How to update to JB and keep root (Locked Bootloader)

Ok, From now on if i see people asking how to update / how to keep root im going to link you to this thread, im tired of answering it.

This works if you are on STOCK RECOVERY. If you are unlocked there are lots of other options for you (such as flashing a rooted kernel) so go to development and find that. Since im not unlocked i had to do it the hard way. This method works if your OTA updates are screwed up. If you HAVE OTA updates you can just use OTA rootkeeper to backup and disable root, make sure all stock apps are restored, and proceed with root.

Note for the updater: The OTA updater is a DIFFERENCE updater, if files are missing or different versions the update will fail. Best practices say to update sequentially, never skip an update. It might not cause problems now but could cause problems in the future.

If your OTA updates have failed or for whatever reason you can not get OTA's, you have a LOCKED bootloader, or for whatever reason want to manually update and keep root then this guide is for you. Also please note the process for going from .16 to .18 is the same as going from .30 to .16.




First: Make sure you have all stock apps restored, no custom build.prop, etc.
If your not sure, wipe the tablet and reinstall. Better safe than sorry.

To reset the tablet if you dont have stock apps:
Determine which version you are running. For me it was .30WW
Go to www.asus.com and download the firmware for your version
plug your tablet into the usb on your computer, unzip the firmware and put it in the root of your tablet (Dont use USB memory sticks or SD cards, just transfer it directly)
restart your tablet, it SHOULD load the file and go about resetting the tablet to stock.
If that does not work, try starting the tablet holding power and volume down, on the splash screen press volume up and reset the tablet that way.
Once your tablet is returned to stock you can proceed.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Make sure you are ROOTED. Use whatever method works for you.
Now would be a good time to make sure superuser is updated, mine was old so a quick update on the market and its all good.
Use OTA Rootkeeper to backup root
Download the DLPKG file apropriate for your version.

If you want to update to JB you must have .30 installed and download the .16 file, WW or US, depending on your region. Other packages are provided for convenience (This method can be used to spoof the OTA update to any version as long as you have the file)

DLPKG for .26 WW HERE
DLPKG for .30 WW HERE
DLPKG for .16 WW HERE or HERE or HERE
DLPKG for .16 US HERE or HERE
DLPKG for .18 WW HERE or HERE
DLPKG for .18 US HERE or HERE
(Make sure you only take the file for the version you want to update to, only one step at a time, so if you are on .30 WW you need .16WW before you can do .18WW)
DLPKG for US .20 HERE
DLPKG for WW .20 HERE
DLPKG for US .23 HERE or HERE or HERE or HERE
DLPKG for WW .23 HERE
DLPKG for .25 WW HERE



You will also need the command file HERE or HERE

Transfer the files to your tablet using the USB cable.

If you use a USB memory stick or SD card make sure its formatted FAT32.
Please note there have been reported problems with people using USB memory sticks or SD cards, often the files fail. I have had best success using the USB cable provided with my tablet and directly transferring the file. YMMV.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Once the files are on the tablet use Root Explorer or your favorite root file browser to move the two files
(NOT THE STOCK FILE BROWSER IT CANT SEE THE ROOT DIRECTORY)
"command" goes to /cache/recovery
"dlpkgfile" goes to /cache

Make sure the files are named exactly as shown above. No capitals, no file extensions, etc.
Make sure the permissions for both files are changed to RW-R-R for both.

Note: There has been a little confusion about "root directory" so i will explain a little further. The root directory is generally protected. You will have to be rooted (by definition, having root access, kind of like administrator access in windows) and use a file browser like root explorer. The stock file browser only lets you see a few specific areas and will not let you access the root directory of the tablet. Root explorer will also let you modify permissions which the stock browser will not let you do. Im sure there are other browser applications that work equally well as root explorer, thats just the one i have had success with. As always, Your Milage May Vary.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Go into OTA Rootkeeper and TEMP UNROOT.
Shut down the tablet. Remove the USB cord. Remove any USB memory sticks. Eject your Micro SD card. UNdock the tablet. Lets not let anything go to chance.
Press and hold both the power and volume down buttons (volume down is closest to the power button in case you forgot like me)
Soon as the splash screen comes up you should see some text on the left side, release the power and volume down buttons and press volume up.
Now just sit back and wait, this can take a while. I got myself a snack and took this time to stretch a little.
Once your all booted up you should be running JellyBean. Open OTA Rootkeeper and restore root.




Please note i did not come up with the steps in this guide. I did not originate the files. I am nowhere near smart enough to do all this on my own. I meerly collected the information and links to files and pieced it all together. I wrote this so even my father could follow these instructions so hopefully you all succeed! If something needs clarification please let me know.

- Edit -
Added notes on restoring tablet to stock.
- Edit -
Added .18 links. Thanks to xcal321 for providing them.
- Edit -
Cleaned up the guide a little. Hopefully its less wordy and easier to follow.
- Edit -
Added links to my personal google drive for nearly all the files, should have no problem for overseas users with limited access to mediafire
- Edit -
Sorry it took so long, added files for .20 US and WW. Will copy them to my personal Gdrive when i have more time.
- Edit -
Still alive, added .25 WW. Nearly all the files are uploaded to my personal google docs account so if something goes screwy let me know via PM

doncieslacco said:

That is very helpfull !! Thanks for that !! Just one question: What about if I downgrade to .30 with clean system, root my device, update superuser app, then use OTA Rootkeeper to backup my root, next Temp unroot via OTA Rootkeeper and use upgrade to JB with OTA (not using files that you put above )?? It still works, any ideas ??

Regards
Doncieslacco

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

If OTA works for you after that then use OTA. For a large portion of us OTA did not want to work so these are the steps i used. Essentially its the same thing, OTA downloads the same files and puts them in the directories mentioned. Just make sure you do the temp unroot before updating as forgetting to do that step has lost some people root.

Jimmah555 said:

Here's what I did, and it worked beautifully.
I had unlocked with the guide, rooted .30, ran OTA root keeper, downloaded the JB file from Asus, flashed it in twrp, never lost root
Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

TWRP implies unlocked, this method is for locked bootloaders.


If you are still getting the dead android try restoring the tablet to factory condition before proceeding. If you have any frozen apps, if you removed any stock apps, if you have a modified build.prop, etc. it can cause the update to fail.

i will update OP with instructions to return to stock.

Syn010 said:

This method never worked for me, even when it was originally posted. I keep getting the dead android bot red triangle.
It may be that I'm moving the files from win 7 NTFS to fat 32 and that is somehow modifing them???

Also is there a way on android to check/modify write permission? I just modify write permissions of the files by right clicking them and modifying them from the security tab in windows.
I'll have to examine this in further detail this week.

I'm a bit hesitant to jump to JB because of rooting and DPI setting problems. Until thats ironed out I'll stick with ICS.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Windows security and linux permissions are two VERY different things.
Use something like root explorer to modify the permissions of the files once they are on the tablet. Once you transfer the files to your SD card or even via USB to the tablet the permissions get changed to RW-RW-RW or similar. As far as i know you can not do this in windows.

Syn010 said:

I used a USB cable 2.0 to transfer the files directly to tablet. Also, the cache folder is created on the root level of the tablet right, because originally I never had a cache folder on the tablet at the root level. thanks and cheers.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Use an application like root explorer. Regular file explorers can not usually see the root directory of the tablet. If you are just using the stock file browser it will not work.