[Note]This only pertains too the 3.70 software (2.2 froyo), NOT to the latest 4.22 software (Gingerbread). For info on the latest software go http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...sa-rooting-new-2-3-not-possible-yet-read.html[/Note]
There's seems to be a fair amount of confusion with rooting, recoveries, and installing ROMs lately due in large part to a change in the partition structure of the EVO on phone's that upgraded to the latest (3.7) software update, or shipped with hboot 2.02+.
You need to know what you have in your hand before you begin the process of rooting your phone and installing a custom recovery to flash different ROMs. The three key pieces of information are software version, hardware version and hboot version.
To find your software version: From the home screen > menu > settings > about phone > software information
To find your hardware version: From the home screen > menu > settings > about phone > hardware information
To find your hboot version: Power off your Evo, once it's off press and hold the volume down button and the power button at the same time. Release your fingers when the screen with 3 androids loads, your hboot version will be displayed at the top of the screen. Select reboot to reboot your phone normally.
Rooting:
--
For any phone with the official version of 3.70 OR with HBOOT 2.02 or higher you have to follow this guide: [ROOT][GUIDE] HBoot 2.02/2.10 SOFF - Root! The Final Frontier Edition - Upd. 12.21.10 - xda-developers
I have made a version of this guide with screen shots here: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...ide-rooting-3-7-hboot2-02-w-screen-shots.html
Or you can use Universal Auto Root which essentially automates the "hard" thread: [ROOT] ~~~ HTC EVO - Universal Auto Root ~~~ v2.2 (works with all version)(1/10/11) - xda-developers (*This method has caused issues for some of our members, I'm not sure of the exact problem but if anyone could shed some light on where it all goes wrong, that'd be great!)
Or Unrevoked3.x located here: unrevoked3 recovery reflash tool, v3.32
If you've rooted with any of the above versions you had to have used unrevoked forever, for more info on un rooting your phone after using this method, see this: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...turn-stock-after-using-unrevoked-forever.html
For any phone with a software version of less than 3.70 AND with an hboot lower than 2.02 follow this guide: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...34-how-rooting-htc-evo-froyo-2-2-windows.html (or you can use an unrevoked alternative)
Unrevoked:
--
There's a lot of back and forth about using Unrevoked to root your phone. I have started a thread here with a poll so you can be the judge for yourself: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-4g-roms-hacks/54714-has-unrevoked-hurt-your-phone.html and choose it if it's the right root method for you.
Recoveries:
--
For any phone with official 3.70, or any phone that shipped or was officially upgraded to an hboot of 2.02 or above software you have to use the latest Armon RA recovery (located at the bottom of this thread: [ROOT][GUIDE] HBoot 2.02/2.10 SOFF - Root! The Final Frontier Edition - Upd. 12.21.10 - xda-developers)
Update: ClockworkMod 3.0.0.5 now works with phones that shipped with software version 3.70 and hboot 2.02+.
For any phone with an hboot lower than 2.02 you are free to use the initial armon ra or clockworkmod (rom manager) recoveries. (these are included in their root guides or available via rom manager)
(update 12/23: I was able to use clockworkmod on hboot2.10 and I didn't lose my 4G keys and was able to do everything I had to, I'm on hardware 003 - I don't understand why everyone is slamming clockworkmod and I was even trying to break my phone myself, I haven't gotten a lot of responses of Evo owners with 004 hardware so I'm still sticking to what I say below here, I know it will work on newer devices, until I can get someone else to test this out on other new hardware I'll leave it as is - if you want to test on 004 PM me and we can work it out)
Help:
--
When asking for help with rooting, boot loops, bad flashes, etc. Please state your current phone information. If you don't know it, that's OK, just state as much as you do know.
Never accept an OTA if you plan on rooting or are already rooted.
There's seems to be a fair amount of confusion with rooting, recoveries, and installing ROMs lately due in large part to a change in the partition structure of the EVO on phone's that upgraded to the latest (3.7) software update, or shipped with hboot 2.02+.
You need to know what you have in your hand before you begin the process of rooting your phone and installing a custom recovery to flash different ROMs. The three key pieces of information are software version, hardware version and hboot version.
To find your software version: From the home screen > menu > settings > about phone > software information
To find your hardware version: From the home screen > menu > settings > about phone > hardware information
To find your hboot version: Power off your Evo, once it's off press and hold the volume down button and the power button at the same time. Release your fingers when the screen with 3 androids loads, your hboot version will be displayed at the top of the screen. Select reboot to reboot your phone normally.
Rooting:
--
For any phone with the official version of 3.70 OR with HBOOT 2.02 or higher you have to follow this guide: [ROOT][GUIDE] HBoot 2.02/2.10 SOFF - Root! The Final Frontier Edition - Upd. 12.21.10 - xda-developers
I have made a version of this guide with screen shots here: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...ide-rooting-3-7-hboot2-02-w-screen-shots.html
Or you can use Universal Auto Root which essentially automates the "hard" thread: [ROOT] ~~~ HTC EVO - Universal Auto Root ~~~ v2.2 (works with all version)(1/10/11) - xda-developers (*This method has caused issues for some of our members, I'm not sure of the exact problem but if anyone could shed some light on where it all goes wrong, that'd be great!)
Or Unrevoked3.x located here: unrevoked3 recovery reflash tool, v3.32
If you've rooted with any of the above versions you had to have used unrevoked forever, for more info on un rooting your phone after using this method, see this: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...turn-stock-after-using-unrevoked-forever.html
For any phone with a software version of less than 3.70 AND with an hboot lower than 2.02 follow this guide: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc...34-how-rooting-htc-evo-froyo-2-2-windows.html (or you can use an unrevoked alternative)
Unrevoked:
--
There's a lot of back and forth about using Unrevoked to root your phone. I have started a thread here with a poll so you can be the judge for yourself: http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-4g-roms-hacks/54714-has-unrevoked-hurt-your-phone.html and choose it if it's the right root method for you.
Recoveries:
--
For any phone with official 3.70, or any phone that shipped or was officially upgraded to an hboot of 2.02 or above software you have to use the latest Armon RA recovery (located at the bottom of this thread: [ROOT][GUIDE] HBoot 2.02/2.10 SOFF - Root! The Final Frontier Edition - Upd. 12.21.10 - xda-developers)
Update: ClockworkMod 3.0.0.5 now works with phones that shipped with software version 3.70 and hboot 2.02+.
For any phone with an hboot lower than 2.02 you are free to use the initial armon ra or clockworkmod (rom manager) recoveries. (these are included in their root guides or available via rom manager)
(update 12/23: I was able to use clockworkmod on hboot2.10 and I didn't lose my 4G keys and was able to do everything I had to, I'm on hardware 003 - I don't understand why everyone is slamming clockworkmod and I was even trying to break my phone myself, I haven't gotten a lot of responses of Evo owners with 004 hardware so I'm still sticking to what I say below here, I know it will work on newer devices, until I can get someone else to test this out on other new hardware I'll leave it as is - if you want to test on 004 PM me and we can work it out)
Help:
--
When asking for help with rooting, boot loops, bad flashes, etc. Please state your current phone information. If you don't know it, that's OK, just state as much as you do know.
Never accept an OTA if you plan on rooting or are already rooted.
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