Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
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A noob's guide to rooting (Using Unrevoked3, Flashing a ROM and A2SD) - Williamj1
My Noob's Guide to Rooting - Using Unrevoked3, Flashing a ROM and A2SD
Ok, so last week I finally took the plunge, and decided to root. Despite all the other guides, help I got and so on, I still found it pretty difficult. I had so many questions, and despite them being answered, again the experts seemed to miss out some stuff which they presumed I would know. I think this is a fairly consistent problem for us noob's. So, here it is - my noob's guide to rooting. Now, before I begin - a few things.
- Do this at your own risk. Do not blame me if things go wrong! (Which they shouldn't)
- I cannot state the importance of doing a nandroid backup at the specified step. Absolute life saver!
- If posted elsewhere, credit me fully please.
-Follow the instructions carefully. Read them carefully. Do not skim over steps.
- This will most likely void a warranty, however from use of a nandroid backup, you can always restore to a pre-custom rom state. The manufacturers usually accept this.
- Remember to backup things like the dictionary, settings and so on in apps like mybackup pro.
- Obviously, this is specific to Teppic's Rom. This is just the stock HTC Froyo 2.2 Official Rom - no changes made. It has support for apps2sd and has no changes made unlike other roms. The process will work with other roms, but certain parts of the guide are specific to Teppics, so beware of this.
Finally, a big shout out for DanFrance and Teppic74 for all their help they gave me.
I've tried to make this pretty simple. But if any bits aren't - Ill update. Links included in the guide, follow it carefully - Good luck. Any questions post below - As always, ill check back regularly.
1. Root with unrevoked3
2. Download titanium backup, Mybackup Pro and Rom Manager
3. Backup app data to sd using titanium backup and my backup pro
4. To be extra safe, copy all sd contents to computer (ensure hidden folders too + especially the titanium backup / mybackup pro folders too)
5. Format micro sd
6. Partition Micro sd by opening rom manager, press "flash custom recovery" then go down and press partition sd card. Set the first thing to 512mb, then the swap to 0, and hit go.
7. Once that is completed, Turn off the phone, and boot into custom recovery (clockworks mod)
8. Do a nandroid backup - I cannot stress the importance of this enough. (Also, a well documented issue with unrevoked is that this ^^ can cause a boot loop). This happened to me, and boy did I freak.... but really its simple....To fix, simply restore your nandroid backup from a minute ago.
9. Download the following placing the unextracted unzipped zip files on the root of the sd, ie. just loose once you open the sd up on the computer.
10. Download....
-Dowload Radio 32.44.00.32U_5.09.05.30_2 (optional, check your radio first. I found mine was the above anyway so this was irrelevant. Yours is labelled at the top of the screen in the custom recovery boot menu)
11. Boot into recovery - find the option to flash from sd card a zip file....
12. Flash the ROM with init.d Support (ZIP FILE) you saved onto sd from earlier.
12. Flash Radio 32.44.00.32U_5.09.05.30_2 (optional)
13. Flash this - add_a2sd-14-signed.zip
14. Boot up phone
15. Download titanium backup, Mybackup Pro and Rom Manager
16. Restore data
I just really hope i've covered everything here. Any unsure bits, or just anything else get back to me
1. Saying people can't post this without your permission is a bit narrow minded - you've had help from other people and have given credit, someone else could post this and credit you
2. This isn't a guide to rooting but a guide to rooting and flashing your ROM of choice. If it was a guide to rooting then someone just has to follow the unrEVOked guidelines
thanks will, this helps a lot. Especially with the backing up process. I do realize now that I will have to do another factory wipe to do all this as long as I'm comfortable with voiding my warranty lol sigh. All my icons are pretty much customized from folder organizer so reconfiguring all my settings and icons and homescreens is gonna be a pain in the ass... unless these help with restoring (titanium backup, Mybackup Pro)
Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
Thanked 215 Times in 78 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by EddyOS
1. Saying people can't post this without your permission is a bit narrow minded - you've had help from other people and have given credit, someone else could post this and credit you
2. This isn't a guide to rooting but a guide to rooting and flashing your ROM of choice. If it was a guide to rooting then someone just has to follow the unrEVOked guidelines
1. Maybe, but without naming names, I found my guide in other places Without my permission or any credit to me. If they ask, and credit me fine.....
2. Ok. Ill add flashing a rom to the title.
Quote:
Originally Posted by dinaro
I won't be getting OTA updates once I do this right? I'll need to flash new ROMs to do updates and then re-wipe all my stuff?
True, but tbh o2 took an age to give me froyo, and when they finally released it (4 months late), it not only bricked 95% of those who upgraded phones. Plus, it was loaded with german bloatware like some random sat nav app we couldn't use. And to think internal memory wasn't restricted enough already!
not only do I have little confidence in their update testing or process, I have little confidence they will even bother to update users to gingerbread anyway. The desire is more or less becoming old stock now, and they aren't as far as I know getting the new ones. not the desire z's anyway. So for me, it's not much of a loss to be honest.
3. Thanks - Title changed
Last edited by williamj1; November 8th, 2010 at 08:42 AM.
Do you not think it's a little petty saying no one can post your guide without permission - it's like me posting a new RUU and saying no one can use it without my permission...
We're all here to help so who cares if someone else uses your guide - it's for the greater good
I'm getting a little closer to taking the root plunge, just had a few more questions. Once I root, I'll have 2.10. I'll also want to flash a new radio lets say... 32.48 as I've heard people having better battery performance with it. But I've also read that not all radios will work properly unless you flash a brand new rom version like 2.29 with radio 32.48 or 32.49. Will 2.10 (rooted) be compatible with ALL radio verisons?
Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
Thanked 215 Times in 78 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by EddyOS
Do you not think it's a little petty saying no one can post your guide without permission - it's like me posting a new RUU and saying no one can use it without my permission...
We're all here to help so who cares if someone else uses your guide - it's for the greater good
I changed it earlier. They can post all they want, as long as they credit it to me.It's hardly fair for me to do all the work, only to find them getting all the credit.
Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
Thanked 215 Times in 78 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by dinaro
Well in that case I'll have to try different radios thanks.
Yeh go for it . Be careful though as some radio's are made specifically for certain roms.
Most people change roms to get the latest one, bringing better signal + battery performance etc, but seeing as you appear to have the latest one already - I'm not sure it would do much. I could be wrong though. Plus, it's another step towards voiding warranty I suppose. Personally, I reckon the closer to stock, the safer....
The Following User Says Thank You to williamj1 For This Useful Post:
Yeah after thinking about it for a bit, if it's not "broken" or causing any major issues I probably shouldn't meddle around with it... atleast not yet.
9. Download the following placing the unextracted unzipped zip files on the root of the sd, ie. just loose once you open the sd up on the computer.
How will I know where the root of the SD is? Is it a particular folder or partition?
Quote:
Originally Posted by williamj1
8. Do a nandroid backup - I cannot stress the importance of this enough. (Also, a well documented issue with unrevoked is that this ^^ can cause a boot loop). This happened to me, and boy did I freak.... but really its simple....To fix, simply restore your nandroid backup from a minute ago.
If I go into an endless boot cycle is it safe for me to pull the battery so I can do the nandroid restore?
AND one more question about the zip files. Do I need to rename them? Or can I just leave them as is and flash?
K weird, I rooted and have superuser permissions. I downloaded mybackup and titantium back up but titanium backup says I don't have root permissions whereas mybackup says I do.
Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
Thanked 215 Times in 78 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by dinaro
hmm still says the same thing....says i need busybox or something.
EDIT: got it to detect. I had to install an update for busybox in the titanium app.
EDIT 2: Both mybackup and titanium back up the same things no?
For edit 2 - you can choose which to restore. Personally I preferred titanium as it didn't require a reinstall of apps. But mybackup pro did things like my dictionary so I used a mix of both.
and when i try to goto back and restore and press the power button to select it just stays black and when i press the power button again it brings up the clockword mod menu again.
EDIT: weird i had to keep pressing back button to enable the menu button but i didnt' see nandroid i just saw backup.
Backing up boot...
Backing up recovery...
Backing up system....
EDIT 2: Backup went fine, just didn't see "nandroid" in there.
Last edited by dinaro; November 8th, 2010 at 07:45 PM.
11. Boot into recovery - find the option to flash from sd card a zip file....
Do you mean "install zip from SDcard" or "apply sdcard:update.zip"
EDIT: OK nevermind I just installed zip from SDcard and installed the init.d 2.10 rom and the a2sd+ zip. Weird thing is.... I didn't lose anything. Where my apps used 125megs of 147 its now only 49 megs used of 147 and I haven't moved my apps to the SD card yet!!!! WOW! But I didn't even have to restore anything... All my apps and my data is still intact! Did I do something wrong?
EDIT 2: Let me clarify that I moved all my apps back to internal storage before I did the backups with titantium and mybackup. I'm pretty sure the rom flashed ok because I don't have the boot up sound anymore. But weird thing is I moved around 20 megs worth of apps to the SD card and only gained 1MB of space on internal memory? Am I missing something? how does A2SD+ actually work?
Last edited by dinaro; November 8th, 2010 at 07:44 PM.
Device(s): i7500@galax0-1.6.3.4
OC@710mhz
HTC Desire - never ending modding
Thanks: 111
Thanked 981 Times in 816 Posts
This is android, dont expect too much credit for creating guides based on info you have been told.
Ive written numerous guides and processes for the galaxy and they were posted all over the place. It doesnt bother me as my purpose here is to help and not to get credit. i couldnt give a monkey if people Rip my guides etc.
the odd thank you is nice though.
In my opinion this Guide is ok but in retrospect i actually find it more vague than other guides out there which is kind of ironic considering your purpose was to give a more indepth and noob friendly view of rooting and flashing.
Quote:
1. Root with unrevoked3
you dont go into how to do this properly making sure all drivers are installed before hand and linking to the hboot drivers for unrevoked as its not actually obvious from their site.
Quote:
3. Backup app data to sd using titanium backup and my backup pro
what data? you want to avoid system data/settings etc
Quote:
7. Once that is completed, Turn off the phone, and boot into custom recovery (clockworks mod)
you dont explain how - like you said yourself other guides makes assumptions you know enough to do certain things but many dont
Quote:
8. Do a nandroid backup - I cannot stress the importance of this enough. (Also, a well documented issue with unrevoked is that this ^^ can cause a boot loop). This happened to me, and boy did I freak.... but really its simple....To fix, simply restore your nandroid backup from a minute ago.
again how? its not documented as nandroid in recovery, people who know the environment well enough knows what this is but its actually "backup and restore"
You should also mention that people should scroll and select with the trackpad once in recovery as if they use power it will just switch off the screen (as someone has done earlier on and the other day)
Cool, thanks again to everybody that has helped with the process. Went pretty smooth for me. No bootloops, and I didn't do a factory reset so even after flashing the pre-rooted ROM from teppics thread I still had everything intact.
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy S II, Asus Eee Transformer
Thanks: 103
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rastaman-FB
In my opinion this Guide is ok but in retrospect i actually find it more vague than other guides out there which is kind of ironic considering your purpose was to give a more indepth and noob friendly view of rooting and flashing.
Quote:
7. Once that is completed, Turn off the phone, and boot into custom recovery (clockworks mod)
you dont explain how - like you said yourself other guides makes assumptions you know enough to do certain things but many dont
Quote:
8. Do a nandroid backup - I cannot stress the importance of this enough. (Also, a well documented issue with unrevoked is that this ^^ can cause a boot loop). This happened to me, and boy did I freak.... but really its simple....To fix, simply restore your nandroid backup from a minute ago.
again how? its not documented as nandroid in recovery, people who know the environment well enough knows what this is but its actually "backup and restore"
You should also mention that people should scroll and select with the trackpad once in recovery as if they use power it will just switch off the screen (as someone has done earlier on and the other day)
EXACTLY. I'm a noob looking to do exactly what you've advertised, William - root (already done) and flash a new ROM with A2SD+. Your guide could be a real help, but I haven't got the foggiest on the above, so it's useless to me. Please could you (or some other kind soul) expand on this as it soulds pretty bloody critical to me.
Furthermore, as I understand it, some folks may wish / need to wipe the old ROM first. Again, how do you do this? Step-by-step instructions would be helpful...!
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy S II, Asus Eee Transformer
Thanks: 103
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Yeah, just now, thanks for the input! I was kinda shoring up Rastaman's point that a "comprehensive guide for Noobs" should be just that, sans assuimptions, and also I'm still hazy on how to boot into custom recovery and also take a Nandroid backup...
I understand that the part about wiping was not originally in Williamj1's post but the point still stands - it could be part of the process, a Noob may have to do it, but it isn't explained anywhere...
The problem is the data settings from one Rom may not be compatible with another.
Data is on the data partition and Rom is on system. Wipe refers to data.
If you're going from stock froyo to rooted stock froyo you probably won't need to wipe. Generally its needed between different custom roms.
You may find a bootloop after flashing a Rom if you didn't wipe, but you can do this afterwards if needed
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy S II, Asus Eee Transformer
Thanks: 103
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Okee dokee. To be honest after looking at the options I think I'll be going for Teppic's rooted Sense ROM with A2SD+ and powermanager so I guess I can try and flash the ROM without wiping...
Okee dokee. To be honest after looking at the options I think I'll be going for Teppic's rooted Sense ROM with A2SD+ and powermanager so I guess I can try and flash the ROM without wiping...
May as well try. If you download titanium backup once rooted, before teppics rom, you can backup apps and settings and if you have to wipe, you can restore some of it with that.
You just need to be selective. Anything that looks like a setting (usually indicated by being in [] ), you will have to avoid.
rooted my desire with unrevoked 3, then after backing wiping phone, flashing rom that WilliamJ1 has posted when tried to reboot it went to my carriers logo and just stayed there let it sit for 15 min still nothing. Any suggestions ?
rooted my desire with unrevoked 3, then after backing wiping phone, flashing rom that WilliamJ1 has posted when tried to reboot it went to my carriers logo and just stayed there let it sit for 15 min still nothing. Any suggestions ?
did you wipe? see faq in sig on rooting for more info
Device(s): Samsung Galaxy S II, Asus Eee Transformer
Thanks: 103
Thanked 18 Times in 17 Posts
Had a bit of an evening of it so far. Never mind. Out of interest, how long should it take to partitian a 32Gb card? 15 mins and counting...
EDIT:
It's been 23 minutes so far and I'm still staring at a warning triangle with a little droid. Don't knwo if it makes any difference but I quick-formatted the SD card before starting, and my phone is NOT attached to the USB cable...
Last edited by turbohobbit; November 18th, 2010 at 04:24 PM.
Device(s): HTC Desire
Current ROM: Redux 2 Test Builds (Gingerbread 2.3.5)
Thanks: 90
Thanked 215 Times in 78 Posts
Quote:
Originally Posted by turbohobbit
Had a bit of an evening of it so far. Never mind. Out of interest, how long should it take to partitian a 32Gb card? 15 mins and counting...
EDIT:
It's been 23 minutes so far and I'm still staring at a warning triangle with a little droid. Don't knwo if it makes any difference but I quick-formatted the SD card before starting, and my phone is NOT attached to the USB cable...
Thats not working. Go back into rom manager, flash the clockworks recovery first (the first option) and the go into partition sd card.
The HTC Desire is one of the latest high end phone by HTC bringing a huge 3.7" inch high quality AMOLED screen for crystal clear viewing, powered by a 1 GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon processor and runs on, you guessed it, Android.
We first heard a... Read More
A noob's guide to rooting (Using Unrevoked3, Flashing a ROM and A2SD) - Williamj1
sigh. All my icons are pretty much customized from folder organizer so reconfiguring all my settings and icons and homescreens is gonna be a pain in the ass... unless these help with restoring (titanium backup, Mybackup Pro)
