Develop Bugs

[Q] Help for noob - riskfree root / S-OFF / flashing

Although I rooted my own Desire back in May of last year, I have since moved on to a different phone and hence stopped following development etc for the Desire.
I have a work colleague who would like the benefits of a rooted, custom ROM but he has no experience in phone-modifying. He basically wants better battery life (so SetCPU would do the job for that) and more space for apps (Apps2SD the original, not Google's implementation). On top of that I'm sure he would probably enjoy the enhancements of the new Sense ROMs as well.
When I rooted my own Desire it was back in the days of fake-flash and I don't think my Desire was ever S-OFFed - I only had a moderate understanding of what I was doing, and there were a few brown trouser moments as I recall!
What I'm looking for is a complete guide start to finish of the easiest, least risky way to currently root a Desire and install custom recovery (presumably ClockworkMod & Rom Manager are standard for the Desire still?).
I've looked around the forums and found guides which explain some of it, however these threads run into 30, 40, 50+ pages which I think is a bit much reading if you don't really understand what you're reading about. Luckily I have an interest in it, but to my colleague it's just a means to an end, to get his phone working in a decent manner! Unsurprisingly, he is not interested in learning how a combustion engine works in order to drive his car either.
So, can someone write me a FOOLPROOF guide from start to finish:
1. Rooting and S-OFF (with a basic explanation of what this is),
2. Installing a custom recovery (again with an explanation of what this is, and how to use it, Nandroid backups etc)
3. Installing ROMs
I know I'm asking a bit much - I'm just trying to make it as easy as possible for my colleague without actually doing it myself, as I'm not really a good enough friend that if I did take his phone away for a couple of days, that he wouldn't mind if it came back bricked! It needs to be his decision to do it, and him doing it.
I am willing to donate if someone can put all this together for him.

This should have most of the things needed.
Don't worry about S-off since it is not needed and one of the only procedures that can really brick a phone.
Edit: Before starting with rooting, boot in to hboot and check the pvt version. If it's pvt4, the best thing to do is to use Amon_RA as a alternative recovery image. To do this just follow the guide but befoer clicking on root in Unrevoked go to "file" and select the alternative recovery.

You can use the unrevoked way which is too easy to do and if you want to S-Off, although not needed, you can visit AlphaRev

I would say for definite, forget about s-off. Not exactly sure what it is myself, but as it's completely unnecessary for the whole rooting/flashing procedure, why bother?
I rooted from a linux boot cd which sounds complicated but I think is actually easier as there's no faffing about with installing sync and then uninstalling it again.

S-Off disables NAND security on GSM phones. When you use unrevoked, it only disables it for CDMA. Also disabling the phones NAND security enables you to do further things like change the splash screen, install another Hboot, delete system apps and so on. If you think rooting gives you more freedom, S-Off gives you even more. It's there for those that need it though. It's not difficult if you do your research. But to be honest, it's an automated process with it working 99.9% of the time.

I did s off without hitch 100% safe.
Also new hboot new recovery with android flasher.
GoogleJelly said:
S-Off disables NAND security on GSM phones. When you use unrevoked, it only disables it for CDMA. Also disabling the phones NAND security enables you to do further things like change the splash screen, install another Hboot, delete system apps and so on. If you think rooting gives you more freedom, S-Off gives you even more. It's there for those that need it though. It's not difficult if you do your research. But to be honest, it's an automated process with it working 99.9% of the time.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sent from my HTC Desire using XDA App

S-OFF does nothing though bar mean you can delete apps without having to be in recovery. for someone who has no idea about modding it's just not worth doing. Rooting and using a custom Senes-based ROM will do the job just fine

It does way more than mean you can just delete apps. The methods for installing stuff these days are more or less 100% bug free and won't bugger up your device. Why not give it a go? Just make sure you read info and research it a little first before you start. Just don't do what I did and almost brick it

But if the OP doesn't know how to root then they're not going to need to S-OFF are they? Seems pointless

I did S-OFF for two reasons:
1) To install custom HBOOT so that I get more space in /data
2) For the hell of it.....
EDIT: I think some of the ROMs need S-OFF enabled (I'm not sure....) but, at the same time, I don't think S-OFF is absolutely necessary.

S-Off isn't necessary to have. No rom requires you to have it. It is just something that you may as well have if you root because it gives you way more freedom.

Totally disagree, it's not needed at all if you just want the phone to work. Custom ROM with A2SD+ is MORE than enough for a complete n00b

EddyOS said:
Totally disagree, it's not needed at all if you just want the phone to work. Custom ROM with A2SD+ is MORE than enough for a complete n00b
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agree completely. If you want to explore custom ROM's, get A2SD etc then root. Once you're happy with the whole root/recovery/flashing thing THEN look at s-off if it is necessary to do what you want. For a lot of people it really isn't required at all, and it definitely shouldn't be the first thing you think of doing.

[Q] Planning to pop my rooting/new ROM cherry

So I was kinda scared about putting Android on my old HD2 but I think things look a bit easier on my DHD so I'm planning on taking this big step
Just a couple of quick questions:
Will this SuperOneClick method work on my DHD?
Does this guide look comprehensive enough to you guys? Any missing steps, or things I might trip up on? I'm fairly PC-savvy but know next to nothing about this kind of thing
Thinking about CM7 (which I know is popular) or Revolution HD (as I like/am used to Sense). Any big pros or cons I should know about first?
Any tips or words of encouragement/reassurance would go a long way
Oh and in case it's important:
Desire HD
Vodafone UK
Android 2.2.1
Baseband 12.28e.60.140fU_26.04.02.17_M2
Kernel 2.6.32.21-g3d0aaff
Build 1.72.405.3 CL296490 release-keys
Software 1.72.405.3

I Recommend this one-click tool by jkoljo tool since it's what i used
One Click Radio S-Off
Also one thing the guide doesn't mention is you probably need to downgrade the rom since HTC made it so you can't root with that version, so follow this guide to downgrade. The guide also mentions using ENG S-OFF with you don't really need unless you're gonna play with fastboot commands. so just use Radio S-OFF it safer and easier to remove in case you need to go back to stock.
Downgrade Guide
Or else the guide looks pretty fool proof but unless you try to flash a radio there should be no risk to brick it the worst that could happen is a boot loop and those are pretty easy to get out of.
Also i can recommend Android Revolution since it's what i currently use, though i i've been wanting to try out MIUI but don't want the hassle of a full wipe again.
But good luck with rooting you're not gonna regret it
EDIT: Okay the guide does mention downgrade so just ignore what i said about that -.-

You can find the downgrade guide --> HERE

Thanks both for your advice, good to know these extra bits of info.
The last thing I forgot to ask was about backing up things like photos, apps and SMS messages. At what stage in the process (rooting -> flashing ROM) does that happen? Or is it even possible?
I've heard people talk about Titanium Back-up but I don't know when you use that, nor which things it works for and which things I would lose if I do this.

Photos that are on your SD card will not be touched by rooting and flashing ROMs.
Apps can be backed up with Titanium Backup, or you can install them again from the Market.
You can back up your SMS' with SMS Backup+ from the Market, its free and stores everything in your GMail account so you can easily restore them.
Titanium Backup will simply backup your apps to your SD card. You might experience problems when restoring apps from HTC Sense 2.2 to CM7 2.3, but then again you might not.

Right, well I think I've fallen at the first hurdle... :/
I used SuperOneClick and it did its thing (ran the check at the end, said everything was OK) and put SuperUser onto my phone.
So then I got Titanium Back-up to back-up all my apps etc and when I open it, it tells me I don't have root...
I think my problem is that I can't root as I'm on software 1.72...?
The downgrade guide says to root I have to be 1.3, but says that before downgrading I should back-up with Titanium. But how can I use Titanium if I don't have root, when I need to downgrade to root in the first place...?!
Argh any help out there, please?

SuperOneClick does not work for Desire HD. How about reading some guides in the android dev forum? There are a few links in my sig that give you full root + s-off, check them out. I recommend the radio s-off tool.

Hi jkoljo - thanks for the tip re. SuperOneClick not working with (my) DHD. Was driving me crazy.
I'm looking at your sig links - I think I need to follow the ENG S-OFF and Radio "Swiss Knife" ones? - but both say that I need to root with Visionary first...
I think this guide is what I need...?
If someone could also help me order the process below that would be a big help.
1. Root with Visionary
2. Backup apps using Titanium
3. Downgrade to software v1.32
4. Flash new ROM (Android Revolution HD or CM7)
5. Restore apps using Titanium
Oh and one extra qu: the CM site doesn't list the DHD as a compatible device. Should I use normal Desire, Evo 4G, something else...?

0. Backup with my backup pro, Titanium does not work without root
1. Downgrade
2. Follow my radio s-off guide, there is a link to visionary, just get the apk and use the app.
3. Follow my eng s-off guide
4. Done.
You can also refer to the ROM flashing guide, it has all the steps one after the other CM7 is compatible, just check the Android dev subforum. That list you linked is outdated.

Thanks jkoljo.
Worked through all the steps and I think it went OK. Now cracking on with flashing new ROM as per this guide...
1. Do I need to worry about the 'Flashing a radio' step(s)?
2. Reading through the instructions before I try it, it talks about doing a 'nandroid backup'. Not quite sure what this means - I searched Android Market for nandroid and nandroid backup but only three things came up, none of which seemed right.
Cheers!

ugotamesij said:
2. Reading through the instructions before I try it, it talks about doing a 'nandroid backup'. Not quite sure what this means - I searched Android Market for nandroid and nandroid backup but only three things came up, none of which seemed right.
Cheers!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Nandroid backup is the backup solution incorporated into Clockwork recovery, it allows you to take a system snapshot, a la ghost, which will allow you to restore your system as is.

ghostofcain said:
Nandroid backup is the backup solution incorporated into Clockwork recovery, it allows you to take a system snapshot, a la ghost, which will allow you to restore your system as is.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Right, gotcha. Thanks for clearing that up. Now I just need to know if I have to flash my radio too or not and I'll be good to go!

Clearest thread on rooting that I have seen. Thanks for starting and thanks to contributors.
Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

[Q] HTC Sense UI on Tmobile G2 how?

Im new to all this. i recently got my g2 and i want sense ui.
what are the pros and cons? do irisk breaking my phone (idont got a warranty anyways). is it simple? will it effect certain functions of the phone?
if there is a simple and 100% safe way to root my phone
post a link or let me know wassup with instructions.
thanks.

juniior316 said:
Im new to all this. i recently got my g2 and i want sense ui.
what are the pros and cons? do irisk breaking my phone (idont got a warranty anyways). is it simple? will it effect certain functions of the phone?
if there is a simple and 100% safe way to root my phone
post a link or let me know wassup with instructions.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
flash the Desire Z stock RUU?

Nothing is 100% safe. But the Wiki method of rooting is the safest there is, and the risk is low. Just read as much as you can before you start, and follow the instructions very carefully, and you will be fine.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Vision#Rooting_the_Vision_.28G2.2FDZ.29_and_DHD
As how to install Sense on the phone, the best way is probably to flash the Virtuous custom ROM after you root. Not only one of the more recent Sense Froyo builds (1.85), but also will keep you rooted, comes overclocked by default, and has some cool extra features and optimizations. Installing Virtuous is a snap. After you're rooted, install ROM Manager, flash clockworkmod and make a nandroid backup of your current ROM, then use ROM Manager to flash Virtuous.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=837042

Maximum Bob Lutz said:
flash the Desire Z stock RUU?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I believe being S-On (and/or not having SuperCID) will prevent him from flashing the stock DZ RUU onto the G2. I'm sure somebody here can confirm that.

redpoint73 said:
I believe being S-On will prevent him from flashing the stock DZ RUU onto the G2. I'm sure somebody here can confirm that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not only it will prevent him from Flashing Stock DZ onto G2, he might even end up bricking his phone.
I have G2, rooted, used Virtuous on it with Sense, it was fantastic, but I have never been a fan of Sense ROMs in general, so went back to CyanogenMod and enjoying Gingerbread right now.
Rooting is not rocket science but it does require you to fully understand the method, if you don't, ask questions, read forums and get yourself familiar with before trying and end up bricking your phone.
How to one by one :
First thing you need is Root Access
Try this link
http://wiki.cyanogenmod.com/index.php?title=TMobile_G2:_Rooting
Or alternatively you can try the links provided by redpoint73.
Once Rooted, first thing you want to do is install ROM Manager from market, search for ROM Manager, check this link if you can't find what you are looking for.
https://market.android.com/details?id=com.koushikdutta.rommanager&feature=search_result
Once installed, open the app, give Root access to the application and Install ClockWorkMod Recovery on your phone(CMW).
Once this is installed you are almost there, between your rooted and cmw installed phone and you flash any sense rom, is to make Nandroid Backup.
Here is how to make a backup of your current/stock ROM. Boot into recovery mod, go to Advanced option, click Backup and sit back and wait for about 5 minutes, system will do a backup of your phone to the SD card. Once done, you are pretty safe, incase if you screw up something, you can go back to original and get your phone back alive.
Once you did the backup, now you can download any ROM you want, flash anything you want and enjoy. One thing you would want to know is S-On and S-Off. S-On means there is a check for the Stock ROM, if you try installing anything with is not made for your career, you will screw up your phone. Once S-Off, you can flash anything and everything available for your phone. Which means, you can install CyanogenMod, you can keep Stock, Install DZ ROM, any ROM you want.
There is a way to Check if your phone gained S-Off or not, it is explained in the link I gave you above.
That's it!!!
Happy Flashing!!!
Edit : Oh by the way, you want to check out some videos available which will help you gain Root access and do other stuff with your phone at this link
http://theunlockr.com/category/howto/android_how_tos/htc-g2-how-tos/

redpoint73 said:
I believe being S-On (and/or not having SuperCID) will prevent him from flashing the stock DZ RUU onto the G2. I'm sure somebody here can confirm that.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He is completely right! Another way this can be done is through ROM Manager and flashing a Virtous ROM with enhancements. This ROM is no different from the stock and is completely stable and I can guarantee your safety. But I do still advise setting up a back up just in case you start to not like it. I know I did because, it is to simple but it does look good! Lol

One thing you should worry about is your CID. If your CID isn't one of the standard HTC Vision ones then it wont let you do it unless you've rooted the phone with SuperCID.

[Q] Semi-noob questions about rooting

First of all thanks in advance for help from all you lovely people.
I'm something of a semi-noob when it comes to Android phones, though I have a fair amount of experience with Windows Mobile HTC devices.
I've had a couple of Android tablets some cheap unbranded chinese crap and and an Advent Vega, both of which I succesfully rooted via different methods.
So I have a little (though I stress a little) familiarity with ADB and clockworkmod recovery.
I'd appreciate if someone could help me understand a few things about the Desire Z though. I have a Desire Z sold retail, with no network lock, with CID HTC__001.
1. If I root this device ( probably via this guide http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1055581 ) would I be able to update to official ROMs in the future or does this always become difficult/impossible after rooting?
2. If i take a Nandroid backup immediately after rooting. Then later restore this backup and follow the guide I have seen for "unrooting" the device, would I then effectively be back to stock (or as close as possible)? If so should official OTA updates work again after this?
3. If 2 is wrong (which it could be since I am a noob!), is there anyway to get back to stock (or close enough for warranty returns/OTA updates) after rooting.
Again thanks for the help from all you knowledgable folk.

1) Rooting (and gfree) doesn't limit the ROMs you can flash, it completely opens it up. Running gfree gives you SuperCID and S-Off, so you can flash any ROM intended for our phone, regardless of what CID the ROM is intended for. But if you flash an official ROM, you will lose root again. Most ROMs have pre-rooted, but otherwise untouched (or at least, minimally modified) versions posted in the Development section. Once you are rooted, you should stick to those.
2 & 3) There are step-by-step instruction on how to unroot and return to stock in the Wiki: http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Vision#Returning_to_Stock

Perfect! Thanks for the help.
There's so many warnings and "I'm not reponsible if flashing this ends the world" type lines in the guides and rom threads, that it can make you quite unsure as to what the potential problems are even if you have a little experience.

[Q] upgrade from 2.2 to 2.3.x without rooting

It is a shame to say that I still use Android 2.2 with Kernel 2.6.32.21, Taiwan version since I bought the phone a year ago.
(Not until recently, I have decided to move on to Gingerbread because
I wanna use the the latest features in the NDK to write some C++ programs for Android.)
Without getting into trouble during/after rooting,
I tried an official OTA upgrade but it doesn't work.
I tried to ask HTC but they said they still don't have any official upgrade for my phone.
I am a newbie here in this forum,
Could anybody please kindly offer your help please?
It will be GREATLY APPRECIATED! I wanna make my App!!!
swimd

If there is no official Gingerbread for your phone (which seems odd ?) then you can flash a different official GB ROM onto your phone. But normally your phone isn't going to let you do this, because it will fail the signature checks.
What you need to do is to de-brand your phone so that it doesn't do these checks any more. I will see if I can dig out a link to a guide and edit it into my post, unless someone else beats me to it.
Sent from my Desire Z running CM7.

Steviewevie,
Thank you for your help in advance!

I can't copy and paste the link right now, but use the Search function in the Android Dev forum to find the thread called "Debranding Bell Desire Z" (it doesn't only apply to Bell phones).
Sent from my Desire Z running CM7.

Thank you for the help!
I have found that thread!
BTW, after a quick look of the thread, it seems that S-off is recommended...
Do I need to get "root" in order to do so?
Should I do that to prevent future trouble?

Always recomend rooting phones right away, if you have a custom recovery and an enginering bootloader you can save tons of headaches in the future when problems arise (as they often do) this of course is outside the fact that a rooted phone is a happy phone and certainly not an apple
Sent from my HTC Vision using xda premium

As demkantor said, getting S-OFF is a lot better because it gives you a lot more options for the future, even if you don't use those options straight away.
IMHO the only reason to use the goldcard method and not full S-OFF is if you are really worried about voiding your warranty or the S-OFF process yourself. But there's no need to worry really, since (a) you can easily reverse the process if you need to, and (b) lots of people here can help you through getting S-OFF (the XDA Wiki explains it very well, though it can look daunting at first).
Sent from my Desire Z running CM7.

+1 to the notion of just rooting the phone. Especially since if are software developer, I would think that you would want full control over your device. And if you have these type of skill, rooting will be easy.
As mentioned, root, S-Off etc. can be removed for warranty purposes, if that is the concern.
The Wiki method is generally accepted as the safest:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Vision#Rooting_the_Vision_.28G2.2FDZ.29_and_DHD

demkantor and all,
Thanks!!! ok, I am least I will go for S-OFF!
But, I need to be able to fully recover my OS and Apps,
I need to do some research on stock recovery and/or custom recovery...

Well, I think there is an official update to Gingerbread thou.. But I think dont think that version is in English as it is a Hongkong version.