Recovery/Bootloader mode not working

[Tallguy]

Okay, so I just rooted my phone with the unrevoked setup. I haven't done a single thing other than that.

I'm trying to learn all the stuff I can do now, and I'm trying to boot into recovery so I can make a nandroid backup or regular backup (if there's a difference). I can get to the bootloader but when I select Recovery it brings me to a solid black screen with white strips down both sides and just sits there. I don't get any of the options that I see in videos and such. I don't know if I need to "flash a ROM" or what, again all I've done is do the one touch root from Unrevoked. I do have super user access, I've downloaded Root Explorer and roamed through the files I can now see and alter.

I would like to know if my root just didn't work right, or if I have to do something different. If I'm supposed to do a different kernel or flash a ROM that brings me to an additional question.

I don't understand the difference between a kernel, a ROM and a theme. I just know I would like to have an "underclocked" version of whatever I need to conserve battery life, and I would like to get a theme I saw on youtube where it alters your phone so that your home screen and everything else can be rotated sidways, not just some apps like Facebook.

I know this is a lot and I would assume somebody has asked a question like this, but I haven't been able to find the thread.

Please help. Thanks.

[furbearingmammal]

I rooted and now I only see a black screen with white bars in recovery.