yashsingh1/xdaforums huggingface dataset:
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] neilownz:
I got a dead Andy with no command trying some different button holds and unplugging while booting recovery.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Agreed but uncertain if the recovery for a 4.7 inch alcatel will work on the 5.5. I might chance trying the "boot" command he mentioned.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
99% it wouldnt work, he just wanted to let us know, that he can download and flash a file :) i dont think he ported the twrp or got the boot.img by themself.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Perhaps I'm missing something but I decided just to try to boot your version of twrp on the off chance it might work on my 5.5 device since the boot won't modify anything....perhaps I'm missing something....

famewolf@HP810-135qe:~/Downloads > adb reboot-bootloader

famewolf@HP810-135qe:~/Downloads > fastboot -i 0x1bbb devices

no permissions fastboot

famewolf@HP810-135qe:~/Downloads > fastboot -i 0x1bbb boot twrp_recovery_alcatel_6039y.img

< waiting for device >

<done after reboot>

famewolf@HP810-135qe:~/Downloads > sudo adb devices

List of devices attached

408adcbe device

*update* Disregard...I forgot to use sudo in front of commands since I'm on linux.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
i tried it also and also with cwm recovery for yu yureka (also snapdragon 615 SoC)...but no result...it incomactible.

Yu have to boot to bootloader using "adb reboot bootloader), then fastboot -i 0x1bbb boot xxxx.img
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Well to save other 5.5 users from wasting their time all you will get is:

famewolf@HP810-135qe:~/Downloads > sudo fastboot -i 0x1bbb boot twrp_recovery_alcatel_6039y.img

downloading 'boot.img'...

OKAY [ 0.351s]

booting...

FAILED (remote: dtb not found)

finished. total time: 0.472s
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
The last time I tried kingroot (by downloading the latest version directly from their website) it said "no root method available" for my device but I'm certainly willing to try it again. Will report back if someone doesn't before me.

*update* Tried the exact version mentioned and it failed with no available method with a note that there have been 16010 requests submitted via kingroot to support the device so total nogo for the 5.5...maybe the 4.7 was close enough to another device.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Telyx:
As we ZTE ZMAX users have found, sometimes you have to try several times with Kingroot.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
I'm reasonably certain it's legit as every time I run the app again it goes straight to the email icon with the count of 16018 at the bottom (up from 16010 yesterday) without an option to root. I'll try again a little later.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] totalrecarl:
I also tried KingRoot, same results.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
*duplicate post after reloading the page after http error*
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gecko702:
i hope all of this TWRP will be moved on the development section its empty lol but hopefully we get a fully functioning TWRP for 6045i users BTW i wouldnt suggest updating if alcatel releases an update might re-lock our bootloaders or fix an exploit
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Gynoid:
So far they have not - I had my bootloader unlocked a week ago and received the firmware update yesterday. Just rechecked with a fastboot -i 0x1bbb oem device-info and my bootloader still appears unlocked. So at least that is good news.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] garrett69:
Successfully perma-rooted
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Gynoid:
Great, you did it on an LG-D415, that's nothing to do with this Alcatel Idol 3-specific forum, right ?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sjketchen:
Capture update URL

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but if someone has an OTA update available they could capture the OTA update URL through ADB and LOGCAT. Then we would be able to download the update manually so we had the raw source before it was installed on the phone and locked down with permissions. Wouldn't that give use all we need to build a custom TWRP or CWM recovery?

Unfortunately, my 6045i is up to date so I can't try it. :crying:
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Gynoid:
AFAIK, in order to build a custom recovery, you need the source files of the stock recovery (and this is what we're all praying for, in this temple).
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
The bootloader was unlocked almost from day 1. It's not the problem. For details read the thread.

---------- Post added at 10:46 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:40 AM ----------

A good thought but I grabbed the 1st update via a transparent squid proxy on my local lan and another user looked it over. It wasn't complete source....it only contained patches to be applied to the existing binary code. It's towards the beginning of the thread.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DeckerSU:
sjketchen, capturing OTA update - doesn't help you to get original recovery. Ota updades is incremental and include only diffs from previous version of files. It doesn't contain a full recovery image.

---------- Post added at 04:02 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:00 PM ----------

garrett69, you write about perma-rooting of your LG-D415, or you get perma-root on Alcatel Idol 3 5.5" (6045Y)? If you have root shell on 6045y - share your recovery image and i could try build TWRP for 6045y device.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gecko702:
how did you perma root? or is it for that LG you have?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] sookieball:
So I think all has been abandoned for this phone?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Just got this today to replace my dying nexus 5. Great device for the price. Really hoping we get root and twrp soon. Got the 5.5" model, best specd budget device ive found.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] seb.l:
Same thing for me, i find the phone really good for the price, i'm used to have rooted phones (to remove apps, ad, ...). Really hope there will be a root for this phone
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
i managed to boot to custom tcl s3 m3g recovery (tcl=alcatel and this device is also snapdragon615), touch not working, but i am in adb recovery... have to work with it a little
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Ill donate to the first person to obtain root and or twrp.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Then if I understand you right all we would need to do is extract the boot.img from the one you managed to boot and use it to build a custom cwm or twrp then boot into that and flash the supersu zip?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
i don't know as i know boot. img (kernel) is not a part of a recovery...

---------- Post added at 07:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 07:45 PM ----------

maybe to enable adb sideload in the custom recovery by default, so we can boot into it ansideload the supesu. zip,...
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
I thought in an earlier post the fellow who got root on the 4.7 listed a bunch of commands you could run from a root adb shell (in recovery) to backup both the stock recovery and the boot.img?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
To copy the recovery and boot images you have to have root rights :( so this is walk in a circle.

here are the named blocks:

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 DDR -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p21

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 aboot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p24

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 abootbak -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p25

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 boot -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p26

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 cache -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p31

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 config -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p34

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 fota -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p30

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 fsc -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p4

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 fsg -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p22

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 hdcp -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p20

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 hyp -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p12

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 hypbak -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p13

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 keystore -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p33

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 misc -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p32

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 modem -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p1

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 modemst1 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p14

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 modemst2 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p15

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 persist -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p29

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 persistent -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p17

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 recovery -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p27

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 rpm -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p8

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 rpmbak -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p9

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 sbl1 -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p6

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 sbl1bak -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p7

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 sec -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p23

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 simlock -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p16

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 splash -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p18

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 ssd -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p5

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 system -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p28

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 tctpersist -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p19

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 traceability -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p3

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 tunning -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p2

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 tz -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p10

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 tzbak -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p11

lrwxrwxrwx root root 2014-12-31 16:00 userdata -> /dev/block/mmcblk0p35

so we need to get mmcblk0p27 or mmcblk0p26
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Ahh I see...I misunderstood your statement to say you'd booted a recovery that gave you a root shell in adb.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
if i got root shell i would now build a twrp recovery :)
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
I dont think so. The 5.5" model just came out. Give it time. Personally ill give it a month. If nothing ill go phone shopping. Got this thing for cheap off of craigslist yesterday anyways. Once we get root and can eliminate the animation lag this device will be outstanding.

---------- Post added at 05:01 PM ---------- Previous post was at 04:59 PM ----------

Well we have an unlocked bootloader so a dev should be able to find a way. How long does it typically take alceltel to provide source? Maybe we should start a bounty thread.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
this week should roll out an ota (you can read on technobuffalo) so we will see, maybe it will come with new kernel and we can grab it.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Well the odds are better if they truly made changes to the double tap to wake since part of that is handled in the kernel although it may again just be patches.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
we will see, the list of improvements looks promising.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Im thinking this could be 5.1 as any 5.0.2 device lagged like hell. As far as getting kernel source lets hope so. Id love to have root and xposed at bare minimum. This device has alot of potential.

---------- Post added at 06:04 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:02 PM ----------

Im reading reduced lag, better animations, improved camera and dt2w. So id think this will be a good sized update. Thats why im thinking lollipop 5.1. Just hope they dont lock the bootloader up.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] brian117:
As much as Android 5.1 would be great, I don't think they would keep it secret. They would announce 5.1 if it were true. According to sources it's just a maintenance update. Not a version update. Hopefully in time, though...
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gecko702:
im thinking maintenance updates wouldnt lock up the bootloader just version updates but im going to be hesitant to update mine because sooner or later we'll get root and TWRP on it and maybe alcatel will release their source code
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Well I tried intercepting the download url via my lan's squid proxy and they are doing something different such as passing parms cause all I see are:

http://g2master-eu-west.tctmobile.com/check.php?

http://g2master-eu-west.tctmobile.com/download_request.php

http://g2master-ap-north.tctmobile.com/notify.php

Running any of these manually results in an error page.

*update* Ok..the actual update url is: http://g2slave-eu-west-01.tctmobile...ca115f3ec2c6a1aa8522dee6ad6bc72f7/86980/58026

As lastime it appears to be only a bunch of patches.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rhcohen:
Has anyone verified that the U.S. version of the update (the one that appeared this morning, not the one that Europe seems to have gotten last week) doesn't re-lock the boot loader (or interfere with unlocking it)? I'm waiting to apply the update until that is confirmed.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
nice catch, i would be interested in guide how to get the adrress. I downloaded the update, and this is for 6045I (western europe?) mine is 6045Y (eastern europe?).

I wonder if there is possibility to add a superuser to this bin (needed aps and also needed setperm and simlink to updater script) using zipeditor (not unpacking) and trying to flash it manually via stock recovery (maybe rename it to update.zip).
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
I think you might run into a signature issue if you modify the zip and the instructions are setup to only apply patches so you'd have to alter them as well. Heck, I'd love for you to prove me wrong! Unless you have a transparent proxy (squid) on your local lan (home network) my instructions won't help you much. ;)

My phone is a 6045I...before the download it passes several parms including phone type for their side to determine which update to send you. Also not sure about the phones being European as it seems to me if they were we would have gotten our updates last week with the rest of europe. ;)

id=014366000009570&salt=1436812748697919944&curef=6045I-2AALUS7&fv=7SQ3UE30&tv=7SQRUER0&mode=2&cltp=10&type=Firmware&vk=EF3F02054743F3CCCB3E79DAD4E9FDBF91EDDB19&op=55&status=999"
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gecko702:
Hmmm i checked for the update and it shows but im not updating in case someone confirms that no exploits are patched nor bootloader locked
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Its a small update, the bootloader is still unlockable. It was a performance fix. Still disapointed no 5.1 but im sure its coming. The only device that could steer me away is the moto g 3rd gen if the specs match this.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
It's more accurate to say the bootloader is in whatever state it was before the update. Many of us have unlocked our bootloader.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Opps i meant unlocked.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
I think you are comparing moto g 3rd gen with idol 3 4.7 version (snapdragon 410, 1G ram...), but here we are talking about the idol 3 5.5 version (snapdragon 615, 2G ram....)! :)

---------- Post added at 06:38 AM ---------- Previous post was at 06:35 AM ----------

I have the 6045Y version, from official distribution, i think we are in east europe region of updates, while since i bought my device 3 weeks ago i got no update.

I am still on 010 01

wait....

now i recieved update :)

010 03 :)
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
In addition to the root bounty thread i created i posted a thread in android hacking asking a dev to help us get root. There has to be a way since our bootloader can be unlocked.

---------- Post added at 07:54 AM ---------- Previous post was at 07:53 AM ----------

There is also a rumor the 3rd gen moto g will come with 1080p, 2gb ram, s615 and a 5" lcd.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
So the only chance we have at root is if and when alcatel post source code so we can build twrp? There has to be another way since out bootloader can be unlocked.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
another way is to have kernel. img or recovery. img from the firmware...
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] frankee207:
Isn't it possible to extract recovery.img or kernel.img by following the same method as Decker.Kaluga did in this post: http://xdaforums.com/showpost.php?p=61735902&postcount=172 ?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
no, because decker used allready built custom recovery, which we dont have... if we would, you just install superuser. zip and have root.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
There has to be a way to pull a system dump from the device. Especially with an unlocked bootloader. Ill ask a few devs i know.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Feel free to ask but you can't pull boot, recovery etc without root access which we don't have. It gives a permission denied error. That's why everyone has been trying to check the updates to see if boot or recovery was included.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] gecko702:
i checked sourcefouge and looked up alcatel's page gives me a 404 error ?????
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Pendom:
Root by MBN to IMG

(Sorry for my English, I'm French)

Maybe I found a solution for custom recovery and then for rooting. When we plug the Idol 3 in the PC in "Mobile Upgrade Q" mode, the "Android HS-USB QDLoader 9008" is loaded. With an extractor for QDLoader 9008, we can dump recovery.mbn or boot.mbn. Then, we can covert it at .img file and that's the solution. It's just an idea, maybe it won't work, but if it can help someone... Just need to found all the link, I don't have the time to find it, sorry.

(To be in Mobile Upgrade Q mode, just turn off the Idol 3, unplug from the PC, download Mobile Upgrade Q, and follow the steps)
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Good work, hopefully a dev can look into this.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
Hi,

Mobile upgrade Q (i got the version 4.8.7) is only flash utility, it dont allow you to pull anything from the device. I allready tried it.

I also tried to use "Android HS-USB Diagnostics AF02" and "Android HS-USB NMEA AF02" (to go to this modes, you have to connect phone to pc when the phone is power off) and using QPST (ver. 2.7.411) (qualcomm developer flash utility), but in both modes i cannot pull things form the device.

And so far the only way to go to "Android HS-USB QDLoader 9008" is to turn off the phone, connect it to pc and then launch the mobile upgrade Q app.

here are the screens:

,
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
Well then we need to hammer alcatel support to post source code. Or post stock firmware.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
or find exploit which will be working on our firmware :)
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
is there a way to enter fastboot on this device?
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
not directly, you have to call the port manually (0x1bbb) so this is not a native fastboot mode.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] fix-this!:
so its very similar to lg devices then. im talking to a lg dev i know and he asked.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
This is not meant in any way to be mean but most of the questions your asking have already been answered at the beginning of this thread. In fact the steps to unlock the bootloader with full examples are there too so it's in your best interests to read it.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] tekka-maki:
Can this phone be rooted? How do you even reboot this thing? :D
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] mk3:
ok so thinking about rooting this thing and it dawned on me... what if there's root for another similar phone? If another phone had the same CPU and GPU is there a chance that it's CWM recovery would work on the Idol3? I found this phone with same snapdragon 615 CPU and same Adreno 405 GPU so wondering if its recovery and root <found here on XDA> might work. Anyone feeling brave enough to try???
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] DallasCZ:
If you have time to read this forum (you should, because you avoid to ask stupid questions over and over again), you will probably know, that i allready tried to boot Yu Yureka custom recovery. I dont have time to browse the web the whole days, so if anyone will find any custom rom for snapdragon615 based phone (the best will be 5,5 inch FHD) then post it and i will try to boot it. Its easy think, you just boot to recovery, not flash, so if the custom recovery doesnt work you just reboot the phone.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Pendom:
I was trying to boot recovery TRWP from Galaxy A7 (615 + 5,5") and Archos Diamond 50 (615 + 5") and no result. (Booting... FAILED <remote: dtb not found>)

I also tried to boot yu recovery (CWM and TRWP) but they don't boot, Idol 3 boot directly on stock rom.

Someone tried by using adb sideload ? by push & pull ? from stock recovery it don't work
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rhcohen:
Maybe we shouldn't be quite so hard on people asking about unlocking the bootloader. Yes it's all there in the first few pages of this thread, but not really in one place; I had to assemble notes for myself from several different posts, in order to get all the way from being able to access the phone from my computer (would have required installing a particular driver if PC; not so for Mac) to confirming that I had succeeded. I counted 6 steps. I've wondered if it would be useful to just post in one place the full set of instructions -- possibly in a separate thread labeled "unlocking the bootloader"? I could create such a post from the notes I assembled.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
Your idea sounds good to me. If you contact one of the moderators you can probably have the post made "sticky" as well.

You mentioned having to find adb drivers...you should be aware if you put the phone into "cdrom" mode it mounts and makes drivers available to install in windows.

Folks should keep in mind however that unlocking the bootloader gains you absolutely nothing right now.
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] rhcohen:
Ok I started a thread with the instructions I assembled. As to the adb driver, I merely repeated what I grabbed from an early post on the thread. I didn't have the issue myself as I have a Mac, so adb just worked. I did fiddle some with "cdrom" mode but it didn't do anything useful for me, I suppose because I was on a Mac. If you would like to spell out the step(s) to install the driver via cdrom mode, I can edit my post accordingly, to keep a one-stop "how to do it".
[Onetouch Idol 3 Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] famewolf:
You'll have to find someone else to give you the steps since I'm on linux but I think it's as simple as running an .exe that installs the drivers so when the cable is plugged in it's recognized. Under and of the ubuntu linux's/Linux Mint you have to install the packages "android-tools-adb" and "android-tools-fastboot" and all the fastboot commands have to be prefixed with "sudo " (the adb ones don't need sudo but will work either way) sudo runs the command as root so it first asks for your root password.