[Verizon] (VZW) Rooting 4.0.4

[byrds8]

Is this version able to be rooted yet? Also, do you have to unlock the bootloader to root? If I root the phone and got TB will it back up all my app data where I dont loose game data and what not as well as settings on the phone etc?

 

[concreteguy]

There are about 478 answers to your question here (Verizon) Galaxy Nexus - All Things Root - Android Forums

 

[byrds8]

Except for I looked through there and never saw a thread saying a way to root 4.0.4 after it was installed. Ive seen plenty of threads giving ways on how to keep root prior to. Had I seen a thread saying here is a way after the "official" one was installed I wouldn't have asked.

 

[ryancmatchett]

Good morning byrds...
4.0.4 is the version of Android on the phone, not the determination of the device to be rooted. The VZW nexus, also knows as Toro, can be rooted regardless of the version of Android on it.

The rooting answers that you would see on that link above are specific to the VZW Nexus. Whether you are on 4.0.2 or .4 its still the same phone. Most of us rooted our device before we got the 4.0.4 update. One disadvantage to rooting is that you can lose the data on your phone in the process, so that is a concern for lots of people, and that's why most of us rooted prior to installing anything and when we first got our phone.
Titanium backup will back up your games, etc, but only after you have rooted. Meaning that you will lose the progress you have made, prior to rooting.
Also, after we have rooted our phones, most of us will put a custom ROM on our phone. Those ROMs are based on 4.0.4, but are customizable, and do NOT include all of the bloatware that came with the phone by VZW or Sammy. Even if you don't put a ROM on the phone, by unlocking and rooting your device, you can stay on 4.0.4 and just have the ability to remove that bloatware, but you will lose all game data.
My suggestion is read and read and read....that link above is a great place to start, and might help you decide if rooting (and losing your games etc) is worth the effort and time for you!! Good luck!

 

[byrds8]

Ok thanks, I thought when the version changed the ability to root for a while was lost due to them changing things and the exploits used to root was lost. Also, I though you didn't loose data upon rooting? I thought that only happened when you unlocked the bootloader.

 

[ryancmatchett]

I guess I misunderstood...
If you just want to root, then you are correct that you should not lose anything, and correct that there does not currently appear to be a quick method of rooting once you have installed the 4.0.4 update. I would keep your eye on the below thread, or pm the OP to ask, or check xda for an updated script for the 4.0.4 root.
http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-all-things-root/499117-galaxy-nexus-root-un-root-without-unlocking-bootloader.html

I will take a look at xda for an update for the quick root method today....
Edit: have not seen an update yet, but emailed the dev....

However, if you want to do any other install of a ROM etc, then you will have to unlock the boot loader. If you can wait for the updated one click root, that would be the best suggestion....then install TIBU and save your games, remove the bloatware etc....then you can safely unlock and move towards a ROM.
Thanks for clarifying your question, and again good luck!!

 

[Stigy]

In order to install a ROM you will need to unlock the bootloader. Doing so will completely wipe the device.

Are you currently rooted? Is your bootloader currently unlocked?

Just wondering what state your phone is in right now so we can offer some more help.

 

[scary alien]

Hey, Ryan gave me a quick heads-up about this thread.

Yeah, you'll need to save your root with sometime like OTA RootKeeper or my Android Root Toolkit app before you accept the 4.0.4 OTA if you want to be able to easily re-apply your root after accepting the OTA.

An OTA will break your root.

But OTA Root Keeper or my app will allow you to restore it.

If you don't do this, then you'll have to flash the newer su.zip file (su.zip that works for 4.0.4) from ClockworkMod custom recovery.

If you hadn't unlocked your bootloader and you've accepted the 4.0.4 OTA, you'll have to unlock it and root the "regular" ways (various ways already referenced in the rooting guides).

Cheers!

edit: also, unfortunately, the Linux kernel exploit that allowed you to root 4.0.2 without unlocking the bootloader has been closed for 4.0.4 (so, you cannot utilize that method for rooting your 4.0.4 device).

 

[byrds8]

The current state of the device is locked and un-rooted. Hopefully they will come up with something to root 4.0.4 without unlocking the bootloader. Im really not interested in custom roms so much but would like Titanium Backup so I could save my stuff if I had to wipe the phone. For instance if this version of 4.0.4 isnt the final release and I had to fix everything to get the new update lol. Ive tried a couple of other programs that say it backs up app data without being rooted but none has worked yet.

Thanks for all your help.

 

[Stigy]

The current state of the device is locked and un-rooted. Hopefully they will come up with something to root 4.0.4 without unlocking the bootloader. Im really not interested in custom roms so much but would like Titanium Backup so I could save my stuff if I had to wipe the phone. For instance if this version of 4.0.4 isnt the final release and I had to fix everything to get the new update lol. Ive tried a couple of other programs that say it backs up app data without being rooted but none has worked yet.

Thanks for all your help.

If I come across anything I will post back here.

First thing I did when I got the phone was unlock bootloader so I didn't run into a situation where I wanted to back things up but had to wipe to do so.

Have you tried this? https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.rerware.android.MyBackupPro&hl=en

 

[scary alien]

The current state of the device is locked and un-rooted. Hopefully they will come up with something to root 4.0.4 without unlocking the bootloader. Im really not interested in custom roms so much but would like Titanium Backup so I could save my stuff if I had to wipe the phone. For instance if this version of 4.0.4 isnt the final release and I had to fix everything to get the new update lol. Ive tried a couple of other programs that say it backs up app data without being rooted but none has worked yet.

Thanks for all your help.

byrds8,

Yeah, the Linux kernel exploit that allowed 4.0.1 / 4.0.2 to be rooted was pretty rare and unusual event. It was known about for a long time and some very smart and enterprising folks realized that the kernel exploit could be applied to certain Ice Cream Sandwich versions.

The exploit was quickly patched since it allow root access to virtually all Linux systems (i.e., not just Android) where the exploit was not yet patched or a certain set of C compilers was used to build the kernel.

There's undoubtedly efforts being made to natively root ICS for other devices, but probably not for the Galaxy Nexus because of the ability to unlock the bootloader. Hopefully, those other rooting efforts will come to fruition.

Cheers!

 

[byrds8]

Honestly didn't think about it at the time. I actually thought I would get updates fast enough where I wouldn't want to root and do it myself rofl.

I looked at that app you linked Stigy and it wont back up app data unless youre rooted. But thanks for the link.

Scary, how did people root devices without unlocking prior to 4.0? You didnt have to unlock then to root. Guess I dont understand why its different now from then.

 

[scary alien]

Scary, how did people root devices without unlocking prior to 4.0? You didnt have to unlock then to root. Guess I dont understand why its different now from then.

You mean for versions of Android prior to 4.x?

Lots and lots of different rooting methods, many of which were very device and Android O/S version-specific. There are so many different ways, I'm not sure anyone could ever list them all.

Gaining root access is a constant battle between the end-users and the carriers, manufacturers, and Linux folks. They all want to present as safe and secure environment as possible for the end-user and so many root exploits are patched as quickly as they are become known.

That's not to say that there's not good, valid reasons to have root access--but the carriers and manufacturers aren't going to make it easy for us .

 

[Stigy]

It seems that the way to root without unlocking the bootloader doesn't work on 4.0.4 currently - this is the XDA thread for that method: [HOW-TO] Root Galaxy Nexus without Unlocking Bootloader via exploit (for 4.0.1/4.0.2) - xda-developers

 

[scary alien]

It seems that the way to root without unlocking the bootloader doesn't work on 4.0.4 currently - this is the XDA thread for that method: [HOW-TO] Root Galaxy Nexus without Unlocking Bootloader via exploit (for 4.0.1/4.0.2) - xda-developers

LOL, you really meant to link to my thread here at AF, right Stigy?:

http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-all-things-root/499117-galaxy-nexus-root-un-root-without-unlocking-bootloader.html

which I published almost a full month before the XDA folks did .

 

[byrds8]

Well I guess one of three things will happen then. Either:

1) The current update will be the one pushed and I wont have to worry with it for a while

2) The update wont be the final and Ill have to wipe it all anyway and go back to 4.0.2 and start all over

or 3) someone will figure out how to root 4.0.4 without unlocking in which case I still wont have to worry lol.

Thanks for the help guys.

 

[Stigy]

LOL, you really meant to link to my thread here at AF, right Stigy?:

http://androidforums.com/verizon-galaxy-nexus-all-things-root/499117-galaxy-nexus-root-un-root-without-unlocking-bootloader.html

which I published almost a full month before the XDA folks did .

HAHA of course - honestly just had the GNex XDA section open. My badskies.

Well I guess one of three things will happen then. Either:

1) The current update will be the one pushed and I wont have to worry with it for a while

2) The update wont be the final and Ill have to wipe it all anyway and go back to 4.0.2 and start all over

or 3) someone will figure out how to root 4.0.4 without unlocking in which case I still wont have to worry lol.

Thanks for the help guys.

If you are looking for 4.0.4 you can just download and install it: Verizon Galaxy Nexus Android 4.0.4 IMM76K Update Available For Download

Or have you already applied it and looking to root it?

Sorry for the confusion.

 

[AndroidKris]

In order to install a ROM you will need to unlock the bootloader. Doing so will completely wipe the device.

Untrue. I'm the prime example. I rooted 4.0.2 with the method posted a few posts back and then dl'ed titanium backup, root explorer and rom manager from market. Installed recovery through rom manager. Removed the pesky "recovery-from-boot.p" file located in /system/ with root explorer. Backed up everything with titanium, booted recovery, backed up, flashed liquid 1.25. Never looked back. And my bootloader is still locked.

 

[Stigy]

Untrue. I'm the prime example. I rooted 4.0.2 with the method posted a few posts back and then dl'ed titanium backup, root explorer and rom manager from market. Installed recovery through rom manager. Removed the pesky "recovery-from-boot.p" file located in /system/ with root explorer. Backed up everything with titanium, booted recovery, backed up, flashed liquid 1.25. Never looked back. And my bootloader is still locked.

Well that is very, very interesting.

Thank you for proving me wrong - good info to know. I just was under the assumption the bootloader needed to be unlocked for ROMing. Just what I always understood.

Android developers always seem to out-do themselves and I guess I need to keep up with this more and more.

 

[byrds8]

I already have 4.0.4 installed. I used this site:

IMM76K Direct for Verizon Galaxy Nexus Manual OTA Instructions [UPDATED][New Working Link] StrifeJester's Rants

Worked well after I figured out what I was doing and doing wrong lol. You would think though since it was pushed to some devices we would still be able to take the next update even if that one wasnt released to all. Otherwise how are those that it was pushed to gonna update lol.

 

[ThrillKill]

If you root before updating to 4.0.4, you can then flash the stock rooted rom from xda giving you root access with 4.0.4

 

[diobando]

I did the same thing. I updated without rooting our unlocking, like if I had got the update OTA, now there is no way that I know to root.

 

[scary alien]

I did the same thing. I updated without rooting our unlocking, like if I had got the update OTA, now there is no way that I know to root.

diobando,

Welcome to the AndroidForums!

Well, you still have the option of unlocking the bootloader (will wipe your files), flashing or booting ClockworkMod custom recovery, and flashing the su.zip file to install root:

How to root

You could then re-lock your bootloader, too, if you didn't want to keep it unlocked.