Root Rooting question

[Peter123]

Dear gurus,

I am maybe ready to root my Eris but I want to do it by one step at a time.
I have the original 2.1 with the latest patch that fixed the silent bug.
I like Sense and I don't want to replace the rom for the time being.

So can I have overclkocking, ap2sd and keep my installed aps (like swype) after rooting while keeping the original rom?

This way when I root the phone basically I don't change the functionality of the phone except allowing me to have su authority?

Peter

 

[scary alien]

Dear gurus,

I am maybe ready to root my Eris but I want to do it by one step at a time.
I have the original 2.1 with the latest patch that fixed the silent bug.
I like Sense and I don't want to replace the rom for the time being.

So can I have overclkocking, ap2sd and keep my installed aps (like swype) after rooting while keeping the original rom?

This way when I root the phone basically I don't change the functionality of the phone except allowing me to have su authority?

Peter

Peter,

Not a guru (that term is reserved for folks like erisuser1), but here's what I think. Several folks have asked-around about this in the threads. To do this, you will need two things:

1. Get Amon_RA's custom recovery partition installed (so you can make a Nandroid backup and flash .zips or custom ROMs)

2. After installing the custom recovery, you'll flash engtools.zip (via custom recovery) which contains the su program and the SuperUser.apk app.

You can do the first part (installing the custom recovery) using the http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies.html (basically stopping before you get to figure 38). You won't need to download a custom ROM since you don't want to replace your current OS. You should go ahead and make a Nandroid backup, but you won't need to do the wipes.

Here's a post from Nestor discussing this: http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/121660-root-without-rom-yet.html#post1136379

Here's also a thread discussing exactly what you are asking about: http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/127765-question-about-engtools3-zip.html

You'll still have some other work to do regarding overclocking (you'll need to get the setCPU app from the Market; if you want to o/c higher than 710MHz, you have to flash Zanfur's OC patch). As far as a2sd goes, I've never used it since Ivan's ROM that I use has plenty of space. Don't know how you would install this separately onto an existing phone.

 

[Peter123]

Peter,

Not a guru (that term is reserved for folks like erisuser1), but here's what I think. Several folks have asked-around about this in the threads. To do this, you will need two things:

1. Get Amon_RA's custom recovery partition installed (so you can make a Nandroid backup and flash .zips or custom ROMs)

2. After installing the custom recovery, you'll flash engtools.zip (via custom recovery) which contains the su program and the SuperUser.apk app.

You can do the first part (installing the custom recovery) using the http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies.html (basically stopping before you get to figure 38). You won't need to download a custom ROM since you don't want to replace your current OS. You should go ahead and make a Nandroid backup, but you won't need to do the wipes.

Here's a post from Nestor discussing this: http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/121660-root-without-rom-yet.html#post1136379

Here's also a thread discussing exactly what you are asking about: http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/127765-question-about-engtools3-zip.html

You'll still have some other work to do regarding overclocking (you'll need to get the setCPU app from the Market; if you want to o/c higher than 710MHz, you have to flash Zanfur's OC patch). As far as a2sd goes, I've never used it since Ivan's ROM that I use has plenty of space. Don't know how you would install this separately onto an existing phone.

Thanks Scary,

Would this http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/125436-detailed-leak-root-tutorial.html work and leave my apps and rom intact (except rooting)?
This instructiuon is kind of easier to follow...

Peter

 

[scary alien]

Thanks Scary,

Would this http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/125436-detailed-leak-root-tutorial.html work and leave my apps and rom intact (except rooting)?
This instructiuon is kind of easier to follow...

Peter

Peter, wow, that thread has really gotten big. I see now that the top post has been updated and expanded to handle both PCs and Macs.

Well, there's several ways to skin the root cat, if you will.

Both sets of instructions lead you through the whole process of using wag3slav3's root exploit to be able to install a custom recovery partition.

Once you get that, the instructions typically have people go the whole nine yards and flash a custom ROM.

I wanted to make sure you understood the two basic steps involved:

1 - installing the custom recovery, and,
2 - gaining root access via either flashing a custom ROM or installing the engtools.zip file.

You just need to recognize where its appropriate to stop in the instructions so you don't get what you don't want (or you only get what you want (or need)...or whatever Mick Jagger says in that song ).

Does that help / make sense?

P.S. / edit: I'm glad you've taken the time to carefully consider all of this. You are approaching it the right way.

 

[SirEagle]

Someone should write a step by step to do this. That way newbies to root who want to only speed up the cpu don't have to guess at where to stop and what to download.

 

[Peter123]

Someone should write a step by step to do this. That way newbies to root who want to only speed up the cpu don't have to guess at where to stop and what to download.

Yes! We need such a step-by-step! Please someone...?

Peter

 

[LED]

^ Well, really the Detailed Leak Root Tutorial is pretty much what you'll need to follow. If you only want to overclock, then you will simply flash engtools and Zanfurs OC kernel after achieving root. You DO NOT need to wipe prior to flashing. All apps and settings are intact. Then you get SetCPU and start overclocking.

So, in the tutorial, stop after doing step 10. Then go to the next section (flashing custom ROM). Your custom ROMS will be engtools and overclock. That's all there is.

 

[surgeon0214]

^ Well, really the Detailed Leak Root Tutorial is pretty much what you'll need to follow. If you only want to overclock, then you will simply flash engtools and Zanfurs OC kernel after achieving root. You DO NOT need to wipe prior to flashing. All apps and settings are intact. Then you get SetCPU and start overclocking.

So, in the tutorial, stop after doing step 10. Then go to the next section (flashing custom ROM). Your custom ROMS will be engtools and overclock. That's all there is.

Yup, exactly

 

[Peter123]

^ Well, really the Detailed Leak Root Tutorial is pretty much what you'll need to follow. If you only want to overclock, then you will simply flash engtools and Zanfurs OC kernel after achieving root. You DO NOT need to wipe prior to flashing. All apps and settings are intact. Then you get SetCPU and start overclocking.

So, in the tutorial, stop after doing step 10. Then go to the next section (flashing custom ROM). Your custom ROMS will be engtools and overclock. That's all there is.

Thank LED.
to "flash" means rename the file (engtools and Zanfusrs OC kernel) to
update.zip and rebot the phone?
How do you do the flashing exactly?

Sorry for the noobe question...
Peter

 

[SirEagle]

^ Well, really the Detailed Leak Root Tutorial is pretty much what you'll need to follow. If you only want to overclock, then you will simply flash engtools and Zanfurs OC kernel after achieving root. You DO NOT need to wipe prior to flashing. All apps and settings are intact. Then you get SetCPU and start overclocking.

So, in the tutorial, stop after doing step 10. Then go to the next section (flashing custom ROM). Your custom ROMS will be engtools and overclock. That's all there is.

Yup, exactly

And here is why it needs written by itself:

Thank LED.
to "flash" means rename the file (engtools and Zanfusrs OC kernel) to
update.zip and rebot the phone?
How do you do the flashing exactly?

Sorry for the noobe question...
Peter

Not follow this.... then at step x, do this......, except load this and then that instead of those. Just would be easier yet to follow for a complete root newbie. (I'm not rooted, yet)

 

[scary alien]

Guys, give me a sec...I'm writing something up...back in a bit...

 

[scary alien]

Okay, here's my attempt at a quick guide for doing this. Disclaimer: I have not tested this (my phone is already rooted), but these instructions should work. I'm not responsible for any bad things that happen, but I hope they don't.

If you want to just give root access to your current phone, you need to do three things:

1. First, download XDA's jcase's engtools3.zip file and place on the top-level of your phone's /sdcard (MD5 sum: ba944bbb80c8e1290f237429b8130f83 *engtools3.zip)

2. Second, install a custom recovery partition (usually Amon_RA's)

3. Third, flash jcase's engtools3.zip file to give you root access via su and SuperUser.apk

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

First, get the engtools3.zip file created by jcase over at XDA (download from Multiupload.com - upload your files to multiple file hosting sites! per Nestor's post: http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/121660-root-without-rom-yet.html#post1136379) and place this on the top-level directory of your /sdcard. You can download it directly from your phone or copy it from your PC.

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

Second, you need to get a custom recovery partition (usually Amon_RA's) installed. You can do this by either:

A. Following erisuser1's http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies.html thread and stop before you get to figure 38 (do not proceed with the wipes). Be sure to go ahead and make a Nandroid backup like the guide says. Stay here in the recovery menu, because, in the next (last) step, you are going to install/flash the engtools3.zip file. Proceed to the "Third" step, below.

-- or --

B. Follow surgeon0214 / alprazolam's http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/125436-detailed-leak-root-tutorial.html thread:

1) For Windows, stop after doing step 10. Do not do the wipes, etc.). Make sure you do the Nandroid backup. Proceed to the "Third" step, below.

2) For Mac/Linux, you want to stop in the middle of step 10 (i.e., you only want to do the Nandroid Backup; do not do the wipes). Stay here in the recovery menu, because, in the next (last) step, you are going to install/flash the engtools3.zip file. Proceed to the "Third" step, below.

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

Third (and last), since you are still in the custom recovery menu, return to the main menu and select "Flash zip from sdcard". Select the "engtools3.zip" file that you downloaded and placed on your /sdcard earlier. After its done, return to the main menu and select "Reboot system now".

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

That's it! When your phone finishes rebooting, you'll have the SuperUser app in your application drawer. You should also be able to verify that you have root by going to Android Terminal Emulator (free in the Market) and typing "su". You should be prompted by the Superuser app to allow or deny permission to the app (choose allow, obviously ) and it should respond with a "#" prompt. Type "exit" to quit out of the terminal emulator.

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

I know, there's nothing about overclocking, etc. here... If you want to overclock, you'll need to download the setCPU app from the Market (yes, its not free--apparently, some devs created ROMs w/setCPU included without asking for permission from the developer; so the recommended method of acquiring it is from the Market--so the dev will, rightly, be recompensed for his work).

Also, if you want to overclock higher than 710MHz, then you'll have to install Zanfur's overclock kernel (reference Nestor's post http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-eris/121660-root-without-rom-yet.html#post1136379) from Overclock Patch and update.zip - xda-developers).

Cheers!

edit: please, those who have done this before or are familiar with the above steps, please chime-in and let me know of any issues, additions, or corrections I should make.

I've also included the MD5 sums for the engtools3.zip file (my calculate from the download I did) so folks can double-check that the file was properly downloaded and copied.

 

[LED]

Thank LED.
to "flash" means rename the file (engtools and Zanfusrs OC kernel) to
update.zip and rebot the phone?
How do you do the flashing exactly?

Sorry for the noobe question...
Peter

I didn't see this in scary aliens post specifically, but no you do not need to (and shouldn't for your own sanity) rename the zip files to update.zip.

Flashing is the process of updating the phone with the code contained in the zip file. In the recovery tool, there is a menu item to "flash" a file.

 

[SirEagle]

Followed scary alien's directions above and rooted last night. Everything went aok. RedId the instructions in a word document that I may try and post later. Downloaded setcpu from the market but it doesn't allow me to go above 528. Anyone care to tell me what I need to do to get to 710?

 

[scary alien]

Followed scary alien's directions above and rooted last night. Everything went aok. RedId the instructions in a word document that I may try and post later. Downloaded setcpu from the market but it doesn't allow me to go above 528. Anyone care to tell me what I need to do to get to 710?

SirEagle,

Thanks for reviewing and doing...glad it worked for you. I think you might have to flash Zanfur's overclock kernel patch in order to overclock higher than the 528MHz base. Ivan's ROM that I use already had a little higher limit, but I'm betting that this will do the trick for you [don't forget to do a Nandroid backup first! ]. I was pretty tired last night when I wrote this (just played soccer in 95-degree weather and hadn't yet eaten dinner, so I was a little scatter-brained ).

 

[SirEagle]

How come when I try to download the overclock kernel patch from XDA it tells me I don't have permission or some crap like that? I just signed up there yesterday and have no posts.

 

[selvikin]

How come when I try to download the overclock kernel patch from XDA it tells me I don't have permission or some crap like that? I just signed up there yesterday and have no posts.

Have you become a member of XDA yet? Register first, make sure you do the activate email too, and then you can get to the link (at the bottom of the post).

 

[scary alien]

How come when I try to download the overclock kernel patch from XDA it tells me I don't have permission or some crap like that? I just signed up there yesterday and have no posts.

SirEagle,

Its been a while since I registered, but they might have sent you an email at the address you registered with to finish the registration (i.e., with a link to click, etc). Also, I've heard a few cases where you have to log off and log back on for the site to propery recognize you. Let us know.

 

[SirEagle]

Yeah the email was it. I didn't get one until later last night after shutting the PC off. Finished the registration and downloaded it. Now it's time to play. Thanks guys.

 

[SirEagle]

Thanks to scary alien and erisuser1 here is how I rooted and overclocked.

 

[giraffe999]

OK....I know that I risk sounding like a broken record, but I am still kind of apprehensive. If I do what SirEagle says in his PDF file, I should have root access without having flashed a new ROM. In other words, my settings and apps should be intact. This matters to me because it took me forever to figure out how to get my work email to work on the phone and don't know how to get it back should i lose it. Also, I have a lot of apps that I have deliberately not updated, b/c the new version wasn't as good as the old (and thus don't want to have to reinstall, and get stuck with the obnoxious flashing-ad-laden, buggy new versions). Losing my settings and 'old version' apps is the thing that has kept me from rooting thus far (also that pesky fear of bricking and not being incredibly tech savvy to fix my phone should anything go wrong), but this might be the thing to push me over the edge. Also, I saw in another thread that there are backup programs that make flashing to a new ROM less painful (in other words, is it possible to restore settings and apps with those methods as well?). Thanks for all the Herculean patience and explaining in these forums....

 

[LED]

OK....I know that I risk sounding like a broken record, but I am still kind of apprehensive. If I do what SirEagle says in his PDF file, I should have root access without having flashed a new ROM. In other words, my settings and apps should be intact. This matters to me because it took me forever to figure out how to get my work email to work on the phone and don't know how to get it back should i lose it. Also, I have a lot of apps that I have deliberately not updated, b/c the new version wasn't as good as the old (and thus don't want to have to reinstall, and get stuck with the obnoxious flashing-ad-laden, buggy new versions). Losing my settings and 'old version' apps is the thing that has kept me from rooting thus far (also that pesky fear of bricking and not being incredibly tech savvy to fix my phone should anything go wrong), but this might be the thing to push me over the edge. Also, I saw in another thread that there are backup programs that make flashing to a new ROM less painful (in other words, is it possible to restore settings and apps with those methods as well?). Thanks for all the Herculean patience and explaining in these forums....

Yes, you will have root without flashing a custom ROM. No wipe needed, all your apps and settings will remain. Once rooted, download Titanium Backup and you can then backup all your apps and settings to make trying out other ROMS easier (and for keeping your old apps around).

 

[scary alien]

OK....I know that I risk sounding like a broken record, but I am still kind of apprehensive. If I do what SirEagle says in his PDF file, I should have root access without having flashed a new ROM. In other words, my settings and apps should be intact. This matters to me because it took me forever to figure out how to get my work email to work on the phone and don't know how to get it back should i lose it. Also, I have a lot of apps that I have deliberately not updated, b/c the new version wasn't as good as the old (and thus don't want to have to reinstall, and get stuck with the obnoxious flashing-ad-laden, buggy new versions). Losing my settings and 'old version' apps is the thing that has kept me from rooting thus far (also that pesky fear of bricking and not being incredibly tech savvy to fix my phone should anything go wrong), but this might be the thing to push me over the edge. Also, I saw in another thread that there are backup programs that make flashing to a new ROM less painful (in other words, is it possible to restore settings and apps with those methods as well?). Thanks for all the Herculean patience and explaining in these forums....

giraffe999,

Hey, no problem. Yes, if you follow SirEagle's .pdf instructions, you should have root access w/o having flashed a custom ROM. This is because you will not have done any wipes or installed a custom ROM (i.e., basically replacing what is currently on your phone). Your apps, etc. will be intact for exactly this reason.

The key to this whole process is the installation of the custom recovery partition, which has nothing to do with how your phone operates in a day-to-day fashion. The custom recovery just allows you to (among other things), flash software (i.e., either a custom ROM or something like the engtools3.zip). Flashing / installing engtools3.zip is what actually gives you root (and it basically just installs the su program in the /system folder and installs the SuperUser.apk application).

The other important thing about the custom recovery is the Nandroid backup. If you make a successful Nandroid backup (watch its messages carefully, sometimes it will give you a "funny" error and you just need to repeat the backup) you'll be able to recover / restore your phone to the state from which the backup was taken (software and settings included).

By the way, only the Nandroid backup actually touches your /sdcard (that's where it places its backup files). The other stuff happens on the phone's "internal" filesystems/partitions.

Regarding backups, I have too heard about Titanium Backup Pro (and others) that do a good job of backing-up your apps (.apk's) and data (I think). If you go this route, then you'll want to search the threads and post some questions with those that use this (I don't have any experience with restoring / recovering this way, but it does sound viable).

Just read, research, ask questions, and take your time like you obviously are. Its better than just jumping-in without knowing how cold (or deep) the water actually is.

Hope that helps a little.

 

[ad720]

Okay, here's my attempt at a quick guide for doing this. \

Thank you for this!

 

[tproctor]

Ok. I followed SirEagle's pdf and when I get to boot using Vol Up and Power/End, all the phone does is reboot. I can't get into Amon-Ra's. Any ideas?