Beginners Guide??

[bmcclure937]

Hey all, this is my first post... so please be easy on me. I do not want to be "that guy"... you know, the forum noob who posts without searching. lol

Yes, this is my first post, but I have been browsing a number of forums and have read up on numerous threads for the past week. I finally registered for Android Community today because I like the information and the helpful forums.

Despite my research, I have yet to come across a definitive "beginners guide" for rooting your Android device. Now, I know you are all thinking "Oh no! The classic noob who does not understand the risks involved with rooting and who will root their device for no reasons, no questions asked, no reasearch done and then come whining back when he bricks his device!!"

That is not the case. I ensure you that I am only in the research stages and am wanting to be pointed in the direction of information that could help me with my following questions. I just figured there would be a consolidated thread somewhere around the forums that would contain basic information, FAQs and procedures on rooting and loading custom ROMs... like a beginners guide. (step-by-step)

1. Risks Involved
2. Potential Benefits of Rooting
3. How to load custom ROMs
4. Links to the tools needed
5. Step-by-step guide
6. How to back up data
7. How to restore, in case of failure
8. How to revert back to stock ROM (unroot)

I have already read the thread by simms22 addressing the potential security risks involved with rooting. And I also completely understand that there is a common misconception that you should root your device. I know that it can be beneficial for many reasons, but in many cases rooting is not needed.

I do not mean to post an overwhelming thread as my first post. I am simply asking for some direction because I am currently being overwhelmed with information.

I have one final question regarding HTC's Android Sense UI and Android 2.0 Eclair...

If you purchase a device that comes stock with Android 2.0, would you have to root the device to load a custom ROM with Sense UI??

On the other hand... if you purchase a device with Android Sense UI, would you have to root the device to load Android 2.0 or can this be done without rooting?


Thanks everyone!! I hope to learn a lot over the remainder of my time at Android Community. I am looking to make a move from my TMobile BlackBerry 8320 to an Android device at some point in the next year when my contract expires and I am beginning my research now so I have a good understanding when I end up switching. I really appreciate it

[hondamx525]

You can have a look here

Should I root my G1?
No! If you don’t know what root is or don’t know what it does, then no! But then again for your Curious George’s out there…
What is Root? - http://androidcommunity.com/forums/f...is-root-10406/
If you have RC30, then you can downgrade and install RC29 and then install an modded version of RC30 which will give you root - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=442480

[bmcclure937]

The first link you provided came up with a "Page not found"

And I have already read that page from xda-developers

Do you have an answer for my last 2 questions about SenseUI and Android 2.0?

[hondamx525]

Ok, if you have stock android, you will get all of the android updates, (including android 2.0) as they are released. You need to be rooted to get sense UI with a phone that runs stock android, and unless the company updates sense when 2.0 is released, then it would be the same vice versa.

[bmcclure937]

Thanks for the helpful info.

I understand that if you are running stock Android (not rooted... no custom ROM) you can receive all of the Android Updates as they are released, as your carrier releases them. I feel that one benefit of rooting is that you can upgrade your Android OS to a third party ROM when you want the latest release (such as Donut, Eclair)... but that is beside the point.

I guess I am wondering if you can change from a Sense UI version to an official Android release. For example. If I get a device running Sense UI on Android 1.6... can I upgrade to "normal" Android 2.0 when it becomes available or would you need to root the device and load a custom ROM?

[hondamx525]

As long as there is a rom for that particular phone, then sure it would be possible. Thats why i would stick with htc phones they have a much bigger mod base at xda.

[bmcclure937]

I know that this is possible, my main question is whether or not you would need to root your device and use a custom ROM. Obviously, you have to root your device to load custom ROMs... but would you have to use a custom ROM to change to/from Sense UI or is there ever a case that the carrier would have an official ROM for both HTC Sense and standard Google Android ROM?

[hondamx525]

The carrier would not. HTC makes the sense UI. If the phone comes with the sense UI, then the carrier would most likely stick with the sense UI, and HTC would update the sense UI. So you would need to be rooted. However i dont really know why you would want to switch from sense UI, because im sure htc will update it with newer versions of android. In any case its nice to test user roms because they tend to be faster because they are worked on more often.

[simms22]

you would need to root it . unless its signed properly for that phone . from what i understand , you might even be able to just remove the sence ui from the phone(if rooted) . apparently , it runs on top of android .
welcome to A/C , by the way
1. beginers guide . i dont believe that there is one yet . until recently , we all were beginers , no matter how computer literate or not . the best beginers guide is what you are doing now , research . when android just came out , i had no clue to anything , same with everybody else . i read , and read , and researched , and read , and read ... you get the picture . im still learning ! android has so many different developments every day , the knowledge is growing rapidly .
2.this is the updated guide of the guide i used to root , i think its pretty good .
http://androidandme.com/2009/08/news...android-phone/
3. yea , if you want to put on an os thats not officially meant to go onto THAT phone , you have to root it .

the android os is really much better after it rooted . it becomes a different phone . i recommend rooting to almost everyone IF you have the time for the upkeep , hacking/modding , updating , researching , contributing to the community , and , most importantly , time to enjoy your phone .

you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders , do the research(i did for months) , make the decisions . whatever it is that you decide , im sure it will be the right decision for you . remember , if you do have any question , please feel free to ask . if anything , you can always pm me

[bmcclure937]

The carrier would not. HTC makes the sense UI. If the phone comes with the sense UI, then the carrier would most likely stick with the sense UI, and HTC would update the sense UI. So you would need to be rooted. However i dont really know why you would want to switch from sense UI, because im sure htc will update it with newer versions of android. In any case its nice to test user roms because they tend to be faster because they are worked on more often.

That makes more sense now that I think about it. The carrier would not provide the HTC Sense UI and "standard" Android for the same device... HTC does all of that work to create their UI for Android and I am sure they do not want the carrier allowing for alternate OSes to be loaded so easily

I really do like the Sense UI and I am a sucker for the clean look and the eye candy. Hopefully I will be able so snag an Android device within the next year (even more optimistically, a SnapDragon powered device).

Once I have my hands on it, I will play around with the stock UI and then move from there. I am comfortable with "hacking" devices... as I have done many DIY projects in the past (routers, XBox, netbooks, BlackBerries, etc). I was just wondering if there was a nice resource thread to follow along.

*EDIT* : and funny that you linked me to that thread... it was one of the same threads I was reading earlier, and it was quite useful (I bookmarked it for down the road)

you would need to root it . unless its signed properly for that phone . from what i understand , you might even be able to just remove the sence ui from the phone(if rooted) . apparently , it runs on top of android .
welcome to A/C , by the way
1. beginers guide . i dont believe that there is one yet . until recently , we all were beginers , no matter how computer literate or not . the best beginers guide is what you are doing now , research . when android just came out , i had no clue to anything , same with everybody else . i read , and read , and researched , and read , and read ... you get the picture . im still learning ! android has so many different developments every day , the knowledge is growing rapidly .
2.this is the updated guide of the guide i used to root , i think its pretty good .
http://androidandme.com/2009/08/news...android-phone/
3. yea , if you want to put on an os thats not officially meant to go onto THAT phone , you have to root it .

the android os is really much better after it rooted . it becomes a different phone . i recommend rooting to almost everyone IF you have the time for the upkeep , hacking/modding , updating , researching , contributing to the community , and , most importantly , time to enjoy your phone .

you seem like you have a good head on your shoulders , do the research(i did for months) , make the decisions . whatever it is that you decide , im sure it will be the right decision for you . remember , if you do have any question , please feel free to ask . if anything , you can always pm me

Thanks for the warm welcome I am loving this place already, the community and response time is great!! I will definitely take you up on your offer if I run into any hurdles along the way... and, don't worry, I will keep researching.

I always try to find the answer myself before turning to others... because 9 times out of 10 your question is already answered. But sometimes it makes better sense to ask for help, especially when you have exhausted all of your resources trying to find an answer!