I have successfully rooted my note 12.2 - thanks to this awesome forum.
With that I can't do OTA or use Kies to stay up to date. So I'd like to know how I can stay up to date as Samsung releases new firmwares? For example I just downloaded the newly released 5.0.2 from Samobile and flashed it with Odin 3.09. That went well but of course it wiped my machine so I'm starting fresh again. I'd like to be able to stay up to date with out a complete re-wipe each time if possible. Thoughts?
As a long time root user I can tell you that the cardinal rule is that one should give up the notion of getting OTA updates for good once one roots for the simple fact that with each major OTA update comes the risk of losing root forever should the update lock the doors on the exploit used to gain root to begin with.
Casual root users are best served by watching forum threads after updates are released to see how more experienced users are fairing with getting their devices up to date. The exception to this is if a custom ROM is installed and the developer updates the ROM periodically to integrate the updated software or features that the device manufacturer releases. Even then, if a major update is released that let's say jumps to a new system like kitkat to lollipop there's a chance that a full wipe can't be avoided. ROM developers typically warn users when clean installs are required, and some even distribute their own OTAs.
I'm a religious user of titanium backup, and I will often dirty flash a ROM update or use prior titanium backups to restore data but this can be risky business when major updates are released because if software or drivers change from one major firmware release to another a backup of a particular application may no longer be compatible and stability may be affected upon restore.
Bottom line, if you want lollipop on your note pro, rooted, can live with the current bluetooth issues and want to be able to update further easily while retaining root then go with a custom ROM like civs and just monitor the thread of that ROM for updates.
Hope this helps.
Thanks for the excellent advice. One two more more question on the topic. I had root on KitKat, but after flashing the new stock Lollipop via Odin, I lost root. So after installing the stock Lollipop I had to re-do the root flash via Odin to get root back, thankfully it all worked out. (Lollipop is awesome BTW).
Questions:
1. Was I in danger of forever losing root as you state above or was this a safe route? I understand that OTA and even Kies can make me lose root forever, but what about flashing a stock via Odin?
2. Are you saying that next time there's an update I could try to dirty flash the ROM via TWM (after doing a good backup via Titanium of course)? Basically find ROM on samobile, download, copy to SD card and dirty flash away using these suggestions: https://www.reddit.com/r/Android/comments/sthr8/dirty_flashing_what_it_is_and_is_not_lets_set_the/
Typically to keep root the stock recovery is replaced with a custom one, TWRP is the main one used for our device. Stock updates from Samsung downloaded as OTA will typically fail to flash in TWRP. Odin flashing stock images will erase everything including the custom recovery, thus causing loss of root. In other words you'll typically lose root one way or another and the key to retaining it is to not blindly update until a root method is ensured for the next version of firmware. Resign to the fact that with each update you will temporarily lose root and need to redo it. Plan ahead, wait for root confirmation and then update with a plan of how to get root again.
I typically don't TWRP flash stock so I don't know if it works but in the distant past I recall that it wouldn't so thus I never try. Maybe someone can confirm. For me I haven't updated firmware on my note pro for a year now and I am not missing anything. ..
Sent from my SM-N910T using Tapatalk
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i'll try to be brief:
-if i root my phone (s3 mini), will samsung updates cause problems? would you suggest that i also flash the ROM (to smth custom like cyanogenMod)
-does the utility to root the phone provide a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
-if i flash the ROM, will i lose anything? -say- will i lose proprietary stuff like touchwiz?
-do custom ROMs use the latest android version (that's one of the reasons that i wanna root & flash: to be up to date to latest android version)?
-can custom ROMs update to newer android versions automatically? or do i have to flash again and again everytime there is a new android update?
When I rooted my Galaxy S3 the status of the phone (visible in the preferences/device info) changed to "modified" and I stopped getting updates from Samsung (when checking for updates it said that I had a modified system so I wouldn't be able to get any updates). If you flash a ROM you will indeed loose everything, including Touchwiz, but if you backup your personal data then loosing Touchwiz could be a good thing, at least it was for me. I prefer Cyanogenmod.
Flashing ROMs is frequently done because you actually want to loose all that proprietary bloatware. Custom ROMs also can give you access to the latest Android version right away, wich is a lot faster than waiting months to get last year's version through Samsung. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to flash my phone. I don't use all the "features" that Samsung implements and with Cyanogenmod 10.1 my phone feels faster and has longer battery life.
As for updating, each ROM has different ways of handling it. Cyanogenmod has OTA updates which you can access through your phone "Settings/About phone" section and it will automatically flash them for you.
wtx1033 said:
i'll try to be brief:
-if i root my phone (s3 mini), will samsung updates cause problems? would you suggest that i also flash the ROM (to smth custom like cyanogenMod)
-does the utility to root the phone provide a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
-if i flash the ROM, will i lose anything? -say- will i lose proprietary stuff like touchwiz?
-do custom ROMs use the latest android version (that's one of the reasons that i wanna root: to be up to date to latest android version)?
-can custom ROMs update to newer android versions automatically? or do i have to flash again and again everytime there is a new android update?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hcengar said:
When I rooted my Galaxy S3 the status of the phone (visible in the preferences/device info) changed to "modified" and I stopped getting updates from Samsung (when checking for updates it said that I had a modified system so I wouldn't be able to get any updates). If you flash a ROM you will indeed loose everything, including Touchwiz, but if you backup your personal data then loosing Touchwiz could be a good thing, at least it was for me. I prefer Cyanogenmod.
Flashing ROMs is frequently done because you actually want to loose all that proprietary bloatware. Custom ROMs also can give you access to the latest Android version right away, wich is a lot faster than waiting months to get last year's version through Samsung. This is one of the main reasons why I decided to flash my phone. I don't use all the "features" that Samsung implements and with Cyanogenmod 10.1 my phone feels faster and has longer battery life.
As for updating, each ROM has different ways of handling it. Cyanogenmod has OTA updates which you can access through your phone "Settings/About phone" section and it will automatically flash them for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thank you
the replies were as i hoped i am gonna root and flash soon.
but i am still looking for a reply to this one:
does the utility to root the phone also provides a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
wtx1033 said:
thank you
the replies were as i hoped i am gonna root and flash soon.
but i am still looking for a reply to this one:
does the utility to root the phone also provides a full backup of the stock firmware and data? so, if smth goes wrong i can revert back to stock (with my apps and settings. at worst, default factory settings).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes. You can use clockwork mod (cwm) to backup everything. Its recommended to take your backup using cwm before flashing a custom Rom. So that whenever you want your stock back or something with your new rom goes wrong you can revert back. You can use cwm to restore or use Odin which will make your device like when you bought it. You can restore the data alone using advance restore and your device will be like before flashing custom rom.
haridevil99 said:
Yes. You can use clockwork mod (cwm) to backup everything. Its recommended to take your backup using cwm before flashing a custom Rom. So that whenever you want your stock back or something with your new rom goes wrong you can revert back. You can use cwm to restore or use Odin which will make your device like when you bought it. You can restore the data alone using advance restore and your device will be like before flashing custom rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i guess, if smth goes bad during rooting i cannot revert back. since for backup one needs to root the device beforehand. is this right?
wtx1033 said:
i guess, if smth goes bad during rooting i cannot revert back. since for backup one needs to root the device beforehand. is this right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I dont think cwm needs root access to take a backup. And you can rely on odin always if you got stock rom. So something goes wrong, Odin to the rescue.. So try taking backup with cwm first then root. Anyway if the root update was made for your device then its very very rare for things to go wrong.
hey there,
I have a rooted One Mini which runs on Android 4.3 at the moment. A few days ago, I have recieved the update info for Kitkat 4.4.2.
Now I know that I can not use the regular update on a rooted phone and for the time beeing, I don't even feel the need to upgrade. However, I was wondering about the general problem:
First, I thought about doing a full backup (Nandroid), then flashing back to stock, getting the official update and then flashing the nandroid backup back. However, I realized that makes no sense, since a nandroid backup contains all partitions and therefore would simply overwrite the updated system...right?
Now the question is: what is the most convenient way to stay updated on a rooted phone? Do I really need to flash back to stock, do the update and then go through the root process again each time?
thanks for any info and clarifying!
brokaaa
normally the devs here are much faster in providing an updated ROM then many carriers are with giving you an OTA
I'd go back to stock and take the update. 4.3 was a mistake in my opinion. Att skipped it completely and went from 4.2.2 to 4.4.2 all in one update. Lol or just flash cm11 which is a better choice yet seeing as its already pretty stable and very fast.
Sent from my One Mini using Tapatalk
Hello Everyone,
New member, longtime lurker here. I have a I535 Verizon GS3, and am rooted. It has been quite a while since I did that, and I just wanted to make sure I knew what I was getting into before I tried to upgrade to a newer rom. The reason I want to upgrade is I currently have a Sony Smartwatch 2, that I love but I shattered the screen. In preparation to buy one of the new Android wearables, I need to be on a newer version of android as far as I can see.
Right now I am on: 4.1.2/ Baseband version, I535VRBMB1/ Kernel Version 3.031-86103/Build number JZO54K.I535VRBMB1
I am not sure what of that info is important so I posted it all. I don't remember the exact name of the rom I flashed before, but I think it was created by member Dalep, and it was something like "Stock Rooted". It was basically just a rooted version of the stock rom. My only reason for rooting was to use a wifi tethering app which has been working well for me. I was nervous with the initial rooting and flash process, so once I got what I needed I stopped working on it and used my phone as is until now. Now I would like some guidance on how to get my phone safely up to date.
1. I am running Clockwork Mod Recovery v6.0.2.3. Is this still usable or do I need to update it?
2. What rom would you all recommend for someone who wants a fairly stable phone and does not care so much about tinkering/customizing?
3. What does a nandroid backup do and what can I do with the backup (I did one before I installed this current rom)
4. What is the best way to get my phone back with the apps I have installed? (i.e. reinstall from Playstore, etc) I don't have many apps.
I am sure there will be more questions, but thank you for reading my long first post, I just want to make sure I am clear about my current state, skill level and intentions.
Thanks,
Victor
Update recovery to latest version of whichever recovery you prefer. I use TWRP. Flash the MF1 firmware and ML1 modem in that order. This will bring you as far up to date as possible without locking down the phone. Then you can flash any rom currently available. I run stock deodexed ML1 4.3 base and then mod it the way I want it. Scott has one in the rom threads. As far as nandroid it will make an image of your current setup in case you need to return due to problems or trying some other rom. There are several options for backing up apps such as TIBU, My Backup or even Google can restore your apps. Here is firmware and modem. Flash MF1 first and ML1 second. ML1 will replace the MF1 modem but leave rest of firmware (bootchain) at MF1 level and will retain root and unlock status.
Flash in recovery in order posted:
#1- MF1 Firmware -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591785
#2- ML1 Modem -- http://www.androidfilehost.com/?fid=23329332407591786
Thanks for the response, I will flash those and check out that rom
So i eventually received my lollipop OTA this morning (UK, EE).............
But what exactly do i do with it
I'm rooted (Locked BL). I obviously can't install the OTA the normal way, can i ?
I was waiting for some custom ROMS to be made available but don't seem to see any. Will these follow soon since the Lollipop update has went global?
I'm kinda torn tbh.... i have my phone set up perfectly on KitKat and it looks amazing and some of my favourite xposed tweaks aren't available on Lollipop e.g. Blurred System UI.
Anyway...If i should decide to install Lollipop (i probably will) what would be the best method?
(Are we talking going back to stock, installing OTA, then re-rooting, or is there a more simple method?)
I believe u only lose root. Install and re-root is my fiddy cent...
Download your respective firmware and make a pre-rooted rom based on it.
And flash it via recovery.
Stick with KitKat.
Sorry to hijack the thread but if I root without unlocking bootloader, will I get to update normally via ota or companion app? I don't mind losing root access if only to reboot later. And does it affect drm keys etc?
I'm rooted with kitkat and received the prompt for lollipop OTA. The point is it downloads but won't install, so to upgrade you'd need to use flashtool, PC companion or boot into recovery and flash an appropriate zip. None of those should have any effect on your DRM, but you'll lose root unless you're flashing a pre-rooted version of lollipop. If you do opt for a rooted version of lollipop it's still a bit unclear whether recovery is fully available to you, and xposed installer has a rack of issues either way...... you might want to hold for now?
Thanks for that I'll wait it out for now. The only real reason I was really updating was for the move to sd feature. Do anyone know of any alternatives?
The point is, I just wanted root until the ota. So it will update normally via sony PC companion?
OTA Can't Verify on Rooted Device
I noticed the update this morning. Phone rebooted like it was going to work but didn't. Now it allows me to download it over and over and each time it says "could not verify". Is there any good reason to want this update? I'm rooted on the 77fw and my phone works fine as is. I do not want to update and find out I lost root. Unless there is a very good reason to, I'll just wait and see if a rooted zip becomes available.
Stickin with kitkat. I will not run without root.
Sup guys,
I've rooted every phone I've had, but I do it so infrequently that I always have to refresh my memory with it. Current situation is that I have a rooted M8 running mostly stock 4.4.4 ROM, but with a bunch of Xposed mods and a few system tweaks - it's dialed in just the way I want it, but the screen is separating so I've got my hands on another M8 running 4.4.2. I basically want to get the 4.4.2 M8 to the state of my 4.4.4 device. I've already made a complete backup ROM from the 4.4.4 phone and I want to restore that ROM to the 4.4.2 device. With the 4.4.2 device, I plan to:
S-Off (Try Firewater. May or may not work. If doesn't work, try Sunshine)
Install recovery - CWM or TWRP
Flash Super SU
Update firmware from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52017763&postcount=2
Flash my complete backup ROM from my current device
Sanity check? Am I missing anything here? When I rooted my current M8 (4.4.2), weaksauce actually worked, and I flashed CWM recovery and Super SU by placing them on the SD card. That is what I plan to do again since that was so easy. Recommendations?
Cheers guys!
j006 said:
Sup guys,
I've rooted every phone I've had, but I do it so infrequently that I always have to refresh my memory with it. Current situation is that I have a rooted M8 running mostly stock 4.4.4 ROM, but with a bunch of Xposed mods and a few system tweaks - it's dialed in just the way I want it, but the screen is separating so I've got my hands on another M8 running 4.4.2. I basically want to get the 4.4.2 M8 to the state of my 4.4.4 device. I've already made a complete backup ROM from the 4.4.4 phone and I want to restore that ROM to the 4.4.2 device. With the 4.4.2 device, I plan to:
S-Off (Try Firewater. May or may not work. If doesn't work, try Sunshine)
Install recovery - CWM or TWRP
Flash Super SU
Update firmware from 4.4.2 to 4.4.4 from here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=52017763&postcount=2
Flash my complete backup ROM from my current device
Sanity check? Am I missing anything here? When I rooted my current M8 (4.4.2), weaksauce actually worked, and I flashed CWM recovery and Super SU by placing them on the SD card. That is what I plan to do again since that was so easy. Recommendations?
Cheers guys!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
firewater sever is taken down, even if you have an old version of it laying around it is useless.. you must pay for sunshine.
but other than that everything looks good.
you have your nandroid backup, on the new m8, s-off using sunshine, then update the firmware from 442 to 444, then flash custom recovery (TWRP is recommended), and then wipe and restore the nandroid and you should be good to go. :good:
(no need to flash supersu as the ROM you have backed up using nandroid is already rooted)
Many thanks! A couple of years ago when I did this I remember it being fairly straightforward. Do you personally find any real benefit in upgrading to one of the Lollipop ROMs this go 'round? Seems like it's more trouble than what you gain, though I may be uninformed of course..
Cheers!
j006 said:
Many thanks! A couple of years ago when I did this I remember it being fairly straightforward. Do you personally find any real benefit in upgrading to one of the Lollipop ROMs this go 'round? Seems like it's more trouble than what you gain, though I may be uninformed of course..
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I find many benefits to LP over KK personally.
If you like a stock ROM we have stock based LP ROMs, and firmware.zip you can flash and you are up an running a stock LP ROM within 10 minutes. Sure you need to set things up, but most can be backed up and if you take some screen shots of everything it's pretty easy to get everything set up to your liking.
If you want some customization there are ROMs like mine, that come mostly stock with some benefits like root, busybox, etc, and then offer you a MOD Pack.
See ROM thread here
If you want to customize pretty much every aspect of the ROM you have Venom at your fingertips.
Venom ROM thread
There is the benefit of having all the security updates with the newest firmware.
We also have Marshmallow 6.0 ROMs out already that are rock solid.
A Google Play Edition ROM found here
And a Sense based ROM found here
You can also run some Sense 7 ROMs that are very stable, you can find one in my linked thread posted above, and in the Development area.
I personally would try things out, that's the great benefit of root/s-off/custom recovery/ROMs
You can always make a nandroid backup of your current ROM, and flash the older firmware to get right back where you left off.
Best of luck, enjoy your flashings