[Guide] Convert Sprint/Boost HTC One A9 to Dev Unlock

[brukyoung]

after restart no sim card

followed your steps and 3g worked but one day after restaring the phone it says no simcard

 

[st40611]

followed your steps and 3g worked but one day after restaring the phone it says no simcard

Yeah, I realized after my post that you need to wipe modemst1 and modemst2 every single time. You can also install a Terminal app and wipe it with the following command (provided you have root):

su
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst1
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst2

 

[brukyoung]

Yeah, I realized after my post that you need to wipe modemst1 and modemst2 every single time. You can also install a Terminal app and wipe it with the following command (provided you have root):

su
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst1
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst2

is there a permanent fix if not how can i root my phone i ma running nougat 2.18.617,21

 

[st40611]

is there a permanent fix if not how can i root my phone i ma running nougat 2.18.617,21

You can flash Magisk. See #4 in https://forum.xda-developers.com/showpost.php?p=64003115&postcount=2.

 

[sin23]

Yeah, I realized after my post that you need to wipe modemst1 and modemst2 every single time. You can also install a Terminal app and wipe it with the following command (provided you have root):

su
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst1
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst2

I try this in terminal...and is not working,I have root

 

[brukyoung]

I try this in terminal...and is not working,I have root

make sure to type "reboot" as fourth command it will reboot and work

 

[sin23]

Not work

 

[sin23]

I try now and is working...after reboot ,use airplane mode on/of and is working after airplane nice,thank you all!

 

[zlebors]

this may out of topic, does the Boost Mobile HTC One A9 support LTE Band 3 (1800mhz)?

 

[DakshFella]

fixed no signal problem, only getting 2g, no 3g or 4g

There is much confusion regarding whether it is possible to successfully convert Boost Mobile/Sprint HTC One A9 to Unlocked/Developer version.

Many have tried before by changing the MID and CID and flashing the Unlocked/Developer RUU but have had issues with missing IMEI, random reboots, and general instability.

I can confirm that is is actually possible to do the conversion and also fix the missing IMEI/random reboots.

Prerequisites:
S-OFF
Bootloader unlocked
Sim Unlocked (See my post here for free sim unlock method)

What this fixes:
No mobile data (but have voice/sms) on sprint firmware after sim unlock
Missing IMEI/random reboots after Unlocked RUU flash

My device specs:
(bootloader) kernel: lk
(bootloader) product: htc_hiaeul (was previously htc_hiaewhl before conversion)
(bootloader) version: 1.0
(bootloader) max-download-size: 1164800000
(bootloader) slot-count: 0
(bootloader) current-slot:
(bootloader) version-main: 2.18.617.1
(bootloader) boot-mode: download
(bootloader) version-baseband: [email protected] (Sprint radio)
(bootloader) version-bootloader: 1.0.0.0000
(bootloader) mid: 2PQ912000
(bootloader) cid: 11111111

1) Follow this guide here. I flashed the updated Unlocked 2.18.617.1 RUU from here instead of the older RUU linked in the post. The RUU version should not make a significant difference.

2) After the RUU is flashed, the device will reboot. It is optional to wait for the device to finish the initial boot. The device will not be in a usable state as the IMEI will be missing, radio won't work, and have some other critical bugs.

3) Reboot the device into bootloader mode (not download mode!).

4) Download the Sprint radio here (extracted from 1.60.651.4 RUU)

5) Extract radio.img and run

fastboot flash radio radio.img

6) reboot the device. Your sprint/boost mobile a9 should now be working on T-mobile or your GSM carrier. If your carrier bands are supported, you should also be getting 4G.

You may also be able to flash CM14 on your converted a9, but I have not tried it yet.

Have a happy new year!

Brother, big thanks to your post for fixing blank imei and unknown baseband, but here I'm only getting 2g signals, not getting 3g or 4g in Sri Lanka, I'm using Dialog Sim, Could you please help?

 

[sin23]

Yeah, I realized after my post that you need to wipe modemst1 and modemst2 every single time. You can also install a Terminal app and wipe it with the following command (provided you have root):

su
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst1
dd if=/dev/zero of=/dev/block/bootdevice/by-name/modemst2

Still no permanent fix...???After every reboot i lose network signal and show me "no sim card":| please help ,maybe someone resolve this...please pm me,thx...

 

[idarph]

I managed to get this work outside the US. I (re)flashed all the original sprint radio config partitions (modemst1, modemst2, radio, rfg_0, rfg_1, rfg_2, rfg_3, rfg_4 and rfg_8, so not just the ones is some firmware update) after conversion, and everything is working fine.

 

[samweli benjamin]

Hi, I followed all your steps because initially after unlocking the sim, dont work the network data but the voice and sms works fine on 1.60.651.4

After putting the nougat version (2.18.617.1)
And restoring the radio.img, the data works well over 4g, but I can not make voice calls. Shows network unavailable.

Also in nougat I can not install twrp to be root

My phone is a boost mobile 2PQ93 and I am in an operator that handles band b2.

i have similar problem, help me flash TWRP recovery in my sprint a9

---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------

i cant flash TWRP recovery in my sprint device, please help me

---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 PM ----------

i cant flash TWRP recovery in my sprint device, please help me

 

[idarph]

i have similar problem, help me flash TWRP recovery in my sprint a9

---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:43 PM ----------

i cant flash TWRP recovery in my sprint device, please help me

---------- Post added at 06:45 PM ---------- Previous post was at 06:45 PM ----------

i cant flash TWRP recovery in my sprint device, please help me

If firmware is 1.x use and older twrp like 3.0.2.x, if 2.x use 3.1+

---------- Post added at 09:57 AM ---------- Previous post was at 09:27 AM ----------

Still no permanent fix...???After every reboot i lose network signal and show me "no sim card":| please help ,maybe someone resolve this...please pm me,thx...

Permanent fix:
1. Install 1.09.651.1
2. Insert SIM. Unlock SPC. Reboot, test success until it starts without locking the SIM. Link to method is in the op.
3. Install 1.57.651.1_R2
4. Install every other update from android: Setting-> About -> Software updates. This will upgrade to 2.18.651.2.
5. Root the device: twrp + magisk.
6. Backup partitions

adb shell
su #grant rights to user on phone
cat /proc/emmc #take note of mmcblk0pXXX mappings to partitions: rfg_0, rfg_1, rfg_2, rfg_3, rfg_4, rfg_8, radio, modemst1, modemst2

For each partition noted before issue a command like this, where XXX is the number of the mmcblk:

dd if=/dev/block/mmcblk0pXXX of=/sdcard/rfg_0.img

Now the created parition images can be saved to your pc/mac/whatever. Might be you have to disconnect/reconnect phone to see the files or use adb pull ...
7. Install 2.18.617.30
8. After install and setup complete, android is running, restore the original images:

adb reboot bootloader
fastboot flash rfg_0 <path to rfg_0.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash rfg_1 <path to rfg_1.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash rfg_2 <path to rfg_2.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash rfg_3 <path to rfg_3.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash rfg_4 <path to rfg_4.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash rfg_8 <path to rfg_8.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash modemst1 <path to modemst1.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash modemst2 <path to modemst2.img created in step 6.>
fastboot flash radio <path to radio.img created in step 6.>

9. Reboot

 

[sin23]

I have android nougat ,how to install 1.09.651.1?how to downgrade?i need firmware?please tell me all steps,i don't want to brick my phone thx

 

[fk2106]

can someone share all the radio, modemst and rfg files?

 

[sin23]

Yes please...share all files ,i think is works if we flash all that files...

 

[idarph]

Yes please...share all files ,i think is works if we flash all that files...

I think that would not get you anywhere. I did this on multiple phones. For some reason all needed its own backups (or i messed up somewhere in the process to think so).
To flash unsigned zip-s you need s-off i think.
To create backup of the partitions you need root.

 

[sin23]

I think that would not get you anywhere. I did this on multiple phones. For some reason all needed its own backups (or i messed up somewhere in the process to think so).
To flash unsigned zip-s you need s-off i think.
To create backup of the partitions you need root.

Give me that files please,i have s off,i want to flash to se if is working,same phone same files....i think is working.please give me zip with files ,please please

 

[fk2106]

Yes, they should work if it's the same file. I'll generate those files today and tomorrow and share it.