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

[Q] Rooting and gingerbread update

I've spent some time on the forum trying to find an answer, but obviously that didnt happen.
I have my GS4G and want to just ROOT it without installing any rom to replace the firmware.
1. If i root my phone, can i do JUST that? or are there other steps after simply rooting that are considered important for the stability of my phone?
2. After i root my phone, will i still be able to do the kiesmini/OTA gingerbread *official* (not leaked) update?
My main reason for wanting to do this is for the bloatware and increasing performance, and to just have overall more 'control' (similar to the feeling of wiping a new computer from the manufacture's preloaded poop).
I have superoneclick v1.9.5. I used it as a test on my old MT3G, and installed the GingerYoshi rom, and all worked very well. I just dont want to brick my GS4G, as i paid full price D:.
sorry if this has been asked/answered, i try to play by the rules, but just didnt find my answer.
thanks,
Greg

Super one click root 1.7 was what I used. It just roots the phone, as any other rooting method should. You can get ota fine...I always did. Never had a problem.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using XDA Premium App

Just so you know there's no one-click root method for Gingerbread for the SGS4G yet. Maybe around the time the official ROM comes out there will be.

what does:
"error:more than one device"
mean?? That pops up when i hit root. I only have one phone connected to my PC.
I'm assuming its multiple instances of ADB running? Im not sure..
*EDIT* My mistake lol. still had my MT3G plugged in, my bad!
successfully rooted. Thanks

[Q] Samsung Epic 4G Touch Root Problems! Any Help?

As the title says, I have the Samsung Galaxy SII Sprint's variation. I rooted my phone when it was on the version before Gingerbread EL29. I used the SuperOneClick method to root my phone and after doing that, 'Superuser' was installed on my phone. Everything was going fine until I accidentally updated my phone to Gingerbread 2.3.6 EL29 via Sprint's over-the-air update. I know it sounds dumb from me but I really knew that if I updated my phone I could mess up my root privileges, but that pop up update was showing up each 5 minutes, that in one of them I accidentally pressed 'install'. Now I have tried to unroot my phone with SuperOneClick but 'Superuser' is still there and when I access an app that requires root privileges like 'Wireless Tether' it says that my phone is not rooted. I also tried to do a factory reset and root again with 'SuperOneClick' but it freezes up (I guess it's because 'Superuser' is still there?) I was also thinking on installing a rooted rom but I don't know if I can install custom roms (I don't know if I have CWM and if it will mess up because I'm not rooted?..) Right now I just want to get the latest rooted stable release possible.. Sorry for extending myself but I wanted to give all the important details as possible as I am new in handling root phones and also in this forum. I will appreciate any help, thanks!
-James E.

Btw you might want to ask in the epic forums. You will get slot more help. I would use sfhub el29 oneclick
Sent from my BAD A$$ EPIC TOUCH 4G

follow the online tutorial guide below by qbking77...
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v7pWjmKCsoc

Thank you PakAttack1994! I watched the video and even though it didn't work at the first time, I was able to ask him my questions and he was able to answer them. If you want to see with the problems that I went through and his replies are on the video comments. I'm the user 'jamesssssss'

lol np, I just pointed you in the right direction. qbking77 deserves a whole heap of credit over me.

Running Games That Are Blocked Due To Root

I am a new member on xda, however i have read posts and forums to resolve issues with my gt-p1000n. I now own a Motorola Razr (XT910), on 2.3.5 rooted. I want to play the new 9 innings from Com2us and Inotia4. As you may all know this is not possible if your device is rooted. I have played them both on my wifes SGS2 with shell root, and sure enough...they run perfectly fine. My phone is full in root, is there any way around this? Someone please help!!!!

il0v3kush said:
I am a new member on xda, however i have read posts and forums to resolve issues with my gt-p1000n. I now own a Motorola Razr (XT910), on 2.3.5 rooted. I want to play the new 9 innings from Com2us and Inotia4. As you may all know this is not possible if your device is rooted. I have played them both on my wifes SGS2 with shell root, and sure enough...they run perfectly fine. My phone is full in root, is there any way around this? Someone please help!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
did you use a one click root? if so most of them can unroot, so you could just unroot for a bit to get your gaming on.

Good to know, I'm new to XDA and hacking my devices. I had know idea that some games or apps wouldn't work on rooted devices. Now I know
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

I actually did...i used super one click. Yeah it's fast once you've attained the Motorola drivers for your device. I was looking for a work around with much less hassle. In my opinion the Motorola Razr beats Samsungs Galaxy I & II in performance and video/audio quality (haven't compared against an SIII yet). Only if the Motorola Razr is rooted though. Motorola has so much more bloatware compared to Samsung, so battery life is just terrible on such an amazing device. I do appreciate the reply though, thanks! Way to make a new member feel welcomed. Looking for a full on work around, that won't require me to temoprarily unroot then reroot. Thanks though @ loosedupon!
Yup, there are quite a few actually. Don't let that stop you from rooting though, i don't know how to flash and **** like that. Personally, I'd prefer not to though. Due to all the different outcomes if you load the incorrect files. However, rooting my device has made me truly enjoy my devices (gt-p1000n & razr xt910). My Galaxy Tablet is one of the first batches out in the Latin American versions (the original 7in. with a ****ty 400 ram availability). I played Blood Brothers and Quest and Sorcery on it with little to no lags or hangs opposed to my razr. @wannahit

Try Voodoo OTA rootkeeper. It will protect root, but also allow you to temporarily unroot with the " push of a button" I use it for google movies. Works good.

Thanks chrism.brunner! I will try that. I actually tried Hide My Root, it worked. For that to work, you must set a password first. That password is needed to hide/uninstall the su apk, and su binary. I was super baked when i set mine! About 45 minutes later tried to restore my binary files. I forgot the ****ing password, [email protected]! What upset me was, there was no recovery process to have my password reset. I had to re-root my device. I will give OTA a try though. Thanks!

Just so you know, OTA Rootkeeper's latest version will not save an SU binary in /system/xbin.
So when you re-root your device, you will have to go into /system/bin and scroll down and copy SU. Then go into /system/xbin and paste it in there and set your permissions. Not having it in xbin sometimes causes some Root applications to not run.
I've use OTA on my Transformer for 6 updates now and restored each and every time. Granted that is for a Asus product. If worse come to worse, you could always just SBF back to stock using RSDlite (I'm an ex-Motorola user btw).

Thanks for the help! @ Woodrube
I actually just finished using OTA Rootkeeper. It restored my su back up fine. I tested it on 9 innings 2013, and i still ended up with the same results. I also tried the temp. unroot and ota survival options on superuser. Same as OTA Rootkeeper, i do intend on keeping the app for further uses. Hopefully i won't get the same result as 9 innings!
I am a better hands on learner than a read and study. I am also not ashamed of my ignorance. With that being said, what the f*ck is a SBF and RSDlite?

No need to be ashamed. Every one of us was new at one time.
An sbf file, is the Motorola file for reflashing the stock operating system to the phone. It returns the phone to the way it was brand new.
Rsd lite is the program used to flash the sbf file. It is installed to your computer, and and " installs" the software on your phone. It can be dangerous if you flash previous versions of android. Many have bricked their devices with this.

Once again, thanks! I was completely lost with Woodrube's reply. I am also fully aware of the possibilities of bricking while flashing. So flashing is something I refuse as a resolve. So all of that are things I won't attempt, to simply avoid that from occurring.
How about if I uninstalled root and replaced it with shell root. My wife has a GT-i9100 on 4.0.3, with shell root...I know the pro and con of shell root vs root. Surprisingly, she hasn't lost her root access! However, with shell root your device only has temporary root access. Will I still be able to grant su access, for apps such as lucky patcher, TB, and the many other apps used to tweak performance and settings?
Man this is burning out my mind!!!! Maybe, I'll just give it a try...won't know until I try right? On SuperOneClick, which exploit should I use though? Should I use motofail, zergrush, or gingerbreak? I am currently running 2.3.5 (on a Razr XT910, of course) which is a gingerbread, if I am correct. I used zergRush on my GT-P1000N running 2.3.4 which I'm assuming is a gingerbread too.
Also, what are ideal min. - max. values for over/underclocking my device? Where I won't sacrifice too much performance for battery life.

I used the automatic script for unlocking the bootloader, rooting, and installing cwm. I used unlock_ version 4.2.
As to overclocking, I don't anymore. The phone I am using now is a new one from Motorola to replace the one with constant reboots. I am told it was a hardware issue, but I'm not sure of it wasn't related to constant changing kernels and overclocking. I am actually satisfied with the atrix on the stock kernel and clock speed.
I haven't used the root that you are talking about, but it might be an option. Try it on your wifes phone, if you can.
Let me know, if you will. I'm interested now.
As to sbf files, no need to worry about it. I have found it to be totally safe. If you Need to get back to stock, it works. I have done it many times. Just flash the same or newer version.

Superuser
Could this not be worked around by denying root access to the game using superuser?

thanks, thanks! i bricked my xt910 changing the boot logo. at least i know not to change that from now on.

What app were you using to change the boot logo?

Rom Manager Pro....and no you can't work around by denying root access. The games are granted permission to see all apps running in background. I have tried denying such permissions with Permission Denied, whatever the name is. All it did was automatically close the game. Didn't even launch at all, immediately closed.
Sent from my XT910 using xda app-developers app

[Q] How to remove rooting AND custom ROM

Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
Also, last question, I am backing my phone up by hooking it up to the computer via USB and dragging each folder and everything into a folder on my computer as a backup. That being said, since I want to UNDO my root and custom ROM and everything, are there any files I should NOT copy to my computer that might mess this up or make my phone think it's still rooted or anything?
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!

gamer6592 said:
Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, so basically, you just want to unroot your phone? Go into super user and there is an option to unroot your phone OR, use any file explorer like ES explore, root explore and navigate to this directory /system/xbin and delete su file.
May I ask, what you about to do is really a big waist of time, it doesn't help you anyway in installing custom rom or make your phone run better!! what is the reason for this??

buhohitr said:
Ok, so basically, you just want to unroot your phone? Go into super user and there is an option to unroot your phone OR, use any file explorer like ES explore, root explore and navigate to this directory /system/xbin and delete su file.
May I ask, what you about to do is really a big waist of time, it doesn't help you anyway in installing custom rom or make your phone run better!! what is the reason for this??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1st: I bolded the part in your statement that I was talking about in my first post. I appreciate the help a lot, so no offense, but I have no idea what that sentence even meant.. Will you please speak more clearly, and, to be honest, dumb it down a lot for me. I seriously know nothing about this stuff.
2nd: I don't want help installing custom ROMs. I want to go back to the way my phone was BEFORE having to use any custom ROMs. In other words, I don't even want Jelly Bean on my phone the way it is anymore. I want Ice Cream Sandwich back (I'm pretty sure that was the last one, right? Lol) so that from THERE I can update using VERIZON's Jelly Bean update.
The reason is that I've had problems with my phone that I NEVER had before rooting/downloading this custom "nightly" ROM. The main problem, I can not play ANY games on my phone without it crashing minutes in. I have a Galaxy S3, for crying out loud, so the games obviously aren't too much for the phone itself to handle. I think the nightly ROM I downloaded was just a bit buggy.
Another main reason I want to is because I miss all of the developer options my phone had before, i.e screenshots by swiping hand over screen, Kies Air, etc.
If someone could please help me a bit more in depth I would greatly appreciate it! Thanks again!

gamer6592 said:
Hi, I'm sorry to ask this question as I'm sure it's one that "floods" your boards more often than most but I have not found a decent answer yet in the several topics I've browsed. Basically, like the topic says, I want my phone back the way it was before I rooted it and before I installed the custom ROM of Jelly Bean. I want it to go back to before like it was, so I can start receiving OTA updates again and get the "official" Jelly Bean update from Verizon. I don't want to do the whole "unlock your boot loader" thing anymore. I want my phone to be able to boot up the right way and NOT have Verizon try to brick my phone.
The main problems with these other topics I've browsed are 1: I don't want my phone to be "restored to the point that I could take it back into Verizon" because A: I don't need to take it back to Verizon and B: I still need all of my phone data. I don't want to lose my pictures, contacts, etc. Also, 2: because all of these other topic speak in gibberish to me. Everyone who responds to other people asking this question speak all technical and say it as if the topic creator has done this 1000 times. I need a step-by-step response PLEASE on exactly what I need to do. Saying "oh yeah use odin" tells me NOTHING. I need to know EVERY step to do this, I don't even know wth odin is.
Also, last question, I am backing my phone up by hooking it up to the computer via USB and dragging each folder and everything into a folder on my computer as a backup. That being said, since I want to UNDO my root and custom ROM and everything, are there any files I should NOT copy to my computer that might mess this up or make my phone think it's still rooted or anything?
If someone could PLEASE help me with a detailed guide on how to do this I would GREATLY appreciate it. Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How bout this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1867253
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

I assume you didn't root yourself. I would ask whoever did it for you to undo it.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

Unfortunately if you want to go back to stock ICS (before the updates and everything) without root or unlocked boot loader you are going to lose all your phone data. That's the price you pay for rooting. But you are doing the right thing by copying all the files you want to your computer, I assume you're copying your internal SD card. The best you could do for apps is to use titanium backup and backup your apps, and SMS.
Then follow this guide to go back to ICS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28530394
If you can't do this guide or don't understand it then I agree with the previous poster and get whoever rooted your phone top undo it.
Now that you are back on ICS reroot using the steps in the same guide I just linked download titanium backup and restore your apps and sms.
You can then select the option in the supersu app to full unroot.
Sent from my VS920 4G using xda app-developers app

kintwofan said:
Unfortunately if you want to go back to stock ICS (before the updates and everything) without root or unlocked boot loader you are going to lose all your phone data. That's the price you pay for rooting. But you are doing the right thing by copying all the files you want to your computer, I assume you're copying your internal SD card. The best you could do for apps is to use titanium backup and backup your apps, and SMS.
Then follow this guide to go back to ICS
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=28530394
If you can't do this guide or don't understand it then I agree with the previous poster and get whoever rooted your phone top undo it.
Now that you are back on ICS reroot using the steps in the same guide I just linked download titanium backup and restore your apps and sms.
You can then select the option in the supersu app to full unroot.
Sent from my VS920 4G using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did it myself, eventually, but it was just as hard. So let me get this straight, you're saying that I need to follow that guide (I'm assuming the part that says how to Odin back from ROM etc), then I need to reroot in order for titanium backup to work so that I can restore everything, THEN unroot again? When you say reroot, will following that guide cause me to become unrooted already? Thx.

gamer6592 said:
I did it myself, eventually, but it was just as hard. So let me get this straight, you're saying that I need to follow that guide (I'm assuming the part that says how to Odin back from ROM etc), then I need to reroot in order for titanium backup to work so that I can restore everything, THEN unroot again? When you say reroot, will following that guide cause me to become unrooted already? Thx.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should follow section 5 if that guide to return your phone to sick ICS. It will be just like you got it from Verizon. This means no root and your internal SD wiped.
Then you will want to root that to restore your titanium backup that you've already made. Again that guide will show you how.
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!

kintwofan said:
You should follow section 5 if that guide to return your phone to sick ICS. It will be just like you got it from Verizon. This means no root and your internal SD wiped.
Then you will want to root that to restore your titanium backup that you've already made. Again that guide will show you how.
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
lol ok I'll do that. And last Qs (I think lol) unrooting again is just as fast as clicking unroot in superuser? and then last but not least once I do will I be able to update OTA to jelly bean again? Cuz I still want JB I just want official JB. If worst comes to worst I just use that Kies Air program? Thanks

gamer6592 said:
lol ok I'll do that. And last Qs (I think lol) unrooting again is just as fast as clicking unroot in superuser? and then last but not least once I do will I be able to update OTA to jelly bean again? Cuz I still want JB I just want official JB. If worst comes to worst I just use that Kies Air program? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes full unroot from app will unroot you. Or just delete the app and take the ota
Sent from my LG spectrum (that's right) blazing fast on cm10!

I'm really sorry to do this but.. Lol. This honestly should be my last Q. The rest seems quite clear to me but is the part of that guide under section 5 titled "*Flashing a Stock Radio with Odin or a Custom Recovery" applicable to what I'm trying to do as well? It's kind of offset like it's something optional/different but do I need to do that also to take my phone back today? Thanks.