[GUIDE] Easiest Step-By-Step Tutorial To Upgrade/Reset Your Bionic to Stock 5.9.905 + Root
<< This is for people who need to upgrade or get back to the latest Gingerbread Stock ROM release. >>
OVERVIEW: This guide will get your Bionic on the Stock 5.9.905 release (Gingerbread). These steps are universal for all Bionics, and work as long as you have not upgraded your phone past the .232 ICS leak. This process is called 'performing an FXZ' (in other words, 'resetting your phone to the latest factory default state').
CAUTION: Before beginning these steps, make sure you have backed up all personal data that you do not want to lose. This process WILL wipe all internal user data, apps and settings! You can put your backup on your external SD card if you like since this process will NOT modify any files on your SD card. As with any user guide, do this is at your own risk.
DEPENDENCIES: This guide assumes you have a Verizon Droid Bionic phone and are running as an administrator user on Windows XP or later.
===
OPTIONAL: How To Root 5.9.905 (or any Gingerbread ROM)
OVERVIEW: Once you have completed the above steps to get your phone into a stock 5.9.905 state (or any Gingerbread ROM for that matter), then these steps will help you root your phone. Rooting your phone allows you deeper access to your phone's file system and gives your phone other more advanced functionality.
A. Enable Unknown Sources: From the home screen on your Bionic, tap Menu, Settings, Applications, then enable the checkbox for "Unknown Sources" then tap "OK" to confirm.
B. Enable USB Debugging: From that same screen, tap "Development", then enable the checkbox for "USB debugging", then tap "OK" to confirm.
C. You should already have the Motorola Drivers installed from STEP 4 above, so plug your phone into your computer and let Windows install any necessary device drivers needed.
D. Download Motofail-GB to your PC and select "Run as administrator" (or just double-click on XP/2003). Press enter when prompted, to begin the rooting process. This may take about 2 to 3 minutes, and may reboot your phone multiple times.
You are now rooted! Enjoy.
<< This is for people who need to upgrade or get back to the latest Gingerbread Stock ROM release. >>
OVERVIEW: This guide will get your Bionic on the Stock 5.9.905 release (Gingerbread). These steps are universal for all Bionics, and work as long as you have not upgraded your phone past the .232 ICS leak. This process is called 'performing an FXZ' (in other words, 'resetting your phone to the latest factory default state').
CAUTION: Before beginning these steps, make sure you have backed up all personal data that you do not want to lose. This process WILL wipe all internal user data, apps and settings! You can put your backup on your external SD card if you like since this process will NOT modify any files on your SD card. As with any user guide, do this is at your own risk.
DEPENDENCIES: This guide assumes you have a Verizon Droid Bionic phone and are running as an administrator user on Windows XP or later.
- Be sure that your battery has at least 75% charge and make sure your phone is NOT plugged into your computer. Do NOT attempt this process with a battery level lower than 75%.
- Power off your Bionic and make sure it is not plugged into anything
- In Windows, go into Control Panel, "Programs and Features" (or "Add/Remove Programs" in XP) and uninstall any existing Motorola phone or USB drivers.
- Download and install the latest Motorola USB drivers [mirror] and RSD Lite v5.7 [mirror].
- On your Bionic, while holding down both volume keys, press and hold the power button until you see a black and white menu selection screen. Press Volume Down twice, to select "AP FastBoot" then press Volume Up just once to activate that mode.
- Plug your phone into your PC (If you are using a Desktop, then be sure to use one of the USB ports on the BACK of your computer). Let Windows complete installing the multiple device drivers necessary for the Bionic (do NOT unplug it during this time). You may be prompted to reboot; if so go ahead and do it.
- Right click on RSD Lite, and select "Run as administrator" (or just double-click on XP/2003)
- Your device should be showing in line 1. Click on it to select it, then click the browse button to the right of the "Filename" box - it looks like three dots, [...]
- Download this 5.9.905 FZX zip file and place it in the root of your hard drive (e.g. C:\). Select this file then click the "Decompress And Start Flashing" button.
- Your phone will now go through a 15-20 minute flashing process. Be patient! Once finished you should see it load the "Welcome" screen with the picture of the large green android. You are finished! You may now setup and use your phone.
===
OPTIONAL: How To Root 5.9.905 (or any Gingerbread ROM)
OVERVIEW: Once you have completed the above steps to get your phone into a stock 5.9.905 state (or any Gingerbread ROM for that matter), then these steps will help you root your phone. Rooting your phone allows you deeper access to your phone's file system and gives your phone other more advanced functionality.
A. Enable Unknown Sources: From the home screen on your Bionic, tap Menu, Settings, Applications, then enable the checkbox for "Unknown Sources" then tap "OK" to confirm.
B. Enable USB Debugging: From that same screen, tap "Development", then enable the checkbox for "USB debugging", then tap "OK" to confirm.
C. You should already have the Motorola Drivers installed from STEP 4 above, so plug your phone into your computer and let Windows install any necessary device drivers needed.
D. Download Motofail-GB to your PC and select "Run as administrator" (or just double-click on XP/2003). Press enter when prompted, to begin the rooting process. This may take about 2 to 3 minutes, and may reboot your phone multiple times.
You are now rooted! Enjoy.
Last edited: