- “Phone Menu” – means going to your main desktop by choosing the “Home” (House) button (first) on the outside of your phone… (This takes you to your main desktop) then choose the “Menu” Button from the outside of your phone.
- This article assumes you (at least) know how to do basic things like find a file after you download it and then unzip it. If you do not, we trust that you will use The Google to work through that.
- What is “root”? “root” is the name of the account that unix uses as its “Administrator” account. By default you do not have administrative access to your own phone. This prevents you from uninstalling system based apps and doing system tasks. This also allows the phone company to force tons of bloated apps down your throat. When we “root” your phone.. all it means is you are enabling the ability to get administrative access to your phone.
- Whenever you do a step it is VERY important that you read ALL the notes in the substeps in that section BEFORE starting the process.
- This article was based on the HTC Evo 4G Sense. In the first steps some of the menu options may vary if you have a different phone.
- If you would like to suggest revisions to this article or add to it please feel free to use the contact form on the site and send it to me.
- If things do not go as expected or you run into trouble… STOP! Do research, google, ask for help but DO NOT continue until you fully understand what is happening and why.
- This portion of the article will help you root your phone and should NOT uninstall or break any of your apps. But if it does I TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY.
- Once you have completed this portion of the article your Manufacturer Warranty will be VOIDED. However if you do need to send your phone back there is a stock sprint image you can apply and they may not notice. (:
- MAKE SURE your battery on your phone is charged 100%
- Check the version of your firmware to see if your phone can be hacked…
- Select: “Phone Menu” -> “Settings” -> “About phone” -> “Software Information”
- Note the “Baseband version” number.
- Go to http://unrevoked.com/rootwiki/doku.php/public/revolutionary#supported_devices and compare the above Baseband version number to the ones listed for your phone on the supported devices list. If you see it there you are good to go. If not.. STOP!
- Note: There is a FAQ (Frequently Asked Questions) area there that could help you solve a number of issues that I will not likely address here. If you have issues or are un sure of things check that list FIRST.
- Download the hacking tool you will use to root your phone.
- Goto http://revolutionary.io
- Scroll down to the “Downloads” section and download the “revolutionary” zip file.
- Note: At the time this article was written the zip file was called: revolutionary-0.4pre4.zip
- Note:Leave this page open. You will note that a blue block shows up after you start the download. You will need to fill this out later to get an unlock key.
- Unzip the zip file. (Do not run anything yet)
- Note: If you do not have an MS Windows unziping program we recommend “Extract Now” from http://ExtractNow.comit is totally free without popups like WinZip has.
- Turn on USB Debugging in your phone.
- Select: “Phone Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Applications” -> “Development”
- “USB debuggin” = Checked
- “Stay awake” = Checked
- Teather phone with USB cable to your computer windows computer.
- Note: If you do not have one, check your charger. The end of the cable will pull out of the “Plug” portion and then connect to your computer.
- Teather phone with USB cable to your computer windows computer.
- Turn on USB Debugging in your phone.
- Use the “Revolutionary” rooting tool
- Run the “revolutionary.exe” Application.
- Note:On Windows Vista/7 right click on the tool and select “Run as Administrator”.
- It will wait to detect your phone.
- Once it does you may get a delay and then it will give you a code (Serial Number) to type into the website. Get the code (copy paste or whatever) and put it into the blue box on the website you downloaded the revolutionary zip from earlier.
- You will need to fill out a few questions on the website. The “HBoot” number is the “Baseband Version” you noted earlier.
- Put serial number into the bottom box on the web form and click the “Generate Key” button.
- It will give you a registration code to put into your computer. Once you do this the program will continue.
- When you are prompted to install the “ClockworkMod Recovery” answer yes.
- Note: The ClockworkMod Recovery is a tool that you can run when your phone first starts up before the operating system. It will allow you to apply images of new operating systems to your phone at will (We call them ROMs). In some cases the images you apply will merge into your current operating system.
- When this completes your phone should be rooted! (But we are not done)
- Note:To get to the ClockworkMod area turn on your phone and hold the power down (while tapping power) then using your volume keys to arrow around and the power button as the “Enter key” select “RECOVERY”. That will/should reboot your phone into the ClockworkMod area. But you do not need to do this now as I will walk you through it below.
- Install SuperUser/su by copying it to your SD Card and applying it with ClockworkMod..
- Note: In order to get eleviated (system) access your apps need a couple tools called “su” and “busybox”. Those must be installed into a system area so we must do so by applying “su” as a rom to start.
- Download the superuser and su zip’s from here http://androidsu.com/superuser/
- This contains the binaries for SuperUser/su for Android 2.0 – 3.1
- Note: There are two versions listed there currently one set is for the donut, My HTC Evo currently has Froyo on it.
- Tether your phone with the USB cable andset it to “Disk Drive” mode, NOT “USB Tethering” mode, and select “Done”..
- Note: If you have moved apps to SD Card it may take a while before your computer sees it as a drive letter and can accces it.
- If you are lost, look in your notification bar at the top after attaching your phone to your computer with the USB cable.
- Once you have access to the SD Card on your phone move the two files “SuperUser-..” and “su-bin-..” to the first “” folder.
- Unplug then Power Off your phone and pull out the battery.
- Put the battery back in and power on your phone while holding the volume down button. (Hold volume down and tap the sleep button while holding volume down. (It may appear like nothing happend for 3 seconds.. keep holding volume down)
- Wait 5 seconds for the phone to settle.
- Using your volume keys to arrow around and the power button as the “Enter key” select “RECOVERY”. That will/should reboot your phone into the ClockworkMod area.
- Note: You should now see Revolutionary CWM with the version at the top.
- Arrow to and select “wipe cache partition” -> “Yes”
- Arrow to and select “advanced” -> “Wipe Dalvik Cache” (Long Pause) -> “Yes” then “Go Back”
- Arrow to and select “install zip from sdcard” -> “choose zip from sdcard”
- Arrow up (through the top) till you see the above mentioned “SuperUser-…” zip and select it.
- Arrow to “Yes – …” and select it.
- When it is done you should see “Install from sdcard complete” at the bottom..
- Repeat the above steps again through “choose zip from sdcard” and this time apply the “su-bin-…’ zip file.
- Select “Go Back” then “reboot system now”
- Note: This same process can be repeated to install custom roms that you download off the net. But we will be installing some tools to do a lot of these steps for us automatically from the GUI (Graphical User Interface)
- Put your phone back on the charger. (:
- Wait till you are back at the desktop and let the phone settle.
- Upgrade the SuperUser App..
- Note: This tool tracks and maintains what apps get SuperUser/su access to the operating system.
- Find SuperUser in your App Drawer and run it.
- You may see a dialog titled “Superuser Request”. You *ALWAYS* want to “Allow” these. This is where the app is requesting elevated access to access and change system areas.
- Select: “Menu” -> “Preferences” -> Scroll down to “Su binary…” and select it to check for updates. It should say “Current version already” or you can “Update” it at the bottom.
- You are done with SuperUser. Hit your back key the phone and go back to your desktop and get ready for the next step.
- From the Market install: “ScanLife Barcode Reader” by Scanbuy, Inc.-OLD
- Note:With this App you can scan the QRCodes attached to each mentioned install on this document and install the App directly from the market without searching for it. Scanlife reads the QRCode (barcode) and links the phone to the Market location of the install page.
- Install BusyBox (Used to get root access and do other cool tasks by apps)
- Download and install “BusyBox” by “Stephen (Stericson)” from the Market then Run it
- You will see a dialog titled “Superuser Request”. You *ALWAYS* want to “Allow” these. This is where the app is requesting elevated access to access and change system areas. Make sure the checkbox is enabled to remember the selection so you do not have to allow it every time. If you do not get this one time prompt and BusyBox wont work try “Rebooting” your phone then trying again.
- Fill out the form and click “Continue” OR click “No Thanks”
- Select the green “Ok” to install the current version.
- Select the green “Ok” to install to the default location.
- Read the dialog and hit the Red “X” in the upper right corner.
- Select the green “Install” to install.
- You are now rooted with the needed apps to do root things!
- If you wish to uninstall system apps or apps installed into the system area then go to the market and install an uninstaller that supports root access. I recommend installing the “Rom toolbox” then going to “App Manager”. You can uninstall just about anything from there. For example I installed SVOX to handle my text to speech then uninstalled the “Pico TTS” (Default voice driver) to make space.
- You must complete the above section and root your phone FIRST!
- You do not have to do this but I recommend it as I find CyanogenMod is much more reliable and stable then the Sense OS your phone company gives you (I think there should be a lawsuit in there somewhere). A lot of the directions I give you will work on your default Sense load.
- This section will wipe your phones data. However we will make some attemps to save that information and put it back as part of the process.
- As part of the below directions you have to recalibrate your battery. This is going to involve charging your phone to 100% then draining it 100% then charging it 100% uninterrupted. Until you do that your battery may SUCK. So plan that in your schedule. Typically if you leave it on the charger (as instructed) while you are doing the process by the time you are ready to calibrate you are near 100%. Draining the battery can be done in a couple hours. Then it is just matter of letting it recharge over night.
- From the Market install: “ScanLife Barcode Reader” by Scanbuy, Inc.-OLD
- With this App you can scan the QRCodes attached to each mentioned install on this document and install the App directly from the market without searching for it. Scanlife reads the QRCode (barcode) and links the phone to the Market location of the install page.
- Note: Rather then totally redo your phone from scratch. We will now try to backup some of your apps and info with their configuration data to port over to the new operating system. HOWEVER, do not rely on this. Where ever possible in your Apps back up to your SD Card or Sync.
- From the Market, Install and run “Titanium Backup * root” (free).
- Note: You will likely be using this for a long time so it would not hurt to get the PRO version and help support the developer. The PRO version does move faster and has a few extra features.
- Note: If you get the “Warning – System configuration” dialog, DO NOT ignore it. Be sure to enable “Unknown Sources” in your “Settings” -> “Applications” area of your Phone.
- In Titanium select “Menu” -> “Batch”
- Select “RUN” by “Backup all user apps + system data”
- Select the “Run the batch operation” at the top.
- When the above completes you will have successfully have backed up your apps and their data to your SD Card.
- Making lists of your apps…
- Just in case I like to make lists of all my installed apps with a few tools. This is optional but highly recommended.
- AppBrain App Market – (THIS IS FREE AND VERY HANDY) After you run this choose the “Manage and Sync” option. Choose “Sync” at the bottom and it will login through facebook or gmail. This will also setup an account on their website. You can sync your apps with the website then go to the website to see and manage your lists (Click on your ID in the upper right corner and go to your “Profile” then click on your phone under “App Lists” on the left.) You can also push install apps from the website to your phone. Meaning you choose the install option on the website and after a few minutes it installs in background on your phone.
- When you install it later on your device or another device you can see what was installed and install them back right from the app.
- If you choose to publicly list your apps.. when looking at your installed apps if you swipe to the right it will show your install history.
- If you want to see what apps I am using you can follow me through AppBrain. My ID is “DesktopMasters” or go here http://www.appbrain.com/user/DesktopMasters#!htc-evo-4g-(rooted-with-cyanogen7) and follow me.
- Go to the http://AppBrain.comwebsite and maintain your device lists. You can make your lists public by using the privacy dropdown. Then make individual apps not seen by the public in the options on that app. So if you do not want anyone following your lists to see your “Hot Chicks” app you easily hide it from the public eye.
- Install MyAppList (Optional) – With this app you can generate an HTML (Web formatted) file list on your SD Card that you can copy to your computer and use to install apps from using QR Codes.
- Backup your phone book…
- If you are storing your contacts info in your google account they will sync up and back down automatically when you reload your phone. However if you have put entries in your phone by mistake you might lose them. So we will easily check that in this step by backing up anything in your phone to your SD Card.
- Select your “Phone” from the desktop.
- Note: On the below step you may want to note what accounts you are syncing in case you need to add them back after the reload.
- Select: “Menu” -> “People” -> “Menu” (Again) -> “Import/Export” -> “Export to SD card” -> “Phone”
- Done! Go back to your desktop.
- Install (and run) “ROM Manager” by “ClockworkMod”
- Note: If you have the cash, buy “Rom Manager (Premium)” instead as you will be using this for a while and you will get more features. You do not have to buy it now, you can always upgrade later. But it is always nice to support the developers.
- Switch from the Revolution ClockworkMod to the official ClockworkMod
- In “ROM Manager” choose “Flash ClockworkMod Recovery”
- Confirm your Phone Model
- If prompted for access choose “Allow” (Goes without saying)
- Choose the new Operating system
- Note: It does not hurt to have your WiFi connected on the phone at this point. (Connect to WiFi because you are going to download a large file)
- In “ROM Manager” choose “Download ROM”
- Note: Sometimes I get a delay here showing the list or have to go out and back in a couple times before the list shows up.
- In the “Free” section choose “CyanogenMod”
- Note:It goes without saying, You can try other MOD’s if you like. But the rest of my directions may or may not work for you.
- You will see a list of different CyanogenMod versions. Just choose the top one.
- Note: Does not hurt to read the comments. Keep in mind that these people may have a different model phone then you so you may not experience their problems.
- Select “Download” at the bottom.
- Check both “Google Apps” and “GTalk w/ Video Chat”
- Wait for it to download!
- When it is done downloading you will get a popup for “ROM Pre-Installation”.
- Select “Backup Existing ROM” and “Wipe Dalvik Cache” AND select “Wipe Data and Cache” then select Okay.
- Select Okay again and wait.
- Your phone will reboot a couple times and apply the images. After a while it will reboot and you will see the CyanogenMod fancy logo startup screen.
- Once the startup screen clears you will see a Green android or your lock screen. Do nothing.. move to the next step.
- Restoring your Envirnment….
- On your screen with a couple buttons below it. Click the Android.
- Go ahead and configure your accounts using the wizard. We need to configure your google account so we can access the Market to install apps.
- Complete the wizard till you are at the desktop.
- The box at the bottom middle of your screen is your new app drawer. Please select it to run apps.
- Allow Apps from unknown sources to install…
- (Desktop) -> “Phone Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Applications” -> “Unknown sources” = Checked
- From the Market, Install and run “Titanium Backup * root” (free) from the market.
- Filter to show the backed up apps…
- At the top choose the “Backup/Restore” tab.
- Touch “Click to edit filters” then under “Filter by type:” -> “Uninst.” -> “Apply” (at top)
- Install voicemail (Visual voicemail is a Sprint thing and so you want to restore it from your old working sprint install. If for any reason this goes wrong I have another process you can folllow <here>)
- Select: “Voicemail T….”
- Press the “Restore” button
- Select “App+Data”
- Other Core Apps you may want to install the same way…
- Note: Feel free to go back and try to recover any apps that are not already in this default load or in the market. Some of the apps like the “Photo Widget” May not recover properly so make sure you understand how to backup your rom so you can restore in case you screw it up. Be sure not to install anything that might conflict with the default load like the “Phone Dialer”.
- Voice Recorder
- Quick Office
- (Any sprint or phone company specific apps you like for example “Sprint TV” etc.. although I doubt you want them)
- You can now recover apps with data that you have installed that are not part of the operating system if you are trying to recover data with them. If they have no data I recommend just going ahead and installing them from App Brain as we will explain further down.
- Restoring your phone book from the local phone..
- Go to your Contacts.
- Select the “Phone Menu” -> “Import/Export” -> “Import from SD card” -> “Phone-only, unsynced”
- Wait a few minutes while it searches for the vcd file.
- Select the most current (largest number) if it gives you multiple choices.
- Connect your phone to the WiFi for faster Internet Access.
- From your homescreen choose the “Phone Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Wireless & networks” -> “Wi-Fi settings”. Turn it on and connect to your network.
- Installing your favorite market apps…
- We will do this through AppBrain. Go to the market and install and launch/run the “AppBrain App Market”..
- Skip the part in the wizard where it tells you to “Create my account now!” as you already have one from the previous steps.
- Select “Manage and Sync”.
- Now you must login to see your app lists from the previous phone. Select the “Sync” button at the bottom and you will be prompted to login.
- Once back at the app list..
- from the “Phone Menu” choose “More Lists”.
- You will see your phone lists show up at the top.
- Choose the top list that should be from your old phone load.
- Then choose the “Add all apps” button at the top.
- Press the phones back button and no wyou should see all the apps you had previously ready to be installed by you one by one.
- I recommend setting aside installing all your apps for later as that will take some time and we have more important things to do specific to making your phone cool and getting yourself setup.
- The list of apps you are looking at will be here next time (every time) you choose the “Manage and Sync” button in appbrain. (No sense in getting distracted)
- Also further down we will be covering ways of moving your apps to the SD Card so you do not run out of space.
- You will likely see “Adobe Flash Player” in the list. If not use your phones Search Button and search the market for it through appbrain.
- Install: “Adobe Flash Player” and “Adobe Reader”
- Note: Kick off an install by choosing “Market” at the lower right from the apps page and then choosing Install. Use the phones back arrow to get back to the App List.
- Note: I will be showing you how to do some other things using these two apps as an example further down
- Update: “Rom Manager”
- Note: At any time you can run “Rom Manager” and choose “Backup Current ROM” to backup your operating system and settings. If something gets very screwed up you can go into “Manage and Restore Backups” and choose a backup to restore from.
- Search for and Install…
- “CPUMonitorMini” by Salt
- Run/Open this right away.
- Set the Update interval to 3000 msec (3 Seconds).
- Tick the box to “Automatically startup after boot”
- Note: This is a very helpful and thin program. With the above settings every 3 seconds it will up a graph bar in a box in your notification bar at the top showing you the current processor usage percentage. When the phone settles the box will go black. If something is using your processor you will be able to tell this by simply looking at the box.
- Just use the phones back key till you are back at the AppBrain/Market so you can continue installing.
- “GPS Status & Toolbox” by EclipSim
- “Root Fast Reboot” by Mario Buonomo
- “FasterFix” by Bernard Bekker
- “GLaSSMiX CM7 Theme” by R3Ds Themes
- “ROM Toolbox” by jRummy16
- “BatteryCalibrator” by POTENTE
- “Go Launcher EX” (My preferred replacement desktop)
- “Home Switcher” for Froyo by YMST (Used to change your default homescreen app)
- Launch “Home Switcher” and choose the “Clear default” button at the bottom.
- Press your phones Home/House button and tick the “Use by default for this action.”. Then select GO Launcher EX. (You have just changed your default home screen app. You can repeat this to switch to other home screen apps)
- If you choose to stick with Go Launcher EX. feel free to uninstall “ADW.Launcher” Later through the “ROM Toolbox” App Manager All Apps Tab. (More info on this further down)
- Note: Below we give you two fixes to fix your GPS. If you do not fix your GPS your Navigation will not work and your battery will likely drain very quickly. I recommend running both.
- Fix GPS 1
- Note: This assumes you installed “FasterFix” and “Root Fast Reboot” mentioned above..
- Turn off GPS from the phone settings from the desktop: “Phone Menu” -> “Settings” -> “Location and Security”
- Run “Root Fast Reboot” (Title my be cut off in your App drawer. Look for the shark)
- Wait for phone ot settle (Watch the CPUMonitorMini box).
- Run “FasterFix”
- Choose:North America(Or wherever you are)
- Choose: Go
- Reboot
- Fix GPS 2
- Note: This assumes you installed “GPS Status & Toolbox” mentioned above..
- Run: “GPS Status & Toolbox” (Name may get cut off in your App Drawer)
- It will prompt you to now turn on your GPS and should bring up the settings page to do so for you. Tick “Use GPS satellites” (And I also use wireless networks). Use the phones back key to get back to the GPS Status App.
- In the “GPS Status” App Choose: “Menu” -> “Tools” -> “Manage A-GPS state” -> “Reset”
- Again Choose: “Menu” -> “Tools” -> “Manage A-GPS state” then choose “Download”
- Reboot
- Recelebrate the battery.
- Note: The phone stores information about your battery and how it interacts with it. I am not clear on the details, however, resetting the settings file for this in a proper manor does appear to increase battery life quite a bit. This assumes you already installed the “Battery Calibrator” mentioned above.
- Plug the phone in and charge it to 100%
- Run: “BatteryCalibrator”
- Follow the directions on the screen.
- While phone is plugged into the charger click on “Calibrate Battery”.
- Unplug phone from charger.
- Drain battery all the way down till it shuts off.
- Note: You can expedite this by setting the screen never to turn off, set the screen to full brightness, and run a Live Wallpaper that uses a lot of processor power like a “Fire Wallpaper”.
- Note: It is not a good idea to reboot your phone during this process. During the reboot there is time spent draining the battery before the Operating System is loaded and thus it is unable to monitor the changes during that time causing some battery data to be missed. This is not a terrible thing, but it is better to have 100% data.
- While you are draining the battery lets do some other steps like how to quickly and easily move your Apps to the SD Card so you do not run out of space as you are installing stuff.
- Re-charge battery to 100% full (without interruption)
- Move your apps to the SD Card.
- Notes…
- The following notes are *VERY* important so please take the time to be sure you totally understand them.
- Your SD Card mounts *after* most of the programs load. This is a serious flaw in the design of the Android OS. This means anything that has been moved to SD Card will not be available until after the phone settles. You will notice some program icons are default for a while at startup. This is why.
- If you move Widgets or Apps that have widgets to the SD Card the Widgets will no longer show up in your list and will stop working. *REMEMBER THIS* Six months from now you will ask yourself.. “Where did the widgets for this program go??” and it will likely be because you moved it to the SD Card.
- Programs that load in the startup will not have access to the icons of apps they may be pointing to during startup. So if you have a quick launch to (for example) Facebook. You may see a generic icon for that if you have moved it to the SD Card.
- Your Launcher/Desktop and Operating system that use themes will load at startup and will look for the theme AT STARTUP. If you move their themes to the SD Card they will not be available and the program will simply go unthemed or the theme will just not be an option.
- There are a number of ways to move your Applications to the SD Card. I find the best way is through the “Application Manager” in the “ROM Toolbox”.
- From your App Drawer launch “ROM Toolbox” and go to “App Manager” from the “Tools” tab. (Give it a minute or 3 to load)
- Apps that are not on the SD Card and can be moved to the SD Card will be marked with a blue box on the right side just next to the tick/select box. Scroll down through the list and tick the boxes of the apps you want to move. For this exorcize lets move the “Adobe” Apps we mentioned above. As you install your apps you will likely repeat this step.
- Reminder: Do NOT move Apps that are or have widgets. Do not move apps that will be placed on a quick launch program from the notification bar. Do not move Skins or Themes. (Even if they have a blue mark you will break them)
- At the bottom of the list there is a set of buttons that you can scroll (left to right) with your finger. Look through the buttons for “Move to SD”. This will be almost all the way on the right side. Tap the “Move to SD” button and it will ‘batch’ move all of the apps you have selected from the above direction. (There may be a short delay after tapping the button.. just wait.. just wait…)
- If you are like me, you have way more programs installed then you have space for. Once you have moved all the apps you can to the SD Card if you are still out of space install “Link2SD” by Bulent Akpinar. This will pretty much allow you to move anything you want to the SD Card. Use this with extreme caution!!! Do not move services or anything that runs a service.
- Move your apps to the SD Card.
- Select: “backup and restore” -> “restore”
- Choose the most recent date
- Select: “Yes – Restore”
- (During the restore expect it to sit and appear to be nothing for long amounts of time)
- Watch for “Restore complete.” at the bottom.
- DO NOT REBOOT YET
- Select: “Wipe Cache Partition” -> “Yes – Wipe Cache”
- Select: “advanced” -> “Wipe Delvik Cache” -> “Yes – Wipe Delvik Cache”
- Select: “reboot system now” (Pull battery and put it back)
- This last option is untested, but requires a sprint rom (stock VD or Reborn should work)
- In the dialer, dial: ##GPSCLRX# (##4772579#)
- Your phone will ask for a security number. This is the MSL. Input it here.
- Reboot
- After it has rebooted, test your GPS in the Sprint based Rom to make sure it works. If you need to, follow these steps again.
- While you are there, go to settings > about phone > updates > update PRL.
- After the PRL is updated, go back to the updates and hit update profile.
- Once the profile is updated either reboot into Xionia recovery then
- Flash your backup of CyanogenMod 7 or proceed to install the latest CM7 Rom, include doing all the data wipes.