• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

Root Rooting Desire

M

mudman

Newbie
Hi Guys
Just a quick question.
Is it possible to root my Desire with the unrevoked method and what things should I be aware of.
Phone information:

Android Version 2.2
Baseband Version 32.49.00.32U_5.11.05.27
Kernel Version 2.6.32.15-gd96f2c0 htc-kernel@and18-2 #1
Build Number 2.14.207.2 CL259355release-key
Software Number 2.14.207.2
Browser Version Webkit3.1

From the off, vol down, power up info:
Bravo PVT4 SHIP S-ON
HBOOT-0.93.0001
MI CROP-05ld

Terminal Emulator app:
erasesize 00040000

The Desire is also locked to o2. I think I read some where that the software 207.2 is o2 and is basically the same as the 405.2 and is therefore an ARA version?
Does anyone know if this is correct?

Also how would I unroot if I need to?

I just want to root not currently interested in playing around with ROMs

Thank you all in advance of any replies.

Mudman
 
ARA means an arab software build, so I don't think you need to worry about that.

You should be able to root with either Unrevoked or Revolutionary. Do not use ClockworkMod 2.5.0.7 with that phone though - either Amon Ra 2.0.1 or 4Ext Touch recovery.

You would unroot by running an RUU from shipped-ROMs.com on a pc connected to the phone via usb. If you used revolutionary you should flash the "downgrader" hboot first.

There are guides to both methods linked in the All Things Root Guide sticky post, and I'm sure the rooting faq covers unrooting too.
 
Thank you Hadron for answer, much appreciated.

The downgrader I guess is because that the closest ruu for o2 available is 2.14.207.1 whilst I'm currently on 2.14.207.2?

Do I just use Amon Ra 2.0.1 or 4Ext Touch recovery just to back up my current ruu version then?

Which of the two rooting methods is recommended, pros and cons?

I just basically want su access so I can use a few apps that require you to be rooted.

Thanks in advance for any replies.
 
The RUU is a ROM Upgrade Utility - a windows program which flashes stock HTC software. There is one Froyo one at shipped-ROMs, which as you say is a bit older than your current software, or else you can use the 2.3 upgrade from the same place if you want to unroot (the warranty is still OK if you use this one rather than a branded RUU).

The "downgrader" is nothing to do with RUU version. It's needed only if you use Revolutionary and want to return completely to stock. What Revolutionary does is S-Off the phone by replacing the hboot with a custom one. The RUU will not replace the Revolutionary hboot, so if you run one you will still be S-Off. That's good if you are using the RUU to fix some software mess, but if you want to go back to pure stock for a warranty repair it's not what you want. So the "downgrader" hboot is one which is replaced by the RUU - flash that, then run the RUU and you are no longer S-Off and back to pure stock software.

The custom recovery does give you the option to take a full backup of your ROM, as well as flash modifications or custom ROMs. As for the 2 methods, unrevoked is slightly simpler (as it's a one-click process), revolutionary gives you more options (as you get S-Off as well as root). If it was me right now I'd use revolutionary, but it might be more than you need at present.
 
Thanks Hadron.
I'll have to digest all of this and read up a bit.
I originaly thought that I just had to use the unrevoked or revolutionary windows program that just did this root thing and that was it. Didn't realise that I had to play around with installing things like HBOOT and S-OFF etc.

I'll do some research on the matter and I'll let you know how it goes.

But a big thank you for your advice and help so far.
 
Unrevoked is pretty much one click (maybe two if you want to tell it what recovery to install).

Revolutionary is a 3 stage process (you could make it 2 stage if you let it install its default recovery, but there are better ones so we recommend doing that separately. If you check the guide though you'll see that most of it is setting up.
 
Thanks Hadron
Noticed on the guide it states: "Ensure if you have used a trick to force apps to SD card, you have undone this".

Does this just simply mean transfer the apps to SD that can be moved there within the Manage Apps screen and not worry about the apps that can't be moved?

Or is there some other method that I'm not aware of?

Also if I root would I loose any phone info i.e. contacts, messages, apps etc?
 
That means a trick to force apps to sd (it's in the hints & tips subforum), rather than the normal move of apps that allow it.

Rooting does not erase data
 
Thanks again Hadron.

I've tried that app trick, very handy.

So let me get this straight then, one last time:
Download and unzip UnrEVOked 3.32 for the ARA (2.xx.415.x) version.
Noting that my version is actauly 2.14.207.2 (o2 build).

Download Hboot drivers (Android USB Driver).

Boot phone into Hboot mode then connect to PC so phone screen will show "HBOOT USB".

Then via PC Device Manager locate "Android 1.0 Device".
Then locate and update the drivers from Android USB Driver folder. Pressing ok to any errors.

Then boot the phone from the Hboot screen.
Q. How/What do I select from the Hboot screen to reboot into Android mode?
Last time I didn't know how to get out of the Hboot screen so I just took the battery out!

Then disconnect phone from PC.

Then follow the UnrEVOked part of the instructions.


Q. What is the function of the Amon-Ra 2.0.1 recovery image and is it necessary?
I did read in another guide (Turkeys Guide) the following:

Next, we need to prepare your phone. We will make sure USB Debugging is on as UnrEVOked needs this to send adb commands to the phone. We also need to enable
Unknown Sources so that UnrEVOked can push busybox and SuperUser Permissions apps to the phone.
3) With your phone go to Settings > Connect to PC > Default connection type > Charge Only and untick Ask Me. Then go to Settings > Applications > Development
Make sure USB Debugging is ticked. Then go back to Applications and make sure Unknown Sources is ticked.
Next, we're going to run UnrEVOked. What it does is reboot into HBOOT mode, and use an exploit to gain a temporary NAND unlock. Then it uses fastboot to flash a recovery image, and then pushes the su files required for root.

This doesn't seem to mention anything about Amon-Ra files?
It gives me the impression that it just uses/edits the phones own/current image?
Or has he just missed a step?

Hoping to have ago tonight so wish me luck.
 
Why do you think you need the Arab area (ARA) version? You do not have ARA software, so unrevoked 3.21 should be fine (as linked in our guide for Windows - for other OS select the unrevoked download link on their site and edit the version number in the url).

Amon Ra is a custom recovery (the "recovery image" that unrevoked flashes). This allows you to take full backups ("nandroid" backups), install custom ROMs, etc. Unrevoked installs a custom recovery anyway, so the question is choosing the best one (because it's not so easy to change unless you are S-Off).

The version of unrevoked we recommend for non-ARA phones installs ClockworkMod 2.5.0.7 recovery by default, unless you tell it otherwise. That's the most stable CWM for the Desire, but is incompatible with erase size 40,000 devices. That's why we say to use Amon Ra 2.0.1 if you have one of these (or 4Ext Touch recovery - the Revolutionary guide linked from the All Things Root Guide sticky post will tell you how to get this). I can't speak for other people's guides, we only maintain the ones in this forum.

The sequence for using unrevoked is described in the guide here. I can't really add to it, especially as I don't use Windows so half of the stuff didn't apply to me :).

If you need to get into hboot, then boot the phone while pressing the "volume down" key. But the guide says you start unrevoked while running Android normally. It will boot you into hboot, so you don't have to do anything like that yourself.
 
RThanks Hadron for all your advice and sorry if I've been a pain.

I followed your rooting guide and messages and successfuly rooted my phone last night - a sigh of relief.

I've installed DroidWall a handy firewall app.
Also I've now got root access to the System Tuner Pro as well!
I was thinking of using the forementioned app freeze/unfreeze function of stopping a couple of annoying apps that keep running when stopped, namely YouTube and facebook.
Is this a good method to stop apps that keep starting up or should I just let them be?

Any other useful root apps you can recommend?

Thanks again for your help on rooting, well pleased.
 
i cant live without root explorer either. Auto killer memory optimizer is good too. (it's not a task killer). and set CPU
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom