[TUTORIAL] Prepare Your AT&T HTC One X for Custom ROMs

[rohan32]

OUT OF DATE USE THE ONE CLICK 1.85 ROOT TOOL IN THE FORUMS

As the ROM chefs go to work, we want to be sure that we are ready to flash the ROMs when they come to be available! This guide will help you set up your phone so that you can flash custom ROMs.

After this process you will have a phone on the latest firmware (1.85 at the moment) with bootloader unlock, rooted, and busybox installed.

This guide assumes you are on a root friendly firmware (as of now, it is firmwares 1.82.502.3 and below).

This is really going to be done in a four step process. First we need to root the device in order to access the place where the CID is stored so that we can change it and get unlocked. After changing the CID, we can unlock via htcdev.com. Then we can go on to installing a custom recovery and finally rooting!

From there I will give you some tips on installing ROMs.

NOTE: THIS PROCESS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. IT MAY BE A BIT CONFUSING. READ OVER THE STEPS BEFORE STARTING. IF YOU DO NOT THINK YOU WANT TO RISK YOUR DEVICE BECOMING A BRICK THEN DO NOT ATTEMPT THIS. THIS VERY EASILY COULD RUIN YOUR DEVICE.
BACKUP EVERYTHING BEFORE STARTING AS EVERYTHING ON YOUR DEVICE WILL PROBABLY BE WIPED.
I, XDA, AND THE ORIGINAL TOOL CREATORS DO NOT TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYTHING THAT HAPPENS TO YOUR DEVICE. IT IS SOLELY YOUR RESPONSIBILITY FOR WHAT YOU DO TO YOUR DEVICE.

Your warranty will be void if you unlock the bootloader. If you just root though then you can return to 100% stock by running the RUU.

This guide is for Windows only at the moment though I will try to post Mac and Linux guides at some point.


ORIGINAL TOOL THREADS:
One Click Root for 1.82 and below: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1644167
Spoof CID Script: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1672284

I will try to keep this as up to date as possible! Taking a visit to the index of the development forums (http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1671237) is also a good idea!

Last Updated: 5/28/12

 

[rohan32]

0. Getting the prerequisites:
Download the package at the bottom of the first post to get started.
Extract the package somewhere you will remember (like on your desktop).
Connect your device via USB and make sure you have USB Debugging enabled under settings.

1. Root your device
1. Open the folder you downloaded and navigate to the "root" directory.
2. Double click on the root-windows.bat file
3. Let the root run and do not touch your device. It will reboot several times- do not touch it or you may brick your device. Just let it do its thing and eventually after around 3 minutes you will have a rooted device in your hand.

2. Get the unlock token
In order to unlock the bootloader we will need to change a value called the CID. This will allow the htcdev.com site to unlock our phones.
1. Go to the downloaded folder and go to the "change_cid" folder.
2. Click on the "Spoof-CID.bat" file. Follow the instructions. Your CID will change from CWS__001 (stock AT&T CID) to 11111111 (called "SuperCID," will allow you to flash anything)
3. Log in to htcdev and go here: http://www.htcdev.com/bootloader/unlock-instructions (NOTE: This skips the agreements you need to click through as some of the buttons on their website are wonky. Doing this assumes you agree to their policies that are listed there)
4. Follow the instructions very carefully (they are written very well) untill the point where you get the file "Unlock_code.bin" via email. Stop there.
5. You should now have the file for bootloader unlock. MAKE SURE TO SAVE THAT FILE "Unlock_code.bin" TO THE "generic" FOLDER IN THE PACKAGE YOU DOWNLOADED! YOU WILL NEED IT LATER.

3. Run the RUU to update to latest firmware
1. Download the latest RUU from the xda forums (should be an .exe file)
Currently it is version 1.85.502.3 and you can download it here:
http://briefmobile.com/download-htc-one-x-att-1-85-update
2. Follow its instructions very carefully. It will take approximately 20 minutes to complete. BE PATIENT. IF YOU UNPLUG YOUR PHONE HERE YOU WILL GET A BRICK.
3. Let your phone reboot and go through initial setup again

4. Unlock your bootloader using Unlock Token
1. Navigate to the "generic" folder in cmd (you should have added the Unlock_code.bin file to this folder already) and plug your phone in in fastboot mode. To do this, first shut off your phone. Wait for it to turn off. Then hold the volume down button. Press the power button for 3 seconds while still holding the volume down key. Let go of the power button but keep holding the volume down button untill you see a white screen with a bunch of small text on it. Use the volume up and down keys and the power button to select the FASTBOOT option. Plug your phone into your computer. Then wait for the FASTBOOT text to turn into FASTBOOT USB.
2. Type the following into cmd on your computer:
fastboot flash unlocktoken Unlock_code.bin
NOTE: This step might take quite a few tries. For some it works on the first time. For others, it may take around 20 times. Just keep typing in the command until you get a sucessful flash. We aren't sure why it does this at the moment but just keep trying and don't give up.
3. Use the volume keys to say that you do want to unlock your bootloader and wait for reboot
4. Bootloader should be unlocked! Congrats, most of the grunt work is done! Go to Settings - Developer Options - Enable USB Debugging. This will allow us to continue
5. Re-set up phone and enable USB debugging again

5. Install a custom recovery so that we can gain root access
1. Currently there are two recovery options: ClockWorkMod Touch and TWRP (TeamWinRecoveryProject). Both are pretty much the same as they both use touch input but TWRP does have some other nice features like a built in file browser and more. It is also more touch optimized. ClockWorkMod is more "old school" and I personally feel more comfortable using it, but using TWRP is fine as well. It doesn't really matter which recovery your choose, both are good choices. Download whichever one you want below:
CWM Touch: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1677304
TWRP: http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1677447
2. Drag the .img recovery file you just downloaded into the "generic" folder
3. Connect your phone via fastboot
4. Type the following:
fastboot flash recovery <insert name of recovery .img file here>
Replace the stuff between the <> with the name of the file you just downloaded
5. Wait for your device to reboot. Then type into cmd which is cd'ed to the "generic" folder:
adb reboot recovery
6. Make sure your recovery works as soon as it is done loading and then press "reboot system"
7. Follow its instructions

6. Root your system
1. Connect your phone as a "Disk Drive" and drag the "root.zip" file in the "root" folder to your phone's memory
2. Reboot into recovery with the adb command (adb reboot recovery)
3. Go to install zip from sdcard and navigate to the zip file you downloaded. Say "yes" and watch it flash
4. Reboot system now
5. Go to the play store and download any app that has "Busybox installer" in its name (the one by JRummy16 works good I believe)

If all goes well, you should be sitting at an AT&T HTC One X which is on the latest RUU leaked firmware (1.85.502.3 at this moment), rooted, busyboxed, and unlocked.
Congrats!

If you want to flash any ROMs, download the .zip file of the ROM, place it on your phones memory, and then install the zip like you did to the root.zip file.
Enjoy your AT&T HTC One X!

 

[rohan32]

CREDITS:
kennethpenn: For initial root, getting all the RUUs from the "source" and for giving the HTC One X's situation prime press appearance on his website, BriefMobile.com
grankin01: For finding out how to edit the CID originally
designgears: For creating the One Click Super CID tool for bootloader unlock
paulobrien: For porting CWM Touch to our device
sk08: For leading the way in terms of MODs and organizing an S-OFF thread to get this thing fully ours
JSLEnterprises: For initially being there to help organize a bootloader unlock
Team Nocturnal: For their awesome ROM

If you want to thank or donate to someone, please do not do so to me. The people above are the ones that deserve the thanks and the donations to encourage them to keep doing the fantastic work they have been doing! I'm just a high school student

Some common terminology:

Deoxdexed: OEMs package their apps with .odex files because they are more optimized for your device. However, this makes the file uneditable by developers and things like mods cannot be used with odexed ROMs. A ROM with "deodexed" as a feature means it is easier to use mods with that ROM
Busybox: A collection of linux tools that are helpful for flashing ROMs and doing other basic Android tasks
RUU: ROM Update Utility, made by HTC, completely reflashes device firmware, useful if you get bricks. Only for Windows.
Root: Allows you to edit system level files
S-OFF: (currently unattainable) Security-OFF, it is a "feature" in HTC phones that allows us to modify almost any part of your system.
Unlocked Bootloader: Allows us to flash custom images to the device.

 

[HydroSkillet]

As I understand and appreciate the work put in this thread, do we need another how to? Using the index sticky alone anyone should be able to root/unlock/flash their device. There's already scripts for everything and virtually no ADB required for nubs.

I would assume with the other info already in this section if someone can't figure out how to flash their phone, then they don't need to flash at all.

 

[rohan32]

As I understand and appreciate the work put in this thread, do we need another how to? Using the index sticky alone anyone should be able to root/unlock/flash their device. There's already scripts for everything and virtually no ADB required for nubs.

I would assume with the other info already in this section if someone can't figure out how to flash their phone, then they don't need to flash at all.

Wasnt sure, there are still a few people asking how to do it since it is a bit complicated with the 1.85 update breaking root so I just compiled everything into a master one.
And yeah, I use a lot of the scripts in the package I put for download.

Anyway, mods do what you think with this thread! And this might be in the wrong section, wasnt sure if it goes in general or development.

 

[ethantarheels123]

Please keep this up. As it is the most aggregated list of instructions, I'm sure it will help many who have just gotten their phone. Great work by the way.

 

[Artimus009]

As I understand and appreciate the work put in this thread, do we need another how to? Using the index sticky alone anyone should be able to root/unlock/flash their device. There's already scripts for everything and virtually no ADB required for nubs.

I would assume with the other info already in this section if someone can't figure out how to flash their phone, then they don't need to flash at all.

As I agree with you, a "one stop shop" that can be pointed out to for the noobs who got their mommy's to buy them their cool phone should at least keep the redundant questions to a minimum.

 

[squishy5]

you cant ruu WITH a UNLOCKED bootloader these directions are wrong there would need to be a relock step added in.
ALSO THE CWM STEP NEED A ROOT FOR IT TO WORK LOOK AT THE PAGES

READ UP ON THE STUFF BEFORE YOU MAKE A GUIDE BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG

 

[aimetti]

you cant ruu WITH a UNLOCKED bootloader these directions are wrong there would need to be a relock step added in.
ALSO THE CWM STEP NEED A ROOT FOR IT TO WORK LOOK AT THE PAGES

READ UP ON THE STUFF BEFORE YOU MAKE A GUIDE BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG

Locked boot loader yes.

Root for cwm no.

Sent from my HTC One X using xda premium

 

[rohan32]

you cant ruu WITH a UNLOCKED bootloader these directions are wrong there would need to be a relock step added in.
ALSO THE CWM STEP NEED A ROOT FOR IT TO WORK LOOK AT THE PAGES

READ UP ON THE STUFF BEFORE YOU MAKE A GUIDE BECAUSE THIS IS WRONG

Why don't you read before you comment on things like this?
I never "Unlock the bootloader"
I simply get the Unlock token from HTC.

So stop acting like you know everything, because you dont

Don't ever use caps with me and expect me to come back with a nice response. I put this out for the community, not for some kid who thinks he knows it all to come back and say that I did it wrong when he didn't even read the post properly.

And you don't need root to install CWM, just an unlocked bootloader.
Stop calling my stuff wrong if you yourself don't even know what is right

 

[nugzo]

Why don't you read before you comment on things like this?
I never "Unlock the bootloader"
I simply get the Unlock token from HTC.

So stop acting like you know everything, because you dont

Don't ever use caps with me and expect me to come back with a nice response. I put this out for the community, not for some kid who thinks he knows it all to come back and say that I did it wrong when he didn't even read the post properly.

And you don't need root to install CWM, just an unlocked bootloader.
Stop calling my stuff wrong if you yourself don't even know what is right

He put his foot in his mouth, apology should be coming oh and Good job man, Good job. Thanks for the work, this should be a sticky.

 

[buddy17]

This is a great write up and would have been extremely helpful last night. I will admit I have done a lot of reading before I unlocked the bootloader and updated to 1.85, but it was still very confusing at some points. The htcdev site actually gave me the most trouble because I didn't realize most of the steps were completed and I could skip all the way to entering the token and the site was simply used for entering the token and getting the unlock file.

And yes, I almost said the same thing about the relock step. I had to read it twice to realize you didn't unlock yet. That's another thing that confused me last night was unlocking/relocking immediately.

I think this should be a sticky and all the other tutorials and such should be deleted. This is a perfect summary IMO and will use it when I unlock my friends one x

Sent from my HTC One X

 

[designgears]

My problem with this is that you packaged it all up while the individual threads for each thing are updating and you are severing up potentially outdated scripts.

 

[Red5]

My problem with this is that you packaged it all up while the individual threads for each thing are updating and you are severing up potentially outdated scripts.

I agree. While it is nice to have a all-in-one, you should be linking to the threads since they are updating them on a daily basis instead of linking to their scripts. Ive already had to change JeepFreaks script this morning as he updated it. It would make your world a lot easier if you did it that way, and also not risk giving some new user outdated scripts.

I think this should go in the General section as the first few pages should redirect to the original threads anyway.

 

[rohan32]

I agree. While it is nice to have a all-in-one, you should be linking to the threads since they are updating them on a daily basis instead of linking to their scripts. Ive already had to change JeepFreaks script this morning as he updated it. It would make your world a lot easier if you did it that way, and also not risk giving some new user outdated scripts.

I think this should go in the General section as the first few pages should redirect to the original threads anyway.

Sure thing, I will add to the original post for the links.
Also I will try to keep this updated, but yeah I might not catch all the updates

 

[Lilshaun]

Thank you so much Rohan! Really appreciate it! Took me about 4 hours to get this done but it was worth it. Now to install cleanrom. Thanks again. This is my first time doing something like this.

 

[nman123]

Duse ijuat saw this and I'm going to do this and flash clean from when I get home and I read through this I honestly love you for doing this it helps more than you think thanks a lot

Deffinitlet should be stickied

Sent from my HTC One X using XDA

 

[equlizer]

These are the best instructions! Wish i had them when all this shenanigans started. Thx

 

[snowkilts]

Please keep this up. As it is the most aggregated list of instructions, I'm sure it will help many who have just gotten their phone. Great work by the way.

I agree. This guide is very helpful for me. I consider myself to be fairly computer literate and have flashed ROMs on previous phones, but I am a complete n00b to android and linux. Looking around some of the other threads -- it appears to me that there are many people who could have much confusion resolved by reading this. Thanks for the thread.

-- Jon

 

[shorty6049]

Not quite sure what's going on with my update...

I'm using the exe that updates the RUU and it gets stuck on the "sending to phone" step. Reboots the bootloader once, gets stuck again (as far as I can tell , nothing is ever sent) and then gives me an error telling me "The ROM Update Utility cannot update your Android Phone. Please get the correct ROM Update Utility and try again"

i've got the correct drivers installed (was having some trouble related to that a couple days ago but have since figured it all out ) would it be better to just do the update manually? (On my evo you just change the update file to Update.zip and it automatically installs it for you when you boot into bootloader)

maybe I'll have to look into it further, but just curious if anyone's run into this issue or figured out how to get past it as of yet...

Edit: Just an update- I'm betting its because I forgot to relock my bootloader before updating. So anyone who's already completed SOME of the steps in the second post here, make sure you relock your bootloader if you haven't already done so.
Edit1.5: This assumption was correct and the bootloader is now unlocked.


Edit 2- Almost done here... Busybox wont install. Tried two different apps, neither one worked. No indication as to why (got very vague error messages to the effect of "busybox was not installed")

Edit 3- FIXED- Ok, figured it out. As far as I can tell, the process should be Root first, THEN install busybox. It doesn't work without root privelages (at least that was my experience here)