I've had the Evo since about September, switched from the iPhone 3G because I was sick of the same ol' interface and blah blah same old switch story. I'm completely satisfied with my Evo but never wanted to take the 'rooting plunge' quite yet since I was so new to android and wanted to get the basics down. Well I think I'm ready to, but have a quick question. I've read a lot that you have to completely wipe out your phone when you root but that you can create a backup. I'm not planning on installing custom ROMS (yet). With my phone right now, I love my layout and screen set up already, so am i able to root my phone and then get this layout back up and running? Probably a stupid question, but I'm still learning so cut some slack ha. Thanks!
-
After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.
Root Rooting question- Please help out, yall android pros!
- Thread starter EvoAg
- Start date
-
- Tags
- htc evo 4g
AMTrombley0924
Android Enthusiast
When you root your phone, you don't wipe anything off of it. The only reason you would "wipe data and cache," or wipe all of the settings and shortcuts, is when you install a ROM, theme or modify a part of your phone.
Rooting in itself is not changing ANYTHING, it is simply the process to gain access to system files and settings so you CAN modify them. If you are just rooting to overclock and use apps that are only for rooted devices, you will not lose anything.
I suggest using z4root (an app in the market). It's a simple one click method that will give you root access once you've let it do it's thing and reboot the phone. Welcome to the rooting community! Let me know if you want anymore info or advice!
Rooting in itself is not changing ANYTHING, it is simply the process to gain access to system files and settings so you CAN modify them. If you are just rooting to overclock and use apps that are only for rooted devices, you will not lose anything.
I suggest using z4root (an app in the market). It's a simple one click method that will give you root access once you've let it do it's thing and reboot the phone. Welcome to the rooting community! Let me know if you want anymore info or advice!
That's exactly what i was wondering, thanks for the reply! And yes I only want to root for certain apps, try out the overclock thing, and to just rid the phone of the bloatware. I did a search for z4root in the market and nothing showed up? I've seen other guides on rooting and they all look pretty tedious, but if there was something like a 'one-click' thing out there I'd definitely be interested.
AMTrombley0924
Android Enthusiast
I'm surprised it's not there. I guess they removed it. If you ask someone for it, you can probably get the .apk file (the app file from a computer) and intall it manually on your droid. If I had it I would, but I rooted long before z4root was around, lol
You can get z4root here:
[APP] z4root - xda-developers
There are other threads discussing this, but I feel compelled to warn you that this is incompatible with the Evo if you want full root. It will give you soft root, only. If you want full root, go with unrevoked. You don't have to wipe data to root with it, either. Some people recommend you wipe data, but you don't have to.
[APP] z4root - xda-developers
There are other threads discussing this, but I feel compelled to warn you that this is incompatible with the Evo if you want full root. It will give you soft root, only. If you want full root, go with unrevoked. You don't have to wipe data to root with it, either. Some people recommend you wipe data, but you don't have to.
Awesome, thanks for the info. So if I wanted to install a custom rom, that means I'd have to wipe the phone, would I be able to go BACK to the set up I already had on my stock phone? Of course I'm sure I would have needed to have backed up my files, but was wondering if this was possible. Again, I've read a TON of rooting threads and see 'so so' answers, I'm just asking to be 100% sure and what not.
AMTrombley0924
Android Enthusiast
Worst case scenario, you would just need to go through everything and customize your setting again.
Your apps are backed up to your google account, so you'll get those back. However, there are apps out there that make all of your apps a big backup file on your phone so you don't need to download them again (which saves a ton of time if you have a lot of apps).
For me, it takes about two minutes to set up my settings (ringtones, FB account, etc).
As for the layout of your homescreens, if you use LauncherPro or an alternate home screen app, they usually have a "backup" setting that will save the layout. If you use the stock home screens, there might be an app that makes a backup of they layout on the market, but I don't know of any personally
Your apps are backed up to your google account, so you'll get those back. However, there are apps out there that make all of your apps a big backup file on your phone so you don't need to download them again (which saves a ton of time if you have a lot of apps).
For me, it takes about two minutes to set up my settings (ringtones, FB account, etc).
As for the layout of your homescreens, if you use LauncherPro or an alternate home screen app, they usually have a "backup" setting that will save the layout. If you use the stock home screens, there might be an app that makes a backup of they layout on the market, but I don't know of any personally
Here's the process:
1) Root the phone - you don't have to wipe, but if you run into problems, you may have to.
2) Make a nandroid backup - you can restore this to get back to the way your phone is now at any point
3) Use something like titanium backup to save your apps, app data, and settings (not always a good idea on that last one; sometimes there are incompatibilities).
3) To flash a rom, wipe data, cache, and dalvik cache, then flash the ROM.
4) Restore your titanium backup.
5) If you want to go back to exactly what you had before, restore your nandroid backup.
There are a few things here and there that will help. Use SMS Backup & Restore to save your sms messages. If you need more info, please ask.
1) Root the phone - you don't have to wipe, but if you run into problems, you may have to.
2) Make a nandroid backup - you can restore this to get back to the way your phone is now at any point
3) Use something like titanium backup to save your apps, app data, and settings (not always a good idea on that last one; sometimes there are incompatibilities).
3) To flash a rom, wipe data, cache, and dalvik cache, then flash the ROM.
4) Restore your titanium backup.
5) If you want to go back to exactly what you had before, restore your nandroid backup.
There are a few things here and there that will help. Use SMS Backup & Restore to save your sms messages. If you need more info, please ask.
right after you root your phone...
you will need to do a nandroid backup.. this is actually built right into the recovery setup that you installed during your root process.
this backup is a full snap shot of your system at that point in time. It can be reinstalled at anytime to put your phone back to that snapshot.
that is why we all say...
NANDROID BACKUP BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING TO YOUR PHONE.
rooting only does one thing.. gives you full access to your phone..
once you complete the rooting.. your phone will not visually change in any way.
you will need to do a nandroid backup.. this is actually built right into the recovery setup that you installed during your root process.
this backup is a full snap shot of your system at that point in time. It can be reinstalled at anytime to put your phone back to that snapshot.
that is why we all say...
NANDROID BACKUP BEFORE YOU DO ANYTHING TO YOUR PHONE.
rooting only does one thing.. gives you full access to your phone..
once you complete the rooting.. your phone will not visually change in any way.