I got a AT&T Motorola Atrix for $200 with otterbox defender case and 8GB micro SD card. I am planning on using it with a prepaid ATT MVNO.
The original seller lied to me, and this the phone has been rooted in the past (superuser is installed and cannot be removed) but it is using the original ATT 2.3.4 update and appears to work just fine.
So my question is this....I am afraid to re-root the phone less I brick it (only rooted HTC's using one click..etc) because I believe it has been hacked. Is it hard to brick? Should I just flip the whole thing back on CL and attempt to buy a Atrix that has not been hacked already?
What? what exactly are you afraid of? I'm not sure what you're getting at, or why the previous root matters. None of the tools to modify the atrix are that complicated or care much about previous rooting.
You might want to make sure it's not been unlocked - but with the unlocked message at boot hidden. Not sure how you would check that though.
Check the recovery. And then flash a rom. Unlocked.
I voided my warranty and your mum.
If Superuser is on the phone and the phone is not rooted, all that means is that the previous owner probably rooted/unrooted with SuperOneClick.
SuperOneClick had that root issue with the Atrix of leaving SuperUser's tracks behind. Go ahead and reroot and you should be fine.
Look at it this way, whatever Atrix you end up with is gonna get hacked up by you anyway...
Sent from my GT-I9000 using xda premium
For 200 it is definately worth it....
Sent from my OC'd Motorola™ Atrix®
WOW
crazy good deal!!!
it's pretty hard to brick the phone...i am a noob and i done many mistakes while unlocking and rooting, but it all worked out.
Related
So finally my gf is going to get her first smartphone!!! I think I am moreexcited about it than she is.... big steps in life..
anyways I had suggested the aria for her...well the only way to get it now is through att online.. not in any stores as they are going to discontinue it...
my question is I have been reading so far that it cannot be rooted and hacked once its been updated... is that like a forever thing? or can it be downgraded then flashed?
also does anyone know if it comes from att online already updated and set up?
I dont want her to get this phone if it is completely locked down...
the only other phones I suggested are the atrix and inspire.. however she likes the phones but she thinks they are just too big..
right now it looks like the atrix is going to be the way to go.... especially if this phone comes updated and unrootable.....
please any thought would help out.. especially if anyone knows if att updates the phone before they mail it to you.
thanks,
Nsomnia
Nsomnia911 said:
So finally my gf is going to get her first smartphone!!! I think I am moreexcited about it than she is.... big steps in life..
anyways I had suggested the aria for her...well the only way to get it now is through att online.. not in any stores as they are going to discontinue it...
my question is I have been reading so far that it cannot be rooted and hacked once its been updated... is that like a forever thing? or can it be downgraded then flashed?
also does anyone know if it comes from att online already updated and set up?
I dont want her to get this phone if it is completely locked down...
the only other phones I suggested are the atrix and inspire.. however she likes the phones but she thinks they are just too big..
right now it looks like the atrix is going to be the way to go.... especially if this phone comes updated and unrootable.....
please any thought would help out.. especially if anyone knows if att updates the phone before they mail it to you.
thanks,
Nsomnia
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it comes from AT&T with the Froyo 2.2 update applied, then it will be un-rootable, even if you downgrade back to 2.1.
If they are discontinuing the Aria, then I would say the chances are that the current stock on hand does not have the Froyo 2.2 update on it are very good and it's worth taking a chance on.
A couple things:
Are you starting new service with AT&T, or eligible for an upgrade and thus getting the phone at a discounted/free price OR
Are you paying full no-commitment pricing as you are already AT&T customer?
Either way, you might want to look at http://wireless.amazon.com/HTC-Aria-Android-Phone-AT/dp/B003RCJA6S/ref=sh_br_ph_12?ie=UTF8&transaction=INDIVIDUAL_NEW. Their price is good if you are buying the phone outright, it's where I purchased mine. You can also start new service or do upgrades via them as well I think. Their return policy is also sweet, you get up to 30 days to return the phone in case your girlfriend doesn't like it.
Mine came with Android 2.1 OS and I had it rooted and a custom ROM loaded on within an hour of opening the box!
tpbklake said:
If it comes from AT&T with the Froyo 2.2 update applied, then it will be un-rootable, even if you downgrade back to 2.1.
If they are discontinuing the Aria, then I would say the chances are that the current stock on hand does not have the Froyo 2.2 update on it are very good and it's worth taking a chance on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was purchased through the online store and it had 2.1 on it. So the chances are quite good you'll be able to root.
woodbane said:
A couple things:
Are you starting new service with AT&T, or eligible for an upgrade and thus getting the phone at a discounted/free price OR
Are you paying full no-commitment pricing as you are already AT&T customer?
Either way, you might want to look at http://wireless.amazon.com/HTC-Aria-Android-Phone-AT/dp/B003RCJA6S/ref=sh_br_ph_12?ie=UTF8&transaction=INDIVIDUAL_NEW. Their price is good if you are buying the phone outright, it's where I purchased mine. You can also start new service or do upgrades via them as well I think. Their return policy is also sweet, you get up to 30 days to return the phone in case your girlfriend doesn't like it.
Mine came with Android 2.1 OS and I had it rooted and a custom ROM loaded on within an hour of opening the box!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is what I did and the phone came with 2.1. that was 6 weeks ago. Rooted and rommed...
So wait - if the phone has been updated to 2.2, it can NEVER be rooted and modded, like EVER?
That may change my eBay buying habits for this phone...
gfinockio said:
So wait - if the phone has been updated to 2.2, it can NEVER be rooted and modded, like EVER?
That may change my eBay buying habits for this phone...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its possible it may never happen. It all depends on whether someone figures out how to crack the newer hboot.
CallMeAria said:
Its possible it may never happen. It all depends on whether someone figures out how to crack the newer hboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oooh. That's scary.
You might try HERE. They are listed as having the 2.1 OS.
I need it unlocked to use up here in Canada - hence my worry about it coming with 2.2 on it. I'm just going to try to communicate with the eBay sellers and hope they know what they are talking about.
Unlocking a phone for use on other carriers is completely separate from rooting and installing custom ROMs. You can unlock a phone that has AT&T official 2.2 update on it.
Yeah, but wouldn't I be stuck with a bunch of AT&T apps I could never use in Canada?
woodbane said:
Either way, you might want to look at http://wireless.amazon.com/HTC-Aria-Android-Phone-AT/dp/B003RCJA6S/ref=sh_br_ph_12?ie=UTF8&transaction=INDIVIDUAL_NEW. Their price is good if you are buying the phone outright, it's where I purchased mine. You can also start new service or do upgrades via them as well I think. Their return policy is also sweet, you get up to 30 days to return the phone in case your girlfriend doesn't like it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much for this link! I've been looking at the Aria as my first Android phone, but AT&T only offers a refurbished one as an upgrade. I could get the refurb Aria for $0 or an Inspire for $99 through AT&T. Like the OP's girlfriend, I don't like the size of the Inspire. Also looked at the Captivate, but it seems big too.
At Amazon, I got a new Aria for $50. They added the extra data plan at checkout. Should get it Tuesday.
Hey,
I have been following XDA since I bought my Xperia play R800i.
I know about rooting, rooted my phone twice, bricked once ><
but now that I'm living in Canada I needed to change to R800a.
It's a Rogers phone where the start up shows Rogers splash screen,
few Rogers Apps and so on. Fastbooting it isn't possible, but it's a sim card phone.
So i'm wondering if putting something like CM7 onto it possible and workable for 3G?
and how exactly would I do that?
and if there is any problem, is there any way to revert?
Thanks for any help
Well all the Rogers phones are locked down so cm7 won't be possible without an unlocked bootloader, they can be unlocked for a small fee just pm Alejandrissimo and he can do it. Once that is taken care of you can install recovery and all that fancy stuff and going from cm7 back to stock will be a breeze. Its well worth it to give Alejandrissimo a shout to have bootloader unlocked I did it this past weekend it took like 5 minutes alot cheaper than buying a new phone
Sent from my R800i using XDA App
lofike said:
Hey,
I have been following XDA since I bought my Xperia play R800i.
I know about rooting, rooted my phone twice, bricked once ><
but now that I'm living in Canada I needed to change to R800a.
It's a Rogers phone where the start up shows Rogers splash screen,
few Rogers Apps and so on. Fastbooting it isn't possible, but it's a sim card phone.
So i'm wondering if putting something like CM7 onto it possible and workable for 3G?
and how exactly would I do that?
and if there is any problem, is there any way to revert?
Thanks for any help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The R800a is a GSM phone like any other. So if you get your bootloader unlocked like the above poster said, just treat it like your R800i. There will be no diffrence
Hey guys I'm trying to sell my old phone. Can anyone link me to the thread for downgrading to stock gingerbread.
I did a few searches on the wiki and didn't find it. Thanks.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I717 using Tapatalk 2
Check my guide for unrooting http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1442988
-Nipqer
Out of curiosity, wouldn't you technically be able to sell the phone at a higher price if you advertise it as already being rooted, thus saving the buyer the trouble of rooting it? I managed to sell my old T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Limited Edition Fender for 100$ advertising it as pre-rooted and with CM6.1.0-DS preinstalled. If I had tried to put it back to Stock Donut I would have been lucky to get 50$ for it. (Though the Fender/Sapphire is much more of a pain in the butt to root than the G2/Vision is).
kbeezie said:
Out of curiosity, wouldn't you technically be able to sell the phone at a higher price if you advertise it as already being rooted, thus saving the buyer the trouble of rooting it? I managed to sell my old T-Mobile MyTouch 3G Limited Edition Fender for 100$ advertising it as pre-rooted and with CM6.1.0-DS preinstalled. If I had tried to put it back to Stock Donut I would have been lucky to get 50$ for it. (Though the Fender/Sapphire is much more of a pain in the butt to root than the G2/Vision is).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only time I've tried to sell a phone as rooted ( a nexus one, one of the easiest to root) I've been asked by a person who wasn't interested in the phone to root his own phone. and then other phones, I got about 60€ in total
I was fully prepared to dive in and upgrade my Atrix 4G to a Samsung S4, when I discovered the problems with MF3 and the locked bootloader. At this point, any new phone I buy is guaranteed to have the update of doom.
I would drop AT&T in a heartbeat, but Sprint's network is crap, and I hear a lot of complaints about T-Mobile's coverage around me as well.
So unless there's something I'm not considering, it's AT&T or nothing right now.
So here's my dilemma - do I get the S4 and gamble that the bootloader will be unlocked sometime in the near future, or do I avoid it like the plague and continue with my Atrix 4G?
I'd appreciate any advice, especially if there are options I'm not aware of. I'm in the northeast and travel to the NYC area often.
Maybe switch to AT&T's no contract $60 talk/text/2gb plan and wait for the nexus 5. You'd be on the better carrier, off contract with an unlocked phone.
Personally since I like to flash I would avoid and just pick up a gently used one from Craigslist or Swappa that you can still loki.
Or pay a little bit more and buy an international variant with unlocked bootloader.
Haphim said:
prepared to upgrade to a Samsung S4, when I discovered the problems with MF3 and the locked bootloader. At this point, any new phone I buy is guaranteed to have the update of doom...cut... So here's my dilemma - do I get the S4 and gamble that the bootloader will be unlocked sometime in the near future, or do I avoid it like the plague and continue with my Atrix 4G? I'd appreciate any advice, especially if there are options I'm not aware of. I'm in the northeast and travel to the NYC area often.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, I don't think its necessarily guaranteed that you can only find or get an MF3 version.
- If you want the S4, it's worth going to a few stores and stating that you want to buy an S4, but only if it still has the older UCUAMDL -or earlier; anyway NOT the UCUAMF3. They (you) can check by looking on the sticker on the box -it has both serial number and the rom version.
- For a while the red versions of the S4 were selling slowing, so that's an option to look for.
- Also check dealers that are lower in volume like Radio Shack or Walmart/target store to see if they have a box. You could check Best Buy and even the ATT store.
Second, remember, there is nothing wrong with asking --I bought without asking, but went back just for the heck of it (Costco) and asked if they had any -most were MF3, they looked without giving me any grief. I think they might have still had one MDL, but that was a couple of weeks or more ago.
Even AT&T people won't give you grief about asking. When I went in to compare their stock S4 and my Shostock 2.1 (now 2.2) S4, the staff could care less about having a custom rom and rooted. . . so go ahead and ask!
Third: I would not recommend buying right now with the expectation of getting a new exploit shortly.
- It may happen, but this seems like a tough bootloader to crack. Also, it is getting harder and harder to create exploits period. So, it could be found this afternoon, but in general any new S4 exploit will arrive later and later.
- You really will be frustrated if you buy with the intent to customize the rom and can't.
Fourth: it may be small consolation, but MF3 can be rooted and you can add back all that root-needed good stuff. Also, the phone is a nice phone stock rom or no.
Bottom line -#1. go ahead and ask around -you may get lucky and #2. don't depend on MF3 being broken soon or not soon. Such a think is so hard to predict.
Good Luck!
I got the MF3 version and was disappointed to hear about the locked bootloader, but I rooted it, removed the bloat and now I have no regrets. They'll get it unlocked soon and then I'll probably hop back into the flashing addiction, but it's a great phone and I can't beat AT&T for their coverage and reliability.
My $0.02.
Sent from a van down by the river using my AT&T Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 4.
I traded my iPhone 5 for a Note II then for an S4 only to find it with MF3. I then traded it for an MDL S4, all done via Craigslist. I'm on AT&T, which has far better service for me than any other carrier, unlocked it via service mode and will try my luck with it in China on Monday for a month. I'm waiting for the Note 3 to drop so I can then trade up to that. So all hope is not lost having an MF3 phone. The screen is beautiful, camera is great, and it feels great in your hand. I don't regret being an iFanboy for 7 years only to come to the wonderful new world of the "dark side" Best of luck!
OP it's very possible you can go to somewhere like a super store with light traffic and find one that's been on the shelf for a while..you can always return it and try again.
markbc01 said:
Bottom line -#1. go ahead and ask around -you may get lucky and #2. don't depend on MF3 being broken soon or not soon. Such a think is so hard to predict.
Good Luck!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Huh. I didn't realize that I might still find it at a brick and mortar store. Those places seem to use AT&T's pricing, which is more expensive than I would pay on Amazon - but it might be worth it to get a pre-MF3 version.
Best Buy, I noticed, only shows the 16 GB version - not the 32 GB.
Given that this phone has a MicroSD slot, how much does this affect things?
jmacdonald19 said:
I got the MF3 version and was disappointed to hear about the locked bootloader, but I rooted it, removed the bloat and now I have no regrets. They'll get it unlocked soon and then I'll probably hop back into the flashing addiction, but it's a great phone and I can't beat AT&T for their coverage and reliability.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen a number of posts that the stock ROM can suffer from lag, which dissappears when people put a custom ROM on it. Does rooting the phone, by itself, allow you to overcome this?
Haphim said:
Huh. I didn't realize that I might still find it at a brick and mortar store. Those places seem to use AT&T's pricing, which is more expensive than I would pay on Amazon - but it might be worth it to get a pre-MF3 version.
Best Buy, I noticed, only shows the 16 GB version - not the 32 GB.
Given that this phone has a MicroSD slot, how much does this affect things?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I use a 64gb SD in mine. I haven't found any storage problems yet internal or external.
You ask about 16 v 32. I have the 16g and it is fine I have a 32g sd card and still have room.. you vcan add and use a 64g card if you want. .
Prices are not bad. My phone at Costco was cheaper than anything at Amazon or elsewhere. And they have the 14 return policy like att and 30 day exchange. .. so good prices are out there
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
---------- Post added at 01:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 01:02 PM ----------
No lag now. I thought it was fixed with MDL and certainly MF3. Both stock. The custom roms don't seem to have that problem .
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA Premium HD app
Haphim said:
I've seen a number of posts that the stock ROM can suffer from lag, which dissappears when people put a custom ROM on it. Does rooting the phone, by itself, allow you to overcome this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I haven't noticed any lag. Been running nice and smooth.
Sent from a van down by the river using my AT&T Galaxy Note 2 and Tapatalk 4.
That I go out and plunk down $600.00 for a new VZW S5 and out of the box it is of a newer version that can't be rooted?
(I have to buy full retail to keep un-limited data plan)
I should be able to power it up out of box prior to purchase to check version number? What ver should I be looking for or what to avoid like the plague?
Chopstix9 said:
That I go out and plunk down $600.00 for a new VZW S5 and out of the box it is of a newer version that can't be rooted?
(I have to buy full retail to keep un-limited data plan)
I should be able to power it up out of box prior to purchase to check version number? What ver should I be looking for or what to avoid like the plague?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It has nothing to do with when the phone was made. It has to do with the firmware of the phone and since the firmware version hasnt changed since the phone was rooted then you will be fine. It may not even make a difference when new firmware is released. It depends on if google fixes the loophole because its not just a samsung problem, its an android problem. The root works for most any android device. If you have been keeping up with you it, you would know that Google recently hired the guy, geohot, that found the root, so it is only a matter of time before it is fixed but it will take a long time to release new firmwares for every phone infected. This may never happen and it just may be fixed in new phone releases such as the note 4 or galaxy s 6.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Its simple just get the VZW Developer S5 if your going to buy it outright. So you can enjoy root and all that unlocked bootloader goodness. Here's the link for the Developer S5 http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/ET-G900VMKAVZW
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA-FORUM, powered by appyet.com
miller1821 said:
It has nothing to do with when the phone was made. It has to do with the firmware of the phone and since the firmware version hasnt changed since the phone was rooted then you will be fine. It may not even make a difference when new firmware is released. It depends on if google fixes the loophole because its not just a samsung problem, its an android problem. The root works for most any android device. If you have been keeping up with you it, you would know that Google recently hired the guy, geohot, that found the root, so it is only a matter of time before it is fixed but it will take a long time to release new firmwares for every phone infected. This may never happen and it just may be fixed in new phone releases such as the note 4 or galaxy s 6.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you read Google hired George at?
Sent from my S5 using your mom
Dennisg34 said:
Where did you read Google hired George at?
Sent from my S5 using your mom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Here from BBC.
22jk said:
Its simple just get the VZW Developer S5 if your going to buy it outright. So you can enjoy root and all that unlocked bootloader goodness. Here's the link for the Developer S5 http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/ET-G900VMKAVZW
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA-FORUM, powered by appyet.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point !! The only problem I envision I may encounter is the extended warranty. I bought the GNEX the week it hit the market and pay the 5 bux a month for the extended warranty. I drive a truck and am rough on phones. The charging port loosens up and quits working. I've already checked with VZW and they offer it on the standard S5. I am on my 5th GNEX over the years that they have over-nighted me at no cost with the warranty. I'm going to have to find out if I can get that on the dev edition.
Edit:Yeah I was afraid of that .... just got out of a chat session with VZW rep. To get the extended warranty I would have to buy the phone from VZW. They don't sell the dev edition, I would have to get it directly from Sammy and that only has the one year warranty. I didn't see anywhere on the sammy site to open a chat window to enquire about an extended warranty but I doubt it's available. Not to mention you have to send the phone in under their warranty terms and wait for a replacement. With VZW, they over-night a phone along with a paid return sticker and package and I have 10 days to return the broken phone. Can't go without my phone for weeks waiting for a replacement.
I've been running custom ROMS since my original MotoDroid and can't imagine going back to running stock. BUT !! I am grandfathered into the un-limited data plan and run the house off of the phones. Got rid of cable internet when they lit my town with 4G and I get 27.5m down and 18+ up.... So long as I can enable the wifi hotspot to broadcast, I guess I could live with a less than un-locked phone for now. Hoping in the future it will be.
You can get the warranty. When I was activating my phone I purchased online elsewhere the rep told me I could get it since they currently have "open enrollment" this was exactly a week ago. It's call back and all about it.
22jk said:
Its simple just get the VZW Developer S5 if your going to buy it outright. So you can enjoy root and all that unlocked bootloader goodness. Here's the link for the Developer S5 http://www.samsung.com/us/mobile/cell-phones/ET-G900VMKAVZW
Sent from my SM-G900V using XDA-FORUM, powered by appyet.com
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
whtciv2k said:
You can get the warranty. When I was activating my phone I purchased online elsewhere the rep told me I could get it since they currently have "open enrollment" this was exactly a week ago. It's call back and all about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If VZW does not stock the dev edition, they aren't going to have a refurbed one on hand to replace mine with under the extended warranty. I can see what would happen now. Even if they sold me the extended warranty, if something happened and I had to get it replaced, the phone they will send out will be a standard consumer grade S5. I'll try another vzw rep but they were emphatic I must purchase from VZW to add the extended warranty to the phone.
Edit: just chatted with another rep and they told me yes I could get the ext warr when I activate phone. I mentioned how will they replace it if they don't stock it? rep's reply "good point" ... he agreed with me they would send out a consumer grade phone as a replacememt.
Chopstix9 said:
If VZW does not stock the dev edition, they aren't going to have a refurbed one on hand to replace mine with under the extended warranty. I can see what would happen now. Even if they sold me the extended warranty, if something happened and I had to get it replaced, the phone they will send out will be a standard consumer grade S5. I'll try another vzw rep but they were emphatic I must purchase from VZW to add the extended warranty to the phone.
Edit: just chatted with another rep and they told me yes I could get the ext warr when I activate phone. I mentioned how will they replace it if they don't stock it? rep's reply "good point" ... he agreed with me they would send out a consumer grade phone as a replacememt.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The rep probably had no clue. This is what they will do. The phone is exactly the same except for the dev has unlocked bootloader. So they will take an original refurb and rebrand it as a dev edition with unlocked bootloader and dev firmware. Its not that hard, just because we cant flash certain things doesnt mean they cant. You will get a refurb equal to what you bought. That simple.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
miller1821 said:
The rep probably had no clue. This is what they will do. The phone is exactly the same except for the dev has unlocked bootloader. So they will take an original refurb and rebrand it as a dev edition with unlocked bootloader and dev firmware. Its not that hard, just because we cant flash certain things doesnt mean they cant. You will get a refurb equal to what you bought. That simple.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G900A using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly that simple. It is true, you get a refurb equal to what you bought if bought from VZW. They do not sell the dev edition and I was told since dev edition is un-locked it automatically voids any warranty that VZW would recognize/honor, since they do not sell un-locked phones. My only hope would be if Samsung sold an extended warranty, which they don't. I did verify, they are currently having an 'open enrollment' where you can warranty a phone bought from other than VZW, but the un-locked proviso is in place according to them. It was the store manager I talked this over with and he seems quite knowlegble. I've dealt with him for years.
Yes, I love ROM's have been flashing since my original moto-droid. But so long as I can activate tethering to run the house on the phone I'd be all right. Looking for an answer as to whether I can revert to full stock to be able to do a warranty exchange if I safestrap it ...