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How to Remove Root

disc

Lurker
I rooted my captivate and now need to return the phone back to AT&T for a hardware defect - how can i remove root?
 
Open the update.zip file and it lists the files it installs. I think you can use the shell to remove the installed files using the 'rm' command. I would also uninstall busybox. Then reboot your phone. Out of curiousity what defect did the phone have?
 
I think you would have to follow the initial directions listed in the "How to Enable Sideloading" sticky thread and instead of copying files you would be removing them. Something like this:

DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS AND CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK AND WILL NOT BRICK YOUR PHONE (but I'm pretty sure it won't)


I borrowed the first and last parts of the directions from the sideload thread.

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
rm /system/app/Superuser.apk
rm /system/xbin/busybox
rm /system/xbin/su
exit
exit

Then reboot the phone. I THINK that should do it. It should at least remove the superuser ninja icon and not make it obvious that it's been rooted. Hopefully there's an easier way to do it but in my initial googling yesterday I didn't see anything very helpful.
 
Can anyone confirm this yet?
Due to the fact that I can't get GPS to work at ALL anymore I'm planning on swapping my phone out. So I tested my own theory and it did indeed work. I removed the superuser app, the "su" and "busybox" commands per my previous instructions. It removed the Superuser app from the applications list.

Then I went to Settings -> Privacy -> Factory Data Reset

This reset the phone EXACTLY like it was when I unboxed it. It removed all apps, reset the settings.db so I can no longer install non-market apps, reset all the home screens, etc. It looks like a factory data reset may be the only thing needed.
 
I think you would have to follow the initial directions listed in the "How to Enable Sideloading" sticky thread and instead of copying files you would be removing them. Something like this:

DISCLAIMER: I HAVE NOT TRIED THIS AND CANNOT GUARANTEE IT WILL WORK AND WILL NOT BRICK YOUR PHONE (but I'm pretty sure it won't)

I borrowed the first and last parts of the directions from the sideload thread.

You'll need the Android SDK (guide to download and install is here)
You'll need the USB drivers (Stickied post in this forum)
You'll need root access (look for the Captivate Root thread by chaoscentral)
You'll need Busybox (available on the market after you root the phone)

Connect USB to phone with USB Debugging ON
Command prompt
cd to SDK install directory
cd tools
adb shell
su
rm /system/app/Superuser.apk
rm /system/xbin/busybox
rm /system/xbin/su
exit
exit

Then reboot the phone. I THINK that should do it. It should at least remove the superuser ninja icon and not make it obvious that it's been rooted. Hopefully there's an easier way to do it but in my initial googling yesterday I didn't see anything very helpful.

excuse me but im a newb when it comes to adb and cmd prompts.

what is cd? Is that what your typing before tools or is that shorthand for something your supposed to do? I'm totally lost lol
 
excuse me but im a newb when it comes to adb and cmd prompts.

what is cd? Is that what your typing before tools or is that shorthand for something your supposed to do? I'm totally lost lol

cd is change directory, but there are one-click unroots now, no need to do it this way really
 
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