[Dell Venue] fcipaq:
Hey everyone, I've been lurking around this forum for years. Thought it might be the right time to contribute now... (wanted to post in Venue Android Development, but my low post count prevented me from doing so. Maybe a mod could move the thread to the correct location...)

Please be gentle…

I managed to root the Dell Venue 7040 on Android 5.1 (EPP101A173600DEL)

Disclaimer

Fist the mandatory disclaimer: I cannot be held responsible for any harm done to your device or anything else. Not guarantee, warranty void etc., etc.... DO THIS AT YOUR OWN RISK!!!

Basic idea

Using a legacy 5.0.1 fastboot kernel from the Dell Venue 7840 will allow to launch tethered temporary custom recovery session by social-design-concepts

The old bootloader will be flashed to the recovery partition (this will cause you to lose the stock recovery! You can however always use the temporary recovery session). The old fastboot bootloader can then be launched as recovery and perform the rooting process)

Perquisites:

1) Intel Android drivers

Description: Drivers needed for ADB and Fastboot interaction.

Download: https://software.intel.com/en-us/android/articles/intel-usb-driver-for-android-devices

2) Intel Fastboot Tethered Temporary Recovery Session

Description: Utility to launch a temporary custom recovery session

Download: IntelAndroid-FBRL-07-24-2015.7z (https://xdaforums.com/android/development/intel-android-devices-root-temp-cwm-t2975096)

3) Bootloader “droidboot.img” from the archive “Dell_Venue_8_7840_Lollipop_5.0.2_qs_rd_opensource-blankphone-userdebug-1397.zip”

Description: Outdated bootloader of the Venue 7840 (Android 5.0.1). This file is needed in order to fire up the temporary recovery session (see [file 2])

And yes, I am well aware that I posted the files for the 7840 (NOT 7040 !!!). We will get the file working anyways.

a) Download: http://opensource.dell.com/releases...s_rd_opensource-blankphone-userdebug-1397.zip

b) Extract droidboot.img (NOT droidboot_dnx.img) from archive.

4.) Fastboot (facultative)

Description: Tool to establish a communication between the PC and the tablet’s bootloader

Download: https://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?p=42407269#post42407269)

Note: If you intend only to root you may use the fastboot.exe that comes with the temporary recovery session [file 2]

5.) Chainfire’s SuperSU

Description: Actual super user file – the file you want to install to obtain root access.

a) Download: https://download.chainfire.eu/696/supersu/

b) Copy this file onto an external SD card and put the card inside the tablet.

Rooting:

1. Become a developer by tapping five times on the build # in the android settings (on the tablet).

2. Fire up the developer’s options in settings.

3. Enable OEM unlocking.

4. Connect your tablet with your PC (USB cable required).

5. Reboot to bootloader.

6. Open a terminal on the Windows PC (cmd.exe) and use fastboot.

WARNING: THIS WILL ERASE ALL USER DATA ON THE TABLET (so make sure you have got a backup)

fastboot oem unlock

7. Now it’s time to say good bye to your stock recovery and flash the new one [file 3]

You cannot recovery the recovery (no pun intended :) ) Actually now you can, see step 13 :)

WARNING: DO NOT FLASH AS BOOT OR FASTBOOT IMAGE. OTHERWISE THE SYSTEM WILL NOT BE ABLE TO BOOT.

fastboot flash recovery droidboot.img

8. Boot recovery kernel (this will instead bring up the 5.0.1 bootloader which will enable us to launch FBRL in the next step).

Use the volume rockers to select "RECOVERY MODE", then press the power button.

The old bootloader will launch (you will see a blue line of text indicating you successfully launched the 5.0.1 bootloader)

9. Launch launcher.bat from [file 12] on your Windows PC

launch.bat

10. A turquoise menu shows up. Choose “ACCEPT”; 5 (CWM); T4 (not T1, T2 or T3, but T4)

The bootloader will receive the necessary files and launch CWM after a while (may take two minutes).

11. Choose

a) install zip

b) choose zip from external sd card

c) choose the SuperSu file you copied to the sd card.

d) Confirm you want to install.

This may take a moment. Reboot without fixing any root (as suggested by CWM).

12. Your Dell Venue 10 7040 is now rooted.

13. You may now restore the stock recovery. Download the stock recovery (attached). Unzip the file. Then:

fastboot flash recovery 7040_510_stock_recovery.img

14. In case you want to relock the bootloader (this will prevent the annoying message when booting)

fastboot oem lock

(This will again wipe all your personal data from the device)

Note

: If you relock the bootloader you will not be able to boot into recovery!

15. Finished.

Hope you enjoy!

Credits and Thanks to social-design-concepts and johnsag49 and of course Chainfire and many others.