Preface: I really believe that enough time has passed that the modding community has successfully worked out many of the bugs associated with and rooting and installing custom ROM on the Droid. Not only have they worked out the bugs, they’ve actually gone WAY above and beyond what Google and Motorola and Verizon envisioned for the Droid. Remember that all three of these companies have to pander to a WIDE range of users and hardware specifications. If you are reading things in a “Droid Forum” then you are not the typical user and you should easily be able to follow the steps below. Nothing listed below involves more than downloading a file and rebooting your phone.
Here’s what I did in the last few days. All of these steps can be done in a couple hours OR you can just do steps 2, 3, and 4 in like 30 minutes if you really wanted to rush through it, but i'd reccommend one step at a time so you actually learn something. Feel free to comment or ask questions. Dont ask a question until you've at least searched in this forum (or Google) for an easy answer.
Step #1 – Manually update your Android 2.1 Droid to Android 2.2 if you haven’t received the over the air (OTA) update yet on your phone
http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/140721-how-force-official-android-2-2-froyo-update-motrola-droid-frg01b-update-1-2-a.html
If you like the stock Android 2.2 then keep it!.. Consider doing a factory reset on your phone if you think its running slow (settings>privacy>factory data reset). You’ll just have to set up your phone again.. pretty easy, just takes some time. I did this and still found stock Android 2.2 to be somewhat buggy/slow (I gave it a shot for two days). You may have to activate your phone, but the prompts walk you right through it on intial boot.
Step #2 – Root your phone with this program. It costs $0.99. You have to download/transfer the .apk file to your phone because this application was pulled from the Android Marketplace. You can use the “Easy Root compatability test” app in the market to direct link to the website, but its not needed. Use the paypal link to get a code to unlock. Once installed just click the root button and voila.
EDIT: Reboot after clicking the root button for it to take effect. Check that your rooted by opening Easy Root again. It will display the "Unroot" button if you are rooted.
http://www.unstableapps.com/
Read more about rooting if you’re concerned
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/04/15/rooting-explained-top-5-benefits-of-rooting-your-android-phone/
Step #3 – Download ‘Rom Manager’ (free) from the Android Marketplace. Use it to take an image of your current phone, so you can always restore phone back to this state. Back this up to your computer. You’ll have to “flash” the ClockworkMod Recovery onto your phone. For me I had to do this several times before it “stuck”. You can tell it didn’t “stick” when you boot into recovery and you get the “stock” recovery screen (yellow triangle/ exclamation mark). Hit the volume up and camera key to get past this screen (or remove the battery) to re boot your phone. Go back into Rom Manager and reflash ClockworkMod Recovery.
EDIT: Nandroid backup = Rom Manager backup. Check that you have the ClockworkMod Recovery flashed by rebooting into recovery (hold down power and x button when your phone is off).
Step #4 – Download a custom ROM to your SD card to replace the “stock” Android 2.2. I recommend Liquid Frozen Yogurt. You can use the “Install ROM from SD card” option in ROM manager (select the wipe data and cache option) which will boot the phone into recovery mode and install the ROM. You can also manually go into recovery (hold x and power button) and then do the wipe data option and then navigate to the xxxcustomromxxx.zip file on the sd card to install. EDIT: After you install the custom ROM..do another BACKUP with ROM Manager.. this way if you don't like the theme you installed you can switch back easily.
Here’s a link to the latest version (1.4 which came out 8/16/10)
http://androidforums.com/roms-droid/150437-liquid-frozen-yogurt-v1-4-frg22-custom-rom-built-source.html
EDIT: I liked LYF version 1.3 better than 1.4 and restored my phone back to that version using ROM Manager (maybe they tried to pushed things too far in LFY 1.3..?). Make sure to follow the "thread" of the ROM you install. Always install the "base" LFY first (do a backup) and then apply a theme. Don't install LFY 1.41 until you've installed LFY 1.4. ALSO... the LFY ROM does have a CUSTOM kernel.. so your processor is already being optimized.. feel free to "overclock" by installing a custom kernel, but its really not necessary... LFY developers have already "safely" tweaked some settings. As with regular computers.. Beginners should NOT be overclocking...you'll run into stability issues.. force closes.. etc... leave this for the "big guys".
Step #5 – Install a ROM “theme”. This will replace some of the icons, colors, and the look of your installed ROM. I really like the “Smoked” theme for the Liquid Frozen Yogurt (its in the link above). Use ROM manager to install this one as well. No need to wipe data/cache because its just replacing minor things.
EDIT: Make sure to install a theme that is compatible with your ROM. Contact the "themer" to verify if you're unsure. This can wreke havoc on your newly rommed phone if its not compatible. Watch theme versions as well and make sure they were written for the version of the ROM you have installed. LFY developers release updated versions of their themes with every release.
EDIT: Step 6: Install a custom kernel. While I was leary to "overclock" my phone, without any trouble at all I've been able to install pretty much any kernel and my phone runs fine. Its up to you to decide if overclocking makes any improvement in the daily use of your Droid. I would say that phone maintenance is the best way to keep your phone running smooth. Many custom roms also come with preloaded kernels of varying speeds (frequencies) and voltages. Find one that fits your desired usage pattern (slow or fast).
Step #7 - Your applications will all re install automatically and you’ll have to enter in your username/passwords in all your apps
EDIT: Mine didn't installed when I did a data/cache wipe when I installed LFY 1.4. I just treated it as a good "spring" cleaning for my apps. I use appbrain so it was easy to reinstall apps that I had previously.
Step #8 – After a day or two I’d recommend using Rom Manager to back up your phone again. You can do this right from the menus in the Rom Manager application. No need to do it from recovery (the program will boot into recovery for you).
Step #9 - Download some other programs to take advantage of your new phone’s rooted capability. Like wifi tether (in the Android Marketplace). I love drocap2 as wel.
Note: You can (theoretically) always install the original stock ROM and “unroot” if you need to bring your phone into Verizon or you want to sell it. I haven’t tried this, but its an option.
Feel free to comment or ask questions about my experience.
EDIT: Thanks for everyone's comments! I was bored at work one day and decided this would be more productive. I encourage other new users to continue to post their experiences.
Here’s what I did in the last few days. All of these steps can be done in a couple hours OR you can just do steps 2, 3, and 4 in like 30 minutes if you really wanted to rush through it, but i'd reccommend one step at a time so you actually learn something. Feel free to comment or ask questions. Dont ask a question until you've at least searched in this forum (or Google) for an easy answer.
Step #1 – Manually update your Android 2.1 Droid to Android 2.2 if you haven’t received the over the air (OTA) update yet on your phone
http://androidforums.com/motorola-droid/140721-how-force-official-android-2-2-froyo-update-motrola-droid-frg01b-update-1-2-a.html
If you like the stock Android 2.2 then keep it!.. Consider doing a factory reset on your phone if you think its running slow (settings>privacy>factory data reset). You’ll just have to set up your phone again.. pretty easy, just takes some time. I did this and still found stock Android 2.2 to be somewhat buggy/slow (I gave it a shot for two days). You may have to activate your phone, but the prompts walk you right through it on intial boot.
Step #2 – Root your phone with this program. It costs $0.99. You have to download/transfer the .apk file to your phone because this application was pulled from the Android Marketplace. You can use the “Easy Root compatability test” app in the market to direct link to the website, but its not needed. Use the paypal link to get a code to unlock. Once installed just click the root button and voila.
EDIT: Reboot after clicking the root button for it to take effect. Check that your rooted by opening Easy Root again. It will display the "Unroot" button if you are rooted.
http://www.unstableapps.com/
Read more about rooting if you’re concerned
http://www.androidpolice.com/2010/04/15/rooting-explained-top-5-benefits-of-rooting-your-android-phone/
Step #3 – Download ‘Rom Manager’ (free) from the Android Marketplace. Use it to take an image of your current phone, so you can always restore phone back to this state. Back this up to your computer. You’ll have to “flash” the ClockworkMod Recovery onto your phone. For me I had to do this several times before it “stuck”. You can tell it didn’t “stick” when you boot into recovery and you get the “stock” recovery screen (yellow triangle/ exclamation mark). Hit the volume up and camera key to get past this screen (or remove the battery) to re boot your phone. Go back into Rom Manager and reflash ClockworkMod Recovery.
EDIT: Nandroid backup = Rom Manager backup. Check that you have the ClockworkMod Recovery flashed by rebooting into recovery (hold down power and x button when your phone is off).
Step #4 – Download a custom ROM to your SD card to replace the “stock” Android 2.2. I recommend Liquid Frozen Yogurt. You can use the “Install ROM from SD card” option in ROM manager (select the wipe data and cache option) which will boot the phone into recovery mode and install the ROM. You can also manually go into recovery (hold x and power button) and then do the wipe data option and then navigate to the xxxcustomromxxx.zip file on the sd card to install. EDIT: After you install the custom ROM..do another BACKUP with ROM Manager.. this way if you don't like the theme you installed you can switch back easily.
Here’s a link to the latest version (1.4 which came out 8/16/10)
http://androidforums.com/roms-droid/150437-liquid-frozen-yogurt-v1-4-frg22-custom-rom-built-source.html
EDIT: I liked LYF version 1.3 better than 1.4 and restored my phone back to that version using ROM Manager (maybe they tried to pushed things too far in LFY 1.3..?). Make sure to follow the "thread" of the ROM you install. Always install the "base" LFY first (do a backup) and then apply a theme. Don't install LFY 1.41 until you've installed LFY 1.4. ALSO... the LFY ROM does have a CUSTOM kernel.. so your processor is already being optimized.. feel free to "overclock" by installing a custom kernel, but its really not necessary... LFY developers have already "safely" tweaked some settings. As with regular computers.. Beginners should NOT be overclocking...you'll run into stability issues.. force closes.. etc... leave this for the "big guys".
Step #5 – Install a ROM “theme”. This will replace some of the icons, colors, and the look of your installed ROM. I really like the “Smoked” theme for the Liquid Frozen Yogurt (its in the link above). Use ROM manager to install this one as well. No need to wipe data/cache because its just replacing minor things.
EDIT: Make sure to install a theme that is compatible with your ROM. Contact the "themer" to verify if you're unsure. This can wreke havoc on your newly rommed phone if its not compatible. Watch theme versions as well and make sure they were written for the version of the ROM you have installed. LFY developers release updated versions of their themes with every release.
EDIT: Step 6: Install a custom kernel. While I was leary to "overclock" my phone, without any trouble at all I've been able to install pretty much any kernel and my phone runs fine. Its up to you to decide if overclocking makes any improvement in the daily use of your Droid. I would say that phone maintenance is the best way to keep your phone running smooth. Many custom roms also come with preloaded kernels of varying speeds (frequencies) and voltages. Find one that fits your desired usage pattern (slow or fast).
Step #7 - Your applications will all re install automatically and you’ll have to enter in your username/passwords in all your apps
EDIT: Mine didn't installed when I did a data/cache wipe when I installed LFY 1.4. I just treated it as a good "spring" cleaning for my apps. I use appbrain so it was easy to reinstall apps that I had previously.
Step #8 – After a day or two I’d recommend using Rom Manager to back up your phone again. You can do this right from the menus in the Rom Manager application. No need to do it from recovery (the program will boot into recovery for you).
Step #9 - Download some other programs to take advantage of your new phone’s rooted capability. Like wifi tether (in the Android Marketplace). I love drocap2 as wel.
Note: You can (theoretically) always install the original stock ROM and “unroot” if you need to bring your phone into Verizon or you want to sell it. I haven’t tried this, but its an option.
Feel free to comment or ask questions about my experience.
EDIT: Thanks for everyone's comments! I was bored at work one day and decided this would be more productive. I encourage other new users to continue to post their experiences.