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Why root and unlock the bootloader?

I have only rooted unlocked the bootloader on a acer a100 7" tab and kept the oringinal stock os but, it only cost $150.00. I have also rooted and nvflashed a Viewsonic G tab but, I did not have to unlock a bootloader. The reason I did not install a custom rom on the Acer a100 was because I did not see any great improvements over the original stock. The Viewsonic however was a different story. The custom roms all the way from froyo to JB has made this tabby 1000% better than it ever was but, with nvflash I could restore it to original condition and send it to Viewsonic for warranty repair or replacement. Will nvflashing the TF700 allow me to do that? Are the custom rom that are out that much better than the Asus JB update? .I can understand rooting because I can install SuperSU, and I think but not sure (i believe I read this will require unlocking the bootloader) a custom recovery so I can backup the boot.img and all apps and install apps that require root. Sorry if this question has be asked but did not get any results when inputting this question that related to the TF700. Thanks
ps: my TF700 is being delivered tomorrow.

lartomar2002 said:
I have only rooted unlocked the bootloader on a acer a100 7" tab and kept the oringinal stock os but, it only cost $150.00. I have also rooted and nvflashed a Viewsonic G tab but, I did not have to unlock a bootloader. The reason I did not install a custom rom on the Acer a100 was because I did not see any great improvements over the original stock. The Viewsonic however was a different story. The custom roms all the way from froyo to JB has made this tabby 1000% better than it ever was but, with nvflash I could restore it to original condition and send it to Viewsonic for warranty repair or replacement. Will nvflashing the TF700 allow me to do that? Are the custom rom that are out that much better than the Asus JB update? .I can understand rooting because I can install SuperSU, and I think but not sure (i believe I read this will require unlocking the bootloader) a custom recovery so I can backup the boot.img and all apps and install apps that require root. Sorry if this question has be asked but did not get any results when inputting this question that related to the TF700. Thanks
ps: my TF700 is being delivered tomorrow.
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OK, see if I can make this short and clear:
1. If you rooted, you can roll back to original factory state (send back for repair or exchange), with root you can installed rooted application like Titanium backup, setCPU, modify boot.prop, gps.conf etc...)
2. If you unlocked (you void warranty, there is NO WAY you could re lock your device), with unlock you could install NVflash, install custom recovery to do nanodroid backup (backup the OS and all the apps), flash custom rom/kernel etc..
3. If you compare a good device (a device without problem), that running stock JB and custom rom, the speed is about almost the same, the only benefit with custom rom is you could install custom apps, themes etc..but as far as performance and smoothness they about the same.
I found that strip down custom rom like "Cleanrom" does have an advantage with memory since all the bloats are removed, so I have more memory available to the OS. In my opinion, this thing should have 2gb of memory vs 1gb. There are many times, my memory went down below 150 and I do feel the sluggishness. To combat against this issue, I installed memory management app and it's been good since.

buhohitr said:
OK, see if I can make this short and clear:
1. If you rooted, you can roll back to original factory state (send back for repair or exchange), with root you can installed rooted application like Titanium backup, setCPU, modify boot.prop, gps.conf etc...)
2. If you unlocked (you void warranty, there is NO WAY you could re lock your device), with unlock you could install NVflash, install custom recovery to do nanodroid backup (backup the OS and all the apps), flash custom rom/kernel etc..
3. If you compare a good device (a device without problem), that running stock JB and custom rom, the speed is about almost the same, the only benefit with custom rom is you could install custom apps, themes etc..but as far as performance and smoothness they about the same.
I found that strip down custom rom like "Cleanrom" does have an advantage with memory since all the bloats are removed, so I have more memory available to the OS. In my opinion, this thing should have 2gb of memory vs 1gb. There are many times, my memory went down below 150 and I do feel the sluggishness. To combat against this issue, I installed memory management app and it's been good since.
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Click to collapse
Thank you, you were clear and concise. About memory though, could I not use an app like System Tuner Pro or System Cleanup to uninstall the bloatware? I have done that with the Viewsonic G tab it only has 512mb of ram and the developers have squeezed JB into it with approx 100mb of ram left to allow for the different things it has to do. As long as you do not have to many things running at the same time and try to keep recent apps cleared out, JB runs very smoothly.

lartomar2002 said:
Thank you, you were clear and concise. About memory though, could I not use an app like System Tuner Pro or System Cleanup to uninstall the bloatware? I have done that with the Viewsonic G tab it only has 512mb of ram and the developers have squeezed JB into it with approx 100mb of ram left to allow for the different things it has to do. As long as you do not have to many things running at the same time and try to keep recent apps cleared out, JB runs very smoothly.
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Click to collapse
If your device is not rooted, you should not have access to the folders these apps' files reside in. In other words: no, you can't. To me, having root access provides a means of treating my device like I want to, instead of the way the manufacturer wants me to. Apps like Titanium Backup provide data backup and the possibility to side-load easily. And indeed you could kill off bloatware, although a custom ROM mostly takes care of that issue for you. Oh, and Total Commander needs root access to be able to transfer files to and from both the internal and external memory.

MartyHulskemper said:
If your device is not rooted, you should not have access to the folders these apps' files reside in. In other words: no, you can't. To me, having root access provides a means of treating my device like I want to, instead of the way the manufacturer wants me to. Apps like Titanium Backup provide data backup and the possibility to side-load easily. And indeed you could kill off bloatware, although a custom ROM mostly takes care of that issue for you. Oh, and Total Commander needs root access to be able to transfer files to and from both the internal and external memory.[/QUOTEto
Thank you. I had pretty much decided to root which is not a big problem for me. I have done it to 3 or 4 tablets already. I am how ever concerned about unlocking the bootloader and voiding the warranty. I had to return one tablet for warranty work but by nvflashing it I was able to get it back to factory condition. May in the future someone will figure a way around the Asus block, then I will unlock it. I have faith in the xda community.
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Click to collapse

lartomar2002 said:
MartyHulskemper said:
If your device is not rooted, you should not have access to the folders these apps' files reside in. In other words: no, you can't. To me, having root access provides a means of treating my device like I want to, instead of the way the manufacturer wants me to. Apps like Titanium Backup provide data backup and the possibility to side-load easily. And indeed you could kill off bloatware, although a custom ROM mostly takes care of that issue for you. Oh, and Total Commander needs root access to be able to transfer files to and from both the internal and external memory.[/QUOTEto
Thank you. I had pretty much decided to root which is not a big problem for me. I have done it to 3 or 4 tablets already. I am how ever concerned about unlocking the bootloader and voiding the warranty. I had to return one tablet for warranty work but by nvflashing it I was able to get it back to factory condition. May in the future someone will figure a way around the Asus block, then I will unlock it. I have faith in the xda community.
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Click to collapse
Due to the level of encryption, the unlock tool will not be available by third parties. The encryption will not be circumvened, unless ASUS posts the key due to end-of-life. There's a thread somewhere in which we already discussed this. It comes down to either unlock (and you might as well do it now and get the best performance -- the current CleanROM flies!) or not unlock (ever).
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Click to collapse

MartyHulskemper said:
lartomar2002 said:
Due to the level of encryption, the unlock tool will not be available by third parties. The encryption will not be circumvened, unless ASUS posts the key due to end-of-life. There's a thread somewhere in which we already discussed this. It comes down to either unlock (and you might as well do it now and get the best performance -- the current CleanROM flies!) or not unlock (ever).
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Thank you. You have given me the push I needed to unlock and root but first I would like to install the nvflash. I did it once with a Viewsonic G tab but if I recall it was not this complicated. I have a Win7 64 bit pc and I am not sure which of the 3 drivers I am suppose to use. I have posted in their comment section so hopefully they will get back to me. I have never had to use ADB but I found a web site "ADB for Dummies" that has a guide and a link to download the ADB drivers, not sure how old they are or if they need to be updated. I have only read of "fastboot" in some post but it never pertained to me so I ignored it. As you can see I have some boning up to do. If you could point be to some threads or pages that might speed this along I would greatly appreciate it. Many of you have several months head start on me. Thanks
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I think the best one is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901479, although that is probaby the one you are referring to posting in. Their guides are pretty extensive and cover most issues nicely, but I had one issue I cannot find in the others' posts: I have to restart the adb server before any meaningful connection is made between my x64 W7 machine and the 700. Somehow, it hangs up when it should initialize. It's not ftal, but supremely annoying. Just browse to the platform-tools directory, (SHIFT+)right-click and choose " Open command window here", and input the following commands in there: "adb kill-server" and "adb start-server" whenever you get the message complaining about "too much links"
If you get stuck, you can PM me -- I am going on a vacation, but, knowing me, I'll be in here more than is good for me.

MartyHulskemper said:
I think the best one is here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1901479, although that is probaby the one you are referring to posting in. Their guides are pretty extensive and cover most issues nicely, but I had one issue I cannot find in the others' posts: I have to restart the adb server before any meaningful connection is made between my x64 W7 machine and the 700. Somehow, it hangs up when it should initialize. It's not ftal, but supremely annoying. Just browse to the platform-tools directory, (SHIFT+)right-click and choose " Open command window here", and input the following commands in there: "adb kill-server" and "adb start-server" whenever you get the message complaining about "too much links"
If you get stuck, you can PM me -- I am going on a vacation, but, knowing me, I'll be in here more than is good for me.
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Click to collapse
Yes that is the one. I am going to call it quits for today I have been at this for 8 hrs already.

A few questions about the GNote 10.1

Hey guys. Currently ruling this up on my S3.
I am in the market for a tablet...currently I have the transformer infinity. The sluggishness of the tablet really gets to me...so I was looking into this particular one.
I'm curious about warranty void issues. My Asus has to be unlocked which completely voids the warranty forever to install any type of custom ROM. Is that the case with this one? I know my S3 can be re locked and stock firmware flashed via Odin in case of the warranty claims.
Also performance wise...any sluggishness or anything? Thanks guys!
Sent from my SCH-I535 using xda app-developers app

All devices if rooted will lose its warranty as far as uprooting it I think it can be done but not sure there are some threads on that but you only root it if you are not happy with the original rom or are a developer the Samsung original rom is pretty good and with jb update even better unlike the same prime so you won't need to root ir

Its fairly easy to unroot and return to stock, just like your S3...
Sluggishness, with 2gb of ram?!!
Are you serious, this thing flies... With the new JB release it is blazingly quick... No sluggishness at all, remember it is made to run more than one app at a time side by side.

samir_a said:
but you only root it if you are not happy with the original rom or are a developer the Samsung original rom is pretty good and with jb update even better unlike the same prime so you won't need to root ir
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Sorry to say, but that is nonsense... I use the original JB 4.1.1 rom and I rooted my device although I have no intention to install a custom rom.
But there is a significant set of apps which require root as the implement functions which need root.
- Titanium backup (to make a real complete backup of the device)
- Renzhi safe/LUKS Manager or EFS (to be able to mount encypted volumes into the file system and use them as "normal subdirs")
- AdFree (to modify the host file in the system partition to easily block unwanted ad sites on system level)
- BetterBatteryStats (to get proper usage stats)
and so on.
So there are many reasons to root the device.
As the original rom can be reapplied easily via Odin, I do not see the warranty problem. And in Germany, I doubt that a warranty case can be denied if there is a hardware failure. Of course, if you brick the device during rooting, that's bad luck.

yes I agree if you only root and use the stock rom it does not do any harm, but I still prefer not to do that because I think again correct me if I am wrong I will end up losing all my apps and data if I unroot or install another rom

Consider yourself corrected...
Depends upon a few things... Unrooting will not get rid of your apps and settings... It simply removes the files that allow it to be rooted. And if you simply root your stock rom it's easy to unroot (through su app to then reflash the stock recovery, nothing of which will delete anything you've done to your tab.
ROMs on the other hand are a whole different ballgame.... Though I have found that using the same rom version (jb - jb) doesn't always reset back everything either...

[Q] Suggestions for safe 'wiping'?

I bought a used XT925 today. While the previous owner did go to some trouble to clean it, it still has a bunch of apps and some settings that I really don't want. Also, as a privacy paranoiac, I'm worried that there may be something malicious (however slight the possibility).
The device is rooted and running JB 4.1.2. I would love to factory reset it but having read a few reports of people losing root or worse (here, here, here and here, to list just a few) that plan seems ill-advised.
I've been toying with trying to script some kind of fs compare against a fs from a rom, but I'm not sure if this is even feasible. So far the only other thing I can think of to do is uninstall all the apps and manually sift through and delete all the other junk in the filesystem.
Does anyone have any suggestions on returning my device to the most "virgin" state possible while retaining root?

triplexdoubledadevelopers said:
I bought a used XT925 today. While the previous owner did go to some trouble to clean it, it still has a bunch of apps and some settings that I really don't want. Also, as a privacy paranoiac, I'm worried that there may be something malicious (however slight the possibility).
The device is rooted and running JB 4.1.2. I would love to factory reset it but having read a few reports of people losing root or worse (here, here, here and here, to list just a few) that plan seems ill-advised.
I've been toying with trying to script some kind of fs compare against a fs from a rom, but I'm not sure if this is even feasible. So far the only other thing I can think of to do is uninstall all the apps and manually sift through and delete all the other junk in the filesystem.
Does anyone have any suggestions on returning my device to the most "virgin" state possible while retaining root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Simplest way is to use RSD Lite to send your device back to stock 4.1.2 -- then you can use the recently posted root method to gain root back. It should take < 15 minutes to do, most of that spent flashing with RSDLite. It'll actually take longer to download all the ADB drivers, Moto drivers, etc -- if you don't have them already.

triplexdoubledadevelopers said:
I bought a used XT925 today. While the previous owner did go to some trouble to clean it, it still has a bunch of apps and some settings that I really don't want. Also, as a privacy paranoiac, I'm worried that there may be something malicious (however slight the possibility).
The device is rooted and running JB 4.1.2. I would love to factory reset it but having read a few reports of people losing root or worse (here, here, here and here, to list just a few) that plan seems ill-advised.
I've been toying with trying to script some kind of fs compare against a fs from a rom, but I'm not sure if this is even feasible. So far the only other thing I can think of to do is uninstall all the apps and manually sift through and delete all the other junk in the filesystem.
Does anyone have any suggestions on returning my device to the most "virgin" state possible while retaining root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Whats up,
Cpudan80 is right, your best bet is to flash stock 4.1.2, and to reroot. And it does take about 15 minutes if you don't already have drivers and stuff, but I can help you out, by linking you to my utility, which essentially does the heavy lifting of finding all of the programs and stuff, and puts it together into one convenient package.
Find it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2241788

Cpudan80 said:
Simplest way is to use RSD Lite to send your device back to stock 4.1.2 -- then you can use the recently posted root method to gain root back.
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Click to collapse
Mr.Parkinson said:
Cpudan80 is right, your best bet is to flash stock 4.1.2, and to reroot.
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Click to collapse
Thanks for the replies! Would you link me to that root method, Cpudan80? All of the root methods I've been able to find say that you must flash 4.0 or CWM first in order to root, then protect root and upgrade to JB again. Is there a new better way which doesn't require downgrading?

triplexdoubledadevelopers said:
Thanks for the replies! Would you link me to that root method, Cpudan80? All of the root methods I've been able to find say that you must flash 4.0 or CWM first in order to root, then protect root and upgrade to JB again. Is there a new better way which doesn't require downgrading?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a thread on here somewhere -- but here's the thread I followed (after using RSDLite to go back to clean 4.1.2). No hard steps at all, just run a bat file - press enter and viola - you're rooted.
http://www.droidrzr.com/index.php/topic/15208-root-motochopper-yet-another-android-root-exploit/

Cpudan80 said:
There's a thread on here somewhere -- but here's the thread I followed (after using RSDLite to go back to clean 4.1.2). No hard steps at all, just run a bat file - press enter and viola - you're rooted.
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Click to collapse
Amazing, thanks! I had seen that exploit at one point when I was considering getting an earlier RAZR version and was looking into how easy it was to root it. I thought that exploit didn't work with the XT925 since there was no link to it in the forum (and searches only revealed many tales of failed root attempts and downgrades). Thanks again!

[Q] Security of rooted android devices

Hello!
I have some basic questions about the security of rooted android devices. I'm running Cyanogenmod 11 actually on my SGS3. Of course I rooted it to install custom Recovery and ROM. So is there any possibility for an App to get Root Access without recognition?
I dont need the Root access anymore, I only wanted to install Cyanogenmod and thats it. What to do to fully unroot Cyanogen?
Another question:
If i have enabled "only install from trusted sources" am I safe? Or could there be sort of drive-by-downloads for example on this site sometimes i get the pop-up "your phone has (13) viruses, click ok ...".
Yeah thats it, I'm a little bit paranoid especially according to my passwords, are they safe!?
Thanks a lot and Greets from Germany!

Can anyone help me?

RedMr said:
Hello!
I have some basic questions about the security of rooted android devices. I'm running Cyanogenmod 11 actually on my SGS3. Of course I rooted it to install custom Recovery and ROM. So is there any possibility for an App to get Root Access without recognition?
I dont need the Root access anymore, I only wanted to install Cyanogenmod and thats it. What to do to fully unroot Cyanogen?
Another question:
If i have enabled "only install from trusted sources" am I safe? Or could there be sort of drive-by-downloads for example on this site sometimes i get the pop-up "your phone has (13) viruses, click ok ...".
Yeah thats it, I'm a little bit paranoid especially according to my passwords, are they safe!?
Thanks a lot and Greets from Germany!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, how do you define 'safe'? Nothing is ever really 'safe'.
I'm not sure if it is possible for an app to get root permissions without having the device 'rooted' first.
If you see your device restart(ed), it could have been done by some exploit in an app. But you have to have downloaded and run that app first. But don't rely on my answer on this one, my knowledge of this is not enough to give you an proper satisfying answer.
To unroot your phone just bring the phone back to factory state. This will reset everything on your phone back to normal.
If you want to be really sure, flash the original rom with KIES, which will restore your phone back to it was when you bought it.
Then put some recovery on it like TWRP or CWM and install CyanogenMod with it.
Maybe you could even use the stock Samsung recovery to install CyanogenMod, but I've never tried this so I am not sure this will work.
For the 2nd question:
The popups you are referring to are probably just advertisements. The same crappy things you get on a pc without an adblocker.
But for an adblocker to work, you probably need root.
From my perspective, there is no really being 'safe' without taking the necessary security precautions, but in most cases they require root access to work properly.
About your passwords:
If you are really paranoid about them being stolen from your phone, don't store them, period.
I would suggest AFWall+, which is a firewall based on IPTables (which are fully configurable to your own liking) and don't give any apps internet that don't need it.
Hope I could be of some assistance.

Just got a new Z3 and want to root

So I just got my new Sony Xperia Z3 but unfortunately it's D6603 model so no 32GB goodness which means I probably need Link2SD as I'll end up with probably about 10GB user available storage after all the updated which means I need to root.
I haven't even turned the phone on yet, it's still sitting there charging, but let's assume for a moment that it's not yet on Lollipop and still running KitKat which should mean I have various easy rooting methods at my disposal, right?
So what I'm asking is what would be the easiest (and most universal/in other words covering the most versions) root I could use.
I don't care about custom this or whatever, I want to keep my phone as stock as possible, I just want to be able to use Link2SD and maybe Titanium Backup, so if possible I'd prefer not to add a custom recovery or mess with anything beyond getting root access for those 2 apps.
I know I will have to check the bootloader first (I assume it's already unlocked though given the phone it's an international version that isn't carrier locked but that's a different problem anyways). But after that is there a recommended one-click root to use that alters as little as possible and covers as many android versions as possible? Or something almost as easy?
I don't want easy because my technical knowledge is lacking by the way, I want easy because the fewer steps there are the less I can screw up and I'm terrified of bricking the phone....so terrified I've resisted rooting my previous two android phones even after getting replacement phones, but I really need Link2SD now.

Should I use Kingroot and then replace the king Super User app with normal SuperuserSU?
Can I still keep root by doing a PC update instead of an OTA one?

SCHUMI_4EVER said:
Should I use Kingroot and then replace the king Super User app with normal SuperuserSU?
Can I still keep root by doing a PC update instead of an OTA one?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Search forums. You can have Z3 rooted on both locked and unlocked bootloaders or or install custom fw.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

use kingroot with chainfire's supersu

ondrejvaroscak said:
Search forums. You can have Z3 rooted on both locked and unlocked bootloaders or or install custom fw.
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know there are many options, I was hoping to be pointed to what someone considers the ideal easy way. My very problem was that I was inundated by potential rooting options but many either modified more than I would have liked or some seemed suspect/too good to be true (no way there are 30 accepted one-click root programs for this phone) so I'd been hoping someone would help me find the right tree in the forest of options I was looking at.
Anyways today I finally turned the phone on and to my great dismay found that it was already fully up to date (well our local network OTA updates may be a revision or 2 behind international updates) and running Lollipop 5.02 and I gave up all hope then there but Kingroot looked so easy that I decided to try it anyways and to my great surprise and tremendous delight it worked perfectly. Downloaded rootchecker and I'm fully rooted. Tried Link2SD and I'm extremely pleased to say that I have all of Asphalt 8 - Airborne's massive bulk as well as Spiderman Unlimited taking up space on my SD card and most of my user available internal storage remains unused.
I think I'm going to stay with KingRoot's app though and not switch to SuperSU, I don't want there to be any chance of losing this root access (I know it shouldn't happen but I desperately need Link2SD to stay happy so I don't want to rock the boat in any way).
So I guess this thread can be closed now.

Black Plague said:
use kingroot with chainfire's supersu
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Click to collapse
Thanks. I ended up using Kingroot before this already because when I turned the phone on for the first time I saw that it was already on 5.02 which I thought made it unrootable (without a custom rom, but I may have missread something somewhere) so I decided give it a Hail Mary try and it worked!!
I think I'm going to stick with KingRoot's app though and not replace it with SuperSU, I just don't want to rock the boat and lose that root access (I know it can be done without losing it, but I'm super paranoid).

SCHUMI_4EVER said:
Thanks. I ended up using Kingroot before this already because when I turned the phone on for the first time I saw that it was already on 5.02 which I thought made it unrootable (without a custom rom, but I may have missread something somewhere) so I decided give it a Hail Mary try and it worked!!
I think I'm going to stick with KingRoot's app though and not replace it with SuperSU, I just don't want to rock the boat and lose that root access (I know it can be done without losing it, but I'm super paranoid).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would be more paranoid about using quite unknown app instead of rock solid and proven SuperSU..
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk

ondrejvaroscak said:
I would be more paranoid about using quite unknown app instead of rock solid and proven SuperSU..
Sent from my D6603 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't have anything sensitive on my phone, I'd prefer they didn't spy on me of course but as far as I'm concerned they can have every shred of info they want. All I need is root access for Link2SD, I don't need the rock-solid and proven SuperSU for that and I don't want any more features incase that offers more.
Since KingRoot has given my phone a chance at a decent life I'm willing to trust them until being shown info to the contrary (and I mean more than just them knowing my IMEI number).

SCHUMI_4EVER said:
Thanks. I ended up using Kingroot before this already because when I turned the phone on for the first time I saw that it was already on 5.02 which I thought made it unrootable (without a custom rom, but I may have missread something somewhere) so I decided give it a Hail Mary try and it worked!!
I think I'm going to stick with KingRoot's app though and not replace it with SuperSU, I just don't want to rock the boat and lose that root access (I know it can be done without losing it, but I'm super paranoid).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Easy bro, relax la, do you want to stick with kingroot super user ? its ok but if u flash chainfire's super su, u can uninstall that kinguser

Black Plague said:
Easy bro, relax la, do you want to stick with kingroot super user ? its ok but if u flash chainfire's super su, u can uninstall that kinguser
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Besides having the more trusted app what would I gain from SuperSU? Does it to do more? Besides the engrish the Super User app from Kingroot seems fine.
Can SuperSU also unroot my phone again (should I need to warranty claim) and also try to keep the root permanent even when updates happen (which Kingroot apparently tries to do even if it likely won't work)?
Oh by the way one more question with regards to rooting. Back when I had my Xperia neo apparently OTA updates would make you lose root but doing an update via the Sony PC companion program could maintain the root...is that still the case? Or do I lose root no matter what now?

Pc companion is a worthless pos. Believe me. Look for alts, anything that works with android to your liking. You'll be much happier. Kingroot is not needed AT ALL. Plus I don't like the fact it calls home. Reminds me of the latest lenovo fiasco where programs within the bios are calling home-wtf! Use the tested working giefroot, flashtool, xzdr stuff. My 2cents