[GUIDE] Rootin & Flashing ROM

Introduction
One too many question, answered one too many times. So here it is. The definitive guide to freeing your phone. Included are definitions, a step-by-step guide for rooting and flashing ROMs, and other informative tidbits to satisfy the amateur rooter.
Try to set aside a whole afternoon for this, away from interruptions (spelled girlfriend), as well as a strong wi-fi signal and your phone plugged into the charger.

What is: Rooting
1. What is rooting?
Rooting is the process of granting an Android phone's users, SuperUser (SU) rights.
2. Why is rooting important?
Rooting is important because it gives you something like an Administrator's access to the phone, which will allow access to the system files.
3. How do I root?
For the HTC Desire, we will use a one-click solution called unrEVOked
4. Will rooting void my warranty?
Very likely, the strictly legal answer to that is YES. Don't worry, a safeguard can be implemented.
5. How do I deal with voiding my warranty?
You can revert back to pre-rooted condition.
6. How do I unroot?
By restoring the phone using an RUU.
7. Is rooting absolutely necessary?
I would say 100% yes. The question should be when you realized it is necessary.
8. =.= When is root necessary
When you want to flash a ROM ^.^

What is: Flashing ROM
1. What is a ROM?
A ROM, in this case, can be considered a different build of the Android OS.
2. What does it mean to flash a ROM?
It simply means to install the ROM into the OS system area, which is unlocked when you have SU rights. Flashing is just the term used as the ROM area can only be accessed in this particular way.
3. Why should I flash a ROM
Different ROMs all have different features. Most of it has to do with reducing the amount of HTC bloatware, increasing the system speed, true Apps2SD and Apps2SD+, adding different overlays and increased customization.
4. How do I flash a custom ROM?
Will be covered in detail in a later segment. Basically, you just download the ROM, put it in your SD card and push it into the phone memory.
5. Where do I get these delicious ROMs
Links will be provided later.
6. What is Apps2SD+?
First off, a comprehensive explanation is needed here. Prior to FroYo, apps can only be stored in the phone's memory. The Desire, despite HTC's specifications, only allows up to 147MB of app storage. Fine.
FroYo gave a new feature called Apps2SD. FroYo's flavour of it will allow an app to be installed in the SD card's FAT32 partition if, and only if, the developer specifies it so. So only certain apps are movable to SD card. The reason for this simple. Certain apps, like widgets and keyboards function better in the phone memory. When you plug the phone into the PC as a disk drive, the SD card is not accessible by the Android OS. So, apps in the SD card are not usable. If you place a widget in the SD card, it will disappear into a "App not found" icon. This explanation is beside the speed benefits, which will happen if you are not using a Class-6 card.
Getting back to the definition, there are multiple versions of Apps2SD, namely:
FroYo Apps2SD - apps are installed in the microSD card's FAT32 partition if the developer allows it to do so.
Old-school Apps2SD - apps are force-installed into the EXT partition in the microSD card. Also known as vanilla Apps2SD or Apps2EXT
Apps2SD+ - apps AND their Dalvik cache are installed into the EXT partition. Dalvik caches are the cache files that the apps are using. It is the most likely culprit of the phantom disk space usage in unrooted phones.
7. How do I set up Apps2SD+?
Steps will be provided later.
8. Will flashing a custom ROM make my phone better?
I would say 99.99% yes here.
9. Really?
Yes.
10. Which ROM should I flash?
Depends, really, on whether your phone is GSM or CDMA.

Why: Install a custom ROM?
Do you really have to ask? Do you?
1. Custom processor kernels. Over-clock, under-volt and custom CPU governors combine to give you more speed and lower battery consumption.
2. A2SD+. More space to install apps.
3. Custom MTD. Even better way to install even more apps.
4. NANDROIDs and Titanium Backup. This is the only way to completely backup apps AND their data
5. 30fps 720p camcorder. Via DeFrost ROM.
6. Removing bloat. Either from your phone's carrier or even HTC's apps and overlays.
7. Adblock. Notice those pesky ads in the free games and apps. They can be removed.
8. Custom themes. Do you always stare at the battery indicator at the notification bar and wonder if you can put a percentage on it? Or do you hate HTC for proclaiming "Quietly Brilliant" with chime that can be heard from the Moon? Or do you get tired of rebooting into the same bootscreen?
9. Did I said more speed? Here's another one: GPU+ and sd-fix to remove the GPU lag and read/write to the sd-card faster.
10. Up to 40% higher Quadrant score (ROM dependent). Yup, I'm getting 1900 for quadrant. Try that on your stock FroYo and see what do you get.
11. Flashing different radios. Face it, certain radios have better battery performance, others have better 3G performance. I used to get nothing with stock FroYo, but now I'm getting two bars of 3G connection.
12. Proper working 3D gallery. Yeah, most of you might be complaining about the 3d gallery not working. I don't.

Intermission
Now that you have read all the background info, it is time to get down to business. It is not as simple as you think, but neither does it require a significant knowledge of command prompt. I did more typing coming up with this guide than you will ever do while following my guide. So, complete the following checklists for the things you need to have before proceeding to rooting and flashing your phone.
[] Found out if your phone is GSM or CDMA
[] Fully charged battery
[] Emotional preparedness that you might brick your phone if you didn’t do it right
[] Wall plug charger
[] Wi-fi connection/unlimited data plan or at least 300MB worth of data left
[] A free afternoon
[] Insurance
[] 1GB left in your SD card at least. Get it to 2GB just to be safe.
[] Some space in your internal memory. I'm not sure how much would be enough, as some users have problems rooting without some space left. I'll peg it at 25MB just to be safe (bigger than the size of the unrEVOked package).
Admittedly, some of it might not be necessary, but you get the drill. One more thing, the time frame that I often mention in steps are not absolute. Treat it as a reference and if you get too uncomfortable, prepare to reboot.

Preparation
Unroot info
Just in case you need to unroot:
1. “Settings” > “About phone” > “Software information”
2. Note down somewhere safe and will never be lost the following information
2a. Baseband version number
2b. Software number
3. Go to http://shipped-roms.com/index.php?category=android&model=Bravo
3a. Search for the right RUU here, paying attention to the carrier (if you're not branded, just look for WWE), Software number and baseband number.
3b. If it's here, you can download it and you can unroot. Otherwise, you can't unroot.
4. Save it somewhere safe. Under your bed works, for this instance, unless you have a cat, who will piss on it.
Download the ROMs & Radio
In no particular order...
AOSP FroYo - This means a stock FroYo layout, without the Sense overlay
DeFroST
Cynaogen GSM
Oxygen
AOSP FroYo CDMA- So far, I can only seriously recommend Cyanogen if you are blessed/cursed with CDMA
Cynaogen CDMA
Sense-like - These ROMs are similar to the default HTC, but it has additional features
LeeDrOiD
AuraxTSense
No-Sense - This is based on the HTC ROM, but doesn’t have the Sense UI
SuperVillain
MIUI - a unique UI that looks kinda like iPhone.
MIUI English
Desire HD - This is based on the Desire HD ROMs, with full Sense, but NO CAMERA. And they are experimental and unstable. Dangerous chance of bricking if you accidentally overclocked to 1300MHz, and therefore removed.

Download everything, and be careful with the radios and Google Apps if they are downloaded separately. Note that some ROMs prefers different radios, and Cyanogen and DeFrost needs an extra download for the Google Apps. And pay attention if you are using CDMA or GSM, because most ROMs for the Desire is GSM.
You might also notice that most of the ROMs can be found in XDA developer... Yes, I got most of them from there
Kicking up your downloads in the background while you fiddle with your phone will help you cut down some time.

How to: Root
How do I root?
Follow these steps EXACTLY! While it is significantly easier than traditional methods, do remember that they are not as simple as I make it to be and each step must be followed to the letter. TO THE LETTER!!! Failure to follow instructions will brick your phone, ok?
1. Install the latest version of HTCSync.
2. Uninstall HTC Sync, but leave the drivers on. Your Start menu should have HTC. As an additional note, uninstall everything that can and will sync the phone with the computer (like doubletwist) to be safe. REBOOT your PC.
3. Set-up the HBOOT drivers by following the instructions as provided. I'd post a summary here, but they got everything down pat, including screenshots. Disconnect your phone after that.
4. Go to unrevoked.com, download the latest (Version 3.21 at time of press) unrEVOked one click root, and wait...
5. Do the following in the phone first.
5a. “Settings” > “Application” > “Development” > Check “USB Debugging”
5b. “Settings” > “Connect to PC” > “Default connection type” > “Disk Drive”
5c. “Settings” > “Connect to PC” > un-check “Ask me”
6. Run the unrEVOked package, and it will prompt you to plug your phone in USB debug mode. BEFORE connecting, in the “File” menu, un-check “Disable Security on Phone”.
7. Plug the phone in and follow the on-screen instructions.
8. Phone will re-start at least twice, and the whole process will take less than 30 minutes.
9. Failure to follow instructions to the letter will BRICK your phone. Yes, I am serious.

Before Flashing a ROM
Install ROM Manager & custom Recovery.
1. Get it from the marketplace.
2. Once you launch the app, it will ask for SU rights.
3. It is vitally important to install the latest version of ClockworkMod Recovery. Anything later than 2.5.0.7 should do though.
4. Phone will reboot.

Install Titanium Backup & perform backup
1. Get it from the marketplace.
2. Once you launch the app, it will ask for SU rights.
3. “Problems” > “Yes, do it” this will install the busybox, which is vital to the operations of Titanium Backup.
4. Phone will/might restart.
5. Re-launch the app.
6. [Menu] > “Batch” > Click RUN on “Backup all user apps + system data”. Count will range from 150-250, depending on system
7. Could take up to 30 minutes.

Manually back up your SD card
If I have to teach you how to do this, you are f*cked. Give up. Go make out with your girlfriend. Seriously.
Use terracopy to manage it better.


Copy your ROM into the SD-card
Copy the .zip file (Must be .zip, not a decompressed folder or anything) into the root of your SD card. So if your removable disk is at E:\, the ROM file will be at E:\Cyanogen-6.0.1-etc-crap.zip

Flashing a ROM part 1: Getting into Recovery
1. Switch off your phone.
2. Hold the [Lower volume] button and press the [Power] button. Let go of the [Power] button but hold on to the [Lower volume] until you see a white-ish screen with a bit of text near the top.
3. Use the volume buttons to move up and down, and the power button to select.
4. If the first highlighted text shows FASTBOOT, select BOOTLOADER.

5. Objective is to get the RECOVERY option on the second selectable line. Navigate around if you really can’t find it
6. Select “Recovery”
7. In the ClockwordMOD recovery screen (Black background with green text), press the trackball to select and use the volume keys to navigate
8. This screen is always bad:

9. Press the [Power] button to get the menu out.

Flashing a ROM part 2: Paving the way
1. Navigate to “Backup & Restore” > “Backup”, should take about 15 or so minutes.
2. Remember the time and date for your backup, ok? Forgetting it might make it tricky if you have multiple backups like me.
3. Ready?
4. For a clean install, it is recommended to wipe the cache partition and wipe data/factory reset. Wiping the cache should be absolutely necessary but there are users who have installed a new ROM without doing that. Failing to wipe will cause a boot-loop. You have been warned.
5. Once you wipe the cache or wipe both, proceed to the next step.

Flashing a ROM part 3: Flashing the ROM
1. Select “Install Zip from sdcard”
2. Choose zip from sdcard
3. Select the RADIO .zip file first if this is the first time you flash a custom ROM.
4. Repeat steps 1-3 with the ROM, and followed by the Google Apps if necessary.
5. Once you’ve installed everything, press [Back] and “reboot system now”

After Flashing
Partition your SD-card
1. Go into the ROM Manager app.
2. Under utillities, select Patition SD card.
3. Select 512MB for both cache and EXT3
4. This will re-format your SD card. I hope you have done a manual backup, coz if you forgot to do it like me... God bless you, coz no one else can and no one else will.
5. Once that is done, move the stuff back into your SD card from your manual backup.
Living the high life
1. Load up Titanium backup. In the “Batch” area, restore all apps with missing data.
2. Load up Choose Install Location. The paid version will allow you to manage Phone Memory vs. SD-card apps2SD. Set the default install location (under settings here...) to phone memory.
3. IMPORTANT! Go back to Titanium backup. Go to batch and select “Move user apps to Internal Memory”. Move all keyboards and widgets to internal phone memory.
4. Go to ROM Manager. Run “Fix Permissions”
5. An important note when it comes to restoring backups with Titanium Backup. Please don't restore system apps if you are going from different ROMs, or even different versions. It might cause some degree of FCs and hang-ups, and the effect is even more pronounced if you went from Sense-like to AOSP-based.

Regret?
Now, you might want to unroot because you missed the default ROM (yeah, right!) or for warranty. There are two ways to do it, with the recovery, or with an RUU. Remember the first NANDROID backup? Just restore it in the ClockworkMOD recovery, same place you did the backup.
Second way is to do it via an RUU. Whichever version is yours, up to you to discover.
http://shipped-roms.com/shipped/Bravo/

Closing words
Wow, this took me the better of two days... In case of accusations of plagiarism, I hereby declare that I pulled 90% of the above from my ass, with the exceptions of the images. Please excuse the toilet paper stuck to the crap.

If there is anything, anything at all you would like me to add/clarify, post here. NO THANK YOU POSTS, JUST COOKIES ONLY! Let’s keep this topic helpful, shall we? And I still don't know how to resize pix...

Supplementary guide.

If you have so forgotten to put a file into the SD card, do not fret and follow these instructions:
1. Plug-in the USB cable to the PC
2. In the recovery screen, navigate to "mounts and storage"
3. Select the last option "mount USB storage"
4. After 30 seconds or so, the SD card can be accessed from the PC.

Hi Guys

Flashing a ROM part 3: Flashing the ROM
Select “Install Zip from sdcard”
Choose zip from sdcard
Select the RADIO .zip file first if this is the first time you flash a custom ROM.
Repeat steps 1-3 with the ROM, and followed by the Google Apps if necessary.
Once you’ve installed everything, press [Back] and “reboot system now”
 
My Question: Where or what program would you "Select - Install Zip from sdcard” part of flashing the ROM?

Just a couple of things.

Will I need an unlock code? (Orange)
What is a goldcard and do I need one?

Cheers.

Forget my questions sakai4eva, I've flashed LeeDroid and it seems pretty cool atm. New radio seems to give better Wifi, but I've got a lot of reinstalling to do. 

HTSEE, why don't you remove your SD card and copy the radio straight on it from a PC with a card reader?
Then you can just start again.

So I just woke up from passing out and here be the supplementary guide from Sakai4eva and I must say a huuuuge thanks buddy, really appreciate that, honestly came close to imagining a bricked phone

Got bored running out of phone memory so often so I just rooted. Is there a guide for moving apps to SD. I cant seem to find it anywhere.

Yeah thats what I was thinking. Are there any benefits to having a rooted phone if I dont flash roms? I just want to be able to return it to original state for warranty purposes should any hardware malfunction. Is this possible? Any recommendations for a good Rom at the moment, to be honest I like the original sense rom and want to stay as close to that as possible.