[How-To] Root LG Optimus S

[RonnyGunz]

Not that I want to taunt anyone who is currently having problems getting root to work, but I just want to let you guys know that I applied the latest OTA update. It did undo root, but the current process works fine to get it back. I can't promise that's going to be the case for everyone, but I thought I should report in.

 

[ltrz]

just posting..after the v9 update..that rooting the optimus s. the "long way" (using CMD) works just fine ...(i prefer to do things the long way..lol)


note: earlier another forum user posted they used z4root after the new update and rooted fine.

 

[dishe]

Just to clarify:
Has anyone applied the update and found themselves unable to root?

So far, it seems like the update has no negative side effects from what I'm reading here.

Wifi tether, root, etc still work- is it safe for me to update?

 

[beezy]

just posting..after the v9 update..that rooting the optimus s. the "long way" (using CMD) works just fine ...(i prefer to do things the long way..lol)


note: earlier another forum user posted they used z4root after the new update and rooted fine.

Thats the way I like to do things.Thanks for making it clear.

Just to clarify:
Has anyone applied the update and found themselves unable to root?

So far, it seems like the update has no negative side effects from what I'm reading here.

Wifi tether, root, etc still work- is it safe for me to update?

The above post says it all. Seems you are still okay to root after the update v9 update.

 

[dishe]

Wait, so what is the difference between running z4root and this method now?

I was under the impression that z4root only grants temporary root access. But now I'm seeing people say "all you have to do is run z4root, no command line access necessary anymore!".

Is this thread now obsolete?

 

[Infinity]

Both methods are full root. z4root is a oneclick solution where as this is the longer way (some people prefer to know what is being done every step of the way).

 

[Equ1n0x]

PErsonally i like Z4root for the easy unroot [for taking phone in to a store]

 

[KSmithInNY]

PErsonally i like Z4root for the easy unroot [for taking phone in to a store]

You can run unroot in z4 even if you didn't root your phone using z4, the two processes are not tied together.

Also ... to unroot your phone i believe it would be as simple as

adb shell
su
rm -r /system/app/Superuser.apk
rm -r /system/bin/busybox
rm -r /system/bin/su

I'm pretty sure this is all z4 is doing to unroot.

 

[smccloud]

./busybox cp su /system/bin
./busybox cp busybox /system/bin

./busybox cp su /system/bin
./busybox cp busybox /system/bin

should be

./busybox cp su /system/bin
mkdir /system/xbin
./busybox cp busybox /system/bin

 

[foolforfood]

I have a question, when I adb shell into my phone, I get $ and I don't get # until I type su into terminal. I'm trying to figure out how to get root from adb shell immediately because I can't adb remount to push apps to /system/app. Any help please?

 

[beezy]

I have a question, when I adb shell into my phone, I get $ and I don't get # until I type su into terminal. I'm trying to figure out how to get root from adb shell immediately because I can't adb remount to push apps to /system/app. Any help please?

Remount is not supprted on the stock rom.That will come once you flash a custom rom.You have to use the long commands to mount the system.Try using root explorer it can mount the system as r/w.If not don't worry custom rom isn't to far away.

 

[basketthis]

Would something like this help once the phone is rooted?

http://androidforums.com/getitnowmarketing/222323-enable-jit-lg-optimus-s-one-vortex.html

 

[mxl360]

great, I took the shortcut, then read this..

"Custom Recovery
If you're planning on flashing ROMs or kernels you're going to need a custom recovery. Hopefully you didnt take the z4root shortcut cause guess what? Thats right .... bust out ADB and go HERE "

So this means I can't have a custom recovery? or Nandbackup?

 

[Bone_Enterprise]

So finally got my phone today at work, got home tonight and rooted it with no problems at all, was kind of hesitant with doing it for the first time ever but was smooth as butter.
The video link DID help, was just a little more comforting to see it actually being done while I did it.

Thanks!

 

[ccrs8]

Has anyone been able to root this phone using Ubuntu (or any GNU/Linux distribution, for that matter)? I just ordered this phone and would like to root/recovery/ROM it when it arrives. I'd prefer to do it the long way (as opposed to z4root) for educational purposes. I have access to Windows XP at work, but would like to do it at home if possible.

As an aside, assuming I have access to wifi for online access, is there any reason why I would need to activate this phone on Sprint before I start fiddling with root/recovery/rom, or can I stage my phone the way I like before contacting Sprint to switch my phone number from my Moment?

 

[smccloud]

Has anyone been able to root this phone using Ubuntu (or any GNU/Linux distribution, for that matter)? I just ordered this phone and would like to root/recovery/ROM it when it arrives. I'd prefer to do it the long way (as opposed to z4root) for educational purposes. I have access to Windows XP at work, but would like to do it at home if possible.

As an aside, assuming I have access to wifi for online access, is there any reason why I would need to activate this phone on Sprint before I start fiddling with root/recovery/rom, or can I stage my phone the way I like before contacting Sprint to switch my phone number from my Moment?

I have full ADB working on Ubuntu and am gonna try Debian in a VM on my desktop tonight. Ubuntu was a bit of work, but not to bad.

 

[KSmithInNY]

Has anyone been able to root this phone using Ubuntu (or any GNU/Linux distribution, for that matter)? I just ordered this phone and would like to root/recovery/ROM it when it arrives. I'd prefer to do it the long way (as opposed to z4root) for educational purposes. I have access to Windows XP at work, but would like to do it at home if possible.

As an aside, assuming I have access to wifi for online access, is there any reason why I would need to activate this phone on Sprint before I start fiddling with root/recovery/rom, or can I stage my phone the way I like before contacting Sprint to switch my phone number from my Moment?

1) Yes, Beezy rooted his phone only using ubuntu.

2) You need the phone activated. This phone won't get past the setup screen without being activated because it's going to try and download a sprint ID for you and without service, it won't be able to connect.

 

[KSmithInNY]

great, I took the shortcut, then read this..

"Custom Recovery
If you're planning on flashing ROMs or kernels you're going to need a custom recovery. Hopefully you didnt take the z4root shortcut cause guess what? Thats right .... bust out ADB and go HERE "

So this means I can't have a custom recovery? or Nandbackup?

No, what this means is in order to flash a custom recovery you need the SDK environment setup, which gives you android debug bridge (ADB). Also you'll need a little skill in command line, which you gain by doing the long method.

If you did the long method ....
1) You have SDK
2) You have ADB
3) You understand how to open a CMD prompt and drive to the proper location
4) Now the CMD prompt is open and connected to the phone (via ADB), you know how to enter commands.

I tried warning people that you're not gonna escape the dark underworld of rooting without knowing and loving ADB

 

[Kalums]

Ok guys i'm a TOTAL NOOB and this is my first android cap. phone.... so i'm just going to hang it all out there. I did use the z4root short cut, apparently that was bad. i would love to flash ThundeROM to my phone and overclock it. I'm clue less as to how to do that, i have "ROM manager" however everytime i try to do a backup in the recovery screen says " E can't read PERSIST: no more room on device." i still have 77mb left on the phone and a full 2Gigs on my SD card. i dont want to load a ROM without a backup so....advice?? Plz E-mail me, im semi computer literate but when it comes to Android..... i don't know SDK from ADB. However i do know how to use CMD.

 

[KSmithInNY]

Ok guys i'm a TOTAL NOOB and this is my first android cap. phone.... so i'm just going to hang it all out there. I did use the z4root short cut, apparently that was bad. i would love to flash ThundeROM to my phone and overclock it. I'm clue less as to how to do that, i have "ROM manager" however everytime i try to do a backup in the recovery screen says " E can't read PERSIST: no more room on device." i still have 77mb left on the phone and a full 2Gigs on my SD card. i dont want to load a ROM without a backup so....advice?? Plz E-mail me, im semi computer literate but when it comes to Android..... i don't know SDK from ADB. However i do know how to use CMD.

Heres the info you'll need from the first post of this thread ...

What You'll Need:
- Sun JRE, FOUND HERE
- The Android SDK, FOUND HERE. Install this on the root of your computer so the path is C:/android
- Drivers for the LG phone installed on your computer. Instructions can be FOUND HERE courtesy of our favorite android hacker, modder, developer, blogger (jack of all trades) gbhil

and here's the information from the second post...

Custom Recovery
If you're planning on flashing ROMs or kernels you're going to need a custom recovery. Hopefully you didnt take the z4root shortcut cause guess what? Thats right .... bust out ADB and go HERE

Do the first steps to install SDK (which includes ADB) and JRE and the drivers. Once done go to the thread linked above for the instructions on how to flash the recovery.