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Root Desire rooting, backup and custom ROM

C

chiknbane

Lurker
Hi,

So I want to backup my desire, root it and then install a custom ROM but I'm completely new to it all. I've been reading the forums for a while and googling but still largely confused so here goes:

  1. Firstly how do I backup the original ROM so I can restore it to how it was and can I save it to my pc not just my phone?
  2. For rooting i was basically going to follow this tutorial: unrevoked, is that about right or is there a better/easier way?
  3. To install a custom ROM I was going to follow this: HOW TO: Install A Custom ROM On Your HTC Desire, when I install a new ROM with ROM manager will it wipe everything?
  4. The ROM i was planning on using is Oxygen: [ROM-AOSP GRH78C] Oxygen v2.0-RC7 (Gingerbread, clean, fast and 100% open-sourced!!) - xda-developers, I basically just want a standard gingerbread experience where everything is stable and works is this a good ROM? I dont know the differences between the different ROMs.
  5. Is there anything I have forgotten or any advice?

Sorry about all the questions I'm sure theres been so many similar posts in the past.
Thanks for any help.
 
I assume you've come across it, but if not, read the FAQ. It recommends the same unrevoked tutorial, but there are a couple of other things to check (e.g PVT version and erase size), which it will explain.

Once you are rooted you can back up your ROM from recovery. Just boot into recovery (boot while pressing the volume down button, select recovery from the options), select backup/restore, and backup. This is a "nandroid" backup, and you can copy the backup files to a PC via USB (if you have clockwork recovery, which is the default installed by unrevoked, it will be in the folder clockworkmod/backup on your SD card).

However, note that this backs up your rooted ROM - there is no way of backing up the pre-rooted state. If you need to unroot, you need an RUU (again, see the FAQ). While we're on the topic, read the stuff in the FAQ about Goldcards.

For installing a new ROM, I personally don't use ROM manager. Just copy the ROM .zip file onto the SD card and install it using recovery. Detailed instructions are in the FAQ.

Going to Oxygen you will need to completely wipe the phone - which is scary the first time, but Titanium backup will back up your apps and their data. Do not attempt to restore system settings on Oxygen! This is why the FAQ suggests mybackup to back up SMS and call logs, as just restoring user apps won't restore these.

Take a nandroid backup before you try to flash anything.

If you want to use A2SD+ (I think that's not obligatory on Oxygen) then read the other FAQ as well.

Is Oxygen a good ROM? I've not used it for long myself, but many people swear by it. The other gingerbread ROM would be GingerVillain, which I am using. Both are fine.

Sorry if this is a bit long and unstructured. In short, read the FAQ, make sure you know what you want and what you need to do before you start, and if unsure about anything please ask before going ahead - plenty of people here willing to help.
 
There's no orange ruu, so once rooted, that's it for returning for warranty purposes. You're stuck

You can return to generic which HTC may accept directly but not sure on that. Always good for recovery though.

It's been ages since I made a goldcard.. there's a tool linked in the sticky thread and droidzone may cover this in his new faq either in this page or the one before
 
Here's the link to the instructions I used for making a goldcard.

The only step I would caution you on is making sure you're in hex and not dec when pasting the info.
 
As a few people will testify, I'm very new and green with all this - but what I think is missing regarding ROMs is like some sort of table listing the differences between each ROM.

Is this worth putting together for those that know something about the ROMs? I need to choose a ROM at some point soon (need?? want, p'raps) and it's more of a lucky dip than an informed decision.

I have looked about for this, but not managed to find it - apols if it does exist and I've just not looked hard enough.

Andy
 
Feel free to start one...

It would take a bit of legwork. Trawling through xda and then aligning all of the features.
 
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