Develop Bugs

[Q] Is stock possible?

Recently been looking into purchasing a new HTC One for myself, but after reading up on it, I see that there are a ton of S-Off and stock issues flying around. I guess I have a few clarifying questions then...
If I buy the phone today, is S-Off still possible?
Is S-Off risky?
Can I return to 100% complete stock yet if I need to or not? If yes, how?
Really I'm wondering if it's worth it to even purchase this phone as I don't want to be without flashing ROMs but at the same time, I resell my phones after awhile so I'm going to need to go back to 100% stock eventually. Sorry if these questions have already been asked, my xda search function is a bit broken. Thanks for reading this far.
Edit - Did some more searching and found the HTC One m8 now has the RUU's? Could someone also explain this? I'm new to HTC devices, coming from a nexus 5 here.

Nobody knows at all...?
Sent from my HTC M8

DinoSoup said:
Recently been looking into purchasing a new HTC One for myself, but after reading up on it, I see that there are a ton of S-Off and stock issues flying around. I guess I have a few clarifying questions then...
If I buy the phone today, is S-Off still possible?
Is S-Off risky?
Can I return to 100% complete stock yet if I need to or not? If yes, how?
Really I'm wondering if it's worth it to even purchase this phone as I don't want to be without flashing ROMs but at the same time, I resell my phones after awhile so I'm going to need to go back to 100% stock eventually. Sorry if these questions have already been asked, my xda search function is a bit broken. Thanks for reading this far.
Edit - Did some more searching and found the HTC One m8 now has the RUU's? Could someone also explain this? I'm new to HTC devices, coming from a nexus 5 here.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Probably, it will be. But it's not for certain. If your phone comes with the stock 1.12 software, then you can do it. But there's also a possibility of your phone being one of those unlucky "Whelp, this sucks..." phones. If it comes with the latest 1.57 software installed, it won't be possible.
That being said, if it comes with 1.12, which it probably will, and you unlock the bootloader, root, and S-Off, you can always go back to 100% stock with no trace at all of it ever being rooted if you want to return it for warranty, exc.
IF it is one of the unlucky "Whelp, this sucks..." phones, and you unlock your bootloader, root, and try to S-Off, but can't, then you can re lock the bootloader, run the stock RUU, and the only trace of it being unlocked and rooted would be that in the bootloader, it would say "Relocked" instead of "Locked."
Remember that if the phone comes with the 1.12 software, NEVER accept the OTA update. If you do accept the update, you will never be able to S-Off.
But again, chances are you will probably get the 1.12 software and be able to S-Off your phone. Hope this helped.

XxKINGxX2580 said:
Probably, it will be. But it's not for certain. If your phone comes with the stock 1.12 software, then you can do it. But there's also a possibility of your phone being one of those unlucky "Whelp, this sucks..." phones. If it comes with the latest 1.57 software installed, it won't be possible.
That being said, if it comes with 1.12, which it probably will, and you unlock the bootloader, root, and S-Off, you can always go back to 100% stock with no trace at all of it ever being rooted if you want to return it for warranty, exc.
IF it is one of the unlucky "Whelp, this sucks..." phones, and you unlock your bootloader, root, and try to S-Off, but can't, then you can re lock the bootloader, run the stock RUU, and the only trace of it being unlocked and rooted would be that in the bootloader, it would say "Relocked" instead of "Locked."
But again, chances are you will probably get the 1.12 software and be able to S-Off your phone. Hope this helped.
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Click to collapse
Thanks a ton, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Final question - how do I go about getting to stock. I found the RUU and stock files but I don't know at all what to do. After I know that, I'll be ready to root!
Sent from my HTC M8

DinoSoup said:
Thanks a ton, this is exactly what I was hoping for. Final question - how do I go about getting to stock. I found the RUU and stock files but I don't know at all what to do. After I know that, I'll be ready to root!
Sent from my HTC M8
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry for the late reply,
To get to complete 100% stock, you have to download and run the RUU. It's a simple EXE file. There are a bunch of Youtube videos on how to run RUUs. Before running the RUU, you have to re-lock the bootloader. But, to go to 100% stock, you first have to to reset the tampered flag, LOCK, not re-lock the bootloader (there is a thread on how to make the bootloader say LOCKED, not Re-Locked) and then S-ON. After that, run the RUU file, and it will take you back to complete stock. Like you never unlocked the bootloader or rooted.
But, I would do everything except S-ON. If you go to S-ON and run the RUU, you will not be able to go back to S-Off again. The RUU will install the 1.57 software, and that version isn't supported by Firewater.
The only thing you really have to do is a simple re-lock of the bootloader before running the RUU. But, doing what I said would make the phone look like it was never rooted. Again, I would do everything I said except going back to S-ON.

I just successfully achieved completely stock with S-On. I gave my details here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=55374644&postcount=2

[Q] Question About GPE RUU

Next weekend, I am going to get an HTC One M8 from T-Mobile. I would really like to change it to a GPE but I need to get a phone through T-Mobile so they will pay off my ETF from Verizon.
I would have liked to ask this question directly in the development thread, but I'm not allowed to so I will just include a link.
I have found a couple videos to help me with this online and it seems pretty simple. I've been running a rooted GNex with Shiny Custom Rom. Although I started using the Wugfresh toolkit, I've since learned fairly basic ways of using ADB. I say all this so you know I'm not really a green beginner. My question is this:
[RUU] M8 Google Edition Conversion. 4.4.4 - RUU Zip Non-Rooted & Pre-Rooted
If I use this thread and the directions here, along with a few videos, will this work on a T-Mobile version. I'm going to be new at this GSM thing and want to make sure that this RUU file will work. Thanks!

Hi and welcome to xda!
This guide you linked in your post will work on your T-Mobile device, as long as you S-Off it as a first step. To do this I would personally use SunShine. Even though it costs 25$, it's the best you could do, as it unlocks the bootloader without any data loss and without HTC knowing (as they would if you're going to use HTCDev to accomplish it). In addition you don't need to be rooted, as SunShine temproots to get the job done. Thus you could flash a custom recovery right after S-Off, backup your full stock ROM (just in case you got to go bak to stock Sense for warranty purposes) and head to the guide behind your link.
I wouldn't use any videos, as there is realy everything mentioned in the guide mentioned, that you need to convert. As long as you follow it step by step you'll also come to learn the most important things of what you do. This will make live easier if you got to go back. And if something goes wrong during the conversion process, you would be able to give a much more precise information about where and what. I'm just writing it, as many questions here seem to start with a "I followed a video guide and something went wrong", which realy doesn't help anybody to understand where the problem first occured, not to mentioned that we can't help anybody who starts a post in this way, without further questioning what he did and in which order. And as you're telling you're already familiar with adb/fastboot the job should be quiet easy for you to accomplish .

Thanks for the response. I appreciate it. I know my username has switched but I was originally having trouble with it.
So I'm curious about the sunshine thing. I pay $25 and then run the app. The app will unlock the bootloader and give me s-off which will enable me to convert to a gpe htc one m8?

dbroer91884 said:
Thanks for the response. I appreciate it. I know my username has switched but I was originally having trouble with it.
So I'm curious about the sunshine thing. I pay $25 and then run the app. The app will unlock the bootloader and give me s-off which will enable me to convert to a gpe htc one m8?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes that's right. It will accomplish both, bootloader unlock, as well as S-Off. After this you could goon and start the conversion by following the guide I linked in my last response.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app

From Nexus 5 unlocking and rooting

Hello guys,
I got a bit confused about all rooting and unlocking and S-OFF... I have htc one m8 european version. I got sick of waiting for lolipop update and was thinking of turning my device to Developer Edition Sense. On Nexus 5 there was easy unlocking bootloader/relocking for gettings warranty back .... Do you guys have any suggestions what to backup and save? I heard there were problems of returning back to complete stock. I was thinking of unlocking my bootloader, then installing TWRP and rooting. Then S-OFF and changing CID number and installing developer rom. But as I was reading firewater doesn't work any more? Can any one suggest what to backup so I can return to complete stock and S-on if I need to get it to complete factory for any reasons? I would like to get everything stock backuped even my old CID .... I would just like to change it to Developer Edition and get OTA first. And is there the only way to S-OFF with sunshine which is 25$?
On Nexus 5 this was quite easier...
Sorry for bad English and thank you for your answers

Basically what you want to do after unlocking the bootlooader and TWRP is create a backup without root
From there if your lucky and haven't updated past 4.4.3 than use Sunshine as it is well worth every penny to gain S-OFF
You then want to use a Dev edition "backup,firmware, stock recovery,MID,CID that all match"
If you want to go back to your stock condition than you will have the TWRP backup you made before you converted to Dev edition, the backup will not restore your MID,CID as that needs to be manually changed every time the same and only way it can be done.
Most people are having trouble going back to stock from GPE edition cause of the partition size and steps involved.
Now I to own a Nexus 5 and well it only comes one version of android so there is no need of changing firmwares or
S-OFF

Ok thank you there is quite a lot of work with this... and a higher change of bricking ... My phone is updated to 4.4.4 to there's that. I'll think about it, because you never know about warranty.
Sorry for bad English

Mariborcan said:
Ok thank you there is quite a lot of work with this... and a higher change of bricking ... My phone is updated to 4.4.4 to there's that. I'll think about it, because you never know about warranty.
Sorry for bad English
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you can S-off, the chances of bricking actually go way down, because you have more options to fix things. Yes, it is potentially dangerous if you don't know what you are doing and can't follow directions, but an M8 with S-off is pretty close to a Nexus device in terms of what you can do with it.
That said, it is important to remember that it is *not* a Nexus device. If you get S-off, don't ever go S-on unless you are bone stock root and have a very good reason.

Do I Really Need S-OFF???

Sorry im a bit of a Noob and was wondering what benefit i would get from being S-Off
To be honest 25 for sunshine to get S-Off is a bit extreme but thats why im asking the question, im not here to start moaning about the cost, if i find that s-off is worth it i will get it.
Thanks

What may be worth doing is rooting the phone and purchasing sunshine if and when soff is needed to restore the tamper flag in the bootloader for warranty purposes. If you dont need to send it back dont bother paying for soff. Obviously if you want soff for other reasons then its worth it but only you would know this. Personally were both **** out of luck as its the only method to gain soff on the latest m8's. I will more than likely be getting it as i want root only but to have son bl locked and tamper flags removed whilst retaining root. For this reason alone its worth it to me but i hear ya. Still not to happy about paying it but theres no other choice atm unfortunately.
Im still not happy the bootloader has to be unlocked just to gain root. Ive always rooted my phones whilst keeping everything else stock, but again its tough **** until devs find an exploit, if they are even searching for one, who knows.

bornnslippy said:
Sorry im a bit of a Noob and was wondering what benefit i would get from being S-Off
To be honest 25 for sunshine to get S-Off is a bit extreme but thats why im asking the question, im not here to start moaning about the cost, if i find that s-off is worth it i will get it.
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
The best part of S-Off for me is that I can always be running the newest firmware, and therefore the newest ROMs. I never have to wait for my carrier to update (for example AT&T just got Lollipop a few weeks ago but S-Off users updated in January with WWE firmware)

This ^^^^
I got s-off in the beginning. So I've never had to worry about official updates, or finding firmware for my exact model (which is Telus... So harder to find). I did SuperCID, so I can flash firmware anytime, even downgrade firmware. I can use new roms, or old roms... Covert to GPE if I wanted... Etc.
Do you need it to fully enjoy the phone? No. But if you like having total control... Then yes you do.
$25 wasn't a big deal for me, for complete freedom. :good:

It depends where you live, what carrier your on, & if you want to tinker with your phone. I'm in the US, on Verizon, & want to stay up to date on firmwire & the latest android. Finally, I want full access to my device, so that's why I paid $25 no question !!!!!

Last thing does s-off void your warranty
Thanks

bornnslippy said:
Last thing does s-off void your warranty
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Not exactly. But unlocking your bootloader technically does. But with s-off, you can reverse everything you've done, including the red tampered banner, and return your device to its stock state.

sjpritch25 said:
It depends where you live, what carrier your on, & if you want to tinker with your phone.
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Click to collapse
And specifically what you want to tinker with. But otherwise I agree.
If you own a version that gets relatively quickly updated (GPE, Dev Edition, many WWE versions) its probably not that necessary. But on AT&T for instance, we had to wait a few months (after other variants) to get the "official" 4.4.4 and 5.0 firmwares (hboot, radio, etc.). Meaning we couldn't properly run most custom ROMs for a while without s-off.
I did s-off when I got the phone about a year ago. So I've fortunately never had such limitations. I've been running LP since January, where folks on AT&T with s-on had to wait until April for the proper firmware.
Plus, with s-off you can flash modified hboots, manually flash different radios, and "fully convert" to other versions (other CIDs, of Google Play Edition).

Why are there no free s-off solutions on the m9?

Hi, I currently own an m7 and used rumrunner to s-off, though there were other alternatives. Anyhow, I was looking into getting an m9 since I have the purple camera defect and HTC won't fix it because I unlocked bootloader(i know, irrelevant but they're being dicks) . I was looking to check if s-off has been achieved and only found sunshine which would cost like 30 bucks cad and a post on these forums saying to report any free s-offs so they can be deleted. I just want to understand what's going on.
Also, if I am forced to buy it, does it at least let me unlock bootloader without going on htcdev?
Thank you

I don't know what kind of methods existed/exist on the M7 but some of the free methods on the One S were able to hardbrick you phone if you made a mistake during the process. I think the "report free s-off methods" thread is only made for preventing the average user of bricking his/her phone since most of those methods aren't very safe.
I noticed that many new M9 users are coming from samsung devices and many of them never had an htc device before. Some are already overburden with getting back to stock. (I do not want to insult anybody. I know that the beginning of the learning curve with htc devices is steep since I had to learn all that stuff some years ago, too.) Imagine what would happen if a s-off method like facepalm would exist for the M9: hardbricks everywhere. That wouldn't help anybody.
beaups and jcase have created several s-off methods during the last years. Sunshine (their latest method) is so well programmed that there is actually no risk of bricking since the app verifies whether your device could get bricked during the process before it starts flashing. The "price" is actually just a "donation" or a "refinancing". Explanations can befound here, here and here.
Nevertheless you should not forget that s-off is nothing you need to use your phone. It works perfectly without s-off. So there is actually no one forcing you to pay anything. Besides you can always use a java card like people with verizon M9s do since verizon blocks the htcdev unlock. But buying a java card is much more expensive than "donating" to team sunshine. Or you send your phone to someone who owns a java card and let him/her s-off your phone. But be honest, would you send a new phone that costs around 700 € to someone you do not know?
And no, using sunshine without htcdev unlock is not possible. You need a rooted phone for using sunshine and getting root can only be achieved on the M9 with an unlocked bootloader.
I hope that clarifies most of your questions.

Thanks for your comment. Hehe, I do come from Samsung phones (S1, S4, S4 Zoom, S5), though I've had the LG G2 and G3, HTC Magic, HTC One M7, Oppo Find 7a, among others, and the M7 and M9 are the most confusing for me. I was wondering also if there's a free way to do it but it looks like there isn't. The only reason why I need S-Off is to go back to full stock from a custom rom (I bought the phone like that) to get OTA, or at least make it dev edition.

Actually there is no need to S-OFF for getting back to stock. If available you just need to flash a RUU with your current or a newer firmware version. If there is no correct RUU available you need to look for a stock, read-only TWRP backup. What is your current firmware version? It's stated in the line beginning with "OS" when you boot to download mode.

Nothing here prohibits free s-off, we dont stop it. We as XDA mods, and we as sunshines developers.
The warning exists because of some jerk posting fake s-off solutions recently, that were fake, and dangerous, they would soft brick your device.

The better way to have S-OFF , sim unlock or another things is the XTC 2 Clip.. Works perfectly and very simple.
but for free is unfortunately no longer available ..