[Q] Why root? - Nexus S Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Hi,
I'm new to android and nexus S and I tried to install some applications that need to be root.
I searched a little and did find out that are many ways to root. Some of them explained in xda-developers websites.
Before I do the root process I do like to know more about the security issues of doing that. Which risks I'll soffer by doind that? May I trust the code writted "not by" google developers? What is different in that?
Thanks,
Bruno.

it has nothing to do with all of the above
it's to gain super power
you can do all kind of thing when rooted, otherwise many apps will not work
you don't need to root to use the phone, you can always find alternative app that does not require root, probably with less feature and options
non-root is to protect newbies from damaging the phone
only 1337 people root their phones to hack the innards out of it, to master control the phone to do things only imagination can provide.

I would say the main number one reason to root would be to use an app like Titanium Backup to save your settings/applications. There are also some nice utilities to have, like ad blockers and other stuff that require root privileges.
As stated, it's not really something that you need to do, it's more for power users who want total control of their device.

there are new Backup software that does not require root, like MyBackup
but it sucks compared to TitaniumBackup
however the PAID version of MyBackup Pro or something like that, can do sort of the same thing like TitaniumBackup can do without ROOT
but still shys in comparison to TB

its already been said, but the point of rooting is you gain complete super power over your device. so many things can be done with root, great custom ROMs out there. its a no brainer, and i was undecided about it at first too. but once i rooted, i'll never go back. there are too many advantages to list, and not one negative reason to avoid rooting.

No point
Another reason would be to overclock your phone.. Overclocking makes your phone "faster" but honestly i wouldnt bother. i had recently had the T-Mobile G2 and i rooted it and tried overclocking using an application called "setcpu" but it completely made the phone weird and somewhat unresponsive...
Anyways im currently using the Nexus S and i tend to think of rooting it but honestly, theres no point. this phone is in tip top shape and perfect just the way it is. i mean what ROM is out there for it besides Cyanogenmod 7? DONT ROOT! OR.. i told myself if this phone just starts to act weird and not work well, ill most likely just root it.

jeremyt727 said:
Another reason would be to overclock your phone.. Overclocking makes your phone "faster" but honestly i wouldnt bother. i had recently had the T-Mobile G2 and i rooted it and tried overclocking using an application called "setcpu" but it completely made the phone weird and somewhat unresponsive...
Anyways im currently using the Nexus S and i tend to think of rooting it but honestly, theres no point. this phone is in tip top shape and perfect just the way it is. i mean what ROM is out there for it besides Cyanogenmod 7? DONT ROOT! OR.. i told myself if this phone just starts to act weird and not work well, ill most likely just root it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CM7 itself is all you need to make you want to root. It's so easy to root.
Also. Voodoo Sound is another good reason, Voodoo Sound is simply amazing
Nexus S was built to be hacked. Use it for it's primary reason why it was built.

because you can is enough of a reason to

In simple words, you get administrative access to ur kernel !

How can I root my nexus S?

Explained in threads in Nexus S Android Development section
Check this thread.

Related

[Q] Definitely Root?

I have had a rooted G1 forever and clearly see the benefits to rooting the G1. My brother just got the Captivate.
1) What are the arguments for rooting the Capitvate? When I think about what rooting the G1 got me, it was mostly the updated operating system which the Captivate already has. I've found that most of the good "non-market" apps eventually make their way to the market.
2) Is Captivate Rooting easily reversable and relatively idiot proof? My brother's phone is a company phone.
Any guidance would be appreciated. Thanks
You can actually download apps that you click a button to root or unroot it. I have not tried them but they are there. One is free too. They also have one click root and unroot programs for your computer. It's easy. Benefits. Root only apps. Custom tom if you want it
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App
There really is no argument for or against.
You can sideload apps without rooting, so in the end does he have a reason to root? If this is no, then don't do it.
I don't think you should look for a reason to root, but use the captivate and then determine if it is missing something you need. if it is, will root solve your problem, if yes then root.
alphadog00 said:
There really is no argument for or against.
I don't think you should look for a reason to root, but use the captivate and then determine if it is missing something you need. if it is, will root solve your problem, if yes then root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think that is the best answer. It's pretty easy to do but if you don't need it then there is really no point.
Remove autostarting bloatware.
Sent from my Samsung Captivate.
I use it, so I can easily restore my ROM. Certain apps are "root only"...
I rooted because i wanted to underclock my cpu to increase my battery life. I consider everything else benefits(albeit great benefits). To each his own desire

[Q] Rooting Question!

Hey so I have read a lot of the threads on rooting but I think (hope) mine is a bit original for you. I am one of those skittish goody-two-shoes type people who have a bad record of breaking their electronics. My family is updating their tmobile plan in August and I am planning on getting a lg g2x. It seems like a great phone that'll be able to keep up with the advancements of Android for a while. However I have heard the battery life is really bad (as it is for most androids) and that there are all of these great methods I could use (setCPU, Battery Calibration, etc.) and I can get rid of ads on my apps (adfree) and even use ROMs and Themes!! This sounds great EXCEPT all of the above requires rooting. So my question is, if I install Battery Calibration, setCPU, adfree, etc, while rooted and then just unroot, will they all still work??? Also, in the case that this is possible, if I have any problems with my phone and have to send it in for service, as long as it's unrooted I don't have to delete any of the apps to put it back under warranty do I? And (yes there's more) can I continuously root/unroot as I please in order to change themes and ROMs and even updating the android system once my phone is out of date (though I hope I'm not obsolete within 2 yrs) and no longer gets updates from my phone company? I know superoneclick is supposed to be really easy but as I don't have the phone yet I was wondering how fast it actually is as well.
Thanks for all of your help!!
Hmm....lots of questions young one, well 1st of all by rooting it technically voids the warranty, and yes for the programs to work properly you will need to keep it rooted because some off them actually need root access to tweak the device.
Sent from my mind
scarlet_fire said:
Hey so I have read a lot of the threads on rooting but I think (hope) mine is a bit original for you. I am one of those skittish goody-two-shoes type people who have a bad record of breaking their electronics. My family is updating their tmobile plan in August and I am planning on getting a lg g2x. It seems like a great phone that'll be able to keep up with the advancements of Android for a while. However I have heard the battery life is really bad (as it is for most androids) and that there are all of these great methods I could use (setCPU, Battery Calibration, etc.) and I can get rid of ads on my apps (adfree) and even use ROMs and Themes!! This sounds great EXCEPT all of the above requires rooting. So my question is, if I install Battery Calibration, setCPU, adfree, etc, while rooted and then just unroot, will they all still work??? Also, in the case that this is possible, if I have any problems with my phone and have to send it in for service, as long as it's unrooted I don't have to delete any of the apps to put it back under warranty do I? And (yes there's more) can I continuously root/unroot as I please in order to change themes and ROMs and even updating the android system once my phone is out of date (though I hope I'm not obsolete within 2 yrs) and no longer gets updates from my phone company? I know superoneclick is supposed to be really easy but as I don't have the phone yet I was wondering how fast it actually is as well.
Thanks for all of your help!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. If you install the root required apps, root, then unroot, they will stop working. Once an app requires root and your phone is not rooted, even if it was before but it's not now, they will not work.
2. There are many one click root apps. e.g. z4root and universal androot.
3. You will have to unroot and remove the root required apps to put it back under warranty. I say this because if you leave them, then your provider will know that you must have rooted your phone to put them on it in the first place. (It would be like sending an Iphone for servicing to AT&T with Cydia installed. They will know that you jailbroke it.
4 Superoneclick does work fast. It may take up to five minutes (depends on your phone model), but remember what I said in #2. Good luck.

Opinions on Rooting

OK I'm going to ask the million dollar question... Is rooting my Tab 7 Plus worth the risk? I understand it adds a lot of customization and more I'm sure. Is it worth the risk though? How likely am I to kill this thing/will bight me in the butt down the road.
Rooting your GT+ is totally harmless. What you do after you root your device may harm it. There are excellent applications that need root and that is why you want to do it. But at the same time if you are not sure of an application and give it root privileges, well is like giving a thief the key of your safe.
By the way, if you want to get rid of the root and are not too experienced, factory reset your device and the root is gone.
P_
Zadeis said:
OK I'm going to ask the million dollar question... Is rooting my Tab 7 Plus worth the risk? I understand it adds a lot of customization and more I'm sure. Is it worth the risk though? How likely am I to kill this thing/will bight me in the butt down the road.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's a really difficult question to answer for anyone other than yourself. Rooting the tablet isn't as risky as modifying the engine in a car (which is a physical modification in most cases), but more risky than just installing (or uninstalling) an application.
Are you happy using the tablet as-is? If so, don't root it. Leave it alone. I honestly don't think a person SHOULD root the device just for the sake of rooting it.
If there's a specific reason why you want to, then go for it. However, learn as much as you can about what you are doing and what the risks are BEFORE you do it. Keep in mind that it's a slippery slope. First you root it, then you start installing recoveries, alternate firmware, different kernels, etc. It's VERY EASY to get caught up in all the tinkering. I can offer one bit of comfort: It's actually not that easy to completely brick a samsung device. As long as the bootloader is intact, you can always use ODIN to restore it to factory condition.
Good luck
Gary
Well thank you for the general knowledge. I think on it more and maybe throw a thought on here later after thinking on it more. I am happy with it as is but we'll see what happens as I am very new to the android environment. This is my first android based device I have ever owned/ used really.
The ONLY reason really pushing me to root it is the fact I have a GPS app on my TAB that doesn't install it's maps to the sd but actually to the main internal memory. That's irked me ever since I got it when I have a nice nearly empty 16GB SD card sitting inside my TAB.
Stupid question - is there a way to root the Samsung 7 yet revealed that doesn't involve a bootloader?
I would really hate to do anything that could mess up upgrading to ICS when it comes out, but I need to root to make the VPN do anything useful (like connect to our IPSec VPN with group authentication at work)
Right now I am stuck using VNC on my Samsung Epic 4G if I dont have my laptop handy and need to connect to my linux workspace. Needless to say, the experience using it on a cell phone is less than ideal.
All you have to do is flash a zip file using the existing recovery. All it does is add su. I don't know of any root that is simpler and safer than that.
IMO, rooting is a must and like the others have said, you need root to use backup apps and such. To me, it's a necessity.
vobguy said:
Stupid question - is there a way to root the Samsung 7 yet revealed that doesn't involve a bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting the SGT7+ does NOT touch the bootloader.
P_

To Root, or not to Root?

Right, I'm getting sick of waiting for the official JellyBean update for my S2, will it be worth it for me to root the fone myself? If so, how do I go about doing it?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Yes it is worth it. Check the international s2 forums and search it up.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app
Yes it's definately worth it to root. A little risky at first but if you get rooted, your home free and will be loading custom roms almost daily. Many apps will only run on rooted phone. Go for it!
mr
yes it`s worth it.so you can install custom roms.good luck.
It's only "worth it" if you have a reason to.
It's like... "is it worth buying a 30 gallon aquarium for $10" ? Sure, if you actually want a 30 gallon aquarium, it would be - but if you don't, it's just going to sit there unused and taking up space (and in the case of root access, opening up potential vulnerability).
Some people are flash-happy, but I only update mine maybe every few weeks because it's kind of a pain. And I only rooted and flashed a custom ROM on my tablet because it's no longer supported by the manufacturer - meaning a custom ROM was the ONLY way to get updates. I rooted my phone because I wanted to install Google Wallet and that required some work-arounds since my carrier is blocking it.
If you get into unofficial ROMs of updated Android versions, unless it's a leak, there are often problems - various things won't work, bugs, et cetera. It can still be fun, but don't expect it to be perfect.
Find something that you want to do with your device that requires root access and then worry about it.
Banksy1892 said:
Right, I'm getting sick of waiting for the official JellyBean update for my S2, will it be worth it for me to root the fone myself? If so, how do I go about doing it?
Sent from my GT-I9100 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you own an Android device, chances are you’ve probably heard of the term “rooting” or “rooted.” If you have and are wondering if it’s for you, this post is perfect, as we break down the major pros and cons of rooting your Android smartphone.
Before we go any further though, what exactly is “rooting”? Rooting refers to gaining access to the "root" user or command prompt of your Android phone. Root access gives users full access to the device and allows for other low-level tasks to be run. Rooting an Android phone is similar to "jail breaking" an iPhone or the "unlocking" of a Windows Phone.
When you root your Android device, you gain access to the entire file system, with full admin rights. You can customize your own boot image, create a full backup of your phone, or install a full-blown Linux distro. Basically, you can do whatever you want.
So, should you root your phone? For me, the answer to that question is a resounding yes, but before you decide, read on to see our list of the major pros and cons of rooting.
Pros of Rooting
Some of the best reasons to root your Android phone include:
1. "Tethering" your 4G/3G internet connection to a laptop computer or tablet via USB cable, Hotspot or Bluetooth. While I don’t recommend this, you will essentially be able to tether for free without paying your carrier a fee.
2. Installing custom themes, mods, and ROMS. This is probably the reason most people root their phone. The ability to deeply customize your own device and upgrade software is very appealing to a lot of rooters.
3. Backing up all the data and apps on the device.
4. The ability to install any application or game, including those "blocked" or Tegra-only games.
5. The ability to underclock the processor to conserve power. This is huge for a lot of people as Android devices are real battery hogs. I have been able to squeeze out days of battery life on a medium-sized battery by underclocking, which is pretty significant.
6. The ability to remove bloatware from your carrier-branded Android device. We all know that carriers love putting quite a bit of crap on their phones and rooting is one way to get rid of it.
Cons of Rooting
Some of the major reasons not to root your Android device include:
1. If the rooting process fails you may permanently "brick" your phone, rendering it unusable for anything other than, well, a brick. Basically, your phone will be useless.
2. Rooting your phone typically voids any manufacturer and carrier warranties. This is pretty crappy, honestly, but some OEMs won't cover certain things. It is really up to the manufacturer. You could lose out big, though, if something major breaks and you have to pay the full repair price.
3. Other drawbacks are more specific to what is done after the device is rooted, such as burning out your smartphone CPU due to overclocking, wearing out the SD card prematurely and burning out pixels in the screen. Additionally, the potential monetary costs that your carrier might apply if they see you've downloaded several gigs of data to your laptop could be big.
4. Rooting usually causes general instability of your Android smartphone. This is a given, as you are basically beta testing modifications and ROMS before they become daily drivers. Expect great performance, but a lot of bugs.
So, is Rooting really for You?
If you're a hacker or tinkerer and don’t mind bugs, I’d say yes. If you’re not, I’d say hold off and make sure it’s really what you want. You must remember that with most phones, once you root, you can’t go back. It is very difficult, in most cases, to completely reset your device to factory conditions, which is definitely something to consider before you decide.
However, if you’re like me--happy with your device as is, but just love pushing the envelope--I'd say wait until your warranty expires. After your warranty runs up, which is usually a year after purchase, there is really nothing to lose.
If you have any additional pros or cons to rooting, leave them in the comment below.
If your warranty is over, definitely root.
Galaxy s2 is a pretty safe and easy device to flash. No need to mess with bootloaders and all. There are many guides in the forum, check them out. If something does go wrong, you will most probably find the solution in this forum itself.
You might might end up waiting indefinitely for the official update for your country from samsung. Flashing it yourself will keep you up to date.
But its time consuming if you are new to all this. There is a LOT to read. I know because I was there. It was after a lot of reading that I felt confident enough to root my phone. But now I flash a little bit to often!
Try a custom ROM based on the latest official samsung. I use NeatROM Lite 4.3, based on LSD. Stable, fast and bloatware free. There are a lot of them, pick the one that suits your need. Or if you're feeling adventurous, try most of them like I did!
Help With Rooting My Verizon Galaxy S3
I Am New To Rooting And I Would Like To Know If It's At All Possible To Install Android 4.2 On My Verizon Galaxy S3, I Feel My Phone Is Very Sluggish And I Would Like To Uninstall All The Bloatware On The Phone. Any Positive Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated Thanks In Advance!
Root
I was feeling the same way on my Atrix HD. Now i am glad i did it, its worth doing, you have greater access to apps, programs, and other things. IT was also simple to me.
#newbie
Harley Malvado said:
I Am New To Rooting And I Would Like To Know If It's At All Possible To Install Android 4.2 On My Verizon Galaxy S3, I Feel My Phone Is Very Sluggish And I Would Like To Uninstall All The Bloatware On The Phone. Any Positive Help Would Be Greatly Appreciated Thanks In Advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google is your friend, try using it.
Root!!!! I rooted my s2 the first day of having it. Best thing ever. I only update every 2 months or so, make sure bugs are out. I am on ga10 right now which 4.1.2. Even did it to the wife's phone. Original software is not good and slow updates. I am planning on rooting whatever new I get.
definetely root, because with root you can use many hidden capabilities like reverse tethering, free wifi tethering and so on

[Q] Why Root the One plus one?

Hi all
i Just got my one plus one last week
it was amazing , it was snappy , the screen is gorgeous , and the CM is plain great , albeit many apps did find unresponding oddly enough
i've had many phones in the past that are not so great x10 mini , x8 , galaxy ace, galaxy nexus
all of which are miles away when compared to the one plus
and since they are so freaking lag i decided to root them and gave them root and changed their bootloader
but from one phone to the other all of them seems to die out in about 9 months after i root them , and i don;'t know what i did wrong , most of them are dead because i fried the motherboard or something
still why would you root the one plus when it's already so fast ? i am considering rooting mine but i am really scared i might kill it
First, rooting doesn't make it faster or slower. Also, it doesn't broke the phone neither now or in 12 month time.
Second, you need root for some in depth access on your phone, or some programs like Titanium Backup may require root to work.
Third, the rule of the thumb say, if you don't need it, don't do it!
greenify, adblock, titanium more than enough reasons to root.
I go by the old saying "If you have to ask, you'll never know"
Generally anyone who's asked me if they should root their phone, or install 3rd party firmware, my answer is no. It has to be something you want to do and something you're willing to accept the risk doing. I'm a flashaholic. I flash a new rom every few days, or update existing ROM i have. I'm never content with the status quo on my phone and devices and always play. I accept the risk of running into a situation where I go to make a call, watch a movie, or open a email and my phone locking up due to running bleeding edge untested code. Mind you I can always recover from bootloader and know how so I know I won't permanently screw a phone, just until I can flash a older rom, or recover with a PC. If you have to ask, it means you're not sure about what you're getting into. If you fall into this situation I would refrain from asking others and instead read around in the 1,000's of posts in this OnePlus forum and decide for yourself.
Not that being said, root is simple. It's a more of a "Set it and forget it" type of deal, at least until a OTA update arrives. Custom roms is where the aforementioned comes into play mostly. If you want to start getting into the Flashing world with Android its the place to start. Myself I read and read after I got my Galaxy S4, first real Android phone, and went straight to CyanogenMod with it. Skipped rooting.
WoodburyMan said:
Generally anyone who's asked me if they should root their phone, or install 3rd party firmware, my answer is no. It has to be something you want to do and something you're willing to accept the risk doing.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He may not be aware of what can be accomplished with root access and find the profits interesting. He doesn't necessarily know if he wants to do if he doesn't know it exists/is possible.
I don't want to flame or anything, but since you've been around for almost 3 years, you should really know better.
Firstly, rooting does not fry your motherboard. Seriously, why would you think so?
The fact that your previous phones became slow after a short while is because you probably got them stuffed with bloatware and have not maintained your phone in a healthy way.
As to why you should root your phone,...
Well, most apps that help you maintain your phone and keep it as optimized as possible require root.
This kind of proves my previous point regarding the speed of your previous phones.
I would start reading some more and eventually you'll be able to answer your own question.
Good luck!
Well that's easy, if your not interested in using apps that need root access there's no use in rooting your device. It's nothing magic which will make your device fly or make a cup of coffee for you.
Why not?

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