[GUIDE] Easiest Step-By-Step Tutorial for Upgrading the Bionic to 5.9.902 (+ Root):
I created this 10-step tutorial because there were so many various How-To's floating around the internet on how to do this but the wording was either over-complicated or contained conflicting information. A lot of techies have good intentions and are very good at what they do, but are not so good at explaining it in a way that makes sense to the end user. In this guide I have attempted to do that the best I can to make it the easiest and most concise method on the net for upgrading the Bionic to 5.5.902.
Sidenote: You can also use this guide as a stepping stone when wanting to ultimately upgrade to ICS: Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.x). I will also make my own tutorial for upgrading to ICS when the build becomes more stable.
OVERVIEW/CREDITS: This tutorial utilizes dhacker29's revert/upgrade tool and Dan Rosenberg's (@djrbliss) universal rooting tool for Motorola phones. I have also included any dependent files that are needed for dhacker29's tool and compiled it into one executable that will self-extract then auto-launch. No effective code has been changed, but rather I have just made the process more convenient and seamless. All credit goes to the previously mentioned user's, while the steps below are my own.
DISCLAIMER: This is to be done at your own risk. I assume no responsibility or liability for anything that may happen to your device. This disclaimer sounds scarier than it really is, as this is already a proven process that will work on any Bionic in any software state, but it must be said none the less.
STEPS: Perform these steps on your Bionic only AFTER you have backed up all user data: pictures, videos, txt (sms/mms), email, settings, docs, etc. You do not need to backup any data from the external card (sdcard-ext), as nothing will be deleted from there; however, the internal storage (sdcard) will be formatted, so be sure to backup anything from there that you feel is important. Also make sure that you have at least 1GB free on your external SD card.
DONATIONS: If you want to give donations as a 'Thank you', please give them to dhacker29 and Dan Rosenberg (@djrbliss).
Please leave comments/feedback should you run into any hiccups along the way so that I can make this guide even more user-friendly than it already is.
I created this 10-step tutorial because there were so many various How-To's floating around the internet on how to do this but the wording was either over-complicated or contained conflicting information. A lot of techies have good intentions and are very good at what they do, but are not so good at explaining it in a way that makes sense to the end user. In this guide I have attempted to do that the best I can to make it the easiest and most concise method on the net for upgrading the Bionic to 5.5.902.
Sidenote: You can also use this guide as a stepping stone when wanting to ultimately upgrade to ICS: Ice Cream Sandwich (Android 4.x). I will also make my own tutorial for upgrading to ICS when the build becomes more stable.
OVERVIEW/CREDITS: This tutorial utilizes dhacker29's revert/upgrade tool and Dan Rosenberg's (@djrbliss) universal rooting tool for Motorola phones. I have also included any dependent files that are needed for dhacker29's tool and compiled it into one executable that will self-extract then auto-launch. No effective code has been changed, but rather I have just made the process more convenient and seamless. All credit goes to the previously mentioned user's, while the steps below are my own.
DISCLAIMER: This is to be done at your own risk. I assume no responsibility or liability for anything that may happen to your device. This disclaimer sounds scarier than it really is, as this is already a proven process that will work on any Bionic in any software state, but it must be said none the less.
STEPS: Perform these steps on your Bionic only AFTER you have backed up all user data: pictures, videos, txt (sms/mms), email, settings, docs, etc. You do not need to backup any data from the external card (sdcard-ext), as nothing will be deleted from there; however, the internal storage (sdcard) will be formatted, so be sure to backup anything from there that you feel is important. Also make sure that you have at least 1GB free on your external SD card.
- Motorola Drivers: Download and install the latest MotoHelper drivers from Motorola's site: HERE. (Be sure to download the "USB Drivers", not the "PC Charging" ones).
- Prepare the phone: Once the drivers are completely installed, plug your phone into your computer via the USB cable and make sure it is in "Charge only" mode by pulling down the notification menu at the top and tapping "USB connection", then tap "Charge Only", then "OK". (If applicable, wait for Windows to recognize and auto-install the phone hardware).
- Initiate updater software: Download and run BionicUpdater_v5.9.902.exe from here (4 parts, links are interchangeable):
- PART 1 of 4: http://mir.cr/03XXOT1W
- PART 2 of 4: http://mir.cr/0CJ9KA4B
- PART 3 of 4: http://mir.cr/DDDSX4F4
- PART 4 of 4: http://mir.cr/0UHATF5Y
- Once extraction is complete you will see a white window with blue text. Press [ENTER] at the prompt to continue and display the updater's main menu.
- Revert to older stock ROM version 5.5.893: At the Menu, choose the right option depending on your phone's current version:
- Press "1" if the version of your phone is lower than 5.9.x
- Press "2" if the version of your phone is 5.9.x or higher.
- NOTE: You can find your current version by going to your home screen, tapping Menu, then Settings. Scroll down and tap "About Phone", then look at the "System Version" number.
- Complete reversion to 5.5.893: Follow the prompts as it walks you through the process, reading carefully for any instructions displayed by the updater along the way. Once it completes, it should take you back to the main menu (This may involve multiple phone reboots along the way)
- Prepare for copy of 5.9.902 update file: When the updater's menu reappears, put your phone into 'Charge Only' mode by pulling down the notification menu at the top of your phone and tapping "USB connection" then tap "Charge Only", then tap "OK".
- Copy 5.9.902 update file: Now, back in the updater program on your computer, press 6 to copy the 5.9.902 update file to your external SD card. Follow prompts to let the updater walk you through the process. If you get any errors, make sure that you are in 'Charge Only' mode as described above then try again. (Do NOT run the 'OTA Rootkeeper' or 'Forever Root' options at anytime in this process). Once the copy is complete, you can close the white updater screen by clicking the "x" at top right.
- Upgrade to 5.9.902: Your phone will reboot and you will see the Droid exclamation icon. Don't worry, just press both volume buttons and a recovery menu will appear. Select the option to install an update (Use the Volume up/down buttons to select, then press the Power button to confirm selection). Browse to the file that was just copied to your SD card, then begin the upgrade.
- Wipe data: Once the upgrade is complete, go back to the main menu, and tap the volume down key until "wipe data/factory reset" is highlighted then tap the Power button. Another Confirmation screen will come up. Tap on Volume down key until "Yes" is highlighted then tap Power button. After all user data is cleared, the "reboot system now" option will be highlighted by Default. Tap the Power button to reboot the phone. You are now running 5.9.902 unrooted.
- Root: On your phone, walk through the initial phone-setup process until you see the Home screen icons. Make sure your phone is in "Charge only" mode by pulling down the notification menu at the top and tapping "USB connection", then tap "Charge Only", then "OK". Download and run motofail.exe to root your Bionic. Once rooted, the phone will reboot. You are now running 5.9.902 rooted. (This last step is optional and only required if you want a rooted phone).
DONATIONS: If you want to give donations as a 'Thank you', please give them to dhacker29 and Dan Rosenberg (@djrbliss).
Please leave comments/feedback should you run into any hiccups along the way so that I can make this guide even more user-friendly than it already is.
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