[TUT][ARC]how to get rooted 2.3.3 with locked bootloader

[kistigun]

First of all thanks to kokbiel for discovering this!

Do not try this if you have an unlocked bootloader or if you dont know what your doing! I'm not resposible if you break or brick your phone!

If you're allready on a rooted .181 or .184 and OTA update is available for you just update your firmware. If there is no OTA update available for your customazation version follow these instuctions:
- flash back to 3.0.A.2.181 generic with the flashtool
- Use Gingerbreak or Superoneclick to root your device
- Update your Arc using a OTA(over the air) update(Go to settings->About phone->Software update)
- Enjoy your rooted 2.3.3!!!

Update 1: it seems that the OTA update is not working if you did any modifications to/deleted system files so it's adviced to always flash the .181 firmware provided in this post
Update 2: if you have any battery problems after flashing the .181 firmware(if it's only showing 1%) removing the battery for a few minutes should solve this
Update 3: thanks to ricstc we now have a video tutorial on how to follow these instructions
Update 4: if you want you can keep your user data by unchecking the whipe user data in the flashtool while selecting the correct ftf file. this will cause a lot of error message's on 2.3.2 but just click them away and continue the procedure, after upgrading again to 2.3.3 the error message's will be gone!
Update 5: this methode still works with the new 4.0.A.2.368 firmware! if you don't get the OTA update with the provided .181 firmware try flashing the .184 firmware and try the OTA again

At the moment there are a lot of battery problems when you downgrade from 2.3.4 if you have any problem follow this or this thread for a possible solution

 

[punkmonkey1984]

In general how long did it take for Gingerbreak / superoneclick to do its stuff.
iv been waiting about 5-10 minutes with nothing. :S

 

[kistigun]

In general how long did it take for Gingerbreak / superoneclick to do its stuff.
iv been waiting about 5-10 minutes with nothing. :S

can take up to 20 minutes, can't say for sure.

 

[tRippinthehead]

In general how long did it take for Gingerbreak / superoneclick to do its stuff.
iv been waiting about 5-10 minutes with nothing. :S

the process of obtaining root took me 3-4 minutes

 

[punkmonkey1984]

the process of obtaining root took me 3-4 minutes

Ill try a fresh formatted SD card and try again :S
Did you get "SD card safe to remove" message on the status bar?

 

[tRippinthehead]

Ill try a fresh formatted SD card and try again :S
Did you get "SD card safe to remove" message on the status bar?

Yes. It's ok.

 

[kistigun]

Ill try a fresh formatted SD card and try again :S
Did you get "SD card safe to remove" message on the status bar?

yes, just reboot and try again

 

[punkmonkey1984]

yes, just reboot and try again

But it always says "SD card is saft to remove" i am using the Global customized firmware, but dont think that would be the case in any means, can you provide a link to the one you used kistigun please ?
Im on a fresh install so might as well try the version you used lol.

 

[tRippinthehead]

finds the update, but then I can not update via OTA, the phone says to me - "could not connect to network"

 

[kistigun]

But it always says "SD card is saft to remove" i am using the Global customized firmware, but dont think that would be the case in any means, can you provide a link to the one you used kistigun please ?
Im on a fresh install so might as well try the version you used lol.

i've updated the first post with a link to the firmware i've used

 

[punkmonkey1984]

i've updated the first post with a link to the firmware i've used

Thanks ill try and report back.

 

[aeron16]

can you unroot using gingerbreak after doing this?

 

[jatt101]

anyone did this work for them?

 

[kistigun]

can you unroot using gingerbreak after doing this?

why would you want to unroot?

 

[aeron16]

why would you want to unroot?

i have no choice! using GOOD for enterprise on my Arc, and it only allows usage if its on an unrooted device.

thinking of doing the root on 2.3.2 first, OTA update as you mentioned, then while still rooted, remove some of those unused SE Apps to free up ram, before unrooting and installing GOOD for enterprise.

 

[punkmonkey1984]

Root access with firmware on first post. global customized didnt work for me. :S

 

[kistigun]

Root access with firmware on first post. global customized didnt work for me. :S

weird, may i ask what steps you took?

 

[punkmonkey1984]

weird, may i ask what steps you took?

Just flashed the firmware you provided on the OP then installed gingerbreak ran it, and it worked with-in 2 minutes. i did have the USB cable plugged-in, with USB debugging on.
Apart from that, it was a fresh install.

 

[kistigun]

Just flashed the firmware you provided on the OP then installed gingerbreak ran it, and it worked with-in 2 minutes. i did have the USB cable plugged-in, with USB debugging on.
Apart from that, it was a fresh install.

and after that you've updated with OTA update to .145?

 

[punkmonkey1984]

and after that you've updated with OTA update to .145?

Its booting up now, i will let you know if it has or applied it or not.

Yes .145 with root access and titanium backup working fine,

Had to install busybox from the market, but working never the less.