Everything for ChaCha (Status) - S-OFF, root & More

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Hello everyone!

Feedback is much appreciated.
DISCLAIMER: Please note that this guide contains information gathered from all the HTC ChaCha (Status) sections, which means that a lot of users have contributed to this. I have only gathered all the information here so it would be easier for new/old users to check specific problems/questions. Please give thanks to the "comunity".

1. S-OFF and bootloader unlocking
First of all, you must understand that some phones will come with S-ON and others with S-OFF from HTC's factories.
S-OFF is available only with an XTC Clip and as of 17 January 2012 the bootloader can be unlocked via the htcdev site.
More info on these threads: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1449681
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1449635 (read the whole threads before asking silly questions, if the answer's not in there then maybe you have something worth asking for ).
Unlocking the bootloader will allow you to flash CWM, root your phone and install custom roms. Unlocking the bootloader will NOT give you S-OFF!
Root and CWM are not possible without S-OFF/unlocked bootloader.

Questions regarding custom ROMs: custom ROM will not give you S-OFF/unlocked bootloader since you need to have S-OFF/unlocked bootloader to install CWM to install a custom ROM. Therefore you cannot install a custom ROM on a non-S-OFF-non-bootloader-unlocked-non-rooted-non-CWM phone. Understood?

Addendum to #1 by myself (from thread questions):
How to check if your phone is S-ON or S-OFF:
- Go to Settings -> Power -> Uncheck Fast boot
- Turn off your phone
- Press and hold Volume Down button and press Power button
- Recovery screen will be shown (after the HTC logo). At the top left of the screen you'll see the text S-ON or S-OFF (besides other info related to HBOOT, RADIO version and whatnot).


2. root
Thanks to adlx.xda
After you'll S-OFF your phone or unlock its bootloader, you can root it using: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1184118
It works.
I repeat, root is not possible without S-OFF or unlocking your bootloader first.


3. CWM
Thanks to Mikevhl
You can find it here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1164468
Tested and works fine. Please note that the sd card partition will not work on the stock ROM. You'll need a custom ROM for that. For the extended partition I mean.


4. Internal Memory too low?
The first problem that ChaCha (Status) has is the small internal memory. How to fix this? Simple:
- Start your phone (first time, perform the initial setup, add you accounts, email settings and whatnot)
- Download your apps (from Android Market, HTC Likes, HTC Hub, etc.)
- Go to Settings and perform a factory data reset
- After the initial setup and you have all your apps again, go to Setup -> Applications -> Move all downloaded apps to SD card.
- You should have at least 50 MB after all the apps are installed (even more)

Addendum to #4 by myself (from user questions):
APP2SD
Write it down somewhere . Now, jokes aside, HTC probably figured that the 150MB internal memory the phone has won't suffice even the "economy-class" users so they included the APP2SD application (APP2SD = Application to SD). How does it work? Simple as 1-2-3:
- Download any application. Any.
- Go to Settings -> Application -> Manage Applications
- Now the first tab is being called "Downloaded" (hmm, I wonder why?!). Well, yeah, basically all the applications/widgets that you download will be in this list right here.
- Select any application from that list and in the next screen press the "Move to SD card" (which is the bottom right button on the screen.
That's about it I guess. Oh, right, almost forgot.. Just one more thing. When an application is being moved from phone to SD card, some data will still remain on the phone (so that the phone knows where the application is, settings, user data, etc.). Don't be scared as this is usually less than 30% of that application's size. Please note that you cannot move ROM/HTC/stock applications (with 1-2 exceptions).

One thing to note though: I have seen that internal memory remains occupied by downloading/installing/uninstalling stuff and those silly remnants won't go away (unfortunately). What you must do under these circumstances is to reset your phone to factory data. I'm assuming that it must be done once every 2-3 months.
Just make sure you have the following options settings activated before you reset your phone:
- Settings -> Privacy -> Activate Back up my Settings and Automatic restore
- Now back out of this menu and go to Accounts & Sync and Sync your accounts (Google, HTC Sense, Mail)
- Now back to Settings - SD & phone storage, browse to the bottom and select Factory data reset
- After the initial setup of the phone, add your accounts back and Sync
- Normally, most of your apps and settings should be restored (except apps installed from other sources)

Second addendum to #4 by droople:
LINK2SD
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=919326


5. Titanium Backup
Tired of those silly bloatware apps and widgets that come with the stock? Then install Titanium Backup and remove them. Some things I removed are all the Facebook stuff (apps, widgets, etc.), Twitter, Gtalk, News, Stocks, News&Weather. Remember to make backups in case something goes wrong.
Do not (and I repeat) remove .apk's of installed applications with Root Explorer.

Addendum to #5 by sabesh:
System updates for Google Maps and YouTube can be integrated to the ROM via Titanium Backup. It's quite an easy thing to do, open up Titanium Backup, press & hold for two seconds on Youtube and from the list that appears select "Integrate update into ROM" (it's below, scroll the list).


6. Use the Search button!
Ladies, gentlemen.. I beg of you.. Use the search button. Everywhere! Android Market App. There's a small magnifying glass at the top, next to the text "market". There is a magnifying glass on your touch keys (4th button). Two buttons that nobody uses


7. Use https://market.android.com
You still find it difficult to find something on Android Market App? Simple. Use the above link, search what you want via your web browser (make sure you are logged into the site with the same GMail account as the one used on the phone), open one app then click on the install button. It's that simple. Of course, your phone needs to be connected to the internet but that shouldn't be a problem, eh?


8. Custom ROMs - and stock mods (stock ROM with modifications)
Ok, ok.. I know that these shouldn't be here (as it's quite easy to find them in the threads) but just to be on the safe side:

Check this thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1698206

Stock ROMs and OTAs: http://www.swtesting.ro/alex/downloads/

If you use any of the above ROMs remember to give them a thanks and a well-thought feedback (this would greatly help everyone).


9. Themes&Apps
There is an entire section available (it's quite new and young, so to speak) where you can take a look regarding different themes and apps tried by the ChaChaChaChaCha owners: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=958590
There are other threads in the section, but the one above already contains a list of tried and working apps (scroll down).


10. Battery (No)Life
"Dude, I'm serious.. I just hit the 24 hours record before the phone was empty!" - Hmm, maybe I'm being a little bit sarcastic, or maybe harsh.. Or both. But the point is that I have this phone, I love it for the QWERTY (Yes, I am the QWERTY European type) keyboard-awesomeness that it holds and I do love texting, sending emails, surfing the web (even with the small screen, I couldn't care less), gaming on android.. Now that's one huge problem. That's why it's bold out. Gaming eats a whole lot of battery. And by a whole lot of battery I mean 10-15% in 30 minutes or something like that. Wi-Fi/mobile data also eat a lot of battery but in comparison with gaming, that's nothing.
There were already thoughts and impressions about how battery life can be improved or managed with this phone which you can read
here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1171136
here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1122217
Well now, since a lot of people have been complaining, it seems that some battery makers have already started shipping some stuff (good or bad, don't know yet). You can check this thread for example http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1258028 where you can see the discussions about the 2430mAh battery. You can also read the other threads within the ChaCha Accessories section which contain other batteries/battery packs and mobile power sources. It could help you and others.. Maybe.


11. [S-ON] How to downgrade chacha to lower firmware version
by ajeevlal, can be found here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1320392
It doesn't matter the reasons you would want to downgrade your firmware, it matters only the fact that it's possible with S-ON. Users have various reasons and thankfully, ajeevlal was smart enough to find a way to perform a downgrade for the unbranded(this one was tested) S-ON users. Use the "Thanks" button on the page above.


12. [S-ON] TempRoot
by qzfive with some help from ajeevlal which you can find here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1319386
The thread above is reported MIA (missing in action) so use this one: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1338872

Great news S-ON'ers (is this the correct term? Or should it be S-ON's? Hmm... I'm wondering.) you can now have *TEMP* root on your device, without the need of the XTC or the htcdev site. Of course this doesn't mean that you can flash CWM, therefore you cannot flash a custom ROM, but you can still flash busybox, and you can get a bunch of neat features that users without it can't get. You should really check it out and see if your device gets healthier until the bootloader is unlocked.


13. Facebook button remapping for unrooted(!) HTC ChaCha
by anmipo which you can find here: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1440515

One day, after he woke up from the subconsciousness of the 2012 "end-of-the-world" year, anmipo decided that he should take the weight of the world in his hands and decided to develop this nifty little app for "THE PEOPLE", to use and cherish and prey to it's powers.
Now, onto serious business, like the internet. This application will help you change that FB button, which is assignable by the way, the easy way. Go check the thread and get the application. And give the man some props! Congrats.


14. Facebook button remap
by "the users who don't use the search button", check these threads:
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=971125
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1226618
http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1189441


15. CID
by "thread discussions" suggested by adlx.xda

The CID, Carrier ID, is designed to lock a device to a specific carrier SIM. Even if some devices come unlocked, the CID is designed and designated before reaching the re-seller which by then won't be able to change it (or it will be able, who knows :P). As many questions regarding keyboard/language features have spontaneously combusted around the forum, I am suggesting users to get what adlx.xda said: https://market.android.com/details?i...=search_result . This application, CID Getter, will display your CID so when you are posting questions about the key "X" not working on the ROM "X" you can also add this CID info in the same post. It will be easier for people to know what is the original region of your device and why is this happening.


16. ADB
by adlx.xda

As some of you know, the adb (Android Debug Bridge) is a command line tool that lets you communicate with an emulator instance or connected Android-powered device. It is a client-server program that includes three components:

- A client, which runs on your development machine. You can invoke a client from a shell by issuing an adb command. Other Android tools such as the ADT plugin and DDMS also create adb clients.
- A server, which runs as a background process on your development machine. The server manages communication between the client and the adb daemon running on an emulator or device.
- A daemon, which runs as a background process on each emulator or device instance.
You can find the adb tool in <sdk>/platform-tools/.

As some people don't really want to install the SDK, since it's used mostly for development, adlx.xda suggested that a small adb kit can be used by users who want to push/pull/flash files onto their devices without spending a couple of hours downloading, installing and setting up the whole kit.
Therefore, you can get the small kit from here: http://alex.swtesting.ro/downloads/a...boot-win32.zip


More to come. I'm sure of it...

Last OP update: 09.02.2012 @ 10:29 (GMT+2)

Addendum to #5:
System updates for Google Maps and YouTube can be integrated to the ROM via Titanium Backup.

this should be stickied

Added the custom roms section, themes&apps.

I've noticed that things are in wrong sections already , roms in general section etc. Maybe a tidy up of the chacha section in order!

Good guide tho cheers

Sent from my Chacha

Originally Posted by qbert456

I've noticed that things are in wrong sections already , roms in general section etc. Maybe a tidy up of the chacha section in order!

Good guide tho cheers

Sent from my Chacha

Yes, mainly that's why I wanted to make this "everything" guide. Because different threads are in wrong sections and people tend to ask the same questions over and over again.. I really hope this helps everyone, especially new ChaCha users.

Hello,

Quick question, how can i find if my phone is S-OFF or S-ON? I am planning to buy that xtc clip...
thaks

Gosh, good one. Didn't thought anyone would ask.

Settings -> Power -> Uncheck Fast boot

Now power off your phone. Hold Volume Down button then press Power button.
In the recovery screen you'll see at the top left S-ON or S-OFF.

I am new ti android. But as the guy from which i bought it told me that he unlocked it, it is true.

It's S-OFF HBOOT 1.04.0000
Radio 7.47.35.17

Now i can install those new customs ROMs ?

Hello, I am a noob too but one thing you need to realise is that - read around.

If your handset is S-OFF (you are lucky) - you can boot any of the three available roms (when i say 'Three' i mean the number (not the 3G Network):

FreakCha by freakysands: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1258758
Superdroid by FCW: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1206921
CAMDroid by TechMayhem: http://forum.xda-developers.com/show....php?t=1255929

So go ahead and download and flash or SD whatever. And remember to ROOT & Clockwork Mod!!