OUTDATED
Augest 14 2011
Unrevoked and AlpharevX released a new version of their http://revolutionary.io/ tool, use it, and preserve your data.
Do not use the root method below.
Original root left for a good read.
Advanced users wanting a different hboot please see http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1186022, others continue as is.
Updated May 12th 2011
This guide has been updated to MR1/OTA Firmware 1.13.605.7
This guide has been updated on April 21 2011 to make it more reliable, and faster.
On request I am reposting this in full, but please check out the original here first.
HTC tried to stop us. They made signed images, a signed kernel, and a signed recovery. They locked the memory. In short, the ThunderBolt is their most locked-down phone to date.
We fixed it for you. Unlike the root method we described yesterday, following the instructions below will provide S-OFF, remove signature checks, and unlock eMMC. Enjoy!
Rooting The ThunderBolt – Version 3
Pros
Root with read/write access to /system
Ability to downgrade and flash any RUU (i.e. signed firmware)
S-OFF
Fully unlocked bootloader
All ThunderBolts survived testing
Cons
Voids warranty
Could brick your phone if you aren’t careful
The method of rooting your Android device as described in the article herein is solely for enthusiasts and not for the faint of heart.
IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA. IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA. IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA.
Android Police and Team AndIRC disclaim all liability for any harm that may befall your device, including, but not limited to: bricked phones, voided manufacturer warranties, exploding batteries, etc.
The instructions below assume you already have a strong familiarity with adb command lines – this is not for beginners.
Credits
Scotty2, jamezelle, jcase, and all of Team AndIRC
dsb9938 for the tutorial cleanup
Testers, especially ProTekk and Trident
Thanks to scotty2 for WPThis
Busybox was pulled from a CyanogenMod ROM, source should be available here
psneuter was pulled from somewhere, credit to scotty2, source here
All firmware credit goes to 911sniper
Jaroslav from Android Police for editorial help
If I missed anyone in the credits, it was unintentional and I will fix it soon. Lots of people had their hands in on this project.
*** Please read the instructions in full before you attempt the process or head to IRC to ask questions. Also, make sure your battery is fully charged before taking the plunge. ***
Step 1
First, download these files:
Downgrade RUU PG05IMG_downgrade.zip ( (md5sum : aae974054fc3aed275ba3596480ccd5b) THIS IS THE DOWNGRADE RUU USED IN STEP 4:
Multiupload mirror
Mirrors for the package (contains busybox, wpthis, psneuter, su, readme.txt, misc.img, and hbooteng.nb0) (md5sum : 3b359efd76aac456ba7fb0d6972de3af) THIS IS THE EXPLOITS FILE:
Multiupload mirror
DroidSite mirror
Custom upgrade PG05IMG_MR1_upgrade.zip (md5sum : 7960c7977c25b2c8759605be264843ea) THIS IS THE CUSTOM RUU USED IN STEP 7:
http://www.multiupload.com/NEANZBS5S4
Step 2
Note that adb is required.
Push misc.img, busybox, and psnueter using the following commands:
Step 3
This step will gain temp root and flash the custom misc.img. Run:
Now the shell should display "$".
Run:
You will now be kicked out of adb, and adb will restart as root.
Let’s confirm the md5 of misc.img:
At this point, the shell should display "#".
Now run:
Output should be "c88dd947eb3b36eec90503a3525ae0de." If it’s anything else, re-download the file and try again.
Now let’s write misc.img:
Step 4
Here you will rename the downgrade RUU (PG05IMG_downgrade.zip) as PG05IMG.zip and place it on your SD card (put the phone in drive mode and just copy it with your OS). Then, run the following command:
Choose the bootloader option and press power; let the ROM flash. When asked to upgrade, choose yes. Don’t freak, it’s a long reboot.
Once done, reboot and delete PG05IMG.zip from your SD card.
Step 5
Set up the two part exploit, to gain root and unlock MMC.
Push wpthis, busybox, and psnueter:
Gain root (this will once again throw you out of adb):
Unlock MMC:
Step 6
Please pay attention – this is very important. This step involves a small chance of bricking if you mess up.
To push the eng bootloader:
If the output does not match "6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb" exactly, stop, delete it, and re-download it. Otherwise, continue.
Now we will write the new bootloader.
Confirm proper write:
If the output does not match "6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb," try again; if it still doesn’t work, seek help from chat.andirc.net in channel #root or go here AndIRC Thunderbolt Web Chat DO NOT REBOOT.
Reboot.
Step 7
Now, put the custom MR1 RUU (PG05IMG_MR1_upgrade.zip) on your SD card by putting the phone in drive mode and copying it with your OS. Then rename it to PG05IMG.zip
Then using an md5sum type program, check the md5sum and make sure it matches 7960c7977c25b2c8759605be264843ea, if it does not, redownload it. (Here is a free windows md5summer).
Next, run this command:
Choose the bootloader option and press power; let the ROM flash. When asked to upgrade, choose yes. Don’t freak, it’s a long reboot.
Once done, reboot and delete PG05IMG.zip from your SD card.
After it flashes, you will be running release firmware with S-OFF.
Reboot your phone. You should now have full root permissions, an engineering kernel and recovery.
I recommend you get rom manger from market.
If you still have problems, come to the chat: irc.andirc.net #thunderbolt or use http://chat.andirc.net:9090/?channels=#thunderbolt.
.
Augest 14 2011
Unrevoked and AlpharevX released a new version of their http://revolutionary.io/ tool, use it, and preserve your data.
Do not use the root method below.
Original root left for a good read.
Advanced users wanting a different hboot please see http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1186022, others continue as is.
Updated May 12th 2011
This guide has been updated to MR1/OTA Firmware 1.13.605.7
This guide has been updated on April 21 2011 to make it more reliable, and faster.
On request I am reposting this in full, but please check out the original here first.
HTC tried to stop us. They made signed images, a signed kernel, and a signed recovery. They locked the memory. In short, the ThunderBolt is their most locked-down phone to date.
We fixed it for you. Unlike the root method we described yesterday, following the instructions below will provide S-OFF, remove signature checks, and unlock eMMC. Enjoy!
Rooting The ThunderBolt – Version 3
Pros
Root with read/write access to /system
Ability to downgrade and flash any RUU (i.e. signed firmware)
S-OFF
Fully unlocked bootloader
All ThunderBolts survived testing
Cons
Voids warranty
Could brick your phone if you aren’t careful
The method of rooting your Android device as described in the article herein is solely for enthusiasts and not for the faint of heart.
IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA. IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA. IT WILL WIPE YOUR DATA.
Android Police and Team AndIRC disclaim all liability for any harm that may befall your device, including, but not limited to: bricked phones, voided manufacturer warranties, exploding batteries, etc.
The instructions below assume you already have a strong familiarity with adb command lines – this is not for beginners.
Credits
Scotty2, jamezelle, jcase, and all of Team AndIRC
dsb9938 for the tutorial cleanup
Testers, especially ProTekk and Trident
Thanks to scotty2 for WPThis
Busybox was pulled from a CyanogenMod ROM, source should be available here
psneuter was pulled from somewhere, credit to scotty2, source here
All firmware credit goes to 911sniper
Jaroslav from Android Police for editorial help
If I missed anyone in the credits, it was unintentional and I will fix it soon. Lots of people had their hands in on this project.
*** Please read the instructions in full before you attempt the process or head to IRC to ask questions. Also, make sure your battery is fully charged before taking the plunge. ***
Step 1
First, download these files:
Downgrade RUU PG05IMG_downgrade.zip ( (md5sum : aae974054fc3aed275ba3596480ccd5b) THIS IS THE DOWNGRADE RUU USED IN STEP 4:
Multiupload mirror
Mirrors for the package (contains busybox, wpthis, psneuter, su, readme.txt, misc.img, and hbooteng.nb0) (md5sum : 3b359efd76aac456ba7fb0d6972de3af) THIS IS THE EXPLOITS FILE:
Multiupload mirror
DroidSite mirror
Custom upgrade PG05IMG_MR1_upgrade.zip (md5sum : 7960c7977c25b2c8759605be264843ea) THIS IS THE CUSTOM RUU USED IN STEP 7:
http://www.multiupload.com/NEANZBS5S4
Step 2
Note that adb is required.
Push misc.img, busybox, and psnueter using the following commands:
Code:
adb push psneuter /data/local/
adb push busybox /data/local/
adb push misc.img /data/local/
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/busybox
Step 3
This step will gain temp root and flash the custom misc.img. Run:
Code:
adb shell
Now the shell should display "$".
Run:
Code:
/data/local/psneuter
You will now be kicked out of adb, and adb will restart as root.
Let’s confirm the md5 of misc.img:
Code:
adb shell
At this point, the shell should display "#".
Now run:
Code:
/data/local/busybox md5sum /data/local/misc.img
Output should be "c88dd947eb3b36eec90503a3525ae0de." If it’s anything else, re-download the file and try again.
Now let’s write misc.img:
Code:
dd if=/data/local/misc.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p17
exit
Step 4
Here you will rename the downgrade RUU (PG05IMG_downgrade.zip) as PG05IMG.zip and place it on your SD card (put the phone in drive mode and just copy it with your OS). Then, run the following command:
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Choose the bootloader option and press power; let the ROM flash. When asked to upgrade, choose yes. Don’t freak, it’s a long reboot.
Once done, reboot and delete PG05IMG.zip from your SD card.
Step 5
Set up the two part exploit, to gain root and unlock MMC.
Push wpthis, busybox, and psnueter:
Code:
adb push psneuter /data/local/
adb push busybox /data/local/
adb push wpthis /data/local/
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/psneuter
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/busybox
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/wpthis
Gain root (this will once again throw you out of adb):
Code:
adb shell
/data/local/psneuter
Unlock MMC:
Code:
adb shell
/data/local/wpthis
exit
Step 6
Please pay attention – this is very important. This step involves a small chance of bricking if you mess up.
To push the eng bootloader:
Code:
adb push hbooteng.nb0 /data/local/
adb shell
/data/local/busybox md5sum /data/local/hbooteng.nb0
If the output does not match "6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb" exactly, stop, delete it, and re-download it. Otherwise, continue.
Now we will write the new bootloader.
Code:
dd if=/data/local/hbooteng.nb0 of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p18
Confirm proper write:
Code:
/data/local/busybox md5sum /dev/block/mmcblk0p18
If the output does not match "6991368ee2deaf182048a3ed9d3c0fcb," try again; if it still doesn’t work, seek help from chat.andirc.net in channel #root or go here AndIRC Thunderbolt Web Chat DO NOT REBOOT.
Reboot.
Step 7
Now, put the custom MR1 RUU (PG05IMG_MR1_upgrade.zip) on your SD card by putting the phone in drive mode and copying it with your OS. Then rename it to PG05IMG.zip
Then using an md5sum type program, check the md5sum and make sure it matches 7960c7977c25b2c8759605be264843ea, if it does not, redownload it. (Here is a free windows md5summer).
Next, run this command:
Code:
adb reboot bootloader
Choose the bootloader option and press power; let the ROM flash. When asked to upgrade, choose yes. Don’t freak, it’s a long reboot.
Once done, reboot and delete PG05IMG.zip from your SD card.
After it flashes, you will be running release firmware with S-OFF.
Reboot your phone. You should now have full root permissions, an engineering kernel and recovery.
I recommend you get rom manger from market.
If you still have problems, come to the chat: irc.andirc.net #thunderbolt or use http://chat.andirc.net:9090/?channels=#thunderbolt.
.
Last edited: