Questions about Rooting

[digity]

I just saw unrevoked 3.21 posted and I'm thinking about finally rooting my HTC EVO 4G (running Froyo/2.2). I'm just a little confused...:

[1] Is unrevoked just the unlocker and flasher for a third party custom ROM (like cyanmod... whatever)? If it is two separate pieces can I just have the stock HTC Sense/Sprint ROM and still have the phone rooted?

[2] Do all my apps, documents, settings, configurations, etc. on my phone carry over when I root it or do I have to re-download apps and re-configure everything again? If the latter, will I have to purchase the apps I paid for again?

 

[bclinger#IM]

I'm stock and rooted via 3.21. Everything stayed the way it was before. Nothing lost. Get the correct driver file, read the directions and play.

 

[Vagrant_1]

Mine also stayed the same didn't lose anything.

Sent from my HTC Incredible

 

[Prof-KOS]

Rooting is just a way to give access to the "Root" of the Linux OS. It allows certain functions to be run on your phone that you are normally not able to give permission to.

To load a custom ROM root is required as well as a custom recovery. Unless you want to load a custom ROM, don't worry about it.

There are some very good reasons to root, but you should look into what the potential risks are. Some great apps that I use that require root access are "Copy Paste It" which is a OCR Copy and paste utility and "Titanium Backup" which allows for backups of all apps on the phone plus app and phone data and many other things as well. It can also let me uninstall apps that I don't want that are preloaded.

Edit: I just realized that I did a poor job of answering your questions:

1) Unrevoked is just a method for gaining root access to your phone. I believe it adds the Super User app for granting and managing root permissions as well. I have a N1 do Unrevoked is not needed for my case. Certainly it does not load

2) Root will not delete apps or data. For future reference though. Paid apps are linked to your Google account. Any paid apps that you've purchased can be re-downloaded as often as you like. Even if you move to a new phone. If have root though use Titanium Backup to keep backups of apps and data just in case.

 

[digity]

Outstanding!!! Thanks!

So since I want to keep the stock ROM I just need to install Unrevoked 3.21 (using the appropriate driver of course) and that's it?? Will I be able to receive and apply future system updates from Sprint, HTC? If so, do I have to get my phone back to stock recovery ROM beforehand or do I have to re-root/re-Unrevoked my phone with the rooting method/new Unrevoked version that's compatible with that updated system?

Also, will this affect the development I do with this phone (I use App Inventor and sometimes Eclipse and its plug-ins/add-ins for Android)?


Thanks in advance


P.S. - I'm rooting my phone so I could use Wireless Tether, Titanium Backup, ShootMe (screenshot util) and rsyncdroid.

 

[Prof-KOS]

As to the method for Unrevoked, I'm not sure. Since simplicity is its selling point I imagine there are good how-to's available.

As for updates. First things first, a custom recovery is a different thing from a custom ROM. Recovery is the screen that you can boot your phone into (without booting the OS) that allows you to install an update.zip. With a custom Recovery you are able to load custom ROM's, perform Nandroid backups/restores, wipe data, cache, etc... If you have a custom recovery you will not receive OTA updates. You will have to perform a manual install. This is very easy to do and there are plenty of how-to's available on this forum or elsewhere.

Before you root or anything else, make sure you read up on potential risks. They are rare, but can occur. Once you have root, make sure you pay attention to which apps ask for root access.

 

[bclinger#IM]

After rooting, then the temptation is there to remove an application or 2. I deleted Sprint's NASCAR application w/out a hitch. Others are on the horizon.

 

[digity]

Now I'm confused... so flashing the custom unrevoked recovery ROM ONLY won't give me root access with stock ROM? I have to a custom recovery ROM AND a custom ROM for root?

 

[Prof-KOS]

No. You will get root access to the stock ROM. The problem is that a lot of people don't understand that there is a difference between the different hacks. If you decide later to flash a custom ROM you should know that to do that you need root and a custom recovery.

Sent from my Nexus One using Tapatalk