Database Users

unroot using only sd card?

Ok so My phone is not recognized by a computer, i have tried different drivers, cords, ROMs, no matter what I do my phone is not recognized. I took it to the sprint store and the tech there who also has a rooted hero couldn't get it to mount either, the phone just doesn't bring up any mount notification at the top. I have a nandroid backup with stock ROM but even when I do that it is still rooted, they will not give me a new one until it is unrooted. My only other option is to make an insurance claim since I cannot flash it back to stock.
My Question: Is there any way to flash to stock and get unrooted using only my SD card (I can plug it into my card reader and it works fine). Thank you for any help you can give.

bee976 said:
Ok so My phone is not recognized by a computer, i have tried different drivers, cords, ROMs, no matter what I do my phone is not recognized. I took it to the sprint store and the tech there who also has a rooted hero couldn't get it to mount either, the phone just doesn't bring up any mount notification at the top. I have a nandroid backup with stock ROM but even when I do that it is still rooted, they will not give me a new one until it is unrooted. My only other option is to make an insurance claim since I cannot flash it back to stock.
My Question: Is there any way to flash to stock and get unrooted using only my SD card (I can plug it into my card reader and it works fine). Thank you for any help you can give.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to report, the only option of unrooting is RUU, and this requires HTC Synch and a definate recognition on your PCs part.
Suggestions, anyone?

What version of Windows are you running? I have had issues with Windows 7 in the past. As weird as it sounds once I loaded PDAnet from the market on to my phone and the PDAnet client onto my computer. My phone was recognized. Is your computer charging the phone when plugged in?

its possible.. but you'd need Flashrec, an unrooted original 1.5 rom, and the original recovery image..
ie: use the custom recovery to flash the unrooted rom, then flashrec to flash the original recovery image.. then remove flashrec..
just an idea!

This brings up another question....
What does Sprint actually check?
Do you really have to get back to 100% stock, or would putting the original recovery image on get you through?
Any current or former Sprint techs willing to chime in? Just how perfect do we have to get it?

chavo2005 said:
its possible.. but you'd need Flashrec, an unrooted original 1.5 rom, and the original recovery image..
ie: use the custom recovery to flash the unrooted rom, then flashrec to flash the original recovery image.. then remove flashrec..
just an idea!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, that just might work! Great idea chavo, very intuitive thinking!

I take back my last statement. I read somewhere flashrec doesnt work after youv flashed your imahe....google the unlockrs method on flashing a new recovery once already rooted; i think it involves some adb though :-(
Idk, thats as much as i know

I know it works.. but I have an unrooted rom in a nandroid backup from when rooting the Sprint Hero first started.. lol not many people have those laying around, as most used the Asroot2 method of rooting and not Flashrec to flash the recovery.

chavo2005 said:
I know it works.. but I have an unrooted rom in a nandroid backup from when rooting the Sprint Hero first started.. lol not many people have those laying around, as most used the Asroot2 method of rooting and not Flashrec to flash the recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes...good lock finding a 100% stock 1.5 rom.
Could someone link/upload if they have acess?

mountaindont said:
Yes...good lock finding a 100% stock 1.5 rom.
Could someone link/upload if they have acess?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have my first nandroid from when I followed this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583291
Would that be enough? Of was it already too modified when I did the nandroid backup?
(disclaimer: It might take me a bit to dig it out....)

subliminalurge said:
I have my first nandroid from when I followed this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=583291
Would that be enough? Of was it already too modified when I did the nandroid backup?
(disclaimer: It might take me a bit to dig it out....)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your nandroid wont work on another phone, and if it did, it would synch your contacts to their phones, passwords, apps, the whole shindig. Bad idea
We'll have to beg a dev for a stock 1.5 rom

you can use a nandroid from another Sprint Hero.. done that too when i got my replacement phone! If anyones willing..
RUU, don't sign into google. Download and install Flashrec and flash the recovery through that and create a nandroid backup.. it will be clean

chavo2005 said:
you can use a nandroid from another Sprint Hero.. done that too when i got my replacement phone! If anyones willing..
RUU, don't sign into google. Download and install Flashrec and flash the recovery through that and create a nandroid backup.. it will be clean
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once again, very intuitive thinking! I thought maybe nandroid was device specific.
Sorry, no way in hell im RUU'ing after all the bricks. Ill stick with dcv2, its stock enough for me

mountaindont said:
Once again, very intuitive thinking! I thought maybe nandroid was device specific.
Sorry, no way in hell im RUU'ing after all the bricks. Ill stick with dcv2, its stock enough for me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid is device specific to a point.. If you go in to the nandroid folder on the SD card you will see a folder labled HT********** that is specific to your phone, however you can take a nandroid from another phone and place it in that folder and backup from that.
i'd do the RUU but i'm using the updated radio.

I use a mac, but if indeed it isn't the windows driver, and you have tried other roms, then it only leaves the kernel (and the usb cable and phone usb hwd ).
So use what ever methods you used for the rom flashing, and flash a kernel.
Some ideas : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=625940&page=1
( start at page 1 )
Just a thought.

isn't the nandroid image made right AFTER you root?
so then, that wouldn't be what you want.
Extract the stock rom from the RUU

ok.. here's an unrooted 1.5 Nandroid back up.
http://www.4shared.com/file/250722598/a6eddc31/NoRootNandroid.html
Download the zip, extract.. and place the folder NoRootNand on the SD card in SDCARD/nandroid/HT**********/
Boot into recovery, select restore as you would if you were restoring a backup you made -->Nand Restore-->HT**********--> and choose to restore NoRootNand
I'm using the RA-heroc-v1.6.2 recovery, so I am unable to verify if this is will work with an older recovery image.
if you have any questions feel free to ask.

Wow thank you everyone for all of the advice, i had all but given up hope since I had been all over google looking for an answer for about 2 weeks. I will try the nandroid backup above and report back. thank you everyone again, you may have just saved me an insurance claim.

Wow, glad I found this thread. I'm downloading that nandroid image right now because I'm going to probably end up taking my Hero in to get the dust cleaned out later this week. I think another option would be to extract the RUU and get the ROM.zip out of it, and then just flash that.

chavo2005 said:
ok.. here's an unrooted 1.5 Nandroid back up.
http://www.4shared.com/file/250722598/a6eddc31/NoRootNandroid.html
Download the zip, extract.. and place the folder NoRootNand on the SD card in SDCARD/nandroid/HT**********/
Boot into recovery, select restore as you would if you were restoring a backup you made -->Nand Restore-->HT**********--> and choose to restore NoRootNand
I'm using the RA-heroc-v1.6.2 recovery, so I am unable to verify if this is will work with an older recovery image.
if you have any questions feel free to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I tried this and I am still rooted afterwards. I think that if you go to the sprint store and they can hit volume down and power, and get to the recovery menu then they will not take it back, no matter if the rom u are running is stock or not. any other ideas?

Understanding the root process

Hi all,
I am interested in trying custom roms for various reasons on my G2. With the recent breakthrough in allowing full root, now seems to be a good time to try.
What I don't seem to be grasping is the whole process so, here is what I think* needs to be done, and I'd appreciate a more seasoned person to set me straight
1. Obtain full root via RAGE or oneclick Visionary method
2. Install RomManager
3. Obtain Rom
Here is where I kind of get blurry on the whole topic.
Once I have the files needed, Does RomManager do a nandroid backup so I can revert back in case I want to revert back to stock? Is this how I would revert back to stock or do I need to find the original pre or post OTA rom for the g2?
Does a program like Titanium Backup allow me to backup all of my apps and settings so they are easily restored no matter the rom, or if I revert back to stock?
Thanks in advance all, I have been reading every subset of these forums but I still feel a bit scared to try and wanted to get the facts straight before trying. I'm mostly just concerned that I wouldnt be able to revert back to stock if I had to.

gjm777 said:
Once I have the files needed, Does RomManager do a nandroid backup so I can revert back in case I want to revert back to stock? Is this how I would revert back to stock or do I need to find the original pre or post OTA rom for the g2?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
rom manager can perform the backup, wipe, and install of a new ROM all in one go, you just need to tell rom manager where the ROM is on the sdcard and it will ask if you want to backup and/or wipe first
gjm777 said:
Does a program like Titanium Backup allow me to backup all of my apps and settings so they are easily restored no matter the rom, or if I revert back to stock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i do not know if titanium backup will restore the settings within the apps, but the backed up apps will work on any custom ROM you install on your phone.

Thank you for making that more clear!
So when wiping for a new rom, you want to wipe the cache, and do a full system wipe as well?
Lastly, now that I have the stock g2 rom backed up (did it manually via recovery, not in the rommanager app) I can flash as many roms I want to try them, but really can revert back to stock based on that backup. I guess what I'm saying is, I dont have to revert to stock before trying out a new rom right?
Thanks again, this is a huge help!

With your ROM backed up, that's essentially a "screenshot" of the state of your phone at that time. So yes, you can jump from ROM to ROM, clearing data, and whenever you're ready to go back to stock, you just restore your stock ROM and pretend nothing happened.
And yes, I recommend wiping everything when flashing a new ROM. Although if you're coming from the same type of ROM (I.E HTC Sense to another HTC Sense) you can probably get away with not wiping data.
And with Titanium Backup, I do reckon that settings are kept. When you restore apps, you're given the option to restore the app or app+data.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App

Perfect,
Thanks for the help all, much appreciated.

If TB backs it up but factory reset removes everything...

Is my stuff gone once i do the factory reset??
How do i get TB to restore everything if it in itself is wiped from my phone?
Help to a good backup discussion source would be MUCH appreciated

Copy the backup folder to the external SD card, then pull the card when you restore. or use the built in dropbox sync.......

well i suppose you did a backup first right? you cant restore if you didint backup first.
so if you make a backup just reinstall TB (get root and sideloading first)
and then all should be fine (if you have the folder in your pc, dropbox, or whatever put again to SD card internal o external) if you change the name just make sure in preference point the Folder Name and you can restore now.

Yes i backed up, but forgot to copy the folder over to SD card....but i browsed and saw TB folder in phone memory so hopefully it'll be fine to pull from there...?
OK, so here's another question that confuses me: i was backing up so i could flash the new update 1.5.7 to try to fix some battery issues. i did a hard reset first, now am flashing 1.5.7 - then i will need to root after that i am guessing right?
What is most recommended after flashing 1.5.7 - root only then freeze manually, flash custom rom, something else? just looking for what others are mostly doing to optimize device for now

Dillsnik said:
Yes i backed up, but forgot to copy the folder over to SD card....but i browsed and saw TB folder in phone memory so hopefully it'll be fine to pull from there...?
OK, so here's another question that confuses me: i was backing up so i could flash the new update 1.5.7 to try to fix some battery issues. i did a hard reset first, now am flashing 1.5.7 - then i will need to root after that i am guessing right?
What is most recommended after flashing 1.5.7 - root only then freeze manually, flash custom rom, something else? just looking for what others are mostly doing to optimize device for now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing directly to 1.57 will not allow you to root. You need to flash to 1.26 then use the retain root method to update to 1.57. As far as TB goes, it stores on the internal SD which isn't cleared by a factory reset but I always keep a backup on my external SD. Personally I am on 1.57 and running gingerblur 1.3 which has been quite smooth and it removes most of the bloatware for you. The rest can be frozen using TB.
Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk

oh whoops, ok, back to 1.26, then to 1.57..sigh, that flash to 1.57 took like 4 tries and kept hanging....i don't know why my piece does that
Edit: How do i retain root?

Follow the directions here to obtain root on 4.1.57
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1016060

One last question:
Once i flash something, be it a new SBF, custom rom etc, and then do a factory reset from the device, does this just reset me to the last flash or back to a factory default?

Ok, so i lied, i have another question...where did all my messages and stuff go? not sure how to properly backup/restore those with TB....thought they would have been restored with run "restore all apps with data"

Hello, another noob here.
This is my first android phone and I am not too happy about the battery life.
As the recommendation on the forum, I plan to do the "factory reset"
I wanted to confirm some things:
1. This reset people are talking about is >Settings>Privacy>Factory Data Reset?
2. I am on 1.57 rooted and with webtop hack. I need to undo webtop hack first before reset?
3. I have titanium pro freezing motoblur stuff, I need to unfreeze them first?
4. Will I become "Unrooted" ?
5. How do i back up contacts with titanium backup pro? (do i back up contacts 2.2.1 OR contact storage 2.2.1)
6. If the reset gets rid of root, should I SBF to 1.2.6 and then factory reset and redo my mods from there?
Thank you, I hope someone can help me get a clearer understanding

[Q] How can I backup oficial Desire Z rom etc.?

I am going to have my new Desire Z in a few days and I want to root it. I have a question, how can I backup all of oficial rom, kernel, radio ets.? Because I am not sure if I will send it to HTC for warranty in a few months or in 2 years. What do I need to do before rooting my device for not to have any warranty problems? Thanks for now...

Deadly Sto(R)m said:
I am going to have my new Desire Z in a few days and I want to root it. I have a question, how can I backup all of oficial rom, kernel, radio ets.? Because I am not sure if I will send it to HTC for warranty in a few months or in 2 years. What do I need to do before rooting my device for not to have any warranty problems? Thanks for now...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well you're going to have to downgrade in order to get root, which will wipe the device as far as I know.
After you've downgraded and rooted, you can then use ROM manger to make a 'nandroid' backup of the device. It effectively makes a perfect copy of the entire device, and saves it to your SD card. After you flash a new ROM or anything, you can always go back and restore that nandroid backup, putting you exactly where you were when you made the backup.
It should be noted that when you send it into HTC for repair, you'll want to unroot it anyways, which will wipe the device again and return to stock w/ S-ON (you dont want to send it to HTC with your info on it anyways), so keeping the stock rooted ROM isn't completely necessary (although it is a good idea to have around for troubleshooting reasons).

martonikaj said:
Well you're going to have to downgrade in order to get root, which will wipe the device as far as I know.
After you've downgraded and rooted, you can then use ROM manger to make a 'nandroid' backup of the device. It effectively makes a perfect copy of the entire device, and saves it to your SD card. After you flash a new ROM or anything, you can always go back and restore that nandroid backup, putting you exactly where you were when you made the backup.
It should be noted that when you send it into HTC for repair, you'll want to unroot it anyways, which will wipe the device again and return to stock w/ S-ON (you dont want to send it to HTC with your info on it anyways), so keeping the stock rooted ROM isn't completely necessary (although it is a good idea to have around for troubleshooting reasons).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off all thank you for your post...
Second; The things that I understand;
1) I have to downgrade and root my phone
2) I must have a nandroid backup (I will learn what it is and how to do this), so i will have a backup which will help me to restore me device again when i want.)
3) I need to S-ON my device again when sending to HTC.
4) The mst important is saving nandroid backup will save my device
Are these true or will i have to study more?
By the way, I want to try sense 3.0 but i am not sure to have virtuous rom. do you recommend to get it? Which is best; to have a gingerbread rom w/ sense 2.1 or froyo rom w/ sense 3.0? As i know, virtuous rom doesn't have gingerbread now but it might have soon...

Deadly Sto(R)m said:
First off all thank you for your post...
Second; The things that I understand;
1) I have to downgrade and root my phone
2) I must have a nandroid backup (I will learn what it is and how to do this), so i will have a backup which will help me to restore me device again when i want.)
3) I need to S-ON my device again when sending to HTC.
4) The mst important is saving nandroid backup will save my device
Are these true or will i have to study more?
By the way, I want to try sense 3.0 but i am not sure to have virtuous rom. do you recommend to get it? Which is best; to have a gingerbread rom w/ sense 2.1 or froyo rom w/ sense 3.0? As i know, virtuous rom doesn't have gingerbread now but it might have soon...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yep you got it. After downgrade/rooting (follow Wiki guide), use ROM manager (download in the market) to flash ClockWorkMod Recovery. Then use that to make a backup. It saves the file to your SD card. Copy that file to your computer for safe keeping (good to have it in 2 places if you really wanna make sure you keep it).
To get S-ON later if you need to send in for repair, follow the Wiki to unroot and that'll be done. It should be noted that unrooting the phone will flash it back to completely stock setup, so the stock nandroid backup isn't necessary to keep in order to send back to HTC. The only real reason to keep that rooted stock backup around is for troubleshooting problems, etc. you can always go back to the stock ROM to try things.
As far as running Virtuous for Sense 3.0 or 2.1, that's all personal preference. I advise just trying different ROMs and seeing which you like. Everyone likes something different. Just remember to nandroid the one you're on before switching so you can go back if need be.

[SOLVED!] How can I backup oficial Desire Z rom etc.?
martonikaj said:
To get S-ON later if you need to send in for repair, follow the Wiki to unroot and that'll be done. It should be noted that unrooting the phone will flash it back to completely stock setup, so the stock nandroid backup isn't necessary to keep in order to send back to HTC. The only real reason to keep that rooted stock backup around is for troubleshooting problems, etc. you can always go back to the stock ROM to try things.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I quess to have a nandroid backup is necessary to send back to HTC before you told me. Thank you for this. I will try lots of roms and decide which one i want.

I was just going to make a post about the same subject until I saw this. I also too want to back up my G2 stock rom. I'm currently returing my old G2 inplace of a replacement G2. I want to know how I can back up the stock rom without rooting? I downloaded rom manager but need root to continue. My old phone was rooted and had all my backups that way. I wanna try out the new 2.3.4 from OTA when I get the notification to do so, but just incase I don't like it I wanna go back to stock then root. So how can I do a full backup without root or doing a factory data reset? Thanks

Kilroy672 said:
I was just going to make a post about the same subject until I saw this. I also too want to back up my G2 stock rom. I'm currently returing my old G2 inplace of a replacement G2. I want to know how I can back up the stock rom without rooting? I downloaded rom manager but need root to continue. My old phone was rooted and had all my backups that way. I wanna try out the new 2.3.4 from OTA when I get the notification to do so, but just incase I don't like it I wanna go back to stock then root. So how can I do a full backup without root or doing a factory data reset? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The only way to do a full backup is to root and use ROM manager to make a nandroid backup. Like I said before, backing up the stock ROM is nice for troubleshooting etc. but in order to un-root you'll have to completely wipe the device and will install the stock ROM again.
If you want to try out 2.3 you can use CM7 (which is stock 2.3 w/ some improvements), or wait for the official OTA to be pre-rooted then you can flash it after you've rooted.

Deadly Sto(R)m said:
I quess to have a nandroid backup is necessary to send back to HTC before you told me. Thank you for this. I will try lots of roms and decide which one i want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea sorry for the confusion if I made it sound that way. The action of un-rooting the device will put it back to stock, you don't have to save the stock ROM. The only reason to do so is if you like to have the stock rooted ROM around just in case you want to try something on it.

martonikaj said:
Yea sorry for the confusion if I made it sound that way. The action of un-rooting the device will put it back to stock, you don't have to save the stock ROM. The only reason to do so is if you like to have the stock rooted ROM around just in case you want to try something on it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got all you told me. Thank you for all.

Deadly Sto(R)m said:
I got all you told me. Thank you for all.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome. GL.

Thanks for the info. Finally can get the desire z re-done

How to back up Apps without root??

Am using Tibu to back up apps now, but am going to 'attempt' to flash a new ROM that's rooted and just in case it doesn't go as planned and I lose root, I'd like to know if there's a app or whatever that allows a unrooted phone the same or near same options and ability to back up apps that Tibu has. Any animal like that exist???

No, Titanium Backup is as powerful as it is because of root access. Without that, there is no way to get the same functionality, no matter what app you're using.
And if you're trying to flash a rooted ROM to a phone that's already higher than 4.4.4, you aren't going to find success...

aklyatne said:
No, Titanium Backup is as powerful as it is because of root access. Without that, there is no way to get the same functionality, no matter what app you're using.
And if you're trying to flash a rooted ROM to a phone that's already higher than 4.4.4, you aren't going to find success...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm on rooted 4.3. going to rooted Jasmine 6

Sporttster said:
Am using Tibu to back up apps now, but am going to 'attempt' to flash a new ROM that's rooted and just in case it doesn't go as planned and I lose root, I'd like to know if there's a app or whatever that allows a unrooted phone the same or near same options and ability to back up apps that Tibu has. Any animal like that exist???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This shouldn't even be a concern.. You're missing the most important step in flashing a new ROM. It should be in every single ROM thread, for any device here on XDA, its usually the first on the list of instructions...?
MAKE A BACKUP OF YOUR CURRENT ROM!!
You do this in your custom recovery, TWRP, CWM or Phils...
This restores your system exactly as it was, when you made the backup, your call logs, messages, apps, app datas, even app caches, if you select it when making the backup..
Backups are one of the main purposes for a custom recovery, if you screw up, you can always go back..
Were you not aware of this till now??
Unless you're intention is to stick with the ROM, that's not rooted.. Not sure why you'd want that, but everyone's different, so I'd recommend using Helium instead of TB, root isn't required with that app..

I'm not on a developer edition. It does not have a unlocked bootloader, so not sure I can 'go back' if the thing doesn't work right. Maybe I'm wrong. But I've heard once you flash past 4.4 there is no going back to root and I'm going to 6. In the past on unlocked units I've had no problems going back. But locked is another animal...it's rooted but not unlocked...