[Asus Padfone X and S] eyeoncomputers:
Just got around to updating a AT&T version of the Asus PadFone X (with the latest stock 4.4.2 rom and firmware version 11.10.8.16) to CM12.

It was kind of a pain because the steps are different and the tools are different.

Here is what I did to root, install custom recovery (two choices that I liked) and then update the phone from stock to CM12:

Last Updated

: 2015-05-09

- added info and link to official TWRP by Quarx

1.) ROOT THE PHONE:

- Download "TowelRoot v1" APK (from here), then install the APK and run it

- Then go to Play Store & download: SuperSU (with binaries), then BusyBox.

- Now your phone should be properly rooted and should have root access.

2.) INSTALL A CUSTOM RECOVERY

(Choose only one Custom Recovery of your choice)

CWM6 (ClockworkMod Recovery 6)

2.) INSTALL CUSTOM RECOVERY

(ClockworkMod Recovery 6):

- Download the "cwm6.img" (from here)

- Copy the IMG file to the root of the phone's internal storage (aka. /sdcard/)

- Boot up the phone normally, make sure that USB Debugging is enabled (in Developer Options), then connect phone to computer via USB.

- Then in command prompt (on computer in folder with ADB files), copy and paste the following:

adb shell su -c 'dd if=/sdcard/cwm6.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/recovery' bs=4096; sync; reboot recovery;"

- Press Enter to run the adb command to install the CWM6 into your phone.

- Check your device's screen for any pop-ups and grant root access to shell. Allow any Superuser permissions that pop up.

- The phone will reboot automatically into Recovery Mode, you will see the ASUS bootup screen and then you should see CWM6.

- Done.

***

NOTES for CWM6 recovery mode

***:

- To get into recovery mode (with phone powered off): power off the phone, hold the Volume Down key, then hold the Power Button until the phone turns on, then release the Power Button only (keep holding the Volume Down key). You will see prompt to enter or exit recovery, choose the enter recovery with the volume keys and hit power to enter. Then (like before you) you will see the ASUS bootup screen and then the screen will go into the CWM6 screen.

- You can make full nandroid backups and restore them fine with CWM6. (it's a life saver)

TWRP (TeamWin Recovery Project) - Official Version (by Quarx)

2.) INSTALL CUSTOM RECOVERY

(TWRP Official by Quarx):

- Download the "twrp.img" (from here)

- Rename the file to "twrp.img" (makes things cleaner and simpler by renaming it, but not required)

- Copy the IMG file to the root of the phone's internal storage (aka. /sdcard/)

- Boot up the phone normally, make sure that USB Debugging is enabled (in Developer Options), then connect phone to computer via USB.

- Then in command prompt (on computer in folder with ADB files), copy and paste the following:

adb shell su -c 'dd if=/sdcard/twrp.img of=/dev/block/platform/msm_sdcc.1/by-name/recovery' bs=4096; sync; reboot recovery;"

- Press Enter to run the adb command to install the TWRP into your phone.

- Check your device's screen for any pop-ups and grant root access to shell. Allow any Superuser permissions that pop up.

- The phone will reboot automatically into Recovery Mode, you will see the ASUS bootup screen

- IMPORTANT (possibility): If the screen goes black after the ASUS bootup screen, its normal, just wait 2 minutes after the screen is black, and then press any Volume or Power key to wake up TWRP screen.

- Done.

***

NOTES for TWRP recovery mode

***:

- To get into recovery mode (with phone powered off): power off the phone, hold the Volume Down key, then hold the Power Button until the phone turns on, then release the Power Button only (keep holding the Volume Down key). You will see prompt to enter or exit recovery, choose the enter recovery with the volume keys and hit power to enter. Then (like before you) you will see the ASUS bootup screen and then the screen will go black, its normal for the unofficial version of TWRP. What is happening is that you are actually in TWRP already, but the screen is darkened (a bug with the unofficial version). You have to wait about 1-2 minutes to let TWRP screen timeout, then you can push any of the volume or power keys to wake it up. Then you will see the TWRP is back on the screen.

- You will have to do the waiting for 1-2 minutes each time you go into TWRP..... until an official version is released.

- You can make full nandroid backups and restore them fine with TWRP. (it's a life saver)

RECOMMENDED: Do a full backup using TWRP or CWM6 at this point. And I recommend to copy the TWRP or CWM backup folder (from the phone's internal storage) to your computer for backup's sake. So, if something goes wrong, you can restore it back, even if you accidentally wipe the internal storage.

3.) INSTALLING CM12: (and Unlocking the Bootloader along the way)

(Downloading required files)

- Go here: http://quarx2k.ru/asus_padfone_s/

- Download the following: "CrowLock_RC3.zip" and "cwm6.img"

- Next, go here and download the latest CM12 or CM12.1 rom release: http://quarx.cm-for.us/device-t00n.html

- Then go here and download the latest GAPPS release, download the correct the Lollipop package (CM12 is 5.0.2 and CM12.1 is 5.1.0): http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=2661932

- Then go here and download the latest SuperSU zip file release: http://download.chainfire.eu/supersu

- Now copy all of the files that you have downloaded into your phone's internal storage. I recommend a folder called "CM12", easy to find and get to.

- And copy the cwm6.img file to the folder on your computer where the adb and fastboot files are located.

(Unlocking the Bootloader)

METHOD 1 - if you have a custom recovery already installed

- (Works best with CWM6 or CMrecovery)

- (make sure USB is not connected) Boot your phone into recovery mode (if you followed my instructions above, you would know how to get into the PadFone recovery mode)

- tap "Install Zip", choose the CrowLock_RC3.zip and confirm the flash (it should be fast and simple)

- then "Reboot to Bootloader" (if possible)

- The phone will automatically restart and you will see the ASUS bootup screen and it will be stuck there. That's good, that's the bootloader.

METHOD 2 - if you do not have a custom recovery installed

- (If you still have Stock Recovery)

- Go into the Bootloader (Power off the phone (USB cable not connected), hold the Volume UP key, then hold the Power Button until the phone turns on, then release the Power Button only (keep holding the Volume UP key). Then you will see the ASUS Logo bootscreen and be stuck there, this is the bootloader.)

- At the bootloader screen (the ASUS bootup screen), connect your phone to the computer via USB.

- On your computer, open Command Prompt in the folder that has the adb and fastboot files.

- Copy and paste the following into Command Prompt:

fastboot boot cwm6.img

- Press Enter. Then the phone will automatically restart again and boot into ClockworkMod Recovery (temporarily, for the purpose of flashing CM12)

- Choose "Install Zip" from SDCARD (Internal Storage)

- Select the CrowLock_RC3.zip, and confirm to install it

- then "Reboot to Bootloader" (if possible)

- The phone will automatically restart and you will see the ASUS bootup screen and it will be stuck there. That's good, that's the bootloader.

**NOTE for Bootloader**

: Another way to get into the Bootloader: Power off the phone (USB cable not connected), hold the Volume UP key, then hold the Power Button until the phone turns on, then release the Power Button only (keep holding the Volume UP key). Then you will see the ASUS Logo bootscreen and be stuck there, this is the bootloader. This is where you will use fastboot commands when connected to your computer via USB.

(Installing CM12 through the bootloader and running CWM6 temporarily)

***

NOTE

: if you already have CWM6 custom recovery installed, skip to the "Wipe Data/Factory Reset" step ***

- At the bootloader screen (the ASUS bootup screen), connect your phone to the computer via USB.

- On your computer, open Command Prompt in the folder that has the adb and fastboot files.

- Copy and paste the following into Command Prompt:

fastboot boot cwm6.img

- Press Enter. Then the phone will automatically restart again and boot into ClockworkMod Recovery (temporarily, for the purpose of flashing CM12)

- Choose "Wipe Data/Factory Reset" and confirm it

- Choose "Install Zip" from SDCARD (Internal Storage)

- Select the latest CM12 ROM release (cm-12-2015xxxx-NIGHTLY-t00n.zip), and confirm to install it

- (go back to main CWM menu) Choose "Install Zip" from SDCARD (Internal Storage) again

- Select the latest GAPPS release (gapps-502-base-2015xxxx-1-signed.zip), and confirm to install it

- (go back to main CWM menu) Choose "Install Zip" from SDCARD (Internal Storage) again

- Select the latest SuperSU release (UPDATE-SuperSU-v2.xx), and confirm to install it

- Unplug the USB cable if its still connected

- (go back to main CWM menu) Choose "Reboot System Now"

- Now you have CM12 and its rooted with SuperSU (and the latest binaries).

Enjoy. :)

Hope this helps.

Last Notes: You can install any custom recovery you want, I like TWRP personally. However, I found that TWRP and CMrecovery had issues installing CM12 on my PadFone X. That is why I recommended to use CWM6 to install the CM12 and GAPPS in the guide. I still used TWRP for all the nandroid backups afterwards though.