Gain root access to hardware locked vibrant

[r2d4]

We now know that the new vibrant phones have the hardware key disabled to enter recovery mode. But these phones are not defective. The hardware key has been purposefully disabled as part of a misplaced strategy to secure a phone that has basically no security built into it.

Therefore it is really easy to gain root access to these phones. However the process requires the use of the adb program that is part of the google android sdk. This program likes to run on a 32-bit linux distribution. Since it will not run on a 64 bit system, here is how I managed to gain root access to my phone:

1. Download the sdk from google.
2. Boot into linux on a 32 bit machine. (I used ubuntu live cd on an old Toshiba laptop with an available linux partition to mount on the hd. Your mileage may vary.)
3. If you are not using ubuntu make sure that your c library is compatible.
4. Install the google android sdk on the hd linux partition, e.g. /home/android.
5. Plug your Samsung vibrant into the usb port on the linux machine.

The following steps are specific to ubuntu. The important thing to remember is that the adb program must run its server as root to gain the access we desire.

6. Start the terminal app: Applications > Accessories > Terminal
7. Mount the partition and change to the sdk directory:

sudo mount /dev/sda2 /media
cd /media/*/home/android/tools

7. Start the adb server:

sudo ./adb start-server

8. Make sure your device is recognized:

./adb devices

If you do not see your device connected you have some troubleshooting to do.

9. Reboot your phone into recovery mode:

./adb reboot recovery

Congratulations! You just gained root access to your hardware locked vibrant.

This message has been posted by my old g4 laptop while tethered through t-mobile 3g using wireless tether on my brand new Samsung vibrant.

 

[Spiaatie]

Hmmmm..good enough to stick!

Yeah it's good, but you should move this thread to Samsung Vibrant forum.

 

[r2d4]

This works on any android phone.

Although the method was inspired by the desire to use my vibrant as a g3 modem, the adb program is a general android maintenance tool that runs on linux. So it really doesn't matter what kind of phone you have. Once you have started the adb-server as root the reboot command will boot any android phone plugged into the linux box.

 

[sk8er_]

Although the method was inspired by the desire to use my vibrant as a g3 modem, the adb program is a general android maintenance tool that runs on linux. So it really doesn't matter what kind of phone you have. Once you have started the adb-server as root the reboot command will boot any android phone plugged into the linux box.

Would this also work for the new T-mobile G2 4G ?

 

[r2d4]

I'm sure we will be seeing more locked phones besides the vibrant and g2. This fix should work for them all. The adb-server gives you root access to your phone provided that you have root access to the machine upon which it runs.

 

[tjhart85]

I'm sure we will be seeing more locked phones besides the vibrant and g2. This fix should work for them all. The adb-server gives you root access to your phone provided that you have root access to the machine upon which it runs.

Keep in mind that no matter what you do on the G2, it'll be wiped on reboot. You can gain root temporarily, but when you reboot, it's gone

 

[r2d4]

Installing the root update

Keep in mind that no matter what you do on the G2, it'll be wiped on reboot. You can gain root temporarily, but when you reboot, it's gone

If you want to keep root after your next reboot, you need to update your filesystem. The first step is to install the programs busybox and su.

Before you boot into recovery mode, make sure you have the update.zip file downloaded onto your phone's internal memory card. Whatever is on this card will be left alone even upon a factory reset. But the phone's internal memory will be wiped. The update.zip file merely installs those two programs to the internal memory and doesn't wipe anything.

1. Download the root update for your phone. Rename the file update.zip and place it on the root directory of your device's internal flash memory.

2. Once you are in recovery mode, use the volume keys to scroll and the power key to select "reinstall packages". (This works on the vibrant. The g2 may be slightly different.)

3. Your phone will reboot and you will find the Superuser app has been installed. This app lets you grant root access to applications that need it.

Now you can download powerful apps from the market to gain even more control over your phone.

I hope this helps.

 

[momashi]

Does boot with a live CD of 32 bit ubuntu on my AMD64 work?? or do i need to boot on a computer with a 32bit processor as well?

 

[r2d4]

Running the 32 bit distribution cd on your 64 bit system should be fine.

 

[wilner1974]

Need help

Hello I need help to unlock my samsung vibrant
can someone tell me where i can fin the link
thank you

 

[daviidwilson]

If you want to keep root after your next reboot, you need to update your filesystem. The first step is to install the programs busybox and su.

Before you boot into recovery mode, make sure you have the update.zip file downloaded onto your phone's internal memory card. Whatever is on this card will be left alone even upon a factory reset. But the phone's internal memory will be wiped. The update.zip file merely installs those two programs to the internal memory and doesn't wipe anything.

1. Download the root update for your phone. Rename the file update.zip and place it on the root directory of your device's internal flash memory.

2. Once you are in recovery mode, use the volume keys to scroll and the power key to select "reinstall packages". (This works on the vibrant. The g2 may be slightly different.)

3. Your phone will reboot and you will find the Superuser app has been installed. This app lets you grant root access to applications that need it.

Now you can download powerful apps from the market to gain even more control over your phone.

I hope this helps.

Does boot with a live CD of 32 bit ubuntu on my AMD64 work?? or do i need to boot on a computer with a 32bit processor as well?

 

[molson24]

unlocking on root system

I was wondering if it was okay to unlock a Samsung Vibrant when it is already rooted?

 

[s15274n]

the JI6 OTA update fixed this issue.
If you upgraded using Kies or ODIN, you may still be HWL, BUT, there is a fix:

If you can not get into download mode, please try this:
** Please note this is for JI6, if you are running froyo do not do this **
untermensch has a fix for those who are HWL'd that seems VERY effective. I always heard some who updated from JFD to JI6 had the HWL fixed automatically, but that was not the case for everyone. It appears those who updated OTA got the fix, but most who did ODIN or Kies did NOT get the HWL issue fixed.

Please see his excellent thread by clicking here. Hope this helps.

If you are using froyo, I imagine you could revert back to JI6 and flash this to fix the HWL.

 

[azsamsancho]

HWL but scared to update.zip

Hi all. I am running Ji6 and i am still hardware locked. I just want to root my phone so i can delete some stock bloatware.

Can root my phone without having to "fix" HWL. I am wondering, how Kies successfully upgraded my phone to JI6 with HWL? If I upgrade to froyo (once available) will the upgrade access recovery? WIil the upgrade brick my phone?

I know for Froyo there is z4root which seems to be an easy, safe way to root..

So should i plan on waiting for Froyo??

 

[jbeez]

Just fyi... I just had my vibrant warranty replaced through tmobile, when I registered it with samsung the manufacture date showed november. I had no issues getting to recovery using the keypresses.

The whole warranty swap went alot better than I was expecting, phone looks new not refurbed, it came in like 1 or 2 days from when I called, AND they unlocked it for me even though I was at my unlock limit since it was a warranty replacement, just make sure they specify that in the request.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S - powered by Team Whiskey™

 

[cerbervs]

Thanks for help, T-mobile's Vibrant is hardware locked.
Of course, you don't need either Linux or 32-bit, it worked just fine from a Windows 64-bit machine (and will from any that has a version of ADK for it). Just Shift+right-click in "android-sdk-windows\platform-tools" and select "Open command window here", enter "adb devices" to launch the daemon and make sure your device is connected properly (it needs to be in "USB debugging mode", which you can select in settings), and then enter "adb reboot recovery". Phone should restart, select "Reinstall Packages" using volume keys and power key to enter.

 

[PAinguINx]

Bought Samsung Vibrant - SGH T959 - Have questions...

Hi all,

I joined the forums recently to learn about rooting my EVO. With the help of a number of people on the forums I was able to easily root my EVO and install a custom ROM. Still haven't flashed any new Kernels yet but I may do that soon.

Anyway, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S (Vibrant) which of course is T-Mobile phone. I got it from my friend for $50 because I know they sell on eBay for anywhere from $250-$350.

However, I recently upgraded the phone for him before I bought it to 2.2 (Froyo). This seems to be bad for me because now I want to Unlock the phone so that it can be used with any carrier, or a carrier aside from T-Mobile but I've read in the forums here that it's hard to Unlock the device if you've upgraded to Froyo via Kies.

Can anyone help me with Unlocking my device and could someone give me a quick rundown of what the key commands are for this phone too? Such as how to access recovery to flash a ROM. Although I am not going to ROOT this device unless it is required in order to unlock the phone.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Oh, and I won't get mad if my post needs to be moved to another thread either so please move it to the right place if it needs to be.

Thanks!

 

[PAinguINx]

Hi all,

I joined the forums recently to learn about rooting my EVO. With the help of a number of people on the forums I was able to easily root my EVO and install a custom ROM. Still haven't flashed any new Kernels yet but I may do that soon.

Anyway, I bought a Samsung Galaxy S (Vibrant) which of course is T-Mobile phone. I got it from my friend for $50 because I know they sell on eBay for anywhere from $250-$350.

However, I recently upgraded the phone for him before I bought it to 2.2 (Froyo). This seems to be bad for me because now I want to Unlock the phone so that it can be used with any carrier, or a carrier aside from T-Mobile but I've read in the forums here that it's hard to Unlock the device if you've upgraded to Froyo via Kies.

Can anyone help me with Unlocking my device and could someone give me a quick rundown of what the key commands are for this phone too? Such as how to access recovery to flash a ROM. Although I am not going to ROOT this device unless it is required in order to unlock the phone.

Thanks in advance for any help!!!

Oh, and I won't get mad if my post needs to be moved to another thread either so please move it to the right place if it needs to be.

Thanks!

Well now, I found this http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=761045 but is it cool to do this while running Froyo? And another question, since I bought this phone from a friend can I still have it replaced/fixed (if needed) if the warranty is still active on it?

Thanks!

 

[mr_bombman]

Back to original ROM by Odin, T959UVJFD.tar and s1_odin_20100512.pit
in dounload mode (down + power)