[HOWTO] Bluestacks for MAC OS X rooted [2012-10-09]

[bitstra]

Hi all, who are interested in using Bluestacks (Bluestacks Mac alpha) rooted and writeable /system & /data!

If you havn't installed or used it before, the android app player Bluestacks alpha for MAc OS X is available here:
http://bluestacks.com/bstks_mac.html

The idea for rooting it came, when I read the thread of xRepinsSporx here http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1571308. This is guiding tread for rooting Bluestacks for Windows.

So credits go to xRepinsSporx!

I've managed making full rooted Root.fs for the Bluestacks android app-player for MAC OS X.
The /system of bluestacks is rooted out of the box, but root-permissions are restricted.
So I've copied a new su file ('su.orig') and a symbolic link ('su') into /system/xbin. This was done under ubuntu-linux!
That works for me...

If you want try it, here is a


HOW TO:

(make sure, Bluestacks is not running!!!)


---Attention! this HOWTO is only useable on MAC OS X!---



I.
1. Download Root.fs_hacked.zip (rooted Root.fs)

II.
1. Unpack Root.fs_hacked.zip in a folder of your choice
2. In Finder-Menu go to "Go To'-cklick it once ; hold alt-key down for showing the user-library-folder;
Open Library-Folder; Go into the Folder Bluestacks App Player; Go into the Folder Android;
Rename the file Root.fs to Root.fs_backup (in case for having a backup!)
copy the unpacked Root.fs_hacked to here and rename it to Root.fs .

---- You have full rooted /system now! ----


3. Goto into Folder yourusername/Library/BlueStacks App Player/Runtime; make Alias For Bluestacks App Player.app;
Place this link where you want to (i.e. on Desktop or into the Launchbar);



Now you should activate personalized Home Launcher! (If you did not done it before)
I made it with Holo Launcher...

III.
1. Open Pulse in Bluestacks
2. Click an entry in Pulse; Click on Menu-Button, that goes to an WEBsite of an article; the hidden webBrowser of bluestack will open that;
in addressbar goto HoloLauncher (stable) download page http://hololauncher.com/download.aspx?t=STABLE and download and install it
3. Click on the colored Home-Button of Bluestacks and select Holo Launcher for ever.


Now you can install basic gapps for Bluestacks

IV.
1. open the web Browser

2. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/GoogleServicesFramework.apk; install it
3. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/OneTimeInitializer.apk; install it
4. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/SetupWizard.apk; install it
5. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/Talk.apk; install it
6. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/Vending.apk; install it
7. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/Gmail.apk; install it
6. download http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12364391/BluestackForMacApps/Maps.apk; install it


At last goto Settings->Accounts-> add your Google-Account

You did it! - Congrats


What is working:
- root is granted for apps an the fly (without the use of Superuser.apk - this APk isn't working but not needed!)
(test it with titanium backup and/or root explorer)
- fully read/writeable /system, /data, /data/data
(you can test it by starting a terminal session in bluestack; after starting terminal you are at the $-prompt right(?), enter $ su - and you are the #-prompt - so you are rooted)

If Titanium Backup or other apps don't see your installed apps, then you have to change permissions for /data as following:

open terminal session
and enter

su
chmod 755 /data

(thanx Jainyankee1993 for his reply!)

- Homelauncher of your choice
- Market
- Synching Gmail
- installing most of apps you can see in your market account

(working apps i.e. here: Root Explorer; Titanium Backup; Adaway; Clocksynch...)


What is not working:
Contacts and Calendar won't synch! (So i use the Google website for my calendar and contacts for the moment )
The colored home button loses his function. (For getting home button function you can load 'button svoir' from market)


The stuff published here is for educational purposes only!
All you do with your Bluestacks installation on your MAC is done at your own risk!

BTW: if your full rooted Bluestacks is running as it should, you can delete the preinstall Bluetstacks-Apps-Folder link from the Launchbar...


(atached 2 screenshots here.)


regards bitstra

 

[the.master.asd]

Hi all, who are interested in using Bluestacks rooted and writeable /system & /data!

I've managed making full rooted Root.fs for the Bluestacks android app-player for MAC OS X.

If somebody is interested in my solution, I would share the Root.fs-file. If so feel free to pm me...

atached 2 screenshots here.


regards bitstra

is wonderful news


you are a great

best regards

 

[bitstra]

OP is updated with instructions for download and install

regards

bitstra

 

[Jainyankee1993]

I can't find the address bar in pulse anywhere

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bitstra]

I can't find the address bar in pulse anywhere

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

First click on a Pulse-Article
Than click on Menu-Button
Than click 'Open in Browser'

..u should see the address-bar

that's it...

bitstra

 

[Jainyankee1993]

okay got evrything to work except my hom e button does not do anything. lol

 

[bitstra]

okay got evrything to work except my hom e button does not do anything. lol

... thats right - I've updated OP with that hint - thanx...

So we can use 'button savoir' from market!


regards

bitstra

 

[Jainyankee1993]

Okay thank you. Sorry to keep bothering you but titanium backup for me just says searching for app data

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bitstra]

Okay thank you. Sorry to keep bothering you but titanium backup for me just says searching for app data

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

Can you please open a terminal session and enter

su
ls -l /

an try to post the output here?
I think I have used chmod for /data to change permisssions

you can try

su
chmod 755 /data

for a fast shot...

thanx

 

[Jainyankee1993]

here you go

 

[Jainyankee1993]

Sent from my SGH-I747 using Tapatalk 2

 

[bitstra]

here you go

Wrote this post before you posted the bigger screenshot (sorry).

the permissions for /data are looking good.

So make a

'ls -l /data/data' and ls '-l /data/app' the must have the sam permission values like your /data - line




my old eyes can't read your output.

Can you please write the single line from output for the /data folder?

Have tested the chmod command once more.

You can enter the command

chmod 755 /data

... and TB should show all your apps, i think!

bitstra

 

[Jainyankee1993]

is chmod supposed to give me an output, because it isn't...

---------- Post added at 05:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:41 AM ----------

my old eyes can't read your output.

Can you please write the single line from output for the /data folder?

Have tested the chmod command once more.

You can enter the command

chmod 755 /data

... and TB should show all your apps, i think!

bitstra

sweet okay. it works it would be cool if this could use the mac camera, hopefully this will happen in the future. thank you so much

 

[bitstra]

is chmod supposed to give me an output, because it isn't...

---------- Post added at 05:43 AM ---------- Previous post was at 05:41 AM ----------



sweet okay. it works it would be cool if this could use the mac camera, hopefully this will happen in the future. thank you so much

No, chmod returns without any output after setting permissions...

I'm pleased that it works for you.
(Will update the HowTo with the 'chmod' command for /data...)

You are right with the camera. The mic would also a nice gadget in using bluestacks...
But i don't think that bluestacks.com will build their emulator (Bluestacks App player) in this stage ...

So, who will try hacking the app player for using cam and mic?:laugh:



regards

bitstra

 

[s1h4d0w]

First of all, thank you very much and you're a genius.

Second, I can't seem to log in with my Google account, I fill in all data and then after it loading for 1-2 min I get a message saying "Can't establish a reliable data connection to the server. This could be a temporary problem or your phone may not be provisioned for data services. If it continues, call Customer Care."

I've installed all the supplied apk (in the order they were mentioned) but nothing. Am I just a total n00b and forgot something or does this root not support the Market/Play store yet? I say Market because that's what the icon says on my Bluestacks, but that shouldn't be the problem because they're two different "apps" if I'm right.

 

[Dyinanic]

Root.fs in use

Every time I tried to replace the root.fs file with the hacked root.fs, it says that it can't be completed because root.fs is in use. Please help!

 

[Macmee]

When I do this and open up stacks it just crashes.

 

[alanhsu]

You can get contacts/calendar to sync by adding a corporate account under the contacts app. Then use use your gmail credentials and m.google.com as server.

 

[erJotas]

There is no root.fs in /Users/<username>/Library/BlueStacks App Player/Android

There is root.sparsefs instead. is there any way to hack this?

Thanks for all

Best regards.

 

[Resuna]

Need new root for Beta version

The Beta uses a different image format, "Root.sparsefs" containing two files "Map" and "Data", so it needs a new root.