Wanting to root, need a few noob questions answered please

I've looked over a lot of rooting threads and guides here and on other websites (droid-life, etc.) and I'm familiar with there being many ways to actually root (like SuperOneClick, z4root, and manually flashing an .sbf), but I still have a few questions.

First: Is there any way to back up a phone pre-root, without paying for an app I'll use once? Would there even be a need to do this?

Second: I haven't been able to find this anywhere, but when I root, do I retain all my apps and only lose them if I choose to flash a rom/theme?

Third: I've read a lot of mixed things and think I confused myself here: If I were to install a rom and/or new theme, do all of my apps automatically re-download? Do I restore them from something like Titanium (or would this un-do my flash)? Or do i manually re-download them?

Thank you to anyone in advance.

1. not that i know of

2. depending on what version youre on, you may lose everything. IIRC the latest version needs to be downgraded to be rooted.

3. either or both. Apps will manually re-download if you sign in to your google account but youre able to skip that and restore them with titanium backup.

Downgrading to FRG22D to root doesn't work anymore according to furbearingmammal. Super one-click still seems to be the only "simple" rooting method available for FRG83D (z4root WILL fail).
As far as the "manual" way, here's the best guide I've seen yet!
http://www.droidforums.net/forum/droid-labs/74028-root-droid-1-regardless-os-version.html

DroidForums junkie!!

Answers above in a variety of festive colors to brighten your evening.

Droid Does's answer was spot on. Will happily answer any more questions you may have.

Thank you all for responding so quickly!

I'm still on the fence about rooting. I have the worst luck, and so I'm convinced (at least a little) I'll be one of the few who truly bricks a phone. And I don't have $600 to cover buying a new phone.

I think I'll sleep on it, and if I end up doing nothing tomorrow night (as I probably will), I may give it a shot then.

[APP]SuperOneClick v1.5.5 (Root, Unroot, Enable Non-Market App, Get UNLOCK code) - xda-developers

Never let another person talk you into rooting. However, it's frigging awesome over here.

if you have a OG droid, then you are essentially in possession of an unbrickable phone thanks to its unlocked bootloader dancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroiddancedroid

long live the OG Droid!

Ok, so I rooted with SuperOneClick. Ty for the link, Furbearing =)

First thing I did was get Titanium backup Pro, and make a full backup.

Now, I think the next thing I need to do is make a nandroid backup, but don't know how.

Also, I'm interested in loading a ROM onto my phone.

Then you NEED to either follow link 2 in my sig or ask me nicely for the on-phone instructions.

I'm currently looking over post 1 in your sig (You've rooted, now what?) and I have to say, it's a great write up. =)

Though even after looking it over, I'm still slightly at a loss, so I will ask nicely if you would provide a bit of support to this root-newb? Please? You are all knowing, and wise and powerful, and anything else that says I am bad and you are good... =D

I just meant say please.

Sure, it's actually near the end of the thread you're digging through. I'll go find the exact post in a few minutes; cooking supper at the moment.

http://www.droidforums.net/forum/ha...hat-n00bs-guide-post-root-22.html#post1070921

You'll need Astro and, yuck, ROM Manager from the market. Ditch RM afterward; you don't need it.

Ok, I followed the instructions and installed SPRecovery. I made a nandroid backup as well, named "cleanroot", just in case.

Now what do I do? This is usually where I get fuzzy reading guides, as I get confused as to whether I'm now ready to install a ROM or if there would be something else I need to do?

Do you already have the ROM downloaded And on the root of your sd card?

DroidForums junkie!!

How did you name a backup in SPRecovery?

Backup/Restore > Advanced Nandroid Backup > Set name

DroidForums junkie!!

No, but if this is all I need to do, then install the re-named ROM "update.zip" using SPRecovery, then I can handle that.

Would I restore my apps+data from Titanium, or should I let the apps install themselves?

I think I want to try Sapphire, Project Elite, or Cyanogen, but can't decide which to go with.

Start with Cyanogen, don't forget the app pack, and move on from there. Project Elite comes next and then Sapphire. I say in that order because if you run into issues with CM I can provide some support since that's my ROM of choice at the moment.

Ah. I don't do advanced. No need to.

You made a backup that you're done with unless you need to restore it.
Now, you need to dl'd whatever ROM you want to install and place it on the root of your sd card (not a folder) and rename it to "update.zip". Then you will go back into recovery and select "wipe data", scroll down to yes and select it using your camera button. Then select "wipe cache partition".
Lastly, scroll down to "install", select "allow update.zip installation" and then "install update.zip". When done, hit your power button until "reboot system now" is highlighted and press your camera button. Done!
First reboot WILL take a few so be patient.

DroidForums junkie!!