I see a lot of people repeatedly asking the same questions regarding 2.1/root/etc, so I made an FAQ for them to be referred to. It is located here:
lostsync.net/erisfaq.html
It's perfectly ok with me if it is reproduced in any way. I'm also happy to make changes and corrections.
Following jcase's advice, the full text is also posted below:
__________________________________________________
What is root and why do I want it?
On UNIX-like systems, root is generally the only account that can do anything it wants without restriction. The root account is often disabled or access is not given to the end user for security reasons. Rooting a phone (or anything else, really) refers to obtaining root access through whatever means available. A person would want to root their phone because it allows for capabilities beyond those provided in the original software and gives third-party apps new possibilities (like wireless tethering, for example). It also allows the user to flash custom ROMs, boot images, and otherwise tinker with their phone in ways that it was not designed to let you do. If you are familiar with iPhone/iPod Touch jailbreaking or softmodding a game console, you can consider rooting analogous for all intents and purposes.
Can I root my phone?
Yes, Whether your phone is running 2.1 or 1.5 you can root it using this method
If I have 2.1 leak on my phone, can I root it?
Yes
What versions of 2.1 exist?
There are three 'official' versions of 2.1. These are generally referred to as 2.1 root, 2.1 leak, and 2.1 ota (or new 2.1 leak).
What version of 2.1 do I have?
The easiest way to determine this is to go back to where you got 2.1 and re-read. Barring that, use the following steps:
From the home screen, press the menu key
Select "Settings"
Select "About Phone"
Select "Software Information"
If you see "release-keys" under the "Build Number" heading, you have some version of 2.1leak. If you see "test-keys," you have 2.1root or some derivative of it (i.e. a custom ROM)
Is it possible to downgrade from 2.1 to 1.5?
Only if your phone is already rooted.
Is it possible to upgrade from 1.5 (rooted) to 2.1 and keep root?
Yes.
If I install 2.1leak (or any version of 2.1 currently available), will I be able to receive the OTA update from Verizon when it comes?
Nope
I have installed some version of 2.1. Some apps don't appear in the Market. What gives?
Use this tool made by Jcase
Can I install a custom ROM without root?
No.
I have root. How do I install a custom ROM?
Read Here and Here
Does <some custom ROM> contain <some feature I want>?
Check with the person or people responsible for the custom ROM in question.
Can you explain all this talk about signed ROMs?
It goes something like this: When HTC is ready to release a firmware version, they sign it. They do this by first creating something like an MD5 checksum based on the original contents of the file. That checksum is then encrypted with a key pair belonging to HTC. When the phone tries to flash firmware, it first decrypts the checksum using keys installed on the device. That checksum is compared against the firmware package you are trying to flash. If it matches, firmware installation can proceed. If not, the firmware is assumed to be broken, corrupt, or hacked and is rejected. Nobody outside of HTC knows exactly how they sign their ROMs and the above is really just an educated guess. This makes it difficult, if not impossible, to reverse engineer the signing process as a way of obtaining root. Even if we did know the exact procedure, it would be very difficult to pull off.
I installed 2.1 leak. When will I be able to root my phone?
Yes, Use this method
How did they get root in 2.1 root?
2.1 root was leaked from HTC and was already rooted. Since no procedure was developed by the devs to root it, it's impossible to apply that procedure to other versions of 2.1 that have been leaked from HTC.
What is a 'gold card'?
A gold card is a memory card that has been converted to unlock your device's CID while it is in bootloader mode. It allows you to essentially turn your production phone (meaning one sold in stores) into a development phone (meaning one used internally at HTC for the development of ROMs), which will let you flash any ROM you like. No one has succeeded in creating a gold card for the Droid Eris.
It would be great if you included the whole FAQ in the post. Good write up.
jcase said:
It would be great if you included the whole FAQ in the post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point.
Nice job lostsync. Will definitely be pointing to this thread to help guide the
lost sheep and/or the"too damn lazy".
+1
this is defiantly a very good write-up FAQ. It answers almost all of the common questions new members are asking. i will be pointing to this often!
Sticky!
Great info
Stickying this, and unstickying the other thread. You should add a link to the rooting process, though.
And, of course, thanks for the write up .
Hi,
I have a problem with a friend of mine's HTC Hero (GSM version), it was bought overseas, and at some point it started giving these update messages, see the image attached.
if we choose "update now" the phone reboots into "cyanogenMod V1.4 + JF recovery mode", I don't know exactly what to do from there, the "cyanogen" lead me to think that the phone is rooted but I tried to run some applications such as terminal and superuser permissions and both of them acted/reported as if the phone is not rooted.
I've searched the net for answers and found 2 solutions that are not applicable:
1. change a file named otacerts.zip to otacerts.bak - I've read that it makes the updater think that the file is corrupt and keeps downloading it indefinitely.
2. factory reset - but I'm afraid it will simlock the phone to its original vendor - preventing us from making calls and using 3G and remove our language support.
any help will be appreciated.
p.s :
I don't have the exact version number on me right now, I will post it if its critical.
We don't want to actually apply the update (unless it won't damage functionality), just to stop the notification.
You might want to provide us with your firmware version, what ROM your running and android version. Check by the settings>about phone>software info
thanks for the reply, here is the requested information:
Firmware version:1.5
Baseband version: 63.18.55.06EU_6.35.06.18
Kernel version: 2.6.27-8dd6deee
[email protected] )
Build number: 2.73.405.5 146733 CL#61267 release-keys
Software version: 1.0.0.A6288
Hm, it looks like your running a very old firmware. Android version 1.5. We have been officially updated to 2.1. That is probably what the over the air (OTA) nagging update is about. Now im not sure whether your phone is rooted or not since i dont know what "cyanogenMod V1.4 + JF recovery mode" is. However, i think if you update it thru the OTA, you will lose root access assuming that you have it already. The most commonly used recovery for flashing and updating firmware is this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=561124
So i guess the next step is for you to decide whether you want your phone rooted or to just accept the OTA update (the update will wipe your phone i think). Or you can go to settings>about phone>system software updates>untick scheduled check to stop the nagging. Although i recommend either rooting the phone and installing custom firmware, or taking the OTA update jus to be up to date
Oh yea i believe this is only part 1 of the update, which isnt the 2.1 firmware yet. This is a preparation step. However, the second part should come to you shortly after you accept this one. So i dont think this first part will wipe your phone, but im not positive
Second, we need someone else with more knowledge to tell you if your phone is rooted
Please don't be angry. I am severely confused over this whole update thing. With the bootloader, and the leaked rom, and the official ota rom.....good lord it's like my mind is trying to hump a doorknob.
Anyway... I have 2.2.2, rooted (although by which method, I cannot remember). I do not have any mods. I have side-loading enabled. I have tethering enabled.
What is the safest way, in plain english, to update to the newest version? I don't know what SBF means, I don't know what CWM means, I don't know what RSD means.
All I want as an end result is a rooted version of the latest, OTA update with an unlocked bootloader.
Please help the ignorant
Edit: I guess I should tell you that I'm in the US on an ATT atrix.
You may want to confirm with someone with more experience, but this worked for me (rooted 1.8.3, OTA 2.5.91), I'm too damn new to even post the link ... pm me I guess hah
k4zyn said:
Please don't be angry. I am severely confused over this whole update thing. With the bootloader, and the leaked rom, and the official ota rom.....good lord it's like my mind is trying to hump a doorknob.
Anyway... I have 2.2.2, rooted (although by which method, I cannot remember). I do not have any mods. I have side-loading enabled. I have tethering enabled.
What is the safest way, in plain english, to update to the newest version? I don't know what SBF means, I don't know what CWM means, I don't know what RSD means.
All I want as an end result is a rooted version of the latest, OTA update with an unlocked bootloader.
Please help the ignorant
Edit: I guess I should tell you that I'm in the US on an ATT atrix.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you do the over the air update you will not have an unlocked bootloader unless you do it before there are custom roms that are just as good and stable as the official ones that will root unlock your bootloader and upgrade if you want to do all of this follow my guide here : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1179506
Just to enlighten things a bit...
a SBF (i believe it stands for system binary file?) is a file that contains an official (made by the manufacturer) ROM for a cellphone. The entire operating system and kernel.
RSD (a.k.a. RSDlite) is a software designed by motorola, to use on your computer to install these SBFs on a cellphone via USB connection.
CWM is a piece of software for your phone that is accessible during boot, before the OS loads.
- After installed, to use it, you have to turn on the phone holding both the power button and the volume down buttons. The phone screen will show "fastboot". That's only one option in a series of options that you can scroll through using the "volume down" button, and that you select using the "volume up" button. Scrolling down, you'll find the option "Android Recovery", which will access whatever CWM you put in place.
- It's function is to allow the installation of ROMs and Kernels. Its basically a simpler alternative to RSD, requiring no pc to function.
And to update your device, first you must install RSDlite on your computer, and install the Pudding SBF on your phone using it. After that, You have to install Tenfar's CWM on your phone. Then you'll choose one of the avaiable ROMs (there's the stock one posted up by kennethpenn, a version of the stock one with a few upgrades, and several customized ones), which you will install using CWM.
The detailed steps are on the NOOB GUIDES fixed post on one of the Atrix's foruns, but I beleive those explanations shall make that road a little less bumpier.
Simple answer
Hi I'd just like to add my 2 cents from the update experience.
If you are rooted prior to the update, installing the official update of gingerbread from Motorola will make you lose root privileges-plain and simple.
In my case unlike you I did not have sideloading enabled. That was the only difference in your situation and mine. So that's a question for a Senior member to answer.
If I were you, I'd just go ahead and update regardless. This forum has a lot of information in resurrection of the bricked phones in the 1% chance that it may happen. 99% you will update to the gingerbready awesomeness.
Another piece of advice is that after exploring a lot of features of the stock rom, i felt that the launcher is the Achilles heel of motoblur or blur UI as they call it now. Try using adw launcher?. It's fast and fantastic. Completely customizable.
This ends my 0.02$.
The way to get unconfused is through education. Find a couple of hours and a pen/paper.
Read the wiki here.
Watch the videos here.
Take notes and follow up in the threads, if you have questions.
kind of a noob myself, but find everything pretty simple. This is an awesome ROM with what you are looking for.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1160649
So I need an SD card ey? Hmm. Ok, well, thanks for the info.
I thought we had a wiki somewhere. Oh wait! We DO!
I have a very similar problem on the lines of i have no idea what the hell is going on and what ppl are saying...!!
But what a bigger problem is is that i have a Orange UK version phone, tho i dont use Orange network... and apparently everything is for ATT phones... so im not sure if any of these things are even compatible with my phone...!?! im running froyo 2.2.2 and want to somehow get onto 2.3.4 but just dont know how...?!?!?!
I'm just wondering, I purchased a phone on ebay (not knowing it was flashed/rooted). The boot animation says "clean rom" so after researching this site and the forums for this device, I see that it's probably a rom you guys are familiar with and it seems to be ICS based (from what I can see). With that being said, does this mean when they actually RELEASE the stock ICS that I probably won't get the update to my phone? Because I really would like to see what their stock version will be like. Can anyone answer that question or has it even been asked before?
you can't take the OTA rooted or while unlocked but you can flash the RUU once it gets posted after relocking your phone. hopefully by then we will have s-off.
mighty_markus12 said:
you can't take the OTA rooted or while unlocked but you can flash the RUU once it gets posted after relocking your phone. hopefully by then we will have s-off.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So does this mean I will no longer be able to receive updates to my phone with this "s-off" or what ever? That sucks, and I can't seem to follow the steps that have been given to get it back to a stock rom or "ruu" what ever THAT means. lol ****that moment when you realize you might look dumb or "newbish" for posting what you just posted****
Your phone has been hacked a little bit, and it's always going to have tell-tale signs.
The worst case scenario is that you have to manually install the next official update and manually relock the phone, which will always say "Relocked" in the boot menu. But if you do everything by the book you should be able to get it back to stock in every other way, including taking subsequent updates over the air normally.
If they get s-off working and you're willing to experiment, it may be possible to completely revert the phone to stock. But that's quite a bit more hackage in order to get your phone "unhacked."
cpurick said:
Your phone has been hacked a little bit, and it's always going to have tell-tale signs.
The worst case scenario is that you have to manually install the next official update and manually relock the phone, which will always say "Relocked" in the boot menu. But if you do everything by the book you should be able to get it back to stock in every other way, including taking subsequent updates over the air normally.
If they get s-off working and you're willing to experiment, it may be possible to completely revert the phone to stock. But that's quite a bit more hackage in order to get your phone "unhacked."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be honest, the only thing I really want is to be able to get it stock on the basis of the apps, getting system updates etc. I'm not concerned with it having evidence of being "tampered with" "hacked" or "rooted". lol It already says "re-locked" The problem is the instructions I've gotten on here seem to go over my head. I might have to be walked through it like a little 3 or 4 year old being taught to sound out little words for the first time. lol Hey, I'm just saying..... No seriously though, I have a MAC and all of the instructions here seem to be based on having a PC
This can be done. But you're going to need to have somebody who knows what they're doing relock and reset your phone from the official ICS RUU after it's released, probably from a PC. There's nothing can be done before then.
cpurick said:
This can be done. But you're going to need to have somebody who knows what they're doing relock and reset your phone from the official ICS RUU after it's released, probably from a PC. There's nothing can be done before then.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So this means I'll need to basically need to take or send it to someone to get this done? I don't know why all of these instructions seem like their in spanish to me now, about 3 years ago I used to flash and unlock WM devices almost every other day. I guess I should've never stopped, but once the g1 came out and switched to android devices I stopped flashing and now I'm lost because I need to "tamper with" my phone again, but can't seem to get going at all. I mean SERIOUSLY, I used to flash WM devices so often that if a certain period of time went by without me finding a rom worth "flashing" I'd start having withdrawals. Now i'm feeling like an absolute IDIOT when it comes to getting into these android devices. I think part of that has to do with the fact that I only had PC's and now not only am I trying to tamper with android for my first time, but I only have mac computers as well.
Go to settings, about phone, software information, more, and write what your baseband version is.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1417839
This thread may help you getting osx and fastboot going so you can relock and run an ruu. As was stated above, what is your baseband? If the previous owner flashed the leaked ics you will not be able to go all the way back to stock until either an official ics is released or the s-off tool is released. Good luck!
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
Unless you have issues, I would leave it as is for the time being. Take time to learn how to do all the stuff you need to do.
The custom ROMs really do make the phone better, you may find you want to keep it in the end. Battery life is much better on a good ROM.
When the official update comes out, we will have a new ROM based on the update within a day or two at most of the release anyway.
The baseband (the radio firmware) is also important. And unfortunately we can not downgrade to older basebands due to not having S=off. So if you are on the newest leaked version then you can run the old stock software.
BTW S=off (or S=on) is a security flag located in the firmware. S=on limits what parts of the phone you can flash and change. S=off gives you full access, it will allow you to downgrade as well. S=off also makes it easier to brick your phone because it does let you change software that is bootstrap essential, the baseband and hboot (sort of like BIOS) for example.
I separate the idea of bootstrap from boot. Most people associate booting with the OS, but bricking effects the firmware initializing the hardware that allows the OS to load and boot. So you get to see the old school term used.
Kennnny1 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1417839
This thread may help you getting osx and fastboot going so you can relock and run an ruu. As was stated above, what is your baseband? If the previous owner flashed the leaked ics you will not be able to go all the way back to stock until either an official ics is released or the s-off tool is released. Good luck!
Sent from my ADR6425LVW using XDA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The baseband is 1.22.10.0310r, 1.22.10.0308r It also says clean rom 4.1. I don't mind waiting until an offcial ics is released, but I will I be able to receive THAT instead having to have a "dev equivalent" version is what I'm wondering....
It's like I said. Those radios are new, and part of a firmware upgrade that can't be completely backed out. Your simplest bet is to wait for the official ICS release, and then you (or someone more technical) can apply it manually. After doing that and relocking your phone, it should start to take updates automatically again. You'll also have the full factory-installed "bloatware" suite of software.
It's possible to downgrade all the other parts of your software manually back to the latest stock release, but it's expected that your current upgraded firmware version will continue to prevent you from taking OTA releases. It would be good training, actually, though you'll get better results and more support from a PC than on a Mac. If you figured out how to do all this, then you could get your phone back on the HTC software track yourself.
Depending on your flexibility, maybe you can find someone here you could send your phone to who can put it back on the official release track. But even they won't be able to put a permanent fix on it until the official ICS release comes out and somebody uploads it as a manually-installable package.
---------- Post added at 10:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------
EDIT:
So did the seller not mention on eBay that the phone had been customized?
Some of the responses lean toward telling you how to flash your phone for yourself. Is that something you'd have any interest in? Do you really want to go back to stock, or do you just want to see the difference?
Are you having any problems with the phone?
The custom ROMs are better, overall, but they usually have one or two bugs that you have to learn to live with. (Which is not to say that stock ROMS are bug-free, though the final versions of stock ROMs tend to be very, very stable.) But if you are on custom ROMs, then you're completely off the automatic update path, and everything will have to be done manually.
So unless you want to learn how to flash your own phone, the only way to get updates is to set it back to stock so HTC and Verizon can handle the updates for you. And therein lies the dilemma, because that in itself is something which must be flashed manually from where you're currently at.
(Oh, and you're probably going to end up losing any of your own customizations in the process, though the data on your SD card should be safe.)
cpurick said:
It's like I said. Those radios are new, and part of a firmware upgrade that can't be completely backed out. Your simplest bet is to wait for the official ICS release, and then you (or someone more technical) can apply it manually. After doing that and relocking your phone, it should start to take updates automatically again. You'll also have the full factory-installed "bloatware" suite of software.
It's possible to downgrade all the other parts of your software manually back to the latest stock release, but it's expected that your current upgraded firmware version will continue to prevent you from taking OTA releases. It would be good training, actually, though you'll get better results and more support from a PC than on a Mac. If you figured out how to do all this, then you could get your phone back on the HTC software track yourself.
Depending on your flexibility, maybe you can find someone here you could send your phone to who can put it back on the official release track. But even they won't be able to put a permanent fix on it until the official ICS release comes out and somebody uploads it as a manually-installable package.
---------- Post added at 10:08 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:29 AM ----------
EDIT:
So did the seller not mention on eBay that the phone had been customized?
Some of the responses lean toward telling you how to flash your phone for yourself. Is that something you'd have any interest in? Do you really want to go back to stock, or do you just want to see the difference?
Are you having any problems with the phone?
The custom ROMs are better, overall, but they usually have one or two bugs that you have to learn to live with. (Which is not to say that stock ROMS are bug-free, though the final versions of stock ROMs tend to be very, very stable.) But if you are on custom ROMs, then you're completely off the automatic update path, and everything will have to be done manually.
So unless you want to learn how to flash your own phone, the only way to get updates is to set it back to stock so HTC and Verizon can handle the updates for you. And therein lies the dilemma, because that in itself is something which must be flashed manually from where you're currently at.
(Oh, and you're probably going to end up losing any of your own customizations in the process, though the data on your SD card should be safe.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, I've kind of decided to just keep what I have. I don't have any issues other and it seems to run smoothly. What I REALLY want to see is what the official update will be like as being "stock released" when it comes out and was concerned that I might not be able to get the update because of the "clean rom" I have now being ICS based (as far as I can see). Other than that, I'm fine until then.
You really should consider leaving negative feedback if they ebay seller did not state in the auction that the phone was rooted and running a custom rom. If I sell a phone and im too lazy to revert it to stock ill ALWAYS state its rooted and what its running in the auction etc
mdunn1066 said:
You really should consider leaving negative feedback if they ebay seller did not state in the auction that the phone was rooted and running a custom rom. If I sell a phone and im too lazy to revert it to stock ill ALWAYS state its rooted and what its running in the auction etc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good point, I mentioned it in the feeback portion and rated him low on the "item described accurately" portion
I would just wait til offiical ics is released. I am sure there will be instructions here on xda on how to relock and flash the new official ics ruu. It will involve downloading some files and entering items into command prompt from PC.
sent from my Rezound
stelv said:
I would just wait til offiical ics is released. I am sure there will be instructions here on xda on how to relock and flash the new official ics ruu. It will involve downloading some files and entering items into command prompt from PC.
sent from my Rezound
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The problem is I don't HAVE a PC. It's already "re-locked" though. I just want to be able to receive the update without having to deal with any other flashing etc. But from what I was told, I should be able to since the current flashed rom is nearly stock (clean rom) and I'm already re-locked. But I guess we'll just see....
refuse2bstopped said:
The problem is I don't HAVE a PC. It's already "re-locked" though. I just want to be able to receive the update without having to deal with any other flashing etc. But from what I was told, I should be able to since the current flashed rom is nearly stock (clean rom) and I'm already re-locked. But I guess we'll just see....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems like people are giving you information that is kinda all over the place.
Lemme try and help clear this up, since you are in a odd scenario.
You are running cleanrom 4.1 on a re-locked phone. For starters, cleanrom 4.1 is based off the current ics LEAK and is not an official OTA update. Chances are high you won't be able to get the OTA if the rom is not a stock rom, and also because chances are you don't have a stock recovery even though it is relocked. Since you are currently on the latest leaked firmware, not an official firmware, you can run the RUU for the phone and go back to stock. In your case, your kinda lucky with this, as you don't technically need a computer to run it. You would need someone to extract the PH98IMG.zip file from the RUU.EXE file for you to run when the OTA comes out through Hboot.
Be for warned, doing it like this, will wipe all data.
I would say you should run the leaked RUU on the phone, as since it is a beta testing Leak, you should still get the OTA, and that way the phone will think it is completely stock and get the latest update.
If you wanna do this, ask and we can help you.
nosympathy said:
seems like people are giving you information that is kinda all over the place.
Lemme try and help clear this up, since you are in a odd scenario.
You are running cleanrom 4.1 on a re-locked phone. For starters, cleanrom 4.1 is based off the current ics LEAK and is not an official OTA update. Chances are high you won't be able to get the OTA if the rom is not a stock rom, and also because chances are you don't have a stock recovery even though it is relocked. Since you are currently on the latest leaked firmware, not an official firmware, you can run the RUU for the phone and go back to stock. In your case, your kinda lucky with this, as you don't technically need a computer to run it. You would need someone to extract the PH98IMG.zip file from the RUU.EXE file for you to run when the OTA comes out through Hboot.
Be for warned, doing it like this, will wipe all data.
I would say you should run the leaked RUU on the phone, as since it is a beta testing Leak, you should still get the OTA, and that way the phone will think it is completely stock and get the latest update.
If you wanna do this, ask and we can help you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I'm VERY interested, I'm not worried much about the data wipe, between what's backed up to my google account and my SD card, I'll be fine with a data wipe. My battery life is also HORRIBLE for some reason with this rom, but since I've not had it stock yet, I guess I can't REALLY say it's good or bad. But my Droid Bionic's battery life was at least twice as good as this phone's seem to be and I don't use it any more than I did the Bionic.
I will tell you right now the battery life will most likely get worse if you go to stock.
Now if the person who sold it installed a custom kernel rather than the one Scott includes in his ROM (scott makes clean ROM) then battery life could be worse than it should be.
Second, this is a 4.3 inch HD screen... it eats battery like a starving animal.
Third, try cleanROM developers edition (a very striped out cleaned up stock based ROM) or cleanROM senseless. I am running cleanROM developers edition and I get double to triple the battery life over stock.
Unless I actually use the phone... When I use it a lot, I do not get that big of a jump. When using the phone the battery life will be similar due to the screen and CPU use remains similar to what stock would be. (which you would expect, the screen will always use the same power, same for CPU) Its when the phone is in standby mode that you see the real gains. Because all the extra junk that is in the stock software is pulled out and isn't constantly running in the background, waking the phone, starting the cell radio to phone home, etc.
Senseless and the Developers edition have their quirks caused by removing so much of the stock sense based apps and functions and replacing with AOSP versions. Thinks like the caller ID not showing up on the screen until you unlock the phone because the sense phone/dialer can not talk to the AOSP lockscreen. Nothing major just different.