HowTo: Root your Motorola Droid X2 - UPDATED [14DEC2011]

ashclepdia · Oct 29, 2011

Take a few deep breaths for now...I will try to find something to help...im sure of u don't get an answer tonight u will have a few solutions by tomorrow morning from others...

Tomsgt · Oct 29, 2011

Install pre rooted 2.3.3 then use root keeper from market. Then update to 2.3.4 and restore root with root keeper.

Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App

Moon Shadow - NM · Oct 29, 2011

ralphman said:
Can somebody please help me? Running stock 2.3.4 and Windows 7 32-bit

The one click tool does not work for me. I followed the steps exactly but I get this:

"ERROR: adb could not be granted root access via local.prop method"

I tried doing it again and the same thing happened.

Then I followed the SBF tutorial, thinking that would help. I SBF'd and did a factory reset and tried the program again and it still did not work.

Then I tried doing the manual method and followed steps 1 through 4 (step 5 is missing?? or just numbered incorrectly?) and 6 through 11. When I type adb shell in the command prompt, I get " 'adb' is not recognized as an internal or external command, operable program or batch file." preventing me from moving forward with the rest of the steps. I have rebooted both my phone and my computer many times and reinstalled the drivers and everything.

If someone could please explain what I am doing wrong and help me root my phone, I would very much appreciate it. I've been trying for the past three hours now and am getting frustrated.

Thank you.

Okay, you are using Windows 7 32-bit (i686). Which means when ADB was installed, it was (more than likely) installed to C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools. First, verify where the android-sdk folder resides, then add the entire directory path, up to and including the platform-tools folder, to your path statement.

I have found the easiest way to see mistakes on my path statement is to copy the contents from that little box and paste it into Microsoft Word. Then using the Find and Replace function, I type in the find box the semicolon (

and in the Replace box I type ^p (that is the caret symbol or <SHIFT-6> followed by a lowercase p). Hit the Replace All button; this will replace all semicolons with a Carriage Return .

This breaks down the path statement into individual lines that is much easier to read and locate potential mistakes. At the end of the list you now have, type the path to your ..\android-sdk\platform-tools folder.

It should look something like this:

Code:

[/COLOR][/COLOR]%SystemRoot%\system32  %SystemRoot%
  %SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem
  C:\Program Files\WinSCP\
  C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools

Once you have that in place, redo the Find and Replace but switch the contents of the Find box with the contents of the Replace box. Hit the Replace All button and the string will go back to one line with the semicolons in place.

It should look something like this:

Code:

%SystemRoot%\system32;%SystemRoot%;%SystemRoot%\System32\Wbem;C:\Program Files\WinSCP\;C:\Program Files\Android\android-sdk\platform-tools;

Hit <CTRL-A> to highlight all of that mess and copy it. Then paste it into the box for the path statement.

Reboot your computer. Once your computer has come back up, open a command prompt and type adb. You should get a "help" screen on adb. Once you are there, now you can do the manual root method.

Also, a couple of other things:
1. You did install the drivers, right? It should show up under the device manager under ADB Interface as a Mot Composite ADB Interface.
2. If not, make sure your phone is unplugged from the computer and uninstall the Motorola drivers, try installing them again, then plug your phone back into the computer and see it if is recognized. If not, grab a different computer, if you can and try these steps there.

More than likely, it is a device driver problem. Does Pete's Motorola Root Tools see your phone when you plug it in?

Let me know if this doesn't work. I'll be out most of today, but I do have the XDA app. PM me if you have problems. Then, tomorrow we can get on IRC and try to get you fixed there.

Ciao!

ralphman · Nov 7, 2011

Moon Shadow

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you (been busy) but I just want to let you know that I finally got the manual root method to work!! Thank you for posting this tutorial, as well as all the other ones you posted. I will now be able to enjoy my X2 to the fullest.

Thank you

Moon Shadow - NM · Nov 7, 2011

ralphman said:
Moon Shadow

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you (been busy) but I just want to let you know that I finally got the manual root method to work!! Thank you for posting this tutorial, as well as all the other ones you posted. I will now be able to enjoy my X2 to the fullest.

Thank you

I'm glad to hear that and I'm glad to help! Congratulations!

Ciao!

pohunt · Nov 15, 2011

I followed the instructions and it says the root was successful, now what do I do. It looks like I have a new app call "superuser". How do I get rid of all the Verizon preloaded apps? My main goal is to use the mobile hotspot on my DroidX2, without paying Verizon $20 a month. Please help.

Tomsgt · Nov 15, 2011

Install open garden from the market. Then install system tuner and in it you can freeze bloat apps

Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App

ashclepdia · Nov 15, 2011

Tomsgt said:
Install open garden from the market. Then install system tuner and in it you can freeze bloat apps

Sent from my DROID X2 using XDA App

No need at all to install system tuner(pretty hefty app just for freezing don't ya think?)
Just get "bloat freezer" its specific for freezing and it works on freezing ANY app and makes sure they stay frozen. It like liquid nitrogen.

ImgBurn · Nov 15, 2011

Moon Shadow,

I'd like to root my Droid x2 Gingerbread 2.3.4.
I just had a some ?s.
1 . PetesMotorolaRootTools come's with what verions of
Superuser & busybox do I need to update these after or
have them loaded before?
2. Is there anyway to backup system before hand whats
best way to go about it?
3. Can I Do This Nandroid Before Rooting?

Sorry for all the questions but i just like to be really
clear before I do this . Android OS (Linux) newB
Great toot BTW

Thank You To Much

pohunt · Nov 15, 2011

Thank you for your help Tomsgt. This is all new to me and I guess I don't understand all tricks to these phones, I mean computers with a phone app.

Moon Shadow - NM · Nov 16, 2011

ImgBurn said:
Moon Shadow,

I'd like to root my Droid x2 Gingerbread 2.3.4.
I just had a some ?s.
1 . PetesMotorolaRootTools come's with what verions of
Superuser & busybox do I need to update these after or
have them loaded before?
2. Is there anyway to backup system before hand whats
best way to go about it?
3. Can I Do This Nandroid Before Rooting?

Sorry for all the questions but i just like to be really
clear before I do this . Android OS (Linux) newB
Great toot BTW

Thank You To Much

Hey, no problem. Questions are good...

1. Pete's Motorola Root Tools comes with now outdated versions of the su (superuser) binary and busybox. Load them as is from the tool and update them in the market. (I fixed the tutorial on that. I over looked it on the first section... Thanks!)

2. Unfortunately, there is no way to back up your system BEFORE rooting it. AFTER rooting it, you want to make a nandroid backup (see my nandroid tutorial). If you hose it up (which is pretty unlikely, unless you have a power outage in the middle of a crucial step) you can always do a SBF restore (again, another tutorial I wrote).

3. I just answered this in the previous section. No, you MUST be rooted.

The long answer to number 3 is this: In order to use clockworkmod recovery (CWM) on ANY Android system, you need to be able to write files to the READ ONLY mounted /system partition. You can't mount the /system partition without having root (superuser) privilege. So, you need to add that to your system. In order to do that, you need to run the exploit that Pete's Motorola Root Tools makes use of to FORCE the su binary to the /system/xbin folder. If one was gutsy (savvy) enough to run a boot hijack on the phone (which I don't know how you would do that, because on a computer, you boot to the install media to do that), you could, in theory, push the su binary to the /system/xbin folder, or even better, rewrite the /system partition with a modified Linux filesystem with su built in. (That sounds easy, but, trust me, it's not.)

The bootstrap backup we use is a modified version of a full blown CWM backup. We hijack the power off charge screen to accomplish this bootstrap. It's ugly, but it works for us for now.

Please do not apologize for asking questions. The questions you ask will help another. As for Linux/Android... The PENGUIN ROCKS! (Look up the history of Linux and you will note that the moniker for Linux is a penguin.)

Ciao!

ImgBurn · Nov 20, 2011

Moon Shadow,

Thank you for your help in clarifying these points 4 me.
The root went flawlessly it was so fast it was done before I
knew it. Thank You

I still have a question on Superuser & Busybox. I known you
said to update them in the market. Researching these apps I see
a lot of negative review's on latest versions.
(Lost root on update,New version Bad,Used to be awesome...
Binary update is failing. Dont know why the app is getting updated
to a buggy version!, Installed even Su update fixer, no help.
Beautiful app. But last update of binary lost my root. )

Could you suggest the best version's of these 2 apps and
were to download them from. Or maybe which one to update
first?? Everything went so smoothly thank's to your excellent Tutorial's
I'd just hate to screw it up loading the wrong soft.

Thank U Thank U
ImgBurn

ashclepdia · Nov 20, 2011

ImgBurn said:
Moon Shadow,

Thank you for your help in clarifying these points 4 me.
The root went flawlessly it was so fast it was done before I
knew it. Thank You

I still have a question on Superuser & Busybox. I known you
said to update them in the market. Researching these apps I see
a lot of negative review's on latest versions.
(Lost root on update,New version Bad,Used to be awesome...
Binary update is failing. Dont know why the app is getting updated
to a buggy version!, Installed even Su update fixer, no help.
Beautiful app. But last update of binary lost my root. )

Could you suggest the best version's of these 2 apps and
were to download them from. Or maybe which one to update
first?? Everything went so smoothly thank's to your excellent Tutorial's
I'd just hate to screw it up loading the wrong soft.

Thank U Thank U
ImgBurn

I personally haven't updated the actual superuser app from market.
but I did update the binary it uses(don't have a clue what that's about yet.. just know it kept telling me it was outdated) from within the app.
The first time I had to grant permission to something it gives a notification in pulldown menu (has a "#" symbol) and I just update binary. I have no problems with superuser at this point so I haven't seen a reason to update the actual app.

Busy box...I run what came with eclipse(believe it is 1.19.gitadrynaline) but I have also updated to 1.19.2 before and have had no problem with anything.
Hope this helps in ur decision.

Plus. U can always make a copy of ur current superuser.apk and keep it on ur sdcard.
then after u update if something isn't working properly u can just delete the one in system/app and push back in the copy u made before updating.

skwoodwiva · Nov 20, 2011

Just to add to the ever changing topic: http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1321582 is the only one step to root GB 2.3.5. Yet some have not been successful(Me on win7 included). I had to SBF to 234 use Petes and VooDoo rootkeeper then UD to 235. You just run RK AGAIN and you are rooted. Not sure though, if and when there is a 235 SBF, that the same would work?

Moon Shadow - NM · Nov 21, 2011

Honestly, I only put information in the tutorial that I have personally done, that way I can answer questions. As of right now, I don't see a benefit to updating to 2.3.5, or at least I haven't seen any posts that make me believe that updating to it is beneficial. If someone has additional information on 2.3.5, I'd be happy to read it.

Sent from my rooted, deodexed, personalized, stock rom, Motorola Droid X2. What's with the locked bootloader Moto????

sytech55 · Nov 21, 2011

Moon Shadow,
Great tutorial on rooting. Worked like a charm. Running 2.3.4.
I'm new to DX2. Just got it in the mail. Was tired of Samsung Continuum. Liked Continuum, but just wanted a bigger screen.

Now that I'm in DX2, looking to see what I can do to make it better from all you Devs

X0dus · Nov 21, 2011

ashclepdia said:
but I did update the binary it uses(don't have a clue what that's about yet.. just know it kept telling me it was outdated) from within the app.

The su binary is what is called when an app needs su rights. This is the reason you get the pop-up asking you to confirm or deny when an app needs su rights. Why it's updated is honestly beyond me other than new methods of requesting su rights by apps have changed and the binary needs updated to reflect that. I've never had issues updating the binary or app as so many others have reported.

Edit: I could have explained this a little better: an app calls su binary for su rights and the binary checks to see if the app has been allowed su right before. If not, then su.apk will prompt you to confirm or deny. I guess, in theory, if the binary is up to date and the apk isn't then possible su right allowance conflicts could arise? Never experienced that myself, though.

funiwant · Dec 4, 2011

the drive link and pete's links are showing 404 page, are there new links? thanks

Moon Shadow - NM · Dec 5, 2011

funiwant said:
the drive link and pete's links are showing 404 page, are there new links? thanks

Ooooops... I removed them from my personal FTP site because I thought they were redundant files... I forgot I was hosting them for my tutorials! Thanks!

WVULTRA · Dec 10, 2011

Rooted a DX2

Just wanted to chime in and say I followed Moon Shadow's Tutorial and rooting the wife's X2 worked like a charm!

A huge THANKS to Moon Shadow for all his help; and for putting these Tutorials together.

HowTo: Root your Motorola Droid X2 - UPDATED [14DEC2011]

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