A day barely passed since the over-the-air (OTA) Android 2.1 update for the Motorola Droid was converted into a simple download installable without having to wait your turn in Verizon's rollout line, and we're already getting word on the 2.1 firmware getting rooted.

Speeddymon over at AllDroid.org forums, together with one Zinx Verituse have figured out a way to root the new version of the OS (2.1) by slightly tweaking the update.zip file that is used to upgrade the Droid from 2.0.1. to 2.1.

Rooting Steps

The rooting process involves

• downloading a small patch
• patching the official 2.1 update.zip file with it (see this for more info on update.zip)
• using the patched update.zip for the upgrade to 2.1 where you will have root!

Again, this root method requires upgrading from a stock 2.0.1 version.

Oops, I already updated to 2.1 stock

If you've already installed the default 2.1 or have a rooted 2.0.1, the only way to use this hack would be to revert back to stock 2.0.1 first.

Instructions on how to do this can be found here but be warned about 2 things:

• we shall not be held responsible for any damage to your phone
• this process wipes everything on your phone and resets it back to stock 2.0.1 - you will lose everything unless you back up first

Here It Is: Upgrade 2.0.1 Stock to 2.1 Rooted

Credit to this post at AllDroid.org for the hack.

1. Download the signed update file, just like we described it in the 2.1 update post yesterday.
2. Download the patch (working link as of 00:05am 4/2/10; if it expires, visit the link in the credit above).
3. Put both files in the same directory.
4. Apply the patch by running: copy /b signed-voles-ESE81-from-ESD56.fa406da6.zip+droid-ESE81-update-2.zip update.zip
5. Now install update.zip onto your phone, exactly as we described yesterday, starting from step 4 there
6. That's all folks! You should now have a rooted Droid 2.1!