Unroot after Kingo ROOT... failed attempt to recover after surprising factory reset - Xperia Z1 Compact Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

My fiancé's Xperia Z1 compact suddenly did a surprising factory reset by itself couple days ago. To my surprise SD card has been deleted in the process as well. The phone that in the trouser's pocket. The reason remains mystery...
I recovered most data from the SD card (pictures and music mainly). However, I made attempts to recover the data from the phone as well and among certain options I tried EaseUS MobiSaver. In the process it asked to root the phone using Kingo ROOT... and to be honest if I know what problems it's going to cause, I wouldn't dare to do it. Kingo ROOT rooted the phone, EaseUS performed the scan, by memory seem to be totally wiped, so nothing from pre-reset incarnation has been found. I entered the Kingo Superuser app and ask for unroot... and that's where my problems started. The root exists and all banking apps refuse to log in (obvious reason why I don't want root anymore).
I tried to figure out what my options are, and tried to use Kingo ROOT PC app to unroot, but that fails after couple minutes without giving the reason. I tried to install SuperSU to use it's mechanism to remove root traces, but it fails to update binaries and attempt to unroot only removes SuperSU... Root checkers still shows phone is rooted. Any clues how to let SuperSU do it's job in such case?
Now, question is if anybody knows a method to wipe out damage done by Kingo ROOT using adb to restore the phone into state without root? I personally didn't touch bootloader, however I don't know what method Kingo applies to perform rooting (any clues?).
Next question to more experienced users is if I reflash the phone using Flash tool (I identified stock firmware already) am I going to face any bad side effects? Any advice, hints, clues here? What to avoid? How to do it right? Are data already collected back on the phone would remain intact? Can I eventually backup all of them (networks setting, sync setting, contacts, etc.) and restore easily?
I've seen some posts mentioning using repair option in PC companion to destructively reflash the phone to get rid of the root. Can anyone share experience?

Manneveru said:
My fiancé's Xperia Z1 compact suddenly did a surprising factory reset by itself couple days ago. To my surprise SD card has been deleted in the process as well. The phone that in the trouser's pocket. The reason remains mystery...
I recovered most data from the SD card (pictures and music mainly). However, I made attempts to recover the data from the phone as well and among certain options I tried EaseUS MobiSaver. In the process it asked to root the phone using Kingo ROOT... and to be honest if I know what problems it's going to cause, I wouldn't dare to do it. Kingo ROOT rooted the phone, EaseUS performed the scan, by memory seem to be totally wiped, so nothing from pre-reset incarnation has been found. I entered the Kingo Superuser app and ask for unroot... and that's where my problems started. The root exists and all banking apps refuse to log in (obvious reason why I don't want root anymore).
I tried to figure out what my options are, and tried to use Kingo ROOT PC app to unroot, but that fails after couple minutes without giving the reason. I tried to install SuperSU to use it's mechanism to remove root traces, but it fails to update binaries and attempt to unroot only removes SuperSU... Root checkers still shows phone is rooted. Any clues how to let SuperSU do it's job in such case?
Now, question is if anybody knows a method to wipe out damage done by Kingo ROOT using adb to restore the phone into state without root? I personally didn't touch bootloader, however I don't know what method Kingo applies to perform rooting (any clues?).
Next question to more experienced users is if I reflash the phone using Flash tool (I identified stock firmware already) am I going to face any bad side effects? Any advice, hints, clues here? What to avoid? How to do it right? Are data already collected back on the phone would remain intact? Can I eventually backup all of them (networks setting, sync setting, contacts, etc.) and restore easily?
I've seen some posts mentioning using repair option in PC companion to destructively reflash the phone to get rid of the root. Can anyone share experience?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't know exactly what you want to preserve, (if it's in the realm of photos / music or more in the realm of app data, etc), but I think if I were you, and I wanted to use the phone for daily, secure personal use, I would use official Sony and/or Google backup functions, (built into the phone), and then flash using Emma, (official Sony flash tool - https://developer.sonymobile.com/open-devices/flash-tool/how-to-download-and-install-the-flash-tool/), or use Androxyde Flashtool if you want. Then go back to the same Sony / Google app you backed up with, and restore. Anything that's restored from Kingo will be easy to delete, since it will only be /data and not /system.

I used Link2SD to uninstall Kingo ROOT

Related

Why Should I root?

Hey guys! So I had a Samsung vibrant for years before I got a 920 and rooted it. I would then of course flash roms every week. I looked over the main features of the Roms coming out for the new nexus 7 and don't see anything that I can't already do, but I may he wrong. Can you tell me what is unlocked if I root my amazing new n7? (Apps I can use if rooted , features, etc) Thanks!
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
I am more than happy to answer that question for you. First: I want to shed a little light on what 'rooting' a device means, and what flashing new ROMs entails.
First and foremost: root is not required to flash new ROMs. Having root access to the file system is having full control and rights to your files. Think of it like having an Administrator account in Windows. You're free to manipulate all files on your device, including core system files, which is why you don't have root access by default; the normal end-user wouldn't know which system files do what and could delete a very important file that could soft-brick their device, or could download a malicious app that would do the same (think of it as a virus in Windows)(Protip: if you only download apps from the Play store, you're good).
Second: the only thing required to flash a new ROM is your bootloader to be unlocked, and maybe a custom recovery is required, I'm not too familiar with the stock recovery and whether or not you can flash .zips from there. Unlocking your bootloader enables you to flash unsigned images to your device, a custom ROM in this case. Here's where the confusion happens: when you flash a new ROM, it overwrites your old ROM, including the superuser status you had. Most custom ROMs have root enabled by default, which is why it seems like your old root access carried over. Think of flashing a new ROM as re-installing Windows on your computer. All of your old profiles are erased and you need to set up new ones. Having root access is like setting up your Administrator profile and using it.
Third: the benefits of rooting. I personally use root specifically for Titanium Backup, Cerberus, ES File Explorer, and franco.Kernel updater. If you don't know what those apps do, I'll explain. Titanium Backup backs up all of my apps so when I flash a new ROM, I can easily restore them, instead of having to manually re-install them from the Play store which takes time and sometimes, data. TB needs root because it's installing apps on your device automatically (after you tell it to). You can see why you would need root there. Cerberus is an anti-theft app, which needs root to remotely activate sensors like GPS, camera, take screenshots, show messages, get device info, etc. Again, you could see why root would be needed there: security. ES File Explorer (any root explorer app) needs root because, well, so you can see and manipulate files that you need superuser status to do those things. I use it for many miscellaneous reasons such as renaming my nandroid backups. franco.Kernel updater I use to tweak my kernel settings.
Now, I'm not trying to convince you to root. That is a decision that should be made by you. Having root comes with potentially negative consequences. You could mess up your ROM. The chances are very slim, and very reversible (worst-case scenario: flash new ROM), but still very real. If you don't know your way around the bootloader, or how to restore factory images to the device, it could be frustrating to fix a soft-brick caused by system files being manipulated. Still, you have XDA, full of helpful people and plenty of guides and if you have the patience to read and listen to advice, you should be able to learn how to fix your problem, should one arise.
Ok, sum-up. Having "root" is like having Administrator rights on Windows. Installing ROMs is like re-installing Windows on your computer. Recovery is like the BIOS on your computer. Therefor, root is not required to flash a new ROM, only your bootloader unlocked (possibly custom recovery). Root is nice to have, and poses almost zero risk to hard-bricking your device. Having root could soft-brick your device if you don't know what you're doing, however, and could potentially be very frustrating if you don't know your way around the bootloader and/or recovery. If you have the patience to learn or listen to advice, it can be fixed though. It's up to you to weigh the risks and rewards. One thing to keep in mind: if you only download apps from the Play store, you should be 100% A-Ok to have root. The only way to soft-brick your device then, is if you're in there poking around with files you shouldn't be messing with (so, user-error). If you do decide to root and/or flash new ROM's, I'd advise in doing it manually at first instead of using toolkits. That way, you can see what's happening, which could come in handy if something should come up later.
Well said, Johnmama.
Basically, the #1 reason I root is Titanium Backup. I do also use some additional root apps, like ES File Explorer, but I could live without them. Titanium Backup is the ONE app that I will not do without.
The majority of custom ROMs already come prerooted.

Question about hard reset and rooting

So my phone keeps freezing alot when I make a call or try to answer calls or hang up and sometimes it even freezes on the lockscreen and it will be like that for a few mins it's really annoying.... Anyway my question is if I decide to do a hard reset(which is a factory reset right?) will I still keep my root? I rooted using towelroot or do I have to do it again? And do I have to unfreeze any apps I froze using titanium backup?
WendyB87 said:
So my phone keeps freezing alot when I make a call or try to answer calls or hang up and sometimes it even freezes on the lockscreen and it will be like that for a few mins it's really annoying.... Anyway my question is if I decide to do a hard reset(which is a factory reset right?) will I still keep my root? I rooted using towelroot or do I have to do it again? And do I have to unfreeze any apps I froze using titanium backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i'm not very sure about this. but probably it's because of the root? I cannot root my phone (D855, V10i) with towelroot. And when i tried the string method to root my phone with towelroot, it freezed my phone a while. And when I scanned my phone with CM security, it showed an exploit security problem (towelroot). I'm not sure which software version are you running, but i guess the updated phone has fixed the towelroot problem, and probably it's related to your problems. I would suggest you root your phone with a different tool (such as PurpleDrake like I did) no matter if you have a hard reset.
You could also revert back to stock and unroot at the same time using the LG pc suite. Then root with another method like Stumproot.
I have d50

Phone acts weird after root

Hello,
I read about all the amazing stuff you can do with rooting and wanted to try it myself. I searched for a while and found a program called kingroot. After reading some positive reviews I decided to go with it. I downloaded the program to my pc and rooted my phone. Once my phone is rooted, super excited me starts downloading apps wich require root. After a while I saw that some weird apps where installed on my phone (porn stuff mostly). I decided to factory reset my phone. Unfortunately, when I booted up my phone again I got some weird adds on my home screen and the weird applications were still there. I couldn't delete them because they were classified as standard apps. I downloaded king root again and unrooted my phone. After it was unrooted I did a factory reset once again. When I started up again, I saw that the weird apps were still there. I downloaden avg Antivirus and did a scan. The two apps who had mallware in them were: com.android.system and com.android.systemui. I rooted my phone again and the problems are still there. Right now I don't know what to do. What would you advice me to do?
Hi !
You have very badly read this s4-mini section ^^
There are others way for to root our phone....
I recomand to flash cwm 6.0.5.1 and then "rootkitv2" (after root ,open SuperSU for to disable knox and update binary in "normal mode" => the root is good ! )
Kigroot it's the "hell" ,a big malware !!! The worst thing ....very very bad !!! There are repports who have said that it's dangerous...
And many known apps who need root din't reconize and like at all the root with this method because there are "kiguser app" !!!! It's not the SuperSU by chainfire...
Now you have to reflash a stock firmware with odin method ....and FULL factories wipes !!! .....and root .
(Or with cwm : format&wipes ...and flash customs roms^^ )
julpo2000 said:
Hello,
I read about all the amazing stuff you can do with rooting and wanted to try it myself. I searched for a while and found a program called kingroot. After reading some positive reviews I decided to go with it. I downloaded the program to my pc and rooted my phone. Once my phone is rooted, super excited me starts downloading apps wich require root. After a while I saw that some weird apps where installed on my phone (porn stuff mostly). I decided to factory reset my phone. Unfortunately, when I booted up my phone again I got some weird adds on my home screen and the weird applications were still there. I couldn't delete them because they were classified as standard apps. I downloaded king root again and unrooted my phone. After it was unrooted I did a factory reset once again. When I started up again, I saw that the weird apps were still there. I downloaden avg Antivirus and did a scan. The two apps who had mallware in them were: com.android.system and com.android.systemui. I rooted my phone again and the problems are still there. Right now I don't know what to do. What would you advice me to do?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Those malwares were installed in system partition, this is why Factory Reset (wipe of Data partition) can't solve your problem.
The best advice I can give you is to flash a STOCK ROM then :
1- If you only need root, use the corresponding version for your device of CF-AUTO-ROOT.
2- If you need root & ability to install custom roms, use Odin to flash a custom recovery (CWM or TWRP) through which you can flash SuperSU.

Root disapeared, disabled some apps and can't reenable+ no screen... Please help!

Hello, my phone is Xiaomi Mi5s Pro (4/128gb variant), global stable rom, which atm has no screen assembly attached (phone dropped in liquid, managed to recover most of it, just the screen died) which is a bit of a problem- cannot really access recovery (or can I?) I'm controlling the phone through vysor app, unlocked bootloader. Now the issue- I rooted the phone a month ago, installed some apps and disabled few things through titanium backup (including few system apps which I need back, to backup my data for transfer to a new phone) and a week later the root got disabled after an OTA update, I tried rooting by flashing few different versions of supersu- no effect, I have no access to the recovery now anyway.
the question remains- is there any way to enable those apps again other than hard reset? I wanted to try the adb method, but this one also requires root, mayby there is a way of installing root through adb fastboot?
Any help apreciated :good:

Apps complain about rooted phone even after un-root and locking bootloader

I had my OnePlus 5t rooted but need some apps which are not working with rooted phones anymore and where anykind of magix hide was not working anymore.
So I un-rooted my phone and locked the bootloader again. But now these apps are still complaining about a rooted phone. How can I resolve this?
Try uninstalling these apps, then reboot, then install them again. Does it work? If not:
make a backup with your recovery (I assume it's twrp?) and clean flash your rom. Don't clear internal storage, as this will also delete your backup (you may transfer it to your pc beforehand), and it's not needed for a clean install.
If you were on Samsung I would've said you tripped Knox counter, no way to fix it but since you posted here on OP5T.... I personally never had this issue before.

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