Develop Bugs

[Q] Few questions about root and cwm3

I have read through this forum and I am still unclear about a few things. First off I have a vibrant and have been flashing roms/themes, ect. I just got a epic 4g and get things straight before flashing.
1. The epic is completely stock, can i just use z4 root then flash cwm from rom manager on market? Or do I need a different kernel first? If I do need a new kernel, could I just use one of the kernel flashers on the market like SGS Flasher so I do not need to use odin?
Every thread I have seen has been mentioning using odin for the root/cwm 3 process. I have a macbook pro and my desktop pc is ancient so I try to avoid using odin whenever possible.
2. Just to confirm, is it really hard to actually brick this phone? I have messed around with my Vibrant, soft bricking it a few times but never had a problem restoring a stock rom.
3. Once rooted and cwm mod flashed I can go to any rom right?
Thanks and I know there are very similar questions already posted, I just wanted to be 100% clear because some answers were really vague.

You can use z4root but you can't install cwm with rom manager on stock kernel. It is really hard to brick the epic and yes once rooted with cwm you can get to flashing. Odin is used just to flash stock roms. I used it to flash the dk28 froyo rom and I only use it if I have to. Try to get your hands on a windows computer to root it with cwm. You can run the root plus cwm that is stickied in the development section. Once that is done you are ready to go. Good luck

Im in the exact same boat dude. I've had mine for about 4 days and still haven't done anything else but update to DK28. I did the z4root first, then thee next day I did the update. Now my SU doesn't work and I can't unroot using z4root. Phone just starts to vibrate and then I get a FC. I dunno, going to have to odin once I get some time. Really diggin my epic, but the vibrant was so simple and fun.
Sent from my SPH-D700 using XDA App

rrodxbox360repair said:
I have read through this forum and I am still unclear about a few things. First off I have a vibrant and have been flashing roms/themes, ect. I just got a epic 4g and get things straight before flashing.
1. The epic is completely stock, can i just use z4 root then flash cwm from rom manager on market? Or do I need a different kernel first? If I do need a new kernel, could I just use one of the kernel flashers on the market like SGS Flasher so I do not need to use odin?
Every thread I have seen has been mentioning using odin for the root/cwm 3 process. I have a macbook pro and my desktop pc is ancient so I try to avoid using odin whenever possible.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While you may be able to use z4root to to root your phone, like musclehead84, I am under the impression that you can't install CWM through Rom Manager on the stock kernel (LINK supporting this, I may be wrong though). It may work with other kernels, but to flash those kernels, you need CWM... kind of a Catch 22. Not sure if SGS Flasher will work for flashing a new kernel, but if I recall correctly, I remember reading atleast one thread resulting the need for a restore after using SGS Flasher (Odin or Nandroid, can't remember which).
And your not using Odin for root/CWM, your using adb (included with the one click root and CWM download), which I believe can be run from the terminal on a Mac with the right adb version ('one click' OSX LINK using older joey-krim root method, but if your flashing a new pre-rooted rom anyway, will work fine).
2. Just to confirm, is it really hard to actually brick this phone? I have messed around with my Vibrant, soft bricking it a few times but never had a problem restoring a stock rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it is fairly hard to actually brick the Epic. If you have issues flashing your phone with Odin, the most likely culprit will be the usb cable. I have also read others having luck with removing the micro sd card before flashing, or even booting into download mode (which is done by holding '1' on the keyboard while pressing the power button) while leaving the battery removed.
3. Once rooted and cwm mod flashed I can go to any rom right?
Thanks and I know there are very similar questions already posted, I just wanted to be 100% clear because some answers were really vague.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, with a couple caveat's... If your flashing a froyo rom, you will need to make sure you also atleast update the modem to the proper one (i.e. DK28) using Odin, or flash the leaked 'official' beta update.zip while on a stock DI18 to take you to DK28 with modem, (LINK with instructions, would do this before bothering to root or anything though). And if you decide to convert to EXT4 (DK28 only), that's a whole other story.

Newb Question

I want to root my phone to get WiFi tether.
I am confused. What is the best way to root the phone? I see a Zedomax Vid on youtube which links to a "version 1" file.
Can anyone post a link for the best way to root right now?
If I root the phone, is that the same as installing a custom ROM?
I want a custom rom eventually once they have been worked out a bit longer.
Right now, I just want to be rooted for wifi tether.
Thanks in advance and sorry for such basic questions, but I am getting a bit confused I as read through the forums.

My main concern with rooting the ET4g is the flash counter that I have read about here. I had my evo4g rooted so I'm not new to this but I am for the ET4g...Do these pre-rooted kernals replace the stock kernal? Will there eventually be a method to keep the stock kernal and root the phone? Will there be a way to bypass the flash counter built into the rooting process/a custom ROM? I want to have those questions answered before I root my phone b/c I don't want something to go wrong and then I can't get it replaced through sprint. The only reason I would want root is for wifi tethering...custom roms maybe but at this point I see no reason aside from random bugs that I would need a custom rom. Anyways sorry to jack this thread. I figured it was a similar question.
Edit: And maybe this thread should be moved into the questions section

painkillaz said:
My main concern with rooting the ET4g is the flash counter that I have read about here. I had my evo4g rooted so I'm not new to this but I am for the ET4g...Do these pre-rooted kernals replace the stock kernal? Will there eventually be a method to keep the stock kernal and root the phone? Will there be a way to bypass the flash counter built into the rooting process/a custom ROM? I want to have those questions answered before I root my phone b/c I don't want something to go wrong and then I can't get it replaced through sprint. The only reason I would want root is for wifi tethering...custom roms maybe but at this point I see no reason aside from random bugs that I would need a custom rom. Anyways sorry to jack this thread. I figured it was a similar question.
Edit: And maybe this thread should be moved into the questions section
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can flash a rooted kernel, then flash the stock to get back to the stock kernel and still be rooted. Both kernels are available in the developers section of this site. As far as the flash count goes - I'm not sure if there is a way to reset the counter.

chunology said:
You can flash a rooted kernel, then flash the stock to get back to the stock kernel and still be rooted. Both kernels are available in the developers section of this site. As far as the flash count goes - I'm not sure if there is a way to reset the counter.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes there is its called a jig ..... Google samsung usb jig they are cheap but there are 2 counters and there may be no way to wipe the 2nd one
Sent from my SPH-D710 using xda premium

azmtbiker said:
I want to root my phone to get WiFi tether.
I am confused. What is the best way to root the phone? I see a Zedomax Vid on youtube which links to a "version 1" file.
Can anyone post a link for the best way to root right now?
If I root the phone, is that the same as installing a custom ROM?
I want a custom rom eventually once they have been worked out a bit longer.
Right now, I just want to be rooted for wifi tether.
Thanks in advance and sorry for such basic questions, but I am getting a bit confused I as read through the forums.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Use Zedomax's method - I only say this because he includes the flash utility (ODIN) and a rooted .tar as well as a helpful step by step video.
You do NOT need to install a custom ROM to root - you can use odin to flash just the kernel.

chunology said:
Use Zedomax's method - I only say this because he includes the flash utility (ODIN) and a rooted .tar as well as a helpful step by step video.
You do NOT need to install a custom ROM to root - you can use odin to flash just the kernel.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the reply. Should i use the method as on youtube with "version 1" link or is there an updated version?

azmtbiker said:
Thanks for the reply. Should i use the method as on youtube with "version 1" link or is there an updated version?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Go HERE and use that version.. it is just the rooted stock kernel with a few tweaks. There are also links in that thread for ODIN (the flash utility) and Samsung Kies (you'll need to install this to obtain the proper drivers for your device) as well as a step by step method.

Best way to get ROOT and keep stock kernel?

Hey guys. I actually don't even have this phone yet but will be getting it shortly. I definitely want to root it (I have a rooted EVO 4G and Xoom tablet) I'm a little confused though about the different methods I'm seeing.
My goal is to obtain a fully rooted phone w/ stock everything. What is the best method to do this?

ODIN this and you will get CWM, root, Ive found the LOStkernel to be a lot better than stock.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1296348

Smoked600 said:
ODIN this and you will get CWM, root, Ive found the LOStkernel to be a lot better than stock.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1296348
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the noob question but when I watch Qbking's video on this kernel he says you need to be rooted and have CWM installed to flash the kernel. But what you're saying is this kernel can provide root, add CWM and flash the kernel if you use Odin to do it? If so, I'm right in saying I'd want to download the TAR file rather than the ZIP? For root, would I need to flash SuperUser via CWM or is it built into the kernel?
I've been thinking about jumping into root soon to try out the Starburst ROM and I've evaluating the cleanest way to gain Root + CWM. I was thinking about using Bubby's method, but this seems solid too if my assumptions above are correct. This would be my first Android root by the way so I'm being patient and extra careful.

I just got this phone recently and rooted it.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1268548
thats a really good place to start. but to be honest every time you use odin and you flash a kernal in odin you'll get an annoying Yellow triangle that pops up in the beggining. So Your best bet is to flash to a kernal to gain root then flash the kernal from the unroot tutorial as if your unrooting the phone it wont remove superuser.apk automatically, and it will remove the yellow triangle, then from that point just use either cwm or the zimage flasher from adb to do it.
My recommended steps are
this one first for gaining root
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kExN-Y2pfxA
then this one
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ySskTt-S-cM
Follow links in youtube description.
after you do that, don't use odin anymore just use cwm and that adb script for changing kernals and you'll never get that annoying triangle again.
Also be aware that everytime you flash with odin the phones bootloader records that you flashed it, meaning even if you take it back to stock if sprint wants to look at it for warranty purposes they can still see that you did something to it. which means that youll need a $2 jig to wipe that count which I don't even know where that is.
If you can use a temp root thats used for 2.3 gingerbread on other devices then use second link in youtube to avoid using odin, I kinda wished I knew before because then I would have done some more experimenting with the phone. so annoying, I have control of this device and at the same time not which really sucks!
Edit BTW: Why use the starburst rom it doesnt really look that snazy to me for me to consider jumping to it the stock one works great why not just flash a deodex stock one and flash a theme to it, theres some really sick themes in the theme section of xda check it out! XD

Smoked600 said:
ODIN this and you will get CWM, root, Ive found the LOStkernel to be a lot better than stock.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1296348
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I had some wake lag (about 2 second delay between pressing the power button and screen turning on) with the LoStKernel, so I've been running this:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1284511
It's been working well for me so far. You'll have to get root access first, so try out the LoStKernel to gain root access and if you don't like it switch to this.

Maybe a dumb question....

Ok, so I have rooted my Epic Touch strictly using odin. I downloaded the stock ics tar that was already rooted. It did not however, include CWM for adding custom ROMs. I would I would like to know if i can put the CWM in and not mess up root or should I unroot and do the root a different way so CWM is included? I just dont want to brick my phone. I would like to play with different ROMs but not brick my phone.
Thanks in advance. Hope I stated what I am trying to do correctly.
Sent from my SPH-D710 using XDA Premium App

Easiest way to add a kernel with CWM would be just using the old auto rooter. Option C and pick whatever firmware you have. So EL29 + CWM is L - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1342728
Just read the instructions. Goto settings > applications > developer options and tick the usb debugging and then connect the usb cable.
To help you understand odin and how you rooted your phone I will say this. When you used ODIN as the method to root your phone, and if you were on EL29 it was the only way to. What happened is you actually reflashed the firmware with a copy that was rooted. As long as you dont install a rom that for some reason doesn't have root which would be sorta odd or ODIN a tar over thats not rooted (or use a non rooted one click) you likely won't lose root. Unless you really wanted to
ODIN can also be used to flash parts of firmware such as the modem or a kernel etc. But as for your root someone rooted a rom repackaged it for flashing with ODIN.

Thank you!! Worked like a charm... Now to remember how to launch into CWM again lol....

Power the phone down, then hold volume up and power button together until CWM pops up.

pixiedust7976 said:
Ok, so I have rooted my Epic Touch strictly using odin. I downloaded the stock ics tar that was already rooted. It did not however, include CWM for adding custom ROMs. I would I would like to know if i can put the CWM in and not mess up root or should I unroot and do the root a different way so CWM is included? I just dont want to brick my phone. I would like to play with different ROMs but not brick my phone.
Thanks in advance. Hope I stated what I am trying to do correctly.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hate to be a killjoy but I'm pretty sure you stated that you're using ICS?
I wouldn't recommend using CWM in ICS. Even seasoned developers have turned their phones into paperweights because of issues with ICS and recovery.
If you want to see what ICS is like that's fine. However, if you're new and want to play around with ROMS that support recovery, you should ODIN back to Gingerbread.
There are a TON of threads here concerning issues with ICS and recovery that have had fatal consequences to the owners' phone.

[Q] updating to UAMDL with root

I'm rooted with a custom recovery running M919UVUAMDB. Is there an easy way for me to update to M919UVUAMDL. When I tried the ota it said my phone has been modified and wouldn't proceed. I've been reading about people having issues rooting their phone after the they updated, so I'm thinking it may not be worth it to update at this time. I'm hoping I can just flash somthing to bring my phone up to date without the root blocking that was implemented in UAMDL. I have been having some issues and hope the update would resolve them. Can someone steer me in the right direction please? Thanks

electricjelly said:
I'm rooted with a custom recovery running M919UVUAMDB. Is there an easy way for me to update to M919UVUAMDL. When I tried the ota it said my phone has been modified and wouldn't proceed. I've been reading about people having issues rooting their phone after the they updated, so I'm thinking it may not be worth it to update at this time. I'm hoping I can just flash somthing to bring my phone up to date without the root blocking that was implemented in UAMDL. I have been having some issues and hope the update would resolve them. Can someone steer me in the right direction please? Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same question.

As do I. I'm thinking it'll be a flash via Kies, then re-flash TWRP, install the custom kernel and re-root.

darkjedi said:
As do I. I'm thinking it'll be a flash via Kies, then re-flash TWRP, install the custom kernel and re-root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Don't be lazy guys there are roms floating that are MDL and stock rooted.. it takes literally 1 mins to search for them...
Sent from my SGH-M919

aLdaRiS said:
Don't be lazy guys there are roms floating that are MDL and stock rooted.. it takes literally 1 mins to search for them...
Sent from my SGH-M919
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I thought some of the stock rooted firmwares were zipped and could be flashed via recovery.... (why I didn't think of doing this on the old GS4 I have no idea, prolly because I wanted to keep my recovery stock -shrug-)
Either way wouldn't you need to get Triangle Away?

adventure_of_link said:
I thought some of the stock rooted firmwares were zipped and could be flashed via recovery.... (why I didn't think of doing this on the old GS4 I have no idea, prolly because I wanted to keep my recovery stock -shrug-)
Either way wouldn't you need to get Triangle Away?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure what you're taking about lol
Sent from my SGH-M919

aLdaRiS said:
I'm not sure what you're taking about lol
Sent from my SGH-M919
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
...in other words, isn't it possible to find a custom firmware that you can flash through recovery? (or since this is Samsung land, is this all through Odin? I remember on my Evo 3D I could find new custom firmwares in zip files and flash from recovery.)
and Triangle Away resets some kind of counter specific to some Samsung phones relating to custom firmwares.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=eu.chainfire.triangleaway&hl=en

adventure_of_link said:
...in other words, isn't it possible to find a custom firmware that you can flash through recovery? (or since this is Samsung land, is this all through Odin? I remember on my Evo 3D I could find new custom firmwares in zip files and flash from recovery.)
and Triangle Away resets some kind of counter specific to some Samsung phones relating to re-installs.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
he said he's already rooted and already has a custom recovery... so basically he needs to find a rom that is stock MDL but rooted(there are 2 in the and development forum) and flash it. that's it. I'm not sure why they wanted to update through Odin it kinda makes no sense.. cos they it'd be stock uprooted and then they'd have to root it again. AFAIK triangle away it's only used to reset the counter on the bootloader to see that you haven't installed any custom recoveries which you would only need if you were to send the phone back to tmo to have it exchanged. Otherwise you don't really need Odin unless you **** up a flash and then need to bring it back to stock fw and then root it again and do the whole process basically ODIN brings your phone back from a soft brick.
Sent from my SGH-M919

aLdaRiS said:
Don't be lazy guys there are roms floating that are MDL and stock rooted.. it takes literally 1 mins to search for them...
Sent from my SGH-M919
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Has nothing to do with lazy. I ended up upgrading via Kies, flashing the custom kernel and then rooting.