Database Info

n00b rooting assistance - modified su utility

Hello all,
I've been a bit of a lurker this last couple of weeks since I ordered my HTC Magic and managed to last about a week after receiving it before trying to root it. I think the main part (taken from the Magic rooting wiki) went fine as I now have root from adb on my desktop PC.
However, in following the instructions for root access on the device from this page I seem to have come across a problem.
First of all, I can follow the instructions fine (most of the time I only get an echo of my command from adb), even getting the same su permissions as in the wiki, i.e.:
Code:
-rwsr-sr-x root root 76200 2009-05-30 11:28 su
However, giving the 'sync' command when asked to in those instructions gives me just an echo back of 'sync' (this may be normal, I'm not sure) and then when I enter "reboot" at the prompt the reply I get is "reboot: not found".
Even if I manually reboot the phone after this point, I still cannot get root at the terminal emulator on the phone.
So I have two questions: Firstly, does anyone know where I'm going wrong?
Secondly, is local root access necessary for flashing a new ROM (e.g. Ion) or is it only required for root apps (e.g. tether/overclocking apps)?

Bump bump...?

drewstiff said:
Hello all,
I've been a bit of a lurker this last couple of weeks since I ordered my HTC Magic and managed to last about a week after receiving it before trying to root it. I think the main part (taken from the Magic rooting wiki) went fine as I now have root from adb on my desktop PC.
However, in following the instructions for root access on the device from this page I seem to have come across a problem.
First of all, I can follow the instructions fine (most of the time I only get an echo of my command from adb), even getting the same su permissions as in the wiki, i.e.:
Code:
-rwsr-sr-x root root 76200 2009-05-30 11:28 su
However, giving the 'sync' command when asked to in those instructions gives me just an echo back of 'sync' (this may be normal, I'm not sure) and then when I enter "reboot" at the prompt the reply I get is "reboot: not found".
Even if I manually reboot the phone after this point, I still cannot get root at the terminal emulator on the phone.
So I have two questions: Firstly, does anyone know where I'm going wrong?
Secondly, is local root access necessary for flashing a new ROM (e.g. Ion) or is it only required for root apps (e.g. tether/overclocking apps)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same problem "reboot: not found" and I can't get su in terminal. I followed the EXACT instructions in the Wiki, on two brand new phones, and get the same result. Someone please advise.
One other thing: I noticed that the original su has -rwsr-xr-x permissions (instead of -rwsr-sr-x), and I am relly sure I didn't do anything to it. Does it make any difference? Are these things related?

I have this problem as well the reboot command doesn't work on my Magic either...

i believe the reboot command was taken out of 1.5
but so what. just switch the phone off. home-on. select reboot

Linux Working on Android

(I'm reposting this under a different title so web searches will bring it up)
I can get Ubuntu 11.04, 11.10 & Debian 6 to mount repeatedly in all sorts of ui updatable configurations using this information:
http://www.nerd65536.com/2011/07/ins...version-2.html
It's a friggin Christmas Miracle! Can't tell you how much time I've wasted working this out, and it all boils down to the sh and run scripts.
So, without further ado, here goes.
!!Make sure you're rooted!!
!!The quotes just tell you what to type. Don't type them!!
1.
Download one of the three builds on the website listed above (or build your own, it should work fine). Extract it from tar.bz2, they should all extract to a linux file, this includes the necessary scripts. Put it on the sd-card on your phone.
2.
Download the new scripts that (Nerd) listed found here: http://ohm.nerd65536.com/android-lin...latest.tar.bz2
And extract them. You'll have another file that says linux. Open it, take the three files inside (install.sh, root-scripts & scripts) and paste them in the linux folder you moved to your sd-card. They will overwrite the ones currently there. These scripts work for sgs4g, the originals did not.
3.
Install the latest BusyBox in both xbin and .bin if it's not already installed (must be rooted), Latest is 1.19.3. Make sure Outside Sources and USB debugging are both enabled in your settings menu. Open your Superuser App and update binaries.
4.
Download a terminal client, like Better Terminal Emulator or Android Terminal Emulator. I use the first. The terminal needs to run the commands as root, especially the linux vnc command as it didn't want to work for me no matter if I started by typing su. Better Terminal Emulator has a check box to always start in root.
5.
Open up your terminal emulator and type su if you are not rooted there. Then change directory to the linux file on the sd-card. run the sh file there.
Like this:
"su"
"cd /sdcard/linux"
"sh install.sh"
If it works, the resulting dialog in terminal won't throw up any problems.
6.
Get back to / on sd by typing in terminal:
"cd /"
You should then have a: / # prompt, which means you are still rooted.
Enter:
"linux"
Which should result in a: [email protected]:/#
This means Linux is running. Congratulations. It should continue to run unless you shut down your phone.
7.
Download a VNC client, like Android VNC Viewer (free) or Remote VNC Pro, which I use. Add a new entry in it, with the following settings:
Host: localhost
Port: 5901
Password: cheesecake
Color: 24-bit
Name: Linux
When that's done save if you can or back out if you can't, and go back to your terminal emulator.
8.
It should still say: [email protected]:/#
If it doesn't, fine, if it does, just go back to root prompt by typing:
"exit"
Which should get you: / #. Then type:
"linux vnc"
Which should run itself and mount the chroot environment. It should tell you your new 'X' desktop is localhost:1, and have a: / # prompt again.
It might also ask you for a password, if so then put whatever password you'll remember in that's longer than 6 characters and verify it. This only happens once.
9.
Go back to your VNC client and if you entered a password in step 8. then edit your listing to your password instead of cheesecake, if not then don't.
Click on the Linux link and BAM! (shameless Emerilism), you're at your Linux desktop which should be running a iceWM desktop interface, which is fast. The LXDE desktop is nicer and if you want that then go into you're terminal and get into the linux shell by typing:
"linux"
And then switch to LXDE by typing:
"apt-get autoremove icewm- lxde+"
Which will run through the removal/ installation, and verify you want to download the <400mb files. Type:
"y"
And give it time to finish. When finished, just go back to your VNC client and hit Linux again, and you will have a nice looking functional desktop, with a cpu load graph on the bottom. I tried using Gnome desktop and Unity 2d, but both of these would install and not fully run with all options. They are heavier and slower, but cool non-the-less. Let me know if anyone has luck with these on Android.
Notes-
You only have to type "linux vnc" once in terminal to start linux every time you boot your phone. Otherwise, just open your VNC client and click on Linux to use it. Easy!
You will want to update and upgrade your linux after install, do so by typing in terminal:
"apt-get update"
"apt-get upgrade"
Also, you might run across a problem if you try to add-apt-repository, that's because that python command is not present. To use it, enable by typing:
"apt-get install python-software-properties"
Also of note, the downloadable linux builds are sized to about 2.15gig on your sd, which is big enough for most. There is a way to resize them which I tried but it gave me trouble in loading. I will try again and see if I can get it to work.
Here's the link from Dangermouse:
http://www.androidfanatic.com/commun...atid=9&id=1610
Thanks to Nerd65536 for the info, write-up and files. He fixed my problem.

You might want to put quote or code tags around all the commands to make them easier to see and read, but good guide! I'll try it out soon since I haven't gotten any linux build to run on my phone in a good while.
Thanks for the post!

I wrote the post noob-style to make it easy for beginners to follow, as I've had to search and test forever to find information that works.
Let me know if you have any problems, I'd be happy to assist. Don't expect you'll have any issues with your knowledge of the os. It works pretty well on the Android system, fun to use.

wasn't this posted ages ago?

No, it's a bleed over from a question post I made under Q&A a week or so ago. I threaded this because I had such a hard time finding a thread with working steps for the Galaxy S under google search. There's not that much new from this post http://www.nerd65536.com/2011/07/in...showComment=1323566336074#c553594301247543088 by Nerd65536 (which took me forever to find and was the only one that worked). Other than that, just a few of my own thoughts and hints on the process.

krylon360 said:
wasn't this posted ages ago?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
meant to quote not thanks, but anyways, to answer.
There has been a few times this has been posted, but its been many months and this seems like the first the issues have been sorted.
Sent from my SGH-T959V using Tapatalk

Ok, a little more use of Linux builds on my phone and I'm starting to understand why it does or does not work.
Certain kernel builds seem to work well, others not at all. Most of the kernel's I've tried have been problematic, and trying to install the .sh file will fail.
When you install your new kernel (or on your existing one) you need to open your Superuser app which should be there if your phone is rooted. There is a button to update binaries, and they need to be updated. Some builds don't seem to let this work easily and give failure notifications.
Make sure Outside Sources is enabled and USB debugging is too, both are in the settings menu.
Use BusyBox installer to install in both the .bin and .xbin directories, this will not cause any conflicts (or hasn't yet . If this gives you an error, and it will if Superuser did, then either usb debugging has not been selected or the kernel is not playing nice.
Ok, so this kernel by RaverX3X will work for linux, I'm on it now:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1305145
(Thanks for this)

Oh yeah, and Back|Track5 Linux is working too
Fixing the packet injection for the Broadcom now.

sconsylman said:
Oh yeah, and Back|Track5 Linux is working too
Fixing the packet injection for the Broadcom now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
. Keep us posted on that. Should be pretty handy.

Wait. why do we need LInux to run on our phone?
Can someone explain?

Android doesn't come with most of what this has:
http://www.backtrack-linux.org/

I know, but why do we need it?
Enlighten me

airfluip1 said:
Wait. why do we need LInux to run on our phone?
Can someone explain?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen this comment on every single thread online regarding Linux on Android. It's a joke right?

*FIXED* Different superuser issue on JB?

Please read!! This is not the usual superuser issue I've seen in the past!
My Nexus S (9020t) seems to be running laggy after the jelly bean update, so i wanted to back a few things up but was unable as I couldn't get root access. Superuser says it's granted, but the apps are failing anyway. The su log shows that each app was granted access, but clearly something is getting lost in translation.
What should I do? Please help!
(and this is my first time posting, so i hope these pictures actually load)

You can try 2 things.
You can try the su binary compiled by wraithdu in the supercharger thread. See post 2.
It's not flashable.
I find it to be more responsive than the updated binary from within the Superuser app.
It may be because wraithdu's is only 18 kb while most other su binaries are about 380kb
Run it with script manager but it's pretty easy to do it in terminal as well... uhhh... well hopefully if you type "su" in terminal, you get the # prompt which indicates superuser mode.
The other option is to use SuperSU - but I dunno if that would work if you can't grant it superuser permissions lol

SOLVED!
zeppelinrox said:
You can try 2 things.
You can try the su binary compiled by wraithdu in the supercharger thread. See post 2.
It's not flashable.
I find it to be more responsive than the updated binary from within the Superuser app.
It may be because wraithdu's is only 18 kb while most other su binaries are about 380kb
Run it with script manager but it's pretty easy to do it in terminal as well... uhhh... well hopefully if you type "su" in terminal, you get the # prompt which indicates superuser mode.
The other option is to use SuperSU - but I dunno if that would work if you can't grant it superuser permissions lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for your advice zepp, but I had to go with my gut on this one...
This is what I did:
1) I reflashed clockworkmod recovery via fastboot.
2) I fixed permissions
3) Upon reboot, clockwork asked if I wanted to fix the stock recovery from writing over, and then it said "you may have lost root access. do you want to fix this?" Of course, I said yes.
Everything is back to working normal, and it was such a simple fix! I'm still not sure why I was getting the problem to begin with.

[Q] Any suggestions on how to regain root after the OTA ICS update using Linux?

Any suggestions on how to regain root after the OTA ICS update using Linux? I've read through various posts scattered about the innerwebs regarding how using Windows but I'm a stubborn Linux user. I've downloaded the A2_ICS_Root Zip and explored the contents but not sure how to properly utilize them. I've rooted the phone in the past manually using Android SDK, Linux Terminal, push/adb shell commands and Motofail but of course lost root with the ICS update. If I don't get an answer I may attempt to follow some of the scripting used for Droid/Razors post ICS, of course tailored a bit. Although my Superuser app is still showing it's pretty much useless, like others with the same issue I've read about, it's still written into the system but no longer rooted. I've tested phone access in terminal but get the R/W error message ... no permission, etc. So ... I thought maybe folks here may have an answer for us semi skilled Linux users.

You should be able to just run the root.bat if you have the folder with all contents extracted to desktop.
Sent from my MB865 using xda premium

Aimless Rambler said:
Any suggestions on how to regain root after the OTA ICS update using Linux? I've read through various posts scattered about the innerwebs regarding how using Windows but I'm a stubborn Linux user. I've downloaded the A2_ICS_Root Zip and explored the contents but not sure how to properly utilize them. I've rooted the phone in the past manually using Android SDK, Linux Terminal, push/adb shell commands and Motofail but of course lost root with the ICS update. If I don't get an answer I may attempt to follow some of the scripting used for Droid/Razors post ICS, of course tailored a bit. Although my Superuser app is still showing it's pretty much useless, like others with the same issue I've read about, it's still written into the system but no longer rooted. I've tested phone access in terminal but get the R/W error message ... no permission, etc. So ... I thought maybe folks here may have an answer for us semi skilled Linux users.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use the process and scripts I created for the leak/OTA. All you need to do is step 6 in the following link, and use the shell not the bat as others noted... if you are running linux, I am sure you already knew that.
Link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1779968
6) Boot into ICS, and root using the zip below, you will connect the phone to your computer and use the root.bat (unzip this folder to your desktop) for windows and root.sh for linux/mac.
The script and root files:
http://www.androidfilehost.com/main/Motorola_ATRIX_2_Developers/jimbridgman/A2_ICS_root.zip

Re-Rooted!
jimbridgman said:
Use the process and scripts I created for the leak/OTA. All you need to do is step 6 in the following link, and use the shell not the bat as others noted... if you are running linux, I am sure you already knew that.
Link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1779968
6) Boot into ICS, and root using the zip below, you will connect the phone to your computer and use the root.bat (unzip this folder to your desktop) for windows and root.sh for linux/mac.
The script and root files:
http://www.androidfilehost.com/main/Motorola_ATRIX_2_Developers/jimbridgman/A2_ICS_root.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks Jim! I actually figured it out on my own, of course using the same zip file you provided which I had found in another thread.
I extracted the file into it's own folder, put the phone into debug mode and made sure MTP (media device) was checked, hooked to USB then ran a few checks in Terminal to make sure the device was recognized. Then I dragged "a2_ics_root.sh" into the open Terminal window and let it do its thing. I already had Superuser installed in earlier root (prior to ICS) so maybe that's why I got the "cannot stat 'su': No such file or directory cannot stat 'Superuser.apk': No such file or directory" error but then it said "You are rooted!". So to check to make sure I was actually rooted I ran the adb shell command and got this "[email protected]:/ $" then entered su, and got this "[email protected]:/ #"
Success!!

Hmm
Aimless Rambler said:
Thanks Jim! I actually figured it out on my own, of course using the same zip file you provided which I had found in another thread.
I extracted the file into it's own folder, put the phone into debug mode and made sure MTP (media device) was checked, hooked to USB then ran a few checks in Terminal to make sure the device was recognized. Then I dragged "a2_ics_root.sh" into the open Terminal window and let it do its thing. I already had Superuser installed in earlier root (prior to ICS) so maybe that's why I got the "cannot stat 'su': No such file or directory cannot stat 'Superuser.apk': No such file or directory" error but then it said "You are rooted!". So to check to make sure I was actually rooted I ran the adb shell command and got this "[email protected]:/ $" then entered su, and got this "[email protected]:/ #"
Success!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I don't have root after all? Once unplugged from computer I ran a terminal emulator app on the phone and tried to access root but it says I don't have permission, as well as a few other apps I tried to install. Strangeness. As it looks above in quote is it just a temporary root? One thing I did notice after the OTA ICS update is that the superuser app remained. I tried a factory data reset thinking it would take it off but it didn't. Is my original rooting (GB Motofail) SU somehow stuck in perpetuity within some system file somewhere which is fouling up this root? So how would I go about a clean install of Superuser? I updated Superuser on Play Store but no difference. Hmm

update on strange problem
Aimless Rambler said:
Well I don't have root after all? Once unplugged from computer I ran a terminal emulator app on the phone and tried to access root but it says I don't have permission, as well as a few other apps I tried to install. Strangeness. As it looks above in quote is it just a temporary root? One thing I did notice after the OTA ICS update is that the superuser app remained. I tried a factory data reset thinking it would take it off but it didn't. Is my original rooting (GB Motofail) SU somehow stuck in perpetuity within some system file somewhere which is fouling up this root? So how would I go about a clean install of Superuser? I updated Superuser on Play Store but no difference. Hmm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all I apologize for all this confusion with replies to my own questions but I don't know any other way to relay the information. I'm troubleshooting as I go and hope it helps define what the issue may be and maybe a fix haha! Okay!! So I get root access easy as pie in terminal, no issues whatsoever, so I did a little searching and this is what I've found. The problem seems to be su is listed twice within my system folder (see below).
PROBLEM
[email protected]:/system/app # ls
Superuser.apk <<< is listed in the right location
# cd ..
[email protected]:/system #
[email protected]:/system/bin #
su <<< is listed here
[email protected]:/system/xbin #
su <<< is also listed here?
That can't be right? Shouldn't it only be in the /bin folder? Having downloaded the A2 ICS Root zip file I explored the Windows root.bat file in a text editor and saw that SU is suppose to install to /bin. So how the heck did it get in 2 different locations? ha!!! I'm guessing this would cause some issue but before I go deleting the extra file I thought I should inquire first. Haha!
Doh!!!! I know it's got to be something I did!

Aimless Rambler said:
First of all I apologize for all this confusion with replies to my own questions but I don't know any other way to relay the information. I'm troubleshooting as I go and hope it helps define what the issue may be and maybe a fix haha! Okay!! So I get root access easy as pie in terminal, no issues whatsoever, so I did a little searching and this is what I've found. The problem seems to be su is listed twice within my system folder (see below).
PROBLEM
[email protected]:/system/app # ls
Superuser.apk <<< is listed in the right location
# cd ..
[email protected]:/system #
[email protected]:/system/bin #
su <<< is listed here
[email protected]:/system/xbin #
su <<< is also listed here?
That can't be right? Shouldn't it only be in the /bin folder? Having downloaded the A2 ICS Root zip file I explored the Windows root.bat file in a text editor and saw that SU is suppose to install to /bin. So how the heck did it get in 2 different locations? ha!!! I'm guessing this would cause some issue but before I go deleting the extra file I thought I should inquire first. Haha!
Doh!!!! I know it's got to be something I did!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is completely correct. The su in /system/xbin is a link to /system/bin/su. And that is correct, and how it should be.
Please explain your issue in more detail as I am not fully understanding what is not working.

Rooted again??
jimbridgman said:
That is completely correct. The su in /system/xbin is a link to /system/bin/su. And that is correct, and how it should be.
Please explain your issue in more detail as I am not fully understanding what is not working.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The issue was my phone was not actually rooted after running a2_ics_root.sh in Terminal (computer). I got the "cannot stat 'su': No such file or directory cannot stat 'Superuser.apk': No such file or directory" error message in terminal and also checked root by running a terminal emulator app within the phone and received the no permission message after entering su at the prompt. Once I reconnected the phone to the computer and ran the sh file again I gained temporary root. That's when I noticed su was in two different locations as I mentioned above and you subsequently replied was normal. Of course before I saw your response I had already removed (rm command) the extra su ha! After removing the su file from /xbin it alone did not fix the problem. I still could not access root. So I reran the a2_ics_root.sh in terminal (computer) and got root with no error messages and verified it with my phone's terminal app (also got the Superuser root access permission check, which I hadn't got before). No idea why this worked if su was suppose to be in two locations. As I was in the phones terminal emulator app I checked the /xbin folder and did not see it reappear yet it all seems rooted now! Ha! Gosh my brain hurts.
* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
* daemon started successfully *
remount succeeded
492 KB/s (22372 bytes in 0.044s)
3434 KB/s (397229 bytes in 0.112s)
You are rooted!

Aimless Rambler said:
The issue was my phone was not actually rooted after running a2_ics_root.sh in Terminal (computer). I got the "cannot stat 'su': No such file or directory cannot stat 'Superuser.apk': No such file or directory" error message in terminal and also checked root by running a terminal emulator app within the phone and received the no permission message after entering su at the prompt. Once I reconnected the phone to the computer and ran the sh file again I gained temporary root. That's when I noticed su was in two different locations as I mentioned above and you subsequently replied was normal. Of course before I saw your response I had already removed (rm command) the extra su ha! After removing the su file from /xbin I reran the a2_ics_root.sh in terminal (computer) and got root with no error messages and verified it with my phone's terminal app (also got the Superuser root access permission check, which I hadn't got before). No idea why this worked if su was suppose to be in two locations. As I was in the phones terminal emulator app I checked the /xbin folder and did not see it reappear yet it all seems rooted now! Ha! Gosh my brain hurts.
* daemon not running. starting it now on port 5037 *
* daemon started successfully *
remount succeeded
492 KB/s (22372 bytes in 0.044s)
3434 KB/s (397229 bytes in 0.112s)
You are rooted!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you by chance try and use some sort of root keeper before trying to do the OTA, then had these problems after the OTA was completed?
We have seen this before, and the reason you got the stat errors is because the wrong versions of the files were in /system/bin and /system/xbin. Yeah we have found that trying to use any OTA root keepers are BAD on this phone. Motorola is so anal about updates. That is why we mention to do an fxz before doing any OTA, then using the root scripts afterwards.
If you still have any more issues you might think about using the new ICS fxz in the development section and using/redoing the script from there.
P.S. I saw that you said you dragged the script into the terminal, that is a bad way to run it, BTW.... Try and open a terminal and cd into the dir that you unzipped the script in, and then into the ics_root dir and type ./root.sh and see if that works a little better next time, that might be why you only got temp root, because it was not able to find the proper su and superuser.apk to copy over with adb, I use relative paths in the script just for ease.

jimbridgman said:
Did you by chance try and use some sort of root keeper before trying to do the OTA, then had these problems after the OTA was completed?
We have seen this before, and the reason you got the stat errors is because the wrong versions of the files were in /system/bin and /system/xbin. Yeah we have found that trying to use any OTA root keepers are BAD on this phone. Motorola is so anal about updates. That is why we mention to do an fxz before doing any OTA, then using the root scripts afterwards.
If you still have any more issues you might think about using the new ICS fxz in the development section and using/redoing the script from there.
P.S. I saw that you said you dragged the script into the terminal, that is a bad way to run it, BTW.... Try and open a terminal and cd into the dir that you unzipped the script in, and then into the ics_root dir and type ./root.sh and see if that works a little better next time, that might be why you only got temp root, because it was not able to find the proper su and superuser.apk to copy over with adb, I use relative paths in the script just for ease.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! I'm sure I did something to cause the troubles but can't recall exactly what it was I did wrong! My brain is getting old. Ha! But to answer your question ... other than my original root (using Motofail) I've hesitated to do anything until after the ICS update. I recently bought the phone 2nd hand to replace my Samsung Captivate so I could experiment with a Lapdock (in my line of work portability and multi-role is a plus). The phone was stock when I got it. Also, I had moved the root.sh file and superuser.apk into my Android/Platform_Tools folder which is in my system path (android rules,etc), so there was some forethought prior to dragging the script into terminal. Next time I'll 'cd it like ya recommend!
Could it be there was an issue with how I did the original GB motofail root?
In any case all seems to be good now.
Thanks again!

USB fast charge lean kernel 1.8

On stock OTA JB rooted flashed lean kernel but when I type ffc in console emulator it just says no file or directory found. Anyone know whats wrong?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

Did you try and type "su" then enter, then type ffc?
Not sure if you need super user access to turn on fast charge.
Sent through mental telepathy...or my unlocked SGS3

Dunno if it will help, make sure before you type FFC, you type SU, then enter, to grant the terminal super user rights.
If not try the app terminal emulator. I have had issues in the past with different terminal apps, including this one, but found other terminal apps did work for the commands I was having trouble with. Currently terminal emulator always works when I use it for commands.