Please do not PM me with questions about this guide! I don't have time to help everyone through it, create a thread in Q&A if you don't have 10 posts or post here, there are other people who have done this and can help you, and I will get to it if I can. PMs asking questions about this guide will be ignored. Thank you.
Fully stable root methods for all firmware versions (no bootloops on 6.01.605.05 firmware!)
INTRO
This is a comprehensive guide of all known and fully stable root/s-off methods, at this time, it covers just about all firmware versions out there.Most of these methods will require the Android SDK, so download that (Google it. A link for this really isn't necessary, and I'm sure many people could use practice googling things. 
) and set it up (again, just google "android sdk," the download page even has tutorials). The downgrade methods no longer require the sdk, but it is still reccomended that you download it as it is a very useful tool. Don't forget to download the device drivers here (only neccessary on Windows) and set the PATH variable.
So, which downgrade method should you use? Most likely you will either have firmware version 5.x or 6.x, you can find out under Settings>About phone. If you are using 5.x, go to the Downgrade Tool section; if you have 6.x, go to the Tacoroot section. Both methods eventually lead to the Revolutionary section, HTCDev unlock is not reccomended and, honestly, completely pointless (read more below).
HTCDEV UNLOCK
HTCDev is HTC's "official" unlock, it will unlock the bootloader but leave S-ON. Don't do it. Seriously. It's a guaranteed voided warranty and pretty much a huge PITA (you can't flash radios and need to extract and separately flash ROM kernels), and s-off methods are completely stable and even relockable. That said, if for whatever reason you do wish to do this, just go to http://htcdev.com/bootloader/. If you want to obtain S-OFF at any time after using HTCDev unlock, see the second post.
Note: to flash ROMs when HTCDev unlocked, flash the ROM normally, then extract the boot.img from the rom.zip and boot into fastboot, then use the command "fastboot flash boot boot.img."
TACOROOT
Tacoroot is a temp root method discovered by Justin Case that will allow those on the newer firmware to flash an older version and root with Revolutionary. Before you begin, download this zip containing all the files you'll need:
EDIT: Looking for the files? See this post.
Extract this zip to C:/Android. You can extract it somewhere else, just replace C:/Android with the path to the wherever you extracted it wherever it comes up. Now, connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, turn on USB Debugging under Settings>Apps>Development, and disable fastboot under Settings>Power. Make sure your phone is fully charged. Open a command prompt by opening the start menu, typing "cmd" and hitting enter. Type in everything that is in black text. Notes and extra instructions will be written in blue. It is reccomended that you copy/paste the code to avoid typos, to do this, copy by highlighting the line and hitting Ctrl+C as usual; to paste, go to your command prompt and click the small black icon in the upper left corner. A menu will pop up, go to Edit>Paste. Make sure you have not highlighted any spaces before or after the line or any of the blue text. Now, begin copying the code:
cd C:/Android
md5sums RUU_Vivo_W_Gingerbread_S_VERIZON_WWE_2.18.605.3_Radio_1.09.01.0622_NV_VZW1.92_release_199487_si.zip Remove the space in the middle of the word radio before hitting enter, I don't know why it won't let me remove it. Result should be cea499f51b40055ffd118960e1e73255, if it isn't, redownload the miniadb zip.
md5sums 1.09.01.0312_vivow_Radio_PG32IMG.zip Result should be ea6b98be48210d7797e62362f49ff751
md5sums tacoroot.sh Result should be 6ec06d776feb212d8b2a55817eddf76d
md5sums misc_version Result should be 050f55d34ddbcc860efa5982491437de
adb devices Result should be your phone's serial number. If it isn't make sure drivers are properly installed and USB Debugging is enabled.
adb push tacoroot.sh /data/local/
adb shell chmod 755 /data/local/tacoroot.sh
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --setup This will reboot your phone. When you get to a screen with a red exclamation mark, press VolUp+Power until you get to a menu, then press VolUp+VolDown+Power until the phone turns off. Once it is rebooted, continue.
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --root
adb wait-for-device Running the step before this will reboot your phone again, this time it will be bootlooping, meaning it will not boot fully and get stuck on the boot animation. Once your prompt comes back after this step, you're good to continue even though the phone isn't fully booted.
adb push misc_version /data/local/tmp/misc_version
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/tmp/misc_version
adb shell /data/local/tmp/misc_version -s 2.18.605.3
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --undo This will reboot your phone one more time, this time fully stable and will boot completely. Continue once fully booted.
adb reboot bootloader This will reboot your phone to a white screen with a few options. Once you are at this screen, continue with the instructions.
fastboot devices Result should be your phone's serial number, again.
fastboot getvar mainver The result should be 2.18.605.3. If it is not, something was not done correctly, you'll need to restart from the beginning.
fastboot erase cache
fastboot oem rebootRUU
fastboot flash zip RUU_Vivo_W_Gingerbread_S_VERIZON_WWE_2.18.605.3_Radio_1.09.01.0622_NV_VZW1.92_release_199487_si.zip This will take a bit of time without giving any indication as to when it will be done, be patient and do not interrupt it.
fastboot erase cache
fastboot oem rebootRUU
fastboot flash zip 1.09.01.0312_vivow_Radio_PG32IMG.zip Same as the above, do not interrupt under any circumstances (unless you really wanted a phone-shaped paperweight)
fastboot reboot
That's the end of the codes, you should be fully booted into the now downgraded version. Re-enable USB debugging, then continue to the Revolutionary section and follow instructions there.
DOWNGRADE TOOL
Versions: HBOOT .98, firmware below 6.01.605.05
This will not work with firmware version 6.01.605.05! Use the tacoroot method!
This tool will downgrade you to 2.3.3, which will allow you to use Revolutionary to gain S-OFF.
Download the tool here, and extract it to a folder where you can easily get to it in a command prompt/terminal.
Now, connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, and turn on USB Debugging in settings. To ensure you are connected, open a command prompt/terminal and type "adb devices". If you see a bunch of letters and numbers followed by "device," you're good to go.
Navigate to the files you extracted in a command prompt/terminal ("cd /path/to/folder," replacing /path/to/folder with the actual filepath), type "hack-vivow.cmd" and let it run. It may take a while and seem to get stuck on some commands, just leave it alone. After it's done, continue to the Revolutionary section. Yep, it really is that easy.
REVOLUTIONARY
Versions: GB 2.3.3, any others after downgrade methods
This is the final step that will actually get you S-OFF.
Go to the revolutionary website, click on the download link for your OS, you'll get a download right away. While it's downloading, fill out the form that pops up (if you don't know your serial number and have the sdk installed, open up a command prompt/terminal and type "adb devices," the letters/numbers before "device" is your serial. Extract the files and run either revolutionary or revolutionary.exe depending on your OS, enter your beta key and say yes when it asks to install CWM recovery. Let it run, and you'll be S-OFF and ready to go!
If you have any questions/comments or found something that isn't right, go ahead and post, I would greatly appreciate any positive or negative feedback, as long as it's constructive.
Credits:
attn1 for Downgrade tool
Revolutionary team
Guhl for misc_version
jcase for Tacoroot
PalmerCurling for Tacoroot downgrade guide
MIVLives for bootloop fix
scotty85 for better Tacoroot downgrade and HTCDev S-OFF method
If you find anything I didn't give credits for and should have, let me know and I'll add it.
Fully stable root methods for all firmware versions (no bootloops on 6.01.605.05 firmware!)
Table of Contents
To quickly find a section, hit CTRL+F and type the letters in parentheses, then click "Next"
(IRO) Intro: Read first!
(HDV) HTCDEV Unlock
(TCR) Tacoroot
(DWG) Downgrade tool
(RVL) Revolutionary
(HSO) S-OFF with HTCDev unlock (second post)
(ASO) After S-OFF (second post)
To quickly find a section, hit CTRL+F and type the letters in parentheses, then click "Next"
(IRO) Intro: Read first!
(HDV) HTCDEV Unlock
(TCR) Tacoroot
(DWG) Downgrade tool
(RVL) Revolutionary
(HSO) S-OFF with HTCDev unlock (second post)
(ASO) After S-OFF (second post)
INTRO
(IRO)
DISCLAIMER: I am not responsible for anything that happens to your device while following these instructions. I will try to help you through problems as much as I can, but I can't guarantee success, especially if you do not carefully read the instructions.This is a comprehensive guide of all known and fully stable root/s-off methods, at this time, it covers just about all firmware versions out there.
) and set it up (again, just google "android sdk," the download page even has tutorials).So, which downgrade method should you use? Most likely you will either have firmware version 5.x or 6.x, you can find out under Settings>About phone. If you are using 5.x, go to the Downgrade Tool section; if you have 6.x, go to the Tacoroot section. Both methods eventually lead to the Revolutionary section, HTCDev unlock is not reccomended and, honestly, completely pointless (read more below).
HTCDEV UNLOCK
(HDV)
Versions: AllHTCDev is HTC's "official" unlock, it will unlock the bootloader but leave S-ON. Don't do it. Seriously. It's a guaranteed voided warranty and pretty much a huge PITA (you can't flash radios and need to extract and separately flash ROM kernels), and s-off methods are completely stable and even relockable. That said, if for whatever reason you do wish to do this, just go to http://htcdev.com/bootloader/. If you want to obtain S-OFF at any time after using HTCDev unlock, see the second post.
Note: to flash ROMs when HTCDev unlocked, flash the ROM normally, then extract the boot.img from the rom.zip and boot into fastboot, then use the command "fastboot flash boot boot.img."
TACOROOT
(TCR)
Versions: 6.01.605.05 firmwareTacoroot is a temp root method discovered by Justin Case that will allow those on the newer firmware to flash an older version and root with Revolutionary. Before you begin, download this zip containing all the files you'll need:
EDIT: Looking for the files? See this post.
Extract this zip to C:/Android. You can extract it somewhere else, just replace C:/Android with the path to the wherever you extracted it wherever it comes up. Now, connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, turn on USB Debugging under Settings>Apps>Development, and disable fastboot under Settings>Power. Make sure your phone is fully charged. Open a command prompt by opening the start menu, typing "cmd" and hitting enter. Type in everything that is in black text. Notes and extra instructions will be written in blue. It is reccomended that you copy/paste the code to avoid typos, to do this, copy by highlighting the line and hitting Ctrl+C as usual; to paste, go to your command prompt and click the small black icon in the upper left corner. A menu will pop up, go to Edit>Paste. Make sure you have not highlighted any spaces before or after the line or any of the blue text. Now, begin copying the code:
cd C:/Android
md5sums RUU_Vivo_W_Gingerbread_S_VERIZON_WWE_2.18.605.3_Radio_1.09.01.0622_NV_VZW1.92_release_199487_si.zip Remove the space in the middle of the word radio before hitting enter, I don't know why it won't let me remove it. Result should be cea499f51b40055ffd118960e1e73255, if it isn't, redownload the miniadb zip.
md5sums 1.09.01.0312_vivow_Radio_PG32IMG.zip Result should be ea6b98be48210d7797e62362f49ff751
md5sums tacoroot.sh Result should be 6ec06d776feb212d8b2a55817eddf76d
md5sums misc_version Result should be 050f55d34ddbcc860efa5982491437de
adb devices Result should be your phone's serial number. If it isn't make sure drivers are properly installed and USB Debugging is enabled.
adb push tacoroot.sh /data/local/
adb shell chmod 755 /data/local/tacoroot.sh
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --setup This will reboot your phone. When you get to a screen with a red exclamation mark, press VolUp+Power until you get to a menu, then press VolUp+VolDown+Power until the phone turns off. Once it is rebooted, continue.
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --root
adb wait-for-device Running the step before this will reboot your phone again, this time it will be bootlooping, meaning it will not boot fully and get stuck on the boot animation. Once your prompt comes back after this step, you're good to continue even though the phone isn't fully booted.
adb push misc_version /data/local/tmp/misc_version
adb shell chmod 777 /data/local/tmp/misc_version
adb shell /data/local/tmp/misc_version -s 2.18.605.3
adb shell /data/local/tacoroot.sh --undo This will reboot your phone one more time, this time fully stable and will boot completely. Continue once fully booted.
adb reboot bootloader This will reboot your phone to a white screen with a few options. Once you are at this screen, continue with the instructions.
fastboot devices Result should be your phone's serial number, again.
fastboot getvar mainver The result should be 2.18.605.3. If it is not, something was not done correctly, you'll need to restart from the beginning.
fastboot erase cache
fastboot oem rebootRUU
fastboot flash zip RUU_Vivo_W_Gingerbread_S_VERIZON_WWE_2.18.605.3_Radio_1.09.01.0622_NV_VZW1.92_release_199487_si.zip This will take a bit of time without giving any indication as to when it will be done, be patient and do not interrupt it.
fastboot erase cache
fastboot oem rebootRUU
fastboot flash zip 1.09.01.0312_vivow_Radio_PG32IMG.zip Same as the above, do not interrupt under any circumstances (unless you really wanted a phone-shaped paperweight
)fastboot reboot
That's the end of the codes, you should be fully booted into the now downgraded version. Re-enable USB debugging, then continue to the Revolutionary section and follow instructions there.
DOWNGRADE TOOL
Versions: HBOOT .98, firmware below 6.01.605.05
This will not work with firmware version 6.01.605.05! Use the tacoroot method!
This tool will downgrade you to 2.3.3, which will allow you to use Revolutionary to gain S-OFF.
Download the tool here, and extract it to a folder where you can easily get to it in a command prompt/terminal.
Now, connect your device to your computer with a USB cable, and turn on USB Debugging in settings. To ensure you are connected, open a command prompt/terminal and type "adb devices". If you see a bunch of letters and numbers followed by "device," you're good to go.
Navigate to the files you extracted in a command prompt/terminal ("cd /path/to/folder," replacing /path/to/folder with the actual filepath), type "hack-vivow.cmd" and let it run. It may take a while and seem to get stuck on some commands, just leave it alone. After it's done, continue to the Revolutionary section. Yep, it really is that easy.
REVOLUTIONARY
Versions: GB 2.3.3, any others after downgrade methods
This is the final step that will actually get you S-OFF.
Go to the revolutionary website, click on the download link for your OS, you'll get a download right away. While it's downloading, fill out the form that pops up (if you don't know your serial number and have the sdk installed, open up a command prompt/terminal and type "adb devices," the letters/numbers before "device" is your serial. Extract the files and run either revolutionary or revolutionary.exe depending on your OS, enter your beta key and say yes when it asks to install CWM recovery. Let it run, and you'll be S-OFF and ready to go!
If you have any questions/comments or found something that isn't right, go ahead and post, I would greatly appreciate any positive or negative feedback, as long as it's constructive.
Credits:
attn1 for Downgrade tool
Revolutionary team
Guhl for misc_version
jcase for Tacoroot
PalmerCurling for Tacoroot downgrade guide
MIVLives for bootloop fix
scotty85 for better Tacoroot downgrade and HTCDev S-OFF method
If you find anything I didn't give credits for and should have, let me know and I'll add it.
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