HOW TO SKIN THE MOTOROLA RAZR V3M

Update

Due to recent reports, I felt that it is pertinent to explain that this hack is really only useful on the older firmwares such as NEWC_01.09.02 (mine). If you are unsure what firmware version you have, please check the FAQ section.

An in-depth look at skinning the Razr from Verizon Wireless. Traditionally the problem is that Verizon has made its own Firmware (in computer terms, operating system) and changing your phones theme or skin was not intended. This guide helps you learn how to skin the Motorola Razr V3M from Verizon Wireless and other carriers that do not have the stock Motorola firmware.

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WHAT IS NEEDED:

• Motorola Drivers
• Skinner4Moto
• Razr v3m module for skinner4moto - (download from same page)
• QPST
• Current .ski file and .dat files from the phone
• Image editing software like GIMP
• P2K Seem editor
• PST OR MSU

Setting Up skinner4moto:

1. Extract the skinner4moto archive to C:/Program Files
2. Extract the module archive to the directory created during step 1.
3. Double click the skinner4moto icon to install
4. if necessary double click the module icon to install
5. make a shortcut on the desktop for ease of access

Enabling file transfers with QPST

The following seem needs to be edited with p2k seem editor:

Enable QPST File Transfer			WORKS
2742	Bytes: 0000	Offset: 5a	Check Bit 7
Allows you to transfer files using the QPST EFS explorer.

View the seem edit overview if you are unfamiliar with this process.

Connecting With QPST and using its file system explorer:

(do not have MSU or PST running with this application - it does everything for you)

1. Connect the phone to the PC with the mini USB cable
2. Open the QPST configuration utility
3. Make sure you are on the "Ports" tab
4. Ensure that the ports are enabled by clicking the "Enable" button
5. If after waiting a bit, it still says "no phone", click the "Add New Port" button
6. Choose port(s) from the list on the left, click OK
7. Momentarily, the phone should be recognized and appear as "SURF6500-ZRF6500"
8. Click on the "Start Clients" menu
9. Choose "EFS EXPLORER"
10. Make sure the SPC field is set to 000000
11. Click OK and let it connect - leave the configuration utility running

Acquiring the skin files:

( I will use the blue skin as an example)

1. Navigate to /mobile/skins/blue
2. Click in the right side window and press Ctrl+A (select all)
3. Drag the files onto the desktop (or into a folder)
4. MAKE A BACK UP COPY OF ALL FILES NOW!!

Editing the skin:

Assuming everything is done correctly to this point, you should be able to double click the blue.ski file to open it in skinner4moto.

1. Open the skin by double clicking the .ski icon or by opening skinner4moto and use its open feature The first (and easiest to figure out) thing you will want to do is change the images! I used GIMP for this step. When the skin file is opened, a folder called "gifs" will be created with thousands of images. Most of them are changeable on the original Moto UI only, but there are some that we can change (I will list them at the end)
2. go ahead and minimize skinner4moto and navigate to the folder where your working skin files are and open the gifs folder. (don't close it - it will erase the gifs)
3. open the gif that you want to edit (right click and choose EDIT WITH or OPEN WITH)
4. edit the image and save the file back with out changing the name
5. repeat this process with every image you want to change

   Now we're going to change some of those screen and font colors!! This part is done through the skinner4moto interface.

6. restore the skinner4moto window
7. Click the radio button for "Colors" (right in the middle of the window)
8. Locate the item you wish to change the color for and click in that row (again, I will list these at the end)
9. Ignore the color list on the left side
10. click the colored box next to the word "Color" (again, ignore the one on the left side)
11. choose a predefined color (or create a custom color to add to the custom color pallete, and select it)
12. click OK
13. repeat this process for every color you wish to change

    Now it is time to save the new skin!!

14. Click the save button on the left side of the window (if you get an error message, just click it again.

Applying the skin

1. reconnect to the phone with QPST
2. navigate back to /mobile/skins/blue
3. right click each file (one at a time) and select "New -> File"
4. choose the source file from your hard drive - leave everything at the defaults
5. Click OK
6. do this for each file created - blue.ski, blue.dat, and blue1.dat
7. close the EFS explorer - it will ask you if you want to reset the phone, accept this prompt
8. Close the configuration utility

Enjoy your new skin!!

LIST OF CHANGES I'VE BEEN ABLE TO MAKE
images--some might not have been necessary, but I've done them anyhow.	colors-- these are liste by ROW number, not ID number - that means look at the second column!
5.gif - highlight bar 38.gif - highlight bar 75.gif - highlight bar 103.gif - active point of volume change 104.gif - passive point of volume change 458.gif - window top 477.gif - window top 482.gif - window top 509.gif - window top 538.gif - background of volume change 610.gif - window top 621.gif - window top (in settings and tools sub menus) 630.gif - left soft button 631.gif - left soft pressed 634.gif - right soft button 635.gif - right soft pressed 652.gif - left soft blank 664.gif - right soft blank	68 - background color for when the phone is turned on and displays your number 69 - background color for tools and settings sub menus (and when the phone comes on and displays the greeting message) 70 - text input for dialing numbers and entering the welcome message 71 - text input (highlighted) for entering welcome message 257 - menu font color for tools and settings sub menus 275 - menu font highlighted for tools and setting sub menus 464 - volume window font color (for the setting) 616 - status popup window font color 710 - volume window font color (for the title) 804 - soft button font normal 811 - soft button font pressed

Note: in addition to what I have outlined here, there is more that I have not experimented with yet. It is possible I know to change the position of the Volume window (setting) font. I have not tried moving other things yet. There is also a boolean engine which can be used to change whether a feature is on or off, such as font outlines. For each font color change I listed, there are two outline colors. The outline feature would have to be turned on with the boolean engine. I've not tried it yet, but I imagine it would work.

*make sure that you are viewing the proper theme/skin before you start thinking it didn't work!

Related:

• Hack the Razr Blue Bars!
• Change the menu theme
• Forum Discussion

Special Thanks to listenman20 for being my guinea pig!!

Attachment	Size
blue.zip	57.06 KB

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