Did you use a toolkit ?

g2uzer

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So for the past weeks I've been looking in to flashing PA ROM on my nexus 4 , Honestly I'm kind of nervous that I will end up Bricking it...:confused: its completely Stock ATM . I noticed a few people saying not to use a toolkit, but to me it seems a lot easier, even to get it back to stock if I needed to . So how many have used a toolkit ? Any Problems Major issues ?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
 
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spaceman860

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Toolkits aren't bad it's when people use them but have no idea what it is doing that is bad.
Your phone goes into a bootloop then you don't know how to fix it. If you don't know the 6 partitions in the Google.imgs how to use adb or fastboot don't use a toolkit

Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1469909

The Dangers of Tool Kits and One Click Root Methods + Mini Rant

Sent from my Nexus 4
 
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g2uzer

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Toolkits aren't bad it's when people use them but have no idea what it is doing that is bad.
Your phone goes into a bootloop then you don't know how to fix it. If you don't know the 6 partitions in the Google.imgs how to use adb or fastboot don't use a toolkit

Edit: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1469909

The Dangers of Tool Kits and One Click Root Methods + Mini Rant

Sent from my Nexus 4
Yeah I have read about phone going in to bootloop and it seems like a easy fix from what I read, the only phone I have rooted was a g2x thru a kit, so yeah I'm mostly a noobie, I've done a lot of reading but I usually ask my friend to do it for me since he knows A LOT more than me , I seen him unlock,rooot a few phones with out kits,,but to me it seems a lot more steps and there for more chances of me messing something up, so the only possibility you have thru rootkit is your phone going to boot loop ?

I have read mrskip but seems that this one looks easier (I think so )

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475
 
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spaceman860

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Yeah I have read about phone going in to bootloop and it seems like a easy fix from what I read, the only phone I have rooted was a g2x thru a kit, so yeah I'm mostly a noobie, I've done a lot of reading but I usually ask my friend to do it for me since he knows A LOT more than me , I seen him unlock,rooot a few phones with out kits,,but to me it seems a lot more steps and there for more chances of me messing something up, so the only possibility you have thru rootkit is your phone going to boot loop ?

I have read mrskip but seems that this one looks easier (I think so )

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1766475
After you install the drivers its this simple
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Then flash the SU.zip in recovery
Done

Sent from my Nexus 4
 
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sohamssd

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After you install the drivers its this simple
fastboot oem unlock
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img
Then flash the SU.zip in recovery
Done

Sent from my Nexus 4
Good i found this thread, ill get an n4 soon and just wanted to check things out. I am comfortable with fastboot, and ADB(done everything with one v).
So its like this right?
fastboot oem unlock (cant believe its this simple, you have to use an unlock token to unlock an HTC boot loader)
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img same with the one v
Root by flashing zip.
After that simply enjoy flashing. Am i right? Also, do you need to flash kernels while changing ROMs like on hTC phones?

Just read, someone mentioned that if you don't know the 6 partitions you better not flash. Which 6 partitions?:confused:
Sent from my One V using xda app-developers app
 

simms22

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Good i found this thread, ill get an n4 soon and just wanted to check things out. I am comfortable with fastboot, and ADB(done everything with one v).
So its like this right?
fastboot oem unlock (cant believe its this simple, you have to use an unlock token to unlock an HTC boot loader)
fastboot flash recovery recovery.img same with the one v
Root by flashing zip.
After that simply enjoy flashing. Am i right? Also, do you need to flash kernels while changing ROMs like on hTC phones?

Just read, someone mentioned that if you don't know the 6 partitions you better not flash. Which 6 partitions?:confused:
Sent from my One V using xda app-developers app
yup, thats it. fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash a custom recovery, flash a custom rom or the su binaries via your new custom recovery, then reboot and profit. you dont have to flash kernels since all custom roms include them. but, you can and should flash custom kernels to better your device :)
 
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g2uzer

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yup, thats it. fastboot oem unlock, fastboot flash a custom recovery, flash a custom rom or the su binaries via your new custom recovery, then reboot and profit. you dont have to flash kernels since all custom roms include them. but, you can and should flash custom kernels to better your device :)
Is there a updated video doing it this method? ( not using any rootkit) I'm more of a visual learner:D
Can't seem to find one.
After unlocking every thing I know how to flash ROMs, just the unlocking is what got me nervous .
Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
 
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Mohit12

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Is there a updated video doing it this method? ( not using any rootkit) I'm more of a visual learner:D
Can't seem to find one.
After unlocking every thing I know how to flash ROMs, just the unlocking is what got me nervous .
Thanks

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
I'd like a video of this too.
Can you brick your phone while unlocking? Or just while flashing?
 

mahesh1989

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Feb 7, 2013
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So for the past weeks I've been looking in to flashing PA ROM on my nexus 4 , Honestly I'm kind of nervous that I will end up Bricking it...:confused: its completely Stock ATM . I noticed a few people saying not to use a toolkit, but to me it seems a lot easier, even to get it back to stock if I needed to . So how many have used a toolkit ? Any Problems Major issues ?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
use the nexus 4 toolkit by msskip..
its the best one so far and very easy to use...and dont worry abt bricking..
post if any issues,,.
 
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sparkplugDev

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Unlocking the bootloader and rooting for new users

The only thing I've ever used toolkit for in the past is restoring my Nexus devices to a factory image and the only reason I did that is because I didn't care to figure out how to decompile those things. But yeah, just like others have said above it is extremely easy to root a nexus device. Since my N4 already has the bootloader unlocked I can't really give you a real video anyway so I will give you an very detailed instruction list.

Before you start, install the N4 drivers. More simply, you can download and install the clockworkmod universal adb drivers from kouch. Everything below assumes that drivers are installed and working.

1. Get your supplies - download a custom recovery (most these days prefer TWRP and for simplification, today, so will you) You will also need a superSU.zip which I will also provide below. You will notice that it is a bit old but it can be updated easily once you reboot back into android. Lastly, but most importantly you will need the fastboot interface which will be in the mini_adb.zip file that I have also provided on mediafire. Keep in mind that there are a lot of tools in that folder that could be useful for you at some point down the road but today all you need is fastboot.
Link to Team Win Recovery for mako
MediaFire link to Superuser.zip
Mediafire link to miniadb_inc.zip

2. Set up your environment - first you need to unzip miniadb_inc.zip and for the sake of making things easier take the folder inside of the same name and drop it into the root of your C: drive. Again, to make things easier, go ahead and drop the twrp.img into the miniadb_inc folder. If you don't follow these instructions exactly then my commands won't work as written.

3. Turn off your phone and boot into the bootloader. To do this, when the phone is off hold down the power, vol-up, and vol-down buttons simultaneously until the phone viabrates once. You should see a picture of an Android lying on it's back with it's front opened up and a big start button on top. Connect your phone and then set it aside for a moment and open command prompt on your PC. Input the following commands:
Code:
cd /
cd /miniadb_inc
this changes your active directory to the miniadb_inc folder. Next input this command:
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
this sends the command to your phone to unlock the bootloader. At this time you should look at your phone and see a prompt regarding unlocking the bootloader. Click accept to unlock the bootloader or if you're freaking out too much to continue at the moment you can click that you don't accept the terms and then click the power button and boot back into android and go about your day.
If you were bold enough to get to this point then you will now need to boot back into android anyway. Your phone will have reset and these instructions assume that you aren't flashing a custom ROM at this time so go ahead and take a minute to sign in and get things like you want them. While you're booted into Android take a moment to transfer superuser.zip to your SD partition on your phone. When you're done get back to the bootloader like you did earlier and input the following command:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
this command tells your computer to push the twrp recovery that you downloaded earlier to your phone and to flash it, effectively removing the stock recovery from your device.

4. Using the volume keys scroll through the bootloader options until you see recovery at the top of your phone and then click the power key to confirm. This will boot you into TWRP for the first time. Now select the install button in TWRP and then find the superuser.zip file that you put on your phone in the previous step.

5. Select the reboot button and your phone should reboot back into Android and will now be rooted! Update the su binary within the SuperSU app and update SuperSU through the Play Store like any other app. Congratulations, you're done!

6. Profit. :laugh:
 
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g2uzer

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May 4, 2011
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The only thing I've ever used toolkit for in the past is restoring my Nexus devices to a factory image and the only reason I did that is because I didn't care to figure out how to decompile those things. But yeah, just like others have said above it is extremely easy to root a nexus device. Since my N4 already has the bootloader unlocked I can't really give you a real video anyway so I will give you an very detailed instruction list.

Before you start, install the N4 drivers. More simply, you can download and install the clockworkmod universal adb drivers from kouch. Everything below assumes that drivers are installed and working.

1. Get your supplies - download a custom recovery (most these days prefer TWRP and for simplification, today, so will you) You will also need a superSU.zip which I will also provide below. You will notice that it is a bit old but it can be updated easily once you reboot back into android. Lastly, but most importantly you will need the fastboot interface which will be in the mini_adb.zip file that I have also provided on mediafire. Keep in mind that there are a lot of tools in that folder that could be useful for you at some point down the road but today all you need is fastboot.
Link to Team Win Recovery for mako
MediaFire link to Superuser.zip
Mediafire link to miniadb_inc.zip

2. Set up your environment - first you need to unzip miniadb_inc.zip and for the sake of making things easier take the folder inside of the same name and drop it into the root of your C: drive. Again, to make things easier, go ahead and drop the twrp.img into the miniadb_inc folder. If you don't follow these instructions exactly then my commands won't work as written.

3. Turn off your phone and boot into the bootloader. To do this, when the phone is off hold down the power, vol-up, and vol-down buttons simultaneously until the phone viabrates once. You should see a picture of an Android lying on it's back with it's front opened up and a big start button on top. Connect your phone and then set it aside for a moment and open command prompt on your PC. Input the following commands:
Code:
cd /
cd /miniadb_inc
this changes your active directory to the miniadb_inc folder. Next input this command:
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
this sends the command to your phone to unlock the bootloader. At this time you should look at your phone and see a prompt regarding unlocking the bootloader. Click accept to unlock the bootloader or if you're freaking out too much to continue at the moment you can click that you don't accept the terms and then click the power button and boot back into android and go about your day.
If you were bold enough to get to this point then you will now need to boot back into android anyway. Your phone will have reset and these instructions assume that you aren't flashing a custom ROM at this time so go ahead and take a minute to sign in and get things like you want them. While you're booted into Android take a moment to transfer superuser.zip to your SD partition on your phone. When you're done get back to the bootloader like you did earlier and input the following command:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
this command tells your computer to push the twrp recovery that you downloaded earlier to your phone and to flash it, effectively removing the stock recovery from your device.

4. Using the volume keys scroll through the bootloader options until you see recovery at the top of your phone and then click the power key to confirm. This will boot you into TWRP for the first time. Now select the install button in TWRP and then find the superuser.zip file that you put on your phone in the previous step.

5. Select the reboot button and your phone should reboot back into Android and will now be rooted! Update the su binary within the SuperSU app and update SuperSU through the Play Store like any other app. Congratulations, you're done!

6. Profit. :laugh:
Thanks a lot ! When I get home I'm going to read this for the 3rd time .
So if I want to go back completely stock I can use a toolkit ?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
 

sparkplugDev

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Apr 6, 2012
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Maryland
Thanks a lot ! When I get home I'm going to read this for the 3rd time .
So if I want to go back completely stock I can use a toolkit ?

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app

Yeah, like I said, the toolkit makes it a lot easier to flash a factory image and frankly, I think it's safer. Less room for mistakes. The less you toy around with flashing the bootloader and the radio, the better chance you have of not bricking your device. Fortunately, when your bootloader is unlocked, as long as you aren't doing anything crazy, you will have a hard time bricking your device. If you have any further questions while you're working on it shoot me a PM and I will try to help. Good Luck!
 
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sohamssd

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Jul 4, 2012
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The only thing I've ever used toolkit for in the past is restoring my Nexus devices to a factory image and the only reason I did that is because I didn't care to figure out how to decompile those things. But yeah, just like others have said above it is extremely easy to root a nexus device. Since my N4 already has the bootloader unlocked I can't really give you a real video anyway so I will give you an very detailed instruction list.

Before you start, install the N4 drivers. More simply, you can download and install the clockworkmod universal adb drivers from kouch. Everything below assumes that drivers are installed and working.

1. Get your supplies - download a custom recovery (most these days prefer TWRP and for simplification, today, so will you) You will also need a superSU.zip which I will also provide below. You will notice that it is a bit old but it can be updated easily once you reboot back into android. Lastly, but most importantly you will need the fastboot interface which will be in the mini_adb.zip file that I have also provided on mediafire. Keep in mind that there are a lot of tools in that folder that could be useful for you at some point down the road but today all you need is fastboot.
Link to Team Win Recovery for mako
MediaFire link to Superuser.zip
Mediafire link to miniadb_inc.zip

2. Set up your environment - first you need to unzip miniadb_inc.zip and for the sake of making things easier take the folder inside of the same name and drop it into the root of your C: drive. Again, to make things easier, go ahead and drop the twrp.img into the miniadb_inc folder. If you don't follow these instructions exactly then my commands won't work as written.

3. Turn off your phone and boot into the bootloader. To do this, when the phone is off hold down the power, vol-up, and vol-down buttons simultaneously until the phone viabrates once. You should see a picture of an Android lying on it's back with it's front opened up and a big start button on top. Connect your phone and then set it aside for a moment and open command prompt on your PC. Input the following commands:
Code:
cd /
cd /miniadb_inc
this changes your active directory to the miniadb_inc folder. Next input this command:
Code:
fastboot oem unlock
this sends the command to your phone to unlock the bootloader. At this time you should look at your phone and see a prompt regarding unlocking the bootloader. Click accept to unlock the bootloader or if you're freaking out too much to continue at the moment you can click that you don't accept the terms and then click the power button and boot back into android and go about your day.
If you were bold enough to get to this point then you will now need to boot back into android anyway. Your phone will have reset and these instructions assume that you aren't flashing a custom ROM at this time so go ahead and take a minute to sign in and get things like you want them. While you're booted into Android take a moment to transfer superuser.zip to your SD partition on your phone. When you're done get back to the bootloader like you did earlier and input the following command:
Code:
fastboot flash recovery twrp.img
this command tells your computer to push the twrp recovery that you downloaded earlier to your phone and to flash it, effectively removing the stock recovery from your device.

4. Using the volume keys scroll through the bootloader options until you see recovery at the top of your phone and then click the power key to confirm. This will boot you into TWRP for the first time. Now select the install button in TWRP and then find the superuser.zip file that you put on your phone in the previous step.

5. Select the reboot button and your phone should reboot back into Android and will now be rooted! Update the su binary within the SuperSU app and update SuperSU through the Play Store like any other app. Congratulations, you're done!

6. Profit. :laugh:
Superb, all this I know already as I did this with one v:)
But, I read in some tutorial that if you don't reboot to stock recovery and data reset your phone AFTER you've unlocked the boot loader, you will end up with a soft brick? Is it true?:confused::(

Sent from my Nexus 4 using xda app-developers app
 

demkantor

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Nov 10, 2011
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I've been playing g with androids for a long time and dozens of devices. Personally have never used a toolkit and its hard for me to recommend or knock them.
My view is a toolkit teaches you nothing
If a toolkit was made so was another method
Everyone will have an issue with something at some point, so the more you learn now the less freaking out latter
Learning to do thongs yourself will always be safer, I mean yes manually typing a dd command can be dangerous but if you know what you are doing you know when to be cautious, there will always be an example for either argument on this, but I truly can't see a reason to believe a tool kit is safer
But I'm a to each their own sorta guy, but also one who feels the need to learn as much as possible so will promote as much manually methods for anything in life and will do my best to stay away from auto-just-about-anything.... Just a my $.02

Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda premium