Is it worth it to root?

**Reaperbrah** · 12-19-2011, 07:26 PM

I heard there were some problems with rooting ICS. I don't want to mess up my phone, right when I get it.

**greydarrah** · 12-19-2011, 07:32 PM

No problems I know of. For me, there are 2 reasons...

1. Titanium backup - so you can have a solid backup of all apps and system settings. This makes restoring from a hard reset a 15 minute afair.

2. Free WiFi tether.

**orion.2ktc** · 12-19-2011, 08:49 PM

I'm rooted and have Titanium Backup installed but it's not showing up in my app drawer or home screen. Any thoughts? It says the app is uninstallable.

**HawgFan1979** · 12-19-2011, 08:53 PM

Originally Posted by Reaperbrah

I heard there were some problems with rooting ICS. I don't want to mess up my phone, right when I get it.

This device was made to be rooted. There are people who have had some problems (myself included) but usually that's just from inexperience with the mac terminal program or not following instructions.

**SpaceHippie** · 12-20-2011, 12:54 AM

At the moment, i have no reason. I unrooted because for some reason my phone is snappier stock. I'll wait for CM9 before i root. No rush for me. My phone is awesome anyway

**iastonish** · 12-20-2011, 01:06 AM

Originally Posted by TitansJonne

At the moment, i have no reason. I unrooted because for some reason my phone is snappier stock. I'll wait for CM9 before i root. No rush for me. My phone is awesome anyway

This makes no sense, root privilege wouldn't make any difference if you're running stock rom, unchanged.

Not saying it doesn't seem snappier to you, but this is a bit misleading to those who aren't familiar with rooting, since rooting doesn't require you to flash a custom rom, that's a choice.

**Wicket** · 12-20-2011, 04:32 AM

I've been trying to decide if I want to unlock the bootloader and root also.. really my whole reason to root my Incredible was to put stock Android on there and I have that with a Nexus so.. is it worth it? I guess I do like to mod and tweak stuff so even if I don't have the itch to do it now I might later.. so should I do it now when the phone is brand new or wait? the worse that happens if I wait is it wipes the phone when unlocking the bootloader..

**digitalslacker** · 12-20-2011, 06:13 AM

Originally Posted by Wicket

I've been trying to decide if I want to unlock the bootloader and root also.. really my whole reason to root my Incredible was to put stock Android on there and I have that with a Nexus so.. is it worth it? I guess I do like to mod and tweak stuff so even if I don't have the itch to do it now I might later.. so should I do it now when the phone is brand new or wait? the worse that happens if I wait is it wipes the phone when unlocking the bootloader..

The general guideance is that if you ever plan on rooting you should unlock the bootloader right after you get the phone so you don't have to speed to much time re-configuring the phone.

Unlocking the bootloader will WIPE ALL DATE INCLUDING YOUR SD CARD. I put that in bold because people have been missing that bit and getting surprised when their photos are gone.

The worse that happens is you end up soft bricked and have to re-image the phone.

**GetOnMahLevel** · 12-20-2011, 06:24 AM

Originally Posted by Wicket

I've been trying to decide if I want to unlock the bootloader and root also.. really my whole reason to root my Incredible was to put stock Android on there and I have that with a Nexus so.. is it worth it? I guess I do like to mod and tweak stuff so even if I don't have the itch to do it now I might later.. so should I do it now when the phone is brand new or wait? the worse that happens if I wait is it wipes the phone when unlocking the bootloader..

I would at least unlock the bootloader because you lose everything once you unlock it.. so i unlocked it right out of the box.. then i had gone that far so i went ahead and rooted and put on the cwm recovery.. i just couldnt stop flashing..

But yeah.. i would go ahead and at least unlock the bootloader if theres any chance at all that you will want to flash something in the future.. its fairly easy too.. hope this helps!

**ohiomoto** · 12-20-2011, 06:46 AM

Originally Posted by digitalslacker

...

Unlocking the bootloader will WIPE ALL DATE INCLUDING YOUR SD CARD. I put that in bold because people have been missing that bit and getting surprised when their photos are gone.

Wait, we have an SD card?!?!?!?!!!!!! Awesome!!!

Just kidding. Good advice.

**digitalslacker** · 12-20-2011, 08:07 AM

Originally Posted by ohiomoto

Wait, we have an SD card?!?!?!?!!!!!! Awesome!!!

Just kidding. Good advice.

LOL

well it's technical called a Virtual SD Card

so it doesn't exist

**revickulous2001** · 12-20-2011, 09:13 AM

The simple answer is yes. The hardest part of rooting this phone (with the superboot) method is getting Samsung's drivers to work on your computer. Once that is done, rooting is a five minute process and it's as close to being fail-safe as it can be.

There are many advantages to rooting a phone. Adfree alone makes it worth it to me. Titanium Backup is great as well.

**Ace4** · 12-20-2011, 09:35 AM

Originally Posted by revickulous2001

The simple answer is yes. The hardest part of rooting this phone (with the superboot) method is getting Samsung's drivers to work on your computer. Once that is done, rooting is a five minute process and it's as close to being fail-safe as it can be.

There are many advantages to rooting a phone. Adfree alone makes it worth it to me. Titanium Backup is great as well.

Agree 100%. If you even just *think* you might want it rooted someday in the future, you should unlock your bootloader as soon as you get the phone, since it wipes everything. You can put off actually rooting it until you decide in the future, rooting does not wipe data. I wouldn't want to have a phone without Adfree.

**Montclair** · 12-20-2011, 10:27 AM

2 Q's:

Regarding a "100% complete" back-up, must you be rooted to get that. I know that Titanium Backup requires root, but are there any back up apps out there which do not require root? I used Backup Man on my Centro and it was perfect.

Regarding root and OTA updates, if you are rooted, how does this work? What needs to be done and does the update wipe your data like unlocking?

Thanks in advance!

**mclarryjr** · 12-20-2011, 11:09 AM

I think its a great idea to root and would never go without it, ROMs and Mods are already starting to role out which is great. I have rooted 3 phones now using Cyber's guide with no issues.

**stormed** · 12-20-2011, 11:20 AM

Personally, I do not really see any drawbacks to rooting the device and adding a rom that opens up a level of control that you can't while on the stock setup. IF anything, the chance at tweaking the device by adding a custom rom + kernel to perhaps improve battery life is reason to get rooted earlier than later.

**digitalslacker** · 12-20-2011, 11:40 AM

Originally Posted by Montclair

2 Q's:

Regarding a "100% complete" back-up, must you be rooted to get that. I know that Titanium Backup requires root, but are there any back up apps out there which do not require root? I used Backup Man on my Centro and it was perfect.

Regarding root and OTA updates, if you are rooted, how does this work? What needs to be done and does the update wipe your data like unlocking?

Thanks in advance!

There might be but because some of the files that need to be backuped are located in system folders root access is required to get to them. I wouldn't suggest a backup app that didn't require root.

OTA updates don't wipe your data but they MAY remove root depending on the nature of the OTA. You just need to be prepared to re-root if need be.

**Upstreammiami** · 12-20-2011, 11:49 AM

ROOT!

**dc iz 2 legit** · 12-20-2011, 12:21 PM

Root! and I recommend using this method couldent be easier it should be called rooting your nexus for dummies and as others have stated the only problem is making sure the drivers are working properly an example of knowing if they are working is while your phone is on in a adb command window type adb devices and it should give u the phone. S/N note it won't give it to you in fast boot and also the drivers will possibly try to install again once u get the drives fully working its cake

[GUIDE] How To Unlock Bootloader and Root Verizon Galaxy Nexus

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**Wicket** · 12-20-2011, 12:59 PM

well I am only a day into this bad boy and barely have it set up so unlocking it and getting wiped isn't so bad. thanks for the opinions and insights! Always awesome knowing I can come here and talk tech with others of the same mind!

**makewayhomer** · 12-20-2011, 02:36 PM

I'm rooting just for apps really, like wireless tether, ad free, etc.

I got tired of ROMs that *nearly* worked, or worked great except for some random stuff. I want the smoothest experience possible, so I'm going with stock ICS, but will root for some other access to stuff

**dragon718** · 12-20-2011, 02:40 PM

Only reason I would like to root, is to get rid of the search bar. Didn't think it would bother as much as it does and I don't wanna put ADW launcher or Go Launcher on it. Haven't decided if the search bar is enough reason for me to try rooting for the first time.

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using Tapatalk

**threepio** · 12-20-2011, 03:42 PM

i might go a week before i root mine. Gotta go pick it up at FedEx tonight after work. No one was home to sign for it when they tried to deliver

**alpinem3#ac** · 12-20-2011, 05:06 PM

Root is an absolute must if you really want to tap into the realm of what this phone was really meant to do and why the Nexus line has always been classified as a "Developer's Phone". This is my first Nexus and loving it....I couldn't see myself ever leaving HTC and the Sense UI, but this phone is pretty remarkable (not too many bugs for it to be a deal breaker).

Besides, Unlocking and root doesn't require you to flash a custom ROM so staying stock with all the benefits of root are at your disposal.

One thing I have noticed is that for some reason Light Flow isn't playing nice after root.....for obvious reasons I would say this is rubbish to anybody posting such a problem, but it is as if the notifications are all out of whack. Anybody experience this after root?

**makewayhomer** · 12-20-2011, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by AlpineM3

One thing I have noticed is that for some reason Light Flow isn't playing nice after root.....for obvious reasons I would say this is rubbish to anybody posting such a problem, but it is as if the notifications are all out of whack. Anybody experience this after root?

yes, I and others noticed. you can deny it SU privileges in the Superuser app.