Please recommend a ROM to me

[eagle63]

I personally did the downgrade to 2.1 and rooted with simpleroot. I also had to update my radio, wimax, and pri but I know I'm fully rooted with nand unlock and don't have to worry about not being able to flash certain rom's

Swyped from my Evo 4G

So nand unlock is required for certain roms? I *assume* if I wait long enough unrevoked will provide this too?

One other question: So after you're rooted, you need to pick both a ROM as well as a kernel. Do most ROM's come with a recommended kernel, or are you pretty much on your own to go out and find one? I'm coming from the windows mobile world where the ROM and the kernel are not separate. (at least from the standpoint of end-user installation)

 

[mr.wizard]

So nand unlock is required for certain roms? I *assume* if I wait long enough unrevoked will provide this too?

One other question: So after you're rooted, you need to pick both a ROM as well as a kernel. Do most ROM's come with a recommended kernel, or are you pretty much on your own to go out and find one? I'm coming from the windows mobile world where the ROM and the kernel are not separate. (at least from the standpoint of end-user installation)

Use simpleroot and you don't have to wait

You don't 'need' to have a rom. You can still use the stock rom. However, a kernal of some sort is included in every rom. But, stock htc is capped so I would vote for a non stock kernal. Just make sure to check if the kernal you want will work with the rom you want

 

[Robbie317]

So nand unlock is required for certain roms? I *assume* if I wait long enough unrevoked will provide this too?

One other question: So after you're rooted, you need to pick both a ROM as well as a kernel. Do most ROM's come with a recommended kernel, or are you pretty much on your own to go out and find one? I'm coming from the windows mobile world where the ROM and the kernel are not separate. (at least from the standpoint of end-user installation)

Baked Snack includes the Kernal but you can then go and flash different Kernals if needed... I think most ROM's don't include the Kernal but most ROM's have a list of Kernals on the XDA site to choose from. Again I think if you install a ROM your just going to be using the stock Kernal unless the ROM builder says other wise.

I used unrevoked to root and I couldn't install CM6 so I was told to go back and rerun Simple Root instead... But so far I am happy with Baked Snack.. When I decide to go with another ROM and need to I will run Simple Root...

 

[eagle63]

@mr.wizard, @robbie

Thanks guys, makes sense I think. So could I actually install ONLY a kernel (thereby keeping my stock rom)? Or do I need to do both? Sounds like Baked Snack might be a pretty good option for me, especially since I don't need to roll back to 2.1 and do simple root. Someday I'll be ready to try CM6, but I'm not there yet. (baby steps!)

 

[b0ricua]

I think most ROM's don't include the Kernal but most ROM's have a list of Kernals on the XDA site to choose from. Again I think if you install a ROM your just going to be using the stock Kernal unless the ROM builder says other wise.

Incorrect. All ROM's will include a Kernel and that isn't necessarily the stock HTC one. Usually the OP of the ROM will tell you which kernel is included...they can include custom kernels to be included in these ROM's for example

Baked Snack 1.7 = baked kernel #6

VaelPak 2.0 = Vaelek included a Kings #8 version..

Hope that clears up some confusion.

 

[DaveNagy]

Thanks for all the suggestions. XDA has been inconveniently unreachable since yesterday, so I haven't been able to do much more "research", but I think I'll go with Baked Snack 1.7, and the kernel that it comes with by default. At this point, I think it's more important to make a decision, rather than make the right one.

Question: I seem to recall that the kernel in question is very overclocked. Like to 1.26GHz, or something like that. That seems... risky to me. If my phone is one of those that doesn't like overclocking, is it going to lock up immediately, preventing me from even going in and dialing the OC back a bit? Shouldn't the ROM be "shipped" with OC turned off, so the user can go in and start experimenting with how much OC his phone will actually allow?

Okay, now I need to decide how to get root. Up until a few days ago, I figured that I'd do the manual process that leaves you running a root-able version of 2.1. Then, I'd use Simple Root to root, unlock NAND, and install a recovery. But now, there's the potential option of using Unrevoked 3.2 to go straight to a rooted and unlocked version of 2.2. I think the (new) Unrevoked method also leaves you with nice recent versions of the radios and PRI stuff. All in all, it sounds like a nice time-saver. And given my situation, time-saving is good.

Any thoughts on the Unrevoked 3.2 vs. Simple Root question? I know (well, think) that Unrevoked 3.2 is not currently in wide release, but I figure it'll be out before I actually need it.

 

[b0ricua]

Regarding the default kernel with 1.7, it is kind of strange how the increments in SetCPU go from 883200 to 1152000. But keep in mind the time it stays in 1152000 is not that long compared to the lower frequencies due to scaling "conservative" in SetCPU options. So just because its overclocked to the higher frequency I believe my phone most of the time stays around 400-883 until I'm really cranking it out and it'll go up to the higher one. I've never had my phone freeze up once using this kernel and SetCPU profiles.

Also, I personally have gone the 2.1 and simpleroot method. I personally don't trust unrevoked as much due to some harsh criticisms. I did have to update radio, wimax, and PRI, but that process wasn't difficult at all. And now I'm fully rooted/nand unlocked and since I updated those 3 items I wont' have to do it again...

 

[Sed8ing]

Any thoughts on the Unrevoked 3.2 vs. Simple Root question? I know (well, think) that Unrevoked 3.2 is not currently in wide release, but I figure it'll be out before I actually need it.

Check out this thread before you try unrevoked!

http://forum.androidcentral.com/htc-evo-4g-roms-hacks/34304-am-i-completely-bricked-good.html

I believe they pulled the method because of so many problems. It seems to my guess (although mostly opinion) that unrevoked is more interested in being first than being careful... Be Careful the last thing you need is to not have a phone at all while on vacation...

I would agree with the downgrade and simple root route as well!

Good luck

 

[DaveNagy]

I totally agree with Unrevoked's bad rap. I had no intention to use it prior to the announcement of version 3.2. 3.2 looks like it could be a whole 'nother kettle of fish, however.

Then again, it's been pulled back off the "market" after it messed up a few people's phones. The jury is still out, I guess.

 

[willsurg#AC]

I'll be the lone voice for unrevoked. 1st off, i ran unrevoked as my root method after downgrading back to 2.1 I then ran cm6. I have no idea why but it loaded and ran without any problems what so ever. I did not do the sp eng thing that I have read you need to do. and I did not do a special nand unlock. I just ran unrevoked and then loaded cm6 . From what I can gather and have been told unrevoked does unlock nand, the reason for cm6 not running has to do with a bug in the programming and not a nand unlock. if you download the hboot 76, which is an enginerring thing you can run cm6. (of course i ran cm6 without having the hboot 76, but have since downgraded to it) I tried many other roms and only left CM6 because I needed wireless tether which I could not get to work on CM6. I eventually ended with baked snack 1.7 and have been running for the last 2 week, always ready to switch to a new ROM, but have not found the need to. I just donated to the developer because, well, the ROM rules, everything works and you can customize easily. If i had to do it all over again, I would stick with baked snacks and unrevoked. I did do the unrevoked forever, so maybe thats why I was able to run CM6??

 

[Robbie317]

I'll be the lone voice for unrevoked. 1st off, i ran unrevoked as my root method after downgrading back to 2.1 I then ran cm6. I have no idea why but it loaded and ran without any problems what so ever. I did not do the sp eng thing that I have read you need to do. and I did not do a special nand unlock. I just ran unrevoked and then loaded cm6 . From what I can gather and have been told unrevoked does unlock nand, the reason for cm6 not running has to do with a bug in the programming and not a nand unlock. if you download the hboot 76, which is an enginerring thing you can run cm6. (of course i ran cm6 without having the hboot 76, but have since downgraded to it) I tried many other roms and only left CM6 because I needed wireless tether which I could not get to work on CM6. I eventually ended with baked snack 1.7 and have been running for the last 2 week, always ready to switch to a new ROM, but have not found the need to. I just donated to the developer because, well, the ROM rules, everything works and you can customize easily. If i had to do it all over again, I would stick with baked snacks and unrevoked. I did do the unrevoked forever, so maybe thats why I was able to run CM6??

I used unrevoked forever and went through the hoop of getting their latest hboot updated file from their site and I couldn't install CM6.... I tried a couple of times and fail after fail when attempting to flash. I then installed ROM Manager and paid for the full version.... Tried CM6 and it failed again... Then I tried Baked Snack and it worked the first attempt.

I still don't fully understand the whole full rooted, unlocked nand, .76 or .93 (this is the Hboot file I have) stuff.... I actually thought when I was unable to load CM6 I wasn't rooted.... But then Baked Snack worked right away...

So with Baked Snack 1.7, custom theme and boot animation I am okay with not messing with it any more... I have a 2.2 rooted ROM, dumped all the bloat ware from Sprint, have a custom theme, custom boot animation and free wireless tether while still keeping 4G, FM radio, HDMI out and fps uncapped... What more could you ask for?????

 

[willsurg#AC]

yeah, i don't understand the nand unlock thing, if I am trully nand unlocked, etcc. I have been so happy with baked that I have not tried to switch roms. but here is how I got the .76 hboot.Get ENG bootloader extended fastboot commands back after Unrevoked forever! - xda-developers

let me warn you however, read the whole thread... I had the problem constantly booting into recovery. make sure you have removed set cpu before doing this, and how I got out of the described boot cycle is just as they reccomend, flash another rom. the rom I flashed happened to be baked. after I was sure baked was stable and working, i then re-downloaded set cpu.

-will

 

[aznmode]

I use Baked 1.7 as well and love it. It's one of the smoothest rom. Gamloft games run great. The closest kernel I've used that is close to the built in 6 is Netarchy 4.1.9.

 

[DaveNagy]

This whole "ENG bootloader" (HBoot?) topic gives me a headache. So much conflicting info. I have three related questions:

Am I going to need to "downgrade" my HBoot version to .76 before I install Baked Snack 1.7? Or, will a recent version like .93 be just fine with that particular ROM?

If I use the manual method which reverts-the-phone-to-2.1 to put my new phone into a root-able state, and then use Simple Root to root, unlock, and install recovery, which HBoot version will I end up with at the end of all that?

If I instead use Unrevoked 3.2 (assuming it ever re-releases) to root and unlock, which HBoot version will I end up on? (Please note that I am not concerned with the behavior of any previous versions of Unrevoked. There is zero chance I will be using one of them.)​

 

[gabbott]

If I use the manual method which reverts-the-phone-to-2.1 to put my new phone into a root-able state, and then use Simple Root to root, unlock, and install recovery, which HBoot version will I end up with at the end of all that?

Just yesterday I used the rooting guide in the sticky here to downgrade and use simple root and then install Baked Snack 1.7. The whole process was pretty easy and didn't take too long. Not sure of the HBoot version that is installed. I chose the RA recovery in simple root (you can chose either RA or clockwork doing it this method).

Baked Snack is running fine on my EVO.

 

[b0ricua]

This whole "ENG bootloader" (HBoot?) topic gives me a headache. So much conflicting info. I have three related questions:

Am I going to need to "downgrade" my HBoot version to .76 before I install Baked Snack 1.7? Or, will a recent version like .93 be just fine with that particular ROM?

If I use the manual method which reverts-the-phone-to-2.1 to put my new phone into a root-able state, and then use Simple Root to root, unlock, and install recovery, which HBoot version will I end up with at the end of all that?

1. I believe that a ROM like BakedSnack doesn't need HBoot to be .76 and only CM6 does, but I could be wrong.

2. You will end up with Hboot .76 Problems solved!

 

[Robbie317]

1. I believe that a ROM like BakedSnack doesn't need HBoot to be .76 and only CM6 does, but I could be wrong.

2. You will end up with Hboot .76 Problems solved!

Second that. I have .93 and couldn't install CM6 but baked snack worked great.

 

[willsurg#AC]

bakedsnack does not have an hboot preference, so you can run it on either.

 

[DaveNagy]

Just yesterday I used the rooting guide in the sticky here to downgrade and use simple root and then install Baked Snack 1.7. The whole process was pretty easy and didn't take too long. Not sure of the HBoot version that is installed. I chose the RA recovery in simple root (you can chose either RA or clockwork doing it this method).

Baked Snack is running fine on my EVO.

Groovy. It sounds like Baked Snack is fairly easy going about what version of HBoot you are running.

I'm also leaning towards RA Recovery. I'm not sure that the reports claiming that Clockwork doesn't always "wipe" completely are true, but they certainly are common.

(I've made it through the first 110 pages of the Baked Snack thread on XDA. Ironically, it appears that early version of Baked were incompatible with RA Recovery. Early adoptors were forced to use Clockwork. I expect that things have changed, but I'll have to keep reading to find out.)

Gabbot, what else did you have to flash or update after running Simple Root? Radios? PRI settings?

Here's how to check what your HBoot version is, if you are curious. (I am)

When the phone is off, hold the volume down button and while holding press the power button. You will see a white screen and up the top you should see your hboot version. To exit, press the power button to select fast boot and then use the volume down to select reboot.

 

[gabbott]

After running simple root and flashing the Baked Snack 1.7 ROM, I had to flash the updated radios. PRI is at 1.34 and I'm still trying to get that updated to 1.4 but I've read that can take multiple times trying to activate to get it updated.

Oh and just checked, and the hboot that gets installed using simple root is .76