Root Took the first step

[rtm0004]

Hey guys,

So tonight I finally decided I'm rooting my phone, mainly out of curiosity.

I'm going with the unrevoked process (it seems the simplest to me) and tonight installed the HBOOT drivers. I'm waiting on the rest until my wife and baby get home tomorrow night just in case something goes wrong.

However, I still have some "newb" quesitons:

How do I install new ROMs (I'm not sure I would do this but would like the info)

What the heck is a radio and why is it important?

For every rooted program I install (ie wifi tethering) do I also have to install a new kernel? (and what is a kernel anyway?)

also, should I run titanium backup on top of unrevoked nandroid backup?

Also, what are some other cool, useful stuff than I can do once I'm rooted?

Thanks for the help and patience with a new guy that is jumping in the deep end here.

 

[AndroidRider]

You should probably post this it the Incredible-All things root subsection above this board, a mod will probably move it anyways.

 

[SemiAntiConductor]

I think you are making a mistake. Rooting the Inc does not offer much more functionality over Froyo 2.2.

 

[Terabethia]

Hey guys,

So tonight I finally decided I'm rooting my phone, mainly out of curiosity.

I'm going with the unrevoked process (it seems the simplest to me) and tonight installed the HBOOT drivers. I'm waiting on the rest until my wife and baby get home tomorrow night just in case something goes wrong.

I am very courious what your wife and baby are going to do to help...? Personally, I would recommend doing it when they are NOT around if possible, so that you don't have any distractions that could cause your to do something wrong.

However, I still have some "newb" quesitons:

How do I install new ROMs (I'm not sure I would do this but would like the info)

Check out the ROM's section of the forum (it's under the All Things Root sub forum). But given your inexperience, I would REALLY hold off on doing anything like that until you have more experience and understand what you are doing. The chances of anything going wrong while rooting the phone are pretty slim to none, but those chances go WAY up when you start messing with ROM's, Kernels and Radio's.

What the heck is a radio and why is it important?

In a nutshell, it's how your phone gets signal. I wouldn't mess with it, at least not until you know what it is...

For every rooted program I install (ie wifi tethering) do I also have to install a new kernel? (and what is a kernel anyway?)

No. In fact, I am still running stock everything (no custom roms, kernels or radio's) and I have tons of root only apps.

also, should I run titanium backup on top of unrevoked nandroid backup?

Yes, these are two different types of backups. Nandroid backs up everything while titanium is just your apps and data. There are different situations where you'll want each.

Also, what are some other cool, useful stuff than I can do once I'm rooted?

To start with, you can remove bloatware (all the crap Verizon and HTC puts on the phone), you can underclock the phone (saving battery life), you can use WiFi Tethering (via app without paying Verizon $20/month), and more.

Plus, as you are already aware, it unlocks the ability to change things like your ROM, Kernels and Radio's. With those things, the possibilities are endless.

Thanks for the help and patience with a new guy that is jumping in the deep end here.

Check out this thread for Terminology:

A Dummies Guide to Android Terminology & Lingo

 

[jbdan]

I think you are making a mistake. Rooting the Inc does not offer much more functionality over Froyo 2.2.

Why that's crazy!!

It opens up a whole new world actually

I mean if your into that sorta thing

OP terabeth gives great advice good luck and take your time!

 

[SemiAntiConductor]

Why that's crazy!!

It opens up a whole new world actually

I mean if your into that sorta thing

OP terabeth gives great advice good luck and take your time!

ummm not really. What useful thing can you do with root that I cant with stock Froyo 2.2.

Dont even post about wifi tether. I have free wifi tether on my stock Inc simply by removing the .dun from the NAI.

 

[jbdan]

ummm not really. What useful thing can you do with root that I cant with stock Froyo 2.2.

Dont even post about wifi tether. I have free wifi tether on my stock Inc simply by removing the .dun from the NAI.

Oh... I see. I used to feel the same way

 

[SemiAntiConductor]

Oh... I see. I used to feel the same way

No seriously. What useful thing can you do that I cant???

 

[jbdan]

No seriously. What useful thing can you do that I cant???

I'll gladly discuss this with you tomorrow through a PM if you'd like. The amount of info on the web on the pro's and cons of rooting is yours to behold. Seriously.

 

[SemiAntiConductor]

I'll gladly discuss this with you tomorrow through a PM if you'd like. The amount of info on the web on the pro's and cons of rooting is yours to behold. Seriously.

All I want is a few useful things that you can do with your rooted phone that I cant do with my stock unit. The problem is you cant do anything useful that I cant. Which is why you are avoiding the question.

rtm0004, I recommend STOP with your rooting. As you can see there really is nothing useful that rooting gives you.

 

[jbdan]

Like I said PM me we are hijacking a thread and if your not going to take the time and search your info there is no value in writing the obvious for you on someone else thread....capiche?

 

[SemiAntiConductor]

Ugh there's always gotta be one in every forum

Listen Im not joking. Rooting offers nothing useful over the Inc. Froyo 2.2 stock ROM. Nothing at all. It will only give you problems IMO.

 

[jbdan]

listen im not joking. Rooting offers nothing useful over the inc. Froyo 2.2 stock rom. Nothing at all. It will only give you problems imo.

ok

 

[rtm0004]

You should probably post this it the Incredible-All things root subsection above this board, a mod will probably move it anyways.

sorry, I thought I had

to who ever said do it while the family is going: the reason I'm waiting is so I can communicate with them just in case something happens either to my phone or to them

but thanks for the rest of your responses, they were very helpful

 

[Terabethia]

sorry, I thought I had

to who ever said do it while the family is going: the reason I'm waiting is so I can communicate with them just in case something happens either to my phone or to them

but thanks for the rest of your responses, they were very helpful

Oh, I see. I am one of the few people left on the planet with a landline, so I often forget that most people nowadays only have their cells.

At the least hold off until the kids in bed and the wife is asleep or tied up with something else. Picture this - You are right in the middle of rooting, the Unrevoked process is running. Suddenly the kid starts screaming. You pick em up. Then they accidentally grab the cord and yank it out. BAM... bricked phone.

So yea... do it when there are no distractions around. It's a super simple process, but things could still go wrong if you are not paying attention.

And good luck!

 

[rtm0004]

Oh, I see. I am one of the few people left on the planet with a landline, so I often forget that most people nowadays only have their cells.

At the least hold off until the kids in bed and the wife is asleep or tied up with something else. Picture this - You are right in the middle of rooting, the Unrevoked process is running. Suddenly the kid starts screaming. You pick em up. Then they accidentally grab the cord and yank it out. BAM... bricked phone.

So yea... do it when there are no distractions around. It's a super simple process, but things could still go wrong if you are not paying attention.

And good luck!

thanks for the info! I can lock myself in my office if need be, baby is only a month old so he's not grabbing stuff yet, that fun is coming though!

I'm sure I'll be back again when I'm ready to overclock/undervolt, wifi tether, etc

 

[FramCire]

I am in the process of deciding whether to root or not... would someone please answer the question about what useful things you can do with root that you cant with stock froyo?

I believe you can get better baattery life, speed, and such (I dont know how, because I am a rootbie)

 

[jbdan]

I am in the process of deciding whether to root or not... would someone please answer the question about what useful things you can do with root that you cant with stock froyo?

I believe you can get better baattery life, speed, and such (I dont know how, because I am a rootbie)

There are many pro's to rooting (as are cons like with anything), but here are a few:

Unlike different variations of backup apps available to non-root users a backup in recovery takes a snapshot image of your entire ROM/setup kind of like system restore in Windows (I hate that feature in windows!).

The bloatware or extra verizon/htc apps can be removed and make your phone snappier and free up RAM. Some people like to be in control of what is on their phone and what runs on it.

With root you can also control your cpu (mHz) and set up profiles telling the cpu when to ramp up or down. This is a huge battery saver. You can also overclock it (I don't feel the need to as this phone is already so fast). You can also control and set the governors that are available to further save battery life.

Another bonus are the apps that are available for root users only.

Installing custom ROM's, kernels, and themes is my favorite thing that only root users can do. I love to customize my phone, use my own boot splash screens, boot animations, control what is in my notification bar, remap my rosie bar, etc... the list is really endless.

You could also try a search. I just did and this turned up ---> click here

 

[MakeAPile]

Rooting offers nothing useful to the Inc.

1. There are 1,000 free backup apps in the market that work great.
2. Removing the extra apps installed by Verizon/HTC will NOT make your phone "snappier" since Froyo 2.2 manages the memory. There is no swap file like in Windows. Most people USE the apps installed by Verison/HTC. We like them.
3. The CPU clock speed is already dynamically controlled by Android. There is no need to install ANOTHER app that does the exact same thing.
4. The Inc already has FREE wireless tethering simply be removing the .dun from the NAI. Takes 10 seconds.
5. The additional apps available to rooted users are useless.
6. Android with Sense is already hugely customizable. Who cares about boot animations? Nobody does.

As you can see for the Inc rooting is quite useless. Hey if you want to change the boot animation go ahead and root. It will only cause you problems IMO.

 

[rtm0004]

wow, seems my little thread has turned into a ban fest

 

[Ufkal]

personally I root cuz I enjoy messing with different software configurations and trying different things. I probably change roms at least 4 times a week just because I can. That is the power of Android! Good luck rtm004, I hope the root goes well for you.

 

[rtm0004]

personally I root cuz I enjoy messing with different software configurations and trying different things. I probably change roms at least 4 times a week just because I can. That is the power of Android! Good luck rtm004, I hope the root goes well for you.

easy as pie my friend!