Rooting/Unlocking Process - General Questions and Answers

Hello guys,
I have always admired the ingenious hackers/developers here at XDA that unlock/root phones. My question is how is it done? when you get a phone/tablet on day one that has not been rooted and custom roms flashed onto it, how do you root it and build a custom rom with all the drivers when they are not opensourced? I realize I am asking a very broad question here and that this is by no means a step by step process, so if you would be kind enough to give me a basic description of the tools used, some helpful articles that I could learn from, or even the process you used for a previous phone that has been unlocked I would be very grateful. I would very much like to join the numbers of people decrypting bootloaders and rooting phones with you guys.

+1. I am similiarly intrigued as well, such as the building of kernels, the writing of the shell and stuff like that

Related

[Q] To Root or Not to Root??

Hi, I am not very tech saavy and so I am hoping that I can get some good advice from people who are more techy than me. I hear alot about rooting for android devices but I'm not too sure of exactly what rooting is other than I understand that there are certain capabilities that you can't do unless your phone or android device is rooted. In my case I have a Galaxy Tab, I would like to be able to have a back up feature but I keep on coming across the phrasing that the device must be rooted first. I looked up a couple of websites to find out exactly what rooting means and they mention the pros of rooting, but I am wondering what the cons are and if it is really necessary for me to root my device or is this something that is meant more for the "advanced" users who may be using their devices for more serious persuits vs. the casual user who just likes to play here and there...I really hope that what I am trying to say makes sense to all you out there! So in a nutshell, I guess what I'd really like is a breakdown of the pros and cons of rooting your device and when and when NOT to do it...Thank you all for your thoughts!
It's up to the user to decide whether there is a function they need, that they can only get through gaining root access to the phone. It could be that you want to alter the appearance of your phone beyond what is normally possible, or there are features included in a custom ROM that you would like to have.
You mentioned wanting the ability to backup your phone and there's no better way than to root and flash a custom recovery to achieve that. With that done you can image your phone state to your SD card so that it can be restored in it's entirety any time you wish. (Nandroid Backup).
There are also apps that can only work with a rooted device which can give you more advanced control over your device. One example is Rom Manager which is commonly used to flash custom recoveries and ROMS to your phone, and gives you an easy way to manage your Nandroid backups. Of course there are many others.
Thanks to the hard working devs on xda it's never been easier to do all these things. If you want to learn more i would suggest having a look at SuperOneClick and Rom Manager and reading the appropriate threads. Browse through guides and ask questions when you want to know more.
Hope that helps.
BTW, the only 'cons' to rooting and having a custom recovery is that you lose the ability to receive official over the air updates while your phone is in that state. Restore the Nandroid backup you made of your stock ROM though and you can re-gain that ability. I suppose the biggest 'con' of all is people not doing their research and ending up with a non-functioning device when something goes wrong. As always, RTFM!

Rooting the Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000?

Hi there,
I am a new user to an Android Device (Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000); before that I always had a Windows Mobile phone, and I must say now that I am very content with my new device and it's new software. Android works really smooth!
Also, I learned that there is a lot of software to be used on an Android Device, but then your device needs to be rooted first. Now, this is what I would very much like to know...
Is rooting my device a safe procedure?
After rooting my device, am I still able then (if so wished) to restore it back to it's factory settings?
Are there any risks involved?
What about my warranty?
Why should I, or should I NOT, start rooting my device?
What rooting procedure should you suggest to me?
In a way, I am very eager to start rooting my device, but on the other hand I find it a bit scary...
Could you please help me out here?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you!
Robert,
Netherlands.
1. Safe if you know what you're doing.
2. Yes you can revert back to stock
3. You can soft/hard brick your phone if you aren't careful
4. Warranty will be void
4. You should root your phone since you can put custom roms on it, wifi hotspot, debloat your phone. Shouldn't root listed above.
5. follow the link below in order to root.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329360
PakAttack1994 said:
1. Safe if you know what you're doing.
2. Yes you can revert back to stock
3. You can soft/hard brick your phone if you aren't careful
4. Warranty will be void
4. You should root your phone since you can put custom roms on it, wifi hotspot, debloat your phone. Shouldn't root listed above.
5. follow the link below in order to root.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329360
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply. It all "looks" very easy, although I have a few questions left...
Regarding:
1. "Safe if you know what you're doing." - Do you mean by that: just follow the steps?
3. "You can soft/hard brick your phone if you aren't careful." - What IS a "soft/hard brick" of your phone. In what way then, should I be careful?
Maybe it is NOT fair of me to ask you, also, it seems to me that you are very familiar with it, but would you recommend a novice like me (in this case) to root his new phone, less then a month old, considering the "risks", if there are any, in view of the possible advantages I might find with a rooted phone?
Robert,
Netherlands
Well I'm sure most of the case, people end up soft or hard bricking their phone because they havent read the directions over and over again and get a little too ambitious. Soft bricking is recoverable but when you flash an incorrect rom or kernel, basically keeps boot looping I think. But you can still get into fastboot or recovery. Hard brick is when your phone won't turn on after messing around with the bootloader or something. Sorry, I can't really explain the technical stuff myself as I'm still learning. I'm familiar with rooting and flashing roms on several phones but I don't know if I would say I'm "very familiar" with it. If you're going to be rooting phones often, then I would suggest you learn the steps involved but I mean if this is gonna be the only phone you root and you're not confident in yourself, then I would suggest either a) get it done by someone who knows what they are doing, b) buy one thats already rooted.
OK, thank you for your honest reply. I'll surely take this into consideration. For now, I think, I'll keep my phone the way it is right now - it's doing just fine...
Still, if anyone, with maybe more experience in rooting phones, would like to reply to this thread, I would not mind at all.
Thank you!
Robert,
Netherlands
hi everyone..
i m new to dis forum..
i own galaxy note with updated firmware(gingerbread 2.3.6ddlb2)..
i want to know how can i root it with super one click..
and what is the process to unroot it as well..
please reply...
read the following thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1329360
I was looking for a definite answer as well, as to whether it is safe or not and if so which method, not looking to read several reams of posts that mean little to me. I have read that Samsung chips are defective and rooting the two offered methods on this site are dangerous. So no developments in the past 3-4 months? If so I would have expected a split thread for this from the other ones...either way. Have no time to read filler on forums from end users.
I've rooted phones before all without any issues and always find having to read through forums posts are fruitless endeavors, easier to just do it. But this phone is someone else's and I need to ensure I HAVE A LITTLE MORE RESPONSIBILITY HERE.
I only want to root their phone and nothing more, so they can take control of their security.
Ropie58 said:
Hi there,
I am a new user to an Android Device (Samsung Galaxy Note GT-N7000); before that I always had a Windows Mobile phone, and I must say now that I am very content with my new device and it's new software. Android works really smooth!
Also, I learned that there is a lot of software to be used on an Android Device, but then your device needs to be rooted first. Now, this is what I would very much like to know...
Is rooting my device a safe procedure?
After rooting my device, am I still able then (if so wished) to restore it back to it's factory settings?
Are there any risks involved?
What about my warranty?
Why should I, or should I NOT, start rooting my device?
What rooting procedure should you suggest to me?
In a way, I am very eager to start rooting my device, but on the other hand I find it a bit scary...
Could you please help me out here?
Hope to hear from you soon.
Thank you!
Robert,
Netherlands.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CAPTCHA codes suck!
What is with Capthca codes?
Just to let people know I have tried to root using one click method and it failed! No harm to phone but ineffective. The one posted at addictivetips. I never have had a one click method for for me to date, in all years at rooting phones. So anyone that can verify for me a method that does work, I will be grateful. A step by step guide, do not care how many steps or how much I have to type in! Just something that works without fail.
TY :angel:
Hates Captcha codes...use a different method.
&
The following errors occurred with your submission:
To prevent spam to the forums, new users must wait five minutes between posts. All new user accounts will be verified by moderators before this restriction is removed.
Not posting on this forum again. Have better things to do than have this hassle! Bye! Good riddance to me from XDA and from me to XDA forums!
Rooting Galaxy Note GT-N7000 with KK7
Hello Guys,
I'm not knew to root. Did it twice but that was on Galaxy S3's. The Note is not as easy.
The 3rd Droid needs to be rooted, because the carrier has no upgrade from GB 2.3.6!
Also, this Note is SIM locked, can I root with it? I do not find an online site to unlock my Carrier. Tried them all.
I searched all over this site for days but do not find a CF-Root for this kernel, KK7
Hope you can point me in the correct direction.
Here is all the info from my phone:
PDA: N7000UBKK7
PHONE: N7000WEKK1
CSC: N7000UWEKK1
Thanks, you guys are doing a great job!

Root + Custom Roms

I'm sure this has been breached before, but searching for a question that involves keywords of root and ROM are really tricky.
Preface, does rooting a device make it less secure? Based on my understanding of root and having used the privileges in linux on occasion I'm lead to believe the answer is absolutely. I would love to hear someone more educated on the subject confirm for me though and maybe expend a little.
Following that, if the answer is yes, once you flash a ROM onto the phone, can you "un-root" the phone while keeping the ROM? I'd appreciate any input. I'm just starting to scratch the surface in regards to security on Android. Thank you!
For both questions, yes.
Edit: consider that a custom rom might patch some security issues while creating others. Depends on the rom.

[Completed] Step by step root guide?

I have an HTC droid incredible 4glte and i'm interested in rooting it and/or installing cyanogen on it, since it's already past its warranty. i've done a fair amount of reading about rooting and whatnot on this site and others, but i don't feel i know enough to get started w/o bricking my device or loosing data that i want to keep.
I have no software downloaded on my computer pertaining to my phone, and i've not actually done anything to my phone either: everything is stock.
is there a list of instructions somewhere that can guide me step by step (or more accurately, click by click... i really don't want to screw up my phone, especially since i'm not sure i'd know how to fix it) through rooting my phone beginning to end?
also, is there somewhere/someone who can answer these questions:
1. do i have to have a custom recovery if i'm rooting/flashing a new ROM?
2. what does the stock recovery do that's different from a custom one?
3. most importantly, can i root my phone and keep the stock OS/other stuff?
a million thanks to anyone who can answer these questions!
Hello,
Well I am giving you a link to an "index" thread. What it contains are links and guides to anything you need for that device. You will be required to do some reading and research on your own. Xda assist is for helping you find your way.
Look here
Good luck

[Completed] Question About Rooting As A Beginner And With A Mac

Hello,
I hope you are doing well!
I am looking to be pointed in the right direction as someone who is brand new to rooting and has done some research but is still confused by the process.
I am looking to improve the performance of my Samsung Galaxy S 5. I researched a little about rooting and came across Cyanogenmod. Essentially, I'm looking to install it on my phone, however getting from point A, having a basic phone, to point B, having a rooted phone with Cyanogenmod, has been a little trickier than I thought. I am stuck honestly. I apologize for not knowing essentially anything. I stayed up all night trying to figure this out and it seems every website has a different set of instructions and they have their own complexities, for example, many of them are for Windows, and I could not find any for Mac users. Is there one reliable set of instructions you know that are best suited for someone who has never rooted before?
From my understanding, I first need to root my phone, flash it, and install Cyanogenmod. This all seems much easier than it looks. To me at least. I came across a rooting tool, which I believe is developed by XDA, called CF-Auto-Root. The only problem is it requires you to install another program called Odin which is only for Windows users.
Basically, is there a guide out there that explains step by step how to root, flash, and install ROMs AND that is Mac friendly?
Another question I have is about the pre-loaded google apps that come with the phone. As I understand, once I run or boot from Cyanogenmod, I won't have any of the google apps, meaning I will not have the Play Store installed. There is a GApps pack that comes with many of the google apps which can also be installed using the recovery menu. Is this difficult?
Thank you for your patience and your help in advance! I really tried to avoid going to forums because I know people get tired and frustrated when new people post questions without researching. I feel I have all the research done, I know what I need to do, I just do not know how. Most guides are dependent on the user having preexisting knowledge about rooting, which I do not have.
Here are my phone specs:
Samsung Galaxy S5 T-Mobile
Model Number: SM-G900T3
Android Version: 6.0.1
Build Number: MMB29.G900T3UVS3GPI1
I want to do the heavy lifting, just please show me the way!
Thanks again!
RansomRenso said:
Hello,
I hope you are doing well!
I am looking to be pointed in the right direction as someone who is brand new to rooting and has done some research but is still confused by the process.
I am looking to improve the performance of my Samsung Galaxy S 5. I researched a little about rooting and came across Cyanogenmod. Essentially, I'm looking to install it on my phone, however getting from point A, having a basic phone, to point B, having a rooted phone with Cyanogenmod, has been a little trickier than I thought. I am stuck honestly. I apologize for not knowing essentially anything. I stayed up all night trying to figure this out and it seems every website has a different set of instructions and they have their own complexities, for example, many of them are for Windows, and I could not find any for Mac users. Is there one reliable set of instructions you know that are best suited for someone who has never rooted before?
From my understanding, I first need to root my phone, flash it, and install Cyanogenmod. This all seems much easier than it looks. To me at least. I came across a rooting tool, which I believe is developed by XDA, called CF-Auto-Root. The only problem is it requires you to install another program called Odin which is only for Windows users.
Basically, is there a guide out there that explains step by step how to root, flash, and install ROMs AND that is Mac friendly?
Another question I have is about the pre-loaded google apps that come with the phone. As I understand, once I run or boot from Cyanogenmod, I won't have any of the google apps, meaning I will not have the Play Store installed. There is a GApps pack that comes with many of the google apps which can also be installed using the recovery menu. Is this difficult?
Thank you for your patience and your help in advance! I really tried to avoid going to forums because I know people get tired and frustrated when new people post questions without researching. I feel I have all the research done, I know what I need to do, I just do not know how. Most guides are dependent on the user having preexisting knowledge about rooting, which I do not have.
Here are my phone specs:
Samsung Galaxy S5 T-Mobile
Model Number: SM-G900T3
Android Version: 6.0.1
Build Number: MMB29.G900T3UVS3GPI1
I want to do the heavy lifting, just please show me the way!
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Greetings and welcome to xda. First of all most custom roms are pre rooted so you just need to install a custom recovery like twrp then use this to flash your custom rom. All CM based roms will also provide a link to a google apps package which you install in the same way as the custom rom (flashing through recovery). Installing a custom recovery is slightly more complicated with a mac than windows pc as you will need to use heilmdall but once you have your custom recovery installed everything else can be done through the phone.
Anyway if you ask your questions here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/help
the experts there will be able to guide you
Good Luck
Sawdoctor
sawdoctor said:
Greetings and welcome to xda. First of all most custom roms are pre rooted so you just need to install a custom recovery like twrp then use this to flash your custom rom. All CM based roms will also provide a link to a google apps package which you install in the same way as the custom rom (flashing through recovery). Installing a custom recovery is slightly more complicated with a mac than windows pc as you will need to use heilmdall but once you have your custom recovery installed everything else can be done through the phone.
Anyway if you ask your questions here
http://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-s5/help
the experts there will be able to guide you
Good Luck
Sawdoctor
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much!!!
I will head over there and post my question.
Thanks again!
RansomRenso said:
Thank you so much!!!
I will head over there and post my question.
Thanks again!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any time :good::good: If there is anything that you are unsure with don't hesitate to ask

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