Been reading through the root guides and notice all the gfree topics. I got perm root using the rage method months ago and was wondering if there were any advantages to the gfree method and if so can I still do the gfree
Sent from my HTC Vision using XDA App
Yes, you can and should use gfree, see the Wiki for details.
The Wiki also has a good explanation of why the S-OFF you have from the eng hboot is effectively only a "fake" S-OFF, and it is much safer to have the full radio S-OFF via gfree.
Sent from my HTC Desire Z
steviewevie said:
Yes, you can and should use gfree, see the Wiki for details.
The Wiki also has a good explanation of why the S-OFF you have from the eng hboot is effectively only a "fake" S-OFF, and it is much safer to have the full radio S-OFF via gfree.
Sent from my HTC Desire Z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So I read the wiki and I see what you mean now between the fake s-off and full s-off.
I too did the rage method months ago and am wondering if there are any advantages of using gfree to get the true s-off, besides the safety issue. I have successfully unrooted my G2 using this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831398 so I am pretty sure that I will not have any troubles if I need to revert to stock in case of a warranty issue.
If I do end up doing a warranty exchange, I will reroot using gfree, but should I run gfree now regardless?
Also, will doing gfree make this process easier of reverting to stock? From reading the wiki, it doesn't specify if I have permarooted using rage if I need to unroot to do the gfree way or if I can just do it over my currently rooted phone.
Or maybe it did and I just missed it XD
Sorry for the length and barrage of questions, but I don't wanna screw this up!
Also, sorry if I thread jacked, didn't mean to, but I didn't see the point in starting a new thread for the same question, just a bit more detailed in questioning.
I went through the whole wiki and had the same questions you saved me a whole lot of typing.
G2 cm6.1.1
tazz9690 said:
I too did the rage method months ago and am wondering if there are any advantages of using gfree to get the true s-off, besides the safety issue. I have successfully unrooted my G2 using this method: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831398 so I am pretty sure that I will not have any troubles if I need to revert to stock in case of a warranty issue.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The advantages are that full radio S-OFF can help you recover from certain conditions. e.g. on the Desire Z, some users flashed the 1.72 OTA update and found then that they couldn't root it. But those who had radio S-OFF were able to downgrade back to 1.34 and root again. Those with the "fake" S-OFF lost their S-OFF because a stock hboot was flashed, and they couldn't downgrade so are currently stuck without root.
If I do end up doing a warranty exchange, I will reroot using gfree, but should I run gfree now regardless?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, I highly recommend that you do.
Also, will doing gfree make this process easier of reverting to stock? From reading the wiki, it doesn't specify if I have permarooted using rage if I need to unroot to do the gfree way or if I can just do it over my currently rooted phone.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't really make any difference to going back to stock. You can undo gfree with certain options to the command (see the Wiki for details). Downgrading with the full radio S-OFF is safer too, because you keep the S-OFF (until you remove it via gfree).
Thank you for the explanation, you sold me on gfree, but I'm not 100% sure on that last part steviewevie. So you are saying that I can run gfree in my current permrooted state with the fake s-off that I have with the hacked hboot? I do not need to unroot first and can just run gfree on top of what I already have?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
tazz9690 said:
Thank you for the explanation, you sold me on gfree, but I'm not 100% sure on that last part steviewevie. So you are saying that I can run gfree in my current permrooted state with the fake s-off that I have with the hacked hboot? I do not need to unroot first and can just run gfree on top of what I already have?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, you can run gfree on top of your already permrooted and ENG Hboot. That's exactly what I did.
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Thanks for all the help guys it is appreciated
G2 cm6.1.1
Agreed. I appreciate it as well.
So, I'm looking at the wiki right now, and I don't need to start from the beginning of the process, or do I?
Where exactly did you begin the process joemm?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Got it if already permrooted and running a custom kernel you have to flash an older kernel for it to work I had a backup of the stock rom I flashed then push the gfree to data/local ran the commands given and am good to go now thank you all for the help
G2 cm6.1.1
Ok so I ran gfree and it worked great. I just restored my backup of CM6 that I had and everything looks good.
Now final question, do I have to reflash the hboot now that I have true s-off?
I know flashing hboot is unnecessary, but I do use fastboot flash from time to time.
Also, I downloaded the hboot, but when I do a md5 checksum of the extracted file like it does on the wiki, it says md5sum not found. Any reason as to why?
tazz9690 said:
Agreed. I appreciate it as well.
So, I'm looking at the wiki right now, and I don't need to start from the beginning of the process, or do I?
Where exactly did you begin the process joemm?
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Start from here:
"gfree version 0.02 and its options
Since the current version 0.02 gfree supports the following options:
Code:
gfree usage:
gfree [-h|-?|--help] [-v|--version] [-s|--secu_flag on|off]
-h | -? | --help: display this message
-v | --version: display program version
-s | --secu_flag on|off: turn secu_flag on or off
-c | --cid <CID>: set the CID to the 8-char long CID
-S | --sim_unlock: remove the SIMLOCK
-f | --free_all: same as --secu_flag off --sim_unlock --cid 11111111
In the following steps the -f will be used to mimic the behavior of the original gfree version that will do radio S-OFF, Super-CID and simunlock in one go.
If you are only interested in permanent root you only need radio S-OFF and then it is sufficient to use
Code:
# ./gfree -s off
instead of
Code:
# ./gfree -f
in the following commands.
And gfree can now also be used to set radio S-ON by using the "-s on" option and to change the CID back to the original value be using i.e. "-c T-MOB010" if you want or have to go back. In addition since version 0.03 gfree can also be used t just to remove the write protection from the emmc and remove the kernels write filter to the radion partitions by using the "-w" option. This is handy if you want to restore your partition 7 backup.
ON YOUR PC:
Unzip gfree_02.zip to a place on your computer. Navigate to where the files are on your computer, and type:
Code:
$ adb push gfree /data/local
Gfree should now be in your phone at /data/local
ON YOUR PHONE:
You should still have terminal emulator up, at a root prompt from earlier.
Now run:
Code:
# cd /data/local
# chmod 777 gfree
# ./gfree -f
# sync
You now have read-write access to your /system, hboot, and recovery partitions. But you still need to "lock in" root, and give you 'su' access in the future. So just do:
Code:
# /data/local/tmp/root
# sync
Wait a few seconds for the changes to "take".
Now reboot your phone.
Congratulations! You're perma-rooted, radio S-OFF, and should have read-write access to your /system! But more than that, your phone should also be SIM-unlocked, so that you can use a SIM card from any carrier (T-Mobile, AT&T, Vodofone, etc.) See below for more info about that.
At this point you might consider downloading the 'Rom Manager app from the Android market and using it to install the Clockwork recovery and back up via the nandroid "backup" option should things go terribly wrong for you in the next (optional) step.
Also, gfree created a backup of your original partition 7 at /sdcard/part7backup-<time>.bin -- You might consider copying this to a safe location on your computer!"
For those who want to know where this info comes from its here at the HTC Vision Wiki: http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Vision
Thanks, yeah, I bit the bullet and thankfully started from there.
But now I have a new question.
Do have to reflash the hboot now that I have done the gfree method and now have true s-off instead of the fake s-off and the hacked hboot?
Do you know?
tazz9690 said:
Ok so I ran gfree and it worked great. I just restored my backup of CM6 that I had and everything looks good.
Now final question, do I have to reflash the hboot now that I have true s-off?
I know flashing hboot is unnecessary, but I do use fastboot flash from time to time.
Also, I downloaded the hboot, but when I do a md5 checksum of the extracted file like it does on the wiki, it says md5sum not found. Any reason as to why?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No you dont have to reflash the ENG Hboot, turn your phone off, then volume-down+power and on the first screen with the skateboarding andriod it will tell you on the first line "ENG S-OFF" which means you still have your ENG. Hboot, so you will be able to use fastboot.
Yeah I saw that but I just wanted to double check my assumption. Thank you for your help! I am all set now and worry free!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
tazz9690 said:
Yeah I saw that but I just wanted to double check my assumption. Thank you for your help! I am all set now and worry free!
Sent from my T-Mobile G2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes you are , have fun flashing.
Thank you I will. Now say, that I have to return my phone for warranty, I no longer have to change the version number of the pc10img.zip to revert back to stock like I used to have to do in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831398
since I have true s-off now. I can just flash the pc10img.zip and not have to worry about any repercussions by doing this, correct?
I just ran an experiment on my phone. Even if you rooted using Rage, gfree will still unlock everything.
tazz9690 said:
Thank you I will. Now say, that I have to return my phone for warranty, I no longer have to change the version number of the pc10img.zip to revert back to stock like I used to have to do in this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=831398
since I have true s-off now. I can just flash the pc10img.zip and not have to worry about any repercussions by doing this, correct?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I would say yes, you can just flash the pc10img.zip if you have gfree'd your phone with true radio s-off. I have not personally tried it myself, so again this is just my assumption, but found a few other post to agree with this:
Weaseal said:
If my understanding is correct, none of this matters if you did scotty2's gfree app to get S-OFF, since it doesn't muck with the hboot (rather, it modifies the radio config [NOT the radio]). So if you did that method to root/s-off (as opposed to the 'old'/alternate wpthis-eng-hboot method), you should be safe to flash PC10IMG without bricking. Can someone else sanity-check my logic?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
steviewevie said:
You are correct. I think the OP is going to try and get this guide updated when he has the time.
Not sure this needs to be sticky at the moment, perhaps until it's been updated ?
Those who only have the eng hboot and not full radio S-OFF via gfree do need to be aware of this though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Found these quotes here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=838484&highlight=gfree&page=6
And heres a quote from someone who said they did flash pc10img after gfree with no issues:
luis86dr said:
I'm gfree'd and have flashed pc10img with no issues. If you have the hacked hboot that's different ballgame.
[G2/HTC Vision]
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
And when he says if you have a hack hboot, he means if that's all you have just root with ENG. Hboot, and not gfree. So it sounds like you should have no problems.
Found this quote from here Post #47:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=838484&highlight=gfree&page=5
You are a great man joemm. I appreciate the time you took to find that information.
I also appreciate everyone else who has helped me out in this thread.
Just makes me appreciate this forum even more!
My desire z is only Ship S-Off. i.e. I only did
"4.b. S-OFF, Super-CID, SIM-unlock, clockwork recovery and root" on Wiki.
I noticed that in the HTC Vision Wiki, ENG S-OFF is recommended over SHIP S-off:
Quoted: "From now on we recommend to install the engineering hboot as part of the gfree procedure."
Are there any reasons behind?
Would it be possible for me to install the engineering hboot after I have done SHIP-OFF using instruction 4.b.?
One more question:
Is ENG S-OFF safer than SHIP S-OFF? I found there is no way to flash Recovery without booting to Android if I am only SHIP S-OFF, both fastboot and HBOOT methods are not working for me. So if Recovery crashed and SHIP S-OFF, is my phone bricked and no way to be rescued?
Thank you.
A good guide to read
http://www.virtuousrom.com/2011/06/t-mobile-g2-users-migrating-to-desirez.html
Can I use gfree to flash by command:
./gfree -b hboot-eng.img
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
One more question:
I found "recovery-clockwork-3.0.2.4-vision.zip" in CWM download directory, could I rename it to PC10IMG.zip and flash it via HBOOT?
Follow the instructions exactly and you cant go wrong
human-being said:
My desire z is only Ship S-Off. i.e. I only did
"4.b. S-OFF, Super-CID, SIM-unlock, clockwork recovery and root" on Wiki.
I noticed that in the HTC Vision Wiki, ENG S-OFF is recommended over SHIP S-off:
Quoted: "From now on we recommend to install the engineering hboot as part of the gfree procedure."
Are there any reasons behind?
Would it be possible for me to install the engineering hboot after I have done SHIP-OFF using instruction 4.b.?
One more question:
Is ENG S-OFF safer than SHIP S-OFF? I found there is no way to flash Recovery without booting to Android if I am only SHIP S-OFF, both fastboot and HBOOT methods are not working for me. So if Recovery crashed and SHIP S-OFF, is my phone bricked and no way to be rescued?
Thank you.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You do need Engineering Hboot in order to use fastboot to flash your recovery image. And yes, this does allow you another option in the event your phone is unbootable - which I find reassuring. So on the one hand it is a precautionary tool, but it also stops checking if the PC10IMG.zip is for your specific device. So you need to be extra careful when using PC10IMG files.
I flashed ENG Hboot after I had rooted/S-OFF/etcetera... but the root method I used also included a script for ENG Hboot that I was able to follow after the fact. As others have said, I would simply follow the wiki and get yourself set up.
So if I didn't flash any HBOOT, the hboot in my DZ is DZHBOOT, am I correct?
Can I safely flash Virtuous Unity and BeatMod BlissSense?
For the ENG HBOOT in wiki:
HTC Desire Z: vision.hboot-0.84.2000.zip (md5sum 2CE1BDD5E4C1119CCFCECB938710D742)
Is this a DZHBOOT as well?
How to distinguish between a G2HBOOT and DZHOOT?
Sorry for having loads of questions. I did google but couldn't find exactly what I want.
human-being said:
So if I didn't flash any HBOOT, the hboot in my DZ is DZHBOOT, am I correct?
Can I safely flash Virtuous Unity and BeatMod BlissSense?
For the ENG HBOOT in wiki:
HTC Desire Z: vision.hboot-0.84.2000.zip (md5sum 2CE1BDD5E4C1119CCFCECB938710D742)
Is this a DZHBOOT as well?
How to distinguish between a G2HBOOT and DZHOOT?
Sorry for having loads of questions. I did google but couldn't find exactly what I want.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you boot into bootloader you will see at the top which hboot version you have, and as the wiki says thats the version you want if you want the engineering hboot, the link i sent you explains why, flash it and thats you fully rooted and ready to run unity
Sent from a htc desire z
bombadier said:
If you boot into bootloader you will see at the top which hboot version you have, and as the wiki says thats the version you want if you want the engineering hboot, the link i sent you explains why, flash it and thats you fully rooted and ready to run unity
Sent from a htc desire z
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
Actually I tried looking for the version through booting into bootloader before. I got the version number only.
It says HBOOT 0.85.0005, and I have no idea what it means.
Thats the version number, the engineering hboot is version 0.84.2000 so you need to flash it, then you have the engineering hboot installed
Sent from a htc desire z
Hi Everyone - i think i've gotten myself in a little of a pickle here, can someone lend a hand? My goal is to get rooted and S-off so i can load some custom ROMs.
Incredible 2 from Verizon.
Currently, i'm:
*** UNLOCKED ***
VIVO_W XB SHIP S-ON RL
HBOOT-0.98.0000
RADIO-1.09.01.1111
eMMC-boot
Jul 18 2011, 12:39:36
My recovery is Clockwork Mod 5, I can boot into either recovery or fastboot but i can't load any ROM's and it appears i've deleted the original ROM, so the only way i can really get into a ROM is using CM7 and then abd boot.img at fastboot to get to the system.
Am i bricked? Sounded like the next step was to get S-OFF.
So i went here:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1726134
Ran all those steps without a hitch.
While running Revolutionary i get this:
=============================================
| Revolutionary S-OFF & Recovery Tool 0.4pre4 |
=============================================
Brought to you by AlphaRev & unrEVOked.
Waiting for device...
Found your device: Incredible 2 (vivow-0.98.0000, Android: 2.3.7, ROM version: 2
.18.605.4)
Your device: vivow, with HBOOT 0.98.0000 is not supported at this time.
Press (almost) any key to exit.
What gives experts?
Thanks in advance.
you cannot run revolutionary with HBOOT .98
you have to downgrade to .97 to run it and gain S-OFF
check out the thread here for more info:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1298990
fistsafire said:
you cannot run revolutionary with HBOOT .98
you have to downgrade to .97 to run it and gain S-OFF
check out the thread here for more info:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1298990
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks!
but i get to this step, and permission denied!
adb shell /data/local/tmp/sh -c '/data/local/tmp/misc_version -s 2.18.605.3'
/data/local/tmp/sh: permission denied
pkh106 said:
Thanks!
but i get to this step, and permission denied!
adb shell /data/local/tmp/sh -c '/data/local/tmp/misc_version -s 2.18.605.3'
/data/local/tmp/sh: permission denied
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You used HTC Dev to unlock your phone...You must first lock it and then take the proper steps to downgrade to get S-OFF. That should solve everything.
kubes069 said:
You used HTC Dev to unlock your phone...You must first lock it and then take the proper steps to downgrade to get S-OFF. That should solve everything.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
concur. i used HTCDev that send me a unlock file that i flashed to my phone.
at that point, my phone is "rooted" right?
but the it's still S-ON.
i'm still unlocked, but don't want to lock with CM7 on there correct? If i relock, doesn't it give a security warning that will lock my phone into bootloader and not reboot?
pkh106 said:
concur. i used HTCDev that send me a unlock file that i flashed to my phone.
at that point, my phone is "rooted" right?
but the it's still S-ON.
i'm still unlocked, but don't want to lock with CM7 on there correct? If i relock, doesn't it give a security warning that will lock my phone into bootloader and not reboot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok, with those tips, here's what i'm thinking i'll need to do. how's this sound?
1. remove and return to stock recovery via PG32IMG.zip
2. flash the 2.3.3.RUU
3. relock it with the adb command "fastboot oem lock"
then i'm ready to:
S-off with revolutionary and get clockworkmod flashed.
Flash superuser / a ROM.
pkh106 said:
ok, with those tips, here's what i'm thinking i'll need to do. how's this sound?
1. remove and return to stock recovery via PG32IMG.zip
2. flash the 2.3.3.RUU
3. relock it with the adb command "fastboot oem lock"
then i'm ready to:
S-off with revolutionary and get clockworkmod flashed.
Flash superuser / a ROM.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I never used HTC Dev before, so I'm not 100% sure on what you need to do. Returning to stock probably sounds like the right thing to do.
If I was you I would refer to this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751796
But you sound like you are on the right track.
kubes069 said:
I never used HTC Dev before, so I'm not 100% sure on what you need to do. Returning to stock probably sounds like the right thing to do.
If I was you I would refer to this guide:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1751796
But you sound like you are on the right track.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
got it.
i had to relock at bootloader, reload the 605.9 RUU and then re-root.
cake.
thanks.
pkh106 said:
got it.
i had to relock at bootloader, reload the 605.9 RUU and then re-root.
cake.
thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Great, glad I could provide some assistance.
Hi all, i am trying to bring back to stock my Desire HD for assistance (warranty) i rooted my dhd with the AAHK tool which has been dismissed, so i cannot use it to turn s-on.
I already flashed via executable windows a RUU stock rom but s-off is still there, shall i use AndroidFlasher and if so where can i find HTC stock bootloader??
if AndroidFlasher is not the answer what else can i do? shall i try another RUU?
Tyvm for any help (i have not much time til warranty expires )
You should of S-ON'd the device before using the RUU, which means now you have to reflash the radio.img with the exploit and the recovery.img from the aahk tool kit then use ./gfree -s on to s-on the device
hacktrix2006 said:
You should of S-ON'd the device before using the RUU, which means now you have to reflash the radio.img with the exploit and the recovery.img from the aahk tool kit then use ./gfree -s on to s-on the device
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Agreed, but AAHK has been dismissed and i cannot download it anymore... or is there any other place where to find it?
Or is there any other way to get s-on??