A
Android Question
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How do I root without a nandroid backup and how do I get nandroid without root? Isn't this just a vicious circle?
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There's no contradiction because they are different things.
To make a nandroid you need to install a custom recovery. You can do this if you can unlock the bootloader, which is not the same as rooting. A nandroid is a backup made using a custom recovery. You can also use the recovery to root the phone, and these are entirely separate things. If you have a custom recovery it's a good idea to take a nandroid before rooting, but it's not required.
Rooting means modifying the ROM to allow you to run user-installed apps with system privileges. The best way is to install a custom recovery and use that to flash a patch to root the phone, but not all phones have that option. Other methods, such as the various "rooting apps", do not give you the option of making a nandroid backup first, and if they do not install a recovery they do not let you make one at all, but they can still root the ROM.
To make a nandroid you need to install a custom recovery. You can do this if you can unlock the bootloader, which is not the same as rooting. A nandroid is a backup made using a custom recovery. You can also use the recovery to root the phone, and these are entirely separate things. If you have a custom recovery it's a good idea to take a nandroid before rooting, but it's not required.
Rooting means modifying the ROM to allow you to run user-installed apps with system privileges. The best way is to install a custom recovery and use that to flash a patch to root the phone, but not all phones have that option. Other methods, such as the various "rooting apps", do not give you the option of making a nandroid backup first, and if they do not install a recovery they do not let you make one at all, but they can still root the ROM.
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Other background information to augment the most excellent answer @Hadron already gave:
Cheers!
- http://androidforums.com/threads/what-is-root-or-being-rooted-mean.443432/
- http://androidforums.com/threads/root-terminology.443075/
- http://androidforums.com/threads/rooting-best-practices.450904/
- http://androidforums.com/threads/youve-rooted-your-phone-now-what.617220/
Cheers!