HTC Desired root has been released recently and it would use the Linux installation on 10MB space to install it, which is called Tiny Core. Rooting HTC Desire is not as easy as rooting HTC Hero but some HTC geek has finally done this hectic task. Lets take a quick look:

The root for HTC Desire is available but it comes with few limitations, like:

The root process will…

• flash your device with a new, generic 1.15.405.4 based ROM that has Superuser access
• show you how to enter the recovery image in future, allowing you to flash update zips

The root process will NOT…

• enable you to flash your device with a custom recovery image that can be launched easily by just holding down the volume down button when powering on
• enable you to have write access to the /system partition in normal use of the device

Both of these limitations are being worked on of course.

You need to make sure that your device is compatible for the process. Carefully read this:

HTC Desire can be rooted, provided it has a bootloader version of 0.80 or below and ROM version 1.21.xxx.x or below (2 different downloads are available depending on your ROM version). To check this, turn off your device, then turn it back on with the ‘back’ key held. On the second line in green text you will see HBOOT- and then a number. Provided this is 0.80 or below, this guide should work for you.

What you need before beginning the process?

• a HTC Desire
• a computer running Windows (32 bit recommended, some users have reported issues with x64), OSX or Linux
• a microUSB cable
• a microSD card (to be made into a ‘goldcard’ – only necessary if your device is an operator supplied device)
• the downloads below

The guide to Root HTC Desire with Tiny Core Linux

Follow through these steps, one by one and at the end of it you’ll have a rooted Desire with the latest ROM.

Note: This process will wipe your device and there is currently no option to backup your device ROM before you start.

• Make your microSD card into a goldcard by following these instructions (it’s a good idea to back up the contents of your card first!).
• Unzip the file you downloaded to a directory, then open a command prompt / terminal window at that directory.
• Turn off your HTC Desire, then turn it back on with the ‘back’ button held down. You’ll see ‘FASTBOOT’ written on the screen in a red box. Connect the phone to the computer.
• In the terminal window, enter either ‘step1-windows.bat’, ‘./step1-mac.sh’ or ‘./step1-linux.sh’ as appropriate.
• When this step has completed, REMOVE THE GOLDCARD and either format it and replace, or replace with a different (non goldcard) microSD.
• Navigate to the ‘BOOTLOADER’ and then ‘RECOVERY’ option on the menu, using the volume buttons to move and the power button to select.
• In the terminal window, enter either ‘step2-windows.bat’, ‘./step2-mac.sh’ or ‘./step2-linux.sh’ as appropriate.
• When this has completed, your device should be at the ‘recovery’ screen. Select the ‘wipe’ option, then select the option to apply an update zip from sdcard, and select ‘rootedupdate.zip’. This will take a little while, so go make a nice cup of tea. When the flash has finished, reboot, and you are DONE!

Entering recovery in future

Included with the root script is a script for entering recovery in the future. To use…

• Turn on the device with the volume button held down
• Navigate to the ‘RECOVERY’ option on the menu, using the volume buttons to move and the power button to select.
• In your terminal window, enter either ‘recovery-windows.bat’, ‘./recovery-mac.sh’ or ‘./recovery-linux.sh’ as appropriate.
• It is recommended that you do NOT use the ‘USB mount’ functionality in the recovery image!

More about this can be found in here.