I want to try some custom ROMs on my M8. Before I do this I want to do a full back up. From everything I've read Titanium is by a long shot the most popular so I see no reason not to go that route. However, from what I've read rooting the M8 will wipe my phone, but I can't use Titanium until I'm rooted. So it seems I'm stuck, and wondering what the best way is to proceed.
Thanks,
Ryan
Ryan_Mc said:
I want to try some custom ROMs on my M8. Before I do this I want to do a full back up. From everything I've read Titanium is by a long shot the most popular so I see no reason not to go that route. However, from what I've read rooting the M8 will wipe my phone, but I can't use Titanium until I'm rooted. So it seems I'm stuck, and wondering what the best way is to proceed.
Thanks,
Ryan
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Rooting by itself won't reset your phone, using the HTC unlock token to unlock the bootloader will. However, if you can S-off, you can also unlock your bootloader without tripping the factory reset. Once your bootloader is unlocked, you can install a custom recovery and backup your (unrooted) OS image - then use that recovery to install su.
Unfortunately, the prerequisite to all of that is getting S-off. If you can't, or won't, do that, then yeah - as soon as you unlock the bootloader your /data partition will get nuked. It's a safety measure to prevent someone from stealing your phone, unlocking the bootloader, and bypassing the OS protections to get the data on it. Fortunately, it only happens when you unlock. If you subsequently leave the bootloader unlocked, it won't happen again.
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Is there a way to unroot Build JSS15J without unlocking the device first? All I want is root for some apps not a fulyl unlocked device yet, unless is there a way to unlock without wiping the device?
Sorry if this is a common question im just used to motorola phones where you root first then unlock (if there ever is one for the phone)
I am not exactly sure how they implemented the lock on Nexus.
On HTC when the unit was in S-ON lock, it would prevent you from booting or writing unsigned (custom) recoveries. Even if you had a root exploit to get root in the kernel, when you tried to write files to /system it would only be done in memory, and wouldn't survive a reboot.
I only verified that Nexus 7 lock won't allow writing or booting unsigned recoveries (and kernels). Not having a root exploit for 4.3 I couldn't tell you if you'd be able to write a root exploit that worked without unlocking. If locking is done the way HTC does it, then no. If you can still write to /system persistently even with locking, then you could theoretically root w/o unlocking, if you could find an exploit.
When you unlock through fastboot, the process will force a factory reset. This is to protect against somebody unlocking your tablet to access your user files.
I don't know if it is technically necessary for an unencrypted device, but it is enforced by Google's unlocking process. I also don't know if it is enforced by the bootloader or the fastboot program. If latter, you might be able to kill the process after the unlock is done but before the wipe gets sent, however you risk problems if the timing isn't correct, which will probably be difficult to do give how fast everything occurs.
So IMO the first thing you should do is unlock so you can just bite the bullet and do the factory reset when you have nothing installed. It doesn't change anything other than set a flag the you are unlocked and the factory reset. You can run stock like that forever if you wish.
When you are ready, you can boot custom recovery and install your root. You don't even need to flash custom recovery onto the tablet. You can just run it one time from memory.
Main thing is I only want root for a few random apps that allow more functionally with it. I'm never gonna use kernels roms or recoveries I've done it before and it's fun and all but to unstable and unreliable I need the tablet for school and already had my stuff on it before finding out its not like my phone. I have to unlock and wipe then root. On my DROID RAZR hd it's root and unlock no wipe required.
As I mentioned, the unlock is being enforced when you type the fastboot oem unlock command.
I would just bite the bullet and do the unlock as the first thing you do.
I just got this phone. Android 4.2.2. I was wondering if rooting is still possible. I know that there are issues with unlocking the bootloader like, we can't. So can I still root and have the rooting goodies? If so, can you direct me to the correct method of rooting? All the methods I can find include unlocking the bootloader first and I don't know if I can just skip that step or not.
Thank you for your time.
Time To Shine said:
I just got this phone. Android 4.2.2. I was wondering if rooting is still possible. I know that there are issues with unlocking the bootloader like, we can't. So can I still root and have the rooting goodies? If so, can you direct me to the correct method of rooting? All the methods I can find include unlocking the bootloader first and I don't know if I can just skip that step or not.
Thank you for your time.
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To answer your question you need to unlock/s-off your phone to root it, I would recommend running the rumrunner tool, installing a customer recovery and then install a custom rom. The reason I say install a custom rom even if you want to remain stock is because you can get a stock rom without any bloat. Most of the bloat apps on the HTC One and pretty much any phone, run in the background as soon as your phone starts, this eats battery life and performance. For a stock rom check out Santod040, he has a good stock rom released, personally I like NuSense and ViperOne they are both very solid roms.
Read this thread - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2473644 it is the Rumrunner tool. I believe as long as you DO NOT UPGRADE to 4.3 you can still root/unlock/s-off, after you unlock/s-off you can install whichever rom you like without worrying about losing the ability to have root access.
You will want to get into the bootloader to check which OS version you have and then download the corresponding version of Rumrunner.
Edit:
Be sure to backup your whole phone as soon as you install a customer recovery. After the backup is complete, save a copy on your computer. There will be times when you are tinkering with your phone that you will need to get your phone back to a factory state, you can use a RUU but in my opinion that is more complicated process and you have a higher risk of something going wrong compared to simply restoring a backup.
Okay. Thank you. I will look into this.
Other than warranty issues, and possibly redeeming your Google Drive space, are there any practical ramifications to simply leaving the bootloader unlocked (or, conversely, locked?) on an S-off device? I'm inclined to leave it bootloader unlocked unless I have a warranty issue, as it seems the safest way to make sure I'm never locked out, but I'm curious to know if there are any reasons to lock it from a security perspective.
I say that because right now when I lose root due to an OTA, I just boot (but not install) philz touch recovery to re-root, which I am assuming is allowed because I am s-off. (because otherwise root would be trivial). It seems that as long as I can do that, the bootloader lock/unlock state is somewhat pointless.
You are allowed to flash custom ROMs because you have installed a custom recovery, which was allowed because you unlocked your bootloader. I would leave the bootloader unlocked until a relock is required (if it even comes to that). As far as I know, that poses no threat as long as you know what you're flashing on your device. Anyone with more experience with this may correct me, as I am quite new to the HTC world.
MrKhozam said:
You are allowed to flash custom ROMs because you have installed a custom recovery, which was allowed because you unlocked your bootloader. I would leave the bootloader unlocked until a relock is required (if it even comes to that). As far as I know, that poses no threat as long as you know what you're flashing on your device. Anyone with more experience with this may correct me, as I am quite new to the HTC world.
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I actually only had TWRP installed briefly to "restore" the Dev Edition nandroid (and by briefly, I mean I booted it once). As soon as the Dev Edition ROM was up, I reverted to the stock DE recovery. Since then, I just "boot" Philz CWM to re-root (since TWRP fails when booted on 4.4.3 for some reason.)
Hello,
Is it possible to get root access on the Moto Z Play without needing TWRP? I tried to use this guide but my phone doesn't want to flash TWRP. It may require a unlocked bootloader. My question is that is it possible to get root on this phone without TWRP or unlocked bootloader?
PS. I only want root access to get Viper4Android/ Dolby. If there are any other alternatives, please let me know below.
Thanks,
mPreet
mPreet said:
Hello,
Is it possible to get root access on the Moto Z Play without needing TWRP? I tried to use this guide but my phone doesn't want to flash TWRP. It may require a unlocked bootloader. My question is that is it possible to get root on this phone without TWRP or unlocked bootloader?
PS. I only want root access to get Viper4Android/ Dolby. If there are any other alternatives, please let me know below.
Thanks,
mPreet
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Click to collapse
Your title says without unlock bootloader - no
Your text says without twrp - you can fastboot boot twrp.img - that will boot to it but not flash it permanently. But, again, not if the bl is not unlocked - gotta have that.
KrisM22 said:
Your title says without unlock bootloader - no
Your text says without twrp - you can fastboot boot twrp.img - that will boot to it but not flash it permanently. But, again, not if the bl is not unlocked - gotta have that.
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So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.
mPreet said:
So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.
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Pretty much - the process of obtaining your key will void your remaining Motorola warranty (though you may still have some protection depending on your local consumer laws), and the process of actually using the unlock key on your device will wipe your device in a factory reset. Ensure you back up your device (and adopted SD card as well) beforehand.
After that, you should be able to flash or boot TWRP, then root and flash Viper4Android (or ARISE Soundsystems) or Dolby. If you get OTA updates, you will not be able to flash them unless you can revert back to full stock, so ensure you have a TWRP backup without modifications or access to a stock ROM of the same build that you have now.
mPreet said:
So just to make sure that I understand, I have to get the unlock key from Motorola in order to unlock the bootloader. There is no other way around it, right.
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correct. afaik.
echo92 said:
Pretty much - the process of obtaining your key will void your remaining Motorola warranty (though you may still have some protection depending on your local consumer laws), and the process of actually using the unlock key on your device will wipe your device in a factory reset. Ensure you back up your device (and adopted SD card as well) beforehand.
After that, you should be able to flash or boot TWRP, then root and flash Viper4Android (or ARISE Soundsystems) or Dolby. If you get OTA updates, you will not be able to flash them unless you can revert back to full stock, so ensure you have a TWRP backup without modifications or access to a stock ROM of the same build that you have now.
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If I just boot off the TWRP instead of flashing, would that backup constitute as stock? So boot the TWRP instead of flashing then make a backup before rooting.
Thanks,
mPreet
mPreet said:
If I just boot off the TWRP instead of flashing, would that backup constitute as stock? So boot the TWRP instead of flashing then make a backup before rooting.
Thanks,
mPreet
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be aware you will be walking on shaky ground. Be sure you have a spare phone that works in case you brick this one.
my device is locked & not rooted before
all i'm looking for Is way to root without unlocking the bootloader? I just want root apps, no custom ROMs.
I need to take backup for HTC one M8 before proceed in unlock boot loader , to describe the problem more
the problem is that to take a backup for the whole device , as far as i know i should install custom recovery APP "CWM Recovery , TWRP Recovery ,.........."
which need unlock bootloader in which all data on mobile will be formatted due to unlock bootloader
so is there a solution to backup the current device status to restore them back after unlock the bootloader .
First of all, you posted to the forum section for the M8s variant, not the M8. This is an easy mistake to make, and pretty common. In any case, see my responses below in red font:
Wael-HTC said:
all i'm looking for Is way to root without unlocking the bootloader? I just want root apps, no custom ROMs.
Simple answer, you need to unlock the bootloader to root.
Long answer, some folks have rooted with an app called kingroot. But results are very inconsistent. I've seen a good number of folks who ended up with kingroot unsuccessful, having no root, and also no way to unlock the bootloader! So not a good place to be.
And in any case, in my opinion, any root attempt should be preceded by backing up your data anyway, in case anything goes wrong. So if your intent (in not unlocking the bootloader) is to bypass the data wipe (and skip backing up your data), then we are basically defeating the purpose.
Moral of the story, I would strongly recommend to just bite the bullet, and stick with the "standard" process to unlock the bootloader in order to root.
I need to take backup for HTC one M8 before proceed in unlock boot loader , to describe the problem more
the problem is that to take a backup for the whole device , as far as i know i should install custom recovery APP "CWM Recovery , TWRP Recovery ,.........."
which need unlock bootloader in which all data on mobile will be formatted due to unlock bootloader You are correct, in that you have a "chicken and egg" problem. You can't install custom recovery (TWRP) until you unlock the bootloader. And you can't make a TWRP backup, until you install TWRP.
Side note, CMW never officially supported the M8. There are some unofficial CMW ports for the M8, all very old. Which will almost certainly cause problems. I strongly recommend sticking with latest TWRP for the M8.
so is there a solution to backup the current device status to restore them back after unlock the bootloader .
"Current device status" is a little vague. It depends on what you want to backup:
- For things like contacts, I would suggest just backing up to Google (may already be the case)
- Things like photos, music: use a cloud solution, or simply backup (copy and paste) to your computer
- Stock ROM: You can back this up once you have TWRP installed. There are also stock backup collections, as well as official HTC RUUs for some M8 versions.
- App data: This one is a little tougher. One option is the app "Helium" from the Google Play Store. This is supposed to be able to backup app data, settings, etc. without root. I personally haven't used it (one of the first things I do with a new phone is root, lol). But other folks on XDA seem to have some success with Helium. It is developed by the CWM team.
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