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Root A Tech Idiot Trying to Root for the First Time

V

ViolentEyes

Newbie
Ok, so my initial reason for wanting to root my evo 4g was to usb tether for an internet connection. I downloaded EasyTether Lite to my phone and laptop with no problems until 2 days ago when I could no longer access HTTPS websites like Twitter and Gmail. So I tried to download an old BETA version of EasyTether from a link found in another forum and all it did was download a DOWNLOAD MANAGER. Then I started reading up on what it would take to root my phone. And now I am totally lost.

How do I backup my phones contacts and data onto either laptop or SD card (if possible)?

Can I root my phone without needing an additional internet connection? (i.e. wifi access or other)

I have already downloaded the HTC drivers for windows 7. Is there any other drivers I need to install?

I just want to be able to access the entire internet without having to pay an additional 30-50 dollars a month to Sprint for hotspot or wifi privileges. If there is another way that I dont know about to do this, please let me know and speak in a way that you would explain it to a 5th grader. I am not especially fluent in tech language. Therefore, speak slow and use small words. Thank you and any help will be greatly appreciated!
 
ViolentEyes said:
Ok, so my initial reason for wanting to root my evo 4g was to usb tether for an internet connection. I downloaded EasyTether Lite to my phone and laptop with no problems until 2 days ago when I could no longer access HTTPS websites like Twitter and Gmail. So I tried to download an old BETA version of EasyTether from a link found in another forum and all it did was download a DOWNLOAD MANAGER. Then I started reading up on what it would take to root my phone. And now I am totally lost.

How do I backup my phones contacts and data onto either laptop or SD card (if possible)?

Can I root my phone without needing an additional internet connection? (i.e. wifi access or other)

I have already downloaded the HTC drivers for windows 7. Is there any other drivers I need to install?

I just want to be able to access the entire internet without having to pay an additional 30-50 dollars a month to Sprint for hotspot or wifi privileges. If there is another way that I dont know about to do this, please let me know and speak in a way that you would explain it to a 5th grader. I am not especially fluent in tech language. Therefore, speak slow and use small words. Thank you and any help will be greatly appreciated!
Click to expand...

Welcome to AF!!! What hboot version are you running? That will determine which root method you'll need. You can find that out by powering your Evo off then back on while holding volume down. Your hboot version, etc. will be in the top left of your screen.

Easy Tether Lite will only allow you to access HTTPS sites for limited time before they require you to purchase the Pro version.

You can sync your contacts w/ your Google account OR you can use MyBackup, which will backup EVERYTHING on your Evo.

While you're actually rooting your Evo, you won't need an internet connection. You download a file that runs an executable program that runs the root exploit to your Evo. However, if you're running Revolutionary, you will need an internet connection to generate the beta key on the Revolutionary website.

You're gtg on the drivers and won't need to download anymore.
 
frenchy714 said:
Welcome to AF!!! What hboot version are you running? That will determine which root method you'll need.

Easy Tether Lite will only allow you to access HTTPS sites for limited time before they require you to purchase the Pro version.

You can sync your contacts w/ your Google account OR you can use MyBackup, which will backup EVERYTHING on your Evo.

While you're actually rooting your Evo, you won't need an internet connection. You download a file that runs an executable program that runs the root exploit to your Evo. However, if you're running Revolutionary, you will need an internet connection to generate the beta key on the Revolutionary website.

You're gtg on the drivers and won't need to download anymore.
Click to expand...

Whats "hboot"? Like I said I know nothing about all of this.

Im not running Revolutionary that I am aware of.
 
For rooting read the Rooting for Dummies guide (its sticky'd in this forum)

It is very easy and straight forward, I would say it is the best set of instructions out there. Read it and re-read it. If you do not understand terms or such, ask, people here are very helpful. If you cannot understand the instructions I would say don't do it. ANd if you decide to do it then be aware of all risk. It is possible to mess-up the phone ( also known as bricked - means useless/dead)
Again I will say if you can follow instruction it is very easy.

With that said yes you can backup all contacts to your g-mail before you start. THere is also a tool to back-up your SMS and contacts before you root. I believe it is mentioned in the root for dumies guide.

When rooted it is completely pssible to tether through usb or wifi Without using the mobile hotspot. Most custome ROMs have the hotspot hacked but they don't work with 4G, only 3G. Other programs such as wireless tether, allows for 4G speed. That to can be found in the forum. Some custom Roms include there own wireless tethering in the ROM, such as CyanogenMod 7.1, so no need for anything extra.

I again suggest reading, and do it alot. If you don't like to read you may end up missing something important and end up messing up your phone.
 
ViolentEyes said:
Whats "hboot"? Like I said I know nothing about all of this.

Im not running Revolutionary that I am aware of.
Click to expand...

Hboot is your bootloader. In literal terms, bootloader is code that is executed before any Operating System starts to run. The concept of bootloaders is universal to virtually all Operating systems that inculcates operating systems on your PC, laptop, smartphones, and other such devices. Bootloaders basically package the instructions to boot operating system kernel and most of them also have their own debugging or modification environment.

Do me a favor and power your Evo off, wait a few seconds, then power it back on while holding volume down. It will take you to a white screen w/ text. Your hboot will have numbers like this

0.97
2.10
2.15
2.16

You won't have all these numbers, just one set. Let me know which set it is so I can tell you which root exploit you need.
 
frenchy714 said:
Hboot is your bootloader. In literal terms, bootloader is code that is executed before any Operating System starts to run. The concept of bootloaders is universal to virtually all Operating systems that inculcates operating systems on your PC, laptop, smartphones, and other such devices. Bootloaders basically package the instructions to boot operating system kernel and most of them also have their own debugging or modification environment.

Do me a favor and power your Evo off, wait a few seconds, then power it back on while holding volume down. It will take you to a white screen w/ text. Your hboot will have numbers like this

0.97
2.10
2.15
2.16

You won't have all these numbers, just one set. Let me know which set it is so I can tell you which root exploit you need.
Click to expand...

sorry, it took so long. i am tethering as we speak. the hboot is 2.16
 
After rooting be sure to purchase titanium pro and rootexplorer. If you feel uneasy let me assure you there is no need. Just read the guide a few times before attempting to actually run the process. And feel free to ask any questions you need to feel comfortable to root
 
ViolentEyes said:
what im asking is how do i get superuser from my computer onto my sd card (per instructions) via usb?
Click to expand...
In the guide on Revolutionary.io there is a link to download. Just download it on your pc and transfer it over via usb like you would any other files. When you plug in your phone to the usb port, a screen should pop up on your phone and you can change from "charge only" to "use as disk drive" or whatever the option is, and you'll be able to see your SD card on your computer.

Or you can just download the superuser app on the revolutionary guide while you're on the phone, so no need to transfer it over, because it's already there.
 
MizzouBrent said:
In the guide on Revolutionary.io there is a link to download. Just download it on your pc and transfer it over via usb like you would any other files. When you plug in your phone to the usb port, a screen should pop up on your phone and you can change from "charge only" to "use as disk drive" or whatever the option is, and you'll be able to see your SD card on your computer.

Or you can just download the superuser app on the revolutionary guide while you're on the phone, so no need to transfer it over, because it's already there.
Click to expand...
ok, the revolutionary dos window just keeps saying "waiting for device". what did i do wrong?
 
ViolentEyes said:
ok, the revolutionary dos window just keeps saying "waiting for device". what did i do wrong?
Click to expand...

did you download and install the driver? do you have usb debugging turned on in your phone? make sure that htc sync is uninstalled as well as anything else on your computer that will communicate to your phone. also make sure that your antivirus on your computer is turned off.
 
ocnbrze said:
did you download and install the driver? do you have usb debugging turned on in your phone? make sure that htc sync is uninstalled as well as anything else on your computer that will communicate to your phone. also make sure that your antivirus on your computer is turned off.
Click to expand...
ok, i dowloaded the driver directly onto my phone via internet. i never installed sync onto my computer. my norton antivirus is off. debugging is on. now what?
 
ViolentEyes said:
ive installed everythung everywhere in every way. im lost. i just want a nap.
Click to expand...

i feel your frustration. for me with revolutionary it took me over 10 times to try revolutionary. it for some reason would not recognize my beta key.

so take a deep breadth and relax we will get you rooted.

so make sure to:
1.download this driver: http://downloads.unrevoked.com/HTCDriver3.0.0.007.exe
2.install the driver on your computer
3.make sure that you do not have something like double twist or pdanet or anything like that on your computer.
4.like i said that htc sync is not installed on your computer
5.usb debugging is turned on.

also what computer are you using?

you can also try and delete revolutionary and re-download it and try again.
 
ocnbrze said:
i feel your frustration. for me with revolutionary it took me over 10 times to try revolutionary. it for some reason would not recognize my beta key.

so take a deep breadth and relax we will get you rooted.

so make sure to:
1.download this driver: http://downloads.unrevoked.com/HTCDriver3.0.0.007.exe
2.install the driver on your computer
3.make sure that you do not have something like double twist or pdanet or anything like that on your computer.
4.like i said that htc sync is not installed on your computer
5.usb debugging is turned on.

also what computer are you using?

you can also try and delete revolutionary and re-download it and try again.
Click to expand...
ok, everytime that i try to install the driver is says that the device is in use. so i go to charge only and turn off easytether and then i cant find the driver install wizard again. so i go back and try to bring up the link again and it takes me to a blank page. htc sync is not installed on my computer and neither is pdanet or double twist.
 
ViolentEyes said:
ok, everytime that i try to install the driver is says that the device is in use. so i go to charge only and turn off easytether and then i cant find the driver install wizard again. so i go back and try to bring up the link again and it takes me to a blank page. htc sync is not installed on my computer and neither is pdanet or double twist.
Click to expand...

are you installing the driver on the computer? try and delete the driver files and re-download iit and try and install it on your computer.also make sure to not use easy tether when running revolutionary as well.
 
Are you using your phone now for internet connection? If so then read the Rooting for dummies. Read the whole thing, write down all the files it says to download, Click the links to download them all. When I say down load I mean to your computer, not your phone. Once you have made sure you have all the files the guide says you need stop tethering with your phone.

The drivers they talk about are to be installed on you computer so your computer can communicate with the phone properly. If you have HTC Installed on your computer, Un-install it first for it will cause problems for you.

I suggest you re-read the tutorial, then re-read it again. This is for your own good. If you have to make a list of what need to be done so its in front of you while doing it. check off as you go down the list. If you get to a point your not sure about come here and ask.
 
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