Q:

How to read files placed in root-folder? 

I want to know how to read files placed in root folder.  For instance let's take file /init.trace.rc.  When I'm trying to read it I get exception: 

java.io. FileNotFoundException: /init.trace.rc: EACCES (Permission denied)

I thought that I need to get superuser access.  I did it but that made no difference ((( I still can't read it.  Could anybody help me? ... and also I wonder how file explorers like "RootExplorer" read that stuff? 

A:

apparently this is all you need to run to get root access:
Process root = Runtime.getRuntime().exec("su");

taken from:

How can I get root permissions through the Android SDK?