n00b root attempt went wrong, now I need professional help...

After many months of lurking, reading, downloading the tools, and then deciding not to risk bricking my A855, I gave it a shot today following this tutorial:
How To Root Motorola Droid

unfortunately that tutorial doesn't mention you have to catch the phone on reboot by pressing up on the D-pad so it booted back normally while RSD Lite wasn't finished installing SPRecovery, and of course everything hosed up. My phone would display a red LED, no battery charge indicatr and no data connectivity. It would get to my main screen, but would reboot itself after a couple of minutes.

Reading around - I figured out the issue about "catching the boot" and tried re-flashing SPRecovery - now RSD Lite showed a "Pass" indication and would complete, but the phone still would show the red LED, and now it would only get to the eye animation before boot-looping.

I then tried flashing Clockwork and it got back into the desktop then reboot cycle.

I did a factory reset via clockwork (I had no backups of anything - n00b mistake.) Now I had a box-stock phone that still reboots and had ehte LEd and battery/data issue.

Finally I read a suggestion here on another thread to try a stock VZW .sbf and see if that helped a boot-looped phone.

Finally now I am back to what appears to be a normally functioning bone-stock device running 2.2 /FRG01B- although I can't get it activated on the network via the automated phone-call system. I'll deal with that later.


So - what do I do from here? I was hoping to have a rooted phone that I can then install gingerbread on using Peter Alfonso's rooted ROM's - but honestly, the more people's walkthroughs I read, the more confused I get, as they all seem to be different in procedure.

I'm not an idiot, I just need some accurate help that doesn't assume I know all of the abbreviations when referring to whatever programs/processes are required, and maybe someon that is willing to answer some IM/PM questions if problems pop up.

TIA,
Chris

Quick update, even though I can't get the phone registered on the data network or make calls, as soon as I tested the wifi here @ work, it got OTA updates to bring the phone up to 2.2.2/FRG83G.These installed normally and appear to have no issues.

You need to re-activate your phone by dialing *228 and just in case you're wondering, no re-reactivation fee required :)

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My question is why didn't you use something like z4 root or gingerbreak? No catching the boot with those. Look for either of those on the xda forums. Those are a one click method that you install on your phone. Do you know how to side load an .apk? If not basically do this: download astro file manager from the market, go to settings>applications and check "unknown sources". Download either of the above apps from xda and then use astro to load it on your phone (the file should be in the download folder). After its loaded, restart your phone, find either z4 or gingerbreak, open it and run app.

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Thanks - but I've tried that and dialed *611 and spoken w/ CS - they say it shows it should be activated, but the phone itself appears to be the issue. who knows - I have a friend @ a VZW store that I can get to fix that.

I don't have to be up on the network to root though, correct?

No but you won't be able to make any phone calls until you do.

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Because I had no guidance that led me down either of those paths.

almost all of the "How to root your droid" threads pertaining to this phone are filled with instructions for 2.0.1 or earlier, are 300+ pages long, and full of broken links and such.

I'd just like a little help, that's all. I promise to say thanks.

I'm investigating SuperOneClick right now unless someone says that's a bad idea too.

Yeah - since I've apparently decided to squander my work duties today to rooting and getting a ROM installed - I'd like to get it there before I bother getting it too personalized/set up , just in case I have to box-stock it again.

If you came across motor caches root Motorola Droid regardless of version, all up to date files can be found in Teddy Earp's signature.

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