[TUTORIAL][LINUX][HOW_TO]Unlocking bootloader and Rooting HTC Explorer in Linux

Unlocking bootloader!

Ok, so, you want to unlock your bootloader, and root your device; and not to forget the fact that you are on a linux machine. Please note that this tutorial is made specifically for linux machines, and it WILL NOT work on windows, though the steps are pretty similar.

Now, that you are a linux user, you MUST have the courage to boldly tamper around with your system files and all the stuff, and most importantly, have knowledge about the command line.

The operating system that I would be using for this tutorial is Ubuntu 11.10. This can be done even in Ubuntu 12.10 without any hassles.



Some basic terminology I will be using in this tutorial:
1. machine: your PC, or laptop
2. device: your htc explorer
That's it!

So, now, let's get to work.

First, we have to set up ADB and fastboot for our machine. Contradicting the fact that you have to download the massive Android SDK tools and set them up, ITS NOT REQUIRED (if you are just going to root your device). You can simply install them using “aptitude”.

Open up the command prompt, and run the following commands, one by one.

Don't copy-paste them, or, you will never get to experience linux fully.




Remember that it may ask for your password. Just type in your password and hit “enter”. IT WILL NOT SHOW YOUR PASSWORD!

ADB and Fastboot set up, now, you have to head over to https://www.htcdev.com/register/ and register yourself as a user there.



Make sure you give a working mail id, because they are going to send you an email with an Unlock_code, with which we will be unlocking the bootloader of your device.

After registering yourself as a user and logging into your account, head over to https://www.htcdev.com/bootloader/.



There, you will be given some terms and conditions which you will have to accept. Among all, the most important one is that, you will be losing your warranty.



So, you will be faced with the HTC's instructions on unlocking the bootloader. We will be skipping most of the steps, because this is Linux. The steps are different, and I will be saying them shortly. Skip to page 3 of the instructions( http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader/unlock-instructions/page-3 ) and scroll down to the end.

If you can see a similar image in your browser, you are at the right place.



Open up the Terminal in Linux.

Here, we are going to type in some commands which will help us unlock the bootloader.

Before that, take out the battery of your device, and insert it again. Now, switch on the mobile by pressing down the “Power Button + Volume Down Button” key combination.

If you see a screen similar to the one below, you are doing it correctly.



You can navigate through the four options using the “Volume Up” and “Volume Down” keys. Below are the screenshots, which shows you the option “Fastboot” and “Recovery” highlighted.



Now, make sure that “Fastboot” is highlighted, and press the “Power” button to select the option. Now, connect your device to your machine using the USB cable. If you see “Fastboot USB” at top, like in the image below, you are doing it correctly.



Now, in your machine, you had opened up the terminal (remember?).
Let us make a new directory to avoid confusion. Type in the following commands to make a new directory, and navigate to that directory.



The above commands make a directory named “android” in your home folder, and the next command “cd android” changes the directory i.e. Navigates into the folder which had been created.

Now, in the terminal, type the following command:


If you can see a similar image, then, your device is connected properly, and is also identified by your machine.



Now, type in the following command.


You will see the following image below.



Now, select the data and copy it, by right-clicking on the screen.



Now, execute the following command.


It will open up “GEdit” which is similar to notepad in linux. We now paste the data which we copied using “Control + V” key combination. We need to edit this data, so that it can be recognised by the server.



Delete all the <bootloader> text, so that it looks like the following below. If all the lines end at the same place, then, you have done it correctly.



Now, press “Control + A” and copy the following data. We have to paste this data into the browser window which was open.



Click on the submit button, and an Unlock_code will be sent to your email address. You can close the Gedit program which was open.



Copy-paste the “Unlock_code.bin” file into the “android” folder, which is in your home directory. Note that this file is small, very small, only 256 bytes of data, yet, is essential.

Flashing a Recovery

Now, execute the following command:




You will see the following screen in your terminal.



You will see the following screen in your device. Make sure you select “Yes” using the “Volume keys” to navigate between “Yes” and “No”.





On selecting "Yes", your phone will automatically reboot into the operating system. But, that's not what we want. We want to root the device. So, let it boot into your operating system. After it does, pull out the battery again, and boot your phone into “Fastboot” using the “Power button + Volume Down” button key combination. Select “Fastboot” and make sure your device is connected and your device reads “Fastboot USB” on the screen.


Download the following file: http://www.mediafire.com/?a17t0atwqg4tai7

Copy-Paste the file into the “android” folder in your root directory. Now, execute the following command in your phone.


then,


Your device will reboot into bootloader.
Make sure that “Bootloader” is selected and press the “Power” button.

Now, make sure that “Recovery” is selected, and press the power button. If you see a similar image in your device, then, you have successfully unlocked the bootloader of your device, and even flashed a “recovery” which is used to flash custom ROMs.



Go to “Reboot” and reboot your phone (system), as we have to copy some files to your SD Card.

Hi everyone at XDA! You might have bought your HTC Explorer, and, even had decided to root it, but, didn't still try because you were on linux, and most of the tutorials talked about using Microsoft Windows?

That isn't a problem anymore. If you have some basic knowledge of linux, you can easily root your device, on a linux machine!!!

There are some advantages of using a traditional linux machine, instead of Microsoft Windows, to root your device. The first and foremost among them, is linux not requiring special drivers. Microsoft Windows needs drivers for almost every smartphone nowadays, but, this is not the case with linux. It is very versatile, and supports many smartphones, natively, without the need to install any extra drivers. The next being that, Android is based on Linux. So, most of the features that you can find on any Linux machine, you can find on Android too (if you know where exactly to look).

Why this tutorial? Many are finding it difficult to unlock their bootloaders on a linux machine, and many, are also finding it difficult, to use linux to root their device.

First, you need to get an understanding of what this “rooting” process is all about.

“Unlocking your bootloader” and “rooting” your device are completely different steps, and unless you get an understanding of them both, you wouldn't be able to go about doing these steps.

To quote @mikevipsr at http://xdaforums.com/showthread.php?t=1839477,

WHAT IS A BOOTLOADER?
The bootloader performs basic hardware initialization, verifies the integrity of the operating system, starts the operating system, and provides a method to update device software. This validation is important to verify that the software loaded on the device will not damage sensitive components (radios, processors, etc.) or violate regulatory or carrier requirements. Google provides a base bootloader as part of the Android operating system, and most device manufacturers optimize this for their specific devices.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO UNLOCK THE BOOTLOADER?
Unlocking the bootloader is the first step towards gaining root privileges. Some developers and enthusiasts unlock and root in order to experiment with applications or with custom builds of Android. Needless to say, you should not attempt to unlock the bootloader unless you know what you are doing.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

So, now that unlocking the bootloader is the first step towards gaining root priviledges, you must also know what “rooting” exactly means.

WHAT IS ROOTING?
Rooting is when the user has gained root or administrative privileges on the device. In general, this gives users access to make modifications that would not normally be possible. With such privileges comes both risk and additional capability-best left to the very technically savvy. With rooting, you could make changes to the device that may permanently damage it or render it inoperable.

Click to expand...

Click to collapse

Ok, so, the risks are permanent damage to device, or an inoperable device. Frankly speaking, I never even bothered about what would happen to my device if I messed up while unlocking the bootloader or rooting it. And, its not because I can afford another phone. Its because I had the hope that I can resurrect it if I mess up things

All to be said has been said. Now, if you wish, you can proceed to unlock your bootloader, or, turn back, having your same old device, with the Stock firmware (and the additional bloatware that comes with it)

Rooting the Device!

Now we have to root the device.

Download this file: http://www.mediafire.com/download/0b71k7maak05asx/Superuser.zip

Copy this file to your SD Card by whatever means possible

Reboot your phone into “Recovery” and go to “Install”. Browse to the place where you have kept the “Superuser.zip” file.



Swipe to confirm flashing the file. Then, “Reboot system”.

Thus, you have successfully rooted your phone.

If you ran into any troubles, please notify in the thread.

Reserved

the last one

This is for future updates.

Note: Recovery used in this is TWRP 2.4.1
Using the old superuser.zip (with updated binaries to solve probs when flashing) by jaggyjags, until i figure out something.

Special thanks to @Rishik999, for giving me this idea