[Q] A Little Assistance Please?

[freeridindirtbiker]

First off, I’d like to say thank you ahead of time to everyone here on this forum. You guys are very intelligent and generous and it is much appreciated. All the hard work and dedication that is put into this particular subject does not go without notice. :good:

My issue may not be too major or really an issue at all. It’s more of a ‘How-To’ per say and I’m just looking for a little guidance. I have used the resources available to me within XDA and am grateful that so many of you have spent so much time creating guides, code, etc. With that being said, I’d like to reach out to the User Forum in general and ask for your assistance.

I’m still in the mindset of the HTC HD2 days where it was a native Windows phone and all that took place was flashing. Flash this. Flash that. Once the concept was known, it was fairly simple and quite easy to comprehend.

Since then, I have upgraded to the T-Mo HTC Sensation 4G (About a year ago) and have kept it stock until just recently. This has been my first native Android phone so the ‘Rooting’ aspect is anew.

So on to the bulk of the posting. Please excuse my ‘Noobness’ in this matter.

I have followed ‘-AssKicker-’ guide to perfection which you can view below.

[GUIDE] Flashing roms with S-ON and 1.27+ HBOOT
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1631861

One of the most well written guides I’ve seen to date. Upon doing so, I currently have Unlocked my phone Via HTCDev. I have flashed a recovery (4EXT) and then flashed the ‘Android Revolution HD 1.2.2 Tmobile’ ROM. Everything went to perfection and works flawlessly. Now I’d like to take things a step further and obtain S-OFF and full root (If that’s the correct terminology?). This is where I’m at a standstill. From what I’ve read, I need to flash back to a “Stock” rom before I should perform the S-OFF procedure?

I guess I’m just confused at the process of achieving this. I’ve read several guides about achieving S-OFF such as the one by ‘auggie2k’ and other How To guides. I guess my question is what is my best option from where I’m currently at? The best process? Do I have a full root or just a Rooted ROM? Upon downloading a ‘Root Checker’ App within Play Store, it appears that I have root access. Is this just due to the Rooted ROM that I’ve flashed? How does the recovery come into play when I go about achieving S-OFF? Once I flash a “Stock” ROM, Do I need to rid of the recovery before gaining S-OFF?

If someone links an article to this thread, would you be so kind to explain the procedure more in depth from my viewpoint?

My best regards,

-Josh

 

[AndroidSupporter318]

For s-off, there isn't really a "best way". Since you have hboot version 1.2x, you need to use auggie's guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25202517

Recovery will not be affected in any way after you s-off your device. Recovery is a mode in which you can do multiple tasks including but not limited to (these are the most common tasks in recovery) 1. Flash zip files (ROMs, mods...) 2. Make nandroid backups/ restore nandroid backups 3. Format different partitions

There are numerous functions of recovery mode, and ones such add 4EXT and clockworkmod are custom ones.

After you s-off your device, "permanent root" is not necessary. S-off allows you to change your phone's firmware (includes phone radio [for carrier signal] and other things that allow you to flash different ROMs). By the way, you need a stock ROM to s-off. I'm pretty sure ARHD will work.

So... For you, i would:
1. S-off via juopunut bear method(auggie's thread)
2. Flash firmware 3.33 in kohr-ah's thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21711154
3. Flash any ROM you want! Make sure you format all partitions before you flash any rom unless the ROM says that a full wipe is not required.

Sent from my Ouya

 

[freeridindirtbiker]

For s-off, there isn't really a "best way". Since you have hboot version 1.2x, you need to use auggie's guide: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=25202517

Recovery will not be affected in any way after you s-off your device. Recovery is a mode in which you can do multiple tasks including but not limited to (these are the most common tasks in recovery) 1. Flash zip files (ROMs, mods...) 2. Make nandroid backups/ restore nandroid backups 3. Format different partitions

There are numerous functions of recovery mode, and ones such add 4EXT and clockworkmod are custom ones.

After you s-off your device, "permanent root" is not necessary. S-off allows you to change your phone's firmware (includes phone radio [for carrier signal] and other things that allow you to flash different ROMs). By the way, you need a stock ROM to s-off. I'm pretty sure ARHD will work.

So... For you, i would:
1. S-off via juopunut bear method(auggie's thread)
2. Flash firmware 3.33 in kohr-ah's thread: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?p=21711154
3. Flash any ROM you want! Make sure you format all partitions before you flash any rom unless the ROM says that a full wipe is not required.

Sent from my Ouya

So according to Auggie's guide, it requires a complete format/wipe of the device and Micro SD card. This will not affect the Recovery in any way? It will still be in it's current state as I see it now? The bootloader will also remain 'Unlocked' upon formatting everything? It also says on Auggies guide, it has the following pre-requisite:

* Be rooted (have superuser and/or an unsecured boot image installed)

Thank you for the clarifications. It is much appreciated.

 

[AndroidSupporter318]

So according to Auggie's guide, it requires a complete format/wipe of the device and Micro SD card. This will not affect the Recovery in any way? It will still be in it's current state as I see it now? The bootloader will also remain 'Unlocked' upon formatting everything? It also says on Auggies guide, it has the following pre-requisite:

* Be rooted (have superuser and/or an unsecured boot image installed)

Thank you for the clarifications. It is much appreciated.

Technically, a full wipe of your SD card is not required, it is a precaution (I s-offed my device without wiping my SD card)

And yes, s-off will not affect recovery in any way. S-off is security off which means that you can change pretty much anything you want to your phone.

No. The bootloader will technically not be unlocked, but you have s-off so you won't have to worry. After you finish s-off, you have two choices: 1. Controlbear.exe (juopunut will ask if you want their custom bootloader). Their bootloader is unlocked so you can flash roms and stuff via adb/fastboot commands). 2. You can flash firmware 3.33 (recommended). Firmware 3.33 will also unlock your bootloader so that you can flash ROMs and stuff via adb/fastboot commands.

I'm guessing you are rooted because you have an unlocked bootloader via HTC Dev and root checker confirmed that you are rooted. So since you are rooted, go ahead and s-off your sensation.

Sent from my Ouya

 

[freeridindirtbiker]

Technically, a full wipe of your SD card is not required, it is a precaution (I s-offed my device without wiping my SD card)

And yes, s-off will not affect recovery in any way. S-off is security off which means that you can change pretty much anything you want to your phone.

No. The bootloader will technically not be unlocked, but you have s-off so you won't have to worry. After you finish s-off, you have two choices: 1. Controlbear.exe (juopunut will ask if you want their custom bootloader). Their bootloader is unlocked so you can flash roms and stuff via adb/fastboot commands). 2. You can flash firmware 3.33 (recommended). Firmware 3.33 will also unlock your bootloader so that you can flash ROMs and stuff via adb/fastboot commands.

I'm guessing you are rooted because you have an unlocked bootloader via HTC Dev and root checker confirmed that you are rooted. So since you are rooted, go ahead and s-off your sensation.

Sent from my Ouya

Thank you so much for the information.

What I meant was that by formatting the phone and/or SD card (If I did), would the recovery still be on the phone itself? Just to be clear, the Bootloader is completely separate from the Recovery? Or is the recovery an aspect associated with the bootloader. Upon doing the HTCDev method, I believe its my bootloader that says **UNLOCKED** at the very top of the screen but of course still says S-ON since I haven't done S-OFF yet. I have 4EXT flashed onto the phone.I guess now I'm confused because the S-OFF guide states to unlock the phone via HTCDev before S-OFF which I've done. Is this like a partial root since you can't change the firmware or radios due to it being restricted? I haven't done anything but follow the directions within the guide I posted above.

HTCDev unlock Method>Flashed 4EXT>Flashed Custom ROM.

Thanks again.

 

[AndroidSupporter318]

Thank you so much for the information.

What I meant was that by formatting the phone and/or SD card (If I did), would the recovery still be on the phone itself? Just to be clear, the Bootloader is completely separate from the Recovery? Or is the recovery an aspect associated with the bootloader. Upon doing the HTCDev method, I believe its my bootloader that says **UNLOCKED** at the very top of the screen but of course still says S-ON since I haven't done S-OFF yet. I have 4EXT flashed onto the phone.I guess now I'm confused because the S-OFF guide states to unlock the phone via HTCDev before S-OFF which I've done. Is this like a partial root since you can't change the firmware or radios due to it being restricted? I haven't done anything but follow the directions within the guide I posted above.

HTCDev unlock Method>Flashed 4EXT>Flashed Custom ROM.

Thanks again.

I'll try to answer your questions in a list to prevent confusion:

1. Formatting all partitions of the phone and formatting SD card will not erase the recovery. Formatting the SD card WILL remove all your backups from recovery though.

2. Bootloader is completely separate from recovery. 4EXT and clockworkmod are custom recoveries used to restore your phone (and wipe your data/perform other functions)

3. You can say unlocking bootloader is a partial root. It gives you access to flash some things, but not other things. You can flash a custom recovery, ROMs, and mods(tweaks/themes to ROMs).

However, s-off allows you to change other parts of your phone (firmware, radio...)

Sent from my Ouya