For some reason I started looking into rooting my cell phone (Verizon HTC Thunderbolt). Probably because contract ends in about a year so I'm looking at "upgrading" my phone hopefully without reasonable risk to stability or bricking or useability - yeah right. I'm kind of a newb about it and am trying to learn as much as I can about it before I dive into it. I have hacked/modded a PSP and xbox before so I'm not a total newb . From what I understand I can get programs to turn s-off (security) and access the internal memory thus allowing me to run a third party rom such as ICS which is not currently available for my phone. However, I do I also need a radio to use the phone/data/wifi depending on the rom I use? Also, if I understand correctly I can download rooted apps which can allow me to adjust kernal settings thereby adjusting the cpu clock and voltage allowing over/underclocking while also increasing battery life. Is this correct? Can someone walk my through the process and give me some suggestions of what to use or other apps they use on rooted phones?
I would start here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=940 Particularly the General, Q&A, and Development forums. Lots of good stickies in all of those that will answer just about everything.
First thing you'll need to do is find the procedure for rooting your phone and gaining S-OFF. It is different for most devices. XDA Developers is a GREAT resource for this. Odds are, it'll become your one stop shop for ROM images. Best way to find what you need is to search Google for "xda <phone model>" it'll bring you to the main section for that device. The first couple stickies in the forum will usually be a how-to for rooting and gaining full access to the bootloader. Followed by a bunch of threads for different aftermarket ROM images and what they do. This is the main forum: http://forum.xda-developers.com/forumdisplay.php?f=943 Here is on the rooting. Keep in mind, with HTC devices, the procedure changes on you sometimes. They are always trying to figure out new ways to lock down the bootloader, while the community works hard at circumventing that. http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1597380 Often, on the radios, the rom you use will have that setup for you. Dream might be able to chime in on Verizon's take on this, but with Sprint, I can usually flash whatever ROM I want whenever I want and don't run into issues. I would stick to daily driver and 5 star ROMs at first. And feel the place out, read the threads for a few ROMs you are interested in. You'll find out which developers are making good OS ROMs, and which ones are just script kiddies that change the colors and other UI elements and call it a "new ROM." Infected is usually a good team, as is MeanROM and obviously, CyanogenMod.
Also, I recommend downloading and installing the Android SDK. You'll likely never use the Development tools, but the platform tools are essential. If you need help setting them up, I can help. But they will allow you to connect via your PC to fastboot, the bootloader, sideloading apps and other files, and adb commands.
Also, make damn sure you read up in the XDA forums about bricking/unbricking with regards to rooting the device. Sometimes the root/unlock procedure can brick the device. I know with the EVO3D, you HAD to brick the device on purpose to get bootloader access to root the device. I know alot of what was used came from Thunderbolt procedures and unlock programs. Each procedure is different, and often times, they have unbricking procedures to help you if you screw it up.
One last thing. A good ROM developer will usually shut off Sprint update notifications for their ROM. If they do not shut it off, just remember to NEVER take the Sprint updates. Especially for HTC devices, as they usually have the newest HBOOT files, which is how HTC locks their stuff down.
Pat, did you talk to Josh? I'm pretty sure he rooted a Thunderbolt or whateverit'scalled before. I've also rooted my Incredible, it's not hard. You want me to come over sometime so we can play?
Wow, Readymix on a roll! Thanks for the info. I've been reading mostly on XDA forums but also Thunderboltforums. The procedure looks simple enough but I'm not sure if I'm missing something. I think it's mostly catching up on the lingo and what does what in the phone but I'll figure it out There are some well developed programs for the Thunderbolt probably because it's been out for quite a while - i.e. it's old. Lee, Josh who? I'm sure I'll can handle it, but if you want to handle it you just need to ask and come over - er, wait. right now i'm running android 2.3.4 (whichever one that is) HTC sense 2.1. I understand ICS is supposed to be coming out soon for the thunderbolt. maybe I'll wait for rooting until after it comes out and they can make a more stable rom. Then again it was supposed to come out last month so who knows how long it will be.
ICS may be coming, but you'll get it today if you root and find an ICS rom in that XDA dev forum. Verizon and Sprint both suck when it comes to uprev updates. Reason being, when Google releases a new version of Android, Verizon and Sprint put the update on hold till they can update all their bloatware. The XDA guys are really good about porting new Android versions to non-Google branded phones (the Nexus phones get it first) before the carriers can get it shipped out with all the bloatware. Ver. 2.3.4 is Gingerbread. Odds are, and I haven't looked but I can, that someone has already ported ICS and are likely in the process of porting JB to your handset. If you are scared of the root/unlock procedure, just read over it a few times first. Another thing I recommend is become familiar with the process of connecting to your phone via ADB from the command line. You should be able to send commands to it without issue before you start doing the procedures for unlock/rooting.
I would deferentially start with XDA, and looking at some other android forums. Many have the exact procedure needed to unlock and root a phone. I'm not sure if this was after Thunderbolt, but HTC provides a way to unlock your phone, Look up HTC Dev unlock on google. There should be information out there on how to us ADB, along with the bin file to unlock the boot loader. You will also need to flash a custom recovery, so you can easily install roms. I'm using RA, but many swear by clockwork mod S-Off may not be needed to run a custom rom. My Rezound is currently S-On, the only difference is I needed to flash a boot image from your phone after I flashed the new rom (this also required PC interventions). The boot image is generally in the roms zip file. Last I'm not sure if you will find a CM or ASOP rom out there for the Thunder Bolt, atleast not a 4g rom as the drivers were just found not long ago. I'm Still waiting on a proper CM rom my self. But for roms I would start with a CleanRom (a rom that has no bloat ware) and then move into the performance based roms.
Phone is now rooted. Unfortunately, I deleted my contacts and apps with a unnecessary factory reset. So I'm kinda starting over. I haven't found a Rom I want to use yet.
I would choose a rom that is just cleaned (this will be a scenes rom). Then If you decide you want a performance rom you can stick with scenes or ASOP. As for your contacts, may I suggest adding your contacts to contacts.google.com When you get into flashing roms you will generally be starting with a clean slate. By having your contacts in googles cloud you can easily import them every time.
I would seriously suggest NOT using the HTC unlock method from the dev.htc.com site. They can use that to deny warranty and, at least in the case of the evo 3d, it doesn't give you s-off. Both devices have a way to unlock without setting the "I've been dicking around" flag.
So I finally flashed an Infinity rom and was working well with it. However, even before I started with rooting my phone I would have issues with my keyboard not working (trying to push #2 would result in a quick 1-3). Now it seems to be ghost typing on the lower right of center part of the screen. I think it's the digitizer. It's the same on both old oem rom and new rom. May have dropped my phone one too many times.
