Develop Bugs

[Q] S-OFF on hboot 2.16

I have a few questions about s-off and being in the latest OTA.
Here is the short and skinny...
When my wife got the evo when it first was released last year i tried to root it since i wanted to install a program that needed root. i had no real idea on what i was doing and think i might have gotten root, although I am not sure. I never flashed any rom nor did I ever flash that apk and just gave up since I didnt want to break her new phone. (basically got a bit scared)
As for the main screen if you reboot and hold down volume and power, it will display "s-OFF".
She did the two Gingerbread updates OTA and is now on GB 2.3.3. stock.
I noticed that the hboot is set at 2.16...and it still displays "s-off".
I just read that there are different types of "s-off".
Now, the questions are:
1. Is her phone actually rooted?
2. Can I turn on the "s-off" to "S-ON" so that we can bring the phone in for repair?
3. Is there anything that anyone here can gain from her phone being in the state that it is in for people who cant get root under the latest hboot version?
4. I just read that s-off has multiple meaning. How can i tell which one I have on her phone? ie. radio, nand??
Thanks in advance.

pretty sure sprint wont notice the s off so dont bother going s on to ttake it in, even if they do, they dont really care anymore, so long as its got the stock os at least, but they really dont care bout it being rooted anymore
but yeah, your phone basicaly kept the root

I agree with LCL22.
Unrevoked does have an S-ON tool, but I've never used it and I'm not even sure it works anymore. Just leave it S-OFF and flash one of the stock unrooted ROMs from recovery. But I've heard people take their phones back with CM6/CM7 on there, MIUI, etc. It probably depends on the store/rep to be honest.
"Rooted" means having access to the SU binary (superuser). It's a linux thing. It's like having Administrator access to a windows computer. This allows complete control over the currently installed phone software.
S-OFF means that the phones protections have been disabled and you are free to flash unsigned ROMs via the bootloader (HBOOT).
S-OFF is nice, because you can flash any ROM you want via the bootloader; there is no need for a custom recovery to be installed. Of course you can also use the bootloader to flash a custom recovery such as ClockworkMod or Amon_RA.

github said:
I agree with LCL22.
Just leave it S-OFF and flash one of the stock unrooted ROMs from recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will flashing the latest unroot ROM from sprint (which is already on there from the OTA update) will turn the s-off to s-on??
Also, if it says s-off, does that mean that it is fully rooted?
The reason why she is considering bringing it into sprint for repair/replace is that is having problems sending texts multiple times to the person she is texting...basically, she sends one text and the receiver gets the same text 20 times.
Either there is something wrong with the phone, the network, or the fact that it is s-off and she is running a non-rooted rom. This issue has been happening since January and on the stock Froyo.
Lastly, I just noticed that she had advanced task killer and I uninstalled it just to make sure it wasnt anything that she has running which is causing the issues.
Thanks in advance.

amart79196 said:
Will flashing the latest unroot ROM from sprint (which is already on there from the OTA update) will turn the s-off to s-on??
Also, if it says s-off, does that mean that it is fully rooted?
The reason why she is considering bringing it into sprint for repair/replace is that is having problems sending texts multiple times to the person she is texting...basically, she sends one text and the receiver gets the same text 20 times.
Either there is something wrong with the phone, the network, or the fact that it is s-off and she is running a non-rooted rom. This issue has been happening since January and on the stock Froyo.
Lastly, I just noticed that she had advanced task killer and I uninstalled it just to make sure it wasnt anything that she has running which is causing the issues.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-off only means you are nand unlocked so you can flash a custom recovery and flash a ROM. To be rooted, you have to flash a rooted rom which 99.999% of all the ROMS are rooted on XDA.

S-off just means that you can flash an alternate recovery and custom roms. It doesn't mean that it is rooted.
check in your app list and see if the Superuser app is there. If it isn't, it probably isn't rooted.

S off is perfect! Don't go s on if you can help it.
At my local repair store I chatted with the tech (after running s on tool) if they even check. The guy said not usually. They mainly check if it is stock sense like the Rosie and stuff. And even then they don't usually. They only check if someone brings in their phone with technical or software issues. With hardware they don't bother.
But that is my store.
S off and root are separate things but they kind of depend on each other. To root permanently you need s off, at least for devices with nand.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?

amart79196 said:
But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint is currently having issues on their end in regards to texting. I've attached an article that you can read over.
http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/sprint-sms-text-problem/

ENG S-OFF
EDIT: Nevermind, I just took the risk and it paid off.
I was actually about to start a thread asking the exact same thing. I'm selling my phone and I've heard that if it's not relocked it can't be activated on the Sprint network so I've been trying to get S-ON. I have "EVT2-2 ENG S-OFF" right now.
By the sounds of this all I really need to do is flash a good PC36IMG and all should be good, right? No chance of a brick?

i will read that shortly, but i am more interested in the fact that there is a OTA update done and it now has 2.16 as the hboot. Is this now going to brick if i try to flash a rooted stock rom since she isnt into custom roms?

Now, the questions are:
1. Is her phone actually rooted?
2. Can I turn on the "s-off" to "S-ON" so that we can bring the phone in for repair?
3. Is there anything that anyone here can gain from her phone being in the state that it is in for people who cant get root under the latest hboot version?
4. I just read that s-off has multiple meaning. How can i tell which one I have on her phone? ie. radio, nand??
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Answers :
1. If you flash a recovery.img it will be.
2. You can't really do anything with the s-off right now because I don't think that any of the tools that would do that have been updated to work with hboot 2.16.
3. I'm not sure if anyone can use what you have but I would write up a post in a dev thread to be sure.
4. There are only two meanings that I know of when it comes to s-off. The first is accepting the OTA while rooted which will put your phone in a weird state. If you can use your phone after then I don't think this applies to you. The other is just not having a recovery installed which will render you just unlocked and not rooted.

amart79196 said:
i will read that shortly, but i am more interested in the fact that there is a OTA update done and it now has 2.16 as the hboot. Is this now going to brick if i try to flash a rooted stock rom since she isnt into custom roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Flashing a regular rooted odex or deodex version of the RUU won't hurt you if your s-off. I would make a nand backup using amon ra recovery before flashing anything just to be safe.
Amon Ra Recovery - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=705026
Rooted OTA ROM - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1133379

amart79196 said:
But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter what hboot you have so long as you're s off
No bricks don't worry. Bricks usually occur during manual radio updates
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

[Q] Unlock? Root? S-ON? ENG-ON? What do I need at least?

Hi, I want to use VPN and RSAP with my DHD. Unfortunately it does not work out of the box. I got a free DHD with Android 2.3.5, Sense 3.0, Software 3.12.405.1.
I would like to create a VPN with my router (FRITZ!Box) at home. I stumbled across VPNC to get that done. But therefore I need root I think and a new kernel or only a kernel module (tun) or is it already in the kernel on my phone?
Additionally I would like to use my DHD with my car kit using Bluetooth RSAP. As far as I know RSAP is not supported by HTC. So I found RSAP for Android. But that also needs root. And S-OFF or not? And what else?
So, what do I need to do at least to get VPN and RSAP running? Installing custom ROMs is not in my focus at the moment. I'm very happy with my DHD as it is, beside the VPN and RSAP thing. And who knows, probably there will be ICS on my DHD some day...
Could you please bring some light into the darkness? It is too much...
Thanks in advance!

Yes, you will need to root your phone. From there on, should you need S-OFF for VPNC, it is only baby steps..
This guide by wid0w provides you with everything you need, so don´t forget to say thanks:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=964996
I suggest fully unrestricting yor phone and flashing this rooted stock Rom bei Nitr00 if you are happy with your current version, so also hit the thanks button there should you decide to use it:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1382235
Best regards, Senor_W

Thanks for your reply senor_wuetante!
Unfortunately even following the two links don't answer all questions.
So, could I install the rooted stock ROM from the second link after unlocking the bootloader using htcdev.com? What is the radio image for? Do I need that as well and why? And is the tun module, needed for VPN, included in the kernel?
Can I go back to stock with a locked - not relocked - bootloader again and how? What if I would like to test another ROM?
I'm really sorry, but getting it all together is really hard...

I highly highly advise against using the HTC dev tool . Just use the hack kit to root/soff.
As too tun module being included it should be part of the description in the kernal/rom thread. Not everyone will include it.
To test different rom simply just flash a new one.
As to going back to stock, yes its possible with the hack kit as well. Though if your Device is branded might be hard to find your specific ruu. To flash back to stock

marsdta said:
I highly highly advise against using the HTC dev tool . Just use the hack kit to root/soff.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Why? It sounds really good to me. Unlock the bootloader. Install already rooted ROM and you got it. Isn't it that easy?
marsdta said:
As too tun module being included it should be part of the description in the kernal/rom thread. Not everyone will include it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
We are talking about the rooted stock ROM Official RUU_Ace_Sense30_S_HTC_WWE_3.12.405.1 STOCK ROOTED senor_wuetante mentioned in his second post. Is the tun module already included in the stock kernel?

I personally don't run sense based roms so don't know if its included. Ad to why not HTC Dev tool. Because it not as simple as flashing a rom in recovery, and people get stuck in a plash screen. For starters the boot image has to be flashed seperatley with fastboot. So you need to be near a PC to try new roms. Doing it the ace hack kit. No PC is required. So if their is an update I can do it on the go.
To get a better idea of what it intails there is a thread somewhere burried here where it talks about the steps. But if you feel that that's the way to go. Then do it. Whatever works for you. I was just giving my opinion, as I seen a few people get stuck, then having to relock bootloader then use the hack kit
I found one thread that explains the steps,I thought their were more but that was for attaining root, which your bypassing by going to a rooted rom. So the biggest issue is of the fastboot flashing the boot image each time for a new rom and probably kernels.(to me deal breaker)
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1453066
Even though its for the desire z it still applies to us

Thanks marsdta!
So the answer to my question
an.dude said:
Unlock the bootloader. Install already rooted ROM and you got it. Isn't it that easy?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
seems to be NO, it isn't that easy. I thought (and hoped) I can install the rooted ROM after unlocking the bootloader from the recovery boot and that's it. But that's not how it works obviously.
I think I'll never get VPN and RSAP working on my DHD...

But it sounds so easy http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=20106574#post20106574.
Boot your phone in recovery mode, install Zip from SD card, restart, boot in recovery mode again, install Radio Zip from SD card, restart, done!
That's why I'm confused so much...
So, what's next?

1) radios are not installed through recovery, they are installed through hboot/bootloader via a pd98img or through fastboot.- one thing to note but I am not positive on this is you can't update/change a radio with the HTC Dev tool.
2) its easy as flashing a rom in cwr if you get soff with the hack kit. But for what ever reason on how the bootloader is unlocked using the Dev tool. You would have to flash in recovery then boot into hboot and flash the boot image with the fastboot command
I mean it still seems relitivly easy, but I personally trust attn1 hack kit than I do HTC. But that's just me

Thanks!
Hi everyone and thank you very much for supporting me!
I finally did it with aahk and am running Android Revolution HD now!
You guys are awesome! Thanks for all the work!

[Q] I am little consufed, please take a loot at.

Hi,
I am writing this because iam confused about my phone, and what have i done with it.
After htcdev released unlocking bootlader for wildfire s. I tried the steps on htcdev and made my phone "***unlocked***" and my hbott is 1.09.0099. As you all know there is no possible solution to s-on. So I am stuck at there.
In this situation, I was unable to install custom roms because rom manager needed to install backup application(I cant remember the name), it needs root permission.
Now, Am i right to think I need to do s-off if i need to install mods backup app etc. or this is completely false and I am skipping something which brought me to "no s-off no root perm".
If above is false I am sorry to opening up thread like this. You can delete it.
But I was trying first solution here "http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1374926" then I realised I can install custom rom from the backup application from there and I did. I installed cynagenmod 7-2-0 and when tried to install backup app and other apps which needs root perm. worked, in fact first backup app wanted perms from superuser then worked as it should be.
So what are we trying to achieve with s-off ? Is there more secret functions to get from android phones with s-off ?
Please forgive my lack of information with this stuff, I am just trying to help.

the main thing is that with s-off you have complete control over your phone, can flash system stuff and radio files and hboots (htcdev keeps the radio and hboots locked)
also to do htcdev you loose your warrenty, the hope is to get s-off and not lose warrenty.

Thanks, so Iam mistaken to think that.

You don't need S-OFF to get root, flash new ROMs, use CWM, install Titanium backup etc.

[Q] Anybody know how to unlock bottloader/s-off for KitKat??

So, I've got root with Weaksauce. and I've tried to S-off with Firewater, but it just stops working around the second bottle. I've tried looking for a way to unlock the bootloader, but haven't found anything for verizon. I'm not even sure if I need bootloader unlocked though. I just want to flash a custom Sense 6 or Google edition ROM to my phone, but having Verizon and being stupid and doing the OTA KitKat update, I'm finding it insanely difficult.
Any advice you have, or links, would be very highly appreciated.

Linktolegend said:
So, I've got root with Weaksauce. and I've tried to S-off with Firewater, but it just stops working around the second bottle. I've tried looking for a way to unlock the bootloader, but haven't found anything for verizon. I'm not even sure if I need bootloader unlocked though. I just want to flash a custom Sense 6 or Google edition ROM to my phone, but having Verizon and being stupid and doing the OTA KitKat update, I'm finding it insanely difficult.
Any advice you have, or links, would be very highly appreciated.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm sure the advanced users are going to ask you for more information (logs, screen prints, etc). I am also assuming that you have the M7VZW and not another phone (like AT&T's or a global phone).
I'll start with that you should be sure that you installed weaksauce properly and have root.
With Firewater, I found the instructions on the firewater site to be more than adequate to get S-Off next.
http://firewater-soff.com/instructions/ I followed the normal rooted device method.
From there, I installed the custom recovery (TWRP 2.7.0.0) Make sure you use Santod040's version if you are installing one of his ROM's.
I used the fastboot instructions on the TWRP site.
http://teamw.in/project/twrp2/164
I also found this guide on installing the recovery to be invaluable
http://www.phonearena.com/news/How-to-flash-a-custom-recovery-like-CWM-or-TWRP-on-Android_id53914
With the custom recovery, I created a backup first and then did a wipe. From there, I installed the ROM using TWRP. It was all good from there.
In addition to the above, GrayTheWolf's videos were a big help.
Hope this helps.

[Q] Plz help to downgrade T-MO One (M8) from lollipop back to kitkat

Hello everyone,
I was hoping someone here can help point me in the right direction. I am trying to downgrade my stock t-mobile one m8 from lollipop back to kitkat. I have been very unimpressed with lollipop on this phone, as it has significantly hurt the experience of my phone. While I like some things, the loss of lock screen widgets to be replaced by notifications was a pretty big blow to me. While I could almost like the new notifications, I do not like how I constantly have my wifi calling notification on my lock screen. Sure I could disable it, but then it's disabled when my phone is unlocked too, and I do like to know if wifi calling is on and working. Same goes for things like Pandora.
I could almost live with that, but then HTC decided to remove Zoe video creation out of the gallery and made it standalone. Now it's a watered down version of itself, that forces me to have to upload my vids to htc before I can even save a copy of my own locally generated content. :/ That is some major BS. So, the last gallery app to have zoe vids built in, is only for kitkat. That pretty much sealed the deal for me to go back.
I have done some research, and I have downloaded the RUU that would take me back to 4.4.4. Only problem is my hboot is now newer, so the RUU fails with error 140. I see mention of having to s-off my phone to unlock the bootloader, to downgrade it, but I haven't found any explicit instructions for the m8 on t-mo.
Is this the best way to accomplish what I want? Can someone please point me in the right direction? I've been searching, but I'm still unsure what is going to be needed. I may be ok with staying with lollipop, if I can get the older version of gallery working on it. Anyone know if that's been done?
Thanks in advance!!

Running a previous RUU ("downgrade") is in fact only possible with S-off, as it seems you have already figured out.
S-off by sunshine ($25 US). Its an APK, and self-explanatory. You don't need any more additional guide.
You only need s-off to run a previous RUU ("downgrade"). Unlocked bootloader is not necessary. Although if you choose to pay for sunshine, you might research bootloader unlock and what that means, and see if you want it (since sunshine can also unlock the bootloader).
http://theroot.ninja/

I ran sunshine to see if my device would at least pass the pre-test. Says I need to pre-root my phone. Is there a preferred method to use? I see most of the methods require unlocking the bootloader, but doesn't sunshine take care of that if I want? I really just need temp root to get this to s-off, and then run the RUU. I do not really want to root it after I get this back to 4.4.4, unless I really need to to be able to install the older gallery app, or prevent an auto update to lollipop or something.
Thanks again!

I'm actually not that familiar with the details of sunshine, since I did s-off long ago using the (no longer working) firewater method. I do know there used to be a temp root option in sunshine. But Android 4.4.4 and 5.0 s-off was just added to sunshine version 3.x a few weeks ago. It seems HTC had patched the previous sunshine (version 2.x) exploit, so I'm guessing they patched the temp root as well. So since its asking for the phone to be rooted already, I gather from this that the temp root method does not work for those Android versions.
If that is the case, my previous statement that you don't need to unlock the bootloader is not completely correct (for your Android version). As the only way to root then would be to unlock the bootloader via HTCDev.com; than root by a few different methods (install TWRP and flash SU/SuperSU is probably the most straight-forward).
But perhaps some folks more familiar with the most up-to-date sunshine info can chime in and confirm.