[drewwalton19216801]

Rooting the LG Optimus S with software version LS670ZVD


If using the command line scares the pants off of you and you do not want to take the time to do your homework, you may use Gingersnap, a one-click rooting utility.

[WARN]Certain anti-virus/anti-malware software are falsely reporting gingerbreak as a trojan/virus. That is because by definition it is. It exploits a security vulnerability in Android to give you a root shell. Please understand this important fact before telling me that I am distributing malware. Thanks for your understanding.[/WARN]
Big Fat Disclaimer:
1) Make sure you read this guide in it's entirety before attempting root.
2) If you need clarification on any of the steps outlined in this guide, ask before experimenting!
3) As with all Android modifications/tweaks, there is ALWAYS a risk of bricking your device. Make sure you understand all of the steps in this guide before attempting to root your device.
4) Last but not least, I am not responsible for bricks due to your mistakes! You are performing these steps at your own risk.

This guide will work no matter how you updated to LS670ZVD. Therefore KP500 is NOT needed whatsoever!

WARNING: If you screw up on ANY of these instructions, you will have to reboot your phone and try again starting from step 1!!!

NO LONGER RELEVANT: This guide assumes you have added the Android SDK tools directory to your PATH variable. Instructions for Windows 2000/XP can be found here. Instructions for Windows Vista/7 can be found here. With the latest version of the Android SDK, the default tools folder is "platform-tools" which is in the "Android\android-sdk-windows" folder in Program Files. With some versions of the Android SDK the default tools folder is simply "tools" which is in the "Android\android-sdk-windows" folder in Program Files. Your mileage may vary.
Techneek TV (mrinehart93) has a great video tutorial on how to do this in Windows Vista/7. Watch it here.

The su, busybox and gingerbreak binaries as well as the Superuser app are included in OptimusRootZVD.zip, which is attached to this post. The ADB binary can also be found in this file (you won't need ADB in the Windows PATH variable). Thanks DroidXcon!
Make sure you extract the files to an easily accessible folder.

Much kudos to Sebastian for releasing this exploit.

Special thanks to Nick7, Zefie, Beezy, KSmithInNY, and everyone else who tries so hard to free this awesome device from the hands of LG. You guys rock.


Now, on to the guide.


1) Fire up a terminal (cmd.exe on Windows)

2) Change to the directory where you extracted the files from OptimusRootZVD.zip

cd C:\wherever\you\put\the\files

3) Prepare the /data/local/tmp directory with write permissions (THIS IS REQUIRED!)

adb shell
rm -r /data/local/tmp
mkdir /data/local/tmp
exit

4) Push the required files to the /data/local/tmp directory

adb push gingerbreak /data/local/tmp/gingerbreak
adb push su /data/local/tmp/su
adb push busybox /data/local/tmp/busybox
adb push Superuser.apk /data/local/tmp/Superuser.apk

5) Fire up the shell

adb shell

6) Change to the /data/local/tmp directory

cd /data/local/tmp

7) Set correct permissions. REQUIRED: If you don't do this you will be slapped.

chmod 777 /data/local/tmp/*

8) Run gingerbreak (this can take a while, so please be patient. If it gets stuck for more than a few minutes, reboot your phone and try again from step 1. This will automatically give you a root shell if successful.)

./gingerbreak

If that doesn't work, you can try

/data/local/tmp/gingerbreak

9) Mount the /system partition read-write

mount -o remount,rw -t yaffs2 /system /system

10) Change to the /data/local/tmp directory

cd /data/local/tmp

11) Copy su and busybox to /system/bin

cat su > /system/bin/su
cat busybox > /system/bin/busybox
cat Superuser.apk > /data/app/Superuser.apk

12) Set correct permissions on su and busybox

chmod 4755 /system/bin/su
chmod 4755 /system/bin/busybox

13) Exit the shell

exit
exit

14) You're done! You may now reboot and have fun with your rooted Optimus!
If you followed all of the instructions correctly, Superuser has already been installed.



CUSTOM RECOVERY

Now that your phone is rooted, you may now install the Xionia CWMA recovery kernel.

You may elect to use drellisdee's Custom Recovery, but it will cause issues if you have a device with the new LCD display (which means use Xionia CWMA unless you're feeling adventurous AND know exactly what you're doing) but Xionia CWMA is generally the better choice for most users. Drellisdee's Custom Recovery has been updated and doesn't have any LCD display issues anymore.


NANDROID BACKUP

Now that your phone is rooted and has a custom recovery kernel, you need to make a nandroid backup. Boot your phone into recovery mode by firing up a Windows command prompt and issue the following command:

adb reboot recovery

Your phone will reboot to recovery mode. Once it fully boots to recovery mode, navigate to "backup and restore", then "backup" and your phone will make a nandroid backup for use when you screw something up by being a NOOB.

[psaurus81]

Awesome work. You are truly a god among men. Thank you very much.

[ravioli]

Any particular reason why Norton AV is reporting rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin as a Trojan.Gen.2?

[drewwalton19216801]

Any particular reason why Norton AV is reporting rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin as a Trojan.Gen.2?

rageagainstthecage-arm5.bin is not included. gingerbreak is. And technically they are both malware because they EXPLOIT the Android kernel. This has been discussed so many times it's not even funny.

[BloodyHaze]

H:\Root>adb shell
'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command
operable program or batch file.

H:\Root>rm -r /data/local/tmp
'rm' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

H:\Root>mkdir /data/local/tmp
The syntax of the command is incorrect.

H:\Root>exit

Did i skip/do something wrong? :|

[drewwalton19216801]

H:\Root>adb shell
'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command
operable program or batch file.

H:\Root>rm -r /data/local/tmp
'rm' is not recognized as an internal or external command,
operable program or batch file.

H:\Root>mkdir /data/local/tmp
The syntax of the command is incorrect.

H:\Root>exit

Did i skip/do something wrong? :|

Yeah you don't have the adb platform-tools in your PATH variable.

[kalel_293]

Yeah you don't have the adb platform-tools in your PATH variable.

getting the same error message...i just check the path under environmental variables...and its there...

[jaronow]

thanks for the info and files

just rooted 3 optimus s for some friends

off to install something good for em now

[drewwalton19216801]

Do you even have the platform-tools installed? If so, can you post (a) the full directory path to adb.exe and (b) the path that's in your PATH variable?

[kalel_293]

no such file when installing gingerbreak...

[drewwalton19216801]

C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools

You did not post both. Specify both the actual path and what's in your path variable

[kalel_293]

i get a not found error everytime i reach #8...

[kalel_293]

You did not post both. Specify both the actual path and what's in your path variable

sorry did not see the post....i just reinstalled the lg drivers...seems to be working...but i get a "not found" error when i reach step #8...

[arnlib]

I was able to follow through to the last step. Now I am getting a notice saying

- "Removed SD card - SD Card removed. Insert a new one."

The card remained in the sd slot throughout without being touched. I tried to unmount and remount after getting this message. Notice persists. Any ideas what might be going on?


NOTE:
Step 4 instructs to
"adb push gingerbreak /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage"
Was it supposed to say
"adb push gingerbreak /data/local/tmp/gingerbreak"

[arnlib]

Nevermind. I just powered on/off and it solved the SD Card Notice.

[drewwalton19216801]

NOTE:
Step 4 instructs to
"adb push gingerbreak /data/local/tmp/rageagainstthecage"
Was it supposed to say
"adb push gingerbreak /data/local/tmp/gingerbreak"

Hahaha whoops! I used the LS670ZVC guide as a template for this guide. I thought I'd fixed all those names, but I guess not. Nice catch!

[Halucin8]

I have usb debugging on but when i type adb shell it says device not found. what am i missing?

[drewwalton19216801]

I have usb debugging on but when i type adb shell it says device not found. what am i missing?

Maybe the drivers?

[Halucin8]

I didn't see anythign in your how-to about drivers should i be reading multiple posts or where do i get them and where should they be installed?

[drewwalton19216801]

I didn't see anythign in your how-to about drivers should i be reading multiple posts or where do i get them and where should they be installed?

LG Mobile Support tool is what you want. I'm on my phone ATM so I can't post the link easily but google is your friend and so is the outdated ZVD rooting guide.

Your video card wont work without drivers and neither will your phone.

[cr33p]

I just finished rooting my sister inlaws optimus with the recently outdated zvd guide, man if I only waited an hr more. Anywho, what happens if I rooted, and forgot to accept the ota radio update prior to flashing a custom rom. What's the easiest way to fix this? Or is it even necessary? Tks

[drewwalton19216801]

I just finished rooting my sister inlaws optimus with the recently outdated zvd guide, man if I only waited an hr more. Anywho, what happens if I rooted, and forgot to accept the ota radio update prior to flashing a custom rom. What's the easiest way to fix this? Or is it even necessary? Tks

Did you make a nandroid backup before flashing the ROM?

[BloodyHaze]

So i haven't tried to root my phone again, only cuz i wanna be sure.

Not sure if you forgot to include this or w/e, but do you turn off the phone while your rooting or? Or just plug it in and push USB mode, or wut. o_o

[drewwalton19216801]

So i haven't tried to root my phone again, only cuz i wanna be sure.

Not sure if you forgot to include this or w/e, but do you turn off the phone while your rooting or? Or just plug it in and push USB mode, or wut. o_o

At what step? Why would you need to turn your phone off?

[BloodyHaze]

At what step? Why would you need to turn your phone off?

All i did right now was cd H:\Root. But what i mean is do you have to turn on USB Debugging at Settings > Applications > Development? Or just plug it in and don't touch it.