Edit: Hope to have a video tutorial up soon!
My Droid X Root Guide. Should also work with the Droid 2 and be similar for other devices. Post here or PM me you have questions. but don't come crying to me if you mess your phone up. But I'll try to help.
Anyhow. I know there are other posts out there like this. But I'm hoping to add another thread that pops up when people search for root help. And maybe keep noob related root questions in one place rather than throughout the forums.
Admins- Feel free to sticky this or move it out of the general X discussions. Wherever you want it. But this is where I'll post it for now. Thanks.
I wrote this with a tutorial on how to flash the ROM Apex by Fabolous for the X/2. If you want a different ROM pick which one you want in place of ApeX. Should be the same process. You just have to find the thread for the ROM. If you don't want to install a custom ROM just ignore all of that and focus on the root stuff.
Again. Not responsible for your phone messing up. Here you go!!
-------------------------------------
Here are all of the ROM's for the X on this site:
Droid X ROMS!
Here is ApeX:
ApeX 1.4.0!
Directions:
**Read this list entirely through twice before you do anything.
**I also HIGHLY suggest reading all of the instructions in the original post of ApeX if that is the ROM that you choose to go with. Always do this and always make sure you're running the correct system version etc...
---Download the ROM that you want to install and make sure that it is in a .zip folder (some browsers rename), and that it is on the main directory of your SD card (it makes it easier to find if it is not in folders)
1.) Make sure you have Z4Root installed. Google it. Current version is 1.3 and you'll have to get it at XDA's website because it's not in the market. Google 'Z4Root 1.3'. Download the .apk file and install on your phone.
*Download Z4Root from Z4Root!
2.) Download and install Droid X Recovery Bootstrap from the market. (Developers work hard, they deserve a few bucks from you! If you don't think like that, you're on your own finding an .apk file of it.)
3.) Reboot
4.) Run Z4Root, click "Root Me"
-Permanent root when it prompts you
5.) Phone will reboot after rooting. If you get hung up (still not done after 1-2 minutes) do a battery pull and try again. Shouldn't mess up anything. Just try again.
There you go. You're rooted!! That's all you had to do! If you want to install a ROM, continue on. I SUGGEST AT LEAST BACKING UP WHAT YOU HAVE NOW! (Steps 6-13)
-If you want, now you can backup using titanium backup. What this will do is back up all apps and data so that if you flash a new rom you can restore all apps and data. Otherwise. The market will automatically push all your apps to your phone. But you won't have the data. I recommend the paid version. One click and you can back all apps up. Honestly it may be easiest to start fresh without backing up apps if you don't mind having them all redownload and losing data and such. Anyhow.
6.) Run Droid X Recovery Bootstrap
7.) Click Bootstrap Recovery
8.) Click Ok when the pop up shows
9.) Click Reboot Recovery
10.) Phone will now boot into recovery
Now you are at the Recovery screen (Should be a black screen with green text). Use the volume rocker to navigate up and down, and the camera button to select. Also, the power/sleep button can be used to go back.
11.) Scroll down and click "backup and restore"
12.) Click backup
13.) This will backup your stock ROM (basically a screen shot off your entire system as it stands, so if you ever need to unroot and go stock, this is the file that you will flash in the bootstrapper. Then all you will have to do is unroot using z4root and you will be stock.)
---File will be stored in the /clockwork folder on your SD card, I recommend backing up this file to you computer also.
14.) back at the main screen, press "wipe data/factory reset"
15.) The press "wipe cache partition"
16.) Then go to "install zip from sd card"
17.) Then choose "Choose zip from sdcard"
18.) Select the ROM (the ziped folder) that you put on there)
19.) click yes
20.) it will install, should put you back at the main menu with the top option being to reboot system now, select this, and you're done!
Again, I suggest reading the 1st post in the rom that you think you are going to use, most developers also include instructions. Read everything twice (including this), and do it once, successfully. THERE YOU GO! HAVE FUN!
-------------------------------------
TO GET TO STOCK WITH ROOT ACCESS:
-If you made a backup of your stock ROM through the bootstrapper, you are in luck! If not. You're out of luck. And you need to figure out how to .sbf (About SBF or Another About SBF) to stock or find someone who backed up their X, or you can try using this:
Maderstock
(Which is basically a 2.3.340 backup, completely stock, produces close to the same result as a .sbf, but without the hassle, see quote from link below
1. Boot into bootstrap recovery
-Run Droid X Recovery Bootstrapper
-Bootstrap Recovery
-Commit "Ok"
-Reboot Recovery
2. Wipe data and cache
3. Click 'backup and restore'
4. Choose restore
5. Choose your stock rom (default location is in the /clockwork/backup folder on your sd card)
6. Reboot
Now you are at your stock ROM with Root permissions, to unroot, look below
-------------------------------------
STOCK WITHOUT ROOT:
*Note, if you used the Maderstock method above, it should automatically remove your root access.
7. Now run z4root and click unroot me.
8. Phone should reboot (I believe it will)
9. Now you are stock with no root and no signs of a root (after you uninstall root apps: z4root, bootstrapper, super user, set cpu, wifi tether, titanium backup, spare parts, etc...)
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Let me know if you have any issues. PM gets to me faster, but a reply 'should' be almost as fast. Hopefully this prevents separate threads from popping up and helps a few people out. Lol.
Sent from my DROIDX
My Droid X Root Guide. Should also work with the Droid 2 and be similar for other devices. Post here or PM me you have questions. but don't come crying to me if you mess your phone up. But I'll try to help.
Anyhow. I know there are other posts out there like this. But I'm hoping to add another thread that pops up when people search for root help. And maybe keep noob related root questions in one place rather than throughout the forums.
Admins- Feel free to sticky this or move it out of the general X discussions. Wherever you want it. But this is where I'll post it for now. Thanks.
I wrote this with a tutorial on how to flash the ROM Apex by Fabolous for the X/2. If you want a different ROM pick which one you want in place of ApeX. Should be the same process. You just have to find the thread for the ROM. If you don't want to install a custom ROM just ignore all of that and focus on the root stuff.
Again. Not responsible for your phone messing up. Here you go!!
-------------------------------------
Here are all of the ROM's for the X on this site:
Droid X ROMS!
Here is ApeX:
ApeX 1.4.0!
Directions:
**Read this list entirely through twice before you do anything.
**I also HIGHLY suggest reading all of the instructions in the original post of ApeX if that is the ROM that you choose to go with. Always do this and always make sure you're running the correct system version etc...
---Download the ROM that you want to install and make sure that it is in a .zip folder (some browsers rename), and that it is on the main directory of your SD card (it makes it easier to find if it is not in folders)
1.) Make sure you have Z4Root installed. Google it. Current version is 1.3 and you'll have to get it at XDA's website because it's not in the market. Google 'Z4Root 1.3'. Download the .apk file and install on your phone.
*Download Z4Root from Z4Root!
2.) Download and install Droid X Recovery Bootstrap from the market. (Developers work hard, they deserve a few bucks from you! If you don't think like that, you're on your own finding an .apk file of it.)
3.) Reboot
4.) Run Z4Root, click "Root Me"
-Permanent root when it prompts you
5.) Phone will reboot after rooting. If you get hung up (still not done after 1-2 minutes) do a battery pull and try again. Shouldn't mess up anything. Just try again.
There you go. You're rooted!! That's all you had to do! If you want to install a ROM, continue on. I SUGGEST AT LEAST BACKING UP WHAT YOU HAVE NOW! (Steps 6-13)
-If you want, now you can backup using titanium backup. What this will do is back up all apps and data so that if you flash a new rom you can restore all apps and data. Otherwise. The market will automatically push all your apps to your phone. But you won't have the data. I recommend the paid version. One click and you can back all apps up. Honestly it may be easiest to start fresh without backing up apps if you don't mind having them all redownload and losing data and such. Anyhow.
6.) Run Droid X Recovery Bootstrap
7.) Click Bootstrap Recovery
8.) Click Ok when the pop up shows
9.) Click Reboot Recovery
10.) Phone will now boot into recovery
Now you are at the Recovery screen (Should be a black screen with green text). Use the volume rocker to navigate up and down, and the camera button to select. Also, the power/sleep button can be used to go back.
11.) Scroll down and click "backup and restore"
12.) Click backup
13.) This will backup your stock ROM (basically a screen shot off your entire system as it stands, so if you ever need to unroot and go stock, this is the file that you will flash in the bootstrapper. Then all you will have to do is unroot using z4root and you will be stock.)
---File will be stored in the /clockwork folder on your SD card, I recommend backing up this file to you computer also.
14.) back at the main screen, press "wipe data/factory reset"
15.) The press "wipe cache partition"
16.) Then go to "install zip from sd card"
17.) Then choose "Choose zip from sdcard"
18.) Select the ROM (the ziped folder) that you put on there)
19.) click yes
20.) it will install, should put you back at the main menu with the top option being to reboot system now, select this, and you're done!
Again, I suggest reading the 1st post in the rom that you think you are going to use, most developers also include instructions. Read everything twice (including this), and do it once, successfully. THERE YOU GO! HAVE FUN!
-------------------------------------
TO GET TO STOCK WITH ROOT ACCESS:
-If you made a backup of your stock ROM through the bootstrapper, you are in luck! If not. You're out of luck. And you need to figure out how to .sbf (About SBF or Another About SBF) to stock or find someone who backed up their X, or you can try using this:
Maderstock
(Which is basically a 2.3.340 backup, completely stock, produces close to the same result as a .sbf, but without the hassle, see quote from link below
maderschramm said:
1. Boot into bootstrap recovery
-Run Droid X Recovery Bootstrapper
-Bootstrap Recovery
-Commit "Ok"
-Reboot Recovery
2. Wipe data and cache
3. Click 'backup and restore'
4. Choose restore
5. Choose your stock rom (default location is in the /clockwork/backup folder on your sd card)
6. Reboot
Now you are at your stock ROM with Root permissions, to unroot, look below
-------------------------------------
STOCK WITHOUT ROOT:
*Note, if you used the Maderstock method above, it should automatically remove your root access.
7. Now run z4root and click unroot me.
8. Phone should reboot (I believe it will)
9. Now you are stock with no root and no signs of a root (after you uninstall root apps: z4root, bootstrapper, super user, set cpu, wifi tether, titanium backup, spare parts, etc...)
-------------------------------------
-------------------------------------
Let me know if you have any issues. PM gets to me faster, but a reply 'should' be almost as fast. Hopefully this prevents separate threads from popping up and helps a few people out. Lol.
Sent from my DROIDX