HTC Sensation unable to overclock despite root and Revolution HD Rom

[bel1eve]

Dear all,

I've been reading on this forum for some time because I rooted an Ainol tablet an a Sony phone with help from here before. But now I am totally stuck with my newly acquired 2nd-hand HTC Sensation.

I successfully flashed the Revolution Rom HD 7.3 to the phone but even with OC Daemon (or any other CPU tweaker) I cannot go over 1188000 as the max value. No overclocking possible.

Phone specs:
* bootloader unlocked (this means 'rooted', right?)
* Hboot 1.27.0000 (Pyramid)
* Firmware 3.33.401.1 series.
* S-ON RL.

Further info is eMMC-boot, and it has fastboot on it.

Is it necessary to make the phone S-OFF in order to enjoy the overclocking benefits of the custom Rom?
If so, do I need to do a factory reset to stock ICS rom before I can do the S-OFF?
What is the best method for my specs to get to S-OFF?
I tried in various ways with the Revolution Rom on there, but I didn't manage to do it.
I saw this method ( http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=41244866 ) but I wonder if there isn't another way? I saw other methods for other Hboot numbers but not for Hboot 1.27 ... and if I do use this method, can I do it with the Revolution Rom installed?

I tried flashing various kernels not in the stock rom (some of which wouldn't flash and some of which caused the famous wi-fi error - luckily I did a Nandroid backup of my last known good configuration... had the wi-fi error twice already now). It seems also that i get some sort of 'image error' or something every time the phone goes into bootloader. I was unsure what to do with the radio file that came with the rom. I tried to flash that with CWM because I didn't know any other way, and maybe that was a mistake? I read that this may cause battery issues, and it does seem as if the battery drained fairly quickly especially while on 3g or WiFi despite black screen etc.


Please help.

PS I can provide screenshots if it helps.

 

[ashkan-khatar]

Hi.
1. No, unlocked BL does not mean rooted, it's irrelative. But as you have a custom ROM installed after unlocking bootloader, you're rooted. Because custom ROMs are normally pre-rooted.
2. S-off is not required to have your CPU/GPU overclocked, but you have booted up your ROM, this means you have a flashed kernel. But I suspect something right now. Did you perform a full wipe (deleting all data on internal partitions, data, system, cache and boot)? I don't think you have done. Therefore, you might still have stock kernel, which is not overclockable. To flash a kernel without a computer, you must have gained s-off. Otherwise you may not flash any kernel flawlessly, unless you either get s-off or flash the boot.img of the kernel using fastboot commands (as you mentioned, I don't think you know it, do you?) Post a screenshot of your kernel info at about phone - software section.


SENT FROM WHATEVER IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE LOCKED AT, THE THING IS THAT IT IS SENT.

 

[rzr86]

To flash a kernel without a computer, you must have gained s-off. Otherwise you may not flash any kernel flawlessly, unless you either get s-off or flash the boot.img of the kernel using fastboot commands (as you mentioned, I don't think you know it, do you?) Post a screenshot of your kernel info at about phone - software section.


SENT FROM WHATEVER IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE LOCKED AT, THE THING IS THAT IT IS SENT.

he can flash kernel without pc(if it is as a flashable zip file)
with 4ext recovery and smartflash enabled

edit: OP you can't flash radio while on S-ON and that file can be flashed only from bootloader
you were thinking that you flashed it
and about battery in fresh install don't judge it so quickly
give it 4-5 circle charges until it settles down
then see how it bahaves

 

[ashkan-khatar]

he can flash kernel without pc(if it is as a flashable zip file)
with 4ext recovery and smartflash enabled

Oops... I didn't remember that at all..

SENT FROM WHATEVER IS NOT SOMETHING TO BE LOCKED AT, THE THING IS THAT IT IS SENT.

 

[bel1eve]

Thank you to both posters so far.
I do not remember if I did a full wipe at the time.
I just remember it seemed to have fully installed...
Here is the kernel details:

3.0.16-g31a4fc7
[email protected]#1
SMP PREEMPT

This is displayed regardless of which kernel I flashed... even with faux, this is what it would show.
I thought that might be because all kernels mimic the stock kernel...
So can you confirm that this is the stock kernel?
If so, I will go ahead and wipe everything... and start from scratch.

BUT - if I do that and then restore my Nandroid backup - won't the stock kernel be back?
And can I then reflash with faux kernel or any other compatible kernel while keeping my OS configuration?

 

[bel1eve]

Extra info:

I have CWMrecovery on it and Fastboot.

The Revolution Rom contains 3 kernels to choose from.
Initially I probably chose stock, but then reflashed the whole thing, trying to change it to on of the other two available choices.

So if I did a complete wipe and factory reset, and then reflashed with one of the other two built-in kernels,
would it then be overclockable?

And what would happen if I then restored my Nandroid backup - would the kernel I chose with the new installation remain in place as the backup is merely the configuration?

 

[rzr86]

Extra info:

I have CWMrecovery on it and Fastboot.

The Revolution Rom contains 3 kernels to choose from.
Initially I probably chose stock, but then reflashed the whole thing, trying to change it to on of the other two available choices.

So if I did a complete wipe and factory reset, and then reflashed with one of the other two built-in kernels,
would it then be overclockable?

And what would happen if I then restored my Nandroid backup - would the kernel I chose with the new installation remain in place as the backup is merely the configuration?

if you choose one of the other two kernels then you can overclock
when you are restoring a nandroid backup it restores everything(system,data,boot,cache etc)
so if did a nandroid with stock kernel then it will restore that kernel too

edit: i advise to use 4ext recovery for flashing roms and kernels since you are on S-ON

 

[bel1eve]

if you choose one of the other two kernels then you can overclock
when you are restoring a nandroid backup it restores everything(system,data,boot,cache etc)
so if did a nandroid with stock kernel then it will restore that kernel too

edit: i advise to use 4ext recovery for flashing roms and kernels since you are on S-ON

Ok, thank you very much for the insight. Yes, I believe the backup had stock kernel. Must have been...

3 more questions before I consider taking action:

1. How do I get 4ext on there now that I have CWM already?
2. Is there a way to backup my current setup and later restore it minus the kernel?
3. Since my phone runs real smooth as is right now and I don't play 3D games anyway - what noticeable benefits do I get from overclocking?

 

[stillsober]

Ok, thank you very much for the insight. Yes, I believe the backup had stock kernel. Must have been...

3 more questions before I consider taking action:

1. How do I get 4ext on there now that I have CWM already?
2. Is there a way to backup my current setup and later restore it minus the kernel?
3. Since my phone runs real smooth as is right now and I don't play 3D games anyway - what noticeable benefits do I get from overclocking?

Disclaimer :I don't know much, everything I say could be wrong for all I know. But if It is I hope someone corrects me on it
1. http://androidforums.com/cdma-evo-3...lash-recovery-image-via-fastboot-sd-card.html
The file name for sensation should be PG58IMG.zip
2. Titanium backup
3. If you're getting the level of performance you already want, I don't think there will be any noticeable difference. Most roms come with cpu governor that will adjust the cpu speed depending on task, low cpu to intensive, overclocking increases the maximum allowed, some app will take advantage of this it will drain battery faster and since you don't require more juice why waste battery?

 

[rzr86]

Disclaimer :I don't know much, everything I say could be wrong for all I know. But if It is I hope someone corrects me on it
1. http://androidforums.com/cdma-evo-3...lash-recovery-image-via-fastboot-sd-card.html
The file name for sensation should be PG58IMG.zip
2. Titanium backup
3. If you're getting the level of performance you already want, I don't think there will be any noticeable difference. Most roms come with cpu governor that will adjust the cpu speed depending on task, low cpu to intensive, overclocking increases the maximum allowed, some app will take advantage of this it will drain battery faster and since you don't require more juice why waste battery?

or follow only step 2 from this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1631861

for restore yes you can do also an advanced restore from 4ext recovery except titanium backup
just go to backup/restore->advanced restore and choose data
but don't restore system partition if you are coming from different rom or different base because you will have many fc's

 

[bel1eve]

Thank you to you both.

PG58IMG.zip - this file is 4ext? I do have this file and remember trying to install it via WMrecovery, but unsuccessful. How do I install it?

So if I understand this right, with Titanium Backup or via a 4ext advanced restore I can backup my whole configaration (installed apps, frozen apps, startup apps, accounts, screen config) for a given Rom? ANd then I can wipe everything and reflash the Rom with the desired kernel and then restore this backup and everything goes?

 

[rzr86]

Thank you to you both.

PG58IMG.zip - this file is 4ext? I do have this file and remember trying to install it via WMrecovery, but unsuccessful. How do I install it?

So if I understand this right, with Titanium Backup or via a 4ext advanced restore I can backup my whole configaration (installed apps, frozen apps, startup apps, accounts, screen config) for a given Rom? ANd then I can wipe everything and reflash the Rom with the desired kernel and then restore this backup and everything goes?

since you are on S-ON forget any pg58img.zip file
in my previous post i gave you a link on how to install 4ext recovery

about restore absolutely yes but don't restore boot partition

note: another way to install 4ext is to install 4ext updater apk
open the apk
select the touch version if you want
it will download it and install it for you
done:good:

 

[bel1eve]

or follow only step 2 from this thread
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1631861

for restore yes you can do also an advanced restore from 4ext recovery except titanium backup
just go to backup/restore->advanced restore and choose data
but don't restore system partition if you are coming from different rom or different base because you will have many fc's

What exactly do you mean by "except Titanium Backup" ?

What are "fc's" ?

ANd what do you mean by "base" ? Kernel?

 

[rzr86]

What exactly do you mean by "except Titanium Backup" ?

What are "fc's" ?

ANd what do you mean by "base" ? Kernel?

the ability for backup/restore exists in recovery not only in titanium backup app
that's what i mean by "except"

fc's->forceclose
it means when you are opening an app(especially a system app)it crashes immediately

by base i mean a different version of android of the same rom or a completely different rom

kernel is the brain between software and hardware

 

[bel1eve]

the ability for backup/restore exists in recovery not only in titanium backup app
that's what i mean by "except"

fc's->forceclose
it means when you are opening an app(especially a system app)it crashes immediately

by base i mean a different version of android of the same rom or a completely different rom

kernel is the brain between software and hardware

@rz86

Thanks for the steps and clarifications. Life got me away from the screen awhile but I've now successfully done what you recommended. Works a charm