[Q] Proper way to root?

[iDelta]

Hey all. I am actually from the Samsung Galaxy W community and since I'm gonna get the Atrix from my mom soon, I thought I should get a little heads up on how to root it and all. However, the guides here (no offense) freaked me out cuz they had lots of warnings and since the phone I use now is really simple to root (flash update.zip and you're rooted), I realised that rooting the Atrix isn't as easy as rooting the W. Thus I consulted my best friend, Google. He gave me this link: http://www.android-advice.com/2012/root-the-motorola-atrix-4g-running-4-5-141/
Is this the proper way to root? If so, then what do I do next? Because my motive for this phone is to install a custom recovery (ClockworkMod if possible) and (50% chance) stop it right there... I will really appreciate all the help I can get. Thank you, Atrix community.

---EDIT---
I got the method of installing the recovery. Now I just need you guys to verify if that is the proper way.

 

[ravilov]

This looks like the well-known preinstall method. Yes, this is the most common (and IMO the most reliable) way to root the Atrix.

However, a common misconception when it comes to the Atrix is that you need root to get custom recovery. Those two probably couldn't be farther apart - one has nothing to do with the other. You not only don't need root to get custom recovery, it is in fact completely irrelevant because it operates on a much lower level. Instead, you need to unlock the bootloader (because fastboot is implemented in the bootloader, and because you need fastboot that isn't locked down), and then you simply flash your custom recovery via fastboot.

Now here's the problem. First, unlocking the bootloader is by far the most risky step of all. To do that you need to flash a piece of code (the unlocked bootloader, also known as pudding) in the most sensitive part of the phone. You screw this up and you got yourself a brick. Second, when you finally do unlock the bootloader, sometimes you'll be left in an unbootable state (the infamous Failed to boot XXX error). No worries, there's a fix for that too (it is called a softbrick btw). Point is, in that case you cannot just install the custom recovery and then "stop there", you'll need to install an OS too. If you prefer to stick to stock firmware, you should go with so-called fruitcakes, which is just stock firmware prepared to be flashed through custom recovery.

Nothing much to worry about though, everything is explained in detail here. You don't need to google or search in other places, everything you need is right here on XDA (in fact it is probably preferred that you stay within XDA instead of trying to follow random procedures from random places). I suggest you start with some basic noob stuff like this and this. (Some of the stuff in there is somewhat outdated, take any version info mentioned with a grain of salt.)

One big point. You will inevitably come across "SBFs" and advices to flash them. SBFs are inherently dangerous because they contain full complete systems (bootloader, radio, pds, and all the other very sensitive parts of the system), and they are flashed without any error checking, so it's very easy to brick (also known as hardbrick) your phone if you don't know exactly what you're doing. (That is also why all SBFs have been removed from XDA.) Unlocking the bootloader is the only time you should ever be dealing with a SBF, it should be avoided any other time if at all possible.

 

[iDelta]

What I want to do is to get root and at the same time, get a custom recovery. Which means, I want to stick to stock ROM (again 50% chance of sticking to it). And that exactly what I meant by scary warnings... I have no idea what SBFs are (are they like .zip files that Galaxy W users use to flash files?). Anyway, the PUDDING thread was really, and I mean really, scary. Considering the fact that if I screw this phone, my mom will make me own the Galaxy W again...

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy W (GT-I8150) with CM9 RC 6

 

[ravilov]

Yes, it can be scary, and for a reason. It is not for the faint hearted, although it goes without a hitch at least 95% of the time. The idea is that you get familiar with the process until the point where you feel comfortable with doing it.

SBFs are nothing like flashable ZIPs (well, except that both are used to flash stuff onto a device). Fruitcakes and custom ROMs come in flashable ZIPs. SBF stands for "single binary file" and is a proprietary Motorola file. It is created and signed by Motorola. Other than the pudding SBF which is the hacked unlocked bootloader, not much is known about them really, except that in some cases they can easily brick a device if misused.

There's another thing. If your atrix is too new, you might have a newer, non-unlockable bootloader. In that case all you can do is root the phone, no way to get custom recovery on it. Good news is, trying to unlock a non-unlockable BL won't do any harm, it just won't work.

If your goal is to have a custom recovery and root, I suggest you first deal with the recovery and then do the rooting. If you end up having to flash a fruitcake, by doing so you might get root anyway, depending on the fruitcake you choose (some are completely untouched, meaning no root, while some are completely stock but also rooted).

There is also an automated unlock method which you can try if you want. It should be slightly less scary to deal with. Personally, I dislike automated anything, I prefer to do the whole process myself (that way I also learn a bunch of stuff in the process), but to each their own.

 

[iDelta]

Yes, it can be scary, and for a reason. It is not for the faint hearted, although it goes without a hitch at least 95% of the time. The idea is that you get familiar with the process until the point where you feel comfortable with doing it.

SBFs are nothing like flashable ZIPs (well, except that both are used to flash stuff onto a device). Fruitcakes and custom ROMs come in flashable ZIPs. SBF stands for "single binary file" and is a proprietary Motorola file. It is created and signed by Motorola. Other than the pudding SBF which is the hacked unlocked bootloader, not much is known about them really, except that in some cases they can easily brick a device if misused.

There's another thing. If your atrix is too new, you might have a newer, non-unlockable bootloader. In that case all you can do is root the phone, no way to get custom recovery on it. Good news is, trying to unlock a non-unlockable BL won't do any harm, it just won't work.

If your goal is to have a custom recovery and root, I suggest you first deal with the recovery and then do the rooting. If you end up having to flash a fruitcake, by doing so you might get root anyway, depending on the fruitcake you choose (some are completely untouched, meaning no root, while some are completely stock but also rooted).

There is also an automated unlock method which you can try if you want. It should be slightly less scary to deal with. Personally, I dislike automated anything, I prefer to do the whole process myself (that way I also learn a bunch of stuff in the process), but to each their own.

So I was looking through the threads of the QnA section. And I came across this. Should I use the method mentioned in post #2 and #3? It looks pretty straightforward to me...

 

[ravilov]

No, you cannot. The procedure you found assumes you have an unlocked bootloader.
I told you clearly what you need to do. Do not try to short-circuit the procedure. You need to go through ALL of those steps, there is no skipping ahead. It might seem scary, but either deal with it or give up on it. Do or do not, there is no try.

 

[iDelta]

Oh, so is it like, you need to unlock bootlkader then root? If so, then I've finally got it!

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy W (GT-I8150) with CM9 RC 6

 

[robyn402]

i rooted then was forced to unlock the boot loader when i screwed up my phone un-installing apps


used rescue root to one click root my atrix 4g (http://rescueroot.com/)

download clockwork mod recovery (http://www.clockworkmod.com/rommanager)

i installed clockwork mod recovery from fastboot (http://wiki.cyanogenmod.org/w/Install_CM_for_olympus)

unlock the boot loader following this guide (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1302423)

as an added bonus here how to bypass that stupid motoblur crap (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXDj-h1DEAM)... not nessicery for anything other then turning off the blur social media thing that comes installed with the phone



now i'm rooted, got the boot loader unlocked and running neutrino rom 2.91 GT+ for the last week, and so far i couldn't be happier


also it helped me to have a second computer, one to have all the how to running on and another to do all the work with