Root First time rooter

[ewpoxy]

Okay so my Droid x2, is currently running Android 2.3.4 and I'm wanting to root my device. I may, probably not, (correct my lingo) flash a modded firmware? I plan on following This guide and rooting my phone, now to me it looks simple to unroot, just clicking the unroot button, but whats all this about Freezing/Deleting apps? Do I have to do this? Also how do I make sure my contacts are back up in case I do decide to unroot? Also what is Bootstrap, do I need that for recovery? Where do I get it if I need it?

 

[Scur]

Okay so my Droid x2, is currently running Android 2.3.4 and I'm wanting to root my device. I may, probably not, (correct my lingo) flash a modded firmware?

Yes, you may flash a custom ROM (modded firmware), but in order to do so, you have to install a custom recovery which can flash .zip files. For the X2, the recovery you use is Bootstrap Recovery. There are also certain steps to take to insure you have a successful flash without losing a lot of your data.

I plan on following This guide and rooting my phone, now to me it looks simple to unroot, just clicking the unroot button, but whats all this about Freezing/Deleting apps? Do I have to do this?

Freezing apps is simply preventing some of the factory installed apps (apps you can't uninstall without root) from running at all. It's bloatware the carrier puts on in hopes you use their stuff. Pretty lame there. Some people simply delete them. But sometimes when you delete the wrong app you can screw up your phone, and often times there is no way to re-install it. So lots of folks just freeze them. They won't run, they don't show up in your apps drawers, but if the absence of the app screws up the phone, they can simply un-freeze it.
And no, you don't have to do it. It's a personal preference.

Also how do I make sure my contacts are back up in case I do decide to unroot?

Just go into settings, choose accounts, and choose your Google account. Then you can sync contacts or whatever else you wish with that Google account. You can re-sync with any ROM or phone you wish to, you'll never lose the info since it's kept on Google servers, but if you only unroot you won't lose them anyway.

Also what is Bootstrap, do I need that for recovery? Where do I get it if I need it?

Besides flashing custom ROMs, Bootstrap performs other actions. It can flash scripts, mods, themes, etc. It can create and restore nandroid backups (a complete backup of your entire phone), wipe data and caches, fix permissions, wipe battery stats, create sdcard partitions, and some other things that aren't coming to mind atm.

We keep the Motorola Droid X2: All Things Root Guide (the sticky right above your post) up to date, and it has links for everything you're talking about.

 

[ewpoxy]

Okay, so I need to backup my contacts, use Pete's tool to root my phone, Install Bootstrap, Backup with Bootstrap, Freeze unwated apps AntTek App Manager? Thats it correct? Also I found the Bootstrap on the other forums I was linked too, and there are a few different downloads, the one I need is the "Droid X2 Recovery APK" correct?

 

[Scur]

Okay, so I need to backup my contacts, use Pete's tool to root my phone, Install Bootstrap, Backup with Bootstrap, Freeze unwated apps AntTek App Manager? Thats it correct?

Well, you don't need to do any of it. But what are you trying to do? If you just want to get root and freeze bloatware, then you don't need the recovery at all. You only need make sure contacts are synced, root, install TB or AntTek, then freeze or remove the apps you wish to.
Here's a nice list of safe-to-remove apps.

Also I found the Bootstrap on the other forums I was linked too, and there are a few different downloads, the one I need is the "Droid X2 Recovery APK" correct?

Yup, it's an app that controls the recovery, and the app itself is called System Recovery. You just put the .apk on your sdcard, then open it with a file manager. You must be plugged in to your wall charger, not just a computer or car charger, otherwise it won't work. It will install the recovery, which you'll enter into any time you plug your phone into the wall charger while the power is off, or when you chose the Recovery Mode option in the app. If you ever get tired of it entering recovery while plugging the phone in with the power off, just open the System Recovery app and choose Charge Mode. That'll switch it off. To enter again, choose Recovery Mode again.

 

[ewpoxy]

Rooted my phone without problems, making a nandroid recovery now. Question, if for some reason I need to send my phone back or it stops working, do I first need to use Pete's tools and click Unroot or do I need to just restore my nandroid backup? Hopefully I won't have to unroot but in case I would like to know.

Also can you overclock the x2 yet?

 

[Scur]

Rooted my phone without problems, making a nandroid recovery now. Question, if for some reason I need to send my phone back or it stops working, do I first need to use Pete's tools and click Unroot or do I need to just restore my nandroid backup? Hopefully I won't have to unroot but in case I would like to know.

Also can you overclock the x2 yet?

This is the best reason for keeping your backups up to date. If you have to take your phone into your carrier, you'll need to do a complete wipe and install the stock ROM. You'll have to use RSD to flash a SBF file (stock ROM). Otherwise you'll have the custom recovery on there at the very least. And you also can't even have the Unknown Sources option checked. Copy your TB or AntTek folder to your computer, along with your nandroid backup. Then when you get your phone back, just root, install Bootstrap, and restore your backup. That will put everything back to where it was.

And no, you can't overclock. The bootloader needs to be unlocked for that apparently. But even if you could, I don't know if I would. This thing is pretty fast and already gets warm enough as it is.

 

[xOPtimUsZErOx]

I too am new to rooting this phone i seemed to have everything rooted and i have the system recovery all in place. I just can't seem to figure out what i need to do next. I am on mac osx so i followed those instructions, but i can't figure what to do as far as a sbf program. I want a different rom with all of the problems i have with the stock rom but i don't know what is the best choice?

 

[Scur]

SBF files are used to get you back to stock. Custom ROMs are what you're looking for. Liberty, Eclipse and Molten are the forerunners right now. Just be sure to update to 2.3.5 if you wish to run Eclipse.