Database Users

[Q] to root or not to root?

just got my tf101 and updated to 3.1 and all stock. Now what is the benefit of rooting? What does it gives you that stock cant.

I'm curious about this as well.

Freezing apps
Backing up aps
Removing bloatware with superuser
Many more advantages as well
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using Tapatalk

Rooting isn't for everyone, really. Many users will derive as much pleasure from stock TFs just because that what they feel comfortable with and that's cool.
Rooting opens up many options to the user experience. Many apps (Titanium Backup is one....and probably a must have) will not install without root. You'll find, after time, many great custom ROMs that add functions and user interface enhancements you could onl get rooted. Overclocking? Can't leave that out! Being able to overclock your TF will speed up your machine and provide much staisfaction. Games? Way better. Some of the genius devs here can tweak so many parts of the TF and android experience ... you'll wonder why you didn't root earlier.
Finally, you'll learn about android and learning is really what it's all about.

Does the overclocking help on things like laggy keyboards?

How is access to root handled in Android? Can any app at any time use root (that would be quite dangerous) or does it have to ask for permission (password or pin maybe?) like sudo in Linux?

It prompts for SU/Root access and you can either allow, deny or always allow.

turbulent28 said:
Does the overclocking help on things like laggy keyboards?
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Click to collapse
Yes it could, but is not the main reason.
Most of the time it depends on the rom that you have installed, from my personal experience.
Overclocking improve functionality generally speaking, so it could help for some lag issue, but I would say that mainly depends on the rom and, precisely, if you have lots of bloadware installed, or how many app are you running at the same time and so on....

I would like to come up with some really awesome justified reason why I rooted/custom rom/overclocked but to be honest the real answer is... Because I could

What is Asus's status on rooting? I take it they wash their hands of it and basically will say it invalidates your warranty. But I feel they should at least aknowledge it as OK if you are able to flash back to stock and confirm any problems exist with the stock rom. But I guess that's just not how it works unfortunately?

is it possible to root from 3.1 ? directly

pretty sure as long as you create a backup you can go back to stock without any evidence of rooting...

juliensch said:
is it possible to root from 3.1 ? directly
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Click to collapse
Yes, I just did this yesterday. The instructions are in the "[ROM] Transformer 3.1 pure root" in the developers section. It only took about 10 minutes. Fairly straight forward. I did not lose any apps or data. Make sure to load the Asus Sync and USB drivers from Asus on your computer before you start. Several folks ran into issues with that.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1125714
Mostly I've been able to backup using Titanium Backup. I was hoping to be able to map shares using cifs, but sadly I can't get it to work.

Can Mac users go through the root process?

I don't think the above process works from a Mac. Sorry.

nv88 said:
I don't think the above process works from a Mac. Sorry.
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Is there any root process that will work for Mac users?

Dorkington said:
Is there any root process that will work for Mac users?
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Click to collapse
It does work in linux with some adaptation of the commands in the scripts and you do not require any installation of drivers from asus. Most distros can easily be used with the adb dev kit

dasbooter said:
It does work in linux with some adaptation of the commands in the scripts and you do not require any installation of drivers from asus. Most distros can easily be used with the adb dev kit
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Ok, what about using Parallels/Boot Camp? I haven't booted into Windows in a while, but I should still be able to.

I have rooted every phone I had, but that was to replace roms and remove bloatware that was unremovable. With 3.1 I don't feel the need to do either. Since the apps install in the storage partition they are not flooding a small partition like on the phone. I would have a real hard time filling the 32 GB with apps. Second, I really don't see anything in the available alternative roms that I want. What are other's finding in 3rd party roms? Overclocking might be nice, but not at the cost of either reliability or battery life.

jerrykur said:
I have rooted every phone I had, but that was to replace roms and remove bloatware that was unremovable. With 3.1 I don't feel the need to do either. Since the apps install in the storage partition they are not flooding a small partition like on the phone. I would have a real hard time filling the 32 GB with apps. Second, I really don't see anything in the available alternative roms that I want. What are other's finding in 3rd party roms? Overclocking might be nice, but not at the cost of either reliability or battery life.
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I agree with everything you've said here. The only reason I rooted 3.1 was to install titanium backup. I've tried a couple 3.1 custom roms, but there was nothing really exciting about them that made them really standout from stock.

Who's rooted their retil unit?

Who here has rooted their retail unit? I've rooted every android device I've owned in the past but this one seems a little..different...to me. Really, all I'm after is some new kernels.

Kayak83 said:
Who here has rooted their retail unit? I've rooted every android device I've owned in the past but this one seems a little..different...to me. Really, all I'm after is some new kernels.
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Click to collapse
I rooted mine, a GT-P7510.

Kayak83 said:
Who here has rooted their retail unit? I've rooted every android device I've owned in the past but this one seems a little..different...to me. Really, all I'm after is some new kernels.
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Click to collapse
There is only one kernel so far and it is a work in progress so you might want to wait and take the time to fully understand the root process. If you already have Android SDK installed and are comfortable using a cmd prompt the instructions are pretty easy to follow though.
Sent from my GT-P7510 using XDA Premium App

Follow the instructions in this thread...it is well detailed and simple.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1131448
Locked Bootloader rooted with 3.1
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

I rooted my retail 32GB grey and havent looked back! Might not be anything big available for it yet, but give it time and you know the roms and everything else will start to emerge.

I rooted but not so much for custom ROMs as much as being able to use apps that require root like titanium backup and adfree.
I did try the new kernel and overclocked but I found it unstable and went back to stock.

MoNsTeReNeRgY22 said:
I rooted my retail 32GB grey and havent looked back! Might not be anything big available for it yet, but give it time and you know the roms and everything else will start to emerge.
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did the same, its better to get the "work" done now so nothing bug fun and games later

Rooted mine. Didn't feel any different than when I rooted my EVO. Of course, i rooted my EVO back before the "one-click" solutions appeared, so doing things like flashing partitions was neither unusual nor scary.

ericlmccormick said:
I rooted but not so much for custom ROMs as much as being able to use apps that require root like titanium backup and adfree.
I did try the new kernel and overclocked but I found it unstable and went back to stock.
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the kernel is stable (as of 10.30PM EST refresh), from various reports thus far.
your specific device cannot oc past 1ghz at what im willing to give.
you can still reap the benefits of the kernel without OC (which is a marked improvement over stock, in my opinion), if you so choose.
if you do experience any issues (when not oc'd), which you feel is kernel related, please report this in the thread with a log in hand (/proc/last_kmsg and dmesg).
thank you.

I guess i'm just hesitant because I have never rooted by running through cmd on my pc. But it has always been fairly strait forward. Leap of faith.

I feel the same way KayaK....I am leaping into it as well.

I agree that it is a bit different. I was hesitant, and hoped someone would release a simplified method. But... curiosity got the best of me.
I've rooted and upgraded to the OC kernel. I'm not having any problems, and it is a bit more responsive. Note: I did have to 'push' the files to my tablet a couple of times, because it seemed that the initial ones didn't work.
I have previously rooted my nexus s via adb/fastboot. I found the adb method to be more reliable; in the sense that, if my phone went into a bootloop... I knew I could hook it up via usb and fix it.
Just do a CWM backup first.

hoping that someone will come up with a One Click Root solution like they did for the Samsung Infuse phone. Just bought my SGT 10.1 at BestBuy and it has no SD card slot, so I am not sure how to root without pushing to sdcard. Has anyone successfully root their SGT without sdcard slot?
please advise.
Thanks

newims2000 said:
hoping that someone will come up with a One Click Root solution like they did for the Samsung Infuse phone. Just bought my SGT 10.1 at BestBuy and it has no SD card slot, so I am not sure how to root without pushing to sdcard. Has anyone successfully root their SGT without sdcard slot?
please advise.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't believe anyone has a sdcard slot on their SGT. There is a SDCARD folder that behaves in the same way an sdcard would. Put the neccessary files in this folder and proceed as usual.

[Q] stock a500 with hc 3.1 root/or not to root

Ok I am totally new to the android buzz. My wife and I both have orignal G1s never really played with them always to busy....Now we both have Acer A500's. I am not gonna play with hers since she loves hers the way it is. I of course feel it should do MORE. So with that being said here is my specs
HC 3.1
kernel version 2.6.36.3
build # 4.010.11_com_gen2
has this level of update been rooted and was there any issues.
(I not only use this to play and well gonna learn but also for work)
Again I am totally new to this.
Oh and Ido have a lot of leather on my back also.....hehehehe....;-}

Yes, you can root 3.1 (just did it this weekend). No issues that I've run across with rooting (knock on wood). For me, I have just installed root programs (TiB, etc.) and OC'd (req'd new kernel, got up to 1.5 GHz w/o problems (knock on wood again)).
No custom ROMs yet, as I've been quite happy with Acer's ROM so far, with the aforementioned tweaking.

I think it really depends on what you want to do - I rooted when I first got it to play, but ended up going back to unrooted stock after the first few weeks - if you don't have a need to root, then I'd just say don't bother.
Now that said, I just re-rooted last week simply to get Netflix working (which it does great now) - so that was my "need" - take that as you will.
But rooting (and unrooting) is pretty darn easy, so it's really hard to mess up your system, just remember - always backup - backup everytime you mess with something - because going back is easy with backups, if you forget, you are forced to find creative ways to "wipe and reset" back to stock.

pfc.joker said:
I think it really depends on what you want to do - I rooted when I first got it to play, but ended up going back to unrooted stock after the first few weeks - if you don't have a need to root, then I'd just say don't bother.
Now that said, I just re-rooted last week simply to get Netflix working (which it does great now) - so that was my "need" - take that as you will.
But rooting (and unrooting) is pretty darn easy, so it's really hard to mess up your system, just remember - always backup - backup everytime you mess with something - because going back is easy with backups, if you forget, you are forced to find creative ways to "wipe and reset" back to stock.
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Click to collapse
well gonna wait a few days before i root due to need to pick up a mcro sdcards to back up system since i only have one and it is corrupt (how or why but nothing can read or write to it) and here lately been to dang busy with work....and dont have anything to back up to

well thats sounds chicken**** doesn't it.....i gues im just being a scared sissy....gonna root i do need access to root to access some vpns at work and need to tether also and do a few things that need access to root...just scared that i mess up and then cant return.....did that with first pc i ever owned and i got lucky with the place where i bought it they reinstalled all and i did the same thing and fixed it myself the second time.....lmao....worst case is i can confiscate the wifes a500 and get all from it to resotre mine......

root will also give you access to deleting any crapware that comes pre-installed. While the Iconia has limited crap, there is some present.

I'm newbie to this stuff (Android) and just got an Iconia A500 (unfortunately without 3G embedded and no ad-hoc wifi).
I understood I need to have access to root account in order to release the ad-hoc wifi and then use a mobile phone that can theter wifi to other machines.
I tried the original way of "rooting" the A500 without success (sorry, i cannot include links here).
Is there any new way since I updated A500 to HC3.1?
Thanks in advance.
Reinaldo

reiferreira said:
I'm newbie to this stuff (Android) and just got an Iconia A500 (unfortunately without 3G embedded and no ad-hoc wifi).
I understood I need to have access to root account in order to release the ad-hoc wifi and then use a mobile phone that can theter wifi to other machines.
I tried the original way of "rooting" the A500 without success (sorry, i cannot include links here).
Is there any new way since I updated A500 to HC3.1?
Thanks in advance.
Reinaldo
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Gingerbreak will not work on 3.1 you need to use iconiaroot found here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1138228
It's quite easy- Good luck

cfrock said:
root will also give you access to deleting any crapware that comes pre-installed. While the Iconia has limited crap, there is some present.
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And if you do THAT, future OTA updates will no longer work unless they're a full ROM. Acer has a nasty habit of issuing differential updates.

FloatingFatMan said:
And if you do THAT, future OTA updates will no longer work unless they're a full ROM. Acer has a nasty habit of issuing differential updates.
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True enough, but if you're rooting and trying out new roms, kernels, or deleting crap... then staying current with OTA probably isn't a high priority. Rather, you're looking to tweak/mod your tab and are more likely to wait for a new cooked rom based on said OTA.

cfrock said:
True enough, but if you're rooting and trying out new roms, kernels, or deleting crap... then staying current with OTA probably isn't a high priority. Rather, you're looking to tweak/mod your tab and are more likely to wait for a new cooked rom based on said OTA.
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Click to collapse
Sure, but better than people be fully aware of the consequences of their actions... You'd be surprised at the sheer number of folks who just don't think. Look back at this forum before we got custom ROMs and OTAs started coming out as a prime example.

FloatingFatMan said:
Sure, but better than people be fully aware of the consequences of their actions... You'd be surprised at the sheer number of folks who just don't think. Look back at this forum before we got custom ROMs and OTAs started coming out as a prime example.
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Click to collapse
Agreed- you're right.

well gonna root today pray for the best.....figure worst case is ima gonna be crying like a lil b**** if I mess it up. Sounds like if I mess it up there is some very highly knowledge here that can help me back to square "A". My main question-------I should be using iconiaroot-1.3.apk or should I be using signedgbiconiatab1.20.apk--------allready got acerecovery downloaded from the market and also titanium back up and which is the proper busybox or do I not need busy box? One last thing I would like to thank all those for the great direction you all have pointed me to!.............;-}

thehunted1 said:
well gonna root today pray for the best.....figure worst case is ima gonna be crying like a lil b**** if I mess it up. Sounds like if I mess it up there is some very highly knowledge here that can help me back to square "A". My main question-------I should be using iconiaroot-1.3.apk or should I be using signedgbiconiatab1.20.apk--------allready got acerecovery downloaded from the market and also titanium back up and which is the proper busybox or do I not need busy box? One last thing I would like to thank all those for the great direction you all have pointed me to!.............;-}
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need iconiaroot 1.3
As for the other things.. you'll need to be specific as to what you are looking to do. Acer Recovery is an easy way to install ClockworkMod recovery which can then be used to BACKUP and install new roms. Titanium Backup can be used to delete apps and back them and their data up as well. You'll need to be specific.

cfrock said:
You need iconiaroot 1.3
As for the other things.. you'll need to be specific as to what you are looking to do. Acer Recovery is an easy way to install ClockworkMod recovery which can then be used to BACKUP and install new roms. Titanium Backup can be used to delete apps and back them and their data up as well. You'll need to be specific.
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Click to collapse
well i dont think i want to install a new rom, but i do a good image back up before i do anything, i do want to get the otas and again as i mentioned before my wife has the same tablet and we are not going to do any thing to it but leave it in its stock level. i will leave the original crap on it which the only thing i dont like is the zinio reader but it doesnt bother me. Will work on trying to get my crack berry or my g1 to tecther with it due to I do and will be using it for work. At present i rdp into my laptop at home just need to be able to get online anywhere and any time....

oh and one last thing do i need to go into portrait mode and lock it down and so forth through all the videos i have seen and foloow those steps or just copy file to sdcar go into a file exploerer and click file and follow instructions.....

[Q] rooting an ICS iconia a550 that has never been rooted

I see lots of instructions for "re-rooting" an updated a550, and other options, but I bought my a550 new a month or so ago, did not root, got the ICS update this weekend and would now like to root it so that I can use a few apps that require root (like the cisco anyconnect client).
I hate to look like a complete Noob, but with so much information floating around out there, much of it for folks who rooted first while on HC, I'm having a hard time finding the information I need. Would anyone else who might found this information be willing to share? Hopefully accepting ICS on a device that was never rooted before does not preclude rooting this thing. I really like the tablet but would like it even more if I could connect to the VPN at work, and that requires root.

Hey there.
If im not mistaken, Sounds like you did the same as me and did not root your tablet on HC and went ahead and installed the official ICS from acer.
I also did this then went ahead and rooted it by this method http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1546593
Worked for me even though others in that thread were having trouble last time i checked mine worked first time.
Good Luck

Getting a Nook - Rooting, Kernel, OC related questions

Hello,
I am getting a Nook ST soon and would like to know, what i am able to do with it. Wich kernel, rooting procedure etc. would you recommend?
I have been using androids for some years now and know how to root, update, install .zips in cwm and so on.
I would like to have the best possible android experience with my new nook.
So what would you recommend? Does overclocking and using the new fast modes drain a lot of battery?
Thanks
Shorty66