing this is there no return to the manufactures OS? And it is recommended to clear the cache and how is that done?

clockwork instruction is here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245

spykat said:
that video helped me greatly,now after doing this is there no return to the manufactures OS? And it is recommended to clear the cache and how is that done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you can reflash back to the original OS, like if you needed to return it or something. Once you experience something different I promise you wont want to go back

precy76 said:
I assume I need to do root first, right?
Is there instruction somewhere for installing clockworkmod?
How do I partition the sdcard for this operation?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is not a requirement to partition your card. I have not (at least not yet- unless forced to with a future rom) and have had the G for over a month now and went through all TnT versions.
Currently using TnT 2.20

The problem with the guide linked above (-http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865245) is that I get stuck at step one. I simply cannot for whatever reason flash Clockwork Mod 0.8
It just gives me the giant EXCLAMATION MARK /!\ and doesn't do anything. I'm following the directions perfectly.
So is this an issue with hardware revisions or something? Because as far as I'm concerned this tablet is busted if the exact thing that works for all of you doesn't work for me.
EDIT: Finally found a different SD Card and it worked. Don't know why. The card that didn't work was a stock 1GB Sandisk, card that worked was a stock 512MB Sandisk. Weird.

You can install Clockwork and flash ROMs without rooting your tablet first. You also do NOT need an additional SDCARD in your device; I did ROMs several times before adding an SDCARD.
Your best bet is most likely TnT Lite, although VEGAn is fast becoming the best ROM available and it's still in beta.
-=Sent from my ViewSonic G Tablet (VEGAn) using Tapatalk=-

popezaphod said:
You can install Clockwork and flash ROMs without rooting your tablet first. You also do NOT need an additional SDCARD in your device; I did ROMs several times before adding an SDCARD.
Your best bet is most likely TnT Lite, although VEGAn is fast becoming the best ROM available and it's still in beta.
-=Sent from my ViewSonic G Tablet (VEGAn) using Tapatalk=-
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If root is not needed to flash CW or roms why even bother rooting it?

dlike said:
If root is not needed to flash CW or roms why even bother rooting it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The roms root for you, so no manual root process. Putting CW on has a bunch of advantages.
Clear cache, data and Dalvik cache
Back up entire current rom and restore with it if problems
Fix permissions
Boot into usb storage mode and access internal space, even if device will not boot up.
Break out of boot loops
No complete need for recovery folder
That is some of the main reasons it is prudent to install it. Life line

dlike said:
If root is not needed to flash CW or roms why even bother rooting it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Having root on the device is akin to having superuser/administrator rights on your home computer. It is necessary to have for the system administrative type applications you may want to use (e.g., TitaniumBackup) to help backup and restore your data / applications.

ok at first i was just like you guys did not know how to flash any ROM, or how the tablet actually did it or the necessary files needed at the required location, first off when you first connect the tablet to your pc gotta choose turn "turn on usb storage" on tablet, than go to "my computer"(where you see all your hard-drives) and open the new storage from the tablet there you will see a bunch of files ".android_secure,.br, android" etc,etc, there also should be a Folder called "Recovery" which contains the actual command that tells the tablet to do an update. inside there should a file labeled "command" and when you open it with "notepad" it should say "update_package=SDCARD:/update.zip" this what is going to tell the tablet to put a new ROM when you do the power up holding the power and the vol. + buttons, once you verified the "recovery command" is there, copy your "update.zip" folder to the same area where you see all those other "android" and "recovery" folders after that, power down, do the power up holding the power and vol. + until you see that it is replacing the ROM

Finally got my gtablet working with TnT lite, Market, Flash After getting confidence in doing this I then root my phone(Droid Increible) and install wireless tether so I can connect my gtablet to my phone. Thanks to XDA and the great members!

I have to say this is a nice upgrade from what it was out of the box, but my issue is spending 4 hundo on something I have to mod myself to make it work, because as it is now I have voided the warranty by doing this. Any other suggestion on tablets that are better than this?

we all feel you there..

[FLASHING ROMS] HTC EVO 4G 2.3 gingerbread how to flash roms

Hello again, everyone. This is going to be another one of my easy-to-understand, simplistic type tutorials. For all of the people that might not have an extensive knowledge of android and how to operate basic linux devices, this is going to be a noob level how-to on flashing roms. Most of these directions also go for kernels (not 100% of the time, but most), so just ask if you need help.
Alright, I'm going to assume that you're already rooted and have s-off, as well as a custom recovery menu, if not this tutorial will mean nothing to you. Go read my root tutorial if you need to accomplish this task.
My root tutorial: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1228566
How to flash roms:
(Step 1) Finding a rom. May sound easy, but you have to figure out what you want, and more importantly, what you need. There is a very diverse selection of roms here on xda so reading up shouldn't be too much homework for y'all. If you're not willing to do this little amount of work to just read and see what you want and need, then you are hopeless in the first place. I will, however, help you if you are putting a significant amount of effort into this process.
(Step 2) Downloading the rom. This is not hard at all. I get all of my roms and kernels (not including my own) from xda, and downloading has always been a breeze. I can't remember now if you need to sign up for xda or not in order to access downloading. If so, then you should sign up anyway, xda is great! The easiest way to download roms is to download them on the computer then plug your phone in as usb drive and just place them on the root of you sdcard. There is another way though, and it isn't much more difficult. Just go to the market and download the xda app, you don't need the premium (unless you want it) the free version is good enough. The app is pretty much just a mobile translation of the actual site, so finding something on the app that you found on the computer isn't too much of a pain. Once you have found it in the app, just download it, and it should be placed in the folder sdcard>downloads.
(Step 3) Making a backup. Go into recovery by powering down the phone and holding volume down and the power button until the hboot menu appears. Make sure before you actually power down the phone, that you have fastboot turned off. If it is on, then the phone will automatically do the fastboot procedure, instead of going to the hboot menu. How to turn off fast boot: home>menu>settings>applications>fastboot. Make sure that it is unchecked. Okay, at this point we are at the hboot menu. It may check for an image, but shouldn't find one. Just let it do its thing. Volume down to recovery and select it by hitting power. The phone should reboot into recovery. This next part may have some variation because there are a couple of different custom recoveries. Most of them are all going to operate the same though. Once you are in recovery, volume down to "backup/restore". Select it. ALWAYS MAKE A BACKUP BEFORE FLASHING ANYTHING, I AM NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR ANYTHING THAT GOES WRONG!! Now select "backup". It will start backing everything up. It usually takes about five minutes so be patient, if it looks like it froze then just wait it is probably just rendering. After it has completed go back to the previous menu and proceed to the next step.
(Step 4) Flashing the rom. To do this, have the phone in recovery and volume down to "install zip from sdcard". Select this then volume down to and select "choose zip from sdcard". Now navigate to where you put the file and select it. If you did the method of downloading it on the computer then putting it on the root of the sdcard, then it should be on the current menu. If you downloaded it using the method of the app, then it should be in a folder called "download/". Finding it is really simple, just navigate the folders until you see it. Once you have found it, select it and install it. This process might take a couple of minutes. Once it has completed, you can select the reboot phone option and power that baby up.
(Step 5) Troubleshooting. If you are in a bootloop, (a bootloop is when the phone is stuck booting up) then just take the battery out, put it back in and power it up to try again. If it fails again, then go back into recovery. (like we did before^) This is the reason we made a backup. Just volume down to "backup/restore" select restore and select the image you would like to restore. Again, this may take a few minutes, just let the phone work. After it is done you can just boot it up and it is like you never did anything. If this happens, then this whole process was a fail. But, on the bright side, you made the backup (hopefully) and avoided having to flash a stock RUU or bricking your phone. Just try again with more roms, you'll get the hang of it.
Here is a very good aosp rom that I, in know way, take credit for: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1178834&highlight=omgb
This rom was created by user: r2DoesInc
I am in no way affiliated with this user and have no right over his/her rom.
Remember, the rom page will probably have directions also. If it calls for specifics, then make sure to carry out those specifics!
Congratulations, you now know how to flash roms, even if you are a noob!
Thank you so much xda for making this site where fellow androdians can come together and help one another.
Thank you to all my supporters and I hope you all found this tutorial to be quite resourceful.

Post all of your questions and statements here. If I don't immediately respond that means I am asleep, at school, or at work. Yes, I am just a high school student, but that in now way makes me any less eligible of being a genius than anyone else.

soo pumped
finally got my evo 4g root tried miui thought it was incredible...until i tried cm7 rc1.....completely flawless but i cant find the savaged kernel to pair it....

You should try that rom that I linked. It's really refreshing to experience true gingerbread 2.3.5. I love it and I use it as my daily rom. But cm7 is pretty amazing also.

dont know why i was so dumb i went with rc1... rc4 is even better ...what link? ill check it out i just am still confused about flashing a rom and kernel i know fn noob haha
sorry for the edit i meant to say im confused about flashing them both because the evo has been out for so long but it seems like there isnt that much for them or way too much there isnt really an optimal flash yet with both kernel and rom

I think it's a little bizarre to assume that someone can root the phone, s-off, and get a custom recovery on the phone but not flash a rom.....

deathsled said:
I think it's a little bizarre to assume that someone can root the phone, s-off, and get a custom recovery on the phone but not flash a rom.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha, I agree. But still, if you used revolutionary to root, like in my tutorial, then it was all automated. By using that method, the user doesn't have barely anything to do except for some small stuff like taking out the battery and turning some functions off. I'm just being helpful because I too was once a noob.

This was super helpful thanks for the guide
Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet & Watch, evO²·³·³

infamousteeboy said:
This was super helpful thanks for the guide
Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet & Watch, evO²·³·³
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gracias. Hit that thanks button if it helped!

Thank you for posting this guide, as this helped me to install MIUI.

YouThere said:
Thank you for posting this guide, as this helped me to install MIUI.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are very welcome. Hit the thanks button if ya want.

ceng7904 said:
Gracias. Hit that thanks button if it helped!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll have to do it tomorrow...I got hit with
"You are only limited 5 thanks per day"
LOL but I will hit the thanks for sure in the morning!
Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet & Watch, evO²·³·³ *ROOTED*

infamousteeboy said:
I'll have to do it tomorrow...I got hit with
"You are only limited 5 thanks per day"
LOL but I will hit the thanks for sure in the morning!
Spectacles, Testicles, Wallet & Watch, evO²·³·³ *ROOTED*
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you...

Well what happens when your SD won't mount as disk drive
Sent From KaoMinerva

I am new, but I have a question why you didn't mention wiping things before flashing the rom? While I saw many other tutorials emphasized on wiping menu in the recovery mode.
Is that really a necessary step or not?

yww325 said:
I am new, but I have a question why you didn't mention wiping things before flashing the rom? While I saw many other tutorials emphasized on wiping menu in the recovery mode.
Is that really a necessary step or not?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is necessary, believe me. Wiping everything in recovery except for SD card is important between ROM switches. Otherwise you will run into so many issues.
Sent from my HTC Evo using xda premium

thank you.

ceng7904 said:
Post all of your questions and statements here. If I don't immediately respond that means I am asleep, at school, or at work. Yes, I am just a high school student, but that in now way makes me any less eligible of being a genius than anyone else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you have successfully flashed a ROM do you need to keep the Zip file for it on your SD Card in order for it to work or can you delete the zip file?

scrappa_doozie said:
Once you have successfully flashed a ROM do you need to keep the Zip file for it on your SD Card in order for it to work or can you delete the zip file?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can delete the Zip off your card once you are done flashing!
Sent from my PC36100 using xda premium

Thanks for posting this guide. It was huge helping me Root my first phone! I spent a ton of time researching, trying to soak it all in before I attempted to root and this thread was awesome!
Thank you

Acer 500a Rooted and unable to update

I have an Acer 500a I just bought off carigslist. Initially I thought it would be fine but then I realized I was inheriting someone elses problems. I hope someone may be able to help.
Within the first few hours I was noticing google Play crashed a number of times and struggled to update from Market. Somehow the update went through but now there is a system update that won't go through. I'm able to down load it and when i restart the computer to complete installation the screen goes black and says: booting recovery kernel in the corner. I then see a picture of an android and a load bar which after 2-4 seconds the android is on his back and an exclaimation mark is coming out of his belly.
My android version is 3.2
Kernel version
2.6.36.3+
Build number
Acer_a500_7.006.01_COM_GEN2
I'm pretty sure its rooted and i think that might be why its not playing nice with google market and system updates. I called the old owner and explained the problem and he just said he had it rooted and he thought he unrooted it. There is an ap called superuser in aps. (although if it were rooted would'nt I be able to uninstal some of thecrap software it comes with like GOLF HD? -- it won't let me).
The system update is for Acer_a500_7.014.01_COM_GEN2 8.88mb
My problem is all of the force closes I'm getting and the inability to update the system. Any thoughts? I don't have a usb cord to connect it to a desktop either =(

I am a bit out of practice, but...
Should be pretty simple to fix. From what I am seeing, you are running a stock rom. Just because the superuser.apk is installed on the system does not mean it is rooted, but it probably is.
Hit the market, grab "Root Checker" - simple tiny program to let you know for sure if your tab is rooted or not.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=burrows.apps.rootchecker&hl=en
From what I understand - automatic system updates will fail when trying to apply them to a rooted or modded system. Probably why you cannot auto-update.
My advice at this point would be to:
1) Since you just bought it, just do a factory wipe on it. That will remove all the stuff the prior owner had running on it and will result in a unrooted tab that should be able to get auto updates without a problem.
2) Un-Root it. Once the tablet is unrooted, the system should update without any issue.
As for your Play Store issues - I have never heard of or personally seen any issues caused with installing apps from the store on a rooted device. I have seen a few apps that will refuse to run on a rooted device - but that does not sound like your problem.
I would go with option 1 - just factory wipe the thing. Prior owner may have made tons of changes to the OS that we will never know about, and may have handed you a unstable system. Start fresh. Wipe it out.
Hope this helps you out! Let me know if I can answer any questions.

k thank you so much for the quick reply! I downloaded the root checker and it Is rooted. I did a factory wipe as found in the settings privacy tab when I bought it. That factory reset did not unroot and only cleaned out some of the aps on the device. Is there a better or more surefire way to unroot it? If I reset with the volume down key will it hard reset it?
Thank you for you help!
Draight

Okay.
I am about a year out of practice with my a500 - but from what I am think, if a factory reset still results in a rooted device - the prior user installed a stock ROM that comes pre-rooted.
I highly doubt being rooted is causing the issues you are running into.
At this point if you just want to get back to stock you can probably just install the Acer Recovery Manager from the market and use it to reflash a stock unrooted ROM. Or I see a few guides about how to manually restore back to stock over in the dev section for the a500.
Others will correct me if I am wrong, but I think Acer Recovery Manager should take care of your problem.
Hope this helps!
(Edit: Or you can just download the official stock 4.x rom (ICS) from the dev section and flash that. 3.2 is pretty slow and wonky in my experience, you should be able to just download a 4.x ROM and flash, since you are rooted. Again, I am way out of practice. Don't do anything before reading up!)
(Edit again: I think I was making this harder then needs be. Just flash any stock 3.2 unrooted ROM, done. After you do that the automatic on the air update should kick in for you and update you to ICS)

Thanks for taking the time to work with me on this. I downloaded the program you suggested and tried to use a stock rom. When i went to reboot I had a picture of an android looking up at an exclaimation mark. It was froze like that until I restarted it. Now its back to the way it was, rooted and unupdatable.
I'm probably going to try to just wipe it all over but do i need to plug it into my computer somehow? I dont have a usb connector for the tablet, just the wall charger plugin. can i just download a rom and use the utility to try install it? when I reboot it am I supposed to be pressing the volume button?
I've read a few other forums but usually they sound pretty intense...

draight said:
Thanks for taking the time to work with me on this. I downloaded the program you suggested and tried to use a stock rom. When i went to reboot I had a picture of an android looking up at an exclaimation mark. It was froze like that until I restarted it. Now its back to the way it was, rooted and unupdatable.
I'm probably going to try to just wipe it all over but do i need to plug it into my computer somehow? I dont have a usb connector for the tablet, just the wall charger plugin. can i just download a rom and use the utility to try install it? when I reboot it am I supposed to be pressing the volume button?
I've read a few other forums but usually they sound pretty intense...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm..
Try the thread I linked two in my second edit of my last post. You just need to grab the stock and unrooted 3.2 - put it on a MicroSD card as update.zip - then reboot with vol rocker and power switch to get the system to flash the update.
That *should* work just fine.
(Edit: Forgot the link! http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1839313 - there you go)

Thankw, I am going to try it after readingna bit more. Do I need to have clockworkmod installed for all of this?

draight said:
Thankw, I am going to try it after readingna bit more. Do I need to have clockworkmod installed for all of this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Just snag the stock unrooted 3.2 ROM - place it in the root of the MicroSD card as update.zip
Power down.
Power up with VOL + and POWER key held at the same time (you can let the vol rocker go when you see text appear in the upper left corner)
Should be all you need to do. Worst case; it does not work and returns you back to where you are now. Worth a shot.
If that does not work, let me know so I can do a few mins of homework and help you further. Been a long time since I have changed ROMS or had any issues with my a500.
I have bricked it twice by not following directions all the way or just making simple mistakes, but from what I have found there is always a way to recover.

Just tried it. I copied the boot zip to sd card and renamed update.zip and reset..It looked like it was going to download after showing some text in the corner and then an exclamation mark appeared above the androids head... I left it and after a few.min it rebooted back

draight said:
Just tried it. I copied the boot zip to sd card and renamed update.zip and reset..It looked like it was going to download after showing some text in the corner and then an exclamation mark appeared above the androids head... I left it and after a few.min it rebooted back
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm. Odd.
Like I said, I am rather out of practice.
Someone more experienced them me: please help me point Draight in the right direction here?

Thanks for trying to help. =(
I wish that my tablet wasn't having such issues. I;m going to try to scramble around the forums and see if I can find some advice...If anyone has a suggestion please let me know.
Thanks again entropy,
Draight

Update:
So I've been tinkering around with it a bit more and I found a usb cord that plugs it into my computer. I keep finding boken links on this site so Im struggling to find an update I can use to flash to. I downloaded a different super user program which allowed me to temporarily unroot my device. I then restarted it and no root checker says its no rooted and I cannot find the superuser program. I think I have somewhat unrooted it -- but I think the real issue now is the recovery tool. I keep reseting it - hard reset, or factory reset and it wipes everything away but when i try to update it gets about 1/3 of the way up the bar then it stops with an '!' Mark above the droid. Im kind of annoyed at this point and hoping for some new links or some ideas on how to repair the recovery piece.
Draight

Go to the Dev section, and grad a couple of the ICS Update roms. You will see them listed for the a500. Make sure they are the FULL update roms. Should be about 3-400mb. These contain a FULL ICS Update Rom, and not a patch file.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1816560
Then, go to the Themes and apps forum. You'll see a sticky that has the Acer Update Decrypter.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1869505
Now, unpack the decrypter, and select one of the ICS Updates. Then hit Start. Take a couple minutes, but you will have a duplicate file with the word "decrypted" added to it.
Wait, you are not done yet.
Using a program like 7zip, or even Winzip, open the decrypted file. DO NOT EXTRACT, just open it and pull the update.zip to your PC's desktop.
Copy that update.zip file to your Ext SD Card of the tablet. Don't be putting it in any folder, just copy it to the root of the card.
Now, you still ain't done.
With the tablet off. Press and hold Vol+ and then PWR. Hold them both untill you start to see text about installing blah blah blah, then release the buttons.
If it completes, and you can reboot into ICS, then you are good to go.
If something fails during installation, then decrypt the other update Rom file you downloaded, and do the same procedure. Usually one of the 2 or three should work for you.
Note these are for the a500, and not the a501.
One more thing. It's advisable you get your UID number before doing these things. You probably won't need it, but it's nice to have written down in case you need it in the future. Inf to get it is at;
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1624645
MD

Thanks! I am downloading a few of the FULL ICS roms:
*Acer_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1 : http://d-h.st/uAy
Acer_A500_1.031.00_PA_CUS1: http://d-h.st/idO
Acer_A500_1.041.00_WW_CUS1: http://d-h.st/Yt5
*Acer_AV041_1.054.00_WW_GEN1: http://www.theandroidcollective.org/...00_WW_GEN1.zip
*Acer_A500_7.014.16_041.206.01_COM_GEN1: https://docs.google.com/file/d/0B_bk...hVc1RVcHc/edit
The I downloaded the ones ending with Gen1. Once they are downloaded I will continue with the instructions. Thank you so much for your help! I will post how it goes later tonight.
Draight

I just decrypted both:
*Acer_AV041_1.054.00_WW_GEN1:
*Acer_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1
Both get get to the third bullet quickly and the bottom says DONE! It takes like 4 seconds. I don't think the Decryption key of $12 is working
[*] Opening file: Acer_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1.zip
[*] Decrypting using key $12
[*] Writing decrypted file: Acer_A500_1.031.00_WW_GEN1_decrypted.zip
I try to extract something from the decrypted file and it says the file was not downloaded properly and I should try redownload it...it says its not a proper archive

wahoo!
So that worked! I down loaded the file Acer_AV041_A500_1.033.00_PA_CUS1 and extracted the update. I palced the update on the sd card and booted with the power and sound volume pressed down. it went through the installation procedure and restarted twice before saying it was upgrading my aps and BOOM its got ICS and everything looks great. Thank you so much for your help and I hope that this paper trail is able to help someone in the future

My problem is that I'm on ICS and I'm rooted, but I just can't download a custom recovery. I've tried, and I haven't gotten anywhere
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