Hey guys this is probably a lame question... does any risk come with buying a phone with an unlocked boot loader?
I bought an OnePlus 5 from ebay used in great shape. The seller advised the the phone was rooted with Android 10.
When i start the phone it does have a warning advising the bootloader is unlocked and cautions the OS may not be secure.
The phone did have what seemed to be a fresh install of Android 10... but after trying a few root check apps ... didnt seem to be rooted.
I went ahead and reinstalled android 10 ...
Now that it has what i know to be a clean copy of A10... do i need to worry about the unlocked boot loader? Could there be any other
way my personal info could be compromised ?
Thanks!!!
helldivex said:
Hey guys this is probably a lame question... does any risk come with buying a phone with an unlocked boot loader?
I bought an OnePlus 5 from ebay used in great shape. The seller advised the the phone was rooted with Android 10.
When i start the phone it does have a warning advising the bootloader is unlocked and cautions the OS may not be secure.
The phone did have what seemed to be a fresh install of Android 10... but after trying a few root check apps ... didnt seem to be rooted.
I went ahead and reinstalled android 10 ...
Now that it has what i know to be a clean copy of A10... do i need to worry about the unlocked boot loader? Could there be any other
way my personal info could be compromised ?
Thanks!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wen you are rooted it compromises the system. If you want to relock it search for the code to use in cmd prompt in adn tools. Really easy to relock. But will wipe all your data any time you lock or unlock the bootloader
Related
Hello everyone. I am new to the world of android, but I'm a quick enough learner. Here is my specific problem:
I have an AT&T Atrix 4g. It is currently superuser rooted. It is currently running Android ROM 2.3.4.
Shortly after rooting the device, I downloaded ROM Manager and successfully installed through the application Clockwork Recovery. I tried to select the option to back up the current ROM (the stock android) on my SD card.. however, during the load screen, I got an error message stating
"Failed to boot 2
Starting RSD protocol support"
So doing some research, I came upon the conclusion that the reason I can't backup or really do anything with ROMs is that I needed an unlocked bootloader.
I went to Atrix4ghacks and followed the instructions on how to unlock bootloader and install permanent recovery.
This is the critical part: When I entered into the command prompt "fastboot oem unlock", instead of proceeding normally I got the return message:
"OEM unlock is not implemented"
Again, did a google search and read that Android 2.3.4 on Atrix 4g does NOT allow unlocked bootloaders.
So, the questions that I have that result from this are:
1.) Can someone here confirm that, in fact, I am unable to unlock the bootloader on my phone?
2.) If so, is there a viable workaround that is both reasonably safe and not overly complicated? Please note that I have no backup in case something goes wrong, leading me to
3.) Is there a way to backup my stock 2.3.4 ROM without an unlocked bootloader?
4.) Can I revert safely to an older android version that supports unlocked bootloaders?
5.) Can you actually install new ROMs without an unlocked bootloader?
6.) Am I totally screwed?
HUGE THANKS to anyone who actually bothered reading this, and even more thanks to anyone who can answer/point me in the right direction. Much appreciated!!!
thats becouse u havent flashed yet the bootloader ill give a post related to this and esay way to do it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
and you CANT go back to 2.2 or 2.3 u can hard brick your phone
tufo430 said:
thats becouse u havent flashed yet the bootloader ill give a post related to this and esay way to do it
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1182871
and you CANT go back to 2.2 or 2.3 u can hard brick your phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks a ton for that link. I'm sorry to ask once again, but I'm very wary of possibly bricking my phone... so I must ask: Is your solution possible with 2.3.4? Or will the phone softbrick?
If you did the Over The Air (OTA) update to 2.3.4 then yes your phone will softbrick after flashing the bootloader. Re-enter fastboot and issue the unlock commands and everything will be fine when you reboot.
Hi Guys,
I recently purchased a Motorola Atrix 4G from ebay and the only information the seller had mentioned is that it is unlocked with Android 2.2.
My questions are:
- How do I find out if the bootloader is unlocked?
- How do I find out if the phone is rooted?
- Can the phone be SIM unlocked using a unlock code and the bootloader still remain locked?
- Can the phone be SIM unlocked using a unlock code and the phone remain unrooted?
- If the phone is SIM unlocked but bootloader locked, can I use the official gingerbread update of Motorola? Will this result in a bricked phone? If not will it lock my phone again after the official upgrade?
- If the phone is SIM unlocked and bootloader unlocked, can I use the official gingerbread update of Motorola? Will this result in a bricked phone? If not will it lock my phone again after the official upgrade?
These answers are in a myriad of threads. One i answered specifically yesterday.
I voided my warranty and your mum.
dilshant said:
Hi Guys,
I recently purchased a Motorola Atrix 4G from ebay and the only information the seller had mentioned is that it is unlocked with Android 2.2.
My questions are:
- How do I find out if the bootloader is unlocked?
- How do I find out if the phone is rooted?
- Can the phone be SIM unlocked using a unlock code and the bootloader still remain locked?
- Can the phone be SIM unlocked using a unlock code and the phone remain unrooted?
- If the phone is SIM unlocked but bootloader locked, can I use the official gingerbread update of Motorola? Will this result in a bricked phone? If not will it lock my phone again after the official upgrade?
- If the phone is SIM unlocked and bootloader unlocked, can I use the official gingerbread update of Motorola? Will this result in a bricked phone? If not will it lock my phone again after the official upgrade?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1) Bootloader is unlocked if you turn on screen (see the motorola logo) and top left says "Unlocked"
2) If you see it's unlocked at the top left, it's most likely rooted. Or you check things like Superuser and run adb commands like "adb shell" then "su"
- I think there's also an app on the market to check
3) Yes it can
4) Yes it can
5) You probably could and no, it wouldn't sim lock your phone again
6) You'll have to wait for someone else for a better answer with this. I would highly doubt it'd brick your phone but after reading around... it could brick it. I highly doubt it'd relock your bootloader though!
Thanks KAwAtA!
KAwAtA said:
1) Bootloader is unlocked if you turn on screen (see the motorola logo) and top left says "Unlocked"
2) If you see it's unlocked at the top left, it's most likely rooted. Or you check things like Superuser and run adb commands like "adb shell" then "su"
- I think there's also an app on the market to check
3) Yes it can
4) Yes it can
5) You probably could and no, it wouldn't sim lock your phone again
6) You'll have to wait for someone else for a better answer with this. I would highly doubt it'd brick your phone but after reading around... it could brick it. I highly doubt it'd relock your bootloader though!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks KAwAtA for your kind reply I am a total noob and I'm a bit afraid to install custom ROMs with all these terminal commands and software but I've gotta start somewhere
---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:40 AM ----------
Hi guys,
This is the ebay listing of the phone I bought if you guys need more info
www ebay com/itm/250890443246?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649
i rooted as soon as it was possibable and unlocked as soon as posible and started running roms of GB but after running home base #2 ext 4 had some problems with pc reading phone sodid full driver uninstall then reinstalled from ground up then updated moto helper i allowed moto helper to update and it updated my atrix to stock GB i lost unlock and root rebooted many to be sure never seen unlock on screen and root checker said no root access so im pretty sure it relocked my bootloader so i reunlocked and rooted and now runing roms agin...also when i went into fastboot /android recovey it did not work just got the triangle so im sure it relocked my phone ,but like i say im all good now ,igot this phone the day it came out and only softbricked tw times
Thanks!
rexamillion59 said:
i rooted as soon as it was possibable and unlocked as soon as posible and started running roms of GB but after running home base #2 ext 4 had some problems with pc reading phone sodid full driver uninstall then reinstalled from ground up then updated moto helper i allowed moto helper to update and it updated my atrix to stock GB i lost unlock and root rebooted many to be sure never seen unlock on screen and root checker said no root access so im pretty sure it relocked my bootloader so i reunlocked and rooted and now runing roms agin...also when i went into fastboot /android recovey it did not work just got the triangle so im sure it relocked my phone ,but like i say im all good now ,igot this phone the day it came out and only softbricked tw times
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks rexamillion59! I read some posts in this forum and it seems that if you only do a SIM unlock, it will stay SIM unlocked forever even after we meddle with our phones
So hopefully when I power up my phone, it wont have the unlocked text on the top left hand corner (meaning bootloader unlocked). This is because I prefer the stock GB update for my new Atrix as I am a noob!
i thought it was cool cause i i got a true clean reinstall to do with what i wish..maybe MOTO did it so they dont have to replace so many phones,who knows
Hey all,
I'm fairly new to unlocking/rooting (I'm from the simple iPhone jailbreak world).
I have my Atrix 4G rooted with no issues and ClockworkMod installed... that was the easy part it seems.
Where I am struggling is to figure out IF I can unlock my Atrix 4G and if it is safe to do.
I am running Android 2.3.6 on the Bell network. I see a bunch on unlocks for bootloader 2.3.4 and am confisued if that bootloader version has any relation to the android version? How can I figure out what bootloader I have? Would it also be 2.3.6?
If it is indeed 2.3.6, is it possible to unlock, I see no specific unlocks for that version.
Thanks,
You cant install a different recovery with out being unlocked. so if you can boot into CWM then your phone is already unlocked.
Where did you get the phone? was it new?
Its possible if its used that it was already unlocked and someone RSD back to stock for sale purpose, if its new and you havent unlocked yet then you dont have CWM installed.
Random Canadian said:
You cant install a different recovery with out being unlocked. so if you can boot into CWM then your phone is already unlocked.
Where did you get the phone? was it new?
Its possible if its used that it was already unlocked and someone RSD back to stock for sale purpose, if its new and you havent unlocked yet then you dont have CWM installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry should have been a little more clear, I have installed ROM Manager and choose the CWM install, but I cannot boot into it, I get a boot error 2 (I think). Sorry phone is at home now so I can't recall exact error will post later.
I got phone 6 month ago, was used phone. I am fairly certain its not unlocked because I cannot boot with CWM, hence cannot install custom ROM.
Thanks for the reply.
Random Canadian said:
You cant install a different recovery with out being unlocked. so if you can boot into CWM then your phone is already unlocked.
Where did you get the phone? was it new?
Its possible if its used that it was already unlocked and someone RSD back to stock for sale purpose, if its new and you havent unlocked yet then you dont have CWM installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to be unlocked to have CWM on your Atrix. I had it on at least 1.83 if not the original stock firmware. I know it was possible with only root on 1.83 because that was what I was running up until a month ago and I had CWM on it with a locked bootloader.
cerps said:
You don't need to be unlocked to have CWM on your Atrix. I had it on at least 1.83 if not the original stock firmware. I know it was possible with only root on 1.83 because that was what I was running up until a month ago and I had CWM on it with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, my phone is rooted so I have CWM, just can't boot it. My understanding is because I need to unlock, but I don't know how to unlock because I don't know how to figure out what bootloader I have.
cerps said:
You don't need to be unlocked to have CWM on your Atrix. I had it on at least 1.83 if not the original stock firmware. I know it was possible with only root on 1.83 because that was what I was running up until a month ago and I had CWM on it with a locked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Locked or it just didnt say unlocked at the top? two very different things.
avalanche333 said:
Right, my phone is rooted so I have CWM, just can't boot it. My understanding is because I need to unlock, but I don't know how to unlock because I don't know how to figure out what bootloader I have.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
dur im pretty sure that unlocking the boot loader allows unsigned code to run at boot, I could be wrong but I think you two are out to lunch on installing CWM with just root.
That or you can install it but you cant run it because the boot loader wont allow something with out motorolas signature to execute. making the point of if it is or is not, installed, a moot one. Aside from the fact you no longer have any sort of a functional recovery mode.
There is a LOT of info on how to unlock the bootloader and its not exactly hidden. I dont know if its even still done with RSD but that would be a place to start as that is how I did mine in sept of last year.
Random Canadian said:
Locked or it just didnt say unlocked at the top? two very different things.
dur im pretty sure that unlocking the boot loader allows unsigned code to run at boot, I could be wrong but I think you two are out to lunch on installing CWM with just root.
That or you can install it but you cant run it because the boot loader wont allow something with out motorolas signature to execute. making the point of if it is or is not, installed, a moot one
There is a LOT of info on how to unlock the bootloader and its not exactly hidden. I dont know if its even still done with RSD but that would be a place to start as that is how I did mine in sept of last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes I see what your saying, but I am saying that I cannot run CWM. I can only install onto my SD card. But the boot in recovery does not work (ie it will not run CWM). I'll post the error little later tonight when I try at it again.
I realize there is lots of info on unlocking bootloader and I am not concerned about doing the unlock, once I find a way to verify my bootloader version. Ive seen a few posts warning that bootloader must be v 2.3.4 or you can brick the phone.
So I guess ultimately my question is, how can I figure out my bootloader version? Have not seem this answers after some googling.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1136261
Read that and your version will be in settings and then about phone. although I do believe that 234 and 236 unlock via the same method.
If you are going to install Custom roms CM7/9/10 or a blur based then you dont need to even worry about root. otherwise there are instructions in that thread to root that SBF
Random Canadian said:
Locked or it just didnt say unlocked at the top? two very different things.
dur im pretty sure that unlocking the boot loader allows unsigned code to run at boot, I could be wrong but I think you two are out to lunch on installing CWM with just root.
That or you can install it but you cant run it because the boot loader wont allow something with out motorolas signature to execute. making the point of if it is or is not, installed, a moot one. Aside from the fact you no longer have any sort of a functional recovery mode.
There is a LOT of info on how to unlock the bootloader and its not exactly hidden. I dont know if its even still done with RSD but that would be a place to start as that is how I did mine in sept of last year.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm positive it was locked, running 1.83, and had CWM on it. I bought the phone at an AT&T store myself. I rooted it and put CWM on it. The early version of CWM for the Atrix only was accessible by turning the phone on while plugged into the wall charger that came with the phone.
Greetings, _I have a AT&T atrix 4g, with 2.3.6. OTA updated to 4.5.145 so i can´t unlock the boot loader, is there a way i can install TWRP to my phone, the only thing i've been able to do is to root it, but not unlocking the boot loader, so i'm trying to ake a nandroid backup to use freely the pimp my rom utility, and restore the backup in case something goes wrong, Thanks in advance!!!!
Well why do you think unlocking the bootloader is even needed? You cannot do anything but root if you don't unlock the BL. No way to install any recovery.
However, where did you get this that .145 cannot be unlocked? Unlockability has nothing to do with the firmware version. If you really cannot unlock (tried and failed), it is for different reasons.
Svereal people has told me that this update came with many security fixes, and one of them is for unlocking the boot, that if i try, mos likely it's gonna end in hard bricking my phone via RSD lite that i guess is the only way to flash the unlock sbf..... the point is that soooo many people has told me this, that now i'm very afraid to do it, everyone's has said that this compilation and because it's a AT&T phone, it can't be unlocked the boot.....
Wich could be the consequences if i try to unlock the boot and fail??? (Please, i know that you guys know a lot about this, so i want to be very sure that there's no really high risk of bricking just for the firm, or for the fact that is AT&T)
I'm trying to unlock the BL to put th CM7.....
Here you go.
diablogomez said:
Svereal people has told me that this update came with many security fixes, and one of them is for unlocking the boot, that if i try, mos likely it's gonna end in hard bricking my phone via RSD lite that i guess is the only way to flash the unlock sbf..... the point is that soooo many people has told me this, that now i'm very afraid to do it, everyone's has said that this compilation and because it's a AT&T phone, it can't be unlocked the boot.....
Wich could be the consequences if i try to unlock the boot and fail??? (Please, i know that you guys know a lot about this, so i want to be very sure that there's no really high risk of bricking just for the firm, or for the fact that is AT&T)
I'm trying to unlock the BL to put th CM7.....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Old post, but here you go. I installed the 4.5.145 OTA update, then followed the guide written by "thekooliest" over on the atrixforums.com to unlock the bootloader after rooting. As always, no responsibility blah, blah. Make sure you post any further basic questions on that forum instead of here. They are better at dealing with new people. Good luck. As for a ROM, I'd recommend Epinter's 10.1 or NottAch if you want to have full functionality. If you want to overclock epinter's rom, use fech's 1.2 Kernel. Faux's 1.3 and 1.45 are on the Aroma Installer included in Nottach.
I have tried for multiple hours to get fastboot and ADB to work with my S6 Edge but it is not working. I suspect I might need to try older Samsung drivers (I only tried the latest ones as far as I remember). I wanted these tools in order to check if my bootloader was unlocked so that I wouldn't brick my device if I tried to install a custom ROM and TWRP. Anyway I followed a video and installed TWRP on my phone and installed Lineage OS Android 10 without checking the bootloader since the guy in the video did not mention doing so and still installed the custom ROM and TWRP. It is working fine. I know it is most likely that since this was possible, the bootloader should probably be unlocked but I just wanted to confirm with more experienced smartphone modders if this is indeed the case. Is it then safe to root my phone without checking bootloader?
Sub-question: If a person were to theoretically attmept to install custom ROM or TWRP or root the phone while the bootloader is locked, would that result in the root failing but the device still being usable or would the attempt result in the device being bricked? IE if the bootloader is locked is it dangerous to attempt to flash software to the phone or will it result in a harmless "failed" message, etc.?
Thank you.