[Q] Rooting an old original Xoom

[Gamul1]

Hi All

I have a 1st edition Xoom, WiFi, that I bought in March of 2011. I never rooted it before but am considering doing it now if it is still feasible. It looks like my current Android version is 4.1.2.

One thing - due to my work email, they made me encrypt the tablet. I hated it the moment I did it because it slowed it down quite a bit. But its done and there does not seem to be an option to un do it, unless rooting it will. I am ok with that as I do not need that email on this device. But is rooting an option with an encrypted tablet? Is it the same process? Does it change anything?

So - my questions are:

1. Is it still feasible to root this tablet?
2. Is this page this the latest/greatest Root for the Xoom?
   [**]http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1010568
3. What version of Android would I have once done?
4. Any other factors I need ot consider?

I rooted my phone a few years ago and it was straight forward. But I do not want to end up with a 10.1 inch brick.

Thanks.

 

[superbay]

Hi All

I have a 1st edition Xoom, WiFi, that I bought in March of 2011. I never rooted it before but am considering doing it now if it is still feasible. It looks like my current Android version is 4.1.2.

One thing - due to my work email, they made me encrypt the tablet. I hated it the moment I did it because it slowed it down quite a bit. But its done and there does not seem to be an option to un do it, unless rooting it will. I am ok with that as I do not need that email on this device. But is rooting an option with an encrypted tablet? Is it the same process? Does it change anything?

So - my questions are:

1. Is it still feasible to root this tablet?
2. Is this page this the latest/greatest Root for the Xoom?
   [**]http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1010568
3. What version of Android would I have once done?
4. Any other factors I need ot consider?

I rooted my phone a few years ago and it was straight forward. But I do not want to end up with a 10.1 inch brick.

Thanks.

How did you encrypt the tablet anyway?

 

[Gamul1]

How did you encrypt the tablet anyway?

Its been a few years so its fuzzy. I think it was in the settings under security. But at the time I followed some directions. It took over night to do. Now when I go to settings I see the encryption option but it does nothing.

Un. Encryption is not the reason I want to root. The device is slow and I hear I may be able to speed it up a bit. Plus, there is a game that crashed the tablet because of the tegra 2 chip and k read some steps on making a change that prevents the crash.

 

[superbay]

Its been a few years so its fuzzy. I think it was in the settings under security. But at the time I followed some directions. It took over night to do. Now when I go to settings I see the encryption option but it does nothing.

Un. Encryption is not the reason I want to root. The device is slow and I hear I may be able to speed it up a bit. Plus, there is a game that crashed the tablet because of the tegra 2 chip and k read some steps on making a change that prevents the crash.

Then dont hesitate and go for it

 

[matt4321]

May I add that rooting will need an unlocked bootloader which will wipe /data so you'd loose everything

 

[Gamul1]

May I add that rooting will need an unlocked bootloader which will wipe /data so you'd loose everything

I am ok with that. I was just trying to figure out if this older tablet that was encrypted can be rooted. And, if the thread I referenced was the latest still. It is a couple years old so I was not sure that meant the android OS was old or updated or if there was a newer thread somewhere I can't find.

 

[matt4321]

I am ok with that. I was just trying to figure out if this older tablet that was encrypted can be rooted. And, if the thread I referenced was the latest still. It is a couple years old so I was not sure that meant the android OS was old or updated or if there was a newer thread somewhere I can't find.

what android version are you on? this will help me tell you through how to root

 

[Gamul1]

what android version are you on? this will help me tell you through how to root

According to my settings page, my Android version is 4.1.2.

 

[matt4321]

According to my settings page, my Android version is 4.1.2.

Are you familiar with fastboot/adb?

you need to unlock your bootloader using

fastboot oem unlock

then you need to flash a custom recovery, I suggest this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1782235

use the command:

fastboot flash recovery recovery.img

then

fastboot reboot

upon rebooting when you see the motorola logo, wait about 2 seconds, then you need to press the volume down button, then volume up to select android recovery.

Once in recovery you will need to flash this file to gain root:

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=30464067&postcount=408





After all this you will have Android 4.1.2 with a custom recovery and root access, from now on it will be easy to swap between ROMs, android versions etc.

Always make a backup

 

[Gamul1]

snipped a bunch of great info...

Thanks! I will give this a try. A few other questions around this:

1. Will the device still be encrypted once this is done?
2. If not - do you know if it is possible to fool the mail program into thinking it is still encrypted?

Thanks!

 

[matt4321]

Thanks! I will give this a try. A few other questions around this:

1. Will the device still be encrypted once this is done?
2. If not - do you know if it is possible to fool the mail program into thinking it is still encrypted?

Thanks!

The device will no longer be encrypted, all data is wiped anyway.

You can re-encrypt the device though by going to settings>security>encryption>encrypt tablet

 

[Gamul1]

The device will no longer be encrypted, all data is wiped anyway.

You can re-encrypt the device though by going to settings>security>encryption>encrypt tablet

Thanks! But if I go this route I won't want it encrypted again. I was just curious if being rooted there was a way to fool it. Sort of a best of both worlds thing. But no more encryption for me again. It killed this thing the first time.