What is root?

devicemanager · #1 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:02 AM

I am waiting on my evo 3d to arrive today and reading up on some of the threads. I hear the term often of root the device. Can some explain what that is and why people are doing it? Thanks!

robysch22 · #2 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devicemanager

I am waiting on my evo 3d to arrive today and reading up on some of the threads. I hear the term often of root the device. Can some explain what that is and why people are doing it? Thanks!

Superuser - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

devicemanager · #3 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:13 AM

thanks dude

Ruh · #4 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devicemanager

I am waiting on my evo 3d to arrive today and reading up on some of the threads. I hear the term often of root the device. Can some explain what that is and why people are doing it? Thanks!

Short Version: Its the Android equivilant to getting HSPL for your TP2 so that you can flash custom ROMs.

devicemanager · #5 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:28 AM

Thanks again, who has the latest and greatest software for the evo 3d?

Ruh · #6 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by devicemanager

Thanks again, who has the latest and greatest software for the evo 3d?

Root access is not yet available for the Evo 3D, but keep an eye on the development forum as it should be ready Soon (TM).

**scrosler** · #7 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruh

Root access is not yet available for the Evo 3D, but keep an eye on the development forum as it should be ready Soon (TM).

Root access is available but its not permanent. There is a temp root that works very well and allows almost all of the functions of normal root minus the ability to "stick" after a reboot of phone.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ruh

Short Version: Its the Android equivilant to getting HSPL for your TP2 so that you can flash custom ROMs.

Thats not really correct. Its more like having full access to system files. A "custom recovery" is like having a hard SPL. But you cannot gain access to custom recovery without root. So they do go hand in hand.

Sorry if these minor corrects seem anal...

Ruh · #8 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 09:24 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrosler

Root access is available but its not permanent. There is a temp root that works very well and allows almost all of the functions of normal root minus the ability to "stick" after a reboot of phone.

Yea, my statement was more so with regards to having Root with ability to flash ROMs (so really S-OFF not Root), which as a TP2 user is probably the OP's prime concern.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrosler

Thats not really correct. Its more like having full access to system files. A "custom recovery" is like having a hard SPL. But you cannot gain access to custom recovery without root. So they do go hand in hand.

Again, was just trying to "dumb it down" to terms he could relate to being a TP2 user. I gathered that the OP didn't have much experience with computers since he was not familiar with the term "root" which isn't unique to cell phones etc.

Quote:

Originally Posted by scrosler

Sorry if these minor corrects seem anal...

No apology needed

. I wanted to give some quick answers to avoid the feeling of "tl;dr" and "OMG WTF-WALL-OF-TEXT DOES DAMAGE FOR 133,700 HP!!111!!1!!!!11" the OP might have after going to read the wikipedia article. The problem is there isn't really a "quick" answer that I could give.

chong67 · #9 (**permalink**) 07-20-2011, 10:28 PM

Just remember to do this : sudo su