Database Develop

[Q] Just a couple questions.....

I have vzw dev ed, rooted with twrp recovery, stock everything else, I want to take the OTA and know i cant as is, i plan on using moto x toolkit to flash back to stock, here are my questions, once im back to stock and take the OTA, will i still be rooted, if not can i re root 4.4.2, do they have twrp custom recovery for 4.4.2, or should i just freeze the update and leave my phone as is?

jaysdroid2 said:
I have vzw dev ed, rooted with twrp recovery, stock everything else, I want to take the OTA and know i cant as is, i plan on using moto x toolkit to flash back to stock, here are my questions, once im back to stock and take the OTA, will i still be rooted, if not can i re root 4.4.2, do they have twrp custom recovery for 4.4.2, or should i just freeze the update and leave my phone as is?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
you have a unlocked bootloader so you can root any version of android just grab the SBF file for 4.4 and flash it with RSD Lite and then take the OTA update
after the update reflash your custom recovery via the command promote command then install the SuperSU flashable zip in your recovery and enjoy your rooted 4.4.2

dray_jr said:
you have a unlocked bootloader so you can root any version of android just grab the SBF file for 4.4 and flash it with RSD Lite and then take the OTA update
after the update reflash your custom recovery via the command promote command then install the SuperSU flashable zip in your recovery and enjoy your rooted 4.4.2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
awesome, thank you, so the twrp version i used while on 4.4 will work with 4.4.2, there is not a different version for the new OS? basically once i revert back to stock and accept the OTA i just do exactly what i did the first time with the same files and i'll be where i was prior?

Yes, you can use the same TWRP version on 4.4.2, and you reinstall it the same way. However, you don't need to use RSD lite to flash an entire SBF file in order to return to stock to accept the update - you can, but it will wipe all of your apps and settings. You can fastboot the stock recovery.img and system.img to return to stock, accept the OTA, re-flash TWRP, reboot directly into TWRP, let TWRP install SU, and you're good to go.
Sent from my XT1060 Dev Edition

Interesting, where would i find just those two img. files and how would i go about flashing just those two files, sorry if i need it dumbed down, fist moto phone and first time having to use a cmd prompt screen to do anyhting, had a galaxy nexus prior and everyhting was completely.....different/simpler.

pkomarnicki said:
Yes, you can use the same TWRP version on 4.4.2, and you reinstall it the same way. However, you don't need to use RSD lite to flash an entire SBF file in order to return to stock to accept the update - you can, but it will wipe all of your apps and settings. You can fastboot the stock recovery.img and system.img to return to stock, accept the OTA, re-flash TWRP, reboot directly into TWRP, let TWRP install SU, and you're good to go.
Sent from my XT1060 Dev Edition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this is tru but i rather just have them use the whole file instead of flashing just parts of it because there is less chance of messing there phone up.
so it is your call either way you have to download the SBF file. then you can either flash the whole file via RSD Lite or you can unzip the recover or system images and flash them via CMD and fastboot and mfastboot.
you can find the SBF files at the link below just make sure you download the correct file for your phone
http://sbf.droid-developers.org/phone.php?device=0
here is a link to my guide should give you all the info you need to get back to stock to take the OTA
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/ref-how-to-root-4-4-links-guides-t2603358

Thank you all for the input, im prolly just going to revert completely to stock, i have no problem letting my apps re download and its less of a chance i fubar something, although if i do rest assured my next post will be how to un-fubar my phone

pkomarnicki said:
Yes, you can use the same TWRP version on 4.4.2, and you reinstall it the same way. However, you don't need to use RSD lite to flash an entire SBF file in order to return to stock to accept the update - you can, but it will wipe all of your apps and settings. You can fastboot the stock recovery.img and system.img to return to stock, accept the OTA, re-flash TWRP, reboot directly into TWRP, let TWRP install SU, and you're good to go.
Sent from my XT1060 Dev Edition
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This. No reason to flash back to completely stock.
jaysdroid2 said:
Interesting, where would i find just those two img. files and how would i go about flashing just those two files, sorry if i need it dumbed down, fist moto phone and first time having to use a cmd prompt screen to do anyhting, had a galaxy nexus prior and everyhting was completely.....different/simpler.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The 2 files can be found inside the sbf file.
To flash them:
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
fastboot flash system system.img
jaysdroid2 said:
Thank you all for the input, im prolly just going to revert completely to stock, i have no problem letting my apps re download and its less of a chance i fubar something, although if i do rest assured my next post will be how to un-fubar my phone
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Take this opportunity to learn something. If flashing back to stock isn't an issue for you, what's the worst that can happen? You own a dev edition, learn to take full advantage of it. It's not difficult at all..
And please, don't use a toolkit until you've learned the basics of fastboot and adb. If the toolkit fails, you'll end up having to learn it all anyways.

OTA update

Hi guys!
I've finally received 4.4.4 notification to update my German Moto x!!
I'd like to know one thing before I proceed.. If I update, will I have to root again the phone?
My phone has unlocked bootloader so there is no problem, but right now I'm on holiday and I don't have a pc to root it again..
Thanks a lot!

I have not upgrade to 4.4.4 yet.
I don't think you need to root again

Thanks!
I've read some other user just flashed the stock recovery, installed the ota and flashed back twrp recovery..
Others instead use fwz method
I think I'll wait until I'm home just to be sure I need my phone during the holidays!

daede86 said:
Thanks!
I've read some other user just flashed the stock recovery, installed the ota and flashed back twrp recovery..
Others instead use fwz method
I think I'll wait until I'm home just to be sure I need my phone during the holidays!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, i was wondering the same thing. Is there a method for someone to create an update for rooted phones?
Also can you link me to the threads for flashing back to stock and what this fwz is?
thank you

Here you can find some info about FXZ (sorry for my typo)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/moto-x/general/fxz-moto-x-4-4-4-212-55-26-t2827307
In the same thread you can find the stock recovery, a user posted it. Just search stock recovery in the thread and you'll find it!
I'm not the right person to help you in detail.
I'm not an expert user
In the meantime I froze motorola OTA app to hide the update notification..

Guys, before anyone gets in trouble....there is no FXZ for the german (or any asia/european) Moto X's yet.
The only one released is the Verizon one....so DON'T flash the verizon FXZ.
You need to flash stock recovery back, and if the phone STILL won't take the OTA, also use "mfastboot" to flash system.img from the 4.4.2 FXZ (which IS released for the european/asia models). Afterwards, the OTA should install without fail.
You WILL need to re-flash TWRP no matter which method you use. You will also need to re-root IF you flash the system.img from the 4.4.2 SBF in order to be able to accept the OTA (you only flash system.img from 4.4.2 if the OTA fails after you have flashed stock recovery - it normally means you have modified /system in some way, and restoring the full system.img fixes this issue).
Good Luck - Remember: Don't flash the Verizon 4.4.4 FXZ to your non-Verizon phone. Not a good idea...

If your phone doesn't vary from Stock but rooted, you can get away with flashing stock recovery back on there and taking the OTA. (OTA wont install via custom recovery like TWRP, CWM, etc). And if that is the case, you will retain root. You can optionally flash TWRP back on there.
If you have Xposed installed, it will need to be disabled or removed for the OTA install to work.
It is when you mess with stock files in /System or other folders on the phone.. i.e. remove, rename, etc. files from them, that you may also need to flash system.img and possibly other parts. This is due to verification checks in the OTA zip itself. If you have to flash those parts, you will have to re-root. Not an issue if you have an unlocked bootloader.

Thanks a lot for your help and clarification!!
I knew I wasn't the right person

Guys just to be sure of the right process..
-download the actual sbf of my phone
-extract recovery.img from the sbf
-remove xposed
-flash the recovery with flashify
-take the ota
-flash back twrp recovery
Am I right?!
Thanks a lot

daede86 said:
Guys just to be sure of the right process..
-download the actual sbf of my phone
-extract recovery.img from the sbf
-remove xposed
-flash the recovery with flashify
-take the ota
-flash back twrp recovery
Am I right?!
Thanks a lot
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
IF you do not vary too much from Stock (i.e. didn't remove, rename or replace any "stock" files on your phone), then yes.
Oh, for Xposed, there is a disabler ZIP you can flash from custom recovery located in /storage/emulated/0/Android/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer (or /SdCard/Android/data/de.robv.android.xposed.installer ) instead of removing it, as sometimes removing it doesn't undo all the changes.

what happens if you upgrade a rooted htc one t lollipop

so say i upgrade my rooted htc one once the ota update becomes ready.. what happens? i dont want to end up with a bricked phone.. would it harm my phone in any way?
thaaaanxxx

monrokhoury said:
so say i upgrade my rooted htc one once the ota update becomes ready.. what happens? i dont want to end up with a bricked phone.. would it harm my phone in any way?
thaaaanxxx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
An OTA update will not work on a rooted phone! For the OTA to work it needs stock recovery, stock rom and all of the files that it is attempting to update. If anything is missing then it will error out and return to your present setup.

and to complete what majmoz already said, if your rom is 100% stock, and you have flashed back your stock recovery, the phone will update fine but you will loose root. You'll need to flash a custom recovery after the OTA to re-root the rom.

Guys you're very helpful and i must thank you for that. i am on the official 4.4.3 rom so i just need to restore the stock recovery? how to do that? and will the current rooting method work on lollipop (and should i follow the same steps to install clockwork recovery)? Will the ota update relock the bootloader?
i'm sorry if i'm asking too many questions but i don't trust any other forum.

monrokhoury said:
Guys you're very helpful and i must thank you for that. i am on the official 4.4.3 rom so i just need to restore the stock recovery?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have not modified anything to your rom (Kernel is stock and always was, you have not deleted any /system files and you still have or restored all the content in /data/preload (wiped during bootloader unlock), so yes all you need to do is to flash back the stock recovery that match your version.
how to do that?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The same way you did to flash a custom recovery:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery name_of_file.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot
and will the current rooting method work on lollipop
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flash the latest supersu from a custom recovery. Version 2.37 and above should work on lollipop
and should i follow the same steps to install clockwork recovery
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You always flash the recovery using the same commands, stock or custom, on all versions its always:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery name_of_file.img
fastboot erase cache
fastboot reboot
Will the ota update relock the bootloader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OTA updates will never affect the bootloader status (S-ON/S-OFF, LOCKED/UNLOCKED/RELOCKED)

If you have not modified anything to your rom (Kernel is stock and always was, you have not deleted any /system files and you still have or restored all the content in /data/preload (wiped during bootloader unlock), so yes all you need to do is to flash back the stock recovery that match your version.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So, if I did flash a custom kernel, and did uninstall system programs (but didn't flash a custom Rom), what are my options if I'd like to upgrade to lollipop?
Thanks!
Sent from my HTC One using XDA Free mobile app

Is Root access without recovery possible?

I found that my moto xt1052 has bootloader unlocking available and im very excited. I like to know if its compulsory to flash recovery to make device rooted. I don't want to install new roms or firmware. Im rooting to control running apps and use some root apps.
I like my phn to be receptive for ota, which isn't possible if i flash custom recovery.
So i want to know if recovery is compulsory to have root status and manage permissions or if i can enjoy root privileged with just unlocking the bootloader.
Thankyou.
Sent from my moto XT1052 using XDA Free mobile app

After unlocking the bootloader, flash TWRP, root, then flash stock recovery back on the phone and run that way.

KidJoe said:
After unlocking the bootloader, flash TWRP, root, then flash stock recovery back on the phone and run that way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi KidJoe,
how back to stock recovery ?
is it enough to flashing file "recovery.img" by RSD Lite ?

I know rsd lite is made to be more user friendly but I still prefer flashing via fastboot.
Fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

Moto-x said:
hi KidJoe,
how back to stock recovery ?
is it enough to flashing file "recovery.img" by RSD Lite ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
RSDLite is overkill to flash just recovery.
Do as @cntryby429 said... use mfastboot to flash recovery. You can use it to flash either TWRP (when rooting) and/or Stock recovery.

[Q] Updating firmware without USB

I want to update to the latest firmware on my M7, but one of the USB data pins is broken so I'm not able to use fastboot.
What's the best procedure to update it?
I was thinking of using a Guru Reset rom to flash a stock OS and stock recovery, and then OTA update all the way up to Lollipop, which will update my firmware along the way. The only problem with that is that I'll be stuck on stock forever because I won't be able to flash TWRP through terminal without root.
I know that OTA updates use stock recovery to flash the firmware.zip inside the OTA. Is it possible to modify the OTA.zip to just flash the firmware?

thedancingbear said:
I want to update to the latest firmware on my M7, but one of the USB data pins is broken so I'm not able to use fastboot.
What's the best procedure to update it?
I was thinking of using a Guru Reset rom to flash a stock OS and stock recovery, and then OTA update all the way up to Lollipop, which will update my firmware along the way. The only problem with that is that I'll be stuck on stock forever because I won't be able to flash TWRP through terminal without root.
I know that OTA updates use stock recovery to flash the firmware.zip inside the OTA. Is it possible to modify the OTA.zip to just flash the firmware?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can root any htc firmware using the root tool that therootninja provides on his website
Once you do that you can flash the stock recovery img or twrp using flashify and use the terminal functions within twrp