Develop Bugs

help. iam stuck/confused

ok guys i have a at&t htc one m8, i sim unlocked it some months ago with those online number code thing. so now i got impatience and wanted to get the new lollipop 5.0 gpe or sense. i am using another sim so i can receive ota updates on the phone anyways, infact at&t hasn't even released the lollipop yet. i decided to root the phone to get the new firmware only to get stuck at s-off part. my phone is rooted and the boot loader is unlocked. i have to pay 25 dollars to get s-off : eek: that's some bull crap. i wish someone told me that before embarking in this journey. firewater doesn't work anymore. is there any way around paying for sunshine ? thanks.

gabriox said:
ok guys i have a at&t htc one m8, i sim unlocked it some months ago with those online number code thing. so now i got impatience and wanted to get the new lollipop 5.0 gpe or sense. i am using another sim so i can receive ota updates on the phone anyways, infact at&t hasn't even released the lollipop yet. i decided to root the phone to get the new firmware only to get stuck at s-off part. my phone is rooted and the boot loader is unlocked. i have to pay 25 dollars to get s-off : eek: that's some bull crap. i wish someone told me that before embarking in this journey. firewater doesn't work anymore. is there any way around paying for sunshine ? thanks.
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S-Off isn't a must!
First and foremost, I'm S-On, 5.x ROM, regardless of GPE or Sense works fine for me

As of now no. Sunshine is the only working s-off method. I know it seems like a lot, but you have to remember that a lot of time and effort goes into this. Not to mention money of the the devs. Ths is a small cost considering what your able to do with it unleashed.

Bobbi lim said:
S-Off isn't a must!
First and foremost, I'm S-On, 5.x ROM, regardless of GPE or Sense works fine for me
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Click to collapse
OP can run Lollipop GPE ROMs that support 4.4.4 firmware.
Otherwise, Sense 5.0 ROMs will likely cause trouble (extreme long boot times, broken WiFi) without the proper firmware, which is not yet "officially" available for the AT&T version (LP not yet released).
For the AT&T version, if the OP wants to update to LP firmware, than s-off is actually a must, at this time.

You are basically saying that s-off is a must 25 is alot. I wish I did it when firewater was working.

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).

Root vs. unlocked bootloader vs. s-off

Apologies in advance for being dumb.....
I'm currently on an S4. Things are simple. I root. I install TWRP recovery. I flash whatever ROM I want. I flash back to full stock if I want to. Real easy.
I've been considering the HTC One M9, and reading up for a couple weeks now. I'm confused about some things....hoping someone can help clear things up.
First off, FYI - I'm Verizon.
I just read a page that explained the difference between root, unlocked bootloader, and s-off:
http://www.pocketables.com/2012/08/the-difference-between-root-s-offon-lockedunlocked-bootloader-in-the-htc-evo-series.html
I should clarify the *typical* reasons I don't stay stock with my S4 and previous phones:
Handful of apps I use that need root.
Benefiting from various things that custom ROMs give me - debloat, etc.
Hotspot
Now let's see if I can ask my questions correctly:
Can the HTC One M9 be rooted without unlocked bootloader and/or s-off? If for example I just wanted to be able to run apps that require root.
Unlocked bootloader - This is where I get confused with s-off. I know I can't use HTCDEV. And the folks that are shipping their phones to people with the special cards are looking to get s-off it seems. Can someone clarify if there will likely be a software method to unlock bootloader (without necessarily chasing after s-off)?
s-off: Given the reasons stated above that I typically don't stay stock, do I care about s-off? It sounds like with an unlocked bootloader I can do custom recovery and ROMs, and s-off just allows me to access additional stuff I wouldn't typically want to mess with...is this correct?
In all 3 scenarios above, is there the ability to return phone to full stock?
I'm due for an upgrade, and wanna get the phone, but worried I won't be able to do what I want with it, or be in a situation where I can't get a repair/replacement if something ever happens to it.
Thank you so much in advance for any insight someone can provide....

crackface said:
First off, FYI - I'm Verizon.
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Click to collapse
Verizon does not allow the M9 to be unlocked. In order to do anything with that device, you will need to purchase a java card or find someone with one.
Go to the Verizon M9 forum for more information.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-one-m9
You might want to check other Verizon phones, but I highly doubt that the M9 is the only phone that verizon prevents from being unlocked. So you might be in the same boat no matter which device you choose.

jollywhitefoot said:
Verizon does not allow the M9 to be unlocked. In order to do anything with that device, you will need to purchase a java card or find someone with one.
Go to the Verizon M9 forum for more information.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/verizon-one-m9
You might want to check other Verizon phones, but I highly doubt that the M9 is the only phone that verizon prevents from being unlocked. So you might be in the same boat no matter which device you choose.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Oops! Can a mod by chance move this to the Verizon specific forum? I thought that's where I was...

Bootloader boots the os.
Root gives special permissions to allow changes to root but certain parts of the device are locked (modem, radio etc).
S-off (secure off) gives full access to root and partitions. Allows permanent changes to modem, radio etc.
Non of these are needed by the average user and this point is made clear when said average user doesn't understand and cannot get their head around it.
Htc is not like samsung. Samsung openly support flashing devices by not locking the bootloader in the first place but on the flip side samsung roms are blatanly the fastest for their devices over custom roms.
Sent from a stolen HTC M9

shivadow said:
Bootloader boots the os.
Root gives special permissions to allow changes to root but certain parts of the device are locked (modem, radio etc).
S-off (secure off) gives full access to root and partitions. Allows permanent changes to modem, radio etc.
Non of these are needed by the average user and this point is made clear when said average user doesn't understand and cannot get their head around it.
Htc is not like samsung. Samsung openly support flashing devices by not locking the bootloader in the first place but on the flip side samsung roms are blatanly the fastest for their devices over custom roms.
Sent from a stolen HTC M9
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
So my apologies in advance if I'm sounding like an idiot here....as with Verizon's announcement I'm now rushed to possibly purchase this phone at discounted rate.
I know with s-off I need to send it off to a friend of these forums with a donation. But I don't think I need s-off (not sure I need to flash radio and whatnot)...as I just want root and ability to flash custom recovery and a custom ROM. Can I do those things without having s-off (my reading tells me no, but want to be sure)? Or can root be acquired and ability for custom recovery without s-off? Or is there somewhere I can read that answers these questions in details?
And is there an ability to return to stock if I run into problems?
Sorry if these questions are redundant to my previous questions or prevailing answers provided.
Thanks for any info.

crackface said:
So my apologies in advance if I'm sounding like an idiot here....as with Verizon's announcement I'm now rushed to possibly purchase this phone at discounted rate.
I know with s-off I need to send it off to a friend of these forums with a donation. But I don't think I need s-off (not sure I need to flash radio and whatnot)...as I just want root and ability to flash custom recovery and a custom ROM. Can I do those things without having s-off (my reading tells me no, but want to be sure)? Or can root be acquired and ability for custom recovery without s-off? Or is there somewhere I can read that answers these questions in details?
And is there an ability to return to stock if I run into problems?
Sorry if these questions are redundant to my previous questions or prevailing answers provided.
Thanks for any info.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Your only choice is s-off. You cannot unlock your bootloader via HTC dev as Verizon blocks us. So the only way to do what you want is s-off. When I s-off someone's phone I also unlock the bootloader manually and flash twrp and supersu.
Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk

dottat said:
Your only choice is s-off. You cannot unlock your bootloader via HTC dev as Verizon blocks us. So the only way to do what you want is s-off. When I s-off someone's phone I also unlock the bootloader manually and flash twrp and supersu.
Sent from my HTC6535LVW using Tapatalk
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have Verizon M9 S-OFF, but I could not unlock bootloader. Plz tell me how could I unlock bootloader.

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 ..

Converting from stock ATT Edition to GPE

Hello all,
I am trying to change my girlfriends ATT edition m8 into a Google Play Edition. Shes been having a lot of problems lately and just a nice clean stock android I feel would really just revive the phone. Im not looking to pay $25 for a 2 year old phone that has hardware issue just to get s-off so if anyone has a method to get s-off i would appreciate it. I have unlocked the bootloader so thats all set.
When I attempt to flash the RUU.zip I have I am constantly getting an error 99 return.
Any help would be greatly appreciated thanks guys.

You can't convert with a ruu while S-ON. And there is no other S-OFF tool than sunshine. At least not under 25$.

magestic1995 said:
I am trying to change my girlfriends ATT edition m8 into a Google Play Edition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You need S-Off to convert the device to GPE but you don't need to convert to GPE to experience GPE.
While on S-On, you can install the Flashable Stock GPe ROM instead of using GPe RUU.
See : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2708589
and there are a few other GPE flashable ROMs in Development thread that you don't need conversion to GPE.
(e.g. the one that linked in my signature but that's not updated to the latest and running this without GPE coversion)

magestic1995 said:
Im not looking to pay $25 for a 2 year old phone that has hardware issue just to get s-off so if anyone has a method to get s-off i would appreciate it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There is no free s-off method. sunshine is your only option, unless you have a friend with a javacard and knows how to use it (otherwise, that costs even more money).
I agree with ckpv5 above, just flash a GPE ROM to get GPE experience. The only things that would be missing are OTA updates, and the GPE partition scheme.

ckpv5 said:
You need S-Off to convert the device to GPE but you don't need to convert to GPE to experience GPE.
While on S-On, you can install the Flashable Stock GPe ROM instead of using GPe RUU.
See : http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2708589
and there are a few other GPE flashable ROMs in Development thread that you don't need conversion to GPE.
(e.g. the one that linked in my signature but that's not updated to the latest and running this without GPE coversion)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks, I ended up using the guide and flashing it as a ROM, it ended up working great and helped a lot.

redpoint73 said:
There is no free s-off method. sunshine is your only option, unless you have a friend with a javacard and knows how to use it (otherwise, that costs even more money).
I agree with ckpv5 above, just flash a GPE ROM to get GPE experience. The only things that would be missing are OTA updates, and the GPE partition scheme.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Question whats a javacard??

magestic1995 said:
Question whats a javacard??
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Click to collapse
Its a special MicroSD card that will s-off the device. They cost $300 or so. You might be able to find a local service that has a javacard for the M8, but by the time you find one, and pay them to s-off, you probably could have just used sunshine.

redpoint73 said:
Its a special MicroSD card that will s-off the device. They cost $300 or so. You might be able to find a local service that has a javacard for the M8, but by the time you find one, and pay them to s-off, you probably could have just used sunshine.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Never realized s-off was so complicated for the m8, dont remember it ever being so hard on my old phones.

magestic1995 said:
Never realized s-off was so complicated for the m8, dont remember it ever being so hard on my old phones.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sunshine is an app, its not complicated. I think by "complicated" you mean expensive.
On the other hand, S-off is certainly complicated for the developers, that have spend hundreds of hours finding these exploits, and bricked several devices developing sunshine. Sunshine is by the same devs that did firewater (for free) and a ton of other contributions to XDA, before deciding to make sunshine a paid app.
Java card is somewhat of a obscure thing. But nothing completely new. Older HTC devices had "gold cards" with a similar concept.
Whether you decide to pay for s-off or not, is completely up to your personal discretion. S-off isn't needed for most people; as its not needed to flash ROMs, root, and a great many other things.