Database Info

[Q] Why Root?

I rooted mine and my wife's Captivate and the only advantage I saw was getting rid of ATT programs. I was going to send my phone back (becasue I could not OTA update) But since used Kies to do so. My wifes remains rooted . I am back to stock JH7.
I read you can tell the phone where to install programs when rooted but I did not find a way to do that. What are the other advantages of rooting the phone.
We have one Captivate rooted and the other stock.
Came over from unbranded n97 running Symbian. This is all new to me and I hated the 2 weeks with an iPhone. So far I like this Andriod OS but I have a lot to learn. I have read it is virtually impossible to brick this phone with the propoer tools and knowledge that is readily available........true?

Apparently it is not as unbrickable as people think. Some people were seeing stock phones bricking by trying to update the recent OTA. I myself was rooted and had no troubles.
Rooting allows you to play God on your phone. But be careful and backup everything if you do decide to. Best advice, as I was new to Android as well, is to read as much as you can before trying anything.
Most people here are good about answering questions, if you post in the right forum.
Good luck and welcome!

I guess it really depends on what you want to do with your phone. The only reason I rooted was to remove bloatware. Thats pretty much where the benefit ends unless you are interested in loading different ROMs and kernels.
Also, a word of caution: Be careful what apps you load on a rooted device. Root access gives you, and applications read/write/execute access to everything on your phone.

I also have a question on this topic. Since the original poster said, he can't do OTA updates after rooting is this correct?
Can you root the phone, take the bloatware off, then unroot the phone? Will the OTA now update?
Or do you have to update the original stock rom with OTA, then root the phone?
Can you root the phone, remove bloatware, then unroot the phone?
Thanks

Ihad no problem updating with my rooted phone. All I've done is root and lagfix.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using XDA App

dynastyice said:
I also have a question on this topic. Since the original poster said, he can't do OTA updates after rooting is this correct?
Can you root the phone, take the bloatware off, then unroot the phone? Will the OTA now update?
Or do you have to update the original stock rom with OTA, then root the phone?
Can you root the phone, remove bloatware, then unroot the phone?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted my phone......removed all bloat tirf to do the update and failed...Odin back to stock.....failed even after speaking with Samsung and ATT. Of course Samsung said it was not a hardware issue (as if that is all they should be concerned with.)
the Odin process could only be doe ONE way for me and I cut and pasted the method that worked and keep it and a lot of other tips in a Samsung folder on my Notebook. Seems everything but rooting was a hassle until you get GOOD information. That is the hardest think to glean. One has to read ENTIRE threads before they find the solution and not go jumping into the experiments....LOL
A few OPs do update their initial posts with the correct "process revisions"
I likely will root after the maybe someday Froyo 2.2 update. I want to get my wife's phone stock again..........
I finally after ATT decided to replace the phone......download Kies and installed the update that was and all went well. Kies is hit and miss with this phone though, Sometimes it sees it, others it does not.
Funny thing now on my USB selections it doesn't say "Samsung Kies" It says "Samsung Kies (firmware update)" Strange.
Anyway I am a complete noob but I like to learn about the OS as I did Symbian and mess with things now and then. I Am not the type that worries about scratches though. My phones look like war toys. But I usually don't resell them after a a couple generations. I give the previous phones away and keep the current phones as back up for the NEXT phones. The N95s will be given away if we keep these past Oct 20 drop day....

The biggest advantage you gain after rooting your phone is being able to use Titanium to back up all your apps, and Clockwork ROM manager to do an entire backup your phone.
These are nice tools to have, but both require rooting and super user privileges.

if you ask that question, then you probably shouldn't. rooting is for those who constantly not satisfied with status quo of their phones, for those who like different looks and improve on system and have no patience for OTA.
Example:
I bought MyTouch 3G as 1.5 Cupcake.
Upgraded to CM 1.6
Changed back and forth between Sense 1.5 and Donut 1.6.
Upgraded to CM 1.6 with bits of 2.0
Upgraded to CM 2.0
Upgraded to CM 2.1
Upgraded to CM 2.2
My Captivate will eventually get CM 6.0 I hope soon. Who knows, perhaps Sense 2.X will be ported too.
Oh, and lag-fix, overclocking and future color fix are other pluses.

Yeah you,re right. I switched both caps back to stock. I may want something more after Iget to know Android more and find areal need rather than.
do something just because it can be done
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I897 using Tapatalk

Tips and Help for a Beginner please?

Hey guys, I literally just got my Samsung Galaxy S a few days ago, and I never realized how good Android really was until stepping away from iOS - now, I used to jailbreak my iPhone, and I've heard that I can root/lagfix my Galaxy S.
I'm REALLY stuck at what to do, there's threads on how to do it on here, I fully understand that but most of them are completely outdated and I'm not sure whether to trust it. I'm alright with ROM's, I'm not entirely interested in Custom ROM's as per say, but I'm interested in rooting and getting rid of the lag via the Voodoo Lag Fix.
I got as far as downloading z4root, and putting it on my phone ready to install, but I thought to myself, I don't have a clue what I'm doing after I permanently root it. I came to ask some questions.
Why should I root my phone?
Voodoo Lag Fix, it's not on the Market anymore, where would I get that from and install it for my current version?
Custom ROM's are they safe and what is the advantage of doing so?
I'm in the UK and I know that Samsung are releasing 2.3 Gingerbread onto all Galaxy S devices by the end of March, so I'm not sure if it's worth waiting for that?
Any tips, or how to suggestions would be much appreciated!
Many Thanks in advance.

Anybody at all? =/

There are already loads of threads on the benefits of root vs no root, use the search function.
The voodoo lagfix is now a complete custom kernel.
It is a really good kernel and i can't say anything negative about it.
Rooting is not permanent either, it can be undone.
The advantage of custom roms is total customisation.
New versions of android are usually available as custom roms alot earlier as the official rom releases from samsung.
You could instal just a new kernel (like voodoo's) which will increase performance, or a whole new rom if you find something you like. Just take a look at the development forums. Roms from the kitchen are nice, or darkys rom.
My suggestion would be to read this and flash voodoo's kernel.
After you have done that you have increased performance, can easily get root through a market app and also you will have clockworkmod recovery (CWM).
CWM is basicly needed to get custom roms, or change themes etc.
You would basicly be good to go for anything
Maybe also read some of the threads here and make sure your 3Button downloadmode is working.

is it or is it not safe to root the TB?

i just for the TB today. i returned my X2 which was laggy and im happy with the TB. i see all kinds of posts bout how people are bricking there phones so i would like to ask all of you,
is it safe to root and install a custom rom? if so what is the safest way to do so?
Thanks so much...

Its all up to you if you feel comfortable rooting your phone or not, there will always be some inherent risk involved.
I have mine rooted and I have had no problems with it and thoroughly enjoy it.
Follow JCase's root method that's stickied in the development section if you choose to root.
A lot of the concern about bricking is from the leaked GB radio that some people are using so you could always stick with Froyo if you want to avoid that risk.

I rooted my Thunderbolt after I had it for a week. The first week being unrooted was terrible. The battery life was horrible, and I contemplated returning it for an iphone.
Then I rooted, which was easy as long as you follow the directions posted in the threads. Now I can easily get a full day of use with my stock battery... off the charger for 17+ hours with 4G, bluetooth and wifi always enabled, and GPS enabled sporadically.
I'd say read up on the root process. Then read up on different roms. I use Das BAMF 1.7, and Imoseyon's 2.6 lean kernel. If you determine that root isn't for you, there's easy ways to unroot.

It's not the rooting process that is bricking phones. Rooting is perfectly safe, as long as you follow the steps. The bricks have occurred after flashing the recent Gingerbread leak. If you stick with a Froyo-based rom, you will be fine.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

sublimaze said:
It's not the rooting process that is bricking phones. Rooting is perfectly safe, as long as you follow the steps. The bricks have occurred after flashing the recent Gingerbread leak. If you stick with a Froyo-based rom, you will be fine.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That was also always my undertsanding, that all rooting does is give you permissions that would normally not be available. What you choose to do with those permissions once you have root is the risky part.

sublimaze said:
It's not the rooting process that is bricking phones. Rooting is perfectly safe, as long as you follow the steps. The bricks have occurred after flashing the recent Gingerbread leak. If you stick with a Froyo-based rom, you will be fine.
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Mine was one of the few that did brick and I had to send it off for 2 weeks before it was replaced.
The first thing I did when I got home with my new Thunderbolt was root it and flash a Froyo ROM.

@bp328i
But you were running the leaked GB for a few days prior to bricking, right?
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App

sublimaze said:
@bp328i
But you were running the leaked GB for a few days prior to bricking, right?
Sent from my ADR6400L using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was running the leaked GB when my Thunderbolt bricked.
I meant to quote the OP just to let him/her know it IS safe to root.
I just got my new Thunderbolt a few days ago and the first thing I did with it was root it, and this was after my first one bricked.

As someone who bought a TB a week after it came out, screwed up my first root attempt, got it the second time after "unrooting" and has since loaded a ton of different ROMs, radios, and kernels, I can safely say you have nothing to worry about.
As long as you're following the instructions, that is. Can't account for human error, after all

All these bricked phones are being bricked by people who flashed the newest leaked gingerbread (gb) radio onto their devices in order to run the leaked gb rom. Even flashing the newest gb rom+radio didn't mean your device was going to be bricked to sure, it was just a few whos were bricked. If perfectly safe to root as long as you follow instruction and I don't see anything risky about installing apps with any permissions as long as you get the app is from a creditable market place.
The long way of rooting seems easy for me all I did was get adb running and copy pasted the commands on the command prompt.

Yep. Definitely safe as long as you follow the directions and stay away from the Gingerbread radios.
I rooted mine two weeks after I got it. Hubby finally caved and let me root his after seeing the differences.
Grab you an md5 checker and give it a shot!

thanks everyone for your help...i appreicate it.
i am rooting it now!
what radio should i stay away from as far as causing the reboots?

Rooting your thunderbolt will cause a mass alien invasion over the city of Los Angeles.
Sent from my ThunderBolt using XDA App

What everyone else said there is some risk(minisule) if you stick with froyo you should be fine, if you end up with the reboot problem post rooting flash the radios to the old versions and your tb life will be much more sweet.

dvigue said:
thanks everyone for your help...i appreicate it.
i am rooting it now!
what radio should i stay away from as far as causing the reboots?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The gingerbread radio. Any froyo rom will be good to go.

rooted and flashed a new kernel with no issues thus far.yay.

Couple questions. First, which is the easiest and safest root method? Droid 2 rooting was a simple one-click affair. I see lots of methods around, including automated, one-click roots. Jcase's post ([ROOT] MR1/OTA PermRoot + Unlock Bootloader - Safer/Easier 5/12/2011) looks pretty complicated. Is this the one I should do?
Second, I am really tempted to flash a gingerbread rom (th3ory b1.7), and I've flashed several GB roms to my droid 2 before recently getting the TB. If I carefully follow the instructions in the threads, am I pretty safe, or is the GB radio thing still pretty risky?

timp123 said:
Couple questions. First, which is the easiest and safest root method? Droid 2 rooting was a simple one-click affair. I see lots of methods around, including automated, one-click roots. Jcase's post ([ROOT] MR1/OTA PermRoot + Unlock Bootloader - Safer/Easier 5/12/2011) looks pretty complicated. Is this the one I should do?
Second, I am really tempted to flash a gingerbread rom (th3ory b1.7), and I've flashed several GB roms to my droid 2 before recently getting the TB. If I carefully follow the instructions in the threads, am I pretty safe, or is the GB radio thing still pretty risky?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. The easiest is the one-click method. However, if you are not familiar with adb, I highly recommend doing it the way described in jcase's thread. That way you get experience with adb. Anyone even considering rooting needs to know basic adb commands.
2. To my knowledge, there have been no bricks with the GB radio posted here. But remember there are no 100% guarantees when rooting/flashing your phone. Good luck

wish people would stop blaming the radio,my first bolt bricket on stock froyo after the first ota update,never had gingerbread on it. as far as rooting goes if you eant the phone to work to itd potential you need to root it and flash a custom rom that or wait tol vzw and htc decide to update it to gingerbread or even icecream for that matter
sent via my bamfed out tbolt

I have a Evo 4g with 2.2, Whats the best/easiest way to root?

I've just recently registered but have been lurking for a while and doing a lot of reading. I've seen there are a bunch of different options for rooting a evo. Also seems like there's a lot of out dated ways to root as well. I'm still new to this and have some questions. Looking to have full root access. As far as I understand it, I will need to run a rom after rooting the device? Will I still be able to receive sprint updates as need once I root? My main reasons for rooting is for the wifi teether, maybe overclocking to speed it up a little bit and to remove the factory sprint apps. I did have a friend tell me that once his buddy rooted his evo he noticed his battery life was a lot better. Anyone experience that? What other info do I need to provide you? Thanks
Update: Was running 2.2 froyo till my phone just did the 2.3 gingerbread update and now my internet doesn't work. Is there any way to root now or am I screwed and have to deal with sprint?

You don't need to flash a rom after rooting but you definitely can. As far as updating, I'm not 100% sure about sprint, but I think you need to be stock to receive an OTA update. For rooting your device, use unrevoked, its an incredibly simple one click root program.

Unrevoked is the quick and easy way to root. Once rooted you WILL NOT get Sprint updates. If you get your 2.3 Sprint update and apply it you WON'T be able to root.
You can run stock 2.2 Android with Sense rooted and not load any ROMs. I do not know if you'll be able to wifi tether by only being rooted. I do know that there are several ROMs that have Android 2.3 Gingerbread and have wifi tether working so if you do root your 2.2 install Amon_Ra recovery then flash Cyanogen Mod 7. Instructions are on his Wiki which I can't post a link to since I'm new forum user here.

k_nivesout said:
You don't need to flash a rom after rooting but you definitely can. As far as updating, I'm not 100% sure about sprint, but I think you need to be stock to receive an OTA update. For rooting your device, use unrevoked, its an incredibly simple one click root program.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Should I even worry about the OTA updates then?

Making sure I understand all this rooting stuff

Hi, I am waiting for my HTC Sensation to arrive from eBay. New to android and have been reading about rooting. Just want to make sure I am getting this clear:
So, to root, I'll need to to the S-off thing with revolution, then clockwork recovery, then SU to actually root it right?
I am not sure whether I need to root it, but I am interested in unlocking it for SIM and I read there's a way to do it if the phone is rooted. Also, I probably don't need some of the T-mobile apps and want to delete it. However, do I have necessarily have to flash a custom ROM after I rooted it? Can I just use what came with the HTC?
However, if I do this, I guess I can't update through HTC/T-mobile anymore right? So I'll have to flash some ROM, but does it have some modify ROM, or can I use the ROM that's official from HTC?
Can someone please correct me if I misunderstood the process? And also, can I reverse all this if I decide I just want to use it the way it was shipped except simunlocked, and be able to update newer version of the OS from HTC.
Thanks

Sensation rooting
I was just like you about a month and half ago. im new to android aslo but i'll help you. first- your right about using the revolutionary method and installing clockwork and super user. as for unlocking it for a SIM you might need super cid check this out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
to remove some tmobile apps use titanium backup (it's in the market)
As for roms im using stock but it's rooted. but before you root please update to 2.3.4 because it really improve your phone but yes you would have to flash update roms after you root. but you can find the official one's here if you look for them as soon as they come out.

pretty much yes to your questions...even if you root you can stay with your stock rom and just use titanium backup to delete all the junk u dont want. Also, even if you cant get updates officially, devs here are nice enuf to post the newest stock roms for you to flash so dont worry. so i suggest you read these three threads to start off and have fun (just read directions very carefully)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1137311
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1232107
edit: ah, i guess someone else was replying too

darryll4sh0 said:
I was just like you about a month and half ago. im new to android aslo but i'll help you. first- your right about using the revolutionary method and installing clockwork and super user. as for unlocking it for a SIM you might need super cid check this out http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1192300
to remove some tmobile apps use titanium backup (it's in the market)
As for roms im using stock but it's rooted. but before you root please update to 2.3.4 because it really improve your phone but yes you would have to flash update roms after you root. but you can find the official one's here if you look for them as soon as they come out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the quick reply. So I can only remove some t-mobile apps if it's rooted right? I was thinking of updating to the newest version before considering rooting. I think I will be kinda in the same situation as you....so when you say stock rooted rom...it's basically the same ROM as what t-mobile has with SENSE etc...but can be apply to a rooted phone without losing root right?
Finally, since you're not using any custom ROM and stuff... do u find it worthwhile rooting? what other advantage have you notice if you're using the stock ROM?
Thanks again!

rooting sensation
My rom is the same one that comes when you first get the phone. the only expectation is that it's updated to 2.3.4 instead of 2.3.3 and that it's rooted. When you root imagine like it's a window's pc and instead of using the guest account where stuff is limited, your now able to use the administrator account which lets you do anything.
As for advantages, i wanted to improve it's speed and battery life. the update helps but you'll find out that tmobile has alot of apps running in the background which slows it down and uses more battery and they also included useless app or two of the same kind of app. Right now im looking at other roms because im kinda tired of sense but i wish i could keep it's widgets.

darryll4sh0 said:
My rom is the same one that comes when you first get the phone. the only expectation is that it's updated to 2.3.4 instead of 2.3.3 and that it's rooted. When you root imagine like it's a window's pc and instead of using the guest account where stuff is limited, your now able to use the administrator account which lets you do anything.
As for advantages, i wanted to improve it's speed and battery life. the update helps but you'll find out that tmobile has alot of apps running in the background which slows it down and uses more battery and they also included useless app or two of the same kind of app. Right now im looking at other roms because im kinda tired of sense but i wish i could keep it's widgets.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great. I think I'll just stick with the 2.3.4 firmware for now before considering flashing any custom ROMs etc.
So just so I am clear, I should update the unrooted phone to 2.3.4 when I get it. then I can perform the S-off, clockwork, superuser to get it rooted and just leave it as it is and use the existing ROM as it came with the phone. Until I need to update to a higher version, I will then flash a rooted version of whatever t-mobile came out with from here. Is that the deal?
Finally, what's superCID? Do I need that?
Thanks again.. you guys been a great help! I can't wait to play around with this when I get the phone this weekend

Rooting
Yep your correct....
As for super CID is something like a carrier unlock. This has something to do with updates i think. but by adding this you can flash any carrier's rom onto your phone. for example vodafone and orange are both 2 different europe phone companies and they both include different apps on their roms just like tmobile give there special apps. With super-CID you can put anyone of those carries rom on you phone regardless if it's a europe, usa, or asia sensation. but you don't need- i haven't put it on either.