[Q] dead screen. need assurance about unrooting

[Bizwax]

First off, thanks for all the help I've had from the xda community over the past few months. I've only just signed up, but I've been an avid noob learner thanks to your guides and various threads. Much appreciated.

Now my question: My Sensation is rooted, currently with Revolution HD (6.?.?) installed and everything has been running smoothly since I first flashed a custom ROM a few months back, but last night it powered down after the battery died and now the screen won't power up. It seems to be charging, it vibrates when I power the phone, and adb recognizes it when I search for connected devices, but the screen is flat out dead. Not a blank, black screen, just dead. No power to it.

Obviously I'd like to send it in for repair, so I need to unroot while making sure the stock recovery has been installed in place of CWM and that it is S-on.
I found a guide to unrooting with adb which seems straightforward enough, but how can I be sure everything has worked without the benefit of seeing the phone's screen?

Thanks in advance
-Bizwax

 

[Kevc44485]

If your screen ain't working I guess you're SOL

 

[Bizwax]

So if I attempt to unroot with adb, can I not then use it (or another app) to confirm the status of my phone's firmware, recovery and s-on/off before I decide whether to send it for repair or not?

 

[Kevc44485]

I don't know. I have heard of a few people sending in phones that wont turn on and HTC fixes or replaces them anyways. I guess they change out the main board. Wait a while longer and see what other people say.

 

[Bizwax]

That's the problem, the phone does seem to boot, so if they simply need to replace the screen they're going to see that it's rooted. Then they've got me over a barrel - they have my phone and would be within their rights to hold it until I pay for their repairs.

 

[Kevc44485]

I don't know how they do it over in the UK but in the US they can't force you to pay for a repair if you don't want it. I'm pretty sure that they will tell you if there will be a charge before they do the repair. But they may do things differently over there.

 

[ganeshp]

hmm..the screen is completely dead and not even showing bootloader screen right

then doing un root and reverting the cid and all is little bit tough but completely possible

first i require some data
for that you need to go to bootloader
to do that
just power off the phone...remove the battery..reinsert the battery and then press power + voulme down buttons together..that should take you to bootloader screen (small vibration happens when you do that )

to verify that phone is connected to bootloader or not
connect the phone to pc ..
then in adb folder
type "adb devices" ->this should not show your device

type 'fastboot devices" -> this should show your device

once fastboot recognizes your device
type this "fastboot getvar all" and post the complete output

except IMEI and serial number (these are sensitive data )

then I'll guide you further

 

[Bizwax]

I'm just thinking worst case scenario. I don't know HTC's repair process, but if they check it over instead of running a full diagnostic and realise it's just the screen needs replacing, then they do that and test to see everything is working ok and that's when they spot that it's rooted, that would be a problem. They would already have done the work and I'd be obligated to pay them for that. Maybe I'm being overly cautious/paranoid, but still, if there's a way for me to unroot I'd rather go that route.

Someone on IRC pointed me towards android app VNC Server. That would give me remote access to my phone, plus a live screen capture gui to work through, so that might be a possibility. I know I can use adb to install it and I think I can use it to remotely boot apps on my phone too. I'm still looking into how I would do that though. Then the problem is that VNC requires a rooted device to work, which would probably be fine at the moment, but once I go to unroot that plan goes out the window. Unless I can find an alternative for unrooted phones.

Edit: that's right ganeshp. No screen activity whatsoever. Thanks for the advice, I'll get on that now.

 

[Bizwax]

C:\adb>adb devices
List of devices attached
123456789012    device

C:\adb>adb reboot-bootloader

C:\adb>fastboot devices
123456789012    fastboot

C:\adb>fastboot getvar all
INFOversion: 0.5
INFOversion-bootloader: 1.27.1100
INFOversion-baseband: 11.22.3504.07_M
INFOversion-cpld: None
INFOversion-microp: None
INFOversion-main: 3.32.401.3
INFOserialno: 123456789012
INFOimei: XXXXXXXXXXXXXX
INFOproduct: pyramid
INFOplatform: HBOOT-8260
INFOmodelid: PG58*****
INFOcidnum: 11111111
INFObattery-status: good
INFObattery-voltage: 4043mV
INFOpartition-layout: Generic
INFOsecurity: off
INFObuild-mode: SHIP
INFOboot-mode: FASTBOOT
INFOcommitno-bootloader: 617f0a98
INFOhbootpreupdate: 11
INFOgencheckpt: 0
all: Done!
finished. total time: 0.525s

I know you said to exclude the serial number as well, but 123456789012? Is that a big deal or is it just because it's flashed with a custom rom?

Volume plus power button doesn't work btw. I had to use adb. Just thought I'd add that in case. Every little helps, right?

 

[ganeshp]

well you are SOFF and supercid ..thats all i need..i mean you can actually RUN any RUU
but I Think you are from UK and orange network (from your profile )...so lets go for that corresponding RUU

get the ICS RUU from this thread
SHIPPED PYRAMID ROMS

i found one along the line "RUU_Pyramid_Orange_UK_1.35.61.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198549_signed.exe" get that if you have normal sensation

if you got sensation XE
i cant find XE version of ORANGE RUU (the name has LE ..means an XE version) ...search the thread
otherwise get this XE version
"RUU​_Pyramid​_LE_HTC​_Europe​_1.73​.401​.4_Radio​_10.58​.9035​.0.."

then running the RUU
connect your phone to pc while in fastboot ..(just like earlier) then
run the ruu from pc
follow the onscreen instructions

this RUU ..will wipe everything and make it stock...except SOFF and supercid

once RUU run is over
we will change the cid back to normal
first get your cid from here (i think your cid is ORANG001..but confirm from the thread again)
CID LIST

once you know the cid...back to fastboot and connect it to PC
type this command
fastboot oem writecid <yourCID> (eg fastboot oem writecid ORANG001)

this will get your cid back to normal/original
now reboot normally (this is must to change CID)
using command
fastboot reboot


now the most important and careful step (this should be done last..i MEAN LAST)
back to fastboot again..and connect it to pc

now type this
fastboot oem writesecureflag 3

after this
do a reboot using fastboot reboot

thats all now you are stock

 

[Bizwax]

I am with Orange but my Sensation (standard not XE) was unbranded when I bought it. I take it the RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_ roms are the ones I should be looking at?

The Fileserve links aren't working anymore but I found another collection of RUUs here. Is that site ok because I'm grabbing one of them now (RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_1.35.401.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198179_signed.exe)

Oh and about the serial number, how do I get that back to what it should be? eg. SH15FG36536. I do have the CWM backup from when I first rooted if it's needed

Please excuse my noobness.

 

[ganeshp]

I am with Orange but my Sensation (standard not XE) was unbranded when I bought it. I take it the RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_ roms are the ones I should be looking at?

The Fileserve links aren't working anymore but I found another collection of RUUs here. Is that site ok because I'm grabbing one of them now (RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_1.35.401.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198179_signed.exe)

Oh and about the serial number, how do I get that back to what it should be? eg. SH15FG36536. I do have the CWM backup from when I first rooted if it's needed

Thx

RUU will take care of it..no worries..and no one check it too afaik

 

[Akatosh]

I don't know how they do it over in the UK but in the US they can't force you to pay for a repair if you don't want it. I'm pretty sure that they will tell you if there will be a charge before they do the repair. But they may do things differently over there.

They can never force anybody, I'm pretty sure that's illegal worldwide. Anyway, try and ask HTC how much it will be but I'm guessing a lot. I enquired how much it would my semi bricked sensation which is now perfect and it was £100.

Sent from my Sensation using XDA

 

[yahhboy]

They can never force anybody, I'm pretty sure that's illegal worldwide. Anyway, try and ask HTC how much it will be but I'm guessing a lot. I enquired how much it would my semi bricked sensation which is now perfect and it was £100.

Sent from my Sensation using XDA

They could if you gave them a phone that was supposedly under warranty and then it turns out that the warranty turns out to be void due to custom software.

Hope you get everything sorted out op

Sent from my sensational sensation 4g

 

[Bizwax]

Quick update; ganeshp's instructions at the bottom of page 1 of the thread helped a lot and I now have a stock Sensation with cid HTC__001 and S-on. It's booked for pickup by HTC tomorrow.

I did run into an issue after running the RUU update though. The installation completed ok but then I couldn't get the phone to show up in adb or fastboot devices. After retrying the RUU install a few times (with plenty of failed RUU install attempts and another issue where the phone wouldn't get out of recovery mode in adb) I finally got it to work and completed ganeshp's steps. All is good

I just hope the serial number thing (showing as 123456789012 in adb) doesn't come back to bite me on the backside. I found another guy on here with the same issue and apparently it was down to a corrupted pds partition.

 

[Bizwax]

Sorted. Got the phone back this morning, new screen and main board. Thanks lads

 

[carlitob10]

well you are SOFF and supercid ..thats all i need..i mean you can actually RUN any RUU
but I Think you are from UK and orange network (from your profile )...so lets go for that corresponding RUU

get the ICS RUU from this thread
SHIPPED PYRAMID ROMS

i found one along the line "RUU_Pyramid_Orange_UK_1.35.61.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198549_signed.exe" get that if you have normal sensation

if you got sensation XE
i cant find XE version of ORANGE RUU (the name has LE ..means an XE version) ...search the thread
otherwise get this XE version
"RUU​_Pyramid​_LE_HTC​_Europe​_1.73​.401​.4_Radio​_10.58​.9035​.0.."

then running the RUU
connect your phone to pc while in fastboot ..(just like earlier) then
run the ruu from pc
follow the onscreen instructions

this RUU ..will wipe everything and make it stock...except SOFF and supercid

once RUU run is over
we will change the cid back to normal
first get your cid from here (i think your cid is ORANG001..but confirm from the thread again)
CID LIST

once you know the cid...back to fastboot and connect it to PC
type this command
fastboot oem writecid <yourCID> (eg fastboot oem writecid ORANG001)

this will get your cid back to normal/original
now reboot normally (this is must to change CID)
using command
fastboot reboot


now the most important and careful step (this should be done last..i MEAN LAST)
back to fastboot again..and connect it to pc

now type this
fastboot oem writesecureflag 3

after this
do a reboot using fastboot reboot

thats all now you are stock

Hello there, I was in a very similar position the OP was in.

My Sensations' screen was only displaying static. I left the screen on and after returning to the phone, the display was frozen. After taking the battery out and restarting it, it would only show static (when the HTC logo should appear) but the phone was functional as I could change the volume and hear sounds from the phone, but there was only static showing,

So I needed to get it repaired from HTC but the phone was rooted, S-OFF and supercid so I was very happy when I found this guide as it explained how to get back to stock when you can't see the display.

This was is how my phone was when it was S-OFF and supercid

After following the guide to get S-ON and cid back to stock (orange branded):

I installed the RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_1.45.401.2_Radio_10.56.9035.00U_10.14.9035.01_M_release_208857_signed.exe.

I sent the phone off exactly 2 weeks ago and got the phone back today not repaired.

A letter with the phone stated the phon was BER (Beyond Econimic Repair) since the phone had "Unauthorised Engineering".

I was sure everything was back at stock so how can they say it is BER because of "Unauthorised Engineering".

Apologies for the long post but what can I do?

 

[ganeshp]

Hello there, I was in a very similar position the OP was in.

My Sensations' screen was only displaying static. I left the screen on and after returning to the phone, the display was frozen. After taking the battery out and restarting it, it would only show static (when the HTC logo should appear) but the phone was functional as I could change the volume and hear sounds from the phone, but there was only static showing,

So I needed to get it repaired from HTC but the phone was rooted, S-OFF and supercid so I was very happy when I found this guide as it explained how to get back to stock when you can't see the display.

This was is how my phone was when it was S-OFF and supercid

After following the guide to get S-ON and cid back to stock (orange branded):

I installed the RUU_Pyramid_HTC_Europe_1.45.401.2_Radio_10.56.9035.00U_10.14.9035.01_M_release_208857_signed.exe.

I sent the phone off exactly 2 weeks ago and got the phone back today not repaired.

A letter with the phone stated the phon was BER (Beyond Econimic Repair) since the phone had "Unauthorised Engineering".

I was sure everything was back at stock so how can they say it is BER because of "Unauthorised Engineering".

Apologies for the long post but what can I do?

you know what mistake you did ?
you had the wrong RUU flashed
the RUU is of Europe unbranded one
you should have flashed the correct RUU

based on your CID ..you should flash this
"RUU_Pyramid_Orange_UK_1.35.61.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198549_signed.exe"

see in the screenshot the version-main is 1.45.401.2
but it should be x.xx.61.x for ORANGE UK phone (so tha above one will have 1.35.61.1)
that's how they figured it out about your issue


EDIT: forgot to tell you what you should do
try revolutionary SOFF and get the above RUU and flash it
here the ruu download link

flash it again
do SON
and send it back

 

[carlitob10]

you know what mistake you did ?
you had the wrong RUU flashed
the RUU is of Europe unbranded one
you should have flashed the correct RUU

based on your CID ..you should flash this
"RUU_Pyramid_Orange_UK_1.35.61.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198549_signed.exe"

see in the screenshot the version-main is 1.45.401.2
but it should be x.xx.61.x for ORANGE UK phone (so tha above one will have 1.35.61.1)
that's how they figured it out about your issue


EDIT: forgot to tell you what you should do
try revolutionary SOFF and get the above RUU and flash it
here the

flash it again
do SON
and send it back

OK thank you ganeshp, I am in fastboot at the moment and the phone is detected. I run revolutionary but its says "waiting for device" and nothing happens.
Why is revolutionary not detecting my phone?

EDIT: Nevermind, got it working

 

[carlitob10]

you know what mistake you did ?
you had the wrong RUU flashed
the RUU is of Europe unbranded one
you should have flashed the correct RUU

based on your CID ..you should flash this
"RUU_Pyramid_Orange_UK_1.35.61.1_Radio_10.43a.9007.00U_10.51.9007.27_M3_release_198549_signed.exe"

see in the screenshot the version-main is 1.45.401.2
but it should be x.xx.61.x for ORANGE UK phone (so tha above one will have 1.35.61.1)
that's how they figured it out about your issue


EDIT: forgot to tell you what you should do
try revolutionary SOFF and get the above RUU and flash it
here the

flash it again
do SON
and send it back

What about the bootloader? Isn't that supposed to be locked since HTC's warranty will not cover unlocked bootloader?
And how do check with adb if bootloader is locked or unlocked?

Thanks