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.

 

[M_T_M]

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

I know, I know mate .....I'll do it later...

 

[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?