Basics:
Now let's start by defining rooting. Rooting is the possibility to unlock admin rights on a smartphone which gives the possibility to access all it's functions and capabilities. Standard phones have several functions blocked and prevent the user from modifying the system and the code. It's very limiting and something that prevents the device from being truly open source and exploiting it to it's full potential.
Now this link has better information on the most important terms of rooting and as such I suggest you get acquainted with the concepts [1]:
As you learn more about the rooting process, you'll probably run into a bunch of terms that can be confusing. Here are some of the most important ones and what they mean.
If there are any other terms you think we should add, let us know and we'll put them in!
Now this link has better information on the most important terms of rooting and as such I suggest you get acquainted with the concepts [1]:
As you learn more about the rooting process, you'll probably run into a bunch of terms that can be confusing. Here are some of the most important ones and what they mean.
If there are any other terms you think we should add, let us know and we'll put them in!
- Root: Rooting means you have root access to your device—that is, it can run the sudocommand, and has enhanced privileges allowing it to run apps like Wireless Tether orSetCPU. You can root either by installing the Superuser application or by flashing a custom ROM that includes root access.
- ROM: A ROM is a modified version of Android. It may contain extra features, a different look, speed enhancements, or even a version of Android that hasn't been released for your phone yet. We won't discuss ROMs in depth here, but if you want to use one once you're rooted, you can read more about doing that here.
- Stock: "Stock" refers to a few different things, depending on the context. When we refer to "Stock Android," we mean the Google-built version you'd find on Nexus devices, with no extra UI chances like HTC Sense or Samsung TouchWiz. Many ROMs are based on stock Android with some additions, like CyanogenMod, while others are based on the version that came with your phone. In other cases, "Stock" can also mean the version of Android that came with your phone—e.g., if you want to get rid of your ROM and return your phone to factory settings, you might say you're "going back to stock."
- Kernel: A kernel is the component of your operating system that manages communications between your software and hardware. There are a lot of custom kernels out there for most phones, many of which can speed up your phone and increase your battery life, among other things. Be careful with kernels, though, as a bad one can cause serious problems with your phone and possibly even brick it.
- Radio: Radios are part of your phone's firmware. Your radio controls your cellular data, GPS, Wi-Fi, and other things like that. You can sometimes find custom radios for your phone that you can flash yourself, but beware as sometimes these can cause problems.
- Flash: Flashing essentially means installing something on your device, whether it be a ROM, a kernel, or a recovery (see below) that comes in the form of a ZIP file. Sometimes the rooting process requires flashing a ZIP file, sometimes it doesn't.
- Brick: To brick your phone is to break it during flashing or other acts. There is always a small risk with flashing, and if your phone becomes unable to function—that is, it basically becomes a brick—you've bricked your phone. The risk is very small, however, and more often than not people say "brick" when they really mean "it turns on but doesn't boot properly," which is a very fixable problem. See the FAQ below for more information.
- Bootloader: Your bootloader is the lowest level of software on your phone, running all the code that's necessary to start your operating system. Most bootloaders come locked, meaning you can't flash custom recoveries or ROMs. Unlocking your bootloader doesn't root your phone directly, but it does allow you to root and/or flash custom ROMs if you so desire.
- Recovery: Your recovery is the software on your phone that lets you make backups, flash ROMs, and perform other system-level tasks. The default recovery on your phone can't do much, but you can flash a custom recovery—like ClockworkMod or TWRP—after you've unlocked your bootloader that will give you much more control over your device. This is often an integral part of the rooting process.
- Nandroid: From most third-party recovery modules, you can make backups of your phone called nandroid backups. It's essentially a system image of your phone: Everythingexactly how it is right now. That way, if you flash something that breaks your phone, you can just flash back to your most recent nandroid backup to return everything to normal. This is different from using an app like Titanium Backup that just backs up apps and/or settings—nandroid backups backup the entire system as one image. Titanium backups are best when switching between ROMs or phones.
- ADB: ADB stands for Android Debug Bridge, and it's a command line tool for your computer that can communicate with an Android device you've connected to it. It's part of the Android Software Developers Kit (SDK). Many of the root tools you'll find use ADB, whether you're typing the commands yourself or not. Unless the instructions call for installing the SDK and running ADB commands, you won't need to mess with it—you'll just need to know that it's what most of the tools use to root your phone.
- S-OFF: HTC phones use a feature called Signature Verification in HBOOT, their bootloader. By default, your phone has S-ON, which means it blocks you from flashing radio images—the code that manages your data, Wi-Fi, and GPS connections. Switching your phone to S-OFF lets you flash new radios. Rooting doesn't require S-OFF, but many rooting tools will give you S-OFF in addition to root access, which is nice.
- RUU, SBF, and OPS: ROM Upgrade Utilities (for HTC phones), System Boot Files (for Motorola phones), and OPS and PIT files (for Samsung phones) are files direct from the manufacturer that change the software on your phone. RUU and SBF files are how the manufacturers deliver your over-the-air upgrades, and modders often post leaked RUU and SBF files for flashing when the updates haven't been released yet. They're also handy when downgrading your phone, if a rooting method isn't available for the newest software version yet. You can flash RUUs right from your HTC phone, but Motorola users will need a Windows program called RSD Lite to flash SBF files, and Samsung users will need a tool called Odin to flash OPS and PIT files (note there is a specific version of Odin for each device).
How To:
Of the many rooting options available on the Internet, I found myself limited due to my use of Ubuntu Linux as most rooting applications work only on Windows, especially the official Samsung application: Odin.
A long time ago (like 2 years or so) a hacker tired of having to use Windows only because of Odin woke up and said "screw it, I'm gonna build a rooter for Linux" and made Heimdall, which is what I used to flash the device here.
A long time ago (like 2 years or so) a hacker tired of having to use Windows only because of Odin woke up and said "screw it, I'm gonna build a rooter for Linux" and made Heimdall, which is what I used to flash the device here.
Steps.
1.-Download Heimdall and the Heimdall frontend (just in case) using the command line.
$ sudo apt-get install heimdall heimdall-frontend
2.-Find the Kernel for your Android device. For my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.7.0 model GT-P3110 the kernel is obtained in:
http://www.mediafire.com/?w9aqb8ee232rsri
http://www.mediafire.com/?wy2d44scppupayr
3.-Boot the Android device in Download mode. While it can be done using ADB which is a command line application, in my case I had to boot it pressing POWER + VOLUME DOWN while the tablet was disconnected from the computer and shut down for it to correctly load the Kernel.
NOTE: On my second attempt after I accidentally unrooted my tablet while trying to install Linux on it, it didn't work booting into Download mode using the POWER + VOLUME DOWN method and I had to boot it using:
$ adb restart download
4.-Once it enters Download mode, you need to type the following command to ensure Heimdall has detected the Android device.
$ heimdall detect
5.-If it prints "device detected" on the console all that's left is for you to load the Kernel on the device using the following command:
$ heimdall flash --pit gt-p3110.pit --KERNEL boot-bjr.img
6.-It will take some time to load after which the tablet will restart. If it boots the operative system then you're done! If it doesn't or gets stuck at the logo/restarts continuously then you've entered the dreaded BOOTLOOP. Use POWER+VOLUME DOWN to enter Download mode and try again, it took me several attempts with different applications to finally get it right.
$ sudo apt-get install heimdall heimdall-frontend
2.-Find the Kernel for your Android device. For my Samsung Galaxy Tab 2.7.0 model GT-P3110 the kernel is obtained in:
http://www.mediafire.com/?w9aqb8ee232rsri
http://www.mediafire.com/?wy2d44scppupayr
3.-Boot the Android device in Download mode. While it can be done using ADB which is a command line application, in my case I had to boot it pressing POWER + VOLUME DOWN while the tablet was disconnected from the computer and shut down for it to correctly load the Kernel.
NOTE: On my second attempt after I accidentally unrooted my tablet while trying to install Linux on it, it didn't work booting into Download mode using the POWER + VOLUME DOWN method and I had to boot it using:
$ adb restart download
4.-Once it enters Download mode, you need to type the following command to ensure Heimdall has detected the Android device.
$ heimdall detect
5.-If it prints "device detected" on the console all that's left is for you to load the Kernel on the device using the following command:
$ heimdall flash --pit gt-p3110.pit --KERNEL boot-bjr.img
6.-It will take some time to load after which the tablet will restart. If it boots the operative system then you're done! If it doesn't or gets stuck at the logo/restarts continuously then you've entered the dreaded BOOTLOOP. Use POWER+VOLUME DOWN to enter Download mode and try again, it took me several attempts with different applications to finally get it right.
Useful tools:
In order to get information on your tablet you can type in the terminal the following:
$ heimdall print-pit --verbose
You can install adb using:
$ sudo apt-get install adb
It's a very useful tool for interacting with your tablet/cellphone.
To restart your tablet using adb type:
$ adb restart
To start the device in download mode using adb type:
$ adb restart download
$ heimdall print-pit --verbose
You can install adb using:
$ sudo apt-get install adb
It's a very useful tool for interacting with your tablet/cellphone.
To restart your tablet using adb type:
$ adb restart
To start the device in download mode using adb type:
$ adb restart download
How to know if I'm root:
1.-Install adb.
$ sudo apt-get install adb
2.-Check if you can access your device as root.
$ adb shell
$ ./su
$ ./gtab2-root.sh
If it allows you to log in as root then congratulations! Your smartphone/tablet is rooted!
$ sudo apt-get install adb
2.-Check if you can access your device as root.
$ adb shell
$ ./su
$ ./gtab2-root.sh
If it allows you to log in as root then congratulations! Your smartphone/tablet is rooted!
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The Bibliography:
[1] http://lifehacker.com/5789397/the-always-up-to-date-guide-to-rooting-any-android-phone
[2] http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-root-galaxy-tab-2-7.0-gt-p3110-on-android-4.0.3-ics/
[3] http://lifehacker.com/top-10-reasons-to-root-your-android-phone-1079161983
[4] http://www.verygoodreview.com/tips/how-to-root-samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7-0-p3100.html
[5] https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsilkemeyer.net%2Fandroid-boot-loop&h=9AQGXJ0fi
[6] http://itsfoss.com/complete-beginner-guide-root-samsung-galaxy-s2-ubuntu-linux/
[2] http://www.redmondpie.com/how-to-root-galaxy-tab-2-7.0-gt-p3110-on-android-4.0.3-ics/
[3] http://lifehacker.com/top-10-reasons-to-root-your-android-phone-1079161983
[4] http://www.verygoodreview.com/tips/how-to-root-samsung-galaxy-tab-2-7-0-p3100.html
[5] https://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsilkemeyer.net%2Fandroid-boot-loop&h=9AQGXJ0fi
[6] http://itsfoss.com/complete-beginner-guide-root-samsung-galaxy-s2-ubuntu-linux/
