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I've been rooting and flashing ROMs on Android devices for years, but I'm new to HTC (coming from the Galaxy Nexus/toro). On all my other devices, I've merely unlocked the bootloader, rooted, installed custom recovery, and flashed ROMs (e.g. CM11) to stay "current." I'm getting the sense that the M8 doesn't quite work like that (but I'm not sure).
I'm currently rooted, have TWRP, and S-ON (more on that in a minute). I've been using Venom's Viper One ROM since I got the phone in early July. Venom just released a new version of the ROM, but that has led to my realization that HTC and/or the M8 is a different animal that my other Android devices.
I've combed through countless threads trying to figure this out but to no avail--so I figured I'd ask it here. Do I have to be S-OFF to keep my firmware up to date? If so, is there any other way besides Sunshine to obtain S-OFF on the T-mobile M8? I tried Firewater and for whatever reason it reports it can't and never will work on my device.
It's not that I mind paying the $25 for Sunshine, but I'm not 100% clear why I need S-OFF since none of my other (non-HTC) devices required such a thing. I'd be willing to purchase it if I for sure needed it, but I'm confused if it is required to keep my rooted M8 "current" so I can keep on flashing ROMs without incident (the new version of Viper One supposedly doesn't work as well on the non-current firmware which I have).
If anyone here can ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5) about S-OFF and whether or not I need it I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
zerozed99 said:
I've been rooting and flashing ROMs on Android devices for years, but I'm new to HTC (coming from the Galaxy Nexus/toro). On all my other devices, I've merely unlocked the bootloader, rooted, installed custom recovery, and flashed ROMs (e.g. CM11) to stay "current." I'm getting the sense that the M8 doesn't quite work like that (but I'm not sure).
I'm currently rooted, have TWRP, and S-ON (more on that in a minute). I've been using Venom's Viper One ROM since I got the phone in early July. Venom just released a new version of the ROM, but that has led to my realization that HTC and/or the M8 is a different animal that my other Android devices.
I've combed through countless threads trying to figure this out but to no avail--so I figured I'd ask it here. Do I have to be S-OFF to keep my firmware up to date? If so, is there any other way besides Sunshine to obtain S-OFF on the T-mobile M8? I tried Firewater and for whatever reason it reports it can't and never will work on my device.
It's not that I mind paying the $25 for Sunshine, but I'm not 100% clear why I need S-OFF since none of my other (non-HTC) devices required such a thing. I'd be willing to purchase it if I for sure needed it, but I'm confused if it is required to keep my rooted M8 "current" so I can keep on flashing ROMs without incident (the new version of Viper One supposedly doesn't work as well on the non-current firmware which I have).
If anyone here can ELI5 (Explain Like I'm 5) about S-OFF and whether or not I need it I'd really appreciate it. Thanks!
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With HTC devices like our m8, s-off is needed in order to change firmwares and radios manually. It is very different than with nexus devices, that are definitely the easiest to tinker with. I paid the $25 for sunshine (firewater wouldn't work for me either) and it was so easy I can't even put it in words. Takes like 2 minutes. I recommend it. S-off makes a huge difference. But only if you know what youre doing. Read up on the dangers of obtaining s-off before you do it. Entering the wrong command in a terminal session with s-off could lead to a very expensive paperweight.
Sent from my M8
So adb, fastboot, all that stuff works perfectly. I can push firewater to my device, it's properly set to 755:
-rwxr-xr-x root root 4522136 2014-10-30 20:56 firewater
But when the script is run, it eventually hits the message:
********** whelp, this sucks, firewater can not work on your device **********
********** no amount of reflashing, retrying, or ruuing will fix... **********
********** DO NOT COME TO IRC ASKING FOR UPDATES OR ETAS!!!!!! **********
********** if we are able to fix this issue, it will be announced **********
********** bye bye.....sorry it didn't work out. **********
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I'm like 95% sure I've had it s-off in the past, but I realized it was s-on when I tried to update the firmware.
So what gives?
TheCheeks said:
So adb, fastboot, all that stuff works perfectly. I can push firewater to my device, it's properly set to 755:
-rwxr-xr-x root root 4522136 2014-10-30 20:56 firewater
But when the script is run, it eventually hits the message:
I'm like 95% sure I've had it s-off in the past, but I realized it was s-on when I tried to update the firmware.
So what gives?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's the other 5% that is correct.
Firewater doesn't work any more, HTC patched the exploit.
But....
there is the Sunshine method made by the same devs that did Firewater. It costs $25, but is guaranteed to work.
If you don't get s-off, you don't pay. But I'm certain that you will pay. It works. Period.
xunholyx said:
It's the other 5% that is correct.
Firewater doesn't work any more, HTC patched the exploit.
But....
there is the Sunshine method made by the same devs that did Firewater. It costs $25, but is guaranteed to work.
If you don't get s-off, you don't pay. But I'm certain that you will pay. It works. Period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No ****? Wow, I thought unlocking, s-off, rooting, custom ROMs... all of that would basically disable any manufacturer/provider's ability to push updates and other crap to us. That's really eye opening...
Thanks for your reply, not sure I can justify $25 just to s-off for a firmware update. I need a bigger reason or half the price for that exploit (I totally support devs but that's too expensive for too little personal gain in my situation).
It will support the devs an encourage their work in the future ......
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Free mobile app
TheCheeks said:
No ****? Wow, I thought unlocking, s-off, rooting, custom ROMs... all of that would basically disable any manufacturer/provider's ability to push updates and other crap to us. That's really eye opening...
Thanks for your reply, not sure I can justify $25 just to s-off for a firmware update. I need a bigger reason or half the price for that exploit (I totally support devs but that's too expensive for too little personal gain in my situation).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It does disable them. But it doesn't matter dude.
When you are rooted, you can update before your carrier updates to the new version.
F*ck OTAs!!! That is part of the wonderful world of the rooting community.
But for most users, s-off is unnecessary.
You only need it to flash firmware not specifically meant for your device (non matching CID and/or MID).
Also for reverting to older firmware.
If you just want to install ROMs and mods, you can do it. Just use versions meant for your firmware.
Also, almost every Sense based ROM has a link to update firmware in OP.
EDIT: I just re read your post, and I get what you mean now.
I used firewater when I got mine, but that was before the patch. They don't get to what they can't push updates to. Plus,you don't have to do s-off twice. Once and you are done. You weren't s-off before.
Also, I have a feeling that Firewater will work on a brand new M8 before connecting to the web/signing in to your G account. Unconfirmed and un-asked. But I have a feeling.
---------- Post added at 11:46 PM ---------- Previous post was at 11:00 PM ----------
TheCheeks said:
No ****? Wow, I thought unlocking, s-off, rooting, custom ROMs... all of that would basically disable any manufacturer/provider's ability to push updates and other crap to us. That's really eye opening...
Thanks for your reply, not sure I can justify $25 just to s-off for a firmware update. I need a bigger reason or half the price for that exploit (I totally support devs but that's too expensive for too little personal gain in my situation).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
With s-off you will always be able to flash the latest and greatest.
Plus you will have the ablity to revert back if the need be.
Plus you can go SuperCID and use the updated firmware from any carrier in the world.
I have the Harmon and Kardon Sprint ADSP and audio/libs on my phone. The sound is like the music of angels.
You need S-Off for that.
They work hard on this stuff. It takes a lot of time to write those scripts.
I see no problem with them asking for the cash. $25 really isn't very much money.
TheCheeks said:
So adb, fastboot, all that stuff works perfectly. I can push firewater to my device, it's properly set to 755:
-rwxr-xr-x root root 4522136 2014-10-30 20:56 firewater
But when the script is run, it eventually hits the message:
I'm like 95% sure I've had it s-off in the past, but I realized it was s-on when I tried to update the firmware.
So what gives?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
$25 is totally justifiable. I have had to help out a couple of people who were on branded handsets and s on who didnt make backups of thier original software and no nands were in the collection thread.
basically they had a certain firmware but couldnt upgrade it due to being s on and were up sh#ts creek without apaddle as they could not find a rom that would work with thier firmware, leading to problems with no wifi etc. I was able to make these nands as I was s off.
Being s off makes it much easier to solve problems.
Not to mention the time the devs put into it and the amount of devices they brick at thier own personal costs getting these exploits to work.
if its not justifyable and u end up messing ur phone up u were best staying totally stock in the first place
xunholyx said:
It's the other 5% that is correct.
Firewater doesn't work any more, HTC patched the exploit.
But....
there is the Sunshine method made by the same devs that did Firewater. It costs $25, but is guaranteed to work.
If you don't get s-off, you don't pay. But I'm certain that you will pay. It works. Period.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
HTC did nothing at all for Firewater to stop working. Founders of Firewater (who are the same people whom founed Sunshine) decided that it is time to charge for every device that is S-OFF. I had two devices (same version of ROM, hboot, firmware, provider, country of origin, etc.) On one (one month ago) I managed to S-OFF with Firewater, second one (two weeks ago) I had to use Sunshine.
Lads should stop even bother to use Firewater, as it won't work now days. All that talking about HTC patching is worth nothing, no need for pretending good lads.
Garrett_PL said:
HTC did nothing at all for Firewater to stop working. Founders of Firewater (who are the same people whom founed Sunshine) decided that it is time to charge for every device that is S-OFF. I had two devices (same version of ROM, hboot, firmware, provider, country of origin, etc.) On one (one month ago) I managed to S-OFF with Firewater, second one (two weeks ago) I had to use Sunshine.
Lads should stop even bother to use Firewater, as it won't work now days. All that talking about HTC patching is worth nothing, no need for pretending good lads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Truthfully, that is what I think as well. (I do know that FW and SS are done by the same devs) I'm just repeating what has been stated on this site and really the only knowledge I have on this, but I do have assumptions.
But seriously, I can't blame them. Supply and demand and such. They put in a lot of work, they might as well get paid for it.
But.....
when you say HTC did nothing, are you sure?
It didn't stop working till the update to 4.4.3.
Do you have any links to back that up? I would be interested in reading up on it.
Garrett_PL said:
Lads should stop even bother to use Firewater, as it won't work now days.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There are still reports once in a while (however uncommon) of someone that buys a new M8 and firewater works. Probably old stock with older software on it (although that is not clear). But firewater is worth running, regardless. Its free and takes maybe 5 minutes to try firewater, no harm in doing so. So why should folks not at least try?
Yes, it should be understood that firewater probably won't work, and that there is an alternative that does work.
Stock ROM and kernel (possibly stock recovery also) has the best chance of firewater working (as well as sunshine).
---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------
TheCheeks said:
I'm like 95% sure I've had it s-off in the past, but I realized it was s-on when I tried to update the firmware.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you didn't run firewater (or possibly rumrunner) or sunshine before, you didn't have s-off.
S-off isn't required to flash ROMs, so this often causes confusion (you might think you had s-off, but you didn't).
sunshine
im also done s-off my M8 using sunshine.. its worth paying $25
S-OFF
After trying rumrunner and firewater unsuccessfully, I also had to pay the $25 for sunshine. A good investment IMHO.
Yes, it is a bit expensive but you won't be charged if it cannot S-OFF your device, so you are 100% sure to be S-OFF after using it if you have to pay for it.
So I have a converted GPE htc one m8 and i wanted to return it to sense but i found out its s-on. how do i fix this?
Garrett_PL said:
HTC did nothing at all for Firewater to stop working. Founders of Firewater (who are the same people whom founed Sunshine) decided that it is time to charge for every device that is S-OFF. I had two devices (same version of ROM, hboot, firmware, provider, country of origin, etc.) On one (one month ago) I managed to S-OFF with Firewater, second one (two weeks ago) I had to use Sunshine.
Lads should stop even bother to use Firewater, as it won't work now days. All that talking about HTC patching is worth nothing, no need for pretending good lads.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're right. How can an apk S-off your device and yet the fastboot not work anymore?
HTC One M8
redpoint73 said:
There are still reports once in a while (however uncommon) of someone that buys a new M8 and firewater works. Probably old stock with older software on it (although that is not clear). But firewater is worth running, regardless. Its free and takes maybe 5 minutes to try firewater, no harm in doing so. So why should folks not at least try?
Yes, it should be understood that firewater probably won't work, and that there is an alternative that does work.
Stock ROM and kernel (possibly stock recovery also) has the best chance of firewater working (as well as sunshine).
---------- Post added at 10:32 AM ---------- Previous post was at 10:29 AM ----------
If you didn't run firewater (or possibly rumrunner) or sunshine before, you didn't have s-off.
S-off isn't required to flash ROMs, so this often causes confusion (you might think you had s-off, but you didn't).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I ran firewater, I know that for a fact and it "chugged" 3 bottles. I don't know when it switched back to ON.
Also $25 isn't a lot usually, but when you only have $5 to your name until your next paycheck, $25 is fairly substantial.
redpoint73 said:
There are still reports once in a while (however uncommon) of someone that buys a new M8 and firewater works. Probably old stock with older software on it (although that is not clear). But firewater is worth running, regardless. Its free and takes maybe 5 minutes to try firewater, no harm in doing so. So why should folks not at least try?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There was a guy on this forum earlier this week that tried and failed with Firewater and asked for help getting it to work.
Somebody posted to use Sunshine.
He replied that it was okay, that after multiple attempts Firewater ended up doing the job.
So maybe try it a few times to see if it sticks. There is nothing to lose but a little bit of time since it is free.
xunholyx said:
There was a guy on this forum earlier this week that tried and failed with Firewater and asked for help getting it to work.
Somebody posted to use Sunshine.
He replied that it was okay, that after multiple attempts Firewater ended up doing the job.
So maybe try it a few times to see if it sticks. There is nothing to lose but a little bit of time since it is free.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Who is this guy you speak of?
passion4tech said:
Who is this guy you speak of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've seen a few reports (maybe 4) of firewater working (on recently purchased devices) in the past several weeks, on various threads. Maybe its old stock phones with old firmware, hboot, etc. Its not clear. But I agree its worth a few tries on firewater, since it costs nothing except a little bit of time.
passion4tech said:
Who is this guy you speak of?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Like its of any use, firewater doesnt work on your device. You don't even listen to the developer of the exploit !
Lol
Mr Hofs said:
Like its of any use, firewater doesnt work on your device. You don't even listen to the developer of the exploit !
Lol
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
You're wrong Mr Hofs, I believe firewater can work on my phone. Redpoint73 believes firewater can still work why can't you?
passion4tech said:
You're wrong Mr Hofs, I believe firewater can work on my phone. Redpoint73 believes firewater can still work why can't you?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Because you are trying for weeks now. Just stop it buddy. When you don't listen to the actual developer of firewater you are truly hardheaded !!!
Edit :
And seeing you in every thread with the word "s-off" in it and you never succeed or succeeded as of now. It's pure despair and won't get you anywhere. Sunshine is the way and not even a guarantee until version 3 is out !
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 ..
I previously owned an HTC One M8 which I rooted using the weaksauce/firewater method. I recently banged up the phone and bought a Samsung Galaxy G5 which I also rooted (took forever) but I didn't like it so I bought and just received a new (used) Verizon HTC One M8 (HTC6525LVW) running Android 5.0.1 which I would like to root.
I've googled, checked the forums and have found a ton of information so I'm looking for some very high level guidance. I'm up for just about anything including downgrading my version of Android but I'm not sure of the best move. I'm only interested in root. Any other benefits are fine but my goal is to get root access so I can run my ad blocker, titanium backup etc.
I don't need any sort of step by step instructions just an indicator of the best method and I'll do all the rest. Thank you for the help!
Verizon version doesn't allow unlocking the bootloader via HTCDev.com. So I think kingroot is your only choice. You can probably find more info on the VZN M8 forum sections.
Although it costs money, you might also consider going S-off with Sunshine, which also unlocks the bootloader. Then you can go back and root the usual way with TWRP. You still need Kingroot to get Sunshine working, though.
jshamlet said:
Although it costs money, you might also consider going S-off with Sunshine, which also unlocks the bootloader. Then you can go back and root the usual way with TWRP. You still need Kingroot to get Sunshine working, though.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I can't remember if kingroot is temp or perm root (or if its both, whether both work on the M8). If its perm root, then the need to spend money on sunshine s-off is somewhat wasted money. If temp, then you're right that temp root by kingroot, then sunshine s-off, unlock bootloader and SuperSU to root, is the way to go. As temp root will likely not fulfill the needs of the OP (reason they want root).
redpoint73 said:
I can't remember if kingroot is temp or perm root (or if its both, whether both work on the M8). If its perm root, then the need to spend money on sunshine s-off is somewhat wasted money. If temp, then you're right that temp root by kingroot, then sunshine s-off, unlock bootloader and SuperSU to root, is the way to go. As temp root will likely not fulfill the needs of the OP (reason they want root).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Hi, redpoint73...
When I tried Kingroot myself around a year ago on my M8, it most definitely was temporary, and left my bootloader with the SOFTWARE MODIFIED flag set and no root! This concerned me at the time, because the Marshmallow OTA was waiting in the wings, and I suspected that this might interfere with the OTA.
It all got sorted out in the end, thanks to @ckpv5 and his seemingly massive collection of Nandroid backups, whereby I was later able to restore back to unmodified stock Lollipop before Marshmallow rolled out.
I should have known better really than to look for easy shortcuts for rooting.
Anyhow, I ended up rooting it the old fashioned way, via fastboot and HTCdev.com...
...which I appreciate isn't an option for the OP.
I subseqently remember reading that Kingroot was only useful on the M8 when running Sunshine to gain S-OFF ('cos Sunshine required temp root).
Although eventually I S-OFF'ed myself later (I was going to change my CID, but in the end I never bothered), I still keep an eye on the Sunshine thread, and I understand that Sunshine now temp roots for you, effectively doing away with the need for Kingroot.
Anyway, just some thoughts...
Rgrds,
Ged.
Sent from my HTC One_M8 using XDA Labs
GedBlake said:
When I tried Kingroot myself around a year ago on my M8, it most definitely was temporary, and left my bootloader with the SOFTWARE MODIFIED flag set and no root!
Anyhow, I ended up rooting it the old fashioned way, via fastboot and HTCdev.com...
...which I appreciate isn't an option for the OP.
I subseqently remember reading that Kingroot was only useful on the M8 when running Sunshine to gain S-OFF ('cos Sunshine required temp root).
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks. Good info, all around (didn't want to quote the whole post, and clutter up the thread).
A lot of this, I was aware of; but I usually leave it up to the user to research and learn on their own (although certainly nice of you to post the info).
I have seen a number of users that had the same issue (kingroot didn't actually root, but tripped the SOFTWARE MODIFIED flag in bootloader). But it did seem to work for others, for no apparent rhyme or reason that I saw.
GedBlake said:
I still keep an eye on the Sunshine thread, and I understand that Sunshine now temp roots for you, effectively doing away with the need for Kingroot.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I saw sunshine provided temp root off and on; the usual cat and mouse game, where the devs tried to update it, as HTC patched the root exploits. I do believe you are right, that the current sunshine version does temp root on Lollipop (which the OP is on), but I don't think will temp root Marshmallow.
This is my first post in xda, sorry for the bad English.:silly:
As I tried the solution on the web of how to s-off HTC One M8, none of them worked . Can any one who successfully s-off M8 tell me how to do it?
Phone details:
Bootloader(Hboot) version:3.19.0.0000
Android version:6.0
NathanLee302 said:
As I tried the solution on the web of how to s-off HTC One M8, none of them worked . Can any one who successfully s-off M8 tell me how to do it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's difficult to answer that question, as you offer no information on what methods you tried to s-off. Or what the specific outcomes, error messages, etc.
If you tried firewater, you are wasting your time. Firewater requires an online server component, that the developers took offline over 3 years ago. Nothing you do can make firewater to work. Most folks try to use firewater, as they don't want to pay for sunshine. Sunshine is basically the only method that will work ($25 USD for a license to use sunshine). Sunshine requires a stock, or near-stock ROM to work.
There is also something called a javacard which can be used to s-off. But javacard costs something like $150, so not really a good alternative unless you can find a local repair shop or other person that has one (and charge you a fee to s-off with the javacard).
More importantly, why do you think you need/want to s-off this device? S-off is not needed for most modifications to the phone. You do not need s-off to unlock the bootloader (Verizon version excepted), custom recovery, root, custom ROMs, custom kernels.
You only need s-off for a few specific things, like changing the phone's CID/MID to change the version/region, manually flash hboot, radios, etc.
redpoint73 said:
It's difficult to answer that question, as you offer no information on what methods you tried to s-off. Or what the specific outcomes, error messages, etc.
If you tried firewater, you are wasting your time. Firewater requires an online server component, that the developers took offline over 3 years ago. Nothing you do can make firewater to work. Most folks try to use firewater, as they don't want to pay for sunshine. Sunshine is basically the only method that will work ($25 USD for a license to use sunshine). Sunshine requires a stock, or near-stock ROM to work.
There is also something called a javacard which can be used to s-off. But javacard costs something like $150, so not really a good alternative unless you can find a local repair shop or other person that has one (and charge you a fee to s-off with the javacard).
More importantly, why do you think you need/want to s-off this device? S-off is not needed for most modifications to the phone. You do not need s-off to unlock the bootloader (Verizon version excepted), custom recovery, root, custom ROMs, custom kernels.
You only need s-off for a few specific things, like changing the phone's CID/MID to change the version/region, manually flash hboot, radios, etc.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I wanted to s-off my HTC phone because I wanted to hide the red text of the "unlocked boot loader" text
Does anyone have some way else to hide it from the boot loader?
NathanLee302 said:
I wanted to s-off my HTC phone because I wanted to hide the red text of the "unlocked boot loader" text
Does anyone have some way else to hide it from the boot loader?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-off is the only way, since hboot is a "protected" partition, and therefore can't be modified while s-on by definition.
And again, sunshine is really the only way to s-off. So your choice is either to just live with the red text, of spend the $25 for sunshine.
The other possibility is if you have any reason to believe the phone was made s-off by sunshine in the past (such as the phone is previously owned, and some evidence of modifications). If that is the case, you can install the sunshine app, and s-off it again (without paying again). The sunshine license is associated with the device, and does not expire. So you can use it again and again, if it was paid for previously. I don't know if you tried this, or any reason to believe a previous owner used sunshine. Since again, you give no details regarding the device, or what specific s-off methods you tried already.
Otherwise, just live with the red text. As most folks are not going to find it worthwhile to spend $25 just to remove the red text. To be honest, I have s-off, and never even bothered to remove the red text. Just a personal preference. But I don't see the big deal with having the red text.
Still not exist free method?