[How-To] Root LG Optimus S

[mikemcs]

I thought I understood until now.

If I use the long method and follow the instructions listed does that already give me a custom recovery, or do I need to go the ADB route you are referring to. Or Do I totally have it mixed up. Thanks so much for your help and your work thus far.

 

[KSmithInNY]

I thought I understood until now.

If I use the long method and follow the instructions listed does that already give me a custom recovery, or do I need to go the ADB route you are referring to. Or Do I totally have it mixed up. Thanks so much for your help and your work thus far.

you have it mixed up ...

1) SDK = system developer kit you need this to have ......
2) ADB = allows your PC to connect to your phone so you can use ....
3) CMD = command promt which is the interface between you and your phone when using ADB. You use ADB to....
4) Root = This gives you "root" access parts of the phone you typically wouldnt have access to (ie, the root of the phone).
5) Custom Recovery = This is an image on a partition which will allow you to flash images to your phone that do not have an LG signature on them. Without this it is not possible to flash anything other than LG signed things. This also allows you to perform a ....
6) Nand backup = This is an image of your phone in its current state. Think of it like making a backup of your PC. You can always go back to that "image" and you are back to exactly how things were at that time. Note: Nandroid images do not include things such as radios.
7) ROM = Read Only Memory is what ROM stands for but to simplify it, this is a custom OS for your phone created by someone other than the manufacturer or carrier. Because a "ROM" doesn't carry the manufacturers signature, you need a custom recovery to flash it.


Take the above knowledge and apply it to this sentence:

You need to have the SDK installed, that way you can open a CMD prompt and use ADB to root your phone and flash a custom recovery. Once you have root and custom recovery, you can make a nanddroid backup of your phone then flash a custom ROM. If you don't like the ROM, just restore the nandroid backup.

sdk = tool
adb = tool
cmd = interface
root = action (requires sdk, adb, cmd)
custom recovery = image (requires sdk, adb, cmd, root)
nandroid backup = action (requires custom recovery)
ROM = image (requires root, custom recovery)

 

[Kalums]

i keep getting the $ sign ive gone through 3 times on a competely wiped phone.... ideas

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

i keep getting the $ sign ive gone through 3 times on a competely wiped phone.... ideas

Did you watch the video? You're probably missing a step somewhere.

 

[ichihollow]

lets put this to rest, i've run the rooting steps at least 20 times, without exaggeration, on multiple days, starting the process multiple different ways, including doing exactly what the video does. When my phone first activated all of the OTA updates were downloaded and installed ie LS670zv9. This root guide has FAILED every time. Please don't misunderstand I don't mean disrespect by it, but smith i think i'm the poster child for what you were asking about the LS670ZV9 update. Please advise.


EDIT: Because I like ****s and giggles i decided i'd try to be helpful and run though it one more time and this time copy every line from cmd and post it here. Well i get to the place where i'm supposed to wait 2 minuets and i decide well i like ****s and giggles, i'll wait 4 minuets...

adb shell
#


don't know why, i did not get the second usb disconnect, and i thought that was my problem but i think the time must be a REALLY BIG DEAL because it's the only thing that changed. that being said i'm going to go get titanium now, get some sleep and then eat some turkey, night everyone.

 

[Kalums]

Did you watch the video? You're probably missing a step somewhere.

Yup watched Vid, still nothing mine does dis mount/ remount 2 times in succesion tho... if that even matters. I put in ADB shell and i still get $ this is time # 9

13 times... still get $ , i will note that earlier i got the # however i followed the istructions and exited before i loaded flash_image but now i can't get back into the root, SU is now on the phone and working fine... so what am i missing? or not doing? now it freezes and lags bad

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

Yup watched Vid, still nothing mine does dis mount/ remount 2 times in succesion tho... if that even matters. I put in ADB shell and i still get $ this is time # 9

13 times... still get $ , i will note that earlier i got the # however i followed the istructions and exited before i loaded flash_image but now i can't get back into the root, SU is now on the phone and working fine... so what am i missing? or not doing? now it freezes and lags bad

What happens when you are in adb shell and type su? Make sure your phone is awake and you look at it when you do.

Rooting wouldn't cause freezing and lagging.

Sent from my T-Mobile G2

 

[KSmithInNY]

The answer is in the post above this. You need to ADB shell SU then on your phone grant ADB shell SU permission just like any other app. Also he is correct (despite being a traitor ), this in no way can make your phone lag. If you have lag you have a completely separate unrelated issue.

 

[Kalums]

The answer is in the post above this. You need to ADB shell SU then on your phone grant ADB shell SU permission just like any other app. Also he is correct (despite being a traitor ), this in no way can make your phone lag. If you have lag you have a completely separate unrelated issue.

*the sound of angels singing* You guys are awesome, it lives mmmmmwwwwaahhhhaaahhhaaa *laughs maniacally* so on with THUNDEROM!!!

P.S Lags all gone too *shrugs*

 

[KSmithInNY]

*the sound of angels singing* You guys are awesome, it lives mmmmmwwwwaahhhhaaahhhaaa *laughs maniacally* so on with THUNDEROM!!!

P.S Lags all gone too *shrugs*

Congrats!! Now enjoy that goodness we call ThundeROM

 

[Kalums]

um now its giving me "error: run 'nandroid-moble.sh' via adb!" ideas? this is when i run the nandroid backup

 

[KSmithInNY]

um now its giving me "error: run 'nandroid-moble.sh' via adb!" ideas? this is when i run the nandroid backup

Post it over in the recovery forum so drellisdee can take a peek. The recovery is his baby (so to speak).

 

[seinsohn]

Accidentally flashed Clockwork Recovery

I am a super Noob and I tried the regular (manual) root method but got stuck so I ended up uzing z4root. Forgetting that I needed a custom recovery which I didnt realize at the time was posted here I flashed clockwork recovery via rom manager. Now if i boot recovery through rom manager i get stuck at the lg screen and if i use the manual down volume+hme+power i get a black screen....

Some one please help me undo this mistake and put on a real recovery so I can flash Thunde...
Thanks

 

[KSmithInNY]

I am a super Noob and I tried the regular (manual) root method but got stuck so I ended up uzing z4root. Forgetting that I needed a custom recovery which I didnt realize at the time was posted here I flashed clockwork recovery via rom manager. Now if i boot recovery through rom manager i get stuck at the lg screen and if i use the manual down volume+hme+power i get a black screen....

Some one please help me undo this mistake and put on a real recovery so I can flash Thunde...
Thanks

If you can't turn the phone on past the LG screen .... you have a brick. The only help that can be offered is if you can connect the phone through ADB. Because you cant get past the LG flash screen, you cant connect through ADB.

Someone else may offer suggestions but as far as i know, you're stuck and need to return the phone.

EDIT - Maybe i mis-read that .... are you able to turn the phone on at all? Such as get to the home screen?

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

If the phone won't boot normally (without trying to go into recovery) then you are bricked. I ran into this problem with the T (it wouldn't boot past the LG screen) and I tried EVERYTHING. I had to return the phone.

 

[fortyhands]

I hope I haven't Bricked it.

I was trying to get into recovery mode as described here:
http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s/45397-custom-recovery-optimus-s-thunderc-sprint.html
nd now I'm stuck at an LG Logo.

Iamlilysdad, did you try the emergency mode option and then flashing the .kdz via windows?

I'm going to try the LG update tool with the .kdz found from their site, but I'm on a mac, so I'll need to wait until I head into work to give this a go.

I have read threads from other forums that state that it is possible to recover from this issue using this method, and I definitely have my fingers crossed.

If anyone has any advice for someone stuck at the LG logo and can't get into recovery mode please do share. I will continue to work away at this and report back if I find a solution.

Cheers!

 

[IP IHI II IL]

Optimus S root FAIL...

I am trying to follow your instructions to ROOT my fianc?es Optimus S, and no matter what I do, I ALWAYS get a $ after restarting the adb shell... I've re-read, and watched the video numerous times and quadruple checked the phone settings to no avail. No matter what I do, it's a $, and not a #. I am not new to Android, OR rooting, as I've rooted my own EVO, and multiple other EVOs, as well as an Incredible and even an instunk (I mean Instinct). What could I POSSIBLY be doing wrong? The only thing I can think of is that I used Z4root to root & unroot (there was no mention that flashing a custom recovery was not possible with it until pretty far past the point of no return). I've since reset to factory, and still no success.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

IP IHI II IL

 

[zefie]

rageagainstthecage can be a pain, and I understand your frustration as it took me a while too. The best advise I can give is when the exploit kicks you out of ADB, unplug the device form the PC, kill all instances of "adb.exe" in task manager and wait about 30 seconds, reconnect and try.

Also I have no idea where you got the idea that z4root cannot flash a recovery. Root is root, you just need flash_image, which you can get by reading the tutorial.

 

[Kevin OQuinn]

I was trying to get into recovery mode as described here:
http://forum.androidcentral.com/lg-optimus-s/45397-custom-recovery-optimus-s-thunderc-sprint.html
nd now I'm stuck at an LG Logo.

Iamlilysdad, did you try the emergency mode option and then flashing the .kdz via windows?

I'm going to try the LG update tool with the .kdz found from their site, but I'm on a mac, so I'll need to wait until I head into work to give this a go.

I have read threads from other forums that state that it is possible to recover from this issue using this method, and I definitely have my fingers crossed.

If anyone has any advice for someone stuck at the LG logo and can't get into recovery mode please do share. I will continue to work away at this and report back if I find a solution.

Cheers!

Yeah I tried that. The problem is that if you can't get past the LG screen you don't get to the point where the computer can recognize the device and allow a connection. I tried for about an hour or so plugging and unplugging, pulling the battery, this voodoo, that voodoo. My force was not strong that day at all.

I am trying to follow your instructions to ROOT my fianc?es Optimus S, and no matter what I do, I ALWAYS get a $ after restarting the adb shell... I've re-read, and watched the video numerous times and quadruple checked the phone settings to no avail. No matter what I do, it's a $, and not a #. I am not new to Android, OR rooting, as I've rooted my own EVO, and multiple other EVOs, as well as an Incredible and even an instunk (I mean Instinct). What could I POSSIBLY be doing wrong? The only thing I can think of is that I used Z4root to root & unroot (there was no mention that flashing a custom recovery was not possible with it until pretty far past the point of no return). I've since reset to factory, and still no success.

Any help you can provide would be greatly appreciated!

IP IHI II IL

Have patience and keep at it. It might take quite a few tries to get it. You could also just try typing SU in adb shell, look at your phone while it's unlocked when you do, and see what happens. I've seen people that keep getting the $ but were still rooted, they just hadn't granted SU permissions to adb shell. If you do that and it doesn't do anything (you get access denied or something like that) you will need to keep repeating the steps.

 

[Anonamoose]

Help!

First off thanks for your hard work on this Rom and your guides. I had two Htc Hero's rooted via adb no problem I cannont and I mean cannot get this guy to root. Every time I wait for teh # sign I get a $ instead. I can SU my way in but I still dont have access to move files so alas I cannot install your recovery. Any suggestions anyone?