Root Safety steps prior to flashing a Rom

[littler20]

Hi,
I want to flash a new Rom onto my HTC Desire but first I want to set the phone up so that I can recover should I hit problems during the flashing process.
Can anyone point me to a list of steps/procedures that will enable me to keep my phone

 

[nicka3200]

Back up apps with titanium.
Ensure all contacts are synced with Google.
Back up all sms with an sms back up app.
Make a note of your carrier APN settings just in case. You'll find this somewhere within settings, sorry cant remember where but its quite obvious.

The last step is the most important:
TAKE A FULL BACKUP FROM RECOVERY. If you have that you can go back to exactly how your phone was.

 

[nicka3200]

Then remember to do a full wipe (factory reset) from recovery before you flash.

 

[Hadron]

Only thing I can think to add is to check the requirements of the new ROM before flashing it (e.g. whether it needs a partitioned SD card), and in particular whether the ROM is for GSM or CDMA - most Desires are GSM, and hence so are most ROMs, so it's mainly CDMA owners who have to watch out for this.

As far as making sure you can return to your original state, and that you can transfer your data to the new ROM, Nicka has covered it for you

 

[littler20]

Thanks. How do I know whether my Desire is GSM or CDMA? If I have a recovery in place, am I correct in thinking that flashing the wrong sort of ROM won't brick the phone?
I've flashed ROMs on a San Francisco but my son gave me this Desire and it's a great phone apart from not having enough phone memory, hence my wanting to clear it down.
Regards

 

[Hadron]

Does the phone have a SIM card as well as an sd? If so it's GSM.

CDMA is used by some North American networks, and hardly anyone else. So if you are in Europe you have GSM by definition.

If your recovery works it is the right type.

 

[littler20]

Many thanks. I'll read the root FAQs thoroughly and then start by rooting the phone.