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[FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
WARNING: Rooting, flashing custom recovery & custom rom voids warranty. I am not responsible if your brick your mobile in this process. Though i'll always try & help you out fix the problem. Happy rooting
PS: I have written this whole guide by myself. No copy-paste. So if you find any wrong info anywhere, please point it. Thanks for reading
Thanks to Vineet (Vyom) for many of these queries.
Rooting:
Q: What is this root? A:Rooting is the process of getting root access on your Android device, which is otherwise restricted by the manufacturer of the device. Obtaining root access is like getting admin right in a Windows PC. You are free to modify or delete any apps or files, etc.
Q: Why do I need to root my mobile? A: Basically rooting is done cause some apps that can replace system files need root access. These apps may be required to get rid of bloatwares the mobile shipped with, fix some problems with the OS and even to try a custom rom.
Q: What are the risks involved in rooting? A: Rooting is usually safe as rooting softwares are created that root your mobile safely but at times, rooting can use bootloop or your mobile may get stuck at boot.
Q: What I need to do to root my mobile? A: There are several ways you can root your mobile. But as this is a noob’s guide to rooting, I’ll only list the ones i have found easy to use:
Follow the instructions & you are done. With Z4root & Gingerbreak, all you need to do is transfer apps to your mobile (phone memory or memory card. Doesn’t matter which you choose) and run the app. It’ll most likely reboot your mobile & your mobile should be rooted. SuperOneClick root & Unlock Root are Windows based app. You need to connect mobile to PC/Laptop & follow the on screen instructions.
Q: How do I know if my mobile is rooted or not? A: Download an app known as Root Checker from market & run it. It’ll tell if your mobile is rooted or not. Or, if you have used Z4Roor or Gingerbreak, then the same app should show an option to Unroot. That can also confirm that the device is rooted.
Q: I ran the app & my mobile is stuck at a black screen or at the manufacturer logo. A: After rooting it may take time to boot your mobile for the first time. If it doesn’t boots within 5-10min, pull battery & start your mobile again. If that too doesn’t help, reset mobile (this varies from mobile to mobile, Google it) but you’ll lose root access. If that too doesn’t help, your mobile most likely have some serious problem. Connect mobile to your PC/Laptop using data cable & run the PC Suite that came with the mobile. If your mobile is still not getting detected, time to take it for service.
Q: I followed all the instruction but still my mobile is not rooted. A: If rooting was not possible using Z4Root try the rest of the root method one by one. Reboot after every try.
Certain mobiles have NAND lock (the internal memory is locked using a password by the manufacturer & hence can’t be changed by a third party). I’ll add a few more details on this part after I am done doing my research on this topic.
Q: What is NAND lock? A:NAND locked (or S-ON) device is a device where the ROM (usually mounted at /system) is write-protected in hardware and thus cannot be modified, even if you have root privileges. Sometimes you get the illusion that you can write to /system, but in any case all changes will disappear after a reboot. This is why these devices often have temp root instead of permanent root.
Q: What is recovery? A: Android system uses a BIOS type system to install updates and to reinstall new or different ROMs. This is known as recovery. Now, this is only available to Google branded mobiles i.e. Nexus series. In other mobiles like Samsung, Motorola & HTC, recovery is either removed or locked.
Q: So how do you install updates? A: For that you have to use PC Suites that are bundled with the mobiles.
Q: Can we install custom ROM using the bundled PC Suite? A: NO. You can’t install custom rom using PC Suite. PC Suite can only be used to install official roms & updates.
Q: How do I install custom rom? A: To install custom rom you need a custom recovery. You need to first install/flash a custom recovery.
Q: How to install custom recovery? A: There are many types of custom recovery present like AmonRa recovery, Team Win Recovery Project (TWRP), ClockworkMod (CWM) recovery. There are many more like MultiRom, 4ext recovery, etc but those are made for specific mobiles only.
If your mobile is supported by it, it’ll start to download the recovery. Be patient.
Once download is complete it’ll say Flash complete or something similar.
Reboot mobile.
Now run Rom Manager again & select Reboot into Recovery.
Your mobile will reboot & the following screen should appear.
Spoiler:
You are done. Custom recovery is installed.
Q: Rom Manager says flash complete but when I select Reboot into Recovery, mobile reboots but nothing happens. Only a black screen appears. A: Pull battery out. Reinsert battery, start mobile and again run Rom Manager & select the same. Else reflash custom recovery using rom manager.
Q: Is there risk involved when trying to flash custom recovery? A: Yes. Risk is there. My mobile was stuck at the LG logo on 2 different occasions while using custom recovery (ClockworkMod). Usually the recovery image gets corrupted & hence mobile will get stuck at the mobile logo or display the below error message. This is the reason i suggest to use Amonra or any other recovery you can find other than ClockWorkMod recovery.
Q: I flashed recovery & now mobile is showing an error msg: fast boot started A: Your boot/recovery image is most likely broken. There are many ways to fix this. Easiest way is to use (android debug bridge) adb. But for that you have to google yourself or create a thread in the Custom Rom subsection so that we can guide you fix this problem easily. or Flash the official rom again using PC Suite or some specific flashing tool (ODIN for Samsung, RSDLite for Motorola, KDZ for LG, etc)
Q: I don't like CWM recovery & want to try one of the other recoveries. A:
Download any of the other recoveries i have listed.
Place it in memory card
Boot mobile to recovery (using rom manager or using shortcut key combo)
Select Apply Update from sdcard.
Select the zip file you have downloaded (DON'T EXTRACT IT)
Then simply select flash zip.
Reboot mobile.
I am not sure if rom manager will take you to the new recovery if you select Reboot into Recovery. If it doesn't use the 3 key combo (varies from mobile to mobile, google it)
Q: What is official rom? A: Google releases Android source code. Manufacturers compile it & add their own apps, tweaks, UI/Launcher (themes) and you have their own Android Rom.
Q: What is custom rom? A: In simple terms, a rom made by a user (DEV, modder; whatever you call). There are many different types but I won’t go deep into this as its offtopic.
Q: Why should i try a custom rom? A: Cause either your mobile manufacturer is way too lazy to push out an update or it no longer supports your mobile.
Q: What are the advantages & disadvantages of using a custom rom over official rom? A: Custom rom usually offers better performance as it includes various tweaks and all crapwares removed. The same can be done with stock rom too but why do the heavy lifting when custom rom is usually one stop for solving most of the problems. I'll list the advantages and disadvantages below.
Advantages:
Included tweaks.
More battery life.
No or less bloatwares.
More free space.
Pre-root access.
Many unique built in features (varies from rom to rom)
Disadvantages:
No warranty or official support
Custom roms are not always stable.
Q: Explain a bit more about warranty & custom rom A: Once you install a custom rom, custom recovery, or even root your warranty is void. Of course, unrooting is as easy as running Z4Root or some rooting software again.
But remember that if you break something (remove a system app like browser, calendar) you can’t contact mobile service center to fix it for you. You’ll have to reinstall rom. Also if you brick your mobile in the process of installing something or by overclocking, you are not eligible for warranty. Though once bricked, I doubt service center will be able to know what OS the mobile was running before and should provide warranty services anyway.
Q: How to choose the best custom rom for my mobile? A:
Go to specific XDA section dedication to your mobile.
Enter the development section.
There will be list of different threads.
Check each of the rom there about their unique features & bug list.
Pick the one which is most stable & suites your taste.
My suggestion is to pick a light rom with less preinstalled applications so that you can install those which you need. This in terms will boost battery life as well as offer more free space.
Q: How to install custom rom? A: Installing rom is more or less the same irrespective of what mobile you are using. But read the instructions given in the first post of the rom thread carefully as sometimes you need to flash certain patches before & after installing rom.
Installing rom is exactly same as going from CWM to any other recovery. I won’t repeat the same steps again. Check the earlier post.
Q: I have a mobile with a locked bootloader. How to install a rom? A: If you have successfully flashed custom recovery, simply flash a rom of your wish.
Q: What if I want to go back to official rom after flashing a custom rom? A: NANDROID BACKUP (or simply nand backup). Check the CWM recovery picture I have posted earlier. It has an option backup and restore. Just select it & take backup with default option. Always take backup when going from official to custom rom & even before trying any custom rom. It can save time in case you don’t like the new rom & wish to go back to the previous one.
Q: Can I copy backup folder to my PC? A: Yes you can & it’s advised to copy it to your PC in case our memory card gets erased in the process of flashing a new rom. When you want to restore, copy the folder back to memory card & use the same option.
Q: I flashed a new rom & can no longer make any call or receive any. same for sms. A: There are 2 possibilities:
Either the new rom you have flashed doesn't support your baseband. Check in the rom thread or ask the DEV.
Your IMEI number got replaced by some generic one. Always backup efs (encrypted file system) of your mobile before trying to flash any untested rom. This warning is specially for HTC & Samsung mobiles users.
adb: Android Debug Bridge, a versatile tool lets you manage the state of an emulator instance or Android-powered device
ADK: Android Development Kit, What people use to develop anything for the droid such as ROM's
Baseband: In communications and signal processing, the baseband describes signals and systems whose range of the frequencies measured from close to 0 hertz to a cut-off frequency, a maximum bandwidth or highest signal frequency; it is sometimes used to describe frequencies starting close to zero
Boot Loader: State in which the droid can be flashed from RSD with an appropriate .sdk file that reprograms the phone into a specific ROM or update. This is typically a last resort when the recovery screen cannot be reached to make a much simpler and less risky solution
Boot Loop: simply means something is preventing the phone from completing it's boot cycle and is stuck between the boot animation and the unlock screen, creating a looped animation. This is often fixed by either reloading a Nandroid, or Reflashing a rom from the Boot Loader.
Brick or Bricked: Jargon for a completely unrecoverable device, (no more than a brick or paperweight)
Bug or Software Bug: an Error or flaw in software that produces a failure or unexpected/unwanted result. Typically created from incorrect code, this is why some ROMs are better and smoother running than others because certain developers have taken the time to input "perfect" code
Busybox: BusyBox is a single multicall binary that packages the functionality of most widely used standard Unix tools, BusyBox provides a fairly complete environment for any small or embedded system.
ClockworkMod: A recovery program that is often used to apply updates, ROMs, or create a back up or restore a backup file
De-odex: Apk files have respective odexes that devs use to supposedly save space. Deodexing means you convert it back to a .dex file and put it back inside the apk. This allows you to easily replace files (not having to worry about odexes), but the main point was to deodex services.jar so that you can change all text to different colors (such as the clock color to white) and to deodex services.jar, you need to deodex everything.
Dev. or Developer: An individual that creates, or alters a file in such a manner as to advance the program
Flash or Flash Memory: a program technology that can be electrically erased and reprogrammed
Froyo: Short for Frozen Yogurt, is the latest iteration (2.2) of Android, Google's mobile operating system.
Kernel: The governor of the CPU usage and Battery output, one can upload certain Kernels to achieve greater performance speed of their device at the cost of some battery life
Root: Common word associated with giving a user "super user" access to their phones programming and other various aspects that would normally not be possible, also known as "Jailbroken" for iPhone's
Nandroid or Nandroid Backup: A file typically created in the custom recovery program, such as SPRecovery, that is a carbon copy of whatever state your phone is in before a drastic change is made. the file then can be moved onto or off of the SD card for later use in case something should go wrong in the ROM or Update, or a Boot Loop occurs
OS: Operating system, I.E. Windows Vista or MAC or ANDROID
OTA: Over the air...
Overclocking: Speeding up the CPU past the factory presets to achieve a faster and more responsive device
ROM: Read Only Memory, a program used to make changes to anything from the look of the home screen, to icons to custom boot animation
RSD or RSD lite: Remote Software Download, Motorola's own tool in flashing virtualy any type of program, (so long as its in .sbf form) to the Android OS
Shell or SSH: secure shell or ssh is a network protocol that allows data to be exchanged using a secure channel between two networked devices
SPR or SPRecovery: A recovery program that is often used to apply updates, ROMs, or create a back up or restore a backup file
Stock: Simply means an unaltered state, such as when you first purchase your phone from Verizon, or when you do a factory reset
SU: "Super user", or root permissions
Theme: A set of icons, backgrounds and app trays that change the ascthetics of the overall look of the droid and its applications
TUN/TAP: Refers to a network Tunnel, operates within layer 3 packets, or ip packets. Packets sent by a system via a TUN/TAP device are delivered to a user-space program that attaches itself to the device. A user space program may also pass packets into a TUN/TAP device. In this case TUN/TAP device delivers (or "injects") these packets to the operating system's network stack thus emulating their reception from an external source.
Underclocking: Slowing down the CPU mainly to limit battery usage
.sbf: Summation Briefcase File
.apk or APK's: An .apk file extension denotes an Android Package (APK) file, an .apk file can be opened and inspected using common archive tools
.tar: Similar to a zip file, a tar file archives multiple files into one file
.tgz: TGZ files are commonly used as install packages for Slackware Linux.
Interesting thread.
Can you highlight the steps in rooting following devices:
1) HCL ME X1 tablet ( android 2.3)
2) Tata Cdma mobile - Samsung galaxy pop (Android 2.2)
The second one is especially difficult to root as far as I know. Not much research into it yet from what I have read.
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
Nice Sam!
I am glad to be a part since I did ask some noob questions myself!
Your article would get better with time if everyone puts their suggestions.
Your "noob" questions encouraged me to write this guide. Yup, need suggestions. As this is a FAQ (not a guide actually) more the number of questions, the better.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
BTW, I must tell you, maybe I wouldn't have attempted to root if I had read this article before, because of those disclaimers!
and i deliberately didn't tell you about the risk of bricking as it'll unnecessarily create doubts about rooting & custom rom.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
Also, I have came across some more queries: What’s the best app to take screenshots? Drocap2 and ShootMe are not available in market.
krishnandu have already posted a link. or check XDA. They have a thread dedicated to ShootMe.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
But no such app appeared after I rooted my phone. So I don’t think it can be regarded as a full proof method to check if your device has root.
when you first ran titanium backup, were you asked about allowing superuser permission?
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
Update: @Sam: Accidently I did saw an app called, Superuser.
But it was in System app section and not in the probable Downloads section. Hence missed it.
And the app shows a list of the apps which have bee granted root access! Very useful.
__________________
Marty: Hey, Doc, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
Doc Brown: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need, "roads!" :)
──── On the Internet you can be Anything you want. It's Strange that, so many people choose to be Stupid! ────
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
Quote:
Originally Posted by aroraanant
You have done a fabulous job Sam
Keep it up
thanks
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
Yes, it aksed. And it also ask for any app that required root access.
But still, there's no such application with the name, "Superuser", on my phone.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
Update: @Sam: Accidently I did saw an app called, Superuser.
But it was in System app section and not in the probable Downloads section. Hence missed it.
And the app shows a list of the apps which have bee granted root access! Very useful.
i have rooted my mobile many times & each time this app appears. else how can you allow #su to apps?
OFF TOPIC : New firmware available 4.0.2.A.0.62DO NOT UPDATE TO THIS FIRMWARE MANY USERS ARE REPORTING ROOTING PROBLEMS
Thanks for the heads up Vimjam
ORIGINAL THREAD AND CREATOR IS DOOMLORD
Thank him HERE
Download THIS *Rooting Files
LINK
And extract it
Connect your Device to PC
Before u begin:
(1) make sure u have installed adb drivers for ur device
(2) enable "USB DEBUGGING"
from (Menu\Settings\Applications\Development)
(3) enable "UNKNOWN SOURCES"
from (Menu\Settings\Applications)
(4) [OPTIONAL] increase screen timeout to 10 minutes
(5) connect USB cable to PHONE and then connect to PC
(6) skip "PC Companion Software" prompt on device
And then Run "runme.bat"
Then Hit key " 1 "
Wait for a while
And you are now rooted
Credit- DOOMLORD
How do i root my phone? Can I use any of the methods listed in this thread?
BTW, This is my first android.!
If someone wants to root, he, should refrain himself from updating the phone in any way.
@sam: I think this point could be added to main post.
Btw no one can predict about the worst thing that could happen. Just take a chance.
__________________
Marty: Hey, Doc, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
Doc Brown: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need, "roads!" :)
──── On the Internet you can be Anything you want. It's Strange that, so many people choose to be Stupid! ────
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
Yea I couldn't wait till you replied, tried UnlockRoot and Z4Root. Both didn't work. Guess I'll have to downgrade back to 4.0.2.A.0.42. Will have to do more google searching
Any idea how you can downgrade?
Usually when we upgrade an app, their is a choice to uninstall only the updates than the whole app. You can try looking for something related to phone upgrade under manage applications. But I don't have hope.
__________________
Marty: Hey, Doc, we better back up. We don't have enough road to get up to 88.
Doc Brown: Roads? Where we're going, we don't need, "roads!" :)
──── On the Internet you can be Anything you want. It's Strange that, so many people choose to be Stupid! ────
Btw no one can predict about the worst thing that could happen. Just take a chance.
The worst thing will be a bootloop,what else!?
Unless someone messes with system partition hard brick is almost impossible.
The Doomlord method actually uses the Zergrush exploit which has been effectively sealed up by manufacturers.
I do not have Neo V,but dont you guys have things like CF root kernels for your phones?
__________________
Macbook Pro 2010,Macbook Air 11"2011,Samsung Galaxy S2,Ipad2,Sennheiser IE7,IE8,Earsonic SM3:razz:,
Last edited by red dragon; 18-01-2012 at 05:19 PM.
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
I found a way to downgrade : Using flash tool or Wotan Server. Will have to download the whole firmware and flash it. Well, I dont want to do this stuff since the phone is pretty new and all. Plus I have pre-boards from tomorrow. So I think I'll wait for a root for this firmware. My phone's full of bloatwares which restart themselves even after i kill them. And thats why i wanted to root.
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
Quote:
Originally Posted by shubh.s
I found a way to downgrade : Using flash tool or Wotan Server. Will have to download the whole firmware and flash it. Well, I dont want to do this stuff since the phone is pretty new and all. Plus I have pre-boards from tomorrow. So I think I'll wait for a root for this firmware. My phone's full of bloatwares which restart themselves even after i kill them. And thats why i wanted to root.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Vyom
Yeah, concentrate on pre boards first. Root later.
Root now. Concentrate later!!!!!
__________________
COMMON SENSE, Y U NO SO COMMON?
re: [FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
OMG This thread's going off-topic!
Quote:
Originally Posted by red dragon
You kids are rich!!
15k phone at school!!
LOL no this isn't my phone!! I can't even dream of getting a phone in 10th! Maybe in 12th. This is my mom's phone and lies around in the home. So i use it all the time and play around and all.
![[FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary](http://www.thinkdigit.com/forum/iconimages/mobiles-tablets/faq-rooting-custom-recovery-custom-rom-android-glossary_ltr.gif)
[FAQ] Rooting, Custom Recovery, Custom Rom and Android Glossary
lets see if new users find my guide useful.
and i deliberately didn't tell you about the risk of bricking as it'll unnecessarily create doubts about rooting & custom rom.
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