[Xoom Android Development] keveen:
A simplified list of steps

Lots of people say this process is easy and it is IF you have done it all before. Its "easy when you know how". I unlocked and rooted my Xoom - great and thanks for such an "easy" method.

Here is my version of the steps for beginners. Hope they help. Links are to my sources.

How to root a Motorola Xoom

When you root your Android device, you gain access to the entire file system, with full admin rights. You can customize your own boot image, create a full backup of your phone, or install a full-blown Linux distro etc

The basic steps are :

1 Backup everything you can - apps, settings

2 Download and install the required developer/admin software onto your PC

3 Copy the required img files to your external SD card

4 Connect the charger

5 Connect your Android device to your PC via the USB cable

6 Run the admin sotware

7 Unlock your Android computer or phone - reboot - restore USB and SD card functionality

8 Root your Android device - that is, install the admin system files that will allow you full access to the Android system

9 Restore what you can

Concepts

What is a bootloader?

http://www.tested.com/news/know-your-android-bootloaderwhat-it-is-and-why-it-matters/1879/

A bootloader is the code that runs on a device (be it a phone or computer) before the operating system starts up. This low-level code contains the instructions that tell a device how to start up and find the system kernel. The bootloader usually lives on the system board in non-volatile memory and is often specific to a device.

Issuing the 'fastboot oem unlock' command via the admin tools will unlock your bootloader.

What is an sd card

Confusingly Android devices call the internal storage the SD card - same as your external SD card. Silly. So to file manage your external card you will need to find a Mount/external sd folder or something similar.

Create a backup

Download the Rom Manager app and when installed make a backup!

Download the admin apps

Use Android Debug Bridge - EasyADB

http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile/what-is-adb-and-how-to-install-it-android/

http://developer.android.com/guide/developing/tools/adb.html

Another basic explanation of the commands is here - http://www.xoomforums.com/forum/motorola-xoom-development/6795-basic-commands-newcomers-adb.html - very useful

Clockwork Recovery - info here - http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...-and-how-to-use-it-on-android-complete-guide/

Unlocking

http://www.addictivetips.com/mobile...a-xoom-bootloader-for-flashing-recovery-roms/

adb devices - ensure your Xoom is recognized by adb

adb reboot bootloader - boot your Xoom into fastboot mode (message says: Starting Fastboot protocol support)

'fastboot oem unlock - this begins the prompts to unlock your Xoom (message: Formatting UDA)

Device automatically reboots and you have to go through the setup process again! I'm not sure how but my downloaded apps also start to reappear over the next few minutes - nice.

When in bootloader mode and unlocking... the down volume button is "down" and the up volume button is "enter".

Root the Xoom

There are different methods available including a one click version but I followed these instructions - http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1242241. Some methods are out of date so make sure you are following instructions based on your particular Android version. Mine is 3.2.

Download the universal root program as instructed

Install the Recovery program you will use to carry out backups, partitions, root program installations and so on (fastboot flash recovery recovery-Tiamat-R4c-100611-1150-cwm.img)

The next step is to use the "Clockwork mod" Recovery program you just installed (Power + up vol button). When you see the Motorola logo, release the buttons, count 3 seconds and then press the Vol down button once

Flash (install) the Xoom-Universal-Root.zip file - a new boot.img is installed and an su and Superuser.apk

You might have to setup your programs again.

Now you can install security apps like Avast firewall and antivirus.

Hope that's all useful to other beginners like me.

Other stuff here: http://wikis.healthwealthandmusic.co.uk/worldwideweb.html