NOOB question

[jdmss1]

I want to apologize ahead of time for the complete noob question. I am just coming over to Android from iOS. My iPhone was jailbroken and I miss the freedom.

When I am reading about rooting, I see a lot of info on custom ROM's and I understand all of that.

My question is this: Can I root the phone without installing custom ROM's or losing data?

I updated the phone to 2.2 and that went fine.
I like the way the phone is now, and the UI works for me

I just want to be able to sideload apps. The restriction on what can be put on there is annoying. So I just want to root it for that reason without completely changing the phone.

Is that possible? :-[

Thank You

 

[ls377]

Yes, you can. This post has the method for just rooting your phone.

However, AT&T is currently pushing an update to enable sideloading. I believe it was silent, so you might have gotten it and not known. If that's all you want to root it for, try sideloading an app to see if you can (you won't have the option in settings either way, so don't try enabling it).

 

[XANAX]

Yes, rooting won't change the UI and a custom ROM isn't needed... search for SuperOneClick. I'd offer a link but I'm on my phone.

Sent from my GT-I9000 using Tapatalk

 

[jdmss1]

Yes, you can. This post has the method for just rooting your phone.

However, AT&T is currently pushing an update to enable sideloading. I believe it was silent, so you might have gotten it and not known. If that's all you want to root it for, try sideloading an app to see if you can (you won't have the option in settings either way, so don't try enabling it).

Thank you for the answer, and another stupid question, how do you sideload? just try on a different market?

 

[konazxiii]

Download an apk (application) file to your SD card and select it. If it installs, you have the side loading update.

Try the font I've included...

 

[pittsm]

on a further side note.....

man you really have to try a custom rom, they are un-freaking-believable compared with stock!!!

lol

 

[jdmss1]

That didn't work so on to root it is, thank you for the help and I will update to let you know it worked.

 

[ibejack96]

Thank you for the answer, and another stupid question, how do you sideload? just try on a different market?

no you can just download a linked .apk file from your browser, email, etc.