Related
So here is what i did step by step:
1.Installed the Kindle Fire Utility v.0.9.6 drivers
2.Connected Kindle and waited for all drivers to install
3.Started the utility (ADB Status: online)(Boot Status: i dont remember)
4.Chose option 2 and got stuck on a "Please Wait" after the utility said it was trying to remove root checker, meanwhile my kindle was already in TWRP and stopped booting, so i figured why not just install a custom ROM, so i flashed CM10 by lithium76, the tablet edition rom, then flashed gapps.
5.When it finished i chose reboot system and it didnt reboot system it just kept going back to the Recovery so i got very scared(note: I formatted everything before flashing, dalvik, cache, factory reset, and system)
6.I kept trying to run the utility again but it would always get stuck saying that it cant rename root and telling me to wait and the phone would just stay in the recovery( i cant remember this part at all)
7. So i chose reboot and chose bootloader and held down the power button and from there chose "boot normally", it booted normally and now i'am running cm10 on the kindle
8.BUT.... i dont have root access at all, superuser is installed but i dont have root access, i tried going back to the utility but it doesnt recognize my device at all, it is always offline now.
How can i get root access now, I'am completely lost and dont know what to do, also i cant reboot from the recovery, i have to go to the bootloader and reboot normally from there.Please help me, i know i should't have done things the way i did but i wasnt thinking, i know you dont need root access for a custom rom but i think you wont have the full android experience without root, please somebody help me.
All of the ROMs here (Unless it says they don't, correct me if I'm wrong.) should give you root. I'm not sure about your problem. Er, There isn't anything I can do to help, sorry.
Jared631 said:
All of the ROMs here (Unless it says they don't, correct me if I'm wrong.) should give you root. I'm not sure about your problem. Er, There isn't anything I can do to help, sorry.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah they all should but if you dont have the root binaries installed you dont have root even if you have an apk installed.
iraiderx said:
yeah they all should but if you dont have the root binaries installed you dont have root even if you have an apk installed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All custom ROMs (except maybe 2-3 you'll never use) come with Superuser.apk and the su binary already packaged in the flashable ROM.zip. Not only that, but custom recoveries like TWRP already have root access, so going through the "rooting" process only to install a custom ROM is absolutely pointless.
Who knows why you don't have root access. It could be your recovery's fault or you may have a bad ROM download (did you check the md5?). Either way you should start all over from the beginning and skip all the unnecessary steps like installing su and Superuser.apk
Access fastboot (you've done it once, so I'm sure you can figure it out)
Download custom recovery and check md5
(Re)Install custom recovery (via fastboot)
Download FFF1.4a.zip
Use recovery to flash FFF1.4a.zip (checksum is automatic)
Download a custom ROM and check md5
Transfer ROM to sdcard
Wipe System & Factory Reset
Install ROM
Reboot System
Enjoy your fully rooted ROM
soupmagnet said:
All custom ROMs (except maybe 2-3 you'll never use) come with Superuser.apk and the su binary already packaged in the flashable ROM.zip. Not only that, but custom recoveries like TWRP already have root access, so going through the "rooting" process only to install a custom ROM is absolutely pointless.
Who knows why you don't have root access. It could be your recovery's fault or you may have a bad ROM download (did you check the md5?). Either way you should start all over from the beginning and skip all the unnecessary steps like installing su and Superuser.apk
Access fastboot (you've done it once, so I'm sure you can figure it out)
Download custom recovery and check md5
(Re)Install custom recovery (via fastboot)
Download FFF1.4a.zip
Use recovery to flash FFF1.4a.zip (checksum is automatic)
Download a custom ROM and check md5
Transfer ROM to sdcard
Wipe System & Factory Reset
Install ROM
Reboot System
Enjoy your fully rooted ROM
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you so much, i didnt do extacly as you said but what it did worked! i flashed a stock rom which came with busybox and su and then went to the recovery and flashed the rom i already had in my internal storage and now i have root access
Okay be gentle...
After the last update to JSSR15R I lost root and SU, doing the rebbot into recovery (vol down + power button) TWRP launches but when I select to go to recovery via the vol buttons and select it with the power button, all I get is the exclamation point android.
While I'm not a total idiot (debatable of course), is there a way to re-establish root and su without wiping off 15gigs of music and playlists and starting from scratch? Rooting the Nexus 7 (flo) the first time (at least for me) was a fight I eventually won, but for me it was a fight. tia Tutor
Same thing happened to me. I installed TWRP via goomanager. Then, I flashed SU update. Now I'm back rooted and going strong.
Like previous poster mentioned, just reinstall twrp and su.
Your bootloader should already be unlocked. Unlocking the bootloader is the only step that causes you to lose data.
Reinstalling twrp and su will not cause you to lose data, unless you had locked after installing them last time, and now need to unlock again to reinstall.
I reinstalled TWRP via the playstore but while it shows my directory file structure it won't install my copy of Update SuperSU 1.5.1.zip also I went to install goomanager but the descrription says you have to have root prior to installing.
As a sidenote while in TWRP if I go into rebooting the device none of the actions work except when I hit the "Bootloader" option the a error box pops up stating the option isn't available on your device. Tutor
Only way I know of to install TWRP is go to the TWRP web site and download it from there to your PC. You will find flash instructions on the web site.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Download Goo manager from Playstore. Choose Flash Roms, It will tell you that you need a custom recovery to do this and ask if you have one or would like Goo to find one. Choose find one for me and it will download and install TWRP 2.6.3.0. After said process is complete flash SU update. Profit..
Same happened to me, but I reflashed TWRP and root access... Just curious how come that never happened with Clockwork Mod recovery being lost after applying an update to the system on the old N7.
If you don't want to lose root or recovery, it is very simple.
Boot to twrp
Install OTA update.zip
Install SuperSU 1.55 update.zip (Prior to reboot, use 1.55 as 1.65 has issues)
You will maintain root and keep twrp if you do it in this exact order.
sfhub said:
If you don't want to lose root or recovery, it is very simple.
Boot to twrp
Install OTA update.zip
Install SuperSU update.zip (Prior to reboot)
You will maintain root and keep twrp if you do it in this exact order.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can TWRP generally find the latest OTA update.zip on it's own?
Lastb0isct said:
Can TWRP generally find the latest OTA update.zip on it's own?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nope, download the ota manually and place on your virtual sdcard, then boot to twrp and select the file for install
installing through goomanager didn't work for me. It would say it installed but wouldn't really install. I did it using the fastboot method instead and that seemed to work fine.
Well nothing I seemed to do would allow me to re-root the Nexus 7 after the 15R update, I finally went as re-rooted from scratch using the sticky post at the beginning of this subdivision forum for the Nexus. Back up and running in root and su... thx to all those that attempted to help me thru this
CallMeTut said:
Well nothing I seemed to do would allow me to re-root the Nexus 7 after the 15R update, I finally went as re-rooted from scratch using the sticky post at the beginning of this subdivision forum for the Nexus. Back up and running in root and su... thx to all those that attempted to help me thru this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I used Wugfresh tool. Everything worked until I flashed the updated SU 1.65. I could never get root. I read earlier that others were using SU 1.5, so I manually went back into TWRP and flashed SU 1.5 and bam, had root! Then SU upgraded itself via the play store to the newer version. Go figure!
jyams said:
I used Wugfresh tool. Everything worked until I flashed the updated SU 1.65. I could never get root. I read earlier that others were using SU 1.5, so I manually went back into TWRP and flashed SU 1.5 and bam, had root! Then SU upgraded itself via the play store to the newer version. Go figure!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The update.zip for SU 1.65 is broken. A "placeholder" install script was included that does nothing.
IMO SuperSU 1.55 is the best version to use right now. The install script works, it doesn't mess with a bunch of file permissions for your *other* files in /system to support the new ota survival mode, and it has the fix for the problem that used to break the OTA installs.
My phone is a Huawei u8160 (AKA Vodafone 858) and I rooted it a long time ago with z4root and have had no problems eversince.... until recently when my mate got hold of my phone and accidently flashed an experimental/beta (possibly a binary for x86 systems) SU binary through CWM recovery. I thought I could fix this quite easily by using z4root to uninstall root and then do a fresh reinstall, but it would force close on me after a few seconds. I tried this method with both temporary and permanent root options but nothing worked. The button that pops up saying ''unroot'' wasn't there even though there is still a SU file in /system/xbin as it showed in Rom toolbox. I soon realised that the version of android i was running on my custom rom was not compatible with z4root, so i searched for how to root android version 2.3.9 pro. I dont know the name for that version and it must have been a bit of a flop because google didnt know it either. I dont know how akiro-E (the developer that cooked up the rom) got his hands on version 2.3.9 pro but i recommend to other devs reading this to not use it as there is not much compatibility.
Anyway, i found this apk made by chainsDD called gingerbreak and decided to give it a go. It said that it needed debugging on and that it might take a while, so i did that and pressed the root button. I left it to do its business, but 15 minutes later it was still trying to run the exploit so I stopped and removed it. When i got home later on i searched up how to root any phone and it came up with the pc program 'superoneclick'. I got it, opened it and clicked unroot. It did its thing but failed to remove su and the superuser app like it was meant to. So then i clicked on root and shell root but it did not reinstall properly and got the same error as in unroot error. I did all the steps multiple times but it still wouldnt remove/replace su from the xbin folder. I then reinstalled superuser 3.1.3 and tried using the binary updater on there. I noticed that the su installed was called 'legacy'. The updater was having a spaz and didnt want to update so i tried manually removing su with the root explorer in rom toolbox butvrealised that you needed root (a working one) to do that. Then i found an app on my sd called root cleaner. I tried quick and full cleaning but to no results except for a force close multiple times. I tried to fi the foce close issue by running the script for this in rom toolbox but you need root (surprise surprise) Then i tried flashing cwm recovery through fastboot as i have done lots of succesful times before. It flashed after putting my phone in download/debug mode (power and volume down) but i cant boot to it as you need proper root rights to do that.
I am going to use total commander to check if the permissions are set to 644 for the su binary, if not ill attempt to change them.
I know this a long desciption and technical question but does anyone know any ways to delete the retarded root from my phone and help me restore root as normal? This is a question for the more experienced users and devs on this forum but any help will be appreciated, cheers.
If you've got recovery, you can install one of these zips in recovery mode.
Google "superuser 3.1.3 arm signed zip" and click the first link that comes up - the androidsu one. Then download the superuser zip package that suits your device to your phones internal storage, reboot into recovery, install the zip and there you go! Your root is fixed.
Sent from my LG-E400 using xda app-developers app
Thanks
@odigITECH thanks for the help. I fixed the problem using your method. . . kind of. I flashed recovery via fastboot and then just flashed another rom from my sd card via cwm after I rebooted. Thanks for the help anyway, much appreciated!
No probs
Sent from my LG-E400 using xda app-developers app
I followed all the instructions in this thread to root my HTC M8: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2699065&highlight=binary
I've got the TWRP recovery installed and did the "perm root" thing, which appeared to work as the SuperSU app was in the app launcher.
Now today when I tried to install xposed framework I discovered that the root apparently doesn't work. Opening up the SuperSU application gave this following warning:
"There is no SU binary installed and SuperSU can’t install it"
I googled around but didn't find anything concrete on what to do. I did find this one page that has a supposed fix in the comments, which I tried using but that hasn't done anything: http://www.theandroidsoul.com/root-new-htc-one-2014-m8/
I then thought I'd re-do the "perm root" step again, so I tried that using the all-in-one app, but now when I boot the phone up the SuperSU app doesn't show up in the app drawer at all and doesn't appear to be installed on the device at all, but the flashing step in the recovery doesn't give any errors at all.
So I'm stuck and don't know what to do now. I tried manually doing the flashing that the "perm root" step does but that hasn't given any other results either.
Searched the forum for "supersu binary" and found this thread, which had the solution to this problem: http://forum.xda-developers.com/htc-one-m8/help/help-accidentally-hit-ota-upgrade-t2852100
EDIT: Success!
Turns out I needed to re-flash my SuperSU binary from TWRP. I re-flashed the version I had first which actually removed the SuperSU apk. I re-downloaded it from Play Store, then flashed the 2.01 update. Runs like a charm.
Thanks to everyone for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This worked for me. Just went to the store and got supersu. Upon running it, it tells me to upgrade, the Normal mode didn't work but the Recovery mode did. Now after that, root checker says I'm successfully rooted and another app I has can get root permissions too.
Hey everyone,
I have been trying to root my new Samsung A5 (A520W - Canadian variant) but nothing seems to be working.
My first method was to flash CF AUTO ROOT with Odin, but this just rebooted the device without any sign of changing anything - no superSU installed and RootChecker returning negative results
I then flashed TWRP, and from there tried installing both SuperSU and Magisk v16.0, both of these options made the phone unusable (verification error on boot) so I flashed back to stock firmware and now I'm out of ideas.
I've tried looking for guides on the SM-A520F (non-Canadian variant) but most of these are out of date with respect to the recent OTA upgrade to nougat and/or mention the CF AUTO ROOT method which I know doesn't work
has anyone here managed to root this device? Am I missing a step, like formatting/wiping data beforehand or something? is it worth downgrading to an earlier android version?
Cheers!
dan.tjones said:
Hey everyone,
I have been trying to root my new Samsung A5 (A520W - Canadian variant) but nothing seems to be working.
My first method was to flash CF AUTO ROOT with Odin, but this just rebooted the device without any sign of changing anything - no superSU installed and RootChecker returning negative results
I then flashed TWRP, and from there tried installing both SuperSU and Magisk v16.0, both of these options made the phone unusable (verification error on boot) so I flashed back to stock firmware and now I'm out of ideas.
I've tried looking for guides on the SM-A520F (non-Canadian variant) but most of these are out of date with respect to the recent OTA upgrade to nougat and/or mention the CF AUTO ROOT method which I know doesn't work
has anyone here managed to root this device? Am I missing a step, like formatting/wiping data beforehand or something? is it worth downgrading to an earlier android version?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Format data with the FORMAT DATA button first in TWRP then immediately flash Magisk (preferred) or latest Supersu.
Reboot.
dan.tjones said:
Hey everyone,
I have been trying to root my new Samsung A5 (A520W - Canadian variant) but nothing seems to be working.
My first method was to flash CF AUTO ROOT with Odin, but this just rebooted the device without any sign of changing anything - no superSU installed and RootChecker returning negative results
I then flashed TWRP, and from there tried installing both SuperSU and Magisk v16.0, both of these options made the phone unusable (verification error on boot) so I flashed back to stock firmware and now I'm out of ideas.
I've tried looking for guides on the SM-A520F (non-Canadian variant) but most of these are out of date with respect to the recent OTA upgrade to nougat and/or mention the CF AUTO ROOT method which I know doesn't work
has anyone here managed to root this device? Am I missing a step, like formatting/wiping data beforehand or something? is it worth downgrading to an earlier android version?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just wondering how you flashed TWRP (which version) and how? I'm having the same issue trying to get root on this phone and will probably just flash a custom
jermzii said:
Just wondering how you flashed TWRP (which version) and how? I'm having the same issue trying to get root on this phone and will probably just flash a custom
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have done it! Had the same problem and yes i have the Canadian a520w. I had to use Odin and then install superuser
Step one: Is to download Odin on pc mac or linux.
Step two: download superuser on your phone then move the file from your phone to
you computer.
Step three: open Odin and select the superuser zip file and it should say pass.
Step four: install root checker off Google play
This is not a full tutorial on how to install it but all you need to search is how to use Odin.
I got it!!
jermzii said:
I got it!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Glad you got it to work did you use my method?
ashyx said:
Format data with the FORMAT DATA button first in TWRP then immediately flash Magisk (preferred) or latest Supersu.
Reboot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you please provide a link to an appropriate TWRP version for SM-A520W?
Many thanks!
---------- Post added at 09:47 PM ---------- Previous post was at 09:45 PM ----------
SlickSneeker said:
I have done it! Had the same problem and yes i have the Canadian a520w. I had to use Odin and then install superuser
Step one: Is to download Odin on pc mac or linux.
Step two: download superuser on your phone then move the file from your phone to
you computer.
Step three: open Odin and select the superuser zip file and it should say pass.
Step four: install root checker off Google play
This is not a full tutorial on how to install it but all you need to search is how to use Odin.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Please excuse my being a layman in this matter. I tried tot flash superuser.zip using ODIN but ODIN does not even see zip files (it only recognizes some other formats like .tar, .img etc). Could you please give a little more details on how you flashed superuser.zip using ODIN?
Thanks a lot in advance.
jermzii said:
I got it!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi jermzii,
I apologize for my questions - I am not very experienced in all these. I would like to ask you a few questions:
Where did you get an appropriate TWRP version for SM-A520W?
Also, ODIN, does not "see" zip files. How did you flash the supersu.zip using ODIN?
Many thanks for your help in advance.
I just bought a Canadian A520W with with stock Nougat (Telus firmware A520WVLS2BRD2). I tried to root it using CF autoroot and TWRP and I had the exact experience as the OP dan.tjones. There is no TWRP specifically for A520W. After trying several versions I found one which is successfully flashed with ODIN (TWRP 3.2.1.0 for A520F). TWRP appears to install Magisk (latest version 16) successfully but it shows no root or su binary. TWRP also appears to install SuperSU zip (there is a specific version for A520W nougat) successfully, but when I open SuperSU app, it says the SU binary is occupied. Google shows two "fixes" ((1) clean uninstall using an option within SuperSU, then reinstall, and (2) uninstall SuperSU + install an earlier version of SuperSU then updating the binary (hangs). Both fixes do not work. Someone mention wiping DATA in TWRP would fix the problem, but it did not work for me.
The major problem seems to be KNOX keep saying "failed verification". At one point it was so screwed up that it just boot-loop / hang and the only thing that work was download mode. I install TWRP again and it sticks. Then I wiped everything (cache/ Dalvik, data, system, internal storage). I probably could try to flash the stock nougat firmware using ODIN, but it was still downloading (snail speed free download).
Since there is no more OS in the phone, I manage to install a 6.0.1 pre-rooted custom ROM using TWRP (I originally intended to downgrade from 7 to 6.0.1 anyway because of reports of poor battery life), and installation was successfully, giving me root. BTW I originally tried to downgrade from stock nougat to stock marshmellow using ODIN, but it does not work ("failed" message).
The TWRP version that I flashed with ODIN:
TWRP 3.2.1.0 for A520F ("recovery_a5y17lte-080318.img.tar")
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=890129502657588962
The 6.0.1 custom ROM I installed with TWRP:
AXES ROM v.1 (they did say it is compatible with A520W)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/samsung-a-series-2017/development/rom-t3606231
I did not find any nougat custom ROM suitable for A520W. I am happy that I can find a rooted ROM and it does not matter to me whether it is marshmellow or nougat.
slim_thumb said:
I just bought a Canadian A520W with with stock Nougat (Telus firmware A520WVLS2BRD2). I tried to root it using CF autoroot and TWRP and I had the exact experience as the OP dan.tjones. There is no TWRP specifically for A520W. After trying several versions I found one which is successfully flashed with ODIN (TWRP 3.2.1.0 for A520F). TWRP appears to install Magisk (latest version 16) successfully but it shows no root or su binary. TWRP also appears to install SuperSU zip (there is a specific version for A520W nougat) successfully, but when I open SuperSU app, it says the SU binary is occupied. Google shows two "fixes" ((1) clean uninstall using an option within SuperSU, then reinstall, and (2) uninstall SuperSU + install an earlier version of SuperSU then updating the binary (hangs). Both fixes do not work. Someone mention wiping DATA in TWRP would fix the problem, but it did not work for me.
The major problem seems to be KNOX keep saying "failed verification". At one point it was so screwed up that it just boot-loop / hang and the only thing that work was download mode. I install TWRP again and it sticks. Then I wiped everything (cache/ Dalvik, data, system, internal storage). I probably could try to flash the stock nougat firmware using ODIN, but it was still downloading (snail speed free download).
Since there is no more OS in the phone, I manage to install a 6.0.1 pre-rooted custom ROM using TWRP (I originally intended to downgrade from 7 to 6.0.1 anyway because of reports of poor battery life), and installation was successfully, giving me root. BTW I originally tried to downgrade from stock nougat to stock marshmellow using ODIN, but it does not work ("failed" message).
The TWRP version that I flashed with ODIN:
TWRP 3.2.1.0 for A520F ("recovery_a5y17lte-080318.img.tar")
https://androidfilehost.com/?fid=890129502657588962
Before flashing custom ROM (in zip format), I use TWRP to wipe everything on the phone (cache / Dalvik, data, system, internal storage).
The 6.0.1 custom ROM I installed with TWRP:
AXES ROM v.1 (they did say it is compatible with A520W)
https://forum.xda-developers.com/samsung-a-series-2017/development/rom-t3606231
I did not find any nougat custom ROM suitable for A520W. I am happy that I can find a rooted ROM and it does not matter to me whether it is marshmellow or nougat.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You have rooted the device successfully the first time when you flashed magisk.Just root manager app was not installed.
If you have screwed up your device, do a clean flash of OS...then flash twrp and after flashing magisk the binary would be flashed but the app would
not be installed.To do that extract the app from the magisk zip that you flashed.It must be in common folder inside the zip.
Dont flash binaries on top of binaries.
Hope it helps
dan.tjones said:
Hey everyone,
I have been trying to root my new Samsung A5 (A520W - Canadian variant) but nothing seems to be working.
My first method was to flash CF AUTO ROOT with Odin, but this just rebooted the device without any sign of changing anything - no superSU installed and RootChecker returning negative results
I then flashed TWRP, and from there tried installing both SuperSU and Magisk v16.0, both of these options made the phone unusable (verification error on boot) so I flashed back to stock firmware and now I'm out of ideas.
I've tried looking for guides on the SM-A520F (non-Canadian variant) but most of these are out of date with respect to the recent OTA upgrade to nougat and/or mention the CF AUTO ROOT method which I know doesn't work
has anyone here managed to root this device? Am I missing a step, like formatting/wiping data beforehand or something? is it worth downgrading to an earlier android version?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hey...im novice at this as well but I did get my a520w rooted with su on oreo with twrp...I flashed the latest su on twrp....twrp was hard to get on but there is somewhere that shows how...good luck
A Very Possible and Precise Solution
dan.tjones said:
Hey everyone,
I have been trying to root my new Samsung A5 (A520W - Canadian variant) but nothing seems to be working.
My first method was to flash CF AUTO ROOT with Odin, but this just rebooted the device without any sign of changing anything - no superSU installed and RootChecker returning negative results
I then flashed TWRP, and from there tried installing both SuperSU and Magisk v16.0, both of these options made the phone unusable (verification error on boot) so I flashed back to stock firmware and now I'm out of ideas.
I've tried looking for guides on the SM-A520F (non-Canadian variant) but most of these are out of date with respect to the recent OTA upgrade to nougat and/or mention the CF AUTO ROOT method which I know doesn't work
has anyone here managed to root this device? Am I missing a step, like formatting/wiping data beforehand or something? is it worth downgrading to an earlier android version?
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hey Sir!
Soooooo I've been messing around with this all night and I figured it out somehow after nearly frying my new A5 (2017) lol
I'd recommend that you follow the directions as best you can and as fully to help you not have to redo all your software settings and stuff like I did haha. I think if all this is done in this order you shouldn't have to lose your data. I can't guarantee anything but figured I could share what worked for me. BONUS: I actually don't have an unlocked phone and I'm still locked to my carrier actually! So I don't think all these warnings are necessarily valid. Anyhow, hope it helps. :laugh:
NOTE: I'm not allowed to post website links here for some reason haha so sorry for the inconvenience! All the sites began with the https colon double slash btw! So MAKE SURE to add that to the addresses below (links are in italics)!
FIRST: Completely backup phone using Android Studio as can be found at Tech Republic website /article/how-to-create-a-full-backup-of-your-android-device-without-root/ . Also I'd recommend you do a Smart Switch full backup. Smart Switch will work to some extent and I personally restored from there pretty intact as I didn't have the Android Studio backup option before my phone got wrecked by the Verification error after I attempted to flash SuperSU onto the phone using TWRP.
1. BEFORE ANYTHING ELSE: Enable Developer Mode (by tapping on the Build Number several times), Turn OEM unlock on, enable USB debugging, and make sure all the "factory reset block" is off (or Allow factory reset option is on) and encrypted data features are off, I unlocked any Notes and disabled Secure Folder and Knox and Samsung Pass
2. Turn phone off
3. Boot phone into Custom OS install mode by holding Power+Volume Up+Home
4. I downloaded a TWRP installer file from tx5.androidfilehost.com/dl/TLLV1I5jSqS9Zg68RNh1hA/1538776061/890129502657588962/recovery_a5y17lte-080318.img.tar
5. Download the Odin software to flash TWRP onto your device, I got mine from drive.google.com/file/d/0B-2yp-J_x0LPaGJrSUlUcHE1a2s/view
6. Used Odin 3.1 to flash TWRP onto Recovery using the AP function, also turned Auto Reboot and F.Restart off (unchecked boxes)
7. Downloaded (newest file that's a zip) such as no-verity-opt-encrypt-6.0.zip from build.nethunter.com/android-tools/no-verity-opt-encrypt/ and put it on the SD card in the phone
8. Turned phone off and booted it into Recovery Mode by holding Power+Volume Down+Home
9. Used TWRP recovery to flash the no-verity-opt-encrypt-6.0.zip which sort of disables all the security things on Samsung (such as Health and Pass and Auto Updates) that would block your work, and this actually lets you reboot your phone instead of getting the Verification Integrity Check failed error and having to reset your phone every time.
10. After rebooting my phone, everything was running fine. I then downloaded SuperSU file SR5-SuperSU-v2.82-SR5-20171001224502.zip from download.chainfire.eu/1220/SuperSU/SR5-SuperSU-v2.82-SR5-20171001224502.zip?retrieve_file=1
11. Used TWRP in Recovery Mode to flash SuperSU onto phone from SD card and hit Reboot. Slight boot loop was visible and then the phone restarted normally with SuperSU installed and full root access. Thanks be to God.
Again, I can't guarantee this will work BUT it is the first walkthrough that I know of on the web. Hope it helps at all!
Edit:
Originally gave up on this, but recently managed to flash TWRP.
Now in Verification Error on boot, and trying to flash the no-verity to get around that.
Success (almost rooted, but shouldn't be much harder)
Just flashed a custom OS using Odin_3.12.3, twrp-3.2.3-1-a5y17lte.img.tar, lineage-14.1-20181117-nightly-a5y17lte-signed.zip, and open_gapps-arm64-7.1-pico-20181204.zip.
With help from this discussion, the LineageOS wiki "Install LineageOS on a5y17lte", r/LineageOS "Heimdall Failed to send data" (a post by noahajac was very helpful. You'll find it soon after OP), and the Odin install guide.
Some problems I encountered was that heimdall isn't favoured for this, and that if you try to wipe your partition through TWRP and it says it couldn't mount /data, you need to format the partition before wiping it.
Edit: so upon using the phone for a bit, it became evident that the SIM card was not being detected. From what I've read so far, this is because the phone had Android Oreo and the LineageOS was for Nougat. So I will have to restore and then revert to a Nougat version of Android and try again from there...
Not gonna be finished tonight. As long as I can get the restore and cell service working...
Two Questions re: rooting the SM-A520W
1. How can I make a proper Nandroid Backup. Everytime I go into TWRP the /data partition is unavailable. Yes I formated it and flashed no-verity-opt-encrypt-6.0.zip but it still is Zero bytes.
2. After rooting, the Fingerprint scanner becomes non operational and the lock screen password/pin does not work (keeps asking for the same password/pin over and over even though they are correct.)
Thanks for the Help.
ethan_hines said:
1. How can I make a proper Nandroid Backup. Everytime I go into TWRP the /data partition is unavailable. Yes I formated it and flashed no-verity-opt-encrypt-6.0.zip but it still is Zero bytes.
2. After rooting, the Fingerprint scanner becomes non operational and the lock screen password/pin does not work (keeps asking for the same password/pin over and over even though they are correct.)
Thanks for the Help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Which firmware are you running.
ashyx said:
Which firmware are you running.
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Click to collapse
I'm on Stock 8.0
I managed to fix problem 1 by flashing a modded Version of TWRP (3.2.3-TwrpBuilder) I am rooted with Magisk and now have access to the /data partition and can make a proper Nandroid Backup.
Problem 2 Is still there I seem to remember I have to replace Samsung Pass and Samsung Account, but I don't know where they are located I think I am supposed to create a directory in /prv-app I don't remember
I have that phone. I installed a custom recovery and used super SU.
SonicFan66 said:
I have that phone. I installed a custom recovery and used super SU.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't want Super SU because it can't be hidden from apps that disable if root is detected esp. Snapchat
@ethan_hines did you figure it out? I am looking to do what you did.