Database Users

Updated to 2.3.3- Help me Root

Just updated last night to 2.3.3. I tried the GingerBreak tool but it doesn't work. I only really want to root it to increase the memory card speed. Any help appreciated. Thanks.

Not possible "the easy way".
You need to unlock the bootloader, and use fastboot to flash kanzones rooted system image.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098736

I wish i could but my play won't go into fastboot mode.

NielDK said:
Not possible "the easy way".
You need to unlock the bootloader, and use fastboot to flash kanzones rooted system image.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1098736
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
well, i think i can only hope for "the easy way" to update...
reading through the step scare me away..

don't mind doing it the hard way but it won't go in fastboot mode.

mikesoftwiz said:
don't mind doing it the hard way but it won't go in fastboot mode.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are you following these steps?
1. Turn your phone off and disconnect the USB cable
2. Hold down the search button
3. Plug in your USB cable
4. The notification light should turn blue.
You're in fastboot mode!

i know the procedure, but it doesn't go. it just turns on. The only thing that works is back button with green light.

Is it sim locked to a network? If so then ya you probably never will get into fastboot
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

was locked but I got the unlocking code from the network provider....

Well that's great, but what you should do is flash the UK generic fw(found around here) then install gingerbreak and root, then after that run the ota update and it'll do its thing when its done you should be left with 2.3.3 rooted. Unless your bootloader is unlocked then you can just fastboot the rooted img. Hope this helps you man!
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

Do u think Gingerbreak will be updated to accommodate 2.3.3... do we have any news on this?

crimsonnight said:
Do u think Gingerbreak will be updated to accommodate 2.3.3... do we have any news on this?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hardly think so, exploit was fixed, and the developers of the exploit made it like a proof of concept, already stated no further development will be done. Note that chainfire was not the one making the exploit, he made the apk utilizing the exploit.
Sent from my GT-I9100 using XDA Premium App

Problem with fastboot

Hello.
I want to root my phone but I have a problem with launching fastboot...
Holding down search key while plugging in the phone doesn't run the fastboot mode ;(
Any advice?

Im in the same boat as you. We are forever locked out of fastboot. Makes me want to ditch the phone to tell you the truth.

Man, got it yesterday and now I'm really disappointed...

romcio47 said:
Man, got it yesterday and now I'm really disappointed...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If your device is branded or sim locked, fastboot mode has been locked, developers are working on this though

Ok, now it's not a problem for me cause I just wanted a root for my R800i. Followed one of the users manual (i think it was called like "Root 2.3.3 with locked bootloaders"). But still waiting for a dev who will make our phones possible to unlock BL.
Sent from my R800i using XDA Premium App

Yea yea I hope something happens on that front soon I want an unlocked bootloader so I can start trying other roms and kernels
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

i don't know if this has been tried or not, but with the phone running normally, and usb debuggng turned on try "adb reboot bootloader" and see if that gets you into fastboot

It just does a normal reboot
Sent from my R800i using XDA App

Theres a bounty for this in the dev section. Add to it, may increase progress.

Hey! Unfortunately, we're not able to do anything at this moment, because the TA unit telling is the fastboot mode allowed or not is hash-protected, so we can't modify it.

Atrix Stock 2.3.4 to CM9 in 15 minutes

i got a new atrix today and i thought it was worth noting that they ship them with 2.3.4 and it's stupid easy to safely unlock, push root, install cwm, install cm9
fastboot didn't work initially so i used rsd and the sbf unlocker which immediately put the phone into fastboot which i then used to oem unlock and reboot.
i used pete's moto root tools to push root and from there it's all safe and easy.
anyone want to buy an unlocked atrix with cm9? =D

$5
Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

6$ +shiping

no deal...

Try ebay. Most people here can do it themselves.

Question about the toolkit

Hello N7 community, I had a question about the boot loader toolkit vs doing everything manually. This is my first nexus device and so far I'm loving it but I want to root it and from what I've read the boot loader has to be unlocked first similar to HTC devices, I did a Google search and came up with two links to AC one was a one click toolkit and the other was instructions for the SDK method. I havent done much with SDK but can easily read and figure it out but if the toolkit is reliable I'd rather go that route since I'm a firm believer I'm work smarter not harder lol. So my question is, is the toolkit a reliable way to unlock the boot loader and root the N7 or should I figure out the SDK method? I have the N73g running 4.2.1 if it makes a difference
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

dmonger11b said:
Hello N7 community, I had a question about the boot loader toolkit vs doing everything manually. This is my first nexus device and so far I'm loving it but I want to root it and from what I've read the boot loader has to be unlocked first similar to HTC devices, I did a Google search and came up with two links to AC one was a one click toolkit and the other was instructions for the SDK method. I havent done much with SDK but can easily read and figure it out but if the toolkit is reliable I'd rather go that route since I'm a firm believer I'm work smarter not harder lol. So my question is, is the toolkit a reliable way to unlock the boot loader and root the N7 or should I figure out the SDK method? I have the N73g running 4.2.1 if it makes a difference
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the best way to do it is also the right way, via fastboot. google made it easy to unlock the bootloader and root any nexus device(the method is the same for all nexii). there are links here that explain it, but this is it in a nutshell.. fastboot OEM devices(these three words unlock the bootloader), fastboot flash a custom recovery, flash either the su binaries or any custom ROM in your new recovery, reboot. that's all, easy. you can use a root toolkit, but you won't learn the basic processes needed for solving issues later on. I've seen people ruin their devices trying to resolve an issue that could have been resolved easily with some basic knowledge. also, read the forums, you'll notice how many threads there are with issues that include the words "I used a toolkit", you wont find any that use the words "I used fastboot". also, occasionally, these root toolkits create their own issues.

I appreciate the response but I've learned over the years of fiddling with my phones and time spent on xda that most of the "I bricked my phone" threads are people being careless. I'll look into doing everything through adb. Seems very similar to how the Sprint OG Evo was done.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app

dmonger11b said:
I appreciate the response but I've learned over the years of fiddling with my phones and time spent on xda that most of the "I bricked my phone" threads are people being careless. I'll look into doing everything through adb. Seems very similar to how the Sprint OG Evo was done.
Sent from my Nexus 7 using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
if you know adb, fastboot will be very easy for you. you'll need it to unlock the bootloader at least, everything else can be done via adb. the all important line and the gift that google gave us.. fastboot oem unlock.

How To Root The DROID RAZR HD On The Latest Software

I am creating this thread because I feel that people are unaware that you can still root the Droid RAZR HD with the latest software.
It's actually very simple.
Step 1 - Download the Droid RAZR HD Utility - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439
Step 2 - Boot into AP Fastboot (Power off phone, then hold the power button and volume up & down buttons - all 3 buttons simultaneously - scroll down to AP Fastboot then press the volume up key when AP Fastboot is highlighted to select it and boot into AP Fastboot)
Step 3 - Follow the instructions for the Droid RAZR HD Utility. Chose option 1. Your phone will be restored to 4.1.2 with the exploitable motochopper root.
Step 4 - Root with motochopper. I personally used the .zip not included with the Droid RAZR HD Utility - once you're on the exploitable version of 4.1.2 using the separate .zip or the Droid RAZR HD Utility to root shouldn't make a difference. Make sure you have the latest Motorola drivers and that you have USB debugging enabled before attempting to root.
Step 5- Download Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper from the Android Market. Use the protect root and then the temporarily unroot options.
Step 6 - Install the OTA update
Step 7 - Open Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper and restore root. You should now be successfully rooted with the latest software.
***This worked flawlessly for me, however on the Droid RAZR HD Utility thread it says not to use it with the latest OTA update. I used it with the latest OTA update and ran into no problems. Use at your own risk.***
If you feel that I have left anything out or care to share your experience please reply.
I am new to the boards but I thought this thread would be very helpful.

Six_Three said:
I am creating this thread because I feel that people are unaware that you can still root the Droid RAZR HD with the latest software.
It's actually very simple.
Step 1 - Download the Droid RAZR HD Utility - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439
Step 2 - Boot into AP Fastboot (Power off phone, then hold the power button and volume up & down buttons - all 3 buttons simultaneously - scroll down to AP Fastboot then press the volume up key when AP Fastboot is highlighted to select it and boot into AP Fastboot)
Step 3 - Follow the instructions for the Droid RAZR HD Utility. Chose option 1. Your phone will be restored to 4.1.2 with the exploitable motochopper root.
Step 4 - Root with motochopper. I personally used the .zip not included with the Droid RAZR HD Utility - once you're on the exploitable version of 4.1.2 using the separate .zip or the Droid RAZR HD Utility to root shouldn't make a difference. Make sure you have the latest Motorola drivers and that you have USB debugging enabled before attempting to root.
Step 5- Download Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper from the Android Market. Use the protect root and then the temporarily unroot options.
Step 6 - Install the OTA update
Step 7 - Open Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper and restore root. You should now be successfully rooted with the latest software.
***This worked flawlessly for me, however on the Droid RAZR HD Utility thread it says not to use it with the latest OTA update. I used it with the latest OTA update and ran into no problems. Use at your own risk.***
If you feel that I have left anything out or care to share your experience please reply.
I am new to the boards but I thought this thread would be very helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Maybe I am asking a dumb question, but does this method allow you to unlock the bootloader?
I am on version 9.18.79.XT926 and was wondering if this method would work for me. Were you on the same version or a different one?

Rooting and unlocking are two separate processes. If you're on 9.18.79, you currently can't unlock. Temporarily downgrading the software version doesn't change that. Sorry.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4

pkomarnicki said:
Rooting and unlocking are two separate processes. If you're on 9.18.79, you currently can't unlock. Temporarily downgrading the software version doesn't change that. Sorry.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using Tapatalk 4
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yeeeeeea..... I found out about this the hard way :-/

big ach said:
Yeeeeeea..... I found out about this the hard way :-/
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So though I could root and the bootloader is lock, am I able to flash cm rom?

enigmaco said:
So though I could root and the bootloader is lock, am I able to flash cm rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no

bweN diorD said:
no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's what I thought really regretting getting this phone now. This 4.1.2 versions of JB is horrendous.

enigmaco said:
That's what I thought really regretting getting this phone now. This 4.1.2 versions of JB is horrendous.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
the razr maxx hd on 9.20.1 is rootable via the the motochopper; however, a "factory-reset" prior to the rooting will be necessary. that necessarily means, back-up first as all will be wiped out.

beefytr said:
the razr maxx hd on 9.20.1 is rootable via the the motochopper; however, a "factory-reset" prior to the rooting will be necessary. that necessarily means, back-up first as all will be wiped out.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the droid razr hd not the maxx though, and its not the developer edition just the regular one through verizon oh well. Thank you for the assistance.

bweN diorD said:
no
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
enigmaco said:
So though I could root and the bootloader is lock, am I able to flash cm rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
For real? I've been doing a lot of reading a missing around trying to figure out if it's possible for me to install roms. This is the first place in actually found where it is no.
So at the end of the day if you're on the latest ota and I've got root going but I can't get a recovery installed. Is that the limitation or what's considered normal?
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app

grnsl2 said:
For real? I've been doing a lot of reading a missing around trying to figure out if it's possible for me to install roms. This is the first place in actually found where it is no.
So at the end of the day if you're on the latest ota and I've got root going but I can't get a recovery installed. Is that the limitation or what's considered normal?
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can use SafeStrap to flash SafeStrap compatible ROMs and make backups. SafeStrap is based off of TWRP but it doesn't actually replace your stock recovery (since you have a locked bootloader).

Sounds like good news.
It looks like I have the phone itself actually rooted using motochopper however I'm not able to get safe strap 100% working. Installs and then it says that installed the recovery however when you try to reboot into recovery it doesn't prompt you with the menu.
What's interesting to me is that I can use other programs that require root access far as I can tell with no issue, root checker shows root is available as well. Trying to reboot into recovery though does not give me the safety strap splash screen to choose any kind of recovery option. Just rolls into DROID...
Running OTA update at 9.18.79.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app

grnsl2 said:
Sounds like good news.
It looks like I have the phone itself actually rooted using motochopper however I'm not able to get safe strap 100% working. Installs and then it says that installed the recovery however when you try to reboot into recovery it doesn't prompt you with the menu.
What's interesting to me is that I can use other programs that require root access far as I can tell with no issue, root checker shows root is available as well. Trying to reboot into recovery though does not give me the safety strap splash screen to choose any kind of recovery option. Just rolls into DROID...
Running OTA update at 9.18.79.
Sent from my DROID RAZR HD using xda app-developers app
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To get into SS, you just need to boot normally. SS doesn't replace the stock recovery, so if you try to boot into recovery, you'll just get the stock menu. If you boot normally, then you should get the options to go into recovery or boot normally. If you don't get the two buttons at the bottom of the screen, then I would try removing and re-installing SS.

Thanks
Thanks for this thread, all. The guidance in this thread helped me find my way to root on my 9.20.1 XT926 phone.

Stuck on "writing system"
Six_Three said:
I am creating this thread because I feel that people are unaware that you can still root the Droid RAZR HD with the latest software.
It's actually very simple.
Step 1 - Download the Droid RAZR HD Utility - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2307439
Step 2 - Boot into AP Fastboot (Power off phone, then hold the power button and volume up & down buttons - all 3 buttons simultaneously - scroll down to AP Fastboot then press the volume up key when AP Fastboot is highlighted to select it and boot into AP Fastboot)
Step 3 - Follow the instructions for the Droid RAZR HD Utility. Chose option 1. Your phone will be restored to 4.1.2 with the exploitable motochopper root.
Step 4 - Root with motochopper. I personally used the .zip not included with the Droid RAZR HD Utility - once you're on the exploitable version of 4.1.2 using the separate .zip or the Droid RAZR HD Utility to root shouldn't make a difference. Make sure you have the latest Motorola drivers and that you have USB debugging enabled before attempting to root.
Step 5- Download Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper from the Android Market. Use the protect root and then the temporarily unroot options.
Step 6 - Install the OTA update
Step 7 - Open Voodoo OTA Rootkeeper and restore root. You should now be successfully rooted with the latest software.
***This worked flawlessly for me, however on the Droid RAZR HD Utility thread it says not to use it with the latest OTA update. I used it with the latest OTA update and ran into no problems. Use at your own risk.***
If you feel that I have left anything out or care to share your experience please reply.
I am new to the boards but I thought this thread would be very helpful.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I am in the first step of restoring my phone, but when I'm in the process of going through the first option in the utility, it is stuck on
"writing 'system'" a ways down the page, it started out working fine, but now is hanging on this and has been for about 20 mins, is this normal?

That's not normal, there is an updated utility in the development forum version 1.3+ there are also links to the new root method in that post if your bootloader is locked.
If your bootloader is not locked the utility and root in this thread should be working.
Sent from my XT926 using XDA Premium 4 mobile app

Great, your guide was helpful. Thanks.

Brilliant i just got a MAXX HD imported from the US ran the update yesterday and now i'm just finding out that as a result of the update i can no longer unlock the bootloader which puts a stop to my plans of being on android 4.3. Is there really no other way ? Maybe theres a chance my bootloader was already unlocked - how would i check ?

There is no way to unlock anymore. If you were planning on going custom why even take the other? This is why people have to check before getting willy nilly with random ota's that don't do anything other then lock your phone generally. To check bootloader status boot into fastboot it'll either say locked or unlocked.
Sent from my PACMAN MATRIX HD MAXX

deeje00 said:
There is no way to unlock anymore. If you were planning on going custom why even take the other? This is why people have to check before getting willy nilly with random ota's that don't do anything other then lock your phone generally. To check bootloader status boot into fastboot it'll either say locked or unlocked.
Sent from my PACMAN MATRIX HD MAXX
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It says locked so i'm definately stuck with it unfortunately.
I installed the update thinking it would be a better comparison for when i did go custom but never in a million years imagined it would lock anything. They really should include a disclaimer with these updates. I've been using android devices for years and have never encountered anything like this update - they've always been irreversible from my experience.
I've seen miracles performed on android though so this cant be the end. It just cant be !