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Root and still getting OTA updates theory

Hi XDA-Devvers,
In a topic (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1510719) I read about the following:
Nonverbose said:
Root won't stop an ota but an unlocked bootloader will. You can check in your boot screen if its still unlocked or if its relocked.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doesn't that mean that we can root our tablet, lock the bootloader again (fastboot oem lock), install Voodoo OTA RootKeeper and once there's an OTA available, just backup the root with the Voodoo app and install it?
How awesome would that be :laugh:
Since I am not a pro in that kind of stuff: Can anyone confirm this theory might actually work for real?

fastboot oem lock is unavailable once you unlocked the bootloader.

Ah bummer. Can we relock the bootloader yet? IF we were able to relock the bootloader, it would work, wouldn't it?

TomONeill said:
Ah bummer. Can we relock the bootloader yet? IF we were able to relock the bootloader, it would work, wouldn't it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, as many informations -including bootloader version- are sent to check if a new OTA is available

alx5962 said:
No, as many informations -including bootloader version- are sent to check if a new OTA is available
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, thank you for replying. This makes the decision to root a little harder since I want to keep getting updates and for that you'll need ClockWork (and the people who are pushing the update to XDA)(Clockwork does have the nandroid backup though, which I want to have when rooting), which doesn't run very stable last time I read (I rooted before, but then I sent my tab back (heat problems) and got a new one. I flashed a beta ROM xd).
I thanked your post

Isn't it enough to have the original Kernel and ROM? Do you really need a locked bootloader to get OTA updates?
Has anyone tested the universal root method? See http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1886460
As this doesn't effect the Kernel, OTA updates might work if rooting works with this method.

I've not tried it. I've read some people are bricking their tablets with the universal, and since the A700 is basically a brick waiting to happen, I think I'll pass on it for a while.

[Video Guide] How To Root Galaxy S4 I337 / I337m Easy & User Friendly

Hey folks. It's me again :victory: So I've got another super easy video guide on how to root your shiny new Samsung Galaxy S4 I337 or I337m.
This guide is using djrbliss's Motochopper tool. This tool has made it easier than ever to root a device! So BIG thanks goes out to him!
Links to everything can be found in the video description.
Enjoy

Here is a couple of more. I figure its better to keep them all in one place so people can decide which guide they want to use.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257039
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2257058
I think there might be a couple more out there but this should help people to answer any possible question about rooting that they could ever have.
If you have the AT&T OTA (MF3) for the SGH-I337 S4, the method in the OP does not work. Here is a method for rooting MF3:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2387577
For Canadian MG1 Firmware, try CF Auto-Root download for the SGH-I337M:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2293800

Just sold my Rogers S2 LTE because I upgraded to the S4. My quick question, if I ROOT and retain the original Samsung Recovery will I be able to still get and do official firmware upgrades? This is the only thing stopping me from going forward with rooting.

You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.

thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!

Slade8525 said:
thanks: im now rooted and sim unlocked for free!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, how did you sim unlock it for free, do you mind sharing?

yeah sure!
similar method worked for my GS III; havent tested the GS IV with different sim just yet but GF's old GS III is working just fine for her sister in Canada (Bell i think). GF found it actually, and did it to hers 1st. ill know if it works when we leave for work in Montreal next week or if i bum a t-mobile cell from a friend.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2282683

Stoneyguy said:
You can still get updates, but you will loose your root access with each update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.

Whenever I try this method, when it goes to push the exploit, it says error multiple devices or something. when I only have the S4 plugged in. Followed step by step.

Dragosmp said:
WRONG, I am unable to update my device, it says that my phone has been modified, and yes, I have rooted it with this video.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.

Stoneyguy said:
My phone is rooted and still shows official in phone status. There is a post on how to regain that status while still maintaining your root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?

rsarwar said:
Could you post a link to where it shows how to regain the status will maintaining the root?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The link has already been posted on the first page.

thanks worked great just rooted min in 5 min

Safe to root?
Excuse my ignorance, but on another thread it was suggested that in the absence of recovery and a backup image rooting might be premature. Is the general consensus now that it is safe to root? There seems to be some backup images around thought I don't know if they have been tested, and I haven't heard about recovery.
sblevine

Newbie here... couple of questions
I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?
Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?
What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?
Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....
Cheers:good:

speed2001 said:
I have the same concern as the member above... is it already possible to restore the phone if something goes bad? Is there instructions anywhere around this forum? where?
Also, once you root the phone you can proceed to download a ROM and install it... when a new ROM version is available and I download and install it, do I lose the root?
What is the best (if more than one is already available) for the ATT S4?
Thank you all and sorry for the "newbieness"....
Cheers:good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.

Relys said:
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, thanks for the reply. I was under the impression that the bootloader was already exploited. Pure BS those protections that always end up broken like the IOS ones. What I would like is to have the S4 as factory released and load a good ROM without any problems and no bloatware. If not for the warranty I would buy an unlocked phone elsewhere.
Well, let's wait for the exploit next week. I don't want to brick my phone and not able to restore it. I will keep checking back.
Cheers and thanks again
Speed

Relys said:
No, rooting gives you certain superuser privileges. You can use Titanium Backup to freeze and restore bloatware, AdBlock to block advertisements, etc. Some phone tracking software and remote desktop control software requires root as well.
You cannot modify the basic operating system (ROM) until the bootloader is unlocked. You can overwrite the files, but that will brick your device since the bootloader checks signatures.
There is a bootloader exploit for the ATT S4 that will be released within the next week. The developer was waiting until the Verizon version of the S4 was available so more people would be able to use the exploit before it was patched.
Do not accept an OTA update for your device as that is how they will patch the bootloader exploit.
1. Root your device.
2. Carrier unlock your device.
3. Install custom ROM when bootloader is exploited later this week.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?
I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.
BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference

rsarwar said:
Regarding the bold above, I am honestly not that interested in the Custom ROMS right now, only rooting and with this method it does not install any custom recovery, right? As well, if I root via this method will I be able to still do the OTA updates since Samsung recovery is untouched? I know and understand that I will likely loose root, but I can always re-root, right?
I am itching to root and this is the only thing stopping me as there seems to be much confusion about this.
BTW I am on Rogers (Canada) i337M if it makes a difference
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:
We can root I337 now.
Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.
And, a few questions:
Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
If so, can we just root again?
Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.

zekeblue said:
I've been a bit confused as well despite reading hundreds of posts and watching referenced videos (I've also been hesitant to ask questions given the culture of this board). Here is what I hope is accurate, please correct where I am wrong:
We can root I337 now.
Doing a simple root now is reversible, ie, can be un-rooted.
The bootloader unlock is needed primarily for custom roms.
If one does not desire a custom rom, there is no reason to wait to root.
And, a few questions:
Does rooting wipe out apps, settings, and/or data?
Will an AT&T android system update remove the root?
If so, can we just root again?
Thank you for clarifications. I'm sure there are many that are not posting with some of these questions. I will be glad to put together a noobie's guide if I can get a handle on all of this. It is all out there somewhere, but very fragmented, and often one post is contradicted by another.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your assumptions are correct:
1. Yep.
2. Yes, you can delete busybox and su in your system directory to get your phone switch your phone from "Custom" to "Official" status. If you install SuperSu and remove Superuser you can have root while keeping "Official" status.
3. Correct.
4. If you **** up while messing around with root you can recover to stock ROM via Odin or Kies. There is no reason to wait for root.
To answer your questions.
1. No, nothing changes. You just enable superuser privileges.
2. Typically yes. Don't accept OTA's until your know they're safe.
3. It depends if they patch the exploit or not.

[Q] XT926 4.4.2 Questions.

what information do we have on rooting after the 4.4.2 ota update? Also is there any information on unlocking the bootloader? I'm trying to see what other people have tried before I keep going at the same things that have failed. Also is there any information on changing the imei/flashing this? My end goal is cyanogenmod on Virgin Mobile. I've done this with other phones and I just got my hands on this one but there doesn't seem to be as much into on this as others.
Tldr version
Root after 4.4.2 ota?
Unlock Boot loader after ota?
Is it flashable to virgin mobile?

Kin Kira said:
what information do we have on rooting after the 4.4.2 ota update? Also is there any information on unlocking the bootloader? I'm trying to see what other people have tried before I keep going at the same things that have failed. Also is there any information on changing the imei/flashing this? My end goal is cyanogenmod on Virgin Mobile. I've done this with other phones and I just got my hands on this one but there doesn't seem to be as much into on this as others.
Tldr version
Root after 4.4.2 ota?
Unlock Boot loader after ota?
Is it flashable to virgin mobile?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root after 4.4.2 ota? no not yet unless your unlocked.
Unlock Boot loader after ota? no probably never.
Is it flashable to virgin mobile? maybe, not 100% sure but check out this thread by @dragonhart6505 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2389740

billycar11 said:
Root after 4.4.2 ota? no not yet unless your unlocked.
Unlock Boot loader after ota? no probably never.
Is it flashable to virgin mobile? maybe, not 100% sure but check out this thread by @dragonhart6505 http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2389740
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
****. So I'm holding an unrootable piece of crap? What information do we have on methods of root attempted and such. Maybe I can contribute to this I've got nothing but time.
Edit: your thread unlocks gsm support. VM would probably need me to reprovision everything and change my IMei to match a donor phone.

I've been attempting various root methods for 4.4.2 and for the RAZR in general. I've had no luck. Is there a collective of people working on this cause I'd love to contribute however I can.

root xt926 4.4.2 Solved with towelroot apk
Kin Kira said:
I've been attempting various root methods for 4.4.2 and for the RAZR in general. I've had no luck. Is there a collective of people working on this cause I'd love to contribute however I can.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
google towelroot apk click on upsidedown y to download apk and install apk on phone run it and your in business. :good::good::good::good:

juliolopez76 said:
google towelroot apk click on upsidedown y to download apk and install apk on phone run it and your in business. :good::good::good::good:
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just as an FYI, that is called "lambda" which is a greek symbol.
Also, this works on 183.46.10 (the current KK ota that came out a few months back), but it does NOT work with the latest soak test (183.46.14), so you need to stay on 183.46.10, root with towelroot and then unlock your bootloader. If you do not do this AND if you take the soak test, you will be unable to root as a root exploit for 183.46.14 does not exist.
I don't want to say it won't ever be rooted, but as more and more exploits are patched up, it becomes harder and harder to root this phone, so your best bet is to root and unlock the bootloader on 183.46.10. Don't take the chance on whether a root exploit will be found or not. You'll save yourself, and the rest of us, a lot of headaches.
If you have already applied the 183.46.14 before rooting and unlocking your bootloader, you are SOL. There is NO way to go back to the previous version and root and unlock, so please do NOT ask how to revert back from the current soak test (183.46.14) and root and unlock your bootloader because you can't. You just can't, so don't ask.
I repeated what I just said because people always ask "well, if you flash back to 183.46.10". The problem is, the exploit that allowed unlocking of the bootloader is in a protected area that even unlocked bootloaders cannot write to without the proper encrytion keys. Once that area has been patched via the latest soak test, you have no way to write over it again because you would need the proper encryption key inside the image to flash in order for it to work. Unless Motorola becomes nice and gives you the key, it won't work. And the previous OTA's key is now invalid, so again, flashing the previous FXZ (183.46.10) will not work. It will just skip writing the protect area.
Clear as mud? Hopefully.

thats lambda....but you knew that

Root HTC one M8 with Update 4.4.3

Sorry if this is posted in incorrect place. I need a Root Method with Kit Kat 4.4.3 Update
I know Weaksauce used to work but since update it won't but does anyone have a root method that won't wipe device?
I really just want like a Temp root for access to Files

whishey said:
Sorry if this is posted in incorrect place. I need a Root Method with Kit Kat 4.4.3 Update
I know Weaksauce used to work but since update it won't but does anyone have a root method that won't wipe device?
I really just want like a Temp root for access to Files
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please read the forums this has been discussed many times at length since prior to the release of the update.
If you have taken the update you can no longer root without unlocking the device.
The release notes for the update state that the root vulnerability has been patched.
You need to pay the $25 for the sunshine unlock app.

Thank you will do

Bounty for unlocking bootloader for vs990 (progress has been made)

Good afternoon people of XDA,
Today is the dawn of a new day. A day where we begin the road to unlocking the bootloader to something that many believe is unlockable. Me and a few other users are starting a bounty to bring the incentive to life for all active developers. You can find my previous thread here. Now, when I say progress has been made, I mean that we have gotten into fastboot, we have donation incentives and we already have root so our tools are there we just have to find the exploit. Every day people are finding new exploits furthering our cause into reaching our goal. Now to the developers who want to pursue this, I've very much so tried to get active commands in fastboot but basically its just a dead fastboot for right now. The board on this phone and technologies behind it are so similar to its predecessors that somethings got to give. If you are interested in this cause, i.e. donating or deving on it, please contact me here, or email me at [email protected]
This is in our grasps friends. Spread the word, grab your fellow developers and lets get this thing to be a free wad of cash for whoever can bust it. Lets do this.
Attached is the spreadsheet for the current donations.

this kind of things never work...i mean, you make a donation and the people or the persons behind the scenes when getting high values like 400-500$ then buy a new phone and move on letting the desired phone to get development in the trash!!
Noooo, people should see, if a year old phone never came to life in development in the first 6-8 months then the development for it is dead and if you like to custumize the phone and flash things you need to move to a more flashable-friend device!

I have to agree with this. The Tmobile version has unlocked bootloader yet barely no development. What would make me that unlocking VS990 bootloader would all of a sudden spur development.

beavis5706 said:
I have to agree with this. The Tmobile version has unlocked bootloader yet barely no development. What would make me that unlocking VS990 bootloader would all of a sudden spur development.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I personally (and I think many other users) don't really need cooked roms. With gravity box, xposed and some other apps, I can "cook" my own rom (and believe me, it won't be that hard). All we need is a method for rooting. Using an android without rooting is even worse than an iphone without jailbreaking since iphones are undoubtedly smoother

presariohg said:
I personally (and I think many other users) don't really need cooked roms. With gravity box, xposed and some other apps, I can "cook" my own rom (and believe me, it won't be that hard). All we need is a method for rooting. Using an android without rooting is even worse than an iphone without jailbreaking since iphones are undoubtedly smoother
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Indeed, a rooting method for version above MM is the most importing thing for us rather than flashing custom rom. However, system-less root is need to root MM or above and this is required modifying boot.img, therefore, bootloader unlocking is need. Unless, we have found a way to sign the modified boot.img to deceive the offical bootloader.

ivangundampc said:
Indeed, a rooting method for version above MM is the most importing thing for us rather than flashing custom rom. However, system-less root is need to root MM or above and this is required modifying boot.img, therefore, bootloader unlocking is need. Unless, we have found a way to sign the modified boot.img to deceive the offical bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What did you mean by "unless"? Have you found an evidence that MM bootloader is unlockable or not?..

presariohg said:
What did you mean by "unless"? Have you found an evidence that MM bootloader is unlockable or not?..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I mean even if the bootloader is not unlockable, somethings can be done to let us perform the same things just like bootloader is unlocked.
For example, some dev in G2 and G3 have released a tool called "Bump!" before that can sign any third party image and let it able to be run on offical locked LG bootloader.
source: http://forum.xda-developers.com/lg-g3/orig-development/bump-sign-unlock-boot-images-lg-phones-t2935275
But of course, since LG have fixed the bug, we can no longer do the same tricks now.

In China, there is name ???he has lg tool, this tool can unpack repack kdz tot, add root in tot.
This is weibo id http://m.weibo.cn/u/1684239753

Need help
andy_zhang said:
In China, there is name ???he has lg tool, this tool can unpack repack kdz tot, add root in tot.
This is weibo id
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey, So I've been working to be able to get root, so far I have added root to the system.img and that's all done, I need this tool to be able to repack. Can anyone, or you, contact him and get this tool? This would be so helpful for me to get root and release it!!!!

abine45 said:
Hey, So I've been working to be able to get root, so far I have added root to the system.img and that's all done, I need this tool to be able to repack. Can anyone, or you, contact him and get this tool? This would be so helpful for me to get root and release it!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What version of Android you are going to add root? I wonder that you cannot simply add root in /system after Android 6.0.

ivangundampc said:
What version of Android you are going to add root? I wonder that you cannot simply add root in /system after Android 6.0.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm trying different things but still i need to figure out how to repack a tot to find out what's going to work!! Does anybody know how to get that application?

abine45 said:
I'm trying different things but still i need to figure out how to repack a tot to find out what's going to work!! Does anybody know how to get that application?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For MM, unless you've found a way to get the SELinux context needed, repacking the system image will not work.

anyone having any luck with rooting MM?

I think at this point what we really need is a small set of testers who have a good insurance policy on their phones and are willing to risk bricking their phones. We've got the outline of a method which looks viable, but the details haven't been worked out and is hence likely to produce a few bricks before we get it working.

Sorry for dropping of the face of the planet for the past two months. In testing with my device it ended up being FUBAR after wiping my aboot completely and with that the phone would not boot to anything but a black screen. I sent it into LG and after some time they finally just replaced my motherboard. But the absolute sad part is that they have me upgraded to 6.0 which absolutely is crushing my world. SO until further notice I will not be testing the unlocking of the bootloader anymore but I will make efforts here in a few weeks to start work on rooting the device. @alvislee[email protected]