Root Getting the Desire HD an have no idea where to start

[Ewoedo]

This will be my first ever droid. I have used iPhones for years now, jailbreaking each and every one I got y hands on and just plain messing around with it.

My brother is going to give me his HTC Desire HD as he moves on to the Galaxy S3.

I can't wait to finally get a droid and I want to root it as soon as I get my hands on it and start messing around with ROMs, but being new to the droid scene have no clue as where to start

I must avoid "bricking" it as I need my phone in my everyday life and it is not something I can live without or replace. So any info on if there is a restoring process like on the iPhone would be greatt


Any info and help will be greatly appreciated!

Also I don't know if this matters on Droid ( It was a total pain in the ass with an iPhone) but I run Linux on my PC.

Thanks in advance, Ewoedo.

 

[scotty85]

the advanced ace hack kit or AAHK is the root standard for the inspire/DHD. linux will work fine with it(prolly is even prefered). in fact,android has its roots in linux,so i doubt you will encounter many issues along your journey

you can find the AAHK here:
Advanced Ace Hack Kit | TAU – It's All About The Negative

make sure you read thuroughly the effin manual

 

[Ewoedo]

Thank you for this. Looks like I have a lot of reading to do as there are quite a few acronyms I need to learn the meaning to.

After using this I should be able to install different ROMs?

Is there any vital apps to get after rooting?

 

[scotty85]

just holler if you have any questions about acronyms or what various things are. there are alot of knowledgeable folks here in the forum,and we can help you be 100% comfortable with what youre doing prior to doing it and getting stuck in sticky situation

as for root apps,i myself could not live without root explorer,or titanium backup pro.

there are alternatives for both. root explorer is simply a root access file manager that will allow you to browse and edit system files.

TiBu is an app to backup user installed apps,and their associated data,among other things. it can also be used to delete or freeze apps that you do not want. "my backup pro" is a pretty equivalent app,wich alot of folks prefer the ui of. you can try the free versions of both aNd see wich one you like bettery.

im sure the guys will have some other recomendations for must have root apps,as well

edit: yes after running the aahk you will be s-off and supercid,and will be able to install custom roms

 

[Ewoedo]

Ok thanks.

I was just reading the warnings, and there is stuff about RUU ,HBoot a and Froyo RUU and also relocked bootloaders?

I have no idea what these are. Are they anything I should concern myself with?

 

[ral]

about RUU

AAHK should detect what version you have and determine whether a downgrade is needed, so I you just follow what the app advices than everything will be fine.

Just remember:

Once the downgrade is complete, you need to set up the phone and rerun the hack kit to complete the process:

If I remember correctly AAHK will remind you anyway

Anyway, I am a noob too, so you may want to wait for someone to confirm. I did this two months ago.

a) The manual is not as clear as I would have liked.
b) The manual makes more sense one the phone is plugged in and you are actually running the app.

relocked bootloaders?

You can ask your brother if he unlcoked the bootloader with HTCdev. I cannot seem to find any info on who you determine if you phone was unlocked with HTCDev. I have my DHD since it first boot, so I never had to check this.

You are not going to regret this

 

[Ewoedo]

Thanks for the input.

My bro has no clue, but he never tinkers around with stuff any way so I doubt he did. Thanks again.

I won't be able to start till I am free in a couple of days but I will post back with results.

 

[ral]

If he got the phone brand new, and he has no clue its not HTCDev unlocked. So you should be clear to go ahead.

A teaser:

DHD on Android 4.1 Jelly Bean

This in one of the 10 or so ROM I have had on my phone in the past 60 days

 

[Ewoedo]

Damn, dude I can't freaking wait now. That's way better than anything I can achieve on the iPhone

 

[ral]

Damn, dude I can't freaking wait now. That's way better than anything I can achieve on the iPhone

Each platform has it own strengths. If you like customizing interfaces Android is it. With a DHD you have several options.

Stick with a Sense based ROM. Your phone right now is running Sense 3. You have choice of Sense 3, 3.5, 3.6, 4.0 Lite and 4.0 ROM's.

I have a feeling these won't satisfy you. I think AOSP/AOKP (vanilla Android/modified vanilla Android) plus the Nova or Apex launcher will suit you more... you can spend days trying different options on either one of these. They let build your own interface. There are other launchers but I like Apex and Nova best (I use Apex on the DHD when on a AOKP ROM, and NOVA on a Samsung Galaxy Tab).

Can get a bit busy. You can scroll the launcher left and right (the lowest five icons above) independent of the home screens). You can even use a Android tablet interface (but man you need to have small finders for this).

Oh, there is also MIUI, and odd ports (make your DHD looks like a Galaxy S III or a Sony Xperia), but you sound like a build it yourself type of guy.

Before installing a new ROM, make a back-up. Something goes wrong or your don't like the new ROM, you can be back on your back-up in 5 minutes.

Once you are done, let us teach you how to back-up ROM's, apps and desktop settings... after that I suggest you do what you want, and even screw up (no fun asking if this or that is okay in a forum before doing something) with the knowledge that any error is easy to correct.

 

[scotty85]

Ok thanks.

I was just reading the warnings, and there is stuff about RUU ,HBoot a and Froyo RUU and also relocked bootloaders?

I have no idea what these are. Are they anything I should concern myself with?

you can very easily check the state of your bootloader by booting to hboot: uncheck fastboot in settings/power,then power off,then hold vol down,then power until you get a white screen with colored leters. this is hboot.

if you have an htcdev compatible hboot,it will say locked across the top. if it says unlocked,then someone has unlocked it.

you will prolly only find the locked hboot if you have an extremely new build. most DHDs will have a regular hboot. as ral said,if neither you or your bro has unlocked it,then you should be good to go.

as he said,the aahk will detect what software build you are on,and react appropriately. the warning about froyo hboots is only for users like me who like to do manual downgrades and ignore such warnings

you definately not regret it,and you will defiantely have alot more fun with a rooted android than you did with closed source IOS

 

[ral]

Advice from one of the Droid masters. Learn something new every day.

you can very easily check the state of your bootloader by booting to hboot: uncheck fastboot in settings/power,then power off,then hold vol down,then power until you get a white screen with colored leters. this is hboot.

if you have an htcdev compatible hboot,it will say locked across the top. if it says unlocked,then someone has unlocked it.

He actually understands what he is doing.

Me, I poke around Androids innards and see what sticks. I can do that thanks to the lessons from the Mods and Guides in this forum who have given me enough info to get out of any jam I might get myself into.

Be careful with rooting. Don't Flash any Radio's without advice from a Mod or Guide here. Do make a back-up of your ROM after rooting... after that everything else will not brick your phone.

By the way, before you leave the Dark Side, remember Sense has beautiful widgets

Image 2 (All home screens)

Image 3 (Quick settings from the drop down notification shade)

Android 4.04 with Sense 3.6

On of these days I need to learn how to upload clickable thumbnails.

 

[Ewoedo]

Thank you both yet again.

You got me pinned ral! I love customising my devices and I love doing it myself as you said. This is the main reason I was willing to swap to Android.

This seems to be even better than I first thought. I look forward to learning about ROMs etc.

I hope my brother gets his S3 already =P

Scotty, I will be sure to check if it is locked or unlocked, but it seems certain that its locked as you said.

Thanks again guys!

Edit: that sense looks good! I guess I'll experiment with different Roms!

 

[ral]

You got me pinned ral! I love customising my devices and I love doing it myself as you said. This is the main reason I was willing to swap to Android.

Looks like I lost another one to D-U-R-X, scotty85, LorD CloakaN and Randomblame.

Remember we have AT-AT's and Star Destoryers. All they have are Tauntauns.

Ice Cold Sandwich (Android 4.0.4) in tablet mode (not my pic) with the Trubechet Launcher.

No drop down shade buy a pop-up one from the right side.

 

[Ewoedo]

Looks nice! I was wondering about how to reset the phone? I wanna make it like new before I start and get all my brothers crap off it.

 

[ral]

I don't have the stock ROM, but I think it is in:

Settings ---> Security ---> Factory Reset

or

Settings ---> About Phone ---> Factory Reset

 

[Ewoedo]

Cool. I think I'm good to go. Will post back when I get the device.

 

[ral]

Sorry. I found it on my current ROM (Android 4/Sense 3.6) It is in Settings - - - > Storage - - - > Factory Data Reset.

Where was it on your Gingerbread ROM?

 

[Ewoedo]

I don't know yet. My bro is out of town till Sunday, so Inneed to wait till then =[

 

[Ewoedo]

Ugh, he has to stay at the conference he is at a bit longer. So I need to wait longer for the phone =(

Just posting so you guys know I haven't just disappeared.

 

[D-U-R-X]

We'll be here, ready for when you are

 

[ral]

Something to tide you over while you wait.

 

[Ewoedo]

I have the phone in my hands =)

Busy day, might not be able to root till tomorrow, but I'll post back when I am about to start. Going to read over the effen manual a few more times!

 

[ral]

Going to read over the effen manual a few more times!

That kind of attitude guarantees you going to be pretty good at all this.

 

[Ewoedo]

Is there a way to quickly back up all pictures, videos, songs and contacts to bro's PC. Messages too if possible. He dosen't want to lose anything.

Also, does it matter if my SD card is SDHC for rooting? This my seem like a really stupid question but it mattered when I added homebrew to my Wii =P