Root [Virgin Mobile/Sprint] VM Optimus F3 root - LG720ZV6 Update

[bkttk2]

**As with any guidance provided you assume all risk using the information. You always run the risk of bricking your phone. All information provided by myself and the below forum members is given as guidance only.**


Like many I was stuck in a soft-brick after accidentally accepting the LG720ZV6 update on my rooted device.

I had to follow the VM unbrick method to obtain a workable phone.


http://androidforums.com/virgin-mobile-optimus-f3-all-things-root/779320-unbrick-vm-sprint-f3.html

I was having issues getting into download mode, but thankfully Sinner67 provided this valuable information.

"What you have to do is make sure the drivers are installed, plug the usb cable into the laptop, press on the volume up and volume down buttons and plug the usb cable into your phone. Do not use the power button."

The guidance worked perfectly and allowed me to follow the unbrick method without issues.


I then forced the update.


Force OTA update

If you want to force the update go to application manager>all>google service frameworks>clear data>force stop and then check for updates again, and it should (should) push the update.



Once phone was on LG720ZV6 I followed the information from duper1 outlined in the following link with no issues.

http://androidforums.com/metropcs-t...ot/812520-guide-howto-root-lg-optimus-f3.html

Alternate information, specific for the VM phones, from mcdojf

http://optimus-f3.wikispaces.com/root

Here is a link to saferoot on xda site.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2565758

Here is a link to saferoot apk:
http://androidforums.com/virgin-mob...849916-app-root-saferoot-app.html#post6582609

 

[nyktovus]

Where did you get the saferoot.zip? its missing..

 

[bkttk2]

Where did you get the saferoot.zip? its missing..

Updated links. Thanks

 

[jmpiv4]

Does the update hose CWM?

 

[bkttk2]

Does the update hose CWM?

Not sure. After my softbrick i rerooted as per OP. I used the 2nd int to get into CWM recovery. Did not push the CWM recovery.

Results may very. Use guidance at own risk.

2nd init link
http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=6120072

CWM link (not currently reliable with V6)
http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?p=6175357

 

[eightem]

i followed the saferoot guide ... first time i ran saferoot it gave me an error but i still obtained root. after a reboot i reran saferoot no errors the 2nd time & i still have root. Brand new F3 with OTA update

 

[tph88]

I just tried this and found I had to modify the .bat file a bit to get it to work correctly. (I am using XP, maybe that is the difference?)

It was just hanging after the first 'press any key...' so I added aother echo after the pause on line 23 (I added: echo | set /p dummy=" ... " ) to see if it was actually moving on, after I added that it continued just fine, but...

There was an erorr on line 25 saying it didn't recognize the command @set pstate=%%a so I took out the @ and then it ran just fine.

So line 25 now looks like:
for /f "delims=" %%a in ('files\adb get-state ^| findstr /v "foobar"') do set pstate=%%a

I installed Titanium backup and now all works great.

Thanks a lot!

 

[manymarius73]

So did you start from a rooted ROM, or stock?

 

[millar43068]

worked for me

--- Samsung Galaxy S4 Android 4.3 Root ---
--- Based on the CVE-2013-6282 exploit by cubeundcube ---

[*] Testing adb usability

Plug in your phone and Press any key to continue . . .

[*] Waiting for your phone to appear
[*] Your phone is detected and ready for rooting.

[*] Sending files to your device...

[*] Starting rooting program.
ro.build.product=fx3
ro.build.id=JZO54K
search kallsyms...
1 2 3 4
(kallsyms_addresses=c08974e0)
(kallsyms_num_syms=00015a49)
kernel dump...
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9

prepare_kernel_cred=c009fa88
commit_creds=c009f5ac
ptmx_fops=c0f3d1d8
ptmx_open=c030f070
tty_init_dev=c0307494
tty_release=c0307618
tty_fasync=c0306554
ptm_driver=00000000

Succeeded in getroot!
Remount success!
Copying files..
Done.. reboot to enable root!

[*] Removing temporary files...

[*] Trying to disable Knox...

[*] Rebooting... Please wait.
[*] Waiting for device to re-appear...

Wait until your phone reboots,then unlock it and Press any key to continue . . .

On your phone, open SuperSU and let it update if it asks.
When SuperSU is done updating, Press any key to continue . . .
On your phone, watch for the SuperSU permission popup and give
permission for ADB Shell to gain root permissions.

[*] Disabling Knox
Killed
[*] Setting Permissions
rm failed for -f, No such file or directory
rm failed for -f, No such file or directory
[*] Installing busybox

--- All Finished ---
Press any key to continue . . .

 

[Avrgjoe]

Hey,

First off, I am a major NOOB to this stuff.

I got my F3 a few days ago, because my Optimus V has been dying a slow death. I had never rooted a phone before, however this peach obviously won't let you move apps to SD without (prob should have got the Samsung Victory??). So I had problems rooting, prob because it is V6, but finally got that done with Saferoot, was able to partition and move apps with Link2SD.

Now I need expert advice. First, how do I back this puppy up in case something happens? Next, how do I get rid of all the bloat? Should I get a custom ROM? And Finally What else should I do that I have not even thought about to get the most use out of the phone (I am primarily just a common user - Nuthin fancy).

You sage advice and assistance is GREATLY appreciated!!

Joe

 

[portezbie]

Hey,

First off, I am a major NOOB to this stuff.

I got my F3 a few days ago, because my Optimus V has been dying a slow death. I had never rooted a phone before, however this peach obviously won't let you move apps to SD without (prob should have got the Samsung Victory??). So I had problems rooting, prob because it is V6, but finally got that done with Saferoot, was able to partition and move apps with Link2SD.

Now I need expert advice. First, how do I back this puppy up in case something happens? Next, how do I get rid of all the bloat? Should I get a custom ROM? And Finally What else should I do that I have not even thought about to get the most use out of the phone (I am primarily just a common user - Nuthin fancy).

You sage advice and assistance is GREATLY appreciated!!

Joe

Get titanium backup from the app store. That will allow you to back up all your apps. Just make sure you set it's save location to the sd card not the internal memory. Titanium backup will also let you freeze/remove apps that you no longer want.

There are no custom roms for this phone as far as I'm aware.

Another way to backup would be to get a custom recovery like twrp, but from what I understand, it's not very safe for our phone currently.

Other things to check out: Root apps like adaway, greenify and wakelock detector. Also check out xposed which can allow you to do some neat stuff like change the interface, make pandora better and other stuff. I personally don't have a need for it with this phone, but it's worth checking out.

 

[Avrgjoe]

That really helped, however using Titanium raised another question. In the Titanium documentation it said that the CWM back-up includes the ROM itself, whereas Titanium does not, so do I need to use CWM in case my phone bricks? Is CWM OK to use with V6? I just want to make sure I am covered in case of the worst. Thanks!

 

[HaTrEd360]

Cwm apparently doesn't work on v6.

 

[Zaphod234]

Hi: I'm posting here because, after searching various Android forums, this thread has seemed most on point. I just got my Virgin Mobile Optimus F3 a couple of weeks ago, and updated with LS720ZV6 ("V6") without realizing that it might make rooting more difficult. Here is my understanding as of today: rooting the F3 with Motochopper will not work, or will be very iffy, after you have installed the LS720ZV6 update. The best alternative seems to be Saferoot. But, while it seems promising, and seems to have worked for some, I still have a few questions.
1. The "[GUIDE] Howto Root LG Optimus F3" takes you to the T-Mobile F3 rooting thread. One Virgin Mobile person there who bricked his phone was told in no uncertain terms (at the bottom of the thread) that the thread applied to T-Mobile, not to Virgin Mobile. Should I be concerned about using a rooting method designed for a different carrier? (The other main rooting instruction thread -- [ROOT] Saferoot: Root for VRUEMJ7, MK2, and Android 4.3 - xda-developers -- is not specific to the F3.)
2. As a Windows 7 user, will I have to play with the .bat file, as the Windows XP user had to (above, in this thread)?
3. Someone on this thread asked whether there was a way to back up their data, and Portezbie nicely recommended Titanium Backup. It looks as if Titanium Backup is for use after rooting. Is there a way to backup and restore my entire phone before rooting, just in case?

I should add that I'm an Android rooting noob, so apologies for any part of this query the answers to which are self-evident.

 

[bkttk2]

Hi: I'm posting here because, after searching various Android forums, this thread has seemed most on point. I just got my Virgin Mobile Optimus F3 a couple of weeks ago, and updated with LS720ZV6 ("V6") without realizing that it might make rooting more difficult. Here is my understanding as of today: rooting the F3 with Motochopper will not work, or will be very iffy, after you have installed the LS720ZV6 update. The best alternative seems to be Saferoot. But, while it seems promising, and seems to have worked for some, I still have a few questions.
1. The "[GUIDE] Howto Root LG Optimus F3" takes you to the T-Mobile F3 rooting thread. One Virgin Mobile person there who bricked his phone was told in no uncertain terms (at the bottom of the thread) that the thread applied to T-Mobile, not to Virgin Mobile. Should I be concerned about using a rooting method designed for a different carrier? (The other main rooting instruction thread -- [ROOT] Saferoot: Root for VRUEMJ7, MK2, and Android 4.3 - xda-developers -- is not specific to the F3.)
2. As a Windows 7 user, will I have to play with the .bat file, as the Windows XP user had to (above, in this thread)?
3. Someone on this thread asked whether there was a way to back up their data, and Portezbie nicely recommended Titanium Backup. It looks as if Titanium Backup is for use after rooting. Is there a way to backup and restore my entire phone before rooting, just in case?

I should add that I'm an Android rooting noob, so apologies for any part of this query the answers to which are self-evident.

Don't apologize for being a noob. Everyone is at some point. I will do my best to help.

As you are already aware the android community is not responsible for any damage that your device may experience as the choice to root is yours to make.

You are already ahead of the curve as you are trying to learn as much as you can before proceeding.

To answer your questions.
1. For the V6 version of the F3 saferoot seems to work best.
2. The info in the OP worked for me. Ensure you follow the guidance in order and the process should be straight forward.
3. You are correct with regards to bricking your phone. There is always the risk when rooting. Just be sure to follow all steps exactly and ensure you are moving or copying files that others have indicated work on your device. As you browse the forms you will notice many devices are bricked by the user selecting the wrong file for their device.
4. If you are not rooted there is not much you can backup. Most nonroot backup apps just backup user data which is usually already in your Google account.

Hope I addressed some of your concerns.

Let me know if you need more information.

 

[Zaphod234]

Just confirming that the root worked. I've been using it for a few days now with no problems. I will say that I had a few minor installation issues:
1. I had to try a few times to root; I got hung up a few times at the beginning of the process before finally completing.
2. I don't know whether it was accidental, but the process finally completed when I toggled from "Media Sync (MTP)" to "Charge Only." I have no idea why this happened, since every instruction site says that you must be on "Media Sync."

I do have one helpful site to contribute: LG Optimus F3: Move Apps to SD Card. You have to ignore the instructions in step 1 to use Motochopper (obviously using Saferoot instead). After that, the instructions for moving apps to an external card worked perfectly, and are very easy for a noob to understand.

Again: thanks for the sensible advice.

 

[InsanitySix]

Okay.. as for *rooting* Android devices I'm a Noob as well. Never got the guts up to do it on expensive devices and when they were old enough that I didn't care.. I didn't care. I have done my share with Linux and a little less with app dev on Android.. unfortunately for a day job I do MS and hardware design.. but I'm no slouch technically....

But I decided that to bite on the $78 F3 from Amazon (prime) since for 3/4 of my life now Sprint switched on 4G (not at home of course tho...) The Optimus V has been a PITA because of memory issues for some time and Google Updates alone have turned the thing into unusable.

So even though 1 Gb of user data is huge BY COMPARISON and I might even be able to live with it... I think rooting and Link2SD would make my life that much easier.

I managed to get a V5 phone. The question I have for you experts (because you bricked a phone and resurrected it, you are an expert) is the following.

Should I remain on V5 and Root/Link2SD and then get the app to disable the update notification? (I forget the name)
Should I take V6 and then root with Saferoot?
Will it hurt me at all to defer this decision a week or two with minimal apps running on the phone (probably I could live with Rainy Days, Facebook and Pandora for a couple of weeks).. and just ignore the obnoxious OTA update notifications every 15 mins? Will it make it a PITA to do next weekend (or the weekend after) if I do?

I've already GPARTED the 16 gb card I bought for it into 10 gb FAT32 and 4.81 (ish) gb of ext4.. for Link2SD, so I think I'm almost on the path of no return.

Also I assume saferoot will work with both V5 and v6?

Thanks..

The Crazy One

Oh, for #@$#@ sake, K-9 Mail (which I use exactly because it can store to external SD) ... thinks the "emulated external SD" is the correct/only external SD. I now completely get the criticisms of the phone... who would design something that way? .... so.. yup.. I think rooting is NECESSARY... This is screaming symlink...

 

[masterchief3k]

I followed the instructions and used saferoot, and it worked. I tried motochopper, and it didn't work. saferoot installed superSU, and it uninstalled superuser, i like superSU better anyway.

 

[Deleted User]

**As with any guidance provided you assume all risk using the information. You always run the risk of bricking your phone. All information provided by myself and the below forum members is given as guidance only.**


Like many I was stuck in a soft-brick after accidentally accepting the LG720ZV6 update on my rooted device.

I had to follow the VM unbrick method to obtain a workable phone.


http://androidforums.com/virgin-mobile-optimus-f3-all-things-root/779320-unbrick-vm-sprint-f3.html

I was having issues getting into download mode, but thankfully Sinner67 provided this valuable information.

"What you have to do is make sure the drivers are installed, plug the usb cable into the laptop, press on the volume up and volume down buttons and plug the usb cable into your phone. Do not use the power button."

The guidance worked perfectly and allowed me to follow the unbrick method without issues.


I then forced the update.


Force OTA update

If you want to force the update go to application manager>all>google service frameworks>clear data>force stop and then check for updates again, and it should (should) push the update.



Once phone was on LG720ZV6 I followed the information from duper1 outlined in the following link with no issues.

http://androidforums.com/metropcs-t...ot/812520-guide-howto-root-lg-optimus-f3.html

Here is a link to saferoot on xda site.

[ROOT] Saferoot: Root for VRUEMJ7, MK2, and Android 4.3 - xda-developers

Are you having any problems with the rooting you did using duper1's method for the MetroPCS/T-Mobile F3's? Comments there indicate it results in bricking.

 

[Deleted User]

I followed the instructions and used saferoot, and it worked. I tried motochopper, and it didn't work. saferoot installed superSU, and it uninstalled superuser, i like superSU better anyway.

Is your phone stable with the saferoot installation? Some comments elsewhere indicate it stops working and bricks the phone.

 

[portezbie]

I'm a little confused by all of this. My phone is currently rooted with motochopper and not updated, but I would like to update it. Should I unroot first and then update and then saferoot? How do I go about updating without bricking my phone?

 

[portezbie]

So I flashed my phone with a fresh rom following the instructions given and the update fails every time I try and install it?

Anyone have any ideas why?

EDIT: tried it again and updated as quickly as possible and it worked! Finally.

 

[Madshady]

Bought the LG Optimus F3 today. It came with v6 update all rdy on it.

Following the guide I was able to root it without problems. Used apart to setup the SD card and installed link2sd.

Thanks, now I don't have to worry about space to install apps.

 

[mcdojf]

I found the rooting process on the Optimus F3 with LS720ZV6 to be a bit different than the guide provided by duper1.

Put together a guide with all of the necessary files and the steps that worked for me here:
http://f3.mcdonnelltech.com/

Hope this helps.

Edit: Updated link to the guide which now uses LS720ZV7

 

[unclevername]

I found the rooting process on the Optimus F3 with LS720ZV6 to be a bit different than the guide provided by duper1.

Put together a guide with all of the necessary files and the steps that worked for me here:
http://optimus-f3.wikispaces.com/root

Hope this helps.

Confirmed, this works on VM Optimus F3 Version 6.