Related
So, I used to run WinMo way back when, and I'm familiar with flashing, HardSPL, blah blah blah, whatevs. I haven't done the rooting process yet on my phone because I'm finding it hard to find a few key things that I need.
-What is the effect on my phone when I root, in regards to data? Do I need to backup? If so, can I backup on my SD card or is everything wiped? What program could I use to backup?
-Are there any crazy little tweaks or tips that anyone has to help guard against a brick?
-I've read the pros and cons list, but can I get more details from someone? Can this help with battery life, allow me to flash my radio, increase general connectivity, etc.
All help would be greatly appreciated, and I'll plan on doing a donation today. I've just been out of the loop (running WinMo 6.5 style out of the loop:/) so some advice to a rook would be great. My goal is to get out of school and come home and root and fiddle with things with little to no problems. Thanks a ton everyone.
Dig Life!
D
The process of actually rooting doesn't mess with any of your stuff.
I use Titanium Backup to restore apps after flashing roms.
In general, most of this stuff COULD help your battery life, here there are Devs that will help - with sprint you get their tech support.
Well, I DL'ed TB and it says that I have to root first? Am I missing something here? Is it ok to root or will it delete all of my apps and what not? I mean, if it does, it isn't really that big of a deal, considering I can just download them again, I'm just looking for input.
copsgottanks said:
Well, I DL'ed TB and it says that I have to root first? Am I missing something here? Is it ok to root or will it delete all of my apps and what not? I mean, if it does, it isn't really that big of a deal, considering I can just download them again, I'm just looking for input.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm pretty new, too, but I think I can answer your questions. Rooting (at least with the One Click Method I used on my Epic) doesn't destroy any data/apps on your phone. It simply gives your user root access to the underlying OS. Once that is achieved, you can modify things and tweak things. Titanium Backup will let you backup all system files and data, but only AFTER rooting.
This is not a ROM flash or anything like that from the WinMo days. I haven't gotten that far on Android, so I'm not sure what the flashing options are yet, but rooting is harmless on its own. It will let you royally screw things up though, so once it is done, be careful what you do.
Well, I tried to do a few things like listed in the One-Click root thread, but I guess I'm just not getting it. Now that I know the effects of the root, I'd like to be able to actually do it, but I don't have enough details. I haven't ever rooted before, and I'm finding it confusing. What was listed in the one-click thread wasn't specific enough for me, I don't know if I need to run from SD card, what the ADB thing is, nothing. I was a WinMo master and I'm finally coming to Android which is literally worlds away from my comfortable norm.
what os are you running? the one click comes with everything you need. theres an osx version the windows version that noobnl updates and the linux version i maintain
I'm on Windows 7 64 bit. But I still can't get any of the one click stuff to work, I don't really know what exactly to do
copsgottanks said:
I'm on Windows 7 64 bit. But I still can't get any of the one click stuff to work, I don't really know what exactly to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wouldn't exactly call root harmless..in itself it is ok..but if you give root access to a program that program has FULL access to your system..aka anything inputed on your phone or stored on your phone can be accessed by the program with root access. Though generally its not a problem..just careful which programs you allow to use root access.
Also, at what point are you getting stuck? did you install the drivers? are you getting any sort of errors or etc?
There is also some good reading over at SDX Developers.
I have hacked and rooted before, WinMo, Palm, HTC Hero, but this one was tough. It basically took me two days off and on, but it worked - finally.
Downloading drivers is a b--h, they are finicky and I needed all of them, kept
hanging on 2. They are slow, and kept looking for sources.
Search here, there is good info, then look there (above) I used OneClickExploit 2.2.4 which finally worked. It had some of the same files
in other methods, but this one worked.
I'm not changing roms, did on Hero to 2.2 because they weren't getting upgrade but I'm just going to hang and wait for Froyo.
Good luck
copsgottanks said:
I'm on Windows 7 64 bit. But I still can't get any of the one click stuff to work, I don't really know what exactly to do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download and unzip the one-click archive in to a folder. Double-click the run.bat. I had some problems where it would start and then hang. I often had to kill it and rerun the batch file. Sometimes I had to end task on the adb.exe process. Eventually after rebooting the phone, etc, I was able to get it to work. Not sure what the exact problem was. I think part of it was connectivity to the phone via usb. Connect through a port on your computer, not a hub.
Also, the batch file is just a bunch of commands. You can open a command line in the folder where the batch file is and run each line in the batch file individually from the command line. That will give you some idea of what is happening and where it might be failing.
Like I said, I had to stop and restart a bunch of time before it finally got through to the end of the batch file correctly. When it did, it was fast. Not sure what was happening.
gTen said:
I wouldn't exactly call root harmless..in itself it is ok..but if you give root access to a program that program has FULL access to your system..aka anything inputed on your phone or stored on your phone can be accessed by the program with root access. Though generally its not a problem..just careful which programs you allow to use root access.
Also, at what point are you getting stuck? did you install the drivers? are you getting any sort of errors or etc?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I try to install the drivers I get this message:
"The MSS InstallWizard was not Completed for SAMSUNG USB Driver for Mobile Phones V1.3.450.0
The MSS InstallWizard was not successfully installed SAMSUNG USB Driver for Mobile Phones V1.3.450.0. Click Finish to exit the wizard.
And I'm basically stuck there. I've searched around and can't find any drivers that will work. Like I said, I'm on 64-bit Windows 7 with a clean OS and no previous negative install history. Not sure what the issue could be?
Found the drivers and everything that I needed and I'm rooted, but now I have one more question. I don't plan on flashing any roms, I'm alright with the stock rom, at least for now. I wanted to know what rooting will do in regards to over the air updates on my phone. Will I be able to OTA to FroYo when released? Any info would be great guys, thanks.
where did you find the drivers? I am having the exact same problem that you had where the installwizard cannot download finish installing the drivers for whatever reason
Please suggest any changes, additions etc
Please don't try to hold me responsible if following anything here makes your phone die. Pretty please!
I have been looking through the forums, rom threads etc, and have seen a lot of questions cropping up again and again. Therefore I decided to start this project!
Basically I hope this will become a reference for newbies to get themselves accustomed to android and the galaxy s II! I will try to update it regularly with information about ROMS, Flashing and general android/samsung terminology.
If you think that I have given a wrong definition or think that anything needs clarifying more please tell me! Also, if you think that I should add anything then feel free to suggest.
Here we go...
Contents
1. Rooting
- Rooting your phone
2. Kernels
- Eplanation
- Links
3. Odin
- Guide to using Odin
4. Custom ROMs
- Risk
- Benefits
- AOSP ROMs
5. ClockWorkMod
- Explanation
- How to Backup/NANDroid
- How to Restore
- How to install a ROM using CWM
6. /efs
- What it is
- How to back it up
7. List of Custom ROMs
8. The Forums
9. Glossary
10. To Do list
RootingRooting is the process of getting 'root access'. In a nutshell this means that you can edit the system partition of your phone. The best analogy of this I can think of is if you imagine a tree! The tree you see above the ground is what you can edit on your phone normally, for example you can add music files, edit text files, etc etc. The 'roots' of the tree are the android system files themselves, they are unseen and are not usually meant to be messed with. It can also be seen as the equivelant of having administrator privilages in windows - with them you have better access to your computer.
Rooting voids your warranty! But you can un-root your phone by flashing a 'stock' ROM and Kernel.
Gaining root access however allows us to customise our phones even further, for example you can:
Edit files to create themes
Backup usefull system files
Remove bloatware and unwanted apps
Rooting the Galaxy S IIRooting the Galaxy S II is, thankfully, easy! Unlike certain other phone manufacturers *cough* HTC *cough* samsung haven't imposed any unnecessary locks on the phone, and so we dont have to hack our phones to pices to be able to root them.
Several guides already exist in the development forum on how to root you phone - it involves a custom kernel:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399 (by Chainfire)
Or, here is the Noobs Guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1126522 (capaxdoli)
And an extremely detailed thread from wibbsy:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1246131 (wibbsy)
Superuser and BusyboxSuperuser is an app that is present on pretty much all custom ROMs. It allows you to manage 'superuser' rights for your phone, in other words which apps you want to allow to have root access. If you dont have it on your custom ROM then you would want to download it from the market (free). Once you have it downloaded you dont need to do anything! It will warn you when an app wants root access, and ask you to allow once, allow all the time, or never allow. It can also be seen as a firewall for your phone, you can deny access to the root of your system files to apps you dont think should be down there!
Busybox is basically a set of commands that aren't built into android to begin with, but are part of Unix (which android is based on). They add additional functionality for root application to perform their job! To be honest this is all I know about busybox, but it is very useful, and lots of root apps need it, so download it!
KernelsThis brings me along nicely to Kernels! Kernels are basically a bridge between your apps and your hardware. It controls everything that apps send to the processor, and everything the processor sends back.
This, as you can imagine, makes kernels VERY important. On XDA, you might see a kernel posted in the development forums. The are usually identified as [Kernel] in the thread title. You will probably also see more brackets in the title, these identify what modules the developer has added to the kernel, or what features it includes. For example [OC/UV 1.5GHZ]. This means that the kernel will enable the phone to be overlcoked to 1.5GHz, but also means the processor is undervolted (meaning it draws less power from the battery).
For more details look here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=894880 (mroneeyedboh)
And here for more details on 'govenors':
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=843406 (RJackson)
OdinOdin is a piece of software that allows us to flash anything we want to the phone. The file is attached to the bottom of this post.
It is perfectly safe IF USED CORRECTLY!
This is a general guide for using Odin, take a look at this picture (thanks to screamworks):
To get Odin to connect to your phone, you need to boot into 'download mode' by pressing volume down, home, and power keys at the same time, and connect your phone to your PC via USB.
Everything in red:
NEVER TOUCH
NEVER TOUCH
NEVER TOUCH
NEVER TOUCH
It's that simple! I would be more specific but most Roms, Kernels and CSCs have methods on their respective threads for using Odin with their ROM, so it best to look there.
Wait... (I hear you say...)
Why bother flashing a custom ROM if there is a risk of damaging your phone? Well, they usually come with the following benefits:
- Deodexed, basically allows deeper theming of applications
- Zipaligned, reduce the amount of RAM used when running an application
- Optimisations, meaning that the developer has tweaked the roms system files for bettery speed, battery life and stability
- Quicker Updates, Rom developers will more often then not update their rom to fix bugs FAR quicker then samsung ever will
- Additions, Developers also like to add their own additions to their ROMs, such as themes and applications
The benefits far outweigh the risk!
AOSPAOSP (Android Open Source Project) ROMs are built from the original android source. They are essentially a 'clean' version of android without any additions from manufacturers (e.g no Touchwiz, Sense, MotoBlur etc...). They are popular mainly because they are so customisable. Here is a list of the three main AOSP build you will find:
'Pure' AOSP
This is a build straight from Google's sources and does not contain any modifications whatsoever, other then those that make it run on the particular device. Here is the AOSP project website for more information:
http://source.android.com/
CyanogenMod
This is an extremely popular AOSP build that provides endless customisation to the user. The builds are fast, stable and reliable, and nearly every android device has a cyanogen mod ROM built for it. It is also popular for its 'nightly' (literally) updates. More information can be found on the Cyanogen website here:
http://www.cyanogenmod.com/
MIUI
MIUI is a chinese rom that has been heavily customised, and is influenced by iOS. Think what would happen if an android phone and an iPhone had a baby... Despite commiting the henious crime of trying to be an iPhone, it does work. MIUI Roms are essentially all about speed and looks, if that is what you are after! Here is the MIUI website for further information:
http://www.miuiandroid.com/
ClockWorkMod (CWM)
Clockworkmod is a 'custom recovery' made by xda member koush. Every phone had a recovery partition designed so that if the user messes up a ROM installation, they can recover their phone. CWM is a modified recovery installed into the recovery partition that allows advanced control over ROM recovery, installation and much more.
Features of CWM include:
- NANDroid Backup, This allows you to completely back up your existing ROM with all its files, data and apps
- Restore Backup, Restores a previous backup (obviously...)
- ROM installation, Allows you to install a ROM contained inside a flashable .zip file
- Wipe data/Factory reset, completely erases all of your data contacts, apps etc, leaving your phone 'as new'
Amongst others...
How to install CWMIf you have already rooted your phone using the CF-root Kernel, then you already have CWM! If not, then just install the kernel linked to above in the 'how to root your phone' section
How to make a NANDroid backup using CWMBackups are important because they allow you to restore your ROM incase flashing goes wrong, or you phone starts playing up and displaying wierd bugs.
To make a backup, you need to boot into CWM recovery (done through the 'cwm' app installed onto your phone when you flash the cf-root kernel). Then, you need to navigate down to 'backup/restore' using the volume keys, and select it using the home key. From here, just click 'backup' and you are all set! Leave your phone make the backup (its takes some time) and then just reboot when it tells you its finished. To restore your backup, do the same but instead of clicking backup, click 'restore' instead. Choose which backup you would like to restore and leave the phone to do its magic. Done.
How to install a ROM using CWMInstalling a ROM using CWM is a lot less hassle then installing via Odin. The ROM developer will specify which method of installing their ROM you can use, but it is usually done by a CWM flashable .zip.
To flash:
1. Boot into CWM as described above
2. Navigate to 'install zip from sd card'
3. Select it, and then navigate to 'install zip from sdcard' again!
4. Select the ROM you downloaded from your sd card
5. Navigate down to yes
6. Let CWM install you new ROM!
Note: The same process applies for flashing a kernel
The /efs folderThe /efs folder is a folder in your phone that contains information specific to YOUR phone, for example your IMEI number, product number, Wireless MAC addresses, and much more. There have been reports of people messing up their /efs folder when unlocking their phone or flashing new ROMs, here is an example from the Nexus S development forum (jump to page 111 to see everyone start to panic):
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1034130
Therefore, it is important to make a backup! Instead of just regurgitating guides on the forums already, here is a link to a very good one by Rawat:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1068193 (Rawat)
The easiest way of doing it is by using terminal emulator rather then ADB (unless you have ADB all up and running and are confident with it)
Thank you to Godutch for suggesting this, I was never actually aware of it!
ADBADB stands for Android Debug Bridge, and is a useful tool for your device. It has many funtions including:
- Pushing .apks to your phone
- Pushing files to your phone to specific locations
- Rebooting to download and recovery
And I haven't even scratched the surface! It does a lot more trust me...
You will see guides on this forum saying 'this guide assumes you have ADB set up', which you definitely should do! However, there is a downside - it can be horifficaly complicated and fustrating to install for a newcomer to android, you have to mess around with SDKs, EXEs, Drivers, Paths, Yawwnnn....
So I'm going to let an expert describe how to do it! Here's the hard (but proper) way:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=879701 (Captainkrtek and Adrynalyne)
And here's the easy way, all nicely pacaged up for you:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010 (VanillaTbone)
I would write a short explanation of ADB installation for you here but it would just confuse you, so im gonna let other people do the work!
Custom Rom List
Well, Swi7chblade has done a far better job at doing a custom Rom list then me so I will give you a link to his instead
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1253665 (Swi7chblade)
Stock ROMs
Intratech has a collection of stock ROMs, Kernels and Radios all compressed up nicely for you. Link is here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1075278
Why stock I hear you say? Flashing back a 'stock' ROM usually helps fix random issues you might get whilst switching ROMs, like bootloops. Also, some people prefer the stock experience!
The Forums
Well, I'm not going to patronise you by telling you how to be nice to people etc, but there is often a lot of confusion with regards to the forum rules:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/announcement.php?a=81 (MikeChannon)
I often see moderators with dangerously high blood pressure stressing the following points in particular:
- Use the search button
- Post in the right forums
- Use the search button
- Don't spam/ Flame
- Use the search button
- No ETAs
- Use the search button
If you have owned a device that is supported by XDA before, or have had a look at other device forums, you may of noticed that the development forums for the GSII are slightly different. They are split into two sections:
- Original Android Development
- Android Development
This is an experiment being done by the moderators of the forum that (regardless of my own opinion) is meant to distinguish between 'original' Roms and 'derivative' Roms. For instance; cyanogenmod is a rom built from AOSP source and has been actively developed with added applications, improvements to code etc etc. It is therefore classified as 'original' and placed into the 'original android development' sub-forum. Roms that either use another Rom as a base or do not have any 'original' components are deemed 'derivative' and are placed into the 'android development' forum. Despite this, I urge you to look in both forums! The both have excellent Roms and just because some are deemed 'original' this does not mean they are superior to those that are not. There is great development going on in both forums
Useful Links
CF-ROOT and CWM: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1103399
Galaxy S II FAQ:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1065995
Korean Galaxy S II Thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1097347
Android Terminology (from the CM Wiki): http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Terminology
Glossary:
Flash - Put new firmware onto your phone
Firmware - A piece of software
OC - Overclock (the processor)
UC - Underclock (the processor)
Odin - Used to flash new ROMs to yor phone
ROM - a piece of firmware, usually modified by a developer
CWM - ClockWorkMod recovery, a very useful tool used to falsh new roms, kernels etc
Nandroid - A method of backing up your existing 'Rom' with all its apps, data, contacts etc. Done through CWM
.apk - The file type that android apps are contained in. To install just click on it!
AOSP - A ROM built from the original google android source, not a customised version of a manufacturers ROM
CyanogenMod - A very popular, customised, AOSP Rom
TO DO
- CWM
- Finish glossary
- ADB
- Additions to rooting section (superuser, busybox etc)
- How to do a backup via CWM
- Expand ODIN section
- Link to stock ROM list
- Create a 'Custom ROM' list with links to all current custom roms
- Explanation of AOSP (including CM, MIUI)
- Forum etiquette
- Useful links
- Backing up the /efs folder
- Custom boot animations
Nice guide, a few remarks:
root in unix terminology is the same as administrator in window, so rooting a phone means you are getting administrative powers, also rooting your phone voids warranty
maybe some other things could be included: the jig, BACKING UP /efs(this should be the most prominent caption) and adb (+adb frontends like qtadb)
nice post
great for learners like me
godutch said:
Nice guide, a few remarks:
root in unix terminology is the same as administrator in window, so rooting a phone means you are getting administrative powers, also rooting your phone voids warranty
maybe some other things could be included: the jig, BACKING UP /efs(this should be the most prominent caption) and adb (+adb frontends like qtadb)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks for the hints, i will adjust the rooting section accordingly. I'm also going to add a to do list... right now...
Don't forget the /efs directory, if it gets messed up (and sometimes it does) you will loose your phone and data connection permanently and you end up with an expensive Galaxy S mediaplayer. There is no known way to retrieve it and it does get messed up flashing custom roms (many nexus s users now have, well an expensive mediaplayer after flashing a certain rom)
godutch said:
Don't forget the /efs directory, if it gets messed up (and sometimes it does) you will loose your phone and data connection permanently and you end up with an expensive Galaxy S mediaplayer. There is no known way to retrieve it and it does get messed up flashing custom roms (many nexus s users now have, well an expensive mediaplayer after flashing a certain rom)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Would you be ever so kind as to write me a definition to add? I'm not going to lie I had never heard of this probelm but it does sound important
willk22 said:
Would you be ever so kind as to write me a definition to add? I'm not going to lie I had never heard of this probelm but it does sound important
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can find a guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1068193 I didn't write it, I did read about the problems about what could happen if you screw the /efs directory here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12874457
How long before the post is ruined by idiots posting help questions in it .
Is their a way to lock it so as not to detract fro0m a very good stickie .
Just look at the FAQ page totally devoid now of being a FAQ .
Backing up EFS see topic Dev in section .
jje
JJEgan said:
How long before the post is ruined by idiots posting help questions in it .
Is their a way to lock it so as not to detract fro0m a very good stickie .
Just look at the FAQ page totally devoid now of being a FAQ .
Backing up EFS see topic Dev in section .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the desire dev section there is a reference thread, new suggestions are posted and once in a while the thread is cleaned: all the suggestions are added to the OP and then together with useless posts deleted....
JJEgan said:
How long before the post is ruined by idiots posting help questions in it .
Is their a way to lock it so as not to detract fro0m a very good stickie .
Just look at the FAQ page totally devoid now of being a FAQ .
Backing up EFS see topic Dev in section .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I guess that is something that mabye a moderator can do? It would be a dillema though because I really would like suggestions from the community on how to improve the guide and add suggestions and amendmants... but you are right!
godutch said:
you can find a guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1068193 I didn't write it, I did read about the problems about what could happen if you screw the /efs directory here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=12874457
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you, I will add this tommorow!
I've never seen definite evidence that having root voids warrantee.Looking through all the documents it only says things like if you change the software and this causes the problem they won't fix it. I suspect they would still fix a hardware fault. Samsung have given phones to known hackers. It would seem hard for them to argue that rooting invalidates warrantee when they have encouraged it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
drspikes said:
I've never seen definite evidence that having root voids warrantee.Looking through all the documents it only says things like if you change the software and this causes the problem they won't fix it. I suspect they would still fix a hardware fault. Samsung have given phones to known hackers. It would seem hard for them to argue that rooting invalidates warrantee when they have encouraged it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Better safe then sorry!
Plus phones can easily be unrooted.
drspikes said:
I've never seen definite evidence that having root voids warrantee.Looking through all the documents it only says things like if you change the software and this causes the problem they won't fix it. I suspect they would still fix a hardware fault. Samsung have given phones to known hackers. It would seem hard for them to argue that rooting invalidates warrantee when they have encouraged it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's true, I can't find the reference right now but a member called Kalua( he is an official samsung repair center) posted a part of the official service manual which says it voids warranty
http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/list_category/13
it's very hard to retrieve/find indivual posts though
edit: found it: http://gathering.tweakers.net/forum/view_message/36107694
Could you explain the usb jig please. Isnt the binary clock reset when re rooting? In fact a whole how to re root your gs2 so samsung will never know guide would be great.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Thanks for this. It's very much appreciated by all noobs to Samsungs. I look forward to future updates
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
santiago84 said:
Thanks for this. It's very much appreciated by all noobs to Samsungs. I look forward to future updates
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No problem! I will update everything and continue the 'to do' list as soon as i can...
Very good idea and think this will help a lot of people This will definitely be a good link to send those who are new to the device
drspikes said:
I've never seen definite evidence that having root voids warrantee.Looking through all the documents it only says things like if you change the software and this causes the problem they won't fix it. I suspect they would still fix a hardware fault. Samsung have given phones to known hackers. It would seem hard for them to argue that rooting invalidates warrantee when they have encouraged it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No Rooting letter from Samsung .
http://www.samfirmware.com/apps/blog/show/5267754-newsletter-by-samsung-electronics-
This looks really nice, and will be a good ref for many. I even found myself asking lots of these questions in many threads because I'm used to the HTC way of rooting.
A nice little section to add would be a "unroot your device" for people with warranty purposes. This is a question that pops up everywhere.
Keep up the good work!
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
What dose rooting do
That's quite an open question. General rule of thumb is, if there is something you need your tablet to do, and it can do it, but not from the factory, then you need root.
I've just now come across a situation where I need root... my SNES emulator does not read the external_sd folder, so the solution would be to mount that directory inside a folder that is readable by the emulator, like /sdcard/external_sd/, but that can only be done with root.
goochkaz said:
What dose rooting do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The largest advantage to rooting your tab is you can use it as a remote global thermo nuclear weapon!
Do you know of anyone that you'd like to get rid of permanantly?
Root your device, set the timer, and leave it at their house.......and run like h3ll!
hack the heck out of it!!!!!
goochkaz said:
What dose rooting do
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It gives you administrative permissions to the device you bought. With stock OS you are limited as to what you can do with the device. Rooting opens the door to very wide almost limit free stage for your device. I personally do not root but so many others prefer it.
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
It can make your phone/tablet/system unique... You can customize each and every aspect of your android gadget. It gives you the power (and the administrative rights) to do so.... BUT if you have no idea of what you're doing and/or what apps you install better leave it stock... It can easily render your tablet hard bricked...... forever......
IT IS NOT A TOY!!!!
sent from my CM7 nokia 3210
For me its all about backup and networking hacks
My initial reason was I needed my tablet to be able to access an AdHoc wireless network because that is what my phone sets up for its mobile hotspot. I have since moved on to many other uses. In fact if you wonder about these forums you will find that most of the really cool things seem to involve root access in some way or another.
seems like there are so many ways to root some say u need sim card other sayu dont I want to root was wondering the best way to do it I see so many cool thing I like on here they all need rooting so confusing
If you have the stock 3.2 software, then you follow the guides to downgrade to 3.01, root, then install the rooted 3.2 rom. If you're on software pre+3.2, use Iconiaroot
For me.. I initially "rooted" my tablet (hrmm.. that just feels so wrong to type..) simply because the latest OTA update was refusing to download and rather than stuff about trying to figure out why & work around it I figured it was just as easy to root & flash a new rom..
Since then though, I don't think I could live without it .. Loving the flexibility of being able to move away from the stock Acer set-up and run custom ROMS to suit my needs, to be able to overclock it, be able to browse/modify/etc as I please within the filesystem (of course, this is one of those situations in which at least a little understanding of what you're doing is vital - there's a good reason why they protect system files from the average user..) and just generally tinker with things!
I root because it is my tablet, I bought it so I can do with it what I want and not be limited by the vendor toughts. It is nice to overclock, use drivemount and connect ntfs HD to my tablet and watch the movies on it,titaniumbackup,cwm,nandroidbackup,etc......
civato said:
I root because it is my tablet, I bought it so I can do with it what I want and not be limited by the vendor toughts. It is nice to overclock, use drivemount and connect ntfs HD to my tablet and watch the movies on it,titaniumbackup,cwm,nandroidbackup,etc......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All right !!!
had stock 3.2 and tryed iconia root didn't work but txs
goochkaz said:
had stock 3.2 and tryed iconia root didn't work but txs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you read the instructions on page 1?
Hi guys!
I bought a Nexus 7 a few days ago, This is my first Android device, my first tablet and my first attempt at rooting anything. so I was hoping for some help from the experienced folks because frankly i don't know what I'm doing I was hoping you could help me with a sort of beginners guide for rooting, like what i should look out for, whats the safest and easiest toolkit, rom, kernel to use. I know i have so much to learn from you guys and I've been reading some of the threads and im starting to get a bit of it already just asking for a step by step of what i should do im mainly going to use my tablet for torrents, games, and some light photo editing and lots of comics! so how do i start? hope to hear from you guys soon THANKS IN ADVANCE!
For rooting the tablet ..its safe ,the important thing is to follow the instructions .so to root it you can use one of the toolkits in the development section,I preferred wugfresh toolkit more ..but its up to you the other one is also good ... Here's a video which explains the root procedure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0_ylxyrWA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
btw update your phone before rooting it
And for flashing Roms there are a lots of guides on how to do it..just use Google
If you got stuck in any boot loops just use the toolkit you first used, to restore to stock or restore with a nandroid backup
Most important thing when you root. before touching a file ..do a nandroid backup in recovery to always stay safe ..
That's it enjoy the forums
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
BigJoey010 said:
For rooting the tablet ..its safe ,the important thing is to follow the instructions .so to root it you can use one of the toolkits in the development section,I preferred wugfresh toolkit more ..but its up to you the other one is also good ... Here's a video which explains the root procedure
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wI0_ylxyrWA&feature=youtube_gdata_player
btw update your phone before rooting it
And for flashing Roms there are a lots of guides on how to do it..just use Google
If you got stuck in any boot loops just use the toolkit you first used, to restore to stock or restore with a nandroid backup
Most important thing when you root. before touching a file ..do a nandroid backup in recovery to always stay safe ..
That's it enjoy the forums
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well said, but here are some more tips: DO NOT PANIC!! when something goes wrong, which is likely, as you are a newbie to rooting, one thing you must not do is panic. calm down and troubleshoot, what did i do wrong? how do i fix it? and according to my experience, whenever a door slams shut behind you, a new window opens. if one method doesn't work, try another method.
also, read through the entire procedure list before start doing the steps. make sure you understand what is required and how to do it before accidentally doing something stupid. believe me, its happened to me b4, not a pleasant experience when you realise you dont actually meet the criteria to install something. btw, here is a list of common names given to the nexus 7: Nexus 7 (duh!), N7, grouper (wifi only) Tilapia (wifi+3g)
good luck rooting!
Read through the stickied threads and try to understand them. It won't happen right away though; your head will probably spin the first couple of times through.
There is really no "overnight" learning curve to this stuff - even if you are an old hand with Linux/Unix.
BTW, it is important to point something out: There should be no reason for you to feel like you should be in a hurry to root. The N7 is a fantastic device, even when used in a pure stock experience.. You are not going to be missing out by not rooting immediately. Spend some time with your device getting used to the Android way of doing things, and start reading XDA with a relaxed frame of mind. There is plenty of time. It would be different if you have lots of prior Android experience - but you said it - this is your first Android device.
OK, rooting. To try and keep you safe while you are a noob, I'll give this recommendation:
If you see the word "flash" (verb) near the word "bootloader", RUN AWAY!.
The most dangerous thing you can do to an N7 is mess around with the bootloader. You can turn your device into a useless object by getting things wrong, and it is a little bit rare that you need to flash a bootloader anyway. You have been warned.
So, make sure you know the difference between bootloader and "boot partition".
Most Android devices have a single flash memory chip in them which is divided up into a number of partitions. There are 5 principal partitions and about the same number of less frequently used partitions:
THE 5 PRINCIPAL ANDROID PARTITIONS:
(B) boot - a raw blob of binary data containing a "kernel" and a "ramdisk"
(B) recovery - another raw blob of binary data containing a "kernel" and a "ramdisk"
(F) system - The "ROM" part of Android - all the factory (or customized) software, used read-only
(F) data - User data and customizations. A "factory reset" simply erases all the files here
(F) cache - a scratch area used for downloading files and other maintenance operations
B = binary, bootable
F = Filesystem
Now, the two bootable partitions - boot and recovery - are very similar in structure, but extremely different in purpose. (In fact, in stock devices, they both use a private copy of the same kernel) The "boot" partition can produce a UI (User Interface) after it starts up only in conjunction with healthy /system and /data filesystems containing the Android software. But the "recovery" partition can produce a minimal UI even if the /data and /system filesystems are completely empty of files; so it (the recovery boot) is used to do all maintenance operations - including things like installing new /system software or erasing all user data.
So, and Android "rooter" will usually replace the very minimal (and locked-down-security) stock recovery partition with a "custom recovery" that is more friendly, and the vast amount of the "flashing" operations will take place using this custom recovery.
When people talk about "ROMs", they generally mean only TWO of those five partitions mentioned above: the "boot" partition and the "system" partition. When a "ROM" is flashed using the system partition, the usual procedure is:
- The rooter makes a full Nandroid backup.
- The rooter performs a "factory reset" procedure which erases the /data*** and /cache filesystems
- The rooter then "flashes a ROM", which puts in place a new boot partition, erases the /system partition, and then re-populates the /system partition with changed Android system software.
Upon booting an Android phone/tablet after this procedure, the device will behave as if it just came from the factory - but now with a different custom version of Android software. Note that this means that all the things you customized in the previous ROM - wallpapers, settings, home screen app icons, widgets, market apps downloaded, etc - will all be gone. So, folks that make a habit of hopping from ROM to ROM generally have some tricks up their sleeves for making the re-customization of a freshly-installed ROM a little less tedious. (Things like using custom launchers that allow you to save homescreen customizations, apps to restore previously-used market apps & their data, etc, etc, etc)
*** there is some funny business with Android devices that have no removable SDcard storage devices such as the Nexus 7 - the user's "SD card" is emulated, and the files that are stored there are actually stored in the /data filesystem. So, custom recoveries usually have a "factory reset" procedure which deletes all files in /data while scrupulously avoiding erasing things in this /sdcard area ( == /data/media ). This allows you to keep things safe from wiping (pictures, music, ROM files, backups) while still installing a fresh and un-initialized ROM. Note that the stock recovery in the N7 does not do this - when you use the "factory reset" of the stock recovery, EVERYTHING in /data gets erased - everything!
While you are reading about Android, here are some questions/searches to look up that concern rooting activities... have fun!
- What is the difference between grouper/tilapia (or nakasi/nakasig )?
- What does it mean to "install a new launcher" or "install a new home app"?
- What is Android fastboot used for?
- What is the Android ADB (Android Device Bridge) program used for?
- What is the difference between a boot image and a bootloader?
- How do I go about making a Nandroid Backup?
- What are the Carbon and Titanium Backup apps for? What can they do?
- What file browsers on the market are "root aware"?
- What Android settings can be saved by the Google Play Store, and automatically restored into a new ROM?
- Is there a difference between the "Superuser" and "SuperSU" root kits?
- What are the special Hardware Button Combinations used by the Nexus 7?
- What is the Google Android SDK?
- What custom recoveries are available for the Nexus 7?
- How many unique operating modes does the Nexus 7 bootloader display? What are they called?
- What is a MD5 signature? How can it help me stay out of trouble?
- What does soft-booting a bootable image with fastboot do?
- How many (Windows PC) drivers are needed to use ADB (with both the custom recovery and also the regular OS) and fastboot (with the bootloader), 2 or 3?
- Suppose I soft-brick my N7 - how will I transfer files to and from the N7 in this situation?
- What is the difference between adb push/pull and adb sideload?
- What does "sideloading an app" mean?
- Is an Android ".apk" file the same thing as a .zip file, or different?
- In what folder in /data are market apps (.apk files) found? Same question for /system and system apps (.apk files)?
- How do I enable the developer options on my N7 tablet?
- What are the limitations of MTP or PTP file transfer modes?
- Where does the custom recovery tool store backups?
- Are the Android tools "adb" and "fastboot" available for Mac or Linux?
- What are the limitations of the Google Factory Images for the Nexus 7? How are they installed?
- I have a problem using the recovery. Where is the log file stored?
- What is the big stumbling block involved in unlocking the N7 bootloader?
- What operations can you perform using fastboot and the bootloader which you can not do any other way?
OK, that's enough for now.
Thanks Everyone!
bftb0 said:
Read through the stickied threads and try to understand them. It won't happen right away though; your head will probably spin the first couple of times through.
There is really no "overnight" learning curve to this stuff - even if you are an old hand with Linux/Unix.
BTW, it is important to point something out: There should be no reason for you to feel like you should be in a hurry to root. The N7 is a fantastic device, even when used in a pure stock experience.. You are not going to be missing out by not rooting immediately. Spend some time with your device getting used to the Android way of doing things, and start reading XDA with a relaxed frame of mind. There is plenty of time. It would be different if you have lots of prior Android experience - but you said it - this is your first Android device..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I do appreciate everyones input! yeah i think ill make do with the stock for a couple weeks while i study up on rooting and firmwares. well the main reason i wanted to root was for the games, as much as i want to buy the games i like, i dont have the means to
This is great. Wish I had been fortunate enough to have such great help when I first started.
And the most important rule is the one about reading before you root or flash. This will save you some heartache down the road.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium HD app
How's rooting related to games ? You mean overclocking ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
BigJoey010 said:
How's rooting related to games ? You mean overclocking ?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sad to say i will have to torrent my games as much as i wanna pay and support the game devs i already blew all my money on steam and buying the N7. ive read somewhere that if u are using the the stock version and you try to run a torrented game it automatically shuts down
No it doesn't ...i be downloaded tons of games(torrents) and I'm on stock and they are working normally
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
UrbabBear said:
sad to say i will have to torrent my games as much as i wanna pay and support the game devs i already blew all my money on steam and buying the N7. ive read somewhere that if u are using the the stock version and you try to run a torrented game it automatically shuts down
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All the help you were given....then you bring this up.
I doubt further help will come your way as pirating software is very much frowned upon at xda.
Sent from my cell phone telephone....
kj2112 said:
All the help you were given....then you bring this up.
I doubt further help will come your way as pirating software is very much frowned upon at xda.
Sent from my cell phone telephone....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i never really liked pirating software...believe me im a huge fan of steam and i practically buy alll my games legit for the pc.. since steam wallet codes are available at a local store here.. okay i promise i wont pirate and ill try to look for the means to buy from the google store , the thing is i dont have a credit card... and i dont know if google has have something equivalent to steam wallet cards for the google play store.. i could borrow a cc and pay for it.. but is the google play store a safe place to purchase ? i nkow some people disputing alot of charges from google play to everyone, i meant no disprespect.. i was thinking along the lines of test the game if there is no lite version, then when i can i will buy the game :< im still new to the whole tablet arena and im gonna need all the help that i can get
UrbabBear said:
i never really liked pirating software...believe me im a huge fan of steam and i practically buy alll my games legit for the pc.. since steam wallet codes are available at a local store here.. okay i promise i wont pirate and ill try to look for the means to buy from the google store , the thing is i dont have a credit card... and i dont know if google has have something equivalent to steam wallet cards for the google play store.. i could borrow a cc and pay for it.. but is the google play store a safe place to purchase ? i nkow some people disputing alot of charges from google play to everyone, i meant no disprespect.. i was thinking along the lines of test the game if there is no lite version, then when i can i will buy the game :< im still new to the whole tablet arena and im gonna need all the help that i can get
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
a good way to get started is to get yourself a prepaid credit card from 7eleven and use that for purchases from the play store.
Billchen0014 said:
a good way to get started is to get yourself a prepaid credit card from 7eleven and use that for purchases from the play store.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as much as that service would be convenient its not available in my country thanks! i hope somebody brings it here ... i found a workaround already now just a matter of saving up for the good apps! so in the mean time lite versions here i come!
UrbabBear said:
as much as that service would be convenient its not available in my country thanks! i hope somebody brings it here ... i found a workaround already now just a matter of saving up for the good apps! so in the mean time lite versions here i come!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://play.google.com/about/giftcards/ use this to see if any retailers near you sell.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium
Hey guys, what do you think are the most basic and necessary apps that i should get ? running on stock
, ive checked some and go a file manager
If you think you are going to root down the road...
If you think there is a good chance that you are going to root down the road, I would suggest unlocking the bootloader in the near future. You'll need to do this and it wipes everything on the tablet. Even if you don't root, there's isn't any major downside to having the bootloader unlocked and you can always relock it later.
It's better to do that before you've put a lot of time into customizing your tablet to perfection and then have to redo it all.
In short, i deleted my photos by accident, and deeply desire to recover them.
Data Recovery programs wont work on my Google Nexus 4, for a combination of reasons. Namely, because it is not a usb mass storage device, it is internal memory, and because the phone has not ever been rooted. If it is possible to recover the photos without rooting the phone, this would be favorable. But i doubt this is possible.
Is there a way to root my phone without causing a "factory wipe/reset"? Perhaps by avoiding unlocking the bootloader?I am not even 100% sure if this can be achieved on 4.4.2. as of now. I am continuing to investigate, but if anyone has the know-how, please let me know.
this forum here, suggests something that might work, but at the end of the forum, it suggests that 4.4.2 is still impossible to root without wiping.
-There are methods of scanning the phone after it has been rooted, but i can't find the right kind of rooting i need.
-There are methods of copying the phone's hard drive -bit-by-bit- to my PC in .RAW format, and then converting this into something that can be mounted like a real drive, which could be scanned and from which photos could be recovered., but this method requires a rooted phone as well
-there is a possibility of trying to mount the phone on a linux OS, and then scan it possibly. but i don't know if this is impossible.
i am reading the basics in the meantime.
LG Google Nexus 4, 4.4.2
Build:KOT49H
kernel:
3.4.0-perf-g2cae413
[email protected] #1
wed Nov20 14:54:28 PST 2013
Desktop PC: Windows 7 Professional 64bit, service pack 1.
Laptop: mac...
you can read more about things i have tried and my other concerns, in greater detail below.
LOTS OF METHODS, LITTLE CLARITY
I just came back from visiting some dear friends in china and purchased an upgraded version of dropbox. Before I uploaded my photos, I accidentally deleted my entire album.
What is the safest and surest attempt for recovery?
1. i need to avoid installing anything on my phone as much as possible - (lest it overwrite the empty areas where the "deleted" photos reside.)
2. i need to keep my phone off as much as humanly possible (lest it overwrite the empty areas where the "deleted" photos reside.)
3. almost without saying - id like to avoid bricking my phone, (lest it destroy my "deleted" photos)
SOFTWARE RECOVERY SECTION
All known software recovery programs won't find any data on my phone because either they are made for scanning mountable drives, USB mass storage devices, or some simply cannot scan the device unless i root my phone (although I am not sure if rooting is directly correlated with successful scanning, or if rooting the phone simply allows me to carry on with other necessary steps prior to "successful scanning"- like allowing me to installing apps that allow me to mount the internal memory as a scannable drive). Enabling USB Debugging, or enabling/disabling MTP is not the same as enabling USB mass storage mode. Seeing the Nexus 4 as "portable Device" under my computer does not mean it is a mounted drive that i can scan with a recover program. No matter what, nothing seems to work with the Google Nexus 4 as it is now.
***I first tried installing the driver's through the ANDROID SDK, by unzipping the contents from the downloaded zip file and by double clicking the .exe file. Double-clicking the .exe file resulted in a cmd dos-style window popping up and immediately disappearing. Perhaps i needed to put the extracted folder on "C:\"?
REGARDLES....later, I have used WugFresh Nexus Root Toolkit v1.8.2 for ensuring proper driver installation for my phone. I have only used this software to install drivers. It walks you through bad-driver uninstallation/clean up, it retrieves the latest drivers, installs them, and then tests their workability for you and lets you know if the drivers were successfully installed.
I have not used Wug's toolkit to root or hack my phone... yet....
Below is a list of software I have used on my Windows machine and my mac. These simply will not work with the phone as it is right now.
Remo
TenorShare
Bycloud android data recovery
Android Data Recovery
Dr. Fone
Recuva
- i havent tried disk digger. but it requires a rooted phone.
SO simple methods will simply not work? Please correct me if I am wrong.
BIT BY BIT CLONE METHOD
This seems to be the most tedious (but thorough) method for actually preparing something that can be truly scanned for photo-recovery. This method seems to create a bit-by-bit copy of the phone to my computer, which can be converted and mounted and then scanned.
However, it requires rooting. Not to mention, it recommends non-destructive rooting. Which leads me to the next section ...
ROOTING section (and its problems)
In the fruitless sections listed above, it always seems to lead towards rooting as a requirement. Most people say you should root your phone when you first get it, because, i suppose rooting is "synonymous" with a wipe/reset. I believe this reset happens as a result of the bootloader being unlocked. According to MY limited understanding, this unlocking process essentially causes a "factory reset" which wipes the phone, and then catastrophically overwrites the precious space where the deleted photos currently reside. this is unacceptable. I imagine, this "reset" is for security reasons.
Most people seem to suggest that you make a back up before you root. This isn't helpful for my situation because we are talking about retrieving deleted data. I cannot make a back-up of deleted data.
Is it really possible to root without wiping the Google Nexus 4?
Is it even profitable to consider rooting a viable option? I don't imagine myself enjoying a rooted phone as much as others on this forum. I would hate to be creating a black hole for malicious software to breed. i am only concerned with data retrieval for this one time in my life. Is rooting the only viable option? If i root, won't that make the previously mentioned software-scanning section (e.g., Dr. fone), more viable than the BIT-BY-BIT section tedious and pointless by comparison?
All in all, I think it most likely that i will need to root my phone and do the bit by bit copy. If a rooting-first-step is the final conclusion, then I am looking for clear and careful advice for my specific phone on how to root it without jeopardizing the deleted photos (e.g., avoiding a "factory reset" from unlocking the bootloader, or perhaps avoiding unlocking the bootloader altogether) and how to hopefully carry on from there. I don't even know if avoiding "unlocking the bootloader" will virtually guarantee a non-destructive root method
Rooting gets crazy because it leads to necessary installations of SuperUser, busybox, kernels, roms, etc... There are so many unfamiliar vague terms for a beginner like me and it is taking tons of time to break through. I am uninterested in keeping my phone rooted, or maintaining a lifestyle with a rooted phone. if we can move expeditiously from point A to B and then back, (get in, get the photos, and get out,) that would be the most awesome plan.
LINUX METHOD?
is there another way to get to the deleted photos?.
I do not know if 'mounting' the phone is akin to 'mounting' a scannable drive. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fw2MKGIgyF4
maybe this is another wild goose chase?
IN SUMMARY
1. It would be helpful if there was a root-free photo-recovery software solution that actually works (this is unlikely to be in existence) with an unrooted nexus 4
2. It would be helpful if it is possible to root without destroying my chances of recovering my deleted photos, with the goal of allowing recovery software access (deeper access) to my phone, i.e. disk digger or if necessary... a bit-by-bit copy to my PC.
3. it would be interesting if the nexus 4 can be magically mounted and scanned on the linux operating system
4. It would be MOST HELPFUL if there was a clear consensus on what direction to take, because there is a lot of misinformation out there. One wrong step and i could end up shooting myself in the foot twice (if i inadvertently reset my phone), or three times (if i brick my phone).
5. can the phone be put back to normal (i.e. unroot) after rooting? or does this require that i make a full backup of the phone in its current state? ( i tried using WUGS toolkit to backup my media, but it wont do it unless i unlock the bootloader... back to that problem again )
I'm sorry for sounding like an idiot. I have been at this for a more than a few hours. I sincerely appreciate any help and consideration towards this specific situation in advance, and the hope that this forum has already offered me.
Impossible to root 4.4.2 without unlocking the boot loader and wiping the device.
DrFredPhD said:
Impossible to root 4.4.2 without unlocking the boot loader and wiping the device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same problem.... There isn't a solution yet? :crying:
fabrollo said:
Same problem.... There isn't a solution yet? :crying:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you have to unlock the bootloader and that wipes the device
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app
jd1639 said:
Nope, you have to unlock the bootloader and that wipes the device
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And after i should try to recover all the wiped files with diskdigger for example? Maybe the datas that we was searching will be found?
Thanks... if i must try this way to solve my problem i will bite the bullet...
fabrollo said:
And after i should try to recover all the wiped files with diskdigger for example? Maybe the datas that we was searching will be found?
Thanks... if i must try this way to solve my problem i will bite the bullet...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The chances of recovering anything is very small
Sent from my Nexus 5 using XDA Free mobile app