Gingerbread was released in the new update Motorola just pushed out to the Atrix phone. Many have been asking for a way to root the phone even though the bootloader is unlocked. Below you will find the files needed and the steps to root your Motorola Atrix on Gingerbread.
How to root the Motorola Atrix with 4.5.91 Gingerbread 2.3.4
- Download the files
- Connect your phone to your computer
- Switch to fastboot mode by turning off your phone, and turning it back while holding down the Volume Down button until you see Fastboot on the screen. Press volume up button and you should see “Starting Fastboot protocol support”. Note: your computer might install new drivers
- Unzip the 5 files to your C:\ Drive under a new folder named “root”
- Open a command prompt on your computer (Windows logo key + R, type cmd) and go to that directory (should be c:\root) by typing cd c:\root and press enter
- Type the following commands one by one:
- Type moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall preinstall.img and press enter
- Type moto-fastboot.exe reboot and press enter
- At this point your phone will reboot. After it reboots completely, type the following on the same command prompt (if /preinstall/dosu does not work, try /preinstall/su):
- Type adb shell and press enter
- Type /preinstall/dosu and press enter
- Type /bin/mount -o remount,rw /system and press enter
- Type cp /preinstall/su /system/bin/ and press enter
- Type chmod 6755 /system/bin/su and press enter
- Type PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk and press enter
- And reboot the phone, it should be rooted
*Please let us know how the process goes for you if you follow these steps. We want to hear from you.
That was awesome man.. I had a broken exploit due to an OTA update to 2.3.4 and couldnt unroot or root either.. This is the only method so far that has worked.. Thank you. Perfect for broken exploits.
Answered my own question. I changed the command to:
mount -o remount rw, /system
Worked fine. Now to see if the phone is rooted.
Can’t do the remount of /system with rw permission. Says it can’t find /system in /etc/fstab or /etc/mtab.
Anyone else had this issue?
Does need to install the “fastboot” drivers for this to work?
Will this work on Windows 7?
Does it require the original USB for the Artix?
Thanks.
after Type moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall preinstall.img and press enter … How long need to wait… it showing
it has frozen on starting fastboot protocal support , its been like that for an hour , help please?
Just got it rooted. Does anyone know how I can unlock tethering now?
Thanks
I recommend using an app called Barnacle. It sets your phone as a hotspot and easy to turn off and on.
It says it’s not available on my network? (AT&T)
Barnacle may not show up in the Market for you, but you can still download and install it. I just wrote a post on it here for you http://www.digitaltweaker.com/android/apps-android/2011/10/turn-android-phone-into-wireless-hotspot-with-barnacle/
about the easiest root i have done. thank you.
If I didnt follow the instructions correctly, will my phone be bricked? I’m very hesitant to do this because I might do harm to my phone than good.
Thank you
not to ask a silly question but after completing this how can I tell if the phone is rooted properly. I went through the above directions and everything seemed to go well. After I was done I rebooted and went to app market and download a free app call “Root Checker” it scanned it and said I didn’t have root access!? Any help would be greatly appreciated!
i was previously rooted, accidently updated ota and am wondering if this will work for to re-root?? thanks in advance.
yes, that is the only way this process works. you have to update to 4.5.91 first and then proceed with the steps
the space between the /mount -o is what killed me for a bit but reading the other comments help thanks guys
nevermind found the issue, it was a success
cp: /system/bin/su: Read-only file is there any way of fixing this issue thanks man
Worked fine on Atrix 4G MB860 AT&T 4.5.91 Android 2.3.4.
Thanx!
Hi, Problem with step 7.6
Everything was fine until that point were it gave me this error
pkg superuser.apk
Failure
[install_failed_insufficient_storage]
Anyone can help me plz
i saved files as root, go the root command up in cmd but when i try to type in “moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall preinstall.img” i get “moto-fastboot.exe is not reconized as an internal or external command,operable program or batch file”
any information that could help you can e mail me or leave a comment on here thanks in advance. BTW i LOVE my atrix.
Did you ever get a response to this? I am having the same issue as well.
Make sure that when you un-zip the files into the C:\root folder they are not inside a folder themselves. While in the Command Prompt type:
cd C:\root
then
ls
You should see the individual files, not one folder.
If you see one folder then type:
C:\root\*
(where * equals the name of the folder)
then try the commands again.
Worked well. Thanks a lot for posting this!!!
When I type “/preinstall/su” I get permission denied. Why?
GOT IT!
First I got INSTALL_FAILED_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE after trying to install superuser, I exited ADB Shell, went back in and did that step again, PERFECT!
(Also the first try typed without CAPS, superuser.apk instead if Superuser.apk, I don’t know if it’s case sensitive)
Worked perfectly on the newest Atrix 4g 2.3.4 Gingerbread OS with the 4.5.91 build.
Thanks!
It generated 2 errors.
# /bin/mount -o remount,rw /system
/bin/mount -o remount,rw /system
[mntent]: line 42 in /etc/mtab is bad; rest of file ignored
[mntent]: line 42 in /etc/mtab is bad; rest of file ignored
But I have root
Finally!!! Been trying to get this to work forever but this actually worked. Thanks.
It want let me past step 6. – is not a recognized as an internal or external command operable program or batch files
Ok, here are some of my lessons learned (I am a noobie)
Phone must be in USB debug mode to get the adb shell to connect, otherwise you get the error “device not found”
Then the issues with read only is because the mount command failed. I had this problem because I did not see the space between the rw and the /system in line 3 command. Line 3 is the command to set up the directory as read-write hence the rw.
Once I got over the above errors the commands worked well.
HTH
YAY… Good job.. at last I can root and play my games…
This is for STEP 6:
C:\root>moto-fastboot.exe flash preinstall preinstall.img
sending ‘preinstall’ (30720 KB)… OKAY [ 1.971s]
writing ‘preinstall’… OKAY [ 2.154s]
C:\root>moto-fastboot.exe reboot
rebooting…
This is for STEP 7: (I failed on #2, but continue #3)
C:\root>adb shell
$ /preinstall/dosu
/preinstall/dosu
bash: groups: command not found
root@localhost:/# /bin/mount -o remount,rw /system
/bin/mount -o remount,rw /system
root@localhost:/# cp /preinstall/su /system/bin/
cp /preinstall/su /system/bin/
root@localhost:/# chmod 6755 /system/bin/su
chmod 6755 /system/bin/su
root@localhost:/# PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk
PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk
pkg: /preinstall/Superuser.apk
Success
root@localhost:/# /preinstall/dosu
After that, I uninstall the superuser as not stable, i reinstall from google market. Now work like chaim..
Thanks, work like a charm.
Will this method erase any data on my phone?
OMG been trying to root for a month. This worked perfectly for me.
Thanks to everyone for all the helpful comments. BTW i’m a clutz and it still worked for me.
worked like a charm. I was getting the “device not found” error when running “adb shell” and I had to install the sync drivers. When you connect attrix to your computer for the first time it installs a bunch of drivers and then give an option to install “sync drivers”. After I installed that then “device not found” error went away. So maybe need to add that to the instructions list
Worked great! Thanks so much! The best procedure of its kind on the web!
When running the /preinstall/su command I get “permmission denied.
Any ideas?
all works well except getting the error :
# PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/superuser.apk
PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/superuser.apk
pkg: /preinstall/superuser.apk
Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_INSUFFICIENT_STORAGE]
#
type /Superuser.apk changue the s for cap S. this work for me
I’m getting, error: cannot load ‘preinstall.img’… I’m new at this, so any assistance would be appreciated.
/preinstall/dosu
bash: groups: command not found
and su comes up with permission denided
any help?
Hi, I got this error, how can I solve this? Thx in advance…
# PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk
PATH=/system/bin:$PATH pm install /preinstall/Superuser.apk
pkg: /preinstall/Superuser.apk
Failure [INSTALL_FAILED_ALREADY_EXISTS]
If you were previously rooted and had super user access already then this is normal
I followed the directions but my superuser would force close. I then tried running the process again but then I couldn’t do step 3 because of this error /system/bin/su is a read-only file system. I then uninstalled superuser and tried the process again and it worked once superuser was uninstalled.
Thanks, worked like a charm. Awesome work.
Worked very well–thanks for putting together these instructions. The Superuser apk you have packaged here kept force closing, however; after I uninstalled this one and reinstalled from market everything went swimmingly.
unable to do step 5 because /system/bin/su is a read-only file system… any ideas?
Worked like a charm, the Superuser.apk step failed but su worked w/o any issues.
All, I really want is to be able to run ubuntu or debian using the lapdock. Hopefully, this will take me a step closer.
Thanks.
In step 7) 2. Type /preinstall/dosu and press enter
It don’t work, I did wrong? image here http://i52.tinypic.com/rjkuxg.jpg
Thx
try /preinstall/su and continue from there. Also, on the /bin/mount -o remount,rw /system be sure there is a space between mount and -o
Now I must start from step 1 and continue from 7?
Error “Permision denied”
http://i52.tinypic.com/mb1f9s.jpg
Did you get past this errror? I am getting the same error too when running /preinstall/su — “Permission denied”. /preinstall/dosu does nothing on my phone either.
Im getting the same thing how did u solve it?
Works perfect.
If dosu does not work, su will.
If superuser.apk is already installed, step 6 is not need it (turns an error)
I keep trying to root my phone and when I enter the adb shell command I keep receiving an error message that says error: device not found . Please help!!!!
I’m having the same problem
To those having the device not found error, please make sure of the following: 1) you have plugged your phone to your computer previously and installed drivers for it. 2) Your computer recognizes your phone and is shown in My Computer. If not try re-installing the driver, or a different USB port. 3) Try turning on USB Debugging found in Settings>Applications>Development.
Make sure you have USB debugging enabled. That was my problem.
Do you lose all the files and settings on the phone or does it upgrade the kernel only?
You will not lose any information. But it is always good practices to backup.
worked for me! thanks… had to do it twice and used preinstall/su but now it worked. Plus my superuse.apk FAILED because it was already installed. And I did my RootChecker and it was successful… thanks again
When I goto enter adb shell it tells me device not found
Does the phone have to be in debugging mode or do I need a sd card?
You do not need an sd card. I’m not sure about having to be in debugging mode as I pretty much leave mine turned on.
any ideas why mine is saying device not found
Make sure that your phone is recognized by your computer and that the computer has the necessary drivers installed for your phone.
important to note you need the usb atrix drivers for win7 if running that:
http://www.motorola-phones.org/motorola-atrix-4g-free-software-usb-driver.html/
I am having trouble initializing Fastboot. I hold the power_button+volume_down upon startup and select Fastboot with volume_up and it displays “Starting Fastboot protocol support” and remains on this screen until a battery pull. Does anyone know the solution to this as to where I will be able to root an Atrix?
This is normal. This mode just allows the phone to wait on instructions. You should be able to continue with the directions. If for some reason you ever want to get the Atrix out of “Fastboot Mode” you should be safe to pull the battery.
Excuse the potentially noob question but cmd does not promt me with “c:/moto-fastboot-win32″, rather I get prompted with “C:\Users\Name Lastname>”. I am running on Windows 7 64-bit and I extracted the files to C:. I navigated through the command prompt to find moto-fastboot-win32 file but i have still no progress with running any of the files within. Any suggestions?
What folder did you extract the files to under your c drive? Type cd c:”whatever folder you extracted the 5 files to” and continue with directions. For example: I extracted to c:/root so I would type cd c:/root
I was able to advance in steps to 7.1 but from 7.1 to 7.6 I am assuming I may have not fully connected when I input the “/preinstall/dosu” string. I am not familiar with the correct responses I should be expecting or not expecting when the prompt commands and returning text. This is the log of my attempt
http://tinypic.com/r/34oynpg/7
to clarify, i had the USB plugged in since the first power off of the Atrix. I also waited until i was prompted by my computer that both the Atrix and SD card were recognized before proceeding to “adb shell” step.
On 7.2 did you try /preinstall/su instead of /preinstall/dosu? Also, was your atrix rooted before? If so that could be the reason for the error when trying to install the superuser.apk since it already exists. I will try to get some screenshots and/or video up tomorrow
Do I need to connect the phone to my computer? during which step? and should I mount my external sd card?
Yes, sorry. You do need to connect the phone to the computer which you should be able to do before you start putting it into fastboot mode. There shouldn’t be a need to mount the external sd card
Thanks, this is just my first time attempting to root and I really don’t want to brick my phone. when I connect my phone while it’s off the motorola logo shows up on its own, should that get in the way of me starting fastboot mode?
also, does it matter what I name the folder that I unzip the files to?
No this should not affect fastboot. Plug in your phone, turn it off, then immediately press and hold the power button and down volume button. Press the up volume button once you see “Fastboot” on the screen. Also, I have edited the directions to be a little clearer as to where to extract the files.
You have steps 1 & 2 backwards. You have to start the shell with “adb shell” before you can run a shell command “/preinstall/dosu”.
Thanks for catching that Matt! I have updated the directions.
Please help me when I open my command promt it says not specifed