yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
So I've had a little time to ponder the situation. The idea I had won't work to allow you to downgrade back to 9.30.1 if you get in trouble, that's true. But, it might allow you a one shot upgrade to KK while rooted on a locked device. I'm not personally going to pursue this idea, but, I'll lay out what needs to happen for others who seriously want to maintain root while upgrading to KK on a locked device. Again, you get one shot at it....you screw up your phone and have to FXZ, there's no getting it back.

Requirements:

o) A rooted 9.30.1 phone with working SafeStrap

o) KK FXZ (not yet released for HD, but, is for M)

o) system dump from KK using an unlocked, rooted KK phone

o) Someone to create you a safestrap flashable zip from the system dump that updates the system partition for KK while maintaining the su binary and perms

o) A UNIVERSAL RSD script generated for the KK FXZ, manually edited to remove the system partition flashing

If you can get someone to create the safestrap flashable zip then you should be able to do this:

o) FXZ 9.30.1 using my UNIVERSAL script

o) root using saferoot-moto

o) Install safestrap

o) Boot to safestrap

o) Flash the system image

o) Immediately boot to AP Fastboot from safestrap

o) Flash the modified UNIVERSAL (minus system partition) RSD script with KK

o) ???

o) Profit...carefully...with root

One of you motivated boys or girls can start working on the system partition safestrap flash and have an unlocked user test it.
[RAZR HD General] thewraith420:
Someone on an unlocked rooted kk should be able to root and install safestrap and use safestrap to make an backup that any one could flash to try this idea
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
I thought about this too, but safe strap only allows system data and cache backup... We'd still need the FXZ for kernel/modem.... But it's damn sure worth a shot.
[RAZR HD General] thewraith420:
Well after reading the above post it sounds like system is the only one needed to be backed up....

Restore rooted 4.4 system partition via safestrap

Boot to fastboot

Fxz everything except system

Reboot to rooted 4.4.2

Hopefully.... If I didn't already update I'd try it but I'm locked and updated
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Yea that's the idea.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
This is probably stupid but what if the tz.mbn file in the kitkat OTA was replaced with the 9.16.6 tz.mbn? The only reason I even pose the question is because I remember the update checking boot, system, and recovery, but I don't recall it ever verifying the Trusted Zone... So if that file were replaced by the old one in a signed update, would that then allow for unlock and root on a locked device?
[RAZR HD General] iBolski:
Those have MD5 checksums I believe. Once you've mucked with the OTA .zip file, it won't install anymore as it will fail the MD5 verification.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Yeah but can't you just modify the md5 checksum in the updater script to make sure it matches
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
No. The entire update is signed with private keys. If you modify it, the assertion on the update will fail and not install. There is no getting around that. If ther was, there'd be no reason to ever unlock a phone as you could just replace the contents of an OTA zip file with whatever you wanted to flash. Wouldn't be very secure.
[RAZR HD General] cmh714:
Thats not the way it works.......otherwise there wouldnt be a need for the checksum to begin with....
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Oh well I guess it just can't be that easy lol
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
We really need to get a stock rooted system from someone who's unlocked for those of us who are locked and on 9.30.1 ... All you have to do is install safe strap and make a backup for us. Here's the link. http://hosting.crackflasher.com/get...f/vanquish/safestrap/Safestrap-XT926-3.60.apk
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Yea, once you have that, follow the method I outlined a few posts ago for a one shot chance at updating to KK while keeping root.
[RAZR HD General] RootNoob89:
Hello Im a bit new to this (my first post)

I have a droid razr maxx hd and just recieved the update to 4.4.2 today

I want to be able to root my phone but dont know any of the lingo here.

What do i need to do to root my phone if its possible with this new update...

Also i see you guys talking about the phone being locked and unlocked what does that mean?
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Buy a new phone. LMAO. This update can't be rooted. Since you don't know what unlocked means, the chances of you being unlocked are 0. It means an unlocked bootloader and there was a VERY small window of opportunity to do so about a year ago. That ship has sailed and there is no root exploit for this new version for locked phones.
[RAZR HD General] killrhythm09:
Unfortunately you're kind of screwed now. It was possible to root on 4.1.2, but not 4.4.2.

And since your bootloader is locked (this is what people refer to with the locked/unlocked thing), you can't downgrade to 4.1.2.
[RAZR HD General] RootNoob89:
So how long will it be if ever before i can root this version?

Also if i was to buy a new phone what should i go with i hate apple products

and prefer to stick with android.

e/ also if i factory reset my phone will it still be 4.4.2?

Thanks
[RAZR HD General] killrhythm09:
No one can predict when or if new root exploits will appear. It's always possible, but certainly not for the forseeable future as KitKat is more locked down than any previous version of Android.

If you seriously decide to buy a new phone, I recommend doing a lot of research first. Decide which features are important to you and check each phone's forum here on XDA to see how active developers are.

If you factory reset your phone, it will still be on 4.4.2.
[RAZR HD General] RootNoob89:
How unlucky is that,

I started looking into rooting my phone yesterday and woke up today to this update...
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Well, since it's an 18 month old phone, there's going to be zero effort put into rooting this build. But if there was going to be an effort, here's what you're up against. They'll need something like IDA Pro to rip apart the brand new kernel to find some kind of privilege escalation bug. This is a time consuming, laborious process for those that even know how to do it (I'm not one of them). Assuming they find some kind of priv escalation hole, they then need to write code to exploit it. Finding a bug != exploiting it. Now consider that the S5 has been out for several weeks now, has a 12k+ bounty for root, and still remains to this day unrooted. So, you tell me...how long is that going to take for an 18 month old phone with no one looking at and no 12k bounty?

Something unlockable. Moto X Dev Edition. M8 seems to currently be S-OFF enabled. Stay away from Samsung Dev Editions.

Factory reset does not impact the version you are on. ALL that it does is erase the data partition. Period.
[RAZR HD General] killrhythm09:
It does suck, but on the plus side it won't happen again as long as you remember to hold off on OTA updates and check here on XDA to see what it's like for other people.

If you want the easiest route, you should try to get a dev edition phone or a Nexus. These all allow bootloader unlocking, which allows you to flash a superuser binary and get root at any time. It really depends on which carrier you have though. Verizon doesn't have any of the Nexus phones other than the now somewhat dated Galaxy Nexus. They're assholes about keeping phones on their network locked down, so your options are pretty limited unless you go to T-Mobile or something.

Developer edition phones are an option on Verizon, but they're more expensive initially since you can only buy them off-contract IIRC. And then there's the fact that development for them will be subpar compared to more open phones since the number of people with dev editions will be a lot smaller. But if you only care about rooting as opposed to flashing custom ROMs, they will work just fine.
[RAZR HD General] RootNoob89:
Well I ordered a HTC One M8

Overnight shipping but i guess somehow the expected arrival date is tuesday...

So I will have to wait patiently for it to get here
[RAZR HD General] MarcusWhite:
[MENTION=2812087]SamuriHL[/MENTION]

Im assuming from your last post the rooted system dump was a dead end? Or has that happened yet? If not I'm tempted to party crash the KitKat bloatware freeze thread to try and recruit... Dang pre-madonna unlocked lucky bas$%&#s... Lol
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Being able to do it repeatedly is a dead idea. Being able to do it once has not been tried because the unlocked rooted users haven't provided a safestrap backup of the system partition yet.
[RAZR HD General] MarcusWhite:
I've been waiting for that one chance. I'm on 9.18.64 though
[RAZR HD General] rightjb:
I have one of those 926 editions that can't be unlocked, so I SOL on even using a custom ROM. I am rooted and have Titanium Backup Pro, but can't find the name of the app to freeze the OTA. Anyone have a clue where I can find it to freeze it?
[RAZR HD General] thebigindian:
Is there a working version of safestrap for 442? If so, I can make a system backup of my unlocked rooted system and send to whoever you recommend
[RAZR HD General] MarcusWhite:
If a version of safestrap compatible with 4.4.2 comes out, you will be my hero. I just hope this works, its my (and several silent others) only hope. If not, I guess I'll be going without root for a while. Not the end of the world, but sooooo annoying.

[MENTION=2812087]SamuriHL[/MENTION]

you still think this is feasible?
[RAZR HD General] thebigindian:
I will keep checking for a working version. When or if a working version comes out, I'll upload the system files asap. If there is another way to do this please let me know. I'm no dev but I'll help any way I can so the rest of yall can get root.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
For a one shot upgrade while keeping root, maybe. Needs to be tried.

---------- Post added at 10:48 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:47 AM ----------

There is another way, but, it's not fun. Which is to write the update-script manually for a system pull. The S4 has done this.
[RAZR HD General] aviwdoowks:
Sure the 'X safestrap will not work?

Booting to recovery from the ss app.
[RAZR HD General] Mr-Glass:
Guessing that is a no-go since all of the versions are separated on [MENTION=4243514]Hashcode[/MENTION] download page... http://blog.hash-of-codes.com/downloads/safestrap/
[RAZR HD General] aviwdoowks:
You are only generating a system img not restoring. If installs & the screen buttons work. Anyone have a "Beater" M or HD ?
[RAZR HD General] thebigindian:
What's involved in this? How hard would it be to learn how to do this and where to start?
[RAZR HD General] iBolski:
You can an ask hash code if he plans to upgrade safestrap but I have a feeling it would be a no. But it doesn't hurt to ask.
[RAZR HD General] Surge1223:
If you guys make/get a 4.4.2 rooted system backup then please PM me before you try to install it...theres somethings that need to be removed/edited from the system backup (it will still flash fine, but wont boot up...it will hang on splash) so to avoid issues its better to be safe than sorry.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
You all should listen to the man since he's the one I got the idea from. ;) If I had one of these phones I'd help out here but there's not much I can do on the sidelines.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Okay, well I've gotten to this point... and it's just like you say it just hangs there, but it actually starts turning the screen kinda of static-looking, and seems to fade into white, but before a forced shutdown goes to recovery... so what exactly is it causing this because I thought it was due to being flashed from safe strap, and safe straps incompatability with the KK kernel... ???
[RAZR HD General] lloydsw:
IF I remember correctly, I froze something on my wife's phone called or had 'update' in it. This halted the 4th download of the KitKat OTA. I had been just deleting them prior to this. Freezing it halted the download 1/2 way through & hasn't shown up since.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
[MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION]

I'm assuming it's possible, if not difficult, to create the update-script by hand rather than from a safestrap backup? Is that something you have experience with? Meaning, if we get a system dump of build 183 that contains su, do you know how to write the update-script for it so it can be flashed in safestrap? The idea is to flash the 183 system partition while on 9.30.1 rooted with safestrap, shut down and reboot directly into AP Fastboot and flash all the other partitions with RSD. Is my theory sound?
[RAZR HD General] rightjb:
VZW Install services and Updater frozen, just now. Let's see if that does the trick.

I don't think I saw "updater" until it started to download this morning (I guess it has a timer to respond or it does it automatically) - but I saw that right after I read your post. Thanks very much. Let's see if that'll do-er

---------- Post added at 08:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:18 AM ----------

What's funny is I JUST got my Razr Maxx HD working the way I wanted (addition of Snapdragon Battery Saver eliminates need for KK upgrade 4 me) and then this OTA comes along. Didn't know until recently Moto had such a problem with unlock/root and about ZERO chance 4.4 will have a root method. There are some apps I (literally) can not live without on a smartphone that require root, and I was told by the unroot genius "Dan" that my phone was a model that unlocking is impossible.

So probably a developer Samsung Galaxy S5 for me. Too bad. I really really liked this phone for the past year... Probably wouldn't have changed or bought another Moto phone otherwise...
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Moto isn't the issue. Please do some reading before pulling the trigger on the S5 DE. It's not a great choice if you like keeping an up to date phone.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Safe strap won't allow stock flashing so its not going to be the solution... I've created a flashable from a rooted backup that another user was nice enough to provide. I flashed it through safe strap and updated the other partitions through the fxz (except for tz and got) and it just hangs on the moto boot screen & flashes strange scan lines... (Pretty sure this is cause SS runs on JB kernel) so of course I've tried stock flash in SS as well & that just never works...
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
That sucks. They allow it on the S4. :( Ah well. My theory sucked.
[RAZR HD General] Surge1223:
You guys cant flash on the stock slot in SS? If SS didnt allow it to flash system then can you restore a system backup to the stock slot still or no? Ill ask Hash in a bit..
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
"You guys" != me. :D I don't know as I don't have a RAZR HD or M else I'd have tested this already. I'm just trying to help them out and see if this could be done so those who've been patient can get a one time upgrade to KK with root. Downgrading has been ruled out completely as all the secure partitions refuse to downgrade even if we omit the TZ and GPT partitions. :( But a one shot way to upgrade with root would be useful.
[RAZR HD General] aviwdoowks:
Here is how you "flash to stock slot" From http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=45541404&postcount=2

Instructions for those on ...94 or ...1 who want to keep their data (apps) (beta, Worked fine for Me)

1) Create a ROM slot

2) Mount system & install My ROM to the same ROM slot

2a) Optional flash SD swap update here

3) Make a Backup of your ROM (save it to external storage)

4) Switch to Stock slot (you know you in stock when "install" and System" turn to red font)

5) Wipe cache & dalvik cache

6) Restore Backup with the data un-checked (if done right the only file available will be the Backup you just made)

7) Confirm restore (Bootup)

8) Delete the slot used.

jvasquezhhi's procedure from RZR

Installing custom ROM to STOCK Using SS 3.12

Create a ROMSlot1

Flash the custom ROM to ROMSlot1

Bootup the ROM

Configure your ROM to your liking (this is if you have other flashable mods like DST or a different SuperUser)

Reboot into Recovery

Make a Backup of your ROM (save it to external storage)

Switch to Stock partion (you know you in stock when "install" and System" turn to red font)

wipe Phone (cache, Dalvik, Factory Reset, System, and finally Internal storage)

restore back up (if done right the only file available will be the back up you just made)

Confirm restore

DONE!!! enjoy your custom rom in stock partition
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Well that method does work but flashing a stock KitKat to your stock slot still just hangs there on the boot logo for whatever reason... So then I had to fxz my phone back and accidentally selected the KitKat fxz and not the jellybean one... Now I'll probably never have root. :\
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Um, of course it hung. That's only one small part of the process. You had a mismatch of JB partitions with a KK system. You didn't really think that was going to boot did you? The process was to:

o) Flash system

o) IMMEDIATELY, without booting normally at ALL, boot to AP Fastboot

o) Flash all but the GPT, TZ, and SYSTEM partitions from the KK FXZ

And yes, if you flashed the KK FXZ, you won't be able to perform this method. :( That sucks.
[RAZR HD General] mycars12:
Hello, has anyone been able to successfully root the new 4.4.2 for this device?

and if so can you guys point me in the right direction, i read a couple of threads and havent seen much success

thanks
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
More reading on this subject do you require. Then you'll find out that you can't root it.
[RAZR HD General] spapesh:
Can you provide a link to download the rooted backup? Thanks.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Sam, you don't understand the flashable stock rooted system includes those said partitions and yes I'll provide it for you hold up and I'll upload it.
[RAZR HD General] MarcusWhite:
The rooted backup won't do you any good just yet. And if you have KitKat already, it won't do you any good at all.

Now if you are like me, and have not updated yet. Then you need to stay that way. There isn't a solution at the moment. The good folks in this thread are trying to figure out how to get a one chance only solution. You will get one chance to get it right IF it works. That means reading their instructions thoroughly.

Now if I miss understood you, and you too are trying to figure this out, my mistake. If not, then please read the rest of the thread to get an idea of what's unfolding here. I don't mean that rudely, there is actually a ton of good info in this one. If this is gonna work, then its only missing a couple of pieces to get it right, from what I can tell.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
Then it shouldn't have been flashed. ONLY system can be flashed in this theory. If the steps aren't followed exactly, then the one chance at attempting it is permanently blown.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Right well my chances are blown but I'm pretty sure it won't work regardless as I tried that way as well. Just remove all the other files from this flashable I'm about to send you then & remove them from the updater script as well. [Which should be easy since I made the updater script ]
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
I'll take a look at it and see if we can find another....volunteer. LMAO. :) It sucks that you weren't able to get it to work. :(
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
Its gonna be a minute lol
[RAZR HD General] MarcusWhite:
I'll step up to the plate... I can try it in 18 hours from now. Bear in mind I'm definitely not as experienced in this sort of thing, and I'll need a good list of steps.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
I'll grab it in the morning. I gotta head to bed.

---------- Post added at 11:06 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:05 PM ----------

It'll be at least tomorrow before anything's ready. I don't use safestrap so that's not part of the equation I can detail.
[RAZR HD General] zachariahpope:
https://mega.co.nz/#!Cc8BHSaT!jMGFQO49iY4vT3HVG0_djxXZ_kSsnS8Gm0QU3W7apjQ
[RAZR HD General] montesn:
I've got a locked, rooted RAZR HD on 9.18.79 that I can volunteer as a test if need be. Pretty much 8AM-3PM CST are available for me to test things every day.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
It's going to be a while. The file is not suitable for flashing in its current state. It needs to be stripped down, the update-script rewritten, and then tested on an unlocked phone before anyone tries it on a locked phone. Once the process is worked out on an unlocked phone, we can get people willing to test on locked phones. This is likely to take many days and I don't have any time to work on it til this weekend at the earliest. Unless you can convince [MENTION=4939386]Surge1223[/MENTION] to rewrite the update-script for you. :p
[RAZR HD General] MatthewMN:
Great Work!

I'll be happy to test it for you, I deploy in a couple weeks, and I had planned to use my phone as the house internet while I was gone saving us 60 bucks a month on internet bills. But now with this stupid update, the Foxfi I had been using for the past couple years no longer works.

I'm checking this thread every day hoping someone comes up with something, so I'll gladly be your guinea pig in an attempt to be able to broadcast wifi from my phone again.

(Also the reason I don't cancel my plan while I'm gone is because I still have an unlimited data plan from Verizon)
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
If you've already taken the update, you need not apply. There's nothing we can do for those that have already jumped on it and that's NOT what this project is about.
[RAZR HD General] spapesh:
For the update script, wouldn't you just pull the partition flash commands out of the .XML file for the partitions that you don't want to flash?
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
There's way more to it than that. Surge1223 modified the update-script on the S4 to do all kinds of fun things with protecting root to make sure it stays rooted. There's a lot of permissions things that need to be done, links set up, etc, etc.
[RAZR HD General] mad3963:
I'm on a KitKat MAXX HD with locked bootloader, but would love to be able to root.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
You and everyone else on a locked 18 month old phone.
[RAZR HD General] thebigindian:
Interesting tidbit

Ok lost my rooted unlocked xt926 on kk. Quite a bit upset over my stupidity, and so was my wife. Ordered a replacement through asurion, paid my $100 deductable and expecting the worst regarding root capabilities. Low and behold the phone arrives out of the box with 9.16.6 Imagine my joy running razr hd utility. Root, motopocalypse, activation, ota's. In that order. I fully expected the phone to arrive past the bootloader exploit. Time to play the lottery.
[RAZR HD General] skeevydude:
You can't get any luckier than that.

I'm just glad AT&T sucks in regard to fixing exploits. The Atrix HD had a JB OTA a week or two ago that fixed heartbleed as well as rooting with Motochopper. What they didn't fix was rooting with the S4 app, like the 926 and 9.18 ,or unlocking the bootloader....out of all the exploits to fix, you'd think the bootloader unlock exploit would be one of them...
[RAZR HD General] Mr-Glass:
Not sure if this will work for the XT926 - I am unlocked/rooted and not at a point I can test..

http://xdaforums.com/moto-x/orig-development/root-4-4-x-pie-motorola-devices-t2771623
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
It's being tested as we speak by someone with a locked device. Not sure when we'll have info back on that but I'll let you know when I hear anything.
[RAZR HD General] montesn:
Is this being looked at as a quasi-remedy for locked users who have taken the OTA, or might this actually help in the pursuit of keeping root access along with system write for those of us who have not taken the OTA?
[RAZR HD General] montesn:
Samuri, thanks for all your hard work and the hard work of all the developers who make stuff like this possible. Whether it comes to fruition or not, we appreciate the effort you put in.
[RAZR HD General] SamuriHL:
So I'm told by the person testing it that it was not able to acquire root on the HD with 183. Doesn't seem like it's going to be a solution for you guys.