A Bit Confused about the Root/Bootloader...

[Crisisx1]

Ordered my Nexus 4, being shipped, will be here tomorrow night..

Okay, so I am coming from a SGH-T999... S3. With the S3, I root the phone with Odin, flash CWM, and then I can flash custom roms, kernels,mods and modems...

But reading on all of the Nexus 4 procedures.. From my understanding, to flash kernels/custom roms, you DO NOT need to Root, but only unlock the bootloader??

Now if I do not root, but unlock the bootloader, would I be able to use apps such as Titanium Back Up? (My Guess is no since it requires root and SuperSu)

Sorry don't flame me... I'm just trying to get everything clear before my phone comes so I can know what to do right away... TY

 

[lwfb]

Your ticket to unleashing the full potential through custom ROMs and kernels starts with unlocking the bootloader. Best to do that first since it wipes your device.

Custom ROMs typically come rooted.

You do not need root to flash a custom recovery image, only an unlocked bootloader to flash the recovery image through fastboot.

You can also flash a custom kernel (boot.img) through fastboot, but flashing through recovery is the SOP.

If you want a stock rooted ROM, simply flash the recovery image through fastboot and flash the SuperSU package through your custom recovery.

Welcome to the Nexus side of Android!

Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium

 

[Crwolv]

Ordered my Nexus 4, being shipped, will be here tomorrow night..

Okay, so I am coming from a SGH-T999... S3. With the S3, I root the phone with Odin, flash CWM, and then I can flash custom roms, kernels,mods and modems...

But reading on all of the Nexus 4 procedures.. From my understanding, to flash kernels/custom roms, you DO NOT need to Root, but only unlock the bootloader??

Now if I do not root, but unlock the bootloader, would I be able to use apps such as Titanium Back Up? (My Guess is no since it requires root and SuperSu)

Sorry don't flame me... I'm just trying to get everything clear before my phone comes so I can know what to do right away... TY

And with the toolkit its all easy as pie. I own an LGOG which is the Nexus brother is the phone it was based on. You ordered top of the line baby the Snapdragon s4 pro in the adreno 320 graphics processing unit are tops, 1 of the fastest phones in America. Have fun. Development has started for my optimus but I would trade in this 550 dollar phone for a 300 dollar Nexus in a second in fact when I have the money I will be ordering 1 and selling my LGOG. I am a flash a holic even know this phone stock is a little faster it's only because of the kernel and Franco has made a awesome kernel for the N4. Have fun

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using xda premium

 

[Crisisx1]

Your ticket to unleashing the full potential through custom ROMs and kernels starts with unlocking the bootloader. Best to do that first since it wipes your device.

Custom ROMs typically come rooted.

You do not need root to flash a custom recovery image, only an unlocked bootloader to flash the recovery image through fastboot.

You can also flash a custom kernel (boot.img) through fastboot, but flashing through recovery is the SOP.

If you want a stock rooted ROM, simply flash the recovery image through fastboot and flash the SuperSU package through your custom recovery.

Welcome to the Nexus side of Android!

Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium

Awesome thanks. So just to clarify.

1. Unlock Bootloader
2. Flash CWM
3.Flash SuperSu
4. Then Flash away...

 

[albundy2010]

No need to flash supersu if you're going to flash a rooted ROM.

That's what you would do to unlock and root the stock ROM.

It won't hurt but its a waste. By flashing the su.zip you add files to /system. When you flash a ROM you're going to wipe /system prior to flashing the new ROM. Therefore deleting what you just did and the rest of the ROM.

 

[lwfb]

You got it.

I'd discourage using the toolkit if you're new to the process of unlocking and rooting a nexus though.

It's so easy and rewarding to learn the manual way, plus having that knowledge can get you out of a bind should something ever happen.

Nexus devices are incredibly easy to unlock, it's only one command through ADB: Fastboot OEM unlock

Download TWRP recovery, rename the image to recovery.IMG and put it in your ADB folder. Then: Fastboot flash recovery recovery.IMG

Reboot system.

Download SuperSU from chainfire's website, move the file to your internal storage, then power off.

Press power on and volume down to get into bootloader, volume up to toggle recovery, power to select recovery. When you're in recovery, find that file and flash it. Reboot system. Update your Superuser binary from the SuperSU app.

Download busy box from the play store, install busy box and you're officially good to go!

Sent from my Nexus 10 using xda premium

 

[Crisisx1]

So your suggesting to unlock it this way instead of using the toolkits posted on xda
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=REidXYQ9_c8&feature=youtube_gdata_player
Sent from my SGH-T999 using xda app-developers app

 

[lwfb]

For the first time, definitely.

Learning the manual way on a nexus is invaluable. Google makes it easy for us to unlock and root these devices, the process hasn't changed since the G1 days.

I take the "teach a man to fish" approach versus the "give a man a fish" approach.

If you just take your time, read, and ask questions if you're stuck you'll get the hang of it.

I'm no developer or expert, but I've had multiple android devices since 2009 and every nexus device with the exception of the nexus s. Feel free to ask questions and if I can help I will.

 

[Crisisx1]

For the first time, definitely.

Learning the manual way on a nexus is invaluable. Google makes it easy for us to unlock and root these devices, the process hasn't changed since the G1 days.

I take the "teach a man to fish" approach versus the "give a man a fish" approach.

If you just take your time, read, and ask questions if you're stuck you'll get the hang of it.

I'm no developer or expert, but I've had multiple android devices since 2009 and every nexus device with the exception of the nexus s. Feel free to ask questions and if I can help I will.

Thanks! Yeah I'll do it the manual way.. I've seen other users say not to use the toolkit either.

 

[juicyjones]

Personally I love the toolkit. It has all the goodies in one easy-to-use place. It makes no sense to tell someone new to the process to go the hard way. Since you, OP, have unlocked and flashed a phone before with your S3 it looks to me like it's kind of a moot point. I go for convenience.

 

[undercover]

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2018179

 

[Crisisx1]

Personally I love the toolkit. It has all the goodies in one easy-to-use place. It makes no sense to tell someone new to the process to go the hard way. Since you, OP, have unlocked and flashed a phone before with your S3 it looks to me like it's kind of a moot point. I go for convenience.

Yeah I rooted my S3, but it's different then the N4.. No bootloader to unlock with the s3, that i am aware of.

Can the tool kit possibly damage something?