Root noob Verizon root questions

[cantstopthesignal]

Can anybody give me a better idea of the risk scenario regarding rooting and Verizon? Is there any way that they can tell that you've rooted without physically having it? (and, if they can, how often do they bother)? Furthermore, what kind of penalties do they impose if they do find out? I'm pretty tech savvy and excited to try this out but I figured I should investigate about this first!

Thanks!

 

[Nicks88]

They won't be able to tell without having the phone in hand, and you can flash it back to stock unrooted if you need to bring it back to them for any reason. So basically root away!

 

[ech0]

Even if they have the phone in hand, if you're using just the stock theme, there's a pretty good chance they may not even notice that it's rooted, if they're not looking for it and/or not going through your apps to see the SuperUser app. Even if they DO see the SU app, I'd say there's probably a pretty decent chance that the in-store rep may not have any idea what it is. I exchanged a rooted Droid (though I did put it back to the stock 2.1 OS before turning it back in; I just didn't remove root).

Still, to be on the safe side you may want to remove root.

 

[nstallion]

Rooting invalidates your warranty. You can run a rooted phone and Verizon won't care as long as you don't go asking to return it under warranty.

 

[csoga]

Rooting invalidates your warranty. You can run a rooted phone and Verizon won't care as long as you don't go asking to return it under warranty.

Thanks nstallion, but I've wondered about this:

I'm paying monthly for the (overpriced, I know) "insurance", but between my wife and me, we've "dunked" 3 phones in the past two years... 2 in the pool, one in a glass of vodka/orange juice (don't ask )...

Wonder if there would be any problems exchanging a rooted phone thru the Ins. program?

 

[jnngill]

Thanks nstallion, but I've wondered about this:

I'm paying monthly for the (overpriced, I know) "insurance", but between my wife and me, we've "dunked" 3 phones in the past two years... 2 in the pool, one in a glass of vodka/orange juice (don't ask )...

Wonder if there would be any problems exchanging a rooted phone thru the Ins. program?

I've done insurance exchanges with rooted phones before without any problems. Remember the insurance your buying can be used for things as siple as a scratched screen and your going to pay for each excahnge.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

If the phone is dead due to water damage or whatnot, I doubt they'll ever see that the phone was rooted at least not before they send you a new Droid. ;-)

 

[ska.t73]

You are paying for the insurance, so you could take a hammer to the sucker and they will replace it. It is a lot different then a waranty...

I showed off my clearly rooted Droid the other day to one of the Verizon reps in our local mall who was bragging about the Incredible... He was impressed, Verizon isn't going to care if you root your phone as long as you don't come back to them wanting to use your waranty because you broke it.

 

[YankeeDudeL]

I've always had insurance on my phones and I've pretty much always needed it. I've replaced half the phones I've ever owned, I'd say.

 

[UBRocked]

All good points...couple additional thoughts for the OP.

Say you have a problem with your phone that DOES constitute a "valid warranty" return. You don't want to send a rooted phone back to Verizon. As long as the phone is functional (say for example, the spacebar no longer works on your keyboard)...You can flash back to complete stock (no root, no superuser app in the app drawer, etc.). This way, they would NEVER be able to tell that you were rooted and your valid warranty would stand. And you're not cheating the system because being rooted has nothing to do with your spacebar failing...so you can sleep at night with a clear conscious

Now if you burn your processor up for example (which I have yet to hear about), you could still try and cheat the system by telling Verizon..."It just won't turn on" and they would probably send you a warranty replacement. The problem with that is Motorola might find that the problem is a burnt out processor, replace it, and then see all the "rooted goodness". You would then get charged full retail price for your Droid.

My advice, if you are Rooted and YOU cause the problem with the phone...throw it in the pool, or run it over with the car, pay the $50 or $75 insurance deductible and move on. If you try and cheat Verizon and they catch you...it will cost you much more.

 

[nstallion]

All good points...couple additional thoughts for the OP.

Say you have a problem with your phone that DOES constitute a "valid warranty" return. You don't want to send a rooted phone back to Verizon. As long as the phone is functional (say for example, the spacebar no longer works on your keyboard)...You can flash back to complete stock (no root, no superuser app in the app drawer, etc.). This way, they would NEVER be able to tell that you were rooted and your valid warranty would stand. And you're not cheating the system because being rooted has nothing to do with your spacebar failing...so you can sleep at night with a clear conscious

Now if you burn your processor up for example (which I have yet to hear about), you could still try and cheat the system by telling Verizon..."It just won't turn on" and they would probably send you a warranty replacement. The problem with that is Motorola might find that the problem is a burnt out processor, replace it, and then see all the "rooted goodness". You would then get charged full retail price for your Droid.

My advice, if you are Rooted and YOU cause the problem with the phone...throw it in the pool, or run it over with the car, pay the $50 or $75 insurance deductible and move on. If you try and cheat Verizon and they catch you...it will cost you much more.

What if the X button on the keyboard breaks? Then you're in trouble! lol

 

[glitch32]

How many people have actually bricked their phones on here? I don't think I've read any, although there were some close calls... I think the worst part is flashing the recovery system, after that, installing roms should be a breeze.

 

[altimax98]

What if the X button on the keyboard breaks? Then you're in trouble! lol

actually you could still SBF with that.... now if your Dpad fails..... your S.O.L

 

[Soultics]

I never use the Dpad, I use the volume rocket and camera button!

 

[altimax98]

^ i meant that you need the Dpad to get into the Bootloader

 

[IxMRW0LFxI]

What if the X button on the keyboard breaks? Then you're in trouble! lol

Not if you have ROM Manager then you can reboot to recovery from the program........lol

 

[UBRocked]

How many people have actually bricked their phones on here? I don't think I've read any, although there were some close calls... I think the worst part is flashing the recovery system, after that, installing roms should be a breeze.

Well, there have been a lot of "Oh crap! I Bricked My Phone" threads started on here since the Droid has been rooted, but with SBF...I mean let's face it, that's one hell of a safety net! You should be able to recover from virtually anything (except if you screw up flashing the SBF )

 

[ska.t73]

Well, there have been a lot of "Oh crap! I Bricked My Phone" threads started on here since the Droid has been rooted, but with SBF...I mean let's face it, that's one hell of a safety net! You should be able to recover from virtually anything (except if you screw up flashing the SBF )

Yep... afaik the messing up the SBF is the only way to truely brick the phone...

and no I don't buy any of the stupid comments in the Market about "ZOMG DUDE I INSTALD THSI APP ND IT BRKD MY FONE!!!!111ELEVENTY!!!!!!" I place them right up there with the people who leave negative comments because they couldn't read that what they downloaded was a theme for better home and they can't get it to run...

 

[AppleTechies]

i bricked my phone... i tried to install a rom that wasn't for my phone. I used a incredible s rom on my incredible 2. thought it would work, but it didn't...