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For all you guys and gals looking to root and enjoy the goodness of custom ROMs and kernels, PLEASE don't go digging up ancient rooting methods and old, obsolete kernels and other ephemera. There are more old, outdated threads floating around page one in the Development Section and people are getting themselves in trouble, or at least frustrated with dead links, etc.
If you want to root or customize, make sure the method/ROM/Kernel at least works for your Honeycomb version.
If anyone started an older thread in Development that is outdated now, could you consider putting "obsolete" in the title, like Team Tiamat did with Manta Ray and Katana?
We're going to be seeing a lot of new development soon, so maybe we can clean up the joint a little? OK, I'm done now.
Good call. I've had my Xoom since late September and it took me forever to figure out what was current here and what was not. I did figure it out though, and have my Xoom running exactly the same as in your sig.
Bairman said:
Good call. I've had my Xoom since late September and it took me forever to figure out what was current here and what was not. I did figure it out though, and have my Xoom running exactly the same as in your sig.
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Good going! But it would have been nice if you could have put your finger right on the latest mods and guides, without fighting your way through all the flotsam, right?
okantomi said:
Good going! But it would have been nice if you could have put your finger right on the latest mods and guides, without fighting your way through all the flotsam, right?
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Exactly... and that's why my first post to the forum was my response here. I'm usually a lurk and learn kinda guy, but your post was so apropos I had to chime in.
Yeah, def took a little while to sort thru what was current and relevant, especially after 4G modifications...
Hmm, since I picked up some of the new Adobe apps I've been thinking I should start allocating some time everyday to figure out how to root/install roms so I can OC my Xoom (I get a bit of lag here and there).
What would you guys recommend I do? Before I read this I was just about to dive into the numerous threads and poke around, but I can see myself following a possibly outdated method. Tiamat seems to be pretty popular, but with ICS coming soon, should I wait a bit to see if I can put that on my Xoom?
edit: should mention that I'm on 3.1 Wifi Xoom.
Jeffu said:
Hmm, since I picked up some of the new Adobe apps I've been thinking I should start allocating some time everyday to figure out how to root/install roms so I can OC my Xoom (I get a bit of lag here and there).
What would you guys recommend I do? Before I read this I was just about to dive into the numerous threads and poke around, but I can see myself following a possibly outdated method. Tiamat seems to be pretty popular, but with ICS coming soon, should I wait a bit to see if I can put that on my Xoom?
edit: should mention that I'm on 3.1 Wifi Xoom.
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You have a couple options-both good ones: you can root and install ClockworkMod Recovery and. the Tiamat Moray ROM and the new Odachi kernel using this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1249798 (get Odachi kernel from Development thread), and then wait a short time for our developers to cook up some ICS ROMS/kernels. Or, remain stock unrooted so you can get the ICS update OTA. Just be aware the unlocking will result in wiping your device and flashing a new rom will require a data wipe, so make sure to back-up everything. When you root, back-ups are much easier and restoration much more comprhensive--another great reason to root your Xoom.
okantomi said:
You have a couple options-both good ones: you can root and install ClockworkMod Recovery and. the Tiamat Moray ROM and the new Odachi kernel using this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1249798 (get Odachi kernel from Development thread), and then wait a short time for our developers to cook up some ICS ROMS/kernels. Or, remain stock unrooted so you can get the ICS update OTA. Just be aware the unlocking will result in wiping your device and flashing a new rom will require a data wipe, so make sure to back-up everything. When you root, back-ups are much easier and restoration much more comprhensive--another great reason to root your Xoom.
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Thanks for the reply!
I never got too deep into rooting and roms; at most I've just used one of those one-click-root apps for my Captivate, but since I went 3.2 even that's unrooted now. I miss Titanium Backup.
I'm about to head to sleep so I haven't looked, but is it expected that our Xooms will get ICS? I mainly want a faster experience, but ICS looks pretty so I'd like to get that too without having to get a new device.
edit: I think I'll give that link a go tomorrow after work.
Jeffu said:
Thanks for the reply!
I never got too deep into rooting and roms; at most I've just used one of those one-click-root apps for my Captivate, but since I went 3.2 even that's unrooted now. I miss Titanium Backup.
I'm about to head to sleep so I haven't looked, but is it expected that our Xooms will get ICS? I mainly want a faster experience, but ICS looks pretty so I'd like to get that too without having to get a new device.
edit: I think I'll give that link a go tomorrow after work.
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okantomi's guide is great. It's what I ended up using. One point to note, if you're planning to use the Moray ROM, step five isn't necessary since Moray is pre-rooted. Adding the Odachi kernel makes it run velvety smooth.
Everything I've read says that not only will the Xoom get ICS, it may be the first tablet to get it.
Bairman said:
okantomi's guide is great. It's what I ended up using. One point to note, if you're planning to use the Moray ROM, step five isn't necessary since Moray is pre-rooted. Adding the Odachi kernel makes it run velvety smooth.
Everything I've read says that not only will the Xoom get ICS, it may be the first tablet to get it.
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Thanks for the reminder. I'll make a note of it in the Guide. I don't want anyone to have to do any unneeded steps. It's complex as it is.
Hey,
I've looked through the forum and I'm a bit puzzled how is it with the bootloader "lock" on newly purchased models as I was thinking a bit of buying A500.
I read that the bootloader only checks for checksums when booting kernel / recovery (unless set to generate them), so you can put there custom kernel (get rid of Java Android) when you root it, which I read is not a problem even with 3.2.1 .
The thing I'm puzzled about is that I read there was a BL update and some say the BL is locked since that update and others not - so if I decide to buy A500 and there will be 3.2 with the BL update on it, is it locked and requiring signed kernel image or is it still the checksum only thing?
Skrilax_CZ said:
Hey,
I've looked through the forum and I'm a bit puzzled how is it with the bootloader "lock" on newly purchased models as I was thinking a bit of buying A500.
I read that the bootloader only checks for checksums when booting kernel / recovery (unless set to generate them), so you can put there custom kernel (get rid of Java Android) when you root it, which I read is not a problem even with 3.2.1 .
The thing I'm puzzled about is that I read there was a BL update and some say the BL is locked since that update and others not - so if I decide to buy A500 and there will be 3.2 with the BL update on it, is it locked and requiring signed kernel image or is it still the checksum only thing?
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No problem. I'll try to put it in "laymans" terms.
Manufacturers don't want you mucking with things. It causes more tech support for them, and also a bad image reputation when stupid people screw things up.
So what they do, is change bootloaders, the part that tells the tab, that the os they are loading, is 100% Acer. If it's not, it's just going to give you a silly face.
So we, here in the Acer community, try to find a way around the bootloader. And invent ways to install a operating system other than Acer.
It's an ongoing battle it seems. We find a way around it, Acer changes the rules, so we have to find another way.
The thing is, our dev's are smarter than their devs. Even HTC gave up, and just offer bootloader unlocks. Besides, they take our innovations, and incorporate them into their newer releases.
So the point is, if you buy a 500, or a 501, XDA community will give the means to unlock it. Root, so we say. And people will help you get it running right.
Here at XDA, we have many roms, from plain rooted stock roms, to cooked roms with OC kernels.
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
Currently on a new A500 with root and kernel. Manufactured in December 11. whole process took an hour. Hope this helps.
Skrilax_CZ said:
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
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IIRC, only 3.2.1 locked the bootloader, so even if your a500 comes with 3.2 you're safe.
That said, even with 3.2.1 and a locked bootloader, there is a downgrade trick that allows you to go from 3.2.1 (or 3.2, or 3.1) to 3.0 and run an app called iconiaroot and acer recovery installer. Iconiaroot is like z4root, VISIONary, gingerbreak, etc and recovery installer installs CWM recovery from within android. After doing all this you can flash any rom or kernel you want.
Skrilax_CZ said:
Ah, oops, placed the question incorrectly, I know how the things work around bootloaders and have designed some workarounds. I was rather asking whether new a model of A500 can run custom kernel (don't mean modifications with modules now) or not - but summarizing what you've said: every A500 can run custom kernel, right? Thanks for answering in any case.
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YES if your a500 has Stock android 3.2 or above.. you will have to fallow the downgrade rom flashing.Then you can flash any rom of your choice . there are several threads on this forum explaining how to do this..
Do a search for the thread by Timmy Dean.. his method i think has been called the easiest. It flashes your tablet to a rooted 3.21 stock rom thru adb . from your windows computer..
Acer has yet to plug this hole. So i would not take ANY OTA UPDATES. Im looking for ics if ever releases to plug such holes in the boot loader and stop its magic .
Happy Flashing just please understand everything before proceeding.. there are enough help i bricked my iconia threads.. Boohoo i hate to see anyone do that to such a expensive device..
Thanks. Ordered a piece
So basically I need to store UID, first x bytes in mmcblk0 (for the mmcblk0_start) from sc2k thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1129873) and I'm pretty much brick safe (should I screw both kernel & recovery).
Happy Flashing
That in theory will give you the resources to recover . BUT BY NO MEANS A Get of of trouble free pass..
do not flash nothing you don't trust and Fallow all instructions Carefully.. You sound well on your way to Making the best of your tablet...
Enjoy your time on xda Iconia forum. There are some awesome people on here. NO im not including myself in that .. Im just a bored thread reading chic. that repeats what i have read... nothing i know is my own work..
Happy Flashing..
erica_renee said:
Im just a bored thread reading chic. that repeats what i have read... nothing i know is my own work..
Happy Flashing..
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Aren't we all..... Not necessarily a chic though...
Allright, all went smooth (was 3.2 preinstalled). Thanks all.
you are very welcome..
Its simple easy with just a bit of reading up front..
OK, I rooted my A500 towards the end of last year since it didn't seem like Acer was going to keep up with the latest Android operating systems.
I checked in here recently and saw that ICS has been released for the A500. Joy.
So, I used CWM v5.0.0.0(thor2002ro rev1.3.4) to try and flash the rooted Acer OTA ICS. I figured I'd try the original ICS before I start flashing other people's ICS roms.
All went well until the reboot. It froze on the ACER screen and would go no farther. I figured that perhaps the cache/data/dalvik didn't clear the first time so I repeated those steps. format data user reset, clear caches, clear bat stats. Reflashed rom.
Reboot.
Stuck at ACER screen again.
I searched the forums and found that I need a different bootloader? There are a bunch of threads, but I can't seem to make sense of them.
Can someone please give me a step-by-step plan to get this thing from where I'm at to ICS?
I did get my tab working again by repeating whole process but installed HC 3.2.1 Flexstriker r9.6. It booted up into the rom just fine.
I guess this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1622425 - is close to what I need but it's tough to follow with all the different options and colors/fonts...
Can anyone help me down the right path?
Thanks in advance.
You can flash one of Civato's old Flexreaper roms on a HC bootloader. Since it is an ICS rom you can just update the boatloader as mentioned in the thread you linked.
I would suggest flashing Flexreaper 9 or something, his newer roms require you already have the ICS BL on. After you update the BL then just upgrade to one of his newer roms. They work very well. I've personally had no problems at all with his roms.
but....
If you want the stock Acer ICS, you have to downgrade all the way back to the old 3.x unstable rom and let it update from there. It will take a few updates, but it should get you to ICS.
Sorry, but this is a development forum not questions and answer, xda is strict about keeping things organize, please read the rules and guidelines.
Sent from my A500 using XDA
starkiller86 said:
....
If you want the stock Acer ICS, you have to downgrade all the way back to the old 3.x unstable rom and let it update from there. It will take a few updates, but it should get you to ICS.
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Any guide on this? I need it for warranty issues (charging stops after few minutes with power light flashing white / amber) Search is not working and there is no "going back to stock" thread in the dev section sticky roll-up thread.
The thought of going back down and then upgrading back up didn't appeal to me.. So, I bit the bullet and tried to make sense of the thread I mentioned... I managed to get through it and I now have the sandwich on my tablet.
What a pain in the.......
OK... ready for the jelly bean leaks now.
starkiller86 said:
You can flash one of Civato's old Flexreaper roms on a HC bootloader. Since it is an ICS rom you can just update the boatloader as mentioned in the thread you linked.
I would suggest flashing Flexreaper 9 or something, his newer roms require you already have the ICS BL on. After you update the BL then just upgrade to one of his newer roms. They work very well. I've personally had no problems at all with his roms.
but....
If you want the stock Acer ICS, you have to downgrade all the way back to the old 3.x unstable rom and let it update from there. It will take a few updates, but it should get you to ICS.
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I did read the rules/guidelines..
It's a question about development (or at least how to use some developed tools), so I put it here..
If it doesn't belong here, then perhaps a mod would be so kind as to move it..
At this point, the thread really could be deleted as the original query is handled.
However, tkolev has added a question.
lifeofcoding said:
Sorry, but this is a development forum not questions and answer, xda is strict about keeping things organize, please read the rules and guidelines.
Sent from my A500 using XDA
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Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
daddyspud said:
Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
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Over the air to ics, use for a week to see how it runs for you. Then make your mods, that way you can compare and know what messed it up.
If I do ota will I b able to root the device or do I root the. Ota as hmmm
daddyspud said:
Hay chaps/ladies
Got me self a acer iconia on the way not sure if its running honeycomb
Im looking to root and upgrade to ics stable I'm. Regular sensation flasher so used to that
But looking threw a few threads I'm looking a little lost lol seems alit tricker to root and upgrade to ics with custom recovery n Rom
Could I possibly get some advice I now I'm guna get a few people telling me to read before posting etc thanks please b nice we all start some where
Thanks for advice spud
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To find outr what you're currently running - Settings>About Phone
Rooting/custom recovery ICS is the easy bit...icsRoot will do the job, and Acer Recovery Installer from the market to install a recovery....
flashing the bootloader (needed for some custom roms) seems to get a few people confuddled, there are plenty of guides to help you there...and plenty of 'help, I'm bricked threads' too so have all your ducks in row before you go down that road
You need the acer drivers from acer and also the google USB drivers, once you have the drivers set and a custom recovery then do a backup, it will generate a "uid.txt" file in the backup folder...copy this file and guard it with your life!!!!! This is the infamous CPUID...from which you get your tabs "secure boot key" IF anything goes wrong then this cpuid is the only thing that will un-unbrick you!!! Make sure you get this before you say goodbye to HC as ICS reports your serial no. which aint gonna work, its by far the easiest way to get yr cpuid, so do yourself a big favour!!!
Honeycomb cannot be rooted...., but there are pre-rooted HC roms around, ezterry has one and also has a nice stock based ICS with a custom kernel. timmydean also has one - the good thing about his one is that its one of only 2 ways to downgrade back to HC, needed if you bork the bootloader flash or are unlucky enough to get a tab that gets 'stuck formatting/partitioning' in nvFlash
As far as actually getting ICS, as shaun said, wait for yr tab to update itself - you'll need to d/l the acer enhancement something-or-other from the market. OR just flash an ICS stock or custom rom - there are normally 2 different kernels for the custom roms "one for the patched bootloader 3.12+ and one for BL 3.01" acer recovery installer will tell you which one you have but if you havent flashed the patched BL then you'll be on the 3.01.
think thats about it for now!!! happy flashing
Hey guys, Im going to try and explain my situation as best I can. Im not a newb to rooting, etc, but I am no means an expert like most of you. So, with that said, here I go...
I had my Acer A500 rooted on honeycomb when I first bought, when it first came out. I then tried to do the OTA update of ICS many months back with no luck as it gave me the Triangle of death thing when it tried to install it. However it broke my root anyways even though ICS never installed. The weird thing though is that I finally realized my build version stated I was on ICS, but my Android version showed I was running 3.2.1 honeycomb!!!
Yesterday, I finally got fed up and spent hours searching this forum and others trying to find a solution.
On this page (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1816560), I tried flashing many of the full ROM's and update package ROM's and finally found one that worked under the update package...this one specifically (Acer_A500_7.014.16_041.206.01_COM_GEN1: ftp://94.23.233.147/Tablets/A500/Ace...1_COM_GEN1.zip). My tab booted and seems to be working fine and running 4.0.3 now.
So with all this said, my question to you Android Exerts...what the heck happened? How was I running an ICS build, but on honeycomb? Even though I flashed an update package, do I have a full ICS or do I need to flash a full ROM now?
If I need to flash a full ROM, which one should I do from the first link above?
I am also attaching a screenshot of my Acer tab to show you what Im running.
Please help and thank you to all in advance.
Anyone? I would really appreciate some help/feedback from you genius android guys.
Well, from the looks of things you are now on stock ICS....
To flash a rom ics/jb from here, u need to nvflash the unlocked boot loader package, which will include a custom recovery...
Most custom roms are pre-rooted so u won't need to worry about that...
Head over to civatos boot loader thread for a guide and d/l links
It can be a rather complex process but if u follow the guide to the letter, u shouldn't have any probs...
Go thru steps 1-4 first and then carry on to the actual flashing process.
There are auto-tools u can use...apxFlash Tool or afterOTA but I prefer the good old manual nvFlash method,
You will need drivers and your cpuid - see the guide in my sig if u need further info
Be aware that if u muck this up, u may end up bricked and lately there's been a lot of this....worst case scenario-fried m/board!!
Most folk flash with no troubles at all...the other 5%.....well......
There are some gr8 roms to choose from.....flexreaper, cm10 are my faves...but really, all the custom rooms here are fantastic and well supported.
If u need any further help feel free to ask!
And good luck
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk 2