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(SOLVED)[Q] how to tell if phone is already rooted.....

So I just picked up a skyrocket and I went to update OTA and it downloaded the update and when it went to restart to install the update the phone booted into clockwork. I wasnt able to find a thread for this specific device about it so I am asking here now. MOD if there is one please point me in the right direction. I did notice that there is no att bloatware on the device. Thanks.

Terminal editor, type su, press enter, see what happens.
Other clues: presence of Superuser app.
You have a custom recovery also which will need to be ODINed away.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, it does have superuser. As far as Terminal editor/ODINed i'll be honest I have no idea what you are talking about. First sammy device that I have had long enough to keep and want to keep. Use to HTC branded devices. But thank you I think it is rooted because of the superuser app.

Questions should be posted in Q&A. Moved.
Side note: I recommend you read a lot before you mess with it. Although this device seems to be very difficult to hardbrick misusing ODIN can lead to one.
Cheers

Go to market download root checker. Run it. If a super user prompt appears, that's a good sign.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

occupational_hazard said:
Go to market download root checker. Run it. If a super user prompt appears, that's a good sign.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2
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Click to collapse
Yes it does, superuser prompt comes up. I really would just rather have this back to completly stock running 2.3.6 until the 4.0 update rolls out. Not sure which is better. Rooted or unrooted????? Also am not sure if it has ODIN....I tried to boot into recovery to run ODIN3 and upgrade to 4.0.4 but when trying to power on into bootloader it just vibrates and will not boot until I release the volume up rocker. Other than curiosity the phone works and performs flawlessly. With superuser being installed and after installing titanium I am sure it is rooted. Still not sure what ODIN is (like I said used to the HTC branded phones and never cared about root) Thanks for all the information. Also I am not sure if I will be able to update to 4.0 when the OTA update rolls out, im not concerned about it being rooted or not (have not found a reason to have rooted yet). Anyone know if it can be updated OTA even though it has root?

didozer said:
Yes it does, superuser prompt comes up. I really would just rather have this back to completly stock running 2.3.6 until the 4.0 update rolls out. Not sure which is better. Rooted or unrooted????? Also am not sure if it has ODIN....I tried to boot into recovery to run ODIN3 and upgrade to 4.0.4 but when trying to power on into bootloader it just vibrates and will not boot until I release the volume up rocker. Other than curiosity the phone works and performs flawlessly. With superuser being installed and after installing titanium I am sure it is rooted. Still not sure what ODIN is (like I said used to the HTC branded phones and never cared about root) Thanks for all the information. Also I am not sure if I will be able to update to 4.0 when the OTA update rolls out, im not concerned about it being rooted or not (have not found a reason to have rooted yet). Anyone know if it can be updated OTA even though it has root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ota will not work with cwm...you need the stock recovery to do an ota......rooted I don't believe matters
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

StolenVW said:
Ota will not work with cwm...you need the stock recovery to do an ota......rooted I don't believe matters
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
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Click to collapse
Can I download and install via sd card when the update is available. Only time I have used cwm is on my wifes old eris.

didozer said:
Can I download and install via sd card when the update is available. Only time I have used cwm is on my wifes old eris.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need stock recovery. You need to read the stickies for a few days before you do anything.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using Tapatalk 2

Or just keep your phone as is, and wait when ics officially drops, just wait a day and someone will have a flashable zip of it for cwm. Might as well learn the perks of being rooted now and learn your way around the phone
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using xda premium

Its all set now. Had to figure out the whole Odin thing. Ended up just redoing to software using my computer with a one click method. Can't remember who made it but it was from android central but mad by member on here. So thank you to that mamber Kenny something?? Any was have it flashed to 4.0.4 with no bugs. Everything works perfect and so far battery life is great. I must say that so far I am loving this phone. At first I wasn't sure about going away from my vivid but I can't find any reason to have any regrets. Thanks guys I appriciate your help and input.

can u put solved in ur title

Returning VZW SGS3: Unrooting for Exchange...

Background Information:
I need to return my Verizon SGS3 for an exchange (within the first 14 days) because of a battery problem. My battery is draining WAY too fast and getting too hot. To the point where the battery cover is melting.
- I have flashed root66 to my device using Odin and installed the CWM via the CWM App.
- I have already went to the Samsung Site to obtain the Stock VZW software and flashed it back to my phone via Odin.
- The CWM is gone and the there is no trace of SuperUser that I can see (meaning the app is not installed).
- When I boot the device, the "Unlock" symbol is no longer their, and only the Samsung logo is visable (like it was when it was stock).
So I called Verizon to setup an exchange and the lady asked me if I had altered the phone in anyway. I told her no, but then realized I needed to find out more so I told her I had another call and would call back later. She said that the Warehouse would be checking the phone upon arrival to check and see if the phone's software has bee altered in any way.
Question(s)/Issue(s):
I wanted to make sure that what I did (in regards to returning the phone to it's factory state [to my knowledge]) was sufficient enough. Because I don't want to get charged $299 for returning an "altered" phone to them.
Has anyone successfully returned a Verizon SGS3 that was rooted and then flashed back to the software from the Samsung Support site and returned/exchanged the phone without a problem?[/B]
-h3llsdr0id

Sorry not answering your question, but do you have to send the phone? Can't you just go to Verizon store and exchange it?

[email protected] said:
Sorry not answering your question, but do you have to send the phone? Can't you just go to Verizon store and exchange it?
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Click to collapse
It's just that I live 4 hours away from the closest Verizon Store...
So I kind of have to send it. Am I cool sending it back the way I did everything?
I mean is Verizon gonna know it was rooted?
-h3llsdr0id

If you can use triangle away and non root stock software they should not be able to tell. Not sure about triangle away for Verizon, but for tmo it works.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

jjlean said:
If you can use triangle away and non root stock software they should not be able to tell. Not sure about triangle away for Verizon, but for tmo it works.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app[/QUOTE
It works on all the US variants now
So flash stock in Odin and make sure reset flash counter if it's above 0(depending on how you rooted) and ur golden
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

I was wondering if the stock Verizon ROM from the "samsung-updates" site quill bw efficient enough. It's not an officially recognized site that is connected to Verizon or Samsung, but it is all I can find. And the Triangle problems do not apply to the root66 roms as far as I can see. I am a perfectionist and have flashed these more times than needed and have never had a triangle problem...
-h3llsdr0id
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I was in the same situation two days ago. On Route66 with custom recovery. All I did was install the latest stock rom via odin. I got the stock rom from here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1755386
After I ran it, my phone still showed as custom and modified. I had to do a factory data reset under settings. Once I did that, the phone was completely stock with a "normal" status just like the day I got it. That's how I took it to verizon and had no problems exchanging it.

Thank you. That's all I needed
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

[Q] Unable to OTA Update

Hello!
I have recieved the Android 4.0.4 OTA update but am unable to install it. I had unlocked my bootloader but havent installed any ROM, and tried to do the OTA update, the phone shut down and booted up to the fastboot menu.. i relocked my phone and tried again, same result.. I called HTC and they had no idea, they got me to turn off the fast boot in the power settings, but that didnt work!
What do I need to do to get the OTA update to work?

Based on your avatar, you are in Australia? Not sure what the firmware changes are for your region. But in the US, the latest 4.0.4 firmware also changes hboot, and plugs the holes by which kernels and radios can be flashed from recovery. In other words, not being able to install the OTA may be a good thing. It might be better to install one of the rooted stock ROMs in the Development forum.
Can't say for certain, since my US carrier (AT&T) does things so much differently than anyone else. So hopefully some folks in your region can chime in.

redpoint73 said:
Based on your avatar, you are in Australia? Not sure what the firmware changes are for your region. But in the US, the latest 4.0.4 firmware also changes hboot, and plugs the holes by which kernels and radios can be flashed from recovery. In other words, not being able to install the OTA may be a good thing. It might be better to install one of the rooted stock ROMs in the Development forum.
Can't say for certain, since my US carrier (AT&T) does things so much differently than anyone else. So hopefully some folks in your region can chime in.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey thanks for the response.
Yeah I am in Australia, but I would like to get OTA Updates until Im comfortable with properly putting new ROMs onto my phone..
My service provider (Optus) took it's sweet time to release this update and their only solution is to take it into their shop to get it repaired/looked at..

If you are rooted, you may need to unroot.
You may also want to try finding the OTA file on the SD card and deleting it, and trying to download it again.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda app-developers app

redpoint73 said:
If you are rooted, you may need to unroot.
You may also want to try finding the OTA file on the SD card and deleting it, and trying to download it again.
Sent from my HTC One XL using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, Ive unrooted it.. I relocked the phone and ran the stock RUU for it.. but after a day I haven't received the OTA notification.. so I might have to wait a while for that to come back I guess..

[Q] Veizon S3 Insurance claim, pre-rooted? OTA Update? Not sure what's been done

Hello all! I need to know what has been done to my insurance replacement phone, and how I can safely update my phone to VRBMV1.
The short version...
I hard bricked my Verizon Galaxy S3 phone by installing a custom ROM wrong, I got an insurance replacement that came pre-rooted, has Clockworkmod already installed and I believe has an unlocked bootloader. Clockworkmod stopped the OTA Update, but I want the update installed. I need to know what to do.
The long, more informative version...
So, I wanted to increase the volume of my Bluetooth headset and after trying different apps and nothing working, I found some modded system files that had a great review that increase all of the phones volumes. The instructions said the phone had to be rooted. Well I rooted the phone and the modded files didn't work. So reading the reviews of the mod, people were saying it worked great with the OMEGA AOPK ROM. So I rooted my Verizon Galaxy S3 i535 phone and installed a the custom rom and hard bricked my phone. I didn't pay enough attention and installed a rom for an i9000 not a i535, at least I think that's what happened... Anyways, I got a new phone through my insurance and the screen wouldn't rotate, so they sent me a 2nd replacement. I got that one in the mail today and it appears to already be rooted, and possibly have an unlocked bootloader, but i'm not sure how to do the VRBMV1 OTA update now.
The first thing the phone did once I activated it was do an OTA update from Verizon, so I let it. Clockworkmod popped up and said it couldn't verify the publisher for the files it was trying to install and asked if I wanted to continue. I clicked NO.
So, since I recently found out what Clockworkmod was and know it's not stock on the S3, I knew someone had done something to the phone. So i'm trying to figure out what exactly has been done, and if it's safe for me to do the OTA update or not.
After searching this forum I found out I can use an app to see if the phone is rooted or not, so I checked it and the app say "root access granted". I also see an app already installed on the phone called SuperSU. So I now know the phone is rooted.
After searching more I found one way to possibly tell if the bootloader is unlocked is to restart the phone, if the Samsung logo goes away within 1 second you probably have an unlocked bootloader. The logo goes away instantly on my phone, so i'm guessing the bootloader is unlocked?
The rest of the phone appears to be the same visually and settings wise as my old S3, so I think it's the stock ROM. "About phone" says Android Version 4.1.2 - Baseband Version i535VRBMB1 - Kernel Version 3.0.13-861013 [email protected] #1 SMP PREEMPT Thu Feb 14 15:16:58 KST 2013 - Build Number JZ054K.I535VRBMB1. Putting the phone Download Mode says everything is "Official", whereas it said "Custom" just before I bricked my old phone.
Sorry this is getting so long. I'll get to the questions now...
From what I've read on the forum, it appears to not be a good idea to do the OTA updates. Without knowing what else has been done to the phone, how can I "safely" get VRBMV1 installed? It appears to fix some problems with battery life and 4G signal, so it would be nice to have.
I for sure don't want to brick another phone as my insurance most likely will not like me anymore. So i'm not sure i'm comfortable trying anymore custom ROMs that already have the update in them. Is there a way to take the phone back to factory with having any of the backups that may or may not have been done before the phone was modded?
Thank you very much!

Odin flash VRBMB1 tar.

SlimSnoopOS said:
Odin flash VRBMB1 tar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And you will be on the very latest OEM OTA version , no need to worry about updates. QED

SlimSnoopOS said:
Odin flash VRBMB1 tar.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That worked PERFECT! Thank you very much!!!! :good:

You may have gotten one of my 5 returns...
However i am fairly certian I returned them with the stock recovery, and rom unless I missed that step on one or two... I was having screen issues when they sent me refurbs
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium

Colomonster said:
You may have gotten one of my 5 returns...
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda premium
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Click to collapse
Well everything seems to work perfectly on it, so thank you for not breaking it! :fingers-crossed:

OTA after Root

I was wondering if anyone found a way to take ota after rooting. I have always had rooted devices and always ended up on custom roms. For now I would like to stay on the official rom and debloat a bit. Any ideas?

Pretty sure you can just flash back to stock and take ota, then re root. You normally need stock recovery to take ota, and be unrooted
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app

I can't believe i didnt think of that after I did the same thing with the S4. Thx for shining some light into my clouded mind lol

Root
I rooted yesterday night. Will I be able to odin back to official and receive OTA updates?

roadrunnrr said:
I rooted yesterday night. Will I be able to odin back to official and receive OTA updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this and update still wouldn't let me download the OTA.

Unless someone comes out with a way to revert the knox flag (which is said to be a perm flag) it won't ever be possible to be true factory again as all OTA's will now check for the tamper.
I think someone mentioned though you can manually install it, just the downloader/OTA wouldn't work.
If manually still wasn't possible I'm sure someone could remove the check from the update and you still get it that way but officially through Samsung you currently are probably stuck.
Ideally someone finds a way to reset the so called, perma flag.
If not the alternative might be finding a way to root the phone without flagging it, but in those cases it won't help those already flagged.
I know on HTC they had a similar type of flag, though didn't use it to check for update status. They flagged as Tampered or Re-locked for example.
However after some time we found how to reset those in some magical hidden area to blind write too (not talking about those that cheated to hide it via bootloader image edits)
At this point it's a wait and see game...
I hope someone finds fast though, I am stock and really want to get this bloat off my phone lol

I tried it myself now... Rooted and i couldnt even check for updates. Unrooted but device status was still custom. I had to go into the stock recovery and wipe everything and then Odin stock firmware to be able to check for updates
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
I tried it myself now... Rooted and i couldnt even check for updates. Unrooted but device status was still custom. I had to go into the stock recovery and wipe everything and then Odin stock firmware to be able to check for updates
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Click to collapse
When I tried this the update check still failed stating that I had a custom ROM.

Just checked for updates and it went through
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Just checked for updates and it went through
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you rooted then un-rooted?? Can you post the OTA file from your cache??

Yeah... Rooted then grabbed the whole factory md5 and restored that did it. Let me know where I can find the OTA and I'll post it. But I'm unrooted now so I don't know if it will work
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Yeah... Rooted then grabbed the whole factory md5 and restored that did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, Otherwise seems like a bad strategy on Samsung's part if they don't allow people who unroot and odin back to stock to take OTA's.. Why would a manufacture not want to offer a path back to stock for security updates and the chance to get a user back on a bloated rom full of there paid ad apps. Each time users do this there is a small percentage that won't either be able to re-root due to updates stopping the root method or just out of hassle. I understand the warranty flag but not why you wouldn't offer a path back to stock unless they are just being short sighted in an attempt to penalize people who root which won't have much effect..

I'd post the OTA like I said but I'm unrooted now.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
I'd post the OTA like I said but I'm unrooted now.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So root!!

Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't seem to do it. Once I rooted and tripped the Knox flag bit the Update check won't let me download. But the error message says that I can still download and install updates using Kies.
I just fixed it. The problem is not the Knox flag but rather the fact that Custom was showing in Download mode instead of Official. I had to flash twice without my SDcard inserted to get to Official. Once I got to Official the update started to download.

rooted?
roadrunnrr said:
Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so what does it matter if a phone is rooted or not in terms of an OTA update from a phone that has already received it?....wouldn't you just upload it and apply it? shouldn't matter at all whether phone is rooted or not when you're updating the file received from an already received OTA phone update. It's just the acquisition of the update that's blocked, not the install. At least until the 5SS you could always just grab a copy of the OTA update and install.

dk2463 said:
so what does it matter if a phone is rooted or not in terms of an OTA update from a phone that has already received it?....wouldn't you just upload it and apply it? shouldn't matter at all whether phone is rooted or not when you're updating the file received from an already received OTA phone update. It's just the acquisition of the update that's blocked, not the install. At least until the 5SS you could always just grab a copy of the OTA update and install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No if you were completely stock and just root ...with stock recovery and no missing system files it could be done. ...it now has to say official for the ota to finish ....no other way
Sent from my SM-G900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

share the love
but again, once a non-rooted phone receives the OTA update, you just pull the update from the phone and share it and even rooted phones can update...that's my point...am shocked no one is sharing their "received" OTA update
Epix4G said:
No if you were completely stock and just root ...with stock recovery and no missing system files it could be done. ...it now has to say official for the ota to finish ....no other way
Sent from my SM-G900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Patience.. I guess..
dk2463 said:
but again, once a non-rooted phone receives the OTA update, you just pull the update from the phone and share it and even rooted phones can update...that's my point...am shocked no one is sharing their "received" OTA update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotta agree.. Most of my previous device OTA's were always dumped within hours of release really surprised this hasn't been yet. This is my first Samsung phone and I have liked the device but kinda disappointed in the XDA turnout so far. I am always appreciative of those who are here but I just thought with how popular the Galaxy line was there would be more dev support from day 1 but there hasn't been much so far. I know it's early and being CDMA/Sprint really limits us but seems like all my previous HTC devices on Sprint and the current M8 are getting way more action.. Oh well, but sure makes a jump to T-Mobile for the new Oneplus One Cyanogen phone sound tempting haha..
And thanks again to all those who are here and contributing!!!