Question Before I Attempt Root

[ArmoredCavalry]

Hi, I just had a few questions before I attempt root, and was hoping somone could help me out.

First off, I got my Droid about a month ago, it already had 2.1 installed, so I have never gone through the update process.

This brings me to my first question. It seems that if you want to root, no matter what, you will have to lose your app data. Is this correct? Also, if so, what about a normal OTA update? Would I also lose all the internal data (app settings, etc.) if I just waited for an OTA update from Verizon?

If I'm going to lose all data either way, I might as well go ahead with root. Once rooted it sounds like it becomes possible to backup all app data, for future upgrades?

So basically, I am just concerned about data loss. Reinstalling apps/programs and/or losing data is a pet peeve of mine. It is the reason I do nightly image backups of Windows on my desktop. :P

[mentaloaf]

Have you looked around to see if rooting from 2.2 is even possible yet? Also, once you get rooted and start messing around with different roms, kernels, and themes you are going to be doing quite a bit of data and cache wiping. Even though you can back everything up with apps like Titanium Backup, you are still going to be doing a lot of re-installing and re- setting up. Most of the rooted users on this forum enjoy this process like I do....I'm almost addicted to installing a new rom every two days or so and setting up my phone all over again...If it is a pet peeve of yours then I'll tell you right now, you're not going to like it..

[ArmoredCavalry]

Have you looked around to see if rooting from 2.2 is even possible yet? Also, once you get rooted and start messing around with different roms, kernels, and themes you are going to be doing quite a bit of data and cache wiping. Even though you can back everything up with apps like Titanium Backup, you are still going to be doing a lot of re-installing and re- setting up. Most of the rooted users on this forum enjoy this process like I do....I'm almost addicted to installing a new rom every two days or so and setting up my phone all over again...If it is a pet peeve of yours then I'll tell you right now, you're not going to like it..

EDIT: The first post was supposed to say, it already had 2.1 installed, sorry for the confusion.

Yeah, I really don't like having to re-install everything constantly... So maybe I should just avoid rooting. However, that still leaves my question of, does an OTA update wipe everything as well?

If OTA update is just in-place and keeps all your settings/data, I can wait a month (probably) for 2.2.

[neubanks89]

I'd recommend rooting the 2.1 and leaving it stock. that way you wont lose data and you'll be able to overclock and use root apps. it'd also make it easier to keep root/root 2.2 without losing data also. I like the process of wipe and reinstall also, I didn't at first but it feels good to clean out your phone every so often and titanium makes it really easy to make sure you never lose data or settings.

[mentaloaf]

Sorry I didn't mean to discourage you from rooting, he's right, you can root and remain stock and not have to deal with too much wiping. Once you root though, if you do want to install an overclocked kernel and any roms, there will be a process of testing different things out while making backups all the while. This may get tedious for you.

Once you root, the first thing you're going to want to do is get titanium backup from the market (its free, and its awesome) and back everything up.

[ArmoredCavalry]

So, from your posts, it sounds like, I can root my current rom (stock), without losing any data?

So, I could root my current rom, install titanium, then do a full backup, all without losing data? Or am I not understanding the process correctly?

I have been reading this thread here:
[How To] Easily install Bugless Beast using only SPRecovery, Terminal Emulator, & zip

I thought that installing the "update" would take you back to an old rooted version of android, which is then your stepping stone to custom/unofficial roms. Is this not the case?

[mx371]

Since no one has answered the OTA question, I'm pretty sure the OTA's are made to keep your data for the specific purpose of not making users have to reinstall apps and readjust settings.

[ArmoredCavalry]

Thanks for the info on OTA, also I found a link to another thread with Q&A about rooting:

"6. Last things last, this isn't a problem so much as it is something that people ask over and over and over and over and over and over again...if you use the update.zip file instead of the Nandroid Backup file, you will NOT - I say again - NOT, lose your apps, shortcuts, contacts, etc."

I guess that answers my earlier question about losing data by just rooting. :P

[mx371]

Well if you wipe the cache/data you will lose everything. When changing roms it's usually a good idea to wipe data/cache just so everything runs smoothly. If you don't plan on using/changing roms all the time and use the update.zip method you should be ok data wise. Good luck staying away from custom roms and themes though

[durrell]

If you go from 2.1 stock to 2.2 rooted, you will have to wipe. If you go to 2.1 rooted from 2.1 stock, you may not have to wipe (although it's recommended). Usually when staying with the same version a wipe isn't necessary. I've switched between 3-4 2.2 roms and not had to wipe.