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Hi, I am not very tech saavy and so I am hoping that I can get some good advice from people who are more techy than me. I hear alot about rooting for android devices but I'm not too sure of exactly what rooting is other than I understand that there are certain capabilities that you can't do unless your phone or android device is rooted. In my case I have a Galaxy Tab, I would like to be able to have a back up feature but I keep on coming across the phrasing that the device must be rooted first. I looked up a couple of websites to find out exactly what rooting means and they mention the pros of rooting, but I am wondering what the cons are and if it is really necessary for me to root my device or is this something that is meant more for the "advanced" users who may be using their devices for more serious persuits vs. the casual user who just likes to play here and there...I really hope that what I am trying to say makes sense to all you out there! So in a nutshell, I guess what I'd really like is a breakdown of the pros and cons of rooting your device and when and when NOT to do it...Thank you all for your thoughts!
It's up to the user to decide whether there is a function they need, that they can only get through gaining root access to the phone. It could be that you want to alter the appearance of your phone beyond what is normally possible, or there are features included in a custom ROM that you would like to have.
You mentioned wanting the ability to backup your phone and there's no better way than to root and flash a custom recovery to achieve that. With that done you can image your phone state to your SD card so that it can be restored in it's entirety any time you wish. (Nandroid Backup).
There are also apps that can only work with a rooted device which can give you more advanced control over your device. One example is Rom Manager which is commonly used to flash custom recoveries and ROMS to your phone, and gives you an easy way to manage your Nandroid backups. Of course there are many others.
Thanks to the hard working devs on xda it's never been easier to do all these things. If you want to learn more i would suggest having a look at SuperOneClick and Rom Manager and reading the appropriate threads. Browse through guides and ask questions when you want to know more.
Hope that helps.
BTW, the only 'cons' to rooting and having a custom recovery is that you lose the ability to receive official over the air updates while your phone is in that state. Restore the Nandroid backup you made of your stock ROM though and you can re-gain that ability. I suppose the biggest 'con' of all is people not doing their research and ending up with a non-functioning device when something goes wrong. As always, RTFM!
So I've been reading all these articles about rooting the Samsung Captivate and they all seem to say that rooting gives you the equivalent of admin access and basically its really useful.
What I want to know is if it is safe? I'm not really good at these things and I'm afraid that if I root it I might just screw up my phone because I don't understand what I'm doing. Also I've read that rooting your phone can sometimes render your phone unusable...is that a serious issue for the captivate?
I mainly want to just be able to have a complete backup, and be able to download apps from third party websites. (I have AT&T) I think rooting lets you do all that.
Also, I see all this talk about ROM's or something and I really don't understand what that is.
If i root my phone, will it wipe any data I have stored on my phone, like contacts and apps or something? Will I still be able to receive software updates from AT&T?
Please help...Thanks sooo much!!!
Hello there,
In first place, ROMs it's the name we usually call for the OS images that you run in your phone. You have the manufacturer ROM, with (probably) operator stuff in it. You can have a very different OS image, with different layout, more options (there are beautiful things around like CyanogenMod), etc. So, installing new ROMs sometimes is like installing a new Android OS on your phone (not exactly but something like that).
Rooting your phone doesn't clean your data, but it's always a good practice to do an application/data backup. Backup software: Titanium Backup (i use it and i really like it).
By adding an Android Recovery loader, you will have the possibility to make a nandroid backup which really allows you to keep EVERYTHING! (that happens after you root the phone, of course).
Advantages of having a rooted phone:
* removing operator applications you don't like in the standard ROM
* run 'root-only' software
* installing new ROMS
* upgrading the OS version of your phone to higher than supported by the manufacturer (some features may not work in this case)
Disadvantages:
* you may void your warranty
* you may brick your phone
* you can be messing around for a long time before having your phone stable once again (if you are curious to keep trying different ROMS, and app2sd and other add-ons)
Bricking your phone may happen if in the procedure to root your phone you need to flash it. In my case, I have a LG P500 and had the Android 2.2.2 - to root it I had to flash a 2.2 version and that was the risky part (some people say that 1 in every 4 phones get bricked in this procedure which I find very exagerated!)
So read the procedures carefully and have your phone with battery full before doing any rooting procedures. Do things calmly, follow every single step and if your get unsure of something, stop, ask, and after that move forward. You will be really happy when your phone is rooted !!
thank you!
The previous responder was a little zealous with the warnings. I have a Captivate, which is rooted and running a custom ROM (CyanogenMod 7).
First, rooting will not brick your phone. In theory, you void your warranty by doing so, but it's really easy to restore to factory state.
I don't recommend a custom ROM for someone who has basic questions like you've just asked. I'd reccommend first trying to get root, and run apps like Titanium backup, SGS Tools, etc. Be careful, research what you're doing, and make lots of backups. So long as you can enter download mode, you can flash back to factory.
Sent from my SGH-I897 using XDA Premium App
I was right where you are last August. I agree with ADT who says that you should root first and then work with apps that require root. Titanium Backup has been the most valuable for me out of all of those.
The chances of bricking your phone when you only root it is minimal. I guess it's possible, but honestly, I cannot see how. There are 2 files that are required called Bootloaders. Think of these as the AT&T screen and then the Samsung screen in a stock Captivate. If you do anything that changes/replaces these, you stand a great chance of bricking your phone. You don't do this when you root, only when you do something like try a custom ROM.
When you root your phone, you won't really notice anything different at first. However, if you look at your apps you will see a new one called Superuser. It is the app that is needed to run "rooted" apps. Also, once you root your phone, you will be able to take advantage of Amazon's market which has a free app a day.
If you decide to "unroot", it can be done rather easily, and you will lose the ability to do things like run rooted apps and Amazon apps (including any you downloaded).
I would recommend that you read as many posts about rooting as possible before you finally make the plunge. Read, read and read again. Make sure you know what you are doing before you do it and the risk of damage is minimal. I have bricked my phone many times, including the power button not working and was lucky to get it back. I learned the hard way by not knowing to read, read and read again.
Good luck!!
One other quick point. If you decide to play with custom ROMs, I recommend you stick with the ones that run Froyo, not Gingerbread. The Gingerbread ROMs are just starting to come out and I believe are not for someone just starting out. The instructions are a bit more complicated and the chance of bricking your phone are much greater.
The Froyo ROMs are much easier to install. However, as said in my last post, I'd get used to rooting your stock phone first before going that way.
stick with froyo and play with custom roms. To install custom roms just flash the custom rom in the recovery mode.
You're right guys. I mean, changing the bootloader is the risky part of the process, not the rooting itself. But the risky part is flashing a ROM (if that's needed to root the phone)...
In my case I had to downgrade my phone (LG P500) before applying root, so it was risky from the start - anyway, depending on the phone model, rooting / installling bootloader can be more or less risky...
Samsung. Couldnt he always ODIN back?
Sent from my ADR6300
I'm coming from an iPhone and have been reading and re-reading threads on rooting to make sure that I do it correctly. I think I'm all set to use Odin and have all the files downloaded. Seems pretty straightforward.
The only question I have is; how do I get CWM recovery installed?? I had a Droid X years ago and bought Rom Manager Premium, can I download and use that??
Thanks.
P.S. Sorry if this is a super noob question. I just don't wanna brick my phone.
follow my guide in the developoment section or click link in sig...all you do is download the ez recovery app from playstore..you must be rooted first!
droidstyle said:
follow my guide in the developoment section or click link in sig...all you do is download the ez recovery app from playstore..you must be rooted first!
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I just went to the play store and looked at that ez recovery app, friggin sweet!!! Thanks!
I'll root and backup later on today!! This app makes it easy cause I'm not familiar with adb commands.
I just came from a Verizon HTC Rezound to the Verizon Samsung GS3, and I am a bit confused at the differences between the two. It appears things like rooting and ROM flashing are done WAY differently on the S3. I managed to get it rooted and have TB and SU working without an issue, and I was able to flash a custom recovery with ROM Manager, but still have some confusion about the inner workings of this phone.
1. Does this phone have an HBOOT?
2. Can I do Nandroid backups on this phone?
3. What is this flash counter I keep seeing mentioned?
Thanks in advance.
wmaudio said:
I just came from a Verizon HTC Rezound to the Verizon Samsung GS3, and I am a bit confused at the differences between the two. It appears things like rooting and ROM flashing are done WAY differently on the S3. I managed to get it rooted and have TB and SU working without an issue, and I was able to flash a custom recovery with ROM Manager, but still have some confusion about the inner workings of this phone.
1. Does this phone have an HBOOT?
2. Can I do Nandroid backups on this phone?
3. What is this flash counter I keep seeing mentioned?
Thanks in advance.
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Click to collapse
I know he probably should have created a new thread for this question. However, I too am curious as to the answers to these questions. Is there anyone familiar with HTC devices that can explain the differences? Especially 2 and 3 as the term flash counter has me rather frightened. I am looking to purchase a new phone and really want the GS3 but not if I can only flash the ROM a few times.
toolfan2k4 said:
I know he probably should have created a new thread for this question. However, I too am curious as to the answers to these questions. Is there anyone familiar with HTC devices that can explain the differences? Especially 2 and 3 as the term flash counter has me rather frightened. I am looking to purchase a new phone and really want the GS3 but not if I can only flash the ROM a few times.
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Yeah, don't jack my thread!!!
After finding out the issue was a bit of user error I got CWM to flash correctly.
toolfan2k4 said:
I know he probably should have created a new thread for this question. However, I too am curious as to the answers to these questions. Is there anyone familiar with HTC devices that can explain the differences? Especially 2 and 3 as the term flash counter has me rather frightened. I am looking to purchase a new phone and really want the GS3 but not if I can only flash the ROM a few times.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you follow the methods in my guide you wont trip the flash counter...most new android devices have a counter that counts how many times custom software was flashed on the device. there are ways to reset it aswell...best advice is to start doing alot of reading! my guide will get you where you want to go, but i dont have the time or patience to explain all the differences between samsung and htc for flashing roms. i will say samsung is much harder to brick thanks to odin.
I'm so extremely new to this forum (and any forum, for that matter) that I just have an overload of questions. I've taken the time to read some stickies for noobs and that you should always read and search before posting but I am impatient (I tried and failed).
I recently got a gorgeous, red htc one m8 from Verizon. This phone is bomb, and a total step up from my previous galaxy s3, but now I really want to root for the first time and see where it can take me.
I'd like to backup my phone before following the instructions to root, and the resources I've gotten don't seem promising and I was really just wanting to know what would be best to save EVERYTHING from multimedia to my somewhat custom settings. (?)
Please don't hate me. I'm so new. If I ever get to the point of rooting this thing are there any personal recommendations on where to begin after I've rooted (or threads that already have that stuff)?
The rooting process (including soff) wipes no data. After you get root, you can install an app like titani backup or helium backup to backup individual data. You also want to do a nandroid backup in recovery the second you install a custom recovery, so you have a cushion to fall in in a bad situation
wtoj34 said:
The rooting process (including soff) wipes no data. After you get root, you can install an app like titani backup or helium backup to backup individual data. You also want to do a nandroid backup in recovery the second you install a custom recovery, so you have a cushion to fall in in a bad situation
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you!
Now I've just got to google nandroid backup and custom recovery. These are honestly my baby steps with this, should I even root without knowing all this stuff or will it just get easier?
letsmoshjosh said:
Now I've just got to google nandroid backup and custom recovery. These are honestly my baby steps with this, should I even root without knowing all this stuff or will it just get easier?
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Click to collapse
I would say you need to read read read. The s-off procedures for either firewater our sunshine are damn near idiot proof so there's little to no risk of damaging things there. However, once you have the ability to flash things in a custom recovery the risk goes way up. As long as you're not flashing unverified experimental files or accidentally flashing files for a different model then today's recoveries make it pretty easy. Also, make a nandroid before you change just about anything through recovery. Happy flashing.
cntryby429 said:
I would say you need to read read read. The s-off procedures for either firewater our sunshine are damn near idiot proof so there's little to no risk of damaging things there. However, once you have the ability to flash things in a custom recovery the risk goes way up. As long as you're not flashing unverified experimental files or accidentally flashing files for a different model then today's recoveries make it pretty easy. Also, make a nandroid before you change just about anything through recovery. Happy flashing.
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Click to collapse
All of the above are true. Please revisit the thread if you have any issues setting up ADB on your machine before you attempt firewater (S-OFF). The big thing for me was making sure I got everything installed properly before I flashed. Once you do the root process be it Samsung, HTC, et al... you will find it is remarkably easy.
If you're looking for a custom ROM, be sure to stick to the Verizon HTC One M8 forums only unless you're directed there by a thread. Before you flash anything at all, just make sure you're solid on the process. Many times, there are awesome people who take the time to make a video about the process from start to end. Those will probably enormously useful for you on your first foray.
Again, ask around and read up! As cntryby429 said, read as much as you possibly can. The truth is, the devs do far more work than we could ever imagine as far as root goes.
Cheers!
letsmoshjosh said:
I'm so extremely new to this forum (and any forum, for that matter) that I just have an overload of questions. I've taken the time to read some stickies for noobs and that you should always read and search before posting but I am impatient (I tried and failed).
I recently got a gorgeous, red htc one m8 from Verizon. This phone is bomb, and a total step up from my previous galaxy s3, but now I really want to root for the first time and see where it can take me.
I'd like to backup my phone before following the instructions to root, and the resources I've gotten don't seem promising and I was really just wanting to know what would be best to save EVERYTHING from multimedia to my somewhat custom settings. (?)
Please don't hate me. I'm so new. If I ever get to the point of rooting this thing are there any personal recommendations on where to begin after I've rooted (or threads that already have that stuff)?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been where you are! It's a little daunting finding all the information and getting it sorted.
You will have to do your own reading and do lot of it, but here's a little summary to get you pointed in the right direction.
The only known root method for the M8 is WEAKSAUCE. It provides temp root, meaning you loose root with each reboot but the app will re-root the phone automatically about 30 sec after booting. Servicable but not very elegant.
Root with Weaksauce is a pre-requisite to everything below.
If you want permanent root and/or run a custom rom on this phone you have to S-off, unlock the bootloader and flash a custom recovery (in that order).
For S-off and bootloader unlock (accomplished at the same time) there are two methods:
FIREWATER: free, but does not work on all M8s. Try it - it'll either work or fail. Follow the instructions on the Firewater website to the letter
SUNSHINE: from the same devs that made Firewater, guaranteed to work on all M8s and it'll cost you $25. Well worth it in my opinion.
Once you have S-off and an unlocked bootloader you can install a custom recovery like TWRP or CWM (I recommend the former). Find instructions on the respective websites.
Once you have the custom recovery installed, you can
- flash SuperSU for permanent root
- make a nandroid (total system backup or image) of your stock rom or any rom you have currently installed
- flash a custom rom
This should get you started. Read everything three times, ask twice, flash once.
Edit: Could you do me a favor? Change the title of your thread to something like: Step-by-Step instructions for rooting/roming the M8?
It would make it easier to find for users in a similar situation.
Hello everyone.
I apologise if this has been answered, but I couldn't find one. I own an Xperia Z3 (D6603) running 6.0.1 build 23.5.A.0.570.
I am looking to root my phone, but I don't have a clue where to start. I don't want to brick it, preferably don't want to lose any stuff on the phone, but that doesn't matter so much.
Any information would be greatly appreciated.
Regards,
Sam.
My favourite way: forum.xda-developers.com/z3/general/guide-rootrecovery-how-to-root-install-t3017056
Does require a full data wipe though when you downgrade to do the initial rooting, but unless you wanna unlock the bootloader (you may decide to though it has drawbacks) this will likely need to happen anyway.
Other methods are available but this never failed for me. You might need to run giefroot a few times. It does work it just takes a couple goes unless you're really lucky, but that's part of the fun
If you do unlock the bootloader I recommend using this to backup the TA partition. Then if you want the features like camera processing etc back after unlocking you'll be able to do so: forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2292598
Personally I never unlocked so that's up to you to find info on it and decide if it's worth it for your needs.
It's a lot of info but actually really easy. Read the guides,digest info, read again and then follow every step as you do it and you won't make any mistakes.
To update back to marshmallow after rooting you'll need a pre-rooted .zip of your chosen country on MM (or a custom Stock Based ROM). Just make sure it's for your model (D6603) and you're good to go
Edit: best way not to lose stuff is back it up on the computer when you can. Not just now but always (root helps this also with nandroids) as at any point phone can die or something. Learnt hard way when I dropped my old S3 and the 64GB SD card inside broke due to poor design. Thanks Samdung...