Develop Bugs

Q re unlocking, rooting and OTA updates

Hey all just wanted to clarify something before venturing forward.
1) Unlocking without rooting will still enable OTA updates to be pushed to my yakju GN?
2) Rooting will disable future OTA updates thus requiring manual ROM updates? Each manual update will thus wipe the device and require manual backup and restore of data and apps?
3) What is the reason to unlock the bootloader without rooting? It sees most things like customising boot screen animation, changing icons and using a firewall requires root not just unlock.

Bump! 10cghar.

lazerin said:
Hey all just wanted to clarify something before venturing forward.
1) Unlocking without rooting will still enable OTA updates to be pushed to my yakju GN?
2) Rooting will disable future OTA updates thus requiring manual ROM updates? Each manual update will thus wipe the device and require manual backup and restore of data and apps?
3) What is the reason to unlock the bootloader without rooting? It sees most things like customising boot screen animation, changing icons and using a firewall requires root not just unlock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. Yes
2. Rooting will not affect OTA updates. If you make any changes to anything outside /sdcard/ it'll cause problems. Manual update will not wipe the device.
3. Unlock bootloader + no root.... this way you can root afterwards if you decide to root and then backup your apps/data.
If you don't unlock.. then one day you decide to root, and you unlock bootloader you lose everything and can't back it up.
You can't change boot animations without root.

As well, unlocking the bootloader allows you to use fastboot commands, which you would otherwise not be able to use.

After rooting are we supposed to lock the bootloader back again? What is the reason for locking it again? Is it to prevent malicious apps from messing with it or unintentional modification?
If after rooting, I locked the bootloader back, can I still install other ROMs and multi boot other ROMs?

I would highly recommend you leave it unlocked. If you lock it, you will lose your data the next time you have to unlock.
Also, having it unlocked allows you to use fastboot commands.
There is no good reason to lock it.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

hmm that sucks. I relocked the bootloader because that's what some tutorials said to do.

kwurky said:
hmm that sucks. I relocked the bootloader because that's what some tutorials said to do.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who was advising that? In any case, if you're already rooted, you can do a full nandroid backup. You could also download TiBackup and back up all your apps and data. Either way, you have something to fall back on when unlock wipes the phone.

Hmm more than one tutorial I read added that step. Even one on xda. I'm not going to go find it now. Anyways it will be a hassle, that's all, nothing I can't handle. I already have Titanium Backup paid version so my apps and data are covered. I don't think I can do a Nandroid backup though because I encrypted all the data on the phone. When rebooting into CWM, it gives me an error when trying to do Nandroid backup. Says it can't access sdcard.

if I unlock, keep stock recovery and stock ICS and root...
Can I still receive OTA updates if I do things like change boot animation, change the default launcher, use samba filesharing?
Thanks guys

garpunkal said:
if I unlock, keep stock recovery and stock ICS and root...
Can I still receive OTA updates if I do things like change boot animation, change the default launcher, use samba filesharing?
Thanks guys
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Changing the default launcher (as long as you don't delete the original launcher), and using samba will cause no issues. Changing the boot animation may cause you an issue, but just back up the original file before you replace it, so you have a copy just in case.

what about using adaway (as it changes hosts file)...

garpunkal said:
what about using adaway (as it changes hosts file)...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not an issue.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

what about busybox?

garpunkal said:
what about busybox?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it won't affect anything. Adding files to the ROM doesn't affect it. What does affect the OTA update is deleting or modifying existing files.
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

[Q] rooting erases the phone?

ive read in some other posts here that rooting our gsm gnexus will erase the phones data/settings/etc. because it is an "oem root". is this true? does it apply to the gnex toolkit?
thanks!

joshtb86 said:
ive read in some other posts here that rooting our gsm gnexus will erase the phones data/settings/etc. because it is an "oem root". is this true? does it apply to the gnex toolkit?
thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting does not erase data/settings. HOWEVER, if you unlock your bootloader, it will erase everything. All toolkits that I have seen, root by unlocking your bootloader first (if it is locked).
Use this, and you will root without losing anything, locked bootloader or not.

efrant said:
Rooting does not erase data/settings. HOWEVER, if you unlock your bootloader, it will erase everything. All toolkits that I have seen, root by unlocking your bootloader first (if it is locked).
Use this, and you will root without losing anything, locked bootloader or not.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
why does unlocking the bootloader erase everything? and that is necessary to flash a new rom or kernel, correct?

joshtb86 said:
why does unlocking the bootloader erase everything? and that is necessary to flash a new rom or kernel, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because it just does. It's a security thing. But it doesn't matter - with what I pointed you to in my previous post, you can root, flash a custom recovery, backup everything, then unlock your bootloader and restore the backup.
An unlocked bootloader is not required to flash a new ROM or kernel if you have root. You cannot, however, flash things through fastboot, but it doesn't matter.
In any case, I would recommend you unlock your bootloader and leave it unlocked.

joshtb86 said:
why does unlocking the bootloader erase everything?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
security reason...if you have a phone with the bootloader locked and a lockscreen password, ur phone is secure (EDIT: usb debug need to be disabled to be real secure)...so if u lost the phone for example someone could unlock the bootloader and with root permission could get ur personal data..instead in this way if he unlock the bootloader the data in it is wiped..
with the bootloader unlocked ur phone give u free access to the system, so u can root it, flash rom, kernel and everything
in case a day u change idea, u can also relock the bootloader (this will wipe again ur phone EDIT: will not wipe it)..this is usefull to get warranty for example
there is also an exploit, mentioned before in the thread, that is able to root ur phone without unlocking the bootloader..but i suggest to unlock the bootloader as u have more control of ur phone by having access to fastboot commands

thanks for the help guys! i have to figure out if i really want to wipe all my data. if i use titanium to backup everything, then unlock bootloader, can i still restore the same backed up data, or does the changed bootloader make that impossible?

andQlimax said:
security reason...if you have a phone with the bootloader locked and a lockscreen password, ur phone is secure...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not entirely true. You need to have USB debugging disabled in settings as well for it to be secure.
andQlimax said:
in case a day u change idea, u can also relock the bootloader (this will wipe again ur phone)..this is usefull to get warranty for example
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not true. Relocking the bootloader does not wipe anything.
---------- Post added at 11:21 AM ---------- Previous post was at 11:17 AM ----------
joshtb86 said:
thanks for the help guys! i have to figure out if i really want to wipe all my data. if i use titanium to backup everything, then unlock bootloader, can i still restore the same backed up data, or does the changed bootloader make that impossible?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do NOT have to wipe all your data.
Follow these steps:
1) Root your device using the method I linked to above;
2) Download ROM Manager from the market;
3) Using ROM Manager, flash CWM recovery;
4) Reboot into recovery and perform a backup;
5) Copy that backup OFF of your device;
6) Unlock your bootloader; <== This will wipe your device, including everything in /sdcard...
7) Copy your backup back to your device;
8) Reboot into recovery and restore your backup;
9) Done. Now your bootloader is unlocked, you have root, and your data/settings are exactly how they were before.
EDIT: Yes, you can use Titanium Backup once you root, but using CWM recovery is easier and faster.

efrant said:
Not entirely true. You need to have USB debugging disabled in settings as well for it to be secure.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah true
efrant said:
Not true. Relocking the bootloader does not wipe anything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
didn't know that..it makes sense anyway
thanks for the corrections

so the bootloader is not affected by a CWM backup.
this is so helpful. thanks so much guys! i thanked both of you for your replies!

joshtb86 said:
[snip]
so the bootloader is not affected by a CWM backup.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, it is not.

Always root the first day to avoid this!

rooting the stock rom without wiping data.

hi, is there a way to root a stock galaxy nexus without the need of wiping the phone?
should I unlock the bootloader to root the phone?

when you unlock the bootloader it will wipe your phone data. its a security measure.

sblantipodi said:
hi, is there a way to root a stock galaxy nexus without the need of wiping the phone?
should I unlock the bootloader to root the phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
4.0.1-4.0.2: yes via exploit.
4.0.4: no.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1420351

[Q] Lost root from efrants root without wiping (4.1.2) to Android 4.2 update (solved)

Hello all,
I already searched the forum but I did not found any good answer.
1. In the past I've succesfully applied root access without unlocking the bootloader while still beeing on Android 4.1.x from this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1894717
2. Now I've got a 4.2 OTA update. Before applying it I used Voodoo OTA rootkeeper to keep a backup of su.
3. Restored su with Voodoo OTA rootkeeper
The result is that I have again root access from shell but when I want to use Apps which require root I always get failures and even no confirmation dialog.
How do I get superuser working (fully root) like before?
Thanks,
therealmarv

http://download.chainfire.eu/282/SuperSU/

Jubakuba said:
http://download.chainfire.eu/282/SuperSU/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
How should I flash that without having CWM? I think I need a manual repair :/

Is your bootloader locked?
If not...use my guide (in sig or stickied) to back up data before unlocking...
If so... "fastboot boot recovery.img" and flash the file.
The recovery is only being booted into...not written to the phone; so you'd still be stock rooted.

How in the world you not have a unlocked bootloader when you rooted before..
That aside, do remember to keep the bootloader unlocked next time..

Mach3.2 said:
How in the world you not have a unlocked bootloader when you rooted before..
That aside, do remember to keep the bootloader unlocked next time..
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same sort of exploit that was used in ICS was eventually found for 4.1.1 that allowed root without unlocking.

Jubakuba said:
The same sort of exploit that was used in ICS was eventually found for 4.1.1 that allowed root without unlocking.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What i mean is how can they not unlock the bootloader after rooting..

I did not unlocked bootloader because I thought it is not necessary (and I also thought it will affect OTA updates). So just to get it right: I can make a backup of my phone, root it, unlock bootloader and recover the backup afterwards so that no data is lost?

Ok I solved my issue (having su access via adb and locked bootloader) with this thread:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=27085483&postcount=141
1. I unlocked the bootloader with the link above
2. flashed CWM with fastboot
3. flashed SuperSU CWM ZIP for getting root again
So I now have fully root, unlocked bootloader and cwm great.

root and unlock bootloader

TaintedByte said:
FAQs - Massive Question Round Up Thread for Flo
Q: What is the difference between root and an unlocked bootloader?
A: An unlocked bootloader allows you to write protected partitions such as system or recovery. This lets you flash custom ROMs (un-official non-stock operating systems that have more functionality such as CyanogenMod, AOKP, ParanoidAndroid, etc.). Root does not mess with partitions, instead it grants you complete control over the OS (Android) itself. It will let you write and edit any file you wish. This lets you run apps like Titanium Backup and Adblock that need to either access or edit system files.
[/LIST]​
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i have questions..is it possible to root device without unlock bootloader..or i need to do both of them..and also vice versa..anothing thing,can we flash kernel(example elementalx) with only root..thanks in advance..i'm new with this nexus 7 2013 LTE..sorry for my english
Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk​

Rooting your device requires an unlocked bootloader so that you can flash a superuser .zip. You can, however root and relock your bootloader. There is also the wugfesh toolkit which will run root commands automatically when you press a button. It can also relock your bootloader as well. I'm not sure that if you run root without running unlock that it will unlock the bootloader but I believe it will. So I guess try the wugfresh toolkit.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

mugzylol said:
Rooting your device requires an unlocked bootloader so that you can flash a superuser .zip. You can, however root and relock your bootloader. There is also the wugfesh toolkit which will run root commands automatically when you press a button. It can also relock your bootloader as well. I'm not sure that if you run root without running unlock that it will unlock the bootloader but I believe it will. So I guess try the wugfresh toolkit.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Rooting your device does not require unlocking the bootloader... I rooted with towelroot, flashed custom recovery (twrp), then flashed a custom ROM from recovery, all while the bootloader was still locked...