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Last week I was very fortunate to get a brand new Apple iPad (wifi only) as a gift. However, since I am often on the road and don't want the unnecessary problem of going from hotspot to hotspot, I decided to take the plunge and root my stock Motorola Droid X, Model MB810 to enable unlimited data tethering without paying the additional $20 per month for their service. 

Legal 

We at Kubik Digital are in no way attempting to take credit for the development of of any software or procedures mentioned in this article. We are simply wanting to share available knowledge with our fellow internet and mobile device fans. Be advised that even though the steps worked for us, there is no guarantee that they will work for you and therefore we must ask that you proceed at your own risk, understanding that any negative consequence will be your own fault. We cannot be held liable for any damage caused as a result of attempting to modify your phone. Rooting your phone will void your manufacturers warranty.

My Goals For This Project 

1. Upgrade my stock Motorola, Droid X with Android v2.0, Eclaire to v2.2, Froyo.


2. Successfully Root the Droid X to allow for free tethering.


3. Install and activate 3rd party tethering program.

Step 1 - Upgrading to Froyo

1. On your Droid X, navigate to Settings > About > System Updates and when prompted, select the 'Download' button.


2. Side Note* Upgrading took approximately 20-30 minutes to complete. Find a time where you will not need your phone as you cannot send or receive calls during the upgrading process.

Step 2 - Rooting

1. Your PC must be equipped with Microsoft .NET Framework v3.0 before starting. How do you tell which version you have? I simply downloaded the executable file from Microsoft by CLICKING HERE and when attempting to install, I was prompted that I already had v3.0 installed. Otherwise, follow the steps as directed.


2. Download and install the required Motorola USB drivers to your PC. I have gone ahead and attached the most recent version. Download the file by CLICKING HERE (4.7.1 Driver with MotoConnect). 


3. On the Droid X, navigate to Settings > Applications > Development and enable 'USB Debugging.'


4. Now, connect the phone to your PC and allow approximately 1 minute until device has been recognized. Once connected, Place your phone in 'USB Mass Storage' connection mode.


5. CLICK HERE to Download RootMyX2.zip (Windows Only) and extract the files to your desktop. Open RootMyX2.exe. You may need to right click on the file and select 'Run as Administrator.'


6. On your Droid X, select 'Windows Media Sync' from the USB Connection Menu and allow 1 minute for connection type to change. 


7. In the RootMyX2 program, click on the 'Root Me' button and allow all processes to complete. Once the status bar reaches 100%, you are officially Rooted!
   
    

Troubleshooting

1. Why cant the application find my phone?
   Check your drivers! Go to Control Panel > Hardware & Sound > Device Manager. Under 'Other Drivers' there should NOT be a question mark or exclamation point if your USB drivers were properly installed. Try uninstalling and reinstalling all Motorola drivers in Control Panel > Programs.
    


2. Why does the operation time out and not complete?
   Make sure to put the phone into USB debugging mode before connecting it to the computer. Once the phone is in usb debugging mode, connect it to the computer, and switch it to windows media sync mode. Sometimes, it may just take 2 or 3 tries for the phone to root properly. OR try cycling through all the USB connection options including PC Mode,  Windows Media Sync, or USB Mass to Charge Mode. 


3. If all else fails, check out the original thread at ALLDROID.org for answers to further questions, or leave a message below.

1. From your phone browser, enter the following link: http://code.google.com/p/android-wifi-tether/downloads/list and download the most recent version. The file should look something like... 'wireless_tether_2_0_5-pre12.apk'


2. Once downloaded, install and open the application on your phone and have fun. Be sure to check out the settings to setup a wifi encryption.


3. Below is a great video from DROIDXHACKS.com that we found which shows the entire process to setup Tethering.