• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root need help regarding removed bloatware

T

talhaismail

Member
Hey guys, so i rooted my Xperia Play R800i with doomLord's one click method which uses the zergrush exploit. This did not unlock my boatloader and gave me root access. So i used root browser lite to navigate to /system/app and removed some unwanted stuff like Sims 3 and tetris etc.

I wanted to know that if i unroot using the guide in this page:

[HOW-TO] Root Phones w/ Android v2.2.x-2.3.x (zergRush Method) - Page 15 - xda-developers

(SCROLL DOWN A BIT IN THE PAGE FOR THE UNROOTING GUIDE)

will it bring back bloatware? And what will happen if i accept OTA updates? and one of my friends has the same Xperia, so if i do need to install all the bloatware again manually for the OTA to work, and i copy his /system/app and paste it in my mobile, will that affect my savedata or anything? And how do i access my filesysytem from a computer?

Thannks so much! would really appreciate a reply :D
 
Unrooting won't bring back the bloatware, but the missing apps will indicate to any service people that the phone has been rooted. OTA's only affect the system, not the carrier apps, but if you've rooted, OTA's might not be available.

Let me offer a word of caution (after the fact). Many apps provide services for other parts of the OS and if you remove them, you can disable certain features or make your phone unusable. More importantly, system apps are not easily restorable like simply installing an .apk file. And once deleted, even a factory reset will not recover them. You will have to locate and flash a stock rom image to get them back.
 
Also it is very unwise to accept an OTA update while rooted with a custom recovery.

Once you load a custom recovery, most times, you remove the phones ability to properly install an OTA update. The stock recovery has one function, to flash an OTA update. Once you flash a custom recovery, and then try install an OTA, some very strange things can happen, more than likely the strange things will be rather unplesant.
 
Granite1 said:
Also it is very unwise to accept an OTA update while rooted with a custom recovery.

Once you load a custom recovery, most times, you remove the phones ability to properly install an OTA update. The stock recovery has one function, to flash an OTA update. Once you flash a custom recovery, and then try install an OTA, some very strange things can happen, more than likely the strange things will be rather unplesant.
Click to expand...

Ive just rooted, no unlocked boatloader or custom ROM. So if I unroot, and then try an OTA Will it work? Thanks!
 
lunatic59 said:
Unrooting won't bring back the bloatware, but the missing apps will indicate to any service people that the phone has been rooted. OTA's only affect the system, not the carrier apps, but if you've rooted, OTA's might not be available.

Let me offer a word of caution (after the fact). Many apps provide services for other parts of the OS and if you remove them, you can discertain features or make your phone unusable. More importantly, system apps are not easily restorable like simply installing an .apk file. And once deleted, even a factory reset will not recover them. You will have to locate and flash a stock rom image to get them back.
Click to expand...

Hey, mines gsm unlocked, so no carrier apps, btw, I simply removed stuff like fifa 10, sims 3, tetris etc., so if I just unroot using that method, and accept OTA, will I experience any problems? And will a factory reset bring back all bloatware like the deleted preinstalled games? Thanks! :D
 
talhaismail said:
Hey, mines gsm unlocked, so no carrier apps, btw, I simply removed stuff like fifa 10, sims 3, tetris etc., so if I just unroot using that method, and accept OTA, will I experience any problems? And will a factory reset bring back all bloatware like the deleted preinstalled games? Thanks! :D
Click to expand...

Updating may not that be simple. Once rooted, even if you unroot, OTA's may no longer install. If they do, you may lose your root exploit. If they don't you need to take it back to stock first.

Once a carrier app is removed, a reset will not restore it. If you need to restore a phone to the exact condition it was in when new, you need to find and flash stock rom.
 
lunatic59 said:
Updating may not that be simple. Once rooted, even if you unroot, OTA's may no longer install. If they do, you may lose your root exploit. If they don't you need to take it back to stock first.

Once a carrier app is removed, a reset will not restore it. If you need to restore a phone to the exact condition it was in when new, you need to find and flash stock rom.
Click to expand...

Regarding the flashing of a stock ROM: I have two Verizon Xperia Plays. One is rooted with bloatware removed and one is completely stock. If I ever needed to flash the rooted phone back to stock, what would be the easiest way to go about doing that?
 
lazymangaka said:
Regarding the flashing of a stock ROM: I have two Verizon Xperia Plays. One is rooted with bloatware removed and one is completely stock. If I ever needed to flash the rooted phone back to stock, what would be the easiest way to go about doing that?
Click to expand...

www.wotanserver.com
Sign up for a free account, when you need to get back to stock, check advanced options in their client and choose 3.0.1.E.0.88.

I have used it multiple times (I'm trying to develop a kernel for Verizon Plays), and it's free.

Otherwise http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1351299 has a community developed tool called flashtool. It requires ftf files which can be found in the Android development section for Xperia Play on xda (look for the same firmware number as above)

Note: Both of these versions can be used on any Xperia Play to return them to the original firmware installed (like when you first opened up the box you got it in) JUST MAKE SURE YOU GET THE APPLICABLE FIRMWARE FOR YOUR PHONE. THE FIRMWARE NUMBER I MENTIONED ADVICE IS ONLY FOR THE VERIZON PLAY. IF YOU FLASH IT AND YOU HAVE ANOTHER VERSION (I.E. R800A/AT/I) IT.WILL.BRICK.YOUR.PHONE.
 
lunatic59 said:
Updating may not that be simple. Once rooted, even if you unroot, OTA's may no longer install. If they do, you may lose your root exploit. If they don't you need to take it back to stock first.

Once a carrier app is removed, a reset will not restore it. If you need to restore a phone to the exact condition it was in when new, you need to find and flash stock rom.
Click to expand...

As I said before, mines not frm a carrier, so no carrier apps. I wanna know ig a reset will bring all bloatware like fifa 10 back, amd btw if I unroot there wont be any root exploit, so how will an OTA affect me after unrooting?
 
talhaismail said:
As I said before, mines not frm a carrier, so no carrier apps. I wanna know ig a reset will bring all bloatware like fifa 10 back, amd btw if I unroot there wont be any root exploit, so how will an OTA affect me after unrooting?
Click to expand...

If you flash a stock rom based on a carrier branded model, it will include all the carrier apps. Likewise if you flash a stock rom from a non branded model, you will get what came with that from the manufacturer.

OTA's do not include full carrier apps that I am aware of, they only update the OS. However, depending on how the original apps were integrated, it may be necessary to also update some of the carrier carrier apps with the OS update.
There is no universal "yes" or "no" in this case. What you need to do is make a full nandroid backup so you can revert if the OTA does something you don't like.
 
lunatic59 said:
If you flash a stock rom based on a carrier branded model, it will include all the carrier apps. Likewise if you flash a stock rom from a non branded model, you will get what came with that from the manufacturer.

OTA's do not include full carrier apps that I am aware of, they only update the OS. However, depending on how the original apps wthamks,ere integrated, it may be necessary to also update some of the carrier carrier apps with the OS update.
There is no universal "yes" or "no" in this case. What you need to do is make a full nandroid backup so you can revert if the OTA does something you don't like.
Click to expand...

Thanks, but according to the situation im currently in, simple root, no unlocked bootloader, stock Rom, bloatware removed, GSM unlocked, what would you suggest I do? Btw if OTA doesnt work, I can stil update frm a computer right? Via pccompanion, which can be used to update. Thanks :)
 
talhaismail said:
T

So im screwed? What if I unroot now, will I be able to update to ICS once it comes out?
Click to expand...

lunatic59 said:
That's only if the OTA doesn't work. I don't have an Xperia Play so I can't verify it one way or another.
Click to expand...

No, you are not screwed.

To return to stock (as in the day you opened up the box and first got your phone)
Goto www.wotanserver.com
Sign up for a free account
Download their flashing client (it's free)
Goto your phone, go menu -> settings -> about phone, Look at build number.
Remember what the build number is.
Turn off your phone
Open up the wotan server client
hold down the back button and plug your phone in.
Choose the appropriate build number for your phone & other applicable things (like language, etc.)
Wait while it downloads
When it says to unplug your phone, unplug it.
Turn on your phone and, BOOM! Back to stock.
 
paxchristos said:
No, you are not screwed.

To return to stock (as in the day you opened up the box and first got your phone)
Goto www.wotanserver.com
Sign up for a free account
Download their flashing client (it's free)
Goto your phone, go menu -> settings -> about phone, Look at build number.
Remember what the build number is.
Turn off your phone
Open up the wotan server client
hold down the back button and plug your phone in.
Choose the appropriate build number for your phone & other applicable things (like language, etc.)
Wait while it downloads
When it says to unplug your phone, unplug it.
Turn on your phone and, BOOM! Back to stock.
Click to expand...

Thanks soooo Much! My boatloaders are not unlocked, will this still work? And it will bring back bloatware right? Thanks soo much!
 
talhaismail said:
Thanks soooo Much! My boatloaders are not unlocked, will this still work? And it will bring back bloatware right? Thanks soo much!
Click to expand...

This works with both unlocked and locked bootloaders (i used it before and after I unlocked my bootloader (by Alejandrissimo))

If you choose the un-branded then it won't, otherwise (atleast for the R800x (Verizon) version) it returned all that lovely bloat.
 
paxchristos said:
This works with both unlocked and locked bootloaders (i used it before and after I unlocked my bootloader (by Alejandrissimo))

If you choose the un-branded then it won't, otherwise (atleast for the R800x (Verizon) version) it returned all that lovely bloat.
Click to expand...

If it wont bring back bloat, then isnt it useless? Cuz I can unroot right now, which shiuld make my phone normal, the only difference will be the lack of bloatware. I want to know, will lack of bloat on unrooted phone after OTA and updates?

Btw I signed up and went to the xperia play page, what do i download? The client or the USB flash driver? Thanks :)
 
paxchristos said:
This works with both unlocked and locked bootloaders (i used it before and after I unlocked my bootloader (by Alejandrissimo))

If you choose the un-branded then it won't, otherwise (atleast for the R800x (Verizon) version) it returned all that lovely bloat.
Click to expand...

Please reply to my previous post soon, thanks, btw I hit the thanks button ;)
 
talhaismail said:
If it wont bring back bloat, then isnt it useless? Cuz I can unroot right now, which shiuld make my phone normal, the only difference will be the lack of bloatware. I want to know, will lack of bloat on unrooted phone after OTA and updates?

Btw I signed up and went to the xperia play page, what do i download? The client or the USB flash driver? Thanks :)
Click to expand...

you want both the flash drivers and the client.
If you use the wotan client, it will unroot you (bring you completely back to stock)

I'm not sure how much it should matter with/without having bloat to update, but wotan server is one of the fastest groups to have the next update ready to flash, so if you leave your phone in the state it is now, wait, and once you start hearing people talking about ICS on Play, then check wotan server for the updated firmware (normally has it within a week or two weeks)

Pax
 
paxchristos said:
you want both the flash drivers and the client.
If you use the wotan client, it will unroot you (bring you completely back to stock)

I'm not sure how much it should matter with/without having bloat to update, but wotan server is one of the fastest groups to have the next update ready to flash, so if you leave your phone in the state it is now, wait, and once you start hearing people talking about ICS on Play, then check wotan server for the updated firmware (normally has it within a week or two weeks)

Pax
Click to expand...

So if I use Wotanserver, then I will have to Flash ROMs to update? ie if I flash stock rom, I still won't be able to perform OTA updates? Or updates from a computer? And if yes, then why? Cuz u said stock ROM will make it like out of the box, plz reply ASAP. THANKS so much :D
 
paxchristos said:
you want both the flash drivers and the client.
If you use the wotan client, it will unroot you (bring you completely back to stock)

I'm not sure how much it should matter with/without having bloat to update, but wotan server is one of the fastest groups to have the next update ready to flash, so if you leave your phone in the state it is now, wait, and once you start hearing people talking about ICS on Play, then check wotan server for the updated firmware (normally has it within a week or two weeks)

Pax
Click to expand...

Btw, how do I know which CDA to select in WotanServer? And btw the flashing tool is free for now, whay if its paid again when ICS is here. That will make updating very inconvenient, I wish OTAs will work after flashing stock.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom