[How-To] Simplified UNROOT and return to STOCK

**sfhub** · 12-07-2011, 08:56 PM

In the ZVH rooting sticky, look for the Resource #D8 section. There are mirrors for the ZVH update.zip.

**PatrickAkridge** · 12-08-2011, 08:20 PM

Why would anyone want to do that though?

Sent from my LS670 using Tapatalk

**sfhub** · 12-08-2011, 11:57 PM

It is the only way to flash the ZVH modem.

**alynahsmom** · 12-21-2011, 02:47 PM

if Xionia recovery 12518.6 and higher does not have brick issue, if I do only ##786# reset, will that unroot and restore to original factory settings, or do I still need to go through all the steps?

**sfhub** · 12-21-2011, 07:25 PM

Originally Posted by alynahsmom

if Xionia recovery 12518.6 and higher does not have brick issue, if I do only ##786# reset, will that unroot and restore to original factory settings, or do I still need to go through all the steps?

##786# won't reset root, it doesn't touch /system, only /data and nvram, therefore root would remain

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 01:50 PM

Forgive me in advance if I'm re-asking a question that's already been posted (a lot of info in this thread)...but, will any of these steps, including the possibility of having to use any of the links for other steps, wipe the sd card? I'll probably make a backup of it just to be safe, but was just wondering.

**sfhub** · 12-26-2011, 02:25 PM

sdcard is not wiped. I've run through these scenarios hundreds of times and never had the sdcard get wiped by accident, but it is always best to keep an archive somewhere off the phone. sdcards can fail too.

The instructions seem lengthy but they aren't so bad if you just read the highlights for the sections. I wrote it out in minute detail because at some point people were doing some of the steps "blind" because they had the wrong kernel which didn't have the LCD drivers for their screen.

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 02:52 PM

Awesome. I didn't have too many problems rooting it (ended up having to copy/paste some of the lines to be sure the correct spaces were used), but I do appreciate detailed instructions. I will be un-rooting a couple of phones for resale (private, not back to the store). Any suggestions or comments other than just following these steps? Also, the phones are originally ZVD builds.

**sfhub** · 12-26-2011, 05:50 PM

Just do a ##786# reset when the flash is done.

ZVD is the best version to leave phones on when you resell them. It has the fewest issues and is pretty solid. ZVH can work well also, but there are more gotchas where the buyer may feel you gave them a lemon if they aren't well versed in ZVH-lore.

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 06:06 PM

You are heaven sent!! :o) I'm in contact w/sprint now to get the service code. Yes, this was a very simple process and I will be doing it again to my other phone in just a few minutes. Thank you again for your instructions and responses. I guess it's ok to delete the files off the sdcard that were needed for this process? The card is being used in another phone now (Samsung Galaxy).

Oh, note to self: next time, remember to turn off usb storage after copying files to sdcard. Duh! lol

**hlxanthus** · 12-26-2011, 06:08 PM

Make sure to keep a record of those numbers, they may be handy down the road

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 06:41 PM

Originally Posted by hlxanthus

Make sure to keep a record of those numbers, they may be handy down the road

Definitely! Now, if I can only get someone on the phone who knows what they're doing. I asked for the service code, they gave me a few that didn't work (including 0000 or the last 4 of the cell # it was used for). I was told to try the factory data reset found under the privacy settings, which didn't do what I wanted it to do (the previous phone # is still showing up). So, now I'm being "escalated" to a higher power! lol

**hlxanthus** · 12-26-2011, 07:21 PM

Tell them that you downgraded from the gingerbread update, but now your data doesnt work. You saw online that you needed to do a ##786# reset to fix it, but it asks for a code. Make sure it is a 6 digit number and you are set !

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 07:41 PM

They ended up creating a work order for me to take it to a store and let them do whatever to it that I can't just by entering a code. I told him I already had the 786 and just needed the service code, but he couldn't come up with a code that worked. He even had me do the hard reboot (holding down the pwr/vol dwn/home keys). He was surprised to hear I was 'smart enough' to have already tried that. hehehe Supposedly, some phones have certain ways of resetting and the optimus is one of them. The store may be able to plug it up, locate some # off the phone and come up with the correct service code that way. I'll be sure to talk to the tech there and find out what the # is and see if I can use it on my other optimuses (sp?).

Otherwise, the phone is un-rooted and pretty much back to stock. Just trying to get the old phone # out of the status and off the MIN.

**donnasess** · 12-26-2011, 07:50 PM

On another note, I'm about to unroot the phone I'm currently using, mainly b/c I need to free up memory/space on the phone itself. Once I've unrooted it, is it ok to delete the apps used for rooting (i.e.superuser)? And, should I delete the files from the sdcard used in the rooting/unrooting processes?

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 05:56 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

I guess it's ok to delete the files off the sdcard that were needed for this process? The card is being used in another phone now (Samsung Galaxy).

Yes, you can delete the files. They are kept there so in the case you are actually using the phone, you can swap between stock and xionia (using android terminal) without needing a PC.

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 05:58 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

They ended up creating a work order for me to take it to a store and let them do whatever to it that I can't just by entering a code. I told him I already had the 786 and just needed the service code, but he couldn't come up with a code that worked. He even had me do the hard reboot (holding down the pwr/vol dwn/home keys). He was surprised to hear I was 'smart enough' to have already tried that. hehehe Supposedly, some phones have certain ways of resetting and the optimus is one of them. The store may be able to plug it up, locate some # off the phone and come up with the correct service code that way. I'll be sure to talk to the tech there and find out what the # is and see if I can use it on my other optimuses (sp?).

Otherwise, the phone is un-rooted and pretty much back to stock. Just trying to get the old phone # out of the status and off the MIN.

Did you purchase this particular phone directly from Sprint?

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 06:00 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

On another note, I'm about to unroot the phone I'm currently using, mainly b/c I need to free up memory/space on the phone itself. Once I've unrooted it, is it ok to delete the apps used for rooting (i.e.superuser)? And, should I delete the files from the sdcard used in the rooting/unrooting processes?

Usually the "unroot" procedure will get rid of the ones in that were installed on the ROM, though I can't speak for every procedure.

If you rooted and unrooted using the stickied post, unrooting will automatically get rid of the files that were installed on the ROM.

The files on the sdcard you can definitely remove. They are there just for the install and future flexibility in switching components.

**donnasess** · 12-27-2011, 06:10 AM

Originally Posted by sfhub

Did you purchase this particular phone directly from Sprint?

Yes I did.

Originally Posted by sfhub

Usually the "unroot" procedure will get rid of the ones in that were installed on the ROM, though I can't speak for every procedure.

If you rooted and unrooted using the stickied post, unrooting will automatically get rid of the files that were installed on the ROM.

I was speaking more on the lines of apps, such as superuser, titanium backup, and I believe super tool is another rooted app. But, I guess it makes sense it's ok to delete them if I won't be re-rooting it again once it's been unrooted.

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 07:13 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

Yes I did.

This is what I would do:

Call Sprint, asked to be transfered to tech support. Tell them after some update you are having issues with your data login. They suggested you do a ##786# reset but now it is asking you for some code and you are stuck. You don't want to go to the Sprint store because you need to be at work and the line is long.

I know you did it before, but try it again. Also try during normal working hours if you didn't before. It is a 6-digit #, not a 4-digit code. If you get the right person, they should just look up your MEID from the phone attached to your account and their tool will give them the MSL on the screen. Now if your phone isn't active, then it might be slightly more work.

If that fails there are other options.

**donnasess** · 12-27-2011, 07:25 AM

That was the problem he was having, the fact that the phone isn't active. Now, with my phone, I won't want to do the 786 reset b/c I'm still using it and don't want to delete my personal info. I guess that's why he suggested taking it to the store so they can manually do it from there, plugging it into their system. But, I'll try calling back again today and see if I get different results/info. In the end, if I can't get the cell # removed before selling it, it's not a big deal. I've sold phones in the past that were used on this line and didn't think to check and see if the # was removed. I just happened to check this time and wanted to try removing it. The big deal is that it's unrooted............AND IT WAS SUPER EASY TO DO! Once again, thank you sooooooo much for the easy instructions. I've read other threads on how to do this and was a bit hesitant on moving forward, but when I saw this update, it looked too good to be true - but it IS good and it IS true!

**donnasess** · 12-27-2011, 07:34 AM

Ok, it was too good to be true to be able to unroot my phone as easy as my husband's.

At step 3, applying sdcard update.zip, I'm getting error messages failed to open update zip no such file or directory and signature verification failed. I went back and made sure I unzipped both recovery/update files to the sdcard and where do I check the signature verification?

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 07:45 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

At step 3, applying sdcard update.zip, I'm getting error messages failed to open update zip no such file or directory and signature verification failed. I went back and made sure I unzipped both recovery/update files to the sdcard and where do I check the signature verification?

Did you remember to perform all of step #2?
It sounds like you still have a "custom recovery" on your phone rather than the stock recovery which should have been installed during step #2.

**donnasess** · 12-27-2011, 07:50 AM

Yes, I used the adb shell (3rd option) and it booted to the recovery page on the phone just fine. I did everything just as I did with the first phone. Gonna try steps 1 and 2 again....

Edit: Tried again and still getting error messages.
Edit again: Unzipped both files, again, to sdcard. Unplugged phone from pc, rebooted phone, plugged it back up to the pc, performed terminal steps - installed -vd file - "done", rebooted to recovery screen, scrolled to option 2 install from sdcard.......STILL GETTING ERROR MESSAGES! ugghh

**sfhub** · 12-27-2011, 07:50 AM

Originally Posted by donnasess

That was the problem he was having, the fact that the phone isn't active. Now, with my phone, I won't want to do the 786 reset b/c I'm still using it and don't want to delete my personal info. I guess that's why he suggested taking it to the store so they can manually do it from there, plugging it into their system. But, I'll try calling back again today and see if I get different results/info. In the end, if I can't get the cell # removed before selling it, it's not a big deal. I've sold phones in the past that were used on this line and didn't think to check and see if the # was removed. I just happened to check this time and wanted to try removing it.

Well, you can tell them you are doing the ##786# reset and have them give you the 6-digit MSL, but not perform the ##786# right that instant, instead choosing to do it later on.

Also, if you want a "lesser" NVRAM reset that doesn't erase your filesystem data, you can do a ##72786# reset. That will leave your Android user data but cause your phone to reset NVRAM and reprovision itself.