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Root Root and S-off - Difference?

J

jonaswilson

Lurker
Hi there,

What is the difference between having your device rooted, and having it set to S-Off?

I assume s-off is required to flash a custom ROM, but that may not be true...

I hope someone can enligthen me and explain this too me, and for which operations the two are needed,

btw. so glad to be a rooted bravo pvt4 erasesize 40000 s-on owner
 
Rooting is getting root access / Super user (SU) access to the Android OS, which is based on Linux.

You don't even need to have a rooted ROM to flash a custom rom. You only really need a custom recovery. However, obviously they go hand in hand. When you run unrEVOked, you flash recovery and root the ROM.


S-Off is security off. There is a security flag in the Radio NVRAM section of the phone. This prevents changes to the /system partition (where the rom is) when the phone is on (for example preventing system applications like phone to be deleted).

S-OFF is achieved by flashing a custom HBOOT which "ignores" the security flag.

You most likely will not need S-off. If yo need it, you will know you need it. Otherwise probably leave it alone.
 
Just wanted to add one more point..

Some people root just so that they can use Advanced backup programs like Titanium Backup and MyBackupPro which can backup entire contact lists, sms and all apps with data..

There is a new kid on the block which can allow you to run all apps which need Root, without even rooting your Rom. The only thing you need is to install an app called Visionary+. You can use Ti or any other superuser app. You wont get a custom recovery and cannot make Nandroid (file system image) backups though.

Still, for the average user who doesnt need Custom Roms, Visionary+ is safe and convenient
 
danfrance said:
Thats very interesting
Click to expand...

And here's where it gets more exciting..

It's a temporary root, so you can set it up so you get root just right when you want it, or set it so that you can get root each time it boots. You can turn root off and remove the Superuser app from the menu at any time from the Visionary options.
 
hmm
i was wondering if unrevoked was needed at all if you are going to s-off

my thoughts were this
I cannot find anywhere that says you need to be rooted to have s-off so im thinking
it maybe possible to s-off the device with alpharev (as long as its not a new pvt4 device)
flash a recovery with fastboot flash recovery <recoveryimagename.img>
then flash a rooted rom via recovery
 
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