[Updated 2-11-2012] THE BEGINNERS (N00B) GUIDE!!! N00BS LOOK HERE FOR YOUR HOW TOs

[Swiftks]

To root the Atrix do i need to follow the steps for the unlocked bootloader....I am 2.3.4 (4.5.91 Firmware) and thought that this update unlocked the bootloader itself.

There's a and sbf flash that is supposed to do both, however several people who flashed it from the 4.5.91 OTA have gotten softbrick. I would suggest unlocking bootloader & if you then decide to flash a ROM, most roms will root for you. Or if you just want just root, try one of the stand alone rooting methods described in the OP.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

 

[buddy1969]

Guys, just to make sure I'm on the right track. I've been reading and seem to be getting myself more confused.

I'm currently at 4.1.83, rooted with no additional roms. I believe I only want to get the 2.3.4(4.5.91) update and reroot. What is the easiest way to get to that point. I had someone else do my phone for me last time who was familiar with the process.

Thanks for the help and all the great work.

 

[Swiftks]

Guys, just to make sure I'm on the right track. I've been reading and seem to be getting myself more confused.

I'm currently at 4.1.83, rooted with no additional roms. I believe I only want to get the 2.3.4(4.5.91) update and reroot. What is the easiest way to get to that point. I had someone else do my phone for me last time who was familiar with the process.

Thanks for the help and all the great work.

I would say just OTA update to 2.3.4. If for some reason the OTA doesn't take or wont work, you may need to re-flash 1.8.3 or 1.5.7 sbf via RSD Lite, to return to a stock image, but as long as you're just rooted, I don't think there should be a problem with the OTA update.

Once on 2.3.4 follow these directions to root:
http://briefmobile.com/motorola-atrix-4g-root

 

[buddy1969]

Thanks for the advice. I took the update OTA and followed the suggested process. When I try to use Titanium Backup, it tells me "sorry I could not acquire root priviledges...."

Any Advice?

 

[Swiftks]

Thanks for the advice. I took the update OTA and followed the suggested process. When I try to use Titanium Backup, it tells me "sorry I could not acquire root priviledges...."

Any Advice?

Root didn't take maybe??? Try again. Also make sure Super User is installed.

 

[allihate]

how to begin? :-/

hi...i'm a BIG NOOB at all this, I have an Atrix 4g, bought in England on T-Mobile and unlocked in Romania with unlock code so i can use it here; the phone has original Motoblur version of android 2.2, and i want to upgrade it to GB, and after reading diverse posts and coments, got a bit stuck with what I should do so that I wouldn't brick my device...I understand that it's better not to upgrade via OverTheAir from motorola coz in some cases it hardbricked phones+I'd rather not have a motoblur verion of rom, If anybody could explain to me in an exact pattern how to upgrade my android version to 2.3 (not custom rom), I'd like to have all phone specs working, I would much appreciate it ^_^....tkx in advance...and good day to everybody

 

[buddy1969]

It doesn't appear that the phone is rooted. It takes the Su install but still doesn't have root. I tried to add busybox in and it says 'busybox was not allowed root access'

according to the Su settings tab, I have Su binary c2.3.1-ef installed. It tries to run the update but can't saying it added the su-2.3.1-bin-signed.zip to my sd card. Please reboot into recovery mode and flash from there.

I'm getting more confused as I go.

 

[Swiftks]

It doesn't appear that the phone is rooted. It takes the Su install but still doesn't have root. I tried to add busybox in and it says 'busybox was not allowed root access'

according to the Su settings tab, I have Su binary c2.3.1-ef installed. It tries to run the update but can't saying it added the su-2.3.1-bin-signed.zip to my sd card. Please reboot into recovery mode and flash from there.

I'm getting more confused as I go.

Check for answer in "Root any device" thread... last few pages have people with similar problem I believe. Also check the first link in the OP of this thread under how to root (think it links to individual post).... may be along the same lines as what your doing now, but maybe it has a different command; appears to have worked for others. Sorry, pretty limited to what I can search for right now on mobile.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

 

[Swiftks]

hi...i'm a BIG NOOB at all this, I have an Atrix 4g, bought in England on T-Mobile and unlocked in Romania with unlock code so i can use it here; the phone has original Motoblur version of android 2.2, and i want to upgrade it to GB, and after reading diverse posts and coments, got a bit stuck with what I should do so that I wouldn't brick my device...I understand that it's better not to upgrade via OverTheAir from motorola coz in some cases it hardbricked phones+I'd rather not have a motoblur verion of rom, If anybody could explain to me in an exact pattern how to upgrade my android version to 2.3 (not custom rom), I'd like to have all phone specs working, I would much appreciate it ^_^....tkx in advance...and good day to everybody

You wont brick if you OTA and unlock your bootloader. Only if you update, then unlock the bootloader and then RSD flash a earlier version sbf, will brick your device. There are several methods for unlocking the bootloader for propel on the "official" 2.3.4 OTA (i.e. the auto unlock script).

If you softbrick after flashing the unlock sbf in the pudding thread, you should still be able to enter the unlock command from fastboot. Follow instructions in the respective OP, which ever method you choose. Goto Q&A section and browse the first page or two... numerous threads with people asking how/what to do.

I would be most concerned with the unlock sim part of your phone and how updating/flashing image files will effect this, if at all... as I do not deal with sim unlocks, I can not say.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

 

[reterp]

Thanks

Thanks for the Guide, as others have said its good to have all of this in one place for future reference , thanks again.

 

[live_free]

I was trying to install RomRacers CWM and when I was going to install his actual recovery from rom manager it gives me an error and doesn't flash.

Here is the recoverylog, I have the latest installed.

Starting recovery on Wed Aug 31 11:39:27 2011
framebuffer: fd 4 (540 x 960)
ClockworkMod Recovery v5.0.0.1
recovery filesystem table
=========================
0 /tmp ramdisk (null) (null)
1 /boot emmc /dev/block/mmcblk0p11 (null)
2 /cache ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p15 (null)
3 /data ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p16 (null)
4 /sdcard vfat /dev/block/mmcblk1p1 /dev/block/mmcblk0p18
5 /system ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p12 (null)
6 /recovery emmc /dev/block/mmcblk0p10 (null)
7 /osh ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p13 (null)
8 /preinstall ext3 /dev/block/mmcblk0p17 (null)

W:Unable to get recovery.fstab info for /sd-ext during fstab generation!
I:Completed outputting fstab.
Irocessing arguments.
I:Checking arguments.
I:device_recovery_start()
Command: "/sbin/recovery"

ro.secure=0
ro.allow.mock.location=1
ro.debuggable=1
persist.service.adb.enable=1
ro.build.id=GINGERBREAD
ro.build.display.id=generic_olympus-eng 2.3.5 GINGERBREAD eng.koush.20110817.164333 test-keys
ro.build.version.incremental=eng.koush.20110817.164333
ro.build.version.sdk=10
ro.build.version.codename=REL
ro.build.version.release=2.3.5
ro.build.date=Wed Aug 17 16:43:56 PDT 2011
ro.build.date.utc=0
ro.build.type=eng
ro.build.user=koush
ro.build.host=Koushik-Lion.local
ro.build.tags=test-keys
ro.product.model=MB860
ro.product.brand=generic
ro.product.name=generic_olympus
ro.product.device=olympus
ro.product.board=olympus
ro.product.cpu.abi=armeabi-v7a
ro.product.cpu.abi2=armeabi
ro.product.manufacturer=unknown
ro.product.locale.language=hdpi
ro.product.locale.region=
ro.wifi.channels=
ro.board.platform=tegra
ro.build.product=olympus
ro.build.description=generic_olympus-eng 2.3.5 GINGERBREAD eng.koush.20110817.164333 test-keys
ro.build.fingerprint=generic/generic_olympus/olympus:2.3.5/GINGERBREAD/eng.koush.20110817.164333:eng/test-keys
ro.sf.lcd_density=240
dalvik.vm.heapsize=42m
rild.libpath=/system/lib/libmoto_ril.so
persist.ril.mux.noofchannels=9
persist.ril.mux.ttydevice=/dev/ttyHS3
ro.telephony.call_ring.multiple=false
persist.ril.modem.ttydevice=/dev/ttySPI0
persist.ril.modem.mode=2
persist.ril.features=0x24
persist.ril.mux.retries=500
persist.ril.mux.sleep=2
ro.kernel.android.ril=yes
persist.ril.pppd.start.fail.max=16
mobiledata.interfaces=ppp0
ro.telephony.default_network=3
ro.additionalmounts=/mnt/emmc
ro.usb.use_custom_service=1
ro.mtp_available=0
ro.modem_available=0
ro.ngp_available=0
ro.rndis_available=0
ro.default_usb_mode=5
wifi.supplicant_scan_interval=60
ro.wifi-ap.fw-path=/system/etc/wl/sdio-g-cdc-roml-reclaim-wme-apsta-idauth-minioctl.bin
ro.bt.bdaddr_path=/pds/bt/bt_bdaddr
ro.product.use_charge_counter=1
ro.opengles.version=131072
ro.cwm.forbid_format=/misc,/radio,/pds,/bootloader,/recovery,/efs
ro.battery_light=true
keyguard.no_require_sim=true
ro.kernel.android.checkjni=1
ro.setupwizard.mode=OPTIONAL
dalvik.vm.dexopt-flags=m=y
net.bt.name=Android
net.change=net.bt.name
dalvik.vm.stack-trace-file=/data/anr/traces.txt
ro.factorytest=0
ro.serialno=TA2070CZRM
ro.bootmode=unknown
ro.baseband=unknown
ro.carrier=unknown
ro.bootloader=unknown
ro.hardware=olympus
ro.revision=33776
init.svc.recovery=running
init.svc.adbd=running

I:Checking for extendedcommand...
I:Running extendedcommand...
Waiting for SD Card to mount (20s)
SD Card mounted...
8bd2b85772578d414b7173ee84ba44ce
Error verifying extendedcommand.
Error processing ROM Manager script.
Please verify you have
ROM Manager v4.4.0.0 or higher
installed.

 

[mtayyab96]

STEPS:

1) Have the correct Motorola drivers installed for your PC (i.e. x32-bit or x64-bit).

2) Download RSD Lite (Links above) & install on your PC.

3) Choose a sbf file to download and flash from Motorola Atrix Firmware Super Thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1125944
If you are currently running firmware 4.5.91, I suggest that you only flash back to this firmware version. Flashing back to a eariler sbf/firmware version may have unintended consequences, the most serious of which is bricking your device.
*Note: U.S. AT&T users should only flash AT&T sbfs, internationl users should only flash their particular sbf versions.

4) Read the above sbf hints, trick, etc. to help prevent RSD Lite problems/errors.

5) Open RSD Lite and load the sbf file that you downloaded.

6) Put your device in RSD Protocol Mode by powering OFF, and upon powering back ON, hold both the power button and the volume UP button. Device should now say "Entering RSD Protocol Mode."

7) Connect your device to your computer via the usb cable, and select your device by clicking/highlighting it in RSD Lite.

8) Select START in RSD Lite and let the sbf flash process fully complete before disconnecting the device from the PC. There will be several reboots and the process make take 5 - 10 minutes to complete a FULL sbf flash.

9) If you have any errors or problems as a question, prefably in the Q&A section.

*Note: After unlocking your bootloader and installing a CWM (*see below), you have the option to flash stock sbf files named "Fruitcakes" that do not require RSD Lite to flash (see information below).

I am on version 1.52 can i update to 1.57 or 1.83?? or directly to Gingerbread 2.3 version 4.5.91 by using this method??? MY bootloader is locked, and Phone is not rooted. i have recently got my Phone back from a bricked state using this guide.

 

[Swiftks]

I am on version 1.52 can i update to 1.57 or 1.83?? or directly to Gingerbread 2.3 version 4.5.91 by using this method??? MY bootloader is locked, and Phone is not rooted. i have recently got my Phone back from a bricked state using this guide.

No need, just update via OTA (over the air) update. Go to settings -> about phone -> system updates.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

 

[mtayyab96]

No need, just update via OTA (over the air) update. Go to settings -> about phone -> system updates.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

i have tried that it says that your system is already Updated

 

[buddy1969]

I've still been unable to root after accepting the OTA update. Would I be ok flashing the 4.5.91 .sbf via rsd and trying the root process again?

As a background I was rooted with gladroot and 4.1.83 prior to the OTA update.

Thanks for the advice.

 

[Symbian_Black]

Hey ladies and gents I rooted my atrix and even learned how to change the splash boot animations and now I am ready to use root explorer to clean my phone of junk files and left over files left over from un installed files. Do you have a list or for way of telling which files to delete without messing up my ATRIX?? Thanks

Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

 

[Swiftks]

Hey ladies and gents I rooted my atrix and even learned how to change the splash boot animations and now I am ready to use root explorer to clean my phone of junk files and left over files left over from un installed files. Do you have a list or for way of telling which files to delete without messing up my ATRIX?? Thanks

Sent from my MB860 using XDA App

Get SD Maid.

Sent from my MB860 using xda premium

 

[hibanzai]

AHHH my eyes. Too much reading!!!

Thanks nonetheless. Great post.

 

[spacescreamer]

Good post.
But i noticed.. you have mentioned "How to flash a SBF" .. shouldnt it be "How to flash an SBF to your phone" or something like "How to flash the fone with an SBF"

Cuz you are essentially flashing the phone and not the file. Correct me if i am wrong pls.

EDIT:

Question: Are the SBF files motorola only ? i mean exclusive to motorola devices only ? (read the mentioned part: What is a Motorola .SBF file? )

 

[ninhalo]

Thanks.Very useful