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Root ROOTING For Dummies
- Thread starter Matlock
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- htc evo 4g
Zumaki
Android Enthusiast
I'm already familiar with rooting (from my Moment) and what most of the terminology means, and what apps/roms can do...
The trouble here is that I am pretty much looking for someone to say "rooting the phone using 'x' instructions will not result in a huge hassle if you get updates from Sprint/HTC down the line." It might be a petty gripe, but I haaaaaaate having to sit around flashing this and reflashing that and then restoring settings/apps and all that jazz every time something changes. So far, I have heard that using unrevoked means I can just re-root after an update or something, but that still sounds like I'll have to go through another long process (that I'd prob have to look up online rather than do on the fly)
Aside from the bloatware and lack of wifi tether, I have nothing I'd like to change on the phone (yet), and most rooting sounds like taking a wrecking ball to the situation lol
Matlock
Android Enthusiast
I would have to agree with you..
But, once you understand rooting in and out with a particular method, it gets second nature. But I know what your saying. If we could get rid of the COMPUTER part of the equation. That would be great.
You never know, Unrevoked may just come up with a way to do a ROOT completely from an APK file. Like the did in the beginning.
Rambler358
Android Enthusiast
Have you tried this:
Wireless Tether for Root Users - Android app on AppBrain
I'd be curious to know what people have gotten what to work.
Matlock
Android Enthusiast
I wonder how many more pages we need for this thread to be stickied
Don't hold your breath. Lol
Yes, this is the app we have been discussing.
Seriously. Post a thread in the general section that has a vague reference to a sub-forum and it gets moved in a heartbeat. Take the time to put together an extremely well thought out post that is a tremendous service to the members of the forum and they are okay with letting it fade to obscurity. We will just have to keep bumping it
flyjbaker
Android Expert
Okay, I am looking forward as a new rooter. Rumor has it that there is an update just around the corner. I know the standard answer is not to accept it and wait for the devs to get it figured out. Okay fine. What is the action once they do. Do we end up flashing a stock ROM with the new update in it and then do a nand backup to that and then go back to flashing ROMs???? If this is the case, then whether they like it or not, people that rooted just for wireless tether are gonna have to learn how to flash a ROM...no big deal and you have provided some guidance. I guess that is just a warning to the people that don't feel comfortable flashing ROMs...you might have to or lose root or just be stuck on an old update.
Am I on point here???
Am I on point here???
flyjbaker
Android Expert
Yep, that is what I figured and thanks for confirming. I guess my main point was to warn the people that rooted strictly for the purpose of gaining wifi tether. If they want to keep wifi tether(stay rooted), they are either going to have to learn how to flash a ROM(just did my first one...Myn's...pretty cool), stay on an old one....or lose root. As I see it, those are the only choices. There were just a lot of people that admitted rooting solely for this purpose and stated they had no intention of flashing ROMs. My point is that they better learn or they will lose root or get left behind on an "old platform".
flyjbaker
Android Expert
Matlock, in your kernel section, you pretty much describe the method we would use if we did use ROM Manager. Can we not use ROM Manager to install a kernel as well????
And I will say that I have been downloading things straight off of the internet onto my phone. It eliminates the step of having to push the software from your computer to your phone. Just some FYI to interested folks. In ROM Manager, the file ends up in /downloads and that is the folder you will see in ROM Manager. You select it and you should see your downloaded ROMs.
And I will say that I have been downloading things straight off of the internet onto my phone. It eliminates the step of having to push the software from your computer to your phone. Just some FYI to interested folks. In ROM Manager, the file ends up in /downloads and that is the folder you will see in ROM Manager. You select it and you should see your downloaded ROMs.
Rambler358
Android Enthusiast
Wouldn't another option be to un-root to return to stock, flash the OTA update and then root again?
flyjbaker
Android Expert
That would certainly be an option but unnecessary. Why not just flash an updated ROM? What you just said would be a very tedious way of going about it....almost as tedious as throwing your phone in the trashcan and buying a new one....I am being facetious but trying to make the point...
.Many times, just accepting the update will cause you to loose root so no need to go thru the hassle of unrooting....just flat out accept the update....and then wait WEEKS for the devs to catch up to the low priority of people that did it that way. Their first priority is for people that retained root and to get a new new ROM out to them to flash. This is why rooting is so confusing to the newbie. Because so many people are on different base versions. The idea is to stay rooted so you can keep up to date with the devs and work with the "top priority" group...for lack of a better phrase. Anyway, I am EXTREMELY new to this so take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
Rambler358
Android Enthusiast
Well, I'm even more new than you!That would certainly be an option but unnecessary. Why not just flash an updated ROM? What you just said would be a very tedious way of going about it....almost as tedious as throwing your phone in the trashcan and buying a new one....I am being facetious but trying to make the point...
Many times, just accepting the update will cause you to loose root so no need to go thru the hassle of unrooting....just flat out accept the update....and then wait WEEKS for the devs to catch up to the low priority of people that did it that way. Their first priority is for people that retained root and to get a new new ROM out to them to flash. This is why rooting is so confusing to the newbie. Because so many people are on different base versions. The idea is to stay rooted so you can keep up to date with the devs and work with the "top priority" group...for lack of a better phrase. Anyway, I am EXTREMELY new to this so take what I have to say with a grain of salt.
So having never flashed a ROM before, just root, I had no idea what was easier.
flyjbaker
Android Expert
Well, I'm even more new than you!
Don't be scared....it really is easy. And ROM Manager makes it even easier. Like someone said, you can do it without ROM Manager...much the same way Matlock describes how to flash a kernel without the use of ROM Manager...just do it straight thru the bootloader. Anyway, I just did Myn's Warm with the stock kernel and it is pretty cool. I might try some of the Fresh stuff but for now, I am gonna see how Myn's does. I also flashed the battery tweak(I think....not sure to see how or if it stuck). I had been having worse battery life since the update to 2.2 and I think rooting made it even worse. If this battery tweak is very noticeable, I might stay with it strictly for that.
Matlock
Android Enthusiast
I have been looking for a way to Flash a Kernel without having to use a Computer so you can do things more on-the-fly. Which is mostly the basis of my How To. Easy and Quick with a little knowledge needed as possible.
I have found a way, but it requires you to hook up to the Computer. I think I'll go ahead and write a how-to on it so everyone will have an alternate from ROM Manager. (Trying to keep alternates for every step requiring ROM Manager)
Remember, I'm still learning as everyone else. So if anyone knows how to do something I do not have listed, let me know and we can get it posted. And of course, credited to ya!
flyjbaker
Android Expert
I am thinking you could download the kernel straight to your phone and then install as a ROM via ROM manager....ultimately, the ROM manager just does what you explain in your kernel section except it does all that manual stuff for you.....I THINK!!!!!????? Anyway, I flashed my first ROM without the use of a computer. I just downloaded Myn's Warm straight off of XDA and then when you go to flash a ROM in ROM Manager, one of your choices is "/downloads"(without the quotes) and that is where it was. I selected it, checked "clear cache and davlik"(I had already done a backup as instructed in step 3 I think) and all went very smoothly. This is also how I installed the battery tweak...although I have no clue if it stuck but it did not do anything harmful to my phone as far as I can see. I guess I could try to do a Kernel although I am perfectly happy with the stock #11 right now. I will post up if I choose to do it. But for right now, I am gonna see how things work.
Rambler358
Android Enthusiast
I hope this question is appropriate here, but what is Busybox and what does it do? I see an option in a couple root apps to install it and such, and was wondering.
Matlock
Android Enthusiast
I rooted with Unrevoked3 and it was simple enough. Now I am trying to find threads for battery life extension.
I went 49 hours the last 2 days and had 19% left. Then today after charging to 100% took it off the charger and it dropped steadily to 40% at which time I rooted.
I am newbie and definitely do not want to brick my phone.
I went 49 hours the last 2 days and had 19% left. Then today after charging to 100% took it off the charger and it dropped steadily to 40% at which time I rooted.
I am newbie and definitely do not want to brick my phone.
Zumaki
Android Enthusiast
49 hours idle? With light data/phone usage I can barely make it a day. I use a task killer periodically and several other battery-saving techniques too....