Database Info

[Q] eMatic oem folder

Hey xda. Sorry if this post has been misplaced, but I noticed there is no device forum for the tablet I am asking about today, and that is understandable. My girlfriend recently got an eMatic eGlide Pro II XL tablet for her birthday and it is running Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3. I noticed that it had a lot of bloatware and no google play store on it, and she wanted the play store, so I rooted the device for her and installed the play store and it works like a charm. The only problem I seem to have run into is this read only folder called "oem". The path for this partition is /oem/ and there are a few bloatware apps in there. For some reason though, I cannot edit or delete anything in that partition as it says it is read only even though i am using the root functions of ES File Explorer. I am able to modify other system apps though root explorer. I even tried using terminal emulator commands to remove the items but it still didn't work. Is there a way I can mount this folder as read/write? If I can, that would be a blessing, as I could delete the crapware that came with the tablet and the old version of YouTube that is buggy and not updateable thanks to being placed in the oem folder. Thanks for reading all this guys, I know it's a wall of text, haha.

Ematic: What is the browser?
What is the browser that is install from factory.. on Ematic devices ..as it is not "Chrome" [It almost looks like Dolphin], when I tried to do a regular .apk install of "Chrome" from the Google store it dies which almost tells me that it need to be pushed into the device. So am I correct that I need to find a downloadable .apk of "Chrome" for Android 4.0.3 ?

bfrench1990 said:
Hey xda. Sorry if this post has been misplaced, but I noticed there is no device forum for the tablet I am asking about today, and that is understandable. My girlfriend recently got an eMatic eGlide Pro II XL tablet for her birthday and it is running Android Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.3. I noticed that it had a lot of bloatware and no google play store on it, and she wanted the play store, so I rooted the device for her and installed the play store and it works like a charm. The only problem I seem to have run into is this read only folder called "oem". The path for this partition is /oem/ and there are a few bloatware apps in there. For some reason though, I cannot edit or delete anything in that partition as it says it is read only even though i am using the root functions of ES File Explorer. I am able to modify other system apps though root explorer. I even tried using terminal emulator commands to remove the items but it still didn't work. Is there a way I can mount this folder as read/write? If I can, that would be a blessing, as I could delete the crapware that came with the tablet and the old version of YouTube that is buggy and not updateable thanks to being placed in the oem folder. Thanks for reading all this guys, I know it's a wall of text, haha.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you root the tablet? it seems there are several Ematic tablets being sold at wal-mart and I think people would like to know how you rooted it. (I know I would.)

fsuinnc said:
How did you root the tablet? it seems there are several Ematic tablets being sold at wal-mart and I think people would like to know how you rooted it. (I know I would.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used a tool called Root with Restore by Bin4ry. It took me a couple times. The first time I did it, all it managed to do was slow the tablet down, then i just performed a factory reset and tried again using the same process until it worked. It didn't take all that long. The hardest part is getting the adb drivers to recognize the tablet. I will attach my adb drivers so you don't have to go through all the rigamarole.
Navigate to wherever your android sdk folder is. Mine is at C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk
Within the android-sdk folder, look for extras, then google, then usb_driver. Make a backup of everything in your usb_driver folder, just in case.
Next just extract the contents of the zip I attached to this post. Make sure USB debugging is on, and plug it in. It should be recognized assuming there isn't some other problem i haven't encountered or forgot to mention.
Once your computer recognizes the adb interface for your tablet, use the Root with Restore tool until it works.

bfrench1990 said:
I used a tool called Root with Restore by Bin4ry. It took me a couple times. The first time I did it, all it managed to do was slow the tablet down, then i just performed a factory reset and tried again using the same process until it worked. It didn't take all that long. The hardest part is getting the adb drivers to recognize the tablet. I will attach my adb drivers so you don't have to go through all the rigamarole.
Navigate to wherever your android sdk folder is. Mine is at C:\Program Files (x86)\Android\android-sdk
Within the android-sdk folder, look for extras, then google, then usb_driver. Make a backup of everything in your usb_driver folder, just in case.
Next just extract the contents of the zip I attached to this post. Make sure USB debugging is on, and plug it in. It should be recognized assuming there isn't some other problem i haven't encountered or forgot to mention.
Once your computer recognizes the adb interface for your tablet, use the Root with Restore tool until it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, that's great info. I will try it out. (I have a Ematic egs005 7" on it's way to me. they seem to be very cheap right now at under $60)

fsuinnc said:
Thanks, that's great info. I will try it out. (I have a Ematic egs005 7" on it's way to me. they seem to be very cheap right now at under $60)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll bet that you can get it rooted. You may have to edit those drivers though since I don't think my girlfriend's tablet isn't the same as the one you mentioned.
If the drivers I posted don't work for you, then open up "android_winusb.inf" from that zip file in your favorite text editor.
Somewhere under the "[Google.NTx86]" and "[Google.NTamd64]" sections, add this:
;eMatic egs005
Remember where you put those, cause what goes under those entries is the hardware ID of your tablet. You can get that by going under device manager and right clicking on your tablet, if it is unrecognized it should have a yellow triangle on it or something like that. Go to properties and go to the details tab, then from the drop down menu, select hardware IDs. In my case, two came up. Just pick one. If that one ends up not working later, use the one you didn't try.
Now, your entries should look like this:
;eMatic egs005
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, (your hardware ID)
Next, try to update the drivers on your tablet via device manager. Right click on your tablet like we did last time, and click properties. Go to the driver tab, and hit the update driver button. You'll have to manually navigate to where your drivers are. Select the folder where you extracted the zip to (make sure you have the edited file in there!) and follow the procedure to update the driver.
Next, open up an adb window and type in adb devices. If you have something showing up, congrats! You should be able to try the root tool now. As always, be careful!

eglide pro ll xl
I just bought the eglide pro ll xl also. From what I have read and done to my tab so far, it is already rooted from the factory. It sounds like a lot of the ematic tabs are. I've been researching different operating systems to put on my tab but there isn't anything that says it is specifically for mine. They pretty much just list the types of tablets the ROMS will work for. The question I have is what type of tablet is this. Allwinner a10? LY F1? TREQ? I would really like to know this and a good way to back up my current system so if I screw it up I can go back and try again.
-Z

Livinbad said:
I just bought the eglide pro ll xl also. From what I have read and done to my tab so far, it is already rooted from the factory. It sounds like a lot of the ematic tabs are. I've been researching different operating systems to put on my tab but there isn't anything that says it is specifically for mine. They pretty much just list the types of tablets the ROMS will work for. The question I have is what type of tablet is this. Allwinner a10? LY F1? TREQ? I would really like to know this and a good way to back up my current system so if I screw it up I can go back and try again.
-Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't add most of those entries in the drivers file, it originated as a sort of "fix all" driver that was posted on xda to connect many many types of different devices to adb without hassle. I added a few of the entries using the hardware ID method I described above to accommodate some less popular devices that my friends and family asked me to root.
I think I heard talk somewhere about custom roms for the eGlide, but I have no clue how to flash them, and seeing as how that tablet wasn't mine, I did not want to try to flash one and brick it, lol. I couldn't find any recoveries or any other tool to flash things to it. If you do find a way, all I can say is be careful.
As far as backing up goes, root with restore supports unrooting as well. I never performed that function though, since root hasn't done anything bad for the tablets I put them on, haha. I'm not certain there is an easy backup method since as I said a second ago, no custom recoveries. To be safe, I would recommend a factory data reset before attempting any rooting/unrooting of this tablet.
I hope I helped with my feedback.

bfrench1990 said:
I didn't add most of those entries in the drivers file, it originated as a sort of "fix all" driver that was posted on xda to connect many many types of different devices to adb without hassle. I added a few of the entries using the hardware ID method I described above to accommodate some less popular devices that my friends and family asked me to root.
I think I heard talk somewhere about custom roms for the eGlide, but I have no clue how to flash them, and seeing as how that tablet wasn't mine, I did not want to try to flash one and brick it, lol. I couldn't find any recoveries or any other tool to flash things to it. If you do find a way, all I can say is be careful.
As far as backing up goes, root with restore supports unrooting as well. I never performed that function though, since root hasn't done anything bad for the tablets I put them on, haha. I'm not certain there is an easy backup method since as I said a second ago, no custom recoveries. To be safe, I would recommend a factory data reset before attempting any rooting/unrooting of this tablet.
I hope I helped with my feedback.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I actually installed CWM 6.0.1.2 by Flowish on to my tab and it works great except for the process he has to get in to the recovery. I have to use the terminal emulator to launch it. That's why I am leery about installing a different ROM. If I can't get the thing to boot up properly I then can't get to the terminal emulator to get to recovery to restore my backup. I'm still searching and learning though. I'll figure it out eventually.

Livinbad said:
I actually installed CWM 6.0.1.2 by Flowish on to my tab and it works great except for the process he has to get in to the recovery. I have to use the terminal emulator to launch it. That's why I am leery about installing a different ROM. If I can't get the thing to boot up properly I then can't get to the terminal emulator to get to recovery to restore my backup. I'm still searching and learning though. I'll figure it out eventually.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check if there's fastboot for this tablet. There's a fastboot command to boot into the recovery. If not, then I would just not flash a Rom

[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

zte z990g (Rooted) Needing general information about su rights & commands

:fingers-crossed: ok so I've FINALLY been able to root my net10 zte merit z990g using a simple .zip install suggestr
d to me by a friend. (I know I took the easy way)
Since rooting it, I've went from the factory 2.3.5 stock and installed an ICS based verioson, which seems to be running great minor exception internet browser crashed & installation of opera web browser seemed to work smoothly on.
Since rooting it, I've bought another phone (Lg Optimus Dynamic) and activated it so that I may study the rooted device futher.
My questions are as follows:
1. Could someone possibly tell me the complete list of su commands are for my zte merit z990g and how to enter them? (Id like to use my su rights to explore the device componets, network (since its deactivated and has no working sim) and bootloader files/settings, etc for my own educational purposes to POSSIBLY futher my knowledge of the android based device. (quite new still yet to the whole technology mods, hacks & tricks) as well as explaining the whole shell thing?
2. Bootloader: how do I know if its unlocked, and if it isnt then what do I do to unlock it?
3. Is it possibe for one flash or install another custom rom or kernel to unlock a device? As stated I've went from gingerbread 2.3.5 to ICS . I first installed a .zip of TouchNav then a DexMeritRoot. zip, shortly after that I installed the ICS.zip. Though it seems to be stable, the battery drains extremly quick and there still is hardly any memory. Any ideas on a tweak setting to optimize
these issues?
4. Does anyone have another suggestion for a rom that I could try?
I ask advice as I know there are possibly other users out in the xda forum who are waaay more experienced with this device and could possibly share their wisdom with an inexperienced noob thats looking to expand her knowledge. So far, whats been done since the root, Ive enjoyed it (I use it to connect via wifi only to connect with friends and play online games when not tinkering with trying to enhance it to full potential) Ive just grown sightly accustomed to the udated zip of ICS and would like to try something new.
So, there it is guys, is there anyone who would like to offer their advice on the subjects? Id love to get some feedback.
Thanks in advance!!
ok, so I now know that I can install a .zip custom rom contaning no kernel since the merit is known to have issues rebooting and its linked to an "unstable kernel....but this confuses me. Doesnt the android based Zte Merit z990g have to have a kernel to function??
And I've come across the Stayboggy blue steel custom rom but Im apperhensive due to conflicting replies in the forum area I located it in. Dont get me wrong, he has some wonderful ROMS and software that Ive researched online. I just get a little nervous upon installing anything (Fear of drastic noob brick)
I've yet to find any real answers in my researches just yet, however I will continue to explore the device.
I guess upon reading Ive realized the bootloader thing has pretty much been addressed all on its own. Im guessing I wouldnt of been able to install the icecream Scamwhich custom rom, version of the ICS, would I??
Im still trying to find out the whole su commands, how to create shell etc so thats what Im tryin to grasp now.
Still would appreciate any opinions, and advice from others. on anything in the thread...

Okay so just to clear a few things up.
The bootloader for the merit is already unlocked due to Touch Nav being able to be flashed and replace the Stock Recovery with the update.zip. The bootloader would be the first menu that you "tampered" with in order to flash a permanent recovery that would allow you to use Touch Nav or ClockWorkMod recovery and then install ROMS. In my experience, I haven't ever come across a ROM being "pre-unlocked". This is because the way to unlock most phones is using the IMEI and being that is different in every phone it just can't be done until after the ROM is flashed. Some phones have apps for them like the Galaxy line and others are harder to unlock.
As far as running shell commands, you'll need to do that through ADB or a Terminal App. That's really the manual way of performing tasks on your device like pushing or pulling files with read/write privileges aka SuperUser. So it depends on what all is you want to try to learn to do manually. Like pulling system apps from your phone, replacing boot animations zip files, or what have you. In ADB, if your device is connected and have ADB debugging checked off you can try the command: "Adb devices". Minus the parentheses to check if can run other commands. "Adb help" will show you a quick command paragraph. You should still Google ADB commands or Android Terminal commands to explore further. Since your phone doesn't have a service, I recommend you trying a voip app to make calls through wifi just as neat thing to mess around with. Well that's just a bit of what I've gathered in my short time here in Xda Developers. If you like the challenge of research in the android/Linux world, this is really exciting way to start.
Oh and as far as the Ice scam Sandwich ROM, it is still Gingerbread. It's only themed system ui to look like ICS. There isn't an ICS based rom out for the ZTE Merit. Even SpeedFreak2.0 is Gingerbread. The low system storage issue was greatly addressed in SpeedFreak2.0 by creating an sd-ext3 partition on the micro sd. I had to create that in either TouchNav or ClockWorkMod and format. So backup all your data prior to doing this and installing the New Rom. I now have 4gb free of system storage and the Merit clocking at 864mhz. Pay close attention as I believe you install that ROM by restoring a backup file NOT flashing the. zip.
Now for the unstable kernel, I would recommend you download the 1.0 kernel I mentioned in another thread. The kernel comes in the ROM and it wouldn't run "without a kernel". Again, this would be after installing SpeedFreak2.0 by backup restore using ClockWorkMod that I believe is installed by flashing an update.zip that reboots TouchNav and let's you use a Temporary ClockWorkMod from which to backup(install) SpeedFreak2.0. You extract the SpeedFreak2.0. zip and get the backup file from there. I hope I made sense. I'm up late and I'll come back and check on you. Feel free to PM me if you find yourself lost.
Sent from my PantechP9090 using xda premium

[Q] custom rom for my tf300t ?

hi,
I'm afraid that installing a custom rom on my asus tf300 would break compatibility
with the keyboard dock. Also mine is azerty .
I'm looking for cyanogenmod in particular, what do you think ?
Also there are other consideration for a custom rom:
- my main motivation to install a custom is to get rid of the bloatware.
I just do not wish to spend time with every added apps to understand their purpose,
and they take space.
- ads. I've installed overcome rom in my previous tablet (unfortunately bricked),
and one thing I really liked, is how lot of ads in apps were filtered.
Too much ads popping from nowhere now , which discourage the use of "free" apps.
- if there's some built in mechanism to limit the risk of bricking that would be nice.
My previous tablet was bricked without any reason, perhaps because I didn't use the original charger.
- somehow all the updates that pop up frequently, nags me.
To summarize, I'm looking for a custom rom, that is compatible with my azerty keyboard dock of the tf300;
and preferably all the criteria mentioned above ( no bloat, blocked ads, anti bricking mechanism, less updates).
Thanks

extrabigmehdi said:
hi,
I'm afraid that installing a custom rom on my asus tf300 would break compatibility
with the keyboard dock. Also mine is azerty .
I'm looking for cyanogenmod in particular, what do you think ?
Also there are other consideration for a custom rom:
- my main motivation to install a custom is to get rid of the bloatware.
I just do not wish to spend time with every added apps to understand their purpose,
and they take space.
- ads. I've installed overcome rom in my previous tablet (unfortunately bricked),
and one thing I really liked, is how lot of ads in apps were filtered.
Too much ads popping from nowhere now , which discourage the use of "free" apps.
- if there's some built in mechanism to limit the risk of bricking that would be nice.
My previous tablet was bricked without any reason, perhaps because I didn't use the original charger.
- somehow all the updates that pop up frequently, nags me.
To summarize, I'm looking for a custom rom, that is compatible with my azerty keyboard dock of the tf300;
and preferably all the criteria mentioned above ( no bloat, blocked ads, anti bricking mechanism, less updates).
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Curious AZERTY Keyboard is french layout? But still ASUS Brand Keyboard Dock correct?

Lummers said:
Curious AZERTY Keyboard is french layout? But still ASUS Brand Keyboard Dock correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes. With US keyboard the first letters you see in top left are QWERTY, while for french keyboard it' s AZERTY.
If I set improperly the local, I guess I'll get the Q letter when I type A on keyboard and so on.
I think the layout of keyboard was selected, with first run (choose you language , hour etc...).
My guess is that asus use a "standard rom" despite the different keyboards , but I'm not 100% sure.
Maybe cyanogenmod handle this ?
Annoying, with my samsung P1000 using a custom rom, was more straightforward.

Finally used CROMi-Xenogenesis mod.
It was harder than I thought, with silly unexpected problems from time to time.
For instance, you can't use the bootloader unlocker from asus, if you set the font size of system to max (try if you don't see why).
The dos shell that refused to change dir once in administartor mod , in order to use that fastboot thing ( weird, but worked after typing a drive letter ). Twrp that refused to mound the sd card even with fat32 system (I realized later I could reset while keeping the rom to install).
And finally , no f***** step by step manual, to install the custom rom.
Overcome was more newbie friendly.
No problem with locals, as already announced before by the author of rom.
Now it seems : less bloated, and I have ads blocked .
Will customize more later.

extrabigmehdi said:
Finally used CROMi-Xenogenesis mod.
It was harder than I thought, with silly unexpected problems from time to time.
For instance, you can't use the bootloader unlocker from asus, if you set the font size of system to max (try if you don't see why).
The dos shell that refused to change dir once in administartor mod , in order to use that fastboot thing ( weird, but worked after typing a drive letter ). Twrp that refused to mound the sd card even with fat32 system (I realized later I could reset while keeping the rom to install).
And finally , no f***** step by step manual, to install the custom rom.
Overcome was more newbie friendly.
No problem with locals, as already announced before by the author of rom.
Now it seems : less bloated, and I have ads blocked .
Will customize more later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm using Comi-X a well, I didn't know you were looking for that I had a post earlier that I had great help from people on the board.
I'm using Hund's Kernel so I'm overclocking a little on that machine.
No more lag!! It's amazing how much faster it is with the rom.
Please let me know if you need a hand with anything, I'm still a noob but I'll try my best to help you out.

extrabigmehdi said:
Finally used CROMi-Xenogenesis mod.
It was harder than I thought, with silly unexpected problems from time to time.
For instance, you can't use the bootloader unlocker from asus, if you set the font size of system to max (try if you don't see why).
The dos shell that refused to change dir once in administartor mod , in order to use that fastboot thing ( weird, but worked after typing a drive letter ). Twrp that refused to mound the sd card even with fat32 system (I realized later I could reset while keeping the rom to install).
And finally , no f***** step by step manual, to install the custom rom.
Overcome was more newbie friendly.
No problem with locals, as already announced before by the author of rom.
Now it seems : less bloated, and I have ads blocked .
Will customize more later.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would suggest doing the NvFlash for your tablet so it becomes unbrickable now that you have a custom ROM. Link in sig

cmendonc2 said:
I would suggest doing the NvFlash for your tablet so it becomes unbrickable now that you have a custom ROM. Link in sig
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unfortunately I just find this nvfash thing just too much confusing.
For miscellaneous reasons:
1) there's no "official" tutorial to restore bricked tablet with nvflash
2) I don't understand what nvflash (or the steps to create "nvflash backup files" ) will exactly change to my current install, if there's a risk of incompatibility/conflict, if I'll need to re-install twrp afterward. Would the bootloader be changed ? Its there a nvflash bootloader ? Unclear.
3) Sorry the part " you will need to flash the AndroidRoot patched custom bootloader" is just Chinese to me.
4) If I install in future , a new rom based on a new android version (and I guess a new bootloader ?) , would I loose the ability to use nvflash ?
5) which file do I need to keep exactly, and where. Let's say I want to save space, do I need to keep blob files etc inside tablet ?
6) ironically there's a risk of bricking my tablet while following this "anti-brick" tool, and with the not so clear tutorial, I have reasons to hesitate.

extrabigmehdi said:
Unfortunately I just find this nvfash thing just too much confusing.
For miscellaneous reasons:
1) there's no "official" tutorial to restore bricked tablet with nvflash
2) I don't understand what nvflash (or the steps to create "nvflash backup files" ) will exactly change to my current install, if there's a risk of incompatibility/conflict, if I'll need to re-install twrp afterward. Would the bootloader be changed ? Its there a nvflash bootloader ? Unclear.
3) Sorry the part " you will need to flash the AndroidRoot patched custom bootloader" is just Chinese to me.
4) If I install in future , a new rom based on a new android version (and I guess a new bootloader ?) , would I loose the ability to use nvflash ?
5) which file do I need to keep exactly, and where. Let's say I want to save space, do I need to keep blob files etc inside tablet ?
6) ironically there's a risk of bricking my tablet while following this "anti-brick" tool, and with the not so clear tutorial, I have reasons to hesitate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1.) Google NvFlash Commands, or read original NvFlash thread, or ask a dev at AndroidRoot
2.)NvFlash files are backups. It doesnt change the BL. The BL just needs to be jellybean
3.) NvFlash is done using a custom version of CWM recovery, so it runs all the scripts for u. You just have to press a few buttons
4.) If you've done NvFlash once, it doesnt matter what you do to your tablet like changing BL
5.) The blob file is about 2 MB, the other backups that are recommended are about 10MB. You wont run out of space. The files that need to be saved are listed in the guide, as well as the way to save them
6.) If you follow the guide down to the word, there is no problem. Unlocking your bootloader and and flashing a rom has the same risk of bricking. If you have any questions ALWAYS ask before proceeding.

cmendonc2 said:
1.) Google NvFlash Commands, or read original NvFlash thread, or ask a dev at AndroidRoot
2.)NvFlash files are backups. It doesnt change the BL. The BL just needs to be jellybean
3.) NvFlash is done using a custom version of CWM recovery, so it runs all the scripts for u. You just have to press a few buttons
4.) If you've done NvFlash once, it doesnt matter what you do to your tablet like changing BL
5.) The blob file is about 2 MB, the other backups that are recommended are about 10MB. You wont run out of space. The files that need to be saved are listed in the guide, as well as the way to save them
6.) If you follow the guide down to the word, there is no problem. Unlocking your bootloader and and flashing a rom has the same risk of bricking. If you have any questions ALWAYS ask before proceeding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was reading about the NvFlash as it was just recently released.
Couple of questions (sorry if hijacked this thread)
Does it work with TWRP? Or will I have to use CWM?
I've read the NvFlash Guide but I'm still unsure of the necessities.

Lummers said:
I was reading about the NvFlash as it was just recently released.
Couple of questions (sorry if hijacked this thread)
Does it work with TWRP? Or will I have to use CWM?
I've read the NvFlash Guide but I'm still unsure of the necessities.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So to get TWRP, u flash a custom CWM, but after you have your backups and blobs, you can flash back TWRP

cmendonc2 said:
1.) Google NvFlash Commands, or read original NvFlash thread, or ask a dev at AndroidRoot
2.)NvFlash files are backups. It doesnt change the BL. The BL just needs to be jellybean
3.) NvFlash is done using a custom version of CWM recovery, so it runs all the scripts for u. You just have to press a few buttons
4.) If you've done NvFlash once, it doesnt matter what you do to your tablet like changing BL
5.) The blob file is about 2 MB, the other backups that are recommended are about 10MB. You wont run out of space. The files that need to be saved are listed in the guide, as well as the way to save them
6.) If you follow the guide down to the word, there is no problem. Unlocking your bootloader and and flashing a rom has the same risk of bricking. If you have any questions ALWAYS ask before proceeding.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All right , basically you replace the "recovery tool" with one custom that allows to save the nvflash files (how I interpret it).
I tried to follow the steps but not without problems.
I tried to install "Universal Naked Driver" , but it didn't work.
I uninstalled the asus official driver first , but the universal naked driver wasn't recognized.
Reading some discussions, suggested that it doesn't work with win 7 x64 anyways.
So I re-installed again the "ASUS Pad PC Suite" in order to get the driver again, but also all the stuff I don't care , such like asus clouds and asus sync (if I try to skip, the setup freeze).
Then I followed the step for nvflash, and I got a problem at step where I type "adb pull /data/media/AndroidRoot " . I got the error "device not recognized" .
I retyped again the menu command to generate the blob ; thinking it might help, and all I got is a new wifi error.
So I searched a bit on the web, some discussion suggesting I do the adb command in regular android mode, and after enabling "debug mode".
But enabling the debug mode is not anymore straightforward, you must do some kind of magical trick, where you tap seven time the version build :crying:. I'm happy I didn't install the java sdk, some people suggest to install it in order to use the adb thing :silly:.
So I finally got 8 files .
Reboot in "APX mode" , I get this time the error in windows that the driver is missing. This time I used "universal naked driver " for this,
driver recognized. Reboot of windows, just in case.
Finally I got a frightening black screen, making you think that the tablet might be bricked (they say "blank screen" in tutorial , but I was hoping a white background ).
But fortunately I ended all the nvflash steps successfully.
And then I reflashed TWRP.

extrabigmehdi said:
All right , basically you replace the "recovery tool" with one custom that allows to save the nvflash files (how I interpret it).
I tried to follow the steps but not without problems.
I tried to install "Universal Naked Driver" , but it didn't work.
I uninstalled the asus official driver first , but the universal naked driver wasn't recognized.
Reading some discussions, suggested that it doesn't work with win 7 x64 anyways.
So I re-installed again the "ASUS Pad PC Suite" in order to get the driver again, but also all the stuff I don't care , such like asus clouds and asus sync (if I try to skip, the setup freeze).
Then I followed the step for nvflash, and I got a problem at step where I type "adb pull /data/media/AndroidRoot " . I got the error "device not recognized" .
I retyped again the menu command to generate the blob ; thinking it might help, and all I got is a new wifi error.
So I searched a bit on the web, some discussion suggesting I do the adb command in regular android mode, and after enabling "debug mode".
But enabling the debug mode is not anymore straightforward, you must do some kind of magical trick, where you tap seven time the version build :crying:. I'm happy I didn't install the java sdk, some people suggest to install it in order to use the adb thing :silly:.
So I finally got 8 files .
Reboot in "APX mode" , I get this time the error in windows that the driver is missing. This time I used "universal naked driver " for this,
driver recognized. Reboot of windows, just in case.
Finally I got a frightening black screen, making you think that the tablet might be bricked (they say "blank screen" in tutorial , but I was hoping a white background ).
But fortunately I ended all the nvflash steps successfully.
And then I reflashed TWRP.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Woah....
Totally sounds like a little bit of a challenge for people that are new to the android scene..
I'm going to give this a whirl this week sometime and get it backed up.

Im also looking into NVflash, my bootloader is unlocked but I have yet to root and pick a rom. I am also looking for something that will work with a keyboad, I have yet to buy one but my birthday is coming up.

Thoughts about the BLU Life One X2/X2 Mini & getting root.

So, I think that it's a good time to start another thread about the One X2. I own an X2 Mini & am really liking it.
The first thing I can say is to BACKUP your install several times until you get root. MAKE SURE to include your boot.img as part of the backup.
1. Going thru unlocking the bootloader (easy), Installing TWRP (moderate) & Rooting (very frustrating) was an interesting experience. Unlocking the bootloader was by far the easiest I have ever done on any phone. Just enable developer options & tic the switch....That being said---the rest of the process was a PITA.
2. Installing TWRP was easy/moderate--having to do it twice & finding that the tool I used installed an early version that put everything upside-down was "interesting" but not really too difficult (I'm a linux guy, so a trip to the terminal & ADB fixed that without too much trouble).
3. Then came the Magisk install--that took a couple of days & quite a bit of help from forum members to get "sort-of" ironed out. There is protection on the boot/kernel that takes a bit of work to get in the right order to get root. With the Stock ROM you need to either run the AutoRoot script from BLOX2.com ( http://blox2.com/how-to-root-the-blu-life-one-x2/ ) or if you are terminal-savvy there are manual instructions also. I'm NOT a Windows guy, but tried the auto route first......That in retrospect was not the best way for the X2 Mini---the version of TWRP that it installs is early & upside-down so controls do not work. I got past that & found thru trial & error I needed to install Magisk 12.0 (via TWRP zip install) & MagiskManager 4.33 (with a APK Manager after reboot) FIRST. (as Ieatgravity pointed out...)
4. After you get to root this way you can just stay there (depends if you need SafetyNet or not) or get the more modern version of Magisk. As AlienTeck points out, you MUST install zips inside of TWRP due to the way the boot/kernel protection works. Installing inside of TWRP works outside of the booted system & gets the install done. You can't at present install inside of a running system without a reboot as soon as the kernel detects a system-wide change. This would prevent several "on-the-fly" root modifiers from working. I would hope someone will see the need to create a new boot.img & Kernel to side-step these issues.
5. There is only one custom ROM available right now---DRAX, & with my current experience, it seems to work MUCH better than the Stock ROM. It changes the spacing on-screen (for the better) & is debloated....definitely is faster/smoother than Stock.
Well---I'm not the FINAL authority on the X2/X2/Mini...there are several great people on the forum...I did this just to give a brief info list for people to look at without TOO much searching. You will find all the answers in the main thread----it just takes a bit of digging to get to them.
My hope is that this thread starts a "how-to" thread for people to refer to...And if I've miss-stated any info I've posted above, please feel free to correct me.

I downloaded the very latest Magisk from git ( https://github.com/kantjer/MagiskFiles ) version 13.3-170812-zip & then removed the Magisk App-booted into recovery-flashed the Remove-Magisk zip-cleared cache-rebooted into recovery-flashed the new version & NOW I have Magisk working properly.

I thought I'd offer a newbie perspective on the big brother BLOX2 (Life One X2 4 gigs /64 gigs).
I was planning to use BLOX2 AutoRoot, but I couldn't make it work. It got as far as unlocking the bootloader, then just sat there doing nothing. Same thing for BLOX2 ToolKit. (I think both problems were caused by my computer, not the software.) So then I decided to do the unlock via ADB, then Flash TWRP f=and BLOX2 Core from an SD Card.
My laptop (Lenovo ideapad FLEX4 running Win 10 Home 64 bit) does not like to recognize my phone. When I open a command prompt window and type in 'ADB devices' (ENTER) the computer pops up a notice telling me "the last USB device you connected to this computer malfunctioned and Windows does not recognize it." ADB returns an ambiguous statement that "a list of devices is attached" (to what, I have no idea). NONETHELESS, when I got frustrated and ran "fastboot oem unlock" it unlocked my boot loader in less than 2 seconds. Go figure.
I had to install TWRP a couple-three times as well before it "took" and stayed even after a reboot to system. I remember reading in a guide to rooting the Blu R1HD (if memory serves) that one ought to reboot into recovery after each step in order to make sure that the original image does not overwrite the new one. Don't know if this is related, but I followed that dicta from that point on. Lucky for me, TWRP installed right-side-up.
As for installing BLOX2 Core, the hardest part of this was putting the file onto an SD card in such a way that TWRP would recognize it. After that I popped it into the phone, booted up, opened TWRP. I found the BLOX2 Core file, flashed it and sat back to watch the magic happen. Line upon line upon line of pretty little code bits rolling by -- and all of it in black! No angry red lines to be found anywhere! As someone who is so far much better at bricking phones than modding them, this was truly a lovely site.
After this, there was really nothing left for me to do but BACKUP EVERYTHING! First I did a TWRP backup. (I have not been able to convince Nandroid itself to function on demand. It works fine on a scheduled basis, but when I try to run it directly it runs for three seconds, announces it is finished, and presents me with a non-file.) Then I installed one of my favorite apps: Titanium Backup. I setup TB to backup all system data and user apps on a schedule, and then ran the first one directly.
In all the excitement, I had forgotten all about Magisk, but a few hours later I noticed an icon labeled "Magisk." I clicked on it just to see if it was actually installed or just sitting there to install if I wanted to. When I saw that it was indeed the installer I just shut it down and left it alone. I strongly suspect that it was SU-Magisk failing to play nice that led to my bricking my first BLOX2, so I wanted to research how to get rid of it safely. Well, before I could get anywhere on that, the system on my BLOX2 started acting weird in familiar ways. Apps that I had not opened started 'closing' suddenly -- each one flashing a popup at the bottom of the screen that immobilized the touch screen until it was dismissed. When my first BLOX2 started doing this I thought I must have gone overboard with one of the longer-battery-life (Xposed) modules. So I frantically started zeroing them out to stock. This didn't help and the slippery slope had been crossed.
With my second BLOX2 I was a bit better prepared. I immediately uninstalled MAGISK and frantically ran every utility I could think of to be sure that there were no bits and pieces left to irritate SU into killing my phone. Just to be on the safe side I reflashed the entire BLOX2 Core zip, then backed up the result with both Nandroid and TB. This was a couple days ago, and my phone seems content.
I know that the BLOX2 Core I am running is not technically a "custom" ROM, but it still runs noticeably more smoothly than the original. Right now Settings shows 3.6GB total Ram, with 2.1GB free, which means that it is using about 1.5GB with screen on but only background stuff running.
As to my laptop's refusal to see my phone, I think the problem is in my PC. I have had nothing but problems with SP Flash, ADB, and all the various Qualcom-related tools. I have tried QFIL, SN-Write, WRTool, and the like. Even MTK DroidTools gives a message that there is nothing connected to the computer, then freezes. Go figure.

One thing I've learned is that an OTG cable is a real nice thing to have & TWRP will recognize it with a simple click in storage. Put your downloads on a Stick--connect it to an OTG cable, plug it into the phone & you are set.

debianmain1 said:
One thing I've learned is that an OTG cable is a real nice thing to have & TWRP will recognize it with a simple click in storage. Put your downloads on a Stick--connect it to an OTG cable, plug it into the phone & you are set.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
DOH!!!!!!
This little thing is so cool. Right now I am doing a Nandroid backup (via TWRP) and storing the backup on my USB drive.
I wondered what that funny little cable was.... It came with my BLU VIVO 5R, which I probably could have saved from the brick-yard if I had known what that little cable could let me do.
Thanks!

Augieboo said:
DOH!!!!!!
This little thing is so cool. Right now I am doing a Nandroid backup (via TWRP) and storing the backup on my USB drive.
I wondered what that funny little cable was.... It came with my BLU VIVO 5R, which I probably could have saved from the brick-yard if I had known what that little cable could let me do.
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob...glad the info helps.

Does the mini use the same twrp as full phone?
I ordered a BLU Life ONE X2 Mini - 5.0" Unlocked Smartphone -4G LTE - 64GB + 4GB RAM -Grey.
So just googling for root and so far, won't have phone til next week, so no rush.
Thanks for any information.
debianmain1 said:
So, I think that it's a good time to start another thread about the One X2. I own an X2 Mini & am really liking it.
The first thing I can say is to BACKUP your install several times until you get root. MAKE SURE to include your boot.img as part of the backup.
1. Going thru unlocking the bootloader (easy), Installing TWRP (moderate) & Rooting (very frustrating) was an interesting experience. Unlocking the bootloader was by far the easiest I have ever done on any phone. Just enable developer options & tic the switch....That being said---the rest of the process was a PITA.
2. Installing TWRP was easy/moderate--having to do it twice & finding that the tool I used installed an early version that put everything upside-down was "interesting" but not really too difficult (I'm a linux guy, so a trip to the terminal & ADB fixed that without too much trouble).
3. Then came the Magisk install--that took a couple of days & quite a bit of help from forum members to get "sort-of" ironed out. There is protection on the boot/kernel that takes a bit of work to get in the right order to get root. With the Stock ROM you need to either run the AutoRoot script from BLOX2.com ( http://blox2.com/how-to-root-the-blu-life-one-x2/ ) or if you are terminal-savvy there are manual instructions also. I'm NOT a Windows guy, but tried the auto route first......That in retrospect was not the best way for the X2 Mini---the version of TWRP that it installs is early & upside-down so controls do not work. I got past that & found thru trial & error I needed to install Magisk 12.0 (via TWRP zip install) & MagiskManager 4.33 (with a APK Manager after reboot) FIRST. (as Ieatgravity pointed out...)
4. After you get to root this way you can just stay there (depends if you need SafetyNet or not) or get the more modern version of Magisk. As AlienTeck points out, you MUST install zips inside of TWRP due to the way the boot/kernel protection works. Installing inside of TWRP works outside of the booted system & gets the install done. You can't at present install inside of a running system without a reboot as soon as the kernel detects a system-wide change. This would prevent several "on-the-fly" root modifiers from working. I would hope someone will see the need to create a new boot.img & Kernel to side-step these issues.
5. There is only one custom ROM available right now---DRAX, & with my current experience, it seems to work MUCH better than the Stock ROM. It changes the spacing on-screen (for the better) & is debloated....definitely is faster/smoother than Stock.
Well---I'm not the FINAL authority on the X2/X2/Mini...there are several great people on the forum...I did this just to give a brief info list for people to look at without TOO much searching. You will find all the answers in the main thread----it just takes a bit of digging to get to them.
My hope is that this thread starts a "how-to" thread for people to refer to...And if I've miss-stated any info I've posted above, please feel free to correct me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

vampirefo said:
Does the mini use the same twrp as full phone?
I ordered a BLU Life ONE X2 Mini - 5.0" Unlocked Smartphone -4G LTE - 64GB + 4GB RAM -Grey.
So just googling for root and so far, won't have phone til next week, so no rush.
Thanks for any information.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Update
I see they use different twrps,.

vampirefo said:
Update
I see they use different twrps,.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can get the Mini one on BLOX2.com

Just for anyone that can't find the TWRP for the Mini: https://drive.google.com/open?id=0B6h1RP64aWh0a1UyaUc2ZlNzQ1E

You guys are using very old roms join Yureka Black and tinno p7210 common group for new roms and discussions - http://t.me/yuyurekablack