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Root Motorola Droid Bionic - All Things Root Guide

dautley said:
for .905 and anything Gingerbread Motofail should work

To root your Bionic:

  1. Install the Motorola Drivers:
  2. Download motofail
  3. Put your Bionic into USB Debugging and USB Charge Only modes
  4. Run motofail's run.bat
  5. ????
  6. Profit
ICS 6.7.2231 to 6.7.242 needs Razrs Edge
http://www.mediafire.com/download.php?g9wvvy1g1cv9erf

Just be aware that ICS should be pushed out by the end of the month and you will probable need to Root again after the update. Also if you root after taking the ICS update, Motorola phones will forever show the phone has been rooted on the recovery screen. See http://androidforums.com/bionic-all...ecker-also-present-all-bionic-ics-builds.html
Click to expand...


Is there a way to unroot and unistall superuser on my Bionic running 905 if I used the above motofail root method to root it?
 
ts47 said:
Is there a way to unroot and unistall superuser on my Bionic running 905 if I used the above motofail root method to root it?
Click to expand...

I'm not sure exactly how you could do that. There is the possibility of doing and FXZ, which would wipe data. There may be another version of the FXZ that will remove root.

I don't personally have the experience for unrooting, but I'm sure another user knows of a method.
 
I would need something with simple to follow instructions. I'm no expert. BTW... Thanks for the quick reply.
 
ts47 said:
I would need something with simple to follow instructions. I'm no expert. BTW... Thanks for the quick reply.
Click to expand...

Follow the directions in this thread. If you use the modified 5.9.905 fxz it will keep your data and remove root. You will have to uninstall the superuser app just like any other app.

http://androidforums.com/bionic-all-things-root/480176-how-flash-5-9-902-5-9-905-rsdlite.html

If you have any questions post it it the thread and I try and respond as quick as I can.
 
Is there a reason to choose between Motofail and Rsdlite? I've tried some searches but they did not yield a comparison thread.

I'm running 5.8.905.

I rooted once (last November maybe?). I can't remember what I used. I unrooted because it made the lapdock not work back then. I haven't tried since and I apparently deleted whatever program I used at the time.
 
RSDLite is not used to root the device, it is used to replace parts of / the entire OS with a fresh OS.

I've had no issues with MotoFail when using it to root 5.9.905, which is what you should be on as well, not 5.8.905.
 
I'm interested in rooting my Bionic (5.9.905) through the motofail method. I just wanted to know the process for unrooting if I ever need to before I go ahead and do it.

Thanks
 
icedrake523 said:
I'm interested in rooting my Bionic (5.9.905) through the motofail method. I just wanted to know the process for unrooting if I ever need to before I go ahead and do it.

Thanks
Click to expand...

See the post above from dfib for an answer to your question.

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. I wanted to get rid of Superuser, a program that gets installed when you root your phone. With the current version of Android on your phone, 5.9.905, there is no real way to tell if a phone has been rooted except that the Superuser app gets installed. I wound up using Ginger Unroot from the play store to remove it from my phone. I do not believe it actually unroots your phone, just deletes the superuser app. This way no one could tell if the phone had ever been rooted.

Hope this helps.
 
ts47 said:
See the post above from dfib for an answer to your question.

I asked a similar question a few weeks ago. I wanted to get rid of Superuser, a program that gets installed when you root your phone. With the current version of Android on your phone, 5.9.905, there is no real way to tell if a phone has been rooted except that the Superuser app gets installed. I wound up using Ginger Unroot from the play store to remove it from my phone. I do not believe it actually unroots your phone, just deletes the superuser app. This way no one could tell if the phone had ever been rooted.

Hope this helps.
Click to expand...


Ok, I see. I skimmed past it since I thought RSDLite was a method of rooting.

My main concern is what I'll have to do once ICS is officially released (if ever). Would I have to unroot to install it? I don't care about rooting once I get it though.
 
icedrake523 said:
Ok, I see. I skimmed past it since I thought RSDLite was a method of rooting.

My main concern is what I'll have to do once ICS is officially released (if ever). Would I have to unroot to install it? I don't care about rooting once I get it though.
Click to expand...

You shouldn't have to unroot your phone to install ICS. Upgrading to ICS should only be a problem if you go beyond rooting and install costoms roms, etc on your phone. ICS will look for version 5.9.905, which you have already. As long as that doesn't change, you should be fine.

What you should be aware of is that ICS has a root counter on it. If your phone was "ever" rooted. ICS will have a hidden menu that will tell anyone who knows how to check that the phone is or was at onr time rooted. This has no effect on how the phone functions though.

Given what Motorola just announced for the Atrix and a few other models, the only way to get ICS may be to install one of the leaks floating around.
 
ts47 said:
You shouldn't have to unroot your phone to install ICS. Upgrading to ICS should only be a problem if you go beyond rooting and install costoms roms, etc on your phone. ICS will look for version 5.9.905, which you have already. As long as that doesn't change, you should be fine.

What you should be aware of is that ICS has a root counter on it. If your phone was "ever" rooted. ICS will have a hidden menu that will tell anyone who knows how to check that the phone is or was at onr time rooted. This has no effect on how the phone functions though.

Given what Motorola just announced for the Atrix and a few other models, the only way to get ICS may be to install one of the leaks floating around.
Click to expand...

Thanks for your help. The decision to root now is because of how VZW has treated this phone with getting 4.0 to it. I went to a Verizon store today with my dad to deal with some issues on our account and see what they'd offer. It was without a doubt the worst customer service experience I ever had, the manager we dealt with was a clueless, dismissive, incompetent tool. He had no interest in helping us, just apologized and tried to wait us out so we'd get tired of waiting and leave.
 
I am brand spanking new to rooting. the only thing Ive rooted (or Modded) before are PSPs. I wanted to start rooting my tablets and phones so that I could do video screen captures for tutorials that I want to make for my parents, and also to be able to do wifi tethering. I rooted my Tablet, but When review the instructions to root my phone, I get really confused. There just seems to be so many issues posted by users because they either didnt have the exact version of android needed, or an exact version of some set of drivers.

My Phones System Version: 6.7.246.xt875
Model Number: Droid Bionic
Android Version: 4.04 (which is ICS right?)
Ive read through pretty much every post but Im still pretty confused. The last time the main post was updated was in feb, and the closest update post seems to be the following:

dautley said:
for .905 and anything Gingerbread Motofail should work

To root your Bionic:

  1. Install the Motorola Drivers:
  2. Download motofail
  3. Put your Bionic into USB Debugging and USB Charge Only modes
  4. Run motofail's run.bat
  5. ????
  6. Profit
ICS 6.7.2231 to 6.7.242 needs Razrs Edge
Free Online Storage - MediaFire

Just be aware that ICS should be pushed out by the end of the month and you will probable need to Root again after the update. Also if you root after taking the ICS update, Motorola phones will forever show the phone has been rooted on the recovery screen. See http://androidforums.com/bionic-all...ecker-also-present-all-bionic-ics-builds.html
Click to expand...

I know that you have/had a play goin on, so if it still takes a while Ill be patient. I just wanted an idea of when updates might be available, or a finger pointing in the right direction... and hopefully not the middle one :\ though I could appreciate the frustration. But non-the-less please help me.

Also, where can I get a closer look at the legal issues if I root for tethering purposes? I have Verizon.

~edit~
I ran into a video on youtube that suggests a "one-click" root method. Is this legitimate or safe?
 
varxtis said:
I am brand spanking new to rooting. the only thing Ive rooted (or Modded) before are PSPs. I wanted to start rooting my tablets and phones so that I could do video screen captures for tutorials that I want to make for my parents, and also to be able to do wifi tethering. I rooted my Tablet, but When review the instructions to root my phone, I get really confused. There just seems to be so many issues posted by users because they either didnt have the exact version of android needed, or an exact version of some set of drivers.

My Phones System Version: 6.7.246.xt875
Model Number: Droid Bionic
Android Version: 4.04 (which is ICS right?)
Ive read through pretty much every post but Im still pretty confused. The last time the main post was updated was in feb, and the closest update post seems to be the following:



I know that you have/had a play goin on, so if it still takes a while Ill be patient. I just wanted an idea of when updates might be available, or a finger pointing in the right direction... and hopefully not the middle one :\ though I could appreciate the frustration. But non-the-less please help me.

Also, where can I get a closer look at the legal issues if I root for tethering purposes? I have Verizon.

~edit~
I ran into a video on youtube that suggests a "one-click" root method. Is this legitimate or safe?
Click to expand...

Rooting the Bionic is fairly easy if you follow the steps outlined but bin your case it is not needed. To take screen shots it is built into ICS just hold volume down and the power button till you hear the shutter. As for tethering you can use an app called foxfi no root needed just search for it the play store. When it comes to tethering being legal it depends on your plan, if you are on a tiered data plan (2g, 4g ...) then tethering is included and you can use the hotspot on the phone. If you still have an unlimited data plan then it is not included an it is $30 a month but can be prorated ( if you use it for 1 day it will cost about a dollar) or you can use a tethering app for free but if Verizon finds out they can come after you legally and cancel your contract.
 
Psst - video screen captures :p

As in attach it to a device via mini HDMI and capture to a video recording device (which theoretically, should not require root, unless this is a software 'device' instead of a hardware video capture device)
 
First off, thank you for the quick replies.
I don't have an HDMI recording device, and buying one for the PC can be a bit pricey. From what I understand, or at least read about in positive feedback from those who have rooted, it'd be better just to root. On top of my primary goals of video screen capture and wifi tethering I know that Roms only supported when Rooted have a lot of customization options that seem really appealing, like custom slider shortcuts as a tip of the iceberg. and CyanogenMod looks cool too.
I went ahead an rooted using the Razrs Edge flash method instructed in this video How to Root ICS Ice Cream Sandwich 4.0.4 on Droid Bionic official ota 6.7.246 . But theres another tutorial by the same poster Bionic Cyanogen Mod 9 CM9 for the ICS LEAK [Full Review] Install and Download... that goes into features and apps that become available when rooting with the ICS "leak". This makes me very confused. I can only assume that the second video I just linked is referring to some sort of pre-OTA leak of ICS for gingerbread users and the first video I linked shows a method of rooting for those who have OTA ICS.
I hope I havent broken any rules about posting links, but I felt it necessary so that you guys understood what Ive done to my phone and can tell me if I need to unroot and redo it using the instructions on this thread.
 
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