yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Lol you are a hell of a daredevil. I saw that tool and was like "heeeeelll no" lmao. Hooowever, if it worked, you have just made things a lot easier.

Okay first, if the boot loader is unlocked, check to see if any of the one click roots (both PC and apks) work. One of them is likely to if the BL is open. Next, try different combinations with The volume and power buttons to see if it boots into the boot loader.

Note: "FTM" is "field test mode" which is like a debugger for ZTE phones. Its not the BL. If you stumble across it, just hold the power button until your phone goes off

Thanks for trying this man!

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Oh and to everyone that told me thanks earlier, no probs :D
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
I just bought this phone to try all and everything for everyone:) If it bricks I'll buy another one lol! I've tried every know way to root this puppy. From one clicks for mtk phones to reg one clicks. Ftm mode when it reboots hold volume button each reboot till exploit done. Also manually rooting through adb but stops at psneuter or whatever name I add I at that step. Stumped...:confused:
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Lol... Damn... Does the One Max have a root method? Maybe it will work too
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
I've tried two of the methods but...I just saw a different one and it has unlock as well. Let you know the outcome asap
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Thanks a million bro!
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Any time. Its a no go on it. If there's a method out there that people are scared of trying let me know I'll be a test dummy. Stepping out to the mall. Gonna grab 2 more of these phones and wait on ideas. Sorry guys. I'm trying as much as I know.
[General Questions and Answers] BB6H22LUDE:
Got a feeling this phone is doomed glad someone is being ballzy
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Lol I wish I could say "going to buy two more phones". thanks again. I'll email ZTE again while I'm looking for other methods
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
I have sooo many phones lol its a habit. OK and thank you for helping us as well
[General Questions and Answers] QuickNET Tech:
Could you mail me one?

Gives puppy dog eyes

( I'm joking, but if you can that'd be pretty freaking cool )

Quickdraw996

(Also, please forgive any errors. I use voice typing because I have big hands and a tiny phone)
[General Questions and Answers] anandnitin25:
Samsung

is this phone is available in india?
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Lol the only one I have that I really can't do anything with is an Alcatel one touch evolve2 and it saaaawwwks!

Well tmo metro and Walmart are out of stock on with Zmax. Like a N6 lol
[General Questions and Answers] QuickNET Tech:
True but it's probably better than the lg optimus fuel. ( aka the POS I own right now )

Quickdraw996

(Also, please forgive any errors. I use voice typing because I have big hands and a tiny phone)
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
While we wait for better days in terms of Android Lollipop, this could help some. Apex Launcher did an update today that added lollipop animations and looks to their launcher. Pair it up with moonshine icon pack (both free) and you have the home of an Android lollipop device :) see below:

Now i tried to screenshot the transition animation, this is just proof that it does work!

Hopefully your device will be a bit more pleasing with this, and its very smooth too :)
[General Questions and Answers] zalmann:
I have no problems pairing with my Jabra Play bluetooth headphone/headset thingy. And it works fine right after pairing. However after turning it off for a while and then turning it back on either it will not connect or it will be extremely laggy and staticky... Until I unpair and re-pair it, at which point it works fine.

I have no problem with my cheap no-name emerson bluetooth headset, however.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Anyone know what mode its in when red led is on and screen black no response from buttons? I pressed all buttons on reboot and noticed it
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Lol I stumbled across it as well, it didn't respond to fastboot when I tried it
[General Questions and Answers] clockcycle:
You don't have any of the needed pre-requisites. Also it's the wrong device. You risked burning the wrong fuse or writing to the wrong location.

Even with that, how did you get into fastboot mode?
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
That's what I was worried about. Here again tho, the guy isn't hurting for replacement money, he was going to buy two more earlier.

Hey bro if you see this, do whatever you did to get into fastboot and use "fastboot OEM unlock" to see if anything comes up.

I just spoke with ZTE CN today and they said that they are still awaiting word from the tech department. I think I'm getting on their nerves though. There is nothing like a pest to keep GPL compliance in effect :)
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Give me like 10 mins de-encrypting my nexus 6
[General Questions and Answers] clockcycle:
adb root replies "adbd cannot run as root in production builds"

If I reboot into recovery, it allows me to chose to sideload via adb.

Reading other ZTE device unlock / root methods, this is interesting. As with one, they exploited writing to system via recovery, since it mounts it writable, but locks it when booted normally because of having a locked bootloader..

When trying this mode, my windows7 can not find z970 drivers, for that mode.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
This guy is a beast lol
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
It found mine when I tried and I tried all zte root methods and I also altered the zips a little but nothing...

---------- Post added at 03:25 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:25 AM ----------

---------- Post added at 03:55 AM ---------- Previous post was at 03:25 AM ----------

Nada... Getting discouraged with this phone. Like I said earlier I'm open to do anything to this phone. Found a Walmart near by going tomorrow morning to grab 2 of them.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
ZTE locked it down like it was a Samsung or something. Like I said tho, we will have root, and ZTE will give it to us. The devices are selling like hotcakes, so a lot of people have it. They can't ignore the dev community, that's bad business
[General Questions and Answers] KEMC2k6:
How can we get a forum for this phone? I just got it, it's a bad ass phone, I managed to get one for $150.
[General Questions and Answers] Furik:
Is there any way to honestly mute those bootup bootdown sounds? My god, they are obnoxiously loud.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
We would need a root method, unlocked boot loader, ROMs, etc., then we can ask XDA for one. We also need a large following as far as people who actually bought the phone

I usually just turn my volume down on the phone itself before I power it down
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
OK, I'm looking for any method of unlocking the boot loader on this phone. Even if its not for this device. I don't care if it potentially bricks. I have 3 extra.
[General Questions and Answers] shabbypenguin:
So much misinformation in this thread i dont even know where to begin. Unlocked bootloaders dont mean instantly get root, you still need an exploit which there is none atm.

Android source/kernel source will do nothing for you guys. How do you intend to write it into the phone? dd needs root, even then you dont have the ramdisk from stock kernel so you dont even have a full boot.img.

Trying roots from other phones is almost certainly a waste of time, the only exploit that may work is the asec explout, but i dont know for certain because it needs to be crafted and altered for each device, and zte may have finally blocked it. If that doesnt work then youll need to wait until a new root is found.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Gratias, moosie mooses will have fun with the third one lol
[General Questions and Answers] shabbypenguin:
My concern is the group of people thinking that root is just around the bend when kernel source releases, or that progress is even being made.

edit: since you removed your original post
[General Questions and Answers] voidcomp:
I noticed the 'donate to me' button for you. There have been people who have expressed willingness to pay someone to tackle root. Are you up to the task?
[General Questions and Answers] shabbypenguin:
i only accept donations for work that ive done, not for possible future work. that being said im sorry i have no desire to purchase this device and find out if the asec exploit works on it or not. and if it does does this suffer the same locked system protection the concord 2 did? or is it more like teh zinger where EVERY partition is locked? because if its just system then i could craft a root script for you guys with some trial an error, if not then you guys will be forever SOL.

if the bootloader is blocking access to the recovery/boot partitions then you have no way of booting something taht would allow you to write to the system partition, thus preventing root from ever happening.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
I mean is it horrible to hope? We could look at this optimistically with the intent of getting exactly what we want, or we could loosely do what your suggesting and be a bit pessimistic and loathe our devices. You'd be amazed at how persistence and the willingness to achieve can inspire people. Between my primary use of devices from bigger names like HTC and Samsung (Evo 3D, Nexus S, One, S4, etc.), I did exactly what we are doing now with the Kyocera Echo and the Hisense Sero 7 Pro, both essentially no name devices with no real weight on their value other than price point and the dual screen gimmick. Both have root AND kernel source because I was persistent with the community of ppl who owned the phone and the manufacturers in supporting development. Not to mention, there are many other phones with similar situations. Who knows how many phones would be left in the dust if we based it on your POV. We are trying to make progress, don't discount efforts and ideas just because there isn't a team of XDA recognized developers unlocking bootloaders with paperclips and hard bricking devices left and right [emoji2]
[General Questions and Answers] shabbypenguin:
Didn't say shut down and stop caring.

Your posts http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=57624877&postcount=483 imply that once kernel source is released everything will just open up. That isnt the case. the next 6 posts were all thanking you for working on root, IMO that is false hope and the issue.

I would suggest looking into my work before you accuse me of leaving devices in the dust.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
If you look at my previous posts you will also see that prior to speaking on kernel source, I did say that I was speaking with ZTE CN about root and bootloader unlocking on multiple occasions, kernel source would serve as a means for me getting a proper CM build churning (or whatever custom rom is preferred). If you felt my posts were ambiguous then that is your right, but don't simplify everyone else's perception of my statements and categorize the collective as "misinformed".

And while I have no particular reason to research your work because I'm not here to debate it, I thank you for what you have done for the Android community as I'm sure it has impacted many users in a great way.
[General Questions and Answers] voidcomp:
Yes, that was the impression I got also and it's important that any optimism needs to go hand-in-hand with remaining challenges. Thanks for the clarification, I think we all needed to be reminded of whole picture, good and bad. Avoids false hopes that way.

---------- Post added at 06:22 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:15 PM ----------

I didn't see him as coming across as pessimistic at all, rather a logical assessment of the challenges faced. Optimism is great, but it must be tempered by the facts.

Keep up the good work with ZTE_CN.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Don't know if this helps the root situation but I tried another root method called mobilego by wondershare. It failed. Tried it from ftm mode and failed too. But that mode where its a black screen and red led light made the program say my device model was zte z990g(Merit).
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
So, theorizing off of what you came across;

The device registered as a Z990G.

Looking at the root methods for the ZTE Merit... There's a root method that involves an UPDATE.ZIP being installed through recovery, followed by an install of (i.e. SuperUser and Busybox from the play store.)

Here's the link to the root method: goo.gl/OkJtHp

My question is:

1) Since the ZMAX registered as a Merit, and this is by a longshot-attached-to-hope-on-a-thread lol, would the update.zip for the Merit's method be compatible since all it contains is the /xbin/su?

2) Also since modified update.zip files no longer contain a valid signature for the stock recovery's signature check it will fail and abort the install, is there a way someone can obtain an original copy of the ZMAX's update.zip and copy the signature from that to a modified one to be able to install in stock recovery?

Recovery Mode for ZMAX is Holding Volume Up while powering on for those that didn't know.

Recovery Options:

https://www.dropbox.com/s/mxajr1ja0bq5owk/20141223_014347.jpg?dl=0

Any recommendations? Thoughts? Ideas?
[General Questions and Answers] deBricker:
Bumppppppppp
[General Questions and Answers] Planterz:
After 39 minutes?
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Zips dead in the link. Have another?

---------- Post added at 03:11 PM ---------- Previous post was at 02:56 PM ----------

Scratch that...

---------- Post added at 03:57 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:11 PM ----------

Didn't work
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
Really? I've downloaded the file earlier: https://www.dropbox.com/s/8dj3jkdba9flfz7/update.zip?dl=0

I tried some more last night but fell asleep before I made any real progress. Busybox is already preinstalled, we just need a way to get the SU Binary to the xbin folder.

Anyone know where to get the adb driver for the zmax?

And has anyone tried to use Signapktic in the Play Store to sign the update.zip?

Signapktic (requires root): https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.stericson.signapktic
[General Questions and Answers] Vyrus69:
The issue you guys have to remember as well though is with a locked bootloader you still won't have full root read / write access to the phone.

ZTE locks in system r/w with their bootloader. So theoretically you can have ROOT ACCESS without having full R/W privileges.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Yeah that was my fault. I assumed you were directing to the XDA thread for the merit were the link didn't work. Sorry
[General Questions and Answers] Vyrus69:
Has anyone tried to pull recovery from the devices?

http://xda-university.com/as-a-developer/porting-clockworkmod-recovery-to-a-new-device
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
Okay so, just got off the phone with ZTE, rep said he would try to see if he was able to obtain either an SDK or a method to unlock bootloader for developers. Waiting for a callback, lets see if they're gonna actually call back lol.
[General Questions and Answers] Vyrus69:
I'm hitting up their emails as well, they are telling me if I unlock bootloader I lose warranty.

No duh reeealy?!!?! Like I didn't know that.
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
lmao, "Isaiah" told me on the phone the same thing after I clearly stated, "I understand it will void the warranty." He did, however, seemed more willing to help after we spoke about why I wanted admin permissions on my device. I referenced Android Issue 67570: SD Card read only problem. Although... I'm still waiting on a call back. :rolleyes:

On another note, anyone knows the key combo for the different modes on the ZMAX?
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
What's the number to call and what needs to be said? If you can't post it here pm me? I'm going to call and get every one of my friends, family and employees to call and say the exact same thing!!!
[General Questions and Answers] Vyrus69:
Forgive me guys as I don't have the phone JUST YET, but looking at Issue 67570, does the ZTE block writing to the SD card too?!
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
ZTE USA:

(877) 817-1759

I've tried emailing them too but never received a response back... That's all 8 times I tried. Feel free to use any excuse/story you would like. I just found it easier to use an issue I found. I very tactfully told them my device is paid for, screw the warranty, there's an issue with sd, and since I felt neither ZTE or T-Mo is willing to fix the issue - seeing as how metro got 4.4.4 before we did. (See PG: 25 Post: 250) - I'd fix it myself.

Was told someone from ZTE development would give me a call back, within a 24 hr period, with possible news on unlocking bootloader or an SDK.

(Someone else that noticed SD Card issue on PG: 19 Post:182)

Writing from certain apps; yes. Other apps don't even recognize the SD card is even there. I haven't tested all my installed apps yet to see which ones have problems. Basically if the app wasn't written for KK, you'll face a few issues, but, I'm sure most people won't notice it unless they're using apps that were written specifically for JB and below. Google Play does a pretty good job of keeping apps updated. It just works great as an excuse for ZTE lol.

This phone has so much potential once root's in place it'll be even better than it is now; and I'm saying this coming from a Note 3.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
I'm glad that ZTE USA was more... Er... Helpful, but I think the China HQ will save a lot of you headaches. While they aren't the fastest to respond, they respond every time I email them and seem to be more flexible in helping "solve" this issue
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
I take it you're emailing HQ, any response/progress? Any info would help. I've been trying to find something all day; from adb to ASEC to find a way to root.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
The forwarded my IMEI and Serial to their main technical department about a week ago. When I emailed them Monday, they said they were still awaiting word from the tech department.

I am just assuming that they are trying to provide a tool that could do what we asked, or maybe I'm just being overly confident in their customer service. Either way, they haven't dodged my emails and they have been transparent with why they needed my info, as well as answering questions I had, I'll keep you all updated as things transpire. Thanks for being patient with all of this, I know the root lovers are eager to get a little more freedom with the device ???
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
Awesome! Here's to being hopeful! :sly::thumbup::D:cool:

Let's hope they come up with something. I need my SD card fix and some xposed in my life lol
[General Questions and Answers] CDWJ:
I too came from a note 3 and htc one max...begging for root...all attemps have failed...not giving up...battery life will support overclock with awe.
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
You just don't know how bad I have been wanting that lol

---------- Post added at 08:31 PM ---------- Previous post was at 08:30 PM ----------

I haven't, but I'll give it a go!
[General Questions and Answers] voidcomp:
Wouldn't hurt to remind them about their company's (C)ool (G)reen (O)pen initiative and hold them to their word, especially the "O" part.

http://www.zteusa.com/news-zte-q3-profit-rises-smartphone-equipment-sales-surge
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
That was the selling point of the ZMAX vs the Note Edge when I was picking up a different device. The reviews on XDA on the battery life! I was on one charge for over 24 hrs, moderate use, day one of having the phone. A lil root lovin' and this device is gold in my eyes!
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Just got off the horn with a "Frank Williams" from India... Asked about the mode I've always asked about and why it showed the merit. He had no idea what mode I was talking about... Told him I was a dev for tmo during the day lol but that I came across this phone and wondered where fastboot was and why in ftm, in cmd adb devices a ? Shows up. He said I'd be emailed the ftm drivers and I asked for any and every driver available for this phone. Claimed it'll be in me email after the holidays.
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
Keep us posted and definitely share the drivers if it arrives, I'll see what I can dig up on my end too.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Absolutely:thumbup:
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
All we had to do was lie!!!! Lol. Okay everybody is a T-Mobile tech support person, lets make calls lol. I'm JP, that's great news bro, many thanks! Keep us updated for sure :)

Side note, I just have to say this, the phone has industry leading battery life when compared to phones of the same size and battery capacity. On 4G LTE I usually get up at about 8 and plug it in around 10 at night with light, slightly moderate use. On WiFi, waking up at the same time, turn WiFi and 4G off before I go to sleep that night, wake up and use it at least half the next day before its down in single digits!!! I love it :D
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Man this phone is weird. Just tried MtkDroidTools 2.5.2 and tried in every mode and in that same mode I speak of it showed mt6582. What the hell is this phone???
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
Yeah that's weird lol
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
This is even more hilarious... From recovery, adb sideload on the modilego program it shows nexus 4!!!
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
Hey guys, i just stumbled across something interesting. Pulled both of these from my device.

verify.zip

otacerts.zip

Attached at bottom.

Maybe we can use this to push something through stock recovery? Someone with more knowledge than me in signatures feel free!

Also:

Recovery Mode - Vol Up and power on

FTM - Vol Down and power on

Download Mode - Vol Up & Down and power on -This is the "all black screen with the LED red."

ZTE said these were the only 3 alternate start ups on the Z970.
[General Questions and Answers] clockcycle:
Choose install driver mode, it will show up on your pc as a virtual cd, install or copy from there.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Is there a way to find out if this phone is a mediatek device? I was a lot of vids on those devices and I've noticed the majority of them have false information on them. So far this phone has shown me Z970,z990g,Zte G717c and Zte n9100.

Also mt6582
[General Questions and Answers] mingolianbeef:
It's a snapdragon 400 quad core 32bit processor. Definitely not mediatek. I don't know hardware enough to give factual stuff, but my best educated guess is that there my be a hardware component on the Snapdragon chip that is also sported by Mediatek processors, so it appears as such. Its definitely a snapdragon though, false advertisement is very much illegal, and I'm also sure that they had to order these processors from Qualcomm, who would speak out against them if it weren't true.
[General Questions and Answers] moosiemooses:
Thank you for the answer. I was thinking about cracking it open and looking.
[General Questions and Answers] Vee63b:
It may be because you're using MobileGo, Windows device manager shows Z970, and adb also shows Z970; unless you're in recovery mode, then it shows as "?" when I try.