Once you install the rom, you will go through the acct setup like when you got the phone, but you shouldn't have to activate as in *228. If you don't have 3g for some reason or a signal then *228 it (option 1)
1st off, if you brick it, it won't work anymore (hence the term brick), but if you make a mistake, you'll have to flash the sbf again. Make sure it's the r2d2 sbf not the d2.
If the sbf fails its ok, just try again. If it still doesn't work make sure you have the right file (full sbf), latest drivers and rsd lite 4.9. If your phone shoes up as s flash in rsd don't worry, thats ok. I use win xp, but if you're on win 7,make sure you run as administrator by right clicking on the rsd icon. You have to do some searching for the r2d2 sbf file. If you need to call me, go for it. It may save us a lot of writing