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Well hello everyone.
I am an application development student from Belgium.
I am proficient in Java, VB.NET, some c/c++ and also PHP/JS/HTML/CSS
Anyways, my recent interest has been going out to creating custom roms for the galaxy S!
The problem now is though, I was able to find some guides and such, but most were incomplete, and for HTC(and other) devices.
I have no idea what is different between making a ROM for galaxy S or a ROM for an HTC device.
If anyone would like to link me to some good resources that can help me on my way, or would like to collaborate (and in the meanwhile teach me a bit) I would be more than happy! (I am open for collaboration as I am pretty proficient in Java and I'm always happy to code and learn more about coding!)
I think the question is really want you want to do!
Custom ROMs for Android are as simple as using recovery console to replace files on the system with your own versions.
ie. Replace the framework.apk which contains all theme images with your own modified one, which you can use to skin the device. Same for replacing other system apps.
Unfortunately, most of these apps are closed source, so modifying them is difficult. The stock android system has open source versions of most of them though, and you can modify those and build them, and then replace the ones on the device. I'm not entirely sure how to build them up though, but it probably isn't too hard.
Then there are custom kernels, which let you actually change the underlying linux system underneath android - Samsung has an open source version of the kernel available that you can compile, and then flash to your phone using Odin or other tools. Compiling the kernel is pretty tricky though.
Well i'm really talking about stuff like SamSet, MoDaCo, Doc's ROM and others.
I'm not saying I want to create a pro ROM in a day or anything, but i'd really love to learn more to get better (always looking for more stuff to put on the resume, I guess?!)
Thanks a lot,
Kenny
Bump for some help
(sorry for the double post but i'm really eager to learn)
I don't have time to give a detailed response right now. However you will want to read up on yaffs (file system) and odexing/deodexing ROMs.
Thank you I will definately do that,
I am following a guide now to start out creating custom ROMs for android, however it was written for Motorola Droid and I have no idea what you have to do different for a samsung galaxy s.
I am a good coder, even though I say so myself, with a lot of experience. I also have a lot of linux experience, you name it
Only the problem is the old, and much known "where do I get started?"
So if anyone can point me out in the right direction on that, tell me how/where you started out, I would appreciate it greatly!
Thanks!
Very sorry to bump again
I set up my environment in ubuntu today to get started (just gotta fix a few errors, didn't know android wouldn't compile on java 1.6, only on 1.5)
Anyways, still need some help here! thanks!
Again I am awefully sorry for the bump here but i'd really like some help.
Note that i'm not a newbie at coding whatsoever and i'm not unfamiliar with some hardcore java, c/c++ and other languages, I'm just having trouble getting started when it comes to modding an existing android release (there are tutorials on HTC and other devices but some methods do not apply to the galaxy S)
If you're trying to create a ROM from scratch then unfortunately you're out of luck at the moment. No one has really managed to do so yet. By "from scratch" I mean the Android Open Source Project (i.e. official Android git repository).
What you can do is grab an existing firmware. Extract the contents, de-odex the apks, modify them or add new apks, optionally you can also compile a custom SGS kernel using Samsung's kernel source. Then you can re-odex the ROM, pack it back up and distribute it.
There's no real "starting place" as such and you won't yet find any tutorials about how to create SGS ROMs. Just give it a go and see where you get.
Yes, I do mean creating a ROM from stock samsung firmware, of course.
So my next logical question would be now:
How do I go over extracting contents from the existing samsung firmware, de-odexing and so on?
Any links/guides/tips are greatly appreciated, as long as they are applicable to this cell phone and not totally crap, thanks!
Samsung uses rfs, I think you should know. There is a thread somewhere in this forum regarding extracting .rfs file. Understood you need Debian though.
For some readup, go search for a famous guy named JesusFreke. Tons of materials...
Hope that from here onwards, this can lead you on, and to find out more. Google is your friend too...
I'm afraid my biggest problems already occur in setting up the environment, so it's really the very beginning that gets me stuck, i'm sure coding would be a bikeride compared to setting up the environment for me (i'm no hero in linux,not at all, i'm afraid)
How the hell do I get from point A (being downloading the full source) to point B (starting to create a custom ROM?)
thanks
of course if anyone has the time, and wants to, you can PM me your msn or something, if anyone is up to it
Raykoid666 said:
I'm afraid my biggest problems already occur in setting up the environment, so it's really the very beginning that gets me stuck, i'm sure coding would be a bikeride compared to setting up the environment for me (i'm no hero in linux,not at all, i'm afraid)
How the hell do I get from point A (being downloading the full source) to point B (starting to create a custom ROM?)
thanks
of course if anyone has the time, and wants to, you can PM me your msn or something, if anyone is up to it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed completely! Getting a full cross-compilation to Samsung's Android going is seriously difficult! There have been some promises for tutorials and guides for setting things up though, but none have appeared yet. Probably because it's hard!
Well thank you for agreeing with me on that.
I am really hoping for anyone that can help me out here, either on here or in private, and give some detailed instructions on how to get started.
Hell there is enough information on creating roms alread, deodexing, adding/removing apps etc etc etc... The real problem lies in setting everything up properly.
I think I have gotten to the point where I'm compiling the android source (without samsung specific files)
note i'm saying "i think i am compiling" because i'm hoping it won't error out on me again after an hour of compiling!
But once that is done... I have no idea where to go next, where to get the samsung specific files, or what to do with them whatsoever once i have them
thanks!
Android generic source won't actually help you much. Samsung has made a huge number of changes to it, and while it is all open source, backporting their changes to get your stock source running on the phone is a major undertaking. I believe cyanogenmod was actually working on this, but it seems without much success so far.
What the other rom makers you see are doing is taking a snapshot of a running rom, copying over all of the APKs and the files on a running device, and then tweaking those. ie. Opening up framework-res.apk and changing the image files inside.
The update.zip roms that are what most people are doing are really just using the Android recovery to replace files on the phone with their own versions. Since the underlying system is linux, and everything is a file, this actually works pretty well.
The kernel development effort is completely separate from the rest of the system though, and Samsung has provided the entire source tree that just has to be compiled. I'm a bit stumped myself on all the details of setting it up, but I have seen some threads on this forum about it, and it didn't seem too bad to set up. Apparently you shouldn't use the codesourcery toolchain though, or something. Not too clued up on it, sorry. Hopefully someone with the details can chime in, or give us a link to the old post on it (I'm failing to find it using the search function! )
Alright sounds good!
So these recovery files you are talking about (the contents of /system) how do i retrieve those from a base ROM such as JM7 or the likes after a clean flash?)
Raykoid666 said:
Alright sounds good!
So these recovery files you are talking about (the contents of /system) how do i retrieve those from a base ROM such as JM7 or the likes after a clean flash?)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root your phone, zip them up onto the sdcard, and then copy them off.
There are probably better methods, but this works fine.
Also, with credits to Unhelpful, he has told me that the correct toolchain to be using is 'uClibc or eglibc toolchain with ct-ng'. I have no idea what to do with that yet, but it's a start.
RyanZA said:
Root your phone, zip them up onto the sdcard, and then copy them off.
There are probably better methods, but this works fine.
Also, with credits to Unhelpful, he has told me that the correct toolchain to be using is 'uClibc or eglibc toolchain with ct-ng'. I have no idea what to do with that yet, but it's a start.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't even need to root your phone to pull /system Ryan
adb pull /system <random folder>
is all you need ^^
Alright thank you, I managed to get all the /system files using abd pull /system
now next thing up would be de-odexing right, before I go editing stuff?
Now before I go de-odexing. Can anyone tell me what exactly de-odexing is and why I need it?
and what do I need to do to create an update.zip again?
thanks a lot all!
Tayutama said:
You don't even need to root your phone to pull /system Ryan
adb pull /system <random folder>
is all you need ^^
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Haha cool, didn't know you could pull whole folders!
Raykoid666 said:
Alright thank you, I managed to get all the /system files using abd pull /system
now next thing up would be de-odexing right, before I go editing stuff?
Now before I go de-odexing. Can anyone tell me what exactly de-odexing is and why I need it?
and what do I need to do to create an update.zip again?
thanks a lot all!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The apk files in Android are odexed - that means they have a special index applied for dalvik that speeds them up somehow! I don't know how, I haven't checked how it actually works.
The important point is though:
odexed is faster, but you can't edit it because of signatures or something technical
deodexed means you can change it however you want
More useful info can be found from google - lots of it!
update.zip is easy - it's a zip file in a special format that can be understood by Android's recovery console. The easiest way to do it is to grab an existing update.zip and modify it as needed. Tayutama has millions of em around, so use his!
Then you need to sign it once you're finished with it so that the SGS will accept it. Samsung made a boo-boo and didn't disable the test keys for the 2.1 SGS firmwares. That makes it easy!
http://www.londatiga.net/it/how-to-sign-apk-zip-files/
Just use the test keys to sign it, and then copy it to /sdcard/update.zip and reboot into recovery and it'll work.
Hello
Let me start with admitting that I'm a newbie, a green one, whatever you want. I've bought my WF, my first smartphone, one week ago, and after a day a was confronted with my first limitation: I can't make access to the cisco vpn that my university uses.
I've started looking on the internet, and my only hope is a program called VPN connection, which needs root access to work. Not only the fact that I couldn't install that specific application, but also the disappointment of a discovery that the open-source OS was in fact closed, made me want to root my phone.
So I again started to do research on the internet, mostly by night, which makes me sit like a zombie in lessons, but I've learned a lot. However, there are still a few questions, which I just can't find the answer for.. So I'm hoping one of you would be so kind to help me out a bit!
- I've come to find out that rooting te WF just changes the read/write access of the root directory. So rooting an sich will not change any of the files or settings, nor the language (Dutch). Is that right, or is there an install of a complete "customized" (English) ROM which make the cellphone look brand new?
- I've done some research on how to unroot the WF (I'm having a 2 year waranty..). I know you can download the original ROMs here (shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buzz/) but first of all, I don't know which one to pick, and second, will there be a Dutch one there? Because I'm not sure that they will accept the statement that my phone is suddenly turned English.
Those are in fact the only two questions I have (for now ). Thanks in advance to help me entering a whole new world!
Erwin
The Android OS is a linux. And for such OS, there is a user account with UID 0, thats the "root" account, who got all privileges on the system.
If you root your phone, you will give your "user", thats the user that runs the android OS, the ability to gain root privileges. Those are necessary to do administrative changes to the OS, same as on a usual linux OS.
So the root user is able to mount devices in read/write and do other stuff.
Most official Updates are multilanguage and they are official updates from HTC so even on warranty issues there should be no problem with it.
Warlord711,
Thank you very much for giving me this explanation! But when you talk about "root your phone", I still have a question. If I root my phone, it will be by the method of Unrevoked (Unrevoked 3.21). I understand that the user now has root privileges, but how is that being accomplished? Do they flash the phone with a new ROM, who has "build-in" extended privileges, or do they really change the privileges of some maps on the ROM that originally came with the phone?
In extend I want to make sure about something: so if I install an original UK ROM from shipped-roms.com, I can just install it with the clockworkmod on my device and do an official update, witch will make my phone dutch again?
Thanks in advance!
Erwin
No ferther explanation? A pitty..
they replace recovery system, but how they do it, thats a question
I came across this thread hoping for reassurance about not losing warranty in case of unrooting, and I'm joining just to say that Erwin's questions are really accurate, well written and most probably helpful for any other android newbies like me.. so let's answer him/us please!
cignu
ErwinP said:
Hello
- I've come to find out that rooting te WF just changes the read/write access of the root directory. So rooting an sich will not change any of the files or settings, nor the language (Dutch). Is that right, or is there an install of a complete "customized" (English) ROM which make the cellphone look brand new?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will not change any of the settings, I myself had it in dutch too. It will be the same as you shut it down, only thing that has changed is the recovery mode (entered by holding the volume down and press the boot key)
ErwinP said:
- I've done some research on how to unroot the WF (I'm having a 2 year waranty..). I know you can download the original ROMs here (shipped-roms.com/shipped/Buzz/) but first of all, I don't know which one to pick, and second, will there be a Dutch one there? Because I'm not sure that they will accept the statement that my phone is suddenly turned English.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont know either which one to pick, but I _DO_ know that if I pick the right one, it will include dutch, together with several others including English.
Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!
Initial GT3 said:
Ok so I picked up my Droid X about a month ago and haven't been able to put this thing down, I never thought about rooting it because it did everything I needed/wanted it to do, then one day I log into my car forum and all the OT guys are posting cool print screen's of their phones. I was intrigued, so I rooted my phone and have been trying to figure out a few things but I'm not really up on the terminology and/or logic behind doing certain things. I would greatly appreciate any help in regards to explaining the following:
1) Rooting - Takes off restrictions on the phone so that developer apps can be installed... Is there more to this or is that pretty much it?
2) Flashing - I see this term often but I'm not sure what it is exactly, I tried installing a theme once and the directions said to flash something somewhere and looked at it the same way my dog looks at me while I'm working out at home.. lol
3) ROM - !?
4) apk's - What are they, what do they do, and how do you install them!?
5) Installing themes - I'm thinking has to do with all of the above...
6) Locating and moving downloaded content...
7) How do all of these things tie together? I'm completely clueless as to what does what on the phone and would like to become as knowledgeable as I was when the iPhone first came out and I figured out how to jailbreak/unlock it...
As a reward for your time and effort I leave you Final Fantasy VII fan's with a cool wallpaper I found at work today.. Thanks for any/all input and again, your time is most appreciated!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First off- that is a lot to bite off as an opener. lol. I have to get in a minute- plus I am a newb as well but here a couple of things...
1) You sound pretty on track. Root gives you access to more options with your phone. It also voids your warranty.
2) Flashing. A term used loosely. Normally it is used in conjunction with "flashing a rom". It simply means to install something (basically).
3) Rom. It is the image (not in the photo-graphical sense) that is embedded/burned on your phones hard drive with all the information of your operating system. For instance: you are on the stock 2.2 ota "rom". But you could "flash" the new "AOSP rom" that was just released. That means you would be removing the factory image that came on your phone and replacing it with a modified image. Theme's and .apk's -those are not "burned" into the phone. If you do a factory reset- those will be wiped. The rom image stays put. If you flash from 2.2 ota to AOSP and then did a factory reset- you would not return to the original state your phone came from Motorola bc that image is completely removed and replaced by the new image you flash. Instead you would return to a clean AOSP.
4) .apk's - .apk is simply the name of the file extension used for android applications. I came from Windows Mobile and they were called .cabs. So any app can be referred to as an .apk. You can download an apk from XDA, place it on your sdcard, tap the file, and i think you will be prompted with "do you want to install" (some where along those lines). There is a setting in the "Settings" that allows you to install 3rd party (non-market) .apk's.
5)Installing themes. This refers to modifying the images (and this time I do mean in the graphic sense) of certain .apk's and other whatchamajiggies. You can install a simple theme that just changes your lockscreen, or you can install a huge theme that changes almost every part of every image so the entire phone looks similar. Here is the tricky part about using themes- your phone has to be deodexed.
deodexed. When you get your phone all of the system files come with a few different parts to them. One of those parts is an odexed file. Apparently the theme building types do not like working with these files so they run this process called de-odexing in which all of the system files are somehow manipulated in a way where they no longer need their odex file. So you end up "de-odexed". There is a program called "xultimate 2.2" that enables regular folk like you and me to deodex our phones. I tried running it yesterday and it errored out on me. So I used another method that worked fine. There are some threads on here about deodexing- if you want themes you will have to do it.
6) locating and moving downloaded content. When you have root you can get Root Explorer from the market. I am sure there are other good file exploreres- but I can't speak to them- I use Root Explorer. As far as locating downloaded content- whenever I download something from my phone, it always (normally) goes to /sdcard/downloads. If it is not there, I guess you just do a search for it. If you want to move it- long press the item, copy, move.
And you will need to google "ADB" (android device bridge). Many of these activities will require the use of ADB. You plug in your phone through USB (make sure phone settings are set to "USB debugging") and... well there is just way to much on this one. Google this one and you will find a lot of stuff- or search it here on XDA
have a great weekend. got to go.
Hi Devs,
I've just joined and am uncertain of the proper place for this thread. Apologies if inaccurately posted.
I have the T337A, which I have rooted on ANF4, but I cannot find a recovery. I have read and read but am not finding the solution to my little project. I would like to get a safestrap on this locked bootloader so that I can install and learn to write custom ROMs. I have tried a safestrap but it was not for this specific device and did not work. I have also installed and purchased CWM Recovery and TWRP Recovery, in my learning process. The problem with the recovery is that there is no custom recovery written for this device and the bootloader is locked, as this is the AT&T WiFi/LTE version. So it looks to me like I need to figure out the partitioning image somehow in order to make a safestrap work on this device...as step 1. Is there anything else that I can do with this locked bootloader? I would love to have some help in writing a custom recovery and ROM for this device but I am a tiny tiny noob here and not a hard core programmer. If I could get some feedback on places to start for such a daunting task, it would be great. I guess one thing that I do not understand is why I cannot make my current rooted ROM the default recovery in TWRP. It asks me to choose from the list of supported devices. I understand that it goes: NAND --> aboot.img/bootloader --> recovery/or/kernel --> OS/or/ROM? If this is close to accurate then I would have to write something to the NAND?, which I'm not sure what is yet, in order to hijack the factory bootloader and then write the partitions on the sdCard for the ROM, like the safestrap folks wrote? It looks to me like they also included a version of TWRP touch which I used on the S4 yesterday and was really cool, so I guess that would be needed as well and is also why TWRP does not work for me now...it cannot hijack the locked bootloader. How do I hijack this hard headed thing? fastboot does not work to this device. In the process of this project, I have also run into a roadblock trying to update the /system/framework/framework-res.apk, in the manner that a flash needs to be done, I think. I want to change the /res/values/bools/bools.xml switch "voice_capeable" to true. AT&T or Samsung disable this on this version of the tablet, I guess to sell tethering or something else I'm not familiar with...but the way it looks to me, everything is configured on the device and I have a phone number provisioned for data at least. Why can't I turn on this switch and use the phone portion of the device? Any time I tickle the running framework-res.apk, it kills the OS. I tried compiling an update.zip aligned and signed with test keys or something like that but when I flash it, it fails with wrong footer and invalid signature...then it wipes me back to the stone ages. I warned I was a noob..! ...but not scared to brick some shtuff in order to learn this and write some custom solutions. An after thought...is there a solution for a bootable extSdCard for Android? This might lead to some options if it is possible.
Gathering phone info...
Collecting information. Be patient! Do NOT disconnect the phone!
Model: SM-T337A
Android Version: 4.4.2
Sales Code: ATT
PDA Version: T337AUCU1ANF4
Phone Version: T337AUCU1ANF4
CSC Version: T337AATT1ANF4
Product Code: SM-T337AZWAATT
HIDSw Version: T337AUCU1ANF4/T337AATT1ANF4/T337AUCU1ANF4/T337AUCU1ANF4
Board Platform: MSM8226
Serial Number: R32FA00PMRF
Imei: 3534.............
Unique Number: C1604.......
Connections: AT,MTP,MTP
Battery Status: 4.28V (94%)
Network Type: GSM
SuperSU Pro v2.40
TWRP donate latest
CWM donate v5.5.3.7
BusyBox Stericson donate v1.23.0
Titanium Backup Pro latest
xPosed v2.7.1
Wanam xPosed v3.3.1
NinjaMorph Pro v2.8.2
ROM Toolbox Pro v6.0.6.5
RootLogger Pro v1.9
Nandroid Backup v4.4.5
Next Launcher 3D Shell v3.20
Root Firewall Pro v2.1
SetCPU v3.1.2
w/respect. PitPin
Sir,
Please wait until mods will move this thread to the device specific forum for more relevant answers.
Stand by
Good luck
We had a dev working to get safestrap, but he struck out. So if you can get it, I'll test. I too have the 337a. Sucks to have a locked bootloader and no dev interest.
pre4speed said:
We had a dev working to get safestrap, but he struck out. So if you can get it, I'll test. I too have the 337a. Sucks to have a locked bootloader and no dev interest.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks pre4speed. I am taking a look at the two tasks again tonight and decided to take the res/bool = voice_capable issue on first since this will determine how brickable this device can be for me. If I can use it as a regular modem phone then I might be a bit more careful with the bootloader project I did some more tinkering with the framework-res.apk ...specifically the /res/values/bools/bools.xml resource and tried the following:
-------
Factory wipe
Flashed sammobile.com T337AATT1ANF4 firmware
Rooted
SuperSU
Busybox
Froze AT&T update service and others involved
Titanium backup and pulled a good backup
Online Nandroid and pulled a good backup
Installed my XDA app. of course..!
-------
Framework-res.apk:
Used total commander to copy the running apk off to the sdCard and then my PC.
Decompilled in APKStudio2.0.3b-Windows (I am also using Ubuntu 14.04 if there is a better way here..also Android Studio on both OS...just learning).
Edited my value.
Recompiled with zip align/sign option.
***Now here in lies the problem, if I haven't already created one above ***
The random article I dug up said that in order to get past the wrong footer and signature issue, and stone-age wipe, when attempting this via abd sideload with an update.zip, is to now copy the edited file back into the original APK using 7zip in order to retain the original signing keys. When I open the original APK archive, it does not show the resource folders deemed "important and I should not jack with them" in the compiled APK (mainly values/* folder). The article mentioned the resource folders such as res/values/bools are compiled and hidden and that I needed to copy over the new resources.arsc file. I see this in the newly compiled APK I made but it also put the Manifest.xml and /res folder in there. Do I need to copy all of that or just the compiled resources.arsc file? I did all and it boot looped me so I'm guessing that I either did something wrong or this was not the right answer. The last part was to chmod the new APK, use total commander to mount the folder as rw, copy over the file, and reboot. All of that worked and I had to reboot many many times...loop.
That is where I am on the modem part and am going to attempt copying just the resources.arsc in a few. I will post more on the bootloader side soon, as I've been researching what goes on from the time I push the power button until the time I swipe the first screen. Lots of reading
w/respect - PitPin
Copying only the resources.arsc file from within the newly compiled apk back to the original framework-res.apk made some progress. Now I have the phone dialer app icon in my apps drawer... but it is failing complaining about contacts. On to the next round of research..!
PitPin said:
Copying only the resources.arsc file from within the newly compiled apk back to the original framework-res.apk made some progress. Now I have the phone dialer app icon in my apps drawer... but it is failing complaining about contacts. On to the next round of research..!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Stalled out temporarily on the tab project as laptop hard drive bought the farm. Back in action and made some progress on the tab voice_capable issue. Everything appears to be there and in working order but the SMS modules. I think this has something to do with why the contacts app is blowing up but not sure yet. GoSMS and EXDialer seem to work together without blowing up but the dialer taps the modem and then dies. Taking a break from this to start a thread on rooting the AT&T Alpha. I'm about half way through the exploit on that project. Any input on what might be my SMS problem on the tab 4 would be appreciated. Attached are a few screens.
Does anyone know how to removed the caution sign on the left corner it keep telling me unauthorized action have been detected.
I am in the same boat, I so wish this would come through because I do love this little tab.
same boat
/baker said:
I am in the same boat, I so wish this would come through because I do love this little tab.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so did you finally get it going or what?I have been wanting to get my Tab going as well. I've Rooted it and paid for an unlock even, which worked fantastic by the way...Thanx XDA!!! The rooting guide I got from here was right on point,no problem at all!!But anyways, I have it on metro pcs now on the unlimited $60 plan which is awesome (.REAL unlimited internet with NO THROTTLING ) for me because now at home I run pda.net, which gives me very good, fulltime, internet for my home computers as well as the ability to stream everything onto a large screen or even via windows when we want to watch with all the bells and whistles! No lag at all usually,and I don't use my hotspot because of the usb internet connect on pda.net. When I do use the wireless connect, it doesn't take any of the allotted hotspot usage up either!!All in all it's a great deal for me. I just got a new sim for it, called in the imei to metro ,which in turn gave me a phone number and data account, and presto!Been on the net ever since! Now that I've had it for over a month ,I wanna get the voice capability to work as well, being that I am paying for 2 lines now. Although I can use the old trusty hangouts dialer with the GoogleVoice easily enough. I want to be able to use my metro number mainly because these phone companies charge and charge and charge, never caring about us,or our need to have communication at our disposal at all times.Cell phones are by far not inexpensive and the internet wasn't started for us to pay aan arm and a leg to use.Anytime I come out good while dealing with a wireless company. it's a stupendous event,I'm telling you!! Heck ,I'm writing from my home computer now, going through the Tab at this very moment! Nevertheless, I'm wanting for the devs, to come through as well. With maybe even a new rom,sans the at&t stuff, of course, since I do now have a different carrier? Heck, the Tab is even great for when we travel! 24/7 unlimited internet /streaming , and the screen size is much better than the phone screen ever was!I just really wanted to thank XDA for the work they put in to help us part - timers out,Ive been rooting and unlocking and bricking and un-bricking for quite some time now,I even repair phones now actually,but the programming and the putting it all out here for guys like me to have fun and tinker with these phones would be entirely impossible without the DEV'S and their hard work for SURE...Thanx Guys!!You ROCK!
Hello all, I found a method to Root and get a custom recovery on our cricket variant, no donations required! You need to find a copy of sugar qct with a username and password, I don't remember exactly where I found it but it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Then you need to let it update to the latest build, which includes the programmer for our phone. If you don't see 6055u in the list it's not up to date. From there, Hook up your phone (may need to manually put it in download mode. Press upgrade and then navigate to the install directory, look in /bin and find where it downloads all the mbm files. Replace the one that starts with an r with the TWRP recovery for 6055. You may have to overwrite it multiple times during the process. If you did it correctly you will be able to boot into TWRP, if not try again. If you don't close sugar I believe it won't overwrite the firmware files, but I haven't messed with it much. I will try to write a tool to make it easier when I have the time but I'm pretty busy. Feel free to pm me with any questions and I will help the best I can.
To get root just install supersu
F
dbgr said:
Hello all, I found a method to Root and get a custom recovery on our cricket variant, no donations required! You need to find a copy of sugar qct with a username and password, I don't remember exactly where I found it but it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Then you need to let it update to the latest build, which includes the programmer for our phone. If you don't see 6055u in the list it's not up to date. From there, Hook up your phone (may need to manually put it in download mode. Press upgrade and then navigate to the install directory, look in /bin and find where it downloads all the mbm files. Replace the one that starts with an r with the TWRP recovery for 6055. You may have to overwrite it multiple times during the process. If you did it correctly you will be able to boot into TWRP, if not try again. If you don't close sugar I believe it won't overwrite the firmware files, but I haven't messed with it much. I will try to write a tool to make it easier when I have the time but I'm pretty busy. Feel free to pm me with any questions and I will help the best I can.
To get root just install supersu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did a Google search for "sugar qct" and I see a couple of million hits for "The Sugar Act"... :laugh:
Tried Root Genius, and it, of course doesn't work...
If you happen to find a link for the app or method you stated, I would be eternally grateful... My lovely wife and I upgraded our phones to the Cricket 6055U, and, since, while not an Android developer, per se, can find my way around the device without being scared off...
So, with due respect, I'd ask if you have the app or name correct?
Thanks, friend, and best respect.
--- edit ---
Oops... was premature... found it and am giving it a try... I'll post my results after I give it a shot...
http://forum.gsmhosting.com/vbb/f606/vf-895n-smart-prime-6-stock-rom-flash-tool-2033867/
This should help with setting up sugar. The only difference here is to update it and you also need a username and password that I don't have on me at the moment. It will be a few hours until I get home but I will update asap.
Edit: nevermind lol, good luck friend. You may need a decent battery percentage as well
pauljulian said:
F
Did a Google search for "sugar qct" and I see a couple of million hits for "The Sugar Act"... :laugh:
Tried Root Genius, and it, of course doesn't work...
If you happen to find a link for the app or method you stated, I would be eternally grateful... My lovely wife and I upgraded our phones to the Cricket 6055U, and, since, while not an Android developer, per se, can find my way around the device without being scared off...
So, with due respect, I'd ask if you have the app or name correct?
Thanks, friend, and best respect.
--- edit ---
Oops... was premature... found it and am giving it a try... I'll post my results after I give it a shot...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
----- edit 2 -----
OK... apparently I'm an idiot... Running Windows 10 Pro, and the installer says it's going to install to an appropriate folder on C:\... yet, trying to find it, it really is weird.... I'm going to try on a VMWare Win 7 virtual PC, and see if I'm able to find it there, and move it to my actual C: drive...
If it works, I'll be grateful for your contribution and praise you to the highest heaven! :laugh:
pauljulian said:
----- edit 2 -----
OK... apparently I'm an idiot... Running Windows 10 Pro, and the installer says it's going to install to an appropriate folder on C:\... yet, trying to find it, it really is weird.... I'm going to try on a VMWare Win 7 virtual PC, and see if I'm able to find it there, and move it to my actual C: drive...
If it works, I'll be grateful for your contribution and praise you to the highest heaven! :laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can't seem to get the beast to work...
If you would be so kind, would there be any way you'd be able to write up a concise step-by-step thing, if you've made it work... I've got the .chm file open on my desktop, and have spent a few hours trying to make it work to no avail.
Again, if it worked for you, your process would be welcome.
Cricket Alcatel Idol 4, 6055U
---------- Post added at 03:36 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:40 PM ----------
pauljulian said:
Can't seem to get the beast to work...
If you would be so kind, would there be any way you'd be able to write up a concise step-by-step thing, if you've made it work... I've got the .chm file open on my desktop, and have spent a few hours trying to make it work to no avail.
Again, if it worked for you, your process would be welcome.
Cricket Alcatel Idol 4, 6055U
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My point is that the site recommended seems to insist on Lollipop on the small beast... and there doesn't seem to be a recommendation for the .bin files, and, when installing on Win 10, it seems to install the Sugar app into some directory on my C: drive that is really not that accessible... Did it using a VMWare Win 7 32-bit virtual, and was able to access the directory, copy and paste to my regular C: drive (old Windows geek since Win 3.11... and DOS 3), and it seemed to run... (of course, running as Administrator), but it really doesn't seem to work for me... Again, I freely admit that I'm likely not doing something right, but even after some research and the included .chm file, I seem to be missing something.
Again, and begging your indulgence for seeming like a noob or a rube, but if I'm not making it happen, I rather think that the tips would be lost on someone for whom this is their first Android device...
Kinda frustrating, as, even though I've been a tech-support guy and database developer for more than 30 years, this thing has me stymied...
I found it fascinating for the *#*# command, earlier, from another noble soul, and, obviously, I also found that the device as configured says, basically... "Don't give a damn... you can turn this sucker on, but as soon as you exit this menu, I'm gonna turn it off again."
Just a little frustrating, and it seems that most of the tips and tricks elsewhere seem to be thinking that new owners of the 6055U are running Lollipop.... aaarrrgggghhh....
If it needs Lollipop to work, and if there's a relatively painless way to downgrade, and then upgrade from a ROM, I'm good with that... the Idol 3 seemed to require that, and it worked well for me, with just an evening's work. This one? Cricket seems to have had a warped sense of humor about it... I seriously dig the device, and, since my Idol 3 broke, and my lovely wife's LG G-Stylo (which was a pain in the ass, and next-to-impossible to root, and then be just perpetually stuck at the logo screen with an unfixable boot loop, if one screwed it up, and just required sending the beast back to LG, as long as one took out Cricket's warranty plan... <sigh>), we took the plunge on this one...
Not much for which I require root, but, since I spent good money on some legit apps (and lucked into a few ... ahem... not legit apps that worked for me), these things require root... I know there's a way to do it, and the Sugar app seems promising, but, mildly autistic guy that I am (and 60 years old, with a memory that doesn't work as it used to), a slimmed-down step-by-step doc would be helpful... should some noble soul put such together...
Apparently, the root method has worked for at least one member here.... But this weird old Jewish hippie doesn't see the mental diagram....
Any help would be welcome, my friends and mishpocheh... ("dear family" --- been here enough years, albeit a relatively quiet member, that y'all might as well be family... )
Hey everyone, sorry about the confusion. I installed on Windows 10 pro with no issues. As far as the page I linked you can disregard everything but the app itself. The update that downloads is marshmallow, and I've had no issues overwriting the latest version. I may have gotten sugar from a different location though, as soon as I get a chance I will do a better write up with everything. A helpful way to find the install directory would be right click on the shortcut from the start menu and click find Target / open file location. If it brings you to the folder with the shortcuts do it again and you will have the install directory. The app should be in (install dir)/tool and the downloaded updates go in (install dir)/bin under a folder that only shows up once you start the process within sugar. I will try to compile the information into a more user friendly format tonight but I can't make any promises on that.
Also just to clarify, I didn't use any chm file
I'm wondering if you could upload your version you have on your pc. I just spent the last month in jail here in Orlando fighting a case and the only proof I've got is on my phone on a phone that I deleted my videos on. I really need the videos back too get a not guilty if I gotta pay for it it's cool but I'm out on bond and all the recover videos apps require root
I got this to work last night. Typed up some instructions but didn't get them posted. They're on my PC at home and I'm at work.
Basically use the copy of sugar in the download package in this thread and then start it and let it update https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/recovery-vodafone-prime-tab-7-t3548560
Those are the basic instructions too except we don't need to swap out bout and use the TWRP from deckersu thread.
Once flashed it'll automatically reboot. I found you had to make sure you caught this and booted into TWRP right away don't let the phone boot. Then transfer SuperSU in TWRP and flash.
---------- Post added at 11:29 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:23 AM ----------
Asadullah said:
I'm wondering if you could upload your version you have on your pc. I just spent the last month in jail here in Orlando fighting a case and the only proof I've got is on my phone on a phone that I deleted my videos on. I really need the videos back too get a not guilty if I gotta pay for it it's cool but I'm out on bond an ind all the recover videos apps require root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
FYI this root method wipes your phone so I don't know if this will help your situation or not.
In sugar there is an option to not wipe, it's under session settings or something to that effect
dbgr said:
In sugar there is an option to not wipe, it's under session settings or something to that effect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wish I had noticed that!! Oh well, stoked to have root and it's good to start fresh. Got Xposed installed today and finally got that annoying charging light turned off. Working on getting wifi tetherng working. Then if I can figure out how to get the dialer to be friends with Google voice this phone will have all its annoyance fixed
Thanks so much for figuring this out and sharing!!
dbgr said:
In sugar there is an option to not wipe, it's under session settings or something to that effect
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate the help
woodi5359 said:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/development/recovery-vodafone-prime-tab-7-t3548560.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for finding this thread, it is the same one I found but I couldn't remember where it was the other day when I started this thread. Hopefully this will help the people who have been having issues, although I will admit a more painless method would be preferable. I'm currently working on modifying a dirtycow exploit to simply flash the recovery and reboot into twrp, if I get it to work I will zip it all up and post it here.
woodi5359 said:
Wish I had noticed that!! Oh well, stoked to have root and it's good to start fresh. Got Xposed installed today and finally got that annoying charging light turned off. Working on getting wifi tetherng working. Then if I can figure out how to get the dialer to be friends with Google voice this phone will have all its annoyance fixed
Thanks so much for figuring this out and sharing!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I got wifi tethering working I did a lot of things but I believe that did it was adding net.tethering.noprovisioning=true to my build.prop then I went into system/app and changed serviceentitlement.apk into serviceentitlement.oat using es file Explorer
Asadullah said:
I got wifi tethering working I did a lot of things but I believe that did it was adding net.tethering.noprovisioning=true to my build.prop then I went into system/app and changed serviceentitlement.apk into serviceentitlement.oat using es file Explorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just tested this and it indeed does work. Great find friend!
Asadullah said:
I got wifi tethering working I did a lot of things but I believe that did it was adding net.tethering.noprovisioning=true to my build.prop then I went into system/app and changed serviceentitlement.apk into serviceentitlement.oat using es file Explorer
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for figuring this out!!! I'd been messing with it for a few days. The renaming the apk to .oat was the piece I was missing. That and a reboot got it working!!
dbgr said:
Hello all, I found a method to Root and get a custom recovery on our cricket variant, no donations required! You need to find a copy of sugar qct with a username and password, I don't remember exactly where I found it but it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Then you need to let it update to the latest build, which includes the programmer for our phone. If you don't see 6055u in the list it's not up to date. From there, Hook up your phone (may need to manually put it in download mode. Press upgrade and then navigate to the install directory, look in /bin and find where it downloads all the mbm files. Replace the one that starts with an r with the TWRP recovery for 6055. You may have to overwrite it multiple times during the process. If you did it correctly you will be able to boot into TWRP, if not try again. If you don't close sugar I believe it won't overwrite the firmware files, but I haven't messed with it much. I will try to write a tool to make it easier when I have the time but I'm pretty busy. Feel free to pm me with any questions and I will help the best I can.
To get root just install supersu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so im getting ready to purchase this device so there is root and twrp for it or no
Dude, did you read the thread at all? I don't mind helping but you gotta do your part. Yes there is TWRP and Root
dbgr said:
Hello all, I found a method to Root and get a custom recovery on our cricket variant, no donations required! You need to find a copy of sugar qct with a username and password, I don't remember exactly where I found it but it shouldn't be too difficult to find. Then you need to let it update to the latest build, which includes the programmer for our phone. If you don't see 6055u in the list it's not up to date. From there, Hook up your phone (may need to manually put it in download mode. Press upgrade and then navigate to the install directory, look in /bin and find where it downloads all the mbm files. Replace the one that starts with an r with the TWRP recovery for 6055. You may have to overwrite it multiple times during the process. If you did it correctly you will be able to boot into TWRP, if not try again. If you don't close sugar I believe it won't overwrite the firmware files, but I haven't messed with it much. I will try to write a tool to make it easier when I have the time but I'm pretty busy. Feel free to pm me with any questions and I will help the best I can.
To get root just install supersu
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
do you hold volume down when it reboots
link22534 said:
do you hold volume down when it reboots
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's volume up and power