I know, there are a lot of threads on rooting the Razr, but what I want is the simplest way to do a root that:
Works with a Mac (or at least a Windows VM running on the Mac)
Is easily un-rootable
Has the least risk of bricking my phone
Will still allow me to get ICS OTA once it becomes available (maybe this week?) by unrooting.
All I want to do is to root so that I can get rid of some of Verizon's 'bloatware', plus use rooted tools like ad-block, busy box, file manager (root), etc. I'm not going to install another ROM (at this time anyway).
So... based on that, which root method should I use? (supply a URL to the software/procedure if possible).
My current version is 6.12.181.XT912.Verizon.en.US, Android 2.3.6
Any advice appreciated.
P.S. I've rooted many times before, but that was with an HTC device, which I understand is much easier to root than a Motorola device.
Related
Okay, here is the situation: I have an Atrix (obviously) that I rooted using the Gingerbreak.exe downloaded from here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1046626. I just tried to update my phone to Gingerbread using the OTA update in About Phone and it failed; I’m assuming it is because I have rooted the device (if not please correct me and tell me what I did wrong). So I hopped onto these forums looking for a way to undo the root, or a way to get the update to work, and my eyes have glazed over. Could someone please tell me how to unroot my atrix before i use it as a hockey puck
I posted a thread very similar to this. You should look around.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1184199
Now honestly, I have no idea why it didnt let you update, since I used SuperOneClick with Gingerbreak and it seemed to work after updating, Didn't really test out any SU apps but I still had it. To think of it, It's kinda useless for me to state that, however it states success...
One of the options for you, since you are still on Froyo and apparently rooted are to install Gingerbreak 1.2. I'm not 100% sure if it will work, but i do know it can't harm your device.
After you install Gingerbreak 1.2, you should root again, then after the reboot, reopen the app and unroot. This method should be flawless since you did re-root with the app. But again, Not 100% sure. And right now you can unlock your bootloader and just start loading if you'd like. That is a much easier and safer way to do it. Plenty of tuts on Android Dev forum here.
lol don't worry about unrooting. I'll tell you that much.
It's not so much of a problem with root, but moreso the pre-test that accompanies the OTA. If you fail it because you use Titanium to clear out bloatware and stuff like that. even if you remove root, you still won't be able to upgrade. Instead, just use this method.
Just download the Automated Upgrade for PC Users and let your phone upgrade. All your data should still be there, but backup before just in case. Oh, and if you wanna root again after you upgrade (cause i mean, why WOULDN'T you want root?!), just use the preinstall method (hehe I'll leave this for you to search. it'll be good practice for the future, i promise =])
happy upgrading!
~jojojohnson7410~
I know how to root a phone, and tablet. Install custom Andriod Roms. I want to knw how to tell if a phone, tablet has been rooted or had a custom rom installed?
Thank you,
Donovan Frasure
As far as I know, if the phone is currently rooted, you could connect it to your computer with a usb cable, open terminal, write something like adb, su root, and if you get the root access here, then the phone is rooted.
Regarding adventures from the past, probably no way of knowing. If the user had a rooted phone with a custom rom, and decided to go back to the original firmware, succesfully reflashed it, then the phone is like factory-brand-new from the software perespective.
I doubt if information about having been rooted is stored on the system.
Btw, please don't tell me you're working in some telecom's customer service
No I was helping a friend try to root his EVO Shift 4G I used the Z4 temp root that was on this forum but it made it slow I meen real slow. The he told be he had tried before. The only way I knew how to check is to look at the about this device. That made me wonder if he tried to flash a custom rom and had problems so I wanted to know if there was a way to tell.
If you want to check if ROM is currently rooted, try "Root Checker" from Android market.
Hi all!
So after alot of thinking i've finally decided to take the plunge and upgrade my phone to an android phone. Im liking the atrix and i really wanna go for it, i just got a couple of questions.
The one im planning on getting in unlocked, and rooted, though i can have him unroot it for me. Now my current phone is my 4 year old nokia 5530, running a custom rom i flashed a while back, so i know abit about flashing. Now rooting, this is the 1st time i've heard off it.
Im new to all this, and I get the advantages, but really at the moment all i really need from it is the ability to install non-market apps, but from what i've gathered so far, it seems i cant update OTA to ICS (when its released) without bricking my phone if its rooted?
Isnt there any way to be able to install non-market apps without rooting? Or rather a way to have it rooted and still be able to update when the official ics release is out?
Cheers for the help guys
Oh and btw its running the official 2.3.4 GB
You have a few options, but what you choose is all really up to you.
First, I recall there being a way to sideload (run non-market applications) in Froyo via a script on the computer, but it required being at the computer every time you wanted to load one. But since it's running the official Gingerbread update, you should just be able to change an option to sideload, no hacks and no rooting required.
If you're still interested in rooting, there's a simple root method that could likely be undone, if the device is still new enough to be under warranty. See this thread. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1255548
And finally, if you want to unlock your bootloader and try your hand at custom ROMs (and lose much hope of any carrier/manufacturer support), go here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/sho... have a simple way to use it via other means.
Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
goodmedic said:
Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I see its been a few days and no one has replied so I will do my best to share what knowledge I have. I've been heavily flashing custom ROMs on my ASUS tablet now for the better part of a year and just got my Verizon GS4, so I have alot of the same questions as you.
1) I'm going to answer this in two parts.
Nandroid, in my experience, refers to the type of backup, not necessarily the process by which to backup. Most common recoveries, including ClockworkMod and TWRP have a feature to create a 'nandroid backup'. This can take some time and files can be quite large, as they copy pretty much every single file on your device; almost like creating a snapshot of your device in that moment in time.
To answer the later part of this question, (typically speaking) once you unlock a bootloader you cannot re-lock it, but that could be different for phones (my knowledge in phones is limited). And yes, using a nandroid backup will back up your device with root access, but using a tool such as Rom Toolbox, you can easily un-root (the program features a 'permanent unroot option'). For one, I would imagine that flashing the stock kernel would overwrite the root, as like you said earlier in the post the current root exploit works by flashing a pre-release kernel, applying root to the device, then re-flashing the current stock kernel. Another way to lose root is to get an over-the-air (OTA) update. You will see programs like OTA Rootkeeper that work to circumvent this, but in your case that may be a valid way to cover your arse in case you need to return it under VZW warranty (it is for this reason that I always buy Best Buy protection plans, because they could care less about the software state about your device [Disclaimer: I worked for Geek Squad so I have /somewhat/ intimate knowledge in this matter])
2) I just rooted my GS4 a few days ago, and nothing I read indicated that the all-in-one tool would unlock the bootloader. If you read the documentation about Loki, he explains this fact. I just found a good video (although it uses TWRP and GooManager instead of ROMManager and CWM) explaining that there isn't a bootloader "unlock" just yet; rather its a workaround to the bootloader that allows us to get custom ROMs on our devices (video is here)
3) "Bricking" a device means rendering the device useless; it won't operate to any fashion that it is useful to you, so its no better than a brick or a paper weight, etc. I would imagine you can re-flash a stock verizon ROM/kernel to restore any screw-ups, but keep in mind this device was released less than three months ago and any development is relatively new. Yes, we have had other Galaxy S series phones, but the S4 has this whole KNOX nonsense that is specifically designed to prevent the kinds of activities we do here on this forum
I really hope that helps. If I said anything that is incorrect, please please feel free to correct it so that at least we can all learn the proper information.
Thanks,
Opethfan89
goodmedic said:
Hey all, I'm looking to eventually install CyanogenMod 10.1 on my verizon galaxy S4. However, being a complete novice on this type of thing makes me a bit nervous about bricking my expensive phone.
So, I thought it would be good to try and understand the process of rooting and installing the custom rom. Could you guys help me out? I'll list what I know.
First thing I want to do is backup the Android stock rom that came with the phone. I have read that rooting or installing a custom rom (like CM) will void my warranty, so that's not good. But re-flashing the stock android that came with the phone will remedy this. To do this, I found this guide on using Nandroid. I don't think the CWM way will work for Verizon galaxy S4 (read that somewhere, but correct me if that's wrong).
However, it says that I am required to have a rooted phone first before running Nandroid.
Because Verizon's Galaxy S4 comes with a locked bootloader, and an unrooted phone, I need a way to root my phone. I found this nifty all-in-one tool by bhp090808.
The way that tool works is it exploits something in verizon's pre-release kernel of the S4, so it flashes the phone with the pre-release kernel, gets root privileges, then reflashes the stock kernel. Once this is done, my phone will be rooted and I assume I can use Nandroid to backup the stock android on the phone.
This is where I'm stuck. I have a few questions regarding various parts from here on:
1) Since the phone is rooted and I run Nandroid to back up the stock android rom, wouldn't Nandroid back up the stock android rom with the root access? If I needed to return my phone to Verizon under warranty, re-flashing this stock rom would still void my warranty because it still has root access? Is there a way to completely revert to stock android with verizon's unrooted and locked bootloader status (and whatever else)?
2) Does the all-in-one tool unlock bootloader? I found a tool called loki which will unlock the bootloader so that I can install custom roms like CyanogenMod. I looked in the all-in-one tool's zip folder, and it contains a file called "loki_flash", but I am unsure if this is unlocking the bootloader or not.
3) Can I re-flash a stock android if I brick my phone? What exactly does 'bricking' the phone mean?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The S4 link in my signature has a few stock images to pick from. It will restore it to the original stock Verizon software that came with your phone.
DarkMenace said:
The S4 link in my signature has a few stock images to pick from. It will restore it to the original stock Verizon software that came with your phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Does the 'Ad-Free' APK I see available on that website work better than jRummy's AdBlocker? I installed it and it detects ads (like in ASTRO, Zedge, and a few others) but doesn't block them even though I have all the settings turned ON and have rebooted when requested.
That said, thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it for future reference and its good to know there are backups available in case anything goes bad.
Are you able to elaborate on how these are flashed? Via ODIN, or can you flash it via CWM/TWRP?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
opethfan89 said:
Does the 'Ad-Free' APK I see available on that website work better than jRummy's AdBlocker? I installed it and it detects ads (like in ASTRO, Zedge, and a few others) but doesn't block them even though I have all the settings turned ON and have rebooted when requested.
That said, thanks for the link. I've bookmarked it for future reference and its good to know there are backups available in case anything goes bad.
Are you able to elaborate on how these are flashed? Via ODIN, or can you flash it via CWM/TWRP?
Thanks,
Opethfan89
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not n sure. It's the only one I ever used for banner blocking. You use the files with Odin as well after they are extracted.
Sent from my Rooted Verizon Samsung Galaxy S4 using xda premium
Long story short:
I ended up getting upgraded from VRUFNK4 to the VRUGOF1 thanks to my good friend, now my question is can I root and/or install any custom ROMs via Odin/SS/CC (or whatever that other thing is),etc.?
Right now, as far as I know, it is full stock (not even rooted considering she used Kies for an "Emergency download and initialization" for the upgrade, needless to say that's the last time I let her use my phone while I'm in work for 8 hours!) but I really am not too keen of this "Lollipop" crap!
Even if I have to remain Lollipop, I think it would be better on a custom ROM and that's ONLY if I can NOT, what-so-ever downgrade to a custom or stock!
Ok, never mind that last question about rooting considering I found this guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s4-verizon/general/samsung-s4-i545-verizon-of1-root-t3254434) which did it fine for me, I was hoping for a root aside from KingRoot which was found, now for a means of custom ROMs is all that remains, anything please?
Hi, were you able to root F1 using those steps? I'm new to flashing, i think rooting this version means you can install other firmware?