hi.
ive been hearing about unlocked bootloaders lately. Don't know anything about it.
So... what is it exactly? And is out G2x have an open bootloader?
Thanks
When the boot-loader is locked you you have limitations to what you can flash. You can't overclock to my understanding, and you can't have ROM's like CM7 flashed onto it.
G2x doesn't have a locked bootloader. But phones that do are usually Verizon's Droid line. HTC used to lock them down, but have recently changed their minds.
LG's corporate policy is to NEVER lock the bootloader. If you buy an LG phone the bootloader is unlocked, period. If you want to flash anything other than an official update you must have an unlocked bootloader. Phones with locked bootloaders don't allow you to flash custom recovery and roms. There are ways around a locked bootloader to flash custom roms, but that discussion is beyond the scope of this thread. If you want to guarantee an unlocked bootloader stick with LG phones.
Related
I am just jumping into the android moding world, and I just can't seem to find clarification on a particular issue. It seems that most phones are rootable but many have a locked bootloader. From what I can glean through reading many posts here and searching the web, the geekish options that you give up on a phone with a locked bootloader is the ability to flash the ROM. However, this is contradicted by examples here on this site of ROMs for phones with locked bootloaders. (Moto Atrix for example.) Is it that custom ROMs can only go so far with rooting alone, like the inability to replace the kernel? What exactly do you give up by only achieving root with a locked bootloader vs a rooted phone with an unlocked bootloader? Is it ROM related at all?
notmuchpastnothing said:
I am just jumping into the android moding world, and I just can't seem to find clarification on a particular issue. It seems that most phones are rootable but many have a locked bootloader. From what I can glean through reading many posts here and searching the web, the geekish options that you give up on a phone with a locked bootloader is the ability to flash the ROM. However, this is contradicted by examples here on this site of ROMs for phones with locked bootloaders. (Moto Atrix for example.) Is it that custom ROMs can only go so far with rooting alone, like the inability to replace the kernel? What exactly do you give up by only achieving root with a locked bootloader vs a rooted phone with an unlocked bootloader? Is it ROM related at all?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can't flash a custom rom without root. Root is needed to write to system partition etc.
But you can get root without a custom rom.
A locked bootloader means you will have to stay on stock rom. Means no custom kernels, no custom firmware.
Someone correct me if im wrong.
still confused
As mentioned there seem to be custom ROMs for for phones with a locked bootloader. The new Motorola Atrix is an example. While there is complaining that the bootloader is locked there are custom ROMs (2, I believe, so far) available from members of this forum. What is it that can't be done with a locked bootloader?
I'm still confused, but I appreciate the reply.
Is the Bootloader also unlocked with the Superoneclick method for the Samsung Infuse?
No you need to use the modded 3e recovery thread in development.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I997 using XDA App
the bootloader was never locked. superoneclick gives you root. and to flash custom roms and kernels you need a recovery that lets you flash unsigned packages.
the boot loader is not locked but is not well understood. only motorola locks bootloaders and it has hindered rom building since the droidx/droid2. dont think hwever that a non locked bootloader means you can flash wp7 or winmo, or meego like on an hd2. thtere is alot of research being done on samsung bootloaders and it might come someday but right now it just means you can flash samsung based roms freely(cyanogen mod as well when it a kernel becomes available). recovery mode is locked but once rooted it can be overwritten with a recovery that lacks the signature check. look for gtg's video on the forum or on you tube it is insanely easy!
motorola isnt the only one that locks bootloaders. sonys have this problem bad and are responding by offering bootloader unlocks to a couple phones like the arc. htc joined in with its first bootloader locked phone, the sensation. motorola is actually unlocking their bootloaders in all new roms. hopefully htc sees how bad it is to make that move and joins motorola and sony.
I need to root, unlock, and install CWM right? How exactly do I do this? I tried to locate a how to without any luck.
The dev section is filled with all the info you need to know.
Also, not trying to be a **** but saying you searched when it is obvious that you didn't will get you nowhere.
OK I've read some more and had a couple more questions...
I noticed that the roms I've looked at don't require an unlocked phone. What's the point of unlocking the phone then? Can I just root and install CWM?
Some roms say "needs the 1.85 base." What does this mean and how do I get it before flashing a rom?
Thanks!
johnl199 said:
OK I've read some more and had a couple more questions...
I noticed that the roms I've looked at don't require an unlocked phone. What's the point of unlocking the phone then? Can I just root and install CWM?
Some roms say "needs the 1.85 base." What does this mean and how do I get it before flashing a rom?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some of the roms, prior to the unlock discovery, were executable as an RUU. All the updated versions require recovery which you need the bootloader unlocked to get in to. It's a painless process and there's even a 1-Click script method for those who dont want to take chances.
Will I be able to get the phone back to COMPLETELY stock should I decide to sell it in the future?
From what I know it will say relocked or tampered but maybe I'm wrong
Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium
After unlocking your phone, there will be no way to get back to 100% stock unless we can get S-OFF (which hopefully may be in the near future due to a few devices already being S-OFF).
However, you can root your device and not unlock it (1.82 and prior as of now) and still be able to revert to 100% stock as if it came right out of the box.
Most of the ROMs currently do not require an unlocked bootloader.
However, this will definitely change as we begin to see custom kernels (hopefully soon with the release of the source by HTC Dev) and more complex ROMs (such as those based on AOSP, such as CM9 and AOKP).
So in short, you can still use most of the ROMs in the dev section. Just be aware however that if you do not unlock then you cannot install CWM (limiting the number of ROM options) and also if you update past 1.82.502.3 then you cannot root (at this time, other root exploits are being explored).
Is unlocking your bootloader the same as carrier unlocking your phone?
Does this mean that say, AT&T phones could be used on Tmobile?
lamenramen said:
Is unlocking your bootloader the same as carrier unlocking your phone?
Does this mean that say, AT&T phones could be used on Tmobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope. You are thinking of SIM unlock.
Bootloader unlock lets you load custom ROMs and change recovery, that's all.
now that the boot loader is unlocked, it would be safe to flash a rom from any other US variant correct? or do we still have to wait for verizon only roms?
also, how would one root before or after the unlock?
If the underlying hardware isn't different, from what I've read, it should be fine.
Folks are already flashing sprint and att kernels to the unlocked vzw gs3, so yea it should work! Although I prefer to stick with software developed specifically for this device.
I recently bought an AT&T S4 I337 and I really hate the locked bootloader (and lack of cyanogenmod goodness).
On my last phone, an LG Nitro HD, the method used to unlock the bootloader was to force-flash it to a different carrier's LG image for a similar model which happened to have an unlocked bootloader.
I wonder if it's been tried on the S4... I think I remember reading that T-mobile didn't lock thier loader and since t-mobile uses the same modem type (IIRC), I wonder if one could use ODIN to flash said image (and use the update bootloader option to slip the unlocked bootloader)?
I'm probably crazy for even asking... but I didn't recall reading that this hadn't been tried.
Not a clue in the world, but I'm crossing my fingers.
ratdude747 said:
I recently bought an AT&T S4 I337 and I really hate the locked bootloader (and lack of cyanogenmod goodness).
On my last phone, an LG Nitro HD, the method used to unlock the bootloader was to force-flash it to a different carrier's LG image for a similar model which happened to have an unlocked bootloader.
I wonder if it's been tried on the S4... I think I remember reading that T-mobile didn't lock thier loader and since t-mobile uses the same modem type (IIRC), I wonder if one could use ODIN to flash said image (and use the update bootloader option to slip the unlocked bootloader)?
I'm probably crazy for even asking... but I didn't recall reading that this hadn't been tried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry to burst your bubble, but due to physical hardware limitations this will never work. I would go into details but it's fair plastered around the forum as to why this wouldn't work. If it where this simple we'd have unlocked the bootloader ages ago.
ratdude747 said:
I recently bought an AT&T S4 I337 and I really hate the locked bootloader (and lack of cyanogenmod goodness).
On my last phone, an LG Nitro HD, the method used to unlock the bootloader was to force-flash it to a different carrier's LG image for a similar model which happened to have an unlocked bootloader.
I wonder if it's been tried on the S4... I think I remember reading that T-mobile didn't lock thier loader and since t-mobile uses the same modem type (IIRC), I wonder if one could use ODIN to flash said image (and use the update bootloader option to slip the unlocked bootloader)?
I'm probably crazy for even asking... but I didn't recall reading that this hadn't been tried.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This has been mentioned and covered many, many times.
Ah. I personally didn't see it mentioned anywhere when I searched but with the ocean of threads around here, I could understand them being buried.
Well, **** then.