[Biofall]

I am trying to find out if I am full root. I followed these instructions, so is someone could look at them and tell me if they got me to full root that would be great. Also, what are the benefits of full root besides apps2s (which I don't need). Oh and I don't know how to use adb or whatever :P

***********Read this***********

I Rooted my EVO, but that's it.
What can I do if I only root the EVO?

Rooting and EVO, like any other android device, will give you Superuser Access. In other words, you can install/run a program that requires special permission.
For example, if your phone is not rooted, go to the Market and download/install "Wireless Tether for Root Users" by Muller, Lemons, Buxton.
After it's installed, open the program and try to start tethering. (It's a big wifi symbol in the middle of the screen)
You'll get a message that basically says you need root access to run this program.

If you are rooted and do the above procedure, you'll get a pop-up "SU Request" that is asking if you want to grant permission to this program to run. You can "Allow" or "Deny" it access.

Simple right? And of course there are other programs you'll find that also need the same permissions. That's what rooting your EVO does.

What Rooting an EVO does not do.
It does not allow you to remove OEM installed apps. Like Sprint TV or NASCAR or Sprint Navigation.
It does not allow you to install programs on your sdcard.
It does not allow you to install custom roms.
It does not allow you to install newer radios.

To do any of these things, you need to root and go into recovery mode and install a custom rom. Then you'll be able to do these things if you select a custom rom that has what you need.


Why make this thread?

I started this because this was my first experience w/ Android and trying to root. I had some trouble because there are certain steps that are probably obvious to Android regulars or guys that did a lot of research, but it was not obvious to me.

This is written for someone who is an ANDROID n00b and has absolutely no idea where to began. If you're a PC n00b and the idea of unzipping a file is foreign to you, this thread is not for you. Just enjoy the EVO Stock. It's a great phone and you won't be disappointed. Now, if you're comfortable around a pc and can follow instructions, this guide should be helpful. I've broken down every step. If someone needs more clarification, I'll add more steps.

Items you'll need.

1- PC36IMG.zip
2- evorecovery

Here's the steps written in Android n00b language for the PC.

****ROOTING**** Thanks to toastcfh @ XDA
(This only gives you Superuser Permissions. You CANNOT install custom roms if all you do is root your phone)

By now, everyone has heard of the unrevoked site for rooting, that doesn't count. You still need to root this method in order to get all the benefits. Also, if you think you're going to root and be done, in many cases, you're wrong.
Rooting you EVO and keeping the same rom will cause problems.

Steps -
1) Connect your EVO to the PC and select "disk drive" so that you can see your storage card from the "My Computer" window

2) Copy the file PC36IMG.zip to the storage card then unplug the USB cable from your device. Don't unzip it and don't put it in a folder. Just copy the file.

3) Power-off your phone by holding the power-button for several seconds. The top choice is "Power Off."

4) While holding "Volume DOWN", push the "Power" button so the phone turns on. You don't need to hold the "Power" button, but you do need to hold the "Volume DOWN" button. This will bring you straight to the bootloader screen which says
-FASTBOOT
-RECOVERY
-CLEAR STORAGE
-SIMLOCK
-HBOOT USB

Just wait for a minute. It will read your storage card. This takes about 30secs and there is a progress bar on the top right. It's reading the PC36IMG.zip file you placed on the card.

6) Once that's done, it says, "Do you want to start update?" Volume UP=YES Volume Down=NO. Hit "Volume UP" and then wait.

7) Once that's done, it says, "Update Complete. Do you want to reboot device?" Volume UP=YES Volume Down=NO. Hit "Volume UP" and you will reboot.

Now just be patient. It will take a while to start up the first time, but when it's done, you'll be at the setup screen you saw the first time you turned on the device. If you plan to load a custom rom, just skip all the account setups and whatever else. You just want to get to the Home screen so you can go to the next step.

8} Once you're back to the home screen, connect your phone to the pc as a disk drive again. Go to your storage card and rename the file PC36IMG.zip to something else or delete it. I just called it "root-PC36IMG.zip." This is so that when you go back to bootloader later, it doesn't try to use those files to root your phone again.

****MANUAL RECOVERY****
(This will give the option to install custom roms. Do this after you root)

Now your phone is rooted but you need to do the recovery to allow you to load custom roms.

Steps -
1) Take the evo-recovery.zip file and extract the contents to the C: DRIVE.
So you should have a folder on C that says,
C:\evo-recovery

2) Make sure you can sync w/ HTC Sync. If you haven't done so before, install HTC Sync. If you have the phone connected as a disk drive, one of the folders is called HTC Sync and you can find the file there. Or you can download a newer version from HTC. I used the version that came with the storage card and it works fine.

3) Once you can connect to HTC Sync, open a "run" window by hitting the Windows key + "R" in the command line type (or cut/paste)
Code:
c:\evo-recovery\adb-windows reboot recovery

then hit "OK"
This will cause your phone to reboot into the recovery screen. Looks like a black screen w/ an EVO and an /!\

4) With the phone still connected, open a "Run" window again by hitting the Windows key + "R" in the command line type (or cut/paste)
Code:
c:\evo-recovery\recovery-windows.bat

then hit "OK"

This will run the file on your pc and push files to you phone. When it's done, it will be on the recovery menu that says, "Android system recovery" in yellow letters at the very top.

Now you finished the recovery. You could start loading custom roms now, but first you should make a Nand Backup.

****Nand Backup****
(DO IT! Because having a backup is always a good thing.)

Steps -
1) Use the "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Backup/Restore" push the "Power" button to select it.

2) Use the "Volume DOWN" to select "Nand backup" push the "Power" button to select it.

3) You'll be asked if you want to create a Nandroid backup. Press "Power" button to confirm any other key to abort.

While it's creating a backup, it will say "Performing Backup" and show dots "....." across the bottom of the screen. It will fill-up about 3 rows of dots before it's done.

When it's finished, you can press "Power" to return. If you want to flash a custom rom or radio and it's already on your storage card, you can continue to the next section starting w/ step #4. Otherwise, hit "Power" button again to reboot.

****Flashing a ROM or Radio****
(This is the good stuff and why you went through all that mess above. Bookmark this section!)

Now you're ready to load a custom rom or radio. I'm going to use OMJ's because I've been using his rom's on my Vogue and Diamond until I got the EVO's.

Steps -
1) First you have to put a custom rom or radio zip on your SD card. Use the same method we used for moving the PC36IMG.zip file. Just connect using "Disk Drive" and move the file over. I used OMJ_EVO_2.1_Eclair_v1.2.zip

2) Disconnect your phone from the pc and go into Recovery mode by powering off your phone and press and hold "Volume DOWN" while you push the "Power" button. This will bring your phone to a screen w/ choices, including "Recovery." Use "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Recovery" and use the "Power" button to select it.

3) Now connect the phone to the pc and run the "recovery-windows.bat" file again from step #4 in the "Recovery" section above.

Now you're back to the screen that says, "Android system recovery" in yellow letters at the very top.

4) From the list, use "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Wipe" and "Power" button to select it.

5) In the Wipe menu you're going to use the "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Wipe data/factory reset" and "Power" button to select it, then "Power" button again to confirm. Once it's done, repeat this step so you "Wipe data/factory reset" twice.

6) Use the "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Wipe Dalvik-cache" and "Power" button to select it, then "Power" button again to confirm. Once it's done, repeat this step so you "Wipe Dalvik-cache" twice.

Now push "Power" button to return to the previous menu.

7) Use the "Volume DOWN" to highlight "Flash zip from sdcard" and "Power" button to select it.
At this point every zip file on the root of your sdcard will show. Make sure you know which one you're using.

8} Use the "Volume DOWN" to highlight your rom or radio file (I used OMJ_EVO_2.1_Eclair_v1.2.zip) and "Power" button to select it, then "Power" button again to confirm. Sit back and wait. Mine took about 2mins.

When it's done, hit "Power" button to "Reboot system now" and enjoy your rooted EVO w/ a custom rom.

****Unlocking NAND Protection****
This is just a place holder for now. I'm trying to figure out how to best incorporate these steps to the overall tutorial to make it flow easier. This is just a copy from XDA for now.
You will need these files-
- eng-PC36IMG.zip (rename this file PC36IMG.zip)
- mtd-eng.zip
- flash_image.zip
- amon-ra-recovery.img (rename this file recovery.img)

Steps -
1) Do a NAND Backup (Nandroid) as explained above before beginning this process. We will use this nandroid at the end of this tutorial to get you back where you were.

2) Download all files posted above
- unzip the flash_image.zip and the mtd-eng.zip and put the flash_image.img and mtd-eng.img on the root of your sdcard

3) Connect the phone to the pc using HTC Sync, open a "run" window by hitting the Windows key + "R" in the command line type (or cut/paste)
Code:
c:\evo-recovery\adb-windows shell

then hit "OK"
In the window that opens, type:
Code:
cat /sdcard/flash_image > /data/flash_image
chmod 755 /data/flash_image
/data/flash_image misc /sdcard/mtd-eng.img

This should only take a second or two

- now put the PC36IMG.zip on the root of your sdcard
- power off the phone

4) FLASHING ENG BUILD:

- hold volume down + power to boot into hboot
- it should now find and verify the PC36IMG.zip on the root of your sdcard. itll show a blue status bar on the top right of the screen.
- after a minute or so it will ask u if u wanna flash SAY YES
- after it flashes the PC36IMG.zip it will ask if you wanna reboot. SAY YES
- once booted into Android put the recovery.img linked above on the root of you sdcard
Connect the phone to the pc using HTC Sync, open a "run" window by hitting the Windows key + "R" in the command line type (or cut/paste)
Code:
c:\evo-recovery\adb-windows shell

then hit "OK"
In the window that opens, type:
Code:
cat /sdcard/flash_image > /data/flash_image
chmod 755 /data/flash_image
/data/flash_image recovery /sdcard/recovery.img
reboot recovery

- you should now be in recovery mode
- do a wipe of data and dalvik cache
- navigate to nandroid restore and restore the previous rom setup

Please note: I know there are several ways of doing this. I'm also aware of some shortcuts that could be taken. However this method works, and I think they are written as basic as could be. I'm definitely not an expert, so I wrote them as plain as possible trying not to assume the person following them has any previous knowledge about android. In some cases I took the long way to do something or extra steps, but I'm trying to make it fool proof.