You DON'T need ENG S-OFF to make clockworkmod recovery working on HTC Inspire.

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Looks like clockworkmod recovery is NOT-Compatible with Inspire's HBOOT version which is: HBOOT-0.85.0019

So when clockworkmod recovery is installed with this version of HBOOT it just displays a black screen (but it is actually working in the background but not displaying anything on the screen)

You can check the HBOOT version when you boot in HBOOT, 2nd line from the top:
ACE PVT SHIP S-OFF RL
HBOOT-0.85.0019 <--- this is the version being shipped with Inspire which doesn't work with clockworkmod recovery.

After you flash the downgraded DHD ROM on Inspire it downgrades the HBOOT to version: HBOOT-0.85.0007
This version of HBOOT seems to be compatible with clockworkmod recovery and worked for me.

I used Bubby's "Simple One Click" program released today (RC2), this is what I did:
Followed all the steps from FAQ until downgraded ROM was flashed. Then after running the gfree and sync commands, I exited out of the program by using ctrl+c (^C):

Next, type these commands (yes, "sync" is a command):
/data/local/gfree -f
sync
When complete, you can now exit the terminal on the phone.

CTRL+C at this message, this will exit out of the Dos command window.

Now on your PC click on <RUN> and type %TEMP% and click <OK>. This will open up the temporary directory where "Simple One Click" program unzipped all the files used by the program.

Look for a folder named RarSFX0 (or RarSFX1 or RarSFX2 etc).

Go to this directory (you may have to change RarSFX1 to the directory name on your PC, it could be RarSFX0 or some different number at the end)
C:\Users\<user_name>\AppData\Local\Temp\RarSFX1\re sources\required

Copy the following 4 files in a directory (eg: C:\rooting)
adb.exe
AdbWinApi.dll
AdbWinUsbApi.dll
PD98IMG.zip

Open PD98IMG.zip in winrar, it should show 14 files in the archive.
<Right Click> on this file --> hboot_7230_Ace_0.85.0019_101227.nb0
and select <Delete File> to delete this from the archive, confirm the deletion and winrar will update the archive.

Close winrar and open a command prompt as Administrator and cd to the directory where you have copied these 4 files (in my case C:\rooting)

Connect your phone to PC
Make sure in phone settings
<Fast boot> is turned OFF
<USB debugging> is turned on under Development
<Charge only> is selected for PC Connection type

Follow the steps below to flash this ROM:
cd to the directory where you the updated PD98IMG.zip file
cd c:\rooting
adb kill-server
adb devices <-- This command should list your HTC Inspire something like: HT11ST224740 device
adb push PD98IMG.zip /sdcard/PD98IMG.zip
adb wait-for-device
adb reboot bootloader
Phone boots up in BootLoader, follow the prompts on the phone (do not close the command window on the PC yet)
hit power
Let HBOOT search for PD98IMG.zip and load it
hit <VOL UP> for Yes to apply the update, and let it do its work:

When it completes updating Press <POWER> to reboot
Let the phone boot up normally

Make sure in phone settings
<Fast boot> is turned OFF
<USB debugging> is turned on under Development
<Charge only> is selected for PC Connection type

Go back to the command shell on the PC and run the following to delete the file from sdcard:
adb shell rm /sdcard/PD98IMG.zip

Now launch Rom Manager and select "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" (version 3.0.0.6 works)
After it updates, select "Reboot into Recovery" -> Confirm -> Grant Superuser access

And the phone will boot up in ClockworkMod Recovery "yeah..."

Note:
I had to download Terminal Emulator from the Market after flashing this ROM.

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UPDATE
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If the process above is not for you, here is an easy way I found out.
This will only downgrade your BOOTLOADER to the version which comes with DHD.
All your apps and data will remain intact.

After you have completed rooting with and CWM shows you black screen do this:
Download the attached PD98IMG.zip and follow these steps:
adb kill-server
adb push PD98IMG.zip /sdcard/PD98IMG.zip
adb reboot bootloader
Phone boots up in BootLoader, follow the prompts on the phone (do not close the command window on the PC yet)
hit power
Let HBOOT search for PD98IMG.zip and load it
hit <VOL UP> for Yes to apply the update, and let it do its work:
When it completes updating Press <POWER> to reboot
Let the phone boot up normally

Go back to the command shell on the PC and run the following to delete the file from sdcard:
adb shell rm /sdcard/PD98IMG.zip

Now launch Rom Manager and select "Flash ClockworkMod Recovery" (version 3.0.0.6 works)
After it updates, select "Reboot into Recovery" -> Confirm -> Grant Superuser access

the phone will boot up in ClockworkMod Recovery, enjoy.....

thanks for this. but wow is this motha loooooong.

Or you could use the real hack kit put together by attn1.

Just an FYI, I had the same issue with the black screen but clockworkmod recovery running in the background, and I used this 1-click solution for doing ENG S-OFF, and it work perfectly, the next time the phone booted up into clockworkmod recovery just as it should have.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=855403

It seems a heck of a lot easier than what you are trying to do, and I think HBOOT still stays intact.

Originally Posted by dougbarrett

Just an FYI, I had the same issue with the black screen but clockworkmod recovery running in the background, and I used this 1-click solution for doing ENG S-OFF, and it work perfectly, the next time the phone booted up into clockworkmod recovery just as it should have.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=855403

It seems a heck of a lot easier than what you are trying to do, and I think HBOOT still stays intact.

The point is eng s off is supposed to be bad for your phone. When I had this issue, I just re ran hack kit and installed new rom. Problem solved.

Originally Posted by harlenm

The point is eng s off is supposed to be bad for your phone. When I had this issue, I just re ran hack kit and installed new rom. Problem solved.

It's not bad for your phone, and you can reverse it if you need to. If you plan to flash different radios, Eng S-Off is a MUST.

Originally Posted by californiarailroader

It's not bad for your phone, and you can reverse it if you need to. If you plan to flash different radios, Eng S-Off is a MUST.

I know that, but the process that does it can brick your phone.

Originally Posted by harlenm

I know that, but the process that does it can brick your phone.

I don't know of anyone that has bricked their phone doing it, but like anything on here there is always a risk.

Originally Posted by Mr Kyle

Or you could use the real hack kit put together by attn1.

I actually used the hack kit also first and that's what gave me this idea. The only reason I used the simple tool is to flash Inspire's stock, rooted ROM.

Originally Posted by californiarailroader

It's not bad for your phone, and you can reverse it if you need to. If you plan to flash different radios, Eng S-Off is a MUST.

This is not true, when you downgrade your Inspire using DHD ROM, it also flashes the radio and you don't have ENG S-Off at that time. See this recent post which also confirms that you dont need ENG S-Off for flashing radio on Inspire.

http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1002226

I tried this workaround because I didn't want to turn ENG S-Off just to use clockworkmod recovery.