I have no idea how to root my phone, what recovery is and how to flash a zip file.
Well, there are lots of directions and ways to get rooted (and instructions for doing each). To get rooted on the Eris, you need to get a custom recovery partition installed. This custom recovery allows you to install (flash) either a new custom ROM (that will replace your current phone's operating system) or update-type files that just update the currently installed operating system.
You should take a peek around the
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/ subforum and get a little more comfortable with rooting concepts. I suggest reading through the stickied threads first.
When you are ready, there are at least three good, options for you to root and then flash your custom ROM (all discussed in this thread
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/158369-rooting-htc-eris.html):
1.
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies.html - this thread by erisuser1 is very detailed, thorough and guides you along with screenshots; lots of folks have used it very successfully; this method allows you to root without having to use your PC or MAC
2
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-t...is-app-apk-no-pcs-no-scripts-needed-easy.html - this thread by jcase is very quick and easy, but details are a little sparse, but its your easiest route
3.
http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/125436-detailed-leak-root-tutorial.html - this thread by surgeon0214 / alprazolam walks you through rooting via the Android SDK; this is a good method if you are comfortable with the Windows Command Prompt and want to know about each step in detail (you'll learn a lot by doing this)
...does the one click root not work on the 2.1 leak??
Yes, the one-click method will work on any 2.1 leak. The new root methods (erisuser1's
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-things-root/127861-universal-eris-root-dummies.html, jcase's
http://androidforums.com/eris-all-t...is-app-apk-no-pcs-no-scripts-needed-easy.html, and surgeon0214's
http://androidforums.com/htc-droid-eris/125436-detailed-leak-root-tutorial.html) all use the same root exploit and will work on all versions of Android for the Eris.
Which question are you bumping? lol...(I'm assuming that its the root questions above).
Ammendent to the above: there is also the option to simply root your phone in-place without installing a custom rooted ROM. This would give you root/superuser access and allow you to install root-only apps (wi-fi tethering, for example), overclock to make your phone run faster (you will have to flash an update to the kernel to do this and acquire the setCPU app).