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[GUIDE] ROOT for ASUS eee pad transformer (TF101)

New root method is out for PRE and POST OTA, with insecure BOOT image and CWM recovery
Get It Here http://kan.gd/frm

OK, noobie here,
Please be gentle, I don't have a tablet although by everything I've seen, the transformer will be the one for me. I've read over and over again how rooting your tablet is the best thing to do since bread slicers were invented.
Simple question though. What do I gain by rooting my Transformer ( when they actually ship it in North America ) ?
That's it,
Cheers,
gpearson1968

gpearson1968 said:
OK, noobie here,
Please be gentle, I don't have a tablet although by everything I've seen, the transformer will be the one for me. I've read over and over again how rooting your tablet is the best thing to do since bread slicers were invented.
Simple question though. What do I gain by rooting my Transformer ( when they actually ship it in North America ) ?
That's it,
Cheers,
gpearson1968
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You will be able to configure parts of the computer such as the processor etc that normally is not available to the user. You will be able to install custom ROMs which are different versions of the software included but will often be better than the original. As I mentioned earlier it will also (at some stage) allow you to change CPU settings so save battery or to gain maximum performance!
Hope this answers your questions, if you've got any more then fire away, thats why we're all here!

OK, cool, thanks for the invite.
Next question. If I root my Transformer, and ASUS puts out another version of their "ROM", will I be able to use the ASUS "ROM" ? Or once I root, I cannot go back ?
I obviously don't have a preference since I don't have a tablet yet. I've read how everyone loves the ROMS that out there ( Cyanogen, Vegan, TNT..... ) especially for the G-tab. I love overclockin, especially if you can notice the difference in apps like video playback and such.
For me, modding my soon-to-hold transformer isn't a done deal unless I know that whatever mod I do will enhance what I have, rather than simply replacing what I have. Does that make sense ?
So rooting will allow me to install different mods, and to get access at a deeper level to some of the inner gizzards of the tablet. Very cool.
Anything else it gives me ?
Cheers,
gpearson1968

Congratulations on making it and releasing to the community.
Don't know if this will affect your root method or not but there's supposedly a firmware update out from Asus tomorrow.

gpearson1968 said:
OK, cool, thanks for the invite.
Next question. If I root my Transformer, and ASUS puts out another version of their "ROM", will I be able to use the ASUS "ROM" ? Or once I root, I cannot go back ?
I obviously don't have a preference since I don't have a tablet yet. I've read how everyone loves the ROMS that out there ( Cyanogen, Vegan, TNT..... ) especially for the G-tab. I love overclockin, especially if you can notice the difference in apps like video playback and such.
For me, modding my soon-to-hold transformer isn't a done deal unless I know that whatever mod I do will enhance what I have, rather than simply replacing what I have. Does that make sense ?
So rooting will allow me to install different mods, and to get access at a deeper level to some of the inner gizzards of the tablet. Very cool.
Anything else it gives me ?
Cheers,
gpearson1968
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To answer your question about going back, as long as you do a backup in the recovery it installs you can always go back to stock. You can even unroot it if you want!
So far there are no replacement ROMs out there yet, but Paul from Modaco has released his add on pack which boosts performance and a couple of other bits and pieces and does not affect the user interface so its a good one to try if you just want performance.
Lots of other things and benefits will pop up as time goes on, only a few (very lucky!!!) people have the tablet so far!

Thanks - that worked perfectly! - Now to look at overclocking

This didn't seem to work for me, I could boot into Recovery and perform nandroid backup etc but when I rebooted I ddn't appear to have root.
I have since flashed MCR Beta though so I am happy enough with that.
Cheers for giving us root.

Roach2010 said:
This didn't seem to work for me, I could boot into Recovery and perform nandroid backup etc but when I rebooted I ddn't appear to have root.
I have since flashed MCR Beta though so I am happy enough with that.
Cheers for giving us root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thus you have root

Will this work after the official 15/04 update has been applied?
I keep getting the android with the triangle above his head.

RedMist said:
Will this work after the official 15/04 update has been applied?
I keep getting the android with the triangle above his head.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No it wont You'll need to wait for root to be regained.

djdevine2 said:
No it wont You'll need to wait for root to be regained.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Forgive my simple question: is it possible to sideload apps without root? I gather there's another OTA due on April 28 and may try that before rooting. Would however like to install a couple of apps bought for my G-Tab.

rumors are saying now to root after the 4/14/11 update is ran. so just root it before u connect it to the internet and u can flash my rom and ill make a odexed version tonight after running some opts and go from there.
this devise i will be keeping to stock but will update new apps as needed once i get a new tablet next week.

New root method found will be out ~30th (to avoid the next OTA)
This allows custom recovery + boot image being flashed to the device
So all you US users can relax
I still do not have a device tho
PS.
This method is a team effort so credit is split

Apache14 said:
New root method found will be out ~30th (to avoid the next OTA)
This allows custom recovery + boot image being flashed to the device
So all you US users can relax
I still do not have a device tho
PS.
This method is a team effort so credit is split
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Now that's good news. Any advances on getting nvflash working?

Apache14 said:
New root method found will be out ~30th (to avoid the next OTA)
This allows custom recovery + boot image being flashed to the device
So all you US users can relax
I still do not have a device tho
PS.
This method is a team effort so credit is split
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Italian Transformer here and now I discovered another update, the second form me since the day-one. Can I update or not?
Thanks

Apache14 said:
New root method found will be out ~30th (to avoid the next OTA)
This allows custom recovery + boot image being flashed to the device
So all you US users can relax
I still do not have a device tho
PS.
This method is a team effort so credit is split
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
good stuff!
I'm probably getting one of these in a month or so and was worried about this

Just got my TF and attempted to Root. I press volume up as soon as prompted...
But, then it freezes at "Booting recovery kernel image"
Running "WW_epad-8.2.3.6-20110414"
Guessing it updated somehow without my knowing as the first time it booted it was running a 03/11 build....
I saw a reference to a 04-15 build... Could that really have been the 04-14 build? Is that why it isn't booting the recovery on my sdcard?
===========================
Disregard: I read on the MoDaCo forum that it won't work with the 04/14 build. :-( DAMN!

New Root Method In First Post

now I'm familiar with ADB after messing around with my HTC hero in the past but what is an insecure boot image?

[Q] Rooting, Rom and Kernel Flashing

Hi All,
Been doing reading of the various forums and about to delve into rooting and rom flashing from my transformer. Currently i am running stock 3.1
From what i have been able to tell there are two methods to root. CWM and NVFlash.
I haven't been able to determine what the major differences between them are.
my understanding is that CWM makes it easier to flash multiple roms with out losing data.
whereas if you use nvflash all the data on the device is wiped.
can anyone confirm/correct me?
CWM requires the use of a SD card, whereas NVflash does not
can anyone confirm/correct me?
I have seen that a ROM=OS+Kernel, so if you wanted a different kernel you have to do it after the ROM is installed.
Since I am on 3.1 my choices are:
A. use CWM. I would need to downgrade to 3.0 then i can install CWM and the normal root process
B. Flash with NVFlash directly?
can anyone confirm/correct me?
Thanks for any help anyone can provide.

CWM isn't a rooting method. It's a way to flash roms, kernels, make backups etc.
The root methods are the original cmd line method with the flashing blobs etc. and the nvflash rooting method.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

Also since there is no cmd line way of rooting the original 3.1 rom you have two options.
1. Downgrade back to the original 3.0 rom and root using cmd line method. Not that hard.
2. Nvflash, which is straight up easy. DOWNLOAD a tar file with some images, get into nvflash mode and run a script to apply a rooted rom and it installs CWM for you.
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA Premium App

So it definitely appears that I had a mis-understanding of CWM.
CWM !=Rooting.
Its the CLI rooting that after that allowed me to install CWM.
So I would DL NVFlash from: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1123429
Download my rom of choice, for an example lets say Prime.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052380 (the NVFlash version)
Hookup my tablet via USB and run the program and follow the necessary steps (AXP mode and what not). No SD Card is required.
Then I have CWM installed and my rom of choice installed.
My next question would be then what? My understanding would be now that i am rooted and CWM is installed i can switch Rom's much easier now using that tool?

SangreSlayer said:
So it definitely appears that I had a mis-understanding of CWM.
CWM !=Rooting.
Its the CLI rooting that after that allowed me to install CWM.
So I would DL NVFlash from: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1123429
Download my rom of choice, for an example lets say Prime.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1052380 (the NVFlash version)
Hookup my tablet via USB and run the program and follow the necessary steps (AXP mode and what not). No SD Card is required.
Then I have CWM installed and my rom of choice installed.
My next question would be then what? My understanding would be now that i am rooted and CWM is installed i can switch Rom's much easier now using that tool?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
everything is correct.
As for as then what....wait for the newest roms and flash that. try some kernels, roms and always make backups.

When you say make backups are you talking about making them with applications like titanium backup?

SangreSlayer said:
When you say make backups are you talking about making them with applications like titanium backup?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no CWM backups up your entire installed rom(system,data, etc). Basically a carbon copy of the rom your using.

He's talking about nandroid backups.

david279 said:
no CWM backups up your entire installed rom(system,data, etc). Basically a carbon copy of the rom your using.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
these are called nandroid backups in CWM world...

Thanks everyone for your help. About to give the nvflash a go right now

SangreSlayer said:
Thanks everyone for your help. About to give the nvflash a go right now
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Let us know how it went.
I am waiting for someone tomakeit real easy to root,like with an app or something like that.
Have rooted my galaxyS which was real easy.
Cheers.

I got a newbie question on android rooting/custom roms, currently mine is stock unrooted. Going through the rooting process would all of the current apps and everything be wiped? next if installing a custom rom is there a method to keep all of your applications without having to reinstall/lose of data?

Taxnl said:
Let us know how it went.
I am waiting for someone tomakeit real easy to root,like with an app or something like that.
Have rooted my galaxyS which was real easy.
Cheers.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What are you taking about? It doesn't get any easier then this. Try making a gold card and come tell me how hard this really is. Psssh make it easy

nvflash make it easy, but I enjoy flashing via CWM. Not sure why?

While we wait for the poster's update on how it went, I would appreciate it if someone would help me with two very simple rooting questions:
1) Is it possible to root my Transformer without flashing a new ROM? IE, just override the security to allow the user to have root access and use root required apps.
2) Is it true that the Transformer is still running the android cell standby service, eating up most of the battery life while in standby mode? Can this be removed with root access?
Many thanks

Sorry for the delayed response.
Flashed it and it was real easy as I suspected.
It updated the rom and rooted it and everything.
There are a couple of issues (Browser has crashed 3 times, whenever i press the home button it is putting me on the first screen instead of the middle one and the SOD) but I believe it has more to do with my ROM (Prime 1.5) than the actual flashing process.
Another question I have has to do with CWM, do i need a SD card to use that method to flash a new rom?
Thanks!

This thread convinced me to flash. Didn't know I could like my tf that much more.

[Q] So I think it is time to root this thing Can someone help out this noob

So I waited for the GB update and I like it but I think it is time to root this phone. I want to stress that I have had this phone since a little bit after it came out about two weeks after and it has run like a champ from day 1. No problems at all so when I updated to gb it was actually a downgrade in some ways like the camera but I definitly like gb because of the text editing but I havent noticed any improvement in battery life or speed or signal or GPS but All thouse things were great before and they are great now.
So I am running GB 2.3.3 withthe july 15 baseband and kernel 2.6.32.9 and I know it is different to root but I dont fully uinderstand it so if someone can post a detailed guide with as much explanation as possible so I understand what I am doing I would greatly appriciate it. I assume you cant get NV flasher from the market (I Havent looked) and what is cwm or cmw and if I flash a new rom will I loose the new baseband? Or can I get root permissions and keep stock GB? Tahnk you for all your help

First read the sticky at the top of the Android Development page. That sticky basically explains everything you will need to know, step by step.
In summary though....
Step 1 - NVFlash (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847)
Step 2 - Download Xboarders Rooted OTA.zip (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1179748)
Step 3 - Boot into Clockwork Recovery
Step 4 - Install Zip from SD Card - the Zip you downloaded above
Voila you have rooted GB 2.3.3 with new baseband.
An alternative that I would suggest would be Eaglesblood 1.06 GB 2.3.3 though, smoothest ROM on the boards IMO and based on GB 2.3.3

jabhome said:
An alternative that I would suggest would be Eaglesblood 1.06 GB 2.3.3 though, smoothest ROM on the boards IMO and based on GB 2.3.3
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've tried both Roms and I would have to sway that Xboarder's Tweaked Rom is the best GB update 2.3.3 Rom.

pdxmatts said:
I've tried both Roms and I would have to sway that Xboarder's Tweaked Rom is the best GB update 2.3.3 Rom.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did not try Xboarders tweaked, maybe I will give it a try.
Does swype work on that rom as phone just took a dump with swype beta. First reboot in over two months just now.
Sent from my LG-P999 using Tapatalk

Follow the advice above. I flashed a rom for the first time today.
Does the Netflix app work on xboarder's rom? I'm having issues with HDMI on CM7 going out about every 5 minutes but coming right back. I really need the netflix app for travel.

+1 on xboarders. Runs smooth and has all of the stock features
Sent from my LG-P999

thanks guys that was what I thought. So it really is that easy? What actually gives it the root? is it the xboarders rom? I am going to ask alot of questions because I want to understand how it actually works so please bear with me. It sounds like it actually got easir to root with this update no? It seems like NVflash is a app or program that lets me put the rom on my sim card should I go internal or external? I have a whole bunch of external cards with diffewrent capacitys and the one i use now is 16 gig. Then clockwork recovery is a program that is already on the dvice I dont know if it is part of android or what but it is alrady there right? It lets me choose wether I want to recover or make a backup of roms or install new ones correct? Then when I put the tweeked rom on it has something in it hat roots the phone magically.
Please let me know what I am right about and what I am not right about and give me the correct answers because I really want to know I am a nosey motherfer
Charlie

So According to the thread in this forum titles "how to get the new baseband" the rooted version of the new rom does not contain the new baseband. Or is that the leaked gingerbread that came out a few months ago way before the update came out? He is not talking about xboarders rom right? If I do what was suggested here I will in fact have the new baseband and 2.3.3 rooted right?
Charlie

correct
mojorisin7178 said:
So According to the thread in this forum titles "how to get the new baseband" the rooted version of the new rom does not contain the new baseband. Or is that the leaked gingerbread that came out a few months ago way before the update came out? He is not talking about xboarders rom right? If I do what was suggested here I will in fact have the new baseband and 2.3.3 rooted right?
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you have the new baseband now no roms will change that.
The roms do not include the baseband .

mojorisin7178 said:
thanks guys that was what I thought. So it really is that easy? What actually gives it the root? is it the xboarders rom? I am going to ask alot of questions because I want to understand how it actually works so please bear with me. It sounds like it actually got easir to root with this update no? It seems like NVflash is a app or program that lets me put the rom on my sim card should I go internal or external? I have a whole bunch of external cards with diffewrent capacitys and the one i use now is 16 gig. Then clockwork recovery is a program that is already on the dvice I dont know if it is part of android or what but it is alrady there right? It lets me choose wether I want to recover or make a backup of roms or install new ones correct? Then when I put the tweeked rom on it has something in it hat roots the phone magically.
Please let me know what I am right about and what I am not right about and give me the correct answers because I really want to know I am a nosey motherfer
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I flash from my external SD Card. You just need to decide where you want to install from, and then make sure you set up NVFlash with the correct support, external or internal.
Not sure of the exact terminology, but I think the procedure itself would be called to NVFlash ClockworkMod. NVFlash is the procedure to install CWM, while CWM is the program that you will run via Volume Down + Power when you boot up. CWM 4.0.0.2 will boot up and from there you will be able to flash roms, backup and restore Nandroids.

Ah that makes sense Now I see CWM stands for Clock work mod. See I was thinking CWM is a rom I actually thought it stood for cyogen mod I just couldnt figure out the W. So when I flash CWM it contains the root permissions already is that how it works?
So I should use nvflash to install cwm then I should probally make a backup of my stock rom. Also If I just install or flash CWM and not flash a new rom then Will my phone be rooted stock? or do I have to flash the xborders rom to gain root?
Thanks alot guys
Charlie

mojorisin7178 said:
Ah that makes sense Now I see CWM stands for Clock work mod. See I was thinking CWM is a rom I actually thought it stood for cyogen mod I just couldnt figure out the W. So when I flash CWM it contains the root permissions already is that how it works?
So I should use nvflash to install cwm then I should probally make a backup of my stock rom. Also If I just install or flash CWM and not flash a new rom then Will my phone be rooted stock? or do I have to flash the xborders rom to gain root?
Thanks alot guys
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
CWM doesn't "contain" root permissions, it just allows you to flash any ROM into the phone, rooted or otherwise. The Xboarder ROM is pre-rooted, along with most of the others.

THANK YOU!
I too am a noob and was a little confused. I'd search the forums and come up with too much info. Plus, some terms used on this forum are slightly overloaded (in the C++ context) from the classic meanings, like "ROM" and "baseband". Those terms as used here do not mean exactly what they meant 20 years ago.
I'm sure I need to read more on app dev (but I have too many hobbies already), but I'm confused about the layers of s/w. As a noob, I would think the layers would be BIOS or maybe BSP, Linux, Android. So I don't understand:
1) where does the clockwork mod fit within the layers?
1a) nvdia nvflash installs new drivers in the Linux layer?
2) what is contained in the ROM image? A new version of Linux, andriod, nvdia drivers, baseband?
3) Is there a BIOS/BSP, or is all register access done in Linux drivers?
I'm not looking for a developers level answer to these questions, more of the readers digest version of the answers.
Since I'm having black screen of death (I believe referred to here as "SOD"), on two phones, I'd like to understand more, to figure out if this problem is h/w or s/w. I am definitely leaning towards s/w problems and my wife and I would love to keep these phones.
Thanks again.
-Bob

mojorisin7178 said:
Ah that makes sense Now I see CWM stands for Clock work mod. See I was thinking CWM is a rom I actually thought it stood for cyogen mod I just couldnt figure out the W. So when I flash CWM it contains the root permissions already is that how it works?
So I should use nvflash to install cwm then I should probally make a backup of my stock rom. Also If I just install or flash CWM and not flash a new rom then Will my phone be rooted stock? or do I have to flash the xborders rom to gain root?
Thanks alot guys
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Continuing off of what Spyvie said, you do need to flash xboarder's rom to gain root, (more like repeating what he said). As for nvflash, this should make things a bit easier. tgagunman made a nice one click feature that if you follow the directions, should be easier to follow. You will get clockwork mod recovery, it will be nvflashed, but it's a lot easier for a non-techie to use.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847

I want to thank everyone who chimed in you guys have been really good to me Bob has some really good questions also and I hope this thread can help you out bob. That is why I started this thread for people like me who are really good with computers and like to mess around but don't quite understand phones. Every time something goes wrong with my PC I go to the forums and I fix it myself then I feel good. (And I have had some real disasters on my PC I have come back from)
Anyway I will be doing this procedure soon as I feel confident that I can do it and I see there is a fix for unbricking phones. One last question before I hit the green light: Can it be unrooted just in case I have to send it back for warantey issues and can CWM be uninstalled? I suspect that since the ROM is pre-rooted that all I would have to do is format and install my original ROM then uninstall CWM is that on point or no? And Again THANKS TO ALL WHO CHIME IN WITH THE ANSWERS AND I WOULD LIKE TO INVITE OTHERS TO CHIME IN WITH THERE QUESTIONS.
Charlie

Okay so I checked out the links. So I gather that step 1 has to be skipped now because super1click does not work. So we can just NVflash CWM which looks easy enough. Now I have winzip on my computer will that work for extracting .rar files? I am pretty sure it will but I want to make sure. And I am going to shut off user control permissions and I use MS security essentials for my Anti virus so I am thinking of shutting that off for this procedure would that be a wise thing and is there anything else that I should do. I am not a computer expert but I am not a idiot either I am just inexperienced. Thank you guys
Charlie

mojorisin7178 said:
Can it be unrooted just in case I have to send it back for warantey issues and can CWM be uninstalled?
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can restore you Nandroid of the preroot OTA, or you can unroot with the unroot zip that Xboarder provided in his link.

mojorisin7178 said:
Okay so I checked out the links. So I gather that step 1 has to be skipped now because super1click does not work. So we can just NVflash CWM which looks easy enough. Now I have winzip on my computer will that work for extracting .rar files? I am pretty sure it will but I want to make sure. And I am going to shut off user control permissions and I use MS security essentials for my Anti virus so I am thinking of shutting that off for this procedure would that be a wise thing and is there anything else that I should do. I am not a computer expert but I am not a idiot either I am just inexperienced. Thank you guys
Charlie
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, there is nothing else you need to do to your computer. The link provided by the brother above (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1056847) is where you need to be. Skip the one click root and go straight to NV flash. It will guide you through installing the nvidia drivers you need. TGA_Gunnman has is laid out really nice and easy to follow and the program he put together (one click clm recovery nv flasher) is really simple to understand and use. he also has another post out there (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1060715) that is also helpfull. Once you get nv flash done make sure you copy the rom you want on your sd card. IMO Xboarders is very nice and smooth. You will hold down volume down and power together until you see the android screen. Then in the menu use vol keys to move to backup and restore and use power to select. Then move to yes and run the backup. then you can wipe data/factory restore. Then wipe cache. Then go to advanced and wipe dalvic and batt stats. Then go back to "choose zip from sd" and find your rom zip and select it. It will run for a while and tell you when its done, Then go to advanced again and fix permission. After that just go to reboot option and let it reboot. It may take a little longer the first time, just let it go. When it reboots you will have a rooted 2.3.3 with the new baseband you just updated to. After that go to the market and get Titanium Backup and run a backup of all your apps and data. From there your pretty much good to start flashing away. Have fun, Good luck

Questions about using Bootstrap on Atrix 2

I feel monumentally stupid asking this question, but I've run out of options. I have tried searching first, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to phrase the search and most of the search results are for non-Atrix 2 phones, so I don't know how reliable the information is.
My previous phone was an HTC Evo which was fully rootable and unlockable etc., and an HTC Evo 3d which was fully rootable and unlockable at the time I managed to do it (apparently the 3d goes through phases where it is, then phases where it isn't, depending on its updates). My basic and non-technical understanding of the Atrix 2 environment is that becauase the bootloader is currently locked, the backup/restore/flashing solutions have to perform a few tricks to work.
So from what I can tell in the dev forum, there are currently two ways to backup and flash roms. There is safestrap, which apparently isn't quite working yet, which partitions your microSD card and runs everything from there -- essentially when you boot your phone it tells the OS to boot from the microSD card which effectively lets you treat your Atrix 2 as a fully unlocked and rooted device with a remarkably large and well-configured recovery partition. Unfortunately, according to the title of the safestrap thread, it's not quite working yet, and a few of the roms posted in the development forum specifically say not to use it.
OK, so bootstrap. It was updated as of Jan 1. If you have already rooted your Atrix 2 (I have) then it throws up a menu that lets you boot into recovery, and it will install (I think this is my understanding) a custom version of ClockwordMod Recovery? But you can't get there from boot, you have to boot into Android and then reboot back into the recovery environment.
Is that correct?
If that is correct, then my next question is what happens in the hypothetical scenario where you install a rom, something goes wrong, and you want to restore a previous backup but you can't boot into Android?
There's something I'm missing about how all this is supposed to work and it looks like it's something so obvious that nobody actually talks about it in the threads -- or when they're talking about it, I don't actually realize that's what they're talking about so it doesn't register.
Anyway. Thanks for your time.

There's a script in the thread that gives you cwm on boot. The catch is it goes to recovery first EVERYTIME you boot.

ubersoft said:
I feel monumentally stupid asking this question, but I've run out of options. I have tried searching first, but I'm having trouble figuring out how to phrase the search and most of the search results are for non-Atrix 2 phones, so I don't know how reliable the information is.
My previous phone was an HTC Evo which was fully rootable and unlockable etc., and an HTC Evo 3d which was fully rootable and unlockable at the time I managed to do it (apparently the 3d goes through phases where it is, then phases where it isn't, depending on its updates). My basic and non-technical understanding of the Atrix 2 environment is that becauase the bootloader is currently locked, the backup/restore/flashing solutions have to perform a few tricks to work.
So from what I can tell in the dev forum, there are currently two ways to backup and flash roms. There is safestrap, which apparently isn't quite working yet, which partitions your microSD card and runs everything from there -- essentially when you boot your phone it tells the OS to boot from the microSD card which effectively lets you treat your Atrix 2 as a fully unlocked and rooted device with a remarkably large and well-configured recovery partition. Unfortunately, according to the title of the safestrap thread, it's not quite working yet, and a few of the roms posted in the development forum specifically say not to use it.
OK, so bootstrap. It was updated as of Jan 1. If you have already rooted your Atrix 2 (I have) then it throws up a menu that lets you boot into recovery, and it will install (I think this is my understanding) a custom version of ClockwordMod Recovery? But you can't get there from boot, you have to boot into Android and then reboot back into the recovery environment.
Is that correct?
If that is correct, then my next question is what happens in the hypothetical scenario where you install a rom, something goes wrong, and you want to restore a previous backup but you can't boot into Android?
There's something I'm missing about how all this is supposed to work and it looks like it's something so obvious that nobody actually talks about it in the threads -- or when they're talking about it, I don't actually realize that's what they're talking about so it doesn't register.
Anyway. Thanks for your time.
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In the situation that you describe, even the CWM on boot that mtnlion mentioned, still may not get you into CWM. In that case your ONLY option is to flash the fxz file with rsd lite, that will restore you to a full stock out of the box atrix 2, which you then have to re-root, then re-install bootstrap, then restore your backup.
Sorry there is not an easier way right now, but until the bootloader is unlocked we can't flash CWM, so that we can get to it, as you would the default android recovery, because that does require the default recovery to be replaced, and an unlocked bootloader is required for that to work.
Safestrap is really a tool that is only useful to those actually developing, or people that we have asked to test something out, and since lfaber06 and I don't have a version to release to the public that we are happy with yet, that is not an option.

Oh!
So you install bootstrap, then you install the script, and when you do that it basically acts like a grub menu? That makes sense.

ubersoft said:
Oh!
So you install bootstrap, then you install the script, and when you do that it basically acts like a grub menu? That makes sense.
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No, if you get a bad flash you still may not be able to get into CWM, since it requires files that are actually in the Android ROM, to fully work. Read my post above ^^^

Heh. Apparently I started posting at about the same time you posted your detailed explanation...
Thanks for the additional information. Based on that, it looks like I need to wait a bit longer before mucking about with my Atrix 2. Thanks for the update!

ubersoft said:
Heh. Apparently I started posting at about the same time you posted your detailed explanation...
Thanks for the additional information. Based on that, it looks like I need to wait a bit longer before mucking about with my Atrix 2. Thanks for the update!
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No, it is perfectly safe, but the restore is just a little more complex than you had to deal with, with other phones. I have done exactly what I mentioned above SEVERAL times, with out issue, since I am doing a ton of dev work on this phone.
The ROMs that are out there are great right now, and lfaber06s ROM is really good, and I will be releasing a version of CM7 very soon. If you wait for a bootloader unlock, it may never come, or at least it may not be very soon.
The worst thing that happens is that you have to flash the fxz, which it is documented how to do that with RSD lite very well in the noob thread here. then you can restore your backup with out issue, it is just a few extra steps.

Bootstrap is really safe as is all of lfaber06 Roms right now. I have no problem recommending either of his roms to anyone. They are both very good. As Jim has stated the only problems we have is if something wrong happens on boot, but with the fastboot files, RSD lite, and the one click root method you have everything available to get you right back to where you were before you flashed.
I can promise you everything works very good as I have soft bricked my phone so many rimes in the last 2 weeks that I have become very efficient at getting back to stock, rooting and then flashing a backup with bootstrap and can be back in business n around 20 mins. Just always be near a computer when you start flashing things. One thing that will help out is to keep a backup of the bootstrap on tour SD card so if you have something go wrong you don't have to redownload it again.
We have a very good group of people here and if anyone has any problems we can get you through them and back running

Well there we are then!
So after getting a clearer picture of the situation (thanks for the explanation) I blocked off most of the night, installed bootstrap, then installed lfaber06's Supercharged v4. It took forever, but it worked flawlessly.
Thanks everyone for your patience and encouragement.

[Q] How to Flash CM7?

OK, so im new to the android PHONE scene. I used to flash my Eken m001 often, but the phones seem to be a whole new ball game.
I was wondering if clockwork mod recovery or 3e recovery needed to be installed. I already have root access.
Im really realising how much of a n00b i am. lol.
so, much help would be appreciated.

InfuseThat4G said:
OK, so im new to the android PHONE scene. I used to flash my Eken m001 often, but the phones seem to be a whole new ball game.
I was wondering if clockwork mod recovery or 3e recovery needed to be installed. I already have root access.
Im really realising how much of a n00b i am. lol.
so, much help would be appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the links on my signature for a beginner's how to.
It may help. Read it a few times
Instructions on how to flash CM7 is in the CM7 threads.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1400375