Special shout-outs: Thanks Jcase and Jerryscript for cracking the security so it is possible to install the new radio and have root access. A very special shout-out to Brotherswing for putting together the original ZV9 update guide, for testing the Bobzhome, tvall and mgr666 kernels, and for also urging me to edit the guide, add more information, and to repost it. Thanks to tli for helping me fix inconsistencies in the guide. And to the Android Forums community members for making this place so awesome.
The usual warning: Only install this update if you have call quality issues (or if you wish to return completely to stock). The ZV9 radio is part of a security update from Virgin Mobile and it *will* remove root access. Be aware that this update has caused a few problems (such as random reboots while sending texts). If you intend to install a custom rom afterwards, you will need to make sure you run a ZV9 compatible kernel. The Bobzhome, tvall, and mrg666 kernels have all been tested by brotherswing, and those are the ones he recommends. Last but not least, I am not responsible if you bork your phone. As long as you follow this guide to the letter you should not have any problems.
What you will need before you begin:
Read this entire guide in full before you begin. Seriously, read it. This ensures you are making an informed decision before you proceed with this process.
Approximately 1 hour of undisturbed quality time where you won't be getting any phone calls.
Full battery (not required but highly recommended).
Get ADB for your PC/Laptop and follow the installation instructions: Download
Get Java and install like any other windows software: Download
Get the USB drivers so your PC can communicate with your phone: Download
Get CunningLogic-GorditaRoot-4win. Unzip all 4 files into the C:\SDK\platform-tools folder: Download
Get the official VM USA ZV9 update and put this in the root directory of your SD card (do not unzip!): Download
Bobzhomes recovery: Download
Flash Image GUI app: Download
jcases modified SuperUser zip package: Download
Preparation:
Be sure you have ADB, Java, and the USB drivers already installed.
Test Java by going here.
Test the USB drivers by plugging in your phone to your PC via USB cable. You should see Windows detect the new drivers when it installs them and tells you that "Your new hardware is installed and ready to use."
Now we need to test ADB: On your phone go to Settings>Applications>Development and make sure there is a tick in the box for Android Debugging. Next is to open a command prompt on Windows; click Start>Accessories>Command Prompt. In the command prompt window type (or copy/paste) the following two commands:
You should see something that looks similar to this:
Leave the command prompt open as we might need it later.
Are you ready? Here we go!!
Stage 1 -
1) Reboot into recovery. Check your current recovery version. If you have CWMT or MultiBoot you will need to change it, or this WILL brick your phone. Use Flash Image GUI (or the BACKside updater if you're running BACKside - thanks Jerry, you rock!) to flash Bobzhomes recovery.
2) Go to Backup and Restore, choose Backup.
3) Once done, click back to the main menu. Choose apply update from sd.
4) Once that is done, choose reboot system now.
5) Your phone may or may not boot at this point. Do not panic if it doesn't reboot. Just pull the battery and boot back into recovery. (Note: You should see the blue Android stock recovery here!)
6) Choose factory reset/wipe data.
7) Choose apply update from sd (yes, again.)
8) Once done, reboot to system.
9) The phone should boot up to the stock rom. You can verify the radio version now by Menu>Settings>About Phone>Baseband Version. It should end in ZV9. If not, stop. Return to step 3, and repeat.
STOP AT STEP 9 IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN UNROOTED WITH THE STOCK VM ROM! Steps 10 through 12 in Stage 2 flashes the Bobzhome recovery to replace the stock VM recovery that was reinstalled by the VM Update.
Stage 2 -
10) On the phone, go to Menu>Settings>Applications>Developement and make sure Android Debugging is enabled.
11) On the PC, navigate to C:\SDK\platform-tools. Double click Gordita.bat. If it doesn't work (or hits an error), open it with a text editor, then copy and paste each line individually into the command prompt window. You can skip the lines that begin with "echo."
11a) If you use the copy/paste method with ADB: When you paste the last line from the bat file and if it worked properly, you should see it mimic something about the recovery in green text in the GUI ADB log window.
12) Wait for it to finish. You'll know it's done when you see "Recovery flashed! Enjoy." (You won't see this notice if you use the copy/paste method.)
13) Reboot into recovery.
13a) If you still see the stock blue Android recovery: do a "reboot system now" and when the phone reboots, go into the settings and privacy menu, and do a factory reset. Once complete, go back up to Stage 1, and begin again. (I had to do this 3 times, so don't panic if it doesn't take the first few times!)
13b) This is important! Do not leave this recovery screen (the text should be orange) until you've successfully completed the following procedure through Step 16. Otherwise you lose this [Bobzhome] recovery and have to start over!
14) Now let's root the phone: choose install zip from sd card, and flash jcases modified SuperUser zip package.
15) Depending on your ROM preference, perform one of the following three options:
15a) If you want the ROM just prior to the VM Update, go to Backup and Restore, choose Restore. Pick your latest backup [that was created in Step 2].
15b) If you want the stock updated ROM with root access, just continue onto Step 16.
15c) If you want a clean start, choose install zip from sd card, and flash any ZV9 compatible ROM (and gapps if necessary.)
16) Reboot. Done!
If for any reason you wish to revert back to ZV5, Sammyz wrote an amazingly easy guide on how to do so here. Thanks Sammy!!
List of ZV9 compatible roms (post and let me know of more roms! You must have tested these yourself.):
CM7 BACKside IHO (flash with compatible kernel!)
CM9 Cold As Ice (Project has resumed. Recent updates no longer compatible.)
MiRaGe
Harmonia 2.x
Bobz
iho magpie
IHO OM-Mandylion
Quattrimus CM9 (now in beta!)
Please post here in this thread if I've forgotten something, need to fix something, need to add anything, something needs clarification, or if links have changed or are no longer working (forum guides/mods/admins can also edit to fix these if they see the need).
The usual warning: Only install this update if you have call quality issues (or if you wish to return completely to stock). The ZV9 radio is part of a security update from Virgin Mobile and it *will* remove root access. Be aware that this update has caused a few problems (such as random reboots while sending texts). If you intend to install a custom rom afterwards, you will need to make sure you run a ZV9 compatible kernel. The Bobzhome, tvall, and mrg666 kernels have all been tested by brotherswing, and those are the ones he recommends. Last but not least, I am not responsible if you bork your phone. As long as you follow this guide to the letter you should not have any problems.
What you will need before you begin:
Read this entire guide in full before you begin. Seriously, read it. This ensures you are making an informed decision before you proceed with this process.
Approximately 1 hour of undisturbed quality time where you won't be getting any phone calls.
Full battery (not required but highly recommended).
Get ADB for your PC/Laptop and follow the installation instructions: Download
Get Java and install like any other windows software: Download
Get the USB drivers so your PC can communicate with your phone: Download
Get CunningLogic-GorditaRoot-4win. Unzip all 4 files into the C:\SDK\platform-tools folder: Download
Get the official VM USA ZV9 update and put this in the root directory of your SD card (do not unzip!): Download
Bobzhomes recovery: Download
Flash Image GUI app: Download
jcases modified SuperUser zip package: Download
Preparation:
Be sure you have ADB, Java, and the USB drivers already installed.
Test Java by going here.
Test the USB drivers by plugging in your phone to your PC via USB cable. You should see Windows detect the new drivers when it installs them and tells you that "Your new hardware is installed and ready to use."
Now we need to test ADB: On your phone go to Settings>Applications>Development and make sure there is a tick in the box for Android Debugging. Next is to open a command prompt on Windows; click Start>Accessories>Command Prompt. In the command prompt window type (or copy/paste) the following two commands:
Code:
cd c:\SDK\platform-tools
adb devices
Code:
c:\SDK\platform-tools>adb devices
List of devices attached
A00000123EY678
Are you ready? Here we go!!
Stage 1 -
1) Reboot into recovery. Check your current recovery version. If you have CWMT or MultiBoot you will need to change it, or this WILL brick your phone. Use Flash Image GUI (or the BACKside updater if you're running BACKside - thanks Jerry, you rock!) to flash Bobzhomes recovery.
2) Go to Backup and Restore, choose Backup.
3) Once done, click back to the main menu. Choose apply update from sd.
4) Once that is done, choose reboot system now.
5) Your phone may or may not boot at this point. Do not panic if it doesn't reboot. Just pull the battery and boot back into recovery. (Note: You should see the blue Android stock recovery here!)
6) Choose factory reset/wipe data.
7) Choose apply update from sd (yes, again.)
8) Once done, reboot to system.
9) The phone should boot up to the stock rom. You can verify the radio version now by Menu>Settings>About Phone>Baseband Version. It should end in ZV9. If not, stop. Return to step 3, and repeat.
STOP AT STEP 9 IF YOU WANT TO REMAIN UNROOTED WITH THE STOCK VM ROM! Steps 10 through 12 in Stage 2 flashes the Bobzhome recovery to replace the stock VM recovery that was reinstalled by the VM Update.
Stage 2 -
10) On the phone, go to Menu>Settings>Applications>Developement and make sure Android Debugging is enabled.
11) On the PC, navigate to C:\SDK\platform-tools. Double click Gordita.bat. If it doesn't work (or hits an error), open it with a text editor, then copy and paste each line individually into the command prompt window. You can skip the lines that begin with "echo."
11a) If you use the copy/paste method with ADB: When you paste the last line from the bat file and if it worked properly, you should see it mimic something about the recovery in green text in the GUI ADB log window.
12) Wait for it to finish. You'll know it's done when you see "Recovery flashed! Enjoy." (You won't see this notice if you use the copy/paste method.)
13) Reboot into recovery.
13a) If you still see the stock blue Android recovery: do a "reboot system now" and when the phone reboots, go into the settings and privacy menu, and do a factory reset. Once complete, go back up to Stage 1, and begin again. (I had to do this 3 times, so don't panic if it doesn't take the first few times!)
13b) This is important! Do not leave this recovery screen (the text should be orange) until you've successfully completed the following procedure through Step 16. Otherwise you lose this [Bobzhome] recovery and have to start over!
14) Now let's root the phone: choose install zip from sd card, and flash jcases modified SuperUser zip package.
15) Depending on your ROM preference, perform one of the following three options:
15a) If you want the ROM just prior to the VM Update, go to Backup and Restore, choose Restore. Pick your latest backup [that was created in Step 2].
15b) If you want the stock updated ROM with root access, just continue onto Step 16.
15c) If you want a clean start, choose install zip from sd card, and flash any ZV9 compatible ROM (and gapps if necessary.)
16) Reboot. Done!
If for any reason you wish to revert back to ZV5, Sammyz wrote an amazingly easy guide on how to do so here. Thanks Sammy!!
List of ZV9 compatible roms (post and let me know of more roms! You must have tested these yourself.):
CM7 BACKside IHO (flash with compatible kernel!)
CM9 Cold As Ice (Project has resumed. Recent updates no longer compatible.)
MiRaGe
Harmonia 2.x
Bobz
iho magpie
IHO OM-Mandylion
Quattrimus CM9 (now in beta!)
Please post here in this thread if I've forgotten something, need to fix something, need to add anything, something needs clarification, or if links have changed or are no longer working (forum guides/mods/admins can also edit to fix these if they see the need).