Comments on: Android – What is Root, Superuser & custom software?

By: Michelle

Michelle — Wed, 15 May 2013 18:37:27 +0000

Very well explained & well put to those who have issues understanding all of this like myself! Thank You for taking thetime to better explain this to all users who get confused by Technologies Terms & Lingo!!

By: Muhammed Rabbani

Muhammed Rabbani — Fri, 01 Mar 2013 20:09:39 +0000

Hi guys you have explained in such a way that i’ll never ever forget it thanks for your kind info…….

Best regards…….

By: shahz

shahz — Wed, 20 Feb 2013 02:25:36 +0000

Tak perlu buat apa-apa bro. Bila run applikasi yang perlu root (contoh macam Titanium Backup, setCPU, etc), baru superuser akan tanya sama ada nak bagi akses atau tidak. Kalau nak bagi, nak bagi selalu atau kali ini sahaja. Itu je. Next time kalau nak cancel akses aplikasi tu, then baru masuk superSU app untuk terminate entry tersebut.

By: xtw

xtw — Tue, 19 Feb 2013 15:16:12 +0000

baru lpas root..tp xtw la nk pkai supersu..tlg aja leh?

By: LR Nadarajah

LR Nadarajah — Sat, 05 Jan 2013 06:44:49 +0000

To an ‘ignoramus’ – like myself – your explanation is like a revelation.
Well done that man and give yourself a pat on the back. And ‘THANK YOU’!!!

By: ShahZ

ShahZ — Tue, 01 Jan 2013 03:43:34 +0000

Thanks Ray :) Indeed, the backbone of Android is a lightweight Linux which is why the file structure is the same :)

By: Ray Brown

Ray Brown — Mon, 31 Dec 2012 18:45:46 +0000

Thank you for the great explanation of the root directory. I have used the Slackware version of Linux and this made sense to me. I did not, however, know that the file structure of Android was similar.

By: hongquan1996.hn@gmail.com

hongquan1996.hn@gmail.com — Sat, 22 Dec 2012 16:14:36 +0000

root

By: David Edgar

David Edgar — Sun, 09 Dec 2012 16:35:21 +0000

I thought I had rooted my Android Tablet using z4root. It appeared to work. I had downloaded Titanium Backup and was no pleased I wanted the Pro version which is a key to upgrade the basic version to Pro. Having done this the Tablet was not happy and would not work advising there was a root problem. I then downloaded Root Checker which reported that my device does not have proper root access. So much for the efficiency of 4zroot. Can any out there recommend a good solid rooting application? Any advice will me welcomed as I have searched the web without success.

By: elmer

elmer — Mon, 12 Nov 2012 10:19:39 +0000

now i know, what superuser is good.

By: 200905226@qq.com

200905226@qq.com — Fri, 02 Nov 2012 13:16:52 +0000

root

By: Basilbaz

Basilbaz — Thu, 01 Nov 2012 04:18:58 +0000

Eye opener for me thanks for clear explanation

By: nilton césar cardoso de araújo

nilton césar cardoso de araújo — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 14:47:13 +0000

Comprei o profana baixei e deu um erro… Como posso recupera-lo ?

By: israel

israel — Tue, 11 Sep 2012 23:05:09 +0000

No work

By: shahz

shahz — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 15:10:22 +0000

I think I should create a glossary of the terms here..haha..To answer your question:
Brick – The state where your phone is nothing more than a brick which you can use to throw at people or use as part of your house structure. This is when things have gone heavily wrong and there is no way to recover it anymore.

Flashing – This is the process of “installing” a ROM. The idea is similar but the method is different. You “install” an application, but you “flash” a ROM. In flashing, every bit of the data is written one by one on the ROM and cannot be multi-tasked.

Recovery Console – Its the first part that will boot before your OS loads up. In case you flash a malicious ROM (which loads the OS), you can use recovery to flash another ROM and recover your phone from bricking – hence called recovery console.

By: MNP

MNP — Mon, 10 Sep 2012 11:05:17 +0000

I am struggling with terms here. I am not a “techie” in any sense of the word, but I want to access all the pluses of having an android. Please explain “brick” and “flashing”. Not sure what a recovery console is either. Thanks

By: JC

JC — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 15:38:05 +0000

hello, ive got a razr maxx and would like to root it so im able to run compleate backups.
some instructions would be deeply appreciated :)

By: Innocent Bystander

Innocent Bystander — Thu, 30 Aug 2012 03:00:48 +0000

Very late reply but I would like to thank you. Finally I understand the true meaning of rooting which previously I thought it’s the same than flashing ROM various kinds of unlocking.

By: malice

malice — Sun, 26 Aug 2012 21:44:14 +0000

Uh? I understood newbe, and actually a bit more thanx to your plain speak and that says a lot cos I’m the kind of woman who is in to hitting things with hammers while being up to my elbows in grease. Thanx.

By: ShahZ

ShahZ — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 15:30:32 +0000

Im glad it helped :)

By: Raj

Raj — Thu, 23 Aug 2012 14:17:36 +0000

Good explanation…..shahz..thank you…

By: odod13

odod13 — Thu, 16 Aug 2012 19:24:14 +0000

That was an awesome explanation. It took me so long to find out all that. I wish more people would give good explanations. Everytime one ask a question the response is something like this-Thats easy hook the dohikey to the thingamagiga. Wonderful except i dont know what thedohikey is and when i find it i dont know how to open or turn it on. Please people dont let Android fall in the Windows pit of harrible explanations

By: Alseni

Alseni — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 18:48:10 +0000

Muito bom

By: 秀玲

秀玲 — Fri, 29 Jun 2012 01:33:58 +0000

。。

By: pham

pham — Sat, 19 May 2012 11:16:46 +0000

How can I tell if a d/l is safe? What is flash? &brick? Thx for info, good info. Where can I find more?

By: rufa

rufa — Tue, 15 May 2012 12:58:41 +0000

i had difficulty to root my device pls help me how wil i do this???

By: ShahZ

ShahZ — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:31:27 +0000

Superuser is free..The paid version only has extras which you don’t essentially need..

By: ShahZ

ShahZ — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:30:55 +0000

Its the other way round. You need to root first before you can flash a custom ROM. Once you have rooted, you will need a recovery console (like CWM or Amon_RA) and then you will be able to flash a custom ROM from it. Search for it on xda-developers and you will find a method for your device :)

By: grump girl

grump girl — Tue, 10 Apr 2012 06:01:48 +0000

Hi I needed major help in learning how to “flash custom software” since from what I read that’s what I need to do first before I root my my touch.I don’t know much about these things sorry.someone help please..

By: faizal

faizal — Sun, 08 Apr 2012 09:46:33 +0000

thanks ………

By: hendy kippuw

hendy kippuw — Wed, 14 Mar 2012 09:03:26 +0000

Thanks bro..i
I like..

By: chris

chris — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 23:50:52 +0000

i just need help period i dont feel like reading so please a quick response

By: AndroidFan

AndroidFan — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 06:35:54 +0000

Thanks mate!!

By: Hillary

Hillary — Sun, 14 Aug 2011 12:04:58 +0000

how to use the superuser app ? i have rooted my phone but the android market application still need me to pay for some of the app..

By: tinkerddc

tinkerddc — Mon, 16 May 2011 07:50:49 +0000

I for this paper particularly interested in peacetime, privately installation once accessories,welcome to the page dota heroes .

By: shah

shah — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 15:16:55 +0000

This is a good explanaion of basic terms i really learned alot . Thanks for this post Shaz.

By: Elias

Elias — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 19:26:12 +0000

I DO I INTALL (SU) ON MY SAMSUNG INTERCEPT

By: oceanfire

oceanfire — Sun, 27 Mar 2011 09:26:03 +0000

really good article, thanks very much.

By: Shahz

Shahz — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 19:19:43 +0000

Im glad the post was useful :D I just love the power of open source and least that I could do to contribute back to the Android community is provide these information which are confusing for first timers mostly.

By: Kyle

Kyle — Mon, 28 Feb 2011 16:41:40 +0000

I got my samsung fascinate from the flea market yesterday. It appeared to be bricked when I first saw it but I knew it would be an easy fix. Someone that didnt know what they were doing tried rooting the device. Applications freezing, oS not respoding. Luckily, you can find almost anything about android on the internet… Thanks for this post. :)

By: strony www

strony www — Tue, 16 Nov 2010 20:30:34 +0000

Great info, I was close to brick my phone ..

By: ShahZ

ShahZ — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:34:44 +0000

Glad it helped Joe :)

By: Joe

Joe — Mon, 18 Oct 2010 17:17:22 +0000

Thank you for this very clear explanation, I appreciate it very much!

By: Shahz

Shahz — Mon, 27 Sep 2010 06:14:16 +0000

Thanks :) Hope you find it useful..

By: taboo8614

taboo8614 — Sun, 26 Sep 2010 23:54:18 +0000

wow this is a really good post for anyone that would not know what all these terms are you broke it down really well.

By: Shahz

Shahz — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:33:18 +0000

Thanks Adam :)

By: adam

adam — Mon, 13 Sep 2010 19:25:45 +0000

this is a good explanation. thanks.