Root Rooting and Factory Reset

[mrojas123]

Hi:
I couldn't locate an answer this question.
I have rooted my Droid with Easy Root but not applied a new ROM.

What effect does a factory reset have on a rooted Droid?
Will the phone still be rooted afterward?

Thanks.

 

[Jedii]

Yes, your phone will stay rooted. The only way you will lose root is if you accept an OTA update from Google.

 

[patch]

Yes, your phone will stay rooted. The only way you will lose root is if you accept an OTA update from Google.

This sounds totally wrong. On what basis are you saying this?

I believe the factory reset will remove the root. Is it not a complete system image? ("nandroid" type backup).

The OTA should not remove your root as long it does remove your su/superuser.apk. I will know with 100% certainty since I'm planning on doing this myself when FRG22D is available for download and review.

 

[Jedii]

This sounds totally wrong. On what basis are you saying this?

I believe the factory reset will remove the root. Is it not a complete system image? ("nandroid" type backup).

The OTA should not remove your root as long it does remove your su/superuser.apk. I will know with 100% certainty since I'm planning on doing this myself when FRG22D is available for download and review.

Seriously? Sounds wrong? If you are NOT running a custom rom (as stated by the OP) and are just plainly rooted, then YES installing the OTA will remove root. Have you never installed a rom after being rooted? Its recommended that you wipe/factory reset before each one (no, you dont have too) just recommended. The factory reset is not a complete image. The OTA FRG22 or FRG01b is a total image (just as a custom rom is) and WILL remove SU permissions.

 

[gnath9]

all a factory reset does is wipe data and cache. I dont think is flashes an image.

(I could be wrong tho)

 

[Jedii]

Oh, and what basis am i saying this on?

Don't know really the best way to say this.

I have been rooting and installing roms since November. I work in the telecommunications industry. I have purposely flashed down to 2.1, then rooted, then installed the OTA and lost root.

Try it. If you are comfortable with rooting and knowledgeable in such, flash sbf and see for yourself.

**I am not bashing, just answering b/c i am passionate about this stuff**

 

[Jedii]

all a factory reset does is wipe data and cache. I dont think is flashes an image.

(I could be wrong tho)

You are exactly right. Thanks!

I would "thank" you but the site is acting up and won't allow me too

 

[gnath9]

You are exactly right. Thanks!

I would "thank" you but the site is acting up and won't allow me too

I know this cuz sometimes I do a factory reset before flashing a new rom from rom manager. And I have never lost root ever

(just lucky I guess)

 

[Jedii]

I know this cuz sometimes I do a factory reset before flashing a new rom from rom manager. And I have never lost root ever

(just lucky I guess)

I do a reset before i install any new rom. Even if i just upgrade a current rom i do a reset. Guess i just like to know that its a fresh start each time

 

[patch]

The fact that me and the OP has not installed custom recovery, I assumed the "Verizon/Motorola" factory reset that came from the Verizon store would be a full image. I'll take your word (for now) but it doesnt make logical sense to me.

But for the second point I will know for sure myself soon.

At this point I have no reason to believe the OTA update I got from google.com (45mb frb01b) will remove root, but the full OTA update found by John Galt (75mb frb01b) will remove root. If you don't know why I'm saying this I don't think it's worth discussing any further -- but if you do please read some my recent posts in SetCPU thread if you want more backround, don't feel like repeating myself.

 

[gnath9]

maybe I am confused here ....

its my understanding doing a factory reset only wipes data and cache and does not flash a image. So you will not lose your root but, If you get and install an update from VZW you will lose it because you flashed an image.
All the custom roms com pre-rooted.

am I correct on this ?

 

[triplecrown]

Another +1 here for a factory reset not removing root. It's not a full image from verizon. I've wiped numerous times switching between roms and just wiping to start fresh all while keeping root.

 

[Jedii]

The fact that me and the OP has not installed custom recovery, I assumed the "Verizon/Motorola" factory reset that came from the Verizon store would be a full image. I'll take your word (for now) but it doesnt make logical sense to me.

But for the second point I will know for sure myself soon.

At this point I have no reason to believe the OTA update I got from google.com (45mb frb01b) will remove root, but the full OTA update found by John Galt (75mb frb01b) will remove root. If you don't know why I'm saying this I don't think it's worth discussing any further -- but if you do please read some my recent posts in SetCPU thread if you want more backround, don't feel like repeating myself.

Okay, you seem to be confused on the OTA. The OTA, from Google regardless if its 45mb or 100mb is a FULL image. This will in fact remove superuser permissions from the device. There is no question to this. I am absolutely 100% sure of this.

 

[Jedii]

maybe I am confused here ....

its my understanding doing a factory reset only wipes data and cache and does not flash a image. So you will not lose your root but, If you get and install an update from VZW you will lose it because you flashed an image.
All the custom roms com pre-rooted.

am I correct on this ?

Correct. Custom roms are "pre rooted" per say, they just have superuser permissions loaded.

But you are exactly right that wiping does NOT touch superuser permissions.

 

[mrojas123]

Yes, your phone will stay rooted. The only way you will lose root is if you accept an OTA update from Google.

I did a factory reset and remained rooted. Thanks for all the great comments.

It was amazing how quickly all my apps were reinstalled on the Droid.