Database Develop

[README FAQ] ***PLEASE Read this before posting or asking questions***

I am making this thread because I am seeing *far* too many people posting things when they have no idea what they do or when things are coming, or what things are possible with the phone at this point, so please take these answers into consideration when deciding to post either a new thread, or a reply to someone in an existing thread:
(Note: This thread will be continuously updated when more issues need to be addressed)
QUESTION NUMBER 1:
What can our phone do at this point (9/17/2011)?
At this point, our phones can do the following:
-Be rooted
-Use a bootstrap ClockworkMod Recovery
-Make nandroid backups
-Use the 2nd init booting process
QUESTION NUMBER 2:
What is bootstrap recovery?
Bootstrap recovery is an alternative form of recovery which "hijacks" the boot process and instead goes into a recovery mode that loads the ClockworkMod Recovery.
In order to boot into it, you *must* bootstrap it through the app on Android *every time you want to boot into recovery*.
QUESTION NUMBER 3:
What does having bootstrap recovery do for us?
With bootstrap recovery, we can do EVERYTHING that a normal recovery can do for us, *INCLUDING* installing ROMs and making nandroid backups.
QUESTION NUMBER 4:
Now that we have bootstrap recovery, does this mean we can use ROM Manager to install stuff?
No. No, no, no, a thousand times no. This is not an official 2nd init Recovery release from koush and ROM Manager WILL NOT work with the bootstrap version of recovery.
QUESTION NUMBER 5:
What is 2nd init?
2nd init is altering the init files in the system partition to take over the booting process so that we can load whatever we want to on boot. It is a way to get around the locking of the bootloader. This is also what allows CM7 to run on Moto phones with locked bootloaders.
QUESTION NUMBER 6 (this is the important one):
What does it mean when our bootloader is "locked"?
The bootloader being locked means that we are not allowed to flash unsigned images in fastboot or flash custom kernels to our phone that can alter features such as overclocking, or BFS, etc.
HOWEVER: This *does NOT* mean we cannot start making custom ROMs on our phone. The bootloader being locked has *nothing* to do with the system partition and custom ROMs are still completely viable and can be made and now freely distributed.
ALSO: There *are* ways to get around the fact that we cannot flash custom kernels. With 2nd init and kernel modules, we can freely get around the locked bootloader and even achieve features such as overclocking without having to flash a different kernel.
Please read this and understand this before you post.

very useful information here...there seems to be many in these forums that are new-to-root and this explains the current status very well. thanks for this and all of the help you have provided people already.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App

I liked this thread since I just picked the bionic up yesterday, like it better than the Droid 3
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using xda premium

If your truly new to root i suggest waiting or reading alot before attempting anything here way to early to be rooting and have no idea what your doing that makes for a perfect bionic paperweight
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App

Bump-This needs a sticky.

topxshelfxtre said:
If your truly new to root i suggest waiting or reading alot before attempting anything here way to early to be rooting and have no idea what your doing that makes for a perfect bionic paperweight
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you know what you're doing, there's not much risk...if you don't, it's a disaster waiting to happen.
Sent from my DROID BIONIC using XDA App

Berzerker7 said:
I am making this thread because I am seeing *far* too many people posting things when they have no idea what they do or when things are coming, or what things are possible with the phone at this point, so please take these answers into consideration when deciding to post either a new thread, or a reply to someone in an existing thread:
......Please read this and understand this before you post.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please include Pictures?

Forever root
Where can I find a link to Forever root and cheesecake?
Thankk you

Thanks
Nice write up. As a newbie I can't thank you enough for clearing those topics up in a short and sweet manner. Thanks!

this is the place for stupid questions?
im experienced (rooted droids) but total noob.
what is all the talk about 893 or 5.6something.
its seems totally differenent from ROMs but it looks like some say you need to have this # to use this rom and so forth. It looks also like people are screwing up there data with this stuff.
So...for people who want to Root&Rom is this stuff important? Where is info on what it actually is (893 and other #s)
covering my head and waiting for the smack...

Berzerker7 said:
QUESTION NUMBER 4:
Now that we have bootstrap recovery, does this mean we can use ROM Manager to install stuff?
No. No, no, no, a thousand times no. This is not an official 2nd init Recovery release from koush and ROM Manager WILL NOT work with the bootstrap version of recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was taking a look at the Bootstrap description on the market and it reads:
YOU MUST BE ROOTED TO USE THIS APPLICATION. FOR DROID BIONIC ONLY.
DO NOT DOWNLOAD THIS IF YOU AREN'T COMFORTABLE USING AN SBF!
Droid Bionic Recovery Bootstrap will set your phone up so you can access a custom recovery mode to create full backups of your phone and install new ROMs! Install ROM Manager afterwards for easy ROM installation and backup!
What does the developer mean by the last sentence of his description? Doesn't this conflict with FAQ #4? I'm just trying to make sense of everything before I begin using Roms... Thanks.

[Q] Few questions

Okay so, since I'm sort of new, I wanted to ask a few questions:
1. Is it possible to root xperia x8 with manufacturing date 11w48? At least at 95% chance. I'm a bit scared of the bricking part...
2. If it is possible, what kind of "ROM" (if I understood correctly) should I get?
3. If I get hard bricked/soft bricked what's the chance my phone will be still usable.
That's about it. Please don't rage at me for "OMG USE SEARCH BUTTON" type of thing.
I have tried doing it but no results found. Just threads and posts of people updating their.. ROMs I gues? Correct me if I typed anything wrong there.
But yeah, help would be appreciated. Thanks!

Jetboard said:
Okay so, since I'm sort of new, I wanted to ask a few questions:
1. Is it possible to root xperia x8 with manufacturing date 11w48? At least at 95% chance. I'm a bit scared of the bricking part...
2. If it is possible, what kind of "ROM" (if I understood correctly) should I get?
3. If I get hard bricked/soft bricked what's the chance my phone will be still usable.
That's about it. Please don't rage at me for "OMG USE SEARCH BUTTON" type of thing.
I have tried doing it but no results found. Just threads and posts of people updating their.. ROMs I gues? Correct me if I typed anything wrong there.
But yeah, help would be appreciated. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. You can safely root your x8 regardless of when it is manufactured, you will not brick it
2. You have 11w48 so it is very risky to unlock your bootloader, i suggest you flash ROMS that is for stock
3. If you get soft bricked you can flash the stock firmware back using flashtool or SEUS, if it is a hard brick, you need to go to the nearest Service center or use a JTAG
Swyped via Tapatalk 2

Thanks a whole bunch. I thought I cannot root because of my manufacturer date. But what is a flash ROM tho?

Jetboard said:
Thanks a whole bunch. I thought I cannot root because of my manufacturer date. But what is a flash ROM tho?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you can root your phone. but you can't unlock bl.
when you root your phone, you cam install cwm recovery. simply dl a rom for stock kernel and go to recovery and install(flash) the rom. remember to check the instructions first.
Just because i don't doesn't mean i can't.

All what I found until today was that if I cannot unlock BL I cannot install CWM recovery.
Maybe it is related to model - mine is Sony Xperia J. Y2012.
There is no fastboot available.
Am I wrong, can I have CWM, nandroid backup etc on stock ROM as only such one I may flash ?

F308 said:
All what I found until today was that if I cannot unlock BL I cannot install CWM recovery.
Maybe it is related to model - mine is Sony Xperia J. Y2012.
There is no fastboot available.
Am I wrong, can I have CWM, nandroid backup etc on stock ROM as only such one I may flash ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is for x8. not sure how it works on J. but yeah we don't havt fastboot either. but we can install cwm even with a locked bl. again that's for se x8.
edit: my advice is go to your phone's subforum. you'll get your answers there.
Just because i don't doesn't mean i can't.

Thank you. I understand that lot of things is device dependent but thought there are non-breakable rules, like gravity,
and what is possible to do under certain circumstances was one of them.
Need walk through XDA forum once more, maybe there is a hope.

F308 said:
Thank you. I understand that lot of things is device dependent but thought there are non-breakable rules, like gravity,
and what is possible to do under certain circumstances was one of them.
Need walk through XDA forum once more, maybe there is a hope.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
there probably are a few unbreakable rules, but not being familiar with your device i can't guarantee that it's safe or it would work.
Just because i don't doesn't mean i can't.

Despite lot of reading I still am missing knowledge.
Question is:
What is fastboot ?
I found more than one definition of it and compiled into my own.
1.
Of course fastboot.exe is Windows binary (part of flashtool pack) which does certain type of work.
This is not what we are interested in.
2.
I concluded that:
- fastboot is one of modes into what android device can wake up. Just like linux can boot in different ways or Windows into single mode.
- this feature is encoded into boot.img, it is not separate android application.
- boot.img will work only with related kernel.img. They are like love and marriage (which is like horse and carriage - Bundy's).
- Sony sometimes disables stock boot.img to boot into this mode then without replacing boot .img it is impossible.
More comments ?

Fastboot is protocol used to update the flash filesystem in Android devices from a host over USB. It allows flashing of unsigned partition images.
Just because i don't doesn't mean i can't.

Okay, I got one more last question. Is this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=906195&nocache=1 okay to use for rooting? I'm still trying to find the LATEST safe ones =/ I wonder if this one is okay.
Um, I tried that one it didn't work. It said some stuff are missing, then it exited randomly etc.. Can someone give me a link or a short/long guide which I can use that's latest? I do have some X8 drivers in a .zip file but no idea how to install them. Thanks in advance.

Jetboard said:
Okay, I got one more last question. Is this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=906195&nocache=1 okay to use for rooting? I'm still trying to find the LATEST safe ones =/ I wonder if this one is good.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I rooted mine with this
Means its safe
Sent from my X8

Having few issues with the SuperOneClick thing... It sometimes randomly exits, tells me that some stuff are missing etc. Any help? =/

[Q] Cricket S5

Hello all,
I managed to grab a Cricket-branded Galaxy S5. I decided this was the best area to post and ask questions because I believe this phone is locked down the exact same as the AT&T one (and might even be 1:1 other than software and the logo on the back), plus the fact that AT&T owns Cricket.
Currently, I only have the device rooted using TowelRoot.
I want to install SafeStrap, but wasn't sure if it would go smoothly, and I don't have an image to use with ODIN if I mess things up.
Can anyone suggest how to best create a stock image, or provide links/info to a stock ROM for this phone on Cricket?
Model: Samsung SM-G900AZ
Android version: 4.4.2
Baseband: G900AZTUU1ANE7
Kernel: 3.4.0-1732610 [May 29]
Build: KOT49H.G900AZTUU1ANE7
I would like to back it up, install SafeStrap, and try out some custom ROMs (I know Bootloader is locked, so I'd be limited in that regards), or possibly install Xposed to tweak some device behavior.
Can someone please advise?
Thanks.

Install safestrap, the worst that can happen is it may say installed but when you try to reboot to recovery, it will just reboot like normal and its as if the installation didn't actually 'stick'.
That's what happened to me...
After uninstalling the safeatrap installer and re-installing the app, then re-running the app, it said that safestrap was successfully installed, and this time upon tapping 'reboot to SS recovery' it actually worked.
You definitely do not need all the trouble of making a backup right now.. Just install ss and then make a full backup as usual.
Ps we have the same phone

Recently bought a s5 cricket, and what I have rooted for odin using the method cf-root, now I want to change the recovery to philz and change the kernel by one a bit more efficient and thrifty, and read about the Ss but not sure which version should I use because I can not find any for my team, I would assert that this circulating ND3 or that could use?

This is my phone

Venomdroid said:
Recently bought a s5 cricket, and what I have rooted for odin using the method cf-root, now I want to change the recovery to philz and change the kernel by one a bit more efficient and thrifty, and read about the Ss but not sure which version should I use because I can not find any for my team, I would assert that this circulating ND3 or that could use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate to tell you that will be impossible..
Unless soneone can correct me, i am 99% sure our boooader is locked and will remain as such.
So, safeatrap is your only option for recovery/flashing, and in addition you will be limited to flashing tw-based Roms. Custom kernels are not an option unless /until the bootloader is unlocked.
Sorry to be the Bearer of bad news

Swimguy14 said:
I hate to tell you that will be impossible..
Unless soneone can correct me, i am 99% sure our boooader is locked and will remain as such.
So, safeatrap is your only option for recovery/flashing, and in addition you will be limited to flashing tw-based Roms. Custom kernels are not an option unless /until the bootloader is unlocked.
Sorry to be the Bearer of bad news
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I understand, however I wonder what version of SS I use to at least make a backup of my current rom and to test some custom rooms? the truth is that I feel bound hand and buy the tlf a good price and would like to customize much as my S3, but hey I'll have to resign myself to use it well and lighten the version that brings factory.

Edit : in case anyone wasn't sure here is the link to safestrap http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2794087

Hi, I'm kind of new to this, but I have a Cricket S5, and have some quick questions regarding rooting.
1. Is there anyway to fully unroot the cricket phone after rooting it with towelroot? (unvoid the warranty)
2. Will the bootloader ever be unlocked, so that I can flash custom roms?
Thanks for any help!

13jeremywt said:
Hi, I'm kind of new to this, but I have a Cricket S5, and have some quick questions regarding rooting.
1. Is there anyway to fully unroot the cricket phone after rooting it with towelroot? (unvoid the warranty)
2. Will the bootloader ever be unlocked, so that I can flash custom roms?
Thanks for any help!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes, theres an unroot option in SuperSU that ive suggested to be used or you can reflash with odin, there are guides in the general forum if you check there
2. Will it ever be unlocked? Most likely not. Can it be unlocked? Yes, but unless something pops up it would have to be by getting the decryption key.
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk

The bootloader is unlocked. From the beginning, unlocked. No need to decrypt anything or get a key or any of that hassle.
Yes, you can fully unroot if you choose

Rakuu said:
1. Yes, theres an unroot option in SuperSU that ive suggested to be used or you can reflash with odin, there are guides in the general forum if you check there
2. Will it ever be unlocked? Most likely not. Can it be unlocked? Yes, but unless something pops up it would have to be by getting the decryption key.
Sent from my SM-G900A using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rakuu,
Im attempting to UNroot my sm-900az to stock and for some reason i cant find super user in order to retun to stock via that method, do you or anyone else know where to find the Stock ROM that i could use ODIN to go back with???

Mababel05 said:
Rakuu,
Im attempting to UNroot my sm-900az to stock and for some reason i cant find super user in order to retun to stock via that method, do you or anyone else know where to find the Stock ROM that i could use ODIN to go back with???
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are multiple stock roms in the general section.
Sent from my twi5ted SM-G900A using Tapatalk

[Q&A] TF701 Root

Q&A for TF701 Root
Some developers prefer that questions remain separate from their main development thread to help keep things organized. Placing your question within this thread will increase its chances of being answered by a member of the community or by the developer.
Before posting, please use the forum search and read through the discussion thread for TF701 Root. If you can't find an answer, post it here, being sure to give as much information as possible (firmware version, steps to reproduce, logcat if available) so that you can get help.
Thanks for understanding and for helping to keep XDA neat and tidy!

tf701t root and custom recovery
hi im after a little help. i have just recieved a tf701t which has been updated to kitkat 4.4.2 firmware 11.4.1.27. all the guides i have seen have been for a lower firmware version so am struggling to find the correct way any help would be greatfully accepted
thanks
Matt

mattlad said:
hi im after a little help. i have just recieved a tf701t which has been updated to kitkat 4.4.2 firmware 11.4.1.27. all the guides i have seen have been for a lower firmware version so am struggling to find the correct way any help would be greatfully accepted
thanks
Matt
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Help with root?
Nothing changed. You still have to unlock the bootloader, flash CWM from here: http://droidbasement.com/db-blog/?p=3568, then flash SuperSU in recovery if you want to stay on stock or flash CROMi-X 7.0.3, CM11 or the AOKP rom from the development section.
pershoot is working on a CM12 Lollipop port which should be out within a few weeks - maybe
Do you need more detail?

berndblb said:
Help with root?
Nothing changed. You still have to unlock the bootloader, flash CWM from here: then flash SuperSU in recovery if you want to stay on stock or flash CROMi-X 7.0.3, CM11 or the AOKP rom from the development section.
pershoot is working on a CM12 Lollipop port which should be out within a few weeks - maybe
Do you need more detail?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same issue. The problem is unlocking the bootloader, as the Asus unlocker software doesn't work on 4.4.2. I guess downgrading is the only option, but so far no luck with finding instructions on how to do that... anyone?

Tormented jazz man said:
I have the same issue. The problem is unlocking the bootloader, as the Asus unlocker software doesn't work on 4.4.2. I guess downgrading is the only option, but so far no luck with finding instructions on how to do that... anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The Asus unlocker does work on the latest version 4.4.4 or what ever it is (i don't remember) the website just wasn't updated.
You just need to keep trying until it recognizes.

Sleeepy2 said:
The Asus unlocker does work on the latest version 4.4.4 or what ever it is (i don't remember) the website just wasn't updated.
You just need to keep trying until it recognizes.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hmmm, that's good to know. Just to be sure, there's someone who's reportedly managed to do this? I've tried 20+ times without success.
edit. Let me rephrase, +100 times is more correct.
edit2. I tried for the 112th time, and this time IT WORKED! Thanks for the info. I don't know if it had any effect or if this was purely a hazard, but this time I had the dock on...

The dock would have been purely luck as it doesn't always come with one stock (depends on which country you buy it) and you don't require the dock for the unlock.
Just glad that it eventually worked for you.

bit worried
i had same problem with unlocking bootloader, but asus helped. they said, that because of all my repairs, something changed in their database and their unlocking app cant read this devcice properly. so they decided to unlock my tablet remote, from their development center, and i'll be free to root in a few days.
But i'm worried because of my 4.4 (11.4.1.30.)
is there anyone who rooted it with 11.4.1.30?

Wow! Remote unlocking? That's a first! Can't wait to see if they actually do it (and I wonder how!).
Once unlocked you can flash CWM and then SuperSU in CWM if root is all you want.

Will this work on 4.4.2 on the TF701? Can someone on 4.4.2 (11.4.1.30) try this?
http://applicationsunlimited.blogspot.com/2014/12/approot-android-444-rooting-universal.html
THanks

help on tf701t root
Hi everyone,
'm currently trying to root my asus tf701t transformer and managed to unlock the decide and run bootloader. I'm stuck on installing recovery.img. I have moved the recovery.img file to my microSD card and the internal drive, launched adb fastboot and set it to bootloader. everytime i attempt to flash it, it says "error: cannot load recovery.img". have I put the recovery file in the correct place or have I done something wrong? i'm tearing my hair out trying to get past this stage!

willo1188 said:
Hi everyone,
'm currently trying to root my asus tf701t transformer and managed to unlock the decide and run bootloader. I'm stuck on installing recovery.img. I have moved the recovery.img file to my microSD card and the internal drive, launched adb fastboot and set it to bootloader. everytime i attempt to flash it, it says "error: cannot load recovery.img". have I put the recovery file in the correct place or have I done something wrong? i'm tearing my hair out trying to get past this stage!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The recovery . img goes on your PC, not your tablet. Your PC needs to find it to flash it to the tablet

To be specific, the img needs to be in the same folder as your fastboot.exe.
On your PC.
If that doesn't work you may not have the fastboot drivers installed.
What does <fastboot devices> return?
Post screenshots of your cmd window

You can also use flash tool on your PC to make things easier
Sent from my 2013023 using XDA Free mobile app

solved it. i knew i was doing something stupid. thank you very much!

Cannot boot twrp recovery
Ok,
First post and first attempt at rooting. Hope I don't screw it up... Too much.
I am trying to root my tf701 with zombi-pop, but can't get twrp to run.
Tried it with the recovery in the internal storage or in the same folder as fastboot.exe on my pc.
The tablet is unlocked and on latest firmware 11.4.1.30 ww sku.
When i get to the "fastboot boot 701_twrp_2870.img" stage on my pc I lose contact with the tablet. the cmd just hangs on "waiting for device".
I try typing "fastboot devices" and nothing shows up.
I have attempted numerous times, always with the same result.
Any help would be appreciated
Update - Fastboot driver wasn't recognised
I found a universal driver that fixed it.
I can't post the link as I'm a noob and thus not allowed, but I found it pretty easily once I started looking for universal adb drivers.

Hey, all. I've found a problem with my tf701 running CM 12.1. I have been using Webroot Backup & Sync to sync files on my external sd card (Samsung 64gb class 10 Micro SD). Since rooting the device I am unable to get webroot to locate my external storage.
Any suggestions would be great.

Hi Guys!
I've been installing a new ROM for my TF701T using the cromi-x ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf701/development/rom-t2839030/page78)
everything is looking peachy keen except I have lost root access. Do I need to rerun the root installation instructions steps or is it something else?

willo1188 said:
Hi Guys!
I've been installing a new ROM for my TF701T using the cromi-x ROM (http://forum.xda-developers.com/transformer-tf701/development/rom-t2839030/page78)
everything is looking peachy keen except I have lost root access. Do I need to rerun the root installation instructions steps or is it something else?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How did you loose root??? It's build into the rom! How do you know that you lost root?
Open the SuperSU app and update the binary. What does it say?

Linux user unable to find the correct process to get a custom rom installed and very confused

Hey guys ive been perusing the web for days, i cant seem to find the method that should be used to get a new rom on my phone i have the SM-N950U1.
i am also a linux user and not sure exactly how i should go about flashing when i dont have a windows machine. does any one have a clear start to finish idea how to correctly do this and what i will need to complete the root, flash. im sorry if it covered some where i hae looked but evidently not found a method. any assistance would be very grateful i really dont like proprietry bloatware and i know this is an older phone. thank you all for any assistance!

1. Unlock bootloader.
This will factory reset your phone.
I forgot the exact process of this, was a long time ago when I did this.
2. Flash a Custom Recovery with "ODIN"
"TWRP" is the most common Custom Recovery.
I think ODIN is Windows-only Software, but you could use a VM.
3. Boot into Custom Recovery & flash the Custom_ROM.zip file.
You can try out Custom ROMs from XDA from the ROMs-Section.
I may have forgotten something, so take this with caution

ssokar said:
Hey guys ive been perusing the web for days, i cant seem to find the method that should be used to get a new rom on my phone i have the SM-N950U1.
i am also a linux user and not sure exactly how i should go about flashing when i dont have a windows machine. does any one have a clear start to finish idea how to correctly do this and what i will need to complete the root, flash. im sorry if it covered some where i hae looked but evidently not found a method. any assistance would be very grateful i really dont like proprietry bloatware and i know this is an older phone. thank you all for any assistance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First of all the SM-N950U1 (snapdragons soc models) has a permanent LOCKED bootloader so no TWRP recovery.
The post from dreamytom is for SM-N950F/F-DS/N exynos models.
You can only root the SM-N950U1 models, with nougat firmware with root only, depending on the bootloader you are on and if you can find the files needed for it. The thread for that "Extreme Syndicate root thread " has been disconnected and the files taken down, so might want to ask in that thread for someone to share the files for you.
Best of luck!
edit.
Here is the thread.
2023 SM-N950U/U1/W Rev8 One Click Root/Safestrap Inject Method
Root Method For N8 U/U1/W Series Phones Rev8 Bootloader New 1 Click Method Brought To Everyone By oakieville He provide this free of charge so If you like maybe give him a little donation Paypal email is [email protected] Before Starting...
forum.xda-developers.com

Thank you guys, ill check that link out now and see what i come up with
by the sounds of it there maybe a new phone in my near future