[Thunderbolt Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting] Dannar:
I have a rooted thunderbolt -- thank you revolutionary -- but I have not taken the next step yet, because there's a few things I want to clarify. I'm plan to do a clean wipe, so filter my questions through that lens, if you will.

I'm on stock froyo build 1.70.605. See, I rooted before gingerbread, and now I'm stuck here in the past. The OTA got me a few times, so I've become a lot better with clockwork recovery and nandroid backups. Oddly enough, the OTA is no longer being pushed on me.

1) Preserve contacts

You can do this through google, evidently. But is this something you have to do proactively? Or does it happen automatically behind the scenes? What do I do to get 'em back after the new rom is in place?

2) Preserve SMS messages

Now, I've downloaded handcent because of the froyo error where SMS messages go to unintended targets. Accidentally told my boss I was going to get raped in a van...was a joke for another buddy of mine.

I wanna keep my text messages. What do I do for that?

3) Apps and Data

I know this is what TiBu's for. My questions here are where does TiBu back up my data to? Does TiBu magically reappear after I install the ROM and then merrily offer to restore everything I had backed up?

Oh, and I've read conflicting things about using TiBu on system apps. I'm inclinded to take the side of "no, not ever."

4) Getting the right Radio

Ok, I know there is no clear answer to this. I'd just assume the latest gingerbread radio, unless the ROM specifies something different (most dont). My question here is that in some places people talk about CDMA and LTE radios differently, and other times they make it sound like theres just one comprehensive radio for both.

5) Flash!

Here's what I've gathered...use the clockwork recovery mod. Wipe the dalvik (davlik?) cache until it starts to chafe because you dont want to be flashin' dirty. This is where you'll do the ROM, radio, and if I'm going for bonus points, a kernel.

What's the order for this? ROM -> Radio -> Kernel? People also mention yanking the battery as a hard restart between these steps. Advisable?

6) Clocks - Over and Under and Through the Woods

Do you use the android market app set cpu for this? Or does it depend on what ROM and Kernel you're using?

I have heard that overclocking will help add to the wear and tear of your phone. I dont mind the temporary instability and figuring out what's the highest you can go. Just don't want to damage this thing. Oh, and what the duce is a governer? I get that it's supposed to be some kinda speed cap, but what imposes it? The ROM? The Kernel? Jesus?

More realistically, I want to underclock it when it's idle in order to conserve juice. I figure it's more useful than overclocking.

7) Battery Calibration

I read from what seemed like a well informed how-to guide that battery calibration is bunk. I could see that. Everybody has their own pseudo scientific way to repetitiously plug and unplug the battery until it achieves charge-nirvana. Is it more than superstition?

8) Launchers and Randomness

What's a launcher? Is it worth using? Why?

If I plug my SD card into another android device, will the data be recognized? Can I backup my SD card's contents to a windows PC?

Duely blundered from my thunderdolt