how can i tell if im rooted? what commands?

Go and try to download "wireless tether" from the market. If you can, you are rooted.

 

did you boot into recovery and make a nandroid backup? if so, you're rooted

 

did you try to boot to recovery?

 

1.turn off your phone.
2/ hold "home" and press the power button. keep holding home until you see a screen with green writing. that is recovery.

 

You can't do it if you're not rooted. all flashing happens from that screen. nandroid happens from that screen. wiping all your data and your dalvik cache happens from that screen. that recovery mode is where everything that has to do with rooting takes place..... at least initially.