I've been trying to gather as much info as I can over the last few days about how to root my Z3 (6603) and flash the CM12 ROM.
I first started researching down the traditional path of unlocking the bootloader, installing a custom recovery (TWRP is my flavor of choice), rooting, then flashing the ROM but ran into a stumbling block that I haven't run into with past phones that I've rooted and that is to say, I've read that the bootloader partition is the same as the recovery partition (or the kernal is on the same partition or some two elements are on the same partition) which ultimately means I have to get a custom recovery for my exact build which is: 23.2.A.1.62.
I'll be the first to admit that I'm definitely no pro when it comes to understanding all of this stuff and I've always relied on super easy to follow tutorials / YouTube videos etc that all of you wonderful people put together but have always managed to get done what I need to get done...but this time I'm stumped and am reaching out for help.
First off, if you could educate me as to what makes this phone different (two elements on the same partition (still not 100% what those elements are)) and why that's important, that would help with my knowledge and understanding. Secondly, if anyone would be willing to point me to a guide (or series of guides that I can piece together) for getting the job done that I want done (unlock bootloader (this I think I can manage already), flash TWRP custom recovery (this is where I'm mostly already stuck because I don't want to install a bad kernal or w/e that's not compatible with my build number), root (this I think I can manage already too with the SuperSU package), and finally flashing CM12 (this I think I can manage too with a working TWRP).
I know all of this info already exists out there but I'm having a helluva time putting it all together.
In summary, I just want CM12 on my phone (D6603) which is currently running android 5.0.2 on build number: 23.2.A.1.62
Related
Hello all,
This is just another post I am making to hopefully help newbies who may want to mod their gTab but are not sure where to start. xda has an overwhelming amount of information on it and it can be difficult to sort through it all. I hope that someone who just got a gTab or just decided to mod it will be helped by this little compilation.
Now, the first thing we should discuss is what "rooting" an Android device actually means. When you root a device you gain superuser (root) privileges on the ROM you are running. This is only useful if you do not plan to flash a custom ROM, or, in other words, you want to use the stock Tap'n'Tap (TnT) software, but be able to use superuser apps like TitaniumBackup or RootExplorer. Most custom ROMs come rooted.
Now that we've cleared that up, lets talk about what you are actually going to be doing and the stages of the g tablet boot that you will be modding. The gtab boots in 3 stages, it will first load the viewsonic birds screen, here it decides whether to boot the recovery image, the APX bootloader (for nvflash), or the main ROM you have loaded. To change what it does you wither hold the power button (main ROM), Power&Vol+ (recovery kernel), or Power&Vol- (APX bootloader. To flash a custom ROM you install a custom recovery known as ClockWork Mod.
LOADING A CUSTOM RECOVERY WILL VOID YOUR WARRANTY!
So if you don't want to do that, stop right here! I didn't care, but you might so be aware. Now there is a third thing to consider gTabs ship with two different bootloaders. Information on this topic can be found HERE. It is very important that you know what bootloader version you have before continuing, I soft-bricked (see Troubleshooting) my tablet the first time and had to recover it because I didn't check my bootloader version before trying to flash ClockWork Mod. This guide is meant for those who are on the 1.1-3588 bootloader, if you have the 1.2 bootloader you can either find a guide for that bootloader or downgrade your bootloader (this is what I did) with instructions you can find here.
Once you have CONFIRMED that you are on the 1.1-3588 bootloader, continue.
Instructions for installing ClockworkMod can be found here!
After installing ClockworkMod Successfully, you are well on your way to enjoying your tablet's fullest potential. Now you can flash a custom ROM.
Instructions for installing a custom ROM can be found here!
Some ROM's I highly recommend and their features:
VEGAn-Tab 5.1.1 - Best 2.2 ROM I used.
Dev Thread
VEGAn-TAB GingerEdition - Awesome 2.3.3 ROM! One of the best and most useful ROMs I have used. It is able to make your tablet ready to use immediately.
Dev Thread
TnT-Lite - I have never used this ROM but I have heard good things about it. Worth a look.
Dev Thread
Cyanogen Mod 7.0.3-STABLE - This is my current favorite ROM, but is not as out-of-the-box useful as VEGAn-TAB, VEGAn is an extension of Cyanogenmod, but it is based off of Cyanogenmod 7.0.0, which doesn't support even partial hardware video acceleration or Netflix streaming, therefore I use CYMod 7.0.3. With Cyanogenmod you have to download an update zip file to get google apps because of copyright issues. You can find instructions in the Cyanogenmod Wiki.
Dev Site (not hosted on xda)
Troubleshooting!
OMFGXOXROZWTFYOURUINEDMYTABLETOMG!1!!11! - No, I didn't. Please explain your problems well if you need help! I am not responsible for anything that happens to your tablet, ever
My tablet won't boot up!!! - If you can't boot your tablet this is a soft-brick, but fear not! It can be recovered (usually) Follow instructions here!
How come google apps are missing? - Look up a few lines!
I want to be able to do x!!! - Talk to the developer of the ROM you chose, not me!
Final Note: This is a compendium of useful info for newbies, putting a custom ROM on your tablet does void the warranty and can be tedious, and none of that is my problem! Hopefully anyone who was confused about the process they are considering taking on is now more in the know about what they are going to attempt. Personally I think the gTab is useless without a custom ROM, and that this is essential to making your tablet useeful, I now carry my tablet with me everywhere and would not go back on this purchase in a millon years!
Enjoy and happy modding,
Insignia96
I want to install a custom Lollipop ROM on my phone, but even after days of sifting through years and various iterations of information and methods, I'm pretty confused.
I have a Razr Maxx HD. I believe the model is XT926M. I bought my phone in December 2012 from Verizon and it's running Android 4.1.2 OTA (stock) currently. The currently installed ROM is 9.18.94.XT926.Verizon.en.US. I'm not using a custom recovery. The bootloader is UNLOCKED and the phone is rooted! I used the Motopocalypse exploit method from around April of 2013. I've been extremely happy with the stability of 4.1.2, after the lockup/freeze/crash bug was fixed, which is why I haven't been quick to upgrade to anything else until now. I've also been afraid to mess with the phone out of fear of doing something wrong and creating more trouble for myself than it is worth (such as a soft brick from a failed OTA upgrade). I've seen enough posts about something going wrong or experiencing glitches in flashing methods which required workarounds that I want to ask before taking any action.
So, now I want to install a recent ROM free of Verizon's bloatware, in this case CM12. However, I can't seem to find any solid guide targeted at my scenario. Most of the information I find is either outdated (old methods, old software), or for the XT925 rather than the XT926(M), or the wrong country/carrier. Additionally, I know the newer ROMs are only available for KKBL, but I'm pretty sure that I'm still on JJBL if I'm on 4.1.2 OTA, and I can't find any recent or relevant guide for getting me out of where I am starting. If I was already on KKBL, I know all I would need to do is install a custom recovery and then install a custom ROM, but I'm at a disadvantage because I'm not even there yet and it's probably the part that's confusing me most.
I don't care about losing any data on my phone - I want to start completely fresh. The only thing I've done is create a nandroid backup (using the Online Nandroid app) for both CWM and TWRP recoveries. What next?
I don't know where to begin. Can someone help steer me in the right direction? I'd greatly appreciate it if you could be as specific as possible with versions and/or links to files I would need. Thanks!
Is it true just because we have root does not mean that we can flash custom rooms and kernels?We still need the bootloader unlocked before we can flash custom roms and kernels right?and the bootloader needs to be unlocked in order to be able to flash a custom recovery onto the G7 correct?so if this is all correct then basically just being rooted don't really do alot for us without the bootloader being unlocked.could someone please tell me if I'm right or wrong. Thanks!!!
You are correct however there are alternatives to these things
1. Custom recovery: FlashFire.apk (This app allows you to flash zip files)
2. Custom ROMS: Launchers that can be modified by installing xposed modules (basically adding simple customization)
3. Kernals: Nothing... (As of now there isn't anything we can really do)
But basically yeah, without boot loader unlock we are very limited but there's always hope for development. So for now let's just sit tight and wait for the community and dev's to make some progress
Just think about it... It only took 5-4 months for devs to release root for the Qualcomm S7 (That to me is pretty freaking amazing).
With root you can use Xposed, and im not to sure of very many things you can't achieve with some xposed modules. Don't get me wrong you won't be flashing any cyanogen or similar but a xposed tweaked custom rom via wanam is a pretty bad mutha!. I flashed the deodexed rom from our dev section and have added xposed and I must say this s7 is finally the kind of impressive im used to.
biggest thing for me is the use of wifi tether. as long as you dont hook it to your xbox or other game console, it is really hard to determine what is using the band width...
Hello, this is my first post on XDA forums so take it easy on me. Recently I've started taking interest in rooting my Xperia Z5. However I don't really know much at all about Linux, and I've never rooted an android device before. I am actually a coder, in fact I'm using a laptop with a HEAVILY modded version of Win10, and with several apps of my own. I've only recently, about a few months ago, bought a decent android phone. I got the Xperia Z5 off eBay for a good price, brand new for a couple hundred bucks. I'm interested in slowly learning basic coding and hacking on android, so I figured I'd go with the first major step and getting it rooted so I can actually mod the thing. The operating system is nice, doesn't have much bloatware, but I'd like to flash a new ROM on it. I've dug around a bit, and I've seen a few root and flash methods, but I really don't have any idea which one is trusted, or which would be the most stable option. I figured my best option would be to signup here, and ask for some advice. I saw ROMX here on the forums, and it looked very promising. But since I'm new to all this, I thought it would be wise for me to ask for advice on where to start what what would be a good rom to flash. I have the E6603 Model, Android 6.0.1, with the April 1, 2016 security patch. And yes, I do fully understand the risks and dangers as well as security concerns of rooting, and flashing. But to be honest, I probably do far more dangerous things on a weekly basis. I thank you all for your time, any help is appreciated.
spynathan said:
Hello, this is my first post on XDA forums so take it easy on me. Recently I've started taking interest in rooting my Xperia Z5. However I don't really know much at all about Linux, and I've never rooted an android device before. I am actually a coder, in fact I'm using a laptop with a HEAVILY modded version of Win10, and with several apps of my own. I've only recently, about a few months ago, bought a decent android phone. I got the Xperia Z5 off eBay for a good price, brand new for a couple hundred bucks. I'm interested in slowly learning basic coding and hacking on android, so I figured I'd go with the first major step and getting it rooted so I can actually mod the thing. The operating system is nice, doesn't have much bloatware, but I'd like to flash a new ROM on it. I've dug around a bit, and I've seen a few root and flash methods, but I really don't have any idea which one is trusted, or which would be the most stable option. I figured my best option would be to signup here, and ask for some advice. I saw ROMX here on the forums, and it looked very promising. But since I'm new to all this, I thought it would be wise for me to ask for advice on where to start what what would be a good rom to flash. I have the E6603 Model, Android 6.0.1, with the April 1, 2016 security patch. And yes, I do fully understand the risks and dangers as well as security concerns of rooting, and flashing. But to be honest, I probably do far more dangerous things on a weekly basis. I thank you all for your time, any help is appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/guide-rooting-unlocking-bootloader-t3354307
there is this which i followed to root my Z5 but with marshamall you do have to have a unlocked bootloader so you can use systemless root, it isnt neccisary to downgrade and backup your DRM but it is advised since sony doesnt seemingly like wanting to repair phones with missing DRM
basic how to:
- Download flashtool and a FTF of your choice
- use flashtool the extract the kernel.sin using tools > sin extractor (you will have to open the FTF file in winrar or something like to copy it)
~ you should get a kernel.elf when extracted
you can then use rootkernel to repack the kernel with a recovery menu like twrp and also disable some system verification stuff that will prevent things from working or the phone booting
this is when you need a unlocked bootloader
- from there you can flash your kernel and boot the device and flash superSU systemless (from the recovery menu )unless you havent downloaded that already
~ you can get to the recovery menu by pressing volume up while the yellow LED shows up on the bootsplash
i may have missed some stuff but that guide I linked has everything i explained here ^ this above is how ive rooted my phone and re-rooted when needed
Envious_Data said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/xperia-z5/general/guide-rooting-unlocking-bootloader-t3354307
there is this which i followed to root my Z5 but with marshamall you do have to have a unlocked bootloader so you can use systemless root, it isnt neccisary to downgrade and backup your DRM but it is advised since sony doesnt seemingly like wanting to repair phones with missing DRM
basic how to:
- Download flashtool and a FTF of your choice
- use flashtool the extract the kernel.sin using tools > sin extractor (you will have to open the FTF file in winrar or something like to copy it)
~ you should get a kernel.elf when extracted
you can then use rootkernel to repack the kernel with a recovery menu like twrp and also disable some system verification stuff that will prevent things from working or the phone booting
this is when you need a unlocked bootloader
- from there you can flash your kernel and boot the device and flash superSU systemless (from the recovery menu )unless you havent downloaded that already
~ you can get to the recovery menu by pressing volume up while the yellow LED shows up on the bootsplash
i may have missed some stuff but that guide I linked has everything i explained here ^ this above is how ive rooted my phone and re-rooted when needed
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Awesome thanks! I'll try it first thing tomorrow after work.
Ok so I've gotten everything done, backed up my drm unlocked the bootloader, and what not. Got to the last bit and I can't seem to get fastboot to work, it just says waiting for device. I've tried reinstalling all the drivers a few times, but nothing worked. Flashtool recognized the device, just couldn't get fastboot to recognize it. I'm running windows 10, I've made sure all the drivers are there but still no go. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm kinda stuck atm. EDIT, I found a fix for my case. Even though the drivers were installed, for some reason they weren't being read. Anyway all working now, thanks again.
spynathan said:
Ok so I've gotten everything done, backed up my drm unlocked the bootloader, and what not. Got to the last bit and I can't seem to get fastboot to work, it just says waiting for device. I've tried reinstalling all the drivers a few times, but nothing worked. Flashtool recognized the device, just couldn't get fastboot to recognize it. I'm running windows 10, I've made sure all the drivers are there but still no go. Any help would be greatly appreciated, I'm kinda stuck atm. EDIT, I found a fix for my case. Even though the drivers were installed, for some reason they weren't being read. Anyway all working now, thanks again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
atleast on windows 10 i found that i had to disable driver signature verifacation and sometimes i had to run command prompt in admin
Hi Team,
Prior any play with my new G930FD I want to fully backup all firmware elements like radio, EFS, etc. to bring it back to state as it is now.
Once this is done I can play with adding root, etc.
Thought process was that it should be possible with ODIN, but I can't find a guide treating this subject.
In the past I've used to use Philz Touch on S4 LTE and all worked fine besides I've had troubles to restore NAND backups. Needed to move back from LineageOS to older CyanogenMOD (due to some issues) only to find out that old backup was not working anymore. I've tested backup earlier but it was years ago and didn't re-test procedure anymore.
Since don't want to run into any similar situation that can't revert to state as I'm in now, thought will asks you experts here.
In the past I'd think about process of booting recovery from computer via fastboot, performing required backup to SD card and them doing whatever I'd need to do.
Checking all guides (and believe me I've spent plenty of time trying to find it) all I was finding was that it required root to perform dump, i.e. using su with dd.
I've no issue to type in terminal as used to patch kernel back in times of kernel v2.4.
I just want to make sure that throughout the process of getting root, I'll have always a roll-back procedure and don't want to trip Knox and other flags, whilst if possible keeping OTA access (based on guides here, this should be possible).
Please advise on steps I should take to backup all current data with any tool or point me to place I've missed as I'm sure someone has described it already and I'm just being blind.
Thanks in advance!
dkadds2 said:
Hi Team,
Prior any play with my new G930FD I want to fully backup all firmware elements like radio, EFS, etc. to bring it back to state as it is now.
Once this is done I can play with adding root, etc.
Thought process was that it should be possible with ODIN, but I can't find a guide treating this subject.
In the past I've used to use Philz Touch on S4 LTE and all worked fine besides I've had troubles to restore NAND backups. Needed to move back from LineageOS to older CyanogenMOD (due to some issues) only to find out that old backup was not working anymore. I've tested backup earlier but it was years ago and didn't re-test procedure anymore.
Since don't want to run into any similar situation that can't revert to state as I'm in now, thought will asks you experts here.
In the past I'd think about process of booting recovery from computer via fastboot, performing required backup to SD card and them doing whatever I'd need to do.
Checking all guides (and believe me I've spent plenty of time trying to find it) all I was finding was that it required root to perform dump, i.e. using su with dd.
I've no issue to type in terminal as used to patch kernel back in times of kernel v2.4.
I just want to make sure that throughout the process of getting root, I'll have always a roll-back procedure and don't want to trip Knox and other flags, whilst if possible keeping OTA access (based on guides here, this should be possible).
Please advise on steps I should take to backup all current data with any tool or point me to place I've missed as I'm sure someone has described it already and I'm just being blind.
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a method to do that but I'm afraid it's not for our phone, because you see for the devices that can install twrp with fastboot command you can make a command that only boots twrp "fastboot boot recovery" or something like that, I don't remember clearly,instead of "fastboot flash xxxx" but we can't flash twrp with fastboot so that's impossible for us I think, I strongly advise you not to try these methods because you might end up bricking your device, if you are afraid you might mess up your phone stay away from the root and flashing, AFAIK there's no other method than the one with Odin and formatting data.
Thanks for answer, hoped I was just missing something.
Might be interesting for some people, and in fact for myself too.
I've found out that baseband version I've is not listed at Sammobile:
https://www.sammobile.com/firmwares/galaxy-s7/SM-G930FD/
It is:
G930FXXU1DQEJ
Not sure how to proceed should I run into issues?
I do also consider downgrading back to Marshmallow to take advantage of Xposed.
btw. it was all so easy, nice and sweet back in times of my S4 LTE play and now it is all so complicated, that even encryption with root seems to be so, so dangerous. :-S
dkadds2 said:
Hi Team,
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe this one https://forum.xda-developers.com/android/software-hacking/tool-twrp-backup-restore-tool-pc-t3572241 or https://forum.xda-developers.com/galaxy-nexus/general/guide-phone-backup-unlock-root-t1420351
Long time ago... though forgot to make sure I say thank you! I've had laptop OS level issues and missed to say that. Sorry.