Develop Bugs

[Q] A few questions about goldcards.

Hey all,
I have a quick question or two about goldcards and what they do and when they are needed. I created one as per the instructions on this page
"broadbandgenie.co.uk/blog/20100822-how-debrand-htc-desire-update-froyo" and it allowed me to load stock Froyo 2.2 onto my Virgin Mobile branded Desire.
Strangely I now seem to be able to use other SIM's too, but thats not really relevant.
My questions are as follows...
1) What exactly did this goldcard do that allowed me to load an unbranded Froyo ROM
2) I've since rooted my phone with unrEVOked 3.21, do I still need the goldcard to load OTA updates or a new custom ROM in the future?
3) What ever the answer to question 2, can an explanation be givenas to why?
And slightly OT, but I've read some horror stories about wrong radios or SPL's(?) killing phones permanently. So on that subject..
1) Do I need to make sure I have the right radio each time I load a custom ROM?
2) If so, where do I get the radio files and how do I know which is right?
3) Would an OTA update take care of the above for me automatically?
4) Are HBOOT and SPL the same thing?
Again, apologies for asking things that have undoubtedly been answered before but I'd like to be fully armed with the knowledge I need before I go any further with my Desire.
Many thanks,
Nathan.

First batch:
1. The gold card in affect masks the CID of the phone and makes the phone appear to be a generic handset so it can accept any official ROM
2. If you've only rooted the stock ROM you were on and are going to continue to use it then yes you'll need the gold card for ALL future OTA updates. This is for the same reason as point 1. If you're going to use a custom ROM then you don't need a gold card at all as rooting via unrEVOked can be done without a gold card.
3. See points 1 and 2
Second set:
1. Yes, all custom ROMs threads have a recommended radio stated in the first post
2. There's a thread for radios in the Dev section, see point 1 for other info
3. Yes it will, but see point 2 of first batch answers
4. SPL is WinMo phones, HBOOT is the Android equivalent

Fantastic! Thanks for that.
So for my own clarification, the goldcard bypasses some security in the official ROM's, be they branded or not? But the custom ROM's have no such security restrictions meaning I do not need the gold card?
And from where I am now, stock Froyo rooted with unrEVOked, I am in a decent position to simlpy load on LeeDroid ROM for example just by the method he describes in his official post?
Would I at any point need to upgrade my HBOOT from 0.93 manually?
Many thanks! I think I am finally getting my head round the various areas of Android/ROM's etc.
Nathan

Yes. Say you had a T-Mobile branded Desire and tried to flash a generic RUU file to it it would fail the CID check. A gold card effectively masks this so the RUU file thinks you have a CID unlocked Desire and allows you to flash it. Just remember to leave the gold card in the phone as you'll need it for OTA updates as they come along (and they'll remove root access in the process).
With rooting you will have a custom recovery which doesn't run the check an official RUU does so you can just flash the ZIP file without any issues
If you're on rooted FroYo now then you'll already be on HBOOT 0.93 so you can't forget about that. The HBOOT is only changed on official updates

Thanks again Eddy
I'm slowly but surely getting more knowledge and in return becoming more intrigued about I can do with the phone. Maybe one day I'll be the one handing out advice
Cheers,
Nathan.

[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] What can be done with a rooted wildfire s?

Newbie here (go easy) lol OK basically I rooted via the HTC Bootloader website and other tools. Now What can I do with it basically? It is still got the S-ON Lock (which I guess is bad) I know it's unlocked to any sim but I understand my phone needs to be S-OFF to achieve real benefits?

when your phones rooted, it just means you have superuser access.
so your able to install custom roms (as you can see the list of diffrent roms) meaning you can install the latest build of android os. then you can install overclocked kernals (making your phone run faster or smoother). with other phones such as my nexus one iv install ubuntu (a linux operating system)
theirs so many diffrent things you can do on a rooted phone

S-ON S-OFF thing what does that mean? As I said My phone is still at S-ON Which I guess is not good

Your phone stay S-off like all people who unlock their phone on htcdev. But you can root and flash rom and kernel... There's always few thinks you can't do, but so usefully or necessary... AFAIK.
EDIT: sorry, would mean S-on
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using XDA App

I still know that I having some memory issues (internal) so that I need to look at but slowly getting there. Done the main thing which is vital

john_semple said:
S-ON S-OFF thing what does that mean? As I said My phone is still at S-ON Which I guess is not good
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-ON means that the "Security is ON" aka that your phone is "locked",
from htcdev.com:
Your device is shipped with Security on (S-ON) to protect your system
software configuration (such as the bootloader, radio, boot, recovery, system and others). After you have unlocked the bootloader, however, you will have lifted the restrictions on boot, recovery and system. This means you can customize boot, recovery and system images on your phone as you desire. You can easily see that you have successfully unlocked the bootloader by looking at the top of the screen when entering the bootloader screen. Security is left on to protect things like the radio, and SIM lock.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You can set your phone to S-OFF by using Bootloader or some other methods
EDIT: I didnt see Shywim's post, i needed few min to post this. xD

S-ON = Security On
S-OFF = Security Off
When S-OFF you have access to the /system partition

You can do a sdcard partition for your internal memory... There is a howto in the cm7 troubleshooting topic in the dev section
( i use it and I'm s on like you)
Sent from my HTC Wildfire S using XDA App

KillAHead said:
S-ON means that the "Security is ON" aka that your phone is "locked",
from htcdev.com:
You can set your phone to S-OFF by using Bootloader or some other methods
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, you make me confused, if mob is s-on , you can make it s-off only trough xclip.
However you can unlock bootloader and root. as said in the link you gave.
If iam misstaken, please say so.

Start browsing:
[INDEX] roms/recovery/guides/kernel/root/...
But be careful if you're a noob. The Wildfire S makes a great, inexpensive Android but an awfully expensive brick.

CafeKampuchia said:
Start browsing:
[INDEX] roms/recovery/guides/kernel/root/...
But be careful if you're a noob. The Wildfire S makes a great, inexpensive Android but an awfully expensive brick.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Took me a while to get this replacement Wildfire back as it was due to a major hassle with HTC in the first place I just need to get my memory issues sorted and I sure i'm good

Went out and bought a 16GB Micro SDHD Memory card from ebay with an adapter included. When that comes i'll have fun (as I think I got a rough idea what rom I putting on to the phone) Prey to god it actually works!

There's lots of conflicting info on this thread..
Rooted means superuser access, think of it as administration rights on your mobile. You can install more powerful apps to your phone linked link2sd. You also gain write access to the system directories of the phone, and can delete system apps.
S-off means your bootloader is unlocked. This is required to flash custom rom's onto the device.
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App

jwchips said:
There's lots of conflicting info on this thread..
Rooted means superuser access, think of it as administration rights on your mobile. You can install more powerful apps to your phone linked link2sd. You also gain write access to the system directories of the phone, and can delete system apps.
S-off means your bootloader is unlocked. This is required to flash custom rom's onto the device.
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That's not correct, S-OFF does not stand for unlocked bootloader.
And you don't need S-OFF for flashing custom ROMs.

jwchips said:
There's lots of conflicting info on this thread..
Rooted means superuser access, think of it as administration rights on your mobile. You can install more powerful apps to your phone linked link2sd. You also gain write access to the system directories of the phone, and can delete system apps.
S-off means your bootloader is unlocked. This is required to flash custom rom's onto the device.
Sent from my HD2 using XDA App
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is a lot of conflicting info on this thread.
S-OFF means EVERYTHING is unlocked including your bootloader. It is complete access to all areas of the phone, also allowing you to flash any RUU ROM you want and many other things.
HTCDev Unlock - Unlocks your bootloader only allowing you to flash custom recoveries, ROMs, and root your phone. It has limitations though.

(Q) HTC unlock bootloader... but my phone's already ENG-HBOOTed... =_=

...hope this isnt a pointless thread, but I felt these are a valid set of questions... might be wrong though... >_<
In any case, I've just been informed that the HTC now officially unlocks the DHD bootloader through their website.
Now, my questions...
Does anyone know the difference between the Official HTC bootloader unlock procedure versus the Radio and ENG-HBOOT procedure posted by jkoljo?
Also, note that the HTC way looks like its just one procedure... whilst jkoljo's are distinctly two (one for Radio and one for HBOOT)... if the HTC procedure is initially used, would you still need to do either of jkoljo's? ie the Radio S-Off one... assuming the HTC way gives you only Eng-HBOOT S-OFF?
Hell, do you still need to downgrade with the HTC bootloader unlock?
Lastly, I've already used jkoljo's procedure and now fully Radio & HBOOT S-Off'ed... is there any point of doing the HTC unlock bootloader procedure? Would it actually give me a negative result if I actually go through the HTC procedure now with the current state of my phone?
Anyways, thanks for reading through my musings... and here's hoping someone with the knowhow answers well... ^_^
/Peace

I would like to no this to, but do we really need to worry now we are rooted ?

Yes me 2. What are the pros and cons of them?

...from reading the FAQ on the HTCdev about it.
...according to its FAQ
It seems you're still S-ON after their procedure. This is to apparently secure the radio as well as the SIM-Lock...
So me thinks we might still need jkoljo's ENG-S-OFF procedure afterwards...
...Although, with HTC leaving that lock... I'm a bit dubious about advocating their procedure now as opposed to jkoljo's as well as the Advanced Ace Hack kit. The latter of which is actually the most effective imho, though it still needs jkoljo's ENG-S-OFF procedure...

Do not try to unlock the bootloader of your phone.
it's not locked.
If someone can clarify this: for me the DHD bootloader has never been locked!?!
I was planing to go for sensation when HTC launched it but kept my DHD as sensation was locked and it was not possible to put custom ROM.
From my first HTC, the first thing I always do was removing Sense... (HD, HD2 then DHD). As far as I know Sensation was the first with locked bootloader.
if someone can explain... i'll be more than happy

truc007 said:
Do not try to unlock the bootloader of your phone.
it's not locked.
If someone can clarify this: for me the DHD bootloader has never been locked!?!
I was planing to go for sensation when HTC launched it but kept my DHD as sensation was locked and it was not possible to put custom ROM.
From my first HTC, the first thing I always do was removing Sense... (HD, HD2 then DHD). As far as I know Sensation was the first with locked bootloader.
if someone can explain... i'll be more than happy
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Root is different from unlocking bootloader eg the Motorola Milestone has root but the bootloader is still locked. This still allows you to load partially customized ROMs but prevents loading custom kernels for one thing.

My question though would be:
What exactly is the point in HTC's bootloader unlocker? Say you go from a stock phone, upgraded froyo to GB all the way. You dont have s-off or eng-off or anything, what would the benefit be to now unlock the bootloader "officially"?
Does it supply a recovery with nandroid backup or allow GB to be rooted or anything like that?

The benefit would be that you lose your warranty because HTC saves your serial, which wouldn't happen if you do it yourself.
Sent from my HTC Desire HD using Tapatalk

Exactly...and thanks to AAHK it's not really difficult to get Root, S-Off and CWM on our phones
DN41

Wonder why HTC went through "all the trouble" to do a bootloader unlocker for Desire HD now anyway? its like p#ssing on the ashes AFTER the house burnt down, surely they know there's a dozen ways to get there that are far less involved than their convoluted scheme. *shrugs*

I did this just because there's no major action on ICS and no action on rcmix runny, so i needed to do something to my phone.
Its a real convoluted process.
you need to restore to stock and update to the latest ruu before you can then install the new hboot to then unlock.
The only difference is now i have locked, then unlocked at the top of the bootloader screen.
still needed to re root the stock rom to install 4ext to nandroid the stock and restore ICS.
Really not worth the effort trying ifyou already have a custom recovery and s-off.
Unless you want the latest possible date to show off...

But if you unlocked the bootloader, what is the best way to get root access?
I want to use eg Titanium backup

Pibroens said:
But if you unlocked the bootloader, what is the best way to get root access?
I want to use eg Titanium backup
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Check the stickies in the dev forum like this one.
If you have S-OFF, obviously you can skip to the next steps, which is to root.
Make sure you read, read, read so you don't miss anything important.

understanding the S-ON feature

Hello,
I would like to root a friend's HTC Wildfire and custom Rom it, which in the old days required deactivating S-ON feature but now people say it is no longer needed.
For my personal knowledge, how is this possible. I mean as I understand it, s-on restricts us /system to write permissions only, so how can you install ROMs which need to modify the /system when installing, or how can you obtain root since the "su" binary also needs to be placed into the system partition.
Thanks.

goguvarra said:
Hello,
I would like to root a friend's HTC Wildfire and custom Rom it, which in the old days required deactivating S-ON feature but now people say it is no longer needed.
For my personal knowledge, how is this possible. I mean as I understand it, s-on restricts us /system to write permissions only, so how can you install ROMs which need to modify the /system when installing, or how can you obtain root since the "su" binary also needs to be placed into the system partition.
Thanks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
What happened was that under the gnu(?) License that android runs on is open source, and as such it is illegal to make copys of it that are locked down, as that breaks the license laws agreed by using the software. So by law htc were required to provide unlocked bootloader. This is true of every android manufacture. Htc were not very pleased when people started pulling them up on it so after much pressure they started to offer "htcdev". This is a bootloader unlock program that allows certain parts of the phone to be Accessed and edited. But this is not full s-off. The bootloader and radio still remain locked down, but the recovery, system, data and cache are "unlocked" so you can flash custom recovery, root, roms, all the stuff most people want to use. The problem starts when people want to start flashing kernels and boot.IMG edits. The boot partition with htcdev unlock does not play nice, so people have had to create ways around the issues. For example the "htc dumlock" and "smart flash for 4ext recovery"
These hacks Allow custom boot.imgs to be flashed with the htcdev unlocked bootloader.
As far as the buzz (wildfire) is concerned people have always just used s-off via revolutionary since it came out, and before that unrevoked. These came before htcdev and as such not many users here will ever use htcdev. For this device s-off is both preferable and attainable thanks to the hard work of others but for devices that don't have such luxurys htcdev will have to do
Tapped out from my sexy nexus 7