Root Noob here, rooted and want to update. How?

[jpleez]

I want the best for my phone and I know that many people have their own opinion as to what is the best, so I will do my best to determine what is the best for me based on replies. Essentially what I am pretty sure I know I want is the Froyo 2.2 update. But I have some questions first. Here are the specs for my phone to start:

Originally my phone is from Verizon and it has been rooted and flashed and is working on MetroPCS. I paid for this service and have no idea about ANYTHING other than this below.

Firmware Version: 2.1 (ESE 53)
Baseband Version: C_01.3E.03P
Kernel Version: 2.6.29-omap1-g1c56172-dirtyadamz@ubuntu #6
Build Number: Smoked Glass v6.0

My questions are:

Can I update without losing my apps and their functions that I currently have installed?

Will I lose all of my contacts?

Will I lose all of my text messages?

Will I lose my internet and pic messaging capabilities, this is notorious for MetroPCS users?

I think these are the most important questions that I have.

Now EXACTLY what do I need to do to update?

I know various parts of my questions have been answered in various threads due to my searching, but my concern is I truly don't know if my situation is unique or not because I am on another carrier and I dont understand if I have to have a different ROM first, I just plain and simply don't understand and I so badly want to. I am good at following specific instructions, but I have to be treated as a complete and total newbie as I am

 

[supersaki]

My questions are:

Can I update without losing my apps and their functions that I currently have installed?

Probably not. You can try without wiping data/cache, but will most likely encounter issues (force closes, other erratic behavior) Froyo restores your downloaded apps most of the time, but not the app data.

Will I lose all of my contacts?

These will be backed up by google. Unless you don't sync with google, in which case, yes.

Will I lose all of my text messages?

Yes (if you wipe data/cache). Unless you back them up with another app (I hear myBackup does this, maybe titaniumbackup as well)

Will I lose my internet and pic messaging capabilities, this is notorious for MetroPCS users?

Good question. You shouldn't, but not many people can say for certain.

I think these are the most important questions that I have.

Now EXACTLY what do I need to do to update?

The Froyo update. Depending on which recovery you have installed will determine how you install it. You can tell by powering on the phone while holding 'x' and reporting back with what comes up.

I know various parts of my questions have been answered in various threads due to my searching, but my concern is I truly don't know if my situation is unique or not because I am on another carrier and I dont understand if I have to have a different ROM first, I just plain and simply don't understand and I so badly want to. I am good at following specific instructions, but I have to be treated as a complete and total newbie as I am

See above ^^^