Database Info

[Q] Root + CWM without unlocking bootloader?

Hello, is there any possible way how to root Nexus S GSM ICS 4.0.4 without unlocking my bootloader.
I made it once when I wanted to update from 4.0.3 to 4.0.4 by using UnlockRoot and then instaling CWM via RomManager, but after update my recovery/CWM doesn't work, I am just getting a "dead" android with red triangle above him. It a bit wierd because I still have superuser app,but RomManager is not able to install CWM.

For as far as I know it's not possible.
I updated my NS to 4.0.4 from 4.0.3 by unlocking the Bootloader and flash CWM on it, from CWM I flashed the update to 4.0.4 and it works like a charm.
The "dead" android you see is for as I know another bug of 4.0.3, the recovery mode simply does not work.
If you are going to unlock the bootloader, please create a backup of everything, also your internal memory (photo's, videos, music etc.) Since the whole phone will be whiped.

Ok, i might be wrong but does lock on booting screen mean that my bootloader is locked? Someone told me that it says that my bootloader is unlocked...I lil'bit confused and lost
And maybe last question: Is it possible to flash CWM via Odin like other samsung devices?

Lock on the Google screen means it is unlocked. And AFAIK you can root and flash ROMs without unlocking.

ok, thanks for providing info.
Now i have to solve my not working recovery, is there any stock CWM kernel?

If you see the dead android with the red triangle above it, just hold the power button and press the vol.+ button and you'll see your recovery

Note that the padlock is actually open, hence "unlocked". Locked bootloaders show no padlock at all.
I believe there is -currently- no "official" way to root 4.0.4 without unlocking the bootloader, so i wouldn't count on it considering we have a relockable bootloader (and hence don't need exploits).

Still having prob with recovery, i flashed it via adb fastboot, but after restart is my CWM lost (really not there) again

Rename /system/etc/install-recovery.sh to something else.

problem with recovery
I also see a dead android but in my case backlight also dies out and when I press vol up + power button, phone just reboots

The official 4.0.3 has the recovery broken.
As the recovery mode cannot be used, I think unlocking bootloader then flash CWM recovery become a must.

Harbb said:
Rename /system/etc/install-recovery.sh to something else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, i will try but right now i have to fix my superuser app, it's gone mad, it is not asking about permission, some apps gets it, but my root explorer not...i tried to reinstall root expl. but it didn't help, tried to delete SU data and nothing, still not getting permission for r.exp.

There is an exploit that you could use you to get root without unlocking BL or wiping phone. I used it myself and it was super easy. Unfortunately, the exploit was closed in 4.0.4(so I've heard).
If you can find a way to revert to an earlier ICS or GB check out the link below:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1479831
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

if your bootloader is unlocked it should say : “LOCK STATE – UNLOCKED”.
If you have a dead android and exclamation mark, it is the stock recovery. Press volume down + power button + volume up, in order. This will give you the stock recovery.
For some reason the new ICS update still has the 2.3.6 security.
use this http://nexusshacks.com/nexus-s-hacks/how-to-force-your-nexus-s-into-clockworkmod-recovery/
to flash CWM Recovery

About this thread topic, is there any way to root without unlocking?
When I was in 2.3.6 I had my phone rooted without unlock, but lost root after the ICS update althought I still have the Superuser app in my apps even after a factory reset, so I assume it was installed as a system app.
Can I do anything to regain root now that I have Superuser already installed?

Ok, i might be wrong but does lock on booting screen mean that my bootloader is locked? Someone told me that it says that my bootloader is unlocked...I lil'bit confused and lost <br />
<br />
And maybe last question: Is it possible to flash CWM via Odin like other samsung devices?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lock on boot screen = unlocked
I think you can flash cwm via odin or you can try flash the cwm 5.0.1.0 via rom manager, it works for me...
Here's CWM 5.0.2.8
http://dl.xda-developers.com/attach...1/2/4/CWM.Touch.Recovery.5.0.8.2.Carebear.zip
sent from my nexus s - xda

thanks guys i will try it i hope it will work

naveen bailey said:
I also see a dead android but in my case backlight also dies out and when I press vol up + power button, phone just reboots
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First press volume down + power + volume up. This gets you into STOCK recovery.
Since ICS has a problem with the CWM recovery loading up. You can force it to go into recovery.
Heres how
type this in cmd prompt (Make sure your command prompt search is in the correct folder. Press shift and right click on your folder you have your img in. Than click run command prompt in the list): fastboot flash recovery <RECOVERY IMG>
download my IMG uploated below for the latest recovery

[Q] Lost rooting access

Hi.
I recently upgraded my phone to ics 4.0.4 from 2.3.6. After i upgraded i tried to use superuser to grant root application to an app and it says i did not have root Access. I tried unrooting my phone back to the stock os but clock work recovery kept giving me error 7. Is there any other way i can regain my root privileges again?
Using nexus s 19020A. Thanks in advance

Use a newer clockwork recovery (v5.0.2.0 or later). You'll need to flash this manually through fastboot.

If you still got cwm recovery installed flash the latest su.zip

I have the same issue. I successfully unlocked my ns4g but can't seem to root it (or at least root check says so). every time i run su.zip through fastboot my screen shows the green android guy on his back with an open panel on his stomach and a red triangle with an "!" in it. Anyone have any idea how i can fix this?

ghurley777 said:
I have the same issue. I successfully unlocked my ns4g but can't seem to root it (or at least root check says so). every time i run su.zip through fastboot my screen shows the green android guy on his back with an open panel on his stomach and a red triangle with an "!" in it. Anyone have any idea how i can fix this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have to flash the superuser in cwm, not run it from fastboot

DeuXGod said:
You have to flash the superuser in cwm, not run it from fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry i sort of mistyped. I start the phone in fastboot, then scroll to recovery and then i get the android guy with the "!". I used to be able to get into CWM when i would run the SU.zip which seemed to do nothing. After it didn't root the first time i tried a few things and now i dont seem to even have CWM. Is there a way to get the phone back to stock so i can start over and try again? Or is there a way to root it seeing that im already unlocked? BTW thanks for the response.

If you have bootloader unlocked, flash cwm from fastboot. After that you enter in cwm and flash the su package

[Q] cannot boot into recovery after flashing JB

My goal today was to go from firmware .26 to JB. First I installed NVflash to be safe. I also had Rootkeeper running to preserve root. After installing NVflash I flashed firmware file .30 from the ASUS site on my external SD card. All went well but I lost root and was not able to get it back with Rootkeeper. With firmware .30 I was able to boot into stock recovery OK. I had TWRP recovery on the .26 firmware. Anyway I flashed JB with the update from ASUS website on my external SD card as I did earlier with .30. The problem now is that I cannot get into recovery. When I attempt to get into recovery the furthest it goes is to the green android figure laying on it's back with a black exclamation on a red triangle. There is nothing else on the screen. After about 5 minutes the tablet boots up on it's own or will boot right away if I hold the power button down. I need to get into recovery so I can root again. I would appreciate any assistance. Sorry for the long post and I hope it's not too confusing. Thanks

You need to flash the latest twrp via fastboot from a pc

sbdags said:
You need to flash the latest twrp via fastboot from a pc
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That did the trick. I'm back in business. Thank you very much.

Device stuck in bootloop?

Hi guys,
So this is my first post but I've been on XDA for a long time. I've been looking for an answer to this problem, and I haven't been successful in finding a post that regards to my situation...
Ok so I just got my tablet today. I upgraded to JB and then I unlocked it using the asus unlocker. I attempted to install TWRP, but when I use .blob files and attempt to load into recovery it didn't work. Anyway, I looked around and I installed CWM recovery instead.
I installed v5.5.0.4 following this guide:
http://theunlockr.com/2012/05/25/how-to-install-clockworkmod-recovery-on-asus-transformer-tf300t/
Now, I notice it's written back in may of 2012 aka before jelly bean... anyway so I installed this using fast boot, and booted into recovery and it worked. I believe I installed the ICS version of CWM. I tried to install Clean Rom v3.3 and I just get bootloops. I can still boot into fastboot and clockwork mod fine.
I tried to install v6.0.1.4 via this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846554
But once again if I boot into recovery it just does nothing and reboots after a few seconds.
I re-installed v5.5.0.4 and I can wipe data/install everything just as I normally would, and I still have access to Fastboot. Can I get some help on how I can 1 install the correct CWM and 2 install a working rom? I don't think I bricked my device just yet since I can still flash in fastboot etc.
Thanks guys!

You cant't wipe data from bootloader menu, If you do that, you will get unrecoverable brick.

Sorry I believe I mislead you -> I wiped data from within CWM.
Anyway, I used this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1757077
I went back to stock and I think i'll stay there for a little while longer, this process made me nervous (I've rooted my thunderbolt, droid DNA, galaxy tab 2 7" and my friends phones) so anyway I believe I installed the wrong CWM and that caused errors trying to install a JB rom on a ICS CWM... If you have any insight let me know...

undergfx said:
Hi guys,
So this is my first post but I've been on XDA for a long time. I've been looking for an answer to this problem, and I haven't been successful in finding a post that regards to my situation...
Ok so I just got my tablet today. I upgraded to JB and then I unlocked it using the asus unlocker. I attempted to install TWRP, but when I use .blob files and attempt to load into recovery it didn't work. Anyway, I looked around and I installed CWM recovery instead.
I installed v5.5.0.4 following this guide:
http://theunlockr.com/2012/05/25/how-to-install-clockworkmod-recovery-on-asus-transformer-tf300t/
Now, I notice it's written back in may of 2012 aka before jelly bean... anyway so I installed this using fast boot, and booted into recovery and it worked. I believe I installed the ICS version of CWM. I tried to install Clean Rom v3.3 and I just get bootloops. I can still boot into fastboot and clockwork mod fine.
I tried to install v6.0.1.4 via this thread http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1846554
But once again if I boot into recovery it just does nothing and reboots after a few seconds.
I re-installed v5.5.0.4 and I can wipe data/install everything just as I normally would, and I still have access to Fastboot. Can I get some help on how I can 1 install the correct CWM and 2 install a working rom? I don't think I bricked my device just yet since I can still flash in fastboot etc.
Thanks guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My suggestion is to flash the latest stock JB blob.
fastboot -i 0x0B05 flash system blob
fastboot -i 0x0B05 reboot
Once you get it sorted then flash the latest twrp for jb.

Now, when I try flashing blobs and I go to boot into RCK (I believe that's the term...) it just reboots the tablet instead of booting into recovery.
Android software is out of my element, if this was some C (somewhat similar to C) or Matlab I would better understand (I'm a senior Mechanical Engineer in college)
Edit:
Ah didn't see your post. I did what you recommended, and actually, while my device said it was on 4.1.1 JB, when I hold pwr/vol down I see a completely different menu now than last time, so I wonder if perhaps my OTA didn't correctly load everything from the firmware update hmm...

undergfx said:
Now, when I try flashing blobs and I go to boot into RCK (I believe that's the term...) it just reboots the tablet instead of booting into recovery.
Android software is out of my element, if this was some C (somewhat similar to C) or Matlab I would better understand (I'm a senior Mechanical Engineer in college)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same way you flashed cwm.
Windows? Start - in search type cmd - press enter
In the cmd window cd to the directory with fastboot.
Hook cable between tablet and usb port on computer.
On tablet hold power and volume down till you see the bootloader menu.
Down volume till you are at the usb symbol - then volume up.
This should put you into fastboot mode - use the commands above.
Wait till the first command completes before you give the second command.
[INDEX][04 Feb 2013]TF300T & TG-INDEX of Roms/Dev Guides/Kernels/Recoveries/etc. You will find the stock firmware here as well as most other needs.
You will have to unzip to get the blob which you should place in the directory with fastboot.

Thank you very much.
So after flashing the most resent blob, I successfully installed CWM recovery and successfully flashed a rom. I'm not sure what the issue was before. Thank you for the help! much appreciated.

undergfx said:
Thank you very much.
So after flashing the most resent blob, I successfully installed CWM recovery and successfully flashed a rom. I'm not sure what the issue was before. Thank you for the help! much appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're welcome.
Good Luck!

[Q] Need help recovering my S3 -- TWRP ADB Sideload not working

I pulled a boneheaded move and ended up formatting my phone from within the TWRP menu. Now the stock operating system is gone.
I wanted to put on one of the Gummy Nightly builds, but I'm new to TWRP and selected the wrong options while wiping.
So now I have the Gummy ROM on my PC, the phone is connected to my PC and in TWRP (in the advanced adb sideload feature), but adb will not recognize my phone.
When I check device manager, SAMSUNG_Android_SCH-I535 is there, but with a yellow "cauton" symbol. When I look at properties, it tells me that "The drivers for this device are not installed (Code 28).
I went out to the Samsung page and got the exe to unpack drivers on my machine... I've tried "update driver" and pointing to the root of the directory containing the Samsung drivers, but my PC claims none of them are applicable.
So what I'm looking for here is:
(1) How do I get this ROM on my phone so that I can install the zip and have a working OS again?
(2) Assuming that using the ADB Sideload feature of TWRP is my best option, how do I get the device drivers for my galaxy s3 installed to my windows 8 PC and get adb to detect it?
Thanks in advance.

Ok, so it seems to have gotten worse.
I cannot get my windows installation to recognize the phone without it being able to boot an android OS, it seems.
I had it in TWRP 2.6.0.0, but as I was trying to reboot to see if I could get into download mode (my thought being to change out TWRP for Clockwork; I seem to remember Clockwork Recovery having a "mount as USB" option which TWRP seems to lack), it tried to root the file system.
After that, the screen went black and nothing happened... the phone was unresponsive. I would remove the battery and replace it to have it vibrate once and then not respond to any key presses.
I removed the battery, SD card, and SIM card, replacing only the battery and got it to turn on and show a Samsung Galaxy SIII logo... but it's just sitting there... I'm assuming it's frozen because there's no OS to boot on the internal storage.
Please help me recover my phone!

Ok, so I've found I can still get into download mode, but not into recovery.
Recovery seems to lead to a black screen with nothing on it.
Trying to boot normally leads to the statis Samsung Galaxy SIII logo.
Can I fix my phone from the download menu?
Please help me.

Install kies and at the end of the install make sure you check install unified drivers. Then flash root66 through Odin. After that you should be good to install ROMs again.

ThePagel said:
Install kies and at the end of the install make sure you check install unified drivers. Then flash root66 through Odin. After that you should be good to install ROMs again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply!
Sorry, I'm a little out of date on the flashing and stuff -- I was just over in the thread where the poster thought he half softbricked his phone and was asking about 4.1.2 vs. 4.3
I see this at the top of my screen sitting here in download mode:
ODIN MODE
PRODUCT NAME: SCH-I535
CUSTOM BINARY DOWNLOAD: YES (6 counts)
CURRENT BINARY: Custom
SYSTEM STATUS: Custom
QUALCOMM SECUREBOOT: ENABLE
It seems my bootloader got relocked somehow -- is this why my phone just goes to black screen when I attempt to boot into recovery -- even if I have TWRP or CWR installed? Odin claims I just pushed philz custom CWR to my PDA section, but it still won't go into recovery.
What are my options here?

You are pre 4.3 I'll help you more in the morning if no one else does first.

ThePagel said:
You are pre 4.3 I'll help you more in the morning if no one else does first.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks -- I appreciate that someone's willing to help! Googling stuff is just getting me more and more confused.
I'll stay tuned for help and turn off my phone so I don't screw things up further in the meantime.
My desired result here, I think is to have my bootloader remain unlocked (as I was under the impression it was, since I was running TWRP with rooted stock ROM), with CWR as the custom recovery software and Gummy as my current ROM.
Side note: I've noticed I don't even get a battery indicator on the main screen now when I press the home button -- is this because of whatever's causing my recovery to not work (and the potential lack of an OS)?
Thanks in advance.

corrosivefrost said:
Ok, thanks -- I appreciate that someone's willing to help! Googling stuff is just getting me more and more confused.
I'll stay tuned for help and turn off my phone so I don't screw things up further in the meantime.
My desired result here, I think is to have my bootloader remain unlocked (as I was under the impression it was, since I was running TWRP with rooted stock ROM), with CWR as the custom recovery software and Gummy as my current ROM.
Side note: I've noticed I don't even get a battery indicator on the main screen now when I press the home button -- is this because of whatever's causing my recovery to not work (and the potential lack of an OS)?
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Once you in download mode, can your Odin see your phone?

buhohitr said:
Once you in download mode, can your Odin see your phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe it can. After TWRP stopped working, I tried to replace it with CWR and the digital flash count went up (Odin showed no errors on the flash) -- recovery still won't work though, holding vol+/home/power simply gives me a black screen after I see the SAMSUNG logo with the recovery boot text in the upper left.

corrosivefrost said:
I believe it can. After TWRP stopped working, I tried to replace it with CWR and the digital flash count went up (Odin showed no errors on the flash) -- recovery still won't work though, holding vol+/home/power simply gives me a black screen after I see the SAMSUNG logo with the recovery boot text in the upper left.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What stock version do you have on your phone right now?

buhohitr said:
What stock version do you have on your phone right now?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
None? :silly:
I think before this fiasco, it was running whatever version was previous to the new VZW update.
It was the fact that the new update was trying to install and failing repeatedly (because my bootloader was unlocked, I think?) that prompted me to look into finally switching to a ROM. However, my unfamiliarity with TWRP led to me formatting my phone (everything, it seems, including the SD card)... so I'm not really sure what' "on the phone right now". :\
I'm really not sure what kind of state anything is in at this point -- other than Odin seemingly working and being able to get into download mode.
Again, short version of what happened:
(1) Accidentally did a full wipe (factory reset?) in TWRP -- this wiped the ROM I was going to install with TWRP off the phone.
(2) While trying to ADB sideload from TWRP and telling TWRP to reboot, TWRP tried to install supersu.
(3) After (2), I was unable to get back into recovery mode. I got into Odin and tried to flash philz customer clockwork recovery and it seemed successful. Reboot and attempt to enter recovery still fails. Samsung logo with recovery mode text appears, but then the screen goes black.
(4) Normal boot leaves the screen stuck on the Samsung Galaxy SIII logo indefinitely.

corrosivefrost said:
None? :silly:
I think before this fiasco, it was running whatever version was previous to the new VZW update.
It was the fact that the new update was trying to install and failing repeatedly (because my bootloader was unlocked, I think?) that prompted me to look into finally switching to a ROM. However, my unfamiliarity with TWRP led to me formatting my phone (everything, it seems, including the SD card)... so I'm not really sure what' "on the phone right now". :\
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, download this image and flash with Odin(you should be using Odin version 3.07) http://goo.im/devs/invisiblek/i535/stock.vzw_root66.tar This should bring your phone back from the dead.
Edit: after you have your phone up and running, download goo manager and install cwm recovery since your phone is pre rooted already.

buhohitr said:
OK, download this image and flash with Odin(you should be using Odin version 3.07) http://goo.im/devs/invisiblek/i535/stock.vzw_root66.tar This should bring your phone back from the dead.
Edit: after you have your phone up and running, download goo manager and install cwm recovery since your phone is pre rooted already.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, that looks like some version of the stock vzw ROM with root already installed?
This is what ThePagel seemed to recommend as well before I ended up with more questions about what was going on before I did it.
What part of Odin do I flash to? PDA again, just like a custom recovery?

​
corrosivefrost said:
Ok, that looks like some version of the stock vzw ROM with root already installed?
This is what ThePagel seemed to recommend as well before I ended up with more questions about what was going on before I did it.
What part of Odin do I flash to? PDA again, just like a custom recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's pre rooted stock image and yes flash with PDA.

buhohitr said:
​
Yes, it's pre rooted stock image and yes flash with PDA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Standard auto-reboot and f_reset_time options? nothing else necessary?

corrosivefrost said:
Standard auto-reboot and f_reset_time options? nothing else necessary?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Correct. When you click on PDA and select the image, give it time to showup in Odin cause the size is big.

buhohitr said:
Correct. When you click on PDA and select the image, give it time to showup in Odin cause the size is big.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, I'll give it a shot and report back.
Thank you!

corrosivefrost said:
Alright, I'll give it a shot and report back.
Thank you!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If that doesn't work you'll need to flash the bootchain first. I don't have a link but I could find it if you need to use it.

ThePagel said:
If that doesn't work you'll need to flash the bootchain first. I don't have a link but I could find it if you need to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes if the bootloader is still locked he needs boot chain can be found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046439

ThePagel said:
If that doesn't work you'll need to flash the bootchain first. I don't have a link but I could find it if you need to use it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It did work! Hooray!
buhohitr said:
Yes if the bootloader is still locked he needs boot chain can be found here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2046439
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Didn't need to go that far -- but now that I'm back up and running, signed into google play, and downloaded goo manager, can you point me in the right direction for getting it to install cwm recovery?
Thanks guys!