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[Q] Nexus S 4G Unlocked, Unrooted Broken Recovery

Hi,
I had before the OTA for Jelly Bean an ICS unlocked and rooted.
I tried to use ShabbyPenguin to get it rooted again but now I have a broken recovery.
So not sure what do I need to get it rooted again.. Is it possible?
Thanks!

Not positive, but could u flash cwm through adb? Then just flash a rooted ROM, or supuser.zip. Is the bootloader is still unlocked?
Haven't heard good stuff about root toolkits, its actually really easy to do for our phones.

Not sure if it is possible to flash cwm trough adb... However I will try it later today...
And yes, bootloader is still unlocked...
rustyjay said:
Not positive, but could u flash cwm through adb? Then just flash a rooted ROM, or supuser.zip. Is the bootloader is still unlocked?
Haven't heard good stuff about root toolkits, its actually really easy to do for our phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Yeah, I am positive u could use adb fast boot to flash a recovery, cwm or twrp u just need the image.

hhhmmmm... no luck yet...
I tried to flash a recovery and it keeps giving me a message
<waiting for device>
After that it seems like stuck..
I read somewhere else that maybe because of the drivers, but I already tried a couple of versions 1.3.8 and 1.5.6 with the same result...
btw I'm using a Windows 7 64 bit machine...
Not sure if use a Linux machine will have any benefit...
rustyjay said:
Yeah, I am positive u could use adb fast boot to flash a recovery, cwm or twrp u just need the image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Well...
Also tried the google usb drivers with no luck....
I guess that I will try it with some other windows/linux version later today...

Off but on topic. Describe what you call a broken a recovery please.

When I try to run the recovery it appears a dead android with a red exclamation mark on the screen....
After that it takes some time to reboot again...
albundy2010 said:
Off but on topic. Describe what you call a broken a recovery please.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

That is stock recovery. It is not broken.

Yes I was saying it was broken because before the OTA update I had twrp as recovery, and now I can't flash any recovery
albundy2010 said:
That is stock recovery. It is not broken.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

When you flash/install a ota your recovery gets wiped back to stock once it boots up due to the flash recovery script in the stock ROM.
Nothing is wrong with your device. Just follow a real guide on how to unlock and root. Real meaning using the SDK. Or even use one of those stupid one click crap. should not have a issue.
Guides are in the forum stickies.

Hi Guys,
Well not sure what the problem was.... maybe the drivers, maybe Win7 64 bits or I don't what...
I used a WinXP machine with the pdanet installed and it worked like charm...
I succesfully installed the recovery and root again.
Anyway... thanks for your time.

Glad to hear that.

[Q] Root and Custom recovery not sticking...

curious if there is something i'm missing here... i've unlocked my bootloader successfully but whenever i fastboot flash a recovery or flash root files in recovery nothing seems to stick... not sure whats going on... i've heard of having to flash recovery everytime on devices with a locked bootloader but i didn't think that would apply here... any help is much appreciated... (this is also my first samsung/nexus device so i'm more familiar with methods used on the EVO line)

thispaininmyhead said:
curious if there is something i'm missing here... i've unlocked my bootloader successfully but whenever i fastboot flash a recovery or flash root files in recovery nothing seems to stick... not sure whats going on... i've heard of having to flash recovery everytime on devices with a locked bootloader but i didn't think that would apply here... any help is much appreciated... (this is also my first samsung/nexus device so i'm more familiar with methods used on the EVO line)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Make sure you're using a perm root method. and make sure you have the correct updated SU application. My root wouldn't come through because I didn't have the latest SU.
Hopefully I helped.

thispaininmyhead said:
curious if there is something i'm missing here... i've unlocked my bootloader successfully but whenever i fastboot flash a recovery or flash root files in recovery nothing seems to stick... not sure whats going on... i've heard of having to flash recovery everytime on devices with a locked bootloader but i didn't think that would apply here... any help is much appreciated... (this is also my first samsung/nexus device so i'm more familiar with methods used on the EVO line)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi,
What root method did u use?
What recovery are u using?
What ROM are u flashing?
The more info, the better
Vs Nexus S4G using tapatalk2

Unlocked the boot loader with fast boot commands then flashed superuser.zip with clockwork 3.x.x and twrp 2.2.0 haven't tried flashing any Roms since nothing seems to stick...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

And Vidal I used the toolkit you linked me to in my last q&a post...
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

vidaljs said:
Hi,
What root method did u use?
What recovery are u using?
What ROM are u flashing?
The more info, the better
Also after looking into the scripts and files in the method with the toolkit it seems none of the files get pushed to the device to begin flashing
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

By default, any recovery you flash on the system will be gone by the next reboot. This is a security measure the android os does I think.
1. You can flash a ROM. Anyone. I prefer aokp or cna. That way the recovery sticks (the recovery sticks on all the ROMs besides stock)
OR
P.S. You will need the latest cwm recovery
2. So all you need to do is to flash the recovery of your choice. I would recommend CWM for this short guide. Then once flashed go to the recovery make a backup. Then if it reboots flash the same recovery again. Boot into it and restore that backup. When you restore it and go reboot system now it should come up with a menu saying recovery flash fix (or something around those lines). Hit/navigate to yes and you should get a sticky recovery from there. BTW I have not tried this method.
You cannot blame me for bricking, damaging or done anything to your phone
Hope this helps.
Regards,
UselessSniper001
P.S. I don't know how root isn't sticking. I mean if you have flashed the su is the recovery already well then you are all set to go. Unless you haven't actually flashed the su in the recovery. Then flash the recovery from your PC boot into the recovery and flash the su files in the recovery. Reboot and enjoy. Then follow this guide above. Or follow this link:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=875875&page=2

I finally figured out the SU and CWM I was flashing was ancient so I found the newest and they stuck with help of the fix ya mentioned inside CWM... Thanks
Sent from my Nexus S 4G using Tapatalk 2

Possible Brick after attempting to install Xposed

Some back story. My N5 was stock/rooted, with stock recovery. I had installed the beta Xposed framework, using this post as a guide. Following the install, during the reboot, my phone never restarted. Since then it has not been able to turn on.
Things I have tried:
I have done method 1 & 2 of this guide
I am able to lock and unlock the bootloader, it is currently locked.
I have tried the command fastboot -w
I am unable to perform a factory reset, it hangs at /data
If there is any ideas as to what I should do next, please don't hesitate to let me know.
If I am able to get the Tamper Flag reset, then my plan is to look into the RMA option.
Also, I have been following this thread for info.

jimburke57 said:
Some back story. My N5 was stock/rooted, with stock recovery. I had installed the beta Xposed framework, using this post as a guide. Following the install, during the reboot, my phone never restarted. Since then it has not been able to turn on.
Things I have tried:
I have done method 1 & 2 of this guide
I am able to lock and unlock the bootloader, it is currently locked.
I have tried the command fastboot -w
I am unable to perform a factory reset, it hangs at /data
If there is any ideas as to what I should do next, please don't hesitate to let me know.
If I am able to get the Tamper Flag reset, then my plan is to look into the RMA option.
Also, I have been following this thread for info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
when you unlock the phone, and reboot the bootloader, does it stay locked or is it unlocked?

Zepius said:
when you unlock the phone, and reboot the bootloader, does it stay locked or is it unlocked?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So earlier when i did this, the phone would freeze. Now it went through with it, and is now showing the animated android images, with a moving bar at the bottom. It has been there for about 4 minutes now.

jimburke57 said:
So earlier when i did this, the phone would freeze. Now it went through with it, and is now showing the animated android images, with a moving bar at the bottom. It has been there for about 4 minutes now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this still does not answer my question.
it sounds like your phone is not dead however. please follow the return to stock thread in the general forum and you should be ok.

Zepius said:
this still does not answer my question.
it sounds like your phone is not dead however. please follow the return to stock thread in the general forum and you should be ok.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have followed it already. The images on the first post are my result.

It is showing as unlocked at the booloader and on fastboot oem device-info.

follow the 2nd post, not the 2nd method in this thread and tell us the results.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2513701

Zepius said:
follow the 2nd post, not the 2nd method in this thread and tell us the results.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2513701
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Same thing as before. All of the erase commands get processed, but when it gets the the system.img it fails to write it.

I think you've done her in. Can you get into recovery? You might be able to push the tamper zip and then run it in recovery.

jd1639 said:
I think you've done her in. Can you get into recovery? You might be able to push the tamper zip and then run it in recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am able to access recovery. This is exactly what I am trying to do at the moment, but now I cannot adb sideload the zip. For some reason the N5 is not being recognized by windows.

jimburke57 said:
I am able to access recovery. This is exactly what I am trying to do at the moment, but now I cannot adb sideload the zip. For some reason the N5 is not being recognized by windows.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Galaxy Nexus drivers, and make sure you have updated the SDK for the latest adb.

orangekid said:
Use Galaxy Nexus drivers, and make sure you have updated the SDK for the latest adb.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you talking about these drivers?

jimburke57 said:
Are you talking about these drivers?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, I have had success getting the Nexus 5 working on ADB with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus drivers. Don't ask me why, but it works for me.

orangekid said:
No, I have had success getting the Nexus 5 working on ADB with the Samsung Galaxy Nexus drivers. Don't ask me why, but it works for me.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So an update, I am able to sideload the zip in recovery, however, during the install, it fails.

jimburke57 said:
So an update, I am able to sideload the zip in recovery, however, during the install, it fails.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried flashing stock kitkat (from google) via fastboot?

orangekid said:
Have you tried flashing stock kitkat (from google) via fastboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yes, many times

So this is just a shot in the dark, but the fastboot command screenshot you posted, you had the command "fastboot flash bootloader."
I haven't read the articles you're using, but is there a reason you're flashing a bootloader after unlocking it? Wouldn't that just lock the bootloader again?
I'd start fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash recovery, and then adb sideload the .zip you are using once you're in recovery.
Good luck.

pantlessjim said:
So this is just a shot in the dark, but the fastboot command screenshot you posted, you had the command "fastboot flash bootloader."
I haven't read the articles you're using, but is there a reason you're flashing a bootloader after unlocking it? Wouldn't that just lock the bootloader again?
I'd start fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash recovery, and then adb sideload the .zip you are using once you're in recovery.
Good luck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am just following the guide for How to return to stock. But to answer your question, no it does not re-lock the bootloader.

Here is some additional information. When I perform a factory reset in recovery it freezes while formatting /data. And when flashing the stock images, I am able to flash everything successfully except for the system.img

jimburke57 said:
I am just following the guide for How to return to stock. But to answer your question, no it does not re-lock the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried just dirty flashing stock / rooted thru recovery?
edit: or restoring a backup?

[Q] OTA bootloader update when rooted?

Hi guys,
I run rooted unlocked Nexus 5 with CM11. I wanted to update the ROM but it failed - I read a bit and found out that it is due to old bootloader version. I would like to update it but I'm not a friend with ADB and stuff.... It would be great to use the most easiest way. I got OTA update notification but have no idea what it does - will it unroot the phone? will I lose CM11 ROM? Just trying to figure out what backups and steps shall I do to update my ROM. How shall I continue from here?
Thanks a bunch!

devcager said:
Hi guys,
I run rooted unlocked Nexus 5 with CM11. I wanted to update the ROM but it failed - I read a bit and found out that it is due to old bootloader version. I would like to update it but I'm not a friend with ADB and stuff.... It would be great to use the most easiest way. I got OTA update notification but have no idea what it does - will it unroot the phone? will I lose CM11 ROM? Just trying to figure out what backups and steps shall I do to update my ROM. How shall I continue from here?
Thanks a bunch!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Attempting to take the OTA will fail.
Download the factory image and extract bootloader-hammerhead-hhz11k.img
Boot your device into bootloader:
fastboot flash bootloader bootloader-hammerhead-hhz11k.img
fastboot reboot-bootloader

You have a custom recovery installed, right? Flash the bootloader zip via recovery. However, you need to get familiar with adb/fastboot as you're gonna need them if you ever find yourself in a tight situation to fix your device.
Open the "must read" thread linked in my signature and find the thread which has all the info about adb and fastboot.

vin4yak said:
You have a custom recovery installed, right? Flash the bootloader zip via recovery. However, you need to get familiar with adb/fastboot as you're gonna need them if you ever find yourself in a tight situation to fix your device.
Open the "must read" thread linked in my signature and find the thread which has all the info about adb and fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you! I get it about ADB, I had to solve one my problem in the past via ADB. Anyway, I just need to find the 4.4.4 bootloader in ZIP (or probalby .img will work too?) and flash it? That's it? Does it wipe my phone or something?

You just need to flash the IMG via fastboot, no wiping required!

EddyOS said:
You just need to flash the IMG via fastboot, no wiping required!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alright. One more thing. Is it possible to convert the IMG file I have into zip to be able to flash it in TWRP?
EDIT: I found that Nexus Toolbox for my 5 has the option to flash the bootloader image so I will try this variant.

devcager said:
Alright. One more thing. Is it possible to convert the IMG file I have into zip to be able to flash it in TWRP?
EDIT: I found that Nexus Toolbox for my 5 has the option to flash the bootloader image so I will try this variant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to. Just boot into fastboot, connect to PC, fastboot flash bootloader name_of_file.img, reboot, done

it's easy you must become familiar with fastboot and add the second you aren't it will come back to haunt you
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk

devcager said:
Alright. One more thing. Is it possible to convert the IMG file I have into zip to be able to flash it in TWRP?
EDIT: I found that Nexus Toolbox for my 5 has the option to flash the bootloader image so I will try this variant.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so you learned nothing. awesome.

Zepius said:
so you learned nothing. awesome.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Brick waiting to happen.
Add to ignore list
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk < Yes, I want you to know that I'm using a mobile client

rootSU said:
Brick waiting to happen.
Add to ignore list
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk < Yes, I want you to know that I'm using a mobile client
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm still waiting for someone to make a thread saying their device is "bricked because flashed fastboot to adb using bootloader while in recovery with x toolkit"

[Q&A] [ROOT] Root for SHIELD Tablet 2.0 (Lollipop)

Q&A for [ROOT] Root for SHIELD Tablet 2.0 (Lollipop)
Some developers prefer that questions remain separate from their main development thread to help keep things organized. Placing your question within this thread will increase its chances of being answered by a member of the community or by the developer.
Before posting, please use the forum search and read through the discussion thread for [ROOT] Root for SHIELD Tablet 2.0 (Lollipop). If you can't find an answer, post it here, being sure to give as much information as possible (firmware version, steps to reproduce, logcat if available) so that you can get help.
Thanks for understanding and for helping to keep XDA neat and tidy!

UK Root?
Wondering if i should try root since im in UK.
Heres the boot.img from the UK update, is it any different from the NA version before i try root?
EDIT: Wont let me post outside links
Should i try it or no?

DazEB said:
Wondering if i should try root since im in UK.
Heres the boot.img from the UK update, is it any different from the NA version before i try root?
EDIT: Wont let me post outside links
Should i try it or no?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If it is the WiFi Only model it should work, but no promises. If it is LTE please PM the link to the boot.img

Cwm and future ota
Does CWM prevents future OTA? What if I want root but stock recovery? Thanks.

Sweet, I followed the "Locked bootloader" method step by step and it working perfectly, no problem whatsoever. Thank you very much!!

layanto said:
Does CWM prevents future OTA? What if I want root but stock recovery? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cwm had not prevented any OTAs on the shield tablet for me yet.
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app

Hi,
Thanks for the instructions. I followed the unlocked bootloader one, but now I cant boot. I flashed the modified LTE boot img and now everytime I boot it keeps going into fastboot mode.
Unlocked bootloader
flashed CWM
Booted into CWM and flashed SuperSU Beta
Selected Yes to fix Root
Reboot system
Boot back into fastboot and flash the modified boot.img
Reboot system...............now keeps booting into fastboot.
Please help.
EDIT: I'm an idiot. Unzip the boot.img before you flash it. Problem solved.

layanto said:
Does CWM prevents future OTA? What if I want root but stock recovery? Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can also restore stock recovery afterward by flashing this

SuperPichu said:
You can also restore stock recovery afterward by flashing this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Possibly dumb question, but is the stock recovery on 4.4.2 KK the same as stock recovery on L? If I backup the stock recovery on KK with flashify, can I then restore once I am rooted and on L?

layanto said:
Possibly dumb question, but is the stock recovery on 4.4.2 KK the same as stock recovery on L? If I backup the stock recovery on KK with flashify, can I then restore once I am rooted and on L?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can definitely restore it if you make a backup. I'm actually not sure if they are the same.

Can this be done without a computer?

Jaybenosa said:
Can this be done without a computer?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app

Yah I figured. So I'm pretty much a noob and I'm trying to unlock my bootloader right now but I'm so lost lol

So I failed miserably, accidentally hit reboot system after step 4 so now I'm on lollipop not rooted and no unlocked boot loader nor have a recovery ??

Jaybenosa said:
Yah I figured. So I'm pretty much a noob and I'm trying to unlock my bootloader right now but I'm so lost lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is how to unlock the bootloader. It will erase all your userdata.
https://developer.nvidia.com/sites/...eld/SHIELD_tab/HowTo-Flash-Recovery-Image.txt

In reading through the other thread, I can't seem to definitively find what I'm looking for.
My Shield has a locked bootloader, but I've installed the OTA. Is my only option to unlock the bootloader and then follow the unlocked bootloader root method? Or is there a way to root only (I'd like to keep stock recovery) with the OTA already installed?

KentuckyHouse said:
In reading through the other thread, I can't seem to definitively find what I'm looking for.
My Shield has a locked bootloader, but I've installed the OTA. Is my only option to unlock the bootloader and then follow the unlocked bootloader root method? Or is there a way to root only (I'd like to keep stock recovery) with the OTA already installed?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will have to unlock. You can restore the stock recovery afterward if you wish
Sent from my SHIELD Tablet using XDA Free mobile app

Does towelroot still work for the LTE devices when moving to lolli?

OK, so I had to unlock my bootloader since I'd already taken the OTA.
Now I'm at this point. I can't seem to get recovery to stick. I've flashed it multiple times in fastboot and it just won't stick. Now, over in the other thread, someone has asked if I've done the "fastboot flash boot boot-root.img" step yet. This confuses me, as that step comes AFTER you flash recovery, then flash SuperSU with CWM. But seeing as how I can't get recovery to stick, I can't flash SuperSU, and that means I can't move on to that step.
So I guess what I'm asking is, can I run "fastboot flash boot boot-root.img" before "fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"? Will that make a difference? Will it brick my tablet?
I'm all out of ideas here.

Locked bootloader and updated to ver 2.0 lollipop.
Hi there.
I have downloaded and installed version 2 lollipop and I would like root to store my games on SD. When checking the root guide it informed me to download update but not install. I have already installed the update and was wandering if they is a way to root my device still.
Kind regards