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Root [Virgin Mobile] [OUTDATED][GUIDE][MD7][MG2] Rooting & Recovery for Galaxy S3(VM)

just got a new G3 at there is no option for usb debugging or developer options. How to I go about rooting without verifying these options?
 
photostar808 said:
just got a new G3 at there is no option for usb debugging or developer options. How to I go about rooting without verifying these options?
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Go to Settings/About Phone, scroll down to Build Number, tap that line repeatedly until phone gives you a notification that developer options are enabled. It's a stupid trick Google put in for 4.2 and up to "prevent" regular users from accessing these features.
 
thank you. I finally got it to open by installing a tethering app, however, was not successful at rooting this phone tried both Mac an windows, same problems everyone else has, sd card not mounting, switched over to TWRP recovery, allows me to load zip file, but gets a signature error and I never end up with root. About ready to give up, and go back to my Evo 4G which I rooted and had the wifi hot spot working. Whatever they did in this last build, they don't want there phone rooted at all.
 
photostar808 said:
thank you. I finally got it to open by installing a tethering app, however, was not successful at rooting this phone tried both Mac an windows, same problems everyone else has, sd card not mounting, switched over to TWRP recovery, allows me to load zip file, but gets a signature error and I never end up with root. About ready to give up, and go back to my Evo 4G which I rooted and had the wifi hot spot working. Whatever they did in this last build, they don't want there phone rooted at all.
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So, unfortunately, some info, particularly with regards to rooting, has become outdated on these forums. Try this:
1. Download either TWRP 2.6.3.0 .tar file or Philz Touch 6.0.0.8 .tar file to your computer; I am currently recommending Philz
2. Download latest SuperSU update .zip file (version 1.80 as of this writing, download version 1.75 while you are at it, will explain why later)
3. Download Samsung drivers to your computer so it will recognize your phone when you plug it in with USB; downloading Kies will install the drivers as well, and then Kies itself can be uninstalled afterward (I find it to be a pretty useless program in general, and 100% worthless if you are rooted)
4. Download Odin version 3.07 to your computer
5. Plug in phone with USB, and transfer SuperSU .zip file to the phone, internal or external memory doesn't matter, as long as you know where to look for it
6. Place phone into download mode (volume down, home key, power button all at same time, wait through the vibrate until message appears on screen), then open Odin v. 3.07, uncheck "auto reboot" and then click button labelled "PDA" and then browse to the file location for the recovery .tar file you downloaded (I just put them on the desktop for ease of locating); select that file and it will show up in the dialog box next to the PDA button
7. Press "Start" and about two minutes later Odin will give you a "Pass" message
8. Unplug USB, and then remove battery from your phone (holding down power button until phone shuts off generally does the same thing, but battery pull is recommended method); replace battery after about 5-10 seconds, then hold down, at the same time, Volume Up, home key, and Power button, keep holding until after the phone vibrates and blue script appears in top left corner saying "Recovery booting"
9. Navigate to location of .zip file containing SuperSU and flash that file
10. Reboot, and you should now be rooted. There are several Root Checker apps available in Play Store that can be run after reboot to confirm root status. Alternatively, open Titanium Backup and it will let you know if you are rooted or not

So the reason for wanting both SuperSU files is that sometimes you need to let Play Store update SuperSU for you in order to achieve root. If this is the case, flash the next to most recent version, and then Play Store will detect a need for an update and take care of it for you.

Hope this helps and good luck!

Links:
Philz Touch: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2446393
TWRP: http://techerrata.com/browse/twrp2/d2spr; version 2.6.3.0 should work fine, version 2.6.3.1 wouldn't mount anything for me and was really buggy, couldn't get it to work
SuperSU: http://download.chainfire.eu/370/SuperSU/UPDATE-SuperSU-v1.80.zip

Remember, d2spr means "Sprint" and that is what VM and Boost piggyback from!
 
Thanks struckn. We really need to get these root guides updated. I sent a pm to Austrie a few days ago. If I don't hear from him in a while I'll see what can be done about it..

If we can't contact him to get an edit I'll check with the moderators on our options in modifying the guide.
 
TheBritton said:
Thanks struckn. We really need to get these root guides updated. I sent a pm to Austrie a few days ago. If I don't hear from him in a while I'll see what can be done about it..

If we can't contact him to get an edit I'll check with the moderators on our options in modifying the guide.
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As I mentioned to you a couple of days ago, I can certainly add this rooting info to my tutorial on modifying/customizing ROM's and then maybe the whole thing could get stickied. Let me know, since I need to update that thread with some 4.4 info as well as some stock 4.3 info.
 
Can someone add a how to undo this so we can upgrade to the latest update?

I had no problems rooting 4.1.2 (thanks!)
I guess I should have known it would cause problems in the future because I can't successfully update to 4.3

What's the process to undo this root, update, and possibly root again. But to be honest, if I could just get the update and forget rooting again I'd be fine with that. My phone acts oddly sometimes and I wonder if all this tinkering is to blame.

Thanks to all those who put up with us!
 
severme said:
Can someone add a how to undo this so we can upgrade to the latest update?

I had no problems rooting 4.1.2 (thanks!)
I guess I should have known it would cause problems in the future because I can't successfully update to 4.3

What's the process to undo this root, update, and possibly root again. But to be honest, if I could just get the update and forget rooting again I'd be fine with that. My phone acts oddly sometimes and I wonder if all this tinkering is to blame.

Thanks to all those who put up with us!
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There is no need to undo root to update. There is a flashable zip of the update. All that is needed is to boot into recovery, do a wipe of system, dalvik, cache, and data then flash the MK5 rom and you're good.

http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?t=800776

http://androidforums.com/showthread.php?t=799711

If you take the rout of unrooting and taking the stock update then you are taking the knox bootloader.
 
As usual Britton is spot-on with his advice. If you really want to undo root, however, there are .tar files available that will return you to stock. Not going to link to them here because THEY ARE ONLY FOR PEOPLE WITHOUT THE KNOX BOOTLOADER!! I cannot emphasize that enough, and I don't want someone else to read this and push a file Iinked to without knowing the possible consequences first. Plus, as Britton is implying, basically don't touch Knox with a ten foot pole if you are currently Knox free.
 
Thanks, I will give it try, but 1st I am trying to put my Evo V 4G back to stock rom so I can sell it, got to back to my could old VM EVo 4G forum to find out .. Harmonia was a wonderful ROM though..
 
photostar808 said:
Thanks, I will give it try, but 1st I am trying to put my Evo V 4G back to stock rom so I can sell it, got to back to my could old VM EVo 4G forum to find out .. Harmonia was a wonderful ROM though..
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I loved that ROM. I also ran that on my old Optimus V :D
 
photostar808 said:
Thanks, I will give it try, but 1st I am trying to put my Evo V 4G back to stock rom so I can sell it, got to back to my could old VM EVo 4G forum to find out .. Harmonia was a wonderful ROM though..
Click to expand...

That's HTC correct? It is probably going to involve just flashing a stock zip file and then using adb to relock your bootloader, if I remember correctly from the procedures with my old HTC One V.
 
photostar808 said:
Hey Strukin , both links for recovery download as IMG files, how to I extract the .tar files so Odin will recognize? Thanks again!
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Are you talking about the links to Philz and TWRP? There are .tar files and flashable .zip files in the link for Philz and .tar files and .img files in the link for TWRP, just choose the .tar versions if you want to use Odin. Personal preference is to just flash a .zip for Philz from your current recovery as long as it is custom not stock. Let me know if you need clarification, different links, or just want me to upload some personal copies to my Dropbox.

Edit: My general understanding is that the .img versions have to be installed via an adb prompt or via a terminal emulator program, and if you don't type the specific command line correctly you will screw up your phone pretty bad. Therefore, .tar or .zip is the way to go for me personally.
 
photostar808 said:
In step 5, don't I have to put phone in download mode 1st (Power, Down VOL, Home) ?
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Oh my God, thanks for catching that! Put that together off the top of my head pretty late at night after a full day at work. I do generally double and triple check anything I post before posting, but that slipped through. Revising now. Thanks again!

Edit: Done! Added as start of step 6, since you want the computer to recognize the phone in step 5 first in order to add files to the SD card.
 
I figured that out, however, still having a problem with flashing Super User, I saw some errors come up in red. and when it rebooted I check root checker, still can't find Super User. I used 1.80. Should I try and flash older version?
 
photostar808 said:
I figured that out, however, still having a problem with flashing Super User, I saw some errors come up in red. and when it rebooted I check root checker, still can't find Super User. I used 1.80. Should I try and flash older version?
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Try version 1.75 and let Play Store update it to 1.80 for you. Worth a shot.
 
Same error with Super User 1.75 "failed to verify E life message" gets about 3 in a row.

This is similar to the errors I got yesterday using a different recovery, they were more like E Signature or failed to verify E Signature files..


I'm stumped once again...


Finally ROOT, I used the orginally recovery posted in the 1st set of links from page one, Odin 3.07 and Super User 1.80. Just had to get the right combo of files I guess, also flashed Knox App remover..
 
photostar808 said:
Same error with Super User 1.75 "failed to verify E life message" gets about 3 in a row.

This is similar to the errors I got yesterday using a different recovery, they were more like invalid signature messages...

I'm stumped once again...
Click to expand...

I'm off to work right now but will brainstorm a bit and get back to you late tonight.
 
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