Database Users

return unrooted Dinc w/ ota installed to stock?

Seemingly simple question among all the confusion I have...
I have a stock (un-rooted) Dinc w/ the ota installed. Have recently had phone locking up (freezing) problems since the ota install.
I want to remove the ota and restore the firmware back to stock.
1. How?
2. Is the PB31IMG.zip process just for those who have rooted their phones or would that work for me also?
Edit later: I transferred the PB31IMG.zip file to my SD card and followed the update procedure. Got a message after loading the file...then checking it...."main version is older, update failed".
Not sure where I go from here w/out some imput.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=727263&highlight=ruu
This works I have done it myself many times, you will have to root first but after your phone will be back completely stock. I use the PB31IMG.zip method instead of using a RUU like in the post.

Thank you MachString. That was my problem....it never occurred to me that I need to root my phone first, then unroot back to my original firmware.

[Q] To brick or not to brick

Noob question... If i install clockwork recovery and do a nand backup, will i be able to restore my phone, no matter what i do to it (software-wise) or can i still brick it?
Im new to rooting and mods and im looking for a way out of trouble if i screw things up.

once you are done with the rooting process, and have clockwork installed as your recovery - it is very very difficult to brick your phone.
if you are dealing with the standard roms here - there is almost no way you can really screw up, to a point where you can't just go back to a functioning nandroid backup.
for further security - i copy my nandroids backups to PC, so if the sdcard ever gets toasted or corrupted - I will still have a good recovery image.

From what I hear you gotta do something really really stupid to brick your phone. If anything I think it's the rooting process that can brick your phone since there's no nandroid yet or if you don't do a proper procedure during a rom flash. Unrevoked makes it painless and easy. I suggest running Ubuntu then rooting because I had trouble with windows. Follow the guides and you're set =)
Edit: Here's the guide I used. Very easy and painless. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=741824

really the only way i can see you bricking the phone is if you screw up flashing the recovery/radio or boot image.

Ok so if the power goes out when im flashing my phone its lost right? Even if i have my nand backup. And what about the warranty? If i flash back to my original backup and unroot, will anyone be able to tell i've been messing with my phone?

I don't know that "unrooting" is as easy as just removing the superuser app, and flashing back a stock recovery image. The best way to unroot - is to flash an RUU stock image (which includes the stock recovery, and unrooted system image)
you can find the stock at&t RUU from shipped-roms.com under "liberty"

dexmix said:
I don't know that "unrooting" is as easy as just removing the superuser app, and flashing back a stock recovery image. The best way to unroot - is to flash an RUU stock image (which includes the stock recovery, and unrooted system image)
you can find the stock at&t RUU from shipped-roms.com under "liberty"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So dumbing this back down to superNoob level, you're saying that I could root my phone and then put it back the way it was later so that AT&T/HTC would be none the wiser?

911jason said:
So dumbing this back down to superNoob level, you're saying that I could root my phone and then put it back the way it was later so that AT&T/HTC would be none the wiser?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes.... you can go back to the un-rooted state at any time.... it is quite easy... i have tested this... it took me about five minutes to un-root my phone with the HTC RUU ... everything was stock with all the dang bloat ware and no root .... i then re-rooted and put a nandroid back up on that i made just before un-rooting...

[Q] MyTouch 4G: HTC Glacier - Perm root/with recovery?

I am new to the rooting scene and I am very eager to root my HTC Glacier|MyTouch 4G.
I am however hesitant because I cannot risk bricking my phone.
Advice on how to recover from brick and an easy to follow guide to perm-root.
Thanks

geronimo711 said:
I am new to the rooting scene and I am very eager to root my HTC Glacier|MyTouch 4G.
I am however hesitant because I cannot risk bricking my phone.
Advice on how to recover from brick and an easy to follow guide to perm-root.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What is the end result you are trying to get to?
If you are wanting S=off so you can flash custom ROMs.
http://theunlockr.com/2010/12/10/how-to-temporarily-root-the-t-mobile-mytouch-4g-htc-glacier/; do that and it will lead you to perma root the easy way.
if you are wanting s=off so you can have complete control over your phone, which will enable the possibility of a brick. including SuperCID, ./gfree and some other goodies...... But this will give you the option to severally screw up your phone including up to a 500.00 paper weight.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=858996
If you haven't screwed up the HBoot and the bootloader you can use this to get back to a factory spec.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=863899&highlight=level
But if this is your first android, and your first time rooting i would HIGHLY suggest doing alot of reading before you jump in head first. There are alot of people who have tried to do and get stuck. This phone is confusing once rooted with 2.2 ROMs and 2.3 ROMs and different recovery images you need to read and make sure you understand everything before jumping in feet first.

Temp root with visionary is the easiest and safest way, but gfree is pretty simple as well. The hardest bit is getting the drivers and ADB to work, and thats not overly difficult. (remember to use the command "ADB devices" to know if the drives are working) It just matters what you plan on doing, stock root or custom ROM.
There is really only two points that risk a hard brick, flashing the radio or hboot.
The gfree method does not require either, but you can flash the engineering hboot as optional.
The biggest thing with recoveries and ROMs is know that gingerbread based ROMs (like CM7) use ext4 file system and froyo ROMs use ext3. So it is important to use the right version of Clockwork recovery. Use v2.5.1.2 for froyo ROMs and v3.0 for gingerbread ROMs. Soon clockwork mod will support both on the same version.
Just read the instructions well and have all files downloaded and ready to go.
If you want to use gfree and a custom ROM, there is no need to get perm root on the stock ROM first. After the steps that get s=off, just run visionary as temp root with system r/w access and install ROM manager from the market, then use ROM manager to flash a new recovery. Reboot into recovery backup your stock ROM then flash a new ROM.
If you never touch the hboot or radio firmware, then at worse you can bootloop or soft brick the device. That can be fixed with varying amounts of work, depending on the exact issue.
Read and learn how the different parts work, learn how to use ADB and you will be better prepared.

newbie here
This is my first post. I would really appreciate anybody helping me out here. I can't seem to get any straight answers, or answers I can understand, anyway, so here goes.
I have an HTC Mytouch 4g. I did a temporary root (using the method at theunlockr.com) and uninstalled the monopoly app. I was going to uninstall a bunch of other stuff but I got nervous and did a factory data reset (in the SD & phone storage area). All of my marketplace apps reinstalled, which I thought wasn't supposed to happen, but anyway.... I did the volume down/power on and see now that my phone is GLACIER PVT SHIP S-ON. So my question is how to interpret the state that my phone is now in. Is it factory? Is it rooted? Will the T-Mobile OTA updates work? Why is the monopoly app still gone? Is my warranty voided?

ibnird said:
This is my first post. I would really appreciate anybody helping me out here. I can't seem to get any straight answers, or answers I can understand, anyway, so here goes.
I have an HTC Mytouch 4g. I did a temporary root (using the method at theunlockr.com) and uninstalled the monopoly app. I was going to uninstall a bunch of other stuff but I got nervous and did a factory data reset (in the SD & phone storage area). All of my marketplace apps reinstalled, which I thought wasn't supposed to happen, but anyway.... I did the volume down/power on and see now that my phone is GLACIER PVT SHIP S-ON. So my question is how to interpret the state that my phone is now in. Is it factory? Is it rooted? Will the T-Mobile OTA updates work? Why is the monopoly app still gone? Is my warranty voided?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Temp root is just that, temporary. It creates a copy of the essential files in the system partition that it runs from rather than the actual system partition. If you allow it r/w access, (an option you can choose when using visionary) it can uninstall apps that normally can not be. (and more, but causing big changes would require more work on your part)
Because it is temporary, there is no need to get nervous. Unless you are doing some major changes, ones that need a root explorer app or terminal emulator, then you can't really hurt the phone. Download terminal emulator from market and run it, then type in the super user command "su" (no quotes) then hit enter, if the cursor changes to a # symbol then you have root. (you may get a popup asking for root permission, choose to allow) If it works after a fresh reboot, you either ran perm root in visionary, or you have the option checked to temp root every reboot.
S-ON means that the bootloader security is still in place. You need it off to install custom software. While you can root the stock software with S-ON you can not install any software that has potential to brick your phone, so no need to worry at all. If you are really that worried, keep a copy of the stock software on your SD card. Make sure it is named PD15IMG and at any time you get nervous, you can boot into hboot (the bootloader) and it will run automatically. It will wipe your phone and return it to complete stock. The irony is, that flashing this stock image file does things that can brick a phone if it goes wrong. It flashes more than just the OS, it also flashes hboot and recovery as well, and if the process is messed up in anyway like loosing power at the wrong time, it can brick the phone.
Really as long as you make sure you have the phone charged and you follow instructions you should be fine. The only times you can brick a phone to the point it can not be brought back is when flashing hboot and the radio firmware. Both of which you would rarely flash. Hboot only needs flashed to the engineering version once (OEM testing/DEV version) and only if you choose to, as it is not required. The radio will only need flashed if an update for it comes out, and that isn't often, and it is rarely mandatory.
The chance of truly bricking your phone is not very high, unless you just can't follow the directions. Now you can put it into a bootloop or soft brick it. (bootup stuck on mytouch screen) But if you can boot the phone into hboot (vol down + power on) then you can fix it. Even if you can not boot into recovery (an option in the hboot menu) you can even fix that with a good hboot.

theres a video on youtube by mackster its awesome and it gives you all the links very easy to use.
it wont let me post the link but just search root mytouch 4g on youtube and it should be the first or second one.

Thanks Marine and Tommy.
So with temporary root, as soon as I turned off and then back on the phone, it was back to its unrooted, original state, minus the T-Mobile application? Will I now get T-Mobile's Over the Air (OTA, right?) updates and not have a problem if I need warranty work?

ibnird said:
Thanks Marine and Tommy.
So with temporary root, as soon as I turned off and then back on the phone, it was back to its unrooted, original state, minus the T-Mobile application? Will I now get T-Mobile's Over the Air (OTA, right?) updates and not have a problem if I need warranty work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Uninstalling an app will not hurt anything. OTA updates will still work fine. You can temp root and then perm root the stock ROM and revert easily. Heck, even perm rooting stock doesn't break OTA I believe.
Voiding the warranty is one of those grey areas. As long as you can revert to stock, then they will never know. Temp root does not void warranty at all, because you do not alter the system files. (unless you want to, and enable the ability to read/write system) Just uninstall terminal emulator and super user apps and there is no evidence.
The only time you might get caught, is if say the screen stops working, and you can not see to revert back. Though even then, just putting the stock OTA image on the sd card then booting up the phone in hboot will restore without needing to actually see anything. It does ask for confirmation to restore, just wait several minutes then hit the power button and it would do it on its own.
The set of circumstances needed to prevent you from restoring to stock, are rare. Basically a borked hboot or radio firmware, and you never need to touch those to get full root and custom ROMs. If you never touch them, the chance of issue is almost zero.

I just got my mt4g and I am looking to root my phone for the following reasons:
apps2sd
remove bloatware (I want the app to be disabled and I don't want the icon in my app drawer)
use adfree
I don't want any custom roms and I'd like to keep sense ui.
Can anyone tell me if this is at all possible? I've read around and I know it's possible but I don't know about rom flashing and I'm confused as to whether or not I need to flash a custom rom? What's the point of a custom rom anyways?

goldfish524 said:
I just got my mt4g and I am looking to root my phone for the following reasons:
apps2sd
remove bloatware (I want the app to be disabled and I don't want the icon in my app drawer)
use adfree
I don't want any custom roms and I'd like to keep sense ui.
Can anyone tell me if this is at all possible? I've read around and I know it's possible but I don't know about rom flashing and I'm confused as to whether or not I need to flash a custom rom? What's the point of a custom rom anyways?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You dont need apps2sd, as the mytouch 4g has Froyo installed, and you can move some apps to the SD card. Just go into settings-Applications-chose the applicaiton you want on your SD card, and look for "move to SD". If it's grayed out, then you cant move it.
Also download appfreezer from the market, and just "freeze" the bloatware. That's what I do, and it gets rid of those annoying looking apps they installed.

Question about clockworkmod
OK i just rooted my phone, flashed the rom, and installed all the goods... it works perfectly and looks great.
Ty for all the guides/ instructions.
My only question is about the clockworkmod. When I turn off my phone and plug it in to charge the recovery screen always appears when off and connected. Is this suppose to happen? Or is there a solution to this?
If there is a solution can some one post a link or provide instructions so it doesn't constantly boot to clockworkmod recovery.
Thanks.

[Q] restoring

Any help is greatly appreciated
Need to mail back my i337 (MF3) to Walmart, it's rooted Kingo method, safestrap, and custom rom.
Presume to return it to stock, the steps are:
1) Return to stock ROM in safestrap, which I just did, so I can delete the custom rom
2) Delete custom ROM slot in safestrap
3) Remove safestrap (looks like ADB is the only way?, haven't used it before, but reading up on it)
4) Unroot with Kingo
5) Factory reset to delete any personal info
Thanks

I have the same question, just for general knowledge.
I am rooted with the other MF3 method, if that makes any difference.

M973 said:
Any help is greatly appreciated
Need to mail back my i337 (MF3) to Walmart, it's rooted Kingo method, safestrap, and custom rom.
Presume to return it to stock, the steps are:
1) Return to stock ROM in safestrap, which I just did, so I can delete the custom rom
2) Delete custom ROM slot in safestrap
3) Remove safestrap (looks like ADB is the only way?, haven't used it before, but reading up on it)
4) Unroot with Kingo
5) Factory reset to delete any personal info
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sounds like that should work. The ADB Method does work for removing safestrap. Also, did you remove or freeze any ATT Bloat? You may have some problems if you factory reset with missing att bloatware.

OP, once you have successfully got the device fully back to unrooted stock, it would awesome if you posted the steps you took. chances are there are many more like you that at some point will need to prep their devices for a fix. they could benefit from what you find out. cheers

xBeerdroiDx said:
OP, once you have successfully got the device fully back to unrooted stock, it would awesome if you posted the steps you took. chances are there are many more like you that at some point will need to prep their devices for a fix. they could benefit from what you find out. cheers
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I performed all the steps I mentioned in the OP, ADB was difficult for the first time, installing it, getting to shell command, luckily there was info online, videos
After I un-rooted with Kingo one click, and re-booted, saw SU was gone. I didn't freeze any apps, so the next thing I'll do is a factory reset, which is optional, just to remove any personal info, but appears to be all back to stock.

M973 said:
I performed all the steps I mentioned in the OP, ADB was difficult for the first time, installing it, getting to shell command, luckily there was info online, videos
After I un-rooted with Kingo one click, and re-booted, saw SU was gone. I didn't freeze any apps, so the next thing I'll do is a factory reset, which is optional, just to remove any personal info, but appears to be all back to stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you mind adding all details on your OP please? Specifically what ADB commands you used... It would be great to have a "dumby proof" guide
Are the ADB commands the same across carriers? ATT... Verizon... International... GE... etc? I have Vzw GS4 ME7 locked running Safestrap with GE 6.0 ROM BTW

Unroot Verizon Galaxy S5

So I rooted my phone sometime ago and now I want to unroot it. I went through the SuperUser to unroot and it deleted SuperUser after it was "done". I installed a root checker and it said it was unrooted.
But when I restart my phone it still has the Custom lock key on there. Is there any way I can get it to remove that symbol?
Even though my device has that symbol is it still unrooted?
I even factory reset my phone and it was still there so I am running out of options. PLEASE HELP!
Thanks!

I'm on a Sprint version (G900P). So I can't speak to the exact ROM you need. But the trick here, is to use ODIN to flash the STOCK ROM that came with your device. I *know* there's one within these Forums. It's simply a matter of locating your Device/Carrier Forum, and picking the STOCK development category, to find the ROM you need. Then you simply follow the instructions for ODIN, to flash the [stock] ROM to your phone. While flashing most stock ROM's automatically wipe all the cache's, and stuff. DO make sure to do it [wipe] them PRIOR to flashing the ROM. This ensures the most uniform, and successful results.
Simply search the forums for "ODIN Tutorial". That should give you not only the HowTo, but also the WhereIs.
HTH
--Chris