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[Q] rooted nexus s and ota update

I just received the ota for 2.3.4 . Im wondering if my rooted phone will update correctly, Im still rooted on 2.3.2 stock rom, now my issue is that when i rooted the phone i didnt rename the recovery img or whatever it is your suppose to do... I never lost root, i just couldn't boot into recovery.( it was my first time rooting and im surprised it didn't brick in the first place so i didn't wanna go back in and F it up anymore)
now i know if i let the update install i will loose the root, i'm not really worried about that I just want to know if it will install correctly? and also if it does will my phone basically be like a new nexus s out of the box? like will i loose all my data,pics, music all that good stuff??

Just update it manually..and no u won't lose anything..!!
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

soggyflakes said:
I just received the ota for 2.3.4 . Im wondering if my rooted phone will update correctly, Im still rooted on 2.3.2 stock rom, now my issue is that when i rooted the phone i didnt rename the recovery img or whatever it is your suppose to do... I never lost root, i just couldn't boot into recovery.( it was my first time rooting and im surprised it didn't brick in the first place so i didn't wanna go back in and F it up anymore)
now i know if i let the update install i will loose the root, i'm not really worried about that I just want to know if it will install correctly? and also if it does will my phone basically be like a new nexus s out of the box? like will i loose all my data,pics, music all that good stuff??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you do the OTA, you will lose root. Do it manually.
I mean seriously, you've managed to root your phone. The idea of puttiing the 2 files in your sd card (the 2.3.4 update zip file and the su-2.3.6.1-ef-signed.zip file) shouldn't sound too hard to do.
After flashing the update via clockwork recovery...
(Note: if you try and install it via Rom Manager it will reboot by itself after installing the update. Therefore, losing root. So I suggest doing it manually: powering down and going into recovery mode.)
Instead of pressing on reboot you would then go and flashing the other file (su-2.3.6.1-ef-signed.zip) that's already in there.
Once that's done you can reboot.
(This maintain permanent root.)
Download and install Root Explorer app from Android Market
Open Root Explorer and navigate to etc directory
Tap on the gray box that says Mount R/W
Tap and hold on the file install-recovery.sh and rename this file to install-recovery.sh.old
Once renamed, download and install the app called ROM Manager from Android Market
Once installed, open ROM Manager app and choose Flash ClockworkMod Recovery option.
Now you have 2.3.4 and permanent root. Don't make it harder than what it seems.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

Ok lets say for retard purposes I wanted to loose root, updating would install correctly? I'm asking because I plan on getting the sensation when it comes out and I think it would be easier selling a stock phone.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA App

can anyone confirm that the update will install correctly with no errors ??

Yes it will install fine and remove root for you.

soggyflakes said:
can anyone confirm that the update will install correctly with no errors ??
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You will lose root and be completely stock.
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

I am new to the nexus as I just switched mtg epic for a nexus 4g. Is there any workaround for facebook contact synching issues? I cannot add facebook to my accounts and synch menu. Still living the phone though
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App

rickthrust said:
I am new to the nexus as I just switched mtg epic for a nexus 4g. Is there any workaround for facebook contact synching issues? I cannot add facebook to my accounts and synch menu. Still living the phone though
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all welcome to the Nexus S threads!
Did you download the facebook app?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

I cannot update my phone with OTA, my phone is rooted.
And I do not really know what to do, I bought my phone rooted, second hand.

If your phone is Rooted, it will not take the OTA update, you have to be Stock!

linushsu said:
I cannot update my phone with OTA, my phone is rooted.
And I do not really know what to do, I bought my phone rooted, second hand.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooted you say, eh?!
What are you running? Does it have clockwork recovery, Install rom manager and it should say your latest recovery.
What model do you have? What android version are you running?
Sent from my Nexus S using XDA Premium App

OTA Update

If Im rooted (and paid someone to do it...ie I know nothing) and do the OTA update...what will happen? I could really care less if I lose my superuser capabilities. Will i simply lose root access or will it screw up my phone?

I'm pretty sure it won't let you download the update...either that or you will lose root access. Or, nothing and it will update and you'll still have root. Just try and find out, you can always reflash in Odin!
Sent from my SCH-I510 using XDA Premium App

Can I take OTA update and keep root?

I am running stock 4.1.2 rooted and froze SDM 1.0 with titanium backup to avoid the constant update reminders.
I am now curious can I accept the updates and keep root somehow?
Is something like OTA root keeper worthwhile?

You can still root but cannot unlock the bootloader. I'd recommend reading the 4.3 sticky thread before taking the ota even if you want to stay stock.
Sent from my d2lte using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

dpeeps74 said:
You can still root but cannot unlock the bootloader. I'd recommend reading the 4.3 sticky thread before taking the ota even if you want to stay stock.
Sent from my d2lte using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you saying that because of the 4.3 issues?
I would rather not mess with the phone but I just got a gear 2 neo and it will not connect. I think this is because of the older android version. The specs on the gear software say it requires 4.2 or higher

scottfarcuz said:
Are you saying that because of the 4.3 issues?
I would rather not mess with the phone but I just got a gear 2 neo and it will not connect. I think this is because of the older android version. The specs on the gear software say it requires 4.2 or higher
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ya you need 4.3.
So you have options, since you're have a galaxy gear you're probably going to be running stock TouchWiz, so I would just take the upgrade.
You can root later, but the gear would never work with aosp anyway. Safestrap can make your phone run pretty well with a TouchWiz custom rom if you eventually decide you want one.
Or you can load a custom TouchWiz 4.3 rom right now and see if it connects, then you wouldn't lock your phone down permanently.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

Id like to go with a custom rom but don't have a clue what I'm doing.
Thanks for the help

scottfarcuz said:
Id like to go with a custom rom but don't have a clue what I'm doing.
Thanks for the help
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK then read the sticky threads in the development section, everything there has guides available for rooting and installing roms, then ask more questions if you have them.
Make sure you're reading the older sticky thread, not the 4.3 one.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

I've been unable to even get the OTA to work. It downloads then fails on install.
I have reset the flash counter but thought that was all that would be required to repair/delete before running the OTA update.
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Just to clarify the phone is currently rooted (casual method) on 4.1.2. I never touched the rom or bootloader after rooting i just installed titanium backup and froze all the bloat. Id like to get the OTA even if i lose root.
I reset the flash counter with triangle away and did a batch unfreeze with titanium backup.The OTA downloads then fails on install.

You would probably need to unfreeze everything for the update to work, at least thats what I have heard.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk

scottfarcuz said:
I've been unable to even get the OTA to work. It downloads then fails on install.
I have reset the flash counter but thought that was all that would be required to repair/delete before running the OTA update.
Does anyone have a suggestion?
Just to clarify the phone is currently rooted (casual method) on 4.1.2. I never touched the rom or bootloader after rooting i just installed titanium backup and froze all the bloat. Id like to get the OTA even if i lose root.
I reset the flash counter with triangle away and did a batch unfreeze with titanium backup.The OTA downloads then fails on install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use this thread to Odin flash 4.3. It's the exact same as taking the Ota.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2586319
I'm sure you already know what taking the update entails, just be absolutely sure it's what you want to do before you flash it. There's no going back.
Sent from my HTC6525LVW using Tapatalk

OTA after Root

I was wondering if anyone found a way to take ota after rooting. I have always had rooted devices and always ended up on custom roms. For now I would like to stay on the official rom and debloat a bit. Any ideas?

Pretty sure you can just flash back to stock and take ota, then re root. You normally need stock recovery to take ota, and be unrooted
Sent from my XT1056 using xda app-developers app

I can't believe i didnt think of that after I did the same thing with the S4. Thx for shining some light into my clouded mind lol

Root
I rooted yesterday night. Will I be able to odin back to official and receive OTA updates?

roadrunnrr said:
I rooted yesterday night. Will I be able to odin back to official and receive OTA updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tried this and update still wouldn't let me download the OTA.

Unless someone comes out with a way to revert the knox flag (which is said to be a perm flag) it won't ever be possible to be true factory again as all OTA's will now check for the tamper.
I think someone mentioned though you can manually install it, just the downloader/OTA wouldn't work.
If manually still wasn't possible I'm sure someone could remove the check from the update and you still get it that way but officially through Samsung you currently are probably stuck.
Ideally someone finds a way to reset the so called, perma flag.
If not the alternative might be finding a way to root the phone without flagging it, but in those cases it won't help those already flagged.
I know on HTC they had a similar type of flag, though didn't use it to check for update status. They flagged as Tampered or Re-locked for example.
However after some time we found how to reset those in some magical hidden area to blind write too (not talking about those that cheated to hide it via bootloader image edits)
At this point it's a wait and see game...
I hope someone finds fast though, I am stock and really want to get this bloat off my phone lol

I tried it myself now... Rooted and i couldnt even check for updates. Unrooted but device status was still custom. I had to go into the stock recovery and wipe everything and then Odin stock firmware to be able to check for updates
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
I tried it myself now... Rooted and i couldnt even check for updates. Unrooted but device status was still custom. I had to go into the stock recovery and wipe everything and then Odin stock firmware to be able to check for updates
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I tried this the update check still failed stating that I had a custom ROM.

Just checked for updates and it went through
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Just checked for updates and it went through
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Were you rooted then un-rooted?? Can you post the OTA file from your cache??

Yeah... Rooted then grabbed the whole factory md5 and restored that did it. Let me know where I can find the OTA and I'll post it. But I'm unrooted now so I don't know if it will work
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Yeah... Rooted then grabbed the whole factory md5 and restored that did it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nice, Otherwise seems like a bad strategy on Samsung's part if they don't allow people who unroot and odin back to stock to take OTA's.. Why would a manufacture not want to offer a path back to stock for security updates and the chance to get a user back on a bloated rom full of there paid ad apps. Each time users do this there is a small percentage that won't either be able to re-root due to updates stopping the root method or just out of hassle. I understand the warranty flag but not why you wouldn't offer a path back to stock unless they are just being short sighted in an attempt to penalize people who root which won't have much effect..

I'd post the OTA like I said but I'm unrooted now.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
I'd post the OTA like I said but I'm unrooted now.
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So root!!

Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

roadrunnrr said:
Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't seem to do it. Once I rooted and tripped the Knox flag bit the Update check won't let me download. But the error message says that I can still download and install updates using Kies.
I just fixed it. The problem is not the Knox flag but rather the fact that Custom was showing in Download mode instead of Official. I had to flash twice without my SDcard inserted to get to Official. Once I got to Official the update started to download.

rooted?
roadrunnrr said:
Still waiting to find out if I'll be able to get back to official and then check for updates after this update and root
Sent from my SM-G900P using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so what does it matter if a phone is rooted or not in terms of an OTA update from a phone that has already received it?....wouldn't you just upload it and apply it? shouldn't matter at all whether phone is rooted or not when you're updating the file received from an already received OTA phone update. It's just the acquisition of the update that's blocked, not the install. At least until the 5SS you could always just grab a copy of the OTA update and install.

dk2463 said:
so what does it matter if a phone is rooted or not in terms of an OTA update from a phone that has already received it?....wouldn't you just upload it and apply it? shouldn't matter at all whether phone is rooted or not when you're updating the file received from an already received OTA phone update. It's just the acquisition of the update that's blocked, not the install. At least until the 5SS you could always just grab a copy of the OTA update and install.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No if you were completely stock and just root ...with stock recovery and no missing system files it could be done. ...it now has to say official for the ota to finish ....no other way
Sent from my SM-G900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2

share the love
but again, once a non-rooted phone receives the OTA update, you just pull the update from the phone and share it and even rooted phones can update...that's my point...am shocked no one is sharing their "received" OTA update
Epix4G said:
No if you were completely stock and just root ...with stock recovery and no missing system files it could be done. ...it now has to say official for the ota to finish ....no other way
Sent from my SM-G900P using Xparent BlueTapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Patience.. I guess..
dk2463 said:
but again, once a non-rooted phone receives the OTA update, you just pull the update from the phone and share it and even rooted phones can update...that's my point...am shocked no one is sharing their "received" OTA update
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I gotta agree.. Most of my previous device OTA's were always dumped within hours of release really surprised this hasn't been yet. This is my first Samsung phone and I have liked the device but kinda disappointed in the XDA turnout so far. I am always appreciative of those who are here but I just thought with how popular the Galaxy line was there would be more dev support from day 1 but there hasn't been much so far. I know it's early and being CDMA/Sprint really limits us but seems like all my previous HTC devices on Sprint and the current M8 are getting way more action.. Oh well, but sure makes a jump to T-Mobile for the new Oneplus One Cyanogen phone sound tempting haha..
And thanks again to all those who are here and contributing!!!

What to do. 4.4.2 Kitkat keeps getting pushed to me

I'm currently rooted via towelroot and keep getting the OTA 4.4.2 update pushed to me. I can't defer. What would happen if I accepted and if I can't how do I work around it. Thanks
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

disregard

SHAK3R said:
I'm currently rooted via towelroot and keep getting the OTA 4.4.2 update pushed to me. I can't defer. What would happen if I accepted and if I can't how do I work around it. Thanks
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use titanium backup to delete the software update files and you'll never be prompted again.

I think I s called SDM if I remember right. There may be a second process to freeze so someone please chime in if that's true.

Thanks for the responses. If I were to delete the files I would need to know which ones to get rid of.
Also if I just download the OTA will it mess up my phone. Would I lose root if I install the ota and if I do lose root can I just use towelroot again?
I'm not that big into roms and such. Just stock root so I can tether.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

Just scared myself. I accidentally accepted the ota cause it pops up randomly as and I hit the install as I was typing.
It attempted to install. Phone booted up after what looked like it installed and said "update unsuccessful" I still have root ad of now.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

SHAK3R said:
Thanks for the responses. If I were to delete the files I would need to know which ones to get rid of.
Also if I just download the OTA will it mess up my phone. Would I lose root if I install the ota and if I do lose root can I just use towelroot again?
I'm not that big into roms and such. Just stock root so I can tether.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Freeze or uninstall the system app "sdm 1.0" using your preferred File Explorer or Titanium Backup. This will stop future OTA prompts. Additionally, any manual attempt to check for a software update will automatically cause Settings to force close.
Root is still possible on KitKat VRUDNE1 OTA. You just need to use Towelroot to gain root access. There is no bootloader unlock exploit.
You'll also want to go to /cache/fota and delete the update.zip for the OTA.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

SlimSnoopOS said:
Freeze or uninstall the system app "sdm 1.0" using your preferred File Explorer or Titanium Backup. This will stop future OTA prompts. Additionally, any manual attempt to check for a software update will automatically cause Settings to force close.
Root is still possible on KitKat VRUDNE1 OTA. You just need to use Towelroot to gain root access. There is no bootloader unlock exploit.
You'll also want to go to /cache/fota and delete the update.zip for the OTA.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks slim,
If I could just write back and make sure I understand you right.
If I want just d/l the ota I need to delete the update zip. Check for the ota and install it then run towelroot to root again?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app

SHAK3R said:
Thanks slim,
If I could just write back and make sure I understand you right.
If I want just d/l the ota I need to delete the update zip. Check for the ota and install it then run towelroot to root again?
Sent from my SCH-I535 using XDA Free mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you want the KitKat OTA, it's probably easier for you to use Odin to flash the most wipe VRUDNE1 tar from Open1your1eyes0 VRUDNE1 thread. Here is his thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2795659
You can download Odin from the first post here. Make sure to flash the VRUDNE1 tar in the "PDA" field once Odin is running on your computer.
The VRUDNE1 OTA will not install because you are rooted and even after unrooting, it has a tendency to still fail. Odin is a Windows only program. It does not work on OSX.
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

System>etc>security>otacerts.zip. Rename it to otacerts.zip.bak

sfobrien said:
System>etc>security>otacerts.zip. Rename it to otacerts.zip.bak
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
May I ask, what does this do that renaming "sdm 1.0" does not already do? I have seen it mentioned before but am never clear on its effects.

SlimSnoopOS said:
May I ask, what does this do that renaming "sdm 1.0" does not already do? I have seen it mentioned before but am never clear on its effects.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is just another way of doing it. Some folks don't use TB so this method will work for them. I have done both in the past just because.

sfobrien said:
It is just another way of doing it. Some folks don't use TB so this method will work for them. I have done both in the past just because.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Appreciate that explanation
Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4