How to Root an Android Phone

1. Charge your phone--preferably overnight so that the battery is at 100% capacity.

2. Change the settings to allow installation of non-Market applications. Go to Settings > Applications and choose 'Unknown sources.' The green check mark should light up.

3. Open your browser and go to the Cyanogen Recovery Flasher mirror site (Resources, below.) Download the file and open it, then click 'Backup Recovery Image' and 'Flash Cyanogen Recovery 1.4' in sequence.

4. Power your phone down. Then reboot into recovery mode by holding down the 'Home' and 'Power' keys simultaneously. Your phone is now rooted.

5. Install a custom ROM of your choice by downloading it to your SIM card and applying it via the instructions above.