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Rom flashing on a Mac

Has anyone ever tried to flash a rom or develop a rom that can be flashed by a Mac? I have Missing sync to sync my Tilt and to download .cabs and .exe's.
Works great by the way. I have flashed several roms from Windows XP on the " other side " of my Intel chip, so no problem there. Just wondering can it be done from the Mac side? And has anyone done it?
I have been using Macs and Apples for over 25 years ( started with Apple IIc) and never once had the urge to switch so comments from the "Apple Bashers" will mean nothing to me
Just curious.

no i'm not going bash apple but i haven't come across anything for mac and i believe the kaisercustomruu.exe can only be run only on windows

I have successfully flashed my Tilt using a Parallels install of XP Pro. Of course that requires an Intel Mac to accomplish...

NotATreoFan said:
I have successfully flashed my Tilt using a Parallels install of XP Pro. Of course that requires an Intel Mac to accomplish...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have flashed several roms using both Parallels and Bootcamp on the other side of my Intel/Mac chip and .exe file will not run on OS X but is it possible to create a rom using say a .dmg package instead of an .exe package?

The problem is far beyond the fact that the package is in exe the tools to actually flash the rom are windows only

I'd just flash from the MicroSD card.
Read here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=336158

AstainHellbring said:
The problem is far beyond the fact that the package is in exe the tools to actually flash the rom are windows only
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Obviously you can't just re-package under a different file extension. What " tools " are you refering to? Kitchen tools? Again just re-packaging. Leopard can run on an intel chip. Word, Excel, etc, can run natively on a Mac. Can you put together a rom or write one from scratch that can be downloaded natively to a Mac and then flashed to a Kaiser? Even theoretically?

You can use whatever OS you want... Just do what Peterfnet suggested... Use the SD card method... It's safer and easier.
Just follow the link provided by Peterfnet!

Rayan said:
You can use whatever OS you want... Just do what Peterfnet suggested... Use the SD card method... It's safer and easier.
Just follow the link provided by Peterfnet!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It wasn't a "how do I flash a rom question " , I press a button and my screen twirls from OS X Leopard to Windows XP , I flash a new rom, press another button and my screen twirls back to Leopard and all my Mac apps. ( new Intel Chip for Mac)
The question was " what do the knowledgeable people here think? " Are there limitations of computer science that would prevent this or just limitations of available ground work that I could create?
Edit: I re-read this post and it sound kind of terse, I didn't meanit that way.
Thanks for your input Rayan

I see no reason why it would not be possible to flash a ROM natively inside Mac OS. But in order to do so, the flashing application written by HTC would need to be recoded to run on Mac.
If you extract the .exe file that is inside the rar file posted by the chefs here, you will see 5-10 files, one of which is the OS.nbh file. If you can write a program for Mac OS that can communicate with the Kaiser and call that file, then it would be possible. (DISCLAIMER: I am NOT a programmer, so it is a definite possibility that I could be talking out of my ass.)
Since flashing is not yet available to Linux users, then Mac is probably still a bit off.

peterfnet said:
I'd just flash from the MicroSD card.
Read here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=336158
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
best option all around

Well, ever since I discovered the SD Card method I don't flash it through the PC anymore... No more fears of freezing up, power failures and such!
In fact, I carry several "test" ROMS in my card just to install them on the go whenever I'm bored! LOL...

Here's an answer from someone who is paid to write software....
You're correct there is no technical reason that you can't flash your phone from a Mac OS.
Basically the whole process is a few commands & responses sent across the USB port and then the nbh image streamed via the port to the waiting device.
Here's the bind: Microsoft is well known for not working well with others. Why would they be motivated to provide non-MS OS the ability to flash "Windows Mobile"? It's kind of like iTunes being able to integrate with non-iPod MP3 players as well as it works with iPods (or so I've heard).

Thanks all , it looks like I have my next project. Thanks for all your input. peterfnet and Rayan thanks when HTC comes out with their new rom update and new driver package at the end of the month I'm going the card method for a change.

[Q] 1 Click Root for Mac OS X?

Is there a 1 Click Root for Mac OS X? I want to Root, S-OFF, and Gold Card...

Get bootcamp
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

i will be trying to do this from a windows virtual machine on a macbook pro. ill let you know if it works. i see no reason it shouldnt

I had a go at it through Parallels on a Macbook and it worked smoothly.

wats parallels

Moved to general as not android dev.

I did the hack kit using terminal commands. install android sdk for mac and everything else is just step by step in the hack kit. there's a gold card app on the market too.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

g4ess said:
wats parallels
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It runs Windows in a windowed format through Mac OS as opposed to booting up in Windows like Boot Camp.

I actually ended up using the hack kit with terminal commands and adb. It was my first time rooting and i see the value of doing it this way. You gain more knowledge of what is happening with your phone. And if you have a mac with out a virtual windows machine then I want to recommend not being afraid of manual rooting.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

emarsha said:
I did the hack kit using terminal commands. install android sdk for mac and everything else is just step by step in the hack kit. there's a gold card app on the market too.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did the same thing the first time I rooted an Inspire. I believe I Still have the terminal output I saved (I was siked I got it to work - it was my first bit of rooting/terminal use ever). If it would help to see what I did, PM me.
EDIT: and Yes, above poster killersnowman is 100% correct. When you do it yourself you learn much more. When I first got my (first) inspire, I looked at the root instructions and they were WAY over my head. After just clicking around and browsing around on XDA, I felt like I was ready to tackle it after a few short days. Granted, it took me probably around three hours of trial, error, and asking for help from the incredibly helpful people on this board - but I got it! You can too.

I did the Simple Root running Windows XP in Parallels without a problem on my MacBook Pro. Now I am wanting to go back and redo the root with the Hack Kit to solve the HUSPA problem we simple root people are having but I am having a few problems with the terminal. For some reason I keep getting told HTC device is not found when I run the first command.
If anyone does use the hack kit on a mac and figures this out please let me know. The Mac users are the minority with Android so we need to stick together a bit here. I still am yet to find a good set of directions on how to "use" the terminal. When the Hack Kit directions start with "navigate to the folder" I have to assume I am doing things right by typing in the file path.
If you did pull it off and are willing to do a screen capture of your terminal that would be pretty great too.

bmolloy said:
I did the Simple Root running Windows XP in Parallels without a problem on my MacBook Pro. Now I am wanting to go back and redo the root with the Hack Kit to solve the HUSPA problem we simple root people are having but I am having a few problems with the terminal. For some reason I keep getting told HTC device is not found when I run the first command.
If anyone does use the hack kit on a mac and figures this out please let me know. The Mac users are the minority with Android so we need to stick together a bit here. I still am yet to find a good set of directions on how to "use" the terminal. When the Hack Kit directions start with "navigate to the folder" I have to assume I am doing things right by typing in the file path.
If you did pull it off and are willing to do a screen capture of your terminal that would be pretty great too.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When navigating to a folder on a mac, in the terminal, the command is: cd
Then, I would try to do as little typing as necessary to avoid a mistake. I would put in the command cd and then from my finder, physically drag the folder I wanted to navigate to INTO the terminal window, which automatically puts the correct file path.
cd [drag the folder into the terminal window from finder] and voila! It really is pretty easy. Now that you know that, take another look at the directions and see if you think you can make your way through them.
The only mistake I kept running into which someone helped me out with was that I wasn't making the gold card correctly. When I put the command in to the terminal, I wasn't specifying the actual drive, I was specifying a partition on the drive, and the goldcard failed, but looked like it succeeded. 99.9% of the problems you can run into have to do with making an incorrect goldcard I believe.

I have been trying this without restoring to stock, running CM7. I continue to get the "Error detecting HTC phone on USB connection". I will probably restore to stock when I have more than 3 minutes of free time... So it might be a while!!!
If anyone pulls this off without being restored to stock or while running CM7 any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.

bmolloy said:
I have been trying this without restoring to stock, running CM7. I continue to get the "Error detecting HTC phone on USB connection". I will probably restore to stock when I have more than 3 minutes of free time... So it might be a while!!!
If anyone pulls this off without being restored to stock or while running CM7 any advice would be appreciated.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is usb debugging on? Is the phone connected but NOT in usb mass storage mode? Im not sure but i think cm7 gets rid of fasboot so i dont think you can turn it off
Also if you have cm7 installed then why do you want to root it again? Its already rooted. If you want a new rom the just use rom manager. But if you want to root again then you should restore to stock
Its from my damn phone!!!

Yes, I am set up with USB debugging on but for some reason it will still not recognize the phone, I am sure it has to do with the fact that I am not running a stock ROM.
The reason I want to root again is because I do not have HSUPA enabled because I rooted with the Simple Root, which flashes a stock radio on that does not allow for HSUPA. Using the Hack kit you end up with the right radio that allows you to have the faster upload speeds. I also want to do the hack kit so I can get a better understanding of terminal commands and adb. I have been never found a reason to use the terminal before so this is a nice new challenge.

Unlock Xoom on a Mac running Parallels

Hey folks -
I am a proud new owner of a Xoom, and would love to unlock and root it! I have had a Droid X for a while now, and while it is rooted, rommed and the rest, I have not dealt with a bootloader before. All I had to do was use Z4root and go from there, simple. I used a friend's PC at school to learn how to SBF if needed, and that's as far as I've gotten with Android.
I could really use help with unlocking the Xoom. I am running Parallels on my Mac (Windows XP Home) and am unsure how to go about installing Android SDK. Motorola Drivers I think I am all set, I've run the program and it says I'm up to date. With Android SDK, however, I downloaded the zip and it says there are no files to extract. I run the installer program for Android SDK, and it says I need Java JDK. I download Java JDK, and yet Android SDK installer program still says I don't have it.
I would really appreciate where to go from here, and I apologize if this has been covered somewhere else, but I did look around for quite a while and I don't want to do anything prematurely and mess up a $600 device. Again, apologies for my nOObness.
Thanks!

Sorry to bring this thread back from the dead, but I did exactly what you are talking about doing. Boot into your virtual machine and install all the sdk, moto drivers, and fastboot.
When connecting your xoom, enable USB debugging and make sure the usb device (when plugged in) is attached to your parallels machine only, it should give you an option when booting it up.
Everything works as normal, Parallels really has no drawbacks, just follow the root instructions as if you were doing it on a native machine.

I actually ended up just doing everything on my Mac natively, but thanks for the info! I think I was more confused on actually installing the SDK properly than anything else.

[Q] [ANDROID] ROOT HELP: Motorola Backflip with MAC OSX

Hello All:
I have had lots of fun learning from you guys and lurking. I have modified my homescreen and love running Go Launcher EX on my backflip. But now, I need more!
I have tried, without success, to root my Motorola Backflip on Mac. So I've come to the experts. I know its not the best android phone, but it's what I have until I am eligible for upgrade.
I have searched and found similar threads with no answers. Perhaps they were overlooked. I cannot use unrevoked because I own a Backflip.
Is there anyone here who has done it and can help? I would like to root, overclock and perhaps whatever the most stable Cyanogen rom is?
It is currently running the Motorola provided 2.1 upgrade with a few apps.
I am on Mac OSX 10.5
MB300
BLUR Version: 3.0.1390
Firmware. 2.1 -update1
Kernel: 2.6.29
Build number ERD70
I have downloaded ADB / SDK for Mac as well.
Thank you all, Any help is appreciated.

Surely one of the XDA geniuses has a solution to this...right?

Hey, I have neither the phone or a Mac but since I'm prepping to upgrade my friend's backflip from 1.5(!) to whatever the most stable rom is, this caught my attention.
I don't have any direct experience to offer you, but I have thought of a workaround to at least get you on a similar page as everyone else.
Your issue is that you have a Mac combined with a very unpopular phone so you really can't find simple easy solution to rooting and Rom(ing) your phone so I'm thinking that if you can switch your platform to something with universal instructions you can then go to the basics of using ADB to root your phone as I'm sure that there are guides for that.
So I'm thinking that you would use Ubuntu or an Ubuntu deriviative (as there are a few guides about achieving root and ADB through Ubuntu) and then find instructions for rooting your phone through ADB. It's a little bit of a workaround, but it's not as complicated as it sounds.
Best thing about this method is that you don't have to change anything to your computer as you can use a live CD or a Live USB to run Ubuntu from and then when you're done remove the disc or USB and reboot your computer and you're right back to your normal Mac experience.
First thing you'll need is to find an Ubuntu version that you want to use. I'd recommend 10.10 as 11.04 has some bugs from what I hear and instead of using Vanilla Ubuntu, use one of the skinned versions that come with lots of the visual and effective tasks already implemented (Sort of like HTC Sense over stock Android 1.6) I use Pinguy OS, click here for the review or a really popular version is Linux Mint.
Once that's done, look up instructions for using a Live CD on a Mac. Here's a Set
(You only need to do Step 2 & 3 once you download Linux Mint or Pinguy OS)
Now once you finally have Ubuntu/Pinguy/Linux Mint running,
review this Thread here on getting ADB set up for Ubuntu.
After that, you should be able to find instructions for rooting the Backflip using ADB and then you can play with Rom's to your hearts content.
Okay, I know this looks complicated but it's really pretty simple, it's more reading than actual work.
Read and learn about Ubuntu/Pinguy OS/Linux Mint
Download Version of your choice to a USB or a DVD
Boot into a Live version
Follow ADB in Ubuntu instructions to install it
Find out how to root your phone
Root Phone
Download Rom to root of card and install, enjoy and have fun.
Just remember that do all of your reading before you start, don't get confused about the different versions of Ubuntu because Ubuntu is just the basic not quite as pretty while Pinguy OS and Linux Mint are Ubuntu with some nice gloss and etc...and finally remember that nothing gets saved on your Live USB or Live CD so once you restart the computer, it's all gone so make sure you are rooted and satisfied before you exit the Session.
Once you get all the reading done and comprehended, it's probably not more than 15 minutes of work, if I wasn't in the process of moving, I'd follow the directions as best as I could to see how it works, but I probably won't be stable until next weekend at the earliest.
Good luck.

I thought about doind somethign like that but its just seemed like a REALLY roundabout way of doing something that looks so simple.
I will hold out for a more simple solution but if nothing comes up I guess that may be my only option...
Thanks

Sorry I couldn't come up with something that was more direct, but that was the only way I could think of to help you.
Why don't you try here? This Site is much more active for the Backflip and maybe you can get some better assistance.

i have a moto backflip rooted and running cyanogenMod 6 and it was a pain in the ass to root and have the rom put on. if you google "update motorola backflip 2.2" you should see something with the name "tech geek guy". he gives u step by step procedure to loading the rom. since we have a moto backflip, we cant use the z4root since the backflip doesnt allow outside market apps to be installed. but once u have this rom on your device, u can install outside apps. anyways. u have to use the one click method or watever its called. i used a pc and not a mac so this is as much info as i can give u. sorry.
GOOGLE DOES WONDERS PEOPLE. USE IT. : )

Rooting with Mac OSX? Heimdall?

Hi there,
I finally decided to root my Note Pro (P900), which is just 10 Days old (refurbished tho, so no warranty issues).
My Backstory (only read if you are bored
The main Reason for me is privacy. Coming from a Xiaomi Android Device with its excellent Permission Manager I was shocked at the Permissions some Apps require, that cannot be changed.
I did my research and tried a relatively unknown option named "Appguard". (Google actually removed it from the PlayStore after a short period of time, still available from their Website). This app was developed by a IT Professor at a german university with the help of his students. It allows to manage app permissions on the fly for installed apps and doesn't require root. However, this requires to reinstall the apps you want to monitor (no big deal) and it also allows apps to get PlayStore upgrades (great!). However as it functions without requiring root, there is no way to monitor system apps (including all the Samsung bloatware!).
I did further research and am now opting for the xPrivacy Plugin for the Xposed Framework.
This of course requires root to function. So here I am.
My device is a stock, unrooted P900 Wifi (32 GB) currently running 4.4.2 (KOT49H.P900XXUANI1). And, I'm on a Mac!
Bummer!
I understand that the current setup to gain easy root is using Odin on a windows machine (wich i dont have!)
I did some more research and found Heimdall. Its a multi platform tool that allows flashing Samsung devices.
Did anyone already try Heimdall and can maybe give me a hand on setting it up?
Does it even work with the P900?
Any other Methods rooting the P900 on Mac OSX?
Thanks a lot in advance!

For times when I need to use Odin I use windows in a VMWare virtual machine on my macbook. The VM image takes up precious SSD space on my rig though so when not in use I'll copy over the image to removable storage to free up space and then copy it back to the macbook when I need it.

Thank you for your reply.
Ive done some tinkering in the Meantime and it seems like at the moment there is no possibility for the P900 using Mac OSX.
There are actually two options (or one technique used by two programs). Both of them are open source, available for Windows, Linux and Mac and can be found on github.
One is Heimdall, which seems to work fine for older Samsung devices and actually uses a special kext to replace the samsung drivers on Mac OSX. It comes with a command line tool as well as a straight forward user interface.
The other one is JOdin3, a Java/Casual based program that can be used directly in the browser or downloaded and run as a java program. It also uses the Heimdall drivers, but offers a user Interface that looks and functions exactly like Odin, plus it inludes a "noob friendly" step by step process in the UI.
The problem is that the heimdall drivers are still having issues with newer samsung devices (including the note pro) preventing it to fetch the PIT file from the device.
As of now, April 23rd 2015 there is currently no way to root your device using Mac OSX
I'm currently downloading a virtual windows machine in virtualbox and will try to root that way.
I have no Windows license, but thanks to the Internet Explorer Team from Microsoft you can download already complete virtual Windows Enviroment for both OSX and Linux directly from the windows servers. For free!
Will report back once I rooted my device.

I successfully rooted my P900!
For those Mac Users out there interested:
I tried Virtualbox first, but it didn't work. I installed the exact same windows image (Win7 Enterprise) with VmWare Fusion and was able to detect my device using Odin with the latest official Samsung drivers.
I used Odin (v. 3.10.6) to flash TWRP Recovery (v. 2.8.6.0). You have to boot directly into recovery after flashing, otherwise the OS will revoke the custom recovery at the first boot.
I then used TWRP recovery to flash SuperSU (v. 2.46) from a USB Drive and made a full backup to the ext. SD card.
Currently downloading the Hyperdrive custom rom. Really looking forward to it.

Did you end up tripping KNOX?
Keep us posted on your progress.

KNOX will be tripped when you install a custom recovery via Odin.
So yes, my KN0X has been tripped.
I'm currently running the Hyper drive Rom with different kernels. Performance seems good and customization Options excellent. l have a problem with random shutdowns (not reboots), no matter what kernel l use.
Pretty sure It's related to the Rom setting/ Setup rather than root method. Some users of the Hyper drive Rom reported similar issues,' however l have to figure this out before university starts again on monday and i absolutely need the tablet for lecture.
If I dont find a solution for the shutdowns until sunday i might have to consider flashing stock + .Xposed