The Simpleton’s Guide to Modding your Motorola Razr2 V8 (512MB + 2GB)

[traycerb]

The Absolute Fc*king Simpleton’s Guide to Modding your Motorola Razr2 V8 (512MB or 2GB memory card) Cell Phone

This guide is meant to be a simple step-wise explanation for basic modding of your cell-phone. It is targeted to the V8 beginner ( which I myself was just a few short days ago), who wants to do *basic* mods their phone. This started as notes taken mostly for myself, which I compiled into this guide, which now contains all things I wish I knew when I started. It is NOT meant to be comprehensive. Many details are omitted in the name of simplicity. Some details may be wrong. I’m not an expert; I just compiled the information I learned in a few days of reading the forum. If you brick your phone, I will not be held responsible. This is worth noting as FLASHING VOIDS YOUR WARRANTY. Read that again, just so you're clear.

This guide is meant to be followed roughly in order; eg. you won’t be able to upload new skins until you’ve installed the linuxmod.

***Note to the V8 forum kings: I don’t mean to step on anyone’s toes (eg. my goal is not to replace the V8 bible, or any of the other various more-detailed guides.). I cited my sources when possible, and though there’s some cut/pasting, I tried to keep it too a minimum. Inevitably, there will be some overlap; I hope you can forgive it in the name of furthering the community. If anyone is uncomfortable with what I’ve cited appearing here, let me know and I can take it out/edit it. A special shoutout to rasputin007 and InsecureSpike, who seem to have contributed the lion’s share of knowledge available regarding v8 modding.***


Final Note: Please reply to this thread if you see any errors. I’ll follow it for a week or two and make any edits.

2nd Final Note: I probably am not knowledgeable enough to answer any question not already addressed in this guide, but feel free to post and maybe someone else will be able to help you.

Q1: What’s this all about then?
A1: Modding your phone can make your phone faster, unlock features, etc.

Q2: What’s it involve?
A2: Flashing your phone with new bootloaders and firmware

Q3: What’s flashing?
A3: uploading info into your phone

Q4: What’s a bootloader?
A4: A low-level operating-system, analogous to your PC’s bios. If this is over your head, don’t worry.

Q5: Why upgrade it?
A5: Primarily it will make things faster, e.g. scrolling through menus.

Q6: What’s firmware?
A6: Controls various features, and some look-and-feel elements. For example, the Home Page Sidebar and making the external touch screen work with txt messages are features that can be unlocked after the firmware is installed. See pictures here: http://motomodding.us/viewtopic.php?t=3829

Q7: How is it different from a skin?
A7: Skins controls more superficial elements

Q8: How do I find what bootloader I have?
A8: Look here for a nice picture on how to do just that: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...21&postcount=1. Short story: Switch your phone off. Then “press the _*_ and _#_ keys SIMULTANEOUSLY, and HOLD them while pressing the Red Power Button.” The bootloader will have a name like A3.CC

Q9: How do I find what firmware I currently have?
A9: Main Menu | settings | Phone Settings | Properties | AP S/W version. It will look something like R601_G_80.53.3BR

Q10: What is the most current firmware?
A10: Well, there are many variations of the original OEM firmware http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257751. There’s also a community firmware, called linuxmod. The stable release is linuxmod3a, and a more experimental, beta release called linuxmod4, and finally, a newly-released linuxmod5

Q11: Which firmware do you recommend installing?
A11: Up to you. Try the various OEM versions if you like, but most people install the LinuxMod. Regarding the differences in the linuxmod F/Ws, the most current stable release is linuxmod3a. There exists a linuxmod3b, which fixes a photo storage bug (which only affected 512 MB V8s). Linuxmod4 includes MPlayer and EFM, and the 2GB version has a VUI mod. Don’t know anything about linuxmod5.
(see http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...1&postcount=13 and http://modmymoto.com/forums/showpost...&postcount=148)

In summary, Linuxmod4 has some more features, but is more buggy. All examples here will be done assuming you’re using linuxmod3a.

Q12: Where do I find the linuxmod firmware?
A12: They differ depending on whether your phone is the 512MB or the 2GB memory card version and whether you’re running XP or Vista . Only install your version (duh). The XP versions are here:
-Linuxmod3a: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...21&postcount=1
-Linuxmod3b http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage...3b_LP0039C.rar
-The Vista versions seem to be on this page: http://motomodding.us/viewtopic.php?t=3829. I haven’t tried them so I don’t know if they’re the most current versions

Q13: Will I still be able to use Motorola phone tools after installing linuxmod?
A13: Yes, it should still connect, view SMS, contacts, etc.

Q14: How do know if I have the 512MB or 2GB version of the phone?
A14: Honestly, you should already know this but if not: Main Menu | Fun&Apps | File Manager. Then highlight “Extended Memory” | Options | Extended Memory | Properties -> read the “Total Space” entry. After installing the LinuxMod, you can accomplish the same by Main Menu | Call Center | Options | View Memory | right arrow x3 | read the “Total Capacity” entry.

Q15: How do I start?
A15: Flashing a whole new firmware wipes the entire contents of your phone. Start by backing up your cell phone before anything else.

Q16: What needs backing up?
A16: Contacts, SMS, Photos, Music. The original firmware can’t be backed up

Q17: How do I back up my contacts / SMS messages?
A17: Use Motorola Phone tools. After you’re done, the contacts can be resynced to your newly-flashed phone.

Q18: Where do I get Motorola Phone Tools (MPT)?
A18: It probably came with your phone. Otherwise you have to buy it, or go through less-legal channels.

Q19: How do I use MPT to back up my SMS messages?
A19: See below. It unhelpfully saves them as individual files, which can’t be reloaded back onto the phone. After you’ve installed the linuxmod firmware, it provides an option to backup files, including SMS (which can be backed up to the phone).



Q20: How do I backup my photos and music?
A20: If they’re saved on the memory card, you shouldn’t need to; the memory card isn’t erased during a flash. Still, I’d recommend it. Unfortunately, MPT doesn’t see my memory card. Maybe it will work for you though. No matter, though, because Windows should still see your cell phone as *TWO* separate removable disks (one for the phone memory, one for the memory card). Find your photos on the appropriate drive and copy them over.

Q21: How do I back up the firmware in case I screw up?
A21: Apparently it can’t be done: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=171521. Flash & Backup 3 (F&B3) is used on other Moto phones, but doesn’t work on the V8. Someone was able to make a v8 profile to be loaded into F&B3 and d/l parts of the CGs, but the procedure looks complicated. Go for it if you’re bold: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/down...o=file&id=6957.
Assuming you don’t totally brick your phone, a list of OEM firmwares can be found at the following link, and, if need be, flashed to your phone, even in bootloader mode (be careful, as some will lock your phone to a carrier):
http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=257751

Q22: So I’ve backed up my phone. What now?
A22: Download the newest Windows Motorola Handset drivers, then flash the bootloader, after you’ve checked it’s compatible with your firmware

Q23: How do you update your Windows drivers?
A23: Read this: http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage/webpages/rsd/. Short story: download either the 32bit or 64bit drivers to your PC, install them, and then reboot your computer. Download the files here: http://developer.motorola.com/docstools/USB_Drivers/

Q24: How do you check bootloader + Firmware compatibility?
A24: Check this link and make sure no one’s reported any problems with your specific combination: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56140. Honestly, it doesn’t seem like anyone’s had any problems, but that’s no guarantee.

Q25: How do you flash the bootloader?
A25: I recommend reading these two nice tutorials on flashing (with pics!): http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage/webpages/rsd/
http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=218641

In the interest of keeping this guide self-contained, here’s a summary of the steps below:
1. Download and unzip the most recent bootloader, A3.CF: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=250631
2. Install RSD Lite 3.9 or greater. It’s not free, so go buy a copy.
3. Make sure your phone is fully-charged
4. Change your phone to Modem setting: Main Menu | Settings | Connections | USB Settings | set to “Modem”
5. Connect Phone to PC
6. Start RSD Lite
7. Find the file you want to flash (in this case the bootloader file)
8. Press Start
9. Wait until the final result is “PASS”
10. Done. Disconnect your phone.

Q26: Now, how do I install the firmware?
A26: Pretty similar to installing the bootloader. Install RSD, make sure phone charged, etc.
1. Download and unzip the firmware of your choice. I’ll use the 2GB Linuxmod3a version here: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/down...=file&id=11431
2. Change your phone to Modem setting: Main Menu | Settings | Connections | USB Settings | set to “Modem”
3. Connect Phone to PC
4. Start RSD Lite
5. Find the file you want to flash (in this case the firmware file)
6. Press Start
7. Wait until the final result is “PASS”
8. Done. Disconnect your phone.

Q27: What’s the directory structure of the phone?
A27: This will be useful in the next section:
The Memory Card


A27: The Phone Memory. Sometimes in the forum, you’ll see references to the directory “/phone/ezxlocal/dlownload/mystuff”; this corresponds with the root directory below.


Q28: How do you change the ringtone?
A28: One of two ways
1. Main Menu | Settings | Sound Profile | scroll to Ringtone | “Select Ringtone”
2. Or change it for the entire theme: Main Menu | Settings | Themes | highlight your current theme | Options | Edit | scroll down to “Ringtone”| Browse Ringtones.
-You can upload your ringtones wherever you want, but the only catch is if you save to the Memory Card, you have to take an indirect route to access them. Continuing from above: “Select Ringtone” | scroll down to “Ringtone” | scroll up to “Back to my Files” | Memory Card.
-The preloaded Ringtones are in the directory Ringtone | Sounds and Ringtones | Preloaded Ringtones. I’m not sure where this directory exists; it’s not directly visible when the phone is plugged in as a Storage Device.
-Stock ringtones can be found here: http://modmymoto.com/guides/soundfilenames.php

Q29: How do I upload ringtones to my phone?
A29: It’s similar to uploading skins and wallpapers (see below). I’ve been able to use MIDI files and mp3s without any problems. To summarize the 2gb steps:
1. Download some ringtones (mp3s or MIDI files) on your PC
2. Main Menu | Settings | Connections | USB Settings| select “Storage Device”
3. Set your phone’s theme to one of the default ones (otherwise your phone will hang when you connect it)
4. Connect Phone to PC
5. When the disks show up in Explorer, copy the ringtones to the directory of your choosing.

Q30: How do you change the wallpaper?
A30: Change it in the theme you’re using. Do this by Main Menu | Settings | Themes | highlight your current theme | Options | Edit | press the right arrow | highlight Wallpaper | press center button, then choose your wallpaper. You can store wallpapers anywhere
-Preloaded wallpapers are in Pictures | Graphics and Wallpapers | Preloaded Wallpapers

Q31: How do I upload wallpapers to my phone?
A31: At the risk of repetition, it’s similar to uploading ringtones. The dimensions are 240x320 pixels. I’ve only ever tried .jpgs and .pngs, but I imagine .bmps and .gifs work also. To summarize the 2gb steps:
1. Download some appropriately-sized wallpapers PC
2. Main Menu | Settings | Connections | USB Settings| select “Storage Device”
3. Set your phone’s theme to one of the default ones (otherwise your phone will hang when you connect it)
4. Connect Phone to PC
5. When the disks show up in Explorer, copy the wallpapers to the directory of your choosing.

Q32: How do you change the bootlogo?
A32: The bootlogo is the very first image shown on powering up your phone. It can only be a static image. Here’s a great guide on how to change it: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...01&postcount=3. A few notes
1. The boot logo needs to be a 24-bit bmp at 240x320 pixels.
2. Remember, /ezxlocal/download/mystuff/ corresponds to the root directory of the phone’s Main Memory.

Q33: How do you change the start up logo/animation (aka poweron animation)?
A33: The Startup logo begins after the boot logo, and is frequently animated (though it doesn’t have to be). To change it: Main Menu | Settings | Themes | choose your theme | Options | Edit | right arrow | scroll down to Power On Screen | Center Button.
-The only available images are in the /ezxlocal/download/mystuff/poweron folder, so upload your images (same method as uploading ringtones) there.

Q34: How do you change the shutdown logo/animation?
A34: Same as the poweron logo above, only the directory is /ezxlocal/download/mystuff/poweroff

Q35: How do you add themes/skins?
A35: First, lets establish the definition of a theme. Quoting rasputin007: “There a quite a few elements that make up Themes, like skins, wallpaper, screensaver, startup animation, shutdown animation and ringtones.” IOW, a skin is a subset of a theme. You can download and install (or create) skins. There’s a nice guide on d/ling and installing skins here (ah, more pics! who doesn’t love pics?): http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=224321.
One caveat is some people have reported problems with the skins (odd font colors, old backgrounds) unless they are saved in the phone’s memory (vs the memory card. see this: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...1&postcount=42). I recommend saving them in the memory card to try them out, then copy to main memory for proper use.
-To summarize the steps (on a 2 GB model):
1. Download some skins from either http://motomodding.us/viewforum.php?f=87 (need an account) or http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/New-For...forum.php?f=35 or Stock skins can be found here: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/down...?do=cat&id=411. My fave is the iPhone skin: http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=66579
2. Main Menu | Settings | Connections | USB Settings| select “Storage Device”
3. Set your phone’s theme to one of the default ones (otherwise your phone will hang when you connect it)
4. Connect Phone to PC
5. When the disks show up in Explorer, open the folder labeled Skins (there’s one such folder in both the phone’s mem and the mem card. choose the location where you want the skin stored)
6. There should be subfolders numerically labeled skin<#>. Open one of them
7. Copy the skin files into this directory.
8. Eject the disks and disconnect the phone.
9. Main Menu | Settings | Themes | Options | Create New.
10. Fill in the various options on the first page: Theme Name, Ringtone, Message Alert, Email Alert, IM Alert, Voicemail alert, and Calendar Alarm
11. Press the Right Arrow key for the 2nd page options: Wallpaper, Wallpaper Layout, Screen Saver, Power ON Screen, Power Off Screen, and, most importantly, the Skin you just uploaded onto the phone (you may have to scroll down to see it).
12. Save it all, then Restart your phone.

Q36: How do you create/tweak skins?
A36: Sorry, that’s beyond the scope of this guide. If you’re interested, here’s a guide: http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage...ning/index.htm, and here’s some helpful info: http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/New-For...&sd=a&start=20. Here are some other bits of random info I came across, in random order, which I provide here with no explanation.
1. color codes for .ini files: http://www.motomodding.us/viewtopic.php?t=3060
2. common.ini [governs all softkey buttons other than homescreen]
3. phone_p.ini [governs homescreen buttons]
Bg_Opacity_Std = 100 [standard opacity, 100 = solid, 0 = transparent]
Bg_Opacity_S = 100 [as above, but for when you press the button down] http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show....php?p=1579971
4. One point about iconres skinning: when recreating an iconres with kview after having edited your split iconres images, when you get the dialog box that says “Select an EZX structure file” type in “iconres.ezx” in the *same* directory that kview created the “icons” and “raw.” *another* dialog box pops up immediately saying “Save…” Just keep the same name (iconres.ezx) or type it in if it isn’t already there. Honestly, not sure why you just can’t use Iconres Composer to create the iconres. Experts, any reason why not? Can’t Composer make a correct iconres?
5. When tweaking a skin, the background in many screens is preset. It varies by skin, but if you want to change the background throughout, these are some files in the iconres likely to need changing
-logo_motorola
-gen_unlock_full
-fsba01_bg
-cli_pg_bg_std
-voice_rec_audiorecord_s
-calculator_keypad_area_bg
-mp_gen_audio_prvarea
-mp_gen_radio_pvarea
-voice_rec_audiorecord_ani

Q37: How do I back up the phone if I’ve already installed the linuxmod?
A37: Here’s links to handy guides below. Ordinarily, I’d summarize the steps, but since I haven’t done this back-up yet, I’ll leave it as an exercise for the reader.
- http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=159031
- http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/show...=172861&page=9
- http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/showthread.php?t=213101


GLOSSARY (most of this is lifted from:
http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage/webpages/v8_cg/
http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/storage/webpages/sbf/ and http://motomodding.us/acronyms.php?s...f800bd94a1d96d)
- SBF Recalc 1.2.8 - is a software to split and create firmwares/reflashes. Versions earlier than 1.2.8 don’t work with the V8
- firmware (FW) is a collection of codegroups (CG) and each code group covers a certain aspect of the complete firmware. The only CGs which can be edited and turned into working reflashes are CG43 and CG52.
CG36 – the functioning core of the firmware
CG42 - bootlogo image,
CG43 - the flex, the bit that has the configurations of nearly everything and tells the Cg36 what is enabled and what is disabled. Includes the config file "ezx_flexbit.cfg" which can be edited with Meiner Einer's Flexbit-Editor.
CG46 - the language pack
CG52 - "preloaded" skins, wallpapers, ringtones and java apps.
Other CGs exist but their role has not been discovered.
- MonsterPack (MP) a full flash which includes all CGs. Flashing this will overwrite everything that is currently on your mobile. linuxmod is considered a MonsterPack
- Reflash – selectively flashing one or more CGs. These will only overwrite these CGs, but everything else stays untouched. So, for example, a CG46 reflash will only overwrite the language part of your firmware, but leaves your skins and other settings untouched.
- DRM – a compilation of CG15, which contains many graphical icons, animated and non-animated.
*.sbf format - newer format of firmware. Usually packed in a .Rar
*.shx format- old format of firmware
smg files – files within a CG

Thanks to:
If you didn't notice, 99% of my info came from 3 great websites (in no specific order):
http://motomodding.us/viewforum.php?f=127 (Motomodding's v8 forum)
http://www.rasputin007.co.uk/New-For...forum.php?f=28 (Rasputin007's V8 firmware forum)
http://www.modmymoto.com/forums/forumdisplay.php?f=71 (ModmyMoto's v8 forum)

I cited a lot of different posts, so if you're one of those people whose info arrived here, feel free to take credit . Specifically, though, rasputin007 and insecurespike deserve kudos for the v8 work they do.

[ferrarix]

Awesome. Wasn't expecting this. Stickied!

[InsecureSpike]

real great guide mate

[Semseddin]

Great guide traycerb, thanks a lot.

ps : great post for the first one.

[J4ZZ]

Really great guide mate...

You could also add, the manual backup way, if you're already having a FTP connection. (or for when the new P2k Commander (P2k05 over USBLAN) will be finally fully working with original firmwares)

-------------------------------
Phonebook, SMS etc. = main.db (ezxlocal/sysDatabase/)
iTAP dictionary = iTAP_uad.dat (ezxlocal/download/appwrite/inputmethods/iTap/)
Own menu structure = UserMenuTree, and if custom folder were created save UserRegistry also (/ezxlocal/download/appwrite/am/)
Internet, MMS Profile = /ezxlocal/download/appwrite/NetProfile/ for profiles sent by provider
Internet = /ezxlocal/download/appwrite/setup/devdetail.wbxml (contains Provider settings, important for files in Net/Profile)
Email = /ezxlocal/download/appwrite/setup/ezx_email.cfg (contains email account settings, main.db only contains email messages!)
--------------------------------

Note, all these files are in CG52 wich has full read/write access... So, just backup/restore them by using any FTP program!!!
Restart phone -> Done!!!

Greetz,

..::J4ZZ::..

[Skrilax_CZ]

Very helpful for linuxnoobs like me

[sebgonz]

Wow. This is great. Good job man. We'll get it in the guides section soon.

[cyberbillp]

One question I have prior to reflashing my phone.

Can I still buy games and use T-Zones/Total Internet etc... with T-Mobile? What functionalty will I loose by reflashing?

[traycerb]

Thanks for the praise, all. couldn't have done it w/o the contributions here and on the other boards.

@J4ZZ. Yeah, been lazy. Once I get around to backing up the v8, I'll post the steps. i didn't want to put up any info that I hadn't tested myself; that way I can document any potential hangups.

@cyberbillp . re: T-zones. I never use them myself but it's a great question. I'm guessing the T-zones are just URLs that don't incur charges, and you could enter them manually, but I'm not sure 100%. The new firmware does wipe the T-zone link though. Anyone know anything about this?

[ferrarix]

Probably they would still work, provided you have the correct websessions installed. I'm not sure though whether the phone has other identifiers of whether it's a T-Mobile branded phone or not such as the transmitted model name would be V8t and not V8. That "t" is done so that they can detect that it's their phone (stands for T-Mobile). Or maybe they use additional certificates or both together.

All that I mentioned above are all possibilities. I don't know whether they're real or not on the V8 but I surely did see it happen on the V3x .

Do the T-Zones etc features work on normal/other unbranded phones?

[[With Teeth]]

awesome guide. thanks!!

[Jeniffer86]

Cool

Excelet guide for those people that doesnt know this things, like me

[Skrilax_CZ]

Probably they would still work, provided you have the correct websessions installed. I'm not sure though whether the phone has other identifiers of whether it's a T-Mobile branded phone or not such as the transmitted model name would be V8t and not V8. That "t" is done so that they can detect that it's their phone (stands for T-Mobile). Or maybe they use additional certificates or both together.

All that I mentioned above are all possibilities. I don't know whether they're real or not on the V8 but I surely did see it happen on the V3x .

Do the T-Zones etc features work on normal/other unbranded phones?

T-Mobile CZ gives you access to T-Zones only through W@P and the way that the address is http://wap which is accessible only from your cellphone. Hence you must correctly set up your W@P session. If what you said ferrarix was true and the phone user user agent string V8t then all people who did not buy their V8 from T-Mobile could not access T-Zones.

[ferrarix]

Probably. I just didn't know what T-Zone is. I'm from Malta and I have no idea about T-Mobile's features so I had to write all the possibilities lol .

[InsecureSpike]

if i'm right in thinking the new LinuxMod was built on the newest Tmob u.s. F/W,
or that my have been one of the previous ones,
i'm sure the access is all with the correct web sessions

Ask Ras he'll no,