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forgive me for my ignorance, but isnt android already something that is customizable ?
then what is root ?
what exactly is done during rooting and how will it help the user ?
i just got myself a razr xt910 and am yet to start using it and i want to know what is rooting so i can use my razr to the maximum extent.
waiting for your opinions and suggestions :)
 
forgive me for my ignorance, but isnt android already something that is customizable ?
then what is root ?
what exactly is done during rooting and how will it help the user ?
i just got myself a razr xt910 and am yet to start using it and i want to know what is rooting so i can use my razr to the maximum extent.
waiting for your opinions and suggestions :)

Rooting is exploiting your phones OS and becoming a SU superuser in full control of the files within the phone you can use the root apps in the android market and modd the phone to your liking.
your bootloader is locked on the razr its encrypted means adding roms/or rooting is hairy alittle i strongly suggest if you must only root the razr do not flash a rom.
i have read many stuck in soft bricks meaning the boot logo appears on start up but will not go to the launcher your phone will be stuck basically at the boot logo or boot animation.
yes there are was to try to fix this but i have tried to help some already and they were not successful use caution on locked bootloaders.
 
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Rooting is exploiting your phones OS and becoming a SU superuser in full control of the files within the phone you can use the root apps in the android market and modd the phone to your liking.
your bootloader is locked on the razr its encrypted means adding roms/or rooting is hairy alittle i strongly suggest if you must only root the razr do not flash a rom.
i have read many stuck in soft bricks meaning the boot logo appears on start up but will not go to the launcher your phone will be stuck basically at the boot logo or boot animation.
yes there are was to try to fix this but i have tried to help some already and they were not successful use caution on locked bootloaders.
Thanks mate !
I shall get acquainted to android first and then shall decide !
 
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I think i need to fix a couple points here.
Rooting is exploiting your phones OS and becoming a SU superuser in full control of the files within the phone you can use the root apps in the android market and modd the phone to your liking.
Rooting the phone is the same as signing into the administrator account on your computer.

Some reasons you would want to do this:
*change software by flashing a rom
*change system settings to optimize the permformance of the device in some way (make it run faster or use less battery).
*enable features that were disabled by Verizon/Motorola (using a wifi tethering app for example).
your bootloader is locked on the razr its encrypted means adding roms/or rooting is hairy alittle i strongly suggest if you must only root the razr do not flash a rom.
i have read many stuck in soft bricks meaning the boot logo appears on start up but will not go to the launcher your phone will be stuck basically at the boot logo or boot animation.
yes there are was to try to fix this but i have tried to help some already and they were not successful use caution on locked bootloaders.
I don't know when you were trying this, but there are now fastboot restore files available, meaning you should almost always be able to restore you're phone back to stock if worse comes to worse. Honestly, if you aren't being reckless about it rom flashing a Razr is now about as safe as any other device.

To the OP, my standard advise for people who ask this question is "Finish this sentence: I am going to root my phone so I can do ___________ with it." Basically your plan of holding off until you actually find something you need root to do is a good idea.
 
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I think i need to fix a couple points here.

Rooting the phone is the same as signing into the administrator account on your computer.

Some reasons you would want to do this:
*change software by flashing a rom
*change system settings to optimize the permformance of the device in some way (make it run faster or use less battery).
*enable features that were disabled by Verizon/Motorola (using a wifi tethering app for example).
I don't know when you were trying this, but there are now fastboot restore files available, meaning you should almost always be able to restore you're phone back to stock if worse comes to worse. Honestly, if you aren't being reckless about it rom flashing a Razr is now about as safe as any other device.

To the OP, my standard advise for people who ask this question is "Finish this sentence: I am going to root my phone so I can do ___________ with it." Basically your plan of holding off until you actually find something you need root to do is a good idea.

oh ! so i lose my warranty if I root my phone ?
 
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Absolutely.
Don't even think about returning a rooted device for warranty service, they'll just chuckle and send it back to you.

Oh that's bad ! :eek::eek:
Thanks a lot for the information... I have acquired the razr from a warehouse dealer and i get to have a one month replacement if there is any problem in the phone...i was just about to root and would have lost the safety of a replacement if i had rooted !:(
 
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Oh that's bad ! :eek::eek:
Thanks a lot for the information... I have acquired the razr from a warehouse dealer and i get to have a one month replacement if there is any problem in the phone...i was just about to root and would have lost the safety of a replacement if i had rooted !:(
While it's obviosly a concern, it's a bit overplayed. generally speaking, if you're phone boots up you should be able to flash back to the stock software, and if it doesn't boot they won't know if it's rooted or not. And I haven't heard of a single person who had their device bounce from a warranty replacement because it was rooted (not to say it can't/won't happen, but it is rare).
 
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Why root?

Great apps that are for root users only, or additional functionality for some apps that needs root to take advantage of it.

At this point with Android and the hardware getting better since 2009....all I really do now is root. I dont do the custom ROM thing anymore.
 
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Why root?

Great apps that are for root users only, or additional functionality for some apps that needs root to take advantage of it.

At this point with Android and the hardware getting better since 2009....all I really do now is root. I dont do the custom ROM thing anymore.

Does This name "root" have anything to do with the "root" in linux ?:thinking:
 
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While it's obviosly a concern, it's a bit overplayed. generally speaking, if you're phone boots up you should be able to flash back to the stock software, and if it doesn't boot they won't know if it's rooted or not. And I haven't heard of a single person who had their device bounce from a warranty replacement because it was rooted (not to say it can't/won't happen, but it is rare).
If thats the case, then my worries slide down a bit. But in my country they try doing anything to ward off customers from coming to showrooms with even the word warranty lingering around them
 
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I rooted both my Eris and my DInc2 and had zero problems ... but found myself playing with different ROMS and wasting a lot of time tinkering with my phone. I have had the MAXX for a little over a month and I have not rooted, don't plan to either. I have spent a lot less time on my phone without root!
I was the same way with my DInc2. I had to start setting limits on how often I could switch ROMs. I enjoyed being in control of my phone but it started to be a game.

I rooted my RAZR MAXX as soon as I decided I was going to keep it and my 14 day return window was up. The only thing I have done is back up my current ROM and enabled Mobile Hotspot because I still have unlimited Data.

I have ICS installed and get great battery life. I have no desire to make and major changes at this time. I Rooted my phone so that I can do what I want to in the future.

If you read up on how to do what you want to do, the risk for problems is minimized. I had my DInc2 for over a year and probably installed 5-10 different roms on it multiple times and never had any issues...well, no issues that could not be fixed. :)
 
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This is the first phone I have had that I have not rooted and run custom ROM's...the inability to do a battery pull if I screw it up scares me off. My old phone (fascinate) was really easy to root and really easy to fix via odin (program on computer) if things went bad.

I hate ads and still may end up rooting it to get rid of them all.
 
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This is the first phone I have had that I have not rooted and run custom ROM's...the inability to do a battery pull if I screw it up scares me off. My old phone (fascinate) was really easy to root and really easy to fix via odin (program on computer) if things went bad.

I hate ads and still may end up rooting it to get rid of them all.

Volume down + power for 15 seconds is the same as a battery pull. Even if the phone is completely locked up it will work. I used matts utility to root. It's painless, one button and it is fully automated. As for flashing roms that's where it becomes a little more difficult, but with safe strap as long as you enable system safe then you are fine if you screw up because it basically installs the rom onto a different partition so you are not messing with any system files.
 
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Volume down + power for 15 seconds is the same as a battery pull. Even if the phone is completely locked up it will work. I used matts utility to root. It's painless, one button and it is fully automated. As for flashing roms that's where it becomes a little more difficult, but with safe strap as long as you enable system safe then you are fine if you screw up because it basically installs the rom onto a different partition so you are not messing with any system files.

Thanks, do me a favor and shoot me a PM (or here) with the details on the one click method. I am happy with ICS, would just like to have root for TIBU and to dump ads.

I think my days of overclocking and undervolting custom ROMS are over!

Thanks :smokingsomb:
 
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I'd consider rooting worth it just to be able to use TiBU.

+1 . Rooting is easy so I figured I'd just do it because it was doable. Now titanium is usable and also SQLite editor which enables the hotspot hack. Other adjustments as well that would not be possible otherwise. Was worth it to me. Happily rooted in Oregon.
 
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