As title, I'm trying to root a development board running 4.2.2. I do have root access and put busybox and su, but my problem is that whenever I start apps that require root access, superuser never gives me prompt asking whether root access is allow (yes, my setting in Superuser is to prompt for every apps that require root), as a result, the app would not run reporting that my device is not rooted. As an example, when I trying to run droidvncserver, it would tell me "could not start server", but if I start it as root on a shell, it would run and start server, this leads me to think that droidvncserver is not requesting root access or Superuser does not know that droidvncserver needs root access. I'm pretty sure I'm missing something in my system, but what is it. All this works on a rooted phone, but not on the development board. I've read through some of the rooting script for other phones, mostly include remounting /system as rw and put busybox and su onto the system, and that's what I've done on the board, but there's just no connection between those root-require apps and superuser. Anyone knows what I'm doing wrong/missing?
Related
I installed Z4 mod and ran it and it says my g-tab is rooted. I have read that custom ROMS are pre-rooted. In my limited linux experience - being root gives you total control over the machine. I ran Terminal Emulator and cd / to get me to the top of the file structure. I tried to mkdir test and I was denied because the file system is read only. Next I went into the system folder because a lot of stuff in there looks familiar. I again tried mkdir test and was denied because the file system is read only. It would seem that to be root I would need a password and Z4 didn't offer to give me one or let me set it. Thinking further, I wonder if the file system is mounted for read only and that is why I can't create a new directory. When I am running the rom (Vegan) I can write there (understanding that I am writing to the sdcard that is mounted - presumably with RW access. So, what is all this rooting talk about then? What is the purpose of being root if you still do not have access to the file system?
You need Superuser.apk, as well. Think of Superuser as similar to Windows UAC, and rooting as making yourself an administrator. Even though you have root (admin) access, UAC (Supeuser.apk) still needs to let you through.
You also need "root aware" apps. Perfect example is Titanium Backup and that's usually my "litmus test" for verifying if I really have root or not on a device.
yup, in my limited rooting experience (droid1 and gtablet), after the process, there was always a new icon in the app tray entitled "superuser". i didnt have to install it separately, it showed up after the rooting process. if you don't have the superuser app, im betting the root process was unsuccessful.
my memory tells me i had some problems with z4root rooting my tablet, and i had to do it a few times before it actually worked. that was back in december tho, so i dont know if the current version of z4 is different than the one i used, and if so, if kinks were worked out...
so yeah, i probably helped none.
I always though z4root and Superuser were kind of a package deal.
I use them on my Cowon D3, as Cowon completely locks down their recovery process. boo to that.
rodzero,
With z4root you install it first. Then, you install a file manager program like "Root
Explorer" and when it comes up you click to "Allow" it. After that, you can go in
through Root Explorer and create and change R/O to R/W as needed. Same same
with Titanium Backup, once you have "allowed" it you can do what you need
to with the program.
Rev
More Investigation.
Thanks for the fast responses! I do have Superuser installed and it pops up from time to time when an app wants su access. Using terminal emulator, I worked my way into and what do I find but su! I ran su and got was granted su rights in the terminal. I felt pretty smug so I headed into the etc folder thinking I would make a simple change to the hosts file just to see if I could do it. I'm used to using nano in Ubuntu but no nano here. I tried vi (which I really don't know how to use) and I got some strange display but I don't think it was an editor. So, for the sake of closing the loop - if I wanted to edit the hosts file and add a new host - how would I do it. The Terminal Emulator now seems to be in the list to be granted su whenever I type it in. I know how to move around the file system. What kind of text editor would I invoke to actually alter the file? OK.... I went and downloaded TED and worked my way back to the hosts file, added a line but TED doesn't have su rights to save the file. So it looks like su exists but I don't see how to run an app in su mode except for terminal where I can invoke it by a text command. What's the missing piece to get TED to ask for su access?
Just a guess, but TED need to ask for elevation of privileges. It's probably an app issue.
hi. i can't believe i'm the first person to ask this but i've searched as best i can through these forums, and on google, and cannot find a definitive answer. there are lots of pages giving high level descriptions of rooting a phone like "gives admin access", "allows access to the root filesystem", etc. but, when you root a phone, what actually happens ? does it simply make the "su" binary available so that apps can call it to access the root user ? eg. i've got a samsung galaxy s2, if i install an insecure kernel, then add su to /system/xbin, and then reinstall a stock kernel, is that technically a rooted phone ? this is actually what i did on my phone, although i installed superuser and busybox from the market after adding su. i am aware that there are various threads in the sgs2 forums on how to root, i'm just using my phone as an example, i'm just trying to understand generically what is meant when someone says a phone has been rooted. cheers.
Full control over your system
Ability to alter system files. You can replace many parts of the "Android Core" with this including:
Themes
Core apps (maps, calendar, clock etc)
Recovery image
Bootloader
Toolbox (linux binary that lets you execute simple linux commands like "ls") can be replaced with Busybox (slightly better option)
Boot images
Add linux binaries
Run special apps that need more control over the system
SuperUser (lets you approve or deny the use of root access to any program)
Task Manager For Root (Lets you kill apps that you otherwise could not kill)
Tether apps (like the one found at [android-wifi-tether.googlecode.com])
<there are more but I cannot think of any right now>
Backup your system
You can make a folder on your sdcard and backup all of your .apk files to your sdcard (helps if an author decides to "upgrade" you to a version that requires you to pay to use the version you just had)
Relocate your (browser/maps/market) cache to your /sdcard
Relocate your installed applications to your /sdcard
Reboot your phone from the terminal app easily (su <enter> reboot <enter>)
Copied and pasted from google... it is your friend.
thanks for the response however, i'm trying to understand what actually changes on the phone when you root it, rather than simply the benefits of rooting a phone.
Carrot Cruncher said:
thanks for the response however, i'm trying to understand what actually changes on the phone when you root it, rather than simply the benefits of rooting a phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Unrooted phone is like logging on as user in a computer. By rooting you have "administrative" rights, just like using sudo command in Ubuntu. Some binaries which are important in gaining administrative rights are installed in the phone.
sent from my nokia 3210
If you come from Windows, you're familiar with the Administrator account. A user that can do everything on the system, as opposed to other users than only have limited privileges. In Linux, that account is called "root". That's all there is to it. It's a user that can do everything on the system.
@Panos_dm: Actually, it's *not* like using sudo. Sudo gives elevated privileges to your existing user account, whereas "root" is a whole separate account.
Nope, sudo actually switches users
i'm a linux user and have been a linux admin in the past so understand the difference between su and sudo. sorry to sound pedantic but i'm still not clear on exactly what happens when you root a phone, i.e. what exactly happens during the rooting process ?
It opens your phone to a whole new array of possibilities.
Sent from my HTC Sensation 4G using xda premium
Carrot Cruncher said:
but i'm still not clear on exactly what happens when you root a phone, i.e. what exactly happens during the rooting process ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
In a gist? The "su" binary and the Superuser.apk app get installed. Sometimes doing so requires exploiting a vulnerability via a trigger. Rageagainstthecage is a common trigger. I once had a link that explained what exactly rageagainstthecage does, but I don't have it anymore.
If you really want to know all the details, here's the script I used to root my Defy: http://pastebin.com/G3m9v4FQ
Hmm, I see the script contains a link to the explanation of what rageagainstthecage does. Cool.
many thanks for confirming my understanding of the process.
I'm sure the answer to this question is somewhere there, but I cannot find it. There is plenty of information on how to root your phone or tablet, but not on how the root works on Android.
When I work on my Linux box I usually use a "normal", limited user. Only when I need to install something, I switch to superuser, or root, using "su" or "sudo".What happens on a rooted Android? Do all apps run with root privileges all the time? Or rather some sort of "su" command is unlocked, and an app can access it when required. Can I give and revoke superuser powers to an app?
It is always safer to run all programs or apps with limited privileges, so when they misbehave, the risk to system integrity is minimal. If everything runs in root mode, it might just spectacularly crash one day.
In this context, how does adaway work? Does it start with the system, sitting in the background and using its root privileges to intercept and filter incoming HTTP packages? If I understand this correctly, it should then work with any browser?
Sorry for asking several questions in one topic, but I'd appreciate if someone could briefly explain the whole thing.
There is a superuser app, which seems to be doing the same job as gksu does on a linux desktop. Apps can request root, you can allow/deny. If you use the shell, su works as normal (just no password) - but connectbot needs to be given root privileges in order for this to succeed.
Hi XDA Community,
Your forums have helped me in the past and I spent some time scouring the posts before posting this one as I couldn't find anything that was specific to my issue. Since this is my first post, I thought that I would save a ping pong of responses, by being fairly expansive on what the problem is and what I have tried; thus hoping to pinpoint my issue a little quicker.
Device Details:
---------------------
Model Number: GT-I9100
Android Version: 4.0.3
Kernel Version: [email protected] #3
Build Number: IML74K.XWLP3
ROM Firmware: Samsung-Updates.com-GT-I9100_O2U_1_20120326173406_jiut50pyip.zip (via Samsung Kies)
Rooting Method / Kernel: Odin3v185 / CF-Root-SGS2_XX_XEO_LPQ-v5.3-CWM5
Summary
--------------
Since the beginning of July 2012, I successfully upgraded from Gingerbread v2.3.6 to ICS v4.0.3 using Samsung Kies then initiated root privileges by using the CF-Root Kernel via Odin (versions shown above) - All has been working fine 100%.....
However, it appears that I seem to have lost my SU permissions and may have disabled my root access, even though my device was rooted and I would appreciate any assistance from anyone who might have time to shed some light on the situation.
Behaviour of Apps I have tried that require root
-------------------------------------------------------------------
SuperSU
SuperSU Pro v0.96 lists in the 'Apps' tab (denoted by a green # symbol) that I have granted all relevant Apps that require SU privileges. This includes AdFree, BusyBox Pro, Root Checker Basic, Root Explorer, SetCPU, Terminal Emulator, Titanium Backup, Triangle Away.
Terminal Emulator
Terminal Emulator displays the following and when I enter the su command at the prompt, I just see a carriage return with a grey block. In other words, I do not see the # symbol denoting I have su privileges.
a/local/bin:$PATH
[email protected]:/ $su
Root Explorer
Root Explorer no longer displays a directory listing and simply displays a pop up from SuperSU after tapping on Root Explorer, "Root Explorer has been granted superuser permission for an interactive shell." then the following message from Root Explorer itself:
"Root Explorer has not yet managed to obtain root access. Because of issues with Superuser, this often happens the first time the app is run but is usually fine from then on."
Root Checker Basic
Apart from the App stating "Please wait for Root Check to be complete. Systems appears to be running very slow" after tapping on the [Verify Root Access] button. It never seems to provide an output after a few minutes waiting. My conclusion is that it cannot get su permissions.
BusyBox Pro
SuperSU displays the message that Titanium Backup has been given root access, however I get the following message:
"Asking for root rights..."
Then after a few minutes I receive this most enlightening output:
"Sorry, I could not acquire root privileges. This application will *not* work! Please verify that your ROM is rooted and includes BusyBox and try again.
This attempt was made using the "/system/xbin/su" command."
I read somewhere that Titanium Backup uses it's own BusyBox installation and not the system wide BusyBox package so I went in to the Titanium Backup preferences and selected 'Troubleshooting settings' then chose 'Force system BusyBox' to see if my issue was a BusyBox specific problem. Again, it failed so not sure if it is BusyBox or my SU permissions that have somehow got corrupted or been disabled.
Additional Information
-------------------------------
Using 'ES File Explorer', I can confirm that the following file's exist at the appropriate location paths:
/system/xbin/su
/system/xbin/busybox
Conclusion so far
-------------------------
It appears that on the face of it that I have lost my root permissions, so I removed apps from SuperSU, then uninstalled the App (e.g. Root Explorer, Terminal Emulator et al.); then performed the rooting procedure again via ODIN and the CF-Root kernel. The process itself worked flawlessly and so after it rebooted, I installed the Apps in question from the Google Play Store again and they prompted to be granted SuperSU privileges. Unfortunately, the same issues arose where it appears that it cannot communicate with either the su command or BusyBox to do what it requires.
Does anyone have any ideas as the phone is fine apart from this and although performing a Titanium Backup backup around two weeks ago, I would sooner not have to wipe everything if I can help it. I wonder if it is an update that somehow confused things...Either way, I cannot use Titanium Backup to backup/restore due to it requiring SU/root permissions, of which I do not seemingly have anymore.
Any ideas please as I am scratching my head and have gone blurry eyed at spending hours viewing various forums and posts?
follow this steps:
1. Unroot your phone with the unroot method here
2. To be sure, unroot again with the method here
3. ROOT your phone again using Any of the Rooting methods in the links provided in step 1 or 2.
Good luck
ICS 4.0.3 Lost su permissions even though device was rooted - Resolved
:good: Issue Resolved :good:
Many thanks for contributing to my issue. I had come across the post before in your links and although the directions were not completely related, there was a section pertaining to a zip file that I must have missed.
Conclusion
----------------
As can be read in the post, I was unsure if my issue related to losing root, a possible corrupt su file itself or BusyBox. As you will see on the link below, Busy Box actually creates hundreds of symbolic links (symlinks) and due to my perhaps overzelous approach to wanting a quick fix; I must have inadvertently created too many links with different versions of Busy Box and therefore when an App that was correctly added and granted SU permissions within SuperSU, when it then communicated with Busy Box / su to authenticate; I can only imagine it got confused and was lost with all the dead symlinks. The net result was that although SuperSU stated that it had granted permissions to the Apps requiring root, it never got to communicate with the su file contained within /system/xbin. I hope that makes sense, well at least I am pretty sure that is what happened.
Solution
------------
Firstly, I cleared all entries contained within SuperSU and therefore removing all Apps from being granted with root access (they didn't have it anyway at the moment).
I saved the zip file contained at the following link on to my external SD card and choosing to 'install zip from sd card' within the CWM Recovery (Volume Up + Power + Home button); effectively this uninstalls Busy Box completely from your device, including hundreds of symlink files - including many which in my instance was causing issues with Apps that required root to function correctly.
Busy Box Uninstaller v1.0 here
I restarted my device and downloaded Busy Box from Google Play Store and when I opened Root Explorer and the other aforementioned Apps shown in this post, they prompted to be granted root permissions (SuperSU) and voila....it worked ! :good:
I hope this may help other droid users experiencing similar symptoms.
Hi there,
I have a Rockchip RK3188 Tablet with Android 4.2.2, which I need to root ON DEVICE. Actually, the device was already rooted (using a Laptop via the adb bridge), so I already have busybox installed and I have one of my own apps in /system/app. However I managed to delete the su program (yeah great!) and therefore don't have root access any more. I know I can easily root the device again if I connect it to my laptop again, but that is not possible, because the device is at my parent's place and I can't go over there any time soon.
Therefore I want to root the device just with an app. Actually I would only need to copy su to /system/xbin.
These are the things I already tried (without success):
Framaroot (doesn't work, because framaroot does not support Rockchip tablets)
Writing my own app, which contains su in the assets and using this su for temporary root
Using adb (on the device) for a local connection (adb connect localhost), because if I connect from my PC I automatically have root (doesn't work because Android 4.2.2 has increased security on adb)
Start telnetd via busybox and then execute my commands via nc (doesn't work, because I can't start telnetd in a way that it ends up with a root shell)
Any other ideas?
My last idea is, that I could maybe gain temporary root access with the app I already have in /system/app. Basically this would be similar to the Master Key Exploit, except that I do not have to fiddle around with the apk and instead install it normally. However I don't know how to continue from that point. I know, I have special permissions if I have an app in /system/app, but which permissions are that? And how can I use those permissions to make /system writeable (and copy my su file there)?
Thank you for your help,
Tobias
ToBe_HH said:
Hi there,
I have a Rockchip RK3188 Tablet with Android 4.2.2, which I need to root ON DEVICE. Actually, the device was already rooted (using a Laptop via the adb bridge), so I already have busybox installed and I have one of my own apps in /system/app. However I managed to delete the su program (yeah great!) and therefore don't have root access any more. I know I can easily root the device again if I connect it to my laptop again, but that is not possible, because the device is at my parent's place and I can't go over there any time soon.
Therefore I want to root the device just with an app. Actually I would only need to copy su to /system/xbin.
These are the things I already tried (without success):
Framaroot (doesn't work, because framaroot does not support Rockchip tablets)
Writing my own app, which contains su in the assets and using this su for temporary root
Using adb (on the device) for a local connection (adb connect localhost), because if I connect from my PC I automatically have root (doesn't work because Android 4.2.2 has increased security on adb)
Start telnetd via busybox and then execute my commands via nc (doesn't work, because I can't start telnetd in a way that it ends up with a root shell)
Any other ideas?
My last idea is, that I could maybe gain temporary root access with the app I already have in /system/app. Basically this would be similar to the Master Key Exploit, except that I do not have to fiddle around with the apk and instead install it normally. However I don't know how to continue from that point. I know, I have special permissions if I have an app in /system/app, but which permissions are that? And how can I use those permissions to make /system writeable (and copy my su file there)?
Thank you for your help,
Tobias
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
are you rooted check with root checker if yes(as you alredy said)
install super su or super user to gain root acces controls
but iam not sure from your question you are rooted or not or are you trying to root
P.S deleting super su will not unroot you
sangalaxy said:
are you rooted check with root checker if yes(as you alredy said)
install super su or super user to gain root acces controls
but iam not sure from your question you are rooted or not or are you trying to root
P.S deleting super su will not unroot you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root checker says: "Sorry! This device does not have proper root access."
Right now, I am NOT rooted. So the device WAS rooted and then /system/xbin/su was deleted. Meaning: everything else is in place (SuperUser, Busybox, etc.) but I cannot execute anything as root, because I cannot switch the user to root (what su does). Although I am not really unrooted, I cannot do anything any more. So basically I would like to re-root my device.
The goal is to get fully rooted again.
ToBe_HH said:
Root checker says: "Sorry! This device does not have proper root access."
Right now, I am NOT rooted. So the device WAS rooted and then /system/xbin/su was deleted. Meaning: everything else is in place (SuperUser, Busybox, etc.) but I cannot execute anything as root, because I cannot switch the user to root (what su does). Although I am not really unrooted, I cannot do anything any more. So basically I would like to re-root my device.
The goal is to get fully rooted again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I don't think you can root without any pc
If your phone has recovery just flash the root files :thumbup:
Sent from my Xperia Live with Walkman using xda app-developers app
ToBe_HH said:
Root checker says: "Sorry! This device does not have proper root access."
Right now, I am NOT rooted. So the device WAS rooted and then /system/xbin/su was deleted. Meaning: everything else is in place (SuperUser, Busybox, etc.) but I cannot execute anything as root, because I cannot switch the user to root (what su does). Although I am not really unrooted, I cannot do anything any more. So basically I would like to re-root my device.
The goal is to get fully rooted again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried looking in /system/bin/su instead of /system/xbin/su