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Root Bootloader issues

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So would it be possible to flash a recovery with out access to the boootloader. That's how the lg optimus worked. I got root then used flash image gui to flash a recovery then that recovery to flash a new Rom. If someone could port a recovery -preferably twrp lol but beggars can't be choosers-I would be willing to try and install it. Since Kyocera denied even making a bootloader for this then maybe there really isn't one?
 
the phone still new, and i don't know if there is anyone on it with this phone.
i am hoping there is. but i do not know at this time.
 
Only hope is to unlock bootloader, it has been done with other phones like Sony Experia but took some time to do. Others have tried repeatedly to get kyocera to unlock but they refuse saying Its up to the carrier. Virgin mobile, Boost, Sprint dead set against rooting, let alone custom ROM's so we are on our own here. Shame because this phone woud be a beast with cm 11 and maybe a custom kernel to rev things up.
 
Lpen21 said:
Only hope is to unlock bootloader, it has been done with other phones like Sony Experia but took some time to do. Others have tried repeatedly to get kyocera to unlock but they refuse saying Its up to the carrier. Virgin mobile, Boost, Sprint dead set against rooting, let alone custom ROM's so we are on our own here. Shame because this phone woud be a beast with cm 11 and maybe a custom kernel to rev things up.
Click to expand...

I agree fully. Hopefully maybe with root, people can dig around on the system partitions for clues, I know its not always that simple. But who knows. Any apps, software i can use to probe my own phone and send the results to anyone with the skills would help out.

but likely for any testing or change i think i went as far as my braveness will go without a confirmation that it works. my luck is very bad and getting a root working without problems and in one try, I think I used all my luck for the next 5 years. lol
 
TroyFoxxin said:
I agree fully. Hopefully maybe with root, people can dig around on the system partitions for clues, I know its not always that simple. But who knows. Any apps, software i can use to probe my own phone and send the results to anyone with the skills would help out.

but likely for any testing or change i think i went as far as my braveness will go without a confirmation that it works. my luck is very bad and getting a root working without problems and in one try, I think I used all my luck for the next 5 years. lol
Click to expand...
Thanks for taking the chance, at least we have root now. The phone is not bad as is but would be nice to eventually get a working recovery and Custom ROM since Virgin/Boost/Sprint is not that good about upgrading to latest firmware on anything but the flagship phones.
 
Lpen21 said:
Thanks for taking the chance, at least we have root now. The phone is not bad as is but would be nice to eventually get a working recovery and Custom ROM since Virgin/Boost/Sprint is not that good about upgrading to latest firmware on anything but the flagship phones.
Click to expand...

Yeah, another thing is i love the deals compared to others with Virgin. but good luck getting them to release your MEID if you wanna bring your Virgin phone to another carrier also. lol

I was looking into maybe putting my old HTC Evo V 4G with freedompop. the phone connects to sprint towers like any other Virgin mobile device. But they cant take it. my only guess is they cant get the MEID to be released to use it.

Was going to use it for a back up mobile data device. but that didn't work so well. there website dose not check for that. you pay the activation fee. and later get told when you contact support you cant. then have to wait for the refund. lol So yeah Virgins a tight ass on porting phones also, and Freedompop's site sucks.
 
There are a few Kyocera phones with custom recoveries and custom roms on this forum. If it's possible to gain root, it's possible to get a custom recovery and custom rom on this phone.

I don't have this phone but my wife does. I have interest in it but can't mess with her phone. She'll kick my butt. If you guys are looking for pointer's, tips, general help let me know.

Since you have root established, your next step is to pull your stock recovery image off of the phone and unpack it so you can take a look at it and see how it works. I would do the same for the boot image as well. Turn on ADB Debugging and use these commands from your computer from the command prompt. You'll need do run these commands from a folder that has adb:
Code: 
adb shell su -c dd of=/data/local/tmp/recovery.img if=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/recovery
adb pull su -c /data/local/tmp/recovery.img stock_recovery.img
adb shell rm /data/local/tmp/recovery.img

and

Code: 
adb shell su -c dd of=/data/local/tmp/boot.img if=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/boot
adb pull su -c /data/local/tmp/boot.img stock_boot.img
adb shell rm /data/local/tmp/boot.img

Type that exactly as shown and enter only one line at a time.
 
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xclusive36 said:
There are a few Kyocera phones with custom recoveries and custom roms on this forum. If it's possible to gain root, it's possible to get a custom recovery and custom rom on this phone.

I don't have this phone but my wife does. I have interest in it but can't mess with her phone. She'll kick my butt. If you guys are looking for pointer's, tips, general help let me know.
.
Click to expand...

Well I just updated my root guide with a updated version that will also root the 4.4.2 version on this phone also.

... p.s also tired as hell right now. so I might look into this later and report back. maybe work together on it.
 
TroyFoxxin and xclusive36 thanks a bunch to both of you, since retiring my trusty lg optimusV and upgrading to hydro vibe I really miss tinkering. Had no idea we had root for 4.4 now thats great!!. Nice to see a dev take interest in this phone
 
I was able to grant root permissions to the adb shell.

and was able to run adb shell commands
however adb pull commands gave a permission denied message

so i ignored it, and just went to the path with a root file manager and copied them both to the SD Card, than computer and renamed them from there. both files are the same size. I never attempted this so i don't know if that common or not. there both 16MB.

got them both unpacked using Android Image Kitchen.

So got from the both of them two folders split_img and ramdisk
 
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That sounds about right. Although the recovery should be smaller.
I wasn't expecting root permissions being needed for a adb pull. I tend to do those while in recovery on my LG f3.

Instead of using adb pull, use adb pull su -c if you choose to do so in the future. I'll update the OP.

Do you guys have a way to unbrick your device if it bricks?
 
I see they haven't released your current version source code yet. They released Jellybean 4.1.2 source code for your phone.
http://www.kyoceramobile.com/support/developers/

Download and try this to see if you can use it for your phone: (select your phone 'virgin mobile', hydro vibe')
http://www.kyoceramobile.com/support/software-upgrades/
If it's compatible with your phone, you maybe able to use it as an unbricking tool. You shouldn't make any major modifications to your phone without an unbrick method.
 
that software upgrade tool isnt even for smartphones. then it's only for a single phone. not sure why you would think it would be remotely compatible.

But i did see the two zip files under the devs page and downloaded them. but i wouldn't know what to do with them. not remotely a dev, I am more into hardware than I am software.
 
it was just a thought. You guys need to figure out a unbrick method now before you attempt to do any other modifications. You'll need it.
 
I wouldn't know where to start or know what to do. Those things are beyond my abilities.
Would it help to pack up what i collected from my phone and upload it?
 
No, you would need some software from kyocera to re-flash your firmware from a download or emergency mode, or something similar.
 
Far as i know there is no such thing. not created by kyocera anyways. the update tool is only for a standard flip phone, that isnt even android.
 
That update is ancient and there is no recovery so one small misstep and its brick city, the current "recovery" if you can call it that has no capability to flash software. So we are screwed until kyocera or Virgin unlocks
 
Thus why unless with a proper guide to follow get a recovery working on it I wont attempt it. For now we have root again so we can at least pull some weeds like bloatware. but honestly I liked that old version that came with the phone over 4.4.2. The phone just does not feel as smooth as it did. at least from my use of it.
 
If someone's willing to test reflashing the stock recovery back to their phone and if it works, you'll have a very good starting point.

If successful, I noticed that the other kyocera phones use fastboot to flash recoveries and roms. To access fastboot, you'll need to wipe your recovery partition.

btw, messing with your recovery partition won't keep you phone from booting.
 
if i had a good guide i might consider it. but without one its just not my field to try to mess with anything on my phone for risk of bricking it.
 
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