So for a while now, while anticipating getting my hands on a Nexus S of my own, I've been lurking in the forums and reading up on various things. I know for sure that I will be flashing custom ROMS and rooting my device. However, as this is my first android ever, do you guys think I should flash roms on it right away or should I stick with stock android and learn the OS first.
I was thinking that I wouldn't be able to appreciate the tweaks/improvements that are found in various custom ROMS if I didn't have experience with vanilla android. I am interested in hearing your opinions.
One other thing I was very confused about was whether or not you could flash custom roms/kernels without actually unlocking the Bootloader. I have read and read and the answer seems to be yes, but from my understanding it only works if your not on 2.3.3? (Sorry if this question has been answered time and time again, but the amount of information on this forum has been mindblowing, and I get more and more confused as I read on.)
it depends on the phone really. for the bootloader lock but usually yes for any rom changes you need to install a custom recovery and that requires bootloader access
Personally, I find one day is enough to find out all about the stock ROM.
If the phone you get is already running 2.3.3, then I'm unsure whether you can simply flash an older bootloader and root/flash custom ROMs without unlocking. If you get a phone running < 2.3.3, then you are in luck. Currently I'm running CM7 with the bootloader still locked.
yeah you'll get the hang of using the stock rom in no time. The Nexus S is my first android phone and everything has been so easy...i've flashed roms, unlocked the bootloader, rooted, flashed kernels and recovered using the nandroid backups. All so so so easy.
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I just recently decided to purchase my first android phone. I'm completely new to rooting and I was wondering if someone could help me out.
A thread that I was reading mentioned downgrading the system image from Gingerbread 2.3.3 to 2.2.x to be able to root
I was wondering, does that mean that once a permanent root has been established that, 2.2.x Android will be running or is it only temporary for attaining the root and the device will be running 2.3.3 once it has been successfully rooted?
Thank you
please tell us what phone you have. it will make it easier to explain things
Once you root you have the option of loading custom ROM's. Depending on your phone these custom ROM's can be 2.2.1, 2.3.3, 2.3.4 and 2.3.5. So you will be running gingerbread if you please..just not stock.
I'm thinking about getting an HTC Panache and I was looking at this thread here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1096014&page=10
So if I manage to root the phone, would sense UI be completely removed and replaced with only the basic android rom such as that on the Nexus series?
You can load a ROM without Sense, or one with Sense...its all about your preference. The panache is an amazing phone and you would not be disappointed. If you are a fan of the Nexus style ROM, Faux123 makes one for the panache (which is the MyTouch 4G in the us) that is absolutely amazing. And if you do like sense, can't go wrong with virtuous unity. Either way...there are A TON of ROM's available for that phone.
Hi there,
I wouldn't have thought so about going to an older version of OS, rooting is normally done via clockwork recovery & boot loaders, so unless the boot loader they use does not work with 2.3 then maybe but unlikely, clockwork recovery this wiki does not mention installing an older OS, I doubt you will be able to unless the phone is rooted.
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/wiki/TM...l_Update_Guide#Rooting_the_TMobile_myTouch_4G
Then once the phone is rooted you just install what ever ROM you want to install from the boot loader and install ROM from SD card.
Thank you so much for all the information! I've been trying to decide between the Nexus S and the HTC Panache for the last little while now and that cleared up a lot of questions I had. I really appreciate it, thank you!
I didn't want to start a new therad for this so here's my question:
I don't get what the SUPER CID is good for. Google tells me it allows you to flash any ROM onto it, even if the phone is branded. huh? I thought that's what S-off+root allows you to do?
I have a branded Sensation with s-off and root on stock rom. Should I do the SUPER CID thing and what is good for?
thank you
It is not really necessary. It is considered complete unlocking, but everything you want to do as far as custom ROM's you can accomplish in the state you are in now.
Hey fellas, I got my Verizon GS3 last Thursday knowing that it had a locked bootloader but was hoping someone would figure out how to get root. Now I see that it has been rooted but is it "completely" rooted? What I mean is, can I overclock it, flash kernals, custom roms, wifi tether? Does it have the same capabilities of all three of the other US carriers' GS3s? Is Cyanogenmod developing CM9 for it yet? I was reading somewhere that you can root it just like any other version but it's just a bigger pain in the ass. I just want to make sure that my Verizon GS3 can be completely rooted so I can do everything I did with my old Droid. Should I just take it back and go with the Sprint version of the GS3? Im sorry if some of these are "noob" questions but I just want to figure out what I should do. Any help would be much appreciated!
Rooting and the other things you spoke of are not the same thing.
Rooting = The ability to write to the system partition, while booted into android. This allows you to delete system files (such as bloatware).
Locked Boot Loader = You will not be able to flash custom files (unsigned) to the phone from Odin. This means no clockwork recovery, roms, kernels ect....
There are ways around some of the locked boot loader stuff on some phones (ex. droid 2 got a special recovery through months of dev work. This did not cicrumvent the locked boot loader, but allowed away around it). This type of recovery (2nd init) is not avalible for Samsung phones.
If you want roms and all access, I would go with the dev unit samsung is selling for verizon. However, there still may not be much for the VZW gs3 because they wont sell tons of the dev units at $600 a pop.
The Verizon S3 already has root, roms and kernels up and working and some really good devs trying to crack it. I have a VG3 and it was rooted in less than a day and I'm having no issues. It's a great phone but the locked bootloader may cause issue in the future.
If I knew that samsung was going to release a dev version I may not have pre-ordered my S3 but I"m still happy with my purchase so far. What I find amusing is the price stated on the dev phone right now is cheaper than buying the phone outright from big V right now. We will see what the price really is when the phone is made available.
Farabomb said:
The Verizon S3 already has root, roms and kernels up and working and some really good devs trying to crack it. I have a VG3 and it was rooted in less than a day and I'm having no issues. It's a great phone but the locked bootloader may cause issue in the future.
If I knew that samsung was going to release a dev version I may not have pre-ordered my S3 but I"m still happy with my purchase so far. What I find amusing is the price stated on the dev phone right now is cheaper than buying the phone outright from big V right now. We will see what the price really is when the phone is made available.
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I second this post!
locked bootloader means no custom roms or kernels.
chakra said:
locked bootloader means no custom roms or kernels.
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Not true.
Touchwiz based custom roms are entirely possible and it has already been shown custom kernels work using kexec. Yeah it's not as good as an unlocked bootloader but we have our work arounds until these crazy smart devs figure out how to bypass the locked bootloader.
Sent from my SGS3
tanman21 said:
Rooting and the other things you spoke of are not the same thing.
Rooting = The ability to write to the system partition, while booted into android. This allows you to delete system files (such as bloatware).
Locked Boot Loader = You will not be able to flash custom files (unsigned) to the phone from Odin. This means no clockwork recovery, roms, kernels ect....
There are ways around some of the locked boot loader stuff on some phones (ex. droid 2 got a special recovery through months of dev work. This did not cicrumvent the locked boot loader, but allowed away around it). This type of recovery (2nd init) is not avalible for Samsung phones.
If you want roms and all access, I would go with the dev unit samsung is selling for verizon. However, there still may not be much for the VZW gs3 because they wont sell tons of the dev units at $600 a pop.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply man! The dev phone just may be an option but I really don't feel like forking over $600 when I can go to Sprint on a cheaper plan and have an unlocked bootloader....either way, I have 10 more days to return my phone and cancel my contract if I need to. And btw, I sent a long email to Verizon asking them if they will ever unlock the bootloader ( I read an article saying they may, then today read a article saying they wont. We'll see.) I also said that I may just cancel my contract and go to Sprint and ask them how they can "help" relieve this situation that alot of people are facing. I'll report back and let everyone know what their response is.
Topdroid01 said:
Hey fellas, I got my Verizon GS3 last Thursday knowing that it had a locked bootloader but was hoping someone would figure out how to get root. Now I see that it has been rooted but is it "completely" rooted? What I mean is, can I overclock it, flash kernals, custom roms, wifi tether? Does it have the same capabilities of all three of the other US carriers' GS3s? Is Cyanogenmod developing CM9 for it yet? I was reading somewhere that you can root it just like any other version but it's just a bigger pain in the ass. I just want to make sure that my Verizon GS3 can be completely rooted so I can do everything I did with my old Droid. Should I just take it back and go with the Sprint version of the GS3? Im sorry if some of these are "noob" questions but I just want to figure out what I should do. Any help would be much appreciated!
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There's some erroneous replies so far, hopefully this will clear it up for you. Root or superuser, is a linux term, which basically provides you with admin rights. With root alone you can run WiFi tether, rename system apps, etc. Root is easily attainable on the Verizon S3, see the dev section for guides.
The S3 recovery partition is NOT signed. This allows us to install custom recoveries (i.e. ClockworkMod, TWRP, etc.) This is very different from say, a Moto phone that had to use bootstrap methods. The S3 can have a fully functioning recovery that will allow you to do backups, flash ROMs and Kernels, etc. Again, very easy to do, see dev section for guides (it's grouped with root).
What's currently being worked on is the "locked" bootloader. Basically we can write whatever we want to the various partitions, however, there is a security check being done that prevents altering various areas, like the boot.img. Right now there is a workaround where custom Kernels are flashed via the recovery partition (see recovery/kexec threads for more info).
There is no official CM9 or CM10 builds yet, but they are being worked on and there are bootable versions of both. Right now the RIL is the bigger issue as it's preventing data but that has nothing to do with the bootloader. The RIL is being worked on, no ETA.
tl;dr - The bootloader is still "locked" but there are already various workaround methods in place to allow for the flashing of custom recoveries, ROMs, Kernels, etc. Reading the guides in the dev section would be a great place to start understanding what's going on better.
s197 said:
There's some erroneous replies so far, hopefully this will clear it up for you. Root or superuser, is a linux term, which basically provides you with admin rights. With root alone you can run WiFi tether, rename system apps, etc. Root is easily attainable on the Verizon S3, see the dev section for guides.
The S3 recovery partition is NOT signed. This allows us to install custom recoveries (i.e. ClockworkMod, TWRP, etc.) This is very different from say, a Moto phone that had to use bootstrap methods. The S3 can have a fully functioning recovery that will allow you to do backups, flash ROMs and Kernels, etc. Again, very easy to do, see dev section for guides (it's grouped with root).
What's currently being worked on is the "locked" bootloader. Basically we can write whatever we want to the various partitions, however, there is a security check being done that prevents altering various areas, like the boot.img. Right now there is a workaround where custom Kernels are flashed via the recovery partition (see recovery/kexec threads for more info).
There is no official CM9 or CM10 builds yet, but they are being worked on and there are bootable versions of both. Right now the RIL is the bigger issue as it's preventing data but that has nothing to do with the bootloader. The RIL is being worked on, no ETA.
tl;dr - The bootloader is still "locked" but there are already various workaround methods in place to allow for the flashing of custom recoveries, ROMs, Kernels, etc. Reading the guides in the dev section would be a great place to start understanding what's going on better.
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This explains things alot better for me Thank you!!!. Im coming from a OG Droid that I rooted as soon as I got it so its been a while since I've been on the scene. I've kept up with the OG Droid Development for quite some time (which is basically nonexistent) so Im somewhat familiar with rooting and such just not familiar with this lock bootloader and such on my S3. Anyways, I still may just go to Sprint but havent made my mind up yet. And THANKS again for the very knowledgeable answer!
Hey guys I have been working on building a ROM based on the current OTA, pre-rooted and deodexed and a few other perks thrown in. At any rate, this is my first ROM and while I would be comfortable flashing a ROM for experimenting with to my Kindle or my Dinc because they have bootloaders that are worth something, the problem with the D2G is that if I get caught in a bootloop I don't know what to do because as far as I know there is no way to access CWM from outside of rebooting to it from a rooted ROM. Does anyone know what to do because I would like to get this development rolling but I would rather not run the risk of bricking my phone if I can help it. Thanks!
In other words, in the case that i get a bootloop how would I go about recovering my device? flash a stock update.zip through stock recovery?
OTA updates can only be installed on top of stock firmware they are made for. If there are altered files in /system that are on the check list, it won't work.
Read this for information on reflashing: http://droid.koumakan.jp/wiki/SBF
I have the xt926, and I'm interested in flashing a new ROM. The only thing that worries me is when I trade in the phone for a new one in december, will they not accept it if it's not in factory state? Is it possible to get it exactly the way it was when it arrived?
Also, where are the basic instructions for installing a ROM on KK? I rooted and unlocked the bl, but now I'm unsure what to do.... Do I need a recovery? A specific recovery? How do I use one? Should I follow the CM11 instructions here on XDA, or on the CM11 website?
It seems like everything is fragmented and the dev section is a mess....
The only thing you can't undo is the bootloader unlock. So if they're not going to take it because of that your already too late. Might as well enjoy the ride. There are several good guides on these forums for roming it. Step one learn to install a custom recovery
Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=53245455
Before you ask, yes, I have searched. I also went through each page of the "Here are the similar threads we found:" section before posting. That is actually why I am posting. I see too many different answers.
A little background: I know my way around android in general and have been flashing roms since my G1. I used to be the "rom test dummy" for JesusFreak (yeah, im an oldtimer) so I am not afraid of flashing roms. I am currently running on a windows machine, but I have linux available if that is any easier. I am comfortable in either.
My question: I have a Nexus 5 with 4.4.2 (stock) KOT49H and I want to update finally. Each time I have tried the OTA it gave errors, and I eventually found that is because the rom looks for modifications. Out of the posts I have found here, I have seen some say you have to flash all the way back to stock and then start updating. I have also seen posts that say there are tools that will read your device info and decide what to flash. I have seen some that say you can flash a new (stock) rom over the current rom.
I have no problem backing up the device (I have paid premium) if needed. If I can flash without wipe, GREAT. If not, no big deal. My main thing is that I would like a safe route. This is my main phone so I need it to work. I would also prefer one of the shorter (of the safe) methods. I saw a guide a few minutes ago that seemed to say that you should flash 4x during the process. Once to clean the rom, once to downgrade, and 2 more to upgrade. I am hoping I read that one wrong, but that sounds un-needed. Is there a stock 4.4.4 rom that I can just flash on top of my current 4.4.2 and get it all done in one jump?
Darkrift said:
Before you ask, yes, I have searched. I also went through each page of the "Here are the similar threads we found:" section before posting. That is actually why I am posting. I see too many different answers.
A little background: I know my way around android in general and have been flashing roms since my G1. I used to be the "rom test dummy" for JesusFreak (yeah, im an oldtimer) so I am not afraid of flashing roms. I am currently running on a windows machine, but I have linux available if that is any easier. I am comfortable in either.
My question: I have a Nexus 5 with 4.4.2 (stock) KOT49H and I want to update finally. Each time I have tried the OTA it gave errors, and I eventually found that is because the rom looks for modifications. Out of the posts I have found here, I have seen some say you have to flash all the way back to stock and then start updating. I have also seen posts that say there are tools that will read your device info and decide what to flash. I have seen some that say you can flash a new (stock) rom over the current rom.
I have no problem backing up the device (I have paid premium) if needed. If I can flash without wipe, GREAT. If not, no big deal. My main thing is that I would like a safe route. This is my main phone so I need it to work. I would also prefer one of the shorter (of the safe) methods. I saw a guide a few minutes ago that seemed to say that you should flash 4x during the process. Once to clean the rom, once to downgrade, and 2 more to upgrade. I am hoping I read that one wrong, but that sounds un-needed. Is there a stock 4.4.4 rom that I can just flash on top of my current 4.4.2 and get it all done in one jump?
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easiest way(if running a custom recovery).. find a rooted stock here in the andtoid development section, and dirty flash(no wiping) it over what you have. you won't lose any data dirty flashing.
if your completely stock, easiest way.. flash the 4.4.4 factory img via fastboot. but you will lose your data.
simms22 said:
easiest way(if running a custom recovery).. find a rooted stock here in the andtoid development section, and dirty flash(no wiping) it over what you have. you won't lose any data dirty flashing.
if your completely stock, easiest way.. flash the 4.4.4 factory img via fastboot. but you will lose your data.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the info, but can you point to a 4.4.4 rooted stock? I have been searching through the roms and most seem to be customized, not stock. Ive gone through about 7 pages now in http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/development
I havent flashed a rom in a year or 2 since buying Nexus 4/5 devices (hey, they just work) so I am a little out of the loop.
**Edit: I just found this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...-android-4-4-3-ktu84m-rooted-busybox-t2557523 - Maybe I missed it the first time. I think its because the URL says 4-4-3, so I skipped it.
Darkrift said:
Thanks for the info, but can you point to a 4.4.4 rooted stock? I have been searching through the roms and most seem to be customized, not stock. Ive gone through about 7 pages now in http://forum.xda-developers.com/google-nexus-5/development
I havent flashed a rom in a year or 2 since buying Nexus 4/5 devices (hey, they just work) so I am a little out of the loop.
**Edit: I just found this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/goo...-android-4-4-3-ktu84m-rooted-busybox-t2557523 - Maybe I missed it the first time. I think its because the URL says 4-4-3, so I skipped it.
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thats a good one.. if i go with stock, its going to be a @bigxie rom. and i was around as well for jesus freke
Awesome, thanks. I will flash that when I get home after making a backup.
I struggled with this and finally succeeded by flashing first to 4.4.3, THEN to 4.4.4. Now running like a top.
bltzfsck said:
I struggled with this and finally succeeded by flashing first to 4.4.3, THEN to 4.4.4. Now running like a top.
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awesome!