Root 110% Fool Proof Root! (That Doesn't Exist Yet)

[RootDaDuck]

Now that I have your attention...

All we need is a file, to put on our MicroSD card, that forces god-knows-what-to-happen-behind-the-scene and BAM! ADB in recovery!

Of course, such a amazing file does not exist yet...

I'm getting extremely frustrated at this. I have tried literately everything out there:

• 4GB Kingston
• 2GB SanDisk (came with phone)
• 128MB Transflash
• 1GB Nokia
• 2GB PNY (the one from Walmart)

• Three different computers (Windows x86 and x64)
• HTC Sync Drivers, SDK Drivers, Modified drivers

• Bootloader
• Fastboot
• Click in and out repeatedly
• Different timings
• USB Cable in-and-out different times
• Closing my right eye, hoping on my left foot while singing Marry Poppins

As I previously stated, I tried virtually everything. If its on these forums or the XDA fourms, I tried it and it didnt work.

It all comes down to luck.


Alright, that's the end of my rant. If your one of the chosen ones that have succeeded, congrats, but if your like me, 98% of the population, than I feel your pain...

/endrant

 

[vacaloca]

Here's my take on it. Are there newer hardware revisions of this phone out already that have this issue fixed? On my original incredible and a replacement I received I could work root with the same microSD card and timings. On the new one that I just received, I cannot get it to work at all.

 

[nickzaw]

I got the same problem here. I also have the 2gb PNY from walmart and no luck not even close. Received my incredible the 25 of May...

 

[JETC]

It's timing. My Incredible is one of the first batches. I used stock cable, 2gb card that came with it, no resetting to factory settings plus with custom animation boot. I did the fastboot coupled with pressing the sd card on a certain time. I can't say my phone is any different from the rest and it still worked.

Anyway, it was a pain but when you get it, you get it. Just play around when to insert in the sd card.

 

[RootDaDuck]

I did and I did. I agree that it's very misleading.... Unfortunately, there is no rule against misleading thread titles.

OP - Would you be willing to change the title of your thread to something like "We need 110% foolproof...."

Alrite, I'll play. Thread title changed.

 

[Kelmar]

Alrite, I'll play. Thread title changed.

Awesome, thank you!!

See, that's all that was needed guys Keep playing nice!

 

[jasonb1985]

Awesome, thank you!!

See, that's all that was needed guys Keep playing nice!

will do!

 

[jasoraso]

try the SD card trick ... but do it methodically. USE a watch (or something) and time the installation of the SD card while going into recovery mode. Most people seem to be having success between 7-8 seconds, but if 7 seconds doesn't work, try 7.5, then 8, etc. try every 1/2 second between 1 and 12 ...

 

[jasonb1985]

when i rooted i tried waiting half a second (or what seemed like half a second to me) when sending the payload-update.zip to the phone. the last time i tried i waited a second instead of half a second and it worked. thats the only help i can offer.

i must have tried it 3 dozen times waiting half a second, and then only once tried a full second instead and it worked first try. i did have some trouble getting adb at first, but then it just decided to work.

 

[macdaddybuff]

a data class 6 16gb card works every time. I have not seen on example of it not working. Nothing worked for me until I got that card worked 1st time clicking in and out method.

 

[jasonb1985]

the stock 16 gig card from my old Moto Droid is what i used.

 

[kayst]

Did you try plugging into a usb hub instead of directly into the computer's usb port?

 

[RootDaDuck]

try the SD card trick ... but do it methodically. USE a watch (or something) and time the installation of the SD card while going into recovery mode. Most people seem to be having success between 7-8 seconds, but if 7 seconds doesn't work, try 7.5, then 8, etc. try every 1/2 second between 1 and 12 ...

Did you try plugging into a usb hub instead of directly into the computer's usb port?

Yes and Yes. Tried everything. But thanks anyone for the suggestions and help.

 

[ooz]

I'm with you man. It is very frustrating and denigrating.

And going over all the threads everywhere and reading new tips or tricks and watching videos over and over again is making it worse. Like pouring alcohol on an open wound.

I almost wish the admins would change the original sticky to say we don't have root yet. I think its unfair to say we do when it is not reproducible 110% of the time. Everytime someone who gets and INC comes to the forum and reads that, they instantly get sucked into the storm. Some folks luck out and get root, but others get lost and beat the f' up. I imagine we might even be damaging our phones with all the excessive battery pulls and microSD card "clicking". I would not want that on my conscious.

 

[sShadowSs]

guys, this also was frustrating me and after 3 days of pulling my hair out I finally was able to root my INC. here are the instructions. hopefully it will help
Finally got Root with 2gig card that came with phone - xda-developers

 

[ooz]

<joke alert>

oh yea and I got root. Here's how:

1. do the downgrade thing, there is prob a video, then as it is loading, pull the battery!

2. Now that your phone is a brick. place it in some nice potting soil with some seeds. You can pick your "herb of choice"

3. water twice daily, and soon you should have some sweet "root"

</joke alert>






disclaimer: life is funny, but dont do this or if you do its not my fault.

 

[answerman]

I almost wish the admins would change the original sticky to say we don't have root yet. I think its unfair to say we do when it is not reproducible 110% of the time. Everytime someone who gets and INC comes to the forum and reads that, they instantly get sucked into the storm.

I agree that the whole root discussion here on the forum is incredibly (pun?) confusing, especially for someone visiting for the first time. It's so easy to get excited about it when you see posts titled "This worked for me" and "Guaranteed easy root first try", etc. and then in reading them you find that they all have completely different techniques for getting into recovery. Not to mention the number of different SD cards that the root process supposedly only works with. It's a lot of misinformation, but it's not intentional on the part of the posters... they post a process that worked for them, so the natural assumption is that it should work for everyone. Clearly that's not the case... rather, they are individual cases of what worked for one person (ok, maybe several) and should not be taken as fact. Unfortunately, that's the way the posts come across, but again it's not intentionally misleading. We just get caught up in the moment.

Now, here's some facts (or strong opinions in any case):

FACT: it is possible to root your Incredible. (I rooted mine without too much difficulty.) Posts in this forum are evidence of that.

FACT: There are a large number of people that have successfully done so. It's not every one of us, neither is it just a select few. If you were to go and count the posts to do an arguably not-too-scientific survey, I suspect it's probably in the range of about 30% to 40% success rate.

FACT: There is an "approach" that will work. All of the methods you see posted on this forum use the same generic approach. However, the different environments and variables that affect the success rate (drivers used, timing of commands and insertion of SD card, etc) preclude a 100% success rate. It's not a problem with the method, it's differences in timing between users etc.

FACT: A lot of people are having difficulty achieving root. Does this mean it doesn't work? No, it just means that there's some luck (and possibly some variables like brand of SD card, though I honestly don't believe that) involved.

So, do we have root? Definitely, yes. Can "anyone" do it? There's no reason why not, with some luck. Will the process get easier? Frankly, from looking at the process from an engineer's point of view... I doubt it. We're taking advantage of a loophole in the booting process, and I don't see how it could be simplified any further. Sorry, but that's just my educated opinion. For those of you that haven't gotten it to work yet... keep trying. Remember that you'll get a lot of conflicting information here as to the proper way to do it, and just take it all with a grain of salt and keep trying.

 

[ooz]

I agree that the whole root discussion here on the forum is incredibly (pun?) confusing, especially for someone visiting for the first time. It's so easy to get excited about it when you see posts titled "This worked for me" and "Guaranteed easy root first try", etc. and then in reading them you find that they all have completely different techniques for getting into recovery. Not to mention the number of different SD cards that the root process supposedly only works with. It's a lot of misinformation, but it's not intentional on the part of the posters... they post a process that worked for them, so the natural assumption is that it should work for everyone. Clearly that's not the case... rather, they are individual cases of what worked for one person (ok, maybe several) and should not be taken as fact. Unfortunately, that's the way the posts come across, but again it's not intentionally misleading. We just get caught up in the moment.

Now, here's some facts (or strong opinions in any case):

FACT: it is possible to root your Incredible. (I rooted mine without too much difficulty.) Posts in this forum are evidence of that.

FACT: There are a large number of people that have successfully done so. It's not every one of us, neither is it just a select few. If you were to go and count the posts to do an arguably not-too-scientific survey, I suspect it's probably in the range of about 30% to 40% success rate.

FACT: There is a method that will work. However, the different environments and variables that affect the success rate (drivers used, timing of commands and insertion of SD card, etc) preclude a 100% success rate. It's not a problem with the method, it's differences in timing between users etc.

FACT: A lot of people are having difficulty achieving root. Does this mean it doesn't work? No, it just means that there's some luck (and possibly some variables like brand of SD card, though I honestly don't believe that) involved.

So, do we have root? Definitely, yes. Can "anyone" do it? There's no reason why not, with some luck. Will the process get easier? Frankly, from looking at the process from an engineer's point of view... I doubt it. We're taking advantage of a loophole in the booting process, and I don't see how it could be simplified any further. Sorry, but that's just my educated opinion. For those of you that haven't gotten it to work yet... keep trying. Remember that you'll get a lot of conflicting information here as to the proper way to do it, and just take it all with a grain of salt and keep trying.

What you just said should be stickied for new forum users. At least they know what they are getting into. However, I disagree with your third Fact, I think there is a problem with the Method, it is undefined. As it is now, it is a "Root Approach".

For me when I finally got root (out of sheer luck and determination) it was bittersweet. I think I was just glad to finally have done it. Now I am bored again and anxiously waiting the next steps to take advantage of root.

 

[jonw757]

Well I finally rooted mine after 2 days of trying.. Can someone try this out thats having trouble?

Do the volume up and power on, once it gets to the main recovery screen, a second before it starts to read the SD card, pull it out.. So basically its booted up thinking an SD card is there, it goes to read the SD card but its not there. (its still should go through the process on the screen of reading the SD card)

Then go to recovery, hit power and put the sd card back, if that doesnt work try after the "device removed sound".. all this while running the loop.bat.. This worked for me after two days of trying every other method.

**edit**

I tried to reproduce it and cant.. guess I was just fn lucky!

 

[answerman]

What you just said should be stickied for new forum users. At least they know what they are getting into.

Thanks. I felt the need to be the voice of reason standing between "This works for everyone, you're doing something wrong!" and "This sucks, nothing works for me!"

However, I disagree with your third Fact, I think there is a problem with the Method, it is undefined. As it is now, it is a "Root Approach"..

Agreed. I've edited my post to reflect your wording. If I understand what you are saying, a "Method" would be a step by step process, done exactly the same every time, while an "Approach" would be a theoretical process of "we need to reboot the phone into recovery, and then at the right point insert our command". We're farther than the latter, but definitely not at the point where we can claim the former.

I stand by my earlier statement that I don't see how the process can be made any easier, though, for the reasons stated above.

 

[elroy jetson]

I took my incredible to the vzw store in the mall, the plugged a usb cable into dorothy's ruby slippers and tadaaaaah... root

 

[answerman]

I took my incredible to the vzw store in the mall, the plugged a usb cable into dorothy's ruby slippers and tadaaaaah... root

I tried that, but someone dropped a house on me.

 

[ooz]

I took my incredible to the vzw store in the mall, the plugged a usb cable into dorothy's ruby slippers and tadaaaaah... root

do you know what kind of cable?!

 

[kidhudi]

thank GOD i am not the only one who has this problem. i hope that there is a solution sometime soon. it is very frustrating. it is making my hair fall out faster than usually( damn genetics.. thanks Dad).

 

[neomaxim]

After reading over this, I'm not quite sure what to say. Has no one mentioned that the card must be formatted to FAT32? Does that PB file even need to be on the card any more with the new unrevoked?

I have rooted my incredible as well as several others without a single problem. Maybe if you can't seem to get it figured out after reading everything on this forum, rooting isn't for you.