[GUIDE] Root, flash a custom recovery and/or S-OFF your Desire HD the "easy" way!

sfjuocekr · Nov 11, 2010

[GUIDE] Root, flash a custom recovery and/or S-OFF your Desire HD the "easy" way!

PLEASE DO NOT HOST MY FILES ELSEWHERE ALSO REPORT ERRORS ABOUT IT HERE AND NOT IN ANY OTHER THREADS!

UPDATE: Uploaded a new version with a temporary fix for if not working properly on the latest OTA?

!!!WARNING!!!

ONLY flash the bootloader (HBOOT) aka "S-OFF" if you understand what it is, what it does, what it can do and how it can brick your phone if flashing it fails.

I can not be held responsible if your phone bricks, makes nukes drop from the sky and/or makes your wife pregnant.

Assuming you have the Android SDK (adb) in working order, some basic knowledge of how to use it and experience using the console for those cases something does go tits up.

=====

Requirements: Android Terminal Emulator (from market), the archive attached to this post and a way to extract it to your SD card (file manager, PC, etc).

VISIONairy+ r12 (or higher) is as of v0.5 ONLY needed for rooting your phone, if you already have root you can skip this!

Download and extract the archive to the root of your SD card and read the included instructions (RTFM.txt).

If the first and second MD5 sums match, HBOOT is flashed correctly.
If the first and third MD5 sums match, HBOOT is not flashed at all and your phone still works like nothing happened.
If the first does not match second or third, something went wrong and you should NOT reboot your phone but seek help on the forums here!

In the last case, you could first try the hboot script again if that doesn't work something went awfully wrong and you should report back here ASAP but whatever you do ... DO NOT TURN OFF YOUR PHONE

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Credits goto all who made this possible: Scotty, tmzt (eMMC write), Paul (MoDaCo) (VISIONairy+ root) and adwinp (first working S-OFF post).
(If I left some person out of it just sent me a message and I will correct it)

sfjuocekr · Nov 11, 2010

CHANGELOG (new to old):

Revised scripts.
Failproof way of making kernel module.
Added check to see if the kernel module actually loaded correctly.
Reworked the scripts, more fail and fool proof

Updated the check script to check the kernel module first.
Added scripts to flash/restore recovery.
Got rid of not found errors for good?
Reflected the error message from loading the module is actually ok, polished the first post and RTFM.
Changed the way md5sum is invoked, now trough busybox and this should work for people who had problems with "md5sum: not found".
Fixed a major typo.
Updated with versioning, corrected some textual output and added some extra info to RTFM.
Cleaned up the first post.
Changed hboot script to reflect the original MD5 sum.
Removed recovery, get it yourself.
Revised scripts to be more fail proof.

TODO:

Polish textual output properly.
Proper check to see if kernel module loaded or is loaded already.

Thyrus · Nov 11, 2010

Good morning

What recovery.img are you flashing in the process btw?! care to let us know?

since you take a backup of the original bootloader, maybe it would be handy to create a "revert" script also, where you flash back the original recovery and original bootloader

in the event that we may need to you know...

the script would then go like this

Code:

dd if=/sdcard/DHD/hboot_orig.bin of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p18
dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0p18 of=/sdcard/DHD/hboot_check.nb0

dd if=/sdcard/DHD/recovery_orig.bin of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p21

md5sum /sdcard/DHD/hboot_orig.bin
md5sum /sdcard/DHD/hboot_check.nb0

at least thats what i think... unless the file .nb0 and .bin matters in the if=-- of--- command

afrcom15 · Nov 11, 2010

EDIT**

Read and check everything at least 4 times, ask before you reboot your DHD if unsure about absolutely anything. This process worked for me after some stupidity on my part.

Again, this works but CHECK everything step of the way.

50chickens · Nov 11, 2010

afrcom15 said:
FFS guys, read this carefully and double check everything you do B4 you reboot.
I've ended up with a 450 quid paperweight.
Dunno what I can do, probably nothing

did that happen using this guys script? or another way?

im holding off flashing hboot till things are a bit more settled. its hard to resist though.

Thyrus · Nov 11, 2010

i have modified the script used by sfjuocekr (so that it doesnt flash the recovery, as I see no point in that at the moment) and would rather flash from fastboot

and the script works and I can confirm s-off success

madindehead · Nov 11, 2010

I think it's safer doing it via the VISIONary method. That's how I.did mine, and zero issues. I don't like how this says don't reboot if the checksums don't match. That's just asking for trouble.

Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

dr.m0x · Nov 11, 2010

afrcom15 said:
FFS guys, read this carefully and double check everything you do B4 you reboot.
I've ended up with a 450 quid paperweight.
Dunno what I can do, probably nothing

Yeah too many people rush into dangerous stuff like flashing to hboot without understanding the risks properly. I was one of those people. I am very lucky that my flash went smoothly. Feel for you.

Thyrus · Nov 11, 2010

madindehead said:
I think it's safer doing it via the VISIONary method. That's how I.did mine, and zero issues. I don't like how this says don't reboot if the checksums don't match. That's just asking for trouble.

Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

actually, thats BS, excuse my french.

The checksum is an extra security measure implemented to verify that the data flashed and the data that should have been flashed remain integrity. this way, you can verify in 2 steps:

1. The file you downloaded is not currupted in any way
2. The file (bootloader) flashed has flashed correctly, prior to reboot.

so actually, it is something ON TOP of the usual scripts seen here to ensure you dont brick. I need to side with the creator here.

insty · Nov 11, 2010

afrcom15 said:
FFS guys, read this carefully and double check everything you do B4 you reboot.
I've ended up with a 450 quid paperweight.
Dunno what I can do, probably nothing

Take it back to the shop saying it died and get a replacement :3?

keemyb · Nov 11, 2010

Well I used this method and the checksums returned were both "not found" and everything started force closing, I started to accept the fact that my phone could be bricked, but on reboot I was fine!

Sent from my Desire HD using XDA App

panyan · Nov 11, 2010

does this work as reliably as the first method?

Thyrus · Nov 11, 2010

i modified the scripts and included 2 more tests as well as deleted the flash of the recovery.

I can confirm the pricinple works fine, but i didnt see the point of flashing the recovery i must say. as I will fastboot flash the recovery when we have a "proper" one

dlads · Nov 11, 2010

I've done the permaroot and deleted visionary, so when my phone boots up now it is rooted and i have access to setcpu and such and i can change it, like the sliders, i can also use other rooted programs too.

What benefits do i stand to receive if i perform this s - off root? please.

And from what i've said am i set to do this?

Thanks.

ainmosni · Nov 11, 2010

S-Off is needed for a custom recovery image and custom roms. Essentially it turns off the MMC write protection and signature checking permanently.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk

AndyCr15 · Nov 11, 2010

Thyrus said:
i modified the scripts and included 2 more tests as well as deleted the flash of the recovery.

I can confirm the pricinple works fine, but i didnt see the point of flashing the recovery i must say. as I will fastboot flash the recovery when we have a "proper" one

Where can the modified script be found?

There seems to be little take up on this so far, I guess because it's so risky still?

Thyrus · Nov 11, 2010

Andy,

I have composed a comprehensive how-to in german for my "home-forum" after testing it.... so not sure how useful it would be for you non-german speaking ppl. but here is the link for convenience

http://www.android-hilfe.de/root-hacking-modding-fuer-htc-desire-hd/53959-guide-permant-root-mit-austauschen-des-bootloaders-visionary.html
you can manually edit the script from the creator here and delete THIS line

Code:

dd if=/sdcard/DHD/recovery.img of=/dev/block/mmcblk0p21

to avoid flashing the recovery

afrcom15 · Nov 11, 2010

Here's an update on my sorry situation

CPW say send it direct to HTC, there gonna know aren't they. Phone is completely dead, no options left I'm afraid.

Evostance · Nov 11, 2010

afrcom15 said:
Here's an update on my sorry situation

CPW say send it direct to HTC, there gonna know aren't they. Phone is completely dead, no options left I'm afraid.

a) Send it to HTC, they fix it for free
b) Send it to HTC, they fix it and charge you
c) Send it to HTC, they say they won't fix it

Doktaphex · Nov 11, 2010

afrcom15 said:
Here's an update on my sorry situation

CPW say send it direct to HTC, there gonna know aren't they. Phone is completely dead, no options left I'm afraid.

Statutory consumer rights may come into play here my boy. I know that you broke it, but if you're comfortable with lying to them then I suggest you bring this up:

The retailer’s obligations

If there is an obvious fault with the item at any time within the first 6 months and it has not been caused by wear and tear or misuse, your first port of call must be the shop you bought it from. They have the responsibility to put the matter right, and should not evade this responsibility by referring you to the manufacturer in the context of a guarantee or warranty.

EDIT: This is one of the main reasons I take out insurance on my phones. If it breaks, tell them you lost it. Technically still lying but I'm paying for the privilege of that lie, and I have never had to lie to them.

[GUIDE] Root, flash a custom recovery and/or S-OFF your Desire HD the "easy" way!

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