Root A few questions about rooting

[July03]

I'm a noob to rooting and pretty much everything.

The only reason I want to root is because i heard I can remove bloatware, which I just recently learned can save alot of battery.

1. What else besides my goal, can i use rooting for?

2. Is rooting safe?

3. If I decide I don't want to be rooted anymore, would it be easy to reverse the process?

4. I am downloading a "1 click root" version 1.20 gingerbreak from this post on this website, is this safe? or is there a safer way to do it?

 

[Darnell0216]

1) Some utility apps use root to give you better control of your phone. Most never go beyond needing it to remove bloatware, explore system files and take screenshots. Make sure you only delete approved bloatware though. First thing people wanna delete is the Browser and LGHome, both of which make the phone functional.

2) Yes.

3) Gingerbreak includes an unroot option but something to note: Deleted bloatware does not reappear with a factory reset. You MUST use one of two options to reinstall them. One is Titanium Backup PRO (worth the ~$6) and the other is Custom Recovery. TBP is the easier route, as it's just an installed app and you're set after you make a full backup.

4) Yes it's safe and the best way. And to answer your question from the thread, yes you can use a spare SD card if you're afraid it may be wiped.

 

[July03]

Thanks dude! Awesome answer! sorry for asking dumb questions!

one more: So i install the titanium back up, back everything up, and THEN delete? also, how do i delete the apps and how do i know which ones are ok to delete?

 

[Darnell0216]

Thanks dude! Awesome answer! sorry for asking dumb questions!

one more: So i install the titanium back up, back everything up, and THEN delete? also, how do i delete the apps and how do i know which ones are ok to delete?

Questions aren't dumb. They're how we learn.

Yes, make sure you perform a full backup. It will ask about stopping running programs, say yes. It also has an option to verify the backups it makes, do that. Lastly, go into the settings for TB and have the program backup it's settings to SD Card automatically. This way anytime you reinstall, it will automatically have the previous settings and known backup files.

There's a sticky in the All Things Root subforum that lists apps safe to delete. The PRO version offers a nifty trick, "freezing" apps so they don't run anymore and are hidden from the programs menu. Useful if you're not comfortable with deleting them just yet.