I am just jumping into the android moding world, and I just can't seem to find clarification on a particular issue. It seems that most phones are rootable but many have a locked bootloader. From what I can glean through reading many posts here and searching the web, the geekish options that you give up on a phone with a locked bootloader is the ability to flash the ROM. However, this is contradicted by examples here on this site of ROMs for phones with locked bootloaders. (Moto Atrix for example.) Is it that custom ROMs can only go so far with rooting alone, like the inability to replace the kernel? What exactly do you give up by only achieving root with a locked bootloader vs a rooted phone with an unlocked bootloader? Is it ROM related at all?
notmuchpastnothing said:
I am just jumping into the android moding world, and I just can't seem to find clarification on a particular issue. It seems that most phones are rootable but many have a locked bootloader. From what I can glean through reading many posts here and searching the web, the geekish options that you give up on a phone with a locked bootloader is the ability to flash the ROM. However, this is contradicted by examples here on this site of ROMs for phones with locked bootloaders. (Moto Atrix for example.) Is it that custom ROMs can only go so far with rooting alone, like the inability to replace the kernel? What exactly do you give up by only achieving root with a locked bootloader vs a rooted phone with an unlocked bootloader? Is it ROM related at all?
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You can't flash a custom rom without root. Root is needed to write to system partition etc.
But you can get root without a custom rom.
A locked bootloader means you will have to stay on stock rom. Means no custom kernels, no custom firmware.
Someone correct me if im wrong.
still confused
As mentioned there seem to be custom ROMs for for phones with a locked bootloader. The new Motorola Atrix is an example. While there is complaining that the bootloader is locked there are custom ROMs (2, I believe, so far) available from members of this forum. What is it that can't be done with a locked bootloader?
I'm still confused, but I appreciate the reply.
Related
hi.
ive been hearing about unlocked bootloaders lately. Don't know anything about it.
So... what is it exactly? And is out G2x have an open bootloader?
Thanks
When the boot-loader is locked you you have limitations to what you can flash. You can't overclock to my understanding, and you can't have ROM's like CM7 flashed onto it.
G2x doesn't have a locked bootloader. But phones that do are usually Verizon's Droid line. HTC used to lock them down, but have recently changed their minds.
LG's corporate policy is to NEVER lock the bootloader. If you buy an LG phone the bootloader is unlocked, period. If you want to flash anything other than an official update you must have an unlocked bootloader. Phones with locked bootloaders don't allow you to flash custom recovery and roms. There are ways around a locked bootloader to flash custom roms, but that discussion is beyond the scope of this thread. If you want to guarantee an unlocked bootloader stick with LG phones.
I have a GSM Nexus S (i9023) with stock ICS that I rooted without unlocking the bootloader (I used this excellent script).
After installing several root apps, I'm now looking at various kernels and I'm tempted to try and experiment a bit (interested in particular in trying Deep Idle), but I'm not familiar with kernels at all.
I had a look at many posts but could not figure out if I can install kernels on a rooted phone without touching the bootloader (basically I would like to maintain the current configuration with locked bootloader).
Any views if this can be done?
Thx in advance
..
I need to root, unlock, and install CWM right? How exactly do I do this? I tried to locate a how to without any luck.
The dev section is filled with all the info you need to know.
Also, not trying to be a **** but saying you searched when it is obvious that you didn't will get you nowhere.
OK I've read some more and had a couple more questions...
I noticed that the roms I've looked at don't require an unlocked phone. What's the point of unlocking the phone then? Can I just root and install CWM?
Some roms say "needs the 1.85 base." What does this mean and how do I get it before flashing a rom?
Thanks!
johnl199 said:
OK I've read some more and had a couple more questions...
I noticed that the roms I've looked at don't require an unlocked phone. What's the point of unlocking the phone then? Can I just root and install CWM?
Some roms say "needs the 1.85 base." What does this mean and how do I get it before flashing a rom?
Thanks!
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Click to collapse
Some of the roms, prior to the unlock discovery, were executable as an RUU. All the updated versions require recovery which you need the bootloader unlocked to get in to. It's a painless process and there's even a 1-Click script method for those who dont want to take chances.
Will I be able to get the phone back to COMPLETELY stock should I decide to sell it in the future?
From what I know it will say relocked or tampered but maybe I'm wrong
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
After unlocking your phone, there will be no way to get back to 100% stock unless we can get S-OFF (which hopefully may be in the near future due to a few devices already being S-OFF).
However, you can root your device and not unlock it (1.82 and prior as of now) and still be able to revert to 100% stock as if it came right out of the box.
Most of the ROMs currently do not require an unlocked bootloader.
However, this will definitely change as we begin to see custom kernels (hopefully soon with the release of the source by HTC Dev) and more complex ROMs (such as those based on AOSP, such as CM9 and AOKP).
So in short, you can still use most of the ROMs in the dev section. Just be aware however that if you do not unlock then you cannot install CWM (limiting the number of ROM options) and also if you update past 1.82.502.3 then you cannot root (at this time, other root exploits are being explored).
Is unlocking your bootloader the same as carrier unlocking your phone?
Does this mean that say, AT&T phones could be used on Tmobile?
lamenramen said:
Is unlocking your bootloader the same as carrier unlocking your phone?
Does this mean that say, AT&T phones could be used on Tmobile?
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Click to collapse
Nope. You are thinking of SIM unlock.
Bootloader unlock lets you load custom ROMs and change recovery, that's all.
I just bought the verizon variant of the z3. I've ready different things saying that they aren't root able yet. But, I've also read that as long as they're on 4.4.4 they still are. Mine is definitely still on 4.4.4. Can I root this phone? It has like, 60+processes running all the time that slow this thing down to barely usable..... Help!
you should be able to root providing you have firmware that is rootable, maybe you are confusing rooting with unlocking the bootloader for custom kernels
Hello folks,
What is the benefit of rooting a locked bootloader phone? If I am understanding it correctly, if my phone is locked that means I cannot install custom ROM/Kernel or is that assumption wrong? FYI - According to my research my phone bootloader cannot be unlocked (thanks ROGERS!...)
I want to know to determine if I should use the up-to-date firmware or downgrade my firmware and root it.
thanks!
Vicente
with root on locked bootloader phone, you can save drm keys to relock in a future in case you want.
If you only want to use some apps that need root (like Titanium, Greenify, SoftKeyz...) but want to stay in stock.
and you understands correctly, if you have a locked phone, you CAN'T flash custom rom or kernel (some phones have roms to locked bootloaders, but not this case....)
If you have locked bootloader you CAN use stock BASED custom roms. You can't use non stock based roms like cm12 etc. And also custom kernels can't be used like said before. Every rom should contain information if it's usable for locked bootloader or not in the OP
Backing up TA is not even useful for you since your bootloader can't be unlocked.
Root is used only for root apps like rootexplorer, titanium backup, xposed etc.