Root best way to root?

[rowlers]

really tempted to root my desire, to get rid of all the Orange branding, and demo apps.

seems to be a few different methods, lekkys, unrevoked, goldcards, which roms, radios...

All a bit bewildering/scary tbh!
so where do I start? which methods best?

 

[Declan Carey]

unrevoked

Ignore step 3 in "Preparation" heading, I think that's a mistake. I dont think your suppose to re-install HTC Sync. I didn't anyway and it worked fine for me.

 

[droidzone]

Proceed as follows:

1. Create a goldcard (Required to Unroot for Warranty purpose)
2. Find out whether your Desire is AMOLED/SLCD
3. Find and download the correct RUU for your Desire (Required to Unroot for Warranty purpose)
4. Double check that your goldcard works
5. Get Unrevoked, follow their instructions
6. Install HTC Sync, exit the program in task manager by right clicking, choosing Exit
7. Run Unrevoked

You can also uninstall HTC Sync. But leave the HTC Sync drivers in place. Unrevoked uses these. You can alternately use the drivers provided by Unrevoked

 

[rowlers]

Holy sh|t there is still alot to it! The more I read up the more confused I get!
I'll pluck up the courage at some point! lol

 

[droidzone]

Sorry for confusing you..

Rooting is as easy as clicking on an exe file in Windows (Unrevoked). It is the reverse process that can go haywire. So just tried to caution you. If you follow those steps, you're foolproof..

 

[rowlers]

Even the Goldcard bit looks like it will take an afternoon!
I'll do the research, put a plan together and go from there
I think:
Unrevoked to root? This gives me more control over my phone will allow me to delete some of the crap bundled with an orange desire?
Goldcards give you a backup?
then you can flash a custom ROM? Don't think I want to go this route.? What are the benefits?
Radio?
HBOOT?
Head spinning LOL!
Cheers for your help.

 

[SUroot]

Gold card is needed for debranding. IF you mess up your phone with rooting or flashing, you have to use an official RUU (rom upgrade utility). Thing is, no such RUU exists for Orange.

Goldcard will allow you to use ANY official RUU.

You definitely need to do this on Orange.

 

[rowlers]

If no RUU exists then do I need the goldcard bit?
If I were to take a gamble and just run unrevoked on my Orange Desire what can I then do? Can I then Delete all the crap demo games etc...?

I still have about 44mb free so not desperatley needing the space.

What else has Orange built into the ROM, that can go?

 

[SUroot]

If no RUU exists then do I need the goldcard bit?

Goldcard will allow you to use ANY official RUU.

You definitely need to do this on Orange.

 

[rowlers]

I can see that you recommend this then. LOL
Convince me - what benefits will routing give me over the orange ROM?

 

[SUroot]

Meh, do it, don't do it. Its all the same to me.

Its down to you to convince yourself. If you cant convince yourself that you need to do it, then you dont need it.

 

[rowlers]

OK, don't convince me! I believe rooting gives me more control over my phone, which I like the sound of.
If I root (unrevoked) and a problem develops (hardware) would Orange honour the warranty? Will I still be able to update to later revision of Android i.e the forthcoming gingerbread. Or would I need to flash the later ROM myself.
What settings will I lose or need to re-enter after a flash? Orange internet settings etc...?
Many appolgies for all the questions - I'll get there in the end!

cheers

 

[droidzone]

OK, don't convince me! I believe rooting gives me more control over my phone, which I like the sound of.
If I root (unrevoked) and a problem develops (hardware) would Orange honour the warranty? Check your Orange warranty policy. As far as generic HTC licenses go, as least in all of Asia, HTC does not explicitly state that flashing a ROM constitutes an infringement of warranty policy. I believe that applies to HTC everywhere. Check the fineprint.


Will I still be able to update to later revision of Android i.e the forthcoming gingerbread. Or would I need to flash the later ROM myself. As far as Gingerbread is concerned, it is now almost official that HTC wont be releasing it for the current gen Desire. Is is likely that once the SDK is released, it may (or may not) be ported for the Desire. Rooting would actually give you a chance to get it on Desire, whereas officially you wont get it.

What settings will I lose or need to re-enter after a flash? Orange internet settings etc...? I'm really sorry that I dont have more knowledge about Orange specifics. But usually, if you use 3G or GPRS internet protocol, all that you need to access it would be the APN (Accesspoint names). You can backup current settings using 'APN Backup and Restore' app.

One more thing, after you root, the first thing you should do, should be to make a Nandroid backup of the current ROM (albeit Rooted). This would keep all your settings and program data intact as an image. You can restore to it, in case you find that you didnt create program backups (or program doesnt offer the option) and find that you wanted some old data.

Can I then Delete all the crap demo games etc...? Sure. Actually, flashing a ROM deletes every crap bloatware that comes with Orange. Try putting the AuraxTSense ROM. You'll like it. It isnt much different from HTC's original one. Once you're comfortable with it, you can experiment and cook your own custom ROMs from the ROM kitchens. More on that, after you root.

All the best..

If you ask me the difference between Rooting and NonRooting, the advantage is that you can run Backup programs, apps to change your processor speed, apps with more control over other apps, copy and delete files anywhere on the phone Internal memory etc.

 

[rowlers]

Thanks droidzone - very helpful....
So once I root, this Nandroid backup option becomes available in the boot menu?

What is the difference between nandroid and titanium backup?
APN backup sounds useful too

can I root, flash rom, nandroid, then if it all goes t|ts up, create a goldcard and flash a HTC generic ROM (HTC Europe generic?) or is creating a goldcard the FIRST step?

I'm getting a picture in my head of what to do!

Thanks

 

[droidzone]

When you root your device, as I mentioned previously, you flash a special Recovery software to it. Usually it is Clockworkmod. The recovery has an option of creating an image of Boot, System, Data, Cache (various sections of the internal memory responsible for loading the software). This is called a Nandroid backup. It's a mirror image in the sense that once you create it at a point, whenever you restore your device with that image, the device resets to this point of time. All data, including your settings on your device (including wallpaper, downloaded files, saved bookmarks, Missed Calls etc) are restored to that point in the past. It's extremely useful if you like playing with various ROMS, or have a tendency to play around with the system, potentially bidding for havoc. A Nandroid Backup is your lifesaver.

However, a Titanium backup is an application which saves data, apps etc, but not the boot, and certain parts of the system. It does save Contacts, Missed Calls, Apps, App data etc, but it is not a mirror image. You are not restoring to a point of time, but rather you are fusing old data with your new data. For certain system files, it may have the effect of adding old data to new data, or old apps to newer apps. For others, it may have the effect of corrupting the data too (in rare cases).

Well, a Titanium Backup is useful if you want to change your current ROM. After installing the new ROM, if you dont want to manually install all the apps you were using in the old ROM, you use Ti to restore the apps. If you want to restore the old ROM and apps as it was before you flashed the new ROM, as if you never even flashed it in the first place, you use the Nandroid Restore. The batch restore of Ti is extremely useful, saves a lot of clicks, and helps you play with apps.

Whenever you do a system intensive task like flashing a new ROM, do create both Nandroid and Ti backups. You never know when you need them.

 

[droidzone]

So once I root, this Nandroid backup option becomes available in the boot menu? Yes

What is the difference between nandroid and titanium backup? See prev post

can I root, flash rom, nandroid, then if it all goes t|ts up, create a goldcard and flash a HTC generic ROM (HTC Europe generic?) or is creating a goldcard the FIRST step? You can create it at any point. I recommend creating it as the first step. That way, if anything happens to go wrong while rooting (It wont 99.8% of the time), you can use the GoldCard and a stock RUU to restore your phone to the way it was earlier. With the newer versions of Unrevoked, a Goldcard isnt needed for Rooting at all. But if you want to debrand your phone to a Stock (original non branded, factory made) RUU, you are going to need it. Also in case of a bad unrooting process.

Oh, by the way, if you "root, flash rom, nandroid, then if it all goes t|ts up, create a goldcard and flash a HTC generic ROM (HTC Europe generic", you will be back on Square 1, with an unrooted Desire! Of course it would be unbranded though. And you can always root it again.

And do check with Orange for their policy. Since they're an operator, debranding it would probably void Orange's warranty. Since Dan says that there is no RUU for Orange, you cant take back the phone to them in the condition it was given to you, so you might want to be careful.

 

[rowlers]

Thanks again, things are getting clearer!

The only issue I can think of now is the RUU that I would need - apparently there isn;t one for Orange UK. So what RUU would I use?

 

[SUroot]

Thanks again, things are getting clearer!

The only issue I can think of now is the RUU that I would need - apparently there isn;t one for Orange UK. So what RUU would I use?

if you're just trying to fix a botched flash of a custom rom, providing you have made a gold card, you will use a non-branded one. One that starts "RUU Bravo Froyo HTC WWE" providing you are european

 

[droidzone]

Thanks again, things are getting clearer!

The only issue I can think of now is the RUU that I would need - apparently there isn;t one for Orange UK. So what RUU would I use?

Using a generic HTC RUU is not a problem as long as you have made a gold card. Use whichever generic RUU you like WWE/Europe/Asia. But note that you will not be able to return the phone to Orange for warranty purpose, if Orange is providing the warranty.

 

[rowlers]

Oh and which ROM be best, like the default/standard layout that i have now (Sense?) so would probably keep that.
Do I need to do anything with the radio? Currently is radio-5.10.05.30
hboot is 0.93
Anything else I need to do/find out etc.. before taking the plunge?

 

[droidzone]

You will need a Radio that is compatible with the ROM. Usually the link is provided by the creator of the ROM on the ROM download page. There are Radios that save battery, those that make it faster etc..

Guess that's pretty much. Note whether your device is SLCD or AMOLED. Older RUUs can wreck SLCD Desires. Latest ones are ok.

 

[SUroot]

Using a generic HTC RUU is not a problem as long as you have made a gold card. Use whichever generic RUU you like WWE/Europe/Asia. But note that you will not be able to return the phone to Orange for warranty purpose, if Orange is providing the warranty.

You can unroot an orange phone this way though....

Unroot for Orange UK Desire --Finaly - xda-developers

So you can use this to return it to stock

 

[droidzone]

Aurax uses Sense. If you dont like it, you can always change it later.
You will need a Radio compatible with the ROM. You can always find a link on the ROM download page.
Know whether your device is SLCD/AMOLED. Flashing older RUUs meant for AMOLED on an SLCD device can make it nonusable.

You can unroot an orange phone this way though....

Unroot for Orange UK Desire --Finaly - xda-developers

Seems like Dan has solved your Unrooting problem too! There doesnt seem to be anything else keeping you from taking the plunge.

EDIT: Duplicate posts..I seem to be getting Database errors again!

 

[droidzone]

Dan, please keep your eyes open for a newer Asia_India RUU. There doesnt seem to be any new versions of that.

 

[SUroot]

To be honest, I only see whats here:

Index of /shipped/Bravo/

OTA_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8-1.21.405.2_r..> 11-Nov-2010 13:19 2490368
OTA_Bravo_Froyo_TELUS_WWE_2.25.661.2-1.29.661.1..> 01-Nov-2010 16:07 94968386
PB99IMG_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.29.405.2_Radio_32..> 05-Nov-2010 21:16 168829176
PB99IMG_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00..> 19-May-2010 07:15 144102244
PB99IMG_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00..> 04-Aug-2010 16:56 144169877
PB99IMG_Bravo_Virgin_Mobile_1.23.351.1_Radio_32..> 13-Jun-2010 16:01 143987488
RUU_Bravo_Fastweb_IT_1.15.1600.5_Radio_32.30.00..> 19-May-2010 05:45 150542482
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_Chunghwa_2.10.751.3_Radio_32.44..> 19-Oct-2010 06:57 183794233
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HKCSL_CHT_2.06.832.1_Radio_32.4..> 17-Sep-2010 16:31 170950999
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HKCSL_CHT_2.11.832.2_R_Radio_32..> 31-Oct-2010 08:30 175462889
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HTCCN_CHS_2.26.1400.2_Radio_32...> 29-Oct-2010 08:36 3668585
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.09.405.8_Radio_32.43...> 12-Aug-2010 18:02 173144255
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.10.405.2_R_Radio_32.4..> 03-Sep-2010 16:00 174948648
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_HTC_WWE_2.29.405.2_Radio_32.49...> 04-Nov-2010 16:36 176514251
RUU_Bravo_Froy2_UK_2.14.207.1_Radio_32.44.00..> 31-Aug-2010 12:08 179628843
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_SKT_KR_2.12.911.1_Radio_32.46.0..> 30-Aug-2010 16:40 163600772
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_TELUS_WWE_2.25.661.2_Radio_32.4..> 05-Nov-2010 16:00 180861761
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_TMO_AT_2.12.112.1_Radio_32.46.0..> 22-Sep-2010 10:40 179018976
RUU_Bravo_Froyo_hTC_Asia_WWE_2.13.707.1_Radio_3..> 10-Sep-2010 15:30 177058618
RUU_Bravo_H3G_UK_1.20.771.3_Radio_32.36.00.28U_..> 19-May-2010 05:46 160520659
RUU_Bravo_H3G_UK_1.22.771.1_Radio_32.36.00.28U_..> 27-May-2010 17:38 160635810
RUU_Bravo_HTC_ARA_1.30.415.3_T_Radio_32.41.00.3..> 31-Jul-2010 08:33 157867994
RUU_Bravo_HTC_Europe_1.15.405.1_Radio_32.30.00...> 19-May-2010 05:46 149639835
RUU_Bravo_HTC_Europe_1.15.405.3_Radio_32.30.00...> 04-May-2010 01:12 149705398
RUU_Bravo_HTC_TW_1.20.751.5_Radio_32.36.00.28U_..> 16-Sep-2010 17:11 27224278
RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.15.405.4_Radio_32.30.00.28U..> 19-May-2010 05:44 150826193
RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_Radio_32.36.00.28U..> 19-May-2010 05:04 152243768
RUU_Bravo_HTC_WWE_1.21.405.2_T2_Radio_32.41.00...> 31-Jul-2010 08:44 151080696
RUU_Brav2_UK_1.20.207.1_Radio_32.36.00.28U_4..> 19-May-2010 05:46 160568031
RUU_Bravo_SKT_KR_1.19.911.4_R_Radio_32.36.00.28..> 19-May-2010 05:53 146204701
RUU_Bravo_SoftBank_JP_1.18.762.2_Radio_32.34.00..> 19-May-2010 05:46 152140313
RUU_Bravo_SoftBank_JP_1.18.762.7_Radio_32.34.00..> 23-May-2010 16:21 152358512
RUU_Bravo_SoftBank_JP_1.18.762.7_T2_Radio_32.41..> 10-Aug-2010 12:28 151163963
RUU_Bravo_TMO_UK_1.15.110.11_Radio_32.30.00.28U..> 19-May-2010 05:46 156251983
RUU_Bravo_TMO_UK_1.21.110.4_Radio_32.36.00.28U_..> 02-Jun-2010 10:35 157814460
RUU_Bravo_Telstra_WWE_1.15.841.14_R4_Radio_32.3..> 19-May-2010 05:45 158862640
RUU_Bravo_Virgin_Mobile_1.23.351.1_Radio_32.36...> 13-Jun-2010 15:56 152146299
RUU_Bravo_Vodafone_FR_1.21.163.2_Radio_32.37.00..> 23-May-2010 16:00 151844247
RUU_Bravo_Vodafone_UK_1.19.161.5_Radio_32.36.00..> 13-Jun-2010 16:20 149578830
RUU_Bravo_hTC_Asia_India_1.21.720.4_Radio_32.36..> 23-May-2010 16:10 154594520
RUU_Bravo_hTC_Asia_WWE_1.19.707.7_Radio_32.36.0..> 17-May-2010 02:46 155914174