SBF to root and to unroot

[NtrSndMn]

I'm having issues getting my friend's droid rooted... I have mine rooted running BB 0.4 and he wants to run the same setup. I've done everything in the first post up to box 2.. when i try to make a backup SPRecovery won't make the backup, and when I try to run the update.zip file it says that it cannot mount the SD card. when I tried running an update.zip for BB0.4 file from the stock recovery it gives me a failure notice that the signature doesn't match. Anything else you all can think of?

 

[ChugIt]

I made me a folder on my PC using this guide. What I did was make it like....

1. Pre-Root (Then Placed the USB Drivers and RSDLite in the folder
1. Flash SPRecovery (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
2. Root (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
3. Unroot (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)

I recommend that people new to rooting do the same so you always have easy access to either root or unroot at your fingertips. This is why I'm telling people what I did. I skipped the nandroid backup for myself personally, because I use Rom Manager when I do it. User preference is common.

For those new, always keep in mind that the word flash means to install. I'm new myself and I did plenty of research before I rooted. Thank to christim for making this guide. This thread has helped me understand things in simple terms. I am offering my advice in making such a folder so those of you new to rooting so that you can make it easier on yourself.

 

[huskur]

OK. So i have just used RSD Lite and installed SPRecovery. I have created a nandroid folder and have done a simple nandroid backup.

I can just download a update.zip ROM and intall it correct? I take it the ROM will give me my superuser access?

EDIT: i know it sounds stupid since you can see in my signature that i have root on my phone but I rooted mine during the 2.0.1. This is my wifes phone that has stock 2.1 and i am thinking this is way to easy to gain root

 

[mcalhoun]

OK. So i have just used RSD Lite and installed SPRecovery. I have created a nandroid folder and have done a simple nandroid backup.

I can just download a update.zip ROM and intall it correct? I take it the ROM will give me my superuser access?

EDIT: i know it sounds stupid since you can see in my signature that i have root on my phone but I rooted mine during the 2.0.1. This is my wifes phone that has stock 2.1 and i am thinking this is way to easy to gain root

Most of the ROMs now are already rooted and come with the superuser stock. Some actually say in the description that they are rooted.

 

[christim]

I made me a folder on my PC using this guide. What I did was make it like....

1. Pre-Root (Then Placed the USB Drivers and RSDLite in the folder
1. Flash SPRecovery (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
2. Root (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
3. Unroot (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)

I recommend that people new to rooting do the same so you always have easy access to either root or unroot at your fingertips. This is why I'm telling people what I did. I skipped the nandroid backup for myself personally, because I use Rom Manager when I do it. User preference is common.

For those new, always keep in mind that the word flash means to install. I'm new myself and I did plenty of research before I rooted. Thank to christim for making this guide. This thread has helped me understand things in simple terms. I am offering my advice in making such a folder so those of you new to rooting so that you can make it easier on yourself.

Before I first rooted I read lots of guides. Now there are even more!

I also downloaded all the files I would need to root as well as unroot. I didn't want those files vanishing on me. When SBF and RSD Lite first came out I also quickly grabbed copies of those in case they vanished from the web....like that would happen

 

[huskur]

I made me a folder on my PC using this guide. What I did was make it like....

1. Pre-Root (Then Placed the USB Drivers and RSDLite in the folder
1. Flash SPRecovery (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
2. Root (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)
3. Unroot (Then placed the file and made a .txt with the instructions listed)

I recommend that people new to rooting do the same so you always have easy access to either root or unroot at your fingertips. This is why I'm telling people what I did. I skipped the nandroid backup for myself personally, because I use Rom Manager when I do it. User preference is common.

For those new, always keep in mind that the word flash means to install. I'm new myself and I did plenty of research before I rooted. Thank to christim for making this guide. This thread has helped me understand things in simple terms. I am offering my advice in making such a folder so those of you new to rooting so that you can make it easier on yourself.

Before I first rooted I read lots of guides. Now there are even more!

I also downloaded all the files I would need to root as well as unroot. I didn't want those files vanishing on me. When SBF and RSD Lite first came out I also quickly grabbed copies of those in case they vanished from the web....like that would happen

DITTO!!! I grabbed the files to! Great minds think a like.

OK. So i have SPRecovery now on my wifes phone, stock 2.1.

Now i am ready to flash a rom. (already done a nandroid backup) So now all i have to do is install UD 3.5.0 by update.zip method and this will give me root right?

 

[ukyfan]

Followed the steps and it worked perfectly for me. Thanks for the great write-up! Quick question in regards to rooting - according to the steps listed, we are to "wipe data/factory reset" before we install the "update.zip". Simple logic would suggest that this step will in fact erase everything off of the phone before an updated, rooted 2.1 is installed. Is this correct? Is there no other way to root without wiping everything? I really don't want to have to reinstall the 60+ apps I have on my Driod, let alone all the settings, etc...

Hi zevoman,
The person who created the update.zip file, Pete, who also created the Bugless Beast series of roms provided those directions.

If the flashing of update.zip wipes everything anyways then your apps still are not saved by skipping the "wipe data/factory reset" step.

Usually it is a good idea to do that wipe of cache and data when switching roms. However, due to having just made a nandroid backup you can skip that step and see what happens. If it turns out not so good you just do a nandroid recovery of what you just backed up and perform the wipe the next time.

Astro, free in the market, will take just about all of your install APK files and back them up to your sdcard. You can then reinstall them later. While settings within each app might be gone you won't have to write down all the apps you have, go to the market to download them again, and then reinstall them one by one. Astro will let you install them from the sdcard.

Once rooted, an app like Titanium Backup will let you back up all your settings, apps, etc and restore as you move from rom to rom even though you do a complete wipe inbetween.

When moving from rom 1.1 to same-rom 1.2 you don't have to do that complete wipe and all your settings will be intact.

OK, quick question. has anyone here rooted *without* wiping? I am up to that part but don't really want to wipe if I can get away without it.

***
Never mind. I am now part of the rooted community. Still just stock 2.1, but at least I have that nifty little ninja in my apps list!

 

[pkdesigns]

Idk if its been posted, but the unroot option withought RSD fails. I get an error in CWM. Everytime. I'm goonna try reflashing sp and check it, but so far no dice on unrooting.

 

[mcalhoun]

FWIW, the only time I have ever wiped is when going from SS 4.3 to 4.4. Still never had any issues just did it but used Chevy's bkapps to restore my apps and data.

Sent from my Droid

 

[christim]

FWIW, the only time I have ever wiped is when going from SS 4.3 to 4.4. Still never had any issues just did it but used Chevy's bkapps to restore my apps and data.

Sent from my Droid

The only time I did not wipe I had issues moving from one rom to another. It could have been the rom or could have been me not wiping. I wipe every time now. Once on a certain rom though, moving from version 1.1 to 1.2 I won't wipe unless the dev's install instructions tell me to.

huskur...correct...although by now you're probably all set.

 

[ResMJM]

I just wanted to say thanks for posting this......I rooted my Droid, but now I have to return it and I couldn't figure out how to get rid of Super Permissions, but this did it! Thanks!!

 

[mcalhoun]

FWIW, the only time I have ever wiped is when going from SS 4.3 to 4.4. Still never had any issues just did it but used Chevy's bkapps to restore my apps and data.

Sent from my Droid

Your mileage may vary. LOL


Sent from my Droid

 

[huskerkate]

.sbf is "unkown file type" on my PC

i have downloaded and installed RSD Lite, as well as the 32 bit driver. however, the next step in the instructions is to download the SPRecovery file. when i click on the link in the original post, i get message that .sbf is an "unknown file type". not sure what to do...??

 

[Mbk]

i have downloaded and installed RSD Lite, as well as the 32 bit driver. however, the next step in the instructions is to download the SPRecovery file. when i click on the link in the original post, i get message that .sbf is an "unknown file type". not sure what to do...??

When you open the sbf file in RSDLite it'll load it...

 

[huskerkate]

i thought that might be the case, but didn't want to take the step without asking first - thanks!!