There are servel cmds which we can use
But I post only top 10 cmds to help that ones who need
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If I make a mistake so please reply with your suggestions
And if you want a cmd in the list .submit your reply with cmd and features ( full detail as you know.).
########cmds###########
For a lot of us, the fact that we can plug our Android phone or tablet into our computer and interact with it is a big plus. Besides the times when we've broken something and need to fix it, there are plenty of reasons why an advanced Android user would want to talk to his or her device. To do that, you need to have a few tools and know a few commands. That's what we're going to talk about today. Granted, this won't be the end-all be-all discussion of adb commands, but there are 10 basic commands everyone should know if they plan to get down and dirty with the command line.
The tools are easy. If you're a Mac or Linux user, you'll want to install the SDK as explained at the Android developers site. It's not hard, and you don't have the whole driver mess that Windows users do. Follow the directions and get things set up while I talk to the Windows using folks for a minute.
If you're using Windows, things are easier and harder at the same time. The tools themselves are the easy part. Download this file. Open the zip file and you'll see a folder named android-tools. Drag that folder somewhere easy to get to. Next, visit the manufacturers page for your device and install the adb and fastboot drivers for Windows. You'll need this so that your computer can talk to your Android device. If you hit a snag, visit the forums and somebody is bound to be able to help you through it.
Now that we're all on the same page, enable USB debugging on your device (see your devices manual if you need help finding it, and remember it was hidden in Android 4.2), and plug it in to your computer. Now skip past the break and let's begin!
1. The adb devices command
The adb devices command is the most important one of the bunch, as it's what is used to make sure your computer and Android device are communicating. That's why we're covering it first.
If you're a pro at the operating system on your computer, you'll want to add the directory with the Android tools to your path. If you're not, no worries. Just start up your terminal or command console and point it at the folder with the tools in it. This will be the file you downloaded earlier if you use Windows, or the platform-tools folder in the fully installed Android SDK. Windows users have another easy shortcut here, and can simply Shift + right click on the folder itself to open a console in the right spot. Mac and Linux users need to navigate there once the terminal is open, or install an extension for your file manager to do the same right click magic that's in Windows by default.
Once you're sure that you are in the right folder, type "adb devices" (without the quotes) at the command prompt. If you get a serial number, you're good to go! If you don't, make sure you're in the right folder and that you have the device driver installed correctly if you're using Windows. And be sure you have USB debugging turned on!
Now that we have everything set up, let's look at a few more commands.
2. The adb push command
If you want to move a file onto your Android device programmatically, you want to use the adb push command. You'll need to know a few parameters, namely the full path of the file you're pushing, and the full path to where you want to put it. Let's practice by placing a short video (in my case it's a poorly done cover of the Rick James tune Superfreak) into the Movies folder on your device storage.
I copied the superfreak.mp4 file into the android-tools folder so I didn't need to type out a long path to my desktop. I suggest you do the same. I jumped back to the command line and typed "adb push superfreak.mp4 /sdcard/Movies/" and the file copied itself to my Nexus 4, right in the Movies folder. If I hadn't dropped the file into my tools folder, I would have had to specify the full path to it -- something like C:\Users\Jerry\Desktop\superfreak.mp4. Either way works, but it's always easier to just drop the file into your tools folder and save the typing.
3. The adb pull command
If adb push sends files to your Android device, it stands to reason the adb pull command gets them out. That's exactly what it does, and it works the same way as the adb push command did. You need to know both the path of the file you want to pull off, as well as the path you want it placed into. You can leave the destination path blank and it will drop the file into your tools folder to make things easy.
In this example, I did it the hard way so you can see what it looks like. The path of the file on the device is "/sdcard/Movies/superfreak.mp4" and I put it on my Windows 8 desktop at "C:\Users\Jerry\Desktop". Again, the easy way it to just let it drop into your tools folder by not giving a destination, which would have been "adb pull /sdcard/Movies/superfreak.mp4". Remember your forwards slash for the Android side, and you'll have no problems here.
5. The adb reboot-bootloader and adb reboot recovery commands
Not only can you reboot your device, you can specify that it reboots to the bootloader. This is awfully handy, as sometimes those button combos are touchy, and if you have a lot of devices you can never remember them all. Some devices (the LG Optimus Black comes to mind) don't even a way to boot to the bootloader without this command. And once again, being able to use this command in a script is priceless. Doing it is easy, just type "adb reboot-bootloader" and hit the enter key.
Most devices can also boot to the recovery directly with the "adb reboot recovery" (note there is no hyphen in this one) and some can't. It won't hurt anything to try, and if yours can't nothing will happen.
6. The fastboot devices command
When you're working in the bootloader, adb no longer works. You're not yet booted into Android, and the debugging tools aren't active to communicate with. We use the fastboot command in it's place.
Fastboot is probably the most powerful tool available, and many devices don't have it enabled. If you're does, you need to be sure things are communicating. That's where the fastboot devices command comes into play. At the prompt, just type in "fastboot devices" and you should see a serial number, just like the adb devices command we looked at earlier.
If things aren't working and you are using Windows, you likely have a driver issue. Hit those forums for the answer.
7. The fastboot oem unlock command
The holy grail of Android commands, fastboot oem unlock does one thing, and one thing only -- unlocks your Nexus device (or an HTC device using their official tool). If you're using a phone from a different manufacturer, you have a different method of unlocking things -- maybe with ODIN or .sbf files -- and this won't apply to you. We're including it because even if you don't need it, it's an important part of Android's openness. Google doesn't care what we do with phones or tablets that we've bought, and include this easy way to crack them open. That's something you usually don't see from any tech company, and a big part of the reason why many of us choose Android.
Using it is easy enough. Once you've used fastboot devices to make sure everything is communicating, just type "fastboot oem unlock" at the prompt and hit enter. Look at your device, read carefully, and choose wisely.
Protip: Using "fastboot oem unlock" will erase everything on your device
8. The adb shell command
The adb shell command confuses a lot of folks. There are two ways to use it, one where you send a command to the device to run in its own command line shell, and one where you actually enter the device's command shell from your terminal. In the image above, I'm inside the device shell, listing the flies and folders on the device. Getting there is easy enough, just type "adb shell" and enter. Once inside, you can escalate yourself to root if you need to. I'll warn you, unless you're familiar with an ash or bash shell, you need to be careful here -- especially if you're root. Things can turn south quickly if you're not careful. If you're not familiar, ash and bash are command shells that a lot of folks use on their Linux or Mac computers. It's nothing like DOS.
The other method of using the adb shell command is in conjunction with one of those Ash commands your Android device can run. You'll often use it for more advanced tasks like changing permissions of files or folders, or running a script. Using it is easy -- "adb shell <command>". An example would be changing permissions on a file like so: "adb shell chmod 666 /data/somefile". As mentioned, be very careful running direct commands using these methods.
9. The adb install command
While adb push can copy files to our Android devices, adb install can actually install .apk files. Using it is similar to use the push command, because we need to provide the path to the file we're installing. That means it's always easier to just drop the app you're installing into your tools folder. Once you've got that path, you tell your device to sideload it like this: "adb install TheAppName.apk".
If you're updating an app, you use the -r switch: "adb install -r TheAppName.apk". There is also a -s switch which tries to install on the SD card if your ROM supports it, and the -l switch will forward lock the app (install it to /data/app-private). there are also some very advanced encryption switches, but those are best left for another article.
And finally, you can uninstall apps by their package name with "adb uninstall TheAppName.apk". Uninstall has a switch, too. The -k switch will uninstall the app but leave all the app data and cache in place.
10. The adb logcat command
The adb logcat command is one of the most useful commands for some folks, but just prints a bunch of gibberish unless you understand what you're seeing. It returns the events written to the various logs in the running Android system, providing invaluable information for app developers and system debuggers. Most of us will only run this one when asked by one of those developers, but it's very important that we know how to use it correctly.
To see the log output on your computer screen, just type "adb logcat" and hit enter. Things can scroll by pretty fast, and chances are you won't find what you're looking for. There are two ways to handle this one -- filters, or text output.
You also have to specify the cmds properly.
Hope it help you .
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I feel like an idiot. I keep reading posts and instructions on how to use the adb/adb shell. Everything I read seems to indicate that the knowledge on how to open the adb command window is something that any idiot should be able to do... So much so, that no one explains how! I must be missing something!
I have installed eclipse and the sdk, the ADT plugin, etc. I run adb.exe and a command window flashes on my screen and immediately fades away. I can't even read what was posted in the window.
I know I am missing something but I guess I am just too inexperienced to know what that is. I can't find anything on the web that will tell me what file to open or sequence of files to open to access the adb command window.
Someone please help out a hopeless nuub!
Thanks
I am running Windows Vista 64 and have installed the 64bitUSB drivers. I can open an emulator, I can run the terminal on my G1, have installed the JK modified r30 on my phone.
add the whole path to your sdk/tools folder to your windows environment path: (right click my computer, click properties, select "advanced" select "environment variables" and look for "Path" in the bottom list, select "Path" and click "edit" then at the end of the existing path info, add a semicolon, and then paste in the complete path to your sdk/tools folder, click save, and close all the windows.
now, goto start, run, and type cmd.exe, a command line window will appear, type "adb" and it should work.
cheers,
-- michael
you can also use google to search the forum when you are looking for 3 letter terms (the forum search function is 4+ characters)
http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&q=site:http://forum.xda-developers.com/+android+adb
--M
you don't use adb by pressing adb.exe in the tools folder you use it with command prompt go to programs and to accessories and look for command prompt now you can use adb like adb remount and pull push so on with your phone connected to the pc can you see your phone in ddms you open it from the sdk tools folder where the adb.exe is and if you can use adb.exe to open command prompt it don't work for me ether
I'm guessing that when I get all the ADB info after typing "adb" in the command window that it is working correctly?
If you run adb with no args, it will simply return a short summary of available args and terminate. In Windows if the window is opened by a program using the command line rather than directly calling cmd.exe, it will automatically close when the program terminates. The solution is to use cmd and then adb from within that.
Jashsu - Thanks! that was what I needed to know! LOL I am such a noob!!!
I had access to adb all the damn time! I just didn't know it! DUH!
I now have Koush's auto rotating browser installed! AWESOME.
Thanks to all who responded! I am learning pretty quick. But, some things are just so commonly known by dev's that they just aren't explained very well.
I found a couple of books I'm going to purchase so I don't have to keep bugging all of you. But, you guys are the greatest. Thanks for the help!
I am pulling my hair out. I have SDK installed and whatever I was instructed to install on SDK, for the life of me I can't get the command shell to work. When I open a command shell and type adb. I get a message 'adb' is not a recognized as an internal or external command, operable batch or program file.
My phone is plugged in debugging checked, I have it set to mass storage, not kies. What am I doing wrong.
Sorry for the noob question. I have been reading every forum I can find, every document I can find. I am trying to learn and I like to mess with my phone and should know how to use adb command shells.
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?
Thanks.
Rhiannon224 said:
I am pulling my hair out. I have SDK installed and whatever I was instructed to install on SDK, for the life of me I can't get the command shell to work. When I open a command shell and type adb. I get a message 'adb' is not a recognized as an internal or external command, operable batch or program file.
My phone is plugged in debugging checked, I have it set to mass storage, not kies. What am I doing wrong.
Sorry for the noob question. I have been reading every forum I can find, every document I can find. I am trying to learn and I like to mess with my phone and should know how to use adb command shells.
Can someone tell me what I am doing wrong?
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
PC or mac?
On a PC cd /Android/Tools then use adb commands
on a Mac: cd /Android/Tools then use ./adb then the command
PC. Thanks I will try that.
update
system cannot find the path specified
I am ready to delete everything and start over, maybe the path is wrong and I borked something in the download. There should be an Android for dummy's book or something, for us noobs.
where did you install the files? You had to download the SDK and unzip it.
Then you use a command window to change directories to where ever you installed it. Then run the commands.
If you don't know how to move around directories using DOS commands, you better find a tutorial on that first.
Your problems sound like you are not in the tools directory - CMD issues not Adroid - CMD is the windows shell btw.
alphadog00 said:
where did you install the files? You had to download the SDK and unzip it.
Then you use a command window to change directories to where ever you installed it. Then run the commands.
If you don't know how to move around directories using DOS commands, you better find a tutorial on that first.
Your problems sound like you are not in the tools directory - CMD issues not Adroid - CMD is the windows shell btw.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
downloaded and upzipped. It's in a folder named Android, in my c;/drive. I watched a tutorial and put it where I thought I was supposed to, then I made sure to edit the path. I can undo that. I know it's a CMD issue. Great DOS commands, this is a little over my head.
I's probably easier for me to delete everything and start over.
Is there an ADB for dummies or anything. I find them for other devices not Captivate?
if you change directories to the tools directory, do you see adb.exe listed? I am not sure which tutorial you used, but there is no reason to edit the path if you change directly into the android sdk/tools directory.
In a CMD window, change to the tools directory and do a DIR and see if the first file is adb.exe
Deleting and starting over is not going to change things at this point. Also ADB is a command that works the same regardless of which phone you have. The only things that are different is if you can mount the system partition - depends on your kernel - is it custom. Not phone dependent though.
alphadog00 said:
if you change directories to the tools directory, do you see adb.exe listed? I am not sure which tutorial you used, but there is no reason to edit the path if you change directly into the android sdk/tools directory.
In a CMD window, change to the tools directory and do a DIR and see if the first file is adb.exe
Deleting and starting over is not going to change things at this point. Also ADB is a command that works the same regardless of which phone you have. The only things that are different is if you can mount the system partition - depends on your kernel - is it custom. Not phone dependent though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks I did this and no it isn't listed. the Android folder is, that is where I extracted all the files. Should I move from the folder. After extracting the files did I need to install anything from it?
Rhiannon224 said:
Thanks I did this and no it isn't listed. the Android folder is, that is where I extracted all the files. Should I move from the folder. After extracting the files did I need to install anything from it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You should have extracted everything. You should have a folder that extracted:
android-sdk-windows and in that a tools folder. In the tools folder is ADB.exe
It is one big zip file - nothing to install - just unzip where you want it.
hold shift and then right click on that tools folder(wherever you put it), select open command window here from the menu, then type adb to make sure it worked
Kagoshema said:
hold shift and then right click on that tools folder(wherever you put it), select open command window here from the menu, then type adb to make sure it worked
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you. That did the trick. It is there and it worked. So I am guessing that when I want to open a command shell and use ADB this is how I will be able to do it. Thank you so much for all of your help everyone.
I am very new to Android and smart phones, 7 weeks now and I am trying to learn as much as I can and I try to find the information without asking too many questions.
Last night with SRE and it's sleeping death made me realize that I need to know how to use ADB and a command shell should things go wrong.
Again, thanks to everyone for the help.
I posted this in another thread but got no response, this thread (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010&page=35)
maybe a new thread will help.
So this is my first venture into the whole ABD thing. I am trying to install the framework mod from Tazz for the HTC music player (as listed here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show...5594&page=1277 post 12768).
Tazz mentions to “push this http://www.multiupload.com/1WWHXAUN6W
to system/ect/permissions then download and install htc music”
So, running my trusty Win7 machine I downloaded the SDK from the android development site, inserted the correct line in the path and viola, I can enter the CMD prompt and run the adb command successfully. Adb and adb shell both seem to work.
I followed the instructions from here: http://androidforums.com/developer-1...-commands.html and here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=502010 for the install.
My problem comes in when I try to push the file to the phone.
Fisrt dumb question is: what phone mode should I be in when running the adb? Standard running mode or booted to recovery? (I thought I read something about being in recovery but at that point it was all a blur).
I have the USB Debugging turned on so I think I am ok there.
I installed the SDK to my C:\Android directory.
I saved Tazz’s file to my C:\Android\Tools directory.
Here is my cmd text (maybe this is where I went wrong):
In the cmd window I CD’d to the C:\Android\Tools directory
adb push com.framework.htc.xml system/ect/permissions
After making sure that I was in the correct dir and all files were also located in the correct dir I am still getting an error, file or directory not found, or something like that.
Sorry for the long post. I figured this would be a good first step (my first adb experience) as it seems pretty benign in terms of me bricking anything but offering a good learning opportunity.
I am running a rooted Eris (KaosFroyo v36).
In looking things thru maybe I need a USB driver for the Eris?
any help is appreciated,
oh, my cmd prompt looks like sh-2# (or something like that)
Thanks
While it may be that you still need to download the appropriate drivers, it seems you are able to get root access so, this is likely not the case.
There are two things which stand out as potential issues in the steps you described. Fortunately, both are super easy.
First and foremost, make sure you have mounted the phone as "read-write."After you have cd'd to the tools folder type "adb remount" (without the quotes) and press enter. If successful, it should respond with "remount succeeded." Congrats, you have now mounted the phone as read-write.
Next, I see errors with your command. There should be a "/" before "system" and it should be "etc" not "ect." Specifically, your command should be:
adb push com.framework.htc.xml /system/etc/permissions/
[The above command of course, assumes that the name of the file you are pushing is indeed named "com.framework.htc.xml" and is in your tools folder.] You'll know it worked if the response in your command prompt indicates the speed and time it took for the push to take. For example, "1234kbps in 3.4 seconds". If you see something resembling that you should be all set. At this point you can reboot your phone and your changes should be in effect. Either unplug and reboot manually or just type "adb reboot" (without the quotes) and press enter.
In regard to your question about whether the phone can be in standard running mode or recovery... It depends on the level of root of the phone but, fully rooted and nand unlocked phones can be adb'd while in standard running mode. My EVO can and it is very likely your Eris can too.
I see
thanks OK.
typo's aside in the thread, my command was missing the / as you have described it. I also did not know about the remount thing. In my reading I thought that was just for the sd card. I will try and put all the pieces together when I get home tonight.
You are correct in that is the name of the file and I do have it in the /tools directory.
Thanks for the help, baby steps (I am learning)
No problem. We are/were all noobs at one point in our lives.
The term "mounting" has slightly different contextual meanings which can be confusing. First off, the /system/ folder is already "mounted" while using adb, however, it is mounted as read-only. So, if you are ever trying to push something to the phone and get an error back that says "mounted as read-only" you'll now know what went wrong. Simply type "adb remount"
and it puts the /system/ folder into read-write mode.
Bear in mind that upon phone reboot the /system/ folder automatically remounts into read-only mode so if you reboot and try to push another file you'll need to remember to "adb remount" again.
With regard to the sdcard "mounting" refers to whether the phone (sdcard) is mounted as a disk drive on your computer. You'll find that if this is the case many adb commands won't work because the sdcard can't be accessed by the phone while mounted on the computer. Therefore, always remember to connect your phone as "Charge Only" when adb'ing.
got it
That did the trick, worked like a charm. Thanks for the help and pointers. I have now pushed my first file...yeah for me!!
Thanks for your help and time.
glad your push worked
I am still trying to get SDK/ADB to connect to my Milestone XT720 phone. Have no idea of why they won't. Have tried all the usual suspects but nothing as of yet. NEED HELP!
Since I just got myself aquainted with ADB (doing stuff bass-ackwards, I know), I decided I'd post up a tutorial on using it with a CM7'd Captivate. The only thing I can't get ADB to do on CM7 is download mode. I'm pretty sure, since CM7 is Nexus S based, that there isn't a way to adb into download, but all other functions work.
*I'm not responsible for any damage or loss you may encounter through the use of this guide. ADB can be a dangerous thing if you poke and prod too much and have no idea what you're doing. That being said, it's quite useful.
This was done on Windows 7. If you're on a different OS, setup process will most likely differ at least a little.
First off, you can't run a program you don't have, so let's go get that
Android SDK Tools
Once that's downloaded, extract it to the root of your hard drive.
Run SDKManager
Install "Android SDK Platform-tools, Revision 5," and "Google USB Driver package, revision 4."
Now make sure that your Captivate has USB Debugging enabled (settings > applications > development) and plug it into your computer.
Hold the Windows key on your keyboard and press "R."
This should bring up the Run dialog box. Type "cmd" (no quotes, of course) into the text box, and press enter.
Now, in Command Prompt, type "path C:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools" (remember that "C" is variable. Your system drive could be your D drive for all I know)
After that, type "adb devices." If your phone is recognized as a debugging device, it will show up there and you can skip past the driver installation (steps quoted and in RED).
If your phone wasn't listed under ADB Devices, press the Start button, and search for "Device Manager."
Run that and find your phone in the list. Right click on it and update driver software.
From here, click on "Browse My Computer for Driver Software," and click next.
You want windows to search for drivers in "C:\android-sdk-windows\extras\google\usb_driver" so set that as the path and make sure to check "include subfolders."
Once it's installed, open command prompt and navigate to C:\android-sdk-windows\platform-tools as before.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Type "ADB Devices." Your Captivate should now be on the list. If not, restart ADB by ending the process in Task Manager, and inputting another ADB command into Command Prompt (i.e. ADB Devices or ADB Shell)
From here on out, you should be GTG.
To my understanding, this process is pretty much the same across all ROMs, just with different drivers. CM7 is based off of Nexus S 2.3.4, and uses it's debug drivers.
PM me or post here if you feel any changes are necessary.
I decided to add a few scripts to reboot phone into download mode, reboot into recovery, and to restart ADB and check devices.
Keep in mind that DL mode seems to be out of reach via ADB on MIUI and CM7.
All you have to do, once you get ADB working properly, is plug your phone in and click on your batch file of choice.
All these do is perform the command prompt tasks listed above automatically.
Again.... I'm not responsible for any damage to your phone, you, your cat, your car, or the apple pie on the Stifflers' table.
to make things faster instead of typing the path, go to adb with your file explorer (C:\AndroidSDK\platform-tools), hold shift and right click in an open area of your explorer then press "open command window here"
I haven't gotten adb working since I moved to a MIUI ROM. I always had it working with most other custom ROMs. Appreciate any inputs on why it is so? Thanks.
Hi after reading through the post on GitHub on how to simply root your shield I have a few questions that the tutorial doesn't make clear:
1)There are a ton of files at the top and not sure what to do with them...
2) There is a bit where it explains "On your computer, navigate into the directory containing this file and enter the following command:
fastboot boot zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz"
But it doesn't say that after you open the directory what you do with it?
Do you keep the window open and that's fine?
Do you type in it's location into command prompt before you type in: fastboot boot zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz?
Just a bit confused as to what all the files are and where I put them and how they have to be utilised etc
Just need clarification for peace of mind
wanted to post the link but forum won't let me yet
Root explanation
Hi here is the main walkthrough from github but as I said there are a few plot holes for people who are new.
If your SHIELD is already unlocked, you can skip this section.
SHIELD ships with an unlockable bootloader. The bootloader is locked by default, which prevents anyone (including yourself) from booting custom OSes and changing system partitions to potentially obtain extra privileges. This is a significant security feature: in the event that your device gets stolen, an attacker will not be able to retrieve your personal data or use your device if your lock screen has a password set.
By unlocking the bootloader, you allow anyone with physical access to your SHIELD to boot custom images and flash system partitions. This opens the way for an attacker to access your personal information or physically damage your device. For this reason, unlocking the bootloader will erase all your personal data like a factory reset does (so a potential thief cannot get it) and will also void your warranty.
If you know you really, really want to take these risks, here is how you unlock SHIELD's bootloader.
Switch your SHIELD off (long press the NVIDIA logo button and select Power off).
Power your SHIELD on while maintaining the back and home buttons pressed (these are the two buttons that lie under the big NVIDIA-logo button, on its left and right). Release them once you see the bootloader screen.
Connect your SHIELD to your computer using a USB cable.
On your computer, enter the following command:
fastboot oem unlock
This will display the unlock menu. Read the disclaimer and think one last time about what you are doing. This is your last chance to stop.
Use the back and home buttons to select your option. If you decide to continue, select Unlock and press the NVIDIA-logo button to validate. Your personal data will be erased and your device marked as warranty-void permanently.
Regardless of your choice, you will be back to the bootloader screen. Using the same buttons, navigate to Poweroff and select this to power your SHIELD off.
Rooting SHIELD
Now your bootloader is unlocked, but you still don't have root access. For this, we need to install SuperSU, and we will do so by booting a custom Linux image that will do this for us.
Power your SHIELD on while maintaining the back and home buttons pressed (these are the two buttons that lie under the big NVIDIA-logo button, on its left and right). Release them once you see the bootloader screen.
Connect your SHIELD to your computer using a USB cable
On your computer, navigate into the directory containing this file and enter the following command:
fastboot boot zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz
The kernel and ramdisk will be downloaded and started. You will see 4 penguins on your screen, and the message ROOTING SHIELD will appear. Shortly after, your device will reboot. Congratulations, you are rooted!
For some unknown reason USB debugging in Developer options might become unchecked after rooting. You will need to re-check it if you want to use ADB.
It is safe to perform the rooting operation as many times as you want (e.g. after an OTA). Your user data will not be erased by rooting itself, it is the act of unlocking the bootloader that does.
Is there anyone who can add a little to this to make it more simple for a noob like me?
I understand there is a file set that is at the top of the page and I downloaded the files which include zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz
but don't know how to utilise them etc
There are no videos on youtube of how to do it and if anyone can add just a few more steps so that I know where I'm going with this (don't want to brick my system).
I just want controller support installed like Tincore or gamekeyboard so I can unlock the potential of the games library on GooglePlay.
Thanks for reading.
you copy those two files "zImage_dtb" & "ramfs.img.gz" to the same directory your adb and fastboot executeables are (same directory you issued the oem unlock command from)
then navigate to the same directory you did the oem unlock from via command line then issue the command "fastboot boot zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz"
it's pretty simple but I can run you through a simple example of what I did
1)download android sdk
2)copy platform tools folder to a directory on c drive (exp c:\tools\ )
3)copy the 2 files above to the same folder along with cwm recovery(optional)
4)boot shield into fastboot mode (home+back+power)
5)navigate to the folder with adb, fastboot, and the above files in it.
Code:
cd c:\tools
6)detect if fastboot driver is installed with "fastboot devices" if result, then continue, if no result, then check if correct driver and check connection
7)issue oem unlock command and follow the onscreen prompts
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
8)restart device, after a full boot cycle(wipes data), power back into fastboot
9)issue the "rooting image" command, device with automatically reboot
Code:
fastboot boot zImage_dtb ramfs.img.gz
*10) optionally reboot back into fastboot and install cwm recovery
Code:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
pretty simple
thanks for fast reply.
Ok so I have Two different versions of Android SDK (32 bit and 64 bit) which one do I use?
"copy platform tools to a directory on C drive (exp C:\TOOLS\)"
What are platform tools?
"copy the two files above to the same folder along with cwm recovery"
What two files? do you mean the zImage_dtb and ramfs.img.gz? Do they go into the C:\TOOLS\ folder?
"navigate to the folder with adb, fastboot, and the above files in it"
What do you mean by navigate? Do you simply mean open the folder or do I use a program to do this?
"Detect if fastboot driver is installed with "fastboot devices" if result, then continue, if no result, then check if correct driver and check connection"
What's fastboot devices? What does result and no result mean? What does Check driver and check connection mean? how dod I do that?
I'm confused by all the lingo, what applications I should be using and when exactly do I start using command lines etc
Thanks for help so far been great but I need step by step instructions eg
open folder, copy and paste file1 and file 2 to this folder
open application X
click import file 1 and file 2
type XXXXXX\root\cdrive into command
press enter
see?
I do not know what some of the words mean and how to do some of the stuff the tutorial says. It's jargon and I have all these files, in all these folders with no idea how to do this from start to finish.
Appreciate the help so far but you are dealing with a novice. I know the work won't take long but I need all the relevant info, in one list, with consistent language to ensure I do everything as it should be done.
Bless you sir and...
Good luck
If your confused by my instructions you need to wait for a "one click" installer, sorry.
gogul1 said:
Ok so I have Two different versions of Android SDK (32 bit and 64 bit) which one do I use?
"copy platform tools to a directory on C drive (exp C:\TOOLS\)"
What are platform tools?
"copy the two files above to the same folder along with cwm recovery"
What two files? do you mean the zImage_dtb and ramfs.img.gz? Do they go into the C:\TOOLS\ folder?
"navigate to the folder with adb, fastboot, and the above files in it"
What do you mean by navigate? Do you simply mean open the folder or do I use a program to do this?
"Detect if fastboot driver is installed with "fastboot devices" if result, then continue, if no result, then check if correct driver and check connection"
What's fastboot devices? What does result and no result mean? What does Check driver and check connection mean? how dod I do that?
I'm confused by all the lingo, what applications I should be using and when exactly do I start using command lines etc
Thanks for help so far been great but I need step by step instructions eg
open folder, copy and paste file1 and file 2 to this folder
open application X
click import file 1 and file 2
type XXXXXX\root\cdrive into command
press enter
see?
I do not know what some of the words mean and how to do some of the stuff the tutorial says. It's jargon and I have all these files, in all these folders with no idea how to do this from start to finish.
Appreciate the help so far but you are dealing with a novice. I know the work won't take long but I need all the relevant info, in one list, with consistent language to ensure I do everything as it should be done.
Bless you sir and...
Good luck
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Step by step instructions like that would take quite a long time to write. Its basically assumed that navigate is a straight forward instruction, namely, open My Computer, click C:\, click something else, etc etc. 32 bit vs 64 bit, again, you should know what your computer is running and use the correct one respectively.
The reason they dont issue novice instructions is for 1 reason only. People who such as yourself claim to not understand the "jargon" are also those who are more likely to make a mistake when rooting. This can lead to a completely bricked device, ie one that will no longer turn on and load up android, totally dead device. As far as the manufacturer is concerned, a bricked device unless bricked by one of their own updates on a non rooted shield installed correctly, is not covered by warranty. This leads said novice to accuse the tutorial writer of having something wrong in the tutorial when in reality they have clicked the wrong thing etc.
Either way, end result: dead device.
Rooting is not aimed at the novice. It is aimed at the advanced user.
Thank you
I understand that and appreciate the explanation. I can work my laptop and I know that my laptop is 32bit or 64bit but it did not say at any point that it was referring to my computer. It just said download the 32 or 64 bit version. Well I have to make sure what they are talking about before I go and try to root my device as I like clarification on everything I do so that I get it right (and don't brick it). At the moment the explanations are all over the place, some info here, another bit there and was hoping somebody could link it all for me and make sense of the order in which I would do things. I have installed graphic cards in my laptop, put custom firmware on to ipods, psp's, computer etc but this is my first foray into android territory and would like to get it right. I am trying to follow a video tutorial but my computer's reaction to driver updates for the ADB/Fastboot drivers is telling me my drivers are up to date and I'm not getting the error message his is. This means I'm not sure where to go as the situation is diffferent s He is trying to get motochopper working for shield so it will root the device and hoped it would do the same for me.
Hopefully some clarification will come sooner rather than later but won't venture fourth until I'm absolutely sure of what needs to be done.
Again, thanks for the help it is appreciated.:laugh:
Sorry for being so abrupt, it wasn't my intension, you are trying to learn. I will not give a step by step which I feel would be the best, yet potentially more dangerous option for you though.
The parts written in the "code" blocks are what you copy and paste into the command line. When I say navigate I mean by changing directory via command line. You can copy files with a graphical file manager as it's quicker but navigate could also mean graphically.
Google search how to tell if you are running 32 or 64 bit windows, there are better guides and videos than I would be able to describe in a few lines. I was assuming you had already unlocked your bootloader as it is required before root, I covered it as point of reference only.
Platform tools is a folder in the SDK, if you install the SDK you will see that folder where you install it.
Fastboot is the utility also in the SDK that you run from command line that's in the code blocks I posted. If you run the command it will either give a result saying a device is detected or it won't show anything (no result) and you have an issue. If you have a driver issue then that's a whole other problem with a specific forum topic for, but I also assumed you unlocked your bootloader which would require you have fastboot and driver issue resolved.
Main cause of my snappiness is it says the requirement (first line of what you quoted) is unlocked bootloader and you are asking questions about rooting (step two after unlocking bootloader) didn't realize you were stuck in step 0, trying to figure out where to start.
gogul1 said:
I understand that and appreciate the explanation. I can work my laptop and I know that my laptop is 32bit or 64bit but it did not say at any point that it was referring to my computer. It just said download the 32 or 64 bit version. Well I have to make sure what they are talking about before I go and try to root my device as I like clarification on everything I do so that I get it right (and don't brick it). At the moment the explanations are all over the place, some info here, another bit there and was hoping somebody could link it all for me and make sense of the order in which I would do things. I have installed graphic cards in my laptop, put custom firmware on to ipods, psp's, computer etc but this is my first foray into android territory and would like to get it right. I am trying to follow a video tutorial but my computer's reaction to driver updates for the ADB/Fastboot drivers is telling me my drivers are up to date and I'm not getting the error message his is. This means I'm not sure where to go as the situation is diffferent s He is trying to get motochopper working for shield so it will root the device and hoped it would do the same for me.
Hopefully some clarification will come sooner rather than later but won't venture fourth until I'm absolutely sure of what needs to be done.
Again, thanks for the help it is appreciated.:laugh:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Download 64 bit software for 64 bit windows and 32 bit on 32 bit windows. Only notable exceptions are where a guide explicitly says to get 32 bit for some particular reason (in my case the only time I have come across this is MSI afterburners screen recording facilities only functioning on a 32 bit program for some reason, no 64 bit version) or if you are running 32 bit windows and physically cannot run 64 bit software even though a guide says "use 64 bit java etc etc".
rather interested in installing a graphics card in a laptop seeming as laptops use graphics cards that are soldered down to the motherboard not on a seperate removable card in all with very few (but existant) exceptions.... I think asus, dell and someone else did offer them at one point, its actually what the MXM connector was invented for (but its used for a few other things now instead).
Anyway. Its always good to have clarification. I think the post above me gives a few starting points and as always: google is your friend (so are bing and yahoo, but they are those friends where once you leave your job or school or whatever you probably wont ever see again).
boot achieved
I boot loaded the Shield through dab and boot loader.
Shield restarted once I chose to unlock the shield. I lost all my stuff (as expected) and it restarted. The drivers then reinstalled on my laptop.
I restarted my laptop and the shield again and tried to reinstall the drivers that were made for the ADB but sadly I get this message now...
"Windows has determined that your driver software is up to date MTP USB DEVICE"
So I restarted everything and the device is now showing up in the Andriod Device driver list.
I am using minimal adb and Fastboot application. It opens the command menu
I type in
adb reboot bootloader and I get the reply "error:device not found"
any ideas?
Sigh!
gogul1 said:
I boot loaded the Shield through dab and boot loader.
Shield restarted once I chose to unlock the shield. I lost all my stuff (as expected) and it restarted. The drivers then reinstalled on my laptop.
I restarted my laptop and the shield again and tried to reinstall the drivers that were made for the ADB but sadly I get this message now...
"Windows has determined that your driver software is up to date MTP USB DEVICE"
So the shield is now showing up in my computer manager under Portable Devices and not under the Android Devices like it did when I installed the custom drivers the first time.
Will this be an issue when I come to root?
Sigh!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the MTP driver is for plugging the shield in and viewing the file system. If the device isn't under android devices in device manager then you may need to reinstall the ADB drivers or just double check that the ADB can see the device (it may).
Open a command prompt. type "cd [path to the android sdk]\platform-tools"
Then type "adb devices".
It should list all the android devices it can make a debug connection to. If the Shield is in that list your good, otherwise don't proceed any further until you can rectify that.
The other solution is that you dont need ADB drivers on a linux system for some reason. Don't ask why. I havent a clue. But that would necessitate installing linux.
And something that is useful for finding the adb on the command line again in future for windows. You don't want to "cd" into the correct folder every time (the command line equivalent of opening folders). Sometimes you just want to be able to open the command prompt, type "adb devices" and it to just work. That's doable by altering your system PATH variable.
Open my computer. Right click > Properties, should open the System window.
Left side there should be a button saying "Advanced system settings".
It will open the "System Properties" window to the "Advanced" tab (if it isnt on that tab just switch).
Bottom of the window should be a button saying "Environment Variables...". Click it.
Now the window that appears will be split in 2. User variables and System variables. There is a PATH entry in both, it is best that you only change 1. If you are the only user or you only want your user to be able to access the adb, you can change the User variable. Otherwise you can change the system variable for the adb to work on all users. For me I had to add python to my path once but I wanted to do this for all users so I changed the system one, the PSP SDK I installed however altered the User variable by default. Make your choice and find the variable "PATH" in either one.
Click Edit. A window will appear with Variable name and Variable Value. At this point what I recommend doing is copying the entire contents of value into a notepad file and saving them as a backup. Then cancel and go back into it.
Code:
C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\iCLS Client\;C:\Program Files\Intel\iCLS Client\;%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;%SYSTEMROOT%\System32\WindowsPowerShell\v1.0\;C:\Program Files (x86)\Windows Live\Shared;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\OpenCL SDK\2.0\bin\x86;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\OpenCL SDK\2.0\bin\x64;C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\DAL;C:\Program Files\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\IPT;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\DAL;C:\Program Files (x86)\Intel\Intel(R) Management Engine Components\IPT;C:\Program Files (x86)\Lua\5.1;C:\Program Files (x86)\Lua\5.1\clibs;C:\Python27;c:\Program Files (x86)\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\Tools\Binn\;c:\Program Files\Microsoft SQL Server\100\DTS\Binn\
That is my Path variable.If you look the path variable is mostly a series of filepaths (or other variables too) which are seperated with ";". When you type a command such as "adb" into a command prompt what windows does is searches the current command prompt directory for a file it can execute which is called "adb" (it ignores extensions unless explicitly given one), if it doesnt find it in the current directory it searches each folder in the system path variable for the same executable (it ignores sub directories, it will only search the folders above on my system). So if we want to be able to type adb from any folder, we need the folder the adb is in to be added to the system path variable.
Simply add this to the end of it
Code:
;[whatever the path to the adb folder on your system is]
It will be whatever you had to add after "cd" to get to the adb earlier (must not leave out the C:\Users etc etc if its stored in your documents, cd will let you get away with ignoring that, the variable requires the FULL filepath).
Save the variable. Open a command prompt. Type adb, should work. If not, QUICKLY RESTORE THE BACKUP BEFORE WORKING OUT WHAT WENT WRONG. Should be safe with the broken variable to be fair, but you don't want to risk anything. If you dont think your going to use the adb often then simply dont bother updating the path variable rather than taking the (minimal) risk.
Wow my path variable is beginning to get a bit long now I only manually added python and lua to it. The rest will be the default entries and the SQL server stuff appears to be from installing visual studio. Yours probably wont match.
hehe you're going to hit me in a minute...
message deleted as I was being a moron....
ok I should be entirely clear as you guys are trying to help
ok I should be entirely clear as you guys are trying to help me so it's best i let you know what I have done up until this point.
Ok so I boot loader my shield.
I downloaded minimal ADB and Fastboot. I also downloaded the drivers you recommended in the forum.
I installed the drivers:
My shield showed up in the computer Manage list as a Portable device.
I chose to install the new drivers, it asked if I still wanted to go ahead as the drivers could not be verified and I said yes.
The drivers installed and the Shield changed from being in the portable list to showing up as an Android device.
Success I believe.
I then opened ADB BOOTLOADER and booted my Shield Manually.
I then typed in the relevant prompts in the command and a list of options showed up on the shield.
It showed my device number in the command prompt which was the one on my shield screen.
I then command the unlock function and the shield offered me the option to lock or unlock.
I chose Unlock and it then rebooted.
When it restarted, my computer reinstalled the device drivers and my shield had reset to factory settings (as it should).
I then looked in the Computer Manage list and my Shield had reverted back to being in the Portable Devices list.
I restarted both again and the Shield then showed up under Android Devices like it did when I installed the custom drivers the first time.
But the name of the device is Nvidia Shield - not Nvidia Shield ADB like in the tutorial video... not sure it that helps.
I enabled USB Debugging,
put the Superuser.apk and Su bin file into the minimal AADB and Bootloader folder.
I then put the Thor-insecure-boot.img in the Minimal ADB and Bootloader folder too.
I started up the command prompt from the minimal ADB and Bootloader.
I then saw this
C:\Program files <X86>\Minimal ADB and Fastboot>
I then typed in adb reboot boot loader and pressed enter
I got
error: device not found
So I decided to take the above advice and opened a command prompt
I typed in cd C:\tools\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20130729\sdk\platform-tools
and pressed enter:
It repeated what I typed and I then put in adb devices.
It then came back with:
List of Devices attached
but nothing was listed....
doh!
Progress!
Ok so I uninstalled my drivers to start again, plugged in the shield and it reinstalled my drivers and now under Android Devices it shows NVIDIA SHIELD ADB
Result!
Now I opened the dab cmd prompt
typed in
adb reboot fastboot
and it booted my shield! jolly good
But then I typed in
fastboot boot thor-insecure-boot.img
I then had
<waiting for device>
show up in the command window.
This is where it stayed.
On the screen of my shield I have options:
continue
restart bootloader
recovery mode
poweroff
Do I have to choose one of these in order for it to begin the thor img command?
C:\tools\adt-bundle-windows-x86_64-20130729\sdk\platform-tools Just incase you didnt get it earlier. That would be the path required for the variable change above. Just whack a ; on the end of the existing variable and throw that new path on the end and done.
But yes, adb devices not listing shield is not a good thing. Try reinstalling the ADB driver for the shield manually (you cant do it via device manager etc).
cool
I'm past that and now <waiting for device> problem to rectify. Am looking online now but there isn't much on there so far...
looking under device manager it shows up under Android Device as Nvidia Shield ADB but it also shows up under portable devices as SHIELD.
Whilst in boot mode the device only shows up in portable devices with a exclamation mark next to the device.
*UPDATE*
I uninstalled the portable device driver because I think it may have been causing confusion.
I then typed adb devices into CMD and a list of devices showed the serial number of the nvidia Shield.
I then typed in adb reboot bootloader in and it booted.
I then tried adb devices again and nothing showed up.
When I go into bootloader The Android Device: Nvidia Shield ADB driver disappears in manager once I go into bootloader mode. Is this normal?
Hmmmmmmm
definetly something to do with the drivers.
I'm on windows 7 64bit by the way.
Going back into device manager I noticed that there is another device under Other devices, upon looking at it it is Fastboot and has an exclamation mark in a yellow triangle next to it (Minimal dab and fast boot is open though).
Such a bummer as I'm so close yet so far
picture
ok so here is a pic of my devices list fastboot is there
before boot
This is the devices it can see before I put the shield in boot mode
devices seen after shielf in boot mode
the are the devices seen after I put the Shield in boot mode. It can't see any devices
waiting for devices
This is the screen on the shield in boot mode. The CMD screen says "Waiting for Devices"