Root Root before 2.3 update or not?

[jjabba]

The situation:
I've got a HTC Desire which is currently running:

Android version
2.2.2

Kernel-version
2.6.32.15-gf5a401c
htc-kernel@and18-2 #1

The phone is completely vanilla and non-rooted. But I'm feed up with the "internal memory almost full" problems and was hoping the official 2.3 could provide a remedy. But before doing a 2.2 -> 2.3 update the "official" way I thought I would check how it would effect my ability to root the device.

I've read through the FAQ but still have two questions:

1. Is there currently any way to root a HTC Desire running 2.3 (a.k.a. Gingerbread)

2. Can I install gingerbread after rooting my v2.2 HTC desire and have the root access stick, or do I have to choose between root access and Android 2.3?

 

[Hadron]

You can root official 2.3, using Revolutionary. With 2.2 you can use either Revolutionary or Unrevoked. See the rooting FAQ (linked from the "all about rooting" sticky post, red link in my sig).

You can also root 2.2 then install a "stock rooted gingerbread" ROM if you want. That is very similar to HTC's gingerbread, only already rooted. Of course you can also install a whole range of other ROMs if you prefer, most of which are also Gingerbread based.

I would not recommend rooting 2.2 then using the official update to 2.3. If you root 2.2 using unrevoked the update will completely undo the rooting, while with revolutionary it will undo most of it - you can then root by repeating 2 steps, but it would just be adding work and complexity.

If what you want is a rooted version of HTC Gingerbread I'd recommend rooting 2.2 then installing teppic74's rooted stock Gingerbread ROM. That's not only simplest, but you can then take a proper backup of your apps and data before upgrading to 2.3 (upgrading to 2.3 will wipe the phone, however you do it, but you have better backup options if you are rooted).

But even more strongly I'd recommend reading the FAQs first, so that you know what you are doing before you do it. It's simple enough, but you are much less likely to get into a mess that way.

 

[Bazcabs]

So wish I had asked the OP's question before the weekend. With little knowledge I rooted my 2.2 with unrevoked and then created a nandroid and Titanium backup. After playing with a few custom roms I decided to upgrade to official HTC gingerbread (can hear the sighs from here). Didn't realise it would kill my root access so my backups were useless until I rooted again. Took me 2 days to finally get rooted again using revolutionary. Thinking now going to official HTC gingerbread was a stupid mistake, HTC removed stock apps to make it fit the desire so it was hardly going to be a space solving solution.

Question I would love to know the answer to is: If I use the nandroid backup I created will I go back to my 2.2 rooted system or has my upgrading hboot going to gingerbread scuppered that idea. If I boot into recovery I can still see the nandroid backup.

 

[Hadron]

Restoring the nandroid will restore your complete original ROM, user apps and data. So yes, it will put you back on rooted 2.2.

When you used revolutionary you replaced HTC HBOOT 1.02 anyway - you now have an alpharev custom hboot

 

[jjabba]

...rooting 2.2 then installing teppic74's rooted stock Gingerbread ROM.

Thanks,

Now I have a rooted phone running ClockworkMod Recovery v2.5.0.7.

The page you linked to offers two files for downloading:
Download 3.14.405.1 Stock ROM (1.0-test)
Download 5.17.05.23 Radio

It also suggests I do a Radio update. How do I update radio?

(I read the FAQ on updating the system part http://androidforums.com/desire-all...-rooting-updated-11th-november-2011-a.html#26)

 

[1st_Paladin]

Just my 2 cents. I'm using AIO 5.1 using A2SDX. It is Runnymedes with Sense 3.5. My SD card is Sandisk 8GB Class 4. It is partitioned with FAT32 and EXT4 (1024MB) using 4Ext recovery. With 80 over apps installed, "Internal Memory" still shows 300+ MB. The Sense UI is beautiful and the ROM very stable. Here's how I did it.

Download AIO ROM [ROM][31.01.12]Runnymede AIO V5.1.1 Special Edition - xda-developers

Please read instructions carefully.

1. Root using unrevoked
2. S-Off using Revolutionary. Say no to installation of recovery
3. Using Android Flasher http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=794638 install CM7 r2 HBoot from http://alpharev.nl/bravo_alphaspl-cm7r2.img
4. Install 4Ext from Market. Well worth the small cost
5. Partition your SD card with Fat32 then 1024MB EXT4, skip partition 2 and swap
6. Mount USB and transfer the AIO ROM to the root directory of the SD card
7. Install the Zip file using 4EXT
8. Follow the screen instructions and select custom installation. Choose A2SDX
9. When done reboot the phone. Allow it to fully start up but no need to do any major settings at this point
10. Reboot and allow to fully start up
11. Do the settings that you need, file installations etc.
12. Reboot when done for good measure as this ROM does need a few reboots to settle down

Enjoy your new phone and say good bye to memory issues.

 

[Abdur]

That rom took up a lot of RAM, and made my phone sluggish. And I recomment GParted for SD card parting. (free, and most functional)
Currently I am runnng dGB, which is a very very fast rom, and it 360 mb for your apps! No more A2SD for me!

 

[Hadron]

It also suggests I do a Radio update. How do I update radio?

I'd leave the radio alone for now. Teppic is suggesting you update to the radio which came with the HTC update, but unless you have any problems there's no actual need.

You can install a radio .zip through recovery the same way as a ROM. However, it's crucial that you check the md5 code of the downloaded file before installing, as a corrupt radio will destroy your phone. That is why I suggest leaving it unless there's an actual problem.

If you install a radio through recovery, be aware that the actual install occurs when you reboot the phone afterwards. During this process the phone will reboot itself a couple of times, so don't panic when this happens! The process must not be interrupted, so don't do it with a low battery.

If you used revolutionary to root then you will be S-Off now, which gives you the extra option of installing a radio via fastboot. This is described in the adb and fastboot FAQ, and is the recommended way for those who have this option. If you used unrevoked, then S-Off is something you can worry about later, if you ever need it.

 

[jjabba]

You can install a radio .zip through recovery the same way as a ROM. However, it's crucial that you check the md5 code of the downloaded file before installing, as a corrupt radio will destroy your phone.

I made sure the MD5 was correct after copying the radio and the system zips to my SD card.

Both updates worked right away.

Thanks for all the help!