[HOWTO MAY16]UNLOCK BOOTLOADER, FLASH RECOVERY, INSTALL ROM Atrix 4G Bell/int'l + ATT

[MKA667]

If you have an unlocked bootloader and cwm recovery, then you can install latest cm 7 nightly, think of it as a "stock" custom rom, everithing just works and you can install many mods that are in the forum, designed for cm7.

I'm currently using it as my daily driver, and I had zero problems in daily use (i istalled it about a month ago)

Hi, thank you for your reply.
I don't want to use CM, because the HDMI wouldn't work, and, actually, I only want to use that phone as a media player (that's why I wanted to mount a NFS or SMB share).
Anyway the problem seems to be independent of the ROM: it seems to me that I messed up the bootloader somehow, that's why it starts the recovery instead of the OS, but I reinstalled it many times.
Even the instability seems to be related to the bootloader, since the phone is stable with the aforementioned option.
I'm very new to android, I don't know exactly what the various parts involved in booting it are (I think I'll check Wikipedia or something), but, since I've tried many ROMs, resolving none of the two problems, I would exclude them.
I initially thought that the instability was due to the overclocked kernel, so I installed another one, but nothing changed...

 

[ravilov]

I don't want to use CM, because the HDMI wouldn't work

That is highly inaccurate. HDMI works perfectly fine on CM7. You probably meant lapdock.

Might seem unimportant to you but it is actually very important to use precise technical terms with things like that, especially on a highly technical forum such as this one.
Some other noob might come across your post and take it for granted and start believing HDMI doesn't work on CM7-based ROMs. This is how misinformation, miscommunication and rumors happen.

 

[MKA667]

Sorry

That is highly inaccurate. HDMI works perfectly fine on CM7. You probably meant lapdock.

Might seem unimportant to you but it is actually very important to use precise technical terms with things like that, especially on a highly technical forum such as this one.
Some other noob might come across your post and take it for granted and start believing HDMI doesn't work on CM7-based ROMs. This is how misinformation, miscommunication and rumors happen.

Oh, I see: sorry for writing something so wrong.
Actually, reading other posts from other users is exactly how I had the idea that CM didn't support HDMI, so you're completely right about not writing incorrect information.

I'll try CM7, although I don't think that installing another ROM could solve my problems with the bootloader.

 

[MKA667]

Update

Update: I installed CM7(from https://code.google.com/p/atrix-dev-team/ ) and the phone is more stable (just a couple of reboots in one hour, while, using the other ROM and booting it in standard mode, the phone rarely lasted more than one minute if using wifi), but it still boots in recovery mode.

As for the HDMI, as stated on http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1154600, "The current version of CM7 for the Atrix does not yet support... Horizontal HDMI Mirroring", which in short means that one cannot effectively use the phone as video player.

Now, since the problem seems to be related to the bootloader's (in particular, its configuration), how can I reset it?
Is there a configuration file (like the one used by GRUB) to edit, or something?

 

[ravilov]

Did you look at the date of that post?

I have successfully used HDMI mirroring both portrait and landscape. It works out of the box, I had to do precisely nothing to get it to work.

The bootloader is a completely closed proprietary piece of code. So far, using the unlock method mentioned in this thread is as far as anyone got at modifying it.

 

[andresrivas]

He got the stable release, the fix was pushed to the nightlies

Enviado desde mi MB860 usando Tapatalk 2

 

[MKA667]

Solved

Did you look at the date of that post?

I have successfully used HDMI mirroring both portrait and landscape. It works out of the box, I had to do precisely nothing to get it to work.

Oh, I see: usually the first post is updated ASA there's something new, so I didn't look at its date.
Anyway, I tried the HDMI out just a couple of minutes, since, in that moment, my main concern was the instability of the phone and the status of the bootloader.

Anyway, I've eventually solved all my problems.
On another website I found a link to many stock ROM images, bootloader included:
- I downloaded a ROM from here;
- I flashed it (using RSD): the phone was unable to boot (it rebooted after showing the Moto animation), but that was probably because I didn't erase any setting;
- I started the process all over again;
- after installing again the modified bootloader, it was already unlocked (but I gave the command again, just to be sure);
- I flashed NOTTACHTRIX 4G v2.3.0.
Now everything works fine: the phone is stable (no random reboots), I can turn it on without using the volume-down button, and can charge the battery normally.

The bootloader is a completely closed proprietary piece of code. So far, using the unlock method mentioned in this thread is as far as anyone got at modifying it.

I understand that we cannot modify the bootloader, but I also understand that, since flashing it many times didn't resolve my problem, the setting that wasn't working wasn't inside the bootloader, but was another file somewhere else...
Anyway, now the phone works.

Thank you very much to everyone for the help!

 

[Disease8]

You instructions are confusing in parts and also have not worked for me. When I open up the CMD and type in : fastbook oem unlock. It just says waiting for device.

What do you mean in point 9? You say if RSD does not respond to take out battery?:

If nothing is happening after 10 mins, perform a battery pull. Power the phone on while pressing vol-down. “Fastboot” Will show up on screen. DONT PLUG IT IN YET. Press volume up and let your phone sit. You will see “Starting Fastboot protocol support" LEAVE IT UNPLUGGED

Then do we still follow the rest of point 9 if the flash from RSDlite was successful? It is not very clear what we do next before running the cmd command? You say to press up once when in fastboot on the phone. Don't we have to press the power button?

Thanks.

 

[PennyKnight]

I'm installing MROM.....

As the post states, I'm going to install MROM to the Atrix.
Right now the only thing done to it is the SIM is unlocked for any carrier.

Do I need to ROOT the phone, as well as unlock the Bootloader?

I do not want to keep the original BELL ROM, I don't even want a BU of it.
I have the 'BELL/Atrix 4G OEM ROM' zip to flash if needed.

 

[andresrivas]

Then you only need to unlock the bootloader and install cwm 5.0.2.x the version with full atrix support, so you can make a backup and ibstall anything. But always make a backup if you will switch to another rom, just in case

Enviado desde mi MB860 usando Tapatalk 2

 

[ravilov]

As the post states, I'm going to install MROM to the Atrix.
Right now the only thing done to it is the SIM is unlocked for any carrier.

Do I need to ROOT the phone, as well as unlock the Bootloader?

Is your search not working?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34216195#post34216195

 

[PennyKnight]

Is your search not working?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=34216195#post34216195

@ ravilov
Ummmm,,, "Is your search not working?"
AND,,,,,""

SERIOUSLY?!
Well isn't that the most arrogant answer I've seen today!
Did you get your 1255 posts with answers like that?

A simple YES or NO would of sufficed, but instead you made yourself look like an {content removed}.

@ andresrivas
I think I should be over at the MROM post now, the MROM has the Kernel and CWM if I'm right.
All this stuff can be quite daunting, for a 1st timer n00b.
I've listened to my BF do this for his friends and himself, and now I'm doing this as a gift for him as his Atrix burnt up.
He's replaced his phone with a different one, but he liked this one so much I thought I would do one up for him, like he had it before.
The good thing is, there is all the old software in the PC needed to do this.
That I can find easily, the stuff on the forum is piled neck deep,,,,,I feel overwhelmed with the information.

TY
PK

 

[palmbeach05]

[/COLOR]

As the post states, I'm going to install MROM to the Atrix.
Right now the only thing done to it is the SIM is unlocked for any carrier.

Do I need to ROOT the phone, as well as unlock the Bootloader?

I do not want to keep the original BELL ROM, I don't even want a BU of it.
I have the 'BELL/Atrix 4G OEM ROM' zip to flash if needed.

Root = admin rights
Unlocked bootloader = flash custom ROMs
SIM unlocked = carrrier unlocked

Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app

 

[Toledo_JAB]

[
Ummmm,,, "Is your search not working?"
AND,,,,,""

TY
PK

No matter what happened this is not the best 2nd post for a new user I have seen.

Lets ALL try to get along

 

[andresrivas]

@ andresrivas
I think I should be over at the MROM post now, the MROM has the Kernel and CWM if I'm right.
All this stuff can be quite daunting, for a 1st timer n00b.
I've listened to my BF do this for his friends and himself, and now I'm doing this as a gift for him as his Atrix burnt up.
He's replaced his phone with a different one, but he liked this one so much I thought I would do one up for him, like he had it before.
The good thing is, there is all the old software in the PC needed to do this.
That I can find easily, the stuff on the forum is piled neck deep,,,,,I feel overwhelmed with the information.

TY
PK

Yup, all this seems scary, but reading will save you a lot of hassle.

Mrom (not mrom-ics) seems to be the best rom for a newcomer. It has very good performance and it's very well documented, here and at the official site. As for recovery, I highly recommend you to get the 5.0.2.x (i think it was like that the version. The one starting with 5) and not to go to version 6.x because it has incompatibility with some roms. Read the full unlocking tutorial prior to execute it and if any foubt comes, use seaech, many many questions have been asked and answered across the years, but aren't all compiled in one place. If you can't find them, ask

Enviado desde mi MB860 usando Tapatalk 2

 

[tayshun12]

@ ravilov
Ummmm,,, "Is your search not working?"
AND,,,,,""

SERIOUSLY?!
Well isn't that the most arrogant answer I've seen today!
Did you get your 1255 posts with answers like that?

A simple YES or NO would of sufficed, but instead you made yourself look like an {content removed}.

@ andresrivas
I think I should be over at the MROM post now, the MROM has the Kernel and CWM if I'm right.
All this stuff can be quite daunting, for a 1st timer n00b.
I've listened to my BF do this for his friends and himself, and now I'm doing this as a gift for him as his Atrix burnt up.
He's replaced his phone with a different one, but he liked this one so much I thought I would do one up for him, like he had it before.
The good thing is, there is all the old software in the PC needed to do this.
That I can find easily, the stuff on the forum is piled neck deep,,,,,I feel overwhelmed with the information.

TY
PK

[/COLOR]

Root = admin rights
Unlocked bootloader = flash custom ROMs
SIM unlocked = carrrier unlocked

Sent from my MB886 using xda app-developers app

I hope its not too late, but you have to unlock the bootloader 100% if you want to run a custom rom. if your sim is unlocked it will be forever. and root is dependent of the features and apps you want to run on your custom rom, but many roms come rooted already. Be careful with root, it technically makes your phone more susceptible to hacking.

 

[El Daddy]

Let's relax everyone.

Thread Cleaned.

 

[Orof]

Thank You Very Much!

Thank you! this guide is perfect!

i have just finished upgrading my old Atrix 4G to the CM 10.1, and the phone is incredebly smoother.

there are some bugs like flash that doest work while taking stills, but the phone is really fast and was taken out of his grave.

Thank you! :good:

 

[jdejesus80]

Hello friends, believe that you can unlock it with that mention, buy my atrix mb860 on ebay unlocked for any operator, but I nt know files I use as I'm not att or bell, I hope can help me, attached photo from my phone .. . Greetings guys

Sent from my MB860 using Tapatalk 2

 

[andresrivas]

Iirc, tou should use the bell/international if yoir phone wasn't originally bought on att

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