Root Foundation Thread or "Rooting, etc. for Dummies"

[aileendq]

So I was thinking that we need a "foundation" thread here for absolute noobs to rooting, et al. Sort of like learning your ABCs before you can write words, and writing words before you can write sentences, etc. (General knowledge leading into detailed information.)

I'm a noob myself, but I'd really appreciate it if folks could chip in (sequentially) with explanations, etc.

I've seen lots of very helpful, well written guides here, but they lack operation definitions (like, "flash this file"- I'm thinking- WHAT does flash mean, and then, HOW do I do this?) There's so much jargon here that it's hard for a noob to really learn the basics.

Of course, this is just a suggestion, so chip in if you want, Experts. Thanks!

 

[shrink57]

It is already here.

http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-droid/45764-guide-s-everything-root-related.html

And here is a YouTube Video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k4Hfs99vmHU

And some more:
http://video.google.com/videosearch...nt=firefox-a&um=1&ie=UTF-8&sa=N&hl=en&tab=wv#

 

[aileendq]

It is already here.

http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-droid/45764-guide-s-everything-root-related.html

And here is a YouTube Video:
YouTube - Motorola Droid How to ROOT your Droid - The Easy Way!

And some more:
rooting droid - Google Videos

A few things about these links: While I appreciate the effort and information involved in these, I still had basic questions after perusing them multiple times. The You Tube video rocked (it's what I used to root) but did not go far by way of explanation of BASIC things.


I also read (and re-read) multiple instructions for different ROMS, and had questions about installation (for example, WHEN and HOW do you make a selection of the ROM manager). Can your selections be changed after installation? These are all things that folks should know.

Look at Shylen's post from 11:45 yesterday in the "Read Before You Root" thread. She was following different "how to"s and was confused. I had the same problem when I started to think about rooting.


ALSO, it would be nice to have the information here, versus multiple outside sources (not to mention the "readability" factor for this forum versus others-my eyes wanted to jump out of my head after half an hour on some of those boards). I'd like to see the information from sources I've relied on in the past.

UBRocked's post asks folks to post examples of "knowing what you are doing" before you root, but I'd bet that there are quite a few members that would be much more comfortable with rooting/ROMing if there were truly basic and COMPREHENSIVE guides out there. Better yet, HERE!

Again, this is just a suggestion, and I'm pitching hard for it because I think there are other members like me that would appreciate the information.




Again, not knocking anyone else's hard work- in fact, I'm very appreciative of it.

 

[Decus22]

It is already here.

http://androidforums.com/all-things-root-droid/45764-guide-s-everything-root-related.html

I agree 100%!

If you read, not peruse but read, learn, and even test out all of the information in the links above especially all of the great information at rootyourdroid.info. I guarantee you will walk away with the knowledge of "Rooted Droid" and the ability to rewind time to before you made your phone get stuck in a Boot Loop.

With the Links above the only thing left that could possibly not be understood is some of the terminology used.

 

[CRPercodani]

Like others said we already have a sticky that teaches you everything you should need to know. It is not our fault that someone follows 3 different guides. You should pick a guide and stick to it from start to finish or else you will most likely be confused. I chose the best site around to base the guide off of. If your having trouble with a particular ROM or mod then that is something you should ask the developer about, or make a thread here. Also you ask for it to be more basic, well I'm sorry but it is about as basic as it can be. If you can't figure it out then you either shouldn't root or you should use a 1 click app like dmupdater.

If you want to write up a giant mega so easy a baby could do it guide then go ahead and I will sticky it.

EDIT: I don't say any of this to be mean or whatever, I say it because I have seen a lot of users try to root and they end up breaking something because they didn't know what to do. Rooting isn't suppose to be for everyone or easy enough for someone without any knowledge to do.

 

[aileendq]

If you want to write up a giant mega so easy a baby could do it guide then go ahead and I will sticky it.

That's as bad as telling someone "just go Google it." THANK YOU for your helpful response! <------sarcasm

Really, The above poster said it very well- there's basic jargon (operational definitions) that are missing from most of the guides. It's as simple as that. YES- it should be walk before you can run.

I found myself having to stop, look stuff up (frequently) THEN return to what I was reading. It's not that I mind doing this, I just thought it would be simpler to have a one-stop guide that could educate folks.

If you don't want to chime in for the "babies" fine, but give other folks a chance to help out.

pax

 

[aileendq]

I agree 100%!

If you read, not peruse but read, learn, and even test out all of the information in the links above especially all of the great information at rootyourdroid.info. I guarantee you will walk away with the knowledge of "Rooted Droid" and the ability to rewind time to before you made your phone get stuck in a Boot Loop.

With the Links above the only thing left that could possibly not be understood is some of the terminology used.

Er, my phone never got stuck in a boot loop- not sure where you got that from.

AND- I most certainly "read" the guides extensively:


Main Entry: pe

 

[CRPercodani]

That's as bad as telling someone "just go Google it." THANK YOU for your helpful response! <------sarcasm

Really, The above poster said it very well- there's basic jargon (operational definitions) that are missing from most of the guides. It's as simple as that. YES- it should be walk before you can run.

I found myself having to stop, look stuff up (frequently) THEN return to what I was reading. It's not that I mind doing this, I just thought it would be simpler to have a one-stop guide that could educate folks.

If you don't want to chime in for the "babies" fine, but give other folks a chance to help out.

pax

Just for your information I have helped countless members here with any question they might have, so cool it with the sarcasm. I said what I said because what you are asking for is not going to help, it will make things worse. If someone wants root easily they can use the DMupdater app, if not they can use the sticky guide up top, rootyourdroid.info, or try some YouTube videos.

If someone has trouble understanding certain aspects of the sticky guide then they can come here for help, but if it is COMPLETELY over their head then they really shouldn't be rooting. When they break something who is gonna fix it? Not you and not me, they will have to figure it out. If they got spoon fed everything then they won't even know where to start or what they did wrong.

But hey like I said if people actually like your idea and contribute to this thread I have no problem making it a sticky. I'm all for giving users of Phandroid what they want.

P.S. We don't play grammar police here.

 

[Decus22]

Er, my phone never got stuck in a boot loop- not sure where you got that from.

OK first and foremost I wasn't directing anything at you. I picked up from your original post that you had already accomplished the "grind" so to speak and just wanted to make a thread that makes it easier for others.

I guess I should have used they instead of you. My Bad.

AND- I most certainly "read" the guides extensively:


Main Entry: pe

 

[andrew53517]

It's like the people over at droidmod... They are sitting there, I'll use a nice word... "patiently" waiting for their next release. WHY ARE THEY?! Because they do not know how to load any other ROM's out there. They need to learn to read and wipe their phones and load another ROM, and learn what root truly is. It's rather sad...

I used DroidMod to root (that's all I needed because I was a little scared to be honest). But after that I already knew how to do stuff thanks to my G1, and now I flash ROM's like everyday lol, (now I'm on cyanogen, and probably will be for a longgg time.)

The point is, people need to read it theirselves first without being spoon fed everything. This stuff isn't that hard after you do it once. It honestly isn't. You can't brick, it's impossible. I just don't understand why people don't read before rooting..

 

[andrew53517]

P.S. We don't play grammar police here.

What words can honestly be that hard though? I know some like ADB some people are like whattt? if they're new.. but if you just google it you should be fine. And some stuff you can skip over because it's probably not important lol. They really don't use big words lol. (not trying to be rude or mean. Sorry if I sound like that.)

 

[dmodert66]

I can see what everyone is saying actually. I think all of the links here are more than enough to get someone rooted.

I do agree though, that a definition list (or dictionary, if you will) of terms used in regards to rooting would be helpful. I think that is what she is getting at...

**EDIT**
@ Andrew...

One example is Rom and Kernel. Many are confused by the 2 and think they are the same thing. It is not a problem for those of us who have used the term in regards to other technology, but for many it is very confusing...

 

[CRPercodani]

What words can honestly be that hard though? I know some like ADB some people are like whattt? if they're new.. but if you just google it you should be fine. And some stuff you can skip over because it's probably not important lol. They really don't use big words lol. (not trying to be rude or mean. Sorry if I sound like that.)

I was talking about her pulling out the dictionary for the use of the word pursue lol, not any Android terms.

 

[CRPercodani]

the kernel is what communicates with the hardware when you do something within the android os. a rom is basically the operating system but it can contain a recovery image, bootloader, kernel, and many tweaks or modifications.

if anyone has a specific term they need defiend that post it here.



Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[aileendq]

I was talking about her pulling out the dictionary for the use of the word pursue lol, not any Android terms.

And I was correcting his assumption that I hadn't actually read the guides. That WAS NOT correcting his grammar. It was clarification.

 

[UBRocked]

I just read through this thread and I feel like a marriage counselor stepping in as I feel there is a communications breakdown.

aileendq, what you are asking for (all-in-one guide) does not exist in the way that you want...and the amount of work to compile that would be extremely difficult. There are step-by-step guides for rooting your phone, but that can not incorporate everything without adding confusion. I for one, wouldn't know where to start such a guide. There are things that I should, and may have to know in the future but I don't know I need to know it yet.

UBRocked's post asks folks to post examples of "knowing what you are doing" before you root, but I'd bet that there are quite a few members that would be much more comfortable with rooting/ROMing if there were truly basic and COMPREHENSIVE guides out there. Better yet, HERE!

That's why I started that thread so people could post examples of the things they needed to know and maybe things they didn't think they needed to know. I didn't think I would have to rely on flashing a recovery image via adb...but I did. That is the type of information I wanted posted there so that people could begin learning (or at least getting familiar with those things) before or even after they rooted.

Many new rooters aren't thinking in terms of "what can go wrong and how will I fix it"...they think in terms of "how can I get these cool features in 5 minutes". Step-by-step guides are helpful...but surely not all inclusive because no guide can replace real knowledge. I think that is what CRPercodani was alluding to. Example: Taking you step-by-step, with the most in depth guide...through brain surgery doesn't make you a brain surgeon
(no, I'm not comparing rooting a phone to brain surgery...brain surgery is obviously SO much easier! lol )

 

[shrink57]

Just reiterate what the community (I emphasize "community") has posted before me, if you are unsure, just ask. I have at times miss the arcane and the obvious. I ask, and low and behold, with the shared expertise in this forum, my answer is found. If there was a "be all, end all" guide, we wouldn't need this forum in the first place. Things are constantly changing, in turn those that chose to are always learning. I run into terms all the time that I don't recognize or understand. First I search, then I ask. When I can, I answer. The collaborative effort benefits all. No tutorial can replicate that process. The tutorials provide the essentials to get us started but will always lead to more questions, which makes this arena enlightening and interesting (at least for me it does).

 

[UBRocked]

Well said!

 

[hexon]

If you'll notice, most of the important links in the already stickied root guide direct you to a page telling you that the server has gone over it's available bandwidth.

 

[UBRocked]

If you'll notice, most of the important links in the already stickied root guide direct you to a page telling you that the server has gone over it's available bandwidth.

Oops...I see where that could be a problem. I will PM CRPercodani and see if he knows what the deal is. Maybe they are moving to another server???

For the short term, if you paste the web link into a google search box, you can view the cached version of the webpage (there are a lot of links so that is not very practical...but it works).