Root ZTE ZMAX Pro (Z981) root discussion

[White Pimp]

The reboot disemmcwp command doesn't affect your ability to change the DPI.

IF the reboot disemmcwp command works (and that's a big IF) what it actually does is allow you to remount the system partition as read/write (r/w) instead of being read only (ro). This doesn't even come into play until you root the phone.

Changing the DPI via adb commands modifies a file that is generated on the userdata partition (the partition where all your downloaded apps and your internal storage are located) and doesn't require root or system rw.

When rooting the ZMAX that I had, I had to use this command in order for Kingroot to achieve root itself.

 

[White Pimp]

When rooting the ZMAX that I had, I had to use this command in order for Kingroot to achieve root itself.

This is the original post from Hroark13 that I followed:

This was found by me, I can not believe it was this easy
To turn off nand / system write protection on the ZTE ZMAX and maybe other phones

WORKS ON
ZTE ZMAX 2 (unlocked (LEO) Z955a)
ZTE ZMAX
ZTE CONCORD 2
ZTE Grand x3
ZTE Grand S Pro n9835
ZTE Prestige N9132
ZTE Grand X Max + on Cricket Wireless
ZTE Zinger

DOES NOT WORK ON
ZTE WHIRL 1
ZTE WHIRL 2
ZTE ZMAX 2 (Z958 (LOL) ATT GO)
ZTE Warp Elite
ZTE Max+ n9521

You should use this before you use your rooting utility, like Kingo Root

run this command in adb shell or terminal

reboot disemmcwp


to re-enable write protection issue this command

reboot emmcwpenab

 

[Masterchief87]

Yes I know.
Also, just because Kingroot didn't work the first time you used it doesn't mean that you needed to use the reboot disemmcwp command before it would work. When we first became able to root the zmax you would have to sometimes run kingroot dozens of times before it would work.

 

[anubis2048]

So, doing this would allow KingRoot to root the phone? Or just take a step forward to help rooting it?
Meh, good enough for me, I will try to root that way. I will post results if it ends up working for me.
****
UPDATE
****
Didn't work. 771 people requested research though.
Also, did you guys notice you can unlock the bootloader in the developers menu? I don't know if that would help any of you at all, but you can.

 

[Masterchief87]

So, doing this would allow KingRoot to root the phone? Or just take a step forward to help rooting it?
Meh, good enough for me, I will try to root that way. I will post results if it ends up working for me.

Kingroot isn't even attempting to root the zmax pro right now. I just tried less than an hour ago and it said root strategy unavailable.

 

[JayBondzeWell]

I find this phone interesting. It has a root folder that specifically tells you that it cannot be accessed until the phone is rooted. I used root explorer and saw the folder. Any testers needed. I'm available for it seems the method we might have to try will be similar to getting Samsung Galaxy s5 on 5.1.1 rooted.

 

[White Pimp]

MasterChief, what is your experience with Kingroot and the number of requests they typically need before working on root for a device? Or is that just a gimmick on their part?

 

[Masterchief87]

MasterChief, what is your experience with Kingroot and the number of requests they typically need before working on root for a device? Or is that just a gimmick on their part?

I don't really know. They seem to already have made at least one attempt to find a root exploit. When I first got the phone it would try to root until 30 or 40 different people tried and failed. For a while it wouldn't even try, then after a couple hundred requests it started letting you try to root again which was probably them testing a different exploit. Now after that one didn't work it once again isn't even letting you try. Honestly there is no way to know how much work they will put into rooting this phone.

 

[White Pimp]

I don't really know. They seem to already have made at least one attempt to find a root exploit. When I first got the phone it would try to root until 30 or 40 different people tried and failed. For a while it wouldn't even try, then after a couple hundred requests it started letting you try to root again which was probably them testing a different exploit. Now after that one didn't work it once again isn't even letting you try. Honestly there is no way to know how much work they will put into rooting this phone.

Yeah. I expect this to be the go to phone for new MetroPCS customers, and it enticed me into the upgrade. It really IS an impressive device for $99. I suspect we'll see the requests go up significantly over time. Hopefully, it will spur the Kingroot devs into overdrive ;-)

 

[Khemul]

Also, did you guys notice you can unlock the bootloader in the developers menu? I don't know if that would help any of you at all, but you can.

That doesnt unlock the bootloader. Its Google's way of covering their butt if you do something wrong. All that clicking it does is acknowledge that you know the risks and are willing to allow whatever method the manufacturer uses to unlock the bootloader.

 

[Djoec3683]

 

[Djoec3683]

I keep getting a notification from KingRoot when I tap on it it brings me to this.

 

[Djoec3683]

 

[Djoec3683]

And I can click on anything and it seems to work but if you try to uninstall something for example it will tell you to repair root.

 

[Masterchief87]

That doesnt unlock the bootloader. Its Google's way of covering their butt if you do something wrong. All that clicking it does is acknowledge that you know the risks and are willing to allow whatever method the manufacturer uses to unlock the bootloader.

Actually sometimes that is exactly what it does. It all depends on the device.

 

[Khemul]

True, although Id argue any device that unlocks that easily was never truly locked.

My point is that that is an Android menu. It is a generic acknowledgement that you are willing to allow your device to be unlocked. It doesnt actually unlock anything itself, it justs allows the phone to be unlocked. Its up to the OEM to then set the unlock procedure. It can be as easily as there is no procedure, or a long detailed process.

 

[Elix9000]

True, although Id argue any device that unlocks that easily was never truly locked.

My point is that that is an Android menu. It is a generic acknowledgement that you are willing to allow your device to be unlocked. It doesnt actually unlock anything itself, it justs allows the phone to be unlocked. Its up to the OEM to then set the unlock procedure. It can be as easily as there is no procedure, or a long detailed process.

I hope zte begins to take the Motorola route and they give you the code to unlock the bootloader. Thats what I missed after my moto e (2nd gen) broke

 

[Djoec3683]

I hope zte begins to take the Motorola route and they give you the code to unlock the bootloader. Thats what I missed after my moto e (2nd gen) broke

We don't even know that this device's bootloader is locked at all, I'd say chances are that it's not.

 

[Elix9000]

We don't even know that this device's bootloader is locked at all, I'd say chances are that it's not.

My mistake, well we know it has either system write protection or bootloader. I need to get a replacement anyway

 

[anubis2048]

I agree with what White Pimp said earlier, this IS the goto phone for MetroPCS customers, other phones around the same price just can't compete with what ZTE offers.

And honestly, I like the idea of KingRoot taking a stab at finding an exploit for the phone, but at the same time, once they root the phone and I can get custom bootloader, I'm going to install the standard supersu binaries, KingRoot is known for incompatibilities and other quirks. But that's for another topic. Over 800 people have requested now, that should be enough...

 

[Djoec3683]

Hopefully we can get those KingRoot requests over 2000 people.

 

[5318008]

I agree with what White Pimp said earlier, this IS the goto phone for MetroPCS customers, other phones around the same price just can't compete with what ZTE offers.

And honestly, I like the idea of KingRoot taking a stab at finding an exploit for the phone, but at the same time, once they root the phone and I can get custom bootloader, I'm going to install the standard supersu binaries, KingRoot is known for incompatibilities and other quirks. But that's for another topic. Over 800 people have requested now, that should be enough...

If we can ever gain root with KingRoot, there's always the possibility that something like this KingRoot to SU script might work to switch over to the normal SU and get rid of KingRoot.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/replace-kingroot-supersu-t3339950

 

[arkansawdave74]

Maybe if we had root we could be sure

That's true. On the Zmax, on the most recent metro build I had to grant Terminal root for the command to work. Worked on the customs normal, though.

 

[arkansawdave74]

Just came to see how it's going. I don't usually buy a phone until after its rooted. I was thinking of getting a 1+1 next week, but I'm tempted to wait. I sure like the Zmax Pro.

 

[NotSoBrown]

So like some other phones this has OEM unlocking which is nice. I would like to know how you request research on the zmax pro on kingoroot (PC app) it just has restart and root for buttons never request research