Database Users

Warning about rooting a wifi xoom

Be careful about which boot.img file you use when flashing to root your wifi Xoom. Many of the threads that offer this do not warn that the included zip file is for the 3G version and will brick your tablet in some way. There is a thread in the Dev section specific to the wifi Xoom, follow that one and read carefully before doing this. Be aware that you will unlock your Xoom and there is no current original unlocked boot.img file to restore to an original out of the box product. This could interfere with an OTA update or prevent you from returning the Xoom for warranty service. Motorola has promised to provide the proper original images but so far has only done this for the 3G version.
If you simply unlock the Xoom you can relock it unless you change the installed oem images. Simply unlocking it will probably not be enough to install the files to root the Xoom as you will not have the necessary privilages to write files to the proper bin directory or change the setuid bit.
If you've soft bricked it, see if you can find the proper boot.img file and flash that to your Xoom and then continue rooting. It's unfortunate that there are many rooting threads for the 3G Xoom that were not updated to include a warning once the wifi only Xoom came to market. In a similar manner there are unrooting and unlocking threads for the 3G Xoom that have no warnings for wifi only devices.
Good luck and enjoy your Xoom. The moral of the story its "Measure twice and cut once."

This is the main reason why I haven't rooted my Xoom yet. I'll wait for the original boot image from motorola to be released before rooting.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk

davidsos said:
Be careful about which boot.img file you use when flashing to root your wifi Xoom. Many of the threads that offer this do not warn that the included zip file is for the 3G version and will brick your tablet in some way. There is a thread in the Dev section specific to the wifi Xoom, follow that one and read carefully before doing this. Be aware that you will unlock your Xoom and there is no current original unlocked boot.img file to restore to an original out of the box product. This could interfere with an OTA update or prevent you from returning the Xoom for warranty service. Motorola has promised to provide the proper original images but so far has only done this for the 3G version.
If you simply unlock the Xoom you can relock it unless you change the installed oem images. Simply unlocking it will probably not be enough to install the files to root the Xoom as you will not have the necessary privilages to write files to the proper bin directory or change the setuid bit.
If you've soft bricked it, see if you can find the proper boot.img file and flash that to your Xoom and then continue rooting. It's unfortunate that there are many rooting threads for the 3G Xoom that were not updated to include a warning once the wifi only Xoom came to market. In a similar manner there are unrooting and unlocking threads for the 3G Xoom that have no warnings for wifi only devices.
Good luck and enjoy your Xoom. The moral of the story its "Measure twice and cut once."
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why don't you create a instruction thread with all information about ( lock -unlock, root...unroot, softbrick..) wifi xoom version for new guys like me? I really appreciate that.

tritran18518 said:
Why don't you create a instruction thread with all information about ( lock -unlock, root...unroot, softbrick..) wifi xoom version for new guys like me? I really appreciate that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The below link is pretty good, it's pretty much what I did. I posted this to make people aware of the dangers of following threads that don't specifically spell out wifi and would mostly end up badly. Once I read some of these threads I realized that many folks might get needlessly hurt by these threads not being updated to include proper warnings so I posted this. I read some posts about this causing bricked Xooms to be returned to stores. This also hurts innocent retailers. I'd hope that some forum moderator would step in and have this rectified. If this is not addressed I'll see if I can put together a downloadable guide of some support.
Check this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1010568

Yeah, I semibricked my Xoom by trying to root it using a "Xoom image". If something doesn't say WIFI Xoom, and that's what you have, DON'T DOWNLOAD IT! Assume that "Xoom" means 3G unless otherwise specified.
Luckily, I was able to find a good wifi boot.img and flashed it and had no further issues.

kkwus74 said:
This is the main reason why I haven't rooted my Xoom yet. I'll wait for the original boot image from motorola to be released before rooting.
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Bingo. I'm waiting as well, as annoying as it is I don't fancy ruining my Xoom.

davidsos said:
The below link is pretty good, it's pretty much what I did. I posted this to make people aware of the dangers of following threads that don't specifically spell out wifi and would mostly end up badly. Once I read some of these threads I realized that many folks might get needlessly hurt by these threads not being updated to include proper warnings so I posted this. I read some posts about this causing bricked Xooms to be returned to stores. This also hurts innocent retailers. I'd hope that some forum moderator would step in and have this rectified. If this is not addressed I'll see if I can put together a downloadable guide of some support.
Check this thread.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1010568
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The instructions were good on that post but that is where I got the bad boot.img. I had to reload stock and root all over again.

mh333 said:
The instructions were good on that post but that is where I got the bad boot.img. I had to reload stock and root all over again.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You must have gone through the instructions before it was updated on 4/13. I believe the updated message at the head of the thread now points to a proper source of rooting files. I wonder how many people lost sleep over soft bricking their Xooms. It looks like some people either handled the mess wrong and pushed their tablets further into the abyss or simply returned them for a swap and lost the initiative to root.

I'm a happily rooted 1.5 GHz WiFi-only XOOM user using the 1-click method and BRD's kernel.

Info is out of date now. There's official wifi images now.
http://developer.motorola.com/products/software

Scourge1024 said:
Info is out of date now. There's official wifi images now.
http://developer.motorola.com/products/software
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
will the downloads on that page allow wifi only to flash back to stock and relock if for some reason i need to send it for repair or anything????

mcarrion78 said:
will the downloads on that page allow wifi only to flash back to stock and relock if for some reason i need to send it for repair or anything????
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's all what it is about...

Scariest thing happened when I rooted mine. Instead of choosing the wifi root, I chose the 3g root. I didn't notice I selected that til after it was all said and done. It works still and nothing is different, but that scared me to hell. Yeah the Xoom isn't really something you want to get to just root and play with, because the community isn't that big on it. There are only about 3 kernels I can find on XDA, and there are about 4 themes I can find for my Xoom right now. Honestly rooting is pretty pointless because usually when Google releases the source code to Android it's after something big, maybe 3.1? We will lose root and everything we did will have been for nothing.
Sent from my Xoom

to root or not to root? Euro 3g Xoom

Hi guys!
I dont know if its better to root my xoom (so I can use sd, better kernel, etc...) or to wait the official 3.1 euro update (when it will be available????) before doing the root
any suggestion will be appreciated...
thx!

Well I guess sd card support/speed enhancements isn't worth it or you would have rooted already.

Hi,
I rooted mine and put the 3.1 US update on following the 3g in five steps method. I can tell you that along with the Tiamat kernel is like a new device, so much quicker and smoother.

the only thing i see against doing the us 3.1 update is you get the us market place in which u lose the eu apps since its all regional. but apart from that its the best thing ive done to my xoom

True but you can get everything through the web market.

3.1 ? when ?
hi,
i have rooted my 3g uk xoom and im glad i did so as i always require root and always will require root !
however - i have not yet upgraded to 3.1 because i feel the ",,in 5 steps " method seems to be a little inconsistent, some folk reporting 3g issues etc.
i so badly want 3.1 but im just hoping motorola do the right thing and release it or at least give us a release date, i can even wait a month or 2 if i know its on the way.
so if your reading this and you are in the uk and you have used the ",,,in 5 steps" method please share your findings, is 3g working well, do you get 'E' or 'H' or '3G' or whatever?>?
thanks.
ps- come on Moto' where the heck is the euro 3.1 update ?? news please ??

root, next question haha

Linnyuk said:
Hi,
I rooted mine and put the 3.1 US update on following the 3g in five steps method. I can tell you that along with the Tiamat kernel is like a new device, so much quicker and smoother.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hi, i have a xoom 3g UK as well.. i am desperate for 3.1, which is the five steps method you are referring to?
i would like to try that on mine as well.
thanks.

Thx for all of your answers!
Im downloading now files to root my xoom! ;-) I really need it
...but I think Ill update to 3.1 later...
qwerp_ said:
hi, i have a xoom 3g UK as well.. i am desperate for 3.1, which is the five steps method you are referring to?
i would like to try that on mine as well.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
in development section : here

i think these problem such as sd and so on will be settled down soon or later.

davidebeatrice said:
Thx for all of your answers!
Im downloading now files to root my xoom! ;-) I really need it
...but I think Ill update to 3.1 later...
in development section : here
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks...
I am now updated on 3.1, and I can only say, hell yeah. If you don,t root it, no point using it.
A different view. Is like you go into a library computer where all things are locked down. You can only do what they tell you. What you want is administrator access where you use full potential out of it...

qwerp_ said:
Thanks...
I am now updated on 3.1, and I can only say, hell yeah. If you don,t root it, no point using it.
A different view. Is like you go into a library computer where all things are locked down. You can only do what they tell you. What you want is administrator access where you use full potential out of it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes!
done And Im very happy! ;-)

UK 3g 3.0.1 xoom
Guys; I've posted elsewhere, but you look like you've probably done what I've asked about. Can I ask for a link to the 5 steps method? (I've searched everywhere and I'm now more confused than when I started.) Have any of you tried tiamat with 3.0.1 in order to get cifs or sd card support? Success? Or did you use another method altogether?
Cheers for any answers!!
EDIT: seen the link to the 5 step method - however - anyone used tiamat with it?

mmsson said:
Guys; I've posted elsewhere, but you look like you've probably done what I've asked about. Can I ask for a link to the 5 steps method? (I've searched everywhere and I'm now more confused than when I started.) Have any of you tried tiamat with 3.0.1 in order to get cifs or sd card support? Success? Or did you use another method altogether?
Cheers for any answers!!
EDIT: seen the link to the 5 step method - however - anyone used tiamat with it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes tiamat is working fine on 3.1, I got it running 1,7 ghz on my xoom euro 3g and so far i have had no issues with the 3g connection.
Sent from my Xoom using XDA Premium App

Whoops - I meant to ask if anyone had tiamat working on 3g uk xoom with 3.0.1.... Thanks!

Xoom Family Edition WILL get ICS upgrade

Thought I would share with you guys:
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/60468?tstart=0
Looks like I know what I will be getting for Christmas :-D

Can't wait for ICS
Once that rolls out I bet we get alot more development stuff
Sent from my MZ505 using xda premium

I like how Hildebrandt45 got the poor support team worker into trouble by the looks of it...

Theme Ishere said:
I like how Hildebrandt45 got the poor support team worker into trouble by the looks of it...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
LOL
Or Mark (Forum Manager) keeps getting left in the dark and needs to get with the times :-D

Update: Or maybe its not getting ICS upgrade?
Who knows....
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/60468?tstart=0
Mak (Forums Manager):
"@hildebrandt45
I'm afraid that was mis-information at this time and my post here applies.
Locking thread as we have quite a few duplicates.
Mark
Support Forums Manager
"
https://supportforums.motorola.com/message/492608#492608
Mak (Forums Manager):
"I can confirm there will be updates for Xoom Family Edition... I have no confirmation on Android 4.0 (ICS) for Xoom Family Edition... Once I have confirmed anything pertaining to upgrades I'll be posting more information in this community and the upgrade news site that hildebrandt45 mentions above.
Mark
Support Forums Manager
"

+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,+1 ,

It seems that the upgrade it is not confirmed by Motorola for the Xoom Family Edition, but only for the normal Xoom (same hardware!!!).
Given I bought one I'm not happy at all. I thought with the google participitation it was going to be updated at least for one year.It does not make any sense and it's against google android principles.
I also wrote to Engadget about the situation.
Reference:
See support motorola forum
If you own one or plan to buy one, please write to Motorola and Engadget about the upgrade. Maybe it will make Motorola change their mind!
Alessandro

Just for information, this guy has made the ICS ROM for Nexus S that works pretty well:
http://twitter.com/#!/drewgaren/status/130479368895074304
for those who keep asking about a xoom ics sdk port, i think i got something coming your way as well.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

Cool, but the bootloader of the Family Edition is locked so it won't be possible to install ICS by ourselves.

CONFIRMED BY MOTOROLA SUPPORT FORUM MANAGER MARK, THE FAMILY EDITION IS OFFICIALLY GETTING ICE CREAM SANDWICH:
------------------------------------------------------------
https://supportforums.motorola.com/thread/60546?start=30&tstart=0
Great news!
We are planning to upgrade Motorola XOOM™ Family Edition to Ice Cream Sandwich along with our previously mentioned devices. We will provide more precise guidance on timing after post-public push of Ice Cream Sandwich by Google, as well as any possible additions to this list of devices.
Mark
Support Forums Manager
------------------------------------------------------------

Upgrade to ICS just confirmed in the Motorola Support Forum!!!!

alescorpio said:
Upgrade to ICS just confirmed in the Motorola Support Forum!!!!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It looks like a really nice upgrade, even though root/Tiamat/ADW EX gives me a lot of the same functions. But it actually is quite exciting, so good news!

125mb Update hitting Xoom FE
I just got an system update last night on the Xoom FE, unfortunately I cannot confirm if it is iCS. My Xoom FE was rooted by using the Dan Rosenberg exploit which seems to be preventing the update from successfully applying. So for those are rooted, let me know if anyone is having any luck with updates.

mastalee420 said:
I just got an system update last night on the Xoom FE, unfortunately I cannot confirm if it is iCS. My Xoom FE was rooted by using the Dan Rosenberg exploit which seems to be preventing the update from successfully applying. So for those are rooted, let me know if anyone is having any luck with updates.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its possible to update a rooted xoom fe. You can check the logs after a failed update. The updater checks for all orig system files and fails if not found. Easiest thing to do is restore /system from a backup. Also use ota rootkeeper to keep root after update. here's a good link to info and needed files.
http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/mot...ion/19292-error-updating-ics-please-read.html
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

mjcollum said:
Its possible to update a rooted xoom fe. You can check the logs after a failed update. The updater checks for all orig system files and fails if not found. Easiest thing to do is restore /system from a backup. Also use ota rootkeeper to keep root after update. here's a good link to info and needed files.
http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/mot...ion/19292-error-updating-ics-please-read.html
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
AHHHHAAA! That makes sense, I did utilize root to remove the bloatware!!! Thanks so much, once I get home I'll check it out and see what I can do.

Just upgraded my wife's Xoom FE to ICS... I've been looking around for a root method for it, and all the ones I've found are for 1.004 and earlier... Any ideas anyone?

KaoticEvil said:
Just upgraded my wife's Xoom FE to ICS... I've been looking around for a root method for it, and all the ones I've found are for 1.004 and earlier... Any ideas anyone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Development for the fe died an early death. If you didn't root and us ota rootkeeper before the update you are out of luck for now. And as far as I know there is no way to downgrade. Sorry/
Sent from my SPH-D710 using Tapatalk 2

Well, that figures. Blah. That's OK, she's talking about selling it and getting a Nexus 7...
Sent from my CM10 Skyrocket using the xda-developers app

How to: Honeycomb to ICS non us Xoom?

I`ve just purchased a XOOM in the UK.
I didn't realize the UK hasn't received the ICS update yet. Please could somebody let me know how I can flash ICS to my device. Honeycomb is sooo out of date. I have a Galaxy Nexus so used to flashing.
I've been reading around and the solution seems to be to flash a US rom. Would I still be able to download apps not being in the US?

You need to unlock the device using the android sdk. Then you can flash the American rooms they work fine just make sure you are installing 'wingray' roms.
Sent from my GT-N7000 using Tapatalk 2

Yes, but not via store. Look through Xoom boards for the walk through, its been asked for a lot
Sent from my Xoom using Tapatalk 2

JTopaz said:
I`ve just purchased a XOOM in the UK.
I didn't realize the UK hasn't received the ICS update yet. Please could somebody let me know how I can flash ICS to my device. Honeycomb is sooo out of date. I have a Galaxy Nexus so used to flashing.
I've been reading around and the solution seems to be to flash a US rom. Would I still be able to download apps not being in the US?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OK, follow this thread to the letter http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1249798 remember to read, read and read again.... When I did mine a couple of weeks a go I bricked it, but thanks to info here and the motodev site (build images) I restored it.
one thing to not the latest copy of ADB doesn't seem to have fastboot included, so again check for those ADB plug ins.

stock US wifi Xoom?
http://lanlith.blogspot.co.uk/2011/07/xoom-wifi-non-us-ie-ukcan-301-32-in-few.html
I did the above... all the files available here too : http://lanlith.blogspot.co.uk/2012/01/motorola-xoom-wi-fi-icecreamsandwich.html
you can OTA all the way up though after you flash the US 3.0.1 image if you prefer.
the link posted in the previous answer includes custom recovery and stuff - if you just want stock you can just unlock, flash the US image and away you go

oh and yes you can still download apps happily using a US image

http://www.simonjstuart.com/2011/07/23/gedify-your-non-us-wifi-xoom-for-n00bs/
This is by far the best guide out there IMO. used it on my Canadian xoom and it worked like a charm. Very well laid out guide that even the most novice user can understand. Hope this helps, Cheers

10.4.2.18? [Notice] and [Q]uestion Regarding Root on JB fw!

10.4.2.18 seems to have come out for the TF101G I presume, and it's a jb update.
If you ever want to root or think about root don't update as I don't think any method will root this firmware, as I've already read 2 posts that wolf's method won't work for this version.
NvFlash doesn't work for the TF101G, so you might be sol if you update and want root later.
Can someone please confirm that this is a real official ota update?
Original TF users can update without fear because NvFlash will work for them and that's always a root option, slider users and 3G tf101G users cannot NvFlash, so don't update!
EDIT:
Thing O Doom said:
Reading more it seems I was mistaken that this came out for the TF101, several newer users posted about it in this fora so I assumed that it was for the 101. I think this is just for the 300t and prime though now, as Wolf's method also worked for ICS on those tablets and the other 1-click root tool was able to use it to flash those tabs still on ICS. I think someone updated to jb and tried to use that to root and failed.
Those devices have bootloader unlocked though, so I actually don't think this will be an issue.
adding this to op.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse

My TF101 is already rooted and currently running CM10.1 (for now), so I'm glad I don't have to worry about this. :victory:
Had a question though... Is it that they are trying to purposely make it difficult or impossible to root various devices with each new update? or is it just that there are currently no methods to root that particular device/fw at this time?
I'm still quite new to all this android hacking and just trying to learn. Thanks.
I remember about 6 months or more back, there was no way to root my particular phone (at least none that worked for me). 6 months later and BAM there's several methods available that all work! All you dev's here on Xda are doing an awesome job! Keep it up!

MEC-777 said:
My TF101 is already rooted and currently running CM10.1 (for now), so I'm glad I don't have to worry about this. :victory:
Had a question though... Is it that they are trying to purposely make it difficult or impossible to root various devices with each new update? or is it just that there are currently no methods to root that particular device/fw at this time?
I'm still quite new to all this android hacking and just trying to learn. Thanks.
I remember about 6 months or more back, there was no way to root my particular phone (at least none that worked for me). 6 months later and BAM there's several methods available that all work! All you dev's here on Xda are doing an awesome job! Keep it up!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
They seem to try and block rooting methods in each update but someone always finds a way around it
If you have an SBK1 device it shouldn't be a problem

Thing O Doom said:
10.4.2.18 seems to have come out for the TF101G I presume, and it's a jb update.
If you ever want to root or think about root don't update as I don't think any method will root this firmware, as I've already read 2 posts that wolf's method won't work for this version.
NvFlash doesn't work for the TF101G, so you might be sol if you update and want root later.
Can someone please confirm that this is a real official ota update?
Original TF users can update without fear because NvFlash will work for them and that's always a root option, slider users and 3G tf101G users cannot NvFlash, so don't update!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Where did you find info concerning this 10.4.2.18 update? (same version no. as TF201 and TF300)

fregor said:
Where did you find info concerning this 10.4.2.18 update? (same version no. as TF201 and TF300)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Reading more it seems I was mistaken that this came out for the TF101, several newer users posted about it in this fora so I assumed that it was for the 101. I think this is just for the 300t and prime though now, as Wolf's method also worked for ICS on those tablets and the other 1-click root tool was able to use it to flash those tabs still on ICS. I think someone updated to jb and tried to use that to root and failed.
Those devices have bootloader unlocked though, so I actually don't think this will be an issue.
adding this to op.