so my friend recently gave me his old G1, and i did some searching around and discovered that HTC made a dev version. now, being new to android, i have absolutely no clue what the differences are. i want to update my adp1 to froyo, but i get lost when i look up stuff about rooting or whatever. can anyone dumb it down for me or link me to an easy to follow walkthrough? i'm not sure whether or not guides for the g1/dream can be applied to the dev version. please help a noob in need
ADP1 shipped with bootloader 0.95.3000 whereas non-ADP shipped with 0.95.0000. 3000 let you flash unsigned images. That is the difference.
Note that all 0.95 SPLs are obsolete now.
dhkr123 said:
ADP1 shipped with bootloader 0.95.3000 whereas non-ADP shipped with 0.95.0000. 3000 let you flash unsigned images. That is the difference.
Note that all 0.95 SPLs are obsolete now.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
so how would i go about putting 2.2 on it?
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831139
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=717874
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=811620
dhkr123 said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831139
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=717874
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=811620
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
x_x wow thanks
going to try and decipher these forum posts now
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Dream:Rooting
^
That is the way that most of us rooted our phones. It's reasonable simple, downgrade, type teldnetd, open telnet app, install a recovery, update radio, set boot partitions(if using customMTD)/install danger SPL, and flash CM. If you would like to get as much performance as possible from your phone, I suggest using ezterry's rom, but for that you will need to update the radio and spl through adb and fastboot, which is a little bit more advanced. If you need anything don't be afraid to ask.
mejorguille said:
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=Dream:Rooting
^
That is the way that most of us rooted our phones. It's reasonable simple, downgrade, type teldnetd, open telnet app, install a recovery, update radio, set boot partitions(if using customMTD)/install danger SPL, and flash CM. If you would like to get as much performance as possible from your phone, I suggest using ezterry's rom, but for that you will need to update the radio and spl through adb and fastboot, which is a little bit more advanced. If you need anything don't be afraid to ask.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hm so i'm looking at the instructions on the link you gave me; i won't be able to login to my google account without a 3g plan huh? i guess i'll have to get that before i do anything?
and it doesn't matter that i have the ADP1 instead of just a regular G1?
pandapus said:
hm so i'm looking at the instructions on the link you gave me; i won't be able to login to my google account without a 3g plan huh? i guess i'll have to get that before i do anything?
and it doesn't matter that i have the ADP1 instead of just a regular G1?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well in that case use this link, since your bootloader is already factory unlocked, you can use the fastboot commands to flash a recovery image. You will need to have adb and fastboot from the android sdk installed on your computer. There are guides in the rom bible on the development forum to help you with that.
EDIT: and try this trick for skipping the initial login so that you can use wifi to sign in if you have to.
mejorguille said:
Well in that case use this link, since your bootloader is already factory unlocked, you can use the fastboot commands to flash a recovery image. You will need to have adb and fastboot from the android sdk installed on your computer. There are guides in the rom bible on the development forum to help you with that.
EDIT: and try this trick for skipping the initial login so that you can use wifi to sign in if you have to.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
unfortunately that trick does not work with the ADP1 =(
i flashed with DREAIMG.nbh and cannot bypass the setup thing; then i discovered this article: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=532719
which i completed up until the "installing drivers" step that i don't know how to complete because the computer doesn't even recognize that a device is plugged in, so now my phone thinks it's a G1 and i cannot get past the login screen and i cannot complete the ADB setup with my phone. what do i do?
---------------
EDIT: alright so i bypassed the login by swapping SIMs with a friend who has a 3G plan, but anyhow, when i plug it into my comp, i don't get an option to "Install drivers from my pc" according to the guide i referenced earlier in this post....
Related
i dont have a data plan now so i cant activate the phone and i cant use adb cause its not working on win7 for me..is there anyway i can just flash spl and radio and skip the recovery image? I tried someones sim but it just says error when i try to register.
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.. or Confirm this is correct. but..
If you're on an official rom you're out of luck, but if you can update to an ADP rom no login will be required. It's not a SPL or radio issue, purely rom based.
sonikamd said:
Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.. or Confirm this is correct. but..
If you're on an official rom you're out of luck, but your can always update to an ADP rom. No login required on those. It's not a SPL or radio issue, purely rom based.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
im not sure wat ADP is..but im trying to root and i followed the guide for one click root from unlockr, is there anyway for me to use a ADP rom?
What phone are you using on what network? Was the other person's sim card on the same network? did they have an android data plan?
ADP means Android Developer Phone.
sonikamd said:
What phone are you using on what network? Was the other person's sim card on the same network? did they have an android data plan?
ADP means Android Developer Phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oh both sims were tmobile US, and the other phone was a moto zn5 so it wasnt a g1 plan.
So I'm *assuming* you're on a G1. You basically have three choices, either goto a t-mobile store and beg one of their techs to let ya use their data to register, find someone else with a g1+data and ask to use their sim card or go adp.
The downside of going with an adp rom is you'll loose the t-mobile branded stuff like tmo ringtones, the myfaves app, ?youtube? (not sure on this one, you should do some reading first or hope someone else chips in).
If you really need your phone now, and are able to install custom roms the adp version of donut can be found --here-- Note: I run the official roms so am not too well versed in ADP vs. AOSP+ADP but it looks like you may actually want the latter(AOSP+ADP)
sonikamd said:
So I'm *assuming* you're on a G1. You basically have three choices, either goto a t-mobile store and beg one of their techs to let ya use their data to register, find someone else with a g1+data and ask to use their sim card or go adp.
The downside of going with an adp rom is you'll loose the t-mobile branded stuff like tmo ringtones, the myfaves app, ?youtube? (not sure on this one, you should do some reading first or hope someone else chips in).
If you really need your phone now, and are able to install custom roms the adp version of donut can be found --here-- Note: I run the official roms so am not too well versed in ADP vs. AOSP+ADP but it looks like you may actually want the latter(AOSP+ADP)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i dont have root i just installed dreaimg.nbh then flashed cupcake via home+end the press alt+l then alt+s.So i dont have any custom recovery images on my g1.
what guide did you follow? I'm confused, i thought the dreaimg.nbh was part of the rooting/testkey part...
sonikamd said:
what guide did you follow? I'm confused, i thought the dreaimg.nbh was part of the rooting/testkey part...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
this first:
http://theunlockr.com/2009/07/05/how-to-unroot-your-t-mobile-g1/
im up to this but at setup screen:
http://theunlockr.com/2009/08/22/how-to-root-the-mytouch-3g-or-g1-in-one-click/
can i rename the recovery image to update.zip the load it in recovery mode?
No, no renaming the recovery image.
Ok, so let me get this straight. You unrooted a rooted phone, to install the official cupcake so you could "one touch" root it which installs a custom recovery image @ the same time?
this is starting to hurt my head...
sonikamd said:
No, no renaming the recovery image.
Ok, so let me get this straight. You unrooted a rooted phone, to install the official cupcake so you could "one touch" root it which installs a custom recovery image @ the same time?
this is starting to hurt my head...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i never rooted before i was just following the instructions because i had 1.6/donut on my phone.all i wanted to do was install a hero rom and the one click is the shortest way i knew.
Gotcha, headaches gone but unfortunately it looks like your stuck. It appears this process *assumes* you have a data connection(for the login process) and without this most guides out there are going to be useless, especially at this point.
I'd say add data for a month or w/e then remove it if you must once done doing what you're doin... or go back to looking for someone with data that can help ya get logged in. Bout the only ways out I can forsee atm.. Wish I could be more help...
sonikamd said:
Gotcha, headaches gone but unfortunately it looks like your stuck. It appears this process *assumes* you have a data connection(for the login process) and without this most guides out there are going to be useless, especially at this point.
I'd say add data for a month or w/e then remove it if you must once done doing what you're doin... or go back to looking for someone with data that can help ya get logged in. Bout the only ways out I can forsee atm.. Wish I could be more help...
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the help
I was gonna get flex-pay at Tmo since i hate being tied down to contracts and it can have a g1 data plan added.
alright, cool. Ya, i just got it from someone else wiser than I that without data you've got a long road ahead of ya getting your phone back up n running.
You can always do it the old-fashioned way... Just downgrade to RC29, login with WiFi. Then do the root process that way. Only takes 15min at most.
h.nocturna said:
You can always do it the old-fashioned way... Just downgrade to RC29, login with WiFi. Then do the root process that way. Only takes 15min at most.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
i cant use wifi since icant get in to settings since im at setup screen
Ace42 said:
i cant use wifi since icant get in to settings since im at setup screen
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There's a way to bypass it with rooted ROMs, of which RC29 is one. You can. There's a whole guide on how to do it.
ok so i am trying to register my new g1(from ebay) but i dont have a sim card that has a data plan. so i have been trying to get access to the adb mode to bypass the registration. this is what i've done so far:
1. downgraded to rc29
2. installed sdk
3. installed adb driver
this is where im getting stuck, when i go to the cmd to see if my g1 is connected, my computer says "adb is not a vaild command or program" So i dont know what to do next. Any help would be greatly appreciated.
oh one other thing for some reason when i click on the adb program in the sdk it opens for about 3sec then closes.....any ideas??
thanks
You could root your G1 and load a custom 1.6 ROM such as Cyanogen's 4.2.14.1 or SuperD v1.7. Or, you could even load an Eclair or Hero rom if you're curious
I followed this guide to root my G1 and load the RA Recovery Image 1.5.2. Be sure to watch both parts
[The kid that makes the videos also has many other videos of him demo-ing custom ROM's and a tutorial on how to install them.]
On many of the custom ROM's, there's a "skip" button when you get to registration to bypass it.
This page has many ROM's that you can download and try out. Caveat: wipe before installing a new ROM.
I'm not responsible for any damage done to your G1 as i have only shown you other people's creations and methods; i take no credit
he cant install them if he just downgraded.
you need to make sure your path is set up correctly. if you havent gotten it to work, the guys at androidoverdrive.com will help you
Try following this guide...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=452316
flybyme said:
he cant install them if he just downgraded.
you need to make sure your path is set up correctly. if you havent gotten it to work, the guys at androidoverdrive.com will help you
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
5 posts pitching your lame site, smoooth.
djluis48 said:
Try following this guide...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=452316
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, this is exactly what I did with mine, and it worked great!
Hey guys,
First of all, thank you for spending time on reading this thread, I really need your help.
I wanted to root my phone (G1) etc. etc. So I downgraded it but didn't like it at all! So I descided to move back up again (latest software version).
I spent hours on the internet searching for software, firmware etc. And I managed to set my phone to RC33 and firmware version 1.1 ... Now my phone is not what it used to be, I guess firmware version 1.1 is kinda old isn't it? Strange enough my phone says it already is fully up to date...
So my question is; could you guys help me out, with getting the latest firmware/software whatever?
Thank you in advance!
Well, what you could do is: Go back to the earliest framework specified in say the cyanogenmod rom, which is RC29. Use that to flash your phone to gain root. It will be very odd looking because it the lowest thing. But then you can flash the awesomness of cyanogen onto it and you'll be good to go.
Also what you said you wanted to root it, so you downgraded. That is but the first step needed. i wouldnt want to stay there either. So yeah follow that guide and you should be on your way.
Although I will admit that it is probably the best running firmware for the G1 thus far!
ChaosXIII said:
Well, what you could do is: Go back to the earliest framework specified in say the cyanogenmod rom, which is RC29. Use that to flash your phone to gain root. It will be very odd looking because it the lowest thing. But then you can flash the awesomness of cyanogen onto it and you'll be good to go.
Also what you said you wanted to root it, so you downgraded. That is but the first step needed. i wouldnt want to stay there either. So yeah follow that guide and you should be on your way.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So in "short" you'd advise me to:
Downgrade to RD29 *again*
Get my phone rooted
And install the cyanogenmod Rom
Is that correct? Now I don't see all the applications on the Android Market, some disappeared, will they return?
In short, yes. I know it seems odd to downgrade to upgrade. But to gain root you have to use RC29. To gain root its not too bad. you have to use RC29 to do it. You just install that. start it up. And then download the app "telnet" from the market. and then run a few commands. from there you can upgrade back up. And yes you should see everything in the market. Yeah its kinda annoying but there are some great results possible.
A more in depth set of instructions is located on the Cyanogen wiki. I cant post a direct link due to my account status but google "how to install cyanogenmod" and its about the 3rd result.
Got stuck...
ChaosXIII said:
In short, yes. I know it seems odd to downgrade to upgrade. But to gain root you have to use RC29. To gain root its not too bad. you have to use RC29 to do it. You just install that. start it up. And then download the app "telnet" from the market. and then run a few commands. from there you can upgrade back up. And yes you should see everything in the market. Yeah its kinda annoying but there are some great results possible.
A more in depth set of instructions is located on the Cyanogen wiki. I cant post a direct link due to my account status but google "how to install cyanogenmod" and its about the 3rd result.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Okay, so here's what I did. I downgraded my G1 to RC29, rooted it successfully. Downloaded the latest cyanogenmod, named it setup.zip, went to recovery mode, did a factory reset and installed the setup.zip. Now my G1 won't get past the load screen (which says G1). What did I do wrong?? I can get still into recovery mode...
Thanks for the help so far!
So I came up with an idea, I need to add a new update.zip how to connect to the computer through recovery mode??
aww, noob threads are cute!
http://www.androidoverdrive.com/viewtopic.php?f=11&t=7
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=563679
http://www.cyanogenmod.com
Everything you need is contained in these links. Welcome to Android Geekdom!
Done!
jndd333 said:
Everything you need is contained in these links. Welcome to Android Geekdom!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks! That did the job. Why does this ROM feel so slow??
Thank you again guys!
firmware 1.6
baseband 62.50S.20.17U_2.22.19.26I
build DRC92
I got G1 bought in uk (continental)
HOW TO ROOT IT FIRST AND THAN INSTALL 2.1 ANDROID on it.
Don't tell me its on the forum, because its not.all the answers are confusing,everyone is trying different files etc.
I need 100% working sollution ,someone who have done it, and knows exacly the process.
I know i have to downgrade first DRC92, than root it ,than install 2.1 .
only working sollution checked by yourself.
THanks
lu9thix said:
Don't tell me its on the forum, because its not.all the answers are confusing
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I won't "tell you" it's on the forum, but it is. Did you even look here? HERE
This is a step by step of what to do. If you can read, you can root.
Since this is your first post I won't "tell you" to have a better attitude and not be lazy.
if that dont work work email me bro and we can do that ish step by step. i got gchat if u got it its faster.
Welcome to the forum and thanks for not clicking any of the stickies labeled READ ME BEFORE YOU POST in any of the forums. We appreciate this, because now we get to spend time reading this thread and being annoyed, when the time could be better served helping people that actually read the directions and maybe got stuck. And yes, I am being sarcastic.
Ninjineer said:
Welcome to the forum and thanks for not clicking any of the stickies labeled READ ME BEFORE YOU POST in any of the forums. We appreciate this, because now we get to spend time reading this thread and being annoyed, when the time could be better served helping people that actually read the directions and maybe got stuck. And yes, I am being sarcastic.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sigh* my back hurts now. Go install adb also.
Here, both tutorials in 1 spot....
ADB 4 Dummies (this will get ADB up and running on either linux, windows or mac w/ step by step instruction for all)
G1 Root / Upgrade Tutorial - this will root, upgrade recovery, upgrade radio, upgrade spl, partition your sdcard and install the newest cyanogenmod 4.2.15.1.
Six6Sicks said:
Ok, I won't "tell you" it's on the forum, but it is. Did you even look here? HERE
This is a step by step of what to do. If you can read, you can root.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I started reading through that, downloading the files that it said to download but I'm stuck at the "1.6 Recovery Image" file. The link goes to a page that offers files for the Android DevPhone, but I just have a normal TMobile G1. What file am I supposed to use?
hawicz said:
I started reading through that, downloading the files that it said to download but I'm stuck at the "1.6 Recovery Image" file. The link goes to a page that offers files for the Android DevPhone, but I just have a normal TMobile G1. What file am I supposed to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When you go here: http://developer.htc.com/adp.html
Scroll down till you see
Version: Android 1.6
Image: Recovery Image
download this one: signed-dream_devphone_userdebug-ota-14721.zip
If you get stuck after that let us know.
the 32b version of the Dream is the t-mo G1 AND the ADP1 (dev phone) only diff is one came with a diff SPL, and some cool graphics
@ all sarcastic ppl - will you pay me for my bricked phone if I try and do something wrong?Its better to ask someone who. Already done it, init?
Considering amount of bricked g1/htc on ebay-thanks :]
Bloody experts,instead help you get old ppl talk.
@all who was helpful -mrandroid and b6gsix
Six6Sicks said:
When you go here: h ttp://developer.htc.com/adp.html
Scroll down till you see
Version: Android 1.6
Image: Recovery Image
download this one: signed-dream_devphone_userdebug-ota-14721.zip
If you get stuck after that let us know.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, I'll assume that I should ignore the big warning at the top of the page that says "This update applies to the Android Dev Phone for developers only", and try that file. Thanks.
mrandroid said:
Here, both tutorials in 1 spot....
ADB 4 Dummies (this will get ADB up and running on either linux, windows or mac w/ step by step instruction for all)
G1 Root / Upgrade Tutorial - this will root, upgrade recovery, upgrade radio, upgrade spl, partition your sdcard and install the newest cyanogenmod 4.2.15.1.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This works perfect. includes all files needed and easy to follow tutorial. By the time you're done you'll need to do nothing else.
hawicz said:
Ok, I'll assume that I should ignore the big warning at the top of the page that says "This update applies to the Android Dev Phone for developers only", and try that file. Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeP!
......
whitemonster said:
This works perfect. includes all files needed and easy to follow tutorial. By the time you're done you'll need to do nothing else.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're kidding, right? When I tried that upgrade tutorial (the one at myhangoutonline.com) *none* of the files were available for download. Every single one I clicked on went to a "404" page.
Six6Sicks said:
yeP!
......
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, thanks, but... I'm still a bit confused: all the instructions I've seen for upgrading to Android 2.1 say to use cyanogenmod, but the cyanogenmod site says that it is based on Android 1.6 (according to cyanogenmod.com/about), so is that really what I'm supposed to use?
hawicz said:
You're kidding, right? When I tried that upgrade tutorial (the one at myhangoutonline.com) *none* of the files were available for download. Every single one I clicked on went to a "404" page.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I apologize, stupid SEO plugin was rewriting the url and messing up a seperate plugin. Links are now working if you still need to upgrade.
My tutorial shows you how to root and upgrade everything and install cyanogenmod 4.2.15.1 if you want to try the 2.1 version which is in testing, go to the cyanogenmod repository on my site, go into the testing folder for the G1 and download that rom instead. Use that rom instead of 4.2.15.1 as the final step.
G1 Root / Upgrade Tutorial
hawicz said:
Ok, thanks, but... I'm still a bit confused: all the instructions I've seen for upgrading to Android 2.1 say to use cyanogenmod, but the cyanogenmod site says that it is based on Android 1.6 (according to cyanogenmod.com/about), so is that really what I'm supposed to use?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Just put the 1.6 on then you can flash 2.1 found HERE
Follow the directions on the main post.
If you have gtalk pm me your gtalk email and I'll try and step you through it if you absolutely can't figure it out.
Thanks for all the answers! I think I have a good understanding of what I need to do now, so here goes...
*crosses fingers*
I'm following the instructions on myhangoutonline.com.
Well, so far so good, with some minor hiccups:
During the downgrade your phone step, when the phone says "Press the action key" after step 6, it's talking about the trackball button. Took me a little while to figure that out.
However, after I pressed it, it just went back to the initial multicolor gradient screen, with the addition of a line in the middle that said "Serial0". (maybe it was there before, but I missed it?) I ended up having to pull the battery because I could figure out how to make it reboot.
After reboot I had to go through the Google sign in process. Not a big deal, but it'd be nice to mention that this is necessary.
Upgrading recovery seemed to go pretty much as described. On to the apparent dangerous step of upgrading the radio & spl!
Uh oh! It looks like something didn't work. I started up in recovery mode, but there's no option in the menu for "Mount SD card".
I tried going to console, then "ls /sdcard", but no files show up, and /sdcard doesn't show up as a mounted filesystem when I run "mount".
I couldn't figure out how to get out of the console ("exit" just took me back to a "press enter" prompt, and then back into the console), so I ended up pulling the battery again.
Now what? Should I try upgrading recovery again?
hi guys, im stuck...
well not exactly- i have unlocked the bootloader on my nexus one on FRF91.
but what bout after that? i found some links on XDA and it says to superboot? cant do it i keep getting error and most of the tutorials are on windows OS, i use a mac, i would really appreaciate it if anyone can assist me any further with commands on terminal for mac.
i'm a newbie so i really dont know what to do, i've spend almost 8 hrs on this and only got bootloader unlocked.
thanx for your help guys
Why would you play around with a $580 phone if you don't know what your doing, they had a post showing you how to root without unlocking your bootloader. The other thing is you have to explain exactly what you did, and what stock rom you came from and where your trying to go. I'm not familiar with Mac systems but there should have been instructions for that system to. I'm going to check it out for you and see if I can help.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=636795
Do step IV.
Pick a ROM you like from the list in Developers section, download it.
Do step VI.
Not really hard.
blas4me said:
Why would you play around with a $580 phone if you don't know what your doing, they had a post showing you how to root without unlocking your bootloader. The other thing is you have to explain exactly what you did, and what stock rom you came from and where your trying to go. I'm not familiar with Mac systems but there should have been instructions for that system to. I'm going to check it out for you and see if I can help.
Sent from my Nexus One using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have unlocked the bootloader- theres a unlock logo on boot screen, but then I know I need to do superboot n then flash recovery image!!
That's the part that I tried to do but can't do.. I have all the files,but commands don't seem to work.
I've been trying for almost 12 hrs.
n I'm on stock frf91 which I did OTA for
Let me know if there's anything you can do thnx
Check this video
Kartikp84 said:
I have unlocked the bootloader- theres a unlock logo on boot screen, but then I know I need to do superboot n then flash recovery image!!
That's the part that I tried to do but can't do.. I have all the files,but commands don't seem to work.
I've been trying for almost 12 hrs.
n I'm on stock frf91 which I did OTA for
Let me know if there's anything you can do thnx
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
This site helped me out alot when I first learned, because they have instructions accompanied with video, so it's like you can't go wrong. Sometime the dudes who have just instructions leave out a step and that can f things up for us. When I rooted my N1, the guy who posted the instructions put a period in the wrong place, and it almost had me stuck, but I knew the recovery image and I knew It did'nt belong there. Anyway check this vid, and let me know what happens, start from the beginning even though your boot loader is unlocked.
http://theunlockr.com/2010/01/02/how-to-root-the-nexus-one/
Here's another video with instructions for Mac.
http://www.droiddog.com/android-blog/2010/02/video-tutorial-hack-your-nexus-one/
There are links to files for each step, and the only suggestion I would make is maybe look for the newer 1.7.0.1 Amon Ra recovery image and to not use the Sense ROM that he links to. The recovery image is here on this forum in the Android Development section. I don't use it since I'm still having no issues with the 1.7.0 version that this guy links to in the guide.
As far as ROMs are concerned, I highly recommend going with either CyanogenMod 5.0.8 Stable (because it has fewer issues and is a good place for a noob to start) or with one of the more stable Froyo roms, like Kang-O-Rama .9.