Root MILESTONE 2.1 update and root guide

[ashketchum]

I don't think its a problem as long as your phone is detected by RSD Lite. But you can easily download and install the latest drivers (4.6.5). Its only about 4mb in size and installation is simple.

 

[kensta812]

Hi, Ive read the thread but can't figure out which SBF to use and am unsure of the difference between non service and service. I live in Australia but none of the SBF files list Australia.

Milestone
Firmware version: 2.0.1
Firmware configuration version: GAS_EMEA_USASHLS00RTHKSG_P007
Baseband version: 3GSMEPU91A_U_91.08.12I
Kernel version: 2.6.29-omap1
Build number: SHOLS_U2_01.14.0

Also whats the difference between doing a root like this and just using the app called Easyroot or other similar?

Thanks, Kenny.

 

[zankyw]

I don't think its a problem as long as your phone is detected by RSD Lite. But you can easily download and install the latest drivers (4.6.5).

Thanks ashketchum, I tried with the last version without any problem!

Also whats the difference between doing a root like this and just using the app called Easyroot or other similar?

Easyroot costs money and this is free, although this method requires more time.

Hi, Ive read the thread but can't figure out which SBF to use and am unsure of the difference between non service and service. I live in Australia but none of the SBF files list Australia.

I've found a sbf from GOT > 100 MB
and the one linked in the first post which is ~ 3 MB.

Is there any difference between them? Also, what's the difference between service and non-service?

 

[WirelessGuy]

I am unsure of the difference between non service and service.

"Service" versions will maintain all user settings/apps, etc (i.e. maintains user partitions). These are typically used for OTA pushes. "Non-Service" versions will wipe your phone clean and make it like new out of the box (all settings/apps will be gone, i.e. wipes user partitions).

 

[kensta812]

Thanks for the reply guys however I have another. I just rooted my phone following this guide but a few apps dont work for me. I tried using the overclock app posted, titanium backup, busybox, metamorph and tried installing superuser but they all dont work. I do have superuser whitelist however. Did something go wrong during the root or am I missing something?

Thanks in advance.

 

[TwinDragons]

That's the bad part about following this guide...it is also out dated. The superuser whitelist that comes with the update.zip in this guide is not able to use the overclock app.

There are two ways you can upgrade your superuser.

There is a more technical way, which ashketchum posted somewhere. Which involves using ADB.

Or you can download the G.O.T. openrecovery and just apply root. This method also has an older version of superuser but it's new enough to allow for the things you want to do without having to touch ADB.

 

[kensta812]

Or you can download the G.O.T. openrecovery and just apply root. This method also has an older version of superuser but it's new enough to allow for the things you want to do without having to touch ADB.

Sorry for the noob question I'm still new to all this rooting and flashing and whatnot. Does that mean you just copy and paste the openrecovery and the update.zip from G.O.T and start in recovery and just apply update via sd and no need to flash anything?

 

[TwinDragons]

Yup, apply the update.zip. Then choose "Root Phone".

 

[Ross]

This came from RSD

Failed flashing process. Failed flashing process. Phone[0000]: Error getting subscriber unit information. Device API Error:0x

 

[gchaltikyan]

Hello Craig,
I was referred to this thread (great description b.t.w.) when asked for help in upgrading my milestone to Android 2.2. - which my carrier does not provide. Do you think I need to root, or is there any other, perhaps less painful way? Honestly, I am absolute dummy in the android world and have never had any experience with such stuff, and the process you described, however clearly, still looks a bit confusing to me. Besides, I wouldn't like risking the phone's performance. What's your advice? If needed, I can post the specs (I bought it in the US, using in Armenia, have been told at Motorola headquarters by phone that the device is from HK, while when I've done an "update" on the site it showed that the phone is from UK...). Thanks a lot

 

[ashketchum]

@gchaltikyan

Android 2.2 isn't officially available for the Milestone yet. Check this page for more info.

 

[Pamuk]

Got to step 13 with my Telus milestone with 2.1 update1 and when I try to apply update.zip i get the same verification error that others were getting. What now?

Also when i load it in recovery mode, right away I get

E:Can't open /cache/recovery/command

 

[abitsimple]

Hi, i'm a complete noob and this may be an incredibly dumb question, but how do i know which bootloader version i have? is it the same thing as baseband version? this is the only thing stopping me getting started with rooting. Any info would be really appreciated.
Cheers!

 

[TelusMilestone]

Hi, i'm a complete noob and this may be an incredibly dumb question, but how do i know which bootloader version i have? is it the same thing as baseband version? this is the only thing stopping me getting started with rooting. Any info would be really appreciated.
Cheers!

You can try and hold the D-Pad up and then press and hold the power button for a couple seconds and release... if the bootloader screen comes up it will tell you what version you have. If it just boots the phone then you may need to try and same process with holding the X button and not the D-Pad up button.

 

[spot]

I had been wanting to do this ever since I realized there was no in-phone screen capture for the milestone without root.

I followed the guide in Post #1 and everything went well with just the slight hitch of rebooting in recovery mode.

The X and Power button does not work with my milestone so I followed the instructions from here: How to reboot your Motorola Milestone in recovery mode. – AW Disk and after that everything was cake.

I used the SHOLS_U2_02.36.0_UCASHLSMR2EMEAB1B806D.0R_PDS003_USASHLS00STARSG_P017_A008_HWp2a_Service1FF.sbf in case anyone from my country would like to try it.

Thank you for this guide.

 

[jabberwauki]

Brilliant guide. Rooted my Motorola Milestone from Singapore (Starhub).

 

[snarkienoa]

Hi all i'm a noob and i just got myself hk milestone. Was thinking to root my phone but still since im noob, i know nothing.

My phone
HK Milestone
2.1update1

So i assume my rooting flow would be

1. Backup my sd/apps
2. Root with one click root(issit possible?)
3. Get into somekind of boot screen(?)
4. Nandroid backup (i still dont know how to acomplish this)
5. Voila! Streamline my phone

The next step would be mod my stone to
-clear unwanted moto apps
-overclock to 800mhz
-froyo
-app2sd
-battery optimization.
-advert hack

My question is
-is cyanogenMod6 lean and stable enough for HK stone.
-can I get the official froyo update once its up?
-how to unroot and restore my stone to its mint state with my original firmware
-and how exactly can I boost the battery performance to 1 and half day, or at least more than we could go with the stock (iread somewhere in this thread that its possible)

So far its undeniable that you guys are the utmost awesome. I read the thread though ima bit clueless, no one bricked their stone unless they're too extreme. And happy feedbacks too. Please help me with my flow cuz I just spent a month salary for the phone, I want to have a streamlined light and lean stone.
Million thanks.

 

[TelusMilestone]

Hi all i'm a noob and i just got myself hk milestone. Was thinking to root my phone but still since im noob, i know nothing.

My phone
HK Milestone
2.1update1

So i assume my rooting flow would be

1. Backup my sd/apps
2. Root with one click root(issit possible?)
3. Get into somekind of boot screen(?)
4. Nandroid backup (i still dont know how to acomplish this)
5. Voila! Streamline my phone

The next step would be mod my stone to
-clear unwanted moto apps
-overclock to 800mhz
-froyo
-app2sd
-battery optimization.
-advert hack

My question is
-is cyanogenMod6 lean and stable enough for HK stone.
-can I get the official froyo update once its up?
-how to unroot and restore my stone to its mint state with my original firmware
-and how exactly can I boost the battery performance to 1 and half day, or at least more than we could go with the stock (iread somewhere in this thread that its possible)

So far its undeniable that you guys are the utmost awesome. I read the thread though ima bit clueless, no one bricked their stone unless they're too extreme. And happy feedbacks too. Please help me with my flow cuz I just spent a month salary for the phone, I want to have a streamlined light and lean stone.
Million thanks.

I can comment on the version I have the Telus update 3.11 OS ver. 2.1 lasted me almost 48 hours of battery life. However that is only with moderate use. If you start using the phone by going on the internet using wi-fi or GPS then it will drastically make the battery last much less. Most of the battery usage really depends on your daily usage. If you do go with the cyanogenMod6 your battery wont be lasting long at all.

 

[snarkienoa]

I can comment on the version I have the Telus update 3.11 OS ver. 2.1 lasted me almost 48 hours of battery life. However that is only with moderate use. If you start using the phone by going on the internet using wi-fi or GPS then it will drastically make the battery last much less. Most of the battery usage really depends on your daily usage. If you do go with the cyanogenMod6 your battery wont be lasting long at all.

hey TelusMilestone, thanks for the fast reply. It seems like its real hard to find a way to root my 2.1update1 stone. I think i'll settle with GOTs rom once i rooted. The problem is i'm lost with rooting. I think i rooted my phone with superoneclick, get it to flash clockworkmod, and i stuck when i get into the bootscreen. No nandroid backup option, which i assume my stone werent rooted at all. It says verification fails or sd card not mounted and some other things.
I really want to do a nandroid backup before i go deeper. Can you suggest any guide links? Thankss

 

[TwinDragons]

I'm assuming you are trying to apply the update.zip but you are getting verification fails.

Since you are on the stock SBF you will need to apply the Vulnerable Recovery before trying to apply the update.zip.

 

[TelusMilestone]

I'm assuming you are trying to apply the update.zip but you are getting verification fails.

Since you are on the stock SBF you will need to apply the Vulnerable Recovery before trying to apply the update.zip.

TD is correct. That will be your issue. Once you flash with the SBF try the update.zip again and all should work fine after that

 

[snarkienoa]

TD is correct. That will be your issue. Once you flash with the SBF try the update.zip again and all should work fine after that

Thanks alot you both. So i should be able to flash the sbf like so http://androidforums.com/milestone-all-things-root/75460-milestone-2-1-update-root-guide.html
i thought it'll be just a simple bootup flash process, but if you reconfirm to follow the steps then ill be up to it in a sec. Really2 appreciate you guy. Im a real noob T__T

reconfirm, my phone is on 2.1update1, think its digitally signed by motorola, and this is how we get through it, right?

 

[TwinDragons]

-is cyanogenMod6 lean and stable enough for HK stone.
Sorry I can't comment on this, I am not running CyanogenMod.

-can I get the official froyo update once its up?
Yes, you can flash the official SBF whenever you'd like.

-how to unroot and restore my stone to its mint state with my original firmware
Just flash the official SBF. You can find them here: sbf:milestone [And Developers]

-and how exactly can I boost the battery performance to 1 and half day, or at least more than we could go with the stock (iread somewhere in this thread that its possible)
Once you have root access you can do multiple things to save battery. The easiest way would be to set up an app to power manage your phone(Juice Defender, setCPU). I don't use either of them, so I can't really comment too much on it. I think the answer you were looking for is setting your battery vsel lower than stock. (56vsel)

At the moment I'm pretty lost on what you're trying to achieve in the recovery menu.

 

[snarkienoa]

-is cyanogenMod6 lean and stable enough for HK stone.
Sorry I can't comment on this, I am not running CyanogenMod.

-can I get the official froyo update once its up?
Yes, you can flash the official SBF whenever you'd like.

-how to unroot and restore my stone to its mint state with my original firmware
Just flash the official SBF. You can find them here: sbf:milestone [And Developers]

-and how exactly can I boost the battery performance to 1 and half day, or at least more than we could go with the stock (iread somewhere in this thread that its possible)
Once you have root access you can do multiple things to save battery. The easiest way would be to set up an app to power manage your phone(Juice Defender, setCPU). I don't use either of them, so I can't really comment too much on it. I think the answer you were looking for is setting your battery vsel lower than stock. (56vsel)

At the moment I'm pretty lost on what you're trying to achieve in the recovery menu.

I want to make a nandroid backup in the recovery menu. The thing is i can't get to install update.exe because i haven't flash my phone with vulnerable recovery just yet. and my phone is not recognized by windows even after installing driver from motorola website.
So i can't even flash it with vulnerable recovery sbf in the bootloader or in RSD because of the driver thingy. Still trying to figure out. Sorry to ask so many noob questions.
Thanks TD for helping!

 

[snarkienoa]

Hey TD and TelusM, i manage to root my phone. I flashed the vulnerable recovery, root with milestone-root. Then i flashed again with GOT openrecovery and i am now able to make a nandroid backup.
Tell me if my steps are dangerous or anything.
Thanks guys. You two are awesome.