Root Inner workings

[ElectricHippo]

Ok, this is a noob question for sure, but rooting didn't work for me I got to wondering:

Basically, I'd like to know why I need to follow this 4 step process:
- flash a new recovery program
- use that recovery to install a 2.1 update that gives me root
- install rom mgr. and clockworkmod now that i'm root
- use those programs to patch my os with new kernels, features, etc.

If I can flash a recovery program that can give me 2.1 with root access, why can't I just flash clockworkmod recovery onto the phone first? for that matter, why do I need clockworkmod to install new roms/kernels? Can't I flash any recovery program and use that to just load Cyanogen(for example)? If the recovery program can give me root access and patch me from 2.0.1 to 2.1, why can't it just load all the 2.2 stuff and give me root access at the same time?

If rooting isn't going to work for me, I guess understanding it a little better might make me feel better. Maybe.

 

[Papadroid]

If you take a look at this post, you don't have to load 2.01 or 2.1 it's just that when those instructions were written 2.2 did not exist. My suggestion is to use the update.zip provided by OMJ to root your current 2.1 setup. This allows you to use either Titanium backup or MyBackup Pro to backup data and apps before flashing a new ROM. Also you don't have to load clockworck recovery but it is very popular since you don't have to worry about file names and locations to flash. But unfortunately with the use of RSDlite there is no sbf file of clockwork to use to flash currently, only spr.

 

[nstallion]

Ok, this is a noob question for sure, but rooting didn't work for me I got to wondering:

Basically, I'd like to know why I need to follow this 4 step process:
- flash a new recovery program
- use that recovery to install a 2.1 update that gives me root
- install rom mgr. and clockworkmod now that i'm root
- use those programs to patch my os with new kernels, features, etc.

If I can flash a recovery program that can give me 2.1 with root access, why can't I just flash clockworkmod recovery onto the phone first? for that matter, why do I need clockworkmod to install new roms/kernels? Can't I flash any recovery program and use that to just load Cyanogen(for example)? If the recovery program can give me root access and patch me from 2.0.1 to 2.1, why can't it just load all the 2.2 stuff and give me root access at the same time?

If rooting isn't going to work for me, I guess understanding it a little better might make me feel better. Maybe.

The problem is the .sbf file. There are only a few around, in fact only 2 that I know of currently (the stock 2.0.1 and the 2.1 with SP Recovery). I don't know the ins and outs of it but it's not something anyone can just create. They are image files made by Motorola to be used to flash from the boot loader.

Once you load that 2.1 SP Recovery .sbf file, you could skip a step and then just immediately flash whatever custom ROM you wanted. The step of adding the 2.1 root zip so you can download ROM manager is easier for most people because ROM manager is pretty user friendly.

You could in theory just do this:

1. Flash SPRecovery_ESE81.sbf (or whatever it's called) as long as you are on stock 2.1
2. Put the .zip for whatever ROM you want on the root of the SD card and rename update.zip
3. Flash the update.zip

ClockworkMod Recovery has a few more features than SP Recovery and I think (not certain) that CyanogenMod will only work with ClockworkMod Recovery since they are both developed by Cyanogen.

If root didn't work for you, then at some point you must have done something wrong or there was some sort of kernel conflict.

The Droid isn't really meant to be rooted, so this process has been developed by the modding community in the best way it can be done. Rooting the Droid is actually very simple compared to some other Android phones. In fact the only one that is easier is probably the Nexus One since that is designed by Google to be a developer platform and supports rooting from stock.

 

[supersaki]

Ok, this is a noob question for sure, but rooting didn't work for me I got to wondering:

Basically, I'd like to know why I need to follow this 4 step process:
- flash a new recovery program
- use that recovery to install a 2.1 update that gives me root
- install rom mgr. and clockworkmod now that i'm root
- use those programs to patch my os with new kernels, features, etc.

If I can flash a recovery program that can give me 2.1 with root access, why can't I just flash clockworkmod recovery onto the phone first? for that matter, why do I need clockworkmod to install new roms/kernels? Can't I flash any recovery program and use that to just load Cyanogen(for example)? If the recovery program can give me root access and patch me from 2.0.1 to 2.1, why can't it just load all the 2.2 stuff and give me root access at the same time?

If rooting isn't going to work for me, I guess understanding it a little better might make me feel better. Maybe.

TLDR: There isn't a .sbf file for clockworkmod. There is one for SPRecovery.

The newer root process only flashes the recovery file, rather than the whole 2.01 ROM (as the earlier .sbf did). Once you have the new recovery, you can flash the kernels, ROMs, recovery, etc. You don't have to flash Clockwork Recovery/ROM Manager, but it does make the process easier for people.

Also, to my understanding, flashing just the SPRecovery doesn't give you root, but gives you the ability to root. Most people will just flash a custom ROM that already includes the files necessary to obtain root.

So theoretically (since 2.2 isn't officially released), you could still use the 2.1 root method when 2.2 comes out, assuming they don't patch the loophole.

 

[OMJ]

Also, to my understanding, flashing just the SPRecovery doesn't give you root, but gives you the ability to root. Most people will just flash a custom ROM that already includes the files necessary to obtain root.

Flashing SPRecovery gives you root access in recovery which is really the most important place to have it. If you have root access in recovery you can get it in OS. With SPR its as easy as running an update.zip that gives you root in the os.

So theoretically (since 2.2 isn't officially released), you could still use the 2.1 root method when 2.2 comes out, assuming they don't patch the loophole.

Our current root method is not going away anytime soon. I think they would have to change the bootloader in order to do away with it and even that Im not sure would work. They would have to totally do away with our ability to flash SBF files and Motorola and VZW need that ability.

 

[ElectricHippo]

thanks for explanation. it's getting a little clearer now.

so if I'm back to stock, which i'm not sure I am, here's my info:

Firmware: 2.1-update 1
Baseband: C_01.3E.03P
Kernel v: 2.6.29-omap1-g7fa8788 android-build@apa26 #1
Build Number: ESE81

, you're saying I can just get the SPRecovery sbf file, flash it, and use that recovery console to install, say Kangerade? And if so, what 'exactly' would that give me over my current 2.1 stock setup?

Root Access?
The ability to OC?
Tethering?
Wifi hotspot?
The cool blueberry theme?

thanks for all the info. even if this doesn't end up working because of problems on my end, understanding it is cool.

 

[OMJ]

thanks for explanation. it's getting a little clearer now.

so if I'm back to stock, which i'm not sure I am, here's my info:

Firmware: 2.1-update 1
Baseband: C_01.3E.03P
Kernel v: 2.6.29-omap1-g7fa8788 android-build@apa26 #1
Build Number: ESE81

Looks like stock to me

, you're saying I can just get the SPRecovery sbf file, flash it, and use that recovery console to install, say Kangerade?

Yup

And if so, what 'exactly' would that give me over my current 2.1 stock setup?

Root Access?
The ability to OC?
Tethering?
Wifi hotspot?
The cool blueberry theme?

thanks for all the info. even if this doesn't end up working because of problems on my end, understanding it is cool.

you would get all those things with Kangerade

 

[ElectricHippo]

Thanks a ton. this is making more sense all time.

Now what about kernels? If I flash SPRecovery, download Kangerade 5 (the one built from 2.2 source), rename it update.zip and apply it from SPRecovery...

what then does a new kernel buy me? If I'm already root user, with all the 2.2 features installed, what's the net effect of getting a new kernel?

 

[Papadroid]

Thanks a ton. this is making more sense all time.

Now what about kernels? If I flash SPRecovery, download Kangerade 5 (the one built from 2.2 source), rename it update.zip and apply it from SPRecovery...

what then does a new kernel buy me? If I'm already root user, with all the 2.2 features installed, what's the net effect of getting a new kernel?

The kernel is what's going to determine your cpu clock speed. You'll notice that there are different speeds and some are five slot most are seven slots. Although I believe you will still need setcpu, I'm not sure about kangerade.