stock device, can I RUU to older updates? - EVO 4G Q&A, Help & Troubleshooting

Here's my question. My friend's brother attempted to root his stock Evo using simpleroot instructions I sent my friend 4-5 months ago (pre-2.2) without knowing that simpleroot isn't supported. His phone is now borked. When he tries to load into bootloader, he gets an error (not sure which one), but his phone will boot into android.
What I'm wondering is this: As of yesterday, his phone was updated and current as per sprint and the update commands in the system menus... Can he flash back to an older stock rom via RUU (such as this one) without causing other problems? If my understanding is correct, the latest sprint updates aren't yet rootable, right?
Any help on this issue?
Thanks

Is the phone s-off?
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

badutahboy said:
Here's my question. My friend's brother attempted to root his stock Evo using simpleroot instructions I sent my friend 4-5 months ago (pre-2.2) without knowing that simpleroot isn't supported. His phone is now borked. When he tries to load into bootloader, he gets an error (not sure which one), but his phone will boot into android.
What I'm wondering is this: As of yesterday, his phone was updated and current as per sprint and the update commands in the system menus... Can he flash back to an older stock rom via RUU (such as this one) without causing other problems? If my understanding is correct, the latest sprint updates aren't yet rootable, right?
Any help on this issue?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No, you can not run an older ruu. If he updated to today or yesterdays update hes stuck. If he is on HBOOT 2.02 he can flash the 3.30.651.3 ruu or ths 3.70.651.1 but you can not ruu further back.

animal7296 said:
No, you can not run an older ruu. If he updated to today or yesterdays update hes stuck. If he is on HBOOT 2.02 he can flash the 3.30.651.3 ruu or ths 3.70.651.1 but you can not ruu further back.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Are either of these rootable yet?
and can someone explain what S-on and off means?

badutahboy said:
Are either of these rootable yet?
and can someone explain what S-on and off means?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yes, they're both rootable.
S-ON vs S-OFF; is just basically a security parameter that's being locked/unlocked. This allows for PC36IMG's files to be flashed via the bootloader without having to use or have authenticated signature keys from Google.
Basically, if you ever accept an OTA and it flashes and removes your recovery (CWM or Amon_RA); then you have no way of flashing custom roms/mods, etc... however with S-OFF, you have the ability to get your recovery back and set yourself back to root if need be.
Essentially, S-OFF allows for another method of flashing stuff to the phone besides just using the CWM or Amon_RA recoveries.
Hboot versions however can affect S-OFF; so it's important that if there is a new OTA that you always hold off, until a developer can validate that the hboot can be exploited and that the OTA can be rooted.

badutahboy said:
Are either of these rootable yet?
and can someone explain what S-on and off means?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
1. 2.02 is rootable 2.10 is not and is the newest one.
2.0 S-ON means you can not flash roms s-off means you can. It is the security of the phone kind of.
If you can not get into bootloader then you can try running the oldest ruu and then the next. It wont hurt the phone at all (I just did it today) it will just give you an error and reboot the phone.

pseudoremora said:
Yes, they're both rootable.
S-ON vs S-OFF; is just basically a security parameter that's being locked/unlocked. This allows for PC36IMG's files to be flashed via the bootloader without having to use or have authenticated signature keys from Google.
Basically, if you ever accept an OTA and it flashes and removes your recovery (CWM or Amon_RA); then you have no way of flashing custom roms/mods, etc... however with S-OFF, you have the ability to get your recovery back and set yourself back to root if need be.
Essentially, S-OFF allows for another method of flashing stuff to the phone besides just using the CWM or Amon_RA recoveries.
Hboot versions however can affect S-OFF; so it's important that if there is a new OTA that you always hold off, until a developer can validate that the hboot can be exploited and that the OTA can be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Thanks for the explanations and the help.
How do I find out if it's S-on or off, and is it possible to change?

pseudoremora said:
Yes, they're both rootable.
S-ON vs S-OFF; is just basically a security parameter that's being locked/unlocked. This allows for PC36IMG's files to be flashed via the bootloader without having to use or have authenticated signature keys from Google.
Basically, if you ever accept an OTA and it flashes and removes your recovery (CWM or Amon_RA); then you have no way of flashing custom roms/mods, etc... however with S-OFF, you have the ability to get your recovery back and set yourself back to root if need be.
Essentially, S-OFF allows for another method of flashing stuff to the phone besides just using the CWM or Amon_RA recoveries.
Hboot versions however can affect S-OFF; so it's important that if there is a new OTA that you always hold off, until a developer can validate that the hboot can be exploited and that the OTA can be rooted.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I have been trying to root 2.10 since yesterday and it has proven to not be possible as of yet. If you have a rooting method that works for me then would you share please?

animal7296 said:
I have been trying to root 2.10 since yesterday and it has proven to not be possible as of yet. If you have a rooting method that works for me then would you share please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Im with u brotha im stuck on 2.10 from a mistake i made. Was originally on 0.76.2
Sux man
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

badutahboy said:
Thanks for the explanations and the help.
How do I find out if it's S-on or off, and is it possible to change?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
To see if you're S-OFF or S-ON; you can boot your phone into bootloader mode.
To do this:
1. Power down the phone
2. Hold the Volume Down + Power button
3. You'll see a white screen with three little Androids
4. Read the very top of the screen; should tell you if you are S-ON or S-OFF.
You can reboot afterwards.
And yes, you can switch from the S-ON to S-OFF and vise versa, though I don't see why you would want to do the latter.
animal7296 said:
I have been trying to root 2.10 since yesterday and it has proven to not be possible as of yet. If you have a rooting method that works for me then would you share please?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
luckylui said:
Im with u brotha im stuck on 2.10 from a mistake i made. Was originally on 0.76.2
Sux man
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I apologize to the both of you guys; I was under the impression that 2.10 was S-OFF, apparently testing is still being done. For now, looks like you'll have to sit tight. Sorry guys.

pseudoremora said:
To see if you're S-OFF or S-ON; you can boot your phone into bootloader mode.
To do this:
1. Power down the phone
2. Hold the Volume Down + Power button
3. You'll see a white screen with three little Androids
4. Read the very top of the screen; should tell you if you are S-ON or S-OFF.
You can reboot afterwards.
And yes, you can switch from the S-ON to S-OFF and vise versa, though I don't see why you would want to do the latter.
I apologize to the both of you guys; I was under the impression that 2.10 was S-OFF, apparently testing is still being done. For now, looks like you'll have to sit tight. Sorry guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
However it has been verified that if you were S-OFF on 2.02 you can install the OTA and you will end up with HBOOT 2.10 with S-OFF.

pseudoremora said:
To see if you're S-OFF or S-ON; you can boot your phone into bootloader mode.
To do this:
1. Power down the phone
2. Hold the Volume Down + Power button
3. You'll see a white screen with three little Androids
4. Read the very top of the screen; should tell you if you are S-ON or S-OFF.
You can reboot afterwards.
And yes, you can switch from the S-ON to S-OFF and vise versa, though I don't see why you would want to do the latter.
I apologize to the both of you guys; I was under the impression that 2.10 was S-OFF, apparently testing is still being done. For now, looks like you'll have to sit tight. Sorry guys.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No prob pimp
Ima call sprint n see if i can some how get me a phone w the 2.02 hboot and just pretty much get an upgrade from 0003 hardware to 0004 Lol
Im like jumpy rite now ahaha
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

tpbklake said:
However it has been verified that if you were S-OFF on 2.02 you can install the OTA and you will end up with HBOOT 2.10 with S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
True this, but when i did it i was at 0.76.2 and now screw at 2.10 cause it updated all the way n i didnt want to do that.. Got lost in the tangle haha
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

tpbklake said:
However it has been verified that if you were S-OFF on 2.02 you can install the OTA and you will end up with HBOOT 2.10 with S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Yea, I heard about this in the IRC; too bad these guys can do that... unfortunate; but I'm sure the Unrevoked team will have a fix soon enough.
luckylui said:
No prob pimp
Ima call sprint n see if i can some how get me a phone w the 2.02 hboot and just pretty much get an upgrade from 0003 hardware to 0004 Lol
Im like jumpy rite now ahaha
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Good luck with Sprint; I don't know how helpful they're going to be, but you never know...

@luckylui and animal7296, check out the 2.02/2.10 rooting thread again, it seems they got something working. Good luck.

badutahboy said:
Here's my question. My friend's brother attempted to root his stock Evo using simpleroot instructions I sent my friend 4-5 months ago (pre-2.2) without knowing that simpleroot isn't supported. His phone is now borked. When he tries to load into bootloader, he gets an error (not sure which one), but his phone will boot into android.
What I'm wondering is this: As of yesterday, his phone was updated and current as per sprint and the update commands in the system menus... Can he flash back to an older stock rom via RUU (such as this one) without causing other problems? If my understanding is correct, the latest sprint updates aren't yet rootable, right?
Any help on this issue?
Thanks
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
There actually is a way to downgrade without rooting, all you need to do is flash the mtd-eng.img file to your misc partition as explained in toast's rooting part 2 thread. After you do that it will let you flash any ruu that is compatible with your phone
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App

Related

[Q] need help installing gingerbread keyboard

i have installed the gingerbread keyboard file on my sd card and have rooted my phone using the visonary method but now i cant seem to get into recovery mode. I have rom manager installed and have flashed clockwork recovery mode. it said that it had sucsessfully installed.
I then flashed it again as i read somewhere that i might need to do it twice as sometimes it dosent work.
when i now click on the recovery option in rom manager all i get is the red triange with the ! in the middle.
any ideas what im doing wrong?
Have tried reading the threads but with 30 plus pages i am now completley confused
Sounds like you don't have S-OFF. What does it say in HBOOT (e.g. hold down volume down and the power button with the phone powered off) ?
steviewevie said:
Sounds like you don't have S-OFF. What does it say in HBOOT (e.g. hold down volume down and the power button with the phone powered off) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
thanks for the quick reply, i think from what i have read that this s-off thing maybe the problem.
can you tell me how do this please
simple steps please as i am struggling with this
just done the hboot hing and at the top of screen it says
vision pvt ship s-on
hpsauce37 said:
thanks for the quick reply, i think from what i have read that this s-off thing maybe the problem.
can you tell me how do this please
simple steps please as i am struggling with this
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It's a bit confusing because there is more than one way to do this. But by far the safest way is to follow the guide at http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=857390
Have a good read, then if you're not sure, ask questions in that thread on the process.
steviewevie said:
Sounds like you don't have S-OFF. What does it say in HBOOT (e.g. hold down volume down and the power button with the phone powered off) ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-OFF is a completely different animal. Don't get it confused with being able to boot into recovery.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro
rwcj63 said:
S-OFF is a completely different animal. Don't get it confused with being able to boot into recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I didn't think you could flash recovery without S-OFF though ? Surely ROM Manager doesn't have the ability to write to the NAND, since the write protection will be on if you're at S-ON ?
steviewevie said:
I didn't think you could flash recovery without S-OFF though ? Surely ROM Manager doesn't have the ability to write to the NAND, since the write protection will be on if you're at S-ON ?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Again. S-OFF is a different issue altogether. Being able to write to NAND is a part of the rooting process. Setting security off is not a part of the rooting process. It's a totally different process for a totally different purpose. The caveat would be if unrevoked has been revised to full root and set S-OFF during the same process. I haven't used it in awhile so on that point, I'm not certain.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro
rwcj63 said:
Again. S-OFF is a different issue altogether. Being able to write to NAND is a part of the rooting process. Setting security off is not a part of the rooting process. It's a totally different process for a totally different purpose. The caveat would be if unrevoked has been revised to full root and set S-OFF during the same process. I haven't used it in awhile so on that point, I'm not certain.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sorry but that's not right for the DZ/G2. I wonder if you're thinking of how it works on a different Android phone ? The security has been increased on the DZ/G2/DHD compared to, say, the original Desire.
Writing to the system and recovery partitions isn't possible until you get S-OFF. This has nothing to do with rooting, it it because of the increased security on these phones where the NAND is in a hardware write-protect mode for those partitions by default. You can appear to write to the partitions, but it's actually going to cache and is lost when you reboot, until you get S-OFF.
steviewevie said:
Sorry but that's not right for the DZ/G2. I wonder if you're thinking of how it works on a different Android phone ? The security has been increased on the DZ/G2/DHD compared to, say, the original Desire.
Writing to the system and recovery partitions isn't possible until you get S-OFF. This has nothing to do with rooting, it it because of the increased security on these phones where the NAND is in a hardware write-protect mode for those partitions by default. You can appear to write to the partitions, but it's actually going to cache and is lost when you reboot, until you get S-OFF.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Actually yes. S-OFF on the EVO is to make sure no matter what, you're always rooted. It came about after the new stock flash would unroot the phone. With S-OFF active, you can flash any stock rom and not lose root. All you would need to do is reflash RA or Clockwork to get back to recovery and flash roms again. Unrevoked forever is the program we used to change the security setting.
So. That is only true for the EVO?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro
rwcj63 said:
Actually yes. S-OFF on the EVO is to make sure no matter what, you're always rooted. It came about after the new stock flash would unroot the phone. With S-OFF active, you can flash any stock rom and not lose root. All you would need to do is reflash RA or Clockwork to get back to recovery and flash roms again. Unrevoked forever is the program we used to change the security setting.
So. That is only true for the EVO?
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
yeah I think so.
The new HTC Desire Z and HD had "better" security from htc, basically you can't write anything to nand (/system) until you perma rooted, even then some things such as recovery needed s-off before we could write to that partition.
im going to have to give up on this
i have tried to follow the guide to get s-off but i find it too complicated. I have my phone rooted with visionary but i think thats as far as im going to get.
tried to install the adb thing and get that working but it never recognises the phone. when i remove the drivers and plug it back in then windows automatically installs the drivers again so i never have the option to manually instll them.
this is just becoming a nightmare
someone make it simple for me please....the thread is pages and pages long and even then it seems there are problems
hpsauce37 said:
im going to have to give up on this
i have tried to follow the guide to get s-off but i find it too complicated. I have my phone rooted with visionary but i think thats as far as im going to get.
tried to install the adb thing and get that working but it never recognises the phone. when i remove the drivers and plug it back in then windows automatically installs the drivers again so i never have the option to manually instll them.
this is just becoming a nightmare
someone make it simple for me please....the thread is pages and pages long and even then it seems there are problems
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Have you tried my guide on adb ? http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=865685
OK, I can use some help too
I have a DZ with stock ROM, root and s-off and CWR.
In my enthusiasm that I knew how to flash rom updates with clockwork (I am running the Godspeed 1Ghz) I downloaded the Gingerbread keyboard rom update from the G2 forum. I think I jumped off a bit too fast...
And now I am stuck in an infinite boot loop. I can get into Clockwork recovery but it just loops the "HTC Quietly Brilliant" forever including the annoying boot sound...
I tried some suggestions to download and reflash a second time, no effect.
I tried to mount /system before flashing, no effect.
Am I forced to go back to factory now?
Also, I found 2 gingerbread keyboards, one in the G2 forum and one over here.
Anyone know what the difference is? They have a different filesize..
Any help is welcome...
*edit*
OK so now I read that it is only to be flashed on a non-stock ROM... so I am now flashing Cyanogen 6.1
try wiping all the caches...
Lennyuk said:
yeah I think so.
The new HTC Desire Z and HD had "better" security from htc, basically you can't write anything to nand (/system) until you perma rooted, even then some things such as recovery needed s-off before we could write to that partition.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Wow. I'm really sorry guys. I never knew that's how non evo worked. That totally sucks.
Sent from my EVO using Tapatalk Pro
rwcj63 said:
Wow. I'm really sorry guys. I never knew that's how non evo worked. That totally sucks.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S'alright.
HTC really ramped up the security on these new phones, as Lenny said, with this hardware write-protection on certain partitions. But even given that, I was amazed by just how quickly the guys on the #G2ROOT IRC channel, especially Scotty2, managed to crack it !
It also looks like they've opened the phone even wider than many others before, with the "true" radio S-OFF that they achieved.
You can read up all about it in the Wiki - http://forum.xda-developers.com/wiki/index.php?title=HTC_Vision

[Q] Can't unroot, "Main version is older"

I'm trying to unroot, but I keep getting "Main version is older, update fail!" when I try to flash any of the pc36img.zip files I've found. My HBOOT is 2.02.0000
Any ideas?
Thanks.
-TM
You need to flash a pc36img or run a RUU that is the same software version or newer. You're trying to flash an older software version and that's why you're getting that error.
Thanks. Do you know where I can find a recent PC36img.zip? I've been looking for about an hour now, everything I try is apparently old because I keep getting that error.
Try this one. It will bring you up to the current OTA.
http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=874091
Thanks, that looks like it should do it, but now I'm confused. I had 2.10, and I was easily able to root it with unrevoked. Why does that thread say that OTA is unrootable? Is the OP just outdated?
Goodluck
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
Yeah it's an old OP. 2.10 is rootable now so you should be able to re-root if need be. Can I ask why you're trying to unroot?
_MetalHead_ said:
Yeah it's an old OP. 2.10 is rootable now so you should be able to re-root if need be. Can I ask why you're trying to unroot?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
My screen is popping up, and I've got to take it in to be repaired. Even though rooting has nothing to do with a defective gasket, I don't want them making a big deal out of it.
or, if u want to flash an older one, just flash toast's mtd-eng.img to the misc partition and it will allow you to flash whatever the hell you want.
ffolkes said:
My screen is popping up, and I've got to take it in to be repaired. Even though rooting has nothing to do with a defective gasket, I don't want them making a big deal out of it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Try downgrading your HBOOT to 0.76 and use fastboot cmds to load up a new RUU rom with a kernel or however it'll fix that path there though for you hopefully it works.
alekosy said:
Try downgrading your HBOOT to 0.76 and use fastboot cmds to load up a new RUU rom with a kernel or however it'll fix that path there though for you hopefully it works.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Phones that ship with 2.02 or 2.10 cannot be downgraded to 0.76 without serious risk of bricking the phone. The partition tables are different on the newer HW versions.
illogos said:
Phones that ship with 2.02 or 2.10 cannot be downgraded to 0.76 without serious risk of bricking the phone. The partition tables are different on the newer HW versions.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
BUT phones that dont ship with 2.02 or 2.10 but just upgraded to them can downgrade with little or no risk of brick.

How to enable S-on in bootloader

I ran unrevoked 3 and tried a few things and decided it was not for me, I ran the Sprint RUU and it all worked fine. But under the bootloader screen it still shows S-off. Can I renable it?
venom_762 said:
I ran unrevoked 3 and tried a few things and decided it was not for me, I ran the Sprint RUU and it all worked fine. But under the bootloader screen it still shows S-off. Can I renable it?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sry to hear that. See if THIS helps.
oooh that sucks. you have to re-root (you can just use unrevoked 3 again), then put the unrevoked s-on tool (found in the FAQ section of this thread http://unrevoked.com/rootwiki/doku.php/public/forever ) on the root of your sdcard. boot into recovery, and flash it as you would a rom. then check bootloader to make sure it is s-on. if it is, run the ruu again.
just curious, why dont u like root?
I just tried to re-run Unrevoked 3 and it will not reconnect, the tool just says waiting for device.
And I don't like root because of too much power.
venom_762 said:
I just tried to re-run Unrevoked 3 and it will not reconnect, the tool just says waiting for device.
And I don't like root because of too much power.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
usb debugging is probably not on. try that.
too much power? like too much battery consumption (wtf?) or too much power over the phone?
too much stuff for me to f-with.
venom_762 said:
too much stuff for me to f-with.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
hahah ok then. so ya turn debugging on (settings, applications, development, usb debugging) and put the phone on charge only and run unrevoked.
ok I found it, I was trying to root from the hboot screen.
Can't I just wait for the OTA from sprint and that would just turn S-back on?
venom_762 said:
Can't I just wait for the OTA from sprint and that would just turn S-back on?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
no, it wouldnt turn s-on, and you might not even be able to accept it. if you are having a hard time using unrevoked, seeing as your rom no longer has root permissions, i can lead you through manually flashing amon-ra recovery to your phone and you can flash ur s-on from there.
I just got it to root again using Unrevoked 3 and restored to right after my first root. I should be able to now install the S-on tool and install it from the recovery menu?
venom_762 said:
I just got it to root again using Unrevoked 3 and restored to right after my first root. I should be able to now install the S-on tool and install it from the recovery menu?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
That is correct. Also, I'm pretty sure that since you were still S off, you could've just flashed a pc36img of a recovery from the bootloader, flashed the s on tool, and then ran RUU.
Edit : just saw that dk already suggested that. Sorry.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Update I figured it out and ran the S-on tool, booted into the bootloaded and verified it was back on. I then ran the RUU and it should be fully stock and ready to install the OTA?
I just don't want to be that guy does not or has a failed update when the official OTA is out.
Anyone? I dying to know if I can install the next ota.
venom_762 said:
Anyone? I dying to know if I can install the next ota.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
If you're back to stock, s on, and aren't on the latest OTA, then yes, you can take the OTA if you'd like to. That will bring you up to the latest software update.
Sent from my PC36100 using XDA App
Great I am relieved, I just wondered if when its pushed out if I have problems seeing it. Thank you guys for all of your help.
venom_762 said:
Great I am relieved, I just wondered if when its pushed out if I have problems seeing it. Thank you guys for all of your help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
sorry for leaving you in the dark for a while. that was one crazy day. but i'm at my comp now so i can help (not that there's anything left to do).
if i were you, i'd double check you are fully unrooted. boot into bootloader, and make sure you are s-on. then boot into recovery and make sure you have no custom recovery, just the stock htc one. also make sure your rom has no superuser app installed. if not, you are all good.
No prob man, I booted into the bootloader and S-On is back on and then tried to boot into recovery, a black screen with a red triangle came up so I assume there's no recovery installed. There is also no superuser Icon in the app draw.
The main reason I returned to stock is,is that this is my primary and only phone. I plan on getting the Nexus S when it come to sprint so I will see you guys again. That way if I bork the NS I got my trusty evo to activate.
Again thank you all for the help.
venom_762 said:
No prob man, I booted into the bootloader and S-On is back on and then tried to boot into recovery, a black screen with a red triangle came up so I assume there's no recovery installed. There is also no superuser Icon in the app draw.
The main reason I returned to stock is,is that this is my primary and only phone. I plan on getting the Nexus S when it come to sprint so I will see you guys again. That way if I bork the NS I got my trusty evo to activate.
Again thank you all for the help.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
ok ya ur totally unrooted. enjoy the cage some prefer it there.
just saying, the evo is freaking hard to brick.

[Q] S-OFF on hboot 2.16

I have a few questions about s-off and being in the latest OTA.
Here is the short and skinny...
When my wife got the evo when it first was released last year i tried to root it since i wanted to install a program that needed root. i had no real idea on what i was doing and think i might have gotten root, although I am not sure. I never flashed any rom nor did I ever flash that apk and just gave up since I didnt want to break her new phone. (basically got a bit scared)
As for the main screen if you reboot and hold down volume and power, it will display "s-OFF".
She did the two Gingerbread updates OTA and is now on GB 2.3.3. stock.
I noticed that the hboot is set at 2.16...and it still displays "s-off".
I just read that there are different types of "s-off".
Now, the questions are:
1. Is her phone actually rooted?
2. Can I turn on the "s-off" to "S-ON" so that we can bring the phone in for repair?
3. Is there anything that anyone here can gain from her phone being in the state that it is in for people who cant get root under the latest hboot version?
4. I just read that s-off has multiple meaning. How can i tell which one I have on her phone? ie. radio, nand??
Thanks in advance.
pretty sure sprint wont notice the s off so dont bother going s on to ttake it in, even if they do, they dont really care anymore, so long as its got the stock os at least, but they really dont care bout it being rooted anymore
but yeah, your phone basicaly kept the root
I agree with LCL22.
Unrevoked does have an S-ON tool, but I've never used it and I'm not even sure it works anymore. Just leave it S-OFF and flash one of the stock unrooted ROMs from recovery. But I've heard people take their phones back with CM6/CM7 on there, MIUI, etc. It probably depends on the store/rep to be honest.
"Rooted" means having access to the SU binary (superuser). It's a linux thing. It's like having Administrator access to a windows computer. This allows complete control over the currently installed phone software.
S-OFF means that the phones protections have been disabled and you are free to flash unsigned ROMs via the bootloader (HBOOT).
S-OFF is nice, because you can flash any ROM you want via the bootloader; there is no need for a custom recovery to be installed. Of course you can also use the bootloader to flash a custom recovery such as ClockworkMod or Amon_RA.
github said:
I agree with LCL22.
Just leave it S-OFF and flash one of the stock unrooted ROMs from recovery.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Will flashing the latest unroot ROM from sprint (which is already on there from the OTA update) will turn the s-off to s-on??
Also, if it says s-off, does that mean that it is fully rooted?
The reason why she is considering bringing it into sprint for repair/replace is that is having problems sending texts multiple times to the person she is texting...basically, she sends one text and the receiver gets the same text 20 times.
Either there is something wrong with the phone, the network, or the fact that it is s-off and she is running a non-rooted rom. This issue has been happening since January and on the stock Froyo.
Lastly, I just noticed that she had advanced task killer and I uninstalled it just to make sure it wasnt anything that she has running which is causing the issues.
Thanks in advance.
amart79196 said:
Will flashing the latest unroot ROM from sprint (which is already on there from the OTA update) will turn the s-off to s-on??
Also, if it says s-off, does that mean that it is fully rooted?
The reason why she is considering bringing it into sprint for repair/replace is that is having problems sending texts multiple times to the person she is texting...basically, she sends one text and the receiver gets the same text 20 times.
Either there is something wrong with the phone, the network, or the fact that it is s-off and she is running a non-rooted rom. This issue has been happening since January and on the stock Froyo.
Lastly, I just noticed that she had advanced task killer and I uninstalled it just to make sure it wasnt anything that she has running which is causing the issues.
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
S-off only means you are nand unlocked so you can flash a custom recovery and flash a ROM. To be rooted, you have to flash a rooted rom which 99.999% of all the ROMS are rooted on XDA.
S-off just means that you can flash an alternate recovery and custom roms. It doesn't mean that it is rooted.
check in your app list and see if the Superuser app is there. If it isn't, it probably isn't rooted.
S off is perfect! Don't go s on if you can help it.
At my local repair store I chatted with the tech (after running s on tool) if they even check. The guy said not usually. They mainly check if it is stock sense like the Rosie and stuff. And even then they don't usually. They only check if someone brings in their phone with technical or software issues. With hardware they don't bother.
But that is my store.
S off and root are separate things but they kind of depend on each other. To root permanently you need s off, at least for devices with nand.
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk
But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?
amart79196 said:
But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Sprint is currently having issues on their end in regards to texting. I've attached an article that you can read over.
http://m.wired.com/gadgetlab/2011/07/sprint-sms-text-problem/
ENG S-OFF
EDIT: Nevermind, I just took the risk and it paid off.
I was actually about to start a thread asking the exact same thing. I'm selling my phone and I've heard that if it's not relocked it can't be activated on the Sprint network so I've been trying to get S-ON. I have "EVT2-2 ENG S-OFF" right now.
By the sounds of this all I really need to do is flash a good PC36IMG and all should be good, right? No chance of a brick?
i will read that shortly, but i am more interested in the fact that there is a OTA update done and it now has 2.16 as the hboot. Is this now going to brick if i try to flash a rooted stock rom since she isnt into custom roms?
Now, the questions are:
1. Is her phone actually rooted?
2. Can I turn on the "s-off" to "S-ON" so that we can bring the phone in for repair?
3. Is there anything that anyone here can gain from her phone being in the state that it is in for people who cant get root under the latest hboot version?
4. I just read that s-off has multiple meaning. How can i tell which one I have on her phone? ie. radio, nand??
Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Answers :
1. If you flash a recovery.img it will be.
2. You can't really do anything with the s-off right now because I don't think that any of the tools that would do that have been updated to work with hboot 2.16.
3. I'm not sure if anyone can use what you have but I would write up a post in a dev thread to be sure.
4. There are only two meanings that I know of when it comes to s-off. The first is accepting the OTA while rooted which will put your phone in a weird state. If you can use your phone after then I don't think this applies to you. The other is just not having a recovery installed which will render you just unlocked and not rooted.
amart79196 said:
i will read that shortly, but i am more interested in the fact that there is a OTA update done and it now has 2.16 as the hboot. Is this now going to brick if i try to flash a rooted stock rom since she isnt into custom roms?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. Flashing a regular rooted odex or deodex version of the RUU won't hurt you if your s-off. I would make a nand backup using amon ra recovery before flashing anything just to be safe.
Amon Ra Recovery - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=705026
Rooted OTA ROM - http://forum.xda-developers.com/showthread.php?t=1133379
amart79196 said:
But since the Hboot is listed as 2.16, Should I just flash a rooted stock rom to see if this clears up the texting problems she was experiencing?
Most importantly, will flashing a odexed rooted rom work or brick it because it has the 2.16?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It doesn't matter what hboot you have so long as you're s off
No bricks don't worry. Bricks usually occur during manual radio updates
Sent from my PC36100 using Tapatalk

S-OFF still showing after OTA?

My wife got her replacement Inc2 today after the one she got last week just died. She was on Froyo so I might of.. swapped her phones.. anyways, I rooted, went to the bathroom and the stupid ota ran I guess because when I came back the phone was on GB 2.3.3 however my boot screen shows S-OFF. Can anyone help me to verify that S-OFF is indeed still off. I can post any screen shots etc.. I am still a noob when it comes to the Inc2.
If your boot screen says S-Off, you are S-Off
Sent from my stock, bloated ADR6350 using XDA Premium App
Did you flash clockworkmod recovery when you rooted? I didn't think the OTA would take if you had a custom recovery. In any event, since you're still s-off, you're fine.
I actually hadn't flashed recovery yet. Went ahead and flashed recovery. Superuser installed but busybox keeps failing. I am manually installing them since the patch I found also includes a rooted kernel but it is for Froyo.
The biggest deal for me is I am still S-OFF. I'm just confused as to how I managed to remain S-OFF after the OTA went through. If I can't get busybox installed I'll probably install Ginger Sense to obtain it.
kujayhawks77 said:
I actually hadn't flashed recovery yet. Went ahead and flashed recovery. Superuser installed but busybox keeps failing. I am manually installing them since the patch I found also includes a rooted kernel but it is for Froyo.
The biggest deal for me is I am still S-OFF. I'm just confused as to how I managed to remain S-OFF after the OTA went through. If I can't get busybox installed I'll probably install Ginger Sense to obtain it.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
Alpharev changed ur hboot to a higer version than the one in the OTA.. this is why it kept you S-OFF.. if I'm wrong someone correct me.
So basically I just got really lucky and kept my S-OFF even though the OTA went through.
kujayhawks77 said:
So basically I just got really lucky and kept my S-OFF even though the OTA went through.
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
No. stock hboot is .97. alpharev bumped you up to 1.something.. idk I used XTC clip.. since your hboot is newer than the OTA.. it keeps you S-OFF, pretty smart by alpha.
So does this open a gateway to first root in Froyo and then go gingerbread and retain the root?
Only way to be able to tell is to have someone repeat my steps which were: stock froyo, run AlphaRevX, did not flash recovery, Run OTA (this happened by accident I did not intend for the OTA to go through) after the OTA is finished reboot and if it is indeed a "gateway" then S-OFF would still be on. (After seeing S-OFF was on (and making sure it was okay) I went ahead and installed cwm recovery at that point)
Now when I use the term "gateway" I say this loosely because it doesn't fix anything for anyone who is already on GB. If indeed this works, it would only work for a small percentage who get Froyo and don't flash clockwork before running the OTA.
I just got my Inc2 as a replacement for my fascinate, came with 2.1 might try your steps and see if my root will stay after doing the OTA
tnez said:
I just got my Inc2 as a replacement for my fascinate, came with 2.1 might try your steps and see if my root will stay after doing the OTA
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
2.1??? I think you are mistaken, sir
beenz said:
2.1??? I think you are mistaken, sir
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
He was mistaken cause it is sense 2.1 but android 2.2
Sent from my Incredible 2 using XDA Premium App
kujayhawks77 said:
Only way to be able to tell is to have someone repeat my steps which were: stock froyo, run AlphaRevX, did not flash recovery, Run OTA (this happened by accident I did not intend for the OTA to go through) after the OTA is finished reboot and if it is indeed a "gateway" then S-OFF would still be on. (After seeing S-OFF was on (and making sure it was okay) I went ahead and installed cwm recovery at that point)
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
I've been wondering about this. I got my Dinc2 early July and I'm still on stock, unrooted Froyo. Somehow the OTA update to GB hasn't hit yet. Could I run ApharevX to get S-off and stop there for now? I am happy with bloated stock for the time being and want to be able to receive OTA updates, but would like to have the option down the road to add Clockworkmod and flash custom ROMs. From kujayhawks experience it seems that this should be possible.
Basically, if I achieve S-off with AlpharevX now, will I be able to pretty much do anything later?
P.S. First post, though I've been lurking around for a while. Great forum/community.
xenakis said:
Basically, if I achieve S-off with AlpharevX now, will I be able to pretty much do anything later?
Click to expand...
Click to collapse
It appears from reports that S-off stays after the OTA to 2.3, so yea, that would seem to be the case.
If you turn S-off with AlphaRev, you might want to just go ahead and install Clockwork recovery at the same time. Doing so won't root or install SuperUser or anything, but you would be able to then backup your phone and be ready to flash if you wanted.
If you install clockwork recovery you won't be able to receive OTAs though, just keep that in mind. You can flash back to the stock recovery, but unless you are familiar with ADB, it won't necessarily be an easy process.

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