[How To] Root DX2 2.3.5/1.3.418 magic md5 method

sd_shadow · Aug 6, 2012

The Short Directions

download DroidX2_Root_2012.exe
(self extracting batch file)

watch the video By: Tomsgt

turn phone on
phone- enable usb debugging (menu/system settings/apps/developer options)
connect phone to pc
phone- change usb mode to charge only or pc mode (pull down from top notification bar
pc- start program, (click on DroidX2_Root_2012.exe)

just follow on screen instructions

these are the details, but most is click enter on keyboard

a file is pushed to your phone with adb
phone will reboot to fastboot, all you will see on phone is moto boot logo dualcore screen
click enter on pc
two files will be flashed to phone
phone will reboot
when it has completed reboot
click enter on pc
phone will reboot again
when phone has completed reboot
click enter on pc
files will be pushed to phone with adb
phone will reboot

phone will reboot to android recovery
press both volume buttons when you see ! in a triangle with android andy
wipe cache using volume buttons to scroll, select with power button
when complete, select reboot with power button

Done.

if you want to know more, see the other options, read info below

bhigham/beh and I have modified root method
based on New root method for stock 2.3.4 (621/622) found (Droid2, R2D2)

5 Options
a self extracting batch file Mirror: DevDB backup - 2021
regular batch file
linux/slitaz boot image file, (like ezSBF) Mirror: DevDB backup -2021
manual using adb/moto-fastboot
Voodoo method uses 2.3.4 sbf and other rooting method

I have tested and they work

Watch Video
By: Tomsgt

How this works

phifc said:
There's an exploit in loadpreinstall.sh. It compares md5 sum files of preinstalled apps and if they're different, copies the md5 to the local cache. The preinstall just has an empty file in app/ so it will parse the md5 for it. Instead of an md5 sum, it contains a local.prop that allows adb root shell. So the system thinks it's copying the md5sum to the cache when it bounces off the symlink and overwrites the /data/local.prop, giving adb root on next reboot

Basic Instructions/steps for Batch files and Slitaz

first you need to be on 2.3.5/1.3.418
VRZ_MB870_4.5.1A-DTN-200-18_1FF_01.sbf (not .zip) MD5 Sum: 2F746145401FA9E921C1DEC2339A473E
SBF and update.zip here http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1703640
moto drivers need to be installed (for batch root only)

turn phone on
enable usb debugging (system/apps/developer options)
connect to pc
change usb mode to charge only or pc mode
start program, see instructions specified with the option you chose
there are on screen instruction, but this is what will happen
a file is pushed to your phone with adb
phone will reboot to fastboot, all you will see on phone is moto boot logo dualcore screen
click enter
two files will be flashed to phone
phone will reboot
when it has completed reboot
click enter
phone will reboot
when phone has completed reboot
click enter
files will be pushed to phone with adb
phone will reboot
when phone has completed reboot
click enter
files will be pushed to phone with adb
phone will reboot to recovery
press both volume buttons when you see ! in a triangle with android andy
wipe cache using volume buttons to scroll, select with power button
when complete, select reboot with power button
Done.

when running the batch file or slitaz you may see these errors
rm failed for /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5 no such file or directory
no root.img.gz no such file or directory
rm failed for /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5 read only file system

that is fine, it will still work

and bsr/system recovery will be installed

Root DX2 2.3.5 batch file in self extracting exe
DroidX2_Root_2012.exe

download
double click on DroidX2_Root_2012.exe to start
follow onscreen instructions
note: first reboot, goes to a nonlabeled fastboot mode, all you will see is moto boot logo dualcore screen just click enter to flash files

Root DX2 2.3.5 batch file
DX2_Batchroot.7z

download file
extract with 7zip
double click on rootdx2.bat to start
follow onscreen instructions
note: first reboot, goes to a nonlabeled fastboot mode, all you will see is moto boot logo dualcore screen

slitaz boot img, like ezSBF
Droid2_D2G_DX_DX2-RootCD-2012.iso

has options for D2, D2G, DX, and DX2

1KDS said:
Don't let the word Linux scare you, this is just a cd you burn, nothing installs to your pc. Once you burn this CD you are ready to SBF flash anywhere you have a computer, no net connection needed to download any files.

This is an .iso file. It is a complete Linux operating system that you will download, burn to CD (or USB) then boot your pc from CD or USB, this allows your pc to reboot into a different operating system.

1KDS said:
Instructions (Mac):
Download .iso
Use Disk Utility (built in) to burn iso file to a CD (instructions)
Shut computer down
Hold c key, push power and hold c until you see the Linux OS start
Hit enter at the yellow "boot baby... boot" screen
You will see yellow dots for 3-5 minutes then the script will start

Instructions (Windows):
Download .iso
Burn iso image to a disk (Instructions, Windows 7 - Vista and XP) or (Load to a USB flash drive)
Reboot PC
Hit F12 (sometimes F8 or esc) during boot to go to boot menu (possibly google search how to boot your specific pc from CDROM)
Select boot from CDROM (or USB if you used a flash drive)
Hit enter at the yellow "boot baby... boot" screen
You will see yellow dots for 3-5 minutes then the script will start

Live USB Instructions (Windows):
(Instructions from pendrivelinux.com)(thanks)
Download UNetBootin for Windows
Download your favorite Linux ISO
Double click the Unetbootin Executable to start the program
(1) Click the Diskimage radio box
(2) browse to select your ISO
(3) Set your target USB drive
(4) click OK to start the creation

(5) After the USB drive is done select reboot.
(6) During boot enter the boot menu and change USB to boot first, save and reboot.
(7) When booting from UNetbootin select SliTaz

________________________________________________

You will now be in the script and ready to flash.

manual method may update this later

you need
moto-fastboot.exe not fastboot.exe found in batch files
adb files found in batch files
Petes root tools http://www.psouza4.com/Droid3/
root.img found in batch files

instructions
extract any .zip or .gz
move all files to same folder like C:root to make it easy

Enable USB debugging on phone
open command prompt
enter

Code:

cd/
cd c:root
adb shell rm /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5 ( don't worry if you see an error)
adb shell ln -s /data/local.prop /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5

boot phone to fastboot
run commands

Code:

moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall root.img
moto-fastboot.exe reboot

let phone boot complete, then reboot again (reboot just replaces the local.prop, but the old local.prop is still in memory, till second reboot)
command

Code:

adb shell

should give you a root prompt # (instead of $)

run petes root tools, zerg rush, or superoneclick
then you rooted

VooDoo Method

1 start with full stock 2.3.4/1.3.380,if you have rooted with anything other than Pete's Root Tools*, have altered/deleted stock file, or if you are already on 2.3.5/1.3.418 you have to SBF
SBF to full stock 2.3.4/1.3.380 (VRZ_MB870_4.5.1A-DTN-150-30_1FF_01.sbf)
read How to SBF an X2, ezSBF DX2, and Common X2 Questions and Answers
if you don't want to lose data, don't wipe data (although it is recommended), unless you bootloop
if you bootloop you have no choice, but to wipe data via stock recovery see Common X2 Questions and Answers

2 Root with Pete's Root Tools

3 install Voodoo OTA Root Keeper, backup su, then temp unroot (keeps backup)

4 install update 2.3.5/1.3.418 , (Blur_Version.1.3.380.MB870.Verizon.en.US.zip)**
a via over the air or
b download, place in sd card root (not in a folder)
md5 B127D3AF93FD6A75C3A3D897C6D0FCD1
and install via stock recovery see Common X2 Questions and Answers

5 restore root with Voodoo

*zergrush may remove stock files, to root, causing update to fail
**updates are named by the version they are updating
md5 checksum windows / android

Magic MD5 Root 2.3.4 for D2, R2D2, D2G, DX and 2.3.5 for DX2 - Google Docs

sd_shadow's [Collection] of Links: FAQs, Guides, Rooting, SBFs, ROMs... - Google Docs

updates
09 aug 12 added video
11 aug 12 edited name to magic md5, added voodoo links
16 Oct 12 new link to Pete's
09 Feb 2013 added clickable link to options files - Google Docs/ reworded some
12 March 2013 moved things around...
27 March 2015 converted thread to DevDB
16 Oct 2021 DevDB Archived new link
16 Oct 2021 Google links no longer working

XDA:DevDB Information
[Root] Droid X2 (MB870) - 2.3.5/1.3.418 magic md5 method, Tool/Utility for the Motorola Droid X2

Contributors
sd_shadow, bhigham, phifc, among others

Version Information
Status: Stable

Created 2015-03-27
Last Updated 2015-03-27

catawalks · Aug 7, 2012

Thank christ, now hopefully some of those older 2.3.4 based roms can be updated. I've been wondering why this has taken so long, glad it's finally out.

Maximinus I · Aug 7, 2012

They won't be upgraded to this kernel. All the cm based roms are going to stay at 2.3.4 as dzk has said he isn't going to update. And there is only one other currently new ROM and it's already at 2.3.5. Liberty and molten are no longer being developed so they aren't going anywhere.

Sent from my DROID X2 using xda app-developers app

catawalks · Aug 7, 2012

Maximinus I said:
They won't be upgraded to this kernel. All the cm based roms are going to stay at 2.3.4 as dzk has said he isn't going to update. And there is only one other currently new ROM and it's already at 2.3.5. Liberty and molten are no longer being developed so they aren't going anywhere.

Sent from my DROID X2 using xda app-developers app

Well then, at least it will make installing Eclipse easier. No more SBF to 2.3.4, root, temp unroot, update, reroot. Now it should just be SBF 2.3.5, root. yay!

jimenez · Aug 7, 2012

thanks for the guide!

Tomsgt · Aug 9, 2012

Made a video of me doing this if you want to add it to op.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHVCOkFMYAE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

sd_shadow · Aug 9, 2012

great, will do that

Sent from my DROID2 using xda app-developers app

Scur827 · Aug 10, 2012

I've been working on this for 2 days.
I SBF to 2.3.5, then use various methods listed to root it and flash Eclipse. However I lose root, and can't root again. When I try to root Eclipse, root can't be acquired, and no files can be pushed to /system/bin. One more try tonight, then I give up. I'm out of ideas. Can't update and carry root from 2.3.4 with RootKeeper since I don't have service.

Tomsgt · Aug 10, 2012

Scur827 said:
I've been working on this for 2 days.
I SBF to 2.3.5, then use various methods listed to root it and flash Eclipse. However I lose root, and can't root again. When I try to root Eclipse, root can't be acquired, and no files can be pushed to /system/bin. One more try tonight, then I give up. I'm out of ideas. Can't update and carry root from 2.3.4 with RootKeeper since I don't have service.

Use the stock recovery and flash the update from there. Don't need to get the ota. And use root keeper. The update can be found in the link on the op.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

sd_shadow · Aug 10, 2012

haven't seen this problem, but
you could try removing root files, that are no longer needed
with terminal emulator or adb shell

su
rm /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/app/magic

Sent from my DROID2 using xda app-developers app

Scur827 · Aug 10, 2012

Tomsgt said:
Use the stock recovery and flash the update from there. Don't need to get the ota. And use root keeper. The update can be found in the link on the op.

Sent from my Nexus 7 using Tapatalk 2

Nope. I can't update from recovery either. My phone is a bit off, I have a wholethread about it.

sd_shadow said:
haven't seen this problem, but
you could try removing root files, that are no longer needed
with terminal emulator or adb shell

su
rm /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/app/magic

Sent from my DROID2 using xda app-developers app

Nope, doesn't help. I'm going through the process manually using adb right now, at it seems to me that after flashing Eclipse the root.img I'm using isn't valid with Eclipse on 2.3.5. Specifically, here's what I'm doing and here's what's happening...

adb shell ln -s /data/local.prop /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5 (no error)
adb reboot-bootloader (no error)
moto-fastboot flash preinstall root.img (sending 'reinstall'... okay, whiting 'preinstall'... okay)
moto-fastboot reboot (no error)
adb reboot (no error)
adb shell mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/system /system (mount: Operation not permitted)

So, I think the root image doesn't work with something, though I'm still noobish with it all. Maybe I'll try some different ones...

bhigham · Aug 10, 2012

sd_shadow said:
haven't seen this problem, but
you could try removing root files, that are no longer needed
with terminal emulator or adb shell

su
rm /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/md5/magic.md5
rm /system/preinstall/app/magic

Sent from my DROID2 using xda app-developers app

The batch file already attempts to remove those files, right before rebooting into recovery to have the cache wiped. So unless something failed in the batch file, those files should already be deleted.

---------- Post added at 08:41 AM ---------- Previous post was at 08:21 AM ----------

Scur827 said:
Nope. I can't update from recovery either. My phone is a bit off, I have a wholethread about it.

Nope, doesn't help. I'm going through the process manually using adb right now, at it seems to me that after flashing Eclipse the root.img I'm using isn't valid with Eclipse on 2.3.5. Specifically, here's what I'm doing and here's what's happening...

adb shell ln -s /data/local.prop /data/preinstall_md5/magic.md5 (no error)

adb reboot-bootloader (no error)

moto-fastboot flash preinstall root.img (sending 'reinstall'... okay, whiting 'preinstall'... okay)

moto-fastboot reboot (no error)

adb reboot (no error)

adb shell mount -o remount,rw /dev/block/system /system (mount: Operation not permitted)

So, I think the root image doesn't work with something, though I'm still noobish with it all. Maybe I'll try some different ones...

I have a thought on something that might work, but it will require a bit of work on your part. One of the steps in rooting batch file, is putting the local.prop file back to normal, which no longer gives adb root access.
If you are indeed able to root stock 2.3.5, then here is what I would suggest trying, (but I don't know if the local.prop file will get overwritten by flashing eclipse)
SBF to stock 2.3.5
Root stock 2.3.5 using any method that will work for you.
Install ES File manager
enable root permissions (up to root, root explorer, and possibly mount file system)
go to /data and open up local.prop (ES Note editor works well)
In the allow all adb line, change the 0 to 1, and save the file.
Reboot, and make sure that file still has 1 for allow all adb.
if so, try flashing eclipse, and see if adb shell has root access. If so, then you can push the necessary files to get root.
Don't know if this will work or not, as I am not sure of where the local.prop file actually comes from, so it might get regenerated. But, if you want to try it, you are welcome to.
I checked to see if local.prop would survive an sbf, and it does not, but I am not sure about with a custom rom.

Scur827 · Aug 10, 2012

Very good idea, I'll try it tonight.

Droid X2 > Rooted 2.3.45> Tapatalk

exgi · Aug 14, 2012

Problems getting it to work

Friends, Thanks for taking the time to post these instructions, I love these forums!
I have a question, I have tries to do this twice using the "Root DX2 2.3.5 batch file in self extracting exe"
But have had no luck, as I am still stock (2.3.5. & 1.3.418 MB870)
It fails to push SU to the phone, and give the errors mentioned in the instructions, but root checker tells me I'm still not rooted.
I feel like I have taken my time, and read through the instructions as I went along, but I guess I'm missing something somewhere.
I (we all) have waited a long time for a root method for the DX2, now it looks like we may have one, but I can't get it to work.
I would be thankful for any advice or help given.
Thanks in advance!

sd_shadow · Aug 14, 2012

wipe cache, before trying again
be sure to let phone finish booting, before pressing continue
after flashing files in fastoot, phone needs to reboot twice
before pushing su

may want to try slitaz boot img

exgi · Aug 14, 2012

---> Thank you SD_Shadow!

Thanks my friend, SU granted!
Finally!
Thanks again!
.....Happy camper!

sd_shadow · Aug 14, 2012

great, did you use the slitaz boot image,
or was it not rebooting the 2 times after flashing

exgi · Aug 14, 2012

It was hanging on the 2nd reboot.
I just let it sit there this time, and it eventually cycled through to completion.
Now I guess I'm going to either nandroid, or buy Titainium Backup (full),
I want to start learning how to flash roms, while keeping my phone safe and secure.
Thanks again for your advice!

PS~Can you offer a short list of essential root tools/apps? Thanks!

sd_shadow · Aug 15, 2012

titanium, is a must
if you are going to flashing different roms
sms backup +
is good for backing up call log and texts
and a home launcher
like go launcher, launcher pro, or adw launcher there are more
great for restoring apps and widgets icons after flashing a new rom
remember to backup launcher before
try nova launcher, on ics roms

edit: also will want a file manager or root browser with rw (read/write)
lots of them out there, needed to move system file and change permissions
Sent from my DROID X2 using xda premium

JStiner · Aug 27, 2012

Tomsgt said:
Made a video of me doing this if you want to add it to op.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sHVCOkFMYAE&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Sent from my DROID BIONIC using Tapatalk 2

WTF why wont this work, hahahaha i yelled that at my laptop

i had this youtube playing in the background and i hear you say
"well we're going to turn on USB debug..."

facepalm....

thank you for the help.

[How To] Root DX2 2.3.5/1.3.418 magic md5 method

Which Root Method do you use?

self extracting batch file

regular batch file

Slitaz boot image

manual using adb/moto-fastboot

Voodoo OTA RootKeeper

none of the above, stayed on 2.3.4

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