Rooting Query - Is Elemental X really needed? - Moto G4 Plus Questions & Answers

Hi All,
I just recovered from a hard brick on my G4 plus due to various complications from flashing the Elemental X ROM as suggested before flashing the root file.
Though the root was successful on the stock Nougat OS (NPJ25..93-14), the main issue which I immediately noticed after rooting was that there was no notification sound. I fiddled through all the settings to get this working, but didn't get through. Not sure if anybody has faced this issue.
So, my queries are as below:
----- Why is a custom kernel needed to root? Just flashing a root zip file wouldn't be enough?
----- What's the issue with the sound getting disabled after flashing the Elemental X kernel? Is there a fix to re-enable the notification sounds?
----- Is there any other custom kernel which I could flash when rooting on the Stock N OS if indeed a custom kernel is required to root? (this shouldn't screw up the notification sound)
Regards,
Shonilchi

Shonilchi said:
Why is a custom kernel needed to root? Just flashing a root zip file wouldn't be enough?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The stock kernel from Motorola can only have temporary root access. Check the thread by Shreps if you're interested in that. There's no other way, at the moment to get permanent root access. Why? That's some way Motorola has worked out the kernel.
What's the issue with the sound getting disabled after flashing the Elemental X kernel? Is there a fix to re-enable the notification sounds?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hadn't happened for me when I rooted my device. Specific to you, for some reason. Try flashing again. Backup your existing kernel (Google how to) and restore the backup if anything goes wrong.
Is there any other custom kernel which I could flash when rooting on the Stock N OS if indeed a custom kernel is required to root? (this shouldn't screw up the notification sound)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can, of course try Dreamstar's Vegito or rahulsnair's Quark kernel's stock versions and then flash a superuser ZIP file (the same phhSU or Chainfire's SuperSU.
You should not have had a hard brick. Perhaps you had a soft brick. A hard brick would require a blank flash using special software to fix. What did you mean when you said your phone got hard bricked?

Great thanks for the answers. Yes, it was probably a soft brick which happened. I was able to downgrade to MM and then do a N upgrade.
BTW, I see many supersu.zip files floating around to be flashed. Do you recommend a most suitable one to flash for the G4+. I know that I need to install the pHH supersu app after I boot up.
And for the stock kernel revert I found this statement: "Do a nandroid backup and do advanced restore instead of complete restore. boot.img is the kernel." - can you please confirm if this is a good way to revert back to the stock kernel?

deleted.

Shonilchi said:
BTW, I see many supersu.zip files floating around to be flashed. Do you recommend a most suitable one to flash for the G4+. I know that I need to install the pHH supersu app after I boot up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Install the phhSU zip as mentioned in the link in the post above, or, install the latest SuperSU Beta from the SuperSU XDA thread.
And for the stock kernel revert I found this statement: "Do a nandroid backup and do advanced restore instead of complete restore. boot.img is the kernel." - can you please confirm if this is a good way to revert back to the stock kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All you need to do is backup boot.IMG from TWRP and restore it upon a botched flash.

Shonilchi said:
Great thanks for the answers. Yes, it was probably a soft brick which happened. I was able to downgrade to MM and then do a N upgrade.
BTW, I see many supersu.zip files floating around to be flashed. Do you recommend a most suitable one to flash for the G4+. I know that I need to install the pHH supersu app after I boot up.
And for the stock kernel revert I found this statement: "Do a nandroid backup and do advanced restore instead of complete restore. boot.img is the kernel." - can you please confirm if this is a good way to revert back to the stock kernel?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was walking around here and couldn't help the itchy need to leave my own straight answers to your questions, mostly as an exercise, since G4/Plus is no longer that news nor the thing of excitement it still was (arguably) back in March 2017.
Whatever, as for superuser means, @topjohnwu "Magisk" has gained a lot of popularity over former Chainfire's "SuperSu" since he's no longer supporting it and development seems pretty much at iddle nowadays. Say I'm a purist (which I'm not), that's why I'm still relying on latest, all @Chainfire built SuperSu (v2.82 SR5) probably for the last time though...
On the other hand, ABSOLUTELY YES, it's a good way and you can restore just boot.img right from your nandroid backup to revert back to stock kernel. Actually, we all know it's the best practice to always do a nandroid backup right before messing around with our devices and TWRP comes with the benefit to choose which partitions you can either backup or restore...
As for @flar2 ElementalX, it wasn't really a must because I refused upgrade to "N" due to the lack of Xposed support (both came a bit late) but I flashed it anyways in order to "fix" the so called "burn screen" issue primarily... and just because it's cool. No unwanted side effects by the way and my personal experience with Moto G4 Plus aside from the "burn screen" issue (which turned out no big deal for me) is of pure joy until early days of 2018 and counting. There you (all) have it.
Sent from my Moto G4 Plus using XDA Labs

u need to reboot the device once or wait for sometime..the tones comes back automatically..its not a kernel issue. Since, no one else is facing it...
Custom kernels are better than stock as they give u an option to tweak for performance or battery.. if you don't need it keep it stock.. if u want it, the method u know is correct. Always make backups, incase u mess up.
Good luck!

Related

[Answered] Unroot with Iconia Root

So I rooted a couple of days after I got the Tab, left the Stock Rooted Rom and then loaded the Honey Villian Kernel for O/C purposes. Since O/C is the only thing I do with Root, I am thinking of going back to Unrooted.
My question is, in Iconia Root, if I hit the Unroot with the Custom Kernel still installed what happens? or since I do not have a copy of the original Kernel, how can I reinstall it before Unrooting?
Build is Acer_A500_4.010.13_com_gen2
Current Kernel is 2.6.36.4 Honeyvillain- 1.0+
Thanks in advance
Alteros said:
So I rooted a couple of days after I got the Tab, left the Stock Rooted Rom and then loaded the Honey Villian Kernel for O/C purposes. Since O/C is the only thing I do with Root, I am thinking of going back to Unrooted.
My question is, in Iconia Root, if I hit the Unroot with the Custom Kernel still installed what happens? or since I do not have a copy of the original Kernel, how can I reinstall it before Unrooting?
Build is Acer_A500_4.010.13_com_gen2
Current Kernel is 2.6.36.4 Honeyvillain- 1.0+
Thanks in advance
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you not backup using CWM before flashing your custom kernel?
If you made that mistake, all you need to do is get the stock kernel from the build you're currently on, create a CWM flashable file and flash your stock kernel back.
I did make a backup, then screwed up and wiped the External Card it was stored on. I know, such a newbish mistake. Since then, I have other Backups, just not one with the Original Kernel.
thanks a bunch.. will see if I can search out the kernel I need.
Just grab one of the stock 3.2.1 roms in the development section and install it through cwm. That will replace the kernel, then run acer recovery installer from the market to return to stock recovery. After that you can try running iconiaroot to remove superuser or you can just uninstall it from settings/applications. Now you should be good to go.
Here is a link to a non rooted latest version. It installs through cwm. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1429199
The problem is, cwm will still be on your tablet so you will have to flash the stock recovery. I don't know where you can get a flashable version of the stock recovery without using Acer recovery installer which of course requires you to be rooted to use. Although the advantage to keeping cwm will be you can still flash a custom rom in the future the disadvantage would be you won't be able to take OTAs because they will fail when the don't find the stock recovery.
So even if I successfully Unroot, I will not be able to take OTA's?
I have the kernel and was just going to flash it back, and Unroot. If I cant take the OTA's then it's not worth the effort.
Thanks for the information.. My tablet is fine the way it is, just figured if I wasn't really using root, I would go back to stock. Not really interested in flashing a Rom as I don't want to reload all the apps and set it back up.
Thanks again, as usual you guys are quick and helpful.
Alteros said:
........ Not really interested in flashing a Rom as I don't want to reload all the apps and set it back up.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
@Alteros - What I am about to say is NOT recommended by 90% of all posters so I expect there to be replies urging you not to do this - HOWEVER - if you install a custom Rom then just wipe the following (1)Cache (2)Dalvic Cache (3)Battery Stats DON'T wipe DATA. When you format just format the following (1)System (2)Cache (3)Flexrom DON'T format DATA.
By doing this you should get back all your Apps. There is a possibility, as other posters will tell you, that you will screw up the new Rom and then have to jump through hoops to get back to Stock. But if you want to take the chance and it works then you will have your new Rom and retain your Apps.
kjy2010 said:
Did you not backup using CWM before flashing your custom kernel?
If you made that mistake, all you need to do is get the stock kernel from the build you're currently on, create a CWM flashable file and flash your stock kernel back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
couldnt he just flash a rooted stock rom( a couple pages back in the dev section) then proceed with the unroot
---------- Post added at 11:59 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:56 PM ----------
metpolds said:
@Alteros - What I am about to say is NOT recommended by 90% of all posters so I expect there to be replies urging you not to do this - HOWEVER - if you install a custom Rom then just wipe the following (1)Cache (2)Dalvic Cache (3)Battery Stats DON'T wipe DATA. When you format just format the following (1)System (2)Cache (3)Flexrom DON'T format DATA.
By doing this you should get back all your Apps. There is a possibility, as other posters will tell you, that you will screw up the new Rom and then have to jump through hoops to get back to Stock. But if you want to take the chance and it works then you will have your new Rom and retain your Apps.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah that might work, but he may just to get titianium backup and backup all his apps, if he is going to revert to stock, by flashing a stock rom over a custom rom things might act funny and since he is not rooted only thing he can do is wipe the device and start new
his less headache way of doing things is to leave root and recovery, and use a stock rom. Theres alot of tegra devices out there and who knows how long this community will be kicking out updates long after acer closes support for A500
Thanks to everyone that helped. I ended up loading Thor's 14.2 over the weekend, was not nearly as painful as I thought it would be. So I may try more in the future.
You guys are always quick to respond and helpful.
What I think I learned is that, once you root, you can never go completely stock again. Since there is not a way to get rid of CWM, at least not easily.

[Q] What to expect if OTA MM over LP Verizon XT1575?

*NOTE: I tried to update my XT1575 Moto-X Pure Edition from a file on this page and it was a disaster! I now have the OTA visible on my phone, see screenshot, that keeps popping up. My phone is currently rooted, unlocked, and has TWRP installed, all courtesy of WinDroid tool. Windroid was painless, easy, and got the job done pretty quickly. Now that I can take the OTA update, is there an instruction page somewhere showing how to take the upgrade and keep root and recovery TWRP? That is the gist of what I really need.
I have a new Motorola Moto-X Pure Edition, rooted and TWRP with WinDroid app from Windows. This made it incredibly easy to unlock bootloader, install TWRPm and root. I am very happy with this system and some Xposed modules. I heard all the hoopla about the new Marshmallow rollout but did not have it offered to me on this phone. So, I did it manually from this page:
Stock/Rooted/Debloated X1575 6.0 MPH24.49-18
So much to choose from so I downloaded the moto_x_pure_edition_rooted_x1575_mph24.49-18_v1-deodexed.zip and flashed it in TWRP, after making a nandroid backup in TWRP. Everything seemed to work fine but I had problems after problems. My 32 GB ext-sdcard "vanished" and the system insisted that I reformat the card as "Portable" or "Permanent". I chose portable. I could not get Xposed working properly. My password manager would not work, when I updated from the play store, I got the message that all Android 6 apps now require a password at first run. Huh? What password? None of the passwords I have for the password managers would open the app.
Before losing 30+ GB of data on my ext-sdcard, I copied it to PC, then when complete I put it back in the phone, allowed the format as portable, then pulled the card and restored my stuff. Nothing was working right and it was pretty scary as this is my only phone. I restored the TWRP backup and had some settling in issues, but it worked, all but for WiFi. I could not turn it on! Like a spring on the switch, the moment you switched on WiFi, it snapped right back to the OFF position. No more WiFi. A friend sent me a stock recovery zip file, CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip.
This file, once unzipped, will flash the entire phone back to stock. He send me a small modem-flash.bat file because he thinks that I have an Android 6 radio in an Android 5 device. After running the flash-modem.bat, I got my WiFi back.
flash-modem.bat
Code:
@ECHO Off
@Echo Test
C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\sdk\platform-tools\adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
.fastboot reboot
Now I am really, really gun shy. I now have the dreaded update message on my phone, see screenshot. I found some good instructions here:
[GUIDE] Unlock/Root/Flash for Moto X Style/Pure
Are these instructions safe if I take the OTA update?
What preparations should be made prior to taking OTA aside from a TWRP backup?
Must I really format my ext-sdcard to use Marshmallow?
What other kind of weird things will happen?
Thank you so much, scared "sheetless in Florida"
:
Ohmster said:
*NOTE: I tried to update my XT1575 Moto-X Pure Edition from a file on this page and it was a disaster! I now have the OTA visible on my phone, see screenshot, that keeps popping up. My phone is currently rooted, unlocked, and has TWRP installed, all courtesy of WinDroid tool. Windroid was painless, easy, and got the job done pretty quickly. Now that I can take the OTA update, is there an instruction page somewhere showing how to take the upgrade and keep root and recovery TWRP? That is the gist of what I really need.
I have a new Motorola Moto-X Pure Edition, rooted and TWRP with WinDroid app from Windows. This made it incredibly easy to unlock bootloader, install TWRPm and root. I am very happy with this system and some Xposed modules. I heard all the hoopla about the new Marshmallow rollout but did not have it offered to me on this phone. So, I did it manually from this page:
Stock/Rooted/Debloated X1575 6.0 MPH24.49-18
So much to choose from so I downloaded the moto_x_pure_edition_rooted_x1575_mph24.49-18_v1-deodexed.zip and flashed it in TWRP, after making a nandroid backup in TWRP. Everything seemed to work fine but I had problems after problems. My 32 GB ext-sdcard "vanished" and the system insisted that I reformat the card as "Portable" or "Permanent". I chose portable. I could not get Xposed working properly. My password manager would not work, when I updated from the play store, I got the message that all Android 6 apps now require a password at first run. Huh? What password? None of the passwords I have for the password managers would open the app.
Before losing 30+ GB of data on my ext-sdcard, I copied it to PC, then when complete I put it back in the phone, allowed the format as portable, then pulled the card and restored my stuff. Nothing was working right and it was pretty scary as this is my only phone. I restored the TWRP backup and had some settling in issues, but it worked, all but for WiFi. I could not turn it on! Like a spring on the switch, the moment you switched on WiFi, it snapped right back to the OFF position. No more WiFi. A friend sent me a stock recovery zip file, CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip.
This file, once unzipped, will flash the entire phone back to stock. He send me a small modem-flash.bat file because he thinks that I have an Android 6 radio in an Android 5 device. After running the flash-modem.bat, I got my WiFi back.
flash-modem.bat
Code:
@ECHO Off
@Echo Test
C:\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20140702\sdk\platform-tools\adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash modem NON-HLOS.bin
fastboot erase modemst1
fastboot erase modemst2
.fastboot reboot
Now I am really, really gun shy. I now have the dreaded update message on my phone, see screenshot. I found some good instructions here:
[GUIDE] Unlock/Root/Flash for Moto X Style/Pure
Are these instructions safe if I take the OTA update?
What preparations should be made prior to taking OTA aside from a TWRP backup?
Must I really format my ext-sdcard to use Marshmallow?
What other kind of weird things will happen?
Thank you so much, scared "sheetless in Florida"
:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Two points:
1. You can never ever ever take any OTA with a custom recovery (TWRP) installed. You MUST flash stock recovery prior to taking the OTA.
2. The update will fail if you have made ANY modifications to /system. This includes using TWRP to flash SuperSu to your device.
So if you just do a complete FULL return to stock and have a working lollipop installation, DO NOT INSTALL TWRP OR INSTALL SUPERSU. Take the OTA update. Afterwards you are free to go ahead and flash TWRP. I recommend IMMEDIATELY making a nandroid backup once you have taken the OTA and flashed TWRP.
I also suggest using the new "systemless root" method instead of the traditional root method. If you use systemless root, you won't need to restore /system (as long as you didn't modify it by flashing Xposed, Adaway, or similar. If a future OTA comes out with systemless root, you simply flash the stock kernel (which will unroot you), then accept the new update, then modify the boot image again to re-gain root.
To sum it up: *IF* you are 100% stock on lollipop (no TWRP, no SuperSU), you can go ahead and take the OTA. Afterwards, you can do whatever you would like (flash TWRP, SuperSU, etc). Just keep in mind that if you don't use the new systemless root, you will have to do a full return to stock AGAIN the next time an OTA comes out.
Good Luck.
Hi Ohmster. Hope you are well. I experienced the exact same "mess" as you have. In fact, I had the identical setup (Lollipop, TWRP, Nova, etc.). I tried the FLASH-ALL approach multiple times as well as separate reflash of the modem included in the CLARK_RETUS zip (followed steps line by line). But I'm still stuck without wifi (slides back to "off" immediately). prior to all this, I did a factory wipe as well as subsequent "fastboot -w". Any ideas? I'm on day 3 without a phone Thanks in advance for your wisdom!!
nypeach said:
Hi Ohmster. Hope you are well. I experienced the exact same "mess" as you have. In fact, I had the identical setup (Lollipop, TWRP, Nova, etc.). I tried the FLASH-ALL approach multiple times as well as separate reflash of the modem included in the CLARK_RETUS zip (followed steps line by line). But I'm still stuck without wifi (slides back to "off" immediately). prior to all this, I did a factory wipe as well as subsequent "fastboot -w". Any ideas? I'm on day 3 without a phone Thanks in advance for your wisdom!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Ohmster. Seems that your "positive mojo" did the trick... I tried one more time and finally up and running. Thanks for your posts and wisdom!!!
samwathegreat said:
Two points:
1. You can never ever ever take any OTA with a custom recovery (TWRP) installed. You MUST flash stock recovery prior to taking the OTA.
2. The update will fail if you have made ANY modifications to /system. This includes using TWRP to flash SuperSu to your device.
So if you just do a complete FULL return to stock and have a working lollipop installation, DO NOT INSTALL TWRP OR INSTALL SUPERSU. Take the OTA update. Afterwards you are free to go ahead and flash TWRP. I recommend IMMEDIATELY making a nandroid backup once you have taken the OTA and flashed TWRP.
I also suggest using the new "systemless root" method instead of the traditional root method. If you use systemless root, you won't need to restore /system (as long as you didn't modify it by flashing Xposed, Adaway, or similar. If a future OTA comes out with systemless root, you simply flash the stock kernel (which will unroot you), then accept the new update, then modify the boot image again to re-gain root.
To sum it up: *IF* you are 100% stock on lollipop (no TWRP, no SuperSU), you can go ahead and take the OTA. Afterwards, you can do whatever you would like (flash TWRP, SuperSU, etc). Just keep in mind that if you don't use the new systemless root, you will have to do a full return to stock AGAIN the next time an OTA comes out.
Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Do you think it would work if I did a Full Unroot using SuperSU and then uninstalled it using TiBu. Then flashed stock recovery using the restore to stock tool. So at that point I would have unrooted, removed SuperSu, and flashed back the stock recovery image. Do you think this would do the trick, or is it just best to completely flash the entire device using the restore to stock tool in full. I can recover from a soft brick but don't want a complete brick. Do you think my method is worth a try and that it wouldn't cause a complete brick condition? I would like to not have to reset my phone completely, but will if that is the only best way to get onto MM. Thanks.
nypeach said:
Hi Ohmster. Seems that your "positive mojo" did the trick... I tried one more time and finally up and running. Thanks for your posts and wisdom!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually my XT1575 is running and is in good shape now. I was lucky, @OldBaldy got on Hangouts with me and walked me through it. He sent me a large file which I believe to be the original stock rom for the Moto-X with a flash.bat file in so as long as you have your Windows drivers installed with ADB and Fastboot working. It took me the entire night to get that working with the correct drivers because Baldy had to go to bed.
The file I really needed for this is a 1.27 GB file, CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip. He told me NOT to run the FLASH-ALL.bat inside because all he wanted to do was reset the WiFi radio from an Android 6 radio to an Android 5 radio. Baldy was really smart and edited the restore system bat file to a tiny little "StockROM_FlashModem.txt" and it worked! WiFi came right back!
After that, I had to use adb over USB to flash the system back to original lollipop with no root, take the OTA update, then flash the boot.image file, update done, then flash the boot.img before installing SuperSU and most of this we did with ADB over USB. You cannot flash BETA-SuperSU-v2.52.zip until you flash that boot.img file.
If I was smart, I would have copy/pasted all the adb stuff we did into a text file, but of course, I didn't. But yes it is all working quite well now.
BEWARE:
Xposed does work in MM but not everything. I had to go back to TWRP, remove Xposed, and then enable only a couple of them that I know are safe like AdBlocker and Greenify.
I cannot give you anymore details since I screwed it up myself a couple of times and ended up redoing it on my own and again with Baldy's help.
NOTE:
Baldy did want something out of all this help he was giving me, he wanted the very first nandroid TWRP backup system files that I made immediately as soon as I got the update done because that is a perfectly clean backup and if you ever wanted to put your phone back to stock, that backup would do it.
Before giving up on Xposed and being sure that this was lousing up my phone; self boots, black screen, would not boot, bootloop, etc., I finally realized that this phone actually WORKS, man. It has to be the Xposed files,and modules that are causing the problems. And after removing all but the 2 I mentioned, the phone works great now. I will add more modules, very, very slowly and test each one for a couple of days before I clear it and dare add another one.
Ohmster said:
Actually my XT1575 is running and is in good shape now. I was lucky, @OldBaldy got on Hangouts with me and walked me through it. He sent me a large file which I believe to be the original stock rom for the Moto-X with a flash.bat file in so as long as you have your Windows drivers installed with ADB and Fastboot working. It took me the entire night to get that working with the correct drivers because Baldy had to go to bed.
The file I really needed for this is a 1.27 GB file, CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip. He told me NOT to run the FLASH-ALL.bat inside because all he wanted to do was reset the WiFi radio from an Android 6 radio to an Android 5 radio. Baldy was really smart and edited the restore system bat file to a tiny little "StockROM_FlashModem.txt" and it worked! WiFi came right back!
After that, I had to use adb over USB to flash the system back to original lollipop with no root, take the OTA update, then flash the boot.image file, update done, then flash the boot.img before installing SuperSU and most of this we did with ADB over USB. You cannot flash BETA-SuperSU-v2.52.zip until you flash that boot.img file.
If I was smart, I would have copy/pasted all the adb stuff we did into a text file, but of course, I didn't. But yes it is all working quite well now.
BEWARE:
Xposed does work in MM but not everything. I had to go back to TWRP, remove Xposed, and then enable only a couple of them that I know are safe like AdBlocker and Greenify.
I cannot give you anymore details since I screwed it up myself a couple of times and ended up redoing it on my own and again with Baldy's help.
NOTE:
Baldy did want something out of all this help he was giving me, he wanted the very first nandroid TWRP backup system files that I made immediately as soon as I got the update done because that is a perfectly clean backup and if you ever wanted to put your phone back to stock, that backup would do it.
Before giving up on Xposed and being sure that this was lousing up my phone; self boots, black screen, would not boot, bootloop, etc., I finally realized that this phone actually WORKS, man. It has to be the Xposed files,and modules that are causing the problems. And after removing all but the 2 I mentioned, the phone works great now. I will add more modules, very, very slowly and test each one for a couple of days before I clear it and dare add another one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Ohmster. Thanks again. So are you on Marshmallow? I got back with your info above and back to 5.1.1 (CLETUS). I tried to take the OTA and it downloaded, went to install, and I watched it just say "error" while on the installation screen. I'm going to try again. Let me know if you all set or in the same boat Thanks again!
samwathegreat said:
Two points:
1. You can never ever ever take any OTA with a custom recovery (TWRP) installed. You MUST flash stock recovery prior to taking the OTA.
2. The update will fail if you have made ANY modifications to /system. This includes using TWRP to flash SuperSu to your device.
So if you just do a complete FULL return to stock and have a working lollipop installation, DO NOT INSTALL TWRP OR INSTALL SUPERSU. Take the OTA update. Afterwards you are free to go ahead and flash TWRP. I recommend IMMEDIATELY making a nandroid backup once you have taken the OTA and flashed TWRP.
I also suggest using the new "systemless root" method instead of the traditional root method. If you use systemless root, you won't need to restore /system (as long as you didn't modify it by flashing Xposed, Adaway, or similar. If a future OTA comes out with systemless root, you simply flash the stock kernel (which will unroot you), then accept the new update, then modify the boot image again to re-gain root.
To sum it up: *IF* you are 100% stock on lollipop (no TWRP, no SuperSU), you can go ahead and take the OTA. Afterwards, you can do whatever you would like (flash TWRP, SuperSU, etc). Just keep in mind that if you don't use the new systemless root, you will have to do a full return to stock AGAIN the next time an OTA comes out.
Good Luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
nypeach said:
Hi Ohmster. Thanks again. So are you on Marshmallow? I got back with your info above and back to 5.1.1 (CLETUS). I tried to take the OTA and it downloaded, went to install, and I watched it just say "error" while on the installation screen. I'm going to try again. Let me know if you all set or in the same boat Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you get back to stock using CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip? I have still not gone through the process yet as I am concerned about messing up the process. I want to ask a few questions here. I am well accustomed to fastboot flashing but want to be exactly sure of what to flash and the reason for doing it. I am on stock 5.1.1 LP with bootloader unlocked and rooted with SuperSU. So first I need to use Shawn5162's zip to restore me back to complete stock without root, then I need to go in and setup the phone to at least get the MM OTA, then install the OTA and hope all goes well. Lastly, to root again I need to use Shawn5162's zip to flash boot.img only, then flash TWRP, and finally flash SuperSU again. Is all this correct? Thank you.
robn30 said:
Did you get back to stock using CLARK_RETUS_5.1.1_LPH23.116-18_cid9_subsidy-DEFAULT_CFC.xml_SHAWN5162.zip? I have still not gone through the process yet as I am concerned about messing up the process. I want to ask a few questions here. I am well accustomed to fastboot flashing but want to be exactly sure of what to flash and the reason for doing it. I am on stock 5.1.1 LP with bootloader unlocked and rooted with SuperSU. So first I need to use Shawn5162's zip to restore me back to complete stock without root, then I need to go in and setup the phone to at least get the MM OTA, then install the OTA and hope all goes well. Lastly, to root again I need to use Shawn5162's zip to flash boot.img only, then flash TWRP, and finally flash SuperSU again. Is all this correct? Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is the correct firmware. You don't need to remove anything. All you need to do is flash recovery and system, reboot and take the OTA. Make sure you have the new TWRP ( 2.8.7.1 ) downloaded, the 2.8.7.0 won't work with the new bootloader. I used the modified boot image and supersu 2.52 because I did not care about modifying the system partition. You can use Supersu 2.62 for systemless root if you wish. If you're planning to use Xposed, then systemless gives you no added benefits.
Always, before starting something like this, make a nandroid!
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
OldBaldy said:
That is the correct firmware. You don't need to remove anything. All you need to do is flash recovery and system, reboot and take the OTA. Make sure you have the new TWRP ( 2.8.7.1 ) downloaded, the 2.8.7.0 won't work with the new bootloader. I used the modified boot image and supersu 2.52 because I did not care about modifying the system partition. You can use Supersu 2.62 for systemless root if you wish. If you're planning to use Xposed, then systemless gives you no added benefits.
Always, before starting something like this, make a nandroid!
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, I couldn't wait and already did it. I flashed Shawn5162's file in full. Then I took the OTA and updated perfectly. I have already installed TWRP 2.8.7.1 and made a nandroid of my Stock unrooted MM ROM. Now I want to root but want to make sure I understand this step perfectly. Which boot.img do I use? The ones in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x-style/general/root-moto-x-style-xt1572-br-marshmallow-t3259380? The boot.img in that thread is way smaller than the one in Shawn5162's LL zip tool. Just want to be sure I am doing this correctly. Lastly am I using the SU file in that thread as well and following those exact directions? Thanks.
robn30 said:
So, I couldn't wait and already did it. I flashed Shawn5162's file in full. Then I took the OTA and updated perfectly. I have already installed TWRP 2.8.7.1 and made a nandroid of my Stock unrooted MM ROM. Now I want to root but want to make sure I understand this step perfectly. Which boot.img do I use? The ones in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/mot...t-moto-x-style-xt1572-br-marshmallow-t3259380? The boot.img in that thread is way smaller than the one in Shawn5162's LL zip tool. Just want to be sure I am doing this correctly. Lastly am I using the SU file in that thread as well and following those exact directions? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That boot img is for style only, not for pure. There is another called boot_root_mm_clark_retus.zip
Search for that file, it's the one you need for Supersu 2.5.2
You can use either supersu 252 of 256. I used 252 and have had no problems. If you have flashed TWRP, just put the supersu of your choice and the boot_root.zip files on you phone and flash with TWRP.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
OldBaldy said:
That is the correct firmware. You don't need to remove anything. All you need to do is flash recovery and system, reboot and take the OTA. Make sure you have the new TWRP ( 2.8.7.1 ) downloaded, the 2.8.7.0 won't work with the new bootloader. I used the modified boot image and supersu 2.52 because I did not care about modifying the system partition. You can use Supersu 2.62 for systemless root if you wish. If you're planning to use Xposed, then systemless gives you no added benefits.
Always, before starting something like this, make a nandroid!
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IGNORE ME My Bad.... Back at 5.1.1 and staying here for a while Thanks again for your awesome support. I really appreciate it.
nypeach said:
Hi OldBaldy. Sorry I'm still having a tough time. As mentioned, I got back to 5.1.1 per the above process. I read your latest note and flashed the latest twrp (2.8.7.1) and took the MM OTA. It's now flashing the "teamwin" screen over and over. Should I be patient or bail? Thanks again for your patience and help!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to take the OTA BEFORE you flash TWRP. What you need to do now is get back into fastboot and flash the stock recovery img from the 5.1.1 factory image. Then reboot into system and take the OTA. After it installs, then follow the above instructions.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
robn30 said:
So, I couldn't wait and already did it. I flashed Shawn5162's file in full. Then I took the OTA and updated perfectly. I have already installed TWRP 2.8.7.1 and made a nandroid of my Stock unrooted MM ROM. Now I want to root but want to make sure I understand this step perfectly. Which boot.img do I use? The ones in this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x-style/general/root-moto-x-style-xt1572-br-marshmallow-t3259380? The boot.img in that thread is way smaller than the one in Shawn5162's LL zip tool. Just want to be sure I am doing this correctly. Lastly am I using the SU file in that thread as well and following those exact directions? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, that is the wrong root img to flash prior to installing SuperSU 2.52.
File Type: zip boot_root_mm_clark_retus.zip - [Click for QR Code] (10.01 MB, 756 views)
The file you want is in this post #290
Ohmster said:
No, that is the wrong root img to flash prior to installing SuperSU 2.52.
File Type: zip boot_root_mm_clark_retus.zip - [Click for QR Code] (10.01 MB, 756 views)
The file you want is in this post #290
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yup, I realized that plus someone else informed me that wasn't the one. I got her all taken care of and she is up and running smooth as can be. The battery on MM is really good. I'm impressed. I also wrote up a huge how to on the whole process and posted it. Should contain all the necessary steps in one place now. It gets a bit crazy having to dig all over the place to gather all that is needed. These threads get quite large and finding stuff gets more difficult as the days go by.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk

ZTE Axon 7 Tenfar's Root and Magisk

Hi all,
let me first start by thanking the good people of xda community for your kind help and contribution. It would not be possible for people like me with extremely limited rooting knowledge to even have the courage to attempt a root if it wasn't for the good people like you here.
I just got my Axon 7 and is trying to work up the courage to attempt a root following tenfar's instruction (I'm extremely scared of bricking my new phone) I also hope that I can continue to play Pokemon Go after I root it, but unfortunately with the latest update, it seems impossible until I discovered Magisk. My question may seem fairly simple but it is extremely confusing to me. In Magisk's instruction it says that in order to install Magisk, one must remove any kind of root and systemless Xposed. Since my phone is not rooted, I do not have to go through the step of removing root and xposed? However, it says that I have to download Magisk and flash it. My confusion rests on the concept on how I can flash Magisk if my phone is not rooted? I thought one can only flash a rom etc after the phone is rooted? So should I follow tenfar's root first and root my axon 7 then try to flash Magisk? or the other way around? Any advice /tips/precautions/high level guides regarding both rooting using the tenfar method and flashing Magisk is greatly appreciate! I may suck at rooting and etc, but what I can do is follow all instructions carefully. Thank you everyone, you are the best!
To flash something (a ROM or an app, like Magisk) you need to have a custom recovery installed (such as TWRP, you boot into the custom recovery to flash the .zip file that contains whatever you want to flash) which generally means having an unlocked boot-loader, neither of those has anything to do with root (other than that they make rooting the phone considerably easier) they don't require it and they don't do it by themselves.
@Nameless One is right, you need a custom recovery (TWRP) to be able to flash Magisk. There is a thread about this in the forums.
However I would advise you to wait until next week when a new update is expected and perhaps some changes to the bootloader unlock policy and hopefully stock ROMs, which will make it much easier to solve any problems.
If you insist on going through with this now, you should take backup images of various partitions so that you can restore your phone to stock to receive the OTA.
How does it work if you have uninstall any kind of root? I would think root would be a requirement.
KyJelly69 said:
How does it work if you have uninstall any kind of root? I would think root would be a requirement.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It right on the top of their post
"This mod requires boot image modification, so unlocked bootloaders are required!"
What it does is implement it's own system-less root management module that will not be detected like other root methods. But will conflict with other root methods hence you have to be unrooted
Unlocked bootloader let's you flash custom recovery. That in turn let's you flash anything else including root modifications. In essence tenfar's boot image is modified to allow root. This will do something similar but you have to have the BL unlocked since patching boot image will change the signature.
iirc magisk alters the bootimage, so you need a unlocked Bootloader go get it to work.
And no, root is not a preq, you can use magisk to /aquire/ root though.
What u need:
- unlocked bootloader
- custom recovery
- a somewhat clean and not already modified system
Thank you all for the helpful replies, I greatly appreciate them.
I'm running out of the box ZTE Axon 7 A2017U with 6.0.1 Android. My goal is to install Magisk then eventually root so I can play Pokemon Go on the phone. Please advise on the next step? What are some of the safety precautions I should take? Thank you all very much!
I'm also planning on waiting until the next update [email protected]'s advice. Can anyone please explain to me the reasoning behind mh127's safety precautions? Thanks!
projectseahorse said:
Thank you all for the helpful replies, I greatly appreciate them.
I'm running out of the box ZTE Axon 7 A2017U with 6.0.1 Android. My goal is to install Magisk then eventually root so I can play Pokemon Go on the phone. Please advise on the next step? What are some of the safety precautions I should take? Thank you all very much!
I'm also planning on waiting until the next update [email protected]'s advice. Can anyone please explain to me the reasoning behind mh127's safety precautions? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have copies of the stock images you will probably be able to fix your phone if something goes wrong and you want to go back to stock.
Not having these copies is like jumping out of a plane without a parachute and hoping you'll hit a haystack, without the pitchfork in it...
There are never any guarantees, every phone is different and as you are playing with important partitions there is a chance, generally through users fault, to brick your device...
Hello all,
Do we know if the "stock rom" @mh127 was talking about is available? Am I safe to proceed with the the magisk/root installation? Thanks!
projectseahorse said:
Hello all,
Do we know if the "stock rom" @mh127 was talking about is available? Am I safe to proceed with the the magisk/root installation? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, the stock images have not been released for the B27 update, which would make it much easier to recover if something goes wrong. However, unofficial images are available (look around the forums). So at this point it is your call, just be careful.

The Easy Way To Get The "Update"

I take no credit for any of this. Monkey saw, monkey did. MAKE SURE YOU FULLY READ THE ORIGINAL POSTS AS THE MONKEY MAY HAVE OMITTED SOMETHING. If you are clueless, not good at following instructions, or apprehensive you might want to pass. If you managed to already get unlocked and TWRPed, I imagine you are good to go. Still, if you break your phone, it's on you.
1. Do a TWRP backup.
2. Flash one of the choices here (READ THE ENTIRE THREAD) :
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x-style/development/rom-marshmallow-6-0-september-2016-t3536120
REBOOT.
I went with the Deodexed one. Check out the Mods too. I added Viper.
3. Get Systemless Root back using using the flash-able Script in Post #8 here (READ ALL 1st):
https://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x-style/general/systemless-root-info-t3373864
3a. Direct Link here:
https://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3809946&d=1468261256
REBOOT
I was still stock but Rooted with Xposed and I successfully Dirty Flashed. OP still recommends a CLEAN Install. After running the script, the phone came back looking the same. I did lose my custom Boot Animation and Viper so I re-flashed them. I also flashed the latest SU just to be sure i had the latest. Probably makes no difference.
Build now says MPHS24.49-18-8 and security Patch 09/01/2016.
Be sure and thank the OP's for the flash-able Update and the Systemless script.
THANK YOU OP'S,
Monkey
Except people have to understand... this puts you in a potentially precarious position. Your bootloader, radios, and partition table are all from a previous ROM version, but your system and boot/kernel are from the current release. Meaning your stuck on this or other custom ROMs and cannot go back to "pure" stock, at least until there is official full factory firmware release for the September update.
Not saying this isn't a valid way to do it, but it isn't truly getting the update... not completely, so my advice to others is proceed with caution and know the possible consequences, they may or not matter to you.
acejavelin said:
...Meaning your stuck on this or other custom ROMs and cannot go back to "pure" stock, at least until there is official full factory firmware release for the September update.
Not saying this isn't a valid way to do it, but it isn't truly getting the update... not completely, so my advice to others is proceed with caution and know the possible consequences, they may or not matter to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you say "cannot go back" does something get flagged where a TWRP system wipe and restore of a backup would not work?
G_Man18 said:
When you say "cannot go back" does something get flagged where a TWRP system wipe and restore of a backup would not work?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No... That's fine. I mean you can't flash the full system image via fastboot.
acejavelin said:
No... That's fine. I mean you can't flash the full system image via fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick response. I am surprised how many people get in trouble when TWRP backups are easy to do and can get you going when you screw up--which does happen to all of us. I post little but do read quite a bit in these forums; most of my questions have already been answered. You say you will nudge people in the right direction, but from what I have seen, no one on here answers as many questions so meticulously as you. Thanks!
acejavelin said:
Except people have to understand... this puts you in a potentially precarious position. Your bootloader, radios, and partition table are all from a previous ROM version, but your system and boot/kernel are from the current release. Meaning your stuck on this or other custom ROMs and cannot go back to "pure" stock, at least until there is official full factory firmware release for the September update.
Not saying this isn't a valid way to do it, but it isn't truly getting the update... not completely, so my advice to others is proceed with caution and know the possible consequences, they may or not matter to you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I just received the notification for this update, is it okay to take it, or is it going to cause issues. I am unlocked and rooted currently running MPHS24.49-18-4. I would restore back to a non-rooted TWRP backup of the same build, then flash back the original recovery image, clear cache and dalvik, and finally flash the update.
Will this work and is It okay to update to this build? Thanks.
robn30 said:
I just received the notification for this update, is it okay to take it, or is it going to cause issues. I am unlocked and rooted currently running MPHS24.49-18-4. I would restore back to a non-rooted TWRP backup of the same build, then flash back the original recovery image, clear cache and dalvik, and finally flash the update.
Will this work and is It okay to update to this build? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you return to stock, meaning the /system and /boot partitions and recovery is stock, it should work... how you get there isn't as important. But you can't just "flash" the OTA zip file, not directly... and I am not positive if the stock recovery supports sideloading official ZIPs or not, but you should be able to accept it and let it apply itself. The lock or unlock state of the bootloader isn't relevant.
So most likely it would work fine... but backup first, just in case something goes wrong.
acejavelin said:
If you return to stock, meaning the /system and /boot partitions and recovery is stock, it should work... how you get there isn't as important. But you can't just "flash" the OTA zip file, not directly... and I am not positive if the stock recovery supports sideloading official ZIPs or not, but you should be able to accept it and let it apply itself. The lock or unlock state of the bootloader isn't relevant.
So most likely it would work fine... but backup first, just in case something goes wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Backup is running right now, so that will be good to go. With systemless root can I perform a full unroot using SuperSU or is it better to restore the unrooted TWRP backup? Thanks.
robn30 said:
Backup is running right now, so that will be good to go. With systemless root can I perform a full unroot using SuperSU or is it better to restore the unrooted TWRP backup? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are rooted, it means you did something with root, right? So unless you are going to undo everything root and then unroot, better to restore the pre-root backup
acejavelin said:
If you are rooted, it means you did something with root, right? So unless you are going to undo everything root and then unroot, better to restore the pre-root backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Very good, thanks for the advice. Good thing I made an unrooted backup when I updated to the May Security update. I knew that would come in handy eventually.
robn30 said:
Very good, thanks for the advice. Good thing I made an unrooted backup when I updated to the May Security update. I knew that would come in handy eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update went perfectly smooth by restoring back to an unrooted 24.221.4 TWRP backup, then flashing stock recovery, and finally taking the update to 24.221.8. I did perform a wipe off cache and dalvik at least twice during the process.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
robn30 said:
Update went perfectly smooth by restoring back to an unrooted 24.221.4 TWRP backup, then flashing stock recovery, and finally taking the update to 24.221.8. I did perform a wipe off cache and dalvik at least twice during the process.
Sent from my XT1575 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just to be sure. I ran TWRP from Fastboot in ADB as soon as Unlocked and turned the phone on. So you have confirmed I can then flash Stock recovery and take the "full" Update. Mind providing the link to Stock recovery?
Thanks.
schneid said:
Just to be sure. I ran TWRP from Fastboot in ADB as soon as Unlocked and turned the phone on. So you have confirmed I can then flash Stock recovery and take the "full" Update. Mind providing the link to Stock recovery?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pretty sure there is a post in here somewhere that has a link to the 24.221.4 recovery, but I just used the one in this full firmware download. Just extracted the recovery.img file only and flash it using fastboot. Here is the link.
https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=69103575&postcount=243

Cleanest root

Hello everyone !
I currently have a H870 european LG g6.
I want to root my phone but I don't want to install TWRP.
I want the lightest and "as stock as possible" way to root.
Is it possible? Thanks a lot for your help !
Your NEED to unlock bootloader. Then ADB to root.
Why not have twrp installed? Great for backup restoring flashing latest root list goes on.
If you want a rom which is 'stock as possible' install Fulmics rom. You do need to unlock your bootloader and use TWRP to install the rom tho'.
kurskoo40 said:
If you want a rom...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
?? He just wants root. Nothing else. No ROM.
Aight if you don't want any rom, you still got to unlock your bootloader cause you need to install TWRP to install magisk or supersu. Which root app do you prefer?
I have the US997 and want something similar. I want to root the stock rom with Magisk and still be able to take an OTA. Ideally, unlock, flash TWRP, root, and then flash back stock recovery. This is possible correct?
Irieone said:
I have the US997 and want something similar. I want to root the stock rom with Magisk and still be able to take an OTA. Ideally, unlock, flash TWRP, root, and then flash back stock recovery. This is possible correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea you can do that. You can keep the stock rom if you want but you will need to flash TWRP to install magisk. Magisk comes with a .zip file which only can be installed with TWRP.
kurskoo40 said:
Yea you can do that. You can keep the stock rom if you want but you will need to flash TWRP to install magisk. Magisk comes with a .zip file which only can be installed with TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is it possible at all to avoid flashing TWRP (like going with SuperSU instead of Magisk)?
sp_1st_timer said:
Is it possible at all to avoid flashing TWRP (like going with SuperSU instead of Magisk)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, you always need a custom recovery to flash SuperSu or Magisk.
Anyway, why you don't want the custom recovery? You can always remove it by flashing the stock one.
Killua96 said:
Nope, you always need a custom recovery to flash SuperSu or Magisk.
Anyway, why you don't want the custom recovery? You can always remove it by flashing the stock one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have read a lot of issues other users have trying to make TWRP to work. I was thinking it would be better for me if there was a way to skip TWRP when rooting my LG G6.
sp_1st_timer said:
I have read a lot of issues other users have trying to make TWRP to work. I was thinking it would be better for me if there was a way to skip TWRP when rooting my LG G6.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Zefie's TWRP doesn't have any major problems, official one is unable to mount system and has problems with backups, nothing to do with normal usage of the phone.
Killua96 said:
Zefie's TWRP doesn't have any major problems, official one is unable to mount system and has problems with backups, nothing to do with normal usage of the phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I wish somebody knowledgeable would post an "Ultimate Guide to Rooting your LG G6" thread and make it a sticky. There are contradicting/incomplete instructions on when to press and release the Volume & Power button, when to disconnect the USB cable, etc.
I believe many simple questions on flashing recovery and rooting will keep coming back until a correct, complete and detailed step-by-step guide gets posted.

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