I don't want anyone to take this the wrong way -- this is meant purely as a "public service announcement", as there are always many posts that pop up after official updates are released by folks with messed up phones who installed updates on rooted phones...and in some cases, the updates install themselves.
First of all, once you decide to root, you pretty much also decide to take the process of updating your Thunderbolt into your own hands. This is just how it goes. If this seems unfair or too complicated to anyone, perhaps you should re-think your desire to run a rooted phone in the first place. For more on this, you can read the FAQ I linked to in my signature.
Now, installing an update on a rooted phone can do bad things. Best case scenario, you just lose root and have to go through that process again...worst case scenario, you're left with a brick of a phone. From what I've seen on the forums since the the various TB updates have been released, most folks get left somewhere in between. Usually, a phone that may not boot, but can still be recovered.
So, what if I am rooted, and I am still running stock OS...what do I do?!?
Two practical choices as I see it:
1. Install a custom ROM. There are a lot of great devs who have put out a ton a great ROMs for this device. Many of the ones I've tried are, in my opinion, much better than anything "official" Verizon has put out. Go over to the ROOTING subforum, check the stickies and the posts over there, and ask questions if needed -- those of us who have done it before are here to help.
I'm not here to pimp for anyone, so I'm not gonna tell you what ROM you should install. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss it -- I'll try to respond as quickly as I can. Also, just check out the posts to see what's popular and what others seem to like.
2. Update your phone to the latest OS yourself.
You can download a rooted (and debloated!) version of the latest OS* (2.11.605.5) right here:
[Rom][Rooted] 2.11.605.5 Full Stock - RootzWiki
You can view instructions on how to install ROMs here:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/th...-backup-restore-install-roms-thunderbolt.html
And you can check the guide in my signature for how to backup and restore your apps and settings so you don't lose anything in the process.
Again, I'm not trying to force anyone into anything or tell people what to do -- I'm trying to save people from having to deal with the greater headache of trying to deal with a rooted phone that gets "stuck" trying to install an official update.
Who knows, maybe this update will install 100% with no problems on rooted phones, but I'm willing to bet that it won't, based on previous releases.
Bottom line: I'll say it again because it's worth repeating:
DO NOT INSTALL THE OFFICIAL UPDATE IF YOUR PHONE IS ROOTED
*This thread was created a while ago before the last update...but a new ROM of the latest stock OS may be available out there...excuse me for not hunting for it this time.
WARNING #2: SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY ROOT METHOD NO LONGER WORKS AFTER THIS UPDATE. IF YOU INSTALL THIS UPDATE, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET ROOT BACK. (this statement has not been confirmed by original poster).
First of all, once you decide to root, you pretty much also decide to take the process of updating your Thunderbolt into your own hands. This is just how it goes. If this seems unfair or too complicated to anyone, perhaps you should re-think your desire to run a rooted phone in the first place. For more on this, you can read the FAQ I linked to in my signature.
Now, installing an update on a rooted phone can do bad things. Best case scenario, you just lose root and have to go through that process again...worst case scenario, you're left with a brick of a phone. From what I've seen on the forums since the the various TB updates have been released, most folks get left somewhere in between. Usually, a phone that may not boot, but can still be recovered.
So, what if I am rooted, and I am still running stock OS...what do I do?!?
Two practical choices as I see it:
1. Install a custom ROM. There are a lot of great devs who have put out a ton a great ROMs for this device. Many of the ones I've tried are, in my opinion, much better than anything "official" Verizon has put out. Go over to the ROOTING subforum, check the stickies and the posts over there, and ask questions if needed -- those of us who have done it before are here to help.
I'm not here to pimp for anyone, so I'm not gonna tell you what ROM you should install. Feel free to PM me if you want to discuss it -- I'll try to respond as quickly as I can. Also, just check out the posts to see what's popular and what others seem to like.
2. Update your phone to the latest OS yourself.
You can download a rooted (and debloated!) version of the latest OS* (2.11.605.5) right here:
[Rom][Rooted] 2.11.605.5 Full Stock - RootzWiki
You can view instructions on how to install ROMs here:
http://forums.androidcentral.com/th...-backup-restore-install-roms-thunderbolt.html
And you can check the guide in my signature for how to backup and restore your apps and settings so you don't lose anything in the process.
Again, I'm not trying to force anyone into anything or tell people what to do -- I'm trying to save people from having to deal with the greater headache of trying to deal with a rooted phone that gets "stuck" trying to install an official update.
Who knows, maybe this update will install 100% with no problems on rooted phones, but I'm willing to bet that it won't, based on previous releases.
Bottom line: I'll say it again because it's worth repeating:
DO NOT INSTALL THE OFFICIAL UPDATE IF YOUR PHONE IS ROOTED
*This thread was created a while ago before the last update...but a new ROM of the latest stock OS may be available out there...excuse me for not hunting for it this time.
WARNING #2: SEVERAL FOLKS HAVE REPORTED THAT THE REVOLUTIONARY ROOT METHOD NO LONGER WORKS AFTER THIS UPDATE. IF YOU INSTALL THIS UPDATE, YOU MAY NOT BE ABLE TO GET ROOT BACK. (this statement has not been confirmed by original poster).
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