Root How and Why to root for newbies

[Cooper271]

Firstly, thanks to [TheAndroid]. His original guide can be found here:
http://androidforums.com/transform-all-things-root/307457-guide-custom-recovery-root-2-2-guide.html
This is basically a deeper description of each step requested by tucker07753 along with the pros and cons requested by many.
We'll start with the cons.
Well, there's only one I can think of since bricking is nearly impossible... If you somehow completely destroy your phone while it's rooted but Sprint can tell it's rooted somehow, there goes your warranty. So if you're gonna break it, break it good
Pros:
Better support in the community. If there's something wrong with the phone, it gets fixed.
Faster speeds and graphics. My phone is over 3 times as fast as stock
Better battery life and performance
Root only apps such as Titanium Backup and Cachemate
Better reliability, less crashes, freezes, and random reboots
That's my simple two cents. If anyone has anything else to add to this list then I'll add on.

NEVER UNZIP ANY OF THE .TARS OR .ZIPS!!! THIS CAN BRICK YOUR PHONE!!! MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW STEP 2 EXACTLY!!
I'm not responsible if you don't follow these directions and brick your phone.
Now for the guide:

1. Download SWUpdater from here Free File Hosting, Online Storage &amp File Upload with FileServe . This allows you to flash .tar files to your phone, be it the custom recovery or a phone backup, etc. Install it. It will tell you to reboot your computer.

2. Go to c:\Program Files\Samsung Electronics\SWUpgrade\Models\Binary and delete EVERYTHING in this folder. This is the most important step. If you don't delete the .tar in this phone and flash it, your phone is going to become a paperweight. I suggest checking multiple times to make sure it's gone.

3. Download either this .tar http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21183005/recovery.tar (Vampirefo's) or this .tar http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21183005/CWM_recovery.tar (ClockworkMod recovery). These are the custom recoveries. They're what allow you to flash kernels, ROMs, themes, and other things to your phone. Choose one. I've tried both, and they're both great. I suggest starting out with Vampirefo's, and maybe testing out the ClockworkMod one. This is all up to preference though.
**Note** Ubuntdroid beta 2 includes the ClockworkMod recovery

4. Choose a kernel to install. Myself and other's very highly recommend this one: Puma v2 . Others can be found on the same site though. Download whichever kernel suits your fancy. The kernel gives you root access, and adds many other things such as undervolting and JIT. Couga's post on the link of puma v2 lists all the things he added.

5. Create a folder on your SD card called "sdx". Within this folder create three folders called "backup" "updates" and "zip". No quotes around any of these. Place the kernel you decided on in the zip folder. **Note** You can create the folders either with your phone plugged into your computer and mounted, or put the SD card itself into your computer.

6. Put the .tar you chose back in step 3 into the c:\Program Files\Samsung Electronics\SWUpgrade\Models\Binary folder. This should be the ONLY file in there. Run SWUpgrade. Follow the onscreen directions exactly until you get to the end. This will install the custom recovery
**Note** As requested, there is a step-by-step tutorial on SWUpgrade at the end of this guide
6.5 Once you get to the end, SWUpgrade will say 100% done and your phone will start to boot up. Don't let it do so. Unplug the phone and pull the battery immediately or the recovery won't stick. Hold down power, volume down, and voice dial to get to the custom recovery.

7. If you are using Vampirefo's recovery, read 7a. If you are using the ClockworkMod, use 7b.
7a. Using the volume buttons to move up and down, go to "Apply zip from SD card". Hit the menu key to go to this. Select the kernel you downloaded, and hit menu. Hit home to confirm. You are now rooted. Congratulations!!!
7b. Use the volume buttons to move up and down. Go to "Install zip from sdcard". Hit camera to select it. Hit camera to select "Choose zip from sdcard". Use the volume buttons to go down to the sdx folder. Hit camera. Go to the zip folder. Hit camera again. Go to your kernel, and hit camera. Hit home to confirm. You are now rooted.
Congratulations!

Once again, thanks to [TheAndroid] for the base of this guide, and thanks to the wonderful people at SDX for making all of this possible.


SWUpgrade tutorial

As for SWUpdater, it tells you exactly what to do. Accept the warning or whatever. Start with your phone unplugged. Take the battery out, then put it back in. Hit next. Hold down Volume Down, Camera, and Power. You'll get the screen SWUpdater shows. Plug it in, it will install drivers. Hit next, unplug your phone, take battery out, hit next, hold down Volume Down, Camera, and Power. Press the Start button and it will start. When it hits 100%, unplug your phone and take the battery out. Continue step 6.5

 

[[TheAndroid]]

Firstly, thanks to [TheAndroid]. His original guide can be found here:
http://androidforums.com/transform-all-things-root/307457-guide-custom-recovery-root-2-2-guide.html
This is basically a deeper description of each step requested by tucker07753 along with the pros and cons requested by many.
We'll start with the cons.
Well, there's only one I can think of since bricking is nearly impossible... If you somehow completely destroy your phone while it's rooted but Sprint can tell it's rooted somehow, there goes your warranty. So if you're gonna break it, break it good
Pros:
Better support in the community. If there's something wrong with the phone, it gets fixed.
Faster speeds and graphics. My phone is over 3 times as fast as stock
Better battery life and performance
Root only apps such as Titanium Backup and Cachemate
Better reliability, less crashes, freezes, and random reboots
That's my simple two cents. If anyone has anything else to add to this list then I'll add on.

Once again, thanks to [TheAndroid] for the base of this guide, and thanks to the wonderful people at SDX for making all of this possible.

Haha! A marvelous guide, nice and updated as well! Very good work Cooper, and very helpful to all the newbies out there. You have my thanks.

 

[fujimori]

This is really helpful - thanks! I'm also considering rooting. Am I right in that this will install a custom recovery and kernel, but won't change the ROM? Is there a substantial performance boost without even changing the ROM? Lastly, will this wipe my phone? I know it sounds trivial, but that's something I'd prefer to avoid. Thanks.

 

[[TheAndroid]]

This is really helpful - thanks! I'm also considering rooting. Am I right in that this will install a custom recovery and kernel, but won't change the ROM? Is there a substantial performance boost without even changing the ROM? Lastly, will this wipe my phone? I know it sounds trivial, but that's something I'd prefer to avoid. Thanks.

No wiping your phone by rooting.
This will install custom recovery. You must apply a kernel IN custom recovery.
The ROM isn't changed.

 

[Droidnoob2]

Just developed a bromance for u. LOL. Thanks man. Instant sticky.

 

[Cooper271]

Haha, don't thank me. Thank the people at SDX for coming up with this stuff and TheAndroid for bringing it over here. I just added it and threw some updates in here and there. They're the ones doing all the work. I just want to stop leeching off them.

 

[nstg8r]

No wiping your phone by rooting.
This will install custom recovery. You must apply a kernel IN custom recovery.
The ROM isn't changed.

Ok, so no wiping without adding a rom, but then why do I have to make a backup and re-install all my apps when I root?

 

[Droidnoob2]

Finally about to try root. Last questions:what do EB28 and JIT mean?

 

[Cooper271]

Ok, so no wiping without adding a rom, but then why do I have to make a backup and re-install all my apps when I root?

You don't.

 

[Cooper271]

Finally about to try root. Last questions:what do EB28 and JIT mean?

EB28 - The best way I can explain it is it's the basically version of our firmware. If it doesn't work with EB28 it absolutely won't work with our phones. Everything you see in the sdx forums for us for 2.2 is EB28.

JIT - It's a type of driver that increases performance and makes our phones faster. Not sure if it does anything with graphics...

 

[Droidnoob2]

Cool. FINAL FINAL Q?: LOoking at sdx dev site, Looking at Vanilla Rom. Says it has 2.8 kernel in it. Do you install full Roms any different than how u explained installation above? Many Thanks Cooper

 

[nstg8r]

7a. Using the volume buttons to move up and down, go to "Apply zip from SD card". Hit the menu key to go to this. Select the kernel you downloaded, and hit menu. Hit home to confirm. You are now rooted. Congratulations!!!

If I download a couple different kernels, can I put them all in the zip folder and select the one I want to use? Or can there only be one in the folder at a time like the recovery.tar file?

 

[Droidnoob2]

OK im not trying to freak out but my computer is not detecting my Transform at the 3rd step of adding recovery. Stuck on Downloading screen. Plz help!

PS: I removed everything from Binary Folder as stated above.

UPDATE: Ok braved it and pulled battery. Luckily didnt brick. But now my computers(both desktop and laptop) don't recognize my phone when hooked up via USB. This had happened before when I tried to access the SD card. Had to install USB drivers. But the drivers were already installed before I tried to root. Any ideas?

 

[Cooper271]

If I download a couple different kernels, can I put them all in the zip folder and select the one I want to use? Or can there only be one in the folder at a time like the recovery.tar file?

You can have as many as you want, and switch them whenever you want.

Cool. FINAL FINAL Q?: LOoking at sdx dev site, Looking at Vanilla Rom. Says it has 2.8 kernel in it. Do you install full Roms any different than how u explained installation above? Many Thanks Cooper

No sir, installation is the same.

 

[Cooper271]

OK im not trying to freak out but my computer is not detecting my Transform at the 3rd step of adding recovery. Stuck on Downloading screen. Plz help!

PS: I removed everything from Binary Folder as stated above.

UPDATE: Ok braved it and pulled battery. Luckily didnt brick. But now my computers(both desktop and laptop) don't recognize my phone when hooked up via USB. This had happened before when I tried to access the SD card. Had to install USB drivers. But the drivers were already installed before I tried to root. Any ideas?

Is it saying it isn't recognized? Or is it asking to instal from a disc or something? Try rebooting your computer and your phone. If that doesn't work try this.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-tr...ow-make-windows-recognize-your-transform.html

 

[Droidnoob2]

Is it saying it isn't recognized? Or is it asking to instal from a disc or something? Try rebooting your computer and your phone. If that doesn't work try this.
http://androidforums.com/samsung-tr...ow-make-windows-recognize-your-transform.html

Yeah its saying device not recognized. The problem is that I already had the driver from the link installed on the laptop and the laptop DOES recognize my phone until I start the root. When I get to the screen(after holding Down, Power Button,and Camera)that shows Downloading, my phone quits being recognized. Running XP on both Machines if I forgot to state earlier. Gonna try to install driver on my desktop and a little.

 

[nstg8r]

Yeah its saying device not recognized. The problem is that I already had the driver from the link installed on the laptop and the laptop DOES recognize my phone until I start the root. When I get to the screen(after holding Down, Power Button,and Camera)that shows Downloading, my phone quits being recognized. Running XP on both Machines if I forgot to state earlier. Gonna try to install driver on my desktop and a little.

I could be wrong (probably), but once you've flashed the recovery.tar file, do you even need to be plugged into your computer and running swupdater to install the kernel?

Also, once I've rooted, if I decide to go back, how do I unroot?

 

[Cooper271]

Yeah its saying device not recognized. The problem is that I already had the driver from the link installed on the laptop and the laptop DOES recognize my phone until I start the root. When I get to the screen(after holding Down, Power Button,and Camera)that shows Downloading, my phone quits being recognized. Running XP on both Machines if I forgot to state earlier. Gonna try to install driver on my desktop and a little.

Not positive if it'll work, but try making sure "USB Debugging" is checked. You can find it under settings/Applications on your phone.

 

[Droidnoob2]

Not positive if it'll work, but try making sure "USB Debugging" is checked. You can find it under settings/Applications on your phone.

Will give it a try. Thanks guys.

 

[Cooper271]

I could be wrong (probably), but once you've flashed the recovery.tar file, do you even need to be plugged into your computer and running swupdater to install the kernel?

Also, once I've rooted, if I decide to go back, how do I unroot?

You are correct. and to unroot, you just flash back to stock using a stock .tar

 

[Droidnoob2]

Rooting gods are laughing at me cuz I still cant get SWUpdater to work. Gonna have to try manually but sdx-dev site down again so I can't get tutorial. Laugh away Root gods...

 

[themartyred]

So, I'm assuming the phone is attached to the computer from the start? At step 6, when you say pull the battery and hold the buttons, do you mean right after you pull the battery? And then the phone will boot into the setup mode you describe? Finally, the SD card stays in the phone to do all the filework and not installed into my computer? Total noob questions, I know. Many Thanks!

*posted from my Transform*

Firstly, thanks to [TheAndroid]. His original guide can be found here:
http://androidforums.com/transform-all-things-root/307457-guide-custom-recovery-root-2-2-guide.html
This is basically a deeper description of each step requested by tucker07753 along with the pros and cons requested by many.
We'll start with the cons.
Well, there's only one I can think of since bricking is nearly impossible... If you somehow completely destroy your phone while it's rooted but Sprint can tell it's rooted somehow, there goes your warranty. So if you're gonna break it, break it good
Pros:
Better support in the community. If there's something wrong with the phone, it gets fixed.
Faster speeds and graphics. My phone is over 3 times as fast as stock
Better battery life and performance
Root only apps such as Titanium Backup and Cachemate
Better reliability, less crashes, freezes, and random reboots
That's my simple two cents. If anyone has anything else to add to this list then I'll add on.

NEVER UNZIP ANY OF THE .TARS OR .ZIPS!!! THIS CAN BRICK YOUR PHONE!!! MAKE SURE YOU FOLLOW STEP 2 EXACTLY!!
I'm not responsible if you don't follow these directions and brick your phone.
Now for the guide:

1. Download SWUpdater from here Free File Hosting, Online Storage &amp File Upload with FileServe . This allows you to flash .tar files to your phone, be it the custom recovery or a phone backup, etc. Install it. It will tell you to reboot your computer.

2. Go to c:\Program Files\Samsung Electronics\SWUpgrade\Models\Binary and delete EVERYTHING in this folder. This is the most important step. If you don't delete the .tar in this phone and flash it, your phone is going to become a paperweight. I suggest checking multiple times to make sure it's gone.

3. Download either this .tar http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21183005/recovery.tar (Vampirefo's) or this .tar http://dl.dropbox.com/u/21183005/CWM_recovery.tar (ClockworkMod recovery). These are the custom recoveries. They're what allow you to flash kernels, ROMs, themes, and other things to your phone. Choose one. I've tried both, and they're both great. I suggest starting out with Vampirefo's, and maybe testing out the ClockworkMod one. This is all up to preference though.
(Note: Ubuntdroid beta 2 includes the ClockworkMod recovery)

4. Choose a kernel to install. Myself and other's very highly recommend this one: Puma v2 . Others can be found on the same site though. Download whichever kernel suits your fancy. The kernel gives you root access, and adds many other things such as undervolting and JIT. Couga's post on the link of puma v2 lists all the things he added.

5. Create a folder on your SD card called "sdx". Within this folder create three folders called "backup" "updates" and "zip". No quotes around any of these. Place the kernel you decided on in the zip folder

6. Put the .tar you chose back in step 3 into the c:\Program Files\Samsung Electronics\SWUpgrade\Models\Binary folder. This should be the ONLY file in there. Run SWUpgrade. Follow the onscreen directions exactly until you get to the end. This will install the custom recovery
6.5 Once you get to the end and install the software, your phone will start to boot up. Don't let it do so. Pull the battery immediately or the recovery won't stick. Hold down power, volume down, and voice dial to get to the custom recovery.

7. If you are using Vampirefo's recovery, read 7a. If you are using the ClockworkMod, use 7b.
7a. Using the volume buttons to move up and down, go to "Apply zip from SD card". Hit the menu key to go to this. Select the kernel you downloaded, and hit menu. Hit home to confirm. You are now rooted. Congratulations!!!
7b. Use the volume buttons to move up and down. Go to "Install zip from sdcard". Hit camera to select it. Hit camera to select "Choose zip from sdcard". Use the volume buttons to go down to the sdx folder. Hit camera. Go to the zip folder. Hit camera again. Go to your kernel, and hit camera. Hit home to confirm. You are now rooted.
Congratulations!

Once again, thanks to [TheAndroid] for the base of this guide, and thanks to the wonderful people at SDX for making all of this possible.

 

[nstg8r]

Rooting gods are laughing at me cuz I still cant get SWUpdater to work. Gonna have to try manually but sdx-dev site down again so I can't get tutorial. Laugh away Root gods...

I might be stating the obvious, but when you hook up your phone to your computer via usb, use the cable that came with your phone (the charging cable). Micro usb cables are very finicky.

 

[nstg8r]

So, I'm assuming the phone is attached to the computer from the start? At step 6, when you say pull the battery and hold the buttons, do you mean right after you pull the battery? And then the phone will boot into the setup mode you describe? Finally, the SD card stays in the phone to do all the filework and not installed into my computer? Total noob questions, I know. Many Thanks!

*posted from my Transform*

Actually, that step is a bit confusing. That's why you have to follow the swupdater's on-screen instructions exactly. You have to do the battery pull and the initial boot in to recovery (press vol down, camera, power buttons) before you plug it in. When your screen looks like the one shown in swupdater, then you plug your phone in. Just continue to follow the instructions on the screen until it says software download successful (100%). Then continue with step 6.5 of Cooper's tutorial.

As far as the sd card goes, you'll have to create the sdx folder and subfolders 1st. Before you launch swupdater, plug your phone in. On my phone at least, I got a screen that asked me if I wanted to turn on usb storage. Once you do that, your computer treats your phone as if it were an sd card reader. Then you can create those folders. If for some reason you're having trouble with your computer recognizing your phone, you will have to unmount the card from the phone, remove it and load it into your computer. When done, put it back into the phone and start the update process.


Oh, and yeah, I successfully rooted my phone using vampiro's recovery and the Puma kernel. Thanks Cooper!

 

[Cooper271]

I'll fix these steps to avoid further confusion. Thanks for the feedback.

As for SWUpdater, it tells you exactly what to do. Accept the warning or whatever. Start with your phone unplugged. Take the battery out, then put it back in. Hit next. Hold down Volume Down, Camera, and Power. You'll get the screen SWUpdater shows. Plug it in, it will install drivers. Hit next, unplug your phone, take battery out, hit next, hold down Volume Down, Camera, and Power. Press the Start button and it will start. When it hits 100%, unplug your phone and take the battery out. Continue step 6.5