[Q] What does root give me and how do I use it - Droid RAZR M Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

This is my first time rooting a phone and I’m trying to understand what power I exactly have now. I equate having root access to having admin access to a Windows PC. Is this correct?
I successfully gained root access via towelroot and confirmed with root checker. My goal is to stop Motorola from bugging me to upgrade to 183.46.15. When I use ES File Explorer to navigate to system/priv-app and attempt to delete 3c_ota.apk I get an error that I can’t delete it. I can rename it, but that does not remove the notification that I have a system update ready to install. I believe this is because the OTA service is still running. I also renamed the .odex file and that didn’t help either.
So, I was under the assumption that with root access I could just uninstall any app I wanted, especially pre-installed crap-ware by Moto and Verizon. Or at the least navigate to these .apk filed and delete them.
Please help me understand what root access gives me and how I can use it to do what I want to this phone.

TheAscension said:
This is my first time rooting a phone and I’m trying to understand what power I exactly have now. I equate having root access to having admin access to a Windows PC. Is this correct?
I successfully gained root access via towelroot and confirmed with root checker. My goal is to stop Motorola from bugging me to upgrade to 183.46.15. When I use ES File Explorer to navigate to system/priv-app and attempt to delete 3c_ota.apk I get an error that I can’t delete it. I can rename it, but that does not remove the notification that I have a system update ready to install. I believe this is because the OTA service is still running. I also renamed the .odex file and that didn’t help either.
So, I was under the assumption that with root access I could just uninstall any app I wanted, especially pre-installed crap-ware by Moto and Verizon. Or at the least navigate to these .apk filed and delete them.
Please help me understand what root access gives me and how I can use it to do what I want to this phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
UNLOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER.
The OTA most likely downloaded and is being stored in your cache directory(?). You need to delete it.

ATTACK said:
UNLOCK YOUR BOOTLOADER.
The OTA most likely downloaded and is being stored in your cache directory(?). You need to delete it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm planning on unlocking the bootloader but at this point I really just want it to stop telling me that I have a system update to install. Are you saying that if I find the OTA and delete it I will be free of this notification?
Also, I want to be able to go through the list of installed apps and uninstall at will. Why can't I do that if I have root?

TheAscension said:
Yes, I'm planning on unlocking the bootloader but at this point I really just want it to stop telling me that I have a system update to install. Are you saying that if I find the OTA and delete it I will be free of this notification?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, if the OTA has downloaded on your device, you will need to either delete it or install it to stop the pop-ups.
TheAscension said:
Also, I want to be able to go through the list of installed apps and uninstall at will. Why can't I do that if I have root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using a root explorer with superuser rights?

I second ATTACK. You will need to disable the updater (blur_update or something similar but there's no mistaking when you load up Titanium Backup, they occasionally show the information - any debloaters will take care of it if you know how to use it.) and delete update.zip in /cache as recent .15 is a point of no return. Then to unlock the bootloader, grab Motopocalypse APK.
In short, about "Superuser", it means you have the complete permission to do whatever you want after rooting. Just be careful, as power comes with responsibility.

ATTACK said:
Yes, if the OTA has downloaded on your device, you will need to either delete it or install it to stop the pop-ups.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I checked the cache directory and there's nothing in it. I'm not sure where to look for.
ATTACK said:
Are you using a root explorer with superuser rights?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
By a "root explorer", you mean like ES File Manager where I can navigate through system directories? Then yes. However, I do not know how to use it with superuser rights.

Touch Tools in ES file explorer, then Root Explorer and grant the permission once Superuser toast appears. And you will want to touch "Show hidden files". Then look around in /cache, now that the Superuser permission is granted to ES file explorer. Android OS typically hide some files if you're not rooted.

Dr. Mario said:
Touch Tools in ES file explorer, then Root Explorer and grant the permission once Superuser toast appears. And you will want to touch "Show hidden files". Then look around in /cache, now that the Superuser permission is granted to ES file explorer. Android OS typically hide some files if you're not rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok I got it figured out. I navigated to the cache directory and renamed the OTA with a .BAK extension. Problem solved. Here's a question now that I've gone through the process. Is a program like SuperSU required to prompt the "Superuser toast"?
Also, if I want to uninstall pre-installed apps like Audible, how would I do so? I can certainly delete the APK, but does that actually remove all other associated files? I know in Windows it's good to go through the actual uninstall process so that all associated files and registry entries are removed as well.

TheAscension said:
Is a program like SuperSU required to prompt the "Superuser toast"?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
TheAscension said:
Also, if I want to uninstall pre-installed apps like Audible, how would I do so? I can certainly delete the APK, but does that actually remove all other associated files? I know in Windows it's good to go through the actual uninstall process so that all associated files and registry entries are removed as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Navigate to the /system partition > /app & /priv-app folders and either delete or rename(.bak) the app/s you would like to "uninstall" then reboot.

Fantastic! Many thanks to you both. I accomplished my goals and learned a lot in the process.

You're welcome. Also, Superuser toast is there for security reason; if the suspicious program tries to access the su binary, you would catch the suspicious app in its track and permanently deny it of the permission. That's the beauty of Superuser app - you get to choose which app to be allowed to use the superuser permission.

Related

Sprint Bloatware removal?

OK!!!! So now that we have Gingerbread, I am wondering if there is anyway that we can remove the bloatware without having to flash an entire ROM??? I am not interested in freezing them, but instead complete removal to have the free space.
Any suggestions?
I used ES File Explorer which is free. Go into it's settings, and there should be an option to turn on Root Explorer and to Mount File System. Then just tap the favorites star, select phone, then browse to system/app and delete the apk and odex files for the bloat.
The root explorer function seems a bit buggy on ES, only would activate once. If I unactivated and try to reactivate says test fail. Works again after rebooting the phone though. The nice thing about ES is it shows the icons for the apks so you know exactly what you are deleting as some of the names aren't real descriptive.
I used Titanium Backup to remove Sprint Bloatware. Open TB > Backup / Restore > Select App > Uninstall.
Just delete them in 7zip/winrar. System/apps
Yeah, with the ES File Explorer, I notice that if I set the root option and leave the application, when I go back in...it only show one phantom folder. I have to go in to settings, uncheck it...exit the app...then go back in and recheck it. Other than that 'bug', it works fine.
So i have the paid root explorer, and I go to system, app, then i mount r/w but where are these bloat apps? i can't seem to find asphalt or any other ones? are they hidden under different names?
I would like to delete;
ashpalt
telenav
nascar
free hd game(?)
do I need all share?
qik video
sprint tv
Personally, I use the SDX Stock App removal app.
Simple and easy to use. You can back up any app and you can also use it to restore.
I'm sure root explorer is just as good though but I stick to what I know
blazinazn said:
Personally, I use the SDX Stock App removal app.
Simple and easy to use. You can back up any app and you can also use it to restore.
I'm sure root explorer is just as good though but I stick to what I know
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does anyone here know where to find those apps in Root Explorer?
Neckberg said:
So does anyone here know where to find those apps in Root Explorer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
/system/app
blazinazn said:
/system/app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, thanks, but I wrote that is where I am going. I dont see anything labeled asphalt, telenav...
found them in data/app.

[Q] CANT FIND Root exploer

I have used super one click and still can NOT find root explore in app store on kindle but kindle has the superuser app (found in settings,apps,ect). Please someone tell me what im doing wrong or help me!! im about to throw my kindle.
amnovess said:
I have used super one click and still can NOT find root explore in app store on kindle but kindle has the superuser app (found in settings,apps,ect). Please someone tell me what im doing wrong or help me!! im about to throw my kindle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you using the google market? Allot of apps don't show in the Amazon market. If it isn't in the google market you could always sideload it.
Sent from my ADR6400L using Forum Runner
amnovess said:
I have used super one click and still can NOT find root explore in app store on kindle but kindle has the superuser app (found in settings,apps,ect). Please someone tell me what im doing wrong or help me!! im about to throw my kindle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
<Root Explorer apparently cannot be side-loaded due to protected app. It appears that you need to install directly from the marketplace or another android application store.> - edit... others said this was incorrect and they were able to sideload Root Explorer. Not sure why we had issues. I was assisting a friend get his Market working and found that Root Explorer was no longer listed on Amazon App Store. We did find it on AppBrain, but the AppBrain app wouldn't install on the KF.
In the end we found that ES File Explorer had a 'unprotect system folder' option that allowed the Market APK to be moved into System/App. His market is now working great. Hope this helps. You should be able to fnd ES File Explorer on XDADev or on the Amazon App Store (free app).
I finally got it uploaded and now i save the apl files to sd card and when i go in to move them to system > app it sas that "you can not paste becasue the file system is read only and when i try to change the permissions it give a weird error
please help
i have ed but i cant find unprotected folder ou spoke of. please tell me if i did this wrong but i took the apk's and just put them right into the sd card....is that where the are supposed to go before the sys>app folder?
how about installing it via adb? adb install <path to apk>
help please!!
when i try to install the andriod market it says' "the application market (process com.andriod.vending) has stopped unexpectedly. please try again.........please advise, also i have the vending.apk in the sys/app and when i try to change the permissions it says that vending.apk permissions can not be changed because the file system is read only
thank you
every time i try to do this when i try to mount it with...C:\Users\Guest1\Desktop\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools.... it says "remount failedperation not premitted
amnovess said:
when i try to install the andriod market it says' "the application market (process com.andriod.vending) has stopped unexpectedly. please try again.........please advise, also i have the vending.apk in the sys/app and when i try to change the permissions it says that vending.apk permissions can not be changed because the file system is read only
thank you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must not have root access. You should be able to change the file system to r/w if you have given superuser permission. Are you sure you have root access? What program are you using? (Super manager, root explorer, es explorer, etc.) Did you try using adb to change the permissions?
Sent from my ADR6400L using Forum Runner
You could use ES File Explorer from the amazon appstore. Just enable root mode.
//Tapatalk.KindleFire//
Just for reference, root explorer side loaded for me perfectly fine.
And you cant write to those protected folders without having root enabled.
Thelgow said:
Just for reference, root explorer side loaded for me perfectly fine.
And you cant write to those protected folders without having root enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My buddy kept getting an error that the app was unauthorized when trying to side-load. Tried to move it from sdcard/downloads to data/app and reboot and received the same error. Good to know Root Explorer can be side-loaded without having to install from the market directly if necessary. He was able to sideload all the other vvpGoogle apps and etc fine.
For anyone who can't download Root Explorer from the Amazon app store (I couldn't as I'm in Hong Kong) google root explorer apk and there are a couple of links with the apk for direct install - I think I registered for Mobiles24.com to get that and it worked fine for me.
However, I could only rarely change permissions with Root Explorer so I also searched for "Super manager android apk" which was better and easier to change permissions with. I also just started looking for Filestube/Megaupload links and then transferring by USB before installing with RE or SM
Still haven't got Android Market working - it loads and just says, "waiting for download to start"
I wonder if it's because it's my first Android and I don't have any devices listed?
Thelgow said:
Just for reference, root explorer side loaded for me perfectly fine.
And you cant write to those protected folders without having root enabled.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I also side loaded root explorer successfully.
Sent from my Kindle Fire using Tapatalk
Rubarb said:
Still haven't got Android Market working - it loads and just says, "waiting for download to start"
I wonder if it's because it's my first Android and I don't have any devices listed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had the same problem. From what I can tell its the vending.apk
It would install and load fine, but no downloads would ever actually kick off.
Use the market apk thats in that gapps zip with the rest of the apps.
From what I can tell that's the newer market anyways and flashier than the vending.apk one.
That gapps one worked first try for me.
root explorer error
Hi all
New to this, total rookie, so please be patient
I live in Canada, got fire so trying to get droid market place. As far as I can tell I rooted it correctly using superoneclick. I cant access amazon market.place from Canada so I got root explorer from mobiles24.com and installed it on my kindle (I assume this what is meant by side install)
So now when I go to run it, iget the following error.
The application root explorer (Process com.speedsoftware.rootexplorer) has stopped unexpectedly. Please try again
Thoughts on what is causing this?
There root guide for Linux/Mac includes the APK and automatically installs it. You could follow the steps the script uses to install, or just sideload it.
I side load'ed mine. No problem
blauciel said:
You could use ES File Explorer from the amazon appstore. Just enable root mode.
//Tapatalk.KindleFire//
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This, although it's not as obvious to switch to Read/Write as root explorer. Menu->Setings->Scroll to the Bottom->Check Root Explorer->Yes on Superuser Prompt->Check Mount File System
What I did though was, I pulled the APK for Root Explorer from my data/app folder on my G2, then put that onto the Fire.
Then using ES File Explorer I installed Root Explorer.

[Q] Problem With Package Installer

I am having a problem with the package installer on my Nexus 7. (Wi-Fi, 32 GB) I think I may have done something to it accidentally while browsing through the system files. I did click to install the installer itself out of curiosity, though, but I don't know if that could have any adverse effects on anything. I cannot install any apps, whether they're from the Play Store or an APK through a file explorer. I get error 406 when I try to download anything from the Play Store. (Except when I tried to update ES File Explorer. That worked fine... Every other app that I've tried will not update/ download.) When I try to install an APK, I get a message like, "There is no program to open this file." I had just rooted my Nexus after having it for nearly a year with the Motochopper root exploit, so the bootloader is still locked. I could still install apps, though, until after my first reboot. Could anybody identify the problem? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
you might have removed packageinstaller.apk thats in the system. you can fix it by getting the correct packageinstaller.apk from the interent and move it to the correct /system/app path and apply CORRECT permissions for it
Billchen0014 said:
you might have removed packageinstaller.apk thats in the system. you can fix it by getting the correct packageinstaller.apk from the interent and move it to the correct /system/app path and apply CORRECT permissions for it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's still there. I think installing it with itself out of curiosity is what messed it up. It now shows up in the installed apps menu in Settings.
TheZeldaLova said:
It's still there. I think installing it with itself out of curiosity is what messed it up. It now shows up in the installed apps menu in Settings.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Change its permissions to the same as the other apps in the same folder should fix it
Billchen0014 said:
Change its permissions to the same as the other apps in the same folder should fix it
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't seem that I am able to change permissions. I'm just going to back everything up and either flash a stock rom or another good rom. Thank you very much for your help anyways.
Same problem..
What do you mean about "changing permissions"? If you mean to change the file properties to -rw-r-r- then that didn't worked for me .. pls help!

Need help with bloat removal

On AT&T with root. For some odd reason I can't remove the Att system apps. Tried root Explorer and some of the system removal apps on play. Any ideas? I hate knowing the bloat is there and wanting updates every few days.
rob ben said:
On AT&T with root. For some odd reason I can't remove the Att system apps. Tried root Explorer and some of the system removal apps on play. Any ideas? I hate knowing the bloat is there and wanting updates every few days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There're several ways that I know.
1/ Use ES File Explorer and make sure you enable the root explorer option and try to uninstall it using the app manager option.
2/ Go to the root folder of the phone using a root explorer, then go to system -> app and delete the bloatwares you want.
3/ Use Titaninum Backup
4/ Just freeze it with default android settings. It wont run again or take up resources, and will disappear from the app drawer.

[Q] Update downloaded to phone - Where is it stored?

So my phone downloaded the update and keeps trying to get me to install the update. Where is the update stored on the phone? I want to delete it.
I am still running a older version of SACS ROM and don't want to install it and want to get rid of all the prompts to install it.
AzWizzard said:
So my phone downloaded the update and keeps trying to get me to install the update. Where is the update stored on the phone? I want to delete it.
I am still running a older version of SACS ROM and don't want to install it and want to get rid of all the prompts to install it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This question is asked very often. Little searching would have found the answer(s)
Check here
Good luck
leaderbuilder said:
This question is asked very often. Little searching would have found the answer(s)
Check here
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I followed the directions in the post:
Navigate to:
/system/app: change fwupgrade.apk to fwupgrade.old and keychain.pak to keychain.old
/system/etc/security: change otacerts.zip to otacerts.old
Now reboot to recovery mode and wipe cache. Reboot system to GUI. If update appears, accept install. Countdown will appear but nothing will be installed.
The update notification will no longer appear.
1st - I don't have a fwupgrade.apk in /system/app (I even did a search for it and couldn't find it anywhere)
2nd - When I try to rename or delete the otacers.zip (in the /system/etc/security) it won't let me. It just says it can't be renamed or can't be deleted.
I am using ES File Explorer.
AzWizzard said:
I followed the directions in the post:
Navigate to:
/system/app: change fwupgrade.apk to fwupgrade.old and keychain.pak to keychain.old
/system/etc/security: change otacerts.zip to otacerts.old
Now reboot to recovery mode and wipe cache. Reboot system to GUI. If update appears, accept install. Countdown will appear but nothing will be installed.
The update notification will no longer appear.
1st - I don't have a fwupgrade.apk in /system/app (I even did a search for it and couldn't find it anywhere)
2nd - When I try to rename or delete the otacers.zip (in the /system/etc/security) it won't let me. It just says it can't be renamed or can't be deleted.
I am using ES File Explorer.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must mount the directory as 'read/write' to modify.
Not sure where that option is in ES but if you have root it's there I think.
You may not have the fwupgrade.apk OR you may just not be able to see it with that Explorer if you don't have the option checked to see system/root apps.
I use Root Explorer worth every penny for me.
BUT you can use ROM Toolbox - the Lite version(free) does have a root explorer that will let you mount as R/W.
leaderbuilder said:
You must mount the directory as 'read/write' to modify.
Not sure where that option is in ES but if you have root it's there I think.
You may not have the fwupgrade.apk OR you may just not be able to see it with that Explorer if you don't have the option checked to see system/root apps.
I use Root Explorer worth every penny for me.
BUT you can use ROM Toolbox - the Lite version(free) does have a root explorer that will let you mount as R/W.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I had Rom Toolbox Lite and used it. Was able to delete the file. :good:

Categories

Resources