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How to Root and Install Custom Recovery in Motorola Xoom WiFi on ICS Android 4.0.3 Firmware

by on January 7, 2012 2:13 pm
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views26960
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The Motorola Xoom WiFi carries the slogan that it's everything a tablet should be. And naturally, because it's an Android device, the Motorola Xoom WiFi has the potential to become even more through the wonders of rooting. Not only will you be able to enjoy the Motorola Xoom WiFi's promised performance, but you'll also be able to push it a little harder with custom ROMs.

In this guide, you will learn two things: how to root your Motorola Xoom WiFi and install a custom recovery image on it. Be warned however that rooting voids the warranty. The only way to restore the warranty is to restore the factory firmware.

Before we begin with the rooting process, there are a few things you'll need to do or remember:

  • Back up all your data, in case your data becomes corrupted or is lost during the rooting process. Better to be safe than sorry.
  • Ensure that your device has at least 60% battery life so that it does not shut off in the middle of the rooting process.
  • Enable USB Debugging. You can do so through Settings > Applications > Development > USB Debugging.
  • This guide is for the Motorola Xoom WiFi that has been updated to the latest Android 4.0.3 Ice Cream Sandwich firmware. This guide may or may not work for other Xoom models or other firmware versions. So, proceed at your own risk.

Step-by-step Instructions

The rooting process involves three steps. The first is to download the required files and copy them to your device. The second is to install ClockworkMod Recovery on your Motorola Xoom WiFi. The third is to install Superuser. Once you've met all the requirements, you can proceed:

Downloading and Copying Required Files

  1. Download the Superuser package from here. Save it to your computer.
  2. Download the ClockworkMod Recovery image from here. Save it to your computer. Rename it as “recovery.img” (without the quotes).
  3. Connect your device to your computer using a USB cable.
  4. Copy the Superuser package and the ClockworkMod Recovery image to the root of your device's SD card.
  5. Disconnect the device from your computer.

Installing ClockworkMod Recovery

  1. Turn off your device.
  2. Reboot your device into fastboot mode.
  3. Connect the device again to your computer using a USB cable.
  4. Open a command prompt window and issue this command without the quotes: “fastboot flash recovery recovery.img” This command will push the recovery image into the device.
  5. Once the recovery image has been pushed successfully, the device will reboot.
  6. Disconnect the device from your computer.
  7. ClockworkMod Recovery will now have been installed on your device. You can now move on to the next part of the tutorial.

Installing Superuser

  1. Turn off your device.
  2. Reboot the device into recovery mode. You can do this by holding the Volume Down button as soon as you see the Motorola logo while the device is booting up.
  3. In recovery mode, select “Flash Zip from SD Card”.
  4. Select “Choose Zip from sd card”, then select the Superuser package that you copied to your device earlier.
  5. The package will be flashed to your device.
  6. Reboot into normal mode afterwards.

Congratulations! You have successfully rooted your Motorola Xoom WiFi. You can now you can enjoy a variety of custom ROMs and tweaks on your device.

WRITER

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We're all multi-talented and multi-faceted here, but, perhaps, Carl is the most multi-faceted in the bunch. Among Carl's many interests, Android holds a special place. He's particularly fond of reviewing Android apps and writing step-by-step guides for fellow Android fans.

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Comments
  • JoeSmith

    fastboot is not a recognized command in the command prompt. Is ADB needed to perform this?

    • Nick Cardullo

      Yes, you will need ADB installed on the computer you are using to root from.

  • Chrome98

    Why would you post step by step instructions that only Droid Nerds would understand when exposing how to root a Xoom when they would probably already have a clue. Let me explain for we non-droid-nerds.

    1. In the “Before we begin” section, you say to “backup all your data” – even I know you can’t do this without rooting first… WTF?

    2. I downloaded the image file but can’t find an app that let’s me rename it on the Xoom. Or was I supposed to download it to a PC?

    3. You say to install Clockwork mod Recovery. There is no such app. There is a ROM Manager by Clockworkmod that has an option for Clockworkmod Recovery, but I’m not sure its what you are referring to, nor how to use it.

    4. “Installing Clockworkmod Recovery” you say to reboot in “fast boot mode” WTF? How do you do that?

    5. “Open a command prompt window” you mean on the PC conne Ted to?

    Well…. the list goes on. Anyone have a link where the average Xoom user can get specific instructions on rooting the device?

    • Johnjp1

      I feel the same way. I have tried this countless times and I still can’t make it work. WTF

      • Brian Villanueva

        If you can’t figure it out, then you have no business rooting.

    • Nick Cardullo

      1. Everything on your SD card *should* be safe, but for extra measure plug it into your PC and make a copy of it on there. Just in case something gets corrupted (never had that happen to me with any device I’ve rooted though)

      2. Try Root Explorer or Astro File Manager. If neither works for you, download the file on your PC, rename and then put it in your Xoom SD card.

      3. ROM Manager is an app that runs on your Xoom as a “helper” to extra functions in Clockwork Mod Recovery. CMR is software that runs seperately from the Android OS. On a stock device it allows you to do things like a factory reset/wipe if you ever encounter a situation where your device won’t boot up. CMR allows you to do all that, as well as backup your entire device, flash roms and several other features the stock recovery won’t allow.

      4. Open a command prompt window on the PC your Xoom is connected to and type in “adb reboot fastboot”. Note that you must have USB Debugging enabled, and the Android ADB software installed on your PC

      5. Yes, any reference to a command prompt window is on the PC your Xoom is connected to.

      Note that I do not (yet) own a Xoom. I am experienced in rooting several phones and have used adb, clockwork recovery, etc extensively and believe this information is correct. The ADB instructions may be slightly different for a Xoom, so please double check them.

    • Brian Villanueva

      If you can’t figure it out, then you have no business rooting.

  • http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1831053433 Manuel Nieto

    Okay first off the only thing in the guide that works is the SU files.

    Second this guide is all wrong, I’m not trying to offend anybody but this won’t work if you don’t have a history with rooting android device’s.

    Third the clock work recovery is outdated or something

    Here’s the correct way.

    *Make sure you have fastboot and adb installed( you could probably get by with just fastboot)
    *Download this Clock work mod recover from here instead
    http://www.mediafire.com/?e7m1pfg5ztobhb9
    *Download the SU files above in this post

    First open command prompt, you must unlock you bootloader first.
    Put your device into fastboot type “fastboot oem unlock” (without “)
    Follow instructions on device

    After device rebooted put it in to fastboot again
    assuming you put the boot file you downloaded form me in the right folder type “fastboot flash recovery boot.img (without “)

    After it’s done boot into recovery and flash the su files

    *This was typed up very fast and not entirely detailed.

  • Imr4nali

    i got upto step 4 on installing clockworkmod but when i enter fastboot flash recovery recovery.img command promp says that fastboot is not recognised as a internal or external command. i have the devide in fastboot with the usb plugged in the screen is on the rem circle with a white m logo and at the top its says –> Fastboot
    Starting Fastboot protocol support.

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