yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] scubapilot:
Out of curiosity, someone please explain to me what we are doing at the hardware level when we flash/root etc. I have an excellent understanding of PCs and Windows hard drives, but I don't understand why Android is much more complicated to modify and how the carriers are able to permanently mess up (in our opinion) our phones using OTA updates when there is not a computer virus that exists that can permanently mess up my computer to the point that a wipe and reinstall wont fix it?

My specific questions are as follows:

1. Most thread instructions usually say to root the phone before installing custom recovery (TWRP). If we are doing an ODIN flash, is rooting actually needed to install TWRP? Is root part of the ROM? Or is it a deeper hardware thing unrelated to the ROM?

2. If we are installing a custom rom (cyanogen mod) and we want root, is it necessary to root with a separate method (superuser.zip etc), or does flashing cyanogen mod give us root automatically?

3. If we are flashing images to the phone's hard drive, why does the current operating system on the phone matter? Why is there a different root/TWRP install method (and .tar images?) for android 4.1.1 than there is for 4.1.2 or 3.x.x? Shouldn't the same ODIN images work regardless of what operating system the phone has on it? As in, why do I even need to look at what is currently installed on the phone? If I have a computer and I want to install a new operating system, the current OS doesn't matter, I just wipe the drive and install the new OS. Why are the phones different? Why is it possible to buy a brand new computer, wipe the drive, and install Windows XP, or even DOS, but I can't buy a brand new phone and install Android 1.0.0?

4. How are the carriers able to cause developers so many problems with their OTA updates? If someone upgraded their i747 to 4.3 why can't they just format the phone's drive and reinstall an older operating system like I can on my computer? Even a computer infected with the worst computer virus can still be wiped and reinstalled with any processor compatible operating system, so how do the OTA updates cause irreversible phone problems when nasty computer viruses can't do this?

Basically explain to me what makes the Android phones different from PCs and makes everything so much more complicated than it is to format a Windows drive and install Linux and then format again and install something totally different? I just don't understand what makes them so different? Lastly, if the carriers encrypt a bootloader, like ATT did with the S4, why can't we just erase the bootloader and flash our own not-encrypted bootloader to the phone? Is the bootloader some sort of chip that we would have to physically remove and replace? Or is it 1's and 0's on the drive that we can format and rewrite?
[General Questions and Answers] Lgrootnoob:
Reason being is that the manufacturers have control over everything and completely lock you out.

Its not like you have a bios on these phones or you can install a new hard drive with a different OS on it.

They lock it down so much.

It's also not impossible to root any of the phones.

All you need to do is use uart or jtag to talk to the device straight up.

Rotting is part of the rom.

An odin flash will work great for flashing recovery(For samsung devices only)

And roms.

But odin flashes whole partitions only.

Rotting is not a hardware thing.

Its basically finding a way to place a file on the /system partition in the bin folder.

Then being able to execute that file. (File: su)

The su executable changes your uid(User id) to 0 which indicates the root user giving you full access over the device.

To get the su executable on to the device you will have to find exploits in the software to allow you to write to the /system/bin directory.

One such exploit is zergrush which gave you a root shell where you copy the su binary over to the device.

What is rooting?

Pretty much every rom here will be given root access by default.

Some roms(Usually indicated with stock) have no root.

In which case recovery will allow you to flash a zip putting the su files onto your installed rom.

(Recovery is like running a live cd to repair windows.)

A good place to learn is xda-university

What is recovery?

These phones have flash memory.

Not magnetic.

And like I said Odin flashes whole partitions.

So it would completely wipe whatever partition you are flashing to.

/system would contain android.

So an odin package with a system img would wipe the current OS and flash the contents of your odin package to the place where the old OS was.

To summarize, Odin packages are not dependent upon the installed OS at all.

Now that is an interesting question.

The reason that you can't just install any OS is because we don't just have generic drivers built for generic hardware.

We have millions of different phone models.

There really hasn't been any movement for standard compliant hardware in the phone scene.

So building generic stuff for all of the different kinds of phones would be a nightmare.

And the last one.

Its because we rely on software security bugs to break into devices.

Google has made it easy for us to do anything that we want with our devices with a simple command.

samsung's download mode isn't a sure fire way of doing any modding because you would have to build a rom from stock. (Samsung doesn't release their stuff very often. An exception to this is : sammobile )

And again, you could do this with an underlying knowledge of the hardware using Uart or jtag. (Conneting to the board directly and speaking to the processor)

Seriously think about that for a second, how do you install windows. A cd drive.

How do you configure devices. a bios.

In short : These phones aren't made to be messed with for security reasons and because manufacturers are too lazy to make it easy for modders. (Nexus devices are made in mind for modders though)

Need anymore info just ask. :highfive:
[General Questions and Answers] scubapilot:
Thank you so much Lgrootnoob. A few more questions.

1. When you say

Do I understand correctly that this is only true when adding root to a stock rom? If I flash cyanogen mod to the system partition, it does not require an exploit because it just erases and overwrites the entire partition? I have been rooting, and then installing TWRP, and then installing Cyanogen Mod. If I understand you correctly, me rooting the stock rom is an unnecessary step, as I am just erasing and overwriting it with Cyanogen Mod later?

2. So modding the Google Nexus does not require that we use the exploits you mentioned are needed to modify the other phone(s)?

3. I understand that Android 4.3 has security features that prevent gaining "true root"? As long as Nexus leaves the "easy access" you mentioned, it will still be possible to flash a custom rom that does allow true root, no matter what security features Google puts into its version of Android?

4. Does the Google Play Edition Galaxy S4 require the exploits? Or do the Google Play edition phones have the same "easy access" you mentioned the Nexus has? Is the "easy access" the fastboot function I've read about?

5. With a carrier that encrypts all of their bootloaders, I will most likely be forced to buy only Nexus products or Google Play edition phones if I want to have Cyanogen Mod with full root? I haven't wanted a Nexus because it doesn't have a removable battery or SD card, but having custom firmware is the most important thing to me.
[General Questions and Answers] Lgrootnoob:
1. Well, devices that have no way of flashing at the bootloader must be rooted on the stock rom to flash other roms. (Exception: Nexus devices that have fastboot flash system.img functions) But custom roms come su in /system/bin all the time. (Unless said otherwise in their thread)

2. Yup, google gives exclusive access on the nexus phones.

However, you have to unlock the bootloader to flash anything.

Unlocking the bootloader will use the command:

fastboot oem unlock

Unlocking the bootloader wipes all data.(/data partition) but leaves the system partition intact.

Reasone being is when someone flashes a recovery:

fastboot flash recovery.img

They could use recovery to dump your data partition.

3. The way processes work in android 4.3 and above is different from 4.3's ancestors.

Root can be obtained with Supersu

But exploits to gain root on the android system have been pretty much put out of business.

Most exploits are bootloader exploits these days. (Or oem rom exploits:eek:em's theming makes their devices vulnerable usually.[They have less tested code or just don't care.])

So root is still widely available on just about any rom out there thanks to chainfire! :)

^He is an awesome developer by the way.

4. I would figure that the google play editions have easy access with fastboot that would normally be stumped by samsung.

Google makes everything awesome. :)

" Is the "easy access" the fastboot function I've read about?" In short yes.

It allows you to flash recovery which can dump the whole system and allow you to modify the system however you like and put it back on the device.

There is even an app for recovery by the way: Aroma fm

5. The removable battery doesn't matter unless you wan't to swap batts on the fly.

But it does have a function for restarting the phone without pulling the battery. Hold power button + volume up until it restarts.

And even if you wanted to replace the battery you could take the nexus device apart and disconnect the battery and find a replacement. (Maybe ordered from the manufacturer.)

The devs here are awesome and find exploits in almost all of the bootloaders or the oem (skinned) android versions.

So the nexus devices aren't the only option, but they usually get more development unless your device is truly a powerhouse like the gs4 international.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
i cant go to system , recovery or download mode , when i power on my device have a error certificate verification fail with lg logo for few seconds and then black screen , . what should i do ,

:(
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] whoamanwtf:
Are you sure you cannot get into download mode? Hole power til you see the LG logo twice, then release so it powes off completely... Then hold only Volume up and plug the phone into your computer while holding it.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Jimi Mack:
What did you do or think you did to cause this? I would be easier to help if we knew what you were doing when this happened.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mazer4455:
I had the same problem. Spent nearly 10 hours trying to figure it all out but never made any progress. I sent it to LG though and they are working on fixing it up right now.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
YEs , i tried that too , but still cant go to download mode . it will show up the same screen and black screen , ,
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
so what do you think what should i do . can i send it to lg to fix it , ?
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
i got an update after i installed it it didnt boot to system , went to recovery and after i restart it this happened . .
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] G1_enthusiast:
try plugging it in and use the LG software...I never done it myself but if you search i think there is a way you can fix it using LG software.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
I am not sure if you this will help 100% but what I did was installed the recovery in my phone then I updated my phone. Which made my phone go in recovery and if I restarted it gets stuck in recovery. I wasn't able to get in download mode as well.

If you can get in "recovery" then you can use this fix

to get in recovery hold the vol- and power button until your phone vibrate and you are in recovery.

then execute these commands through adb shell

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2451696

Edit--- after executing the commands flash the stock rom--- using LG flashing kit. Search the xda and you will be able to find a thread that details how to do it. yes you will be able to get in download mode, i got there in 2 tries.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
Thats also not working bro , anyway thanks for reply . i cant go to download model or system , stucked with black screen ,
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
okay i am just saying but have you tried all keys combination to turn on your phone?

vol down and power

vol up + down and power

have you tried hard reset?

http://lgviet.com/forum/threads/moi-thu-ve-lg-g2-root-recovery-kdz-rom.4367/

read this forum

.... i wasn't able to get in recovery easily ... i had to keep trying until my phone vibrates and bang i am there... it never worked for the first time...
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
yeah , i tried everything since last night , and it wont vibrate either . did you also had the same black screen thing .
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
What kind of update caused this? You mentioned you got an update and then it was stuck dead.

Rooted/Custom Rom?

I was about to root my device and came to look at some instructions, this thread scared me...
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
NEVER UPDATE YOUR OTA AFTER INSTALLING RECOVERY!

read this!

http://lgviet.com/forum/threads/mot-so-van-de-can-luu-y-khi-su-dung-up-rom-cho-g2-can-phai-doc.4443/

---------- Post added at 12:43 PM ---------- Previous post was at 12:41 PM ----------

My phone got stuck in boot loop, keep restarting in loop but I was able to get in recovery.

I am wondering what you did? recall the steps... then maybe someone can help.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
yeah , thanks bro , my problem is also the same , but i guess im not lucky as u are , for now
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
I had korean phone and I was able to take out the battery and then plug it back in. Then tried turning on my phone while holding three buttons it showed me a korean menu, I dont' exactly remember but one of those option took me to recovery.

try holding all three button in boot.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
Sorry, can't read the link, but by recovery, you mean TWRP, right?

So basically, after rooting we can still do an OTA update, and it's still safe, right? But once we installed TWRP, we should not do any kind of OTA updates?

For TWRP, is this method good enough:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTJI9ThY0mk

To Root, I will use this method:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y45SXPRb31o#t=149

Sorry if I am steering topic off-course but I just wanted to make sure others don't do the same mistakes and end up in same situation.

Your suggestion of not doing OTA update is really valuable, so I wanted to build on that.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
The easiest and the way that really worked for me was to root it using "Vroot" http://www.mgyun.com/

but you should check which phone you have and which OTA version you have. As far as I know 11g and 11c for korean variant can only have cwm i am not sure if that is true for other phones as well. But be sure to check it. TWRP only works for 10x versions (where x is any alphabets) still dig deeper, I might be wrong.

But you should never update your phone after recovery.

and backup your IMEI number ... the thread i posted earlier try using google translate and download the apk to backup your IMEI by Hoang.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
I have the AT&T version. D800, Software Version D80010d.

First Thai, now Chinese? :) You are killing me. I don't use Chrome so they don't get translated automatically.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2434453

you will get vroot
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
Thanks, frankly I don't feel comfortable with those Chinese stuff, not that they are unreliable but I just don't feel comfortable.

Is that better than the method used in the video I posted above?
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] aatish:
for me nothing worked but vroot, its upto you which method you chose! rooting is not going to cause any serious damages I believe
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Demonlinx:
I have lg ls980 which is the sprint variant and I used a program called IO root. Worked like a charm.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mazer4455:
Hey,

I completely low level formatted the phone because it was showing up as QHUSB_BULK on my computer. I formatted it to get rid of any trace of root and then sent it into LG claiming that the update broke my phone. They got my phone Monday and I guess have fixed today (thursday) and sent it back out to me. So sending it into LG if you can't find a software fix is a possible solution :)

I'll update you on when I get the phone back.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
Where do you live? Did you buy directly from LG or through carrier?

Sent from my LG-D800
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mazer4455:
The phone was initially purchased through verizon, but I purchased the device second hand. Verizon's policy is to invalidate the warranty after the phone is activated on another line so the warranty through them was a no go. So I contacted LG and they were cool enough to have me send it in so they could take a look at it. It's on its way back to me now according to their website, so we will see when it gets here.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] hydeah:
This is very cool actually. May I ask where is the place they service the device?

Sent from my LG-D800
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
i also went to lg they said my motherboard was totally fked . so they said they will send me a new phone , so good to buy phone with a warranty ha :cyclops:
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] janukpalm:
Thanks guys for trying to help me , i went to lg repair center today , they said my motherboard was totally fked , so they will send me a new phone , :D . . . anyway Thanks for replying . . . . .
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mazer4455:
They had me send it to their place in Texas.
[G2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] WatsonG2:
What to format?

When I plug my phone in it is named "QHUSB_BULK" just as yours was... Also, somewhere around 15 drives show up when I plug my phone in And all but one (which is readable) asks to format. Did you format all of those and then "Rooted" in Factory Reset Mode went away?
[Moto X Q&A] regulator207:
Hey all

I got my wife a Moto X on RW but it dropped the first day and had a small crack that has since expanded throughout the screen today with the change in weather just like a windshield. I have been looking at guides on repair but do not know if the only thing I need is the the front housing will glass lens or the LCD screen with digitizer?

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!
[Moto X Q&A] jhnl33:
First day? Why don't you send it back in for a RMA? From what I know, it's very difficult to replace the screen because the digitizer is fused into the screen and the glass itself is heat laminated into the frame...

And wow, I've dropped my moto x on concrete more than once and suffered barely a scratch. You musta been unlucky :/
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] darki0xox:
hello i have Tab2 10.1

when i installed 4.1.2 i cant really find Arabic language so any help with this ?

can u tell me if am going to find arabic language on a custom rom or its basically gone from the tab?

thanks
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sharingan:
i think it is difficult to find i also have never tried to see whether it is there or not

try a custom rom which has the language
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] darki0xox:
can u recommend me a ROM that CERTAINLY has the arabic lang ?
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sharingan:
brother i need some time i will definitely recommend you a rock strong rom with arabic support

cos i use only english and from india but i will do something
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] darki0xox:
take ur time and thanks in advance :)
[Galaxy Tab 2 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sharingan:
i think this is it

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2381402
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] dude741:
I just reflashed Jedi x20 for my and now it won't activate. Any idea on how to fix it?
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] rufflez2010:
I had a similar problem in the past from cm. I had to go back to a touchwiz rom and then use Adam Outler's hidden menu enabler and reset the radio. It factory resets the phone FYI.
[Verizon Samsung Galaxy Note II] imagelost:
I too have the same problem. I restored my phone back to stock. Still would not come out of roaming mode. I'll try the hidden menu and see if that works.
[Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vit0r94:
Greetings,

Title says all, I'm posting the log from CWM.

I tried flashing lots of fw's. And this fix(http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2507403)

before and after factory reset, removing battery between. Out of clues

Nothing seems to be working for me. Since I first flashed a ROM I could never get network/lockscreen back

Can anyone help me find whats happening with my device?

Starting recovery on Thu Jan 8 23:58:37 1970

framebuffer: fd 4 (1080 x 1920)

min_x_swipe_px=240,min_y_swipe_px=120

CWM-based Recovery v6.0.4.5

Compiled by Xiaolu(20131122)

rm: can't remove '/system/recovery-from-boot.p': No such file or directory

Swipe up/down to change selections.

Swipe to the right for enter.

Swipe to the left for back.

recovery filesystem table

=========================

0 /boot emmc /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/boot 0

1 /recovery emmc /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/recovery 0

2 /system ext4 /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/system 0

3 /data ext4 /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/userdata 0

4 /cache ext4 /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/cache 0

5 /efs ext4 /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/efs 0

6 /sdcard datamedia /dev/null 0

7 /external_sd auto /dev/block/mmcblk1 0

8 /storage/usbdisk1 auto /dev/block/sda 0

9 /storage/usbdisk2 auto /dev/block/sdb 0

10 /tmp ramdisk ramdisk 0

W:Unable to get recovery.fstab info for /datadata during fstab generation!

W:Unable to get recovery.fstab info for /emmc during fstab generation!

W:Unable to get recovery.fstab info for /sd-ext during fstab generation!

W:Unable to get recovery.fstab info for /preload during fstab generation!

I:Completed outputting fstab.

I:Connected to Vold..

I:110 0 sdcard /external_sd 0

I:110 0 sda /storage/usbdisk1 0

I:110 0 sdb /storage/usbdisk2 0

I:200 0 Volumes listed.

I:Processing arguments.

I:Checking arguments.

I:device_recovery_start()

Command: "/sbin/recovery"

...

...

...

I:Checking for extendedcommand...

I:Skipping execution of extendedcommand, file not found...

mount: mounting /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/efs on /efs failed: Invalid argument

W:failed to mount /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/efs (File exists)

Error mounting /efs!

mount: mounting /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/efs on /efs failed: Invalid argument

W:failed to mount /dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/efs (File exists)

Error mounting /efs!

I:using /data/media/0 for /sdcard.

Any clues?
[Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] radicalisto:
Install busybox to get EFS back via CWM.

user [MENTION=2296018]brockyneo[/MENTION] had the same issue a few days ago, couldn't restore EFS until he installed busybox

http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2546724&page=3

It may help with the lockscreen issue.
[Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vit0r94:
Thanks a lot, I have asked brock for more detailed information about his solution. I hate messing with EFS, before I restore I want to make one more backup via terminal, I don't know exactly if he did the backup via terminal in his case.
[Galaxy Note 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] vit0r94:
I fixed my phone after one sad week of no networks! I'm so happy!

I used the batch script to restore my EFS via ODIN. and in CWM i was able to mouunt /efs.

Then I did a reset flashed clean ROM and it showed the SIM dialog and lockscreen started to work.

Thanks a lot!
[JASJAR, XDA Exec, MDA Pro General] glen.C:
my problem is TomTom 5 put on sd card put in XDA and and it fires up for one second then nothing? Does the same when I open from PDA?