Root Getting to the root of ROOTING... HELP!

[cousy415]

Alright, time to swallow my pride and just get into this.

I had never even heard of rooting until I started to Google some info on when the Gingerbread update may be coming. Since then I have read a bunch of posts and pages about rooting, roms, kernels, etc., yet I am still a little fuzzy. I am thinking I want to root but as a novice in this type of stuff I want to be sure I do it right, download the correct stuff, and most of all don't brick my phone!

While there are a million different options, processes and sources, I have seen some reoccurring trends.

What I am looking for is some more detail in the process and some info that will help me avoid totally messing this up! Please add/correct/etc. my thinking below:

FIRST: I must ROOT. For this, I have found video on youtube that uses revolutuonary.iu. It also allows you not to wipe/lose all your apps, contacts, etc.. I can't post links but the exact title is

"How to Root - HTC Thunderbolt (No Data Wipe! Newest & Fastest)"

Is this the best option?

SECOND: Once I root, I need to add a ROM, correct? Judging by the forum community a very good one is "BAMF Forever 1.0.6". There is a site that give the instructions as follows:

1. You MUST delete the BAMF_Extras folder under your sd card prior to installation
2. You MUST wipe on the first install, and possibly future versions of this rom
3. Download from the URL below
4. Copy to sd card
5. Reboot to recovery, and install from zip
6. DON'T FORGET TO WIPE!

When it says I need to WIPE that just means to do a "factory data reset," correct?

If I do download this ROM, I will need to back up my phone (since the rooting didnt wipe it clean) and I have read that Titanium is the way to go. True?

Alright, if the above is all correct, I am a bit fuzzy on the next step. I need to download Kernel(s)? Radios? More?

If anyone can give me some guidance I would GREATLY appreciate it. I also appreciate your patience with my ignorance! lol

Nate

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[WormDoes]

Moving this to the All Thing Root section.

And yes, everything you said above is correct

 

[cousy415]

Thanks for your help!

Sorry I put it in the wrong place.

Do you have any further advice as far as the need to download Kernel(s)? Radios? More?

THANKS!

 

[Yeahha]

I have found video on youtube that uses revolutuonary.iu. It also allows you not to wipe/lose all your apps, contacts, etc.. I can't post links but the exact title is

"How to Root - HTC Thunderbolt (No Data Wipe! Newest & Fastest)"

Is this the best option?

Yes, revolutionary is the best way to root your phone available.

Once I root, I need to add a ROM, correct?

Not right away, but yes if you want to get GB then you will need to flash a rom. You could run stock with root as long as you want but I would suggest you flash a new rom.

Judging by the forum community a very good one is "BAMF Forever 1.0.6

A good rom is really a matter of opinion. I would suggest you try several, at least one AOSP and one Sense based roms just so you know the feel of each and can make an informed decision on what you like best.

When it says I need to WIPE that just means to do a "factory data reset," correct?

Factory reset in recovery and wiping cache and dalvik cache in recovery.

If I do download this ROM, I will need to back up my phone (since the rooting didnt wipe it clean) and I have read that Titanium is the way to go. True?

Titanium backs up user apps and data, you will also make a nandroid of your phone before you start wiping which will make an image of the phone exactly how it is at that time incase something goes wrong and you need to restore to it later.

Alright, if the above is all correct, I am a bit fuzzy on the next step. I need to download Kernel(s)? Radios? More?

Don't worry about kernels or radios yet. If you are on current firmware the radio is fine for the roms currently. A kernel is packaged with the rom but you can change it later once you find a rom you like, it is also flashed in recovery.

More? Yes, there is much more you can do but you shouldn't try to bury yourself in it all right away, first root the phone and play around with some roms, then maybe try some different kernels and update the radio. Once you are comfortable with that you can dig deeper and see what havoc you can reap on your phone

Also, welcome to AF

 

[cousy415]

Titanium backs up user apps and data, you will also make a nandroid of your phone before you start wiping which will make an image of the phone exactly how it is at that time incase something goes wrong and you need to restore to it later.

Also, welcome to AF

Wow, you're my hero. I think I am going to go for it. Thanks for all the great advice!

How exactly do I go about making a Nandroid?

Also, THANKS, glad to be here!

 

[WormDoes]

Thanks for your help!

Sorry I put it in the wrong place.

Do you have any further advice as far as the need to download Kernel(s)? Radios? More?

THANKS!

Don't worry about it. I just moved it so you'd get more responses. And, as far as advice, looks like yeahha stepped in and took care of that

 

[Yeahha]

Wow, you're my hero. I think I am going to go for it. Thanks for all the great advice!

How exactly do I go about making a Nandroid?

Also, THANKS, glad to be here!

Once you are rooted and have a custom recovery flashed (part of the revolutionary process) then you can make the nandroid in recovery. Until then it is a script you are unable to run as you need root access.

 

[paigow]

cousy415, you come to the right place and Yeahha has helped me more times then i can remember.
I was a noob just like you (still am) but i finally after 6 month of owning the TB rooted with the same method you found on youtube. actually that was really the reason i haven't rooted sooner, i didn't want to lose my data on some of the games i played.
so after rooting, i now have free tether for my xoom, i overclocked my TB to score almost as much as the Bionic in quadrant and running GB 2.3.4
the battery for me now last ALL day long when before it would only last 5-8hrs with the same use.
couldn't be happier with my thunderbolt now. the only 1 thing i hate about my thunderbolt is that it is hard to see in direct sunlight. The binoic did much better in sunlight but had way to many other problems.
GL on your rooting adventure, we all started pretty much the same way.