Is it possible to have an unrooted, locked custom ROM? I went back to stock from PA and noticed a drop in performance. However, I need to install Good Enterprise, and it can't be rooted for that.
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
What do you mean by a locked rom?
Pretty sure all custom roms are rooted. You may have to stay on stock
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
frozndevl said:
Is it possible to have an unrooted, locked custom ROM? I went back to stock from PA and noticed a drop in performance. However, I need to install Good Enterprise, and it can't be rooted for that.
Thanks
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You don't need to lock the bootloader, as far as I know programs like Good for Enterprise cannot detect that. I have to run Mobile Iron in it had no idea about the bootloader state.
I run or have run custom ROM's unrooted before. Terminus is the latest one I have run unrooted and had no issues with enterprise setup under mobile iron. I flashed like normal, even supersu and set the phone up using Titanium Backup. Once setup I use supersu complete unrooted function and reboot. Once back up I load up enterprise apps. Haven't had an issue in a long time. Even on custom kernels.
Guess all I need to do is unroot then. Damn, would have saved me a lot of time... At least I'm on lollipop at least now.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
Sorry, I should have added it doesn't work for all roms. Terminus was just one I could get to work because I don't think he himself modified any system files just let supersu do it. PA, slim, CM may be different as I believe they modify files that mobile iron and the like can detect.
With a shot anyways.
Related
I'm curious if anyone else waits a bit before rooting. Just in case the phone breaks early on and needs to be sent back.
I'm thinking maybe wait 1-2 months?
Am I paranoid, or does everyone else do this too?
.jond said:
I'm curious if anyone else waits a bit before rooting. Just in case the phone breaks early on and needs to be sent back.
I'm thinking maybe wait 1-2 months?
Am I paranoid, or does everyone else do this too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Personally I don't worry about that. I DO wait to give myself time to familiarize myself with how the phone functions and such before rooting so that I know when there is a problem, rather than second guessing.
It is also hard to tell if a Rom/kernel is running better when you have no base line to compare it to.
I rooted my phone almost immediately. I don't like using custom ROMs but I do like using apps and tweaks that require root.
Sent from my Nexus 5 using xda app-developers app
1-2 months??? I didn't even make it 1-2 hours. My phone was unlocked and rooted within 30 minutes of delivery.
I unlocked, installed TWRP, and rooted within 20 minutes of UPS delivering it.
I used to root and start flashing almost immediately. But as the years have passed and I've become more reliant on my phone for work and such, I've started pulling back a bit. I've reached a point where I just get too frustrated with even the slightest bugs so now I immediately unlock the bootloader (to prevent having to do a full factory restore later) and just use the phone as is until a fully stable ROM comes around that I feel comfortable flashing without losing any functionality at all.
This time around I'll probably stay stock with Nova Launcher (once the new 4.4 version is finalized) for another couple months. Time will tell though, I suppose.
.jond said:
I'm curious if anyone else waits a bit before rooting. Just in case the phone breaks early on and needs to be sent back.
I'm thinking maybe wait 1-2 months?
Am I paranoid, or does everyone else do this too?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Seeing as I have a Nexus device, with factory images provided directly from Google that will return my phone completely back to stock (except lock the bootloader), I usually don't hesitate to root or flash custom ROMs. The only reasons I haven't unlocked my bootloader yet is because CWM isn't completely stable yet (I don't like TWRP for some reason), and because my brother is debating on a Nexus 5 for his new phone, and I wanted to show him complete stock because he won't be a tinkerer. He'll be using the unmodded, unrooted bare stock image.
I rooted it out of the box yesterday.
Waiting myself. Want to get a feel for this device as is. Maybe later I will root/flash. But for now I am happy as is. No rush.
The important thing is you learn about the phone and how to root it and potential issues before you do it. I'm still waiting for my phone but the first thing I'm going to do is put a custom recovery on and make a nandroid. Then I'll root it as I have apps I like to use that require root. I'm not worried about warranty issues as it's pretty straight forward to put the factory image back on it and relock it.
Also, remember that when you unlock it you'll lose all your data and apps. And you'll need to unlock it to root it.
I booted, took the ota, unlocked the bootloader, installed TWRP and Super SU as soon as the phone was in my grimy hands.
Rooted immediately after taking out of the box .. no point waiting...
I unlocked and rooted before activating. Not really planning on flashing any ROMs, but just wanted it done in case I needed to tweak cpu to increase battery life.
Just until you familiarize with your new device.
Just successfully rooting won't affect the end results when using the stock Rom. Everything should still work the same way but with more options for the user.
I jut waited until next day, but took time to play some games, make calls/texts, web browsing and tested all features. There I learned the battery life, Net speed and stock performance. Everything was the way should be Firmware/Hardware wise:good:. Then, unlocked/rooted/ & flashed its first Rom
and here we are!
I didn't even boot it. I powered it on in download mode, fastboot oem unlocked, flashed twrp and rooted. Then booted for the first time. I only rooted for tibu and adaway. Now just waiting on aokp.
I waited 4 days only and mainly because we have no stable recoveries yet. Twrp is a joke while cwm is not official yet.
caribouxda said:
I waited 4 days only and mainly because we have no stable recoveries yet. Twrp is a joke while cwm is not official yet.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'd say just the opposite, but then I like twrp
You can unroot, so....
Hi I recently rooted my phone, and flashed the Franco kernel (still stock ROM). I received the 4.4.4 system update OTA notification and I downloaded/installed it. Later I realized my phone was rooted..but I checked - I still had Franco kernel, superuser, and boot loader unlocked...so I guess I didn't lose my root? Have I maybe messed up something else by doing this?
The .4 one seems to break the rules and apply whatever the situation.
That said, OTA isn't the best way to go under normal circumstances. You would be best flashing a stock rooted ROM
Sent from my Nexus 5 using Tapatalk
im in need of help deodexing. i used the universal deodexer and didnt get proper start up. it became stuck on verizon logo. i reflashed the firmware so its like new again. question is how to properly deodex the stock rom so i can theme status icons? maybe some zip file that i can use in safestrap to make things easier. oh im using verizon prepaid galaxy s3 which is i535PP. any help is appreciated
bjf189 said:
im in need of help deodexing. i used the universal deodexer and didnt get proper start up. it became stuck on verizon logo. i reflashed the firmware so its like new again. question is how to properly deodex the stock rom so i can theme status icons? maybe some zip file that i can use in safestrap to make things easier. oh im using verizon prepaid galaxy s3 which is i535PP. any help is appreciated
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If root can even be obtained this might be an option, otherwise your probably out of luck
Sent from my Nexus 5
Root has been obtained @ShapesBlue
Nobody has created a ROM for i535PP users yet(the i535 roms run but no wifi/data). And you're correct about having to use safestrap to flash it.If you're comfortable with a bash terminal you can try using one of the various tools found around here to modify the stock rom. If you're not then I'll see what I can do this weekend and try to get something for us i535pp users (after a day or so of testing)
ShapesBlue said:
If root can even be obtained this might be an option, otherwise your probably out of luck
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Ok, there wasn't really a need to mention me in this thread. Everytime someone does that I get an email. And just because root has been obtained doesn't mean you can flash roms via safestrap
Sent from my Nexus 5
ShapesBlue said:
Ok, there wasn't really a need to mention me in this thread. Everytime someone does that I get an email. And just because root has been obtained doesn't mean you can flash roms via safestrap
Sent from my Nexus 5
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Flashing via safestrap appears to work fine on my i535pp. The only issue I ran into was wifi not working with roms meant for the i535. And sorry for you having to receive an email for that.
OpenSourcererSweg said:
Flashing via safestrap appears to work fine on my i535pp. The only issue I ran into was wifi not working with roms meant for the i535. And sorry for you having to receive an email for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Its cool. Good to see safestrap works on the prepaid version also
Sent from my Nexus 5
I'm not sure what a bash terminal is unless it's the same thing as the terminal emulator. I tried using that rom that's called paulpizz or something like that. I used some other rom to. The paulpizz one always failed to install even after downloading it a third time. The other one i can't remember the name but it installed but wouldn't start at all. It would just go black and bootloop and goes into stock recovery for some reason. I came across the nf5 module when i found that paulpizz rom on the goo server they hosted it on. So i got the module and i figured if i were to flash the module over the i535 rom that it would fix the wifi an data problem but never got an answer because it always failed to start up properly and would just bootloop into stock recovery. Ugh Verizon is making things so difficult with modding lol. As of now I'm just using xposed to get at least some theming in and tweaks. I couldn't get any deodex program to work. Whenever i used the deodex files and pushed them to the system of apps and framework, it would restart and just stick on the Verizon logo. So i had to flash the firmware to fix the problem.
When i was on 4.3 with this phone safestrap worked and i got the wifi and data sim error. Now that i got it replaced I'm running the kernel of July 22 2014. Everyone was saying I'm out of luck but i came across kingroot and got the most recent version and it worked. I have root. Installed safestrap for 4.4 and it runs fine but can't get any custom roms to boot. I only managed to find one 4.4 touchwiz rom unfortunately
OpenSourcererSweg said:
Root has been obtained @ShapesBlue
Nobody has created a ROM for i535PP users yet(the i535 roms run but no wifi/data). And you're correct about having to use safestrap to flash it.If you're comfortable with a bash terminal you can try using one of the various tools found around here to modify the stock rom. If you're not then I'll see what I can do this weekend and try to get something for us i535pp users (after a day or so of testing)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
OpenSourcererSweg said:
Flashing via safestrap appears to work fine on my i535pp. The only issue I ran into was wifi not working with roms meant for the i535. And sorry for you having to receive an email for that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Can you tell me what rom you have successfully flashed with safestrap? I would like to test something
bjf189 said:
Can you tell me what rom you have successfully flashed with safestrap? I would like to test something
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...iterom-v1-0-i535vrudne1-t2805797/post53919312
If you're going to try flashing an i535 rom and then the i535pp modules let me know how that goes, can't test as I won't be able to do anything till the weekend. If that's the case then there's no need for roms for the pre paid version. Cyanogenmod was also bootable but very buggy.
OpenSourcererSweg said:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/gal...iterom-v1-0-i535vrudne1-t2805797/post53919312
If you're going to try flashing an i535 rom and then the i535pp modules let me know how that goes, can't test as I won't be able to do anything till the weekend. If that's the case then there's no need for roms for the pre paid version. Cyanogenmod was also bootable but very buggy.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'll let you know how it goes and thank you. How is it that you were able to boot CM? From my understanding being that the bootloader is locked and has Knox for extra security to make the unlocking like impossible. But a genius came up with safestrap so we are able to use some custom roms but the down side is that it has to be the same Android OS and has to be a touchwiz based rom. So how are you getting lucky with all this? I love CM and I'd pick CM over any custom rom any day but i gave up an lost hope of ever getting CM because of the locked bootloader
bjf189 said:
I'll let you know how it goes and thank you. How is it that you were able to boot CM? From my understanding being that the bootloader is locked and has Knox for extra security to make the unlocking like impossible. But a genius came up with safestrap so we are able to use some custom roms but the down side is that it has to be the same Android OS and has to be a touchwiz based rom. So how are you getting lucky with all this? I love CM and I'd pick CM over any custom rom any day but i gave up an lost hope of ever getting CM because of the locked bootloader
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Safestrap 3.75 had support for AOSP roms (wifi/data didn't work for them either) and 4.0 dropped support for that (there is currently no point). Read the thread for more info http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2797314
Ok i wasn't using safestrap 4.0. I had 3.75 B05 which i thought was the latest version they had. I'm updated to 4.0 now and about to test the modules on the superlite rom
Update: i have tried the super lite rom using safestrap. The boot animation won't work during start up. When it gets to the welcome screen it freezes. It still does it even without applying the nf5 module. It freezes and will keep popping up that system isn't responding. System just keeps freezing and prompting me to wait or force close. So not sure why my s3 has a problem running it but yours don't
bjf189 said:
Update: i have tried the super lite rom using safestrap. The boot animation won't work during start up. When it gets to the welcome screen it freezes. It still does it even without applying the nf5 module. It freezes and will keep popping up that system isn't responding. System just keeps freezing and prompting me to wait or force close. So not sure why my s3 has a problem running it but yours don't
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Did you wipe cache/data after installing? Other than that I can't think of anything that would cause that
OpenSourcererSweg said:
Did you wipe cache/data after installing? Other than that I can't think of anything that would cause that
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Well no. The instructions just said to do a full wipe off everything then install and reboot so extra what i did. What version you running of the rom?
bjf189 said:
Well no. The instructions just said to do a full wipe off everything then install and reboot so extra what i did. What version you running of the rom?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm running the stock prepaid rom, not superlightrom, sorry if there's any confusion there.
When I tried out superlightrom (quite some time ago) it appeared to work fine (excluding wifi/data and nagging about no SIM card being inserted, nothing like what you're describing) and I went back to stock.
Oh ok. Well it seems that the prepaid version or the s3 in general is dead. That's unfortunate
Sorry for the noob question but someone helped me root and install ElementalX many months ago and I've just been keeping it up to date using the ElementalX Ex Kernel Manager software which has been awesome and super easy to use. One-click updates and so on.
I'm already rooted and running a custom rom so my wishful thinking tells me it should be easy to update to the latest Marshmallow version of ElementalX.. IE I'm hoping I don't have to flash back to stock first.. get adb working again and run a bunch of commands etc. Plus lose all my configuration settings?
Maybe that's the only way but I thought I would ask first just in case there is in fact a dead easy way to do it considering my circumstances.
Many thanks to any who take the time to school me
vesperknight said:
Sorry for the noob question but someone helped me root and install ElementalX many months ago and I've just been keeping it up to date using the ElementalX Ex Kernel Manager software which has been awesome and super easy to use. One-click updates and so on.
I'm already rooted and running a custom rom so my wishful thinking tells me it should be easy to update to the latest Marshmallow version of ElementalX.. IE I'm hoping I don't have to flash back to stock first.. get adb working again and run a bunch of commands etc. Plus lose all my configuration settings?
Maybe that's the only way but I thought I would ask first just in case there is in fact a dead easy way to do it considering my circumstances.
Many thanks to any who take the time to school me
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
At first, do you have a Marshmallow build? If you are on Lollipop, you can't install ElementalX 6.
Do you have a custom recovery?
You won't lose anything by flashing a new kernel.
Coming off of the Samsung S5 and going to the Honor 8 (Phone should be here tommorow)
On the samsung I had safestrap loaded for recovery, rooted, xposed, and many rooted apps.
I was also running stock rom because of lack of room, also lack of options.
The honor 8 looks like it is easy to get TWRP on it and get it unlocked bootloader.
Not sure about custom roms , looks like there are a few but is stock good ?
Also what about emui5 ?
Here is my current plan unless other suggestions:
Do titanium backup and nandroid on old phone.
Remove Sim and SD
Activate new phone with current sim (May need to go to att to trim)
Unlock Honor 8 bootloader.
Get TWRP loaded.
Root phone
load exposed , SU, Busy box, TB, (not in that order)
Load apps from Google play and overwrite data from TB if needed.
That is about it, so if I do this right should have stock rom and fully rooted and recovery.
currently looking at using Somboons tool for most of it.
This is a repost of my origional , but did in the wrong forums opps on my part.
I think before any mod on this device get used to the function of the unmodified device. And there after do your mods if you happy, unless you've already used this device.
eracet said:
Coming off of the Samsung S5 and going to the Honor 8 (Phone should be here tommorow)
On the samsung I had safestrap loaded for recovery, rooted, xposed, and many rooted apps.
I was also running stock rom because of lack of room, also lack of options.
The honor 8 looks like it is easy to get TWRP on it and get it unlocked bootloader.
Not sure about custom roms , looks like there are a few but is stock good ?
Also what about emui5 ?
Here is my current plan unless other suggestions:
Do titanium backup and nandroid on old phone.
Remove Sim and SD
Activate new phone with current sim (May need to go to att to trim)
Unlock Honor 8 bootloader.
Get TWRP loaded.
Root phone
load exposed , SU, Busy box, TB, (not in that order)
Load apps from Google play and overwrite data from TB if needed.
That is about it, so if I do this right should have stock rom and fully rooted and recovery.
currently looking at using Somboons tool for most of it.
This is a repost of my origional , but did in the wrong forums opps on my part.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have just got my honor 8 and all my other phones have been rooted and using custom Roms.
With this and with the updates and beta N I'm finding that I don't have to.
Using this ROM and using the custom themes that are available it's enough to keep me happy.
I'm looking forward to 2 years worth of updates.
It's an excellent phone and I really like the EMUI 5
Think hard before you root etc. There ain't any finished custom roms as yet.
There is no need to root to get rid of bloatware as the Rom let's you delete most of what you don't want.
Why you need to root ?
Try the phone and see what you can do.
Have fun
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
johnhux7 said:
I have just got my honor 8 and all my other phones have been rooted and using custom Roms.
With this and with the updates and beta N I'm finding that I don't have to.
Using this ROM and using the custom themes that are available it's enough to keep me happy.
I'm looking forward to 2 years worth of updates.
It's an excellent phone and I really like the EMUI 5
Think hard before you root etc. There ain't any finished custom roms as yet.
There is no need to root to get rid of bloatware as the Rom let's you delete most of what you don't want.
Why you need to root ?
Try the phone and see what you can do.
Have fun
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I root for many programs , titanium backup , es file explorer, APs toSD pro, xposed and some others.
On the same Samsung there was tons of junk on it.
I know if I go TWRP there isnt much use at the moment. Unless I need to sideload something.
Don't really need a custom rom, not yet at least.
Wondering if I root and keep the stock rom would be the best thing.
Can I load TWRP later ?
Heard it will break the EMUI 5 update.
Or I could always do TWRP , Root etc and then load EUMI 5 or custom version manually someday.
eracet said:
I root for many programs , titanium backup , es file explorer, APs toSD pro, xposed and some others.
On the same Samsung there was tons of junk on it.
I know if I go TWRP there isnt much use at the moment. Unless I need to sideload something.
Don't really need a custom rom, not yet at least.
Wondering if I root and keep the stock rom would be the best thing.
Can I load TWRP later ?
Heard it will break the EMUI 5 update.
Or I could always do TWRP , Root etc and then load EUMI 5 or custom version manually someday.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes mate you could root and keep the stock ROM but you will lose the option to get the OTA updates.
Just way up the pro's and cons and see if you really need to root.
I used to use titanium back up and yes it's a great app but there ain't really many options of custom ROMs to go back and forward between to need it in my case. Also now that as soon as you log into your Google account when going into a new rom you get your apps back anyway.
I have a couple of phones and I have root and am running CM14.1 on one of them and I can do more with this EMUI 5 beta N as I can do with CM14.1 !
I personally am gonna stick with stock on this phone for a good while. (At least till there are loads of roms to choose from)
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
johnhux7 said:
Yes mate you could root and keep the stock ROM but you will lose the option to get the OTA updates.
Just way up the pro's and cons and see if you really need to root.
I used to use titanium back up and yes it's a great app but there ain't really many options of custom ROMs to go back and forward between to need it in my case. Also now that as soon as you log into your Google account when going into a new rom you get your apps back anyway.
I have a couple of phones and I have root and am running CM14.1 on one of them and I can do more with this EMUI 5 beta N as I can do with CM14.1 !
I personally am gonna stick with stock on this phone for a good while. (At least till there are loads of roms to choose from)
John
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Is the EMUI 5.0 only coming on a Push update?
Or is it possible to flash it or any custom coming out with it. ?
I seen there is a signup for beta now.
I do need root ( I dont save anything to the cloud services) all local
Apps themselves will load from play store and amazon store, just the game data or any other data will be manual reinstall.
From what I understand if I dont install custom recovery I can still get the OTA update when it is time.
eracet said:
Is the EMUI 5.0 only coming on a Push update?
Or is it possible to flash it or any custom coming out with it. ?
I seen there is a signup for beta now.
I do need root ( I dont save anything to the cloud services) all local
Apps themselves will load from play store and amazon store, just the game data or any other data will be manual reinstall.
From what I understand if I dont install custom recovery I can still get the OTA update when it is time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
When I got the beta N update it came as an OTA update although i do think that there are some links to getting it via twrp over in the roms thread. I might be wrong with that though. Have a look
Sent from my Honor 8 using XDA Labs
I were also used to root on all my previous phones including the last one I moved from which was the Galaxy S4.
EMUI has so many nice functions (including choosing whether standard storage should be internal or external) so I actually don't need root anymore. Not even for blocking ads since that can be done through VPN.
If you want to move over your app date without root then do a backup with ADB.
Search for "adb backup" and you'll find a XDA thread about it. I made such a backup and got all my app data moved over along with the apps.
Oh yeah, and personally I'm using Evie for a launcher but when EMUI 5 is published I think I'll move back to the stock launcher.
Bro, the stock ROM rocks with its customisability!
And one more thing; if you're eligible to get an extra year of warranty plus 3 months of free screen change in case it cracks then remember to sign up through the HiCare app.
I'll also be getting my Honor 8 shortly. The only reason I've rooted my phones in the past is for ad blocking. I see there's an app called "Block This" that does not require root? Will that work on this phone?
zippster1 said:
I'll also be getting my Honor 8 shortly. The only reason I've rooted my phones in the past is for ad blocking. I see there's an app called "Block This" that does not require root? Will that work on this phone?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've used AdGuard and it's brilliant, but it's not free.
EDIT: I'm currently using "Block This!" and it's working very well!
I use root for some games, game guardian.
Some games are pay to win. ( I don't mind paying some but don't rob me)
I did get the phone working with my cell company and currently getting the Sd card backed up just in case something goes wrong somewhere.
Looking at getting a bootloader unlock code, but there site doesn't seem to be working right.
Thanks for the suggestions on steps to do.
Read multiple tips and ideas.
Next step is get SD card installed and getting google account loaded up.
Well I installed everything, only thing I don't like so far is it forces apps like hangouts.
I know it was recommended that I do not to TWRP or root, but I did anyways. ( I took suggestions very serious Thank you)
Now trying to get used to setup is a little challanging, maybe playing around with it will help a lot.
Such as hard to find what actual apps I have like an app drawer.
You people are the best at helping out . Thank you so much for helping me get on track !
Just got my H8 on monday (FRD-L14) and am in the same boat- thinking of Rooting but with the lack of ROM support at the moment I think I'm going to stay stock for a bit. There are some xposed mods that i'd like to get back but the stock features are pretty solid as it is. I did the CM theme, Apex launcher, changed out Icons and I'm pretty damn happy with it!
flet2 said:
Just got my H8 on monday (FRD-L14) and am in the same boat- thinking of Rooting but with the lack of ROM support at the moment I think I'm going to stay stock for a bit. There are some xposed mods that i'd like to get back but the stock features are pretty solid as it is. I did the CM theme, Apex launcher, changed out Icons and I'm pretty damn happy with it!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have the same model now FRD-L14.
Recovery , rooted, SU, xposed, F-droid.
Loaded my 20 root apps
I did not see a way to root without loading recovery.
There is another thread on TWRP.
What my plan down the road is to keep it like this , then eventtually (I assume early next year) see some development from Roms etc.
Hopefully a modified EUMI 5.
One of the major reasons I did not wait to start the process is because when you unlock bootloader it wipes.
So doing this now I cna set the phone up how I like. Then when the updating begins I can always go back to nandroid backup if something goes wrong.
Even though ATM the TWRP isnt backing up my rom (will update recovery when it does).
Nice- so i assume all the current "how to's" work fine for the L14? I've been reluctant to meddle too much since our model isn't specifically mentioned in most of the post here (though i assume anything for L04 applies). That and I don't see a stock firmware package out there to go back to if something goes wrong. I'm not a total noob but have only rooted and ROM'd with samsung devices so far (GS 2 and 3) which are so well documented and tested you really can't screw it up.
I'm really conflicted. I want to root simply because of the option for backing up app data rooted. I could care less about custom ROMs right now, but I want to be able to back up the data inside my apps like all the settings, messages, accounts etc etc. It is really annoying to me that I have to reset that when switching phones. I hate to say it but it seems like Apple does this better with iTunes backups (which is not an option for me though because I don't want to pay the money for an iDevice).
My issue on the H8 though is I rooted it just fine but then realized I forgot to do OTA updates first. So I did the OTA updates (full download) which basically re-locked, re-stocked my bootloader and unrooted the phone. Now in order to re-root, I have to go through unlocking again which is going to wipe all the customizations I already did. I really wish there was a way to keep a stock image WITH root but continue to do OTA updates...