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Rooting?

D

dhelton23

Lurker
Can someone please explain what exactly rooting is? What does it consist of and what are the pros and cons? Thank you.
 
Rooting is gaining administrative access to the file system so you can read/write/modify and files you want. You need to do this to be able to change certain aspects of the Android OS or change the OS itself. It's a term derived from the 'nix environment where base system account is refered to as "root".

It can also be dangerous as it allows you access to files that could potentially render your device inoperable (Bricking ... making it as useful as a brick)

Pros are being able to do anything you want with your device.

Cons are ruining your device.

Getting root access will vary by device. I see you have an SGS2 which is a highly popular phone with a huge development community. If that's the device you're considering rooting, it's a very easy phone to root. :)
 
I have a folder full of links that’ll help me root my Optimus, and I’ve come close, but I doubt that I’ll ever do it, because:

I absolutely need this, my only phone, to be ready to work 24/7. I cannot take the risk of hobbling it, even for a few hours, let alone bricking it.

Compared to my previous phone, a 2002 cutting-edge Samsung i500, the stock Optimus is incredible. So as long as I can ignore the possibilities in the future, I’m set.
 
If there's no specific reason to root, I never recommend people to do so if they are happy with the phone as is.

I rooted because I like making nand backups, block OS upgrades and to tweak a system app I use. :)
 
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