Develop Bugs

[Q] Root and OTA updates

Hi,
What are experiences of current owners of Nexus phones ? My Desire Z is rooted ( only rooted, don't have a custom ROM), and I never got Gingerbread update so I'd hate the same thing happening to G Nexus.
Thanks.

zljk said:
Hi,
What are experiences of current owners of Nexus phones ? My Desire Z is rooted ( only rooted, don't have a custom ROM), and I never got Gingerbread update so I'd hate the same thing happening to G Nexus.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That will never happen with the GN. When you own this phone you're first in line for the updates until the next is coming out then you're second but still faster than the others.
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

When you're rooted you can't get the OTA updates. You have to unroot to apply them. That's true for all Android phones.

You cant get them at all?
Not even: get update and apply it, loose root because of the update, reroot?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk

TulpiX said:
You cant get them at all?
Not even: get update and apply it, loose root because of the update, reroot?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you could do that, but chances are someone will get the OTA before you and pre root it for everyones pleasure and you can just flash that via recovery

TulpiX said:
You cant get them at all?
Not even: get update and apply it, loose root because of the update, reroot?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If my experiences with my OG Droid match up with the Nexus line, if you've only rooted and haven't actually installed another ROM, you should be able to apply the OTA update and lose root because of it. Then just root again.

martonikaj said:
When you're rooted you can't get the OTA updates. You have to unroot to apply them. That's true for all Android phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen some threads claiming that root itself doesn't affect updates, but changing of data on system partition.... Was kind of hoping there is a way to have my cake and eat it too - don't mind having to root the phone all over again after the OTA....
Anyhow - as an alternative, is there a way to get official Nexus updates ( stock ) using other channels except OTA ? What was happening with old Nexus phones ?

zljk said:
I've seen some threads claiming that root itself doesn't affect updates, but changing of data on system partition.... Was kind of hoping there is a way to have my cake and eat it too - don't mind having to root the phone all over again after the OTA....
Anyhow - as an alternative, is there a way to get official Nexus updates ( stock ) using other channels except OTA ? What was happening with old Nexus phones ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The alternate way to get official Nexus updates is to download the update zip file once someone copies it off their device and uploads it, and install it in whatever fashion works.

I rooted my Nexus One without unlocking the bootloader or using custom recovery. I definitely still got OTA updates and they worked fine, but would unroot the phone.
The solution is to use a custom recovery and apply the update .zip manually, then reflash superuser before rebooting. Whenever an OTA update comes out, someone eventually uses logcat to get the URL to the zip and posts it so anyone can download it.
I was rooted on Froyo and got the OTA update to Gingerbread no problem, but I lost root. I eventually got root again (Gingerbreak) and when the 2.3.4 update came out, I did it manually in custom recovery to keep root.
Now I run CM7.1 so I definitely don't get OTA updates from Google

TulpiX said:
You cant get them at all?
Not even: get update and apply it, loose root because of the update, reroot?
Sent from my A500 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It will often download and you can try but it will either fail, unroot you, or cause troubles.
You're best off applying the pre-rooted update, or unrooting and taking the OTA.

martonikaj said:
When you're rooted you can't get the OTA updates. You have to unroot to apply them. That's true for all Android phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True. However it's trivial to repackage an OTA update to a rooted update and since it's very compatible with the source in AOSP and you get working drivers very early you can start messing around with it straight away.

blunden said:
True. However it's trivial to repackage an OTA update to a rooted update and since it's very compatible with the source in AOSP and you get working drivers very early you can start messing around with it straight away.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Of course, as is often the case for most phones supported here on XDA. the rooted OTA comes in the form of a .zip soon after it comes out.

slowz3r said:
you could do that, but chances are someone will get the OTA before you and pre root it for everyones pleasure and you can just flash that via recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When flashing the rooted OTA via recovery, does it wipe the phone (apps and all)?
Also for the other method, when unrooting >> applying OTA >> rooting again, does it wipe the phone at any point during this process?
Help would be appreciated and rewarded!

I just received my OTA update notification and found the update zip itself in the cache of my phone. I can post that update zip here if a mod can come along and tell me where to put it. I am going to wait till I'm home so I can have my rooting facilities handy before starting.

phazerorg said:
I rooted my Nexus One without unlocking the bootloader or using custom recovery. I definitely still got OTA updates and they worked fine, but would unroot the phone.
The solution is to use a custom recovery and apply the update .zip manually, then reflash superuser before rebooting. Whenever an OTA update comes out, someone eventually uses logcat to get the URL to the zip and posts it so anyone can download it.
I was rooted on Froyo and got the OTA update to Gingerbread no problem, but I lost root. I eventually got root again (Gingerbreak) and when the 2.3.4 update came out, I did it manually in custom recovery to keep root.
Now I run CM7.1 so I definitely don't get OTA updates from Google
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
+1. Exactly.
There is a lot of wrong (or slightly incorrect) information in this thread.
Have root has no impact whatsoever in your ability to receive or apply the OTA update. This has been the case on every Android device. However, if you have a custom recovery flashed, you will not be able to automatically apply the update - you will have to find the zip file in the cache and use your custom recovery to apply it.
On a slightly separate note, once you apply the update either automatically or manually via custom recovery, you will lose root. However, if you do have a custom recovery, as long as you flash ChainsDD's superuser package immediately after applying the update, but before rebooting, you will retain root.
On another separate not, if you flash the update as is from Google, it includes a file (/system/recovery-from-boot.p) that re-flashes the stock recovery on every boot, so you will lose your custom recovery. Either remove the file before flashing the update, or just re-flash your custom recovery.

[Q] Help about rooting and other stuff

Sorry if this question has been asked before, but i could not find any.
So i got the Nexus beast yesterday, and it's already blazing me off with it's greatness. But i got a few problems though:
1. I got the jakjuxw, not the jakju, will i get the same updates as the jakju OTA, but only a week later or so?
2. I did not root the phone before starting using it, but i regret that now. Is there any way i can root it and NOT lose all of my apps and data? I have spent so many hours to customize this device and i dont want to start all over (yes i know about app backup's, but they are slow)
3. If i root but stay with the stock rom, will i still be getting the original OTA updates or does i have to flash the roms manually and wipe the phone every time?
I'd appreciate it if anyone could answer all the questions =)

Baguett said:
Sorry if this question has been asked before, but i could not find any.
So i got the Nexus beast yesterday, and it's already blazing me off with it's greatness. But i got a few problems though:
1. I got the jakjuxw, not the jakju, will i get the same updates as the jakju OTA, but only a week later or so?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure about this, it probably depends on what they want to release. I don't think there's any kind of guarantee they'll get the same updates, but there's also probably no reason why they wouldn't.
2. I did not root the phone before starting using it, but i regret that now. Is there any way i can root it and NOT lose all of my apps and data? I have spent so many hours to customize this device and i dont want to start all over (yes i know about app backup's, but they are slow)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need to unlock the bootloader to root, and unlocking the bootloader wipes the device. Sorry. Someday an exploit might be found for ICS that allows you to root without unlocking.
3. If i root but stay with the stock rom, will i still be getting the original OTA updates or does i have to flash the roms manually and wipe the phone every time?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you keep stock recovery, you'll still get OTA updates when rooted. If you use custom recovery like ClockworkMod, you'll have to do them manually (but you won't need to wipe). In both cases, applying the update will probably cause you to lose root and you'll have to re-root. This is easy if you've unlocked the bootloader.
If you root by using some future exploit, you might find that the update you just installed removed root and closed the hole that allowed you to gain it without unlocking the bootloader, and now you're left stuck without root. I'd say just unlock the bootloader now and be done with it. It'll be a pain, but then you don't need to worry about it again.

phazerorg said:
If you keep stock recovery, you'll still get OTA updates when rooted. If you use custom recovery like ClockworkMod, you'll have to do them manually (but you won't need to wipe). In both cases, applying the update will probably cause you to lose root and you'll have to re-root. This is easy if you've unlocked the bootloader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok thanks
Just unlocked it and rooted it, but i think im gonna install the official google 4.0.2 rom, i wil get the OTA updates then too right?
edit: how am i able to flash a rom without CWM? Also do i really not need to wipe my phone if i use CWM? i had to do it on my Desire.

Baguett said:
ok thanks
Just unlocked it and rooted it, but i think im gonna install the official google 4.0.2 rom, i wil get the OTA updates then too right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, but the updates will probably unroot you. You should be able to just re-root after. If using CWM you can probably flash superuser right after flashing the update and not lose root at all. This is what I always did with my Nexus One when I still had the rooted stock ROM.
edit: how am i able to flash a rom without CWM?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If the ROM comes as images (like the Google factory images) you can flash with fastboot. The Google ones come with a script that uses fastboot to do it for you.
Also do i really not need to wipe my phone if i use CWM? i had to do it on my Desire.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I meant installing updates here... you don't usually need to wipe if you are installing updates to your current ROM, such as OTA updates to the stock ROM. You need to wipe if you're changing ROMs. It's probably no different than your Desire.

[Q] Stock ROM, Rooted - Can I Install OTA Update and Keep Root?

Sorry, I know this question has probably been asked many many times, but my research has nothing specific for the Galaxy Nexus.
Bought a retail GN.
Installed 4.0.1.
Unlocked Bootloader (the white padlock right?) - still unlocked.
Rooted (struggled, but got it done in the end).
Installed my rubbish.
Now a couple of months I can officially update to 4.0.2. My question is, will I loose root if I do?
I am not interested in installing a custom ROM.
I don't have a custom recovery like CWM or anything.
My aim is to have as stock as possible, but rooted.
Thanks

anotherxdauser said:
Sorry, I know this question has probably been asked many many times, but my research has nothing specific for the Galaxy Nexus.
Bought a retail GN.
Installed 4.0.1.
Unlocked Bootloader (the white padlock right?) - still unlocked.
Rooted (struggled, but got it done in the end).
Installed my rubbish.
Now a couple of months I can officially update to 4.0.2. My question is, will I loose root if I do?
I am not interested in installing a custom ROM.
I don't have a custom recovery like CWM or anything.
My aim is to have as stock as possible, but rooted.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I think you will keep root! Not 100% but even if you loose root you can just re-root after. Let us know what happens!
---------- Post added at 02:20 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:13 PM ----------
Hey this thread should help you
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1334777

jd1001 said:
I think you will keep root! Not 100% but even if you loose root you can just re-root after.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right, this has been asked before, though probably not since December.
You will loose root because the permissions on the system files are rewritten after an OTA update. All the files will still be there and your bootloader will still be unlocked.
You'll need to rerun the chmod part if you did a manual root. If you used a one click method you can rerun that, making sure it's updated for 4.0.2.
afaik there's no way to do an OTA without loosing root.

Clancy_s said:
You're right, this has been asked before, though probably not since December.
You will loose root because the permissions on the system files are rewritten after an OTA update. All the files will still be there and your bootloader will still be unlocked.
You'll need to rerun the chmod part if you did a manual root. If you used a one click method you can rerun that, making sure it's updated for 4.0.2.
afaik there's no way to do an OTA without loosing root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
But you just flash root on top with fast boot or CW? Right?

I installed the ota update and I still have root..
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using XDA App

wilsonlam97 said:
But you just flash root on top with fast boot or CW? Right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have CWM an OTA won't work for you, you'd need to flash the new kernel instead so that's not relevant to the OP (some peeps still seem to be getting the OTA notification on CWM but are reporting the OTA fails which is expected).
You could reflash it with fastboot if you want which is the easiest way to do it (that's what I meant by rerunning a one-click method)
If you can be bothered since the superuser.apk and su files are still there you can just reset the permissions by rerunning the last bit of the manual method:
adb shell chmod 06755 /system/bin/su
adb shell chmod 06755 /system/app/Superuser.apk
adb reboot

anotherxdauser said:
Sorry, I know this question has probably been asked many many times, but my research has nothing specific for the Galaxy Nexus.
Bought a retail GN.
Installed 4.0.1.
Unlocked Bootloader (the white padlock right?) - still unlocked.
Rooted (struggled, but got it done in the end).
Installed my rubbish.
Now a couple of months I can officially update to 4.0.2. My question is, will I loose root if I do?
I am not interested in installing a custom ROM.
I don't have a custom recovery like CWM or anything.
My aim is to have as stock as possible, but rooted.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually, if you are unlocked and rooted, but running stock recovery, you can use the app OTA Rootkeeper by Supercurio, you can find it in the market . This app enables you to keep root when flashing an update. Check it out!

xRogerxC said:
Actually, if you are unlocked and rooted, but running stock recovery, you can use the app OTA Rootkeeper by Supercurio, you can find it in the market . This app enables you to keep root when flashing an update. Check it out!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Shiny! None of the guns mention it - probably because they're all way past the OTA stage.

Noob question.
When rooted, will OTAs still pop up? And if not, then how do you know when an OTA is available?
Supercurio's app looks like the easiest way to unroot/re-root. I may have to give it a try

The answer is: YES.
I just installed OTA update (4.0.2) and it worked fine, still rooted.
Although I did install the Voodoo root keeper thing, I guess it didn't actually need to as I didn't use the app after I installed the OTA update.
Thanks for the links and advice though

anotherxdauser said:
The answer is: YES.
I just installed OTA update (4.0.2) and it worked fine, still rooted.
Although I did install the Voodoo root keeper thing, I guess it didn't actually need to as I didn't use the app after I installed the OTA update.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well I did the OTA update about a week ago, and lost root. Haven't had root keeper installed though. So maybe this actually was the reason it worked for you, despite not starting the app after the update.
Gonna run the adb commands later when I'm home. Hopefully it'll do it.

Root after 4.0.4 update

I have a GSM Galaxy Nexus that i manually updated to 4.0.4, i'm just wondering how i can now get root back?
I restored root with Voodoo OTA root keeper however i do not appear to actually have root, despite it saying that i do and still having the super user application installed.
Screens: http://i40.tinypic.com/5v1y05.png and http://i42.tinypic.com/156ffdh.png
How would i go about getting root back? I have tried running superboot again which is how i originally rooted, however my phone appears to get stuck on the screen with the unlocked padlock if i attempt that: http://android.modaco.com/topic/348161-01-feb-r4-superboot-rooting-the-gsm-lte-galaxy-nexus/
Any help would be appreciated,
Cheers

to root... download su.zip and flash in recovery
this su.zip is the newer one
http://db.denh.am/Superuser-3.0.7-efghi-signed.zip

Do i need a customer recovery for that? my boot loader is unlocked and i had the stock rom rooted. I never flashed any customer recovery as i believe it disabled OTA updates?

InsaneNutter said:
Do i need a customer recovery for that? my boot loader is unlocked and i had the stock rom rooted. I never flashed any customer recovery as i believe it disabled OTA updates?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah.. cmw recovery..
if u scared of disabling ota.. y r u flashing 4.0.4 now? wait for it..

king23adrianc said:
yeah.. cmw recovery..
if u scared of disabling ota.. y r u flashing 4.0.4 now? wait for it..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I was still on 4.0.2 and got impatient, would i not have lost root anyway waiting for the ota?

InsaneNutter said:
I was still on 4.0.2 and got impatient, would i not have lost root anyway waiting for the ota?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
u will lose root anyway i think.. i dont know about ota.. i never wait for it

InsaneNutter said:
I was still on 4.0.2 and got impatient, would i not have lost root anyway waiting for the ota?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
After installing 4.0.5:
Use the Galaxy nexus Toolkit and select the option to "Boot to CWM without flashing recovery". And just use CWM to flash su.zip for root. Thats what I did.
Stock 4.0.4 - Rooted Galaxy Nexus.

link not working

The link is not available:-(
"Error (404)
We can't find the page you're looking for. Check out our Help Center and forums for help, or head back to home."

After you flash clockwork and superuser just reboot your phone and the stock recovery will be restored. You have to delete a file to make the custom recovery stick.

hi, as I said in other topic , for rooting i use GALAXY NEXUS TOOLKIT 5.1 ! all work fine
at opening tell you have 4.0.2 ICL53F, and then choose 4 for root
try ;-)

CrashV5 said:
hi, as I said in other topic , for rooting i use GALAXY NEXUS TOOLKIT 5.1 ! all work fine
at opening tell you have 4.0.2 ICL53F, and then choose 4 for root
try ;-)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks everyone for the advice and suggestions, i did this and now i'm on 4.0.4 stock and have root again, good times

can't root again after 4.0.4 update
I can't find GALAXY NEXUS TOOLKIT 5.1 and when i try to install Superuser-3.0.7-d-signed from cwm i get and error with status0

chenhajaj said:
I can't find GALAXY NEXUS TOOLKIT 5.1 and when i try to install Superuser-3.0.7-d-signed from cwm i get and error with status0
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310

Tried all the above: the su.zip does it's job but it is not rooted, in toolkit I choose root phone and does nothing. How do I do it manually with an insecure boot? I'm on 4.04 GSM.
10x

I understand that OTA RootKeeper is to keep root when you receive an OTA update. Not if you manually update (the app description in google play says this). Has anyone tried OTA RootKeeper, gotten the 4.0.4 OTA update and stayed rooted? I myself will wait for the 4.0.4 OTA update and have installed RootKeeper. Will I keep root if done this way?

**** Ripple said:
After you flash clockwork and superuser just reboot your phone and the stock recovery will be restored. You have to delete a file to make the custom recovery stick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In Android 4.0.4 this is not necessary.
Custom recovery will not be overwritten after reboot.
If you flash Clockworkmod via fastboot,it will remain,and you can flash Superuser.

Hey guys I am A BIG NEWBIE so don't judge lol.
I had root with 4.0.2 and had the OTA 4.0.4 update and lost the root. I tried to get root back the same way I got my original one (with fastboot-windows) but does not seem to work.
Any help?

HarryHabs said:
Hey guys I am A BIG NEWBIE so don't judge lol.
I had root with 4.0.2 and had the OTA 4.0.4 update and lost the root. I tried to get root back the same way I got my original one (with fastboot-windows) but does not seem to work.
Any help?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
See this post to root 4.0.4.

my gn is also updated to 4.04 manually after rooted.
maybe you can refer to this page:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1392310
i will try it.

[Q] rooted galaxy nexus didnt grant full root

OK so I couldn't find a similar thread to my issue..but I have galaxy nexus lte 4.0.4 imm76q and I tried rooting phone last night which ed worked only half...I used c drive command on window to run the zip file and unlocked the boot loader and it worked perfect then I ran root and the phone restarted and whiped data super user was installed when it booted up but busy box was so I tried to install both versions off the market but none of the apps will work they won't install so I used root checker and it says root was not fully achieved I know busy box usually should come with the root so my question is since I have the boot loader unlocked what should I do try rooting the phone again with a different zip file or one click method or do I have to unroot Back to stock then re root? And if I do have to flash back to stock does anyone have the link to the imm76q I don't wanna use imm76k I'd rather keep the latest
help me out please with some advice

bebebullet2 said:
OK so I couldn't find a similar thread to my issue..but I have galaxy nexus lte 4.0.4 imm76q and I tried rooting phone last night which ed worked only half...I used c drive command on window to run the zip file and unlocked the boot loader and it worked perfect then I ran root and the phone restarted and whiped data super user was installed when it booted up but busy box was so I tried to install both versions off the market but none of the apps will work they won't install so I used root checker and it says root was not fully achieved I know busy box usually should come with the root so my question is since I have the boot loader unlocked what should I do try rooting the phone again with a different zip file or one click method or do I have to unroot Back to stock then re root? And if I do have to flash back to stock does anyone have the link to the imm76q I don't wanna use imm76k I'd rather keep the latest
help me out please with some advice
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm not sure why you wiped data or mention Busybox. Those have nothing to do with gaining root. Looks like you might have done a few steps in the wrong order. Try this guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=26328017&postcount=123

root question
OK imma try this well the device gets wiped the way I rooted it wiped meaning all person stuff but imma try this way now thanks for the link I'll try it and get back to u

bebebullet2 said:
OK imma try this well the device gets wiped the way I rooted it wiped meaning all person stuff but imma try this way now thanks for the link I'll try it and get back to u
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ah right, you mean the bootloader unlock step. Yes that will wipe it indeed. Anyway, use the guide and you'll be fine.

thanks a bunch
Petrovski80 said:
Ah right, you mean the bootloader unlock step. Yes that will wipe it indeed. Anyway, use the guide and you'll be fine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the tips your link worked great busy box installs now and root checker said im all good thanks again for the advice