Good FortuneTown or MBK shop for rooting/roming Android

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I've got a couple of older Android devices at home, one mobile and one tablet, both on ICS, that I'd like to update to a more recent Android version, presumably via CyanogenMod... But in searching the Internet, the guidance for how to handle these two particular devices isn't really clear, at least not to me.

Neither of these devices were big sellers, though one is a Samsung and the other is a Pantech, both from the U.S. via AT&T,

So, can anyone recommend a hopefully trustworthy / technically capable shop at either FortuneTown or MBK that that you've used that would be able to handle that task -- hopefully without bricking either of my devices???

Edited July 4, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[dddave]

Things may have changed but when I explored MBK & Pantip last year, inquiring about rooting a Lenovo phone I had bought online that was stuck with a Chinese ROM, I could not find a shop that could do it.

While they are skilled at "Jailbreaking" & "Unlocking" I-Phones and some AT&T Samsung phones, they claimed to not know how to do other phones.

It seems that Android "Rooting" methods vary significantly phone to phone.

I was eventually able to root mine with the help of a knowledgeable friend. We found all the information and rooting files we needed on needrom.com

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

It seems that Android "Rooting" methods vary significantly phone to phone.

I was eventually able to root mine with the help of a knowledgeable friend. We found all the information and rooting files we needed on needrom.com

Thanks Dave... yes... that seems to be part of the problem, in that the required approach seems to vary depending on what manufacturer and what model even... so you kind of have to hunt down the details for each model...

And, while the most popular models are well documented, the less popular and older models aren't so well documented, and sometimes there's conflicting or opposite advice on what methods to use... It's a HEADACHE.

There have been a couple of download and install apps for rooting Android devices, but they themselves have been somewhat controversial (one allegedly was stealing IMEI numbers in the process). And in any event, those don't seem to work for the particular mobile and tablet models I have.

But... my mobile is a SAMSUNG model from the U.S. (AT&T)... Did you run into someplace that thought they could handle that kind of thing???

[bamnutsak]

I think you'll have to try this yourself.

What are the exact makes/models?

I assume you've looked on XDA?

Besides the kernel, recovery, root files and process/steps, you'll need to identify a ROM which will run on your device(s).

I recently put a 5.1.1 ROM on a Samsung Captivate (AT&T version of the SGS1); it was simple. Amazing these old devices can run a ROM based on the latest Android OS.

I doubt you'll find anyone in a shop who is familiar with these devices; they'll just go on the internet to look for solutions, which you can do - and they'll not be offering any resolution in the event they muck up your device.

Edited July 6, 2015 by bamnutsak

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Funny... my mobile is the Samsung Captivate Glide... AT&T I927...

Ya...spending a lot of time reading XDA and similar... but it's a mess... LONG LONG threads... many people saying things didn't work right...

Some saying use TWRP... Some saying use ODIN... this ROM, that ROM... this one is good, except it will break the physical command keys... this one's good, except your phone won't sleep and the battery will run down...

My mobile works fine right now...I just wish I could run a later OS than ICS to take advantage of some of the newer apps and OS functionality... But I really don't want to brick or disable my phone in the process of getting there....

Re the process, I can take the time to find the right ROM and gather together all the files and such, no problem. But i've never rooted or rommed a phone before... so I really don't feel familiar/comfortable with the process... That's where I was hoping to find someone who's done it/does it, so at least they have the general familiarity with how to proceed.

Edited July 6, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

they'll not be offering any resolution in the event they muck up your device.

This whole area of technology is a bit beyond me, and I'm not bad when it comes to tech in general...

But...from what I've read... once you've rooted the phone to gain admin privileges/access...before installing any new ROM, you should do a full Nandroid backup... And from what I've read, supposedly...even if things go entirely bad in the new ROM install process... the full Nandroid backup supposedly would bring back your original system....

At least... that's what I've read....

[RichCor]

Take a look at XDA threads specific to your device that talk about the sideloaded apk KingRoot. It's a one-tap solution.

While I don't like that the app remains on the device after rooting, it does the job. Or at least did so on my i-Mobile device that wasn't supported by Towelroot.

[Anthony5]

Funny... my mobile is the Samsung Captivate Glide... AT&T I927...

Ya...spending a lot of time reading XDA and similar... but it's a mess... LONG LONG threads... many people saying things didn't work right...

Some saying use TWRP... Some saying use ODIN... this ROM, that ROM... this one is good, except it will break the physical command keys... this one's good, except your phone won't sleep and the battery will run down...

My mobile works fine right now...I just wish I could run a later OS than ICS to take advantage of some of the newer apps and OS functionality... But I really don't want to brick or disable my phone in the process of getting there....

Re the process, I can take the time to find the right ROM and gather together all the files and such, no problem. But i've never rooted or rommed a phone before... so I really don't feel familiar/comfortable with the process... That's where I was hoping to find someone who's done it/does it, so at least they have the general familiarity with how to proceed.

My experience with custom roms is that there is always something that doesn't work.

Read the comments in the threads about a custom rom.

ex. Hey man you are the best, great rom..........can you fix the bluetooth with the next update.

ex.2 Great rom, muchg better than original, but I have to enter my wifi password eacht time I connect to my router. Is there a way to fix it.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

Thanks Rich... I've already tried TowelRoot on both my mobile and tablet... Didn't work on either...

I think...but I could be mistaken...that it was KingRoot that supposedly was accused some time back of somehow stealing or selling or something the IMEI numbers of mobiles that used that app... There was some decent controversy about it, and I thought it led to XDA revoking their support/recommendation of using it (at least for some time) ... But I'm not quite sure what the final outcome was...

--------------------

Sorry...the issue I was recalling was regarding KINGO root... which I guess may be different...

Here's the prior problem/issue I was recalling with Kingo

http://androidnews.co.in/2013/11/08/psa-use-kingo-root-vroot-root-android-device/

But...when I start reading now about King Root 4.0..I start reading about a Chinese app whose code is proprietary and hasn't been released, so no one seems quite sure sure what it's doing or how it gets there.

Edited July 6, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

I see XDA has, at present, a 112 page long thread right now on Kingroot that only began back in May....

Wow...and I thought some ThaiVisa threads got to be LONG!!!!

http://forum.xda-developers.com/android/apps-games/one-click-root-tool-android-2-x-5-0-t3107461

From the app's developer in China:

KingRoot is an amazing tool for "lazy people" who just want to get root access but don't want to flash any third party Recovery into their lovely device. It is one of the most famous root tool in China and now we release English version here for everyone, totally free and without AD. Something interesting will happen when you root your device by KingRoot, the most suitable Root strategy will be deployed from cloud, that is why we have higher success rate that some other tools. Specifically, root success rate will higher than 60% on supported device. This is our first English version, that's why there are still some Chinese in app, we are apologize for that if it cause you confused.

INFORMATION COLLECTION

We heard about lots story about "Chinese steal you IMEI and clone a phone", in fact, we really don't know why we need do that and how to clone a phone . Anyway, I think we need publish the truth about information collection.

1. Just as I said above, KingRoot will deploy the most suitable root strategy into your device from cloud. In order to do this, we apparently need to get your ROM information. In the other words, we upload ROM information for root but not for "clone a phone"

2. We will not save ROM information in our server, if we do that, may be we need to update our server and make it as big as Google's. Come on, that's need a great amount of money.

3. All your sensitive information such IMEI will be encrypted and interpreted into another number in order to calculate success rate.

OK... well... that settles it for me... they MUST be safe and trustworthy....

So...whomever is behind this in China... why exactly are they doing it and making it available for free??? What would they have to gain... hmmm....

Edited July 6, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

My experience with custom roms is that there is always something that doesn't work.

Read the comments in the threads about a custom rom.

ex. Hey man you are the best, great rom..........can you fix the bluetooth with the next update.

ex.2 Great rom, muchg better than original, but I have to enter my wifi password eacht time I connect to my router. Is there a way to fix it.

Yep...I've been reading EXACTLY those kinds of posts all over XDA... and that's not really where I want to end up...

I should say though.... I'd probably be OK to just gain root access to my phone and be able to take advantage of those benefits... even WITHOUT then following up to install a new ROM on the device.

I could probably settle for the half-way solution.

[Anthony5]

My experience with custom roms is that there is always something that doesn't work.

Read the comments in the threads about a custom rom.

ex. Hey man you are the best, great rom..........can you fix the bluetooth with the next update.

ex.2 Great rom, muchg better than original, but I have to enter my wifi password eacht time I connect to my router. Is there a way to fix it.

Yep...I've been reading EXACTLY those kinds of posts all over XDA... and that's not really where I want to end up...

I should say though.... I'd probably be OK to just gain root access to my phone and be able to take advantage of those benefits... even WITHOUT then following up to install a new ROM on the device.

I could probably settle for the half-way solution.

That's also the reason I rooted my latest phone with Towelroot, to remove bloatware, apps which i will not use anyway and install some interesting apps that require root.

On previous phones I have used custom roms, and while there are few nice roms around, there is always something that you have to offer up which is on the stock rom.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

And the guy who did Towelroot is now working for Google to identify and prevent exploits, and no longer supporting his original creation...or so I read lately???

[RichCor]

I only suggest this as an alternative, for those without other options.

Many phones already have established clean methods for gaining root access. There's also Framaroot and Towelroot.

I only went this direction after finding that my alternative for my i-Mobile IQ phone was downloading an unknown apk posted on a dozen Thai message boards that each had a different name and memory size. Way too scary for me.

At least this one was associated with XDA and used by several XDA forums.

There's also a documented process for replacing the KingRoot and KingUser apps after root is established and using the normal SuperUser or SuperSU apps from Google PlayStore.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

That's also the reason I rooted my latest phone with Towelroot, to remove bloatware, apps which i will not use anyway and install some interesting apps that require root.

I'm in the same place...

Example, I've got a 16 GB ICS Android 3G tablet that works great...except (last time I checked) I couldn't even stream any music files via Google Play Music, for example, because they automatically went AFAICT to the the very limited/almost full RAM memory...all the while I've got 14 GB of disk space not being used.... And AFAICT, no easy way to change that in ICS.

Google was supposedly changing that for the newer OS versions of Play Music... but not yet for ICS and earlier...at least...last time I checked.

Edited July 6, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK

[Digitalbanana]

I'd looked into rooting and flash ROM of my 3 yo Samsung but only got as far as rooting. Did it all myself, as I'd trust that over any shop in MBK. However after a lot of searching with Google and YouTube it seemed whereas a root was OK, all the new ROM's had something that didn't quite work, so I passed. Having a rooted phone is great tho, as could remove all the bloat and stop the ads.

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

There's also a documented process for replacing the KingRoot and KingUser apps after root is established and using the normal SuperUser or SuperSU apps from Google PlayStore.

Rich, can you elaborate a bit on that, and/or, point to something mainstream that explains about that?

But I guess my concern would be... IF the KingRoot app were to end up sending my phone's IMEI number and who knows what else to some unknown parties in China, once that's done on the initial install and run, then the "damage" has already been done at that point. I'm not sure I follow how removing replacing KingRoot with SU at that point is going to make things any better?

[RichCor]

KingRoot, unfortunately, is an all-in-one solution.

It's a root method and system control apps.

You install the apk on your phone, launch the app, and it then grabs the specifics of your phone (and the IMEI, that it supposedly salts and 'converts' to become a unique user identifier) then the apk 'phones home' in hopes of identify a current working exploit write data to a read-only section of memory (and rooting the phone).

If successful, as an all-in-one solution, it then adds two to three applications (KingRoot, Kinguser, and PURIFY) that are custom system module applications that control root/superuser authorization, autostart manager and active memory management (AppKiller).

I haven't found any writeups evaluating these after-root apps. While you need to have some type of Super User gateway app (like SuperSU) to control what apps are permitted one-time or all-the-time SuperUser ability, the other functions the KingRoot apps provided aren't absolutely necessary. They can be downright annoying.

KingRoot also PREVENTS other SuperUser control apps from being installed. While this might be a good thing, it's a bit unnerving to have apps blocked from being installed. In fact, removing KingRoot to have a plain rooted phone seems like a rooting process in itself with the hoops you and a downloaded script have to jump through to eradicate KingRoot without unrooting the phone.

A Google Search for: Replace KingRoot with SuperSU will reveal the options available.

[bamnutsak]

my mobile is the Samsung Captivate Glide... AT&T I927..

My mobile works fine right now

Doesn't seem to be a lot of development on this version so not sure what you could flash to?

http://forum.xda-developers.com/captivate-glide/development

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1621350

Seems easy enough to root though in case you wanted to run specialized apps (AdAway).

Maybe best to stick with what you have now. If it works...why break it.

FWIW, the Captivate (i897) I flashed for friend is working fine - everything works (the base ROM was solid), in fact it is even much better than it was as he now has access to all sorts of newer apps. Very amazing that this what, 4 year old, phone runs the latest OS.

No idea on the Pantech? No details provided.

Edited July 8, 2015 by bamnutsak

[TallGuyJohninBKK]

FWIW, I spent too many hours last night fiddling with this...

In the end, I was able to successfully root the Pantech Element all by myself, using a method/resource I found on XDA (one of probably a dozen different approaches I explored).

Ironically, I couldn't get any of the Pantech Element specific solutions to work (links to needed files were dead, etc etc). But in the end, I tried a method I came across that users seemed to report worked well for a similar Pantech mobile phone that the company released at the same time as the Element. And presto, it turned out to work on their tablet too, even though nowhere was it documented to do so.

So I spent a good part of the night doing that, and then installing SuperUser and Titanium Backup Root, backing up, and then going in with another app and deleting a bunch of un-needed, unwanted system apps (bloatware) (that I'd only previously been able to disable, but not remove). When all was done, the tablet was running fast and smooth.

Before root, I had only about 170 MB of available space out of 1GB on the tablet devoted to system app storage. After the root, and deleting all the system junk and other stuff, I ended up with 300 MB available out of the 1 GB, which gives me some breathing room and the ability to add things when I want to. (Actually, I was down to 50 MB of available space, but I ended up for now removing the 120 MB that was being taken up by a Kodi install. I'll decide what to do with that one later).

Meanwhile, for the Captivate, after I finished the Pantech, everything I tried came up with dead ends for now, as in every method I explored either didn't work because my phone wasn't compatible, wasn't safe and drew warnings from the online community, or supposedly worked for my phone but the needed files were no longer available because of dead links...

It's kind of weird...and just a thing about Android:

--The Pantech tablet has 16 GB of total internal storage (apart from its SD card option), but only 1 GB of that is available in the system for installing applications. The rest, after the ROM/OS content, is treated as USB storage for data files and such.

--Whereas, the Captivate Glide has only 8 GB of internal storage, but a full 2 GB of that is available for app installs, and the remaining 6 GB is used by the OS and the rest is available for data.

So I have a 16 GB tablet that's more restricted in my ability to install/add my own apps compared to an 8 GB mobile phone that has double the available space for installing additional apps. Yeesh...

So meanwhile, I'll take a break for a bit, and then go back and see if I can do anything with the Captivate Glide. But as I said, that's a less pressing issue because it already has a less dire situation with available app space. But I wouldn't mind being able to put a KitKat ROM on it, if I could find a way.

Edited July 8, 2015 by TallGuyJohninBKK