Hi, I am not very tech saavy and so I am hoping that I can get some good advice from people who are more techy than me. I hear alot about rooting for android devices but I'm not too sure of exactly what rooting is other than I understand that there are certain capabilities that you can't do unless your phone or android device is rooted. In my case I have a Galaxy Tab, I would like to be able to have a back up feature but I keep on coming across the phrasing that the device must be rooted first. I looked up a couple of websites to find out exactly what rooting means and they mention the pros of rooting, but I am wondering what the cons are and if it is really necessary for me to root my device or is this something that is meant more for the "advanced" users who may be using their devices for more serious persuits vs. the casual user who just likes to play here and there...I really hope that what I am trying to say makes sense to all you out there! So in a nutshell, I guess what I'd really like is a breakdown of the pros and cons of rooting your device and when and when NOT to do it...Thank you all for your thoughts!
It's up to the user to decide whether there is a function they need, that they can only get through gaining root access to the phone. It could be that you want to alter the appearance of your phone beyond what is normally possible, or there are features included in a custom ROM that you would like to have.
You mentioned wanting the ability to backup your phone and there's no better way than to root and flash a custom recovery to achieve that. With that done you can image your phone state to your SD card so that it can be restored in it's entirety any time you wish. (Nandroid Backup).
There are also apps that can only work with a rooted device which can give you more advanced control over your device. One example is Rom Manager which is commonly used to flash custom recoveries and ROMS to your phone, and gives you an easy way to manage your Nandroid backups. Of course there are many others.
Thanks to the hard working devs on xda it's never been easier to do all these things. If you want to learn more i would suggest having a look at SuperOneClick and Rom Manager and reading the appropriate threads. Browse through guides and ask questions when you want to know more.
Hope that helps.
BTW, the only 'cons' to rooting and having a custom recovery is that you lose the ability to receive official over the air updates while your phone is in that state. Restore the Nandroid backup you made of your stock ROM though and you can re-gain that ability. I suppose the biggest 'con' of all is people not doing their research and ending up with a non-functioning device when something goes wrong. As always, RTFM!
Related
So I've been reading all these articles about rooting the Samsung Captivate and they all seem to say that rooting gives you the equivalent of admin access and basically its really useful.
What I want to know is if it is safe? I'm not really good at these things and I'm afraid that if I root it I might just screw up my phone because I don't understand what I'm doing. Also I've read that rooting your phone can sometimes render your phone unusable...is that a serious issue for the captivate?
I mainly want to just be able to have a complete backup, and be able to download apps from third party websites. (I have AT&T) I think rooting lets you do all that.
Also, I see all this talk about ROM's or something and I really don't understand what that is.
If i root my phone, will it wipe any data I have stored on my phone, like contacts and apps or something? Will I still be able to receive software updates from AT&T?
Please help...Thanks sooo much!!!
Hello there,
In first place, ROMs it's the name we usually call for the OS images that you run in your phone. You have the manufacturer ROM, with (probably) operator stuff in it. You can have a very different OS image, with different layout, more options (there are beautiful things around like CyanogenMod), etc. So, installing new ROMs sometimes is like installing a new Android OS on your phone (not exactly but something like that).
Rooting your phone doesn't clean your data, but it's always a good practice to do an application/data backup. Backup software: Titanium Backup (i use it and i really like it).
By adding an Android Recovery loader, you will have the possibility to make a nandroid backup which really allows you to keep EVERYTHING! (that happens after you root the phone, of course).
Advantages of having a rooted phone:
* removing operator applications you don't like in the standard ROM
* run 'root-only' software
* installing new ROMS
* upgrading the OS version of your phone to higher than supported by the manufacturer (some features may not work in this case)
Disadvantages:
* you may void your warranty
* you may brick your phone
* you can be messing around for a long time before having your phone stable once again (if you are curious to keep trying different ROMS, and app2sd and other add-ons)
Bricking your phone may happen if in the procedure to root your phone you need to flash it. In my case, I have a LG P500 and had the Android 2.2.2 - to root it I had to flash a 2.2 version and that was the risky part (some people say that 1 in every 4 phones get bricked in this procedure which I find very exagerated!)
So read the procedures carefully and have your phone with battery full before doing any rooting procedures. Do things calmly, follow every single step and if your get unsure of something, stop, ask, and after that move forward. You will be really happy when your phone is rooted !!
thank you!
The previous responder was a little zealous with the warnings. I have a Captivate, which is rooted and running a custom ROM (CyanogenMod 7).
First, rooting will not brick your phone. In theory, you void your warranty by doing so, but it's really easy to restore to factory state.
I don't recommend a custom ROM for someone who has basic questions like you've just asked. I'd reccommend first trying to get root, and run apps like Titanium backup, SGS Tools, etc. Be careful, research what you're doing, and make lots of backups. So long as you can enter download mode, you can flash back to factory.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
I was right where you are last August. I agree with ADT who says that you should root first and then work with apps that require root. Titanium Backup has been the most valuable for me out of all of those.
The chances of bricking your phone when you only root it is minimal. I guess it's possible, but honestly, I cannot see how. There are 2 files that are required called Bootloaders. Think of these as the AT&T screen and then the Samsung screen in a stock Captivate. If you do anything that changes/replaces these, you stand a great chance of bricking your phone. You don't do this when you root, only when you do something like try a custom ROM.
When you root your phone, you won't really notice anything different at first. However, if you look at your apps you will see a new one called Superuser. It is the app that is needed to run "rooted" apps. Also, once you root your phone, you will be able to take advantage of Amazon's market which has a free app a day.
If you decide to "unroot", it can be done rather easily, and you will lose the ability to do things like run rooted apps and Amazon apps (including any you downloaded).
I would recommend that you read as many posts about rooting as possible before you finally make the plunge. Read, read and read again. Make sure you know what you are doing before you do it and the risk of damage is minimal. I have bricked my phone many times, including the power button not working and was lucky to get it back. I learned the hard way by not knowing to read, read and read again.
Good luck!!
One other quick point. If you decide to play with custom ROMs, I recommend you stick with the ones that run Froyo, not Gingerbread. The Gingerbread ROMs are just starting to come out and I believe are not for someone just starting out. The instructions are a bit more complicated and the chance of bricking your phone are much greater.
The Froyo ROMs are much easier to install. However, as said in my last post, I'd get used to rooting your stock phone first before going that way.
stick with froyo and play with custom roms. To install custom roms just flash the custom rom in the recovery mode.
You're right guys. I mean, changing the bootloader is the risky part of the process, not the rooting itself. But the risky part is flashing a ROM (if that's needed to root the phone)...
In my case I had to downgrade my phone (LG P500) before applying root, so it was risky from the start - anyway, depending on the phone model, rooting / installling bootloader can be more or less risky...
Samsung. Couldnt he always ODIN back?
Sent from my ADR6300
---------- I have personally done this on my ZTE ENGAGE V8000 ---------
--------------------- IT IS ALSO A LOT EASIER THAN YOU THINK ---------------------
Now let's just start this out by saying that there are A LOT of resources for all the information you would ever need to root your device, and where to go from there... But, as I am sure you are finding out, EVERY phone has to be treated differently, and there is no -1-way-is-THE-way-for-every-phone scenario. ESPECIALLY for the wonderful ZTE ENGAGE v8000. So this is just how i made it happen on my phone, starting from knowing absolutely NOTHING about rooting, to having it done and finished now and working FANTABULOUSLY. I went through a lot of headaches trying to figure this out and read and read for DAYS, ruling out non-credible sources like that link that always pops up 'SUPER EASY ROOT FOR ENGAGE v8000' blah blah, i read that that method had bricked all kinds of phones, so i decided to stray away from all that nonsense and talked to different people and am compiling all of that info into this one post. HOPEFULLY it makes it easier for you. Your use of anything here is done at your own risk. I nor anyone else is responsible for your phone. And rooting your phone will void your warranty. Having, said that and gotten it out of the way here are the steps you will need to take:
BASIC INFO LINKS (that i found helpful starting out as a NOOBY NOOB! haha):
Now just an FYI, this way DOES NOT REQUIRE YOUR PHONE TO ALREADY BE ROOTED, but you can always go that route if you'd like but dont ask me how haha.. i've included some links below for your benefit though...
Rooting and Roms Explained
Lifehacker How-to Flash/ROMs
Custom ROMs Info
Re-done EASY Root Method for ZTE Engage
Tips to Not Brick Engage
ZTE Engage Roms
GOOGLE SEARCH
How to Root ZTE ENGAGE
SEARCH AND READ THE HELL OUT OF XDA DEVELOPERS
anyway, the list goes on and on... you get the point. I will also include links in each section that is necessary.
Now don't get overwhelmed... once we start this thing, and you being doing it, it is a piece of CAKE, really...
****REQUIREMENTS****
Cricket ZTE Engage V8000
(this is NOT for the Engage LT N8000)
The only other requirement is you can boot your phone into recovery.
Yes this can be installed in stock recovery.
No you don't need to be rooted.
BE PREPARED FOR A LONG JOURNEY, this will take time.
****READ THROUGH THIS AT LEAST ONCE BEFORE YOU DO IT****
**WARNING**
This rom will wipe all data upon install so make sure you have a backup or don't care if data is lost
Also, this will most likely VOID your warranty, continue at your own risk
There is a RISK of 'bricking' your phone, as with ANY rom, but is HIGHLY UNLIKELY
STEP 1
BACKUP EVERYTHING on your phone, send contacts to SD card, PICTURES, Any text messages you need to keep, Documents, GAME SAVES, make a list of ALL the apps you have installed (or back them up using your own method of choice), Be prepared for your phone to be SET BACK TO FACTORY DEFAULT meaning *****EVERYTHING IS GOING TO BE ERASED*****. so back up whatever you want to keep and/or think you want to keep. Now I am a perfectionist, so i made 2 Backups, this was my PRE backup-backup. haha. If you are fine with just trusting that the CWM backup will keep everything then wait til later when you will do an entire phone backup in case anything goes wrong, and also to prevent bricking using CWM, or any other backup app of your choice. I literally just copied EVERY file from my phone to a folder on my computer AND did a phone backup.
I used an app called MY BACKUP (get it from PLAY STORE) because it allowed me to backup NON-ROOTED, so i could backup BEFORE i wipe my phone, which will make this a lot easier for me in the long run.
Guide to Backing up/Restoring
LOOK AROUND and figure out what ROOT apps you would like to have on your phone. Make a list so you know what you want BEFORE you erase/Backup your phone, or download them and put them on SD card, so you will have them afterwards. im referring to apps like ROM Toolbox, My Backup, NANDroid Backup, Titanium Backup, ROM Manager, GooManager, some sort of ANTI-VIRUS, SETCPU, etc...
30 Best Apps for ROOTed Devices
----- check and double check you have saved everything, there is no going back once you've started -----
STEP 2
DOWNLOAD CWM [Clockwork Mod](for your specific device, this guide is for the ZTE ENGAGE V8000 SPECIFICALLY)The following link brings you to the main thread which has more information, INSTRUCTIONS and a Q&A posting... feel free to READ EVERYTHING, its better to know too much in this subject than too little. Now you want to get the Unofficial_CWM-v6.0.3.3-V.zip because the official is just the image, not a zip and you need zip to install and the stock one is just if you later decide you dont like whatever you have done and want your phone to go back FACTORY DEFAULT. Like, if you dont like the new ROM on your phone and want your old normal -android- OS (4.0 Ice Cream Sandwich) back. The difference of those confused me at first. Now, do not skip ahead, this part is for DOWNLOAD only, do not attempt to install yet!!
CWM & Stock Recovery Thread: Download and Instructions
More Information and Instructions for ClockwordMod Recovery
*Save .zip for later
ALSO DOWNLOAD the Stock ROM, just in case you want it later, if you dont like the ROM we're gonna install on your device, you have this incase you want to go back to the stock settings. Now, do not skip ahead, this part is for DOWNLOAD only, do not attempt to install yet!!
CWM & Stock Recovery Thread, Download and Instructions
*Save .zip for later
Download S420 ROM. This is going to be the ROOT ROM. It's the main custom rom that we are installing on the phone, the one that will REPLACE the ICE CREAM SANDWICH ANDROID OS and VOID your warranty. It is still based off of Ice Cream Sandwich 4.04 or whatever, because ZTE has not (and probably will not) release an update for their devices to go to jelly bean, or any higher. (kitkat, etc). SORRY GUYS, we're stuck with ICS. Now, do not skip ahead, this part is for DOWNLOAD only, do not attempt to install yet!!
S420 ROM Thread: Download and Instructions
*Save .zip for later.
Copy downloaded files to SD card "Computer > Removable disk > ______ "
we are only using CWM right now, save others on SDCARD for later use
Now, BEGIN installation of the CWM .zip
INSTRUCTIONS: link, SAME AS ABOVE
STEP 3
AFTER CWM is installed and working CORRECTLY: We need to do the PHONE BACKUP. You have a few options here, you can either GO INTO CWM AND RESTORE IN THE RECOVERY MENU or Go to following link, and follow instructions: (IT HAS PICTURES)
Creating and Restoring NANDroid Backups using CWM
Other Options for Backup
Or you can just use the default backup tool provided by CWM, which is what I did.
------ Now that your ass is covered... we can continue ------
STEP 4
Now, getting a ROM on your baby.... THERE is only ONE that i found for the ZTE ENGAGE, which, you guessed it, is also by senor Stedman420... what on earth would we engage users do without this guy? haa... NOTHIN that's what... He's got a ROM called S420 for our device, and as far as i can tell, it is the only one that is modded in any way. YOU DOWNLOADED THIS EARLIER.
Now, just follow his INSTRUCTIONS for installing
BOOM your done!!! Now just restore all your stuff and you are one rooted mofo.
*If you have any suggestions for improving this post, please comment below.
***CREDITS AND LOOOVE TO THE FOLLOWING***
ALL ROMS AND INSTRUCTIONS BY Stedman420 <3 and also a big thanks for answering my questions!
(seriously, if you need help don't be afraid to ask and make sure you say your thanks to him as well! )
BIG THANKS TO ALL THE ABOVE links and websites that helped me rap my mind around this
Khaoticking and Android Addict for helping me out and answering my questions.
Cricket Engage LT n8000
I have a Cricket Engage LT n8000 and need a custom ROM like CyanogenMod. I heard this is the number one custom ROM. What do you think I should do?
brassass said:
I have a Cricket Engage LT n8000 and need a custom ROM like CyanogenMod. I heard this is the number one custom ROM. What do you think I should do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, So with older phones its kinda tricky because, ultimately, it depends if anyone else has modded that ROM to work with your device... please DO NOT just install any ROM on your device it will most likely brick it or make it unusable. I havent had my ZTE engage for quite some time now so I am not sure as to what has been done since then, but this forum might help you http://androidforums.com/threads/roms-for-the-zte-engage-v8000-or-lt-n8000.722734/
My best suggestion would be to google the heck out of it and see if you can find someone who made CyanogenMod compatible with your ZTE Engage, but it might not be possible so you might have to use one of the ones in the forum i posted (the roms i posted in here will not work, but you can still take advantage of the help links i posted they will take you to VERY useful sites that might be able to answer your question)
Good luck and happy rooting!
I'm so extremely new to this forum (and any forum, for that matter) that I just have an overload of questions. I've taken the time to read some stickies for noobs and that you should always read and search before posting but I am impatient (I tried and failed).
I recently got a gorgeous, red htc one m8 from Verizon. This phone is bomb, and a total step up from my previous galaxy s3, but now I really want to root for the first time and see where it can take me.
I'd like to backup my phone before following the instructions to root, and the resources I've gotten don't seem promising and I was really just wanting to know what would be best to save EVERYTHING from multimedia to my somewhat custom settings. (?)
Please don't hate me. I'm so new. If I ever get to the point of rooting this thing are there any personal recommendations on where to begin after I've rooted (or threads that already have that stuff)?
The rooting process (including soff) wipes no data. After you get root, you can install an app like titani backup or helium backup to backup individual data. You also want to do a nandroid backup in recovery the second you install a custom recovery, so you have a cushion to fall in in a bad situation
wtoj34 said:
The rooting process (including soff) wipes no data. After you get root, you can install an app like titani backup or helium backup to backup individual data. You also want to do a nandroid backup in recovery the second you install a custom recovery, so you have a cushion to fall in in a bad situation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Now I've just got to google nandroid backup and custom recovery. These are honestly my baby steps with this, should I even root without knowing all this stuff or will it just get easier?
letsmoshjosh said:
Now I've just got to google nandroid backup and custom recovery. These are honestly my baby steps with this, should I even root without knowing all this stuff or will it just get easier?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say you need to read read read. The s-off procedures for either firewater our sunshine are damn near idiot proof so there's little to no risk of damaging things there. However, once you have the ability to flash things in a custom recovery the risk goes way up. As long as you're not flashing unverified experimental files or accidentally flashing files for a different model then today's recoveries make it pretty easy. Also, make a nandroid before you change just about anything through recovery. Happy flashing.
cntryby429 said:
I would say you need to read read read. The s-off procedures for either firewater our sunshine are damn near idiot proof so there's little to no risk of damaging things there. However, once you have the ability to flash things in a custom recovery the risk goes way up. As long as you're not flashing unverified experimental files or accidentally flashing files for a different model then today's recoveries make it pretty easy. Also, make a nandroid before you change just about anything through recovery. Happy flashing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All of the above are true. Please revisit the thread if you have any issues setting up ADB on your machine before you attempt firewater (S-OFF). The big thing for me was making sure I got everything installed properly before I flashed. Once you do the root process be it Samsung, HTC, et al... you will find it is remarkably easy.
If you're looking for a custom ROM, be sure to stick to the Verizon HTC One M8 forums only unless you're directed there by a thread. Before you flash anything at all, just make sure you're solid on the process. Many times, there are awesome people who take the time to make a video about the process from start to end. Those will probably enormously useful for you on your first foray.
Again, ask around and read up! As cntryby429 said, read as much as you possibly can. The truth is, the devs do far more work than we could ever imagine as far as root goes.
Cheers!
letsmoshjosh said:
I'm so extremely new to this forum (and any forum, for that matter) that I just have an overload of questions. I've taken the time to read some stickies for noobs and that you should always read and search before posting but I am impatient (I tried and failed).
I recently got a gorgeous, red htc one m8 from Verizon. This phone is bomb, and a total step up from my previous galaxy s3, but now I really want to root for the first time and see where it can take me.
I'd like to backup my phone before following the instructions to root, and the resources I've gotten don't seem promising and I was really just wanting to know what would be best to save EVERYTHING from multimedia to my somewhat custom settings. (?)
Please don't hate me. I'm so new. If I ever get to the point of rooting this thing are there any personal recommendations on where to begin after I've rooted (or threads that already have that stuff)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been where you are! It's a little daunting finding all the information and getting it sorted.
You will have to do your own reading and do lot of it, but here's a little summary to get you pointed in the right direction.
The only known root method for the M8 is WEAKSAUCE. It provides temp root, meaning you loose root with each reboot but the app will re-root the phone automatically about 30 sec after booting. Servicable but not very elegant.
Root with Weaksauce is a pre-requisite to everything below.
If you want permanent root and/or run a custom rom on this phone you have to S-off, unlock the bootloader and flash a custom recovery (in that order).
For S-off and bootloader unlock (accomplished at the same time) there are two methods:
FIREWATER: free, but does not work on all M8s. Try it - it'll either work or fail. Follow the instructions on the Firewater website to the letter
SUNSHINE: from the same devs that made Firewater, guaranteed to work on all M8s and it'll cost you $25. Well worth it in my opinion.
Once you have S-off and an unlocked bootloader you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM (I recommend the former). Find instructions on the respective websites.
Once you have the custom recovery installed, you can
- flash SuperSU for permanent root
- make a nandroid (total system backup or image) of your stock rom or any rom you have currently installed
- flash a custom rom
This should get you started. Read everything three times, ask twice, flash once.
Edit: Could you do me a favor? Change the title of your thread to something like: Step-by-Step instructions for rooting/roming the M8?
It would make it easier to find for users in a similar situation.
What DO You MEan By "ROOTING/ROOT"
"Whats ROOT/ROOTING" this is a common question arise in the mind of all newly android users.With in months after you bought your new android phone you will start to hear the word "rooting".But what is rooting means?I will try to explain it to you as i can.To me, rooting means gaining special access to things on your phone that the manufacturers didn't intend for you to have.Now you will start to think what "special access".Donot understand?Ok i will tell you little more simply,Are you a pc user?Did you ever lost your password?...Reality is that your Android device is a locked pc and you are using its guest account....That means you have no access to modify/delete or add anything to system files of android.But whats the use of root?..Answer for that question is simple,rooting our android phone gives us the opportunity to do so much more than our phone can do now...Like Speeding it up using overclocking,Customizing the look of our phone,Increasing Internal memory,Increase ram ,Play HD games in high fps(games that runs slow on your phone ),Increase screen quality,New fonts,hack games,etc.....Do you wanna root your phone now?....Before getting too excited i wanna say one more thing...Everything in the world have both advantage and disadvantages.Rooting also have disadvantages,one is "IT CAN DESTROY YOUR PHONE" and You will loss your warranty..Donot be get freaked out because your phone get destroyed only if we do anything without knowledge so after rooting be careful for everything you do.Thats why In most of the posts and videos you will see this note "I am not responsible for anything that happen to your phone" they are putting this note because humans make mistakes that's usual so if you miss any steps in that guide then their is a high chance of getting your phone bricked............Waite,what do i mean by "bricked"...Their are some common terms you wanna know along with rooting they are Softbrick,Hardbrick,Bootloop,Rom,Kernal etc.Bricked means dead(not real meaning).Rom means OS and this is divided into Stock Rom and Custom Rom.That means just like changing windows you can also change android os.If your stock rom is android 4.2.2 and you wish to have 4.4.4 and you know your manufacturer will not provide you android 4.4.4 in this decade then you can Root your phone and install custom 4.4.4 rom to your pc.But their is a high chance to get your phone bricked if you do that without proper knowledge.But always their is a solution for every problems but we wanna take precautions first so after you root your phone flash a custom recovery like ClockworkMod or TWRP.This will give more control over your device.After flashing Custom recovery make a Nandroid backup.What's Nandroid backup means?With using 3rd party application you can make backup of your whole phone.It's essentially a system image of your phone.Everything exactly how it is right now.That way,if you flash something that breaks your phone you can flash back to the normal(stage where you make the Nandroid Backup).So now you are free.............always make a Nandroid backup and then only do anything that you are not 100% sure about.I always make a Nandroid backup before doing anything related to system like changing rom,system installation etc.One of my advice is that "Donot play with anything that you donot know and always make a Nandroid backup and save it.This are the basic things you wanna know as a beginner for more you can search in Xda/google.i hope you like my presentation.Cmnt if you have any doubt.
I have an HTC droid incredible 4glte and i'm interested in rooting it and/or installing cyanogen on it, since it's already past its warranty. i've done a fair amount of reading about rooting and whatnot on this site and others, but i don't feel i know enough to get started w/o bricking my device or loosing data that i want to keep.
I have no software downloaded on my computer pertaining to my phone, and i've not actually done anything to my phone either: everything is stock.
is there a list of instructions somewhere that can guide me step by step (or more accurately, click by click... i really don't want to screw up my phone, especially since i'm not sure i'd know how to fix it) through rooting my phone beginning to end?
also, is there somewhere/someone who can answer these questions:
1. do i have to have a custom recovery if i'm rooting/flashing a new ROM?
2. what does the stock recovery do that's different from a custom one?
3. most importantly, can i root my phone and keep the stock OS/other stuff?
a million thanks to anyone who can answer these questions!
Hello,
Well I am giving you a link to an "index" thread. What it contains are links and guides to anything you need for that device. You will be required to do some reading and research on your own. Xda assist is for helping you find your way.
Look here
Good luck