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[Q] Root on 2.3.6. Why root depends on kernel?

Can someone explain me why rooting a phone is not possible on all kernels? If I understand this correctly, rooting a phone basically means putting "su" program into firmware (and probably put something like SUID bit on it).
I know that on a new phone the original problem is that to install su you need to have write permissions for system partition which in turn requires root. This circle is normally broken by running an exploit or somehow else breaking into the system.
But once we have root on 2.3.4 and install CWM and 2.3.6, why isn't it possible to install "su" program there? What makes me feel completely stupid is the fact that it's possible to have root with custom kernel on the same firmware.

Dude, please update your information. It's possible, and it's getting the most popular method to root since we got CWM. Moreover there are at least 3 threads where it is written. So just go for it!

Ok, looks like my original vision was fully correct. Just got misleaded by some comments in the 2.3.6 thread. It IS really possible to just install superuser without changing the kernel or installing a custom kernel.

Oh yes it is just flash cam via odin, and then flash su via cwm and voila!

m.kochan10 said:
Oh yes it is just flash cam via odin, and then flash su via cwm and voila!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wish we knew it is so easy 2 months ago.

Indeed, but as far as I can remember we didn't have cwm then, just some rooted kernels.
This method itself is easy and pretty common among plenty android devices. That's the way I rooted my old htc incredible s (after I unlocked bootloader). But because cwm was sorely lacking it was a "no go".

[Q] nachoroot for first time rooter

I believe this is my first post on these forums. I just did the nachoroot mod today per
[ROOT] NachoRoot - supporting all firmware jan 3rd 2-118
and
[Update: Works On The OG Transformer, Too!] Exclusive: 'NachoRoot' Brings Root Access To The Transformer Prime, Even With The Newest Firmware:
on my TF101 B80 32 gb.
I did the procedure per the second link above. I've been able to verify root with Root Check Basic from the Android Market.
I've never rooted an Android device before and am quite concerned about unrooting, in case I ever need to return my unit to Asus.
I've heard I need cwm, the clockwork recovery mod, in order to unroot. I hope it is ok to do this after the initial rooting procedure.
Please pardon me if this has been asked before, as it my first time, and I find a lot of the documentation a bit cryptic.
Thanks in advance...

Yes the procedure to unroot with your build number required flashing a repacked stock ROM via CWM recovery. For TF with older SBK they can use NVFlash.
You can flash CWM anytime with RecoveryInstaller
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1346180
To unroot
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how-to-unroot-and-remove-cwm-recovery-on-asus-transformer/

Thanks fire the response!
I've managed to browse parts of the file system previously blocked. Otherwise, I haven't made another changes to my system. Its nice to finally where some of my apps have been storing data.
I am curious about cwm which I've installed. It enables recovery mode to restore the stock ROM. It is one of the two options presented after holding the power and volume down buttons together. One option is cold boot and the other is recovery. The recovery option was there before nachoroot and the cwm installations. What is different about the recovery option now versus before?

skallal said:
Thanks fire the response!
I've managed to browse parts of the file system previously blocked. Otherwise, I haven't made another changes to my system. Its nice to finally where some of my apps have been storing data.
I am curious about cwm which I've installed. It enables recovery mode to restore the stock ROM. It is one of the two options presented after holding the power and volume down buttons together. One option is cold boot and the other is recovery. The recovery option was there before nachoroot and the cwm installations. What is different about the recovery option now versus before?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you sure you have flashed CWM recovery? You should have a lot more options.
After installing RecoveryInstaller, did you open the app and click on "flash CWM recovery" tab?

I didn't click on the flash tab because I don't intend do recovery at this time. To be clear I understand what recovery is, I think it means to return my TF101 back to an unrooted state with the current ota release, which is .23, and also wipe out all my data. If this is incorrect, please let me know.
You said I should see more options than just the flash tab. What else should I see? And when should I see it?
Now that I've successfully rooted, my main objective is to learn how to return my device back to its unrooted state in order be ready for the ICS ota update when it arrives. If that means I'll also wipe out my data in the process, then I'll need to learn how to backup and restore.
Please do let me know if I understand the process or not. I still have have a reading and learning ahead.

Recovery lets you flash packages, ROM patches, and complete ROMs that require very deep (i.e. low level) system access.
If you don't intend to flash any custom ROMs (e.g. Revolver) or install things that need low level system access (e.g. a USB to Ethernet adapter) you won't need to flash CWM.

One of the admins on Transformer Forums gave me the impression I need cwm to unroot my TF101. That is the only reason I downloaded it.
If I don't need cwm to unroot, then I'll focus my reading on unrooting link listed earlier in this thread.
I don't have any interest in other roms, at least not for now. My concern, for now, is unrooting when it comes time for the ICS update...

baseballfanz said:
Yes the procedure to unroot with your build number required flashing a repacked stock ROM via CWM recovery. For TF with older SBK they can use NVFlash.
You can flash CWM anytime with RecoveryInstaller
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1346180
To unroot
http://theunlockr.com/2011/11/28/how-to-unroot-and-remove-cwm-recovery-on-asus-transformer/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The second link above (theunlockr.com) refers to old firmware (repacked-8.2.3.13_US_without_SU_app.zip).
Is that file already outdated?
Perhaps a newer version for .21?

Well it all depends on your serial number. Early builds (B60 and earlier plus some B70) you can use NVFlash to get back to totally stock.
If you have B80(and some B70) and above you'll need cwm recovery to get back to stock following the link i posted above.

I finally watched the video from your earlier post and it answered a quite a few questions.
Bottom line: when it comes time to update to ICS, do I need to unroot first?
The ICS update is my main reason for unrooting. I read for some users lost root after the last ota update to .21. I don't have any immediate need to unroot other than to prepare for the ICS update when yet comes.
And there's also a long term need unroot when and if I ever send the unit back to Asus for service.

How to remove ClockWorkMod Recovery?

Several months ago I purchased a NS4G on Craigslist. I wanted to use it as an iPod touch without the data. It came rooted with SuperUser. The phone keeps prompting me to OTA to 2.3.7 (it's currently on 2.3.5) I used Gingerbreak to unroot and it worked, SuperUser is now gone. However, ClockWorkMod Recovery is still present and 2.3.7 won't install. The phone reboots, goes to about 1/3 of the progress bar, and then fails. I just want to get the phone on completely stock 2.3.7, in preparation for the coming 4.0 OTA.
Hopefully the solution doesn't involve flashing a custom ROM, I've never done that before. Thanks!!

No need to get it OTA, you can just flash the stock ICS ROM found in the stickies of the development forum of this phone. Of course follow instructions closely.
Sent from my Nexus S using xda premium

But I'm selling it and need it to be completely 100% original and stock, which is what the buyer requested..

You want to use fastboot to flash a stock recovery. Peter Alfonso has them all listed on his site.

Thanks. I'm really not familiar with fastboot, and is there any way you could give me a link with instructions or the files I need? My build number is GRJ90.
And if there's anyway for me to avoid a rooted stock ROM, that'd be great. Just pure stock 2.3.7.

The stock image on Rom manager has the recovery bootloader included.

Flash a stock gb rom from cwm. You will find a list of them in either general or android development threads, not sure which. Completely stock, unrooted and as far as I remember the stock recovery is included. If not then the person will never know anyway as if someone doesn't want any non stock features then they won't know how to get to recovery anyway.
Actually I don't think they have stock recovery. Just flash the stock rom and then fastboot flash the stock recovery like was mentioned above. All you need to type is:
Fastboot flash recovery xxxxx.img
Xxxxx.img is the name of the image file you download.

Don't cheat the buyer...Tell him exactly what he's buying...And that you returned thedevice back to stock again.It's just not worth it.

Simple root for the i9023 with 4.0.4?

Has anyone tried to root their i9023 with 4.0.4 using doomlord's easy rooting toolkit? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1321582
I tried it when I had 2.3.6 and it worked perfectly but want to update to 4.0.4 now.
If doomlord's doesn't work, is there any similar one click rooting? Also, when I rooted, it didn't erase my data and apps. Will that be the same? Thanks

I guess not. Been searching and couldn't find a non-destructive one and one as a simple click without needing cwm.

There's none that I am aware of. However, it's not really that complicated to flash the right SU zip, and if you don't want to flash cwm you can simply fastboot boot cwm.img and it will leave stock recovery intact and ready after you flashed everything.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA

Couple things if you're already rooted on gingerbread do a nandroid back up. Put that and anything else you want to keep on your computer. Unlock the bootloader and restore your backup and update.
Stop messing around and unlock the bootloader.

albundy2010 said:
Couple things if you're already rooted on gingerbread do a nandroid back up. Put that and anything else you want to keep on your computer. Unlock the bootloader and restore your backup and update.
Stop messing around and unlock the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How can he do a backup if the bootloader is locked = no cwm recovery? He's out of luck. Best thing he can do is backup the SD card and that's it. The rest is lost
Edit: failed to read sorry. Didn't notice the gingerbread part. Anyway if he's on stock and one clicked rooted he still doesn't have cwm so he can't make a nandroid, he can use titanium backup and save apps and data.
Sent from my
( •_•)
( •_•)>⌐■-■
Nexus S
(⌐■_■)
YYYYYYYEEEEEAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHH

If he is stock rooted he can flash cwm in the os. Either through rom manager or terminal

albundy2010 said:
If he is stock rooted he can flash cwm in the os. Either through rom manager or terminal
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought that locked bootloader prevented the flash of any kind of unsigned .img even if you have root.
Guess i was wrong ;D
That's what you get when your first step with an android phone is unlock the bootloader

Not a one size fits all. Some phones all you need is root to flash a custom recovery and roms/kernels.
Others it can be a mess. Like the HTC g2 or even now the one x on att. Got the entire s on/ s off encryption nonsense and so on.

DeuXGod said:
I thought that locked bootloader prevented the flash of any kind of unsigned .img even if you have root.
Guess i was wrong ;D
That's what you get when your first step with an android phone is unlock the bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He can flash a new recovery through the OS if he has root access only. Unlocked bootloader only provides fastboot support.
If you are fully stock (bootloader, recovery, no su), the only current way to root 4.0.4 is to have an unlocked bootloader.

albundy2010 said:
Not a one size fits all. Some phones all you need is root to flash a custom recovery and roms/kernels.
Others it can be a mess. Like the HTC g2 or even now the one x on att. Got the entire s on/ s off encryption nonsense and so on.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah that's what make my confusion. My old HTC Magic needed unlocked bootloader to flash a recovery.
Harbb said:
He can flash a new recovery through the OS if he has root access only. Unlocked bootloader only provides fastboot support.
If you are fully stock (bootloader, recovery, no su), the only current way to root 4.0.4 is to have an unlocked bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah about that i was pretty sure you needed unlocked bootloader, but about CWM flash i was convinced that you needed also unlocked bootloader, but as stated above, it's just for some devices.

Thank to all that responded. All this talk just flew over my head ... guess that's what I get for using simple one clicks
Let me try to straighten some stuff out.
How would I use titanium backup?
Do I titanium backup while it's still on gingerbread or after I OTA the ics 4.0.4?
Edit: duh! I can't use Ti backup after OTA ics because phone not rooted yet.
After backing up with Ti, I thought any attempt to root will erase all. Does the Ti backup not get erased?
Ti backup only backs up my app and the data to those apps, not how I customize my homescreen's widgets and notification bar, right?
So, I would have to do all that stuff over?
If I don't want to unlock bootloader or install cwm, any way to root and leave stock recovery intact?
Lazer Bear posted "if you don't want to flash cwm you can simply fastboot boot cwm.img and it will leave stock recovery intact and ready after you flashed everything."
Is that possible and how do I do it? Does that erase everything too?
Thanks to all!

bump

Rooting Nexus S [Help]

A while back, I always rooted and unrooted my Nexus S with no problems at all. Now whenever I try to root it, it just goes wrong. I've tried TWRP & CWM, CWM used to always work but now it just messes up. Both TWRP and CWM both give me an error that say Installation Aborted when I try to install a custom rom. I've redownloaded the rom from different browsers and even different PCs but nothing working, still that same error. Does anyone have a guide that is 100% to work without any errors during the process?

What guide are you using?

paul96 said:
What guide are you using?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used this one: http://nexusshacks.com/nexus-s-root/how-to-root-nexus-s-or-nexus-s-4g-on-ics-or-gingerbread/

1. Make sure you're running one the more recent versions of the custom recovery. You probably are but there are issues with older versions so just make sure.
2. Boot into what ever recovery you pick and do a full wipe. That is everything gets wiped but your SD card. Factory reset. Format /system etc.
3. Flash your ROM and gapps if they are seperate.
You should not get any errors. If your recovery is current and your flashing a new rom onto a fully wiped system and you still get a error either you're screwing something up or you may have a hardware problem.
To rule out a hw problem flash the factory images with fastboot. If those flash normally and everything works it is almost certainly user error.

albundy2010 said:
1. Make sure you're running one the more recent versions of the custom recovery. You probably are but there are issues with older versions so just make sure.
2. Boot into what ever recovery you pick and do a full wipe. That is everything gets wiped but your SD card. Factory reset. Format /system etc.
3. Flash your ROM and gapps if they are seperate.
You should not get any errors. If your recovery is current and your flashing a new rom onto a fully wiped system and you still get a error either you're screwing something up or you may have a hardware problem.
To rule out a hw problem flash the factory images with fastboot. If those flash normally and everything works it is almost certainly user error.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright, thanks Do you recommend that I root my Nexus S or should I wait for the Jelly Bean update? I've rooted before and I enjoyed it but now I don't see that many reasons to root, do you have any good reasons?

I have many. My reasons for root don't matter. If you don't have a reason for root then don't root. Its that simple really.
Make sure you're on a stock 4.0.4 rom. When the ota is out install it.
If you want just root on either os at any time just flash su.zip from custom recovery. Its that simple. Having root on a stock rom does not affect the ota process.

albundy2010 said:
I have many. My reasons for root don't matter. If you don't have a reason for root then don't root. Its that simple really.
Make sure you're on a stock 4.0.4 rom. When the ota is out install it.
If you want just root on either os at any time just flash su.zip from custom recovery. Its that simple. Having root on a stock rom does not affect the ota process.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are your reasons for root? Please share?

Getting rid of stuff I don't want in a ROM.
Apps that do things that require root.Titanium backup/autoruns adaway ( ad blocker app alone could be its one point) etc
Changing kernel settings. Bid/bin clocks volts etc.
Being able to have a replacement launcher use the ICS style widget drawer.
Lastly , I simply just can't see having a computer that I don't have root/admin rights to. Its my damn device and I do what I want.

albundy2010 said:
Getting rid of stuff I don't want in a ROM.
Apps that do things that require root.Titanium backup/autoruns adaway ( ad blocker app alone could be its one point) etc
Changing kernel settings. Bid/bin clocks volts etc.
Being able to have a replacement launcher use the ICS style widget drawer.
Lastly , I simply just can't see having a computer that I don't have root/admin rights to. Its my damn device and I do what I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh cool. There is this project that some members from XDA are working on called Sense4All and they are porting Sense to many devices. Im probably going to wait until a fully functionable release is available for the Nexus S. I do like AOKP a lot, so that might be a reason for why I'll root.

You seem to be a little confused with some terms. Root is simply being able to grant superuser permission.
You don't need to root to flash a custom rom on a nexus. Just a unblocked bootloader. You could run aokp or any other rom without root if you wanted to.

albundy2010 said:
You seem to be a little confused with some terms. Root is simply being able to grant superuser permission.
You don't need to root to flash a custom rom on a nexus. Just a unblocked bootloader. You could run aokp or any other rom without root if you wanted to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh, I never knew that, haha. Is it possible to flash a custom kernel with an unlocked bootloader or does that require root access?

m1l4droid said:
No you just need a custom recovery. But using that kernel's mods, like BLN, OC, UV, touchwake, etc, requires apps that need root, like NSTools, SetCPU, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh alright. Now I really wanna root + install a custom rom. Do any of you have a full 100% fully working guide for rooting Nexus S and which rom should I flash first? I already know what kernel I want.

http://forums.acsyndicate.net/showthread.php?2024-ACS-Nexus-S-One-Click-Root-V4-0

leap_ahead said:
http://forums.acsyndicate.net/showthread.php?2024-ACS-Nexus-S-One-Click-Root-V4-0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much! I rooted my phone with CWM recovery installed and Paranoid Android + gapps installed