Database Info

Nandroid v2.0 - Full NAND backup and restore tool (tried and tested!)

* What is Nandroid Backup v2.0?
Nandroid Backup is a set of tools and a script that will enable anyone who has root on their G1 and has the engineering/dev spl bootloader [1] (or has a dev phone) + a recovery image with busybox and adbd running as root [2] to make full system backups. These can then be restored using the fastboot [3] commandline tool and your phone in SPL/bootloader mode (hold camera + power). This allows you to create regular backups of your entire phones NAND flash so that you can restore a backup when something breaks. Its backup method works on a level that allows you to completely break, wipe or corrupt any or all partitions and still restore the phone to a working state within a few minutes. This works great for those who use their G1 for normal activities but also want to test their ideas which might break the phone, or when not having an extra G1 to keep purely as a development phone.
* Requirements for use
- Android G1 phone in recovery mode with busybox installed, including appropriate symlinks to at least tar and md5sum, as well as 'adb shell' support running as root. I recommend using JesusFreke US RC30 or UK RC8 v1.2 recovery image. You can flash the RC30 v1.2 recovery.img on your G1 if you don't want to bother constructing your own image. Of course you are free to use your own recovery image and it will work if you set it up correctly.
- dump_image-arm and mkyaffs2image|mkyaffs2image-$ARCH compiled in the current dir, as well as root on a linux/mac (POSIX) machine for constructing system and data images. root is required because the uid, gid and file permissions need to be preserved while extracting and creating the yaffs2 images. You are free to run the script as a normal user and then run the appropriate commands yourself as root; the commands are printed when you run the script as a regular user.
If you don't trust the provided binaries, you are free to compile them yourself. The source for the tools are included. For dump_image, edit nandtools/android-imagetools/Makefile so that you use the proper cross compiling gcc. For mkyaffs2img, just running make in tartools/yaffs2/utils/ should give you a binary. You are on your own in getting stuff compiled, but it should be easy to figure out from the Makefile.
* How to use this (the easy part)
Just boot your phone in recovery mode with the correct recovery.img (one that has adb shell as root + busybox installed with symlinks to tar, md5sum etc) and connect it to your pc/laptop/server. Then run the nandroid.sh script. If something is wrong or missing, it will tell you.
* What about restore?
If you have the dev phone or have root on the G1 and flashed the engineering/dev bootloader, then you can power on your phone while holding camera to get into the bootloader/SPL. It should then show some androids on skateboards (if not, you don't have the engineering/dev bootloader). Plug in your USB cable and push back until it says FASTBOOT instead of Serial0. Now you can fire up fastboot flash {partition} {file.img}.
Fastboot itself is part of the android SDK. If you download and compile your own mydroid build, it should sit in mydroid/out/host/linux-x86/bin/fastboot Perhaps in a future version I'll include a restore script, but for now I don't see the need.
One tip, if you are in fastboot mode on your phone and 'fastboot devices' doesn't show anything, try as root. You might need to edit your udev setup to allow your user to access the phone's usb device (which is different from the one you're in when in recovery or normal boot).
* Where's the source?
Sources are included. They are copies of the Android sources with various changes mostly made by Brainaid.
Everything in the zip is also also available through subversion:
svn co http://svn.infernix.net/nandroid/
Note that I DO NOT recommend checking out the latest revision unless you know damn well what you are doing. No guarantees if you play with fire. At the very least do diff against the latest released version.
* Credits
Bash script hacked together by infernix.
dump_image adapted from flash_image and extended by Brainaid.
Original mtdutils source and mkyaffs2image source by Google.
[1] http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=455860
[2] http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=443713
[3] http://www.gotontheinter.net/fastboot
DOWNLOAD HERE or:
wget http://dx.infernix.net/nandroid-2.0.zip

Originally Posted by trmacdonal
How to Restore your phone on a Windows PC using a Nandroid backup
I am going to assume you already have a Nandroid backup created on your SD card using JF 1.31's recovery Alt-B feature. The backup will create a folder called nandroid on your SD.
What you need:
The Android SDK:
Fastboot Windows Binary in this post:http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=3083753&postcount=1
From your Nandroid backup you need three files:
data.img
system.img
boot.img
Steps to restore your phone
1) Put the files Adb and AdbWinApi.dll from the tools folder in the Android SDK into C:\WINDOWS\System32 folder on your PC. Substitute the correct drive letter if windows is not installed on you C: drive
2) Put the Windows Fastboot.exe into the C:\WINDOWS\System32 folder on your PC
3) Create a folder on the C: drive of your PC called android. The path should be C:\Android.
4) Copy the Nandroid backup files data.img, system.img, and boot.img from your SD card to the folder called Android you created by mounting your SD card as removable disk.
5) Unplug the USB cord and power off your phone
6) Power up your phone by holding CAMERA+POWER, you should see three androids on skateboards. If you don't see this go install the Engineering boot loader
7) Plug the USB cord back into your phone and press back. The screen on your phone should say fastboot.
8) Make sure your pc is using the correct driver. Open the device manager on your pc. It is helpfull to have all other USB storage devices besides your phone unplugged for this part. Look for a USB Mass Storage device in the list of the USB devices. Right click on it and update the driver. Pick the option to browse for a driver on your pc. The driver is located in the Android SDK your downloaded in the folder called usb_driver. If this is done right you will now see a device called HTC Dream
9) Press start, go to run and type cmd (If you are on Vista just type cmd in the search box and hit enter). The command prompt will pop up.
10) Type cd C:\android
then enter the following commands:
fastboot flash system system.img
it will say Sending, then writing and say OKAY if it was successful
then type
fastboot flash userdata data.img
wait for the second OKAY and type
fastboot flash boot boot.img
wait for the second OKAY and type
fastboot reboot
Your phone should now be restored exactly as you had it when it was backed up.

This sounds great! I just recently used the other script to make a backup, but this sounds like it's been a bit more polished
I attempted to compile the yaffs2 utils under OS X 10.5 and I encountered a problem during linking:
ln -s ../yaffs_ecc.c yaffs_ecc.c
gcc -c -I/usr/include -I.. -O2 -Wall -DCONFIG_YAFFS_UTIL -Wshadow -Wpointer-arith -Wwrite-strings -Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-declarations -Wmissing-prototypes -Wredundant-decls -Wnested-externs -Winline -static yaffs_ecc.c -o yaffs_ecc.o
gcc -c -I/usr/include -I.. -O2 -Wall -DCONFIG_YAFFS_UTIL -Wshadow -Wpointer-arith -Wwrite-strings -Wstrict-prototypes -Wmissing-declarations -Wmissing-prototypes -Wredundant-decls -Wnested-externs -Winline -static mkyaffsimage.c -o mkyaffsimage.o
mkyaffsimage.c:120: warning: ‘yaffs_CalcNameSum’ defined but not used
gcc -o mkyaffsimage yaffs_ecc.o mkyaffsimage.o
ld: absolute addressing (perhaps -mdynamic-no-pic) used in _process_directory from mkyaffsimage.o not allowed in slidable image
collect2: ld returned 1 exit status
make: *** [mkyaffsimage] Error 1
Any thoughts? I'm heading off to google to figure out what a 'slidable image' is.
-jwb

No idea, and I don't have access to a mac. You could change the makefile and skip compiling of mkyaffsimage, you only need mkyaffs2image, but you'll probably get similar errors.

infernix said:
No idea, and I don't have access to a mac. You could change the makefile and skip compiling of mkyaffsimage, you only need mkyaffs2image, but you'll probably get similar errors.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Google seems to imply its a common issue, possibly solved in a later XCode rev.. We'll see how that pans out.

mkyaffs2image on mac
It built just fine for me when I did the whole mydroid build. It's in out/host/darwin-x86/bin.
Is there some way to mount the yaffs2 image, though? Does one need to do the kernel patch etc on a linux box and then use loop?

Wow this a awesome. Thanks for all the hard work everyone.

you are are ridiculous.....ly good!
so you telling me if we have root and jf's modified rc30 v1.2 and be brick our phone, there's another quarter in your pocket after you die (game over) and you can start a whole new game?
hbguy

hbguy said:
so you telling me if we have root and jf's modified rc30 v1.2 and be brick our phone, there's another quarter in your pocket after you die (game over) and you can start a whole new game?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have flashed the engineering bootloader (the androids on skateboards appear when powering on your phone while holding camera button), yes.

haha very nice ::borat voice::
P.S. For the borat fans out there, he is making a new movie, insider info baby
hbguy!

Error messages but still makes backups?
I got the following when I ran nandroid.sh on my mac. Are the error messages safe to disregard -- it seems like it worked:
Code:
nandroid v2.0
mounting system and data read-only on device
error: device not found
error: device not found
start adb portforward on port 4531
error: device not found
checking free space on cache
error: device not found
./nandroid.sh: line 152: [: -le: unary operator expected
pushing tools to /cache: dump_image-arm... error: device not found
done
Getting md5sum on device for boot...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping boot from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//boot.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for boot.img
Getting md5sum on device for recovery...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping recovery from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//recovery.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for recovery.img
Getting md5sum on device for misc...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping misc from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//misc.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for misc.img
Getting md5sum on device for tar for system...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for system backup_2008-12-19//system.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for system.tar
To convert system.tar to system.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-system-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-system-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//system.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-system-tmp/system backup_2008-12-19//system.img
Make sure that /tmp/-system-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
Getting md5sum on device for tar for data...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for data backup_2008-12-19//data.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for data.tar
To convert data.tar to data.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-data-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-data-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//data.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-data-tmp/data backup_2008-12-19//data.img
Make sure that /tmp/-data-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
Getting md5sum on device for tar for cache...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for cache backup_2008-12-19//cache.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for cache.tar
To convert cache.tar to cache.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-cache-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-cache-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//cache.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-cache-tmp/cache backup_2008-12-19//cache.img
Make sure that /tmp/-cache-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
removing tools from /cache: dump_image-arm... error: device not found
done
unmounting system and data on device
error: device not found
error: device not found
Backup successful.

brocktice said:
I got the following when I ran nandroid.sh on my mac. Are the error messages safe to disregard -- it seems like it worked:
Code:
nandroid v2.0
mounting system and data read-only on device
error: device not found
[/QUOTE]
This didn't work at all.
What I don't really get is that it continues at all, if the device isn't connected it should not even start.
It's a bit hard to tell because I don't have a mac here. Please run the following commands on your mac and post them:
[code]which adb
adb devices
BLAH=foo
echo "without $BLAH"
echo "with ${BLAH}"
I'll look at this soon, should have access to a mac sometime in the next few weeks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

brocktice said:
I got the following when I ran nandroid.sh on my mac. Are the error messages safe to disregard -- it seems like it worked:
Code:
nandroid v2.0
mounting system and data read-only on device
error: device not found
error: device not found
start adb portforward on port 4531
error: device not found
checking free space on cache
error: device not found
./nandroid.sh: line 152: [: -le: unary operator expected
pushing tools to /cache: dump_image-arm... error: device not found
done
Getting md5sum on device for boot...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping boot from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//boot.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for boot.img
Getting md5sum on device for recovery...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping recovery from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//recovery.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for recovery.img
Getting md5sum on device for misc...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping misc from device over tcp to backup_2008-12-19//misc.img...
error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for misc.img
Getting md5sum on device for tar for system...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for system backup_2008-12-19//system.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for system.tar
To convert system.tar to system.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-system-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-system-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//system.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-system-tmp/system backup_2008-12-19//system.img
Make sure that /tmp/-system-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
Getting md5sum on device for tar for data...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for data backup_2008-12-19//data.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for data.tar
To convert data.tar to data.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-data-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-data-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//data.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-data-tmp/data backup_2008-12-19//data.img
Make sure that /tmp/-data-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
Getting md5sum on device for tar for cache...error: device not found
done ()
Dumping tar file for cache backup_2008-12-19//cache.tar...error: device not found
done
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
md5sum verified for cache.tar
To convert cache.tar to cache.img, run the following commands as root:
mkdir /tmp/-cache-tmp
tar x -C /tmp/-cache-tmp -f backup_2008-12-19//cache.tar
/Users/brock/Inbox/nandroid-2.0/mkyaffs2image /tmp/-cache-tmp/cache backup_2008-12-19//cache.img
Make sure that /tmp/-cache-tmp doesn't exist befor you extract, or use different paths.
Remember to remove the tmp dirs when you are done.
removing tools from /cache: dump_image-arm... error: device not found
done
unmounting system and data on device
error: device not found
error: device not found
Backup successful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had this problem too but disconnecting and reconnecting the usb cable fixed it.

SplasPood said:
I had this problem too but disconnecting and reconnecting the usb cable fixed it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well the script is supposed to check for a device and stop when theres a problem.
also if this can happen at all then other things might go wrong on mac too. I think mac requires bash variables to be called like #{VAR} and doesn't handle $VAR for some reason.

update on mac issues
OK, it seems it was all a problem on my end -- didn't have the correct set-up. I now have the appropriate recovery image (thought I did, but I guess I didn't) and it seems to work, except for this:
Code:
Comparing md5sum...parseopts.c:76: setup_check: fopen '--status': No such file or directory
The images and such now have non-zero filesize, though. That's an improvement over before.

yeah i've gotten some more reports. will make it mac OS X compatible soonish

I can't seem to figure out how to get this to work. If someone who knows linux can IM me, that'd be great. (or is there a way to do this on XP?)
AIM:adventninja
Thanks in advance

Does this also back up radio and htc secure nand partitions?

tranks
backed up successfully.
for those who get errors in the script.
i assume you have installed modiffied recovery image + jesusfreke's rc30v2 and
before running the script check this.
this steps involves having linux i dont know how its done in windows maybe its the same i dont know.
1: disconnect usb cable
2: check that you have adb program in your path, eg: /usr/bin/adb
if you dont know what adb is, adb is a program to comunicate with phone via usb (its not the same as transfering files between pc and g1),
adb program is found in android-sdk-linux_x86-1.0_r2, unpack it, and copy adb to your path, just google and find latest android sdk.
once you downloaded sdk unpacked it and copied the executable file adb to /usr/bin go to next step.
3: boot the phone into recovery mode ( power up the phone and holding "power + home" keys and a triangle will appear on its screen.
4: in your pc open konsole, su root, and plug your USB G1
5: type adb devices
if the response to this command is "HTC G1 bla bla.. found.", then you are ready to execute the script, it will no give errors and you will backup its contents.
if you dont see HTC G1 words, then its likely your phone was detected as "USB MASS STORAGE", and we dont want that. we need that its detected as a "HTC DIRECT ACCESS DEVICE".
a: control +c
b: killall adb (this is important)
c: unplug USB, plug it in another port,
d: go to step 5
hope it helps.

infernix said:
* What is Nandroid Backup v2.0?
Nandroid Backup is a set of tools and a script that will enable anyone who has root on their G1 and has the engineering/dev spl bootloader [1] (or has a dev phone) + a recovery image with busybox and adbd running as root [2] to make full system backups. These can then be restored using the fastboot [3] commandline tool and your phone in SPL/bootloader mode (hold camera + power). This allows you to create regular backups of your entire phones NAND flash so that you can restore a backup when something breaks. Its backup method works on a level that allows you to completely break, wipe or corrupt any or all partitions and still restore the phone to a working state within a few minutes. This works great for those who use their G1 for normal activities but also want to test their ideas which might break the phone, or when not having an extra G1 to keep purely as a development phone.
* Requirements for use
- Android G1 phone in recovery mode with busybox installed, including appropriate symlinks to at least tar and md5sum, as well as 'adb shell' support running as root. I recommend using JesusFreke US RC30 or UK RC8 v1.2 recovery image. You can flash the RC30 v1.2 recovery.img on your G1 if you don't want to bother constructing your own image. Of course you are free to use your own recovery image and it will work if you set it up correctly.
- dump_image-arm and mkyaffs2image|mkyaffs2image-$ARCH compiled in the current dir, as well as root on a linux/mac (POSIX) machine for constructing system and data images. root is required because the uid, gid and file permissions need to be preserved while extracting and creating the yaffs2 images. You are free to run the script as a normal user and then run the appropriate commands yourself as root; the commands are printed when you run the script as a regular user.
If you don't trust the provided binaries, you are free to compile them yourself. The source for the tools are included. For dump_image, edit nandtools/android-imagetools/Makefile so that you use the proper cross compiling gcc. For mkyaffs2img, just running make in tartools/yaffs2/utils/ should give you a binary. You are on your own in getting stuff compiled, but it should be easy to figure out from the Makefile.
* How to use this (the easy part)
Just boot your phone in recovery mode with the correct recovery.img (one that has adb shell as root + busybox installed with symlinks to tar, md5sum etc) and connect it to your pc/laptop/server. Then run the nandroid.sh script. If something is wrong or missing, it will tell you.
* What about restore?
If you have the dev phone or have root on the G1 and flashed the engineering/dev bootloader, then you can power on your phone while holding camera to get into the bootloader/SPL. It should then show some androids on skateboards (if not, you don't have the engineering/dev bootloader). Plug in your USB cable and push back until it says FASTBOOT instead of Serial0. Now you can fire up fastboot flash {partition} {file.img}.
Fastboot itself is part of the android SDK. If you download and compile your own mydroid build, it should sit in mydroid/out/host/linux-x86/bin/fastboot Perhaps in a future version I'll include a restore script, but for now I don't see the need.
One tip, if you are in fastboot mode on your phone and 'fastboot devices' doesn't show anything, try as root. You might need to edit your udev setup to allow your user to access the phone's usb device (which is different from the one you're in when in recovery or normal boot).
* Where's the source?
Sources are included. They are copies of the Android sources with various changes mostly made by Brainaid.
Everything in the zip is also also available through subversion:
svn co http://svn.infernix.net/nandroid/
Note that I DO NOT recommend checking out the latest revision unless you know damn well what you are doing. No guarantees if you play with fire. At the very least do diff against the latest released version.
* Credits
Bash script hacked together by infernix.
dump_image adapted from flash_image and extended by Brainaid.
Original mtdutils source and mkyaffs2image source by Google.
[1] http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=455860
[2] http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=443713
[3] http://www.gotontheinter.net/fastboot
DOWNLOAD HERE or:
wget http://dx.infernix.net/nandroid-2.0.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey infernix, did you happen to get a mac version of this together? thanks!

[GUIDE] Make your android device True Root! - by Napalm

[GUIDE] Make your android device True Root! - by Napalm​
I did this on my Nexus 7 but it should all still apply to most devices. You might need to follow different driver advice for other devices.
Pre-requirements:
Installation of the SDK platform-tools.
Have platform-tools directory of the SDK in your PATH environment variable (Google this if your unsure).
This was all done a Windows installation, but access to Linux will be required later on. Mac users might be able to get away with doing the Linux portions directly on there computer. Please let me know if your a Mac user and have had success with this and I will update the guide with details.
Step 1: Driver Installation (READ THIS, do not skip)
First I needed to update to the usb_driver from SDK and then modify the installation inf with the IDs for Nexus 7.
Browse to your SDK directory and futher into <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver
Open android_winusb.inf in your favorite text editor.
Find the appropriate section Google.NTx86 if your on 32bit or Google.NTamd64 if your on 64bit (doesnt matter that your using intel chip). Now find the ";Google Nexus 7" line inside that section and you'll see a series of settings below. Add the following lines at the end of that block.
Code:
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E44&MI_01
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_D001
These are the identifiers for the Nexus 7 recovery and bootloader usb connections.
Step 2: Standard Root
Next you'll need access to the bootloader and recovery mode so follow this guide to unlock and "root" your device. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395
Here I've laid out the steps I did instead of the above. Remember this wipes your device and its internal memory completely, so backup your data.
All local work is done from the desktop, so when you first open a command prompt or if you close it and reopen it enter the following.
Code:
cd Desktop
Download CWM recovery image to Desktop. http://goo.im/devs/birdman/CWM-grouper-recovery.img
Download SuperSU CWM update zip to Desktop. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1538053
Go to Start or Start>Run and type in: cmd
Code:
cd Desktop
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery CWM-grouper-recovery.img
adb reboot recovery
Now the device will reboot into recovery mode. If windows asks for drivers for the "new" usb connection direct the wizard to your <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver. And the earlier modifications made in Step 1 should mean it installs the device and adb link.
Once drivers are installed and every is good go back to the command prompt, and type
Code:
adb devices
It should list your device with the word "recovery" next to it. If it doesn't then your device is not in recovery mode. Now enter in the following commands into the command prompt and it will make your devices CWM installation permanent.
Code:
adb shell
mount /system
cd /system
mv recovery-from-boot.p recovery-from-boot.bak
umount /system
exit
Now to install SuperSU. Tap "reboot system now" on the screen (if you dont see CWM, press the power button to show/hide it). Wait for the reboot. And then enter the following into the command prompt.
Code:
adb push CWM-SuperSU-v0.94.zip /sdcard
adb reboot recovery
Wait for reboot. You should see an image in the center of the screen. You might have to press the power button to toggle the visibility of the CWM menu. If you miss-tap on the screen, the power button acts like a back button and will return you to the previous menu screen.
Tap "install zip from sdcard" and then "choose zip from sdcard". Then select the CWM-SuperSU-v0.94.zip file (You may have to use the vol-up/down keys to highlight this if the file is listed off the bottom of the screen)
Let that install and then go back on the menus and choose "reboot system now".
Now if all is well after the reboot, if you run the following commands in command prompt.
Code:
adb shell
su
SuperSU might now prompt you on your devices screen to accept the root access, and then hopefully your command prompt should end in a # (this means you are root user 0). Now type exit twice to get back to the windows command prompt.
Now if you were to type "adb root" you will notice it tells you adbd is not able to go "full root". This will be solved in the next step. This is going to get complicated. You have been warned.
Step 3: True Rooting!
Now your device is "rooted". This is true, you now have a "su" binary installed and a visible app in the OS to manage super user privileges, but as a developer I want to be able to use things like "hierarchy viewer" on my live device. And have the room to do what I need to debug complex situations. So this is where True Root comes in. This essentially turns the device into a debug device that you would get direct from the manufacturer.
You may be able to get away with doing the following in a different way and you may not need to compile anything since fastboot has a boot flash option, but since I've never used this I've done it this way. If you prefer you can explore things in that direction, but be warned I've not tried it and so I have no idea if it would work.
Now for this step you will need access to a Linux installation. If you've never used Linux before don't be too afraid. But I am going to have to gloss over a few things. If you need further help on this step you will need to post in the topic and allow the community to advise on best pratices.
If you dont have access to a Linux installation or your newb to Linux then go here and follow the steps. It will add Linux to your PCs boot options and then you can go in and out of Linux when you need it. http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/install-ubuntu-with-windows
Remember if your working on this step from a fresh Linux install like the above then you will probably want to install the android sdk for linux, at least enough to use adb from linux. This topic might help with this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=537508
Ok now from Linux follow along. You'll need git installed for this "apt-get install git".
We now need to compile the apps needed to modify our boot image. Details can be found here https://gist.github.com/1087757 but you might just want to follow my specific instructions.
Open a console window and type.
Code:
git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core
cd core/libmincrypt
gcc -c *.c -I../include
ar rcs libmincrypt.a *.o
cd ../mkbootimg
gcc mkbootimg.c -o mkbootimg -I../include ../libmincrypt/libmincrypt.a
cd ../cpio
gcc mkbootfs.c -o mkbootfs -I../include
cd ../..
git clone https://github.com/beide/Bootimg-scripts.git
cd Bootimg-scripts
cp ../core/mkbootimg/mkbootimg ./
cp ../core/cpio/mkbootfs ./
Ok that has prapared the a Bootimg-scripts directory with the perl scripts we need and compiled binaries they use. Now make sure you have perl installed "apt-get install perl".
This is where things are going to split and it becomes your best guess as to how to proceed. I will show you the method I used from Windows. But if you have a installation of the SDK in Linux then you should be able to just open a new console and continue from here and ignore the bits I used to transfer files between Linux and Windows.
Back to the command console on Windows. We use adb to identify our boot partition and extract it.
Code:
adb shell cat /proc/partitions
You will now be presented with a list of paritions on your Nexus 7. Each block here for my device is 1K. So I'm looking down the list and I see one thats 8192 blocks, called "mmcblk0p2". Thats 8MB and I'm taking a educated guess that this is the boot partition, and for my Nexus 7 it is. (Note: if anyone has a better way of determining the boot parition please let me know).
Now we need to take a image of the partition. From here on out replace my partition device name in the commands below with yours if it differs.
Code:
adb shell
cat /dev/block/mmcblk0p2 > /sdcard/boot.img
exit
adb pull /sdcard/boot.img
Now if you want to confirm that this is the boot partition you will need to open the image file in your favorite hex editor and confirm the first bytes of the file are "ANDROID!" in ascii.
Now I FTP'd this image file over to my Linux box and into the Bootimg-scripts directory we created previously. If your following these steps from Linux then you should be able to open up the file manager and move the file into the folder.
Now back to Linux. We'll need to modify repack-bootimg.pl with a text editor of your choice. I leave this up to the reader. We need to modify line 19 the system call so that it starts with "./mkbootimg" rather than "mkbootimg". This is so perl fines mkbootimg in the local directory rather than anywhere else.
Now type in the linux console we had open in the Bootimg-scripts directory the following command.
Code:
perl ./unpack-bootimg.pl boot.img
ls -l
You should see boot.img-kernel.gz and boot.img-ramdisk.cpio.gz and a directory boot.img-ramdisk.
Open boot.img-ramdisk/default.prop in your favorite text editor and make the following adjustments.
ro.secure=1 should be edited to ro.secure=0 and ro.debuggable=0 should be ro.debuggable=1 and if you want ro.allow.mock.location can also be changed to 1 if you like.
Now we've made the required changes to our initrd (initial ramdisk) files we need to repack them to put back on the device.
Code:
perl ./repack-bootimg.pl boot.img-kernel.gz boot.img-ramdisk boot-debug.img
You will now have a new file called boot-debug.img. This contains our modified initial ramdisk. It will probably be smaller than the original. This is no concern as the original we copied was an image of the entire disk including the unused areas, where as the new image is only the data we need.
I now FTP'd this file back to my Windows machine, but as before if your doing this from Linux then you can just carry on.
We now need to flash this image file back onto the Nexus 7 replacing our current boot image. To do this we need to put the device into bootloader mode.
Back to your console/command window, and enter in.
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Windows might want to install drivers and as before direct the wizard to <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver.
Once your device is in bootloader mode. Go back to the console/command and enter in.
Code:
fastboot flash boot boot-debug.img
fastboot reboot
Now cross your fingers and hopefully you will get the boot loading animation and your device will get back to the Android launcher.
Now finally from your console/command window type in:
Code:
adb root
Hopefully if all is well it should reply with "adbd is already running as root". Now if you type in:
Code:
adb shell getprop ro.debuggable
It should tell you that its set to 1, meaning it is switched on.
Congratulations!! You have now True Rooted your device!.
You can now debug even system level apps, see log messages from all processes and logcat will now resolve all app names. Use Hierarchy Viewer on a live device instead of the horrible emulator. Do absolutely everything with your device that you want.
Happy hacking,
Napalm :good:

better late than never.....a thorough quide

Thanks for this guide.
Sent from my Nexus 7

Thanks.

Napalm2 said:
[GUIDE] Make your android device True Root! - by Napalm​
I did this on my Nexus 7 but it should all still apply to most devices. You might need to follow different driver advice for other devices.
Pre-requirements:
Installation of the SDK platform-tools.
Have platform-tools directory of the SDK in your PATH environment variable (Google this if your unsure).
This was all done a Windows installation, but access to Linux will be required later on. Mac users might be able to get away with doing the Linux portions directly on there computer. Please let me know if your a Mac user and have had success with this and I will update the guide with details.
Step 1: Driver Installation (READ THIS, do not skip)
First I needed to update to the usb_driver from SDK and then modify the installation inf with the IDs for Nexus 7.
Browse to your SDK directory and futher into <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver
Open android_winusb.inf in your favorite text editor.
Find the appropriate section Google.NTx86 if your on 32bit or Google.NTamd64 if your on 64bit (doesnt matter that your using intel chip). Now find the ";Google Nexus 7" line inside that section and you'll see a series of settings below. Add the following lines at the end of that block.
Code:
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E44&MI_01
%CompositeAdbInterface% = USB_Install, USB\VID_18D1&PID_D001
These are the identifiers for the Nexus 7 recovery and bootloader usb connections.
Step 2: Standard Root
Next you'll need access to the bootloader and recovery mode so follow this guide to unlock and "root" your device. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1741395
Here I've laid out the steps I did instead of the above. Remember this wipes your device and its internal memory completely, so backup your data.
All local work is done from the desktop, so when you first open a command prompt or if you close it and reopen it enter the following.
Code:
cd Desktop
Download CWM recovery image to Desktop. http://goo.im/devs/birdman/CWM-grouper-recovery.img
Download SuperSU CWM update zip to Desktop. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1538053
Go to Start or Start>Run and type in: cmd
Code:
cd Desktop
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery CWM-grouper-recovery.img
adb reboot recovery
Now the device will reboot into recovery mode. If windows asks for drivers for the "new" usb connection direct the wizard to your <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver. And the earlier modifications made in Step 1 should mean it installs the device and adb link.
Once drivers are installed and every is good go back to the command prompt, and type
Code:
adb devices
It should list your device with the word "recovery" next to it. If it doesn't then your device is not in recovery mode. Now enter in the following commands into the command prompt and it will make your devices CWM installation permanent.
Code:
adb shell
mount /system
cd /system
mv recovery-from-boot.p recovery-from-boot.bak
umount /system
exit
Now to install SuperSU. Tap "reboot system now" on the screen (if you dont see CWM, press the power button to show/hide it). Wait for the reboot. And then enter the following into the command prompt.
Code:
adb push CWM-SuperSU-v0.94.zip /sdcard
adb reboot recovery
Wait for reboot. You should see an image in the center of the screen. You might have to press the power button to toggle the visibility of the CWM menu. If you miss-tap on the screen, the power button acts like a back button and will return you to the previous menu screen.
Tap "install zip from sdcard" and then "choose zip from sdcard". Then select the CWM-SuperSU-v0.94.zip file (You may have to use the vol-up/down keys to highlight this if the file is listed off the bottom of the screen)
Let that install and then go back on the menus and choose "reboot system now".
Now if all is well after the reboot, if you run the following commands in command prompt.
Code:
adb shell
su
SuperSU might now prompt you on your devices screen to accept the root access, and then hopefully your command prompt should end in a # (this means you are root user 0). Now type exit twice to get back to the windows command prompt.
Now if you were to type "adb root" you will notice it tells you adbd is not able to go "full root". This will be solved in the next step. This is going to get complicated. You have been warned.
Step 3: True Rooting!
Now your device is "rooted". This is true, you now have a "su" binary installed and a visible app in the OS to manage super user privileges, but as a developer I want to be able to use things like "hierarchy viewer" on my live device. And have the room to do what I need to debug complex situations. So this is where True Root comes in. This essentially turns the device into a debug device that you would get direct from the manufacturer.
You may be able to get away with doing the following in a different way and you may not need to compile anything since fastboot has a boot flash option, but since I've never used this I've done it this way. If you prefer you can explore things in that direction, but be warned I've not tried it and so I have no idea if it would work.
Now for this step you will need access to a Linux installation. If you've never used Linux before don't be too afraid. But I am going to have to gloss over a few things. If you need further help on this step you will need to post in the topic and allow the community to advise on best pratices.
If you dont have access to a Linux installation or your newb to Linux then go here and follow the steps. It will add Linux to your PCs boot options and then you can go in and out of Linux when you need it. http://www.ubuntu.com/download/help/install-ubuntu-with-windows
Remember if your working on this step from a fresh Linux install like the above then you will probably want to install the android sdk for linux, at least enough to use adb from linux. This topic might help with this: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=537508
Ok now from Linux follow along. You'll need git installed for this "apt-get install git".
We now need to compile the apps needed to modify our boot image. Details can be found here https://gist.github.com/1087757 but you might just want to follow my specific instructions.
Open a console window and type.
Code:
git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/system/core
cd core/libmincrypt
gcc -c *.c -I../include
ar rcs libmincrypt.a *.o
cd ../mkbootimg
gcc mkbootimg.c -o mkbootimg -I../include ../libmincrypt/libmincrypt.a
cd ../cpio
gcc mkbootfs.c -o mkbootfs -I../include
cd ../..
git clone https://github.com/beide/Bootimg-scripts.git
cd Bootimg-scripts
cp ../core/mkbootimg/mkbootimg ./
cp ../core/cpio/mkbootfs ./
Ok that has prapared the a Bootimg-scripts directory with the perl scripts we need and compiled binaries they use. Now make sure you have perl installed "apt-get install perl".
This is where things are going to split and it becomes your best guess as to how to proceed. I will show you the method I used from Windows. But if you have a installation of the SDK in Linux then you should be able to just open a new console and continue from here and ignore the bits I used to transfer files between Linux and Windows.
Back to the command console on Windows. We use adb to identify our boot partition and extract it.
Code:
adb shell cat /proc/partitions
You will now be presented with a list of paritions on your Nexus 7. Each block here for my device is 1K. So I'm looking down the list and I see one thats 8192 blocks, called "mmcblk0p2". Thats 8MB and I'm taking a educated guess that this is the boot partition, and for my Nexus 7 it is. (Note: if anyone has a better way of determining the boot parition please let me know).
Now we need to take a image of the partition. From here on out replace my partition device name in the commands below with yours if it differs.
Code:
adb shell
cat /dev/block/mmcblk0p2 > /sdcard/boot.img
exit
adb pull /sdcard/boot.img
Now if you want to confirm that this is the boot partition you will need to open the image file in your favorite hex editor and confirm the first bytes of the file are "ANDROID!" in ascii.
Now I FTP'd this image file over to my Linux box and into the Bootimg-scripts directory we created previously. If your following these steps from Linux then you should be able to open up the file manager and move the file into the folder.
Now back to Linux. We'll need to modify repack-bootimg.pl with a text editor of your choice. I leave this up to the reader. We need to modify line 19 the system call so that it starts with "./mkbootimg" rather than "mkbootimg". This is so perl fines mkbootimg in the local directory rather than anywhere else.
Now type in the linux console we had open in the Bootimg-scripts directory the following command.
Code:
perl ./unpack-bootimg.pl boot.img
ls -l
You should see boot.img-kernel.gz and boot.img-ramdisk.cpio.gz and a directory boot.img-ramdisk.
Open boot.img-ramdisk/default.prop in your favorite text editor and make the following adjustments.
ro.secure=1 should be edited to ro.secure=0 and ro.debuggable=0 should be ro.debuggable=1 and if you want ro.allow.mock.location can also be changed to 1 if you like.
Now we've made the required changes to our initrd (initial ramdisk) files we need to repack them to put back on the device.
Code:
perl ./repack-bootimg.pl boot.img-kernel.gz boot.img-ramdisk boot-debug.img
You will now have a new file called boot-debug.img. This contains our modified initial ramdisk. It will probably be smaller than the original. This is no concern as the original we copied was an image of the entire disk including the unused areas, where as the new image is only the data we need.
I now FTP'd this file back to my Windows machine, but as before if your doing this from Linux then you can just carry on.
We now need to flash this image file back onto the Nexus 7 replacing our current boot image. To do this we need to put the device into bootloader mode.
Back to your console/command window, and enter in.
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Windows might want to install drivers and as before direct the wizard to <SDK>\extras\google\usb_driver.
Once your device is in bootloader mode. Go back to the console/command and enter in.
Code:
fastboot flash boot boot-debug.img
fastboot reboot
Now cross your fingers and hopefully you will get the boot loading animation and your device will get back to the Android launcher.
Now finally from your console/command window type in:
Code:
adb root
Hopefully if all is well it should reply with "adbd is already running as root". Now if you type in:
Code:
adb shell getprop ro.debuggable
It should tell you that its set to 1, meaning it is switched on.
Congratulations!! You have now True Rooted your device!.
You can now debug even system level apps, see log messages from all processes and logcat will now resolve all app names. Use Hierarchy Viewer on a live device instead of the horrible emulator. Do absolutely everything with your device that you want.
Happy hacking,
Napalm :good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
can't find recovery-from-boot.p. Y?

5implelove said:
can't find recovery-from-boot.p. Y?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try not to quote a post that big mate, makes navigation a pain

5implelove said:
can't find recovery-from-boot.p. Y?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That part is only for the Nexus 7, and if you are using a Nexus 7 with custom ROM then this file may not exist. If you are using stock on a Nexus 7 then the only other question is whether you have renamed/moved/deleted it before. Once you
Code:
cd /system
type
Code:
ls -l recovery*
and see if anything is listed.
Napalm

Where did you find the info for step one?
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

I worked it out. You can find your VID and PID from your unknown device in Device Manager. You have to right click the device > Properties > Details > Choose Hardware Ids from the list. Since the driver from Google supports the same interfaces for other devices we can assume it works with the Nexus 7. I made the modifications and it works. Below is a full list of IDs if anyone wants them.
Napalm
Code:
Nexus 7
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E40 : fastboot
USB\VID_18D1&PID_D001 : adb-recovery
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E42 : composite-adb-interface (with mtp)
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E42&MI_00: mtp-composite
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E42&MI_01: adb-composite
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E44 : composite-adb-interface (with ptp)
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E44&MI_00: mtp-composite
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E44&MI_01: adb-composite
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E41 : mtp-only
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E43 : ptp-only
Galaxy Nexus
USB\VID_18D1&PID_4E30 : fastboot
USB\VID_18D1&PID_D001 : adb-recovery
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6860 : composite-adb-interface (with mtp)
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6860&MI_00: mtp-composite
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6860&MI_01: adb-composite
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6866 : composite-adb-interface (with ptp)
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6866&MI_00: ptp-composite
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6866&MI_01: adb-composite
USB\VID_04E8&PID_685C : mtp-only
USB\VID_04E8&PID_6865 : ptp-only

Great guide, but why not just post up the new initrd for people that don't want to do this? It looks as if its the same for all devices.

As requested. Attached are the compiled tools and modified scripts used and the original and modified boot partition image files for the Nexus 7 running Android 4.1.2.
Napalm

Update for Android 4.2
Attached is the original and modified boot partition image files for the Nexus 7 running Android 4.2.
You can update yours with the following:
Code:
adb reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot nakasi-jop40c-android42-boot-new.img
Napalm

Attached is the original and modified boot partition image files for the Nexus 7 GSM/HSPA+ running Android 4.2.1
You can update yours with the following:
Code:
adb reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot nakasig-jop40d-android421-boot-new.img
Napalm

Amazing !
Is it possible to post the same file for N7 4.2.1 Wifi version?
Thanks

JulienDev said:
Amazing !
Is it possible to post the same file for N7 4.2.1 Wifi version?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If I'm not mistaken, they are the same for wifi and 3g versions?

Same as before.. just an update for Android 4.2.2... as per the previous posts.. no idea if the non-GSM variant has the same boot partition. If anyone can test please post.
Attached is the original and modified boot partition image files for the Nexus 7 GSM/HSPA+ running Android 4.2.2
You can update yours with the following:
Code:
adb reboot-bootloader
fastboot flash boot nakasig-jdq39-android422-boot-mod.img

Getting a No_Command error
Hi, I am trying to true root Android M on my Nexus 7 2012 Wifi edition. I followed the steps here and was able to create the boot.img with the ro.debuggable=1 and ro.secure=0. however if i flash this boot.img the device boots and gets stuck in a android bot with a Red ! (bang) triangle. and says No command.
Any idea how to get ro.debuggable on for Android M?

Samsung XCover3 Development Thread [4.4.4/5.1.1/6.0.1] [Root, TWRP, Mods and ROMS]

Preface: I'm currently using this device and really like it, and as you all may have realised, that this device is considered as a low activity device on XDA, and no developers that I know of have taken a crack at this phone. This thread is to consolidate all information pertaining to the device.
If some area are empty, they will have more content in the future as we progress with this awesome device.
Feel free to post any mods that have worked (preferably in systemless mode)
Table of Contents:
Post 1) Rooting, TWRP and useful Links
Post 2) Info for Developers
Post 3) Roms & Mods
Post 4) Reserved
Useful Links:
My Github (Matt07211) containing kernel source code, to keep with the GPL licenses.
Samsung Kernel Source Code 4.4.4/5.1.1 and 6.0.1
Firmware Samsung xCover 3 and Samsung xCover 3 Value Edition
TWRP for Samsung xCover3 (Kit Kat)
TWRP for Samsung xCover3 Value Edition Credits: @Heledir for the link
SuperSU
Prerequisites:
ADB Installed
USB Debugging Enabled
Samsung USB Drivers Installed
Samsung ODIN (Preferably Odin3_v3.10.7 or above)
A Brain that can use common sense, or Google
Disclaimer:
Anything you do with your own phone is done at your own risk. Don't complain if you accidentally brick your phone. Fix it by using Google, flash back stock firmware or post on XDA for help.
Knox will probably be voided, and so will your warranty.
We cannot say what works for us, may or may not work for you.
Good luck
Using ODIN:
1) Enable USB Debugging, and OEM Unlock (If available), these can be reached from the developer menu. The develpoer menu can be activated by taping "Build Number" 7 times in the about section.
Don't disable OEM Unlock (Ever) once modifing your phone, because FRP (Factoy Reset Protection) will be activated, and then you will be forced into reinstalling stock firmware, aalnd losing all your data in the process.
2) Turn phone off, boot into download mode (Power + Volume Down + Home) and then press Volume Up to use download mode when greeted with a yellow warning.
3) Launch ODIN, and plug phone into Computer. You should see some text like this "ID:COM" in blue.
4) Click the AP button (If it says PDA then you have an older version of ODIN, and are recommended to use a newer version) and Select the file that will be flashed. E.g. TWRP or a Boot.img. Making sure the only options ticked are "F.Reset Time" and "Auto-Reboot". If you are flashing a recovery (E.g. TWRP) then make sure "Auto-Reboot" is unticked, and when ODIN says successful flash then you'll have to then reboot the phone your self(Either by holding any combination of Volume Keys (Any one) + Power + Home or Removing the Battery and Placing back in) and reboot straight into recovery (at least once, else the stock recovery will replace TWRP on a normal boot bu a script called "install-recovery.sh").
5) If "Auto-Reboot is ticked, then the phone will automatically reboot once flashing has been completed.
Root:
SM-G388f:
KitKat:
1) Enable USB Debugging
2) Download the Newest TWRP from the above TWRP Link (the one marked with KitKat), making sure you download the file with the .img.tar extension.
3) Download the Newest SuperSu and place on the internal phone memory.
4) Flash the downloaded TWRP file, make sure "Auto-Reboot" is unticked (Refer to "Using ODIN" if needed). Click Start
5) Once flashed, reboot into recovery (Power + Volume Up + Home) straight away and Flash SuperSu.zip via the Flash Zip section.
Congrats you got root on KitKat
Lollipop:
Installation:
1) Make sure you have the prerequisites installed, and "xcover3-lollipop-root.zip"
unzipped. Then type
Code:
adb devices
to make sure adb recognises the phone and that its authorized.
2) Type (or copy) exaclty as below. *Please be paitent, as the first command
takes about 20 seconds to complete.
Code:
adb push su.img /data/local/tmp
adb install Superuser.apk
3) Once thats completed, turn off the device and then boot into download
mode (Volume Down + Home + Power).
4) Open the ODIN program, click "AP" then navigate to the "boot.tar.md5"
file that is in the "xcover3-lollipop-root: folder, then click open/okay.
Click start to flash.
5) The phone should auto-reboot. Once its fully booted, reboot once more
(perferabbly twice), this is to allow the script placed in the ramdisk to
move the su.img to /data.
6) Profit? Yay you've now got root. You can go and test it out by downloading
terminal emulator and typing "su", you then should be prompted to grant root
permissions to the app. Once granted, the "$" symbol will change to "#" to
signify root.
Thanks to:
@akuhak Thanks for build the custom tools necessary to modify the boot.img
@proguru Thanks for compiling a custom kernel for me, (for testing purposes) allowing me to test various things.
@kniederberger Thanks for providing the boot.img and su.img from the Value edition of the phone, allowing me to base my work around what was done on the value editon.
SM-G389f:
Marshmallow:
*Verified by @Heledir and @kniederberger
A user has uploaded a YouTube video HERE in case anyone wants a video tutorial.
1) Enable "OEM UNLOCK" and "USB Debugging" in developer settings (This can be found by tapping build number 7 times, then developer mode will be activated) then procedded to Flash TWRP.
2) Flash the Value Edition version of TWRP, Link at the top of this thread, making sure it has ".img.tar" extension (Refer to "Using ODIN" if needed).
3) Flash SuperSu.zip inside of TWRP via the Flash Zip section
Update to Newer Firmware while rooted:
Note: You'll lose root (re-root via relevant method) and modifications done to /system, but you're Apps and Data (/data and internal storage) will remain untouched.
0)Although you won't lose any apps/data, it's always recommended to make a backup. Perferrable a Nandroid backup or the backup of apps and data via the means of Titanium Backup and such.
1) Download Newest firmware matching the phones region and carrier (basically if the phone is from one country, dont download the firmware intended for a different country. Links at top of OP/Thread.
2) Out phone into download more, launch Odin and Flash the firmware package Downloaded. (Refer to the Using Odin section as needed.)
3) Give it some time for the inital reboot, and allow it to get setup and booted.
Optional) Re-root via relevant methods.
Un-root Samsung XCover 3 Devices:
1) Click un-root from SuperSu APP
*5.1.1 and 6.0.1: Flash Stock boot.img (Found in stock firmware) (Will post a Link for stock boot.tar.md5 soon, or read on in the next post to figure out how to create your own boot.tar.md5 file)
TWRP:
KitKat: Working
Lollipop: Not Working (I'm looking into it) The is a hacked together version of TWRP HERE, in case people want to flash files. I wouldn't recommend it for anything else other then flashing, as i would perfer to build a proper working TWRP for lollipop.
Note: You'll have to hold, Volume Up + Home + Power buttons straightafter flashing from Odin, keep hold of the key combo untill you see the TWRP logo (2 reboots).
Marshmallow: Working
Flash Stock Firmware:
1) Download the stock firmware from above links, making sure the version and region matches your phone
2) As with the other steps, boot into download mode and connect it to Odin, click the AP button and click on the stock firmware. Then Click Start. (Refer to "Using ODIN" if needed)
3) Give it some time after flashing (Max 10mins) to boot and setup for the first time, if it doesn't after a long time, re-flash the stock firmware again.
FAQ:
- Where is a ROM/Custom Kernel/ TWRP(for lollipop) for our devices? I currently can't provide/make these due to internet limitations, and no access to a 64 bit computer(of course these may change for me in the future). Feel free to build and provide these, and they can get linked to one of the opening pots for easy access.
- What is this thread? It aims to bring all the current work being done on this device into a single thread, so its easily accessible for everyone
- XYZ App doesn't detect root (systemless root)? These apps haven't been updated to work with systemless root, and therefor require SuperSu compatibility mode to be enabled to work with systemless root. Refer to the Troubleshooting section below to fix.
- My Device is sluggish/slow at each boot, how can I fix this? I have noticed that certain apps when used, E.g. CF.Lumen, Livebootetc. require patching the sepolicy at each boot, and this is a memory intensive task. This may not be the only cause for sluggishness, other things can include alot of apps checking for notifcations by pinging their servers, or alot of apps auto starting at boot. There are two different ways about fixing this, one, uninstall offending apps (or disbale their automatic launch), or two, live with it, just wait a couple of minutes after booting before unlocking and using the phone, becuse by then their tasks should be done and android should have cleared up some RAM.
- I keeping getting notifications that my device is unsafe/had unautorized actions have taken place, how to stop this notification/warning? Refer to the Troubleshooting section below to fix.
Troubleshooting:
- XYZ App doesn't detect root (systemless root):
For Value Edition (Android 6.0.1):
1) Type "(or paste)
Code:
echo "BINDSYSTEMXBIN=TRUE" >> /data/.supersu[/CODE
2) Reflash the latest SuperSu.zip via TWRP][/INDENT]
[INDENT][B]For the Normal/Original xCover 3[/B] [I](Android 5.1.1., using my root method)[/I]:
Note: This fix is for the root developed by me, once/if we get a working TWRP for lollipop, then the above instructions should suffice. These 2 scripts creates and mounts a folder to xbin, allowing for apps that check for system root to work properly with systemless. Also daemonsu should mount the folder at boot automatically, but I was having problems with it, so that's why I have a second script to automatically mount the needed folder. Now to the instructions :)
1) Download the "systemless-compatability-fix-lollipop.tar.gz" onto the device and unzip it
2) Using a file explorer that works with systemless root, E.g. Solid Explorer, Copy and paste the 2 files inside the "/su/su.d" directory, making sure it's permissions is "0700" or "700", if the permissions are incorrect you can use the file explorer or terminal emulator and "chmod 0700" on both of the files, Refer to both of the files below for reference.
[img]http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3948945&d=1480154633[/img]
[img]http://forum.xda-developers.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=3948946&d=1480154633[/img][/INDENT]
Now all root apps should work (I'm loooking at you Secure Settings and ES File Explorer Pro)
- I keeping getting notifications that my device is unsafe/had unauthorized actions have taken place, how to stop this notification/warning:
I haven't formmaly looked into the cause of this problem as of yet, but some users reported that disabling/removing "SecurityLogAgent" and/or "Smart Manager" Fixs the problem. This can be achieved using Titanium Backup (or similar apps).
[I][B]Planned Work:[/B][/I]
[HIDE]
- Do the next post write up on how to modify the boot.img (or other files) of the devices.
- Get working TWRP on Lollipop
- Get Magisk v9 working
- Look it what is need to flash MM from the xCover 3 Value Edition devices onto the Normal xCover 3 Most users have. (Might be difficult, as they have different hardware)
- Get some ROM creators onto this device [/HIDE]
Anything else?

Development for the xCover3
By Matt07211
This post aims to cover some relevant info for developers, aspiring developers, or tinkers that are missing a crucial piece or knowledge need for it to work on this device (xCover3). This thread will be more bias towards the Original xCover 3 running Lollipop, this just means my knowledge might be lacking in some areas due to differences in hardware (They have different chip-sets)therefor a difference in procedure. This Post assumes your using Linux and is biased towards Ubuntu, as its easiest for anyone to setup.
These post will be split up into categories, and when needed will indicate a difference in procedure between the devices.
Table of Contents:
1) General Setup (Dependices and Tools)
2) Boot and Recovery Modifications
3) System image modification (Also applicable to cache and hidden images found in firmware package)
4) Miscellaneous
Links:
- XCover3:
android_device_samsung_xcover3ltexx(To be added)
platform_manifest (To be added)
local_manifests (To be added)
android_kernel_samsung_xcover3ltexx
proprietary_vendor_samsung(To be added)​
- XCover3 Value Edition:
android_device_samsung_xcover3ltexxve(To be added)
platform_manifest (To be added)
local_manifests (To be added)
android_kernel_samsung_xcover3ltexxve(To be added)
proprietary_vendor_samsung(To be added)​
- General Setup
# Installing dependices (assuming Ubuntu >=15.04).
A 64-bit Operating system is needed when compiling ROMS, Kernels or Recoverys.
The dependices used are gathered from Android Establishing a Build Enviromentpage and Android Image Repack tools thread.
Code:
sudo apt-get update
sudo apt-get install git git-core gnupg flex bison gperf build-essential zip curl zlib1g-dev gcc-multilib g++-multilib libc6-dev libncurses5-dev x11proto-core-dev libx11-dev lib32z-dev ccache libgl1-mesa-dev libxml2-utils xsltproc unzip openssl libsdl-dev libesd0-dev valgrind libreadline6-dev x11proto-core-dev libz-dev gawk texinfo automake libtool cvs libsdl-dev
# Create Working Directory
It is also recommended to create a working directory for when working with android, keeping everything centeralized is helpful.
Code:
cd ~
mkdir android
# Compiling Android Image Repack Tools: Android Image Repack Tools is a kit of utilites for unpack/repack of android ext4 and boot images(Useful for working with android).
Refer to the thread linked above on different examples/instructions on using the binary files.
Note: I've provdided a copy of the precompiled binary files, compiled agianst android-5.1.1 branch on a 32-bit machine (meaning compatabile with 64/32 bit machines).
For Marshmallow:
Code:
cd ~/android
git clone https://github.com/ASdev/android_img_repack_tools
cd android_img_repack_tools
git checkout android-6.0.1
chmod +x configure
./configure
make
This creates the directory, downloads the source code, and creates the binary files.
For Lollipop (@AkuHaks version, extra tools included for the SM-G388F):
Code:
cd ~/android
git clone https://github.com/AkuHAK/android_img_repack_tools
cd android_img_repack_tools
chmod +x configure
./configure
make
# mkbootimg_tools, from xiaolu (Use for Value edition)
Code:
cd ~/android
git clone https://github.com/xiaolu/mkbootimg_tools
- Boot and Recovery Modifications
# Unpack boot and recovery
For Marshmallow:
Code:
cd ~/android/mkbootimg_tools
mkdir boot
./mkboot boot.img boot
usage: mkboot
unpack boot.img & decompress ramdisk:
mkboot [output dir]
[/INDENT]
Example output:
[CODE]
dt.img
img_info
kernel
ramdisk
ramdisk.cpio.gz
[/CODE]
For [B]Lollipop[/B]:
[CODE]
cd ~/android/android_img_repack_tools
mkdir boot
./pxa1088-unpackbootimg -i boot.img -o boot -p 2048
[/CODE]
Example output:
[CODE]
boot.img-base
boot.img-cmdline
boot.img-dt
boot.img-pagesize
boot.img-ramdisk.gz
boot.img-ramdisk_offset
boot.img-second
boot.img-second_offset
boot.img-signature
boot.img-tags_offset
boot.img-uImage
boot.img-unknown
[/CODE]
# Repack boot and recovery
For [B]Marshmallow[/B][I](Example, substitute names as necessary)[/I]:
[B]Note:[/B] I have yet to try a repacked boot.img on a Value Edition Variant
[CODE]
cd ~/android/mkbootimg_tools
./mkboot boot boot-new.img
[/CODE]
usage: mkboot
Use the unpacked directory repack boot.img(img_info):[INDENT]
mkboot [unpacked dir] [newbootfile]
[/INDENT]
For [B]Lollipop[/B][I](Example, substitute names as necessary)[/I]:
[CODE]
cd ~/android/android_img_repack_tools
./pxa1088-mkbootimg --kernel boot.img-uImage --ramdisk ramdisk-custom-supersu.cpio.gz --dt boot.img-dt --signature boot.img-signature --unknown 0x3000000 -o ../boot-supersu.img
[/CODE]
usage: mkbootimg [INDENT]
--kernel <filename>
[ --ramdisk <filename> ]
[ --second <2ndbootloader-filename> ]
[ --cmdline <kernel-commandline> ]
[ --board <boardname> ]
[ --base <address> ]
[ --pagesize <pagesize> ]
[ --dt <filename> ]
[ --ramdisk_offset <address> ]
[ --second_offset <address> ]
[ --tags_offset <address> ]
[ --id ]
[ --signature <filename> ]
-o|--output <filename>
[/INDENT]
# Ramdisk Unpack/Repack
Unpack
[CODE]
mkdir ramdisk
cd ramdisk
gunzip -c ../ramdisk.cpio.gz | cpio -i
[/CODE]
Repack
For [B]Marshmallow[/B]:
[B]Note:[/B] I have yet to repack the Value-edition/Marshmallow ramdisk so cannot verify it works (unlike lollipop), so if any errors please contact me. Feel free to try and unpack/repack the Value editon ramdisk/boot.img with lollipop instructions, if below doesn't work.
[CODE]
find . | cpio -o -H -R 0.0 newc | gzip > ../ramdisk-new.cpio.gz
[/CODE]
For [B]Lollipop[/B]:
[CODE]
./mkbootfs ramdisk-directory-name | ./minigzip > ramdisk-new.cpio.gz
[/CODE]
# Compile Kernel
Assumes kernel source is like "~/android/kernel" adapt paths as necessary.
For [B]Marshmallow[/B]:
[CODE]
cd ~/android
git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/prebuilts/gcc/linux-x86/arm/arm-linux-androideabi-4.9
export CROSS_COMPILE=~/android/arm-linux-androideabi-4.9/bin/arm-linux-androideabi-
cd kernel
make ARCH=arm xcover3velte_eur_defconfig
# You can run "make menuconfig" now if you want to customize the config file. E.g. Adding driver support, enable other features etc.
make ARCH=arm -j<number-of-cpus>
# E.g. "make ARCH=arm -j4"
[/CODE]
[B]Note:[/B] Replace the "<number-of-cpus>" in "-j<number-of-cpus>" with the number of processors you have plus one. For example if you have 4 cores then enter 5. If your getting errors then rebuild it with "-j1" then scroll up till you found the source of the error.
If the compile succeded the you should see "kernel: arch/arm/boot/zImage is ready"
For [B]Lollipop[/B]:
[CODE]
cd ~/android
git clone https://android.googlesource.com/platform/prebuilts/gcc/linux-x86/aarch64/aarch64-linux-android-4.8
export CROSS_COMPILE=~/android/aarch64-linux-android-4.8/bin/aarch64-linux-android-
cd kernel
make ARCH=arm64 pxa1908_xcover3lte_eur_defconfig
# You can run "make menuconfig" now if you want to customize the config file. E.g. Adding driver support, enable other features etc.
make ARCH=arm64 -j<number-of-cpus>
# E.g. "make ARCH=arm64 -j4"
[/CODE]
[B]Note:[/B] Replace the "<number-of-cpus>" in "-j<number-of-cpus>" with the number of processors you have plus one. For example if you have 4 cores then enter 5. If your getting errors then rebuild it with "-j1" then scroll up till you found the source of the error.
If the compile succeded the you should see "kernel: arch/arm64/boot/Image.gz is ready"
# Package Kernel into uImage (SM-G388F ONLY)
[CODE]
mkimage -A arm64 -O linux -T kernel -C gzip -a 01000000 -e 01000000 -d Image.gz -n "pxa1928dkb linux" "boot.img-uImage.new"
[/CODE]
# Generate kernel Specific device tree table (From Kernel Sources, Post-Compile)
[B]NOTE:[/B] This shouldn't need to be done as stock dt.img is the same, so use that. This is only here for educational purposes.
This assumes ~/android/kernel/ is you kernel source code directory. Substite paths as neccessary
For [B]Marshmallow[/B]:
Place either dtbTool or dtbToolCM (Depending on what your using), into ~/android/kernel/scripts and run the binary files from there.
If unable to create use the below binarys then try the lollipop instructions.
dtbTool
[CODE]
cp ~/android/mkbootimg_tools/dtbTool ~/android/kernel/scripts
cd ~/android/kernel
scripts/dtbTool -s 2048 -o arch/arm/boot/dt.img -p scripts/dtc/ arch/arm/boot/
[/CODE]
usage: DTB combiner:
Output file must be specified
dtbTool [options] -o <output file> <input DTB path>
options:
--output-file/-o output file
--dtc-path/-p path to dtc
--page-size/-s page size in bytes
--verbose/-v verbose
--help/-h this help screen
OR
dtbToolCM (support dt-tag & dtb v2/3)
[CODE]
cp ~/android/mkbootimg_tools/dtbTool ~/android/kernel/scripts
cd ~/android/kernel
scripts/dtbToolCM -s 2048 -d "htc,project-id = <" -o arch/arm/boot/dt.img -p scripts/dtc/ arch/arm/boot/
[/CODE]
For [B]Lollipop[/B]:
[CODE]
cd ~/android/android_img_repack_tools
./pxa1088-dtbTool -o boot.img-dt-new -p kernel/scripts/dtc kernel/arch/arm64/boot/dts/
[/CODE]
# Repack as Flashable Odin File (Substitute name as neccessary)
tar -H ustar -c boot.img > boot.tar
md5sum -t boot.tar >> boot.tar
mv boot.tar boot.tar.md5
[/CODE]
[/HIDE]
- System image modifcation
[HIDE]
<To be ADDED>
[/HIDE]
- Miscellaneous
[HIDE]
<To be ADDED>
[/HIDE]​

Kernels:
- MyKernel - Custom power kernel series ! (SM-G389f) (Originally called: Devhost97 Kernel's ....) @Devhost97
-DiXCOVERy kernel (SM-G388f) @IXgnas
Roms:
- Flint & Steel ROM (Modded Firmware), planned realse is hopefully at beginning of next year. Follow its progress at the post HERE . Creator is @Matt07211 (Me)
Recommended Mods:
- Xposed using wanam's framework (Lollipop & Marshmallow),HERE, and use the newest XposedInstaller apk from, HERE. Flash the framework via TWRP.
- Arise Sound Mod, HERE. Flash via TWRP.
Recommend Root Apps, by Matt07211:
- Liveboot
- CF.Lumen
- Titanium Backup
- Adaway
- Kernel Auditor
- Terminal Emulator
Recommend Xposed Apps, by Matt07211
- <To be added>
Miscellaneous:
- Debloater Thread by @Sonof8Bits

<Reserved for Future Use>
<Reserved for Future Use>

Problem
Matt07211 said:
Preface: I'm currently using this device and really like it, and as you all may have realised, that this device is considered as a low activity device on XDA, and know developers I know of have taken a crack at this phone. This is where I come in, I like hacking into stuff for the challenge it presents, and I have set myself the challenge that is this device. This is a continuous learning experience for me and all, so I am by far not considered an expert.
If some area are empty, they will have more content in the future as we progress with this awesome device.
Feel free to post any mods that have worked (preferably in systemless mode)
Table of Contents:
Post 1) Root and TWRP
Post 2) Mods (Mostly Systemless versions)
Post 3) Roms
Post 4) --Reserved for future use--
Useful Links:
My Github (Matt07211) to keep with the GPL licences I will upload evrything onto my github (Also its a shameless plug )
My Github Pages Blog for guide on how I manually applied systemless update to boot.img (To be linked)
Samsung Kernel Source Code 4.4.4/5.1.1 and 6.0.1
Firmware Samsung xCover 3 and Samsung xCover 3 Value Edition
TWRP
SuperSU
Prerequisites:
ADB Installed
USB Debugging Enabled
Samsung USB Drivers Installed
Samsung ODIN
A Brain that can use common sense or google
Disclaimer:
Anything you do with your own phone is done at your own risk. Don't complain if accidentally brick your phone, use google, flash back stock firmware or post on XDA for help.
Knox will probably be voided, and so will your warranty.
We cannot say what works for use may work for you.
Good luck
Root:
KitKat:
1) Download the Newest TWRP from the above links, making sure you download the file with the .img.tar extension
2) Download the Newest SuperSu and place on the internal phone memory
3) Turn on USB Debugging
4) Turn phone off, boot into download mode (Power + Volume Down + Home) and then press Volume Up for use when greeted with a yellow warning.
5) Launch ODIN, and plug phone into Computer. You should see some text like this "ID:COM" in green
6) Click the AP button and Select the Downloaded TWRP file, make sure "re-partition" is unticked. Click Start
7) Once flashed, reboot into recovery and Flash SuperSu.zip
Congrats you got root on KitKat
Lollipop (Systemless Root) (EXPERIMENTAL, USE WITH CAUTION):
NOTE: This is currently in the experimental phase as I need users to test and verify that this works
1) Turn on USB Debugging and Download "xCover3-Lollipop-Root-Matt07211.zip" from here.
2) Turn phone off, boot into download mode (Power + Volume Down + Home) and then press Volume Up for use when greeted with a yellow warning.
5) Launch ODIN, and plug phone into Computer. You should see some text like this "ID:COM" in green
6) Click the AP button and Select the Downloaded ".tar.md5, make sure "re-partition" is unticked. Click Start
7) Once flashed, reboot the phone normally, making sure USB Debugging is turned on
8) Copy over "su.img", "Superuser.apk" and "xCover3-root.bat" (For Windows Users) or "xCover3-root.sh" (For Linux Users) into your ADB directory (E.g. android-sdk\platform-tools)
9) Open up a command prompt in the ADB Directory and type either "xCover-root.bat" for windows and for Linux run "xCover-root.sh"
10) Your Device should reboot, and you should have root. Now get an app and verify its existence
NOTE: This is EXPERIMENTAL so this might not work, or will take a few trys to get working, please post if this has worked for you.
Marshmallow:
*To Be looked into, please be patient
Un-root Lollipop and Marshmallow Devices:
1) Click un-root from SuperSu APP
2) Flash Stock Firmware or Stock boot.img (Will post a Link for stock boot.tar.md5 soon)
TWRP:
KitKat: Working
Lollipop: Not Working (I'm looking into it)
Marshmallow: Not Working (I'm looking into it)
Flash Stock Firmware:
1) Download the stock firmware from above links, making sure the version matches your phone
2) As with the other steps, boot into download mode and connect it to Odin, click the AP button and click on the stockfirmware. Then Click Start
3) Give it some time (Max 10mins) to boot and setup for the first time, if it doesn't after a long time, reflash the stockfirmware again.
Now look at the next post
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I click on AP in Odin and choose boot_systemless_root_matt07211.tar.md5 ,it just says md5 error binary is invalid. (tested on ODIN 3.12.3 and 3.10)
Oh sorry you said its not working nvm

EzChillzz said:
When I click on AP in Odin and choose boot_systemless_root_matt07211.tar.md5 ,it just says md5 error binary is invalid. (tested on ODIN 3.12.3 and 3.10)
Oh sorry you said its not working nvm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I tryed the root for Lollipop. Odin will no flash the tar.md5. There is one mistake by md5. If you rename the file to *.tar odin accept the file. if try to flash odin hang of with outprint analyse file. i wait on this for 10 min nothing goes happen.
I can try to flash with heimdall. for this i need the *img file
sorry for my bad english

EzChillzz said:
When I click on AP in Odin and choose boot_systemless_root_matt07211.tar.md5 ,it just says md5 error binary is invalid. (tested on ODIN 3.12.3 and 3.10)
Oh sorry you said its not working nvm
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yy1 said:
I tryed the root for Lollipop. Odin will no flash the tar.md5. There is one mistake by md5. If you rename the file to *.tar odin accept the file. if try to flash odin hang of with outprint analyse file. i wait on this for 10 min nothing goes happen.
I can try to flash with heimdall. for this i need the *img file
sorry for my bad english
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I'm stupid when I created it I was pretty tired, so I only included the md5 hash of the .tar file but not the .tar file itself as @yy1 has stated, it should be reuploaded in a couple of minutes. It should all work then, and now you have the file to flash and an md5 hash to compare it to make sure it isn't courrupt. Good luck and please report back to me of it was succesful @yy1 and @EzChillzz

Try to flash your boot.img. Reboot stop with KERNEL IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING (Android 5.1.1.)

yy1 said:
Try to flash your boot.img. Reboot stop with KERNEL IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING (Android 5.1.1.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The question is does it boot up? If so then that message can be ignored, if not then I will look into it. Just flash original boot.img or firmware to go back to a useable phone. Thanks for testing
Did you get a message with both these sentences in or just the first sentence"KERNEL IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING. Custom binary blocked by FRP Lock" ???

It doesn't boot up. Black screnn with boot logo and red warning on top. i flash the original boot.img anything okay.
what means fap lock?

yy1 said:
It doesn't boot up. Black screnn with boot logo and red warning on top. i flash the original boot.img anything okay.
what means fap lock?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Was ment to FRP not FAP, autocorrect strikes again. FRP = Factory Rest Protection.Google it if you want more info, basically another barrier to stop thieves. As I reading up on this user's are stating (in a sepolicy patch thread) that when flashing boot.img via odin their phone wouldn't boot up, but said flashing bootmimg via TWRP works.
Questions:
1) When you flash the custom boot.img, does it freeze and nothing happens? Or does it reboot automatically?
2) are you using heimdall or Odin?
Tasks:
1) Flash the boot.img via Heimdall (if you've been using odin) and report back if it was a succes.
2) if possible, if adb is running, can you pull the dmesg off the device before restoring the original boot.img as this will help in debugging this problem.
E.G. "G:\" is the hard drive plugged into my computer, adjust as necessary.
Code:
adb shell dmesg >> G:\dmesg.txt
3) ALSO TRY, after you flash the custom boot.img can you try booting into recovery (Volume Up + Home + Power Button) and try wiping cache before trying to properly boot the phone. Maybe you could also when in recovery tell me what the log files say? @yy1
Still currently searching what is blocking the custom boot.img from booting the phone.
I really appreciate the help

Flash your boot.img via heimdall once again. with no reboot option. go to recovery and wipe cache. after start the phone boot anytime in recovery. flash via heimdall original boot img anyhing okay.
adb not work. there are logfiles in recovery but i don't know they way to put that from phone to pc. Sorry for that.

yy1 said:
Flash your boot.img via heimdall once again. with no reboot option. go to recovery and wipe cache. after start the phone boot anytime in recovery. flash via heimdall original boot img anyhing okay.
adb not work. there are logfiles in recovery but i don't know they way to put that from phone to pc. Sorry for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I won't be able to look into it today as i have important stuff happening. Will post back later with some more info, sorry about the wait then. Thanks for the help
===================================
Can you try this, as it will greatly help in diagnosing the problem.
Flash the custom boot.img, don't boot the phone yet. Then can you run
Code:
adb start-server
In a terminal/command prompt, then turn on the phone with the adb dmesg command from the previous post already in the terminal for you to hit enter when needed.
Turn on the phone now, and hit enter to run the above command before the phone stops and reboots itself.
Thanks.
Edit 2: When devloping the boot.img, I had to use chainfires supolicy binary to patch the sepolicy in boot.img, with one of it tasks is to patch the recovery from enforcing to permissive mode.
So in an educated geuss, and with information in other forms (user reported that they are unable to flash a custom boot.img via odin but able to via TWRP), that we may be able to flash the boot.img via recovery. See instructions for testing this below.
1) Download both the 3.0.2-1 and 2.0.8-* version of twrp (.img.tar) as we should try both of them <Linked in original post>
2) Flash my custom boot.img and then the twrp files with auto reboot turned off
3) once they both flash, boot into recovery (give it 5-10 mins, if nothig happens then it didn't work)
4) if it actually worked and booted into recovery, flash the custom boot.img in TWRP and try rebooting normally
5) If it managed to get this far, then continue from my original post by tuning either the root script/bat file
Please Report how far you got in this process or if it worked.
===================================
I am currently trying different versions of my boot.img, will post once I have it working properly

No way for me to give you adb log-file, because adb find no device if phone in download- or recovery-mode.
try the second way. Flash boot.img and recovery.img (TWRP) start the phone in recovery-mode. red warning on top RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING.
wait 5 minutes phone starts automatic in normal-mode.

yy1 said:
No way for me to give you adb log-file, because adb find no device if phone in download- or recovery-mode.
try the second way. Flash boot.img and recovery.img (TWRP) start the phone in recovery-mode. red warning on top RECOVERY IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING.
wait 5 minutes phone starts automatic in normal-mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea thanks for that, I had been trying a bunch of combinations yesterday with none of them working. And when trying to find what blocks custom boot.img from booting up, all I come across is stuff staying to flash back stock firmware, but nothing for the reasons why.
But I have some stuff to look in to and will replie back when done (if I'm succesful or not)
These include:
- looking more into pains secure download mode and what it does
- having a go with exploiting a bug that had happend with stock recovery. Running 4.0 (we are not running this version of android) and recovery version 3e(our stock recovery version ) where you could flash updates.zip signed with testkeys instead of the manufacturers keys
- OR try getting TWRP to run on lollipop (probably have to rebuild it) this leaves us with two options in twrp. 1) Flash SuperSu and get system install (probably won't be able to unpack the boot.img) or then flash my customized boot.img for the Systemless version of root.
Either way it may be a little while before lolipop root is working.
I have important exams coming up so this project is gonna have to be out onto the backburner for about 4 weeks or so, meaning I won't be putting much effort into this for a while, but will continue it after the exams. @yy1
- '

@yy1 I belive I have found out why the phone won't boot when using the custom boot.img
I belive it has to do with the unpacking/repacking of the ramdisk.cpio.gz file. When ever I try to boot an image with a repacked ramdisk the phone won't boot.
I know that the phone can boot custom boot.img 's as I removed the word "SEANDORID" from the original and flashed it to my phone. My phone booted up, even when the red text (KERNEL IS NOT SEANDROID ENFORCING) was shown at the top of my phone.
So once I got it got it booting I will post back here.

My previous post, was somewhat on par. What I mean by this is yes, the ramdisk was a reason why it was not boot, but not for any reasons like permissions, ownership or the like, it was in fact that when unpacking and repacking the cpio archive increase the size, and from what I have reduced from my trial and errors is when the boot.img size is changed by even one byte in size it won't boot. But you are able to modify its contents with a hex editor, E.G. Zeroing out the word SEANDROIDENFORCING at the bottom of the raw image file, would still let the phone boot fully with the text show "KERNEL is not SEANDROIDENFORCING" and it showing up as a custom binary in Download more. I belive it may be becuse of some outside security verifying the boot.img. maybe download mode (it's in secure mode, haven't looked into it yet) or some script, I am not sure. And its all most impossible to get any errors logs or dmesg via adb or otherwise, with my only way to read them is via stock recovery, which is a bit impractical and inelegant reading as it speeds past lines you want to read when trying to scroll down (if anyone knows how to pull these logs from cache without a custom recovery or root, please tell me.
Now when I try to replace the ramdisk in boot.img via hex editor the size increase and thus unable to boot. When I try to repack it with various versions of mkbootimg, including Google's python script, other bi nary compiled versions of it by various people and mkbootimg's binary modified to also with with Device Tree Files which get appended onto the boot.img. I have analysed and reverse enginered the boot.img file, and analyzed the other files included with the stock firmware downloadable from sites like sammobile, sam-firmware etc.
I will be updating one of the is original post with all the information that I have uncovered, I'm great detail and when my internet situation allows (my mobile data is running low, lol), upload the reversed enginered files of boot.img for anyone else to inspect and have a crack at creating their own custom kernel/boot.img.
TL;DR: Uploading detailed information and reverse enginered files of boot.img. Any of my custom boot.img's won't boot if the size changes at the minimum one byte from the original boot.img, but the phone can boot a custom version if the size of the file size deos not change a single byte.

Hi;
TWRP is ready for SM-G389F :
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxyxcover3ve.html

Heledir said:
Hi;
TWRP is ready for SM-G389F :
https://twrp.me/devices/samsunggalaxyxcover3ve.html
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This currently only works for Kit Kat, after I unpacked it I read the files at it was aimed at android 4.4.4. I am, after I have my exams in the next few weeks I am gonna try and get TWRP working on lollipop (after I got root )

Software for Samsung Galaxy Xcover 3 VE (SM-G389F) is Android 6.0, so I think it's for MM. The links:
- Device Tree / files
https://github.com/TeamWin/android_device_samsung_xcover3velte
Say its Android 6.0 branch.
I've install it yesterday with Odin and it works fine on my SM-G389F.
But i haven't find root for SM-G389F and MM.

Returning to stock, where can I find the stock image?

I need to warranty a phone but I need to turn it back to stock. I am using an older version of TWRP, I am guessing here but do I just download the factory image and flash it and I am done? It seems like everything I get when searching is geared towards the Pixel XL and using ADB rather than TWRP.
Thanks in advance.

Beacuse I part time as an internet troll, I have to chastise you for not reading threw this forum, because well that's why it's there, but hey we all can't use our Brian's all the time, but yes download the factory image for your phone Marlin for Pixel XL and Sailfish for Pixel unzip the file, make sure you have lastest usb drivers installed and click the flash all.bat.

Fastboot and flash factory image.
A wonderful guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/guide-how-to-unlock-root-flash-pixel-xl-t3507886

jerryhou85 said:
Fastboot and flash factory image.
A wonderful guide: https://forum.xda-developers.com/pixel-xl/how-to/guide-how-to-unlock-root-flash-pixel-xl-t3507886
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why do I have to fastboot or ADB cant I just boot into twrp and flash factory image?

twilk73 said:
why do I have to fastboot or ADB cant I just boot into twrp and flash factory image?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not a good developer so I cannot answer you that question, but on Google official page, it is recommended to use fastboot or adb to flash factory images...

twilk73 said:
why do I have to fastboot or ADB cant I just boot into twrp and flash factory image?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because recovery and boot are sort of intermingled now. You would be writing over twrp at the same time you are trying to use it to flash.
Use the flashall bat file. If you want to save data edit out the -w from the bat file.

twilk73 said:
why do I have to fastboot or ADB cant I just boot into twrp and flash factory image?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am on linux let me just get that out of the way.
So I used adb to fastboot the factory image but nothing happens
the file is in downloads and in the fastboot file. So I type cd Downloads, cd fastboot, fastboot sailfish-nmf260 it all looks good and you can tell adm is working but nothing happens on the phone.
I am current only able to get the phone into fastboot mode I dont know what I messed up but I can no longer even boot into TWRP.

I must have succesfully removed the twrp recovery because no i get the no command screen. If I hold power and press up I can get into the stock android recovery. Is there a way to install the factory image still? Or is the process still the same and I need to adb fastboot? I might need to just do the abd fastboot on a windows computer at work tomorrow.

twilk73 said:
I must have succesfully removed the twrp recovery because no i get the no command screen. If I hold power and press up I can get into the stock android recovery. Is there a way to install the factory image still? Or is the process still the same and I need to adb fastboot? I might need to just do the abd fastboot on a windows computer at work tomorrow.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download the factory image you want here. Unzip the entire contents to the same folder fastboot is located in. Then boot the phone to the bootloader, then plug it in to you computer. Then, if you're using Linux, double click the flash-all.sh file that got unzipped to your fastboot folder. If you're using a Windows computer, double click on the flash-all. bat file instead of the flash-all.sh file. Then sit back and wait. That's about all there is to it. One note. If you want to save your data, open the script you're going to use in a text editor and remove the -w toward the end of the script (remember to save your changes). If you want the phone wiped clean and like new again, just leave it as is.

robocuff said:
Download the factory image you want here. Unzip the entire contents to the same folder fastboot is located in. Then boot the phone to the bootloader, then plug it in to you computer. Then, if you're using Linux, double click the flash-all.sh file that got unzipped to your fastboot folder. If you're using a Windows computer, double click on the flash-all. bat file instead of the flash-all.sh file. Then sit back and wait. That's about all there is to it. One note. If you want to save your data, open the script you're going to use in a text editor and remove the -w toward the end of the script (remember to save your changes). If you want the phone wiped clean and like new again, just leave it as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ive done these steps but its failing to work. This is exactly what I am doing.
1. Download factory image.
2. Extract factory image into fastboot file.
the fast boot file is in the dowloads folder so I type.
cd Downloads
cd fastboot
fastboot flash-all.sh
iv also tried fastboot the sailfish-nmf260.img and boot.img and flashall. Ive tried several different ways this is what happens no mater what I type.
usage: fastboot [ <option> ] <command>
commands:
update <filename> reflash device from update.zip
flashall flash boot, system, vendor and if found,
recovery
flash <partition> [ <filename> ] write a file to a flash partition
erase <partition> erase a flash partition
format[:[<fs type>][:[<size>]] <partition> format a flash partition.
Can override the fs type and/or
size the bootloader reports.
getvar <variable> display a bootloader variable
boot <kernel> [ <ramdisk> [ <second> ] ] download and boot kernel
flash:raw boot <kernel> [ <ramdisk> [ <second> ] ] create bootimage and
flash it
devices list all connected devices
continue continue with autoboot
reboot reboot device normally
reboot-bootloader reboot device into bootloader
help show this help message
options:
-w erase userdata and cache (and format
if supported by partition type)
-u do not first erase partition before
formatting
-s <specific device> specify device serial number
or path to device port
-l with "devices", lists device paths
-p <product> specify product name
-c <cmdline> override kernel commandline
-i <vendor id> specify a custom USB vendor id
-b <base_addr> specify a custom kernel base address.
default: 0x10000000
-n <page size> specify the nand page size.
default: 2048
-S <size>[K|M|G] automatically sparse files greater
than size. 0 to disable
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
On the phone nothing happens. It appears that all I am getting is a list of options but none of the options seem to be working either.
I might add that the fastboot folder I am using was downloaded back when I installed twrp is it possible my fastboot file doesnt have the correct files to get the job done?

twilk73 said:
ive done these steps but its failing to work. This is exactly what I am doing.
1. Download factory image.
2. Extract factory image into fastboot file.
the fast boot file is in the dowloads folder so I type.
cd Downloads
cd fastboot
fastboot flash-all.sh
iv also tried fastboot the sailfish-nmf260.img and boot.img and flashall. Ive tried several different ways this is what happens no mater what I type.
On the phone nothing happens. It appears that all I am getting is a list of options but none of the options seem to be working either.
I might add that the fastboot folder I am using was downloaded back when I installed twrp is it possible my fastboot file doesnt have the correct files to get the job done?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried putting phone in fastboot mode and doubble click the flash all.sh file? That's how it is done on Windows.
Sent from my Google Pixel using XDA Labs

Sgace said:
Have you tried putting phone in fastboot mode and doubble click the flash all.sh file? That's how it is done on Windows.
Sent from my Google Pixel using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Basically yes. But with linux you cant just double click. So in terminal I typed "cd Download, cd fastboot, fastboot flash-all.sh" that command will attempt to launch that file.
I feel like the issue is with adb on my laptop I tried making sure its updated but i got nothing so ill try to do it on a work computer when I get free time.
Its pretty crappy right now because I am without a phone but heck I pet the dog today during lunch instead of reading the news feed off my phone so I guess the dog is happy lol.

twilk73 said:
Basically yes. But with linux you cant just double click. So in terminal I typed "cd Download, cd fastboot, fastboot flash-all.sh" that command will attempt to launch that file.
I feel like the issue is with adb on my laptop I tried making sure its updated but i got nothing so ill try to do it on a work computer when I get free time.
Its pretty crappy right now because I am without a phone but heck I pet the dog today during lunch instead of reading the news feed off my phone so I guess the dog is happy lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can flash it with fastboot. In Windows, at the command prompt, you just type flash-all.bat and the batch file will run. It contains all the necessary fastboot commands. Perhaps that's where you're going wrong. Try just typing flash-all.sh. Leave the fastboot out.

twilk73 said:
Basically yes. But with linux you cant just double click. So in terminal I typed "cd Download, cd fastboot, fastboot flash-all.sh" that command will attempt to launch that file.
I feel like the issue is with adb on my laptop I tried making sure its updated but i got nothing so ill try to do it on a work computer when I get free time.
Its pretty crappy right now because I am without a phone but heck I pet the dog today during lunch instead of reading the news feed off my phone so I guess the dog is happy lol.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try this for sailfish (fix accordingly if marlin, username of course is common sense, if still confused, you shouldn't be using linux)
I build and use debian sid
Code:
cd /home/username/Downloads
tar xvf sailfish-opr3.170623.008-factory-bb8bb3a3.zip -C /home/username
cd /home/username/sailfish-opr3.170623.008
tar xvf image-sailfish-opr3.170623.008.zip
cd /home/username/sailfish-opr3.170623.008
./flash-all.sh
If you need the latest adb/fastboot name it something like google.sh
Code:
#!/bin/bash
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
unzip \platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
cp platform-tools/adb /usr/bin/adb
cp platform-tools/fastboot /usr/bin/fastboot

piperx said:
Try this for sailfish (fix accordingly if marlin, username of course is common sense, if still confused, you shouldn't be using linux)
I build and use debian sid
Code:
cd /home/username/Downloads
tar xvf sailfish-opr3.170623.008-factory-bb8bb3a3.zip -C /home/username
cd /home/username/sailfish-opr3.170623.008
tar xvf image-sailfish-opr3.170623.008.zip
cd /home/username/sailfish-opr3.170623.008
./flash-all.sh
If you need the latest adb/fastboot name it something like google.sh
Code:
#!/bin/bash
wget https://dl.google.com/android/repository/platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
unzip \platform-tools-latest-linux.zip
cp platform-tools/adb /usr/bin/adb
cp platform-tools/fastboot /usr/bin/fastboot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry I wish I could try this. I had access to a windows computer at work and I was able to get everything done. After doing it at work I have a feeling I wasnt placing the files in the correct folder together to get it to start the update. It can be hard doing this on something other than windows for a dummy like me because most of the tutorials for things like this seem to be windows oriented. Regardless its done. I couldnt lock the boot loader on the windows computer though oddly but no big deal because I can do it on my laptop.
Thanks for all the help guys.

[GUIDE] How to fix the touchscreen in TWRP (Moto G 5G)

In this guide a describe how you can easily fix the touchscreen issue in TWRP for Moto G 5G.
Before providing the necessary steps, I would like to express my gratitude to the guys here, especially Andrew Hexen for providing the sources and instructions to build the TWRP for this great device.
Building the TWRP from source might result in a recovery without the touchscreen support. To fix that, you can follow these simple steps.
First, we need to extract the touchscreen drivers from the phone. To do this, you need to boot to TWRP. Connect your phone to your PC, open up the terminal and type:
Bash:
# reboot to bootloader
adb reboot bootloader
# boot to recovery
fastboot boot twrp.img
Wait for the phone to boot to recovery. If your phone uses password/PIN or other forms of protection you might have to decrypt the filesystem before proceeding. You can use OTG mouse to do that.
On your PC, in terminal type:
Bash:
adb pull "/vendor/lib/modules/" <path to where you want the modules folder to be pulled>
This will pull from the phone all the necessary drivers, among those are the drivers for the touchscreen. (Probably you could pull just the touchscreen driver, but to be sure I pulled everything.)
On you PC, use Android Kitchen to unpack the recovey image. I usually use the terminal to go to the Android Kitchen folder and I run:
Bash:
./unpacking.sh <path to your twrp.img>
Then go to ramdisk folder that was created by Android Kitchen
Bash:
cd ramdisk
and manually create the following folder:
Bash:
sudo mkdir -p vendor/lib/modules
Then copy the drivers you previously pulled from your phone to this folder:
Bash:
sudo cp <path to modules folder with drivers>/* vendor/lib/modules/
In the ramdisk folder open the init.rc file. We need to open it as su user. You can use:
Bash:
sudo gedit
and then open the file from the editor.
Find the following lines:
Code:
# Load properties, Android 6.0+, vendor init lives here
on load_persist_props_action
load_persist_props
and add a line after load_persist_props so that you get:
Code:
# Load properties, Android 6.0+, vendor init lives here
on load_persist_props_action
load_persist_props
start load_modules # this is the line you must add
Use Android Kitchen to repack the image:
Bash:
cd .. # to move back to the folder where Android Kitchen is
./repacking.sh
You'll get a file called image-new.img. That's your new recovery with a working touchscreen!
I'm sure there's a better way to do this so feedback is welcome.

I tired your method and completed with a newimage file, and flastboot booted off it. Still had touch problems, files attached. Vendor.zip was placed in ramdisk\vendor\lib\modules. Any ideas?
Thankyou
PS (edit): would anything needed to be added to ramdisk/vendor/manifest.xml?

Lostwon said:
I tired your method and completed with a newimage file, and flastboot booted off it. Still had touch problems, files attached. Vendor.zip was placed in ramdisk\vendor\lib\modules. Any ideas?
Thankyou
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lostwon said:
I tired your method and completed with a newimage file, and flastboot booted off it. Still had touch problems, files attached. Vendor.zip was placed in ramdisk\vendor\lib\modules. Any ideas?
Thankyou
PS (edit): would anything needed to be added to ramdisk/vendor/manifest.xml?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PPS I am trying this on the Moto G stylus xt2043-4. I just noticed thats not the phone you wrote this for, Im going to pull and umpack my stock recovery and compre that to the Twrp3.4 image and see whats missing .