Database Info

Recovery dead?

I have upgraded to 4.0.3 and its really slow and bugy, so I desided to downgrade, but this is what happens when I try to go into recovery, please help.
Phone is all stock, not rooted or anything...
http://youtu.be/0B1qNWH0xtw

Yes, this is normal. Your phone is an i9023, the backlight doesn't turn on with new recovery, you can see it if you use a strong torch/lamp at the correct angle, and yes it is all there and functioning (just no backlight).
I believe recovery will give you an error if you try and downgrade though. You'll need to root/unlock bootloader and use CWM before you can do that. You can happily lock the bootloader afterward.
Also, you might be happier with ICS if you do a factory reset, and maybe even reflash ICS. This can solve some problems.

Thank you very much Harbb, any suggestions which way to root is the best and easiest for Nexus S?

..

I'd go the bootloader method. This gives you full access to the system which will allow you to throw in the su command in /system/bin, or just allows you to install and backup any rom you'd like. Only thing is it is "obviously" unlocked and wipes EVERYTHING but the OS (that is, sdcard and ALL personal data and settings).
Of course you can relock it any time you want though, for warranty purposes. Easiest and most thorough walkthrough (from my limited scouring) is here. Has a video too
Just note, for ICS you want the latest superuser zip, not the one provided.

Thanks guys, will try something now.

[Q] [Urgent] May have softbricked my phone, need help

Ok so I'm very new to the whole root business, and I only rooted my phone so I could use my ps3 controller via bluetooth which would then allow me to charge my phone at the same time. Got all that working and I was pretty much done with anything root related. That was two days ago. About an hour ago I decided, hey, why not see what I can do with my phone now that it's rooted. So I download the ROM manager and titanium backup. I found a ROM that I think I've heard people talk about before called Cyanogen Mod and I download the stable version of that and I went into ROM manager and I installed it there, it went through the reboot into recovery and everything. At least I thought it worked. It rebooted and I really didn't see anything different. So I manually went into recovery mode and installed Cyanogen from my sd card and rebooted my phone. However, it didn't reboot. It took me to a screen with a yellow triangle that says Verizon found software it doesn't authorize and I should take my phone to the nearest verizon store. It displays this everytime I try to boot my phone. All I can do is boot into ODIN mode. Please someone help, I'm at a loss as to what I should do.

All I can tell you is that you did not unlock your bootloader. You can fix this, but you're going to
have to do the work. Read about Odin.

Well, I read around and It told me to flash the Jellybean 4.1.2 thing to re-root my device and unlock the bootloader in the process. The heading was, If I rooted my device and forgot to unlock and now am getting a yellow triangle, so that seemed like what I needed. I flashed with odin, it said it passed and it auto rebooted my phone, but it still came up with the triangle.

I never said anything about flashing files with Odin.
I just said to read about it.
That's all I'm going to say...read.

"it" told me not "you" told me. All you said to do was read, so I did. I found something that seemed to be similiar to my problem, so I tried it out. It didn't work, so I put it here for more information, just in case someone has an idea on what might be wrong.

Brontis said:
"it" told me not "you" told me. All you said to do was read, so I did. I found something that seemed to be similiar to my problem, so I tried it out. It didn't work, so I put it here for more information, just in case someone has an idea on what might be wrong.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unlock your bootloader! Same thing happened to me.

Try this threadhttp://http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2199042&highlight=system+software&page=2

kmsck5 said:
Unlock your bootloader! Same thing happened to me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AS RipRip said...read. Do your homework no matter how long it takes to gain knowledge. I took a month to learn what to do with everything. I'm still learning. If you feel uncomfortable with anything don't mess with your phone.

My intention is to offer hints without just handing the solution to you
I'm not sure if the link I posted is working. If it is you should find help there.
If its not working just google your situation, ie. " system software not authorized..."

RipRip said:
My intention is to offer hints without just handing the solution to you
I'm not sure if the link I posted is working. If it is you should find help there.
If its not working just google your situation, ie. " system software not authorized..."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ditto same here!

Brontis said:
Well, I read around and It told me to flash the Jellybean 4.1.2 thing to re-root my device and unlock the bootloader in the process. The heading was, If I rooted my device and forgot to unlock and now am getting a yellow triangle, so that seemed like what I needed. I flashed with odin, it said it passed and it auto rebooted my phone, but it still came up with the triangle.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can tell you are new as you rooted your phone twice and STILL didn't unlock the bootloader. It makes sense to ask us how to unlock the bootloader since that is the problem in the first place. Also it is a stupid idea to take a rooted phone to Verizon as you just voided your warranty by rooting your device which is why you read before altering the software of an expensive device.

jmxc23 said:
I can tell you are new as you rooted your phone twice and STILL didn't unlock the bootloader. It makes sense to ask us how to unlock the bootloader since that is the problem in the first place. Also it is a stupid idea to take a rooted phone to Verizon as you just voided your warranty by rooting your device which is why you read before altering the software of an expensive device.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is pretty obvious that I am new. If all I have to do is unlock my bootloader, then is there somewhere you can point me so I can work on that? I'm just having some trouble figuring out how to unlock it with only being able to boot into ODIN mode.

Brontis said:
Yes, it is pretty obvious that I am new. If all I have to do is unlock my bootloader, then is there somewhere you can point me so I can work on that? I'm just having some trouble figuring out how to unlock it with only being able to boot into ODIN mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
which root method did you use? As all pretty much give you instructions to unlocking the bootloader. If you use the Odin method then you didn't follow the method to the T as you are SUPPOSE flash a file provided that unlocks the bootloader. In one of your posts you said the following "Well, I read around and It told me to flash the Jellybean 4.1.2 thing to re-root my device and unlock the bootloader in the process" That is basically one of the root methods so no I won't point you the right direction as you already found it. Oh and please follow directions carefully.

Look I can tell you are pretty frustrated. So i am going to be a little bit nicer than the guys above. First make sure your phone is fully charged. This is very important. The first link is Odin. load that on your computer. Make due you have Samsung drivers. The 2nd link is to unlock your bootloader. It gets flashed via odin. Make sure you load the file via the PDA button in Odin. After the flash your phone will reboot automatically. This should get u up and running. If it doesn't you will need to follow the instructions for the last 2 links I posted below. This last 2 links flashes stock and shows you how to root and unlock your bootloader. I know the guys above want to u to learn how to do this stuff on your own but many people seem to forget that some people that come in here are not as tech saavy as they are. But be warned. You MUST read ALL instructions to the letter BEFORE starting the process. This is to educate yourself. Remember u need Odin and the Samsung USB drivers installed
Odin: http://goo.gl/ASdXg
Unlock Bootloader: http://open1your1eyes0.cnlson.com/VRALEC.bootchain.tar.md5
Stock 4.1.2: http://hotfile.com/dl/233201455/b70504c/VZW-I535VRBMF1-20130627174111.zip.html
Root + Unlock: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046439
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

Well I finally managed to fix it. It was after I read the post above, but it works now. I want to thank everyone who posted in here offering advice.
It may not have been the most sophisticated way to do it, but I basically flashed a stock image of jelly bean 4.1.2 onto my phone, and then factory reset it. It's fine by me that I lost my data, (the only annoying thing is all the game saves) and I'm just glad I'm not going to have to go through the awkward process of explaining how I voided my warranty to my parentals.
Again, thank you all.

[Q] Moving SCH-I535 Verizon S3 from 4.1.2 rooted to 4.4.2 rooted

I'm on a verizon SCH-I535 running android 4.1.2 (baseband I535VRBMF1, kernel 3.0.31-1152558, build jzo54k.i535vrbmf1, hardware version i535.10). I rooted the device a couple years ago, and have rejected OTA updates, ever since I received the 4.1.2 one (in fact, I used a file manager, to rename some files, so I wouldnt get the pop-up telling me there was an OTA update anymore). Everything is, as it was required to be, in order to get root access on 4.1.2, I just followed the instructions I found on xda.
Now that android 4.4.2 is available, and there is an easy root for it, what is the easiest way for me to move from where I am to 4.4.2 rooted? Am I supposed to follow the instructions in the "Reset your phone in order to return to Verizon" sticky? If so, how do I know if my bootloader is 'locked' or 'unlocked'? Alternatively to these instructions I was thinking of doing a "full unroot" with superSU then simply doing an OTA update, but wasnt sure if that would introduce issues.
Finally, in terms of doing a backup, I downloaded an app called "online nandroid" which supposedly saved a backup to my sd card. But my sd card is tiny, and the backup went really quick, so what exactly is it backing up? Is it enough of a backup that if I want to do a full restore back to exactly the state my phone is in now later, I can do that, or do I need a different tool for that?

loonytoon500 said:
I'm on a verizon SCH-I535 running android 4.1.2 (baseband I535VRBMF1, kernel 3.0.31-1152558, build jzo54k.i535vrbmf1, hardware version i535.10). I rooted the device a couple years ago, and have rejected OTA updates, ever since I received the 4.1.2 one (in fact, I used a file manager, to rename some files, so I wouldnt get the pop-up telling me there was an OTA update anymore). Everything is, as it was required to be, in order to get root access on 4.1.2, I just followed the instructions I found on xda.
Now that android 4.4.2 is available, and there is an easy root for it, what is the easiest way for me to move from where I am to 4.4.2 rooted? Am I supposed to follow the instructions in the "Reset your phone in order to return to Verizon" sticky? If so, how do I know if my bootloader is 'locked' or 'unlocked'? Alternatively to these instructions I was thinking of doing a "full unroot" with superSU then simply doing an OTA update, but wasnt sure if that would introduce issues.
Finally, in terms of doing a backup, I downloaded an app called "online nandroid" which supposedly saved a backup to my sd card. But my sd card is tiny, and the backup went really quick, so what exactly is it backing up? Is it enough of a backup that if I want to do a full restore back to exactly the state my phone is in now later, I can do that, or do I need a different tool for that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In order to move to the 4.4.2 update you'll have to unroot, but keep in mind if you do your bootloader will be PERMANENTLY locked, no going back
The backup of stock is normally somewhere between 2-3gb or more, it didn't do the full backup. I highly doubt it's a full backup. Once you take the OTA to 4.4.2 your stuck and there is no going back
Your best bet is to install a custom recovery, cwm, twrp or philz or similar. If you want to take the OTA your free to but once again there's no custom roms after that. No CM or AOSP after you take the OTA
From my S3 running BlissStalk

ShapesBlue said:
In order to move to the 4.4.2 update you'll have to unroot, but keep in mind if you do your bootloader will be PERMANENTLY locked, no going back
The backup of stock is normally somewhere between 2-3gb or more, it didn't do the full backup. I highly doubt it's a full backup. Once you take the OTA to 4.4.2 your stuck and there is no going back
Your best bet is to install a custom recovery, cwm, twrp or philz or similar. If you want to take the OTA your free to but once again there's no custom roms after that. No CM or AOSP after you take the OTA
From my S3 running BlissStalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your response.
I do not care about custom ROMS, I am ok with the stock android OS, as long as I can get root. If the OTA update permanently locks my bootloader I am ok with that.
That said, I want to ensure I dont have any incidents when I do the OTA update. (that I dont brick my device. or make things more difficult for myself.) It doesnt look like I currently have a custom recovery (I tried to boot into custom recovery but the phone simply boots normally. I can however boot into stock android recovery). Also, my bootloader is currently unlocked.
Given that I dont currently have a custom recovery, and that my bootloader is currently unlocked, will that present any issue if I simply do a full unroot using superSU, and then take the OTA update? I used triangle away earlier today to reset my flash counter to 0 (it was 1 before).

loonytoon500 said:
Thank you for your response.
I do not care about custom ROMS, I am ok with the stock android OS, as long as I can get root. If the OTA update permanently locks my bootloader I am ok with that.
That said, I want to ensure I dont have any incidents when I do the OTA update. (that I dont brick my device. or make things more difficult for myself.) It doesnt look like I currently have a custom recovery (I tried to boot into custom recovery but the phone simply boots normally. I can however boot into stock android recovery). Also, my bootloader is currently unlocked.
Given that I dont currently have a custom recovery, and that my bootloader is currently unlocked, will that present any issue if I simply do a full unroot using superSU, and then take the OTA update? I used triangle away earlier today to reset my flash counter to 0 (it was 1 before).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It shouldn't but the OTA will lock in back up
From my S3 running BlissStalk

ShapesBlue said:
It shouldn't but the OTA will lock in back up
From my S3 running BlissStalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, i unrooted, and tried to take the OTA update, but a quarter of the way through the update, the update fails/stops, and it shows a lying android, with a red exclamation triangle over it; then the phone simply reboots and says "sorry, there was a problem updating your SAMSUNG SCH-I535. No changes were made." I read something about how this could be the case if I froze some stock apps, but how do I check if any stock apps are frozen? I dont remember doing so but its certainly possible.
What course of action do you recommend? It sounds like I will need to go through the process of rerooting again. I've read I can reflash the 4.1.2 stock rom and then do the OTA update, but I dont want to wipe data. The no wipe version is linked to here, but the firmware links there appears to be broken.

loonytoon500 said:
Ok, i unrooted, and tried to take the OTA update, but a quarter of the way through the update, the update fails/stops, and it shows a lying android, with a red exclamation triangle over it; then the phone simply reboots and says "sorry, there was a problem updating your SAMSUNG SCH-I535. No changes were made." I read something about how this could be the case if I froze some stock apps, but how do I check if any stock apps are frozen? I dont remember doing so but its certainly possible.
What course of action do you recommend? It sounds like I will need to go through the process of rerooting again. I've read I can reflash the 4.1.2 stock rom and then do the OTA update, but I dont want to wipe data. The no wipe version is linked to here, but the firmware links there appears to be broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After all the reading I've done in order to take the OTA you have to unroot. I don't know the complete process as I am not on any OTA
From my S3 running BlissStalk

Even if you dont care about custom ROMs right now you may in the future when there are no updates released for the phone or you want to sell it and could have gotten a higher price with the lower system version. Before you update try some of the ROMs out and see if there are some you like and if you dont like any then update.
That being said I have updated using ODIN and the firmware I got from this site. look around and you will find the stuff you need.

i ended up flashing a 4.1.1 stock no wipe rom i found and after that i could take the ota updates (had to do multiple in a row).
out of curiosity couldn't the devs find a way to unlock the bootloader via some hackery in the future?

loonytoon500 said:
i ended up flashing a 4.1.1 stock no wipe rom i found and after that i could take the ota updates (had to do multiple in a row).
out of curiosity couldn't the devs find a way to unlock the bootloader via some hackery in the future?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sure it's possible, but unlikely. To put into perspective, I don't believe there has been a bootloader unlock for Verizon Notes 2-4 and Galaxy S4-5 (which would allow one to natively run AOSP without Safestrap) so the likelihood is low.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

I've read a lot, still no clue how to root on 5.1

I've read a lot of guides both on this forum and using google. Some are saying to wipe the phone completely and flash SuperSU through TWRP, some are saying there is a chainfire auto-root method. Why am I like the only one confused? I just received my Nexus 5 (I know I'm late in the game), and updated to 5.1. I would like to root, but don't really know what the best way is. Should I just wait on a new, easier way that is currently in the development process?
Also I am reading I'd have to go back to stock to get any new OTA updates, and I read that can be kind of a PITA. So do you think root is still worth it? Honestly I just want viper4android, Adaway, and Greenify. That's it.
Thanks for the help and sorry for probably a very redundant question.

tuffluck said:
I've read a lot of guides both on this forum and using google. Some are saying to wipe the phone completely and flash SuperSU through TWRP, some are saying there is a chainfire auto-root method. Why am I like the only one confused? I just received my Nexus 5 (I know I'm late in the game), and updated to 5.1. I would like to root, but don't really know what the best way is. Should I just wait on a new, easier way that is currently in the development process?
Also I am reading I'd have to go back to stock to get any new OTA updates, and I read that can be kind of a PITA. So do you think root is still worth it? Honestly I just want viper4android, Adaway, and Greenify. That's it.
Thanks for the help and sorry for probably a very redundant question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As long as you're familiar with adb/fastboot run the following:
Code:
[U]From Bootloader[/U]
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery [URL="https://dl.twrp.me/hammerhead/twrp-2.8.6.1-hammerhead.img"]twrp-2.8.6.1-hammerhead.img[/URL]
Boot into recovery....
[U]From Recovery[/U]
adb sideload [URL="https://download.chainfire.eu/696/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip?retrieve_file=1"]UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip[/URL]

tuffluck said:
I've read a lot of guides both on this forum and using google. Some are saying to wipe the phone completely and flash SuperSU through TWRP, some are saying there is a chainfire auto-root method. Why am I like the only one confused? I just received my Nexus 5 (I know I'm late in the game), and updated to 5.1. I would like to root, but don't really know what the best way is. Should I just wait on a new, easier way that is currently in the development process?
Also I am reading I'd have to go back to stock to get any new OTA updates, and I read that can be kind of a PITA. So do you think root is still worth it? Honestly I just want viper4android, Adaway, and Greenify. That's it.
Thanks for the help and sorry for probably a very redundant question.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Both are right. There is a manual way (flashing SuperSU through TWRP) and there is an "automated" way (the chainfire auto-root). Pick your poison.
The manual way will most likely wipe your device because the "unlock" step does that. I'm honestly not sure about the auto-root method, but I'm going to guess it probably also wipes.
As for OTA, yes, you need a stock recovery to get OTA, because.... well... the OTA uses the stock recovery to update. Most people are of the mind that if you're the type of person who flashes a custom recovery like TWRP, you're also the type of person who doesn't care about OTAs (the .zip is typically posted here within hours of the OTA going live anyway).
There are risks and drawbacks to any kind of hacking of your phone. Risks obviously include bricking, but the drawbacks usually include having to wipe and reinstall things once in a while, and also the lack of OTAs. Pick your poison.

fosser2 said:
As long as you're familiar with adb/fastboot run the following:
Code:
[U]From Bootloader[/U]
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery [URL="https://dl.twrp.me/hammerhead/twrp-2.8.6.1-hammerhead.img"]twrp-2.8.6.1-hammerhead.img[/URL]
Boot into recovery....
[U]From Recovery[/U]
adb sideload [URL="https://download.chainfire.eu/696/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip?retrieve_file=1"]UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.46.zip[/URL]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Being a Nexus device this process is pretty straightforward and does not need all of the utilities to obtain root

MM update with root

Hi,
apologies if this has been asked before. I have received messages to update to marshmallow OTA, but my phone has an unlocked bootloader and is rooted. From what I understand the bootloader is not a problem, but the rooted phone is. I have also seen references to TCRW recovery, but I'm not sure if I have that (I forget now how I rooted the phone...)
So what steps should I take in order to update? Is it easier to just download and flash the MM firmware directly, or should I unroot the phone and then do it OTA? Easy instructions for either approach would be much appreciated!
Thanks.

eelgc said:
Hi,
apologies if this has been asked before. I have received messages to update to marshmallow OTA, but my phone has an unlocked bootloader and is rooted. From what I understand the bootloader is not a problem, but the rooted phone is. I have also seen references to TCRW recovery, but I'm not sure if I have that (I forget now how I rooted the phone...)
So what steps should I take in order to update? Is it easier to just download and flash the MM firmware directly, or should I unroot the phone and then do it OTA? Easy instructions for either approach would be much appreciated!
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need stock recovery and an unrooted phone to apply the update. You can flash stock MM firmware and then get the OTA. WAIT FOR SOMETIME.

Hi, thanks for the reply. Is there any way of unrooting without relocking the bootloader? It would make it easier to reroot once I upgrade to MM I imagine, but all the instructions I can find online do both - any links to a reliable set of instructions would also be appreciated!

eelgc said:
Hi, thanks for the reply. Is there any way of unrooting without relocking the bootloader? It would make it easier to reroot once I upgrade to MM I imagine, but all the instructions I can find online do both - any links to a reliable set of instructions would also be appreciated!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do not, actually can not, relock the bootloader. You just need stock recovery, meaning no TWRP, and remove root and any significant changes made to the system with root.
There are no real instructions needed and it kind in some ways depends what you have done with root... if you have done heavy modifications to /system then you might as well just reflash the factory image. If you have done only a handful things, you MIGHT be able to take the OTA if you undo them, such as remove Xposed and it's modules, use the SuperSU app to do a full unroot (it's an option in the menu, just look for it), and you have to find the stock recovery for you device and flash it with fastboot.
There is no step-by-step tutorial because every situation is different, everyone does different things to their phone... If you are unsure you can do it, perhaps just flashing the factory image will do what you need? It will wipe everything, but nothing you can do will lock/relock your bootloader.

Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. Some of the links I found implied that you could relock the bootloader (with 'fastboot oem lock begin'), but in any case, I think that step can be skipped anyway, and everything else seems straightforward.
I actually haven't done anything with root except install adaway (from what I remember! nothing fancy in any case), and am still on stock firmware, so will just do as you suggest and unroot with supersu and flash the stock firmware..
Cheers!
acejavelin said:
You do not, actually can not, relock the bootloader. You just need stock recovery, meaning no TWRP, and remove root and any significant changes made to the system with root.
There are no real instructions needed and it kind in some ways depends what you have done with root... if you have done heavy modifications to /system then you might as well just reflash the factory image. If you have done only a handful things, you MIGHT be able to take the OTA if you undo them, such as remove Xposed and it's modules, use the SuperSU app to do a full unroot (it's an option in the menu, just look for it), and you have to find the stock recovery for you device and flash it with fastboot.
There is no step-by-step tutorial because every situation is different, everyone does different things to their phone... If you are unsure you can do it, perhaps just flashing the factory image will do what you need? It will wipe everything, but nothing you can do will lock/relock your bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

eelgc said:
Thanks for the explanation, that makes sense. Some of the links I found implied that you could relock the bootloader (with 'fastboot oem lock begin'), but in any case, I think that step can be skipped anyway, and everything else seems straightforward.
I actually haven't done anything with root except install adaway (from what I remember! nothing fancy in any case), and am still on stock firmware, so will just do as you suggest and unroot with supersu and flash the stock firmware..
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Relocking the bootloader was possible with some older Moto G models, but I believe everyone with the 3rd Gen that has tried it has failed. Make sure any tutorials or guides you use are for the Moto G 3rd Generation or 2015 model, although previous models are similar there are definite differences.

I just ordered Moto G Turbo (which is probably the same as the normal Moto G 2015 phone.)
Quick question: I would like to keep it as stock, since it is for my parents' use. If I update it to the latest OTA (6.x), will I lose ability to unlock the BL?
Coming from the Droid's background, unlocking the BL is a complicated affair. But I hear things are simpler with the 'normal' Motos.