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[Q] Quick Root Questions

I have never rooted an android device before. I have read several of the posts in this forum on the subject and have a few questions before I start:
1. I am still on ED1. Should I upgrade to EE4 before I root?
2. I was going to follow this guide. Is this the best way?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1122657
3. Before doing this, I want to make sure I know how to get my phone back to stock in case I have a problem. Do you just use the Odin full restore?
4. I was thinking about installing a voodoo lagfix kernal. Is the difference worth it?
5. (Voodoo Lagfix Kernals) I also read that once you flash a lagfix kernal, if you (accidentally) try to install any future OTA updates you will brick your phone. Is this true? Is there a way to disable the update nag screen so that I don't accidentally hit the upgrade button?
Thanks for the time.
Brian

What about just question #1? I am 99% sure that I should OTA upgrade to EE4 before doing anything, but I want to make sure. Please help.
Thanks,
Brian

1 & 2. Yes. Accept the OTA update to EE4 so that you get the new basebands, then follow the steps in the link you posted.
You can find all the kernels and roms you want in the development section. The basic steps are: Download Odin, download CWM, download kernel, download rom, flash CWM with odin, flash kernel with cwm, flash rom with cwm. (flashing roms is optional, but you need to Odin CWM and flash a kernel in order to get permanent root.)
3. The steps here are the best way to get back to factory stock with no root: http://www.mydroidworld.com/forums/...harge-full-factory-tar-flashing-software.html (I would do a wipe and whatnot to be safe and also make sure you have lagfix disabled so you're back to the rfs filesystem)
4. I think the vodoo lagfix makes a difference. I would recommend it.
5. I don't know if accepting an OTA update while running the voodoo kernel will brick your phone for sure, but there is a way to disable the OTA update notifications. I read it somewhere in these forums, but I don't remember where. If I find it then I'll share the link.

Thanks man. +1 to you

[Q] Noob rooting with ODIN and counter

I'm really confused.
I have not rooted my Skyrocket yet but am itching to do so.
I'm confused about the ROM counter and yellow ! symbol. From what I understand the ! symbol and counter increases when you flash a non-stock ROM using ODIN.
This thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1340526 claims that flashing the recovery partition to CWM will not increment the counter. From there you can install superuser and ROMS through CWM and be safe from the counter.
However this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342348 says that flashing back to a stock AT&T ROM and even installing CWM using ODIN will increment the counter (see my post starting at #98) contradicting what the other thread says.
I'm moving this discussion here to avoid plugging up the Developers section.
Can someone please clear this up before I trip the counter?
Thanks!
Todd

The counter is going to trip so .. just dont worry about it

OP... are you on 2.3.5 or 2.3.6? I rooted my stock 2.3.5 with SuperOneClick 2.2, then did the OTA 2.3.6 update and retained root... and my counter did not trip. If on 2.3.5, SuperOneClick 2.2 should still work... then take the OTA 2.3.6 update.
Sent from my SAMSUNG-SGH-I727 using XDA App

DoctorQMM said:
OP... are you on 2.3.5 or 2.3.6? I rooted my stock 2.3.5 with SuperOneClick 2.2, then did the OTA 2.3.6 update and retained root... and my counter did not trip. If on 2.3.5, SuperOneClick 2.2 should still work... then take the OTA 2.3.6 update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Any thoughts on rooting 2.3.6? Mine updated as soon as it came out, and now the SuperOneClick didn't seem to work... I too am an Android noob, but trying to learn. Thanks to all out here on the forums!

Yes you have to use this.method http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1340526....but its going to trip the counter. But i say who cares

silver03wrx said:
Yes you have to use this.method http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1340526....but its going to trip the counter. But i say who cares
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
^^^
That thread specifically says it will NOT trigger the counter. That's why I am confused.
and i'm at 2.3.6, updated as soon as I powered on.

Yeah but it does ive used it mine was triggerd. And yeah like i said if your on 2.3.6 use thay method

counter?
Noobin to the enth degree brethren!!! What the heck is the "counter"? Please endulge my vanilla mind and to tell....

grhand82 said:
Noobin to the enth degree brethren!!! What the heck is the "counter"? Please endulge my vanilla mind and to tell....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Every time you flash a non-stock rom, a counter increments. Supposedly it is there so your carrier or Samsung techs can deny warranty claims if they see you have modified it.
The thread I referenced above isn't supposed to increment this counter as you are flashing the recovery partition, not the actual ROM.

daystrom said:
^^^
That thread specifically says it will NOT trigger the counter. That's why I am confused.
and i'm at 2.3.6, updated as soon as I powered on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used that method to root my 2.3.6 phone and it DID NOT trip the counter. I tried DooMLoRD's method and it didn't work on 2.3.6.
Just FYI though - My phone did a couple sleep deaths (where it would power off without warning while sitting idle). I had that problem with my Captivate and was not about to deal with it again on this phone. It also crashed and rebooted a couple times for no apparent reason during normal use.
Un-Rooting and returning to stock before exchange (still within the 30 days) was a total PITA!
Wound up having to do a factory reset a couple times and used odin to this put this stock recovery back in to remove CWM and root.
After all that trouble they didnt even look at the phone at the store, they just gave me a replacement.
I haven't updated to 2.3.6. on the replacement yet. I used this method to root my phone while still at 2.3.5 and it worked - full auto - one click as advertised. LOL!
---------- Post added at 06:17 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:13 PM ----------
I though the counter only tripped if you flashed a non stock KERNEL with ODIN.
I thought flashing custom ROMS via CWM recovery, not ODIN, did not trip counter.

Ginther,
Thanks for the info. That was informative.
Another question to anyone -
From what I have read, some say flashing any rom/kernal via ODIN will trip this counter (?)
If I wanted to return to a stock, non-rooted ROM and not trip the counter would this process work:
1. Download a stock flashable zipped up rom to the sdcard
2. Flash the stock rom using CWM
3. Install the stock recovery using ODIN
The "[MOD] ROOT | CWM | ODIN | SGH-I727 and SGH-I727R Skyrocket" post here claims flashing just the recovery will not trip the counter.
Thanks for any insight! I don't know why I fear the counter so much

Can anyone answer my post above ^^^^?

daystrom said:
Ginther,
Thanks for the info. That was informative.
Another question to anyone -
From what I have read, some say flashing any rom/kernal via ODIN will trip this counter (?)
If I wanted to return to a stock, non-rooted ROM and not trip the counter would this process work:
1. Download a stock flashable zipped up rom to the sdcard
2. Flash the stock rom using CWM
3. Install the stock recovery using ODIN
The "[MOD] ROOT | CWM | ODIN | SGH-I727 and SGH-I727R Skyrocket" post here claims flashing just the recovery will not trip the counter.
Thanks for any insight! I don't know why I fear the counter so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
daystrom said:
Can anyone answer my post above ^^^^?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those steps should work to get you back to a stockish form (2.3.5 would be box stock) without root. Whether or not that'll trip the counter I cant say for sure.
When I used ODIN to put the stock recovery listed above back in place - thus removing CWM recovery and root - it DID NOT trip the counter on my phone.
But it seems that some of these phones have different minds of their own so your mileage may vary... so attempt at your own risk.

I had a question about installing an OTA like 2.3.6 does this reset the counter? If so would it work to, use odin to flash and older Stock ROM then update via OTA, Kies, etc... thus allowing this process to reset the counter?

daystrom said:
Ginther,
Thanks for the info. That was informative.
Another question to anyone -
From what I have read, some say flashing any rom/kernal via ODIN will trip this counter (?)
If I wanted to return to a stock, non-rooted ROM and not trip the counter would this process work:
1. Download a stock flashable zipped up rom to the sdcard
2. Flash the stock rom using CWM
3. Install the stock recovery using ODIN
The "[MOD] ROOT | CWM | ODIN | SGH-I727 and SGH-I727R Skyrocket" post here claims flashing just the recovery will not trip the counter.
Thanks for any insight! I don't know why I fear the counter so much
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My experience is:
1. Flashing a Samsung 'official' stock ROM via ODIN will not trip the flash counter and will result in 'SAMSUNG OFFICIAL' being displayed on the download screen.
The only 'official' I-727 ROM I've found was UCKJ2 from: http://www.sammobile.com/firmware/?page=3&t=1&o=1&m=SGH-I727&r=5#regiona
Extract the HOME_SGH-I727user_CL626051_REV02.tar.md5 from the zip file and flash it with ODIN, you'll be back to stock, un-rooted, official UCJK2.
2. Flashing a non-official stock ROM via ODIN will trip the flash counter and result in 'CUSTOM' being displayed on the download screen.
The ROM flash that tripped my counter: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342348
3. Flashing anything with ODIN (official or custom built-- system, recovery, modems) that doesn't contain a kernel (boot.img) will not trip the flash counter. I've flashed the stock recovery in ODIN a number of times and it hasn't tripped the counter.
But as other's have stated, why worry about it? I've returned phones to AT&T and the folks in the store didn't have a clue about checking the flash counter.

cschmitt said:
My experience is:
1. Flashing a Samsung 'official' stock ROM via ODIN will not trip the flash counter and will result in 'SAMSUNG OFFICIAL' being displayed on the download screen.
The only 'official' I-727 ROM I've found was UCKJ2 from: http://www.sammobile.com/firmware/?page=3&t=1&o=1&m=SGH-I727&r=5#regiona
Extract the HOME_SGH-I727user_CL626051_REV02.tar.md5 from the zip file and flash it with ODIN, you'll be back to stock, un-rooted, official UCJK2.
2. Flashing a non-official stock ROM via ODIN will trip the flash counter and result in 'CUSTOM' being displayed on the download screen.
The ROM flash that tripped my counter: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342348
3. Flashing anything with ODIN (official or custom built-- system, recovery, modems) that doesn't contain a kernel (boot.img) will not trip the flash counter. I've flashed the stock recovery in ODIN a number of times and it hasn't tripped the counter.
But as other's have stated, why worry about it? I've returned phones to AT&T and the folks in the store didn't have a clue about checking the flash counter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was going to ask about all of that and you have answered my questions. Thank you so much!

[Q] Factory Data Reset and new question about recovery.

My SkyRocket is rooted and I have CWM installed. If I do a factory Data Reset from the "Privacy" menu within the phone will it set the phone back to its (out of the box) condition and will it take CWM off of the phone? The reason I am asking is because I have read several posts that claim you can not take an OTA update with CWM installed. I would like to have the option to remove CWM from the phone if it will not take the ICS OTA if / when it is finally released. If the factory data reset doesn't remove CWM from the phone, what is the best method of doing so (if it is needed for the OTA). Thank you.
Edit:
OK, I found a post in the "DEV" section with the original I727 factory ROM, which can be flashed via ODIN that should return the phone to its original "out of the box", unrooted, and CWM removed condition incase it is needed for the upcoming ICS update.
My question is: Is it possible to "just" reflash the "original factory recovery" part of the original ROM that came with the phone instead of reflashing the entire ROM, in effect, replacing CWM with the original recovery without disturbing the rest of the phone? This would basically be the reverse of how I installed CWM in the first place. Is this possible? Do the files (just the recovery part) for the 2.3.6 version of the original I727 (Skyrocket) exist in a flashable form file (TAR)? I don't care about the flash counter increasing because this isn't about returning the phone, it is about what might be needed to be done in preperation for an ICS OTA update. I figure these types of questions will only become more frequent the further into the first Quater of 2012 we get, so it will be an advantage to everyone to try and figure a few things out ahead of time. Thanks for any help in this matter.

scott14719 said:
My SkyRocket is rooted and I have CWM installed. If I do a factory Data Reset from the "Privacy" menu within the phone will it set the phone back to its (out of the box) condition and will it take CWM off of the phone? The reason I am asking is because I have read several posts that claim you can not take an OTA update with CWM installed. I would like to have the option to remove CWM from the phone if it will not take the ICS OTA if / when it is finally released. If the factory data reset doesn't remove CWM from the phone, what is the best method of doing so (if it is needed for the OTA). Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no.
factory reset will not touch your recovery, your kernel or your /system
it wipes /data which stores your settings/configuration/user-installed apps
it also wipes /cache
it does NOT touch the actual system ROM, so your root will remain intact, and your CWM will still be there.

Bump...because I added new question(s) to the OP. Thanks.

scott14719 said:
Bump...because I added new question(s) to the OP. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I'm not 100% sure, odin will flash back to a stock rom. However the tar that is around is a rogers rom. Ota updates should work.

mimart7 said:
While I'm not 100% sure, odin will flash back to a stock rom. However the tar that is around is a rogers rom. Ota updates should work.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is the thread that has the I727 and the Rogers TARs.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342348
These are supposed to bring the phones back to the "Out of the Box" condition if flashed through ODIN (if I read it correctly).
What I am looking for is a way (method) to just flash the recovery part of this back to the phone, basically replacing CWM with the phones original Recovery. A reversal of flashing CWM to replace the stock revovery in the first place.
I like CWM and plan to install it back to the phone after the ICS update, but from what I understand (and I know it isn't final until the ICS update is released and someone with CWM tries it), phones with CWM will not take OTA updates.
I am looking for a way to just reflash the "recovery" part so the rest of the phone will remain the same (keep root, data, and applications). A full stock TAR would erase all of that. I know programs like Titanium backup will back these things up and then replace them, but just replacing the "stock revovery" by itself would eliminate the need to do so and should be quicker and easier.
I am on 2.3.6 so it would need to be a working TAR that has the 2.3.6 stock recovery (only) for the AT&T SkyRocket. If it doesn't already exist, I would certainly be willing to "Donate" to a DEV that could create such a working TAR. I bet a 2.3.5 and Rogers version would be popular as well.
If this has been done or can be done please let me know. Thank you.

Read this thread... it has a link to the stock UCKJ2 recovery tar. Not sure if there is any difference between 2.3.5 recovery and 2.3.6 recovery, however. Hope this helps: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1360943

just download the ics rom and load it up when it comes out. it'll be the same rom but you'll still be rooted.

The stock recovery.tar here works on 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 in order to take an ota update you need to flash the stock recovery.tar with odin, and have all bloatware intact. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1360943

DoctorQMM said:
Read this thread... it has a link to the stock UCKJ2 recovery tar. Not sure if there is any difference between 2.3.5 recovery and 2.3.6 recovery, however. Hope this helps: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1360943
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
silver03wrx said:
The stock recovery.tar here works on 2.3.5 and 2.3.6 in order to take an ota update you need to flash the stock recovery.tar with odin, and have all bloatware intact. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1360943
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks to both of you. This is exactly what I was looking for. I may just wait for the ICS ROM to surface and flash it, but if I want to take the OTA ICS update, this will be very helpful. As promised, I will go and "Donate" to the person that provided this TAR. Again. thanks.

[Q] Questions about flashing the Jelly Bean leaks

I apologize if these have been asked already but I'm new to this process and I have a few questions.
I'm just trying to update to a (relatively) stock Jellybean build early. (VRBLK1)
I plan on following just Step 1 on this guide here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1974114
Will I need to be concerned about blocking OTA updates or can I receive them since it's a stock build?
Am I at risk for voiding my warranty/phone insurance from Verizon?
Can you point me in a direction towards how to backup my phone in case I'd like to reverse what I've done?

I suggest following section 1 of my guide. This way you can root your stock ics rom, flash a recvery, make a nandroid backup, then flash the VRBLK1 stock rooted rom scrosler has posted in the dev section from recovery.
Anytime you mod your device you voud the warranty. However thanks to section 5 of my guide you can get back to pure stock and verizon will never know you did anything.

Ok thank you. For some reason I was hesitant to install a custom recovery because I perceived it as making more changes to the phone and getting further from stock, but now I realize that it's the much smarter safer thing to do.
I'm in the process of installing CWM through EZ recovery right now. As per your guide. I like your guide because it allows me to make a recovery before installing Jelly bean which seems like the more reasonable thing to do. I can make a nandroid of my OS before doing anything odd. This brings me to my next question.
1. Can I install the No wipe Jelly bean rom leak VRBLK1 (from the original guide I posted) with this method?
2. What's this backing up the IMEI/EFS that I hear about? Should I follow this guide before installing the Rom? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1852255

[Q] how install firmware P3113UECLI4 OTA?

i see this firmware in this post http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2074458
how install in my tab p3113 please
i need root or clockworkmod recovery i dont know
sorry for my english i speak spanish

Dear baby tab owner..........
The instructions are clearly included in the thread you posted. There are tutorials in the general and development sections. Please read.

DigitalMD said:
Dear baby tab owner..........
The instructions are clearly included in the thread you posted. There are tutorials in the general and development sections. Please read.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, my question is if I need to install the recovery or I can use the recovery that brings the tablet without root or other recovery

if you're installingnstock Samsung firmware, or those leaked OTAs, you only need stock recovery, i'd advise you to odin flash the UK 4.1.1 version for the 3110 instead, those OTAs are unstable and odd, the first 4.1.1 ota boots and gives wifi and autobrightness issues, the latest 4.1.1 ota does not go past the tab 2 bootscreen, I'm running the uk 4.1.1 for the 3110 from Sammobile on my P3113, overall, everything works smooth.
Sent from my GT-P3110 using XDA Premium HD app

those are test firmwares, and if arent sure how to install them then perhaps you shouldnt. if there is a problem you are gonna have a hard time fixing it.

RESOLVED: the ODIN flash did work once i got the right tar file.
I tried flashing one of those firmwares for 4.1.1 which was only 357 MB and it got stuck at the boot screen, It seems I had bad instructions I followed with a link to an incomplete flash file, perhaps part 1 of a 2 part download. When it flashed it last said it was updating remaining files and then went back to the recovery, When I rebooted it stuck at the recovery even after a data wipe. I tried flashing a 3113 rooted stock rom and it gives me an E:signature verification failed. I used odin to flash the 4.04 stock rom which passes, but it still freezes at the boot screen even after a data wipe. Should I try flashing CWM recovery through odin to get around the signature verification or does someone know another procedure that has worked to get back to stock 4.04 from this condition. I have seen this mentioned a couple of times in the development threads with users indicating that they got back to stock, but without details of exactly how.
The firmware I apparently partially flashed was GT-P3113_P3113UECLI4-OTA-P3113UEBLH2_XAR_374372839
Also I was not able to see if usb debugging was enabled since I could not do anything but recovery or download modes on the tablet.