Related
:fingers-crossed: ok so I've FINALLY been able to root my net10 zte merit z990g using a simple .zip install suggestr
d to me by a friend. (I know I took the easy way)
Since rooting it, I've went from the factory 2.3.5 stock and installed an ICS based verioson, which seems to be running great minor exception internet browser crashed & installation of opera web browser seemed to work smoothly on.
Since rooting it, I've bought another phone (Lg Optimus Dynamic) and activated it so that I may study the rooted device futher.
My questions are as follows:
1. Could someone possibly tell me the complete list of su commands are for my zte merit z990g and how to enter them? (Id like to use my su rights to explore the device componets, network (since its deactivated and has no working sim) and bootloader files/settings, etc for my own educational purposes to POSSIBLY futher my knowledge of the android based device. (quite new still yet to the whole technology mods, hacks & tricks) as well as explaining the whole shell thing?
2. Bootloader: how do I know if its unlocked, and if it isnt then what do I do to unlock it?
3. Is it possibe for one flash or install another custom rom or kernel to unlock a device? As stated I've went from gingerbread 2.3.5 to ICS . I first installed a .zip of TouchNav then a DexMeritRoot. zip, shortly after that I installed the ICS.zip. Though it seems to be stable, the battery drains extremly quick and there still is hardly any memory. Any ideas on a tweak setting to optimize
these issues?
4. Does anyone have another suggestion for a rom that I could try?
I ask advice as I know there are possibly other users out in the xda forum who are waaay more experienced with this device and could possibly share their wisdom with an inexperienced noob thats looking to expand her knowledge. So far, whats been done since the root, Ive enjoyed it (I use it to connect via wifi only to connect with friends and play online games when not tinkering with trying to enhance it to full potential) Ive just grown sightly accustomed to the udated zip of ICS and would like to try something new.
So, there it is guys, is there anyone who would like to offer their advice on the subjects? Id love to get some feedback.
Thanks in advance!!
ok, so I now know that I can install a .zip custom rom contaning no kernel since the merit is known to have issues rebooting and its linked to an "unstable kernel....but this confuses me. Doesnt the android based Zte Merit z990g have to have a kernel to function??
And I've come across the Stayboggy blue steel custom rom but Im apperhensive due to conflicting replies in the forum area I located it in. Dont get me wrong, he has some wonderful ROMS and software that Ive researched online. I just get a little nervous upon installing anything (Fear of drastic noob brick)
I've yet to find any real answers in my researches just yet, however I will continue to explore the device.
I guess upon reading Ive realized the bootloader thing has pretty much been addressed all on its own. Im guessing I wouldnt of been able to install the icecream Scamwhich custom rom, version of the ICS, would I??
Im still trying to find out the whole su commands, how to create shell etc so thats what Im tryin to grasp now.
Still would appreciate any opinions, and advice from others. on anything in the thread...
Okay so just to clear a few things up.
The bootloader for the merit is already unlocked due to Touch Nav being able to be flashed and replace the Stock Recovery with the update.zip. The bootloader would be the first menu that you "tampered" with in order to flash a permanent recovery that would allow you to use Touch Nav or ClockWorkMod recovery and then install ROMS. In my experience, I haven't ever come across a ROM being "pre-unlocked". This is because the way to unlock most phones is using the IMEI and being that is different in every phone it just can't be done until after the ROM is flashed. Some phones have apps for them like the Galaxy line and others are harder to unlock.
As far as running shell commands, you'll need to do that through ADB or a Terminal App. That's really the manual way of performing tasks on your device like pushing or pulling files with read/write privileges aka SuperUser. So it depends on what all is you want to try to learn to do manually. Like pulling system apps from your phone, replacing boot animations zip files, or what have you. In ADB, if your device is connected and have ADB debugging checked off you can try the command: "Adb devices". Minus the parentheses to check if can run other commands. "Adb help" will show you a quick command paragraph. You should still Google ADB commands or Android Terminal commands to explore further. Since your phone doesn't have a service, I recommend you trying a voip app to make calls through wifi just as neat thing to mess around with. Well that's just a bit of what I've gathered in my short time here in Xda Developers. If you like the challenge of research in the android/Linux world, this is really exciting way to start.
Oh and as far as the Ice scam Sandwich ROM, it is still Gingerbread. It's only themed system ui to look like ICS. There isn't an ICS based rom out for the ZTE Merit. Even SpeedFreak2.0 is Gingerbread. The low system storage issue was greatly addressed in SpeedFreak2.0 by creating an sd-ext3 partition on the micro sd. I had to create that in either TouchNav or ClockWorkMod and format. So backup all your data prior to doing this and installing the New Rom. I now have 4gb free of system storage and the Merit clocking at 864mhz. Pay close attention as I believe you install that ROM by restoring a backup file NOT flashing the. zip.
Now for the unstable kernel, I would recommend you download the 1.0 kernel I mentioned in another thread. The kernel comes in the ROM and it wouldn't run "without a kernel". Again, this would be after installing SpeedFreak2.0 by backup restore using ClockWorkMod that I believe is installed by flashing an update.zip that reboots TouchNav and let's you use a Temporary ClockWorkMod from which to backup(install) SpeedFreak2.0. You extract the SpeedFreak2.0. zip and get the backup file from there. I hope I made sense. I'm up late and I'll come back and check on you. Feel free to PM me if you find yourself lost.
Sent from my PantechP9090 using xda premium
Hi
I am new to hacking android. I have built linux distros in the past, and have worked with Linux for 15 years,
I have just rooted a ZTE V965. It doesn't come pre-installed with Play store, and has all sorts of ZTE-specific Chinese apps. It has a good baseband circuit, a good screen, reasonable camera and I think is a great value phone, apart from the awful UI.
It is an android phone, although heavily customised. It has an MTK6589 processor coupled with 4Gb ROM and 512Mb RAM.
I have other phones which operate a much more "Vanilla" android. For example, the Guophone 9105 which also uses an MTK6589. This has a troubling tendency to reboot every random interval. Approx 6 times a week.
I have had success in the past running Linux systems built for much earlier kernels on later kernels. This suggests the ABI (application binary interface) for the Linux kernel changes rather slowly.
I am wondering how well the userland apps are separated from the kernel and drivers on Android.
Specifically, is it feasible to dump all the UI stuff from one phone onto another then change the init to launch the other UI?
Would this risk bricking the phone, or would the shell commands and ADB infrastructure still likely operate?
I guess I should change the bootloader to one that supports fastboot first, right? Is ther a how-to on achieveing this from the root shell?
Thanks for any thoughts
Nick.
Nick Hill said:
Hi
I am new to hacking android. I have built linux distros in the past, and have worked with Linux for 15 years,
I have just rooted a ZTE V965. It doesn't come pre-installed with Play store, and has all sorts of ZTE-specific Chinese apps. It has a good baseband circuit, a good screen, reasonable camera and I think is a great value phone, apart from the awful UI.
It is an android phone, although heavily customised. It has an MTK6589 processor coupled with 4Gb ROM and 512Mb RAM.
I have other phones which operate a much more "Vanilla" android. For example, the Guophone 9105 which also uses an MTK6589. This has a troubling tendency to reboot every random interval. Approx 6 times a week.
I have had success in the past running Linux systems built for much earlier kernels on later kernels. This suggests the ABI (application binary interface) for the Linux kernel changes rather slowly.
I am wondering how well the userland apps are separated from the kernel and drivers on Android.
Specifically, is it feasible to dump all the UI stuff from one phone onto another then change the init to launch the other UI?
Would this risk bricking the phone, or would the shell commands and ADB infrastructure still likely operate?
I guess I should change the bootloader to one that supports fastboot first, right? Is ther a how-to on achieveing this from the root shell?
Thanks for any thoughts
Nick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi Nick, I have the same phone. I'm also very new to android, last phone was iOS and before that windows. I managed to root the V965 using Vroot. I also managed to install SuperSU and CWM. However, the CWM is not fully functional, I can only do a factory reset, not install any packages or roms. Probably the phone has a locked bootloader. I can't check, because the USB driver with the phone doesnt support fastboot.
I really need to get google play working in this phone, read a lot of stuff, tried many things, but I havent succeeded yet. Please let me know if you make any progress.
In China they are flashing this phone, found some ROMs even, but I am not sure how they manage and google translate isn't much help there.
http://www.romjd.com/Device/zte-v965/hot/all/1
Hmmm my V965 is having some issues now
After a factory reset, the setup wizard keeps crashing. Even after another resest. So I can't get in the phone anymore.
Any chance you can send me the USB drivers that are on the phone? My phone isnt deteceted anymore, so I can't access the drivers, which I want to reinstall. And of course they are not on the ZTE website.
Byte_Me said:
Hmmm my V965 is having some issues now
After a factory reset, the setup wizard keeps crashing. Even after another resest. So I can't get in the phone anymore.
Any chance you can send me the USB drivers that are on the phone? My phone isnt deteceted anymore, so I can't access the drivers, which I want to reinstall. And of course they are not on the ZTE website.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
You can temporarily download the ZTE v965 USB drivers from
www dot nickhill dot co dot uk forward slash ztev965usb dot zip
Byte_Me said:
Hi Nick, I have the same phone. I'm also very new to android, last phone was iOS and before that windows. I managed to root the V965 using Vroot. I also managed to install SuperSU and CWM. However, the CWM is not fully functional, I can only do a factory reset, not install any packages or roms. Probably the phone has a locked bootloader. I can't check, because the USB driver with the phone doesnt support fastboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Fastboot and ADB appear to be standard protocols, at least on my Ubuntu, which don't need special drivers. However, it does appear that the stock boot loaader on the v965 does fail to incorporate the fastboot option.
If you remove the battery, replace it then turn on holding the volume down, you will get a menu, but fastboot is not there.
I don't know for a fact, but I do suspect that if you have access to the running android system as root, then you could in principle change any of the internal flash data. Therefore, in principle, I guess you could replace the boot loader or anything else in the running android system. Anyone please correct me if I am wrong, or confirm if I am right.
The feature set of this phone seems to be the same as the feature set of my Guophone. MTK6589, dual SIM, etc. So this image may be a good place to start if considering a transplant.
If you have ROMs, then perhaps it is possible to flash the ROM from a root terminal. I'm thinking add the uncompressed ROM to the Micro SD card, then using the dd command, block copy it to the appropriate image area on the internal ROM, reboot, reset to factory defaults.
If anyone more experienced than me with the nuts and bolts of Android can confirm or deny this will work, or where it should be put, please let me know.
An important factor is that the NAND is not locked on the ZTE V965. So if you have a root shell on the phone, you can issue the following command:
mount -o remount,rw /[email protected] /system/
Once you have done this, you will have read/write access to the system partition.
The only thing I then need to know is what should I avoid changing that may break the ADB bridge/root console?
And is all the UI stuff kept together, if so, where?
Shuffle it around a bit, make a new ROM
Thanks for the driver!
Unfortuntely it doesn't help
I found out the culprit, I tried to install gapps (google apps package) to the system app folder. I thought these changes would be reversed with a factory reset, but they are not. Setupwizard.apk keeps crashing and is preventing me from accessing my phone, so I must find a way to remove it from the system app folder. However, since this error occurred, I am not able to contact the phone in any way from the PC. Adb toolkit does not detect it, even when I reinstalled your driver. It's quite puzzling, I dont understand why in recovery mode I cannot connect adb-toolkit anymore.
Got my V965 working again, but it was a lot of hassle with shell access. Still not fully functional, no drives detected when i connect to USB, which is quite annoying, but not more than that. If you ever make any progress with google apps or flashing, please keep me informed, that would make this phone much more useable. I'll also keep hacking away at it, but without a bootloader unlock (I still think this is the problem), I don't think it will be possible.
I'm convinced it's possible to flash the phone, it seems they do it a lot in China.
I found a website with a couple of custom ROMs specific for the V965:
http://www.romjd.com/Rom/Detail/17086
And what I suspect is a rooting & flashing tool. Rooting works, I haven't figured out flashing yet.
http://dl.vmall.com/c0xa12brvo
I've also tried flashing from the settings - update menu in the phone, but it never finds the ROM (update.zip)
I did find another problem, I can't be reached on my phone, it always goes to voicemail. Same SIM in another phone works fine. No idea what's causing this.
Byte_Me said:
Got my V965 working again, but it was a lot of hassle with shell access. Still not fully functional, no drives detected when i connect to USB, which is quite annoying, but not more than that. If you ever make any progress with google apps or flashing, please keep me informed, that would make this phone much more useable. I'll also keep hacking away at it, but without a bootloader unlock (I still think this is the problem), I don't think it will be possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi
I might be able to help you with the problem.
I have a mint, unused ZTE v965. I have used MTK Droid root and tools to extract a backup of the entire new phone. It is currently uploading to www dot nickhill dot co dot uk forward slash ZTE-V965_new_backup.zip
You should be able to write this back to your phone using flashtool.exe.
I don't know for sure if this will work, so entirely at your own risk! Just trying to help. If unsure, ask around.
I am new to this forum, so please remember to click the thanks button if you find anything I have done helpful!
Meanwhile, the MTK droid root and tools has a function to remove much of the chinese stuff (once the system has been installed) and there is always the cyanogenmod gapps package. This may be worth investigating.
Nick Hill said:
Hi
I might be able to help you with the problem.
I have a mint, unused ZTE v965. I have used MTK Droid root and tools to extract a backup of the entire new phone. It is currently uploading to www dot nickhill dot co dot uk forward slash ZTE-V965_new_backup.zip
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The file size should be 635,972,093 bytes and should finish uploading at 04:00 GMT
md5sum 17ecfdd1040d5dbfab70a3adbc24e07a
Thanks for the ROM, i'll give it a go. I will try to install it using the update option in the settings, that seems the safest.
Be careful with gapps. setupwizard.apk + factory reset = a lot of problems (if you install in system app folder)
OMG that tool is awesome. created CWM boot, installed your ROM, then installed a clean ROM, then installed gapps, all working!!!
Byte_Me said:
OMG that tool is awesome. created CWM boot, installed your ROM, then installed a clean ROM, then installed gapps, all working!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Firstly, I'm glad it's working for you.
Secondly, which tools did you use? Did you unpack the zip, open flashtools, select the scatter file then program the phone, or did you use some other method?
Which clean ROM did you then install, and how did you install it?
Did you then use MobileUncle to install CWM then use the cyanogenmod 10.1 gapps, or did you do something different?
It is useful to remember that MTKdroidtools has a useful function to remove chinese stuff. I think if more people contributed to the list of Chinese files that are safe to remove, that would be blade.
A detailed step-by-step guide might be helpful for anyone else with the same problem. One of the general problems I find is that there are plenty of guides around referring to this program, or that program, but few are detailed enough for someone who doesn't already know about those programs to use.
I pretty much bricked a Lenovo A766 yesterday, and it took several hours to learn about the tools to eventually unbrick it.
I would have rather spent my time understanding what is really going on, rather than spending my time learning vaguely what tool achieves what end result. If I understood more about the Android system, and built that knowledge on my understanding of Linux, I reckon I could achieve much more.
One thing I notice is that tablets and smartphones are actually replacing desktops and laptops. February this year, windows machines were down 7% YOY. I use Ubuntu for my main computer. Using these tools on Windows led me to significant frustration! This has led me to understand why there is a move. Maybe the tools provided for windows need to eventually move to android. We could then potentially use USB OTG to service other android devices. MTKdroidtools and flashtools runnng as a host on a separate Android system would be cool.
Nick Hill said:
Firstly, I'm glad it's working for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, me too
Secondly, which tools did you use? Did you unpack the zip, open flashtools, select the scatter file then program the phone, or did you use some other method?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used MTK tools as described in that topic, rooted, made backup, installed CWM
Which clean ROM did you then install, and how did you install it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the update tool from CWM to flash this ROM:
http://www.romjd.com/Rom/Detail/17086
That ROM is not very clean though, You might as well clean your own ROM
Did you then use MobileUncle to install CWM then use the cyanogenmod 10.1 gapps, or did you do something different?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM is installed using MTK Droid Root and Tools:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=44660171&postcount=417
This gapps version I installed: gapps-jb-20121011-signed
It's installed using CWM bootloader: install .zip package
It is useful to remember that MTKdroidtools has a useful function to remove chinese stuff. I think if more people contributed to the list of Chinese files that are safe to remove, that would be blade.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used the delete China function, but it didnt catch very much. But with all the functions available now, it's quite easy to clean manually.
A detailed step-by-step guide might be helpful for anyone else with the same problem. One of the general problems I find is that there are plenty of guides around referring to this program, or that program, but few are detailed enough for someone who doesn't already know about those programs to use.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I plan to make a topic for this phone, but at the moment I am still testing many things.
I pretty much bricked a Lenovo A766 yesterday, and it took several hours to learn about the tools to eventually unbrick it. I would have rather spent my time understanding what is really going on, rather than spending my time learning vaguely what tool achieves what end result. If I understood more about the Android system, and built that knowledge on my understanding of Linux, I reckon I could achieve much more.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I know how you feel, I was ready to toss this phone in the trash
One thing I notice is that tablets and smartphones are actually replacing desktops and laptops. February this year, windows machines were down 7% YOY. I use Ubuntu for my main computer. Using these tools on Windows led me to significant frustration! This has led me to understand why there is a move. Maybe the tools provided for windows need to eventually move to android. We could then potentially use USB OTG to service other android devices. MTKdroidtools and flashtools runnng as a host on a separate Android system would be cool.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have no idea about the possibilities there. I'm not a programmer, just someone who is good with computers and knows a little bit of everything.
PS. I could also use some thanks as well, maybe get some respect around here
Nick Hill said:
...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you give it a try yet? Another user did and google apps are working for him, so thats 2 for 2.
Are you still on your original ROM? If so, I have a question for you. Do you get notification badges on your icons, for instance, when you have a missed call, is there a red box with a 1 on the phone icon? Also, do your contacts get ID-ed when they call you? I have some problems with that, caused by the country code prefix. I am still running that ROM I downlaoded from the Chinese forum, but if your ROM doent have these issues, I will switch back ASAP.
Nick Hill said:
Firstly, I'm glad it's working for you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
as you are a Lenovo a766 owner, may you help me with this?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=49076877#post49076877
Where are configuration settings stored accross factory resets?
I have come to the (perhaps erroneous) conclusion that the user interface and what the user will experience is governed primarily from:
the APKs in
/system/app/
/system/vendor/operator/app/
and the configuration files pertaining to the installed apps, which is located at:
/data/user/0/
I guess that when the android device is factory reset, the /data partition is completely cleared, right?
Is there a set of standard configurations which are unpacked from somewhere into /data/user/0/ after a factory reset, or is it normal for all configurations to be stored in their respective APKs?
Hello fellow android users,
this is my first post on the xda forums as i am a new member with little experience on Android systems. The previous 5 years i was an iPhone owner and power user up until this Christmas that i decided to change the platform and switch to Android. Up until now i am much more satisfied with the openness of the android system comparing with iOS (even if jailbreaked).
I have purchased an LG G2 D802 and i have Rooted it already and installed TWRP custom recovery, i have created a nandroid backup, installed a couple of mods from this forums. I would like to personally thank all the developers for their hard work and support to new users like me!
However, like every new user, i have a couple of questions that i will like some help with but before i begin let me give you some more info about my device as it will help you give more specific answers:
Device: LG G2 D802 (International)
ROM: Stock LG ROM (i think it's called Cloudy)
Custom recovery installed: TWRP
Exrta MODS installed: SplitWindowMOD
Questions:
1) It seems that connecting my device to my windows 7 computer and copying music to "Music" folder, requires a phone reboot in order that the mp3s will show up on the device. I didn't notice if this was happening even before i root my device. Could you please let me know if there is a way to force the phone to refresh the music library (without reboot)?
2) I have the 16GB version of G2 and a Nandroid backup wastes about 2.5 GB of the 10 free that the device has. For that reason, i do a backup and then i copy it to my computer and of course delete it from my device. My question here is if in the worst case scenario that android does not boot and therefore not recognized by the computer, how is it possible to insert the backup back to the phone?
3)Is there any repository with all these MODs from XDA? Something like the jailbreak app Cydia on iOS?
4) You know in G2 the feature that comes pre-installed and it's like a small menu of apps when you slide the home button upwards... At the moment it has only Google and Quick memo. How can i add more apps there please?
That's it for the moment! Thank you very much for your answers in advance!
Anyone please?
Michaelkrtikos said:
Hello fellow android users,
this is my first post on the xda forums as i am a new member with little experience on Android systems. The previous 5 years i was an iPhone owner and power user up until this Christmas that i decided to change the platform and switch to Android. Up until now i am much more satisfied with the openness of the android system comparing with iOS (even if jailbreaked).
I have purchased an LG G2 D802 and i have Rooted it already and installed TWRP custom recovery, i have created a nandroid backup, installed a couple of mods from this forums. I would like to personally thank all the developers for their hard work and support to new users like me!
However, like every new user, i have a couple of questions that i will like some help with but before i begin let me give you some more info about my device as it will help you give more specific answers:
Device: LG G2 D802 (International)
ROM: Stock LG ROM (i think it's called Cloudy)
Custom recovery installed: TWRP
Exrta MODS installed: SplitWindowMOD
Questions:
1) It seems that connecting my device to my windows 7 computer and copying music to "Music" folder, requires a phone reboot in order that the mp3s will show up on the device. I didn't notice if this was happening even before i root my device. Could you please let me know if there is a way to force the phone to refresh the music library (without reboot)?
2) I have the 16GB version of G2 and a Nandroid backup wastes about 2.5 GB of the 10 free that the device has. For that reason, i do a backup and then i copy it to my computer and of course delete it from my device. My question here is if in the worst case scenario that android does not boot and therefore not recognized by the computer, how is it possible to insert the backup back to the phone?
3)Is there any repository with all these MODs from XDA? Something like the jailbreak app Cydia on iOS?
4) You know in G2 the feature that comes pre-installed and it's like a small menu of apps when you slide the home button upwards... At the moment it has only Google and Quick memo. How can i add more apps there please?
That's it for the moment! Thank you very much for your answers in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please tell me, which Android-Version do you have got?
Michaelkrtikos said:
2) I have the 16GB version of G2 and a Nandroid backup wastes about 2.5 GB of the 10 free that the device has. For that reason, i do a backup and then i copy it to my computer and of course delete it from my device. My question here is if in the worst case scenario that android does not boot and therefore not recognized by the computer, how is it possible to insert the backup back to the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the Backup is just a Copy of your files, the Phone will continue running.
If the backup is a single file, you can copy it back to thie phone with.... Windows Explorer! :laugh:
Michaelkrtikos said:
1) It seems that connecting my device to my windows 7 computer and copying music to "Music" folder, requires a phone reboot in order that the mp3s will show up on the device. I didn't notice if this was happening even before i root my device. Could you please let me know if there is a way to force the phone to refresh the music library (without reboot)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is your phone running in safe mode?
Have you got the Many-Problems-Causing-and-Bogus Android 4.4.2?
Hello there, thanks for the reply!
I am running 4.4.2 at the moment. I have not noticed any problem with my device so far...
The backups are .win files and i have more than one... I guess it is one for System, one for Data, one for Cache and one for Boot. It is a normal backup that TWRP does... I just wondered because if the phone does not boot, the driver is not running so i thought that the phone is not even recognizable by the PC.
Dear Friends,
About to pull a trigger on an AT&T LG G4, can someone give me a short answer, ASAP?
Is it possible to have permanent Root and Xposed on the AT&T variant WITHOUT ridiculous bugs like a "green dot" in the camera of the phone? (what does the green dot even mean? It's on every picture? Is it a watermark? Just on the GUI?)
If possible, how? And should I buy the phone?
Appreciate any QUICK responses, about to buy now! Thanks so much in advance!
I just bought the G4 a couple of days ago. I was able to root, but there is no twrp or xposed as far as I know. I also don't have the green dot and everything is working fine!
Thanks for the quick response, my friend. Can you share the method/thread/image you used to Root?
I think you can install Xposed without TWRP via FireFlash? Can someone please confirm?
Thanks guys!
Just got my G4 two days ago. You can root and you can install Xposed with FireFlash. Root requires pushing a rooted version of whatever software version you are currently running. If you can't find one you can inject root into your own system.img using Ubuntu. After root get FireFlash and the right xposed zip and be patient, it can sit black screen, appearing dead for 20-30 minutes. Over all not too hard. Took me a couple hours from The un-boxing to Xposed. Definitely do it. The green dot on camera comes from the PR system.img. I'd stay clear of that. Everything is working great on mine!
@Nowak4G - Thanks bud, that's what I read too. Can you point me to the guide and img file you used that worked for you? I doubt I'd prefer the Ubuntu way...
One other question... Is there a way/app/Xposed module that's kind of like G3TweaksBox for us? Letting us change the Status bar icon colors and toggle colors?
I highly doubt themes work for us since we can't Flash them without custom recovery?
Thanks again!
GravityBox works for status bar stuff and yeah here are the threads I used. Good luck bud!
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=62028519
http://forum.xda-developers.com/g4/general/lg-g4-100-root-success-directives-root-t3180586
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=62664473
I'm not totally sure what stuff can and can't be flashed using FireFlash. But for applying icon themes with Xposed I use this module, Unicon:
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B1nrydqmmOBUdFoyV0FBLUM1OVE/view?usp=docslist_api
I've had my LG G4 rooted and running Xposed with a lot of modules enabled.
If the phone you buy is on the 10G software version (and want to stay on that version), you should be able to root it following the method in the LG G4 Low Effort Root thread. Follow it to the dot and enjoy partial freedom.
If the phone you buy is on 10I, there is a rooted image floating around. So you could take the 10I update (or make sure your phone's on the 10I version), and root it using the Low Effort Root method.
I would also recommend the following:
1. keeping a copy of your untouched fresh system image in your internal memory (as early as possible after buying the phone). In case of a bad flash you have something to possibly go back to - otherwise you'll end up with the PR ROM and the green dot. The method and commands to extracting the system image is very similar to rooting, except instead of dd'ing into the system partition from SD, you do the opposite (from system partition to SD)
2. disabling system apps and system updates using the debloater tool and a tutorial here on the forums
Regarding flashing files via recovery, I usually extract the files and place them in the correct directory with the right permissions. Usually most files use 0644 permissions, but I would first check the existing permissions with ES File Explorer.
Hello @Nowak4G and @mu3g,
Guys thank you for your response. I can confirm that the seller I bought the phone from took the 10l upgrade. I have little to no experience rooting locked bootloader phones, and I have to be honest, I am more confused than I have the answers. Now that I have confirmed that I will end up with 10l update, can you guys give me a noob boost and give me step by step on how to root, Xposed, and possibly back up my stock image, since I do NOT want to end up with the PR build, with the green dot, in case things go wrong?
Am I correct that the right answer to my problem is, Low Effort Root with the floating 10l rooted img file, located here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B54ceS-n3ZAiaVAxMkJFLXNMYmM/view?pli=1
Please help me out guys, would even appreciate more if we can maybe connect on Google Hangouts for some dynamic help? Please let me know and thank you again for your wonderful so far !
Yes, exactly. Use the floating around 10I rootedsystem.img with the Low Effort Root instructions. But definitely keep a unrooted system.img on the internal storage as a backup. Instructions are in the LER thread. Just read carefully and follow the steps and you should be fine. All copy and pasting.
You have the correct 10I rooted system img file. I would recommend following the LER steps and backing up the system image for 10I (see post 2 of the LER thread). This would give you the stock image for later use. Then follow the LER steps to the dot using the rooted system image file you have from the google drive link. The LER thread has pretty clear instructions on backup and flashing system image files for the G4. Just make sure to rename your downloaded file as "system.rooted.h81010i.img" and use it in the command...the file name here is the most important!
Thank you guys, couple of follow up questions:
1. Do I run the backup command to copy my Non Rooted image, right after the step that gives us the DIAG Port Number? Or do I do it after the "id" step?
2. The generated back up, I assume will be done as an .img file in the root of my phone, correct? I assume I just back this up on my computer and/or External HD?
3. This is the scariest step. When I am running the step for flashing the rooted img, I need to rename the downloaded file to, "system.rooted.h81010i.img" as @mu3g recommended? Why not, "system.rooted.h81010m.img" for example?
4. I just use the exact file name we determined above for my downloaded rooted 10l image file, in the flash command when following the LER guide? Exactly that file name, correct?
Thank you again for all your help and excuse me for my continuous noobness!
Answers:
1. Run the backup command in Step 7 of the LER root ("Run the command specified in the section below titled 'Commands to Run' to flash the rooted system image.") <<---replace the commands to run with the command to backup your unrooted clean system image to your internal memory ---- if you compare the commands, it will become obvious on how the data is being moved (pushed or pulled from the phone).
2. The generated backup will be on the root of the internal memory of the phone. Yes, you can then move it to your computer or any other location for safekeeping AFTER you've booted your phone up properly - don't do any of this while you're still in the LER state.
3. I just gave you a recommendation on the name..you can name the rooted system image file whatever you want - you can even leave it as the way it is....just make sure to use the EXACT file name for the image in the commands to run (also 10I, 10M etc. are software version numbers..I'm not aware of a 10M version being released for AT&T. In any case, just use the EXACT file name for the rooted image.
Thank you @mu3g! I think I am now ready to go through the process myself with confidence.
I am, however, still a bit confused about the file name of the rooted image that I will be flashing. If the phone already has 10l installed, and I leave the name of the rooted image intact, that is, "system.rooted.h81010l" would the phone still accept/get tricked into, thinking that it's getting an "update"? Or did you mean that the file name could literally be anything like, "filename.img" and if the commands match it, all will be installed correctly? As in, when the system boots, it will have all the correct build and software information with it being a 10l update and etc?
Please forgive the annoying, detailed questions, but I want to not mess this up, since every guide triple emphasizes the importance of the command being absolutely right! Thank you!
You can literally name it blahblahblah.img as long as you use blahblahblah.img in the commands to run for the rooted system image. The file naming scheme has nothing to do with the acceptance or rejection of a system image. When you're in the bootloader mode ready to download files (which is the mode for LER), you can inject any file into any partition, anywhere on the phone...it's just whether the phone can use it or not properly and whether or not it ends up being a brick
Your file name for the system has nothing to do with the build number showing on the phone after booting up.
EDIT: The only reason I gave you that file naming scheme is because you don't seem to be too comfortable with the command line, thats all..that way you could copy paste the command from the LER guide and just replace "g" with "i" - that's all..if you're good with the command line and careful, you'll be fine..just make sure the file name is correct..you can't get much else wrong.
Understood brother, just needed that clarity. I am not an absolute noob with cmd line, but you know how it goes when you're rooting your phone, the perpetual fear of an expensive paperweight!
I cannot find the thanks button here, wish I could, so I could thank you over and over and @Nowak4G, but either way, thank you so so much @mu3g!!
good luck!
How did it go? Were you able to go through with it?
While the green dot does usually appear on 810 phones running the PR KDZ, I have heard reports of it on some 815 ...its pretty random. I just did a warranty exchange for my 810 so I will likely be staying on the ATT software.
Hi Guys, wanted to update this thread with my results...:
I successfully rooted on H810l (AT&T) with 0 issues, following the Low Effort Root. Per the recommendations of the process, I also backed up my Stock, Unrooted, .img file for restoration to Stock, if it were needed. Well, I might be moving on from this phone and need to return to stock. Can someone advise the exact steps/commands to return to stock using the unrooted .img file I backed up before pushing the rooted .img? And can you confirm that you did this successfully as well?
I would really appreciate it! Thank you!
I have not done it myself, but if you uninstall all your root apps completely, make sure to enable any and every disabled app you may have (like for example AT&T apps etc.) using the debloater software and then follow LER to install the stock image on it, it should come back to bone stock. Remember, the key here to to ensure that no root apps exist on the phone - I guess SU will get wiped out, but its better to do it clean. And secondly, any disabled apps need to be re-enabled for a smooth process. These are just my $0.02...so proceed with caution.
Hello,
I hope that this is the right side of the forum to describe my problem. I desperately need help. It's a long story:
I had on my Samsung phone the app of "Chrome", which I always use to surf the internet. Using the google browser IN THAT APP, I have downloaded lots of things (I'm a scholar, so I like to read and I use to download everything that I found interesting). I have updated the app and I was frustrated, because I couldn't take anymore screenshots while surfing in "incognito mode". So, I decided to delete the update: i went into "settings", then "apps", and then I have brought back the app of "Chrome" as it was when i bought my phone. Sadly, I then noticed that I had lost every file in my download folder; I had lost every file downloaded with that app.
I had not synchronized my Google account, I can do no backup. I'm so angry and sad because I've always thought that the files downloaded would have stayed in my phone until I and only I would have decide to delete them.
I have done a lot of research on the internet and I have found out that there are some apps that can recover a very large part of lost files. But, in order to do this, I have to root my phone.
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy J2 SM-J250Y/DS, and the Android version is 7.1.1. I have seen that rooting a phone could be very dangerous; also, to me is very complicated. But there is a program called Kingoroot, which, once installed on my computer, could (it's a possibility, I know!) rooting my phone easily.
What should I do? Should I try the rooting method? It seems to me the only way...
I ask you any suggestions... Please help me. I am a depressed student that, in this life, can only enjoy reading and books...
(I am Italian, and I hope my English is understandable. If I did any mistake, please forgive me.)
Sorry can't help you get what you lost back... I feel your pain.
After losing thousands of bookmarks over the decades I started using Colornotes to save my important bookmarks.
You can save the hyperlink with a title, color, and whatever text you want to add. If you punch the hyperlink it opens in the default browser.
The app allows you to save it's data to your sd card which you can backup on your PC.
Use ApkExport to make a loadable copy of the app to future proof it.
ColorNote Notepad Notes - Apps on Google Play
ColorNote® - Easy to use notepad for notes, shopping list, to-do list, calendar
play.google.com
Thank you very much for your reply.
But... If I root my phone, and if the rooting is done without any damage, is there a possibility to get most of my files back? Or, even if I root my device, I will never be able to recover them?
It sounds like it deleted the data when you rolled the apk back (to factory load?).
If so it's going to be very sketchy at best to recover them.
I guess history's been deleted as well?
There are many coders here that have far greater knowledge than myself with Chrome.
My understanding of rooting is very basic as with Chrome which I rarely use.
If no one else replies in a day or two, bump it back to the top. Hope you find a work around solution.
AlexiusFrigerius said:
But... If I root my phone, and if the rooting is done without any damage, is there a possibility to get most of my files back? Or, even if I root my device, I will never be able to recover them?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting Android by means of TWRP and/or Magisk ( keyword: SuperSU ) affects its /data partition where phone's data typically are housed. Therefore it cannot be excluded that data stored there is overwritten and can therefore no longer be restored.
jwoegerbauer said:
Rooting Android by means of TWRP and/or Magisk ( keyword: SuperSU ) affects its /data partition where phone's data typically are housed. Therefore it cannot be excluded that data stored there is overwritten and can therefore no longer be restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is there the possibility if deleted that it's still on the system cache and is there a way to recover it if so on a none rooted phone?
Maybe using ABD?
Don't some on the "one touch" root solutions claim to preserve the data?
Android doesn't have a recycle bin thus nothing gets cached. Deleting a file means nothing else than marking the space it occupies - whereever this disk space is located - as usable so that it can be overwritten by the system.
Have never used a "One-Click-Root" utility ...
blackhawk said:
It sounds like it deleted the data when you rolled the apk back (to factory load?).
If so it's going to be very sketchy at best to recover them.
I guess history's been deleted as well?
There are many coders here that have far greater knowledge than myself with Chrome.
My understanding of rooting is very basic as with Chrome which I rarely use.
If no one else replies in a day or two, bump it back to the top. Hope you find a work around solution.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it's just like I told. And yes, even history has been deleted.
Thank you for your help! I will wait until someone may give me a solution, or a possibility for a solution.
jwoegerbauer said:
Rooting Android by means of TWRP and/or Magisk ( keyword: SuperSU ) affects its /data partition where phone's data typically are housed. Therefore it cannot be excluded that data stored there is overwritten and can therefore no longer be restored.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I understand...
jwoegerbauer said:
Android doesn't have a recycle bin thus nothing gets cached. Deleting a file means nothing else than marking the space it occupies - whereever this disk space is located - as usable so that it can be overwritten by the system.
Have never used a "One-Click-Root" utility ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your explanation.
jwoegerbauer said:
Android doesn't have a recycle bin thus nothing gets cached. Deleting a file means nothing else than marking the space it occupies - whereever this disk space is located - as usable so that it can be overwritten by the system.
Have never used a "One-Click-Root" utility ...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah I was aware of the overwrite issue but on an unrooted device I don't think you can access the system cache. Even if you could the data could be so juxtaposed from lose of file structure as to be unusable.
One-Click-Root worked on older versions of Kitkat allegedly.
So... I understand. But I want to try. I want to root my phone. But I have to know how and I must prevent my phone from all the risks.
blackhawk: you said that the "One-Click-Root" method worked only for Kitkat Android. But I have read here that with Kingoroot i could have a chance:
How to Root Android Nougat (7.0/7.1) | KingoRoot Apk
Root any Android Nougat 7.0 7.1 device with KingoRoot.
www.kingoapp.com
(It's important: I AM NOT SPAMMING Kingoroot, I just want to understand If I can trust what it's written in their site. Also, in the link, at the end of the page, there is written that I can root my phone with my PC, which, to me, seems a safer way. It's the main idea I had when I decided to write in this forum, because I wanted to know the opinions of people that are very able to use these methods and these kind of programs.)
AlexiusFrigerius said:
So... I understand. But I want to try. I want to root my phone. But I have to know how and I must prevent my phone from all the risks.
blackhawk: you said that the "One-Click-Root" method worked only for Kitkat Android. But I have read here that with Kingoroot i could have a chance:
How to Root Android Nougat (7.0/7.1) | KingoRoot Apk
Root any Android Nougat 7.0 7.1 device with KingoRoot.
www.kingoapp.com
(It's important: I AM NOT SPAMMING Kingoroot, I just want to understand If I can trust what it's written in their site. Also, in the link, at the end of the page, there is written that I can root my phone with my PC, which, to me, seems a safer way. It's the main idea I had when I decided to write in this forum, because I wanted to know the opinions of people that are very able to use these methods and these kind of programs.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can try it; it will either work or nothing will happen. Even if it works it's likely those files are gone. Maybe better to chalk it up to another lesson from the University of Hard Knocks.
You could try contacting Google tech support to see if they have any ideas.
The last AT&T firmware update was specifically to block easy rooting by Kingroot; the rats learn quick.
blackhawk said:
You can try it; it will either work or nothing will happen. Even if it works it's likely those files are gone. Maybe better to chalk it up to another lesson from the University of Hard Knocks.
You could try contacting Google tech support to see if they have any ideas.
The last AT&T firmware update was specifically to block easy rooting by Kingroot; the rats learn quick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you very much for your help. I understand: I must give up. But the most important thing is to learn something about anything we do. Anything could help for future situations.
"It's a shame to stumble twice on the same stone" (Polybius, 31,11, 5).
Thank you again. Goodbye!
AlexiusFrigerius said:
Hello,
I hope that this is the right side of the forum to describe my problem. I desperately need help. It's a long story:
I had on my Samsung phone the app of "Chrome", which I always use to surf the internet. Using the google browser IN THAT APP, I have downloaded lots of things (I'm a scholar, so I like to read and I use to download everything that I found interesting). I have updated the app and I was frustrated, because I couldn't take anymore screenshots while surfing in "incognito mode". So, I decided to delete the update: i went into "settings", then "apps", and then I have brought back the app of "Chrome" as it was when i bought my phone. Sadly, I then noticed that I had lost every file in my download folder; I had lost every file downloaded with that app.
I had not synchronized my Google account, I can do no backup. I'm so angry and sad because I've always thought that the files downloaded would have stayed in my phone until I and only I would have decide to delete them.
I have done a lot of research on the internet and I have found out that there are some apps that can recover a very large part of lost files. But, in order to do this, I have to root my phone.
My phone is a Samsung Galaxy J2 SM-J250Y/DS, and the Android version is 7.1.1. I have seen that rooting a phone could be very dangerous; also, to me is very complicated. But there is a program called Kingoroot, which, once installed on my computer, could (it's a possibility, I know!) rooting my phone easily.
What should I do? Should I try the rooting method? It seems to me the only way...
I ask you any suggestions... Please help me. I am a depressed student that, in this life, can only enjoy reading and books...
(I am Italian, and I hope my English is understandable. If I did any mistake, please forgive me.)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, I would suggest you can try free tool for Android Phone such as Stellar Data Recovery for Android which easily recover deleted files like, photos, audio files, videos files from your Android phone internal memory storage.
Source: https://www.stellarinfo.com/media-tools/android-data-recovery.php
{Mod edit: Quoted post has been deleted}
That drfone again. Scamware.
Do Not Use.
Drfone if used will encrypt "recovered" data and ask you to pay for it. After which the original data is gone leaving only the encrypted copy.
It is not free... not to be trusted!
Ran into this scam many years ago.