Root [How-To] Return the Awe Back to Stock

[tli]

Since there have been several inquiries about reverting the phone back to stock, I'm posting the info, that I'd posted elsewhere, in its own thread here. Flashing this 'update.zip' file, directly from ZTE, will return the phone to completely stock condition (i.e., bootloader, recovery, data, system, etc.) like it was new out-of-the-box from the store. Even if one doesn't need to return to stock now, it's recommended to download and save a backup copy of this 'update.zip' file just in case for future uses--if ever need to return the phone back to stock.

Stock ROM Download (version N800V1.0.0B04) -

http://www.zteusa.com/media/wysiwyg/virgin-awe/update.zip

MD5: 8476a1db42effd4a1b82108e7f826491

Flashing Instructions -

http://www.zteusa.com/media/wysiwyg...grade_Instructions_English_-_PDF_-_264KB_.pdf

The instructions are applicable if the phone is rooted or not, and has the stock or CWM recovery. For a 'cleaner' and more reliable flash, it's best practice to 'wipe data/factory reset' via the recovery before flashing the 'update.zip' file.

FYI...

[Edit]

Flashing with the current version of CWM v6.0.3.7 will failed with the following response:

-- Installing: /sdcard/update.zip
Finding update package...
Opening update package...
Installing update...
assert failed: getprop("ro.product.name") == "zte_nex"
E:Error in /sdcard/update.zip
(Status 7)
Installation aborted.

Therefore, flashing of the 'update.zip' file can only be done currently via the stock recovery. The stock recovery, 'recovery.img' file, can be easily extracted from the downloaded 'update.zip' file--extract just that one file, and leave the downloaded 'update.zip' file intact and unmodified. Then just temporarily boot into this stock recovery file via fastboot:


1) Enable 'USB debugging' on the phone by:

[Menu] > System settings > Developer options > Switch [ON] 'Developer options' > OK > Select/Check 'USB debugging' > OK

2) Connect the phone to a PC with ADB and Fastboot via the USB interface

3) Type the following via the Command Prompt on the PC:

adb devices

Ensure that phone is recognized properly.

adb reboot-bootloader

Phone's screen will become blank/black.

fastboot devices

Ensure that phone is recognized properly.

fastboot boot recovery.img

Note that you may need to include and type out the full path of where 'recovery.img' is located on the PC. Phone should boot to the stock recovery.

4) Perform 'wipe data/factory reset' from the stock recovery

5) Now can proceed as directed in accordance with the ZTE flashing instructions...

[/Edit]

 

[El Presidente]

Added to the root sticky, thanks!

 

[Bstressfree]

Please clarify for me. Does "like new, out of the box" mean that the phone will have to be activated again?
Or will it retain its original IMEI and just be "sensed" by the network?

 

[tli]

Please clarify for me. Does "like new, out of the box" mean that the phone will have to be activated again?
Or will it retain its original IMEI and just be "sensed" by the network?

I don't really know since I haven't activated my phone yet... With a nandroid backup, you can try and let us know. I've been able to flash back and forth between nandroid backups and stock without any issues.

 

[junkie2100]

the update could easily bw fixed for cwm...

 

[rbheromax]

yea take out the first two lines of the updater-script dealing with assert

 

[dragonhart6505]

Please clarify for me. Does "like new, out of the box" mean that the phone will have to be activated again?
Or will it retain its original IMEI and just be "sensed" by the network?

The latter. Itll reactivate, update profile/prl and check for firmware updates then redpwnload the virgin crap and the enhancement update

 

[taesamo]

Hello kinda new at Android. so if I root with cydia impactor can I recover with this and where do you type the codes into.sorry for dumb questions

 

[A android B]

yea take out the first two lines of the updater-script dealing with assert

Should I use an app in the phone or Ubuntu gedit?

 

[edodson84]

i posted a zip http://androidforums.com/awe-all-things-root/828844-tutorial-revert-stock-cwm-recovery.html

 

[Briankd]

I'm trying to root and put a nice ROM on my mothers Awe. I got mine during the summer and folks here helped me through it. I was hoping to replicate it but can't do so with the BO7 update that came on it. She returned her Awe due to crazy issues and unfortunately, her replacement had the update. SuperRom or something like that doesn't work nor does the Chinese Mulai root program. I realize that I could get it done thru the CPU likely but I had issues doing mine with the CPU and led me to seeking help because I thought I had bricked my phone. Being that this is my mothers Awe, I was hoping to avoid the CPU route on hers.

With that said, am I understanding correctly that this update.zip can be flashed with stock recovery? No root, cwm, super su, twrp, or anything else? If I am understanding correctly, my thinking is that I could do that and then simply root and all just as I did with my own Awe since my mothers would be back to BO4. I've never really did anything with the stock recovery and I really don't know a whole lot on the whole "stock" concept outside of stock Google apps. I know her phone is stock and non rooted thus she only has the stock recovery but I do flash between roms quite a bit on my own Awe so I know how to backup, wipe, install, and such.

With that said, major thanks again to those knowledgeable folks who help on this forum and to the developers of all these great ROMs. My Awe is just a cheap, easily replaceable prepaid phone minus this great community and its developers.

 

[tli]

... am I understanding correctly that this update.zip can be flashed with stock recovery? No root, cwm, super su, twrp, or anything else? ...

You understood correctly, the update.zip should be able to be flashed with its stock recovery. However, I haven't personally tried rolling back to B04 with/from B07.

No mod/change whatsoever since this file is the stock OEM ROM that you would download directly from ZTE.

 

[Briankd]

Thanks. I'll give it a try today sometime and Ill be back to let everyone know how it went. There are others out there that I'm sure are stuck in the same spot and if it works, I would think plenty others that would like to know.

Edit: Did it Wednesday morning and it went off without a hitch. I used Rashr to load TWRP and installed Lawe 2.5. I know that's stable because I used it for a while before going to CandyCat. Im contemplating switching back due to music players not working and memory shortage. I don't understand why either are happening but I lean towards it being my problem rather than the ROMs.

 

[devilschild26]

Thanks. I'll give it a try today sometime and Ill be back to let everyone know how it went. There are others out there that I'm sure are stuck in the same spot and if it works, I would think plenty others that would like to know.

Edit: Did it Wednesday morning and it went off without a hitch. I used Rashr to load TWRP and installed Lawe 2.5. I know that's stable because I used it for a while before going to CandyCat. Im contemplating switching back due to music players not working and memory shortage. I don't understand why either are happening but I lean towards it being my problem rather than the ROMs.

That's great news you flashed the whole ROM using stock recovery

 

[Briankd]

Wow...sure did. I checked to be sure and no doubt, no root access. I've got TWRP and from the little bit I just tried using her phone, it appeared to be working fine. I guess that I need to figure out how to get it rooted. I've got a couple programs to do it and truly thought I had got root access. The only thing I can think is that when I couldn't root because of bo7, I flashed bo1 and forgot to root afterwards and went straight to using Rashr and all. Silly me. I suppose that's how it happened. I don't remember it all but could've swore I did root and would've bet my paycheck on it. I've been smoking too much.

 

[devilschild26]

Deleted

 

[devilschild26]

http://download.chainfire.eu/382/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.93.zip?retrieve_file=1 here's the zip briank

 

[tli]

I rooted Bo4 with Cydia Impactor last year:

http://www.cydiaimpactor.com/

Get the latest SuperSU (currently v2.40) at:

http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu

 

[Briankd]

So I was going to try Cydia but forgot it needed a CPU so I ended up just using the "Mulai Root" that I used a while back on my own Awe. Root checker indicated that it worked fine so I believe all is now well. I'd like to thank Devilschild and Tla for the assistance.

Now that I've got her phone setup well, I need to figure out what to do with my Awe. I really liked the Tesla ROM but for some reason, the battery drained like no other with it. After reading a bit, I may have just needed to do a calibration. I'm using SlimKat at the moment and did a calibration. That seemed to improve the battery from where it was but it still doesn't seem right. I think I might try that today.

 

[roadkill42]

So I was going to try Cydia but forgot it needed a CPU so I ended up just using the "Mulai Root" that I used a while back on my own Awe. Root checker indicated that it worked fine so I believe all is now well. I'd like to thank Devilschild and Tla for the assistance.

Now that I've got her phone setup well, I need to figure out what to do with my Awe. I really liked the Tesla ROM but for some reason, the battery drained like no other with it. After reading a bit, I may have just needed to do a calibration. I'm using SlimKat at the moment and did a calibration. That seemed to improve the battery from where it was but it still doesn't seem right. I think I might try that today.

try candy kat

 

[dragonhart6505]

So I was going to try Cydia but forgot it needed a CPU so I ended up just using the "Mulai Root" that I used a while back on my own Awe. Root checker indicated that it worked fine so I believe all is now well. I'd like to thank Devilschild and Tla for the assistance.

Now that I've got her phone setup well, I need to figure out what to do with my Awe. I really liked the Tesla ROM but for some reason, the battery drained like no other with it. After reading a bit, I may have just needed to do a calibration. I'm using SlimKat at the moment and did a calibration. That seemed to improve the battery from where it was but it still doesn't seem right. I think I might try that today.

"Calibrating" your battery is entirely placebo. Its an old myth. The only thing your doing is refreshing the battery stats within your rom to more accurately monitor battery usage. There is no such thing as calibrating a battery.
I would suggest CM11. Its the most up to date and the kernel included is fantastic for battery life. I'm in the process of writing up a thread that will also point to some very handy tricks and tips for battery life and performance also. Its like 3 pages long right now and I hope to have it posted around Christmas/New Years