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[WiFi Only]New XOOM owner - Root vs Unlock? And other FAQs

Not sure if this will take off or not but I had some questions that I'm sure new xoom owners share and I am hoping that it can become a reference[sticky] for others. I'll update the OP with new questions & answers (giving credit) as they are posted.
Why should I root my $600 tablet and void it's warranty? While there are risks, rooting gives you the ability to access and edit things on your tablet that are otherwise unaccessable. It allows you to flash custom ROMs and Kernels which allow for new features and abillities you wouldn't otherwise have. Rooted users can already overclock, enable USB hosting and use the SD card slot. -PMD
I see a lot of different threads about rooting the various Xoom models. Whats the safest/best one for the US WiFi only model? I used the method from THIS POST to unlock my xoom and it was extremely easy. I used the method from THIS POST to root my xoom and it was easy enough as long as you have adb set up correctly and follow the steps exactly. - PMD
What is the difference between rooting and unlocking the xoom? Unlocking the bootloader will allow you to flash a custom recovery, witch will then in turn allow you to flash an unsigned update.zip. This is mostly beneficial to allow the installation of custom kernels/mods. Rooting gives you su permissions in the android system. Su permissions will give you a low level access to hardware and system files not normally accessible to standard users. This access is most commonly used for apps like titanium backup, and setcpu. So the two are really complimentary to one another eg. Unlock your bootloader, flash clockworkmod, then a new kernal. And because you have root you have low level access and can overclock your cpu. - eliteone
Why doesnt my SD Card slot work on my stock xoom? Because Motorola sucks and locked the sdcard slot down pending a future update. This is just another reason to root your xoom. -PMD
Does Netflix work on the XOOM? Not currently, but hopefully it will eventually. -PMD
Can the XOOM boot.img be edited to allow booting from the SD card similar to the Nook Color?

The difference between rooting and unlocking: Unlocking the bootloader will allow you to flash a custom recovery, witch will then in turn allow you to flash an unsigned update.zip. This is mostly beneficial to allow the installation of custom kernels/mods.
Rooting gives you su permissions in the android system. Su permissions will give you a low level access to hardware and system files not normally accessible to standard users. This access is most commonly used for apps like titanium backup, and setcpu. So the two are really complimentary to one another eg. Unlock your bootloader, flash clockworkmod, then a new kernal. And because you have root you have low level access and can overclock your cpu.

how i just rooted my wifi xoom was basically fastboot unlock bootloader, push the recovery with adb, and then run wifi root tools with recovery.
was super easy.

eliteone said:
The difference between rooting and unlocking: Unlocking the bootloader will allow you to flash a custom recovery, witch will then in turn allow you to flash an unsigned update.zip. This is mostly beneficial to allow the installation of custom kernels/mods.
Rooting gives you su permissions in the android system. Su permissions will give you a low level access to hardware and system files not normally accessible to standard users. This access is most commonly used for apps like titanium backup, and setcpu. So the two are really complimentary to one another eg. Unlock your bootloader, flash clockworkmod, then a new kernal. And because you have root you have low level access and can overclock your cpu.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So just to clarify can you root without unlocking?

PMDColeslaw said:
So just to clarify can you root without unlocking?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, not with the xoom that I've seen. Rooting involves flashing a custom .zip to run an exploit in order to gain root.

Ok since all but one question in the OP has been answered I removed the [Q] from the title and hopfully this will help others. Also please feel free to post questions here and as they're anwered I'll add them to the OP as well.
THANKS TO ALL WHO RESPONDED!

[Q] Regarding what all are possible in an SBKv2 eeePad Transformer

I have an eeePad TF101 (no G) and its serial number starts with B80, so I guess that makes it an SBKv2. My questions are whether the following are possible and what some terms mean.
1) What does SBKv2 mean? Why is nvflash incompatible with it?
2) What is the homepage of nvflash? Is there any other flasher that is compatible with SBKv2?
3) Is it possible to install any custom rom?
4) I read it's possible to run Ubuntu with chroot after rooting. Will that make it slower? Is it possible to get a full linux bash terminal with the option to install stuff?
5) Will rooting give me complete system access? (I once had a Galaxy gt-i5510 which gave me 'permission denied' error even after rooting, for stuff like copying files to system folders running apps etc).
6) Is it possible to use a USB modem (ZTE MG478/AC8700, EvDO) using:
a) wvdial from chrooted linux and then use from android (I know it's crazy).
b) wvdial directly.
c) Any other method.
7) Will rooting cause any problems or 'side effects'?
Sorry if I asked questions that were already asked.

Uh...this is way too many questions to answer when all of the answers can be found by searching. This is your first lesson..you need to search. These are all common questions.

Ok i've only recently got a transformer but ill try answer these questions...If i've got something wrong feel free to correct me.
1) SBKv2 is the newer model of the transformer, Nflash isn't compatible because it runs on a newer bootloader.
2) I'm not sure...
3) Yes.
4) Yes you can run linux ubuntu, but only for the older model :/
5) Yes it will.
6) I'm not entirely sure, You'll have to wait for someone else to answer this
7) Probably not

1. the guy above is not quite right it is that the sbk (secure book key) is diferent and was leaked for the original rom but not the 2nd version
2. wait what? use cwm
3. yes
4. it runs a virtual immage vnc'd within android so ya it is slower
5. as long as you make the system r/w instead of r/o
6. maby try the usbethernet drivers
7. it will casue ota's to fail and you will not be able to purchase movies from the market
Every piece of information here is already here learn to search

mrevankyle said:
1. the guy above is not quite right it is that the sbk (secure book key) is diferent and was leaked for the original rom but not the 2nd version
2. wait what? use cwm
3. yes
4. it runs a virtual immage vnc'd within android so ya it is slower
5. as long as you make the system r/w instead of r/o
6. maby try the usbethernet drivers
7. it will casue ota's to fail and you will not be able to purchase movies from the market
Every piece of information here is already here learn to search
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2) So custom roms work, dual booting doesn't?
4) But I will still get a full linux bash terminal with the option to install apps and all right?
5) How do you get r/w access? Is that the default mode in nachoroot?
6) Usb modem not ethernet!
7) Movies? What about everything else? OTA? That will be resolved if I use OTA Rootkeeper right? What about the updates from asus website?
I kinda did search. But I guess I'll search more next time....

phoenixv5 said:
2) So custom roms work, dual booting doesn't?
4) But I will still get a full linux bash terminal with the option to install apps and all right?
5) How do you get r/w access? Is that the default mode in nachoroot?
6) Usb modem not ethernet!
7) Movies? What about everything else? OTA? That will be resolved if I use OTA Rootkeeper right? What about the updates from asus website?
I kinda did search. But I guess I'll search more next time....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the only way to dual boot is nvflash ubuntu/andorid and that requires nvvflash so no you cannot dualboot
you should but be wary as it is ubuntu arm and not all apps are compatable
it is in the file manager you use ubt in consol you will have system access and if in root explorer you click read/write
i know you said usb. it may work by default not garenteed .you can increace the likleyhood of it working with the 3g dongle drivers and the usb internet drivers (Usb etherent)
it depends if you have a custom recovery installed (CWM) if you do not get cwm you need otarootkeeper and ota's will work if you do install cwm then you will not get the ota's installed

mrevankyle said:
you should but be wary as it is ubuntu arm and not all apps are compatable
it is in the file manager you use ubt in consol you will have system access and if in root explorer you click read/write
if you do install cwm then you will not get the ota's installed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Won't the installer (apt or synaptic) auto detect arm like it did in N900 and all?
What's ubt? Do you mean manually add r/w permission to all files?
What about update files downloaded directly from asus website? Will I still get market?

phoenixv5 said:
Won't the installer (apt or synaptic) auto detect arm like it did in N900 and all?
What's ubt? Do you mean manually add r/w permission to all files?
What about update files downloaded directly from asus website? Will I still get market?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i am not sure probably though
its a mistype i ment "but"
no in root explorer there is a buton at the top to change mount type it says "mounted as r/0" by default and there is a buton beside it to "Mount R/W"
they may work as they are the same files as the OTA's so it is the same case as the ota's.
Yes the market does not change besides the inability to purchase videos

So lemme summarize.
Nvflash doesn't work, CWM recovery does, so flashes using that also works.
OTA updates or (maybe) the ones downloaded won't work. But OTA's can be modified into ones that are recognized by cwm and retains root (with supercurio's script?).
Rooting without installing cwm doesn't interfere with OTAs.
Use OTA Rootkeeper to retain root after updates (not needed with cwm as cwm flashable stock upgrades are already rooted).
And root+cwm is undo-able.
Did I get all that right?

Please, before you ask any more questions, read THIS GUIDE;
Asus Transformer EPIC NOOB GUIDE
Almost every question you have asked is answered for you now. And probably a lot of future questions. And practice searching before posting new threads, most things you will find are already dealt with by now and the answers are just a search away no need to wait for people to answer you.

luna_c666 said:
Please, before you ask any more questions, read THIS GUIDE;
Asus Transformer EPIC NOOB GUIDE
Almost every question you have asked is answered for you now. And probably a lot of future questions. And practice searching before posting new threads, most things you will find are already dealt with by now and the answers are just a search away no need to wait for people to answer you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I did. Right before posting my previous reply.
BTW thanks for the guide.
Edit: I guess that's it. Close / delete the thread!

[Q] 100% Original Stock ROM backup before root?

Hi there,
I am new to xda and new to Android hacking.
What I wanna ask is, (I guess it's of most newbies concern as well), can we have a 100% backup of our system (stock ROM)? Obviously, it is important because:
If we perform an official (OTA) update to a new Android version. And we don't like it. It is possible to get back to the old original one which we are used to. (not everybody likes new things, and/or not every new thing is good)
If our phones are having some problems. And we have to give it back to the company for a fix. In most cases they will flash a new ROM for us. If we wanna keep using the old one (explained in #1), we have to keep a copy of it by ourselves.
If we want to try new custom ROMs, we may want to switch it back after trying.
Whenever we do any modifications, it's always better to keep a backup/roll-back point. In case anything goes wrong, we have a safeguard.
For the official warranty issue.
Yup I do see there are some official stock ROMs downloads for some particular phones. But those are not really a backup of our original ROMs. And it's always hard to verify if those downloads are the original official releases. And, if those downloads are 100% stock ROMs, this means some guys out there could make it, so what is the way to do so?
Or, how those mobile phone companies do it in their labs?
I have been doing researches on this topic for a few days. Some posts claim that their methods are "backup stock ROM" or "backup before rooting". But after digging into it, they requires rooting and/or flashing CWM. Here comes a few questions:
Questions
Rooting will in fact changes some files/data of the system. So backup after root is NOT getting the original stock ROM. Is it?
Is there a method to "un-root", so ALL the changes are TOTALLY reverted?
Installing/flashing things like CWM in phone requires rooting, which would make the ROM not original. Is there a way to extract the system backup from a computer externally?
In addition, I have found some related pieces. which could be useful to anyone viewing this post, and might be useful for you to solve this (my) question. :fingers-crossed:
* as I'm a new user, I can't post links directly. Please delete the blank spaces in between.
ht tp://www .modaco .com/topic/351269-backup-original-rom/
In reply #5, user C3C0 raised a method of backing up the original stock ROM without root. But it seems he is flashing CWM and that method is only for ZTE Skate.
adb backup tool of Android SDK
At the first sight i came across this approach, I thought it is the official method to do whole system (ROM) backup (WOW - how nice!). But after studying for a few more posts, I think adb backup can only backup app+app_data, and possibly some system settings only. Am I correct? And also, adb backup is only for ICS (Android 4.0), isn't it?
adb backup usage: ht tp://forum.xda-developers .com/showthread.php?t=1420351
(But mentioned in the bottom of #1 the poster is having some issues on using adb backup. Perhaps there are some bugs and not reliable(?)
One more question on adb backup: Can it backup just one app+app_data, and restore just one app+app_data, without affecting other things? If yes, we don't need to root and don't need Titanium Backup (which requires root) for backup app+app_data. Isn't it?
** In case I have said anything or any terms wrongly in this thread, please DO correct me, for helping me and helping others.
P.S. i am using LG Optimus 3D.
Thanks a lot, wholeheartedly,
midnite_

Backup phone before root
Hello all this is my first post here...woohoo!:fingers-crossed: This forum is amazing as to the amount of information available. I just wish that in looking for what I need to do I did not need to look in so many places. I feel that if I want to root my T-Mobile GS3 that all the information should be in one subsection of the forum, but it is not that simple I guess....lol Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a Samsung GS3 with T-Mobile that I want to root. Everyone says to back up the phone before you do it but I am not really seeing how to make a backup before I start. It appears that most of the guides to root just say to backup without telling you how to fo it. Another thing (correct me if I am wrong) I see the nandroid backup that I think is a backup of the phone however it seems to be done after you make changes to the phone and I thought the backup was supposed to be done before you do anything. Is it that there is not a way to make a complete backup with an unrooted phone?
My question is basically the same as the OP here. I have been reading and reading and reading posts here in the forum. There is much information here and much of it is duplicated with slight variances in some of the duplicates. I am not certain as to which rooting method I should use. There seem to be so many choices. As a new person to this forum I will say that you can find just about everything about any phone which is awesome. The hard thing is sifting through the many options to pick one to use for your issue.
I do see that Mr. Robinson has a thread with backups of the original roms. The only thing is that they are default roms that are like an out of the box phone and not my phone with my apps and my settings. That is what I want to backup...My phone with my settings and my apps.
:good: Thank you in advance for any one that can shed some light on this for me and the OP'er

ASharpEdge said:
Hello all this is my first post here...woohoo!:fingers-crossed: This forum is amazing as to the amount of information available. I just wish that in looking for what I need to do I did not need to look in so many places. I feel that if I want to root my T-Mobile GS3 that all the information should be in one subsection of the forum, but it is not that simple I guess....lol Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a Samsung GS3 with T-Mobile that I want to root. Everyone says to back up the phone before you do it but I am not really seeing how to make a backup before I start. It appears that most of the guides to root just say to backup without telling you how to fo it. Another thing (correct me if I am wrong) I see the nandroid backup that I think is a backup of the phone however it seems to be done after you make changes to the phone and I thought the backup was supposed to be done before you do anything. Is it that there is not a way to make a complete backup with an unrooted phone?
My question is basically the same as the OP here. I have been reading and reading and reading posts here in the forum. There is much information here and much of it is duplicated with slight variances in some of the duplicates. I am not certain as to which rooting method I should use. There seem to be so many choices. As a new person to this forum I will say that you can find just about everything about any phone which is awesome. The hard thing is sifting through the many options to pick one to use for your issue.
I do see that Mr. Robinson has a thread with backups of the original roms. The only thing is that they are default roms that are like an out of the box phone and not my phone with my apps and my settings. That is what I want to backup...My phone with my settings and my apps.
:good: Thank you in advance for any one that can shed some light on this for me and the OP'er
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi ya,
It's so nice that you are having the same concern as I do.
As far as i know, the approaches of rooting differ from phones to phones. So we may have to find our own specific rooting method in the phone model sub-forums. It won't be hard for your popular S3
I would like to have a look at that Mr. Robinson's thread. If he can backup the stock ROM, those app+app_data wont a big issue (i guess).
cheers,
midnite_

midnite_ said:
Questions
Rooting will in fact changes some files/data of the system. So backup after root is NOT getting the original stock ROM. Is it?
Is there a method to "un-root", so ALL the changes are TOTALLY reverted?
Installing/flashing things like CWM in phone requires rooting, which would make the ROM not original. Is there a way to extract the system backup from a computer externally?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi midnight, welcome to a new and exciting world of Android and trying new things. First, let me assure you, what you want is NOT something new. People have been doing this type of thing for years. That is flashing and testing roms. As you will learn, it actually becomes quite addictive. We call those folks that get addicted to flashing: Flashaholics or crackflashers, lol
First let me talk about "root". This process consists of unlocking a lower level of the Android system known as the bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader of your device allows you to flash a custom recovery, flashing a custom recovery allows you to flash the Superuser binary and Superuser.apk, This is what allows you to use apps that require "root". The bootloader is not an OS file. So when you are unlocking your bootloader you are not modifying your stock rom. Only when you have flashed the Superuser package have you modified your stock rom. And even that isn't really modifying anything. When you flash the Superuser package, it adds two files to your rom at certain locations of the file system. It adds the Superuser.apk file to system/app and it adds the SU binary to system/bin. Basically you CAN have a totally S-OFF (unlocked) bootloader and still have an entirely stock rom if you want. But the real benifit is flashing a custom recovery like ClockworkMod Recovery and then flash the superuser package.
As far as extracting the stock system, you should try giving adb a go. Do it right now if you like. Ensure you have the android sdk installed and properly set up on your computer and your computer can recognize your phone. Ensure your phone is in debugging mode, connect your phone to your computer, open up a command window, and run this command:
Code:
adb pull \
This command will pull everything off your phone except for data which is where your market or Google Play apps are stored.
Beyond XDA there are aso more resources to learn from. For example, http://www.android.com is a good place to start, and to learn more about adb check out http://developer.android.com/tools/help/adb.html
If you need to learn how to setup the sdk here is the place to learn how: http://developer.android.com/sdk/index.html
I'm sure others will add to this as well which is the good thing about this community.
Welcome to XDA, I hope you have fun learning, and maybe share back someday things you learn along the way.

wildstang83 said:
Hi midnight, welcome to a new and exciting world of Android and trying new things. First, let me assure you, what you want is NOT something new. People have been doing this type of thing for years. That is flashing and testing roms. As you will learn, it actually becomes quite addictive. We call those folks that get addicted to flashing: Flashaholics or crackflashers, lol
First let me talk about "root". This process consists of unlocking a lower level of the Android system known as the bootloader. Unlocking the bootloader of your device allows you to flash a custom recovery, flashing a custom recovery allows you to flash the Superuser binary and Superuser.apk, This is what allows you to use apps that require "root". The bootloader is not an OS file. So when you are unlocking your bootloader you are not modifying your stock rom. Only when you have flashed the Superuser package have you modified your stock rom. And even that isn't really modifying anything. When you flash the Superuser package, it adds two files to your rom at certain locations of the file system. It adds the Superuser.apk file to system/app and it adds the SU binary to system/bin. Basically you CAN have a totally S-OFF (unlocked) bootloader and still have an entirely stock rom if you want. But the real benifit is flashing a custom recovery like ClockworkMod Recovery and then flash the superuser package.
As far as extracting the stock system, you should try giving adb a go. Do it right now if you like. Ensure you have the android sdk installed and properly set up on your computer and your computer can recognize your phone. Ensure your phone is in debugging mode, connect your phone to your computer, open up a command window, and run this command:
Code:
adb pull \
This command will pull everything off your phone except for data which is where your market or Google Play apps are stored.
Beyond XDA there are aso more resources to learn from. For example, ht tp://www .android .com is a good place to start, and to learn more about adb check out ht tp://developer .android .com/tools/help/adb.html
If you need to learn how to setup the sdk here is the place to learn how: ht tp://developer .android .com/sdk/index.html
I'm sure others will add to this as well which is the good thing about this community.
Welcome to XDA, I hope you have fun learning, and maybe share back someday things you learn along the way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Wildstang,
Thanks very much for your warm welcome and very informative reply. So are you a Flashaholics or Crackflashers yet?
As I am a newbie, please forgive me if I am asking dumb questions.
As far as I understand,
The steps of root is
1. Unlock the bootloader
2. Flash Superuser binary & Superuser.apk
** does "flash a custom recovery" means "flash Superuser binary & Superuser.apk"?
"Flash Superuser binary & Superuser.apk" is just "add SU binary to system/bin" and "add Superuser.apk to system/app". Then why not just copy them into place?
I just found on the web that "flashing" means replacing the OS of the phone with a new ROM. Would that still keeping the stock ROM?
To have a backup of the original stock ROM, can I
1. Unlock the bootloader
2. Flash Superuser binary & Superuser.apk
3. Perform the backup
And later, after I have flashed a new ROM, or whatever I do, as long as I didn't brick it, when I want to rollback my phone to its original, I can
1. Restore the backup
2. Delete "SU binary in system/bin" and "Superuser.apk in system/app"
3. re-lock the bootloader
Is this correct?
I don't mean to challenge you. But does adb pull \ really backup the system, or just all the files?
Thanks very much again!
midnite_

Hey midnite_,
I am a newbie too and have a lot of blank spots in my understanding of what we can do with android. I also came here with same question. I found how to root, this isn't a secret. Like you, I want to know how do I fix it if I break it.
So, with regards to your questions.
1. Unlock the bootloader
Not clear on this one, as not every tutorial even mentions this part. My feeling is that this might be specific to some phones, like HTC.
2. Flash Custom Recovery (such as AmonRa, CWR, TWRP...)
Recovery is an intermediate stage of phone booting process after bootloader but before OS.
It is there to allow OTA (Over the air) updates. During those, the OS is halted and replaced with a newer one.
What this means for us is that the recovery is capable of replacing OS (ROM - are these terms interchangeable?).
Recovery is the same as hidden partition on windows, that is sometimes present on a PC. It has a limited interface.
It can replace one OS image with another. It probably checks the checksum and creates the new one after the update. It is probably the gatekeeper.
Stock recovery will not replace OS with an image from SD card or from PC through USB. Only OTA.
This is the reason for flashing the custom (hacked) recovery on.
Custom recovery is made to allow additional options, such as allowing image sources such as PC or SD card, and also a ROM backup (write OS image to PC).
3. Flash update file using "upgrade from SD card" function of custom recovery now in place.
In this step, the Superuser.apk and bin files are placed. Stock recovery will not let us do that.
Also, I think the reason we can't just use ADB to "copy" superuser package to phone is because the system is either running or exists as an image (compressed?), and is probably protective of its modification. (So, likely the superuser package also replaces the checksum that the OS uses to check if it has been compromised?) Yes, this modifies your rom.
I assume that unrooting could be done after this by updating again with a file that removes superuser package and that would make your rom stock again.
4 OR flash custom ROM, which usually includes superuser package. Of course using custom rom means you no longer have stock rom.
To have a backup of original ROM, you would :
1 Unlock bootloader,
2 Flash (install) custom recovery
3 superuser doesn't matter here
4 Use custom recovery function to back up your stock ROM.
I want to know the answers to the rest of your questions as well as some clarifications to mine.
Personally, I am looking for a way to backup the stock recovery as well.
I know there are some people asking about this. The procedure appears to be as follows:
(pieced together so don't take it as a tutorial)
1 Unlock bootloader (again, unclear on this. Also some mention S-OFF and others don't)
2 With USB debugging allowed (meaning connect as device requiring a driver), Connect to a PC with ABD, and a driver installed.
3 From ADB, issue a command "adb boot recoveryimage.name" instead of the usual "adb flash recoveryimage.name".
This will make the phone boot into a custom recovery image that is residing on PC, without first writing it to the phone.
4 Unclear how, but make that custom recovery now being live to back up stock rom to pc.
5 Unclear how, but make that custom recovery now being live to flash either root or custom rom to the phone.
6 Disconnect, reboot the phone. Once in OS, use root privileges to mount recovery partition ? (this makes it visible as drive)
7 Don't know how, but use root privileges to back up now visible stock recovery partition to PC as image.
( This should give you two out of three original parts.)
Keep in mind that even if my peace-by-peace "know-how" ever works, there is at least one clearly faulty step:
The back up of the original state of the boot loader has been never made. I do not know if it is easily can be toggled back and forth from lock to unlock and back without leaving any trace. Also, like yourself, I probably don't quite understand what am I talking about, but I have tried to make as much sense of what I have read here and there.
This is my first smart phone, and my experience with linux is limited to building a minecraft server on MineOS, which was pre-made so that not much was required to make it run. I have "mounted" a partition for the first time last week, trying to break Win7recovery, booting it with Knoppix. This is why I think this is probably will come in play here too, as the recovery partition on W7 was hidden. Until then I didn't understand what mounting means, as windows always does it for you. So, take everything I say with a bunch of salt.
Please, let me know too, if you find out more. I want to flash the hell out of my Prism, but I want to be smart about it.

bump... midnite_ r u still around?

Hi Descent2,
Yes i am still around but i am busy with other stuffs at this moment. Thanks very much for your reply. You have studied a lot and you really did good summarisations. Very informative and I learnt a lot from it. Hope some of the masters or experienced ones would come by and bring us out of the mist
cheers,
midnite_
Descent2 said:
Hey midnite_,
I am a newbie too and have a lot of blank spots in my understanding of what we can do with android. I also came here with same question. I found how to root, this isn't a secret. Like you, I want to know how do I fix it if I break it.
So, with regards to your questions.
1. Unlock the bootloader
Not clear on this one, as not every tutorial even mentions this part. My feeling is that this might be specific to some phones, like HTC.
2. Flash Custom Recovery (such as AmonRa, CWR, TWRP...)
Recovery is an intermediate stage of phone booting process after bootloader but before OS.
It is there to allow OTA (Over the air) updates. During those, the OS is halted and replaced with a newer one.
What this means for us is that the recovery is capable of replacing OS (ROM - are these terms interchangeable?).
Recovery is the same as hidden partition on windows, that is sometimes present on a PC. It has a limited interface.
It can replace one OS image with another. It probably checks the checksum and creates the new one after the update. It is probably the gatekeeper.
Stock recovery will not replace OS with an image from SD card or from PC through USB. Only OTA.
This is the reason for flashing the custom (hacked) recovery on.
Custom recovery is made to allow additional options, such as allowing image sources such as PC or SD card, and also a ROM backup (write OS image to PC).
3. Flash update file using "upgrade from SD card" function of custom recovery now in place.
In this step, the Superuser.apk and bin files are placed. Stock recovery will not let us do that.
Also, I think the reason we can't just use ADB to "copy" superuser package to phone is because the system is either running or exists as an image (compressed?), and is probably protective of its modification. (So, likely the superuser package also replaces the checksum that the OS uses to check if it has been compromised?) Yes, this modifies your rom.
I assume that unrooting could be done after this by updating again with a file that removes superuser package and that would make your rom stock again.
4 OR flash custom ROM, which usually includes superuser package. Of course using custom rom means you no longer have stock rom.
To have a backup of original ROM, you would :
1 Unlock bootloader,
2 Flash (install) custom recovery
3 superuser doesn't matter here
4 Use custom recovery function to back up your stock ROM.
I want to know the answers to the rest of your questions as well as some clarifications to mine.
Personally, I am looking for a way to backup the stock recovery as well.
I know there are some people asking about this. The procedure appears to be as follows:
(pieced together so don't take it as a tutorial)
1 Unlock bootloader (again, unclear on this. Also some mention S-OFF and others don't)
2 With USB debugging allowed (meaning connect as device requiring a driver), Connect to a PC with ABD, and a driver installed.
3 From ADB, issue a command "adb boot recoveryimage.name" instead of the usual "adb flash recoveryimage.name".
This will make the phone boot into a custom recovery image that is residing on PC, without first writing it to the phone.
4 Unclear how, but make that custom recovery now being live to back up stock rom to pc.
5 Unclear how, but make that custom recovery now being live to flash either root or custom rom to the phone.
6 Disconnect, reboot the phone. Once in OS, use root privileges to mount recovery partition ? (this makes it visible as drive)
7 Don't know how, but use root privileges to back up now visible stock recovery partition to PC as image.
( This should give you two out of three original parts.)
Keep in mind that even if my peace-by-peace "know-how" ever works, there is at least one clearly faulty step:
The back up of the original state of the boot loader has been never made. I do not know if it is easily can be toggled back and forth from lock to unlock and back without leaving any trace. Also, like yourself, I probably don't quite understand what am I talking about, but I have tried to make as much sense of what I have read here and there.
This is my first smart phone, and my experience with linux is limited to building a minecraft server on MineOS, which was pre-made so that not much was required to make it run. I have "mounted" a partition for the first time last week, trying to break Win7recovery, booting it with Knoppix. This is why I think this is probably will come in play here too, as the recovery partition on W7 was hidden. Until then I didn't understand what mounting means, as windows always does it for you. So, take everything I say with a bunch of salt.
Please, let me know too, if you find out more. I want to flash the hell out of my Prism, but I want to be smart about it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

check here
All your answers can be found here: [REF] [GUIDE] Welcome to your device, the Galaxy S III. For more XDA related issues check here: [GUIDE] - XDA New User Guide - Getting started on XDA
Good Luck!
mf2112
XDA Moderator
ASharpEdge said:
Hello all this is my first post here...woohoo!:fingers-crossed: This forum is amazing as to the amount of information available. I just wish that in looking for what I need to do I did not need to look in so many places. I feel that if I want to root my T-Mobile GS3 that all the information should be in one subsection of the forum, but it is not that simple I guess....lol Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.
I have a Samsung GS3 with T-Mobile that I want to root. Everyone says to back up the phone before you do it but I am not really seeing how to make a backup before I start. It appears that most of the guides to root just say to backup without telling you how to fo it. Another thing (correct me if I am wrong) I see the nandroid backup that I think is a backup of the phone however it seems to be done after you make changes to the phone and I thought the backup was supposed to be done before you do anything. Is it that there is not a way to make a complete backup with an unrooted phone?
My question is basically the same as the OP here. I have been reading and reading and reading posts here in the forum. There is much information here and much of it is duplicated with slight variances in some of the duplicates. I am not certain as to which rooting method I should use. There seem to be so many choices. As a new person to this forum I will say that you can find just about everything about any phone which is awesome. The hard thing is sifting through the many options to pick one to use for your issue.
I do see that Mr. Robinson has a thread with backups of the original roms. The only thing is that they are default roms that are like an out of the box phone and not my phone with my apps and my settings. That is what I want to backup...My phone with my settings and my apps.
:good: Thank you in advance for any one that can shed some light on this for me and the OP'er
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Thanks mf2112. But those resources are seem only for GS3. And it seems it is not teaching us to backup our stock ROMs, it provides stock ROMs for us to download instead. Is there a general way to backup our stock ROMs?
Thanks,
midnite_
mf2112 said:
All your answers can be found here: [REF] [GUIDE] Welcome to your device, the Galaxy S III. For more XDA related issues check here: [GUIDE] - XDA New User Guide - Getting started on XDA
Good Luck!
mf2112
XDA Moderator
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You must unlock your bootloader then flash a custom recovery. You will then use that custom recovery to make a backup of your rom. That backup will be stored on your sd card.
Now, I have tried to help you and so have a couple other folks. You expect us to just give you answers step by step. I am sorry but this is simply not how XDA works. XDA is set up in a way which makes it for any users to find quickly what they want to know. Use the search feature on the site and you will find many answers. I tell you to go do your own research now and be proud of what you learn on your own. And if you cannot, please do not try to modify your phone further, you may just brick it if you aren't careful.

midnite_ said:
Thanks mf2112. But those resources are seem only for GS3. And it seems it is not teaching us to backup our stock ROMs, it provides stock ROMs for us to download instead. Is there a general way to backup our stock ROMs?
Thanks,
midnite_
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I put in the GS3 links since the OP was using that phone. Every phone will be different so I don't think a general way or guide would be practical.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium

How to Root and upgrade from ice cream sandwich to jelly bean??

Dear all,
I received an Asus Transformer Tf101 for Christmas, 16gb internal RAM,
OS 4.0.3 (ice cream). Can someone please guide me how to enable root and upgrade the os?
I tried to rooted with Sparkyroot but, kept getting " exploit not found". Please help!
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app

Check to make sure the rooting method works with your device. Have you checked out the sticky threads here about it ? I remember that I tried three different ways of rooting (all from here) before it worked - I think it was a PC driver issue and a lack of support for one.
After that, you will need to install a custom recovery in order to flash from. I really like TWRP, and was advised to download "Goomanager" from the Play Store - from there you can go to the menu dots in the upper right and choose "Install OpenRecoveryScript" and it will install it. I also like the "Reboot2Recovery" app, although it's not as useful on a custom ROM that includes the feature, but is easier than holding down buttons just right for that first time.
After that, you can flash a ROM via that custom recovery you installed (on TWRP it is very user-friendly and very obvious what you need to do as long as you know what you need to "wipe" beforehand - all you need is to use the "Install" button and thereafter).
ROM+Kernel(optional)+GAPPS(Google proprietary apps) . You need to wipe both caches, /system and internal data. You could use Titanium Backup prior to this to backup apps and of course back up data to an external source. A Kernel is sort of an underlayer of the "OS" that works on a low level with the hardware. You can read about some of the available ones in the Development section and see why people are using them, what possible benefits they get, et cetera.

arabic support
do custom roms support foreign languages and fonts, i use to visit arabic web sites and arabic tweets, do CM10, AOSP or Teom eos support such fonts
Pennycake said:
Check to make sure the rooting method works with your device. Have you checked out the sticky threads here about it ? I remember that I tried three different ways of rooting (all from here) before it worked - I think it was a PC driver issue and a lack of support for one.
After that, you will need to install a custom recovery in order to flash from. I really like TWRP, and was advised to download "Goomanager" from the Play Store - from there you can go to the menu dots in the upper right and choose "Install OpenRecoveryScript" and it will install it. I also like the "Reboot2Recovery" app, although it's not as useful on a custom ROM that includes the feature, but is easier than holding down buttons just right for that first time.
After that, you can flash a ROM via that custom recovery you installed (on TWRP it is very user-friendly and very obvious what you need to do as long as you know what you need to "wipe" beforehand - all you need is to use the "Install" button and thereafter).
ROM+Kernel(optional)+GAPPS(Google proprietary apps) . You need to wipe both caches, /system and internal data. You could use Titanium Backup prior to this to backup apps and of course back up data to an external source. A Kernel is sort of an underlayer of the "OS" that works on a low level with the hardware. You can read about some of the available ones in the Development section and see why people are using them, what possible benefits they get, et cetera.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

You should be fine with foreign languages as the custom rom is generally built on what Android uses, so if you can do it on stock than you should be fine on custom.
I use a different recovery than the above post, but if you follow his steps then you should be fine. You don't NEED a custom kernel to run JB per say, but it does give you a bit more power if you want to get into overclocking etc. Also, I try to stress, once you have custom recovery and are ready to flash whatever rom you chose, wipe everything. My first and only real panic was a bootloop from not wiping everything.

Like somebody mentioned above, make sure your device is compatible with each tool. Look at your serial number on the bottom of the tablet next to the usb port. Should see B60blahblah or B70blahblah, or maybe something higher (if it's newer).
I use a nice tool put together by whitekidney called EasyFlasher. It's an all in one package where you can root, install custom recovery, and install new firmware. Check this thread. It works very well for me, and is super easy.
whitekidney says:
Works for:
ANY TF101:
SBK1 (B10-B70)
SBK2 (B70,B80,B90++)
Some B70 models are SBK1, some newer B70 are SBK2, if you don't know which one you have, try both!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's real easy to use. Put your tablet into apx mode by holding the power button and the volume up button. The screen will look like it's off but if you plug it into your Windows computer, you should hear the sound when a device is plugged it. Then it'll try to install the drivers for an apx device, or some MTP drivers, I believe. If they fail to install, download PDAnet and install it. This will correctly install your drivers. There's also another method of getting your drivers to install correctly. Here's a universal driver package that 1wayjonny put together. To clarify, only use PDAnet or the universal driver package if your drivers didn't install correctly when you plugged your transformer (which should be in apx mode) into your computer.
Now you can use EasyFlasher to install a custom recovery. I left it on the very first option, (a touch recovery, so you don't have to use your buttons to change your selection). During this process, EasyFlasher should first open up a command prompt (it might pop up behind your current programs running so you won't see it until you minimize everything except for EasyFlasher). The cmd prompt will ask you to overwrite some files on your device, just type a for "always" and let it do it's thing. It's really running NVflash which you should also get familiar with too.
After you have a custom recovery installed, flash your ROM of choice. Here's a nice JB 4.1 that I've tried out. Download that file, put it on a micro sd card, pop it in your transformer, and reboot into recovery by holding volume down and the power button. When it reboots, press volume up to enter your new custom recovery (like it should say on the screen). If you installed the same recovery that I recommended above (hopefully these are the correct steps, as I don't have my device in front of me), click on flash .zip, then click on from sd card. You should see the zip that you transferred from your computer, click on it, and it should install.
Once that's finished, reboot your transformer, let it load the new rom, either set it up or skip all the junk in the beginning. Once you're on the main home screen, remove your micro sd card and transfer the superuser zip that you can find inside the tools folder in EasyFlasher's directory (on your computer) to your sd card. Reboot into recovery, and now flash that super user zip the same way you flashed the rom.
Now you have a brand new, 4.1.2 JB rooted device!

Quick question, do i need to connect my asus eee transformer pad tf101 to my windows xp pc to root it? Or can i used my ibook g3. The reason i ask is because i keep getting an error about MTP error. I have search everywhere for this error and i cant find a solution.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app

jbusti75 said:
Quick question, do i need to connect my asus eee transformer pad tf101 to my windows xp pc to root it? Or can i used my ibook g3. The reason i ask is because i keep getting an error about MTP error. I have search everywhere for this error and i cant find a solution.
Sent from my Transformer TF101 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am sure it can be done, but most of the tools (like EasyFlasher) use Windoze.
Even if you are getting an MTP error, it should not matter as you will be using the APX device. Just make sure you have the APX driver and update the unknown device that appears after you boot to APX mode.

[Q] Looking for root basics, list etc.

As the title states, I need help with understanding the basic steps on rooting the ASUS TF300.
I am not a programmer, I do not know the lingo or terms, and searching on the site has yielded very confusing results.
Basic steps?
1. Unlock boot loader - Why? What does this do?
2. TWRP? I have no clue, but I see references all over the place
3. Custom Recovery - What does this do? Do I need it?
4. Kernel - What is this?
5. ROM - What is this?
6. Install Super SU or SuperUser (what's the difference?, what does this do?
7. Install a root check app (to check if rooted I presume)
8. Install some form of file explorer (I have Fx File Explorer) and backup/control app (I have Titanium backup)- both paid forms
9. De-bloat with caution!
Where does the OEM firmware/software fit in this scheme? Does it exist as a backup or is it over-written? Do I have a choice?
As you can guess I'm lost. Reading threads after searching for "root TF300" or even the guides or the very good index, I have more questions than answers. How does one know what to do if the acronyms used are cryptic? (example TWRP~ what does this even stand for?)
I believe that not all steps are required, but I also believe the order I do things is important, and I'm concerned about bricking my TF300 by doing something wrong. I also don't want to assume that this is the same for every device or phones. (what steps work for a phone may not be the best for a tablet)
All I want to do is root and remove bloat. After I get this, I may consider upgrading the OS (kernel? Rom?) to something better.
Any links would be greatly appreciated. Please just bear in mind I'm so noob to this I don't know a ROM from a Kernel yet. (When I search, all answers are overly complicated developer definitions.)
Thank you!

Here is a "simple Step by Step" with notes in red as to how my mind tries to grasp this:
1. Upgrade your tablet to the desired firmware: 4.1 or 4.2 I assume they mean any OTA upgrade~ my tablet is current with JB 4.2.1 and I do not believe ASUS will plan on upgrading this anytime soon)
2. Be sure the correct drivers for your tablet are installed!! Installed where? on my PC? How do I know what are the correct drivers? Where can I get them?
3. Download the updated rooting toolkit: Updated Motochopper rooting toolkit -OK, I can do this!
4. Download TWRP for your firmware version:
- 4.1: TWRP 2.5.0.0 for Jellyeban 4.1
- 4.2: TWRP 2.5.0.0 for Jellybean 4.2 -This makes sense to me, as I am jellybean 4.2.1
5. Rename the downloaded TWRP blob file to twrp.blob and copy it to the root of your sdcard -what is a blob file? Is there a size requirement for the SD card? Does the SD have to be blank?
5. Extract the rooting toolkit to a place you like. -I assume the above mentioned motochopper? Does this answer my question above about the SD card?
== Part 2 - Rooting ==
1. Open up the folder where you placed the rooting toolkit. - with what program? A simple file explorer I assume?
2. Open the run file and follow the instructions -I hope there aren't any cryptic/over my head choices to make!
After installation the tablet should reboot and you should be rooted. -Does this install all the SuperSu stuff or is this it? What about customer recovery? Can I go back? what are the limitations of doing it this way assuming it works....
And this is just PART of the process!

I'll answer in logical order:
broderp said:
5. ROM - What is this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the Operating System that's running on your tablet, i.e. what is called Lollipop or KitKat, or even further what makes the difference between Android and iOS.
Your ROM may come with some preinstalled apps, but with some ROMs they are separate (i.e. the Google apps).
broderp said:
1. Unlock boot loader - Why? What does this do?
2. TWRP? I have no clue, but I see references all over the place
3. Custom Recovery - What does this do? Do I need it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On your ASUS tablet you can, by default, only install ASUS supplied ROMs (i.e. updates).
In order to install a new ROM you need to unlock your device. You do that by unlocking the boot loader. Once you have unlocked the boot loader, you can install a custom recovery, such as TWRP (there are many custom recoveries, but for your device TWRP is recommended).
Once you have a custom recovery, installing a new ROM, or rooting your device, becomes a lot easier. No need to type in commands, but you can now use touch.
broderp said:
4. Kernel - What is this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your kernel is the most important part of your ROM. It's the software between apps and your actual hardware, the lowest level actually. The kernel determines if you can talk to certain pieces of hardware or not. If the kernel does not support certain hardware, that's it, you can't use it.
When your tablet boots up, the first thing it loads its the kernel, the kernel loads all other programs. Another responsibility of the kernel is to allow you to run multiple programs at once.
broderp said:
6. Install Super SU or SuperUser (what's the difference?, what does this do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They allow you to execute programs with root privileges (i.e. no limit to privileges, can do anything), but also give you some protection so malicious programs cannot become root: you have to give explicit permissions for every app.
broderp said:
7. Install a root check app (to check if rooted I presume)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes.
broderp said:
8. Install some form of file explorer (I have Fx File Explorer) and backup/control app (I have Titanium backup)- both paid forms
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Optional, pick whatever you like.
broderp said:
9. De-bloat with caution!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No clue!
broderp said:
Where does the OEM firmware/software fit in this scheme? Does it exist as a backup or is it over-written? Do I have a choice?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firmware often is part of the hardware: it gets written to special memory, and "sticks", i.e. when you reboot it stays there. If you get a T300 you should let ASUS run all the updates as it installs new firmware. Some firmware gets written when your device boots, meaning the special program, the kernel, starts, and at some point writes updated firmware to hardware.
So firmware is software that makes hardware a bit more flexible: else everything is hard-wired, if there's a problem you can't fix it, but with software you sometimes can fix a hardware issue.
Hope this helps!

First, to unlock the bootloader, you need to go the asus site and register your tablet. Then you can download the unlock app from the asus site as well. Next, move the unlock app from where ever it downloaded on your pc to your tablet. You can put it on the tablet RAM or on an SD card, it doesn't matter. On your tablet, go into the settings menu. under security(I think it is there) and enable 'unknown sources' for app installation. I haven't had the stock ROM for so long, I can't recall where that option is. Run the unlock app. It may take a couple times to unlock the tablet. WARNING! this will void your warrenty! So if your tablet is relatively new, think hard about this. Once your tablet is unlocked, then you can worry about TWRP and ROMS
TWRP is a custom recovery. It is officially Team Win Recovery Project, hence TWRP. It is a program that will allow you to back up your tablet before you make changes(very important in case you screw something up) and a host of other things including flashing custom ROMs. If you go into the LP 5.1 for the TF300 thread in the development area, it will have all the links for stuff like the current TWRP, Gapps packages and the newest LP ROM. It is great for our tablets and really wakes it up. Oh yeah, the TWRP site will have instructions for flashing TWRP on your newly unlocked tablet as well.
All this seems very intimidating for noobs, I was one about 4 months ago. I now feel sort of not-noobish. To install TWRP you will need either Fastboot or ADB on your computer. Google Fastboot or ADB and you should find plenty of answers. There are also 'lite' versions of Fastboot out there too. If you are on Windows 8 or 8.1 you will need one of those. Windows doesn't like fastboot or ADB for some reason
HTH