Hi guys,
I've been playing around with my Nexus S for about 3 weeks and I've decided to root it, but I have some question, I've been searching the answers in older posts but it's not quite clear yet, hope you can help me.
When I unlocked the bootloader, what kind of data will be wiped? It's just the SD card or also all the apps I've already downloaded? what about SMS, pictures and videos?
Is there anyway I can backup that data considering I haven't root it yet???
Thanks in advance.
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol what? its nobodys fault but your own. all the resources are available, just because somebody isnt responding to your threads and holding your hand to restore a nandriod backup doesnt make it a "lack of a community".. and your phone isn't bricked, it can be recovered but you are too close-minded and cant install Clockwork Recovery / get drivers working
The data that will be wiped are most likely your SMS/settings/etc. This is standard procedure. And its something you'll go through a lot when you are using custom ROMs.
There are complete instructions for rooting, unrooting and unbricking your phone. It's all here in the forums, and many other places, you just have to look and learn. I read for two weeks before I unlocked and loaded a ROM into my NS.
If you don't have a need to root your phone I wouldn't do it just because you can. I wanted to run the Voodoo app so I had to root and load a ROM. It took a little while but it was painless and I liked learning about the Android system.
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.
It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!
RogerPodacter said:
It's close to impossible to brick a nexus device. They purposely come with totally open boot loaders specifically for that purpose!
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Click to collapse
its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
"brick" describes a device that cannot function in any capacity (such as a device with damaged firmware)
In the strictest sense of the term, bricking must imply that software error has rendered the device completely unrecoverable without some hardware replacement.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brick_(electronics)
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I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
Netconn said:
You do have to backup your app and your SD, but that was the easy part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?
Make a nandroid backup first and foremost! Use Titanium Backup to make a backup of all your apps. If you want a backup of your sms, go sms pro really does a great job of that. Dont forget your contacts as well! Then copy your sd card and place it on the hard drive of your computer. When you unlock the bootloader, it does wipe your sd card. Once your unlocked and rooted, you should be able to restore everything once you replace the copy of your sd card back on the phone. Coming over from a Vibrant, I was nervous about rooting the phone but its an easy process. Just take your time and do lots of reading! Hope this helps!
Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Woops..yeah, your right there. Too quick to reply. I followed this method here..
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=895545
and had no problems. Once you get unlocked/rooted and clockwork recovery, then you can make the fore mentioned backups. Export your contacts to the sd card then copy the sd card to the hard drive of your computer before unlocking the boot loader. I do not think apps get affected during the sd wipe unless you have them stored there.
zephiK said:
its not only Nexus devices but like I said people are using the term brick wrong. with these new phones coming out, a lot of them are hard to brick.
if you're phone is able to get into recovery/start/download mode (odin not popular but still an option)/bootloader then its not bricked.
if its unable to start in any form or way.. its considered a brick. please stop using the term in its wrong definition.
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Click to collapse
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
may i suggest a noob proof guide|? i postted 1 in the htc desire forum and people love it. yesterday i returned a moto xoom because ti was overheating , got a nexus s and 2day il b returning that because it wont turn on. can any1 help me think of a good idea i can tell the future shop return people?
kmhil said:
I think guys you have lost focus about my question, it's not about how to root (there is a lot of info about), it's about what kind of data will be wiped and how to back it up
What's the best way to do it? It's there an app or I have to day it by myself?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you are forced to lose your data to initially root your device. then after that point, you can always create backups and never lose data again while you switch between ROMs and flashing etc. but i think to initially root, you have to lose everything. not the sd card though.
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
i followed the instructions to flash gri74 back to stock and my phone wont turn on, wont goto any mode, wont read that its hookedup to my pc
isnt that what we call a brick? ive had issues on a galaxy s with this game issue. htc devices i can fly through the root procedure but i got this 1 rooted, tried reflashing to stock and the phone wont turn on at all.
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Click to collapse
Do keep in mind, we don't have an i9020 or an i9023, we have an i9020A So the instruction out there all need to take that into considerations. I rooted mine fine with no "Bricking" I had to follow the instruction for the i9023, but it worked. I figure it took me all of 1 minute to root my phone. Admitedly, the "One click root" for the Galaxy series was easier.
I try to make it a point to never be the "First" person to do something on their phone. Much safer that way.
I also find it very unusual that you've managed to brick two phones, I've also had the pleasure of owning the telus fascinate, and not once did i get it bricked, I tried Bionics, CM7, Darky's and a bunch of other ones. Just never mess with the boot loader. When you went back to stock, did you make sure it was a stock ROM for the I9020A?
Have you tried connecting the USB to a computer, holding the volume up (or in the case of the galaxy, both up and down) While powering on the device? I've had to use that a few times to recover my galaxy (Thank you odin!!).
Now in regards to the OP, I would recommend using a program like Ti to back everything up, unlock the bootloader then restore from Ti, it's a little more hassel, but you can pretty much keep your settings and data. Personally, i rooted my phone before configuring a single thing on it.
kmhil said:
Thenx, but I still have one doubt, if I haven't root my phone yet, will nandroid or titanium work?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there is no way to make a good backup without rooting.
basically yes, you will lose all your settings
there are a few apps you can use to backup your apk before unlocing/rooting the phone.
look for App admin on market https://market.android.com/details?id=az.mecid.appadmin&feature=search_result
the stuff backed to SD does not get wiped
only the internal storage stuff
LINKSLOVESANDROID said:
dont do it man. i just got my phone yesterday at 1 pm and its now 12am and its bricked by lack of support from the cummunity. i studyied and studied 4 around 10 hours. then bricked my device. and i have a good idea i wont be getting a replacement this time
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i took about 12 minutes total to unlock my bootloader, flash clockwork, and flash a custom rom. its not difficult if you pay attention to what you read. youre phone is not bricked. btw, i read your threads. if you werent so demanding, i would have helped. use the pdanet website the next time you need to install the proper driver, and follow the directions that they give you.
When I unlocked I used Astro to back up my apps, I turned on the Google data sync to back up my contacts and I did a back up of my SD on my computer.
When the unlock and recovery was done NS asked for my Google account then it restored all my contacts, Astro restored all my apps and I restored my files from my computer. A few steps but not difficult at all.
You will have to redo your accounts and data, and maybe an app or two won't load but the market will show them installed, just reinstall any that didn't.
Make sure you follow the directions properly in the forum. I had to use two computers to get it to work, but it did work and nothing was damaged.
With all that said.... This was the first time I have ever owned or altered an Android phone. Sure I was nervous... Now I'm hooked.. haha
I wound up using NSCollab .17 so far so good..
First thing I did when I got my phone was fastboot oem unlock.
Even if you don't want to root, use another ROM. Fastboot unlock it so your data doesn't get wiped.
If your hardware and everything seems okay, then flash Clockwork Recovery and do a nandroid backup so you can restore to pre-flashing point if you need it for OEM purposes.
Afterwards, go crazy and flash like theres no tomorrow and find something that you'll like.
And agreed with simms. You've made so made so many threads about this. I would help you step by step but I've been busy so I can't do that anymore. But if you search, you'll find about two or three threads where I did help somebody get their phone to a working state.
The basic idea is... if your phone doesn't boot but you can get to recovery.
- Download a ROM or Nandroid backup
- Install USB drivers
- Fastboot oem unlock (if you haven't)
- fastboot flash recovery recovery.img (or whatever the recovery.img is named) should be in /sdk/tools
- reboot into recovery (adb reboot recovery)
- mount and storage: mount USB, put the nandroid backup or ROM onto phone
- nandroid restore or flash a ROM (wipe factory,dalvik,cache --> flash ROM (if its CM7.. flash gapps afterwards)
- reboot
your phone boots. alternatively, you can use Odin but thats not a popular method but the choice is available if you wish to go towards that approach
in the worse worse possible case scenario there is always ODIN to the rescue
Why did you guys wait at all?
Once i got the phone i immediately plugged it into my computer and rooted it.
Related
Why do you need to set up a recovery or cwm for your phone after it's been rooted?
Almost all of the Kernels and ROM's are installed/Flashed through the Clock Work Custom Recovery. Plus you can use it to do Nandroid backups and clear cache and so on. It's really a great utility to have.
Ok thanks. I'm just really nervous about trying to CwM my phone again cause last week I had to get a new phone cause I did something wrong.
Do you think you could possibly give me step by step instructions on how to properly recover my phone using CwM? I'm not the brightest person and Im kinda clueless with all of this stuff.
EDIT:
Will this do the trick?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=997359
If I do this is my phone ready?
ketchkev000 said:
Ok thanks. I'm just really nervous about trying to CwM my phone again cause last week I had to get a new phone cause I did something wrong.
Do you think you could possibly give me step by step instructions on how to properly recover my phone using CwM? I'm not the brightest person and Im kinda clueless with all of this stuff.
EDIT:
Will this do the trick?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=997359
If I do this is my phone ready?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all, most people around here aren't experts when they begin this process - but they definitely AT LEAST have a clue - so I suggest you take some time doing research before you even attempt any of these things. If you're not wanting to do so, try to find someone that you know that has done some modding and see if they can help you. Our references around here are pretty clear and cover all bases, so there shouldn't be too many questions to ask after reading around.
To answer your question, that thread you linked has an odin package that includes a custom recovery (clockworkmod) along with a complete 2.2 stock image, so it would be a good place to start.
Do you need to use cwm if you just wanna use apps that require your phone to be rooted? Sorry for all of the questions.
CWM and Rooting aren't really connected. Some background info, from what I've learned thus far:
Rooting just changes a couple files in the OS portion of Android to allow you to have Superuser access (like Administrator on a Windows machine). All of that goes on in the OS partition.
CWM Recovery, its full, proper name, is a custom Recovery. The default recovery allows just a factory reset for the most part. CWM Recovery allows that, but also allows many more options; clearing user/Dalvik cache, performing Nandroid backups and restores, enabling or disabling Voodoo (note that you need to have a separate Voodoo-compatible kernel installed), flashing things from ZIP files on your SD card, and so on.
The short answer then is no, you don't even need to think about CWM if all you want to do is root your phone and use apps that require it to be rooted.
ketchkev000 said:
Do you need to use cwm if you just wanna use apps that require your phone to be rooted? Sorry for all of the questions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you are just wanting to use apps that require root access then no you don't have to use CWM. You need CWM if you are going to flash a kernel or ROM or any other Mod for your phone. Rooting and CWM are two different things. As long as your phone is rooted, then you shouldn't have trouble using apps that reuire root access, with or without CWM on your phone. At least I didn't when I first began doing this stuff. Granted Im still a noob to an extent but my phone was rooted for a long time before I ever installed CWM and I never had an issue with the root apps
Edit: didnt' mean to be redundant. Chromewolf posted while I was typing mine
add144 said:
I think its full, proper name would be ClockworkMod Recovery
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Click to collapse
Damnit! I needed to have found someone else I could have bet money on that not only would I get corrected on that, but that it would be by add. No money for me. XD
But seriously, while add is correct on the matter of semantics, the point I was trying to make is that CWM is just a custom Recovery (which I've sort of taken to needlessly capitalizing lately to emphasize the difference a bit more), as opposed to an app or something.
Brief off-topic: A present for you add, especially if you're a gamer. I hope you lol at it, I know I always do (and I'm the *functional* rules lawyer of the group, LOL), and I'm not the one who wears it!
http://www.warehouse23.com/item.html?id=OWD45013-2XL
I'm getting ready to root my phone, but one thing I haven't been able to figure out is what is the best way to make an image of my stock rom on the AT&T Nexus S before using a tool that's going to delete all my data?
I would really like to make a full system image so that if anything goes wrong, I can flash it back to where it is before the root takes place. Is this possible? Is there a guide out there that I just haven't seen?
Thanks
VillainousVivi said:
I'm getting ready to root my phone, but one thing I haven't been able to figure out is what is the best way to make an image of my stock rom on the AT&T Nexus S before using a tool that's going to delete all my data?
I would really like to make a full system image so that if anything goes wrong, I can flash it back to where it is before the root takes place. Is this possible? Is there a guide out there that I just haven't seen?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i hate saying this, but its true. this should go into the Q&A section, not into development. anyways, i think that you need root for that. but if there is a way, i think that it would be through adb.
Not a problem, if a mod can move it, that'd be great. I thought that a backup before making modifications would fall under the realm of development. After all, without a good backup, I wouldn't want to make too many changes
VillainousVivi said:
Not a problem, if a mod can move it, that'd be great. I thought that a backup before making modifications would fall under the realm of development. After all, without a good backup, I wouldn't want to make too many changes
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
what you want is to perform a nandroid backup, and you can do that through a custom recovery. you either need to unlock your bootloader for that(which wipes your phone and sd storage) or you can search how to root without unlocking the bootloader, root it, and use rom manager to flash a recovery/perform a nandroid backup without wiping but getting root.
Just use my back up pro to back up whatever that app will allow. Then copy over all your SDCard contents to your computer....Google takes care of contacts and apps....
Sent using two tin cans and some string.....
Hi,
I dont know if am being really stupid or not but this is my first android device and first time rooting.( i have searched for hours now trying to find an answer)
So i am trying to root my Lg G2x running GB 2.3.3 using this link :http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1255214
so as of now i am on Step 2...what i dont get is when i click the link on step 2 it says to download ALL of these NVIDIA drivers and everything. All i did was downlooad the One Click CWM
Another thing this link does is send me to ANOTHER link saying that you have to ROOT first?
So from my previous knowledge i thought you could only "flash" the CWM if you were already root ( or maybe thats only for the ROMs)
alright then if thats the case...the directions of the original link just says to download and unzip...but do i put that root folder onto my phone(i read this from another link that someone else posted about)..The reason i am asking this question is because when i tried to go to Step 3 it said to Hold Volume and Power to boot CWM but nothing happened obivously bc 1. the directions say to plug the phone into computer at like step5 and 2. the files are on the computer
So in conclusion i guess i am just trying to make sure that i dont brick my phone by asking these lame questions
1. do i have to take those unzipped files and put them onto my Phone( more specifally, my sd card or phone?)
2. What about for the CWM download.. do i just download the One Click thing and ignore the other directions??
You have to do the one click thing first to install Clockwordmod with NVFlash.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847
Then you boot into Clockwordmod Recovery and run my booting zip.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1255214
In that thread just download the root zip and put it on your sd card or in the internal memory of your phone. Flash the CWM recovery and then boot into Clockworkmod Recovery by holding down volume down and power until fancy LG logo shows (about ten to fifteen seconds). Find the menu option to flash a zip from sd card or internal memory (wherever you put my rooting zip). Select it, flash it and reboot when finished.
Presto. Done. You are now rooted.
THANK YOU!!!
I GOT IT YAY i AM ROOTEd
i was just overreading and kept reading every word on the posts lol when all i had to do was follow the APX driver installation, FLASH the cWM , and then BOOT IT!!!
THANK YOU!!!!
bball123 said:
THANK YOU!!!
I GOT IT YAY i AM ROOTEd
i was just overreading and kept reading every word on the posts lol when all i had to do was follow the APX driver installation, FLASH the cWM , and then BOOT IT!!!
THANK YOU!!!!
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Click to collapse
Flashing CWM and rebooting does not root your phone. You have to flash the root zip also, or flash a rooted rom.
Ok i am completly lost trying to root my g2x. I'v tried downloading the flasher yet nothing. I just need a step by step on doing this. Thanks!!
jaypro954 said:
Ok i am completly lost trying to root my g2x. I'v tried downloading the flasher yet nothing. I just need a step by step on doing this. Thanks!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The original thread for the one-click flasher in the development section is one of the best step by step posts ever made on XDA. It even has a link for a video tutorial. If you cannot follow that then I suggest you stop trying to root your phone. There is no reason for anyone to make another step by step guide. To find the thread try the search button. There are also links to it in numerous other threads.
Are their roms on here that are bug free and stable for daily drivers?
Im coming over here from a HD2 which is not a native android phone. And I didnt mind the bugs in android.
But now I have a g2x and it is bug free though I really wish it had 2.3.5 but oh well this phone is still bad ass.
So what im wondering if I should just root to keep it stock and do lil mods or flash the whole cwm Process so I have a back up. If I ever need it.
Thanks in advance.
tdizzle404 said:
Are their roms on here that are bug free and stable for daily drivers?
Im coming over here from a HD2 which is not a native android phone. And I didnt mind the bugs in android.
But now I have a g2x and it is bug free though I really wish it had 2.3.5 but oh well this phone is still bad ass.
So what im wondering if I should just root to keep it stock and do lil mods or flash the whole cwm Process so I have a back up. If I ever need it.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've kept mine stock for that reason, but I did root it. After experiencing custom roms on my Nexus One, A71 variant and others, I would have to say the frustrations stuff being perpetually broken, bugs and the monotony of daily flashing (CM7 just never stops) whatever small benefits the custom roms have (i.e., eye candy, additional settings, etc.) is just not worth the frustration and danger of soft-bricking the phone (I have hard bricked one also) to me. My Nexus One (gave one to wife when I got the G2X but then got another one at a steal) has gone through updates to 2.3.4 and 2.3.6 (yesterday). These updates seem to be mostly internal fixes for stuff. The average user (or even advanced) is not going to notice any difference in using the rom. The only exception to that is that in 2.3.4 Google removed the need to log back into your Gmail account(s) after changing sims. They said that was a minor benefit at a greater annoyance and the "feature" most complained about by world travelers. Other than that the Google apps get updated and even 2.2 devices are basically running the same Google apps as 2.3.X. So based on what you said above, I would suggest keeping it stock and simply rooting it. You definitely want to change recovery to Clockworkmod to make backups and the fact that going into stock recovery on this device does a factory reset (how stupid was that LG).
jboxer said:
I've kept mine stock for that reason, but I did root it. After experiencing custom roms on my Nexus One, A71 variant and others, I would have to say the frustrations stuff being perpetually broken, bugs and the monotony of daily flashing (CM7 just never stops) whatever small benefits the custom roms have (i.e., eye candy, additional settings, etc.) is just not worth the frustration and danger of soft-bricking the phone (I have hard bricked one also) to me. My Nexus One (gave one to wife when I got the G2X but then got another one at a steal) has gone through updates to 2.3.4 and 2.3.6 (yesterday). These updates seem to be mostly internal fixes for stuff. The average user (or even advanced) is not going to notice any difference in using the rom. The only exception to that is that in 2.3.4 Google removed the need to log back into your Gmail account(s) after changing sims. They said that was a minor benefit at a greater annoyance and the "feature" most complained about by world travelers. Other than that the Google apps get updated and even 2.2 devices are basically running the same Google apps as 2.3.X. So based on what you said above, I would suggest keeping it stock and simply rooting it. You definitely want to change recovery to Clockworkmod to make backups and the fact that going into stock recovery on this device does a factory reset (how stupid was that LG).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks J you have been very helpful in my transition from hd2 to g2x"im still flashing hd2 I love playing with sense 3.0 and 3.5" But this phone is amazing. Ive rooted it and added cwm but have not flashed any cutom rome I like stability over newest features.
Is 2.3.3 the most recent update for our Phones?
Yes and we're darn lucky we have 2.3.3. No other 2X variant worldwide has received any update love from LG. They are all still on 2.2.x. Lawsuit in U.S. seems to be what forced LG into releasing the G2X GB update.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk
Hey J
If this is the wrong place to ask please pm me but, would you mind letting me know what tweaks you have done "if any" you have done to your stock rom?
Is it possible to use a backup file created on a different HTC Inspire. Ended up completely bricking mine (won't turn on, charge, or anything). Going to take it back to the store and get a new one. Are you able to use a backup that I had from this (dead) phone I have now onto the new one or is that a bad idea?
I guess what I'm asking is - are backups tied to hardware in any way?
The first time a data partition is initialized by the system, it writes some hardware specific information to some places based on (I think) the IMEI, but this won't affect the backup/restore or running of the phone. It may, however, become a problem if HTC refurbs your old phone. The two identical ids may cause issues with certain apps like the Market where the ID may be used for purchase identification, etc. I'd recommend restoring the old CWM backup first, then use Titanium Backup to backup only the user apps (no system data), then wipe/factory reset, re-run the HTC setup wizard, then restore your user data from Titanium Backup. That would be almost as good as a full CWM restore and get you 99% back to the way your old phone was.
Easiest thing to do without running into problems in the long run is to re-root and reflash the ROM and do everything from scratch that way you don't have bootloops or FC's or anything that would cause problems and headaches. Hope my .02 cents helped.
Yeah I'm planning to just do a full wipe on it I believe.
Somehow I ended up on the DesireHD forum, ended up thinking I needed the ENG S-off bootloader and what not. And did all of this DesireHD stuff. Ended up not being able to get back into my bootloader at all, at which that point I'm just begging to get back to stock and try again/see what went wrong. It wouldn't write the code in over and hour so I yanked the cord out and it fully bricked it. So that's what went wrong. Here all I needed to do was download the correct radio and go into the bootloader x_x...
What can ATT do about mass-returning phones? This is the third Inspire (first one actually had USB issues when it was unrooted to begin with and wouldn't even connect. Can't root without USB now can we? ), second one is the one this topic is about. What happens if another one gets messed up and I take it back? Worst comes to worst being I'd have to buy the next phone correct?
c1o5ry1991 said:
Yeah I'm planning to just do a full wipe on it I believe.
Somehow I ended up on the DesireHD forum, ended up thinking I needed the ENG S-off bootloader and what not. And did all of this DesireHD stuff. Ended up not being able to get back into my bootloader at all, at which that point I'm just begging to get back to stock and try again/see what went wrong. It wouldn't write the code in over and hour so I yanked the cord out and it fully bricked it. So that's what went wrong. Here all I needed to do was download the correct radio and go into the bootloader x_x...
What can ATT do about mass-returning phones? This is the third Inspire (first one actually had USB issues when it was unrooted to begin with and wouldn't even connect. Can't root without USB now can we? ), second one is the one this topic is about. What happens if another one gets messed up and I take it back? Worst comes to worst being I'd have to buy the next phone correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you put the ENG hboot on the phone, then that's you're problem. Inspires (and possibly DHDs) manufactured after about Aug, 2011 have slightly different hardware that (possibly by design) is NOT compatible with any pre GB (2.47.502.7) hboot.
You should still be able to get it booted eventually (15-20 minutes) then you can restore the correct hboot using instructions here:
http://paste.pocoo.org/show/495273/
Yeah that was the problem. I realized it as soon as I made the mistake beforehand. I already took it back. I want to root this one now but I'm very afraid ATT might do something. What are the chances of me bricking the device now that I actually know what I'm doing? And what can ATT do if i bring the phone back? The most they can do is just say "You have to pay for a new phone now" right?
Hello i'm new in here and i think this is an awesome forum
Anyway, i'm willing to root my phone but i just don't want to reach the point where my phone got Hard Brick or useless. So how long does rooted phone live? Would it only take a months? because i can read some topics in other forums that their phone got bricked. Why is that happening? Is that normal? And how to avoid soft brick or hard brick? I will not be downloading some Rooted Apps if i root my phone. I just want to use this Wifikill app, dsploit and etc. but i will not be flashing customized ROM or themes. So would it still "soft brick or hard brick" my phone?
Thanks !!!!
Rooting isn't dangerous if you're careful
Hi there, I'm not sure what you mean by "how long does a rooted phone live", but I'll try to answer as best as I can.
Rooted phones 'live' as long as a non-rooted phone, the only risk of rooting a phone is the flashing part. For todays rooting methodes it's actually hard to hardbrick a phone, espescially when you just follow the steps provided by the rooting process.
Hardbricking a phone means that you messed up the flashing soo badly that there is no way to recover the phone. I actually tried on purpose to hardbrick an old SGS3 and even when I removed the USB cable while flashing the recovery, I was still able to revive the phone.
Softbricking however is much more common, but actually quite easy to revive from. All you need to un-brick the device includes having ADB/FastBoot on your PC or access to the recovery.
This way you can allways reflash the recovery or ROM if this gets corrupted.
You'll need a custom recovery to root your phone. You can brick your device if you pick the wrong recovery, but this is easy to check. Always match up the modelnumer of your phone with the one for the recovery.
After the rom has been installed, you'll need to flash the SuperSU zip to succesfully root your device and after that, you're all set.
So, bottomline is: as long as you make sure your phone is fully charged, and your PC won't randomly shutdown (that's why I always flash from a laptop). There is no way you can mess up.
For the lifetime of your phone: If you aren't planning on overclocking, you don't have to worry about shortening the lifetime of the device.
If you're going to root, always make a backup of your data, just in case something does go wrong!
For the apps you're mentioning: Just make sure you use those apps on your own network!
Flashing
So you mean flashing is the most common reason that bricks your phone? What if i want to play games, listens to music, texting or calling, does it brick your phone(soft or hard?)? And is it possible for the unrooted phone to be brick bit by bit if you keep on flashing wrong recovery file? I hope you can answer all my questions
No it's not possible to brick your phone by playing games, music ect. Flashing (Writing another recovery or updating your ROM) is the one and only way to brick your device.
If you flash the wrong recovery image to your device, it will be bricked. It 'should' be fixable in most cases.
The question about unrooted phones... Well, you can flash an custom recovery on your phone and get it bricked that way, but there is no need to flash another recovery if you're not going to root the device afterwards.
So just to clarify, you're not going to brick your device by normal use, rooted or not. The bricking part is when you're installing the recovery and root. When you succesfully rooted your device, there is no way you can brick it, until you're going to install another ROM on your device.
The worst thing that could happen with installing another ROM is getting stuck in a bootloop, but that can be fixed by going into the recovery and reflash(or install, if you prefer that term) the ROM. Unless it's the first time you're installing a custom ROM, in that case you will be stuck in a bootloop because you'll need to wipe the data, system and cache partition before installing a ROM. This prevents getting in a bootloop after installing a new ROM
Thanks !
Ok so i think i will root my phone tomorrow Im not in a purpose of installing custom ROM or kernel. I just want to use apps like dsploit or wifikill and it needs a proper root access. So its all clear and now i understand how bricky part happen. THANKS !