Still hanging onto that old DROID2 or R2D2 while waiting for a phone that catches your eye? We’ve got some good news. Since it was updated to Gingerbread, rooting the D2 was a bit of a chore, but now a developer using ideas that gained the D3 root, has an easy way to root Android 2.3.4 on the DROID2. It also works on the R2D2 edition of the device as well, since they run similar builds.

On Windows, all you need to do is have the Motorola drivers and RSD Lite installed along with the file that developer phifc created. There is support for Linux as well for a bit of diversity. If you’re looking to root your phone to get a bit more use out of it, hit the source link below and happy flashing!

Via: RootzWiki

Cheers Derek!

New Root Method Found for DROID2 and R2D2, Developers Still Show Love for the Older Devices is a post from: Droid Life

We noticed that more than a few of you are having issues receiving the DROID2 Gingerbread update due to the fact that you are rooted, have removed bloatware, etc. and wanted to walk you through the flashing of an SBF file – basically the only way you can return to stock to get official 2.3.3.  We should warn you though, that SBF files wipe your device clean and are also pretty dangerous.  This is one of the few ways that you can actually brick a Motorola phone, so be careful.  

Download:  VRZ_A955_2.3.20.zip

Instructions:

*Make sure your battery is fully charged.

1.  Download and install Motorola USB drivers that fit your Windows system. [Download]
2.  Download and install RSD Lite 4.8.  [Download]
3.  Download the Droid2 SBF file from above to your PC.
4.  Unzip that file to somewhere other than your desktop.
5.  Open RSD Lite, tap the “…” button, find the 2.3.20 SBF file that you just unzipped and select it.
6.  Plug your phone into your computer and turn it off.
7.  Boot into bootloader by holding the Up Arrow and then holding Power until the screen flashes.

Should say “Battery OK – OK to Program – Transfer Mode: USB”

8. Click the start button and allow your phone to flash 2.2 (2.3.20 Blur).
9.  When your phone gets to 100% and reboots, you are all done.
10.  If your phone reboots and has a bunch of Force Closes, you need to factory reset.
11.  Boot your phone into recovery using ADB and command “adb reboot recovery.”
12.  Run a factory reset/wipe data.  Reboot your phone and accept the update.

Hope that helps those of you that are stuck.  It has been a while since we did an SBF flashing walk-through.  For additional help, feel free to check out this similar post for the DROIDX that was done almost a year ago. You will find a lot of helpful RSD Lite tips in case you do run into issues.

How to: Return DROID2 Back to Stock 2.2 to Receive Gingerbread Update is a post from: Droid Life

Actually, this method should root just about any Motorola phone running Gingerbread.  So not only will it work on the DROID3, DROID2, DROIDX2, and DROIDX, but it should also work on the DROID Pro and D2 Global when they receive an update – hopefully the DROID Bionic too.  We were inspired to write this for the simple fact that the D2 received Gingerbread last night finally, and within 5 minutes I was rooted.

Thanks to Framework43 and psouza4 for putting this together.  It couldn’t be any simpler than this method right here.  

Download:  MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip

Instructions:

1.  Make sure you have Motorola drivers installed - [Download Drivers]
2.  Download the MotorolaOneClickRoot.zip file from above and unzip it to your Windows PC.
3.  On your phone go into  Settings>Applications>Development and check the box for USB Debugging.
4.  Plug phone into your computer and select “Charge Only” mode.
5.  Navigate to MotorolaOneClickRoot folder and run MotorolaOneClickRoot.exe.
6.  Follow the instructions in the command window.
7.  Your phone will complete 3 steps, rebooting along the way.  When it finishes, you will be rooted.

Full support can be found at this thread in case you run into issues.

How to: Root the DROID2, DROIDX2, DROIDX, and DROID3 Running Gingerbread is a post from: Droid Life

DROID2 owners, get ready for nightly builds of the CM7 port that JBirdVegas has been working so diligently on.  According to @cvpcs, they are bringing it all over and will merge it into the CM tree to make it an officially supported device.  It’s already showing up on GitHub under CM, so you’ll want to make sure you have ROM Manager premium for easy access to all of the nightly work that will be done.  Pretty big day for D2 owners who have been feeling a little left out after seeing the DROIDX get both official Gingerbread and CM7 long ago.

Anything to say, D2 owners?

Cheers Brian, Gordon and Christian!

DROID2 Gets Official CM7, Nightlies Should Start Tonight is a post from: Droid Life

A deodexed Gingerbread was released on Tuesday for the DROIDX, but we almost missed the version for the DROID2 that came out yesterday.  Wouldn’t want to leave out any D2 owners would we?  A big thanks again to the guys at My Droid World for this.

Instructions:

*DROID2 ONLY.

*DROIDX version is here.

1.  You HAVE to already be running the rooted Gingerbread.
2.  Read step 1 again.  Good? Proceed.
3.  Download:  d2gbrooteddeodexed.zip
4.  Drop the file on the root of your SD card.
5.  Using the D2 Bootstrap, reboot into recovery.
6.  Choose “install zip from sd card”, “choose” the file from above.
7.  When finished, your phone will reboot and appear to bootloop, which is fine.
8.  If it bootloops for more than a minute or 2, pull the battery and reboot.

Note 1 – If it doesn’t work the first time, try wiping data and then re-flashing the file.
Note 2 – If you are having syncing issues afterwards, perform a factory reset a couple of times.
Note 3 – If you are missing apps from your market, here is the fix.  [courtesy of JRummy]

Full support can be found at My Droid World.

Cheers Owen!

Download: Rooted and Deodexed Gingerbread for DROID2 is a post from: Droid Life

JRummy and Kejar dropped Liberty ROM 2.0 on us this morning for those of you that have not upgraded to Gingerbread or are willing to flash an SBF back to 2.3.340.  This new version includes a revamped theme by @davekover, new wallpapers, a tad bit of Blur for stability issues, and a crazy new Toolbox.  The previous versions of Liberty were top notch, so you can bet this will be too.

In order to get it right now though, you’ll have to donate $5 by purchasing the Liberty Toolbox Pro which will then download version 2.0 automatically.  If you aren’t down to drop $5, then just wait a couple of days for it to go fully-public.   

Download Liberty Toolbox Pro.

*WILL NOT FLASH OVER GINGERBREAD. YOU HAVE TO SBF BACK TO 2.3.340.

Changes in 2.0:

- Redid some of the base of the ROM
- added some blur framework back which was causing battery and stability issues
- New default Liberty theme by Dave Kover 
- A TON of changes to Liberty Toolbox. So much I can’t remember
- Updated wallpapers
- sysctl enabled by default. HUGE!
- Raised default minfree
- Set dalvik vm heap to 48m
- Add interactive and conservative governor support
- Redid init.d and cleaned up startup and other scripts
- Update busybox to v1.17.2
- Remove kang check script
- Enable cron schedular (Thanks IMosey On)
- Set default colors in Terminal Emulator to Liberty gold/yellow

Full support can be found at this thread.

Liberty ROM 2.0 Released for DROIDX and 2 is a post from: Droid Life

Click here to view the embedded video.

Many of you noticed that that CRT-esque screen-off animation from the Nexus S and stock Gingerbread (Android 2.3) was missing from the leaked builds on the DROID X and 2 and wondered how to get it.  It’s now available below, although you’ll need to run a few adb commands to get it.

Instructions:

*Note* – This will likely not work on anything but Gingerbread.  I would not try to flash this on a 2.2 ROM.

*Note 2* – I have not tested this on a DROID2, just assumed it would work.  Be careful D2 owners.

UPDATE:  There is now a simple .zip file that can be flashed in Clockwork.  [Download]

1.  CREATE A BACKUP FIRST.
2.  Download this file to your computer:  framework-res_CRT_ENABLE.apk
3.  Rename it to framework-res.apk and place in your SDK/Tools folder.
4.  Connect your phone and run the following commands in adb:

adb remount
adb push framework-res.apk /data/local/tmp/framework-res.apk
adb shell
su
stop
rm /system/framework/framework-res.apk
cp /data/local/tmp/framework-res.apk /system/framework/
rm /data/local/tmp/framework-res.apk
reboot

5.  Your phone will reboot and with CRT screen-off set to “Go!”

Full support can be found at this XDA thread.

Cheers Max and Droidzfx!

Download: Gingerbread CRT Screen-off Animation for DROID X and 2 (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

As many of you know by now, Gingerbread for the DROID 2 and X was released over the weekend giving all of us a taste of Android 2.3.3 and the new blue Blur from Motorola, only there was one thing missing.  Root access.  Well, that problem has now been fixed by our friends over at My Droid World, and we’ve got full instructions for you after the break if you jumped on GB early.  Yep, we walk you through every single step including flashing an SBF file which is something you won’t find anywhere else.  

In these instructions, you are essentially reverting back down to Blur build 2.3.20 and then re-upgrading to rooted Gingerbread.  The process looks intense, but again, we outlined every step to help you get there.

Instructions for DROID2:

*WARNING* – You will lose everything on your phone by following the process.  This wipes it all people.

*WARNING 2* – This is NOT for the DROID X. Those instructions are here.

*Note* - If you didn’t jump the gun and flash the non-rooted version and are still running something like say, Liberty ROM, all you have to do is flash the .zip file below just as you would any other ROM.

Download:  Monster_2.3.2_4.5.153_updater_Rooted.zip

*Note Again* – If you have not already upgraded to Gingerbread, simply download the .zip file, flash it like you normally would a ROM, and ignore this entire process.

1.  Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card.
2.  Download the 2.3.20 SBF file for the DX. [Here]
3.  Download,  install and open RSD lite 4.8. [Here]
4.  Plug your phone into your Windows PC and turn your phone off.
5.  Boot into the bootloader by holding Power + Up Arrow.
6.  Your computer will likely install new drivers at this point.
7.  Once RSD lite recognizes your phone, hit the “…” box and choose the 2.3.20 SBF file.
8.  Click “Start.”
9.  When it finishes and gets to 100%, power your phone off.
10.  Boot into recovery by holding Home + X.
11.  When the triangle appears, hit both Volume Up and Down at the same time.
12.  Navigate down to wipe data/factory reset, select it with camera, say “yes.”
13.  When it finishes, reboot your phone.
14.  Download z4root 1.3.0 and root your phone.
15.  Download D2 Bootstrap and bootstrap your recovery.
16.  Reboot into recovery.
17.  Choose “install zip from sd card”, “choose”, then the Monster_2.3.2_Rooted.zip.
18.  Your phone will now install Gingerbread with root.
19.  When you reboot, your phone will appear to bootloop.  Let it.
20.  If it does it for say, 5 minutes, just pull your battery and reboot.
21.  To Boostrap after installing Gingerbread, you’ll need to use the D2 Bootstrapper.
22.  Enjoy!

Full support can be found at My Droid World.

How to: Get Rooted Gingerbread on DROID 2 is a post from: Droid Life

Yep, our homies over at My Droid World released Gingerbread for both the DROID X and DROID 2 today.  Please thank them at the source links by donating and then get yourself to downloading from the links and instructions below.  Neither have been rooted, but it’ll give you a taste of Android 2.3 and the new Blur long before Verizon will release them to you.  You can always return to stock using one of the SBF files that is in the wild, so don’t be too scared about upgrading.  We can definitely get you back to stock for the official build.  

UPDATE:  Instructions for rooted Gingerbread below:

[DROIDX] [DROID2]

______________________________________________

*You need to be rooted in order to install these. [Instructions]

*Benchmarks of Gingerbread on the DROID X. [Here]

*Video walk-through of Gingerbread. [Here]

Instructions for DROID X:

1. Download this file and drop it on SD card.
2. Use Bootstrap to get your phone into recovery.
3. Create a backup (This is not compatible with new firmware).
4. Install the Firmware using recovery:

1. Select install zip from sdcard
2. Choose zip from sdcard
3. Select the file you downloaded

5. Restart phone.

If your DX bootloops after installing:

1. Hold down power and home.
2. When you see the triangle hold down both volume buttons
3. Select wipe data/factory reset —press power button to select
4. Reboot system

Instructions for DROID 2:

1. Download this file and drop on SD card.
2. Use Bootstrap to get your phone into recovery.
3. Create a backup (This is not compatible with new firmware).
4. Install the Firmware using recovery.

1. Select install zip from sdcard.
2. Choose zip from sdcard.
3. Select the file you downloaded.

5. Restart phone.
6. Re-activate your phone.
7. Dial *228.
8. Select 1.

If your D2 bootloops after installing:

1. Hold down x and power button
2. When you see the triangle hold down both volume buttons
3. Select wipe data/factory reset —press power button to select
4. Reboot system

Via:  MDW DX | D2

Gingerbread Released for DROID X and 2, Downloads and Instructions Provided is a post from: Droid Life

Things are about to get really interesting on the DROIDX and DROID2 bootloader fronts.  @nenolod, one of the few Motorola community members to continue to pursue cracking it, has possibly come through with keys to unlock and sign SBF files for flashing recoveries, system images, etc.  To let you understand how big this is, just know that within minutes of releasing these keys, a C&D was sent from Moto.  This could be the real deal.

Update:  We’re pretty sure this is all one big giant pile of fake garbage (yes, that’s me trying to keep it clean).  This shouldn’t surprise anyone though, it’s not like this nenolod character has ever been right before.  Lame.  Lame.  Ridiculously lame.  It’s time that hackers stop taking to Twitter with their theories and instead show some proof.

Update 2:  Yeah, it was definitely fake.

More info on his key leak can be found here.

FreeMyMoto will be taking over work on the project going forward.

DROID X/2/Milestone Bootloaders About to be Unlocked? Keys for SBF Files Released (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

Earlier today we brought you a new pink Droid Life-inspired theme, but since we know that not everyone is the biggest salmon fan, how about another option?  Theming gurus droidzforlife and bassdj has created something  that might be a true masterpiece called OreoSlice. And while they are claiming that it’s not quite finished, I don’t care and neither should you.  This theme is insanely good and anyone out there running Liberty 1.5 on their DROID X or DROID 2, might want to grab this one.

The download seems huge, but that’s because he tossed in a ton of black and white wallpapers for you to choose from.  Seriously, applaud these two.

Note:  The transparent market is ridiculous… 

Download:  OreoSlice_Liberty[Almost_Done].zip [mirror]

1.  You need to be running Liberty ROM 1.5.  (DROID X or 2)
2.  Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card.
3.  Reboot into recovery and make a backup.
4.  [Might be able to skip this step] Then “mount system” and “install zip from sd card.”
5.  Choose the OreoSlice.zip and install.
6.  Enjoy!

Support can be found here.

Download: OreoSlice Theme for Liberty ROM 1.5 by bassdj and droidzforlife is a post from: Droid Life

The pretty hath returned.  You all know how we feel about pink themes here at Droid Life, so when @CamDroid hit us up yesterday with his latest creation, we had to share.  It’s been a while since we’ve featured something with our lovely color scheme; too long really.  This pinkness themes a ton of icons, widgets, and framework, bringing you a classic DL look.  Compatible with Liberty 1.5.

Download:  Droid_Life_Pink_1.0.zip [mirror]

Instructions:

1.  You need to be running Liberty ROM 1.5.
2.  Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card.
3.  Reboot into recovery and make a backup.
4.  Then “mount system” and “install zip from sd card.”
5.  Choose the Droid_Life_1.0.zip and install.
6.  Enjoy the pinkness!

Feel free to donate!  

Wallpaper:

(Big shoutout to my friend Justin for creating these back in the day. Glad to see ‘em still getting love.)

(960×854)

(960×800)

Base credit to Justin at DroidPirate.com for some of the theme.

Download: Droid-Life Theme for Liberty 1.5 by CamDroid is a post from: Droid Life

Themer extraordinaire mobile_sensei hit me up on Twitter about an hour ago with this new Honeycomb theme for Liberty ROM 1.5 that he’s been working countless hours on.  Thing is beautiful, right?  He’s themed all of the framework, a ton of icons, and most of the stock widgets to give this a really solid Honeycomb feel.

Update:  We want to add in a notation about the original creator of the majority of the images used in this theme.  Haxzamatic started the Honeycomb theming craze and almost any theme you’ll see is based off of his original work.  This one included.

Download:  Liberated_UHC.zip (mirror)

Quick Instructions:

1.  You need to be running Liberty 1.5 on either your DROID X or 2.
2.  Download the file from above and drop it on your SD card.
3.  Boot into recovery and make a backup of your current setup.
4.  When that finishes, “mount system”.
5.  Then install the Liberated_UHC.zip from the SD card.
6.  Enjoy!

And if you want the Honeycomb wallpapers, grab them from the market.

Download: Liberty UHC – Honeycomb Theme for Liberty ROM 1.5 (Updated) is a post from: Droid Life

One of our favorite developers, Fabolous, released his new Apex 1.4.0 for the DROIDX and DROID2 earlier this week and really polished up the look and feel.  He got some help from the Liberty ROM crew to make what was already a good ROM, really great.  You’ll find a new boot animation, toolbox, current versions of all the core apps, and a bunch of fixes.

If you are coming from Apex 1.3 you can probably update straight to this new version, but if you are coming from anything else including Liberty, you’ll need to do a full wipe.  

Download:  DROIDX | DROID2

Changelog:

- New Apex Toolbox (Terminal Based) to customize the ROM to the max
- New Boot Animation (thanks tntdroid!)
- New Background, Ringtone, Notification Tone (change of pace!)
- Taller GB Keyboard, same size as MT Keyboard (thanks kejar31!)
- Removed Data Throttling (thanks droidxchat for an awesome utility!)
- Core Apps all updated to latest versions (Gmail, ADW Launcher, Market, Search, etc.)
- Blacked out Google Talk app (ty kejar31!)
- Fixed Mms.apk w/ Android 2.3.2 routing fixes (won’t send to the wrong person!)
- MusicMod back by default, supports lock screen controls (ty kejar31!)
- FC @ Startup fixed (no more wait, power, reboot cycle!)
- Updated JRummy overclocking script (ty JRummy16!)
- Option to install leaked Motorola “Connected Player” in Toolbox
- Finally updated the Swype theme to “Blackout” (ty javroch!)

Full support can be found at this thread.  DONATE.

ROM: Apex 1.4.0 by Fabolous Released for DROIDX and 2 is a post from: Droid Life

Two beasts in the DROID ROM community partnered up to release something new that I’ll be recommending for all Droid X and Droid 2 owners.  The ROM is called Liberty and it comes from Kejar31 and one of our all time favs, JRummy16.  The base for this beauty is Kejar’s GummyJar ROM and then has Rummy’s toolbox and tweaks written all over it.  You’ll find goodies like the old school rotary lockscreen, Gingerbread themed Swype, custom wallpapers, and seriously, so much more.  For fans of yellow, this is also a nice replacement for the Gingerbread green we’ve seen everywhere.  

Download for DX:  LibertyX-1.0.zip

Download for D2:  Liberty2-1.0.zip

__________________________________

Instructions:

*Your DX needs to be running .320 or .340.

1.  You obviously have to be rooted.  (Instructions)
2.  You need to have Koush’s Bootstrap Recovery.
3.  Open the DX Bootstrap and “boostrap” the recovery.
4.  When that finishes, “reboot recovery.”
5.  Once your phone boots to Clockwork Recovery, scroll down to “backup and restore.”
6.  Choose “backup” to make a clean backup of your phone.
7.  After that choose “wipe data/factory reset” to wipe your phone.
8.  When that finishes choose “install zip from SD card.”
9.  Then “choose zip from SD card” and find the Liberty1.0.zip, select it and hit “yes.”
10.  Your phone will apply the ROM. When it finishes, reboot and enjoy!

Full support thread can be found here. Donate!

DROID X ROM: Liberty by Kejar and JRummy is a post from: Droid Life