I'm waiting for my Sprint Moto X to arrive next week. I've gleaned that my rooting options appear to boil down to either a) "officially" unlocking the bootloader through Moto (and voiding warranty) or b) using SlapMyMoto to root (which also voids the warranty, but presumably Moto won't know and theoretically leaves me the option of trying to return to stock if I need to).
I'm wondering if folks would comment on why they opted for one choice over the other (and obviously, correct any misconceptions I have. Never needed to use the warranty on a smartphone, but obviously there can always be a first time.)
Thanks.
fwald said:
I'm waiting for my Sprint Moto X to arrive next week. I've gleaned that my rooting options appear to boil down to either a) "officially" unlocking the bootloader through Moto (and voiding warranty) or b) using SlapMyMoto to root (which also voids the warranty, but presumably Moto won't know and theoretically leaves me the option of trying to return to stock if I need to).
I'm wondering if folks would comment on why they opted for one choice over the other (and obviously, correct any misconceptions I have. Never needed to use the warranty on a smartphone, but obviously there can always be a first time.)
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's old news that Motorola is no longer voiding the warranty for unlocking the bootloader of Developer Edition X's. If you don't have a dev edition then slapmymoto is your only choice.
Its easier to work with an X that has an unlocked boot loader. Easier to root and have R/W abilities with unlocked bootloader.
You just have to ask... do I feel lucky? And decide "will I need my warranty?"
KidJoe said:
Its easier to work with an X that has an unlocked boot loader. Easier to root and have R/W abilities with unlocked bootloader.
You just have to ask... do I feel lucky? And decide "will I need my warranty?"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
meh... the desk jockey at the sprint store is unlikely to know anything about bootloaders or rooting. And chances are if you get to the point where you need to exercise your warranty (i.e. Bricked or other wise) then they will take a look at the phone and see it doesn't boot and give you a new one. They don't have time to give post mortems to every phone that is returned.. they can simply send them back to get refurbished in bulk.
DssTrainer said:
meh... the desk jockey at the sprint store is unlikely to know anything about bootloaders or rooting. And chances are if you get to the point where you need to exercise your warranty (i.e. Bricked or other wise) then they will take a look at the phone and see it doesn't boot and give you a new one. They don't have time to give post mortems to every phone that is returned.. they can simply send them back to get refurbished in bulk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
While I know that, and you know that, it doesn't change the fact of what its stated on Moto's web site when you request the code to unlock your bootloader.. that your warranty is voided. It also doesn't mean that Sprint, or other carriers, wont do "postmortums" on devices they receive at their repair center and try and bill someone if they discover the bootloader was unlocked. At the same respect, since you need to enter info into Moto's web site about your phone to get the unlock code (where you acknowledge your warranty is now voided), wouldn't it be interesting if Moto decideds to start feeding back IMEI, serial numbers, etc of these devices to the carriers?
Call me paranoid.. Crazy, or whatever. Knowing what Moto says the policy is, and being aware of it, is important.
Will the carrier follow through, can they follow through, etc.. has been discussed many times over in the past, so i don't want to start again now.
Magnus_CA said:
It's old news that Motorola is no longer voiding the warranty for unlocking the bootloader of Developer Edition X's. If you don't have a dev edition then slapmymoto is your only choice.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
All due respect, I believe your statements are not applicable or wrong.
1) This is the Sprint Moto X, not the Developer Edition
2) You can unlock the bootloader through the Moto web site, but in doing so void the warranty.
KidJoe said:
Its easier to work with an X that has an unlocked boot loader. Easier to root and have R/W abilities with unlocked bootloader.
You just have to ask... do I feel lucky? And decide "will I need my warranty?"
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeah, that's the overall message I've been getting. Was just attempting to get a (obviously unscientific) sense of which option most people were choosing.
DssTrainer said:
meh... the desk jockey at the sprint store is unlikely to know anything about bootloaders or rooting. And chances are if you get to the point where you need to exercise your warranty (i.e. Bricked or other wise) then they will take a look at the phone and see it doesn't boot and give you a new one. They don't have time to give post mortems to every phone that is returned.. they can simply send them back to get refurbished in bulk.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I hadn't considered that telling Moto doesn't necessarily mean that Sprint will automatically find out. Hmmm.
KidJoe said:
Call me paranoid.. Crazy, or whatever. Knowing what Moto says the policy is, and being aware of it, is important.
Will the carrier follow through, can they follow through, etc.. has been discussed many times over in the past, so i don't want to start again now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I suspect I'll probably unlock the bootloader. I've never, ever needed my smartphone warranty before. So of course, this means some disaster likely awaits.
Unlock bootloader. Much less of a hassle and more of a benefit.
I would also like to root my phone, and don't want to void the warrantee. And for practical purposes, Sprint didn't deal with moto-maker phones, they tell you to take your phone to Motorola.
So I don't want to unlock the boot-loader at this time. Maybe after the warrantee expires.
Puzzlegal said:
I would also like to root my phone, and don't want to void the warrantee. And for practical purposes, Sprint didn't deal with moto-maker phones, they tell you to take your phone to Motorola.
So I don't want to unlock the boot-loader at this time. Maybe after the warrantee expires.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well, your warranty is void whether you root or unlock the bootloader. Personally, I'd unlock the bootloader because it gives you more options to recover from user error.
I don't have to tell Motorola that I am rooting the phone. I have to tell them if I unlock the boot-loader. But poking around, it does look like it is dangerous to root this phone without unlocking the boot-loader.
Puzzlegal said:
I don't have to tell Motorola that I am rooting the phone. I have to tell them if I unlock the boot-loader. But poking around, it does look like it is dangerous to root this phone without unlocking the boot-loader.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Meh, it's not all that difficult. Just follow the instructions word for word and you'll be fine. Just make sure you have all the correct drivers and files before beginning.
It'll be much easier to enable wifi hotspot with an unlocked bootloader though. I already tried it once with my Moto X with a locked bootloader and it's a PITA. Had to go back to stock and run SlapMyMoto again. Framework-res.apk is a fickle *****.
Related
Will we ever be able to unlock the bootloader for the non-dev edition on Verizon? I realize this question has likely been asked before, but was unable to find a thread. Please no hate.
nwinston96 said:
Will we ever be able to unlock the bootloader for the non-dev edition on Verizon? I realize this question has likely been asked before, but was unable to find a thread. Please no hate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Doubtful since the Dev Eds are so readily available, there isn't much incentive for people to try.
And Motorola is notorious for having hard to crack bootloaders.
The answer is no.
nwinston96 said:
Will we ever be able to unlock the bootloader for the non-dev edition on Verizon? I realize this question has likely been asked before, but was unable to find a thread. Please no hate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No reason to believe so. They have the Dev editions and to be frank, all of the companies are getting better with locking it up, or at least Motorola and Samsung are. Too much developer jargon to use but be unfortunately assured that unless someone wants to leak important code and risk their current job and all future employment in cell phone development, we won't see it.
Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Rebel908 said:
No reason to believe so. They have the Dev editions and to be frank, all of the companies are getting better with locking it up, or at least Motorola and Samsung are. Too much developer jargon to use but be unfortunately assured that unless someone wants to leak important code and risk their current job and all future employment in cell phone development, we won't see it.
Sent from my XT1060 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's very sad to hear, thanks.
Very Sad because that will be the death of XDA as well!
Vintage144 said:
Very Sad because that will be the death of XDA as well!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Lol
Sent from my Dev Edition Moto X
Maybe you can buy a code to unlock ur bootloader. I know somebody is selling this code.
No such code exists for the VZW and ATT retail versions.
nwinston96 said:
Will we ever be able to unlock the bootloader for the non-dev edition on Verizon? I realize this question has likely been asked before, but was unable to find a thread. Please no hate.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It was said by some that the eFuse on the non-developer Verizon X is blown, thus prevent its bootloader from being unlocked. I'm not sure how true this is.
One thing is certain, as has been said.. the Retail and Moto Maker X for Verizon can not have their bootloader unlocked. Like past moto phones, the bootloader has proved to be secure enough that no one has figured a way how.
If you want to be able to unlock the boot loader on your X, and you are a Verizon customer, your only choice is to by a Developer Edition from Moto's web site.
---------- Post added at 10:23 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:21 AM ----------
iscott said:
Maybe you can buy a code to unlock ur bootloader. I know somebody is selling this code.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen SIM Unlock codes being sold, but not bootloader unlock codes. If you know of someone selling them, post a link, or information. i'm sure there are plenty of VZW users who would pay, especially since 1. there was a bounty thread, and 2. the current root and write protect disable methods for locked bootloader users don't work on 4.4.2, so they are stuck.
KidJoe said:
I've seen SIM Unlock codes being sold, but not bootloader unlock codes. If you know of someone selling them, post a link, or information. i'm sure there are plenty of VZW users who would pay, especially since 1. there was a bounty thread, and 2. the current root and write protect disable methods for locked bootloader users don't work on 4.4.2, so they are stuck.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The seller is in China. The selling page is in Chinese. I don't know where he got the unlock codes. If you are interested, you can contact him. You will get the unlock code two days later after you provided him your IMEI. I don't recommend you do this because that will void your device's warranty.
iscott said:
The seller is in China. The selling page is in Chinese. I don't know where he got the unlock codes. If you are interested, you can contact him. You will get the unlock code two days later after you provided him your IMEI. I don't recommend you do this because that will void your device's warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't need it. I have a developer edition. So I unlocked without voiding my warranty.
I was asking because there are many who got a moto maker one instead, and for Verizon they can't unlock them even via Moto's web site. Have you used that site before? $40 doesn't sound too unreasonable for those who might need/want it.
iscott said:
The seller is in China. The selling page is in Chinese. I don't know where he got the unlock codes. If you are interested, you can contact him. You will get the unlock code two days later after you provided him your IMEI. I don't recommend you do this because that will void your device's warranty.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This reminds me of this:
https://plus.google.com/108504253507350757415/posts/2aJKKwoNZwK
https://plus.google.com/108504253507350757415/posts/BAu58ukTsQU
I wonder if it's the same person or if any of it is true...
KidJoe said:
I don't need it. I have a developer edition. So I unlocked without voiding my warranty.
I was asking because there are many who got a moto maker one instead, and for Verizon they can't unlock them even via Moto's web site. Have you used that site before? $40 doesn't sound too unreasonable for those who might need/want it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
mschumacher69 said:
This reminds me of this:
https://plus.google.com/108504253507350757415/posts/2aJKKwoNZwK
https://plus.google.com/108504253507350757415/posts/BAu58ukTsQU
I wonder if it's the same person or if any of it is true...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That Chinese site picture is a EU bootloader (which is unlockable), so I wouldn't trust it, but that is for someone else to decide. As far as Brenden Gonzalez posts on G+ go, the bootloader was 4.4 so it might not work on 4.4.2 bootloader, and his post has never come true either.
Code:
Brenden GonzalezFeb 9, 2014
No this is real i gave it to a Moto x dev youll see it soon hes making a easy to use tolls out of it
I was curious if anyone tried the Chinese bootloader unlock since I would defiantly get rid of my warranty in exchange for getting my bootloader unlocked.
Cant those of us with a locked bootloader simply Safestrap 4.4.2 the same way we safestrap 4.4 right now? I am running 4.2.2 bootloader, with 4.4 safestrap atm. I believe that all we are waiting for is the firmware to drop so we can extract the 4.4.2 kernels and baseband, which can be flashed manually because they are digitally signed.
KidJoe said:
Have you used that site before? $40 doesn't sound too unreasonable for those who might need/want it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It is true. Many people have unlocked their devices using the codes bought from that site.
---------- Post added at 09:24 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:19 AM ----------
stillthisguy said:
That Chinese site picture is a EU bootloader (which is unlockable), so I wouldn't trust it, but that is for someone else to decide. As far as Brenden Gonzalez posts on G+ go, the bootloader was 4.4 so it might not work on 4.4.2 bootloader, and his post has never come true either.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've asked the seller. He said he got these codes from his friend, who works in Moto. Is it legal?
iscott said:
It is true. Many people have unlocked their devices using the codes bought from that site.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So far, no one is giving info on this except you. No offence, but as far as I'm concerned, you might be the seller (or someone affiliated to him) trying to lure users to steal their money...
I might be wrong, but just saying... I mean you're saying "Many people...", where are they? Why hasn't anyone posted that they successfully bought a code and unlocked yet?
mschumacher69 said:
So far, no one is giving info on this except you. No offence, but as far as I'm concerned, you might be the seller (or someone affiliated to him) trying to lure users to steal their money...
I might be wrong, but just saying... I mean you're saying "Many people...", where are they? Why hasn't anyone posted that they successfully bought a code and unlocked yet?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're totally wrong. I'm not the seller and I'm not affiliated to the seller. I'm just giving info that there is an illegal way to unlock VZW bootloader.
You hasn't seen related threads because you don't visit Chinese forum. Here is a thread.
I DON'T recommend you do this because it will void your device's warranty and it is illegal.
iscott said:
You're totally wrong. I'm not the seller and I'm not affiliated to the seller. I'm just giving info that there is an illegal way to unlock VZW bootloader.
You hasn't seen related threads because you don't visit Chinese forum. Here is a thread.
I DON'T recommend you do this because it will void your device's warranty and it is illegal.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I said I might be wrong, all I'm saying is that until trusted people start confirming that this is legit after trying it themselves, I wouldn't believe that it is legit...
Hey guys,
So I have a VZW Moto X (from Motomaker) with an unlocked bootloader via the Chinese Middleman. UNFORTUNATELY crying today my phone took a tragic fall and has a nice crack in the glass all the way down from the top left corner. So I am going to take advantage of the Motorola free one-time replacement deal that they have for custom Moto X's.
My question is, when I get the new device and ship the old one back, do I need to worry about the fact that the bootloader is unlocked? I did replace the unlocked boot screen with the stock one and I am running a stock rom. Should I consider re-locking or would that just make it more of an issue?
Thanks!
bravesfan171 said:
Hey guys,
So I have a VZW Moto X (from Motomaker) with an unlocked bootloader via the Chinese Middleman. UNFORTUNATELY crying today my phone took a tragic fall and has a nice crack in the glass all the way down from the top left corner. So I am going to take advantage of the Motorola free one-time replacement deal that they have for custom Moto X's.
My question is, when I get the new device and ship the old one back, do I need to worry about the fact that the bootloader is unlocked? I did replace the unlocked boot screen with the stock one and I am running a stock rom. Should I consider re-locking or would that just make it more of an issue?
Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i mean it probably doesn't hurt to give it a shot, but if they notice that the bootloader is unlocked they probably wont fix it and will send it back. or will charge you the $175 or whatever it is for a new screen. i think you'd be fine though, i don't think they will turn on the phone and check if its been rooted/unlocked. whatever you do, lets us know!
bravesfan171 said:
My question is, when I get the new device and ship the old one back, do I need to worry about the fact that the bootloader is unlocked? I did replace the unlocked boot screen with the stock one and I am running a stock rom. Should I consider re-locking or would that just make it more of an issue?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
First, relocking wont help. There are 3 states the X bootloader can be in.... Locked, unlocked and relocked. We can only toggle to Unlocked and Relocked. This is displayed on the Bootloader/Fastboot screen. And the "unlocked warning" message in the stock LOGO.BIN will display when you are Unlocked and Relocked. So doing a fastboot oem lock wont change anything.
You should worry because unlocking the non-developer's bootloader *DOES* void the warranty, so if they wanted to, they could refuse the repair, or charge you for it. However, since cracking the screen isn't related, the likeliness of them giving you an issue is probably low.
One other thing to worry about is, will they repair yours, or replace it? I have a friend (doesn't post here) who had a cracked screen. They replaced the phone because the repair was too complex. If this happens, you'll need to buy another Bootloader Unlock code, and the Chinese Website/Middleman isn't as consistent as it was when it originally showed up.
They replace the phones. My sister's MotoMaker X screen cracked so Motorola sent her a code to build a new one.
And it appears to be a Verizon moto X with towel Pie installed on it. So technically unlocked but I'm a little dubious as to whether I should just return this phone.
I didn't know what towel pie was at the time and didn't know the phone wasn't actually unlocked. The guy I bought it from said that verizon moto X phones were just naturally unlocked. I didn't really find that credible at the time but assumed the phone was nonetheless unlocked now.
After playing with the phone, I find that its not actually fully unlocked but rather has this program running on it that fights the Verizon firmware to effectively make it unlocked.
Here is what I want. I want this permanently rooted without any program running in the background to reroot the phone every time. And I want all the verizon logos off my login screens etc. Is there some sort of clean rom I can write over this thing that just has it unlocked?
I am not using Verizon as a carrier.
What do you think guys. Did I get scammed? I paid 400 USD for this phone. Prompt reply would be appreciated since I think I can still return it if I'm quick about it.
Thank you for your time.
Karmashock said:
And it appears to be a Verizon moto X with towel Pie installed on it. So technically unlocked but I'm a little dubious as to whether I should just return this phone.
I didn't know what towel pie was at the time and didn't know the phone wasn't actually unlocked. The guy I bought it from said that verizon moto X phones were just naturally unlocked. I didn't really find that credible at the time but assumed the phone was nonetheless unlocked now.
After playing with the phone, I find that its not actually fully unlocked but rather has this program running on it that fights the Verizon firmware to effectively make it unlocked.
Here is what I want. I want this permanently rooted without any program running in the background to reroot the phone every time. And I want all the verizon logos off my login screens etc. Is there some sort of clean rom I can write over this thing that just has it unlocked?
I am not using Verizon as a carrier.
What do you think guys. Did I get scammed? I paid 400 USD for this phone. Prompt reply would be appreciated since I think I can still return it if I'm quick about it.
Thank you for your time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HAHA. I think there was some mis-communication there.
OK: There are 2 types of "unlocked":
1. SIM-Unlocked: Verizon phones ARE "naturally" SIM-Unlocked, and you can use them on any GSM carrier.
2. Bootloader-Unlocked: ALL Verizon phones (aside from the Developer Edition), can NOT have their bootloader's unlocked. Verizon forbids motoorola from allowing you to unlock your bootloader. "Towel Pie Root" doesn't even come close to the functionality of an unlocked bootloader -- there's simply no comparison. There is absolutely NO WAY to unlock your bootloader, except for one possibility.
See this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/china-middleman-t2751177
It will cost you money -- but if he doesn't have your code you get refunded. If you DO get a code, your bootloader will be permanently unlocked, and for all essence, it will be an unofficial "Developer Edition".
And finally -- in my opinion, $400 is QUITE excessive for what is really just a standard run-of-the-mill Verizion Moto X, with nothing special about it at all. The average selling price is currently $220 on swappa.com
If it were ME, I'd return it and find a bootloader-unlocked VZW Moto X, or the Verizon DEVELOPER edition Moto X.
Just be careful!!! Many Moto X's on swappa say that they are "unlocked", but this refers to SIM-UNLOCKED. Make sure it -explicitly- says "BOOTLOADER UNLOCKED".
Good Luck!!!
EDIT: Now that I see that you are NOT using verizon as your carrier, I would suggest that you buy an XT1053 instead.
The XT1053 has NO carrier branding, and it can be bootloader-unlocked FREE, direct from Motorola's website.
The price is slightly more than the VZW version - XT1053's are currently averaging $260 on swappa. They are ALL Sim-Unlocked, and bootloader-unlockable.
That's FAR less than the $400 you paid......
the sale is still going on on Motorola's website $324.99 brand new Dev Edition unlocked bootloader
samwathegreat said:
HAHA. I think there was some mis-communication there.
OK: There are 2 types of "unlocked":
1. SIM-Unlocked: Verizon phones ARE "naturally" SIM-Unlocked, and you can use them on any GSM carrier.
2. Bootloader-Unlocked: ALL Verizon phones (aside from the Developer Edition), can NOT have their bootloader's unlocked. Verizon forbids motoorola from allowing you to unlock your bootloader. "Towel Pie Root" doesn't even come close to the functionality of an unlocked bootloader -- there's simply no comparison. There is absolutely NO WAY to unlock your bootloader, except for one possibility.
See this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/china-middleman-t2751177
It will cost you money -- but if he doesn't have your code you get refunded. If you DO get a code, your bootloader will be permanently unlocked, and for all essence, it will be an unofficial "Developer Edition".
And finally -- in my opinion, $400 is QUITE excessive for what is really just a standard run-of-the-mill Verizion Moto X, with nothing special about it at all. The average selling price is currently $220 on swappa.com
If it were ME, I'd return it and find a bootloader-unlocked VZW Moto X, or the Verizon DEVELOPER edition Moto X.
Just be careful!!! Many Moto X's on swappa say that they are "unlocked", but this refers to SIM-UNLOCKED. Make sure it -explicitly- says "BOOTLOADER UNLOCKED".
Good Luck!!!
EDIT: Now that I see that you are NOT using verizon as your carrier, I would suggest that you buy an XT1053 instead.
The XT1053 has NO carrier branding, and it can be bootloader-unlocked FREE, direct from Motorola's website.
The price is slightly more than the VZW version - XT1053's are currently averaging $260 on swappa. They are ALL Sim-Unlocked, and bootloader-unlockable.
That's FAR less than the $400 you paid......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A lot of my issue here is that I'm under some time pressure. My old phone broke and I really just need something to replace it now. So i got what i could get in a short amount of time.
That said, I'm only willing to put up with so much crap. I don't mind over paying a bit. I do mind not getting what I want.
Now, I do believe this is the developer edition. It gives me access to developer tools in the settings and the phone info information seemed to be what developer editions say. Is there a way I can confirm this?
And if it is a Verizon developer edition Moto X, can I properly root it and clean all this verizon garbage off my phone? It seemed like you suggested that if this were a Verizon developer edition Moto X I could still root it?
Please let me know. I'll eat the price hike as a convenience charge but I really can't put up with having it permanently crippled by Verizon.
Karmashock said:
A lot of my issue here is that I'm under some time pressure. My old phone broke and I really just need something to replace it now. So i got what i could get in a short amount of time.
That said, I'm only willing to put up with so much crap. I don't mind over paying a bit. I do mind not getting what I want.
Now, I do believe this is the developer edition. It gives me access to developer tools in the settings and the phone info information seemed to be what developer editions say. Is there a way I can confirm this?
And if it is a Verizon developer edition Moto X, can I properly root it and clean all this verizon garbage off my phone? It seemed like you suggested that if this were a Verizon developer edition Moto X I could still root it?
Please let me know. I'll eat the price hike as a convenience charge but I really can't put up with having it permanently crippled by Verizon.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Enabling "Developer Options" can be done on any phone. Once again, this also has absolutely nothing to do with rooting or unlocking the bootloader. If it WERE the dev edition, the previous owner would have no reason, whatsoever to install TowelPieRoot. That's just silly to use an "exploit" on a phone with an unlocked bootloader.
TowelPieRoot DOES allow you to root the phone - but that will disappear when you update to 4.4.4 -- the new update patches the exploit used by TPR. After this, it will be permanently un-rootable unless you can unlock the BL.
You are completely out-of-luck, sir. Unless you want to roll the dice and spend another $45 in hopes that the "chinaman" might have an unlock code for you. I gave you the link in my first reply to you.
Unless the phone has a Black front, with a woven white back, it is NOT the unlockable developer edition. Sorry. Anything else is just a regular Moto X.
samwathegreat said:
Enabling "Developer Options" can be done on any phone. Once again, this also has absolutely nothing to do with rooting or unlocking the bootloader. If it WERE the dev edition, the previous owner would have no reason, whatsoever to install TowelPieRoot. That's just silly to use an "exploit" on a phone with an unlocked bootloader.
TowelPieRoot DOES allow you to root the phone - but that will disappear when you update to 4.4.4 -- the new update patches the exploit used by TPR. After this, it will be permanently un-rootable unless you can unlock the BL.
You are completely out-of-luck, sir. Unless you want to roll the dice and spend another $45 in hopes that the "chinaman" might have an unlock code for you. I gave you the link in my first reply to you.
Unless the phone has a Black front, with a woven white back, it is NOT the unlockable developer edition. Sorry. Anything else is just a regular Moto X.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thank you for your reply and do not take my stupid questions as a lack of appreciation or respect for your assistence. I'm just trying to understand if I'm mostly screwed or totally screwed.
In the sense of the princess bride... where he was "mostly dead" but not totally dead.
For example, does this work:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45598648
Is there nothing that can root the bootloader on a verizon moto X?
If not, then thank you for helping me. If there is a way... I might be willing to try it.
Karmashock said:
Thank you for your reply and do not take my stupid questions as a lack of appreciation or respect for your assistence. I'm just trying to understand if I'm mostly screwed or totally screwed.
In the sense of the princess bride... where he was "mostly dead" but not totally dead.
For example, does this work:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=45598648
Is there nothing that can root the bootloader on a verizon moto X?
If not, then thank you for helping me. If there is a way... I might be willing to try it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you are understanding.....
There is no such thing as "rooting the bootloader".
Your bootloader is either unlocked, or it isn't.
There are some "Exploits" that the exploited vulnerabilities in android and allowed you to "root" or "disable write protection", but none of them are permanent solutions. Since they are "Exploits", they can be patched by future updates. They don't "root the bootloader" - they "root the android OS".
ALL exploits, including the one you have linked above HAVE BEEN PATCHED. The only working exploit is TowelPieRoot -- but it does NOT disable write protection. It isn't very useful, and it is not permanent. As I previously told you, once you update to 4.4.4 your phone will be PERMANENTLY un-rootable. Period.
The only way to gain "permanent root and write-protection disable" is to unlock the bootloader. You can NOT unlock the bootloader on a VZW device. Period. Not unless it is a Dev Edition, OR you are able to obtain a bootloader unlock-code from the china middleman that I linked you to before.
There are NO EXCEPTIONS. As I already told you, you are 100% out-of-luck, UNLESS your phone has a black front and woven white back, OR you are able to unlock through the middleman at a cost of $45. There is NO OTHER WAY. None.
Please trust me - I know what I'm talking about 100%. I've only given you the facts. Now you must choose what to do with these facts.
if you can get your money back get your money back moto will FedEx you the brand new dev edition for $324.99 you will have it in 3 or 4 days probably until then get on Craigslist buy a hundred dollar droid to use until then and sell it afterwords
samwathegreat said:
I don't think you are understanding.....
There is no such thing as "rooting the bootloader".
Your bootloader is either unlocked, or it isn't.
There are some "Exploits" that the exploited vulnerabilities in android and allowed you to "root" or "disable write protection", but none of them are permanent solutions. Since they are "Exploits", they can be patched by future updates. They don't "root the bootloader" - they "root the android OS".
ALL exploits, including the one you have linked above HAVE BEEN PATCHED. The only working exploit is TowelPieRoot -- but it does NOT disable write protection. It isn't very useful, and it is not permanent. As I previously told you, once you update to 4.4.4 your phone will be PERMANENTLY un-rootable. Period.
The only way to gain "permanent root and write-protection disable" is to unlock the bootloader. You can NOT unlock the bootloader on a VZW device. Period. Not unless it is a Dev Edition, OR you are able to obtain a bootloader unlock-code from the china middleman that I linked you to before.
There are NO EXCEPTIONS. As I already told you, you are 100% out-of-luck, UNLESS your phone has a black front and woven white back, OR you are able to unlock through the middleman at a cost of $45. There is NO OTHER WAY. None.
Please trust me - I know what I'm talking about 100%. I've only given you the facts. Now you must choose what to do with these facts.
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Click to collapse
*sigh* Oh well.
Thank you. I'll just get the cheapest phone I can find at the store and get my money back for this one.
well im gonna order the new verizon developer edition for 324.99 than and unlock the bootloader and wipe all the verizon crap off it and permanently root it
Karmashock said:
And it appears to be a Verizon moto X with towel Pie installed on it. So technically unlocked but I'm a little dubious as to whether I should just return this phone..
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Click to collapse
A couple of questions I haven't seen asked...
On the phone go to App Drawer -> Settings -> About phone... What is listed as the SYSTEM VERSION.
Next, what does the BACK of the phone look like or say? Does it have the Verizon logo on it? Does it have the words Developer Edition on the back? Does it have SMALL HARD TO READ Fine print at the bottom that says a model number? Or did it come with the original box that has the IMEI and Model on it? (the model would be XT1060, XT1053, XT1058, etc)
What carrier are you intending to use it with?
Power off the phone, then press the power and volume down buttons simultaneously NOTE: you may need to have the USB cable disconnected first. This will bring you into the AP Fastboot Flash Mode screen (aka bootloader or fastboot mode). It will say DEVICE IS... unlocked or locked. Which is it?
I am asking these questions to know 1. What model X you have, 2. if it is bootloader unlocked, and 3 what rom version is on there.
That will help us guide you further.
@samwathegreat already did a great job explaining Boot Loader Unlock vs SIM Unlock. I've got a long and deeper explaination on bootloader unlocking and effects on rooting at -> http://mark.cdmaforums.com/MotoX-Locked.html It does need to be updated to cover rooting on 4.4.4 with a LOCKED bootloader is not possible.
In short, if your answers to my questions reveal you have a Verizon X that is not a developer edition phone, then the only way to unlock the bootloader is if you can buy a code from the China Middle Man. Unlocking the bootloader is essential these days if you want a full and working ROOT solution.
If you have a Verizon X that you are trying to use on T-Mobile, or ATT, then you might be OK as long as you don't need/want to root it, and are fine with running the stock Verizon ROM. You just might have some limits too (like not be being able to do Voice and LTE data at the same time)
Oh, but to get rid of some of the Verizon bloat, you will need to root it and delete the APK's which would impact future OTAs, or use something like Titanium Backup to freeze them. Both options need you to be rooted.
---------- Post added at 03:08 PM ---------- Previous post was at 03:02 PM ----------
Karmashock said:
*sigh* Oh well.
Thank you. I'll just get the cheapest phone I can find at the store and get my money back for this one.
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Click to collapse
OK... just saw this.. so never mind what I just posted. Good luck.
If you really want an X, Let us know what carrier, and I would still recommend a Dev Edition, either the GSM or the VZW version depending on your carrier, especially while they stay on sale for $325.99. Any non-contract phone you can get is going to be near that cost, or above.
I liked Cyan on my old Droid X but it looks like from a quick glance at the Guides and Tips page that I won't be able to even do a Clockwork Recovery let alone a new modded OS like Cyanogenmod.
Did I read that right? Assuming so, is there anything evil I can do to this phone?
You are on Verizon, so your bootloader can't be unlocked at the Moto site. You can try Sunshine for $25. That's your only hope.
And I'll ask your question be moved to the Q&A section. ?
Thx. How odd they'd lock it then charge $25 to unlock it-- that seems so Apple-esque. I bought this phone used, so I'm unlikely to throw much more money at it, but it's nice to have the option.
Shux.
JZLxxx said:
Thx. How odd they'd lock it then charge $25 to unlock it-- that seems so Apple-esque. I bought this phone used, so I'm unlikely to throw much more money at it, but it's nice to have the option.
Shux.
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Click to collapse
I think you misunderstand. The $25 unlock is a third-party exploit developed by JCase and a number of other talented developers. If you are on VZW, that is the only way to unlock, but it is far from official. Plus, it rarely works on 4.4.4 for the Moto X. I think most people would be ok if VZW offered a reasonable priced paid unlock, but I doubt we ever see that.
What did you expect after buying a locked phone on Verizon? If you value rooting, look into buying phones with easily unlockable bootloaders. Folks are lucky to have sunshine as it is
Sent from my XT1060
Ah, I didn't realize it was a 3rd party thing.
rocketsaucev2 said:
What did you expect after buying a locked phone on Verizon? If you value rooting, look into buying phones with easily unlockable bootloaders. Folks are lucky to have sunshine as it is
Sent from my XT1060
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I didn't research it much, but I was a little confuzzled by a webpage that led me to think I could (A person needs 10 posts to insert a link?). I was able to put Cyan on my VZW Droid X, e.g.
Was that supposed to be helpful?
JZLxxx said:
I didn't research it much, but I was a little confuzzled by a webpage that led me to think I could (A person needs 10 posts to insert a link?). I was able to put Cyan on my VZW Droid X, e.g.
Was that supposed to be helpful?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
A little history...
The Verizon XT1060 has always shipped with a locked bootloader. This prevents flashing ROMs or Parts (like custom recovery) from being flashed to the phone. Only Roms signed by Moto and intended for that model and carrier can be flashed.
A Developer Edition For Verizon Moto X was available from Moto's web site only. For that device, Moto would give out the bootloader unlock code. Once unlocked, you could flash 3rd party roms and parts. With the Dev Edition, you did not void your warranty while doing this.
Verizon stores and Moto's Moto Maker web site also sold the X for Verizon, but for these not Developer Editions, you could NOT get the BootLoader Unlock code.
Later, someone was able to gain access to a database of IMEI numbers and their BootLoader Unlock codes, even for Verizon Non-Dev Editions and started selling them via a China web site, and later Middle Man. While it went away for a little over a month, it later came back. It has recently shut down again.
JCASE and others had found a vulnerability they could exploit to unlock the bootloader, no unlock code needed. Its called Sunshine. But it only works on phones which haven't even been upgraded to 4.4.4.
So depending on what you read, it could be "dated" and written at a time where you could have purchased the bootloader unlock code from the China Website or Middleman.
I've read concerns about unlocking the bootloader on the 815 variant potentially voiding warranty. I think it was Autoprime but I remember one of the devs in the Simple Root thread saying the T-Mobile BL isn't locked or unlocked once rooted... basically it is open for lack of a better term. Can one interpret that as meaning we have the benefit of an unlocked BL without the warranty concerns? Does that mean we can go back to stock and they'd never knowing the phone was rooted provided the T-Mobile app asking for root was disabled prior to actually rooting? I've searched quite a bit but not seen a definitive answer specifically for the 811h variant. Thanks in advance.
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
There is no way to lock or unlock the bootloader on the H811. It's a "special" or "odd" bootloader in that it is only ever open. Since it cannot be unlocked, there is no downside to your phone being in its normal state, however odd its normal state might be.
As far as root goes, T-Mobile is using it as an excuse to say "well you shouldn't have rooted" when you're having software issues, so they can tell you to factory reset instead of troubleshooting. If your phone dies or something, they would have to prove that root was the cause in order to deny a warranty claim. Considering how much T-Mobile is enjoying being the favorite carrier in the spotlight, I doubt they would risk a media storm by telling you that you're warranty is void and they won't repair something unless you did something dumb and root access was the cause. It's more of a safety net for them than something they are going to pursue. Either way, freezing/removing the T-Mobile app and denying SU is a great thing to do.
I went ahead and did it. Super easy process. Thanks for the advice!
Sent from my LG-H811 using Tapatalk
cajunflavoredbob said:
There is no way to lock or unlock the bootloader on the H811. It's a "special" or "odd" bootloader in that it is only ever open. Since it cannot be unlocked, there is no downside to your phone being in its normal state, however odd its normal state might be.
As far as root goes, T-Mobile is using it as an excuse to say "well you shouldn't have rooted" when you're having software issues, so they can tell you to factory reset instead of troubleshooting. If your phone dies or something, they would have to prove that root was the cause in order to deny a warranty claim. Considering how much T-Mobile is enjoying being the favorite carrier in the spotlight, I doubt they would risk a media storm by telling you that you're warranty is void and they won't repair something unless you did something dumb and root access was the cause. It's more of a safety net for them than something they are going to pursue. Either way, freezing/removing the T-Mobile app and denying SU is a great thing to do.
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Click to collapse
Pro tip for everyone reading you can just call them and play dumb like you don't know what happened, you just woke up and turned it on like that and they will warranty it no problem, and, In fact there is a very real possibility that if you are on XDA you may e more tech savvy than the person you are talking too.
Sent from my LG-H811 using XDA Free mobile app
I've never used an LG phone besides my nexus5, but if the bootloader is unlocked. Then why can't we just flash twrp through adb and then flash superSU?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
mawells787 said:
I've never used an LG phone besides my nexus5, but if the bootloader is unlocked. Then why can't we just flash twrp through adb and then flash superSU?
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The T-Mobile bootloader cannot be unlocked, nor can it be locked. It is special. We are able to disable security, but we are not able to unlock the bootloader like the European model. Basically, this is the best it's going to get unless there's a bootloader update that fixes this. If that happens, we would then need to be allowed to unlock the bootloader through LG in order to get fastboot actions.
If you've ever used an HTC device, think of it as S-Off without BL unlock. It's weird, but it works.