Rooted my Moto Droid

[gregrob]

For those of you who have a droid, or other smart phone you may have heard of "unlocking, jailbreaking (iPhone), or rooting" your phone.

I went through the steps earlier, took me about 2hrs start to finish, but that was making sure all my bases were covered and doing research about the best ROM to use. Didnt want to take a chance on bricking my phone or end up doing all that work to end up with a worse setup than stock.

Anyway, I'm VERY pleased with the results. There are a lot of benefits to rooting your phone, just google it.

The two main things I'm happiest about are the wifi tethering ability and overclocking ability it has given me.

I have the CPU currently running at 800mhz very stable, and cool. I've had it up to 950 stable with no issues, but backed it down because there's really no need. At 800mhz the phone S C R E A M S compared to how fast it used to run. All the lag in doing things that was just starting to irritate me about the phone is completely gone!

The wifi tether ability is just badass, there's no other way to put it.

Out here in the boonies my primary (and only til now) source of internet for my PC/Laptop was a verizon mobile BB card. It runs anywhere from 500-900kbps on a good day. Highest I've ever seen was 1.2mbps but that wasn't sustained.

The very first time I tether to the moto droid I put a good demand on the connection by streaming a video and it held consistant at 2.03mbps! Over twice as fast as I normally run in the mobile bb card.

I guess I'll be saving myself $60 a month very soon :D

If anyone has a moto droid and wants to root it or has questions I'll be glad to help. Other android phones can be done as well, the process just varies from model to model and the version of android you're running.

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs178.snc3/20568_285425467337_572657337_3473587_5967634_n.jpg

http://hphotos-snc3.fbcdn.net/hs198.snc3/20568_285447602337_572657337_3473612_1450321_n.jpg

http://photos-a.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-ash1/hs278.ash1/20568_285477477337_572657337_3473643_2004205_n.jpg

http://photos-d.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs198.snc3/20568_285461292337_572657337_3473625_3909118_n.jpg

http://photos-f.ak.fbcdn.net/hphotos-ak-snc3/hs198.snc3/20568_285459412337_572657337_3473624_7951621_n.jpg

[GreenZ96]

What os do those run on?

[gregrob]

What os do those run on?

Google Android.

[GreenZ96]

Sorry, should have been more specific lol. wanted to know what it was based off of. Linux..

[gregrob]

Oh yeah, lol it runs on a Linux shell.

[Z28pr0jekt]

Do droids require an internet plan?

[gregrob]

Yeah, you have to get the smartphone internet plan. 30 bucks Unlt I believr

[~chipsahoy~]

Do droids require an internet plan?

Yes. Depending on your carrier, price will vary. I know with Verizon I have to purchase a $29.99 "Data Plan"....

[GreenZ96]

Only bad thing bout Verizons data plans is it is per phone. We have a shared plan but were paying the extra $60 for 2 phones. Swapped over to the Rogue which is a web capable phone to save the bling

[~chipsahoy~]

Only bad thing bout Verizons data plans is it is per phone. We have a shared plan but were paying the extra $60 for 2 phones. Swapped over to the Rogue which is a web capable phone to save the bling

I'm in the same boat. It pisses me off, but I have been with Alltel for ages and I guess I have to cut my losses and just pay up the dough.

[Fastbird]

Talk to me more about this rooting setup. I'm interested........may get me to bite off on getting a droid. What are the downfalls?? What if Verizon catches you or does a push?

[MeanGreen94Z]

Talk to me more about this rooting setup. I'm interested........may get me to bite off on getting a droid. What are the downfalls?? What if Verizon catches you or does a push?
+1?

[gregrob]

This explains it pretty well: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-hacks/632-what-root-means-stop-asking.html

There are ways to recover the phone if the process doesnt apply properly or something goes wrong, as long as you do a proper backup of your original settings you should be fine. I felt there was very little risk of "bricking" my phone, using the method I did to root it. It was fairly straight forward. Some of the earlier, experimental and developmental methods were a little more touchy.

As far as voiding your warranty, it technically can but the way I figure it is if the phone functions enough for Verizon to "see" that I have rooted it, then it will function enough for me to return it back to stock before I take it in.

In the scenario it's destroyed or wont turn on / function at all, then if Verizon won't replace it, worst case is I have insurance although a replacement costs $75.

As far as Verizon pushing out an update, you either have to manually update it yourself when it's rooted (if you want to, if the update isn't significant and important I wont be updating for a long time, I like it just the way it is) or you can buy a $5 updater app for rooted devices that allows the verizon updates to push like they normally would. This does the updates automatically for you.

I'm not saying this is a must with the phone, if you get one you may find that you like or even love it in the stock configuration and see no need to change it. For me, once I found out what I could do with it being unlocked, I had to go for it.

I have worked in the telecom business before for quite a while, sold and used almost every make and model there has been out in the last 5-6 years, and I can say this one is definitely the best / most capable one I've ever owned.

It's not perfect, but it's damn close.

Anyway /rant.

Just try one, you'll like it. If not take it back in under 15 days or so and you usually won't even have to pay the restocking fee they talk about.

[Fastbird]

Just stepped up to a Droid about 4 days ago. To root or not to root. Either way, I'm f-ing digging it. Almost as good as my ipod touch.

[Brady21x]

root it!! ya wont regret it....I rooted mine and overclocked it and its like a whole new phone.............go with the ultimate droid rom, thats what im runnin and i really like, heres the link: http://www.droidforums.net/forum/blackdroid/29916-ultimate-droid-v7-8-ese53-base.html

[gregrob]

I'm running Bugless Beast 0.9 now, which is built on the 2.1 architecture. Using Adamz kernel and smoked glass theme and it's pure badassness...

Fastbird pm me if you need help. It's intimidating to start with but well worth it.

This is the best step by step tutorial on installing any custom ROM http://www.droidforums.net/forum/hacking-help/28436-complete-how-how-mod-your-phone-2-1-rom-o-c-mm-boot-animation-etc.html

However, substitute steps 1-8 with this website: www.rootyourdroid.info

The root your droid site is just an easier-to-follow graphical explanation and its super easy to get it started that way.

You're basically gaining root access, installing software that will allow you to do complete system backups and recoveries (sprecoveries and nandroid) then "recovering" the phone with a new file ( the custom rom).

[Fastbird]

If I root it now, am I going to lose my contacts, apps, ect, that I've already loaded on it? I've heard a lot about Bugless Beast....where did you download it from? Does it have pinch gesturing and swipe gesturing as part of it?

[Fastbird]

Ok.....soon as my wife gets home I'm going to root this mother f-er. Let's see what it's got after a overclock and some opening up.

[phantomzer0]

I've had my G1 'rooted' for over a year now. Rooting the phone is no big deal, it's the custom roms you can load that give you all the awesome. I'm not sure if there's a Cyanogen Mod rom out there for the droid, but if there is I can telly ou that CM is the best out there for both the G1 and the N1, no doubt.

[Fastbird]

Done. Had some trouble with the kernel for overclocking, it wouldn't save as a .zip for some reason. FINALLY bypassed that and got it all working. The tethering speed is f-ing insane. After looking at the roms out there I settled on bugless beast with the smoked glass theme. VERY happy with it. Got all my stuff backed up and reinstalled, and am quite happy with the outcome now. Haven't overclocked it yet but it's MUCH faster without touching anything.

[gregrob]

Done. Had some trouble with the kernel for overclocking, it wouldn't save as a .zip for some reason. FINALLY bypassed that and got it all working. The tethering speed is f-ing insane. After looking at the roms out there I settled on bugless beast with the smoked glass theme. VERY happy with it. Got all my stuff backed up and reinstalled, and am quite happy with the outcome now. Haven't overclocked it yet but it's MUCH faster without touching anything.

Sweet! Pretty awesome huh.

Of you had your contacts syncd with Google you won't lose them. And you can backup your apps etc like the tutorial stated. Which version of bb did you end up using?

[Dmaleck]

I just made up my mind and am going to root my droid....or attempt to. I'm going to use those links you posted Gregrob...wish me luck!

[Fastbird]

I used .9........wanted the 2.1 architecture.

Working out email bugs now. The stock email app quit working unless I went into each separate email account and forced a refresh. I installed the K-9 email app and it seems to be working fine now. Sadly the "water" live wallpaper doesn't work in BB .9. That's a bummer.

[Dmaleck]

quick question already lol. How do I sync all of my conacts with Gmail? Thanks

[Fastbird]

quick question already lol. How do I sync all of my conacts with Gmail? Thanks

I tried and couldn't get it to work. I had to recreate every contact AFTER I enabled a GMAIL account. It then automatically sync'd.

So.....god K-9 mail client working, seems to be fine. Installed Beautiful Widgets, love it. Installed a few more apps too.......am really digging this phone. Single handedly killed my battery in one night playing on it though. :D Still haven't uploaded a note of music or video yet though, as I personally feel NOTHING touches my ipod and ipod touch when it comes to that dept.

[Fastbird]

Ok, I've officially lost it. My screen immediately to the left of main.......guess what I gone and did? Yup...installed a RSS widget and plugged this place in. I'm sick I tell ya!!!