yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
Here ya go.

http://wwwen.zte.com.cn/endata/mobile/USA/

If things are really bad then try the "Z990 Terminal software online upgrade tool", That is as long as you can get into FTM mode.

This may be of some use also.

http://support.zte.com.cn/support/news/NewsDetail.aspx?newsId=1001282
[General Questions and Answers] Apo11on:
thanks bud. by the time i saw your post i already found it on zte USA site. reflashed to stock, re-rooted. Now trying to find good recovery for it. The only 2 available are:

5.0.2.3 (upside down, mount sdcard or USB device doesnt work, fastboot from pc doesnt work - useless)

4.0.1.0 (in Chinese - cant read)

both recoveries can be found in this russian forum

jcase is trying to compile latest CWM, but it's taking a while and he's busy with other stuff.

If anyone knows of any working English recovery (clockworkmod, amon ra, twrp) - please post the link.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Its coming time for there to be a forum for this phone as it seems there are more of us with it than one originally thought hopefully a XDA admin will create one.

As to how the loon did it by just dialing the number: I would figure he had the SU binary from one of the other rooting methods he tried.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
How did you manage to flash a custom rom (even if not working properly?) I couldn't seem to get my phone to take anything but the stock firmware...or was this after you rooted?

I ask because my phone doesnt show up in fastboot devices
[General Questions and Answers] Apo11on:
i never said i flashed a custom rom. use chinese CWM 4 to do nandroid and flash roms
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
Seriously all I did was dial the number. My phone has the T flash image on it thats all and it works every time even after a fresh flash. Give it a try. Just did it again, fresh as a daisy flash.

Loon
[General Questions and Answers] yajoe:
Some context for other n00bs

I bought the Avail today so I would have an Android phone to play with. It's really cheap at AT&T -- only ~100 dollars -- and I'm an admitted iphone fanboi. Some context for rooting to save you the Google time:

Running the root requires using adb. adb is a the Android Debugger, which is part of the SDK. You will need to download it here and run it on your computer: developer.android.com/sdk/index.html

All commands are issued remotely; that is, you type the commands on your computer and adb pipes them via usb to the device.

Note that later versions of the SDK require using some Android developer package manager in the SDK to actually download the adb component.

Next, on macs you need to unmount the USB driver image before the channel is free for adb to communicate with the device.

Last, ensure that USB debugging is enabled. It's in system -> applications. Refer to the adb documentation to check connections, list devices, ect.

One tip is to use adb shell rather than continually typing in each command.
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
Or you could just avoid all the hassle and read post 18 and 20 to avoid the need for asprin. All credit goes to jcase, he is the one to give us all we need for root! Good luck with mac and all. :)
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
he is on mac post 20 doesn't apply to him as that batch file stuff only is for windows users so like 90% of the world... iPOOP, iCRAP, iTURD <-- the next set of products from apple

also @ the batch writer, you included superuser.apk in your rar, might as well have installed that in the batch file while you were at it...meh I'll fix it later and include titanium backup and rom manager and root toolbox and a few other root software I found extremely useful in the last couple of days
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
All that's needed for root is to dial *983*7668# no Mac no PC needed.

The batch was written using jcase's instruction as written by him to pay homage to the one that brought us root. I doubt we would be having this conversation right now without him. Didn't want to reinvent his wheel but wanted to make it as simple as possible for those not familiar with adb to get the job done.

I included the Superuser.apk for the rest of us. :)

When I hit the thanks meter it was for starting the thread that's all, but if you can contribute more positive and for the good I might hit it again.
[General Questions and Answers] cushcalc:
Worked fine for me, once I figured out not to press the phone send key after entering *983*7668#

The batch file was very helpful.

Thank you jcase and theloon.

I got this phone for my grandson, wanted to be able to clear out as much junk as possible so I could install good games for him. (Where's My Water is an excellent new game, FWIW)
[General Questions and Answers] ASMAteMe:
I am having a issue downloading the file via attachment. Please let us upload the file to megaupload or another file host.
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
My work is to be shared with all! Upload wherever you need but please give credit where credit is due. If you need me to upload the file to another server let me know. :)

Loon
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
I think he was saying he couldn't download off this website

I think this is what he wanted:

http://www.multiupload.com/7OJJ7RRE6V

had to use that since megaupload was raided by our wonderful government

btw this is a zip (instead of rar) file that the batch file also installs superuser for you. Thanks to jcase (for the exploit) and loon (for the first version of this batch).

does anyone have a working CW recovery yet?
[General Questions and Answers] Apo11on:
+1....cant wait to nandroid for peace of mind and try that ICS rom from russian forum
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
Still working on it.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Let me know if I can help
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
All I need is time, I'm designing my latest Quad copter flight controller board and don't have the time for other tasks.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
you are from alaska aren't you? in that case since you only go an hour a day of light I can understand xD
[General Questions and Answers] theloon:
Follow my IP I'm in Maui, Hawaii and have better things to occupy my time. :D
[General Questions and Answers] zelendel:
We have more then an hour of daylight here.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Location: Anchorage, Alaska
[General Questions and Answers] strakes:
When i dial *983*7668# on my phone it says "connection problem or invalid MMI code." Any ideas on how to correct this?

I've tried theloon's qr code as well and all it did was say download unsuccessful.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
have you entered the code more than once?

you need to download theloons batch files to your computer, or use the link I provided to download
[General Questions and Answers] strakes:
Alright I got the files from your link but I have to admit I'm still unsure about what to do with them. I extracted them to the desktop and also tried running the abd.exe and the sleep.exe files with no success. Do I need to put them on my phone through the abd manager?

Also do I need to downgrade mt Android version? I have 2.3.4.
[General Questions and Answers] strakes:
Disregard that last post. I just factory reset my phone and then dialed that number and it worked. I don't know what was preventing it from working before but no I finally have root access!
[General Questions and Answers] Dellboy2012:
Would this procedure work on zte z-990 (ZTE Avail) from other networks? Mine is called VIP Droid II and it's on VIP Serbia network. I tried using only the code, but it didn't work. Can I mess up my phone if I use the whole procedure described in post #14?
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
do you know if you are GSM or CDMA. If you are GSM this should work if you are cdma then the roamer instructions should work for you
[General Questions and Answers] Dellboy2012:
What roamer instructions? Sorry, I searched through this forum over and over for it.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=21390885&postcount=25
[General Questions and Answers] kryzzle:
Found some nice HowTo collection, describing Unlocking and Rooting the ZTE-Z990:

http android modaco com/topic/351886-zte-z990-avail-howtos/
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Here is a safe to remove list:

http://androidforums.com/zte-t-avail/483369-apps-safe-remove-do-not-remove-email-apk.html

there are a couple more you can remove but im still experimenting (btw this isn't my list)
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
I got a couple of PMs that I guess should be posted here to simplify things:

Easy root, no download all from the phone:

(Open Dialer)

1.) Dial *983*7668# (do not hit send - you should see a message come up about being root)

2.) Dial *983*24737# (do not hit send - you should see a message saying disabling QID)

3.) Go to market and download and install Superuser by chainsdd or ddchains -- should be the first in the list

4.) Run Superuser, hit the menu button, then select preferences, scroll down to Su Binary and do the update

then you should be all set, you may also consider installing busybox as a few root tools require it.

If using the phone with straight talk:

Download "APN Backup & Restore" from the market. Delete all apns then add the straight talk apn

APN:	att.mvno

Proxy:	n/a

Port:	80

Username:	n/a

Password:	n/a

Server:	n/a

MMSC:	http://mmsc.cingular.com

MMS Proxy:	proxy.mvno.tracfone.com

MMS Port:	80

MCC:	410

Authentication type:	n/a

APN Type: default, supl

I know that the Straight Talk Sim site tells you to use their internet proxy, I am assuming this is to try to limit your bandwidth. I have used it for 2 months without the proxy and just setup a friends avail (I really do like this phone and he bought it on my recommendation) with the above settings.
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Also, as a side note, you can do the ATT over the air firmware update with no ill effects. (as of Today)
[General Questions and Answers] kryzzle:
Well, yes and no. The over-the-air update is safe in terms of the smooth progress, but it seems to fix the root vulnerability, disabling service codes like the popular *983*7668#

I couldn't find out what else changed, but it seems a lot.

Kryzzle
[General Questions and Answers] mikec628:
over air update

I did the over the air update first of the week. I cant use the # thing on the dial pad to get in to root. Looks like they closed that route.
[General Questions and Answers] kryzzle:
@mikec628: Follow the HowTo on Modaco, it will flash the previous firmware, and allow you to root subsequently. The over-the-air update can still be performed after that.
[General Questions and Answers] arif41:
so worth , i cant help because it so worth
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
I did the ota and still have root...don't know what happened to you...maybe you can't root after?

If you need to go back to the original firmware, download this file:

http://www.zteusa.com/support/mp/201111/P020111112054213370234.rar

unrar to your sd card in a folder that you create called image

then turn off usb sharing

go to settings and about phone

then system updates and follow through

WHALA back to before you opened the package
[General Questions and Answers] Addicted_to_HTC:
Hey guys, glad you did something with this phone. Today I've bought ZTE Roamer from my carrier, it's actualy same thing as ZTE Avail just it has 2Mp camera.

Could you post how did you rooted it, what software did you used, or just point me to the post if it is on the forum already?

EDIT: Uuuuups, sorry I replied after first page, didn't seen later posts, my mistake. Thank you!
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
Let me just say ZTE's customer service sucks donkey D%^&. I cracked my digitizer and I need to get a replacement, nothing on ebay, AT&T does not repair prepaid phones and the indians on their support line are useless. I may be abandoning this phone!
[General Questions and Answers] bamx2:
Thanks to jcase , theloon and all who worked/are working on this rooting process for the AT&T Avail ( ZTE Z990 ) .

The link reference below does not not work . I would like to get the latest one to make this task simple .
[General Questions and Answers] chunk351:
see the previous page, i give a simple explanation on how to do this directly on the phone
[General Questions and Answers] bamx2:
chunk351 - I went back and re-read your post #56 - http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=23084494&postcount=56

It looks so simple. I will helping a friend who is even less knowledgeable than me about his stuff who wants to root his AT&T Avail (ZTE 990 ). l will give your method a try . - Thanks
[General Questions and Answers] scottharris4:
how long do i have to wait after typing *983*7668#? I get the message popup saying its rooting and it could take a few minutes, does it ever do anything to let you know that its rooted??
[General Questions and Answers] klabit87:
Did the method that chunk351 referred to work for your friends phone?

I will also be helping a friend gain root on this phone in a few weeks and would like to know.

Thanks in advance.
[General Questions and Answers] Chadtheguru:
Watch the bottom of the Dialer screen, it should pop up as a toast dialog. Watch closely, and if you don't see it, you will need to T-Card back to original firmware before the hack will work. That's what I had to do.

---------- Post added at 02:58 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:45 PM ----------

Is there a way to invoke this update? Mine says my firmware is up-to-date. I used the update utility via usb and it wiped out my root access. I had to start over with the OF. :(
[General Questions and Answers] scottharris4:
how do I t-card???

---------- Post added at 05:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:49 PM ----------

Nevermind, finally got the dialer method to work! :)
[General Questions and Answers] RelentlessRampage:
1 quick question..well maybe 2

I tried the method in post 56 today and I got the first message but nothing else. I did the OTA update last week so I guess I need to go back to the origianl T card version. Does anyone know how to do this? Is it the same as a factory reset? -RentlessRampage
[General Questions and Answers] Kilbert:
This method works on build z990v1.0.0B17

Do not have USB cable plugged in
[General Questions and Answers] adrock74:
Actually

*983*7668## must press # twice. Found out the hard way, but it worked
[General Questions and Answers] dougeeebear:
Thanks to everyone who contributed to making root possible very easily.

Special thanks to chunk351 for the writeups on how to easily root (post #56) and how to restore the original firmware (post #62).

I have one question now that I am rooted... what do I need to do to keep the phone from checking for updates?

Thanks again, Doug
[General Questions and Answers] slayer1321:
4-11. passoces

Can someone help me with rooting my ZTE merit I bought from Straightalk it has a ton of apps i want to delete since they leave me with 40MB or internal storage left.
[General Questions and Answers] MrPunem:
Anyone up for making a YouTube video to help us more technically challenged individuals who are visual learners? This is my first smart phone and first attempt at rooting, as I can't stand only being able to add 3 or 4 apps. And once I root what do I do?

---------- Post added at 06:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 05:27 PM ----------

How do I tcard?
[General Questions and Answers] bitshifter52:
Any Other Ideas???

This is the result of my trying to root my ZTE Z990G phone:

C:\SDK>adb shell rm -r /data/local/logs

C:\SDK>adb shell mkdir /data/local/logs

C:\SDK>adb shell ln -s /data/local.prop /data/local/logs/loglast1.tar.gz

Dialed *983*7668# - Waited 30 seconds and continued - following error occurs:

"Connection problem or invalid MMI code."

I have also dialed *983*7668# and waited two hours and nothing happened.

C:\SDK>adb shell "echo \"ro.kernel.qemu=1\" > /data/local.prop"

cannot create /data/local.prop: permission denied

When I run "adb shell ls -l \data\" it shows that the permissions are read-only except for root. Any ideas on how to change the permissions on these directories?
[General Questions and Answers] bitshifter52:
Rooted Success ZTE Z990G (Straight Talk)

I just found a method for rooting my ZTE Merit Z990G Android phone and I did not receive any error messages:

h t t p: / / rootzwiki com/topic/27810-root-zte-z990g-aka-zte-merit

I believe jcase (OP) is the creator of this (if I have the wrong person I apologize) process.

If this is a help to you be sure to drop by this site and throw some cash, s/he deserves it.

UPDATE:

There are still problems with apps that require superuser status...
[General Questions and Answers] scottharris4:
Is there an ICS rom for this phone?
[General Questions and Answers] MikeO89:
Dialing that number does nothing on my AT&T Avail. I have build number Z990V1.0.0B19.

Seems this build doesn't want to be rooted. What the hell do I do now? Do I need to go back to a previous Firmware? If so PLEASE instruct my dumb ass how to do that as I have no idea.
[General Questions and Answers] dougeeebear:
My build number is Z990V1.0.0B14 and I have it rooted.

Try to restore the original firmware by following the directions in this thread:

(I'm not sure if you can restore to a lower version number or not)

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=23182491&postcount=62

Here are the instructions to root, follow them exactly and you should be good to go:

http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=23084494&postcount=56

Hope this helps.
[General Questions and Answers] waltinhb1:
I have Build 19. Does anyone have WORKING links to version 14 or even version 17 I can download to my z990. All of the links to ZTE or elsewhere are either broken or do not contain either of those two builds. I'd like to go back so I can *983 the phone to unroot. Thanks. In the alternative, are either of those versions stored anywhere that I can download them from. I cannot find them on the usual suspects, i.e. Rapidshare, etc. Thanks
[General Questions and Answers] MikeO89:
h t t p : // w w w en.zte.com.cn/endata/mobile/USA/USA_SoftWare/201111/P020111107491720801969.zip
[General Questions and Answers] dougeeebear:
I didn't know the link I referred to was broken, sorry.
[General Questions and Answers] mikec628:
The 19 builds, are these the z990g (merit) from straight talk phones? On the phandroid site. jcase has root for them.
[General Questions and Answers] Nifters:
jcase's root works!! Thanks!!
[General Questions and Answers] ihadribs:
Argh, I have build number Z990V1.0.0B18, and the *983 hole seems to be patched in this version.

I'd like to go back to an earlier firmware, and then try, but all the links in this thread that reference the older/orginal firmwares are busted now.

Does anybody have the old firmware lying around? I did some google foo but can't find the old firmware anywhere.
[General Questions and Answers] MikeO89:
h t t p :// w w w .mediafire.com/?v7cbs8c342idcsl
[General Questions and Answers] ihadribs:
Thanks! I'm trying it now. Wish me luck.
[General Questions and Answers] ejmcelfresh:
Use this guide, I just used it and it works perfectly. h t t p://androidforums.com/avail-all-things-root/566407-root-zte-z990g-merit-avail-variant.html#post4632377

One thing to note, if you do not have the android SDK, you have to get it. The android SDK also depends on Java SDK, and be sure that you get the Java SDK 32 bit or else the android SDK installer will not be able to find it.
[General Questions and Answers] hrican:
At&t zte z990

Just got a AT&T compatible zte z990 (avail) that is unlocked, I have been trying to root but nothing works

*983*7776#. Just sits there (nada)

Need help will be happy to donate no matter what...

Zte-z990

Android 2.3.4

Build z990v1.0.0B18

Kernel 2.6.35.7-perf-zte-kernel@zdroid-SMT
[General Questions and Answers] ksflat43:
This is my first post so bear with me.

I finally got root on my zte merit by

using the steps that are listed here and

several other places using adb except that

whenever I tried to enter the push su

part it would never accept it. Out of desperation

I finally tried starting Zerg rush root and it

worked. I'm sorry if this is confusing but I was

feeling guilty reading these post of people having

trouble and not posting my possible solution.

Any questions I'll try to help.
[General Questions and Answers] Vibrate:
Is it possible & practical to put Jelly Bean on this device?
[General Questions and Answers] BigJo3:
Well Im pretty much an average Joe at this kind of stuff, only registered here just now to get info on this topic though. Pretty much need a dummys guide to this a complete step by step and a list of programs id need to do this successfully. If anyone would be as so kind to help me on this id really be grateful. ATT zte z990
[General Questions and Answers] Kidd_500:
Root

PLZZZ! tell me you know how to root this at&t zte Avail??
[General Questions and Answers] elidmel:
z990

hi

i have 2 zte z990 that would love to unlock root. send me the info so i can try.

regards

Elias Melendez
[General Questions and Answers] lizhancock:
Thanks......Does work!

Okay I was trying this code you gave and it would tell me please wait a time and system is root and I like a lot of people I guess from reading here did not get successful root.:confused: I am totally ignorant in these matters but after thinking for a while I retried the code waiting maybe 2 minutes and turned the phone off and back on and then root checker verified my zte was rooted. Of course you knew this and probably just thought everyone would know to restart phone so you forgot to mention that and that stumped us total non geeks! But yes it works you were right. Just a simple left out step that we all shoul know when it comes to doing stuff like this. signed a backwoods down home country girl.:laugh::
[General Questions and Answers] lizhancock:
*983*7668# does work!

You wait a couple minutes then turn your phone off and back on. (I waited about 2 minutes). That's what I did and it worked. I think they just forgort to mention that step Lol.
[General Questions and Answers] bamx2:
RE: Unlock Net10 ZTE 990G ? - Sorry for being OT here but I don't know here to post my question. I have the Net10 version and want to use a non-Net/ST SIM like Airvoice wireless, H20 ect for paygo use. Any help is appreciated . - Thanks
[General Questions and Answers] Noob_Rooter:
Could you pm me the root? Just got this phone today and would love to get it rooted first thing, (pretty sure there are newer forums for this topic but this is the first one that came up in search so...)

Thanks in advance!:good:
[General Questions and Answers] david smith18:
Help me please

Can somebody please send me step by step directions for how to root the at&t avail zte z990? Apparently i have no clue what i am doing. I have been reading and trying several things for the past couple of months and im not getting anywhere. It is about to drive me nuts. Somebody please rescue me. Any help would be so much appreciated. Thank you. My email address is joegibbs111820@gmail.com
[General Questions and Answers] bamx2:
This link is bad. Any other source ? - Thanks

QUOTE=chunk351;23182491]I did the ota and still have root...don't know what happened to you...maybe you can't root after?

If you need to go back to the original firmware, download this file:

http://www.zteusa.com/support/mp/201111/P020111112054213370234.rar

unrar to your sd card in a folder that you create called image

then turn off usb sharing

go to settings and about phone

then system updates and follow through

WHALA back to before you opened the package[/QUOTE]
[General Questions and Answers] pappeydaddy:
Yes...Please.

I also am in need of a youtube video. I want to know what to do to safely complete the root .
[General Questions and Answers] javiside:
ROOT z990

root z990? i successfully rooted a z992 with cydia impactor

---------- Post added at 08:42 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:37 PM ----------

[/QUOTE]

Hi bamx2 what about going back to the original firmware in the z992? do you have any solution? Thanks.:)