CREDITS GO TO LOLINTERNET WHO WROTE THIS GUIDE.
YOU STILL VOID WARRANTEE WHEN DOING THIS.
Ok, here we go.
In order to root your Evo Design you'll need to unlock your bootloader, flash recovery, flash su binary, and install superuser and busybox. In this guide I will try to explain these steps as simply as I can. My goal is for it to be thorough enough that anyone that reads it can root their phone and enjoy the full benefits of this nifty little phone.
First and foremost, you will need to install the Java SE Development Kit. You won't use this directly in any way, but you need it in order to install the Android SDK.
Here is a wiki article that also explains how to install the Android SDK
Download link to the Java SE Development Kit (also called JDK)
After installing the Java JDK, you will have to install the Android SDK which contains two tools that are essential to gaining root. They are adb (Android Debug Bridge) and fastboot. These tools are used to send files to your phone from a Windows command prompt. You will need these tools to unlock your bootloader and flash recovery.
Download link to Android SDK
Instructions on installing the SDK
Adding packages to the SDK.
Once you have the Java JDK and the Android SDK installed you will need to install the proper drivers for your phone. This one is pretty straightforward and necessary for your phone to be recognized while plugged into your computer. After you have the HTC drivers installed you can begin the fun parts, but first you will need a few things.
Download for HTC Drivers
You will need a recovery.img. 2fast4u88's unofficial ClockWorkMod Recovery version 5.0.2.7 and 5.0.2.8 are the only two recoveries I have used since I got my Evo Design. Many thanks to him for putting in so much work to get this device where it is today.
Download for CWM Recovery 5.0.2.7 recovery.img
Also, you'll need su binary version 3.0.3.2 efghi. This is the actual file that will root your device. It is a flashable .zip file that you save to your sdcard and flash in recovery. You'll be amazed at how easy this step is.
Download for su binary version 3.0.3.2 efghi
Download for su binary version 3.0.7 efghi
I believe version 3.0.3.2 only works on Gingerbread, so if you're running ICS use 3.0.7.
The superuser app is like the control center for apps that request root permissions after you're finally rooted. You will need to install this app and then Busybox, both of which can be found in the Google Play Store. After installing the Busybox app you will need to actually install busybox. The app itself is basically an installer for Linux applets that are required by root apps such as Titanium Backup and Root Explorer among many others.
Now that you have a basic overview of what it is you will be doing and the files need to do it, the only thing left is to actually perform these steps and root your device. So, les do dis.
1. Unlock your bootloader at htcdev.com. You will need to sign up and you will be warned that unlocking your bootloader will void your warranty. Once you've followed all instructions at the website an unlock token will be emailed to you. DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. You can place it in the platform tools folder of the Android SDK and use fastboot in command prompt to relock and unlock your bootloader whenever you like. Also, anytime you unlock your bootloader all data will be wiped so be sure you sync all your contacts and backup other information first before performing this step.
2. After unlocking your bootloader you will need to flash a recovery.img. The manual way to flash recovery is to place the downloaded recovery.img for 2fast4u88's unofficial ClockWorkMod recovery port of version 5.0.2.7 in the platform-tools folder of the Android SDK. Power down your phone but be sure that Fast Boot in Power under the settings menu is unchecked or it will just reboot normally instead of into bootloader (also called hboot) like you want. After it's been powered down for a minute or two, press and hold Volume down then press and hold the power button. When the white HTC splash screen appears you can let go. Scroll down with the volume down button and select fastboot by pressing power. Plug your phone into your computer and open a command prompt, then run these commands without quotations.
"cd C:\android\platform-tools" (This is where adb and fastboot live. It may be different for you depending on where you installed the SDK. I always suggest installing it to the root of your C: drive.)
"fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"
Should only take a few seconds, then you have yourself a recovery partition and you can proceed to the next step after rebooting. Yay!
3. Next, we're going to flash the su binary in recovery. First, you'll need to place it on your sdcard. Doesn't matter where exactly just as long as you can find it. I would suggest the root of your sd just to make things easier on yourself. After you have the su binary zip saved to your sdcard power off your phone and boot into hboot. Now, I can't remember which, but either hboot or fastboot will have an option to boot into Recovery. Once you're booted into recovery, select "install zip from sdcard," then "choose zip from sdcard." Scroll down and find the su binary then select it. Pressing the Up Vol button will take you directly to the end if you don't want to scroll all the way through. After selecting the su binary zip select "yes" to flash. It's a small file, so it won't take long. When it's done select "reboot to system" and we'll move on to the next step because you just rooted your phone.
4. But, you're not done yet. You need to install the superuser app and the busybox app in that order. This is the easy part because both apps are free in the Play Store. Install Superuser, then Busybox. You shouldn't have to interact with the Superuser app, but if you want to set an automatic response to apps that request root you can open it and go to Preferences. Scroll down and you should see a few options. I have mine set to automatically grant su permission to apps that request it because I have no reason not to lol. I also unchecked the option to receive a notification every time an app is granted root permission because that junk just gets annoying. Next, after you install the Busybox app, you'll need to actually install Busybox. The app is merely an installer for the actual Busybox applets that govern root apps. The app should open automatically after you install it. You should see it in your notification bar. Open it up and follow the prompts. When you're done, reboot your phone.
5. ??? (or check that you have root access in the superuser app or the root checker app by Joey Krim)
6. Profit...err, I mean congratulations! You should now have a rooted Evo Design 4G. Enjoy. I hope this guide is both complete and comprehensive enough that everyone can enjoy the benefits of having a rooted device, but if I've missed something or if you have any questions whatsoever, please post them here and I will do my best to answer them in a timely manner. I hope you enjoy rooting your device, but please be careful. You now have administrator privileges, so use them wisely. I would highly suggest installing Quick Boot from the Play Store so that you can boot into recovery easily without having to go through hboot. I would also suggest using your newly installed app that requires root access to boot into recovery and make a backup. If anything should ever happen to your phone's system and data you will have a backup and can restore it to that state. Again, I hope you enjoy. I apologize for this being such a lengthy guide, but hopefully you understand the wonderful world of Android a little better for having read it.
YOU STILL VOID WARRANTEE WHEN DOING THIS.
Ok, here we go.
In order to root your Evo Design you'll need to unlock your bootloader, flash recovery, flash su binary, and install superuser and busybox. In this guide I will try to explain these steps as simply as I can. My goal is for it to be thorough enough that anyone that reads it can root their phone and enjoy the full benefits of this nifty little phone.
First and foremost, you will need to install the Java SE Development Kit. You won't use this directly in any way, but you need it in order to install the Android SDK.
Here is a wiki article that also explains how to install the Android SDK
Download link to the Java SE Development Kit (also called JDK)
After installing the Java JDK, you will have to install the Android SDK which contains two tools that are essential to gaining root. They are adb (Android Debug Bridge) and fastboot. These tools are used to send files to your phone from a Windows command prompt. You will need these tools to unlock your bootloader and flash recovery.
Download link to Android SDK
Instructions on installing the SDK
Adding packages to the SDK.
Once you have the Java JDK and the Android SDK installed you will need to install the proper drivers for your phone. This one is pretty straightforward and necessary for your phone to be recognized while plugged into your computer. After you have the HTC drivers installed you can begin the fun parts, but first you will need a few things.
Download for HTC Drivers
You will need a recovery.img. 2fast4u88's unofficial ClockWorkMod Recovery version 5.0.2.7 and 5.0.2.8 are the only two recoveries I have used since I got my Evo Design. Many thanks to him for putting in so much work to get this device where it is today.
Download for CWM Recovery 5.0.2.7 recovery.img
Also, you'll need su binary version 3.0.3.2 efghi. This is the actual file that will root your device. It is a flashable .zip file that you save to your sdcard and flash in recovery. You'll be amazed at how easy this step is.
Download for su binary version 3.0.3.2 efghi
Download for su binary version 3.0.7 efghi
I believe version 3.0.3.2 only works on Gingerbread, so if you're running ICS use 3.0.7.
The superuser app is like the control center for apps that request root permissions after you're finally rooted. You will need to install this app and then Busybox, both of which can be found in the Google Play Store. After installing the Busybox app you will need to actually install busybox. The app itself is basically an installer for Linux applets that are required by root apps such as Titanium Backup and Root Explorer among many others.
Now that you have a basic overview of what it is you will be doing and the files need to do it, the only thing left is to actually perform these steps and root your device. So, les do dis.
1. Unlock your bootloader at htcdev.com. You will need to sign up and you will be warned that unlocking your bootloader will void your warranty. Once you've followed all instructions at the website an unlock token will be emailed to you. DO NOT DELETE THIS FILE. You can place it in the platform tools folder of the Android SDK and use fastboot in command prompt to relock and unlock your bootloader whenever you like. Also, anytime you unlock your bootloader all data will be wiped so be sure you sync all your contacts and backup other information first before performing this step.
2. After unlocking your bootloader you will need to flash a recovery.img. The manual way to flash recovery is to place the downloaded recovery.img for 2fast4u88's unofficial ClockWorkMod recovery port of version 5.0.2.7 in the platform-tools folder of the Android SDK. Power down your phone but be sure that Fast Boot in Power under the settings menu is unchecked or it will just reboot normally instead of into bootloader (also called hboot) like you want. After it's been powered down for a minute or two, press and hold Volume down then press and hold the power button. When the white HTC splash screen appears you can let go. Scroll down with the volume down button and select fastboot by pressing power. Plug your phone into your computer and open a command prompt, then run these commands without quotations.
"cd C:\android\platform-tools" (This is where adb and fastboot live. It may be different for you depending on where you installed the SDK. I always suggest installing it to the root of your C: drive.)
"fastboot flash recovery recovery.img"
Should only take a few seconds, then you have yourself a recovery partition and you can proceed to the next step after rebooting. Yay!
3. Next, we're going to flash the su binary in recovery. First, you'll need to place it on your sdcard. Doesn't matter where exactly just as long as you can find it. I would suggest the root of your sd just to make things easier on yourself. After you have the su binary zip saved to your sdcard power off your phone and boot into hboot. Now, I can't remember which, but either hboot or fastboot will have an option to boot into Recovery. Once you're booted into recovery, select "install zip from sdcard," then "choose zip from sdcard." Scroll down and find the su binary then select it. Pressing the Up Vol button will take you directly to the end if you don't want to scroll all the way through. After selecting the su binary zip select "yes" to flash. It's a small file, so it won't take long. When it's done select "reboot to system" and we'll move on to the next step because you just rooted your phone.
4. But, you're not done yet. You need to install the superuser app and the busybox app in that order. This is the easy part because both apps are free in the Play Store. Install Superuser, then Busybox. You shouldn't have to interact with the Superuser app, but if you want to set an automatic response to apps that request root you can open it and go to Preferences. Scroll down and you should see a few options. I have mine set to automatically grant su permission to apps that request it because I have no reason not to lol. I also unchecked the option to receive a notification every time an app is granted root permission because that junk just gets annoying. Next, after you install the Busybox app, you'll need to actually install Busybox. The app is merely an installer for the actual Busybox applets that govern root apps. The app should open automatically after you install it. You should see it in your notification bar. Open it up and follow the prompts. When you're done, reboot your phone.
5. ??? (or check that you have root access in the superuser app or the root checker app by Joey Krim)
6. Profit...err, I mean congratulations! You should now have a rooted Evo Design 4G. Enjoy. I hope this guide is both complete and comprehensive enough that everyone can enjoy the benefits of having a rooted device, but if I've missed something or if you have any questions whatsoever, please post them here and I will do my best to answer them in a timely manner. I hope you enjoy rooting your device, but please be careful. You now have administrator privileges, so use them wisely. I would highly suggest installing Quick Boot from the Play Store so that you can boot into recovery easily without having to go through hboot. I would also suggest using your newly installed app that requires root access to boot into recovery and make a backup. If anything should ever happen to your phone's system and data you will have a backup and can restore it to that state. Again, I hope you enjoy. I apologize for this being such a lengthy guide, but hopefully you understand the wonderful world of Android a little better for having read it.
