Question I've always had about Android phones...

[GTaudiophile]

Is it possible to root ANY phone and install a stock version of Android and assume it will install just fine? Or are there potential 'driver' / hardware issues? I've always just assumed it would work like formatting a drive and installing a fresh copy of Windows, etc.

 

[QueBert]

There isn't a stock version of Android like that, there are stock roms but if they're not made for your phone they won't install. Nexus 4 is stock, but attempting to install its rom on a Galaxy 5 or M7 would be disastrous. It wouldn't work and would brick your device. Well assuming the install would even start which it might not. But it definitely wouldn't work at best.

 

[paperwastage]

Root != ability to flash ROM

Root = getting Admin access on your Windows machine.... You can modify files in C: \ drive(and the potential to delete some essential files and your computer cannot boot correctly), perform MORE actions than a regular user




Most phones have a locked/encrypted bootloader. This is akin to saying: device will only (boot)load this specific version of android configured by the manufacturer(or computer can only boot/load Windows 8 configured by the manufacturer)

With a locked/encrypted bootloader, you cannot install any Operating System. You can only use what the manufacture gives you (eg Windows machine, can only update from WIndows 8 to WIndows 10 configured by the manufacturer, cannot install Ubuntu or other Mac OS X)

some phones have unlockable bootloaders(eg nexus series). Some phones have exploits to bypass the locked bootloader (eg lg loki exploit)

 

[Platypus]

It's possible to root essentially all Android devices, but 'stock' aka AOSP versions of Android software must be ported to each device individually, as each device is largely unique.

CyanogenMod does a good job of offering an AOSP like experience to the devices we support, but that's not quite the same thing. It's not the same as installing Windows for example in that each device requires its own custom device and vendor configuration in order to function properly and support all the hardware in the device. You could likely easily build an AOSP ROM based on a CyanogenMod device tree however with a bit of hacking. Not all devices support the booting of unsigned firmware either, also complicating this.

 

[Graze]

It's possible to root essentially all Android devices,

In theory yes. My motox on Android 4.4 yeah there aint no rooting that(as yet unfortunately).

 

[GTaudiophile]

I guess we'll never get to that point with mobile devices. Wouldn't it be cool if locked/encrypted bootloaders did not exist and during the installation process of the latest version of (insert OS here) the installation program downloaded the latest drivers for your specific device. I guess I can dream on.