I think this thread needs to come about because of my pure hatred for people not understanding what root actually is. We have a nice clean forum and I would like to start a trend. I want people to know what ROOTING is and why when something 'doesnt work' its not because of 'root'
some of the complaints i have read across the boards:
I never had this problem before root
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said by people that are already running a custom rom. rooting had nothing to do with it
ever since I rooted, my data has been flaky
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rooting has no bearing on actual settings for data, apps, or configuration.
i rooted my phone, but i still cant do <insert random function here>
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you never installed the application to do that, or you never TOLD your phone to do that. some of this stuff requires a little bit of EFFORT to make it do what you want. rooting isnt some magical voodoo that takes care of itself.
i rooted my phone, but it still looks like the same OS/ROM
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rooting does NOT install a new OS for you. hell, installing a new OS doesnt even require ROOT on most phones. once you have an unlocked bootloader, you put a recovery on it, and do all your flashing through recovery. with a stock phone, unlocked bootloader, you can literally never even boot to the OS to flash a new rom on it.
i am having problems flashing this rom through CWM
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typical response from another user:
are you sure you are rooted? make sure you have debugging turned on
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ROOT has absolutely NOTHING to do with anything outside of the actual booted up OS. CWM happens before the OS loads, which means that debugging means F All as well.
what do i do, now that i rooted my phone?
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why did you root? rooting your phone should be done only because you have a PURPOSE for doing so. some application that you want to use that requires root, de-bloating, access to /system to poke around, etc. if you have to ask what to do after rooting, you never should have rooted.
This is a pretty good article covering many aspects of rooting
The first paragraph of that article sums it up pretty well:
Rooting your Android phone enables you to use the superuser, or root, permissions of the Linux-based operating system (OS). This gives you and apps that take advantage of the root permissions more control over the Android operating system and the device. Rooting can be entertaining for techies, but there are also plenty of practical benefits.
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The article is mainly geared toward using SuperOneClick to root, but that method doesnt work on 2.3.5+ as of yet. There is a pretty good list of applications there though.
rooting only applies WITHIN the OS itself. rooting only affects the OS. rooting does NOT make the phone self-aware. rooting doesnt awaken some hidden demon that will make your phone do magical things. its simply a way to get access to the 'administrator' account of the OS and utilize things that are locked out by manufacturers/carriers.
Sorry for the rant, folks. I just have a few pet peeves and people talking about root like its the 'root' of all their problems is one of them. it proves they have no idea what they are doing on their expensive toys. hacking a phone isnt childs play and people that dont want to understand it, have no business here. if you dont understand what you are doing to your phone, READ, UNDERSTAND, COMPREHEND. if you dont want to do those things, then STOP. STAY STOCK and move along, nothing to see here.
I forgot to mention that the entire rooting process only adds 2 files (really only one is NEEDED, the other you can get from the market)
/system/bin/su is added
/system/app/Superuser.apk is added (can be downloaded in market)
thats the root. ONE binary and ONE apk. nothing magical there.
the exploit that is needed is simply to allow a 'temporary' root so that the /system may be mounted as read/write and those 2 apps can be added. the exploit is the magical part.....lol
Thanks for posting this, should be stickied. Good read for the noobs.
sent from my Motorola Atrix 2 via Tapatalk
Related
Probably tons of questions like these, but I couldn't find the right answers, sorry.
1) What makes the Nexus S easier to root than other devices?
2) When you root, you can install custom roms. What else can you do with root acces?
3) Do you need root to overclock your device, and do you need a custom rom? I saw a video of the Nexus S overclocked to 1.3ghz, and it looked like a custom rom (boot screen was different).
4) Can you receive OTA-updates when rooted? And when having a custom rom installed? And when overclocked?
5) Do you need to root to install home screen replacements like Launcher Pro and ADW Launcher?
6) I saw that rooting 'wipes' all your data? What does that mean exactly?
Thanks in advance!
Androyed said:
Probably tons of questions like these, but I couldn't find the right answers, sorry.
1) What makes the Nexus S easier to root than other devices?
2) When you root, you can install custom roms. What else can you do with root acces?
3) Do you need root to overclock your device, and do you need a custom rom? I saw a video of the Nexus S overclocked to 1.3ghz, and it looked like a custom rom (boot screen was different).
4) Can you receive OTA-updates when rooted? And when having a custom rom installed? And when overclocked?
5) Do you need to root to install home screen replacements like Launcher Pro and ADW Launcher?
6) I saw that rooting 'wipes' all your data? What does that mean exactly?
Thanks in advance!
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1. Other devices rooting is quite an extensive process on the NS its just fastboot oem unlock and then flash a recovery and then a rom. Google isnt trying to lock you out
2.you can do just about anything that isnt allowed in stock, i know thats vague but true
3. yes you need root, custom rom no, custom kernel yea
4.you can receive OTA on stock rooted roms but it will remove root and replace recovery with stock, most roms remove the OTA ability so you dont lose root
5. no
6. what whipes your data is fastboot oem unlock it does this for security purposes and it does what it means gets rid of everything on the "SD card" and "internel memory" you can just copy stuff off the SD portion but as far as everything else like app data game saves and what have you your pretty SOL
So if you've rooted your device, you have to un-root it when a OTA-update comes, and then when you root it again, it will wipe all your data again?
A normal android user like me, would he have a good reason to root his/her device, or is just installing a homescreen replacement enough excitement?
This custom kernel, does it install more than just a different bootscreen? I am going to buy a Nexus S because there isn't messed with Android, but I am interested in overclocking so that I will not get jealous at other dual-core devices. If a custom kernel changes the interface, it is a no-go for me.
Rooting, is it like jailbraking on the iPhone/iPod Touch? All my friends have jailbroken their iPod's and iPhone's, so that they can download most apps for free and install other cool stuff. Is there a way (with or without rooting) to download apps for free on your Android?
^ This question is probably going to stay unanswered. I can say that I'm just asking, and that I will not use it, but then I would lie. I could also say that I haven't got that much money, but then I would also be lying. I could say that I don't have a creditcard, which is true, but there are a lot of creditcard 'simulators'. And I'm probably saying this all to pretend that I'm a super intellegent guy, so that you would think: 'Oh, he doesn't deny he is going to use it, he is smart, I will answer the question', but I'm not intelligent. And I probably said that out of self-pity, in the hope someone will answer the question.
Androyed said:
So if you've rooted your device, you have to un-root it when a OTA-update comes, and then when you root it again, it will wipe all your data again?
A normal android user like me, would he have a good reason to root his/her device, or is just installing a homescreen replacement enough excitement?
This custom kernel, does it install more than just a different bootscreen? I am going to buy a Nexus S because there isn't messed with Android, but I am interested in overclocking so that I will not get jealous at other dual-core devices. If a custom kernel changes the interface, it is a no-go for me.
Rooting, is it like jailbraking on the iPhone/iPod Touch? All my friends have jailbroken their iPod's and iPhone's, so that they can download most apps for free and install other cool stuff. Is there a way (with or without rooting) to download apps for free on your Android?
^ This question is probably going to stay unanswered. I can say that I'm just asking, and that I will not use it, but then I would lie. I could also say that I haven't got that much money, but then I would also be lying. I could say that I don't have a creditcard, which is true, but there are a lot of creditcard 'simulators'. And I'm probably saying this all to pretend that I'm a super intellegent guy, so that you would think: 'Oh, he doesn't deny he is going to use it, he is smart, I will answer the question', but I'm not intelligent. And I probably said that out of self-pity, in the hope someone will answer the question.
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Just going to stop you right there, rooting is not about piracy, if you wanna pirate apps please do look somewhere else
slowz3r said:
Just going to stop you right there, rooting is not about piracy, if you wanna pirate apps please do look somewhere else
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That's what I thought. Thanks for answering the other questions anyway!
slowz3r said:
Just going to stop you right there, rooting is not about piracy, if you wanna pirate apps please do look somewhere else
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Not that I condone piracy or anything but you can pirate apps without being rooted.... unless you're on AT&T.
I know this because certain applications who are being beta tested (e.g. Trillian Beta) was in .apk format... all you needed was Unknown Sources. Root isn't required to do that
just saying.
zephiK said:
Not that I condone piracy or anything but you can pirate apps without being rooted.... unless you're on AT&T.
I know this because certain applications who are being beta tested (e.g. Trillian Beta) was in .apk format... all you needed was Unknown Sources. Root isn't required to do that
just saying.
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I can not use this information, but you and I know I will. So, thanks, I guess.
Hi, I just got my Nexus S, this is my first Android device, I've been an iPhone user for the last 3 years.
So my question is:
should I root it right now?
or should I just play with stock Android for a while?
if root: what should I install/do with it?
Thanks.
wilee1928 said:
Hi, I just got my Nexus S, this is my first Android device, I've been an iPhone user for the last 3 years.
So my question is:
should I root it right now?
or should I just play with stock Android for a while?
if root: what should I install/do with it?
Thanks.
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Well, there is no reason not to root it. If you root you can do whatever you want. I suggest you check out the different apps, roms, kernels, or mods you can get because there are far too many choices and different kinds of things you can do with root for anyone to tell you what or how should you use it.
kenvan19 said:
Well, there is no reason not to root it. If you root you can do whatever you want. I suggest you check out the different apps, roms, kernels, or mods you can get because there are far too many choices and different kinds of things you can do with root for anyone to tell you what or how should you use it.
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i forgot another thing.
if i root it, is there a way to "unroot" it? just in case there is something wrong with the phone and needs repair (warranty).
wilee1928 said:
i forgot another thing.
if i root it, is there a way to "unroot" it? just in case there is something wrong with the phone and needs repair (warranty).
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Making it seem untainted is as easy as flashing a stock rom and relocking the bootloader.
Always yes.
root.
I might suggest playing with the stock android for a bit first since this is your first android device. That way you can get acquainted and get a feel of what you want or expect from a custom rom or applications that require root.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Look around and see if of interest you then root.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App
Rooting gives you access to some incredibly powerful and useful applications that many of us can't live without.
There's really no reason not to root. It's stupid simple to do, and easily reversed with a few terminal commands to delete the su binary, busybox and its symlinks and the superuser.apk. I don't believe it's even an issue with warranty service. Google's endorsed rooting and hacking the phone (thanks kevnan for shoving that one down my throat again last night), and part of why they made it so easy to do.
Until recently, if you wanted to root, it was really a bad idea not to do it right away because the earlier methods (still) have you doing the fastboot oem unlock command, which will WIPE EVERYTHING on your phone, including all the stuff on your /sdcard (pictures, music, etc), and all your apps' data (like Angry Birds scores) that can't be backed up without root.
We've recently found a method that doesn't require you to wipe the phone, and is just as effective as the earlier methods (really all we're doing is skipping that oem unlock step), so it's not as time critical to root right away as it used to be.
Good luck with the phone; it's fantastic, even on stock ROMs (my choice to use), despite a few annoying quirks!
Sent from Safari browser because Chrome browser frequently won't cooperate with xda forums.
Is anyone able to create a OneClickRoot for the Nexus S 4G? If not what is keeping someone from creating one?
This would be AWESOME! the unrooting process wasnt that difficult but it did take some time for me since i'm a noob at using the SNS 4G.
The rooting/unrooting sticky in the development section was extremely helpful.
Yeah.. It's really rather easy.
Unlock
Push CWM
Flash SU in CWM
Done
styckx said:
Yeah.. It's really rather easy.
Unlock
Push CWM
Flash SU in CWM
Done
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You for the step where you have to rename install-recovery.sh, otherwise CWM will keep getting removed everytime you reboot.
And, to anyone that is savvy with command line, yes this phone is super easy to root.
But oneclickroot's are nice to have for those less savvy folks out there.
No harm in having extra root methods, it would only help to grow the community.
It appears to be much easier than other phones. Look up the HTC Thunderbolt, for example.
Scary.
AshsToAshs said:
You for the step where you have to rename install-recovery.sh, otherwise CWM will keep getting removed everytime you reboot.
And, to anyone that is savvy with command line, yes this phone is super easy to root.
But oneclickroot's are nice to have for those less savvy folks out there.
No harm in having extra root methods, it would only help to grow the community.
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The NS4G doesn't have that file, CWM stays permanently so its a non issue
My NS4G had it. I was confused about why it kept booting into stock recovery until I read about renaming it. Anyhow, all I did was install Super Manager from the Market, grant it root access, and rename install-recovery.sh to install-recovery.bak. Pretty easy.
Not entirely true. I have it.
If someone can read and follow a guide then they can unlock, recovery, root this phone. Like someone said when I first started reading before doing anything, this phone is a very easy one to root and recovery and unlock (not in that order).
Just do it yo!
Just follow the directions. Look in the dev section. There's two stickies that talk about this stuff for the gsm and the cdma versions. If it were a snake, it would bite you! You can't miss it
terminal emulater
I have been rooting since the g1 and yes it appears to be extremely easy but it would be nice if some one could show the commands to do it through the terminal emulater. Plz someone help
Quite odd, if that is the case I wonder why some have it and some don't?
I know mine didn't.
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA Premium App
I though that all of them did? Mine was in the 'etc' folder in the root partition of my phone.
See now this is odd.... I can definitely say I DO NOT have that file. What I'd love to know is why people with the same phone do
I'm interested in a one-click root not because it is easier, but because most of the one-click methods enable you to root without a data wipe. It is my understanding that there is currently no way to root the NS4g without completely wiping your data. Am I correct?
davpel said:
I'm interested in a one-click root not because it is easier, but because most of the one-click methods enable you to root without a data wipe. It is my understanding that there is currently no way to root the NS4g without completely wiping your data. Am I correct?
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As far as I know, yes you are correct since it requires you to unlock the bootloader, but if you leave it unlocked then it shouldn't mess with any of your data (internal and sd partition).
I have the T-mo version and I don't have the install-recovery.sh anymore. I'm assuming because it was taken out in the custom rom that I'm using.
So apparently CyanogenMOD is no longer offering root access as a default option. Which doesn't make sense to me cause in order to flash a Custom ROM like CyanogenMOD you have to be rooted and being rooted means you have root/superuser access to your phone.....Here's the link the article I read on Engadget - http://phandroid.com/2012/03/16/root-access-no-longer-the-default-in-latest-version-of-cyanogenmod/
Sent using my rooted LG Revolution running GingerVolt 2.0
It's definitely an annoyance for me personally, and I can see newbie users getting confused as to why their root apps aren't working. It feels like more trouble than it's worth. The superuser prompt should really be more than enough warning, especially considering that practically every guide on rooting goes on a tangent about its perils.
sent from my Zerg Hatchery.
thebobp said:
It's definitely an annoyance for me personally, and I can see newbie users getting confused as to why their root apps aren't working. It feels like more trouble than it's worth. The superuser prompt should really be more than enough warning, especially considering that practically every guide on rooting goes on a tangent about its perils.
sent from my Zerg Hatchery.
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If you are that noob, arguably you shouldn't be using root!
pulser_g2 said:
If you are that noob, arguably you shouldn't be using root!
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So if you don't realize some random mod's settings are preventing you, you shouldn't be using root? Great.
sent from my Zerg Hatchery.
CM grows up
The article says root is still available three different ways. It's just not the default any more. That's smart.
If you don't know what root is doing and everything that goes long with it then no one should not use it. Far to many people root their phone cause they think its cool and end up bricking their device with no warrenty because its rooted. I personally think its a good thing
.
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You don't necessarily have to be rooted to flash a custom ROM; all you need is ClockworkMod or some other non-stock recovery. I have a Motorola Triumph and all you have to do to install CWM is boot into download mode, connect to a computer via USB, and replace recovery.img. No root necessary.
Where and how to get my mod and still have all functions worling on virgon mobile
Sent from my MOTWX435KT using xda app-developers app
sarcasmsiempre said:
You don't necessarily have to be rooted to flash a custom ROM; all you need is ClockworkMod or some other non-stock recovery. I have a Motorola Triumph and all you have to do to install CWM is boot into download mode, connect to a computer via USB, and replace recovery.img. No root necessary.
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That's right. A lot of people don't understand the difference between rooting and flashing custom ROMs. Root used to be required before to be able to flash a custom recovery to the recovery partition of the device. These days a lot of manufacturers have provided bootloader unlock methods by which you can directly unlock the bootloader and flash a custom recovery, and still keep your stock un-rooted ROM. Root isn't necessary. CM's goal is to reach more people who aren't that technologically experienced. A lot of people are afraid of the word 'root' as they think it can damage their device. There's a lot of FUD about it still. Moreover, a majority of phone users don't know or care about what root is, don't use any root apps, and just don't need it to be there on their phone lest they potentially mess up something without their knowledge. They will just tap the allow button without having a clue about which app is requesting root and for what. For users like these, custom ROMs with root are a problem. CM wants to be able to reach these people too by offering a safer, non-root version by default. Think about how many people are stuck with their crappy, skinned stock OS for the entire life of their phone, limited by their manufacturer's decisions for updates. All these people will have the option of running CM and getting a feel of AOSP, and get a lot more joy out of using their phones just like us advanced users, with just the same amount of safety (mainly against themselves) as their stock un-rooted ROM. That's the idea. Experienced users can always go to Developer Options in settings and enable root for apps and adb in a second. It makes absolutely no difference other than providing an option, and that is what's important. In JB 4.2 ROMs and CM 10.1, the Developer Options are even more hidden and inaccessible to normal users, so that combined with root access disabled by default provides a lot of additional security.
Help please!! I don't know what to do! I'm not used to rooting Androids! Jailbreaking iPhones is different!
Try super one click. That's what I had to use. I posted a link to it in this forum if you search for it.
this root method worked like a charm on my atrix 2 running 2.3.6ota! of coarse all credit goes to shortfuse for making this super easy one click program!
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/67909581/SuperOneClickv2.3.3-ShortFuse.zip
Sent from my MB865 using XDA
Try this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1327741
Root Help
Make sure under setting>applications >development that the USB debugging is checked. And yeah would agree to using the one click method. Also look up what version of Android you are using under about phone under settings. This will help in getting root access.
Don't root if you don't know what you're doing
cogeary said:
Try this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1327741
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This will work if you follow it. However, I hate to be that developer that's telling people not to mess with stuff cause they're new, but be careful. having a rooted phone is great, but understand that just rooting does nothing at all. rooting simply allows you to do stuff that Motorola/AT&T/Android does not allow. You gain "Root" or admin access. There is a reason they do not let you access this stuff by default. It is essential to the system, and you can seriously screw up your phone by messing with it. That said. with a little care and research, rooting is easy and unlocks the path to having a better phone and understanding the inner workings of it better. Long story short. You should not be rooting if you don't know what you are doing and can't figure out how to make it work. When I started messing with this, I knew very little about Android, So I did a bunch of research, and learned more. Once I felt comfortable rooting and understood how it worked, I did. I now run a new rom and many other tweaks, and it's great, but I know I risk breaking my phone if I do something without the proper precautions.
To me this is the best way to root,and don't forget the USB debugging fron setting,applications,development=USB DEBUG.
It works great on the Motorola Atrix 2 running 2.3.6.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nN27nBn2L9w&feature=youtube_gdata_player
This worked for me
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1327741