Questions about rooting from an Android noob

[paintdrinkingpete]

OK, here's the deal...

I work in the IT field and have quit a bit of technical experience, so I have no fears regarding procedures of rooting my new Android phone, but because I'm not necessarily familiar with Android itself, I had a few questions about the process.

1. I understand rooting will erase my data. I'm not too concerned about that, as anything that is important is synced anyway, but just so I'm clear, we're simply talking about internal phone data right? App data, settings, things of that nature, right? Not items saved to my SD card I assume.

2. If I root, do I have to re-install the OS, or does the currently installed OS remain? I understand that rooting allows the potential to install custom ROMs (and I may want to do that in the future), but is that a requirement, or will I still have my stock OS after I've done the root procedure? In other words, will I still have SenseUI and the HTC apps and widgets?

3. Are there concerns regarding my carrier? I also realize that rooting probably voids warranty and blah, blah, blah...but do all Verizon services still work after rooting?

4. Are there any other concerns in general I should consider before taking the plunge?

 

[tuathalcj]

Hi P.D.P.
Please find my notes inline with your quote...

OK, here's the deal...

I work in the IT field and have quit a bit of technical experience, so I have no fears regarding procedures of rooting my new Android phone, but because I'm not necessarily familiar with Android itself, I had a few questions about the process.

1. I understand rooting will erase my data. I'm not too concerned about that, as anything that is important is synced anyway, but just so I'm clear, we're simply talking about internal phone data right? App data, settings, things of that nature, right? Not items saved to my SD card I assume.

Correct - the SD card is left alone - especially if you follow the steps outlined in:
How to Root the Thunderbolt with ADB (Windows) by Corey.
Also, the well-known maker of DAS-BAMF - Adrynalyne did a workshop on using ADB and I've looked at this guide more than once... - XDA took the IRC workshop and turned it into this guide... Props to Adrynalyne and XDA for that.

2. If I root, do I have to re-install the OS, or does the currently installed OS remain? I understand that rooting allows the potential to install custom ROMs (and I may want to do that in the future), but is that a requirement, or will I still have my stock OS after I've done the root procedure? In other words, will I still have SenseUI and the HTC apps and widgets?

Nope, the stock OS is left intact. In fact - most guides will tell you the best thing to do aftwards is to make a backup of your OS/ROM after rooting so you always have the Stock OS you can go back to (and then just unroot if you ever need to take it in for service, etc.)

3. Are there concerns regarding my carrier? I also realize that rooting probably voids warranty and blah, blah, blah...but do all Verizon services still work after rooting?

Nope, Everything worked great for me. Until you start doing things like sticking new ROMs on, or debloating / removing the stock apps, etc. - everything works great...

4. Are there any other concerns in general I should consider before taking the plunge?

None that I found. Well that's not entirely true. After rooting you'll find an undeniable need to screw around with the phone, play around with removing/adding stuff - and searching for the perfect ROM for you... LOL - well at least that's what happened to this IT geek

Hope it helps,
C.J.

 

[nate44]

http://www.androidcentral.com/rooting-it-me-some-qa

 

[tuathalcj]

http://www.androidcentral.com/rooting-it-me-some-qa

Yep yep, a great read to be sure... I know I went through it a couple of times during my initial debate on rooting...

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

Thanks for the replies folks. Pretty much what I expected, but wanted to make sure before diving in.

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

One more question (that no one may know the answer to yet):

Let's say my device is rooted, yet still running the stock OS, will my device still get OTA updates, or would I have to unroot first? And, if my device would still be able to get OTA updates, would I have to go through the root process again once completed?

(Obviously, if I install a custom ROM, I realize that an OTA update is pretty much out of the question).

 

[dajogejr]

The general consensus is you'll be using ROMs and Kernals in no time.
At that point, what the developers put out is better than what the general public gets via OTA.

I can tell you this...these are the apps I'd install as soon as you root:

ROM Manager (free or paid) this is the clockworks recovery console
SetCPU
Kernal Manager
MyBackup for root (others will say Titanium, but I've used both and I think My Backup for Root is easier, and free...)

Once it's rooted...as said, use ROM Manager to make a backup as is.
Then you have a base to get back to if you mess anything up (which...you'll probably do.) I'm in IT...have been for over 15 years. You're bound to make a mistake.

The forums are an absolute great place to learn...but just as in IT...self made mistakes are pretty good learning tools too.

I got bored mid-last week and rooted. My only regret is not doing it sooner.

 

[geterdone11]

A few more questions..

ok i didnt feel it was necessary to open up a new thread because this one answer most of my questions but i have a few more... I will be using the Auto root method
First
What is the best way to backup my phone (with stock os) so if something happnes i can go back to that, after i root? e.g is this what ROM Manager is for? If something did happen, would i flash this backup like a custom ROM?

Second
What is the chance of a custom ROM messing up my phone?

Third
Does this change the Kernal or Radio versions at all or do they stay stock? Because i read somewhere that flashing new ones saves battery life?

Fourth
Is there anyway to backup my email messages? I found an app that backs up my sms but not email.


Thanks sorry if i re-asked a question...this is my first android i just dont want to mess up my TB because a new one is not in my budget right now

 

[geterdone11]

One more question... what is clockworkmod recovery? How do i use it?

 

[DJBeanPole]

First
What is the best way to backup my phone (with stock os) so if something happnes i can go back to that, after i root? e.g is this what ROM Manager is for? If something did happen, would i flash this backup like a custom ROM?

You need Clockword Recovery Mod (CWR). This essentially takes a virtual "snapshot" of how your phone is in its current state and then saves it so you can backup to that point in case something gets FFFF'd. Think of it like Windows Restore. Its a nifty little LIFE SAVER.

Second
What is the chance of a custom ROM messing up my phone?

There is a certain amount of risk involved in flashing ROMs/kernels/etc., and these are all pointed out to you ahead of time. The #1 thing they all say? BACKUP YOUR S@($! ie, go get CWR!!!

Third
Does this change the Kernal or Radio versions at all or do they stay stock? Because i read somewhere that flashing new ones saves battery life?

Unless otherwise stated, the ROMs don't generally include radios. You can however flash new radio on top of currently installed ROMs. And in fact some ROMs require the newer radios (newer than what comes stock, anyway).

Fourth
Is there anyway to backup my email messages? I found an app that backs up my sms but not email.

This I'm not sure about.

One more question... what is clockworkmod recovery? How do i use it?

Go into market and DL it as well as ROM Manager. Install CRW and ROM Manager. Open ROM Manager and tell it to flash Clockword Mod (its like the first button on the top of the program). Tell it to boot into recovery. Your phone will turn off. Then you'll see HTC against a white background. Your phone may vibrate a few times. Then you'll go into a program with a black/brownish background and orange text with items that can be highlighted. For your first time into CWR, you're going to want to create a backup of your current state.

Using the volume up/down to scroll up and down (the text highlighted in CWR will shift accordingly to what is currently selected) and the power button as an "enter" key, scroll down to Backup/Restore.

Select Backup.

A status bar at the bottom of the screen will popup and a bunch of text will pop up letting you know what its doing. Well... what is it doing? ITS BACKING YOUR STUFF UP BRO! YEA!

Once its finished you have the option to reboot, install ROMs from your SD card, etc... but now you've got your first backup!

IF anything ever goes wrong from this point on, you just enter into recovery and select RESTORE instead of backup. From there you can restore whichever restore point you'd like (if you have multiples, that is).

 

[dajogejr]

ROM Manager w/ Clockwork recovery has already saved my skin...it's pretty intuitive and it has safety built in as well.

 

[geterdone11]

You need Clockword Recovery Mod (CWR). This essentially takes a virtual "snapshot" of how your phone is in its current state and then saves it so you can backup to that point in case something gets FFFF'd. Think of it like Windows Restore. Its a nifty little LIFE SAVER.

There is a certain amount of risk involved in flashing ROMs/kernels/etc., and these are all pointed out to you ahead of time. The #1 thing they all say? BACKUP YOUR S@($! ie, go get CWR!!!



Unless otherwise stated, the ROMs don't generally include radios. You can however flash new radio on top of currently installed ROMs. And in fact some ROMs require the newer radios (newer than what comes stock, anyway).



This I'm not sure about.



Go into market and DL it as well as ROM Manager. Install CRW and ROM Manager. Open ROM Manager and tell it to flash Clockword Mod (its like the first button on the top of the program). Tell it to boot into recovery. Your phone will turn off. Then you'll see HTC against a white background. Your phone may vibrate a few times. Then you'll go into a program with a black/brownish background and orange text with items that can be highlighted. For your first time into CWR, you're going to want to create a backup of your current state.

Using the volume up/down to scroll up and down (the text highlighted in CWR will shift accordingly to what is currently selected) and the power button as an "enter" key, scroll down to Backup/Restore.

Select Backup.

A status bar at the bottom of the screen will popup and a bunch of text will pop up letting you know what its doing. Well... what is it doing? ITS BACKING YOUR STUFF UP BRO! YEA!

Once its finished you have the option to reboot, install ROMs from your SD card, etc... but now you've got your first backup!

IF anything ever goes wrong from this point on, you just enter into recovery and select RESTORE instead of backup. From there you can restore whichever restore point you'd like (if you have multiples, that is).

Thanks for the info...going to root my phone now

 

[Makaveli1490]

Hi P.D.P.
Please find my notes inline with your quote...


Correct - the SD card is left alone - especially if you follow the steps outlined in:
How to Root the Thunderbolt with ADB (Windows) by Corey.
Also, the well-known maker of DAS-BAMF - Adrynalyne did a workshop on using ADB and I've looked at this guide more than once... - XDA took the IRC workshop and turned it into this guide... Props to Adrynalyne and XDA for that.



Nope, the stock OS is left intact. In fact - most guides will tell you the best thing to do aftwards is to make a backup of your OS/ROM after rooting so you always have the Stock OS you can go back to (and then just unroot if you ever need to take it in for service, etc.)




Nope, Everything worked great for me. Until you start doing things like sticking new ROMs on, or debloating / removing the stock apps, etc. - everything works great...



None that I found. Well that's not entirely true. After rooting you'll find an undeniable need to screw around with the phone, play around with removing/adding stuff - and searching for the perfect ROM for you... LOL - well at least that's what happened to this IT geek

Hope it helps,
C.J.

What's so wrong with doing that. Dont you want to do that?

If you do that, if you restore the stock os, those just come back correct?

 

[Makaveli1490]

Btw, I'm assuming you can't install a rom without a kernel and vice versa

Rom, I understand

The Kernel, I'm a little lost. Thats what you need in order to have better battery? The overclocking thing scares me lol. No way to get better battery without overclocking

 

[nate44]

The kernel is basically the main component of Android. It manages the cpu and memory among other things.

An undervolted kernel can have the biggest impact on battery savings. Every phone is different on how much voltage or not it can handle, and the main reason why people report random reboots or shutdowns is because of too much voltage (overclocking) or too little. You have to experiment with which kernel works best for your phone.

 

[Makaveli1490]

That's crazy !!!

I thought we all had the same exact phone

 

[paintdrinkingpete]

OP here,

Yeah, it took me a while, but I finally took the plunge and rooted my Thunderbolt, thank you to everyone who replied to this thread...now I have some *new* questions:

I haven't installed any custom ROMs yet, but I notice some list as a requirement "S-Off". What exactly is that?

If I were to install a custom ROM, will the HTC components still be available (SenseUI, widgets, etc), or does depend specifically on the ROM itself?

 

[zero neck]

S-off is security off - if you power off your phone and power back on with power button and volume down key held together, you get to hboot. On this white screen at the top is says s-on or s-off. To have permanent root and flash recovery and roms etc you need s-off. If you have successfully rooted your phone as per instructions in the stickied threads here, you should have s-off.

Some roms are sense-based, for instance das bamf rom. Some roms are sense-less, that's where sense has been stripped down and made less visible.
Then there are aosp roms, which are built from android source code. There aren't any (stable) aosp roms for thunderbolt yet, but they're coming.