Database Users

Root or wait for Android 2.2?

Hey guys, I'm new to the Android community and I'm completely in love with it now that I had the phone for several weeks. Like every other phone I get, I'm always eager to customize it in all the ways possible.
So here is my question, rooting seems simple enough with the great guides you guys have here. However, I've heard that Android 2.2 is right around the corner with new great features. I read that if you upgrade your firmware, it will un-root your phone back to stock.
I'm already hungry to try the new features that a rooted phone can do but I'm thinking that this update is worth waiting for since this phone is new anyways.
Any opinions?

Steps for success:
1. Root phone.
2. Wait for 2.2.
3. Download a 2.2 rom with root.

Were would I find the rooted roms?

DynamicXL said:
Were would I find the rooted roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In the development section.

Its a file you can find . Its not a rom. Your phone will still get the ota even after you root it. Can't say the same for custom roms
Sent using xda app...

Cool, thanks for the quick responds guys.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

Absolutely ROOT. I have some things to do once rooted in the sticky, please let me know if you have suggestions.

Rooting have nothing to do with ota update but flashing a customer rom will.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

I'm thinking of rooting. My battery life is a joke. The only thing I miss about Nexus One besides trackball notifications.

nick_karstedt said:
Steps for success:
1. Root phone.
2. Wait for 2.2.
3. Download a 2.2 rom with root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i second this

Yeah, I think I'm going to root my phone soon. Thanks for the help!

Fuse8499 said:
I'm thinking of rooting. My battery life is a joke. The only thing I miss about Nexus One besides trackball notifications.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure how rooting your phone is going to solve your battery issues? All that rooting does is give you root (superuser) permissions on your phone. You can do this to remove the bloatware that came preinstalled on the phone, run various apps that require root. But I can't think of any way that it's going to allow you to save battery life that you couldn't already do non-rooted.
My only reason to root was for wifi-tethering...

I know the newer version of Facebook is a battery eater. I switched back to the older style and my phone is happy again.
Root is great.
1. Remove bloat apps
2. Remove the annoying T-mobile jingle
3. Root Explorer is fun to play with
I think thats all I've really done so far. Well I should that I've wanted to really do so far.

Rooting isn't working for me otherwise I would have to agree :-(

^ could you give a little more detail, so we can help?
Do you have the update file named update.zip.zip by accident?

I pretty much had the same question. But after a little reading just now I actually understand what rooting is. Helps that I'm familiar with linux! Attempting to root in 5 4 3...
Sent from my SGH-T959 Samsung Vibrant using XDA App w/swype

So if you don't have a data plan you can't get the ota update? You must root? Mine is on AT&T with no data plan right now.

Isn't there much more to rooting then apps and root control? I've seen all the custome ROMs people get to customize the phone and theme just about everything.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

s15274n said:
^ could you give a little more detail, so we can help?
Do you have the update file named update.zip.zip by accident?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No I just Have a file named update.zip. I have tried two different methods twice now and once I'm in recovery and go to flash the zip it says it isn't there. I don't know what it is I'm doing wrong.
Sent from my awesome Vibrant using XDA App

So I rooted my phone earlier today. It was unbelievably easy to get the whole set up going.
Haven't had much time to fool around with it yet except for several apps that require root access, mainly to flash and back up my data in case of an oops.
Sent from my SGH-T959 using XDA App

How do you root the MyTouch 4g?

Can we use SuperOneClick Root to root this device? Any ideas?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

No, that's for the Galaxy S phones, to root your phone download "VISIONary" from the market, that will root it for you
Sent from my HTC Espresso using XDA App

Nice but it didn't list the model as one of the choices?
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

There is no root yet. Have to wait

visionary works but it will unroot itself the second you reset the phone, it will be fine if you leave quickboot on though

This is crazy, but why would someone want to root this phone?

Custom Roms, Free Wireless Tethering, Overclocking, Undervolting, that kinda stuff.

for me it was to use titanium backup

Akulamenuri said:
Custom Roms, Free Wireless Tethering, Overclocking, Undervolting, that kinda stuff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Freedom man, freedom.

I would need to underclock my processor when I get it.
Sent from my HTC HD2 using XDA App

How could anyone NOT want to root this phone? I cant wait for permroot to put some CM love on this...

Here's hoping it will get rooted.
/beer

Oh yeah!

No planning on new roms this one works awesome...the only reason I used visionary is cause screen shots ....that's it..
Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk

ajftl said:
No planning on new roms this one works awesome...the only reason I used visionary is cause screen shots ....that's it..
Sent from my HTC Glacier using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What app do you use for Screenshots? I used Visionary and ShootMe says it can't get permission.
EDIT: I ran Visionary a second time and got it to work...

Dreh4christ said:
This is crazy, but why would someone want to root this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've rooted every Android phone I've had, only to add features that it didn't have, but this phone, no thanks, no need for root - it has everything I've ever rooted for ready to go right out of the box!

same for me.
PolishDude said:
for me it was to use titanium backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I'll root to get apps installed to sd

kaiso said:
I'll root to get apps installed to sd
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't you already do that? I don't really see the need with this phone though, seeing as it has 1GB of internal space.

I use titanium backup with tem root OK. However, I want to do image backups, and need permanent root to be able to restore them.
Alos, currently using a cleaned up base ROM on my Nexus. I would really like to see a TMO cleaned-up-cleaned-out ROM someday - they loaded this up with way too much junk.
Will fiddle with the work-arounds in the meantime, but permanent root and cleaned up ROM is the only way to go.

Question about root (newbie)

Im hesitant about rooting my phone or not. If I root my phone, I think the bad guys could stole my information or do bad things to my device.
Or maybe when some app for example root explorer needs admin rights android will ask for them (like windows 7)?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

Rooting a phone gives you 'administrative' rights similar to on a PC, it gives you more control over the phone and allows access to system files which would usually be hidden if you was not rooted.
Rooting is easy and is reversible. it is not dangerous and quite a lot of apps require root access.

sammy_user said:
Im hesitant about rooting my phone or not. If I root my phone, I think the bad guys could stole my information or do bad things to my device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The "good" bad guys can do it regardless what you do
sammy_user said:
Or maybe when some app for example root explorer needs admin rights android will ask for them (like windows 7)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you will be prompted by the superuser app.

Thanks. But if you are not root when you buy sgs, why can you install new apps that if im correct go to the data folder (root required)?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App

sammy_user said:
Thanks. But if you are not root when you buy sgs, why can you install new apps that if im correct go to the data folder (root required)?
Sent from my GT-I9000 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you first buy your phone you CAN'T install Apps that require root access... you need to root your phone first.
Most Apps don't require root as they aren't installed in the Ram but on the internal SD card. This is the same Ram vs flash memory arrangement that has been used with mobile devices since the Palm Pilot.
Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA Premium App

rschenck said:
When you first buy your phone you CAN'T install Apps that require root access... you need to root your phone first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You CAN install Apps that require root access they just wont run as you want them too
rschenck said:
Most Apps don't require root as they aren't installed in the Ram but on the internal SD card. This is the same Ram vs flash memory arrangement that has been used with mobile devices since the Palm Pilot.Sent from my GT-I9000T using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am not sure I understand this or its right or wrong. Am just confused about this
However to the OP question. Installing from the market/app isn't the same as you copying the file yourself. So your question is pointless. If a process/app/mechanism already has access to it, like the market what is has to do with you not being rooted in the beginning?

The bad guys that came with the rooting of my phone, made my phone 10 times faster and smoother..
So I love those little bad guys!

rooting is the first step to a new world... welcome

[Q] No-loss root found, testers needed

Followup to this msg: We have enough volunteers. I just need to work thru some issues with jcase before we start testing. Please be patient.
Good news everyone...
About 8 days ago I rooted my TB -without-losing-ANYTHING-.
I'd like to get a few volunteers to try the procedure before I make it public...
Anyone with an UN-rooted phone who's willing to be a guinea pig, please PM me. Ideal volunteers would be moderately tech-savvy and not have anything on their phone that would be catastrophic if it were lost.
You'd also be a good candidate to help getting this procedure worked out if you just want to root your phone and don't care if you lose anything...
If you're wondering why I don't just post it, I had several false starts (kept getting interrupted because I didn't allow enough time) and then didn't take detailed notes on the final run where I managed to finish it. I want the instructions to be fairly solid before I throw anyone with critical phone data into the procedure.
I hope you understand and will be patient while I get this properly documented...

We already have root?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

superchilpil said:
We already have root?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The current root removes all of your data, he's saying he found a way to do it and not lose any data.

superchilpil said:
We already have root?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes....but he's looking for testers who possibly won't lose any data, apps, etc., by going to root from stock.
We have root, but any process, automated or manual...will put the phone back to 100% stock and remove any and all user info.

superchilpil said:
We already have root?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We have root but the current method wipes the data. He has found a way to root without losing data. That's the way I took it.
Edit: both of you beat me to it lol
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

No offense to the OP but once you flash another rom you WILL have to wipe...
Now if its a one click type of root then that's a breakthrough
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

I see the value in this. Some people may just wanna root their TB but not want to install custom ROM. Or they may want to root to see what they can do with a rooted phone.
Thanks for your work but too bad I've already rooted mine.

I'm willing to try it
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

Ill try it our for you. Ill unroot when I get home and give your method a shot. Let me know
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App

superchilpil said:
No offense to the OP but once you flash another rom you WILL have to wipe...
Now if its a one click type of root then that's a breakthrough
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not a one-click (I wish...).
If this works for the volunteers, the part in your msg about "... WILL have to wipe." may be obsolete info...

Followup volunteering msgs sent to lgldrgdlr and rjackson23 (who should have PM'ed me...)

I think we have enough volunteers at this time. Thanks.
I'm working with jcase (who may have a missing piece of the puzzle for a no-loss variant that would take MUCH less time to run). I'll keep you informed as this progresses...

wmserver said:
I see the value in this. Some people may just wanna root their TB but not want to install custom ROM. Or they may want to root to see what they can do with a rooted phone.
Thanks for your work but too bad I've already rooted mine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm in that boat.. I want root, but not really interested in other ROMs at this time. I went down that road wit hmy X and my Xoom, and its a pain, especially wit hthe Xoom and the move from 3.01 to 3.1 and now 3.2.
I guess one main question is if you root the TB, does it hack the hotspot as well, or would i still need to go get Wireless Tether?
jwb

This would be extremely useful...don't listen to the naysayers.
For those of us who waited to root a week, two, or even a month or two after getting the phone, there was no way to make a solid backup of apps, settings, etc. since most of the better methods require root. So many things had to be wiped clean completely. With a no-wipe root, whether you move onto ROMs or not, you have the opportunity to take a nandroid, use Titanium Backup, etc.
I can't donate my time or phone since I'm busy at work and need a strong daily driver, but I wish you luck.

I just rooted my phone yesterday. I would have liked to try it out and be part of the breathrough.
Sent from my HTC Thunderbolt using XDA App

Jolest said:
Not a one-click (I wish...).
If this works for the volunteers, the part in your msg about "... WILL have to wipe." may be obsolete info...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
great work man Im not trying to bash you
Is it any easyer than our original method? I know alot of people have problems with it because adb is so "scary"
Sent from my ADR6400L using Tapatalk

superchilpil said:
great work man Im not trying to bash you
Is it any easyer than our original method? I know alot of people have problems with it because adb is so "scary"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry... Unfortunately, it's not any easier. It's an add-on to jcase's root method so it still uses adb. It actually takes about 3 times as much time as his, but most of that time is waiting for backup and restore operations to complete.

Very glad to hear development is still ongoing for root! I like this! I hope it works out well. I'd volunteer but I'm past that point. I ran my dInc stock rooted for a pretty long time before trying a custom ROM. This makes a lot of sense to me.

I'll be watching this. My wife won't let me root her TB because she doesn't want to redo her settings.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

I advise against using this backup method, taking a DD of /data while its r/w can lead to corruption.
A better idea would be to push su (aka a temp root) into your path and use something like titanium backup to backup you data.

should i root my GS2?

Hi, i am just wondering if i should flash my stock kernel and use root. I like to be able to play games including the tegra ones however If i do use root and use chainfire 3d will all the curent market apps i have still be available? last time i went to fix market settings and i lost some of them and had 2 manually download them off the internet.
Also, what are the cons of rooting?
I am worried about losing my carrier specific firmware..what does that actually do?

There aren't that many good reasons to root.
I only rooted mine to do the free sim unlock (also from chainfire). 6 months in and I'm still on the rooted stock rom and stock kernel.
On old android phones I had always rooted to use apps2sd, but that isn't an issue with the SGS2.
Perhaps the best reason to root is to get Android 4.0 before the OTA release. Looks like we should have a reasonable ICS ROM with most things working by Christmas. The OTA may be a few months away.

IMO a device should come pre-rooted or at least mentioned in the phone box that it should be rooted
Seriously.

Simple if you have to ask then the answer is NO.
You root when you need root .
It does nothing to the phone bar allow a deeper user level access .
When you require this level of access or you want to run an app that requires root then root .
Likewise if you want to install a custom rom via CWM you require root .
Root voids warranty and raises the custom rom counter so its your choice .
jje

JJEgan said:
Simple if you have to ask then the answer is NO.
You root when you need root .
It does nothing to the phone bar allow a deeper user level access .
When you require this level of access or you want to run an app that requires root then root .
Likewise if you want to install a custom rom via CWM you require root .
Root voids warranty and raises the custom rom counter so its your choice .
jje
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1 on that.. Its all up to you...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

I was in the same boat, I couldn't decide whether to root our not.
I recommend doing your research, think allot if you actually need rooted apps. Then decide on a method of rooting.
Zergrush is the best method if you just want root access. Its the method I used, plus you can easily flash a new kernel using an app like Mobile Odin.
If you feel you don't NEED root don't do it. Messing on with a phone will void the warranty and possibly irreparably damage it.
Good luck
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

I believe forum's are a great place for asking questions, but an even better place for researching all you need to know. So is Google.
****, when I first started off with the S1 I had no idea about android. But through reading alone I learnt how to obtain download mode (mine didn't have it), spoof product code in kies, flash all sorts through Odin and cwm, as well as root and more.
I didn't care about root until I downloaded titanium backup which requires it. I therefore wanted root access.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

what ever you do as soon as you root back up the /efs folder (immediately first thing you should do after rooting no matter what!)

i only rooted my phone because i wanted to use setCPU to save battery.

Since you would like to play Tegra games and the only way in S2 is root and use chainfire 3D. Just root it off and enjoy it

With superoneclick you have the option to unroot. Would Samsung know that it's been rooted and still void warranty?

MagicMan3 said:
With superoneclick you have the option to unroot. Would Samsung know that it's been rooted and still void warranty?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unrooting will unroot the device.. It can be done in every other methods also.. But your custom binary counter will increase.. Simply, yes it is possible to find that the device is rooted even after unrooting, unless you reset your binary counter..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

Titanium Backup=reason to root
Sent from my GT-I9100 using Tapatalk

Also , Sixaxis Controller app is so sweet if you own a PS3. You seem like the gaming type so you could get a PSX emulator, download your favorite ROMs and whack it off with your PS3 dualshock. Imagine playing Metal Gear Solid on your SGS2 ( looks better then on a real PSone actually
altough configuring the app is a pain in the a$$
PS. the amount of customization you can do when you root is immense!

Athavan said:
Unrooting will unroot the device.. It can be done in every other methods also.. But your custom binary counter will increase.. Simply, yes it is possible to find that the device is rooted even after unrooting, unless you reset your binary counter..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use [ROOT] SG2 Easy Rooting Toolkit from zergRUSH - This doesn't increase the custom counter... Very easy to do, unroot is simple also.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1321538

The simple answer (my favourite type) is don't root.
If you require to run an app that requires root or you want to replace a system app or you just want to tweak the system, then you need to root.
Rooting is simple enough and so is it for getting it back to warranty condition.

Athavan said:
Unrooting will unroot the device.. It can be done in every other methods also.. But your custom binary counter will increase.. Simply, yes it is possible to find that the device is rooted even after unrooting, unless you reset your binary counter..
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there a way to reset your binary counter?

Dmonty said:
Use [ROOT] SG2 Easy Rooting Toolkit from zergRUSH - This doesn't increase the custom counter... Very easy to do, unroot is simple also.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1321538
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do this before changing roms etc.... It isn't a full on root with changing kernal and roms etc.. BUT you can use titanium and cachemate etc... I only rooted to restore backup from previous android devices
I don't think it voids warranty
Then if you want to change your rom etc you can do it later and change your kernal etc
Tbh though, i agree with an earlier comment, if you need to ask why, you probs dont need to root

MagicMan3 said:
Is there a way to reset your binary counter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there are multiple ways and a ship load of threads on how to reset it.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda premium

MagicMan3 said:
Is there a way to reset your binary counter?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Surely you can...
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App