Never lose root... - Atrix 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

It seems that ever since I've rooted 2.3.4 with preinstall.img, nothing has gotten rid of root. I've re-flashed stock 4.1.83, re-flashed 2.3.4, and re-flashed radios, but I've never had to re-do any rooting procedures. Superuser has stayed on my phone this whole time. Titanium Backup has never failed. I'm just wondering whether this is normal. I thought flashing SBFs caused you to lose root.

The idea of the preinstall is that when you do a reflash or a phone wipe is that the phone does whatever the preinstall partition does. So if you don't want the preinstall anymore you should delete or empty it.
On the preinstall thread you may find more information or someone might correct me.

Related

[HOWTO] Update Walkthrough for those with custom ROMs

Okay, so I see there are many people that have the same questions I had yesterday trying to apply this update with a custom ROM already on my phone. Here is what you'll need and how to get your phone updated. This isn't the only way to do it, but it's what I did and it was pretty easy. It was harder finding out how to do all of this, and in what order than actually doing the process.
It will take a little while to do this, roughly 30-45 minutes.
Here are the steps I had to use being on 1.5.7 with GingerBlur:
Here is what you'll need after backing up your apps/files to the SD Card, in this order:
Download RSD Lite 5.0
Download 1.8.3 sbf
Gingerbreak
GladEnable
Tenwar's System Recovery
GreyBlur 2.X (Or insert custom ROM here)
1: Flash the 1.8.3 update on to your phone using RSD Lite, this will reset your phone completely to stock.
2: Run GingerBreak to root the device.
3: At this point I was unable to install Tenwar's, so I used GladEnable to sideload it.
4: Installed Tenwar's and loaded up my custom ROM.
5: Restore your backup.
This should get you all updated and with your custom ROM installed.
Awesome! Thanks man
quick question: how do we make a backup (Ti Backup?) on our current setups? And will restoring the backup we make bring back all apps and settings and everything?
Thanks a lot for this....
spitefulcheerio said:
Awesome! Thanks man
quick question: how do we make a backup (Ti Backup?) on our current setups? And will restoring the backup we make bring back all apps and settings and everything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, use Titanium Backup to backup your User Apps and Data, not the system apps or data. And make sure to backup to your SD Card as the flash with wipe your internal memory and your backup will be lost. I had that issue and had to reinstall all of my apps. It's minor, but still a pain in the ass.
Flashing 1.83 should not wipe anything; as far as apps or info. goes. Some people have had a problem with gingerbreak wiping some things though. I flashed 1.83 and ran ginerbreak with no problems, except for having the bloatware re-installed and loosing my root, but that's to be expected.
Swiftks said:
Flashing 1.83 should not wipe anything; as far as apps or info. goes. Some people have had a problem with gingerbreak wiping some things though. I flashed 1.83 and ran ginerbreak with no problems, except for having the bloatware re-installed and loosing my root, but that's to be expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I flashed 1.8.3 through RSD Lite, it completely put everything back to bone stock. It wiped the entire internal memory. So I'm not sure if it should or shouldn't, but it did. I know it wasn't GingerBreak because you flash the update before installing GB.
IrateCustomer said:
When I flashed 1.8.3 through RSD Lite, it completely put everything back to bone stock. It wiped the entire internal memory. So I'm not sure if it should or shouldn't, but it did. I know it wasn't GingerBreak because you flash the update before installing GB.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
that's weird, b/c when I flashed it, it didn't wipe anything just added the bloat ware back and changed the radio, etc. still had homescreen the same with all my apps, etc.... oh well
Swiftks said:
that's weird, b/c when I flashed it, it didn't wipe anything just added the bloat ware back and changed the radio, etc. still had homescreen the same with all my apps, etc.... oh well
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe because I was on 1.5.7, and flashed 1.8.3 instead of going back and OTAing the phone. That would make sense because the OTA process probably does a backup/restore during the process. As mentioned in the OP, it's only one way to do it, but there are other options.
the sbf download is sending me to Motorola site,, dont I need the sbf not the exe??
Datblkbro said:
the sbf download is sending me to Motorola site,, dont I need the sbf not the exe??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've updated the link in the OP so you can download the correct file. My apologies.
Regarding 1.8.3 sbf, which of the sfb files from the link you provided is it? They vary in size. Thanks.
You want the one with the most hits and the ridiculously long filename.
It actually has 1.8.3 buried in the name of the file. It's a few from the top.
THANK YOU this has been a big question mark for me ever since 1.83 came out. Fantastic guide.
Swiftks said:
Flashing 1.83 should not wipe anything; as far as apps or info. goes. Some people have had a problem with gingerbreak wiping some things though. I flashed 1.83 and ran ginerbreak with no problems, except for having the bloatware re-installed and loosing my root, but that's to be expected.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did the GingerBlur 3.1 get fixed when it comes to the Webtop mod? Cuz I read something about it having a problem with actually working on this Rom? Maybe that was on the 3.0, so I figure 3.1 fixed it?
PLease just a simple "yes it works" or "No, it doesn't" will suffice
Thanks
Just wanted to post my initial experience with using RSDlite to update afterting and gingerblurring it.
I followed your how to as much as I could (You should provide a link to RSDlite instructions, I had to search for it because I didn't know how to do it exactly... not a big deal but it would make it easier/idiot proof)
When I first updated via RSDlite, something must hve went wrong. At first, A triangle and lil android was haunting me on my screen... so I went to reboot.. **** [I thought I bricked it]... Then I restarted it again... DOUBLE ****... Couldn't load into recovery... I restarted a third time and it loaded up(**** YES). But for some odd reason, it said I still had to update (even though it said the firmware was @ 1.8.3.)
Everything seemed to work fine, and was able too root and ginger blur it. About a few hours later, wifi seemed wonky (kept randomly disconnecting and the update dialog came up every 15 minutes).
I ended up reflashing to 1.2.8 and OTA's all the way up to 1.8.3 and then re-rooted and blurred it. No problems since the full refresh
Hopefully everybody elses experience goes better than mine!
Also, Random question. How do you remove Tenwars System Recovery app after using it to load up a rom?
winky! said:
Also, Random question. How do you remove Tenwars System Recovery app after using it to load up a rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use Uninstaller for Root (I found it on the Market), and you can uninstall from there if you wish. Personally I see no real reason to remove it, but you can if you need to with the above referenced Uninstaller. There are a few others that can do it, but UfR is free, which is clearly a win.
564mb for the sfb??? Thats freaking huge
GreyBlur on 1.8.3
After following the steps I still show
"System Version 4.1.57MB860.ATT.us"
rooted and sideloading enabled by gladroot then flashed greyblur 2.1....little help for the n00b?

[Q] Restore via CWM vs. reflashing sbf

Recently, I reflashed 1.26, rooted via gladroot, then updated via OTA to 1.57 then 1.83, retaining root both times. I immediately backed up my system via CWM. At that point, I was running stock, rooted 1.83, and did not download anything and did not change any settings.
My question is, if I want to uninstall a theme or gingerblur, or if I screw something up, would it be cleaner to re-flash 1.26 and re-do all the steps above, or will simply restoring from CWM put me in the exact same spot?
Thanks.
Nobody? I can't post in the development forum, otherwise I would have asked in Tenfar's thread.
beans3660 said:
Recently, I reflashed 1.26, rooted via gladroot, then updated via OTA to 1.57 then 1.83, retaining root both times. I immediately backed up my system via CWM. At that point, I was running stock, rooted 1.83, and did not download anything and did not change any settings.
My question is, if I want to uninstall a theme or gingerblur, or if I screw something up, would it be cleaner to re-flash 1.26 and re-do all the steps above, or will simply restoring from CWM put me in the exact same spot?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe you can restore with CWM if you want to go back to the same point, but not if you want to restore apps and data to a later updated firmware revision.
I haven't tried this myself yet, but will the next time I clean off my phone for whatever reason............new "ROM" maybe. I up till now have been flashing back to 4.1.26 and then updating to keep everything clean.

[Q] Cannot flash sbf to Atrix running Gingerblur

Guys I'm new to the forum but have been messing around with custom pseudo-roms for the Atrix for a little while now. I was running Adeo, then Gingerblur, then Greyblur all without a hitch when I heard about the new OTA update coming to the phone and Gingerbread coming up, so I wanted to go back to any build that would allow me to get the HSUPA update as well as the gingerbread update, but when I went to flash my phone to sbf using rsdlite, it said internal programming fail and nothing else happened. I installed gingerblur over greyblur in an attempt to see if it would flash, but nothing. Have done a factory data wipe, still can't flash. I can't even get into the stock Android Recovery, all that comes up is a triangle and exclamation point. Could someone please help me out here, I'm running gingerblur on a rooted Atrix on 1.5.7 and cannot get it to flash sbf, all I want to do is go back to stock att rom for the coming updates.
Thanks,
BK
Hey,
I have the same exact set up as you. It seems vague in your post if you re-flashed back to 1.26, and that may be why you're getting errors? Every time I update roms, I re-flash to 1.26 using the method in the link below.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=991072
Then I ran Gladroot to unlock, enable sideloading, etc.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1016060
Downloaded and install the 1.83 update online (not on-air because I didn't get prompted)
http://www.motorola.com/consumers/v/index.jsp?vgnextoid=9098bc50a569f210VgnVCM10000081bbb00aRCRD
I ran the 'afterupdate.bat' on Gladroot after installing the update.
And I now have 2.2.2 / 1.8.3
Thanks bud, what I ended up doing was trying to manually uninstall gingerblur and greyblur and the adeo rom by using scripts etc but it never worked. My phone started acting weird, the home button stopped working, no 3g connectivity, it would say I have superuser but it wouldn't be rooted... something was seriously messed up. I tried to get into the stock android recovery but it wouldn't boot, I think something was corrupted. I knew sbf files rewrite system and boot data, so I went into tenfar's custom recovery (after rooting for the 10th time) and deleted system and boot data, system data was deleted, but boot data had an error. I wiped the caches and all and I tried to sbf flash to 1.8.3 but nothing and the phone bricked. I then tried it on another computer with more memory than mine (mine was running kind of low because of a linux partition) and the flash worked and I'm on 1.8.3. I think I'll wait for official gingerbread and unlocked bootloader in July before I mess with my phone again.

my x2 doesnt play nice with gingerbread..either version

My x2 doesnt seem to wont to update to gingerbread i tried to install the pre rooted gingerbread from p3 yesterday to no avail ..i tried wiping data and cache after several failed installs coming rooted 2.2 i decided to try the locked down offical update from vzw. The update always fails to install after it reboots and goes into the recovery. Upon rebooting and goin back to the homescreen the installation still fails. Any suggestions . i even tried unrooting and removing apps that required super user access and still no luck.
You need to SBF your phone back to complete stock in order to install either update. There can't be any removed system apps, or modified system files.
uhh186 said:
You need to SBF your phone back to complete stock in order to install either update. There can't be any removed system apps, or modified system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah do that also you understand that both versions Are exactly THE SAME XDDDDD, The only difference is the rooted one has a patch
gcforreal said:
My x2 doesnt seem to wont to update to gingerbread i tried to install the pre rooted gingerbread from p3 yesterday to no avail ..i tried wiping data and cache after several failed installs coming rooted 2.2 i decided to try the locked down offical update from vzw. The update always fails to install after it reboots and goes into the recovery. Upon rebooting and goin back to the homescreen the installation still fails. Any suggestions . i even tried unrooting and removing apps that required super user access and still no luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You are not the only one. I did a pre-emptive total defrost and factory reset before downloading the update, so everything should have been stock. The update starts to install, makes it about a fourth of the way through, then the phone reboots and tells me the update failed. After spending an hour with Verizon's tech support I finally convinced them to replace the phone, hopefully with one that already has the update installed..
God, I'm starting to hate smartphones. My old Moto KRZR never gave me this kind of trouble ... I'm seriously thinking of going back to it.
Ok, Just so I have this right. I have to reset the phone to factory settings, then update to GB. A simple unroot will not do the trick. (I tried this and the update failed)
I factory reset my wife's DX before updating to GB and had no issues.
Also as of this post it appears there is no way to root GB 2.3.3 correct?
depco164 said:
Ok, Just so I have this right. I have to reset the phone to factory settings, then update to GB. A simple unroot will not do the trick. (I tried this and the update failed)
I factory reset my wife's DX before updating to GB and had no issues.
Also as of this post it appears there is no way to root GB 2.3.3 correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. Needs to be prerooted because the exploit used by gingerbreak is fixed in the update.
Go to my thread here, it explains how to install the update.
Here's what I did:
From a rooted 2.2.2 - unrooted using gingerbreak, then followed the spf tutorial.
Now back to stock with all my apps, ran the update. Installed fine.
SBF
Just do the SBF procedure listed on several threads and it will work fine. Something that has been done to your phone isn't playing nice with either update. There is virtually no difference between the updates other than the patch for root. I format and factory reset, then sbf and then wipe/data in recovery every time before I flash new roms or updates, just to eliminate any crap that might cause problems. Helps to narrow down what I need and don't need. If I forget to re-install it, I probably don't need it anyways. Good Luck. After root try the eclipse rom it pretty basic mostly just a debloat.
so you can not yet root when you do the GB update......

[Q] Factory reset not resetting everything?

I'm fairly new to the whole rooting business, and got my phone rooted the first day I had it and customized it how I wanted. Now I want to wipe it to try some new stuff. I've already backed everyone up with Titanium Backup and made a Nandroid recovery, but when I performed a factory reset/data wipe, I reset my phone and it still loaded my rom (the dasBAMF 3.0). Since I wiped but my Rom loaded (my assumption at least) something isn't working correctly and my keyboard won't pop up when I need to type in text for anything. Did I miss a step to completely wipe my phone...?
EDIT***
Really, I just want to try and get my phone either back to stock, or as close as I can (since I don't know what they check for when trying to exchange at the verizon store, if possible) so that my warranty is voided and stuff....
Yeah... You missed the who step of flashing another ROM. It's going revert back to the last ROM that was there if it isn't replaced.
Oh :/ Where would the vanilla TB rom be? Cause I might just be missing it, but I can't seem to find it in Android Development.
I would prefer to exchange it for another phone, so I'm trying to get it back to stock (or as close to it as I can if all they do is look at it without checking so I can exchange).
You're gonna want what's called an RUU. I'm not sure where the most recent OTA RUU is or who's been taking care of those. It should be in the dev forum. The version number should start with 1.70. To flash it, change the name to pg51img.zip and flash it like you would a radio. It will snap your phone right back to factory stock. If you can't find it, let me know and I'll try to hunt it down.
There's this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=997724&highlight=RUU
but none of the file names start with 1.7? Also, the TS has in caps red: "DO NOT FLASH THESE OVER ROOTED DEVICES, UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING." and I wouldn't know what to do with it even if I got the RUU that started with 1.7.
EDIT***
Well, I found this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1009423
Since I'm new, that will work for me too, correct? I see nothing stating that it shouldn't...
iImmortality said:
There's this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=997724&highlight=RUU
but none of the file names start with 1.7? Also, the TS has in caps red: "DO NOT FLASH THESE OVER ROOTED DEVICES, UNLESS YOU KNOW WHAT YOU ARE DOING." and I wouldn't know what to do with it even if I got the RUU that started with 1.7.
EDIT***
Well, I found this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1009423
Since I'm new, that will work for me too, correct? I see nothing stating that it shouldn't...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That last link, got to restore to stock for root and non-root users... That will work. Basically, after you flash the first one you'll be stock without root. The second flash will restore S-on.

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