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 ..
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??
Click to expand...
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.
Hello!
I am looking to gain S-OFF on my M8 , but I'm having trouble with finding a good way to do it.Also, every tutorial out there is using a M8 running Android 4.4 ,mine is running 6.0.I don't know if the software version matters ,I am new to this.
What is the best method to gain S-OFF?
Hi, Lauren G...
The only known, reliable way to S-OFF is via Sunshine...
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=2792487
...And which will set you back $25.
Not sure about Marshmallow compatibility (which is what you have). I S-OFFed back in September when my M8 was running Lollipop.
Anyway, read the above link for details and the download link for the Sunshine app.
Rgrds,
Ged.
Lauren G said:
What is the best method to gain S-OFF?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To be clear, sunshine (mentioned above) is really the only way. You'll see folks ask about firewater, but that method has an online component, which was taken offline in Dec 2014, and therefore firewater no longer works.
s-off by javacard is also possible. But at $200-300 for the javacard, its not really a feasible option in comparison to sunshine.
But be aware, that s-off is only needed for a limited number of things (such as changing CID, MID, manually flashing hboot or radio, and some other things). For most mods like flashing custom ROMs and root, s-off is not needed.
redpoint73 said:
To be clear, sunshine (mentioned above) is really the only way. You'll see folks ask about firewater, but that method has an online component, which was taken offline in Dec 2014, and therefore firewater no longer works.
s-off by javacard is also possible. But at $200-300 for the javacard, its not really a feasible option in comparison to sunshine.
But be aware, that s-off is only needed for a limited number of things (such as changing CID, MID, manually flashing hboot or radio, and some other things). For most mods like flashing custom ROMs and root, s-off is not needed.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Some custom roms require S-OFF.
Lauren G said:
Some custom roms require S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
NO, they do not. All the ROMs will install just fine with s-on.
A few ROM threads state s-off is required or recommended. But its just a "cover their butt" blanket statement by the dev. Reason being, if your firmware is outdated, you probably need to update it in order for the ROM to function properly. S-off makes the firmware update process easier (which is probably why some devs say s-off is needed or recommended). But s-off is by no means necessary to update firmware, either.
Lauren G said:
Some custom roms require S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
As an addendum to @redpoint73's post above, getting S-Off at this point of the M8's lifespan may be irrelevant. HTC may put out one more update for the device, but after that there probably won't be any. Most OEM updates for devices stop after 2 years.
So the only reason you may want/need S-Off now is if you want to convert to GPE