Database Develop

[Q] 4.2.2 Root to 4.4 Root on AT&T

Okay, I am just wanting to clear things up for myself with this question. I've seen it similarly asked on other threads, but I have yet to find answer to them.
Currently, I am Stock + camera update + rooted with RockMyMoto. I haven't frozen or uninstalled or otherwise done anything to system apps or files (I disabled a few through Android itself before root, but never touched them since) I do use Permissions Denied; an app that does what it says for any app I chose, however I only use it for non-system apps. My phone is essentially stock, with root (bootloader locked). Thats all I want for whenever I update to 4.4 at the moment. Speaking of which...
I am trying to determine the best way to go about this. Since I havent done much to my phone, I am curious to know if I can just install the OTA (since I've altered no system files, but I know this isn't usually advised) then apply the latest root method done by jcase. Can it be as straight forward as that? Or do I absolutely need to flash back to STOCK stock, apply the camera update, the apply the 4.4 update, THEN use his method?
Trying to find a method that is at least safe. Preferably safe, quick and easy. But I know these methods aren't always quick .

NameLessThugZero said:
Okay, I am just wanting to clear things up for myself with this question. I've seen it similarly asked on other threads, but I have yet to find answer to them.
Currently, I am Stock + camera update + rooted with RockMyMoto. I haven't frozen or uninstalled or otherwise done anything to system apps or files (I disabled a few through Android itself before root, but never touched them since) I do use Permissions Denied; an app that does what it says for any app I chose, however I only use it for non-system apps. My phone is essentially stock, with root (bootloader locked). Thats all I want for whenever I update to 4.4 at the moment. Speaking of which...
I am trying to determine the best way to go about this. Since I havent done much to my phone, I am curious to know if I can just install the OTA (since I've altered no system files, but I know this isn't usually advised) then apply the latest root method done by jcase. Can it be as straight forward as that? Or do I absolutely need to flash back to STOCK stock, apply the camera update, the apply the 4.4 update, THEN use his method?
Trying to find a method that is at least safe. Preferably safe, quick and easy. But I know these methods aren't always quick .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Pawnymoto hijacks the stock recovery so you won't be able to install the update, you need to flash the stick recovery at the least
Sent on my Moto X

flashallthetime said:
Pawnymoto hijacks the stock recovery so you won't be able to install the update, you need to flash the stick recovery at the least
Sent on my Moto X
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What do I need in order to do that, or should I just RSD lite back to a stock Moto X?

NameLessThugZero said:
What do I need in order to do that, or should I just RSD lite back to a stock Moto X?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say its safer to rsdlite back to 100% stock, that way you know everything is ready to accept the ota and you won't end up in a bootloop
Sent on my Moto X

4.4.2 root questions

I have a stock vs980 and am trying to decide whether to root or not - I really only want to remove some status bar icons and swap the menu nav button for the recent apps button and can't find any way other than root to do so. The problem is that I read in one of the root threads that there are messages popping up about modified files and viruses and that certain unknown apks needed freezing / uninstalled to stop it. This is obviously big red spying on us to see if we root so they can deny us warranty. But if anybody has a list of apps involved that I could delete via adb while rooting I think I may take the plunge.
So what I'm asking is - Which apps need to be removed to prevent the warnings?

hotrodwinston said:
I have a stock vs980 and am trying to decide whether to root or not - I really only want to remove some status bar icons and swap the menu nav button for the recent apps button and can't find any way other than root to do so. The problem is that I read in one of the root threads that there are messages popping up about modified files and viruses and that certain unknown apks needed freezing / uninstalled to stop it. This is obviously big red spying on us to see if we root so they can deny us warranty. But if anybody has a list of apps involved that I could delete via adb while rooting I think I may take the plunge.
So what I'm asking is - Which apps need to be removed to prevent the warnings?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not sure what you're talking about, I rooted the stock KK rom with ioroot25, installed busybox and I had no issues.

is this correct:
I have a stock 980 rooted (iroot19) with 12b and the stock rom. No recovery installed. The ONLY thing I have done is the hotspot fix (changing the two files).
and added Tritium Backup so I could freeze the VZW junk.
If I change the two hotspot files back to stock (I still have the originals, i renamed them) and unfreeze everything, can I do the OTA, and then root again using iroot 19 or iroot25 and reinstall the hotspot fix (i have to have tethering, I'm unlimited). Does the hotspot fix still work with 24a or what ever the new KK is called?
thanks
billd
4.2.2 isnt all that bad anyway!! battery life is amazing and the phone work awsone.. I guess you could call it a grass is greener on the other side upgrade....

dockmaster said:
is this correct:
I have a stock 980 rooted (iroot19) with 12b and the stock rom. No recovery installed. The ONLY thing I have done is the hotspot fix (changing the two files).
and added Tritium Backup so I could freeze the VZW junk.
If I change the two hotspot files back to stock (I still have the originals, i renamed them) and unfreeze everything, can I do the OTA, and then root again using iroot 19 or iroot25 and reinstall the hotspot fix (i have to have tethering, I'm unlimited). Does the hotspot fix still work with 24a or what ever the new KK is called?
thanks
billd
4.2.2 isnt all that bad anyway!! battery life is amazing and the phone work awsone.. I guess you could call it a grass is greener on the other side upgrade....
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Since you are already rooted it would be easier to just go with a custom recovery and flash a debloated version of the 24a ROM - root sometimes messes with ota. If you just want to do it by ota then you need to restore anything you changed and unroot .

The app was vz protect (Verizon protection and security) it did pop up a "files may have been modified" message when I rebooted after rooting - I disabled the app - but pretty sure big red now knows I'm rooted.

hotrodwinston said:
Since you are already rooted it would be easier to just go with a custom recovery and flash a debloated version of the 24a ROM - root sometimes messes with ota. If you just want to do it by ota then you need to restore anything you changed and unroot .
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So has it been confirmed that the hotspot fix works with 24a? Even if I reroot and astay with stock recovery?

Stock recovery and upgrading Lollipop with future OTAs after rooting

Hello everyone,
I'm back to a nexus 6 after a very short stint with a 6+.
A little background for my questions: This is the very first time that I rooted a phone. I'm rooting to only install these 3 apps:
adaway
titanium backup
greenify
I do not plan on using any custom ROMs or kernels.
I see from all the guides and tutorials that people also create a custom recovery whenever they root. I haven't done that yet and wasn't sure if I had to. I would like to maintain the stock recovery that I have currently so that I can go back to stock if I unRoot. My questions are:
1. Am I wrong in thinking that I can still use the stock recovery if I unRoot?
2. When a new OTA comes out and I flash it (since I'm rooted an no longer can install them automatically), will that also upgrade my still stock recovery properly?
3. Following up on the previous question, when I upgrade manually because I'm rooted, would that be a fresh install where I have to go in and configure things the way I like them again (system settings, apps and their settings, root the phone again, etc)?
Thanks in advance!

LordGrahf said:
Hello everyone,
I'm back to a nexus 6 after a very short stint with a 6+.
A little background for my questions: This is the very first time that I rooted a phone. I'm rooting to only install these 3 apps:
adaway
titanium backup
greenify
I do not plan on using any custom ROMs or kernels.
I see from all the guides and tutorials that people also create a custom recovery whenever they root. I haven't done that yet and wasn't sure if I had to. I would like to maintain the stock recovery that I have currently so that I can go back to stock if I unRoot. My questions are:
1. Am I wrong in thinking that I can still use the stock recovery if I unRoot?
2. When a new OTA comes out and I flash it (since I'm rooted an no longer can install them automatically), will that also upgrade my still stock recovery properly?
3. Following up on the previous question, when I upgrade manually because I'm rooted, would that be a fresh install where I have to go in and configure things the way I like them again (system settings, apps and their settings, root the phone again, etc)?
Thanks in advance!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. No, you're not wrong. Recovery will stay stock and can be used normally
2. You can't simply flash the new OTA. This will not work manually nor automatically.
3. All you need to do is not flash the user data image and you will not loose your data, settings etc. You will loose root however. See bellow.
Google posts android stock images for each device typically before OTA hits your phone. That's what you want to grab and use for the update. Just make sure you don't run the automatic scripts that come with those images because you need to avoid flashing user data image.
OTA zip file does you no good unless you get your system back to unmodified stock.

Thank you sir!

obsanity said:
1. No, you're not wrong. Recovery will stay stock and can be used normally
2. You can't simply flash the new OTA. This will not work manually nor automatically.
3. All you need to do is not flash the user data image and you will not loose your data, settings etc. You will loose root however. See bellow.
Google posts android stock images for each device typically before OTA hits your phone. That's what you want to grab and use for the update. Just make sure you don't run the automatic scripts that come with those images because you need to avoid flashing user data image.
OTA zip file does you no good unless you get your system back to unmodified stock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Based on the OP, it sounds like he has only rooted. Thus, the OTA will work fine. No need to flash image files.
Edit: I see that at least one other member has stated that an unroot still did not allow OTAs to function. That's a bit strange and unique. Not sure what root is modifying to prevent the OTA.

I'm kinda curious myself. I had no idea root killed OTA's. Maybe I wouldn't have done that if I knew that. I'm very new to the Nexus device. It's my 1st. I unlocked the bootloader and rooted already.
Sent from Mark's Nexus 6

crowbarman said:
Edit: I see that at least one other member has stated that an unroot still did not allow OTAs to function. That's a bit strange and unique. Not sure what root is modifying to prevent the OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This is pretty scary. So you can unroot and GI back to stock and still can't update in anyway?

I have always side-loaded OTAs, I have never flashed anything.
After installing an OTA, on the next reboot, Android takes some time to optimize all your apps. Does this also happen after flashing a new system image? Thanks!

LordGrahf said:
This is pretty scary. So you can unroot and GI back to stock and still can't update in anyway?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
not sure what you mean by GI, but according to some others, after uninstalling root via SuperSU an OTA will still not install. This should not be the case unless the boot or recovery images are modified. Easily fixed by following the procedures above to fastboot the stock images on your phone.
kjnangre said:
I have always side-loaded OTAs, I have never flashed anything.
After installing an OTA, on the next reboot, Android takes some time to optimize all your apps. Does this also happen after flashing a new system image? Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, it behaves exactly the same.

crowbarman said:
Based on the OP, it sounds like he has only rooted. Thus, the OTA will work fine. No need to flash image files.
Edit: I see that at least one other member has stated that an unroot still did not allow OTAs to function. That's a bit strange and unique. Not sure what root is modifying to prevent the OTA.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root on Lollipop is not what it used to be. There are files that need to be modified in order to allow root. That's why this time OTA will fail if you are rooted.
Un-rooting however, will allow OTA as long as it is done properly and all traces are covered up and returned to stock. If it does fail after you have un-rooted, go back to the developer of that un-root method and let the know they missed something.
Here is the best way to un-root. Flash all of the old stock images besides user data image.

obsanity said:
Root on Lollipop is not what it used to be. There are files that need to be modified in order to allow root. That's why this time OTA will fail if you are rooted.
Un-rooting however, will allow OTA as long as it is done properly and all traces are covered up and returned to stock. If it does fail after you have un-rooted, go back to the developer of that un-root method and let the know they missed something.
Here is the best way to un-root. Flash all of the old stock images besides user data image.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That makes sense. Is there a manual root procedure or list of required modifications for root out there? I did some precursors searches but Came up empty. Can't tell what's missing in SuperSU unroot without those details.

crowbarman said:
That makes sense. Is there a manual root procedure or list of required modifications for root out there? I did some precursors searches but Came up empty. Can't tell what's missing in SuperSU unroot without those details.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Explanation from Chainfire:
https://plus.google.com/113517319477420052449/posts/S5zoKTzKUW1

obsanity said:
Explanation from Chainfire:
https://plus.google.com/113517319477420052449/posts/S5zoKTzKUW1
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for this. A good read, but I'm surprised nobody has demanded more details than 'patched the policies in SELinux'. Not that I don't trust Chain fire (I do) , but who really knows what has been done to our phones?

crowbarman said:
Thanks for this. A good read, but I'm surprised nobody has demanded more details than 'patched the policies in SELinux'. Not that I don't trust Chain fire (I do) , but who really knows what has been done to our phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's the problem with Chainfire's work... he does not release source.
Again, best un-root method is to flash original images less user data.

obsanity said:
That's the problem with Chainfire's work... he does not release source.
Again, best un-root method is to flash original images less user data.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for sharing this info. Its a bit concerning tbh. Is there a cleaner way to root other than using superSU?

LordGrahf said:
Thanks for sharing this info. Its a bit concerning tbh. Is there a cleaner way to root other than using superSU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm afraid not but Chainfire's is probably the cleanest possible. Koush was the one with an open source solution but he hasn't updated his to 5.0 yet.

obsanity said:
I'm afraid not but Chainfire's is probably the cleanest possible. Koush was the one with an open source solution but he hasn't updated his to 5.0 yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is an argument that publishing the method would allow Google to close it that much quicker, I suppose.

crowbarman said:
Thanks for this. A good read, but I'm surprised nobody has demanded more details than 'patched the policies in SELinux'. Not that I don't trust Chain fire (I do) , but who really knows what has been done to our phones?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The base changes and reasoning for those changes are actually documented on my website. Specific policy adjustments are present in plain text in the supolicy executable, as any hex editor will show you. Those who really wanted to know rather than whine about OSS, know.
By far most policy adjustments just drop audit log output for contexts that are already permissive, though.
All that information is still completely useless unless you understand SELinux in detail and how it's implemented on Android, though.

I assume that the encryption doesn't get in the way of being able to flash the images?
When I went from 5.0 to 5.0.1 on my old Nexus 5 all I did was flash the two new 5.0.1 images I extracted from the full factory image, then re-rooted. This is far cleaner than reverting back to the previous image then doing an OTA. I've not had to update my N6 yet so I don't know if my method will work still, but I hope it does.

Chainfire said:
The base changes and reasoning for those changes are actually documented on my website. Specific policy adjustments are present in plain text in the supolicy executable, as any hex editor will show you. Those who really wanted to know rather than whine about OSS, know.
By far most policy adjustments just drop audit log output for contexts that are already permissive, though.
All that information is still completely useless unless you understand SELinux in detail and how it's implemented on Android, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the additional information.
I did spend a fair amount of time reading your documentation but failed to utilize a hex editor. I am not 'whining' about the lack of open source, rather, simply mildly surprised, but your website aptly describes the challenges with 5.0. Many are used to various root methods being available.
Your solution is fine with me.. I love your work.
Edit: I thought I'd add that the discussion has devolved from the OP, which was whether an OTA can be applied after uninstalling root. The answer was no, due to the unknowns about what still might be modified following the uninstall via SuperSU.

[Q] Updating rooted Nexus 6 question

I have an unlocked Nexus 6 64gb from Ebay that I activated on Verizon. I rooted it, installed 5.1 and did the build.prop and settings.db changes and have tethering, etc (unlimited).
A few questions:
Will the OTA update show up on my phone since it is rooted and/or since it was not purchased from Verizon?
If it does show up and I let it update to 5.1.1, will I need to do the build.prop and settings.db changes again?
If it does not show up and I install from Google's image, do I need to do the build.prop and settings.db changes again?
I am sure these are basic questions... sorry... this was my first phone root and will be my first update to apply since doing that.

an update will show up whether you have root or not, BUT.. you can not take or apply an ota if any system files have been changed. and guess what rooting your device did, change system files.

simms22 said:
an update will show up whether you have root or not, BUT.. you can not take or apply an ota if any system files have been changed. and guess what rooting your device did, change system files.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok thanks. So that means I update with the Google Image if I want to. I think there is an option to do that without a wipe. Is that recommended / OK? If so, I wont have to change any files again, right?

hifiaudio2 said:
Ok thanks. So that means I update with the Google Image if I want to. I think there is an option to do that without a wipe. Is that recommended / OK? If so, I wont have to change any files again, right?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
factory image, or any custom rom. and yes, you can update via factory image and do it a certain way to not lose data. you dont ever "have to" change any files. if you keep it stock, completely, you get an update ota, and you keep goung after that. if you root, tou have choices. i keep my choices simple. i root and use custom kernels btw. i also use custom roms. so, for me, updating is just flashing the latest custom rom(be it stock/rooted or real cutom rom).

simms22 said:
factory image, or any custom rom. and yes, you can update via factory image and do it a certain way to not lose data. you dont ever "have to" change any files. if you keep it stock, completely, you get an update ota, and you keep goung after that. if you root, tou have choices. i keep my choices simple. i root and use custom kernels btw. i also use custom roms. so, for me, updating is just flashing the latest custom rom(be it stock/rooted or real cutom rom).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks again for the help. So my wife has the exact phone and same root with hotspot enabled as I do. I forgot to tell her to ignore the update, so when the OTA verizon update showed up this morning, she installed it. Her phone still says 5.1, so I assume it just tried to install but didnt work, but the Hotspot icon was removed (I just went into settings and selected it again, and it seemed to work still), but I dont know what error it might have given when she tried to install or what settings or files that I had changed, like build.prop, etc, might be changed back. Is it likely that the system trying to install the OTA update would have changed my modified settings?
Going forward, I plan to fire up Wug's rootkit and just flash the 5.1.1 image with no wipe. SO everything I did on both phones should already be ready to go when the flash finishes, right? No settings for me to change all over again?

Will have to redo the build.prop edits. Full image flash will replace the build.prop with new one.

prdog1 said:
Will have to redo the build.prop edits. Full image flash will replace the build.prop with new one.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Cool, all done, thanks.

Is it safe to do a system update

I have a Droid Turbo that is currently on version 5.1 (23.21.44) and I just recently unfroze the system update notifications for my phone because of the news of MM. I am currently rooted and have an unlocked bootloader but I don't have TWRP installed and would rather not install it for now if I don't have to.
The system update that it is trying to push to my phone isn't MM, instead it is version 23.21.49.en.US. Is it safe to just take this update while being rooted and with an unlocked bootloader? I'm also not sure how many updates I'll have to make my way through before reaching the MM update, but if there are other updates, should it also be safe to go ahead with those as well? I know I could install TWRP and flash the MM ROM that way but I would prefer to do the updates officially if it is not risking a bricked phone.
Thanks for any advice.
EDIT: I forgot to finish the title of the thread...

AirJordanTS said:
I have a Droid Turbo that is currently on version 5.1 (23.21.44) and I just recently unfroze the system update notifications for my phone because of the news of MM. I am currently rooted and have an unlocked bootloader but I don't have TWRP installed and would rather not install it for now if I don't have to.
The system update that it is trying to push to my phone isn't MM, instead it is version 23.21.49.en.US. Is it safe to just take this update while being rooted and with an unlocked bootloader? I'm also not sure how many updates I'll have to make my way through before reaching the MM update, but if there are other updates, should it also be safe to go ahead with those as well? I know I could install TWRP and flash the MM ROM that way but I would prefer to do the updates officially if it is not risking a bricked phone.
Thanks for any advice.
EDIT: I forgot to finish the title of the thread...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's safe, but it will be unsuccessful until you unroot your phone and undo any other system modifications that you've done (xposed, for example). There's a huge part of the update script that checks every single file in your system partition to make sure nothing has been modified.

Ok great, thanks.
The only other modification I can think that I've made is enabling mobile Hotspot through editing a setting somewhere. Do you know if that would be affected or would need changed back?

AirJordanTS said:
Ok great, thanks.
The only other modification I can think that I've made is enabling mobile Hotspot through editing a setting somewhere. Do you know if that would be affected or would need changed back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You did that by modifying /system/build.prop. That change might be okay, but I would change it back if I were you just to be safe. The change is going to be overwritten anyway once the OTA is done.

AirJordanTS said:
Ok great, thanks.
The only other modification I can think that I've made is enabling mobile Hotspot through editing a setting somewhere. Do you know if that would be affected or would need changed back?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's possible it may miss overlooking that. The worst that could happen was the update just doesn't take. It fails and nothing is changed. There is a pure MM official version that you can Flash in TWRP. It will update everything, radios and all, but will not relock the bootloader. I recommend you download Titanium Backup and backup all of your apps and their data to be restored after the update. A factory reset is recommended after the update. Also, don't forget to back up all of your photos, documents, music, etc. 24.81.5 is MM. Your update was a prep for MM.

Thanks for the advice guys.
I didn't realize it but I had TWRP installed so I decided to flash a stock ROM and proceed with the OTA updates from there. The problem currently is that I'm being locked out of my phone because of the Google "verify your account" page. I reset my account password on that page and now I'm not able to log in.