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Resolved Question

root android galaxy

Jun 2, 2014 4:57PM PDT

A few hours ago I got a Samsung Galaxy S4 Active. It came loaded with much useless bloatware. Is there an easy to use software that will help me root/unroot this thing, or an easy tutorial to do this with? A few are also seeming to be outdated, as in early 2013. This phone is running 4.3, and model is SGH-I537. Kernel version, not sure if needed, is 3.4.0-2244695.
Only looking to root the phone, get rid of the useless stuff or things I never ever ever will use, and unroot it so I can be back in half the good graces of samsung/at&t.

Discussion is locked

ilikerhinos has chosen the best answer to their question. View answer
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Clarification Request
FYI folks moving this to Android forum
Jun 3, 2014 5:35AM PDT

Even though this discussion is resolved, I think there maybe more interest and input if it resided in the Android forum.

Cheers!
-Lee

Best Answer

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No easy exit.
Jun 3, 2014 2:13AM PDT

Now we know there are tomes about this on the web but that's not the question. You wanted it EASY. Not one method I read so far has a big fat button you click to root and more. It's a procedure involving many steps and guides are out there.

Maybe you should ask someone to do this for you? That would make it easy.
Bob

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last root a friend
Jun 3, 2014 4:05AM PDT

did it for me. That friend no longer lives anywhere near, separated by a continent. They're on the east coast. Took them maybe 30 minutes at best.

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Last month I rooted an old tablet.
Jun 3, 2014 4:12AM PDT

It took over 30 minutes and I had to root it no less than 3 times since the first OS was just too slow. So I when from 4.1.4 to 4.1.something and the last one was great. It may take more than a few tries to find the better of the choices we have today.
Bob

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is this trusted way
Jun 3, 2014 4:18AM PDT

Which is your favorite for android, ICS, JB, or KKat? Also is the method of rooting via geohot.com/activeroot ?
Found a current guide on a forum, as well as two youtube videos that also use this method.

Are the custom roms for android similar to linux distros where you trust the devs? (already trusting MS hehe)

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Where I go for those roms.
Jun 3, 2014 4:23AM PDT

XDA Developers.

The last reply only showed you can't really be that picky. That is, I tried the latest version and while it worked, it wasn't usable. Too sluggish. So I went back to older versions until I found the right balance.

Some folk flame on about that issue but hey, I took an Android 2.x tablet up to 4.something. The alternative would be to dump it.
Bob

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you're correct
Jun 3, 2014 4:46AM PDT

Never been picky really about anything. Rather enjoy what life offers than nit-pick its fine details. Thanks for sharing about XDAdevelopers. Found some really interesting stuff there, going to dig a bit deeper.

Looking at two awesome looking roms right now.